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North Scott Press — March 18, 2026

Rapper Lil Wayne coming to Des Moines

Rapper will perform July 16 at the Casey's Center

Iowa State’s Jefferson named second-team AP All-American

Jefferson helped lead the Cyclones to a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Women’s Tournament First and Second Round sessions at Iowa sold out

No. 2 seen Iowa will play No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Veterans’ group remembers the fallen

On the first Saturday of every month, carafes of coffee and open boxes of Casey’s donuts await veterans and their families on the kitchen counter of Cornerstone Church. Filling a Styrofoam cup and taking a donut in a napkin, the veterans gather for an hour of camaraderie hosted by Anonymously Grateful, a local organization that honors veterans, Gold Star families, and families of veterans lost to suicide. Jose Cerda, a U.S. Army veteran, began the organization three years ago. They meet for breakfast monthly, and host a memorial dinner on the anniversary of Sept. 11 which recognizes local Gold Star families. He began Saturday’s breakfast with a few words. “The news coming out of Iran has been heavy on all of us,” Cerda said. He listed the names and hometowns of the six veterans killed to date in the U.S. conflict in Iran. “Combat may be behind you, but body and mind don't always know that. It's okay if this news shook you. It's okay if you're not okay,” he said. “We stand with you, not just in honoring the fallen, but in protecting the living. Your life still matters. Your family still needs you,” he continued. Cerda said he founded Anonymously Grateful to bring veterans and veteran families together, and to increase awareness of veteran suicide and mental health resources. “We're at 158,000 men and women we've lost a suicide, to mental health from 2001 to 2025… and that's just the ones that are accounted for,” Cerda said. That is more than the total casualties of every U.S. conflict since the Second World War combined, he said. “Just in the last six months alone, we've lost seven locally to suicide,” Cerda added. “A lot of people are not aware of how many widows are taking their lives,” he continued. “A lot of the Gold Star widows are taking their lives because they can't handle the pain of losing a loved one in combat or to suicide.” Marilyn Korthaus Riley, of Davenport, was one of the first Gold Star mothers honored by Anonymously Grateful. She joined the group for breakfast for the first time Saturday, Feb. 28. “I'm not going to be able to come every time, but this is very nice, very nice,” she said. Her son Bradley died in Iraq in 2003. Her husband, a Vietnam War veteran, died four months later, a death she attributes to Agent Orange exposure. Cerda has been involved in veteran’s outreach for over a decade. He began as a member of Patriot Guard, a group that attends veterans’ funerals. With them he met the family of BJ Luxmore of Sherrard, Ill., killed in action in Afghanistan, in 2012. “I met his parents and met his widow, and from there… just seeing the pain and the emotion when they lose a loved one like that, it was just heartbreaking for me,” he said. Cerda has gathered other local veterans to help manage and expand Anonymously Grateful’s mission. Cory Hawk is a National Guard veteran and member of the organization’s board. “I lost four friends in Iraq,” he said. “So keeping the Gold Star families a part of the veteran community is important to me.” He spent 20 years in the active guard reserve. “After I retired, I kind of had a void, and this board helped me fill that void,” Hawk said. “And then it also got me to my current job, which is a Veteran Service Officer, and that allows me to continue to serve.” He graduated from North Scott and now works for Rock Island County. After an hour of socializing at their monthly breakfasts, the group turns to a guest presentation that tries to connect veterans and families to mental health resources. “Our main focus for these breakfasts is mental health,” Hawk said. “It's a big issue with the veteran community, and this is just to let everybody know they're not alone.” Cherie Henningsen is a fellow veteran and Anonymously Grateful board member. A former North Scott teacher, she changed careers to work directly on veteran services and mental health. One of Anonymously Grateful’s new initiatives provides high schoolers enlisting in the service with information on resources and support they can contact when they leave. “You don't get a lot when you leave [the service],” she said. “It's like, thank you for your service, have a good life, you know? So we just want to support people.” “They taught us to go in and trained us to go in,” Cerda said. “They never untrained us to come out.” This year’s Sept. 11 anniversary dinner will on the day’s 25th anniversary. Kris Paronto, a member of the security team which defended the CIA compound in Benghazi in 2012, will feature as the guest speaker. In addition to his work with Anonymously Grateful, Cerda hosts a weekly podcast titled “My Generation: A Silent Warrior’s Memoir,” where he speaks with veterans. “It's not like any other podcast. I just want them to share what they want to share,” Cerda said. He avoids discussion of trauma and combat. “I don't want them go down that rabbit hole.” The podcast can be found on YouTube. Other Anonymously Grateful board members include Bobby Bunch, Eric Swanson, Lou Kranovich, Jill Jacobs, and Kelly Amhoff, Cerda said. Tasty Café, the Northgate Hy-Vee, and Eldridge Casey’s all donate food for the monthly breakfast.  

Equipped for life with Type-1 diabetes

Living with Type-1 diabetes can be difficult, especially for families with young children diagnosed with the disease. But a group of North Scott students recently received a new tool that can help manage its symptoms and effects. These students were gifted with SugarPixel devices. A SugarPixel is a second line of defense in monitoring glucose levels. It connects with primary continuous glucose monitors (CGM), such as Dexcom or Libre devices. The SugarPixel has a large display monitor that shows glucose levels. It can especially be helpful at night; if a user wakes up feeling unwell, it can be difficult to open or read the primary device app on their phone. The large display is bright and easy to read. And, if there is an emergency situation, the SugarPixel can also sound a very loud alarm to rouse someone from sleep. The donation was sponsored by members of Eldridge United Methodist Church. Becky Esbaum of Eldridge brought the idea to Stacy Muhs, chair of the Missions committee at the church. The committee agreed to sponsor a device for any North Scott student that wanted one. A SugarPixel device costs $110 for the base model. “Any family with a Type-1 diabetic is guaranteed to reach their out-of-pocket max every year, and that doesn’t include a lot of the other incidental costs involved.  It’s not a cheap disease,” said Esbaum. While many people are more aware of Type-2 diabetes, Esbaum’s family is all too familiar with Type-1. Her teenage grandson, Eli, was diagnosed at age 3. “Our involvement with our grandson, Eli, has given us the opportunity to recognize the immense time and stress on young families with T1D kids.  If you ask a mom of a T1D the last time they slept all night, you’d probably see eyes roll and a laugh.  It’s just something you get used to.” Eli has a SugarPixel at his dad’s house, which he especially uses at night. Esbaum said the devices are also incredibly useful to young adults who are starting to exercise some independence. “As kids get ready to go off to college, it’s a real concern that they won’t hear their alarms at night.  Human development and sleep patterns for high school kids and young adults are not always conducive to hearing and recognizing alarms.  The SugarPixel has very loud alarms that are also designed to have pitch variety that definitely can’t lull you into a dream or drift back to sleep.  Many families get them for kids heading off to college.”   The SugarPixel also includes a vibrating puck that users can put under their pillows. The puck goes off along with the alarm, which can also help rouse someone from sleep. Esbaum and the church worked with the nurses at each building in the North Scott School District to arrange for the donations. “Our Missions group has worked with the school nurses for several years.  We give them each a cash envelope every semester for kids that need extra items from personal hygiene, clothes, etc.  The nurses also reach out when they know there is a family in need of other items.  We have supplied a bed, mattress and bedding to several families.  At Christmas they help get lists together for families that could use extra help getting through the holidays, including gifts.  Having that relationship with all the nurses, it was easy to ask them to be the ‘go between’ in contacting the T1D kids – to avoid any HIPAA violations or invading their privacy.  They were willing to do that for us.” Letters were sent to each nurse on a Tuesday. By the next afternoon, five of the seven nurses had reached back out, saying every student at their school wanted a SugarPixel. There are approximately two dozen North Scott students living with Type-1 diabetes, and so far, 19 of them have received a SugarPixel. Some students are using them at home, while others had them installed in classrooms to help during the school day. Among the recipients is Ed White student Cole Yager. Now 10, Cole was diagnosed in February of 2021. “The SugarPixels are so cool,” said Cole’s mom, Krystal Yager. “They were created by a family that had a Type-1. “The thing about diabetes is, it’s 24-7. So, it’s happening when you’re sleeping. And there’s all these alarms on the Dexcoms and on the pumps, but you kind of get accustomed to it. So, you don’t always wake up. I don’t think anyone is sleeping through the SugarPixel. They are loud and they are aggressive and they should be.” The Yager family originally got a SugarPixel to put in the basement of their home, so Cole could keep an eye on it while he was playing video games. “He would get frustrated when he had to stop in the middle of a game to get sugar or whatever the case was. So, he wanted one so he could see while he was playing – do I need something before I start this next round? Which, fair. “So, to help him learn how to manage his diabetes on his own better, we got him that device. And it’s been good for him, to the point where we were like, we should get another one. And that’s when we got the letter. So, it worked out great.” A life-altering discovery Although her son has been living with Type-1 diabetes for five years, Krystal Yager had been familiar with the disease since she was a child. Her cousin was diagnosed in the late 1980s, and she can recall his family’s efforts to keep on top of the condition. Then, her cousin was constantly doing finger pokes to check his blood sugar, and the only management tool was insulin injections. Her aunt and uncle had to learn how to mix insulin for the injections to keep his blood sugar managed. Krystal also had a college friend who was living with the disease. But Cole’s journey began in early 2021. The Yager family had recently moved to the Quad Cities and Krystal was settling into life as a stay-at-home mom, when she started to notice some alarming symptoms in her five-year-old son. “He started wetting the bed every night. Which isn’t abnormal for a five-year-old but was very abnormal for my five-year-old. But the other thing that really stuck out to me – he was eating just constantly, and he was constantly hungry. He’s a little guy, and to this day, he still doesn’t eat very much. But he was just eating and eating. So, I Googled those things, as one does, and diabetes came up as one of the options.” She knew, with her family history, that diabetes was a strong possibility. Cole’s annual physical was approaching, but on the day, a snowstorm nearly cancelled the appointment. “They called and said, ‘Can we reschedule?’ And I said, ‘No, I really need you to see him.’ I took him in and they did one finger poke and said, ‘Yes, your son has Type-1 diabetes. “At that moment, I was like, ‘Do you need to do some other testing? Are you sure?’ But they were sure.” Type-1 diabetes patients in the Quad Cities can see specialists in Iowa City or Peoria, Ill., and Cole received a referral to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The snowstorm made travel treacherous, and there was more difficulty: Cole’s dad was in Ohio on business. He drove through the night to make it home, and the following day, the Yager family was in Iowa City. “We stayed for, I believe it was two or three days, and it was just a deep dive into Type-1 and how to manage this disease and literally keep our son alive. So, it was a very tough time. And it was very life-altering, obviously for my son, but for my husband and I, as well. And really, for anyone who is touched by this. I mean, it affected my in-laws, it affected my parents, cousins, aunts, they all had to learn at least the basics so that they can help take care of him. Because it’s 24-7, 365.” Krystal said, at first, Cole wasn’t sure how to react to the diagnosis. “He’s a smart little kid and he wasn’t super sick, like some of these kids can get. He just knew he didn’t feel right. But he wasn’t in diabetic ketoacidosis, he wasn’t lethargic or comatose. He was just hungry and thirsty. So, at first, he didn’t realize why we were there.” But one thing immediately became clear to Cole. “He did not like the shots. Sometimes, it took three full grown adults to give this little guy a shot. It was hard. He cried every time.” Now, five years later, Krystal said her son has adjusted to life with Type-1. “It’s just another part of him. He’s just like, ‘Yeah, I got it. Yeah, I need insulin and yeah, I count my carbs.’ He just owns it.” So much so that, a few years after his diagnosis, when he learned another student at Ed White was diagnosed with Type-1, “he told that teacher about how to take care of her. “He owns it now. It’s not who he is, but it’s just another part of him.” While Cole is now outfitted with a Dexcom device and a glucose pump, he didn’t get that technology right away. Krystal said when they left Iowa City after the initial visit, she and her husband were taught the basics of how to care for their son, including glucose monitoring through finger pokes and injections. Although the Dexcom device was fitted about a week later, Krystal said the interim gave her tremendous insight into what her cousin’s family dealt with 30 years ago. “I don’t know how my aunt and uncle did it without (a CGM). I don’t think they slept, ever, for 20-some years. But that was monumental for us, because we can see his sugars and where they’re trending, and it updates every five minutes. It’s amazing.” Cole started using his insulin pump about nine months after the diagnosis. Although the wait is now around six months, Cole’s diagnosis came during the pandemic, and it was harder to get training scheduled in Iowa City then. “The pump was amazing, because that gave him more independence and he didn’t have to have the shots every day, which could be six to eight shots a day. And we didn’t have to stop him playing or whatever he was doing to give him shots. It’s all done on his phone.” Spreading the word For parents concerned their child may have Type-1 diabetes, Krystal said there are a few tell-tale symptoms. Those symptoms include excessive thirst and hunger. Along with the unquenchable thirst comes frequent urination. Other symptoms include lethargy and rapid weight loss. “A lot of times, that’s hard to see, especially in kids, because of growth spurts. Looking back now, I did a side-by-side photo of my son, the day before he was diagnosed, and eight months later. Different kid. And I’ve talked to many parents who say the same thing: we didn’t realize how skinny he was.” While both Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes have some genetic components, there are notable differences in the diseases. Type-2 diabetes is primarily a metabolic condition, caused by insulin resistance. The pancreas still produces insulin, but the body does not use it properly. The onset is typically slow, and can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. But Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system destroys the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin. “It’s nothing my son did to cause this; it’s nothing any of the other kids did to cause it. You either get it or you don’t,” said Krystal. Because it is an autoimmune disease, it can also be triggered by a virus, because the body is working overtime to prevent illness. There was a spike in Type-1 diagnoses during the pandemic. Krystal said many people diagnosed with Type-1 don’t have a family connection to the disease, so it may not be something they immediately consider when they start showing symptoms. But technology is advancing on that as well. Krystal said a Type-1 screening test is now available. “Even if it’s not in your family, you can screen for the Type-1 antibodies to know ahead of time, could this potentially be something I can get? And if it is something you can potentially get, there is a drug you can take to postpone the onset.” The drug is called Tzield, and it can help delay the onset of insulin-dependence. It is a 14-day infusion, and Krystal said research is indicating that people who have received the drug, while they still need artificial insulin, may not need as much. According to research by the Food and Drug Administration, the onset can be postponed by three to four years now, and researchers have yet to discover the full potential of the drug. But it only works if Type-1 antibodies are discovered during a screening. “If you show up to the hospital and you already have Type-1, it’s too late,” she said. “You have to do it before you have any of the signs. So that’s why you should screen early.” Krystal said she’s already gotten herself and her daughter screened and has encouraged other family members to screen as well. “Do it early so you can do something about it. I couldn’t do anything for Cole. It was all just reactive. If there was something to do to be proactive, I would do it. If I can stop it for my daughter, I’m going to do it. She doesn’t love the blood tests – she does it once every three years – but at least I know that there’s something I can do for her and maybe she won’t have to live the life that Cole does.” Adjusting to life with Type-1    The diagnosis of a chronic illness can be scary for parents as well as kids. “Reach out to the community as soon as you can,” advised Krystal. “The biggest thing for me was finding other parents that get it. Because unless you’re in it, you don’t get it. And I’m glad that people who aren’t in it don’t get it, because it’s a lot. I don’t want to wish this on anyone. So, it was really important to me to have people that you could talk to who live it and understand it just like you do. That was the biggest help for me, just finding these people. And I’m here. You can call me, I’ll help.” One of the hardest things about the timing of Cole’s diagnosis was that it happened during the pandemic, which made it difficult to immediately find a support community. Krystal said she’s met at least three different families that were diagnosed at about the same time as Cole – they were all in the hospital at the same time but couldn’t meet. After Cole’s diagnosis, Krystal also got involved in Type-1 diabetes advocacy through Breakthrough T1D. She now works as a development manager for the Iowa and Nebraska chapter of the organization. One part of her role is to reach out to families that have been newly diagnosed and offer support. Breakthrough T1D started in 1970 and was formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Krystal said the name change came about because, “it’s not really a juvenile disease. I mean, kids do get it. But so do adults. And the kids that get it grow into adults. They don’t grow out of this disease; they have it for life. So, we wanted to kind of get away from the juvenile part of it and focus more on the fact that it’s Type-1 diabetes. It affects everyone and we’re here for you, regardless of where you are in that journey.” She said the Breakthrough part of the name comes from all the breakthroughs in the disease, because the JDRF had a tremendous hand in advocating for many advances in diabetes care, including the devices that Cole and so many others wear now. She said Breakthrough T1D is also working to get Type-1 antibody screenings done at annual doctor visits. “We’re not there yet. But we’re doing blood samples in kids already, why don’t we just add that to it?” Krystal said she’s actually been involved with the organization for much longer than her current advocacy though. She attended JDRF awareness walks with her cousin’s family. Her father-in-law was also a store manager for Hy-Vee, which has been a longtime supporter of the organization. “He worked in a small Iowa town. And he would put on an auction; there was a silent auction, live auction. It was a really, really fun night. And we would go to that long before we had my son. He did that for 10 years and he would raise anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000 in this small town. And his final year, his tenth year, when he got up on stage, my son was with him. So, it all kind of came full circle.”  Krystal said she’s also grateful for the support she gets from Cole’s school family, including Ed White’s school nurse Teryn Weber. There are two other students at the school with Type-1, and Krystal described Weber as a “godsend. “The thing about diabetes is, there’s a general ‘here’s how you manage it,’ but it varies so much from kid to kid. So, how I do it is not going to be the same way that another parent does it, that the other parent does it. And Teryn’s got three of those, and she just seamlessly, flawlessly manages those kids. And we know that they’re safe when they’re there with her, and with the teachers and the whole staff; they’re just amazing. “He’s had great teachers at Ed White that really just dive right in: ‘How can we help? What do you need me to do?’ And because he’s one of a few, a lot of them have already had that experience. So, they’re like, ‘OK, we know what to do.’” Krystal said teachers and staff have been good about allowing the Type-1 students to have snacks in class, which helps prevent them from needing to go to the nurse’s office as frequently. She said his peers have been good, too. “All of the students are great. Everyone supports him, and I know the other Type-1 parents have said that, too. They feel like their children are supported by their peers, by the staff, by the nurse, by their coaches, everybody. It’s really cool. “It’s really important to have that security in the school, because you really are leaving them. I can see his numbers, but there’s not a lot I can do from here. It’s so good to feel like he’s safe when he’s there.”  Building community Krystal is currently preparing for the annual Breakthrough T1D walk, which will be held Saturday, May 2, starting at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf. The event starts at 8 a.m., with the walk at 10 a.m. The group has a fundraising goal of $134,500 and anyone can register or donate at tinyurl.com/BettendorfT1D. She said in addition to being a fundraiser, it’s also an opportunity for Type-1 families to come together. “It’s a great community. There’s plenty of people in this area that are part of the community. While none of us wanted to be a part of this group, it’s a pretty great group to be a part of if you have to. Don’t hesitate to reach out.” For more information about Breakthrough T1D, visit breakthrought1d.org. And for more information about the SugarPixel, visit customtypeone.com.    

Princeton Council considers solar array

Princeton City Council will hear bids for a solar array at the city’s wastewater treatment plant at 285th Avenue and Great River Road.  City Planning and Zoning Chair Tim Ruser first brought the project before the council last spring. He has argued that an investment in solar will save the city money as demand for energy rise with the development of data centers. Last year, the council opted not to accept either of two bids received. But they voted unanimously Thursday, March 12, to rebid the project with cosmetic changes that could lower the price tag. A federal government program in place until July 1 would rebate the city 30% of all construction costs. The city would still have to borrow to cover the remainder of the cost. Councilwoman Lori Maher presented the council with an amortization alongside forecasts for the price of energy. If the price of energy rises by 4% per year, it would take at least 17 years for the project to yield savings, she estimated. However, if the cost of energy rose by 8%, it would take only 12 years. The schedules assumed a mortgage rate of 5% and a project cost near last year’s bids. They also assumed minimal energy use from the city. Maher said that industry estimates have put the annual increase in energy prices at a between 8% to 12% in the coming years. “I think 8% will be generous with all these data centers around,” Councilman Kevin Kernan said. Maher suggested that the city search for grant opportunities or low-interest loans with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or other state and regional agencies. Councilman Brandon Forristall remained skeptical of the project. He said he worried about taking up a portion of the city’s general obligation debt limit to fund a solar project before resolving water quality issues at the city well on Lost Grove Road. “Do we want to max out our debt and do a huge project when we have other issues with the water treatment?” he asked. Forristall noted that developers have asked the city to commit part of its debt limit to a tax increment financing (TIF) district that would encourage development. The project as proposed would not maximize the current city debt limit. Mayor Travis Volrath said the council would meet with engineer J.D. Hutcheson to retool the request for proposals posted last year.  Other news In other business, the council • Allowed the Anderson family to dissolve their 400-acre family trust, or “Anderson 400.” P&Z recommended the approval. • Agreed to limit access of city social media accounts to the city clerk’s office and council members. • Agreed to open the community center to members of the public on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, following expressed interest on Facebook. • Introduced and approved a maternity leave policy for city staff. • Approved interfund transfers for fiscal year 2025.  

Wheels spin on water detention

Discussion of a water detention area developer Dale Grunwald hopes to hand to the city of Long Grove rose to shouts at a council meeting last Tuesday, March 10. On Feb. 24, the council appeared split on whether the city should take control of the detention area without a full plat of a nearby subdivision promised by Grunwald. City Clerk Rose Guyer said March 10 that the plat would ensure Grunwald plans to pursue development. Grunwald has said he would only pursue development if the city agreed to assume ownership and management of the detention area, which the development would use. He has previously asked the city to implement a taxpayer funded stormwater utility. The Long Grove Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) advised the council not to take the detention area without a plat. Councilwoman Nancy Herrin has opposed taking the property. She told Grunwald March 10 that “plan and zone asked you to do something, and you don't want to do it.” “I did it!” Grunwald shouted, referring to personal drawings he has presented of the coming subdivision. The council has asked for a formal plat. “I’m not going to spend $100,000, have an engineer [come], for you to tell me no,” Grunwald said. To pursue development, Grunwald has asked the city to provide a tax increment financing (TIF) district and a promise that they would handle stormwater management. Guyer questioned why the council would even consider taking the detention area without a plat promising development. “Why are we considering it if there's no development?” she wondered, referring to the absence of a plat. “You're saying you don’t want to develop, and that's why we're even considering this, because we're saying we want to develop,” Guyer continued. “So where is the development?” Long Grove has agreed to establish a TIF district to support future development from Grunwald. Councilman Mike Boddicker reiterated his view that agreeing to take control of the detention area posed a minimal risk to the city. On Feb. 24, Councilwoman Amy Shannon appeared to share his view. Councilmen Chad Ulrich and Ryan Christensen then agreed with Herrin that the council should defer Grunwald’s request until they received a full plat. In September 2018, the council agreed to assume ownership of the detention area if Grunwald implemented a design they selected. But the selection process ran for months, as council and the public debated how to best put the land to public use. In the meantime, Grunwald moved forward a previous design dating to the early stages of the subdivision. Mayor Mike Limberg drew discussion to a swift conclusion Tuesday after shouts began. The council tabled discussion of the detention area pending further information. Planning for park improvements The city council agreed to set aside an annual $20,000 of its park budget to build the seed money it needs for construction of new bathrooms and a concession stand at the North Prairie Park ballfield. “At minimum, we're looking at five years out of letting this thing grow and maybe get some, match money, or some grant money,” Limberg explained. The park improvements will cost the city an estimated $500,000. “I think if we want to put bathrooms—permanent bathrooms—and a concession stand like what we had looked at in the past, we're going to have to do something like this,” Herrin said. Guyer told the council that since the $20,000 would not be placed in a designated reserve, it could be put to another use if the council deemed it necessary. The resolution to reserve funds passed unopposed. Eldridge to Long Grove 5k gets go-ahead Michael Burke, organizer of 5k from Eldridge to Long Grove, got approval from the city council to use the W Main Street ballfield as the finish line and reception area for the April 11 race. “The event is to build community in the Quad Cities,” Burke said. “It's going to be a good time. I sent out a mailer to everyone here in Long Grove—I want everybody to be invited,” he added. Burke said he expects between 50 and 100 runners. The event will benefit the Patriot Guard Riders, a local veterans’ service group. The run is part of a “Sowing and Reaping” series Burke hopes to start. A letter submitted to city council describes the series as “Christian-themed community events rooted in values of service, respect, and unity.”        

North Scott senior honors brother in Dance Marathon

Every year, the University of Iowa raises over a million dollars at its Dance Marathon Fundraiser, and North Scott’s very own Memphis Kearney has been supporting and participating in Dance Marathon as long as she can remember. Dance Marathon raises money for children and families receiving treatment at the University of Iowa Hospital. Dancers participating in the event must raise $400 each to be able to participate in the Dance Marathon. They do this through asking family, friends, neighbors, and even going door to door asking for donations to be added to their fundraising page. This money then goes to the University of Iowa and is used to fund research, help families pay for treatment, personal expenses, hotel fees, and funeral expenses. The 2026 Dance Marathon Feb. 6-7 helped raise over two million dollars. Memphis and her family attend the Dance Marathon events at the U of I and at North Scott each year in honor of Ambrose Kearney, Memphis’s late brother. Ambrose Kearney was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just three years old, which is a cancer that affects the bone marrow, and he even received a bone marrow transplant from his older brother, Parker. Ambrose fought his cancer for four years before passing on at the age of 7. Memphis, being just 7 months old at her first Dance Marathon, never got the chance to meet Ambrose. In an interview with Memphis, she says, “Dance Marathon has always been a place where I’ve felt like Ambrose has always been remembered and honored. It has never been a place where I’ve felt judged for not being able to know him.” She describes Dance Marathon as a place of remembrance, celebration, and a room full of people working together towards a common cause. Memphis has donated her hair seven times to help make wigs for patients who have lost their hair. Memphis attended her first dance marathon at just seven months old and hasn’t missed one since. Dance Marathon is extremely special and important to her family. Memphis is also heavily involved with the North Scott Dance Marathon and is currently the Family Liaison. She personally recognizes each North Scott child who has lost their battle with terminal illnesses, commemorates those still fighting, and congratulates those who have won. Along with this, she also helps to organize an honor room where the parents and families create a poster board honoring their departed family member's story and life. The Dance marathon event held in The PIT at the high school is great for all ages and hosts activities such as face painting, bracelet making, games, a photo booth, and, of course, dancing. The North Scott Dance Marathon is on March 28 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Support this awesome event, and let’s dance towards a cure. This article originally appeared in North Scott High School’s student newspaper The Lance and is reprinted here with permission.  

Supervisors raise fellow officials’ pay, not their own

Supervisors voted to raise other county elected officials’ salaries by 3.5% for the coming fiscal year. They will keep their own pay flat. Supervisors unanimously approved a 3.5% raise for the sheriff and no raise for themselves Thursday, March 12. Supervisor Ross Paustian dissented on a 3.5% raise for the county recorder, auditor, and treasurer. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco objected to a 3.5% raise for the county attorney. Those measures passed 4–1 Thursday. Paustian objected to giving a raise to positions that “haven’t been elected yet,” referring to the recorder and treasurer. Recorder Rita Vargas and Treasurer Tony Knobbe have each announced plans to retire at the end of their current terms. Longtime County Attorney Kelly Cunningham is also up for reelection. Bribriesco said she was dissatisfied with Cunningham’s performance as attorney and believed a restriction on her pay was the only authority supervisors could use to show disapproval. “I have concerns about how the civil side is administered and managed with respect to civil claims and litigation, especially their approach to responding to public records request,” Bribriesco said. Bribriesco specifically asked Cunningham to present supervisors with settlement offers in civil litigation “that may be made and are rejected” without consideration by the board. “Having the power of the purse means that if there's something that I see, or any of us see, that another elected official could maybe improve upon—this is the way that we can signal that,” Bribriesco said. Cunningham acknowledged inappropriate delays in providing public records before the Iowa Public Information Board earlier this year. Although Bribriesco voted to approve constant pay for county supervisors, she said that “fairness and equity support a [cost of living adjustment] for elected officials doing essential public work.” Bribriesco dissented to the board’s decision not to approve a pay raise for supervisors last year. The 3.5% percent raise for most county officials reflects the 3% cost of living adjustment and 0.5% market adjustment supervisors approved across the board for nonunion county employees. Union employees negotiate wages directly with supervisors. Discussion and approval of elected officials’ remuneration concluded county budget talks that began last month. Supervisors approved two new positions for the coming fiscal year: a vehicle safety technician for the county ambulance service, MEDIC EMS, and a collection specialist for the county attorney’s office, who will recoup outstanding legal fees. Bribriesco had previously asked for the sum of legal fees owed to the county. Human Resources Director Vanessa Wierman reported that number at $71 million Tuesday, March 10. The position will pay for itself in fees recouped, she said. Supervisors also agreed to bump the correctional health nurse at the Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center up to a full-time position. Wierman said that other Iowa counties with a youth jail, including Linn County, have a full-time nurse. Farmer reiterated that the county’s overall spending will increase by 1.5% year to year, to $136.9 million. Operating expenses, which include capital projects, debt service and enterprise funds like MEDIC EMS, will rise 4.7%, to $98.2 million. Farmer clarified that a raise in the rural tax levy from $8.66 to $8.81 per $1,000 in taxable property value would meet increased costs for roadwork and the county library system.     That increase will allow the county’s rural services fund to meet a benchmark 75% of Secondary Roads expenditures. That proportion allows the county to maximize its Motor Fuel Tax funding. Several laws currently under consideration at the State Capitol would cap city and county revenue growth to 2% per year. Votes canvassed Only 2.38% of eligible voters cast ballots in Scott County during March special elections to approve new school levies and elect a Walcott council member, Auditor Kerri Tomkins told supervisors Tuesday. Of 104,504 voters, only 2,405 cast votes, she reported. She called the turnout “disappointing.” Supervisors approved the results at the canvass of the vote March 10. Current budget report At the midway mark of the fiscal year, Scott County had spent 49.1% of its operating budget, Farmer told supervisors Tuesday. It had spent 46.8% of its overall budget, which includes capital and enterprise funds. Farmer called the figures “as expected.” The county did not require budget amendments in the first or second quarters of the fiscal year. The county has collected about 53.9% of total revenue, Farmer continued, a midpoint figure similar to the previous fiscal year. Other business In other news, supervisors: • Held the first reading of a county ordinance to remove requirements that civil citations record violators’ birth dates and social security numbers. • Joined the Blackhawk Hills landowners’ association. The Sheriff’s Office operates an office in the Eldridge subdivision. • Set its annual tax levy hearing for March 26 at 4:45 p.m. • Entered closed session to discuss purchase of real estate and union contract negotiations. A previous story in the North Scott Press incorrectly referred to the new ambulance service position as a “vehicle service technician” rather than a “vehicle safety technician.” The NSP regrets the error.  

Clinton city administrator resigns

Clinton’s city administrator has resigned.

Little Libraries now open

Three Little Libraries are now open in Eldridge after a winter break. They are located at Sheridan Meadows Park on North 1st Street; at Elmegreen Park on the corner of South 8th Street and LeClaire Road; and at the City Shop just off the rec trail on the corner of LeClaire Road and 1st Street. Anyone is welcome to borrow materials from the Little Libraries. If you have materials you’d like to donate, please drop them off at the Scott County Library, located at 200 N. 6th Ave. in Eldridge, where they can be sorted to be put on the Friends of the Library book sale, or shared through one of the Little Libraries. 

Dixon searches for shade at park

Dixon Councilman Nick Phares hopes to build a pavilion at the city’s only park, located between the Legion and the “pop lot.” The city had to remove two trees from the park last year. Since then, you cannot find any shade, Phares said. “I want to get something there. I have three young kids, and every time I go, I want a little bit of shade,” he said. Phares said he imagines a 10-foot by 16-foot concrete slab with four to six posts and a sturdy roof. So far, he has raised about $3,000 dollars for construction. Donations came from several local businesses, he said.  “I want something that’s not going to fall apart right away, but I don’t want to spend too much,” he said. Early quotes from contractors placed the project at between $7–15,000. With several major improvements underway in the city, including reconstruction of Walcott and Davenport Streets, Phares said he did not “want to take anything out of the city budget.” Phares hopes to raise at least another $4,000 from businesses and Dixon residents before embarking on construction. “I want to get the larger donors covered first,” he said. “I foresee businesses donating slightly more than a homeowner would, or a resident in town.”  

County honors longtime staff

Scott County honored outstanding employees and several long tenures at their quarterly PRIDE celebration last Tuesday. Board Chair John Maxwell honored several employees for extraordinary service.  He a read a letter of thanks addressed to Veterans Affairs Director Ben Enlow. Enlow returned a gift certificate a grateful resident had offered him, and suggested others who would benefit from it. “Isn't it a shame that the Commander in Chief of the United States may accept generous gifts of foreign airplanes, but employees are forbidden to accept a small, $50 gift card that is well-earned as a token of appreciation,” Maxwell read to a round of laughs. A second letter thanked Cheyenne Pecoraro of community services, “a true gem.” “Cheyenne is a real humanitarian and treats everyone fairly,” Maxwell read. Maxwell also congratulated Lori Elam, director of community services, on her appointment to the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) board of directors. The county named Senior Facility Maintenance Worker Joe Henzen employee of the quarter. Sheriff Tim Lane marked his 35th consecutive year with county law enforcement. “Coming on when I was 20 years old, the sheriff's office changed me. It changed me for the better,” Lane said. “Me and Scott County have had a good relationship. That's one of the reasons why I'm still here. It's one of the reasons why I'm not announcing my retirement,” he added. The following employees were honored for anniversaries of their terms of service with the county: 5 years Georgina Acosta, Sheriff’s Office Mary Dietrick, Medic EMS Catherine Leighton, Planning and Development Robert Martinez, YJRC Ray Miller, Health Department 10 years Robert Berry, Medic EMS Carri Blockyou, Attorney’s Office Katharine Bullard, Medic EMS Adam Goodall, Secondary Roads Herbert Hinton, Medic EMS Molly Kirk, Medic EMS Benjamin Leture, Conservation Department Timothy Nawa, Secondary Roads Brandon Rogala, Conservation Department Bailey Tigges, Medic EMS Heather Whittaker, Secondary Roads 20 years David Bonde, YJRC 25 years Robert Rogan, Medic EMS Cheryl Sexton, Community Services 30 years Andrew Morrow, Medic EMS 35 years Tim Lane, Sheriff’s Office

Share & Care donates baby supplies

At Share & Care Christian Preschool we have a tradition of picking a local charity for our February Month of Caring, and our families and Park View Lutheran Church members donate, too.  This year we collected lots of wonderful baby items to donate to Pregnancy Resources to help women in need.  This local agency provides free pregnancy services to women and their families, and we are grateful to be able to help them. Pictured are lead teacher, Rhonda Upmeyer and director, Jennifer Rathe.        

Report faults Scott County Jail for ignoring inmate’s mental health crisis

Scott County Jail workers allowed a woman in mental distress to repeatedly bang her head against cell walls for hours without intervening or providing medical attention, a new report from the Iowa Office of Ombudsman alleges. The woman, identified in the report only as “Sarah,” was arrested with her husband after a domestic incident on Christmas Eve, 2024. According to the ombudsman’s report, she was not given the chance to disclose her mental health history upon admission to the jail and was accused of trying to manipulate officers when she wrapped a phone cord around her neck. The report states Sarah was largely ignored by the jail staff as she rammed her head, face and body against the hard surfaces of her cell throughout the evening. According to the report, video recordings show Sarah vomiting on a few occasions while displaying signs of disorientation. At one point, she appears to pass out against a cell door. In their records, officers wrote that they checked on Sarah every 15 minutes, but the jail surveillance footage does not support that claim, the ombudsman found. Although the jail’s own policy, as well as national jail standards, call for continuous observation of suicidal inmates pending a visit from mental health staff, the Scott County Jail officers never alerted mental health staff to the woman’s distress, nor did they consider placing her in a restraint chair to protect her from injury, the report noted. “When the woman was released from jail the next morning, her right eye was completely swollen shut, while the rest of her face and arms showed multiple bruises and cuts,” the ombudsman’s office reported. “She told us she had suffered a concussion at the jail and was still receiving treatment a month and a half later.” “No person in custody should have to suffer through a mental health crisis without medical attention and observation by officers who are obligated to keep them safe,” Ombudsman Bernardo Granwehr said in a press release accompanying the report. “Every jail administrator in Iowa should use this report to re-evaluate their own policies and practices to ensure this doesn’t happen in their facilities.” Among the report’s key findings and conclusions: Excessive delay in booking: Sarah was not fully booked into the jail until 19 hours had passed after her arrival. The delay likely prevented the jail staff from identifying her mental health risks. Staff minimization of a mental health crisis: Body camera footage captured the staff making insensitive, dismissive remarks about Sarah’s pain, injuries and suicide attempt —suggesting she was “faking it” or trying to “go to the hospital.” The comments, the ombudsman found, “reflect poor training and judgment and contributed to a failure to appropriately respond to her crisis.” Lack of wellness checks: Although jail logs indicated the staff checked on Sarah every 15 minutes, video showed that in-person or meaningful observations did not occur, and staff “did not intervene despite hours of violent self-harm visible on camera,” the ombudsman reported. Sarah should have been under continuous observation based on jail policy and state law, the report states. Failure to protect: Sarah repeatedly struck her head on cell doors, walls, and the floor, pulled out her hair and vomited, and lost balance and consciousness — all with little to no response from the jail staff. Lack of mental health services: No medical or mental health providers evaluated Sarah during her crisis, and the jail lacked available mental health services during holidays. Lack of reporting: The jail failed to report Sarah’s suicide attempt and self-harming incidents to the state jail inspector within 24 hours, as it was required to do. The new report commends Scott County jail officials for their response to the ombudsman’s investigation and for admitting lapses in judgment by their officers. The jail quickly initiated changes to its policies and practices in the wake of the incident, the report states.

Therapy dog group to present at Faith Lutheran

Quad Cities Canine Assistance Network will present a program at Faith Lutheran Church, 500 W. LeClaire Road, Eldridge, on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. The mission of QCCAN is to provide highly skilled volunteer therapy dog teams to enrich the lives of others in our community. It is an American Kennel Club (AKC) registered non-profit therapy dog organization. Volunteer dog and handler teams give back to the greater Quad City area through therapy dog visits. QCCAN visits schools, mental health facilities, libraries, workplaces, colleges, and community events that align with their mission to volunteer and enrich the lives of others. Therapy dogs ease stress or loneliness, lower blood pressure, improve confidence while learning something new, and brighten the day for those we visit. All are invited to the free community event.

Council thanks public works for handling Monday snow

With a light agenda, the return of snow, and two absent members, the Eldridge City Council kept things brief Monday. Mayor Scott Campbell gaveled out the meeting eight minutes after it was called to order. Shout out to public works Council member Ryan Iossi offered thanks to the city’s public works department with the return of snow on Sunday and Monday. “This time of year, snow removal is usually out of mind. I’m sure the equipment was there and ready, but to mentally put yourself in that position, they did an outstanding job again.” Council members Scott La Plante and Jeff Ashcraft echoed Iossi’s praise, with Ashcraft noting he had also seen positive comments about the snow removal on social media. The group also offered thanks to the police department for their work during the storm. Other business Tom Bauer was appointed to a vacancy on the Eldridge Planning & Zoning Commission for a term expiring Sept. 12, 2028. Bauer previously served on the Eldridge Community Center before it was disbanded earlier this year due to the closure of the ECC. The council also approved a Class C liquor license for Brickstone Kitchen-Bar, which will open soon at 350 E. LeClaire Road. The new restaurant, which will be run by the owners of the Tasty Café and Flips Pancake House, will occupy the restaurant space recently vacated by Miguel’s Street Tacos. A public hearing was held for an amendment to the FY26 city budget. No one from the public spoke, and the amendment was subsequently approved by the council. At the previous council meeting on March 2, city administrator Nevada Lemke explained that there was not a change in expenditures; the budget form that was submitted for publication in The North Scott Press was a different version than was approved by the council last year. During the staff report portion of the meeting, Lemke reminded the council that the deadline for submitting proposals for the Eldridge Community Center RFP is this Friday, March 20. She said the appraisal process on the building is also ongoing. The final report on the appraisal is also estimated for delivery by the end of this week. Lemke also said a public hearing for the FY27 max property tax levy will be held at 5:45 p.m. Monday, April 6, prior to the committee of the whole meeting. Members of the public are invited to comment. A copy of the proposed max levy is available on the city website and Facebook page and also appears on page 3A of this week’s North Scott Press. In other reports, Lemke said city staff recently met with the city’s insurance agent, Seth Porter, and learned that, at worst, the city will see a 3.5% increase in its general property casualty insurance policies. The likely increase is anticipated to be between 2-3%. Police chief Andrew Lellig reported the department’s newest recruit is entering Week 11 at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and he is doing well. The department’s newest squad car will also have graphics applied this week. Council members Adrian Blackwell and Brian Dockery were absent from the meeting.  

Princeton to hold Adult Prom fundraiser

Princeton is preparing to party at its first ever Adult Prom next Saturday, March 28, at Boll’s Community Center on River Drive. Tickets at $50 per person will include drinks, hors d’oeuvres and dancing, organizer and Princeton Councilman Zach Phares said. All proceeds will benefit the Princeton Fire Department. “We’ve just tried to come up with ways to keep things different,” Phares said. “We don’t want them to stay the same all the time.” “We’re just trying to dance and have a good time for a night, you know?” he said. Local DJ Kelly Klemme has volunteered to provide music and lighting. Volrath Hardwoods will provide free drinks. Phares said that organizers plan to bring a photographer to the event as well. Mayor Travis Volrath said he hoped to see over 100 Princeton neighbors turn out for the evening. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. and last until 11 p.m., Volrath said.

Andalusia Road railroad crossing to close for repairs: IDOT

A news release from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) says that Andalusia Road in Milan will be closed at the Iowa Interstate Railroad starting Thursday, March 19. The crossing is located just west of U.S. 67. The closure is necessary so the railroad can repair the crossing. Traffic should follow the posted detour during [...]

Friends of Eldridge Library to host book sale

The Friends of the Eldridge Library want your books. On April 10, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., and April 11, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Friends will host a book donation drive at the Eldridge branch of the Scott County Library. They are seeking gently used books with a copyright of 2016 or newer. Genres include fiction, non-fiction, children’s/juvenile, cookbooks, gardening/crafts. Also wanted are vintage books, magazines, puzzles and games. Encyclopedias, textbooks, computer books and AV materials will not be accepted. Books will also be accepted at the circulation desk.

Education, trades scholarships available

The Davenport Area Retired School Personnel Association (DARSPA), a group open to all retired school employees in Scott County, is offering two scholarships this year. The first is $1,500 for a senior planning to major in education in college. The second is a $500 scholarship for a student planning to attend trade school. The scholarships are open to any senior graduating from one of the six public high schools in Scott County. The deadline to submit applications is April 10. Applications are available in the counselors’ offices at the eligible high schools or by emailing darspascholarship@gmail.com or shannojs@gmail.com.

1976: Dedication scheduled for North Scott Junior High

March 17, 1976 • The North Scott School Board approved a $5.8 million budget for the 1976-77 school year. The budget was approved after an hourlong discussion at the meeting. County assessor Bob Wiese warned the board that some residents might be shocked by the increase to their tax bills. He said that he personally felt there were some “frills” in the educational program, although he was not able to cite anything specific at the meeting. • An open house was planned to celebrate the dedication of North Scott Junior High. Instruction at the school officially began on Jan. 5. The “open space” floor plan had been decided upon by the junior high faculty prior to bringing on a professional architect, and academic subjects were taught in large rooms that could be divided by portable walls, similar to classroom space at John Glenn and Virgil Grissom elementary schools. The new school also allowed for home economics and industrial arts to be taught at the junior high level. “We wanted the opportunity to do more than four walls allow,” said principal Richard Thompson. “This place is built for the kids, not the adults. It will be the most effective if it meets the needs of the child at this age. Hopefully, it will.” • The Scott County Pork Producers planned to host an appreciation dinner in honor of Agriculture Day. Gov. Robert Ray issued a proclamation declaring March 22 as Ag Day in Iowa, with the theme, “Almost Everything Starts on a Farm.” The Pork Producers planned to honor the Davenport Chamber of Commerce for its support of local agriculture. Donna Keppy of Wilton, past president of the Iowa Porkettes, and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Keppy of Rural Davenport, would also be honored for their loyal support of the pork industry. • “Aunt Fannie” Mowatt was preparing to celebrate her 94th birthday. A former lifelong resident of the McCausland and Princeton areas, she was currently living at Wyn Crest Nursing Home in Clinton. • As track and field season was gearing up, 82 girls had signed up for the team. Sixty-nine boys were also out for track. After-school practice had already begun. Boys’ coach Deac Ryan said his team was at a slight disadvantage in long-distance events, because North Scott did not have a cross-country team yet. Meanwhile, girls’ coach Frank Wood said he was optimistic his team would have a home relay meet by the 1977 season. March 19, 1986 • North Scott’s Jenni Fitzgerald was received the coveted “Miss Basketball” title from the Iowa Newspaper Association, the first five-on-five player to receive the award. This was the highest honor bestowed by Iowa sportswriters. As for North Scott’s championship hopes, their previously perfect season ended in heartbreak to Marshalltown, 73-62. • The Scott County Board of Supervisors approved a $27.2 million budget for the 1986-87 fiscal year, approximately 2.4% less than the 1985-86 fiscal year. It was also about $200,000 less than the preliminary budget submitted in January. The board cut costs by freezing the salaries of 10 elected officials, as well as funding for several organizations, including the Mississippi Valley Fair and Scott County Humane Society. • Aaron Schmidt of Long Grove was honored by the Larry M. Gronewold American Legion Post 532 of Donahue for his service to the Boys State program. He attended Boys State in 1970 when he was a high school junior. The next year, he volunteered as a junior counselor and then as an adult counselor ever since he was in college. • Annette Spies of Eldridge was crowned Scott County Pork Queen during the Pork Producers annual banquet at the Iowa Machine Shed. Audrey Moeller of Bettendorf was named Pork Princess. • The Long Grove Fire Department added a third pumper truck to its fleet. The new truck could pump 750 gallons per minute. Pictured with the new truck were firefighters Tom Gall, Dave Vens, Rick Plett and Jeff Nagle. March 21, 2001 • Less than two weeks after it went into service, the Eldridge Fire Department’s new rescue vehicle was already getting a workout. During a snowstorm, a vehicle struck a bridge abutment on Highway 61 near Blackhawk Trail, trapping the occupants. Fire chief Scott Haycraft arrived on scene and was able to start staging instructions as soon as the rescue vehicle showed up. The extrication tools were already hooked up to a generator, and firefighters were able to open the vehicle and being loading the passengers for transport within two minutes. The department began planning for the purchase of the $218,000 vehicle two years earlier, and Haycraft said it could be in service for 20-30 years. • Faced with losing state funding as a result of the 2000 census figures, several Scott County communities were questioning the methodology. Blue Grass mayor Paul Barnes said, in the face of new housing being built in his town, there should not have been a recorded drop. “We have some housing started here in Blue Grass and I don’t think there’s any vacant houses. It’s kind of hard to believe that our population is going down. All indications are it should have been going the other way.” He said in 1999, the Census Bureau discovered 300 addresses missing off its list of rolls in Blue Grass, and Barnes said he believed they were overlooked in the final tally in 2000 as well. Meanwhile, LeClaire was applying for a recount, even though the town had shown an increase in population. “We think it’s a lot more,” said mayor Vernon Spring. “We only increased 113 people in 10 years, and we’ve built over 150 houses in the last five years. I don’t think they got the right count, so we’re going to check it out. We should be at least another 300 people.” • The Eldridge City Council was looking for input on improvements to its website. During a committee of the whole meeting, the council heard from Steve Grubbs of Victory Enterprises, which managed the site. Grubbs suggested a variety of improvements for the site, email addresses for all city employees and an email alert system, all of which could cost about $1,900. The council asked for input from residents. Meanwhile, the council also approved a study request to provide cell phones to utility employees instead of their current pagers. • Med-Force, a helicopter ambulance service, began serving the Quad Cities. The service opened in November after Air-Evac, which served the Quad Cities from 1997-2000 shut down on short notice. Executive director Kevin Takas had been a paramedic since 1982, and he and Med-Force’s executive medical director, thoracic and vascular surgeon Dr. Richard Sadler, quickly moved to replace Air-Evac. With air ambulance services based in Iowa City and Peoria, Takas often was asked if the Quad Cities needed Med-Force. “My response to that is, ‘What makes us any less significant than those two areas?’ I think there is a true need for this service.” • The Lancer Fire won the sixth-grade division at the North Scott Athletic Boosters’ Slamma Jamma basketball tournament. Team members included Derek Storjohann, Ben Dittmer, Tanner Shaw, Nick Reno, Travis Bellin, Dan Roling, Casey Haupt and Jacob Kimmel. They were coached by Mike Shaw and Terry Kimmel. March 23, 2011 • The Eldridge Lions Club, and District 9EC Governor Art Matje were preparing to host the annual Lions District Convention, with events scheduled at the St. Ann’s Center in Long Grove and North Scott High School. Dick Sawyer of Overgaard, Ariz., Lions International director, would be in attendance, and 180-200 Iowa Lions were also expected. • Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds held a town hall meeting in Eldridge as part of their “Jobs for Iowa” initiative. They also took questions about a proposed tax increase to casinos, high-speed rail service from Chicago to Iowa City, government transparency, vocational education and property taxes. • As the North Scott School Board continued to mull the problem of overcrowding at Ed White, parents who lived in the Rustic Ridge Addition of Eldridge said they were mostly OK with their kids being bused to Alan Shepard but would not be in favor of them going as far away as Virgil Grissom. Approximately 100 of the 341 students at Alan Shepard lived in Eldridge. “Everyone wants neighborhood schools,” said Rustic Ridge resident Melissa McDonald-Brimeyer. “We have redefined what a neighborhood school is. Alan Shepard is fairly close. We’ve adjusted.” However, Realtor Dan Schneckloth said there had been a loss of potential families in the district due to the busing issue, and he knew families that had moved to the Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley districts because of the elementary situation at North Scott. • Meanwhile, Kindergarten Roundup was held March 4, with 192 students registered on the day. This included 34 at Neil Armstrong, 25 at John Glenn, 17 at Virgil Grissom, 53 and Alan Shepard and 63 at Ed White. That was down from 217 the year prior. • Amy Schubert was hired as the new head varsity volleyball coach, having served as interim coach in the last season. During that time, the team, comprised mostly of sophomores, earned a 14-19 record, a trip to the regional semifinals and a second-place finish in the MAC. Schubert, who also served as the high school’s juvenile court liaison, replaced Jen Kremer. “We certainly had a good season last year and I’m excited to continue building on that success and being even better next season,” Schubert said. March 17, 2021 • Eldridge police officer Ryan Gale was the new school resource officer at North Scott High School, having replaced the retiring Bruce Schwarz. “It’s been a really good experience,” said Gale. “It’s been easy to build relationships with the students, and the kids have been great. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year and then carrying over to summer and next fall.” High school principal Shane Knoche said “Ryan is doing awesome. I was scared to lose Bruce, because Bruce is just amazing, and I thought it would be tough to replace him. However, Ryan reminds me of a young Bruce. He cares about the kids, and he goes above and beyond what he probably has to do. He’s just a good guy and is the right man for the job.”  • Russell Construction submitted an $11.558 million base bid and was awarded the contract to construct the North Scott YMCA. A groundbreaking for the facility was set for March 30. • Twenty-two Scott County residents spoke in favor of John Maxwell and defended his service on the Scott County Board of Supervisors and the North Scott School Board. Meanwhile, five residents spoke highly of Maxwell, but said his role on both boards created a conflict. “For good governance, you need some separation,” said Jerry Mohr of Eldridge. “You need to find a replacement.” A panel, made up of county treasurer Mike Fennelly, auditor Roxanna Moritz and recorder Rita Vargas, would make the final decision. • Mini-meets were held in lieu of a large state archery tournament. North Scott hosted in The Pit and shot a program-best 3,302 to top Anamosa, Bellevue and Marquette Catholic. The score would be turned into state officials, and the team was waiting to hear its final ranking. Freshman Dylan Orcutt had the highest score of the day for the Lancers, shooting a 288, one off his career high. • Ashley Fountain was named second-team all-state for girls’ basketball, and Sam Scott was a third-team choice. Fountain was first-team all-MAC and Scott was a second team choice, with KK Farnum, Hattie Hagedorn and Lexi Ward named honorable mention. On the boys’ side, Landon Eiland was first team all-MAC, Ollie Hughes was second team, and Drew Kilburg, Carter Markham and Canon Guffey were honorable mention.   

Khamenei's killing renews questions about US assassinating foreign leaders

Technology allowed the U.S. and Israel to kill Iran's Supreme Leader, but raised longstanding questions about whether the U.S. as a democracy should be assassinating foreign leaders.

Iowans deserve clean water — and we're making progress

Every Iowan deserves clean, safe drinking water. That’s not negotiable. It’s fundamental to our health, our communities, and our quality of life. As Secretary of Agriculture, protecting our natural resources while keeping Iowa agriculture strong has been one of my top priorities. Those goals are not conflicting – they go hand in hand.  Let’s start with the facts. Iowa’s treated drinking water meets national safety standards, which are regularly reviewed and updated, most recently in 2024 under the Biden administration. At the same time, we know there is more work to do upstream to continue improving water quality, and we are making significant progress across our state.   Iowa is an agricultural powerhouse because we are blessed with naturally nitrogen-rich soils. Nitrogen is essential for crops to grow but can create challenges if it leaves the field and enters waterways. That’s why farmers across our state are implementing thousands of responsible farming practices that keep soil in place, reduce runoff, filter nutrients, and protect downstream water sources.  In 2024, Iowa farmers planted nearly 4 million acres of cover crops, up from fewer than 400,000 just a decade ago, a 10x increase. Cover crops hold soil and nutrients in place, improve soil health, and are a good source of forage for livestock.   Farmers are also building nitrate-reducing wetlands, which capture and treat thousands of acres of water as it leaves the field, reducing nitrate runoff by up to 90 percent. Over 150 wetlands have been constructed statewide, and our pace is accelerating; nearly three times as many wetlands have been built in the past four years compared to the previous two decades.  In addition, farmers have installed nearly 500 nitrate-filtering buffers along field edges, all of which capture and treat water before it reaches streams. Again, the pace has increased dramatically, with practices installed about five times faster in the past four years than in the previous decade.   These are measurable, science-based practices being implemented on real farms across Iowa every day — not because of mandates, but because farmers want to be part of the solution.  The State of Iowa invests nearly $100 million annually in water quality programs, including $3 million allocated to the Iowa DNR’s water quality monitoring network. The state’s water quality investment is matched by roughly $500 million in federal funding, with additional investment from private individuals and organizations. These resources help farmers adopt conservation practices and accelerate implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.  We are seeing results. Iowa has spent decades investing in soil conservation, and because of that commitment, we are close to achieving our phosphorus reduction goals. Nitrogen reduction efforts began in 2013 and are now accelerating with targeted practices, investments and partnerships, especially in priority watersheds.  And that brings me to an important point: water quality is not solely a farm issue or a city issue. It requires a system-wide approach.  Many of Iowa’s water treatment and wastewater systems were built decades ago and need modernization. Just as farmers are stepping up conservation practices, municipalities and industry must continue investing in infrastructure and nutrient removal technologies. Both sides of the system matter — from the farm to the faucet.  Unfortunately, many Democrat politicians argue the answer is more government, more red tape, and more taxes on farmers. Republicans disagree.  Mandates and one-size-fits-all regulations would raise costs dramatically for farm families, and those costs get passed on to consumers through higher prices at the grocery store and fuel pump. Heavy-handed regulation hits small and mid-sized farms hardest, squeezing them out. The result? More consolidation in agriculture, and that’s bad for our farm families, bad for beginning farmers, bad for our rural communities, and bad for consumers.   We should be strengthening family farms, not taxing and regulating them out of existence.  This debate comes down to a choice: Do we continue Iowa’s community-led, collaborative, science-based approach that is delivering progress — or do we move toward costly mandates that punish farmers and increase prices for Iowa families?  Iowa has chosen a path built on partnerships, incentives, innovation, and measurable outcomes.  That approach is working. Farmers are scaling up conservation faster than ever. Investments are increasing. Collaboration across agriculture, conservation groups, municipalities, and state agencies is stronger than it has ever been.  Progress takes time, especially when addressing challenges that developed over generations. But Iowa is moving forward — and faster than many realize.   We can and must continue to invest, innovate, and work together to protect our water while also protecting family farms and keeping food and fuel affordable. 

It’s time to pass the Iowa Healthy Water Act

Every Iowan, every human, needs water to survive. Whether to drink, to grow plants, to fish, swim, kayak, and paddle, or to uplift amazing local breweries, wineries, and cideries, the water we access simply must be healthy and plentiful for us to have a future. Right now, Iowans across the state are recognizing and speaking out about the fact that we have a real water challenge. And they are no longer asking us to make a change. Some are begging, some are demanding, and some are crying out from their children’s hospital rooms. And Iowa doesn’t start from a great position- unlike many states, we don’t have a strong understanding of our water resources. Without the underground data of a century-old oil and gas industry; without monitoring of non-point sources; without fully funding our State Geologist’s office like other states do to map aquifers; and without finding the funds for the Iowa Flood Center to maintain and grow the Iowa Water Quality Information Sensor network; we have pieces of a very big puzzle, but too many are missing. What do we know? Our waters are impaired, but our majority leaders want to stop looking, stop monitoring, and stop protecting us. Our well levels are dropping, but water use permits are still under consideration that would send Iowa water out of state. And Iowans, so, so many Iowans, are sick. Young people being diagnosed with cancer flood our social circles. Autoimmune disease. Complications in pregnancies. Stories every week from and about our friends and neighbors. So, how do we find the other pieces? House Democrats have proposed a few places to start with the Iowa Healthy Waters Act. First, the Act fully funds the statewide water monitoring program at $600,000. Next, it triples funds for the voluntary nutrient reduction strategy, allowing partners across the state to enroll all willing land stewards and get the practices in place from the Mississippi to the Missouri River. Finally, the Act recognizes the foundational role farmers can play, right in our soil, in improving our water statewide, but they need state and federal policies that make regenerative agriculture financially feasible for more producers. When policy supports farmers who embrace best practices for nitrate reduction, including wetlands, buffer strips, bioreactors, and cover crops, we take the first steps towards healthy water for the entire state. We simply must bring in every Iowan to be a part of the solution, and we really can. Whether we drink and paddle, whether we till and sow, whether we float and noodle, or whether we do all of it, water is in all of our futures, and now is the time to fight for it.   State Representative Elinor Levin is a Democrat from the Iowa House District 89 in Iowa City and is the Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Remember legislators' priorities in November

Two articles in the March 11, 2026, issue of the NSP reveal a couple of things both worth noting and remembering: The first was an article entitled “Iowa Senate sends bill restricting local civil rights protections to governor” (which she signed). The second was entitled “GOP senators vote down Democrats’ effort to increase fines for water pollution.” Sadly, the content of these articles reveals the values of the majority in the Iowa legislature.  It’s common knowledge that Iowans have a high incidence of cancer and that these cancers are very likely caused in part by environmental toxins.  Yet, when given the opportunity to crack down on water pollution in Iowa, they didn’t have the courage to do it. Instead, as the contents of the first article illustrate, the legislature spent part of their time to pass a bill forbidding counties and cities from protecting transgender folks from possible discrimination. So, when election time comes around in November, take note of what this legislature did and what they failed to do.  Vote for someone who will work to promote the health of Iowans and avoid taking away civil rights protections from some of the most vulnerable among us.    Joe Gross Donahue

Senator is failing duty to protect child welfare

For the last 90 days, State Senator Kerry Gruenhagen has been busy trying to lure the Chicago Bears to Iowa. In the meantime, Senator Tony Bisignano, ranking member of the Senate Oversight Committee, sent a formal letter to Senator Kerry Gruenhagen, chairman of the Government Oversight Committee, on Dec. 4, 2025, requesting that his committee hold a hearing to review why state leaders have not met with a child welfare task force in two years. The task force was court ordered to follow up on how to improve reporting and preventing further child abuse after two children, six months apart, died of malnutrition in 2016 and 2017. The goal of the task force was to make recommendations to improve the foster care system. They have not met since February of 2024. Senator Bisignano, on Wednesday, March 5, asked Senator Gruenhagen, Chair of the Oversight Committee, for an explanation, he said, “I’m out” and left the Senate floor. I hope he follows through with the request from the Oversight committee and sets up a task force meeting, soon.   Jean Semsch Stockton

House bill would erode Fourth Amendment rights

House file 2624 passed the House last week.  Contact your legislators to demand this go no further.  This bill requires a person to submit their DNA upon arrest for a felony or violent aggravated misdemeanor.  Not conviction, but arrest.  This is driven by Katie’s Law, and the intent understood, but any security this is meant to provide is not worth giving up our right to be secure in our person, protected by the 4th Amendment. The DNA collected upon arrest would be submitted to the US DNA database maintained by the FBI, with the promise that the DNA sample will be expunged within 30 days if the case is reversed on appeal and dismissed, an acquittal, or a failure to charge within one year. Upon arrest, a person is innocent.  You cannot collect their DNA without a search warrant.  This bill would allow the sample of an innocent person, by definition, to be entered into a national DNA database where genetic information is maintained, searched and built. If the charges end with a dismissal or acquittal, the promise is to expunge the sample, yet accessible in the national database the entire time the individual awaits their day in court.  And what of our digital footprint is truly private?  Let’s not forget section 702 of the National Defense Authorization Act allows the federal government to monitor every cell phone and device in perpetuity where they download information whether we authorized it or not. Now I’ll quote Representative Charlie Thomson who heroically spoke in opposition of this bill on the House floor.  “This is Iowa’s version of 702.  Once it’s gone, it’ll be gone.  It’s not a fingerprint, it’s a library, and it will be another brick in our digital prison”.   “We the People” must stop bills like this from becoming law.   Diane Holst Eldridge

This is no time for snarky comments from President Trump

When it became clear DJT does not know the difference between “excursion” and “incursion” I was not surprised. Such gaffes are not uncommon. Remember when DJT declared Joe Biden was not the “sharpest bulb?” Oh, well. Everybody experiences the occasional faux pas. But after the US military “obliterated” Iran’s Kharg Island, DJT reported the U.S. might bomb it “a few more times just for fun.” Was that a joke? Perhaps. But it’s a bad joke. Already the two-week-old war has cost more than 2,000 civilian lives. Fourteen American families are mourning the deaths of their loved ones. And the nation that cannot – or will not – feed its hungry children spends an estimated $1 Billion a day in direct military expenses. A time for snarky comments? I don’t think so. Locally, the price of gas is up nearly $.60/gallon. For 10,000 Iowa minimum wage workers, $7.25/hour is a problem. And, as the skyrocketing cost of energy ripples through the economy; the affordability challenge facing so many working Iowans will intensify into an affordability crisis. DJT tells us this “excursion” will end when Iran cries “uncle.” But I don’t see that happening soon. At least now we’re asking our allies for support. Something we should have done before Feb. 28. Maybe this will hasten an end to this ill-conceived, illegal misadventure. I sure hope so. Look, no one needs to convince me that the extremists in Tehran are dangerous. No doubt about it. But, so are the extremists in Washington.   Ken Croken Davenport

Ag preservation is a functional imperative, not a fear-based retreat

We are writing in response to Noah Glasgow’s Feb. 25, 2026, opinion article “After power plant decision, we should take a long view of farmland’s future”. In his article, Glasgow warns that the Scott County Board of Supervisors should recognize that their decision to deny a zoning variance request for the Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) poses a threat by the state that is existential. According to Glasgow, by protecting farmland, the county is provoking state-level deregulation. This line of thinking places political fear above our agricultural heritage that the Board is elected to protect. Glasgow accuses the supervisors’ defense of farmland as a retreat behind an old line. In reality, this is a forward-looking decision for Scott County’s most valuable finite resource. Once prime agricultural land is converted to industrial use, it is lost forever.  They upheld the county’s comprehensive plan that prioritizes the preservation of the best soil in the world. If a large power cooperative can’t answer basic questions about why a project must sit on prime tillable land rather than an industrial brownfield, the Board must vote no. Glasgow warns that if counties are too restrictive on agricultural land use ordinances, the state will strip them of their authority. If local boards begin approving every industrial project out of fear of the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC), then local zoning authority is already gone. A better solution to potential state overreach is robust legal and political defense of home rule. Cerro Gordo county is one example of this, where they are currently involved in IUC hearings to oppose a proposed 500MW solar energy facility. Glasgow cites industry proponents like Dustin Miller to suggest that three-to-five member boards are not equipped to make energy decisions. This sentiment was echoed recently by one of our legislative representatives at a Scott County Farm Bureau event. They overlook the fact that these boards are perfectly equipped to understand land use, which is what a zoning variance is all about. Grid strain is an important issue, but it should be solved through collaborative siting on marginal lands, not by destroying the most productive soil in the world simply because it is the most cost-effective solution for the utility. We applaud the Board of Supervisors for listening to their constituents who effectively pointed out the inconsistencies in the project’s necessity and location. Protecting the soil is the fundamental job of local government, not a retreat. If the state chooses to take control over local decision-making they will have to answer to voters, but Scott County officials should never be expected to abandon their responsibilities just to stay in the good graces of the state, the power companies, or the media.   Respectfully, Linda Golinghorst Dixon Susan Frye Walcott On behalf of Concerned Citizens of Scott County

Where are we going with Iran war?

For reasons I cannot explain, I have always been interested in the concept of etymology. That is the study of the origins, history and evolution of words and phrases and how their meanings have changed over time. There is one quote that has the most fascinating etymology of any word or phrase that I have ever encountered, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” It has been used in at least three wildly diverse situations; a paraphrase of this quote was used by the Chesire Cat in Lewis Carrol’s “Alice in Wonderland,” it was used by former Beatle George Harrison in his 2002 song, “Any Road” and it was also used by Yogi Berra when he observed that “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re going to end up someplace else.” I recite the foregoing because it strikes me as a perfect metaphor for Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran. It should be no surprise that a majority of Americans oppose this war. Trump has never provided a clear and concise reason for starting this war to either the American people or to Congress. As to the goals he seeks to accomplish, a staggering array of possibilities have been floated by the administration-regime change; Secretary Rubio’s explanation that “Israel made us do it,” or to ensure that Iran never has ICBM or nuclear capabilities. When confronted with this confusion and ambiguity, it is hard to imagine a result can be achieved that will place Americans in a better place than we were prior to the start of this war. I sincerely hope future events prove me wrong.   Jack Darland Eldridge

Influence of billionaires does nothing to help regular people

The New York Times published a detailed exposé about how billionaires influence American politics. The article explains that by funding campaigns at every level, the wealthy can push for policies they want, such as tax cuts, deregulation, and cuts to social programs, while also directing government contracts to themselves. In the past, both parties received billionaire donations, but in 2024, most of this money went to Republicans. For every dollar billionaires gave to Democrats, they gave five to Republicans. Three hundred billionaires and their families made up 19% of all federal election contributions, either directly or through committees. Politicians who received this money supported tax policies that benefited the wealthy and worked to eliminate the estate tax. This number does not include hidden dark-money donations.  Elon Musk spent nearly $300 million on the 2024 elections. By the end of 2025, he had already given Republicans $20 million for the 2026 races. Trump delivered for his wealthy supporters: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act extended the 2017 tax cuts, reduced regulations, and cut back on social safety net programs. The U.S. has borrowed more than $1 trillion in the last five months because Trump’s tax cuts have reduced government revenue. Republicans warn about rising debt and say the answer is to cut programs that help Americans who build the homes of billionaires. Americans who grow and harvest the food that the ultra-wealthy consume. Repair their automobiles. Repair the roads they drive on. United States citizens who build the jets and yachts that billionaires own. Americans who build and maintain the power system that sends electricity into billionaires’ mansions, Americans who... In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln did not say, “Government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, for the billionaires.” He said, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.   James Turley Eldridge

Youth movement flows through roster

Given the current state of Iowa weather, the Lancers might be better off training for alpine skiing than shuttle hurdles. The 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps sure are appealing, but the short-term focus is getting back to the Blue Oval. This fresh blanket of snow won’t stop the North Scott girls’ track team, which is looking to build on its strong finish to the 2025 season. The 2026 squad is one with a unique makeup. 12 of the 46 girls on this year’s team have state meet experience, but there are only five seniors on the team: Addison Allen, Adalynn Johnson, Natalie Nwatchock, Emily Stutting and, new to the program, Amelia Duncan. It’s the fewest number of seniors coach Troy Matthaidess has ever had in his now 10 years at the helm of North Scott girls track. “If you look historically, they’ve been my smallest group ever since they were freshmen,” Matthaidess said. “There are only five of them, but four of them have state track experience. And one of them is brand new to us this season. While there are not many of them, they have a lot of experience and a lot of talent. They are a good group for us.” Allen is part of the North Scott hurdle crew which is its strongest position group. With juniors Alyssa Schroeder and Delainey Pratt returning from the state shuttle team, and junior Sophi Schneckloth coming back from her 400-meter hurdle state appearance, there is a lot to like from this bunch. Add in junior Marley Harrington, sophomore Aviea Holden and a host of newcomers, this is a group with breadth and depth. “I would say the number of girls in that group probably doubled, which is never a problem to have,” Matthaidess said. “We’ve added a couple people that were on the team last year but have never hurdled, but this year decided they wanted to give it a shot. And they look pretty good so far. There are a whole bunch of freshmen that are hurdlers too. “We’ll be leaning on our experience. We can mix and match the lineup and see where different pieces fit for different races.” Jumping will be another strong area, led by Schroeder and Nwatchock in the high jump. Schroeder qualified for state last season, and Nwatchock tied for third at state two seasons ago. These two are already off to blazing starts. At Tuesday’s (March 10) St. Ambrose High School Girls Classic, Schroeder won the high jump event and tied her personal record at 5-04. Nwatchock, taking third place, jumped 5-02. “What a tremendous start to the season that is, both in terms of a performance and confidence standpoint. To start off the year on such a strong note, I hope they can continue to build on it,” Matthaidess said. In the long jump at St. Ambrose, all three Lancers placed inside the top 11: freshman Kaylee Ervin (3rd — 16-04.75), sophomore Emmalia Ranson (7th — 16-02.00), and Kendall Behm (11th — 15-07.75). Ranson had the team’s best long jump last season, followed by Behm. Stutting long jumped as a sophomore, and there are more freshmen who will be pushing for spots. “If you made me pick who is going to be jumping at conference and districts, I honestly couldn’t tell you right now. We have a lot of talented jumpers that are all pretty close and pretty good,” Matthaidess said. North Scott’s most plentiful group is the sprinters, headlined by junior Micayla Ramirez. She had the best Lancer time or was part of the best relay in seven different sprinting events last year. She qualified for state in both medley relays and the 4x400. Junior Olivia Graham was on all three of those state relays, too, and she was part of the fastest Lancer 4x100 last season. Additionally, sophomore Isabella Meier was on the state 4x400 team. Look for Johnson, Behm, Holden, junior Kamilah Eller, and freshmen Briahh Davis and Vivian Oshann to compete for some of the top spots in the Lancer lineup. With so many great runners, it makes for a good problem to have. “It makes it easier to fill quality relays but also have some good quality open events also. It makes you deeper and stronger as a whole,” Matthaidess said. “Also, you can keep people healthier when you have more people. Not everybody can run four events in a meet, even though they may want to. The ability to give people a break here and there, keep them fresher, it helps everybody in the long run.” Schneckloth will help bridge the gap with her prowess in the mid-distance events. She was on both of the state medleys last season, and had the fastest Lancer time in the 400-meter run. There will be new kids stepping up into primary positions in the long-distance events, such as Meier, sophomores Brylee Rathe and Riley Toohey, and freshmen Zoey Ayers and McKenna Johnston. “Our distance group is not necessarily all freshmen, but we have several in that group that are out for the first time. Our depth is a lot better this year because we have more people,” Matthaidess said. “It’s neat to see people give it a shot who haven’t been out before. Last year, because of our lack of depth in that area, we would have some events we wouldn’t have anybody in, maybe ever. This year, we are going to field more of a full roster which is exciting.” One wild card to watch is Natalie O’Flahrity. The Lancer sophomore has run the fastest North Scott 5K on the girls’ cross-country team in each of the last two seasons. This spring, she will help the track team when the schedule doesn’t conflict with soccer. O’Flahrity played in all 19 soccer matches last year as a freshman. “She’s definitely soccer first; she’s a tremendous soccer player. She’s going to help us out on some meets when they don’t have a soccer game,” Matthaidess said. “For example, we have two Saturday meets when they don’t have anything soccer-related that day. So, she’ll come and help us out. Maybe conference, maybe districts, we’ll see how that plays out.” The area in which North Scott lost the most experience year-over-year is the throwing department. Three of the team’s top four marks in both shot put and discus from last season have graduated. However, the Lancers still return a state qualifier in shot put with sophomore Alexis McCloy. In discus, Schroeder had the team’s third-best throw, and was only two feet off the team lead. Sophomore Arabella Miller is the only other returning Lancer who threw last season. Matthaidess highlighted Johnson and freshmen Elyse Cockshoot and Frankie McGlynn who will be in the mix for varsity spots. “(The throwers are) a smaller and definitely a younger group. Alexis has done a really good job of being a leader for that group even though she’s a sophomore,” Matthaidess said. “Adalynn Johnson is going to throw the shot for us a little bit. She’s super athletic, and can maneuver in a bunch of different events. “In terms of the other youngsters, it’s a group that’s kind of unknown. I think they are going to improve a whole bunch as we go throughout. That’s always exciting to see. We lost some upperclassmen that had a ton of experience. What we have may not be super experienced, but they are super coachable and they are working really hard.” The Ambrose Advantage If the St. Ambrose indoor event is any indication of what will happen once everyone gets outside, Lancer track is in for a fun ride. North Scott finished second out of 22 schools and first among the 13 Iowa schools in attendance. Including the jumps, North Scott had a top-five finish in seven events. On the track, the Lancer 4x200 team took a runner-up finish, featuring legs from Graham, Ranson, Davis and Ramirez, finishing in 110 seconds flat. Ramirez also took fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.12 seconds. The 4x800 team of Oshann, Schneckloth, O’Flahrity and Toohey placed third in 10:47.15. Ervin and Graham joined Oshann and Schneckloth in the 4x400 to place fourth in 4:18.48. Additionally, Schroeder placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with a 9.55-second time. At the first meet of the season, winning is not the primary goal. Great times are great, but it’s about setting the stage for the start of the season. “From our expectation as coaches, it’s always been to show up, do your best and have a great attitude. The kids do a great job with that,” Matthaidess said. “Let’s see where we stack up, and let’s see what some other teams have. But mostly it’s about getting everyone out there for the first time, so when the outdoor season starts, we don’t have those nerves. “Whether you’re a freshman, or our older girls who have been through it, you still have those jitters at the start of the season. You’re figuring things out. Maybe some self-doubt. It’s good to get out there and see where you’re at.” North Scott will start the outdoor season with two meets following spring break. The Lancers opened at the Clinton River Queen Early Bird on Tuesday, March 24. North Scott’s lone home meet remains on Thursday, March 26, with a healthy field of teams set to come to Eldridge: Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa City High, Iowa City Liberty, Muscatine, and Pleasant Valley.

Pushing the pack forward

The North Scott boys’ track team has an offseason mantra: “Don’t come back a year older. Come back a year better.” After three weeks of preseason preparation, Lancer coach Joe Greenwood likes what he sees. It’s an important benchmark for this group, which is looking to return to the upper tier of track teams both in the Mississippi Athletic Conference and Class 4A. “We do a lot of testing in the beginning of the year, and I see we are picking up where we left off last year, which is really hard to do,” Greenwood said. “That mark we’ve set right away is pretty high right now. Looking to continue to build on that will be fun to do.” As far as talent and experience go, the roster looks like a barbell. There are a handful of kids that will continue their push for a state medal in May. There is also a big chunk of athletes simply looking to get their feet wet and sustain the program for years to come. “We’ve got some good veteran kids coming back. We also have a lot of younger kids. Some of them are younger than their years in that they have never done track before. We are at two ends of the spectrum on that regard,” Greenwood said. “(As a coach) there is a lot of work, which is fun because you’re focused on making sure you teach the sport of track rather than just expect to throw them out there and know what to do.” One fact that won’t change is North Scott’s projected dominance in the hurdles. For the 2026 Lancers, there is good news, and there is bad news. The good: Of North Scott’s six returning state qualifiers, four of them have competed in hurdles on the Blue Oval. Those include seniors Nolan Reese and Evan Kruse, junior Ryan Block and sophomore Evan Kuhn. The bad: The Lancers will be without Kruse as he recovers from an injury suffered during football season. Kruse was a member of North Scott’s state 4x100 relay last season, and Greenwood is holding out hope he can sprint by the end of the season. However, hurdles are “out of the picture.” “That opens up opportunities for others,” Greenwood said. “You’ve got Ryan, you’ve got Evan Kuhn, you’ve got Nolan, and then we have a whole bunch of others who will be competing for that fourth spot on our shuttle team. “Nolan got hurt early in the year last year, and was borderline to coming back. He’s a senior now, but he was on that team as a freshman. He had a really good offseason. Getting him back definitely takes the sting away from losing Evan (Kruse). Block competed at state in the 110-meter hurdles, and he led last year’s shuttle crew with Kuhn and Kruse. Reese was on North Scott’s state shuttle team as a freshman in 2023. Reese also had North Scott’s fastest 400-meter hurdle time last season. Alliterative sophomores Brendin Bohannon and Landon Leppert both ran hurdles last season and will be among those competing for spots. The team’s other strength is in the sprinting department. Block, Kruse, Kuhn, and senior Sam Dickman represented the Lancers at state in the 4x100 relay last season. Dickman, who had the team’s fastest 100-meter dash time last season, is emerging as one of the standouts of this year’s team. “He’s a kid who has always been a pretty good sprinter, but he’s taken things to a whole new level this year,” Greenwood said. “He had a good offseason. He’s been involved in some local track clubs, and he’s run a couple meets before our season even started. I feel he’s going to have a really good year. He’s a hard worker, and he’s a good leader for us. I’m excited to see what he can do.” Half of North Scott’s 66-person roster is in the sprinting classification. Among the many kids in the group, seniors Ayden Tschopp and Caleb Willis, juniors Dylan Kelsey and Renan Lewison, sophomores Landon Gronewold and Christian Keppy, and freshman Edem Ebizo will help fill out the lineup. The last event group with a returning state qualifier is in the throws with junior Trey Feist. Last spring, Feist shocked everyone when he qualified for state in the shot put. Inside Drake Stadium, he finished in the middle of the pack. At last week’s Dickinson Relays at the UNI-Dome, Feist picked up where he left off, finishing 16th out of 186 throwers and nearly missing a personal best. “He had one week of practice coming off of wrestling, and he goes out and does that. He threw within two inches of his career best. I’m excited to see what he can do,” Greenwood said. Many of Feist’s buddies from the North Scott varsity football offensive line will join him. Senior Behren Radech, the team’s best discus thrower from 2025, is back along with junior AJ Block. Junior Bryce Stewart is out for the first time, and sophomore Tyler McMillian will be in the mix for a varsity spot. Back on the track, North Scott’s distance crew lost many of its top performers from last season, but there is still a lot of optimism for this group. “It’s one of the largest distance squads we’ve had. Coach (Josh) Pestka, who works out our distance runners, is pretty excited about that, as am I,” Greenwood said. “We have a lot of kids who we feel are in that same kind of pack, so they are able to push each other.” Many names will be familiar from cross-country. Senior Carter Unwin and junior Parker Hamly will head-up efforts here, as well as junior Ben Clayton, who is out for track and field for the first time. In the middle distances, look out for seniors Henry Rieck and Koen Krambeck, and sophomore Dillon Hager. Rieck was on North Scott’s fastest 4x800 relay last season, and Krambeck and Hager were on North Scott’s fastest 4x400 relay. “And then it’s going to be the development of about six or eight other kids there and how they continue to improve,” Greenwood said. “Distance is an area where you can make some huge improvements. With sprinters, you’re talking a couple tenths. When you’re talking distance, you’re talking several seconds. It’s easy for those guys to see those improvements and give them confidence. “With the number of bodies we have there, and with the work ethic of that group, I’m excited to see how they continue to develop all season long.” The biggest event question mark for North Scott, by a considerable margin, is the high jump. After the graduation of two-time state high jump qualifier Jesse Eller, others must step up to fill the void left behind. Greenwood said he only has three high jumpers penciled on his roster heading into spring break, all of whom are sophomores: Hager, Obadiah Hagedorn and Kaiden Pullen. “Three is probably the fewest I’ve ever had. We’re a little bit thin at that position,” Greenwood said. “If somebody came up to me saying they wanted to try high jump, we’d welcome that.” The Lancers return their top three long jumpers from last season in Dickman, Keppy and Kuhn, with Ryan Block joining the fray this season. UNI-Dome dominance One shouldn’t doubt Block’s leaping ability, which he put on full display at the Dickinson Relays. Block competed in long jump, finishing in the upper third percentile of participants with a 19-07.50 jump. That mark would have been second-best on North Scott last year. He also raced in the short 60-meter hurdle event. He placed eighth in the prelims at 8.54 seconds, and knocked that number down to 8.18 seconds in the finals, finishing fifth overall. “Ryan had a really good night,” Greenwood said. “He didn’t look his best in the prelims, but he ran well enough to make the finals. And then he had huge improvements in the finals. He gained some confidence from that.” Dickman also had prominent placements. He took eighth in the 200-meter dash at 23.51 seconds and 27th in the 60-meter dash at 7.26 seconds. Along with Feist’s performance in the shot put, Reese put up a great mark in the 400-meter dash. His time of 54.88 seconds put him in the top quarter of all runners. When all of this snow melts, North Scott will open up the outdoor track and field season at home next Tuesday with the Lancer Early Bird meet. The following Tuesday, March 31, the Lancers will host the annual Deac Ryan Relays, bringing in top talent from across eastern Iowa. Teams in this field include Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Central DeWitt, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa City West, Linn-Mar and Pleasant Valley.

Obituary: Melvin Illian

Melvin “Mel” Charles Illian, age 98, of Walcott, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Better Living of Walcott, where he had called home for the past 10 years.  A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, March 20, at Calvary Church of Walcott.  A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service.  Burial will take place in Walcott Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Calvary Church of Walcott, Walcott Historical Society or the Walcott Lions Club.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com. Mel was born July 13, 1927, the son of Charles F. and Elsie (Puck) Illian, on the family farm in Muscatine County.  He graduated from Durant High School in 1944, shortly before his 17th birthday, while helping his cancer-stricken father work the family farm.  His mother, Elsie (Soenke), had died much earlier of breast cancer in 1930 when he was 3 and his sister 5 years old.  After his father, Charles, passed in 1945, he assumed the farming responsibility as well as the support of his sister Catherine and German-speaking grandmother, Anna Soenke Puck.  Mel married Joan Ruth Klever on May 16, 1948, at the Calvary Baptist Church in Davenport, and their loving marriage lasted 62 years as they raised their four children until Joan passed in 2010 following a series of strokes. Mel so loved farming that he was honored with an Iowan “Century Farm” award at the Iowa State Fair in 2023.   He loved to help neighbors and friends in his Walcott community and was a self-ascribed machinist, expert welder, and enthusiastic supporter of younger farmers in the area. Through the years, he was a Walcott School Board member, Fulton Township Trustee, Muscatine County Farm Bureau member, Walcott Fire Department Volunteer, and active and Past President of the Lions Club for over 40 years. He also was a lifelong active member of the Calvary Church of Walcott.  He enjoyed socializing with friends and relatives at community events and reunions and loved to play cards in various neighborhood card clubs with friends, family, and grandchildren. Mel is survived and lovingly remembered by his children; Linda (William) Wallace of State College, Pa., David Illian of Parker, Colo., and Larry Illian of Littleton, Colo.; six granddaughters, Elizabeth Johnson, Amanda (Sam) Johnson, Kristina (Brett) Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Natalie (Evan) Appel and Lindsay (Ryan) Kramlich; and two great-grandsons, William Appel and Milo Kramlich. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Catherine Eichelberger; and his son, Mark Albert lllian.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Jack Keppy

Jack Keppy was born on June 25, 1944, the son of Ralph and Viola (Peters) Keppy. He graduated from North Scott High School in 1962 and later trade school at Eastern Iowa Community College. On July 21, 1967, he married the love of his life, Beverly Roehs. He passed on March 5, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Visitation was from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. A private funeral service was held, and he was laid to rest at Walcott Cemetery, alongside Beverly. Jack’s life was a life fully lived, self-described as a ‘farmer with a lot of interests,’ and will forever have an impact on his family, friends, and community. As one of seven brothers, Jack learned at an early age the value of hard work, teamwork, commitment, and leadership. During early adulthood, and throughout life, Jack embraced a love of country, beginning with his service in the Army National Guard and later membership with the American Legion. While farming was Jack’s occupation, it was also his joy, and his operation primarily included hogs, corn, and soybeans. He was proud to be an Iowa 4-H swine winner, who later raised show pigs. Many would say he was a ‘Jack of all trades,’ as he could also be found doing custom baling or custom fencing. Jack’s commitment to community was strong, with a passion for voluntarism and simply helping a neighbor. In his earlier days Jack was a natural leader in his 4-H club and in school, in roles such as club officers and class president. As an adult, he was superintendent of the National Belgium Horse Show and served on the board of directors for the Eldridge Coop, Cornbelt Running Club, and Scott County Extension Council. In support of his personal interests, and those of his family, he was an active member of the Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, NS Athletic Boosters, NS Music Boosters, Cub Scouts, and 4-H. Many will remember Jack for his love of athletics. Always a competitive member of athletic clubs and teams, the stories of basketball tournaments, fast-pitch softball tournaments, and track events are endless. In 2014, Jack, along with his track team, was inducted into the North Scott Athletic Hall of Fame. Always a fan of track and field events, he has also been volunteering at meets for the past several years. Jack always carried a mentality to do more, a tremendous benefit to the teams he played on, and community he served. If there was not a team or a league, he started them, which included a men’s basketball league, a men’s basketball team, and a men’s soccer tournament in the Quad-Cities, later coaching these same sports. As a result of Jack’s love for running, he was founder and director of the Donahue Sodbuster, the Resolution Run, created the Moonlight Chase, was involved with the Strawberry Stampede from its beginning, and proudly served as a Bix 7 Committee Chair for 40 years. The number of racing awards won are too numerous to count, and he was known to compete in a couple of races on any given weekend as a member of the Athletes Foot racing team. He later increased the distance, proudly completing many marathons, including the 100th running of the Boston Marathon. When not farming, competing, or volunteering, Jack loved traveling, taking several vacations each year with Bev. Hawaii was a perennial favorite for them, beginning the year of their 25th anniversary, where they became friends with the locals in the Kailua-Kona area. Upon return from travel or other activities, Jack fully enjoyed the home and farm built with Bev. For fun, and when there was a little extra time, Jack could be found restoring horse-drawn buggies and sleighs, collecting antiques, remodeling the house or barns, polishing his knowledge of local and regional history, restoring his 1950 Chevy pick-up, or even building his own hot rod. Jack’s zest for life was contagious and will be forever celebrated. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bev; his parents, Ralph and Viola Keppy; two brothers, Ralph Jr. and Ned; and in-laws, Lawrence and Ruby Roehs. Survivors include his children; daughter Wendy (Marc VanDeVoorde), son Jeff (Heather); granddaughters Jillian and Alene; brothers Allen, Lloyd, Larry, and Merle; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In honor of Jack’s memory, donations are requested for either the Donahue Volunteer Fire Department or the Walcott Hearts and Hands Foundation. Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Larry Suppan

Funeral services for Larry Paul Suppan Jr., 66, of Eldridge, will be 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, at North Ridge Community Church, Eldridge. Burial will follow at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, where military rites will be conducted by the American Legion #26, Davenport. Family will greet friends on Thursday, March 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Larry passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at his home in Eldridge. Larry was born on Feb. 12, 1960, in Arlington, Va., the son of Larry and Kathleen (Lord) Suppan. At 18, he served in the U.S. Navy for six years. He was a reactor operator aboard the Bancroft submarine and trained others that came behind him. He was a born leader. At 25 years old, he married Katharine Sayre in Kaneohe, Hawaii, on June 15, 1985. He graduated in 1990 from California Polytechnic State University, where he earned a BS degree in electrical engineering. He worked in superconductivity, semi conductivity, alternative energy in technical sales. He worked as an electrical engineer for Conductus, Maxim Integrated and most recently as a hydro electrical engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, where he was a manager, director and team leader. He retired in June of 2024. He was a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Colson Fellows, USS Bancroft (SSBN-643). He served as a board member for REA, which means (friend/neighbor) in Hebrew. They support Christian and charitable ministries at home and abroad through prayer and practical help. They bring positive change to communities and individuals in need. He enjoyed history, sports, riding motorcycles, while backpacking in Spain he shared the love of Jesus everywhere. Survivors include his wife, Katharine, daughters, Katharine (Derek) Lingle, Karalyn (Joseph) Matheson, Malia Suppan, Christine (Phillip) Springer, nine grandchildren, father, Larry Suppan, sister, Karen (Greg) Klee, and brothers, Michael (Virginia) Suppan, Daniel (Melissa) Suppan and Jeffrey (Dana) Suppan. He was preceded in death by his mother, Kathleen Suppan In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to REA. Mail donation to 8425 SW Charlotte Dr., Beaverton, OR 97007 or call 503-502-0429. Share a memory of Larry at https://www.larrysuppan.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: James McGrath

James R. McGrath, 85, of Eldridge, passed away at Genesis East Hospital on March 12, 2026. A man of skill and steady presence, Jim made lasting memories with his family and on the hearts of those who knew him. Jim was born on July 23, 1940, in Dubuque to Ralph and Bernadine (Schmitt) McGrath. Jim was a proud 1958 graduate of Loras Academy, staying active in their alumni organization for years. He dedicated 40 years of his work life to the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 91, where his work ethic and reliability was unmatched. While his employment contributions were many, his proudest achievement was personal: the family home he built from the ground up in Asbury — a testament to his talent and his devotion to providing for his loved ones. Jim’s younger years were occupied by spending beloved summers on his Uncle Clem’s farm. It was there he learned the value of hard work through daily chores and developed his skills as a “fierce” Euchre player — a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. An avid sportsman, Jim spent his time participating on men’s softball teams and in bowling leagues. In later years, he could often be found passionately pursuing the game of golf. Jim found a second family in the H.O.G. Chapter #5734. For many years, he was a very active member, embarking on countless summer motorcycle trips across the country on his beloved orange Harley-Davidson. Above all, Jim was a family man. He found his greatest joy in the simple things: cheering from the sidelines at his grandchildren’s sporting events, being surrounded by family, and wearing the official red Santa cap at Christmas. Jim’s competitive spirit ran deep! He hated to lose. It was a brave soul who agreed to partner with him. He was the kind of man who truly valued being included; if there was an outing or an invitation, you could count on Jim to be there with a smile. Jim is survived by his brother Dan McGrath, sisters Judy Runde and Kay McGrath. His wife Ruth Ann (Mettille) McGrath, daughters, Donna (Gary) Urwiler, Lynn (Dave) Schooler and Sandy (Rick) Hoerner. His 10 grandchildren: Zach (Lexi) Urwiler, Quinton Urwiler, Trey Urwiler, Brad (Megan) Schooler, Cody (Kalyn) Schooler, Taylor Bruns, Travis McGrath, Streat Hoerner, Samantha (Ben) Mulstein and Hannah (Max) Unmacht and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by father Ralph McGrath, mother Bernadine McGrath, brother Jerry McGrath, son Kevin McGrath, daughters Robin McGrath and Julie Bruns, grandson Aaron Schooler and son-in-law Rick Hoerner. Visitation: Saturday, March 21, 9:30-11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Funeral Mass: Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rungemortuary.com.   Custom obituary

'Windbreak school' set for April 8

Farmers, rural landowners and natural resource professionals can attend the in-field and hands-on Windbreak School on Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville. The workshop is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and aims to provide the knowledge and skills needed to effectively plan, implement, maintain and renovate windbreaks. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. “Windbreaks and shelterbelts act as critical farm infrastructure. They provide energy savings, livestock growth gains, timber and non-timber forest products, wildlife habitat, odor and dust control, aesthetics, privacy and mental health benefits,” said Billy Beck, extension forestry specialist and assistant professor at Iowa State. “However, Iowa’s aging windbreaks are simply not functioning as they should be due to general decline, storm damage and insect and disease issues." The Windbreak School will cover windbreak planning and design, including a discussion on species selection, site preparation, identifying site characteristics, incorporating pollinators and disease management. Because the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm is establishing a new windbreak, there will be a field demonstration on how to plant and establish one. Featured speakers include representatives from ISU Extension and Outreach, the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, Iowa Department of Natural Resources district foresters and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. To attend, online pre-registration is required by April 3. The registration fee is $30, which covers lunch, refreshments and course materials. This fee, payable by cash or check, is due to ISU Extension and Outreach Washington County by April 5. For more information, contact the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811 or email Holly Beinhart at hollyb1@iastate.edu.

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the March 18 NSP!

SUNDAY, MARCH 1 10:32 a.m. — Dennis James Cook, 48, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (not marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, following an incident in the 6000 block of 200th Street, Walcott. THURSDAY, MARCH 5 7:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 17500 block of 267th Street, where a vehicle driven by Diane Renee Vance, 59, Davenport, struck a deer that entered the roadway. FRIDAY, MARCH 6 11:26 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 292 on Interstate 80 West. A vehicle driven by Alfred J. Randle, 75, Rockford, Ill., was westbound on Interstate 80. Randle reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and struck a road sign. Randle was cited for failure to maintain control and an open container violation. 2:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 4:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint on Park View Drive. 4:12 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Highway 61 and 210th Street. 4:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 10900 block of 275th Street. 4:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 1700 block of Monterey Court. 4:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3900 block of Brady Street. 7:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 2400 block of East 53rd Street. 8:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1800 block of West 46th Street. 9:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 1500 block of Fulton Court. 9:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 9:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 800 block of Taylor Street. 9:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 10:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 7100 block of Hillandale Road. 10:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of East Ives Street, McCausland. The parties agreed to separate for the rest of the evening. 11:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. SATURDAY, MARCH 7 12:13 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near State and 18th streets. 1:09 a.m. — Jacob Reed Bauswell, 20, Bettendorf, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession/purchase of alcohol under the legal age – 1st offense, and possession of tobacco/vapor products under the legal age – 1st offense, and cited for failure to maintain control and unlawful use of license, following a traffic stop near Devils Glen Road and Town Pointe Lane, Bettendorf. 2:10 a.m. — Deandre Terrell Miller, 47, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant, and cited for no valid driver’s license and operation without registration, following a traffic stop near West Locust Street and Jebens Avenue, Davenport. 4:36 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 4500 block of Utica Ridge Road. 5:08 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint. 8:11 p.m. — Allen Lee Sisco, 37, Blue Grass, was charged with assault causing bodily injury, after deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11500 block of 97th Avenue, Blue Grass. 9:10 p.m. — Cesar Ivan Contreras, 40, Davenport, was charged with public intoxication – 1st offense, following a report of a disturbance in the 5200 block of Elmore Avenue, Davenport. 10:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of North Cody Road. 11:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of South Grove Street. 11:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 22900 block of 243rd Street. SUNDAY, MARCH 8 3:29 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of West 3rd Street. 5:52 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 11800 block of 95th Avenue. A vehicle driven by Yasin Bakhit Wadi Ahmed, 36, East Moline, lost control on a gravel road. The vehicle left the roadway and went into a ditch. Wadi Ahmed was cited for failure to maintain control. 11:09 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3900 block of State Street. 11:41 a.m. — Khaliah Tekyia Hudson, 28, Davenport, was cited for possession of controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, failure to secure a child, and use of an electronic communication device while driving, following a traffic stop near East Kimberly Road and Davenport Avenue, Davenport. 1:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 7:12 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 26700 block of 276th Street, Princeton. The dispute was verbal in nature and one of the parties left the residence for the evening. MONDAY, MARCH 9 1:07 a.m. — Roberto Jose Vazquez-Duran, 27, Davenport, was charged with possession of contraband in a correctional facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and intent to manufacture/deliver meth over 5g and under 5kg, following an incident near Waverly and Telegraph roads, Davenport.    2:09 a.m. — Deborah Kay Davis, 71, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for failure to maintain control and an open container violation, following a traffic stop near Tremont Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway, Davenport. 7:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 West, Walcott. A vehicle driven by Robert F. Russell, 52, Stockton, sideswiped a vehicle driven by Brian J. Vanacker, 50, Long Grove. 1:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of West LeClaire Road. 1:40 p.m. — Matthew Dale Welch, 39, Davenport, was charged with assault on persons in certain occupations, following a report of an assault in the 400 block of West 4th Street, Davenport. 1:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 14900 block of 110th Avenue. 4:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near 110th Avenue and 190th Street. 4:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 19100 block of 246th Avenue. 6:18 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 400 block of West James Street. 6:29 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near 65th Avenue and 132nd Street. 9:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury TUESDAY, MARCH 10 1:56 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2700 block of East 53rd Street. 3:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1300 block of Spruce Street. 4:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near 240th Street and 145th Avenue. Per evidence at the scene, the vehicle apparently crossed the centerline. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle went into a ditch. The vehicle was abandoned when discovered and there were no witnesses to the accident. Deputies were unable to make contact with the registered owner of the vehicle. 8:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 100 block of North Main Street. 9:39 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of West 4th Street. 9:42 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3000 block of Victoria Street. 10:25 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3500 block of Wisconsin Street. 11:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Middle Road and Competition Drive, Bettendorf. A vehicle driven by Lance Mark Schroeder, 48, Bettendorf, was traversing a roundabout. Schroeder reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which struck two street signs. Schroeder was cited for failure to maintain control. 11:15 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 15200 block of 270th Street. 11:45 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 1100 block of Carriage Place Drive. 1:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 1:59 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 200 block of South Park View Drive. 8:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 27500 block of Great River Road, where a vehicle driven by Michael Jon Deberg, 76, Clinton, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 9:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of 14th Avenue. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 4:34 a.m. — Barry Lee Wallace, 53, Davenport, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender) and speeding, following a traffic stop in the 15000 block of 110th Avenue, Davenport. 5:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of Main Street. 6:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 108 on Highway 61 North, Blue Grass, where a vehicle driven by Derick Martin Sanders, 43, Muscatine, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 11:26 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near West 4th and Marquette streets. 12:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near West 4th and Main streets, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Rayshawn G. Bourrage, 27, Davenport, made an improper lane change and struck a vehicle driven by Ellen Dorathea Gackle, 30, Bettendorf. Bourrage was cited for an improper lane change, failure to use a child restraint device, no valid driver’s license and failure to provide proof of insurance. 1:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road. 7:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 21400 block of 300th Street, McCausland, where a vehicle driven by Sheila Marie Ion, 37, Eldridge, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 8:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 8200 block of Northwest Boulevard. 9:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Muscatine Street. THURSDAY, MARCH 12 1:26 a.m. — Jeremy Allen Summers, 37, Silvis, Ill., was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, following a traffic stop near mile marker 3 on Interstate 74 East, Davenport. 8:09 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Park View Drive. 8:11 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 300 block of West Cedar Lane Drive. 11:18 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 270th Street and Scott Park Road. A vehicle driven by Joyce Elaine Orcutt, 77, Eldridge, made a left turn from 270th Street to Scott Park Road. She failed to yield the right of way and was struck by a vehicle driven by Bellester Ckistian J. Ellestero, 26, Joliet, Ill. Orcutt’s vehicle then went into a ditch. Both drivers were transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. Orcutt was cited for failure to yield the right of way on a left turn. 11:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 1200 block of East Rusholme Street. 1:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3500 block of Wisconsin Street. 3:21 p.m. — Resheh Nichole Davidson, 36, Davenport, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender) and operation without registration, following a traffic stop near West 53rd and Sheridan streets, Davenport. 4:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2700 block of West Locust Street. 4:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. 6:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of Walnut Street. 7:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 10100 block of 297th Street. 11:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road.  

Annual cancer report shows lower rates among farmers

An annual report from the Iowa Cancer Registry on the state’s cancer rates showed lower rates of different cancers among the agricultural community than the state in general, though an expert in the cancer data says more up-to-date information needs to be gathered to know how farmers today could be impacted by pesticides and the like down the line. The 2026 Cancer in Iowa Report, put out by the Iowa Cancer Registry, included new information on cancer rates among young people and among farmers, with the report featuring the work of the Agricultural Health Study. Mary Charlton, Iowa Cancer Registry director and professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa, said interest in the report has grown greatly over the years, with the public and state government wanting to learn more about their cancer risks and what could help mitigate them. “I just think it’s really on people’s minds right now, and it’s very concerning to still be in a state with the second-highest cancer incidence rate in the country,” Charlton said. “You know, we’re ranked pretty highly in many of our major cancers. So I think it’s something that Iowans really want to know what we can do about it and what their risk is.” According to the report, an estimated 21,700 new, invasive cancers are expected to be diagnosed in Iowans — and around 6,400 Iowans are estimated to die from cancer — this year. The state houses an estimated 175,290 cancer survivors, the report stated, up from 171,000 in last year’s report. A new section in the report stated that Iowa’s cancer rates for young adults ages 20-39 is the second-largest in the U.S., with the 2018-2022 cohort seeing 4,006 new cancers — 801 cases per year. However, the state rate of cancer deaths for this group is similar to the national numbers. Cancer rates among children from birth to 14 years old and adolescents aged 15-19 years are also similar to U.S. rates, the report stated, as are rates of death. Charlton said the registry decided to put these numbers in after many people asked about it, saying it is a “hugely important topic, but fortunately, it’s very small numbers.” Exploring cancer in agricultural spaces The Agricultural Health Study, an ongoing research project focused on how agricultural, lifestyle, and genetic factors impact farming population health, was featured in the registry’s report this year. Charlton said it was chosen “given the vast concern about environmental and agricultural exposures in Iowa,” and the registry contributes data to the study “so that they know who in that cohort of over 30,000 Iowa farmers and 20,000 of their spouses end up getting cancer.” According to the report, farmers and their spouses were enrolled in the study in the mid-1990s, and those who apply pesticides are considered to be “highly exposed” to the chemicals compared to the general population. When adjusting for age and sex, the study showed that Iowa farmers had 13% fewer cancers overall than expected when comparing to Iowa’s general population from 1994-2015. The only cancers diagnosed in farmers more than expected were prostate and lip cancers — 20% and 65% more, respectively — with potential risk factors for lip factors including sun exposure and smokeless tobacco use. High exposure to “certain organophosphate insecticides” could increase the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer, the report stated, and other factors include age, family history, dietary factors and drinking water nitrate levels. It was surprising to Charlton to see the lower cancer rates among farmers, she said, as they are “the most highly exposed to pesticides and things like that.” However, it isn’t surprising when factors like drinking and smoking, which was lower among farmers than the general population, and the general health levels needed to do farming work are included.   “I think it really speaks to how complicated cancer is, and … as much as people would like to believe there’s just one thing driving all this, and if we could fix the one thing, then all the cancer would go away in Iowa, but unfortunately, it’s way more complicated than that,” Charlton said. “Cancer is just as a very complex interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors all working together, and I think that plays out in this agricultural population.” Recommendations to mitigate risk Charlton visited the Iowa Capitol this week to speak with House lawmakers about state-funded research into the drivers of Iowa’s high cancer rates, with her and other researchers saying data gathering on pesticides and private wells will help in analysis, but will be difficult to attain. Both the Cancer in Iowa report and the cancer drivers project  “rely heavily on the same data,” Charlton said. As she told lawmakers, the report recommends further testing of wells for nitrate levels and greater information gathering of the pesticides being used in Iowa and where. While cancer rates for farmers were lower than the general population in the agricultural health study, Charlton said many of those farmers aren’t working anymore due to their age, so they’re not being exposed to the newer pesticides in the agriculture industry today. “Pesticides evolve and change over the years, and so … even in that occupational cohort, we don’t have a good system of knowing what’s being used now, because of that could … contribute to cancer in a couple decades from now,” Charlton said. It’s also important for Iowans who live near these farms to know their risks, Charlton said, and there is a “big blind spot” in Iowa for which pesticides are being applied where and when. Knowing that information could help in creating a map of those pesticides and assessing exposure for people to figure out their risks. Charlton said people might get sick of hearing her say it, but cancer is very complicated, and many people have concerns over the risks that they can’t control, like what is in the environment around them. But there are many things that are known about cancer risks, and Charlton said there are things that individuals, communities and state bodies can do to mitigate these risks. Individuals can do plenty to lower their risk of cancer, Charlton said, like halting smoking, drinking in moderation, using sunscreen, eating fruit and vegetables and exercising. Iowa has a 13% smoking rate, she said, according to data from the 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. She also encouraged people to speak with their local elected officials to share what they’d want done. “I think it’s really important for people to get really loud, especially right now, with the policies and things that they’d like to see,” Charlton said.

Radon mitigation systems would be mandatory in new builds under House bill

Radon mitigation systems would be a requirement of Iowa building code for newly constructed homes under a bill passed Thursday by the Iowa House. Supporters of the bill said it’s a step toward protecting Iowans from the cancer-causing gas that is often found in basements. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is emitted during the breakdown of soil and rock. The gas can seep into houses through the foundation and is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. House File 2297 would apply to all new single- and two-family residences by requiring the state building code commissioner to adopt radon mitigation as part of state building code. Rep. Hans Wilz, R-Ottumwa, said the bill is “yet another opportunity to combat cancer rates in the state of Iowa.” “This bill will attack the radon issue on the front end with new home construction,” Wilz said. “This will just bring the entire industry up to speed for prevention of radon in our homes.” HF 2297 is one of several bills related to radon mitigation that Wilz has worked to pass. The House passed a bill in 2025 to provide tax credits to Iowans for the purchase and installation of radon mitigation systems and to require mitigation in new construction, but the Senate did not hold hearings on the bill. While not covered by the bill, radon mitigation systems can be installed in existing homes. Homeowners and renters can request radon test kits from the American Lung Association. An EPA map shows all 99 counties in Iowa have a “zone 1” designation, meaning they have the “highest potential” for high indoor radon measurements. Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, spoke in favor of the bill and said it’s “not every day that we pass bills that will directly save people’s lives.” “It just makes sense that when we have a common enemy of cancer lurking in our state that we unite in a bipartisan fashion to fight it,” Baeth said. According to the Iowa Cancer Consortium, lung cancer from radon exposure results in about 400 deaths in Iowa each year. Iowa continues to have some of the highest rates of new cancers in the country. Wilz said the bill is another way to show Iowans that the state is “serious about addressing the cancer rates.” He said the state’s rural health transformation plan, which mentions radon testing and mitigation, and research being done at the University of Iowa about the key drivers of cancer in the state, are other examples of the state acting on Iowa’s high cancer rates. The bill passed with a vote of 87-4. Republican Reps. Mark Cisneros, Zach Dieken, Judd Lawler and Charley Thomson voted against the measure.

Harrington wins MAC POY award

Junior Josiah Harrington is starting to rewrite the North Scott boys’ basketball record books. The star Lancer forward is the 2026 Mississippi Athletic Conference boys’ basketball Player Of The Year honoree. Harrington is the first North Scott boy to win this award since Cortez Seales in 2015. Whether watching with your own two eyes, or looking at the box scores, there was simply no debate. Harrington led the conference in total scoring, by as significant margin, with 570 points. Second place, Carter Light of Davenport Central, scored 432 points. On a points per game basis, Harrington hit 24.8. Second place, Michael Gordon of Bettendorf, was at 19.3. Harrington also topped the charts in rebounds per game with 196 total and 8.5 per game. On the defensive end, Harrington ranked third in total steals (42) and fourth in total blocks (20). This marks Harrington’s third all-MAC appearance. He was on the first team last season, and the second team as a freshman. Harrington was one of three Lancers to make the all-conference team in 2026. Joining him is sophomore Vasaun Wilmington, who made the second team, and junior Miller Haedt, who was named an honorable mention. Wilmington was dynamite too this season, ranking eighth in the conference in points per game (16.2) and ninth in assists per game (3.4). Wilmington stole 40 passes this season, good for fourth-most in the conference. He also grabbed four rebounds per game and shot 39.8 percent from three-point range. Haedt was an impact defender, taking on other teams’ top backcourt options. He was also an effective scorer on limited usage, making 46.1 percent of his field goal attempts and draining 38.1 percent of his three-point shots. He averaged 5.0 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game while turning the ball over just 1.2 times per game. Bettendorf coach Alvin Vesey won MAC Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to the outright conference championship. North Scott, Muscatine and Central DeWitt all made substate finals this year. However, all three teams lost and the MAC was not represented at the state tournament this year. North Scott season statistical summary Points Josiah Harrington, 570; Vasaun Wilmington, 388; Drew Fischer, 120; Miller Haedt, 119; Zane Rus, 101; Khairi Harper, 87; Mason Anderson, 29; Jeremiah Harrington, 29; Ryder Maher, 13. Rebounds Josiah Harrington, 196; Drew Fischer, 102; Miller Haedt, 98; Vasaun Wilmington, 97; Khairi Harper, 48; Zane Rus, 29; Mason Anderson, 22; Jeremiah Harrington, 22; Ryder Maher, 9. Assists Vasaun Wilmington, 81; Miller Haedt, 59; Josiah Harrington, 36; Drew Fischer, 36; Khairi Harper, 35; Zane Rus, 11; Jeremiah Harrington, 8; Ryder Maher, 5; Mason Anderson, 1. Blocks Josiah Harrington, 20; Vasaun Wilmington, 9; Mason Anderson, 8; Jeremiah Harrington, 3; Miller Haedt, 2; Drew Fischer, 1; Khairi Harper, 1; Zane Rus, 1; Ryder Maher, 1. Steals Josiah Harrington, 42; Vasaun Wilmington, 40; Khairi Harper, 15; Miller Haedt, 13; Drew Fischer, 12; Jeremiah Harrington, 4; Zane Rus, 3; Mason Anderson, 2; Ryder Maher, 1. All-Mississippi Athletic Conference Teams First Team Josiah Harrington, North Scott; Carter Light, Davenport Central; Michael Gordon, Bettendorf; Talan Becker, Muscatine; Henry Stremlow, Davenport Assumption; Cole Shannon, Clinton; MarQwan Morgan, Davenport North. Second Team Hudson Krukow, Central DeWitt; Brady Meadows, Central DeWitt; Spenser Biah, Muscatine; Vasaun Wilmington, North Scott; Cayson Neely, Pleasant Valley; Caden Gray, Bettendorf; Gavin Kettermann, Pleasant Valley. Honorable Mentions Caden Green, Davenport West; Sentrell Gray, Davenport West; Johnale Johnson Jr., Davenport North; Marshall Johnson, Clinton; Nolan Dittmer, Davenport Assumption; Adrian Gonpue, Muscatine; Synceare Simons, Davenport Assumption; TK Morrison, Davenport Central; Cal Kueter, Central DeWitt; Zayne Bowen, Davenport Central; Bryce Langan, Pleasant Valley; Miller Haedt, North Scott; Creighton Arguello, Bettendorf. MAC Player of the Year Josiah Harrington, North Scott MAC Coach of the Year Alvin Vesey, Bettendorf

Senate bill expanding concurrent enrollment holds for expected changes

Legislation to expand career and technical education credit transfers and concurrent program enrollment outside of the school year saw initial approval from an Iowa Senate panel last Wednesday, with the expectation of amendments to come. House File 2547 was tabled in the Iowa Senate Education Committee after it received approval in subcommittee earlier that day. Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, said the panel is waiting for an amendment on the bill that he wants to bring to committee rather than the Senate floor. The bill would allow for more credits, both academic and career and technical education, to be transferred from community colleges to state universities, and require the Iowa Board of Regents to complete a study into potentially establishing a performance-based funding model for the universities they govern. A fund would also be created through the bill, regardless of any appropriations, for high school students to take community college courses aligned with paths to earning postsecondary credentials during the summer, at no cost to the student. Sen. Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, chaired the subcommittee alongside Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, and Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, R-Walcott. Eric St. Clair, legislative and policy liaison for the Iowa Department of Education, told the  subcommittee it would take the $600,000 line-item appropriation to the summer college credit program and place it in the supplementary weighting formula for school districts. It was the summer concurrent enrollment expansion that gave many public commenters and lawmakers pause. School Administrators of Iowa lobbyist Dave Daughton said while summer concurrent courses are “a great opportunity,” the program’s expansion could harm districts. “When they take those concurrent enrollment classes, school districts have to pay for that. They do get supplementary weighting as a result of having students enrolled, but that does not cover the cost of the course,” Daughton said. “And so if this were to go through in this form, it could have an impact on school district budgets.” Supplemental weighting for schools is based on “seat time,” Zimmer said, and students spend less time in seats for community college courses than they do for high school courses. Costs also go up for these classes — for every $1 a school district receives in supplemental weighting for community college courses, it costs them between $3.50 and $4. In speaking with small, mid-size and large school districts in his part of the state, Zimmer said they’ve all said they love the courses for students but cannot afford them. He suggested striking this section from the bill and said the state needs to bring community colleges together to create a statewide plan for concurrent enrollment, as definitions and costs can vary wildly between programs. “Once we have that done, then we can come back and take a look at expanding the program, that right now, I am afraid that it is contracting, not expanding, because of the costs,” Zimmer said. Taylor and Gruenhagen both said during the subcommittee meeting there should be further discussions on the fiscal impact of the bill in its current form on school districts, and invited people to reach out to him with any other concerns they have between now and next week when bills face a second funnel deadline. With some exceptions, bills passed by one chamber need approval of a full committee in the opposite chamber by March 20 to remain eligible for debate.

Extension releases new urban ag resources

As urban agriculture continues to grow across Iowa and the United States, farmers operating in cities and suburban areas face unique opportunities and challenges. To support these producers, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Urban Agriculture Program has released a new series of publications covering key topics that influence urban farm success. The publications provide guidance on accessing conservation assistance, navigating local regulations and managing pests in diverse growing systems. Each resource is designed to help both new and experienced urban farmers make informed decisions and strengthen their operations. The newly released “Growing Urban Agriculture” publications are: “USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Assistance for Urban Farmers” “Urban Farming: Working with Local Governments” “Pest Management for Urban Farms” Connecting urban farmers with conservation programs Urban farmers interested in improving soil health, installing high tunnels or upgrading irrigation systems may be eligible for federal conservation assistance. “USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Assistance for Urban Farmers,” authored by Andrew Thomason, USDA-NRCS state outreach coordinator, explains how producers can access programs offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The publication outlines two major programs available to producers: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The guide also explains eligibility requirements, conservation practice standards and how producers can find their local USDA service center. Helping farmers work with local governments Urban farms often operate in spaces governed by municipal zoning, permits and licensing requirements that can vary widely from one community to another. “Urban Farming: Working with Local Governments,” authored by Kristiana Coutu, director of the Beginning Farmer Center at ISU, helps farmers better understand how local policies may affect their operations. The guide outlines how to identify and interpret city regulations related to urban agriculture, including topics like zoning districts, key legal terms, permit requirements and city lease agreements. Managing pests in urban production systems Urban farms and gardens frequently grow a variety of crops in small areas, which can attract a diverse range of pests. “Pest Management for Urban Farms,” authored by Ashley Dean, field crop entomology extension specialist at Iowa State, introduces growers to the principles of Integrated Pest Management. The publication emphasizes prevention and ecological approaches, including strategies often preferred by urban producers seeking pesticide-free products.The resource also includes identification, scouting and management guidance for several common insect pests, including squash bug, cucumber beetles, aphids, Colorado potato beetle and Japanese beetle. All three publications are available to download through the ISU Extension Store at no cost. Additional resources on urban agriculture are available on the ISU Extension and Outreach Urban Agriculture Program website. For more information, contact Kathleen Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu.

Cover crop and CRP workshop April 2

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Rock Creek Watershed and Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), will host a cover crop and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) field day in Carpenter on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carpenter Community Center. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost. “This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops as an in-field conservation practice,” said Liz Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. with Iowa Learning Farms. “Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with no-till, additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events.” “In our watershed, there are also opportunities for producers to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program to establish perennial vegetation, like prairie, to protect the soil from erosion and improve local water quality,” said Leo Kruse, Rock Creek Watershed coordinator. “This field day will include a visit to the Mitchell County SWCD Farm, donated by Ralph and Celia Ramsay, that demonstrates these practices for area farmers.” Following a complimentary meal, the field day will begin with Milt Owen, assistant commissioner of the Mitchell County SWCD, highlighting the Ramsay family and their contributions to improving soil health and water quality in the area. The agenda will also include Will Marrow, Mitchell County farmer, sharing his experience with cover crops and best recommendations for success. Additionally, Brittany Brandau, program technician with the Mitchell County Farm Service Agency, will discuss CRP sign-up and expected timelines. Mike Webb with the Mitchell County Natural Resources Conservation Service, will discuss the benefits of CRP and best practices for successful establishment and management. The field day will be held at 508 William Street, Carpenter. The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by March 26. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.  

Driver extricated from semi-truck overturned in ditch

A driver was extricated from a semi-truck after it overturned in a ditch Monday evening.

Adam Gopnik salutes the immigrant experience that shaped American music

In a conversation with pianist Lara Downes, the New Yorker staff writer says music in America will keep evolving as long as the country keeps an open door to new people and new sounds.

Sample snacks and drinks at Taste of LeClaire

Enjoy tastings from around town at Taste of LeClaire on Saturday, March 21 from 1 – 3 p.m. Visitors can receive free food and/or beverage samples or discounted specials from various shops, restaurants and bars in the village. Guests must be 21 and older to sample alcoholic beverages. Participants and offerings are subject to change [...]

3 Things to Know | Quad Cities morning headlines for March 17, 2026

Bettendorf police will step up speed enforcement along State and Grant Streets, and trash collection is set to resume after Monday's severe weather.

Ukraine strings nets over cities as killer drones turn streets into war zones

In eastern Ukraine, white nylon nets now stretch over roads and city streets, a low-tech defense against deadly FPV drones that dominate the battlefield and threaten civilians near the front line.

Sparse evidence for cannabis to treat mental health conditions highlights research gap

A new analysis represents the largest effort yet to systematically parse all the data from high-quality clinical trials on cannabis and mental health. The evidence is lacking.

Matt Brooke resigns as Clinton City Administrator

Clinton City Administrator Matt Brooke has submitted his formal resignation, effective March 24, 2026, consistent with the terms in a mutually approved separation agreement, according to a news release from the city. The City Council voted to accept the resignation and approve the resignation agreement and release at a special City Council meeting on March [...]

The most popular 2026 NCAA tournament players, according to PrizePicks data

The most popular 2026 NCAA tournament players, according to PrizePicks dataAs college basketball fans fill out their NCAA Tournament brackets every year, they search for the next breakout player in college basketball.Last year, it was Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. powering the Gators to a national championship. Before that, UConn’s Kemba Walker ripped through the field in 2011. And it doesn’t apply to just national title contenders: Davidson’s Stephen Curry led a memorable Cinderella run in 2008.Who could be the next breakout player to carry their team through the NCAA Tournament?PrizePicks analyzed millions of college basketball picks from the 2025-26 college basketball season to find the most popular players for users — and compared early and late-season trends to spotlight this year’s biggest risers who could make their name known.Here’s what data tells us about the standout college basketball players that could define the 2026 NCAA Tournament.Most Popular College Basketball Players in the 2026 NCAA TournamentDuke power forward Cameron Boozer leads one of college basketball’s best squads as the favorite to win Naismith Player of the Year, earning Boozer a top spot in 2026 NBA mock drafts. The true freshman’s long list of accomplishments has certainly secured one thing: popularity.PrizePicks users picked Cameron Boozer more than any other player in the 2025-26 college basketball season — they also backed him with more entry fees, too. Among PrizePicks college basketball picks, Boozer’s points projection was the most popular choice by total entry fees, across all stat types and players.Another freshman phenom, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, was the second-most popular player in total picks; Dybantsa’s points projection was the second-highest entry fees for picks by stat type on PrizePicks.If there’s one theme this season, it’s all about freshmen. Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Houston point guard Kingston Flemings are additional first-year players among the most popular players.Here’s a full list of the top 10 most popular college basketball players by total picks from the 2025-26 regular season.Duke F Cameron BoozerBYU F AJ DybantsaMichigan State PG Jeremy Fears Jr.Wisconsin SG John BlackwellAlabama G Labaron PhilonGonzaga F Graham IkeArkansas PG Darius AcuffKansas G Darryn PetersonHouston PG Kingston FlemingsIowa State F Joshua JeffersonGuards often rule the NCAA Tournament, and seven of the 10 most popular college basketball players are in the backcourt.Acuff draws the eye, as he finished 28th among players for the highest hit rates — or correct picks — while averaging 22.2 points this year.Gonzaga F Graham Ike joins Acuff as a top-10 player in total picks to also finish in the top 30 of hit rate (19th). The senior big man brings experience to the NCAA Tournament as one of the nation’s best frontcourt players.Will These College Basketball Players Stay Hot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?In the NCAA Tournament, it’s not about what you did to start the year — it’s what you do to finish it. So what about the players who are at the right time?PrizePicks calculated the greatest change in total picks from the first half of the season (Nov. 1-Jan. 11) to the second half of the season (Jan. 12-March 5).Frankly, not many star players appear on the list, as many stars have made themselves known all year.Tennessee guard Bishop Boswell, Texas A&M guard Marcus Hill, and Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg are all within the five highest midseason shifts; however, each player logs under 11.0 points per game (PPG).Perhaps this hints at unlikely players rising to the occasion in the tournament.The Houston Cougars — who are among the national title favorites — feature two players who have seen more picks in the second half of the season: Joseph Tugler and Emanuel Sharp.Could this highlight a run from the Cougars with some of their best players peaking for the postseason?Here’s a full list of the top 10 college basketball players with the greatest change in total picks since the midseason point of the 2025-26 regular season.Tennessee G Bishop BoswellTexas A&M G Marcus HillTCU F Xavier EdmondsSaint Louis C Robbie AvilaNebraska G Sam HoibergHouston F Joseph TuglerTexas Tech G Donovan AtwellHouston G Emanuel SharpArizona G Brayden BurriesWisconsin G John BlackwellLeading one of the nation’s best mid-major teams, Saint Louis C Robbie Avila could have the makings of a postseason darling as a key piece for the 9-seed Billikens.Avila had the fourth-highest spike in pick volume in the back half of the season. He also generated real-money wins, with the second-highest hit rate among players since Jan. 12.TCU F Xavier Edmonds boasts the highest season-long overall hit rate among the top 10 on this list, finishing second for the 2025-26 regular season. If the Horned Frogs sneak into the NCAA Tournament, they could have their star to lean on.Shifting focus to national championship contenders, the secret could be out on Arizona G Brayden Burries, as he finished ninth for the largest change in total picks since the midseason. Since Jan. 12, Burries has five 20+ point games, including 31 points versus Colorado to finish the regular season.Once again, Burries fits the stellar freshman narrative for the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a team that looks poised to make a run.This story was produced by PrizePicks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Butterfly Blessings gathering remembers lost babies

UnityPoint Health – Trinity invites families who have lost a baby during pregnancy or after birth to attend the Butterfly Blessings Memorial Gathering on Sunday, March 29 from 2 - 3 p.m. at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island, Jardine Auditorium, 2701 17th Street in Rock Island. The ceremony was created to honor and remember the lives [...]

Can’t sell your house? How to survive 2026’s frozen market

Can’t sell your house? How to survive 2026’s frozen marketIf you can’t sell your house right now, you’re far from alone. Across the country, housing markets have frozen as elevated mortgage rates keep millions of potential buyers on the sidelines. While scores of buyers wait to see which direction mortgage rates go next, listings linger on the market, and deals take far longer to crystallize than they did just a few years ago.Declining purchasing power is one of the many culprits. Higher borrowing costs mean the same monthly payment now buys much less house, leaving the average American priced out of 75% of the market. As a result, countless households can no longer qualify for homes that once fit their budgets.For sellers, a lack of buyers drastically changes the listing process. Because properties take longer to attract serious interest, the familiar strategy of listing a home and quickly receiving multiple bids no longer works. Now, as TurboTenant outlines in this article, sellers have no choice but to ponder new ways to navigate 2026’s frozen housing market.Why (and where) the 2026 U.S. housing market is ‘frozen’A “frozen” housing market describes a time when home sales slow dramatically because buyers and sellers struggle to meet in the middle. In today’s context, home prices surged during the pandemic but never meaningfully corrected, while mortgage rates have more than doubled since the sub-3% levels seen during the COVID era. Combine these conditions with inflation and tighter household budgets, and housing activity has ground to a halt.Many homeowners remain locked into ultra-low pandemic-era mortgage rates and hesitate to sell if doing so means financing their next home at today’s much higher costs. Giving up a 3% mortgage for a new loan at current rates can dramatically increase monthly payments, even for a similarly priced home. As a result, many homeowners feel trapped and choose to stay put rather than sell. At the same time, cautious buyers are unwilling to stretch their budgets, thereby reducing transactions across many metros.Several U.S. housing markets illustrate this trend particularly clearly:Austin, Texas: Austin’s pandemic housing boom pushed prices sharply upward. As demand cooled and borrowing costs rose, listings lingered on the market while many sellers resisted major price cuts.Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Rising insurance premiums, higher property taxes, and expensive mortgages have cooled buyer demand, leaving more homes unsold in this once red-hot coastal market.Charlotte, North Carolina: Rapid population growth has driven prices higher in recent years, but affordability challenges and higher interest rates now limit buyers’ budgets. Sales, as a result, have slowed across many suburban neighborhoods.Seattle, Washington: Elevated home prices combined with expensive mortgages have sidelined many buyers, while tech-sector uncertainty has further stifled demand.Markets that experienced the fastest price growth during the pandemic often show the clearest signs of today’s slowdown, as higher borrowing costs expose the gap between home prices and what buyers can realistically afford.Option No. 1: Adjust your selling strategy (and get creative)When homes sit on the market longer, sellers must get creative and rethink their listing approach. Small adjustments, like lowering the asking price or offering closing concessions, can make a big difference to cautious buyers. Put simply, homeowners must adjust their selling strategy in response to the market.Investing in professional staging, high-quality photography, and compelling online listings can capture buyer attention when competition is intense. Many prospective buyers with tighter budgets prioritize homes that feel move-in-ready. As a result, even relatively small upgrades, such as fresh paint, landscaping, or minor repairs, can help a property stand out when buyers are methodically mulling their options.Some sellers are also experimenting with ultra-creative marketing tactics that go beyond traditional open houses. In some higher-end markets, realtors sometimes use unique experiences to generate interest and emotional connection. For example, some luxury listings now offer “try-before-you-buy” sleepovers so potential buyers can roll up their sleeves (ahem, sleeping caps) and test-drive the home before committing.When a listing needs fresh hope, nothing is off the table.Option No. 2: Turn your home into a rentalWhen homes aren’t selling, many homeowners opt to adjust their expectations and temporarily rent out the property while they wait for the market to heat up. In many cases, this approach can be a smart way to buy time, as leasing out your home can generate income while you wait for better selling conditions.Long-term rental (LTR)If you can afford to hold onto your property, renting it out on a six- or twelve-month lease may help offset costs while the market recovers. Finding reliable renters who cover most or all of the mortgage while preserving the home’s value is a tried-and-true way to ride out a slow housing market. The key is to screen carefully, set competitive rent, and market the property effectively to find great tenants.Of course, turning your home into a rental raises an obvious question: Where will you live? Some homeowners become renters themselves, creating a break-even arrangement where tenant income covers the mortgage while they rent elsewhere. Others downsize temporarily, move in with family, try house hacking, or even purchase a smaller property while waiting for better market conditions.Mid-term rental (MTR)Mid-term rentals can offer a practical middle ground if you are not ready to commit to a full-year lease. These stays typically last 30 days to six months, longer than a typical Airbnb booking but shorter than a traditional lease. That flexibility allows homeowners to generate income while keeping future options open.The typical mid-term guest is often a mobile professional or someone in transition. Traveling nurses, contract workers, remote employees on temporary assignments, and families between homes often seek furnished housing for stays lasting several months. Providing furniture, including utilities, offering flexible move-in dates, and making the property as turn-key as possible can make the home far more appealing to these types of renters.Short-term rental (STR)Some homeowners decide to turn their property into a short-term rental on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo while waiting for the sales market to turn in their favor. In the right location, nightly rates can generate far more income than traditional mid- or long-term rents. However, STRs usually require much more hands-on work, from managing reservations and guest communication to coordinating frequent turnovers.Running a short-term rental can quickly feel like operating a small hotel. You’ll have to manage cleaning schedules, respond to guest questions, and handle last-minute issues alongside unpredictable booking patterns. And while most guests are respectful, hosts occasionally live out Airbnb horror stories that other hosts warn about. With all this in mind, before listing your property on a STR site, review local regulations, taxes, and HOA restrictions.Option No. 3: Stay put and hold on for a more favorable marketSometimes the best move is no move at all.If you aren’t under immediate pressure to sell, waiting out a slow market may be the simplest strategy. Housing markets move in cycles, and today’s affordability squeeze will not last forever. Over time, buyer demand, borrowing costs, and housing supply will likely shift, creating stronger conditions for sellers.While you wait, focus on strengthening your financial position and maintaining the property. Paying down your mortgage, building equity, and keeping the home in good condition can all work to your advantage. Long-term U.S. housing trends show that interest rates, affordability, and buyer activity tend to shift gradually. In other words, if conditions aren’t ideal now, you’ll likely have a more favorable opportunity to sell later on down the road.By choosing not to rush into a weak market, you’ll buy yourself time to watch local trends and see how inventory, mortgage rates, and buyer activity evolve. If momentum begins to return for sellers, you can list your property rather than competing in today’s market, where the cards are stacked against you. Buyers’ markets never last forever, so hitting the pause button might be the move you need to make.What to avoid during a frozen marketWhen housing markets are stagnant, sellers sometimes make hasty decisions out of frustration or urgency. If you want to protect your home’s value and up your chances of closing a deal, avoid these common mistakes.Overpricing your home: Pricing based on pandemic-era comparables can discourage buyers before they even schedule a showing. Overpriced listings often linger on the market, eventually forcing larger price reductions that make buyers wonder if something is amiss with the property.Listing your home without proper preparation: With most people starting their search online, making a compelling first impression is essential. Homes that appear messy, dated, or poorly maintained are easy for buyers to scroll past. Decluttering, fresh paint, minor repairs, and strong listing photos can make a powerful difference to your digital audience.Taking negotiations personally: Low offers can feel insulting, especially if you have invested time, money, and years into your home. But reacting emotionally may scare off a serious buyer in a market where fewer people are actively making offers.Waiting too long to pivot: If your home sits on the market for weeks or even months without meaningful interest, it may be time to adjust the price, tweak your marketing strategy, or consider renting until conditions tilt back in your favor.Frozen markets require patience, flexibility, and realistic expectations. Sellers who adapt and stay open to new strategies often navigate slow conditions much more successfully.Your options as a seller in a frozen marketIf your house isn’t selling right now, what’s your next move?Start by stepping back and taking stock of your flexibility, timeline, and willingness to adjust your strategy. Some sellers may decide to reduce their asking price. Others may temporarily rent out the property until conditions improve. Some may simply keep living in their home and wait for the market to thaw. Even during slow conditions, homeowners still have several practical paths forward.Housing slowdowns are a normal part of real estate cycles. Periods of rising interest rates, affordability pressure, and economic uncertainty can temporarily stall activity. Over time, however, markets tend to rebalance as borrowing costs shift, inventory adjusts, and buyer demand inevitably returns.Sellers who stay patient, flexible, and poised typically navigate slower markets more successfully. In some cases, renting the property, whether as a long-term or mid-term rental, can generate temporary income while you wait for stronger selling conditions. If you’re considering that option, use a rental property calculator to determine whether turning your home into a rental makes financial sense.This story was produced by TurboTenant and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Renovated Greenwood Cemetery Chapel, Muscatine, open for community use

The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department has announced that the restored Greenwood Cemetery Chapel is now available for community use, a news release says. This historic space—featuring its original altar, podium, and seating for up to 50 guests—offers a peaceful, intimate setting for meaningful moments. Families, friends, and community groups are invited to reserve the [...]

American CueSports Illinois Association 29th annual 8-ball championships, 9-ball tournament at Bend Expo Center

The American CueSports Illinois State Association is hosting the 29th annual 8-Ball Championships & 9-Ball Tournament March 18 – 22 at the Bend Expo Center, 922 Mississippi Parkway in East Moline. This is the first time the tournament will be held on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities. The multi-day event is expected to bring [...]

Crime Stoppers Solved: Man wanted for escape arrested

Dylan Sherer, 20, was wanted by the Iowa Department Of Corrections High Risk Unit for escape.

Do this when you can’t get approved for a loan

Do this when you can’t get approved for a loanAre you tired of getting your loan application denied because you don’t have the best credit? The good news is that there are still plenty of options to get money even when it feels like no one will lend it to you. CreditNinja outlines the best options to use and those to avoid when you need money fast.Try a Personal LoanPersonal loans are one of the best options when you need money fast. Here’s how they work:A loan provider gives you money and then you make monthly payments until you’ve paid off your original loan amount plus interest.Depending on the loan provider, you can get anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to $50,000, and with some of the lowest interest rates out there.The problem is it’s harder to qualify for personal loans, especially the ones that lend out a lot of cash when you don’t have the best credit score. Some of the bigger loans have minimum credit score requirements in the 700s. But worry not, there are loan providers that use different qualification requirements and can probably help you even if you have a lower credit score.What makes personal loans great is that they have longer repayment periods ranging from months to years and typically have better interest rates compared to other bad credit options.Try Peer-to-Peer LendingThe next option to get money fast is peer-to-peer lending. And this is an option that most people haven’t heard about, but it’s one of the most reliable ways to get the money you need.Here’s how peer-to-peer loans work.There are online platforms that connect you, the borrower, with another individual, the investor, who is willing to lend you money. This individual is a person like you. You’re not getting money from a bank or a payday loan provider or anything like that.The investor will open an account on the site and deposit money to fund their loans.When you apply for a loan, you’ll post a financial profile and be assigned to a risk category, which affects the interest rate you will have to pay to borrow.And yes, these sites often require credit checks, so you should have a credit score around 580 and up.After you apply, you’ll receive loan offers from one or more investors and then you choose one to accept. The money transfers to your account, and the monthly loan payments to the lender are handled through the platform.Loan amounts are similar to personal loans, ranging up to 40 to 50K depending on your credit, but remember that APRs or interest rates can be pretty high. If you’re interested in peer-to-peer lending platforms, some of the most popular ones are:LendingClubPureformProsperAsk Your Employer For a LoanAnother form of peer-to-peer lending involves reaching out to friends, family, or your employer, and should probably be one of your top options to consider.Now, if you’re down financially, you’ve likely either already tried this or it’s too sensitive of a topic to bring up with your friends and family. That’s understandable. If something goes wrong, you could strain that relationship big time and Thanksgiving will be incredibly awkward. However, asking your employer for a cash advance is a valid option that could get you the money you need without the awkwardness that comes from asking a family member.The money is usually interest free and you can get a portion or even your whole paycheck early depending on your employer, so it’s worth a shot.Credit CardsFor those of us with credit cards, we’ve heard about credit card cash advances. This isn’t really a loan, but it’s an easy way to get cash using your credit card’s credit limit. You can usually get the money from an ATM or bank without any credit check, which is convenient in a pinch.But be careful. Credit card cash advances start accruing interest immediately and usually at a higher rate than normal credit card purchases. There might also be upfront fees. This means if you only make minimum payments, that cash advance can snowball into a growing balance before you know it.Auto Title LoansAuto title loans are one of the riskiest options on this list, but they’re also one of the most popular. For these, you offer up your vehicle’s title as collateral to borrow money. You get the cash and you get to keep driving your vehicle. But if you stop making your payments on time, the loan provider will likely hire a repo person to seize your car.In fact, about one in five people who take out a single payment car title loan end up having their vehicle seized by the lender for failing to repay. That’s a 20% chance of saying goodbye to your ride and turning a short-term money problem into a long-term crisis. The money you get is usually between 25% and 50% of your car’s resale value.So, if your car is worth $5,000, you can get around $1,000 to $2,500 loan. If you don’t need that much money, you can always borrow a smaller amount. Title loans usually have to be paid back in 30 days or less. So, be prepared to pay the lender back immediately.But when you compare title loans to personal loans, you can get more money, have a longer repayment window, and you don’t have to put your car on the line when you get a personal loan.Loans to AvoidAnd speaking of risky loans, let’s take a second to cover emergency loan alternatives that you may want to avoid.Payday LoansPayday loans are famous for giving almost anyone cash in a hurry, even without a good credit score. A payday loan will almost always say yes when other lenders say no, which can feel like a lifesaver when you’re desperate. But this is part of their trap, or business model. Payday loans come with the highest interest rates for any form of debt with some interest rates as high as 700%. Plus, they make you repay this loan within two weeks.The problem is 80% of payday loans don’t get paid back on the first loan. And payday lenders rake in a fortune off of people who need to take out another loan to pay off their current loan.Cash Advance AppsCash advance apps are similar to payday loans in the sense that it’s easy to get trapped because of their fee structure. They advertise their loans as low or zero interest, but you often have to give a tip to get full access to their platform. Without tipping, your withdrawal amounts could be very limited, and it might take longer to get your cash.Pawn Shop LoansAnd then there’s pawn shop loans, another no credit check method. Here, you bring a valuable item to a pawn shop and they lend you money based on the item’s value. It’s pretty much guaranteed approval as long as your item is valuable enough. The pawn shop doesn’t care about your credit score, only the item.But if you don’t repay on time, they keep your item and will sell it. So only pawn something you truly are prepared to lose.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The Postal Service may be out of cash in 2027 without Congress' help, postmaster says

The U.S. Postal Service's leader says it is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries because of declining mail volume and what USPS sees as burdensome requirements.

Joe Kent, a top counterterrorism official, resigns citing Iran war

Kent said he "cannot in good conscience" back the Iran war. In his resignation letter, he says Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation."

Clinton Fire responds to weekend structure fire

The Clinton Fire Department responded to an early morning fire over the weekend, according to a news release from the department. Clinton firefighters were called to the 700 block of W. Deer Creek Road for a report of a structure fire on March 14 at about 2:25 a.m. The response included two engines, a ladder [...]

St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Where to find food deals and special holiday menu items

Celebrate with deals, discounts and limited-time eats at restaurants across the country.

Another round of snow and then a warming trend

After kicking off the week with a blizzard that dropped between 7-8" of snow in the Quad Cities, another system brings more accumulating snow tonight. After the snow tonight, a warming trend begins Wednesday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Why borderless digital products require a universal compliance posture

Why borderless digital products require a universal compliance postureIn 2024, corporate legal departments were blindsided by an unexpected adversary: the VHS tape. Over 250 class-action lawsuits were filed under the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), a federal law passed in 1988 originally intended to protect physical video rental records.The legal theory was as disruptive as it was ingenious: Plaintiffs discovered that embedding a third-party video player without proper consent mechanisms could expose companies to liability under that 36-year-old statute.These were not “gray area” companies; they were ordinary businesses using routine web infrastructure that suddenly found themselves facing settlements running into the millions. As digital compliance platform Clym explains in this article, this phenomenon represents a new reality: Compliance is now a sprawling, fast-moving landscape where old laws are being repurposed to police modern code.The Jurisdictional Trap: You Don’t Choose Your PerimeterA common insight that growing companies discover too late is that compliance obligations do not follow a simple rule based on where a company is incorporated.Whether a regulation applies depends on a complex intersection of factors: where the business is established, the sector, total revenue, the type of data processed, and the residency of the users.Unlike a physical business that expands market-by-market, a digital product is global from the day it launches, and its compliance obligations follow. A product built in Austin that picks up users in California, Germany, and Canada is immediately in scope for the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) from the moment the first user signs up.A Multi-Front Regulatory WaveThe financial and operational stakes of this “day one” global footprint are no longer theoretical:Global Enforcement: GDPR applies to any organization targeting EU users, and €5.88 billion in cumulative fines since 2018 make clear that “not being a European company” is no defense.The US Patchwork: Nearly 20 US states now have comprehensive privacy laws in force or taking effect, each with different thresholds, exemptions, and enforcement mechanisms.Mandated Accessibility: The European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into full enforcement in June 2025, requiring any business serving EU consumers, including those based in the US or UK, to meet harmonized accessibility standards.Operational Transparency: The EU Whistleblower Directive requires companies with over 50 employees to operate secure internal reporting channels, regardless of where the headquarters sits.The businesses struggling with these shifts aren’t necessarily negligent. They are simply facing obligations that have multiplied faster than any reasonable compliance posture was built to handle.The Intersection of Engineering and LawThe most significant risk today is that many compliance decisions are actually hidden inside routine product decisions. When an engineering team ships a video embed or deploys a session-recording tool without legal review, they are making a compliance decision without realizing it.Most companies approach this by solving each problem as it arrives, bolting on a cookie tool for GDPR or an overlay for accessibility. This results in a fragmented stack of separate vendors and contracts with no coherent view of where the business actually stands.The market is beginning to consolidate around platforms because the “point-solution” approach has become unmanageable.Compliance is no longer a downstream legal task; it is a fundamental property of how a product works. At the scale and speed that digital products now operate across jurisdictions, treating compliance as an isolated legal inbox is an expensive assumption. The companies that handle this well treat these obligations as a core property of their product strategy, not because regulators demanded it, but because there is no other way to stay on top of it.The surge in VPPA and session-replay litigation proves that routine product decisions are now the primary source of legal exposure. Leading companies are shifting their mindset from reactive compliance to product integrity, ensuring that global standards are part of the “Definition of Done” for every new feature.The question for any company with a global user base is no longer if they are subject to these standards, but whether they have decided to be part of the structural shift required to manage them.This story was produced by Clym and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The 50 most expensive ZIP codes for renters—#1 costs $95,833/month

The 50 most expensive ZIP codes for renters in America (2026 rankings)While national rent growth has stabilized in many mid-tier markets, the ultraluxury sector is operating in a different reality. In America’s most exclusive ZIP codes, renting is no longer a stepping stone to ownership—it is a strategic lifestyle choice for the ultrawealthy.From the Hamptons’ summer estates to the cliffside villas of the California coast, the price of admission for a premier rental continues to climb. A new analysis of Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) data conducted by Good Life Property Management’s Orange County office reveals the 50 most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S. entering 2026, where monthly leases often rival the cost of a luxury vehicle.The data reveals a stark “luxury decoupling.” While the average U.S. rent hovers around $2,000 per month, the entry point for the top 50 markets now averages over $6,500, with the most exclusive enclaves commanding well over $40,000 per month. This surge is driven by a shift in high-net-worth behavior: the rise of the “forever renter,” individuals who prioritize flexibility and liquidity over tying up capital in high-maintenance estates.MethodologyZip codes were ranked by their ZORI value as of Dec. 31, 2025—the most recent data available to start the new year. This analysis utilized the “Smoothed, Seasonally Adjusted” dataset to account for volatility in vacation markets. Only ZIP codes with a minimum population of 2,000 were included to eliminate statistical outliers and ensure the rankings reflect active rental markets.The Geography of Wealth: East Coast Seasonality vs. West Coast StabilityThe 2026 rankings reveal a stark geographic divide in the ultraluxury rental market. The top 10 list is dominated by the seasonal enclaves of New York’s Hamptons, where extreme scarcity during summer months skews annual averages. Water Mill, New York (11976), takes the top spot with a staggering typical rent of $95,833 per month, followed closely by Sag Harbor and East Hampton.However, when controlling for seasonal volatility, Southern California emerges as the leader for year-round residential luxury. While the Hamptons are defined by the “summer rental,” the California coast is defined by the “lifestyle lease”—12- to 24-month contracts for primary residences.Notably, Orange County’s coastal ZIP codes are now trading at parity with historically more expensive markets like Beverly Hills and Malibu. Newport Beach (92625), for instance, has surged to rank #14 nationwide, sitting just one spot behind the famous 90210 ZIP code.The Full Top 25 List (2026 Rankings)#1 Water Mill, NY (11976): $95,833#2 Sag Harbor, NY (11963): $41,809#3 East Hampton, NY (11937): $40,745#4 Southampton, NY (11968): $40,058#5 East Quogue, NY (11942): $38,000#6 Montauk, NY (11954): $27,736#7 Margate City, NJ (08402): $26,417#8 Snowmass Village, CO (81615): $21,000#9 Southold, NY (11971): $19,500#10 Aspen, CO (81611): $18,333#11 Malibu, CA (90265): $12,756#12 Los Angeles, CA (90077 – Bel Air): $12,610#13 Beverly Hills, CA (90210): $11,495#14 Newport Beach, CA (92625): $9,102#15 Naples, FL (34103): $8,605#16 Spring Lake, NJ (07762): $8,472#17 Naples, FL (34102): $7,865#18 Newport Beach, CA (92662): $7,724#19 New York, NY (10007 – Tribeca): $7,566#20 Los Altos, CA (94024): $7,499#21 Ventnor City, NJ (08406): $7,485#22 Santa Monica, CA (90402): $7,478#23 Newport Beach, CA (92657): $7,096#24 Siesta Key, FL (34242): $7,000#25 Indian River Shores, FL (32963): $6,986The Rest of the List: Rankings #26-50The second half of the top 50 list highlights the diversity of the luxury rental market, featuring everything from equestrian estates in Florida to tech-centric enclaves in Silicon Valley.#26 Naples, FL (34108): $6,863#27 New York, NY (10282 – Battery Park City): $6,854#28 New York, NY (10013 – SoHo/Tribeca): $6,789#29 Saint Helena, CA (94574): $6,700#30 Key Biscayne, FL (33149): $6,631#31 San Marino, CA (91108): $6,367#32 Tiburon, CA (94920): $6,244#33 Los Altos, CA (94022): $6,179#34 Los Angeles, CA (90272 – Pacific Palisades): $6,163#35 Boston, MA (02120): $6,151#36 Palm Beach Gardens, FL (33412): $6,111#37 Palm Beach, FL (33480): $6,070#38 Jackson, WY (83001): $5,900#39 Short Hills, NJ (07078): $5,873#40 Southlake, TX (76092): $5,850#41 Corte Madera, CA (94925): $5,768#42 Jupiter, FL (33477): $5,648#43 Rolling Hills Estates, CA (90274): $5,639#44 Los Angeles, CA (91436 – Encino): $5,619#45 New York, NY (10014 – West Village): $5,381#46 Manhattan Beach, CA (90266): $5,374#47 Garden City, NY (11530): $5,370#48 New York, NY (10069 – Upper West Side): $5,360#49 New York, NY (10001 – Chelsea): $5,338#50 Saratoga, CA (95070): $5,218The 2026 rental rankings highlight the geographic contrast in ultraluxury markets: from the cliffside estates of Newport Coast, California, to the high-rise penthouses of New York City. Good Life Property Management Conclusion: The Era of ‘Real Estate as a Service’The 2026 data confirms a structural change in the housing market: the “American Dream” is bifurcating. For a growing segment of the ultrawealthy, the ultimate luxury is no longer a mortgage but mobility. The premium rents paid in these top 50 ZIP codes are not just for location or square footage—they are the price of admission for liquidity and freedom.For investors holding these blue-chip assets, the takeaway is clear: The days of passive “mailbox money” in the luxury sector are over. A tenant paying a premium north of $10,000 per month expects a living experience comparable to a five-star hotel. In this new landscape, the most successful property owners will be those who pivot from simple rent collection to active, hospitality-driven asset management.Data analysis by Good Life Property Management’s Orange County Office.This story was produced by Good Life Property Management and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Illinois primary election 2026: What you need to know before voting

Polls are open across Illinois for Primary Election Day. Here’s what makes a primary different — and what you need to bring before heading out to vote.

Rental property recordkeeping rules every landlord should follow

Rental property recordkeeping rules every landlord should followKeeping rigorous records is essential for landlords, especially property managers overseeing multiple units. By treating your rentals as a true business and following best practices, you’ll stay organized, maximize financial benefits, and avoid costly mistakes. In this guide, RentRedi outlines the key recordkeeping rules every landlord should follow. Let’s dive into how solid recordkeeping can protect your income, streamline rental property accounting, and simplify tax time.Quick Takeaways:Treat rentals as a business: Use dedicated accounts and professional habits from day one.Document everything: Track rental property bookkeeping down to each receipt, bill, and lease document.Stay consistent: Update records regularly, reconcile accounts monthly, and use a set accounting method.Leverage technology: Use landlord software to automate tracking and reduce errors.Retain records safely: Store files securely and keep them for the recommended years for taxes and legal protection.Separate Your Business and Personal FinancesOne foundational rule is to never commingle personal and rental finances. Treat your rental income and expenses as a standalone business. This starts with using a dedicated bank account exclusively for rent payments and property expenses. Maintain a separate checking account for your rentals. By doing so, all rent deposits, maintenance payments, and other transactions flow through a single system, making them easy to identify and track.Using separate accounts is also about legal and tax compliance. Many states require holding tenant security deposits in a separate escrow account, and mixing those funds with personal money can lead to penalties. Beyond that, if you own multiple properties, consider separate sub-accounts or tagging transactions by property. This way, each property’s finances remain distinct. You can produce a mini profit-and-loss report for each unit, and you must prepare a separate Schedule E tax form for each property you own. Segregating accounts demonstrates you run your rental operation like a business, with transparent records and no commingling of funds.Actionable Tip: Open a new business bank account for your rental activity. Deposit all rental income into it and pay all property-related bills from it. If managing properties for others, use trust accounts as required. This clear division will prevent endless confusion and provide a clean paper trail. As your portfolio grows, such separation becomes even more crucial. It not only helps day-to-day but also provides an audit-ready trail that demonstrates you manage your rental finances professionally.Track Every Income and Expense in DetailAccurate bookkeeping for landlords boils down to diligently recording all money flowing in and out of your rentals. Every rent payment, late fee, utility reimbursement, and any other income must be logged. Document every expense related to the property: maintenance, repairs, property taxes, insurance premiums, mortgage interest, management fees, and advertising costs. No transaction is too small to record. By tracking rental property taxes and expenses line by line, you gain a clear picture of your property’s cash flow and profitability.A systematic approach to income and expense tracking is the backbone of successful rental accounting. It not only keeps your finances organized, but also ensures you don’t overlook deductible expenses come tax time. Each dollar you spend on the property affects your bottom line. Meticulously recording these expenditures gives you insight into where your money goes and prevents any “missing” funds. It also means that if a tenant or vendor dispute arises, or if you face an audit, you have the evidence on hand.How to implement: Establish a process to log transactions regularly. Some landlords use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, description, amount, and category. Others might use a ledger or an app. Choose a system that you will use consistently. The key is regularity. Set aside time each week or month to update your books. It’s much easier to input receipts and payments as you go than to reconstruct months of transactions from memory. Many experienced landlords treat bookkeeping as a routine part of property management, alongside inspecting a unit or responding to tenant requests. Make it a habit, and your records will always be up to date.Also, organize by property if you have more than one. This means either maintaining separate spreadsheets or segments in your ledger for each address. That way, you can see the performance of each rental on its own. Did Property A bring in more rent than Property B this year? Is one property dragging down your portfolio with high expenses? Separate records will tell you. Keeping things combined might mask an underperforming unit by averaging with others. By tracking income and expenses on a per-property basis, you ensure each asset stands on its own merits.Track rent collection diligently. Log not just that rent was paid, but when and how. Note if a tenant paid on the 1st via ACH or on the 5th in cash, for example. Keeping a detailed rent roll with dates can help you spot chronic late payers and enforce policies. It also provides documentation if you ever need to evict for non-payment or prove income for a loan. In short, leave no dollar unaccounted for.Save Receipts and Documentation for Every ExpenseRecording a payment in your ledger is good, but without proof, it may not hold up under scrutiny. Create a habit of saving and organizing all these supporting documents. Good recordkeeping means not only logging a $200 plumbing repair in your spreadsheet, but also keeping the plumber’s invoice and the receipt for the $200 payment. The IRS emphasizes that you generally must have documentary evidence to support your expenses if you want to deduct them. This means that if you claim $5,000 in repair costs on your taxes and are audited, you’ll need to provide receipts or invoices for those repairs. If you can’t, the deduction may be disallowed.But this isn’t just about taxes. Thorough documentation can protect you in other ways, too. Suppose a tenant claims you never fixed a broken appliance. If you have the work order and receipt from the technician who repaired it, you can easily prove the job was completed and paid for. If a vendor attempts to double-charge, your canceled check serves as proof of payment.Best practices for receipts: Go digital whenever possible. Physical receipts are notorious for fading, getting lost, or piling up in shoeboxes. Consider scanning or photographing paper receipts and storing them in a cloud drive or an app. Many modern rental accounting software platforms allow you to upload receipt images and attach them to transactions. For example, you can snap a picture of a Home Depot receipt for paint supplies and link it to the maintenance expense entry for that property. This not only keeps everything organized but also ensures you have a backup copy. If you prefer physical files, set up a filing system by property and year, and file each paper receipt promptly.Keep in mind certain documents beyond purchase receipts, too. Save lease agreements, tenant communications, inspection reports, and repair logs. Anything that could serve as a record of an event or transaction related to your rental is worth keeping. Landlords who maintain comprehensive tenant files are better prepared if a dispute ever arises. Organize these documents in a logical way. Many landlords use a combination approach: a digital folder for each property and a corresponding physical file for critical hard copies. Always label files clearly with dates and descriptions. The goal is to enable you to retrieve any required record within minutes when needed. Remember, good documentation is part of good recordkeeping.Categorize Expenses and Maximize Your DeductionsBy grouping expenses into categories, you gain insights into where your money is going. More importantly for landlords, proper categorization ensures you don’t miss out on rental property tax deductions. Landlords are entitled to many deductions, from mortgage interest and repairs to depreciation and beyond. But to claim these, you need detailed records sorted by category.Common categories to use in your bookkeeping include:Maintenance and Repairs: e.g., plumbing fixes, painting, handyman labor.Utilities: if you pay any utilities (water, garbage, electricity for common areas, etc.).Insurance: landlord insurance premiums for the property.Property Taxes: the annual real estate taxes.Mortgage Interest: the interest portion of your loan payments (usually reported by your lender as well).Property Management Fees: if you pay a management company or even certain software fees.Advertising and Tenant Acquisition: listing fees, credit check fees (if you cover them), etc.Administrative: office supplies, mileage for trips to the property or hardware store, legal or accounting fees related to the rental.By consistently tagging each expense with a category, you make life easier for yourself. You can evaluate your spending patterns and also ensure you don’t forget a deduction. For instance, many landlords forget to track mileage for rental–related trips, but those miles are deductible as a travel expense if properly documented. If you have a category for “Auto/Travel” and you log those miles with dates and purpose, you can deduct them.Let’s briefly discuss capital improvements vs. deductible expenses, as this is a common area of confusion in recordkeeping. Small repairs and maintenance are deductible in the year paid, whereas improvements that add value usually must be capitalized and depreciated over time. It’s important to distinguish these in your records. You might have categories or flags for “CapEx” (capital expenditures), separate from regular repairs. Keep documentation describing the work done. It will help you and your tax preparer determine the proper treatment. If in doubt, consult a tax professional, but your job as a landlord is to have the records either way. Finally, don’t overlook depreciation. While not an out-of-pocket expense, depreciation on the property is one of the biggest tax deductions you get as a rental owner. Keep a record of your depreciation schedules and any asset additions or dispositions.Be Consistent and Use a Set Accounting MethodConsistency is king in recordkeeping. Landlords should establish a routine for managing their books and stick to it. This includes choosing an accounting method (cash or accrual) and consistently applying it, as well as performing regular reconciliations and audits of your own records. By being methodical and timely, you prevent small errors from snowballing into big problems.Most individual landlords use cash-basis accounting, meaning you count income when you receive it and expenses when you pay them. This is simpler and often makes sense for smaller operations. Alternatively, accrual accounting counts income when earned and expenses when incurred. Accruals can give a more accurate long-term picture but are more complex. Pick the method that fits your business and understand the implications. Once you pick one, be consistent year over year.Avoid letting your bookkeeping pile up. Many landlords fall into the trap of procrastinating: tossing receipts in a drawer and telling themselves they’ll “do it later.” Before you know it, it’s the end of the year, and nothing is organized. To prevent this, set a regular interval to update your records, whether it’s every Friday afternoon or the first weekend of each month, and schedule time to bring the books up to date. Log all new income and expenses, file new receipts, and review the past period’s entries for accuracy. This habit keeps you in tune with your property’s performance and makes recordkeeping less overwhelming.Embrace Technology: Use Software and Apps to Streamline RecordkeepingModern problems require modern solutions. In an age where technology touches every aspect of business, landlords have a wealth of tools available to simplify recordkeeping. Utilizing rental accounting software and a rent collection app for landlords can save you time, reduce errors, and provide professional-level financial management at your fingertips.Why go digital? Managing rentals with pen and paper or basic spreadsheets can become cumbersome, especially as you scale up. Digital tools automate much of the work that landlords traditionally did manually. The best accounting software for rental property owners can automatically log rent payments made by tenants online, generate expense reports, and even prepare key tax documents for you. It’s not about laziness. It’s about efficiency and accuracy. Automating repetitive tasks reduces the risk of human error and improves consistency. Purpose-built landlord software is designed to handle exactly the challenges rental owners face, from tracking income/expenses by property to integrating with online payments and leases.Many landlords initially use general small-business accounting software or simple apps, but they may find that those fall short for rental needs. Dedicated landlord accounting software offers features tailored to rental properties. They often support multi-property tracking. They may include modules for tenant management, maintenance requests, and document storage, so your rental property bookkeeping ties into your tenant records. These systems also often include built-in reminders, such as alerts when a lease is about to expire or when it’s time to raise rents or renew insurance. Crucially, they can automate rent collection and late fees, which directly tie into your financial records.One big advantage of using digital rent collection is the improvement in on-time payments and record transparency. Studies have shown that while digital payments are now the most common way tenants pay rent, about 40% of renters still pay by paper check or money order. By introducing an easy rent payment app for landlords, you can encourage more electronic payments. This not only reduces the incidence of late or lost checks but also ensures each payment is recorded instantly. When a tenant pays through an app, you get an electronic record with date, time and amount, and often an automatic update to your accounting system. No more waiting on the mail or making bank trips for deposits. Additionally, tenants appreciate the convenience of online payments, especially younger renters who rarely use paper checks. Many apps support ACH (bank transfers), credit/debit cards, and cash payments via partners, giving tenants flexibility while keeping you in the loop. The increase in digital payments is a win-win: tenants pay on time more often, and landlords collect more than 99% of rent due when digital options and incentives like credit reporting are in place.When selecting the best accounting software for rental properties, consider features like bank integration, receipt scanning, customizable expense categories, and report generation. Also, look at whether it handles things like depreciation tracking or integration with tax prep tools. If you manage properties for others, trust accounting features are important. And of course, ease of use and good customer support are factors. The fanciest software is useless if you don’t actually use it because it’s too complicated. The best accounting software for landlords is one that fits your portfolio size and your workflow, whether that’s a simple mobile app for a couple of units or a robust cloud platform for hundreds of units.Don’t forget mobile accessibility. It’s extremely useful to snap a photo of a receipt with your phone and attach it immediately, or to check whether a tenant’s payment has cleared while you’re on the go. Most landlord bookkeeping software today offers mobile apps or at least mobile-friendly websites, meaning you can update your records from anywhere.Rent collection apps often include additional benefits, such as automatic reminders for tenants, the ability to enable auto-pay, and features like splitting payments between roommates or scheduling partial payments. These features remove you from being the “nag” for rent. The system handles it. When rent comes in, it’s logged, and you can have the app deposit it directly into the dedicated bank account recommended in Rule 1. Just be aware that as you grow, investing in proper property management and accounting software can greatly simplify your life.Maintain Tenant and Property Records for Legal ProtectionFinancial records aren’t the only documents you need to keep. Comprehensive recordkeeping for landlords also means maintaining organized files on tenants, leases, and the property itself. These records can be your first line of defense in legal disputes and are critical for effective property management. Every landlord should have a system for storing leases, tenant communications, maintenance logs, and other important documents, and should know how long to retain them.Retain and Back Up Records for the Required Time PeriodsThe final rule addresses how long to retain these records and how to ensure they’re securely backed up. Record retention is a vital part of recordkeeping discipline. It’s no use to meticulously maintain documents if you discard them too soon or lose them in a computer crash. Every landlord should follow guidelines for how long to retain different types of records and implement a backup system for important files.For tax-related documents, the IRS generally recommends retaining supporting documents for at least three years after the return’s filing date. This is because the IRS typically can audit returns filed in the last three years. However, there are scenarios where they can go back farther — up to six years if they suspect significant underreporting of income, or indefinitely in cases of fraud. Many financial advisors thus suggest keeping records for seven years, which covers the 6-year audit window plus a cushion. Keeping seven years of records is a common and prudent approach for landlords. If you sold a property, keep its records for at least that long after the sale, as they may be relevant to tax audits or capital gains calculations.For property documents and leases: Keep leases and related tenant files at least a few years after the tenant moves out. A common recommendation is at least five years, because a tenant might sue over a security deposit or an injury within the statute of limitations. If your state’s laws say tenants have X years to bring certain claims, use that as a baseline. Documents related to property ownership should be kept as long as you own the property. Mortgage documents and payoff statements should be kept indefinitely or at least until the loan is settled and you have proof of payoff. Insurance policies are kept for the policy period plus a few years. If there’s a claim, keep those records indefinitely related to that incident. These timelines are considered rental property recordkeeping best practices, as they balance practicality with protection.By following these rental property recordkeeping rules, you’ll establish a rock-solid foundation for your landlording business. You’ll find that decisions become easier with clear data at hand, tax season becomes far less stressful, and potential disputes are much easier to resolve in your favor. From the start of a tenancy to years after it ends, your diligent records are your secret weapon.In summary: Keep finances separate, document everything, stay organized with consistency and tech tools, and retain records for the long haul. These habits may require some effort to establish, but they deliver financial savings, peace of mind, and professionalism.This story was produced by RentRedi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

5 budget-friendly travel destinations to add to your retirement bucket list

5 budget-friendly travel destinations to add to your retirement bucket listRetirement is steadily becoming less of a time for slowing down and more of an opportunity to explore the world. According to AARP, travel remains one of the top priorities for retirees, with about 70% of adults age 50 and older planning trips in 2025, up from 65% the year before.Many retirees also expect to take multiple trips each year, even as cost remains their biggest travel concern. Below, Splitero explores retirement travel on a budget, including planning strategies and destination ideas that help you balance meaningful experiences with long-term financial stability.  How to plan retirement travel on a budgetThe key to smart retirement travel planning is using methods that work for multiple trips, instead of relying on luck or one-off deals. Retirees who own their homes often have extra flexibility when budgeting for travel, even while still paying off a mortgage. Many prioritize destinations that balance affordability, comfort, accessibility, and the ability to travel at a slower pace, helping stretch travel budgets across multiple trips.Several factors consistently influence retirement travel costs:Travel timingVisiting travel destinations during off-season months can significantly reduce costs and improve the overall experience. Off-season travel usually means smaller crowds, shorter lines at attractions, and more flexible booking options, making trips less stressful and more enjoyable. Lodging and vacation rentals often offer lower rates or long-stay discounts during these quieter months, helping you save on accommodations.Timing things just right can help with flight costs, too: Data from Hopper shows that traveling in off-season months like September or October can save travelers around 40 % on round-trip domestic airfare compared with peak summer months.Trip length, pacing, and extended-stay opportunitiesPlanning fewer trips but staying longer in each destination can reduce transportation expenses and allow you to have fuller, richer experiences in each location. By staying longer, you can take advantage of long-term rental rates or off-season pricing, making each trip more rewarding and cost-effective.Some destinations also offer visa or residency options that make longer stays easier.Daily expenses such as meals, transportation, and entertainment vary widely between destinations, and understanding these costs can make a big difference for retirees on a budget. For example, dining out in parts of Southeast Asia, Latin America, or Southeastern Europe can cost a fraction of what it would in major U.S. cities, with local markets, street food vendors, and casual restaurants offering high-quality meals for just a few dollars.Even small expenses can add up over time, so choosing destinations with lower daily costs of living can support longer and more enjoyable stays.Accessibility and comfortTraveling on a budget is easier when you have access to walkable neighborhoods, reliable public transit, and quality healthcare resources. In some international destinations, pharmacies are plentiful, medications are available over the counter at affordable prices, and clinics are often easier to access than in many U.S. cities.Areas with adequate public transportation also tend to be more wheelchair-friendly, often featuring elevators, ramps, and lifts to access buses, trains, and subway stations. Walkable neighborhoods and well-connected transit systems reduce reliance on taxis or rental cars, allowing you to navigate cities more affordably, efficiently, and safely. 5 budget-friendly destinations for retirement travelFrom exploring historic plazas and vibrant markets to hiking the misty trails of the Great Smoky Mountains, these destinations mix cultural discovery with natural beauty. You can relax on Puerto Rico’s beaches, wander Portugal’s riverside neighborhoods, or enjoy the Gulf Coast’s laid-back charm while keeping travel costs manageable. The Global Guy // Shutterstock 1. George Town, MalaysiaGeorge Town offers retirees an ideal getaway for foodies at a relatively moderate cost. Round-trip economy flights from major U.S. gateways to destinations across Asia typically range from about $800 to $1,300 when booked in advance, and travelers can often find better value in spring and fall. December through February typically brings the most comfortable weather in the region, with slightly lower humidity than at other times of year.The city’s compact layout makes it easy to explore at a slower pace, whether by foot, public transit, or taxi. Visitors can tour the historic Blue Mansion, stroll Armenian Street to see famous murals, or visit Khoo Kongsi, a beautifully decorated Chinese clan house with ornate carvings and an ancestral shrine.You can also wander the waterfront at Chew Jetty and enjoy the city’s world-renowned street food, which boasts famous noodle dishes such as char kway teow and assam laksa. The affordable food and gentle pace make George Town a standout destination for those who want to experience the thrill of culinary adventure without overspending.  jharsh21 // Shutterstock 2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United StatesThe Great Smoky Mountains provide one of the most accessible and cost-effective domestic travel options for retirees seeking to reconnect with nature. The park offers free entry, scenic drives, accessible visitor centers, and a wide range of low-impact hiking trails. Visitors can also explore wildlife habitats, visit historic homesteads, and marvel at seasonal foliage displays.Nearby towns such as Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, provide lodging options that range from cabins to extended short-term rentals, allowing retirees to adjust accommodations to their travel budgets.You will often encounter the best value for your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains in late winter and early spring (January through March), when visitor traffic slows down and lodging availability increases.Adults age 62 and older may also qualify for a National Parks Senior Lifetime Pass, which can reduce entry costs across multiple federal recreation sites and support long-term retirement travel planning.  Pamela Brick // Shutterstock 3. San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan offers retirees a tropical travel experience with fewer logistical hurdles than many international destinations. U.S. citizens can visit without a passport, which can simplify planning and reduce administrative costs. And because Puerto Rico uses the U.S. dollar, Americans can avoid foreign currency conversion considerations when budgeting their trip.Flights to San Juan are frequently competitive with other Caribbean destinations. There is also a wide range of accommodations to choose from, including hotels, extended-stay rentals, and vacation apartments. Visitors can explore beaches, historic landmarks in Old San Juan, and nearby natural attractions such as El Yunque National Forest. Walkable neighborhoods and established tourism infrastructure help support comfortable, low-stress travel.Overall costs for visiting San Juan are often lower during late spring and early fall (roughly May and September through early November), since tourism demand declines between peak winter and summer travel seasons.  Daniel Vine Photography // Shutterstock 4. Lisbon and Porto, PortugalPortugal continues to attract retirees who are seeking European travel experiences with relatively moderate daily living costs compared with many Western European destinations.Lisbon offers historic waterfront neighborhoods, plentiful cultural landmarks, and public transportation that connects major attractions, while Porto boasts scenic riverfront views, impressive architecture, and noted wine cellars. Train travel between the two cities makes it easier to experience multiple regions within one trip. When planning a trip to Portugal, you will often find lower airfare and lodging costs during late fall through early spring (November through March), excluding major holidays. Portugal’s mild winter climate makes off-season travel particularly appealing for retirees seeking fewer crowds.Portugal has also historically offered residency options that appeal to retirees interested in longer stays, although eligibility requirements may change and should be reviewed carefully. Mark Winfrey // Shutterstock 5. Gulf Shores, AlabamaGulf Shores offers retirees a coastal vacation option that is often more affordable than other, higher-profile U.S. beach destinations.Located along the Gulf Coast, the region offers public beach access, state parks, fishing opportunities, wildlife viewing, and historic sites. Gulf Shores supports slower-paced travel with ample opportunities for extended regional stays.While the area welcomes visitors year-round, you will often find better value during the late fall and winter months (November through February). Mild winter temperatures still encourage outdoor recreation such as beach walking, nature trail hikes, and wildlife viewing through the cooler months.Because Gulf Shores is drivable from many central and southeastern U.S. states, you may consider reducing airfare expenses by planning a road trip or taking time to explore the region by car. Funding travel in retirementEven with careful budgeting, retirement travel may require some supplemental funding beyond retirement savings. Retired homeowners have a few different ways to help fund their retirement travel goals.Travel rewards credit cardsSome retirees use travel rewards credit cards to offset airfare, lodging, or activity costs. When used responsibly, rewards programs can help reduce overall travel expenses through points or mileage accumulation. However, you should review fees and interest rates carefully and avoid carrying balances that could increase long-term costs.Renting or subletting part of your homeSome retirees supplement their travel budget by renting out a spare room or a portion of their home. This can be done either through short-term rental platforms like Airbnb or through long-term leases. These options can help offset travel expenses while allowing homeowners to continue living on their property.Just be sure to consider local regulations, insurance costs, and management responsibilities to ensure that the arrangement is safe, legal, and hassle-free.Reverse mortgageA reverse mortgage is a type of loan available to homeowners age 62 and older that allows them to access their home equity without making required monthly payments. Interest accrues over time, and the balance is typically repaid when the home is sold or ownership changes. While reverse mortgages can support retirement cash flow, you should carefully consider the long-term financial implications and your estate planning goals.Home equity investment optionA home equity investment (HEI) option allows you to access your home equity without monthly payments. Instead, you receive a lump sum of cash in exchange for a share or split of your home’s future value.With an HEI, you can continue living in your home while using funds for retirement priorities such as travel, healthcare, or lifestyle planning. Unlike many loans or financing options, HEIs typically don’t require traditional income verification, making them accessible to homeowners with diverse income streams or retirement income. Depending on the agreement, you may repurchase your investment option later or settle it when selling your home down the line. Bottom lineRetirement opens the door to traveling on your own schedule and with your own vibe, whether that means exploring lively cities in Latin America, scenic regions in the United States, historic neighborhoods in Europe, or vibrant cultural hubs across Southeast Asia. No matter your budget or preferred travel style, there are options available that range from nearby, easy-to-reach destinations to international trips that let you experience new cultures.Funding these adventures does not have to come at the expense of your financial security as a homeowner. Resources like home equity investments can provide flexible access to funds, making it easier to plan longer stays, visit multiple regions, and enjoy deeper connections to your travel destinations while continuing to live in your own home. With thoughtful planning, well-timed travel, and smart budgeting, retirees can build a retirement lifestyle that feels both secure and full of adventure.This story was produced by Splitero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

When Using a Generator: Keep Safety in Mind

(NAPSI)­—It’s good to have a home generator on hand when the power goes out, but it’s best to use it with safety in mind. For example, set it up away from your home. Never put it in the house, garage or carport, or near an open door or window. Use an outdoor rated extension cord. Install a working carbon monoxide detector. Use fuel that’s E10 or less and not more than 30 days old. And be sure to secure the generator against theft so you’ll have it when you need it. Learn more at OPEI.org.Word Count: 95

Polling places across Illinois are ready for state's primary election day

Most polling places will be open starting at 6 a.m., and for people looking to vote, remember to bring two forms of ID.

Not Plain Jane Consignment boutique opens March 17 in Moline

Not Plain Jane Consignment boutique opens this week in Moline and will hold a grand opening Saturday, March 21.

Proposed changes to Rock River dams spark community debate

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources revealed its study on possible changes to two Rock River dams, with some community members voicing concerns.

Israel says it killed two top Iranian commanders in targeted strike

Israel says it killed Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, the highest profile assassinations since the targeting of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war.

Israel says it killed 2 top Iranian commanders in a targeted strike

Israel says it killed Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, the highest-profile assassinations since the targeting of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war.

A Trump official quits over the Iran war, as Israel says it killed 2 Iranian commanders

Israel says it killed Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani. Iran has yet to confirm but it would be the highest-profile killings since the targeting of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Is there a more fair way to sell World Cup tickets?

World Cup tickets are expensive, and buying them has been frustrating and confusing. But this is what economics is for: figuring out the best ways to allocate scarce resources. FIFA, steal these ideas.

Walter Butler

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island."If you build it, they will come" is an Iowa idea that goes back at least as far as the beginnings of Iowa City.On May…

I'm concerned about my blood pressure. Can I check it at home?

If you get a high reading at the doctor's office, it may not be definitive. Here's what to know about your risk — and testing your blood pressure at home.

Bringing marine life back to South Florida's 'forgotten edge'

Seawalls are great at protecting property and people. A new nature-inspired seawall add-on is trying to make them better at protecting marine wildlife too.

Reproductive health clinics scramble as Title X funding cliff approaches

Title X is a 56-year-old federal grant program that supports thousands of clinics that provide birth control and STI testing and treatment around the country. Now those clinics could face a funding gap because of a Trump administration delay.

'Rewarding loyalists,' punishing critics: How Trump's Treasury sanctions foreigners

Spain's Prime Minister called U.S. strikes against Iran "unjustified." When other foreigners in power have used similar language against the U.S. or Israel, they were sanctioned by the Treasury.

From Descartes to punk rock, X has an extraordinary history

The letter X can be a lot of things: rebellious, mysterious, religious. For this Word of the Week, we examine its origins and many uses.

Last protester in detention after Trump's campus crackdown has been released

Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old from the West Bank who has lived in New Jersey since 2016, had been held in a U.S. immigration detention center in Texas since last March.

RI County Sheriff candidates share priorities before primary

Rock Island County residents will narrow down several races with the primary for the 2026 midterm elections Tuesday. One race includes the Rock Island County Sheriff. It will be an open job after current Sheriff Darren Hart announced he's retiring. Three deputies are on the Democratic Party's ballot. Marcus Herbert, a sergeant with the department, [...]

Navigating Cholesterol: What You Need to Know for a Healthy Heart

(Feature Impact) With so much information available, it can be difficult to understand what cholesterol is - and why it's important. Knowing your personal risk of developing heart disease and managing your cholesterol early through healthy habits, regular screening and informed care is key for heart and brain health. This advice from the American Heart Association can help you understand why cholesterol matters, how to manage it and how lifestyle habits may affect your long-term heart health. Cholesterol is Essential Cholesterol is a waxy substance found throughout your body. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs for important jobs, such as helping to build cells and make certain hormones. The concern is having too much "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Having enough "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) in your blood can help reduce your risk. "Cholesterol itself isn't the enemy - our bodies need moderate levels to function," said Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FAHA, chair of the 2026 Dyslipidemia Guideline writing group and an American Heart Association national volunteer expert and cardiologist. "The goal is balance. Healthy lifestyle habits are a powerful step in keeping LDL cholesterol in a healthy range and protecting your heart and brain over the long term." Cholesterol in Your Blood vs. Cholesterol in Food Too much blood cholesterol - the type measured on a cholesterol test - can cause plaque buildup in arteries (atherosclerosis), increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke. Blood cholesterol levels are influenced by overall eating patterns, lifestyle habits, genetics and other health factors, not just the cholesterol found in foods. Enjoy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, unsaturated fats and lean proteins as part of an overall healthy eating pattern. Limit ultra-processed foods that are high in saturated fats, added sugars and sodium.  Know Your Numbers and Understand Your Risk Adults ages 19 and older should have their cholesterol checked at least every five years, as recommended by the American Heart Association. A lipid profile, or cholesterol test, is a blood test that will provide results for your HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total blood cholesterol. Other risk factors like age, family history, smoking status and more should also be considered to determine your risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Work with your health care professional to understand your results and design a treatment plan based on your risk. Managing Cholesterol: Lifestyle is Essential For many people, healthy lifestyle habits are the foundation of cholesterol management. Eating a nutritious diet, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, avoiding tobacco products and managing blood pressure and blood sugar can all help support heart health. Cholesterol-Lowering Medications In addition to healthy lifestyle habits, some people may require cholesterol-lowering medication based on their overall risk of developing heart disease or stroke. If side effects occur, talk with a health care professional. Another medication or approach may be a better fit, and staying on the recommended treatment plan can support long-term heart health. Cholesterol in Children High cholesterol doesn't just affect adults. It can begin in childhood, particularly for children with inherited conditions or other risk factors, which is why early screening is important. Cholesterol screening is recommended for children not previously screened between the ages of 9-11 to help assess risk and guide care, along with kickstarting wellness habits such as prioritizing healthy foods, daily exercise and adequate sleep. These small lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke through adulthood. For more information and heart health resources, visit Heart.org/KnowYourCholesterol.   Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

The Cost of Ignoring Technical SEO in a Competitive Market

(NewsUSA) - In highly competitive local markets, visibility is no longer won solely through content and keywords. Increasingly, it’s determined by infrastructure.While many business owners invest in branding, paid ads, and social media campaigns, a growing body of SEO audits suggests that technical foundations — often invisible to the end user — are quietly determining who ranks and who doesn’t. According to analysts at iLocal, technical SEO issues are now one of the most common barriers preventing small and mid-sized businesses from gaining traction in search results.And the cost of neglecting it is compounding.The Invisible Ranking FactorTechnical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes elements that allow search engines to properly crawl, index, and evaluate a website. This includes site speed, mobile optimization, clean code, structured data, secure connections (HTTPS), XML sitemaps, and logical internal linking.When these elements are misconfigured, search engines struggle to interpret the site’s authority and relevance — no matter how strong the content may be.Common technical oversights include:Slow page load times caused by oversized images or poor hosting  Broken links and crawl errors  Duplicate content due to improper URL parameters  Missing schema markup  Poor mobile responsiveness  None of these issues are immediately obvious to business owners reviewing their own websites. Yet collectively, they can significantly suppress ranking potential.The Competitive ShiftSearch algorithms have evolved. In crowded industries — legal services, medical practices, home services, financial consulting — competitors often produce similar content targeting similar keywords. When relevance is equal, technical performance becomes the differentiator.Google increasingly prioritizes user experience signals. Core Web Vitals, page stability, load performance, and mobile usability are no longer secondary considerations. They are ranking signals.In competitive markets, even marginal technical advantages can shift visibility from page two to page one — or from the bottom of page one to the top three local results.The Compounding Revenue ImpactThe consequences of technical neglect aren’t limited to rankings. Slower websites experience higher bounce rates. Mobile usability issues reduce engagement. Broken pages damage credibility.For businesses relying on inbound leads, even a modest drop in organic traffic can represent thousands — or tens of thousands — of dollars in unrealized annual revenue.What makes the issue particularly costly is that many businesses continue increasing ad spend to compensate for declining organic visibility, rather than addressing the structural cause.From Marketing Expense to Digital InfrastructureA growing trend among performance-driven firms is the reframing of SEO as infrastructure rather than marketing. Instead of viewing it as a campaign with a start and end date, technical SEO is treated as ongoing maintenance — similar to maintaining a physical storefront.Proactive businesses are implementing regular technical audits that evaluate:Crawlability and indexation  Structured data implementation  Page speed and performance metrics  Security configurations  Internal linking architecture  These audits often uncover latent issues that, once resolved, unlock performance gains without additional content production.The Emerging DivideAs digital competition intensifies, a divide is forming between businesses with optimized technical foundations and those relying on surface-level tactics.In today’s search landscape, visibility is no longer earned by content alone. It’s supported — and sometimes limited — by code, structure, and performance.Ignoring technical SEO in a competitive market isn’t just a missed opportunity. It’s a structural disadvantage.And in an environment where small ranking shifts can dramatically impact lead flow, structural disadvantage carries a measurable cost. To learn more, visit https://ilocal.net/ 

Moline community voices concerns over plans for steel dam on Rock River

It was a packed house Monday night in Moline to figure out what to do with the steel dam on the Rock River.

Illinois DNR discusses possible changes to Steel and Sears dams

The DNR will collect comments on the proposals until March 31, and then a final report is expected in June.

What's in the SAVE America Act?

The bill requires people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote, and it's one of President Trump's biggest priorities.

Knox County deploying snowmobile rescue team due to hazardous road conditions

Officials with the Knox County Sheriff's Office said residents should stay home if possible.

Kevin McKee is golden once again as sled hockey team tops Canada

US sweeps all the hockey competitions in Milan.

Knox County deploying snowmobile rescue team due to hazardous road conditions

Officials with the Knox County Sheriff's Office said residents should stay home if possible.

Knox County deploys snowmobile rescue team amid dangerous road conditions

The Knox County Snowmobile Rescue Team has been deployed to help stranded drivers as the QCA

A look behind-the-scenes at Moline Public Works' snow plow crews following winter storm

After inches of snow were dumped across the Quad Cities region, we give you a look behind the wheel on how plow drivers work to clear roadways.

Traffic Alert: I-74 West to I-80 West ramp blocked due to crash

The ramp is from I-74 West to I-80 West, according to Iowa 511.

QC Rollers move to new venue for 20th season home opener game

This year is the 20th season of the QC Rollers.

County attorney: West Liberty officer ‘legally justified’ when he shot man

A West Liberty police officer was “legally justified” when he shot a man during a domestic disturbance call, the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office found.