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

Saturday, January 17th, 2026
	'Not for sale': massive protest in Copenhagen against Trump's desire to acquire Greenland Thousands of people rallied in Copenhagen to push back on President Trump's rhetoric that the U.S. should acquire Greenland.
	Traffic Alert: Westbound I-80 on-ramp closed at Middle Road interchange A traffic alert for drivers on I-80 at the Middle Road Interchange.
	Treasurer: SouthPark Mall owners on the hook for over $400k in missed property taxes The future of SouthPark Mall could be in danger.
	Clinton police looking for missing woman Police say she may not be dressed appropriately for the weather.
	Troopers identify man killed in Jackson County crash The crash happened Tuesday afternoon.
	Uganda's longtime leader declared winner in disputed vote Museveni claims victory in Uganda's contested election as opposition leader Bobi Wine goes into hiding amid chaos, violence and accusations of fraud.
	Christian Care, Rock Island, hosts annual 'Have a Heart for the Homeless' fundraiser Christian Care will host the 12th annual "Have a Heart for the Homeless" fundraising luncheon at at noon Saturday, Feb. 7, at Bally's Casino Hotel in Rock Island. The issues of homelessness and hunger are escalating, impacting many individuals and families in the community. Christian Care plays a vital role in offering essential services to [...]
	Putnam, Davenport Library team for new 'Artifacts & Archives' podcast In celebration of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026, the Putnam Museum and Science Center and the Davenport Public Library have announced the launch of a new podcast, "Artifacts & Archives." The first episode premieres Monday, Jan. 19, a news release says. The podcast is available on major podcast platforms and here. This [...]
	Farmland values plateau after years of growth as farmers face income challenges A new report from Farmers National Company shows farmland values have stopped rising after years of steady growth, adding to challenges facing farmers during a difficult year.
	Opinion: Remembering Ai, a remarkably intelligent chimpanzee We remember Ai, a highly intelligent chimpanzee who lived at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University for most of her life, except the time she escaped and walked around campus.
	Recent postal service changes could disrupt mail-in voting, county clerks warn New postal service changes to postmarking and transportation rules could disrupt mail-in voting in the 2026 election, Illinois county clerks said this week.
	The near death -- and last-minute reprieve -- of a trial for an HIV vaccine A trial was about to launch for a vaccine that would ward off the HIV virus. It would be an incredible breakthrough. Then it looked as if it would be over before it started.
	United Way Quad Cities free tax assistance locations starts next month United Way’s Free Tax Assistance locations open February 2, and appointments open January 20.
	Memories of Muscatine: The footbridge at Weed Park This week for Memories of Muscatine: A photo of the bridge at Weed Park.
	Illinois ‘Clean Slate’ law to seal nonviolent criminal records Over 1.7 million Illinois adults will be eligible to have their nonviolent criminal records automatically sealed after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the "Clean Slate" Act.
	Is RFK Jr.'s Administration for a Healthy America — AHA — in the works or not? The Administration for a Healthy America is RFK Jr.'s plan to tackle chronic disease, addiction and other persistent problems. But so far it's not being set up like previous new agencies.
	Fish and Wildlife, EPA make objections to barge port plan for part of Savanna Army Depot Officials with the local economic development organization believe barge access along the Mississippi River at the former U.S. Army installation would attract businesses and jobs to the Savanna, Illinois, area.
	Quad Cities Farm Show returns January 18-20 The Quad Cities Farm Show returns to the QCCA Expo Center January 18–20. According to a release from the QCCA Expo Center, the 34th annual Quad Cities Farm Show will bring farmers, agribusiness professionals and agriculture enthusiasts together and feature exhibitors showcasing the latest agricultural equipment, technology, products and services to explore new innovations, connect [...]
	The Outlaw of Jackson County This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.When the good citizens of Bellevue, Iowa, awoke to the fact that one of their most upstanding and mannerly residents,…
	Beat the winter blues at Winterfest & Frosty Four Fun Run Let Winterfest cure your winter blues! According to a release from the City of Bettendorf, Winterfest is a new event right after the Frosty Four Fun Run, organized by the Bettendorf Parks & Recreation Department. Winterfest and the Frosty Four Fun Run take place February 1. Here's a look at what's ahead: Frosty Four Fun [...]
	Trump is threatening to cut funding from sanctuary cities. Here's what to know President Trump says he's cutting federal money to sanctuary cities. But courts have blocked similar moves, ruling that the federal government can't use funding to coerce state and local governments.
	Events in Minneapolis show how immigration enforcement has changed. What's the impact? Minneapolis is at the center of sweeping, evolving federal immigration push. It demonstrates how different immigration enforcement is under Trump's second administration - and raises questions about the lingering effects on local communities and law enforcement.
	They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania Prediction market apps are thriving in Trump's second term, with traders betting on migrant deportations to election outcomes. A community of young, mostly male and very online traders are driving the industry's bonanza.
	Yes, introverts and extroverts can be good friends. Here's how Can't seem to match the energy of a good friend? You might be on opposite ends of the personality spectrum — and that's OK. Here's how to foster deep connections despite your differences.
	Illinois Sheriffs' Association scholarships available The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships throughout Illinois to students for the 2026-2027 academic year. According to a release from the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office: Applications are available at local sheriff’s offices in Illinois or here. Students must complete the application, essay question and all documentation to the [...]
	QCA students make school history with first dance team A group of talented students at Riverdale High School (RHS) took matters into their own hands and raised enough money to fund a school dance team. With only a few performances left, their first season has turned out to be a success. "They went above and beyond and took this to athletic directors and principals, [...]
	Minifridge recall expands to 964,000 Frigidaires after fire reports Owners of the recalled minifridges are urged to stop using them immediately.
Friday, January 16th, 2026
	First date at Bears’ playoff game in 2019 leads to marriage for KWQC anchor William Ingalls In January of 2019, William Ingalls was nervously watching the Bears’ playoff game against the Eagles with his new friend Taylor.
	Judge rules immigration officers in Minneapolis can't detain peaceful protesters Officers in the Minneapolis-area participating in a U.S. immigration enforcement operation can't detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren't obstructing authorities, a judge ruled Friday.
	LeClaire Eagle Fest returns with eagle watching, ice carving and live raptor programs The 4th Annual LeClaire Eagle Fest returns Jan. 17–18 with free eagle watching, live ice carving and a full lineup of raptor presentations and family activities along the Mississippi River.
	Protest against ICE-related shootings held in Davenport Dozens of people protested against what they called "Injust-ICE" Friday at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, 2930 W Locust, Davenport. One Human Family of the Quad Cities organized the event. That's after two shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis happened within days of each other. Now people are taking to the streets [...]
	2 hospitalized after house fire in Moline on Friday night A home on the 4800 block of 47th Street in Moline has been deemed uninhabitable after the fire. Officials are still working to determine a cause.
	Program helps cover cost of Little League registrations in Moline The T-Mobile grants are distributed through prepaid debit cards, so league officials don't know who uses it.
	Davenport community protests ICE action in Minneapolis The protestors gathered at Metropolitan Community Church in the wake of a pair of shootings involving federal agents in the past two weeks.
	Bill Northey honored with posthumous, national award The former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture passed away in 2024. He was nominated by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
	Illinois secretary of state warns residents about text-message scams Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias warns Illinois residents to look out for text message scams claiming to be from the “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles," according to a news release. The messages threaten to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges, while falsely claiming that enforcement actions will begin Saturday, Jan. 17. The Illinois Secretary [...]
	Two people taken to the hospital, family displaced by fire at Moline home Two people were injured Friday in a fire at a Moline home in the 4800 block of 47th Street, the Moline Fire Department said.
	Moline man faces charges in connection with assault in Monmouth, Ill. A 41-year-old Moline man has been arrested on a warrant in connection with the assault of a child, according to a news release from the Warren County State's Attorney's Office. Fernando D. Fuentes Prieto was arrested on a warrant for three counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of domestic battery for offenses alleged [...]
	Justice Department opens investigation into Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor Federal prosecutors are investigating Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.
	'We need to keep standing up': More than 100 gather at Davenport church to protest ICE The protest was hosted by the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad-Cities.
	Highlight Zone: Week 2, high school basketball Catch up on all the best plays from some of your favorite teams.
	Crews respond to Moline structure fire Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire on the 4200 block of 47th St., Moline, shortly after 5 p.m. Friday. At 5:30 p.m., crews remained at the home near the intersection of 47th Street and 49th Avenue. We do not know what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured.
	Treasurer: SouthPark Mall owners on the hook for over $400,000 in missed property taxes The future of SouthPark Mall could be in danger.
	2 taken to hospital after Moline house fire; water main breaks during response Firefighters were fighting a fire at 4820 47th St. on Friday evening.
	Cities, agencies in the Quad-Cities find rooms for unhoused people ahead of frigid weekend Efforts on both sides of the Quad-Cities are expected to house close to 100 people in hotels during cold weather this weekend.
	No sign of new protests in Iran as a hard-line cleric calls for executions A Iran returns to an uneasy calm after protests led to a violent crackdown, a senior cleric is calling for the death penalty for detained demonstrators. His sermon Friday also threatened U.S. President Trump.
	Quad Cities Farm Show returns this weekend to QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island The Quad Cities Farm Show returns to the QCCA Expo Center Sunday-Tuesday, Jan. 18–20, marking the 34th year of the long-running event that brings farmers, agribusiness professionals, and agriculture enthusiasts together from across the region. The event will feature a wide range of exhibitors showcasing the latest agricultural equipment,technology, products, and services. From large machinery [...]
	1 on 1: Why Gov. Reynolds is focused on your property taxes Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said that property tax reform is the one big remaining issue that she wants to improve during her final year in office.
	Scott County rolling out new design for MEDIC EMS ambulances MEDIC EMS ambulances in Scott County will adopt a brighter design, officials say is easier to see, with changes phased in as new vehicles are added.
	QC students help wrap thousands of tree seedlings in East Moline Despite winter conditions, students and teachers in East Moline are helping prepare 175,000 tree seedlings for spring planting across the region.
	Fire breaks out in Moline on Friday night A viewer called in a fire to News 8 around 5:15 p.m. on Friday. We have a crew on the scene and are working to get more information.
	Fire breaks out in Moline on Friday night A viewer called in a fire to News 8 around 5:15 p.m. on Friday. We have a crew on the scene and are working to get more information.
	Why the New Dietary Guidelines Recommend Eggs as a High-Quality Protein That Supports Health at Every Age (BPT) - By Jen Houchins, PhD, RDLife is busy. Some mornings are rushed, many evenings are unpredictable, and very few days go exactly as planned. That's why I rely on foods that are familiar, easy to prepare, and nourishing for my family. Eggs have filled that role in my kitchen for years.As a registered dietitian, I also know that the type of protein we choose matters. The recently released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend including protein at every meal and choosing high-quality sources.[1] Eggs fit naturally into that guidance and into everyday meals.Protein that fuels your bodyEggs are a complete protein, meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids your body needs.[2] An egg provides six grams of protein[3], making it a simple and efficient way to add high-quality protein to meals.It's no secret that eggs are healthy. Two eggs can easily serve as a simple, protein-rich base for breakfast, lunch or dinner.[4] That small choice can help fuel your body and help you feel your strongest every day.Food for thoughtWhen you choose eggs, you're not just feeding your body — you're feeding your brain, too!Eggs are one of the highest dietary sources of choline[5], a nutrient that supports brain development, memory, mood, muscle control and other functions throughout the body. Most Americans don't get enough choline[6], and eggs can help fill that gap.One egg provides about 150 mg of choline.[7] Enjoying two eggs at any time of day can provide roughly 50%–70% of your daily needs.[8] That makes eggs a smart and practical addition to meals that support your overall health.And don't skip the yolk! Much of an egg's nutrition is found there, including nearly half the protein, most vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin.[9] These carotenoids, which give the yolk its yellow color, are associated with eye health and are being studied for potential links to brain health.[10]Supporting muscle and everyday movementBuilding strong muscles isn't just about hitting fitness goals. Muscles support daily movement, balance and long-term mobility. High-quality protein plays an important role in maintaining muscle mass throughout life.Eggs provide complete protein and essential nutrients that support the body's muscles.[11] Along with regular exercise and a balanced diet, eggs can help support everything from daily tasks to healthy aging.Eggs at every stage of lifeEggs are recommended in the Dietary Guidelines as a nutrient-rich food for people of all ages.During pregnancy and breastfeeding, eggs provide nutrients that support early brain development.[12] For infants, eggs can be introduced around six months of age as a complementary food to help meet nutrient needs and reduce the risk of egg allergy.[13]For children and teens, eggs support rapid growth and help to meet essential nutrient needs.[14] For adults and older adults, research shows nutrients found in eggs, like choline, are linked to brain health.[15]The Dietary Guidelines no longer set a specific limit on dietary cholesterol, reflecting current science and recognizing that eggs can fit comfortably into a healthy eating pattern when balanced with foods low in saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.[16]Everyday protein made easyEggs are familiar and easy to use in everyday meals. When life gets busy and needs to be simple, eggs provide a reliable and versatile source of high-quality protein.Whether supporting the body or brain, eggs offer nutritional support that fits into real life and everyday routines.[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Resets U.S. Nutrition Policy, Puts Real Food Back at the Center of Health, January 7, 2026[2] Schaafsma G. The protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score. J Nutr. 2000;130(7):1865S-7S.? [3] https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-is-the-cholesterol-content-of-eggs[4] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients.[5] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients.[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK114310/[7] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients.[8] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients.[9] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients.[10] Johnson EJ. Role of lutein and zeaxanthin in visual and cognitive function throughout the lifespan. Nutr/ Rev. 2014;72(9):605-12.[11] U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central SR Legacy -- Egg, whole, raw, fresh. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171287/nutrients. [12] Christifano DN, Bennett L. Early life nutrition and the developing brain. Supplement to the Journal of Family Practice. 2023;72(6):S25-30.[13] Obbagy, J.E., et al., Complementary feeding and food allergy, atopic dermatitis/eczema, asthma, and allergic rhinitis: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr, 2019. 109(Supplement_7): p. 890s-934s[14] Morales-Juárez, A., et al., Eating egg-rich diets and modeling the addition of one daily egg reduced the risk of nutrient inadequacy among U.S. adolescents with and without food insecurity. J Nutr, 2024.[15] American Egg Board's Egg Nutrition Center. NHANES 2013-2016. Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm; https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/what-we-eat-america-wweia-database.[16] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated "Healthy" Nutrient Content Claim: Final Rule. 2025; Available from: https://www.fda.gov/food/workshops-meetings-webinars-food-and-dietary-supplements/webinar-updated-healthy-claim-04102025, Fernandez, M.L., The Role of Eggs in Healthy Diets. Supplement to the Journal of Family Practice, 2022. 71(6): p. S71-S75.
	Crews respond to fire in Moline Firefighters were fighting a fire at 4820 47th St. on Friday evening.
	Traffic Alert: Westbound I-80 on-ramp closed, detour in place A traffic alert for drivers on I-80 at the Middle Road Interchange.
	Remembering Quad Cities food celebrity Chef Stephanie Godke Stephanie Godke passed away of cancer on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
	A frigid holiday weekend in the Quad Cities With the long weekend right around the corner, we are getting ready for temperatures to drop quite heavily for the next few days. Temperatures on the thermometer throughout the weekend are going to be in the upper teens and mid 20s with even a chance of snow on Sunday. However along with the colder weather, [...]
	Students in Central Dewitt experience 'Future Ready Day' Students in Central Dewitt experienced 'Future Ready Day,' an event designed to show how classroom learning connects to life after graduation.
	QC chef, culinary instructor passes away A well-known Quad-Cities chef and culinary instructor has passed away. Stephanie Heiwig Godke, 75, died Wednesday, according to her obituary. For decades, "Chef Steph" appeared regularly on television and radio. She is listed as "Spirited Chef" (recipe creator) on the website for the Mississippi River Distilling Company, LeClaire, where she created recipes for more than [...]
	1-on-1 with ABC Political Director Averi Harper \| Iowa midterm elections analysis ABC Political Director Averi Harper spoke with Local 5's Joseph Holloway about the upcoming midterm elections and some key races in Iowa.
	Drive okay after semi-truck crashes, catches fire on I-80 The cause of the accident is still unknown, but the driver was not injured.
	Quad City Blues hockey team to 'Face Off Against Type 1 Diabetes' with annual charity game The Blues will take the ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Vibrant Arena to raise money for Breakthrough T1D Eastern Iowa and Matt's Diabetes Promise.
	Hy-Vee donates more than $18k to the River Bend Food Bank Hy-Vee donated over $18k of fundraising dollars to the River Bend Food Bank, providing money for about 92,000 meals.
	Previewing week 2 of The Score Basketball on WQAD! News 8's Kory Kuffler and Jenna Minor preview all the basketball action we'll see on both sides of the river on Friday night.
	Knox County opens warming centers The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather advisory for the region beginning Friday, Jan. 16. On Sunday, the wind chill will be -3 in the morning and again that night. On Monday morning, the wind chill will dip to -18, and the actual temperature will be -1. WARMING CENTERS GALESBURG KNOX COUNTY Visit [...]
	American farmers, who once fed the world, face a volatile global market with diminishing federal backing President Donald Trump appears to have upended an 85-year relationship between American farmers and the United States’ global exercise of power. But that link has been fraying since the end of the Cold War, and Trump’s moves are just another big step. During World War II, the U.S. government tied agriculture to foreign policy by using taxpayer dollars to buy food from American farmers and send it to hungry allies abroad. This agricultural diplomacy continued into the Cold War through programs such as the Marshall Plan to rebuild European agriculture, Food for Peace to send surplus U.S. food to hungry allies, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which aimed to make food aid and agricultural development permanent components of U.S. foreign policy. During that period, the United States also participated in multinational partnerships to set global production goals and trade guidelines to promote the international movement of food – including the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Wheat Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. When U.S. farmers faced labor shortfalls, the federal government created guest-worker programs that provided critical hands in the fields, most often from Mexico and the Caribbean. At the end of World War II, the U.S. government recognized that farmers could not just rely on domestic agricultural subsidies, including production limits, price supports and crop insurance, for prosperity. American farmers’ well-being instead depended on the rest of the world. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development. His administration has also aggressively detained and deported suspected noncitizens living and working in the U.S., including farmworkers. And he has imposed tariffs that caused U.S. trading partners to retaliate, slashing international demand for U.S. agricultural products. Trump’s actions follow diplomatic and agricultural transformations that I research, and which began with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Feed the world, save the farm Even before the nation’s founding, farmers in what would become the United States staked their livelihood on international networks of labor, plants and animals, and trade. Cotton was the most prominent early example of these relationships, and by the 19th century wheat farmers depended on expanding transportation networks to move their goods within the country and overseas. Workers load cattle on a train for shipment to market in the late 19th century. Bettmann via Getty Images via The Conversation But fears that international trade could create economic uncertainty limited American farmers’ interest in overseas markets. The Great Depression in the 1930s reinforced skepticism of international markets, which many farmers and policymakers saw as the principal cause of the economic downturn. World War II forced them to change their view. The Lend-Lease Act, passed in March 1941, aimed to keep the United States out of the war by providing supplies, weapons and equipment to Britain and its allies. Importantly for farmers, the act created a surge in demand for food. And after Congress declared war in December 1941, the need to feed U.S. and allied troops abroad pushed demand for farm products ever higher. Food took on a significance beyond satisfying a wartime need: The Soviet Union, for example, made special requests for butter. U.S. soldiers wrote about the special bond created by seeing milk and eggs from a hometown dairy, and Europeans who received food under the Lend-Lease Act embraced large cans of condensed milk with sky-blue labels as if they were talismans. Crates of American hams, supplied through the Lend-Lease Act, are loaded on a ship bound for Britain in 1941. Bettmann via Getty Images via The Conversation Another war ends But despite their critical contribution to the war, American farmers worried that the familiar pattern of postwar recession would repeat once Germany and Japan had surrendered. Congress fulfilled farmers’ fears of an economic collapse by sharply reducing its food purchases as soon as the war ended in the summer of 1945. In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs. Bags of Marshall Plan flour wait in New York for shipment to Austria in 1948. Ann Ronan Picture Library/Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images via The Conversation More action waited until 1948, when Congress recognized communism’s growing appeal in Europe amid an underfunded postwar reconstruction effort. The Marshall Plan’s more robust promise of food and other resources was intended to counter Soviet influence. Sending American food overseas through postwar rehabilitation and development programs caused farm revenue to surge. It proved that foreign markets could create prosperity for American farmers, while food and agriculture’s importance to postwar reconstruction in Europe and Asia cemented their importance in U.S. foreign policy. Farmers in the modern world Farmers’ contribution to the Cold War shored up their cultural and political importance in a rapidly industrializing and urbanizing United States. The Midwestern farm became an aspirational symbol used by the State Department to encourage European refugees to emigrate to the U.S. after World War II. American farmers volunteered to be amateur diplomats, sharing methods and technologies with their agricultural counterparts around the world. By the 1950s, delegations of Soviet officials were traveling to the Midwest, including Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev’s excursion to Iowa in 1959. U.S. farmers reciprocated with tours of the Soviet Union. Young Americans who had grown up on farms moved abroad to live with host families, working their properties and informally sharing U.S. agricultural methods. Certain that their land and techniques were superior to those of their overseas peers, U.S. farmers felt obligated to share their wisdom with the rest of the world. The collapse of the Soviet Union undermined the central purpose for the United States’ agricultural diplomacy. But a growing global appetite for meat in the 1990s helped make up some of the difference. U.S. farmers shifted crops from wheat to corn and soybeans to feed growing numbers of livestock around the world. They used newly available genetically engineered seeds that promised unprecedented yields. Expecting these transformations to financially benefit American farmers and seeing little need to preserve Cold War-era international cooperation, the U.S. government changed its trade policy from collaborating on global trade to making it more of a competition. World leaders sign the Marrakesh Agreement, creating the World Trade Organization, in 1994. Jacques Langevin/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images via The Conversation The George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations crafted the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization to replace the general agreement on trade and tariffs. They assumed American farmers’ past preeminence would continue to increase farm revenues even as global economic forces shifted. But U.S. farmers have faced higher costs for seeds and fertilizer, as well as new international competitors such as Brazil. With a diminished competitive advantage and the loss of the Cold War’s cooperative infrastructure, U.S. farmers now face a more volatile global market that will likely require greater government support through subsidies rather than offering prosperity through commerce. That includes the Trump administration’s December 2025 announcement of a US$12 billion farmer bailout. As Trump’s trade wars continue, they show that the U.S. government is no longer fostering a global agricultural market in which U.S. farmers enjoy a trade advantage or government protection – even if they retain some cultural and political significance in the 21st century. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Peter Simons, Hamilton College Read more: Why 2026 could see the end of the Farm Bill era of American agriculture policy Trump’s tariff gambit: As allies prepare to strike back, a costly trade war looms Agriculture secretary oversees food production, rural life, and nutrition programs that help millions afford healthy diets Peter Simons does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	Hy-Vee presents River Bend Food Bank with check for more than $18,000 The QCA raised thousands to help fight food insecurity in our area. Local Hy-Vee leaders presented the River Bend Food Bank with a check for more than $18,000. The money was raised through customer donations across eight Hy-Vee stores across the Quad Cities. The fundraising campaign ran in November as people struggled to access food [...]
	Quad City Blues hockey team to 'Face Off Against Type 1 Diabetes' with annual charity game The Blues will take the ice on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Vibrant Arena to raise money for Breakthrough T1D Eastern Iowa and Matt's Diabetes Promise.
	Warming shelters open in Clinton as dangerously cold temperatures approach Officials in Clinton County have activated their Extreme Temperature Plan due to the upcoming dangerously cold weather.
	Why January can feel emotionally heavy Why January can feel emotionally heavyIt’s early January. Your inbox is crowded with fresh-start messages, your calendar looks untouched, and social media hums with promises of transformation. Everywhere you look, momentum seems to be building. Yet you’re sitting with your coffee, feeling oddly out of sync with all this optimism.The gap between January's promises and its reality feels disorienting. While the world races toward change, you might feel a heaviness in these early days. It's not quite sadness or fatigue, but something harder to define.This emotional weight many feel in January doesn't mean something's wrong with you. It reflects a natural response to the shift from holiday intensity to everyday routine. Recognizing why January feels heavy, rather than trying to fix or ignore these feelings, might be what we need. Here, Blueprint explores the emotional challenges many people experience in January.A Quiet Month That Arrives LoudlyJanuary bursts in with fireworks, champagne, and bold declarations about who we'll become. Yet beneath the celebrations, many feel differently. The month that promises a fresh start often feels like a heavy blanket.This contrast between expectations and internal experience creates emotional dissonance. While your planner fills with goals and your gym bag is ready, your emotional reserves might feel empty. The pressure to feel renewed when you're actually depleted can increase this disconnection.January challenges us by demanding immediate action after rest and celebration. The sudden shift from holiday to productivity mode doesn't match our natural rhythms. We often need time to process and integrate experiences, but January's cultural narrative pushes us to move forward before we're ready.The Emotional Whiplash After the HolidaysDecember acts like scaffolding for our emotions, providing structure through holiday events, work deadlines, and family rituals. It offers distraction through celebrations, travel planning, and social obligations. We move through December with purpose, even when exhausted, because the framework holds us up.Then January arrives and removes that scaffolding all at once. Research on post-holiday blues shows that emotional lows often follow intense holiday activity, leaving many feeling emptied and unmotivated once routines resume. Without the external structure of holiday activities, we experience what therapists call "emotional decompression,” a sudden release of feelings we've been too busy to process. This isn't weakness; it's physics. Compressed emotions need somewhere to go.During this decompression, contradictory feelings often surface simultaneously:Grief and relief: Missing loved ones while feeling grateful that the pressure has endedLoneliness and exhaustion: Craving connection yet needing solitude to recoverNostalgia and readiness: Wishing to hold onto holiday warmth while wanting to move forwardThese mixed emotions can feel confusing. You might wonder why you feel sad when nothing is technically wrong, or why motivation feels impossible when you have so many plans. The emotional whiplash happens because we've shifted from high stimulation to ordinary life without a transition time.January brings an increase in "existential conversations" where people question their purpose, relationships, and life direction. The contrast between December's fullness and January's emptiness creates space for these deeper reflections to emerge. This contemplative state, while uncomfortable, often signals important internal work beginning.January's cultural script often feels like a manual for self-improvement: reset your habits, upgrade your routines, transform your life. The urge to reinvent yourself comes wrapped in motivational quotes and before-and-after photos. Even with a positive spin, this expectation to quickly improve can feel overwhelming when your emotional energy is low. If you’re interested in a gentler approach, mental health resolutions can offer a more balanced path.Social media amplifies this pressure through what we call "comparison fatigue." Experts note that unrealistic goals and cultural pressure to start strong in January can contribute to anxiety and disappointment when expectations aren’t met. Scrolling past othersâ€™ meal prep containers, 5 a.m. workout videos, and productivity systems creates a distorted reality where everyone seems ahead. This constant exposure to curated transformations makes your own pace feel inadequate.Here's a gentle reframe worth considering:Wanting rest doesn't signal laziness: Your body and mind might need recovery more than drastic change right now.Continuation counts as progress: Maintaining existing routines during difficult times demonstrates strength.Timing matters more than trends: Starting something in March when you're emotionally ready beats forcing it in January.The nuance often lost in New Year messaging is that goals themselves aren't the issue; it’s the assumption that everyone's ready to pursue them at the same time. Research shows that some people genuinely feel energized by fresh starts, while others need time to process and restore. Neither response is wrong.Emotional readiness can't be scheduled. Pushing yourself to begin major changes while still processing the previous year often leads to abandoned efforts and self-criticism. Recognizing where you are emotionally, rather than where the calendar says you should be, creates a more sustainable foundation for any future changes.Winter, Biology, and the Slower Pace of the BodyWinter creates a mix of biological changes that naturally slow us down. Shorter days mean less sunlight exposure, which disrupts our circadian rhythms and reduces serotonin production. Colder temperatures encourage us to seek warmth and shelter rather than activity. These aren't personal failings; they're evolutionary responses that once helped our ancestors survive harsh winters.In a national poll by the American Psychiatric Association, about 41% of Americans said they sleep more during the winter, and 28% reported increased fatigue during the colder months, showing that shifts in energy and rest are common even outside clinical depression. These shifts reflect your body's natural adaptation to seasonal changes:Sleep patterns change: You might need one to two extra hours of sleep as melatonin production increasesAppetite shifts toward comfort foods: Your body craves more carbohydrates for quick energySocial batteries drain faster: The effort required for social interaction increases when energy is lowMotivation fluctuates: Tasks that felt easy in summer now require more mental effortIt's important to distinguish between a normal winter slowdown and clinical depression. While seasonal changes affect most people's energy and mood to some degree, persistent feelings of hopelessness, inability to function, or thoughts of self-harm warrant professional support. The heaviness we're discussing involves feeling sluggish and unmotivated, not being unable to experience any joy or hope.Winter asks our bodies for conservation, not acceleration. Fighting against this natural rhythm often intensifies fatigue and frustration. Instead of viewing these changes as obstacles to overcome, we might recognize them as signals that our bodies are functioning exactly as designed by prioritizing rest and restoration during a season that historically demanded survival over achievement.The Loneliness That Comes From ‘Going Back to Normal’The shift from holiday togetherness to January's solitude happens abruptly. One week, you're surrounded by family, sharing meals and stories. Next, you're eating lunch alone at your desk, wondering when you'll see those people again. This change from collective warmth to individual responsibility creates a specific kind of loneliness that is quiet, persistent, and often unacknowledged.January marks the return to:Regular work schedules: The flexibility of holiday time disappears into rigid routinesIndividual responsibilities: Shared holiday tasks become solo endeavors againPhysical distance: Family members scatter back to their separate livesEveryday obligations: The special gives way to the mundaneThis quiet loneliness differs from dramatic isolation. It doesn't announce itself with tears or crisis. Instead, it settles in gradually, the empty feeling after hanging up from a video call, the silence in your apartment after visitors leave, the realization that your next meaningful connection might be weeks away.Mixed emotions characterize this period:Relief and sadness coexist: You're grateful for your space yet miss the closenessCalm meets isolation: The peace feels good until it becomes too quietFreedom brings emptiness: Having time to yourself loses appeal when connection feels distantRecognizing these contradictions helps make the experience feel more normal. Feeling lonely while simultaneously needing space isn't confusion, it's the natural response to shifting from intense togetherness to necessary separation. This transition period asks us to hold multiple truths: that we can miss people while needing distance, feel lonely while craving solitude, and grieve connection while building independence.What Emotional Heaviness Is and What It Isn'tLet's clarify what January's emotional heaviness actually means. We often mislabel these feelings or judge ourselves for experiencing them.What emotional heaviness isn't:Laziness or lack of willpower: Your body's need for rest shows wisdom, not weaknessPersonal failure: Feeling heavy after intense periods is a normal physiological responseAlways a mental health crisis: While persistent symptoms need professional support, temporary heaviness often signals healthy processingWhat emotional heaviness actually is:Transition: Your emotional system adjusting between different life phases or seasonsIntegration: Your mind working to process and incorporate recent experiencesRecalibration: Your internal compass resetting after periods of high stimulation or stressThink of emotional heaviness like muscle soreness after exercise. It indicates your system is working, not broken. The feeling builds gradually from processing multiple stressors, manifesting as fatigue, mood changes, or that hard-to-describe sense of being weighed down.Psychology Today explains that simply naming these feelings does something powerful: it reduces their intensity. When you say "I feel emotionally heavy right now" instead of "I don't know what's wrong with me," shame decreases. The experience doesn't disappear, but it becomes more manageable.This distinction matters because how we interpret our feelings shapes our response. Viewing heaviness as failure leads to harsh self-criticism. Recognizing it as transition allows for self-compassion. Neither perspective changes the immediate experience, but one creates space for healing while the other compounds suffering.A Gentler Way to Move Through JanuaryNavigating January's heaviness calls for supportive practices rather than quick fixes. The aim isn't to "fix" yourself but rather about creating conditions that respect where you are right now.Consider easing your expectations temporarily. This might mean:Maintaining one steady routine: Choose something simple like morning coffee in the same spot or a 10-minute evening walk.Allowing rest without explanation: Sleep in on weekends without guilt or take breaks without needing to justify them.Saying no more often: Protect your energy by declining commitments that aren't necessary.Right now, giving yourself permission matters more than being productive. Allow yourself to move slowly, feel conflicted, and acknowledge your needs.These reflective questions might help clarify what you need:What helped me last year that I want to keep?What do I need less of right now?Which expectations are mine versus othersâ€™?What would true self-care look like today?Connection remains important during heavy times. This might involve:Honest conversations: Share how you're really feeling with trusted friends.Professional support: Consider therapy if the heaviness persists or interferes with daily life.Small social moments: Text someone you miss or schedule a low-key coffee date.The suggestion here is simple: respect your pace. January doesn't demand transformation. Sometimes the most meaningful act is allowing yourself to be exactly where you are, knowing that gentleness toward yourself fosters more lasting change than force ever could.Closing: Letting January Be What It IsThink back to that January morning—inbox still overflowing, calendar still pristine, social feeds still buzzing with transformation stories. You're still holding your coffee, still feeling that disconnect. But perhaps now the gap between external expectations and internal experience feels more like honesty than failure.January doesn't need to be inspiring to matter. The month's value might lie in its heaviness—in the way it forces us to slow down when everything else demands speed. This quietness creates space for:Memory consolidation: Processing December's experiences into lasting insightsAuthentic presence: Being a quieter version of yourself without apologyNatural recalibration: Letting your internal compass reset without forcing directionConsider this reframe: heaviness as a signal, not a verdict. Your body and mind are communicating something important about what they need. The fatigue tells you to rest. The emotional weight asks for gentleness. The resistance to resolutions suggests different timing might serve you better.Sometimes the most honest way to begin the year is through listening rather than rushing. January's invitation isn't to change but to be present with whatever is actually here. In a culture obsessed with constant improvement, accepting where you are becomes its own radical act.Let January be heavy if it needs to be. Let it be quiet. Let it be a month of integration rather than initiation. The year is long, and meaningful change rarely follows anyone else's timeline but your own.How Blueprint can help streamline your workflow‍Blueprint is a HIPAA-compliant AI Assistant built with therapists, for the way therapists work. Trusted by over 50,000 clinicians, Blueprint automates progress notes, drafts smart treatment plans, and surfaces actionable insights before, during, and after every client session. That means saving about 5-10 hours each week — so you have more time to focus on what matters most to you.This story was produced by Blueprint and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'An impact all over the country': Quad-Cities students wrap trees for conservation project Rock Island and Riverdale students helped wrap trees, to be planted all across the United States.
	QC Farm Show returning for the 34th year The annual QC Farm Show returns for their 34th year at the QCCA Expo Center.
	Measles is spreading fast in S.C. Here's what it says about vaccine exemptions More than 550 people have contracted measles in Spartanburg County, S.C., in a fast-growing outbreak. Like a majority of U.S. counties, nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination are also rising.
	Iowa dairy farmers could benefit from new whole milk law As students get back the option for whole milk with their school lunches, experts say Iowa's dairy industry will reap the benefits.
	Big changes in 2026 traffic laws: What drivers should know nationwide Big changes in 2026 traffic laws: What drivers should know nationwideTraffic laws in the U.S. are changing in 2026. States are adding new ways to catch people breaking laws, increasing fines, and putting in place rules to make driving safer. While not every new rule directly affects car insurance, certain violations, such as speeding and DUI-related offenses, often contribute to higher premiums. It’s not one big national change. Instead, it’s a trend toward using cameras and other tech to enforce laws, stopping people from driving distracted, and making sure bad drivers face bigger consequences.Cheap Insurance looks at these new laws to show you how they’ll affect your daily drive and your car insurance. Not all of the new laws will have an impact on your insurance, but things like speeding and driving under the influence will definitely increase your premiums. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety went so far as to publish a report in 2026 regarding the states and their implementation of these new traffic laws and areas where they are coming up short.National Traffic Law Trends in 20261. Hands-Free Driving Laws Are More Strictly EnforcedBy 2026, the grace periods for hands-free laws have largely expired. Previously, the states practiced secondary enforcement, where a driver was stopped for a different traffic violation. Today, these states have moved toward primary enforcement. This falls in line with federal studies, which suggest that the growth of deliveries and rideshare services as a result of technology has raised the use of phones while driving.Insurance Impact: Distracted-driving violations now have a heavier weight in points in many states, which directly affects how car insurance companies judge a driver’s risk profile.2. Automated Speed and Red-Light Camera ExpansionBeing caught by cameras for speeding or running a red light becomes the norm rather than the exception in the current era, particularly around schools and hotspots where high tendencies to occur. In the year 2026, if you get caught via camera in your car, regardless of who was driving, the ticket goes to whoever owns the car. Research shows that there are fewer red light runners, as well as fatal crashes, where cameras are installed.Insurance Institute for Highway Safety research on automated enforcement in 2023 showed that the implementation of well-publicized cameras helped lower the rate of red-light running and fatal crashes.3. Tougher DUI and High-Risk PenaltiesSome states changed their DUI statutes in 2026 regarding expanded ignition interlock license requirements and “red-stripe” licenses for hardcore offenders. Convictions for DUI continue to be a top reason for high automobile premiums.Recent State-Specific Law Changes to WatchThe legal landscape varies significantly by geography. Whether you are navigating the strict pilot programs in California, Texas, or New York, your driving record is now more visible to insurers than ever before.In the West, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico have increased penalties for high-speed corridor violations. Drivers in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado must also adapt to new rules regarding lane safety for stationary vehicles. Similarly, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have tightened regulations around impaired driving.Moving into the Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan have expanded work-zone camera enforcement. Drivers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will notice stricter “move over” laws that now include all vehicles with hazard lights. States like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota have shifted focus toward seatbelt compliance and child passenger safety.In the South, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina are leading the way in red-light camera integration. Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana have updated their point assessment systems for moving violations. Meanwhile, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia are refining their “hand-held” mobile phone bans to eliminate previous loopholes.In the Northeast, drivers in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut face high fines for school zone speeding violations. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Rhode Island have implemented new visibility standards for license plates to assist automated systems. Further north, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont have updated their e-bike and micromobility regulations. Finally, in noncontiguous states Alaska and Hawai’i, new safety-belt and DUI statutes are now in full effect.Emerging Trends Gaining Attention in 2026Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Accountability: States such as California have become accountable for traffic tickets issued to self-driving vehicles, in addition to new regulations involving communication with first response teams.Micromobility Regulation: Owing to their increasing use on roads alongside traditional automobiles, stricter regulations related to age constraints and helmet use are being enforced on e-bikes.Hardship Programs: Some states, including Minnesota, are introducing parking ticket relief programs to ensure that lower-income drivers do not lose vehicle access over unpaid administrative fines.How 2026 Traffic Law Changes Affect Auto Insurance RatesNot every traffic law change leads to an auto insurance rate increase. However, these updates may influence a few things.The Likelihood of Receiving a Citation: Automated cameras increase the frequency of detected speeding.Points on a Driving Record: Changes in how states report camera tickets can affect your risk score.Policy Eligibility: Critical infractions such as DUI or speeding in the vicinity of workplaces might cause an automobile insurance firm not to renew your policy.One of the most critical changes that traffic law is experiencing in 2026 is not the imposition of new traffic law provisions but the enforcement of already existing traffic law provisions. Technology and automated traffic law enforcement have now become the norm. Knowledge about these developments will allow you to minimize the occurrence of traffic law violations and ensure that your car insurance rate remains within your control.This story was produced by CheapInsurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Big Game food trends: DoorDash data reveals how America eats on game day Big Game food trends: DoorDash data reveals how America eats on game dayOn the biggest Sunday of the year, the game is only half of the excitement. The other half? The spread. With over 5.7 million orders placed on its platform the day of the Big Game last year, DoorDash data shows what actually made it to watch parties, from restaurant favorites to the grocery items that fueled game-day menus.Here’s how America ate on championship Sunday in 2025.Key HighlightsBig Game Sunday was the #1 day of the year in 2025 for chicken wing orders at restaurants and guacamole orders at grocery stores.DoorDash orders peaked during the pre-game last year with about 155 orders per second.Chicken wings clinched the title for the most ordered dish on game day.Grocery orders for Lit’l Smokies sausages skyrocketed over 3,600% compared to the daily average, making pigs in a blanket the undisputed DIY champion.Clinching The #1 Most-Ordered FavoriteDoorDash crunched the numbers to see which fan favorite claimed the title for most ordered game day item.The Wing King: Championship Sunday is the #1 day for restaurant chicken wings based on DoorDash orders for the year, up at least nearly 25% more than any other day. In fact, over 639,000 wing orders were placed. At an estimated six wings per order, that’s over 3.8 million wings, enough to give every resident of Buffalo, New York (the birthplace of Buffalo wings) about 14 wings each.The Pizza Play: Pizza was the runner-up with over 637,000 pizza orders — enough pizza orders to feed a sold-out Levi’s Stadium crowd nearly 10 times.The Great Wing DebateOne question has divided households and tailgates alike: bone-in or boneless? Based on orders of traditional wings (excluding tenders and nuggets), bone-in wins in a blowout. In fact, 44 of 50 states ordered more bone-in wings than boneless on the day of the Big Game. The outliers: Iowa, Idaho, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the Dakotas.DoorDash also dug into regional flavor favorites to see which sauces and seasonings are each state’s go-to. DoorDash Bringing the Heat: The classic buffalo flavor dominated the map, ranking as the #1 choice in 39 states like New York, Hawai’i, Washington, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Louisiana.Game Time Decision: Some prefer to control the sauce themselves, opting for plain wings across nine states, including California, Florida, Texas, and Alaska.Hometown Hero: Georgia stayed true to its roots, opting for lemon pepper wings, proving Atlanta’s iconic flavor still runs the wing game in the state.Southwest Pick: Only New Mexico chose ranch-flavored wings as its go-to.Slice Stats: How America Tops ItWhen it came to pizza orders, pepperoni was the leading topping across 39 states. In contrast, the Northeast kept it classic in 11 states, including Maine, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, opting for cheese as their number one pizza preference.Beyond the basics, DoorDash looked at which toppings over-indexed in specific regions compared to the national average to uncover the true local toppings quirks at the watch party that make every state unique.Midwest Meat Sweep: The Midwest kept it classic, savory, and pepperoni-adjacent as sausage pizza led 10 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin.Hawaiian Lovers: The West said yes to pineapple on their pizza, standing out in six states, including Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, proving they’re unbothered by the judgment.Minimalist Slice: White pizza was the unique pick in four states, including Colorado, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, home of the legendary New Haven pizza.Coastal Catch: Seafood-topped pizza took the lead in three states on the East Coast, including Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, and one in the Great Lakes region, Michigan.The Side Hustle: America’s MVP AppetizerDoorDash tracked the most popular appetizer to crown last year’s most-craved appetizer and there is a clear winner, but also a few massive upsets in the bracket on apps ordered most on game day. DoorDash The Champion: Loaded fries cemented themselves as the backbone of the American watch party. The cheesy, bacon-topped app took the #1 spot in 34 states from California and Texas to Illinois and Hawai’i.Plot Twist: In a surprising upset of the season, dumplings were a top choice across 10 states on game day, including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Colorado. Meanwhile, egg rolls and spring rolls were the go-to in four states, including Alaska, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia.Solo Stars: Some states played their own game. New Jersey opted for mozzarella sticks and Arkansas for queso.The Home Chef Playbook: Grocery SpikesMany fans turned to the virtual grocery aisles to cook up their own spreads, making Game Day Sunday the #1 day of the year for guacamole orders. And compared to the 2025 daily average, the spikes in apps and dips were undeniable.Fingerfood Favorite: Pigs in a blanket dominated DIY menus with Lit’l Smokies mini sausages up 3,600%, and Nathan's Beef Franks in Puff Pastry up 930%.The Dip Dynasty: With Tostitos Scoops spiking 2,300%, it’s clear the dip is the destination.Classic Buffalo Chicken: Fans were adding Frank's RedHot (+2,000%), Swanson Premium Chunk Chicken (+810%) and Hidden Valley Ranch (+790%).Spicy Queso Kick: For those bringing the heat, Ro-Tel (+1,400%), Mezzetta Deli-Sliced Tamed Jalapeño Peppers (+890%), and Heinz Chili Sauce (+820%) saw massive jumps, combined with the demand for Velveeta (+867%).America’s Draft PicksIf the halftime performance taught us anything, it’s that some beef is best washed down with a cold one. While Coors Light (+2,200%), Budweiser (+1,600%), and Michelob Ultra (+1,500%) saw massive grocery spikes nationally compared to an average day, DoorDash also looked at which brands dominated fridges and coolers where alcohol delivery is available and permitted.The Light Heavyweight: Michelob Ultra led unique beer orders across 12 states, including Texas, Florida, and Arizona.Lime Required: Corona came out on top across eight states, including New York, Connecticut, and Hawai’i.The Mountain High: Coors Light was the top pick in six states, including Colorado, Minnesota, and Wyoming.The Model Citizen: Modelo was the go-to in six states, including California, Illinois, and Nevada.Ol’ Reliable: Bud Light topped orders in three states: Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio.Local Standouts: A few brands owned a single state. South Carolina opted for Athletic Brewing, West Virginia chose Blue Moon, Iowa went for Busch, Utah grabbed Flying Cauldron, Arkansas picked Heineken and Pennsylvania preferred Miller Lite.Beyond the traditional brew, the data showed a massive grocery demand for Twisted Tea nationally, with the hard iced tea spiking 1,400%, joining the drink rotation. And to keep everything at the perfect temperature, Arctic Glacier Premium Ice orders shot up 600%, officially turning the classic “ice run” into a couch-only move.DoorDash data shows that when it comes to game day menus, convenience and customization are no longer mutually exclusive. To make hosting easier, people are ordering both restaurant staples like wings and pizza and grocery add-ons like dips and sides.Peak Order Times: The ‘Red Zone’ RushSometimes the smartest play isn’t on the field. It’s timing your order so your spread shows up before the coin toss. Last year, the “red zone” rush hit during the pre-game between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET, peaking at 9,300 orders per minute — that’s about 155 orders every second. DoorDash Methodology: Insights are based on ordering data on Feb. 9, 2025, and reflect approximate figures. Unless otherwise noted, all percentage increases compare Game Day (Feb. 9, 25) volume against the 2025 daily average, based on total grocery orders for 2025.This story was produced by DoorDash and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Illinois ‘Clean Slate’ law allows automatic sealing of nonviolent criminal records Illinois will begin a process to automatically seal criminal records for millions of adults in the state, after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the ‘Clean Slate’ Act on Friday.
	Special Weather Statement until FRI 5:30 PM CST Strong Winds and Falling Temperatures Expected This Afternoon
	4 accessibility laws and standards every online business should know in 2026 4 accessibility laws and standards every online business should know in 2026In 2026, digital accessibility is no longer optional. It’s a legal and business requirement for any organization that operates online, from government agencies and retailers to financial institutions and global brands.Yet despite growing enforcement and rising awareness, many website owners still lack a full understanding of the legal framework behind accessibility. Which rules actually apply? Who is required to comply? And what does accessibility mean in practical, real-world terms?To help clarify the landscape, AudioEye highlights four core laws and standards that shape digital accessibility enforcement in 2026, and how organizations can mitigate risk while creating more accessible online experiences.1. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Baseline For AccessibilityThe ADA has long prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities, but for years its application to websites and mobile apps existed in a legal gray area. That ambiguity narrowed significantly when the U.S. Department of Justice finalized a rule clarifying that Title II of the ADA applies directly to digital services provided by state and local governments.Beginning April 24, 2026, public sector websites and mobile applications must meet defined accessibility standards, with smaller public entities receiving additional time to comply. The rule marks one of the clearest federal statements to date that digital access is a civil rights issue, not a technical preference.While the rule focuses on government entities, its implications extend well beyond the public sector. Private businesses, particularly those offering e-commerce, financial, healthcare, or consumer services online, continue to face ADA-related demand letters and lawsuits tied to inaccessible websites. Courts have increasingly treated digital access as essential to participation in modern life, reinforcing the expectation that websites work for everyone. Lawsuits in 2025 were up 102% from 2020, according to AudioEye research.2. WCAG: The Technical Standard Behind Most Accessibility LawsIf the ADA defines who must provide access, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, commonly referred to as WCAG, define how that access should function in practice. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG serves as the technical foundation for most accessibility laws, regulations, and legal settlements worldwide.In 2026, WCAG 2.1 Level AA remains the most widely referenced benchmark in legal and regulatory contexts, even as WCAG 2.2 introduces additional best practices. WCAG focuses on ensuring that digital content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles translate into everyday usability features like readable text, keyboard-friendly navigation, captions for video, and clearly labeled forms.Accessibility experts note that WCAG is not about perfection, but about consistency and usability. When websites follow these standards, they are more likely to work reliably across assistive technologies, devices, and user needs.3. The European Accessibility Act (EAA): A New Accessibility Standard for Doing Business in the EUAccessibility obligations are no longer confined to national borders. The EAA establishes accessibility requirements for digital products and services sold within the EU, including e-commerce platforms, banking tools, and customer portals.For global organizations, this makes accessibility a cross-border compliance issue rather than a regional one. Companies headquartered outside the EU may still fall under the EAA if they serve European customers, reinforcing the need for accessibility strategies that scale internationally.The EAA aligns closely with WCAG benchmarks, reflecting a broader trend toward global standardization around accessibility expectations. As more regions formalize requirements, organizations that take a fragmented or reactive approach to accessibility may find themselves struggling to keep up.4. Canadian Accessibility Standards: A Growing North American FrameworkCanada has also emerged as a leader in formalizing digital accessibility requirements. Federal legislation such as the Accessible Canada Act, along with provincial standards like Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), establishes enforceable expectations for accessible digital content.While timelines and requirements vary by jurisdiction, the direction is consistent: accessibility is becoming a defined, measurable obligation across North America. For organizations operating in or serving users in Canada, these standards add another layer of accountability that must be considered alongside U.S. and European regulations.Why This Matters in 2026As accessibility enforcement expands, so does legal exposure. Analyses of accessibility-related lawsuits show that organizations often face costs far exceeding the investment required to address accessibility proactively. Legal fees, rushed remediation efforts, reputational damage, and ongoing monitoring requirements can quickly add up, particularly when accessibility issues are discovered through litigation rather than internal audits.At the same time, data from large-scale accessibility evaluations, including AudioEye’s Digital Accessibility Index, continues to show that many websites still fail basic accessibility checks. Missing form labels, unclear navigation, poor color contrast, and inaccessible documents remain widespread, even as regulatory expectations become clearer.The result is a growing gap between what the law requires and what many digital experiences actually deliver.Reducing Risk Starts With the BasicsWhile accessibility laws and standards can sound complex, meaningful progress often begins with straightforward improvements. Ensuring images include meaningful alternative text allows screen reader users to understand visual content. Making navigation usable with a keyboard alone helps people who cannot use a mouse move through a site independently. Clearly labeled form fields and properly announced error messages prevent users from getting stuck during essential tasks like checkout or form submission. Writing links that clearly describe their destination improves clarity and orientation for all users, not just those using assistive technology. Regular testing, including evaluation by people with disabilities, helps uncover issues that automated scans alone may miss.These foundational practices not only reduce legal risk, but also improve usability, trust, and overall digital quality.Accessibility is a Decision, Not a DeadlineIn 2026, accessibility is no longer something organizations can afford to interpret narrowly or postpone indefinitely. The laws are clearer, enforcement is broader, and expectations are higher across every market. But accessibility isn’t just about avoiding penalties or checking regulatory boxes. It’s about whether your digital experiences are built to serve the real world as it exists today.Organizations that wait for enforcement to force action often find themselves reacting under pressure, fixing issues quickly but without a strategy. Those that act proactively build accessibility into how they design, develop, and maintain digital experiences, reducing risk while creating products that work better for everyone.This story was produced by AudioEye and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	For those with addiction, going into and coming out of prison can be a minefield. Many jails and prisons around the country don't provide medication treatment for opioid use disorder. Studies show that medication makes recovery more likely and reduces the risk of overdose death.
	Chicago Bears to face Los Angeles Rams on KWQC The game will be broadcast on KWQC 6.1 and Peacock, according to a post on X.
	Muscatine Police K9 Riki receives body armor donation The Muscatine Police Department has received a donation of body armor to protect its K9 Riki. A post on the department’s Facebook page says Riki has received a bullet and stab protective vest, courtesy of a donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Riki’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, [...]
	Niabi Zoo receives $527,800 state grant for new outdoor amenities The grant was given to support new outdoor amenities to focus on education, exploration and family-friendly recreation, according to a news release.
	Moline seeks input to shape new environmental plan Moline is seeking resident input to help shape a new environmental plan. According to a release from the City of Moline, the Environmental Resiliency Plan (ERP) will help the city "identify environmental challenges and make data-driven decisions to protect Moline’s infrastructure and economy." Residents can participate in the following ways: “Moline is grounding our resiliency [...]
	Creativity redefined: How SMBs are using full-service visual platforms to capture audience attention (BPT) - For small and mid-size businesses (SMBs), capturing audiences' attention has never been more challenging. In a world of content overload, it all starts with catching their eye.Creative photo and video libraries are a simple and accessible solution for many SMBs to quickly find and purchase quality images, even with a small marketing budget. However, the rise of AI-generated images has changed the creative landscape. Businesses are experimenting with AI to find efficiencies, but they also need their marketing to look and feel authentic while ensuring the content they use is commercially safe, whether they're working with their own images or sourcing them from a creative library.Fortunately, there is a commercially safe way to elevate creative visuals, with no technical expertise required. iStock's AI suite is making it possible for businesses of all sizes to quickly and confidently edit standout marketing images, all while ensuring their visuals are licensed and protected.Stay flexible, consistent and safe while standing out from the competitionAs a leading global source of visual content, iStock — backed by the extensive resources and expertise of Getty Images — offers SMBs and creators a vast creative library at an accessible price point. Now, with its suite of AI-powered tools, customers gain even more flexibility and creative control while saving time and money.iStock makes it simple to create or customize visuals for a variety of marketing needs, from sketching a proof of concept to refreshing an existing campaign to generating all-new images that leap off the page, whether generating a visual through its intuitive Prompt Builder, to modifying an existing image to fit your audience and aesthetic. No matter what they create, customers can rest assured that their outputs are backed by robust legal protection and free of copyrighted material. Built in partnership with Bria, the AI tools are trained on licensed creative content, including from iStock's creative library.Here are just a few of the ways SMBs can pair iStock's rich library of creative content with AI modification capabilities to easily adapt, modify and elevate visual storytelling:Modify images and create variations at scale: Campaigns can shift quickly, and visuals need to keep up. iStock's AI suite lets SMBs adapt existing high-quality images in seconds by swapping in new objects, updating key elements, or expanding the frame to fit new layouts or aspect ratios. Showcase your product in any scene: With iStock's object placement tool, users can place their product (or other object) into any background or scenario.Ensure visual consistency: Refreshing an old campaign or giving evergreen content a seasonal makeover shouldn't compromise the visual voice of a brand. With object placement, color-matched background changes and reference-guided adjustments, SMBs can keep every visual asset aligned with brand tone, palette and composition while still giving it a fresh look.Localize and personalize: Consumers want to see content that feels relatable and personalized to them. iStock's suite allows SMBs to easily localize creative content by adding context-specific elements, or removing objects that don't fit a specific region or demographic, all while maintaining image quality and authenticity.Stand out across channels: It's easy for marketing campaigns to get lost in the flood of content that audiences see across social, mobile and email. iStock's tools help SMBs quickly expand or refocus platform-optimized visuals that capture audiences' attention, translating curiosity into clicks.To further help SMBs and marketers stay on top of the latest market shifts, Getty Images' VisualGPS platform offers exclusive creative insights and decades' worth of visual trends — from color palettes to consumer preferences.Create eye-catching marketing imagery without breaking the bankiStock's extensive creative library and suite of AI modification tools give SMBs the power to create and iterate on scroll-stopping visuals that generate real business value. To learn more and get started, visit ai.istockphoto.com/vmr.
	One person is dead after two-vehicle crash in Whiteside County One person is dead after two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 84 near Spring Valley Road.
	MAP: Will parts of Iowa see the Northern Lights this weekend? Millions of Americans will have a chance to view the Northern Lights on Friday and Saturday, according to an aurora forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
	Icestravaganza brings ice art and lights to downtown Davenport Icestravaganza kicks off Friday at the Freight House in Downtown Davenport, featuring more than 100 ice carvings, live demonstrations and interactive activities.
	Davenport's Freight House holds returning Icestravaganza Icestravaganza is returning to downtown Davenport's Freight House with Iowa theme.
	One dead, two seriously injured after crash in Whiteside County Thursday night The names of the victims have not yet been released.
	Bettendorf emergency responders called to early morning semi fire Officials were called around 1:40 Friday morning for a potential semi fire under the I-80 overpass.
	Whiteside County fatal crash under investigation One dead and two injured after two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 84 near Spring Valley Road.
	Person killed, 2 others seriously injured after 2-car crash Two vehicles crashed about 9:21 p.m. Thursday on Illinois Route 84 near Spring Valley Road.
	Icestravaganza returns to Davenport at the Freight House Icestravaganza is returning to downtown Davenport's Freight House, featuring ice sculptures.
	4 Your Money \| Parking Spot, Not The Destination Last week we discussed money market funds and why cash tools have been so popular lately. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, elaborates more on real cash yields and explains why cash tools provide short-term stability but are not ideal for long-term investing.
	US auto manufacturing heads into 2026 with less margin for error US auto manufacturing heads into 2026 with less margin for errorU.S. auto manufacturing is entering 2026 leaner than it was a year ago and with less room for disruption.Federal labor data shows employment in motor vehicles and parts manufacturing fell by roughly 29,000 workers in 2025, even as production expectations largely held. The result is an industry operating with fewer people and less slack than in prior years.While payrolls shrank, the pace of work did not slow in the same way. Average weekly hours in auto manufacturing remained around 42.8 hours at the end of 2025, close to where they were a year earlier.Production data helps explain why. Federal Reserve figures show U.S. motor vehicle assemblies fluctuated through 2025 but did not collapse, staying broadly within the 9-10 million seasonally adjusted annual rate range. Industrial production for motor vehicles and parts also remained near long-term averages late in the year.In other words, the industry didn’t shed work. It shed buffer.When staffing levels thin without a corresponding slowdown in output, systems become more sensitive to disruption. With fewer people available, covering an absence or delay can mean reassigning tasks, leaning more heavily on overtime, or operating with less backup when something goes wrong. What might once have been a manageable hiccup can ripple more quickly through schedules.Manufacturing research consistently shows that unplanned absences and concentrated workloads increase operational strain, particularly in environments where staffing is already tight, which increases the risk of safety incidents, especially in automotive.TeamSense analyzed BLS data showing manufacturing absence rates averaging 2.8% over a 12-month period, with warehousing even higher at 3.4%, compounding the impact when there is little margin to absorb disruption.The employment decline itself reflects a mix of forces rather than a single shock. Automakers spent much of 2024 and 2025 recalibrating electric-vehicle plans as EV demand lagged earlier forecasts. Reuters reported that major manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, delayed EV production ramps and reduced shifts at some facilities, with effects cascading through parts suppliers.At the same time, automation continued to advance. The International Federation of Robotics reported that robot installations in the U.S. automotive sector rose more than 10% in 2024. Together, these trends point to an industry that has become more efficient but also more exposed. With fewer workers available, the cost of disruption rises, and the room for error narrows.In practice, some manufacturers are already seeing how reducing last-minute absences can ease pressure on remaining teams.At automotive supplier Martinrea, human resources manager Shanna Wilson said attendance consistency had a measurable impact in a short period of time:“We’ve seen a huge reduction in our turnover because our biggest driver for turnover has been a no call, no show. In just 45 days, we’ve seen a 50% reduction in no-call, no-shows.”More broadly, employers facing leaner staffing are focusing less on pushing output higher and more on preventing disruption. Workforce management research highlights the importance of earlier visibility into absences, faster coverage decisions, and clearer communication with frontline employees to reduce last-minute gaps that strain teams and disrupt productivity. Others emphasize reducing no-call, no-show incidents and improving attendance consistency as ways to stabilize schedules without increasing hours or headcount.What to watch for in 2026With fewer workers and limited slack, auto manufacturing may be more sensitive to everyday disruptions in 2026. A single absence, delayed shipment, or production hiccup could carry more weight than it once did. How the industry responds may determine whether lean operations remain efficient or begin to feel fragile.This story was produced by TeamSense and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A Republican-sponsored bill would take back $21B appropriated for broadband deployment A Republican-sponsored bill would take back $21B appropriated for broadband deploymentA bill filed in late November would claw back $21 billion allocated to state governments to address the digital divide, marking another moment in the debate over expanding broadband internet access in rural America.The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, would limit the scope of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD, created as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act under the Biden administration, is a $42.45 billion federal grant program aimed at connecting every American to high-speed internet.Of that $42.45 billion, about $21 billion is slotted for so-called nondeployment funds — essentially, anything other than infrastructure to expand internet access. Those other projects could include funding for permitting, telehealth, cybersecurity, preparedness for artificial intelligence, and more.Ernst’s bill would claw back those nondeployment dollars, angering critics and lawmakers across multiple states.In Missouri, Republican state Rep. Louis Riggs said BEAD funding, including the nondeployment dollars the bill would redirect to the federal government, was “intended to bridge the digital divide once and for all.”“You’re punishing people in rural America, again, for being rural,” Riggs said in an interview with the Daily Yonder.Ernst’s bill is co-cosponsored by Republican senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. It’s unclear whether the bill would find enough support in Congress to pass. Ernst has long been critical of the BEAD program, claiming the amount of money allocated hasn’t produced results.So far, the projects meant to be funded by BEAD haven’t broken ground. As of early December, 29 out of 56 states and territories have had their final proposals — their plans on how to deploy high-speed internet to unserved or underserved areas — approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. California is the only state with its final proposal for approval still outstanding, according to the NTIA’s BEAD dashboard.States have not yet received any of the BEAD money from the federal government to implement their plans.Ernst has called the program a “boondoggle,” saying in a letter last year, “It’s time to pull the plug.”Riggs, the state representative from Missouri, said states have been saddled with an immense amount of work to prepare for the money, making maps and plans that take time. They’ve had to do much of that work from the ground up, he said.“Taking a sledgehammer to it isn’t helpful,” Riggs said.Drew Garner, director of policy engagement for The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, said BEAD “has always been about more than infrastructure.” Expanding internet access is at its core, but the program also aimed to address things like workforce development, affordability of internet, broadband mapping, and helping community anchor institutions, among other things.“This would be a huge missed opportunity for virtually every state,” Garner said.The estimated amount of money at risk for each state ranges from $49 million in Illinois to $936 million in Virginia. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers from across the country have petitioned to receive their full allotment, including the nondeployment funds targeted by Ernst’s bill.“I hope we get our $1.2 billion,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia, said in September. “I’m going to hold the Trump administration’s feet to the fire that this is what we’ve been promised, this is what we should get.”Riggs likened the potential transformation that BEAD could facilitate to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, calling the closure of the digital divide an “existential issue.”“We’ll never see money like that again,” he said.This story was produced by The Daily Yonder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	US auto manufacturing heads into 2026 with less margin for error US auto manufacturing heads into 2026 with less margin for errorU.S. auto manufacturing is entering 2026 leaner than it was a year ago and with less room for disruption.Federal labor data shows employment in motor vehicles and parts manufacturing fell by roughly 29,000 workers in 2025, even as production expectations largely held. The result is an industry operating with fewer people and less slack than in prior years.While payrolls shrank, the pace of work did not slow in the same way. Average weekly hours in auto manufacturing remained around 42.8 hours at the end of 2025, close to where they were a year earlier.Production data helps explain why. Federal Reserve figures show U.S. motor vehicle assemblies fluctuated through 2025 but did not collapse, staying broadly within the 9-10 million seasonally adjusted annual rate range. Industrial production for motor vehicles and parts also remained near long-term averages late in the year.In other words, the industry didn’t shed work. It shed buffer.When staffing levels thin without a corresponding slowdown in output, systems become more sensitive to disruption. With fewer people available, covering an absence or delay can mean reassigning tasks, leaning more heavily on overtime, or operating with less backup when something goes wrong. What might once have been a manageable hiccup can ripple more quickly through schedules.Manufacturing research consistently shows that unplanned absences and concentrated workloads increase operational strain, particularly in environments where staffing is already tight, which increases the risk of safety incidents, especially in automotive.TeamSense analyzed BLS data showing manufacturing absence rates averaging 2.8% over a 12-month period, with warehousing even higher at 3.4%, compounding the impact when there is little margin to absorb disruption.The employment decline itself reflects a mix of forces rather than a single shock. Automakers spent much of 2024 and 2025 recalibrating electric-vehicle plans as EV demand lagged earlier forecasts. Reuters reported that major manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, delayed EV production ramps and reduced shifts at some facilities, with effects cascading through parts suppliers.At the same time, automation continued to advance. The International Federation of Robotics reported that robot installations in the U.S. automotive sector rose more than 10% in 2024. Together, these trends point to an industry that has become more efficient but also more exposed. With fewer workers available, the cost of disruption rises, and the room for error narrows.In practice, some manufacturers are already seeing how reducing last-minute absences can ease pressure on remaining teams.At automotive supplier Martinrea, human resources manager Shanna Wilson said attendance consistency had a measurable impact in a short period of time:“We’ve seen a huge reduction in our turnover because our biggest driver for turnover has been a no call, no show. In just 45 days, we’ve seen a 50% reduction in no-call, no-shows.”More broadly, employers facing leaner staffing are focusing less on pushing output higher and more on preventing disruption. Workforce management research highlights the importance of earlier visibility into absences, faster coverage decisions, and clearer communication with frontline employees to reduce last-minute gaps that strain teams and disrupt productivity. Others emphasize reducing no-call, no-show incidents and improving attendance consistency as ways to stabilize schedules without increasing hours or headcount.What to watch for in 2026With fewer workers and limited slack, auto manufacturing may be more sensitive to everyday disruptions in 2026. A single absence, delayed shipment, or production hiccup could carry more weight than it once did. How the industry responds may determine whether lean operations remain efficient or begin to feel fragile.This story was produced by TeamSense and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	No injuries reported in semi tractor trailer crash at I-80 and Middle Road in Bettendorf The Bettendorf Fire Department was dispatched at about 1:37 a.m., and found a semi tractor trailer underneath the westbound I-80 overpass with the tractor portion on fire.
	1 dead, 2 injured in Whiteside County crash One person is dead and two others seriously injured after a two-vehicle crash in Whiteside County last night, according to a news release from the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department. The Whiteside County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 84 near Spring Valley Road on January 15 [...]

Saturday, January 17th, 2026

Friday, January 16th, 2026