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

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026
	Traffic alert: Semi, vehicle crash, block Route 67 at Milan Beltway Road partially closed.
	UnityPoint Health - Trinity Center for Wound Care offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy UnityPoint Health – Trinity Center for Wound Care is offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy, according to a news release. Through a partnership with Healogics, the nation's leading provider of advanced wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy services, UnityPoint Health is bringing specialty wound care to the Quad Cities. “Partnering with Healogics allows us to provide even [...]
	Scooter's Coffee offers collectible ducks at participating locations Love collectibles? The first 100 customers who buy a large or extra-large drink Wednesday can snag a specialty Scooter's Coffee duck.
	Owner of Rock Island nursing home indicted in national health-care fraud investigation The primary owner of St. Anthony's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 767 30th St., Rock Island faces charges of health-care fraud, according to the U. S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida. Rajiv (Raj) Shah has owned and operated the for-profit facility since April 2022, and has 91 percent ownership interest, according to documents at medicare.gov, [...]
	Fire leaders urge Eldridge to fund full-time chief Eldridge volunteer firefighters say burnout is growing and urged city leaders to quickly fund a full-time chief and decide the department's future.
	ImpactLife announces late July blood drives in Muscatine area Summer donations are down. Find out when and where you can give blood locally through ImpactLife.
	Interstate 80 tops list of deadliest highways in Iowa: New report A new analysis of 61,935 fatal crashes during the summer months (June–August from 2020) by car insurance experts at iSelect has revealed that state highways, not interstates, see the highest number of deadly collisions during the summer months, accounting for 29% of all fatal crashes nationwide, according to a news release. Looking specifically at Iowa, 594 fatal crashes have [...]
	Monmouth fire, police, present free water fun for kids The Monmouth fire and police departments will present Fire Hose Fun, a kids' water event, from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at West Park on West Broadway in Monmouth. Firefighters will set up a water spray with a real fire hose and hydrant so kids can play and beat the heat. Fire trucks will be [...]
	IMEG has acquired ACRO Development Services IMEG expands North Carolina civil engineering and surveying services with acquisition of ACRO Development Services.
	Hotter with more humidity on the way As of Monday, the Quad Cities have made it to 90° or higher eight times year with 92° being the hottest on three days. Today may very well be the hottest day. Dry weather is expected today and tomorrow with rain chances returning later this week. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Memories of Muscatine: A railway lantern This week for Memories of Muscatine: A railway lantern from c.1900.
	'The Trojan Teddy Bear': The promise and peril of childhood in the age of AI AI is moving beyond chatbots and into toys, dolls, and robots built to befriend children. A leading child-development expert says the technology offers real promise — but also risks crowding out the human relationships children need most.
	Ravines This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Just as Adam named all the flora and fauna in the Garden of Eden, so we Rock Islanders give names to the landscape…
	The U.S. is set to reinstate a blockade over the Strait of Hormuz The U.S. military announced it will begin its blockade of Iranian ships over the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as Iran vowed to assert its own control over the critical international waterway.
	Some states will ask voters to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments Several states have ballot measures this year that could raise the thresholds needed to pass state constitutional amendments. Many advocates are critical of such limits on direct democracy.
	Platner's voters are reeling as Maine Democratic Party races to choose his replacement Graham Platner generated enthusiasm in Maine with his progressive policies. Now he's out of the race, and his supporters have to decide what's next, as Maine Democrats prepare to choose a nominee.
	Trump's National Guard deployment in D.C. has been extended until 2029 President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. has been extended several times. Now, it's set to last until Inauguration Day 2029.
	Public invited to Resource Enhancement and Protection assembly Muscatine County Conservation and Scott County Conservation invite anyone interested in parks, trails, wildlife, outdoor recreation, conservation or historic preservation to the Region 9 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Assembly. According to a release: The regional assembly is one of 19 REAP meetings being held across Iowa this summer. The Region 9 meeting will bring [...]
	Death toll from a Bangkok music bar fire rises to 30, dozens remain in hospital More than 70 people were injured, with 24 of them still in critical condition, according to a statement by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
	MAP: Cases of 'explosive' diarrhea illness climb Michigan alone has confirmed more than 2,000 cases. It's still unclear what has caused the spike in illness.
	The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain The expanded World Cup allowed FIFA to introduce a new seeding system that placed the world's top teams in opposite corners of the knockout bracket. Now, the semifinals are both heavyweight matchups.
Monday, July 13th, 2026
	Moline holding 'Caught Caring Challenge' for America 250 The City will award commemorative challenge coins to everyday heroes.
	American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage \| How you can help in the Quad Cities The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.
	Buffalo city council says no to pit-bull ban There will be no ban of pit bulls in Buffalo. A heated debate about whether to prevent people from having the dog breed dominated Monday's city council meeting came after two pit bulls attacked people in Buffalo this year. "The dog that attacked my nephew wasn't vaccinated," said Eli Gerishcher, a Buffalo resident. "I don't [...]
	American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage \| Where you can donate in the Quad Cities The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.
	New Illinois law to protect health care for teens and kids for DCFS Children and teenagers under care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will have more protection if they are moved outside state lines. Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois SECURE Act (Safeguards to Ensure Continuity and Uphold Rights and Equity), or House Bill 4966, into law. The move aimed at transgender youth. [...]
	Landry says Louisiana is leaning into the ‘next industrial revolution’ with data center expansion Meta is building what would be the world’s largest data center in north Louisiana. (Rendering provided by Meta)Gov. Jeff Landry announced on Monday a major data center expansion in Richland Parish that he said positions Louisiana to lean into the “next industrial revolution.” “The next generation of economic growth will not simply be measured in barrels of oil or tons of steel,” Landry said at the Baton Rouge announcement of the expansion of the Meta data center in rural, northeast Louisiana. “It will be measured in electrical generation, megawatts, computing power, energy capacity, and the ability to build the infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence.” Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is increasing its investment into the massive from the estimated $28 billion to $50 billion, according to the announcement made Monday by Landry and the company’s executives. The facility will be one of the largest data centers in the world, Landry said. The site expansion will lead to a doubling of the construction jobs to build the facility ( up to 7,500), permanent high-paying positions at the center (up to 1,000) and other indirect employment growth in the Mississippi Delta region, Landry said. Meta was lured to Louisiana, in part, by large tax breaks offered to the company in exchange for its data center business. “Without Gov. Landry, this investment would not have been possible,” said Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump administration official who became president and vice chairman of Meta at the beginning of the year. “Louisiana is the envy of every state,” she added. “Richland Parish is an awfully special place here in Louisiana, and it is becoming a role model for the country.” Gov. Jeff Landry (Photo by Julie O’Donoghue/Illuminator) The Meta project is one of several data centers in the works for Louisiana. Other high-profile sites include a set of three data centers in the Shreveport area for Amazon and one in West Feliciana Parish under development from a company called Hut 8 known for bitcoin mining. The facilities are mostly going to areas of Louisiana that have often felt left out of economic booms. “I told people from North Louisiana that we were going to bring economic development in,” said Landry, recalling his days campaigning for office in 2024. “They really just thought I was another one of the politicians running for governor that was lying.” Richland Parish has traditionally been one of the poorest communities in Louisiana and the California company’s involvement has brought unmatched investment to the area. Louisiana Delta Community College is set to receive $5 million from Meta, said the school’s chancellor Justin Hoggard in an interview Monday. It will be the largest donation the institution has ever received.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Some Richland Parish teachers also received a bonus this year of over $50,000 thanks to the extra local sales tax revenue generated by Meta. Typically, they receive a bonus of around $10,000, according to local news reports. “What people do not understand is this affects our retirement,” said Scott Wilcher, the head football coach and history teacher at Mangham High School, at the Meta announcement in Baton Rouge. “My retirement, because of the bonus, has just doubled.” Data centers come with potential risk as well, however. Critics worry that they will drive up utility bills for the communities where they are located because they use a massive amount of energy that requires additional infrastructure. The facilities also consume water resources, which could put communities at risk. Dina Powell McCormick (Photo by Julie O’Donoghue/Illuminator) Landry said they have worked with executives at Entergy Louisiana, one of the state’s main power companies, to ensure that citizens won’t pay for the infrastructure needed to support the data center. The energy plan approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission a few months ago won’t need to be adjusted, said Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois Monday. But Logan Burke, with the Alliance for Affordable Energy, an advocacy group for affordable power, said it’s unclear how much energy the Meta facility will ultimately require. The organization believes the project could require an amount of energy that is equivalent to what it takes to power Manhattan. “There are so many questions that these kinds of announcements drum up,” Burke said in an interview Monday. “One of the concerns we have had from the beginning is how little information the consumers and the regulators have into how these facilities will operate,” she said. “The true scale of this is simply unknown.” In response to concerns about the data center’s water consumption, Landry said water use has already gone down at similar facilities across the country and will be fixed by the private sector and “capitalism.” “There are some data centers that are using less water than a crawfish farmer uses on his farm here in Louisiana,” Landry said. Reporter Elise Plunk contributed to this report. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Illinois state treasurer announces Charitable Trust grants for 3 QCA nonprofits Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced $195,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations - including three in the Quad Cities region - across the state that provide food and housing to people in need. “Through these grants, we are lending a hand to people who are struggling to meet basic needs like [...]
	Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour makes QCA stop TPC Deere Run is hosting another professional golf tournament. The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour is making its only stop in Illinois. The association is a nonprofit that works to inspire inclusivity in golf, giving aspiring golfers access to a professional tour setting. A total of 54 players will be competing this week. Defending [...]
	Moline Mayor launches ‘Caught Caring’ program People can be nominated for things like beautifying their neighborhood, bringing people together and looking out for their neighbors.
	Bettendorf schools taps alumnus John W. Elkin as interim leader Almost two weeks after Michelle Morse's resignation, Bettendorf schools has a new interim superintendent. Meet John W. Elkin.
	East Moline bike camp helps children with disabilities learn to ride independently A bike camp in East Moline empowers children with disabilities to build confidence by learning to ride two-wheeled bicycles, using specialized equipment and support.
	It's a Man, Man, Man, Man World: Genesius Guild’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” at Lincoln Park through July 19 Rather than trying to explain discomfort away, director Cait Bodenbender embraced the play's history by simply casting as Shakespeare himself did: with an all-male cast.
	Jackson County ambulance service using new, quicker EKG technology A new and quicker way of doing electro cardiogram’s is being used in Jackson County.
	More "pool" weather this week in the Quad Cities Hot and sunny - that sums up the forecast for this week in the Quad Cities! We'll see highs in the 90s with plenty of sunshine. We've had 8 days so far with highs in the 90s and that number will definitely climb this week. This is typically the hottest time of the year in [...]
	Quad City Tennis Club new state-of-the-art grass tennis courts Three new state-of-the-art grass tennis courts are one of the only commercial public grass facilities in the United States.
	Meet the newest member of our weather team, Evelyn Maruszak! Evelyn is an Illinois native and studied at St. Louis University. We are excited to have her on the team!
	Looking back: Lindsey Graham visits the Quad Cities in 2015 Graham visited the Quad Cities during his presidential campaign.
	Traffic alert: Davenport runs trial change to East Davenport intersection A major change to a traffic pattern at the intersection of River Street and River Drive in east Davenport is under a trial run. A concrete barrier has been placed to bar drivers from driving onto River Street directly from River Drive. Drivers on River Drive now will have to make a 90-degree right turn [...]
	Film series celebrating Latino culture launches at The Last Picture House The Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series begins July 15 at The Last Picture House, offering four films that celebrate Latino culture while directing all ticket proceeds to local Hispanic nonprofits.
	80 Iowa National Guard members deployed to Eastern Europe Nearly 100 members of the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Regional Support Group departed Monday for a year-long deployment to Eastern Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
	Health Department declares measles outbreak in Wyoming’s Teton County amid influx of tourists The Wyoming Department of Health on Monday announced an outbreak of measles in Teton County amid a heavy influx of summer visitors. The department declared the outbreak after confirming a third case of the highly infectious illness in Teton County this summer. The public may have been exposed at several locations in Jackson and neighboring Grand Teton National Park. Health officials are asking people who may have been exposed to monitor themselves carefully for three weeks. Those who develop symptoms should call their doctor before seeking care to minimize exposure to others. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has surged back in recent years with rising skepticism of public health officials and vaccinations. Wyoming went 15 years without a reported case until July 2025. Potential measles exposure reported in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson When the first Teton County case was reported June 28, officials announced that exposure to the unvaccinated adult patient may have occurred at restaurants in Grand Teton National Park’s Colter Bay Village on June 17-18; a Colter Bay convenience store on June 20 and the Target in Jackson on June 25. On Saturday, the health department confirmed the county’s second case, followed by the third on Monday. An outbreak is defined by a “chain of transmission involving three or more confirmed or probable cases that are epidemiologically linked,” according to Wyoming Department of Health Chief Policy and Communications Officer Monique McBride. This means Teton County’s cases are related to one another in time and location, she told WyoFile in an email. Exposures to the two more recent cases could have taken place between July 4-7 at the following locations: Teton Village during the Fourth of July fireworks Annie’s Thai Kitchen in Jackson Wendy’s restaurant in Jackson Colter Bay Launderette and Showers, Grand Teton National Park Colter Bay General Store, Coffee Bar and Gift Shop, Grand Teton National Park Colter Bay Cabin Office, Grand Teton National Park Millions of people visit Jackson and nearby Grand Teton National Park each summer, crowding the town square, filling up parking lots and queueing up for popular attractions. Rising numbers Wyoming’s measles outbreak comes as cases climb across the nation. When U.S. health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000, that indicated no endemic transmission for 12 months or more. In 2020, 13 cases were confirmed across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2025, that number jumped to 2,289, including three deaths. The 2026 tally sits at more than 2,231 with no deaths. Measles cases are growing in the United States. (Graphic courtesy of Johns Hopkins University) In 2025, Wyoming’s proportion of kindergarten students who had completed the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine was 93.6%, the CDC reports. It’s declined since 2012-13, when Wyoming’s kindergarten vaccination rate was above 97%. The state’s first case in 15 years was confirmed in July 2025 in Natrona County. By year’s end, 13 more cases were confirmed. Wyoming’s first case of 2026 was detected in Fremont County. Along with being extremely contagious, measles can cause severe complications like pneumonia and brain swelling and can leave lasting impacts on the immune system. One to three out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from complications, according to the CDC. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Hawk and Piña and Joe and Angie: “The Invite,” “Evil Dead Burn,” “Gail Daughtry & the Celebrity Sex Pass,” and “Moana” Watching romantic relationships crack and crumble can be enormous, if nerve-racking, fun – just so long as those breakdowns are viewed from the perspective of an auditorium, and not a mirror.
	Iowa corn silking jumps ahead following hot, dry week Corn tassels appear on a crop in Marshall County, Iowa July 10, 2026. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) After several weeks trailing last year’s pace and the five-year average, corn development in Iowa has jumped ahead according to the latest crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the report, 38% of Iowa corn acres were silking as of the July 6-July 12 reporting period, which is 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average pace and 5 percentage points ahead of 2025’s crop. It also represents a large jump from the week prior, when just 8% of corn acres in the state had reached the silking phase. One percent of Iowa corn acres have reached the dough stage, which is behind the 2025 crop and the five-year average by several percentage points. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Corn condition remains fairly stable as the report rated 78% of corn acres as in good or excellent condition. Soybeans rated 74% good to excellent for the reporting period. The percentage of Iowa soybean acres blooming also jumped ahead during the most recent reporting period. At 56% blooming, the crop was ahead of last year’s pace by 5 percentage points and ahead of the five-year average by 6 percentage points. Crop development stages Corn silking: one or more corn silks extend from the leaves of the husk Corn in dough stage: a thick or dough-like substance is present in all kernels. Soybeans setting pods: pods are developing on lower portions of the plant, with some blooming still on top of the plant. Sixteen percent of soybean acres were setting pods during the reporting period, which is slightly behind last year’s crop, but ahead of the average. In contrast to the months’ worth of rain received at the top of the month, the July 6-12 reporting period was “unseasonably dry” according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan who reported a statewide weekly average precipitation of 0.66 inch. The majority of fields had “adequate” soil moisture conditions, according to the report. Top soil rated 73% adequate moisture and subsoil rated 69% adequate for the reporting period. Stu Swanson, chair of Iowa Corn Growers Association and a farmer in Wright County, said his cropland is “a little on the short side” in terms of moisture, as he farms just north of where heavy rains left some fields with excess water the first week in July. “I would take some more rain, but the previous two years, we’ve had excess rain and really suffered production wise because of it,” Swanson said. “So I’d rather be just on the dry side instead of just on the wet side.” Soybean plant with pods. (Photo by Preston Keres/USDA) Speaking on July 10, Swanson said his soybeans were in the beginning stages of setting pods and his corn acres were starting to throw up tassels and begin silking. “Next week will really be a real key week in the state of Iowa for corn pollination,” Swanson said, adding he hoped the temperatures would stay somewhat cool. “A little cooler the next week or 10 days would set us up for a really good fall and harvest.” Iowa’s statewide average temperature for the reporting period was 77.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which was more than 2 degrees above the normal temperature for the reporting period. Climate outlooks from the National Weather Service predict temperatures likely above average for the coming week and precipitation amounts slightly below the normal for the state. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Morrison teen’s quick actions help save woman’s life A 16-year-old Morrison teen is being praised after trusting his instincts and stopping to check on a car in a ditch.
	Iowa lawmaker praises federal housing bill after it becomes law without Trump's signature All six members of Iowa's congressional delegation voted for the bill.
	Trial begins in WA suit against Albertsons over opioid epidemic liability (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)Washington state wants grocery chain Albertsons to pay for its alleged role in fueling an opioid epidemic that has killed thousands here. State Attorney General Nick Brown argues Albertsons dispensed hundreds of millions of opioid pills despite red flags in many cases that should’ve made the company’s pharmacy staff think twice. A trial in the state’s lawsuit against Albertsons began Monday in King County Superior Court. The verdict could result in more money for Washington’s response to the opioid crisis. “Pharmacies are supposed to be the last line of defense against potent addictive medication being misused or diverted into the illegal drug market,” Kelsey Endres, from Brown’s office, said in an opening statement at the trial. “This corporation, however, left its pharmacists and other employees without the vital tools needed to fulfill their role.” The company pointed to doctors prescribing the dangerous opioids more and more aggressively to treat pain as the cause. “The part that the state always leaves out is doctors hold the only key,” said attorney Enu Mainigi, representing Albertsons. “Without a doctor’s prescription, the gate does not open. So when doctors wrote more prescriptions, pharmacies like ours received more prescriptions to be filled.” This is the latest litigation here over the opioid epidemic, as Washington has sought to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable. A multistate settlement against Purdue Pharma, the company that made OxyContin, resulted in $106 million for Washington, split between state and local governments. That money, most of which will come over the next three years, is supposed to cover addiction treatment and prevention work. The state has gotten millions of dollars more from other drugmakers. In all, Washington has received more than $1.3 billion for state and local governments to grapple with the opioid crisis. Albertsons has been defending against similar claims across the country. In April, the grocery chain agreed to pay $774 million to settle numerous other lawsuits filed across the country. In Washington, the company, which owns Safeway and Haggen, runs more than 200 pharmacies. The state, under then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson, sued Albertsons, as well as other national pharmacy chains Kroger and Rite Aid. Kroger in 2024 agreed to pay Washington $47.5 million. The state has also signed onto opioid-related settlements, bringing in millions of dollars from Walmart, Walgreens and CVS, among others. The allegations Between 2006 and 2022, Albertsons dispensed more than 641 million opioid pills in Washington, according to Brown. Over 6.5 million prescriptions had red flags that the chain still unlawfully filled, according to the attorney general’s office. Albertsons showed little to no due diligence in almost all of those cases, the state alleges. The company disagrees. Albertsons’ policies also did little to prevent drug diversion that allowed pills to end up in the wrong hands, according to attorneys for the state. “This case is about a corporation chasing profits at the ultimate price that nevertheless claims it is blameless,” Endres said. “Getting to lawfully make money off of dispensing highly addictive drugs is a privilege, and with that privilege comes stringent obligations under both federal and state law.” The state’s attorneys cited cases of Albertsons pharmacies dispensing thousands of pills to single customers. In one month, a customer at a Kent pharmacy got over 5,000 opioid pills. Dan Alberstone, a lawyer representing the state, poured thousands of pills into a container to illustrate the scale of the problem for Judge Janet Helson. At one store, a family medicine doctor made up 60% of all the oxycodone dispensed, said Jeff Gaddy, an attorney working for the state. Most of that doctor’s prescriptions were flagged. But the company didn’t warn its pharmacists about the risks of dispensing medication he prescribed, Gaddy said. Albertsons later found a store that had been filling opioid prescriptions for a patient who was known to sell his drugs, Gaddy added. Pharmacists are legally required to identify drug diversion. And law requires reporting suspicious in-house orders between pharmacies to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which Albertsons also didn’t do, according to the state. A Safeway in North Bend agreed in 2017 to temporarily suspend filling controlled substance prescriptions after an investigation found the store hadn’t notified the DEA of tens of thousands of missing hydrocodone tablets until months after Safeway learned employees had pilfered them. The inquiry found a widespread practice of Safeway failing to report missing or stolen pills. Safeway agreed to pay $3 million in that case. After that, Albertsons created a compliance team to focus on these issues. But the team immediately became overwhelmed with reporting drug theft and loss. This meant it provided store pharmacists with little help in ensuring they were properly dispensing prescription opioids, Gaddy said. The defense Albertsons says the increasing prescription of opioids dates back to the 1990s. Up to that point, opioids were primarily used for end-of-life care and cancer pain, Mainigi said. At that time, talk of how to treat chronic pain swelled. Washington state and national guidance started to encourage more opioid prescribing. In 2005, for example, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, along with colleagues in other states, signed a letter to the DEA criticizing the federal agency for hindering opioid access, Mainigi said. State rules approved around this time held that pharmacies “have a duty to deliver lawfully prescribed drugs or devices to patients,” except in cases of fraud or error. “The pharmacist’s role is not to reexamine patients and question the judgment call of a patient’s doctor unless there’s a real reason to believe a prescription is illegitimate,” she said. Mainigi noted Albertsons tells its pharmacists to exercise caution if they didn’t know the prescriber or the prescription didn’t seem to fit with the doctor’s scope of practice. If they couldn’t resolve their concern, they could refuse to fill the prescription. Mainigi added that the state’s list of cases with red flags isn’t accurate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The pendulum swung back against opioid prescribing within a few years, as the epidemic grew. In 2010, for example, the state Legislature passed a law restricting doctors’ opioid prescriptions in hopes of stemming increasing overdose deaths. Albertsons argues it has updated its policies as standards evolved. “Albertsons always had tools, guidance, and monitoring in place to help pharmacists make safe and appropriate decisions about whether to dispense,” Mainigi said. “So, is our policy better today than it was in 2020? Yes. Better in 2020 than 2012? Yes, but that does not mean Albertsons’ prior policies were unreasonable or unfair under the law.” She acknowledged Albertsons could’ve done better in isolated cases, “but a small number of mistakes did not cause or substantially contribute to the opioid epidemic.” The bench trial in Judge Helson’s Seattle courtroom is expected to last into September. Courtesy of Washington State Standard
	Boil order issued for Aledo Aledo residents and businesses connected to the city water system are under a boil order until repairs are completed and water testing confirms it is safe.
	Mercer County libraries begins summer readathon Mercer County libraries are holding a summer readathon to support local children enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
	Iowa hosting the 2026 National Balloon Classic More than 100 balloons are expected to be featured.
	Muscatine boat launch temporarily closes for American Serenade docking The City of Muscatine will temporarily close the downriver boat launch and adjacent parking lot near the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park on Tuesday, July 14, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate the arrival and docking of the American Serenade, a river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines, a news release [...]
	Michigan leads nation as it reports 2,640 cases in cyclosporiasis outbreak Vegetables, lettuce at a grocery store \| Photo by Jon King/Michigan AdvanceReported cases of cyclosporiasis are continuing to grow, with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reporting 2,640 cases, compared with 1,562 cases recorded on Friday. The state first reported an outbreak on July 1, after more than 170 cases were reported in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Livingston, Shiawassee and Jackson counties. The state typically only identifies 40 to 50 cases per year, according to the department. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite with symptoms that include watery diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. It’s typically contracted by eating or drinking something contaminated by the parasite, with symptoms taking up to two weeks to develop. As of July 9, 44 people had been hospitalized due to cyclosporiasis. While the state’s investigation is ongoing, the state health department’s initial results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak, though other foods cannot be ruled out. Past outbreaks have been linked to bagged salad mixes and kits, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions or scallions. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has not identified a specific grower or supplier as the source of the outbreak. “Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families,” Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said in a statement. “Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation. We will continue to provide updates as we learn more.”SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The highest number of cases have been reported in Wayne, Washtenaw, Monroe, Ingham and Shiawassee counties. When purchasing and preparing lettuce and salad greens, the state health department recommends individuals buy whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed, bagged lettuce or salad kits. They should then discard the outer layers, wash the inner leaves under running water and cook any greens that can be cooked to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasite. The department also recommends peeling and washing all produce, and cooking it when possible. Anyone experiencing frequent, watery diarrhea is advised to contact their healthcare provider and request testing for cyclospora. As of July 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 843 cases of cyclosporiasis across the country, with 1,500 cases in need of further analysis. Michigan’s reported total alone exceeds the CDC’s nationwide count. Other states have also reported surges in cases. On July 1, 2025, the CDC scaled back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, or FoodNet, to only include tracking for salmonella and E. coli. Tracking for other foodborne illnesses became optional. Former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told CNN on Monday that he did not think it was in the country’s best interest to cut back on tracking. “Surveillance is sort of the key to early identification,” Redfield said. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	Mercer County readathon to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library The nonprofit Mercer County Better Together is trying to raise enough money to provide free books for hundreds of county kids through Dolly Parton's book program.
	AG James Uthmeier launches investigation into bread additive Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaking at the Cuban Club in Ybor City on April 17, 2026. (Photo by Don Kruse for the Florida Phoenix)Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday he is launching a probe into commercial baking products containing potassium bromate with an eye on sales of products to Florida schools. “Nobody is getting sued today — yet. We want to learn more information. We will be issuing subpoenas to companies that do buy and sell products with potassium bromate in them,” said Uthmeier, appearing at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine campus in Orlando. Uthmeier said his office will first issue subpoenas to General Mills and its Pillsbury subsidiary, “and the list will likely go on from there.” “At the end of the day, we want to protect our families. Number one, public health and safety will always be the priority of our Office of Attorney General as we’re seeking for transparency, notice, and holding businesses accountable that choose profit over safety,” he said. Potassium bromate is a conditioner used to strengthen dough products and improve rise of baked products. It also is used for malting barley to produce fermented beverages and distilled spirits. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates potassium bromate as a food additive in the United States. The product has been linked to cancer in animal testing. Consequently, it is banned in many parts of the world, although still permitted in the United States under certain conditions. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, labels potassium bromate as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Democrat Rep. Lindsey Cross and Republican Meg Weinberger co-sponsored HB 595 in the 2025 regular session. it would have banned brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate beginning 2028, but was never heard in committee. (Photos via Florida House) Support on the left and the right Healthy foods is an issue that transcends traditional politics, finding support from the right and the left. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made his push against food additives part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda, which has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Uthmeier, campaigning for election in his own right as attorney general in November, announced his investigation during an event that featured state Rep. Meg Weinberger and others including Orlando chiropractor Ben Rall and Winter Park nurse practitioner Karen Kelly. Weinberger, a Republican legislator from Palm Beach Gardens, championed legislation in 2025 that would have prohibited the use of five food dyes in K-12 school food programs. The bill never received a hearing. She also co-sponsored HB 595, along with Democratic Rep. Lindsey Cross of St. Petersburg. The bill would have banned certain dyes as well as brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate beginning 2028. It also was never heard in committee. The Senate companion, SB 560, was co-sponsored by state Sen. Joe Gruters, who also serves as chair of National Republican Committee. Uthmeier commended Weinberger and pledged “to helping her champion this effort in the year ahead.” Kelly, founder of Mercy Medical in Winter Park, leaned into the microphone during her remarks to acknowledge that California has embraced elimination of potassium bromate from food products, passing legislation to that end in 2023. The law takes effect in 2027. “If California can do it, Floridians, we need to be having this conversation, right?” she said, slightly lowered her voice to a joking whisper to not let the praise for that Democratic state be heard too loudly. Not his first announcement Uthmeier was appointed attorney general by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February 2025 after the governor placed then-Attorney General Ashley Moody in the U.S. Senate. Uthmeier was a key player in DeSantis’ inner circle, joining the administration in 2019 and eventually making his way to chief of staff. He managed the governor’s ill-fated presidential campaign and returned to the administration to help the governor defeat proposed constitutional amendments to restore abortion rights and legalize recreational cannabis. Uthmeier in Tampa appearance talks Hope Florida, UF teaching position, guns He has been a central figure in the controversy over Hope Florida Foundation. In addition to working as AG, Uthmeier holds a part-time teaching position at the University of Florida Levin College of Law that pays him six figures. The AG is a member of the Florida Cabinet and is the state’s top law enforcement officer. Since being appointed, Uthmeier has used the power of his office to announce several headline-grabbing investigations targeting: The “climate cartel” for alleged violation of the state’s consumer-protection or antitrust laws. The NFL for alleged violation of the state’s Florida’s Civil Rights Act for attempting to diversify its team leadership. Lorex, a Canadian company that sells home security cameras, often used to monitor cribs, pets, babysitters, and doorbells, for alleged ties to the Chinese government. The subpoenas were part of Uthmeier’s “consumer protection investigation into possible foreign spying risks,” according to a news release. Uthmeier has not, however, used the power of his office to do what other Florida AG’s have done: intervene in proposed public utility rate hikes before Florida’s Public Service Commission. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	East Moline Fire Department: Scammers pretend to raise money for charity East Moline Fire Department warns residents and local businesses that scammers are falsely claiming to represent the department and are requesting donations for a fundraiser or charitable drive, according to a Facebook post. "Please do not provide any personal or financial information if you receive one of these calls," the post says. "At this time, [...]
	Pritzker signs new laws on birth control, AI regulations, play-based learning Gov. JB Pritzker signed 31 new laws on Friday as he continues evaluating measures passed in the spring session, including bills banning certain ingredients from cosmetics and correct the state’s property tax laws.
	Expect single-lane closures on Government Bridge The Government Bridge will have intermittent single-lane closures for electrical work from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, according to a news release. Flagmen and signage will be in place during the single-lane closures.
	Augustana College may get new school street name signs Augustana College is looking to add a little more school pride to the streets surrounding the campus. The Rock Island City Council will consider a request from the college to install street name signs featuring both the City of Rock Island and Augustana College logos throughout the campus neighborhood. The proposal includes 60 new signs [...]
	Opponents of giant North Dakota dairy argue for permit reversal Milking machines are attached to the udders of dairy cows that stand on a carousel at Riverview's Campbell Dairy in Wilkin County, Minnesota, on July 10, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) HILLSBORO, N.D. — Opponents of what would be North Dakota’s largest dairy argued Monday that a state agency failed to do an adequate review of the environmental threats posed by the milking operation. Attorneys for Riverview LLP, the Minnesota-based company behind the 25,000-cow Herberg Dairy in Traill County, and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality defended the work of the state agency, which issued an environmental permit in 2025. While attorneys provided some back-and-forth on the value or liability posed by manure from 25,000 cows at a site just west of the Red River, East Central Judicial District Court Judge Susan Bailey said she was more interested in the legal arguments over whether the agency did an adequate review. “It’s not for me to judge the science,” said Bailey, who did not issue a ruling on the case Monday. The challenge to the environmental permit was brought by the Dakota Resource Council, an environmental and landowner rights group based in North Dakota. Attorney Dani Replogle of the environmental group Food and Water Watch, representing Dakota Resource Council, called the state agency process “deeply flawed” and said it ignored state law in multiple areas. She is asking Bailey to rescind the environmental permit and send the permit application back to the agency for further review. Attorneys Dani Replogle, center, and Scott Carlson, right, visit with a Dakota Resource Council supporter after a hearing on the Herberg Dairy in the Traill County Courthouse in Hillsboro, North Dakota, on July 13, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) Replogle said the state agency is mandated to prevent pollution of waterways from both the storing and spreading of manure on farm fields near the dairy and also from stormwater collected at the dairy. She said Riverview’s plan for handling manure, known as a nutrient management plan, doesn’t require enough information about when and where the manure will be applied or take into account the effects of drainage systems in farm fields. She said in addition to potential nitrogen runoff from the manure, there are other possible pollutants, such as antibiotics given to dairy cows and disinfectants used in the barns. Replogle said DEQ and Riverview are essentially asking the public to “trust them” with Riverview responsible for most of the environmental monitoring required by the state. Environmental group challenging permit for 25,000-cow North Dakota dairy Attorney Anine Merkens for the Department of Environmental Quality said the agency made findings on every aspect of the dairy’s application — design, construction and operation. She also said the agency replied to all comments raised during the permitting process. Attorney Andrew Dosdall for Riverview said the Department of Environmental Quality followed a “rational process” in its permit review. Dakota Resource Council attorneys also said DEQ should have required a federal discharge permit. Not doing so violates state law and the federal Clean Water Act, they argued. Attorneys for DEQ said the agency has no authority to require a federal permit unless there is a pollution discharge, which there won’t be. Riverview is still in the early stages of construction of the Herberg Dairy southeast of Hillsboro. The company is focused on construction of the Abercrombie Dairy in the southern Red River Valley, said Brady Janzen, who works on site development for Riverview Dairy. That 12,500-cow dairy will be northwest of Wahpeton. People walk into the Traill County Courthouse in Hillsboro, North Dakota, on July 13, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) He said the plan is to have milk flowing from that facility by next summer. The Dakota Resource Council also challenged the environmental permit for the Abercrombie Dairy. But a judge ruled the Department of Environmental Quality was not properly served and dismissed the suit. Together, the two dairies would quadruple the number of milk cows in the state, which has seen the dairy industry shrink over several decades. Riverview, based in Morris, Minnesota, operates several large dairy operations in western Minnesota, though none as large as the planned Herberg Dairy in Traill County. Riverview is seeking to grow its operation near Morris to nearly 19,000 cows. Janzen, who attended the hearing, said the legal challenge in Traill County is another part of the permitting process. “We respect the process,” Janzen said. Reach North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of North Dakota Monitor
	1 injured after single-vehicle crash on Credit Island Officials said one person suffered minor injuries after a vehicle crashed into the woods on Credit Island Sunday.
	Cases of parasitic outbreak remain low in Oregon as other states see surges The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking outbreaks of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis. (Photo courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Oregon health officials have recorded a handful of verified cases of a parasitic intestinal illness in the state over the past two months, as outbreaks involving the disease continue to grow in other parts of the country. Data the Oregon Health Authority released last week shows that in both May and June, public health officials recorded seven cases of cyclosporiasis in the state. The parasite cyclospora infects the small intestine, and symptoms of the illness can include watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, weight loss, stomach cramps and nausea. But Oregon’s current case levels remain far below the hundreds of cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been tracking the outbreak in 31 states since May but lagging behind state-level data in areas where the outbreak has been most pronounced. The Trump administration has gutted funding for local public agencies and reduced state-level surveillance requirements for a federal program to monitor foodborne illness. The outbreak is currently concentrated in states such as Michigan, New York, Illinois and Texas, but some health officials on the West Coast have expressed concern that there could be spillover from the Midwest. None of Oregon’s recent cases of cyclosporiasis have been connected to a common food source or broader outbreak investigation, according to Jonathan Modie, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority. He noted that federal health officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak in other states. “Many other states have also not reported an increase in cases,” Modie wrote in an email. “The reasons for this pattern remain unknown, and there is a possibility that specific risk factors (e.g., contaminated products or other common exposures) may not be present in Oregon. Until the factors driving the national situation are understood, we cannot know whether case numbers in Oregon will change in the future.” So far, current cases are lower than previous years’ data. In June 2024 and July 2025, the Oregon Health Authority recorded 12 cases, the highest number for a single month in recent years. The parasite thrives on produce such as lettuce which is not cooked and can remain contaminated when washed off. Public health experts recommend that people wash their produce thoroughly, avoid pre-cut or bagged salad mixes, cook foods whenever possible and be cautious of the source of drinking water. Cyclosporiasis is treatable with antibiotics, but people with healthy immune systems can often recover without any additional treatment. Without treatment, the illness may last from a few days to a month or longer, according to the CDC. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 2:38 pmUpdated with comment from a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority. Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs controversial ‘born-alive’ abortion bill into law Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks to reporters after signing three bills in his office April 23. On Monday, July 13, 2026, he signed several additional pieces of legislation into law (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).On Monday, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law the only significant anti-abortion bill Republicans were able to pass this session as they faced heated debates with Democrats and fractured opinions over what to include in the final pared-down version of the bill. Under the ‘Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,’ any healthcare provider who “knowingly performs or attempts to perform an overt act that kills a child born alive” can be charged with first-degree murder, and could face the death penalty. Most Democrats opposed the legislation, some accusing Republicans of using the bill to win the favor of constituents in an election year. Democrats argued the law is unnecessary because state law already prohibits infanticide, but that it could create a chilling effect for providers who want to practice in Missouri. Other critics of the bill, including doctors who provided testimony, raised concerns about how the legislation could affect families who choose to induce early labor following a fatal fetal diagnosis — a procedure which falls under the definition of abortion in the medical field — and the providers caring for them. “The last minute scramble by anti-abortion politicians to pass this blatantly unconstitutional and medically nonsensical policy right under the gun of the end of legislative session makes clear that they know they are about to lose their abortion bans at the ballot box––again,” Maggie Olivia, director of policy and external affairs at Abortion Action Missouri, said Monday. The Missouri Constitution protects the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability, which is the point in pregnancy at which the baby can survive without extraordinary medical interventions. Missourians will again vote on abortion in November after lawmakers placed a proposed amendment on the ballot that would again ban nearly all abortions, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies and for survivors of rape and incest. The bill’s sponsors have said the legislation isn’t intended to affect palliative care, but rather acts as a safeguard in the exceedingly rare instance that a baby is born during a failed abortion. They say the protections of the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002 don’t go far enough. An earlier version of the legislation sought to open the door for lawsuits against anyone involved in an illegal abortion, including self-induced abortions, if abortion were to again become outlawed in Missouri. That language was cut from the bill after Senate Democrats persuaded the sponsor, Republican state Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair, to remove the liability provisions and to add other provisions related to vulnerable people. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold and a leading anti-abortion lawmaker, voted against the changes, saying of the final version that “the heart of the bill was gutted.” She was among a handful of Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion activists to raise concerns with the constitutionality of the bill, saying they worried it violated the Missouri Constitution’s single subject requirement. “I think this is a bill that’s going to waste resources in the attorney general’s office and is going to distract from the pro-life work that needs to be done in order to make people feel better about voting in favor of a pro-life bill this year,” she said on the Senate floor in May. “I don’t think performance is what we should be doing. I think we should be making laws, and so therefore I’m regretfully voting no.” Missouri governor signs wide-ranging bipartisan healthcare bill into law The amended bill incorporated language expanding the state’s maternal mortality review board to include studying the state’s maternal healthcare deserts, tracking the level of prenatal and postnatal care given to women who die in childbirth or postpartum and making recommendations to combat racial inequities in maternal deaths. Republican leadership also agreed to tack on a provision that allows victims to seek orders of protection against cyberstalkers and establishes the offense of “cyberharassment” and “cyberstalking.” Courtesy of Missouri Independent
	Semi spills granite on I-80 off-ramp in LeClaire A semitrailer spilled large pieces of granite onto the I-80 off-ramp in LeClaire on Monday morning. The driver was not injured or cited.
	Lanes to close on Government Bridge for electrical work Lanes on the Government Bridge will close Tuesday for electrical work.
	Government Bridge to have lane closures July 14 It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. According to a release from the U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal, the Government Bridge will have intermittent single lane closures for electrical work Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Flagmen and signage will be in place during the single lane closures.
	MidAmerican Energy seeks to increase gas delivery fee MidAmerican Energy customers in Iowa were recently notified about a potential gas rate adjustment, pending approval by the Iowa Utilities Commission. Geoff Greenwood, spokesperson for MidAmerican Energy, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to explain why the adjustment is necessary and how it will make service safer for customers. He says the request [...]
	Scott, Muscatine residents invited to REAP conservation meeting Want a say in local conservation? Attend the Region 9 REAP assembly July 24 and help guide future projects.
	$10 million settlement over online gaming child exploitation will fund safety, after-school efforts South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, right, and Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen participate in a press conference on July 13, 2026, in Sioux Falls. Jackley announced a settlement with the Roblox gaming platform. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)SIOUX FALLS — Roblox, a gaming platform popular with children, will pay South Dakota nearly $10 million over four years and implement new protections for young users under a settlement announced Monday by state Attorney General Marty Jackley. The settlement also requires Roblox to implement age verification. The company plans to use facial age estimation software and government-issued IDs to confirm users’ ages. Jackley said the parameters are necessary as child exploitation cases grow in South Dakota and nationwide, particularly on a platform where adults have allegedly posed as children to communicate with children and lure them into dangerous or criminal activity. “If someone wants to participate in this, then there needs to be protections there,” Jackley said. State joins lawsuit accusing Meta of fueling children’s social media addiction The settlement is preventative, he said, since no cases have been filed concerning Roblox and child endangerment in South Dakota. “I hope with this settlement we never have to,” Jackley said. South Dakota is the fifth state to settle with Roblox; combined, the agreements have cost the company about $54 million. The other settlements are $12 million with Nevada, $9 million with Mississippi, $12.2 million with Alabama and $11 million with Virginia. Nine other states are suing the company. Of the settlement funds, $3.6 million will go to the Attorney General’s Office — $1 million for the state’s consumer protection fund and $2.6 million for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The task force responds to tips about potential child exploitation cases, including online offenses and human trafficking investigations like those conducted during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Jackley said the program is expensive and one of the office’s busiest divisions. “That will relieve a burden that’s been building up,” Jackley said. Another $5 million will go to the state Education Department, with $1 million earmarked for governmental and nonprofit after-school programs. The remaining funds will be spent at the department’s discretion. Education Secretary Joe Graves spoke at a press conference Monday where state officials announced the settlement. “The after-school program is exactly where this needs to go because that’s the time of the day when kids who are without frequent parental supervision are going home and then they have kind of free rein,” Graves said. “After-school programs really kind of address that.” Roblox will spend another $1 million on educational advertisements about children’s online safety for South Dakota families. In addition to the age verification requirement, the settlement mandates the company make other changes to protect minors, including: Expanded parental controls allowing caregivers to restrict who users talk to, and restrict the transfer of in-game currency from adults. Restricted chat features to block adult users from chatting with users under 16 unless they’re identified as “trusted friends” on the platform. Accessible — rather than encrypted — communications involving minors, allowing law enforcement to better track and disband child exploitation networks. Jackley said he hopes the provisions, especially the reporting requirements and partnership with law enforcement, will serve as a model for other social media and gaming companies to use. The company will release an annual report regarding its child exploitation prevention efforts in South Dakota. South Dakota could receive an additional $5.4 million if Roblox fails to meet the settlement’s requirements. The terms allow South Dakota to change to “any improved terms” that Roblox and another state might reach later on. Ultimately, the burden rests on parents and caregivers to educate children about online safety, said Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen. “This really starts with having conversations at home, with schools teaching kids responsible online habits and with law enforcement protecting kids from these bad actors,” Venhuizen said. South Dakota is also part of a pending lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over youth mental health and social media addiction. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Trump's HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care NPR has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing its most aggressive attempt to end gender-affirming care for youth nationally.
	Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown branch closing remainder of Monday due to heat The Watts-Midtown branch does not have air conditioning.
	South Carolina's governor names Lindsey Graham's sister to serve out his term South Carolina's governor says he is appointing Darline Graham Nordone to finish the term of her late brother. Top Republicans, including President Trump, have coalesced around the pick.
	Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch temporarily closed due to heat The Rock Island Public Library has closed the Watts-Midtown Branch for the remainder of Monday due to heat concerns with no air conditioning. The Downtown and Southwest branches remain open.
	Cancer support organization schedules educational workshop on cancer biology Curious about the biology of cancer? Attend a July 27 workshop with guest speaker Russ Dunn in person or on Zoom.
	Boil order issued for City of Aledo Aledo residents and businesses connected to the city water system are under a boil order until repairs are completed and water testing confirms it is safe.
	Sweeten your summer with premium chocolate indulgences (BPT) - Summer means enjoying time with friends and family, soaking up long days in the sun and delighting in easy evenings outside. While you're savoring each moment and creating new memories, why not sweeten them a little bit more with your favorite chocolate flavors?Try these easy, fun ways to elevate summer gatherings from Chocolove, a premium chocolate brand known for flavor innovation and high-quality, sustainable ingredients.Elevate your s'mores for a tastier eveningWhether you're at the fireside or cooking on the stovetop, s'mores season deserves something extra special. Here are a few ideas to help you take your s'mores party to the next level:Chocolove's Bites are tasty, bite-sized treats that are a convenient, delicious way to layer premium flavor into your s'mores. These individually wrapped bites are easy to pack for a beach day, camping trip or late-night summer treat, and now come in stand-up bags for added on-the-go ease. They're available in four dark chocolate varieties that will have everyone asking for "s'more": Coconut, Mint Crème, Salted Caramel and Salted Peanut Butter. Shop them online at Chocolove.com.For even more crave-worthy s'more options, you can break off a square or two of these fan-favorite bars when you gather around the campfire:Dark Chocolate Raspberries Bar — Enjoy freeze-dried, crispy tart raspberry pieces bursting with flavor, enveloped in premium smooth semi-sweet dark chocolate.Milk Chocolate Salted Peanut Butter Bar — Classic European chocolate gives way to silky smooth, real organic salted peanut butter filling.Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Bar — Caramel lovers everywhere will appreciate this premium salted caramel filling enrobed in rich dark chocolate.New flavors to love and shareWant to satisfy your sweet tooth by exploring a couple of exciting new flavors? Try one (or both!) of these new creations next time you need a sweet fix, or serve chocolate squares with berries, pretzels and cheeses for an easy, elegant dessert. Dark Chocolate Coconut Filled Bar — A tropical-inspired indulgence featuring creamy real coconut filling wrapped in dark chocolate for a smooth, balanced bite. Available at Whole Foods Market, Amazon and Chocolove.com.Dark Chocolate Marzipan Filled Bar — A European-style confection with soft, silky almond marzipan in rich dark chocolate, crafted for a refined, luxurious experience. Available on Amazon and Chocolove.com.Embrace the trending dot cake sensationDot cakes are taking over the internet, and for good reason. They're a fun, easy way to put together mini desserts for any festive occasion — from picnics and barbecues to baby showers and birthdays — or just when you want a little indulgence for yourself! Kids and grown-ups alike will find that these mini cakes are as fun to eat as they are tasty.Chocolove created a recipe in partnership with Watkins to help you enjoy elevated, artificial dye-free dot cakes of your own. Just make sure to gather some glass jars ahead of time!IngredientsCake1 box vanilla cake mixIngredients called for on the box (typically eggs, oil and water)1/2 cup Watkins Artificial Dye-Free Rainbow Nonpareils (for topping)Chocolate Frosting6 ounces Chocolove Milk Chocolate, chopped1 cup unsalted butter, softened2 cups powdered sugar2 tablespoons heavy cream1 teaspoon Watkins Baking VanillaPinch of saltInstructions1. Preheat oven according to cake mix package directions. Grease and line a 9x13-inch baking pan. 2. Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions. 3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. 4. Bake according to package directions. Let cool completely. 5. While the cake cools, make the frosting. Melt chopped Chocolove Milk Chocolate and allow it to cool slightly. 6. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. 7. Add the melted chocolate, heavy cream, Watkins Baking Vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth. 8. Assemble the Dot Cake by cutting out rounds of cake from the pan, dropping into a jar of the same size, and spread with an even layer of frosting. Repeat until you get to the top of the jar. 9. Add 1/2 cup of sprinkles onto a plate and place the jar face down, pressing slightly into the sprinkles so an even layer of sprinkles forms on top.And voilà! You have your own homemade, personal dot cake.Try all of these ideas to help you make the most of your summer get-togethers, so you can cherish every sweet moment.Chocolove is made from traceable cocoa, is Non-GMO Project Verified and Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning the chocolate is sourced in a way that supports a better future for cocoa farmers and their families. Chocolove is made without artificial preservatives and crafted to deliver decadent, world-class flavor experiences.Chocolove is available at retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Publix, Walgreens, Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, Walmart, Sprouts, a variety of independent and natural retailers, on Amazon and at Chocolove.com.
	Missouri governor signs wide-ranging bipartisan healthcare bill into law Gov. Mike Kehoe signs a bill on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in his office in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).Pregnant women on Medicaid could see a doula more often and anyone using birth control could obtain a year’s supply of contraceptives under a bill that expands women’s and maternal health coverage signed into law Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The wide-ranging bill, which touches dozens of healthcare statutes and includes protections for nonprofit hospitals and children with severe allergies, was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Tara Peters of Rolla and state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter of Jefferson City. The bill won final approval from a bipartisan group of lawmakers on the second-to-last day of the legislative session. Kehoe hailed the legislation as a key to Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program, referring to the state’s part in the $50 billion federal program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill last summer. In a press release, Kehoe said the measures would “protect our most vulnerable, hold insurance companies accountable and change the landscape of healthcare access and outcomes in communities across the state.” Maternal and reproductive health The new law includes a number of measures that a group of bipartisan lawmakers have been championing for the past few years. This includes a provision that allows those with private insurance to pick up an annual supply of contraceptives rather than visiting a pharmacy every few months. Studies show this policy, which goes into effect Jan. 1, is already the law in a majority of states and leads to an increase in access and continuity of birth control use, which helps prevent unintended pregnancy. Also beginning Jan. 1, insurance will be required to cover blood pressure monitoring equipment for those who are pregnant and up to 12 months postpartum as part of a widespread effort to address the state’s maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, is among the leading causes of pregnancy-related underlying causes of deaths in Missouri, according to the Missouri Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board. Missouri governor signs bills creating armed school ‘rangers,’ high school sports appeals board Doulas — professionals who advocate for the emotional and physical wellbeing of families during pregnancy and birth, but who do not deliver babies — are cited as part of the solution to Missouri’s poor maternal and infant birth outcomes. The new law expands doula services for low-income families enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program from six to 16 visits covering pregnancy, birth, postpartum and lactation support. Also under the new law, those enrolled in Show-Me Healthy Babies, the state’s Medicaid program for pregnancy and postpartum, will now have access to free childbirth education classes. The law broadens the scope of the state health department’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board, which tracks maternal health outcomes. An amendment to the bill, filed by state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, expands the board’s duties to include studying the state’s maternal healthcare deserts, tracking the level of prenatal and postnatal care given to women who die in childbirth or postpartum and making recommendations to combat racial inequities in maternal deaths. On average, around 70 women die each year in Missouri during childbirth or in the first year postpartum. Of those deaths, 80% were deemed preventable by the state. The new law also expands insurance coverage of contrast-enhanced mammograms for breast cancer screenings. Healthcare access and affordability Several provisions in the law aim to protect or increase healthcare access. One provision bars insurance companies or their intermediaries from reimbursing hospitals at lower rates because they participate in the federal 340B program, which requires drug manufacturers to sell medications to nonprofit hospitals at a reduced rate. Pharmacy benefit managers — middlemen that administer prescription drug plans for insurers — are among the entities prohibited from discriminating against 340 hospitals, including imposing extra fees or requiring them to undergo more extensive or frequent audits. The Department of Commerce and Insurance can fine insurers or PBMs up to $5,000 per violation per day for breaking the law. The bill also aims to increase access to telemedicine. Physicians will be able to use a patient questionnaire in place of an in-person evaluation to treat a patient, unless an in-person examination is necessary to meet the standard of care. Another measure prohibits insurance companies from putting a time limit on their coverage of anesthesia during medical procedures, ensuring patients are covered for the full duration of surgeries. Other measures ban hospitals from collecting on medical debts incurred while they were noncompliant with federal pricing transparency laws and require insurers to create web interfaces to streamline prior authorization of medications. Tick-borne diseases The Department of Health and Senior Services will be required to collect data on cases of Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to mammal products, under the new law. Diagnostic testing labs and healthcare professionals will be required to report cases of the conditions to the department, which will submit annual reports to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill also establishes a fund to support research at public universities on diagnostics, therapies and treatments for Lyme disease, as well as preventative measures such as tick population control. A 2023 CDC report placed Missouri in the center of the swath of the U.S. with the highest concentration of suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome. There were more than 110,000 of those cases between 2010 and 2022, according to the report. Children’s health The bill aims to protect children with severe allergies by requiring licensed childcare providers to maintain allergy prevention and response policies. And it allows schools to stock non-injectable “epinephrine delivery devices” like nasal sprays that school nurses can administer to students experiencing anaphylaxis. State law previously included only “auto-injector” syringes. Another provision of the law aims to get timely medical examinations for children entering foster care. It requires an examination by a provider familiar with the effects of abuse and neglect on children within 72 hours and more thorough developmental, emotional and behavioral screenings within 30 days of entering care. Courtesy of Missouri Independent
	'Caught Caring' recognizes Moline residents making a difference Moline has a new way to recognize the everyday people working to make the city better. Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati is launching "Caught Caring," a new program that will award 30 commemorative challenge coins to the people making Moline a better place, often without anyone noticing. She will personally present commemorative challenge coins to people and [...]
	Pint-sized obsessions: America's favorite ice cream flavors and brands, according to Instacart data Pint-sized obsessions: America's favorite ice cream flavors and brands, according to Instacart dataJust in time for National Ice Cream Day on July 19, Instacart dug into a year of ice cream orders to find the flavors and brands filling America's carts, along with the delightfully regional tastes that make every state unique.Ice cream occupies a rare sweet spot in the grocery aisle: It’s nearly universal in appeal yet deeply individual in taste. Ask 10 people their favorite flavor, and you'll get 10 different answers.In order to map the country's sweet tooth, Instacart purchase data from 2025 was used to see how Americans stocked their pints and tubs, tracking which classics held the line, which newer brands surged, and which scoop each state reaches for more than anyone else.Key TakeawaysVanilla is untouchable. It's America's most-ordered flavor, accounting for about 21% of all ice cream orders, and the single most popular pick in every one of the 50 states and D.C.Häagen-Dazs tops the brands. At roughly 24% of orders, it edges out Ben & Jerry's, with Breyers rounding out the top three.Every region has a signature scoop: rocky road out West, coffee across New England, and butter pecan in the South.Hometown dairies win locally. Tillamook is the brand the West favors most, Blue Bell rules the South, and Blue Bunny owns the Plains.Better-for-you is booming. The fastest-growing brands are premium, better-for-you pints, led by Alec's Ice Cream, Rebel, and Van Leeuwen.Vanilla still rulesSome things never melt. Vanilla remains the country's runaway favorite, representing over one-fifth of ice cream purchases, the dependable base for every sundae, float, and à la mode. Behind it, chocolate (7.9%) and cookie dough (6.9%) round out the podium — proof that when it comes to ice cream, comfort beats novelty almost every time.The rest of the top 10 leans nostalgic and crowd-pleasing faves: cookies and cream (5.8%), chocolate fudge/brownie (5.1%), and peanut butter (4.7%) all earn their spots, while mint chocolate chip (4.7%) and coffee (4.5%) keep their loyal followings. The list rounds out with two fruity flavors, strawberry (3.7%) and cherry (3.1%), taking the #9 and #10 spots. Adventurous flavors exist, but Americans mostly want the hits. Instacart A 2-pint race at the topWithin the freezer aisle, we have a duel. Häagen-Dazs takes the national crown, with Ben & Jerry's close behind. Between them, they stake out the two great camps of American ice cream: the velvety-premium and the chunk-loaded-indulgent. Breyers holds a comfortable spot in third as the everyday family favorite.From there, the list turns into a tour of beloved names: Pacific Northwest favorite Tillamook, better-for-you pioneer Halo Top, and regional institutions like Turkey Hill and Blue Bell that inspire fierce hometown loyalty. It's a top 10 that rewards both the splurge and the staple. Instacart Every state's signature scoopVanilla is the most popular flavor in every state hands down, so to find each state's true personality, Instacart asked a different question: Which flavor is unique to each state, claiming a bigger share of local orders than it does nationally?The answer draws a surprisingly tidy map. The West runs on rocky road, while coffee percolates across New England, Oregon, New Mexico, and Hawai‘i. The South has a soft spot for butter pecan, the mid-Atlantic reaches for mint chocolate chip, and the Heartland stays loyal to good old vanilla.The real fun, though, is in the one-off favorites.Wisconsin, true to its dairy-state roots, goes all in on Moose Tracks, the fudge-and-peanut-butter-cup classic with Midwestern origins.Tennessee has a singular soft spot for cheesecake, the only state where the dessert-in-a-tub tops the list.And out in the Mountain West, cherry reigns in both Colorado and Wyoming, a pairing that hints at a shared regional taste for something bright and a little old-fashioned. None of these would crack a national top 10, yet each one quietly defines the state that loves it. Instacart America's regional loyaltiesFew groceries are as local as the ice cream brand in your freezer. Measured by which brand each state favors most compared with the country overall, the map becomes a portrait of America's great regional creameries.Tillamook blankets the West, dominating a dozen states. Blue Bell reigns across the South, Blue Bunny owns the Plains, and New England stays faithful to Friendly's. Even the national champ shows up, with Häagen-Dazs standing out most in dense coastal markets like New York and New Jersey. Instacart The rising stars scooping it upThe freezer aisle's old guard remains steady, but the energy in 2025 came from ice cream’s rising stars. Better-for-you and premium pints like Alec’s Ice Cream (+50%), Rebel (+39%), Straus Family Creamery (+38%), Van Leeuwen (+37%), and Graeter’s Ice Cream (+31%) posted some of the strongest growth year over year.To keep it honest, Instacart measured how much each brand's share of ice cream orders grew from 2024 to 2025, looking only at brands that already had a real foothold the year before. The result is a snapshot of who truly gained momentum. Instacart The last scoopFor all our regional pride, America's ice cream story is one about comfort first. Vanilla, chocolate, and cookie dough anchor nearly every freezer in the country, and the biggest brands keep getting bigger.But underneath the classics, flavor preferences are gloriously local, and the next generation of premium and better-for-you pints is melting its way into the mainstream.This story was produced by Instacart and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Heartland British Autofest brings British cars to LeClaire The Quad Cities’ British Auto Club is holding its 39th Annual Heartland British Autofest on Saturday, August 1 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the levee in LeClaire. Admission is free for spectators. The event showcases an array of classic British cars, including Jaguars, Land Rovers, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, Mini Coopers and more. [...]
	Initiative to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban qualifies for November’s general election ballot Volunteers pass boxes of signatures supporting a ballot initiative to end Idaho's strict ban on abortion on July 2, 2026, outside the state Capitol in Boise. (Photo by Abigail Gerstein/Idaho Capital Sun)The voter initiative seeking to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban has officially qualified to appear on ballots in November, Idahoans United for Women and Families, the group leading the effort, announced Monday. Idahoans United for Women and Families turned in more than 110,00 signatures to the office on July 2, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. “We are just immensely proud of the foundation we have built, and to continue that outreach into the fall,” Idahoans United Executive Director Melanie Folwell said in an interview Friday. “We have known from early on this issue was deeply personal and had the ability to break through divisive partisan frames we are navigating nationally right now and certainly, very accurately here in Idaho.” “The thing about the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act is it speaks to a fundamental Idaho value and a fundamental American value that no matter our own personal beliefs, we ought not impose those on others,” Folwell added. “When it comes to making the tough decisions in our lives and in our families, we call the shots and not the government. That is something that has resonated in every corner of the state.” In Idaho, a ballot initiative allows residents to directly propose and decide whether to enact a new law. To qualify for the ballot, initiative supporters must collect the signatures from a total of at least 6% of registered voters statewide, as well as 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. In a Monday press release, Idahoans United said more than 1,250 volunteers helped collect the 110,000 signatures, and Idahoans from all of the state’s 44 counties signed the initiative’s petition. “The 110,000+ signatures on the Reproductive Freedom & Privacy Act are the most collected for a qualified ballot initiative in Idaho history, over 1.5 times the 70,725 valid signatures required by law,” the press release said. The initiative would take a simple majority of votes in the Nov. 3 general election to become law. County clerks performed an initial check to determine whether signatures came from individual eligible registered voters, and the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office completed the final verification. A spokesman from the Secretary of State’s office confirmed the initiative has qualified for the November election on Monday. The proposed initiative would legalize abortion until fetal viability or in cases of emergency — essentially re-establishing the abortion rights Idahoans had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision four years ago. The initiative would also enumerate rights related to reproductive health, such as protections for access to contraception and IVF, and privacy in medical decisions. Some legislative candidates support overturning initiative if it passes The initiative faces strong pushback from some in the Idaho GOP. Members of the Idaho Republican Party at its summer meeting last month approved a resolution to call on the state Legislature to repeal the abortion initiative should it pass in November. There are 16 legislative candidates who won their Republican primary elections that said they supported overturning the initiative if it passed in a survey distributed by a group called Honor Idaho. The candidates are: Scott Herndon, Jane Sauter, Cornel Rasor, Vito Barbieri, Elaine Price, Cindy Carlson, Kyle Harris, Colton Bennett, Christy Zito, Judy Boyle, Camille Blaylock, Kent Marmon, Jeff Cornilles, Jaron Crane, Steve Tanner and Clint Hostetler. This graphic breaks down the political affiliation of the people who signed the petition to get the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. (Graphic courtesy of Idahoans United for Women and Families) On Thursday, Idaho GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon released an op-ed denouncing the initiative as “deceptive,” and said she was proud to cast a vote while she was serving in the Legislature to support Idaho’s trigger law that went into effect after Roe fell. Now organizers of the initiative are “trying to undo that progress and turn back the clock to a time when any unborn child could face the death penalty for the crime of being inconvenient,” Moon said in the op-ed. Despite Idaho’s status as a deeply conservative state — President Donald Trump won here by nearly 37 percentage points in 2024 — an estimated one-fourth, or 28%, of more than 110,000 signatures collected by the group spearheading the proposed Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act are from registered Republicans, Stateline previously reported. According to the campaign’s data, more than 33% of the signers are unaffiliated voters, 37% are Democrats and about 1% are Libertarians. Those shares may be slightly higher or lower now that petitions are certified by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office to put the proposal on the November ballot. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	New survey reveals children's heroes are parents, teachers and siblings Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. var bptVideoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); if (bptVideoPlayer) { var cssText = "width: 100%;"; cssText += " background: url('" + bptVideoPlayer.getAttribute("poster") + "');"; cssText += " -webkit-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -moz-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -o-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " background-size: cover;"; bptVideoPlayer.style.cssText = cssText; var bptVideoPlayerContainer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayerContainer"); if (bptVideoPlayerContainer) { setTimeout(function () { bptVideoPlayerContainer.style.cssText = "display: block; position: relative; margin-bottom: 10px;"; var isIE = navigator.userAgent.match(/ MSIE(([0 - 9] +)(\.[0 - 9] +) ?) /); var isEdge = navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1 \|\| navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident") > -1; if (isIE \|\| isEdge) { fixVideoPoster(); } }, 1000); } var bptVideoPlayButton = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayButton"); if (bptVideoPlayButton) { bptVideoPlayButton.addEventListener("click", function () { bptVideoPlayer.play(); }, false); bptVideoPlayer.addEventListener("play", function () { bptVideoPlayButton.style.cssText = "display: none;"; }, false); } var mainImage = document.getElementById("mainImageImgContainer_sm"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var mainImage = document.getElementById("photo-noresize"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("asset_gallery")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("trb_article_leadart")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.querySelectorAll("[src='https://d372qxeqh8y72i.cloudfront.net/3a517e33-df3a-4fe3-82b4-1e1c470c004b_web.jpg']")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } } function fixVideoPoster() { var videoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); var videoPoster = document.getElementById("bptVideoPoster"); fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, true); window.onresize = function() { fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster); }; videoPoster.onclick = function() { videoPlayer.play(); videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; videoPlayer.onplay = function() { videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; } function fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, display) { setTimeout(function () { var videoPosition = videoPlayer.getBoundingClientRect(); videoPoster.style.position = "absolute"; videoPoster.style.top = "0"; videoPoster.style.left = "0"; videoPoster.style.width = videoPlayer.offsetWidth + "px"; videoPoster.style.height = (videoPlayer.offsetHeight + 20) + "px"; if (display) { videoPoster.style.display = "inline"; } }, 1010); } (BPT) - To a child, the ultimate superheroes aren't on a screen — they're sitting right across the dinner table. A recent Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care survey finds 71% of children look up to their own parents as role models. What's more, children aren't selecting their heroes because of their super speed or flawless ways. Traits like bravery, strength, kindness and honesty outrank superficial heroic traits. According to the survey, 82% of children whose parents were polled want to be considered a hero someday, which means parents' hard work may be paying off. It's important to allow children to find themselves and have role models who support their dreams and the qualities they most want to embody. Cheers to real-world heroes!
	Davenport Sleep Inn evacuated Monday morning after pool wiring overheats Officials said the fire was caused by the pool’s wiring overheating and burning the sheeting around the pump’s wires.
	Standard time could become permanent: What to know While a House bill to make daylight saving permanent could be voted on this week, another new bill calls for an opposite approach.
	Rhode Island Blood Center declares emergency shortage, issues call for donations The Rhode Island Blood Center issued an emergency declaration at 6 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2026, calling for donors to help restore supplies to 'healthy levels.' (Photo by Sarah Ladd/Kentucky Lantern)Blood centers nationwide, including in Rhode Island, are in desperate need of donations as supplies dip to critically low levels. The Rhode Island Blood Center issued an emergency declaration at 6 a.m. Monday calling for donors to help restore supplies to “healthy levels.” The Providence-based blood center, run through regional nonprofit operator New York Blood Center Enterprises, has just 1,000, 1-pint units left, enough to fulfill two days of regular orders to hospitals, Chelsey Smith, a blood center spokesperson, said, in an interview Monday. Blood type O-negative, described as the “universal donor” because it can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type, is at an even more critical shortage, with less than two full days of supply on hand, Chelsey Smith said. A seven-day supply is considered the norm to keep on hand for regular needs and emergencies. Rhode Island typically receives fewer blood donations during the summer due to family vacations and seasonal school closures — blood drives held in high schools and universities bring in 25% of blood donations nationwide, Smith said. But as shortages sweep blood centers nationwide, Rhode Island can’t rely on regional or nationwide partners to fill the gap. “Our job is to make sure hospitals have the blood they need before patients arrive – not after,” Hunter Shaffer, vice president of operations at Rhode Island Blood Center, said in a statement. “With blood supplies under pressure here and across much of the country, there’s very little flexibility when inventories fall this low. We’re asking everyone who’s eligible to donate now so blood is available for the next trauma patient, the next surgery and every patient whose care depends on a lifesaving transfusion.” New York Blood Center Enterprises’ New York facility issued an emergency declaration last week, reporting the lowest level of blood in stock since the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey and Connecticut, both operated by the same nonprofit, have also hit critical levels of low supply, while Americas Blood Centers issued a call for donors amid a nationwide shortage, in a July 10 statement. Already, Rhode Island Blood Center has been unable to fulfill orders from area hospitals, providing just enough for the most urgent patients for the last week, Smith said. Fewer units sent to hospitals can mean delayed surgeries, though that has not happened yet, Smith said. “Blood is one of the few medical treatments that cannot be manufactured or replaced, and when a patient needs it, they can’t wait,” said Sarah Frost, Brown University Health chief of hospital operations and president of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro. “A stable blood supply allows us to provide lifesaving care without delay. Right now, that supply is critically low, and every blood donation can make a lifesaving difference.” Care New England, the second-largest hospital operator in Rhode Island, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. Donations can be made at any of Rhode Island Blood Center’s five Rhode Island locations — Providence, Warwick, Woonsocket, Middletown, and Narragansett, with appointments booked online. There are also several community blood drives throughout the state this week, including at Brown University Health and Wellness Center in Providence and Foolproof Brewing in Pawtucket. For more information, including hours, appointments and eligibility, visit https://donate.ribc.org/donor/schedules/zip. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Two no-party candidates seek Scott County Board seats with focus on housing, engagement Eight candidates are competing for three Scott County Board seats. Meet the two running without party affiliation.
	Cracking down on illicit vape products protects consumers and responsible retailers The head of Georgia Retailers highlights the role the FDA plays in keeping legal, regulated e-cigarette products on the shelves — and why that work is important for consumers and business owners. Stock photo by Francesco Carta fotografo via Getty ImagesFor years, Georgia’s reputable retailers have stood on the front lines of a shifting marketplace. We are committed to a single goal of providing our customers with quality products and convenience in service to our community. We take that responsibility seriously, which also means keeping regulated products like nicotine (and alcohol) out of the hands of our kids. However, over the past few years the shop owners who play by the rules have been forced to compete on an increasingly unlevel playing field with unscrupulous smoke shops that are popping up everywhere. They operate in the gray area by design – often stocking their shelves with illicit products that are untaxed and unregulated. We were recently encouraged to see progress and reform in the marketplace, and we started to see a glimpse of what a functional, regulated market could look like. In early May, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of four new vaping products. But authorization is only half the battle. Right now, the FDA has authorized only 45 vapor products in the entire country. Yet, you can walk into almost any rogue smoke shop or scroll through online platforms and see thousands of unauthorized products that completely ignore basic safety and marketing standards. The criminal supply chain has a long track record of changing brands, corporate structure, packaging and strategy to stay one step ahead of law enforcement. As further evidence of this insidious innovation in the illicit market, bad actors are now changing the very chemistry of what’s inside these devices to cheat the system entirely. Illicit distributors have engineered a new fake nicotine chemical known as 6MN, marketing it under various synthetic chemical trade names to fill vapes and mimic the effects of nicotine while circumventing the law. These chemicals are designed explicitly to dodge taxes and bypass youth-protection laws. They are targeting kids using disposable products historically popular with youth according to federal regulators, packing them into colorful, disposable packages with outrageous candy and dessert flavors. These products are a direct threat to public health and a slap in the face to the law-abiding business owners who make up the Georgia Retailers. While legitimate shop owners do the right thing, these chemically altered alternatives are flooding the market with zero oversight. While there is little known about these substances, researchers from Duke University and Yale University have published studies concluding that “6MN is more potent than nicotine at nicotinic receptors and in its neurotoxicity and lethality to rodents. This suggests that products containing 6MN have higher abuse potential and an elevated risk of adverse events.” We need real enforcement with teeth at the local level and the resources to fight this villain on the front lines, and parents, teachers and law enforcement must stay vigilant as these new chemical loopholes creep onto store shelves. While the $200 million in federal funding for tobacco enforcement is a start, we need continued vigilance and coordination among our federal agencies to intercept these illegal shipments at our ports, continue to sound the alarm in our communities and penalize the bad actors. Recent reports about the success of Operation Red Mist illustrate the danger in the criminal supply chain but also the success coming from enhanced enforcement. The FDA’s recent actions prove that when there is a clear, legal pathway for innovation, we don’t have to choose between protecting kids and providing adults with the opportunity to switch away from traditional cigarettes. But for this to work, the FDA needs to keep moving through its backlog of applications so retailers can include legal, regulated choices on their shelves. The path forward is clear. By authorizing legal alternatives and aggressively going after illicit actors, we can protect our children, support adults trying to quit smoking and keep Georgia’s retail economy strong and lawful. The Georgia Recorder welcomes guest commentary submissions that adhere to these guidelines. Courtesy of Georgia Recorder
	Rock Island Library closes branch due to excessive heat Rising temperatures have led to a branch of the Rock Island Public Library to close early. The Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street, will close for the remainder of Monday, July 13 due to a lack of air conditioning and rising temperatures inside the building. The closing took effect as of 1 [...]
	Mitchell Tenpenny coming to Rust Belt Multi-platinum selling artist Mitchell Tenpenny is extending his “Speed of Light Tour” with a stop at The Rust Belt, 533 12th Avenue in East Moline on November 14. Jake Banfield will appear as a special guest. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. A pre-sale for members of [...]
	Aledo under water boil order Officials said the order was caused by a water system maintenance issue.
	Death Notice: Celeste Murphy A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Celeste M. Murphy, 100, of Long Grove, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the church, where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday at the church. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Murphy died Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Kahl Home, Davenport. Memorials may be made to St. Ann's Parish or to the Kahl Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the July 15 edition of The NSP.
	Gov. Reynolds plans farewell 99-county tour At the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner, outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds announced one final 99-county tour.
	Backyard transformation ideas for the perfect summer relaxation spot (BPT) - In summertime, backyards come to life, becoming destinations for fun, gathering and relaxation. Whether you're hosting cookouts, lounging poolside or unwinding after a long day, thoughtful design helps you get more enjoyment out of every square foot.Design of outdoor spaces has been influenced by recent trends captured in the 2026 U.S. Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report and Yardzen's 2026 Trend Report. Current backyard ideas reflect homeowners' desires for softer, cozy spaces with nature-inspired colors, along with increased interest in sustainability and small-space maximization.To create spaces in line with these trends while also being comfortable, functional and built to last, homeowners can find inspiration for durable paver patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features and poolside gathering areas from Belgard. Using Belgard's tools and resources, elevated outdoor living spaces can support everything from quiet, peaceful mornings to lively summer celebrations.Create the foundationEvery successful outdoor living space starts with a well-designed patio. This basic structure sets the stage for dining, entertaining and relaxing all summer.Pavers are a highly versatile option for backyard patios, combining durability with design flexibility. Available in many sizes, textures and colors, pavers can complement any architectural style, helping define how the space functions. Large-format pavers create a clean, contemporary look, while modular layouts add visual interest and naturally establish separate areas for dining, lounging and entertaining.During summer storms and seasonal weather events, permeable pavers offer an added layer of functionality, allowing water to filter through the surface and into the ground below. This process helps manage runoff while maintaining the finished appearance of a traditional paver patio. Permeable pavers, such as Belgard's Aqualine™, Eco Cobble® or Turfstone™ series, are gaining traction with homeowners for these water management efficiency and low-maintenance benefits. Yardzen reports that for 2026, the traditional lawn is being replaced by more dynamic, layered ground systems that do away with the need for extra watering and pesticides.Whether you're choosing traditional pavers or a permeable system, investing in a durable foundation ensures your backyard remains beautiful, functional and low maintenance for years to come.Design outdoor "rooms"Just as interior spaces are designed for different activities, outdoor spaces work best when each area serves a specific purpose. An outdoor cooking and dining area near the home can simplify outdoor meals and entertaining, while a nearby lounge space creates a comfortable place for conversation and relaxation. Belgard Rooms can provide designs to serve as a starting foundation to spark inspiration, or as a complete guide for a backyard renovation.For avid hosts, modular systems like Belgard Artforms™ incorporate kitchens into the overall patio design, maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Adding preparation space, storage and serving areas creates a natural hub for entertaining, encouraging guests to spend more time outdoors. The hardscape materials chosen for each outdoor room can also help define how the space looks and functions. Large-format pavers such as Dimensions™ create clean lines and a contemporary foundation for dining and lounge areas, while pavers like Charlestone™ offer timeless character that complements traditional and transitional outdoor designs. Using complementary pavers, walls, steps and accents throughout the project helps create a cohesive outdoor environment that feels intentional from the ground up.To separate spaces and provide extra seating, built-in seating walls provide additional gathering spaces without needing extra furniture. This is vital for smaller outdoor spaces. Lawn square footage has dropped 25% year over year, and homeowners are looking for ways to maximize every square foot of their outdoor living space. The Houzz study revealed increased interest in planning for smaller yards, with searches for "small front yards" up 79%, "small patio garden" increasing 57% and interest in "small backyard" up 43%. Modular hardscape systems make it easier to create multifunctional outdoor rooms that support dining, entertaining, relaxation and recreation without sacrificing style or usability. Elements like railing and fencing help homeowners define and enjoy outdoor spaces as well. Modern railing systems, like those from RDI Railing, can help frame elevated decks, patios, front porches and transition areas without interrupting sightlines, while fencing can create privacy around dining spaces, pool areas, side yards or wellness zones. For example, Catalyst's Manchester Fence with AlumiCast reimagines the classic fence style while featuring clean lines and a refined profile.Coordinate your choice of pavers with walls, steps and other hardscape features for a cohesive outdoor environment that feels intentional from the ground up. Together, these details help outdoor living areas feel more finished, comfortable and connected to the home's overall design.Add comfort, night and dayCozy, comfortable vibes are vital for a truly functional backyard, both day and night. Shade structures like pergolas and pavilions make outdoor spaces more enjoyable during summer's hottest days. In addition to providing relief from the sun, structures frame outdoor rooms and create visual interest.As the sun sets, fire features extend enjoyment of the space. Fire pits and fireplaces create cozy gathering places for conversation and relaxation long after dinner is over, adding ambiance and year-round appeal.Elevate poolside relaxationFor homeowners with pools, the surrounding hardscape is just as important. Pool decks, walkways and lounging areas influence how comfortable and inviting the space feels overall.Pavers are a popular choice for pool environments because they offer durability, design flexibility and a sophisticated appearance. Coordinating poolside hardscapes with nearby patios creates a seamless transition between recreation and relaxation areas, improving the overall flow of the backyard. Products like Belgard's Delmaro™ Coping create a refined edge around the pool. Paired with premium pool finishes including those offered by PebbleTec®, these design elements create a polished, resort-inspired atmosphere. The result? A backyard that feels cohesive, comfortable and ready for pool parties or quiet afternoons in the sun.Definitive detailsOnce major elements are in place, thoughtful design details bring an entire space together. For example, herringbone layouts offer movement and depth without overwhelming a space, while modular patterns introduce visual rhythm and architectural character. Color coordination helps patios complement home exteriors, landscaping and outdoor furnishings.Decorative accents can provide additional personalization. Finishing touches available through Belgard's Elements collection can introduce subtle design details reflecting each homeowner's style, while maintaining a cohesive look throughout the space.Your ideal summer backyardThe best summer backyard transformation ideas balance beauty, comfort and functionality. Combining durable paver patios with outdoor kitchens, fire features, shade structures and thoughtfully designed poolside spaces, homeowners can create living areas that support everyday relaxation and memorable gatherings. Whether you're planning a full backyard renovation or making smaller enhancements to the current space, investing in versatile, low-maintenance outdoor living features can transform any backyard into a destination worth enjoying all season long.Find more design inspiration at Belgard.com.*Source: Data reflects year-over-year growth in U.S.-based searches on Houzz from January-March 2026 versus January-March 2025.
	Aledo issues boil order for entire city Aledo has issued a boil order for the entire city, according to a news release. Aledo is now under a water boil order for all residents and businesses connected to the Aledo water system. An unforeseen maintenance issue with the water system led to the boil order, which will remain in effect until the issue [...]
	How the duo behind 'The Invite' wrote a sex comedy (that's not really about sex) Rashida Jones and Will McCormack met decades ago, when McCormack's sister set them up on a date. It didn't work out as a romantic pairing, but it was the start of a long-running creative partnership.
	MercyOne Clinton launches Air Med 4, patient shuttle service MercyOne Clinton is expanding care beyond its walls with Air Med 4 and new patient transportation services.
	Scam alert: East Moline Fire says impersonators calling for donations The East Moline Fire Department is warning of callers falsely asking for donations. Learn how to spot the red flags and protect your money.
	Arkansas communities receive $12.5 million to support local projects Clint O'Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, addresses an audience during a press conference announcing $10 million in grant funding for site development projects on Dec. 11, 2024. (Photo by Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)Arkansas cities, counties and communities are receiving more than $12.5 million in grant funding to support public facility and infrastructure projects, state officials announced Monday. The 88 grants come from the Community Development Block Grant and State Rural Community Grant programs, and can be used for a variety of projects. The projects that can be funded include public health facilities, community center renovations, flood control and fire protection equipment, according to a press release. “Local communities are the foundation of our success in Arkansas,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “With the grants from the Division of Rural Services and the Grants Division, we aim to help communities access the resources and services they need to grow and continue creating economic opportunities.” The largest grants are $500,000 General Assistance Block Grants that are being awarded to Evening Shade, Gurdon, Marianna, Sedgwick and Widener. “The success of the CDBG program lies in the dedication of our local leaders who work tirelessly to improve their communities,” said Jean Noble, director of AEDC’s Grants Division. “The CDBG program gives the state the ability to partner with these cities and counties to turn critical infrastructure priorities into reality while addressing their most urgent safety, health, and development needs.” Senior centers and childcare centers are among the projects that can benefit from State Community Development Block Grant funds, according to the release. Funds are awarded annually, with counties and municipalities also allocating resources to meet urgent needs. A complete list of grant recipients is available here. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Semi loses part of load on I-80 LeClaire offramp A flatbed semi lost part of its load on an offramp from I-80 this morning. Our Quad Cities News was on the scene and saw a semi that lost part of its load on the I-80 offramp to LeClaire this morning. Glass was reportedly strewn along the side of the offramp and into the grass. [...]
	Trump says the U.S. will reinstate its blockade on Iran and charge a toll on ships The move comes after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire for the third weekend in a row, raising the specter of a return to all-out war after a shaky ceasefire took effect in June.
	Trump says the U.S. is back to blockading Iran and will charge ships a toll in Hormuz The U.S. and Iran are fighting for control of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a return to all-out war after agreeing to a ceasefire last month.

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