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

Friday, April 25th, 2025
	Shoe partnership to benefit QC Veterans Outreach Center With every pair of their products sold from Thursday to Sunday, Amento and Active Endeavors will give 20% of the proceeds to adaptive sports programs for veterans and to Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
	Over 2,000 without power in LeClaire More than 2,000 people are without power in LeClaire Friday night.
	Fulton man dies in rollover crash on I-80 According to the Illinois State Police, the crash happened around 3 p.m. near mile marker 41 in Bureau County.
	Veterans Housing Project breaks ground 25 tiny homes will be available for men and women who served the country, helping to combat a nationwide crisis regarding a shortage of affordable housing.
	Former Bettendorf star Darien Porter taken in NFL draft Porter was Honorable Mention All Big 12 in 2024 in his only season as a starter.
	1 dead in concrete truck rollover crash The driver of a concrete truck is dead after a rollover crash on Interstate 80 Friday afternoon.
	10 US cardinals among those selecting Pope Francis’ successor (NewsNation) — As the late Pope Francis lies in state ahead of his funeral Saturday, 135 cardinals from around the globe, including 10 from the United States, prepare to select his successor. The cardinals, who represent just over half of the College of Cardinals, will attend Francis’ funeral at the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday. After honoring the late pontiff, they will seclude themselves inside the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, the process by which the next pope is chosen. Francis died Monday of heart failure following a stroke. He was 88 years old. Francis, who was the first South American pope, is himself responsible for the diversity within the College of Cardinals. According to NPR, he appointed 108 of the 135 cardinal electors during his 12 years in the Vatican. Librarian Gregg Gassman, who hosts the podcast "Popeular History," told NPR the gathering will be “the least European conclave in history.” Just 53 of the cardinal electors, or about 40%, are European, per the Vatican’s own tally. A century ago, for the 1922 conclave, Europeans made up 100% of those who chose Cardinal Ambrogio Ratti, who became Pope Pius XI. What is Pope Francis’ legacy? 5 lessons from the Argentine pope This time around, 23 of the electors are from Asia, 18 are from Africa, and 17 are from Francis’ native South America. Sixteen are from North America, with 10 of those cardinals hailing from the United States. The U.S. cardinals participating in the conclave are: Raymond Leo Burke Burke, 76, of Richland Center, Wisconsin, became a priest in 1975. Widely respected for his expertise in canon law, Burke was appointed to the rank of cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. A staunch conservative, Burke is reportedly President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate to replace Pope Francis. Blase Joseph Cupich Cupich, 76, of Omaha, Nebraska, was ordained in 1975 for the Archdiocese of Omaha. Pope Francis appointed Cupich the archbishop of Chicago in 2014 and named him a cardinal two years later. Daniel Nicholas DiNardo DiNardo, 75, of Steubenville, Ohio, became a priest in 1977. He was named in 2007 to the College of Cardinals, where he helped elect Pope Francis in 2013. DiNardo is archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Timothy Michael Dolan Dolan, 75, of St. Louis, was ordained in 1976. After rising to the rank of archbishop of Milwaukee, he was appointed archbishop of New York in 2009. A member of the College of Cardinals since 2012, he was one of the cardinal electors who named Pope Francis the following year. Kevin Joseph Farrell Farrell, 77, of Dublin, Ireland, became a priest in 1978 and has exercised his pastoral ministry in the U.S. since 1983. He served as bishop in Dallas and auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., before rising through the ranks to cardinal. Pope Francis in 2019 nominated Farrell as camerlengo of the church, giving him responsibility over the property and revenue of the Holy See. As camerlengo, Farrell is serving as interim manager of the Vatican until a new pope is elected. Wilton Daniel Gregory Gregory, 77, of Chicago, has made history multiple times since being ordained in 1973. Gregory, a former archbishop of Atlanta, was the first Black president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. A leader in the response to the sex abuse scandal in the American Catholic Church, he was elevated in 2020 to cardinal, becoming the first cardinal of African American descent. James Michael Harvey Harvey, 75, of Milwaukee, became a priest in 1975. Trained as a diplomat, he later served as prefect of the papal household under both Pope Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. In 2012, he was appointed archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. Robert Walter McElroy McElroy, 71, of San Francisco, was ordained a priest in 1980. After years as a parish priest, he was elevated to bishop, being appointed in 2015 as bishop of San Diego. Pope Francis appointed McElroy to the College of Cardinals in 2022. Francis appointed McElroy the eighth archbishop of Washington in January. Robert Francis Prevost Prevost, 69, of Chicago, became a priest in 1982. He spent the early years of his priesthood doing mission work in Peru and was eventually named bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo. Now the archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Prevost became a cardinal in 2023. Joseph William Tobin Tobin, 72, of Detroit, was ordained in 1978. After serving in parishes in Detroit and Chicago, as well as taking on several leadership roles, Tobin was appointed archbishop of Indianapolis in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. He has served as archbishop of Newark since 2016. Though Farrell is Irish-born, he has spent the majority of his priesthood in the United States. According to The Associated Press, Farrell currently serves as the Vatican’s camerlengo, or chamberlain. The camerlengo runs the administrative and financial aspects of the Holy See until a new pope is elected, the AP reported. Farrell also announced Francis’ death on Monday. Vatican rules limit the conclave to cardinals under the age of 80, though older cardinals can participate in pre-conclave meetings. The AP reported that while any baptized Roman Catholic man is eligible to be named pope, cardinals have consistently been chosen to head the church since 1378. No pope has ever been chosen from North or Central America. Following his funeral, Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which the Catholic News Agency reported represents his devotion to Mary. No pope has been buried outside of the Vatican since 1903, the news site reported. Francis will be the first pope buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major since 1669.
	Farmers, legislators respond to QC pork production and trade war In response to President Trump's tariff, China canceled thousands of metric tht could significantly affect Iowa and Illinois. Bloomberg News reports it's the largest cancellation of pork deliveries since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and stalled economics around the wor4ld. The Department of Agriculture indicates China produces more pork than any other country. It accounts for about half the world's supply. The U. S. ranks third at 11 percent Illinois and Iowa are major pork-producing states. Iowa ranks first in the country. Quad City area farmers worry about the uncertainty from the trade war. "Globally, what we really want is fair trade. and we want to make a living doing it," said Heather Poppy, Poppy Farms co-owner. "So we want fair prices. We want to be able to sell our product not only within the United States but globally, whether that's China, whether that's Mexico." Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says he;s watching how market conditions impact Iowa. "For too long, China has taken advantage of our rules-based international trading system. President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises and working to get a better deal from China and other countries, to expand market access for our farmers and manufacturers. " Congressman Eric Sorensen of Illinois says he's fighting for stronger trade policies and criticizes the administration. "The President's unilateral tariffs are raising costs for all my neighbors in the district," he said "That;s why I joined the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act. "No president should be able to impose tariffs that increase cots on everyday Americans without approval from Congress."
	Iowa disability programs brace for potential cuts DES MOINES, Iowa -- Several Iowa organizations serving people with disabilities are worried their programs may be cut after a federal internal budget document was leaked last week. The Washington Post was first to report this leak that proposed to cut about 1/3 of the 2026 discretionary budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. That's a $40 million cut, which would affect many programs for those with disabilities. If this proposal were to go through the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, the Disability Rights of Iowa and the Iowa University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, among many others, would be eliminated. Nationally, the CDC estimates that 28% of Americans have some type of disability, and that data holds fairly true for Iowa as well. So, 1/4 of Iowans would be affected. "Shock. I think that was our first reaction. And yeah, just a little bit hurt too, I think because these are cuts to our program," Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council Executive Director Brooke Lovelace said. "We feel like it's almost an attack against people with disabilities and their family members." "Our three programs have worked so well together over the last 50 years to help decrease the institutionalization of people with disabilities. By eliminating our program it feels like all that work will go away," she said. "To not have someone who could independently go in and make sure that people are being treated with dignity, respect and safety is a huge concern for people's lives," the Harkin Institute Director of Disability Policy, Daniel Van Sant said. "I think about school kids receiving services through something like Head Start or special ed services through Disability Rights Iowa. There's just so many potential things that would be cut." This is just a leaked proposal, so it's not official. But over the next few months these groups will try to fight it. "There's a lot of advocacies that can still be done. I think what we're asking of folks is: If you're impacted by one of the programs that are they're being cut, and again there's thousands of programs that are being cut not just our program, reach out to your Congress members and make sure that you tell them how these programs impact you," Lovelace said. Iowa News:
	Bomb threat at Moline Hy-Vee was 'swatting' incident, police say At about 12:42 p.m. Friday, April 25, the Moline Police responded to a reported bomb threat at Hy-Vee, 4218 Avenue of the Cities, according to a news release. Hy-Vee (WHO-HD) A store employee received a phone call from an unknown person claiming that a bomb had been placed inside the store and the caller demanded money in the form of Apple gift cards. Hy-Vee staff promptly activated their internal emergency protocols, and safely evacuated all customers and employees from the building. Moline Police officers arrived quickly to secure the premises, and began an investigation. The Moline Police Department has a bomb technician from the department on-duty who led the investigation. No suspicious devices were found, the release says. The store was safely cleared and resumed normal operations within about 30 minutes. "There is no known threat to the public at this time," the release says. The incident is still under investigation as a case of swatting, which is the act of falsely reporting an emergency to provoke a large law-enforcement response where no actual threat exists. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Moline Police at 309-797-0401. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500 or via the P3 Tips mobile app.
	Vander Veer plant sale continues in Davenport Vander Veer’s annual plant sale features continues Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, at 215 W. Central Park, Davenport. The Friends of Vander Veer (friendsofvanderveer.com) Thousands of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tropicals will be available, and experts will be on hand to help the public pick the perfect plants for their yards. Proceeds from this sale support horticultural displays and education programs at Vander Veer Botanical Park. The sale is held in the conservatory. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. -2 p.m. Sunday.
	Rock Island Milan Bottoms development clears hurdle, but concerns persist An Illinois State Historic Preservation Office report found no evidence of burial grounds and heavily disturbed soil from previous mining.
	Teddy bear rides steam engine from Maryland to the QC Byron "Barney" Gramling has traveled all around the country with his Vulcan Iron Works Saddle tank steam engine. The engine made its way to the Quad Cities and along with i came a stowaway. The unnamed teddy bear started riding with Gramling six years ago when it was picked up off the tracks in Maryland. You can meet the anonymous bear, see the engine and meet its owner Saturday from 9:30 a..m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Silvis Train Day and Classic Car Show, . It features trains to see and ride, food, and experiences celebrating the history of railroading and automobiles. Admission is $5. Steam Train Stowaway (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) Built in 1928 in Pennsylvania, the engine was originally used in coal mines to remove overburden (soil and rock above minerals). In the 1950s the engine's job was replaced by dump trucks. Gramling bought the engine with his father in 2010 and spent around six years to get the engine operational again. This is the third engine of five that Gramling and his father own. "It's a hobby that's gotten out of hand is what it is," he told Our Quad Cities News. The engine ways 40 tons and carries a ton of coal and 1,200 gallons of water. It goes about 25 miles per tank of water and 30 miles on a load of coal. Gramling's Vulcan Iron Works Saddle Tank Steam Engine (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) Gramling says his family were farmers and railroad workers. He says he learned that a steam engine is more than just a vehicle. "The thing about steam engines is, they are as close to a living breathing animal or person as man has ever created in a machine." He says every steam engine is unique and has its own quirks and personally. That's what keeps him working on them. He says steam engines are a crucial part of American history. "A steam engine can't read, it can't write, but next to books it's the best teacher of American history. America was built on the railroad that's what funded everything moving west. The railroads allowed people to move west to extend the country, and the steam engines are what got them there." He says sharing the history of steam engines is not only a passion of his but also are something very important: "If you don't learn from history you're doomed to repeat it." Barney Gramling, at the Silvis Train Day & Classic Car Show (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) There are only around 150 steam engines left running in the United States. "They're getting to be rarer and rarer and it's a part of history that once it's gone it'll be gone forever," he said. "I think its very important for people to understand where we came from and how we got to where we are." He says many of the machining skills that are used today were learned 150 years ago on machines like the steam engine. Also, preserving the engines not only preserves history but also skills and methods that may otherwise be lost. Silvis Train Day & Classic Car Show (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) He says working with the engines is a roller coaster and that some days he feels really good about it and others he feels frustrated. "They are most exasperating. They all have their own personalities. They are all cantankerous and can be very annoying to work on but at the end of the day it's very gratifying to see when you get it going." Gramling says one of the best things about working with the engines is seeing other people react to them. "I love to stand back and watch everybody else enjoy something that I worked on for them, and I love it when people appreciate what it was and what it is and how much work it takes to keep one going." He says maintaining a steam engine is not easy work and that's a major reason why they are no longer in use. For every steam engine that a railroad had there were around 30 people employed to maintain it. "That's why everybody has a relative that worked on a railroad at some point." 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	Davenport police arrest former Cook County man for allegedly selling crack, heroin and fentanyl A former Cook County man residing in Davenport has been arrested for allegedly trafficking in large amounts of cocaine base, fentanyl and heroin, and possessing illegal firearms, Davenport police said.
	Inside Iowa Politics: He worked for past 2 governors, now looking to become the next one Mike Bousselot, a Republican state senator, is considering a campaign for Iowa governor in 2026.
	1 dead in cement truck rollover crash The driver of a cement truck is dead after a rollover crash on Interstate 80 Friday afternoon.
	Hospital offering free measles vaccines Trinity Muscatine Public Health is now offering free measles vaccines to Muscatine County residents of all ages, regardless of insurance.
	USPS tells Matherville mayor the post office closure is temporary While a deal could not be reached to renew the lease at the current building, Mayor Pete Adams said the USPS plans to look for a new location in town.
	Friction among Iowa senators as eminent domain reform stalls out again The Iowa House has passed bills for years but the proposals die out in the Senate
	Moline Hy-Vee evacuated Friday as police investigated a potential bomb threat According to a press release from the Moline Police Department, the threat was deemed to be a hoax, and there is no known danger to the public at this time.
	Rock Island Arsenal hosts opening ceremony for golf course The course will open to the public on Saturday, April 26.
	Third graders receive personalized dictionaries thanks to Moline Rotary Club The students at Bicentennial Elementary are part of the nearly 600 students in the Moline-Coal Valley School District who will be getting the books.
	Mayor says USPS plans to stay in Matherville despite temporary closure The lease for the current post office was terminated after the building owner and USPS couldn't reach a rental agreement.
	Rock Island Milan Bottoms development clears hurdle, but concerns persist An Illinois State Historic Preservation Office report found no evidence of burial grounds and heavily disturbed soil from previous mining.
	SAU Weekly: April 25, 2025 SAU Weekly: April 25, 2025
	Gov. Reynolds files lawsuit against Des Moines Register Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Des Moines Register over a dispute about a public records request.
	Derby Day at the Mansion to benefit Rivermont Collegiate $50 general admission includes heavy appetizers & desserts. A VIP Bourbon Tasting Experience is available for $200. Proceeds benefit Rivermont students.
	Traffic Alert: Concrete truck overturns on I-80 A crash on I-80 near Sheffield, Illinois, is causing congestion.
	Trinity Muscatine offering free measles vaccines to all residents The vaccines are shown to be 97% effective at providing lifelong protection. The vaccines are being offered in Muscatine regardless of someone's age or insurance.
	A fiesta at the races: KenTaco Derby is coming to Davenport Celebrate both the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo at the KenTaco Derby event on May 3. Your $15 ticket covers your entry and your first drink.
	Derby Day at the Mansion to benefit Rivermont Collegiate $50 general admission includes heavy appetizers & desserts. A VIP Bourbon Tasting Experience is available for $200. Proceeds benefit Rivermont students.
	Moline funeral home sets up guest book, prayer cards to pay respects to Pope Francis About 60 people have signed the guest book at Trimble Funeral Home, both in person and online, paying homage to the pontiff.
	Trinity Muscatine offering free measles vaccines to all residents The vaccines are shown to be 97% effective at providing lifelong protection. The vaccines are being offered in Muscatine regardless of someone's age or insurance.
	Vera French celebrates expansion at Davenport clinic CEO Dr. Richard Whitaker said the renovations will help Vera French continue to meet rising demands for mental health services.
	Moline police investigate swatting incident at Hy-Vee Moline police are investigating a bomb threat at the Hy-Vee on Avenue of the Cities as a swatting incident.
	Parents warned elementary student brought illegal substance to school, A sixth-grade student brought an illegal substance to Jefferson Elementary School on Friday, according to a message sent to parents.
	Person called in bomb threat to Hy-Vee and demanded Apple gift cards, police say Hy-Vee staff in Moline called police after receiving a bomb threat that also included a demand for money in the form of Apple gift cards.
	Moline Hy-Vee evacuated Friday as police investigated a potential bomb threat According to a press release from the Moline Police Department, the threat was deemed to be a hoax, and there is no known danger to the public at this time.
	A fiesta at the races: KenTaco Derby is coming to Davenport Celebrate both the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo at the KenTaco Derby event on May 3. Your $15 ticket covers your entry and your first drink.
	Crawford Company, Muscatine, holds ribbon cutting for expansion Crawford Company had a ribbon-cutting Thursday in Muscatine as it expands its business. The company has been serving the Quad Cities since 1952, when it started as a small shop. Not it's a large business doing H-VAC, plumbing and electrical work across the area. Its headquarters are in Rock Island.
	QCA Farmers weigh in on China pork order cancellation China announced that they are cancelling an order of 12,000 metric tons of U.S. pork, amid conflicts over tariffs. Our Quad Cities News spoke with two area farmers about the impact of the cancellation on hog farms. Chris Hansen Chris Hansen farms in Iowa and says things have been rough in the industry lately. “It's been a real challenge the last few years, because profits haven't been really consistent or very high. It's better this year, mainly due to more disease pressure this past winter, and so there's less hogs, and prices should be a little better this summer. So it's been a it's been a good year so far this year, as far as margins.”A common hog virus last fall and winter affected the number of pigs that were sold to market, he said. “This year, the numbers are a little bit lower than last year, so the prices should be better, but export markets may not be as good as last year. So that's one of our big challenges.” He says the biggest concern for farmers right now is market access to export countries. “I think it's about 25% (of pork) is exported. So, it's a really big problem if we don't have exports. It's a little concerning, because forward commitment of sales for exports right now are kind of low right now, compared to last year.” China is the world’s largest producer of pork, but they don’t import chops and bacon. “Well, China buys mostly byproducts, so Mexico, Japan, Korea, those are some of our best markets. It's concerning with the trade war, if Mexico would retaliate. They could retaliate against pork, and that would be that'd be bad for us.” The byproducts sold to China are called “offal”, which are the edible internal parts of an animal, such as the heart, liver and kidneys. These ingredients are important to several cuisines worldwide; the most well known is haggis from Scotland.Hansen says farmers are dealing with more than just lost markets. “It takes a lot of capital to have a hog farm, and if you want to do any expansion, we have inflation now on building products which has been going on for the last three or four years. I suppose it's accelerating now with these tariffs, you know, because these (farm) buildings are made from concrete, lumber, steel.” One problem with importing meat or any other product is the chance it could be contaminated with diseases, he said. “One thing I'm really worried about is making sure we have that beagle patrol at the ports of entry so they can sniff out African swine fever. If people bring in pork products from other countries, there's a risk of bringing the African swine fever into the country. I hope there's no budget cuts on things like the beagle patrol. It's not here yet, but if we ever got it in this country, it'd be devastating. It would rock our markets, probably worse than the pandemic did. African swine fever kills pigs and there's no cure, there's no vaccine for it.” Heather Poppy, co-owner of Poppy Farms in Lynn Center, Ill., said she’s also concerned about the cancellation. Heather Poppy “China canceled one of the shipments that was scheduled of pork, and so I think it’s pretty indicative of our relationship with China as a trading partner,” she said. “We've been in a trade war with them. We were with them several years ago, and it's continued now. Just this year, it's picked up again, an escalation of tariffs, and it's now gone to cancellation of an order of pork. And this might be just the beginning of it. I hope it's not, but it may continue after this.”“It's not a one to one relationship (between the U.S. and China). Anytime you see an order like this get canceled, it doesn't correlate one to one. So, when you see a cancelation, it affects us exponentially, and really the continued uncertainty is what really concerns us the most. Markets might end up in the green at the end of today, but down the road, who knows what will happen? “Illinois is number four in pork production, so we raise a lot of pork, and we're proud of that,” she said. “We're fully committed to raising pork, not only domestically but globally. What we really want is fair trade, and we want to make a living doing it. We want fair prices. We want to be able to sell our product, not only within the United States but globally, whether that's to China, whether that's Mexico Canada, we want to be able to sell it.”“Mexico is our number one trade partner. They take the largest amount of U.S. pork, and so they're very important to us, and it's important that we maintain that relationship we have with them. Just last year, the value of pork exports from United States to Mexico was just over $2.5 billion. That is a lot of money. I would say about 30% of all pork that is produced in the in the United States is exported and quite a bit of it goes to Mexico.” Poppy has traveled to the nation’s capitol to share her concerns with the administration. “I was just in Washington, DC and met with our Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. She reassured us that she is working diligently to open up new markets for trade, not just for pork, but for other commodities. I have great faith that she will open up those avenues so we can get our pork sold in other countries.” The stock market instability is also affecting farmers, she said. “If you watch the markets, you'll see it go up and down. We definitely saw it happen several years ago when we had tariffs hit us. It just makes us fight for free trade even more. All we want as farmers, whether you're a hog farmer or a grain farmer, you just want to be able to produce your product and sell it on the open market.” Poppy has a suggestion for anyone who wants to help out. “Well, you know, if everyone would just buy a little bit more bacon and pork chops, that would really make me happy.”
	Augustana; Palmer College of Chiropractic launch dual-degree program Starting this fall, Augustana kinesiology students can save approximately one year toward earning their D.C.
	Taryn Edgin announced as president of John Deere Foundation Taryn Edgin will resume the role of president beginning May 1.
	Student safety: Investigates Talks looks at vulnerable students TV6 Investigates' William Ingalls looks at Quad Cities schools and how vulnerable students are being helped by police giving educators a heads up to recent trauma.
	Tip from Internet Crimes Against Children leads to arrest of Davenport man A tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children has led to the arrest of a Davenport man for possessing child sex abuse materials.
	LIVE: Arsenal jobs: Investigates Talks looks at union leaders’ worries Lead TV6 Investigates reporter Matt Christensen and William Ingalls discuss look at the worries about job cuts at the Rock Island Arsenal.
	Henry Langrehr, WW2 veteran and author from Clinton, dies at 100 Henry Langrehr, decorated World War II veteran and author from Clinton, died Wednesday at the age of 100. Langrehr was just 19 when he jumped from a plane over France during the war, moments after the plane lost a wing. He crashed through the glass roof of a greenhouse; a friend got hung up on the village church steeple and only survived by pretending to be dead for hours. Langrehr was eventually captured by the German Army, then sent to work at a prison camp. He was determined to escape rather than die at that camp. He eventually succeeded in escaping and found an American unit two weeks later, still wearing his tattered D-Day uniform almost a year after his capture. Langrehr wrote a book, “Whatever It Took,” his first-person account of growing up in Clinton, joining the Army, surviving the brutal German work camp and returning home to Clinton to raise a family. After the war, he ran a contracting business when he returned to Clinton. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, puts his arm around World War II veteran Henry Langrehr, of Clinton, Iowa, after awarding him the French Legion of Honor Medal, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) Langrehr was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy at an event in Washington, DC on November 6, 2007. He was most recently awarded the De Fleury Medal, the Army’s highest award for excellence in the engineer regiment, at a ceremony at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Langrehr told Our Quad Cities News at the ceremony, “I just love our country. My country has been so good to me.” WHBF news director Eric Olsen with Langrehr Langrehr spent 77 years with his wife Arlene, until her death in February of 2023. They had four children, whom he considered his life’s greatest accomplishment. He was considered a dear friend to First Army and the Rock Island Arsenal. A news release from First Army said last June, Mr. Langrehr returned to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. His First Army friends helped him search for the greenhouse he’d famously crashed through on June 6, 1944. They found it after an exhaustive search, with Langrehr leading the charge, his memory at 99 still sharp as a tack. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks released a statement after Langrehr's death was announced. "On the day he should have been graduating from Clinton High School, Henry Langrehr stooped near the open door of a C-47 transport plane on his way to France. Below him, 5,000 ships were crossing the English Channel on their way to the beaches of Normandy. "As his aircraft crossed the coast, small orange explosions began peppering his plane. Next to him, shrapnel hit a fellow paratrooper. To his left, a plane lost a wing. When the jump light finally turned green, Mr. Langrehr, only 19-years-old, leapt out the door. In the chaos of the night, most jumpers missed their drop zones. Members of his regiment floated down directly into the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, amid the pandemonium of burning buildings in the town square. Jumping from just 500 feet, Mr. Langrehr had only enough time for his parachute to open before crashing through the glass roof of a greenhouse. Right behind him was his friend, who got hung up on the village church steeple and only survived by feigning death for hours. Mr. Langrehr fought through the infamous French hedgerows for weeks before being severely wounded and taken prisoner by the German Army. He was sent to a work camp deep behind German lines. "Mr. Langrehr eventually escaped, evading westward from his German captors for two weeks before turning himself into an American unit, still wearing his original – now tattered and filthy – D-Day uniform almost a year later. After the war, Mr. Langrehr returned to Clinton, where he became a successful small business owner. He married his hometown sweetheart and raised a family – including a son who would go on to serve two tours in Vietnam, as well grandsons who would eventually serve in the very same 82nd Airborne unit Mr. Langrehr was with on D-Day. "Mr. Langrehr was a dear friend to First Army and the Rock Island Arsenal. He was a consistent presence at promotions and retirements; he spent the 75th anniversary of D-Day in First Army’s headquarters speaking to troops about his WWII service and time as a POW; he always cheered for Army at the annual RIA Army-Navy flag football game. Last June, Mr. Langrehr returned to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. His First Army friends helped him search for the greenhouse he’d famously crashed through on 6 June, 1944. They found it after an exhaustive search – with Mr. Langrehr leading the charge, his memory at 99 still sharp as a tack. As he gazed at the greenhouse that afternoon, Mr. Langrehr had said simply: 'I just wanted to see it one more time. I’ve seen it in my mind’s eye my entire adult life.' There wasn’t a dry eye among anyone who witnessed it. "Mr. Langrehr inspired everyone who knew him. Anyone privileged enough to hear him talk about his perilous flight to France in the early hours of D-Day will remember the image he always described: looking down from his airplane to see the English Channel packed with U.S. vessels poised to carry out the most iconic operation in modern military history. 'Only America could do that,' he would marvel. 'Only America.'” Service details for Langrehr are pending.
	Free measles vaccines available to Muscatine County residents Measles have been in the news over the past few months due to outbreaks in Texas and other states. The Centers for Disease Control says three deaths from measles have been reported; two in Texas and one in New Mexico. The Trinity Muscatine Public Health Department is now offering free measles vaccines for any county resident who needs one, regardless of insurance coverage. Jennifer Craft, director of Trinity Muscatine Public Health Department, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to talk about measles and why vaccines are crucial for public health. Jennifer Craft While there have been zero confirmed cases in Iowa to date, Craft says it’s still important for people to know their vaccination status. “We encourage everybody to talk with their health care provider to see where they're at as it relates to measles immunity. Generally, the normal vaccination schedule is for kids at age 12 months to get their first MMR vaccine and their second between ages four and six. However, we're seeing a decrease in vaccination rates within the past few years. So we're really encouraging everybody to take a look at their immunization records and talk with their healthcare provider to see if this is something that they need, as we are seeing an outbreak in more of our southern states, Texas, New Mexico.”People who aren’t sure if they’re current on vaccines should talk with their doctors, she said. “We do encourage you to call your health care provider because they're going to know your specific history, your health care concerns and whatnot. Starting with your primary care physician is always important, but we at Public Health can help navigate that as well. If you don't have a primary care physician, we can help get you connected to one who could help do that counseling for you.”Craft says immunization does more than protect the person who received it. “We historically have had community immunity,” she said. “Community immunity happens at 95% vaccination rate and today we're seeing in Muscatine County as of January 2025, Iowa HHS (Health and Human Services) released data saying that the vaccine rate for children under the age of two right now in Muscatine County is 87.9%. For kindergarten, it’s 89.8% and K through 12, it's 92.4%. We are not where we need to be for community immunity and measles is very, very dangerous. There have been deaths throughout the country, not in Iowa, but in southern states. We're approaching travel season, so it's really, really important to make sure that you're keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.”Part of what makes measles so dangerous is its lengthy incubation period, she said. “The average incubation period for measles, from exposure to initial symptoms, which would be fever, cough, watery eyes, runny nose, is about 10 to 12 days. Symptom onset could range anywhere from seven to 21 days after exposure.” The symptoms are similar to colds and flu, but Craft says people shouldn’t do what they might normally think is the right course of action. “We really, really, really, really encourage people, if you are experiencing those symptoms, do not go to urgent care. Do not go to the hospital. Call your healthcare provider, explain what symptoms you're experiencing, stay home, those sorts of things. It's very, very important that you don't rush yourself to the ER or go to urgent care because you don't know if it is the common cold or if it is measles. Having that conversation over the phone with your healthcare provider and the healthcare professionals will be imperative. We do not want to risk exposing other individuals, and we also want to keep you safe.”Call Trinity Muscatine Public Health, 1609 Cedar Street, at (563) 263-0122 to schedule an appointment. They are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents who need a vaccine and can’t make those hours should call the department to make arrangements.
	Matherville, Illinois post office closing, forcing residents to travel for mail and prescriptions USPS told News 8 the closure is temporary and is working on a new location. However, some residents are skeptical of that timeline.
	Man with ‘long-gun’ turned out to be father who confiscated child’s BB gun Schools were on lockdown Friday morning after Kewanee police got a report of a man with a “long-gun” knocking on doors.
	Grand Mound man arrested after high speed motorcycle chase A man from Grand Mound was arrested after police say he led them on a high-speed chase, driving erratically on a motorcycle. Jordan Figley (Scott County Jail) The criminal complaint says Davenport Police tried to stop a green Triumph motorcycle near the intersection of River Drive and Harrison Street on April 24 at about 6:46 p.m. The vehicle and driver, identified as Jordan Figley, 23, were positively identified as the suspect in a failure to stop near Harrison Street and W. Central Park at about 6:24 p.m. As an officer drove southbound across River Drive, Figley allegedly pulled out of a parking lot at 201 W River Drive. The officer activated the squad car’s emergency lights and siren. Figley is accused of driving up onto the sidewalk and trying to elude the officer. He headed eastbound on River Drive, then northbound on Brady Street. As the officer tried to catch Figley, he sped up, weaving through traffic and driving over 55 mph as he headed northbound on Brady Street. An Iowa State Patrol aircraft kept track of the vehicle as he continued to drive recklessly throughout the county. Figley was eventually taken into custody in Clinton County and admitted to eluding police in a post-Miranda interview. Figley was arrested and charged with felony eluding and 13 traffic offenses, including unsafe passing, failure to obey a traffic control device and failure to display a registration plate. He was released on a secured $8,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing on May 2, according to court records.
	Trinity Cancer Center volunteer devotes nearly 30 years to patients "Yvonne Leemans is a woman of few words. She doesn't say much, but that's because she's working so diligently to make sure our patients get the care they need."
	Hy-Vee to close centralized food preparation facilities, impacting 461 workers Hy-Vee is closing two food preparation facilities, impacting 461 workers.
	Holocaust survivor pays much-awaited visit to Pleasant Valley sixth-graders Andre "Andy" Holten, 86, was five when he began hiding. His parents later died at Auschwitz and Birkenau. Forest Grove Elementary students are now writing a book on Holten’s story.
	Augustana, Palmer College of Chiropractic partner for degree program Augustana College and Palmer College of Chiropractic hope to prepare future health care leaders with their new dual-degree program.
	Figge to unveil public art monument ‘Evanescent Field’ during GLOW UP party May 17 Figge Art Museum is very excited to highlight the upcoming GLOW UP watch party for the unveiling of Evanescent Field set to be held on May 17 from 7 to 10 p.m.
	4 Your Money \| Big Rig Barometer The sales volume of heavy weight trucks is a leading economic indicator. John Nelson, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, is here to explain why and what heavy truck sales reveals about the broader economy.
	Cleanup nearly done after red dye spill The dye got into nearby Prairie Creek through a storm drain and turned the creek red.
	UnityPoint volunteer shares her dedication to cancer patients in the Quad Cities For nearly 30 years, Yvonne Leemans has worked for the Trinity Cancer Center as a volunteer supporting patients seeking care.
	Staats pleads guilty in racist graffiti spree Alisa Rilla Nichols Staats, 30, pleaded guilty on Thursday to several charges.
	Moline mayor hosts first of 2 'Community Listening Posts' The listening posts are open to the public and completely free to attend.
	Rock Island historic homes open for tours The Broadway Historic District Association’s Mother’s Day Tour of Homes is set for May 11 and features five of the oldest homes in the city.
	Scott County approves attorney fees; elected official pay Scott County Supervisors approved Thursday to pay attorney Mike Meloy about $93,000 for legal fees after plaintiffs he represented sued the county in a records case.
	Quad Cities International Airport marks busiest month since December 2019 A total of 61,994 passengers passed through the airport in March, a milestone that signals ongoing recovery in post-pandemic air travel.
	Augustana partners with Palmer College to streamline chiropractic education The agreement will trim up to a year off for students, starting with a bachelor's of kinesiology before heading to Palmer for a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
	Scientists say NOAA cuts by Trump undermine improvements in hurricane forecasts The Trump administration is targeting top climate and weather labs for cuts. Insiders worry about the impact on research and NOAA's ability to forecast severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes.
	Scientists say NOAA cuts by Trump undermine improvements in hurricane forecasts The Trump administration is targeting top climate and weather labs for cuts. Insiders worry about the impact on research and NOAA's ability to forecast severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes.
	Venezuelans subject to removal under wartime act have 12 hours to contest An ICE official said in court documents that people are subject to deportation if they don't say they want to challenge their removal within 12 hours after being notified about their rights.
Thursday, April 24th, 2025
	Rail safety upgrades approved These upgrades will happen at crossings in Rock Island, Henry and Bureau counties.
	St. Ambrose students pay respects to the late Pope Francis Thursday was the first time the university chapel was available for mourning.
	Moline mayor hosts first of 2 'Community Listening Posts' The listening posts are open to the public and completely free to attend.
	Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club opens wig salon in Moline Gilda's Club officials hope the effort will give those living with cancer a self-esteem boost without taking on the financial burden of purchasing a wig.
	St. Ambrose announces McMullen award winners The award honors people who demonstrate the university’s mission.
	Matherville, Illinois post office closing, forcing residents to travel for mail and prescriptions USPS told News 8 the closure is temporary and is working on a new location. However, some residents are skeptical of that timeline.
	Augustana, Palmer colleges launch accelerated dual-degree program The agreement will trim up to a year off for students, starting with a bachelor's of kinesiology before heading to Palmer for a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
	New Market Plaza opens in Aledo The city of Aledo celebrated the completion of its new $4.7 million with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. The work started after Aledo received a $3 million grant from the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets program. The city's mayor Chris Hagloch says this is a big step and there's even more work to do. "It's my hometown, I've been here all my life so it's been a big part of me. I've watched it when it was in the high moments like in the 80s and then it kind of declined and all the big box stores left and now were working our tails off, to try to build that back up." He told Our Quad Cities News. He says the space will have a huge impact for events, vendors, meetings, and more. One of which will be the annual rhubarb festival in June. Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) The new plaza features new parking and roadway improvements that allow easier access to downtown. After the ribbon cutting, people got a sneak peak of the revitalized Opera house that is expected to open in June. Aledo Opera House (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com) The Director of Operations at the opera house, Nathan Sipes, expects the new plaza to bring people to local businesses. "The plaza is like the centerpiece of the whole downtown. It's in our Central Park, and we hope that it'll bring a lot of foot traffic to our downtown, so that people can walk from one business to another and just enjoy it." There will also be a new $7 million aquatic center that is expected to break ground in May. Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Opera House (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)Aledo Market Plaza Ribbon Cutting (Gabe Zwierzynski OurQuadCities.com)
	New program will grow donations for local food pantries. The goal is to raise 5,000 pounds of produce to donate to the River Bend Food Bank.
	New Scott County deputies sworn in, others promoted On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 0900, the Scott County Sheriff's Office held a swearing-in and promotional ceremony at the Scott County Sheriff's Office Patrol Headquarters in Eldridge, according to a news release. From left are Deputy Braden Wink, Deputy Troy Edmunds, Deputy Austin Kutz and Sheriff Tim Lane. (Scott County Sheriff's Office) Troy Edmunds, Austin Kutz and Braden Wink were sworn in as new deputy sheriffs, Deputy Nathan Comer and Deputy Jamey Fah were promoted to the rank of sergeant and Sergeant Chad Weipert was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Edmunds was born and raised in Clinton, and graduated from Camanche High School in 2021. He participated in baseball and bowling. After graduation, Edmunds worked as a security officer at the Wild Rose Casino with the intention of getting into law enforcement. He was hired as a Clinton Police officer in August of 2022. During his time off, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, hanging out with friends, and taking his dogs on walks. Kutz was born in Aurora, Illinois and was raised near Galena, Illinois where he attended River Ridge High School and graduated in 2017. He attended Northeast Iowa Community College and earned his national paramedic certificate. Kutz previously worked for Dubuque, Iowa Fire and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Fire & Rescue as a firefighter/paramedic. In Kutz's free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, being outdoors and reading. Wink was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he grew up in Cedar County. He graduated from North Cedar High School in 2020. He furthered his academic and athletic careers at the University of Dubuque playing football and studying criminal justice, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2024. Wink worked as a seasonal park ranger at Scott County Park in 2023 and 2024. Wink enjoys playing golf, fishing, hunting, and hanging out with friends. Deputy Nathan Comer was hired by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2009. Comer has been a member of the Scott County Special Response Team since July 2013 and during his tenure with SRT, he has held the position of operator, team leader, assistant commander of operations and is currently the tactical commander. Comer is also a part of the Scott County Accident Investigations Team where he is an accident reconstructionist. He is currently a pistol and rifle instructor, less-lethal munitions instructor, ballistic shield instructor, A.L.I.C.E. instructor, active-killer instructor, rescue-task force instructor, disorder-control instructor, and recently graduated from the FLETC Use of Force Instructor Program. He has also worked in the civil division and is C.I.T. trained. Comer is currently assigned to second patrol. He is married to his wife, Carrie, and has three children. Comer enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking with his family and working out in his basement gym. From left are Sgt. Jamey Fah, Sgt. Nathan Comer and Lt. Chad Weipert. (Scott County Sheriff's Office) Deputy Jamey Fah was born in Dubuque, Iowa and moved to the Quad City Area in 1991 where he attended Pleasant Valley High School. After high school, Fah attended Augustana College, Rock Island, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1999. Fah spent several years working in retail management with Best Buy and in 2006 he joined the Scott County Sheriff's Reserve. In 2013 he was hired as a deputy by Scott County Sheriff’s Office. Fah served as a patrol deputy on all shifts until he was placed at Pleasant Valley High School as a school resource officer in 2018. Fah is certified as a crisis negotiator, a precision-driving instructor, a NASRO practitioner, an A.L.I.C.E. trainer, has been a field training officer, and a SFST instructor. Fah has been the recipient of a Life Saving Award and an Outstanding Achievement Award while serving Scott County and Pleasant Valley Schools. He lives in Bettendorf with his wif,e Cara, and his two children, along with their many pets. Lt. Chad Weipert was born and raised in Davenport, and graduated from Davenport Community School District and Scott Community College, with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He is currently enrolled at Wichita State University where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He started his law enforcement career in 2006 as a corrections officer with Scott County. Weipert was hired by the Maquoketa Police Department in 2008 and graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 2008. In 2010, he was hired by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. During his tenure with the sheriff’s office, he served as a patrol deputy, school resource officer and a detective, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2022. Weipert has served as an A.L.I.C.E. instructor, Below 100 instructor, Taser instructor, search and seizure instructor, a crime-scene technician, a crisis/hostage negotiator, a field training officer and is a 10-year member of the Special Response Team. He is currently the supervisor of the department’s field-training officer program. He is married to his wife, Kerri, and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys working out and driving his Bronco with his wife by his side.
	DOGE cuts to federal agencies felt throughout Quad Cities and in Iowa and Illinois Labor leaders came together in Davenport Tuesday, April 22, for a rally to hear local workers.
	Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in the QCA at Derby Day at the Mansion The Kentucky Derby has been called the greatest of all races, but you don't have to travel outside of the QCA to experience all the excitement and glamour of 'the Run for the Roses.' Drew Booster and Max Roach joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about Rivermont Collegiate's Derby Day at the Mansion. For more information, click here.
	What's ahead for Rock Island's West End Revitalization Update? Big changes are still ahead for Rock island's West End Revitalization project, and city leaders will give an update next week. Virginia Jarrett, Thurgood Brooks and Avery Pearl spoke with Our Quad Cities News about the West End Revitalization Update and how you can get involved. For more information, click here.
	Lt. Gov. wants to fill Durbin’s seat Lt. Gov. Stratton is the first Democrat to announce intention to fill retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
	Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in federal bribery case of Illinois senator Deliberations continued for nearly 23 hours before jury arrived at stalemate in the federal bribery trial of Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III.
	400 jobs at stake at Rock Island Arsenal, union leader says Union leaders on the Rock Island Arsenal are telling their members to brace for cuts and major changes thanks to DOGE.
	New event space, renovations give city ‘new lease on life’ Aledo, Illinois, holds ribbon cutting event by mayor to showcase the revitalized historic downtown area. Including the newly renovated Aledo Opera House.
	From Moline to Milan: The ORA surgeon who's also an Olympic physician When Dr. Thomas VonGillern isn't working in the QC, he's one of several physicians for Team US Ski & Snowboard athletes, helping them prep for the Olympic Games.
	QCA footwear company gives back to veterans You have a chance to purchase a new set of sandals and give back to local veterans at the same time. Amento Footwear is launching its athletic-inspired, outside sandals this weekend. They will be in a tent next to Active Endeavors, located at 3950 Elmore Ave., Davenport. For every pair of sandals sold, Amento and Active Endeavors will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to the Veteran Outreach Center for its adaptive sports program. Amento Footwear's COO and co-founder bill Wirz is a Moline native. He said it meant a lot to the company to give back to veterans. "There was a need in the market for more innovation with sandals. More comfort, better fit," Wirz said. "This affords those veterans that can be more active an opportunity to put on something that works well for them, and keeps them moving." Amento Footwear's tent is open from 10 am. to 8 p.m. through April 27.
	History comes alive for QCA students through Holocaust survivor Sixth graders learning about the Holocaust at Forest Grove Elementary School in Bettendorf had history come alive as a survivor met with the students and shared his experience. Our Quad Cities News reporter Gavin Waidelich introduces us to Andy Holten as he helped the students walk away with many valuable lessons.
	Matherville, Illinois post office closing, forcing residents to travel for mail and prescriptions USPS told News 8 the closure is temporary and is working on a new location. However, some residents are skeptical of that timeline.
	Rock Valley Physical Therapy, Amento sandals teaming up to help veterans play adaptive sports Each quarter, Rock Valley selects a charity to donate to, and for this round, it's QC Veterans Outreach.
	Iowa lawmakers considering ‘emeritus’ medical license One lawmaker is concerned the bill eliminates continuing education requirements
	Iowa U.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks commits to town hall U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks committed to holding a public town hall while speaking at a private event with Americans For Prosperity this week.
	Aledo opens $4.7M Market Plaza as cornerstone of downtown revitalization City leaders hope the space boosts tourism, events and business in the historic district.
	The Heart of the Story: Answering the call of the wild Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. He gave up city life to pursue a more 'wild' life and pursue his love of nature. Gary Metivier takes us to the mountains of Colorado to introduce us to Rick Martinez in The Heart of the Story. Gary Metivier has The Heart of the Story above and even more about their story and what happens next on YouTube. You can also listen to the extended versions on his podcast. The Heart of the Story with Gary Metivier is available on all platforms -- and now Our Quad Cities News. Watch on YouTube \| Listen on Apple \| Listen on Spotify \| Listen on Podbean
	New Quad Cities gardening initiative hoping to fight food insecurity, one plant at a time GIFT Gardens encourages Quad Citizens to grow produce and donate it to food banks, all in an effort to fight food and nutrition insecurity.
	Gilda's Club Quad Cities opens new wig salon Gilda's Club Quad Cities has opened a new wig salon to help women who are battling cancer. The Wig Salon at Gilda's Club Quad Cities will be open during normal business hours for walk-ins or appointments, located at 600 John Deere Rd,, Suite 101, Moline. Cancer Support Community Iowa and Northwest Illinois partnered with Midwest Hope & Healing and the Moline Regional Community Foundation for the effort. Cancer treatment has many side effects that can impact your confidence, including hair loss. Our new Wig Salon was created to help individuals regain a sense of normalcy and self-esteem during their treatment journey. This space offers a welcoming environment where cancer paitients can choose a wig that they love at no cost. Gilda's Club Quad Cities For more information, click here.
	Aledo opens $4.7M Market Plaza as cornerstone of downtown revitalization City leaders hope the space boosts tourism, events and business in the historic district.
	‘I’ve done this my way’: Durbin reflects on decision to retire Standing on his backyard deck Thursday – the same place where he declared his 1996 candidacy for U.S. Senate – Illinois’ senior Sen. Dick Durbin reflected on his decision to retire after four decades in Congress.
	3 ways Durbin’s support impacted Quad Cities Quad Cities Chamber leaders say Sen. Dick Durbin was a strong proponent for the Quad Cities by fighting for funds for the Rock Island Arsenal, passenger rail and the Interstate 74 bridge.
	LifeServe Blood Center hosts firefighter appreciation blood drives These drives aim to honor firefighters while providing blood donations to community hospitals.

Friday, April 25th, 2025

Thursday, April 24th, 2025