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

Friday, October 23rd, 2026
	Gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn accepts rescheduled Iowa PBS date Iowa Gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn (R-Belle Plaine) has accepted a rescheduled Iowa PBS debate date of October 29 against his opponent Rob Sand (D- Decorah.)
	YWMC Quad Cities seeking winter clothing for youth at Alan's House The organization is collecting new or gently used winter clothing in boys’ and girls’ sizes medium, large and extra-large.
	Meet the candidates running for Scott County Recorder Incumbent Rita Vargas is not seeking re-election. Democrat Toby Paone and Republican Mike Wulf are vying for the open seat.
	Bettendorf hosting workshop on I-80, Middle Road area The City of Bettendorf and its planning consultant, IMEG, invite residents, business owners, property owners and others to help shape the future of the I-80/Middle Road area at a public workshop on Thursday, November 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Iron Tee, 6909 Iron Tee Way in Bettendorf. The doors will open at 5 p.m. so [...]
	New Augustana leader revels in coming home to campus Angela Snyder is the college’s first assistant vice president for impact learning, to connect every student with hands-on learning, career preparation and meaningful work in the community.
	Ridgewood Elementary debuts new inclusive playground The equipment is designed so students of all ability levels can enjoy it.
	How Liberterian U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Laehn said he would fight political corruption Libertarian Thomas Laehn said that he isn't running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat to be a "spoiler" in the race.
	The Pentagon's guidelines for "responsible AI" aren't always followed, report shows The Pentagon is building weapons and projects with AI capabilities that officials say don't always closely adhere to the agency's own guidelines for AI, according to a congressional watchdog report published in October.
	4 Your Money \| Open Enrollment Medicare Open Enrollment started this month. John Nelson, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, is here to break down the rising cost of Medicare premiums and highlight one of the most common mistakes people make during the open enrollment period.
	Illinois public universities reach highest enrollment level in over a decade Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Board of Higher Education say Illinois public universities have reached the highest enrollment level since 2015.
	Longtime St. Ambrose basketball coach Ray Shovlain retiring after 2026-27 season Shovlain has been with the program since 1983, with 749 career victories and 18 20-win seasons.
	Classes cancelled at Buffalo Elementary due to water issue Buffalo Elementary School cancelled classes Friday due to a disruption to water service at the building.
	Buffalo issues boil order The Buffalo Water Supply recommends that residents boil water before using for drinking or cooking or to use an alternative source, according to a news release from the Water Supply. The Water Supply experienced a main break that caused system-wide depressurization. Water should be boiled before using for drinking or cooking, due to the potential [...]
	One dead after Fort Madison crash involving motorcycle The crash took place Friday in the 5000 block of Avenue L in Fort Madison.
	Officials share circumstances of Lake Macbride drowning The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has released its findings surrounding the incident at Lake Macbride that caused the deaths of a student and teacher.
	Illinois and Iowa Farmers Union members discuss the current farm economy Union members discussed the current state of the farm bill, farming's importance to the local economy, and what some members are calling a farm crisis.
	Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club hosts free survivorship retreat Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club (CSCIAIL) is hosting a free cancer survivorship retreat on Friday, November 6, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Gilda’s Club Davenport, 1351 W. Central Park Ave. Suite 200. This program is being offered in-person and registration is required. Call CSCIAIL at 563-326-7504, email gc@csciowaillinois.org [...]
	A D.C. park was made 'for the pleasure of the people.' Trump's plan would change that Trump's most recent rendering of East Potomac Park overtakes the D.C. peninsula with a sprawling golf course, without the grassy areas and road beloved by locals. That's prompted grassroots pushback.
	Buffalo Elementary's classes cancelled The elementary school closed early Friday morning due to a water disruption.
	Democrat Cindy Winckler and Republican Cynthia Mensendick face off for Davenport, Buffalo Senate District Democratic State Sen. Cindy Winckler is facing a challenge from Republican Cynthia Mensendick for Iowa Senate District 49.
	University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook announces 2027 retirement University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook has announced his upcoming retirement as the institution celebrates record-breaking fundraising and 150 years in existence.
	Venezuelan man sues ICE over detention in Muscatine County Jail A Venezuelan citizen held by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement in the Muscatine County Jail for almost six months is taking the federal government to court over the matter.
	Dispose of old medication safely at Drug Take Back Day QCA residents can safely dispose of old medications at the next DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24 between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Drop off sites will be at police departments and sheriffs’ offices, including the Rock Island and Milan Police Departments. Click here to find locations. Unwanted medications can be [...]
	Baby girl is Iowa’s latest Save Haven infant Baby girl born in October declared Safe Haven
	Intersection reopens near buildings planned for demolition A downtown Muscatine intersection will partially reopen to traffic this week months after several historic buildings collapsed along Second Street.
	'Possible Love' offers four of the best performances you'll see all year Lee Chang-dong's novelistic drama tells the story of two very different couples who meet during the filming of a documentary.
	'Clayface' is underbaked body horror Like its protagonist, the film shoots out its goopy, mud-brown, protoplasmic feelers into the undiscovered territory of horror, but it does so too tentatively.
	District: Classes canceled Friday at Buffalo Elementary The district said it's due to a disruption to water service.
	Menopause The Musical is a hot time in Davenport Grab your portable fans and dress in layers as the international hit show Menopause The Musical comes to the Adler Theatre in Davenport for one performance on March 16. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or at the Adler Theatre Box Office, 136 E. Third Street in Davenport. Groups [...]
	Driver cited after hitting Illinois state trooper’s squad car near Rock Falls An Iowa driver faces charges after crashing into an Illinois state trooper's squad car on Illinois 40 while violating the state's Move Over Law.
	Ex-FBI employees charged with lying to Congress over Hunter Biden inquiries Republicans have long accused the FBI of mishandling the laptop and the investigations into the younger Biden.
	Iowa special education worker fired over Charlie Kirk comments awarded $145K An Iowa special education worker is getting 145-thousand dollars after she was fired for online comments over Charlie Kirk’s death.
	Buffalo Elementary classes canceled Friday Classes for Buffalo Elementary students were canceled on Friday.
	Illinois State Police squad struck near Rock Falls There's been a Move Over Law -related crash involving an Illinois State Police (ISP) squad car on a QCA roadway. A news release from ISP said a trooper assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau was conducting truck inspections with portable scales on IL-40 northbound just south of US-30 in Rock Falls on Oct. 22 [...]
	St. Ambrose Basketball Coach Ray Shovlain to retire after upcoming season St. Ambrose University announced on Friday their head men’s basketball coach is retiring.
	$120 million South Slope Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade underway in Moline The renovation will replace outdated facilities, equipment and systems to improve wastewater services and protect the environment.
	Will a macaque eat a grape sitting on a pile of poo? A study on germaphobia When an outbreak strikes, humans try to avoid germs. (Remember wiping off groceries at the start of the pandemic?) What about ... monkeys?
	Davenport charter school lands $1.2M grant ahead of ribbon-cutting Davenport's Greater Oaks charter school lands up to $1.2M state grant as Iowa awards $8.5M to charter schools ahead of Oct. 27 ribbon-cutting event.
	Authorities investigating whether first Kenya and Nigeria Ebola cases crossed paths Nigeria this week recorded its first case of Ebola in the current outbreak, which has spread from the epicenter in Congo to several other African countries.
	Smith's Island to close temporarily to public access The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has announced that Smith’s Island Recreation Area at Locks and Dam 14 in Pleasant Valley will be closed to public access Oct. 27-30. The closure is necessary to facilitate removal of invasive species and tree planting activities. For more information, call 309-794-4200, or email here.
	Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge high school winners announced Students from 22 high schools across western Illinois and eastern Iowa competed in a mock stock market challenge on Wednesday morning.
	Illinois voter guide 2026: Key races, deadlines and voting locations for the 2026 election Election Day is coming. We've put together a free voter guide to help you navigate the races and candidates on the ballot Nov. 3.
	Weekend kicks off breezy and warm Unseasonably warm weather shows no signs of taking a break across the Quad Cities. More dry weather is in the forecast as rain chances are delayed once again. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Coal Valley Fareway Meat & Grocery opens Wednesday The Fareway Meat & Grocery grand opening in Coal Valley is at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
	Candidates for Scott County Recorder promise integrity and protection of county records Democrat Toby Paone and Republican Mike Wulf are vying for Scott County Recorder.
	The Bugs that Built a Museum This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The august members of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences who met in June of 1869 to vote on the membership of…
	Warm weekend ahead Temperatures to stay well above normal through Sunday before cold front arrives Monday
	Israel orders closure of West Bank after soldiers kill 2 men behind an alleged attack Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men who the military said had launched an attack near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning. At least five people were injured, including some critically.
	Hacking attempts rise after flaws found in program affecting 70 percent of websites Governments around the world are rushing to implement safety measures after AI technology found 'severe' vulnerabilities in a key programming language called PHP.
	After nearly 6 years, ex-Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's son hears her voice Kim Aris tells NPR his mother sounds strong but is in pain. He says she is held at a residence in the capital.
	Amid Trump's assaults on DEI, how one university is elevating Black students As many colleges roll back or eliminate such programs, Sacramento State has expanded its offerings for students of color.
	Gen Z candidates in both parties aim to tackle high housing costs Young candidates who rent or live with parents say their generation is "in the thick" of the country's housing affordability crisis. They argue this gives them new energy to solve it for everyone.
	What if you gave yourself a day to cancel all the plans you dread? It's a day to think about all the upcoming appointments and commitments you're dreading — and then decline some of them. Writer Caroline Sylge shares a suggested schedule for the day.
	Europe's heat claims 50,000 lives. Climate change blamed for two-thirds of deaths Blistering record heat in Europe this summer helped kill more than 50,000 people, with nearly two-thirds of that death toll blamed on human-caused climate change, a new study found.
Thursday, October 22nd, 2026
	Assumption, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf advance to Regional Championships Assumption, Pleasant Valley and Bettendorf volleyball teams advanced to the Regional Championships Thursday night.
	Davenport North hosts North Scott in regular-season finale with playoff stakes Davenport North hosts North Scott Friday night in the final game of the regular season, with both teams entering at 3-1 in district play.
	Maquoketa opens time capsule from 1976 The capsule was uncovered at the Bicentennial Park Memorial.
	Muscatine intersection to reopen after months of closure The intersection of 2nd and Sycamore Streets has been closed since June.
	$120 million South Slope Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade underway The renovation will replace outdated facilities, equipment and systems to improve wastewater services and protect the environment.
	Early voting surges in Quad Cities ahead of Election Day Early voting is already underway in the Quad Cities, with Scott County reporting a 90% jump in in-person turnout and Rock Island County logging more than 11,000 ballots cast ahead of the midterm election.
	Illinois State Police squad car hit, truck driver cited A truck driver was cited after hitting an Illinois State Police squad car Thursday.
	Rock Island film studio project moves forward with $2.85 million in city support The nonprofit studio Fresh Films says once complete, the new Rock Line Studios will have huge economic impacts for the city and broader region.
	Health care, housing, wages: Josh Turek outlines campaign goals at Davenport rally Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek made a stop in the Quad Cities Thursday, meeting with voters at Modern Woodmen Park.
	Mercado on Fifth wraps up milestone season, prepares for Día de los Muertos celebration More than 40,000 people attended the outdoor market's 10th season, generating more than $300,000 in sales for its vendors. The final Friday market will be Oct. 23.
	Illinois State Police car struck in Whiteside County The trooper who drove the car was not injured, and neither was the driver who struck his vehicle.
	Palmer Hills Golf Course experiments with new robotic mowers Golfers at Palmer Hills Golf Course may have noticed a Roomba-esque machine roaming the 18-hole course. It's a new electric robot mower from Toro that the course is currently trying out. "To see if we can kind of automate some of our mowing practices out here," said course superintendent Brian Hickey. Before the addition, the [...]
	Touchscreen voting concerns surface ahead of the midterm election: What to know Reports of challenges with touchscreen voting machines are circulating on social media, including from Dolly Parton's sister. Election officials say it's uncommon.
	Cook review: 'Whalefall' blends survival, father issues, into action-packed thriller On the heels - er, tail - of "Heart of the Beast," which remains in theaters as of this writing - comes another man-versus-nature survival story. "Whalefall" is a terrifying thriller about a diver who ends up inside a living whale. Director Brian Duffield ("Cocaine Bear") essentially directs two films because of the constant transitions [...]
	New Skip-a-Long childcare center opens soon in Rock Island The new campus will expand SAL Community Services' childcare services, along with intergenerational programming and resources for immigrants and refugees.
	Iowa ag secretary candidates differ on water quality, fertilizer rules The candidates for Iowa secretary of agriculture have different ideas about how to improve the state’s water quality, including how farmers use fertilizer.
	SAL shows off new 32,000-square-foot childcare center in Rock Island SAL Community Services opens new 32,000-square-foot childcare center in Rock Island to expand early childhood care by 25% with Friendship Manor.
	The Heart of the Story: Music is his 'bag' 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. Whether he's welcoming veterans home or honoring emergency [...]
	Fire causes extensive damage to Alfano's Pizza in Monmouth No injuries were reported, but restaurant officials said they will be closed until further notice.
	Location announced for Trump’s next Iowa rally President Donald Trump will be coming to Dubuque next month.
	How Josh Turek tries to connect with Iowans who haven’t voted for Democrats lately State Rep. Josh Turek has tried to connect with Iowans in rural communities, areas where Democrats have struggled to gain much support recently.
	Bettendorf family members face drug charges after police raid A narcotics investigation by Davenport police has led to the arrests of three members of a Bettendorf family.
	Annual Halloween parade will kick off downtown Davenport: See map here Davenport's annual Halloween parade will kick off at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, in downtown Davenport at 2nd Street and Pershing Avenue, a news release says. From festive floats and creative costumes to decorated vehicles, the parade also will include representatives from youth groups, local businesses, schools, and community organizations that will hand out candy. [...]
	10th season of Mercado on Fifth coming to a close Friday night is the last chance to attend the outdoor market this year, featuring Latin food, live music, vendors and displays.
	Illinois regulators move to bring video gambling under self-exclusion program But the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program does not extend to Illinois’ extensive network of video gambling terminals — the largest in the world — that can be found in gas stations, bars, hair salons and hotel lobbies across the state.
	Iowa faces labor and delivery doctor shortage The American Medical Association says 57% of Iowa counties don’t have an obstetric facility.
	DNR: Man found dead at Hennepin Canal after not returning from fishing trip An 83-year-old man was found dead after family members went looking for him when he failed to return from a fishing trip.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for probation violation Marcus H. Ferrell is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections 7th District High Risk Unit.
	Crime Stoppers: Thieves breaking through drywall to burglarize storage units The Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help solving multiple storage unit burglaries.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by East Moline police for armed robbery Jordan L. Velasquez is wanted by the East Moline Police Department for armed robbery.
	FAA investigating small plane crash near Geneseo According to the FAA, the pilot was seriously injured while performing touch-and-go maneuvers at the end of the runway.
	United Township High School hosts college fair Students from 10 rural school districts were also invited.
	Man found dead in Hennepin Canal near Wyanet An investigation is underway in Bureau County after an 83-year-old man was found dead at the Hennepin Canal near Wyanet.
	Fresh Films nonprofit studio receiving additional funding to bring new film campus to Rock Island Rock Island is adding another $850,000 to its initial $2 million property tax incentive to help the studio with construction costs.
	Illinois, Iowa police host Drug Take Back Day Law enforcement in Illinois and Iowa police are hosting Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for unused and expired medications drop-off.
	Getting to Know Eric Boehm, Rock Island Hy-Vee's 'King of Deals' Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	WATCH LIVE: President Donald Trump hosts rally in Sioux City President Donald Trump will be in Sioux City today.
	Rock Island man, 18, arrested in connection with shooting that left one person wounded A Rock Island man has been arrested in connection with Monday's shooting that left one person wounded.
	Treating pain: What to expect when seeing a doctor A pain management specialist offers advice on different approaches for different types of pain.
	Thousands of cans of Walmart-brand fruit cocktail recalled More than 40,000 cans of fruit cocktail are impacted.
	Actor Tom Skerritt, who played dads, cops and commanding officers, has died Skerritt was Captain Dallas in Alien, Viper in Top Gun, and a small town sheriff in the TV series Picket Fences.
	SAL celebrates new $15.7-million childcare, education center in Rock Island Dozens of people gathered on a glorious fall Thursday morning, Oct. 22, to join SAL Community Services in the ribbon-cutting for the 56-year-old organization’s new Rock Island campus, at 2101 11th St.
	Suspect arrested after 19-year-old shot in Rock Island Jackson Mukuta was arrested and faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
	Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 81 Democrat incumbent Representative Dan Gosa is running for re-election. Republican Dillon Fillion is also running for the seat. Iowa House District 81 covers part of western Scott County.
	Federal judge restricts DHS field operations looking for noncitizen voters The judge found the department's field operations to identify noncitizens who voted likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which bars voter intimidation.
	Quad City Storm Hockey team host third annual Education Day The game brought schools from both sides of the river to Moline's Vibrant Arena.

Friday, October 23rd, 2026

Thursday, October 22nd, 2026