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

Monday, April 27th, 2026
	West Liberty plans water expansion as development grows West Liberty plans to boost water production by nearly 70% as development grows, aiming to meet future demand while staying within aquifer limits.
	Beating It: “Michael,” “I Swear,” and “Over Your Dead Body” There's a line, or rather a lyric, that more fully encapsulates what Michael is about, and it's found in Jackson's 1983 smash “Billie Jean”: “And be careful of what you do / 'Cause the lie becomes the truth.”
	7th Circuit upholds ex-Speaker Madigan’s conviction of bribery, other corruption Following a four-month trial, that jury delivered a split verdict in February 2025, ultimately convicting Madigan on 10 of 23 corruption counts, acquitting him on seven and deadlocking on another six.
	Rock Island alderman’s family business withdraws bid for city catering contract amid conflict concerns City staff had recommended Bridges Catering to provide food service at the Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center, including meals at the city-run preschool.
	Clinton County Supervisors approve opioid settlement and application process "Recovery is a process of change through which an individual improves their health and wellness, lives a self-directed life, and strives to reach their full potential." Dominic Capella recited the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) definition for recovery. It's something Capella knows well. He's working through recovery too; it's a process that [...]
	After Monday, only light rain in the Quad Cities forecast this week We picked up some decent rain Monday as showers/t'storms rumbled through during the morning hours. Now though, it's mostly light rain (or none at all) in the QC forecast. Thursday offers a chance for light rain. And, believe it or not, we're actually up above normal for rain so far this year!
	Can an AI chatbot help your mental health? Benefits—and red flags As more people turn to AI chatbots for things like companionship, life advice, or even as a stand-in for therapy, experts say the technology offers both new opportunities and new risks when it comes to mental health.
	Rock Island alderman denies conflict of interest surrounding family's catering business Rock Island alderman Bill Healy's family business, Bridges Catering, has withdrawn its bid for a city catering contract.
	West Liberty is expanding and applying for modified water use permit Expansion for West Liberty means more water is needed and the city is looking to increase water production by nearly 70%.
	Sister City delegation from Germany tries Whitey's ice cream during visit to Moline Moline city officials said members of the German delegation requested the spot themselves, and none of them regretted it.
	South Carolina's measles outbreak is over. But more are brewing around the country The virus infected nearly 1,000 people in the state before the state declared it over. Meanwhile, cases are spreading across many parts of the U.S., with more than 20 outbreaks currently active.
	The Waiting Child: Building a championship team with the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen shows us how St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees football and Big Brothers Big [...]
	MuscaBus celebrates decades of transportation service, marks 45 years in community City Administrator Matt Mardesen said the system’s longevity is a testament to its value.
	New sports facility could be coming to Clinton A new sports facility could be coming to Clinton.
	At Bettendorf Library, QC authors will gather to discuss storytelling Whether you are an established author, an enthusiast of the written word, or you fall somewhere in between, the Bettendorf Public Library invites you to explore the world of storytelling at itsupcoming Local Author Showcase. From 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at fBettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, delve into the intricacies of writing [...]
	3 dogs rescued in Sterling house fire The Sterling Fire Department responded to a house fire at the 800 block of Avenue I Monday morning.
	State of Illinois, Adrianne Reynolds' killer reach settlement Harli Quinn alleged she suffered violent attacks and abuse by prison staff after being housed in a men's prison after she had transitioned.
	Arconic Davenport Works seeks public input to name eaglets on Eagle Cam Arconic Davenport Works is asking the public to help name two newly hatched eaglets on its Eagle Cam. Submissions are open through an online survey.
	Communities in Western Illinois cleaning up following severe weather There were a total of six tornadoes identified on Thursday.
	Five Iowa dog breeders listed among this year’s ‘Horrible Hundred’ puppy mills An animal-welfare organization has released its annual, national report on problem puppy mills, with five of the “Horrible Hundred” businesses located in Iowa.
	What's ahead as Illinois and Iowa SNAP requirements change May 1? Some Illinois and Iowa residents are on track to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits when new eligibility requirements take effect Friday, May 1. Advocates and small business owners are worried about how the loss will impact the community.SNAP currently provides nine times the meals that food pantries do. The program also accounts for [...]
	Kwik Trip mascot is on a Midwest tour Red the Rooster is on a Midwest tour, and the Quad Cities actor that brings the Kwik Trip mascot to life shares the experience.
	3 dogs rescued from Sterling house fire Three dogs were rescued from a house fire in Sterling Monday morning.
	3 dogs rescued from Sterling house fire No one was injured in a house fire Monday morning in Sterling, according to the Sterling Fire Department . The fire started about 9 a.m. in the 800 block of Avenue I. Fire crews arrived to find fire and smoke coming from the roof-line of a split-level home. Neighbors reported the residents were at work. [...]
	Runners, take your marks for the Quad Cities Running Festival Runners, take your marks for a Memorial Day journey along the Great River Trail on the Mississippi River. Steve Abel joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Quad Cities Running Festival. For more information, click here.
	Celebrate life-changing impact at YouthHope's 90th Anniversary Benefit Gala Celebrate 90 years of life-changing impact for kids and teens in the QCA! Esther Joy King joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the 90th Anniversary Benefit Gala for YouthHope. For more information, click here.
	Free Putnam talk by Smithsonian curator to consider America at its 250th The Putnam and Museum & Science Center will welcome a Smithsonian Institution curator this Thursday, April 30 for a free talk, “Between Hope and History: Curating America at 250."
	Rock Island to consider using tax incentives to help homeowners improve housing in north end of town As part of the pilot program, staff will evaluate the performance to create a permanent plan.
	Supreme Court heard case on how to label risks of popular weed killer How the Supreme Court rules could have implications for tens of thousands of lawsuits against Roundup maker Monsanto, which is now owned by Bayer.
	Quad Cities flight to honor law enforcement officers The Quad City Back the Blue Flight will take officers to the National Police Officers Memorial Wall and other historic sites, according to a media release.
	Scholarship opportunity for Moline seniors pursuing service field careers The Moline Police Department and Moline Police Benevolent Association are providing a scholarship for local high school seniors.
	Melania Trump wants ABC to 'take a stand' against Jimmy Kimmel after 'hateful' joke Two days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner ended in gunfire, Kimmel delivered a mock Correspondents' Dinner speech during a sketch on his show. The first lady said it was "corrosive."
	Large part of tree falls on house in Rock Island A large part of a tree fell on house in Rock Island on Monday. It happened in the 2500 block of 28th Street. It serves as a good reminder to check the health of your trees regularly, especially before storms and high winds. Contact a local arborist if you think your tree needs a closer [...]
	Tree downs power lines, closes part of 16th Street in Moline A fallen tree brought down power lines and closed part of 16th Street in Moline, leaving hundreds of customers without power as crews work to restore service.
	Young pop stars are burning out — and singing through it On jagged new albums and festival stages, rising pop artists are learning there may be no escape from the influencer economy.
	Win 6 Club Tickets behind home plate to the Quad Cities River Bandits Weekend Homestand Game! QC River Bandits Ticket Giveaway
	Brown University students injured in mass shooting say their university failed to protect them Caution tape encircled much of Brown University's campus, including the Engineering Research Center (pictured), in the wake of a Dec. 13 mass shooting as community members and visitors gathered to pay tribute to the victims. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)Three Brown University students injured during the December mass shooting in an academic building are suing the school for inadequate security and failing to act on warnings of suspicious activity by the shooter. The three first-year students are each seeking damages in excess of $10,000 apiece for the physical and mental harm caused by what they allege was negligence on the university’s part, according to the complaints filed in Rhode Island Superior Court on Thursday, and first reported by the Boston Globe Rhode Island on Monday. Copies of the identical lawsuits were also obtained by Rhode Island Current. “Brown’s conduct, as alleged herein, was so willful, reckless, and wicked as to amount to criminality, which, for the good of society and as warning to Brown, ought to be punished by an award of punitive damages over and above that provided in an award of compensatory damages,” the complaint states. All three students, referred to in court documents as “J. Doe No. 1, 2 and 3,” are represented by Providence law firm Decof, Mega & Quinn, which did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment Monday. Brian Clark, a university spokesperson, confirmed the university had received the complaints but did not immediately comment on the allegations. “Brown is reviewing the complaints carefully and promptly,” Clark said in an email Monday. “Out of respect for the privacy interests of the plaintiffs, we have no details to share on the merits of the litigation at this time. We will respond as appropriate through the legal process. We remain committed to the safety and security of our community and to supporting the path to recovery and repair for our students, faculty, staff and members of the broader community. ”The lawsuits come more than five months after Claudio Manuel Neves Valente opened fire during an economics review in Brown’s Barus & Holley building on Dec. 13. Two students were killed, and nine were injured, including the three plaintiffs. Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who briefly attended Brown in 2000, fled the scene on foot, launching a five-day manhunt that spanned local, state and federal law enforcement. Neves Valente, who also shot and killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor two days after the Brown shooting, was found dead in a storage locker in Salem, New Hampshire. In the wake of the shooting, university officials announced a series of security measures amid scrutiny — including from the U.S. Department of Education — over the open access and lack of cameras within the academic building where the shooting took place. Like much of the university campus, the 220,000-square foot building is enmeshed in the residential neighborhoods of the East Side of Providence. Former Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements was also brought on to lead the university’s public safety agency. Clements’ predecessor, Rodney Chatman, was put on leave and subsequently agreed to a settlement with the university after the shooting amid allegations that the university violated safety laws tied to its federal funding. The university’s internal review, overseen by global consulting firm Teneo, is expected to continue through the spring, with “key outcomes” to be shared publicly upon completion, Clark said. The university is also in contact with federal regulators through the U.S. Department of Education, which launched its own probe into university security measures in late December, Clark said. A spokesperson for the education department did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. But the improvements come too late, according to the three students now suing the university. “Brown did not maintain any meaningful or effective security presence at the relevant entrances to Barus and Holley to screen, question, deter, or restrict entry during the examination period, notwithstanding the obvious student use of the building, its integration into the surrounding urban environment, and the prior reports concerning Valente’s suspicious presence there,” the complaints state. The complaints each allege four counts of negligence, including physical protections of its facilities and for adequate staff training, and demand a jury trial. A university custodian saw Neves Valente inside the building for several weeks before the shooting reported the suspicious activity to campus security. Yet security officers failed to investigate the warning or increase building security, the complaints stated. Another witness, identified in the court documents and publicly as “John,” also reported seeing Neves Valente in the building hours before the shooting. John’s detailed description of Neves Valente helped law enforcement ultimately track his path to New Hampshire, relying largely on surveillance footage from nearby residential properties. But there was no footage inside the auditorium where the shooting took place, nor the hallways surrounding it, because Barus & Holley only had two outside cameras. “As direct and proximate result of Brown’s aforementioned acts of negligence, Plaintiff suffered and became afflicted with grave and severe personal injuries, causing Plaintiff to suffer great pain of body, mind, nerves and nervous system, incur significant medical expenses, and extreme conscious pain and suffering and specific emotional distress all of which will continue into the future and are, otherwise, permanent,” the complaints state. A hearing before R.I. Associate Justice Shannon Signore is scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 5, according to the public court docket. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	'I love transforming': Nick Offerman goes from Pawnee to pro wrestler Best known for his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, Offerman plays a former professional wrestler reconnecting with his estranged daughter in Margo's Got Money Troubles.
	New Mexico Primary 2026: NM House of Representatives, District 13 Kids ride bicycles in Tower Park, located in Albuquerque's House District 13, where candidates for the Democratic primary, public housing manager Matthew Archuleta and incumbent labor organizer Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, both discussed affordability as a central issue in their race. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)Residents of southwestern Albuquerque’s House District 13 have picked incumbent Patricia Roybal Caballero for six consecutive terms, but longtime public housing expert Matthew Archuleta hopes his focus on affordable housing solutions can sway voters in the June 2 Democratic primary. The district includes much of southwestern Albuquerque’s historic Hispanic neighborhoods and newer neighborhoods built in the 1990s, along with a little commercial development. Both candidates noted the Southwest Mesa neighborhoods had a high rate of foreclosures during the 2008 housing crisis and that affordable housing remains a top priority in the area.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The winner of the Democratic primary as of now does not face a general election opponent in November (deadlines to register as an Independent, minor party or write-in candidate follow the primary election). Source NM posed several questions to both candidates about their races. Their answers have been edited for clarity and concision. Matthew Archuleta Matthew Archuleta, 65, has been the on-site manager of government housing at the Albuquerque Housing Authority for the past 12 years. Born and raised in Albuquerque, he served one term on the Albuquerque Public School Board from 1999-2003, and ran unsuccessfully for District 13 in 2010, losing the primary election. He said he didn’t have specific criticisms of the incumbent, but that he was driven to run to address homelessness, bolster housing and fund more support for mental health treatments. “I feel like we just need to listen and and we need to do what’s right for people, and that’s what I’m all about: doing what’s right for people and for our community,” he said. What is the most important issue facing District 13? Infrastructure and services. That can encompass a lot, like completing the new community center, which they started building 10 years ago. Building a southwest Safety Center, a possible multi-generational center for the senior population. Some of the roads are original, so they need some work and additional street lighting. What is the most important issue facing New Mexico? I don’t see that there’s one. Economic development can churn a lot of things. When you have jobs, you have less homelessness. The other major issues are mental illness and behavioral health that we are just not addressing. That leads to bigger problems such as child welfare or exacerbates problems in the education system. Our kids are important to us, and I don’t feel like we’re really doing enough to support our young population here in this state. What legislation would you introduce if elected? The first bill I’d really like to take a look at is offering better support to those that are suffering from mental illness. I’d work with people in the therapeutic field, people that need the assistance and advocates because if anybody’s tried to work through the mental illness system or the behavioral health system, it’s difficult. What committee is your top choice for service? Any committee that would have a housing element. I’ve been working in affordable housing for probably more than half my life and I see the need for more programs. The federal government is proposing to cut a lot of affordable housing. What is your strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for voters? My ability to talk to people, listen and then get to work on how we meet the needs of people. Do you support paying lawmakers? I’ll tell you why I do. Am I doing this to get paid? No. I’m doing this to give back to my community. I would have liked to have done this 20 years ago, but I couldn’t and I was employed by places that didn’t allow for that much time out. I feel like you miss out on the common voice of the people because the common voice of the people has to go to work. They have families to take care of and in this economy, it takes both parents working. Patricia Roybal Caballero First elected to office in 2012, Roybal Caballero calls herself a “seasoned legislator,” who also has more than four decades of labor organizing and worked as an economic developer for nonprofits in Texas, New Jersey and New Mexico. Born in El Paso, her childhood was often spent in Las Cruces, where her family was from. Roybal Caballero said her drive to seek reelection is pushing the state on the Yazzie/Martinez education equity lawsuit, saying that that issue, along with affordability and climate, are the most pressing issues for young New Mexicans. “I think we still have some work to do,” Roybal Caballero said. “We have more oversight to do in terms of our Public Education Department and how well they are responding to the court’s orders. We have to determine whether, in fact, they are transforming our education, not just instituting a reform here or there.” What is the most important issue facing District 13? I think the most pressing issue has always been affordability, simply because my area is comprised of the working poor. My constituents work very hard, sometimes two and three jobs. Inflation has just driven everything up higher, of course. Our families are struggling even more just to pay their rent, mortgage, utilities, food, cars, gas, all of which are just basic for everyday living. What is the most important issue facing New Mexico? Our state is facing a lot of deregulation right now. That affects New Mexico’s cherished lands, which have ancestral meaning, they are part of our traditions. The concern for how we are going to protect our planet, our water, our clean air has been predominant in my district. We’re seeing so many climate changes, all being affected by global warming and by the human hand. That causes a lot of concern because our decision-making requires that we’re planning for the future, not deciding for today.  We’re deciding for tomorrow so that our children have a world to live in, a country to live in, a state that they can thrive in without fear. What legislation would you introduce if you are reelected? I have been the sponsor of raising the minimum wage for several years. Enacting a living wage which would raise according to the cost of living index every year is paramount to easing the burdens of our hardworking families. We want people to have a little bit of disposable income to treat their families. It also will give them a better quality of life because they wouldn’t have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. What committee is your top choice for service? I hope I have earned reappointment as the chair of House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs because of my background as a UFW organizer, United Steelworker organizer, AFSCME organizer, AFT, the grad workers unions — I believe I’ve had a positive impact as not just as a chair, but as a strong advocate for labor in our state and in our nation. What is your strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for voters? Having been reelected for several terms now, I’d have to say it is my organizing skills, my ability to mobilize. I’ve proven I’m accomplished and experienced as a legislator. I have stayed true to bringing honesty, transparency, accountability, as an elected official. I have the skill set to hear constituents, talk to them, walk with them and translate that all into positive action. Do you support paying lawmakers? I would lack a lot of integrity if I did not support and value work. This is work, hard work. So, yes, we should pay our Legislature. Absolutely. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	BBB in the Quad Cities honoring three QCA businesses The Better Business Bureau Serving Iowa (BBB) is honoring three QCA organizations for their commitment to ethical business practices by naming them as recipients of the 2026 Quad Cities Torch Awards for Ethics on Thursday, June 11 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Bally’s Quad Cities Casino and Hotel in Rock Island. Click here [...]
	REVIEW: A Soldier's Story at Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline The 2026 theatre season is off with a bang – literally. Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s second production is Charles Fuller’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning A Soldier’s Play, directed by Renaud Haymon and is a sterling example of Playcrafters’ conscious outreach toward inclusion in their theatre.
	Tree downs power lines, closes part of 16th Street in Moline A fallen tree brought down power lines and closed part of 16th Street in Moline, leaving 373 customers without power as crews work to restore service.
	An off-beat family makes some 'Big Mistakes' in this clever crime farce A new Netflix comedy series by and starring Dan Levy is a wild inversion of Schitt's Creek. Where that show started out cartoonish and grew warmer, Big Mistakes is a frolic that grows more hellish.
	Traffic alert: Iowa American Water work to impact Rockingham Road Iowa American Water is getting some work done while part of Rockingham Road is closed for reconstruction next week.
	Florida's DeSantis unveils a voting map that could add to Trump's GOP redistricting Florida's governor has called lawmakers to meet starting Tuesday. They'll consider a fast-track redistricting that could flip some House seats held by Democrats to Republicans.
	The 'Green Premium': How charter programs are navigating 2026 SAF mandates The ‘Green Premium’: How charter programs are navigating 2026 SAF mandatesThe private aviation boom is currently navigating a period of high-altitude turbulence. The sector’s projected climb to $50.8 billion by 2034 is no longer a guaranteed straight line. For the world’s high earners, the convenience of the charter model is being weighed against a mounting list of operational headwinds.Fuel spikes, shifting tax codes, and ongoing geopolitical friction have already introduced significant friction into the market. However, the most disruptive factor is the arrival of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandates.As regional governments move from "recommendations" to hard emission laws, operators are grappling with a mandatory "green premium." This environmental surcharge adds a new layer of expense to an already capital-intensive way to fly. The industry isn't just fighting for market share; it’s fighting to balance regulatory compliance with the cost-efficiency that private flyers still demand, BlackJet reports.The SAF Global LandscapeSustainable Aviation Fuel mandates are not new. Norway first introduced this legal framework in 2020, when the government imposed a 0.5% SAF blending mandate for all aviation fuel sold in the country. Sweden and France followed in 2021 and 2022.However, the industry only felt the pinch of the green premium last year (2025), when the EU and the U.K. introduced the two most aggressive regulatory frameworks.ReFuelEU Aviation (EU)On Jan. 1, 2025, the European mandate took effect, requesting a 2% SAF blend at all major EU airports. Unlike earlier national rules, this included strict anti-tankering clauses to prevent airlines from bypassing the more expensive fuel.The U.K. SAF MandateOn the same date (Jan. 1, 2025), the U.K. launched its own 2% mandate, but it added a twist. U.K. legislation offers a unique buyout mechanism, allowing suppliers to pay a penalty of 4.70 pounds (approximately $6.36) per liter if they can’t find enough physical SAF. In plain terms, this is a tax for those who can’t find green fuel.Other global private aviation hubsIn April 2026, Singapore formalized its status as Asia’s green aviation leader. Unlike the EU, Singapore uses a centralized levy on passenger tickets to fund its 1% mandate. For private aviation, this translates to a per-aircraft charge based on wingspan and distance (Band I-IV), ranging from roughly 40 Singapore dollars (approximately $31.49) to over 6,500 Singapore dollars for the largest business jets.In the U.S., the system uses carrots rather than sticks through its SAF Grand Challenge. This initiative provides massive tax credits (like the Blender’s Tax Credit) to reach 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030. While there are state-level requirements, in places like California (LCFS), there is no federal mandate yet.The ‘Penalty Trap’: A Math Problem for Charter OperatorsThe purpose of the SAF mandates is to force airlines to use green fuel more. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), sustainable aviation fuel is expected to provide approximately 65% of the total carbon mitigation needed to reach net-zero.Before 2025/2026, using SAF was more of a voluntary initiative for airlines that wanted the reputation of being green. Now, it is a regulated compliance requirement. At first glance, it’s a move in the right direction, but there are still a few creases to iron out, such as:Anti-tankering lawsUnder ReFuelEU, aircraft departing from EU airports are required to take on at least 90% of the fuel needed for each flight. Historically, private jets engaged in economic tankering, which involves refueling at a low-cost location, such as Dubai or the U.S., to avoid paying for expensive fuel at their destination, such as Paris.Now, operators must buy the local, mandate-inflated fuel. This forces planes to land with lighter tanks and to refuel more frequently, which increases ground time and limits the quick-turnaround flexibility that private clients pay for.Supply scarcityThe primary hurdle for charter companies is a simple math problem: the law is moving faster than the refinery. According to IATA’s December 2025 outlook, global SAF production is projected to cover less than 1% of total fuel consumption in 2026.Some might point out that these mandates also include sub-targets for e-SAF (synthetic fuels made from captured CO2 and green hydrogen). And that’s true. But in practice, there’s a catch: Commercial-scale production of e-SAF is almost nonexistent. Which makes it pretty hard for operators to rely on it in any meaningful way, at least for now.This scarcity creates a "penalty trap." Under Germany’s interpretation of ReFuelEU, noncompliance fines can reach as high as 4,700 euros (approximately $5,537) per tonne. For a small charter operator with a fleet of 10 jets, these penalties aren't just an expense; they are a threat to solvency. Furthermore, while mandates include sub-targets for e-SAF (synthetic fuels), commercial-scale production of these carbon-neutral options is almost non-existent in the 2026 market.The reporting burdenCorporate clients need to demonstrate their Scope 3 emissions reductions in their annual reports. This means that charter companies now have to act like accounting firms, tracking every gallon, its feedstock source (e.g., used cooking oil vs. synthetic), and its carbon intensity.Things may be simpler for a massive airline like Delta, which has a 200-person compliance team, but a charter company with 10 jets will have difficulties keeping up with a fraction of that staff.Tactical Changes to Navigate the New Legal LandscapeOverall, many private operators are willing to pay the green premium to stay on track with net-zero goals. The real challenge is supply. Right now, there simply isn’t enough SAF to go around, and that scarcity is driving up costs while opening the door to inconsistent practices that can put even top-tier charter programs at risk.In the meantime, operators are adapting where they can, leaning into more efficient aircraft for shorter routes and shifting away from high-cost, congested hubs. It’s a practical workaround, not a permanent fix.The long-term outlook still depends on one thing: scaling SAF production. Once supply catches up, the market has a much better shot at stabilizing and moving private aviation closer to a genuinely sustainable future.This story was produced by BlackJet and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Special Weather Statement until MON 12:30 PM CDT Strong Winds into Early Afternoon
	20-year-old wounded in Rock Island shooting; no arrests A 20-year-old man with gunshot wounds was dropped off at a Rock Island hospital early Sunday. Injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
	When geopolitics hits the wallet, it hits the advisor's office too. When geopolitics hits the wallet, it hits the advisor's office too.The tremors from the Strait of Hormuz have moved beyond oil markets and into something harder to quantify: the financial anxiety of everyday Americans. According to the Jump 2026 Financial Advisor Insights Report, macroeconomic shocks have become the defining emotional force shaping client behavior, and nearly half of all client conversations now include at least one stated fear, most of them rooted in cost of living. The report analyzes aggregated, anonymized advisor–client conversations sourced from participating firms across the U.S., using conversational intelligence to turn in-meeting interactions into structured data on sentiment, behavior, and outcomes.Shipping disruptions, supply constraints, and slow-burn volatility are translating into real pressure at the pump and at the grocery store. Americans are already adapting. Streaming subscriptions are getting cut. Budgets are getting scrutinized. According to CBS News, gas prices in particular reflect a compounding set of forces — higher taxes, environmental levies, regulatory costs, and growing dependence on overseas refining — that aren't likely to reverse quickly. The Independent paints a broader picture of households quietly tightening their belts.In this article, Jump explores how financial advisors can adapt to this situation and help their clients navigate the stress they are carrying into meetings.What the data shows about client behaviorAccording to the report, macro shocks influence client sentiment and decision making just as much as they influence markets. The data shows that client fears are both common and concentrated, with 48% of meetings including at least one stated fear, and the most prevalent concerns including rising taxes and policy changes (16%), portfolio losses and volatility (12%), and core financial pressures like job or income loss and the ability to pay bills — fears that also correspond to the lowest starting sentiment levels.Customers don’t necessarily talk about oil, but we are seeing oil prices show up indirectly as financial stress and anxiety as concerns about affordability and stability mount.What financial advisors are hearingThe conversations have shifted. Where clients once came in focused on portfolio performance and long-term growth, many advisors are now fielding questions that start with groceries, gas, and monthly bills. Rising costs are showing up not as abstract economic data, but as stress. Clients arriving at meetings are already anxious.For many advisors, the most striking change is how routine spending has become a focal point. Clients who never used to mention their day-to-day expenses are now tracking them closely, and bringing that awareness into their planning conversations. Budgeting, once a peripheral topic, has moved to the center. Some clients are questioning whether their current lifestyle is sustainable, others are expressing hesitation about committing to investments they would have approved without a second thought a year ago.The emotional tone has shifted too. There's more caution, more questions, and more of what advisors describe as a need for reassurance before moving forward. Clients aren't necessarily connecting their anxiety to oil markets or geopolitical headlines, but the financial pressure those forces create is showing up clearly in how they feel about their futures.How advisors are respondingIn response, many advisors are reorienting their approach — at least in the short term. The emphasis has moved away from growth-oriented conversations and toward liquidity, cash flow, and near-term stability. For some clients, that means revisiting budgets that haven't been looked at in years. For others, it means reviewing withdrawal strategies to ensure that market volatility doesn't force uncomfortable decisions.At the same time, advisors are working to hold the long view in place. Reframing short-term volatility within the context of a client's broader plan, reminding them why the plan was built the way it was, has become a regular part of the toolkit. The goal isn't to dismiss concerns, but rather to keep short-term anxiety from triggering long-term mistakes.Perhaps most importantly, advisors are adjusting how they communicate. Less data, more context. Less complexity, more clarity. In an environment where clients are already feeling overwhelmed by economic noise, the advisors who are gaining traction are the ones who can cut through that noise and offer a clear, grounded sense of what to do next.Practical steps advisors can takeWith emotion driving decisions as much as markets, advisors should understand that lower sentiments causes clients to prioritize stability, protection and clear guidance. To come out on top, advisors then must address concerns directly, simplify communication, and provide context to their clients (meaning some hand-holding might be required) rather than sharing data.The data shows that product acceptance is sentiment-dependent, with certain categories, particularly insurance, alternatives, and other protection-oriented assets, seeing 10–23% higher acceptance in lower-sentiment conversations, indicating these recommendations resonate more when clients are feeling uncertain and when sentiment is low. However, clients have a better tendency to accept recommendations when sentiment is higher. In times of lower client sentiment, advisors who provide clear direction and emphasize stability are more likely to see follow-through.In live conversations, this can look like:Starting conversations with cash flow and spending, addressing liquidity and short-term planning topics head-on.Reinforcing long-term plans with flexibility, so that clients can stay committed without feeling locked in if conditions change.Adjusting communication styles to be more direct and contextual, so that clients feel confident in what to do next instead of being overwhelmed by options.Focusing on maintaining client confidence, so that short-term anxiety doesn’t lead to long-term mistakes.Oil prices may stabilize in the coming months, but their impact on client behavior has already taken hold. As the Insights Report shows, macroeconomic shocks have a direct impact on how clients feel, how they engage, and ultimately how they make planning decisions. In environments like this, where rising costs increase financial pressure, sentiment is a leading indicator of client behaviour. Clients are more cautious, more focused on stability, and more sensitive to risk. Advisors who recognize and adapt to this shift by adjusting how they communicate, reinforcing plans with flexibility, and maintaining client confidence are better positioned to guide clients through uncertainty and keep them aligned with long-term goals.This story was produced by Jump and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Grow Clinton invites community to new Visit Clinton Tourism Center Grow Clinton invites the community to celebrate the opening of the new Visit Clinton, Iowa, Tourism Center, with an open house from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the center, 719 S. 2nd St., Clinton, a news release says. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., coinciding with National Travel & Tourism Day [...]
	Most people have never seen their digital trail. What you find may surprise you Most people have never seen their digital trail. What you find may surprise you“Whatever happened to John Smith, that guy who played quarterback for Washington back in 1987?” you ask yourself as you drift off to sleep. The next day, long after you’ve set aside this fleeting question, you decide to open Facebook to stave off some boredom. Wouldn’t you know it—a sponsored ad titled, “‘80s Football Stars: Where Are They Now?” pops up. The thumbnail image? John Smith.You panic. “Is my computer reading my mind?!”In this article, PeopleFinders examines how digital trails are created, who uses them, and what consumers can do to minimize their online footprint.Your Digital Trail Says a Lot About YouThe answer is no, your computer is not reading your mind. The truth is that your computer—including your operating system and preferred internet browser—already knows a ton of information about you. They even know you like reading about sports stars of yesteryear, as evidenced by your digital trail. That Facebook ad featuring John Smith? Just an educated guess, really.What Is a Digital Trail?A digital trail, or digital footprint, is the collection of tiny breadcrumbs you leave while interacting with online platforms and tools. The nature (and amount) of information that websites and third-party trackers collect varies depending on the websites you visit.For instance, social media apps track every single detail they can get about you to send you personalized ads and experiences. It’s how they make money. The more a website or app knows about you, the better they are at keeping you online and scrolling.Unfortunately, the same principle applies to scammers. The more a scammer or bad actor knows about you through your digital trail, the better their chances of success.7 Ways People Find You OnlinePosting a picture on social media or participating in a message board are two obvious ways for users to leave breadcrumbs online; these are referred to as an “active digital trail.”Conversely, there are plenty of ways for people to leave a passive digital trail. Below are seven ways you may be unwittingly sharing details about your identity online:1. Third-Party Data Sharing AgreementsThink about all the websites or online portals for which you have a username and password. There’s a good chance that some of them share your information with other online platforms. At some point, your data might get into the hands of data brokers.The logistics and legal considerations surrounding data sharing are incredibly complex, and that’s largely by design. As an individual, it's helpful to be aware that the information you enter online doesn’t always stay with the websites you visit. Taking a closer look at privacy policies is often a good idea if you want to minimize your digital footprint.2. Reusing Your UsernameSocial media users often use the same or similar usernames across different platforms. They might want to make it easier for friends or family to find them on these apps.Reusing usernames and handles can help online scammers connect disparate profiles and build a more complete picture of your likes, preferences, and hobbies.3. Leaky Privacy SettingsCarefully going through a social media app’s privacy settings is not the most thrilling part of setting up a profile. Many people would rather focus on their profile pictures and friends list—understandably so.However, rushing through the privacy section can result in you sharing your posts with internet strangers. Unfortunately, bad actors can easily obtain such information and use it to target you with personalized scams.4. Tagged PhotosEven if you’re careful about the information you post about yourself online, others might not be.Sharing cool photos is one of the best parts about social media, no doubt. After a vacation with loved ones, you might not think twice about the notification that a cousin has tagged you in a set of beachside photos. It can be easy to forget, though, that your privacy settings for tagged photos are distinct from those for photos you post yourself.5. Data BreachesMost people have some kind of information about themselves stored on the deep web. That might include your online banking username and password, social media logins, or saved credit card information.All too often, sensitive information becomes compromised through data breaches. Companies are required to inform users when breaches occur, but it’s easy to brush them off when they happen so frequently. You never know when scammers might actually break through and grab some of that sensitive data.6. Fake Marketplace ListingsMost scammers lurking on online marketplaces try to pass off counterfeit items as authentic pieces or take a buyer’s money before disappearing into the internet ether.In some cases, though, listers of fake items simply use listings to gather information about other users. If, for example, someone asks about a chainsaw listed on Facebook Marketplace, the lister knows something about that user’s buying intent. They can later package that information into a convincing scam. It might sound far-fetched, but there’s no length scammers won’t go to.7. Engagement-Farming Social Media PostsIt’s common for social media users to come across seemingly innocuous posts that ask about users’ first jobs, pets, or street addresses. It might seem like a fun way to get to know others, but these questions align with common security questions that come up when users forget their usernames or passwords.Studies have demonstrated that people experience dopamine and other pleasurable chemicals when they disclose information about themselves. Scammers can exploit this physiological reality by gaining information—information that might yield sensitive (lucrative) data.5 Tips for Minimizing Your Digital TrailTo be clear, becoming the victim of an online scam is not a personal failing. Fraud affects people of all ages, races, incomes, and educational levels.Fortunately, you can tweak your online habits to minimize your digital trail and give scammers as few chances as possible. Here’s how:1. Restrict Social Media Privacy SettingsOne thing you can do right now is to adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts. While each platform varies slightly, most allow you to make content, including posts, photos, and videos, visible to only your friends.2. Change or Vary Your PasswordsAnother way to reduce the risk of falling for a scam is to use strong, varied passwords for your online accounts. All it can take is one lucky guess for scammers to gain access to a wealth of assets.Having a password tied to something you post about on social media—your pets, kids’ names, or favorite sports teams—adds another layer of risk. A recent Ipsos poll revealed that more than half of those surveyed incorporated personal information into their passwords.3. Avoid Sharing Personally Identifiable Information OnlinePerhaps the best piece of advice is not to share your personal or sensitive information online. Doing so may be necessary if you have questions about any of your online accounts, but the site hosts should provide assurances of security. If you have any doubts about a website’s safety, pick up the phone and call a representative.Pro Tip: Wondering about your personal information that’s already online? Use a people finder tool to reverse search your name, address, phone number, or other identifiers.4. Use Digital Tools That Prioritize PrivacySome lesser-known operating systems, including Linux, collect less data than Windows or macOS. If you don’t feel like downloading something like that, consider using web browsers with built-in ad and tracker blockers. DuckDuckGo, which offers a web browser and search engine, does not track user behavior or collect personal data.5. Regularly Clear Your Browser’s CookiesThose annoying questions you have to answer every time you go to a new website? You might just click the first option you see to simply make the dialog box go away. It’s understandable, but over time, your browser can collect hordes of cookies. That means tracking companies know a lot about you.While not all cookies are bad, clearing them out every few weeks can improve user experience on websites and help ensure your privacy.It Starts With Smart BrowsingUnless you’ve never used the web before, it’s likely that completely removing your internet presence in 2026 is highly impractical, if not impossible. Even if you deleted all your apps tomorrow, you’d still leave some sort of digital trail.But that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to remove potentially revealing information and monitor which details are available about you on the internet. By being a smart browser, understanding how the tools you use collect data about you, and regularly double-checking what’s available, you can take control of your digital presence.Remember, being a discerning internet user is about taking reasonable steps to protect your identity and online assets. Nobody is perfect, but having the right mindset will serve you well online and off.This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	20-year-old man shot, police investigating Rock Island police said the man had several serious but non-life-threatening wounds.
	R.I. reports second measles case of the year A sign at a University of Utah health clinic warns visitors about the spread of measles. Rhode Island health officials reported the second case of measles in the state this year on Saturday. (Photo by McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)A second, separate case of measles in the state was confirmed by the Rhode Island Department of Health on Saturday. The case, involving a woman in her 20s who traveled from outside the country to visit family in Rhode Island, comes one week after health officials reported the first positive measles test of the year in a Rhode Island man returning home after traveling abroad. The two cases are not related, state health officials said. The woman tested positive while being treated at Brown University Health’s urgent care in Middletown on April 24. She did not report visiting any other public places since arriving in Rhode Island, Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the health department, said in an email Monday. She did not need to be hospitalized. The highly contagious airborne virus is preventable with vaccination, and was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But nationwide, measles has seen a resurgence in recent years, with 3,564 confirmed cases across 46 states since January 2025, including more than 1,000 cases in South Carolina. Public health experts attribute the return of the virus to fewer people getting the vaccine, typically administered as a two-dose regimen in young children. In Rhode Island, 97% of kindergarten students have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, according to the health department. Rhode Island reported one confirmed measles case in 2025, and none in 2024. “The chance of significant spread of measles in Rhode Island is very low because we have such a high MMR vaccination rate,” Dr. Jerry Larkin, state health director, said in a statement. “But that degree of community protection depends on everyone who is eligible getting vaccinated.” Symptoms of the respiratory virus typically appear one to three weeks after exposure, and can include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, white spots inside the cheek and a signature rash. People are contagious for four days before and four days after the rash appears. There is no antiviral medication to treat measles, which typically resolves with fever-reducing medication and fluids. Complications can include pneumonia, ear infections and respiratory illnesses. More information, including how to get vaccinated, is available on the state health department website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	20-year-old injured in Rock Island shooting; investigation continues A man arrived at a Rock Island hospital with gunshot wounds early Sunday. Police say no arrests have been made as the investigation continues.
	FIRST ALERT DAY Live severe weather blog Updates on Monday's severe weather threat from the KWQC First Alert weather team.
	Property taxes are rising fast in these states. Here's how investors are staying ahead. Property taxes are rising fast in these states. Here's how investors are staying ahead.It’s no big secret that property tax rates have been on a steady rise for the past few years. With the marked boom in homeownership that followed the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many investors saw the value of their properties soar to unprecedented highs.However, as with most things, what goes up must come down. The market has been showing some changes in the form of stagnation, longer listing periods, as well as a dwindling interest in the luxury properties that fueled the STR (short-term rental) craze of the early 2020s. This left many owners with expensive properties that rack up high property taxes and no way to pay up. That’s where smart investors step in to take advantage of the discrepancy.To take a close look at this phenomenon, PropertyReach combined data from the Tax Foundation and RedFin, a national real estate brokerage, that shows exactly how much property taxes people are paying in each of the 50 states (plus D.C.). Five states with the highest property tax bills were also examined, along with what led to their place on the list, as well as how smart investors are capitalizing on the gains.Property Tax on the Median Home By State Courtesy of PropertyReach Information provided by the Tax Foundation and Redfin Monthly Housing Market Data5 States Where Property Taxes Are SkyrocketingThese five states have the current top places on the list of property tax values on a median home because they combine a high tax rate with an above-average median home valuation:1. New JerseyTax Rate: 1.88%Property Tax on Median Home: $10,547With a deadly combination of an almost 2% tax rate, a limited market, and a median home value of $190,000 more than the national figure ($370,000), New Jersey deserves the first place on this list.2. New HampshireTax Rate: 1.50%Property Tax on Median Home: $7,725Because the municipalities of New Hampshire don’t have another source of funding, like income or sales taxes, property taxes are reaching all-time record highs.3. ConnecticutTax Rate: 1.54%Property Tax on Median Home: $7,413Continuing with the pattern of a state that requires funding, so it overrelies on property taxes, Connecticut is in the same boat as New Hampshire. It also doesn’t help that state funding for education keeps getting frozen, shifting the load on homeowners instead.4. MassachusettsTax Rate: 1.00%Property Tax on Median Home: $6,520Although there’s a variation in property value among different areas of Massachusetts, it still scores pretty high on the list of property tax values, even with a rate that is one of the lowest on this list. This could be the result of the recent higher home price valuation than that of commercial property in metropolitan areas, like Greater Boston.5. New YorkTax Rate: 1.30%Property Tax on Median Home: $6,513Even though it has a reputation for being the most expensive state, New York is only coming in fifth on this list, thanks to the sheer volume of available properties compared to the previous states.Bonus: District of ColumbiaTax Rate: 0.60%Property Tax on Median Home: $7,664D.C. is unequivocally the most expensive place to live or invest in the United States, with the median home value triple the national figure. Even though it has a low tax rate, it still made it to this list.What Smart Investors Are Doing to CapitalizeEven though “higher taxes” sounds like an all-around negative, this point in time creates opportunities for investors with a keen eye and the right tools.One tactic to utilize is to invest in REITs (real estate investment trusts), which are companies that operate and finance properties that generate income. Instead of personally handling the management of properties and missing loopholes that can save money on taxes, REITs help investors skip the hard parts.Another strategy is stepping in to relieve distressed sellers who can no longer afford the rising taxes on their properties. As taxes rise, these occurrences are going to be more common, so knowing how to spot them is crucial. Simply use a property search tool to focus on areas where tax rates saw a recent spike, look up listings where the owner dropped the price, and see if there’s an opportunity to step in and help out.Final ThoughtsAny change in the economic climate can directly affect investment opportunities. However, an investor who knows how to take advantage of these changes, even skyrocketing taxes, can create value where others only see loss.This story was produced by PropertyReach and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nom Nom Kitchen and Café opens in downtown Kewanee Nom Nom Kitchen and Café opens in downtown Kewanee serving fresh Vietnamese favorites made daily.
	Man shot in Rock Island incident Rock Island Police are investigating after a man was dropped off at a hospital with gunshot wounds. A news release from the Rock Island Police Department said officers responded to UnityPoint Trinity Hospital on April 26 at about 4:16 a.m. for a report of a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they learned that a 20-year-old [...]
	Small Paws, Big Needs: Meeting the Demands of Kitten Season 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/0ccfd8d4-3c8f-4f75-82b7-d5783db6132b_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) - The arrival of spring marks the start of kitten season, a time when animal shelters across the country are overwhelmed by an influx of newborn cats. Caring for these vulnerable animals requires an immense amount of resources, often stretching local organizations to their breaking point.Expert rescuers are highlighting the critical need for community support and large-scale donation efforts to provide essential supplies like food and litter. By securing these fundamentals, shelters can focus their funding on specialized medical care and life-saving programs. Supporting these initiatives or opening your home to a foster kitten are vital steps in ensuring every animal gets a chance at a healthy future.To learn more, visit CatsPride.com.
	Long weekend ahead? How to plan a last-minute road trip (BPT) - If you're looking forward to having an extra day or two off work, why not make the most of it? Even without the opportunity to do a lot of planning ahead of time, you can have a blast by going on an exciting excursion that's not too far from home.Here are some tips to help you enjoy a fun road trip during your next long weekend.Keep it short and sweetInstead of making your road trip fill your entire weekend, you could consider taking just a day trip or an overnight stay at a location not too far afield, so you'll also have time to work on your yard or just relax at home for a day or so after your adventure.A brief but enjoyable change of scenery may be just what you need to put things in perspective – and create fun new memories with your family, friends or that special someone.Play tourist in your own stateFirst, identify a couple of attractions you'd like to visit that are within an hour or two (or three!) of your home base.Try an online search like: "Tourist attractions within two hours of my hometown," "State or national parks in my state," and/or "Festivals and events near me during the weekend of …" to find a few options that you've never experienced before. You can even narrow your search to suit your specific preferences by adding phrases like "outdoor recreation," "cultural events" or "food festivals."Then do a little research about the hours your chosen attractions or events will be open, any fees you'll need to cover, plus nearby amenities you can combine with your trip, such as restaurants, recreation areas or scenic spots.Pro tip: To avoid big crowds or lines, opt for less popular or touristy events and venues, or plan your visit outside peak times.Be flexible about where to stayWhile you may be able to find last-minute openings at convenient hotels or motels by searching your preferred travel sites online, if they're already fully booked you may need to widen your search to check out vacation rentals like AirBnB, Vrbo or Whimstay – or even camping opportunities in the area, if you enjoy sleeping under the stars. Being willing to travel off the beaten path may also open up more opportunities for places to stay.Pack wiselyInclude a few layers of clothes so you'll be ready for any kind of weather (no matter what the forecast says), such as extra jackets or rain ponchos, as well as necessary toiletries including sunscreen and bug spray, and of course your favorite road trip playlist!Make sure to prep plenty of car-friendly snacks and drinks, including reusable water bottles, trail mix, fruit and sandwiches so you don't have to spend too much money en route – or time searching for restaurants while you're on the road. A small portable cooler can help you keep drinks and food items cold during your journey.Make sure your car is up to the tripIf you haven't had any car maintenance done recently, be sure to check that your tires, brakes, oil and battery are all in good shape before you head out. Also ensuring that your trunk is packed with safety items like jumper cables, a jack and spare tire, plus a first aid kit, will go a long way toward having peace of mind on the road, even if nothing goes wrong. Keeping your phone charged and having a current membership to a roadside assistance service are also good safety measures.Wherever you're headed during your long weekend, remember to relax, have fun and take lots of pictures! Your next great vacation could be right around the corner.
	The states with the highest divorce rates, and what the numbers actually mean The states with the highest divorce rates, and what the numbers actually meanDivorce rates in the U.S. have hit a historic low, but the geography of who is splitting up, and why, tells a more complicated story. Nevada has held the top spot in American divorce statistics for decades. According to the most recent data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System, Nevada's divorce rate was 3.8 per 1,000 residents in 2023, which is the highest of any state with complete reporting. Wyoming and Oklahoma followed closely, with rates of 3.4 and 3.3 per 1,000, respectively.Where a state lands on the list says as much about its laws, economy, and marriage culture as it does about the durability of its relationships.Skillern Firm, a divorce and child custody law firm, examined state-level divorce data, the factors that drive geographic variation, and what the statistics reveal (and don’t) about American marriages.A Map Divided: South High, Northeast LowIf you look at the CDC's state-by-state divorce data, a clear geographic pattern emerges. The South and Mountain West are consistently ranked at the top, while the Northeast trends toward the bottom.Illinois, Massachusetts, and Iowa posted some of the lowest crude divorce rates in 2023, with Illinois at 1.2, Massachusetts at 1.8, and Iowa at 1.9 per 1,000 residents. Meanwhile, states like Oklahoma (3.3), Idaho (3.4), and Wyoming (3.4) are near the top of the list, alongside Nevada. Courtesy of Skillern Firm The Nevada OutlierNevada's place at the top of the list comes with a significant asterisk. The state's accommodating marriage laws give it a marriage rate more than twice that of any other state, driven largely by Las Vegas, where couples can legally marry with minimal paperwork at any hour of the day or night. Just as Nevada makes it easy to marry, it also offers relatively streamlined divorce procedures. A divorce can often be finalized within 10 days under certain circumstances, and only six weeks of residency is required to file.The result is a statistical picture that does not reflect the rest of the country. With so many marriages occurring in Nevada, particularly spontaneous or tourism-related ones, the raw divorce count is pulled upward by a larger-than-average married population, even though most out-of-state couples who marry there would divorce in their home state. The percentage of Nevada marriages actually ending in divorce is likely closer to the national average than the raw rate suggests.What Actually Drives Divorce RatesResearchers have identified several recurring factors that help explain why some states trend high, and others trend low, including:Age at first marriage: Studies have historically shown a connection between younger ages at the time of marriage and higher divorce rates.Education levels: Studies conducted by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research indicated that higher education correlates with delayed marriage and more developed communication skills, both of which contribute to marital stability.Income and financial stress: Research shows a clear relationship between financial stability and marital outcomes. Generally, the higher the income, the lower the divorce percentage. Half of the states with the lowest median incomes are among the top ten with the highest divorce rates.The National Trend Is DownwardZooming out from state-level data, the broader picture is one of sustained decline. The divorce rate in the U.S. hit its peak around 1980, with 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women. Since then, it has fallen to 14.4 per 1,000 married women as of 2023. Only 1.4% of married adults got divorced in 2023, which was a historic low.One notable exception to the declining trend is gray divorce, meaning splits among adults 50 and older. The Pew Research Center report indicates that this rate rose sharply from 1990 to 2008 and has leveled off at roughly 10.3 divorces per 1,000 married women in that age group as of 2023. This is substantially above the rate for younger adults.The ‘Half of All Marriages’ MythPerhaps no divorce statistic is more persistent or more misleading than the claim that half of all marriages end in divorce. The CDC's own data shows the U.S. divorce rate has decreased from 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 2.4 per 1,000 in 2023, and researchers have consistently noted that the 50% figure is unverified and misleading.The confusion stems largely from a flawed methodology involving dividing the annual number of divorces by the annual number of marriages. This produces a ratio that ignores the actual stock of existing marriages. It's like dividing a city's deaths by its births and concluding most people die in the year they're born.What the Numbers Don't CaptureState divorce statistics reflect filings, not full experiences. They do not account for separations that never become legal divorces, for cohabiting couples who split without appearing in any dataset, or for the emotional and financial complexity that follows a marriage's end, such as custody arrangements, asset division, or housing instability.Families continue to face those realities across the U.S. The data may show rates declining nationally, but for the people inside those statistics, the numbers are personal.The geography of divorce in America reflects broader social and economic divides involving who marries, when they marry, and what resources they have to sustain a partnership. The states with the highest rates are not necessarily home to the most unhappy couples. They are often home to the youngest ones, the most economically stressed ones, and in Nevada's case, the most impulsive ones.This story was produced by Skillern Firm and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Quad City Arts continues Visiting Artists Series with Ballet Folklorico de Rio Grande Local and international talent will be on display as tickets are on sale for an exciting community collaboration featuring the renowned Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande, who will visit the region with Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series, a news release says. As a part of their residency, BFRG will perform a concert in collaboration with the [...]
	NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley names new director of development Brooke Hendrickx has been named as the new Director of Development at NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley.
	3 ways to honor America's heroes this Memorial May (BPT) - Military, veterans, first responders and their families make sacrifices every day for their country. They protect and serve millions of Americans they may never meet, carrying a heavy burden on their behalf.To honor their service and legacy, Carry The Load — a nonprofit that unites Americans to honor the sacrifices made by these heroes and their loved ones — invites everyone to participate in Memorial May. This monthlong movement is a call to action, inviting communities nationwide to step forward, get involved and carry the load for those who carried us.The cost they carryThe cost of service is heavy, and it doesn't end when the uniform comes off. Military, police, firefighters and other first responders carry the weight of service every day, and so do their families."Most people will never experience the trauma, loss and life-or-death decision-making these heroes face head-on while serving or the numerous challenges that follow them long after they've returned home," said Stephen Holley, CEO of Carry The Load and former U.S. Navy SEAL. "And for those heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice, their families live with the weight of that sacrifice for the rest of their lives."Two of the most common struggles these heroes face are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide. Veterans and first responders have some of the highest mental-health risks in the U.S. In fact, one in three first responders develops PTSD at some point in their career, and the suicide rate among veterans is twice that of the general U.S. adult population.While these heroes' burdens may last a lifetime, they don't have to bear this burden alone. This May, you have the opportunity to show military, first responders and their families how much their sacrifice means to you. Here are a few ways you can honor those who have given so much.Participate in a community event Join your community in a Memorial May community event. Across the nation, Carry The Load will host over 75 community events featuring inspirational speakers, a community walk of remembrance and connection, and post-walk neighborhood hangouts with food and refreshments. Join more than 50,000 participants at these events as they gather to honor and support our nation's heroes.Find a community event near you here.Share a memory of a fallen heroFor those heroes who willingly gave their lives to protect their country, there's a simple yet meaningful way to honor their sacrifice: Tell their stories. There are many ways you can share their memory, but one you can do right now is to visit Carry The Load's Tribute Wall. There, you can create a virtual storyboard that details a hero's life, service and sacrifice. When you share these stories — whether in person or online — you ensure that no one is ever forgotten.Donate to a trusted organization You can make a meaningful impact on the lives of heroes and their families by donating to a trusted organization that supports those who serve. For example, when you support the work of Carry The Load, you're helping provide scholarships and critical services such as counseling, suicide-prevention initiatives, adaptive training, nontraditional therapies, service-dog programs and career placement resources.These are just a few ways that you can show military, veterans, first responders and their loved ones your appreciation and your desire to help carry the load. To learn more ways you can help, make a donation or participate in an upcoming event near you this Memorial May, visit CarryTheLoad.org.
	More than 100 unclaimed Iowans laid to rest in Des Moines Dozens gathered to carry urns carrying the remains of teachers, soldiers, doctors and more
	Can you get a hardship loan with bad credit? Can you get a hardship loan with bad credit?Yes, there are hardship loans for people with bad credit. Many lenders and loan types rely more on factors other than your credit score, including whether you can offer collateral, how much money you need, and whether you have a stable income.The best way to find out your options is to start asking questions. Find out what loans might work best for you, then check lenders’ rates. Don’t submit a full application during your research phase, though. If a lender does a hard inquiry on your credit, that could drop your score temporarily, and you might not have credit score points to spare right now.If you can’t find any bad credit loan options that work, it might be worth looking into debt relief programs, such as credit counseling or debt settlement. In this article, Freedom Debt Relief breaks down the types of hardship loans available to borrowers with bad credit and what to consider before applying.Key Takeaways:Borrowers with credit scores around 580-620 can apply for hardship loans for bad credit, depending on the lender and loan type.Hardship loans include personal loans, home equity financing, and peer-to-peer loans.Qualifying may be harder with poor credit, but adding collateral, a cosigner, or proof of stable income might improve your approval chances.Debt settlement is another option if you can’t secure a hardship loan but want to reduce debt and rebuild your finances.Why Get a Hardship Loan?Life can be full of surprises that cost a lot, even with the best of plans. Things like sudden medical bills, losing a job, or natural disasters can be tough and make us feel out of control. When hard times come, one option is to borrow money to help you weather the storm. But borrowing can be difficult and expensive when you have credit score damage. It can be hard to figure out your best option.Let’s look at the types of loans you might consider when you're going through a tough time. These are sometimes called “hardship loans.”What Is a Hardship Loan?A hardship loan is a loan designed to provide fast financial relief when you’re facing tough times like job loss, big medical expenses, or natural disasters. Often, a hardship loan comes with flexible terms, such as deferred payments or lower interest rates. That way, you can better manage essential living expenses and keep a roof over your head and food on the table without stressing out about paying back the loan right away.Hardship loans can come in the form of financing, like a personal loan or home equity loan, and can serve as a much-needed financial lifeline when life throws you a curveball.How do you qualify for a hardship loan?To qualify for a hardship loan, you need to show that you are in financial trouble. You also need to show you can repay the loan once your situation improves.While the specific criteria vary by lender, here are the most common requirements:Proof of hardship: You may need to provide documentation and evidence of your financial struggles. The exact types of documentation depend on the hardship and could include a layoff notice, insurance or medical bills, invoices from a funeral home, bank statements, escrow payments, or denial of unemployment. They should show how your income or expenses have been negatively impacted.Credit history: A low credit score doesn’t automatically disqualify you. The minimum credit score depends on the type of hardship loan and the lender. Generally, for a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC), most lenders want to see a minimum credit score of 620 to 660. Some may require a score of at least 680. The minimum credit score for an unsecured personal loan is typically around 580.Income verification: Once your finances stabilize, you'll likely need to prove you have the means to pay back the loan. This could be through current income, a new job, or another revenue stream.Collateral: With a secured hardship loan—like a home equity loan or secured personal loan—you might need to back up the loan with an asset such as your home or car. These assets serve as collateral, which is a financial safety net for the lender. The downside of a secured hardship loan is that you're betting the asset. If you can’t keep up with payments, you risk losing your collateral.To qualify, be honest about your hardship. Show that, with temporary support, you can get back on your feet. Every lender has its own criteria and process, so do your homework to find the right fit for your needs.Hardship Personal LoansHardship loans are typically personal loans. You borrow a lump sum, usually with a fixed interest rate, that you pay back over an agreed period in equal monthly installments. The advantage of a personal loan over credit cards for a hardship or emergency is that a loan usually has a firm payoff date and a lower fixed-interest rate. Rates for credit card debt tend to be much higher. Also, credit card rates can change.There are two types of hardship personal loans. The first is an unsecured personal loan. The lender decides how much you can borrow by evaluating your financial status and credit score. Another term for an unsecured personal loan is “signature loan,” meaning your signature on the application is all that’s required. You don’t have to own anything valuable to borrow against.The second type is a secured personal loan. You must pledge collateral for this financing. You offer something valuable to the lender that they can take if you don’t repay the loan. Depending on what the lender allows, you might borrow against a savings or investment account, jewelry, collectibles, a life insurance policy, or something else. The collateral reduces the risk for the lender. In turn, it could be easier to qualify for a lower interest rate, a larger borrowing limit, and/or a longer term (compared to an unsecured personal loan). But you could lose your collateral if you default on the loan.Hardship Loan Variations and AlternativesYou may also qualify for other types of loans if you’re facing a temporary hardship. Here are a few possibilities.Home equity loanHome equity loans are a way to borrow against your home equity (the difference between your home’s value and the amount you owe on your mortgage). Home equity loans are installment loans. You borrow a lump sum and pay it back over time in equal monthly payments. These payments usually have a fixed interest rate, which means that the rate won't change over the life of the loan.A home equity loan is a type of mortgage, meaning your property is used as collateral. If you don't repay the loan as agreed, you could lose the home.Home equity line of credit (HELOC)A HELOC is a line of credit against your home equity. Like a home equity loan, it’s a mortgage against your home.Instead of getting a lump sum upfront, with a HELOC, you get the option to borrow, repay, and borrow more as needed, up to your credit limit for several years. You pay interest on the amount you borrow. HELOCs typically have variable interest rates, so the interest rate could change over time.With a HELOC, there’s a draw period and a repayment period. During the draw period, you can borrow, repay, and borrow again. When that time ends, you enter the repayment period and can’t borrow more.Peer-to-peer loanPeer-to-peer (P2P) lending is a system through which people pool their money to make loans. Sometimes you can qualify for a P2P loan even if traditional lenders turn you down. P2P lending platforms use automated systems and algorithms to evaluate borrowers' creditworthiness, set loan terms, and determine interest rates. P2P loans are typically unsecured, meaning they don't require collateral.401(k) hardship withdrawalYou may be able to withdraw money from your 401(k) plan if you have an immediate and heavy need. Some situations automatically qualify, such as medical expenses for you, your spouse, or your dependent, or costs you incur to prevent eviction or foreclosure. Check the IRS website for more info.Most retirement accounts let you start taking money out penalty-free at age 59 and a half. If you take out money before that age, including for a hardship, you could be hit with a 10% penalty, and must pay income tax on the amount you withdraw. A hardship withdrawal is not a loan. You can’t pay it back, so you lose the benefit of growth over time on that money.Options to AvoidGive these borrowing options a miss.Payday loanA payday loan is a short-term, high-cost loan meant to be repaid on your next payday. Payday loans are often for smaller amounts, usually $500 or less. When you take out a payday loan, you may have to authorize the lender to automatically take the money out of your bank account when the loan is due. If you can’t pay it back, you have to renew the loan and pay more loan fees.Payday borrowers renew their loans an average of eight times before finally clearing the debt. Payday loans are very expensive, with an APR of 400%-1,000%. In comparison, a high credit card interest rate is around 36%, and personal loan rates typically range from 8% to 36%.If you’re having a financial crisis, a payday loan is more likely to make it worse than better. Payday loans are considered predatory, meaning the terms are abusive to the borrower.Title loanTitle loans are short-term loans that use your vehicle as collateral. In some states, title loan APRs are capped at 36%. In that case, a title loan is comparable to a credit card. In other states, the APR is often around 400%. Rates that high are considered abusive to borrowers.The problem with title loans is that if your financial issues don’t get resolved, you could lose your car, which could make it harder to get to work. Most lenders require that you own your vehicle outright to get a title loan, and they hold onto the title until the debt is satisfied. You typically have to provide a duplicate set of keys and sign something authorizing the lender to take possession of your car if you default on the loan. The lender may install a GPS tracking device on your vehicle.Debt Relief If You Can’t Get a LoanGetting relief from your current debts could free up cash in your budget. That could make it easier to pay for necessary expenses and stay caught up on your other bills. Here are a few ways to get debt relief.Debt settlementDebt settlement means negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full amount you owe. They consider it payment in full and forgive the rest. They might be willing to do this if you’re experiencing hardship. It costs a lot to sue people for debts, and creditors know that negotiating may produce a better financial outcome for them.You can settle debts yourself, or hire a professional debt settlement company to help you. If you work with professionals, you pay a fee for each debt they settle.Deferment or forbearanceSome creditors offer hardship programs in the form of temporary payment relief. The pause could last anywhere from a month to a couple of years. Some lenders continue to charge interest, and some don’t. Deferred payments aren't forgiven. They are added to your loan balance. Some lenders require that you get caught up by a certain deadline (which could be a hardship in itself). Contact your creditors, explain your situation, and find out the details of any hardship programs they offer.Debt management planA debt management plan is a repayment plan administered by a nonprofit credit counseling agency. It’s designed to fully repay your unsecured debts in three to five years. You make monthly payments to an account you give the credit counseling agency access to so they can distribute the money to your creditors. Debts that can be managed through a debt management plan (DMP) usually include unsecured debts such as credit card debt or medical bills.When you enroll in a DMP, creditors may agree to reduce or remove certain fees and lower your interest rate to help make the debt more affordable. Even so, if you have a lot of credit card debt, the monthly payments can be high.DMPs are a good option to consider if you can afford to fully repay your debts, but need help getting a handle on your finances.Choosing a Path ForwardFinancial hardships happen to everyone, and the best path forward depends on your unique circumstances. Take a breath and take your time as you research your options. It might help to make a spreadsheet for clear comparisons.Consider the near- and long-term future, including the possibility that you may earn more and get out of debt sooner than expected. Talk to a financial professional or two, and remember that you’re not alone: Many Americans face hardship, but find options for getting back on their feet financially.This story was produced by Freedom Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New Vietnamese restaurant, fine dining restaurant opens, two new bars, and more Quad-Cities business news New Vietnamese restaurant, new coffee shops, Maldon Kitchen + Bar opens, Riley's Sports Haus, Wallace's Garden Center, among other Quad-Cities business news.
	China blocks Meta from acquiring AI startup Manus Meta said Monday that the transaction "complied fully with applicable law" and that it anticipates "an appropriate resolution to the inquiry."
	RICCAC establishes an endowment fund at Moline Regional Community Foundation RICCAC serves children under the age of 18 who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse.
	How writing by hand can reawaken focus and creativity (BPT) - Can you remember the last time you undertook a creative activity or project? If it's been a while, don't blame yourself. You might be tempted to attribute it to a lack of motivation, but — more likely than not — you're feeling foggy, drained and uninspired because of digital overload.The seemingly endless stream of notifications, emails and updates can make it difficult for your brain to turn off and rest, leading to mental fatigue. This fatigue can be the real culprit that keeps you from performing the hobbies that once brought you joy.The good news? There's a simple way to help clear the mental fog. Take a step away from the screens and engage in a restorative, analog act: Writing with pen and paper.Writing by hand can help ground you, encourage you to think more creatively and empower you to act on your ideas. It's the perfect way to start an energy reset and intentionally form a new habit that can feed your creativity.Get started with these simple yet engaging practices to spark your energy and create momentum.Ease your brain into writing with a ritualDo you find it difficult to launch straight into a relaxing or creative project when you've just finished work for the day? It's not your fault. Your brain needs help transitioning from one task to another, especially when they're completely different types of activities. Thankfully, you can cue your brain to switch from work mode into creative mode with simple rituals that reduce the mental friction of getting started.Create an environment that allows you to relax and leave the worries of the day behind. Turn on soft lighting, put on a curated playlist, pour a fresh cup of tea or coffee and grab a notebook that makes you feel excited to put pen to paper. It's an easy way to train your brain to reset, so you can focus and tap into your thoughts, feelings and creative ideas.Boost your mood with intentional color choicesColor is more than just an aesthetic choice. It has the power to shift your mood, energy and mindset, and — ultimately — fuel your creativity.This isn't speculation; it's color science. Many studies have shown that different colors can evoke different emotions and stimulate different cognitive functions. For example, blues can create a sense of calm and focus, yellows can inspire optimism and creativity, and reds can stimulate energy and action. That means that the color you choose can help you tap into the mood-boosting and focus-enhancing effects of that hue.Activate your energy while writing by choosing sun-kissed shades like reds, oranges and yellows to fuel your vitality, motivation and ideas. A tool like the G2 Boost Energy Pack can help integrate color science into your life by giving you the power to supercharge your energy and attitude for creative ventures.This intentionally curated energy toolkit is thoughtfully designed to support your mood and creativity. The pack features shades of red to stimulate alertness and action, orange to encourage enthusiasm and yellow to spark optimism and idea generation. By incorporating this curated set of pens into your writing ritual, you have the tools to enhance the energy and momentum of your day.Feeling overwhelmed? Take your thoughts outdoorsIn a world where stimulation is everywhere, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and distracted. Instead of trying to fight through the mental fatigue, try writing outdoors to restore your attention, mental clarity and creativity.Connecting with nature has a grounding effect on your body and mind. In fact, studies have shown just 20 minutes in nature can significantly lower your stress hormone levels.Take a walk in the park or nature preserve with a notebook and pen in a meaningful color and find a quiet spot. Take a moment to revel in the rejuvenating power of fresh air, sunshine and the feel of grass underneath your feet. Start by listing what you see, then write down how each item from that list makes you feel. You'll quickly find that pairing nature with writing by hand can be the perfect remedy for mental overload.Surprise the group chat with lettersWriting letters by hand forces you to slow down and think deeply about your loved one, cultivating a deeper connection. Instead of relying solely on digital communication to keep up with friends and family near and far, try to reconnect by sending handwritten letters.Digital communication is convenient, but it can also be impersonal and fleeting. However, when you write and send a letter, you can show the recipient that you care for them in a lasting, tangible way. Your friend or loved one will have a lasting memento that they can hold and reread again and again.Choose stationary or notecards that feel special — whether through inviting colors such as blue that can promote productivity or green that signal a calm and balanced tone — or playful details to help you look forward to letter writing. Select vibrant pen colors like those from the G2 Boost Collection to reflect or enhance the emotional impact of your words.Capture inspiration without digital distractionsHave you ever had a brilliant idea that you attempted to save to your notes app, but got distracted by notifications before you could capture it? Don't let your ideas fly away. Stay in the moment and capture your ideas quickly on paper.Whether you're at your desk, in the kitchen or out running errands, keep a notebook or notepad nearby. Not only will you be able to quickly record your ideas, but the physical act of writing also strengthens your memory pathways so your ideas can stick. When you have time, you can flip through your notebook and let your ideas build creative momentum.Build creative moments and energy with intentionThink of creativity and energy as muscles you can activate and strengthen with intentional practices like writing by hand. While it may be challenging at first, tailoring your environment and routines to prioritize writing can spark ingenuity, sharpen your focus and drive your desire to create.To explore more energizing tools to support your writing and cultivate creative ideas, visit PowerToThePen.com.
	How to teach kids the value of money when they can’t see it (BPT) - Learning about money was once a hands-on experience. Kids counted coins, put dollar bills in a wallet and dropped spare change in a piggy bank. Saving, spending and budgeting were tangible, making those lessons easier to understand.Today, money matters are much different. Purchases happen with a tap, a swipe or an online checkout, and few physical reminders indicate that money is being spent. For kids, it can be difficult to understand where money goes, how quickly it adds up and why small decisions matter.Fortunately, financial literacy basics haven't changed. Kids still need to learn how to save, spend wisely and make thoughtful decisions. Parents may just need to rethink how they teach those lessons, and the following tips can help.Help kids see where the money goes.If money feels invisible, parents can find ways to make it more visible. That can be as simple as sitting down together and looking at a balance, reviewing a recent purchase or checking progress toward a savings goal. When kids see what comes in, goes out and remains, they can connect spending decisions with outcomes.Everyday banking tools can serve as practical learning tools. For example, ICCU youth accounts have free automatic parent transfers, alerts and transaction history, which can support family discussions about saving and spending in real-time.Use everyday money moments to talk about choices.Financial lessons don't need to be formal or delivered all at once. Often, the best lessons happen in the middle of ordinary moments. If a child asks for a treat at the grocery store, wants to buy something online or wonders why a purchase was postponed, parents can use these types of natural openings to talk about money and choices.Conversations may address distinguishing between needs and wants, deciding if one purchase matters more than another, or weighing whether spending money now means waiting longer for something else. Such discussions can help children understand trade-offs, priorities and planning ahead.Give children opportunities to practice with guidance.Kids learn a lot by doing. Once equipped with a basic understanding of saving and spending, it can be helpful to give them opportunities to practice managing money with some oversight.They may want to set aside money they receive as gifts and watch their savings grow. Or, they may consider where to spend their savings and how much. The amount doesn't need to be large to be meaningful. Kids simply need a chance to ask questions, make decisions and learn.As children grow, conversations about money may shift toward earning. Kids can be encouraged to do chores or find jobs around the neighborhood, such as pet-sitting or yardwork, to earn extra money for their expenses. Parents can check in regularly and keep talking through choices as they come up.Talk about safely managing money.Teaching kids about money involves addressing how to handle digital tools safely for their protection. As they get older, they may use conveniences like a debit card, digital payments or online banking.Parents should cover keeping personal information private, paying attention to account activity, and asking questions and speaking up when something seems off. Tools and protections such as zero liability protection, which is often offered through card networks, can be part of a safety net, but kids should learn responsible habits from the start. Understanding how to use money and how to protect it can put them on a stronger financial path.Managing money may look different than it once did, but one thing remains the same: When kids gain a strong understanding of how money works and how to make smart choices early, they are better prepared to build strong habits for a lifetime.
	Survey: Pennsylvanians’ dissatisfaction with healthcare in the commonwealth on the rise Gabriel Drapper, who currently doesn't have health insurance, has his pulse and blood pressure checked at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) mobile dental and medical clinic at Terre Haute South High School on August 02, 2025 in Terre Haute, Indiana (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)A new survey shows Pennsylvanians are expressing more dissatisfaction with the quality of healthcare in the commonwealth than any year since 2019, when the question was first added to the poll. While 50% of respondents rated healthcare in the state good or excellent, 45% said it was fair or poor. The findings are part of an annual survey conducted by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion and Muhlenberg College Public Health program. Five-hundred adult residents of Pennsylvania were surveyed between March 10 and March 17, with responses weighted by gender, age, race and educational attainment to reflect the population of the state in 2026. Asked about the greatest threat to public health in the state, 21% of respondents said access or cost. It was the most common answer aside from “not sure,” also at 21%. The second most common response, at 9% of those surveyed, was President Donald Trump, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Republicans. Eight percent cited infrastructure or access to hospitals and doctors. Another 7% cited politics or recent policy shifts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Just over one in four people surveyed said they or someone in their household struggled to access care in the last year due to cost. The survey documented several other notable changes in public opinion in the most recent year. A record number of respondents said they either strongly or somewhat agreed with the unsubstantiated claim children can get autism from vaccines. The theory has been popularized by Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic for years, but debunked by multiple studies and refuted by key medical groups like the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Autism Science Foundation. The number of respondents who somewhat or strongly agreed to the claim about vaccines and autism, 37%, was the highest recorded in the survey’s 14-year history. It represents a sharp 25 point jump from five years earlier. In 2021, 11% of respondents somewhat or strongly agreed. Forty-four percent identified politics as a “major source” of stress in their lives, a sharp jump from the 32% or respondents that said the same in 2025. The number of respondents who see climate change as a crisis has also grown to a record 44%, though responses were partisan. Sixty-six percent of Democrats and 57% of independents said climate change was a crisis. Only 12% of Republicans said the same. The survey also found nearly twice as many adult Pennsylvanians (47%) support the legalization of cannabis as oppose it (25%). Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Tuscaloosa women’s clinic expands amid ongoing state health challenges The WAWC Healthcare clinic as seen on April 25, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ahead of the grand reopening ceremony. The clinic outgrew its old location on Jack Warner Parkway even after it could no longer provide abortions. (Courtesy of Robin Marty)Before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the West Alabama Women’s Center saw 250 patients per month, almost all of which were abortions. The clinic opened a new location Saturday with expanded services after rebranding as WAWC Healthcare in 2024. Even after the clinic could no longer provide abortions, it saw almost as many patients. Executive Director Robin Marty said in an interview Friday morning that the clinic needed more space, and an Actions for Women’s Healthcare grant made that possible. “That allowed us to use our resources to be able to purchase an amazing new clinic that is now four times the size of our current footprint over at Jack Warner, just the bottom floor, which is where the patient care and the mental health wing that we have developed,” Marty said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The expansion comes as Alabama continues to struggle with delivering healthcare, particularly to women and rural communities. According to the American Cancer Society, women in Alabama face the fourth highest incidence rate for developing cervical cancer in the United States, with Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi having higher rates. In 2021, there were 56.9 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Nationwide, the there were 32.9 deaths per 100,000 births in the same year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the University of North Carolina’s Sheps Center, nine rural hospitals have closed in Alabama since 2009. Only 30% of the state’s rural hospitals have labor and delivery units, leaving many expectant parents to drive long distances for care. “There’s a lot of talk about mobile centers, tele-med and how to expand that, but the reality is that you can’t have care without community,” Marty said. “You can’t just come helicopter in and make this work.” The clinic saw 243 patients last month, Marty said, but those appointments look very different than before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Then, appointments were short. Now, she said, the community-focused model leads to longer appointments and more health education. “What good is it to give somebody healthcare if you’re not hitting every single piece of what they need? You are just pushing a problem down the road,” Marty said. The new clinic, on Palisades Court in Tuscaloosa, about five miles from the old clinic, is three stories high and includes a mental health wing, birthing suites and a dedicated community space. Tamela Hughes, director of mental health and program innovation, said the mental health wing will serve as a way to destigmatize mental health services. “It’s showing people that mental health isn’t this scary thing. It can be, if it’s not addressed, but it doesn’t have to be this scary moment where you feel like you’re being judged,” Hughes said. Marty said that the new clinic is not only expanding services, but it is making rural healthcare community focused. “The reason we are doing this is because we know that community responds medically best to other people in their community,” she said. “The way to fix our healthcare system isn’t just to pipe in new doctors or make sure that there’s tele-med that can be answered from the city. It’s to get people on the ground and build them from high school all the way up with this type of non-stigmatized patient-centered evidence-based healthcare.” She criticized rural health funding from the federal government for pouring money into existing hospitals and creating mobile health units. Alabama is receiving $203 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program, divided between 10 initiatives for fiscal year 2026, most of which will be spent on workforce. An 11th initiative, community healthcare, will not receive funding until the third year of the program. According to a brief from KFF, a national health policy research organization, the fund could partially offset just over a third (37%) of the estimated federal Medicaid spending cuts in rural areas, which are projected to be $137 billion over ten years. Dr. Keri Chaney, one of WAWC’s providers, is from west Alabama and returned there after graduating from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “My background is women’s health and my desire was to be in a community based clinic,” Chaney said. The expansion in Tuscaloosa is part of a broader growth in WAWC’s services. The organization opened a part-time clinic in Birmingham in January. It also plans to open a clinic in Sumter County, near the Mississippi border, and another between Tuscaloosa and Mississippi, Marty said. “You have to be able to get to know the community, build trust with the community, and that comes in many cases by just reducing as many barriers as possible for even the start of that care,” she said. “So if we can provide more care that is actually coming to a person so that they can establish this regular relationship with a doctor, with a medical provider, and make sure that that relationship grows from its natural start. That’s how you are going to get people to engage in care.” Marty said that the WAWC that exists today was always the goal when the Yellowhammer Fund bought it in 2020, but the demand for abortion was too high. “I’d like to think that we could have had legal abortion and this, because that’s what people really deserve,” Marty said. “But if we had to lose abortion, I’m so glad that we had this to evolve into.” Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Ascentra Credit Union donates $20,000 to first Quad City Back the Blue Flight Quad City Back the Blue Flight’s mission is to support and honor law enforcement officers across the Quad-Cities.
	Iran's flurry of diplomacy, as Trump insists U.S. has 'the cards' Iran's foreign minister arrived in Russia on Monday, after a whirlwind weekend of diplomacy, seeking to gain political leverage and foreign backing as peace talks with the U.S. remain on hold.
	Iran's flurry of diplomacy continues in Russia, as Trump insists U.S. has 'the cards' Iran's foreign minister arrived in Russia on Monday, after a whirlwind weekend of diplomacy, seeking to gain political leverage and foreign backing as peace talks with the U.S. remain on hold.
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for April 26, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	Severe weather possible this morning and more likely this afternoon Two waves of strong to severe storms are likely across the Quad Cities area today. One will be this morning with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain and the other this afternoon and evening with possible tornadoes. More rain is possible later this week. After a warm day today, it turns cooler for the [...]
	EICC names Michael Beane as new vice chancellor of student services He has been the dean of student development for the past six years.
	Rural Hoosiers lean on the law to fight drones Indiana lawmakers this year passed a bill attempting to limit unauthorized drone use over farms. (Getty Images)Hoosiers in rural Indiana say drones are unlawfully tracking deer for poachers, inexplicably flying around chicken coops and increasingly just making people uneasy. The temptation for some is to simply shoot down the pesky contraptions. But, after consulting with law enforcement, many have learned that isn’t a legal option. So they’ve found other ways to combat the rascals. Neighbors tired of seeing a drone follow a legendary and massive white-tail buck in southeastern Indiana reported the matter to Indiana conservation officers. An investigation led to charges against two men in what authorities believe may be the first prosecution under Indiana’s law banning the use of drones to track and hunt wildlife. In northeastern Indiana, farmers fearful that drones might be spreading disease among livestock recently persuaded the Indiana General Assembly to pass a law that prohibits the devices from being used to harm or harass farm animals. “Something has to move the ball forward here to be able to defend ourselves in the countryside from these kinds of operations,” Jay County farmer Lenny Muhlenkamp told a legislative committee earlier this year. Unfair hunt? Among hunters, the case that has caused the biggest stir unfolded last fall near Madison, along the Ohio River. For months, some residents saw a drone seemingly tracking a fabled 17-point deer so recognizable and coveted by hunters that they had dubbed it the Nucor Monarch. That’s because the deer frequently bounded across the wooded terrain and open prairie near the Nucor steel fabrication plant. So when the animal was suddenly bagged by hunters on Oct. 2, just one day into the crossbow hunting season, neighbors quickly grew suspicious, authorities said. One witness contacted Indiana conservation officers and reported the animal likely had been taken with the aid of a drone in violation of a state law that seeks to prevent unfair hunts. Investigators say their probe confirmed those concerns. Hunter Eric Pettit (Courtesy photo) According to a probable cause affidavit, officers confiscated videos, photos and flight logs recorded by a suspect’s drone that showed the unmanned aerial aircraft was used to track the deer for weeks. Ultimately, cousins Rodney and Eric Pettit were charged with misdemeanors in the case. Rodney, who owned and operated the drone and killed the deer, was sentenced in February to 60 days probation. His hunting and fishing license also was revoked for a year. Eric, who was accused of assisting Rodney in the hunt, agreed to a pretrial diversion program that will lead to dismissal of the charges if certain conditions are met. Rodney Pettit did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Eric Pettit, a reserve officer for the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, chalked the case up to his cousin being a novice drone user who was unfamiliar with the particulars of the law and to jealous hunters who turned him in because they didn’t bag the prized deer themselves. Conservation officers’ desire to prosecute the first deer-hunting case under the state’s drone law also was a factor, Pettit said. Indiana first banned drone-aided hunting in 2016. It tightened the law in 2024 and also clarified that drones could be used after a kill to help locate and recover a legally taken animal. “There’s the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. (My cousin) broke the letter of the law, one hundred percent. But he did it unknowingly,” Pettit said. “His character is not one that is, you know, a law breaker.” He said that while conservation officers made a big deal of the fact that his cousin flew his drone on the morning of the kill, he noted that it captured no video of the Nucor Monarch on that day. State law, however, prohibits using a drone to track a deer starting 14 days before and throughout hunting season. Authorities said Rodney Pettit used his drone in the areas the deer had been spotted nearly every day in that 14-day leadup. The great irony of the case is that no one really needed a drone to track the deer, Eric Pettit said. It was frequently spotted traveling the same area near U.S. 421, including on his cousin’s property. Motorists and covetous hunters often stopped along the roadside to get a better look. But the deer’s prized antlers won’t adorn any hunter’s wall now. Instead, they were confiscated by authorities and are expected to soon be on display in the Department Natural Resources’ “Turn in Poachers” traveling trailer that helps educate the public about the state’s hunting laws. Indiana conservation officer Josh Thomas, who investigated the Pettit case, said it is the first deer-hunting case to be prosecuted under Indiana’s drone prohibitions and should serve as a warning to others. Indiana conservation officer Josh Thomas (Courtesy photo) He said the law was invoked during earlier investigations. One case involving waterfowl never came to fruition. Another case involved the hunting of coyotes in northern Indiana, but Thomas said he was uncertain of the outcome. “It’s something that’s hard to enforce, it’s hard to detect and then hard to prove,” the conservation officer explained, while expressing certainty that drone-aided hunting is happening with some frequency. Thomas said attention brought to the Pettit case by the hunting community has resulted in 15 drone-related tips in his southeastern Indiana district alone, raising the possibility of more prosecutions. The most troubling aspect of the Pettit case was the level of detail the drone was able to gather about the Nucor Monarch’s movements, Thomas said, essentially turning the hunt into an unfair chase. ““It was unbelievable how much they knew about where that deer was anytime they wanted to,” Thomas said. Farmer protections In northeastern Indiana, concerns from farmers helped drive a new state law aimed at reining in unauthorized drone activity over private property. The legislation, signed earlier this year and set to take effect July 1, expands Indiana’s “remote aerial harassment” law to cover not just people, but also livestock, crops and farm operations. It makes it a crime to operate a drone over someone else’s property with the intent to harass or disturb animals, damage crops or interfere with agricultural activity. Violations are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. The push for the new law came after a wave of reports from farmers who described drones flying over barns, hovering near livestock and, in at least one case, entering a poultry barn. Eric Beer, chief deputy for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, said complaints about drones poured into his office for nearly a month last year and culminated one January evening with many concerned residents, including some from the Amish community, reporting a cluster of eight drones or more buzzing around poultry farms and elsewhere. “We heard from different people throughout our county, both north and south, that there was one drone that was about as large as a small car,” Beer said. At that time, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security issued a news release noting that drones were spotted flying around poultry farms in Adams, Allen, Jay and Jackson counties, where avian flu had been reported. The news release warned that entry by the drones into infected barns could spread the disease and noted that the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration were monitoring the airspace in those areas. When asked April 15 about the January 2025 drone activity, the homeland security department said in a written statement that “reports of unidentified drone sightings were determined to be mostly unfounded, and any drone activity in the area was tied to a legitimate purpose,” such as a local farmer using a drone to spray their crops. Jay County farmer Lenny Muhlenkamp testifies before a legislative committee earlier this year. (Screenshot from livestream) The farmers’ lingering concerns prompted Rep. Kendell Culp, a Rensselaer Republican and vice president of Indiana Farm Bureau, to urge the legislature earlier this year to impose new drone limits. While his House Bill 1064 failed to win approval, some aspects of it were incorporated into House Bill 1249, which addressed various criminal matters and was signed into law by the governor in March. Farmers who testified at a House Courts and Criminal Code Committee meeting in January described a sense of vulnerability and frustration with how little they could do about unwanted drone activity. Barry Miller, a Jay County farmer, told the committee that drones were flying over barns without the operators in sight and causing great anxiety about their intentions. Others raised fears about biosecurity, noting that some of the drone sightings occurred just before outbreaks of avian flu—though no direct connection has been proven. “It’s an inconvenient coincidence that wherever these drones were, that’s where we were also seeing bird flu happen,” said Muhlenkamp, a fellow Jay County farmer. He also recounted an Amish farmer’s claim that a drone sprayed a substance into a barn, leaving a nearby child with respiratory problems for a week. Farm industry groups say the concerns highlight how state law has struggled to keep pace with rapidly evolving drone technology. “The proliferation has outpaced the legal development,” Ryan Hoff, Indiana Farm Bureau’s senior director of government affairs, said during committee testimony. Ryan Hoff, Indiana Farm Bureau’s senior director of government affairs (Courtesy photo) Hoff said in an interview this month that the updated law is meant to clarify that some property rights extend to low-altitude airspace by ensuring that unauthorized drone use — particularly when it threatens livestock or farm operations — can carry legal consequences. At the same time, lawmakers tried to strike a balance by preserving legitimate uses of drones in agriculture, such as crop monitoring and chemical application, so long as those activities are conducted with a landowner’s permission. Even with the changes, officials and industry advocates say the issue is far from settled — and that additional legislation is likely as drones become more common. An uneasy balance For Sandy Rush, the idea of balancing competing interests in rural communities isn’t abstract. As a recently retired employee of the Shelby County Co-op ag service, Rush has seen firsthand how drones are becoming part of modern agriculture — and why farmers rely on them. “They’re good,” she said. “They have their place.” Drones can apply fertilizer when heavy equipment can’t reach muddy fields, monitor crops and help farmers respond quickly to changing conditions. For someone who spent a career around agriculture, those benefits are obvious. But Rush also has also experienced the other side. Last fall, a hunter on nearby property told her he was followed out of the woods by a drone. Then one night, Rush saw one herself — hovering just outside her home near Shelbyville.. She estimates it was only about 50 to 60 feet from the house, close enough to feel like it was watching her through a window. “To me it was obvious that it was watching us,” Rush said. “And that kind of freaks me out.” Rush doesn’t know who was operating the drone or why. But like many rural residents, she also knows there’s little she can legally do to stop them. Drones are largely regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which controls the airspace and allows the devices to fly over people’s homes. If the drones are being used in the commission of a crime, the operators can be prosecuted. But gathering enough evidence to prove invasion of privacy can be tricky, authorities acknowledge. “You’d really like to just go out and shoot the darn thing,” Rush said, while recognizing that’s not allowed. For her, the answer isn’t banning drones. It’s finding a way to draw clearer lines about what’s allowed and what isn’t and protecting privacy when possible. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	Minnesota’s long-predicted data center boom is on shaky ground Protest signs stand in a front yard near the land earmarked for a large data center campus in Hermantown, Minnesota, just outside of Duluth, is shown Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)The Nobles County Board rejected a zoning change this month sought by a Bloomington-based developer hoping to build a big computing facility near Worthington in southwest Minnesota. It’s the latest sign that communities’ increasingly vocal opposition to data centers — in big cities and small towns — is more than just noise. At the national level, the data center debate pits proponents who say the U.S. must do all it can to win an AI arms race with China against skeptics concerned about rising utility bills, environmental damage and widespread white-collar automation. Locally, the debate looks a lot like clashes over other big real estate developments, with pro-business groups touting generational economic development opportunities on one side and residents concerned about noise, traffic, water use, air pollution and secretive dealmaking on the other. Opponents say the larger scale of those potential impacts warrants special scrutiny, however. “There’s a total lack of meaningful process when it comes to these ‘hyperscale’ data centers…it’s a real glaring mismatch,” Sen. Jen McEwen, DFL-Duluth, said in an interview, using the industry term for centralized data centers that can cover hundreds of acres and consume more power than a medium-sized city. The computing hubs Google is planning near Rochester and in Hermantown, near McEwen’s district, would fit that description if they’re fully built out. Such large, resource-intensive facilities have local impacts on par with heavy industry, McEwen said. She’s the lead sponsor of a Senate bill that would freeze data center permitting for about two years to give time for the state to study the industry’s impacts and decide how to regulate it. “For opening a mine, we have a whole series of checks and balances for what we do in order for those permits to be issued and then to open and operate,” she said. Though local officials broadly support the Hermantown and Pine Island projects, several Twin Cities suburbs have tightened zoning rules for data centers or imposed temporary construction bans to allow time to study their impacts. At the Capitol, McEwen’s bill and a bipartisan measure that would prohibit nondisclosure agreements between tech companies and local governments or their representatives are among several that would constrain data center development. The bills take a harder line than compromise legislation Gov. Tim Walz signed last year. It’s unclear which Minnesota proposals, if any, will pass the closely divided Legislature in the closing weeks of a largely unproductive session. The debate risks dividing groups that have historically found a home in the DFL tent, with unionized building trades and the clean energy industry in favor of continued data center development facing off against environmental groups and big-business skeptics. But widespread opposition in Republican-leaning areas like southwest Minnesota and the southern Twin Cities exurbs — local examples of organized pushback against more than 270 projects nationwide — suggest a bipartisan backlash is brewing. In Nobles County, Bloomington-based Geronimo Power — a subsidiary of the Canadian infrastructure giant Brookfield Asset Management as of last year — tried to front-run opponents’ concerns. It revealed itself as the project’s developer early on and eschewed nondisclosure agreements with local officials as it sought zoning approvals. It also put up a website describing the project in more detail than Google has yet revealed about its Minnesota proposals and addressing concerns around energy costs, water usage, traffic, noise, land use and more. In an interview with the Reformer before the board vote, Geronimo Power president and CEO Blake Nixon said his company had nothing to hide. “Transparency is harder because you invite people who range from concerned to negative (on your project)…it slows things down, but you get a better outcome,” he said. That didn’t happen. The Nobles County Board voted 3-2 on April 21 to deny a zoning change the 640-acre project needed to proceed. It’s unclear what the board’s decision means for the project. In a statement to the Reformer after the vote, Nixon said his company had “listened and learned from local leaders and community members in Nobles County” and would consider “alternative options, including some other communities that have expressed interest” in hosting a data center. Dave Serrano, a Worthington-based software architect who supported the project, told the Reformer he was disappointed and a bit confused by the backlash. It’s evidence, he said, that people want to reap the benefits of an increasingly digitized society without encountering the real-world infrastructure behind it. “I thought this was a no-brainer for Nobles County…I learned a lot in the last few weeks,” he said. “In retrospect, it feels like people thought we were building a petroleum refinery there.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Serrano said Geronimo’s 400-megawatt data center would have been a “generational” investment for a part of Minnesota long dependent on agriculture and industrial food processing. By Geronimo’s estimates, the project would have created more than 1,000 construction jobs and at least 85 permanent jobs while seeding a $10 million charitable fund and boosting countywide property tax receipts by $12.8 million annually — a 39% jump from the status quo. The nearby wind, solar and battery energy storage projects Geronimo said would power the data center — and which will move forward even if the computing hub isn’t built, it says — would likely create additional construction jobs and tax revenue across a wider area. Many of those jobs would go to skilled tradespeople: carpenters, pipefitters and especially electricians. “I’ve got more than 400 members on the bench right now and just one of these projects would put the majority of them back to work,” said Kyle O’Neill, political coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 292. O’Neill’s Minneapolis-area local doesn’t cover Nobles County, but a project of that scale would likely pull in labor from across the region. One hyperscale data center requires about four professional sports stadiums’ worth of electrical work, he said. Echoing Serrano, he decried what he called “propaganda” influencing local and state officials’ thinking — especially around the amount of water used to cool chips. Newer data center designs recycle much of their water or use cooling fluids other than water. Promises of job creation or responsible resource use weren’t enough for the Nobles County Board. Nor do they assuage data center skeptics in the legislature, who say the issue comes down to trust. Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, cosponsored the NDA ban and permitting moratorium bills. Her district neighbors a Meta hyperscale facility under construction in Rosemount. She said she doesn’t buy big tech companies’ promises to use water, energy or anything else responsibly. They’ve already walked back ambitious climate goals, she said, so why wouldn’t they renege on data center plans that no longer suit their needs — leaving municipalities and utility ratepayers holding the bag for overbuilt infrastructure? Utilities are generally permitted to spread the cost of infrastructure investments broadly among their customers. It’s increasingly common for data center developers and tech companies to pledge to cover the full cost of the upgrades needed to serve them, however. Google has done so for both its Minnesota data centers. But accurately assessing those costs is difficult in practice, and electricity rates have risen sharply in several states with high concentrations of data centers. The correlation — real or not — sparked a political backlash that propelled Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey to wider-than-expected margins of victory last November. “Whatever a corporation ‘commits’ to means nothing to me because they can back away from those commitments. I don’t trust big tech at all,” Maye Quade said. Experts who study data center development say the local government officials who do most of the heavy lifting on data center permitting — and their constituents — are right to take a ‘trust but verify’ approach. Last month, the American Association for the Advancement of Science put out a set of “key questions” for state and local officials to ask developers and operators. Those questions range from the general, like the data center’s intended use (AI training, data storage, crypto mining, and so on), anticipated noise levels during operation, and whether the developer is willing to enter a community benefits agreement; to the more particular, like its primary power source, cooling configuration and where it expects to draw its water. And because not all proposed data centers get built, utilities and state utility regulators have a parallel role to play in protecting ratepayers, said Kate Stoll, an AAAS project director who helped develop the question set. “Sometimes data centers will make more (grid connection) requests than they ultimately use, so utilities need to weigh those forecasts and decide how much they need to build up,” Stoll said on an April 22 webinar on data center siting. While “certainly ‘no’ is an option,” the people responsible for determining whether data centers get built in their communities have more power to shape the process than they may realize, Lauren Withycombe Keeler, an Arizona State University professor who specializes in sustainable development, said on the webinar. In other words, she said, there’s an opportunity to lean into the building backlash without reflexively denying every proposal. “There are a lot of things communities can do in permitting a data center, in allowing a data center to be in the community, (in directing) the data center…a wide range of (benefits) that communities can pursue instead of just saying no,” Keeler said. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	In the great north, we’ve seen firsthand that we need universal child care Minnesota has some of the most expensive child care in the nation. (Photo by Getty Images)In our northern Minnesota communities, we’re committed to building the infrastructure that we need — schools, health care, roads, businesses and more — so that we can grow and thrive. We may live in smaller communities, but our needs and hopes for the future are the same. But we can’t do any of it without affordable, available child care. In March, we invited state legislators to Thief River Falls and Bemidji to talk about why access to high quality child care is an integral part of a community’s infrastructure, especially in rural Minnesota. Reps. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and Pete Johnson visited Discovery Place Early Learning Center in Thief River Falls, and were then joined by Rep. Jamie Long for a visit to Pine Pals Intergenerational Learning Center in Bemidji and a panel discussion with community members. They heard from a child care provider who struggles to find staff because Walmart and DigiKey — the thriving electronics company — pay much better than she can. They heard from teachers who couldn’t afford to make payments on the student loans they took out to be qualified for their position. They heard from teachers who were turned down for auto loans because they didn’t make enough money at the job they are hoping to drive to everyday. They heard from families who were making impossible choices: where they could live, who could be in the workforce, and how to pay the bills when so much of their income is tied to child care costs. They heard from employers who are increasingly hearing from their workers that access to child care is impacting their ability to accept jobs and continue to work at them. Discovery Place is able to stay open because of investments from local businesses, and Pine Pals benefits from a rent free agreement with GoldPine Home and Sanford Health in Bemidji. These are excellent solutions for these centers, but they aren’t sustainable or scaleable. Without strong, continuous state investment, child care centers and family child care providers will continue to close their doors. High quality child care is expensive for good reason — it’s people-intensive work. At first, the answer seems simple. Why not just increase ratios of teacher to children to increase profits? It’s currently one teacher for every four infants, for instance. Kotyza-Witthuhn, who co-chairs the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee neatly laid out the dilemma: “How many infants can one person carry out of a burning building?” When you consider that scenario, four seems like too many. It’s also people-intensive work because child care centers are open for 11-12 hours a day. That means that at least a teacher and an assistant are required so that those ratios can be maintained, including during teachers’ necessary breaks. So what’s the answer to the child care conundrum, wherein families cannot afford child care, teachers cannot earn living wages, and employers in rural communities cannot attract workers because there isn’t enough child care? We need universal child care that supports both families and providers. For families, tuition would be subsidized by the state to be free or low cost to every family. For providers, we would support teachers’ thriving wages so they can afford to stay in the profession that they love and in the region they want to call home. This is the only solution that ensures that every child across the state gets high quality child care. We don’t treat roads or health care or schools as optional amenities, so why would we treat child care as an afterthought, especially when we can’t have those other necessities without it? Getting to universal child care for every Minnesotan will not be easy, but it is necessary. For folks who live up here in the great north woods, we shouldn’t have to choose between living in a place we love or living in a place where we can find child care. If we want our current businesses to stay, new startups to join them, and people to work in these thriving communities, we need to invest in child care. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	Blain's Farm & Fleet earns spot on Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces for Mental Well-Being 2026 This recognition highlights commitment to associate well-being and a supportive workplace culture.
	Thee Collective upscale cocktail lounge to open in Rock Island New cocktail lounge, Thee Collective, will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, May 1.
	Lawsuit claims Idaho law bans daycares from sending home sick kids. Governor says that’s not true. A protester's sign encouraging no COVID-19-related mandates rests against an end table in the Idaho House's lobby at the Statehouse in Boise, Idaho, on Nov. 15, 2021. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)A Boise daycare and parents are suing Idaho officials over the Idaho Medical Freedom Act, which bans vaccine mandates and requirements for medical treatment in businesses, governments and schools. In the lawsuit, Le Soleil Child Care LLC and three parents who have or want their kids to attend the daycare, argue that the law’s vague language unconstitutionally bans a range of health protections — from innocuous things like handwashing to basic infection control measures like sending home sick kids. The lawsuit’s claims — which Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s legal team rejects — dredge up a heated debate on the bill. In fact, Gov. Brad Little vetoed an earlier version of the bill over similar concerns in schools. “Medical freedom is an Idaho value,” the governor wrote in his March 2025 veto letter. “However, this bill removes parents’ freedom to ensure their children stay healthy at school because it jeopardizes the ability of schools to send home sick students with highly contagious conditions including measles, lice, ringworm, pink eye, strep throat, stomach viruses, the flu, and other illnesses that disrupt families’ lives.” Less than a week later, Little signed into law a reworked version of the bill, Senate Bill 1210, that clearly spelled out that schools can send home sick kids, and had a tweaked definition for the banned medical mandates. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho governor says Medical Freedom Act allows schools, daycares to send home sick kids So, is it really that far-fetched for a daycare to feel like it couldn’t send home sick kids? Yes, suggests the governor’s press secretary, Joan Vargas. Idaho Gov. Brad Little takes questions from reporters after his State of the State Address on Jan. 12, 2026, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) In a statement provided Friday to the Idaho Capital Sun, she said Little signed the revised bill into law “because it does not jeopardize the ability of public schools or daycares to send home children sick with contagious conditions and illnesses that threaten the health of other children and disrupt families’ lives.” But Varsek said the governor’s office “looks forward to the courts providing further clarity around this law.” She added that the governor signed into law that same year House Bill 290 to establish in state law vaccine requirements for Idaho daycares and public schools. But the governor’s office didn’t respond to a follow up question about what language in the final so-called medical freedom bill makes clear that daycares can send home sick kids. Little did not agree to an interview. Horseshoe Bend Republican Rep. Robert Beiswenger, the bill’s sponsor, said the governor’s comments in his veto letter were “unfounded,” arguing that even the original version did not prevent schools from sending home sick kids. “I don’t know if he got some bad advice on our bill. But again, there’s separate code that specifically says that schools can send people home and stuff like that. It’s really just, it’s not in the bill,” Beiswenger said in an interview last week. “There’s a wide difference in saying ‘You have to take this measles shot or flu shot to come in here,’ versus, like ‘OK, you’re obviously sick. … We’re just going to ask you to go home.’” The Idaho Statesman first reported on the lawsuit, which was filed in December. The bill’s author, Health Freedom Defense Fund President Leslie Manookian, wants Idaho’s law to become a national model for similar laws, ProPublica reported. What is the Idaho Medical Freedom Act? The law, approved by the Idaho Legislature and governor in 2025, bans requirements for “medical interventions,” defined as “a medical procedure, treatment, device, drug injection, medication, or medical action taken to diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease or alter the health or biological function of a person.” (That includes two uses of the term ‘medical,’ compared to zero in the definition in the bill that Little vetoed.) The law doesn’t allow mandates for those things to be used by businesses, government entities, schools and colleges to restrict entry, employment or services. That language is so broad it sweeps up requiring staff to wash their hands, the lawsuit argues. “It is unclear what, if any, health-related action could fall outside the scope of this definition,” the lawsuit alleges. “In particular, any ‘medical action taken’ to ‘prevent … or cure a disease or alter the health or biological function of a person’ by its term sweeps up even the most commonplace medical actions, like excluding a sick person until no longer contagious or even requiring basic standards of hygiene like employee handwashing.” The lawsuit is against Labrador, who urged lawmakers to override the governor’s veto, and Ada Prosecuting Attorney Jan Bennetts. In a legal filing requesting a judge dismiss the lawsuit, attorneys with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office argue that the term “medical intervention” clearly refers to something related to the practice of medicine. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US “Unless an ‘intervention,’ ‘action,’ or other thing that ‘alters the health or biological function of a person’ is ‘medical’ in the sense of relating to physicians or the practice of medicine, then the statute does not regulate it,” the office’s attorneys write. “The absurd potential constructions offered by the complaint fall away: excluding a child who is apparently ill does not require a doctor, or a treatment, or injection, or anything else required by the statute, nor does it involve the practice of medicine. The same is true for excluding a sick employee until they are well.” The lawsuit asks a federal judge to block the state from enforcing the law against private daycares. Rep. Erin Bingham, R-Idaho Falls, and Rep. Robert Beiswenger, R-Horseshoe Bend, recite the Pledge of Allegiance from House of Representatives floor on Jan. 14, 2026, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Beiswenger said the bill doesn’t say that you can’t “ask someone (who is sick) to leave.” “The bill just comes back and just says ‘You can’t mandate a certain medical treatment.’ It doesn’t say if you have a fever, or you’re sweating out, and having, you know, all kinds of medical issues, you couldn’t ask someone to leave, that’s not in the law at all. So they’re just kind of making things up, quite frankly,” Beiswenger said in an interview. Attorneys for the suing daycare and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office could not be immediately reached for comment. A spokesperson for the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment, saying the office doesn’t comment on lawsuits. Republican lawmakers worried workplaces couldn’t send home sick staff under the bill Even on the successful version of the bill, several Republican lawmakers worried that the bill would stop businesses from sending home sick employees or customers. In the House’s debate, Rep. Dan Garner, a Republican from Clifton, asked Beiswenger three times if workplaces would be banned from kicking out sick people. “Can the business ask someone to leave — force someone to leave, if they feel like they are sick?” Garner asked. “Again, the bill doesn’t address it directly. But I believe a business would be within their rights to ask someone to leave if they are sick,” Beiswenger replied. Shelley Republican Rep. Ben Fuhriman read the bill’s language. “I don’t care what your intentions are. A law is a law,” Fuhriman said. “And it’s written right here on page two, line 29: A business entity doing business in the state of Idaho shall not refuse to provide any service, product, admission to a venue, or transportation to a person — because that person has or has not received or used a medical intervention.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Issy, The Cabin Boy This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.It’s customary, they say, for the captain to go down with his ship. But for loyalty, here's a Rock Island story that…
	Vote to name Bettendorf's new snowplows You can vote to name two of Bettendorf's new snowplows in 2026. According to a release from the City of Bettendorf, nearly 100 submissions were received for the Snowplow Naming Contest between April 7 and April 23. You can vote on the 10 most popular submissions here. The poll will be open through Monday, May [...]
	Musk vs. Altman: Tech CEOs head to court Monday over fate of OpenAI The former OpenAI business partners are embroiled in a high-stakes dispute over the future of one of the world's top AI companies.
	Inflation is sucking the life out of teacher pay raises, report says A new review of state education data shows teacher pay increases can't keep up with inflation and fewer students are enrolled in public schools.
	Scientists search the microbiome for clues to the rise in colorectal cancers Unlike many cancers, colorectal cancer has become more lethal for people at younger ages. Doctors are sleuthing out why.
	Alleged White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter set to appear in federal court The suspected gunman will face charges, including assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
	Loads of Fun, and I Ain't 'Phibian: “A Year with Frog & Toad,” at St. Ambrose University through May 3 A Year with Frog & Toad is overflowing with cheer and color, boasts splendid production values and an energetic cast, and I declare it delightful for all ages.
	Prejudicial Inquiry: “A Soldier's Play,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through May 3 Kitty: Jeramie Coleman’s charm was a wonderful contrast to Antonio Stone’s severity. Watching the two of them clash so fiercely was riveting.Mischa: For sure. And there was a third actor, Dwayne Hodges, who provided a big contrast to both Stone and Coleman, but delivered an equally compelling performance.
	Has Kam Buckner Secured a Solid Stadium Bill, or Has He Outkicked His Coverage? “We’re almost there” on a Bears stadium bill, Representative Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, told some sports radio hosts on a Friday morning before the House returned to Springfield for three days of session last week. “We’re very close.”
	FIRST ALERT DAY: Severe storms possible Monday First Alert Day issued for potential Midwest storms
	Palestinian officials hail local elections in a Gaza community and the West Bank Palestinian officials say local elections in Gaza and the West Bank mark a step toward a long-delayed presidential election. The Palestinian Authority hasn't held a presidential election in 21 years.
	Monte Coleman, who won 3 Super Bowls as a Washington linebacker, dies at age 68 The hard-nosed linebacker, who won three Super Bowls and later coached Arkansas-Pine Bluff, has died. UAPB and the Commanders announced his death Sunday. No cause of death was disclosed.
Sunday, April 26th, 2026
	An Overlooked Detail That Can Make or Break Your Outdoor Space (Feature Impact) From fully equipped outdoor kitchens to cozy lounge seating and thoughtfully designed landscaping, outdoor living upgrades have become some of the most sought-after renovations for today's homeowners. There's one detail, though, that's surprisingly often overlooked: heat. Though backyards, patios and decks are increasingly expected to function as extensions of interior living spaces, rather than occasional warm-weather escapes, nearly 92% of respondents in a survey of more than 2,000 homeowners conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Bromic Heating, a global leader in premium infrared outdoor heating appliances, said their outdoor areas have untapped potential, suggesting it could play a bigger role in daily life than it does today. Homeowners are prioritizing furniture, lighting and fire features when planning for their outdoor spaces, with just 23% of homeowners ranking outdoor heating as a top priority. Despite this, 67% of survey respondents confirmed heating would have the biggest impact on extending outdoor usage - especially in the evenings when the sun sets and temperatures drop. Many homeowners don't think about outdoor heating until after their space is finished and they are left in the cold. To simplify the planning of outdoor living spaces and ensure invisible features like heating are considered as early as the visible elements, Bromic offers a complimentary design service alongside its best-in-class product portfolio that gives homeowners unmatched flexibility to create inspired spaces. End-to-end support ensures an optimized layout, proper installation and alignment with your budget and design aesthetic. Whether classic or contemporary, built-in and freestanding heating options are designed to complement the existing architecture and provide performance that can extend memorable outdoor moments from season to season. Explore these outdoor heating solutions and experience the complete portfolio at bromic.com. Contemporary Design with Illuminating Elegance The built-in and freestanding Eclipse Smart-Heat Collection seamlessly blends sculptural elegance with dual functionality, combining 2,900 watts of radiant heat and dimmable LED ambient light. Its standout features include a sleek circular design and ceramic-glass face to bring a modern, luxurious touch to any space. Seamless Integration with Effortless Harmony The Platinum Smart-Heat Collection, available in electric, marine and gas models, is crafted in premium stainless steel with a sleek ceramic-glass face - bringing refined design and unmatched performance to environments ranging from private patios and coastal residences to luxury vessels. Distinctive Form with Powerful Impact Available in electric, gas, built-in and freestanding models, the Tungsten Smart-Heat Collection pairs lasting performance with timeless style. Crafted from durable 304-grade stainless steel and finished with a signature honeycomb mesh face, the design blends enduring strength with contemporary elegance for any outdoor setting. Intelligent Design for Meaningful Connections Achieve precise control of your outdoor heating experience with Affinity Smart-Heat Controls, which offer 1% incremental adjustments and compatibility with most home or building automation systems. Easily program timers and zones to maintain the ideal temperature and atmosphere in any outdoor setting. Experience customizable control including: Timer and schedule settings Heater grouping within zones and multiple sites Voice control integration Connection with home automation or building management systems
	8 Ways to Help Protect Your Vision Right Now (Feature Impact) As you get older, your risk for some eye diseases may increase. However, there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy - and it starts with taking care of your overall health. Set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing your best with these eight tips from the experts at the National Eye Institute in honor of Healthy Vision Month: 1. Find an eye doctor you trust. Many eye diseases don't have any early symptoms, so you could have a problem and not know it. An eye doctor can help you stay on top of your eye health. Find an eye doctor you trust by asking friends and family if they like their doctors. You can also check with your health insurance plan to find eye doctors near you. 2. Ask how often you need a dilated eye exam. Getting a dilated eye exam is the single best thing you can do for your eye health. It's the only way to find eye diseases early, when they're easier to treat - and before they cause vision loss. Your eye doctor will decide how often you need an exam based on your risk for eye diseases. 3. Add more movement to your day. Physical activity can lower your risk for health conditions that can affect your vision, like diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have trouble finding time for physical activity, try building it into other activities. Walk around while you're on the phone, do push-ups or stretch while you watch TV or dance while you're doing chores. Anything that gets your heart pumping counts. 4. Get your family talking about eye health history. Some eye diseases - like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration - can run in families. While it may not be the most exciting topic of conversation, talking about your family health history can help everyone stay healthy. The next time you're chatting with relatives, ask if anyone knows about eye problems in your family. Be sure to share what you learn with your eye doctor to see if you need to take steps to lower your risk. 5. Step up your healthy eating game. Eating healthy foods helps prevent health conditions - like diabetes or high blood pressure - that can put you at risk for eye problems. Eat right for your sight by adding more eye-healthy foods to your plate, such as dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale and collard greens, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids like halibut, salmon or tuna. 6. Make a habit of wearing your sunglasses - even on cloudy days. The sun's UV rays can not only harm your skin, but the same goes for your eyes. However, wearing sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation can protect your eyes and lower your risk for cataracts. 7. Stay on top of long-term health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes and high blood pressure can increase your risk for some eye diseases, like glaucoma. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, ask your doctor about steps you can take to manage your condition and lower your risk of vision loss. 8. If you smoke, make a plan to quit. Quitting smoking is good for your entire body, including your eyes. Kicking the habit can help lower your risk for eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. Quitting smoking is hard, but it's possible - and a plan can help. Test your eye health knowledge with a quick quiz and find more vision resources at nei.nih.gov/hvm. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
	Bold Beverages to Elevate Cinco de Mayo Celebrations (Feature Impact) Few things say Cinco de Mayo like festive drinks and a lively atmosphere. This year, give your glass a signature chile-lime kick and turn every sip into a celebration. Elevating classic beverages is effortless with the bold trifecta of chile peppers, lime and sea salt - the perfectly balanced blend that delivers tangy, zesty and mildly spicy notes to take drinks from ordinary to unforgettable. Raise a glass with these easy, at-home recipes designed to make even novice mixologists feel like pros. For a refreshing option, try a vibrant Watermelon Agua Fresca that combines the natural sweetness of fresh watermelon with the irresistible kick of Taj n's Chamoy Sauce and a rim of its Cl sico Seasoning for a craveable finish. If you love the timeless taste of a margarita, the Spicy Jalapeno Margarita is a perfect choice, bringing bar-quality flavor to your celebration in just a few simple steps. Both beverages feature a Taj n Cl sico Seasoning rimmer that adds eye-catching color and a burst of flavor, complementing the sweetness of fresh fruit. Citrus like orange and lime, tropical options such as pineapple and mango, and melons including cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew all pair beautifully. It's an easy, fun way to add a pop of color and make everything from orange juice to fruity mocktails feel festive and special. With a little prep, you can turn Cinco de Mayo into a truly unforgettable fiesta. For more swoon-worthy recipes ideas, visit Tajin.com. Watermelon Agua Fresca 2 cups fresh watermelon, cubed 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce agave syrup (optional) 1/2 cup cold water ice Rim: Taj n Chamoy Sauce Taj n Cl sico Seasoning Garnish: lime slice watermelon slice Dip glass into Taj n Chamoy Sauce then into Taj n Cl sico Seasoning. In blender, blend fresh watermelon cubes; lime juice; agave syrup, if using; and cold water until smooth and well combined. Fill prepared glass with ice and pour watermelon mixture into glass. Sprinkle with pinch of classic seasoning on top. Garnish with lime slice and watermelon slice. Spicy Jalapeno Margarita 2 slices fresh jalapeno 1 ounce fresh lime juice 2 ounces blanco tequila 1 ounce orange liqueur 1/2 ounces agave syrup ice Rim: Taj n Chile Lime Sauce Taj n Cl sico Seasoning lime wedge Garnish: jalapeno slice or lime wheel To rim glass, brush Taj n Chile Lime Sauce on side of glass then dip into Taj n Cl sico Seasoning to coat. Set aside. In shaker, muddle jalapeno slices with lime juice to release heat and flavor. Add tequila, orange liqueur and agave syrup. Fill with ice and shake vigorously 10-15 seconds. Fill prepared glass with ice and strain margarita into glass. Garnish with lime wedge and jalapeno slice.

Monday, April 27th, 2026

Sunday, April 26th, 2026