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

For young people looking to take over Illinois farms, the costs can be steep

Expensive equipment and high cost of land make it difficult for young farmers to start farming.

Common Chord moving floors within Redstone Building

Common Chord announced it will be moving from the second floor to the newly renovated first-floor space within the Redstone Building.

Death Notice: Pamela Williams

Pamela Sue Williams, 77, of Eldridge, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Rock Island National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend her service should meet at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf by 10:30 a.m. for a procession to the cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the April 22 edition of The NSP. 

Adoptable pet: Meet Rodney

Rodney is a 2-month-old domestic shorthair tabby.

Boil order issued for some Milan residents

Some Milan residents are under a boil order.

Tornado Watch issued for Quad Cities - Tuesday, April 14th

As expected, the NWS has now issued a Tornado Watch for the Quad Cities and areas North of I-80 for Tuesday evening. Thunderstorms will rapidly develop this afternoon and evening. The most dangerous storms look most likely along HWY 20, North of the QC. Severe weather is possible though along HWY 30 and Interstate 80 [...]

Boil order issued for part of Milan

A news release from the Village of Milan says a boil order is in effect for residents south of 33rd Avenue West in the 600 block due to a water main break. This includes residents in the Shadow Wood Court addition on West 8th Street Court. All water for drinking and cooking should be boiled [...]

PHOTO GALLERY: 'The Addams Family'

'A deception, a false promise, and a misrepresentation' | Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird files amended petition in TikTok lawsuit

The biggest addition to the petition is the state alleging TikTok misled Iowa consumers on whether their data could be accessed by the Chinese government.

Tornado Watch likely to be issued soon for Quad Cities area

The NWS Storm Prediction Center is monitoring our area for a Tornado Watch...and there's a 95% chance they issue one soon. Severe storms with the potential for damaging tornadoes and very large hail will likely be forming over the next few hours. They'll be moving West to East and will plow through our area this [...]

Last Picture House hosts rare 35mm kung fu film festival

It's one of only two theatres in Iowa that can show rare 35mm films. There will also be special snacks and live kung fu demonstrations at the festival, April 17-18.

North Scott Press — April 15, 2026

Iowa’s largest film festival just got bigger

The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary by expanding to eight days, firmly securing its spot as Iowa’s largest — and longest — film festival. This year features over 200 films, including a documentary about the opera singer Simon Estes.

Meet the family

They’re creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and altogether ooky, but this isn’t your parents’ “Addams Family.” Lancer Productions presents the musical comedy this weekend and next in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Wednesday Addams is all grown up and has fallen in love. She breaks the shocking news to her family that her boyfriend, Lucas, is … from Ohio. Moreover, the couple want their parents to meet. She begs the family to give her “one normal night.” Wednesday also confides in her father, Gomez, that she and Lucas are engaged and asks him to keep this a secret from her mother. Though Gomez agrees, this puts him in an awkward position, because through their marriage, he has never, ever, lied or kept a secret from Morticia. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s brother, Pugsley, becomes upset when he realizes now that Wednesday has a boyfriend, she won’t have time to spend with him. Uncle Fester longs for his own love, which he fears can never be. When Lucas and his family arrive, the Addams Family attempts to be on its best behavior. But Lucas’ parents, Mal and Alice, are hiding their own secrets, and the night quickly goes awry. So, Uncle Fester enlists the help of the Addams’ ancient ancestors to ensure love prevails. Director Ashley Becher said Lancer Productions has been eyeing doing “The Addams Family” for a while, but this year, they knew they would be able to bring together the perfect cast. And that cast is having fun with this show. They said the most fun part has been the family aspect. “We all have the same humor,” said Brayden Serrano, who plays Gomez. “It wouldn’t be the same without everyone in this,” said Charlotte Madden (Morticia). “It’s such a crazy dynamic. It’s so perfect,” agreed Natalie Sierk (Wednesday). With the popularity of the “Addams Family” movies and TV show, as well as Netflix’s “Wednesday” series, cast members are also well aware of the fondness many people in the audience will bring to this show. “It’s such a big responsibility, but it is an honor to be able to portray it in our own way,” said Sierk. “It’s beautiful; we’ve kind of incorporated some of the modern aspects into this,” said Grady Kirst (Uncle Fester). That includes a rendition of the viral Wednesday dance and some other TikTok favorites. The musical is also an opportunity to bring together old and new faces. This year, that includes Emily Stutting (Grandma) and Alexander Simmons (Lurch). While Stutting, a senior, made her debut in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” as a Cheshire Cat, this is Simmons’ first show with Lancer Productions. “I went into it completely scared,” said Simmons. “I knew that everyone was going to be amazing, but I was still really nervous, because I didn’t completely know what to expect. And then I came here, and right away, everyone was so amazing. I’m always asking the craziest questions, and still, all of these people here just welcomed me in and answer all of my questions, no matter how weird they might be. And it’s just been really amazing to be a part of this. I’m really thankful.” “Just being here with everybody, we have so much fun together,” said Stutting. “Everybody has the same humor and there’s so many inside jokes. When I first got here, I was like, I don’t know about all these, but now I’m learning them, and it’s just like a family.” And that feeling of family is what the cast hopes the audience takes away from the show. “You have to have your family; that’s so important,” said Madden. “Whether it’s blood or chosen,” said Sierk. “And you don’t find your people until you’re really you,” said Serrano. “We welcome the Beinekes in, even though they’re not what we think is traditional, and vice versa with them,” said Madden. “I was talking to my mom about the show, and I was talking about the ‘define normal’ line, and she said, ‘You need to define your own normal, because everyone’s normal is different,’” said Kirst. “It reminds me of my family,” said Simmons. “My family might not be this dysfunctional, but it’s just a constant reminder that families are messy. It’s not something that comes easy, but it’s just something that needs to be cherished so much, because it’s not something that everyone has. Not everyone has a family like this, and you just need to be thankful for what you’ve been given.” The cast includes: Brayden Serrano (Gomez Addams); Charlotte Madden (Morticia Addams); Grady Kirst (Uncle Fester); Emily Stutting (Grandma); Natalie Sierk (Wednesday Addams); Bella Suarez (Pugsley Addams); Alexander Simmons (Lurch); Ben Lightle (Mal Beineke); Taylar Vondal (Alice Beinke); Jack McCarthy (Lucas Beineke). The Ancestors include: Marlayna Cockshoot, Charli Conner, Nora Davis, Bryton Dougherty, Ashton Goodwin, Ben Hill, Madi Hillmann, Riley Johnson, Pacey Kane, Kaitlyn Knepper, Katelyn Kuesel, Hayden Lacher, Brooklyn Lacher, Cael Mess, Sophia Nelson, Jane Nichols, Katelyn Peck, Emme Plett, Riley Plymale, Addalie Reese, Ella Siokos, Ezekiel Skyles, Mason Smeltzer, Kaden Timmerman, Micah Webb, Zach Wiese, Addyson Yanke and Emma Zrostlik. “The Addams Family” is directed by Ashley Becher, with student assistant director Mya Kelsey. Bobby Becher is music director. The show is produced by Stacie Kintigh. Emily Hintze is in charge of marketing and public relations. Choreography is by Ashley Becher, with additional pointe choreography by Emme Plett. The technical director is Josh Tipsword, with student technical director Taylor Crain. Stage manager is Madi Brus, assisted by Alliana Ray. The lighting designer is Hannah Nelson, assisted by Kallen Rohlf. The light board operator is Kallen Rohlf, and the spotlight operator is Samantha Mussack. The sound designer/operator is Kora Thiessen, and the sound board operator is Bella Riley. The stage crew includes Ella Dierickx and Michael Hames. The properties masters are Haidyn Koberg, and Parker Herrington. The costume and wig and hair design lead is Renae Mohr. The hair, makeup and costume crew includes Charli Conner, Eva Wyatt and Emma Reif. The scenic designer was Josh Tipsword. The set construction crew included: Hannah Nelson, Taylor Crain, Samantha Mussack, Kallen Rohlf, Alliana Ray, Ella Dierickx, Parker Herrington, Emma Reif, Michael Hames, Emma Zrostlik, Madilyn Brus, Eva Wyatt, Eleanor White, Charli Conner, Noah Siokos, Natalie Yanke, Mya Kelsey, Rafael Formigoni, Alexander Simmons, Addyson Yanke, Allana Sosnowski, Grady Kirst, Hayden Lacher, Layla Talbert, Natalie Sierk, Kaitlyn Knepper, Charlotte Madden, Benjamin Hill, Charlotte Mendenhall, Sophia Frahm, Nora Davis, Brayden Serrano, Haidyn Koberg, Kora Thiessen. The paint crew included Emma Zrostlik, Haidyn Koberg, Mya Kelsey and Parker Herrington. This year’s Soda Poppers include: Sophia Frahm, Elly Matheson, Charlotte Mendenhall, Camilla Miller, Makayla Miller, Reilly Nienhaus, Will Noonan, Elena Skadal, and Cooper Stevens. Performances are Friday, April 17 and 24, and Saturday, April 18 and 25, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 19 and 26, at 2 p.m. in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Tickets are $15 at the door and at tix.nshslp.com, with a credit card fee if applicable. Dinner theatre performances are April 24 and 25, with doors for dinner opening at 5 p.m. Tickets for dinner are $20 each in addition to the show ticket and must be purchased in advance at tix.nshslp.com. “The Addams Family” contains some strong language and adult humor. Viewer discretion is advised.

Niabi Zoo opening marks first full season since 2024 storm damage

Niabi will open for the season on April 21. This year, visitors can enjoy a brand new exhibit called "Conservation in Action" and its virtual reality capabilities.

Veteran editor, investigative journalist to lead Quad-City Times newsroom

She is joining the Quad-City Times from the top news editor role at The Times of Northwest Indiana, a sister paper within Lee Enterprises.

AI transforms a clerk's work

Veteran Long Grove city clerk Rose Guyer has an assistant built from scratch. She hand-picked its skills and invented its personality. She decides how it thinks, and for how long. It is a digital “agent”—an artificial intelligence program designed to act on its own, carrying out complex tasks with as little instruction as possible. Guyer has designed her agent as a “financial analyst” for Long Grove. The analyst is just one example of how Guyer has spent the last year rebuilding her workflow with AI. What began as an email assistant now helps her review city finances, draft reports and develop her own accounting program for other small-town clerks and administrators. Consider a nine-page memorandum Guyer sent to the McCausland city council, outlining how they could rein in their high tax rate and rebuild reserve funds embezzled by a former clerk. Guyer used AI to draft the memo after she had spent several months as the city’s interim clerk, and knew where the city could recalibrate. Guyer began by providing her agent with a flood of McCausland city documents—past budgets, receipts, and fund balances. Then she asked it questions about city spending on recreation, which she believed the council would have to trim. What was the trend in the city’s recreational spending over time? What percentage did it make up of the whole budget? How did McCausland spending compare to other, similar cities? Those questions provided Guyer with the raw information she could take to the council to make the case for a drop in spending. Then she asked AI to take another step, she said: “Analyze my train of thought for errors in how I'm thinking. How will the council perceive what I'm saying? How can I make this sound professional, not accusational?” “I need it to look at all the angles, because I'm not always capable of doing that,” Guyer said. Guyer knew the outlines of the McCausland memo before she began to draft it. “But in order to organize my thoughts, and to present that information to other people, that takes time—and that's something that it's skilled at doing, and skilled at doing it quickly,” she explained. “When it's doing that quickly, then I'm able to shift and focus on making the information more accurate,” she added. She said that careful review of AI reports and summaries is essential. “It’s not like it's just creating something and I'm trusting it and putting it out there,” she explained. “You still have to analyze it regularly for accuracy. Nothing it’s creating am I just accepting as truth.” Designing agents Guyer controls every aspect of her digital financial analyst. She provides a short, written description of its role and several more complex skills. The agent refers to these as references, or instructions, as it carries out the task she has asked it to do. For example, the description and skills might tell the agent what it means to “analyze” financial data or “compare” it to data from another city. Guyer also determines how much time the agent spends thinking through the questions she asks, by restricting how many “tokens” it can spend. Tokens are a kind of digital currency: the more an agent spends, the more data it can process, consider and produce. The analyst has access to all public city data, Guyer said. “Every year's financial report that I've ever had. All of our exams, all of our audits. Every budget, every year end report, month end report. Every council report that I've given.” When Guyer spoke with The North Scott Press last Thursday, she had just fed her financial analyst agent reams of data on the municipal water utility, organizing the data and figures she would take to the city’s living financial advisor for discussions about next year’s rate. Visitors to the Long Grove city website may have noticed a new help window that can respond to questions about taxes, council meetings and city service. That is a second agent designed by Guyer, with a different set of skills and a tight cap on the number of tokens it can spend. Guyer runs her financial analyst on Claude, an AI model designed for research. The public-facing web assistant runs on ChatGPT, which requires less computing power to carry out simple tasks. Further functions AI serves as more than just a part-time analyst, Guyer said. When she needs to post a notice of a snow day or plow day, she generates a friendly graphic. When she has a legal question, she asks AI for guidance before confirming its answers with the city attorney. Long Grove recently began to integrate its planning and zoning ordinances with the full city code. The rewrite and reformat would cost $7,000, attorneys told the city. So Guyer turned to AI, which performed the work for free. The new body of ordinances still went to the city attorney for review, Guyer said. Building her own software For years, Guyer has used custom-built spreadsheets to track and model city spending in Long Grove. When McCausland hired her to review their books, she realized how little accounting varied from small city to small city.  “We all have the same needs, regardless of our size. We all the same reporting requirements. We all have very similar structures,” Guyer explained. “Government fund accounting doesn't really change.” That planted the seed of Guyer’s latest project: an accounting software built with the needs of small cities and inexperienced clerks in mind. AI coding tools have allowed her to “develop a proof of concept that lets me know this can work.” “It will work,” Guyer said. “I just have to convince other people.” The software includes all the basic functions of government fund accounting for small municipalities: accounts payable, bank reconciliation, a general ledger and receipts manager. But it has other functions, too, like a digital timeclock for city employees.  “I pay another company to do our employee timecard,” Guyer said of Long Grove. “Why can't my software do that?” Now it can. The software also includes a dedicated “auditor document portal,” where clerks can upload all the documents—like timecards, fund balances and affidavits of publication—that an audit requires for review. As much as she can, Guyer has tried “to build in the internal control processes.” For instance, the software prompts users to itemize credit card bills. In Eldridge, failure to itemize hid months of theft. Every window in Guyer’s program includes standard operating procedures running in a column down the left-hand side. She hopes to make it user friendly for small cities and their small or part-time staffs, which struggle to use municipal accounting software designed for large, experienced administrations. Guyer wants to have the software ready for use by the start of the 2026–27 fiscal year in July. “What I would like to do is beta test it in the communities I currently work for, run it alongside what's already existing to determine accuracy, and then roll out with a few communities with some discounted subscriptions,” she explained. She is now recruiting a software developer to engineer the code required to plumb the proof of concept she has built with AI. Moving forward, she has large ambitions for the program. “My goal, personally and professionally, is to create a software that will handle every single task of a city of the city's operations,” she explained. “From customer service, answering calls, to the bot on the website, to public information requests, to meter reading, to controls and monitors at a sewer or water plant, to analyzing electrical information.” But those functions await.  For now she admits, “I need to keep my scope small.”

North Scott students hear triumph over tragedy

North Scott students learned a moving lesson about finding beauty in tragedy on Friday. Orchestra members at the junior high and high school heard a presentation on the program Violins of Hope, featuring a violin that will be on display at the Putnam Museum through the end of April. Violins of Hope was founded by Ammon Weinstein, who worked as a luthier in Israel until his death in 2024. A luthier is a craftsman who builds and repairs stringed instruments. Weinstein apprenticed under his father, Moshe, who was born in Poland but moved to Tel Aviv in 1938. As the Holocaust broke out, many Jewish violinists, whose instruments had been made in Germany, began to break or burn their instruments in protest. Some told Moshe that they would destroy their instruments unless he bought them. So, he began a violin collection. At the same time, all of Moshe’s relatives who remained in Europe died in the Holocaust. In the 1980s, Ammon Weinstein received a violin from a young man. He learned the instrument belonged to the man’s grandfather, who had been at Auschwitz. When Weinstein opened the violin to begin repairing it, he discovered it was full of black powder — ashes from the crematoriums at the death camp. Weinstein began collecting string instruments connected with the Holocaust in 1996. He repaired them and also learned the stories behind them. In 1999, he gave a speech in Germany about the collection, the first step in what would become the Violins of Hope project. Today, the collection includes more than 60 instruments, mostly violins, and tours the world. The instruments are used in concerts and educational displays, all with the intent of sharing the stories of those who perished during the Holocaust. The collection is now managed by Weinstein’s son, Avshalom, who works as a luthier in Turkey. Avshalom accompanied the collection to Iowa, where pieces are displayed at the Putnam Museum, Figge Museum and German American Heritage Society in Davenport; Danville Station Library & Museum, the Loper Learning Center at Muscatine Community College; the Iowa Jewish Historical Society in Des Moines; and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. On Friday, North Scott students got to see and hear one of these violins. Retired teacher Chris Green, who worked for years with students in the North Scott History Day program, now serves as chair of the Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities. She said Allan Ross, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, has been working to bring Violins of Hope to the area for about eight years. At the junior high, the orchestra students listened quietly and intently as Green told them about the Violins of Hope project in the context of the Holocaust. “When you try to wipe something out, there’s always that hope that you can also keep it to continue,” said Green. “That there will be people left over that will be able to tell the stories. And if the people can’t, Violins of Hope are showing how instruments can tell the stories.” Green told the students more about how the Nazis also used music as a weapon during the Holocaust. As the Jewish people were forced out of their homes, they took only what they could carry, and violins were easily portable. When they arrived at the camps, the Nazis forced some of these musicians to play in orchestras, which gave the illusion that these were only work camps and that the situation would not be so bad. But the musicians also had to play in all weather, at all hours, and whenever the Nazis commanded it, including at parties for officers. The students watched a video, where they got to hear about the Violins of Hope in Ammon Weinstein’s own words, as well as his wife, Assaela, and son, Avshalom. “The Nazis are not anymore. The violins – they are,” said Weinstein. “And the violins are playing, and when they are playing it is a victory. And when it is victory, you cannot take it away.” The violin the students heard belonged to a Jewish man from Italy named Gualtiero Morpurgo. His family had been established in northern Italy for 500 years, but as Mussolini joined Hitler in trying to purge the Jews from Europe, life quickly changed. Morpurgo’s mother gave him the violin, which was made in 1888, when he was young. “Music will help you in desperate moments of life,” she told him. “Do not give up. Sooner or later, it will prove me right.” His mother was sent to Auschwitz on the first train car out of Italy, where she died. Morpurgo was sent to a forced labor camp. He survived and continued to play the violin until he was 97 years old. His family donated the instrument to Violins of Hope. “The thing that I think about, not even playing it, but just having it in our presence, is that this piece of wood that was constructed, it brought joy through misery, and it brought peace through pain,” orchestra teacher Linda Dargene told the students. “And it was a true living source of joy through some pretty horrific times. And to know that it’s still here … as the video said, every note played on it is a victory for those that were victims during that time. “Knowing that we can still play it now, 80 some years later, and it still can bring that victory and that understanding of what happened during that time. It’s very substantial for us as musicians. Because as I’ve said before, this is just a piece of paper until we can make it live, until we bring it presence and cause that emotion. So, when we play for you today, think about what this violin actually means and what it stands for, because it’s not just an instrument, is it?” Dargene joined orchestra teacher Benjamin Lorentzen in playing a duet for the students — the theme from “Schindler’s List” — with Lorentzen drawing his bow across the Morpurgo violin. “It’s a very nice violin,” Lorentzen said after the piece. “You’ll get to see that it’s got some battle scars here. I see there’s a lot of work that’s been done. The violin that I generally play on is my great-grandfather’s, so when I play it, it’s got some sentimental value, and that one’s a lot of fun to play on. This violin … it’s special to play it for sure, in a much heavier way. There’s just so much history.” The students passed the violin around the room gingerly. The room was quiet as they examined it, running their fingers across the wood and gently plucking the strings. A few wiped away tears. Once the instrument made its way back to Lorentzen, he carefully wiped it with a soft cloth. Dargene reminded the students of the historical importance in another context, as the North Scott orchestra program prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. “To have a violin with so much history, in a district where orchestra is pretty new compared to other districts in Iowa, it’s a good reminder to us that there can be new beginnings at any point, at any stage.” Green said music is important, culturally, to the Jewish people, especially at important life markers. It is central to weddings and to funerals, in particular. After class, a few students lingered, and Dargene’s daughter played a quick scale before handing the violin back to her mother. Dargene and Lorentzen studied it further, noting where the work had been done. As Dargene took her own turn with the violin, she noted that her high school students earlier in the day had been similarly somber during the presentation. “It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.” “I think it’s important, and that’s one of the gifts from this program, is that kids can see what’s being done. We can do better, and we can honor it,” said Green. “What we want is for people not to forget, because we don’t want this to happen again.” Violins of Hope will be on display in the Quad Cities until April 30. Featured events include a performance by Ballet Quad Cities on April 16 at 6 p.m. at the Figge Art Museum; a concert with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Figge; and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities’ Yom HaShoah annual Holocaust remembrance, which will be held April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Rogalski Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University. More information is available at violinsofhopeiowa.com.    

Derelict hotel comes down on River Drive

Princeton’s derelict hotel, 514 S. River Drive, came down Friday, April 10, five months after site owners promised demolition and redevelopment. Crews cleared rubble from the site Saturday morning. Owner Dennis Campbell said "it just takes time... to get all the permitting done right." “I appreciate the patience of everybody that’s been a part of it," he added. Campbell said in November that his family had first hoped to restore the building and its historic limestone front, but that structural damage made that impossible. His daughter, Julia Looney, said in the fall that they had “discussed possibilities of a few commercial spaces on the first floor, and maybe some residential spaces above... Hopefully to preserve the historic, aesthetic value of the original hotel.”  

Walcott council adopts new meeting room policy

The Walcott Fire Department dropped a request to charge community groups for use of its meeting room. The city council approved a new meeting room policy Monday, April 6 that guarantees several Walcott organizations can use the meeting room during and after city hours, free of charge. Members of the fire department told the council earlier this year that guests had damaged the room and amenities like silverware had slowly disappeared. The new policy specifies that guests are responsible for “leaving the room clean and orderly” and “reporting any damage immediately.” Organizations approved for use include: • Walcott Day Committee • Walcott Hearts & Hands Foundation • Walcott Historical Society • Walcott Lions Club • Walcott Women • Walcott Unified Fund • Walcott Volunteer Firefighters Association • Walcott Youth Athletics Associations (boys & girls townball) Other organizations may use the facility during city hours, pending approval by the clerk. Members of the fire department may use the room for personal events with the approval of the fire chief. Firefighter Ben McKibbin also informed the council that the department had received free recruitment banners and yard signs from the Iowa Firefighters Association. The council gave the department permission to place the banners and signs across town. They also approved road closures for the department’s annual steak fry May 16. Tax hearing, budget changes The council heard few comments at its required tax levy hearing 5:30 Monday. Walcott city taxes are set to rise next year, from $9.85 to $10.46 per $1,000 in taxable property value. City Clerk Lisa Rickertsen told the council April 6 that the budget for next year would also include a 5% rate increase for city sewer and water utilities. The city will begin several major projects next year, including construction of a new, $1.4 million well and a $300,000 reconstruction of a culvert on Cedar Lane. Walcott expects a string of further projects to follow in the proceeding years. They include refurbishment of the city water tower, required sewer improvements, and reconstruction of 60th Avenue.    The council set their annual budget hearing for April 20 at 6 p.m., during their regular meeting. Rickertsen also informed the council that she had decreased budgeted expenditures on property insurance for next year’s budget. A recent bill showed that liability rates had largely fallen this year, she reported. Other news In other business, the council: • Approved a low bid of $9,750 from Needham Excavating to install a sanitary sewer manhole cover at Cedar Lane and Main Street Drive. • Amended the route of the Iron Addicts May 23 5K to avoid several street closure near graduation parties planned for the evening. • Approved the sale of a 2013 Ford Explorer retiring from the police department, at a high bid $3,850. • Amended the police vehicle reserve fund to a vehicle and equipment reserve fund, following discussion at a February 3 work session.

County to purchase new side-by-sides for sheriff's office

Supervisors approved the purchase of two Polaris Ranger side-by-side vehicles for the sheriff’s office last week. The Polaris Ranger XP1000s will replace a pair of 2009 Honda vehicles currently in use. Sheriff Tim Lane said they had trouble finding replacement parts for the old vehicles. Lane added that Rangers are a standard model for law enforcement and fire department operations. Delivered, they will cost the county a combined $46,758.92. Supervisors also agreed to a $36,639 extension of the county contract with Novatime, its current time and attendance software vendor, which will carry through the end of the year. Supervisors approved a $1.2 million, ten-year contract with alternative vendor TimeClock Plus in January. IT director Matt Hirst said it should begin next year following negotiations. In other business, supervisors agreed to waive a conflict of interest reported by law firm Ahlers & Cooney, which occasionally represents the county in labor negotiations with employees. Ahlers & Cooney may soon represent nursing students who could be employed at the county jail. Supervisors opted in to a class-action lawsuit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of troubled diabetes drug Actos. They also approved routine board and commission appointments and liquor license renewals.

Casino gaming revenue comes up short

County tax revenues on casino gaming appear unlikely to meet hopeful budget figures for 2025–26. Scott County expected $850,000 in gaming revenue this fiscal year, an uptick over $812,247 collected last year. But figures provided at the start of April show an aggregate 3.45% shortfall in to-date revenues from Scott County’s two casinos. If the trend holds through the end of June, Scott County would collect just $820,000 this year—$30,000 less than expected. Expected to-date revenue at Isle in Bettendorf is down 2.16%. Revenue at Rhythm City in Davenport is down 4.35%. An $820,000 take this year would still mark the first rise in county gaming revenue since the postpandemic high of $932,485 in 2021–22. Iowa legalized sports betting in May 2019, and required online bettors to register at the casino. The pandemic depressed gaming revenue that year, which rocketed up to $900,191 in 2020–21 from $683,200 in 2018–2019. At the start of 2021, Iowa dropped rules that required bettors to register in person. Revenues fell to $899,565 in 2022–23, $834,869 in 2023–24, and $812,247 in 2024–25.    

Specialist to lead special needs planning workshop for Quad-Cities families this week

The session will be led by Hannah Magrum, a chartered special needs consultant and Thrivent Financial advisor, who specializes in special needs planning.

Solar project advances to bid, may grow in scope

Princeton City Council will have spent about $10,000 with engineers by the time it hears bids on a solar array that would power the city sewer plant. And cost estimates for the array rose last week, when the latest utility bills show that the plant has upped its electricity usage in recent months. Most members of the council heard about increased power needs and the $10,000 engineering estimate—of which $6,000 has already been spent—for the first time Thursday, April 9. Undaunted, they voted 5–0 to continue with the project, setting a required public hearing for April 23. Councilwoman Lori Maher told the council that she expected the project would yield savings as soon as 2030, when potential electricity bills would exceed fixed debt service payments. She modeled savings with an interest rate of 6% and an annual rise in electricity costs at 4%, with a longer debt service period for a more expensive project. She also assumed a project cost of $250–300,000. A project of that size and cost would not meet the full energy needs of the city sewer plant, engineers said Thursday. An expanded project could be “less than $350,000, but I'm not comfortable making any promises, especially with the state of the economy,” an engineer told the council. Mayor Travis Volrath pointed out that the council can expect savings to hold steady so long as rising project costs are driven by a need for more energy. Princeton must break ground on the array before July to guarantee a 30% federal rebate designed to encourage solar development. DNR awards $45K for church work The council accepted a $45,500 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources derelict building program to repair damage to the roof of the former Princeton Presbyterian Church, now owned by the city. Members of the council have proposed transforming the building into a community center. The council has identified leaks in the roof surrounding the belltower and steeple.  City grant writer Angie Bloomfield said the $45,500 grant must be matched “dollar for dollar” by city spending. The grant will cover expenses from engineering through construction and environmental reporting, she said. The city council cut its planned spending on community spaces from $50,000 to $6,000 last month, part of an effort to trim the city budget and hold tax rates constant. Parks and Recreation hopes to form nonprofit The Princeton Parks and Recreation Board hopes to separate from the city and pursue new funding opportunities as a nonprofit called the Community Partnership, its members announced Thrusday. Betsy Wolfe, vice chair of the park board, explained the request Thursday. “As our work has expanded, we recognize an opportunity to increase our effectiveness by transitioning into an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3),” she said. City boards cannot apply for community development grants available to nonprofits. “This transition is not intended to reduce our relationship” with the city, Wolfe said. “It's to strengthen everything, and to get more money.” “Upon approval, we intend to continue working in collaboration with the city to support our parks and community improvement efforts,” she added. The board currently organizes events and fundraisers to benefit city parks, but does not oversee their day-to-day maintenance, which is carried out by the Princeton Public Works crew. Princeton City Council raised several questions about the decision to separate. Councilman Kevin Kernan noted that the park board was created by city ordinance, and could only be dissolved by city ordinance. If the current board left to form a nonprofit, the city would likely have to appoint a new park board, he said. Wolfe said whether to eliminate the park board entirely was at the city’s discretion. Kernan also noted that the request had precedent: proponents of a bike trail through Princeton formed a similar nonprofit, separate from the park board, to promote and fundraise. Councilman Keith Youngers noted that other civic nonprofits, such as the one founded to operate the Princeton Days festival, had dissolved after failing to meet the financial reporting requirements of a 501(c)(3). Volrath asked City Attorney Candy Pastrnak to investigate whether the creation of a new nonprofit in place of the park board would complicate city insurance policies. The council will reconsider the request at a future meeting. Changes to the dump Princeton will restrict the city dump at the end of Chestnut Street to residents and their yard waste only, the council agreed. The council mov the restrictions after reports that rubble from roadwork in LeClaire had been brought to the dump. Some rubble came from beneath a former gas station and along old sewer lines, Volrath reported. The dump lies within the wellhead protection area of the only functioning municipal well. The council asked Pastrnak to draft an ordinance setting a first-time violation fine at $2,500. The fine will double on each following offense. “You might as well make it enough that it’s going to deter,” Volrath said. The council will proceed with the first required reading of the ordinance at their next meeting, April 23. The council also plans to install cameras to monitor activity at the dump. Other business In other news, the council: • Renewed liquor licenses for Casey’s, Three 33, and Go Fish. • Heard a proposal from Matt Shapiro to restructure ownership a drainage area that divides his properties near 1005 2nd Street. He was referred to the city Planning and Zoning commission.

Moline Police detective Michael Griffin named Criminal Investigator of the Year

Detective Michael Griffin of the Moline Police Department has been named the 2026 Criminal Investigator of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. Griffin’s leadership and perseverance in the nearly 30-year investigation into the disappearance and murder of 11-year-old Trudy Appleby show [...]

District hands out Lancer Pride Awards Monday

It was a full house, at least for a little while, at Monday’s North Scott School Board meeting, as board members handed out three Lancer Pride Awards. A group of bus driver Deb Batchelor’s young riders turned out to celebrate her at the meeting, bringing gifts, flowers and lots of hugs. “She is such a blessing to everyone who rides her bus, and to everyone who knows her,” said board member Joni Dittmer during the presentation. “She greets them every single morning with a wonderful smile and such care and concern, and it starts their day off so positively. “Miss Debbie celebrates everything big and small … we love Miss Debbie so much, and she deserves all the recognition for the positive difference she makes in the North Scott School District. She’s a wonderful representative of North Scott schools and shows so much love and kindness every single day.” As the young students filed up to greet Batchelor, Dittmer asked what they thought of Miss Debbie. “She’s amazing,” they said in unison. A visibly moved Batchelor thanked district transportation director Derek Hamilton for hiring her. “This is the best part-time job I’ve ever had. And I would do anything for these kids … I love them all.” Also honored were high school English teacher Emily Hintze and choir director Lori Potts. Hintze has been a teacher at the high school for 13 years and also teaches public speaking classes. Outside of the classroom, she works with Lancer Productions and coaches the speech team, which recently completed its season at All-State. She also leads international travel opportunities with fellow English teacher Jen Sambdman. They have already brought students to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Greece, and this summer, they will bring North Scott students to Asia, with a trip to Japan. “I’m really grateful that I get to work with a lot of amazing people and have a lot of creativity to do what’s right for students and get to see them grow and learn and thrive, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. And I’m really happy that North Scott offers so many opportunities for the kids and that I get to be a part of it,” said Hintze. She also put in a plug for North Scott’s upcoming spring musical. “Please get your tickets for ‘The Addams Family.’ Opening night is this Friday.” Board member Morgan Dunn asked Hintze what her favorite travel opportunity has been so far. “I also take kids to internationals for theater, which is in the booming metropolis of Bloomington, Ind., which is great every single time,” said Hintze. “I really liked our big trip to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. That was fantastic. We had a pretty large group that was a lot of really amazing kids. Greece and Italy was fun because it was a smaller group, and so I got to know those five kids really well. Japan, we’re all trying something new. So, it’s just really exciting to see them see something new for the first time.” Potts has been the choir director at the high school for 32 years. She oversees three curricular and two extracurricular choirs, with enrollment averaging 160 students yearly. The choirs also regularly have between 14 and 25 students accepted into the All-State Choir. Most recently, she directed North Scott Singers at the American Choral Directors’ Midwestern Conference in Milwaukee, Wis., where they received a standing ovation from an audience that included choir directors from 10 states. “You make such a great impact on the kids and create that love of music for all those kids,” said board member Carrie Keppy. Board member Frank Wood also noted that Potts had an impact on his granddaughter, Kaitlyn, who was an All-State singer and minored in music at Drake University. Elementary ELA curriculum The board approved a new English Language Arts curriculum for kindergarten through sixth grade. District curriculum director Nicole Litterer gave a presentation on the new curriculum through Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt. Kindergarten through fifth grade will use a curriculum called IntoReading, while sixth graders will use IntoLiterature. Litterer said one of the main factors teachers and instructional coaches looked at as they piloted the program was ensuring students received a guaranteed viable curriculum. “Meaning, basically, that no matter what building your student is in, what classroom your student is in, we can be assured that your student is going to have an equitable, similar experience. Not that the teacher is going to teach it exactly the same, but they’ll have that same basic foundational experience.” Other goals included improving student growth and supporting all teachers with planning and instruction. Litterer said the pilot team had been drawn to the HMH curriculum because it offers both full classroom learning as well as small group activities. The program promises to build knowledge, language and foundational skills, and improve reading, vocabulary, grammar and writing. Litterer added the HMH curriculum also offers ways students can build on their learning year over year, with connecting concepts across grades. There are also aspects of social studies and science built into the curriculum, too.  With the board’s approval, the new materials can be ordered. All the classroom materials and implementation support will cost $811,446.14. The K-6 team will also meet for approximately four hours in April and four hours in May for planning, pacing, and goal setting. As for the junior high and high school curricula, superintendent Joe Stutting said a meeting was planned with those teachers on Tuesday for further discussion. There is still ongoing debate about whether these teachers will adopt a formal curriculum or be allowed to write their own, although an HMH pilot program was held at these levels. Stutting said he expected the board would receive a recommendation about the junior high and high school curricula at the next board meeting on April 27. Meanwhile, Litterer said the K-12 science teams are also meeting now to understand and implement the new Iowa Core standards set by the legislature. They are starting to review potential curriculum materials. The K-12 social studies teams are expected to start meeting this month to begin the same process. Financial business District director of business affairs Jill Van Roekel presented $479,120.79 in bills for approval. Highlights included $3,315.03 to the Scott County Auditor’s Office for fees associated with the March 3 special PPEL election; $2,941.45 to Mediaquest Signs for parts for the digital sign outside the high school; and $8,790 to Chumbley Commercial Concrete LLC for concrete work at the Neil Armstrong playground. The board also approved the budget for the 2026-2027 school year. Other business In other business, the board approved the purchase of a new exhaust hood for the culinary classroom at the Regional Innovation Center from Crawford Company at a total cost of $76,162. The board also approved the purchase of 26.33 acres of land within the borders of the North Scott School District near the BettPlex at a total cost of $1,711,450, or $65,000 per acre. “For that area, this is a really good price,” said Stutting. This represents the last project out of funds from the Vision 2025 bond. While there are no plans for the land at this time, Stutting said making the purchase now could help the district plan for the future. “It may be 20 years, who knows. The district may not end up using it and sell the property someday. This is just getting us in a position in case a population really grows out there in our district. There’s land that we own to build some type of school building out there if we needed to.” The district will continue the hiring process for principals at Ed White and Alan Shepard this week, with interviews scheduled for Thursday. Stutting said he is also working to get interviews scheduled for the director of business affairs position in late April. The board held an exempt session, followed by a closed session pursuant to Chapter 21.5(1)(i) of Iowa Code, “To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when a closed session is necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation, and that individual requests a closed session.” No action was taken following the closed session.

The Iran war created a global natural gas shortage — a windfall for U.S. companies

With Qatar's liquefied natural gas still offline, U.S. companies see an opening and are bringing in new investments.

A special day for special athletes

Athletes from across eastern Iowa participated in the Special Olympic track and field events Saturday. A full day of activities began with opening ceremonies in the gym at North Scott Junior High before moving over to Lancer Stadium.

Run for Veterans dashes through Walcott

Runners gathered for one-mile and 5K races for the Quad City Veterans Outreach Center in Walcott Saturday. Participants ranged from veteran to civilian, old to young, two-legged to four -legged to stroller-bound. Afterwards, runners and guests gathered for a meal at the Walcott Legion. —Noah Glasgow

School board gets an update on school safety protocols

Efforts to keep North Scott students safe at school continue every single day, and the North Scott School Board heard an update from the district’s safety committee Monday. Aaron Schwartz, associate principal at the high school, led the presentation, which also included comments from district communications director Michelle Skadal and junior high assistant principal Stephanie Fahrenkrog. The safety committee is currently made up of a group of 44 people, including teachers, support staff, administrators, first responders and members of the community. It meets quarterly, although there are sub-groups that work throughout the year as needs arise. Each building has its own safety team. “Our goal, every single day, is to send 100% of our students and our staff home safely to their loved ones,” said Schwartz. “And I think, when I speak for my safety team, that is a goal we all take very personally.” Schwartz said that the first step in keeping each building safe starts with yearly trainings, which include informed fire drills, tornado drills, ALICE training and bus safety training. The district has also added several additional trainings, including Stop the Bleed for trauma incidents, training staff in CPR and first aid, and Project ADAM, which provides training for AED devices for cardiac incidents. Schwartz credited high school nurse Wendy Peterson with bringing Project ADAM training to the committee’s attention. New efforts include rolling out a Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which will work to create consistent terminology across the district during emergency situations. Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, the committee plans to implement a Standard Reunification Method (SRM), which will ensure students and families can be reunited in the event of a major emergency situation. The SRP and the SRM are both being implemented using resources from the I Love U Guys Foundation, which works with more than 78,000 school districts and other agencies and organizations around the world to deal with crisis response. “They are a great proponent of school safety,” said Schwartz. “They have a ton of resources and they’re kind of the standard. And so, we, as a district, are going to make sure we’re up to that standard.” Schwartz also spoke about changes to the anonymous reporting system. The district formerly used a program called P3, but has switched to a program called SaySomething, which is offered through the Sandy Hook Promise program. Students can anonymously report situations they are concerned about, and SaySomething is monitored 24/7 by representatives of Sandy Hook Promise. “If any report comes in, it is seen immediately,” said Schwartz. “It doesn’t matter if it’s two in the afternoon or two in the morning. If there is a life safety event, they have the ability to contact our administration, our police. They have all of those direct contacts and take care of it immediately. So, we are addressing needs as they happen.” Schwartz said when SaySomething was rolled out at the beginning of this school year, all students in grades 6-12 received age-appropriate training on the program.  Skadal discussed after-action reviews, which are done any time there is a safety situation at any of the buildings. She said the second administrators are notified of an incident, a timeline begins. “From there, we’re measuring the times that it takes to communicate to all our stakeholders.” After every safety incident, a team meets within days to review the entire situation. “After the incident happens and the timeline is assessed, we all look at that timeline and add things that help us look at the big picture,” said Skadal. “What could we have done better? How do we make this next step if there’s something else that happens similarly?” Skadal also has records of all communications that she’s sent out since she began as communications director last school year. The team can also review these to see if there have been repeat incidents, and how the district handled the situation then. All of this helps the district identify if there are communication gaps and how it can work to fix these. “We’re always looking at those gaps and trying to figure out the best way and the fastest way to communicate, not only to our students and staff, but also to the parents and everyone else that’s involved in our community,” said Skadal. To that end, she’s also working on creating an emergency preparedness glossary that can be sent to all stakeholders and families that might be impacted by a safety situation. This glossary has also been informed by resources from the I Love U Guys Foundation. Skadal is also a member of the Scott County Public Information Officers group. This initiative began about a year ago, although a similar group met in the years prior to the pandemic. It includes PIOs from the North Scott, Pleasant Valley, Davenport and Bettendorf school districts, the cities of Bettendorf and Davenport, the Scott County Health Department and Medic EMS, and UnityPoint Trinity, Community Health Care and MercyOne Genesis. Skadal and Schwartz are also undertaking FEMA training in strategic communications and public information efforts this week. Skadal has already completed training in incident command systems. Meanwhile, the district is working to also shore up technologies within the schools, including adding or upgrading approximately 104 cameras. “When I started at North Scott, I believe we had 16 cameras at the high school,” said Schwartz. The district is also upgrading from single position to four-point cameras, which can get an image in multiple directions. These cameras also have improved quality. The district is also in the early stages of testing an integrated software on the cameras. While the software is not so advanced as to include facial recognition, it can identify characteristics, such as the prompt “blue car,” or “a person wearing a blue sweatshirt and black pants.” This can help people with access to the cameras attempt to track people within the building or on the property. It also helps narrow down where administration or the school resource officer can be looking, since there are currently about 86 cameras just at the high school. Fahrenkrog said, in addition to communications, the safety committee is also working to ensure that students are feeling equipped within their buildings. She said that while grades 7-12 already had a lot of materials in place for things like ALICE drills, there was a gap at the elementary level. A sub-group of the safety committee worked to create age-appropriate training for younger students that can be taught at grades PK-1, 2-3, and 4-6. “We’ve done a lot of work with that to make sure that our teachers feel comfortable and confident with what they’re delivering to the students, so that, in the event there is an emergency, they’re equipped and have that knowledge,” said Fahrenkrog. She said that the safety committee has also had a lot of conversations about classroom safety during the school day, as doors are locked during class time. While it is easier at the junior high and high school levels to get up and unlock the door when someone needs to come in, this is difficult at the elementary level without disrupting classes. So, at the elementary schools, a door accessory called a Lock Blok was installed on each classroom door. Fahrenkrog said currently, about 80% of elementary teachers are using the Lock Blok successfully, although the goal is 100% to create consistency across all buildings. Fahrenkrog said currently, the biggest gap that the safety committee is working on is the reunification process. While a review has been ongoing, the committee is ready to start rolling out the SRM and will begin training administrators in June. Once the administrators are trained, there will be additional discussion and tabletop exercises before the rest of the staff are trained over the summer, including small-scale exercises, with an eye towards implementation in August. The committee will then continue to refine the SRM through the 2026-2027 school year and beyond.  Schwartz said work is also ongoing with the district’s emergency operations plan, including increased stakeholder education and awareness. “And with all the students here, I want to be very clear that you guys are stakeholders in this,” he told the 18 students present as a requirement of their government class. Board members, and superintendent Joe Stutting, discussed the reunification plan. Schwartz said the reunification location is typically not shared writ large with families. Board member Molly Bergfeld complimented the communication methods the district has been using, especially explaining new terminology for safety events. “You guys have done a really great job. I felt like the last two or three times, the communication was spot-on. It was, ‘This is what we’re going through. This is what this means’ … you laid it all out there, what it means and what the protocol is and what the reasons are. Good job.” Bergfeld also shared that a few months ago, board members received an email from a parent, sharing how the safety trainings had affected their child. The student is now in college and was faced with a safety incident at school. They were able to help their classmates safely through the stressful time using lessons they had learned through their time at North Scott. “Thanks to all of you for the time,” said board president Tracy Lindaman. “It’s unfortunate that we have to think about these things, but that’s where we’re at in today’s world.”

A visit to Liberty Press

I drove from Eldridge out to West Liberty several weeks ago for a serious look at the Liberty Press. I had stood in its doorway with several mesmerized children for a letterpress printing demonstration at Christmastime. A few months later and I thought a sustained look backwards at little lead characters might prove a tonic for weeks spent slouching towards artificial this and digital that. Liberty Press is “a working print shop,” proprietor Steve Alt told me, with several hundred typefaces and a half-dozen functioning presses carefully cleaned and revivified. We “don’t use the M-word,” he said. “The M-word is museum.” Liberty Press is a working print shop in the narrow sense that it is functional. Alt has spent 37 years as an industrial engineer at Collins Aerospace and ties his printer’s smock on days off. He prints envelopes, posters and advertisements for the Muscatine County Fair and the Midwest Old Threshers. At Christmas, he printed 8,000 tickets for the North Pole Express of Mount Pleasant, discretely numbered and labeled with the appropriate coach. Poinsettia or Candy Cane, for instance. “I love everything mechanical,” Alt said. The presses are his “real love.” He restored his first in 2000. When Model Printers of the Quad Cities closed shortly before the pandemic, he asked if they were holding on to any old letterpress type or presses. “I walked upstairs. On the second floor—it was a humongous building—the whole second floor was filled full of letterpress stuff. Hadn't been touched since the 1980s.” Alt carted it to West Liberty and began the ongoing process of restoring presses, typefaces, cabinets, pendant lamps and more to their original condition. “This print shop and all the stuff in here—you're going to have to travel hours away, states away, to find another shop this size, with this much stuff,” he said. He is an inveterate collector by his own admission. Alt carries out his occasional printwork on several presses. The oldest, from 1879, is powered by treadle, common into the first decades of the 20th century. The newest, from 1962, was one of the last such presses ever produced. On his “workhorse,” a Heidelberg Platen Press from Germany, an arm swings blank paper like the sail of a windmill into the printing mechanism, and then swings them out, over and over again. The other presses must be fed by hand. Liberty Press holds a miraculous diversity of typefaces, when you consider that each has multiple lead blocks for every letter, number and punctuation mark, in uppercase and lowercase as apposite, and in as many as a dozen point sizes. A full case of Gaudi, from six-point to 32-point, takes the space of a large filing cabinet and may number a thousand pieces of type. Not every typeface has Gaudi’s range. Buster Brown, among the rarest in the Liberty Press collection, was manufactured exclusively for use in the shoe business. “You could only get this typeface if you were a shoe salesman,” Alt explained. “And then you're supposed to take this to your whoever's doing your business cards or newspaper stuff, and then you're supposed to get it back.” Buster Brown is exclusively uppercase, simple and with a childish spirit. You might set the title page of Little House on the Prairie in Buster Brown. “A lot of times when the when the shoe store closed up, nobody knew what this was, and they threw it away,” Alt said. “So this became extremely rare, extremely expensive.” His set is all a single point size. Alt knows that “what's keeping letterpress still alive today is the art part—the old guys call it the artsy-fartsy group.” In the heyday of the business, a letterpress shop would print business cards and receipts, blank parking tickets. “I got a couple plates in there that show that show all your teeth, all your spine. So, doctor's office stuff.” He has saved several lead plates for Levi’s blue jean advertisements. What Alt calls the “letterpress world” was once completely ordinary, which is how several of its terms fell into ordinary usage. Mind your p’s and q’s refers to the fact that, since every piece of lead type is inverted, p’s looked like q’s and q’s like p’s to typesetters. “Lowercase” and “uppercase” refer to the location of different letters in a case of type. My Luddite sensibilities have grown slightly more obvious in this column in recent weeks. (Not that anyone should be surprised to discover it: I work for a print newspaper.) I expected Liberty Press to flatter this sensibility, but instead it reminded me of its limits. I think an aversion to digital this and artificial that amounts to a dislike for the muck of my own life. But for another generation, the printing press was the muck of theirs: they stained their hands with ink the way mine cramp at the keyboard. Technology changes, dissatisfaction persists. Alt prepared and printed a small card for me: “Advocate,” it reads in large, shadowed letters, “West Liberty   Durant   Wilton” in small type below. This was just the memento I had secretly wished for. Out of sentimentality—a wish to reduce the past to something small and charming, an anchor against present anxieties. But history does not like such treatment. It would much rather be recognized in its full glory: in the swinging arms, spinning motors, polished cabinets, and tens of thousands of pieces of type.

Moline starts hydrant flushing April 20

The City of Moline Utilities Department will start flushing about 2,500 fire hydrants as part of its annual hydrant flushing program on Monday, April 20. Crews will work across the city over about five weeks, moving through 24 zones at a rate of about one zone per day, weather permitting. Work will take place between [...]

We need mandatory prison time for Iowa's tax thieves

If you steal from taxpayers, you should go to prison. It’s as simple as that. But in Iowa, that’s not what happens. Public dollars meant for schools, roads, and public safety have been taken by people in positions of trust — sometimes tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And too often, the people responsible walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist. That’s not justice. And it’s not fair to the Iowans who play by the rules and pay their taxes. These insiders aren’t drunk every week or month in the moments when they write themselves extra paychecks. They’ve soberly calculated their risks, and decided to help themselves to your money. They see the headlines of no jail time. When that happens, it sends the wrong message — that some people can break the rules and get away with it. That kind of system erodes trust in government and undermines the rules everyone else follows every day. The punishment has to be certain enough to stop the crime before it happens. Right now, it often isn’t. That’s why I’ve pushed for a clear, common-sense standard: if you steal more than $10,000 in taxpayer dollars, you should face mandatory prison time. No exceptions. No loopholes. And if you steal from taxpayers, you shouldn’t continue to benefit from them — meaning we should ban anyone convicted of fraud from doing business with the state, and strip them of taxpayer-funded benefits like retirement and health care. Why should you reap taxpayer funded benefits after breaking the trust of taxpayers? It isn’t complicated. It’s basic accountability. I’ve proposed this policy every year since becoming State Auditor. And every year, insiders in the legislature have shut it down. I think Iowans deserve to know why. This is about fairness—and about preventing crime in the first place. When consequences are clear and certain, fewer people will take the risk. That’s not theory; it’s what I saw firsthand. Before serving as State Auditor, I spent seven years as Iowa’s chief public corruption prosecutor, where I locked up scammers, taxpayer abusers, thieves, and violent criminals to protect Iowa’s communities. I’ve spent my tenure as State Auditor uncovering record amounts of misspent money and protecting Iowa taxpayers from waste, fraud, and abuse. I’ve seen up close how this works, and I know the justice system only does its job when the punishment fits the crime and people know the law will actually be enforced. The cases I saw weren’t accidents or misunderstandings. They were choices. People betting they could take public money without facing serious consequences. And too often, they were right. We can change that. A justice system works best when the rules are clear, the penalties are real, and everyone is held to the same standard — no matter who they are or what position they hold. Stealing from taxpayers is a serious crime. It should be treated that way. If we want to restore trust in government, protect public dollars, and send a clear message that corruption won’t be tolerated in Iowa, we need to start holding people accountable. No excuses. No special treatment. Just accountability — for all.

Republicans deliver public safety without compromise

Iowa has proven something many states are still struggling to figure out: you don’t have to choose between public safety, accountability, and rehabilitation. You can have all three. Iowa’s results didn’t happen by accident. They are the product of leadership from Republican majorities in the House and Senate, alongside the Governor and Attorney General, focused on getting public safety right. Violent crime is roughly a third below the national average. Property crime is about 25 percent lower. Both have declined over the past decade. That success comes from a clear philosophy: support law enforcement, enforce consequences, and create pathways for people to turn their lives around. That balance starts with sentencing. Iowa takes a targeted approach. Violent and repeat offenders are held accountable and kept off the streets. At the same time, nonviolent offenders are given opportunities to reenter society successfully. That means smart sentencing reforms paired with real investments in job training, substance abuse treatment, and supervision. Rehabilitation only works when it’s paired with accountability and Republicans understand that. Serious crimes like murder, human trafficking, assaults on law enforcement, and organized retail theft carry serious consequences. Republicans have strengthened penalties for coordinated theft and looting, making clear that the lawlessness seen in other parts of the country has no place here. And let’s be honest about that contrast. Across the country, we’ve seen what happens when leaders experiment with soft-on-crime policies, weaken penalties, and undermine law enforcement. Crime rises, communities suffer, and more innocent lives are lost. Iowa has chosen a different path. We back the blue. Iowa has increased pay and benefits for law enforcement, improved training, and created incentives to recruit officers to serve our communities. We’ve also strengthened protections for those who wear the badge, including stricter standards for individuals charged with violent crimes against law enforcement. That support matters. Especially now, as law enforcement officers across the country face growing hostility. In some cases, they have been unfairly targeted by liberals simply for doing their jobs. In Iowa, we send a different message: we respect you, we support you, and we have your back. Public safety also means staying ahead of emerging threats. Iowa has taken aggressive steps to address organized retail crime and repeat offenders, giving law enforcement the tools they need to stop crime before it spreads. And as the fentanyl crisis devastates communities nationwide, we have increased penalties for those who traffic this deadly drug into our state. But a strong justice system is not just about enforcement. It requires a solid foundation. That’s why Iowa has invested in correctional officers, law enforcement training, victim services, and the courts themselves. A system that works depends on the people who carry it out every day, and Iowa has made those investments a priority. The result is a model that works. Unlike states led by Democrats that have lurched from one extreme to another, Iowa has stayed grounded. We haven’t defunded our police or turned a blind eye to crime. Instead, we’ve built a system that is firm but fair. Tough where it needs to be, and compassionate where it should be. Public safety isn’t achieved through slogans or political experiments. It comes from steady leadership, clear priorities, and the willingness to stand behind the people who keep our communities safe. Iowa’s approach didn’t happen by chance. It reflects years of leadership focused on supporting law enforcement and enforcing consequences. That kind of progress isn’t guaranteed. It depends on who is making the decisions. If Iowa elects Democrats this fall, make no mistake, we will move toward the same policies we’ve seen in other states, where penalties are weakened and law enforcement is sidelined, and the results will follow. Iowans should be clear-eyed about that choice.

'Draconian' measures making their way through legislature

According to Albert Einstein: “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.”  True Enough.  But what if that library is controlled by those with a political agenda?  People blinded by the certainty of their own beliefs.  People who presume opinions contrary to their own shouldn’t even be considered by others.  How valuable is that library?  In a world overwhelmed by Internet access, it’s odd that anyone would believe they can control the flow of ideas.  Even odder they believe themselves qualified, much less entitled, to make such decisions.  Now, Republican legislators in Des Moines have muscled SF2532 through the Senate.  This bill would eliminate the ability of local governments to create local health departments.  Don’t ask me why.  Maybe anti-vaxxers?  Anyway, now they’ve added a completely unrelated amendment, H-8260.  Among other draconian aims, H-8260 mandates every library review every item in its collection against ambiguous content standards.  It would also require librarians police access to “age-appropriate” material by minors and provide annual notice to all parents and guardians about their children›s reading choices.  Moreover, H-8260 strips control of library operations from local community boards and forces city councils and county boards to add library governance to their workload, further politicizing the issues. The amendment comes with no actionable guidelines and no funding for the additional costs and staff required.  It is a needless and blatantly partisan, unfunded mandate.  In the meantime, where are we on plugging the growing $1+ BILLION  budget shortfall?  Our jaw-dropping cancer rates?  Property tax reform?  Public Education funding?    

Historic property tax bill advances through Senate

After spending Easter weekend with our families, the thirteenth week of session was busy as we worked through several important issues in the Iowa Senate. One of the major bills debated this week was House File 2254, which requires the Board of Regents to develop a policy prohibiting the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from including noncompete clauses in contracts with physicians. The bill applies to employment contracts between UIHC and advanced registered nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, registered nurses, and physicians that are entered into, extended, or renewed on or after the bill’s effective date. This is a huge win for rural hospitals, our health care workforce, and Iowans seeking care. We have passed several pieces of legislation in recent years to support our health care workforce, and this bill continues that effort. We also had encouraging news related to education this week. According to the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa’s high school graduation rate increased to 88.8 percent in 2025, the highest rate in five years. This represents an increase from 88.3 percent for the class of 2024. About 35,116 students graduated in 2025, nearly 1,000 more than the previous year. This is the first time since 2020 that the rate has exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, the rate was also 88.3 percent. We have worked on several policies to ensure students are learning the essentials they need to succeed both in school and after graduation, and we are proud to see Iowa’s graduation rates improving. After months of discussion and preparation, the Iowa Senate also passed a historic property tax overhaul this week to provide real relief for Iowans, reform Iowa’s property tax system, and restore our infrastructure. This proposal reflects a vision for a system that is simpler, fairer, and more transparent for Iowa taxpayers. Property tax reform was a priority from the very first day of session, and we were proud to bring this bill forward for a vote. Senate File 2472 provides a 50 percent discount on taxable value for every Iowan who owns a home. It increases the discount to 60 percent when homeowners reach age 60 and adds an additional ten percent each decade after that. To provide more relief, the bill also automatically lowers levies when property inflation rises above 2 percent. The proposal modernizes Iowa’s property tax system by eliminating the variable rollback system and allowing all public notices to be posted online, making the process more transparent and stable for taxpayers. As we gathered feedback throughout the summer and fall, we also heard about the importance of maintaining services in our cities and towns. The bill includes flexibility measures that allow local entities to raise the local option sales tax to 1.25 cents to support public safety while lowering reliance on property taxes. Senate File 2472 also includes a fuel tax index to ensure additional funding for Iowa’s roads and bridges. Iowa currently faces significant infrastructure challenges, and cities and counties have raised concerns about maintaining roads that are essential to economic growth. This proposal ensures fuel taxes cannot increase more than one cent per year and cannot increase more than three consecutive years. The legislature also retains the authority to reduce the fuel tax at any time. These funds are constitutionally protected for infrastructure, with more than 53 percent directed to city, secondary, and farm to market roads. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

School choice should belong to the parents

With Iowa’s adoption of school choice, those that oppose this common sense use of our tax money want to continue the monopoly of only public schools receiving funding. Education in Iowa is funded by property tax, which amounts to 58% of all collected taxes. In order to be an accredited school, all schools must meet academic standards set by the state to advance and graduate. To take all property owner taxes to only fund public school education is pure discrimination of all private and religious schools meeting the same education standards. The voucher program takes the per student funding and gives it to the parents to decide where they want to invest in their child’s education. The state is not funding private or religious schools, the parents are. In a series called “Issues in Education,” Milton Friedman points out that the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled on this issue of parents using a voucher program. Those that oppose school choice, to a person, only talk about the funding that will be denied to public schools, while all schools will receive the same funding per student. No one ever asks why parents are leaving public schools. I would think the answer to that question would be more important than any perceived loss of funding. In a front-page story in the Feb. 4-18 Epoch Times by Aaron Gifford, titled “Why Public Schools Have More Staff and Fewer Students,” he investigates where public schools spend the majority of their funds, and it is not for teachers. The myth that public schools are underfunded is revealed in places like Chicago and Baltimore, where the per student spending is more than $10,000 more than Iowa but the results are near complete failure. With the decades of public school monopoly on public funding, a person would think the results would be obviously better. Results like graduation rates, dropout rates, acceptance to a four-year college, etc., are not better at many of these schools, and colleges and universities have had to offer remedial classes to get some students ready to go into the college classes. My wife and I both graduated from public schools, and our children graduated from public schools. We really liked these schools and still do like them. Our children received a good education at these public schools, and they are still good schools. To sum it up, it should be the parents’ choice of where the best results will be for their children.   Lonnie D. Spengler New Liberty

Signs of dementia are becoming apparent

If you have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s, your risk of developing the disease nearly doubles compared to those without a family history.(alz.org) Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump, had Alzheimer’s and lived with dementia for almost a decade. According to Donald’s niece, Mary, in her book Too Much and Never Enough, the Trump Organization set up a “pretend office” for Fred in his last years to keep him calm and busy. Fred Trump III, Donald’s nephew, has noted concerning similarities in Donald’s recent behavior. Some family members have compared the mental decline in Donald Trump to what they observed in Fred Sr. Fred’s cousin, John Walter, had dementia, and Donald’s late sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, reportedly showed similar symptoms before her death. Dr. Vin Gupta, NBC’s medical expert, says Donald shows signs of dementia, such as erratic behavior, confusion, illogical thinking, and word-finding difficulty. Several psychologists have raised similar concerns and warned of malignant narcissism. Both note that the repeated cognitive testing Donald Trump cites may suggest monitoring for declining mental health rather than fitness. In my view, Trump’s strange and profane Easter post, along with several previous Truth Social posts, may not have been written by Donald. I believe it is possible that Vice President Vance or Stephen Miller, along with Pete Hegseth, may actually be running the White House, and I wonder what will happen to Donald when his decline becomes so apparent that he becomes a handicap to whoever is in charge. I also believe this year’s election will be undermined by this administration’s private police force, ICE, and MEGA politicians addicted to the illusion of power. Information here gathered from the National Institute of Health, People.com, express.co.uk, thedailybeast.com, Wikipedia.org, health.harvard.edu, and pbs.org. More sources can be found by searching the comments listed in this letter.   James Turley Eldridge

Travelogue highlights beauty of European religious buildings

Travel with Connie Koehn on Tuesday, April 21, 3 p.m. at the DeWitt Operahouse to enjoy the “Beauty of Europe’s Churches, Monasteries and Convents.”  The presentation will focus on the various elements that add beauty to these buildings, looking at those elements from the top down and the inside out.  Examples will span many centuries of buildings from the catacombs in Salzburg, Austria, to several 20th century structures.  The emphasis will be on the visual, not a lot of facts and figures, and will include examples from above the Arctic Circle to Greece and from Spain to Russia. And it’s Pie Day! Doors open at 2 p.m. and every effort will be made to present the Travelogue on the day scheduled, however if inclement weather requires a cancellation, the information will be posted at the theater or contact Monica 563-370-9394 or Lori 563-212-2991.  If Central DeWitt Community Schools are canceled or scheduled to be released early by 1 p.m., Travelogue will also be canceled.  A $5 donation is suggested. The proceeds support local community projects such as the Referral Center, DeWitt Library, DeWitt Fire Department, KidSight, Diabetes Awareness, Camp Courageous and Camp Hertko Hollow.

Dress for Success Quad Cities to host open house

Dress for Success Quad Cities will host a community open house on Thursday, April 16, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 423 E. 32nd St. in Davenport. This all-day event will give guests an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s mission to empower individuals to achieve economic independence. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the Dress for Success Quad Cities team; learn about programs available to support individuals on their career journeys; tour the facility; and learn more about volunteer and giving opportunities. Light refreshments will be served throughout, and guests may stop by all day. Dress for Success Quad Cities helps individuals thrive in work and life by providing assistance with professional attire, career and life development tools, and a network of support. “We are excited to open our doors to the community and share more about the work we do,” said Mikael Gibson, the agency’s new executive director. “This is a great opportunity for individuals to connect with our mission and see firsthand how they can support and get involved.” For more information, please visit dressforsuccessqc.org.

A history-making, record-breaking week

It’s like they never even left. Two full weeks without a meet had no adverse effects on the North Scott girls’ track team. The Lancers went right back to their winning ways, taking first place at the Jesse Day Relays last Thursday and a runner-up finish at the Assumption Invitational on Saturday, returning right to form despite consistently poor weather throughout all of April. A second school-record break this spring was the cherry on top of an incredible 72 hours. “Other than the rain, it was a lot of fun,” Lancer coach Troy Matthaidess joked. “That’s the going trend this year. If we have a track meet, it’s going to rain. “Going into Thursday, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. We went 14 calendar days between meets. You always wonder if we’re doing enough in practice. We got off to a great start with our field events. Hopped on the track for the sprint medley. Just, what a way to start.” After last year’s state meet, Matthaidess said his sprint medley girls ‘can taste the school record’ after running 1:50.59 in the Blue Oval. Three of the girls from that state relay, juniors Olivia Graham, Sophi Schneckloth, and Micayla Ramirez, joined with sophomore Emmalia Ranson to run 1:49.80, breaking the school record by two-thirds of a second. The previous mark of 1:50.47 was set in 2019 by Savanna Bruck, Brooke Kruse, Brooke Corson and Sydney Fuller. “When us coaches time things at a meet, it’s unofficial. When I stopped my watch, I looked down and thought, ‘Oh boy, that’s quicker than I was anticipating,’” Matthaidess said. “You wait for the result to come through, and there it was.” North Scott was neck-and-neck with Dubuque Wahlert (1:50.90) and Bettendorf (1:51.37), but Schneckloth was able to separate just enough at the end of her 400-meter leg. “Sophi was with a group of three when she got the baton, and even through the cut. The teams we were racing against are good in that particular event. Even throughout the race, you could tell that they were in a pretty good spot,” Matthaidess said. The sprint medley was far from the only win on Thursday. North Scott put up 124 team points to win its second Jesse Day Relays in three years. Ramirez won the 100-meter dash and tied her career-best mark of 12.37 seconds. Ramirez anchored the 4x200-meter relay with Graham, senior Natalie Nwatchock and junior Kamilah Eller, winning in 1:48.65. The connective tissue in North Scott’s other three winning events was freshman Kaylee Ervin, matching Ramirez’s three gold medal total on the night. Ervin won the long jump at 16 feet 6.50 inches and had roles on the winning distance medley and 4x100-meter relay teams. Less than 48 hours later, Ervin rebroke her personal record in the long jump at 16 feet 11 inches. Since 2022, only Sydney Skarich has a better long jump result for the North Scott girls’ track program. “Coach (Paula Nemmers) Skarich was talking about that consistency piece and trying to maintain your steps early in the season. This week Coach Skarich backed them up so they can gain a bit more speed, and I think you’re seeing the result of that,” Matthaidess said. “That goes into making sure that your steps are consistent, so you can back up and get more speed down the runway.” Ervin ran the distance medley with Schneckloth, freshman Briahh Davis, as well as junior Kendall Behm, who placed third in the long jump at Jesse Day. The 4x100 team consisted of a majority of underclassmen, with Eller as the elder statesman, Ranson as the sophomore, and Ervin and Davis as the freshmen. “When we go back to the depth discussion, we know what Micayla is going to give us. She sets that bar pretty high. Olivia is the same way. Now, we have these other depth pieces that allow us to move some people around, and at the same time we’re not losing a step necessarily in those other races,” Matthaidess said. “That’s the fun part about being a coach. When you have those depth pieces, it opens things up.” North Scott only won one event, Ervin in the long jump, at Saturday’s Assumption Invitational. Still, the Lancers put up 99 team points to place second, only behind Pleasant Valley’s 119 total. This meet was a continuation of success for senior Adalynn Johnson in the shot put. Johnson set a monster PR at the Jesse Day Relays at 37 feet 10 inches, taking third place. She ended up in second place at Assumption, throwing 35 feet 10 inches. Her 37-foot mark is the farthest North Scott girls’ shot put throw since Jorie Hanenburg broke 42 feet in 2023. “(Johnson) started throwing the shot this year and has really been working on that form with Coach (Dawn) Rheingans,” Matthaidess said. “The weather wasn’t good on Saturday; they were basically throwing into a lake. Following up (her PR) with 35’ 10” on Saturday, she’s starting to put it together meet-after-meet. I think she’s only thrown in four total meets in her life. That’s really exciting.” The field events continue to be good for the Lancers. Nwatchock set a personal record in the high jump at 5 feet 5 inches, which was good for second place on Saturday. “She set a PR at 5-5 on Saturday, and she got 5-4 on Thursday. Hopefully now it’s in her mind that she can continue to do this, that it’s the new norm. She continues to operate there with confidence,” Matthaidess said. As North Scott looks ahead to this week, the final week to qualify for the Drake Relays, the team hopes to send a large contingent to Des Moines. Junior Alyssa Schroeder hit a Blue Standard in the high jump, and the sprint medley team currently sits at 14th, which is well inside the top 24 cut line. The 4x200-meter relay is currently in, but very much on the bubble in 20th place. The 4x100 team will qualify because the Drake Relays takes the top 96 relays in this event. The shuttle hurdle relay takes the top 16 teams, so North Scott’s 20th-place time would need to tick down to qualify. North Scott will have opportunities in Clinton and Davenport this week to improve those times.“Ultimately, we want to try and put every person in their best chance for success, whether that’s Drake Relays success or a PR,” Matthaidess said. “We always want to put together events and lineups that we think can compete. That’s how we’re looking at handling these lineups.”   2026 Girls Drake Blue Standards 100-meter dash: 12.35s 400-meter dash: 57.05s 800-meter run: 2:15.40 1500-meter run: 4:42.50 3000-meter run: 10:13.00 100-meter hurdles: 15.10s 400-meter hurdles: 1:04.50 400-meter Wheelchair: 1:30.00 4x100-meter relay: 50.50s 4x200-meter relay: 1:44.50 4x400-meter relay: 4:01.50 4x800-meter relay: 9:31.00 Shutte hurdle relay: 1:05.00 800-meter medley: 1:49.00 High Jump: 5-06 Long Jump: 18-00 Discus: 140-00 Shot Put: 42-00

Wolfs to celebrate 60 years of marriage April 16

Dennis and Launa Wolf of Walcott are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married April 16, 1966, at First Presbyterian Church, Moline. The couple has farmed all their married life in the Walcott area. Dennis also retired from Brinks Inc. in 2015. Launa worked as a custodian at the Walcott Church and cooked at the Walcott School cafeteria, retiring in 2012. Their children are Renae (Mark) Christopher, Monica Lucas (Josh) and Denise (Blair) Hatten. They have three grandchildren, Jessica (Andrew) Jager, Clint (Laura) Kauffman and Michael Christopher, and three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Kauffman, and Noah and Grace Jager. 

Obituary: Kenneth Fordham

Kenneth Marvin Fordham, 77, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Senior Star, Davenport. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17, at Eldridge United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd Street, Eldridge.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.  Inurnment will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the ASPCA or to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.  Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Ken was born on Dec. 4, 1948, in Princeton, Ill., the son of Marvin and Verla (Teske) Fordham.  He attended two one-room schoolhouses but graduated from Geneseo High School in 1968.  After graduation, his draft number was #1, so he served in the U.S. Air Force in Turkey with the security police squadron and as a Turkish interpreter.  Ken was united in marriage to Deborah Smith on Aug. 30, 1980.  He worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for 25 years.  Ken was a member of Eldridge United Methodist Church, the Sierra Club, where he enjoyed hiking and camping, and he was an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Deborah Fordham of Park View; and many cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Joan Raney. Online condolences may be shared with Ken’s family at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Evelyn Finis

Evelyn Finis Evelyn Marie Finis, 87, of Eldridge, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.  Evelyn was born on Sept. 8, 1938, in Long Grove, to Melvin and Anna (Witt) Hennings.  She attended the Walnut Grove School in Long Grove and graduated from Davenport High School in 1957.  After graduation, she worked for the Davenport Community Schools. Evelyn married Donald Louis Finis on March 18, 1967, in Davenport.  Don and Evelyn farmed in the Wheatland area for many years and had two children, Nancy and Kevin.  Don passed away on April 11, 2009, and eventually, Evelyn moved back to the Eldridge area. Evelyn enjoyed farming, gardening, watching the Hawkeyes, and playing cards.  She played cards with a group of her closest friends for over 50 years. Evelyn is survived by her children, Nancy (Mike) Bray of West Des Moines and Kevin Finis of Davenport; grandchildren, Austin Bray of Ankeny and Alex Bray of East Lansing, Mich.; sister-in-law, Karen Hennings of Bennett; and several nieces and nephews.   She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Raymond Hennings, and sister-in-law, Shirley (Dennis) Schilling.   A Celebration of Life Open House will be held on Saturday, April 18th, from 1-4 pm at the Dixon Legion, 604 Davenport Street, Dixon, Iowa 52745.  A private inurnment at Dixon Cemetery will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Cremation will be directed by Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial, Moline. Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences on her memory page at www. mvcremation.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Debbie Trainor

Debbie Lynn Trainor, age 69, passed away and returned home to her Heavenly Father on April 5, 2026. She was born on April 17, 1956, in Ogden, Utah, to Eva VaLane Rawson and Louis Eugene Seifert. She married her best friend Paul Gerard Trainor on Aug. 13, 1981. The couple was later sealed for time and all eternity in the Ogden Utah Temple on Oct. 30, 1982. Paul loved her endlessly and together they shared decades of love and laughter as eternal companions. Debbie’s legacy is her kindness, compassion, and unwavering love for her friends and family, whose lives were made brighter by knowing her. Debbie earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Illinois University in 2007. After an early career with the Social Security Administration, she operated a self-employed daycare for more than 20 years. Since 2009, her dedicated service as a contract specialist at the Rock Island Arsenal has been the capstone of a 24-year career with the federal government; she retired in 2025. A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Debbie served faithfully in many callings. Debbie’s love language was food and that’s how she showed her care for others. She was a talented family chef and confectioner who generously used her skills to bless her family, those in need, and in her various church callings. Debbie was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her devoted husband, Paul G. Trainor; her children, Patrick Trainor (Jenny), Cheryl Butz (DuWayne), Peter Trainor (Megan), and Rachel Klassen (Brandon); her siblings, Bonnie Norman (Ron), Linda Hampson (Craig), Jerry Seifert (Sandy), Lori Jacobozzi (Mike), and Denise Drysdale; and seven grandchildren (Levi, McKenzie, Luke, Adam, Cambrie, Logan, and Eleanor). Arrangements are under the direction of Runge Mortuary & Crematory in Davenport. Donations may be sent to the Ronald McDonald House.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Frank Paaske

Frank Frederick Paaske passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at home. He was born Feb. 22, 1934, at home on the farm, to Alvin and Eleanor (Musal) Paaske. Frank attended five different grade schools in rural Scott County and graduated from LeClaire High School in 1952. Frank was drafted into the U.S. Army in February 1953, where he served two years in Germany, spending much of his time in the US Army Military Police. Upon his return from the service in November of 1955, he started working at Neal Rohlfs. He purchased the garden center from Neal Rohlfs and renamed it The Green Thumbers, where he owned and managed it for over 40 years. Frank purchased Walton Nursery, a 50-acre garden center, nursery and growing farm, expanding The Green Thumbers to Muscatine. Frank married the love of his life, Catherine Lemburg, on Sept. 8, 1956, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. They were happily married for 69 years. Frank and Cathy spent many winters in Scottsdale, Ariz., making many memories and friends. Frank was an avid Chicago Cubs fan, enjoying many games with Cathy in Chicago and Arizona. Frank was a collector of baseball and automotive memorabilia, as well as classic cars. One of Frank’s fondest memories was raising and showing Brown Swiss cattle with his brothers. Frank belonged to many organizations, including the Iowa Nurserymen’s Association, Society of American Florists, Corvette Club and several others. For years he was a member of The Davenport Club and Crow Valley Golf Club. Frank is survived by his loving wife Cathy; nieces Judy (Mark) Miller, Joni Paaske, Sheri (Jonah) Massey, Michele Baptiste, Sara Jo Paaske, Cheryl (Dennis) Timmerman, and Renee Lemburg; nephews Denny (Gina) Paaske, Jared Paaske, and Kevin Lemburg; and adopted families Andy (Sue) Kay and Les (Tedra) Holland; and several great-nieces and nephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter Susan Kay; brothers Herbert, Ronald, Larry, and Dennis; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill (Betty) Lemburg; niece Karen Lemburg; and nephews Randy and Keith Lemburg; and sisters-in-law Corinne, Sally, Susan, Joyce and Sally.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Luanne Hoxie

A funeral service for Luanne Marie Hoxie, 68, of Davenport, was held at noon on Monday, April 13, at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation was two hours prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Hoxie died Thursday, April 2, 2026, at her home. Luanne Klepsteen was born Dec. 9, 1957, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Nancy and Guy Klepsteen. She married Gary Hoxie on Jan. 7, 1977. Survivors include her husband; children, Amy Hoxie (Mia Torres) and Rick (Amanda) Hoxie; three grandchildren; and her siblings, Glenn (Donette) Klepsteen, Randy (Karen) Klepsteen, and Alison Holtz. Memorials may be made to the family or to the Glioblastoma Foundation, supporting the development of targeted therapies. Online condolences may be made at www.WeertsFH.com.  

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the April 15 NSP!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 1:10 a.m. — Rico Ramon Beserra, 34, Davenport, was charged with operating a vehicle without an interlock, following a traffic stop near West 46th and Warren streets, Davenport. 2:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Belmont Road and State Street, Riverdale. A vehicle driven by Kyla Marie Westmoreland, 23, Bettendorf, was stopped at a stop sign. She was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Deajah Ananda Woods, 25, Davenport. THURSDAY, APRIL 2 9:21 p.m. — Robert Anthony Howard, 35, Davenport, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near West 4th and Warren streets, Davenport. FRIDAY, APRIL 3 5:45 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a three-vehicle accident near mile marker 3 on Interstate 74 West, Bettendorf. A vehicle driven by Kimberly Jean Kinney, 51, Davenport, was traveling on Interstate 74. According to witnesses, Kinney’s vehicle drifted off the roadway and struck an unoccupied vehicle that was sitting on the shoulder. Kinney’s vehicle then reentered the travel portion of the roadway and struck a vehicle driven by Bradley D. Nicholson, 50, Milan, Ill. Nicholson’s vehicle left the roadway and went into a ditch. Kinney’s vehicle left the roadway and went into the median. Kinney was transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. She was cited for striking fixtures upon a highway and failure to maintain control. 3:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near South 4th Avenue and East LeClaire Road. 4:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 11900 block of 70th Avenue. 5:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 5:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 3000 block of West 63rd Street. 5:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 5900 block of Elmore Avenue. 8:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5200 block of Brady Street. 8:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1400 block of Eagle Ridge Road. 10:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 26700 block of 229th Street. 11:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 6500 block of Jebens Avenue. SATURDAY, APRIL 4 12:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 12:30 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 8300 block of 130th Street. 12:44 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Blackhawk Drive. 1:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 200 block of 2nd Street. 3:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 5900 block of Elmore Avenue. 4:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3600 block of West 83rd Street. 4:08 a.m. — Jaime Fontrel Easterling, 24, Davenport, was charged with public intoxication – 1st offense, after deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 4300 block of Brady Street, Davenport. 4:35 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 5400 block of Marquette Street. 9:53 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem on Rainbow Drive. 10:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 10:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 11:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 3:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of Jones Street. 4:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 6:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 140th Street and 110th Avenue. A vehicle driven by Betsy Jo Swearengen, 53, Bettendorf, was stopped at a red light. She was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Roverto Pizano Alba, 22, Rock Island. Pizano Alba was cited for failure to stop within the assured clear distance. 7:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 5900 block of Elmore Avenue. 8:21 p.m. — Monte Ramon Jenkins, 24, Coal Valley, Ill., was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, charged with OWI – 1st offense, and cited for an open container violation and misdemeanor to violate registration provisions, following a traffic stop near 53rd Avenue and Lockwood Drive, Bettendorf. 9:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint near Utica Ridge Road and East 53rd Street. 10:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2100 block of West Kimberly Road. SUNDAY, APRIL 5 1:32 a.m. — Jennifer Lyne Lamer, 50, DeWitt, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense; and Keith Allen Wolf, 58, Bettendorf, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense, unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near West 65th and Brady streets, Davenport. 8:21 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 300 block of East Lotte Street. 10:54 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 17900 block of Great River Road. 2:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 31000 block of Scott Park Road. 2:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 17900 block of Great River Road. 3:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 200 block of West Meuse Street. 6:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 18300 block of 110th Avenue. 6:56 p.m. — Samuel Martin Williams, 40, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 2nd offense, following an incident in the 10600 block of 275th Street, Donahue. 9:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5300 block of North Division Street. 10:09 p.m. — Clifton N. Holland, 43, Moline, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance (cannabidiol) – 1st offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, and cited for speeding and no valid driver’s license, following a traffic stop near mile marker 109 on Highway 61 South, Blue Grass. MONDAY, APRIL 6 3:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 8:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 12800 block of 70th Avenue. 9:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 12:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 3700 block of West Locust Street. 3:33 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 900 block of Park Avenue. 5:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem on Lincoln Avenue. 5:15 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 6:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of Walcott Road. TUESDAY, APRIL 7 3:25 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Park View Drive. 8:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 36900 block of 235th Street. 8:13 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of Crest View Drive. 9:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 9:24 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 11:11 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 29600 block of Scott Park Road. 2:14 p.m. — Albert Coats Jr., 62, Davenport, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop in the 6200 block of Brady Street, Davenport. 4:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a sexual assault in the 1700 block of West 9th Street. 5:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 6:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 19100 block of 247th Avenue. 7:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 21000 block of Brady Street. 9:10 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 18100 block of 270th Street. 10:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 24800 block of 179th Street Place. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 1:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1700 block of Emerald Drive.

View the Eldridge Police report from the April 15 NSP!

MONDAY, APRIL 6 12:14 a.m. — Jose Troche-Jurado, 31, of Moline, was arrested for OWI – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), no driver’s license, failure to illuminate plates, an open container violation (driver) and driving the wrong way on a highway, following an incident on Highway 61. 10:03 a.m. — Removed debris from the roadway on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 1:12 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near East LeClaire and North Scott Park roads. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 3:30 p.m. — Assisted a motorist with directions in the 100 block of West Slopertown Road. Handled by officer. 3:47 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 1200 block of Rustic View Court. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 3:53 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of West Davenport Court. 7:06 p.m. — Devin Ozmon, 23, of Bettendorf, was cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 8900 block of North Division Street. 11:08 p.m. — Mikeal Barton, 18, of Davenport, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop near South 1st and West Spring streets. TUESDAY, APRIL 7 7:53 a.m. — Javier Hernandez, 52, of Moline, was cited for no driver’s license and failure to obey a traffic control device after being involved in a two-vehicle accident near North 9th Avenue and East LeClaire Road. 8:37 a.m. — Performed a welfare check in the 600 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 11:14 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of East Franklin Street. 1:13 p.m. — Complaint of fraudulent activity in the 400 block of South Blanche Drive. Handled by officer 1:36 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 100 block of East Iowa Street. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. 3:59 p.m. — Evan Kruse, 18, of Davenport, was cited for improper use of a handicapped parking space, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 6:35 p.m. — Isaiah Mena, 27, of Chicago, Ill., was arrested for possession with intent to deliver and a tax stamp violation, following a traffic stop near South Scott Park and East Lincoln roads. 7:58 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 500 block of West Valley Drive. 10:17 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop on Highway 61. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 12:44 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 12:48 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 7:48 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 500 block of East Blackhawk Trail. 8:41 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 100 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 9:17 a.m. — Removed debris from the roadway in the 200 block of West Davenport Street. Handled by officer. 1:30 p.m. — Provided traffic control while cement in the roadway was being cleaned up near East Blackhawk Trail and South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 1:59 p.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West Pine Street. Handled by officer. 7:31 p.m. — Report taken for a recovered stolen vehicle in the 100 block of West Scott Street. 8:54 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 3200 block of South 26th Avenue. THURSDAY, APRIL 9 1:10 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of West Central Drive. 5:12 a.m. — Complaint of coyotes in the area of 200 East Franklin Street. Handled by officer. 7:32 am. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 100 block of South 6th Avenue. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 7:50 a.m. — Complaint of a juvenile causing problems in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Handled by officer. 1:49 p.m. —  A juvenile was cited for person under 21 using tobacco/vapor product – 1st offense, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 5:18 p.m. — Removed debris from the roadway in the 500 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 5:41 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. FRIDAY, APRIL 10 12:55 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 400 block of East Blackhawk Trail. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 4:08 a.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 7:54 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 10:14 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 3:11 p.m. — Complaint of theft of property in the 100 block of West Spring Street. The complaint was unfounded. Handled by officer. 3:41 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 400 block of East Blackhawk Trail. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 5:09 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of North 9th Street. 5:47 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious subjects in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 10:25 p.m. — Fireworks complaint in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 10:25 p.m. — Laurie Bowman, 47, of Eldridge, was cite for operating a non-registered vehicle, no driver’s license and no insurance, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 11:36 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. SATURDAY, APRIL 11 12:45 a.m. — Complaint of loud music in the 500 block of North 8th Street. Handled by officer. 2:09 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop near Brady Street and East Denison Avenue. 3:40 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 900 block of West Donahue Street. 8:42 a.m. — Complaint of a dog running loose in the 900 block of West Pinehurst Drive. The owner retrieved the animal. Handled by officer. 8:58 a.m. — Complaint of a cat running loose in the 200 block of Dammann Drive. Handled by officer. 10:15 a.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of South 2nd Street. Handled by officer. 12:34 p.m. — Assisted a motorist with directions in the 100 block of West Slopertown Road. Handled by officer. 12:47 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 100 blcok of West Franklin Street. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 12:54 p.m. — Tonya Rosenboom, 41, of Durant, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle and no insurance, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and East Fisher Court. 4:23 p.m. — Dustin Treadway, 43, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension and cited for no insurance, following a traffic stop in the 8900 block of North Division Street. 6:28 p.m. — Assisted a resident in the 600 block of East Sheridan Drive. Handled by officer. 7:43 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of West Scott Street. SUNDAY, APRIL 12 12:14 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 100 block of West Franklin Street. Handled by officer. 1:50 a.m. — Assisted another agency with an incident near South Scott Park and East LeClaire roads. Handled by officer. 5:41 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 900 block of Fox Ridge Road. 10:20 a.m. — Complaint of a neighbor illegally using a dumpster in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 12:35 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a road rage incident on Highway 61. 1:54 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail. Handled by officer. 4:04 p.m. — Complaint of a disturbance between juveniles in the 200 block of West Spring Street. Handled by officer. 4:11 p.m. — Complaint of two dogs running loose near West Pinehurst Drive and South 7th Street Court. The owner retrieved the animals. Handled by officer.

Forged through fire

For this young North Scott girls’ soccer team, there was not much ‘get to know you’ time. Right off the rip, the 2A No. 6 Lancers stared down three ranked teams on their schedule. On the first Friday of the season, North Scott beat 2A No. 15 Independence, 7-0. Six days later, the Lancers pitched another shutout by blanking 3A No. 8 Iowa City Liberty, 4-0, on the road in a mighty show of force. The team sandwiched a close loss to 3A No. 10 Bettendorf, 2-1, last Tuesday (April 7) to put the team’s record at 2-1 after this mini-gauntlet. “(This stretch is) going to teach us what kind of grit we have,” Lancer coach Dion Ayers said. “We need these games. Bettendorf is like a Dallas Center-Grimes or a Waverly-Shell Rock. It’s the same quality, same physicality. We can learn from that.” Against Liberty, the Lancers did the teaching. North Scott posted three goals in the first half en route to their victory, avenging last year’s loss at home to the Lightning. “It was a complete team performance that highlighted the group’s effort, chemistry and determination,” Ayers said. “From the opening whistle, both teams took time to settle in, but our players quickly established the tone by applying consistent pressure on Liberty’s back line.” Sophomore Natalie O’Flahrity got the scoring started, netting her second career varsity goal on a well-timed back-post run. Fellow sophomore Reese Barnett did the rest. She scored the next three goals in the game, two of which in the first half came unassisted. “Reese delivered an outstanding first half, showcasing her ability to beat defenders off the dribble and create scoring opportunities,” Ayers said. “Her strong start to the season has been elevated by the attacking chemistry alongside (senior) Kenzie Moeller and (freshman) Sawyer Koberg. Barnett earned her second hat trick of the season with a second-half goal, assisted by Moeller. Barnett has seven goals already in 2026, which ranks tied for fifth in the state as of Sunday evening. Junior goalkeeper Nora Barnett also picked up another clean sheet, saving the only two shots that came her way. “Defensively, the group was exceptional,” Ayers said. “Flank midfielders brought relentless energy throughout the match, while center backs (senior) Chloe Dorr, (sophomore) Delaney Hill and (senior) Allie Moeller played with composure and confidence, shutting down threats before they could challenge Nora. “In the midfield, (sophomore) Camryn Jones and (freshman) Tannar Schild provided outstanding support, forming a strong and reliable presence in front of the back line.” This match came on the heels of a strong performance against Bettendorf. Ayers joked that he has not been a ‘moral victories’ coach since his early years, but he was as upbeat as one could be after taking a 2-1 defeat on a 40-degree night. “I think the first 15 minutes, we looked unsure. I don’t want to say scared, but we were not brave,” he said. “Down 2-0, we started to piece it together late in the first half.” Bettendorf’s Alivia Snow slid a ball past Barnett between the pipes in the sixth minute to light up TouVelle Stadium’s video scoreboard. The Bulldogs struck again in the 35th minute on a laser strike from Kailin Stiles-Pena. North Scott had a goal negated due to offsides in the 33rd minute. But Reese Barnett struck pure in the 38th minute, assisted by Kenzie Moeller, ensuring her team was only down by one goal entering halftime. North Scott could not find the equalizer in the last 40 minutes, but it was not for a lack of opportunities. “The second half was outstanding,” Ayers said. “We had chances. And their chances were through balls that Nora ends up cleaning up. I don’t think she had a save in the second half. They didn’t have a lot of direct hits on frame.” The team’s best chance came on a ball Reese Barnett crossed into the box. Miraculously, the ball found no feet at all, and glided along the turf all the way to the opposite sideline untouched. “The effort and spirit of play were outstanding… We need these games to learn. Now we know this is how hard we need to practice,” Ayers said. North Scott is past one of its most difficult three-game stretches of the season, and it now enters what will be its easiest three-game stretch of the season. All at home, the Lancers will play Clinton on April 14, Muscatine on April 16 and Davenport West on April 21. Clinton and Davenport West combined to win one game last season, outside of the matchup against one another. Muscatine went 11-2-3 overall last spring, but it graduated nearly half of its team. This included last season’s Mississippi Athletic Conference fourth-leading goal scorer Alex Bitterman. The Muskies beat Clinton 4-0 and lost to Dubuque Hempstead 2-0 in the first week of their season. Last Saturday, Muscatine defeated Iowa City High 1-0, with the game-winning goal coming with 36 seconds left in the contest.

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No more raining on this parade

“If it’s raining in lane five, it’s also raining in lane two.” Add it to the list of Joe Greenwood-isms. Mother Nature truly does not want Iowa track and field athletes to have a pleasant experience outside, with rain and wind impacting both of North Scott’s meets in Davenport last week. As the Lancers control what they can control, and learn from the lessons of previous meets, it’s resulting in hardened athletes impervious to the water droplets falling on the track. “I was happy with the fact that we put the weather aside and just went out and competed,” Greenwood said. “We didn’t necessarily do that at the Pleasant Valley meet, and we addressed that at practice. I think the kids made a good adjustment. “I stay on the field for a little while, more than I have in years past. I really didn’t hear a lot of complaining. Kids wanted to know how they did. That was my biggest takeaway.” North Scott ran at the Jesse Day Relays at Brady Street Stadium on Thursday and placed seventh out of 12 schools. On Saturday, at the first of two Assumption Invitationals this month, the Lancers placed sixth out of 12 schools. The best moment for North Scott, arguably from both days, was the team’s 4x100-meter relay getting over the yips. The crew of junior Dylan Kelsey, sophomore Evan Kuhn, senior Sam Dickman and junior Ryan Block won at Jesse Day and placed second at Assumption. Running a 44.22-second race on Thursday, and improving to a 44.16-second time on Saturday, they got the monkeys off their back. “If you heard a big gasp on Thursday, that was the coaching staff and four kids who have been working really hard,” Greenwood said. In the team’s previous two meets, the Lancers failed to get the baton around the track in the 4x100. The difference this time was the order of the legs. At both the Spartan Invite and the Deac Ryan Relays, the order went Dickman, Kelsey, Kuhn, Block. Greenwood said the kids asked to switch up the order and go back to what they had done last year, with Kuhn handing to Dickman, and Dickman handing to Block in the final three legs. “(At the beginning of the season) I had a thought on my order for the 4x1. Planning for what our personnel are, and things like that,” Greenwood said. “The leaders in that race asked to switch the order back. We had all four of our members from our 4x1 back from last year that qualified for state. Evan Kruse is the one (injured). We went back to the order we used last year. That was something beneficial for us, I believe.” Also providing a jolt to the team, in the shot put, were juniors Trey Feist and Bryce Stewart. Feist, doing what he does, won the event at Brady Street Stadium as the only thrower to eclipse 49 feet. He had room to spare, getting it out to 50’ 8.75” on Thursday. “Conditions weren’t great on Thursday. For him to go out and get close to his career PR was really big for him,” Greenwood said. “You know what you’re going to get out of Trey, and that’s refreshing. He goes out and just works hard.” Stewart shocked the field on both days. At Jesse Day, Stewart threw a six-foot PR in the shot put, getting to 45’ 8” and placing sixth. Then, on Saturday, he upped the ante to 46’ 2” and took second. Stewart, who is out for high school track and field for the first time, is in the ring this spring because of a deal he made with one of his friends, fellow junior thrower AJ Block. If Block went out for wrestling, then Stewart had to go out for track. “It’s been a good fit for everyone,” Greenwood joked. “Bryce is a kid who had some success in junior high. We hope we’ve got him hooked now. He’s made a ton of improvements, and he’s motivated. He wants to do well. He’s the type of kid who asks a lot of questions and wants to improve. We’re really excited for his future to see where he can continue to grow.” North Scott did find a win at the Assumption Invite when Dickman won by a nose in the 200-meter dash. He set a new PR at 22.99 seconds. That time is more than a half-second faster than any Lancer ran the 200-meter dash last season. “That 200 is probably his best event,” Greenwood said. “If you watch him in the 100, he has to come from behind. (In the 200-meter dash) When other people start to hit a wall, he passes people at the end. I’m just really happy for the success he’s had this year.” North Scott had success in the hurdles once again. The shuttle team of senior Nolan Reese, sophomore Brendin Bohannon, Kuhn and Ryan Block placed second at Jesse Day, setting a season-best time of 1:02.69. Greenwood highlighted Bohannon as the newcomer to this relay team and filling in the open spot with consistency. “To say I had huge expectations for him this year would have been exaggerating. He’s just come in and made himself into a good hurdler,” Greenwood said. “He steps in wherever we need him. He’s been that fourth person on our shuttle this year. He’s been a real pleasant surprise, and it’s fun to see him get involved.” North Scott, and the rest of the state, head into an important week. Thursday evening is the cut-off date to meet a Drake Blue Standard and qualify for next week’s Drake Relays. For the Lancers, it will be mostly business as usual. North Scott will split its squads on Tuesday between Cedar Rapids and Clinton. Everybody will come back together for Thursday’s Assumption Last Chance Qualifier event. “We feel like our 4x1 is probably in right now, but I want to continue to run that,” Greenwood said. “The one that needs to do some work is Ryan Block in the 110 highs. I’m pretty sure that his current time (15.22 seconds) probably won’t make it. “As far as our throwers go, you can always pop one. They are within reach right now if they pop a good one, especially with Trey in the shot put. “The rest of us, whatever happens, happens. If we feel like somebody is super close with something on Tuesday, we have the luxury to try again on Thursday.”

Lancer offense shows dangerous potential

North Scott boys’ soccer’s home slate of games continued last week, splitting a pair of conference matchups against Central DeWitt and Bettendorf. The Lancers poured in a half dozen goals against the Sabers, winning 6-1. Then, the team struck first against Bettendorf, but allowed four unanswered in a rainy 4-1 defeat. “I thought the week was as expected,” Lancer coach Troy Bendickson said. “We lost to DeWitt last year; that was a pretty low time. That came right after Easter weekend. I wanted us to play well, and expected we would. Scoring that many goals, it has been quite a while. It was fun to see the goals, and some of them were really good.” Against Central DeWitt, Lancer freshman Lukas Mena posted the first hat trick in his young career. He tacked on an assist as well, with teammates junior Anthony Vatnsdal, junior Aaron Raleigh and sophomore Max Ronnebeck adding to the scoring ledger. “In that first game against Dubuque Senior, (Mena) realized what he’s in for. It’s not like club soccer,” Bendickson said. “He’s a terrific player, so he’s going to adapt just fine. It’s fun to see him celebrate it. It’s also fun to see the upperclassmen ask him to break down the huddle at the end of the night. They acknowledged his great day.” The Sabers only got two shots on goal in this game, making sophomore Scott Hartin’s night in net a breeze. North Scott knew its defense would be a question mark entering this season, but so far, the coaching staff is happy with the results. “We lost our entire back line, so rebuilding that was a priority. Even with good players back there, we don’t have experience or continuity,” Bendickson said. “All four of them are trying to do it together for the first time. We’ll have to overcome that, but we are also more offensive-minded than we have been. In our formation and our tactics, we can try to outscore our opponents rather than just win 1-0 games.” The Lancers and Bulldogs combined for five goals on Thursday, but Bendickson was surprised there weren’t more. North Scott started the scoring in the ninth minute when senior Tyler Went punched the ball in off a scramble in front of the Bulldogs’ net. The yellow and black equalized quickly in the 15th minute. Hartin kept them out of the net multiple times in the following minutes with a kick save and a one-on-one save. North Scott had two corner kicks in the 35th and 38th minutes, but couldn’t convert. Bettendorf had the back-breaker by scoring in the 39th minute, scoring in a one-on-three situation with a light tap misdirection shot from a few feet out. Bettendorf scored again 12 minutes after halftime and never looked back. “It was a weird game. We could have won that game 4-3, or we could have lost that game 8-1,” Bendickson said. “We held the ball OK, and we were in their offensive third a ton. We had some goals that should have gone in, but then Scott made some miraculous saves. “It was a messy night (with the rain). All we said was, ‘Which team wants to be here less?’ And we didn’t see that from either team. Both teams fought the whole time. It was a really good football match… I’ve never gone home after a 4-1 defeat feeling great, and I did actually feel pretty good. I just hated to see that score.” North Scott hit the road for the first time this season with matchups at Clinton (April 13) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (April 16). The Lancers will play back-to-back nonconference games on Thursday and Friday, with Dubuque Wahlert coming to town on April 17.

Muskies defeat Lancers in season-opener

Boys’ tennis season is officially underway, and North Scott opened its season last Tuesday (April 7) with a home meet against Muscatine. The Muskies’ depth shined through in this meet with a 6-3 victory. Lancer senior Lucas Persson and junior Jacob Link showed their quality tennis at the top of the lineup, providing North Scott with all three of its team points. Persson did not drop a game in either match on Tuesday. At No. 1 singles, he double-bageled Cole Travis 6-0, 6-0. Then, pairing with Link at No. 1 doubles, the duo went back to the bakery winning in the same fashion against Travis and Carter Largent. Link still got a sweat in as he survived a match tiebreaker at No. 2 singles against Largent, 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9), starting his upperclassman career undefeated. In the bottom two thirds of the lineup, the Lancers ran into some bad luck by losing one tiebreaker and three 7-5 sets. Freshman Camden Wenck was locked in a tight battle at No. 3 singles, ultimately falling to Dylan Randel 7-6, 6-3. At No. 4 singles, freshman Lachlan Suarez fell to Saxby Stein 6-2, 6-1. At No. 5 singles, sophomore Andrew Copeland lost to Max Brendal 6-1, 6-2. At No. 6 singles, freshman Aiden Feller’s comeback bid fell short, losing 6-0, 7-5 to Adlai Grimm. In doubles, No. 2 Suarez/Wenck lost to Grimm/Randel in a tight battle, 6-4, 7-5. No. 3 Feller/Copeland lost to Brendal/Stein, 6-1, 7-5. Thursday’s conference dual against Clinton was postponed to April 13 due to rain, meaning the Lancers now have four duals in five days this week. In addition to Clinton, North Scott will travel to Davenport North on April 14, and then host a back-to-back with Bettendorf and Burlington on April 16 and 17. In other tennis news, news that is of no surprise to anybody, North Scott was awarded a 2026 boys' tennis district meet on Saturday, May 16. At this event, singles players and doubles teams will try to qualify for their respective state tournaments. District and substate team assignments wil be released the week of April 27. North Scott will also once again host the Mississippi Athletic Conference tournament on May 5 and 6.

Common Chord moving to new location, 1 floor down

Visitors coming to the Redstone Room at Common Chord won't have to go up a floor for concerts by late summer 2026. Common Cord announced that the group plans to remain in the Redstone Building but relocate its offices and the Redstone Room into an accessible and highly visible ground-level location on 2nd Street and [...]

Moline detective named 2026 Criminal Investigator of the Year

Moline Detective named 2026 Criminal Investigator of the Year for his work on the Trudy Appleby case.

Cooking with Heart: The importance of cooking heart-healthy

If you have heart disease, eating a heart-healthy diet can make a big difference.

Six injured in Rock Island bus crash

Six people were injured in a crash involving a car and a bus in Rock Island. All injuries were non-life-threatening, officials said.

One person arrested, two on the lam in Rock Island armed robbery

The charges are in connection to a March 29 armed robbery and battery at a home in Rock Island.

Man killed in rollover crash in Jo Daviess County

A 21-year-old man was killed in a rollover crash near Elizabeth after a vehicle went airborne and rolled multiple times, authorities said.

Celebrate Free Comic Book Day at Bettendorf Library

The Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, invites the public to celebrate Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The library will have a handpicked selection of comic book titles available for all ages to take home. Attendees can enter a raffle for a gift card to In This [...]

Several injured after public bus, car crash

At 12:26 p.m., crews came to the intersection of 24th Street and 4th Avenue for a crash, according to a media release.

Bus crash in Rock Island sends six people to hospital Monday

A total of four ambulances, along with additional fire department resources, were dispatched to manage patient care and scene operations.

21-year-old killed in pickup truck crash

At 4:06 p.m. Monday, officials learned of a single-vehicle crash on East Skene Road in rural Elizabeth, Illinois, according to a crash report.

Moline detective named Illinois criminal investigator of the year

Moline detective Michael Griffin has been named Illinois’ 2026 Criminal Investigator of the Year for his work on the Trudy Appleby case.

FEMA cuts and home insurance rates: How a shrinking disaster response budget could hurt your budget

FEMA cuts and home insurance rates: How a shrinking disaster response budget could hurt your budgetFunding cuts to federal programs, such as FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), reduce disaster preparedness and response across the U.S.Budget cuts to these programs lead to slower disaster response, fewer mitigation efforts, and an increased risk of greater damage and larger home insurance claims. The result: Further rate increases in areas at high risk of natural disasters that already face high home insurance rates and limited coverage options.To mitigate risk, state and local programs offer grants and insurance discounts for home-hardening measures, such as installing hurricane-proof roofs. Not only can home improvements prevent property damage, but they can also lower insurance rates.Insurance.com examines how recent federal funding cuts to FEMA programs could affect home insurance rates.Quick coverage:FEMA programs not only provide disaster relief but also improve infrastructure and reduce disaster risks, thereby reducing the impact of natural disasters.Funding for the BRIC program has been halted, ending grants to help prepare for natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.Homeowners may turn to state and local programs for grants and insurance discounts based on home-hardening improvements, such as fire-resistant roofs.What FEMA programs are being cut, and why could it affect home insurance?FEMA programs, including the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), have recently seen major cuts. As funding for risk-mitigation programs is reduced, insurers expect more costly claims, and homeowners could face historically high insurance rates.The BRIC program provides grants to communities to help fund projects that reduce damage from natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes. These grants may fund up to 75% of project costs to build infrastructure that protects homes and businesses by mitigating weather-related damage.The NFIP provides flood insurance through the federal government and is administered through insurance partners. The program offers homeowners and businesses flood coverage and restricts building in floodplains to reduce potential damage. Many mortgage companies require flood insurance in high-risk areas.The NFIP operates at a substantial loss, and Congress has forgiven billions in debt in the past, although a large debt still exists and is growing. While the program offers lower-cost flood insurance to homeowners, there is a push to move flood insurance to local and private programs. However, insurance rates would increase significantly for those who need coverage.Programs like BRIC and NFIP provide the resources necessary to build and replace infrastructure that protects homeowners from weather-related disasters, as well as fund emergency disaster response. Without these programs, property damage and injuries can increase significantly, and insurance rates may become unmanageable for some homeowners.Not only do the new federal policies eliminate future grant opportunities, but they also cut off current funding. So, if a project has already begun, the awarded grants are removed, leaving many communities in the middle of infrastructure upgrades or replacements with no way to finish.The risks of reduced funding as climate change fuels disastersAs funding for risk-mitigation programs is reduced, insurers expect more costly claims, and homeowners face higher-than-ever insurance rates or forgo coverage. Many areas of the U.S. have experienced a record number of natural disasters, no longer confined to certain seasons or small-scale events.Budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) affect how insurers determine rates. Data from NOAA enables insurers to predict and assess risk, which in turn shapes home insurance rates. Funding cuts to NOAA mean less information for insurers to use, leading them to base rates on worst-case scenarios.Another drawback of reduced FEMA funding is a lack of staffing. As more employees are laid off, certain disaster assistance programs may be reduced or eliminated. For example, with fewer people, early warnings may lag, and responses after a disaster may be slower.Early warning systems can save lives, not just insurance dollarsOn July 4, 2025, heavy rain caused a flash flood of the Guadalupe River in Texas, resulting in massive damage and the loss of more than 110 lives. The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings, but they didn’t reach the people who needed to hear them.The area relied on outdated warning systems and had repeatedly declined to spend the $1 million required to install an advanced flood alert system that would have included sirens and upstream water gauges. The cost of damage from that flood was estimated to be as high as $22 billion.While an early warning system might not have reduced property damage, it would have reduced the loss of life. Additional efforts to strengthen homes and camps along the river may have reduced both. The tragic event is a clear example of the importance of disaster preparation.How well-funded disaster response programs can help keep home insurance affordableDisaster response doesn't just mean after the emergency. Many FEMA-funded programs help state governments and local communities prepare for disasters before they strike, keeping insurance costs low.Programs like BRIC help fund infrastructure upgrades and replacements that mitigate damage, such as retrofitting buildings to meet current building codes.Programs that mitigate property damages and injuries help keep insurance costs down. As insurers see that claims are less likely and payouts are lower, insurance rates stay steady rather than increasing to cover costly claims.When FEMA programs are reduced or dismantled, insurers have to cover the costs of disasters. Individuals and their insurers are left paying for expensive repairs after a disaster, causing home insurance rates to skyrocket. Will the FEMA cuts affect flood insurance?FEMA budget cuts significantly impact the NFIP, which is run by the federal government but partners with specific insurers to provide flood insurance to homeowners and regulates buildings in flood zones.The program keeps flood insurance costs low for homeowners, which is important since standard home insurance policies don’t cover flooding, and most mortgage lenders require coverage if your home is in a high-risk area.The NFIP incurs major losses each year, but it has 4.7 million policyholders, making it challenging to move flood coverage to individual insurers. Additionally, the NFIP performs proactive tasks, such as creating flood maps and helping manage floodplains, that individual insurers would not.Without an affordable FEMA-backed option, homeowners needing flood insurance would have to turn to private insurance, which may be unaffordable in high-risk areas.High insurance rates, reduced coverage options: How high-risk areas have already been impactedInsurance rates have risen significantly in recent years, especially in high-risk areas, where major natural disasters have created a crisis.Insurers use models, such as NOAA data, to assess the risk of insuring an area. Predicted natural disasters, material and labor costs, and infrastructure contribute to insurance rates, and homeowners may see very different insurance rates depending on where they live.In addition to higher home insurance rates, homeowners in some areas have seen insurers pull out of their market or significantly reduce coverage. Insurers in high-risk states such as California have either stopped offering home insurance entirely or reduced the number of new policies written, leading to higher premiums for homeowners who can find coverage.Homeowners in high-risk states may have to turn to state-run insurance plans due to limited private insurance options. For example, the FAIR plan in California provides basic fire insurance for homeowners, with insurer options limited.However, although the FAIR plan provides much-needed fire insurance, its coverage is limited and can be more expensive than that of a private insurer. What can homeowners do to mitigate disaster risk amid federal funding cuts?Homeowners can’t control funding cuts, but they can mitigate disaster risk on an individual level to keep insurance costs lower. Many states offer programs that help homeowners prepare their homes for natural disasters, which, in turn, keep insurance rates down. Examples include:The South Carolina Safe Home Program offers grants to homeowners to strengthen their homes against hurricanes by installing stronger roofs or other safety features.California offers home insurance discounts for fire mitigation, such as upgrading your roof or clearing debris from around your home.Florida has the My Safe Florida Home program, offering grants for wind mitigation and free inspections, and requires home insurance discounts for wind mitigation efforts.The OKReady program in Oklahoma offers homeowners wind and hail mitigation grants.The Louisiana Fortify Homes program offers grants of up to $10,000 for roof upgrades.Contact your state insurance department to learn which programs and discounts you may qualify for, and how to mitigate disaster-related damage specific to your area. Taking advantage of these programs can significantly lower insurance rates and help prevent damage to your home.Will FEMA cuts increase home insurance rates?FEMA cuts will likely add to already increasing home insurance rates. However, the full extent will depend on the upcoming hurricane and fire seasons. In an active hurricane or wildfire season, the halt of federally funded mitigation programs will result in increased damage, which, in turn, will cause insurance companies to request rate increases to cover the cost of paying claims.Furthermore, as the risk of major natural disasters without warning or preparation increases, home insurance companies will translate that risk into higher premiums.Using state resources to help mitigate risk and make your home more insurable will help, but in the long-term, FEMA cuts are likely to have a widespread impact on the insurance industry.FAQ: FEMA cuts and home insuranceDo home insurance rates go up after a natural disaster?Yes, a natural disaster can raise home insurance rates, but it doesn’t happen immediately. When insurance companies pay out large claims after a disaster, they may seek to recoup those losses by raising rates. However, to do that, insurers must file for a rate increase with the state insurance regulator, who may approve or deny it. If approved, the rate increase will go into effect at policy renewal. As a result, homeowners may not see the increase for a year or more after the event.How does FEMA back the National Flood Insurance Program?FEMA acts as the guarantor of the NFIP, ensuring that flood claims are paid even if they exceed the premiums paid into the program. Through FEMA, the NFIP has the authority to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to cover the cost of flood insurance claims when necessary.This story was produced by Insurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Multiple people injured after Rock Island vehicle/bus crash

Several people were taken to local hospitals yesterday after a crash between a vehicle and a public transportation bus in Rock Island. A news release from the city said the Rock Island Fire Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a private passenger vehicle and a public transportation bus at the [...]

The truth about gut health

The truth about gut healthThe "cast iron stomach" myth persists in gastroenterology offices. When patients say they can eat “anything,” they’re saying they believe they should be able to tolerate all foods under all circumstances. Yet this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the gut’s complexity. The gut is not a passive tube but a complex system that houses the digestive tract and is the body’s largest immune organ. It contains about 70% of all immune cells and even has its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system, or second brain.Even as we gain this clearer picture of the gut and how it works, the term "gut health" has become a buzzword, a catchphrase used to develop and sell everything from prebiotic and fermented foods to probiotic sodas and ice creams. Patients are expressing concerns about gut health by bringing doctors at-home stool test results and bottles of supplements and probiotics. In this article, Northwell Health explains how the gut works, what shapes its wellbeing, and which claims about gut health are evidence-based.The role of the gutThe gut is a sophisticated organ system that moves food not by gravity, but by rhythmic muscular contractions called peristalsis. Its network of nerves functions independently of the central nervous system and can sense meal composition and adjust digestion accordingly. Unlike skin nerves that detect sharp pain, gut nerves sense stretching, such as the fullness of a stomach or intestines distended with gas.The microbiome in the large intestine adds another layer of complexity to the gut. It’s populated by trillions of microscopic organisms that include over a thousand species of bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites. Each person’s gut microbiome is unique; there is no single, perfect gut flora. And the factor with the most influence over the gut? It’s no surprise: diet.Maintaining gut healthThe most effective way to keep the gut healthy is simple because we know that organisms in the gut thrive on fiber. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that women eat about 25 grams of fiber daily and men eat 38 grams. Ideally, do that through a Mediterranean-style, predominantly plant-based diet rich in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Some people give their fiber intake a boost with psyllium-based supplements.Conditions associated with the gutChanges in diversity of the gut microbiome have been linked to a wide range of conditions: anxiety, depression, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's. Cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and certain cancers have also been associated with microbiome changes. Even obesity has been linked to a loss of diversity in the gut microbiome, suggesting the microbiome plays a role in overall metabolism. However, it's unclear whether changes in the microbiome are causing the condition or are a result of it.The truth about probioticsHaving a diverse gut microbial community is linked to good gut health. But probiotics aren’t necessarily the answer. Probiotics are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and do not present solid evidence of improving general health. For the most part, probiotics contain bacterial strains that disappear from the gut when we stop taking them.The research that does exist on probiotics is specific to certain bacterial strains, but one strain helping one condition doesn't mean all probiotics help everything. Furthermore, there’s a disconnect between what clinical trials study and which products we can buy commercially. It’s important for patients to clearly define their health goals when they take probiotics, perhaps trying them for 30 days, then honestly assessing whether they’ve achieved the goal. Like vitamin supplements, which are also unregulated, the quality of probiotics can be inconsistent, making a high-fiber diet the most effective way to establish a healthy gut microbial community.The limits of at-home stool testsPatients have access to at-home stool tests they can buy to analyze the gut microbes. Yet doctors don’t always know how to interpret the results. Here’s why: Companies that sell these tests typically analyze only a handful of organisms, but miss much of the microbial picture. For example, at-home tests don’t look at the biofilm lining of the intestinal walls, which can be protective and contain bacteria that contribute to chronic conditions and infections. Furthermore, there's no standard bacteria that everyone needs, so results from at-home stool tests don't necessarily offer clear, actionable results.There is no secret to good gut health. It starts with what we eat. Just as it’s time to turn our backs on the "cast iron stomach" myth, it’s important to think critically about gut remedies and at-home tests that are bigger on promises than results. Though much still is unknown about microbiome-disease connections, we can focus on the evidence-driven basics with a medical professional: eating about 30 grams a day of plant-, Mediterranean-, and fiber-based food; respecting the gut's signals; and remaining clear-sighted about the efficacy of probiotics, supplements, and at-home diagnostic tests.This story was produced by Northwell Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Leveraging innovation to set up and manage a simple online CRM system

Leveraging innovation to set up and manage a simple online CRM systemRemember when implementing a CRM meant months of meetings, hefty consultant fees, and an IT team working overtime? Small businesses watched enterprise competitors deploy these systems and thought, “Not for us. Too complex. Too expensive.”Cloud computing changed that equation completely. Today, you can set up the same powerful CRM capabilities in days—not months. No server rooms required. No specialized technical expertise.The global cloud CRM market has grown to $126.17 billion in 2026, and is forecasted to reach $320.99 billion by 2034. That’s a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%.Why the explosive growth? Because cloud-based systems have eliminated every traditional barrier to CRM adoption.Leveraging innovation to set up and manage a simple online CRM system has never been easier. This guide by Nutshell walks you through how modern cloud-based approaches help any business—regardless of size or technical resources—deploy secure, accessible CRM systems that actually work for distributed teams.Key takeawaysCloud innovations transformed CRM from months-long IT projects requiring dedicated infrastructure into implementations any business can execute in days—94% of enterprise businesses were using at least one cloud solution in early 2026.Modern security features like encryption, role-based access control, and continuous monitoring come built into simple online CRM systems, which means small teams get enterprise-grade protection without hiring security specialists or managing complex configurations.Strategic implementation focusing on user adoption delivers real ROI—companies see an average $3.10 return for every dollar spent on CRM. Their investment also drives 29% sales increases and 34% productivity improvements, but only when teams actually use the system (which is harder than it sounds).Understanding simple online CRM systemsWhat makes a CRM “simple” in the cloud era?A simple online CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management system designed for straightforward deployment and intuitive daily use—accessible through web browsers without software installation or dedicated IT infrastructure.That definition matters because “simple” means something very different today than it did ten years ago.Traditional CRM demanded technical expertise just to get started. You’d purchase server hardware, install complex databases, configure network access, and maintain ongoing infrastructure.Implementation timelines would be three to six months for mid-sized deployments, and six to 12 months or longer for enterprise implementations. Every single step required specialized knowledge that many businesses didn’t have.Cloud architecture eliminated all that overhead. Today’s simple online CRM systems run on vendor-managed infrastructure, so you access everything through standard web browsers.No software installation. No server maintenance. No technical updates to manage. The vendor handles the infrastructure, security patches, and system maintenance, which are all the responsibilities that used to require dedicated IT resources.This shift created deployment speeds that would’ve seemed impossible a decade ago. A focused rollout for a 10-person team can now run in as little as six weeks instead of months. And small businesses have the ability to complete their initial setup in days, not weeks.What defines a modern, simple online CRM?Browser-based accessibilityThat means no downloads or installations. Users access the complete system through standard web browsers on any internet-connected device. Browser access eliminates compatibility issues, version control nightmares, and the technical overhead of managing software across multiple devices.Mobile-optimized interfacesWith many businesses now using mobile CRM as well as desktop solutions, modern CRM systems prioritize smartphones and tablets. Sales teams can update records from anywhere deals happen:Coffee shopsCustomer officesAirport loungesPre-configured workflowsYou’re not building processes from scratch. Simple cloud-based CRM platforms include ready-to-use templates for common sales, marketing, and service workflows. Customize these frameworks to match your needs with no technical configuration required.Intuitive data organizationModern systems structure information around relationships. Contacts connect to companies. Opportunities link to both. Activities are tied to specific records. This relational approach replaces scattered spreadsheet systems, which 63% of companies still use for various sales and customer management functions instead of formal CRM tools.Built-in securityEncryption, access controls, and authentication methods come standard—Not as add-ons requiring separate configuration. Cloud providers build these protections into the platform architecture, delivering enterprise-grade security that small teams couldn’t necessarily implement independently.Traditional vs. cloud-based CRM comparison table Nutshell The cloud transition didn’t just make CRM faster to deploy. It made implementation more accessible to ordinary business users, so you no longer need technical departments to evaluate requirements.Businesses can focus on choosing systems that match their sales processes rather than their IT capabilities.Pre-implementation planning for easy CRMsAssessing your business needs before CRM setupThe most critical CRM decisions happen before you ever log into a system.Think about it—CRM implementations fail 75% of the time. The culprits? Unclear objectives, poor planning, and fundamental misunderstandings about what the system should accomplish.Successful CRM implementation starts with an honest assessment. Ask yourself what your business actually needs versus what seems impressive in software demos.Identifying essential CRM functionsStart by documenting the specific problems you’re trying to solve. Avoid focusing on vague goals like “better customer relationships.” Pinpoint concrete, measurable challenges.Consider these questions:What specific breakdowns are we experiencing?Maybe sales reps can’t find previous customer conversations when prospects call back. Or your marketing campaigns launch without visibility into which contacts have active sales opportunities. Perhaps it’s your support tickets that reference customers whose purchase history remains invisible to service teams.Each breakdown points toward specific CRM functionality you’ll actually use.Where does customer information currently live?Most businesses discover data scattered everywhere. Email inboxes, spreadsheets, and individual team members’ personal notes.Mapping this fragmentation reveals which CRM features deliver immediate value.Which teams need access to customer data?The shift to remote work highlighted how critical shared access has become. During the early days of the transition, 57% of executives struggled to maintain good customer experiences because their CRM systems weren’t easily accessible to remote workers.Understanding who needs what access prevents implementing systems that work for sales but fail marketing. Or vice versa.Decision framework: Determining core simple CRM requirementsUse this framework to identify which capabilities matter most:Stage 1: Sales process mappingHow do prospects become customers in your business?What information do sales teams need at each stage?Where do deals currently get stuck or lost?Which sales activities need tracking?Stage 2: Team collaboration needsHow many people need CRM access?Do teams work remotely or in distributed locations?What handoffs occur between departments?Where does miscommunication currently happen?Stage 3: Data and reporting prioritiesWhat metrics actually drive business decisions?Which reports would change how you allocate resources?What forecasting accuracy do you need?How will you measure CRM success?Stage 4: Integration requirementsWhat tools does your team use daily?Which systems must connect to your CRM?Where does duplicate data entry waste time?What workflows span multiple platforms?This framework helps you avoid the common trap of selecting a CRM system based on features you’ll never use. Many businesses choose platforms loaded with capabilities that seem valuable in demonstrations but remain untouched in daily operations.Defining success metricsMeasuring CRM effectiveness requires establishing clear benchmarks before implementation begins.Companies that set specific success metrics during planning typically achieve significantly higher adoption rates and ROI. Those without defined objectives, adoption stalls. The CRM becomes expensive digital storage rather than a revenue driver.Consider both leading and lagging indicatorsLeading indicators (activities that drive results):Daily CRM logins per userActivities logged per sales repTime between lead creation and first contactPipeline updates per weekMobile app usage ratesLagging indicators (business outcomes):Sales cycle length changesWin rate improvementsRevenue per sales repCustomer retention ratesForecast accuracyCompanies implementing CRM with clear goals and strong change management practices give themselves a better chance of achieving a high user adoption rate within three to six months. Without defined objectives, usage becomes optional. And once usage becomes optional, the business case evaporates.Getting team buy-inUser adoption determines whether CRM implementations succeed or fail. When teams view CRM as administrative overhead rather than a performance advantage, usage becomes optional. And once that happens, your investment yields nothing.Early team involvement prevents adoption failures before they start. Organizations that include end users in CRM selection and planning report significantly higher long-term adoption because users feel ownership over systems they helped shape.Effective buy-in strategiesInvolve representatives from each team during CRM evaluation: Sales, marketing, and customer service interact with CRM differently. Each perspective reveals requirements others might miss and builds advocates who champion the system to their colleagues.Address the “what’s in it for me” question directly: Instead of focusing on how CRM benefits the company, give your team clear answers about how it makes their work easier. Faster access to customer history? Automated follow-up reminders? Elimination of redundant data entry? Personal value drives adoption.Set realistic expectations about the transition period: CRM implementations create temporary productivity dips as teams learn new workflows. Acknowledging this adjustment period upfront builds trust and patience better than promising immediate improvements and disappointing everyone.Identify and empower champions: Every successful CRM rollout includes enthusiastic early adopters who help their colleagues through challenges. These champions bridge the gap between management mandates and frontline reality.Research shows projects with strong adoption initiatives are seven times more likely to meet objectives. The planning phase determines whether your CRM becomes a growth engine or expensive shelfware. Time invested in clarifying needs, setting metrics, and building team buy-in pays dividends throughout implementation and beyond.Here’s the implementation section reduced by approximately 80%:Initial simple online CRM system setupGetting your CRM operational quicklyThe first day with a new CRM sets the tone for everything that follows.Cloud-based platforms let you move from signup to productive use faster than ever before—often within hours rather than the weeks or months traditional systems demanded. The key is to follow a specific sequence that builds functionality in layers rather than trying to configure everything simultaneously.Connect email and calendar firstEmail and calendar integration form the foundation of modern CRM usage. Why? Because sales teams spend most of their day in email inboxes and calendar applications. When CRM connects directly to these tools, adoption happens naturally.Most cloud-based CRM systems offer one-click authentication for Gmail and Outlook. Once connected, emails automatically associate with relevant contacts and opportunities. Scheduled meetings appear as CRM activities. Complete communication history becomes visible to the team.Set up user accounts with appropriate permissionsRole-based access control ensures people see only information necessary for their roles. For instance:Sales reps need full access to their own records with read-only visibility into teammate pipelines.Sales managers require broader visibility for forecasting and coaching.Marketing needs contact information for campaigns, but shouldn’t modify active sales opportunities.Start with your vendor’s default role templates, then adjust based on actual usage patterns.Import existing contact dataCustomer data rarely begins life in a CRM system. Most businesses accumulate contact information across spreadsheets, email address books, and predecessor platforms.Do the following before importing:Deduplicate contactsStandardize data formats (phone numbers, addresses)Clean invalid informationModern CRM platforms support CSV imports with preview screens before committing changes. And many vendors offer free migration assistance as part of onboarding.Cloud-based CRM security setupSecurity concerns consistently rank among the top barriers preventing cloud adoption. Yet, when configured properly, cloud-based systems deliver stronger security than most businesses could implement independently. Nutshell Data encryptionModern CRM systems encrypt data both in transit (using TLS—the technology behind HTTPS) and at rest (using AES-256 encryption). Most cloud platforms enable encryption by default, requiring no configuration. Verify HTTPS is enforced for all connections and AES-256 for stored data during initial setup.Multi-factor authentication (MFA)Multi-factor authentication requires users to provide two or more verification factors—such as a password plus smartphone code—before gaining access. MFA dramatically reduces unauthorized access even when passwords are compromised. Most systems support authenticator apps, SMS codes, or biometric verification.Role-based access control and audit loggingImplement the principle of least privilege, where users receive only the minimum access necessary for their job functions. Configure object-level, record-level, and field-level permissions based on roles. And enable comprehensive audit logging to track who accessed which data, what changes were made, and when activities occurred. Most cloud CRM systems enable logging by default and retain records for compliance requirements.Core CRM fundamentalsOrganizing contacts, companies, and opportunitiesModern CRM systems organize information around four core objects:Companies represent the businesses you work with.People represent individuals within those companies.Leads represent potential revenue with defined values and timelines.Activities represent all customer interactions—calls, meetings, emails, and tasks.Understanding how these objects interconnect determines whether your CRM creates clarity or confusion.Data structure best practicesKeep pipeline forecasts and other reports accurate by linking each person to a company. Leads (or opportunities) should be reserved for real deals rather than individual people. It’s also best to log activities against specific contact records to build a searchable relationship history.Dropdown menus are great for standardizing field values, as free-text entry can lead to formatting inconsistencies. That said, keeping forms manageable is still critical. Require only essential fields to prevent your records from getting too complicated for easy analysis.Opportunity lifecycle stagesEvery opportunity moves through predictable phases:QualificationDiscoveryProposalNegotiationClosed Won/LostDocument clear criteria for advancing leads between these stages. At a minimum, track the expected value, close date, associated contacts, current stage, and owner. Institute regular pipeline reviews to identify stale opportunities that should be closed or requalified.Activity and task managementActivities include logging calls, emails, meetings, and notes, which creates relationship context. Most teams use hybrid approaches:Calendar syncing automatically logs meetings.Email tracking captures message threads.Manual notes document phone conversations.Tasks represent commitments with clear ownership and specific due dates, ensuring follow-ups don’t fall through the cracks.Configuring for accessibility and remote workEnabling distributed accessCloud-based CRM systems eliminate remote access barriers through browser-based architecture. That means that anyone with internet connectivity can reach the full system without VPNs or special configurations. This accessibility has evolved from convenience to business necessity as approximately 22.9% of U.S. employees now work remotely at least part-time.Mobile CRM capabilitiesTrue mobile optimization recognizes that smartphones enable different workflows than desktops. Mobile CRM apps include features that enhance these workflows for real productivity:Voice-to-text note captureQuick-action interfacesOffline capabilityLocation awarenessContact integrationDeploy your team’s mobile access with consideration for data consumption, device security, and screen-size limitations.Browser and offline supportThe latest CRM systems support current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Browser-based access delivers instant updates, a consistent experience across devices, reduced IT overhead, and anywhere access. While connectivity remains essential, many platforms cache recent data locally for limited offline functionality.Team collaboration setupShared pipeline visibilityConfigure appropriate visibility levels: your sales reps see their own pipelines; teammates have read-only access; managers see all direct reports; and executives see rolled-up summaries. Pipeline transparency prevents duplicate pursuit, enables collaboration, improves forecasting, and facilitates coaching.Communication integrationConnect your CRM with email, instant messaging (Slack, Teams), and video platforms (Zoom, Google Meet) to eliminate context-switching. Automatic activity logging, CRM notifications in chat channels, and meeting scheduling from CRM records make team collaboration seamless.Handoff workflowsDesign explicit processes for marketing-to-sales, sales-to-success, and support-to-product transitions. Include checklists ensuring information transfers completely and that receiving teams confirm readiness.Customization and scalingStrategic customization approachStart with vendor defaults for the first one to three months to understand what actually matters. It’s best to add custom fields only when they drive decisions or automate processes. Customize your pipelines to match team terminology and include stage-specific fields. Then, create reports that answer specific business questions rather than extracting general data dumps.Integration with business toolsBeyond native tools, you can connect your CRM with email, marketing automation, accounting, customer support, e-commerce, and communication platforms. You’ll have the option to choose between native integrations, integration platforms like Zapier, or custom API connections based on your business needs and resources.Scaling considerationsCloud platforms handle infrastructure scaling automatically. To identify when your business is ready for an upgrade, monitor for signs that you’ve outgrown your tier, such as performance degradation, feature limitations, and storage constraints. Bear in mind that process scaling requires:Territory managementApproval workflowsTeam hierarchy configurationsRole specializationCloud-based innovations have transformed what used to be multi-week implementation phases into a setup that can happen in as little as a day. This accessibility doesn’t eliminate the need for strategic thinking—it merely shifts planning from technical considerations to process design.The first hours and days of usage establish whether your CRM will integrate smoothly into daily work or create friction, driving teams back to old habits.Driving easy-to-use CRM user adoptionEnsuring sustained CRM usageEven the most sophisticated CRM configuration delivers zero value if teams don’t actually use it.Research found that less than half of businesses—just 40%—can get 90% of their team to use CRM consistently. This adoption gap represents the difference between CRM as a strategic investment versus an expensive database that gradually fills with outdated information.User adoption isn’t a post-implementation concern. It’s the central challenge that should drive every implementation decision from platform selection through ongoing management.The adoption essentialsTraining that worksCRM training fails when it focuses on features rather than workflows. Sales reps need training on daily activities:Adding contactsUpdating opportunitiesLogging activitiesManagers need pipeline reviews and forecasting, and marketing needs campaign tracking.Keep your initial training sessions under 90 minutes, focusing on your team’s immediate needs. Supplement that with short video tutorials for on-demand reference.Incentives over mandatesMandating CRM usage without incentives creates compliance theater—users do the minimum to avoid trouble while conducting real work elsewhere. Effective incentives align personal interests with CRM usage.When commission calculations draw from CRM data, reps ensure accurate records. And when CRM eliminates redundant reporting, it becomes helpful rather than burdensome. Giving team members recognition and competitive visibility motivates continued use.Monitoring and interventionIt’s best practice to regularly track login frequency, activity logging rates, data quality indicators, and feature adoption. Segment your metrics by team, location, and role to identify where adoption struggles lie.When metrics reveal problems, address them at their root cause, for example:Simplifying overwhelming interfacesFixing performance issuesDemonstrating personal valueProviding additional trainingImproving integrations with other toolsThe numbers tell the story. According to Nucleus Research, businesses earn $3.10 in CRM ROI for every $1 spent—but only if the system is actually used. Companies with strong CRM adoption often see increases in sales, upticks in productivity, and more accurate forecasting. Organizations failing to drive adoption forfeit these potential benefits despite making identical technology investments.Cloud-based, simple online CRM systems are more intuitive and accessible than ever before, which indicates that the primary challenge is organizational rather than technical.That means building cultures where CRM usage becomes a habit, providing training that translates to competence, creating incentives that align personal and organizational interests, and continuously monitoring to catch adoption problems before they become ingrained patterns.Ongoing simple CRM management and optimizationMaintaining CRM effectiveness over timeCRM implementation doesn’t end when users log in for the first time.Initial setup launches a continuous improvement cycle where businesses refine configurations, maintain data quality, and adapt systems to evolving needs.Organizations that treat CRM as “set and forget” technology will see their systems gradually decay—Data quality deteriorates, customizations grow complex, and user adoption erodes. Proactive ongoing management prevents these patterns, keeping CRM systems valuable years after implementation.The management essentialsData hygieneData quality degrades naturally without proper maintenance. That’s why it’s important to implement scheduled cleanups—weekly pipeline reviews to remove stale opportunities, monthly duplicate detection, quarterly inactive record archiving, and annual comprehensive audits.Today’s CRM platforms help maintain your data hygiene through automation by required field enforcement, picklist standardization, duplicate warnings, data validation rules, and auto-archiving for inactive contacts.Performance monitoringTo monitor performance, it’s important to track both the business impact and your system health.Business impact factors to monitor include:Sales cycle durationWin ratesPipeline accuracyActivity-to-outcome correlationsSystem health elements to track include:Data completenessUser engagement levelsIntegration functionalityPage load speedsContinuous measurement reveals whether your CRM delivers its expected value and identifies areas needing attention.Scaling appropriatelyCloud-based CRM platforms handle infrastructure scaling automatically, but you should monitor for signs that you’ve outgrown your existing plan. Do this by keeping an eye on the following:Performance degradationFeature limitationsStorage constraintsInadequate supportProcess scaling requires deliberate planning as teams grow, including formal territory management, approval workflows, team hierarchy configurations, and role specialization.Continuous improvementEstablish mechanisms for evolution, such as user feedback channels, change advisory boards, pilot testing before full deployment, clear change communication, and quarterly performance reviews. Cloud-based CRM makes this practical through instant updates without downtime.Organizations that embrace ongoing CRM management extract far more value than those treating implementation as one-time projects. The initial configuration launches the system, but sustained management and optimization deliver the long-term ROI that justifies the investment.FAQs about simple online CRMs1. How long does it take to set up a simple online CRM?Initial setup takes days to weeks rather than months. Basic technical setup—creating accounts, connecting email and calendar, importing contacts—can be completed in a single day. Full deployment, including training and adoption, typically spans six to 12 weeks for small teams. The key factor isn’t technical complexity but how thoroughly businesses plan processes, train users, and drive adoption.2. What security measures are essential for cloud-based CRM systems?Essential measures include data encryption (TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest), multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and comprehensive audit logging. 88% of data breaches result from human error or misconfigured settings rather than technological vulnerabilities. Cloud CRM platforms build these capabilities in, but businesses must actively configure and enforce them through regular audits, prompt access removal, and clear data handling policies.3. Can remote teams effectively use simple online CRM systems?Yes—cloud-based CRM platforms specifically address remote work challenges. Browser-based architecture enables access from anywhere without VPN connections. Mobile CRM can improve productivity rates, and businesses using it are more likely to exceed sales goals. Key considerations include reliable internet connectivity, mobile security measures, and offline capabilities for users working without connectivity.4. How much does a simple online CRM cost to implement?Cloud-based systems typically cost $13 to $100 per user per month, eliminating $50,000 to $500,000+ in up front costs of traditional implementations. For a 10-person team, expect to pay $130 to $1000 monthly for software plus 20 to 40 hours of internal time for setup and training. The subscription model means businesses can start small and scale as needed. The true cost includes ongoing management—typically five to 10 hours per month for smaller implementations.5. What’s the biggest challenge in CRM implementation?User adoption. When teams view CRM as administrative overhead instead of a performance advantage, usage becomes optional—and the business case evaporates. Successful implementations address adoption from day one through clear value communication, job-specific training, aligned incentives, and sustained management commitment.Beyond deployment: Building your advantageCloud computing democratized CRM. What once required months of planning and substantial capital now launches in days through browser-based platforms that teams can configure themselves.Yet accessibility doesn’t guarantee success.Implementation failures persist not because the technology fails but because businesses rush deployment without strategic planning, skip driving user adoption, or treat CRM as a technical project rather than an organizational change.The businesses extracting maximum value recognize that excellence comes from strategic planning, thoughtful security configuration, user adoption focus, and continuous optimization.Cloud-based innovations solved the technical challenges. The remaining challenges—organizational, procedural, cultural—require the same strategic thinking they always did. The difference is that businesses can now spend less time wrestling with infrastructure and more time designing processes that drive results.The technology works. The question is whether businesses will invest in the strategic thinking and sustained management that transforms working technology into a competitive advantage.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

You can order your own bloodwork now. Interpreting the results is another story

Firms like Function Health and Oura market regular blood tests to people wanting to take their health into their own hands. The process often raises more questions for patients than it can answer.

You can order your own blood work now. Interpreting the results is another story

Firms like Function Health and Oura market regular blood tests to people wanting to take their health into their own hands. The process often raises more questions for patients than it can answer.

Travel hacks for 2026: Data-backed strategies to save on airfares

Travel hacks for 2026: Data-backed strategies to save on airfares2026 is expected to be a busy travel year. According to the IPX1031 Travel Forecast 2026, 93% of Americans plan to travel in 2026, with 46% citing flight costs as their number-one cost concern.Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report highlights the cheapest days to fly, the best times to book, and the other key airfare trends for 2026. The analysis, based on millions of searches and bookings, gives travelers clear data-backed strategies for saving on flights in 2026. Expedia 1. A shift in savings: Fridays lead the wayFor the first time in the report’s 10-year history, Friday is now the cheapest day of the week to both book and fly. Travelers who fly on a Friday instead of a Sunday can save up to 8% on average, while Tuesday remains the cheapest day for U.S. domestic flights with prices 14% below average Sunday fares. These days-of-the-week differences stand out as one of the report’s clearest ways to save.2. August takes the top spot for affordabilityAugust is the most affordable month to fly overall, with fares averaging 29% cheaper than in December, saving travelers roughly $120 per ticket. Several international destinations — including Honduras, Morelia, and Tokyo — have seen fares drop up to 25% year over year.Meanwhile, separate airfare-tracking data shows July, October, and November as having more frequent discounted airfare deals available when compared to other months.3. Pick the right days for smoother airport experiencesTravelers looking to avoid congestion may want to focus on certain days and months. Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to fly, while Friday is the busiest. February is the quietest month for air travel overall, and specific dates such as Feb. 25, March 4, and Nov. 18 are among the least busy travel days based on booking data.4. Micro-cations are gaining tractionShort, spontaneous trips are becoming popular, especially among younger travelers. One in 4 Millennials and Gen Z adults say they plan to take a “micro-cation” in 2026 — defined as flying somewhere for just 24 hours. Popular international day-trip destinations include Toronto, Nassau, San Juan, and Montreal.Supporting this trend, 48% of travelers now fly with carry-on luggage only, and more than a quarter plan long layovers specifically to explore an additional city. These evolving habits reflect a desire for flexible, fast, and low-commitment travel experiences.5. Book closer to departure, but avoid the last-minute premiumTravelers may save more money by booking closer to their departure date than they might expect. For domestic economy flights, the most affordable booking window is 15–30 days before travel, with prices about $130 lower than booking 180+ days in advance.International flyers can save an average of $190 by booking 31–45 days ahead rather than more than six months out. Some of the best values appear 8–15 days before departure, although those deals generally require greater flexibility.6. Where you depart from can influence priceThe report shows that airport choice plays a major role in airfare pricing. Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Orlando are the most affordable mainstream departure points in the U.S., with average fares about 25% below the national average.Washington Dulles, San Francisco, and New York’s JFK are identified as the most expensive major airports.For travelers planning their trips this year, using these data-driven insights can help to identify the best windows for savings, smoother travel days, and new ways to fit shorter adventures into their schedules.MethodologyAll average ticket pricing data is based on bookings made on Expedia.com from December 2024 to November 2025, with any comparison metrics compared to December 2023 to November 2024. Most popular and trending destinations based on searches made on Expedia.com from December 2024 to November 2025, compared to searches made from December 2023 to November 2024.This story was produced by Expedia and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Insurance denial? Try calling human resources for help

Insurance denial? Try calling human resources for helpIf you’ve had a claim denied by your health insurance company, you’re not alone. According to a KFF report published in 2025, private insurance plans sold through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplace, or HealthCare.gov, denied about 20% of claims in 2023. But consumers rarely fought back: Less than 1% of those denied claims were appealed, according to the report.While a claim denial may feel final, GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, explains here that you have options. One place to start could be reaching out to your human resources (HR) department at work — especially if you have employer-based health insurance. Sometimes, someone in HR can advocate directly for getting a denied claim reviewed and reversed.Key takeaways:If your health insurance denies a claim, your human resources (HR) department may be able to help. Employers with self-funded health plans may be more likely and able to reverse a denied claim.HR may also offer resources to help you fight a claim denial, such as claims assistance or legal assistance.If HR can’t help, you can appeal the decision yourself by gathering documentation to support your claim and filing it with your health insurance plan.Does HR handle health insurance?Whether HR handles health insurance issues at your workplace depends on how employee coverage is funded. Some employers who offer health insurance to their employees go with self-funded or self-insured plans instead of buying coverage. The employer hires a health insurance administrator to manage plan benefits and pays for claims. This means the employer makes the final decision about what is or isn’t covered by plans.Many people don’t realize they can ask for and possibly receive employer help with a health insurance claim denial. If your employer offers self-funded health insurance plans, they can decide whether a service, supply, item, or prescription medication should be covered.How can HR intervene if your insurance claim is denied?If your insurer denies a claim, your company’s HR department may offer advocacy and/or resources for fighting the denial. Employer help with insurance denials can come in many forms. But you may have access to options, such as:A claims advocate who can help you file an appeal.A step-by-step guide on how to appeal an insurance denial.HR support contacts for claims assistance.A resource library with templates for appeal letters and other documents.A referral to a specialized benefits attorney, whose services may be covered by the company.Legal plan benefits that may cover insurance claim denial appeals.If you have a health plan that is funded by your employer, you may be able to make a case for your claim being paid directly to the decision-maker.For example, let’s say you were denied coverage after a prior authorization process determined a procedure was not medically necessary. You could approach your company’s HR department with documentation from your physician about the medical necessity of the procedure, offering details that may have been overlooked. There’s no guarantee that your employer will agree to pay the bill, but it’s always worth asking. Denied claims may be reversed in part or in full — and sometimes even beyond what’s requested.When HR cannot help with denialsIf your employer-based plan is not self-funded, you may not be able to get the type of insurance denial help from HR described above. But even if you can’t appeal a claim denial internally, HR may be able to provide other supportive resources as you go through the process.Some companies offer knowledgeable advocates or underwrite legal services that can help you fight an insurance denial, so it’s worth checking to see what’s available. HR may also offer tools such as appeal letter templates and step-by-step instructions for challenging a denied claim.What else can you do if your insurance claim is denied?If your insurance claim is denied and you can’t get help from HR, don’t panic. The first step is to determine why you were turned down for coverage. Review the explanation of benefits (EOB) you should have received from your insurer regarding the reason for your denied claim.Make note of how to challenge your denial as outlined in the EOB, as well as the appeal submission timeline. Typically, you have 180 days from the date of the EOB to file an appeal.It’s also important to review your health plan’s summary of benefits and coverage, which explains what is covered and outlines any plan restrictions or limitations. This may help you further understand why your claim was denied.If the denial involves a prescription medication not covered by your health insurance, talk to your prescriber about an affordable alternative — such as a generic version, a biosimilar, or another medication altogether. You can also consider asking your prescription plan to cover the medication based on a formulary exception. Some manufacturers also offer patient assistance programs and manufacturer copay programs, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you qualify.If the denial involves something other than a prescription medication, review your EOB for details about how to start the appeal process. Also, reach out to the medical practice or hospital that filed the claim to see if they can:Correct any errors, which you’ll typically need to identify.Resubmit the claim.Gathering and submitting documentationYou may also need a member of your medical team to produce a letter of medical necessity and other records to support your appeal.Once you’ve gathered the required documentation, write an appeal letter to support your case. Submit the documents along with a completed appeal form, if needed, to your insurance company. Make copies of all documents you submit, which should be sent with delivery tracking if you’re using mail. Verify your appeal was received by contacting your health plan and follow up to ensure that your submission was adequate. Ask for the estimated date for a response and stay in contact with your insurance plan.If a prior authorization claim was denied, expect to receive an appeal decision within 30 days of your plan receiving the documents. If you’re appealing a claim for a service you have already received, a response can take up to 60 days. If your appeal is denied, you can then request an external appeal, or an independent external review, as another avenue to get your claim approved.Frequently asked questionsWhy do health insurance companies deny claims?There are many reasons why health insurance companies deny claims. A claim may be denied because of data entry or medical coding errors, missing documentation, a duplicate claim, or a missed filing deadline. Or it’s possible you’ve exhausted your benefits or failed to get the required prior authorization. Alternatively, a service or item may not be included in your benefits or coverage network, or it may not be deemed medically necessary by your plan.How often do insurance companies deny claims?According to a 2025 KFF report, health insurance plans purchased through HealthCare.gov denied 1 in 5 claims, or 20% overall, in 2023. Claim denial rates differed by insurance company but could exceed 50% for in-network claims, depending on the health plan and state.Can your employer reimburse you for insurance denials?Your employer cannot reimburse you for an insurance denial, but they may be able to approve your claim depending on how your health plan is funded. Some employers offer self-funded or self-insured health plans, which means they shoulder the costs of medical care for their employees but pay a third-party health administrator to handle benefits. If your employer offers self-funded plans, you may be able to appeal a claim denial through your company’s HR department.The bottom lineIf your medical claim is denied, try contacting your company’s human resources (HR) department to see if someone there can help reverse the decision. If your employer-based health plan is self-funded or self-insured, your company may agree to pay your claim.If that’s not an option, gather supporting documentation and file an appeal with the insurance company. Even if the appeal is denied, you can file a second appeal to be handled externally. Your HR department may offer claims assistance, legal support, or other resources to help you overturn a health insurance claim denial, even if they can’t help you appeal directly.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Monmouth College alumni establish nursing scholarship

Two graduates with a long history of giving back to Monmouth College are financially backing the college’s new nursing program. Jim Bunn '68 and his wife, the former Alice Young '69, have established the Bunn Family Endowed Nursing Scholarship, a permanent fund that will provide ongoing scholarship support for Monmouth students pursuing nursing degrees. "Monmouth [...]

Rock Island approves audio gunshot detection pilot program

Raven gunshot detection devices are made by Flock, which also manufactures cameras and license plate readers.

After losing loved ones, an Israeli and a Palestinian work together for Middle East peace

An Israeli whose parents were killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and a Palestinian whose brother died from injuries in Israeli custody say they've become like brothers. Their new book is The Future Is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land.

The ADA deadline small businesses don’t know is coming

The ADA deadline small businesses don’t know is comingA federal deadline hits this month, and most small business owners have no idea it applies to them. On April 24, 2026, a U.S. Department of Justice rule takes effect, requiring all state and local government entities to bring their websites into compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the web accessibility standard mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. That covers public universities, school districts, transit authorities, courts, and libraries.This specific rule does not cover private businesses. But the deadline still matters to them. Federal courts have used WCAG 2.1 AA as the benchmark in ADA lawsuits against commercial websites for years. Now that the government has formally adopted the same standard, that legal precedent only gets stronger. For a small business owner, the practical takeaway is simple: the bar courts use to decide whether a website is accessible just got codified into federal law.And most business websites aren’t meeting it. According to the 2026 WebAIM Million report, which scans the top 1 million websites for accessibility failures, 95.9% of homepages have at least one detectable WCAG 2 error. That number has gone up, not down, over the past year.Below, Clym examines how a new ADA rule may affect website accessibility expectations for businesses.Lawsuits Are Up, and Small Businesses Are the TargetADA website accessibility lawsuits have been climbing steadily, and 2025 was no exception. According to the Accessibility.build lawsuit tracker, 3,948 federal ADA web accessibility cases were filed in 2025, a 23.84% increase over 2024. In just the first six months of 2025, more than 2,000 cases were filed, a 37% jump compared to the same period the year before.The businesses getting sued are not household names. According to EcomBack’s 2025 annual lawsuit report, 77% of defendants had annual revenues under $25 million. Most had no compliance team, no legal department, and no idea a lawsuit was coming until one arrived.When cases settle out of court, and most do, the cost typically lands between $25,000 and $30,000, according to legal analysts who track accessibility litigation. That figure does not include attorney fees, website remediation costs, or the monitoring requirements that are often part of the settlement agreement.The Industries Getting Sued the MostSome business types are targeted far more than others. The pattern that emerged from 2025 filings is clear: The more a website depends on visual product browsing, interactive ordering, and multistep checkout, the higher the risk. Here is how the numbers broke down across the 3,948 cases tracked by EcomBack.Restaurants, Food and Beverage: 34.65% of all lawsuits (1,368 cases)Food-service businesses were sued more than any other industry in 2025. Online menus, reservation systems, and food ordering flows have multiple points where screen readers and keyboard-only navigation commonly break down. When a customer using assistive technology can’t complete an order, that gap can trigger a complaint.Fashion and Apparel: 25.96% (1,025 cases)Clothing and lifestyle retail ranked second. Product images without alt text, low-contrast buttons, and checkout forms that don’t work with screen readers are the most commonly cited violations in this category.Beauty and Personal Care: 8.03% (317 cases)Cosmetics, skincare, and wellness brands accounted for more than 8% of filings. Product-heavy pages with complex filtering and subscription options create multiple points of potential failure.Home, Furniture and Decor: 7.67% (303 cases)Home goods retailers were next, with lawsuits frequently citing product visualizers, room planners, and multistep purchase flows as the source of barriers.Health and Medical: 7.17% (283 cases)Online pharmacies, medical supply retailers, and health platforms rounded out the top five. Given how many people with disabilities rely on accessible health information, this sector draws consistent scrutiny.Where the Lawsuits Are FiledLitigation is concentrated in a few states, but it is spreading. Federal filing data for the first half of 2025, tracked by EcomBack, shows both the established hubs and the markets where plaintiff activity is accelerating.New York: 637 lawsuits, 31.6% of the national total (H1 2025)New York has led the country in ADA web accessibility filings for several consecutive years. Its large plaintiff’s bar, favorable court jurisdiction, and dense concentration of commercial defendants have made it the most active litigation market in the country.Florida: 487 lawsuits, 24.2%Florida nearly doubled its filing volume in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period the year before, rising to second in the national rankings. Most filings are concentrated in the Southern District of Florida.California: 380 lawsuits, 18.9%California generates significant volume through both federal ADA cases and state-level filings under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, its own accessibility statute. The federal numbers here undercount the full picture.Illinois: 237 lawsuits, roughly 12%Illinois was the biggest story of the year. Filings jumped 746% year over year, from 28 cases in 2024 to 237 in H1 2025 alone. Legal observers note that plaintiff’s attorneys are actively expanding operations into Midwestern jurisdictions where businesses have had less exposure to this type of litigation.Missouri and Minnesota: Emerging marketsBoth states saw increased activity in 2025, continuing a pattern where litigation strategies developed on the coasts move inland over time.Why So Many Websites Still FailThe 2026 WebAIM Million report found 56.1 million distinct accessibility errors across one million home pages, averaging 56 errors per page. The most common failures have been the same for seven consecutive years.Low-contrast text was found on 83.9% of home pages. Missing image alt text appeared on 16.2% of all home page images. Unlabeled form inputs, broken keyboard navigation, and inaccessible interactive elements round out the list. These are not cutting-edge technical requirements. They are basic design and development standards that most websites still do not meet.One reason businesses miss these issues is that they are hard to spot without testing specifically for them. A growing number of business owners are running automated accessibility scans to get a baseline read on where their site stands before a complaint does it for them. A scan won’t catch everything, but it surfaces the most common and most litigated failures quickly.What the Government Deadline Means for Private BusinessThe April 24 rule is a Title II rule. It applies to public entities, not private companies. Private businesses fall under ADA Title III, which covers places of public accommodation. No equivalent federal rule has formally codified a technical standard for commercial websites yet.But the gap between the two is narrowing in practice. Federal courts handling Title III cases have looked to WCAG 2.1 AA as the applicable benchmark for years. Legal experts cited by Accessible.org note that the DOJ’s formal adoption of the standard in a published federal rule makes it harder for defendants to argue that WCAG 2.1 AA is not the right measure. The rule also tends to raise general public and media awareness of accessibility issues, which has historically correlated with increased complaint activity against commercial sites in its aftermath.For small businesses in the five most-sued industries and four highest-filing states, the combination of rising lawsuit volume, a codified legal standard, and a 95.9% website failure rate adds up to a risk that is easier to address proactively than to manage after the fact.MethodologyTo identify the industries and states most affected by ADA digital accessibility litigation, Clym analyzed 2025 federal lawsuit filing data from EcomBack’s Annual ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit Report, covering all federal filings from January through December 2025. Industry categorizations follow EcomBack’s classification methodology across 3,948 total filings. State-level data reflects H1 2025 federal filings from EcomBack’s midyear report. Website accessibility failure rates are from the WebAIM Million 2026 report (February 2026), which analyzes the top 1,000,000 home pages for WCAG 2 compliance. Government compliance deadline information is sourced from the U.S. Department of Justice’s final rule on web content accessibility under Title II of the ADA, effective April 24, 2026.This story was produced by Clym and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Fuel protests have Ireland's government facing possible no-confidence vote

The prime minister announced new tax cuts to try to end the crisis that began after the U.S.-Israel war on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The government could face a no-confidence vote over its response to the fuel protests.

Restaurant inspection update: Moldy ravioli, dead rodents and a worm complaint

State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including offenses related to moldy food, expired meat, cockroaches and rodents.

Millions of people are pretending to be AI chatbots — for fun

Websites like youraislopbores.me have become playgrounds for people looking for light relief in a bot-heavy world.

How to get ready to buy a home

How to get ready to buy a homeFor years now, Americans have been down in the dumps about housing affordability.It’s not hard to understand why: High prices, lofty interest rates, limited supply, and wages that just aren’t keeping up.So here’s some good news: Things seem to be changing.Sellers now outnumber buyers by more than 600,000 nationwide, one of the biggest gaps on record, according to Redfin.And in over half of the nation’s top 50 metro areas, prices actually dropped over the last 12 months — by the most in cities like Austin, San Diego, San Jose, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C., according to data from Realtor.com.“Mortgage rates are slipping below 6%, and conditions are appearing more favorable for buyers,” says Thomas Ravert, a financial planner with Pathway Capital in Nyack, New York. “Prospective homeowners may now be considering how to build a down payment fund.”There’s the key point: As the housing market cools down and prices settle into a range that’s more affordable and sustainable, buyers have some time to start assembling that critical down payment.Of course, those sums can be significant, and won’t come together overnight. But if you haven’t started yet, the best time to begin is right now.You can improve your outcome by having a strategy in place from the start: knowing how much to save, where to put it, and weighing all your mortgage options before signing on the dotted line.Below, Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, shares a few elements to factor into that down payment plan:The amount: The more you’re able to put down, of course, the less you’ll have to pay off later. Having more equity in the house will benefit you when you eventually sell or if you ever run into trouble and have to draw some down via a home equity loan or line of credit.So if you’re financially able, “the typical 20% down payment remains the gold standard,” says Georgia Lord, a financial planner in Brooklyn, New York. “It avoids the need for private mortgage insurance, and can result in better loan terms.”That being said, you don’t want to stretch yourself too far by depleting all your reserves and leaving yourself financially vulnerable. So while 20% down is a worthy goal, you do have other options at your disposal.For those who qualify — typically low- to moderate-income borrowers — there are USDA loans (0% down), VA loans (0% down), FHA loans (3.5% down), and even conventional loans like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible (3% down). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a helpful fact sheet to start researching special loan programs.The account: While your savings start building, you want an account that will generate interest, while not being overly risky. For instance, you don’t want that money invested in equities, where the value could drop at any moment and blow up your homebuying plans. Nor do you want that cash “locked” in instruments that will penalize you for drawing it out early, such as many certificates of deposit.Says Ravert: “Because down payment funds are usually intended for a near-term purchase, they are often kept in low-risk, liquid accounts such as high-yield savings accounts.”With a healthy return, you can then kick off the positive cycle of adding interest to whatever you’re able to save.The credit score: Since putting together a down payment will take time, here’s a way to double down and make that phase really count: Work on boosting your credit score in the meantime.Every improvement you make will lower the mortgage rates you will be offered. For instance, for a 30-year fixed mortgage, those with a 620 credit score might expect a 7.17% rate, according to recent figures from Experian. Meanwhile, someone with a 740, in comparison, would typically get offered a 6.4% rate.That difference, over time, is massive — easily in the tens of thousands of dollars. Using a secured charge card can help give your credit score a boost while minimizing your risks of debt, as you can only spend the amount of money you have in your account. You’ll want to look for one that reports to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and has a low or no required deposit.So while falling prices and mortgage rates are certainly good news for potential buyers, you have some advance work to do. Then, when the time is right, you will be ready to strike.“The right time to buy isn’t dictated simply by rates dropping,” advises Lord. “The right time to buy is when you have a longer-term horizon, the monthly payment fits comfortably within your broader financial plan — and you can fund retirement and all your other goals, simultaneously.”This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How AI cameras are changing video capture in youth sports

How AI cameras are changing video capture in youth sportsFor today’s young athletes and their families, capturing a game on video doesn’t just preserve memories, it serves an important role in the sports experience. From sharing highlights with loved ones on social media to providing coaches with a powerful teaching tool, quality video can literally be a game-changer.However, for many families, the responsibility to serve as videographer can feel like a burden that actually interferes with enjoying the game. Parents become trapped behind a smartphone screen, frantically trying to track a fast-moving ball, ultimately missing the joy of experiencing their child’s play. XbotGo From Broadcast Trucks to AITo understand why AI-powered sports cameras are gaining such momentum in 2026, XbotGo takes a look at how sports recording technology has changed over the years.The 1980s–1990s: Broadcast-quality, few optionsIn the late twentieth century, sports video was primarily the domain of television broadcasters. Professional leagues and major college programs relied on multi-camera production crews and broadcast trucks to capture games at the highest level. At the grassroots level, recording was less common. When it did happen, consumer camcorders offered a low-tech way for families and teams to preserve memories.The 2000s: Video as a coaching toolAs digital camcorders and editing software became more common, video offered an opportunity not just for making memories but for performance enhancement. Coaches used footage to review plays, strategies, and individual progress. For some, this marked the first time video became part of a team’s training process. However, getting footage still depended on a dedicated camera operator. Following fast-paced action and covering a large space for team sports, required skill and patience. A team’s video was often only as good as the person behind the camera.The 2010s: Smartphones make every spectator a videographerThe proliferation of smartphones put capable cameras on every sideline. Parents, coaches, and teammates could capture games instantly and share clips in emails, texts, and social media posts. Recording became expected. However, the widespread adoption of amateur photography revealed a new challenge: Capturing a full game from a handheld device requires constant attention. Now, the experience of filming replaced the experience of watching the game. Many parents felt distracted from the game they were trying to capture.2026 and Beyond: Democratization of videoHighlight reels are now part of the recruiting process for many young athletes, with college recruiters advising players to create videos that can be shared directly with coaches. The challenge for families is how to reliably capture footage without turning every game into work.At the same time, high school sports participation in the United States has grown to more than 8 million athletes, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. The market around sports technology is also expanding. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global sports analytics market is expected to grow from $2.29 billion in 2025 to $4.75 billion by 2030.That growth helps explain why a new generation of AI-powered cameras, designed to track action autonomously, generate highlight clips, and capture video without a dedicated operator, is gaining attention. For brands operating in this category, including XbotGo, the broader opportunity lies in bridging the gap between elite and grassroots sports by bringing this kind of capability to everyday families and amateur clubs.The Boundaries of AIFor many parents and coaches, the appeal of autonomous cameras is the consistency of quality video. In practice, these tools help turn a stressful sideline task into an effortless part of the youth sports experience.While AI-powered cameras offer convenience and reliability, they still come with limitations. Current technology excels at consistent tracking and high-volume capture, but it does not replace the trained eye of an experienced scout or the creativity of a professional videographer.Unusual lighting or complex field setups may still affect coverage. However, for most amateur clubs, quality game footage is within reach, and automation prevents the tradeoff between shooting the game and enjoying it.This story was produced by XbotGo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

OneTable QC free Advocacy Workshop

OneTable QC announces a free April advocacy workshop to help nonprofit leaders turn everyday work into impact.

Virginia joins a national effort to ensure only popular vote winners become president

With Virginia on board, the National Popular Vote Compact is now enacted in states worth 222 electoral votes. Here's what that means.

First Central State Bank to host Shred Days in Eastern Iowa

The on-site shred service for secure documents is provided for free and is open to everyone.

Retirements, resignations, hirings, other Davenport School personnel news for March 9

See the personnel items from the March 9 school board agenda of the Davenport Community School District.

Rock Island City Council approves one-year test of gunshot acoustic technology

Police Chief Timothy McCloud said the department received a federal Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, to pay the $26,950 for the one-year use of the technology.

Iowa born congressman to resign following sexual misconduct claims

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell announced that he will resign from Congress following sexual assault allegations.

Muscatine tee-ball program opens to kids ages 5-7

The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for the 2026 tee-ball program, open to children ages five through seven, a news release says. The program will be held this summer at Kent Stein Park and is designed to introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of baseball and softball through coached practices and non-competitive [...]

Three people hospitalized after two-vehicle crash in Muscatine County

The crash occurred at 4:20 p.m. in the 1600 block of Iowa Highway 38.

Israel and Lebanon set to meet for first direct talks in more than 30 years

An official briefed on Israel's strategy for the talks described Tuesday's meeting as "preparatory" and aimed at laying out a framework for future negotiations.

Severe weather likely Tuesday afternoon and evening

Morning showers and storms moved through parts of the Illinois Quad Cities this morning. It'll turn very warm and humid today with highs in the upper-70s and low-80s. Severe weather is looking very likely this afternoon and evening. More severe weather is expected Wednesday afternoon and evening. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Iowa librarians, lawmakers discuss latest changes in "book ban" controversy at film screening

State Rep. Ken Croken brought lawmakers, residents and librarians together to discuss book restrictions in Iowa and across the nation.

Davenport's new fire chief was briefly suspended in 2009 for punching teen

The incident, which happened while he was employed in Michigan, was not disclosed to Davenport by the firm that led the recruitment for the new chief, according to city officials.

Alabama spared for now as nationwide measles outbreaks outpace 2025 cases

Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris speaking at the State Committee on Public Health meeting on April 9, 2025, in the RSA Regions tower in Montgomery, Alabama. Alabama recorded one case of measles in 2025 despite nationwide outbreaks and low vaccination rates. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)Alabama to this point has largely managed to avoid the measles outbreak that broke out nationwide in the United States last year. The state’s top health official said Thursday that credit is due to the work behind the scenes at the Alabama Department of Public Health. “I assure you, if you haven’t been to many of these meetings, there are things that you have no idea that are in here, that are working behind the scenes in public health,” said Dr. Scott Harris at the State Committee on Public Health meeting. “Nobody knows about us until something goes wrong, because they’re generally working in the background, trying to keep people safe.” The state recorded one measles case in north Alabama last August, the first such case recorded since 2002. The patient was a child younger than five, was unvaccinated and was traveling out of the country when the disease was contracted. The child later recovered and is not known to have infected other people. Measles is a highly contagious disease, and ADPH officials have for years expressed alarm at the state’s swinging rates of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations. In 2023-24, the rate among kindergartners was 93.8%, below the 95% rate the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers necessary to achieve herd immunity. About 95.3% of Alabama kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles in the 2024-25 school year,  There have been more than 1,700 measles cases in the U.S. in 2026 so far, according to the CDC. In 2025, there were almost 2,300 cases.  Measles outbreaks have surrounded Alabama. An outbreak originated in West Texas in January 2025 that by its end had 762 cases in about eight months. Measles has spread across the country, with an outbreak in South Carolina that had more than nearly 1,000 cases and bypassed the Texas outbreak for largest in the nation’s history. South Carolina has not seen any new cases since March 17.  A smaller outbreak in Florida had about 130 cases, according to the CDC. The most recent outbreak, though far from Alabama, is in Utah with 583 cases, 200 of which are in adults. At every State Committee on Public Health meeting since the South Carolina outbreak, Harris says that the department remains prepared for measles to reach Alabama.  “Still no cases here. We fully expect to see cases here,” Harris said Thursday after briefing the committee on measles outbreaks across the country. According to the CDC, 92% of the measles cases were in people who did not receive the  MMR  vaccine. Four percent received one dose, and 4% were fully vaccinated.  Public health officials say about 95% of the population needs to be immunized against measles to achieve herd immunity. For the 2024-25 school year, the CDC estimates that 95.2% of Alabama kindergarten students were fully vaccinated against measles. However, November ADPH data showed that about 77% of children under 10 were up to date on the measles vaccine.  About 1% of measles cases reported in the U.S. in 2025 were from international travelers, while the others were from states. Almost 90% of the cases were outbreak-related. In 2024, there were 285 cases of measles, according to the CDC. According to the CDC, measles usually starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes that leads to a rash. In serious cases, children can be hospitalized, develop pneumonia, swelling in the brain or die. According to the American Society of Microbiology, measles can also reset the immune system. ADPH released its 2025 annual report on Thursday, which is submitted to the governor every year, and has been since the 1800s, Harris said. It provides an overview of what the department has done over the last year, including a record of the singular measles case.  “The biggest takeaway, in a way, is just what fantastic work people do,” Harris said in an interview after the meeting. “People who work in public health are just trying to make Alabama a better place. They just want people to be safe and healthy, and you can see that there.” Courtesy of Alabama Reflector

Gretchen at Work: Dinner and a show at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island

Circa '21 has been hosting entertaining live theater since 1977.

The labor economics of Alien — and its lessons for inequality on Earth

Behind the acid blood and jump scares of the Alien franchise is an even more insidious horror: a single employer with unchecked power. How Weyland-Yutani helps explain monopsony — and the rise of inequality on Earth.

Crossroads

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.In the spring of 1816, troops of the Eighth United States Infantry landed on Rock Island and built a fort to protect…