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

Friday, July 10th, 2026
	Walk to End Alzheimer’s Oct. 24 in Muscatine The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Muscatine Area takes place on Saturday, October 24 at Discovery Park's Environmental Learning Center, 3300 Cedar Street in Muscatine. Participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s on Walk Day with the Promise Garden ceremony. Walkers will carry flowers of various colors during the ceremony and each color represents [...]
	Eligible Illinois seniors to get help buying farmers' market produce Farmers market season is underway across Illinois, and low-income seniors may be able to get help buying fresh, local produce. According to a release from the State of Illinois, the Illinois Department on Aging and Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) are administering the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to give income-eligible older adults benefits [...]
	Traffic alert: Country star Luke Bryan at Vibrant in downtown Moline Friday night Drivers should expect traffic delays on River Drive in Moline this Friday night.
	Vehicle strikes GECU building, Rock Island Police in Rock Island responded to GECU, 2300 4th Avenue, for a report of a vehicle striking a building and leaving the scene. A pillar in the credit union's drive-through was heavily damaged, with chunks of brick scattered around the drive-through. A large chunk of brick went into a parking lot next to the credit [...]
	QC Arts unveils new mural at EveryChild Quad City Arts unveiled its latest mural this morning in Rock Island. The new mural at EveryChild, 420 23rd Street, was created by apprentices from Quad City Arts’ Metro Arts Apprenticeship Program, under the direction of lead artist Sarah Robb. The mural features paper cranes flowing from a starburst surrounding a parent and child, reflecting [...]
	More than 550,000 power tools sold at Lowe's recalled Approximately 554,780 Kobalt 24V and 48V Trimmers, Blowers, Mowers, Chainsaws, and Pruning Saws with USB-C Batteries are included in the recall.
	Crime Stoppers Solved: Man wanted by Rock Island police on charges of sexual abuse and assault arrested Christian Beard is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear for armed violence.
	Visit Quad Cities announces new board chair, board members Visit Quad Cities has announced its FY2026-2027 board of directors. Neil Dahlstrom will serve as board chair, succeeding Jennifer Sautter, a news release says. Dahlstrom has served on the board since 2022. He currently leads Heritage Marketing for John Deere and is Deere’s official archivist, serving the company for more than 25 years. “I am [...]
	A major housing bill is set to become law at midnight — even though Trump says he won't sign President Trump says he is refusing to sign the bill without Congress first passing his sweeping voter ID bill.
	Milan Harvest Festival returns this Labor Day weekend Enjoy four days of family fun at the 2026 Milan Harvest Festival in Camden Park, 1247 32nd Ave E, this Labor Day Weekend. This year's festival offers more excitement with a larger layout, more attractions and activities for all ages. The festival grounds will have carnival rides, food vendors, live entertainment, a fireworks display, a [...]
	Officials monitor potential exposures after Iowa's first measles case of 2026 DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa has confirmed its first measles case of 2026, and Polk County health officials are working to prevent additional spread. The Polk County Health Department says the infected adult had been traveling internationally and was vaccinated. Officials have identified locations the individual visited where potential exposures may have occurred. You can [...]
	A beautiful, sunny weekend After some cloudy skies and a bit of some rain from yesterday and today, things are clearing up for the weekend. Temperatures will range in the upper 80s for Saturday and Sunday with lots of clear skies and sunshine to help you get outside. That is before we get back to some hotter temperatures in [...]
	These three artists are poised to invade the top of the pop charts We're in that phase of summer pop doldrums when the same songs seem to be on repeat week after week. Can Stella Lefty, Yung Miami or Malcolm Todd make a run to crack the top 10?
	Hy-Vee and Birdies for Charity donate thousands to 10 local organizations Hy-Vee and Birdies for Charity have partnered to award $1,000 each to ten Quad Cities nonprofits to support their community work.
	Extra patrols deploying across RI Co. to target speeding, seat belts, and impaired drivers Rock Island County deputies are launching extra patrols this July to crack down on speeding, seat belt violations, and driving under the influence.
	Davenport residents invited to meet new police chief, assistant chief Meet Davenport's new Police Chief Greg Behning and Assistant Chief Jason Smith at a community meet and greet on July 27
	Food Lee in Bettendorf announces temporary closure Chinese restaurant to reopen after temporary closure.
	El Sarape Taco & Burritos opens in Silvis Family restaurant serving handmade Mexican food with fresh ingredients opens in Silvis
	Taliban declares war on smartphones A newly announced ban on smartphones for government workers, police and military personnel is spilling over into healthcare and educational facilities. Ordinary citizens worry they'll be next.
	Volunteer Capitol This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Fourteen miles upstream from Rock Island at the head of the Rock Island Rapids, sits the small town of LeClaire, Iowa,…
	Waymo called the cops on teen riders, raising privacy concerns Two 15-year-olds were allegedly drinking alcohol and shooting toy guns from a driverless taxi when the company disabled it and alerted police.
	Shelling at night, gunfire by day in Israel's expanding zone of control in Gaza When the U.S. brokered a ceasefire last year, Israel controlled half of Gaza. Now Israeli forces have pushed deeper, and Palestinians are paying a deadly price.
	No internet, no screen time? FCC weighs cutting subsidy that lowers school internet bills Many schools rely on consumer fees funneled through the federal government to cut internet costs. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called for ending this program before Donald Trump tapped him for the job.
	Count Binface: The intergalactic warrior who could upend Britain's strangest election Meet Count Binface: the challenger from another planet taking on Nigel Farage as questions over the Reform UK leader's finances overshadow his election comeback.
	U.S. and Iran exchange intensifying fire across Mideast, threatening ceasefire deal Back-and-forth attacks have repeatedly threatened the ceasefire, but Thursday's appeared bigger all around.
Thursday, July 9th, 2026
	New hope for evacuated Muscatine business in a temporary location Energy 108 YOGA is moving into a space in the Muscatine Mall after holding classes outdoors for almost a month.
	Fresh Films gives students hands-on experience as studio plans move forward Fresh Films hopes to bring a $12 million film studio to downtown Rock Island.
	Bettendorf woman located after going missing on Thursday 86-year-old Barbara Rhode was found after being reported missing on Thursday.
	North Liberty teen among 2 victims in fatal crash in Iowa County Investigators believe a 2014 Ford failed to stop at a stop sign, causing it to be struck by an oncoming dump truck.
	New hope for evacuated Muscatine business after finding a temporary location Energy 108 YOGA is moving into a space in the Muscatine Mall after holding classes outdoors for almost a month.
	Fresh Films gives students hands-on experience as plans for a new studio move forward Fresh Films hopes to bring a $12 million film studio to downtown Rock Island.
	988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline signs added to I-74 Bridge Local mental health advocates have been pushing for more suicide prevention measures at the bridge.
	Quad City Tennis Club's new grass courts bring Wimbledon to the QCA It takes a lot to surprise reigning state champion Connor Feehan out on the tennis court, but it happened Thursday. The Quad City Tennis Club unveiled its new grass courts. "I mean this one of a kind," Feehan said. "It's the most amazing place that I've ever played tennis and I feel like everyone from [...]
	President Trump cleans house at the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission With just months until the midterms, President Trump relieved the remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a move condemned by Democrats and voting rights advocates.
	Illinois' ban on assault weapons upheld An appeals court upheld Illinois' ban on assault weapons. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision to uphold the statewide ban passed in the months after the deadly July 4, 2022 parade shooting in Highland Park. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the move "a win that enhances public safety in Illinois." [...]
	QCA veterans reunite through Honor Flight of the Quad Cities More than 6,000 veterans across the QCA have taken the adventure of a lifetime through the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities programs, and many reunited to reconnect at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center. Our Quad Cities News photojournalist Mike Colón was there as friends old and new shared their experiences serving their country and [...]
	Muscatine moves forward with stabilization of 200 block of East 2nd Street Muscatine city council members are moving forward with plans to stabilize the 200 block of E. 2nd Street. The decision came at Tuesday night's city council meeting. City council members decided stabilizing the buildings is the safest and quickest way to get residents back in their homes and businesses back open. “The safety of our [...]
	Hy-Vee, Rock Island, announces donation of $10,000 to QC nonprofit groups On Thursday, Hy-Vee - in coordination with Birdies for Charity - announced a $10,000 donation to local charities, which had representatives on hand to say thanks and accept the money at the Rock Island Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee partners with the John Deere Classic fundraiser Birdies for Charity to coordinate yearly donations like these. The store's director [...]
	‘Funnel of death,’ expert reviews the dangers officers faced in Bureau County hostage call Body camera video of a Bureau County hostage crisis sparks questions. TV6 Investigates tracked down an expert to give context to the dangers officers faced that night
	North Liberty teen among 2 victims in fatal Iowa County crash Investigators believe a 2014 Ford failed to stop at a stop sign, causing it to be struck by an oncoming dump truck.
	Police seek help finding missing Bettendorf woman The Bettendorf Police Department is asking for the community’s help locating a missing woman. According to a release, Barbara Rhode, 86, is 5’3” tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds. Rhode lives near Bettendorf High School and was last seen on Thursday, July 9 around noon, wearing a cream-colored top and tan pants. The Bettendorf Police [...]
	Bettendorf police looking for missing woman Police said the 86-year-old was last seen in the area of Bettendorf High School Thursday afternoon.
	988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline signs added to I-74 Bridge Local mental health advocates have been pushing for more suicide prevention measures at the bridge.
	In private call, Education Dept. tried, but failed, to reassure disability advocates The disability community has long worried about what would happen if special education oversight moved from the Education Department to another agency. Now, those moves are becoming more real.
	UPDATE: Kewanee woman arrested for first-degree murder in Creve Coeur shooting Caitlynn Girkin, 27, was arrested and booked on the single charge of first-degree murder in connection with the March 10 shooting death of Adolfo Cazares in Creve Coeur, Illinois.
	Do height limits apply to Trump's arch? A debate looms as it clears another vote The Interior Department is arguing D.C. height limits don't apply to federal projects, bucking a century of precedent. If the panel reviewing Trump's arch agrees, experts say it could change the city.
	Trump's arch clears another hurdle, setting up a big debate: Do height limits apply? The Interior Department is arguing D.C. height limits don't apply to federal projects, bucking a century of precedent. If the panel reviewing Trump's arch agrees, experts say it could change the city.
	Prosecutors file charges in July 4 shooting outside Rock Island bar Rock Island County prosecutors have charged a Davenport man in the July 4 shooting outside DeAnna's Place as the tavern awaits a liquor license decision.
	TV6 Investigates analyzes video of deadly Princeton police shooting Police released body cam video showing what led up to the shooting. TV6 Investigates reviewed the video in depth to unpack what led up to the shooting.
	Iowa farm seeks grocery store connections through Choose Iowa program A Conesville farm is using a Choose Iowa matching grant to expand produce deliveries.
	Quad Cities Tennis Club opens rare grass courts modeled after Wimbledon The Quad Cities Tennis Club has unveiled three new grass courts, becoming one of the few facilities in the Midwest to offer the playing surface used at Wimbledon.
	Findings from the Iowa Economic Development Authority assessment on Clinton's downtown Clinton's downtown district was the center of attention for the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) this week. Specialists spent time Monday through Wednesday researching the downtown area of Clinton through surveys, tours and interviews. This is a statewide voluntary service that Grow Clinton, the Downtown Clinton Alliance and the City of Clinton worked to bring [...]
	Study: Iowa has short-term cushion for $1 billion annual deficits Iowa’s new budget year is underway, marking the third consecutive year Republicans have used cash reserves to cover a deficit in which the state spends more than it takes in.
	Muscatine businesses find fresh start after downtown evacuations Weeks after structural concerns forced the evacuation of several downtown Muscatine buildings, some displaced business owners are rebuilding in new locations and looking toward the future.
	The Heart of the Story: Life lessons are the goal Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. With the FIFA World Cup taking center stage [...]
	Davenport man finishes visiting all 228 Pizza Ranch locations Jason Halkias' last stop was in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
	Quad Cities Tennis Club opens grass courts modeled after Wimbledon The Quad Cities Tennis Club has unveiled 3 new grass courts, becoming one of the few facilities in the Midwest to offer the same playing surface used at Wimbledon
	Davenport Skybridge closes for extreme heat According to the City of Davenport, the Davenport Skybridge will be temporarily closed due to the extreme heat. With all that glass and no shade, the inside gets much hotter than we can safely cool right now. New cooling equipment is on the way, but it won’t arrive until the fall. We’ll reopen the Skybridge [...]
	Why Gov. Kim Reynolds turned down previous request to send National Guard to D.C. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said that she rejected a previous request to send National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C., but she now feels is the appropriate time to agree to the request.
	More highs in the 90s coming to the Quad Cities So far we've had 7 days with highs in the 90s this year...and we're going to add to that tally next week. The hottest we've been (temperature, not het index) is 92°. We'll be close to that a few times next week. The normal high for most of July is 86° in the Quad Cities.
	Half of North Carolina is now in extreme or exceptional drought Even with extreme drought, some North Carolinians have continued to regularly water their lawns rather than conserve. (Photo; Getty Images/VanderWolf-Images)Recent scattered showers were a welcome relief for central North Carolina this week, but a newly released report from the U.S. Drought Monitor finds much of the state remains mired in a seemingly endless drought. According to Thursday’s report, 43.6% of the state is in extreme drought, an 8% increase since last week. Six percent of the state is gripped by exceptional drought, the most extreme classification. Source: North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told Gov. Josh Stein and members of the Council of State Tuesday that North Carolina farmers are bracing for low yields and an economic hit. “Quite frankly, it’s hard to find a farmer that will tell you that he has excellent crops this year,” said Troxler. “We probably would rate our crop loads below average.” Tobacco farmers in eastern North Carolina have reported yellow leaves and slow growth. Troxler said it has been so abnormally warm this summer that farmers are also experiencing water shortages in the agricultural ponds used for irrigation. “This is the time of year you either make it, or you don’t,” said Troxler. A city thirsty for green lawns Localized rainfall helped raise Falls Lake, Wake County’s primary source of drinking water, six inches in the past week. But on Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council approved an ordinance allowing the city manager to move quickly into Stage 2 water restrictions if necessary. The city has been urging residents to conserve since restrictions were implemented in April. But Ed Buchan of Raleigh Water said the message seems to have been forgotten during June’s very hot and dry weather. “We’ve unfortunately gone in the wrong direction since mid-May,” said Buchan. Buchan told the council that 46% of the irrigation meters that his team read were not in compliance during the first week of July. “This is largely residential. There are some commercial irrigation meters, but a lot of this was residential usage,” said Buchan. In a best-case scenario, Buchan said the city would not exceed 60 million gallons of water a day. But on one very hot day in June when people were irrigating heavily, the city saw daily usage top 76 million gallons. Amid North Carolina’s business boom, new report highlights water infrastructure worries Falls Lake’s water supply pool sits at 62% of capacity and is declining 2% to 3% each week. Council member Megan Patton said it would be helpful to give people better guidance on how long they can water their yards on their designated day. “On the website, it asks people to only water half an inch. I’m not totally certain that a regular resident knows what that equates to in terms of time, or how long they should put their sprinkle out or run their sprinkler system,” said Patton. Buchan recommended using a simple tuna can as a makeshift gauge to determine when a resident has watered their yard enough. “Let’s distribute tuna cans to everybody,” quipped Mayor Janet Cowell. City council member Mitchell Silver said Raleigh residents need to heed the call to conserve water now, before the situation grows more dire. “I was here in 2008. If I remember correctly, Raleigh was down to 60 days of water supply. I’m not sure the public understands the sense of urgency,” said Silver. During the 2008 drought, car washes closed and golf courses had to stop watering, Silver recalled. “Water is a very precious supply. And I don’t want to get into a situation of what happened in 2008. It was a crisis,” said Silver. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Reynolds expresses hope for federal appeal of SNAP ‘unhealthy’ food restrictions Iowa will no longer restrict use of the SNAP federal nutrition program for sugary snacks, but Gov. Kim Reynolds said she would like to see the federal government appeal a court ruling that struck down the state's restriction. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Though Iowa will not be the one to file court action, Gov. Kim Reynolds said she hoped the federal government will appeal a federal judge’s June decision to stop Iowa and other states from implementing restrictions on “unhealthy” purchases through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted Iowa a waiver allowing the state to exclude certain food and drinks, like soda and candy, from being purchased using SNAP, which took effect at the beginning of 2026. This waiver, and others granted to states allowing restrictions on SNAP, was overturned by a decision by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in June — a decision Reynolds called “short-sighted” in an earlier statement. On Wednesday, Reynolds said the state would not be challenging this court decision, but said she would be in support of the federal government appealing it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “If we can play a role in that, that would be the attorney general that would really participate on our behalf,” Reynolds said. “I hope they do at some point, to be quite honest, because I think it’s so important. You know, this is about the health of our kids, and our data is horrible. And it’s not a mandate that they can’t have those items … it just says if taxpayer dollars are going to be used through this program, that was designated to provide nutritional food for our kids, then that’s the intent of the program, and we should adhere to that.” But John Boller, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said in a statement restrictions are not the best way to improve Iowans’ health. “If the goal is healthier eating, we know that support works better than restriction,” Boller said in a statement. “Programs like Summer EBT have already shown they boost healthy food consumption for kids and incentives like Double Up Food Bucks do the same for families year-round. Vulnerable Iowans deserve the same dignity of choice as anyone else at the grocery store. We’re grateful the judge’s ruling protects choice for SNAP participants in Iowa.” Boller also said he would not support appealing the decision, because “an appeal would mean more uncertainty for SNAP participants who are just starting to regain some clarity and stability after the ruling, forcing them back into limbo about what they can and can’t buy.” “It also creates real costs and confusion for retailers, who would have to re-implement restrictions only to possibly unwind them again, all for a fight that doesn’t need to continue,” he said. Reynolds had emphasized Wednesday the court decision will not block SNAP and summer feeding program funds from being allocated. She said the rules restricting certain foods from being purchased will “no longer apply, but we still will follow through with allocating the funds that we already said that we would.” Iowa celebrates low SNAP error rate Iowa is also not set to see changes to its required contributions to the SNAP program in the next year. On Thursday, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services officials praised the state’s work to keep the state’s SNAP payment error rate below the the 6% threshold set to implement federal penalties in 2027. Under the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” states will begin to face federal penalties based on their SNAP payment error rates beginning in federal fiscal year 2028 — beginning October 2027. If a state has a payment error rate above 6%, calculated by the federal government while looking at SNAP overpayments and underpayments, the state will be required to fund between 5% and 15% of benefit payments previously provided through federal aid. The national average payment error rate is at 10.62%, according to federal data, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found states made a collective $10.1 billion in improper payments in FY 2025. But according to newly released USDA data, Iowa’s error rate fell below the national trend for FY 2025 at 5.34% — a rate that would mean the state would not have to take on additional funding for SNAP benefits under the 2025 law. An Iowa HHS news release said the department attributed the state’s low error rate to efforts made in the state to clarify eligibility policies, better train staff and other “organizational alignment” processes taken on. “This improvement reflects our continued focus on getting benefits right the first time and the hard work of our staff to strengthen accuracy and consistency across the system,” HHS Principal Deputy Director Larry Johnson said in a statement. “Accurate SNAP administration supports Iowa families, protects taxpayer dollars, and ensures Iowans receive timely and correct support.” Iowa is one of just nine states nationwide with an error rate below 6%. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Over 30 young artists leaving their mark in this year’s Quad City Arts’ Metro Arts Apprenticeship Program The program is in its 26th year of providing paid creative outlets for area youth, ages 15-21, and business relations experience. Three murals, as well as a poetry apprenticeship, are underway this summer.
	98 workers to be laid off in Moline pharmacy closure 98 workers will be laid off due to the closure of a Moline pharmacy.
	Nebraska abortions rose nearly 8% in 2025, mostly due to influx of Iowa patients Mifepristone, a common abortion-inducing medication, sits on a counter in Planned Parenthood's Omaha Health Center. (Erin Bamer, Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — The number of abortions performed in Nebraska rose 7.8% in 2025 as the dust begins to settle on some of the state’s — and neighboring states’ — newer abortion restrictions. According to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), at least 2,698 abortions were performed in Nebraska in 2025. That’s 197 more than 2024’s total of 2,501 abortions in one year. Nebraska’s abortion rate has remained relatively consistent over the last two decades, between 1,900 and 2,800 procedures performed each year. However, 2,698 is the highest the state has reached since 2008, and is the third year in a row that the number of abortions performed has increased from the previous year. Nebraska abortions by year 2008: 2,813 2009: 2,551 2010: 2,464 Abortion ban past 20 weeks of pregnancy takes effect in Nebraska 2011: 2,372 2012: 2,299 2013: 2,177 2014: 2,270 2015: 2,004 2016: 1,907 2017: 1,958 2018: 2,078 2019: 2,068 2020: 2,378 2021: 2,360 2022: 2,547 Roe v. Wade overturned by U.S. Supreme Court 2023: 2,325 Nebraska Legislature approves abortion ban at 12 weeks post-gestation 2024: 2,501 Nebraska voters approve constitutional amendment Initiative 434, banning most abortions past the first trimester 2025: 2,698 Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services The steady increase coincides with increased abortion restrictions being implemented in Nebraska and throughout the nation in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. In 2023, the Nebraska Legislature passed legislation restricting access to abortion from the previous 20 weeks, to 12 weeks gestation. The following year, voters approved language added to the state Constitution that bans most abortions after the first trimester. Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS), said this tracks with what Planned Parenthood officials have been seeing throughout the Midwest. Though she didn’t have exact numbers for the first half of 2026, she said the pace seems to be consistent with what she saw in 2025. Notably, the number of abortions performed on Nebraska residents actually dropped from 2,054 in 2024 to 1,968 in 2025. The overall increase comes from an influx of out-of-state patients traveling to Nebraska for abortions, most of them from Iowa. In 2023, the Iowa Legislature approved legislation banning abortion after cardiac activity is detected, around six weeks gestation. The law went into effect in June 2024. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Giselle Barajas, senior communications specialist for PPNCS, said Planned Parenthood has seen a 220% increase in Iowa patients coming to Nebraska between 2023 and 2025. The number nearly doubled between the last year of data, growing from 358 Iowans reported in 2024 to 635 in 2025. Nate Grasz, executive director of the Nebraska Family Alliance — a lobbying group that has supported increased abortion restrictions — said the increase in Iowa patients correlates to the state’s stricter abortion laws. “We haven’t made as much progress,” Grasz said of Nebraska’s abortion policies. Grasz noted there are fewer places in Iowa for people to seek abortions, saying that Planned Parenthood had closed some of its clinics. Barajas said Planned Parenthood does plan to close its Iowa City Health Center at the end of the month, but noted they still have a facility in Des Moines in operation. Grasz said there are still serious gaps in Nebraska’s laws regarding abortion. He described the DHHS statistics as a “tragic report,” saying that every one of the 2,698 abortions reported represents a baby that went unprotected and a woman who went unaided. Grasz highlighted that medication-induced abortions also are on the rise in Nebraska, according to the report. Medication abortions made up 83% of all abortions performed in 2025, compared to about 80% in 2024. Grasz said Legislative Bill 512, proposed by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, would have been an important piece of ensuring the safety of medication abortions. The bill would have imposed additional steps before a patient could be prescribed an abortion pill, but the bill did not make it past the first round of floor debate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Celtic Night Out returns to Rock Island The Scottish-American Society of the Quad Cities is preparing for its annual Celtic Night Out.
	France downs Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semifinal Morocco was no match for France, which lost 2-0. The French, one of the pre-tournament favorites, move on to the World Cup semifinals against either Spain or Belgium.
	Illinois to receive settlement against Cash App Illinois will receive $1.1 million multi-state settlement against Cash App. Block, Inc., the parent company of Cash App, reached a $45 million settlement with 47 states regarding deceptive safety claims, insufficient fraud protections and inadequate customer service. The lawsuit accuses the company of making it too easy to create fake or multiple accounts. The company [...]
	Honor Flight holds reunion for America 250 The event was open to all veterans who've been on an Honor Flight out of the Quad Cities.
	Muscatine to pursue six-month demolition, stabilization plan on Second Street The city is undecided on a cost estimate but intends to stabilize the remaining buildings on the 200 block of Second Street within six months.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Rock Island police on charges of sexual abuse and assault Christian Beard is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear for armed violence.
	Crime Stoppers: Silvis police search for masked suspect who broke into tobacco shop Silvis police and Crime Stoppers are asking for help identifying a masked man who broke into Greenleaf Tobacco using a pry bar on June 16.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Bettendorf Police and Scott County Sheriff Diondre L. Wakefield is wanted by the Bettendorf Police Department and Scott County Sheriff's Office.
	East Moline reschedules Fourth of July fireworks for fair night East Moline has rescheduled its fireworks show to July 14 at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, serving as a kickoff for fair week.
	Getting to Know John Byrnes Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	Rhode Island’s T.F. Green remains America’s best airport in national ranking Flowers are shown in the women's restroom at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) For the second consecutive year, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport has landed Travel + Leisure magazine’s top honor as the nation’s best airport — scoring higher than its first stop at No. 1 spot. T.F. Green earned a score of 85.16 in the annual rankings, based on reader surveys evaluating airport access, check-in and security, dining, shopping, and design. The New York-based publication’s website highlighted the Warwick airport’s small footprint and easy navigation among its reasons for making the top spot. Last year, the Warwick airport received a score of 84.9 in its top ranking — before the terminal started to undergo massive renovations that led to the relocation of the replica sailboat near the baggage claim and the decommissioning of public sculpture that had been inside since 2002. “It may not be the biggest, but perhaps that’s precisely why T. F. Green continues to win praise from voters, beating out big-city rivals with its two well-appointed concourses,” Travel + Leisure’s website states. The airport has also undergone major modernization updates in recent years funded by federal grants, passenger fees and airport funds. That includes the installation of automated coffee machines, new restaurants, colossal welcome signs off Interstate 95, and $10 million toward marble bathrooms with vases of flowers. In second place for 2026 is Portland International Airport in Oregon, which achieved a score of 83.09. Manchester-Boston Regional in New Hampshire was the only other New England airport to capture one of the 10 spots on the list, landing at the No. 8 spot with a score of 79.38. Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of Rhode Island Airport Corporation, called the latest Travel + Leisure ranking an incredible honor for the state. “To be named the No. 1 Domestic Airport in back-to-back years is a testament to the dedicated work of all employees at PVD, the countless vendors we rely upon, and our airline partners,” Ahmad said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Toiletries 4 Teens provides hygiene essentials for Quad Cities teenagers A Quad Cities nonprofit continues to provide hygiene products and everyday essentials for local teenagers while working to fill a gap for youth.
	‘Portrait of America’ honors U.S. milestones and Iowa’s Jim Leach at the Figge The Figge Art Museum’s new exhibition, Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America, uses collaborative portrait panels and hidden storytelling elements to highlight influential figures in U.S. history during the nation’s 250th anniversary.
	UnityPoint Health – Trinity celebrates pulmonary rehabilitation patients of the year UnityPoint Health – Trinity celebrated its pulmonary rehabilitation patients of the year during a special ceremony July 9. According to a release, the event honored those with chronic lung conditions who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving their health through the pulmonary rehab program. Steve Delf and Lucille Mumma were honored for their perseverance [...]
	Toiletries 4 Teens provides hygiene essentials for Quad Cities area teenagers A Quad Cities nonprofit continues to provide hygiene products and everyday essentials for local teenagers while working to fill a gap for youth.
	Quad Cities ‘Back the Blue Flight’ launches new honor program for local law enforcement Quad Cities Back the Blue Flight is launching one‑day honor trips to Washington, D.C., providing active and retired local law enforcement officers a no‑cost opportunity to visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and other historic sites while honoring fallen colleagues
	New study finds coffee is good for your liver The study found that while any coffee seemed to provide a health benefit, drinking five or more cups a day could be more beneficial
	Muscatine moves forward with plan to stabilize evacuated buildings on East 2nd Street City officials estimate it will take approximately six months to complete the work.
	Celtic Night Out returns to Rock Island celebrating Scottish heritage The Scottish-American Society of the Quad Cities is preparing for its annual Celtic Night Out.
	Alternating Currents announces 2026 comedy acts This year's offerings include a One Liner Madness tournament, a Kidz Improv Show and a humorous look through VHS in the Midwest.
	Optum to close divvyDOSE pharmacy in Moline, laying off 98 employees Optum will close its divvyDOSE pharmacy in Moline, with 98 employees set to be laid off in August and September, according to a state filing.
	Nursing home worker fired after accepting $15,000 ‘gift’ from resident Grandview Care Center in Oelwein, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of the Fayette County Assessor's Office)An Iowa nursing home worker fired for allegedly accepting $15,000 from a resident of the home has been denied unemployment benefits. According to state records, certified nursing assistant and medication aide Gregory Reid worked full time for Grandview Care Center in Oelwein from October 2023 until April 28, 2026, when he was fired. Reid then filed for unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Jasmina Sarajlija. According to Sarajlija’s findings in the case, Grandview Care Center is a nursing home tasked with protecting residents from dependent adult abuse, which includes financial exploitation. As a result, the home has a policy barring employees from accepting any gifts, tips or gratuities from residents of the home. The policy, according to Sarajlija, also states if a resident insists on giving a gift to an employee, the employee is required to report it to the administrator to allow the facility to handle the situation with the resident. According to Sarajlija’s findings, the administrator of the home received information from a resident’s friend on April 1, 2026, alleging the resident had told her Reid had accepted money from her. A subsequent investigation allegedly confirmed the resident wrote three $5,000 checks to Reid between Feb. 27, 2026 and March 13, 2026. Reid allegedly deposited all three checks at a local credit union within a week of the checks being written. Reid admitted accepting the money during the investigation, according to Sarajlija’s findings, and he was fired for violating the home’s gift policy. At his unemployment hearing, Reid allegedly acknowledged accepting the money from the resident, and explained the resident knew he was struggling financially and offered to help him out, stating that she and her husband had helped others through school and she wanted to do the same for him. According to Sarajlija’s findings, Reid said he did not solicit the gift or pressure the woman to give him the money, indicating he knew acceptance of it was against policy and he could lose his job over it. Sarajlija recently ruled Reid’s conduct amounted to workplace misconduct that disqualified him from collecting unemployment benefits, pointing out that Reid was aware of the home’s policy. “Despite this knowledge, (Reid) still accepted financial assistance from a resident that he was tasked with protecting from harm and abuse, including financial harm and abuse,” Sarajlija stated in her ruling. “Taking money from a resident on three separate occasions, a total of $15,000, is not an isolated mistake but a pattern that may have continued had the facility not received a report about it from the resident’s friend.” Court records indicate no criminal charges were filed in the case and Grandview Care Center was not cited by state inspectors for dependent adult abuse. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Reid for comment. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	The majority of CFOs require human oversight of agentic AI. Here are the 4 governance frameworks finance teams are actually using. The majority of CFOs require human oversight of agentic AI. Here are the 4 governance frameworks finance teams are actually using.For most enterprise finance teams, agentic AI is already up and running. For some businesses, it’s reconciling accounts, flagging anomalies, and classifying transactions. In others, it’s autonomously preparing the key components needed for indirect tax filings.The vendor pitch of faster close cycles, fewer manual errors, and a finance function that can scale is compelling. However, the chief financial officers and controllers actually deploying these systems are running more cautious experiments than marketing data suggests.A 2026 Maximor survey of 100 middle-market finance leaders found that 66% consider human oversight of agentic AI to be either extremely or very critical to deployment. More than 4 in 5 had ultimately encountered some type of AI-generated hallucination in finance. These factors, and more, result in a measly 14% stating they completely trust AI outputs even after a review.The key question for finance in 2026 isn’t whether or not to adopt agentic AI, but how to govern it well enough that the systems don’t produce errors that create significant liability. That governance architecture, including checkpoints, threshold rules, audit trail requirements, and accountability structures, is what the best finance leaders are focused on now.Anrok dug deep across leading sources, including Maximor, Wolters Kluwer, PwC, and EY, to find what key leaders are actually saying about agentic AI and how to deploy it correctly so that you don’t accidentally harm your organization's reputation.The trust gap in numbers: What CFOs are actually sayingHeadline CFO survey data tells a story that many enterprise AI vendors would prefer to ignore. Despite the widespread adoption of the technology, confidence in their outputs remains shockingly thin. Wolters Kluwer’s 2026 inTouch polling of global CFOs found that 58% still describe their finance environments as largely manual or siloed. Further, 47% cite trusted data as the single most important prerequisite for AI adoption.Their published Future Ready CFO Report also found similar themes. Most notably, AI investment is accelerating, but the needed governance layer is lagging behind deployment.The hallucination issue is particularly pertinent for tax. Unlike a general business analysis, where a confident-sounding answer that’s wrong is just inconvenient, an AI-generated tax error can have major legal and financial ramifications. In early 2026, the academic Journal of Accountancy flagged that incorrect indirect tax calculations, intercompany transactions, and multijurisdictional filings were the highest risk in agentic AI workflows.Inherently, the trust gap is a governance design issue. Finance teams that are seeing success moving agentic AI from a pilot phase to governed production all share one common thread: They built the key oversight architecture before they scaled deployment.The four governance architectures enterprise finance teams are usingThere is no single governance model that has emerged as the industry standard. At least not yet.However, four distinct architectures account for the vast majority of enterprise deployments in 2026. Each reflects a different answer to the same core question: At what point does an AI agent’s output require a human before it can become an action?Architecture 1: Tiered risk and materiality thresholdsAI operates autonomously below a defined dollar or risk threshold under this model. Human sign-off is required for any amount above it. PwC's Data Controls Engine with Google Cloud uses a tiered system that allows clients to calibrate their tax operating model in accordance with their risk and materiality. The practical effect is that routine and low-value transactions move without friction, whereas anything material requires a qualified reviewer.Architecture 2: Human-in-the-loop (HITL) checkpointsStructured review gates embedded at specific process stages before the agent acts on regulated outputs are the path some companies take. EY's CIO playbook on agentic AI explicitly identifies human-in-the-loop oversight and governance systems as one of four core enterprise infrastructure pillars. The key distinction is that HITL checkpoints are baked into the process from the start, meaning the agent can’t go to the next step without a documented human confirmation.Architecture 3: Multieye review for complex tax outputsMultieye review adapts a familiar accounting control to agentic AI: the party that prepares a material output is not the party that approves it. In practice, an agent’s tax calculation passes through layered human checkpoints before anything is filed, and the depth of review scales with stakes. A routine diagnostic might need a single reviewer, whereas a multijurisdictional filing or an intercompany position calls for two or three sign-offs and a documented trail that shows auditors who reviewed it and when. For the highest complexity tax positions, these structured multireviewer sign-off cadences can help govern the process and reduce errors.Architecture 4: Embedded governance within core finance platformsRather than a bolt-on oversight layer, this model integrates AI controls and anomaly alerts directly into close, plan, and report workflows within Corporate Performance Management platforms. Wolters Kluwer's CCH Tagetik, as noted by Fabrizio Tocchini, the vice president of technology product management, envisions this as a prerequisite for moving AI from pilot to governed production.The threshold question: When does the agent act vs. route to a human?Defining the autonomous action threshold is where many governance frameworks fall apart. Those that appear the most durable share three key characteristics:They are written, not just understood.They are jurisdiction-aware.They are reviewed on a defined cadence.Written threshold policies should specify which filing types, jurisdictions, dollar ranges, and transaction categories are eligible for AI action vs. mandatory routing.Jurisdiction awareness matters because indirect tax complexity is naturally geographic. A threshold that may be appropriate for a domestic sales tax in a single jurisdiction may be insufficient for the European Union, Value-Added Tax, Canadian Goods and Services Tax or Harmonized Sales Tax, or state-level economic nexus determinations.Governance frameworks on AI that only apply a single materiality threshold across every jurisdiction where business is performed may be underestimating risk in some of the most complex exposure areas.Further, threshold review cadences matter because both the AI agent’s capabilities and the underlying regulatory landscape change rapidly. Reviewing thresholds on a quarterly basis is the best way to stay on top of these changes. Additionally, triggering out-of-cycle reviews when any new jurisdiction is added or when an AI agent’s scope of work expands can help your organization determine whether a current threshold is miscalculated.Audit trail standards: What's becoming table stakesThe audit trail question is one where many governance programs separate into two tiers: those building for external scrutiny and those building for internal comfort. This distinction matters more than you may think.The IRS, state tax authorities, and external auditors are all focused on developing AI-specific examination protocols, and the standard they’re coming together on is not one of passive oversight. It’s of documented accountability.For instance, EY Canada’s six-step agentic AI governance framework identifies decision logging and traceability as two nonnegotiable requirements for regulated finance tasks. The specific standard is that every action taken by an AI agent should create a log entry that details the decision made, what data was used, whose authority it’s under, and at what time it was made. This log should also be structured in such a way that an external auditor can reconstruct the AI’s entire reasoning.IBM’s June 2025 governance research makes an even stricter claim. They say that most organizations running autonomous AI agents can’t currently demonstrate who approved what or under whose authority. By addressing this gap, you can ensure your governance program isn’t just compliant-ready, but also audit-proof.There’s also one more dimension to this that shouldn’t be overlooked. Capitol Technology University published a 2026 report on IRS AI adoption that added an interesting factor to the equation. They posit that the IRS is deploying AI tools to analyze filing data at scale and, as such, that the audit trail quality is no longer just an internal governance concern but is now a factor in any audit examination, too. There has never been a more critical time to ensure that your governance strategy isn’t just meeting internal compliance requirements but also protecting your business from future audits.The three failure modes governance programs most commonly missEven the most well-designed governance programs can fail. More often than not, it’s in a predictable manner. The three most common failure modes are structural problems that have shown up repeatedly in finance AI deployments:1. Dirty data, governed confidentlyGovernance frameworks are only as reliable as the data feeding the agents. When data lacks context or semantic structure, agents can hallucinate. When this happens, your governance layer will systematically validate wrong outputs as correct. Per Wolters Kluwer's inTouch 2026 polling, 47% of finance professionals cite trusted data as the top prerequisite, yet most organizations are not there yet.2. Security theater (oversight without accountability)Having a human review step doesn’t constitute governance on its own if there is no documented record of who approved what decision, under what authority, and at what time. Most teams running autonomous AI agents can’t demonstrate this. IBM's governance research identifies this as the transition from passive oversight to automated, technical control.3. Governance bolt-ons that live outside core systemsWhen AI agents are deployed outside of the systems of record, CFOs lose the deep data context agents need to be accurate. Further, they also lose the integration points that make governance enforceable. Wolters Kluwer's CEO Maria Montenegro explicitly warns against this, believing agentic AI tools need to be embedded in core finance platforms as opposed to sitting off to the side.On-record voices from enterprise finance and tax technology leadersIt’s one thing to read about the trends defining the implementation of agentic AI into finance, but it’s another to hear directly from the source. Dom Megna, Owen Ryan, Julie Iskow, and Fabrizio Tocchini all shared their thoughts on the topic in recent articles, offering a glimpse into the mindset of some of the foremost leaders:Dom Megna, U.S. AI tax leader, PwC (via CFO.com, June 2025): "We’re not just pushing a button and accepting the result. Our agents still live within a human-reviewed, multi-eye process. Especially for complex outputs, like tax calculations, the oversight is strong."Owen Ryan, CEO, BlackLine (via Diginomica, May 2026): "Our customers are telling us they want to move fast with AI, but they also tell us that trust, reliability and security are non-negotiables... Every one of those AI-generated transactions eventually hits the general ledger. Everyone must be reconciled, validated and audited."Julie Iskow, CEO, Workiva (via Diginomica, May 2026): "In the Office of the CFO, the tolerance for error is zero. And as reliance on AI increases and there's more unverified data and there are more unverified data sources, trust in data becomes even more critical."Fabrizio Tocchini, VP technology product management, CCH Tagetik (via Wolters Kluwer, May 2026): "Finance teams make progress with AI when it is grounded in trusted financial data, embedded directly into the workflows they already use, and designed to support decisions under real scrutiny."A framework for enterprise finance leadersThe organizations that are moving agentic AI into governed production, specifically in tax and finance functions, all share one common thread. They understand that it is not a technology-first deployment. Rather, it is about starting with the governance protocols and implementing the technology afterward. Below are six quick tips to set your organization up for success when building a governance framework for AI.Fix data before you scale agents: Data readiness is cited by 44% of the finance leaders surveyed by Wolters Kluwer as the key driver for increasing AI adoption, and without a semantic or context layer, governance is simply validating noise.Define written threshold policies: Document all materiality thresholds, filing types, and jurisdictions where agents act autonomously versus route to a human, then review them on a defined cadence.Embed governance in systems of record: Governance that lives outside core enterprise resource planning or corporate performance management platforms creates blind spots. Effective oversight requires integration, not parallel systems.Build the audit trail as a design requirement: Traceability, decision logging, and reversibility should be designed in from day one, not retrofitted after the fact.Distinguish oversight from accountability: A review step is not governance unless it is documented, attributed, and defensible to external auditors and regulators.Adopt a phased risk tolerance model: Start with high-volume, lower-complexity tasks such as data extraction, reconciliation diagnostics, and classification, opting to gate progression to complex indirect tax filings behind demonstrated accuracy thresholds.Human oversight is responsible adoptionThe small number of CFOs who say they completely trust AI outputs are either running simple workflows or just haven’t encountered a hallucination with major ramifications. Other wary individuals are intently focused on building governance architectures that last. The gap between those two groups will likely start to show up in audit findings, penalty exposure, and filing restatements over the coming years.This story was produced by Anrok and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Parasitic food poisoning illnesses are on the rise in Louisiana The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends thoroughly washing produce amidst an increase in Cyclosporiasis, parasitic food poisoning illness. (USDA Photo)The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed 23 cases of Cyclosporiasis infection, a stomach illness caused by a parasite found on contaminated food and water, within the state. This is just above the average of 20 cases reported over the same time period during the past five years. One person with a reported case has been hospitalized. No deaths have been connected to the illness in Louisiana. A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Health said more cases could crop up as the department investigates within the coming days. Cyclosporiasis can cause nasty symptoms such as explosive diarrhea, along with fever, fatigue, nausea and bloating. It’s most commonly on fresh produce, like berries, lettuce, and herbs. Symptoms usually appear a week after eating or drinking infected food or water and can stick around for days to weeks. If left untreated, the illness can relapse, reappearing after having previously gone away. The illness is not contagious, only passed on with contaminated food and water, but washing fresh produce and washing hands when handling food reduce the risk of contracting illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Smithsonian chief emphasizes 'accuracy and integrity' after White House report The memo from the Smithsonian's secretary, Lonnie Bunch, responded to a White House report that calls the National Museum of American History driven by "a radical, activist ideology."
	U-M health system and nurses union reach tentative contract, avoid strike vote University of Michigan Hospital \| Photo by Susan J. Demas/Michigan AdvanceRegistered nurses represented by the Michigan Nurses Association at the University of Michigan have reached a tentative three-year contract with Michigan Medicine, averting a planned strike authorization vote. The tentative agreement, announced Thursday by both the union and the university, still must be ratified by members of the MNA-University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council, which represents more than 7,200 registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses employed by U-M Health, the clinical organization of Michigan Medicine. The previous contract expired March 31. According to the union, the tentative agreement includes an overall 13.25% wage increase over three years, with raises of 4% in the first year, 4.5% in the second and 4.75% in the third. Other provisions include a ratification bonus, improved staffing ratios, stronger workplace violence protections, gains for advanced practice registered nurses centered on full union representation and an end to pre-scheduled patient assignments for charge nurses, providing them more flexibility to oversee patient care and safety. Union leaders said the deal follows months of bargaining and collective actions, including an informational picket. “Our success is a testament to not only countless days at the bargaining table, but also to the collective solidarity by MNA-UMPNC members,” Kara Ayotte, president of the MNA-UMPNC said in a press release. “By standing strong together, we showed Michigan Medicine that we would not settle for less than what nurses and patients deserve.”SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. University officials also praised the agreement. “We appreciate the dedication and professionalism of both bargaining teams in reaching this tentative agreement,” Julie Ishak, chief nurse and operations executive for Michigan Medicine’s academic medical center, said in an emailed statement. “This agreement aims to support our nurses, strengthen our workforce, and ensure the highest quality care for the patients and families we serve.” The union said members will vote on ratification in the coming weeks. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	Iowa confirms first case of measles in 2026 The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that a vaccinated Iowa adult has contracted the measles virus. The confirmation marks the first case of measles in Iowa in 2026 after nine were reported in 2025.
	Valley Homes project receiving tax credits from state Community Home Partners (CHP) announced that Valley Homes, a new 60-unit affordable housing development in Rock Island,has received Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Affordable Housing Tax Credits from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). The awards are a key source of financing for the $21.5 million developmentand move the project closer to construction. Valley Homes, [...]
	NJ’s top court says defendant can seek sex assault victim’s mental health records The seven members of the New Jersey Supreme Court listen to arguments on April 28, 2025, at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Bergen County man charged with sexually assaulting his niece can move ahead with getting a judge to privately look at her mental health records, reversing a lower court that previously shut that request down. The majority in the 5-2 ruling said the trial judge who first agreed to look at the records didn’t do anything wrong in allowing it, citing a 2023 case laying out when defendants in sexual assault cases can access a victim’s mental health history. Justice Douglas Fasciale wrote that the court found “no abuse of discretion in his finding that defendant made a sufficient showing for the judge to conduct a limited and narrow” review. A woman referred to in the court documents as Kim was 18 in 2021 when she told her father that her uncle sexually assaulted her in his bedroom while she was looking for her cat. But his attorneys said Kim — who reported her medical history to include autism, bipolar disorder, PTSD, asthma, seizures, hypothyroid and anxiety and said she was on medications — gave conflicting accounts of the incidents. The defense counsel retained an investigator to see whether her mental illnesses and her ability to recall and recount details had any connections. A grand jury indicted her uncle, identified as R.F.P in court records, on sexual assault charges. His lawyers said they needed access to Kim’s mental health records which might explain gaps or contradictions in her account. They also pointed to interviews with Kim’s family and friends who said she may have been off her medication, which could lead to making up stories, along with medical research that says PTSD and bipolar disorder can cause false memories. A trial judge agreed to privately review a limited set of records from her most recent hospital stays without handing them over to the defense. The state and the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center filed motions for reconsideration, which were denied by the trial judge. They then appealed to the appeals court, which sided with them and blocked the review, saying the defense hadn’t met the legal bar required to get the documents. The state Supreme Court disagreed with the Appellate Division and reinstated the trial judge’s original order. Fasciale said a defendant must show three things before a judge will privately review a victim’s records — a specific need for the records, that the records are relevant to the case, and that the same information can’t be found another way. Fasciale said that no single piece of evidence would have been enough on its own, but “collectively, the evidential record amounts to more than bald assertions.” Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis, in a dissent joined by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, argued the opposite — the uncle’s own statements undercut his stated reason for wanting the records in the first place. He corroborated many details of the incident, yet moved to access her mental health records based on a belief that her mental health conditions could affect her ability to recall the events of that day, she noted. “Even if Kim has lied every day of her life about everything and anything, it is of no consequence because defendant has stated in his own words that she did not lie this time,” she wrote, adding that ignoring such statements would “continue the historical distrust of victims with psychological illnesses.” In the dissent, the judges warned the ruling could make these kinds of requests more common and discourage sexual assault survivors — particularly those with mental illnesses — from reporting attacks. The court also flagged that Kim wasn’t notified about the records request early on, even though state law requires victims to get notice and a chance to respond before a judge rules on this kind of motion. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	Moline OKs first step to sell former Catfish Charlie’s riverfront property The Moline City Council gave initial approval to sell the former Catfish Charlie's and Captain's Table riverfront property to its owners for $350,000.
	How to deal with seesawing gas prices Gas prices have fluctuated since the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and left consumers unsure of what they'll pay at the pump.
	Actress Marlee Matlin to speak at Putnam Museum on Aug. 19 Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin will speak at the Putnam Museum on Aug. 19 during the Culture Bright Summer Series.
	JDC dates announced for 2027 The PGA tournament will run from June 28 to July Fourth, 2027.
	EPA proposes weakening heavy-duty truck pollution rules The Trump EPA calls Biden-era rules for cutting pollution from heavy trucks "unworkable." The proposed changes have been celebrated by trucking groups and denounced by environmental groups.
	Partnership launched to bring veterinary care to rural Alaska A dog team trots through the snow at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2022, in Anchorage. Dogs are important to life in rural Alaska, but veterinary care to protect their health is in short supply. A new partnership has been launched to help fill the need. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)For years, rural Alaska communities have struggled with out-of-control dog populations that pose dangers to children, and diseases circulating through wildlife that can spill over into pets and people. And for years, the Alaska Federation of Natives has asked policy makers to help address the situation by extending veterinary services that residents say are desperately needed. Now AFN, the state’s largest Native organization, is taking its own action. The state’s largest Native organization has teamed with Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. to launch a program to provide animal care directly to remote villages. The partnership kicked off its rural work this week when a veterinarian team landed in Galena, a Yukon River village that is among the multitude of Alaska communities lacking regular animal-health service. The Rural Veterinary Public Health Program is intended to serve villages on the North Slope, in Western Alaska, Interior Alaska and other remote areas where there are no resident veterinarians, said Dr. Arleigh Reynolds, a veterinarian serving as the program’s medical advisor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The plan includes spay and neuter services to keep populations in check, as well as vaccines and other animal care that is considered routine in urban areas but is difficult to secure in rural villages. The program is also intended to address zoonotic diseases, which are illnesses that can spread between animals and people, adhering to the One Health approach. “The most important thing is we’re keeping people safe and their pets safe, and wildlife, too,” said Reynolds, who led the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Center for One Health Research for a decade. Since 2024, he has served as the executive director of the Sitka Sound Science Center. Dogs are important to communities, and they are intertwined in Alaska Native culture and Alaska history. Dog mushing is the state’s official sport. But the shortage and, for some communities, complete lack of veterinarian care has caused serious problems, including high rates of dog bites suffered by children. Two young Arctic foxes, seen n July 9, 2021, stay close together on the hill outside their tundra den. Rabies is endemic in Alaska wildlife, and Arctic foxes and red foxes are prominent carriers. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Reynolds said the new program intends to address a wide range of problems. While spay and neuter services and other routine animal care are common needs, communities have varying concerns that the program is designed to address, he said. The most ominous threat is rabies. In Alaska, it is mostly found in Arctic foxes and red foxes, but wild animals can infect dogs, which in turn can infect people. The disease, if not treated right away, is always fatal to people. There are periodic spikes of rabies detected in wild animals in parts of rural Alaska, including this year in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Vaccines protect dogs and, in turn, protect people. In some island or coastal communities, seals are at risk from dogs with distemper, Reynolds said. “When the distemper gets into the seal populations, it’s 100% fatal,” he said. For afflicted dogs, there are treatment options, but the best step is vaccination to prevent the disease, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Tularemia, a tick-borne disease sometimes called “rabbit fever,” is a concern in other communities, Reynolds said. Numerous species of wildlife have been found to be infected — and people can be infected, falling seriously ill or even dying if not treated. Antibiotics are used to treat infections. Interactions with wild animals increase people’s risks of contracting tularemia, and past research indicated that Alaska Native people were five times as likely as white Americans to be infected. Another threat is a type of tapeworm that can be tolerated by dogs but, if ingested by people, can lead to deaths from cancer-like cysts in the liver or other organs. Called Echinococcus multilocularis, it has a strain that is endemic in parts of the North Slope and Western Alaska. It is found in Arctic foxes, red foxes and the small rodents that make up their prey. Detections are increasing in North America. Deworming can protect dogs. A microscopic photograph captured in 1964 reveals some of the structure of an Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm. Dye was used to produce a clearer image. People who are infected with this tapeworm can develop cancer-like cysts in their livers or other organs and become seriously ill. Photo provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Parvovirus, which can kill dogs, is another concern in certain areas, Reynolds said. And there are plans for participants in the program to help monitor avian influenza in wild populations, he said. Stalled legislation The partnership emerged after the Alaska legislature failed to pass a widely supported bill that would have established a statewide fund for spay and neuter services. The bill, House Bill 258, would have set up a system with revenues collected from fees for specialized license plates, private donations and other sources. Rep. Will Stapp, R- Fairbanks, the measure’s sponsor, said lawmakers ran out of time to fully consider the bill. “But it’s a great idea, and we’ll keep up the good fight next year,” he said. The bill suffered from its relatively late introduction, he said. And disagreements emerged over a provision that would have allowed municipalities to sterilize and then release feral animals. The practice would run afoul of Alaska Department of Fish and Game rules, but the idea has been embraced by residents of Juneau, who are coping with large numbers of feral cats. “They just have a real hard time with the current policy which is trap and kill, basically,” Stapp said. “Turns out Juneau urbanites don’t want to kill the cats.” He said he hopes that disagreement can be addressed in the future. Alaska Rural Veterinary Inc. was among the groups advocating for Stapp’s bill, though formation of the partnership with AFN was unrelated to that legislation. Reynolds said that lack of spay and neuter services take a toll on people as well as dogs. In some villages where dog populations have become too large to manage, residents have resorted to killing out-of-control stray animals. It is a poor outcome, Reynolds said. “The people who do the culling, it’s really hard on them,” he said. Some even need mental-health therapy, he said. “And it doesn’t solve the problem when you’ve got a whole new group of stray dogs,” he said. A sign on an Utgiagvik restaurant door seen on Oct. 4, 2018, warns about the risk of rabies from an Arctic fox spotted near town. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The group continues to hope for a legislative solution: a bill pending in Congress that would add veterinary care to the duties of the Indian Health Service. The bill, the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, is sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and other senators from states with large numbers of tribal residents. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December. But it has yet to move in the U.S. House. If approved, the new Indian Health Service veterinary care program and associated U.S. Department of Agriculture vaccine research would cost $14 million through 2030 and $47 million through 2035, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Funding sources for the Rural Veterinary Public Health Program will be announced later, Reynolds said. Whatever the costs for prevention, he said, they will be lower than the costs of responses. “Just the rabies prevention alone will pay for the program,” he said. In the case of rabies, each exposed person in Alaska winds up bearing thousands of dollars in medical costs. The financial burden is described in a Colorado State University-led study published in October. People exposed to rabies are treated with a series of shots administered over two weeks — human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine — along with other care. From 2012 to 2024, 182 rabies-exposed people in Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta needed such care, according to the study. While such care in the Lower 48 typically costs a few thousand dollars, in rural Alaska, the outlay is exponentially higher because of needed travel, lost work and other costs, Reynolds said. And there are ripple effects in communities, he said. In one Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta case, the local school had to be closed for two weeks because an exposed family that needed treatment included the village teacher, he said. Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the veterinary partnership developed unrelated to the failure of state spay and neuter legislation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon

Friday, July 10th, 2026

Thursday, July 9th, 2026