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

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
	Voy 61 Drive-In to upgrade marquee with American Express grant The grant program awarded more than $10 million to more than 500 small businesses, according to a news release.
	What will Trump do next with Iran? Three months since the start of its conflict with Iran, the Trump administration is oscillating between strike threats and diplomatic overtures. Neither path has yielded a clear resolution.
	Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, his family says The two-time NASCAR champion died on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.
	Caitlin Clark scores 22 points in return from 1-game absence as Fever beat Valkyries 90-82 Caitlin Clark had 22 points and nine assists in her return after missing a game with a back injury, Aliyah Boston had 20 points and 16 rebounds, and the Indiana Fever beat the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 on Friday night for their third straight win.
	Peoria man accused of killing girlfriend’s pets A man faces three counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals after being accused of killing his girlfriend’s pets.
	A little bit country, a little bit Desi: A Pakistani-American's hybrid music On May 31, Yo Sabri make a landmark appearance with the Nashville Symphony for an orchestral rendition of his new album, "Tennessee Desi," which blends Appalachian styles with Muslim devotional music.
	Traffic alert: Temporary parking restrictions for Quad Cities Criterium Davenport Public Works said the Village of East Davenport will have temporary no-parking areas from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
	Henry County Board hears concerns about carbon capture project near Galva Read the article to see more about what Henry County residents had to say about a proposed carbon sequestration project near Galva.
	Singer/songwriter Heather Maloney will be in concert in Cambridge Crossroads Cultural Connections will present acclaimed singer-songwriter Heather Maloney on Thursday, May 28, at Cà d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge, Illinois, a news release says. Opening the evening will be High Tea. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with an optional potluck dinner, giving guests an opportunity to gather and connect before the music begins. Those who want to participate can bring [...]
	Muscatine crews to conduct annual flood gate maintenance Wednesday Muscatine crews will test and maintain the city’s flood gates Wednesday, causing temporary road closures near East 2nd Street and Mississippi Drive.
	Free lemonade, sweet deals will be part of Downtown Davenport's Sip 'N Shop A free Lemonade Sip 'N Shop in downtown Davenport will be 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, May 30, when downtown businesses will serve up their own take on lemonade along with exclusive specials and deals. Curbside Concerts will pop up throughout downtown. Visitors can start their adventure at any of the participating businesses, where [...]
	From fireworks to plastic cups: Waste Commission of Scott County explains summer party disposal rules The Waste Commission of Scott County is offering guidance to help residents safely dispose of summer party waste and recycle correctly before, during and after seasonal gatherings.
	U.S. passengers flying from Ebola-affected countries rerouted The U.S. government is responding to the Ebola outbreak in with travel restrictions. American citizens and permanent residents departing affected countries must fly into one of three U.S. airports.
	Opinion: Remembering Barney Frank, trailblazing public servant Mass. congressman Barney Frank was the first House member to come out as gay and was instrumental in Wall Street reforms after the Great Recession. He died this week at the age of 86.
	Memories of Muscatine: Maple Grove Saddle Club This week for Memories of Muscatine: A photo that Oscar Grossheim's photographer's index listed as "Maple Grove Saddle Club."
	Stories and Trains This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.One of the great teachers of writing in the Rock Island area is no more. Now, would-be writers must sit in other…
	Summer electric bills sizzle as the cost of cooling climbs The temperature is climbing, and so are people's utility bills. Rising electricity prices and hotter-than-usual weather could make it especially costly to stay cool this summer.
	Chile's MAGA-inspired border control Chile digs desert trenches along its northern border as President José Antonio Kast pushes a hardline migration crackdown critics say may have little effect.
	15 years since a deadly tornado brought Joplin, Mo. together, kindness carries on Nearly 100,000 volunteers helped the town rebuild and a spirit of community service continues to this day. Researchers studying human behavior catastrophes can bring out compassion in surprising ways.
	One solution for Maine's struggling fishing industry? Give fillets away for free Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry. But a pandemic-era program is helping to keep it afloat as inflation worsens.
	'I'd wait forever, but 334 days is crazy.' USS Ford finally comes home The USS Ford came home to a hero's welcome. Sailors had been away from home for nearly a year, through two conflicts, a fire and problems with the sewage system.
	Coal mine gas explosion in China kills 82 people, state media say A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's northern province of Shanxi killed at least 82 people. Official news agency Xinhua said the accident happened on Friday evening and 247 workers were trapped.
	Coal mine gas explosion in China kills 90 people, state media say A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's northern province of Shanxi killed at least 90 people. Official news agency Xinhua said the accident happened on Friday evening. Around 247 workers were on duty at the time.
	SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on a test flight The mega rocket made its debut two days after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced he's taking the company public. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Starship is now one step closer to the moon.
	Trump administration to force foreigners in the U.S. to apply for a green card abroad Foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, the Trump administration announced Friday, in a surprise change to a longstanding policy.
Friday, May 22nd, 2026
	'It Takes Two' rapper Rob Base, who helped bring hip-hop mainstream, dies at 59 Rapper Rob Base has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59. His team shared the news of his death on his Instagram page. Base was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.
	Mercado on fifth opens for the 2026 season This year marks Mercado's 10th anniversary.
	New details released in death of Davenport woman who fell from Ohio hiking trail 63-year-old Nancy Baker was hiking with her husband when she slipped off Cantwell Cliff Trail, falling 70 feet.
	City of Galesburg to host city-wide food drive The food drive is from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. on June 12.
	City of Eldridge asks community to fill out survey The community-wide survey focuses on the future of the city's facilities, public services and long term community planning.
	Changes for recreational boaters at Lock and Dam 14 and 15 this summer The secondary lock for small boats in Pleasant Valley won't be used at all this summer due to staff shortages.
	Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber cuts ribbon on new location Leaders found their new home in Silvis while they searched for more space.
	2026 Quad Cities Unity Pride Parade canceled Organizers said the decision was made after considering sponsor engagement, participation levels and costs associated with the event.
	City of Eldridge launches community-wide survey for residents The city of Eldridge is asking residents to complete a survey about the future of city facilities, public services and community planning.
	Stamp Out Hunger Drive brings more than 100,000 meals to Quad Cities families The Stamp Out Hunger Drive on May 9 raised over 100,000 meals for Quad Cities families.
	ORA Orthopedics provides new, first-of-its-kind CT scanner ORA Orthopedics in Bettendorf added the Planmed XFI Cone Beam CT Scanner. Traditional CT scans capture images while patients are lying down. In ORA's newest CT scan, patients either are standing or in a seated, weight-bearing position. The scanner provides 3D imaging of bones and joint structure. "A standing CT scanner allows you to see [...]
	Friday night budget lights: Spending details released after a week of closed-door meetings Sen. Ed Hooper speaks to reporters following a budget conference on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)After a week of behind-the-scenes negotiations, budget writers for the Florida House and Senate met Friday afternoon and early evening and produced apparent agreements on a $50 million investment for a Tampa Bay Rays stadium, pay raises for targeted state employees, and money for a state emergency fund. The chambers made no offers on one of the most complicated and costly budget areas — funding for Medicaid and other healthcare programs that provide services to the poor, elderly, disabled, and children in foster care. The HHS budget accounts for about 47% of the overall state budget and more than $19 billion in general revenue funds, representing state tax receipts. Meanwhile, the Friday night budget offers included $50 million for “campus improvements” at Hillsborough College, which is where a proposed stadium is planned so the Rays can play in Tampa instead of St. Petersburg. The investment was offered after local governments agreed to a memorandum of understanding that committed hundreds of millions in city and county funds to the stadium to help finance the $2.3 billion project. Although the standard recently has been for the chambers to publicly exchange only offers that have been already privately agreed to, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Ed Hooper hinted that the money for the stadium might still be in flux. “I just believe that until that issue is resolved and signed and sealed, I don’t know that the state should committee $50 million to help Hillsborough College,” Hooper said Friday following the first of the two budget meetings. The governor supports the project. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The talks resulted in agreements on some of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ priorities, including funding for the Florida State Guard, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, and an emergency fund that over the past year has paid half a billion dollars for immigration enforcement. The House offered to agree to the Senate’s suggestion to pump $250 million more dollars into the fund for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. That’s more than double the amount the lower chamber initially proposed — $100 million. The agreement came after the chambers agreed to pass legislation during 2026 re-establishing the emergency fund in statute nearly exactly the way it was, with the only major change being that the Florida Division of Emergency Management couldn’t buy airplanes or boats but could lease them. Whether the DeSantis administration considers the House’s $40 million investment for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which promotes workforce training, a win is not clear. That’s closer to what the Senate proposed, but the House’s offer puts guardrails on the spending, placing half in reserve. The $20 million in reserves won’t become available until after Jan. 5, 2027, DeSantis’ last day in office. Education The behind-the-scenes budget negotiations also yielded apparent agreements on some education spending. The House backed away from paying $20 million to transfer of University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida. The House also proposed delaying its proposed date of the land transfer from October 2026 to January 2027. Hooper said USF trustee Will Weatherford, a former speaker of the Florida House, “has been clear that as long as he gets to keep the funds and his teachers and his programs and his students can relocate to another campus if they choose to do that, then he doesn’t object to the transfer.” But the House is sticking to proposed budget language that would put an additional $10 million in general revenue for operational enhancements at New College. “I don’t think there’s heartburn over the transfer; the heartburn is over the money,” Hooper told reporters. The House maintained its position of not funding preeminent universities, rewarding campuses that meet excellence goals. The House proposal offers $43 million in State University System Projects, more than the $15.8 million the Senate initially proposed. While the chambers didn’t agree to include an across the board 3% pay increase for state employees, the House agreed to a 4% pay increase for state firefighters, state law enforcement officers, and state corrections officers. The chambers had previously announced agreement not to increase health insurance premiums for state employees in the coming year. There were no revelations regarding spending in the Health and Human Services section of the budget at the two initial Friday night budget meetings. Some of the stumbling blocks the chambers need to sort out include payments for Medicaid managed care plans and hospitals as well as the future of a revolving low interest “health innovation” loan program, a key part of former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s Live Healthy Initiative and a recurring $50 million funding commitment. Phoenix reporters Liv Caputo and Jay Waagmeester contributed to this story. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	1 person died, 36 injured after blast at New York City shipyard, officials say One person has died after a blast Friday at a New York City shipyard, officials say. They said 36 people were injured, most of them firefighters and other first responders.
	40,000 people under evacuation orders after chemical tank leak in Southern California About 40,000 people were under evacuation orders and schools shut down Friday in Southern California after a storage tank continued to leak a hazardous chemical that officials said could rupture or explode.
	City of Bettendorf named a ‘Bee City USA’ affiliate he city of Bettendorf is joining several cities across the country, including Moline, Illinois, in being named a “Bee City USA” affiliate.
	Rural hospitals could see relief under bipartisan proposal co-sponsored by Kansas reps U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, the 1st District congressman from Kansas, says every American deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. Mann appears here in September 2024, preparing for a candidate forum. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — A coalition of federal lawmakers from Kansas introduced in the U.S. House this week a bipartisan bill that could offer interest-free loans to rural hospitals “hanging on by a thread.” U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids and Tracey Mann of Kansas and representatives from Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon and West Virginia co-sponsored the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act. Mann and Davids said rural hospitals need resources to continue serving patients and stay open. The bill could help rural hospitals build new facilities or renovate existing ones “so rural Americans don’t have to drive hours to see a health care professional,” Mann said in a statement. “Every American deserves access to affordable, quality health care, no matter their ZIP code,” he said. Kansas has the highest number of rural hospitals at immediate risk of closure in the nation. An estimated 68 rural hospitals are at risk of closure and 30 face an immediate risk, according to an analysis by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. “Rural hospitals are already hanging on by a thread,” Davids said in a Thursday news release, “and extreme Medicaid cuts are now forcing closures and leaving families with hours-long drives just to see a doctor.” The bill would offer eligible hospitals interest-free loans for up to 10 years through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those loans would support construction and renovationand, in theory, free up funds from reduced debt costs, which could be funneled into care, workforce and operational expenses. Moran and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, introduced the bill in the Senate in March. At the time, Moran said in a news release that “rural hospitals are critical to the well-being of the communities they serve in Kansas and across the country.” Republicans, including Moran and Mann, approved Medicaid cuts in July that could result in Kansas hospitals losing up to $2.65 billion in federal and state Medicaid funding over the next decade. Also included in the legislation was a $50 billion rural health transformation fund, which promised to provide emergency assistance for rural hospitals facing closure. Kansas received $221 million from the fund in December, securing the sixth-largest sum among receiving states. Moran said the revitalization bill could foster long-term viability for rural hospitals and, in turn, rural communities. To qualify for the program under the bill, a hospital must be located in a county with fewer than 20,000 residents and one of two criteria: Possess a critical access hospital or rural emergency hospital designation or be located at least 35 miles from the nearest hospital — or 15 miles if located in an area with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads. Under the bill’s terms, hospitals must also demonstrate a need for the program funds and be financially stable. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Davenport man faces multiple charges for child exploitation and drug distribution, possession of sex-abuse material Justin Neumiller, 46, has been charged with over 20 counts of sex abuse material possession.
	1 dead after Davenport apartment fire One person is dead after a Davenport apartment fire on the 1400 block of East 39th Street.
	Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce cuts ribbon on new location in Silvis Read about what Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce leaders said about their move to Silvis.
	Illinois bill to help students access nutritious food advances A new bill in Illinois is aimed to reduce food waste in schools while helping students access nutritious food more easily. House Bill 4859 builds off an existing law that requires school districts enrolled in federal child nutrition programs to develop food sharing plans. The bill clarifies that share tables, where students can put uneaten, [...]
	New research explores why some teens may be more vulnerable to harmful social media use A team at the University of Iowa found that not all social media behaviors carry the same level of risk. Here's what they found and what steps parents can take.
	‘Catch the baby’: Neighbors detail dramatic rescue during deadly Davenport apartment fire One person is dead and 15 residents are displaced following a fire at the North Park Manor Apartments in Davenport. Find updates on the situation here.
	Greater QC Hispanic Chamber opens new, larger offices in Silvis Staff and supporters of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gathered Friday, May 22, for a ribbon-cutting to open its new larger offices, at 908 1st Ave., downtown Silvis.
	Davenport man convicted of sexually abusing child for years A Scott County jury found a Davenport man guilty of sexually abusing a child multiple times over nearly a decade.
	5th annual Bellson Music Fest celebrates Rock Falls native’s global music legacy You can celebrate world-renowned big-band drummer Louie Bellson with a day full of free music and drum clinics on Saturday, June 6 along the river in Rock Falls.
	Jamison Fisher pretrial hearing outlines alleged confessions, witness testimony A lengthy pretrial hearing revealed new details in the case against the man charged in the 1996 disappearance and death of Trudy Appleby.
	2026 Quad Cities Unity Pride Parade canceled Organizers said the decision was made after considering sponsor engagement, participation levels and costs associated with the event.
	Finally warming up after a cool week Temperatures have been below average all throughout this week with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. But as we approach the weekend starting tomorrow temperatures will not only be back to normal values but even exceed that for some Summer weather. Temperatures are looking to be in the upper 70s tomorrow nearing the 80s, before [...]
	Prosecutors argue for including 17 witnesses in Jamison Fisher's trial Prosecutors said the witnesses' testimony provides a complete picture of Jamie Fisher's alleged murder of Trudy Appleby.
	Student-built home now for sale in Davenport Students from the Davenport Community School District have been working together to build a home since September 2025, and it is finally complete and up for sale. It's all a part of a project which teaches students about the trades required to build a house from the ground up. This is the 27th year of [...]
	University of Iowa team researching impacts of social media on teen mental health Dr. Jonathan Platt joined The Current to discuss the impact of algorithms on what teens find online and how parents should talk with their kids about social media.
	1 injured, man arrested after Davenport stabbing Davenport police responded to the 500 block of W. 6th Street for a weapons call on Wednesday, May 20.
	Vehicle fully submerged in Bettendorf pond Police say the driver experienced a mechanical failure after a minor crash on Kimberly Road, and when they pulled over, the vehicle rolled into the pond.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of May 22, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Prosecutors outline alleged confessions, witness testimony in Jamison Fisher hearing New details emerged Friday during a lengthy pretrial hearing in the case against the man charged in the 1996 disappearance and death of Trudy Appleby.
	Annual Bellson Music Fest returns to Rock Falls The Bellson Music Fest honors world famous drummer Louie Bellson, who was born in Rock Falls in 1924.
	Central Dewitt schools raising money in honor of teacher who passed away Trisha Brookins died in a car accident in April. Now, district officials are raising money to help her family struggling with unexpected basement repairs.
	Davenport man accused of producing, possessing child sex abuse materials He was arrested on Thursday and faces 24 felony charges.
	Federal judge dismisses criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw accused the Justice Department of conducting a vindictive prosecution against the Salvadoran man.
	Galesburg hosting city-wide food drive June 12 Galesburg, through its employee volunteer committee, Galesburg GIVES, is hosting a city-wide food drive on Friday, June 12. The event will unite city employees, residents, local businesses, churches and civic organizations in a day of giving. All donations go directly to FISH of Galesburg, Knox County's community food pantry. There is more pressure on local [...]
	Court sets summer timeline for witness evidence in Fisher murder case A judge reviews witness testimony for the Jamison Fisher murder trial in the 1996 Trudy Appleby case. Written arguments are now scheduled for July.
	Vehicle rolls into pond in Bettendorf Mechanical issues may have led to a vehicle rolling into a pond near Kimberly Road this morning, according to a news release from the City of Bettendorf. The Bettendorf Fire and Police Departments received a 911 call reporting a vehicle submerged in a pond in the 2200 block of Kimberly Road on Friday, May 22 [...]
	Arkansas Explained: Understanding the data center boom and debate Signage at the official announcement of the Google data center in West Memphis on Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)Hailed by officials and economic developers as a boon to the state, data center projects heading to Arkansas are facing increasing scrutiny and calls for local regulations. Since an overhaul of energy permitting laws credited with luring more data centers was enacted last year, companies have announced plans for five such projects statewide. Two of them are already under construction. ‘They own it’: A split-screen view of data centers comes to central Arkansas But the rapid announcements and secretive negotiations with local governments and business chambers have prompted an outcry from some Arkansans. Reassurances from utilities that costs won’t be shifted to existing customers haven’t assuaged fears. Where are the data centers being built? There are five data center plans in various stages of development as of May 21. Pulaski County: Announced in January by AVAIO Digital, a Connecticut-based company. Located just east of Interstate 530, AVAIO said its initial $6 billion investment could balloon into $21 billion. It also said it had contracted with Entergy Arkansas for an initial 150 megawatts of power — ballooning into 1 gigawatt if the project is fully built out. With 2026 being the first year that gigawatt-scale data centers will come online, that would likely make it among the most power-intensive data centers in the country. Little Rock: First made public in April 2025 when the city of Little Rock sold land to what eventually was revealed to be Google for a planned $1 billion, 300,000-square foot data center. It is currently working to receive regulatory approvals from the state and federal government related to wetlands on the property. West Memphis: Google began construction on a $4 billion data center in West Memphis last year with the enthusiastic support of West Memphis’ mayor. It will be accompanied by a 600 megawatt solar project that it is “collaborating” with Entergy Arkansas on. Clarksville: Serverfarm, a California-based company that owns data centers across the country, has begun work on its first Arkansas facility since the project was announced last year. The planned $8 billion center is next to the Johnson Regional Medical Center. Conway: The city has received interest from an unnamed Fortune 500 company for building a $1 billion, 300,000-square foot data center. The man listed as the manager for the firm acting as the unnamed company’s intermediary is the same man who headed up the intermediaries for both Google data centers projects before Google announced it was behind them. What is a data center? And why are people so worried about them? Data centers underpin just about every facet of online life; containing the servers, networking equipment and data storage required for providing services ranging from cloud computing to social media feeds. But with the advent of artificial intelligence, which requires much more computing power and more advanced hardware, construction on data centers has accelerated at a dizzying pace. More than 1,500 centers are planned across the country. Some take issue with the vast amounts of power and water large data centers use, and the potential impact on utility bills. Others chafe against the public’s lack of input into projects and the economic incentives that attract them, brought about by nondisclosure agreements signed by local officials. Some have other environmental fears, such as the potential for ongoing noise or increased flood risk from filled wetlands. How are Arkansans pushing back? Wendell Griffen, the Democratic nominee for Pulaski County judge, speaks to the quorum court on proposed data center regulations as the proposal’s sponsor, Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood, listens on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) In central Arkansas, residents opposed to data centers crowded into board rooms in Conway and Little Rock, while many more commented on social media videos and posts expressing their dismay over data center projects. Momentum for regulations on data centers is also picking up in Arkansas’ most-populous county, even after the Pulaski County Quorum Court voted to send proposed regulations to the county planning department for a 90-day review. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. who stood with supporters at a press conference last week, announced his support Tuesday for data center regulations. Wendell Griffen, the Democratic nominee for Pulaski County’s top elected position who wrote Pulaski County’s proposed regulations, has made data center regulation a central part of his campaign. Griffen has pushed for the quorum court to enact an emergency moratorium. What are supporters doing? The Little Rock Regional Chamber launched an informational website last week about the two projects in Pulaski County. Utility leaders insist that costs for serving the data centers would not be shifted to existing customers. Little Rock Regional Chamber President Jay Chesshir promotes an informational website about two data center projects alongside Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority CEO Jean Block (center right) and Central Arkansas Water CEO Tad Bohannan (right) during a press conference on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) In West Memphis, Google launched a $25 million “Energy Impact Fund” last year to be used for energy efficiency and weatherization projects. The company is collecting feedback on possible community projects for the Little Rock area on the company’s information website. What do the proposed regulations do? In Pulaski County, the regulations would require public notice for “high-intensity digital infrastructure” in the unincorporated parts of the county and disclosure of expected utility impacts. They would also establish a conditional-use permit process for data centers that meet certain electrical- or water-use criteria. The Pulaski County regulations would not limit the amount of power a project can draw or the amount of water used. It would require companies to certify whether they are paying all infrastructure costs, or if the costs are spread, in part or in whole, to other ratepayers. The proposals also prohibit permit applications from being approved unless the county is provided with “substantial evidence” that the electrical infrastructure needed would not be subsidized by existing ratepayers. But any project that has already achieved certain milestones, such as final approvals from the county or binding agreements with utilities, would be grandfathered in and would not be required to provide that information. Scott’s proposed regulatory framework for projects inside Little Rock appear less intensive, and would only apply to data centers covering 250,000 square feet or more that use more than 50 megawatts of power. New data centers would be required to submit a report outlining total daily water use to the city before being approved, as well as provide other information to the city. What tax breaks are these centers receiving? Arkansas lawmakers in 2023 passed sales tax exemptions for building data centers, purchasing equipment, and for the electricity the data centers use. Legislators also passed the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act in 2025, which allowed utilities to recoup the cost of building new power generation before they finish building it. Those sales tax exemptions were expanded when lawmakers voted in 2025 to lower the criteria for qualifying for the breaks and to allow data centers spanning multiple locations to qualify. The law requires companies receiving the tax breaks to have a minimum annual payroll of $1 million for two years after the data center is built. That figure can include indirect compensation, such as paid time off, 401k retirement accounts and health insurance plans. Larger data centers have to meet a $3 million annual requirement over the same period. Supporters said the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act would enable the state to attract data centers and other businesses when legislators were considering it. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said last October that new tax credits from the law helped lure Google to Arkansas. The Little Rock Google center and the unnamed Conway center are also receiving local property tax breaks. Little Rock has also agreed to slash or eliminate franchise fees, the payments made by utilities on revenue, for the projects. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Legendary NASCAR Broadcaster Doug Rice Remembers Kyle Busch \| 'He was going to race today' NASCAR broadcaster since 1980 and former president and co-anchor of PRN Radio, the official voice of NASCAR — shares his memories of Kyle Busch.
	Cook review: 'Mandalorian and Grogu' blends fun, creatures, action to good effect A crowd-pleaser awaits "Star Wars" fans regardless of their ages. "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" deserves to be seen on the big screen. Whether you're a fan of the vehicles, the robots, the action, or the creatures (I'm in the latter category) you'll find something to enjoy. This is the first live-action "Star Wars" [...]
	Restaurant inspections: Mouse droppings in rice, shrimp in stagnant water The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees restaurant inspections in Iowa. (Photo via Getty Images; DIAL logo courtesy of Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing)State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including unsanitary kitchens, food contaminated with rodent droppings and shrimp left sitting in stagnant water. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, care facilities and other businesses between April 4, 2026, and May 14, 2026. (DIAL withholds from public disclosure all food-safety inspection reports for eight days past the date of inspection.) The inspections department reminds the public that its reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing’s website. Kentzio Japanese Steakhouse, 4804 S.W. 9th St., Des Moines — During a May 14 preopening visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, including the lack of written procedures related to the preparation of sushi rice and failing to monitor the passage of time during which sushi rice is prepared and offered. The inspector also noted the interior of the ice machine was soiled, there was no handwashing sink installed in the bar area, the shelving inside the walk-in cooler was soiled, and there was no electricity supplied to the bar area. Long Xing, 428 Highway 1, Iowa City — During a May 14 visit, a Johnson County inspector noted that raw eggs were stored in the same container as mixed vegetables, creating a risk of cross-contamination. Also, multiple raw and ready-to-eat food items — including raw and cooked chicken, raw beef, lettuce and cooked noodles — were stored at room temperature on kitchen tables. In addition, containers of raw marinated chicken, beef and shrimp were being stored in a cooler where their internal temperatures were measured at 43 to 45 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. Also, several containers of prepared foods and sauces stored inside the walk-in cooler and the cook-line cooler had none of the required date-markings to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also made note of a container of cooked beef that had been held beyond the seven-day limit and had to be discarded. In addition, access to a kitchen handwashing sink was obstructed by food buckets and a trash can, and chicken was observed thawing inside a bucket of standing water. Several boxes and buckets of food were stored directly on the floor in the kitchen and there was no sanitizer available in the kitchen during the staff’s food-preparation activities. Kuntry Lane Groceries, 2274 250th St., Delhi — During a May 13 visit, a state inspector cited this store for the sale of candies that were not made in a licensed facility. Also, “farm-fresh eggs” from an unknown source were being offered for sale. Inside a refrigerated trailer that had lost power, sour cream was holding at 53 degrees, and shredded cheese was holding at 51 degrees — significantly warmer than the mandatory maximum of 41 degrees. The store was also “not able to show they are maintaining annual well-water sampling” to ensure safety, the inspector noted. Oriental Food Store, 808 W. River Drive, Davenport — During an April 7 visit to this retail store, a Scott County inspector noted there appeared to be no certified food protection manager on staff. The inspector reported finding two open containers of long-grain white rice “with mouse-like droppings inside of them.” The rice was discarded. Also, several severely dented cans of food were found, indicating am increased risk of bacterial contamination. In addition, temperature-controlled items, such as milk, tea and half & half were being stored at 42 to 44 degrees rather than 41 degrees or colder. Several knives, the scoop for an ice bin, and the interior of a refrigerator were all reported to be marred by a “buildup of dried food debris and/or soil,” indicating a need for additional cleaning and sanitizing. In addition, several seafood and meat products that were packaged for retail sale carried labels that stated only “meat” or “seafood,” the inspector reported. “Mouse-like droppings were observed in the Smoothie- and drink-preparation area along the edges of the floor,” the inspector reported. La Regia, 436 Highway 1, Iowa City — During a May 13 visit, a Johnson County inspector noted that the staff was failing to comply with handwashing requirements and observed two employees handling ready-to-eat tortillas with their bare hands. Also, two cooked beef steaks were measured at 119 degrees three hours into the cooling process, and refrigerated beef steaks dated May 11, two days prior to the inspection, had yet to cool to 41 degrees or colder and were measured at 50 degrees or above. Also, cheese and diced tomatoes stored in a cooler were holding at 47 to 52 degrees, and a container of cooked meat stored in a refrigerator had been held beyond the seven-day limit and needed to be discarded. In addition, access to both of the main kitchen’s handwashing sinks was obstructed by utensils and towels stored in the sink basins. Lotus Asian Bistro, 589 E. 53rd St., Davenport — During a May 13 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for 12 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: The person in charge was not ensuring that proper cold-holding temperatures for food were being maintained or that the dishes were being adequately sanitized. Raw sprouts were being stored in a bucket at room temperature, and precooked noodles, along with chicken, lettuce, and tofu, were being stored at room temperature. In addition, various items inside the walk-in cooler were measured at 43 degrees, above the 41-degree maximum. Also, date-marking procedures intended to ensure the freshness and safety of the food were not being observed in “various areas” of the establishment, the inspector reported. The interior of the ice machine was marred by “a buildup of grime,” as was the holster for the soda-dispensing gun at the bar. In addition, the interiors of two coolers were marred by an excess buildup of food debris, and a spray can of Raid insecticide, not approved for use in a commercial kitchen, was found in the server’s station. The inspector also noted that salmon was being thawed without first being removed from its vacuum-sealed packaging, creating a risk that any spoilage would go undetected. In addition, the ice that was being used to chill various drink syrups in the bar area was also being deposited into customers’ drinks. Hy-Vee Foods, 4064 E. 53rd St., Davenport — During a May 12 visit, a Scott County inspector observed there were several dented cans “found throughout the aisles,” creating a risk of harmful bacteria. Also, the sweet-and-sour chicken and General Tso chicken offered in the Hy-Chi area were measured at less than 135 degrees and had to either be reheated to 165 degrees or discarded. In addition, cut melons were measured at 55 degrees, and cheese cubes in the deli cooler were measured at 52 degrees – too warm to ensure their safety. Also, various refrigerated time- and temperature-controlled food items in the Market Grille area were measured at 44 to 48 degrees, two cartons of eggs were stored at room temperature without refrigeration, and various time- and temperature-controlled items in the Hy-Chi cooler were being held at temperatures of 44 degrees or above. In addition, rotisserie chickens offered for sale at the front of a large, open cooler ranged from 47 to 48 degrees, while chicken wings and sliders and pulled pork were measured at 44 to 46 degrees. Various items were discarded, the inspector reported, and the staff was advised to ensure that items were cooled to 41 degrees or below before being placed in open-air coolers for sale. This was a repeat violation, the inspector noted. Also, the pizza oven was marred by an excess buildup of food debris, and the self-service soda machine was marred by an excess buildup of grime on the catch basin near the drains, the inspector reported. In the Hy-Chi area, access to the handwashing sink was blocked by a trash can and a rolling cart — another repeat violation. Also, the pH meter — a tool that can be used to ensure sushi rice is properly acidified and safe to eat — was inoperable, another repeat violation. With regard to the pH testing, management was “not reviewing records and signing off on them,” the inspector reported. The inspector also made note of an excess amount of grime, grease or food debris on the interior and exterior of the fryers, and the sides and exterior of the Market Grille oven. Frackie’s Pub, 2820 Rockingham Road, Davenport — During a May 6 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for 13 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, with the inspector noting there appeared to be no currently certified food protection manager on staff. Also, a kitchen employee was seen handling sandwich buns with their bare hands, and a worker was seen using a crockpot to slowly reheat queso sauce from the cooler rather than quickly reheat it in the microwave oven to ensure its safety. In addition, three containers of taco meat prepared the previous day had yet to cool to 41 degrees while inside the walk-in cooler and had to be discarded. The inspector also observed that several prepared food products in one of the coolers — including cooked chicken, beef and gravy — had no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also reported finding a container of hamburger patties with a preparation date of April 27, indicating the patties had been held beyond the seven-day limit. The inspector also noted that the interiors of two food-prep tables were marred by a “buildup of food debris and soil,” and portions of the large ice machine were marred by a buildup of grime and required additional cleaning. “All food-contact surfaces require additional cleaning and sanitizing,” the inspector wrote in her report. Ocean City Chinese Restaurant, 5 W. Main St., Marshalltown — During a May 5 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 13 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, with the inspector noting that not all of the staff designated as the person in charge were also certified food protection managers. The person in charge at the time of the inspection was deemed to be not fulfilling their duties, the inspector reported, as evidenced by violations related to handwashing, personal hygiene, cross-contamination of food, lack of sanitization, and other risk factors. The inspector also reported observing one employee rolling shrimp for sushi with their bare hands. In the base of the sushi-preparation table, raw fish was stored on top of ready-to-eat peppers and above ready-to-eat sauces. In the walk-in cooler, raw shrimp was stored over ready-to-eat sauces, raw beef was stored over ready-to-eat vegetables, and raw chicken was stored over beef and ready-to-eat sauces, risking cross-contamination. The restaurant also failed to maintain the required, up-to-date proof of parasite destruction for the varieties of fish that were being served raw, the inspector reported. On the counter, the inspector found a pan of cooked chicken that was holding at room temperature, and spring rolls that were holding at 62 degrees. The chicken and the spring rolls were discarded. Inside the walk-in cooler, the inspector found cooked shrimp, cooked chicken and crab Rangoon that had no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, there was no detectable level of sanitizing solution in the mechanical dishwashing machine; the interior of the ice machine was unclean; and an employee was observed spitting “into the wok cooking-station area,” which resulted in the inspector intervening and all nearby foods being discarded, fresh water being supplied to the station, and equipment and utensils being replaced. The inspector also observed that the handwashing sink was not accessible, having been blocked by food buckets and frying oil, as well as dirty towels that were being stored in the basin of the sink. The inspector also made note of the fact that “working containers of food” were being stored “below the hand sink in the kitchen, exposing them to drips and contamination.” Several of the violations noted by the inspector were categorized as repeat offenses requiring long-term corrective action. The restaurant’s last routine inspection was in November 2023, when the establishment was cited for 15 risk-factor violations. Abarrotes Carrillo, 903 W. 3rd St., Davenport — During a May 4 visit to this retail store, a Scott County inspector noted that inside one of the coolers, condensation was dripping down on top of raw, uncovered meat products, risking contamination. Also, two large pots of soup prepared the previous evening were inside the walk-in cooler but had yet to cool below 45 degrees and had to be discarded. Also, one of the food-prep tables used to hold chilled food was holding multiple products — including sliced tomatoes, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese — at 52 to 53 degrees, well above the 41-degree maximum. The inspector also made note of opened packages of deli meats that had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety, and containers of meat that had been held beyond their seven-day limit and had to be discarded. Knives and slicers that were not in use at the time of the inspection were marred by excess food debris, and the interior of the meat coolers in the meat department were marred by a buildup of food debris and spilled liquids. Also, tilapia filets were being thawed in the meat cooler while still inside vacuum-sealed packaging, creating a risk that any spoilage would go undetected. “All surfaces require additional cleaning and sanitizing,” the inspector reported. China Café, 3018 E. 53rd St., Davenport — During an April 29 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this restaurant for 11 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: Soy sauce was being held at room temperature rather than in a cooler; multiple dented cans were found in the kitchen, indicating an increased risk of contamination by bacteria; “many food items” were stored uncovered in the kitchen, risking contamination; hot foods were being held at temperatures of 80 to 106 degrees, rather than 135 degrees or hotter; cold foods were held at room temperature, between 51 and 60 degrees, rather than being refrigerated, and multiple prepared food items had been held for more than 24 hours without being date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. Also, knives stored on a knife rack were marred by food debris, and multiple cleaning products were improperly stored alongside food items. The inspector also reported that “chicken on a stick” was left out to thaw at room temperature, and “shrimp was sitting in stagnant water” inside the three-compartment sink used to clean dishes. D’Leon’s, 109 Jefferson St., Waterloo — During an April 28 visit, a Black Hawk County inspector checked the walk-in cooler and noticed that a broken condenser was “leaking fluid into uncovered food.” The soiled food items were then discarded. The inspector also made note of knives and a microwave oven that were soiled with a buildup of food debris and reported that multiple items inside the walk-in cooler had been held longer than 24 hours without being date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. Clare’s Tenderloins, 506 S. 6th St., Marshalltown — During an April 17 visit to this mobile food truck operating near Marshalltown Community College, a state inspector found the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager and the operator was using an unlicensed commissary — their home — to prepare and store food and to wash dishes and utensils. In addition, the food truck’s handwashing sink was not operational at the beginning of the inspection, with the water having been turned off. Viet Thai Deli, 930 Main St., Grinnell — During an April 16 visit, a state inspector concluded the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager and was not fulfilling their duties as evidenced by violations related to bare-hand contact with food, lack of handwashing, lack of sanitization, potential cross-contamination of food items, and a lack of date-marking. The inspector found cooked meats, prepared crab Rangoon, and crab Rangoon filling that were dated March 22 and March 26, weeks before the inspection, suggesting the food items were expired and should be discarded. “The operator stated the date-mark was not correct,” the inspector reported. Equipment and utensils were not being sanitized; a container of frozen meat was thawing at room temperature; and there was food debris and liquid spilled on the kitchen shelving units, inside the plastic storage containers, and on the interiors of the refrigeration units, the inspector reported. Mandarin Spice Buffet & Grill, 1412 Twixt Town Road, Marion — During an April 9 visit, a Linn County inspector observed that several foods in the walk-in freezer — including seafood, meat and cooked vegetables — had no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety, which was a repeat violation. “Interior of ice machine has a black buildup,” the inspector wrote in his report. “Beef was seen cooled at room temperature at the prepping counter in the kitchen.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Vehicle submerged in Bettendorf pond, officials say Bettendorf fire and police responded to the 2200 block of Kimberly Road for reports of a vehicle submerged in a pond.
	Death Notice: Jack Darland Jack D. Darland, 79, of Eldridge, died Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A private graveside service will be held, with a celebration of life to be held on Thursday, July 2, at Rolling Meadows Event Center, Eldridge. Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m., with a time of remembrances at 5 p.m. The Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the North Scott Educational Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com. A full obituary will appear in the May 27 edition of The NSP.
	Beacon Mutual ransomware attack exposed data of 4,500 current and former RI state employees A laptop displays the Beacon Mutual Insurance website as seen on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)The personal information of an estimated 132,000 Rhode Islanders was involved in a January cyberattack on Beacon Mutual Insurance, the Warwick-based workers’ comp company revealed this week. Beacon is the third party vendor that administers the state’s workers compensation insurance policy. Karen Greco, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Administration, told Rhode Island Current in an email Friday that the affected individuals included a few thousand state employees, both past and present. Beacon, Greco wrote, “informed the State of Rhode Island that they experienced a data breach in January that potentially exposed personal identifiable information that belonged to approximately 4,500 current and former state employees.” Greco added that the compromised Beacon systems do not connect to state networks, “and at no time were the state’s systems at risk,” she said, adding that Beacon had alerted the state it would notify affected people directly. Beacon Mutual hit by ransomware attack “Beacon Mutual regrets any inconvenience this matter may cause and appreciates the patience and understanding of our policyholders, agent partners, and other stakeholders,” Michelle N. Pelletier, Beacon’s assistant vice president of marketing and communications, said in an email Friday. Pelletier added that, as required by state law, Beacon disclosed the breach to the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General. The AG’s spokesperson Tim Rondeau confirmed via email Friday that the office received notification on Wednesday. A state employees union shared with Rhode Island Current a copy of a May 18 notice sent to a state employee. It is largely similar to the notice posted to Beacon Mutual’s website earlier this week, which gives a more precise number of approximately 131,027 Rhode Islanders affected. Beacon is now a private entity but was originally created with help from the state legislature to help stabilize the workers’ compensation insurance market in 1990. It also provides workers’ comp coverage for private employers who cannot find insurance on the voluntary market. Certain employers may be declined coverage because the risk to insure them is too big. Firms which insure these otherwise uninsured firms are known as an “insurer or last resort,” and Beacon fulfills this role in Rhode Island. There were about 162,000 people affected in all, Pelletier said, a number which includes people who live outside Rhode Island. Pelletier did not immediately respond with the full list of places affected, but Beacon Mutual’s online notice lists Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and West Virginia as possibly affected states. The company does business primarily in Rhode Island, with additional, smaller operations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. According to the Beacon Mutual website, the affected data was accessed between Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, 2026, and included files that “contained the first name or first initial and last name along with one or more of: Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial account number, health insurance information and/or medical treatment information.” The letter further advises recipients to monitor account statements and credit reports, and shares tips on setting up fraud alerts and credit freezes, if needed. Beacon has also set up a toll‑free call center at 833-918-8448 for individuals who believe they may have been affected but were not reached by mail. Pelletier added that credit monitoring was offered to “everyone who has a Social Security number or driver’s license number involved.” Threat actors alleged theft of 275GB “This was a ransomware attack,” Pelletier reiterated on Friday. “We proactively isolated certain systems to contain the threat.” The cybercriminal outfit INC Ransom took credit for the attack around Jan. 29 on its dark web leak site, boasting that it hauled off about 275 GB of “highly sensitive internal data.” The criminal group, according to the Denver-based cybersecurity firm Blackpoint Cyber, first appeared sometime around 2023 and has concentrated most of its efforts in North America. INC has breached a number of high-profile targets in recent years, including the Pennsylvania AG’s office and Stark Aerospace, a contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense. A March 2026 report from Halcyon, a ransomware research outfit, noted that INC has been targeting law firms as of late. INC Ransom has been observed to use the double extortion method, a two-part approach that begins with a traditional ransomware stratagem — encrypting files on a victim’s network, then demanding payment from victims to unlock the files and make them usable again — followed by data exfiltration, in which criminals rip or copy the data from a victim’s servers and threaten to post it online. That threat also comes attached to a ransom. “I am not at liberty to discuss the ransom demand,” Pelletier said Friday. “We are not in communication with INC Ransom.” One lawsuit among many As is typical for data breaches, the breach has already spurred a class-action suit in Rhode Island Superior Court. The plaintiffs’ attorney is Peter Wasylyk, who’s no stranger to data breach litigation — Wasylyk represented plaintiffs in a class action suit over the RIBridges data breach in 2024. “Beacon Mutual had the responsibility to safeguard the private, sensitive information entrusted to it. With that responsibility came a duty to protect it,” Wasylyk said in a statement Friday. In a 2026 review, the Philadelphia-based multinational firm Duane Morris found there were an estimated 1,822 data privacy class action suits filed in 2025, for an average of about 150 filings a month — an increase of around 18% from the previous year, and up more than 200% since 2022. But volume does not equal success, the Duane Morris report found, as “plaintiffs often have difficulty demonstrating that they suffered concrete harm.” Very few cases reached the ruling stage on class certification, which is when a judge decides if claims can be expanded to represent an entire class action. In 2025, courts ruled on only three motions for class certification over data breaches, the report reads, and plaintiffs prevailed only in one case. Still, even sans class certification, the cases can still prove pricey if settled: The top 10 settlements accounted for $515.79 million in 2025, according to Duane Morris, which it called “a slight decrease over 2024, when the top 10 data breach class actions totaled $593.2 million.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. 4:26 pmUpdated with additional info about credit monitoring offered by Beacon Mutual. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Vibrant Arena at The Mark announces new executive director Edgar most recently served as general manager of the Peoria Civic Center, according to a media release.
	Woman wanted for arson in Sterling Marcella Dingman, 52, is wanted for aggravated arson on a Whiteside County arrest warrant.
	Six Kentucky hospitals to receive $105 million in COVID funds SIx Kentucky hospitals to receive overdue FEMA funds for COVID.(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Several Kentucky hospitals will get millions in disaster reimbursement funds for COVID-19 pandemic expenses, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday. Six hospitals and Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) will get more than $105 million through Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief. The money will reimburse facilities for personal protective equipment, medical support, contract labor, emergency protective measures, medications and more expenses from January 2020 through May 11, 2023, Beshear’s office said. The following hospitals will receive these reimbursements: AdventHealth Manchester — $1,628,812.06 Appalachian Regional Healthcare — $22,944,962.88 Baptist Health — $17,207,818.93 Pikeville Medical Center — $1,447,750.47 T.J. Samson Community Hospital — $6,917,666.16 UofL Health — $13,397,435.97 Kentucky Emergency Management will also be reimbursed for $41,820,598.35. “What our hospitals did during the pandemic is nothing short of heroic, and my administration worked hard to make sure the reimbursements they were owed under the president’s emergency declaration were delivered,” Beshear said in a statement. “While this funding is being received years later, it couldn’t come at a better time, as our hospitals face challenges due to federal Medicaid cuts. This $105 million will make a difference for these hospitals and the Kentucky families who depend on them, which is why today’s news is so great.” Eric Gibson, director of KYEM, said the state is “processing the funds as quickly as possible so teams can put those dollars to good use as they continue to care for and protect people across our commonwealth.” Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	At first and only debate, 1st District Republicans square off on healthcare, immigration Ron Russell (left) and Joshua James Pietrowicz (right) are running in the June 9 Republican primary to challenge Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree in Maine's 1st Congressional District. (Official campaign photos)In their first and only debate before the June 9 primary, Republicans in the 1st Congressional District U.S. House race Joshua Pietrowicz and Ron Russell discussed their differing stances on the war in Iran, immigration and healthcare. Russell was the GOP nominee for the district in 2022 but lost in the general election, and now faces off against political newcomer Pietrowicz. Whoever wins will face off against incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree in the general election. The debate was hosted by Maine Public and the Portland Press Herald, and reporters from the two publications asked the candidates to weigh in on the conflict in Iran. Russell, a retired colonel who served as an Airborne Ranger and Green Beret, said from a military perspective, he would say the campaign has gone very well. “I think it has been beneficial, and it will continue to be beneficial for the citizens of the United States, because we have been held hostage by Iran for 49 years,” he said. Pietrowicz disagreed, “I would say it’s not necessarily been a benefit to the Americans, other than the fact that national security has been pretty steadfast here in the home front.” He said he supports an ongoing naval blockade in the region, but not a ground invasion — he would support troops on the ground only if there was “credible intelligence” shared with the public that it was an absolute necessity. “I don’t think the American people have the stomach for Iraq and Afghanistan 2.0 and I certainly don’t think we need another quagmire in the Middle East for the next 20 years, that’s for sure,” Pietrowicz said. Russell said he would be more open to the conditions for a ground invasion. “I don’t think that I would take boots on the ground off the table as an option, I think all of the options ought to be available to the president,” he said. When it comes to the war in Ukraine, Russell said he was in favor of supporting Ukraine, but didn’t think the U.S. should give the country a blank check. “They need support, and when we were providing support — we actually had boots on the ground at one particular point in time — they were far more effective than they are currently,” Russell said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Pietrowicz said he did not support a more active role in Ukraine, and that the conflict would have been resolved earlier if it wasn’t for earlier support from the U.S. He also said that he thinks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “is going to have to make some compromises.” “I certainly don’t support sending billions overseas while we have people in this country that are struggling right now,” he said. Both candidates have expressed general support for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, and were asked their thoughts about how that campaign was carried out in Maine by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the enhanced operation in January. Pietrowicz said there needs to be strong oversight of immigration officers, but added that “clearly law and order has a place in this country.” “We do need to back our law enforcement and trust the judicial process, but when it fails, we need to hold it accountable and those people that are failing us need to be held accountable, and that includes prison time,” Pietrowicz said. Russell said he did not fully support the way the January campaign was carried out, but “I don’t necessarily find the administration at fault.” He pointed to the lack of cooperation between Maine law enforcement and immigration agents as the misstep. “If state and local and federal authorities had talked, they would have agreed that he either needed to be picked up or not needed to be picked up,” Russell said, referring to a Cumberland County corrections officer recruit who was arrested by ICE agents in January. When asked about support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump administration’s sweeping budget overhaul passed last summer, Pietrowicz said he would not have voted in favor of the bill as it was written. “I just think the lack of compromise and lack of discussion within the party is not good for us right now,” he said. Russell said he would have voted to pass the bill, even with the included cuts to Medicaid. “I would have voted for the bill, because during Covid the applicability of Medicare, Medicaid, increased more than it should have been prior to Covid,” he said. Russell went on to say he would not support reinstating the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which expired this year and causing the price of many health insurance marketplace plans to skyrocket. “Healthcare needs to be looked at, because that’s one of the largest expenses we have in our federal budget and our state budget,” Russell said. Pietrowicz disagreed, and said he would support the tax credits as a bridge, and that Americans should be able to access healthcare without going deep into debt. “I think we have to do a better job of advocating for our most vulnerable and making sure that they’re not just getting trampled over by Big Pharma,” he said. Pietrowicz said he differed from many Republicans in his support for a universal healthcare option. “We already have about a third of the country on some form of socialized medicine,” he said. “Mainers and Americans are paying for it. They might as well get a deal that includes them as well.” When it comes to the challenge of competing in the general election in the heavily Democratic district, both candidates emphasized the importance of outreach with voters. “My strategy is to hold town halls and to talk to Democrats and independents, and try to convince them that my policies are better than my opponents’ policies,” Russell said. “I think that is the way ahead.” Pietrowicz similarly said it will take more than just Republican voters to win in November, the nominee will need to reach independents and Democrats too. “We just got to get those guys off the couch, get them excited, and win over the independents,” Pietrowicz said. “It is possible, but it’s going to take a little effort.” Courtesy of Maine Morning Star
	UNC Board of Governors gives initial OK to UNC Wilmington medical school It has been more than 50 years since North Carolina launched a public medical school. UNC-Wilmington is hoping that with private donations, a new medical school will be able to serve the southeastern region of the state. (Photo: Getty Images)The University of North Carolina Wilmington received a green light this week from the UNC System Board of Governors to proceed with the steps necessary to seek accreditation for a new four-year medical school that would also offer a three-year accelerated program for primary-care doctors and specialties in high demand. It has been more than 50 years since North Carolina launched a public medical school, and supporters say the southeastern region of the state faces a significant shortage of physicians. Board member Art Pope, a former state budget director, said while he would support the initial resolution, the medical school proposal would need to be thoroughly vetted. “Even with major seed money, startup money, capital money, coming from non-state funds, [this] will have an operating impact on our budget in future years, which we’ll consider through the normal course,” said Pope. Board member Swadesh Chatterjee joined Pope in supporting the concept of the new school, but asked for more information on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) planning study and where the funding would come from. LCME accreditation is required before students may be recruited or enrolled in a Doctor of Medicine program. UNC Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety said while he was not prepared to offer a dollar figure for the preliminary planning stage, the cost would be covered through philanthropic support. Volety said that he is committed to raising more than $100 million towards the initiative. In a show of support, UNC System President Peter Hans assured the board that he has been involved in the discussions for more than a year. “I have verified the very, very, very, very strong possibility of significant private support for this,” Hans told the board. “This is not taken on a wish.” UNC-Wilmington seeks approval for four-year medical school At an April meeting, Volety predicted it would take seven to eight years before the first doctors would graduate, but he was hopeful a three-year accelerated track would be attractive to students. More than 30 medical schools around the country offer accelerated programs, including Duke and UNC Chapel Hill. With the rise of AI, a move toward faster learning Hans said this is part of a broader strategy. In his remarks to the full board Thursday, Hans said the system continues to explore more three-year accelerated degree offerings. “North Carolina needs more health professionals, more engineers, and more business professionals with skills in data analysis,” said Hans in his prepared remarks. “If three-year degrees show promise to address those shortages for our state, we have an obligation to explore them.” UNC System President Peter Hans (Photo: PBS NC/UNC Board of Governors video) Reducing some undergraduate programs to 90 credit hours to reach graduation could save students up to 25% of the cost of earning a college degree. Hans said while a traditional four-year college experience can be transformative, exploring new and faster pathways toward graduation may be “a prudent step” in an era of potentially large disruption driven by artificial intelligence. “It’s reasonable to expect that a significant number of people will need to seek new fields, new careers, and new skills to adapt to a shifting economic landscape,” said Hans. “I believe the riskiest course for the university is to just hope it all magically goes away.” The UNC System has received about two dozen campus proposals for three-year degree options. It will require a vote by the full board of governors to decide if any of those proposals moves forward. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	What to know about Quad Cities airport travel during Memorial Day weekend he Quad Cities International Airport is expecting normal operations for Memorial Day weekend with good weather conditions, according to airport spokesperson Ashleigh Johnston.
	Ask AI or just Google it? Google makes a big change to a little search box The search giant is updating its famously minimalist homepage. But what looks like a tiny design change is a very big deal.
	Davenport Student Built Home Program brings a new house to the market The program gives students a chance to learn construction trades hands-on by building a home. Read the article for more on what they had to say about their experience.
	Bettendorf firefighters and police respond to vehicle in a pond Friday morning Police believe the car rolled into the pond after a mechanical issue arose following a collision.
	Davenport schools proposing naming Brady Street Stadium after Roger Craig There’s a movement from coaches and administrators in the Davenport School District to change the name of Brady Street Stadium to Roger Craig Stadium.
	Gabbard resigns as national intelligence director citing husband's cancer diagnosis Gabbard is the latest in a series of Cabinet officials to leave the Trump administration.
	Crews removing vehicle from pond after mechanical failure Crews are removing a car from a pond after a mechanical failure caused it to roll into it.
	Davenport Schools looking to purchase additional weapons detection systems The Davenport Community School District is requesting to add five weapons detection systems to its schools.
	1 dead after Davenport apartment fire One person is dead after a Davenport apartment fire on the 1400 block of East 39th Street.
	Court denies Jamison Fisher's motion to dismiss The man accused in the 1996 murder of 11-year-old Trudy Appleby appeared in Henry County Court in Cambridge with his attorneys Friday morning for a hearing on several motions -- including a motion to dismiss the case. Jamison Fisher appeared for a hearing on the state’s Motion To Admit Evidence Under Il Rule Of Evidence [...]
	Q & A with Dr. Wohl: How global health changes could impact Ebola response David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health and UNC-CH School of Medicine. (Photo: UNC Health)As the world has waited with bated breath to see if the small outbreak of the hantavirus aboard a cruise ship would multiply and spread beyond borders — another infectious disease crisis vaulted into worldview. Last Friday, the Africa CDC confirmed a new Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization quickly declared the epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. The strain of Ebola, Bundibugyo, is a different variant from the one in the massive 2014 outbreak. That difference complicated detection of the virus, because early test results using tools geared to that 2014 strain came back negative. As of Saturday, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths were reported in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The response in that province, the center of the outbreak, has been criticized as lacking, with health officials being slow to report the concerning symptoms and a lag in dispatching test samples to Kinshasa, the capital, according to The New York Times. Across the border in Uganda, two laboratory cases and one death have been reported with “no apparent link to each other,” according to WHO. Health officials suspect the outbreak has been going on for much longer, noting unusual clusters of community deaths with symptoms compatible with this strain. There also have been at least four deaths among healthcare workers in a clinical context, which has raised concerns about transmission in a healthcare setting and gaps in infection prevention and control measures. Those concerns are all amplified by the ease of travel between countries surrounding the initial outbreak. While the World Health Organization and associated global health entities mount a response — the United States is noticeably absent. The second Trump administration announced its withdrawal from WHO in January 2025, citing “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic” and failure to reform. The global health infrastructure — and the relationships among the agencies and nations that shaped responses to previous global health emergencies — has changed dramatically, as has the role of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For North Carolina clinicians and researchers who worked through the 2014 Ebola epidemic, today’s outbreak raises familiar concerns but in a markedly different global health landscape. Among them is David Wohl, a UNC Chapel Hill infectious disease physician whose work on Ebola in Liberia grew out of decades spent studying emerging infectious diseases. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. NCHN: What do we know about this current outbreak? David Wohl: There’s quite a bit that we’re finding out, and none of it is really good news. There has been an ongoing outbreak of Ebola with a strain called Bundibugyo. It’s caused outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo before, but it is not the same variant or strain that caused a big outbreak in 2014. That matters because the diagnostic tests that are used don’t pick up this other strain of Ebola that is now circulating in DRC. That contributed to delays in diagnosis, recognition and response, which allowed the virus to continue to spread really widely with people moving from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since it started in the rural area of the DRC, then people went to seek care in the capital Kinshasa, and then to Uganda nearby, and its capital Kampala. This has become a rural spreading virus that now has been transported into cities with healthcare workers getting infected, probably also now in South Sudan, which raised a whole bunch of other issues. We’re talking about a region of the world where there’s not a lot of resources, very rural for most of this, and where there’s also civil conflict. So none of that is good news. NCHN: Some reports say that because there are no longer USAID people on the ground to do surveillance, it took longer to identify the outbreak. Is that true? David Wohl: I’m sympathetic to people who are trying to imagine an alternative universe where all the resources that existed historically up until about a year and a half ago — how would that have made a difference? That’s really hard. I think it makes a difference with response, but I’m not so sure how it would have made a difference with detection. There’s a really decentralized system in the DRC, unfortunately, especially with these rural outlying areas not having good connections to resources such as testing. Some testing was done, but I think there was not good recognition that there were people getting sick with something that looked like a serious viral hemorrhagic fever and that there were clusters. That should have set off alarms. Maybe even if we had all the resources there, I do think it wouldn’t have made it different. But I do think now when you really do need to mount a response to try to contain what should have been contained already is getting very messy — that’s where you want those resources and a deep bench of people, both here and there, to be able to respond. That is my concern, is that we are more of a skeleton crew than ever before. (Photo: UNC Medicine) NCHN: In the past, people like you and (UNC Chapel Hill infectious disease physician) Billy Fisher have responded to these health emergencies because you were part of the CDC response teams. Do those still exist, and will they be able to help with a response? The United States is also no longer a member of the World Health Organization. How are all these changes going to affect response? David Wohl: From my vantage point, I see that the opportunities — for collaboration, for data sharing, for really being around the same table — are no longer the same as they were before. That worries me. I think when you have a global threat like this, you really do want trust and good relationships. I worry that we don’t have that to the same degree we did before, and that’s been very, very well voiced by this administration that we don’t need to do that. That’s not to say that people aren’t talking to each other. I’m sure they are, but I do worry that again without the experienced people who were part of this not present any longer, we’re at a disadvantage. Are we stronger now to respond than we were before? I don’t think we could really say that, and I do worry that there’s diminished ability to do something that we were able to do before. Fischer and a colleague suited up for full infection control during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak. That said, domestically Billy Fisher and myself co-lead one of 13 federally funded regional emerging pathogen response centers. These are designated centers to be the end of the road. After you get the patient who has Ebola or another serious infection, they come to our center, we care for them. We’re training. We are funded to be able to respond if there’s a need, and that would include a repatriated American who has Ebola or suspected. It could include someone with hantavirus. We are being very, very aware and alert of the situation, we’re having constant meetings and I think that system remains strong. There’s been chaos, there’s been confusion with everything, but we’re still able to function and are. All of us across the country have a sense of alert here that if we’re needed, we will be available to be called upon to do what we need to do to help Americans who might be ill. NCHN: The administration has put in a travel ban from DRC, South Sudan and Uganda. Is that enough to stop cases from coming into the states? David Wohl: Probably not. I’m not even sure how effective that is. Remember those travel bans are for people who don’t have a U.S. passport. I don’t think the virus cares whether you have a U.S. passport. If you have a U.S. passport and come from these countries, you can be allowed in. I’m not sure that the travel bans will be as effective as on a local level. Given the situation, we’re asking people when they check in for their appointments or come to the emergency room: “Have you traveled to these countries? Are you having any symptoms?” That’s part of a routine travel screen that we adjust based upon where there’s hot spots across the country, so there’ll be less people, maybe, coming from those countries that we have to screen. NCHN: Someone could be in the affected area and then travel to, say, Ethiopia or something and then fly to the U.S. from there? David Wohl: There’s holes in this system, but even if you absolutely were able to stop every single person coming from these countries in the United States, a chain of transmission could be such that it can come in with somebody else. The vast, vast, vast majority of people who will be traveling through our country would not have been exposed. It’s a big, big sledgehammer. I think it may make some pragmatic sense to people and may look good, but I’m not so sure how effective it will be. It can be very disruptive to a lot of people — and to even our relationships with these countries. And with personnel transfer, we want there to be a fluid transfer of people who can help respond, so we don’t want obstacles placed. NCHN: How is Ebola transmitted, through blood and bodily fluids? David Wohl: That’s what really makes it very … it’s a scary virus. But that’s what makes it different. A lot of us are scared when you hear about these emerging pathogens, when you hear about something like a bird flu that is transmitted by air, that is really to me much more of a concern because you could be close to somebody but not touch them and get infected. With Ebola, you really do have to be in physical contact with them or their fluids. It’s not transmitted through the air, so while it’s a devastating infection, it is harder to catch. We always want to worry a little bit. I think with hantavirus, there’s a potential that these people who got off the boat could secondarily spread it to other people. I think there’s some really good reasons to be watching those folks carefully. But with Ebola I’m less worried about secondary spread. I’m not really seeing that happen in the United States. We’re so different than Africa, as far as that’s concerned. NCHN: Looking at these two outbreaks, hantavirus and then Ebola virus, it speaks about the need for ongoing surveillance. What is the worldwide status of our public health surveillance system? David Wohl: Personally, I can’t say that we’re stronger, and there’s good arguments to say we’re weaker: … We have fewer staff, when we have people who were in divisions of the CDC that were dedicated to emerging pathogens that don’t exist anymore. You can’t tell me that makes us stronger. When we hear a lot of discussion about chronic diseases, nutrition and environmental health toxins, and to some extent say, “you really should be turning our back away from the focus on infectious diseases and emerging pathogens.” This shows us why we need to do both. This is not just coincidence. This is not just bad luck. This is going to happen; this is predictable. We know that emerging pathogens are happening more frequently, that they’re getting more serious and their scope is widening. If anything, we should be strengthening, right now, our surveillance systems as climate change, urbanization, migration, civil conflict, all these things predispose to emerging pathogen outbreaks. We should be doubling an investment in our efforts, because these things hit us too. This article first appeared on North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: “https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2026/05/20/q-a-dr-wohl-ebola/”, urlref: window.location.href }); } } Courtesy of NC Newsline
	PacificSource to end Montana insurance operations Voters say the cost of healthcare will be a major factor in how they vote in this year's midterm elections. (Getty Images)PacificSource Health Plans, one of Montana’s three primary health insurance providers, will cease its Montana operations and exit the marketplace by the end of the year. “PacificSource is making difficult decisions to ensure we can continue fulfilling our mission and serving members for the long term amid growing pressures across the healthcare industry,” company spokesperson Amber Conger confirmed to the Daily Montanan on May 21. “This includes exiting the individual market, as well as the state of Montana.” The health insurance company has operated in Montana since 2012, providing individual, small and large group, ASO and Medicare Advantage health plans, and is contracted with more than 90% of providers in the state, according to the company. According to information provided to the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, PacificSource counts approximately 11,000 individual health members, 15,000 small group members, 4,500 large group members, and 1,100 Medicare Advantage members in Montana, and serves as a third-party administrator for thousands of others. A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s office said the company informed the state of its decision earlier this week. “Anytime a health insurance provider pulls out of the Montana market, consumers are impacted,” Spokesperson Ethan Holmes said in an email to the Daily Montanan. “They’re forced to shop for new plans, and with less options in the market, may have to choose one that doesn’t serve their needs as well.” The Springfield, Oregon-based company cited headwinds across the healthcare industry as the reason for shrinking its footprint. “These are not decisions made lightly. We know they will affect people’s coverage and livelihoods, and we recognize the real impact on the individuals and communities we serve,” Conger said. “The reality is the healthcare system is unsustainable: Costs continue to rise, access is inconsistent, and the experience often falls short of what people need and deserve. These are not abstract problems. They directly affect PacificSource’s ability to continue delivering reliable, high-quality coverage to the people who count on us.” Rising healthcare costs have been a major talking point for years, especially last fall when federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans were set to expire. Rally attendees hold signs at a rally in support of reauthorizing Medicaid expansion at the Montana State Capitol on Jan. 15, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan) Individual marketplace plans in Montana increased for 2026 through all providers, with PacificSource asking for a roughly 12% increase; though the state’s other insurers, Mountain Health Co-Op and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the largest, requested significantly higher increases for plans purchased through the federal marketplace. PacificSource largely withdrew from the state of Washington in 2024, but will continue to operate in Idaho and Oregon, but the company has recently reduced operations in those markets as well. In Oregon, the Willamette Week reported last October that PacificSource was planning to layoff 381 people — roughly one-fifth of its employees. The company partially withdrew from that state’s Medicaid system, affecting around 20,000 members in the Portland area, and ended a Medicaid contract with the state covering around 90,000 members in Lane County. PacificSource will continue its individual plans in Montana through Dec. 31, 2026. “Unfortunately, this will affect valued employees as we will reduce positions to match our restructured business units,” Conger said in a statement. “We will help affected employees through this process as much as possible, including offering severance packages if they qualify per company policy … We are working to finalize those impact numbers and will share more information when it’s available and will communicate directly with impacted employees first.” The company has offices in Helena and Billings, but has just a few dozen staff in Montana. Holmes said Montanans who are concerned about the impact to their health insurance plans can reach out to the Commissioners office. “Our office, specifically our Insurance Consumer Service (ICS) bureau, is dedicated to helping Montanans navigate the insurance market. We encourage Montana consumers to reach out if they have questions about their insurance coverage, especially if they are impacted by Pacific Source exiting the market,”Holmes said. Courtesy of Daily Montanan
	What’s going on: The Florida fiscal year 2026-27 budget and the special session House Speaker Danny Perez (L) and Senate President Ben Albritton (R) still have not agreed on fiscal year 2025-26 spending and tax structures. (Photos via the Florida House and Florida Senate)Billions of dollars for schools, healthcare for the state’s poor, and restoring the Everglades remain up in the air with just days left before the Florida Legislature is supposed to deliver a new state budget. Legislators returned to Tallahassee on May 12 to draft a new Appropriations Act. Ten days later, it’s not clear what’s going on in the process. Budget conference committees, which consist of members from the House and Senate, finished their negotiations a week ago. Under the process, all unresolved decisions — and there’s a long list of them — now are supposed to be negotiated by the chairs of House and Senate budget committees. But Sen. Ed Hooper and Rep. Lawrence McClure have not held a public meeting this week. And there’ve been no updates from Senate President Ben Albritton or House Speaker Daniel Perez on the status of negotiations. Florida legislators ended their regular session in March without passing a budget to cover state spending from July 1 to June 30 of next year. This marked the second year in a row that the Legislature was unable to pass a budget on time. The special session opened with anticipation the budget would be finished Friday, so it could be available for final passage the day after Memorial Day. Since there have been no signs of progress, it would appear that legislators will not meet that goal. The clock is ticking. The special session is scheduled to run through May 29. Florida’s Constitution requires the budget to be available to the public for at least 72 hours before the Legislature can vote and send it to the governor. That means House and Senate budget negotiators have until Tuesday to finalize the amounts and wording for all appropriation items. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Being a budget conferee was an appointment that once held prestige. Conferees are empowered to help negotiate the differences between the spending plans. But the conferees who were in Tallahassee at the start of the session left last week. So have many of the out-of-town lobbyists who traditionally wouldn’t dare miss a budget conference meeting. They aren’t in Tallahassee, but they remain on call ready to answer any questions legislative staff may have about their projects. “As long as we are still getting calls from members and staff, we know the budget negotiations are still underway,” said lobbyist Jan Gorrie, a partner at Ballard Partners. Before the behind-the-scenes work began, there were spending differences across the various budget areas, from education to healthcare to the environment. Differences Below are some of the more notable differences between the plans before negotiations went dark. Several top-priority items for Gov. Ron DeSantis are up in the air, including the amount of money for his job growth grant fund, the Florida State Guard, and cancer “innovation” grants. And although the Legislature already has rejected his push to divert cancer funds from National Cancer Institute-designated facilities to additional treatment providers, the Senate has agreed to appropriate an additional $30 million for a cancer innovation fund. The House has not. On the surface, the House and Senate don’t appear that far apart on Department of Environmental Protection spending, with the House offering $2.5 billion and the Senate just behind at $2.49 billion. But a deeper dive shows significant differences between the plans. Florida Politics reports that both chambers have agreed on funding for the North and South Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), the Western Everglades Restoration Project, and Deepwater Horizon restoration. Progress also has been made on EAA Reservoir funding within the CEPP, with the House moving off its zero-funding position and directing about $249 million to the project, compared to the Senate’s push for $424.7 million. The reservoir is designed to hold and filter excess water from Lake Okeechobee to limit dispersal of toxic blue-green algae. Meanwhile, the Florida Wildlife Federation has launched an email campaign urging funding of Florida Forever, the state’s premier conservation land-buying program. The House and Senate budgets have earmarked $25 million and $75 million for the program, respectively. The Senate budget directs the money toward agricultural easements only, and not for state purchases of land for the public to access. The House is sticking to its choice to roll money for school choice scholarship in with other education spending in the main school funding formula, while the Senate plan breaks out the amount going to the universal school voucher program. An audit of the voucher program for school year 2024-25 revealed “a myriad of accountability problems” that caused a funding shortfall in public schools. ‘Funding did not follow the child’: State audit displays school choice woes Education, health The Senate has reduced its offer of $100 million for preeminence funding for Florida’s top universities, dropping down to $50 million, as the House refuses to budge and wants to eliminate the funding completely. Created in 2013, the program recognizes preeminent schools earning top scores across a variety of metrics, including students’ average GPA and SAT scores, graduation rates, and freshmen retention. The chambers also are at odds regarding the transfer of the USF Sarasota Manatee campus to New College of Florida. The State Administration and Agriculture, Environment, and General Government conference committee agreed to send HB 5207E to higher ups to negotiate. Among other things, the bill requires the state Department of Management Services to implement a prescription drug formulary beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with the start of a new health insurance plan year. The chambers haven’t publicly discussed funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which drew attention during the regular session when the DeSantis administration tried to sharply cut benefits to cope with what it called a $120 million shortfall. At that time, the Legislature appropriated nearly $31 million to keep the program going for three months pending the new budget. $31M infusion for AIDS drug program passes the Legislature That stopgap bill required the state to return income eligibility for the program to 400% of the federal poverty level. It also directed the state to directly distribute AIDS medications to clients and banned the state from helping people with HIV purchase costly drugs through insurance-premium assistance. The legislation kept intact a formula that prevented patients from accessing Biktarvy, a popular once-a-day pill. “At this time, we are hearing we might get a slightly better program than the stop-gap but nothing concrete,” community activist Michael Rajner told the Phoenix. “No premium assistance and possibly restoration of the formulary.” Healthcare is one of the largest budget silos and there are significant differences between the chambers when it comes to Medicaid funding. The Senate proposes to cut hospital inpatient and outpatient reimbursement rates and the House is pushing to tie Medicaid payments for managed care plans to improvements in infant mortality rates. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Governor’s executive order encourages healthy eating habits for Coloradans A Colorado Proud label highlights salsa products in a Denver grocery store on Sept. 30, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)Colorado’s governor wants to encourage access to healthy foods across the state. An executive order signed by Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday adds requirements for most state agencies to promote educational information on healthy foods, increase access to government aid programs or encourage Coloradans to exercise outdoors. The state will no longer use tax dollars to purchase alcoholic beverages or soft drinks for official state events under the order. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Colorado has the lowest obesity rate of any state, Polis said, and the order looks to align the state government’s actions with Coloradans’ healthy values. He signed the order at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver. “Living a healthy lifestyle is good for our bodies and also our budgets,” Polis said. “We want more Coloradans to make the right choice, to take charge of your health, to increase your lifespan, to be there for your loved ones, to decrease the need of hospitalization or loss.” Here are some of the new requirements for state agencies under the executive order: The Colorado Department of Agriculture will promote its Colorado Proud School Meal Month program, aiming to increase participation by 10% in the program, which prioritizes local foods. It will also look to lower prices for healthy foods in low-income areas of the state by providing technical assistance to small food retailers, farmers and distributors to use an expanded tax credit that promotes affordable healthy foods. The Colorado Department of Human Services will continue to advocate for federal approval of a hot food waiver to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to purchase hot foods in grocery stores. It will analyze and make various enhancements to the state’s SNAP program and its incentives and waivers. Multiple agencies will work together on various educational programs to connect Coloradans with community nutrition resources and teach people about how nutritious diets can support both mental and physical health. Other agencies will expand apprenticeship programs to build a workforce in health food occupations. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources will promote the healthy benefits of outdoor activities and protein sourced from fishing and hunting. The state’s Bike to Work Day program will be expanded to a full week, and the Department of Transportation will find opportunities to improve bike lanes and pedestrian access. State employees will have access to expanded wellness and personal exercise programs. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will work to increase referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program. The state will evaluate how healthy lifestyle changes can lead to insurance premium savings. State prisons will evaluate the daily nutritional intake of people in custody and offer diet and nutrition courses. The state will publicly report obesity rates within the prison system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Colorado Newsline
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center at full capacity; adoption fees lowered The Quad City Animal Welfare Center is at full capacity, and to address the issue, adoption fees have been temporarily lowered. According to a Facebook post: Adoption fees are lowered as follows: According to the post, every adopted pet will be: The Quad City Animal Welfare Center is located at 724 2nd Ave. W., Milan. [...]
	Resignations, hirings and other Moline School District personnel news from May 11 See the personnel items from the May 11 agenda of the Moline-Coal Valley School District. The board met at the Wilson Middle School.
	Mercado on Fifth celebrates 10 years with new awards Mercado on Fifth celebrated its 10th anniversary the day before its first open-air market of the season tonight (May 22) in downtown Moline, with its inaugural recognition awards.
	One dead after Davenport apartment fire Davenport fire crews responded to North Park Manor apartments early Friday morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation
	4 Your Money \| Bigger Slice Stock valuations have been high for a while now, and many people wonder if that's sustainable. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, joins us to provide insight on why valuations have risen and if he expects them to remain elevated.
	The importance of discretion and privacy in biohazard and trauma cleanup The importance of discretion and privacy in biohazard and trauma cleanupThe American home looks different than it did 60 years ago. As marriage rates stall and the “solo-living” economy gains momentum, the U.S. is observing a demographic shift that is quietly reshaping the demands on property management and public health. Today, single-person households represent a staggering 29% of all U.S. homes—a record high that has nearly doubled since the 1960s, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.This isn’t just a social statistic; it’s a logistical tipping point. With more people living in isolation, the frequency of unattended deaths and “silent” health hazards has surged, forcing a move toward professionalized biohazard remediation.For property owners, the stakes of remediation extend beyond simple hygiene into the realm of asset preservation and liability management. When biological contaminants are present, the social stigma of the event often acts as a roadblock to recovery.Yet, in the world of biohazard mitigation, delay is the enemy of value. Failing to act immediately often leads to a utilization inefficiency, where a property remains unmarketable and dangerous due to lingering pathogens that require specialized industrial intervention to resolve.In this article, Bio-One, a biohazard and crime scene decontamination firm, shares what the modern property owner needs to know. Bio-One Technical Drivers of the Biohazard IndustryWhile popular culture often frames trauma cleanup through the lens of a crime scene, the industrial reality is far more expansive. Professional remediation is a technical necessity in any environment where biological threats—from the fallout of animal hoarding to workplace accidents—compromise human safety. The “unattended death” has become a standard challenge for modern property managers, representing a scenario where “cleaning” is insufficient and “structural restoration” is required.During decomposition, the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pathogens doesn’t merely linger on surfaces; it migrates. These elements “breathe” into porous materials like flooring, subflooring, and drywall. Without the deployment of industrial-grade ozone generators and HEPA-filtered air scrubbers, the damage can quickly cross a threshold into the irreversible.Adherence to strict OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards is what separates this specialized work from general janitorial services, as it addresses long-term liability and property habitability rather than just immediate visual hygiene.The Logistics of Operational PrivacyIn a densely populated or highly connected urban environment, the “social contagion” of a crisis can be as damaging to a property’s value as the biohazards themselves. This is why discretion has transitioned from a courtesy into a core operational protocol.The objective is to mitigate the risk of “spectacle-seeking”—the phenomenon where public crises attract sensationalist attention that compromises the privacy and future marketability of a residence or business.Standard operational protocols for professional remediation involve several technical layers designed to mitigate liability:Logistical anonymity: To prevent neighborhood scrutiny, technicians often utilize “plain-wrap” vehicles with minimal branding. Furthermore, the donning of personal protective equipment (PPE) is typically delayed until a shielded perimeter has been established, avoiding the visual anxiety that protective suits can trigger in the public.The privacy perimeter: In an era of social media exposure, rigid confidentiality is a risk-management necessity. Professional firms enforce non-disclosure standards for all staff, ensuring that site documentation required for insurance adjusters is handled via encrypted channels and with explicit client consent.Visual containment systems: The use of high-tension poles and heavy-duty plastic sheeting serves a dual purpose. It acts as a bio-barrier to prevent the cross-contamination of airborne pathogens and creates a “visual sanctuary” that prevents accidental exposure for occupants or neighbors.The Maturation of the Biohazard Remediation MarketAs the “loneliness epidemic” continues to reshape national demographics, the demand for professionalized biohazard services is expected to increase. The industry is moving toward a state of market maturity where remediation is viewed through the lens of public health and forensic science rather than emergency response.Consequently, property insurance providers are increasingly requiring documented forensic cleaning to satisfy liability coverage, a trend that is formalizing specialized remediation as an essential, non-negotiable component of modern urban property management.By adhering to standardized decontamination protocols, the primary objective of modern remediation is the mitigation of utilization inefficiency, ensuring that property assets maintain their underlying valuation and habitability despite exposure to high-risk biological contaminants.For the modern property owner, navigating these high-stakes environments requires a realistic understanding of these technical avenues to ensure long-term safety and asset preservation.This story was produced by Bio-One and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	5 common reasons cars break down and how a mobile mechanic can help 5 common reasons cars break down and how a certified mobile mechanic can helpA car that will not start at the worst moment is a special kind of frustration. It usually happens at the office, in a grocery store parking lot, or on a school pickup run, almost never in the driveway with a free afternoon to deal with it. Most breakdowns trace back to a small handful of recurring issues. And for drivers who cannot afford to lose a workday at a traditional shop, these issues often can be handled by a certified mobile mechanic. The Los Angeles Mobile Mechanics take you through five common reasons cars break down and how certified mobile mechanics can help.1. Dead or Failing BatteryThe battery is one of the top causes of roadside calls. Lights left on overnight, a corroded terminal, extreme heat, or simple age can all leave a car silent when the key turns. Symptoms include slow cranking, dim dashboard lights, and clicking sounds. Once a battery has reached the end of its life, no amount of jump-starting will restore it for long. A certified mobile mechanic can test the charging system on-site, confirm whether the battery itself is the problem, and install a replacement in the parking lot at work or wherever the car gave up.2. Alternator FailureThe alternator keeps the battery charged while the engine runs. When it fails, the car may seem to drive normally at first, then warning lights start to appear, the headlights dim, and eventually the engine stalls and refuses to restart. Because alternator failures often happen mid-trip, drivers tend to find themselves stranded at a stoplight or in a parking spot away from home. A certified mobile mechanic carries the diagnostic tools to test alternator output on the spot and can perform the replacement in most driveways or office lots without the need to move the car.3. Starter Motor ProblemsWhen a car will not crank at all and the battery tests fine, the starter is often the culprit. A bad starter may produce a single click, a grinding noise, or complete silence. Hot weather, age, and wear on the solenoid are common contributors. Replacing a starter usually involves working underneath the vehicle, which can be within the scope of mobile service.4. Overheating EngineA rising temperature gauge or steam from under the hood points to a cooling system problem. Causes include a failed thermostat, a leaking hose, a bad water pump, or low coolant from a slow leak. Overheating is one of the few issues that should not be ignored even for a few miles, because continued driving can cause serious engine damage. Pulling over and calling a certified mobile mechanic for an on-site diagnosis instead of trying to nurse the car to a shop is a safer option. Many cooling system repairs, including hose and thermostat replacements, can be handled in a driveway or office parking lot.5. Serpentine Belt FailureThe serpentine belt drives the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor. When it breaks or slips, several systems fail at once. Drivers may notice squealing, a sudden loss of power steering, or a battery light alongside an overheating warning. A certified mobile mechanic can inspect the belt, related pulleys, and tensioner, then replace the belt on-site. For a driver stranded in a parking lot, that means a far shorter delay than a tow followed by a wait at a traditional shop.How to Bring the Repair to YouEach of these breakdowns has one thing in common. They tend to happen at inconvenient times and inconvenient places, and they rarely fit neatly into a busy schedule.A certified mobile mechanic brings the repair to the car, whether the car is parked at home, sitting in a workplace lot, or pulled over on the side of a quiet street. When looking for a mobile mechanic in your area, be sure to look for mechanics who are ASE-certified, and for providers who take care to vet and background-check their technicians.For drivers juggling work, family, and everything else, the mobile option is worth knowing about before the next breakdown ever happens. The next time your car suddenly refuses to cooperate, having a certified mobile technician ready to contact may be the fastest way back into the day.This story was produced by LA Mobile Mechanics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026

Friday, May 22nd, 2026