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

LISTEN: Sec. RFK Jr. tries to convince Iowa candidate to drop out of race - Clone

The Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair shared audio of a phone that she said shows U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Junior, trying to convince a candidate for Congress to drop out of a race for Congress.

North Scott School District resignations, hirings and other personnel news for June 15

The following personnel items are from the June 15 agenda of the North Scott School District. The school board met at Junior High.

Tapestry Farms hosting summer breakfast in the garden series highlighting area growers

The Quad City nonprofit assists area refugees accessing nutritious affordable food. The organization is inviting community members to tour area gardens, meet growers and partake in a light breakfast. The “Breakfast in the Garden” series is monthly through September.

'That Animal Guy' makes appearance at Planet Funk Con/QC Fright Con

Before "That Animal Guy" arrives at Davenport's RiverCenter, he's stopping by the News 8 station to talk about the upcoming conventions.

World Cup fans are missing games after their resale tickets fall through

The ordeal has left fans forced to either miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or scramble to find new tickets, often costing more and for worse seats.

Investigation underway into workplace accident in Scott County

Right now, News 8 is working to learn more about a worker who was reportedly injured on the job.

Traffic alert: 2 lanes on John Deere Road to be closed

Westbound John Deere Road will be reduced by two lanes between 7th and 16th streets starting Monday for patching work, IDOT announced.

Clinton opening cooling centers during heat wave

Extreme temperatures expected over the next several days are leading local officials to open cooling centers for residents. In Clinton, officials will activate their Extreme Temperature Plan starting on Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. It will stay in effect until conditions improve. The Clinton MTA is offering free rides during regular hours to the [...]

Rock Island’s deputy fire chief to retire after 25 years

Rock Island Fire Department Deputy Chief Greg C. Marty announced he is retiring on Aug. 20, 2026, marking exactly 25 years of service.

Sheriff: One dead in bulldozer accident in New Liberty

A person has died following an accident in New Liberty, Iowa, early Friday morning.

July 2026 music festivals ranked by lineup value

July 2026 music festivals ranked by lineup valueSummer festival calendars are crowded, and ticket prices can vary sharply from one event to the next. Some festivals charge premium prices for large international lineups. Others offer lower-cost passes while still booking artists with strong audience demand.That makes “value” difficult to judge from price alone. A cheaper pass is not automatically a better deal, and a higher-priced festival can still look competitive if the lineup is unusually strong.To compare July 2026 festivals more directly for this article, Viberate analyzed medium and big music festivals in Europe and North America using a lineup-strength-to-ticket-price index. The analysis compared each festival’s reviewed Total Lineup Score (calculated based on artists' performance on Viberate), with the lowest verified multi-day general admission ticket price available from official festival or ticketing sources.The result is not a ranking of the “best” festivals overall. Location, travel costs, genre preference, camping, fees, and on-site expenses can all change what a ticket is worth to an individual attendee. Instead, this ranking measures one specific question: Which verified July 2026 festivals offer the most lineup strength per $100 of multi-day general admission ticket cost?MethodologyViberate started with the top 50 medium and big festivals returned by its July festival database filter for Europe and North America, sorted by Performance Score. Because the database month filter can include festivals with July editions from past years, each candidate was manually reviewed to confirm whether it has a July 2026 edition.Festivals were included only if they met all of the following criteria: they had confirmed July 2026 dates, a Total Lineup Score calculated based on artists' performance on Viberate, a reviewed lineup artist count, at least 10 confirmed lineup artists at the time of analysis, and a verified multi-day general admission ticket price. Festivals were excluded if they did not have a confirmed July 2026 edition, only had single-day pricing, lacked comparable general admission pricing, had sold-out or unavailable standard GA passes, had unclear ticket packages, or had fewer than 10 confirmed lineup artists.Ticket prices were collected from official festival websites or official ticketing partners. The analysis used the lowest verified multi-day general admission price available for each festival, excluding VIP passes, resale listings, camping, hotel packages, travel packages, and optional add-ons. Prices were converted to U.S. dollars using ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates from May 27, 2026.The final Value Index was calculated as:Value Index equals reviewed Total Lineup Score in thousands divided by ticket price in US dollars, multiplied by 100.In plain terms, the index shows how many lineup-score points, expressed in thousands, each festival offers per $100 of verified multi-day GA ticket cost. Artist count was used as a secondary quality-control field to understand lineup depth, but it did not determine the ranking.1. Holika — SpainHolika ranked first in the analysis by a wide margin, driven by a low verified multi-day ticket price and a strong reviewed lineup score. The Spanish festival had a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 91.3K and a converted ticket price of $59.34, producing a Value Index of 153.87.That does not mean Holika is the largest festival in the dataset. It means its lineup strength is high relative to its verified ticket cost. Among the festivals analyzed, no other event delivered as much reviewed lineup score per $100.2. Morriña Festival — SpainMorriña Festival placed second, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 141.5K and a converted ticket price of $110.55. Its Value Index was 127.99.The festival’s ranking reflects a combination that matters in this analysis: a strong reviewed lineup score and a still-relatively low multi-day GA price. Morriña was one of only two festivals in the final ranking with a Value Index above 100.3. Les Déferlantes Sud de France — FranceLes Déferlantes Sud de France ranked third with a Value Index of 65.42. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 141.6K, nearly identical to Morriña Festival’s, but its higher converted ticket price of $216.45 lowered its lineup-to-price ratio.This shows why price normalization matters. Two festivals can have similar lineup strength but produce very different value scores once ticket cost is included.4. MEO Marés Vivas — PortugalMEO Marés Vivas ranked fourth with a Value Index of 61.36. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 71.4K, and its converted ticket price was $116.37.Compared with some higher-scoring festivals, MEO Marés Vivas ranked well because of price efficiency. It did not need one of the highest lineup scores in the dataset to perform strongly on the index.5. Ruisrock Festival — FinlandRuisrock Festival ranked fifth, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 104.3K and a converted ticket price of $278.12. Its Value Index was 37.50.Ruisrock’s ranking shows the other side of the calculation. The festival has a strong lineup score, but a higher ticket price places it below lower-priced festivals with similar or moderately lower lineup strength.6. Rock Fest — United StatesRock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin, ranked sixth with a Value Index of 30.50. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 54.6K, and its verified ticket price was $179.00.It was the highest-ranked U.S. festival in the analysis. Its placement came from a relatively moderate ticket price compared with other North American festivals in the dataset.7. Hinterland Music Festival — United StatesHinterland Music Festival ranked seventh, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 115.8K and a converted ticket price of $390.00. Its Value Index was 29.69.Hinterland had one of the stronger reviewed lineup scores among the final entries. Its ticket price, however, kept it below several European festivals with lower verified GA costs.8. Slottsfjell Festival — NorwaySlottsfjell Festival ranked eighth with a Value Index of 25.29. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 98.0K, and its converted ticket price was $387.47.The Norwegian festival’s lineup score was competitive, but its converted ticket price placed it in the same pattern as several higher-cost festivals: strong lineup, lower value index because of price.9. Kappa Futur Festival — ItalyKappa Futur Festival ranked ninth with a Value Index of 22.21. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 64.6K, and its converted ticket price was $290.93.The electronic music festival remained in the top 10 despite a higher ticket cost because its reviewed lineup score was still strong enough to keep its lineup-to-price ratio above most of the remaining dataset.10. Afro Nation Portugal — PortugalAfro Nation Portugal ranked 10th, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 93.6K and a converted ticket price of $464.32. Its Value Index was 20.16.Afro Nation’s placement shows how higher ticket prices affect the ranking. Its lineup score was one of the stronger scores among the analyzed festivals, but its ticket price reduced its score-per-dollar efficiency.11. Stavernfestivalen — NorwayStavernfestivalen ranked 11th with a Value Index of 19.28. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 45.5K, and its converted ticket price was $236.04.The festival’s placement reflects a mid-range combination of lineup strength and ticket price. It did not have one of the highest lineup scores, but its verified GA price kept it competitive.12. Rock Fest Barcelona — SpainRock Fest Barcelona ranked 12th, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 48.4K and a converted ticket price of $261.83. Its Value Index was 18.49.The Spanish rock and metal festival landed in the top 15 because its ticket price remained moderate relative to its reviewed lineup score.13. Badlands Music Festival — CanadaBadlands Music Festival ranked 13th with a Value Index of 17.86. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 69.3K, and its converted ticket price was $387.96.Badlands had a stronger lineup score than several festivals ranked above it, but its higher converted ticket price lowered its final position.14. VIBE Fesztivál — RomaniaVIBE Fesztivál ranked 14th, with a reviewed Total Lineup Score of 17.4K and a converted ticket price of $110.86. Its Value Index was 15.70.Its lineup score was lower than most festivals in the top 15, but its low verified ticket price kept it in the ranking.15. Musilac Aix-les-Bains — FranceMusilac Aix-les-Bains ranked 15th with a Value Index of 15.62. Its reviewed Total Lineup Score was 39.8K, and its converted ticket price was $254.85.The French festival rounded out the top 15 because its reviewed lineup score and verified multi-day GA price remained competitive after currency conversion.Lower ticket prices drove the highest value scoresThe top of the ranking was shaped heavily by ticket price. Holika and Morriña Festival both ranked above festivals with similar or stronger lineup profiles because their verified multi-day GA prices were much lower than most competitors in the dataset.This does not mean lower-priced festivals always rank higher. The index still requires lineup strength. But when a festival combines a strong reviewed lineup score with a low verified ticket price, the value score rises quickly.Higher-priced festivals still performed when lineup scores were strongSeveral higher-priced festivals remained in the top 15 because their lineup scores were strong enough to offset some of the price difference. Hinterland Music Festival, Slottsfjell Festival, Afro Nation Portugal, and Badlands Music Festival all had converted ticket prices above $380, but each still made the ranking because of lineup strength.The analysis therefore does not simply reward cheap tickets. It rewards the relationship between lineup strength and price.Why some major festivals were excludedSome high-profile July festivals did not appear in the final ranking because their ticket structures or lineup data were not comparable. The analysis excluded festivals that only offered single-day tickets, lacked available standard GA pricing, had sold-out comparable passes, did not have a confirmed July 2026 edition, or had fewer than 10 confirmed lineup artists at the time of analysis.This matters because the lineup score reflects a festival lineup, not one day of programming. Comparing a full festival lineup score against a single-day ticket would inflate the value score and weaken the ranking. Including a festival with only a few confirmed artists could also overstate value before the 2026 lineup is far enough along to compare fairly.What this ranking does and does not showThis ranking measures lineup value by one specific definition: reviewed Total Lineup Score per $100 of verified multi-day GA ticket cost. It does not account for travel expenses, accommodation, local prices, camping, parking, food and drink, fees not clearly included in listed prices, or personal genre preference.It also does not claim that one festival is better than another overall. A higher Value Index means a festival ranked higher on this specific lineup-score-to-ticket-price measure.For readers comparing festival tickets, the results show how much the underlying economics can vary. A festival with a moderate ticket price can outrank a more famous or more expensive event if its lineup score is strong enough. A high-priced event can still perform well if its lineup strength is high.The clearest value scores came from festivals where both sides of the equation worked together: strong reviewed lineup data and relatively low verified ticket prices. That is the main takeaway from the ranking. In a market where festival costs are not always easy to compare, the strongest value signals came from events where the lineup and price were aligned.This story was produced by Viberate and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The PACs for public lands

The PACs for public landsA recent primary election race in Idaho between Republican candidates Stephanie Mickelsen and Kelly Golden wasn’t the sort of contest that shows up on CNN’s Magic Wall, but it yielded a vivid example of how conservation can be used as a political weapon these days. At a forum featuring both women in advance of the May 19 vote, Golden made a comment that drew fire from a new Idaho-based group called the PAC for Public Lands. The political action committee’s creators focus entirely on what state-level politicians say and do about the multifaceted issue that’s built into their name.Golden and Mickelsen were vying to represent a rural legislative district called 32A, which wraps around the city of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. For the second cycle in a row, Mickelsen, an incumbent known for her expertise in agricultural and groundwater issues, beat Golden, who has worked in radio and the nonprofit sector, and who positions herself to the right of Mickelsen. The PAC for Public Lands targeted Golden for defeat, knowing that whoever won this primary will win in November: 32A is a Republican stronghold in a red state, and there’s no Democratic challenger in the general election.“I’m definitely the more conservative, more platform-aligned candidate,” Golden told RE:PUBLIC. She supports the policies backed by the Idaho Republican Party, which takes a firm states’ rights stance on public lands. The federal government owns and manages nearly 62% of Idaho’s total area, around 32.8 million acres in all. The platform calls for reducing this amount and says Idaho should “manage and administer” any land currently owned by the feds.At the forum, in response to a question about housing affordability, Golden floated an idea that turned heads: Give some of this land to young people and let them build houses on it. What she described was an either-or choice between free land and benefits from an existing state-funded jobs-training program called Idaho LAUNCH.“If Idaho was able to control our lands again,” she said, “what if we were to open it up to a modern-day Homestead Act, where we could give kids the opportunity to either choose LAUNCH or land? When you graduate high school, do you want to go to LAUNCH? Or would you like five acres that you could do whatever you want to as long as you lived on that land?”The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged western expansion by giving 160 acres to U.S. citizens 21 and older if they were the head of a household and agreed to live on and improve the land for five years. Idaho LAUNCH gives students up to $8,000 to pursue vocational training in what the state calls “in-demand career fields.”Golden didn’t say these homes should be built in the middle of Idaho’s most beautiful outdoor spaces. What she had in mind was less-desirable terrain that’s often overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “The phrase, and I hate it, but some people call it ‘junk land,’” Golden said. She mentioned an unincorporated town called Howe, which sits about an hour northwest of Idaho Falls.“Howe is a farming community with a stoplight,” she said. “There are hundreds of thousands of desert-and-sagebrush acres all around it that are just desolate right now. That would be a place I would explore and say that at least it’s viable.”Howe, she added, is within commuting distance of the Idaho National Laboratory —a major employer in Idaho Falls—and it’s possible a data center will be built in that part of the state someday. Growth could be in the town’s future.The idea of building affordable housing on repurposed federal land has been a policy goal of the Trump administration, and it’s a politically controversial concept. The PAC’s founders know this, and they weaponized Golden’s remarks with digital ads and bulk text messaging.“Kelly Golden wants to GIVE AWAY YOUR PUBLIC LANDS TO 18 YEAR OLDS!”, the text said. At a recent candidate forum, the text continued, Golden “… said she wants to give away our public lands—the places where we hunt, fish, graze, and camp. What other crazy ideas could she have in store for Idaho?”Politics is rough, but was it fair to turn Golden’s remarks into a scare quote? Alexis Pickering, a co-founder of the PAC, thinks so. When Golden mentioned homesteading, Pickering told RE:PUBLIC, “We were like, OK, let’s talk about that! … This was a perfect example of how dangerous it would have been for her to get in there.”Idaho isn’t turning purple anytime soon, but Pickering and other activists have noticed that protection of public lands is an issue that can draw support from both sides of the aisle. In March, the state legislature adopted Joint Memorial 111, a symbolic measure that calls on Idaho’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to always bear in mind that selling or transferring public lands “would not only jeopardize access and tradition, but also place unsustainable and unpredictable financial burdens on states, local governments, and Idaho taxpayers.”In Wyoming, a similar joint resolution passed easily during the 2026 session, asking Congress to place a priority on public lands protection and saying that “disposal of lands should not occur without meaningful input from state and local governments and affected communities.”This strong show of support was prompted in part by a failed resolution from the 2025 session that called for Congress to “extinguish the federal title” to public lands and subsurface resources in the state. That’s a long way of saying: Let Wyoming, not the federal government, control the land and what lies beneath it. The resolution allowed for only one exception: The feds could keep Yellowstone National Park.Gestures like these move both states a little closer in the direction of Montana, where vocal support of public lands has come from all four members of the state’s congressional delegation. In the summer of 2025, in the wake of Utah Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off up to 3.3 million acres of BLM and Forest Service lands, U.S. Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines blocked the provision from being included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing are both members of the chamber’s bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.In Idaho, the concept driving the PAC for Public Lands is straightforward: Go all in on a single issue, spending money to support candidates who work to protect public lands and to oppose those who don’t. One state to the east, a new group called Protect Wyoming is pursuing a similar strategy, and both PACs appear to have arrived at their approaches independently. They aren’t linked in any way.The creators of the PACs moved in this direction because PACs can do things that traditional nonprofits can’t. A tax-exempt 501(c)(3) like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers—which is based in Missoula, Montana—is prohibited from directly or indirectly taking part in political campaigns on behalf of candidates. The group can certainly express itself about issues, though—a website resource called Take Action tells supporters about legislation that it thinks should be either supported or opposed.The PAC for Public Lands was launched earlier this year by four Idaho residents with extensive experience in politics: Pickering, executive director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, a nonprofit affiliated with the D.C.-based League of Conservation Voters; Chuck Coiner, a former Republican state senator; Brian Brooks, a veteran of wildlife protection nonprofits, including the American Bird Conservancy and the Idaho Wildlife Federation; and Ross Copperman, a former outdoor industry executive who chairs a group called the Idaho Hunger Coalition.Protect Wyoming was created by two outdoorsmen whose day jobs had never involved political campaigns. Zach Lentsch, the PAC’s chairman, is a Cody-based climber who runs Wyoming Mountain Guides, which offers rock, ice, and alpine adventures all over the state. Chris Allen, the treasurer, lives three hours east of Cody in the town of Clearmont, where he and his wife train and sell horses. Both Lentsch and Allen are hunters, and the PAC devotes most of its resources to outreach efforts aimed at this demographic.“We’re trying to turn hunters into voters in Wyoming,” Lentsch said. “We’re really focused on sportsmen, because that’s a large group in our state.”It’s also a group that supports public lands for an obvious reason: That’s where the birds, mammals, and fish are. As is true of voters in most states, this bloc tends to sit out primaries. In 2024, Lentsch said, only 28,000 of the state’s 140,000 resident hunters and anglers cast primary votes. Protect Wyoming, which officially launched in January of this year, hopes to get more of them to the polls during state elections, with public lands high on their list of priorities.In both Idaho and Wyoming, the GOP dominates public life. Idaho’s governor, both of its U.S. senators, and its two members of the U.S. House of Representatives are all Republicans, and the party currently holds 90 of 105 seats in the state legislature. The statistics are almost identical in Wyoming, which, because of its smaller population—roughly 588,000 to Idaho’s 2.03 million—sends only one representative to D.C. In the state legislature, the GOP holds 85 of 93 seats.The upshot: Primaries are where the action is. “The political game in Idaho is all centered on the primary,” Brian Brooks explained. “Whichever Republican wins it is usually going to win in November.”For now, the two PACs only invest in state-level races—as opposed to those for seats in the U.S. Congress—in part because each is new and working with limited resources, and in part because their founders know where their spending can have the most effect. But both PACs were energized by the national backlash that happened in the summer of 2025 in reaction to Mike Lee’s proposal. Conservation Voters for Idaho commissioned a nonpartisan poll in the aftermath of Lee’s maneuver, and it justifiably labeled the results “striking”: 95% of Republicans and 97% of Democrats agreed with the statement that Idaho’s public lands should remain public and protected.“We have a state legislature driven by ideological politics, which translates into people advocating for the disposal of federal lands,” Brooks said. “That is not what the public agrees with. And yet, we’ve had all these people getting elected in the primaries.”Idaho’s 2026 primaries took place on May 19. PAC officials say their ground game—which, among other things, relied on 20 paid canvassers from Idaho who worked around the state—involved 240,000 text messages, 18,000 phone calls, 119,000 mailers, and nearly 7,000 door-knocks to send the message that “selling off public lands is a political non-starter in the Idaho Statehouse.”In a self-assessment of this year’s outcomes, the PAC gave itself a win rate of 59%, pointing to positive results that included the defeat of Kelly Golden and victories by State Sen. Jim Guthrie and State Reps. Ben Fuhriman, Mike Veile, and Stephanie Mickelsen. Guthrie’s race against fellow Republican David Worley was the most expensive in the 2026 primary cycle. (Shortly before election day, it was reported that PACs had spent a combined $375,107 on the race.) In a pattern similar to the Golden-Mickelsen race, Worley positioned himself to the right of Guthrie.“The biggest accomplishment of the newly minted PAC for Public Lands was protecting public lands champions and defeating challengers who wanted to privatize and transfer public lands,” the PAC said in a release. “... All three of these house races had challengers who either had voted to cut key budgets for wildfire, land management, hunting access and/or water resources, or had voiced support for sell-off. Those beliefs were soundly defeated.”The PAC didn’t win them all, though: In a state race between frequent primary foes Jim Woodward (the incumbent) and Scott Herndon, an anti-property tax advocate who would like to defund agencies like Idaho Fish and Game, the PAC opposed Herndon. This time, he won.Wyoming’s primary happens on Aug. 18. The tactics Lentsch described sound similar to those used by the PAC for Public Lands, but there’s at least one notable difference: Protect Wyoming makes use of public outreach events where they pitch voters face to face. At the first of these, held in Cody in late March, Protect Wyoming drew a capacity crowd to a local craft brewery, delivering a message that appeared to resonate.Lentsch said the PAC chose Cody for its launch because the surrounding county, Park, contains the most public land of any county in the state. This is an area with a rich tradition of big game hunting and what Lentsch sees as a disconnect in terms of who best represents the needs of hunters.“All of our Park County state representatives and state senators are squarely anti-public land,” he said in remarks quoted by the Powell Tribune, a Wyoming newspaper. “The biggest takeaway is that way more people hunt in Wyoming than vote, which is crazy, and with numbers like that, we shouldn’t be surprised that when our representatives don’t hunt and recreate by and large, we won’t have representation that reflects our values.”Protect Wyoming produces a Lawmaker Scorecard that groups candidates under the labels Top Sellouts and Top Champions. State Sen. Bob Ide, who introduced the 2025 proposal calling for a massive federal land transfer to the state, gets failing grades in all three categories they scored: Public Lands, Public Wildlife, and Scientific Management.In the aftermath of Kelly Golden’s Idaho defeat, her husband, Josh Golden—a real estate agent who helped manage her campaign—forwarded details to RE:PUBLIC about where the PAC for Public Lands’ donations come from, information that’s also available online in various places, including Idaho Sunshine, the state’s campaign finance and lobbyist disclosure portal.According to those details, a significant portion of the PAC’s total funding comes from a super PAC in Washington called the LCV Victory Fund, which is affiliated with the League of Conservation Voters. (Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in support of political candidates, but unlike traditional PACs, they can’t give money directly to candidates or coordinate their spending with them.) This fund donated $95,000 of the PAC for Public Lands’s total contribution of nearly $212,000.Josh Golden declined to comment on the connection, but it’s been argued that accepting major out-of-state donations somehow detracts from the grassroots positioning of a group like the PAC for Public Lands. This was a theme in the hotly contested 2020 U.S. Senate race in Montana between incumbent GOP Sen. Steve Daines and Democrat Steve Bullock, who was Montana’s governor.The race was supposed to be closer than the final result—Daines won by 10 points—and was unusually expensive, with money flooding into Montana from all over the place. In a Montana Free Press breakdown of the $96.6 million attributable to “third-party spending by political committees,” one group in the mix was the Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund, which supported Bullock.“While the group is registered in Billings, the vast majority of the support it has reported … comes from outside Montana,” the report said. “Major donors include California liberal megadonor Karla Jurvetson and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, a national union, each of which contributed $500,000 to the fund. The group also reported a $265,000 contribution from the LCV Victory Fund.”Jurvetson is a physician and philanthropist who has donated to many campaigns, including a major donation to a super PAC that supported Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential run. The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news site based in the D.C. area, called the PAC an “astroturf” group, which refers to the tactic of setting up a PAC that appears to be grassroots but isn’t. Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, called it “a decoy group that operates in Montana only during election season.”Decoying can work in more ways than one. Daines isn’t running for reelection and has endorsed Kurt Alme, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Montana. In a recent report on this race, the investigative Substack Public Domain suggests that a D.C.-based super PAC called the American Leadership Fund has been helping position Alme as being more pro-public lands than he really is.For what it’s worth: There’s no sign the PACs for Public Lands or Protect Wyoming are astroturfing. A majority of the Idaho PAC’s donations so far come from in-state, and the second-largest donor ($60,000) is an Eagle, Idaho-based developer and philanthropist named Caleb Roope. Protect Wyoming does not have to disclose its fundraising totals until later this year, but Lentsch and Allen said that almost all their funding comes from small donors, mainly hunters and outdoorspeople in Wyoming.As Williams added, he and Lentsch are already used to critics questioning their motives. “We’ve gotten messages saying we’re a greenie group trying to convert hunters and anglers,” he said. “I’ve also been told that I’m being fed propaganda and fear-mongering about public land being sold off. What I tell people is to go look at a legislator’s track record. We created the PAC to make it clear as day what these candidates introduced legislatively and what they’ve voted in favor of.”This story was produced by RE:PUBLIC and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

United Way of Southeast Iowa earns RSVP medical transportation grant

United Way of Southeast Iowa has announced it has been awarded the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Medical Transportation Grant, ensuring the continuation and expansion of its volunteer-driven medical transportation program serving Des Moines County, a news release says. Over the past year, the RSVP Medical Transportation Program has become a lifeline for older adults and individuals with [...]

Cambridge Natural History Museum purchases permanent home

The Cambridge Natural History Museum, founded by the world's youngest curator at age 9, has purchased its building after raising over $20,000.

QC Airport sees highest monthly passenger traffic since 2019

Business is up at the Quad Cities International Airport (QC Airport). The airport reported a 6% year-over-year increase in passenger traffic for May 2026, compared to May 2025. This is the airport’s highest monthly total since October 2019. A total of 65,467 passengers traveled through the airport in May, reflecting a continued upward trajectory in [...]

Plane crashes into Beijing's tallest building; damage reported

The cause of the damage could not be independently verified, and authorities did not immediately issue a statement on the incident.

John Bolton, former Trump national security adviser, pleads guilty in classified documents case

Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of retaining national defense information while he was a national security adviser during President Trump's first term, saying: "And I am sorry for it."

3 Things to Know | Quad Cities morning headlines for June 26, 2026

The annual BioBlitz event hosted by the Bi-State Conservation Action Network is coming back to the region, and the Government Bridge will close this Saturday.

What is cortisol? Your questions, answered.

What is cortisol? Your questions, answered.What is it? Is it bad? Am I supposed to be getting rid of it? Am I doing all the wrong kind of exercise that’s somehow causing it and now my face is puffy?These are just some of the questions that come up about cortisol. Many people have gone down related Instagram rabbit holes and understand the deluge of questions it can trigger.The 19th reached out to Dr. Tina Zhang, the co-director of the Women’s Wellness & Healthy Aging Program at Johns Hopkins University and an expert in menopause care, to offer insights into cortisol and its impacts on people in perimenopause.Cue the expertZhang understands why cortisol keeps coming up online within the context of perimenopause: Cortisol is a hormone.More specifically, it’s a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is referred to as the body’s “stress hormone” because it is released in response to stress.Stress management is one of cortisol’s primary roles. In high-stress situations, it provides energy, breaking down fat to fuel the body. Cortisol also helps to reduce inflammation, controls blood pressure and blood pressure levels, manages the fight-or-flight response, and regulates the sleep-wake cycle.In other words, it does a lot of really important things in your body. It is definitely not something to be eliminated altogether, as some influencers would have you believe.And here’s where midlife changes come in.During perimenopause, there’s a noticeable decline in estrogen and progesterone — two hormones that are key for regulating cortisol. This means cortisol levels can also become less balanced, and there can be real concern about them getting too high.When cortisol is too high, Zhang explained, it becomes harder to fall asleep and stay asleep — two things essential for healthy aging. It can also promote weight gain. That’s because cortisol is there to help you be ready to respond to stress — it cues the body to store more fat, especially around the midsection, so you can have all the energy you need to do hard things. That’s why higher cortisol levels can also increase appetite and trigger cravings.The stress of this time of life and the lack of sleep that can result from that can also raise your cortisol levels. High cortisol levels can make sleep even harder — and now you’re in a cycle of stress, sleep and weight gain.What not to doAnd that’s when so many influencers enter the proverbial chat.First things first: Zhang said she does not recommend testing for cortisol. Lots of people inquire about that after seeing influencers insist it is a crucial need.“I always validate my patients and acknowledge that their symptoms are real. And yes, cortisol does play a role in stress and sleep and weight — but just checking a cortisol level does not give us any helpful information,” Zhang said. The test is just a snapshot as cortisol shifts in response to so many things. “It fluctuates so much that it’s really hard to interpret.”This doesn’t mean that cortisol may not be influencing your symptoms — Zhang added that even if a cortisol test came back normal, it wouldn’t mean it had nothing to do with what you’re feeling — but rather that getting that test done isn’t going to provide information that can move the needle in a meaningful way.What to doZhang said that “every single day” she has conversations with patients about cortisol — and explained that the best way to address the symptoms associated with it is through better sleep hygiene, good stress management, regular exercise and a low-inflammation diet.And despite what you might have read or heard on social media, exercise is not the enemy when it comes to cortisol. At all.“If I were to check a cortisol level right after you exercise, it’s going to be high,” Zhang said — again, because cortisol is a stress hormone and exercise, by design, stresses the body. But that’s not the whole story. “Consistent exercise over time actually helps reduce your overall cortisol trends.”Zhang said this duality often feels confusing.“If I check right after they exercise, yes, it’s going to be high — but regular exercise will help manage weight, will improve your sleep, and help with stress relief.” And all of these things will reduce your cortisol levels.If exercise helps reduce your stress, do it. The same is true for other things that can help reduce stress — maybe a breathing practice or meditation.Sweet dreamsThe other biggest factor for reducing cortisol is sleep.For some people, Zhang said, getting better sleep will be as simple as limiting caffeine, alcohol and screen time before bed and staying on a consistent sleep schedule.For others, sleep is harder to come by — and she recommends that these people talk to their healthcare providers about things like magnesium and melatonin or the use of cognitive behavioral therapy.If sleep feels harder during perimenopause, you aren’t just making that up. The decline of estrogen changes how sleep is regulated in your brain.“You naturally are going to have issues with sleep just because of perimenopause,” she added. “On top of that, when you have hot flashes and night sweats, you’re not going to be sleeping. And then on top of that, people are stressed, and that’s not good for sleep either.”It’s why talking to your provider about your sleep — and how to get more and better sleep — is so important in midlife.Supplements? Thank you, nextZhang also cautioned against the use of supplements that claim to lower cortisol. It’s not that all supplements are bad, per se, but rather that supplements are so much less regulated than prescription medications. And anyone promising they can sell you something that lowers cortisol doesn’t understand what the hormone is anyway.When it comes to supplements, Zhang recommends that women take vitamin D and calcium for bone health and reiterated that magnesium can be very helpful for sleep and muscle relaxation.So, a forever reminder: Talk to your doctor about your medical history to determine any deficiencies that might need to be addressed through supplementation and what makes the most sense for you and your health needs.The bottom line“It is so awesome that women are eager to learn more and have more information about their health and the menopause transition, but there is a lot of misinformation out there with regards to cortisol,” Zhang said. “Importantly, I think cortisol is not all bad. We need cortisol in our body for all of the functions that I mentioned. It’s about balancing it.”The best way to keep cortisol levels healthy in midlife and beyond?“Focus on sleeping better, controlling stress, and exercising.”This story was produced by The 19th and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Memory foam, latex or gel? The mattress topper material debate explained

Memory foam, latex or gel? The mattress topper material debate explainedTemperature regulation is often a key driver in shopping for sleep products. A National Sleep Foundation and Ikea survey of more than 2,000 adults in 2024 found that a cool bedroom is the top factor people tie to a good night's sleep.But a cooler room can only help so much if the material closest to the body keeps holding heat. That is where the shopping process gets more complicated, since memory foam, latex, and gel can all sound like different answers to the same problem.Sleepyhead examines how these three materials compare when it comes to mattress toppers.What a Mattress Topper Actually ChangesA mattress topper adds an extra layer of material on top of an existing mattress, changing how the sleep surface feels without replacing the mattress itself. Toppers are commonly used to add comfort, improve pressure relief, or help address temperature concerns.Because a topper sits closest to the body, its material plays a significant role in the overall sleep experience. A softer topper can help cushion pressure points around the shoulders, hips, and back, while cooling-focused materials are often designed to help dissipate heat and create a more comfortable sleep environment.The right topper depends on the sleeper's specific needs, whether that's reducing pressure, sleeping cooler, or finding a better balance of both.Why Memory Foam Remains So PopularOf every topper material available, memory foam remains the one most shoppers recognize by name. Its popularity comes from its ability to contour to the body, creating a sleep surface that cushions pressure points and helps make a mattress feel more comfortable. For sleepers looking to soften a firm bed or add a layer of comfort, memory foam continues to be one of the most widely chosen options.Rather than focusing on industry buzzwords, Forbes recommends evaluating sleep products based on factors that directly affect the sleep experience, including comfort, support, pressure relief, and temperature regulation.But the same dense foam also absorbs movement, so a partner turning over barely shows on the other side. All that softness creates the deep, hugging sink people love, a feeling of being held by the mattress. But that hug traps heat, and the Sleep Foundation notes that dense, traditional foam tends to sleep warm.The Appeal of Latex for Cooling and DurabilityLatex enters the material debate for sleepers who want lift instead of a deep sink. The Sleep Foundation describes latex as bouncier and less conforming than memory foam, with a springy feel that many sleepers connect with support. But the trade-off is price, since latex often costs more than foam-based options.How Gel-Infused Materials Changed the ConversationGel-infused foam is another material that changed the bedding industry, this time by going after the heat that traditional foam traps. Manufacturers blend gel straight into the memory foam, where they draw body heat away from the skin. This mix keeps the deep contouring people want, but with a cooler surface to lie on.Demand for that kind of sleep has climbed as more people name overheating as the thing wrecking their nights. And gel acts as that temperature buffer, lowering the surface heat and delaying the buildup rather than freezing all night. Sleepyhead Other Materials Reshaping What a Topper Can DoIn addition to the better-known topper materials, newer foam additions are getting more attention from shoppers who want a bed surface to do more than feel soft. And much of that attention still comes back to heat, since graphite and copper are often added to foam to help move warmth away from the body.Some sleep products incorporate materials such as gel, graphite, or copper to help with temperature regulation, though experts recommend evaluating overall performance rather than relying on material claims alone.Copper brings another layer to that cooling discussion, as it is a natural conductor of heat that can help regulate body temperature. And hybrid toppers take the same idea further by combining materials so the surface can answer more than one sleep problem at once.Which Material Is Best for College Dorm Beds?Of all the beds people try to make work, the dorm mattress is rarely known for comfort. The problem starts with the surface itself, often a stiff surface that gives the body little cushion. Without that cushion, shoulders and hips feel the bed first, so pressure relief becomes the first job a topper has to do.Heat comes next, since move-in often happens while dorm rooms are still warm and crowded. A dorm topper has to answer that second problem without forgetting the first one. And gel-infused memory foam fits that narrow need by adding cushion under pressure points while helping the surface hold less warmth.The right topper also has to survive move-out and repeated washing, which makes durability and easy upkeep part of the same dorm-bed decision.How Shoppers Are Choosing the Right MaterialWith most mattress decisions, choosing the right topper material comes down to the way a sleeper needs the bed to feel. And the first clue is how that sleeper lies down, since position decides where the body needs cushion and where it needs support. Dr. Jimmy Pajuheshfar told Forbes that “your preferred sleep position is a primary consideration when choosing a topper.”For example, a side sleeper often needs more give at the shoulders and hips, while a stomach sleeper usually needs a firmer surface to keep the body from sinking too far. And temperature follows that same logic, since a warmer sleeper may need a material that manages heat before softness becomes the deciding factor.Firmness also depends on the mattress underneath, since a topper has to correct the bed’s weakest point without creating a new one. From there, durability and budget help decide how much correction is worth paying for.The Best Material Depends on the SleeperSleep is now treated more like diet and exercise, with Certified Clinical Sleep Health Educator Terry Cralle telling BedTimes that “Sleep is foundational.” And anyone who has woken up hot or sore knows how quickly a bed can stop feeling like a place to rest. While a topper cannot fix every mattress problem, the right material can change the part of the bed the body feels first.Memory foam still appeals to sleepers who want pressure relief, while gel-infused foam speaks to those who want that cushion with less heat. Latex has its place for people who prefer more lift, though cost and feel make it less universal.The better choice depends on sleep style, temperature preference, and budget rather than comfort alone. And as materials keep evolving, the smarter purchase will come from knowing the problem first, then choosing the surface built to answer it.This story was produced by Sleepyhead and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Happy Joe's Community Block Parties celebrate America 250

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream invites families to celebrate at its America 250 Community Block Parties on Monday, June 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. at three locations in Davenport and Bettendorf. The Community Block Parties will feature Happy Joe’s Family Night specials, games, family-friendly activities, bounce houses, popcorn and a complimentary slice of [...]

Celebrity animals will steal the show at Quad Cities conventions

QC Fright Con and Planet Funk Con start Friday at the River Center, featuring a baby red kangaroo and the real-life pig inspiration for Moana.

Being broke costs you 13 IQ points, according to science. Here's the number that changes everything.

Being broke costs you 13 IQ points, according to science. Here's the number that changes everything.Your first $10,000 in savings is more than just a number in your bank account, but a threshold that fundamentally changes how you handle emergencies, make decisions, and build wealth. While $10,000 won’t make you wealthy, it creates financial stability, which is far more valuable, as stability establishes a foundation for everything else in your financial life.CreditNinja explored how saving $10,000 can unlock financial stability while transforming your brain and your life.Breaking Free from the Debt SpiralThe difference between having $200 in savings versus $10,000 becomes crystal clear the moment an emergency strikes. When your car breaks down or a major appliance fails, that repair bill can set off a chain reaction that’s difficult to escape.Consider getting a $1,000 car repair with only $200 in savings, for which you put it on a credit card at the current average interest rate of 23%. If you only make minimum payments, it could take nearly five years to pay off, costing you hundreds of dollars in interest alone. The next month, you have even less disposable income, which means you save even less. When the next emergency hits, you’re in an even worse position, causing a debt spiral.Now imagine the same scenario with $10,000 in savings. You pay for the repair with cash: no credit card, no interest, and no stress. Your monthly budget doesn’t change, but you handle the situation and move on. You have the same income and same job, but a completely different outcome.The Psychological Shift That Changes EverythingThe mental transformation that happens when you reach $10,000 in savings is just as important as the money itself. Research backs this up in powerful ways.A recent Vanguard study surveying over 12,000 investors found that having just $2,000 in emergency savings is associated with a 21% increase in financial well-being. Building up three to six months of expenses saved increases it by another 13%. Participants described experiencing a “confidence loop” that reinforced their sense of financial control and ability to reach bigger goals. CreditNinja Getting to $10,000 means you’ve already made financially healthy decisions by building habits and systems that got you there:Automatically saving a portion of your paycheck every two weeksCutting unnecessary spendingCooking more meals at homeTaking on side hustles or selling unused itemsThese habits are now built into your life and can compound over time, leading to healthier financial situations and ultimately financial freedom. With momentum on your side, you can set your next goal at $15,000 or $20,000. Your brain starts getting a dopamine rush from watching your bank account grow instead of from spending money on things you don’t need.Your Brain Actually Works BetterHere’s where the science gets truly fascinating: Beyond just feeling better, your cognitive abilities can literally improve when you’re not financially stressed.In 2013, researchers including Harvard economist Sendhil Mullainathan and Princeton psychologist Eldar Shafir published a landmark study in the journal Science. They tested the exact same farmers before their harvest (when they were poor) and after their harvest (when they had money). The results were striking. The mental tax of financial scarcity reduced cognitive performance by the equivalent of 13 IQ points. That’s roughly the same cognitive impairment as losing an entire night of sleep.When you’re broke and stressed about money, your brain literally cannot operate at the same capacity, and you make decisions from a state of panic, such as:Taking the first job offer you get instead of negotiating.Staying in an unhealthy work environment instead of leaving.Getting sucked into risky financial products.With $10,000 in the bank, your brain performs better. You feel safe to invest in developing your skills. You have the confidence to leave a toxic job and find better opportunities with better pay. You’re not just surviving anymore, but you’re thinking clearly and making strategic decisions about your future.Making Your Money Work for YouOnce you reach $10,000, you unlock the ability to make your money generate more money. This is the bridge that takes you from $10,000 to your first $100,000.A regular savings account isn’t enough: High-yield savings accounts offer significantly better returns, often around 4% or more, just for keeping your money there. This helps your savings grow passively while maintaining easy access for emergencies. CreditNinja Beyond your emergency fund, you can start investing additional savings.Retirement accounts offer powerful advantages. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, that’s free money you should prioritize. After maximizing your employer match, consider a Roth IRA to build tax-advantaged retirement savings.The inflation factor matters more than many people realize. With inflation currently around 3%, money sitting in a regular savings account actually loses value over time. Even high-yield savings accounts barely keep pace with inflation. That’s why investing becomes crucial for building real wealth.Most people underestimate the power of investing in the stock market through retirement accounts. These investments help you feel even more financially stable because you know you’ll have money when you retire and can’t work anymore.The Path Forward$10,000 is not some impossible dream destination. It’s a wall between you and a version of your life where you’re trapped in a vicious debt cycle, where stress and financial hardship sit at the center of every decision you make.Once you cross that $10,000 threshold, everything stabilizes. Your brain health improves, you make better decisions, you have more leverage in your career, you can finally save and invest with confidence, and, most importantly, you can sleep at night.You don’t need a six-figure salary to get there. You just need a system built on three levers:Cut a fixed cost to free up money each month.Automate savings so the decision happens without willpower.Add an additional source of income through side work or selling unused items.Remember that even $50 a month in savings is progress that adds up. The habits you build getting to your first $10,000 are the same habits that will carry you to $100,000 and beyond.Financial stability is about having options, reducing stress, and building a foundation for the life you want. Your first $10,000 is where that transformation begins.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

1 in 4 SMBs sign contracts as-is. Is your speed costing you?

1 in 4 SMBs sign contracts as-is. Is your speed costing you?Are you someone who signs quickly to close a deal? Skipping contract review might help when time is of the essence, but it also may create risks that last much longer than the negotiation process.Many small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners feel pressure to sign contracts quickly. Whether this is due to a client’s readiness to move forward, a project's need to start on time, a payment waiting on a signature, or your closing deadline quickly approaching, in these moments of urgency, reviewing every clause can feel like a delay rather than a business priority.A recent Researchscape survey* commissioned by Rocket Lawyer suggests this is a common challenge: Nearly 1 in 4 business owners surveyed report signing contracts exactly as presented. This speed in signing might help you secure revenue quickly, but it can also mean accepting terms that create financial, operational, or major legal headaches later.The question isn't whether you should negotiate every contract, but whether you understand the risks you're agreeing to before you sign. Spending a few minutes reviewing key terms today can prevent expensive surprises months down the road.Not Every Contract Clause Carries the Same RiskContracts are not black and white, and some clauses deserve more attention than others.Clauses like payment terms can affect your cash flow long after the work has started; liability provisions can determine who pays when something goes wrong; automatic renewal clauses can extend contractual obligations, locking you into services you no longer need; and termination provisions can make it difficult to exit a business relationship that isn't working.However, most contract negotiations don't involve major disputes. In fact, many negotiations result in minor edits that clarify expectations and reduce risk for both parties.A Quick Contract Review ChecklistBefore signing, remember to consider whether you've reviewed:Payment terms and due datesScope of work or deliverablesTermination rightsAutomatic renewal provisionsLiability and indemnification clausesOwnership of intellectual property and licensing rightsDispute resolution requirementsYour goal shouldn’t be to become a legal expert. You simply need enough understanding to identify terms that could affect your business later.Why SMB Owners Skip Contract Reviews EntirelyOne of the main reasons owners will skip straight into signing is time. When you're managing customers, employees, operations, and finances, contract review often falls to the bottom of the list.Confidence also tends to play a big part in skipping reviews. Many owners encounter unfamiliar legal language and assume the contract is standard or nonnegotiable.However, many common contract clauses are routinely discussed and revised. Even the smallest clarifications can reduce misunderstandings and improve the working relationship. You don’t need to negotiate the entire sentence, but understanding the key terms and what will have the biggest impact on your business is vital when it comes to signing.Questions You Should Ask Before SigningBefore you sign your next contract, ask yourself these key questions:Which contract terms could create unexpected costs later? What happens if a project deadline changes, a payment is delayed, a dispute arises, or scope changes?Am I skipping the review because I don't understand the language? Would a quick explanation of key terms help me make a more informed decision?Do I know which clauses are commonly negotiated? Have I reviewed payment, liability, and termination terms carefully?Am I balancing speed with risk appropriately? Will signing today create obligations I'm not fully prepared for tomorrow?These questions can help you identify your contract risks before they become expensive problems.What to Do NextYou don't need to spend days reviewing every contract. A simple process can make contract review more manageable.Create a standard contract review checklist for your business and use it before signing any contract.Identify the clauses that matter most to your operations, such as payment terms, liability limits, and termination rights.Keep a list of recurring contract questions to make future reviews faster and easier.If a provision seems unclear or unusually restrictive, consult an attorney before moving forward.A little preparation can help you move quickly without sacrificing protection. The best contracts aren't necessarily the longest or most heavily negotiated, but the ones you fully understand before you sign.*Source: Researchscape, 2026 SMB Survey, conducted March 12-April 2026, n=1,102 U.S. adults. Commissioned by Rocket Lawyer.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Road repair results in temporary street closure in Clinton

Because of a road repair, the east-bound lane of 19th Avenue North from Springdale Drive to North 5th Street in Clinton will be closed. This closure will be in effect from Monday June 29-Wednesday July 1, weather permitting, a news release says. Motorists are encouraged to use caution, and allow extra travel time, and consider [...]

Enjoy food, music and 'Captain America' at Party in the Park, Moline

Start the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary at the free Party in the Park in Moline! The Moline Parks and Recreation Department invites residents to the Party in the Park on Wednesday, July 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Browning Park, 1618 21st Avenue. This year's event will be the official kickoff to the city's [...]

Now rural communities are connecting, rather than just preserving, wildlife habitats

Now rural communities are connecting, rather than just preserving, wildlife habitatsOne of the best things about rural living is sharing the landscape with wildlife. Peering out the window and seeing a moose in the yard. Walking in the woods and catching a fleeting glimpse of a bobcat. Prowling ponds after dark to view the spring salamander migration. Sometimes their presence is taken for granted, but keeping wildlife as visitors, especially for a developing area, can require knowledge and intentionality.Historically, conservation groups have focused on protecting pristine places that have intact ecosystems. But a rising awareness in the last 20 years has prioritized the importance of connecting those different habitats, The Daily Yonder reports. Many animals need to move for their survival, and maintaining connections between habitat areas is crucial for preserving biodiversity and adapting to climate change. Rather than protecting natural islands in a sea of development, there is a need for islands of development in a sea of wild or semi-wild landscapes.“There’s a lot of overlap between ranchers and farmers, people who really care about hunting, and those who care about recreation and a quiet rural-feeling community,” said Kylie Paul with the nonprofit Center for Large Landscape Conservation. “That overlaps with wildlife movement, and the value of keeping it intact is pretty robust across rural landscapes.”Habitat connectivity is a win-win for people, too, said Paul. Most towns want to encourage development while retaining their rural character, sense of place, and natural rugged feel. Minimizing sprawl and incentivizing density in towns can preserve those features while encouraging walkability and affordability.Local PlanningLocal governments have land-use authority over nearly two-thirds of land in the United States. Elected local officials and citizens can preserve wildlife habitat connectivity by guiding growth within their jurisdictions, for example, by protecting migration pathways and concentrating new homes near existing towns. In addition, conservation policies might be more successful now on a local level rather than the federal one. Many rural communities want increased development and planning to ensure it happens in the most desired places.To that end, Paul recently co-authored a study commissioned by Pew Charitable Trusts and released by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation. “Integrating Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Into Local Government Planning: Examples, Recommendations, and Resources for U.S. Towns and Counties” incorporates case studies, policy tools, and suggestions on how to safeguard connected habitat.“It can be overwhelming and confusing for local governments to figure out what actions they can take to address ecological and community concerns over sprawl,” said Paul. “We found examples across the country to help anyone lacking capacity to do their own research. The resources section has ideas to embed habitat connectivity into long-range plans, zoning, and development reviews to guide growth.”The ability to enact habitat connectivity depends heavily on what is codified in local ordinances and plans. Paul said there are a variety of first steps for local governments, depending on what exists in the community. One fundamental decision is including wildlife and green space concerns in comprehensive or master plans, which usually require updating every five to 10 years.“Often, a community’s desire to preserve its rural character emerges when development pressures occur,” Paul said. “Unfortunately, that can be too little, too late. We hope this report encourages proactive efforts to help communities balance growth with conservation. It shares lots of options beyond regulation, like incentives and engagement with groups.”Mapping natural resources and communities is another important action to take, according to the report. Data about locations of endangered species and migration corridors often already exists on the state level, and local leaders can begin by compiling what is already known. Reaching out to state agencies and departments responsible for fish and wildlife can also be fruitful, as they may have staff who focus on land-use planning. Some states have funds or other resources to assist municipalities with more detailed planning. Armed with knowledge, communities can incorporate priorities into functional plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, site plan reviews, or incentive strategies.Jericho, VermontVermont delegates most land use planning to its 268 separate municipalities. It also offers one of the most comprehensive programs to support them in that work, according to Jens Hawkins-Hilke, a conservation planning biologist with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department who offers technical assistance for habitat connectivity.“While Vermont is the most rural state in the lower 48 by some measures [Editor’s Note: Not all definitions of rurality rank Vermont as the most rural because different government agencies use different definitions of rural], sprawl development is a huge problem here,” Hawkins-Hilke said. “In many ways, it is our brand to live a rugged rural lifestyle at the end of a long driveway.”The town of Jericho has only 2,000 people, but it is located near Burlington, the state’s biggest city. It’s on the cusp of a development transition. In the 2010s, Hawkins-Hilke assisted Jericho in receiving a regional planning grant to conduct an extensive natural resources inventory. It identified special habitats such as rock cliffs that are important for bobcats and seasonal ponds crucial for amphibians.Residents gained a better understanding of what they have and how the presence of wildlife is connected to the current habitat and development pattern. The data — and an extensive outreach and educational campaign by local proponents — convinced the town to change its planning framework.In 2018, the municipality adopted a natural resource overlay that identifies sensitive areas. Threatened and endangered species, vernal pools, forested riparian areas, and rarer upland natural communities were ranked as primary “because they are rare, irreplaceable, unique, or otherwise essential.” Thanks to the regulatory tool of an overlay zone, Jericho is concentrating growth in village centers and protecting these primary wildlife areas.“The single most important element that makes things happen in Vermont is local volunteers,” said Hawkins-Hilke. “In Jericho, they hosted office hours for people concerned about regulations and explained how it would affect specific landowners. It went a long way to allay fears.”Chaffee County, ColoradoChaffee County, Colorado, is on the cusp of development for a different reason. With a population of about 20,000, the county has a long legacy of agriculture but is in the midst of an outdoor recreation boom. Its natural amenities include a high concentration of 14,000-foot mountains, a heavily rafted stretch of the Arkansas River, excellent fishing, and world-class mountain biking. When it came time to create a new comprehensive plan in 2020, retaining wildlife and rural character was top-of-mind.“Our neighboring communities have gotten famously unaffordable, and folks are getting priced out and moving to Chaffee County,” said Miles Cottom, the county’s community planning and natural resources director. “We would have loved to get started five years sooner.”Ten years before, the county had adopted uniform zoning of 2-acre lots, no matter the location. The results were land speculation, increasing rural traffic, and changes in wildlife movement. The new plan allows for the same amount of development but with different densities depending on the distance from towns. Some exemptions were added after meeting with members of the development and agricultural communities.Planning leaders were encouraged by a 2018 community survey, where over 90% of respondents said they would change recreation behaviors to accommodate wildlife. There was a broad mix of people who cared: wildlife advocates, sport hunters and fishers, even ranchers and farmers who had challenges with grazing wildlife among their livestock.The policies incentivize conservation subdivisions. Now, developments in “Conservation & Agriculture” districts can have one homestead per 35 acres. They are granted a quadruple density bonus if two-thirds of the land is preserved in perpetuity — a 300-acre development, for example, could have 32 lots on 100 acres if the remaining 200 contiguous acres are set aside for conservation.The fact that 85% of Chaffee County is federal public land led some residents to question the need for conserving the remaining acreage. Protections for both federal and local properties are necessary because migration corridors cross public and private lands alike. Plus, most people enjoy the rural lifestyle and small-town feel that the plans protect.“We had to find a balance between planning for wildlife habitat and allowing for the economic development that rural communities need to continue to survive,” Cottom said about the success of the Chaffee County plan. “I think we got there.”This story was produced by The Daily Yonder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

3 questions to ask before investing in a vacation home in 2026

3 questions to ask before investing in a vacation home in 2026Summer is the prime season for vacation home daydreams. A weekend cabin on the lake, a beachfront condo, a getaway in a mountain town — warmer months have a way of turning a passing fantasy into a serious search.That impulse is common. According to a 2024 IPX1031 survey of more than 1,000 Americans, nearly 1 in 5 prospective home buyers are looking to purchase a second home. And among those who already own a vacation property, a majority rent it out — or plan to — reflecting how often financial calculations temper the lifestyle appeal of a second home.Taking on a second home is a major commitment, and the right choice depends on property type, location, intended use, and timing. Hometap shares three key questions to work through before your summer search turns into a signed contract.1. Why Do You Want This Vacation Home?The first and most important question is the most personal: What's your primary goal?If the aim is relaxation and a reliable family gathering place, your ideal property looks very different from one you purchase primarily as a short-term rental income stream. These goals aren't mutually exclusive, but they pull in different directions — and trying to optimize for both without a clear priority can lead to a property that serves neither purpose well.As a buyer, how you answer this question also has direct legal and financial consequences. The IRS draws a firm line between a "second home" — a property used personally for part of the year — and an "investment property" — one purchased primarily to generate rental income. That distinction affects mortgage rates, loan terms, and tax treatment. If a property is rented for more than 14 days per year, the IRS requires that rental income be reported, and once rental use exceeds personal use, the property may be reclassified entirely. According to a 2025 IRS enforcement announcement, rental activity through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo has become a priority area for increased scrutiny."Many homeowners think that if they only rent out their vacation home a handful of times, it won't matter," a spokesperson for Clear Start Tax noted in September 2025. "But the IRS has specific thresholds, and even limited rental activity can change the tax treatment of the property. The line between a personal property and a rental property is thinner than most people realize."Practical questions worth answering up front include: How often will the property realistically be used? Will it be rented when not in use, and if so, short-term or long-term? Does the location make sense for that rental strategy — and for personal travel logistics? The answers shape nearly every decision that follows, from which markets to search to how to structure financing.2. Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Vacation Home?Market timing for vacation properties involves a combination of national real estate trends and the dynamics of a specific local or regional market — and in 2026, that picture is mixed.Buyers took out approximately 86,600 mortgages for second homes in 2024 — the lowest total since 2018, and just 2.6% of all mortgages issued that year. Elevated interest rates have cooled demand in some vacation markets, while prices in high-demand destinations have remained resilient. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's House Price Index showed vacation home areas experiencing 4.8% annual appreciation in Q3 2025, slightly below the 5.3% recorded for primary residence markets, but still representing meaningful growth.At the same time, the short-term rental regulatory environment is tightening. From New York City's platform-verified registration requirements to new California legislation — Senate Bill 346, effective January 1, 2026 — giving cities the power to compel Airbnb and Vrbo to share listing data for tax enforcement, cities across the country are imposing new rules unevenly (and often, quickly). As one 2026 industry guide summarized, the regulatory landscape is now "ubiquitous but inconsistent, often introduced in response to specific concerns of that location." This makes local due diligence essential.What makes 2026 particularly interesting for vacation home buyers is the combination of evolving remote work policies and tightening short-term rental regulations in many popular destinations, as noted in a 2026 vacation home buying guide from AmeriSave. More buyers are considering properties they can genuinely use as extended-stay retreats rather than pure investment plays, which fundamentally changes the calculus on location and property type.Buyers should consult local real estate professionals familiar with vacation market dynamics, research any existing or pending short-term rental regulations in their target area, and evaluate whether their expected holding period aligns with the market's trajectory.3. How Will You Pay for Your Vacation Home?Financing a vacation home is more complicated than financing a primary residence. Second-home mortgages typically require at least 10% down — compared to as little as 3–5% for a primary residence — and interest rates generally run 0.5–0.75 percentage points higher.Lenders also apply stricter debt-to-income standards, capping combined debt-to-income (DTI) ratios at around 43–45%, since vacation properties carry higher default risk than primary homes. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that 73% of vacation home loans in 2025 went to borrowers with credit scores above 720.If the numbers don’t quite add up, or if the budget is too tight for your liking, don’t worry about taking a step back. You can always develop a savings plan to work toward your goal of a second home, or look into alternative financing sources. You could also consider a more affordable property, such as a short sale or a timeshare. It’s important to make sure your second home aligns with your initial goal, whether that’s to be a gathering place for family or somewhere to unplug and destress, or to provide another income stream.Many buyers also consider leveraging their primary home’s equity to purchase a second home, utilizing home equity as a financing tool through a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a home equity investment.This story was produced by Hometap and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Cook review: 'Death of Robin Hood' kills off anything merry in the legend

It takes a lot to gross me out. I've seen hundreds of horror movies - darned near walked out of a few, but I stuck with them because I figured I owed it to the filmmakers to see whether things improved (they didn't) - so it takes a lot to sicken me when it comes [...]

Family Bike Ride provides fun, fitness, ice cream in Muscatine

Families, cyclists, and community members are invited to enjoy an afternoon of fun, fitness, and treats during the Melon City Bike Club’s annual Family Bike Ride on Sunday, June 28. The ride begins at 1 p.m. at the Charles & Jean Harper Pavilion on Houser Street. Riders of all ages will travel together along a [...]

Steamwheelers will present Military Appreciation Night

This Sunday, the Quad City Steamwheelers take the field at the Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline for Military Appreciation Night, presented by Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home & Crematory, a news release says. The Steamwheelers take on the Orlando Pirates. The pregame festivities will feature the Patriot Guard Riders arriving on their motorcycles, creating a [...]

Report warns Social Security benefits could face $455 monthly cut by 2032

A new report warns Social Security can only pay 78 percent of full benefits by 2032, potentially causing a $455 cut to monthly checks.

Scam alert: Bettendorf police warn of phone scam targeting inmate families

Bettendorf police warn of scammers posing as officers to demand bond money over the phone from inmate families after viewing local inmate lists.

The poop scoop: Dog digestion myths debunked

The poop scoop: Dog digestion myths debunkedAs pup parents, we spend a lot of time handling dog poop, and as a key indicator of a dog’s health, it’s only fitting that we think and talk about it just as much. Unfortunately, what happens at the dog park doesn’t always stay there, and what you may think you know about your dog’s digestive health may actually be a load of…fiction. In this article, Ollie debunks the myths and common misconceptions.MYTH: If my dog is pooping consistently, everything’s OK.While regular pooping is a good sign, it’s not the only indicator of digestive health. You should also monitor:Stool consistency, color, and volumePresence of mucus, undigested food, or foreign materialsFrequency changes, straining, or signs of discomfortThese details can help detect issues like food intolerances, GI inflammation or nutrient malabsorption—well before other symptoms appear.MYTH: Kibble is as easy to digest as fresh foodKibble often contains processed ingredients, fillers, and low moisture, which can slow digestion. Fresh food tends to be more bioavailable—meaning nutrients are easier to absorb. However, digestibility also depends on the specific formulation and ingredient quality of either option.MYTH: Finding vegetable pieces in stool is a sign of improper digestionNot necessarily. Dogs lack certain enzymes to break down plant cell walls, especially insoluble fiber (like in carrots or corn kernels). Small visible bits in stool can be normal, particularly from raw or minimally processed veggies. However, excessive undigested matter could signal a need for:Improved digestive enzyme supportInvestigation into malabsorptionMYTH: Mucus in poop is always a bad signNot always. A small amount of mucus can be normal, as it helps lubricate the colon. However, persistent or excessive mucus, especially with diarrhea, blood, or straining, may indicate:Inflammation (colitis)Gut microbiome imbalanceFood allergies or parasitesVeterinary evaluation is warranted if mucus is frequent or accompanied by other symptoms.MYTH: Small poops are a sign my dog isn’t eating enoughThis is misleading. Smaller poops can actually be a sign of high nutrient absorption and food efficiency, which is common with fresh or raw diets. Larger poops, particularly if frequent and bulky, may indicate that the food has high filler content or low digestibility. It’s less about volume and more about quality, consistency and overall GI health.MYTH: All food transitions cause diarrheaNot true. Diarrhea is common during abrupt changes, but well-managed transitions (over seven to 10 days) often prevent issues. Signs of diarrhea during transition could also point to:Ingredient intoleranceSensitivity to fat or fiber changesUnderlying GI imbalanceA gradual approach and selecting digestible, high-quality ingredients are key to smoother transitions.This story was produced by Ollie and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How controlled burns can help save taxpayers billions

How controlled burns can help save taxpayers billionsFor decades, the U.S. Forest Service has actively managed public lands to reduce wildfire risks by clearing underbrush and trees, or employing prescribed burns — something Indigenous nations have practiced for centuries. Scientists have generally lauded the ecological benefits of what is also known as “fuel treatment.” Now, they say there’s another reason to support this approach: It saves money.According to a study published today in the journal Science, every dollar that the agency spent on such tactics was associated with avoiding $3.73 in smoke, property, and emissions harm. “A lot of people have suggested that there could be potential economic benefits,” Frederik Strabo, the lead author of the paper and an economist with University of California, Davis, told Grist. “But it’s been a pretty understudied area.”The study analyzed high-resolution data from 285 wildfires across 11 Western states between 2017 and 2023 that burned through areas where the Forest Service had reduced the fuel load. On average, the treatments decreased the total area burned by 36% and cut the amount of land burned at moderate to high severity by 26%. Researchers then modeled the economic benefits of those reductions.The paper estimated that fuel treatments prevented $1.39 billion in health and workforce productivity losses tied to wildfire smoke, $895 million in structural damage, and $503 million in carbon dioxide emissions. Overall, that amounted to an average savings of about $3.73 for every dollar the government spent. The research also found that larger treatments — those covering more than 2,400 acres — were the most cost effective.“It’s a significant number, but when you compare it to the total cost of wildfires it’s small,” caveated Strabo, noting that the cost of the worst disasters can reach hundreds of billions of dollars. But he also said the boon could be even greater than calculated. The research didn’t, for example, examine any savings or benefits for the multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation industry. “We’re only capturing a specific subset of benefits.”Morgan Varner, the director of fire research at the conservation nonprofit Tall Timbers, called the work “the missing link for a lot of fuels treatment research,” and said that data like this can be extremely helpful in guiding decision-makers. “Studies like this round out the story and provide more evidence for the benefits of these treatments.”David Calkin, who until last year was a Forest Service research scientist, also applauded the analysis, calling it “novel.” But he does not find the math entirely convincing, and questions the notion that such an intangible public good can, or should, be assigned a monetary worth. “A lot of the values of fuel management are non-market,” said Calkin, who wasn’t involved in the study. Ecological benefits, for instance, can be hard to quantify, as can things like public recreation access.“I’m not trying to reduce the importance of fuel management and the value of it. It’s just highly uncertain,” he said. “I worry about trying to monetize the value of treatments on public lands.”One issue Calkin notes is that such work on federal lands may not significantly mitigate the costliest fires, which ignite near communities and destroy homes and buildings. “The best way to protect a structure is at the structure itself,” he explained. That means the study could be overestimating the amount of property damage that clearing and prescribed burns avoid.Strabo disagrees, saying that an unpublished portion of the analysis found that fires that interacted with fuel treatments accounted for a disproportionately large share of structure losses and suppression costs. “That suggests [those fires] were often among the more economically consequential wildfires,” he said, pointing to the 2021 Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe as an example. “The fire still caused substantial damage, but treatments helped prevent it from becoming even more catastrophic.”One thing the paper explicitly didn’t account for was the smoke and carbon dioxide emissions that intentional fires produce. “We’re finding that’s not a nontrivial amount in our research,” said Mark Kreider, a Forest Service researcher. Because wildfire is unpredictable, he explained, you inherently have to treat more of the landscape than will actually encounter flames. How to best factor those emissions in is part of Kreider’s ongoing work, but he says it could potentially even flip an analysis like the one in Strabo’s paper. Still, he said, that doesn’t undermine the core point that fuel treatments are effective.“It’s very clear,” he said, “that on the whole they are very beneficial.”Not everyone supports such tactics. Critics argue they can harm ecosystems, disproportionately target larger trees, and open forests to logging under the guise of fire prevention. Some opponents also contend that this approach is less effective against extreme fires, while others question whether public funds would be better spent on hardening homes and communities.The federal government’s approach to forest management has shifted since President Donald Trump returned to office. In 2022, the Forest Service released a 10-year wildfire plan that increased forest management and prescribed burns. The Trump administration, which has announced plans to radically remake the agency, has placed greater emphasis on fighting wildfires than preventing them. According to the Forest Service, in 2025, the agency reduced vegetation on about 1 million fewer acres than in 2024.A Forest Service spokesperson attributed most of that decline to elevated wildfire activity in the Southeast. The agency also called 2025 “one of the most successful wildfire years in recent history.” But critics worry it is moving away from proactive forest management.“The takeaway that I really got from this article was that it provides further evidence that the administration’s current policy of full suppression in Western wildfire situations is misguided,” said Heather Stricker, a climate and lands analyst with the Sierra Club. While that approach might sound protective, she said a large body of research shows that it can often backfire. “This paper reiterated a lot of that previous research, but then took it a step further to quantify the cost savings.”The Trump administration has also announced plans to increase logging on federal lands. This has added to long-standing fears from environmental groups that instead of thoughtful, well-managed fuel treatment, the government could resort to clear-cutting. Even the paper notes this resistance. “Public pressure and risk aversion,” it reads, “skew wildfire management resources toward fire suppression rather than prevention.”Strabo is hopeful that by adding to the range of evidence supporting forest management, his paper could help guide policymakers. “We could have these economic and ecological benefits if we scaled it up,” he said. “It’s a critically underfunded public good.”This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media

Observers said on Friday the government is responding to evidence that the ban on young children holding accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube had failed since it came into force in December year.

America’s safest midsize cities in 2026

America’s safest midsize cities in 2026Safety and security are major determinants of quality of life. That’s especially true in midsize cities, where residents may seek a balance of opportunity, affordability and peace of mind. While no place is risk-free, some midsize cities offer residents a stronger sense of everyday security than others.SmartAsset examined more than 300 midsize cities — those with populations between 65,000 and 250,000 — to identify the safest in the United States. Cities were ranked using composite scores that considered violent crime, property crime, traffic fatality rates and natural disaster risk.Key FindingsBroomfield, Colorado, is America’s safest midsize city. Broomfield boasts below-average violent and property crime rates — 1.5 and 19 per 1,000 residents, respectively — and a modest motor vehicle fatality rate of about five per 100,000 residents. Broomfield is also the only city evaluated with a Federal Emergency Management Agency natural disaster risk rating of “very low,” which reflects expected disaster losses, social vulnerability and community resilience.Little Rock, Arkansas, ranks last. High property and violent crime, elevated natural disaster risk and an above-average traffic fatality rate pushed Little Rock to the bottom of the ranking.Inland states account for most of the highest-ranked cities. Fifteen of the 20 safest midsize cities are in noncoastal states.Disaster risk can affect otherwise safe cities. Auburn, Washington, and San Ramon, California, have among the nation’s lowest violent crime rates for midsize cities, but each faces elevated natural disaster risk. Auburn is exposed to flooding, major earthquakes and potential lahars, or volcanic mudflows from Mount Rainier. San Ramon is also at risk of earthquakes, as well as wildfires and severe weather. Courtesy of SmartAsset Courtesy of SmartAsset The 75 Safest Midsize CitiesBroomfield, Colorado• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.48• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 18.56• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.02• Disaster risk: Very lowState College, Pennsylvania• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.53• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 7.64• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.63• Disaster risk: Relatively lowWarwick, Rhode Island• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.79• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.47• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.39• Disaster risk: Relatively lowAmes, Iowa• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.48• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.06• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.51• Disaster risk: Relatively lowLogan, Utah• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.37• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.3• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.68• Disaster risk: Relatively lowCarmel, Indiana• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.66• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.13• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.93• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateGreenwood, Indiana• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.09• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.29• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.1• Disaster risk: Relatively lowWaukesha, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.14• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.75• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.69• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateCoeur d’Alene, Idaho• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.41• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 9.56• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 10.31• Disaster risk: Relatively lowAppleton, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.01• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.47• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.88• Disaster risk: Relatively lowEau Claire, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.62• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 19.06• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.44• Disaster risk: Relatively lowFranklin, Tennessee• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.32• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 9.43• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.51• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateSt. Charles, Missouri• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.34• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.87• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.09• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateNewton, Massachusetts• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.49• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 5.99• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.03• Disaster risk: Relatively highDubuque, Iowa• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.01• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 14.35• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.76• Disaster risk: Relatively lowAlexandria, Virginia• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.19• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 26.4• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.8• Disaster risk: Relatively lowEagan, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.03• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 17.7• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.92• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateRockville, Maryland• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.5• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.23• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.62• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateFrederick, Maryland• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.06• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 16.74• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.96• Disaster risk: Relatively lowLehi, Utah• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.88• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 5.41• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.61• Disaster risk: Relatively highRochester, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.54• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.68• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.03• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateGaithersburg, Maryland• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.53• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.12• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.62• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateNashua, New Hampshire• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.61• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.61• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.78• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateChapel Hill, North Carolina• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.72• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 25.15• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.87• Disaster risk: Relatively lowNovi, Michigan• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.99• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 6.55• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.67• Disaster risk: Relatively highNaperville, Illinois• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.84• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.84• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.91• Disaster risk: Relatively highGeorgetown, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.91• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.7• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.74• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateCollege Station, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.7• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.03• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 9.56• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateBethlehem, Pennsylvania• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.06• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.69• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.71• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateKenosha, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.86• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.66• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 9.22• Disaster risk: Relatively moderatePocatello, Idaho• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.41• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.87• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 11.45• Disaster risk: Relatively lowBoise, Idaho• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.94• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.1• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.9• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateBurnsville, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.1• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 18.89• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.92• Disaster risk: Relatively moderatePortland, Maine• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.67• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 24.79• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.87• Disaster risk: Relatively lowPlymouth, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.51• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 10.24• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.51• Disaster risk: Relatively highSt. George, Utah• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.1• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 10.03• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 10.33• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateOshkosh, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.32• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 14.52• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.35• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateWaltham, Massachusetts• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.52• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 6.99• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.03• Disaster risk: Relatively highBarnstable, Massachusetts• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.1• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 7.85• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.42• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateRoseville, California• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.19• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 14.2• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.2• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateFarmington Hills, Michigan• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.98• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 6.81• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.67• Disaster risk: Relatively highBloomington, Indiana• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.87• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 27.18• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 6.99• Disaster risk: Relatively lowBentonville, Arkansas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.55• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 8.28• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 11.27• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateEast Lansing, Michigan• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.2• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.2• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 9.74• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateWest Des Moines, Iowa• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.65• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 17.14• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.91• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateConcord, North Carolina• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.59• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 11.05• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 12• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateLawrence, Kansas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.62• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 21.57• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.8• Disaster risk: Relatively lowAllentown, Pennsylvania• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.72• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.69• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.57• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateEden Prairie, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.73• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.79• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.51• Disaster risk: Relatively highIowa City, Iowa• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.21• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 16.74• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 6.21• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateProvidence, Rhode Island• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.77• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 16.58• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.2• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateAnn Arbor, Michigan• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.02• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 17.16• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 6.61• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateRound Rock, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.31• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 19.41• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.74• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateTroy, Michigan• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.16• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.77• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.67• Disaster risk: Relatively highKettering, Ohio• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.42• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 15.01• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 13.12• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateCentennial, Colorado• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.73• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 17.09• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 9.64• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateGrand Island, Nebraska• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.68• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 17.6• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 13.22• Disaster risk: Relatively lowEdina, Minnesota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.73• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 14.9• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.51• Disaster risk: Relatively highAthens-Clarke, Georgia• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.06• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 22.76• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 10.07• Disaster risk: Relatively lowFramingham, Massachusetts• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.25• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 10.54• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 4.03• Disaster risk: Relatively highManchester, New Hampshire• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.36• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 16.48• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.78• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateBolingbrook, Illinois• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.82• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 7.79• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 8.4• Disaster risk: Relatively highNew Braunfels, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.56• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.84• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 13.4• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateSugar Land, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.78• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.84• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 6.85• Disaster risk: Relatively highGrand Forks, North Dakota• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.59• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 22.82• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 11.48• Disaster risk: Relatively lowMooresville, North Carolina• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.17• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 21.52• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 14.81• Disaster risk: Relatively lowBend, Oregon• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.68• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.62• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 13.06• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateOrem, Utah• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.74• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.6• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.61• Disaster risk: Relatively highScranton, Pennsylvania• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.81• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.45• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 11.19• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateLenexa, Kansas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.83• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.47• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.58• Disaster risk: Relatively highProvo, Utah• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.07• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 12.71• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 5.61• Disaster risk: Relatively highGreen Bay, Wisconsin• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.95• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.12• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.55• Disaster risk: Relatively moderateCary, North Carolina• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.71• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 13.17• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 7.85• Disaster risk: Relatively highThousand Oaks, California• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.02• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 10.21• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 9.06• Disaster risk: Relatively highSan Angelo, Texas• Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.18• Property crime per 1,000 residents: 24.86• Auto fatalities per 100,000 residents: 13.22• Disaster risk: Relatively lowMethodologyNatural disaster risk was calculated by converting the county risk rating in FEMA’s National Risk Index, as of April 2026, for the county in which a particular city is located to a five-point numeric scale. Traffic fatality rates were sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Property and violent crime rates were sourced from the FBI’s 2024 issue of Crime in the United States, the most recent year available. Each metric was weighted and combined into a composite score used to rank the cities. Crime data reflects offenses reported by law enforcement agencies serving each city and may not perfectly align with municipal boundaries. County-level traffic fatality and natural disaster risk data were used as proxies for city-level conditions. Midsize cities were defined as those with populations of 65,000 to 249,999 and classified based on U.S. Census Bureau 2024 population estimates. Only cities designated as principal cities within their metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas according to U.S. Census Bureau definitions were included. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

America’s founding promise of religious freedom long coexisted with prejudice

America’s founding promise of religious freedom long coexisted with prejudiceAs the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, old questions have returned about who belongs and whose religious practices are truly protected in the country.At the start of the year, an arson attack significantly damaged the oldest synagogue in Mississippi. Two days later, local officials in Oklahoma rejected a proposal to build a mosque after opponents declared Islam “hostile to our Constitution.” A Texas GOP congressman complained on social media that a Hindu festival was a “third world” practice. These incidents come amid resurgent claims that the United States is a Christian nation.All this has happened even as President Donald Trump has emphasized a particular idea of religious liberty throughout his second term. In his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day in 2026, he emphasized familiar ideas of Americans’ “God-given right to practice their faith, follow their conscience, and worship their God freely and without fear.” But the statement also seemed to reflect a broader project of lending government support to Christianity. The proclamation linked support for religious liberty with projects to eliminate “anti-Christian bias.”The tension between embracing religious liberty and the marginalization of other religions in favor of Christianity is not new. Ideals of religious freedom have long coexisted with religious discrimination or outright bigotry, David Mislin, an assistant professor of intellectual heritage at Temple University, writes for The Conversation. Importantly, however, history also offers a lesson for the present by showing the important role U.S. Christians have played in combating such bigotry.Religious freedom in theoryAs the founders built a new nation, many emphasized the importance of religious liberty. Shortly after independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson began drafting the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. When enacted a decade later, the law declared that Virginians’ “civil rights” did not depend on their “religious opinions.” Civic participation was not limited to members of particular traditions, and there was no state-funded church. The law was a foundational step to prevent government from discriminating against citizens on the basis of their beliefs.The Virginia statute provided a template for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791. The amendment prohibits Congress from enacting laws that favor particular religions or interfering with free religious practice. It represents a key safeguard for personal belief against the power of the federal government.Legal safeguards did not mean that all religious groups were treated equally, however. In reality, many Americans imagined the new nation to be a Protestant country.Official and unofficial religious discriminationDespite protections at the federal level and in some states, including Virginia, state and local governments were not bound by First Amendment protections until the 1920s. Religious discrimination in civic life was commonplace for the nation’s first 100 years.North Carolina prohibited Catholics from holding public office until the 1830s and Jews from doing so until the 1860s. New Hampshire’s Constitution banned all non-Protestants from holding public office until 1877.Smaller instances of religious bigotry abounded as well. In some public schools, including in large cities such as Philadelphia, students of all religions were required to read the Bible and sing Protestant hymns. Jewish Americans were often forced to work on their Sabbath and found themselves barred from some hotels and resorts, especially in the second half of the 1800s.At times, hostility to religious minorities even fueled outright violence. The Philadelphia Bible Riots of 1844 began when the city’s growing Catholic population challenged the use of a Protestant Bible translation in public schools. Anti-Catholic nativists responded with force, and the ensuing conflict left over a dozen people dead.Toward a ‘Judeo-Christian’ AmericaThings slowly began to change soon after the nation’s centennial in 1876. As I explore in my work, rising indifference toward religion among many Americans, as well as outright atheism, pushed many Protestant leaders to reevaluate how they treated their Catholic and Jewish neighbors.Echoing a distrust of atheists that runs deep in U.S. history, these Protestants believed that any religion — even a non-Protestant one — was better for society than no religion at all. This conclusion prompted many Protestants to more fully affirm Catholicism and Judaism. By the early 1900s, it had become common for Protestant ministers to challenge religious bigotry, as one Minnesota clergyman did when he publicly lamented the “false notions and wretched prejudices” held against Jews.This attitude gained support among the nation’s leaders. President Theodore Roosevelt took a major step by publicly praising Catholics and Jews. He insisted that their religious affiliations did not keep them from being “full Americans.”After appointing the first Jewish Cabinet member in U.S. history, Roosevelt boasted “in my cabinet at present, there sit side by side Catholic and Protestant, Christian and Jew.”There was soon a backlash to the growing acceptance of religious diversity. The 1920s witnessed the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. Its anti-immigrant campaigns targeted Catholics and Jews with particular force.Still, the idea that Jewish and Catholic Americans were equal stakeholders in American society took root. By the 1950s, politicians, academics and religious leaders described the United States not as a Protestant country but a “Judeo-Christian” one.Expanding multiculturalismThe Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened a new chapter for religious pluralism in the United States. The law ended restrictions on immigration from non-European countries. Consequently, the number of practitioners of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam increased significantly.Christian groups lobbied strongly for these changes. The National Council of Churches, which represented the country’s major Protestant denominations, lent its significant clout to support the legislation. U.S. Catholic organizations likewise endorsed the 1965 law. For many Catholics, earlier experiences of discrimination and prejudice guided their desire for a more welcoming, inclusive immigration policy.After 1965, religious diversity became far more visible to ordinary Americans. Earlier generations of immigrants — including Catholics and Jews in the 1800s — typically settled in ethnic enclaves. By contrast, immigrants now settled in diverse suburban communities. Newly arrived Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims often lived next door to Protestant, Catholic and Jewish families.As in earlier periods, these developments were not entirely harmonious. The 1980s and ’90s witnessed violent attacks against both the institutions and individual practitioners of minority religions. Islamic centers and Buddhist temples were targeted in places ranging from Massachusetts to Minnesota, to Tennessee. The large population of Hindu Americans in northern New Jersey endured a wave of violence against individuals. Despite these instances, scholar of religion Diana L. Eck chronicled in her 2001 book “A New Religious America” how fully the religious nature of the U.S. had been transformed as the nation became characterized by multiculturalism.While religious minorities have often faced exclusion and hostility, many Americans have long believed that guarantees of religious liberty promise a more inclusive society. In its 250th year, that promise is being tested once again.This story was produced by The Conversation and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

South Korean ex-first lady sentenced to 7 years for bribery scandal

The former first lady had previously been sentenced to four years in a separate case involving the Unification Church.

New report offers strategy for reducing homelessness in the QCs.

A new regional report offers a practical, evidence-based strategy to reduce unsheltered homelessness across the Quad Cities through coordinated investments, shared goals and collaboration across city, county and state lines. The report came from a regional event held in April that brought together over 100 leaders from the nonprofit, public and private sectors. The event [...]

Memorial bench honors 7-year-old stabbed to death in Galesburg

The bench was donated by the community and is in Kiwanis Park in Galesburg.

$8.9M roadmap aims to help 1,500 people exit homelessness in the Quad Cities

A new report outlines an $8.9 million plan to help over 1,500 people avoid or exit homelessness annually in the Quad Cities through coordination.

Lee, Whiteside County residents concerned about data center construction

The Lee County Industrial Development Association (LCIDA) advertised a piece of land east of Rock Falls by Highway 30 as ideal for a data center.

Resignations, hirings, other Central DeWitt School District personnel news from June 16

The following personnel items are from the June 16 agenda of the Central-DeWitt School Board.

Elevated Treatment and Recovery Solutions to open Monday in East Moline

Elevated Treatment and Recovery Solutions, a new drug addiction treatment center, opening Monday with open house and ribbon cutting.

Dangerous heat and humidity just around the corner

Clouds, some rain, and easterly winds will hold highs down into the 70s Friday. It warms up more tomorrow, and you'll really notice the heat and humidity starting Sunday. Some rain is possible today, but we'll see a better chance Saturday night with some storms. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Hills and Hollows

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Henry County just south of Rock Island is a farm county of formerly rolling prairie, as if gentle ocean swells had…

How well do you know your Reflecting Pool news? Because the quiz will test you

This week, the beleaguered body of water faced new woes. Plus soccer, gambling and U.K. politics!

Ex-NOAA employees re-create a valuable climate data site shut down by Trump

Former NOAA staffers have launched a new website that provides climate information. It replaces a government site that was shut down when the Trump administration took office.

Venezuela reels from earthquakes as rescuers scramble to find survivors

As Venezuela begins counting the cost of its deadliest quake disaster in over a century, a shattered economy and struggling health system threaten to slow recovery efforts.

Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says

A top official at the National Park Service says a liner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor this month, causing damage to the foam sealant installed as part of a $16 million rehabilitation project.

UN agency pauses evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz after attack on vessel

King Charles III will not live at Buckingham Palace after its costly refurbishment

The decision was announced Thursday during a briefing on royal finances at which Charles became the first British monarch to reveal the taxes he paid to the government.

Muscatine softball defeats Assumption 7-5

Muscatine defeated Assumption in game one of a double-header 7-5 in nine innings.

Steamwheelers enter week 16 on a two game win streak

The Quad City Steamwheelers return to action Sunday after a bye week, riding a two-game win streak and facing a critical stretch to close the season.

Reel Moments Make Real Impact: Marine Toys for Tots Encourages Outdoor Play

(NewsUSA) - June marks the start of summer—a season defined by adventure, exploration, and the simple joys of childhood. June also highlights National Fishing Week, celebrated June 6-14, making it the perfect time for Marine Toys for Tots to champion outdoor play through its Give and Go: Outdoor Adventures Start with You initiative. Building on meaningful experiences that connect children with nature, the initiative helps children discover the confidence, curiosity, and joy that come from spending time outdoors.In support of this initiative and in the spirit of National Fishing Week, Toys for Tots partnered with local Toys for Tots Coordinator Gina Capate to host a hands-on fishing event in Maple Shade, New Jersey—giving foster children a chance to connect with nature in a fun, supportive setting.On a warm morning, 24 local foster children gathered by the water, not only to learn how to fish, but to experience something deeper: a sense of belonging. Alongside volunteers, local leaders, and law enforcement officers—many of whom personally invited and mentored the children—they practiced patience, teamwork, and resilience. What organizers fondly referred to as the “Cops and Boppers” event became more than recreation—it was a powerful example of how relationships and trust are built through shared, positive experiences.Each child left with a fishing pole and a bag of their own, but also with an enduring feeling that their community sees them, values them, and is willing to invest in their happiness. Moments like these may seem small, but they are seeds of confidence and possibility that extend far beyond a single day.“This fishing event was about more than spending time on the water—it was about creating moments where children feel supported, encouraged, and included,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Sometimes all it takes is one opportunity to spark confidence that can last a lifetime.”For millions of underserved children, access to these opportunities is far less certain, but no less important. Safe outdoor play, educational toys, and enriching books are not always within reach.Ensuring opportunities for these children is the heart of our Give and Go: Outdoor Adventures Start with You initiative.“Outdoor experiences help children discover confidence, patience, and a sense of possibility that stays with them long after the day ends. Every child deserves the chance to step outside, try something new, and realize what they are capable of,” said Lieutenant General Laster.It is often in these moments that children begin to recognize their own potential. These aren’t grand experiences, but they are powerful ones. Through Give and Go: Outdoor Adventures Start with You, donations are transformed into fishing poles that teach new skills, soccer balls that spark a new hobby, books that ignite curiosity about the world, or games that encourage creativity and problem-solving. These experiences create space for children to simply be children.This is what the American public’s generosity makes possible—and why outdoor play, educational toys, and meaningful experiences remain at the heart of Toys for Tots’ mission. Your generosity helps ensure that moments like this aren’t the exception—but something all children can count on.Because Outdoor Adventures Start with You—and every child deserves to be celebrated.To learn more about Toys for Tots and its year-round mission or to donate, visit toysfortots.org.

Lee, Whiteside Counties concerned about possible data center construction

The Lee County Industrial Development Association (LCIDA) advertised a piece of land east of Rock Falls by Highway 30 as ideal for a data center.

‘We don’t have anything on the books,’ No data center plan for Lee County, officials say

County leaders said they haven’t talked to anyone about a data center during a board meeting Thursday evening.

New Vibrant director envisions more variety in future shows

The Vibrant Arena's new director, Rik Edgar, has spent 20 years in the business of event management. "I've always admired what they had at the Vibrant Arena and when the opportunity came up I jumped at it," said Edgar. "It was a great opportunity for me." New Vibrant Arena Director Rik Edgar says he wants [...]

Task force to tackle homelessness for 1,200+ a year in the QCA

An effort to tackle homelessness in the QCA will take the next step in a move to help more than 1,000 people a year who wind up in the situation. A report from a consultant hired by the Quad Cities Community Foundation determined about 1,200 single adults a year wind up homeless in the Quad [...]

RI deputy fire chief announces retirement

After 25 years of dedicated service to the City of Rock Island, Deputy Chief Greg C. Marty has announced his retirement from the Rock Island Fire Department, effective Aug. 20, according to a Facebook post. Marty began his career with the Rock Island Fire Department on Aug. 20, 2001, and has served the community with [...]

Legal experts and lawmakers discuss solutions to attorney shortage in rural communities

Legal experts and politicians gathered Thursday to address a growing crisis: nearly half of Iowa’s 99 counties have 10 or fewer practicing attorneys, leaving rural communities struggling to find legal representation.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rock Island, plans new food pantry

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2810 5th Avenue, Rock Island, will host a groundbreaking at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 28, for the new Sacred Heart Food Pantry to be located on site at the parish, a news release says. The Sacred Heart Food Pantry is the oldest, longest-running food pantry in the Quad Cities and one [...]

LISTEN: Sec. RFK, Jr. tries to convince Iowa candidate to drop out of race

The Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair shared audio of a phone that she said shows U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Junior, trying to convince a candidate for Congress to drop out of a race for Congress.

Hot summer weather coming next week

We have been enjoying a couple of cooler than normal temperatures for the month of June in the Quad Cities, leaving us waiting for the inevitable hot stretch. Starting on Sunday, and through most of next week, temperatures will be rising well into the 90s through the week to bring in the heat. Along with [...]

Illinois’ new e-scooter rules to take effect: Here’s what riders need to know

Illinois is introducing a new statewide framework for e-scooters and e-bikes aimed at improving safety and clarifying where riders can legally operate the devices.

Genesius Guild revives Sophocles’ “Antigone” in 70th anniversary season

The Genesius Guild is continuing its 70th anniversary season with free outdoor performances of Sophocles’ Antigone in Lincoln Park, a production that honors the Guild’s origins and features its annual collaboration with local high school students. Additional productions will be staged in July and early August.

The Heart of the Story: A wild look at nature

Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. An outdoorsy Illinois man shows his love of [...]

Nurses warn that new interpretation of Georgia law will mean less care for rural communities

Nancy A. Hurlock, a nurse practitioner based in Statesboro who operates a home-based primary care practice, said told lawmakers on June 23, 2026, that advanced practice registered nurses provide primary care, mental health services and specialty care in communities where healthcare resources are often limited, and a new interpretation of a 2006 state law could hinder access in those areas. Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder Key points The Georgia Composite Medical Board issued new guidance interpreting a 2006 state law that could prevent physicians who agree to oversee clinics owned by nurses from being compensated.  The nursing community testified in a recent House Health committee, saying that the new guidance could lead to closures of clinics that provide primary and mental health care in rural parts of Georgia. The head of the state medical association said the new guidance is aimed at addressing concerns that physicians receiving compensation for supervision may not provide independent clinical judgment. These key points were written by a Georgia Recorder journalist.  A showdown between nurses and those representing physicians boiled over in a Georgia House Health committee hearing over a medical board’s guidance that nurses warned could lead to shuttered clinics and diminished healthcare access in rural parts of Georgia. The Georgia Composite Medical Board issued a “position statement” in early May that tightened the board’s interpretation of a state law passed in 2006 that prohibits physicians from being an employee at a clinic owned by an advanced practice registered nurse under their supervision.  Under the new guidance, if a physician receives any compensation for overseeing a clinic owned or run by advanced practice registered nurses, they are considered an employee of that clinic. The new interpretation is already causing doctors to back out agreements with nurses that are essential for them to work in Georgia.  “The consistent message from the APRNs has been that delegating physicians have either terminated or are considering terminating their protocol agreement due to uncertainty surrounding the position statement. Without a protocol agreement, APRNs cannot practice legally, and this could leave a lot of their current patients without access to healthcare,” said Tara Taylor, executive director of the Georgia Board of Nursing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Taylor also said that financial compensation is the “foundation” of these agreements and without it, there is little incentive for physicians to supervise clinics run by advanced practice registered nurses. She added that although the medical board’s new guidance seemed to focus on nurses operating IV hydration or med spas, the nursing board is concerned the guidance could also be applied to clinics providing healthcare in rural areas where there might be a shortage of physicians. “Many of these concerns are coming from nurse practitioners who provide primary care and psychiatric services throughout Georgia,” she said. “Their concern is for the clinics serving rural and underserved communities where physicians are already in short supply. In many of these areas, APRNs are a critical source of access to healthcare.” Representatives for physicians and the medical board pushed back against claims that the new guidance could worsen access to healthcare services, noting a rise in the number of board-approved collaboration agreements.  And they say the new guidance is aimed at preventing shady online businesses from brokering these agreements.  Brent Walker, a lawyer representing the Medical Association of Georgia, said that the guidance isn’t aimed at legitimate agreements between physicians and nurses but “rubber-stamp relationships” stemming from unscrupulous websites facilitating them. “We just want to make sure that you’re focused on patient safety, and that the collaborating and supervising relationships are meaningful, and not just the sham that you bought online for $500 or $1,000 a month, that you really are engaged in keeping the patients first when it comes to practice and the expansion of access to care,” Walker said. Jeremy T. Bonfini, the state medical association’s CEO and executive director, said the “guidance isn’t about a prohibition on compensation for serving in a supervisory role” and that the group is working with the nursing community to clarify the new guidance. He did not address questions about what incentives physicians would have to enter these agreements without compensation.  “The prohibition reflects a fundamental policy concern: physicians who are subordinate employees of the APRNs they supervise cannot exercise the independent clinical judgment that Georgia law requires,” Bonfini said. Jason Jones, executive director of the Georgia Composite Medical Board, pointed to physicians providing oversight from out-of-state and having ghost offices “where no genuine medical practice occurs,” as well as physicians entering agreements to oversee care that falls outside of their specialty. “We’ve learned that the laws and rules sometimes are not looked at, so they do what people do and follow what somebody else is doing,” Jones said. “We’ve got to make sure we educate, make sure they’re doing right instead of following the wrong way,” Jones said. Lawmakers on the committee instructed the nurses and physicians to work together on an agreement to prevent a legislative fix. “I just would like to say that I hope that from here on out that you and the other boards will work together, and come to us with a solution, because you don’t want us to fix it,” said Dublin Republican state Rep. Matt Hatchett. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Georgia Recorder

A new bill calls for $25 minimum wage. Here's where that isn't 'sufficient'

While it's way more than the current federal minimum wage, data shows it may not be enough for some.

East Moline apartment complex residents say they've gone weeks without central air as heat wave approaches

Both residents told News 8 they were provided temporary portable AC units by management, but say those units have not adequately cooled their apartments.

City of Muscatine launches webpage with resources for those impacted by downtown evacuations

East 2nd Street remains closed to all traffic except authorized personnel.

2 high-profile cases in Rock Island County court on Thursday

One of Adrianne Reynolds' convicted killers was in court after a judge ordered a new sentencing. Plus, plea negotiations are underway in Leisa Streeter's case.

Memorial bench honors 7-year-old in Galesburg

The bench was donated by the community and is in Kiwanis Park in Galesburg.

Rock Island residents sue First Financial Group over alleged rent-to-own scheme

Five Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) clients filed a lawsuit on June 5 against First Financial Group, L.C. (FFG) and its principal, Richard Vesole, according to a news release from Prairie State Legal Services. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants used deceptive rent-to-own contracts to exploit low-income home-buyers, promising home-ownership but delivering lease agreements that [...]

Bettendorf middle schooler wins 1st place in national documentary competition

8th grader Adrian Gillette took home the top prize in the country in the National History Day competition for his documentary about Sesame Street.

T.F. Green concession workers walk off the job

Mariah Reynoso, the daughter of a concession worker at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, holds a strike sign as employees picket outside the terminal on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport’s 73 food and beverage workers walked off the job Thursday amid stalled contract negotiations with the Florida-based company that operates the restaurants and stands in the Warwick terminal. Concession workers organized under Unite Here! Local 26 began the one-day strike at 3 a.m., around the time the first shift would have reported in. Rather than clocking in, they spent the day marching and banging buckets as passengers streamed in and out of the airport. About 98% of the bargaining unit at T.F. Green voted to authorize the strike on June 15. The picket by concession workers was scheduled to end by 7 p.m. but workers could strike again should contract negotiations remain at a halt. “A strike is never the goal,” union vice president Nancy Iadeluca said Thursday in an interview with Rhode Island Current. “The goal is a contract, but it takes two.” The union is demanding higher wages for its concession workers. Workers have been without a new contract with Grove Bay since Aug.1, 2025, and have gone without raises for more than two years. Hosts and cashiers currently start at $16.50 an hour, a little more than Rhode Island’s minimum wage which is set to go to $17 at the start of 2027. Servers at the airport generally make around $4.19 to $5.30 an hour, plus tips. “It’s an embarrassment,” Iadeluca said. “No one should be making minimum wage in that building.” Alecia Rogers, a single mother who works as a server at the Narragansett Kitchen & Bar, said pay rates offered by Grove Bay are not enough to keep up with the ever-climbing cost of living. “People are struggling economically,” she said. “The price of groceries is insane, the price of gas is insane. I don’t really feel any support from the company.” Despite the low wages at T.F. Green, Rogers said she loves working at the airport and serving travelers. “I’ve put a lot of effort into this job,” she said. “I want to be here. But I want to be respected, appreciated and compensated.” José Rodriguez, who works as a cook primarily at Narragansett Kitchen & Bar, makes $24 an hour working from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. He was told he’d receive a dollar an hour raise each year when he joined the airport’s hospitality staff over a year ago, but said he hasn’t seen that money. Rodriguez said he and his colleagues are frustrated that Grove Bay hasn’t held up their side of the deal. “That’s how a lot of these guys are,” Rodriguez said. “They lived up to their end, and all they want is you to live up to yours.”  Francesco Balli, Grove Bay’s co-founder and CEO, said in an emailed statement to Rhode Island Current ahead of the strike that the company was disappointed over the union’s decision to walk out, but respected their right to do so. “Our goal has always been to reach an agreement that supports our employees while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our company and the customers we serve,” he said. Balli added that Grove Bay’s restaurants would continue operating to “ensure uninterrupted service.”  He did not state how the company was maintaining staffing inside T.F. Green. Multiple workers and union officials said their understanding was the company flew in other workers from Florida who stayed in a nearby hotel to staff the restaurants and three Dunkin’ operations in the airport.  “They don’t want to compensate us, but they’ll spend who knows how much for all that,” Rogers said. Members of Unite Here! Local 26 picket outside Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Nolan Page/Rhode Island Current) Plenty of visitors The striking workers made enough noise to draw fellow union leaders and some prominent Rhode Island politicians who took a break from their campaign schedules to voice their support. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, stopped by the airport around 4:45 a.m. where he called the workers “an inspiration to every single working-class Rhode Islander.” Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos told the workers Thursday morning that she had spoken with elected officials and the airport corporation, but did not immediately detail what those conversations had yielded. Matos is one of seven candidates running for the lieutenant governor position she’s held since 2021. Two of her four Democratic challengers also visited the workers Tuesday, with Newport City Councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong and Providence City Councilor Sue AnderBois also showing their support.  State Rep. David Morales, a Providence Democrat running for mayor of Rhode Island’s capital, also stopped by the airport to march alongside workers and give a short speech. Even before picketing began, Warwick’s delegation in the Rhode Island Senate on June 18 issued a statement in support of the concession workers decision to strike. “Like everyone, they deserve fair working conditions and compensation,” said Democratic Sens. Peter Appollonio, Matthew LaMountain, and Mark McKenney. “As the excitement over the World Cup has again demonstrated, the tourism and hospitality industry is extremely important for our state, and the workers who keep it running strong — including the airport’s food service workers — deserve to be treated fairly.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current

Grow Quad Cities part of Illinois economic-growth initiative

The Illinois Economic Development Corporation’s Economic Research Center on Thursday announced the launch of the Regional Research Pilot Program (R2P2) in which Grow Quad Cities will participate, according to a news release from the development corporation. The new initiative is designed to provide deeper, forward-looking research and economic growth planning support to communities and partners [...]

The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus has been performing with a purpose for 25 years

Organizers said through times of hope and hardship, singing together has been an important way to find community and be authentic. The Silver Party on June 26 and 27 is a concert celebrating 25 years of the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus.

Arkansas files lawsuit against Snapchat parent company

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin speaks during a press conference announcing a lawsuit against the parent company of the social media platform Snapchat on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Thursday announced his office filed a lawsuit against Snap, Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, that claims the California-based company’s social media platform was deceptively designed to addict minors who used it. The lawsuit, filed in Phillips County Circuit Court, is the second targeting social platforms announced by Griffin this week. Roblox, the online game popular with children, and Discord, a messaging platform, were sued in Los Angeles on similar allegations under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. “Snap’s design choices were calculated to leverage the developmental vulnerabilities of minors,” Griffin said in a press release. “Snapchat’s designers exploited teens’ craving for social approval, their sensitivity to exclusion, and their susceptibility to impulse-driven reward systems.” Arkansas sues Roblox and Discord, accusing platforms of putting children at risk Snap did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.  The premise of Snapchat revolves around disappearing photos, videos and messages sent between friends. Over the years, it expanded to include other features such as Snapchat Stories — a feature that proliferated to other platforms. The lawsuit said the disappearing messages, combined with features such as Snapstreaks and frequent notifications to draw users in, created addictive “dopamine feedback loops” in adolescents to keep them on the app, without properly warning parents and young users of possible illicit sexual material and the sale of drugs and guns on the platform. “Snap cannot correct its wrongdoing by editing, withdrawing, or censoring third-party content. Rather, Snap must re-design its product, include meaningful disclosures, and advertise it honestly,” the complaint states.  Similar to the Roblox and Discord lawsuit, Griffin said Snapchat’s lack of age verification beyond self-reported age selection when creating an account enables predators to target minors for sex or extortion. The complaint also stated that Snap was failing to report child sexual abuse material.  In addition to lawsuits by families, Arkansas’ latest social media lawsuit is one of several filed by state attorneys general across the country against Snap, Inc. under state deceptive trade practice laws, claiming the social media platform has harmed childrens’ mental health and enabled the proliferation of child sexual abuse material. It’s part of a broader backlash by states and parents against social media companies.  The lawsuit also comes on the heels of a Los Angeles jury’s verdict in March that found Meta and Google, parent companies of Facebook and YouTube, respectively, negligently harmed the mental health of an unnamed user of their platforms by creating them to be addicting. According to the New York Times, the verdict showed a legal theory that social media could cause personal injury held water.  Snap was originally a plaintiff in that case, but settled before trial. Arkansas became the first state to require social media companies to verify children’s ages before signing up for accounts in 2023. A federal judge blocked the law in 2025, around the same time the Legislature approved changes to the 2023 law. Those changes were also blocked in federal court this year. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate

Melon season is about to arrive in Muscatine County

Muscatine County’s melon season is approaching, with Mairet Farms preparing fields and planning to open its farm stand on July 1.

Figge Art Museum holding LGBTQ art auction benefitting Clock Inc.

The auction runs until 8 p.m. on Thursday night.

Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Dept. of Corrections for escape

Reginald C. Calhoun is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections for escape on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Crime Stoppers: Man wanted in Rock Island Co. for not showing up to jail

Michael S. Harris, 54, is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff for escape after failing to report to a penal institution.

Crime Stoppers: 14 storage unit burglaries reported in Carbon Cliff

The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office is seeking anonymous tips to solve 14 storage unit burglaries in Carbon Cliff where firearms were stolen.

'Guys and Dolls' coming up at Countryside Community Theatre in Eldridge

The romantic comedy musical will take the stage during the first and second weekends of July.

Cambridge Natural History Museum secures a permanent home

At just nine years old, Anderson Taylor opened the Cambridge Natural History Museum in the fall of 2024.

Bettendorf student wins National History Day gold with Sesame Street documentary

Bettendorf student Adrian Gillette won the National History Day gold medal for his documentary exploring Sesame Street's role in school desegregation and its lasting

iHeart fires multiple on-air personalities in Davenport

Multiple on-air talents from Davenport’s iHeartMedia stations have been fired.

Pa. House passes data center ‘pause’ along with Shapiro’s plan for ‘responsible’ development

A yellow and red "No Data Centers" political protest sign positioned in the front yard grass of a neighborhood. (Photo by Getty Images)With less than a week before the June 30 state budget deadline, lawmakers in the state House passed a suite of bills that would regulate what one legislator called a “speculative gold rush” of data center development. Since the dawn of the internet, data centers have housed the computers that power e-commerce, streaming, communications and other online services. But the race to develop artificial intelligence gave rise to hyperscale data centers that can contain thousands or millions of computers. Such facilities can change the character of the land and communities surrounding them, with significant impacts on water resources, energy infrastructure and public services. Local officials across the commonwealth are grappling with dozens of applications for hyperscale projects. Legislation passed Wednesday would give township leaders the option to pause new applications, while another bill sets up Gov. Josh Shapiro’s package of voluntary guidelines and incentives for developers to become law if the state Senate agrees.  Construction continues on a data center being built at the former Homer City Generating Station in Center Township, Indiana County May 14, 2026. Previously, the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania, the plant is being transformed into a natural gas-powered data center campus. (Photo by John Beale for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Under the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards, data center developers could access a sales tax exemption and expedited permitting if they agree to follow the guidelines. But on Thursday, the House passed legislation that, in the words of one representative, would “pull out the rug” from underneath the GRID Standards, by eliminating the exemption on the state’s 6% sales and use tax on computer equipment for data centers. All three proposals are now in the hands of the Republican-led Senate, where they could be approved and head to Shapiro’s desk or linger without being considered. Here’s a rundown of the three bills and what House lawmakers had to say about them: House Bill 2496 Municipalities would have the option to enact a 180-day pause on considering applications for data center developments under the existing land use ordinance.  During the pause, the local government could adopt, amend or repeal parts of its land use ordinance pertaining to data centers. Any applications for data centers received during the pause would be deemed received the day after the pause ends, according to a fiscal note on the bill.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester) said many rural municipalities do not have zoning ordinances and those that do may not have the provisions or planning tools to deal with the unique aspects for data center development. “This bill is about protecting that local control,” Friel said. “It is about ensuring that local decisions affecting our neighborhoods are made thoughtfully, transparently, and with meaningful input from the residents who will have to live with the consequences.” Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) said the data center boom has put Pennsylvania on the doorstep of a new industrial revolution. “Before we throw that door wide open, we need to make certain that local communities have had the opportunity to understand and weigh the consequences,” Krupa said “Artificial intelligence is changing the world faster than almost any technology in modern history. We must pause and ask, at what cost?” The bill passed with a 201-1 vote. Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) cast the lone “no” vote. H.B. 2650 Shapiro broadly outlined his plan for guiding data center development during his February budget address and released details of the proposal last month. Legislation introduced by Rep. Joe Webster to codify the plan in law passed Wednesday with a bipartisan 134-68 vote. It would make an existing exemption to the state’s 6% sales and use tax for data center computer equipment contingent on obtaining certification from the state Department of Revenue by submitting an application with detailed information on the facility. The application must include details of the ownership structure, energy procurement strategy, community engagement commitments, workforce development plans, environmental protections, sustainability measures, and water usage plans, according to a fiscal note on the bill. “The wealthiest companies on the planet get all the free stuff, and Pennsylvania’s local municipalities carry all the risk,” the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) said. “This bill changes that calculation a lot.”  Requirements include:  Incremental increases in clean energy use from sources in Pennsylvania rising to 32% by 2035; Economic development commitments including at least $250 million in cumulative new investment;  At least 200 prevailing wage construction jobs; Fifty permanent jobs paying at least 125% of the statewide average wage within four years;  And annual compensation of at least $1.5 million to full-time employees thereafter.  Criticism of the measure  centered on the voluntary nature of the requirements to obtain the tax benefits. The world’s wealthiest companies, such as Google and the parent company of Elon Musk’s X, don’t care about Pennsylvania’s sales tax exemption, Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware) said. “They will come right in and say you can keep your 6% sales tax, and we’re going to do exactly what we want to, and tear up this agreement,” Williams said, adding that the requirements would also need to be codified in other areas of state law.  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was heavily criticized for his perceived coziness with data centers across the commonwealth on June 23, 2026. (Natalie Javitt/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) H.B. 2198 Legislation to repeal the exemption passed in the House with a 197-5 vote Thursday morning. The Senate adopted the language as an amendment to another tax code bill Thursday afternoon.  The data center equipment tax exemption was passed during an era when lawmakers were trying to attract them to the commonwealth, House Environmental Resources Committee Chairperson Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) said during debate Thursday. “Now we are in a situation where we’re working on moratorium legislation with regard to data centers, we’re trying to put the brakes on, so clearly this sales tax exemption is no longer needed,” said Vitali, who is the bill’s prime sponsor. The five-year-old tax exemption is projected to cost the commonwealth $517 million annually by 2030. “We’re giving these sales tax exemptions to companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet companies that have net incomes in excess of $100 billion a year,” he said. “This is not right. This is not needed. This is not what our constituents want.” Williams noted the GRID Standards legislation the House passed a day earlier depends on the data center tax exemption. “Today, like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown, we’re going to pull that football away,” he said. But Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna) said that repealing the exemption is the first step toward “true corporate accountability.”  “The choice is very simple: the data center industry is no longer an emerging sector looking for a foothold,” he said, noting that one borough in Lackawanna County faces 16 data center applications. “It is a massive billion dollar global powerhouse, and this costly tax credit is no longer appropriate. As everyday costs continue to rise, our neighbors deserve relief to their pocketbooks, not billionaires.” Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star

QCA judge to serve on Iowa Business Specialty Court

A Bettendorf judge has been appointed to serve on the Iowa Business Specialty Court. Chief Justice Christensen signed an order appointing Jeffrey D. Bert to serve exclusively on the Iowa Business Specialty Court beginning September 1. According to a release from the Iowa Judicial Branch: Judge Bert had 28 years of experience in civil and [...]

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There's something for everyone to enjoy this summer, thanks to Amazon Books' Best Books of 2026 So Far.You'll also find perfect gifts on this carefully curated list of books from the Amazon Editors, a passionate group of literary experts with extensive experience spanning publishing, journalism and communications.Each year, the Amazon Editors read thousands of books across genres to help customers discover their next favorite read as they assemble the Best Books of the Month, Best Books of the Year So Far and Best Books of the Year lists on Amazon.Because every reader is unique, Amazon Editors intentionally recommend titles from the widest possible selection — debut authors alongside established voices, hidden gems next to BookTok favorites — to connect readers of every taste with exceptional stories.This year's top 10 picks for Best Books of 2026 So Far:1. Kin by Tayari Jones"Kin is the story of two 'cradle friends' who are haunted by the loss of their mothers, and who, despite their diverging paths, continue to be each other's comfort and salvation. A nuanced portrait of family, friendship and race, the novel sings on every page." — Amazon Editor Erin Kodicek.Jones's Kin joins previous Best Books of Year So Far No. 1 selections including Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, James by Percival Everett, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.2. London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe"Illuminating and unforgettable, Keefe's latest delivers another knockout narrative nonfiction, this time telling the shocking story of how a young boy got caught up in the dangerous and powerful world of Russian oligarchs and landed at the bottom of the Thames." — Amazon Editor Al Woodworth.3. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke"When a tradwife influencer wakes up to discover it's somehow the 19th century, her journey back to reality makes for a brilliant, biting novel about motherhood, fame and faith. A reading experience like no other, this is the book I want to talk about with literally everyone I've ever met." — Amazon Editor Annabel Gutterman.4. Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden"Strangers is a divorce memoir, but it's also a forensic examination of a love and marriage gone wrong, seemingly without any warning. Burden puts words to many of our worst fears — that one day the person we love and trust the most will become an utter stranger to us." — Amazon Editorial Director Sarah Gelman.5. Night Objects by Eli Raphael"This mesmerizing suspense novel about a teenager's desperate search for belonging at her elite boarding school — where secrets swirl and danger looms large — lived in my head for days. Raphael introduces herself as a writer you don't want to miss." — Amazon Editor Annabel Gutterman.6. Land by Maggie O'Farrell"Never before have a 19th-century mapmaker, a scruffy, loyal dog and a mysterious copse of trees been more enchanting. O'Farrell (author of Hamnet) delivers a soaring and bewitching tale of family and how the remote Irish peninsula where they live defines and shapes them, generation after generation." — Amazon Editor Al Woodworth.7. American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn"This intimate yet enormous feat of storytelling sucked me in immediately. It's a page-turning account of four very different men you will cheer for, and ache for; a refreshing reminder that there are many ways to thrive in a world where opportunities feel fleeting. I can't stop thinking about it." — Amazon Editor Lindsay Powers.8. Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell"I adored this vulnerable, sexy love story about body image, second chances, and the bone-deep ache of loss. Rainbow Rowell creates characters who are beautiful in all their flaws and complexities, and this couldn't be truer than with Cherry, who I love. This book is messy, hopeful, and so romantic." — Amazon Editor Abby Abell.9. Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas"In his searing and very bloody page-turner, Dumas holds a mirror to our body image-obsessed world to reveal something quite unsavory in its reflection. This is body horror at its finest: uncomfortably vivid, often hilarious and totally disturbing. My eyes have never been so glued to a book's pages." — Amazon Editor Annabel Gutterman.10. Crux by Gabriel Tallent"A new addition to the canon of exceptional friendship novels, Crux is an exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing. Dan and Tamma's bond is glorious to behold, and I feel lucky to have witnessed it." — Amazon Editor Abby Abell.Exciting new featuresThis year's list includes a new category of Book Club Picks, spotlighting selections ideal for sharing and discussing with friends. Also new this season, readers can now follow specific Editors who match their reading tastes to help discover personal picks and receive monthly book recommendations.Start your summer reading by exploring the full Best Books of the Year So Far list at Amazon.com/bestbookssofar, then visit Amazon Book Review for more insights and reviews. Discover the Editors' top 20 picks alongside standout selections across genres including literature and fiction, mystery and thrillers, romance and romantasy, history, nonfiction, biographies and memoirs, debuts, cookbooks and children's books by age group. Let the summer reading begin!

Resignation, hirings and transfers from Bettendorf School District for June 11

The following personnel items are from the June 11 agenda of the Bettendorf Community School District. The School Board met at the Administration Center, 3311 18th St., Bettendorf.

Source of rising health costs debated as Michigan House committee weighs hospital oversight bills

Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. June 15, 2026. | Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance. Members of the Michigan House Government Operations Committee took a hard look at a package of bills championed by Speaker Matt Hall, which if passed, would scrutinize rising health costs by creating a board to review the finances of Michigan hospitals. Put forth by Hall, of Richland Township, and Reps. Mike Harris (R-Waterford), Jay DeBoyer (R- Clay Township) and Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Township), House Bills 6116–6119 would create a five-member Hospital Cost Review Board to oversee nonprofit hospitals’ budgets and spending. “If labor costs have risen, hospitals should be able to demonstrate that,” Harris told committee members on Thursday. “If pharmaceutical costs, medical equipment or other operating expenses increased, they should be able to demonstrate that as well. What the patient deserves is confidence that higher prices are tied to higher costs, not simply passed on because they can.” While insurance companies cannot simply raise their premiums without regulatory review, this proposed board would apply the same principle to nonprofit hospitals, Harris explained. Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford). June 25, 2026 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance Under the legislation, the board’s five members would be appointed by the governor and the majority and minority leaders in each chamber of the Michigan Legislature, with expertise in health care, health policy, business, finance or accounting. As part of its duties, the board would meet with nonprofit hospitals to discuss their budgets and would analyze a host of information on their operations, utilizations and any tax exemptions the facility receives. Among the required information hospitals would need to submit each year, they can provide explanations on how increased costs on drugs and medical devices, labor cost or any other relevant factors led to higher hospital charges. House Bill 6116 also sets standards for price increases, requiring hospitals to justify price increases for health services while capping those increases at the rate of inflation. If the bills are signed by the governor, hospitals would have 14 days to reduce the total cost of services covered by insurance by 10%.  They would also bar health networks from moving forward with acquisitions or mergers without the board’s approval, and limit employee noncompete agreements so they can only be applied between large hospital systems. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The policies would also create a healthcare cost grant program, intended to support rural hospitals operating at a loss of at least 3% for three consecutive years, which would be funded by fines collected from hospitals that do not comply with the law, and fees collected as part of the consolidation process. “I recognize this legislation asks significant questions of our healthcare system,” Harris said. “It should. Healthcare is one of the largest expenses facing Michigan families, employers, and taxpayers alike. We owe it to the people that we represent to examine whether that system is delivering the transparency, competition and the accountability that they deserve.” Testifying before the committee, Adam Carlson, the senior vice president of advocacy for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, told members that health costs are tied to several factors, including hospitals, insurance companies, the pharmaceuticals industry and clinicians.  However, Carlson said the package only targets one of those areas, and that it places arbitrary conditions on how these facilities provide care. Hospitals are facing rapidly rising costs, Carlson said, pointing to pharmaceutical prices as the leading driver. While there are 27 hospitals in the state operating with negative margins, these bills would immediately push an additional 27 hospitals into the red, Carlson said, pointing to the 10% price cut, restrictions keeping prices at or below the rate of inflation and required cost benchmarks within the bills as a serious threat. Adam Carlson, senior vice president of advocacy at Michigan Health and Hospital Association testifies before the Michigan House Government Operations Committee. June 25, 2025 | Screenshot If passed as is, Michigan hospitals can expect to see $2.3 billion in losses, with 21,600 full-time hospital workforce jobs lost statewide, Carlson said.  “I want to be very clear about this, because this isn’t just individuals who are sitting around who lose their jobs, these job loss numbers represent service line reductions,” Carlson said. “It represents the closure of urban units, the closure of behavioral health units and potentially the closure of hospitals.” For the association’s rural members who are operating on unsustainable margins their best options are to either convert to a for-profit model, or sell to private equity, which will only accelerate the growth of private equity in healthcare, Carlson said. “I don’t think that was the goal of the bills, but that’s the practical implication of what’s going to happen under this legislation,” he said. However, Bret Jackson of the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition argued hospitals have their own role in the rising costs of healthcare.  “The cost of hospital care has become one of the biggest drivers of rising health insurance premiums, high out-of-pocket costs, and wage pressure for employees throughout our state,” Jackson said.  Jackson pointed to a report from his organization, which found the average hospital operating profit margin among Michigan hospitals was 16% in 2024, up from 12% in 2023. According to the report, 80% of Michigan hospitals operate as nonprofits.  “Employers are struggling to provide quality health benefits to their employees,” Jackson said. “Every single dollar that goes towards unnecessary high hospital prices and fees is a dollar that cannot be used for employee wages, hiring, retirement benefits or business growth. For many Michigan families, it means higher deductibles, delayed care and increased medical debt.” The committee adjourned without voting on the bills. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Michigan Advance

Keokuk man charged after over 4 pounds of marijuana were found in home

A Keokuk man is facing felony drug charges after more than 4 pounds of marijuana were found in a home after a controlled delivery.

Libertarian candidates ask court to put them back on 2026 ballot

Jules Cutler, the lieutenant governor candidate for the Iowa Libertarian Party, spoke at a State Objection Panel meeting June 15, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Libertarian candidate for governor Nicholas Gluba and his running mate, Jules Cutler, are asking the courts to return their ticket to the ballot after being removed by the State Objection Panel. The appeal was filed Tuesday in Polk County District Court. It challenges the objection panel’s June 15 decision that the Libertarian candidates would not appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot for Iowa governor. The panel found that Cutler did not submit an affidavit of candidacy as lieutenant governor by the 5 p.m. deadline on June 2. Submitting this paperwork is a necessary step for the ticket to make it onto the ballot. But at the panel meeting, Cutler and her attorney, Jacob Heard, said she was told by Dani Phillips, an elections support specialist for the secretary of state’s office, that she was not required to submit an affidavit of candidacy. Cutler and Heard said this exchange took place when Cutler came with Gluba to the office, where he filed his paperwork and nomination petitions for ballot access. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Phillips told the panel she did not receive Cutler’s affidavit of candidacy when the Libertarian candidates came to the office, and said she was not asked if Cutler needed to file the paperwork as a lieutenant governor candidate. Cutler and Heard questioned Phillips’ memory of the day, because the elections support specialist also said she did not know if Cutler was in attendance when she accepted Gluba’s paperwork. The Libertarian candidate also said she had not been provided camera footage of the secretary of state’s office lobby June 2, which would have shown she was present when the paperwork was filed The petition seeking judicial review of the State Objection Panel decision argued the panel’s decision “was the product of decision making undertaken by persons who were improperly constituted as a decision-making (body), were motivated by an improper purpose, and were subject to disqualification.” The panel is typically made up of three members, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, Attorney General Brenna Bird, and Iowa Auditor Rob Sand. Sand, who is the Democratic nominee for Iowa governor in 2026, recused himself from the panel and was replaced by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, making the panel fully Republican. The Libertarians argued Sand should have been replaced by Gov. Kim Reynolds on the panel under state law, in addition to arguing Pate should have recused himself as the employer of Phillips, “whose credibility was directly at issue in determining whether to sustain the objection.” The petition also argues the objection itself is not valid grounds for the panel to take Gluba and Cutler off the ballot, stating Iowa Code only allows objections to be made to “the legal sufficiency of a certificate of nomination or nomination petition” or “to the eligibility of a candidate.” Libertarian candidates, as well as the national Libertarian Party, have accused Republican officials of attempting to keep Libertarians off the ballot for partisan purposes. Iowa’s gubernatorial race between Sand and Republican Zach Lahn is expected to be highly competitive. Other Iowa elections, including the races for U.S. Senate and several House seats, are also rated as “toss-ups” by political forecasters. The State  Objection Panel heard two other challenges to Libertarian candidates’ place on the ballot. The panel ruled June 15 to take Libertarian candidate Marco Battaglia off the ballot because the name he is running under is different from his legal name, Mark T. Anderson. Battaglia said he also plans to challenge the panel’s ruling in court, but had yet to file a petition as of Thursday. The panel did not accept a challenge to Libertarian candidate Rick Stewart’s place on the ballot, running for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. He had submitted paperwork identifying himself as “Rick Stewart” on his affidavit of candidacy, which differed from the name used on some nominating petitions, “Richard Stewart.” Pate said it was “very common for candidates to run using shortened versions of their names.” Though Stewart’s campaign remains on the ballot, the candidate said he was contacted by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who urged him to drop out and suggested he could make an “agreement” with the candidate, according to reporting from The Washington Post. Battaglia said Kennedy Jr. also contacted him about ending his campaign, as did U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd District. Annie Kuhle, a campaign adviser for Nunn who submitted one of the challenges to Battaglia’s 3rd District  nomination, and the Nunn campaign said they had contacted the Libertarian candidate because of concerns that he had collected signatures to qualify for the ballot using a third-party organization without proper reporting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

USDA takes Iowa dog breeder to court, alleging repeated, blocked inspections

A dog at Wuanita Swedlund's kennels in Farmington, Iowa, as photographed by USDA inspectors in 2024. (USDA photo as reproduced in U.S. District Court records) The federal government is taking an Iowa dog breeder to court, seeking a court order that will allow inspectors onto the property for the first time since 2024. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is suing Wuanita Swedlund of Farmington for allegedly barring federal officials from conducting unannounced inspections of her dog-breeding operations. According to the USDA’s lawsuit, licensed breeders are required, during business hours, to allow inspectors to enter their place of business to inspect and photograph the property, the animals and business records. The lawsuit alleges Swedlund has failed to provide the USDA’s APHIS inspectors with access to her facility the last five times they have visited the Farmington operation, all of which fell between November 2025 and May 2026. As a result, the USDA claims, APHIS officials have been unable to inspect the business or view the animals in Swedlund’s care since December 2024. “While this repeated failure to allow inspections is concerning on its own, Ms. Swedlund’s history of Animal Welfare Act violations as well as a recent public complaint about Ms. Swedlund’s facility compound that concern,” the lawsuit states. “The last time that APHIS inspectors were able to access Ms. Swedlund’s facility on Dec. 19, 2024, APHIS officials observed a dog with heavily matted fur across its body, dogs with no access to water, and an enclosure housing multiple dogs that was almost entirely covered with fecal matter.” According to the lawsuit, APHIS fielded a complaint in April 2026 in which the complainant “described an overwhelming smell” upon entering Swedlund’s facility, which the USDA says “generated extreme concern for the condition of the dogs in Ms. Swedlund’s care.” After again being denied entry for an inspection, the USDA says it suspended Swedlund’s license for 21 days. That suspension, the USDA says, will no longer be in effect beginning June 27, 2026. Citing the expiration of the license suspension, the USDA is now seeking a court declaration that Swedlund is violating the Animal Welfare Act by refusing to allow inspectors onto her property. In addition, the agency is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would force Swedlund to let the APHIS inspectors onto the property and give them access to her records. Swedlund has yet to file a response to the lawsuit, and the Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach her Thursday for comment. A history of animal-welfare violations Court records indicate the USDA first issued Swedlund a license in July 2023. Since then, the records show, she has been cited for numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act, some of which were tied to the death of eight puppies from three different litters. In that case, the USDA alleged Swedlund told inspectors she had found three dead bulldog puppies after feeling a strong, cold draft at the front of their enclosure. According to the lawsuit, inspectors reported Swedlund had placed duct tape over the hole that caused the draft, but the tape was peeling away at the time of the inspection and the cold draft could still be felt. Three more puppies from a litter of Rottweilers were found dead, the USDA says, and one puppy was severely injured and later euthanized after a husky broke into an enclosure housing a sheepdog and her newborn litter. A week later, another of the puppies from that litter was apparently eaten by its mother. Other USDA citations alleged Swedlund failed to provide proper veterinary care for several dogs in her care, including a puppy with a severe limp and “hard swelling” on one leg. Swedlund was also cited for using expired and improperly stored medications and for missing medical records. During a January 2024 inspection, an APHIS inspector cited Swedlund for failing to have enough staff on hand to maintain the minimum level of care required by federal law, noting that she was the sole full-time caregiver for 153 dogs and puppies. Court records show that in February 2024, Swedlund signed a joint stipulation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in which she agreed to decrease the number of dogs at the facility to no more than 30, and to do so within 30 days. During APHIS’s next inspection, in April 2024, an inspector identified only 12 dogs at the facility but was unable to confirm where the previously housed dogs had been transferred, the newly filed lawsuit alleges. In February 2026, after several failed attempts by APHIS officials to gain entry to the Farmington operation, the USDA issued an official warning to Swedlund for repeatedly failing to provide access to her facility in violation of federal regulations. That was followed by several more failed attempts at an inspection, resulting in the 21-day license suspension, the USDA alleges. Lawsuit: Swedlund engaged in puppy laundering Although the USDA lawsuit makes no mention of it, past APHIS inspection reports have pointed out her affiliation with another Iowa dog breeder accused of numerous regulatory violations, Steve Kruse, and the fact that federal law prohibits operations from routing animals through multiple license holders. In pending lawsuit filed against the USDA by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the animal-welfare organization claims the USDA “improperly approved” the licenses of two of Kruse’s Iowa associates, Swedlund and Brian Lichirie, despite “full knowledge of the relationship between the parties.” That lawsuit alleges that despite the Animal Welfare Act’s clear prohibition against issuing more than one license to a dog dealer, Lichirie and Swedlund each held their own license while operating kennels populated by dogs owned by Kruse. Such arrangements are prohibited by the USDA since they can result in puppy laundering — the process of routing dogs from a serial violator to a different licensee with a relatively clean record, in order to facilitate sales to retailers in jurisdictions that ban the sale of dogs sourced from questionable operators. The ASPCA claims the USDA wrote to Kruse 10 years ago, in 2016, to inform him that federal law required him, Lichirie and Swedlund to operate under a single license. When Kruse failed to take corrective action, the ASPCA claims, the USDA continued to renew his license and never took any steps to revoke the licenses of either Lichirie or Swedlund. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a court order that would force the USDA to void all current licenses issued to Kruse or his associates. Swedlund’s vet sanctioned by boards State records indicate Iowa-licensed veterinarian Jerry Couchman has acted as the attending veterinarian for Swedlund’s dog-breeding operations. In September 2025, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy charged Couchman with a variety of disciplinary charges tied to the federal Controlled Substances Act. According to the board, Couchman, in addition to his veterinary work, “has a dog-breeding business on his home premises.” State records indicate Couchman’s kennel is occupied by roughly 70 bulldogs. The board did not publicly disclose the charges against Couchman until March 2026, which was the same month Couchman agreed to a settlement in the case. That agreement called for a minimum nine-month suspension of Couchman’s Controlled Substances Act registration, restricting his access to controlled substances. Last year, the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine issued an emergency order indefinitely suspending Couchman’s veterinary license. At the time, the board alleged Couchman’s conduct posed an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare. On Nov. 4, 2025, Couchman and the veterinary board agreed to resolve the disciplinary case with a settlement agreement that called for Couchman’s veterinary license to be suspended for nine months, after which it was placed on probationary status for three years. He was also fined $3,000. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

What made the deadly Venezuelan earthquakes different

It appears the two big earthquakes in Venezuela that occurred in rapid succession may have involved two separate fault lines. Several faults intersect in this tectonically complex region.

Davenport man charged after allegedly hitting squad car, injuring officers

33-year-old Torrence Vickers faces multiple felony charges after police say he rammed a squad car and injured officers following a traffic stop Monday.

Cambridge Natural History Museum secures permanent home

At just nine years old, Anderson Taylor opened the Cambridge Natural History Museum in the fall of 2024.