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

East Moline to have its first-ever comic convention

Do you have a love for comic, video games or any interest deemed nerdy or geek? The Quad-Cities Comic Con is coming to East Moline, late May.

Crime Stoppers Solved: Police identify driver who fled at 100+ mph in Ford Fusion

Bettendorf police are searching for a man they say he sped away from officers at more than 100 mph.

Man charged following weekend Amber Alert in Waterloo

A man has been arrested in connection to an Amber Alert that went out Sunday for a missing 12-year-old girl from Waterloo.

Burlington names Deputy Chief Wayne Thomson as next police chief

Burlington has chosen its next police chief: a veteran deputy chief with nearly three decades of experience.

East Moline Main Street to hold fourth annual Taco & Margarita Festival with 130 vendors

The Taco & Margarita Festival returns May 9 to 15th Avenue in East Moline, with organizers launching a week of sponsor spotlights ahead of the event.

NWS confirms 6 tornadoes from April 2 severe weather event

Several tornadoes caused damage across the area April 2.

Gift Gardens program returns to help local food pantries

Organizers announced plans Monday for this year’s Gift Gardens, a community garden program that donates fresh produce to local food pantries.

City of Burlington names police chief

Wayne Thompson will be officially appointed at future city council meeting.

Rye Davis Band performing at Bishop Hill Creative Commons

The Rye Davis Band will perform an evening of authentic country music on Saturday, April 11 at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill Street. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with an optional potluck dinner so guests can gather and connect before the performance. Attendees are welcome to bring a dish to share if [...]

Medical supplies are stuck in Dubai, as clinics around the world face shortages

The war in Iran has slowed down international shipping, much of which contains medical and humanitarian goods destined for Asia and Africa.

United Way Quad Cities CEO stepping down

CEO Rene Gellerman, who joined the organization in 2018, announced she will step down in June.

Bettendorf hosting Friendship Park ribbon cutting

Quad City families can check out the newest playground equipment in the area at a ribbon-cutting on Friday. Bettendorf will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Friendship Park, 5033 White Post Road, on Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m. The city installed a brand-new, $171,027 state-of-the-art playground system at the park following a Community Input Event [...]

Dream acquire 2-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese from Sky for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028

The Atlanta Dream have acquired two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky in exchange for Atlanta’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.

Galesburg schools seek community input in superintendent selection

Galesburg CUSD #205 begins its search for a new superintendent as Dr. John Asplund plans to retire in 2027, with a community survey now open.

Trump set to hold press conference after profanity-laced post on Iran

The president has had mixed messages about how and when the U.S.-Israel-led war in Iran will end.

Trump holds s press conference after profanity-laced post on Iran

The president has had mixed messages about how and when the U.S.-Israel-led war in Iran will end.

Trump holds a press conference after profanity-laced post on Iran

The president has had mixed messages about how and when the U.S.-Israel-led war in Iran will end.

United Way Quad Cities CEO to step down

Gellerman has been with United Way Quad Cities since 2018.

Influential former QCSO conductor is subject of major exhibit at University of Iowa

James Dixon (1928-2007) was the longest-serving conductor in QCSO history – leading the ensemble 29 years — and is the subject of a new exhibit at the University of Iowa.

City of Moline designated as a River Edge Development Zone

The designation makes the city eligible for several state financial incentives aimed at downtown development and attracting private investment.

QC Restaurant Week returns with nearly 90 participating restaurants

A weeklong celebration of local dining is back in the Quad Cities, featuring dozens of local restaurants, exclusive deals and a free digital pass.

3 Things to Know | Quad Cities morning headlines for April 6, 2026

Leaf and yard waste collection is underway in Rock Island and Davenport, and this Wednesday, News 8 is gathering donations for the Quad City Food Drive.

Demystifying structured data: How to speak an LLM’s native language

Demystifying structured data: How to speak an LLM’s native languageLarge language models (LLMs) have fundamentally changed what it means to be found online. These systems do not read content the way a person does, nor do they rank pages the way traditional search engines do.Instead, they parse meaning, identify relationships, and construct answers from structured patterns. When these patterns are missing, the model is forced to guess, and in the era of AI search, a guess is often the difference between being cited as a source and being skipped entirely.Schema.org markup removes this ambiguity, providing a machine-readable layer of certainty beneath human-written text. As LLMs become the primary interface between brands and audiences, providing this “native language” is among the most consequential strategic decisions a digital organization can make. Below, elk Marketing explains how structured data helps AI systems interpret and surface content online.The Shift From Keywords to Entities Starts With SchemaFor most of the internet’s history, search operated on a straightforward transaction: match a user’s words to a page that contained those same words. That logic hasn’t disappeared, but AI has added a more sophisticated layer on top of it.Today, systems like Google and LLMs don’t stop at matching phrases. They search for entities, specific, identifiable things like people, organizations, products, places, and concepts that carry meaning regardless of how they’re phrased.Entity optimization builds on traditional SEO rather than replacing it. Where keyword optimization focuses on what words appear on a page, entity optimization establishes what something definitively is, so AI systems can recognize it, trust it, and connect it to a broader network of known relationships.The future of search visibility isn’t about whether a page mentions a topic; it’s about whether a system can confidently identify the entities behind that topic. Structured data provides that certainty, transforming content from descriptive text into a set of verifiable relationships that AI systems can reliably cite.Schema.org is the mechanism that makes this possible, founded by Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex as a shared vocabulary that translates human content into machine-confirmed meaning. That confirmation strengthens semantic relevance, improves recognition across knowledge graphs, and ultimately determines whether a brand earns a citation or gets bypassed entirely. elk Marketing How Structured Data Feeds the Knowledge GraphKnowledge graphs are how AI systems and search engines store what they know. Google launched its own in 2012, and it now holds hundreds of billions of facts about entities and the relationships connecting them.When a user submits a query, Google doesn’t just scan web pages. It cross-references what it already knows, pulling established relationships from that graph to deliver answers with confidence rather than approximation.Structured data is what keeps that graph accurate and current. When a business implements schema markup, it makes entity relationships explicit, confirming not just that an organization exists, but what it does, who leads it, where it operates, and how it connects to other verified entities.That contextual trust is what earns recognition across AI systems, and it sets the stage for how specific schema types do the work at the ground level.The Schema Types That Power Machine ReadabilityHowever, not all structured data carries equal weight, and the schema types that matter most to AI systems are the ones that remove interpretive guesswork at the most critical points of a page.Organization schema anchors a brand’s identity, establishing who a company is at the entity level before any content gets evaluated. Article schema confirms authorship, publication date, and content classification, the signals that determine whether a piece is citation-worthy or simply crawlable.Product schema defines pricing, attributes, and availability explicitly, so machines work from confirmed facts rather than approximations. FAQPage schema delivers direct answers in a format that AI-generated responses were practically built to consume.HowTo schema converts sequential instructions into structured, extractable steps. Together, these types form a machine-readable architecture beneath the content a human audience reads, and that architecture is what LLMs reach for first when constructing an answer. elk Marketing How LLMs Interpret Structured InformationWhile LLMs possess an uncanny ability to process natural language, their effectiveness is often hindered by a “structural blind spot.” Industry observers have consistently noted that even the most advanced models frequently misinterpret meaning when forced to flatten complex data into linear sequences.Structured data resolves this by acting as a “ground truth” layer that eliminates probabilistic guesswork. By labeling entities and relationships, schema functions as a critical efficiency tool rather than a mere ranking tactic. It supports entity recognition by providing explicit anchors for subjects, which sharpens contextual understanding beyond surface text.This precision enables direct answer extraction, allowing AI to generate concise summaries without the risk of “hallucination” — the tendency for models to fabricate facts when data is ambiguous.Ultimately, this structured framework provides computational efficiency, reducing the processing load on AI systems by offering a machine-readable map that ensures faster parsing and higher citation accuracy.Organizational Adoption: Turning Structured Data Into Scalable InfrastructureAchieving machine-readable precision at scale requires moving beyond manual tagging toward robust, automated infrastructure. Strategic implementation separates volatile data from evergreen assets to prevent “schema drift.”Dynamic schemas are essential for product detail pages (PDPs) and listing pages (PLPs), where real-time JSON-LD updates ensure AI systems ingest current pricing and availability. Conversely, static schemas anchor core brand identity and instructional how-to guides.This transition demands cross-functional alignment between engineering, SEO, and content teams to integrate structured data into the core CMS architecture. By treating schema as a living asset rather than a technical afterthought, organizations ensure their digital identity remains accurate across thousands of pages.Such scalable automation provides the foundational clarity necessary for AI models to verify authority without manual intervention.The Future Belongs to What Machines Can ReadAs AI search continues to reduce reliance on unstructured interpretation, the organizations paying closest attention are no longer asking whether structured data matters. They already know it does. That recognition has shifted schema from a technical consideration into foundational digital infrastructure, the kind that compounds in value the longer it stays in place.Machine readability is now the baseline requirement for discoverability, and the systems that determine who gets cited are increasingly solving for certainty over volume. OpenAI Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil has noted that as real-time information floods the web, these structures allow AI to improve its answers and function as a better assistant.Speaking the native language of an LLM is about reducing ambiguity to enable precision at scale, and businesses that build that clarity now are the ones AI systems will keep reaching for.This story was produced by elk Marketing and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Over-the-counter medication abortion? These researchers say it would be safe

A paper in JAMA Internal Medicine adds to the growing scientific evidence that medication abortion pills would be safe to sell over-the-counter at the pharmacy. But political opposition means that possibility may not happen anytime soon.

Community invited to weigh in on Galesburg superintendent search

The district said it is seeking a visionary who will continue the student-centered focus and advance the district’s momentum.

More than half of European residency inquiries at one advisory firm came from Americans, data shows

More than half of European residency inquiries at one advisory firm came from Americans, data showsUS.-based investors accounted for 52% of all European residency-by-investment inquiries where the source country could be identified at Movingto, a Lisbon-headquartered migration advisory firm, between August 2025 and March 2026. The figure is drawn from approximately 1,600 leads with country attribution in the firm’s CRM system. It represents one firm’s inquiry funnel—not a market census—but the sustained concentration over an eight-month window suggests the shift may be more than temporary.The US share stayed elevated across every month in the datasetThe U.S. share peaked at 55% in October 2025 and did not fall below 33% in any month. By early 2026, it had settled around 46%, where it remained in both January and March. Earlier data from a prior CRM system suggests the U.S. share was approximately 25% in the first half of 2025, though differences in data capture methodology mean the two periods are not directly comparable. Movingto The October peak came roughly eleven months after the November 2024 U.S. presidential election, though the dataset cannot establish whether political factors drove the shift. What it does show is that the elevated U.S. share persisted well beyond any single news cycle.The trend is consistent with broader reporting on American outbound mobility. The Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report 2025 recorded 142,000 global millionaire relocations, projecting 165,000 for 2026. Those figures describe completed moves rather than enquiry-stage demand, but they point in the same direction.Where the rest of the demand comes fromThe United Kingdom was the second-largest source at 26.4%, consistent with increased outbound interest following the abolition of the UK’s non-domiciled tax regime. Gulf states, South Asia, and Turkey collectively accounted for roughly 17%—a small share but a notable signal that demand for European residency is broadening beyond the traditional U.S.-U.K.-China base. Movingto Demand is shifting between programmes, not shrinkingPortugal’s Golden Visa remained the most inquired-about program at 33% of tagged enquiries overall, but its share fell from 35.7% in the second half of 2025 to 29.5% in the first quarter of 2026. Over the same period, Portugal’s D7 passive income visa grew from 20.8% to 30.7%, and the D8 digital nomad visa grew from 9.5% to 16.8%. Movingto The shift coincides with uncertainty over Portugal’s citizenship timeline. The government proposed extending the residency requirement from five to ten years in June 2025; Parliament approved it in October; the Constitutional Court partially struck it down in December; and as of March 2026, the original five-year pathway remained in effect. Investors who might have pursued the Golden Visa for its citizenship pathway may be exploring D7 and D8 routes that carry lower investment thresholds and less exposure to citizenship-timeline changes.MethodologyData is drawn from Movingto’s CRM system covering August 2025 through March 25, 2026, using a single platform with consistent methodology throughout. Country attribution is based on self-reported country of residence. Program-type attribution uses internal tagging applied during lead qualification; not all leads have program tags. A bulk data import on Feb. 4, 2026 has been excluded from monthly trend analysis. Earlier first-half 2025 figures referenced for comparison are from a prior CRM system and are not directly comparable.External context is drawn from the Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report 2025.This story was produced by Movingto and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival keeps Iowa connection alive for 25 years

Iowa’s longest-running film festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary with its biggest festival weekend yet. The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival runs April 9-12 and features 65 films — all with Iowa ties.

Mental health inequities at work are costing employers more than they might realize

Mental health inequities at work are costing employers more than they might realizeFor employers seeing low mental health utilization, rising burnout, and steadily increasing healthcare costs, the problem may not be awareness.It may be mental health equity.Spring Health recently completed a large, peer-reviewed U.S. study of more than 740,000 people and found that more modern, enhanced mental health solutions can drive higher use, better outcomes, and more equitable access across socioeconomic groups than traditional health plans.However, when mental health support isn’t designed equitably, organizations quietly pay what is called the status quo tax: a rising healthcare trend without meaningful improvement in outcomes.Read on for a breakdown of what mental health equity actually means and how to operationalize it.What is mental health equity?According to the CDC, health equity is “the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.”In the workplace, mental health equity means:Employees can access care quickly, regardless of geography or income.Providers reflect diverse identities and lived experiences.Care plans are personalized, not one-size-fits-all.Outcomes are consistent across race, gender, income, and role.Equality gives everyone the same benefits.Equity ensures everyone can use and benefit from that support.That distinction has direct financial implications.When certain populations can’t access effective care, mental health conditions go untreated. Untreated mental health conditions are strongly correlated with:Increased ER visitsHigher physical health claimsPoor chronic disease managementHigher pharmacy spendIncreased absenteeism and presenteeismMental health equity is not just a cultural imperative. It is a cost-containment lever.5 mental health equity strategies that improve outcomes and ROI1. Measure disparities and not just utilizationIf a certain percentage of your population uses your EAP, but engagement is more highly concentrated among salaried corporate employees while frontline workers rarely access support, that’s not success.That’s imbalance.Spring Health recently surveyed 1,500+ full-time employees who had access to a variety of different mental health solutions, or no solution at all. Two key findings from full-time employees were:75% of managers said they were offered mental health benefits by their employer, while only 49% of non-managers said the same.87% of managers said they had used their employer’s mental health benefits in the past year, while only 41% of non-managers said the same.These gaps in awareness (nearly every employee at mid-to-large-sized organizations is offered an EAP, according to Mental Health America) and utilization indicate an opportunity to improve mental health equity.To advance mental health equity in the workplace, organizations can:Segment utilization and outcomes by demographic groups.Run anonymous surveys with optional identifiers for key demographics.Use real-time dashboards to identify engagement gaps.When you uncover disparities early, you prevent downstream costs, like long-term leaves or crisis escalations.2. Invest in managers as equity multipliersManagers influence employee mental health as much as spouses or partners do, and more than doctors and therapists do. That’s why it’s important to invest in mental health training for managers.What would effective training and resources for managers look like? They could include:Leadership training on psychological safetyManager consultations with mental health expertsSelf-guided resilience toolsClear referral pathwaysEquipping managers reduces mental health stigma, accelerates early intervention, and reduces higher-cost care later.3. Replace one-size-fits-all care with precision matchingTraditional EAPs often rely on static provider lists and phone-based intake. That model reinforces inequity. Spring Health’s research revealed that the most common barriers to care for employees are:Lack of timeCost of carePrivacy concernsLong wait timesThe result? Low engagement and delayed care.Equitable mental health solutions prioritize:Diverse provider networksFast access (appointments in days, not weeks)Personalized care plans based on validated assessmentsA full spectrum of support (coaching, therapy, medication management, specialty care)When you remove those barriers, engagement increases meaningfully. And higher-quality engagement is what drives cost offsets in physical health spend.4. Support caregivers and flexible work policiesMental health equity extends beyond access to therapy. Caregiving responsibilities, such as childcare, eldercare, and neurodivergent support, disproportionately affect certain employee populations.When organizations ignore these realities, they could see higher burnout, increased leave requests, reduced productivity, and higher turnover among working parents and caregivers.Flexible work policies, where operationally possible, are equity accelerators:Flexible schedulingRemote optionsMeeting-free windowsCaregiver-specific communication strategies5. Address social determinants of healthMental health outcomes are deeply influenced by social determinants of health, which are the conditions in which people live, work, and age.Financial stress, food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers all affect wellbeing.Employees with unmet social needs may experience worse health outcomes, higher healthcare costs, and lower productivity.Mental health equity strategies could include:Financial wellness programsStudent loan supportEmergency assistance fundsRetirement planning servicesFlexible paid time offThis story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to use your tax bill to get a free vacation

How to use your tax bill to get a free vacationTax season is on the horizon, and while you may be lucky enough to get something back, sometimes, you’ll owe money.If you know you’ll have to pay up this year, you can take the sting out of it by earning points. A hefty tax bill can be an opportunity to open a new credit card and charge your tax bill on it, though you will have to pay a small fee to do so. This can help you meet the spend threshold for a welcome bonus and earn you thousands of points or miles.However, taxes can be confusing, and there are some things to consider if you want to pay your tax bill on your credit card. After all, is it really worth incurring extra fees to earn points? It can be, but only in certain circumstances.Point.me provides some helpful advice on how to pay your taxes with a credit card, if the rewards outweigh the extra fees, and why you might want to (or not want to) do so.Can you put your taxes on a credit card?You can definitely pay for your taxes on a credit card, but it can incur a small fee. For federal tax payments, the IRS has two approved payment processors, which charge between 1.75%-1.85% when paying by credit card. The amount depends on whether you’re paying local, county, state, or federal taxes.When to put your taxes on a credit card (and when not to)It’s possible to pay your tax bill on a credit card, especially if you’re willing to fork over a small additional percentage as a processing fee. But the real question looms: Should you put your taxes on a credit card?And the answer depends.Put your taxes on a credit card if:You would have paid the full amount with your debit card or directly from your bank account.You’re ready to open a new credit card and can use the tax bill to hit a spend threshold.Your credit limit is high enough for the tax charge.You can handle paying an annual fee that comes with a new card.Don’t put your taxes on a credit card if:You would’ve paid the tax bill with the credit card in installments.Are unable to get approved for a new card.Can’t manage another annual fee.Fees vs. welcome offer: How to come out on topIf you have to pay a tax bill and your situation matches the list above on when to put your taxes on a credit card, consider opening a new credit card, so you can use the large payment to meet a spend minimum and earn a credit card welcome bonus.Since taxes are something you need to pay anyway, you might as well get something out of it. This is especially helpful with credit cards that offer a larger welcome bonus with a higher spend requirement, as you might otherwise not spend enough organically on your regular expenses. Think of the fee as a small cost to purchase the welcome bonus, whether it’s transferable bank points, airline miles, hotel points, or even free night certificates.Here’s a helpful example of how you can still come out on top when using your credit card to pay taxes, even though you’ll pay a small fee.Imagine a credit card is offering a 125,000-point welcome offer after reaching $8,000 in spend in the first three months. $8,000 is a large amount of money that the average consumer might struggle to spend in just three months, but if your federal tax bill is $10,000, you can charge it to your card, reach the spend threshold, and earn the welcome bonus right away.If the fee to pay the bill is 1.75%, you’ll spend $175.00 in total for fees and get 125,000 points, plus an additional 10,000 points since you’ll earn 1x points per dollar spent on the bill. In total, you’d earn 135,175 points from your tax purchase. Point.me Even if points are worth only 1 cent per point (and transferable points are often worth much more if you can move them to valuable hotel and airline partners), you’ll get at least a $1,300 value from your 135,175 points, if not significantly more.Even when you add in the annual fee and the $175 IRS processing fee, you’re still coming out on top by a landslide.Pick the right credit cardsHere are some helpful recommendations for a new credit card to use for your taxes.Opt for transferable points cardsAlways focus on transferable points first, such as American Express Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points offer flexibility when it comes time for using them on a trip, thanks to their transferability to partner travel programs.Opting for transferable rewards means that if an airline or hotel loyalty program devalues its currency, your points are still worth a lot, and many options remain for transferring them.Search for high welcome offersAlso, consumers should not forget the welcome offers.Consider: Which cards have the highest welcome bonuses? Are there any welcome bonuses where the spend requirement is too high, which you wouldn’t be able to fulfill organically any other time of the year?Because tax bills are often expensive, they’re an easy way to meet the spend threshold without stressing over every single charge at the grocery store or gas station.However, you may have to spend more to earn more. Premium cards typically have a higher annual fee and spending requirements, but also a higher welcome bonus. These are some options to consider:American Express Platinum CardChase Sapphire Reserve CardCapital One Venture X Business CardThe Business American Express Platinum CardSapphire Reserve for Business CardOutside of transferable rewards cards, opt for co-branded cards associated with loyalty programs that you redeem the miles with the most.Pick cards with bonuses on everyday spendYou’ll want to consider how much points are worth, and how many points per dollar on everyday spend (including your tax bill) you’ll earn.For example, if you put your $10,000 tax bill on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’d get 2x miles/points per dollar spent, meaning you’d obtain the card’s welcome bonus, plus 20,350 points for your $10,175 in spend.Don’t want to hit a welcome bonus? Consider aiming for these perksIf you’re not in the market for a welcome bonus or don’t want to add another credit card to the mix, you can use a large tax payment to hit other types of spend thresholds on cards you already hold that can get you benefits such as elite status, free night certificates, statement credits, and more.For example, if you spend $75,000 annually on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll unlock perks such as IHG Diamond elite status, Southwest A-list status, a $500 Southwest credit, and a $250 The Shops at Chase credit. If you frequently fly Southwest or stay at IHG properties, this could easily outweigh the processing fee.Other cards, such as the World of Hyatt credit card, offer an additional free night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. Meanwhile, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite gives you a 100,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $60,000 in a card anniversary year.Tips for paying your taxes on your credit cardBefore committing to paying your taxes on your credit card, there are a few things you should know.Only pay taxes on your credit card using authorized and approved payment processorsIt’s important to use only approved payment processors obtained through official channels to avoid scams or paying higher fees.The IRS mentions which payment processors they accept payments from. For local, county, and state tax payments, use the payment processor that they use on their official website.Interest rates on rewards cards are highIt’s of course critical to pay off your bill each month, but this is especially important on rewards credit cards, which tend to have higher APR. If you incur interest on your tax bill, you’ll be paying a lot more for a welcome bonus, and it’s not worth it.Business credit cards pay more feesYou can also pay your taxes on a business credit card, with a caveat.“The two IRS-approved payment processors charge a higher fee when using a business credit card versus a personal credit card (2.89%-2.95% vs 1.75%-1.85%).Use your credit card to pay taxes, but only when it makes senseIf you can pay off your credit card bill in full and have a big expense coming up — a tax payment, or even other significant expenses like engagement rings, tuition payments, weddings, a car, or home improvement purchases — it could be the perfect time to open a new credit card and use the large expense to meet the spend minimum and earn thousands of points via the welcome bonus.Just make sure you’re not getting charged more than a 3% transaction fee for any large purchase, and always use IRS-approved or official payment processors when paying your tax bill.This story was produced by Point.me and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Rene Gellerman steps down as United Way QCs president/CEO

United Way Quad Cities is searching for its next president and CEO as Rene Gellerman steps down from the position in June. Gellerman joined United Way Quad Cities in 2018 and led the organization for eight years. During her tenure, United Way Quad Cities has evolved into a strategic community impact organization that connects over [...]

Are business credit card payments tax-deductible?

Are business credit card payments tax-deductible?You swipe your business credit card for office supplies, client meals, and software subscriptions throughout the year. When tax season arrives, it’s not always clear which of those credit card charges actually qualify as deductible business expenses.Here’s the short answer: Your credit card payment itself isn’t deductible, but the underlying business purchases are. The IRS only allows deductions for ordinary and necessary costs that support your business, not the act of paying your credit card bill. The challenge is understanding which expenses qualify, which don’t, and how to report everything correctly at tax time. Ramp breaks it down.Understanding business credit card tax deductionsA business tax deduction reduces your taxable income by the amount you spent on legitimate business expenses. The IRS allows you to deduct ordinary and necessary costs required to operate your company, from office rent to employee salaries.What often causes confusion is the difference between a credit card payment and a business purchase. Paying your credit card bill isn’t a deductible event—it’s simply moving money from one account to another. The deductible expense occurs when you make a qualifying business purchase.For example, buying $500 of printer paper creates a deductible business expense. Paying the $500 credit card bill two weeks later does not create an additional deduction. Many business owners mistakenly treat both the purchase and the payment as deductible, which leads to errors during tax filing.Which credit card expenses are tax-deductible?Most business purchases you charge to your credit card are fully deductible as long as they meet the IRS standard for ordinary and necessary business expenses.Office supplies: Paper, pens, printer ink, folders, and desk organizersSoftware subscriptions: Accounting tools, project management platforms, design programs, and cloud storageProfessional services: Legal fees, accounting costs, consulting services, and freelance contractorsAdvertising and marketing: Social media ads, Google Ads campaigns, promotional materials, and website hostingBusiness insurance: General liability coverage, professional liability, property insurance, and workers’ compensationOffice rent and utilities: Monthly rent payments, electricity, internet service, and phone linesEquipment and tools: Computers, printers, specialized machinery, and industry-specific toolsShipping and postage: Package delivery, mailing supplies, and courier servicesEmployee wages and benefits: Salaries, bonuses, health insurance contributions, and retirement plan matchingVehicle expenses: Gas, maintenance, repairs, and insurance for business vehiclesThe IRS applies the “ordinary and necessary” test to every business expense. Ordinary means the expense is common in your industry. Necessary means it’s helpful and appropriate for your operations.Partially deductible expensesSome expenses have percentage limits. Business meals are generally 50% deductible when you dine with clients, prospects, or employees to discuss work matters. If you spend $100 on a client lunch, you can deduct $50. Restaurant meals provided to employees during work hours also qualify for 50% deduction.The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated most entertainment deductions starting in 2018. Taking a client to a concert or sporting event is no longer deductible, even if business is discussed. Company holiday parties and employee recreation events remain 100% deductible as employee benefits.Travel meal expensesMeals during overnight business travel are 50% deductible. Per diem allowances also qualify at 50%. If you attend a conference where meals are included in the registration fee, those meals follow the same 50% limit.For example, if you spend $200 on dinner with a potential client, you may deduct $100. Track the full amount spent and apply the appropriate percentage when completing your return.Non-deductible credit card chargesCertain purchases never qualify as business deductions, even when charged to your business credit card:Personal expenses: Groceries, personal clothing, family entertainment, and household itemsCommuting costs: Daily travel between home and your regular workplacePersonal vacations: Family trips, leisure travel, and non-business accommodationsLife insurance premiums: Personal coverage policies for yourself or family membersPolitical contributions: Campaign donations and political organization duesFines and penalties: Traffic tickets, tax penalties, regulatory violations, and late payment feesMixed personal and business use requires careful allocation. If you use your cell phone 70% for business and 30% personally, you can deduct only 70% of the bill. The same principle applies to vehicles, home offices, and equipment. Keep detailed records showing how you calculated the business percentage for each mixed-use expense.Can you write off credit card debt?No, you can’t deduct credit card debt itself. However, you may deduct the business-related expenses that created the debt, along with any interest charged on those purchases. If the balance includes personal expenses, that portion is not deductible.Are credit card fees tax-deductible?Credit card interest and many fees associated with legitimate business purchases can be deductible, depending on how you use the card.Credit card interest counts as a deductible business expense when you carry a balance on charges made for business purposes. The IRS treats this interest the same way it treats other financing costs, such as bank loan interest or equipment financing charges.Several types of credit card fees may qualify for business tax deductions:Annual fees: The yearly cost to maintain your business credit card accountForeign transaction fees: Costs for purchases made in other currencies or countriesCash advance fees: Charges for withdrawing cash from your credit cardBalance transfer fees: Costs for moving debt from one card to anotherNote: Late payment fees aren’t deductible. The IRS classifies them as penalties, which cannot be written off.Calculating interest deductions requires tracking which charges generated the interest. If you spent $5,000 on business expenses and carried that balance for three months at 18% APR, you’d pay roughly $225 in interest. That full $225 becomes a deductible business expense on your tax return.The type of credit card matters for tax purposes. Business credit cards issued in your company’s name make deduction tracking straightforward, since interest and fees on these cards typically qualify as business expenses when the card is used exclusively for business.Personal credit card interestPersonal credit cards complicate deductions even when you use them for business purchases. The IRS generally doesn’t allow interest deductions on personal credit cards, regardless of what you bought. You can deduct the underlying business purchases, but the interest is treated as a nondeductible personal expense.Mixed-use cards require careful allocation. If you charge $3,000 in business expenses and $2,000 in personal expenses on the same card, 60% of the interest becomes deductible business interest, while 40% is nondeductible. Track your purchases each month to maintain accurate percentages.Sole proprietors face additional complexity because the IRS views their business and personal finances as connected. Using a dedicated business credit card helps maintain clear boundaries and simplifies your tax preparation.Is an annual credit card fee tax-deductible?Annual fees can be deductible if the card is used solely for business purposes. These fees are typically categorized under “Other deductions” on your business tax return. If the card is used for both personal and business expenses, only the business portion of the fee is deductible.Best practices for tracking business credit card expensesProper expense tracking protects your deductions and makes tax preparation easier. Good records help prevent audit issues and give you a clearer view of where your business spends money.Separating business and personal expensesA dedicated business credit card creates the cleanest separation between personal and company spending. This one step simplifies bookkeeping, protects you during audits, and reduces the risk of misclassifying expenses.Mixing personal and business charges on the same card creates unnecessary work. You’ll spend time sorting each purchase, and the IRS may disallow deductions if you can’t clearly demonstrate a business purpose. Banks may also adjust your credit limit or restrict business card benefits if they detect personal use.Accidental personal charges happen. When they do, document them immediately, reimburse your business account for the amount, and record the transaction as personal. This paper trail shows you’re keeping a clear boundary between personal and business activity.Documentation and recordkeeping requirementsThe IRS requires documentation to support every business expense deduction you claim:Credit card statements: Monthly statements showing all transactions and payment historyReceipts: Itemized receipts for purchases over $75; keeping all receipts is idealBusiness purpose notes: Who, what, when, where, and whyMileage logs: Required for business travel if you deduct vehicle expensesMeeting documentation: Names and business relationships for people present at business mealsKeep these records for at least three years after filing. The IRS can audit returns up to three years back—or up to six if they suspect substantial underreporting. Holding records for seven years provides extra protection.Adequate proof of business purpose goes beyond having a receipt. A $200 restaurant charge should include notes about who attended and what was discussed. Software subscription receipts should show how the tool supports your operations. Travel expenses should include the business reason for the trip.Digital records carry the same legal weight as paper. Scanning receipts and storing them in a cloud-based system keeps everything searchable and safe from loss, fire, or damage.Using expense tracking tools and softwareModern tools reduce bookkeeping time and improve accuracy.Accounting software platforms: QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks offer expense tracking with credit card integrationReceipt scanning apps: Expensify, Receipt Bank, and Shoeboxed digitize and store receipts automaticallyBank-provided tools: Many business credit cards include built-in expense categorization and reporting featuresSpreadsheet templates: Excel or Google Sheets can work for simpler needsAutomated categorization learns from past transactions and sorts new charges into tax categories, making business expense tracking more efficient. Instead of manually coding each entry, you review and approve the system’s suggestions.Connecting your credit card to your accounting software removes manual data entry. Transactions flow in automatically, giving you real-time insight into spending trends, helping you spot errors, and keeping your books up to date.How to claim credit card deductions on your taxesHow you report business credit card deductions depends on your business structure and the tax forms you file.For sole proprietors and single-member LLCsSole proprietors and single-member LLCs report business credit card expenses on Schedule C, which attaches to Form 1040. Schedule C lists common business expense categories, and credit card purchases should be assigned to the appropriate lines:Line 8—Advertising: Marketing costs, promotional materials, and online ad campaignsLine 18—Office expense: Supplies, postage, printing, and related office itemsLine 21—Repairs and maintenance: Equipment repairs, building maintenance, and vehicle service costsLine 22—Supplies: Materials and supplies consumed during operationsLine 24a—Travel: Airfare, hotels, rental cars, and other business travel expensesLine 24b—Deductible meals: Business meals at 50% of the actual costLine 25—Utilities: Phone, internet, electricity, and other business utility expensesLine 27a—Other expenses: Software subscriptions, professional dues, bank fees, and deductible credit card interestReport credit card interest on Line 16a as business interest expense. Annual credit card fees typically go on Line 27a under “Other expenses.” Keeping your categorization consistent from year to year helps avoid unnecessary audit questions.Single-member LLCs file the same way as sole proprietors unless they elect corporate tax treatment. The LLC structure provides liability protection but doesn’t change how the IRS treats the entity for tax-reporting purposes.For corporations and partnershipsPartnerships file Form 1065 and issue Schedule K-1 forms to each partner. Business credit card expenses reduce partnership income, and each partner’s share of the deduction appears on their K-1.S corporations file Form 1120-S. As with partnerships, deductions reduce the corporation’s income before it flows through to shareholders on a K-1. Shareholders cannot deduct business credit card expenses on their individual returns; the corporation claims them directly.C-corporations file Form 1120 and pay tax at the corporate level. Credit card expenses reduce the corporation’s taxable income. Shareholders report only dividends they receive, not corporate-level deductions.Multi-member LLCs follow partnership taxation rules by default and file Form 1065 unless they elect to be treated as an S-corp or C-corp. Always confirm your entity’s tax election before filing so that deductions are reported in the correct place.Common mistakes to avoidBusiness owners often make avoidable mistakes when deducting credit card expenses. These errors can lead to denied deductions or trigger unnecessary IRS scrutiny.Deducting personal expenses: Groceries, personal clothing, and family entertainment don’t qualify as business costsMissing documentation: Failing to keep receipts, statements, or notes about business purposesDeducting credit card payments instead of purchases: The payment itself isn’t deductible; only the underlying business expense isClaiming 100% of partially deductible expenses: Meals are generally limited to 50%Double-dipping: Deducting both the purchase and the card payment, or claiming the same expense across multiple tax returnsMixing business and personal use without allocation: Only the business portion of mixed-use expenses (like cell phones or vehicles) is deductibleIgnoring the ordinary and necessary test: Lavish or irrelevant expenses may be rejected during reviewThe IRS flags certain patterns as audit risks. High meal and entertainment expenses, rounded numbers, and deductions that seem disproportionate to income can draw attention. Double-dipping is also a common trigger. When deductions are denied, the IRS may assess additional taxes and interest. Penalties can reach 20% of the underpayment for negligence or 75% for fraud, although the latter applies mainly to intentional evasion.This story was produced by Ramp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to find a gas credit card that actually pays off in 2026

How to find a gas credit card that actually pays off in 2026The average American household spends over $2,400 a year on gas, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s $201 a month just on gas. That's a big number — and it's also a big opportunity if you're using the right credit card every time you fill up.Motley Fool Money has reviewed hundreds of credit cards with one goal in mind: helping people get more out of every dollar they spend. Since gas is one of the most consistent budget categories for most families, using the right gas rewards credit card can turn that routine spending into real money back in your pocket.This guide walks you through exactly how to find a top gas credit card worth having — and how to actually get approved for one.What is a gas credit card, exactly?A gas credit card is any card that earns boosted rewards at gas stations. They're designed to turn every mundane fill-up into a small but steady win for your wallet.There are two main types:Co-branded gas station cards — These are issued by a specific fuel brand (think Shell or Chevron). They can offer the highest per-gallon savings, but only at that brand's pumps.General rewards cards with gas categories – These are regular credit cards from the big issuers (Chase, Amex, etc.) that earn extra cash back or points whenever you pay at any gas station. They tend to be more flexible and often come with perks in other common spending categories, too, like groceries.For most people, a general rewards credit card with a strong gas category wins on flexibility. But if you're fiercely loyal to one gas station and fill up there consistently, a co-branded card could edge it out on per-gallon savings.How to find the best gas credit card for youEveryone's driving habits are a little different — their commute, city, and favorite go-to stations. So the best gas card that works for you might not be the right fit for someone else.Here's what matters most when you're comparing options:1. The rewards rate on gasMost basic credit cards earn a flat 1% back on everything — including gas. That's the baseline, and honestly, it's not great. Anything 3% or above is where things start to get genuinely interesting for rewards.Some cards push as high as 5% back on gas, which, on real-world spending, can mean the difference between $20 a year in rewards and $100+.2. Spending caps and annual feesSome cards advertise a high rewards rate, but have sneaky limits attached to how much you can earn at the elevated rate. After a certain monthly or annual threshold, the rate might drop to a flat 1%.It's worth doing a bit of homework on your actual gas spending before assuming a high rewards rate will hold all year.On the fee side, a card charging $95 annually needs to return more than $95 in rewards to be worth it. Many strong gas cards carry no annual fee at all, which makes the math a lot easier.3. Rewards on other spendingMany rewards cards are designed to match higher spending across several everyday categories, not just gas. Groceries, dining, and streaming are common ones — and if a single card pulls double or triple duty across your biggest expenses, that's an even better boost to your overall rewards.4. How rewards are redeemedCash back is the simplest reward structure around. Rewards build up slowly over time, and when you're ready to use them, it's usually as easy as redeeming for a statement credit or a direct deposit.Earning points or miles can be a little trickier. Some programs let you transfer points to airline or hotel partners for more value. Others lock you into a portal with limited options. If simplicity matters to you, a straightforward cash-back credit card usually wins.5. Big box and warehouse membershipsIf you already pay for a warehouse club membership (think Costco or Sam's Club), it's worth checking whether a co-branded credit card makes sense. Warehouse clubs often have some of the lowest per-gallon prices around, and pairing that with a credit card with a strong rewards rate on top can make for a genuinely hard-to-beat combination at the pump.Are you self-employed or driving for work? A business card may pay off moreIf you're a freelancer, small business owner, or someone who logs serious miles for work, a business credit card could unlock even better rewards on gas than a personal card. Business cards often come with higher earning rates, bigger welcome offers, and expense-tracking tools that make tax season a lot less painful.Stacking gas station loyalty programs to maximize your savingsMany gas stations offer app-based loyalty programs that shave anywhere from $0.03 to $0.15 off per gallon, just for being a member.These are typically free to sign up for and can stack additional savings on top of your credit card rewards.Here's an example of what savings could look like in real life: Motley Fool Money That's over $170 a year saved on gas — just by using the right rewards card and loyalty programs.Of course, what you pay at the pump varies widely depending on where you live. Drivers in higher-cost states like California, Washington, and Hawai‘i are paying well above the national average — meaning their annual savings from stacking rewards could be significantly higher.And with gas prices surging in March 2026 amid ongoing Middle East tensions, the case for swiping a rewards card has never been more timely.How to get a gas credit cardGetting approved for a gas credit card follows the same process as any other credit card. Here's how to do it right.Step 1: First, check your credit scoreMost rewards cards require good to excellent credit (typically a 670+ FICO score). Check your credit score before you apply so you're not guessing. Many banks and credit unions offer free credit score access through your account dashboard.Step 2: Decide what type of card fits your lifeCo-branded station card or general rewards card? Cash back or points? Annual fee or no fee?Nail down your priorities before you start browsing so you don't get distracted by offers that might not match your actual spending.Step 3: Apply onlineMost applications take less than 10 minutes. You'll need your Social Security number, annual income, and housing costs handy. Be sure to answer all the questions honestly and accurately — mistakes can delay your processing.Most of the time, you'll get an instant decision. And if you're approved, you might be led to an online portal to set up app access.Step 4: Download the mobile appOne of the best ways to track your rewards balance and monitor spending is by using the credit card issuer’s mobile app. It takes 60 seconds to set up and makes staying on top of your rewards a whole lot easier.Step 5: Use your card every time at the pumpOnce your new card arrives, make it your default card for gas purchases (and groceries, if the card earns rewards there too). The rewards add up fastest when the card is your automatic choice — not an afterthought.The bottom lineGas prices aren't getting any easier to stomach, and every dollar saved at the pump matters more than it used to. While you can't control what the price of gas does next week, you can control how you pay for it.Swiping a rewards card instead of a debit card is one of the smallest habit changes you can make. It lets you claw a little money back from an expense that isn't going anywhere soon.Stack a solid gas card with your local station's loyalty program, and you're doing more than most people ever think to do.Frequently asked questionsCan I get a credit card just for gas?Yes, it can be worth having a dedicated credit card just for gas purchases. Either a co-branded gas station card or a general rewards card can give you boosted rewards for gas purchases, and not replace your current everyday card. Many people carry 2-3 credit cards for exactly this reason.Are gas credit cards worth it?For most drivers, yes. If you're spending $200 or more per month on gas, a credit card earning 3%-5% back can return $72-$120 a year in rewards. You're spending the money anyway — may as well be rewarded for it.Can gas credit cards build credit?Absolutely. As long as you pay your balance in full and on time, a gas credit card reports to the major credit bureaus just like any other credit card and can help strengthen your credit history over time.Are gas station credit cards good?They can be — if you're loyal to one brand and fill up frequently. But if they have higher annual fees, the net benefit might actually be nonexistent, or even negative. The biggest trade-off with a co-branded card is limited usability everywhere else.This story was produced by Motley Fool Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

United Way Quad Cities CEO to step down after 8 years with the organization

President and CEO Rene Gellerman is stepping down in June.

Dog bite incidents by state: Where they're most common

Dog bite incidents by state: Where they're most commonClose to 1,000 people are treated in U.S. emergency departments each day for dog bite injuries. That figure, drawn from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data compiled by DogsBite.org, is not a projection. It reflects a trend that has been climbing steadily: national dog bite-related emergency department visits rose 15% between 2018 and 2023, with California up 30% and Florida up 25% over the same period.Insurance data shows a similar upward trend. In 2024, U.S. insurers paid out a record $1.57 billion in dog-related injury claims, up 19% from 2023 and 48% higher than a decade ago, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). The average cost per claim that year reached $69,272, an 86% increase over the past decade.Dog bite incidents are not evenly distributed across the country. They cluster geographically, and where a person lives has a measurable effect on their risk. In this article, Mokaram Injury Lawyers, a Houston-based personal injury law firm, examines the data to outline the states where these incidents are the most common.The Top Three States Where Dog Bites Happen MostWhen it comes to claim volume, three states consistently lead the country in dog bite injuries. The following is from state-related dog bite injury claim reports by the III.California ranks first nationally. In 2024, the state saw 2,417 dog-related injury claims, the most of any state in the nation, with an average payout of $86,229 per claim. California also ranks first for dog bite-related emergency room visits, recording 48,596 ER visits in 2022, according to the Department of Health Care Access and Information. This was a 70% increase from 2005.Florida is second, with 1,821 claims filed in 2024. These claims totaled more than $101 million, with an average of $55,680 per injury. Florida has also recorded a sharp increase in dog bite injuries requiring emergency treatment, with 32,557 visits in 2023 alone.Texas is third for total claims. Dog bite victims filed a reported 1,190 claims totaling $90.1 million, averaging $75,674 per claim. While Texas had many fewer claims than Florida, the average value is higher, indicating potentially more significant injuries in many Texas dog attacks.Rounding Out the Top TenThe remaining states in the top ten for dog bite injury claims, according to III reports, include:Michigan, with 1,138 injury claimsPennsylvania, with 1,004 claimsNew York, with 994 claimsOhio, with 985 claimsIllinois, with 940 claimsNew Jersey, with 782 claimsGeorgia, with 671 claimsTogether, the top ten states account for a disproportionate share of the country's annual dog bite claims and costs. The top ten states totaled 11,942 claims, while all other states combined reported only 10,716 claims. Claims in these ten states also totaled about $864.4 million in 2024, while dog bite injury claims throughout the rest of the United States totaled $705.2 million.This illustrates that the risks of serious dog bite injuries in the top ten states are substantially higher.Why Some States See More Incidents Than OthersPopulation size explains part of the geographic disparity. Higher concentrations of people and dogs can increase the likelihood of incidents. Researchers also point to several other factors:Leash law enforcement: States and municipalities with stricter animal control tend to see fewer severe incidents.Rural versus urban divide: Rural areas experience dog bite injury rates four times higher than urban ones, largely due to gaps in animal control infrastructure and limited access to immediate medical care.Legal oversight: Dog bite liability laws vary widely. Thirty-six states have some version of a strict liability dog bite law, regardless of the animal's prior behavior. Most others follow the “one-bite rule,” which can limit owner liability when a dog has no documented history of aggression.Reporting gaps: An estimated 80% of all dog bites never enter the medical or legal record system, meaning the true scope of the problem is larger than any single dataset reflects.The Financial Toll Keeps ClimbingThe financial impact of a dog bite often extends beyond the initial emergency room visit. The average insurance claim reached $69,272 in 2024, up 18% from 2023 and 86% higher than a decade ago, according to III. New York had the highest average payout in the nation at $110,488 per claim. California averaged $86,229.The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) has reported that hospital stays for dog bite injuries average roughly 50% more than hospitalizations for other injury types on a national level. In 2023, more than 19,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of dog attacks, which can significantly increase costs.For victims facing those costs, the legal options available often depend on where the bite occurred. Texas follows a modified version of the one-bite rule, where establishing owner negligence or prior knowledge of a dog's aggression is often necessary for a claim. Victims in strict liability states like California or Florida may have a more straightforward route to compensation.What the Numbers MissDog bite data in the United States is fragmented by design. No single federal system tracks all incidents. Instead, researchers piece together figures from emergency room records, insurance claims, postal service reports, and nonprofit databases. The widely cited 4.5 million annual bite figure is only an estimate, not a confirmed count.Across multiple data sources, a consistent pattern emerges: Incidents are rising, costs are increasing, and a handful of states account for a disproportionate share of both. For anyone bitten by a dog, the question of what comes next is rarely straightforward, and the answer almost always starts with the laws of the state where it happened.Public health researchers note that many dog bite incidents are preventable. Education on responsible pet ownership and safe behavior around dogs can help reduce both injuries and associated costs.This story was produced by Mokaram Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The nation’s report card has a hard time grading private schools

The nation’s report card has a hard time grading private schoolsThe National Assessment of Educational Progress is known as the nation’s report card. But as more students leave public schools, the test risks becoming less representative of the nation’s students.Unlike public schools, private schools aren’t required to participate in the test, which is administered every two years to a representative sample of roughly half a million American students. Not enough private school students take the test to report distinct results for that group, even at the national level. Home-schooled students aren’t included at all.This isn’t a new problem — the last time NAEP reported separate private school results was 2013. But as more students attend private school or homeschool with public money, the significance of the information gap will only grow, NAEP governing board members and independent researchers told Chalkbeat.“I see it as the most significant challenge facing the NAEP program in the medium term,” said Martin West, a Harvard University education professor and vice chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, “because it threatens our ability to speak with confidence about states’ success in supporting student learning.”A dispute in Florida over the state’s 2024 NAEP results hints at a future where more states question the validity of their scores and where comparisons among states are trickier. When results were released in early 2025, Florida students’ performance had dropped to its lowest point in 20 years. Then-Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Education that blamed the decline, in part, on excluding private school students.“This issue only stands to grow, as Florida has chosen a path that puts students and families before teachers unions and provides universal school choice,” Diaz wrote, before concluding with a call to “make NAEP great once again.”Observers said the increase in Florida’s private school enrollment between 2022 and 2024 simply wasn’t large enough to account for the decline, but state education officials remain concerned.Thomas Kane, a Harvard economist who frequently works with NAEP data, said “What happened in Florida in 2024 is a harbinger of the future as private school enrollment grows. It will become increasingly plausible for states to say that our public school results aren’t representative of our achievement.”“If NAEP is the nation’s report card, then questions about private school achievement will become the dog that ate the homework,” added Kane, who is not involved in administering the test. “It will be a source of evasions and spin.”Low private school NAEP participation leaves an information voidNAEP is considered the gold standard in student assessment, a no-stakes test that allows reliable comparisons over time and between states.The drop in NAEP scores after pandemic disruptions put the test in the public spotlight in a new way, fueling competing calls for greater investment in public schools — or more pathways out of them.Congress intended for public and private school students to take the test, but federal law only requires public schools to participate in the main NAEP reading and math tests administered to fourth and eighth-grade students.Private schools make up about a quarter of American schools and educate about 9% of K-12 students, according to recent federal data. But a much smaller share of private school students take NAEP. In 2024, they accounted for about 1.3% of students who took the main tests.Low participation means NAEP doesn’t have enough data from private school students to report separately on their performance. State results only reflect public school students in those states.That lack of information already complicates state-by-state comparisons. The most recent national data shows private school students account for 15% of Wisconsin students and 13% of students in Florida, Louisiana, and New York, but just 2% of students in Utah and Wyoming.Higher private school participation would allow their NAEP results to be reported separately at the national level and incorporated into state-level results. That could help answer questions about whether changes over time or differences between states are driven by the share of students in private school, West said.It would take dramatically higher participation to report private school results separately at the state level. That’s not a high priority, West said, because NAEP data isn’t as useful for comparing the effectiveness of public and private schools.Meanwhile, 1.2 million students participated in some sort of publicly funded school choice program in the 2024-25 school year, according to data from EdChoice, an advocacy group.That’s still less than 3% of K-12 public school enrollment, but the numbers have surged in the last few years and are expected to keep growing.Private school leaders have mixed feelings about NAEPCatholic schools participate at much higher rates than other private schools, and their NAEP results are reported separately. Catholic school students also showed some declines during the pandemic, but they have continued to post higher average scores than public school students.“I’m not sure why people wouldn’t do it,” said Steven Cheeseman, president and CEO of the National Catholic Education Association. “The reality for us as Catholic schools is that we’ve always felt like it’s an important accountability measure.”Michael Schuttloffel, executive director of the Council for American Private Education, said in an email that many private school leaders find the prospect of taking time out of the school day for a test that doesn’t directly benefit them “daunting.”NAEP tries to minimize the burden on schools by handling all the logistics. Officials hope a Next Gen NAEP initiative can find ways to reduce the testing burden further and make results more useful.Some private schools also may have a “philosophical disposition against the idea of a standardized test — especially one administered by the federal government — being the principal measure of student learning or school success,” Schuttloffel wrote.Schuttloffel said he shares that perspective, but added: “Nonetheless, knowing whether kids can read and do math is an important piece of the picture when we are trying to get our arms around what, and how well, our kids are learning.”Ron Reynolds, who represents non-public schools on NAEP’s governing board, believes private schools are not only “shirking their responsibility” but also missing “a magnificent opportunity for private schools to tell their story writ large.”The leaders of private school organizations are generally on board with administering NAEP, Reynolds said, but “the challenge is delivering the message effectively to school site leadership and inducing buy-in at the site level.”A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center calls for Congress to charge NAEP’s governing board with increasing participation across all school types. Reynolds said he would support making participation a condition of receiving money from the new federal tax-credit scholarship. While he would prefer not to see a mandate, public money brings with it certain responsibilities.But parents likely would object strongly to mandates as federal meddling, Schuttloffel said.Rob Enlow, the president and CEO of EdChoice, has used NAEP data to argue that public schools are failing students, but he sees less value in it for private schools. Parents and the public might learn more, he said, if those schools shared more data they already have.If policymakers want more private school students to take NAEP, incentives such as automatic accreditation would be more appropriate than mandates, he said.“Everyone says they want apples-to-apples comparisons, but we’ve had rotten apples for years and done nothing about it,” Enlow said.Ultimately, the case for participating in NAEP is to contribute to reliable information and good policymaking, West said.“It’s an appeal to the good of the nation or the quality of data we have for everyone,” he said.The 2026 test administration is currently underway and expected to wrap up later this month. Results for math and reading are expected in early 2027.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Lifted Energy opens in Moline at new location

Lifted Energy is opening the doors to its new permanent location in Moline.

Supreme Court clears the way for Bannon contempt case to be dismissed

Bannon spent four months in prison after defying a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

Life is unpredictable. Your estate plan shouldn’t be.

Life is unpredictable. Your estate plan shouldn’t be.In a world full of uncertainty, we can’t predict what tomorrow holds, but we can take steps to protect our loved ones when we’re gone. Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s for anyone who wants to secure their legacy, ease the burden on their family, safeguard privacy, and make sure their wishes are honored.Several key documents form the foundation of an effective estate plan, which helps manage your affairs if you become incapacitated and guides the proper transfer of your assets upon your death. Each document plays a distinct role: detailing how your assets will be distributed, who will receive them, and when the distributions will occur. These documents also identify those responsible for carrying out your wishes, ensuring that your intentions are honored in the way you have specified.While understanding and preparing these documents is critical, it’s equally important to avoid gaps or errors in your plan. Even those in the public eye—with access to expert advisors—have made costly mistakes that serve as powerful reminders for us all. What lessons can we learn from them? Bernstein Private Wealth Management explores some recent cautionary tales that prove fame and fortune don’t guarantee foresight.Key TakeawaysEstate planning is a vital step for anyone to ensure their wishes are fulfilled and their loved ones are supported.A well-crafted estate plan can minimize stress and costs for your family during a difficult time.Taking the time to plan now ensures your wishes are honored and your privacy is safeguarded.Aaron Carter—No Will, No ControlPop singer Aaron Carter died in 2022 at the age of 34, leaving behind a young son. Having died without a will, the California courts designated Carter’s infant son as the sole heir of his estate. Because minors can’t manage assets, the court had to appoint a guardian to oversee all aspects, including decisions about asset management and distributions to Carter’s son. If Carter had made a will beforehand, he could have specifically chosen the individuals making these decisions, as well as who should raise his son if his son’s mother became unavailable. It is important to understand that every decision regarding the estate falls under a guardian’s discretion; Carter missed his opportunity to thoughtfully pick the individual filling this role. Additionally, administrative and legal costs could significantly reduce the value of the assets his son receives.Lesson: Estate planning should not be left unaddressed, no matter your age, health, or wealth. If you die without a will, the state distributes your assets pursuant to a set of default rules. For anyone with children, a partner, or any assets at all, creating even a basic estate plan is crucial to protect loved ones from unnecessary legal complications during an already difficult time.Jimmy Buffett—Avoiding a “Margaritaville” MeltdownMusician Jimmy Buffett passed away in 2023, leaving behind an estate valued at approximately $275 million. His estate plan was carefully crafted to provide for his loved ones and manage his substantial assets, which included music royalties, real estate holdings, and significant business interests in the hospitality sector.Buffett’s plan placed these assets into a marital trust designed to support his spouse throughout her lifetime. Upon her passing, the remaining assets would be inherited by his children. To administer the trust, Buffett appointed his longtime accountant and business manager as a co-trustee of the marital trust to serve alongside his spouse.While this arrangement seemed solid on paper, it soon became a source of conflict. Disagreements between the business manager and the surviving spouse escalated, resulting in lawsuits and countersuits. The legal actions included allegations of mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty, highlighting the challenges that can arise even within a well-intentioned estate plan.Lesson: The best estate plans anticipate conflict, especially when multiple heirs and complex family dynamics are involved. Even the best laid plans can unravel if relationships, expectations, and communication aren’t clearly addressed ahead of time. When considering your estate plan, understand that trustees may disagree and, in some contexts, need to be removed and replaced. Who would you like to have that power? In the event of a disagreement between trustees, who wins? In the end, transparency and communication are just as important as legal precision.Lisa Marie Presley—Secret Amendments, Public BattlesWhen Lisa Marie Presley passed away in early 2023, her estate became the subject of a contentious legal dispute within her family. The conflict began when her mother, Priscilla Presley, challenged a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie’s revocable trust, which removed both Priscilla and a former business manager as trustees and instead appointed Lisa Marie’s children in their places. The assets at the center of this change included the iconic Graceland estate in Memphis, along with valuable memorabilia such as costumes, cars, and awards.The heart of the dispute revolved around the validity of the 2016 amendment. The former trustees argued that they hadn’t been notified of the change and raised concerns about the authenticity of the signatures, the presence of witnesses, and Lisa Marie’s true intent. These questions led to a highly publicized legal battle over who was rightfully entitled to manage the trust and its substantial assets.Ultimately, the parties reached a settlement, leaving Lisa Marie’s daughter as the sole trustee. This resolution brought the legal wrangling to a close, but not without significant public scrutiny and family tension.Lesson: Changes to estate plans—especially those involving family, high-value property, or legacy assets—must follow all formal requirements in the relevant estate planning documents and be documented with absolute clarity and transparency. It is essential to follow instructions, inform all relevant parties, adhere strictly to legal protocols, and communicate openly to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to litigation.Tony Hsieh—Mysterious WillWhen Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh succumbed to injuries following a 2020 house fire, his family initially had no knowledge of a will. As a result, the administration of the tech entrepreneur’s $500 million estate fell to his father, who was left without any clear direction. For years, Hsieh’s family faced the challenging task of sorting through a complicated web of handwritten notes that promised inheritances to friends and colleagues, as well as verbal agreements regarding investments in various business ventures.The situation became even more complex when a mysterious will surfaced and was delivered to a Nevada law firm five years after Hseih’s death. This document, signed and dated in 2015, provided a legal record of his final wishes. The will transferred assets to a series of trusts, outlined specific donations to various organizations, and included a no-contest clause stipulating that any family member who challenged the terms of the will would receive nothing.Lesson: The ability to have a dialogue about your planning and intentions with those who are impacted is a gift that is only available during life. Leaving your intentions open to interpretation carries significant risk and can lead to confusion and conflict. A formal, witnessed will—and assurance that a trusted party knows where to find it—is the only way to ensure your wishes are honored.Final Thoughts: Don’t Leave It to ChanceEstate planning is about control. Control over your assets, your privacy, your legacy, and the emotional well-being of those you leave behind.So ask yourself:Are my documents up to date? Do I regularly review my planning?Do my loved ones know my wishes? Have I memorialized them in a document that explains the reasoning behind the decisions made? Do my beneficiaries know where to find this document?Who will be named as trustee, and are they prepared to manage the assets for my beneficiaries? How might the trustee/beneficiary relationship be fostered while I am alive? What happens in the event of a conflict between trustees?Take charge of your legacy and protect your loved ones with smart estate planning. By making these choices now, you’ll ensure peace of mind for yourself and ease for those you leave behind.This story was produced by Bernstein Private Wealth Management and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

LandJet unveils next generation mobile office vehicles from Winnebago Industries

Premium Mercedes Sprinter-based mobile offices bring private-jet productivity to the open road, targeting the $395 billion U.S. business travel market.

Mel Foster Insurance named a Commercial Lines ‘Circle of Excellence Agency’

Mel Foster Insurance named a Commercial Lines ‘Circle of Excellence Agency’ by the Western National Insurance Group.

Some major Trump donors are now reaping billions in ICE contracts

Some major Trump donors are now reaping billions in ICE contractsSince returning to the White House in 2025, President Donald Trump has ramped up immigration detention, with private contractors operating much of the required infrastructure — and reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts after making significant contributions to the president’s political operations.Federal contracting data shows that a small group of private prison operators, charter airlines and security contractors dominated ICE’s largest contracts in 2025. Two private prison companies, the GEO Group and CoreCivic received $2.1 billion and $653.5 million in total obligations, respectively, while charter aviation companies, including CSI Aviation ($1.1 billion) and Classic Air Charter ($800.2 million), also secured major contracts. Transportation contractor MVM Inc., which moves unaccompanied migrant children and families to detention facilities, received $1.1 billion, OpenSecrets reports. OpenSecrets Several of those companies and their executives have contributed to committees affiliated with Trump, according to Federal Election Commission and OpenSecrets data.In the first five months of fiscal 2026, CSI Aviation and GEO Group continue to dominate ICE contracting, each holding more than $1 billion in total obligated contracts.Frank Baumgartner, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said many Americans are unaware of how much the agency spends on immigration enforcement — and how costly that system has become for taxpayers.“From the perspective of the private companies, there’s profits to be made and huge contracts to be awarded with relatively little oversight, since they’re being given out so quickly,” Baumgartner said. “This is long-term spending, and it’s hundreds of billions of dollars, so it’s a little bit scary, if you ask me, as a taxpayer.”Unprecedented reliance on private companies While law enforcement agencies often outsource support services such as food preparation or clothing, ICE is “unusual” in its reliance on private contractors for far more central functions, said César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, an Ohio State University professor of law who teaches about the intersection of criminal and immigration law.“What we see when it comes to ICE is that everything from transportation to the ownership and operation of prison facilities themselves is typically done by a private company under contract with ICE,” García Hernández said.Although the Justice Department operates the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System, which provides long-distance deportation flights, ICE Air Operations primarily relies on private charter companies to transport migrants.Under the Trump administration, ICE enforcement flights have surged. Between Jan. 20, 2025, and Jan. 20, 2026, ICE conducted 14,426 enforcement flights, an 89% increase from the year before, according to Human Right First’s ICE Flight Monitor, which tracks immigration enforcement flights using publicly available aviation data.Although deportations increased 46%, rising from 1,544 removal flights during the final year of the Biden administration to 2,253 in 2025, the largest jump in immigration enforcement flights came from domestic transfers between detention facilities, which surged 132%, from 3,909 to 9,066 flights. OpenSecrets During that period, private charter airlines and transportation contractors received hundreds of millions of dollars in ICE contracts to operate deportation flights and move detainees between facilities. In 2025 alone, CSI Aviation received a $562 million contract to provide daily charter flights, including scheduled large aircraft and high-risk transport operations, while transportation contractor MVM Inc. received $145.1 million in new contracts to transport detainees.Air carrier CSI Aviation has received the largest new ICE contract in fiscal 2026, with $673.4 million in obligations and a potential value of $1.5 billion, to provide dedicated and on-demand charter flights for enforcement and removal operations under the ICE Air program.Tanya Golash-Boza, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced, said relying on private contractors allows immigration enforcement to expand more quickly than if those functions were carried out directly by the government.Private prisons remain central to immigration detentionThat reliance on private contractors is reflected in the detention system itself, where private companies house the vast majority of immigrants in ICE custody. Although private prisons account for a relatively small share of the overall U.S. incarcerated population, they play an outsized role in immigration detention. As of early 2025, about 86% of immigrant detainees were held in privately run facilities, compared with less than 10%of the overall U.S. incarcerated population, according to the Migration Policy Institute.Immigration detention and monitoring have both increased sharply in recent months. ICE is currently detaining roughly 70,000 people across 225 jails and detention centers — nearly double the previous year, according to Time. The agency has also increased enrollment in its GPS ankle monitoring program from about 17,000 immigrants in early 2025 to more than 42,000 in February 2026.That increase in detention and monitoring has also translated into rising revenues for private prison operators: The GEO Group reported $2.6 billion in total revenue in 2025, a 6% increase from $2.4 billion in 2024, while CoreCivic reported $2.2 billion, up 13% from $2 billion the previous year, according to Time.While the largest private prison operators benefiting from ICE contracts — the GEO Group and CoreCivic — have established political ties to Trump, other contractors have secured major federal awards without comparable lobbying activity or campaign contributions.An OpenSecrets analysis of federal contracting data shows ICE awarding contracts to Gardaworld Federal Services, KVG, and KBP Services — firms that do not appear to have direct political ties to Trump — to expand detention infrastructure by converting existing buildings into detention facilities. In the first five months of fiscal 2026:Gardaworld Federal Services received $313.4 million in obligations — the fourth largest new contract so far this fiscal year — to renovate an ICE-owned structure in Surprise, Arizona, so it can operate as a processing and detention facility. The contract could reach $701.4 million if all options are exercised. Gardaworld also holds a contract worth up to $8 million to provide security and staffing at the high-profile immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”Government contractor KVG received $113.1 million, with a potential value of $641.8 million, to convert another ICE-owned facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, into a processing and detention center.ICE also awarded nearly $60 million across two contracts to KPB Services to conduct concept design and feasibility work for detention centers and “mega centers” throughout the United States — early-stage planning that typically precedes the construction or expansion of detention sites.Golash-Boza said ICE’s contracting patterns show how private prison companies and government contractors have become deeply embedded in what she calls the “immigration industrial complex,” where companies now rely on immigration detention as a core source of business and continue to sustain the expansion of immigration enforcement.“If Trump were to decide that’s enough for deportation, these companies would be in economic and fiscal trouble,” Golash-Boza said. “That’s the problem a lot of people have with the private facilities: they have this fiscal interest in keeping people behind bars. But we’re not just doing it to keep the country safer. We’re doing it to keep these companies in business.”This story was produced by OpenSecrets and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Ascentra Credit Union invests $7,500 in new Rock Island Community Resource Center

This contribution supports SHBH’s efforts to open a new community outreach facility designed to serve veterans, children, and the elderly.

Sixty-Five Percent of Polled Illinoisians Want More Affordable Housing – and Don’t Call It “Granny Flats”

A YouGov poll conducted last month shows registered voters in Illinois overwhelmingly believe that the cost of renting and buying a home is a problem, think that there aren’t enough affordable homes for average folks and want the state Legislature to take action.

Spring season means road repairs, construction begins across the Quad Cities

One major project in Davenport will improve a permanent flood detour along Rockingham Road if West River Drive experiences flooding.

Cool start to the week warms up and turns wet

After a pretty nice Easter Sunday across the Quad Cities, it'll be chilly Monday and Tuesday before we start to warm up midweek into the weekend. And, it looks like we're not done with winter just yet. Some light snow is likely across Iowa tonight. Wet weather returns for the rest of the week. Here's [...]

Two coffee shops open, Mexican restaurant closes, new shopping destination, and more Quad-Cities business news

Two coffee shops open, Mexican restaurant closes, new shopping destination in Geneseo, new event venue opening, among other Quad-Cities business news.

12-year-old girl found, Amber Alert cancelled

At about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, officials said the girl was found.

AI reshaping work, Rock Island development sparks debate: News 8 This Week - April 5, 2026

AI’s impact on agriculture and education, new workforce programs at UNI, and a controversial Rock Island development near sensitive wetlands.

Preparations underway as more towns announced along RAGBRAI route

Communities in Iowa are gearing up to welcome cyclists for RAGBRAI, as the weeklong ride will start in Onawa and ending in Dubuque.

Easter brings sweet boost for local candy shop

Easter spending is expected to hit $3.3 billion on sweets this year, giving a major seasonal boost to local chocolate shops relying on custom orders.

Iran pushes back against Trump's deadline

Iran's top officials pushed back against President Trump's deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, striking a defiant tone as the warring sides traded missile attacks.

Iran pushes back against Trump's deadline top open the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's top officials pushed back against President Trump's deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, striking a defiant tone as the warring sides traded missile attacks.

Iran pushes back against Trump's deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's top officials pushed back against President Trump's deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, striking a defiant tone as the warring sides traded missile attacks.

Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for April 5, 2026

Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.

LeClaire, Iowa

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Now and then I make a mistake. Here's one example.About 20 years ago, I wrote a short piece about the small river town…

These blind students say their college blocked their education. A new rule could help

Higher education is especially reliant on computers and phones, but accessibility for people with disabilities has often been forgotten. A new federal rule could change that.

Shingles can hit younger than you think. The vaccine can prevent excruciating pain

A reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox, the illness can be miserable. Here's what to know about early warning signs, long-term symptoms and some surprising news about the vaccine.

Guthrie returns to 'Today' show months after her mother's disappearance

Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, has not been seen since returning home from a family dinner the evening of Jan. 31.

NASA's Artemis II crew readies for Monday's lunar flyby. Here's what you need to know

At its closest point, the crew of Artemis II will loop about 4,000 miles from the lunar surface late Monday. The astronauts will also venture farther into space than any previous human mission.

Simple, Convenient, Time-Saving Snacks for Busy Families

(Feature Impact) When every afternoon feels like a race to the dinner table and weekends are a blur of activities, there's only one way to keep loved ones from getting "hangry": easy, delicious appetizers and snacks. Keeping a few must-have ingredients in the pantry can help you avoid those dreaded moments between meals when stomachs are growling and a meal feels so close, yet so far away. If you're craving a quick, savory bite, look no further than these Cheesy Mexican Rice Bites. They're prepared in just 20 minutes - but don't be surprised if you find yourself making a second batch afterward. Featuring a touch of heat from Minute Jalapeno Rice Cups that are conveniently pre-portioned and ready in one minute, you can enjoy minimal cleanup while staving off hunger. Classic Porcupine Meatballs offer another versatile solution as a make-ahead snack before busy weekends. For first-timers, here's a secret: meatballs aren't as tricky to make as they might look. Just mix the ingredients, form meatballs by hand and cook in a pot until ready to enjoy, or refrigerate then reheat once you're home from Saturday's soccer games. Since these are "porcupine" meatballs, that means they're made with Minute Instant White Rice rather than traditional breadcrumbs. Known for its light fluffiness and easy prep, it's ready in just 5 minutes. With this dish, however, it's simply added to the meatballs straight from the box. Visit MinuteRice.com to find more convenient snack ideas that save time and trouble in the kitchen.   Cheesy Mexican Rice Bites Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 2 1          Minute Jalapeno Rice Cup 1/4       cup diced onions 1/2       teaspoon cumin 1/2       cup Mexican cheese blend, shredded 1          egg, beaten 1/2       cup breadcrumbs nonstick cooking spray salsa (optional) sour cream (optional) Preheat air fryer to 375 F. Heat rice according to package directions. In large mixing bowl, combine rice, diced onions, cumin and Mexican cheese blend. Mix well. Add beaten egg to rice mixture and stir until fully combined. Using hands, shape about 2 tablespoons rice mixture into ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. Roll rice balls in breadcrumbs, ensuring they are fully coated. Lightly coat air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place rice bites in single layer in air fryer basket, leaving space between each for even cooking. Work in batches, if necessary. Spray tops of each ball with nonstick cooking spray to help with browning. Cook 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through for even browning. Allow to cool slightly and serve with salsa or sour cream, if desired.   Porcupine Meatballs Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4-6 1          tablespoon butter 1          small onion, finely chopped 1          pound lean ground beef 1          cup Minute White Rice, plus additional for serving, cooked 1          egg, lightly beaten 1          packet (1 1/2 ounces) meatloaf seasoning 1 1/4    cups water, divided 1          jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce             grated Parmesan cheese In 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook, stirring, until starting to soften. In large bowl, combine onions, beef, 1 cup uncooked rice, egg, seasoning and 1/4 cup water; mix gently by hand until well blended. Shape mixture into medium-sized meatballs. Pour pasta sauce and remaining water into same 3-quart saucepan. Stir and bring to boil. Add meatballs and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer 15 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through. Serve meatballs and sauce over extra cooked rice and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Substitution: Ground turkey, chicken or meatless ground can be used in place of beef.

Create Little Moments of Happiness This Spring with Family-Friendly Potato Recipes

(Feature Impact) As the weather breaks and spring brings increased opportunities for families to get outside, activities, adventures and jam-packed calendars abound. All those special moments spent at the park, the sports field or in the backyard may leave lasting memories, but they can also leave you feeling short on time in the kitchen. Bring a little moment of happiness to busy family mealtimes during the spring season with The Little Potato Company's line of easy-to-prepare Little Potatoes. They come pre-washed, require no peeling and are small enough that they don't need to be cut, allowing for less time in the kitchen and more family time around the table as the days get longer - no extra spring cleaning required. For an added helping of convenience, their Microwave Ready Little Potato Kits come with delicious seasoning packs; simply pop into the microwave, sprinkle on the included seasoning and enjoy. For a fun after-school or game-night snack, these Crispy Air Fryer Potato Nuggets pair perfectly with a variety of delicious dips. The air fryer cooks the potatoes in minutes, creating a crispy snack with minimal prep - no chopping or peeling needed. Or you can make a delicious side dish a cinch with pesto, which adds a bright, flavorful twist to a classic in these Basil Pesto Mashed Potatoes. They pair perfectly with everyday family meals using Little Potatoes that require no chopping or peeling thanks to their naturally thin skins, helping cut down on prep time while bringing fresh flavor to the dinner table. To help fuel families' spring vacation plans and everyday meals, The Little Potato Company is giving you a chance to enter a sweepstakes through May 25 to win a $10,000 travel voucher with additional prizes including 10 grocery gift cards valued at $1,000. Enter the sweepstakes at TheLittleSpringtimeSweeptakes.com, and find more ways to make spring meals a breeze by visiting LittlePotatoes.com.   Crispy Air Fryer Potato Nuggets and Dip Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 24 minutes Servings: 4 Potatoes: 1          cup all-purpose flour 1          teaspoon salt 1          teaspoon garlic powder 1/2       teaspoon pepper 1          cup milk 1 1/2    cups panko breadcrumbs 1 1/2    pounds Little Potatoes Chimichurri: 1          bunch cilantro 1          bunch parsley 3          limes, juice only 2          tablespoons honey 2          teaspoons salt 1/2       teaspoon pepper 1          teaspoon chili flakes 1          cup canola oil Heat air fryer to 390 F. To make potatoes: In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Whisk in milk until smooth. Place panko in a separate shallow bowl. Working in batches, coat potatoes in batter then toss in panko until fully coated. Place potatoes in the air fryer and cook 24 minutes, flipping halfway. To make chimichurri: In a blender, blend cilantro, parsley, lime juice, honey, salt, pepper, chili flakes and canola oil until smooth. Serve potato nuggets with chimichurri.   Basil Pesto Mashed Potatoes Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 1 1/2    pounds Little Potatoes             water 1          teaspoon salt, plus additional for seasoning, to taste, divided 2 1/2    cups fresh basil 4          cloves garlic 1/3       cup pine nuts 1/2       cup Parmesan, grated 2/3       cup olive oil pepper, to taste 1/2       cup milk 2          tablespoons butter Add potatoes to a large pot and cover with water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. In a food processor, place basil, garlic, pine nuts and Parmesan. Add oil and pulse until mixed then season with salt and pepper, to taste. In a small saucepot over low heat, heat milk and butter until butter is melted and milk is steaming. Once potatoes are cooked, strain and transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Using a potato masher, smash potatoes with milk and butter mixture then season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in pesto mixture.

Lighten Up: Fresh Spring Meals That Won't Weigh You Down

(Feature Impact) Put away the heavy coats and break out the rain jackets and rubber boots - spring is here, and with it comes more than just pop-up showers and sunshine. After months of comfort foods and curling up indoors, you may be ready for lighter meals that won't weigh you down before splashing in the puddles. Fresh produce may first come to mind, but spring bites can also mean swapping out ingredients like regular pasta for a solution such as pearl couscous. If you're looking to complement greens, veggies, fish or meats with light yet filling flavor, consider Success Boil-in-Bag Pearl Couscous, a small, mediterranean-style pasta that always cooks right and is ready to eat in under 7 minutes once the water boils. The BPA-free boil-in-bag simplicity makes cooking easy and foolproof: no measure, no mess, no stress. Made with high-quality semolina wheat, it features a slightly nutty flavor on its own while absorbing the flavors of salads while retaining its density and chewy texture. It's distinguished from traditional Moroccan couscous by its slightly larger, rounder shape and less dense, firmer consistency. Try it with your next meal in this protein-forward Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad, made using fresh herbs, citrus, seasoned shrimp and chickpeas for a jam-packed salad that screams spring. Never boring, the tender, seasoned couscous and shrimp, veggies and aromatic herbs can bring your family running to the kitchen after a day of play. Or, for an even simpler dish that requires just 15 minutes in the kitchen, this Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad is light, bright and bursting with flavor. It brings together tender pearl couscous, crisp veggies and za'atar in every bite. To find more light spring recipe ideas, visit SuccessRice.com.   Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 4 1          bag Success Pearl Couscous 1          pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1          tablespoon seasoned salt 4          tablespoons olive oil, divided 1          can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2       teaspoon garlic powder 1/2       teaspoon onion powder 1/2       teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4       teaspoon salt 1/2       English cucumber, diced 1          cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4       cup fresh basil, chopped 1/4       cup red onions, finely chopped 2          tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 1          tablespoon lemon juice 1/2       cup feta, crumbled Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.  In medium bowl, toss shrimp with seasoned salt.   In large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes. If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding pan. In another large pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chickpeas and cook 8 minutes until crispy and golden, tossing often. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Toss to fully coat and cook 2 minutes. In large bowl, combine pearl couscous, shrimp, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, red onion, dill, lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Toss to combine. Garnish with feta.   Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 1          bag Success Pearl Couscous 1          can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1          cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2       cup cucumber, diced 1/4       cup fresh parsley, chopped 1          tablespoon za'atar 2          tablespoons olive oil 1          tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2       teaspoon salt 1/4       teaspoon pepper Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions. In large bowl, combine couscous, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and za'atar. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Driving Habits May Cost More Than You Think: Data-Backed Driving Techniques to Reduce Fuel Costs and Vehicle Wear

(Feature Impact) If you're feeling pain at the pump, you're not alone. However, it's not just rising gas prices that can impact your wallet - it might be your own habits on the road that negatively impact fuel efficiency and add extra strain to your vehicle. With gas prices fluctuating by more than $1 per gallon nationally in recent years, Mercury Insurance is highlighting how driver behavior can significantly influence fuel costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving - rapid acceleration and hard braking - can reduce fuel economy by up to 40% in city driving and 30% on highways, increasing annual fuel expenses by hundreds of dollars. For the average American driver, that inefficiency adds up quickly. AAA estimates that annual fuel costs can exceed $2,000 depending on vehicle type and region. A 30-40% reduction in fuel economy can translate into hundreds of dollars in additional fuel expenses each year - before factoring in the added wear on key vehicle components. "Most drivers think of aggressive driving as a safety issue, but it's also a cost issue," said John Dicken, director, material damage claims at Mercury Insurance. "From a claims standpoint, we see how habits like hard braking and rapid acceleration accelerate wear on brakes, tires and suspension components. Smoother driving isn't just more efficient - it helps reduce preventable damage over time." The Hidden Cost of Driving Aggressively Fuel is only part of the equation. Brake replacement can range from $300-800 per axle, depending on the vehicle. A new set of tires can cost $600-1,200 or more. Poorly maintained or underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by roughly 0.2% for every 1 PSI drop in pressure, according to federal transportation data. Over time, inconsistent maintenance and aggressive driving habits compound these costs. "Driving behavior directly impacts how often certain parts need to be replaced," Dicken said. "When drivers anticipate traffic, maintain steady speeds and keep up with routine maintenance, they reduce strain on their vehicle and potentially avoid unnecessary repair expenses."   Practical Eco-Driving Tips That Make a Measurable Difference Consider these strategies recommended by Mercury Insurance to improve efficiency and reduce vehicle wear: Accelerate gradually: Avoid rapid starts and jackrabbit acceleration, which significantly reduce fuel economy. Brake smoothly and anticipate stops: Looking ahead and easing into stops reduces stress on brake systems. Maintain consistent speeds: Using cruise control on highways can help improve fuel efficiency. Keep tires properly inflated: Check tire pressure monthly and before long trips. If you're unsure what your vehicle's tires should be inflated to, locate the sticker inside the driver's side door jamb for the proper PSI inflation or refer to the owner's manual. Remove excess weight: Extra cargo and unused roof racks reduce efficiency and increase drag.   Efficiency, Safety and Sustainability The Environmental Protection Agency reports that transportation accounts for roughly 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While vehicle technology continues to improve, individual driving behavior remains one of the most immediate ways drivers can reduce both fuel consumption and environmental impact. "Small, consistent changes in how we drive can produce meaningful savings over time," Dicken said. "It's one of the simplest ways drivers can protect both their budget and their investment." For more information about efficient driving and other cost saving measures, visit MercuryInsurance.com/Resources.   Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

Quad Cities celebrates Easter with pool egg hunt, massive event at Fairgrounds

From a swimming egg hunt in Bettendorf to 30,000 eggs in Davenport, families across the Quad Cities celebrated Easter weekend with unique events

Local chocolate shop wraps up busy Easter

Chocolate Manor in Davenport prepared custom made orders for Easter Sunday.

UCLA storms past South Carolina to claim its 1st NCAA women's basketball title

UCLA secured the first NCAA women's basketball national championship in school history — a goal that was set after losing in the first Final Four last season.

A music festival booked Kanye West, now known as Ye, and lost major sponsors

The rapper Ye was announced as the headliner for the Wireless Festival in London. He's gained notoriety over the years for his antisemitic comments and activities glorifying Nazis.

UPDATE: 12-year-old girl found safe, Amber Alert cancelled

UPDATE: 12-year-old girl found safe, Amber Alert cancelled

Amber Alert issued for missing 12-year-old last seen in Waterloo

Officials said she was last seen at 5:08 p.m. Sunday.

More rain on the way for the Quad Cities

After what has already been a very active week of weather with showers, severe thunderstorms and even a confirmed tornado, this lighter weather is looking to be short lived. Throughout our rain outlook the Quad Cities is looking to get more rain than average by around next week, but even this upcoming week is seeing [...]

Smoke spotted in attic of Davenport home as crews battle house fire

Crews battled a fire at a home at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of North Fillmore Street.

Smoke seen coming from attic of Davenport home

A KWQC crew could see firefighters working in and around a home as smoke came out of a top story window.

Power restored to over 1500 in Illinois Quad Cities

Power was restored to customers at 3:48 p.m., a MidAmerican Energy representative said.

Hollywood studios reach a tentative agreement with writers union

The Writers Guild of America went on strike for months in 2023 in a dispute with Hollywood studios. This year the union announced a new four-year contract after just a few weeks of negotiations.

Remembering My Older Brother Jay Strickland

As published back in March about one of the Reader's longest and most dedicated team members who passed in Februray, Jay Strickland's Celebration of Life was held April 4, 2026 at the Reader offices in downtown Davenport, Iowa. Below we publish Jay's younger brother Eric's eulogy he shared with us on Saturday.

Over 1500 without power in Illinois Quad Cities

The majority of the customers without power are in the Carbon Cliff area near TPC Deere Run, according to the MidAmerican outage map.

Car crashes into video poker business

A KWQC crew saw damage to the building’s side wall.

Iowa State develops AI tool to help farmers identify and remove pests

Iowa State researchers are developing an app that uses artificial intelligence to help farmers identify pests on their land.

'It's hard when it ends': Keaton Wagler, Illini fall to UConn

The horn sounded, signaling UConn's return to the national championship game for the third time in four seasons. And freshman Braylon Mullins raised his arms in triumph, a huge smile on his face as he trotted over to join his celebrating Huskies teammates. Not far away, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler headed dejectedly to his bench, [...]

Clucking egg prices as of 4/3/26

Here’s this week’s egg price update. This is the USDA’s average price per dozen when delivered to the warehouse on Jan. 20, 2026, compared to where prices are now. To see the price, click on the video above. Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and [...]

President Trump's decision to lift oil sanctions against Iran & Russia could be counterproductive to war plan

President Trump tried to put the country at ease this week regarding the war with Iran. We've seen stock prices plummet and oil prices climb dramatically. The president made a peculiar move recently to lift the oil sanctions against Russia and Iran, the goal being to keep oil and gasoline prices in check. That decision [...]

Illinois considers voting rights for current prisoners

Illinois considers restoring voting rights to people currently doing time in prison, and Iowa might make changes to the state's gas tax. We begin in Iowa and everyone's favorite subject - gasoline. Nobody likes paying for it, especially when it gets expensive like now. A big gripe that goes with that is the gasoline tax. [...]

Davenport mayor Jason Gordon on animal control & Supreme Court case

Davenport's new government has several new faces, and the city's taking new directions. Mayor Jason Gordon and four new aldermen took their oaths of office about three months ago. One surprising development came early on when the city announced it's ending the longstanding agreement with the Humane Society of Scott County to provide animal control [...]

Families have egg-citing time at Ranch Riders Easter egg hunt

Families hopped on over to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds for the annual Ranch Riders Easter egg hunt. Proceeds from the hunt support kids with disabilities who rely on nonprofits like the Quad Cities Autism Center and the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities. Many nonprofits never turn a child away, even for families who [...]

Chances Unique & Collectibles to celebrate grand opening in Geneseo

Chances Unique & Collectibles, a new shopping destination in downtown Geneseo, to celebrate grand opening on Saturday, April 11.

Wyffels Hybrids announces major expansion into Nebraska and Indiana

Wyffels Hybrids announces major expansion into Nebraska and Indiana as company celebrates 80 years of independent growth.

New event venue, The Eddy, to hold grand opening and open house

The Eddy Event Venue celebrates grand opening in the Village of East Davenport. Open house event Scheduled for April 10.

Rock Island Police and State's Attorney's Office team up on Group Violence Intervention

The partnership will include education and training with law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys, probation officers and other community partners.

BBB Tip: Receive a call from someone offering tax relief? It could be a scam

Remember Jessica from the loan processing company? The loan that was not applied for? It’s the scam that makes many think that they are a victim of identity theft. This time, she’s claiming to be from “US Tax Consultants” and…

MARK-TO-MARKET: 2026 has been a rollercoaster ride for gold/silver investors

Economies, financial systems and even entire countries have collapsed, but for centuries, precious metals have proven their resiliency in storing wealth.

Al & Irene's Bar-B-Q House opens in Davenport's West End, bringing back familiar flavors

From the family that brought us Jim's Rib Haven, Al & Irene's Bar-B-Q House is the newest in the family legacy of barbecue in the Quad-Cities.

These rock-climbing fish can shimmy up a 50-foot waterfall

New research from the Democratic Republic of Congo offers a behavioral and anatomical portrait of a species that can achieve surprising athletic feats.

Sunday Puzzle: To Be Announced

Moline Foundation

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The Moline Community Foundation was established in November of 1953, with $53,000 in seed money from the Moline Chamber…

In Lebanon, more than 50 medics have been killed by Israel. Some say they're targeted

Lebanon says at least 54 health workers are among more than 1,400 people killed by Israel during the current invasion. Human rights groups say first responders are being targeted — something Israel denies.

Trump says U.S. military has rescued airman shot down over Iran

A U.S. Airforce officer whose plane was shot down in Iran was rescued by U.S. forces early Sunday, President Trump announced on social media.

River Bandits unveil new food and drink options

In less than a week, fans will be back inside Modern Woodmen Park to cheer on the River Bandits. When they do, they will notice some new choices at the concession stands. New this year, the River Bandits are selling cheese curds from Cinnamon Ridge Farms in Donahue, Iowa. To drink, they are introducing an [...]

Quad Cities celebrates Easter with egg hunts

Families across the Quad Cities celebrated Easter with a swimming egg hunt in Bettendorf and an egg hunt at the fairgrounds in Davenport.

600 people attend egg hunt held at Terrace Cannabis

This was the second annual event at Terrace Cannabis and this year there was 10,000 filled eggs.

How to avoid storm scammers

Following tornadoes like we saw in Preston yesterday, the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services says scammers are primed to strike.