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

John Elkin named Bettendorf Community School District interim superintendent

The Bettendorf Community School District has announced a new interim superintendent. According to a release, John Elkin was appointed by the Bettendorf Community School District to serve in the role for the 2026–27 school year, following board approval. Elkin is a 1990 Bettendorf High School graduate and has nearly three decades of public education experience [...]

Semi, Tesla crash Tuesday morning in Milan

The crash was reported at about 8:33 a.m. Tuesday at U.S. 67 and Rock Island-Milan Parkway in Milan.

PHOTO GALLERY: Moonlight Chase 2026

NSP photos by Noah Glasgow and Erin M. Gentz.

Students unearth Iowa history at the Abbie Gardner Cabin for the final time

College students spent the past five summers excavating land around the Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin in Arnolds Park, uncovering artifacts that help tell the story of one of Iowa's most significant historic sites. With the work complete, officials hope the state will preserve the cabin for future generations.

PHOTO GALLERY: Eldridge Summer Festival

The Eldridge Summer Festival kicked off with the traditional Lions Pancake Breakfast at the high school before transitioning into the parde and downtown activities. NSP photos by Noah Glasgow and Erin M. Gentz. 

PHOTO GALLERY: Truckers Jamboree honks through Walcott

Truckers from across the country poured into Walcott for three days of vehicular hijinks at the Iowa 80 Truckstop’s annual Truckers Jamboree, Thursday to Saturday. Visitors enjoyed a pork chop cookout, truck show, “truckers olympics,” and fireworks. NSP photos by Noah Glasgow

One person taken to the hospital after two-vehicle crash in Moline

One person was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after a two-vehicle crash occurred in Moline on 60th Street and John Deere Road late Tuesday morning.

Davenport man charged after May crash seriously injured motorcyclist

A Davenport man faces a felony and other charges in connection with a May crash that left a motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries.

Some East Moline homes, businesses have elevated lead levels in water

Some privately owned homes and businesses in East Moline are dealing with elevated lead levels after a recent drinking water evaluation. A news release from the City of East Moline said recent drinking water monitoring showed elevated lead levels in some privately owned homes and buildings. These results are specific to certain locations and do [...]

North Scott Press — July 15, 2026

More than 1,300 glow in the Moonlight

This year's 41st running of the Moonlight Chase attracted 1,372 runners to downtown Eldridge. That's up more than 100 runners from last year. Joe Langridge of Moline was the overall four-mile winner, finishing in 19:31. For much of the race, he was locked in a dead heat with second-place finisher Matt Lorenz of Cedar Rapids, who came in two seconds behind Langridge. Last year's winner, Devin Allbaugh, finished third. The women's winner was Brooklyn Smith of Geneseo, Ill., with an official time of 24:35. She finished just ahead of Rowan Boulter of Iowa City. In the one-mile, Jacob Sleep of Verona, Wis., was the big winner, clocking in at 5:50. He was joined in the winner's circle by a familiar face, his cousin, Ella Olson of Urbandale, a repeat winner. Results were provided by Adam Tisue from official timer ERC Timing. Male Overall 4 Mile Winner 1. Joe Langridge, Moline 19:31   Female Overall 4 Mile Winner 1. Brooklyn Smith, Geneseo, Ill.  24:35   CLYDESDALE 4M AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Jeremy Bell, Eldridge 29:46 2. Drew Wilson, Wauwatosa Wis. 30:06 3. Keaton Cain, Cedar Rapids 30:24 4. Jacob Wehr, Bettendorf 31:07   ATHENA 4M AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Se Ann Shoemaker, Geneseo, Ill. 34:19 2. Karla Jimenez, Bettendorf 35:55 3. Emily Lyon, Blue Grass 36:13 4. Marissa Janssen, Moline 38:12   FEMALE AGE GROUP 13 - 14 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Presley Moeller, Davenport 25:46 2. Avery Mente, Tipton  31:33 3. Katelyn Mente, Tipton 31:34 4. Payton Winslow, LeClaire 31:55   MALE AGE GROUP 13 - 14 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Dallin Witt, Bettendorf  24:39 2. Logan Dirksen, Eldridge 24:57 3. Calvin Kenyon, Davenport 25:06 4. Avian Reyna, Muscatine 25:16   FEMALE AGE GROUP 15 - 16 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Joley Sullivan, Davenport 25:05 2. Rhemidy Brack, Davenport 27:25 3. Natalie O’Flahrity, Eldridge 27:52 4. Vivian Ohsann, Eldridge 31:19   MALE AGE GROUP 15 - 16 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Nolan Olson, Urbandale 21:00 2. Vinny Gullone, Galena Ill. 21:33 3. Tyler Johnson, Rochelle, Ill.  22:10 4. Lucas Jackson, East Dubuque, Ill.  22:24   FEMALE AGE GROUP 17 - 19 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Braxton Helstrom, Davenport 27:07 2. Khloe Hamilton, Donahue 27:54 3. Clara Olson, Urbandale 29:21 4. Tori Browning, Sherrard, Ill. 31:03   MALE AGE GROUP 17 - 19 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Zack Ryan, Davenport 21:11 2. Caleb Rankin, Bettendorf 21:37 3. Isaac Schuda, Wheaton, Ill.  21:44 4. Drew Caldwell, Blue Grass  22:24   FEMALE AGE GROUP 20 - 24 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Rowan Boulter, Iowa City 24:32 2. Maddie Mathis, Viola IL 30:23 3. Megan Schafer, Bettendorf 30:39 4. Hannah Jones, Saline, Mich.  30:39   MALE AGE GROUP 20 - 24 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Max Murphy, Bettendorf 19:53 2. Andrew Miller, LeClaire 20:16 3. Carter Richter, Davenport 21:05 4. Stephen Hansen, Torrance, Calif. 21:11   FEMALE AGE GROUP 25 - 29 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Jacey Schickel, Lemont Ill.  24:53 2. Josie Brown, Omaha, Neb.  26:21 3. Alison Tollas, Davenport 28:12 4. Bella Solis, Bettendorf 29:40   MALE AGE GROUP 25 - 29 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Matt Lorenz, Cedar Rapids 19:33 2. Mike Gille, Roscoe, Ill.  19:51 3. Elliott Klauer, Bettendorf 20:35 4. Samuel Long, East Moline 22:09   FEMALE AGE GROUP 30 - 34 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Kasey Froeschle, Davenport 25:38 2. Annie Froeschle, Davenport 27:54 3. Emily Liske, Long Grove 31:35 4. Alaina Williams, Davenport 33:02   MALE AGE GROUP 30 - 34 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Steve Froeschle, Davenport  19:44 2. Lucas Keifer, Burlington 20:17 3. Dalton Atchison, Fort Wayne, Ind. 21:52 4. Michael Eyres, Dubuque 21:56   FEMALE AGE GROUP 35 - 39 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Kelsey Allbaugh, Bettendorf 25:53 2. Morgan Skopec, Bettendorf 27:29 3. Jeanine Link, Durant 29:27 4. Nicole Hamilton, West Liberty 32:13   MALE AGE GROUP 35 - 39 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Devin Allbaugh, Bettendorf 19:41 2. Dan Froeschle, Davenport  20:13 3. Andrew Drinkall, Albany, Ill.  25:39 4. Nic Long, Davenport 26:34   FEMALE AGE GROUP 40 - 44 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Sarah Vermillion, Eldridge 27:14 2. Renee Mance, Geneseo, Ill.  28:39 3. Alisa Sleep, Verona, Wis.  30:36 4. Jenny Lauritsen, Bettendorf  32:20   MALE AGE GROUP 40 - 44 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Ryan Witt, Bettendorf 25:12 2. Travis Wharton, Davenport  27:06 3. Kyle Shradel, Davenport 27:07 4. Adam Lyons, Eldridge 30:12   FEMALE AGE GROUP 45 - 49 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Allison Kopp, Osco, Ill.  30:32 2. B Diaz, Silvis, Ill.  32:55 3. Melissa Pelham, Bettendorf 35:13 4. Amanda Digeorge, Davenport 36:01   MALE AGE GROUP 45 - 49 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Casey Mente, Tipton 23:22 2. Steven Richgruber, Walcott  26:01 3. Dan Bailey, Riverdale 26:30 4. Aaron Riley, Cedar Falls 27:53   FEMALE AGE GROUP 50 - 54 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Heidi Woodford, Long Grove 31:16 2. Cynthia Reade, Geneseo, Ill. 36:29 3. Jennifer Cook Gregory, DeWitt 37:18 4. Lori Mangels, Davenport 43:50   MALE AGE GROUP 50 - 54 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Rafael Ceja, Bettendorf 30:15 2. Andrew Harris, Long Grove 31:01 3. Sean Dittmer, Walcott 31:59 4. Matthew Czerwinski, Moline 33:30   FEMALE AGE GROUP 55 - 59 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Michele Sieren, Washington 42:20 2. Laura Holt, Cedar Rapids 44:41 3. Dianne Huber, Eldridge 45:21 4. Peggy Ohl, Eldridge 46:51   MALE AGE GROUP 55 - 59 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Matthew Rivera, Davenport 31:59 2. Rob Boulter, Iowa City 32:29 3. Rob Conklin, Davenport 33:11 4. Jon Obrecht, Geneseo, Ill. 38:33   FEMALE AGE GROUP 60 - 64 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Eve Reynolds, Davenport 33:20 2. Ana Kinney, Eldridge 45:12 3. Dawn Dittmer, Eldridge 45:19 4. Lynn Curlott, Long Grove 45:22   MALE AGE GROUP 60 - 64 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. John Smith, Eldridge 27:41 2. Michael Campana, Peosta 32:55 3. Scott Bivens, Long Grove 35:11 4. Tim Tully, Bettendorf 35:17   FEMALE AGE GROUP 65 - 69 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Lorri Steffe, Donahue 38:44 2. Jane Niemann, Princeton 41:49 3. Barbara Wolf, Davenport 54:01 4. Sue Henderson, Durant 55:22   MALE AGE GROUP 65 - 69 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Tom Schafer, Six Lakes, Mich.  35:01 2. Jeff Trannel, East Dubuque, Ill.  37:48 3. Randy Mooney, Bettendorf 38:15 4. Brian Kopf, Davenport 39:27   FEMALE AGE GROUP 70+ AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Peggy Neavor, Davenport 47:04 2. Beverly Curtis, Eldridge 50:04 3. Marianne Schroeder, Bettendorf 53:21 4. Sandra Albers, Kaneohe, Hawaii 1:05:00   MALE AGE GROUP 70+ AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Frederic Whiteside, Rock Island 33:19 2. Bob Thompson, Davenport 34:50 3. David Hope, Davenport 36:41 4. Samuel Hunter, Davenport 37:24 Men’s 4 Mile 1. Joe Langridge, Moline 19:31:00 2. Matt Lorenz, Cedar Rapids 19:33:00 3. Devin Allbaugh, Bettendorf 19:41:00 4. Steve Froeschle, Davenport 19:44:00 5. Mike Gille, Roscoe, Ill. 19:51:00 6. Max Murphy, Bettendorf 19:53:00 7. Dan Froeschle, Davenport 20:13:00 8. Andrew Miller, Le Claire 20:16:00 9. Lucas Keifer, Burlington 20:17:00 10. Elliott Klauer, Bettendorf 20:35:00 11. Nolan Olson, Urbandale 21:00:00 12. Carter Richter, Davenport 21:05:00 13. Stephen Hansen, Torrance, Calif. 21:11:00 14. Zack Ryan, Davenport 21:11:00 15. Christopher Miserendino, Bettendorf 21:12:00 16. Grant Ackard, Bradenton, Fla. 21:19:00 17. Will Dowda, Bettendorf 21:25:00 18. Jaden Gocken, Winnebago, Ill. 21:27:00 19. Vinny Gullone, Galena, Ill. 21:33:00 20. Caleb Rankin, Bettendorf 21:37:00 21. Isaac Schuda, Wheaton, Ill. 21:44:00 22. Max Sorgenfrey, Bettendorf 21:50:00 23. Dalton Atchison, Fort Wayne, Ind. 21:52:00 24. Michael Eyres, Dubuque 21:56:00 25. Samuel Long, East Moline 22:09:00 26. Tyler Johnson, Rochelle, Ill. 22:10:00 27. Jose Gomez, Rock Island 22:20:00 28. Drew Caldwell, Blue Grass 22:24:00 29. Lucas Jackson, East Dubuque, Ill. 22:24:00 30. Donovan Garro, Pecatonica, Ill. 22:24:00 31. Bruce Taylor, Moline 22:24:00 32. Chris King, Naperville, Ill. 22:39:00 33. Linus McRoberts, Iowa City 22:46:00 34. Dalton Rice, Davenport 22:51:00 35. Parker Hamly, Walcott 23:07:00 36. Tim Hyde, Silvis, Ill. 23:07:00 37. Josh Pestka, Davenport 23:10:00 38. Jeremiah Stanley, Eldridge 23:17:00 39. Casey Mente, Tipton 23:22:00 40. Graysen Carlson, Geneseo, Ill. 23:28:00 41. Leo Tharp, Lisbon 23:40:00 42. Zachary Johnson, Sherrard, Ill. 23:41:00 43. Jonah Whitson, Davenport 23:48:00 44. Carter Hatz, Davenport 23:49:00 45. Reece Moeller, Davenport 24:01:00 46. Logan Soedt, Eldridge 24:05:00 47. Grant Clair, Bettendorf 24:06:00 48. Owen Nuss, Gowrie 24:09:00 49. Andrew Broughton, Bettendorf 24:14:00 50. Ross Willerth, Eldridge 24:15:00 51. Jackson Schrock, Prairie Du Chien, Wis. 24:19:00 52. Jack Connors, Bettendorf 24:25:00 53. Lane Johnston, Iowa 24:27:00 55. Brooklyn Smith, Geneseo, Ill. 24:33:00 56. Joshua Stracner, Davenport 24:38:00 57. Dallin Witt, Bettendorf 24:39:00 58. Gabe Tejada, Fairfield 24:44:00 59. Braeden Marker, Iowa City 24:50:00 60. Bronin Platts, Tipton 24:51:00 62. Jacob Varble, East Moline 24:54:00 63. Logan Dirksen, Eldridge 24:57:00 64. Lucas Johnston, Iowa 24:59:00 65. Noah McCracken, Davenport 25:02:00 66. Joley Sullivan, Davenport 25:05:00 67. Benett Boatright, Fairfield 25:06:00 68. Calvin Kenyon, Davenport 25:06:00 69. Sylis McGee, Tipton 25:07:00 70. Ryan Witt, Bettendorf 25:12:00 71. Avian Reyna, Muscatine 25:16:00 72. Aminia Mashimango, Rock Island 25:25:00 73. Wesley Haas, Elizabeth, Ill. 25:28:00 74. Kasey Froeschle, Davenport 25:38:00 75. Andrew Drinkall, Albany, Ill. 25:39:00 76. Ben Barnds, Davenport 25:41:00 79. Braden Hartsock, Kalona 26:00:00 80. Steven Richgruber, Walcott 26:01:00 81. Nathaniel Holst, Princeton 26:04:00 82. Jose Ortega, Davenport 26:11:00 83. Simon Hall, Davenport 26:20:00 85. Kyler Decker, Iowa City 26:22:00 86. Ezekiel Taylor, Muscatine 26:25:00 87. Matt Foote, East Dubuque, Ill. 26:29:00 88. Dan Bailey, Riverdale 26:30:00 89. Nic Long, Davenport 26:34:00 90. Slater Williams, Summerville, S.C. 26:36:00 91. Chase Monroe, Davenport 26:37:00 92. Ryan Osler, Bettendorf 26:44:00 93. Cooper Nuss, Gowrie 26:46:00 94. Alex Rickertsen, Calamus 26:54:00 95. Travis Wharton, Davenport 27:06:00 96. Kyle Shradel, Davenport 27:07:00 100. Aleks Jakobsen, Rock Island 27:25:00 101. Miles Unwin, Eldridge 27:26:00 102. Micah Rohde, Eldridge 27:28:00 104. Ryan Hicks, Davenport 27:29:00 105. Hayden Schmidt, Eldridge 27:29:00 106. Dallas Sibert, Valparaiso, Ind. 27:29:00 107. Colby Sorensen, Davenport 27:33:00 108. Aiden Roman, Iowa City 27:37:00 109. Troy Welch, Blue Grass 27:38:00 110. Caleb Meier, Tipton 27:39:00 111. John Smith, Eldridge 27:41:00 112. Maxwell McDowell, Iowa City 27:43:00 114. Aaron Riley, Cedar Falls 27:53:00 117. Luke Anderson, Blue Grass 28:01:00 118. Austin Lee, Eldridge 28:03:00 119. Lawson Bell, Long Grove 28:05:00 120. Matt Cleveland, Muscatine 28:05:00 121. Wil Crawford, Eldridge 28:07:00 123. Hunter Shemek, Milan, Ill. 2 8:16:00 124. Jack Edwards, Iowa City 28:18:00 125. Levi Zimmerman, Bettendorf 28:22:00 126. Augie Prior, Princeton 28:24:00 127. Brandon Bartz, Davenport 28:28:00 129. Cody Davis, Tipton 28:49:00 130. Everett Heiar, Clinton 28:50:00 131. Greysen Tuftee, Eldridge 28:56:00 132. Dawsan Dufloth, Davenport 2 9:02:00 133. Jared Logan, O’Fallon, Ill. 29:11:00 134. Henry Wieland, Davenport 29:11:00 135. Peter Rizzo, Geneseo, Ill. 29:14:00 136. Tim Regan, Eldridge 29:17:00 137. Patrick Melvin, Dewitt 29:19:00 138. Brady Monroe, Eldridge 29:20:00 141. Adam Peters, Davenport 29:29:00 142. Wyatt Caldwell, Blue Grass 29:32:00 143. Aidan Daly, Geneseo, Ill. 29:32:00 144. Nick Weber, Marion 29:35:00 145. Carter Lafrenz, Long Grove 29:36:00 146. Tyler Finnegan, Pekin, Ill. 29:37:00 148. Jeremy Bell, Eldridge 29:46:00 149. Eamon Garton, Davenport 29:55:00 150. Nick Caldwell, Blue Grass 29:57:00 151. Ryan Frye, Bettendorf 29:58:00 152. John Monroe, Davenport 29:59:00 153. Porter Birtell, Sioux Falls, S.D. 30:02:00 154. Drew Wilson, Wauwatosa, Wis. 30:06:00 155. Aaron Cain, Westminster, Colo. 30:09:00 156. Brady Determan, Eldridge 30:10:00 157. Adam Lyons, Eldridge 30:12:00 158. Tyler West, Eldridge 30:13:00 159. Rafael Ceja, Bettendorf 30:15:00 160. Aaron Raleigh, Long Grove 30:22:00 162. Tyson Morrison, Davenport 30:23:00 163. Keaton Cain, Cedar Rapids 30:24:00 164. Matthew Wilkinson, Davenport 30:24:00 165. Michael Bowen, Davenport 30:29:00 166. Fritz Bolme, Geneseo, Ill. 30:29:00 167. Kyle Kroeger, Eldridge 30:31:00 169. Elijah McCracken, Davenport 3 0:33:00 171. Augustin Richter, Davenport 30:38:00 173. Drake White, Blue Grass 30:39:00 175. Kyle Lund, Wilton 30:44:00 176. Drew Stroud, Dewitt 30:45:00 179. Matt Olson, Urbandale 30:54:00 180. Andrew Harris, Long Grove 31:01:00 182. Jackson Jones, Sherrard, Ill. 31:02:00 184. Ben Piotter, Eldridge 31:07:00 185. Jacob Wehr, Bettendorf 31:07:00 190. Jacob Neymeyer, Eldridge 31:21:00 191. Andy Zimmerman, Bettendorf 31:25:00 192. Kenny Glover, Eldridge 31:31:00 196. Alex Terrell, Davenport 31:37:00 197. Jeff Lenhart, Dubuque 31:47:00 198. Jax Hamilton, West Liberty 31:49:00 199. Joseph Sleep, Verona, Wis. 31:51:00 200. Justin Booker, Davenport 31:54:00 203. Tristan Schmidt, Eldridge 31:57:00 205. Sean Dittmer, Walcott 31:59:00 206. Matthew Rivera, Davenport 31:59:00 207. Eric Huber, Iowa City 32:02:00 208. Griffin Frank, Eldridge 32:03:00 211. Seth Meyer, Rock Island 32:05:00 212. Kye Smith, Eldridge 32:08:00 214. Thomas Tharp, Lisbon 32:14:00 215. Gavin Yeltman, Baxter 32:16:00 219. Kaleb Belha, Milan, Ill. 32:24:00 220. Russell Brown, Geneseo, Ill. 32:24:00 222. Jp Putnam, Milan, Ill. 32:25:00 224. Rob Boulter, Iowa City 32:29:00 226. Torin Porter, Des Moines 32:31:00 228. Ryan Huba, Davenport 32:36:00 229. John Callahan, Dubuque 32:37:00 232. Shea Smith, Geneseo, Ill. 32:43:00 233. Luke Menster, Bettendorf 32:45:00 234. Paul Willett, Bettendorf 32:46:00 236. Evan Mahler, Riverside 32:50:00 237. Oliver Hearn, Davenport 32:52:00 239. Michael Campana, Peosta 32:55:00 240. Gavin Lindle, Eldridge 32:57:00 244. Rob Conklin, Davenport 33:11:00 245. Matthew Edwards, Iowa City 33:18:00 247. Frederic Whiteside, Rock Island 33:19:00 250. Anthony McIntire, Eldridge 33:21:00 251. David Edens, Davenport 33:23:00 252. Matt Pelham, Bettendorf 33:25:00 253. Matthew Czerwinski, Moline 33:30:00 254. Eli Gronowski, Eldridge 33:30:00 260. Kasen Carney, Tipton 33:48:00 263. Jake Deblieck, Coal Valley, Ill. 33:58:00 264. Alex Barber, Fulton, Ill. 34:00:00 266. Andrew Fangman, Muscatine 34:05:00 267. Xavier Lira, Walcott 34:06:00 268. Emmett Fangman, Muscatine 34:07:00 269. Matthew Caldwell, Davenport 34:07:00 274. Nathan Windt, Eldridge 34:10:00 275. Chris Koepke, Davenport 34:10:00 276. Reese Brown, Rock Island 34:18:00 279. Micah Webb, Eldridge 34:27:00 282. Nolan Slowick, Coal Valley, Ill. 34:31:00 283. Jack Callahan, Dubuque 34:32:00 284. Terry Mente, Tipton 34:32:00 285. Jaxson Knox, Tipton 34:32:00 286. Gabriel Jansen, Davenport 34:37:00 287. Andrew Rizzo, Geneseo, Ill. 34:40:00 294. Bob Thompson, Davenport 34:50:00 295. Ryan Hearn, Davenport 34:53:00 296. Shane Holmstrom, Geneseo, Ill. 34:53:00 297. Charlie Blakeway, Bettendorf 34:57:00 299. Mitch Tollerud, Davenport 35:00:00 300. Ryan Webster, Davenport 35:00:00 301. John Jacobs, Bettendorf 35:01:00 302. Tom Schafer, Six Lakes, Mich. 35:01:00 303. Nicholas Cato, Davenport 35:08:00 304. Brett Heintz, West Branch 35:10:00 305. Jacob Reed, Des Moines 35:10:00 307. Scott Bivens, Long Grove 35:11:00 311. Nikolas Davis, McCausland 35:16:00 312. Tim Tully, Bettendorf 35:17:00 313. Jeremy Yost, Long Grove 35:17:00 317. Aaron Franck, Davenport 35:25:00 318. Nick Reeve, Blue Grass 35:25:00 319. Todd Mente, Tipton 35:27:00 320. Austin Fox, Bettendorf 35:28:00 321. Josh Whitson, Bettendorf 35:28:00 324. Josh Holeman, Bettendorf 35:32:00 325. Eric Engelman, Dubuque 35:32:00 326. Matthew Haycraft, Eldridge 3 5:34:00 330. Tom Ohl, Eldridge 35:37:00 331. Bryan Huebsch, Oregon, Wis. 35:40:00 333. Luke Martin, Eldridge 35:51:00 334. Dustin Henningsen, Long Grove 35:51:00 337. Emmett Norris, Eldridge 35:58:00 338. Dalton Weigel, Muscatine 36:00:00 341. Jack Melvin, Dewitt 36:03:00 342. Chris Bornhoeft, Hampton, Ill. 36:05:00 345. Jacob Garcia, Visalia, Calif. 36:09:00 346. Alex Heintz, West Branch 36:12:00 350. Alex Durbin, Davenport 36:15:00 351. Luke Mahler, Riverside 36:15:00 352. Nicolas Czerwinski, East Moline 36:16:00 356. Noah Whitfield, Eldridge 36:18:00 357. Charlie Ohl, Eldridge 36:18:00 358. Justin Roe, Bue Grass 36:20:00 359. Tyler Schneiderheinze, Davenport 36:22:00 360. Travis Henningsen, Long Grove 36:23:00 361. Jared Morrissey, Rock Island 36:25:00 362. Laim Pratt, Eldridge 36:26:00 363. Kevin Noble, Blue Grass 36:26:00 365. Joe Kelly, Eldridge 36:26:00 367. Nick Rocca, Davenport 36:27:00 374. Scott Evers, Davenport 36:34:00 375. Patrick Looney, Long Grove 36:36:00 376. Tyson Spicer, Dewitt 36:38:00 377. Russell Squires, Eldridge 36:41:00 379. David Hope, Davenport 36:41:00 380. Myles Zirpel, Long Grove 36:41:00 382. Marc Odegaard, Eldridge 36:43:00 383. Rodney Kirk Jr, Muscatine 36:45:00 388. Ryan Simatovich, Eldridge 36:54:00 389. David Farmer, Davenport 36:55:00 392. Adam Heister, Eldridge 37:01:00 393. Zayn Heister, Eldridge 37:01:00 397. Brayve Wakeland, Sherrard, Ill. 37:10:00 398. Jim McKinney, Eldridge 37:12:00 401. Collin Debuysere, Davenport 37:12:00 402. Chris Boer, Eldridge 37:12:00 404. Drew Webb, Eldridge 37:16:00 407. Keith Inghram, Eldridge 37:18:00 408. Chad Brown, Eldridge 37:23:00 409. Samuel Hunter, Davenport 37:24:00 411. Jaron Shook, Eldridge 37:34:00 413. Todd Gustas, Eldridge 37:36:00 417. Wesley Garvin, Eldridge 37:44:00 419. Shane Monroe, Eldridge 37:45:00 420. Landon Battey, Wilton 37:47:00 421. Jeff Trannel, East Dubuque, Ill. 37:48:00 422. Cody Carlton, Calamus 37:49:00 425. Justin Livermore, Davenport 37:53:00 426. Logan Harris, Donahue 37:53:00 427. Mason Rathe, Eldridge 37:57:00 429. Carter Jack, Eldridge 38:00:00 430. Mason Odegaard, Eldridge 38:02:00 432. Paul Pham, Davenport 38:06:00 435. Jacob Schmitz, Bennett 38:08:00 437. Joshua Haycraft, Eldridge 38:09:00 440. Brayden Schmidt, Eldridge 38:13:00 441. Scott Hirstein, Eldridge 38:14:00 444. Randy Mooney, Bettendorf 38:15:00 445. Nicholas Novak, Bettendorf 38:17:00 446. Eli Taylor, Moline 38:23:00 448. Erik Rosas, Moline 38:26:00 449. Dillon Novak, Bettendorf 38:26:00 450. Caleb McArthur, Burnsville, Minn. 38:30:00 451. Steven Pennock, Port Byron, Ill. 38:31:00 452. Brennon Boeding, Princeton 38:32:00 453. Jon Obrecht, Geneseo, Ill. 38:33:00 456. Emery Weist, Viola, Ill. 38:42:00 459. John E Melvin, De Witt 38:46:00 460. Mike Regan, Iowa City 38:51:00 461. Andy Anderson, McCausland 38:52:00 462. Ryan Shemek, Milan, Ill. 38:56:00 463. Derek Bolme, Geneseo, Ill. 38:56:00 464. Kellen Williams, Davenport 39:04:00 468. Kraig Liske, Long Grove 39:11:00 469. Kurt Liske, Bettendorf 39:11:00 475. Yoyoman Painting LLC, Davenport 39:23:00 476. Darren Keppy, Walcott 39:23:00 478. Jack Harmsen, Iowa City 39:27:00 479. Brian Kopf, Davenport 39:27:00 484. Clint Biekert, Eldridge 39:37:00 485. Austin Ryckeghem, Eldridge 39:38:00 486. Michael Wedemeyer, Donahue 39:40:00 488. Joe Doyle, Davenport 39:43:00 489. Jed Reed, Calamus 39:43:00 490. David Schneider, Dewitt 39:45:00 491. Austin Meirhaeghe, Milan, Ill. 39:46:00 498. Mason Clemens, Dubuque 39:58:00 499. Geoffrey Knoop, North Liberty 39:59:00 504. Wyatt Rabe, Goose Lake 40:03:00 506. Paul Boffeli, Eldridge 40:03:00 513. Brent Heiar, Clinton 40:10:00 516. Carlos Barbosa, Moline 40:21:00 517. Mason Ottens, Albany, Ill. 40:21:00 520. Brayden Conley, Davenport 40:26:00 521. Noble Wakeland, Sherrard, Ill. 40:26:00 522. David Browning, Sherrard, Ill. 40:28:00 524. Mike Batten, Rock Falls, Ill. 40:32:00 525. Aaron Little, Tipton 40:33:00 527. Douglas Simons, Dickeyville, Wis. 40:33:00 528. Mitchell Frautschy, Roscoe, Ill. 40:35:00 533. Travis Jansen, Davenport 40:49:00 534. Liam Gamet, Eldridge 40:49:00 541. John Vandevoorde, Eldridge 40:59:00 542. Nelson Ullinskey, East Moline 41:00:00 545. Ryan Paustian, Bettendorf 41:02:00 546. Alex Kramer, Eldridge 41:02:00 547. Kurt Kramer, Eldridge 41:02:00 550. Marcus Rowan, Davenport 41:11:00 551. Doug Bierman, Eldridge 41:12:00 553. Travis Nuss, Gowrie 41:18:00 554. John Valliere, Eldridge 41:21:00 556. Gabriel Rohde, Eldridge 41:22:00 557. Andrew Geest, Port Byron, Ill. 41:26:00 558. Alec Seifert, Davenport 41:27:00 564. Thomas Sterbenz, Davenport 41:43:00 565. Cory Crain, Eldridge 41:46:00 567. Eric Schroeder, Eldridge 41:49:00 575. Colton Billington, Eldridge 42:13:00 576. Paul Jones, Donahue 42:13:00 577. Michael Green, Amana 42:19:00 581. Phil Meisenbach, Davenport 42:23:00 583. Brian Blakeway, Bettendorf 42:29:00 584. Andrew Gustas, Eldridge 42:42:00 587. Colton Carlton, Bettendorf 42:52:00 588. Tristan Edens, Eldridge 43:09:00 589. Fysher Martin, Davenport 43:13:00 590. Jackson Maiers, Eldridge 43:14:00 592. Aaron Boley, Washington, Ill. 43:17:00 593. Randy Brenner, Eldridge 43:20:00 595. Karson Pinnow, Davenport 43:27:00 597. Jaxon Nissley, Tipton 43:32:00 600. Chad Whitehall, Moline 43:37:00 602. Jason Ross, Davenport 43:41:00 603. Tomas Alvarado, Rock Island 43:47:00 608. Jason Vanhorn, De Witt 43:58:00 611. Denton Holst, Eldridge 44:09:00 612. Devin Johnson, Dewitt 44:12:00 614. Collin Jack, Eldridge 44:19:00 615. Brad Whan, Eldridge 44:19:00 618. Neil Berthiaume, Davenport 44:22:00 621. Mark McDermott, Bettendorf 44:23:00 622. Chad Vonkampen, Atkins 44:27:00 625. Christopher Bliss, Park View 44:34:00 627. Ky Boyle, Bettendorf 44:39:00 632. Miles Olsen, Eldridge 44:50:00 634. Andrew Hegland, Bettendorf 44:54:00 637. Keaton Hansen, Dewitt 44:55:00 639. Keaton Schneckloth, Eldridge 44:59:00 641. Mitchell Johnson, Leclaire 45:05:00 644. Jasper Garvin, Eldridge 45:09:00 646. Jordan Haugland, Eldridge 45:10:00 648. Jax Rus, Eldridge 45:15:00 655. Gunner Jennings, Davenport 45:31:00 659. Kayne Speirs, Davenport 45:35:00 660. Dan Purcell, Davenport 45:38:00 664. Gage Lane, Eldridge 45:48:00 669. Rocky Bonner, Grimes 46:15:00 675. Josh Conder, Davenport 46:23:00 677. Rick Nagel, Eldridge 46:25:00 679. Paul Fecht, Eldridge 46:26:00 681. Kurt Lease, Eldridge 46:36:00 683. Philip Slowick, Moline 46:40:00 684. Jax Huntley, Eldridge 46:40:00 686. Josh Sims, Eldridge 46:51:00 687. Mark Murphy, Atkinson, Ill. 46:53:00 690. Payton Carpio, Maysville 47:05:00 692. Wesley McGovern, Williamsburg 47:07:00 693. Tyler Stanton, Princeton 47:08:00 696. Dave Pobanz, Geneseo, Ill. 47:21:00 697. Marshal McDermott, Davenport 47:26:00 699. Larry Edens, Davenport 47:33:00 702. Shae Bolme, Geneseo, Ill. 47:39:00 704. Joel Nelson, Davenport 47:40:00 712. Peyton Pinnow, Davenport 47:52:00 715. Dillon Valdez, Bettendorf 47:55:00 718. Alex Deblieck, Coal Valley, Ill. 48:01:00 719. Suton Edens, Eldridge 48:02:00 720. Jacob Kane, East Galesburg, Ill. 48:06:00 722. Iver Ellingson, Bellevue 48:10:00 723. Benjamin Danielson, Eldridge 48:10:00 724. David Yonda, Dubuque 48:20:00 727. Adrian Simonson, Eldridge 48:40:00 728. Trevor Matthaidess, Eldridge 48:43:00 730. Bart Leavens, Clinton 48:50:00 732. Zac Richmond, Bettendorf 49:00:00 733. Brandon Schmeink, Davenport 49:06:00 736. Aaron Escontrias, Clinton 49:14:00 745. Victor Moreno, Silvis, Ill. 49:53:00 746. Bryan Janoski, Eldridge 50:02:00 750. Marc Gaskin, Eldridge 50:13:00 751. Bryon Dixon, Long Grove 50:30:00 752. Randolph Ford, Davenport 50:32:00 753. Nick Larson, Davenport 50:39:00 766. Josiah Ragsale, Crystal Lake, Ill. 51:50:00 767. Robert Gregory, De Witt 52:09:00 769. Zach Barber, Fulton, Ill. 52:11:00 775. Chris Woods, Rock Island 52:44:00 776. Thaddeus Taylor, Muscatine 52:53:00 780. Scott Garvin, Eldridge 53:15:00 787. Logan Purcell, Davenport 53:37:00 790. Matt Voelcker, Moline 53:57:00 795. Scott Hoag, De Witt 54:31:00 797. Hayden Lightle, Eldridge 54:51:00 806. Andy Hartwig, Eldridge 55:36:00 807. Nathan Miller, Eldridge 55:37:00 813. Adam Hamerlinck, Davenport 55:56:00 817. Josh Deblieck, Coal Valley, Ill. 56:09:00 818. Michael Sterling, Kyle, Texas 56:10:00 819. Jason Deblieck, Coal Valley, Ill. 56:10:00 824. John Parker, Bettendorf 56:55:00 827. Sheldon Samson, Davenport 57:22:00 829. Cedrick Whitfield, Eldridge 57:26:00 832. Alexander Huntley, Eldridge 57:51:00 839. Gregory Glines, Eldridge 59:21:00 840. Nicholas Brambila, Hampton, Ill. 59:24:00 847. Steven Anderson, Eldridge 1:01:14 850. Dennis Moore, Davenport 1:01:29 851. Michael Heister, Eldridge 1:01:38 854. Bentley Glines, Eldridge 1:02:21 858. Owen Kuhl, Davenport 1:02:46 859. Ross Burandt, Eldridge 1:02:54 860. Morgan Flynn, Peoria, Ill. 1:02:57 867. John Whitney, Porter, Ind. 1:03:31 870. Raub Olsen, Eldridge 1:04:36 871. Kyle Dixon, Long Grove 1:04:48 873. Allen Rus, Eldridge 1:05:23 876. Austin Slowick, Moline 1:05:33 884. Leif Nestingen, Minneapolis, Minn. 1:07:11 885. Greg Shouse, De Witt 1:07:18 888. David Haase, Davenport 1:07:29 889. Timothy Oysti, Davenport 1:07:46 892. James Fortney, St. Louis, Mo. 1:08:17 898. Ryan Easton, Davenport 1:08:38 899. Shawn Smith, Long Grove 1:08:38 900. Samuel Spitzmiller, Rock Island 1:08:38 914. Kent Denison, Eldridge 1:10:47 915. Eugene Belz, Davenport 1:10:47 921. Tom Rizzo, Geneseo, Ill. 1:11:52 923. Will Purcell, Davenport 1:12:45 928. Lucas Rusk, Eldridge 1:13:15 930. Donald Trimble, Bettendorf 1:14:02 934. Eric Heiting, Eldridge 1:15:12 943. Richard Spinler, Eldridge 1:25:07 Women’s 4 Mile 54. Rowan Boulter, Iowa City 24:32:00 55. Brooklyn Smith, Geneseo, Ill. 24:33:00 61. Jacey Schickel, Lemont, Ill. 24:53:00 66. Joley Sullivan, Davenport 25:05:00 74. Kasey Froeschle, Davenport 25:38:00 77. Presley Moeller, Davenport 25:46:00 78. Kelsey Allbaugh, Bettendorf 25:53:00 84. Josie Brown, Omaha, Neb. 26:21:00 97. Braxton Helstrom, Davenport 27:07:00 98. Sarah Vermillion, Eldridge 27:14:00 99. Rhemidy Brack, Davenport 27:25:00 103. Morgan Skopec, Bettendorf 27:29:00 113. Natalie O’Flahrity, Eldridge 27:52:00 115. Khloe Hamilton, Donahue 27:54:00 116. Annie Froeschle, Davenport 27:54:00 122. Alison Tollas, Davenport 28:12:00 128. Renee Mance, Geneseo, Ill. 28:39:00 139. Clara Olson, Urbandale 29:21:00 140. Jeanine Link, Durant 29:27:00 147. Bella Solis, Bettendorf 29:40:00 161. Maddie Mathis, Viola, Ill. 30:23:00 168. Allison Kopp, Osco, Ill. 30:32:00 170. Alisa Sleep, Verona, Wis. 30:36:00 172. Megan Schafer, Bettendorf 30:39:00 174. Hannah Jones, Saline, Mich. 30:39:00 177. Hollye Gutierrez, Davenport 30:49:00 178. Ava Braden, Eldridge 30:52:00 181. Georgia Nissen, Tallahassee, Fla. 31:02:00 183. Tori Browning, Sherrard. Ill. 31:03:00 186. Addie Ford, Davenport 31:11:00 187. Heidi Woodford, Long Grove 31:16:00 188. Reeann Huber, Iowa City 31:16:00 189. Vivian Ohsann, Eldridge 31:19:00 193. Avery Mente, Tipton 31:33:00 194. Katelyn Mente, Tipton 31:34:00 195. Emily Liske, Long Grove 31:35:00 201. Payton Winslow, LeClaire 31:55:00 202. Zoey Ayers, Eldridge 31:57:00 204. Ellie Tholen, Tipton 31:58:00 209. Ava Rogers, Coal Valley, Ill. 32:04:00 210. Julia Willett, Bettendorf 32:04:00 213. Nicole Hamilton, West Liberty 32:13:00 216. Samantha Schrodt, Davenport 32:19:00 217. Allison Lauritsen, Bettendorf 32:19:00 218. Jenny Lauritsen, Bettendorf 32:20:00 221. Kylie Mercier, Bettendorf 32:25:00 223. Sophia Bradarich, Sherrard, Ill. 32:27:00 225. Erika Bradarich, Sherrard, Ill. 32:30:00 227. Emarie Droste, Albany, Ill. 32:36:00 230. Bella Brown, Geneseo, Ill. 32:41:00 231. Esther Ortega, Davenport 32:42:00 235. Shannon Heintz, West Branch 32:49:00 238. B Diaz, Silvis, Ill. 32:55:00 241. Evan Swalla, Sycamore, Ill. 33:00:00 242. Alaina Williams, Davenport 33:02:00 243. Paige Monroe, Davenport 33:06:00 246. Isabel Todd, Bettendorf 33:18:00 248. Julie Anderson, Blue Grass 33:19:00 249. Eve Reynolds, Davenport 33:20:00 255. Brylee Rathe, Eldridge 33:31:00 256. Rylee Dupage, Waukee 33:34:00 257. Samantha Layer, East Moline 33:35:00 258. Madison Reade, Geneseo, Ill. 33:39:00 259. LucyTrefry, Milan, Ill. 33:41:00 261. Maya Williams, Bettendorf 33:51:00 262. Jaclyn Ganshirt, Bettendorf 33:57:00 265. Hannah Durbin, Davenport 34:05:00 270. Valerie Gutierrez, Davenport 34:07:00 271. April Berthiaume, Davenport 34:08:00 272. Jill Naab, Bettendorf 34:09:00 273. Everleigh Naab, Bettendorf 34:09:00 277. Ava Sleep, Verona, Wis. 34:19:00 278. Se Ann Shoemaker, Geneseo, Ill. 34:19:00 280. Kristi Miller, Eldridge 34:27:00 281. Tera Noard, Tipton 34:28:00 288. Megan Kuennen, Cedar Rapids 34:42:00 289. Siena Engelman, Dubuque 34:44:00 290. Mya Rohner, Dubuque 34:45:00 291. Becky, Wakeland, Sherrard, Ill. 34:45:00 292. Danielle Little, Tipton 34:47:00 293. Kisha Shoemaker, Geneseo, Ill. 34:50:00 298. Vanessa Bergmann, Eldridge 34:58:00 306. Kylie Bladel, Davenport 35:11:00 308. Melissa Pelham, Bettendorf 35:13:00 309. Sarah Jaehnig, Blue Grass 35:14:00 310. Shelby Bruce, Blue Grass 35:14:00 314. Sidora Varner, Eldridge 35:20:00 315. Violet Bode, Algona 35:20:00 316. Ellen Jacobs, Bettendorf 35:22:00 322. Aubrey Martinek, Eldridge 35:29:00 323. Katelyn Byerley, Davenport 35:31:00 327. Madeline Skolrood, Davenport 35:34:00 328. Ella Skolrood, Davenport 35:35:00 329. Sophia Birkmeier, Davenport 35:35:00 332. Kara Dittmer, Dewitt 35:50:00 335. Karla Jimenez, Bettendorf 35:55:00 336. Olivia McDermott, Delmar 35:56:00 339. Amanda Digeorge, Davenport 36:01:00 340. Elizabeth Jost, Moline 36:03:00 343. Liz Bornhoeft, Hampton, Ill. 36:07:00 344. Finley Engels, Tipton 36:09:00 347. Emily Lyon, Blue Grass 36:13:00 348. Jill Engels, Tipton 36:13:00 349. Trinity Tague, Grand Mound 36:14:00 353. Zoe Snook, Clinton 36:16:00 354. Mallory Tinderholt, Clinton 36:16:00 355. Audrey Mance, Geneseo, Ill. 36:17:00 364. Mary Rose Roundy, Davenport 36:26:00 366. Brittany Noble, Blue Grass 36:27:00 368. Mia Schricker, Leclaire 36:27:00 369. Cynthia Reade, Geneseo, Ill 36:29:00 370. Nina Baker, Davenport 36:31:00 371. Sarah Lutz, Muscatine 36:31:00 372. Lynn Flatt, Bettendorf 36:31:00 373. Allison Borkowski, Davenport 36:32:00 378. Brooke Squires, Eldridge 36:41:00 381. Rachel Squires, Eldridge 36:42:00 384. Emily Reeve, Blue Grass 36:46:00 385. Mackenzie Bunz, Salt Lake City, Utah 36:48:00 386. Lynn Cavers, Eldridge 36:50:00 387. Sarah Lorenz, Bettendorf 36:50:00 390. Lauren Oetgen, Taylor Ridge, Ill. 36:59:00 391. Nicki Janoski, Eldridge 37:00:00 394. Brooklyn Walls, Dewitt 37:01:00 395. Rachael Debuysere, Davenport 37:02:00 396. Shannon Moore, Davenport 37:06:00 399. Addison Mente, Tipton 37:12:00 400. Lakyn Noard, Tipton 37:12:00 403. Madilyn Swanson, Viola, Ill, 37:14:00 405. Maret Wilson Walker, SF, Calif. 37:17:00 406. Jennifer Cook Gregory, DeWitt 37:18:00 410. Zoe Doty, West Branch 37:31:00 412. Mary Bennett, Osco, Ill. 37:36:00 414. Fiona Mahler, Riverside 37:40:00 415. Amelia Bowers, Eldridge 37:43:00 416. Zaley Rohde, Eldridge 37:44:00 418. Valerie Olson, Bettendorf 37:45:00 423. Chelsea Liske, Bettendorf 37:49:00 424. Marie Brewer, Long Grove 37:52:00 428. Claire Monroe, Davenport 37:58:00 431. Erica Hall, Eldridge 38:03:00 433. Alex Kelly, Muscatine 38:06:00 434. Kathryn Monroe, Davenport 38:07:00 436. Elma Ratliff, Moline 38:09:00 438. Marissa Janssen, Moline 38:12:00 439. Sophia Kipper, Eldridge 38:13:00 442. Brielle Shipman, Eldridge 38:14:00 443. Ellie Schadel, Eldridge 38:14:00 447. Crystal Kinsey, Wapello 38:25:00 454. Christiana Gaskin, Eldridge 38:35:00 455. Lenna Bolme, Geneseo, Ill. 38:41:00 457. Skyler Shemek, Milan, Ill. 38:42:00 458. Lorri Steffe, Donahue 38:44:00 465. Mindy Martinek, Eldridge 39:04:00 466. Ashley Hoffman, Moline 39:06:00 467. Kirsten Zelle, Long Grove 39:08:00 470. Barbara Kuhl, Eldridge 39:13:00 471. Mary Kate Johannes, Bettendorf 39:13:00 472. Carol Windmiller, Blue Grass 39:13:00 473. Chyanne Clark, De Witt 39:18:00 474. Jenna Blakeway, Bettendorf 39:22:00 477. Cora O’Neill, Eldridge 39:25:00 480. Alyssa Schroeder, Eldridge 39:28:00 481. Lauren Kane, East Galesburg, Ill. 39:29:00 482. Jennifer Heacock-Renaud, Davenport 39:29:00 483. Kaylee McCreery, Davenport 39:36:00 487. Anna Doherty, Davenport 39:41:00 492. Erika Duncan, Summersville, Mo. 39:48:00 493. Bethany Rippentrop-Nuss, Gowrie 39:54:00 494. Rachel Morlok, Davenport 39:55:00 495. Eva Streicher, Eldridge 39:56:00 496. Hannah Morrison, Blue Grass 39:56:00 497. Adelaide Knoop, North Liberty 39:57:00 500. Marie Enright, Buffalo 39:59:00 501. Ashley Carstens, Stoddard, Wis. 39:59:00 502. Erica Theis, LeClaire 40:00:00 503. Hayley Musick, Redkey, Ind. 40:02:00 505. Grace Boffeli, Eldridge 40:03:00 507. Chelsi Steele, Blue Grass 40:04:00 508. Erin Natario, Eldridge 40:04:00 509. Tiffany Musick, Redkey, Ind. 40:04:00 510. Alissa Bockenfeld, Long Grove 40:05:00 511. Emma Budd, Palos Heights, Ill. 40:05:00 512. Chloe Hein, Dubuque 40:07:00 514. Jessica Heiar, Clinton 40:11:00 515. Martha Morales, Davenport 40:12:00 518. Baylea Hamer, Davenport 40:26:00 519. Remy Hicks, Davenport 40:26:00 523. Andrea Leal, Rock Falls, Ill. 40:29:00 526. Laura Zimmerman, Bettendorf 40:33:00 529. Jessica Touvelle, Dewitt 40:35:00 530. Christine Johnson, Fulton, Ill. 40:37:00 531. Ella Soliz-Rivera, Davenport 40:38:00 532. Eva Hulscher, Omaha, Neb. 40:42:00 535. Gabrielle O’Connor, Camanche 40:51:00 536. Kirstin Vogt, Hazel Green, Wis. 40:52:00 537. Hannah Hicks, Davenport 40:53:00 538. Emily Hermiston, Davenport 40:54:00 539. Stacey Gamet, Eldridge 40:55:00 540. Erin Krogman, Eldridge 40:55:00 543. Stephanie Clark, Eldridge 41:00:00 544. Emily Calogero, DeWitt 41:01:00 548. Kendall Tawney-Wendell, Eldridge 41:06:00 549. Courtney Woodford, Dewitt 41:09:00 552. Emma Matthaidess, Eldridge 41:13:00 555. Peyton Firrell, Taylor Ridge, Ill. 41:21:00 559. Emily McGovern, Williamsburg 41:28:00 560. Abby Rouse, Eldridge 41:28:00 561. Annabelle Ruth, Eldridge 41:29:00 562. Courtney Nelson, Donahue 41:30:00 563. Julia Rabe, Goose Lake 41:41:00 566. Anne Johnson, Eldridge 41:48:00 568. Jane Niemann, Princeton 41:49:00 569. Alyssa Mente, Tipton 42:00:00 570. Allyson Oysti, Davenport 42:01:00 571. Laurie Geest, Port Byron, Ill. 42:02:00 572. Alivia Ryder, Davenport 42:05:00 573. Sophia Jansen, Davenport 42:06:00 574. Bobbie Derrick, Davenport 42:11:00 578. Michele Sieren, Washington 42:20:00 579. Abby Box, Blue Grass 42:21:00 580. Angela Tharp, Lisbon 42:22:00 582. Cassi Settje, Davenport 42:23:00 585. Becky Woolam, Dewitt 42:50:00 586. Danielle Piotter, Eldridge 42:52:00 591. Icela Garcia, Davenport 43:16:00 594. Kristin Deblieck, Coal Valley, Ill. 43:22:00 596. Kelli Schmidt, Davenport 43:31:00 598. Liz Rouse, Eldridge 43:32:00 599. Amelia Kellner, Davenport 43:37:00 601. Zoey Manley, Eldridge 43:39:00 604. Bre Pairrett, Davenport 43:48:00 605. Hope Richardson, Davenport 43:48:00 606. Joey Austin, Clinton 43:49:00 607. Lori Mangels, Davenport 43:50:00 609. Alise Pins, Stockton 43:58:00 610. Erin McKinney, Eldridge 44:09:00 613. Kallie Cleveland, Dewitt 44:14:00 616. Katie Kakert, Eldridge 44:19:00 617. Nora Davis, Eldridge 44:20:00 619. Jasmine Little, Tipton 44:22:00 620. Alexis McDermott, Bettendorf 44:22:00 623. Josalynn Jones, Muscatine 44:28:00 624. Britney Vercruysse, Sioux Falls, S.D. 44:33:00 626. Alyssa Coil, Moline 44:39:00 628. Laura Holt, Cedar Rapids 44:41:00 629. Marlayna Cockshoot, Eldridge 44:42:00 630. Emily Stutting, Princeton 44:43:00 631. Evelyn Weakley, Sherrard, Ill. 44:44:00 633. Harper Clark, Eldridge 44:51:00 635. Kirstin Jannin, Bettendorf 44:54:00 636. Christina Reyna, DeWitt 44:55:00 638. Courtney Loos, Blue Grass 44:58:00 640. Isabella Graham, Davenport 45:04:00 642. Sarah Goodin, Blue Grass 45:06:00 643. Ellen Davis, Eldridge 45:07:00 645. Joanna Haugland, Eldridge 45:09:00 647. Ana Kinney, Eldridge 45:12:00 649. Ashley Brebner, Bettendorf 45:19:00 650. Dawn Dittmer, Eldridge 45:19:00 651. Dianne Huber, Eldridge 45:21:00 652. Lynn Curlott, Long Grove 45:22:00 653. Alyssa Allen, Bettendorf 45:26:00 654. Kara Clark, Eldridge 45:27:00 656. Zoe Jennings, Davenport 45:33:00 657. Adeline Pries, Davenport 45:34:00 658. Maggie Connley, Davenport 45:34:00 661. Juliana Cortes, Bettendorf 45:44:00 662. Jessica Larson, Davenport 45:44:00 663. Nicole Wilkinson, Davenport 45:44:00 665. Shanna McArthur, Burnsville, Minn. 45:49:00 666. Julia Lieferman, Eldridge 45:51:00 667. Mackenzie Fier, Eldridge 45:54:00 668. Hillary Birtell, Sioux Falls, S.D. 46:08:00 670. Aria Webb, Eldridge 46:16:00 671. Marisol Barbosa, Moline 46:16:00 672. Amy Conder, Davenport 46:17:00 673. Gwen Froehlich, Bettendorf 46:22:00 674. Jayna Froehlich, Bettendorf 46:22:00 676. Erin Coffman, Blue Grass 46:24:00 678. Kendra McVey, Eldridge 46:26:00 680. Hannah Nelson, Eldridge 46:30:00 682. Anna Poel, Eldridge 46:38:00 685. Peggy Ohl, Eldridge 46:51:00 688. Peggy Neavor, Davenport 47:04:00 689. Rachel Carpio, Maysville 47:04:00 691. Grace Mosier, Dewitt 47:06:00 694 . Annah Perkins, Dewitt 47:08:00 695. Ava Votroubek, Davenport 47:13:00 698. Teresa Nelson, Eldridge 47:31:00 700. Cari Gall, Eldridge 47:35:00 701. Sara Gerard, Eldridge 47:35:00 703. Mary Pat Tubb, Geneseo, Ill. 47:39:00 705. Renee Strief, Eldridge 47:41:00 706. Ella Strief, Eldridge 47:42:00 707. Mycha Lemerond, Rock Island 47:44:00 708. Violet Tharp, Lisbon 47:45:00 709. Adelynn Fahrenkrog, Eldridge 47:48:00 710. Sarah Nelson, Davenport 47:48:00 711. April Clark, Bettendorf 47:49:00 713. Suzanna Pinnow, Davenport 47:55:00 714. Taryn Feller, Bettendorf 47:55:00 716. Cindy Burnett, East Galesburg, Ill. 47:56:00 717. Vivian Bornhoeft, Hampton, Ill. 47:57:00 721. Cadence Veach, Bellevue 48:09:00 725. Jackie Knupp, Washington 48:25:00 726. Hope Simonson, Eldridge 48:40:00 729. Rebecca Roe, Maquoketa 48:45:00 731. Brittney Brack, Davenport 48:56:00 734. Morgan Riordan, Davenport 49:06:00 735. Stephanie Graap, Blue Grass 49:10:00 737. Kate Biekert, Eldridge 49:18:00 738. Kelly Lyons, Bettendorf 49:20:00 739. Ashley Miller, Eldridge 49:21:00 740. Betsy Maertens, Silvis, Ill. 49:24:00 741. Brittney Mundell, Davenport 49:25:00 742. Megan Schumacher, Eldridge 49:42:00 743. Blakely Anderson, Eldridge 49:43:00 744. Robin Anderson, Eldridge 49:50:00 747. Rylie O’Flahrity, Eldridge 50:02:00 748. Beverly Curtis, Eldridge 50:04:00 749. Kara Moon, Moline 50:12:00 754. Janice Conklin, Davenport 50:47:00 755. Eleanor Thuenen, Long Grove 51:03:00 756. Tori Gruenhagen, Eldridge 51:04:00 757. Janet Willett, Bettendorf 51:07:00 758. Jessica Cleveland, Dewitt 51:17:00 759. Deborah Coppage, Riverside 51:21:00 760. Dawn Powers, Davenport 51:31:00 761. Cindy Teal, Clinton 51:36:00 762. Glory Wakeland. Sherrard, Ill 51:38:00 763. Haven Wakeland, Sherrard, Ill. 51:40:00 764. Deanna Stohl, Bettendorf 51:41:00 765. Emma Saucedo, Eldridge 51:49:00 768. Kaci Yost, Des Moines 52:10:00 770. Anna Heiting, Eldridge 52:14:00 771. Bryan Klote, Leawood, Kan. 52:28:00 772. Anne Sarafin, Eldridge 52:28:00 773. Rachel Sarafin, Leawood, Kan. 52:28:00 774. Jenavieve Hernandez, Eldridge 52:29:00 777. Cathryn Spinler, Urbandale 52:53:00 778. Kari Taylor, Muscatine 52:57:00 779. Mara Barber, Fulton, Ill 53:04:00 781. Kinsley McAvan, Eldridge 53:19:00 782. Marianne Schroeder, Bettendorf 53:21:00 783. Jen Collins, Bettendorf 53:22:00 784. Julie Ellis, Bettendorf 53:22:00 785. Alyssa Migiel, Eldridge 53:24:00 786. Lily Rettig, Ames 53:26:00 788. Lyla Hoogerwerf, Coal Valley, Ill. 53:55:00 789. Amelia Hoogerwerf, Coal Valley 53:56:00 791. Barbara Wolf, Davenport 54:01:00 792. Elliana Maiers, Eldridge 54:07:00 793. Emily Maiers, Eldridge 54:09:00 794. Amanda Lemon, Davenport 54:11:00 796. Lanis Perkins, Dewitt 54:36:00 798. Sarah Perkins, Dewitt 54:55:00 799. Autumn Buesking, Davenport 55:05:00 800. Sue Henderson, Durant 55:22:00 801. Tricia Snowden, Maquoketa 55:23:00 802. Ashley Druhl, Eldridge 55:36:00 803. Abbi Strobbe, Long Grove 55:36:00 804. Annabelle Schneider, Dewitt 55:36:00 805. Angela Elmshaeuser, Eldridge 55:36:00 808. Braelyn Gee, Princeton 55:44:00 809. Kallyn Massie, Eldridge 55:47:00 810. Olivia Garcia, Visalia, Calif. 55:53:00 811. Laura McCreery, Davenport 55:53:00 812. Myranda Hamerlinck, Davenport 55:55:00 814. Elena Whitfield, Eldridge 55:59:00 815. Kaia Gall, Eldridge 55:59:00 816. Carey Dieleman, Bettendorf 56:06:00 820.  Courtney Fier, Maquoketa 56:20:00 821.  Alyssa Dixon, Long Grove 56:40:00 822. Brittany Whitfield, Eldridge 56:40:00 823. Sarah Woods, Rock Island 56:55:00 825. Taylor Clay Davenport 57:11:00 826. Mindy Amodeo, Davenport 57:11:00 828. McKenzie Lillyblade, Davenport 57:26:00 830. Abigail Meyers, LeClaire 57:27:00 831. Carole Bognar, Davenport 57:47:00 833. Sophia Dittmer, Walcott 58:25:00 834. Catherine Dittmer, Walcott 58:27:00 835. Maci Tammaro, LeClaire 58:57:00 836. Juliana Eddy, Leclaire 58:57:00 837. Kim Roach, Moline 59:03:00 838. Rebecca Jourdan, Moline 59:04:00 841. Nikki Glines, Eldridge 59:27:00 842. Kate Fleetwood, Buffalo 59:49:00 843. Katie Vandewoestyne, Geneseo, Ill. 1:00:22 844. Kristina Suiter, Donahue 1:00:22 845. Andrea Dittmer, Walcott 1:00:37 846. Christina Sihrer, East Moline 1:00:57 848. Kinsley Anderson, Eldridge 1:01:15 849. Tiffany Furan, Eldridge 1:01:15 852. Layla Heister, Eldridge 1:02:04 853. Sydnei Humphres, Iowa City 1:02:14 855. Emilee Harness, Moline 1:02:21 856. Chrystal Masiarak, Rock Island 1:02:21 857. Val Pennock, Port Byron, Ill. 1:02:38 861. Morgan Powers, Eldridge 1:02:59 862. Luvy Webb, Eldridge 1:02:59 863. Michaela Burandt, Eldridge 1:03:03 864. Becky Gilbert, Davenport 1:03:06 865. Kristina Duncan Eldridge 1:03:30 866. Lillian Zink, Eldridge 1:03:30 868. Brianna Garcia, Davenport 1:03:50 869. Amy Olsen, Eldridge 1:04:36 872. Sandra Albers, Kaneohe, Hawaii 1:05:00 874. Elyse Cockshoot, Eldridge 1:05:24 875. Abrie McDonald, Eldridge 1:05:24 877. Tara Cheek, Eldridge 1:05:41 878. Sarah Smeltzer, Eldridge 1:05:41 879. Alissa Haase, Eldridge 1:05:41 880. Wendy Stipp, Galesburg, Ill. 1:06:19 881. Katherine Kean, Long Grove 1:06:42 882. Aria Kean, Long Grove 1:06:42 883. Jayne Mooney, Bettendorf 1:06:58 886. Lola Hanson, Cleveland, Ill. 1:07:18 887. Karen Thiede, Long Grove 1:07:27 890. Patricia Bierman, Eldridge 1:07:51 891. Cathie Whiteside, Rock Island 1:07:52 893. Belle Pole, Iowa City 1:08:20 894. Rachel Barber, Hills 1:08:20 895. Karen Bernick, Long Grove 1:08:27 896. Isabella Easton, Davenport 1:08:30 897. Jessica Peiffer, Princeton 1:08:37 901. Baylee Hanson, LeClaire 1:08:39 902. Jessica Spitzmiller, Rock Island 1:08:41 903. Amanda Little, Eldridge 1:08:53 904. Janice Zabel, Eldridge 1:08:54 905. Kelsy Gallentine, Bettendorf 1:08:56 906. Brittany Vaughn, Long Grove 1:08:56 907. Stephanie Shook, Camanche 1:09:05 908. Kaylee Shook, Camanche 1:09:06 909, Ronda O’Toole, Slidell, La. 1:09:14 910. Amanda Gries, Blue Grass 1:09:54 911. Michelle Houy, Blue Grass 1:09:56 912. Jennifer Bertling, Davenport 1:10:19 913. Jennifer Tomlinson, East Moline 1:10:21 916. Tracie Spencer, Milan, Ill. 1:11:09 917. Jessica Lemaitre, Eldridge 1:11:10 918. Betsy Garcia, Visalia, Calif. 1:11:25 919. Hilary Belz, Davenport 1:11:49 920. Julie Denison, Eldridge I1:11:50 922. Cheryl Detoye, Davenport 1:11:58 924. Hadiley Brack, Davenport 1:12:56 925. Judi Sarafin, Eldridge 1:13:05 926. Laurie Purcell, Davenport 1:13:05 927. Amy Mosley, Davenport 1:13:06 929. Tristan Rusk, Eldridge 1:13:16 931. Devyn Heiting, Eldridge 1:14:48 932. Carrie Heiting, Eldridge 1:15:03 933. Becca Heiting, Eldridge 1:15:03 935. Jacque Copell, Davenport 1:15:13 936. Bri Swope, Iowa City 1:15:14 937. Janet Haycraft, Eldridge 1:20:20 938. Mary Moth, Eldridge 1:20:20 939. Hannah Gerling, Cordova, Tenn. 1:21:24 940 . Sarah Stellick, Rising City, Neb. 1:21:26 941. Maggie Kelly, Eldridge 1:24:32 942. Amy Ragsdale, Crystal Lake, Ill. 1:24:33 One Mile Male Overall Winner Jacob Sleep, Verona Wis. 5:50   One Mile Female Overall Winner Ella Olson, Urbandale 5:57   FEMALE 7-8 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Eleanor Grothus, Bettendorf 7:25 2. Vivian Lyons, Eldridge 7:36 3. McKenna Wallace, Buckeye Ariz. 7:51 4. Mackenzie Sanders, Eldridge 8:12   MALE 7-8 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Oliver Shepherd, Eldridge  6:55 2. Greyson Deneve, LeClaire 7:11 3. Cole Berryman, Eldridge 7:43 4. Lincoln Thavenet, Eldridge 7:53   FEMALE 9-10 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Larkin Wallace, Buckeye Ariz. 6:56 2. Emma Allen, Bettendorf 7:12 3. Ellie Schmidt, Eldridge  7:28 4. Ava Dailey, Eldridge 7:28   MALE 9-10 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Hudson Heiar, Clinton 6:32 2. Mason Skadal, Donahue 6:34 3. Bennett Engelman, Dubuque 7:01 4. Evan Caruso, Eldridge 7:25   FEMALE 11-12 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Ainsley Ramsey, Eldridge 6:38 2. Emersyn Martinek, Eldridge 7:06 3. Lily West, Eldridge 7:12 4. Julia Caruso, Eldridge 7:21   MALE 11-12 AWARDS (TOP 4) 1. Luke Schneckloth, Eldridge 5:56 2. Hunter Berryman, Eldridge 6:16 3. Dane Dimmer, Eldridge 6:24 4. Owen Mangler, Maquoketa 6:28 Boys’ 1 Mile 1. Jacob Sleep, Verona, Wis. 5:50:00 2. Luke Schneckloth, Eldridge 5:56:00 4. Hunter Berryman, Eldridge 6:16:00 5. Dane Dimmer, Eldridge 6:24:00 6. Owen Mangler, Maquoketa 6:28:00 7. Hudson Heiar, Clinton 6:32:00 8. Griffin Daniels, Eldridge 6:34:00 9. Mason Skadal, Donahue 6:34:00 11. Oliver Shepherd, Eldridge 6:55:00 13. Caleb Hager, Long Grove 6:57:00 14. Bennett Engelman, Dubuque 7:01:00 16. Griffin Mance, Geneseo, Ill. 7:07:00 17. Jackson Heiar, Clinton 7:09:00 18. Greyson Deneve, Le Claire 7:11:00 23. Evan Caruso, Eldridge 7:25:00 24. Wesley Olsen, Eldridge 7:27:00 25. Myles Berryman, Eldridge 7:28:00 29. Shane Little, Eldridge 7:29:00 30. Liam Hall, Eldridge 7:31:00 35. Nolan Smith, Geneseo, Ill. 7:41:00 36. Cole Berryman, Eldridge 7:43:00 37. Colton Blissett, Eldridge 7:43:00 38. Jameson Bimm, Clinton 7:45:00 42. Lincoln Thavenet, Eldridge 7:53:00 43. Liam Gamet, Eldridge 7:54:00 44. Tommy Knight, Eldridge 7:55:00 45. George Cobie, Eldridge 7:59:00 47. George Callahan, Dubuque 8:06:00 49. Braxton Bartz, Davenport 8:09:00 50. Rye McDonald, Eldridge 8:09:00 52. Weston Janoski, Eldridge 8:14:00 54. Madilynn Berger, Eldridge 8:16:00 55. Reagan Lee, Eldridge 8:17:00 56. Cooper Bretis, Bettendorf 8:18:00 57. Liam Campen, Davenport 8:21:00 58. Harrison Hines, Eldridge 8:23:00 59. Cole Damewood, Eldridge 8:23:00 62. Jesse Biekert, Eldridge 8:30:00 64. Ryan Linnenbrink, Eldridge 8:32:00 65. Connor Lilly, Eldridge 8:32:00 67. Ely Knox, Tipton 8:35:00 68. Peyton Reimers, Donahue 8:36:00 69. Jayden Persell, Eldridge 8:36:00 70. Mason Hall, Eldridge 8:38:00 71. Hudson McKearney, Eldridge 8:40:00 72. Ryker Neumann, Eldridge 8:41:00 73. Dawson Davis, Eldridge 8:41:00 74. Luke Jansen, Long Grove 8:43:00 76. Hayes Deneve, Le Claire 8:51:00 79. Keaton Shadbolt, Eldridge 8:59:00 81. Harry Callahan, Dubuque 9:02:00 84. Caleb Johnson, Eldridge 9:04:00 85. Braxon Schadel, Sherrard, Ill. 9:04:00 86. Theo Bosch, New Berlin, Wis. 9:06:00 88. Ashton Thiering, Davenport 9:15:00 89. Ethan Reeves, Eldridge 9:15:00 91. Karver Timmerman, Eldridge 9:18:00 92. Nora Sleep, Verona, Wis. 9:19:00 93. Garrett Davis, Eldridge 9:20:00 95. Kallen Timmerman, Eldridge 9:21:00 97. Kadin Frahm, Long Grove 9:25:00 99. Brandt Strief, Eldridge 9:26:00 102. Deckard Cain, Waukee 9:37:00 103. Camden Gayman, Davenport 9:38:00 104. Noah Kern, Davenport 9:39:00 105. Dean Witt, Eldridge 9:40:00 109. Wilder Bimm, Clinton 9:43:00 110. Kamdin Thiede, Eldridge 9:43:00 111. Parker Petersen, Eldridge 9:45:00 112. Peter Priester, Goose Lake 9:47:00 113. Eli Kube, Long Grove 9:47:00 114. Damien Beydler, Princeton 9:48:00 115. Cole Bryson, Eldridge 9:49:00 117. Thomas Dailey, Eldridge 9:53:00 119. Issac Knox, Tipton 9:55:00 121. Nina Tweed, Long Grove 9:57:00 122. Luke Murphy, Long Grove 9:58:00 128. Sully Hermanson, Solon 10:06:00 129. Copper Druhl, Eldridge 10:07:00 133. Oliver Little, Eldridge 10:14:00 136. Luke Damewood, Eldridge 10:15:00 137. Gavin Stellinga, Davenport 10:25:00 138. Connor Miller, Eldridge 10:29:00 139. Romy Stanton, Phoenix, Ariz. 10:30:00 143. Axel Doray, Eldridge 10:41:00 149. Calvin McCulloh, Dewitt 10:54:00 150. Wesley Martinek, Eldridge 10:55:00 152. Archer Wiszowaty, Hendersonville, Tenn. 10:58:00 156. Austin Abbuhl, Eldridge 11:06:00 157. Henry Elmshaeuser, Eldridge 11:08:00 158. Ryatt Williams, Davenport 11:09:00 160. Luke Breeze, Van Buren, Ark. 11:17:00 169. Grant Monroe, Eldridge 11:41:00 173. Jaxson Babnik, Eldridge 12:00:00 175. Cooper Reeves, Eldridge 12:01:00 176. Kamdyn Haglund, Eldridge 12:04:00 178. Colt Ford, Dixon 12:13:00 179. Cohen McVey, Eldridge 12:19:00 180. Emmett Ray, Eldridge 12:24:00 182. Jacob Bekel, Eldridge 12:30:00 186. Tyler Simonson, Eldridge 12:39:00 188. Layton Skrzyniarz, Eldridge 12:45:00 195. Jaxon Songer, Davenport 13:16:00 199. Rhett Morris, Lost Nation 14:14:00 204. Dekker Morris, Lost Nation 15:18:00 205. Cain Gall, Eldridge 15:54:00 206. Bryor Schadel, Sherrard, Ill. 16:00:00 207. Jameson Gerard, Eldridge 16:02:00 209. Carter Allen, Bettendorf 16:43:00 210. Levi Kroeger, Eldridge 17:37:00 211. Isaac Kroeger, Eldridge 17:41:00 Girls 1 Mile 3. Ella Olson, Urbandale 5:57:00 10. Ainsley Ramsey, Eldridge 6:38:00 12. Larkin Wallace, Buckeye, Ariz. 6:56:00 15. Emersyn Martinek, Eldridge 7:06:00 19. Emma Allen, Bettendorf 7:12:00 20. Lily West, Eldridge 7:12:00 21. Julia Caruso, Eldridge 7:21:00 22. Eleanor Grothus, Bettendorf 7:25:00 26. Ellie Schmidt, Eldridge 7:28:00 27. Ava Dailey, Eldridge 7:28:00 28. Brynlee Berger, Eldridge 7:28:00 31. Rosalyn Lyons, Eldridge 7:33:00 32. Ava Yeltman, Baxter 7:34:00 33. Brynlee Firrell, Taylor Ridge, Ill. 7:35:00 34. Vivian Lyons, Eldridge 7:36:00 39. Peyton Hoffmann, Bettendorf 7:49:00 40. Lily Bevins, Davenport 7:49:00 41. McKenna Wallace, Buckeye, Ariz. 7:51:00 46. Sadie Anderson, Eldridge 8:01:00 48. Addie Prior, Princeton 8:06:00 51. Mackenzie Sanders, Eldridge 8:12:00 53. Hailey McCulloh, Dewitt 8:16:00 60. Mackenna Johnson, Eldridge 8:24:00 61. Hannah Hill, Walcott 8:25:00 63. Nora Holle, Eldridge 8:31:00 66. Jessi Laber, Eldridge 8:33:00 75. Emma Ahrens, Eldridge 8:45:00 77. Brinley Thiede, Long Grove 8:51:00 78. Morgan McCulloh, Dewitt 8:55:00 80. Lydia Schneckloth, Eldridge 9:02:00 82. Violet McKearney, Eldridge 9:03:00 83. Natalie Stellinga, Davenport 9:04:00 87. Avery Boyer, Eldridge 9:07:00 90. Rosalie Cobie, Eldridge 9:16:00 94. Riley Reeves, Eldridge 9:20:00 96. Rayna Ade, Hampton, Ill. 9:23:00 98. Clara Rathe, Eldridge 9:26:00 100. Parker Winslow, Le Claire 9:28:00 101. Scottie Dexter, Le Claire 9:29:00 106. Kk Klein, Bettendorf 9:42:00 107. Kinsley Feldpausch, Davenport 9:42:00 108. Ardyn Busch, Eldridge 9:42:00 116. Cora Hermanson, Solon 9:51:00 118. Evelyn Bevins, Davenport 9:54:00 120. Avery Jager, Davenport 9:55:00 123. Sophie Johnson, Eldridge 9:59:00 124. Evelyn Johnson, Eldridge 10:00:00 125. Ellie Hollis, Eldridge 10:04:00 126. Emily Skelton, Eldridge 10:05:00 127. Taya Schmidt, Eldridge 10:06:00 130. Brynn Ukleja, Eldridge 10:08:00 131. Avery Ukleja, Eldridge 10:09:00 132. Macara Varner, Eldridge 10:13:00 134. Ella Strief, Eldridge 10:14:00 135. Emmarie Gerard, Eldridge 10:14:00 140. Parker Jager, Bettendorf 10:35:00 141. Ivy Wallace, Eldridge 10:38:00 142. Reagan Kiederlen, Eldridge 10:39:00 144. Kenzie Manthey, Bettendorf 10:44:00 145. Kennedy Persell, Eldridge 10:45:00 146. Cecilia Bazaldua, Eldridge 10:46:00 147. Lucy Bazaldua, Eldridge 10:46:00 148. Thalia Hollis, Eldridge 10:49:00 151. Allie Johnson, Eldridge 10:56:00 153. Brynn Caruso, Eldridge 11:00:00 154. Nova Bender, Bettendorf 11:06:00 155. Harper Allen, Bettendorf 11:06:00 159. Cambria Cain, Waukee 11:09:00 161. Addison Clark, Eldridge 11:25:00 162. Quinn Clark, Eldridge 11:25:00 163. Evelyn Soenksen, Eldridge 11:29:00 164. Brea Boyer, Eldridge 11:30:00 165. Hannah Clark, Eldridge 11:36:00 166. Harper Bredow, Eldridge 11:36:00 167. Allison Linnenbrink, Eldridge 11:37:00 168. Charlee Cobie, Eldridge 11:41:00 170. Lucy Davis, Eldridge 11:41:00 171. Mackinzie Bock, Dewitt 11:43:00 172. Laney Davis, Eldridge 11:43:00 174. Brinley Neilson, Eldridge 12:01:00 177. Ellie Lenstra, Eldridge 12:08:00 181. Aida Dietz, Eldridge 12:25:00 183. Tess Dittmer, Dewitt 12:32:00 184. Harly Estrada, Davenport 12:33:00 185. Veda Tressel, Eldridge 12:38:00 187. Evelyn Castleman, Eldridge 12:40:00 189. Laikyn Stewart, Eldridge 12:49:00 190. McKenzie Clark, Eldridge 12:56:00 191. Remi Ellis, Eldridge 12:57:00 192. Sloan Kirby, Davenport 12:58:00 193. Lily Roberts, Eldridge 13:12:00 194. Livi Strobbe, Long Grove 13:14:00 196. Nola Stanton, Phoenix, Ariz. 13:49:00 197. Charley Dexter, Eldridge 13:53:00 198. Vada Natario, Eldridge 13:57:00 200. Ruby Stellinga, Davenport 14:26:00 201. Charlotte Clark, Davenport 14:27:00 202. Margaret Clark, Davenport 15:13:00 203. Meredith Bock, Dewitt 15:13:00 208. Johnnie Del Fabro, Eldridge 16:02:00 Quarter Mile Participants Sonja Hios, Eldridge Silas Schwarz, Eldridge Sullivan Schwarz, Eldridge Lane Hermsen, Eldridge Kai Ronnebeck, Eldridge Emmy Weber, Long Grove Dawsyn Weber, Long Grove Samuel Otten, Eldridge Hannah Clark, Eldridge McKenzie Clark, Eldridge Waverly Luebken, Bettendorf Archie Luebken, Bettendorf Ella Gerard, Eldridge Ilah Bimm, Clinton Malia Skelton, Eldridge James Ostrem, Eldridge Ellie Ostrem, Eldridge Harper Klote, Leawood, Kan. Mackenzie Corwin, Eldridge Ezra Kraklio, Bettendorf Daxton Krogman, Eldridge Ella Toppert, Davenport Abel Wells, Davenport Dylan Campen, Davenport Scarlet Cain, Cedar Rapids Kyla Keppy, Walcott Grant Feldt, Davenport Emily McCulloh, DeWitt Eden Witt, Eldridge Holden Faust, Eldridge Hutton Faust, Eldridge Grace Simonson, Eldridge Avery Wiszowaty, Hendersonville, Tenn. Paxton Brambila, Hampton, Ill. Remington Birtell, Sioux Falls, S.D. Gracelyn Grannen, Bettendorf Kane Grannen, Bettendorf Calum Rasmussen, Long Grove Raegan Rasmussen, Long Grove Bennett Ryckeghem, Eldridge Zari Jo Crittenden, Eldridge Shiloh Goma, Bettendorf Kayden Miller, Eldridge Hudson Miller, Eldridge Taytum Thavenet, Eldridge Willow Thavenet, Eldridge Mac Hines, Eldridge Edilyn Doray, Eldridge Chloe Corwin, Eldridge Mia Cavers, Eldridge Lennox Persell, Eldridge Asher Gill, Bettendorf Nora Shepherd, Eldridge Ari Schmidt, Eldridge Sophie Glines, Eldridge Owen Spinler, Bettendorf Ashton Spinler, Bettendorf Riley Jager, Bettendorf Mack Janoski, Eldridge Jack Jansen, Long Grove Ava Miller, Eldridge Reece Lanning, Bettendorf Lucy Elmshaeuser, Eldridge James Elmshaeuser, Eldridge Hayden Strobbe, Long Grove Cordelia Cain, Waukee Boyd Busch, Eldridge Simon Lake, Davenport Addison Grothus, Bettendorf Maren Wilson, Wauwatosa, Wis. Grace Knight, Eldridge Kathleen Callahan, Dubuque Harper Jager, Davenport Emma Mangler, Maquoketa Lincoln Day, Eldridge Mila Ellis, Eldridge Lilah McVey, Eldridge Mae Clark, Eldridge Maverick Hanssen, Eldridge Gryff Hill, Eldridge Knox Williams, Eldridge Kinsley DeBuysere, Davenport Greyson DeBuysere, Davenport Isabella Dobek, Long Grove Zayn Shareef, Eldridge Savannah Gamet, Eldridge Joshua Liske, Long Grove Hans Liske, Long Grove Quinn Golinghorst, Durant, Ala. Peyton Junker, Eldridge Maddie Manthey, Bettendorf Blake Schabilion, Eldridge Cole Dittmer, DeWitt Knox Dittmer, DeWitt Addy Roberts, Eldridge Brooks Gall, Eldridge Callum Bosch, New Berlin, Wis. Sullivan Bosch, New Berlin, Wis. Jameson Mensen, Eldridge Maelee File, Eldridge Brinley Soenksen, Eldridge Greyson Martinolich, Bettendorf Hudson Feldpausch, Davenport Henry Dietz, Eldridge

River Action excited for 17th-annual Floatzilla in August

The 17th-annual Floatzilla, presented by River Action, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, which closes the Mississippi River to commercial traffic and welcomes recreational boaters.

E. Jean Carroll receives $5.6 million from Trump in sexual abuse and defamation case

The payment comes three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer.

Eldridge fire, city council sit down

Members of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company and the Eldridge City Council sat down face to face for the first time in months Monday night at the Eldridge Community Center. But it’s too soon to tell whether anything will come of that discussion, as the EVFC said its membership’s trust in the city has seriously frayed. Monday’s committee of the whole saw EVFC members Dave Engler, Andrew Doyle, Bryan Yanke, Tim Martinek and Pat Gainer represent the membership. At various points, each of them has met separately with a small committee that included Mayor Scott Campbell, council member Ryan Iossi, city administrator Nevada Lemke and assistant city administrator Jeff Martens to discuss the future of the department. Those talks have been ongoing since May of 2025, following a meeting where the department addressed burnout among volunteers. However, as the talks dragged on over months with no sign of progress, the EVFC members at the meeting said the larger membership began to lose trust, not only in the process, but in the city. Monday represented the first time since the May 2025 meeting that the EVFC and the larger council have met together. Although no binding decisions were made, council members agreed they want to keep moving forward towards a solution that benefits all residents. What that solution looks like is still nearly impossible to say. From the outset of the meeting, Campbell acknowledged that the initial months of discussion “got bogged down, maybe a little bit on both ends.” But he said that from December and January, from his perspective, there had been “great progress. “I appreciate the work that you guys put into this. As was stated last week, there is not one individual here at this table that has anything but the highest respect and appreciation for what the fire department does for our community. Several of us have been in your shoes. And with that said, it’s really imperative tonight for us to find a way to be on the same team, as we both serve and protect our community in the best way possible. That’s really what we need to accomplish tonight, or at least start accomplishing.” The conversation began with discussion about the substantial financial increase requested by the department in its June 12 letter to the city. In that communication, the department informed the city that its membership had voted to remain independent of the city and increased its financial request from the city to $766,516 for FY27. Previously, the department had asked for $476,670. Doyle said the increase came on the capital side of the budget, whereas the previous ask had been operational. He said the capital improvements include finishing the second floor of the fire station and planning for at least one new vehicle for the department, as well as funds for volunteer stipends and equipment like new turnout gear, including for anticipated new volunteers. He said the capital portion of the budget was “not out of nowhere. It was being discussed. But we need to differentiate between operating budget and capital expense budget. What you were delivered on June 12 was both together. When we couldn’t get close enough on the operational expenses, this is what the full picture is going to look like.” Doyle also referenced the fact that the department had presented a three-year budget to the city. Campbell said that during the discussions, the department had already been told the city could not commit to a three-year budget. Doyle asked what the difference was between what the department was asking for and a multi-year contract from the city for other services. He offered Republic Services, which handles garbage and recycling for the city, as an example. Lemke said one of the main differences is that, while Republic’s contract provides a service, there is also a charge passed on to residents, creating a revenue stream. Council member Jeff Ashcraft asked if it was correct that the city also doesn’t take capital expenses of any vendor contract into consideration. Lemke confirmed. She said the city could create a plan for the fire department similar to the city’s capital improvement plan – which covers projects planned over several years – but “each year that budget gets reevaluated and approved for only the fiscal year that’s active. The rest of the plan remains in a plan form until the next fiscal year comes up,” at which time the budgetary approval process for the year takes place again. Ashcraft asked the department members how they would determine whether the goals they set out in their budget were successful. “Could it be measured on burnout, reduction of turnover, recruitment, retention, operational stability? Did you strategically pull some things together where you’ve got actual, measurable results you could share?” Yanke said finishing the upstairs of the fire station is among the ways the department hopes to help recruitment. He said the department has heard from people who live outside the Eldridge city limits who are interested in volunteering. However, the department has had to turn them away because they live too far away to make the trucks in time to run a call. Yanke said having a living quarters on site would allow these people a place to stay, and even sleep if necessary, during a shift. “That’s going to allow us to draw in folks from cities like Davenport, Bettendorf, other cities where they may not have volunteer organizations, and they can still volunteer. They can provide a service to us, and they have a place to stay where they’re going to make the truck, and we don’t have delayed response time.” Yanke said another factor was equipment replacement. He said the department’s current rescue truck is approaching its end-of-life stage. As shared at the department’s July 1 open house, a new rescue truck can cost between $800,000-$1.4 million. “Our goal with that is we can start building some cash reserves to enable us to replace those apparatus as they age out of service and need to be replaced.” He said a third measurable goal was to be able to hire a full-time person to handle the administrative side of the department. Yanke said a full-time, paid employee accounted for a significant portion of the budgetary increase due to the pay and benefits package necessary. Doyle said that the department can measure success in terms of how many people respond to a call. He said that this year, the department is down three-quarters of a person per response. He said, in speaking with LeClaire’s fire chief, Shane Bleeker, the department learned that when LeClaire built its fire station out, volunteers increased from 17 to 32. “That’s kind of what we’re hoping for, to be honest,” Doyle said. He said, as a member of the department’s recruitment committee, he knows they have had to turn away people who are already certified and fully qualified to serve as volunteers. He expressed concern that, with call volume increasing, the department is trending towards a situation where it may not be able to respond to all calls. Ashcraft also asked for an explainer on the pay-by-call stipend paid to volunteers. Yanke said volunteers are paid $20 per call, which helps offset costs such as vehicle maintenance and clothing. Engler explained that there are minimum requirements for receiving the stipend. Members have to attend at least 50% of business meetings throughout the year, 50% of monthly truck checks, and a minimum of 10% of calls. The stipend is paid on an annual basis. How to help volunteers? Council member Brian Dockery said that, while all of the discussion about the budget was fine, it didn’t address what he saw as the heart of the problem: concern about burnout with the volunteers. He said he fully supported capital improvements at the fire station, and that the city had built in $120,000 for the department to make improvements in the FY27 budget, and $40,000 in the FY26 budget. Dockery said he supported a hybrid department, with the EVFC managing the membership. He also addressed the financial question. “As a city, everyone asks, ‘How are we going to pay for it?’ We don’t have an option but to figure out a way to pay for it. We put almost $400,000 in capital improvements in the parks in the budget. To me, you gentlemen are much more important than building a shelter at a park.” This comment drew applause from the audience. “We, as a city, have an obligation for police, fire, water and sewer and streets. Everything else is extra,” Dockery continued. “We’ve got to figure out a way to make this work, as quick as we can make it work, to give you guys some relief. I can understand your frustrations. This evening, we’ve got to step up and figure out a way. You’re here to serve the public. Hopefully, if something like a hybrid happens, we don’t lose a lot of volunteers. Because you guys are here because you want to serve the people … If there’s a will, there’s a way we can figure this out. But we can’t wait anymore.” Dockery said if the city were to put money into the fire department, “I don’t think anybody in this community would think twice about the city doing that.” He asked if the department could get bids for how much it would cost to build out the upstairs of the fire department, saying the city had $160,000 to commit and could pull additional funds out of sales option tax. The trust factor Campbell said one of the first things that had been discussed last May was the hiring of a chief and the city absorbing the department. He asked what had changed between then and early June, when the department voted to remain independent. Doyle said, in the department’s June 12 letter to the city, they said they were looking for a response from the city by July 15, “but ultimately, the big day that we were interested in was that Oct. 1 date, because we can’t kick the can down the road for another 12 months. If you guys want us to remain an independent company, if we feel that that’s fiscally what’s best, then this is what it’s going to cost … The alternative is, if you want to take over the department, that’s your right. You’re more than welcome to it. But it needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly.” He said department members generally felt that they should be a lot further along in the process by now, and as negotiations stalled last fall, “it started to feel at a certain point that maybe this isn’t an avenue that the city wants to travel down. “Our situation hasn’t changed, and in fact, it’s devolved further because of all the back and forth with the city. It was certainly a bit demoralizing. And I think, I mean, if I can just be candid, I think that was the big change.”  Campbell argued that he thought from January and February, there had been great forward progress, but Doyle said that department members still felt that the city was being non-committal. Engler said the process had drug on too long. “We spent too much time getting nowhere. The trends are going down; we’re getting more burned out. And we just weren’t seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And so, we finally, as a department, when we took that vote, it was like, this is what it’s going to take for us to run it independent. These are the numbers. If that’s not acceptable, take it over by Oct. 1 and then we’re done, right? “This in-between is tearing us apart, internally in the department and me personally. It’s just, we’ve got to make a decision. And I honestly don’t care which way it goes, just get a decision, get it done and let’s move forward.” Engler said the department has been asking the city for help for five years now. “We’ve got to do something before it’s too late. We are really close to it’s too late.” Campbell insisted he thought they had been close to an agreement. Engler said it came back to an erosion of trust as the process drug on. “Throughout this past year, there’s been a lot of things put in the paper that were very derogatory, but we just ignored that. We just ate it because it wasn’t worth the effort. And I think it finally just hit a breaking point, where, we’ve got to do this one way or another, and this is kind of where we’re at.” “I know that you feel like a lot of progress was being made, but they didn’t, and our membership didn’t,” said Doyle. “And you keep trying to paint this picture that because there was a different negotiating team that came in, and that’s just not the truth. These decisions are made as a department, and they were made unanimously.” What is the path forward? Ashcraft asked the EVFC members, hypothetically, if the city was building a fire department and EMS service from scratch, what that might look like. He suggested a hybrid approach, with volunteers and a full-time, paid component to handle the administrative tasks. Martinek agreed, saying there needed to be an administrative component during the day to handle the challenges facing the department as call volume grows. Ashcraft asked if that involved the city having administrative responsibility while the volunteer corps remained intact. Martinek said he thought originally, when talks began, the discussion involved having a city employee handle all of the administrative tasks, but the city attorney didn’t think that was a viable option. “And then that’s what ultimately led to the main discussion of, let’s transition then to a city department … At the time, that was the ideal approach, they leave the volunteer company completely intact, operating essentially as we are today, less that administrative burden, which would be handled through a city employee.” Ashcraft asked Doyle if the volunteers would be willing to be a part of the process if the city were to take over the department. Doyle said they had taken an anonymous straw poll of the membership, which indicated only about half the volunteers would stay if it were a city department. Dockery said he thought the first thing the city could do to get the process moving again was to commit to funding the upper level of the fire station, “to see how quick that can get done and how quick we can add more volunteers to the fire department.” Yanke said that, as the volunteer base grew, so too would the need for additional administration. “If we get an influx of 10 new volunteers, a 50% increase in membership, somebody’s still got to manage all that.” He said that would be the advantage to hiring a full-time paid chief. “I appreciate the idea of finishing the upstairs. I agree with you. I think that is the key first step, and that’s the first place we need to spend capital money. We need assistance with scheduling that and making sure that station is staffed. We also need to train those new volunteers. We need to get gear for those new volunteers. We need to do the administration of the worker’s comp. All those sort of things for those volunteers. That comes with a pretty heavy lift for somebody, and to just expect volunteers to continue with that, I think is pretty heavy.” “I think we’re past that point and we would need some full-time resource, whether it is a chief or an administrator,” added Martinek. “That could be certainly discussed, but it is at the point where there needs to be someone full-time, not only to Bryan’s point of staffing for calls, but handling all those other tasks.” “I think you make a great point,” said Campbell. “And so, would it make sense for you to become like a hybrid, become a city entity, where things are funneled through us and we hire the chief and we hire whatever we need to do? And we still have the volunteers and we still pay per call. Would that be a solution then?” Gainer said his concern remained that 50% of volunteers said they would step down from the department if it became a city entity. “We have two of us on this panel right here that have run over 50% of the calls, and Dave and I are both 62 years old,” he said, gesturing to Engler. “And we have acknowledged that, and we appreciate that,” said Campbell. “Well, acknowledging and appreciating … you ask where the tone changed. A lot of it came from what was going on in the media. When comments were made, that it’s all about the money. They used to say it was burnout and then it was all about the money. That tone in the media affects us all. It affects our families; it affects the friends that we have here in the community. And I’ve been doing this for over 19 years. That’s not why I do this. “And so, for the city to take over the department, my concern is that we would lose half the staff.”  Gainer said that if they had to replace half the volunteers, that would also mean replacing 10 sets of turnout gear, paying for training and “reinventing what already exists. “What we were hoping for is a chief that would be able to step in, take over the administrative roles and maintain what we already have. It’s been working great for 20 years now, and I’ve lived through four different chiefs. It’s been seamless, and the community has felt it was seamless. Because the majority of people I know, when I go on calls, whether I’m on the fire department or working with Medic on weekends, have no idea that this is a volunteer department. They think it’s a full-time, staffed department. And that, to me, is the goal we’ve always had, is we just serve the community quietly and move forward. We’re just asking for funding to get that done.” Martinek said that in May, all the membership had been committed to staying on during a transition, and that number was cut in half after the city’s June 15 council meeting. He said he wasn’t interested in relitigating every issue that had come up during the negotiations, including the fact that it had taken several months to determine whether the city was even responsible for providing fire protection. Ashcraft said he still had heard a lot of commonalities in the discussion and there seemed to be some agreement, at least in principle, for a hybrid system. “What everybody around this table needs to understand is that these guys are tired. Bottom line,” said Dockery. “We’ve got to find a resolution, a path, that may not be perfect to begin with. We may have to tweak it along the way.” Dockery said that so far, the council had done nothing to help the department with recruitment. He proposed at next Monday’s regular council meeting there be a discussion on committing to funding the upstairs of the fire department. Dockery continued by saying that the volunteer corps was absolutely key, and that in his idea of a hybrid system, the EVFC would “be the guys controlling and training the people that show up when the buzzer goes off. You guys are the experts … you have the training on that.” He said in the short term, he believed the EVFC could handle the staffing, while the city managed the capital improvements for both the building and equipment. He said the sale of the Eldridge Community Center could potentially pay for a new piece of fire equipment. “I appreciate … finishing the upstairs and getting more volunteers. We need somebody to guide those people, train those people, outfit those people, schedule those people,” said Yanke. He said that the department needed a paid staff member, whether it was a chief or an administrator. Campbell said he believed people who had been privy to the discussions were all on the same page with that. Members of the EVFC expressed concern that, if the chief were a paid employee of the city of Eldridge, that would be tantamount to the city taking over the department. “And to be quite blunt about it, the trust erosion that Tim described, that nine-month period, or a year, has gotten the department to a point where, to be blunt, we don’t trust you guys to run the fire department,” said Yanke, to applause from the crowd. Council member Scott LaPlante asked if there was a way the city could rebuild trust with the department. “The concern is that it would be too late, the members would be gone,” said Martinek. “That’s where the concern is, if the transition were to happen and half of those members, assuming that’s a number that would choose not to stick around, it’d be too late at that point. Because we can’t operate with six volunteers.” He said even if there was paid staff from the outset, it still wouldn’t be feasible, and burnout would only increase. Council member Adrian Blackwell asked what could be done to move forward and continue having honest conversation. Doyle said that was a conversation that would be needed with the larger group but, “maybe there’s some world where the actual physical capital assets are managed by the city, and the labor allocation is managed by the volunteer company. So that we maintain the autonomy of our chosen leadership, that infrastructure, while trust rebuilds and maybe that changes course down the road? It’s an idea. It’s a little bit atypical, but it’s an idea certainly. I think it’s a step forward, so that you guys have some physical oversight over the actual assets that you’re funding into, but I think there would have to be some sort of oversight or input from our side as well.” He said he thought as long as there was input and channels of communication remained open, that might be an option, but he wasn’t willing to speak for the whole group. Dockery continued to advocate for finishing the upstairs of the fire station, but Engler said even if they were able to start that project as soon as possible, it would still take months to finish and there would still need to be someone to oversee it. Dockery advocated for getting the process started, even if it was slow going at first. “We’re all going to have to sit in a room and figure out a way to do this. “It just tears me up to see the back and forth, back and forth. You know, what everybody does for the city, from your side, and from our side. Everybody has the best intentions. We just need to find the middle ground, then just keep going and adjusting from there, to hopefully get some confidence back in your members.” Dockery said it would take work to make this process happen, and it would require give and take from both sides. “I think it’s great to continue to be collaborative. I’ll say the clock is ticking,” said Yanke. “We were burned out a year ago, and now we’re saying, ‘Let’s keep discussing, let’s keep trying new ideas.’ We’re out of time. These five people up here are out of time and effort and all of the things that it’s still going to take to put this together. So, you ask what you can do to start rebuilding the trust. My advice would be to come to the table with a plan. “We’ve spent 500, 600 man hours, probably more, trying to put together a budget and a plan and a strategy and a way to get more volunteers, to hire people, to remove the administrative burden, and it’s been shut down. And we’d say, well, we’re $50,000 or $85,000 apart from that and we can’t fund the capital, and so all of the attempts so far have been squashed. “So, come to the table with a plan that’s realistic. And the answer can’t just be to say no to the plan that we’ve tried to put out there,” continued Yanke. “That’s my advice for trying to build trust back at this point.” Prior to adjournment, Dockery asked for an item to be put on next Monday’s city council agenda to discuss the fire department budget. Campbell said that will be discussed this week.  

Come hungry and vote at Taste of Mercado

Come hungry and sample some of the best local flavors in the QCA at on Mercado on Fifth! According to a release, you can vote for your favorite local food business July 17 at El Sabor del Mercado (Taste of Mercado). Guests 13 and older can purchase a voting card to include one sample from [...]

Long Grove council member questioned AI use — with AI

Long Grove Council Member Amy Shannon used AI to write a series of emails she sent to City Clerk Rose Guyer expressing concern about Guyer’s use of AI. Those emails included questions about human oversight of AI, AI access to city documents, and whether AI use was properly disclosed to the public. AI formulated every question and concern that Shannon addressed to Guyer and Mayor Mike Limberg in late April, according to Pangram, a leading AI-detection software. Pangram has a false positive rate of below 1 in 10,000, according to a 2025 University of Chicago study. And while AI detection software is fallible, nearly all of the emails reviewed demonstrate the quirks of AI-generated writing, like bolded, numbered sections and a cold and distant tone.  Shannon did not respond to email, phone call, and text message requests for comment over a two-week period. The North Scott Press reviewed correspondence between Shannon and Guyer through an open records request. The two officials exchanged emails over several days after an article in the April 15 NSP detailed how AI had transformed daily work at City Hall. The NSP reported that Guyer used AI to draft emails, review financial records and answer residents’ questions on the city website. AI-generated emails sent by Shannon ask Guyer to answer a range of questions: who had approved AI licenses, why the licenses had not been brought before the council, whether personal software development had occurred on city time. They asked Guyer to “clarify which human review processes were in place to verify the accuracy of AI-generated outputs”. The emails contain several strange phrases and repeated questions which indicate they were generated by AI. In an email April 20, Shannon introduces herself to Guyer and Limberg as “a member of Long Grove City Council.” The same email and follow-ups ask whether the council was alerted to Guyer’s AI use, despite the fact that  Shannon had been present at two council meetings—on March 31 and April 14—during which Guyer had brought up her use of AI.     The April 20 email also repeats the identical question at several points: under the bolded heading “Data Usage,” it asks “what safeguards, agreements or protections were in place governing [city] data.” Under the later heading “Ethical Considerations, Transparency, and Data Security,” it asks “whether any data security agreements or confidentiality protections were in place.” Shannon’s emails also contain factual mistakes. An April 23 email refers to an Iowa Department of Management policy that “prohibits submitting internal data to AI systems without written authorization”—which “represents the clear expectation for Iowa government entities.” Iowa Code specifies that Department of Management policies like the one referenced in the email do not apply to city or county government. In one exchange, Guyer noted that Shannon had sent “an ironically beautifully drafted email using AI.” Shannon protested that her use of AI did not impact “the substance of the inquiry.” “Also, just to clear the air—whether or not I used AI to help draft my email doesn’t change the importance of the questions themselves,” her response reads.  Guyer also used AI to draft her first responses to Shannon’s repeated questions. “I use it as a tool to review,” she told The North Scott Press. “I’ve already formulated my entire response in my own words, and I have AI review it for grammar, spelling and clarity. And then I ask questions about how things might be perceived, like tone, and if there are things I should consider adjusting. I ask it to help me maintain professionalism and clarity.” But she stopped using AI as Shannon continued to send questions. “Things were getting lost in translation. AI’s not always the best tool for communication,” Guyer said. A final, 2,800 word email addressed to Shannon was written entirely without AI, she said. Pangram confirmed that result. Guyer wrote that she hoped Long Grove City Council formulated an AI use policy that “extends to councilmembers who use a free or any personal open AI chat to analyze public information, research, or write emails to employees and residents that might include derogatory or possibly defamatory suggestions”. Shannon later thanked Guyer for her clarifications. “I want to thank Rose for getting me all the information that she got me last week,” Shannon said at an April 27 council meeting. “She did get a lot of information to me about this.” At that meeting, Shannon and other members of the council asked City Attorney Josh Cobie to prepare a privacy agreement that would govern how AI software providers used city data. Guyer left Long Grove to take an administrative position with the city of Fairfax in early May. On May 20, the council elected to discontinue all AI use.      

Walcott Day festivities this weekend

Walcott Day will return July 17–18, bringing two days of patriotic festivities as the community celebrates "250 Years of America" during the nation's semiquincentennial year. Activities begin Friday at 4 p.m. in Prairie View Park, with packet pickup for the 5K and Kids Fun Run, followed by the Walcott Historical Society Museum open house. The evening will also feature a pork chop sandwich dinner benefiting the Lions Scholarship Fund, and an ice cream social. The Kids Fun Run and a fireworks display will cap the night's festivities. Saturday's activities move to Victory Park and begin with a 7 a.m. breakfast hosted by Calvary Church, followed by the annual car show. The annual 5K will begin in town, following West James Street to North Bridge Street, then continuing along West Parkview Drive and Michelle Lane before entering Prairie View Park. Runners will turn right on Main Street until it diverts onto Bryant and Parker Streets. The course then loops through the south side of town via Flagg and Main Streets, Memorial Road, South Grover Street and Bryant Street before returning to its start location by way of Main, Lincoln, North Century and James Streets. Parade registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and the parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. The parade route will start at the school on East James Street, continuing on to Main and East Lincoln Streets.    The afternoon schedule includes bounce houses and games, a flag raising ceremony, bags tournament, outhouse races and peach pie auction. A video gaming bus will be present, and the Walcott Historical society will have a second open house. A kids’ pedal tractor pull will start at 2 p.m. with registration starting at 1 p.m. Assorted youth games for grades four through 12 will start at 3 p.m. in Wescott park. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by musician Buddy Olson and later, Double H Entertainment. The celebration will conclude Saturday evening with a community meal, the crowning of the Walcott Day Princess and Queen at 6 p.m., and a dance to music from Double H’s live deejay. To accommodate the event, East James, North Henry East Otis and North Downey streets will have sections closed near Victory Park.  

Explaining Iowa’s new highway speed law

On July 1, new state law raised the default speed limits on two-lane state highways and rural paved roads from 55 to 60 miles per hour. But it isn’t just a number on a sign that is changing. Senate File 378, “an act relating to speed limits and speeding violations,” was signed into law on June 1 by Governor Kim Reynolds. The law does not apply to interstate highways, gravel roads or areas with otherwise posted speed limits. The bill leaves it to the discretion of the county to determine whether roads can safely accommodate the new “default.” “Our job is to mitigate [accidents],” Scott County Engineer for Secondary Roads Angela Kersten said. “We need to take inventory of our 55-mile-per-hour-signs and begin investigating what roads meet criteria for speed upgrades,” Kersten said. “We need to evaluate more than the speed limit signs.” Roads are designed to safely accommodate speeds five to 10 miles per hour higher than their posted limits. Kersten said that part of the county’s evaluation is determining whether existing roads have those safety margins defined by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. “We need to look at approaches and road markings. We need to look at the curvature profile of a road, both horizontal and vertical. We have to take into account existing bridges, guard rails, other posted signs and more,” Kersten said. “It is a county expense, but I don’t think it will be a significant one,” Kersten said. Areas with steep hills or sharp curves may not be able to accommodate higher speeds unless they are regraded. Roads with no or narrow shoulders may not qualify for speed increases without adequate width to reduce accident risk. Access points, including driveways, also need to be evaluated. If a qualifying road meets all safety criteria and engineering standards, the speed limit will automatically go up to 60 miles per hour as the new baseline speed takes effect. The law explicitly allows the speed limit to be kept at 55 miles per hour on roads that are unsafe for a higher limit. The county is not obligated to reconstruct roads to meet the new limit under this bill. “When limits are raised, even five miles per hour, we do see more crashes and the ones we see are more severe,” Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said. “I expect a slight uptick, but nothing too major.” “If the law is applied well, only appropriate areas will see the speed increase. You also have to look at areas of slow traffic and animal accidents,” Lane said. The act changes how some speeding violations are processed. The first two speeding violations within a 12-month period that are less than 10 miles per hour over the limit in zones posted between 34 and 61 miles per hour will not be counted towards insurance rate increases or license suspensions. Lane said this will not change how speed enforcement is done, and that violations can still result in citations and fines. Lane said that rural residents have concerns over speed limit violations. “Farmers have concerns about driving their equipment on the roads with faster traffic,” Lane said. “People need to be aware that just because the speed limit is five miles per hour faster, doesn’t mean slow vehicles go faster. They’ll come up faster, and people need to react to that.” While many drivers may welcome higher speed limits and reduced travel time, county officials say the changes will take three to six months to evaluate and implement. Lane urges motorists to continue watching for slow-moving farm equipment, no matter the posted speed limit.

Brandy Manrique named to Dixon City Council

Brandy Manrique has taken her husband’s former seat on Dixon City Council. Dixon Councilmen Nick Phares and Matt Stolley appointed former councilman Nick Manrique to the city clerk position in June. His wife was the only resident to volunteer for the open seat. Phares and Stolley voted her in Wednesday, July 8. Mayor Steve Laughlin also resigned from his post in June. Phares said Laughlin “didn’t want to do it anymore.” Laughlin was not present at the July 8 council meeting and could not be reached for comment. Brandy Manrique works for the Iowa Department of Corrections as a public service manager for adult probation and parole programs. “I have 10-plus years of public service, and I thought this would be a good way to serve my community,” she said. She said she wanted to focus on finding grants and other local funding opportunities to help the city boost its revenue. She also hopes to consider “developing a not-for-profit that would be focused on community improvement.” Manrique will serve until local elections in November 2027.  “There has been a lot of movement with mayors and city council members,” she said. “Some consistency or continuity would be nice to see.” At the July 8 council meeting, Phares briefly addressed whether the appointment of a spouse constituted a conflict of interest. Under Iowa code, it does not, he said. “Council sets the wage for the clerk, so if that discussion was ever to come up, then she would have to recuse herself from that vote. “I will make sure that there is plenty of segregation of duties and nothing that is compromised or questionable,” Manrique said. Phares and Stolley have put out an open call for Dixon residents who would be interested in serving as mayor.

$1.14B in Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots up for grabs: What are your odds?

Two of the largest lottery jackpots of the year are brewing.

Four people charged in Scott County in marijuana distribution case

Four people have been charged in Scott County for an alleged ongoing marijuana distribution conspiracy since 2021.

Princeton council greenlights Winding Hills renewal district

Princeton City Council approved a new urban renewal area that will help get a subdivision built on Locust Street. City officials and local developer Rod Reid have spent months designing an urban renewal plan that Reid said would provide the tax incentives he needs to complete the nine-lot Winding Hills subdivision. They approved the plan Thursday, July 9. The approved plan will allow the city of Princeton and Reid to borrow money for on-site infrastructure improvements against the property tax boost new homes are expected to generate. In April, Reid told the council that it would cost approximately $500,000 to run city water and sewer lines through the subdivision. Taxes assessed on the increased value of the subdivision will be used to service improvement debts, an arrangement called tax increment financing. The urban renewal area approved by Princeton circumscribes Reid’s subdivision. The council voted to approve it 4–0. Councilman Kevin Kernan was not present. At a public hearing on the urban renewal area, Princeton resident John Gickler questioned whether city utilities could support the additional homes. Gickler said he had researched Iowa utilities law with AI program Gemini and believed that the town could not expand its housing supply so long as the well on Lost Grove Road was out of commission. He said Iowa code requires a backup well be in service. In fact, Iowa code only requires that a city utility have the capacity to meet “the peak demand of all existing users and the proposed additional users” when expanding water infrastructure. Under Iowa code, construction of water utilities must follow a set of regional water utility standards which require that cities maintain at all times a minimum of two groundwater sources “unless otherwise specified by the reviewing authority.” It is not clear whether that requirement is enforceable or who would constitute the reviewing authority. Several Scott County cities have only one well in service. A June 24 story in The North Scott Press said the urban renewal area would provide Reid with a tax break. Princeton has configured their urban renewal area to fund infrastructure improvements, rather than reduce taxes. In other business, the city council approved a new contract with Central Broadband for internet service. City Clerk Kisa Tweed said the city previously paid over $700 per month for internet and phone lines with Windstream. Under the new contract, Princeton would $99.95 per month for internet with Central Broadband and $120 per month for phone lines with Windstream. During public comment, Princeton resident Rick Smith asked what they were doing to address a series of complaints he had filed about floodlights at a neighboring property. Mayor Travis Volrath suggested Smith take the matter to court. 

Eldridge silos out of use, River Valley announces

River Valley Cooperative will no longer accept grain at its Eldridge facility, although the company said it still plans to maintain an active presence in the community. The company announced it moved the grain elevators in Eldridge out of production effective July 1. There are no immediate plans for the elevators, and the company said it will “evaluate long-term plans for the property at a later date.” Meanwhile, the dry fertilizer shed complex located on the east side of the facility has also been listed for sale. RVC officials said this portion of the facility is no longer needed to support operations. Despite these changes, RVC officials said the company “remains committed to serving customers in the Eldridge area.” Agronomy operations will continue at the company’s facility on West Davenport Street, and the agronomy and energy center on South 18th Avenue will also remain in operation to serve member-owners and customers.

Riverfront fun in Princeton this weekend

Fun in the sun returns to the Mississippi riverfront with the Princeton Summer Fest this weekend. Youngsters should prepare for pigment at the 6:30 p.m. Color Run on River Drive Friday evening. Runners ages two and up are welcome. Well-splattered, they can collect a congratulatory hot dog, bag of chips and juice for dinner afterwards. Bounce houses, street paint and a DJ will keep kids entertained before evening fireworks over the Mississippi at dusk. Food vendors will keep hungry families fed and drinks flowing. Registration for the River Drive car show begins at 8 a.m. the next morning. Wolfe It Down Pizza, a local food truck, will offer a breakfast pizza special, festival organizers Zach and Demi Phares said. The car show and breakfast pizza sale benefit Princeton’s fire department and first responders. Car show registration closes at noon. Lineup for the city parade begins in the Virgil Grissom lot at 10:30 a.m. Floats will step off by 11 a.m. Former city clerk and councilwoman Karen Woomert will serve as grand marshal. A double-elimination softball tournament hosted by Mayor Travis Volrath will spin up Saturday morning and continue throughout the day. Registration is required in advance. Street activities will continue to entertain kids on River Drive Saturday. At 7 p.m., Radio Fighter Pilots will begin a riverfront set. The band is new this year, Zach Phares noted, one of a few small changes. Princeton will crown Otis and Piper Dues prince and princess of the festival Friday evening, Phares said. He said both were an active and lively presence in town. “They’re involved in a lot of things. They both play sports, you see them riding around town,” he said. “They’re really good kids.” This year’s summer fest T-shirt commemorates America 250. Organizers selected a design they hope visitors will appreciate. “Everyone has a festival shirt with a bunch of sponsors on it, but this is a shirt you can wear any day,” Phares explained.  

Walcott Day Pie Contest will be just peachy

Walcott Day is celebrating its 51st year on July 18! The last 44 of those years the pie contest has been a large part of the town’s celebration. Organized by Carolyn Paustian in 1982, the first contest proceeds tallied $1,375 with 17 pies. Last year, 50 pies were entered and the auction raked in $51,845. The flavor of pie this year is peach. For rules and additional information, please contact Angie Ehlers at 563-529-0325. We would love for you to enter!  

County boosts vacation policy

Scott County employees now start with two weeks of paid vacation, a policy change that county Human Resources Director Vanessa Wierman said will help the county attract qualified employees. Supervisors approved the change along with a slate of other minor policy adjustments July 2.  Scott County employees previously received only 48 hours of paid vacation in their first year of employment. That figure increased to 80 hours, or two weeks, in their second year of employment. “We're finding that that is not sufficient for many individuals,” Wierman said. “They find it difficult to live their life, et cetera, with that limited amount.” County Treasurer Tony Knobbe expressed support for the change. “From a recruiting standpoint, we lose out on a lot of people who have at least some experience and who, in their current job, entered with at least two weeks of vacation,” he said. “This would be significant.” The change immediately impacts 86 employees, at a cost to the county of $105,000 in lost labor. Wierman said county offices would backfill the lost time with overtime when necessary. At Medic EMS, the county ambulance service, schedules will be adjusted to and maintain required staffing levels. Many Medic employees work 12- and 24-hour shifts. County employees’ vacation accrues by the hour every pay period. Supervisors approved minor changes to several other county policies, including sick leave payout and sick leave accrual for 24-hour-shift employees. They also adjusted risk management policies to accommodate the risk manager’s move from the county attorney’s office to county administration.  

DeWitt United Methodist collecting relief supplies for Midwest Mission

DeWitt United Methodist Church is pleased to announce that it has officially become a permanent collection site for Midwest Mission, expanding opportunities for the local community to support disaster relief and humanitarian efforts throughout the United States and around the world. As a permanent collection site, DeWitt UMC will accept donations of much-needed supplies that Midwest Mission distributes to domestic and international communities affected by natural disasters, poverty, and other crises. Items collected in DeWitt will be shipped to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Jefferson, Iowa, or Pawnee, Ill., to help replenish relief kits, educational supplies, and other essential resources that provide hope and practical assistance to people in need. "We are excited to partner with Midwest Mission in this meaningful way," said Steve Hanas, Church Leadership Council chair. "This collection site gives our congregation, the entire DeWitt community and surrounding areas a simple, ongoing opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of others." Midwest Mission is a nonprofit organization that provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid through partnerships with churches, nonprofits, and community organizations. Volunteers accept donated items, assemble and distribute supplies that bring comfort, dignity, and hope to people facing challenging circumstances. Community members are invited to participate by donating approved items during the church's regular office hours or designated collection times. A current list of accepted donations is available from the church and through Midwest Mission's website at midwestmission.org. DeWitt UMC welcomes individuals, civic organizations, schools, businesses, and other churches to join this mission of compassion by contributing supplies or organizing donation drives. For more information about the collection site, donation guidelines, or volunteer opportunities, please contact DeWitt United Methodist Church at 563-659-5624 or email at dewittunitedmethodist@gmail.com.  

Iowa corn silking jumps ahead following hot, dry week

After several weeks trailing last year’s pace and the five-year average, corn development in Iowa has jumped ahead according to the latest crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the report, 38% of Iowa corn acres were silking as of the July 6-July 12 reporting period, which is 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average pace and 5 percentage points ahead of 2025’s crop. It also represents a large jump from the week prior, when just 8% of corn acres in the state had reached the silking phase. One percent of Iowa corn acres have reached the dough stage, which is behind the 2025 crop and the five-year average by several percentage points. Corn condition remains fairly stable as the report rated 78% of corn acres as in good or excellent condition. Soybeans rated 74% good to excellent for the reporting period. The percentage of Iowa soybean acres blooming also jumped ahead during the most recent reporting period. At 56% blooming, the crop was ahead of last year’s pace by 5 percentage points and ahead of the five-year average by 6 percentage points. Sixteen percent of soybean acres were setting pods during the reporting period, which is slightly behind last year’s crop, but ahead of the average. In contrast to the months’ worth of rain received at the top of the month, the July 6-12 reporting period was “unseasonably dry” according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan who reported a statewide weekly average precipitation of 0.66 inch. The majority of fields had “adequate” soil moisture conditions, according to the report. Top soil rated 73% adequate moisture and subsoil rated 69% adequate for the reporting period. Stu Swanson, chair of Iowa Corn Growers Association and a farmer in Wright County, said his cropland is “a little on the short side” in terms of moisture, as he farms just north of where heavy rains left some fields with excess water the first week in July. “I would take some more rain, but the previous two years, we’ve had excess rain and really suffered production wise because of it,” Swanson said. “So I’d rather be just on the dry side instead of just on the wet side.” Speaking on July 10, Swanson said his soybeans were in the beginning stages of setting pods and his corn acres were starting to throw up tassels and begin silking. “Next week will really be a real key week in the state of Iowa for corn pollination,” Swanson said, adding he hoped the temperatures would stay somewhat cool. “A little cooler the next week or 10 days would set us up for a really good fall and harvest.” Iowa’s statewide average temperature for the reporting period was 77.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which was more than 2 degrees above the normal temperature for the reporting period. Climate outlooks from the National Weather Service predict temperatures likely above average for the coming week and precipitation amounts slightly below the normal for the state.

Groundhog Days

Regular readers of this column will remember that a groundhog named Geoffrey lives in my backyard. I once caught him sunbathing on my wooden porch. Together we like to eat raspberries growing from the brambles by my garage. I live alone and so does he. Groundhogs are the least social marmots, the Internet tells me. I did not realize they were in competition. Geoffrey vanished over the winter, or at least he seemed to. (I suppose he probably thought the same of me.) Now he is back, thumping across mown grass on a lazy Sunday morning. I recently marked the end of my first year at The North Scott Press. Geoffrey is a fitting symbol for what I have jokingly begun to call my “groundhog days.” Things are ever so slowly starting to repeat themselves. Last week I attended the Iowa 80 Truckstop’s Trucker’s Jamboree. Again. I tucked into the same pork chop, baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll, and can of Coca-Cola I enjoyed last year. Two days later I was at the Eldridge Summer Festival. Again. At the Lion’s Breakfast Saturday I enjoyed a plate of the same pancakes and the same Styrofoam cup coffee. A kindly gentleman had heard that I was from back east and welcomed me to Iowa. Again. There are certain stories that do not seem to go away. I have been reporting on a power plant proposed for rural Scott County since last August. A schedule of upcoming hearings posted in June guarantees that I will continue reporting on it well past this August. I’ll have to meet the county planning and development director outside Maysville with a birthday cupcake and a candle. Here’s to many more. I remember worrying last spring that I might have signed up for a trivial job. I had a copy of the most recent NSP, with a lead story about whether the City of Eldridge should hire a full-time fire chief. Frighteningly small potatoes, I thought. One year later and I insisted on a four-column headline for the latest development in the same story (“Talks up in flames,” July 1). The only thing that changes is perspective. That is, of course, false in so many ways. There is plenty of change in small towns, despite the best efforts of their inhabitants. You might think to condemn habit and custom as backwardness, or praise them as character. But they are just another pair of natural forces. You might as well condemn gravity, or inertia. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. In August I will be back at the Mississippi Valley Fair. I will see many of the same children with many of the same animals and aim to enjoy the same pork chop sandwich at the door of the same pork show barn. At the pace of day to day, month to month, even year to year, change is hard to spot. Pigs do not look much different one summer to the next. Neither do I. To see the change, you have to really look.

The paramount importance of physical media today

This newspaper—the one in your hands right now—you can do anything with it. You can read it. You can highlight passages. You can cut out stories or coupons. You can share it with a friend. You can even shred it. This newspaper will never change. If there is a typo in this column, it will live on for eternity. You own this newspaper. Nobody can take it away from you. Newspapers, despite the world’s transition to computers and the internet, are still here. Who could have imagined 20 years ago that newspapers would outlive the compact disc? That reality became a lot closer two weeks ago. On July 1, Sony announced it would cease physical disc production for all games released on PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028, after which customers can purchase games from the PlayStation Store and retailers in digital formats only. “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” Sid Shuman, senior director of global con-tent communications at SIE, wrote in a three-paragraph press release. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” Anybody with a partially functioning pre-frontal cortex can read between those lines. It’s all about the money. One rough analysis by Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Japanese consulting firm Kantan Games, estimated that companies like Sony profit between 40 and 50 percent more on a digital game sale on their online storefronts than on a physical game sale at a cash register inside a brick-and-mortar building. Starting in 2028, Sony, the largest game developer in the world by revenue, will have a monopolistic stranglehold on its customers. It is a dangerous development that should concern gamers and non-gamers alike. Sony is correct that digital downloads dwarf physical purchases. Today’s customers vote with their wallets in overwhelming majorities. Digital media options are incredibly popular for their convenience and ease of access. But digital media should never be the only option. By purchasing digitally, customers forfeit their right to ownership. Soon, it will be the only option for the entire PlayStation population. Video games are small potatoes in the larger context and trends towards digital media. A digital purchase is hardly a purchase at all. Songs downloaded on iTunes, movies streamed on Netflix, even the software application from Microsoft needed to write this column, are not owned by the people who buy and use them. It is simply a license—a permission to access. Stop paying for it or break the rules, and the privilege gets revoked. Even without a good reason, companies can take away digital options for purchase or remove them from a user’s library at a mo-ment’s notice without any recourse. It’s built into the end-user license agreements we all scroll through and accept without reading. None of that happens with physical ownership. Sony cannot walk into my apartment and take my copy of The Last of Us, nor can it ever prevent me from booting up the game, nor can it ever change the content, messages and themes it presents. For a blockbuster franchise like The Last of Us, Sony has no reason to. For smaller or more controversial titles, what’s to stop them from finding one in the future? Digital owners would be as helpless as a Firefly in the same hospital hallway as a Texan with few moral lines left to cross. Even though it cannot be held in one’s hand, software is far more fragile than hard-ware. If you love a piece of media — a book, a film, a video game, even a photo from a year-old newspaper — make sure it’s yours. It can vanish with the click of a button.  

2001: Tim Dose takes over as North Scott superintendent

July 15, 1976 • Eldridge mayor Bob Blanche presented a ceremonial key to the city to foreign exchange student Thierry Decugnierre at the Eldridge Bicentennial. The 15-year-old Decugnierre was a native of Clamart, France, which is just south of Paris. He was staying with the Francis Costello family of Long Grove for one month as part of an exchange program endorsed by the Iowa Bicentennial Commission. • Princeton planned to celebrate the Bicentennial with a two-day street fest that would include a special concert by the Strategic Air Command band and dedicating Riverfront Park in honor of longtime resident James Clemons. Other activities included a soap box derby, competitive games like tug-o-war and sack races, a pig roast sponsored by Princeton Presbyterian Church, and square dancing. • The North Scott School Board met with the Eldridge Utility Board to discuss a disparity in the rate charged at the junior high versus the rate at the high school and Ed White. School board members expressed concern that the junior high was being unfairly assessed a demand charge because it was levied during the winter, just after the building opened and when the electrical system was being tested and not calibrated properly. The junior high’s electric rate was 36% higher than the other two Eldridge schools. The school board also voted to withhold a $10,000 payment to the mechanical contractor because of improper settings on thermostats and time switches, which they said resulted in the demand charge. • Residents in Big Rock were upset to learn they were among more than 260 unincorporated communities that had been wiped off the official state map for 1976-77 that was issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Former state legislator Edgar Holden noted several “good connecting routes” were removed entirely from the map now, including the blacktops from Princeton to McCausland, Donahue to Dixon, Dixon to New Liberty, and Maysville to Highway 6. Eltha Borchers, who operated the Big Rock Tavern, was more philosophical, noting people may “feel they’re no longer important. But things will go on as usual.” • The North Scott softball team claimed the Big Bend Conference championship, going 9-0 in league play. They wrapped up the title with three wins in one week. That included a 26-12 win over Central DeWitt, where Lynn Schmidt went 6-6 at the plate with five RBI. July 16, 1986 • Heavy rains led Gov. Terry Branstad to declare Scott and Clinton counties disaster areas. Branstad travelled to the area to survey storm damage. The heaviest damage was reported in northern Scott County along the Wapsipinicon River, as fields flooded following a deluge of more than five inches of rain in just over an hour. Multiple ditches were flooded with several feet of water near McCausland, leading residents to joke about the town’s new “swimming pool.” Pictured in one of the ditches were Nathan Broerman, Amanda Broerman, Michelle Belk, Shueree Leigh, Andy Leigh, Kevin Brown, Nicole Broerman and Devin Broerman. • The theme of Walcott Day was “Walcott Swings to Music.” Activities included a volleyball tournament, a turtle race, a Ronald McDonald show, a lip-sync contest and music by the Keepin’ Tyme band. • Sally Riewerts and Lynn Montgomery launched a Community Children’s Choir, which would perform a series of public concerts at Eldridge United Methodist Church, Edwards Congregational Church in Davenport, and the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Riewerts said she had wanted to start a children’s choir for years, and that children could produce “gorgeous tones.” Members of the choir included Andrea Bakker, Angie Case, Kara Case, T.J. Case, Kari Dugan, Janeen Heiman, Audra Madden, Randy Riewerts, Ryan Riewerts, Cathy Roesler, Jami Van Ryswyk, Ann Schmidt, Danny Shannon, Matt Teeples, Tara Lee Teeples, Darcey Timmerman, Lynn Voelkel, Matt Whisler, Jenny Wiese, Talia Wiese and Anne Wittkowski. The accompanist was Terri Wittkowski. • Eldridge Lions Club members Wayne Littell and Art Matje buried a time capsule during the Eldridge Summer Festival. The capsule was set to be reopened in 25 years. • The North Scott baseball team upset No. 1 state-ranked Muscatine 9-1. Mike Busch hit a three-run homer in the first inning and then took to the mound for a two-hitter. Coach Ed Podber said he was confident after his team took a five-run lead. “I had a pretty good feeling as I walked back to the dugout because I knew there was no way Busch was going to give up that many runs.” The Muskies came back with a 8-5 win in the nightcap to salvage a split. July 18, 2001 • Dr. Tim Dose took over the reins of the North Scott School District. Just the sixth superintendent in district history, Dose said he was enthusiastic about getting to work. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to be here. My family and I are genuinely excited about the opportunities that have been given to us, and for me, change is a good thing. Coming to this district has stirred me up again.” Dose had served as superintendent in Monticello since 1993. • Construction was underway at North Scott High School, as the parking lots were set to be repaved, including a new lot south and west of the school, where the old tennis courts had been. This was one of several summer projects, including a tennis and soccer complex, air conditioning at all the schools, and a refurbishment of the auditorium. • Candidates for Miss Walcott Day included Callie Thrapp, Crystal Denklau, Laura Meyer, Nichole Waters and Sara Wegener. • Countryside Community Theatre presented “Grease.” Cast members included Whitney Bashor, David Ryckman, Nikki White, Kendra Wulf, Emily Hoeller, Jennifer Bassler, Paul Powers, Casey Campbell, Marcus Kelly, Jake Klipsch, Kathryn Clasen, Jim Seward, Justin Hall, Tony Seward, Pam Archer, Connie Creen and Jason Gabriel. • The North Scott softball team opened postseason play with an 11-0 win over Clinton. Lisa Kirby led the way with four RBI, including a bases-loaded double, and Brook Bowman hit a home run in the second inning. Anne Wylie threw four perfect innings and just 25 pitches, including a three-pitch first inning. Coach Dennis Johnson said he was feeling optimistic about the regional tournament. “If we stay focused, I like our chances.” July 20, 2011 • The North Scott Food Pantry was actively seeking a new home. It had been located in the basement of the Scrappin’ for Keeps store on North 2nd Street (now Mike’s Floorpro) since 2004. But the store was closing, forcing organizers to relocate. Director Rebecca Tooley thanked the owners of the store for letting them use the space rent-free, and said she was hoping the community could help the pantry find a new location. • On an Alaskan fishing trip, Scott Cawiezell of Long Grove caught a whopper. He entered a fishing tournament on a whim and pulled in a 247-pound halibut. “(The captain) originally thought it would weigh about 200, and I was thinking closer to 190,” he said. “He hoisted it on the scale and it was 200 with the head still on the ground.” Cawiezell won the tournament and claimed the $10,000 prize.  • James Martin began work as Eldridge’s new assistant city administrator. He had previously worked in Fargo, N.D. He was introduced to the community by Marty O’Boyle at a council meeting. At the same meeting, city administrator John Dowd said there had been “informal discussions” with the North Scott School District about ways the city could assist with a new elementary school in town, including assisting with infrastructure and expanding a TIF district. • Countryside Community Theatre presented “The Wizard of Oz.” Cast members included Emily Briggs, Mary Beth Riewerts, Kevin Kurth, Ian Sodawasser, Nate Curlott, Shane Rumpza, Hannah Kurth and John Wagner. • Aaron Huber was named MAC Player of the Year for baseball, capping an incredible senior year. Huber was also MAC Player of the Year for football and first team in basketball. July 14, 2021 • Young ladies vying for Walcott Day royalty included Queen candidates Ella Heggen and McKenna Ware, and Princess candidates Ashlyn Burt, Cheyanne Orcutt, Cora Matzen and Olivia Paz Upegui. The theme of Walcott Day would be a celebration of all things Disney, as it was the 50th anniversary of Disney World. • Amazon announced plans for a 640,000 square foot distribution center on Division Street, just south of the Sterilite plant. Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce president Paul Rumler said the company was attracted to the central location, easy access to the interstate, a shovel-ready site and a pipeline of workers. • Zach Phares was chosen from four total candidates to fill a vacancy on the Princeton City Council. The vacancy was created after Michael Kline announced plans to move from the area after being named superintendent of the North Polk School District near Des Moines. “I care a lot about Princeton, and I guess this is the first time I’m really stepping up and showing it,” Phares said of being named to the council. He planned to run for the full term in the November election, as did several of the other applicants for the seat. • The North Scott baseball team, which finished third in the MAC, was gearing up to start the postseason against Dubuque Senior. Coach Brad Ward said, while the team had been in “in a little funk” in the last stretch of the regular season, “Our confidence level is very high. We played a very good game down at Burlington, and we still feel like we’re a very good team that can beat anyone on any given night.” • Nate Petesch of LaCrosse, Wis., and Noelle Steines of Calamus won the Moonlight Chase. Jack McCarthy of Eldridge and Sloan Moeller of Davenport won the one-mile. Meanwhile, writer Tyler Sullivan included the race in his attempt to run a mile in at least every town in Iowa and then write a poem about it. Eldridge was the 921st town he’d run in.  

Rock Island nursing home owner indicted in federal fraud scheme

Rajiv Shah is the majority owner of St. Anthony’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rock Island

Trump meddles with FIFA rules—just like US laws

In sports, we have to have a minimum level of trust in the process of the game. We like calls that go for us, and we grumble, but accept when they don't. For the players, it’s all about momentum, without having to worry about the process. What Trump did was to make everyone feel like the fix was in. The fans hate that, and the U.S. team may have lost that game because of it. Their momentum was shattered, and also their trust in the process. They didn't want to lose, but buried somewhere in the back of their minds, were worries that if they move forward, they will face ridicule for being the beneficiaries of "the fixer." Subconsciously, or consciously, they don't want to win because a bully with power made a call. Trump is a thoughtless thug, he created thug ICE, which is now showing up at people’s doors that speak out against them. If we give in to thug rule, sports will collapse, our entire system will collapse. Because no one would be safe. One lie from a crazy neighbor could put you in the crosshairs of the thugs. And with our current DOJ, how much faith can we really have in the rule of law?   Tom Hebbeln Davenport

ISU Fruit and Vegetable Field Day July 29

The horticulture team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will hold the 2026 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on Wednesday, July 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the ISU Horticulture Research Station in Ames. The annual event will feature commercial production of vegetable and fruit crops sold through farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture and wholesale. Participants will have an opportunity to observe research projects focusing on peppers, tomatoes, apples, organic pest management and the use of drones in horticultural crops. “Growers from around the state will have the opportunity to learn about production practices for fruits and vegetables and understand critical practices for managing pests, soil fertility, crop yield, and quality,” said Ajay Nair, professor and chair of the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State. “The day will also provide a platform for faculty, extension agents, growers, consumers and other participants to interact and share challenges, concerns and opportunities in the area of fruit and vegetable production.” This event is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and organized in partnership with the Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Registration for this field day is available at no cost, but organizers ask that you register online before July 24 to ensure an accurate food count. For more information, contact Chloe Henscheid at chlohens@iastate.edu or 515-232-4786.

Lightning strike twice to end Lancers' season

Inopportune lightning strikes were the theme of the night. The ones originating in the sky delayed the start of Friday night’s substate first-round game by 38 minutes. The ones carried out by players in white jerseys and purple-brimmed caps occurred just enough to advance their team to the semifinal. Iowa City Liberty pitchers Jaryn Sertterh and Lewis Waterbury combined for a two-hit shutout. Liberty’s offense found a pair of runs in the middle innings to end North Scott’s season by a 2-0 decision. “Oh, just so proud of them,” Lancer co-coach Brad Ward said of his postgame message to the team. “Like I told them: was our record not that great? Yes. Were we underdogs a lot? Yes. Did we compete our butts off? Yes. And that’s all you can ask for out of our group. We kept showing up, and we kept competing. “Baseball is a game of luck. Do we wish we had better swings at times? Of course. When we did hit a ball, they made a play. That’s what good teams do, especially in these tournament games. “That’s what I take away, and that’s what I try to let the kids know. We’re proud of their efforts all year long. We all wish things went a little better. We kept competing, kept working, and that’s all we can ask for.” The No. 5 seed Lancers and the No. 2 seed Lightning played a one-run game back in May. This playoff game featured similarly thin margins. North Scott’s pitching and defense bent but never broke in this substate opener. But its struggles to find outfield grass on offense limited its ability to make inroads in Iowa City. The Lightning retired 14 consecutive Lancers to end Friday’s game. The road team earned just three baserunners in the contest. Senior Koen Krambeck and junior Keegan Diercks each stood safely on second base. Krambeck hit a two-out double in the second inning, and Diercks drew a walk and stole the base in the first inning. Junior Ben Clayton hit a one-out single in the top of the third, but a 5-4-3 double play in the ensuing at-bat ended the frame and started the Lancers’ streak of outs. “You hope we’d be able to scratch a couple across, but it wasn’t our night for that,” Ward said. “I didn’t feel (Sertterh) did anything special. But he threw strikes. Tip your hat; he threw strikes. That’s the game. He didn’t give us anything. When we did hit it, they made plays. They didn’t give us any errors to give us extra runners.” Sertterh pitched five innings with just one strikeout. Waterbury cleaned up the final two innings with four punchouts. Their counterparts, senior starter Sam Shiltz and junior reliever Benjamin Peters, were nearly as effective. Shiltz scattered eight hits and one walk to only allow two runs. The first run, which crossed in the bottom of the third, was unearned on a two-out error. North Scott’s defense did everything it could to get outs. Shiltz successfully picked off one runner at first base. Clayton, the catcher, caught a runner stealing at third base in the fourth inning. The dam started leaking in the bottom of the fifth, but Shiltz got out of a two-on, no-out situation with just one run. “I’m proud of a kid like Sam Shiltz. He pitches great every time he’s on the mound,” Ward said. “That’s two years in a row he’s pitched awesome in the tournament. They had traffic in a bunch of innings, and we worked out of it. To only give up two runs to this team is great.” In the bottom of the sixth inning, Peters worked around a leadoff single and an intentional walk to put up a zero. But the hits simply never came for the Lancers’ offense in a game that took only 95 minutes from first pitch to the 21st out. North Scott ended its season with a 12-26 record. It’s the fewest number of wins for Lancer baseball in two decades. The Lancers were up against it from spring training with so few members of their team returning from 2025. Only three players who appeared in last season’s substate game were on this summer’s roster. As a six-man senior class says goodbye to North Scott, a 13-man junior class can reflect on the invaluable varsity experience it gained over the last two and a half months. “These kids, especially the seniors, those who are not going on to play college baseball, this is it. It’s a huge dose of reality,” Lancer co-coach Matt Petersen said. “The what-ifs flood into your mind. It humbles them. I haven’t seen a senior leave here not humbled by the process. Baseball is a game of adversity. “Your juniors, your sophomores, they get to see that future, and now they get time to chew on it. What am I going to do to try and improve on this outcome? That’s the inspiration that we want to create.” “They went from rookie status to essentially veterans as far as ‘OK, I know this arena.’ It doesn’t mean there wasn’t pressure tonight. We can see the growth in comfort. They got through the front door, and now they’re in. There’s a mature comfort that grows with reps and time on the field. The guys stayed hungry.” A trip around the MAC When the Iowa High School Athletic Association released its baseball brackets, Mississippi Athletic Conference member schools were understandably miffed when half of their teams saw each other in the same substate group. All four of its top 4A schools, Davenport North, Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf and Muscatine, plus Davenport West, were forced to battle for one state tournament spot. Of all the teams to knock out the regular-season MAC champion, it was the lone nonconference foe in the six-school bracket. Dubuque Hempstead upended Davenport North’s dream season with a 7-4 shocker in the opening round. 4A No. 7 Pleasant Valley met No. 6 seed Davenport West in a rematch of last year’s historic Falcons upset. This game went seven and a half innings without a run until Spartan senior Finley Martinolich’s sacrifice walked off West. In the middle-seeded matchup, No. 3 Bettendorf staved off No. 4 Muscatine, 3-2. The Bulldogs hosted the Mustangs on Monday, with the winner traveling to Pleasant Valley on Wednesday. Clinton, which is in North Scott’s substate bracket, went on the road to upset Dubuque Senior, 6-5, on Friday. The River Kings traveled to Iowa City Liberty on Monday. In Class 3A, Davenport Assumption and Central DeWitt were placed in separate substate draws. The tenth-ranked Knights defeated Maquoketa 15-0 and will play Mount Pleasant in the semifinals. The Sabers lost a home quarterfinal game 3-0 to Mount Vernon, ending their season at 20-15.

Curious Cargo closing after 49 years in Geneseo

Curious Cargo, a gift and home decor store in Geneseo, is permanently closing after 49 years in business.

Iowa anti-fraud initiative recovers nearly $28M for victims

Iowa's Stop the Scammers initiative has recovered nearly $28M for fraud victims and opened over 200 investigations since January. Learn how to report.

Davenport Fire Department responds to house fire

Davenport firefighters responded to a house fire in the city yesterday afternoon. A news release from the Davenport Fire Department said crews responded to a report of a house fire in the 1800 block of West 8th Street on July 13 at about 4:57 p.m. Dispatch received additional information while firefighters were en route that [...]

Dick Boyle to celebrate 90th birthday with open house

Richard “Dick” Boyle of McCausland will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house on Saturday, July 18. All friends and relatives are invited to join him from 2-5 p.m. at DeWitt United Methodist Church in DeWitt. No gifts, please. Mr. Boyle was born July 28, 1936, in Muscatine. He married Sheryl Boyle on Feb. 14, 1960, in Chicago. He farmed and was a rural mail carrier in the Princeton area until his retirement. He is the father of Leah (Kevin) Brown of Mesa, Ariz., Todd (Tiffany) Boyle of Marion, and Andrew (Valencia) Boyle of Davenport. His grandchildren are Nathan Brown, Malerie McGee, Parry Brown, Grace Hoffman, Courtney Boyle, Coraline Boyle, Madison Boyle-Serrot, Shaunte Boyle, Andrew Boyle Jr., Elijah Boyle and Abigail Boyle. He has 14 great-grandchildren. 

Bettendorf man charged after Molotov cocktails, graffiti damage new Kiwanis Park futsal court

A Bettendorf man is charged after police say he vandalized the city's new Kiwanis Park futsal court with graffiti and Molotov cocktails.

Obituary: Celeste Murphy

Celeste M. Murphy, 100, of Long Grove, died peacefully Thursday July 9, 2026, at the Kahl Home, Davenport. Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Celeste will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15 (today), at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Ann’s, with a prayer service offered at 6:30 p.m. There will be additional visitation on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until Mass begins at St. Ann’s. Memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Parish or the Kahl Home. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Celeste Kulp was born Dec. 18, 1925, at Mercy Hospital in Davenport, a daughter of Raymond R. and Marie (Miller) Kulp. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in 1943 and attended Marycrest College. Celeste was united in marriage to William L. Murphy on Dec. 29, 1943, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. He preceded her in death on Jan. 17, 1994, a few weeks after they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Celeste devoted her life to being a domestic engineer — a dedicated mother who raised 15 children. She was a faithful member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and was active in the parish Guild. Celeste was an enthusiastic fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kansas City Chiefs, and, of course, Caitlin Clark, rarely missing a game on television. She also enjoyed painting, drawing, as well as playing cards and bingo with her family and community at the Kahl Home. Those left to honor her memory are her children: Kathryn Martin (the late John) of Davenport, Gerald Murphy (the late Pam) of Davenport, the late Paul (Kathy) Murphy of Davenport, Donald Murphy of Eldridge, Joanne Barnabas of Davenport, David Murphy of Long Grove, Brian (Deonne) Murphy of Donahue, Thomas (Cindy) Murphy of Long Grove, Mary (Albert) Hess of Princeton, Carol Murphy (Kentucky) of Kansas City, Mo., Jill Wriedt (Craig) of Davenport, Mark (Becky) Murphy of Eldridge, Jim (Karen) Murphy of Donahue, Steve (Sue) Murphy of Long Grove, and Mike (Janice) Murphy of Long Grove. She has 37 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, son, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, she was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Richard Kulp, Mary Alice (Lawrence) Smith, Paul (Dolores) Kulp, and Marjorie Kulp. May they rest in eternal peace. The Murphy family would like to thank the sisters, nurses, and staff of the Kahl Home for all of the loving and compassionate care shown to Celeste. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting Celeste’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.   Custom obituary

Allen Keppy to celebrate 90th birthday with Aug. 1 open house

Allen Keppy of Wilton will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house and dance on Saturday, Aug. 1. All friends and relatives are invited to join him from 1-4 p.m. at the Dixon Legion, 406 Davenport St., Dixon. No gifts, please. Mr. Keppy was born Aug. 7, 1936, in Davenport. He married Donna Frohboese on Nov. 11, 1958, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport. He was a self-employed farmer and pork producer and also owned Sunbury Sod.  Mr. Keppy served on the Brenton Bank board for 27 years. Other boards include the Extension Board, where he served as chair, Iowa Pork Producers, First National Pork Board, National Swine Improvement, National Meat Board, ISU President Board, and the Hawkeye and Black Hawk Tech boards. He was a state and national show official and judged 68 state market shows. He was also appointed to the 7th Judicial District judge nominating committee. He is a military veteran, and his interests include softball pitching, Honor Flight and dancing. He is the father of Karol (Michael) Proctor of Moscow, Jolene (Gary) Pingel of New Liberty, Tina Keppy of Naples, Fla., and Colleen (Mark) Sivill of Olathe, Kan. His grandchildren are Teresa (Lukas) Gottschalk, Melissa (Ryan) Jones, Katie (Mitch) Sander, Tracey (Marion) Vander Heiden, Jared (Kristin) Hermiston, and Morgan (Brittany) Hermiston. He has 14 great-grandchildren, with one on the way.

Obituary: Roger Bousselot

Roger Bousselot, 100, of Calamus, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Fieldstone of DeWitt. Visitation will be Thursday, July 16, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 17, in the church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Roger Fred Bousselot was born Feb. 27, 1926, on the family farm near Grand Mound, to Fred Joseph and Esther Marie (Porth) Bousselot. He graduated from Calamus High School and spent his entire life doing what he loved most — farming the land he called home. On Sept. 9, 1950, Roger married the love of his life, Betty Ann Ralfs. Together they shared more than 75 years of marriage, building a life centered on faith, family, and the farmstead where they made countless memories. Roger was a devoted member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Long Grove and believed strongly in giving back to his community. Over the years, he generously shared his time and leadership by serving on numerous boards, including Wapsi Oaks Country Club, Grand Mound Union Savings Bank, SS Philip & James Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the Clinton County Farm Service Agency, and the Clinton County Zoning Board. Known to many as “Bud,” Roger enjoyed golfing, playing cards, challenging himself with word games, and, above all, spending time with his family. He was widely respected throughout the community for his integrity, wisdom, and quiet character. Roger also took pride in being one of the original members of the Grand Mound Colts baseball team, a distinction he remembered fondly throughout his life. Roger was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose steady presence, strong work ethic, and genuine kindness left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. Roger is lovingly remembered by his wife, Betty Ann of Calamus; his children, Lynn Smith of DeBary, Fla., David (Terri) Bousselot of DeWitt, and Dean (Diane) Bousselot of Dixon; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Brian, Todd, Rachel, Hannah, Jessica, and Angie; 14 great-grandchildren, Liam, Colin, Aubrey, Raelynn, Aedan, Gavin, Arya, Jackson, Olivia, Tanya, Lawson, Lena, and Rylee, with one additional great-grandchild expected; along with many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Helen (Don) Ankerson, and Lillian (Ray) Walling; his grandson, Eric Smith; his granddaughter, Lisa Glennon; and his son-in-law, David Smith. Roger’s life was a testament to hard work, faith, humility, and dedication to family and community. His legacy will continue to live on through the generations he loved so deeply. Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Patricia Doerscher

Patricia “Pat” Doerscher, 80, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2026, at Maggie’s House in DeWitt. Pat was born on Jan. 24, 1946, in Davenport, to Clifford and Alice (Rhodenbaugh) Schuldt. She was raised in Davenport, and was proud of her family’s roots there, where her father devoted 46 years of service as a switchman for the Rock Island Lines. She continued to love hearing the trains throughout her life. Pat held a deep affection for her mother and always treasured the memories they shared before losing her to cancer when Pat was 14. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1964. Following graduation, Pat worked at Eagle Grocery Store and took great pride in her work and especially enjoyed the friendships she formed with the many people she met there.  Pat married Derald Doerscher in 1969, and made their home on a farm in rural Scott County. Together they raised three children and built a successful farming operation. Pat cherished her time as a homemaker during these years. Later in life, Pat shared 20 years with Dennis Fahrenkrog, enjoying dancing, the outdoors, and time with family. They resided in Donahue, and Pat later moved to DeWitt to be closer to her grandchildren, whom she adored. Pat loved attending her grandchildren’s activities, including sports, band, and especially 4-H. She enjoyed playing cards with friends, and spending time with family. She was a talented and dedicated hostess and loved setting a beautiful table. She also enjoyed making handmade greeting cards and crafting. Pat enjoyed collecting cardinals and always thought of her mother when she saw them. Her creativity, kindness, and welcoming spirit touched everyone who knew her and made her a cherished friend. Pat had a unique spirit and a one-of-a-kind sense of humor. She loved to make people laugh with her quick wit and candor. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Kristin (Matthew) Reed of Bondurant, Kim (Douglas) Deppe of DeWitt, and Darin (Skye) Doerscher of Grand Mound; grandchildren, Madeleine, Carson, Kyle, and Benjamin; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Jerry and Richard. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the kindness and compassion shown to Pat by all the staff at Maggie’s House and St. Croix Hospice. Cremation has been provided by the Schultz Funeral Home family at their crematory in DeWitt. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Maggie’s House. Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at http://www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.   Custom obituary

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

MONDAY, JUNE 29 6:39 p.m. — William Charles Weaver, 37, no address given, was cited for driving while license denied or revoked and speeding, following a traffic stop near 300th Street and 230th Avenue, McCausland. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 12:35 p.m. — Sharon Arnell Davis, 59, no address given, was charged with assault causing bodily injury, following a report of an assault in the 600 block of West 4th Street, Davenport. THURSDAY, JULY 2 3:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 24700 block of 225th Street. 4:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity at West Lake Park, Davenport. An individual was served a one-year notice of no trespassing for the park. 4:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 100 block of South Kensington Street. 4:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue, Davenport. 5:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 5:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3800 block of Creek Hill Drive. 7:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Moselle Street. FRIDAY, JULY 3 1:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 400 block of North 6th Street. 5:31 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 10:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 25000 block of 240th Avenue, where a vehicle driven by Pamela Susan Thompson, 77, LeClaire, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 11:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 210th Street and Utica Ridge Road. A vehicle driven by Linda Kay Bowker, 77, Bettendorf, was northbound on 210th Street. Bowker made a U-turn at the intersection with Utica Ridge Road and was struck by a vehicle driven by Jason Brian George, 50, Clinton. Bowker was cited for an unsafe turn. 3:00 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 18800 block of 270th Street. 3:01 p.m. — Deputies began a death investigation in the 21400 block of 277th Avenue. 3:33 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 6:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 7:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of Wisconsin Street. 9:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 9900 block of 123rd Street. 10:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Elm Street. 11:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint on Park Avenue. SATURDAY, JULY 4 12:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 12:28 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Ricker Hill Road and Buckhorn Lane, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Lafonda Nicole Abbey, 19, Davenport, was westbound on Ricker Hill Road. Abbey reportedly was not familiar with the area and failed to notice a curve in the roadway in time. Abbey lost control, partially due to wet road conditions, and the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. 3:36 a.m. — Mauricio Fonsecaalcantar, 38, no address given, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for failure to have a valid license/permit while operating a motor vehicle, an open container violation and improper registration plate lamp, following a traffic stop near Northwest Boulevard and Ripley Street, Davenport. 3:59 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1200 block of East Rusholme Street. 4:17 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 5400 block of Valley Drive. 12:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5800 block of Elmore Avenue. 1:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near 280th Street and 210th Avenue. 4:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of East Iowa Street. 6:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 6:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 1400 block of West Front Street, Buffalo. An individual was served a one-year notice of no trespassing for the property. 9:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 1400 block of West Front Street. 7:49 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 8:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 18600 block of 220th Street. A vehicle driven by Robert John Chapin, 41, Davenport, was westbound on 220th Street. Chapin reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and went into a ditch before striking a utility pole. Chapin was transported by Medic to MercyOne Genesis East Medical Center. Chapin was charged with OWI – 2nd offense and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, an open container violation, violation of financial liability coverage, failure to maintain a safety belt and failure to maintain control. 10:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint on Dawn Court. 11:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near 210th Street and 165th Avenue. 11:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near Valley Drive and Southwest 35th Street. SUNDAY, JULY 5 12:06 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 23300 block of 115th Avenue. 1:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 15800 block of 255th Street. A vehicle driven by Jacob Thomas Lane, 17, Blue Grass, was eastbound on 255th Street. Lane reportedly fell asleep while driving, and the vehicle left the roadway and struck a mailbox. 1:49 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 600 block of West Mayne Street. 3:18 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 600 block of West 64th Street. 1:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 800 block of Hacker Street. 1:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 1:22 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 28000 block of 218th Street. 4:00 a.m. — Malik Capri Davis, 31, no address given, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and providing false identification information, and cited for violation of financial liability coverage, speeding and driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, following a traffic stop in the 5900 block of Elmore Avenue, Davenport. 5:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance. 5:53 p.m. — Lisa Ann Lewis, 42, no address given, was charged with assault after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue. 7:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near 124th Street and 70th Avenue, where a vehicle driven by Kenneth Charles Cornwell, 38, Buffalo, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 9:19 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of North Highway 67, Princeton. The dispute was verbal in nature and had ended prior to deputies’ arrival. 9:33 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 100 block of Main Street. 9:43 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint near Territorial Road and 277th Avenue. 10:41 p.m. — Romonte Darcell Thomas, 51, no address given, was charged with OWI – 2nd offense and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, and driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, driving with suspended, denied or revoked license or registration, unsafe entry onto a roadway or sidewalk, and violation of financial liability coverage, following an incident in the 1500 block of West Locust Street, Davenport.  10:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road. MONDAY, JULY 6 12:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Exit 129 on Highway 61 North, where a vehicle driven by Shawn Michael Burchard, 53, Dyersville, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 12:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3800 block of Brady Street. 1:08 a.m. — Tristan Andrew Morse, 28, no address given, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near West Locust Street and North Lincoln Avenue, Davenport. 5:08 a.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 2600 block of North Pine Street. 9:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 400 block of Main Street. 9:47 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 1600 block of State Street. 10:28 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11500 block of 108th Avenue. 1:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of South Park View Drive. 1:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13500 block of 110th Avenue. 2:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 600 block of North Highway 67. 7:52 p.m. — Christopher Carlos Bustos, 48, no address given, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for an open container violation and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop near Welcome Way and West 37th Street, Davenport. 8:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 8:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage on Park Crest Court. TUESDAY, JULY 7 11:16 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 300 block of West Cedar Lane Drive. 3:55 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 3700 block of West Locust Street. 5:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 700 block of Davenport Street. 6:51 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 5000 block of Harrison Street. 9:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 12500 block of 70th Avenue. 9:57 p.m. — Jason Leigh Ahrens, 46, no address given, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 2nd offense and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, following a traffic stop near Scott Park Road and 306th Street, Long Grove. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 12:35 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 17900 block of Spencer Road. 12:48 a.m. — Tateyana Onyae Lee, 20, no address given, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender) and driving with suspended, denied or revoked license or registration, following a traffic stop near Spring Street and East Kimberly Road, Davenport. 5:50 a.m. — James Russel Bryant, 57, no address given, was charged with a sex offender registration violation – 2nd offense, and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, violation of financial liability coverage, operating a non-registered vehicle and improper use of registration, following an incident in the 8300 block of Research Drive. 5:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Highway 67. 10:50 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 14000 block of 110th Avenue. 2:13 p.m. — Reginald Thurman, 60, no address given, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop on Highway 61, Davenport. 3:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 240th Street and 130th Avenue. 4:40 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 2600 block of East 41st Street. 6:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 28000 block of238th Street. 8:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 24800 block of 179th Street Place. 9:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 24800 block of 179th Street Place. 11:46 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 7400 block of Cedar Street. THURSDAY, JULY 9 12:13 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint near Highway 61 and East LeClaire Road. 3:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 500 block of Waverly Road. 7:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 240th Avenue and Territorial Road. 9:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of Lincoln Road. 3:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 3600 block of Maplecrest Road. 3:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 4:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 5:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Emerald Drive and Grove Court. 5:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of Dodge Street.

View the Eldridge Police report from the July 15 NSP!

MONDAY, JUNE 29 6:58 am. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 1000 block of West Davies Court. 3:19 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 5:58 p.m. — Brian Griffith, 33, of Moline, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 200 block of East LeClaire Road. 8:04 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject near South 9th Avenue and Golfview Drive. It was a solicitor. Handled by officer. 8:17 p.m. — Removed debris from the roadway in the 1800 block of South Scott Park Road. Handled by officer. 9:08 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 400 block of West Maple Street. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 11:23 p.m. — Brandt Bloomer, 23, of Davenport, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop near Fox Ridge and East Lincoln roads. TUESDAY, JUNE 30 12:13 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 3400 block of South 11th Avenue. Handled by officer. 1:09 a.m. — Complaint of juveniles ding-dong-ditching near South 1st Street and West Pinehurst Drive. Handled by officer. 3:05 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 3:24 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 1600 block of Leonard Court. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 8:31 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 900 block of East LeClaire Road. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 10:33 a.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 100 block of East LeClaire Road. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. 3:13 p.m. — Derrick Humphrey, 60, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop near North Division Street and West Slopertown Road. 3:38 p.m. — Cole Ferns, 29, of Moline, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and Slopertown Road. 4:38 p.m. — Kayla McCubbin, 34, of Dixon, was cited for an open container violation – driver, following a traffic stop near East LeClaire Road and North 9th Avenue. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 3:41 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles near South 1st Street and West Pinehurst Drive. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, JULY 2 7:06 p.m. — Lori West, 58, of Hampton, Ill., was cited for no insurance, following a traffic stop near North 1st and East Price streets. SATURDAY, JULY 4 12:02 p.m. — Drake Harris, 17, of Eldridge, was arrested for driving under suspension and cited for no insurance, following a traffic stop near East LeClaire Road and Highway 61. 2:22 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 23800 block of 130th Avenue. 4:54 p.m. — Report taken for a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of East Iowa Street. 11:53 p.m. — Gavin Banuelos, 19, of Long Grove, was cited for possession/purchase of alcohol by a person under the legal age – 1st offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. SUNDAY, JULY 5 12:09 a.m. — Benjamin Gless, 16, of Princeton, was cited for careless driving, following a traffic stop in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. 1:03 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a single vehicle accident in the 15800 block of 255th Street. 3:21 p.m. — Stacie Winrow, 56, of Davenport, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 3:31 p.m. — Report taken for a dog bite in the 200 block of West Harvest Street. 3:48 p.m. — Report taken for theft of property in the 300 block of South 8th Avenue. 9:35 p.m. — Jessica Blair, 34, of Annawan, Ill., was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 800 block of East LeClaire Road. MONDAY, JULY 6 7:14 p.m. — Jensen Knuth, 31, of Eldridge, was cited for failure to obey a stop sign and no insurance after being involved in a two-vehicle accident near South 3rd and West Spring streets. 9:06 a.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of West Donahue Street. 2:37 p.m. — Dajion Greer, 24, of Davenport, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop in the 9400 block of Hillandale Road. 11:21 p.m. — Brandon Jeffers, 40, of Rock Island, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop near East LeClaire Road and South 14th Avenue. TUESDAY, JULY 7 5:56 p.m. — Michael Gealy, 39 of Bettendorf, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 9000 block of North Division Street. 6:22 p.m. — Vershun Dillon, 26, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop in the 8900 block of Harrison Street. 6:33 p.m. — Aurelius Daniel, 30, of Fairfield, was arrested for driving while barred, following a traffic stop near North Division Street and Slopertown Road. 10:27 p.m. — Amanda Almanza, 42, of Eldridge, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop near South 1st and West Spring streets. THURSDAY, JULY 9 3:40 p.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. SUNDAY, JULY 12 9:53 a.m. — Report taken for a single vehicle accident in the 700 block of North 1st Street. 8:20 p.m. — Jacob Preisser, 41, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road.

Lancers dismiss Bloodhounds in 9-2 win

North Scott softball ensured that all fans running in the Moonlight Chase reached the starting line with time to spare. It was an efficient, drama-free regional semifinal win for the Lancers, 9-2 over Fort Madison Saturday evening. The Lancer offense quickly applied pressure, and it got some help as Bloodhound defenders made errors in the first two at-bats in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Adalynn Johnson made them pay with a three-run home run to break the game open quickly. After senior Cadey Bredar went six-up, six-down in the circle in the second and third innings, North Scott put up a five-spot. Eighth grader Payton LeDoux got the rally started with a double. She advanced to third base on a passed ball, and senior Aubrey Toohey scored her with a bunt single. Seniors Anna Campbell and Mayah Vogt both recorded two-out RBI singles, and sophomore Brinley Schroeder blooped a two-run single into left field. North Scott threatened the run-rule, but two errors from North Scott’s defense led to a pair of Fort Madison runs. Both runs were unearned for Bredar. The Lancer pitcher responded with three consecutive strikeouts to prevent any further damage. Bredar struck out a career-high 13 batters in this game. North Scott got one run back in the bottom of the fifth as Vogt hit a two-out double, and Schroeder scored her with a triple. Bredar retired the next six Bloodhounds in order to secure the win. She finished with a complete game three-hitter and did not walk a batter. Bloodhound starter Lucia Darnell entered the game with a 1.57 ERA, albeit against a weak strength of schedule. North Scott tagged the freshman with 13 hits, nine runs (eight earned) and two walks. Johnson and Schroeder led the Lancers with three RBIs each. Toohey, Campbell and Vogt each had one. LeDoux led all batters with four hits, followed by Schroeder with three, Vogt with two and Johnson, Toohey, Eller and Campbell with one each. Battle with Burlington On Tuesday, North Scott squared off with Burlington with a trip to state on the line. The Grayhounds entered the game with a 25-6 record and defeated Central DeWitt 8-1 in the regional semifinal. In the final Class 4A rankings, Burlington reached its season-high mark of No. 12. North Scott remained at No. 5 in this release. Burlington entered this contest on a 10-game winning streak. The team won the Southeast Conference with a 13-2 record. The Grayhounds are led in the circle by a familiar name to track and field fans. Junior Kylee Hill won the Class 3A girls state discus and shot put competitions this spring as well as the Drake Relays shot put. She is as formidable on the softball field. Hill has 148 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched with a 1.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. With the bat, she has a .412 batting average, a 1.234 OPS and leads the team with 33 RBIs. Sophomore Ava Brandenburg leads the Grayhounds with a .490 batting average and a .563 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot. Other top hitters include Ava Fawcett (.407 batting average), Addilyn Brandenburg (.337 batting average) and Annabelle Allen (.325 batting average). North Scott leads the head-to-head 14-12 between these two schools since 2009. The Lancers have won the last three matchups. Most recently, North Scott defeated Burlington 5-0 in the 2024 regional final played in Eldridge.

How will double-elimination state softball look?

30 percent, minimum. That is the increase in the number of softball games to be played at this year’s double-elimination state tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, IA. For the first time, state qualifying teams are given one extra life on their quest for softball supremacy. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union approved the new format last October, adding as many as 25 additional games to tournament week across five classifications. How will it all work? Let’s look at the biggest changes and answer some questions. Q: How will the double elimination format work? The format change will not impact the starting points of the eight qualifying teams in each classification. On day one, in the top half of the championship bracket, No. 1 plays No. 8 and No. 4 plays No. 5. In the bottom half, No. 2 plays No. 7 and No. 3 plays No. 6. From this point forward, the new format reveals itself. For simplicity’s sake, let’s examine one of the halves. The winners of the 1/8 and 4/5 matchups will square off in the championship bracket’s second round. The losers of these matchups will play in the elimination bracket’s first round. In the championship bracket’s second round, the team that wins advances to the semifinals. In the elimination bracket’s first round, the team that loses is out of the tournament. Then, the loser of the championship bracket’s second round and the winner of the elimination bracket’s first round will play each other. The winner stays alive, and the loser is out. At this point, two teams remain. One team is 2-0. The other is 2-1. These teams will play each other in the semifinals. If the 2-0 team wins, it advances to the final and the loser is out. If the 2-1 team wins, the schools will play again. The winner advances to the final and the loser is out. This entire process is identical in the other section of the bracket. Once there are two teams set to play the state final, it becomes a winner-take-all game, regardless of records to that point. So long as there are no delays and/or postponements, all games prior to the state championship will be completed by Wednesday evening. Class 2A and Class 4A will play its state championships Thursday evening. Classes 1A, 3A and 5A will play its state championships Friday afternoon and evening. Q: How will Rogers Park accommodate the increase in games? The significant infrastructure upgrades at Rogers Park allowed the IGHSAU to make the switch to double-elimination brackets. There are now five fields capable of hosting games in the championship bracket. Channel Seeds Field and Iowa Central Field remain the largest at the complex. New this year are Triton Field, Hy-Vee Field and Farm Bureau Field, which are located down the walkway northeast of Iowa Central Field. All five fields have lights, and the latter three have improved seating and surrounding amenities. This includes a large general admission parking area specifically for fans watching games at these fields. This new lot is accessible by way of 160th Street at the north end of the campus.   Q: Where will my school play its games? Like in previous years, Channel Seeds Field will host championship finals for all classes. However, prior to the final, each classification will play all of its games on one designated field. Class 5A will play on Triton Field. Class 4A will play on Channel Seeds Field. Class 3A will play on Iowa Central Field. Class 2A will play on Hy-Vee Field. Class 1A will play on Farm Bureau Field. The field assignments for each classification will rotate in subsequent years. Q: Will there be consolation games if my school gets eliminated? No. With the new double-elimination format, there are no more consolation games at the state tournament. In the past, teams eliminated in the quarterfinals played one consolation game. Teams that lost in the semifinals played in a third-place game. The new state tournament format allows for every game at Rogers Park to have state championship stakes. Q: Where can I go for more information? The IGHSAU website has complete schedule information broken down by day and by classification. The website also has resources regarding parking, purchasing tickets, what is and is not allowed inside the complex, and detailed maps of the campus. When the tournament begins, it will contain information regarding live streams for spectators watching from home. On the website homepage, ighsau.org, scroll down and click on the “2026 Softball Tournament Central” hyperlink to view all of this information. The Varsity Bound website contains information about brackets, rosters, team records, player statistics and everything else related to the games. Visit gobound.com/ia where this information is accessible on the website’s homepage.

Mountain bike riders reach new heights

The North Scott Mountain Bike Club wrapped up its season last month, and it finished as the best in club history. The varsity and junior varsity teams placed second overall in the season-end series rankings. In addition, six individuals across varsity, junior varsity and middle school divisions earned individual accolades. This marks the fourth year of the club. The riders set program-best marks in both participation and results. “We’ve continued to grow, and the kids are improving and enjoying what they’re doing,” Karl Dimmer, club founder and head coach, said. He noted there were 55 riders registered for this season, and that the club had fewer than 40 riders in 2025. “It’s been great to see the growth and us competing as a team. As varsity, we took second as a team. JV was also second. We didn’t have the volume to be able to do that in the past. Adding more kids gives us the ability to compete at those levels. It is nice, and it gives the kids something else to strive for besides individual success.” On the varsity leaderboard, Ryan Squires placed third on the varsity leaderboard with a 1,895 season series. Logan Duffy was right behind him in fourth place with a 1,890 series score. “Ryan is a senior. He’s been racing at the varsity level for four years. This is the first time he’s been on the podium for a series,” Dimmer said. “Logan, this is the first year he’s been with us. He has been with some other club in the past, but this is his first year riding with us.” Squires, Duffy, Walter Sprott and Jaxson Duffy helped the North Scott club finish second in the team standings. It scored 4,646 team points over the summer. The Iowa City club won the team race with 4,845 points. In the junior varsity female division, Kenzie Caughey placed third with a 1,924 season series. Lisa Marbach nabbed a fifth-place finish with a 1,408 series score. On the JV boys’ side, Dimmer’s son, Dane, got fourth place as a sixth-grader as he raced up one division this season. He had a 1,902 season series score. Additionally, Jackson Yoder, Tucker Keating and Jackson Boseworth all helped the JV team finish second. Lastly, in the middle school boys division, Wyatt Bump earned a fifth-place finish with a 1,890 season series. The North Scott Mountain Bike Club will once again host a skills clinic this summer for riders looking to learn the sport or refine their skills. Dimmer said no dates and times are confirmed yet, but late summer around the start of school is when the club held it last year. Visit the club’s Facebook page at “North Scott Mountain Bike Club” for updates and further information.

Environmental groups sue government to stop a big change to the Endangered Species Act

By altering the definition of the word "harm" as used by the Endangered Species Act, the Trump administration may limit how wildlife is protected in the United States. Environmental groups are suing.

No injuries reported in Davenport house fire Monday

Firefighters encountered heavy heat and smoke on the second floor, which firefighters quickly began attacking, according to the release.

Rock Island County Fair has food, animals and fun

The Rock Island County Fair kicks off today at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, 4200 Archer Drive in East Moline, and runs through July 18. Fairgoers can enjoy food, races, rides, animal shows and more. Joel Bohnsack, Rock Island County Fair Board member and this year's president, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom [...]

Bix Museum to hold its grand opening

The Bix Museum will hold its grand opening in the City Square Building on July 24 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Bettendorf man accused of burning part of new recreational field with Molotov cocktail

A Bettendorf man faces arson charges after police say he tried to burn down Kiwanis Park's new multi-court field using a Molotov cocktail.

East Moline issues lead advisory after elevated levels found in some homes

East Moline issued a public notice after drinking water tests found elevated lead levels in some homes. Officials say the city's water system remains in compliance.

As cities abandon spy cameras, one company wants to add them to school buses

As cities abandon spy cameras, one company wants to add them to school busesCourts have upheld roadside plate readers for one reason: They stay put. But a plan to put them on school buses is testing that reason, BusesForSale reports.Depending on your location, your Instagram feed shows that more city councils are voting to pull their license plate cameras off the poles. Coralville, Iowa, pulled its Flock cameras the morning after the council voted to end the contract. Lynnwood, Washington, killed its contract unanimously. Columbia Heights, Minnesota, did the same. So far, more than 30 cities have canceled Flock Safety contracts in 2026, and the ACLU is running a national campaign with the unsubtle name “Get the Flock Out.”More comments at council meetings suggest the fear behind those votes isn't made up. The Institute for Justice has counted at least 20 cases of police officers using plate-reader systems to track romantic partners, exes, and strangers. One Florida officer ran his ex-girlfriend's plate 69 times. A Kansas police chief resigned after searching for his ex more than 200 times. Flock told 404 Media it was aware of 15 incidents of police abuse of its database.So the public mood toward roadside cameras isn't as welcoming, which is what makes the next idea bold. A company wants to put those same cameras on your kid's school bus.A safety tool looking for a second jobBusPatrol, headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, sells AI-powered stop-arm cameras for school buses. The cameras photograph drivers who illegally pass a stopped bus, and AI software reviews the footage and forwards violations to police. The company says it has more than 40,000 cameras across 24 states.Recently leaked documents, reported by 404 Media, reveal more of the plans. BusPatrol wants the cameras to run constantly, reading the plate of every vehicle a bus passes and feeding the data to law enforcement. The report says the company has already moved to share that data with Axon, the policing-technology giant whose platforms put searchable records in front of officers nationwide. A one-bus pilot is reportedly underway, with plans to deploy 100 plate-reading buses by the end of the month.The documents suggest BusPatrol expects pushback and is moving anyway. A source told 404 Media that a new investor is pressing the company to find fresh revenue. Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, told the outlet there is "a real risk that AI will be used to create a hellscape of over-enforcement."That a child-safety vendor would reach for license-plate revenue is less surprising once you look at how the original business actually works.Follow the money, not the missionStop-arm camera programs were sold as a way to protect kids. Whether or not they actually protect children is unproven. Independent studies of their effect on student safety are thin, and the programs run on tickets. Fines typically range from $250 to $500, and private vendors can take the majority of the money before a district sees a dime. One Nevada district's program was projected to generate $40 million in revenue.A Maryland investigation found more than 70% of camera citations over two years were issued to drivers traveling in the opposite direction from the bus. And that was usually with a median or a lane of oncoming traffic between the bus and the kids.Suffolk County, New York, dismissed close to 8,000 camera tickets after a legal challenge. Almost 3,000 of the tickets were from a single stop where cross-traffic kept getting tagged. Tickets like those pay whether or not a child was ever at risk, which is why a camera that reads every plate all day is worth more to the vendor than one that only catches the rare driver who runs a stop-arm.The reason the cameras were legalThere have been a lot of plate reader court challenges. But the readers have survived so far because they weren't mobile.In January 2026, a federal court sided with the City of Norfolk in a major case over its plate-reader network, Schmidt v. City of Norfolk. Days later, Washington's Court of Appeals reached a similar conclusion in State v. Simonson. The logic in both came down to geography. Because the cameras sit in fixed spots, any one car gets photographed only now and then and at random times. The courts decided that was not the kind of sustained tracking the Fourth Amendment treats as a search.Both courts added a warning, saying the answer could change if the data ever became comprehensive, or if the system started following one person's movements over time. Legal analysts have flagged the same issue, noting the rulings carefully avoid the harder question of what happens when plate data stops being occasional and starts being complete.A friendly, trundling school bus isn't an obvious surveillance device. But mount a plate reader on it, and it can perform repeatable neighborhood-level surveillance that courts have warned about. What makes a bus useful for this is that it covers the same residential routes twice a day, past the same houses, on a published schedule, through the parts of town where children live. And, even though no court has ruled on a school bus yet, that is exactly the kind of comprehensive repeated tracking that courts have flagged as a problem.The net keeps wideningSchool buses wouldn't be the first tool repurposed this way. The same industry is already testing readers that capture phone and wearable signals, not just plates. The data then gets sold to agencies that can search it without a warrant, because, as one security expert put it on a recent podcast, the laws are years behind the hardware.What makes the school bus version different is the object itself. People may accept a lot of monitoring from a pole on a commercial strip. But a bright yellow vehicle designed to carry children is harder to picture as a data-collection platform driving past your front window every morning.This story was produced by BusesForSale and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

13 questions that lead to breakthroughs in therapy

13 questions that lead to breakthroughs in therapySometimes your therapist asks you a question that stops you in your tracks and completely shifts your perspective.Imagine your therapist asks you to picture your current situation as if it were a movie scene. Then comes the breakthrough question: "What do you wish you could tell these characters?" That single prompt creates just enough distance to access some genuine perspective—the kind that's hard to find when you're in the thick of your own emotions.Breakthrough therapy questions don’t have to be especially creative. Sometimes it’s a gentle nudge (“Where do you think that comes from?”) or an invitation to dig a little deeper (“If you had to take a guess …”). There’s no magic formula, just the right words at the right moment, encouraging you to look at things differently or sit with a thought a little longer.Thriveworks asked experienced clinicians about the questions they’ve seen unlock real change in therapy. Here’s what they shared.1. If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing, what would it be?Sometimes patients are so tangled up in the details of a situation—the logistics, the obligations, the what-ifs—that they lose sight of what they actually want. This question bypasses all of that.By removing perceived barriers and inviting more flexible thinking, it helps get at the real issue and reveal solutions they may not have considered before, says Kate Hanselman, PMHNP, VP of clinical psychiatry at Thriveworks.2. Is this a problem to be solved, something to think differently about, or a challenge that you have to accept?Sometimes you come to therapy desperate to fix something, but not sure where to start. Other times, you’re looking for guidance on how to deal with a situation that’s totally out of your control. This question helps you and your therapist align on what you’re trying to accomplish in therapy.“Defining the issue and those terms helps clarify our work,” says Caitlyn Oscarson, licensed marriage and family therapist. “Are we trying to change the situation, think differently about it, or accept something that is not ideal or preferred? It also prevents clients from trying to do all three of these at once, which can become unwieldy and overwhelming.”3. What problem is this behavior solving?When someone is struggling with a pattern they can’t seem to break—overworking, people-pleasing, catastrophizing—this question might help them see it in a new way. Instead of treating the behavior as a flaw, it treats it as a clue.“Most people attack their symptoms like they’re moral failures,” says Blaine Stephens, licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks. “This question forces a pivot: Instead of shame, we look for function. Anxiety might be protecting them. Overworking might be a way to avoid grief. People-pleasing might be a survival strategy from childhood. Once a client sees that their behavior is trying to help them, even in a backwards way, we can replace it with something that actually works.”4. What would it mean if this wasn’t your fault?When you’re consumed with shame or self-blame, it can feel impossible to think clearly about what factors led you here and how to move forward.“This question interrupts shame spirals and invites clients to consider systemic, relational, or historical context,” says Melissa Galica, Ph.D., licensed professional counselor. “It doesn’t erase accountability; it expands compassion. And sometimes, that’s the doorway to healing.”5. Well, what would happen if ____ happened?Anxiety tends to stop at the scary thought itself (What if I lose my job, what if this doesn’t work out?) without ever following it through to the end. This question does exactly that.“Too often the initial fear or anxiety we have from a scary thought keeps us from taking back the power to consider real options for real threats,” says Laura Buscemi, licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks. Walking the fear all the way to its conclusion (and then what? and then what?) often reveals that the outcome, while genuinely hard, is survivable. That realization can take a lot of the power away from the worry.“Sometimes we need to face our fears, and following the scary thought all the way to the end can give perspective.”6. How do you think you should feel about this?People often come to therapy policing their own emotions or assuming they should be feeling or healing differently. This question brings that inner critic to the forefront so you can start to interrogate it a bit.“This question almost always leads somewhere important because it reveals what people are actually giving themselves permission to feel versus what they think they’re allowed to feel,” says Lauren Auer, licensed clinical professional counselor.For instance, maybe you think you should be over this by now. “I get to ask, who made that timeline? Why shouldn’t you still be processing this? Often, just hearing themselves say the ‘should’ out loud helps them realize they’re being way harder on themselves than they’d ever be on someone they care about. It creates space to actually feel what they’re feeling instead of judging themselves for it.”7. What do you need right now?Simple on its surface, but often surprisingly difficult to answer, especially for people who tend to push through or prioritize others. What might help you feel safer, happier, or just a little more OK right now?“This question helps them tune into what they’re actually feeling in the moment and identify what would help them feel supported or which emotional needs aren’t being met,” says Saba Harouni Lurie, licensed marriage and family therapist. “It’s not about finding a perfect answer, but about creating that space for self-awareness, which is often where real change begins.”8. What would it look like if everything worked out as planned?We’re often much better at imagining worst-case scenarios than best-case ones. This question interrupts that default and asks patients to define what they’re really hoping for, which can sometimes be harder than it sounds.“We can spend so much time ruminating and consumed by worst-case scenarios that oftentimes we forget that we want things to go well and often don’t know what ‘going well’ would look like,” says Eliza Davis, licensed clinical social worker. This question lets you dream big and paint a clear picture of success, which helps you recognize if you’re moving toward it and celebrate your wins when they happen.9. What part of you may be still holding onto this situation/belief/behavior/relationship? What is the value it brings you?If you’re struggling to move on from something or someone, there’s usually a reason. Maybe there’s a sense of comfort or identity that you aren’t ready to say goodbye to. This question asks you to consider what you’re actually afraid of losing by moving forward.“I find this helps people to recognize how we tend to hold onto things that are familiar, even if they no longer serve a value or purpose to us,” says Taylor Hiers, licensed professional counselor. “Determining the purpose or end goal helps move towards a new behavior or choice that does help get them to the goal.”10. What do you need from your partner that you aren’t asking for?So much relationship conflict stems from assumptions we make about what the other person thinks, needs, or feels. It probably seems like you couldn’t be any clearer about what you’re craving from your partner—more intimacy, more quality time, more help with the kids. But when was the last time you communicated that need to them? And did they hear it?“This helps clients identify any unspoken needs they may have been carrying and get to a place of we/us, instead of pointing fingers or assigning blame,” says Molly Burrets, Ph.D., board-certified clinical psychologist specializing in couples therapy and adjunct professor at USC. “Once clients are clear on their needs, they can learn how to communicate them in a way that allows for better connection and clarity in their relationship.”11. If you fully accepted this feeling instead of fighting it, what could you do differently in this moment?We often spend a lot of time and energy trying to avoid unpleasant emotions. We’d rather not feel sad, insecure, or lonely. This question, rooted in dialectical behavior therapy, asks us to redirect that energy to get to a place of acceptance and aligned action.“This reminds clients of the importance of radical acceptance, helps them shift from judging their feelings to simply observing (or even understanding) them, and helps them move toward action that aligns with their values,” says Suzanne Wallach, Psy.D., psychotherapist and executive director of SoCal DBT. The underlying message: You can’t always control what you feel, but you can control what you do next.12. Why does it have to be either/or? Why can’t it be both/and?Black-and-white thinking is a common pattern that comes up in therapy. This question gently challenges the assumption that two seemingly conflicting feelings can’t coexist.“Oftentimes we think in a dichotomous, either/or manner when in reality we need to make space for the both/and of a situation,” says Brandy Smith, Ph.D. licensed psychologist at Thriveworks. You can be genuinely happy for a friend’s promotion and disappointed that it means seeing her less. You can love someone and feel angry with them. Making space for that complexity is an important and helpful part of healing.13. If your anxiety/depression were a person, what would it look like and what would you tell them?For instance, maybe your anxiety feels like a bully or a critic. Maybe your depression feels like a dark cloud or a friend who’s always bringing down the vibe.“I love asking this question as it helps patients externalize their anxiety or depression versus just viewing it as who they are as a person,” says Hallie Kritsas, licensed mental health counselor at Thriveworks. It can help replace “I am anxious,” with “I am experiencing anxiety,” which can be groundbreaking for some.Once you’ve created that distance, it can also be helpful to think about what you wish you could say to them. “It allows the patient to work to uncover the relationship they have with symptoms of anxiety and depression,” Kritsas says. “And it can also help to create insight into what these symptoms might be trying to protect them from.”This story was produced by Thriveworks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

One displaced after Davenport house fire; cause remains unknown

The Davenport Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1800 block of West 8th Street on Monday.

3 Things to Know | Quad Cities morning headlines for July 14, 2026

Aledo residents remain under a boil order as maintenance work continues, and traffic along the Government Bridge will be limited to one lane for electrical work.

The flood claim hiding in your policyholder’s driveway

The flood claim hiding in your policyholder’s drivewayThere’s a claim file on your table that’s from a policyholder in Tampa. They did everything right. They boarded their windows, packed what they could carry, and evacuated before the storm made landfall, as the alerts asked them to. They remained safe, and their house managed to make it, too. Their car, still carrying a loan, remained parked in their driveway and didn’t pull through so well.This claim is one of several and is not very unusual. It doesn’t usually make the news, let alone the headlines. But if you’re an insurance carrier, this claim and others like it merit a closer look because these claims didn’t have to exist. In fact, these fall under the categories of preventable storm damage and claim losses you didn’t have to incur.For the policyholder, the storm is the event. For insurance carriers, as Way.com explains below, the real storm happens when claims start landing in your claims department.The numbers behind the claims fileComprehensive coverage, which is what protects against flood and wind damage to a parked vehicle, is simple enough to process. That’s not really what bothers insurers; it’s the scale of the claims after the storm has passed that affects them the most.Carfax estimates that Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged about 347,000 vehicles in 2024, and by August 2025, an additional 45,000 vehicles were flooded by storms.It’s also worth considering how little water is needed for a claim to happen. Just 6 inches of moving water can stall most cars, and 12 inches can make them float away. A car doesn’t have to be directly hit by a hurricane to be damaged. It can simply be parked in a driveway that is a bit too low.Each one of those cars is a potential claim, and most of them are from policyholders who did all they could.How these claims translate into lossesAccording to the Insurance Information Institute, about 80% of drivers had comprehensive coverage as of 2023. That means many of those 347,000 vehicles mentioned above turned into paid claims. This obviously hurts insurance carriers, but it also affects policyholders. Insure.com’s rate analysis, released in May, shows that a comprehensive claim raises a policyholder’s premium by 21% on average, or roughly $554 a year. While that may sound like the carrier gets its money back eventually, it doesn’t quite work that way.The payout happens now, in a single quarter, all at once. The recovery trickles in over the years, one renewal at a time, and that happens only if the policyholder stays. This is a straight hit to the loss ratio, and it is for damage nobody could have avoided by driving more carefully because nobody was driving.The fact is, these losses are completely preventable.Prevention instead of payoutsMost disaster response efforts in this industry focus on what happens after a storm. They aim for faster inspections, more adjusters on-site, and quicker payouts. These are important, but they don’t prevent damage from occurring in the first place.If you’re now wondering what can prevent a flurry of claims after a catastrophic event, you’re on the right track.A hurricane parking program can step in to prevent damage before it happens. It would work in three phases.When a hurricane watch is issued, policyholders are notified of safe, covered parking options away from the storm’s path.The policyholder reserves a spot, drives there, and parks their car while there is still time.After the storm passes, they get an all-clear alert and go pick it up.The vehicle moves before the storm arrives, so there’s no loss to report to adjusters.That makes a real difference. A hurricane parking program can stop claims from happening altogether before any damage occurs.What does that mean for the book?A parking program like the one outlined above does not handle the claims process. It would manage parking and vehicle coordination, allowing a carrier to move thousands of policyholders to safety at once during an active event. This happens without adding extra work for a claims team that is already busy.To be clear, a parking program won’t prevent every claim during hurricane season. However, moving vehicles to safety before landfall prevents total losses in the first place. When the number of damaged cars is a whopping 347,000, even a small percentage of vehicles moved away from danger can reduce claim losses to a reasonable extent.That car in the driveway in Tampa? It didn’t have to become a claim. It just needed to be parked somewhere safe for three days.This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How homeowners can prepare before hurricane season peaks

How homeowners can prepare before hurricane season peaksLive in a hurricane zone? The good news is that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season (which spans June 1 to November 30) is anticipated to be milder than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 55% chance of below-normal activity, a 35% chance for a near-normal year, and a 70% probability of one to three major hurricanes.But don’t let that create a false sense of security. Let’s not forget the devastation from Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeast two years ago and caused 252 deaths and $78.7 billion in damages, proving to be the deadliest mainland hurricane to hit the U.S. since Katrina and one that caught many local residents by surprise.If you own a home in a high-risk area, it’s natural to feel anxious or uncertain as hurricane season nears its peak. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to protect your loved ones and property. Read on for recommended steps from TheZebra.com to help you feel empowered and informed.Know Your RiskDetermine if you’re in an area susceptible to tropical storms by doing some quick online research or checking your local weather sites. This is particularly important if you've moved to a new house in a different neighborhood, as even nearby locations can have different hurricane and flood risks based on various factors.“Coastal zones have the highest risks of hurricane impacts from damaging winds and storm surges. Counties determine their own hurricane evacuation zones based on storm surge vulnerability mapping,” explains Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute. “While the boundaries are modeled using data provided by the National Hurricane Center, each county’s local emergency management office designates the specific zones and issues evacuation orders for those areas when warranted.”Follow these tips:Learn if you’re in what’s considered a hurricane evacuation area by visiting your state or county’s official emergency management website and using their interactive “Know Your Zone” map to look up your particular street address. These zones are numbered or lettered based on your property’s susceptibility to a storm surge.Visit the National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Risk Maps site, which depicts storm surge flooding vulnerability based on location.Check out the NOAA's updated Flood Inundation Mapping tool, which will cover nearly 100% of the U.S. population by late September of this year.Once you know your zone, monitor local news, register for county text alerts, or check platforms like Genasys Protect during an active storm to see if local officials have issued a voluntary or mandatory evacuation order for your area.Stay InformedMeteorologists usually can predict a hurricane's path three to five days in advance. Once a hurricane hits, conditions last an average of 12 to 18 hours, up to 24 for slow-moving ones. NOAA's new drone-assisted technology is expected to increase hurricane intensity forecast accuracy by 10%.Hurricanes can be deceiving — the day before, it could be sunny. That's why you must pay close attention to weather reports or warnings from local authorities."Never rely on a single source of information," advises Joe Basset, founder and survival instructor for Valiant Outfitters, LLC. "Your first line of information is smartphones, municipal alerts, and weather apps. Also, check with your local city, town, or county to see what systems they use. But realize that communication infrastructure failures are common during hurricanes, so have a backup plan that includes an AM/FM transistor radio and an NOAA weather radio."Prepare Your Emergency SuppliesIt’s crucial to gather essential emergency items well ahead of a major storm. These items include:Water: At least one gallon of water per person per day.Food: A 7- to 14-day supply of non-perishable food items such as canned goods, protein bars, dried fruits, and nuts. Include a manual can opener.First aid kit: Bandages, antiseptics, gauze, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, and any necessary personal medical items.Fully charged portable power banks and charging cords for your smartphones.Tools and supplies: a multi-tool or Swiss Army knife, whistle to signal for help, plastic sheeting, and duct tape in case you need to cover windows.Flashlight with extra batteries or flashlights you can crank to power.NOAA weather radio that’s battery-operated or hand-cranked with tone alerts.Personal hygiene items: soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, moist towelettes, and feminine hygiene products.Prescription medications that should last 7 to 14 days.“You should actually have two separate emergency kits. One should be a single-container hurricane box that holds the essential supplies a family needs to safely shelter in place during a hurricane in the days that follow,” Bassett says. “Every family member should also have their own 72-hour ‘go-bag.’ The go-bag should include water, food, medications, a flashlight, batteries, phone chargers, copies of important documents, cash, clothing, hygiene items, and basic first aid supplies.”Make Your Evacuation PlanConsider where you’ll go if you need to evacuate. Options include a hotel, a family or friend’s home, or an evacuation shelter. If you have time, practice your evacuation plan to avoid any confusion if and when a quick exit must happen.“The safest place to shelter during a hurricane is often a hundred miles away from landfall,” Bassett continues. “Family should make evacuation decisions before emotions and traffic complicate the process. Know where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, who you’ll stay with, and how you’ll communicate if you are separated.”Part of your pre-planning should include thinking through any medical needs you or your family members may have. Take stock of any medication or special equipment you should carry in the event of an evacuation, and have that list easily accessible. Additionally, mentally plan for how you’ll evacuate family members with mobility issues to prevent any panic during a real event.In addition, find the appropriate online NOAA radio station and pay close attention to updates to know when it's time to evacuate.What should I do in the event of an evacuation?If you’ve been ordered to evacuate, give yourself enough time to pack the essentials and let your friends and family know you’re leaving home. Listen to and follow instructions by local officials: Don’t assume you can ride out a storm just because you’ve prepared your property.Prepare Your HomeWhether or not you evacuate or stay put, your home should be as safe and protected as possible. Follow these best practices:Trim trees on your property so fewer dead or unhealthy branches can become projectiles.Remove debris from drains and drain pipes.Consider installing storm shutters or impact-resistant windows.Board up windows to protect them from flying debris.Bring loose outdoor items such as patio furniture inside.Secure all doors and windows.Move your car inside a garage or to another safe location.Upgrade to an Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety fortified roof to strengthen your roof against high winds.Install a permanent or portable generator.Use sandbags, reusable water-activated tubes, or temporary perimeter barriers to protect entryways from rising stormwater.Install a bracing kit on your garage door or an impact-rated door.Secure Important DocumentsAfter you've made sure your home’s exterior and garage are resilient, take stock of what's inside that you need to keep safe.Keep hardcopy insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe-deposit box, which will decrease the chance of damage during a hurricane or a resulting flood. Also, take digital photos of important documents on your phone and store them in the cloud.Gather SuppliesYour emergency kit is invaluable, but you’ll also want to ensure you have additional items ready in advance of a storm.Fill up the gas tanks in your vehicles in case you need to evacuate by car.Be sure all phones are charged in case of a power outage.Make sure you have plenty of any necessary prescription medicines.Gather any specialty items needed, such as formula and diapers for infants, and supplies for elderly family members, loved ones with health issues, and pets.Shelter in PlaceDepending on where you’re located and the severity of the storm, you may not be required to evacuate. If you stay home, plan to stay safe.When the storm is about to hit, move to a small interior room on the lowest level of your home, such as a closet or hallway.Put as many walls between you and the outside as possible, and stay away from windows, skylights, or glass doors.When the eye of the storm passes over, it may seem as though you’re out of the woods, but hang tight inside your home because hurricane-force winds will be coming from the opposite direction.Tornadoes can sometimes form after hurricanes, so continue listening to weather reports and updates from your local officials before leaving safety.Check Your InsuranceA hurricane can bring plenty of unwanted surprises. Don’t let inadequate homeowners insurance coverage be one of them.While you can’t purchase a product called “hurricane insurance,” parts of your standard homeowners policy should cover damage related to hurricanes. This damage is usually caused by what’s known as “covered perils.” The level of your personal property coverage may depend on your individual plan, while other structures are typically covered up to 10% of the primary dwelling limit.“The aftermath of a major storm is the worst possible time to find out what your policy doesn’t cover,” says Beth Swanson, insurance analyst with The Zebra. “Flood damage is one of those things not covered. I think back to Hurricane Helene and its impact on Asheville, North Carolina, which is nowhere near the coast. Residents there experienced devastating flood damage that most people in that area never anticipated.”Swanson cautions that standard homeowners policies don’t cover rising water, which includes storm surges, overflowing rivers or lakes, and rainwater accumulating on the ground and entering your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to purchase flood insurance, available separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or via a private insurer.Note that if you live in a high-risk area, insurance companies might limit or withhold wind damage coverage. If it’s not included as part of your home insurance policy, you can seek out a special endorsement. Reach out to your carrier for more details if you’re unsure what’s in your policy.Also ask your insurer about additional living expense coverage: If you’re forced from your home due to a covered peril, your insurer may pay some of the expenses you incur from being displaced.“It’s also worth pulling out your policy’s declarations page before peak hurricane season and taking a close look at your deductibles, because you may have more than one,” continues Swanson. “A kitchen fire claim might carry a flat $2,500 deductible, but a wind damage claim after a major storm could trigger a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible coverage, often 3% to 5%. On a home insured for $400,000, that’s $12,000 to $20,000 out-of-pocket for your coverage to kick in.”These percentage deductibles are increasingly common in coastal and storm-prone states. For better peace of mind, know your deductible numbers ahead of time and establish an emergency fund that can cover them if necessary.Lastly, carefully inventory possessions inside and around your home by taking photos and gathering receipts and documentation — steps that will pay off if you need to file a claim later.What about car insurance?If you have comprehensive coverage, your car insurance will cover hurricane damage, including flood and falling objects. But that’s only if you have that coverage in advance of a hurricane’s arrival. That’s because insurers often restrict new policies and coverage changes leading up to and during storms.“If your car is parked in your garage and the house collapses due to the storm, you need comprehensive auto coverage to replace it. Home insurance will not cover vehicle damage under any circumstances,” says Friedlander.After the StormOnce you're safe from the storm, begin the claims process as soon as possible."Many insurers provide mobile apps where you can file a claim and track progress throughout the claims process. You can also contact your carrier directly or your insurance agent to file a claim," says Friedlander.Prepare an inventory of damaged or destroyed items and provide a copy to the claims adjuster along with copies of any receipts. Don't discard damaged items until the adjuster has visited. Record video or photos of the damage; if your property was destroyed, work from memory."Next, identify structural damage to your home and other structures such as a garage, gazebo, fence, tool shed, or in-ground swimming pool," Friedlander adds. "Make a list of everything you want to show the adjuster, such as cracks in the walls and missing roof tiles. You should also get your electrical system checked — most insurance companies pay for these inspections as part of the claims process."Be cautious of unscrupulous actors, such as unlicensed independent adjusters and shady contractors aiming to take advantage of storm victims."Never sign a contract for repairs until you have discussed it with your insurer's assigned claims adjuster," cautions Friedlander.Keep in mind that your policy should include additional living expenses or loss of use, which will cover temporary living costs if you're displaced from your home after a storm."Many carriers will arrange temporary lodging with direct billing from hotels so that you don't have to pay anything out-of-pocket. This coverage should cover hotel bills, restaurant meals, and expenses above and beyond what your customary living expenses would be at home," Friedlander says.Recovery from a natural disaster is a gradual process, and hurricanes are no exception. It's going to take time to get back to normal, especially after damage or displacement. Be patient with yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, and your community.This story was produced by TheZebra.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

I-80 exit at Middle Road closing for construction projects

Crews with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will close an exit on I-80 for work on Middle Road and the new Gateway pedestrian bridge. The Iowa DOT and the City of Bettendorf plan to close the Interstate 80 Middle Road Interchange (Exit 301) so crews can continue to work on projects in the area. [...]

Why your favorite international artist might be reconsidering their next U.S. tour

The visa process for visiting artists has always been complicated and expensive. Under the current administration, it's gotten significantly worse.

Inflation slowed sharply -- but it may not last

Annual inflation hit 3.5% in June, down from May's more than three-year high — but the resumption of the conflict with Iran threaten to push up inflation as energy costs once again spike.

Trump Accounts: Not the only investment option for your kid’s future

Trump Accounts: Not the only investment option for your kid’s futureThe Trump Accounts, which are designed to save for American children’s futures, can be a good start. But what if your family isn’t eligible for it, or you can’t get the $1,000 deposit that jumpstarts it? Luckily, there are options you can use either alongside or in lieu of the program if your family simply doesn’t qualify. In this article, Finder shares what you need to know about Trump Accounts and other investment options.Who can open a Trump Account?Trump Accounts officially launched on July 4, 2026. They’re tax-advantaged investment accounts for American children with a Social Security number (SSN), and they’re long-term retirement accounts.Created under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Trump savings accounts are technically an individual retirement account (IRA). Once the child turns 18, the account converts into a traditional IRA.According to TrumpAccounts.gov, all U.S. children under 18 with a valid SSN are eligible to establish a Trump Account. Parents or legal guardians can open and manage accounts on behalf of their children, and once the kid turns 18, they get control over the funds.To get the investment account, you must download the Trump Accounts app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play.Who gets the $1,000 in the Trump savings account?American children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, get $1,000 automatically deposited in the account once established. The $1,000 is a one-time contribution from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.Aside from just the $1,000, custodians of the account can add up to $5,000 per year.How much can a Trump Account grow?A Trump Account can grow quite a bit. As tax-advantaged accounts, and with the ability to contribute up to $5,000 per year, passive growth can add up.With just the $1,000 deposit, assuming a conservative 7% annual return, a $1,000 deposit could grow to approximately $3,380 by age 18 without any additional contributions. Not too shabby for a contribution you didn’t have to fund.Things to consider about the Trump savings accountThe Trump Accounts are long-term retirement accounts, not specifically college education or traditional savings accounts. However, the child may be able to use the funds for things other than retirement.Once the child turns 18, standard IRA rules kick in for the Trump savings account. This means withdrawals from the Trump savings account before age 59 1/2 usually come with income tax plus a 10% penalty — unless they are used for specific things.According to the Trump Account site, the IRA’s funds can be accessed without penalty when the child turns 18 for qualified expenses. A few things are listed, like education and a first home purchase. Other than qualified expenses, withdrawals would be taxed at ordinary income rates.Additionally, kids born before 2025 don’t qualify for the federal deposit of $1,000, so parents and guardians with older kiddos will have to fund the account on their own.4 alternatives (or additional) options to considerAs the Trump savings account is a long-term retirement account, here are alternative and/or additional savings options for kids.1. 529 savings for educationSimilar to the Trump savings account, a 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account. However, there are some major differences in how they work and what they’re made for.529 savings plans are designed for education expenses. Contributions grow tax-free if used for qualified expenses, and many states have tax deductions or credits for 529 savings contributions. On top of all that, 529 plans have no contribution limits, unlike the Trump Account’s $5,000 yearly cap.While earnings grow tax-free, and they are only tax-exempt if the funds are used for qualified education expenses.2. UGMA/UTMA custodial brokerage accountUniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) accounts and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) are custodial brokerage accounts. UTMA and UGMA accounts allow you to invest in stocks, ETFs and other assets for your child, and then once they’re of age, they can access the account and use the funds or assets for pretty much anything they like.UGMA accounts allow you to transfer financial assets like cash, stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Similar, but not exactly the same, UTMA accounts can hold a wider range of assets, including real estate and other property. The exact structure of these accounts can depend on your state.For UGMA/UTMA accounts, the money can go toward pretty much anything; the funds are not limited to education or retirement. There’s no federal cap on contributions like there is with a Trump Account.3. High-yield kids’ savings accountFor simpler, shorter term goals, a high-yield savings account still earns its spot.There are many options without monthly fees, joint ownership, full access whenever the kid might need it, and long-term growth with high rates. Many high-yield savings accounts have rates around 4% APY with no monthly fees, no contribution limits and come with the standard $250,000 federal deposit insurance.4. Custodial Roth IRAIf your teen already has a part-time job, a custodial Roth IRA could be a great option. You fund a Roth IRA with dollars that have already been taxed, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.Roth IRAs are ideal for those who think they’ll be in a higher income tax bracket when they retire.Contributions are limited to what the child/teen would actually earn, but qualified withdrawals in retirement come out completely tax-free, which can beat the tax-deferred (but eventually taxable) growth inside a Trump Account.Bottom lineThese new Trump Accounts can offer free federal money in a tax-advantaged account; but with this free money, there are restrictions, and of course,not everyone can get their hands on it.Eligibility for that flagship $1,000 first contribution is narrow. And the account itself is designed for long horizon retirement savings, and only certain expenses qualify for penalty-free withdrawals.For most families, layering may be the smart move. Grab the free money if your child qualifies, or at the very least consider opening the account and depositing what you can, and then consider pairing it with another savings account for any other future needs.This guide has been edited by Richard Laycock and reviewed by Matt Miczulski.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

7 risk management best practices as regulatory pressure intensifies in 2026

7 risk management best practices as regulatory pressure intensifies in 2026With increasing reliance on interconnected systems, cloud services, and technologies like AI, organizations are operating in environments where trust must be continually validated. According to the most recent Vanta State of Trust Report, 77% of organizations say their stakeholders demand verified proof of compliance.‍This increase in regulatory scrutiny puts mounting pressure on operational teams and board members to maintain continuous risk visibility. Traditional approaches like fragmented, point-in-time risk management and manual oversight are now a business liability, as the organization must justify the decisions on how it treats or responds to risks consistently.‍This guide explores how risk management and regulatory pressure are two sides of the same coin. It covers:Four shifts in the current risk and regulatory landscapeSeven best practices to help your risk management program keep upWhy regulatory pressure is intensifying nowRegulatory pressure is intensifying because the risks organizations face aren’t limited to one or two functions but span multiple domains, including enterprise, IT, operations, and privacy. A single exposure can impact business units, teams, systems, and processes, and is harder to contain without an “always-on” risk management approach. The consequences of security incidents are also severe, including operational disruptions, sensitive data breaches, and legal exposure.‍As a response, regulators now require organizations to shift from reactive risk management to proactive, continuous oversight. Teams are responsible for addressing threats as they appear instead of waiting for incidents to happen or audits to surface gaps.‍There are four key areas of the evolving regulatory expectations:‍Leadership accountability and mandatory incident reportingExpansion of global data and privacy protection lawsStricter operational resilience requirementsThe rise of AI governance and regulations1. Leadership accountability and mandatory incident reportingUnder many new and emerging cybersecurity standards and regulations, you’ll see a shift from organizational and group responsibility toward personal accountability. In particular, organizational leaders, such as board members, can be directly held liable for non-compliance, failures in risk oversight, and incident response.‍This is particularly evident in regulations such as NIS 2 and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)—the latter applies primarily to financial institutions and critical ICT (Information and Communication Technology) service providers. Both impose stricter oversight and penalties for non-compliance. NIS 2, for instance, allows Member States to impose criminal sanctions on management in cases of gross negligence following a cyber incident.Reporting timelines are also shrinking, requiring faster detection, response coordination, and communication procedures. Some prominent reporting requirements across regulations:DORA: An initial notification within four hours of classifying the incident as major and no later than 24 hours from the discovery of the incident. An intermediate report is due 72 hours after the initial report, with additional information about the incident.GDPR: Notification must be made within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach, with descriptions of the type of data affected, the impact of the breach, remediation action, and a point of contact.NIS 2: An early warning must be sent within 24 hours of becoming aware of the incident, indicating whether it is suspected of being caused by unlawful acts and whether it could have cross-border impact. An incident notification with expanded updates must come within 72 hours.2. Expansion of global data and privacy protection lawsGDPR-style strict privacy regulations are expanding globally, with many countries and states introducing their own comprehensive privacy legislation. This creates a fragmented and overlapping compliance landscape.‍This trend is already visible in the U.S. through the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as well as other state-level privacy laws in Colorado, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Delaware. Many regulations also impose severe penalties and require ongoing compliance. For example, the Colorado Privacy Act imposes fines of up to $20,000 per violation.To align across jurisdictions, organizations must enable continuous data governance, regular risk reporting, and real-time visibility into data privacy controls. Frameworks like U.S. Data Privacy (USDP) reflect this shift and unify the privacy regulations’ requirements in the U.S.However, an average security team navigating both domestic and cross-border compliance for data privacy spends long hours ensuring all requirements are met, which reduces the scalability of compliance programs.3. Stricter operational resilience requirementsRegulators are no longer satisfied with documented controls alone; they also expect organizations to demonstrate their preparedness for disruptions, which adds additional pressure on security teams. According to Vanta, nearly two-thirds of organizations admit to spending more time proving their security than improving it.Two prominent examples of this change are DORA and the NIS 2—from a design perspective both push organizations to move beyond static documentation and actively test critical functions, validate resilience, and ensure business continuity under stress scenarios.‍“Regulators are increasingly signaling that compliance should be demonstrable through live, system-generated evidence and not just assembled manually for an audit. That’s a meaningful shift in both expectations and operating models.” - Evan Rowse GRC SME, VantaIn 2026, organizations must maintain critical services during disruptions and provide clear, auditable evidence of their resilience. This includes tested business continuity and incident response plans, along with documented testing outcomes that demonstrate effectiveness.‍Regulations also expect continuous oversight of third-party and supply chain risk for operational resilience. For example, the shift from NIS to NIS 2 strengthens supply chain security by holding organizations more accountable for their vendors’ and service providers’ security controls.4. The rise of AI governance and regulationsRegulators are increasingly treating AI as a high-risk domain, which translates to more scrutiny. Many security teams find managing AI-associated risks challenging, as evolving threats tend to outpace their expertise.‍New regulations are rolled out to establish stronger controls, most notably the EU AI Act. It introduces strict requirements around how organizations develop, deploy, and monitor AI systems, including:AI risk assessments and mitigation strategiesHuman oversight mechanisms and automatic logging of AI system operationsGovernance and accountability for AI decisionsWhy traditional risk management processes are no longer enoughTraditional risk management approaches were largely built around audit preparation, not continuous oversight or decision-making. But as regulatory expectations shift to real-time accountability, the point-in-time model is not enough.‍Three key limitations include:Static assessments create blind spots: Point-in-time snapshots become dated quickly between assessments, creating blind spots in coverage in a dynamic risk environment.Fragmented programs limit visibility: Risk is often managed across separate tools, functions, and teams, making it difficult to get a unified view of exposure. This fragmentation obscures how risks and mitigation workflows interact across domains, limiting your ability to assess impact and respond effectively.Manual processes are hard to scale: Traditional risk management relies on manual coordination between teams and slow approval flows. This model doesn’t hold up when your organization scales or when regulators expect continuous oversight and faster decision-making.‍The solution going forward is to integrate leading risk management tools into your workflow, particularly those that replace fragmented, manual processes with centralized visibility and automation.‍7 best practices for managing risk and regulatory compliance in 2026Follow these seven best practices to more efficiently manage risks in 2026:Introduce continuous, evidence-based risk monitoringUnify risk management across teams and domainsEmbed risk into business decision-makingImplement scenario-based exercises and stress testingStrengthen third-party and supply chain risk oversightFoster a risk-aware cultureUse automation and tools to strengthen risk identification and reporting1. Introduce continuous, evidence-based risk monitoringPeriodic reviews with infrequent reporting create room for vulnerabilities to go unnoticed until they materialize in an incident. To address this, implement continuous monitoring that feeds data directly from your infrastructure and controls, giving you at least near-real-time visibility into risk posture.Automated monitoring signals (e.g., privilege escalations and an expired vendor security review) can detect and flag access misconfigurations, control failures, and vendor gaps in real time, so your teams can respond or escalate issues quickly.‍Tip: A unified risk management platform is a great solution if you need support for IT, enterprise, and third-party risk management, as well as continuous monitoring, all in a single platform, along with multiple AI and automation features designed for modern challenges.2. Unify risk management across teams and domainsA common blind spot in siloed risk management is the inability to see how risks compound. A control gap in one domain can quickly cascade across security, privacy, and operations, but without a unified view, those signals often go unnoticed until they become incidents. For example, a misconfigured cloud setting (IT risk) could trigger a customer data leak (privacy risk).“Unifying your risk domains can have the largest impact on effectiveness. Allowing your teams to see IT, vendor, privacy, and operational risk in one place helps them move from managing isolated scenarios to understanding exposure. This enables more informed decisions and effective prioritization,” Rowse says.To support this, risk management software often provides integrated dashboards and centralized risk registers that serve as the single source of truth for the entire team.‍3. Embed risk into business decision-makingRisk management should inform decisions instead of just stating facts in compliance reporting. An effective way to approach this is to use a risk register to track inherent and residual risks across key domains like IT, operations, and vendors, and then organize them in a risk taxonomy to consistently evaluate exposure before making business decisions.‍For example, teams can integrate risk management decisions during the development of a new product instead of after. They can address regulatory, security, and operational risk implications upfront and prioritize corresponding controls—reducing the likelihood of reactive remediation and operational disruptions later.4. Implement scenario-based exercises and stress testingImplement scenario-based exercises and stress tests to simulate how risks evolve and interact across domains in real-world settings. Conduct simulations for high-likelihood and impact scenarios, such as IT failures affecting operations, to surface hidden vulnerabilities that standard risk assessments often miss.These exercises validate whether your existing controls are effective in practice. They evaluate the efficacy of your business continuity and incident response plans and clarify stakeholder roles during disruptions. From a regulatory perspective, your findings and lessons learned give you auditable documentation that validates your preparedness and response capabilities.5. Strengthen third-party and supply chain risk oversightWith organizations relying more on cloud providers, APIs, and other industry-specific services, third-party risk management and supply chain oversight are central to enterprise risk management.‍To address evolving third-party risks, replace the point-in-time onboarding questionnaire with continuous monitoring of vendor risk and set up ongoing security validation and reassessment as risk elements change. Leading third-party risk management software can automate this process and flag changes in vendor risk posture in real time.Identify critical dependencies in your supply chain so you can focus your efforts and reduce the likelihood of disruptions. Define clear accountability lines using SLAs and contractual protections, such as the right to include the vendor for resilience testing.6. Foster a risk-aware cultureRisk management today goes beyond GRC and security teams, as even leadership, legal, and many operational departments contribute to maintaining controls and risk-aware communications.To ensure clear ownership and accountability, embed risk awareness and expectations into daily operations. Typically, this means conducting regular scenario-based training for stakeholders and leadership-focused reporting to communicate how current trends affect risk appetite. The end goal is to make risk management a natural part of everyday decision-making.7. Use automation and tools to strengthen risk identification and reportingIt’s critical to adopt integrated risk management tools to replace manual, spreadsheet-driven processes and support scalable, continuous oversight. While manual approaches may work in low-complexity environments, they don’t meet the demands of modern regulatory expectations or growing risk complexity.Top GRC solutions can help organizations move from a fragmented, periodic view of risk to unified oversight. Many platforms support bringing an existing risk program or building a tailored one from scratch.Features like AI-driven risk identification, scoring recommendations, multiple risk registers with control mapping, and risk scenarios can help automate the busywork in risk management. Board-level reporting capabilities can also help teams prioritize actions and monitor risk trends for data-backed decisions.‍Aligning risk management with regulatory expectationsRegulatory pressure isn't a passing trend. It reflects a fundamental shift in how organizations are expected to manage and demonstrate oversight. The frameworks and enforcement mechanisms taking effect in 2026 all point in the same direction: continuous visibility, cross-domain accountability, and documented evidence that risk decisions are deliberate and defensible.Organizations that treat this shift as an opportunity to modernize, replacing fragmented, periodic processes with unified, always-on oversight, will be better positioned to meet regulatory expectations while building the operational resilience their stakeholders increasingly demand. Evaluating the best risk management software for your organization's needs is a practical first step.This story was produced by Vanta and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Jim Avett, Dyer Davis will perform in Cambridge house concerts

Two singer-songwriters will bring their talents to two house concerts in Cambridge, according to a news release. Dyer Davis Acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Dyer Davis will bring his electrifying blend of Southern blues and rock to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Thursday, July 16. Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages concert will [...]

Cambridge Community Theater to present 'Tragedy (Sort Of) of Romeo and Juliet'

What happens when a struggling community theater bets everything on Shakespeare, only to have the production spiral into complete chaos? Audiences are about to find out, according to a news release. Cambridge Community Theater invites the public to the world premiere of "The Tragedy (Sort of) Of Romeo and Juliet," an original comedy by local playwright Tom Akers, at [...]

Bix Museum has new home, hosting grand opening

The Bix Beiderbecke Museum has a new location, just in time for the annual road race and jazz festival. The Bix Museum is hosting a grand opening celebration in the City Square Building, 112 W 2nd Street in Davenport on July 24th from 3-5 p.m. Visitors can see the new museum and enjoy light refreshments [...]

Traffic alert: Semi, vehicle crash, block Route 67 at Milan Beltway

Road partially closed.

Regional grilling differences reveal America’s appetite for new flavors

Regional grilling differences reveal America’s appetite for new flavorsBackyard grilling remains one of America's most cherished culinary traditions. But while the rituals of outdoor cooking haven't changed much, the flavors Americans are bringing to the grill are evolving.A new YouGov survey conducted on behalf of Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc., soy sauce manufacturer and creator of bottled teriyaki, reveals that while consumers continue to rely on familiar grilling techniques, many are increasingly interested in experimenting with globally inspired flavors. The findings suggest Americans aren't replacing grilling traditions—they're expanding them, with teriyaki emerging as one of the most appealing internationally inspired flavor profiles.Although regional and generational differences exist, Americans across the country share an interest in bringing new flavors to familiar grilled foods.Outdoor Cooking Continues to Sizzle Across the CountryWhen the weather heats up, it’s time to bring out the sparklers, make s’mores, play a favorite party music mix, and fire up the grill.Whether it’s for a casual weekend get-together, a family reunion, a neighborhood cookout, or Labor Day, outdoor cooking remains deeply connected to these gatherings and celebrations.Among Americans who grill or cook outdoors, the top three most common outdoor cooking occasions are family gatherings (43%), special events and holidays (40%), and weekends (39%).Outdoor cooking participation remains strong across all regions and generations, with Midwesterners leading the pack at 74% and Gen Z at 75%.While Americans share a love of grilling, their cooking habits and flavor preferences vary across regions and generations. Many consumers are balancing long-standing cooking traditions with a growing interest in exploring new flavors, cuisines, and culinary experiences.Americans are Bringing New Flavors to the GrillAmong outdoor cooks:66% prefer using cooking techniques they already know.59% want to experiment with different grilled food flavors.54% want to explore different cuisines and flavors when eating grilled foods.Consumers are Balancing Tradition with ExperimentationConfidence behind the grill is fueling experimentation with new cuisines and flavors. The interest in experimentation is reflected in the flavor profiles Americans want to bring to the backyard grill. While traditional barbecue remains popular, globally inspired flavors are increasingly becoming part of outdoor cooking routines.Global Flavors Are Heating Up the GrillAt 74%, American BBQ is the leading flavor that consumers enjoy; however, flavor exploration is expanding beyond traditional barbecue profiles. Americans expressed interest in trying a variety of grilled food flavors in their outdoor cooking, with leading flavors being Mexican and Latin American at 57%, Mediterranean at 47%, and Japanese/teriyaki at 44%.While Japanese/teriyaki flavors rank among the most popular internationally inspired grilling flavors, women are more likely than men to express interest in these flavors (47% versus 41%), and Millennials’ interest rises to 52%.As consumers experiment with new flavor profiles, marinades and sauces often serve as the bridge between familiar grilling habits and new flavor experiences. Regional cooking habits can also influence how these ingredients are used, from marinating foods ahead of time to glazing or serving sauces alongside grilled meals.Marinades and Sauces Are Driving Flavor ExplorationThe survey suggests that sauces and marinades are often the gateway to flavor experimentation. Rather than changing what they grill, consumers are changing how they flavor it.Among outdoor cooks:56% frequently or always marinate foods before cooking.44% frequently or always use sauces for dipping.39% frequently or always glaze foods while cooking.In the U.S.:59% of Southerners and 63% of Westerners are more likely to regularly marinate than Midwesterners (51%) and Northeasterners (47%)97% of Southerners and 93% of Midwesterners sometimes marinate foodsNearly one-quarter (22%) of Americans always marinate foods. Teriyaki is often used to add flavor to grilled foods across a variety of proteins and vegetables, with chicken (85%), beef (63%), and vegetables (50%) as the most common pairings.Additionally, 44% of outdoor cooks use teriyaki as a sauce when grilling, with more than half of those (55%) using it regularly as a marinade.As far as regional differences in preparation and cooking styles go, regular use of teriyaki as a marinade among teriyaki users for outdoor cooking is most prominent in the South at 63%, while glazing is most prominent in the Northeast at 46%. A quarter of Southerners and 27% of Westerners also always marinate foods with teriyaki. These regional differences highlight just how versatile teriyaki truly is, adapting seamlessly whether it’s used as a marinade, a glaze, or a finishing sauce to suit the way different regions of the country like to cook. Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc. Recipes to Add a Legendary Twist to Grilling TimeWhether it’s time to set the patio table, throw a picnic blanket open, or hang string lights and paper lanterns, here are three teriyaki recipes that add an umami twist—from a Teriyaki BBQ Chicken Smash Burger piled high for backyard cookouts, to a Heirloom Tomato Salad with Grilled Steak perfect for a picnic spread, to a Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Sriracha Bang Bang Sauce that brings a little sweet heat to any lantern-lit evening—all specifically designed for how today’s consumers cook, experiment, and layer flavor across grilling occasions.Regional Outdoor Cooking Traditions Inspire Interest in Global FlavorsThe survey findings suggest that while regional preferences continue to shape how Americans grill, consumers are increasingly using outdoor cooking as an opportunity to explore new flavors. Familiar grilling techniques serve as a springboard for experimentation with new cuisines, ingredients, and flavors. From classic barbecue to globally inspired flavors like Japanese/teriyaki, Americans continue to find new ways to make outdoor cooking their own.MethodologyThe findings cited in this article come from an online survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Kikkoman Sales USA from May 21-22, 2026. The survey included 1,196 nationally representative U.S. adults, including 840 respondents who grill or cook outdoors. The margin of error is approximately 3 percentage points.This story was produced by Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc. and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The reality of summer travel fraud by state

The reality of summer travel fraud by stateHastily booking travel plans means taking less time to be vigilant, and scammers count on that trade-off every summer. Data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that there were 14,263 vacation and travel fraud reports filed between July and September of 2025. Losses peaked during this third quarter, reaching an estimated $40 million and surpassing second-quarter losses by 18%.SmartCustomer, a platform where people share reviews of online businesses, including travelers writing about their own booking experiences, has already heard from reviewers flagging travel scams this year. SmartCustomer conducted a deep dive into summer 2025's FTC data, exploring which states had the most vacation and travel fraud reports, and which had the steepest lossesStates with the greatest overall financial losses to vacation and travel fraudSome of the most populous states in the nation (i.e., California, Texas, and Florida) suffered the greatest overall financial losses to vacation and travel fraud in the third quarter of 2025.The first table below presents the ten states with the greatest reported vacation and travel fraud losses in that time period, according to the FTC rankings data. For example, California’s estimated total loss (about $6.3 million) was the greatest of any state in the third quarter of 2025.It’s not necessarily surprising that the three most populous states in the nation rank highest. However, the table also highlights how the average loss per report, regardless of a state’s population, can be significant. For example, California’s average loss per report ($4,814) means that the typical victim in the state may have also lost a considerable amount of money for each incident. SmartCustomer States with the greatest number of reports per million peopleFraud victims are not always residents of the most populous states in the nation. The next table presents the ten states that had the largest number of vacation and travel fraud reports in the third quarter of 2025, per million residents. The table provides a ranking of where reports are filed relative to how many people live there, not where the scams necessarily happen. The FTC ties each report to the consumer’s own state, meaning, for example, that Nevada residents filed reports at the highest rate in the country, followed by residents of Florida and Connecticut.As shown below, Nevada ranked among the top three states with the largest number of travel and vacation fraud reports per million people in the third quarter of 2025, although it is not one of the most densely populated states in the country. Florida followed closely in second place, racking up 1,109 travel fraud reports, by far the highest in the table. SmartCustomer States with the greatest financial losses per fraud reportEven residents of states with fewer fraud reports can still suffer significant financial losses per report. The final table below presents the states with the greatest estimated average financial losses per vacation and travel fraud report in the third quarter of 2025. When analyzed by average dollars lost per vacation and travel fraud report, Nevada and Florida, which topped the reports-per-million list above, no longer appear in the top ten states. While the previous table above showed that Nevada had the largest number of reports per million people, residents of Utah lost much more per report ($6,907 in Utah, versus $2,200 in Nevada, which is roughly three times the amount for the same category of scam). In other words, living in a state that has fewer fraud reports doesn’t necessarily mean the impacts won’t be substantial. For example, while New Mexico only had 58 reports per million in population, the average loss per report was $6,350 (versus $4,814 in California). SmartCustomer What this means for travelersVacation and travel fraud reports were highest in the third quarter of 2025, which serves as a warning for travelers planning summer trips. While some of the most populous states in the nation suffered the greatest overall financial losses to vacation and travel fraud in the third quarter of 2025, it’s important to keep in mind that residents of other, less populated states can also be victims of fraud and suffer great financial losses.To protect yourself against vacation and travel fraud, confirm any operator or listing independently before paying. Search the business name alongside terms such as “scam” or “complaint,” and be wary of requests to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.The FTC notes that state-level estimates exclude "state-specific data contributor reports," which are complaint records submitted by certain state agencies that are not authorized for inclusion in the FTC's public state-level datasets. Consequently, state totals and rankings may underestimate the total number of complaints in some states, although national totals include these reports.This story was produced by SmartCustomer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

UnityPoint Health - Trinity Center for Wound Care offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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How can you get help paying for your medications?

How can you get help paying for your medications?Even with insurance, out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications can be surprisingly high. GoodRx research found that more than half of Americans have trouble paying for prescription medications, and nearly a third aren’t filling their prescriptions due to high costs.So how can you get help paying for your medications? Talking to your prescriber about more affordable options is a good first step. But there are many other ways to keep your prescription medication costs down.Key takeaways:If you need help paying for your medications, first talk to your prescriber about more affordable options. You may be able to save by switching to a lower-cost generic or choosing a medication that’s covered by your insurance.Look into savings through manufacturer copay savings cards and patient assistance programs, or use online tools to compare medication prices and find discounts. If you qualify, programs like Medicaid or Medicare Extra Help can also reduce your expenses.Other practical ways to help you pay for your medications include getting a 90-day supply, using tax-advantaged funds, or asking your healthcare team if it’s safe to split higher-dose tablets.These 10 tips from GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, may help you save on your prescription medications.1. Ask for a lower-cost genericAsk your prescriber for a medication that has a lower-cost generic available, if possible. Generic medications work just as well as brand-name versions, but typically cost much less — with or without prescription insurance.For example, a 30-day supply of brand-name Zoloft 50 mg costs an average of $576.77 without insurance. But the same dose and quantity of generic sertraline costs about $30.75 on average.2. Check your insurance plan’s formularyAn insurance plan’s formulary lists the medications the plan covers. Formularies are often divided into several tiers. Lower-tier medications generally have a lower cost. Higher-tier medications typically have a higher cost or require extra steps (such as prior authorization or step therapy) before the plan will cover them.If you have prescription insurance, reviewing your plan's formulary can help you save money. You’ll be able to see if your medications are covered and at what cost. You can also see if any of your medications are in a high tier. You can then ask your prescriber about lower-tier alternatives.This helps you to make informed decisions about your medications and find ways to save money.3. Look for a manufacturer copay savings cardMany manufacturers offer copay savings cards or programs to help you save on the cost of your medications. These are often for brand-name medications that don’t have a lower-cost generic available.Many copay savings cards require enrollees to have insurance coverage. But some programs offer savings to those without insurance, too. You typically aren’t eligible for these programs if you have government-funded insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid.Some common examples of copay savings cards and programs include:Zepbound savings programContrave savings programCosentyx copay savings cardGilead Advancing Access copay savings programYou can find a copay savings card directly via the manufacturer website for your medication. You can also use medication pricing tools to find the different savings programs available.4. Ask for a 90-day supplyAsking your prescriber for a 90-day supply of your medication (instead of a typical 30-day supply) can be a smart way to save money. This approach works best for any medications you take regularly for chronic health conditions.If you have prescription insurance, your plan may charge you a lower copay overall when you fill a 90-day supply of your medication. Keep in mind that you may need to use a mail-order pharmacy in order to access this discount.You may also pay less overall with a 90-day prescription if you’re paying for the medication out of pocket (without insurance). When you buy a larger quantity, you typically pay less per dose. So while the upfront cost might be higher, you'll likely save money in the long run. Plus, you'll make fewer trips to the pharmacy, saving you time and travel costs.5. Talk to your healthcare team about splitting your pillsYou may be able to save money by asking your prescriber for a higher dose of your medication and splitting the pills in half. For example, if you take sertraline 50 mg once daily, ask your prescriber to write you a prescription for sertraline 100 mg instead. You’ll get a 60-day supply out of just 30 tablets, which can help you save money.But keep in mind that you can’t split all pills in half. Many medications are specially formulated and won’t work properly if you cut them. So be sure to talk to your pharmacist before trying this savings option.6. Use a free prescription discount servicePrescription discount providers can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. There are discounts available for both brand-name and generic medications. What’s more, you can compare prices at pharmacies near you to find the best deal.Most discount cards can’t be combined with insurance. But in some cases, the coupon price may be lower than your insurance copay or coinsurance. So it’s often worth comparing the two prices.Good to know: You can also use discount cards to save on the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. You’ll just need a prescription for the OTC product from a healthcare professional.7. Use your HSA, FSA, or HRA fundsIf you have a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), you can use it to help cover your out-of-pocket medication costs. These tax-advantaged healthcare accounts let you pay for eligible expenses with tax-free dollars.Pay for your medication directly with your HSA or FSA card, or cover the cost yourself and submit a request for reimbursement. The funds in HSAs and HRAs typically roll over annually, but you have to use your FSA dollars before the deadline or they’ll expire.8. See if you’re eligible for Medicare Extra HelpIf you have Medicare Part D, you may qualify for Medicare Extra Help. This program helps people with limited resources pay less for certain brand-name and generic medications.Eligibility is based on income and resources. The income limits change yearly, so it's worth looking into even if you didn't qualify in the past.9. Look into Medicaid coverageMedicaid is a government-sponsored program that provides free or low-cost healthcare coverage (including for prescription medications) to people who meet certain income requirements and other qualifications.Each state’s Medicaid program has its own eligibility requirements and list of covered medications. You can look into your eligibility and apply for Medicaid coverage online, or by visiting a state Medicaid office in your area.10. Apply for patient assistance programsIf you’re uninsured or underinsured, patient assistance programs (PAPs) could help you access your medications for free or at a low cost. Similar to copay savings cards, these programs are often sponsored by pharmaceutical manufacturers.To qualify for a PAP, you generally need to meet income requirements and provide proof of being uninsured or underinsured. Some common manufacturer-based patient assistance programs include:Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance ProgrammyAbbVie Assist programLilly Cares FoundationNonprofit PAPsThere are also nonprofit PAP organizations that could help you pay for your medications. Some examples include:Patient Access Network (PAN) FoundationThe Assistance Fund (TAF)HealthWell FoundationState PAPsState Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) offer eligible residents financial help with prescription medication costs. Some also offer specialized assistance, such as for HIV medications. The individual programs, benefits, and eligibility criteria vary from state to state.The bottom linePaying for prescription medications can be a challenge, even if you have insurance. Many people struggle with high costs, and some skip filling their prescriptions because of it. A good first step is to talk to your prescriber about more affordable options, such as switching to a lower-cost generic or choosing a medication that’s covered on your insurance plan’s formulary. You can also look into manufacturer copay savings cards and patient assistance programs, or use tools to compare prices and find discounts.Other ways you may be able to save money on your medications include getting a 90-day supply, using tax-advantaged funds, and asking your healthcare team if it’s safe to split higher-dose tablets. If you qualify, programs like Medicaid or Medicare Extra Help can also reduce your expenses. Exploring these options and asking the right questions can make your medications more affordable.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Why we crave company

Why we crave companyTo our human eyes, a mouse’s furred face doesn’t betray much emotion. But if you watch the body language of a mouse who’s reunited with one of her sisters after five days in a cage alone, you might suspect you know what she’s feeling.The formerly isolated mouse chatters in squeaks too high for a human to hear. She follows her sister, crawling beneath the other mouse’s body as if trying to get a hug. She looks like she’s feeling what you or I feel when meeting a long-lost friend or a family member — maybe with more sniffing.She looks like she’s been lonely.Loneliness isn’t just for humans, and neither are its harms. Knowable Magazine explored how over the past decade or so, some researchers have come to believe that an animal’s craving for the company of others isn’t just a preference, but a basic, deeply held need. When we don’t socialize enough, we feel the lack like hunger or thirst, they say. When we’ve had our fill of togetherness, we feel satisfied or quenched.The amount of socializing a creature needs may be particular to that species, and even to that individual. Scientists have found within-species social differences in birds, monkeys, fish and even cockroaches.Among humans, “you can feel lonely at a party, or you can feel fine alone in your office,” said Kay Tye, a neuroscientist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California. Whatever the ideal degree of togetherness, Tye and others think that an animal’s need to balance time alone and time with others represents a kind of homeostasis: an equilibrium that’s critical for survival. Today, they are on a hunt to find where, in the brain, this equilibrium is controlled — and hoping their work will hold dividends for lonely humans.A range of socializingBeavers live with their immediate families. Starlings flock in huge murmurations. Adult male orangutans roam solo until it’s time to find a mate. What determines an animal’s ideal amount of socializing?Tim Clutton-Brock, an evolutionary biologist retired from the University of Cambridge, says several factors can push species to become more or less social as they evolve. One is the need to keep warm. Another is foraging: Does searching for food in a group make it easier for that animal to eat, or harder? What about predation — is there safety in numbers, or is it better to be alone and inconspicuous? Do females need help from others to raise their young?“Dealing with the neighbors” is also important, Clutton-Brock said. For example, the meerkats he studies in the Kalahari Desert live in territorial groups, and constant conflict means it’s better to live in packs. A wild meerkat who’s separated from the group is visibly distressed and looks around constantly. “They very clearly get extremely worried,” he said.Within each species, Clutton-Brock says evolution has probably allowed for a range of personality types around a certain species average. “There are costs to too much anxiety” about being alone, he said, “and costs to too little anxiety.” A species may do best with a mix of social styles.Whatever an animal’s right amount of social activity, research suggests there can be dire consequences to mental and physical health when it’s not met. People who are socially isolated, or feel lonely, die sooner. Poor social connections are linked to heart disease and stroke. Certain female rats, when housed alone, are more likely to develop cancer.Tye started investigating loneliness well before the pandemic brought the subject to the forefront. In 2016, she showed that certain neurons in the brain stem — the deepest, oldest part of the brain — are active in male mice who are isolated for a day and then meet another mouse. When scientists inhibited those neurons, the formerly isolated mice were more standoffish; when scientists activated the neurons, the mice were more eager to seek out company.The researchers realized they might be getting a glimpse, Tye said, of “the cellular substrate of loneliness.”In 2019, Tye and co-author Gillian Matthews proposed that those brain stem neurons are part of a system of social homeostasis. Like a thermostat, they theorized, a mouse’s brain senses how much company the animal has been getting, and measures that against an ideal. This ideal can also be called a set point. In the human body, for instance, the set point for temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit); when humans deviate from that they’ll shiver or sweat. Likewise, the researchers suggested, the mouse’s brain drives its behaviors to maintain the right balance of social activity.The scientists hypothesized that other animals, including humans, share this system. Though it’s not easy to test such a thing in people, Tye did team up with a research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for an experiment in which people sat alone in a room for 10 hours.Afterward, subjects reported craving social interaction. When they viewed pictures of people laughing together, their brains lit up in the same region as the brains of fasting subjects who viewed pictures of food: an area, also within the brain stem, packed with dopamine neurons that are involved in cravings.For more evidence that this craving is part of a true homeostatic system, Catherine Dulac, a neuroscientist at Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, looked in another part of the brain: the hypothalamus, a deep region just above the brain stem that houses control centers for hunger, thirst and our need for sleep. It calibrates each of these basic needs using a kind of neural thermostat — or, as Dulac likes to call it, a “bean counter.”In the case of hunger, for example, scientists have found one set of neurons within the hypothalamus that drives appetite and tells an animal to eat. A separate set of neurons drives fullness — what biologists call satiety — and tells the animal to stop eating. Dulac guessed that she’d find a similar system in the hypothalamus for loneliness, comprising two sets of neurons: “one that encodes the need” for company, she said, “and one that encodes the satiety.”In a study published in 2025, she and her colleagues isolated adult female mice for five days. On days one, three and five, each isolated mouse got to have a 10-minute visit with her sister. Peering inside the heads of the mice undergoing these separations and reunions, the researchers saw just what they were looking for: One cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus started firing when animals were isolated, and turned off when they were reunited. A second cluster of neurons did the opposite.What’s more, when scientists used a technical trick called optogenetics to artificially activate the separation neurons every time the animals entered a certain chamber, the mice avoided spending time there. That suggested that these brain cells, when activated, give the mice a bad feeling. “It’s unpleasant to be alone, in the same way it has been shown that it’s unpleasant to be hungry,” said Dulac, who co-authored an overview of social interaction as a fundamental need in the 2026 Annual Review of Neuroscience.But activating the opposite cells — the reunion neurons — led the mice to spend more time in the chamber. These cells are connected to the brain’s dopamine system, which doles out pleasure and rewards.Aside from making us feel good or bad, Dulac said, the hallmark of a homeostatic system is a “rebound” effect — the greater the deprivation, the more an animal needs to make up for it. When we’re parched, we drink more. And the researchers saw the same thing in their mice: The longer a mouse had been isolated, the more time she spent following, sniffing and squeaking to the other one.Dulac said that her findings in the hypothalamus and Tye’s in the brain stem probably represent different components of the same system. Other studies have found neurons in still more parts of the brain that may be involved.Like our appetite for food, the mechanism for social homeostasis may be distributed through many parts of the brain, Tye said. After all, our brain needs to detect the amount of socializing we’re getting, compare it to an ideal, and then drive our behavior so we get more or less company.The scientists also believe that the circuitry that senses and manages loneliness is likely to be similar in the human and rodent brains. Unlike our more recently evolved cortex, our deep brain regions look much the same as what’s inside a mouse’s head. A lonely human may be feeling the effects of wiring laid down long ago in our evolution.The importance of touchAfter studying female mice, Dulac has now turned to studying male mice, who have competing social motivators because they’re territorial toward other males.Tye, for her part, has begun to look at females after studying males. So far, she’s observed that they get more and more social over time — unlike the males, which become antisocial after two weeks in isolation and don’t seem happy when reunited with other mice. “It’s like avoidant, territorial, get-off-my-lawn vibes instead of wonderful-to-see-you-again vibes,” Tye explained. The scientists don’t yet understand this fundamental sex difference.Intriguingly, researchers have also observed an antisocial effect in human prisoners subjected to long-term solitary confinement. In addition to other psychological harms, prisoners may stop craving social contact and start to fear it.Besides attempting to understand the differences between chronic and short-term isolation, researchers are also trying to learn how creatures use their senses to gauge how much company they have.In Dulac’s experiments, vision didn’t seem to be necessary: Blind mice reacted to separation similarly to sighted mice. Nor did scent or sounds hold the answer: When mice were physically separated by a perforated divider within the same cage — so they could still hear and smell their companions — they reacted as if they’d been fully isolated.The only sense that seemed to matter was touch: The brush of another mouse’s body told mice they had a friend nearby.When the researchers lined a tube with soft cloth for mice to walk through, they saw that isolated animals preferred the soft tunnel to a hard one. Like a weighted blanket for humans, perhaps, the touch of the furry walls made the lonely mice feel a little better.Ishmail Abdus-Saboor, a neurobiologist at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute who studies touch and was a co-author on Dulac’s study, said the result didn’t surprise him. “It is consistent with touch being perhaps one of the most essential sensations for well-being,” he explained.The human sense of touch is not just one thing. Bodies have different pathways for processing different sensations, such as pain or itch — or social touches. Humans have specific neurons in the hairy parts of our skin, for example, that are activated by slow stroking. (Mice have related neurons.) And deep pressure, akin to a hug or a massage, activates a similar brain region to stroking touch.Abdus-Saboor is now working with naked mole rats in his lab. These quirky, colony-living rodents are both the world’s most social mammals and conspicuously cuddly. He hopes studying them will provide more answers about the connection between touch and sociality. He even thinks they might be better models than mice for social touch in humans, because their nearly hairless skin is more similar to ours than a mouse’s. Goskova Tatiana // Shutterstock These social touch neurons may carry signals from an animal’s skin to its brain that tell its bean counter it’s not alone, making the animal feel better. “If we can hijack this pathway, can this be used as a therapeutic to promote health and well-being? I think so,” said Abdus-Saboor, who wrote an overview of social touch research in the 2026 Annual Review of Neuroscience.Even before scientists use this research to develop new treatments, Dulac says it highlights the danger of solitary confinement in prisons. “When individuals are left alone, their brain is just sending this danger signal: ‘You should not stay alone,’” she said.Tye imagines that if scientists better understood the brain’s social bean counter, they could one day find a way to lessen the health effects of isolation. For now, she and her co-authors suggest that spending time in a variety of social settings is the best way to buffer yourself against discomfort.Before COVID-19, Tye recalls, she was always with other people. Then, “during the pandemic, I was alone a lot. And it was really stressful for me,” she said. She thinks that giving ourselves regular alone time, as well as time in small and large groups, can make us more tolerant of changes.Because we’re not rodents, we might be able to get our social needs met — at least partially — in ways that they can’t. We can connect with a loved one through a call or text. Still, Tye says, touch seems to be especially vital.Abdus-Saboor, who is married with two children, says he’s “very intentional” about touching his family: a supportive tap, a back rub. His kids are old enough to walk to school on their own, but he makes sure to check in before they go.“It’s like, ‘Let me get that hug before you leave,’” he said.This story was produced by Knowable Magazine and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Streaming sports: What TV technology makes for the best game day viewing

Streaming sports: What TV technology makes for the best game day viewingBuying a television used to be relatively straightforward: Pick a screen size that fits the room, compare picture quality in the store, and choose a model that matched your budget. That’s no longer the case. In this article, electronics and technology company TCL breaks down which TV features matter most for streaming sports at home.For today’s consumers, buying a TV has shifted from a simple screen-size-versus- budget decision to choosing an entire home technology platform. Modern TVs are expected to do much more than display content — they stream live sports, connect to gaming consoles, anchor family movie nights, support smart home controls, and increasingly shape how people interact with entertainment every day. That shift has made TV shopping more complex, especially as buyers sort through competing claims around display technology, audio, software, and value.With the return of American football in the fall, understanding what features and specifications will make for the best game-night viewing matters more than ever.Is it time for a new TV?Many Americans may be entering a natural TV replacement cycle. According to a 2021 Consumer Technology Association report, 47.3 million TVs were sold in the U.S. in 2020. That marked a 15% increase from 2019, as households invested heavily in home entertainment during the pandemic. The average American replaces a TV every six to seven years, according to a 2023 refresh-cycle report from Circana. That means many TV sets bought during the COVID-19 pandemic buying surge are now reaching the age when consumers begin considering an upgrade.Pandemic-era purchasers looking to upgrade have a lot of new options to accommodate everything we want our TVs to do these days. Bigger screens are now common: A 2025 report from Global Growth Insights says screens 55 inches and up now account for roughly 60% of all new U.S. TV purchases. Smart TV platforms play a larger role in the daily experience, and new screen technologies have added complexity to purchase decisions. A range of terms like organic light-emitting diode (OLED), mini-LED, and super quantum dot (SQD) make it harder to know which differences are meaningful and which are just marketing.“A lot of consumers still think of TV shopping as a size-and-price decision, but it has become much more about total experience: picture, software, sound, and how the TV fits into daily life,” said Bruce Walker, lead retail trainer at TCL. “Most people don’t buy a TV because of an acronym. They buy it because they want brighter picture quality, more realistic color, better motion for sports, and an interface that feels easy to use.”What TV tech matters most for sports fans todayFor consumers trying to narrow the field of TV options to get the best view of the field on their screens, a few practical questions can go a long way:How bright is the room when and where the TV is used most often?Is the TV mainly used for watching sports, or also for movies, gaming, or general streaming?What resolutions do your streaming or cable providers offer?How far away and at what angles will people be watching from?Does the household care more about picture quality, ease of use, or overall value?Will the TV also support smart home activity?The answers can help clarify which features deserve the most weight. A household full of diehard sports fans may prioritize brightness, glare reduction, smooth motion, 4K Ultra HD compatible tech, and a larger screen. A family that also loves movie nights may focus more on contrast and black levels. A family that streams from multiple services every day may care most about software and app support. And a buyer trying to future-proof a primary living room TV may pay closer attention to newer display advances like SQD, along with connectivity and long-term ease of use.Summer promotions may encourage more consumers to start comparing options, especially as midyear retail discounts begin to appear. But price is only one part of the decision. The more important question is whether a TV fits the way a household wants to watch, and whether it will still feel like the right choice several years from today.Picture quality is harder to compare than it used to beWhen shopping for TVs today, consumers are confronted with a stream of acronyms and overlapping claims: LED, QLED, OLED, mini-LED, HDR, refresh rates, local dimming, and now SQD. For buyers who don’t closely follow the category, that can make TV shopping feel unnecessarily technical.In practical terms, however, most viewers are responding to a handful of visible outcomes: brightness, contrast, color accuracy, motion handling, and how consistent the picture looks across different kinds of content. A TV may look spectacular playing a cinematic demo reel in a showroom, but its real test comes during ordinary use — watching a day game in a bright room, following fast motion during a high-stakes global soccer match, or making sure everyone can see the screen clearly, no matter where in the room they’re watching from.“What many shoppers notice first is not the technology name, but the outcome,” Walker said. “When a display delivers stronger brightness, more vivid color, and better consistency across different kinds of content, that tends to matter more in the living room than the acronym on the box.”For everyday buyers, the takeaway is less about memorizing every technical category and more about understanding which kind of screen best fits their room, content habits, and expectations:OLEDs offer true, deep blacks for cinematic at-home experiences in dark rooms but are less bright for daytime viewing and can come with a premium price tag.Mini-LED screens deliver strong brightness in daytime settings and big-screen performance, which can be great for sports but not as strong as OLED for movie nights.QLED, which stands for quantum dot light-emitting diode, combines quantum dot layers over LED backlights for a blend of brightness and color saturation, often at a lower price point.SQD is a newer panel technology that offers more precision than QLED to deliver great picture quality, high brightness, and powerful efficiency.Software now shapes the experience as much as hardwareAnother major shift in TV buying is that the screen itself is only part of the product. The operating system can also play an important role in consumers’ day-to-day experience.A TV's operating system determines how easily users can find streaming apps, move between services, screenshare from a phone, search by voice, and connect with other smart devices in the home. It affects startup speed, menu organization, software updates, and how current the TV feels after several years. In other words, buying a TV today means buying into an ecosystem, underscoring how central they are to entertainment and connected living.This is also where friction can creep in. A TV may have strong picture performance, but if the interface feels clunky or outdated, the overall experience suffers. For families sharing one main screen across generations and viewing habits, software simplicity may matter just as much as a premium display feature. A useful buying strategy is to spend time looking at how the platform actually works, not just how the screen looks under store lighting.Audio, connectivity, and longevity deserve more attentionSound quality and connectivity are also key to ensuring long-term satisfaction with your next TV purchase. Thinner TVs have nice aesthetics, but they also leave less room for big built-in sound. Integrated speakers may be fine for casual viewing, but live sports, action films, and gaming may expose weak dialogue clarity, limited bass, or lackluster power to fill a room. Most major TV brands manufacture soundbars designed to complement specific TV models, specifically for this issue.If you want to connect to an external sound system or gaming console, the number of HDMI ports, Wi-Fi stability, and how easy it is to keep apps current all affect how usable a TV feels after the first few weeks. A lower price may be initially appealing but provide less value if it creates frustration later.“The best TV for most people is not necessarily the one with the longest feature list,” Walker said. “It’s the one that matches the room, the content they watch most, and the experience they want day after day.”TV shopping may be more complicated than it used to be, but buyers who focus on the real-world performance they want instead of the latest claim about what technology is best can make the process more manageable. Screen size still matters. So do price and design. But increasingly, the smartest choices come down to how well a TV balances picture quality, software, sound, durability, and the evolving expectations of everyday viewing, whether it’s sports, movies, gaming, or all of the above.This story was produced by TCL and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

For the first time, Americans are getting more of their electricity from solar than coal

For the first time, Americans are getting more of their electricity from solar than coalSolar energy just provided more electricity in the United States than coal for the first time on record — marking a milestone for the rise of renewables in America.While gas and nuclear plants still lead the country’s energy mix, solar contributed 12.8% of the nation’s electricity in May, according to an analysis of government data by Ember, an energy think tank. Coal, meanwhile, provided just 12.2%. Just five years ago, solar was less than half of its current levels and coal was at 20%.“Overtaking coal for the first month on record shows just how far solar has come, from a niche contributor to the third-largest and fastest-growing source of power in the U.S. electricity system,” said Nicolas Fulghum, senior data analyst at Ember, in a press release. “From Texas to California, markets across the U.S. are betting on solar to meet rising power needs.”The turnaround comes even as political headwinds have shifted against renewable energy, Grist reports.Last summer, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which rolled back enormous swaths of former President Joe Biden’s landmark climate change legislation, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. And President Donald Trump has actively sought to hinder renewable energy development, even offering to pay at least one oil company $1 billion to stop building its offshore wind projects.The latest electricity data comes the same month that the Trump administration announced $700 million in funding for investments in the coal industry. It included money for what would be the country’s first new coal-fired power plants in 13 years — sourced from funds previously dedicated to reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, not deepening it.“Today we’re taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal,” said Trump, who campaigned on the coal-friendly slogan “dig, baby, dig.”Ember’s analysis found that coal generation in May was actually up slightly from April, when it hit an all-time low. Its share of the grid will also likely tick up in the summer, as cooling needs peak. But the steady downward trend over the last several years suggests that even all the president’s men might not be able to put the coal industry back together again.“Spending $700 million to bail out the coal industry is like throwing a lifeline to a ship that has already sunk,” Lena Moffitt, executive director of the environmental group Evergreen Action, told the Associated Press. Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association disagreed, telling the AP that coal generation helps shield consumers from the impacts of volatile energy prices and supply challenges exacerbated by AI.Regardless of what coal does, experts believe the solar market will continue its upward march. While installations dropped in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association, it still accounted for more than half of all newly installed electricity capacity. Even MAGA influencers are promoting it.“We’re going to just keep seeing more and more renewables brought onto the grid,” said Patrick Drupp, director of climate policy at the Sierra Club. “That’s good for people’s wallets, it’s good for their health, it’s good for the planet.”This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Interstate 80 tops list of deadliest highways in Iowa: New report

A new analysis of 61,935 fatal crashes during the summer months (June–August from 2020) by car insurance experts at iSelect has revealed that state highways, not interstates, see the highest number of deadly collisions during the summer months, accounting for 29% of all fatal crashes nationwide, according to a news release. Looking specifically at Iowa, 594 fatal crashes have [...]

Monmouth fire, police, present free water fun for kids

The Monmouth fire and police departments will present Fire Hose Fun, a kids' water event, from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at West Park on West Broadway in Monmouth. Firefighters will set up a water spray with a real fire hose and hydrant so kids can play and beat the heat. Fire trucks will be [...]

IMEG has acquired ACRO Development Services

IMEG expands North Carolina civil engineering and surveying services with acquisition of ACRO Development Services.

Hotter with more humidity on the way

As of Monday, the Quad Cities have made it to 90° or higher eight times year with 92° being the hottest on three days. Today may very well be the hottest day. Dry weather is expected today and tomorrow with rain chances returning later this week. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Memories of Muscatine: A railway lantern

This week for Memories of Muscatine: A railway lantern from c.1900.

'The Trojan Teddy Bear': The promise and peril of childhood in the age of AI

AI is moving beyond chatbots and into toys, dolls, and robots built to befriend children. A leading child-development expert says the technology offers real promise — but also risks crowding out the human relationships children need most.

Ravines

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Just as Adam named all the flora and fauna in the Garden of Eden, so we Rock Islanders give names to the landscape…

The U.S. is set to reinstate a blockade over the Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military announced it will begin its blockade of Iranian ships over the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as Iran vowed to assert its own control over the critical international waterway.

Some states will ask voters to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments

Several states have ballot measures this year that could raise the thresholds needed to pass state constitutional amendments. Many advocates are critical of such limits on direct democracy.

Platner's voters are reeling as Maine Democratic Party races to choose his replacement

Graham Platner generated enthusiasm in Maine with his progressive policies. Now he's out of the race, and his supporters have to decide what's next, as Maine Democrats prepare to choose a nominee.

Trump's National Guard deployment in D.C. has been extended until 2029

President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. has been extended several times. Now, it's set to last until Inauguration Day 2029.

Public invited to Resource Enhancement and Protection assembly

Muscatine County Conservation and Scott County Conservation invite anyone interested in parks, trails, wildlife, outdoor recreation, conservation or historic preservation to the Region 9 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Assembly. According to a release: The regional assembly is one of 19 REAP meetings being held across Iowa this summer. The Region 9 meeting will bring [...]

Death toll from a Bangkok music bar fire rises to 30, dozens remain in hospital

More than 70 people were injured, with 24 of them still in critical condition, according to a statement by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

MAP: Cases of 'explosive' diarrhea illness climb

Michigan alone has confirmed more than 2,000 cases. It's still unclear what has caused the spike in illness.

The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain

The expanded World Cup allowed FIFA to introduce a new seeding system that placed the world's top teams in opposite corners of the knockout bracket. Now, the semifinals are both heavyweight matchups.

Moline holding 'Caught Caring Challenge' for America 250

The City will award commemorative challenge coins to everyday heroes.

American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage | How you can help in the Quad Cities

The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.

Buffalo city council says no to pit-bull ban

There will be no ban of pit bulls in Buffalo. A heated debate about whether to prevent people from having the dog breed dominated Monday's city council meeting came after two pit bulls attacked people in Buffalo this year. "The dog that attacked my nephew wasn't vaccinated," said Eli Gerishcher, a Buffalo resident. "I don't [...]

American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage | Where you can donate in the Quad Cities

The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.