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

Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
	Garbage fire spreads to nearby home The cause of the fire is being investigated.
	“The Tales of Custard the Dragon,” May 19 through June 20 A joyous family musical and off-Broadway smash that, as Kennedy Center Vice-President of Education Derek Gordon raved, "will delight both the young and the young at heart," The Tales of Custard the Dragon will enchant audiences in Rock Island from May 19 through June 20, this Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse debut adapted from the whimsical children's stories of Ogden Nash.
	Iowa City Ped Mall shooting suspect to have first court appearance Damarian Jones faces five counts of attempted murder, among other charges.
	Donate during Cops ‘n’ Kids book drive at KWQC KWQC, with Together Making a Better Community and the Davenport Police Department, will hold a Cops ‘n’ Kids Community Book Drive on June 5 at the TV6 studio.
	Early voting underway in Scott County Early and in-person voting begins in Scott County today, said Auditor Kerri Tompkins. “I want voters to be well informed of their voting opportunities.” Absentee voting is available from Wednesday, May 13 to Monday, June 1 at the Auditor’s Office, Scott County Administrative Center, 600 W. Fourth Street, 5th Floor in Davenport. Voting is open [...]
	University of Illinois men’s basketball head coach to play in John Deere Classic JDC organizers said Brad Underwood will take to the green on July 1.
	ICE arrests 8 people as part of operation at 2 Davenport restaurants Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said the operations were conducted at Izumi and Jiang’s restaurants.
	Iowa Women's Jazz Orchestra performing at Bettendorf Public Library Enjoy music composed, arranged and performed by women at a free special concert at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. The Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra (IWJO) will take the stage on Saturday, May 23 from 2 – 3 p.m. to highlight women’s contributions to jazz history. The IWJO is a jazz big band [...]
	Quad Cities Bicycle Club will sponsor Ride of Silence to remember cyclists killed or injured The Quad Cities Bicycle Club will sponsor the Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 20, a news release says.. The ride will take off from Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island at 6 p.m. and return at about 7:30 p.m. Riders are required to wear helmets, ride in a group at a pace of no [...]
	Alex Murdaugh will get a new murder trial. Here's a timeline of his case Alex Murdaugh — the disgraced former lawyer serving a life term for the murders of his wife and son — will get a new trial in South Carolina, the state Supreme Court said on Wednesday.
	Raising our glasses to "Winey Wednesday!" Littering, bugs and birds were big gripes as Anthony and Brittany enjoyed some grapes. Thanks to Hidden Hills Winery in Galesburg for providing two bottles.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for May 13, 2026 Rock Island students will receive scholarships ahead of college, and the city of Davenport is implementing quiet zones to make rail crossings safer.
	On her new album 'Norteña,' Julieta Venegas journeys home to the Mexican border For years, Julieta Venegas sprinkled traditional elements of northern Mexican music throughout her records. Her new album, Norteña, places the singer-songwriter's folkloric sensibilities front and center.
	RI National Cemetery seeks volunteers to place American Flags on headstones The Rock Island National Cemetery seeks volunteers to place American flags at the headstones of fallen service members in honor of Memorial Day. Work to place the flags will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 21, rain or shine. Volunteers should plan to arrive early because of high traffic into the cemetery. In the event [...]
	Melon City Criterium/Charlie Harper Memorial planned for Muscatine The City of Muscatine will temporarily close Weed Park starting at 5 a.m. Sunday, May 24, as preparations get underway for the 46th running of the Melon City Criterium/Charlie Harper Memorial, a news release says. Organized by the Melon City Bike Club and Harper’s Cycling & Fitness, the annual race brings elite cyclists and spectators [...]
	Sparkle Grooming Co. expands into Iowa - including QC area Sparkle Grooming Co., one of the fastest-brands in the emerging quick-service pet care category, is making a major move into Iowa with a new 17-license agreement that will bring its modern, membership-based dog grooming model to communities across the state, according to a news release. "The expansion is especially significant for major Iowa markets like [...]
	Bicycle enthusiasts roll through Bettendorf on Bike to Work Week News 8's Emma Buker caught up with Jason Manfull with the city of Bettendorf to see what preparation goes on behind the scenes.
	Iowans get a head start on the state's primary election Iowa's primary election is June 2, but voters can request an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 20 days before June.
	Colona makes progress toward new storm sirens If Colona can get the grant agreement by the end of this week, aldermen could have the storm siren grant on the agenda for their May 26 meeting.
	Mt. Sinai Christian Fellowship, Davenport, plans Praise-A-Thon 2026 Mt. Sinai Christian Fellowship will present Praise-A-Thon 2026 on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Christian Fellowship, 4706 Northwest Blvd,., Davenport, a news release says. This dynamic outdoor worship experience is designed to bring the community together in an atmosphere of praise, unity, encouragement, and empowerment. Praise-A-Thon 2026 will feature powerful [...]
	Heat, humidity, and storms heading to the Quad Cities After hitting the low-80s Tuesday, we'll be cooler today and tomorrow. However, a major warm-up is on the way later this week. Quiet weather is expected today and tomorrow before showers and storms arrive Thursday night into Friday. More active and stormy weather is likely for us this weekend. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Putin hails Russia's test launch of a new ballistic missile Russia test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernize its nuclear forces. The nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year.
	Japanese snack packages turning black-and-white as Iran war depletes ink supply The packaging on some snacks is turning black-and-white, as the war in Iran disrupts the supply of an ingredient used in colored ink. Calbee's chips originally came in a bright-orange bag.
	Downstate This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Don't bother to ask anyone in Chicago for directions to Rock Island. They don't know. They don't care. Their answer for…
	Inked Ivy Co., tattoo and art studio, opens in Davenport Inked Ivy Co., a tattoo and art studio in Davenport, will hold a grand opening celebrating their new space on Saturday, May 16.
	Staying strong, then falling apart: How a military family grapples with the Iran war Military life has always involved some degree of uncertainty. But for many families, the fear and unknowns that come with the Iran war are new territory.
	Is the U.S. slipping into 'Competitive Authoritarianism?' What form of government do we have in America now? Some scholars say it is no longer liberal democracy, but "competitive authoritarianism." NPR's Frank Langfitt explains the term and its origin.
	Foo Fighters: Tiny Desk Concert Featuring new songs and beloved classics, the stadium-sized rock band shrinks down its outsized sound without losing any urgency or oomph.
	French hantavirus patient is critically ill as outbreak grows to 11 A French woman infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung. The outbreak has now reached 11 total reported cases, 9 of which have been confirmed.
	$4.8M settlement reached over Louisiana traffic stop death, AP sources say Louisiana officials have agreed to a tentative $4.8 million settlement with the family of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist who died during a violent roadside arrest carried out by five white officers.
	Eczema cream recalled over risk of 'life-threatening' staph infection (NEXSTAR) – A Wisconsin company is recalling a cream used to treat eczema and other conditions after it was found to be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. Multi-symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream, sold under the brand name MG217 by Jackson, Wisconsin-based Pharmacal, is advertised as being [...]
	Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' estimated to cost $1.2 trillion A Congressional Budget Office analysis suggests the cost of the missile defense program could be $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years, a far heftier sum than the initial $175 billion price tag.
Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
	U.S. House District 2 Democratic primary undecided as of early Wednesday The U.S. Capitol on the evening of Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)A race to decide which Democrat will face Republican Congressman Riley Moore in the November general election was still too close to call early Wednesday morning. Three Democrats are running in the U.S. House District 2 race. As of 12:25 a.m. Wednesday, with 98% of votes counted, Morgantown community organizer Ace Parsi led the race with 17,640 votes, over Fairmont teacher Stephanie Tomana, with 16,830, and U.S. Navy veteran Steve Wendelin, with 9,929 votes. The Associated Press had not yet called the race. The winner of the primary will go on to face Congressman Riley Moore, who was unopposed in Tuesday’s Republican Primary. Moore was first elected in 2024. This story will be updated when the results are final. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	House Finance chair ousted; Deeds, Takubo survive Senate primary after being targeted by Morrisey Gov. Patrick Morrisey announces a tax relief package proposal that includes a cut to personal income taxes on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey)After Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s heavy meddling in a dozen Republican primary races, Tuesday’s results showed successes and losses for his preferred statehouse candidates. In Wood County, House Finance Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood, lost his reelection bid to Morrisey’s preferred candidate, Charles Hartzog, a 23-year-old who is a part-time employee at Walmart. Criss and Morrisey have openly feuded over state budget matters since just a few weeks into the governor’s term. Morrisey recently took a road trip to Parkersburg to campaign against him. In the Senate, several of Morrisey’s preferred GOP candidates won their primary elections, including incumbents Sen. Laura Wickham-Chapman, R-Ohio, and Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh. “West Virginia Republicans spoke with one voice Tuesday: we’re done with the status quo. Voters refuse to settle for second best. We are ready to fight for our state’s future, nominating Republicans who share that vision,” Morrisey said Tuesday evening in a statement. “The candidates who prevailed campaigned to unleash economic opportunity, cut taxes and advance educational freedom. Voters rejected the good-ole-boy system in favor of voices that fight for our values,” he said. But Morrisey’s top targets in the Senate survived the onslaught of governor-connected spending against them: Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, and Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, won their primaries, according to the Associated Press. “Tonight, I stand before you deeply humbled, profoundly grateful and incredibly honored by the trust the people of West Virginia have once again placed in me,” Takubo said Tuesday evening. This has been an unusually turbulent, combative and expensive primary in West Virginia for Republicans particularly in the state Senate. Republicans hold a super majority in the Senate with just two Democratic members in the 34-member body. More than $5 million has been spent between multiple Political Action Committees, many bolstered by out-of-state donors with ties to Morrisey and the school choice movement. PACs, including those connected to the governor, spent more than $600,000 this primary cycle opposing Takubo and Deeds. Tom Takubo (Photo by Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography) Takubo said that this campaign became difficult at times. He won with 56.1% at the time the AP called the race over his opponent, attorney and former House member Chris Pritt. “Frankly, it devolved into rhetoric and tactics that do not reflect the values of West Virginia. I believe our state deserves better than deception, division and manufactured outrage. And tonight, the people of West Virginia sent a message that truth, integrity and service still matter,” Takubo said. Wes Holden ran unopposed and will be the Democratic nominee challenging Takubo in the general election on Nov. 3. A doctor and former Senate Majority Leader, Takubo made a run for Senate President in December 2024, but lost the bid to current Senate President Randy Smith. The race quickly sliced most of the GOP Senate into factions — known as Team Takubo and Team Smith. Smith’s camp has fallen more in line with the governor and his agenda. Takubo’s faction has billed itself as more focused on economic development and job creation than bills on social issues, like legislation affecting transgender individuals or abortions after multiple sessions passing legislation on those issues. He has spent the last two years recruiting like-minded candidates to challenge Smith’s faction; most of those candidates lost Tuesday night. Vince Deeds (Photo by Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography) Morrisey most heavily targeted Deeds, a Baptist pastor and investigator with the Greenbrier County Prosecutor’s Office who has been in the Senate since 2022. He is firmly in the Takubo faction. The governor and his wife publicly endorsed their friend Jonathan Comer, spending time in Greenbrier County campaigning for him in hopes of beating Deeds. Deeds won with 66.5% of the vote, according to AP results when the race was called late Tuesday evening. He will face Democratic candidate Kent Gilkerson in the November election. Leadership shake up in House after Morrisey’s candidate wins Hartzog, who has no prior political experience, told West Virginia Watch that he wanted to thank his supporters and volunteers for their help throughout his campaign. “I look forward to (the) general election and ultimately working with Gov. Morrisey and the Legislature to defend the unborn, cut government red tape, support free market principles and fight for reforms in rural healthcare that drive down costs for families,” he said. “I believe West Virginia can become the best place to live, work, and raise a family.” He’ll face Democratic candidate Dennis Rempel in November. Morrisey said his preferred candidates will focus on educational opportunities. He has made the state’s education voucher program, the Hope Scholarship, a hallmark of his time in office. The House Finance Committee, under leadership of Criss, recently considered a bill to put guardrails on the $300 million program. While lawmakers didn’t end up making any change to parents’ use of the voucher program, the proposed changes resulted in Americans for Prosperity’s West Virginia chapter strongly opposing Criss. AFP-WV has deep ties to Morrisey. Scot Heckert (Photo by Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography) Incumbent Del. Scot Heckert, R-Wood — also a target of Morrisey — lost his reelection race to Melissa McCrady, who received 63% of the vote, according to the AP. “Republicans will unite, prevail in November, and advance our conservative agenda. We will be that shining state in the mountains, but only if we’re willing to fight for it. Time to get to work,” Morrisey said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	QC sheriff confirms 2 ICE operations at Davenport restaurants Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane on Tuesday confirmed with Our Quad Cities News that at least two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations - with a focus on restaurants - took place in Davenport the last two weeks. A Facebook post from Indivisible QC says those operations involved Izumi Japanese Steak House and Jiang's Hot [...]
	Arconic enters third week of bargaining with United Steelworkers Officials hope to have a tentative agreement reached before the current contract expires on May 16.
	ICE arrests 8 people during raid in Davenport The arrests happened on April 22. According to ICE, the arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into immigration violations and other related offenses.
	Wind energy project halts in Knox County, school tax revenue option closes A wind energy project in Knox County got shut down after a federal order delayed permits for roughly 250 energy projects around the country. The project was expected to bring 300 construction jobs and generate more than $40 million in tax revenue for the county. The Knox County Wind project started in early April, but [...]
	Arsenal to add jobs, but lawmakers on high alert after ‘chaos’ in previous cuts Jobs are coming to the Rock Island Arsenal, but lawmakers are still concerned about more 'chaos' from Army officials
	Construction begins on Moline shared-use path It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. A new bike path on 36-th avenue in Moline is now under Construction has begun on a new shared-use path along 36th Ave. from 7th St. to 13th St. in Moline. According to a release from the City of Moline, work will include a water main and [...]
	QCA torch run honors Special Olympics Iowa Law enforcement officers ran four and a half miles for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. The tradition supports athletes in Special Olympics Iowa. The Summer Games begin May 21. Dozens ran along the Mississippi River Trail in honor of the athletes competing in Special Olympics Iowa. The Law Enforcement Torch Run started at the [...]
	Wold co-defendant in civil suit faces criminal drug charges: Court records A 39-year-old Bettendorf man with business ties to Andrew Wold now faces felony drug charges, according to Scott County Court documents. Kyle Robinson is also a defendant in civil litigation related to property transactions Wold made after the partial collapse of an apartment building in downtown Davenport on May 28, 2023, when three residents were [...]
	New student loan repayment program to be offered for Illinois Department of Transportation Engineers Payments will be capped at a total of $60,000 and begin once the engineer has worked at IDOT at least four years.
	Major renovations coming to Herbert Hoover museum in West Branch as population booms In 2010, the population was around 2,300. It has now jumped to just under 3,100, a roughly 31% increase in just 15 years.
	Former private prison official to serve as acting ICE chief Compared to the start of President Trump's second term, David Venturella takes over an agency with a larger workforce, more financial resources — and also a continued funding lapse.
	Iowa public charter schools to receive $1,200 per-student funding increase Public charter schools in Iowa will receive a $1,200 increase in funding per student starting next school year.
	Jason Collins, NBA's first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain tumor Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.
	‘It was just terrifying," Mother speaks on shooting that killed 3-year-old The mother of a 3-year-old boy who was fatally shot during an officer-involved shooting recalls her experience being held hostage inside a room as a domestic situation escalated.
	QCA effort to help Illinois foster family shortage Professionals in the foster care system say there's a significant shortage of foster families in Illinois. One Quad-City event, the 2026 Foster Fair at Marketplace at 2500, is an attempt to chip away at that deficit. "Every kid needs a home and a supportive environment to thrive," says Kayla Sierra-Lee, Director of Operations and Community [...]
	Overdose leads to Davenport man's arrest on drug trafficking charges The investigation began after a fentanyl overdose at a local drug rehabilitation facility in late April.
	Quad City DekHockey welcomes players of all ages and skill levels The local league is open to kids, women, men and coed teams at their complex in Bettendorf. This year, more than 500 QCA kids make up 55 youth teams.
	Workers left in limbo after permit delays stalls wind energy project A major wind energy project in Knox County has come to a halt, with labor leaders saying workers are now feeling the impact of construction delays tied to the federal permitting process.
	North American and Caribbean men's handball championship tournament in Bettendorf this week Top handball teams from across North America and the Caribbean will face off for a spot at the IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany.
	Illinois bill to crack down on sexual assault at schools An Illinois bill would crack down on sexual assault at schools. Senate Bill 939 would expel students who sexually assault another student for six months to a year. Those students could only be allowed back in school with a unanimous vote by the school board. Sen. Steve McClure came up with the bill after a [...]
	Duckworth questions Army secretary about Arsenal staffing Questions were also asked about the use of AI to determine who was deemed a surplus employee.
	Special Weather Statement until TUE 8:15 PM CDT Gusty Winds and Blowing Dust Expected This Evening
	Three Kansans being monitored for hantavirus after contact with infected cruise ship passenger Passengers are evacuated by small boat on May 10, 2026, from the MV Hondius in the Granadilla Port, after at least 11 passengers became ill with Andes hantavirus. Three Kansans came into close contact with one of the passengers and are being watched by health officials in case they develop hantavirus symptoms. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)TOPEKA — Three Kansans who came into close “high risk” contact with a person who has confirmed Andes hantavirus are being monitored by state and federal officials. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a Tuesday news release that three individuals, who won’t be identified because of privacy concerns, are being monitored by KDHE, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a local health department. The three were not on the cruise ship MV Hondius, where Andes hantavirus has been confirmed in at least 11 people and caused three deaths, and they do not currently have symptoms, the release said. “The exposure occurred internationally after contact with an individual from the MV Hondius cruise ship who later tested positive for Andes hantavirus,” the release said. The Andes hantavirus is acquired from a small rat, which leaves the virus in its droppings or feces, said Steven Simpson, a University of Kansas Health System physician who worked on-site in 1996 in Argentina at one of the first hantavirus outbreaks in humans outside the United States. When those droppings dry out, the virus can attach itself to pieces of dust and infect people when the dust is inhaled, Simpson said. Steven Simpson, a University of Kansas Health System physician, has worked extensively with Andes hantavirus. (Submitted by UMKC) “A colleague of mine and I were called to Argentina because we were considered the world experts — me, clinical care, and him, pathology and virology of the virus — because they thought they were seeing human to human transmission potentially,” Simpson said. At the time, Simpson said, he and his colleague tracked the outbreak and, because hospital conditions weren’t ideal — some healthcare workers didn’t have access to gloves, for instance — they determined there wasn’t human to human transmission. That was disproven over the next few years as more research was done, he said. Today, researchers know the Andes strain of hantavirus passes from human to human in rare circumstances, always involving close proximity to someone who has been infected, Simpson said. However, he echoes the CDC and KDHE in saying the public health threat is extremely small. “There is a minuscule, low chance of anything happening from this whatsoever, because KDHE is taking the appropriate steps,” Simpson said. “They’ve identified the right people, they are asking them to do the right things, and they are watching them to see whether they even get any symptoms.” KDHE didn’t respond to a Kansas Reflector inquiry about whether the individuals are being quarantined. Simpson hopes the attention being paid to hantavirus will make people aware of the cases typically seen in the United States — 890 cases nationwide in 2023, with 20 of those in Kansas — that are acquired from activities like cleaning out barns and stirring up rat or mouse feces. “We have hantavirus, and especially in western Kansas you can acquire it,” he said. “Because there was an El Nino phenomenon last fall and winter, there’s the possibility that there may be more mice around of our variety, the deer mouse.” Simpson said people should be careful about stirring up dust as they clean areas where there may be mouse droppings. The hantavirus they could get from those activities in Kansas is more of a threat than the Andes virus, he said. Andes hantavirus symptoms Symptoms of the Andes hantavirus can show up from two days after exposure to, in the longest case, 42 days, Simpson said. The virus is passed between people most often through bodily fluids, particularly coughing that occurs as the infected person becomes ill, Simpson said. In addition, deep kissing and sexual contact also can pass the virus. It can hang in the air and pass when there is prolonged exposure, such as sleeping in a bed with someone or being in an enclosed area with them, even if there wasn’t physical contact, he said. The virus can replicate in a person’s salivary glands, so it spreads through the small droplets that come out when people cough, sneeze or even breathe, Simpson said. “The people with Andes virus are infectious for a day or two. It appears right when they are developing their initial symptoms,” he said. Symptoms include typical virus symptoms, such as fever, body aches, chills, vomiting and diarrhea, the KDHE news release said. “Several days after the onset of initial symptoms, people can develop a severe illness that affects the lungs (called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome) causing cough, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, which can be fatal,” KDHE said. “There is no specific treatment available, and care focuses on supporting the person through their illness.” Is it mutating? Viruses do mutate, meaning they adapt as they are spread, but Simpson said that occurs when viruses spread through many carriers repeatedly. “The key thing here is it takes many generations of passage for a virus to mutate into something that then becomes a threat,” Simpson said. “So far, that has never happened. It looks like perhaps the virus becomes a little bit weaker with each passage, if anything.” Four is the highest number of generations in which hantavirus has been documented, he said, before it died out. It could have died out for a variety of reasons, such as the sick person staying home and not passing it along, Simpson said. All of those reasons and the fact that the CDC and KDHE, along with local health officials, are monitoring the situation closely is why Simpson said there isn’t a significant public health threat from the Andes hantavirus outbreak. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Iowa teen wanted for Iowa City Ped Mall shooting arrested in Georgia The Cedar Rapids teenager who police say shot five people in Iowa City has been arrested. Damarian M. Jones, 17, was arrested Monday by U.S. Marshals Service near Atlanta, Georgia.
	Not much rain to start the wet season After what was a very wet April last month where the Quad Cities received over 2 inches of rain above average, the same cannot be said for May. Despite May being the time where we shift from Spring to Summer, entering into what is normally our wet and stormy season, we have not seen much [...]
	Community holds polar plunge and torch run to support Special Olympics Iowa Two local efforts including a polar plunge and torch run were held to support Special Olympics Iowa.
	Busch Stadium gets all new grass, installed by a Quad-Cities company While the St. Louis Cardinals were away, workers from Bush Sports Turf have been rolling out an entirely new carpet of green grass at Busch Stadium.
	Offers made: A look at some of the Legislature’s Day One budget talks House budget chief Rep. Lawrence McClure, left, and Senate budget chief Sen. Ed Hooper, right. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)State budget negotiations began in earnest Tuesday, with the House making spending offers to the Senate on tourism and economic development, health care, and education in hopes of passing a compromise by the end of the month. The Florida House in its first budget offer during the budget special session is standing by its earlier refusal to fund the Florida State Guard, a former centerpiece of the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration. The Senate, meanwhile, is asking for more than $28 million to fund that ostensibly civilian force — resuscitated by DeSantis in 2022 to contribute to emergency response but also used to buttress immigration enforcement. But while the House — so far — is suggesting zeroing out the force, the lower chamber’s leaders say those numbers have plenty of time to change. “We are … watching for the results of the inspector general’s investigation,” said Republican Jason Shoaf of Port St. Joe, vice chair of the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. He referred to allegations of financial abuse and sexual harassment within the guard. “Once we get that, we’ll be able to make the right decision on it. And at this point, it’s too early to guess or assume where we’re gonna end up on the funding of that project,” he said. Republican Sen. Ed Hooper of Clearwater, the committee’s chair, agreed: “It won’t be $33.9 million, and it won’t be zero,” he said. This comes amid bitter relations between DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican bent on asserting the lower chamber’s independence from the governor. This is the fifth special session since Perez and his Senate counterpart, Ben Albritton, assumed legislative leadership — and the second revolving around delayed budget negotiations. DeSantis revived the State Guard, a civilian volunteer force, four years ago. He wanted to expand the World War II-era militia as an emergency response unit under his sole purview. In 2024, he deployed members to the U.S-Mexico border in Texas. The House continues to refuse to front the costs to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump, while the Senate is requesting $2.75 million for the Donald J. Trump International Airport in its namesake’s backyard. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Health and Human Services In other areas, Perez has made funding for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities a priority during his two years as House-speaker designate and his first year at the helm of the chamber. And this year is no different. In its first offer on spending in the Health and Human Services area of the budget, the House offered to boost the agency by $32 million. The House also has proposed to eliminate 400 vacant positions from the Florida Department of Health, along with nearly $28 million in funding. The offer matches what the Senate initially proposed in its spending bill. The House’s offer included eliminating $51 million from the Florida Health Innovation Council in the Department of Health. It’s a position the House took during the regular session and continues to advocate during the budget special session. Championed by former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo of Naples as part of her Live Healthy initiative the council, with a $1 million appropriation, oversees a $50 million revolving loan program. The program provides low-interest financing to licensed health care facilities, educational institutions, and clinical training providers pursuing “innovative technology,” plus equipment and materials. Loans cover up to 50% of total project costs, or up to 80% for rural or underserved area applicants. The House’s offer didn’t address the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The Legislature agreed during the regular session to a $31 million appropriation to stave off a purported $120 million deficit that had the DeSantis administration eliminating coverage for thousands of people. That funding is intact only through the end of June. Done deal: $31M headed to AIDS drug program after DeSantis signs new law House Health Care Budget Subcommittee Chairman Alex Andrade of Pensacola said the exclusion of ADAP in the chamber’s first funding offer doesn’t indicate lack of support from him or his counterpart, Sen. Jay Trumbull of Panama City. “I think Sen.Trumbull and I are both committed to trying to address that issue without really making it a topic of negotiation,” Andrade said following the brief meeting. Campus transfer The House made offers to the Senate on education spending, including a controversial proposal to transfer the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to the New College of Florida, headed by former House speaker and political lightning rod Richard Corcoran. “At this point we haven’t made a decision yet,” Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Chair Sen. Gayle Harrell of Stuart said of the land transfer. The Senate didn’t embrace the transfer in its budget proposals during the regular session. “At this point, we are with our position,” she said. The House maintained its reluctance to fund the Rural School Districts Supplemental Services Grant program. The Senate is proposing $25 million. That program would provide money to rural education consortia. The House maintained its position to not fund Schools of Hope, while the Senate is proposing $6 million. The House is asking for $13 million more than the Senate’s $11 million for education capital projects funding. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Armed Forces Day Celebration coming to the Rock Island Arsenal this weekend The event runs through May 15 and 16 with live music, food trucks, vendors, military displays, live wrestling, fireworks and foot races.
	Public asked to help decide future of downtown Silvis The Illinois Department of Transportation held a public meeting on Tuesday as it looks to revamp the Illinois 84 and Illinois 92 corridor (1st Avenue) in downtown.
	OpenAI's Sam Altman takes the stand to fend off Elon Musk's accusations he 'stole a charity' The trial pits two of tech's most famous personalities against each other and could lead to seismic changes for the maker of ChatGPT.
	Arkansas panel picks new design for anti-abortion monument at Capitol From left: Lakey Goff, an artist from Hot Springs Village, addresses the Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission on May 12, 2026 while commissioners Michael Harry, Dave Roberts and Chairman Stephen Bright listen. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)An Arkansas panel on Tuesday chose a design for the “monument to the unborn” at the state Capitol advocated by abortion opponents after months of frustration over the potential cost of the project. The Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission chose a “living wall” design of plants surrounded by a retaining wall, drawing complaints from the artist whose similar proposal was initially chosen and then dropped by the panel. The design the commission backed by the commission Tuesday came from nearly identical proposals submitted by the lawmakers who sponsored the first-of-its-kind 2023 law requiring the privately funded monument on state Capitol grounds. Hot Springs Village artist Lakey Goff said her idea of a “living wall” of plants and speakers with waterfall sounds should be built somewhere, such as Washington D.C., where a copy of the National Life Monument already stands. Republican Rep. Mary Bentley of Perryville and Sen. Kim Hammer of Benton supported Goff’s initial proposal, which would have cost more than $900,000. Goff said she was disheartened that they submitted under their own names an idea strikingly similar to hers. From left: Artist Lakey Goff of Hot Springs Village, Capitol Arts and Grounds Commissioner Michael Harry and state Sen. Kim Hammer, a Benton Republican, discuss the upcoming “monument to the unborn” on Capitol grounds on June 11, 2024. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) “There’s corruption and there’s deceit, and this system has got to be accounted for in the name of Jesus,” she said in an interview. Hammer disputed Goff’s statement in an interview, saying “everything has been done in a transparent, open manner.” “The one thing that needs to be clarified is that this was never about a living wall,” Hammer said. “It was about a monument to the unborn.” The commission asked for new monument proposals in January due to slow fundraising and Goff’s attempt to copyright her initial design, which would make it unchangeable. In March, Goff submitted to Secretary of State Cole Jester’s office an altered proposal with an estimated $345,000 price tag. Bentley and Hammer’s proposal would cost about $229,000, and there were four other submissions of varying costs and designs. Jester will have to approve the commission’s choice before the project can move forward. The monument’s expected location is the grassy space behind the Capitol and to the north of the Supreme Court building. Rep Mary Bentley CACG LW submission The lawmakers’ proposal would be 8 feet by 16 feet, smaller than Goff’s proposal of 10 feet by 33 feet, and would not include speakers with waterfall sounds. The estimated $229,000 includes a $20,816 maintenance retainer, while maintenance for Goff’s design would have cost $33,500 per year. The only other proposal the commission considered was a design of an empty tomb with engravings of fetuses on it. Commissioner Tony Leraris supported this proposal and voted against Bentley and Hammer’s. The rest of the commission voted down the tomb idea because its projected cost was about $1 million. “I think a lower-cost project [is something] people would get excited about and see it being achievable, knowing that if they go out and have a good fundraiser, they possibly can get to this pretty quickly,” commission Chair Stephen Bright said in an interview. He said he hoped the commission would “stop kicking the can and hopefully get something resolved.” The effort to raise private funds for the monument has garnered roughly $28,000 since May 2024, and $17,276 is currently in the monument’s trust fund after the state paid Development Consultants Inc. for preliminary engineering and plan development expenses. Goff said she did the legwork to raise the funds specifically for her proposal, and she likened using the money for Bentley and Hammer’s proposal to theft with no accountability. “What they have done is a disgrace, and it is unrighteous, and it is not in alignment with the will of God for the state of Arkansas,” Goff said. The monument would commemorate abortions performed in Arkansas during the nearly 50 years Roe v. Wade was in effect until the Supreme Court overturned the landmark ruling in 2022. Earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas called the proposed monument “an offensive and inappropriate use of public space.” “At a time when Arkansas faces serious challenges affecting people’s everyday lives, efforts like this do nothing to support the dignity, autonomy, or wellbeing of Arkansans,” ACLU of Arkansas spokesperson Megan Bailey said Tuesday. The proposal also drew complaints from a few Republican lawmakers who voted against the monument. Bentley and Hammer’s living wall proposal includes a retaining wall surrounding the plants. The wall would be inscribed with a verse from Psalm 139. The monument is moving forward as the state is appealing a recent decision ordering a Ten Commandments monument be removed from the Capitol grounds. A federal judge ruled in March that the state must take down the monument because it violates the First Amendment prohibition on laws favoring an establishment of religion. The order is on hold while the appeal is in progress. Federal judge blocks law requiring Ten Commandments monument at Arkansas Capitol Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Opening date for Scott County Park pool pushed back to July Officials said staffing issues with the contractor working on the pool's renovation have kept the project from being completed on time.
	Enjoy high-energy baseball with the Clinton LumberKings vs. the Chicago Snowballs Come out to the ballpark for unique high-energy, entertainment-first baseball like no other! Nate Vander Bleek joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the excitement as the Clinton LumberKings battle the Chicago Snowballs. For more information, click here.
	Illinois lawmakers weighing proposal expanding housing and support services for people leaving prison HB0624, the Home for Good Act, would create statewide reentry housing and support services for people leaving prison. It now moves through the Senate, with a committee decision deadline of Friday, May 17.
	ICE arrests 8 people in Davenport ICE officials said the people were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into immigration violations and other related offenses.
	Illinois, Iowa in top 10 highest number of tornadoes so far this year April, May and June are peak severe weather months in the QC.
	NC lawmakers revamp bills to bar ‘adversarial’ nations from farmland NC lawmakers are considering a revised bill that would ban "adversarial nations" from buying farmland within 50 miles of military bases such as Ft. Bragg, shown here, and National Guard facilities. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)North Carolina lawmakers are revisiting bills that would ban certain foreign groups from purchasing farmland in the state. Republicans on Tuesday presented an updated version of House Bill 133, “NC Farmland and Military Protection Act,” which would prohibit “adversarial” foreign countries from buying agricultural land situated within 50 miles of a military installation. Rather than listing each individual country, the “adversarial” nations would be the ones in the International Traffic and Arms Regulations list, according to Sen. Bob Brinson (R-Craven). These include countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. “I think it’s valuable to tie it to something we don’t have to keep updating. The federal government actually updates that,” Brinson told the Senate Judiciary Committee. Affected military installations include Fort Bragg, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and National Guard facilities. Last year, a version of the bill passed unanimously in the House, but stalled in the Senate. Brinson said he had worked with colleagues to address concerns. The earlier version would have barred foreign adversaries from purchasing land within 75 miles of a military base, while a companion, Senate Bill 394, “Protect Foreign Ownership of NC Land,” proposed a 25-mile radius. Lawmakers compromised on a 50-mile radius, Brinson said, and added National Guard facilities to the list of protected military installations. But Senate Democrats raised concerns on Tuesday over the bill’s framework. Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) said portions of her southern Wake County district are within 50 miles of Fort Bragg. “There are also a lot of folks who have immigrated here, either this generation or prior generations, who are from China, and a lot of folks who come and start small businesses in this growing area,” she said. The bill’s new version removed portions referring to individuals, Brinson said in response. It focuses on state-controlled enterprises and governments. “We just didn’t have the expertise and the time, for that matter, to figure out how to write a substantive bill and not impact people we didn’t want to impact,” he said. Grafstein questioned the 50-mile radius, saying other states with similar legislation have settled on five or 10 miles. “I don’t know that a foreign government is going to set up in Holly Springs because Fort Bragg is 50 miles away,” she said. “I don’t know that there’s a magic number, but a lot of other states have much smaller ranges, and I think there’s a reason for that.” The Senate panel will take a vote on H133 at a later hearing. Changes were made to S394 as well, implementing the same language as H133. The House Judiciary 2 Committee voted to approve the updated version of S394 Tuesday afternoon, sending it to the House Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of NC Newsline
	ICE arrests 8 people in Davenport, officials say ICE officials said the people were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into immigration violations and other related offenses.
	ICE arrests 8 people during raid in Davenport The arrests happened on April 22. According to ICE, the arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into immigration violations and other related offenses.
	About 7 million kids live in a home with a loaded and unlocked gun, a study finds The new study in JAMA Network Open also finds that more parents leave their guns loaded and unlocked when they have teenagers, despite the fact that suicide risk goes up for this age group.
	NJ lawmakers advance bill aimed at curbing deadly sepsis cases State lawmakers want to require hospitals to adopt protocols to address sepsis, which kills roughly 2,000 adults here annually. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill that would require New Jersey hospitals to adopt protocols to reduce sepsis, a condition that experts say is hard to diagnose and kills roughly 2,000 adults here each year. The Assembly health committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of the bill following testimony from families who lost children to sepsis, a systemic reaction to an infection that can quickly spiral into multiple organ failure and death. The vast majority of cases stem from a minor bacterial, viral, or other type of infection, according to experts. Sherwin Tsai and his wife, Sally, lost their son Clemson to sepsis within weeks of the boy’s birth in 2024. “You have the power to save children’s lives. Please do the right thing in Clemson’s memory,” Sherwin Tsai testified Monday. “Sally and I have to spend the rest of our lives without our son. But your vote can make sure that others don’t.” Controversial transgender healthcare bill clears key vote in NJ New Jersey approved regulations that required hospitals to adopt sepsis protocols in 2018, and hospital officials say their staff members undergo regular training on diagnosing and treating the condition. Sepsis, which can appear like severe flu, can be hard to recognize and can rapidly escalate. The New Jersey Hospital Association’s Christine Stearns told lawmakers the existing measures are working, noting that the sepsis mortality rate in emergency rooms has declined from 11% to 5%. “We do have a strong regulatory framework that has been adopted,” Stearns said, “those are in place and are working.” Stearns said the bill would extend work hospitals are now doing and thanked sponsors for including language intended to ensure sepsis treatment is fully covered by insurance carriers, but she did not take a position for or against the legislation. While New Jersey’s sepsis death rate has declined, it still exceeds the national average, according to state health data. The state reported 16 sepsis deaths out of 100,000 people in 2023, the most recent year available, while the national average is 10 out of 100,000. Dr. Cindy Hou, an infectious disease expert who works with the Sepsis Alliance, an advocacy group, said that regulatory protocols have made a difference, but the improvement is small, statistically. “While a lot of good work has already been done, we can certainly do better,” she said. Nationwide, sepsis occurs in some 1.7 million annually, resulting in roughly 350,000 adult deaths, according to the Sepsis Alliance. About half of those who survive face lingering health issues, including limb amputations and post-traumatic stress. Lucia Perpina described her own experience with the condition, which led her to be hospitalized in 2015 after she developed sepsis from a urinary tract blockage. “I am one of the lucky ones who survived sepsis,” Perpina said. Perpina said she struggles today with memory lapses, cognitive damage, and the loss of internal organs. “Sepsis is survivable, but the status quo must change so that sepsis deaths are diminished,” she said. The Senate health committee passed an identical version of the bill in March. It faces additional votes before it can be sent to Gov. Mikie Sherrill for her signature or veto. The bill would require hospitals to develop and train staff on sepsis protocols for specific patient groups — including adults, children, the elderly, and pregnant women — to encourage early recognition of the condition and prompt treatment. Hospitals would also need to collect and report data on their work to the state Department of Health. Assemblywoman Maureen Rowan (D-Atlantic) told witnesses Monday that her brother almost died from sepsis that developed after an infection. “Your efforts today are personal to me and I can’t thank you enough for your advocacy,” she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	QCA pools prepare to open for 2026 season Summer is almost here and swimming pools across the Quad Cities are preparing for another season of fun in the sun.
	Years after teaching license is suspended, Iowan’s nursing license is suspended Ten years after losing his teaching license over allegations of inappropriate conduct with a 14-year-old student, an Iowan is now facing a two-year suspension of his nursing license. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)An Iowan who lost his teaching license 10 years ago over allegations of inappropriate conduct with a student is now facing a two-year suspension of his nursing license. In June 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing filed disciplinary charges against licensed practical nurse Michael David Suplee, 36, of Prairie City, accusing him of engaging in “repeated verbal or physical conduct which interferes with another health care worker’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.” The board also charged Suplee with engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. According to the board, at some undisclosed time in the past Suplee was working as a nurse at VIA Carlisle — a nursing home now known as Accura Healthcare of Iowa — when he “acted inappropriately toward colleagues in a manner that warrants discipline.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The board has publicly disclosed no other information about the nature of the alleged conduct. In order to resolve the disciplinary case, Suplee and the board recently agreed to a settlement that calls for his nursing license to be suspended for a minimum of two full years, then placed on probation for an additional four years. The agreement stipulates that before Suplee’s license can be reinstated, he must complete 20 hours of educational training on professional boundaries, plus 10 hours of educational training on professional ethics. Suplee will also be required to undergo a mental health evaluation by a board-certified psychologist and participate in counseling or therapy to address any issues with maintaining professional boundaries. The agreement also indicates Suplee may have to submit to substance abuse valuation if that’s recommended by his case manager. Nursing license issued after teaching license is suspended State records show the Board of Nursing issued a Suplee a license to practice nursing in Iowa in October 2023 — seven years after the state suspended his student-teaching license due to allegations of misconduct involving a 14-year-old former student. Iowa Board of Educational Examiners records show that Suplee worked for the Carlisle School District as a special-education student teacher from March 2015 through May 1, 2015. On May 21, 2015, the board fielded a complaint alleging that on May 6, 2015, Suplee violated the standards of professional ethics and practices when he was involved in inappropriate text messaging with a former student. According to the board, Suplee had contacted a 14-year-old, female, special-education student via Snapchat, arranged to pick the girl up at swimming pool in Carlisle and then took her to his house in Norwalk where he allegedly attempted to persuade her to have a drink made with alcohol. Suplee was criminally charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and with providing alcohol to persons under legal age. According to the board, court records that are now sealed from public view show that on July 17, 2015, Suplee entered a guilty plea to the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was granted a deferred judgment that would result in the conviction being expunged from the public record after the successful completion of one year’s probation. As part of a plea agreement, the charge of supplying alcohol to a person under the age of 21 was dismissed, according to the board. At a board hearing, Suplee claimed he met with the girl only after she sought his “counsel and advice” due to some family issues she was experiencing, and he denied having any romantic feelings toward the girl, according to Board of Educational Examiners records. In suspending Suplee’s student-teaching license, the board stated, “This was not a close case,” noting that in his Snapchat messages to the girl, Suplee had “repeatedly called (her) ‘beautiful.’ Moreover, the wording and tone of his messages are completely inconsistent with his self-serving claim that he was only trying to provide support for (the girl) concerning her family issues.” The board added: “No reasonable educator could believe that it was appropriate or within professional bounds for the educator to persuade a 14-year-old special education student to sneak out of her parent’s home at 11:30 at night; meet the educator at a public pool; allow the educator to drive the student to the educator’s home in another town; and spend time alone with the educator in his home.” Suplee did not respond to calls and emails Tuesday from the Iowa Capital Dispatch. His attorney, Jefferson Fink, declined to comment on the Board of Nursing case and noted that the teaching-license issues predated his representation of Suplee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	NC health officials are monitoring the hantavirus outbreak, but say North Carolina isn’t at risk Hantavirus is spread through prolonged close contact with rodents or rodent droppings, but the Andes rodent associated with this strain of the virus is not native to the Carolinas. (Photo: CDC)The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm one person from North Carolina is among the passengers evacuated from the cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak. That passenger, along with 15 other Americans, was transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit for monitoring. No further details are being shared about the individual to protect their privacy. Symptoms of hantavirus can develop between four to 42 days after being exposed. On a call with reporters Tuesday, state health officials said they’re monitoring the situation, but added there’s no reason for people in North Carolina to worry about an increased risk of contracting the virus. North Carolina Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Carl Williams says the risk of infection in North Carolina remains extremely low. “We’ve only had one case identified in North Carolina and that was in 1995. In the Southeast, it’s an extremely rare disease,” Williams told reporters Tuesday. Hantavirus is spread through prolonged close contact with rodents or rodent droppings, but the Andes rodent associated with this strain of the virus is not native to the Carolinas. “This is something that is concerning if you live in Argentina or you travel there,” Williams said. “Likewise, if you travel to or visit the Four Corners region or parts of California where this disease is endemic, it could be a concern. It’s really not something we suggest that people should worry about here in North Carolina.” While three deaths on the MV Hondius caused by the virus have garnered international attention in recent days, the state veterinarian reiterated this is not another global pandemic like COVID-19. “This is a virus that is not easily transmitted. So, this is not something that’s going to become a pandemic,” Williams said. He said for those traveling this summer or planning a cruise, there’s no reason to cancel those plans. “The cruise ship industry has historically been associated with norovirus outbreaks, which is a gastrointestinal illness,” Williams said. “Although they’ve made a lot of strides in reducing the number of outbreaks, it brings to mind — always wash your hands, before you eat, after you use the restroom. Basic cleanliness.” According to officials with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, federal health authorities will decide when quarantined passengers will return to their home states. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Quad City Area REALTORS CEO to retire next month Sharon Smith is closing on 47 years in the real estate industry.
	Davenport School District will demolish a pair of buildings dating back to WWI Two buildings, one of which had national registry potential, will be demolished by the Davenport School District.
	How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining beverage habits in the US How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining beverage habits in the USFor many of us, our beverage choices run on autopilot: picked fast, repeated every day, and barely noticed. Whether we start each day with the same mug of coffee or drink the same soda with dinner, these choices can become routine and almost automatic.But new data suggest those habits are changing.According to the second annual Keurig Dr Pepper State Beverages Trend Report, Gen Alpha and Gen Z (Gen A/Z) are approaching beverages with far more intention and choosing drinks based on mood, occasion, activity and even identity.Beyond routine consumption Keurig Dr Pepper According to Keurig Dr Pepper’s analysis, people are getting more specific about when and why they reach for a drink. Instead of routine consumption, drinks are being chosen, not defaulted to, and even small daily choices are becoming more variable.For Gen A/Z, it’s less about habit and more about how they feel, what they’re doing, and who they’re with. Drinks are showing up more in social moments, alongside meals, or when people are simply out and about. Variety is also key.Key data from the trend report found:Gen A/Z are nearly 60% more likely than older generations to choose drinks based on mood or occasion.59% of Gen A/Z beverage occasions are with others (vs. 50% of Millennials and older generations).65% occur with food (vs. 57% of Millennials and older).Gen A/Z are 40% more likely to consume beverages away from home.Gen A/Z are drinking more drinks per occasion (5 vs. 4 Millennials and older) and rotating across more categories each week (6 vs. 5).Drinks choices reflect who we areBelieve it or not, drinks are becoming a way people express themselves, not just something they grab out of habit. What someone chooses often reflects their lifestyle, personality, and even how they want to be seen. Younger consumers in particular are more open to trying new things and drawing inspiration from global flavors.According to the 2026 trend report:Gen A/Z are two times more likely than Millennials and older to choose brands that signal something about them.58% are seeking completely new or unexpected flavors (vs. 50%).57% are seeking globally inspired options (vs. 45%).56% are interested in limited-edition beverages (vs. 40%).Flavor is a major part of that shift. Fruity, sweet and bold profiles dominate younger consumers’ preferences, and nearly three-quarters of Gen Z coffee occasions include flavored coffee — more than double the rate of older consumers.Wellness now includes enjoyment Keurig Dr Pepper The report also highlights a changing definition of wellness. For younger consumers, wellness is less about restriction and more about how a drink makes them feel, whether that’s sustained energy, focus, hydration or comfort.Compared to Millennials and older generations, the data shows that Gen A/Z are:Approximately 60% more likely to consume enhanced water in the past day.Two times more likely to consume energy drinks weekly.75% more likely to consume sports drinks weekly.Gen A/Z also over-index on beverages with functional benefits, with 71% seeking function-forward drinks compared with 66% of Millennials.Why this shift mattersTaken together, this year’s trend report points to a clear shift. Drink habits aren’t as automatic as they used to be. Those familiar pairings are starting to loosen up, with people choosing drinks based more on the moment than routine.Coffee may still anchor the morning, but it is no longer a fixed ritual. A hot brew can turn into a flavored cold brew or an energy‑focused option, depending on the day. Long‑standing go‑to drinks and familiar pairings are loosening as consumers mix across categories based on mood, activity, and occasion.Hydration has evolved as well. Water remains essential, but it is increasingly part of a broader rotation that includes sparkling, flavored, and enhanced options folded into daily life.Overall, drink preferences are evolving and becoming less predictable.For younger consumers especially, beverage choices are personal, expressive, and tied to how they want to feel in the moment. What once happened automatically now reflects intention, and that shift is changing the role drinks play in everyday life.MethodologyThe Keurig Dr Pepper State of Beverages 2026 Trend Report was derived from a variety of quantitative and qualitative data sources, including national surveys from YouGov, Ipsos and Morning Consult, as well as Keurig Dr Pepper’s own proprietary data. For the purposes of this report, generations are grouped as Gen A/Z (ages 13-29) and Millennials and older generations (ages 30 and over).This story was produced by Keurig Dr Pepper and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport Schools gives a sneak peek of new Brady Street sports facilities Central High School baseball players, and other athletes, will be getting some upgrades this summer with a new field house and baseball field.
	Rock Island City Council approves the use of TIF funds for home improvements Rock Island aldermen have approved a TIF-funded housing rehabilitation pilot program to help homeowners in the North 11th Street and North Port TIF districts pay for home improvement projects.
	The SPLC survived firebombs and death threats. Will it survive Trump 2.0? The Southern Poverty Law Center is facing a serious threat from the Justice Department — and comes at a time when several former and current SPLC employees say the group is already deeply vulnerable.
	YWCA Quad Cities holding free Youth Mental Health Forum The YWCA Quad Cities will hold a free Youth Mental Health Forum on Thursday, May 28.
	Scott County Park Pool opening delayed due to construction staffing issues Swimmers who use the Scott County Park Pool will have to wait a little longer to enjoy the water. The pool's opening will be delayed due to contractor staffing issues that have prevented the ongoing pool renovation project from being completed on time. The pool was originally scheduled to open at the end of May [...]
	Lee County, Iowa Narcotics Task Force busts 2 on drug house, firearm charges While the search warrant was being served, investigators found methamphetamine, marijuana, two firearms, and drug paraphernalia.
	Free Girl Scout program helps girls get ready for kindergarten A new program from Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is helping girls get ready for kindergarten. “Make New Friends” is a four-part virtual series that helps current pre-K girls build confidence, social skills and kindergarten-ready behaviors in a fun and supportive environment. The series strengthens four key areas of early childhood development: [...]
	North American and Caribbean men's handball championship tournament in Bettendorf this week Top handball teams from across North America and the Caribbean will face off for a spot at the IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany.
	North Scott Press — May 13, 2026
	NC House plan would bolster, expand access to rural healthcare House Bill 1090 would establish a fund for new buildings, repairs and renovations, or other healthcare infrastructure projects in rural NC counties. The money would be used for grants or loans at below-market rates. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)The NC legislature’s House Health Committee endorsed a plan for improving rural residents’ access to healthcare by establishing a fund that would help pay for new or renovated facilities in regions where hospitals are struggling and some have already shut their doors. State legislators have discussed over the years making it easier for rural residents to obtain healthcare because many have to travel miles for routine office visits or hospital treatment. House Bill 1090 would establish a fund for new buildings, repairs and renovations, or other healthcare infrastructure projects in rural counties. The money would be used for grants or loans at below-market rates. The bill also establishes a Rural Healthcare Infrastructure Council to administer the fund. The new fund would get its start by taking over the assets of the Rural Health Care Stabilization Program, which was created in 2019 for Randolph Hospital. The stabilization program fund has a balance of a little more than $39 million. Rural Healthcare Initiative, a nonprofit collective, published a healthcare blueprint for the state’s rural counties last year. It took an inventory of healthcare resources in the state’s 78 rural counties, analyzed where rural residents receive care, and developed a forecast for future demand. NC has plenty of doctors and nurses to deliver babies, but rural counties still go without “That’s the blueprint that I’m hoping this fund and this council can address,” Rep. Timothy Reeder (R-Pitt), one of the bill’s lead sponsors, told the committee Tuesday. According to the Cecil G. Sheps Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, a dozen rural hospitals in the state have closed since 2005. “North Carolina owes a responsibility to its citizens in rural areas to have access to healthcare,” said Reeder, a medical doctor. “Unfortunately, across North Carolina in these rural areas, too many of our communities are suffering and dying for lack of healthcare infrastructure.” Continued financing for rural hospital infrastructure could come from state government, the federal government, philanthropies, or economic development funds, Reeder said. The new council would work with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on an annual plan. The General Assembly would need to approve the infrastructure plan before the council implements it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Get your copy of the 2026 Eldridge citywide garage sale map!
	Quad Cities law enforcement officers run torch relay for Special Olympics The Bettendorf and Davenport police departments have participated in the torch run for more than 30 years.
	Kathy Henningsen: Community difference-maker The Shannon clan of Long Grove is well-known for serving the community. And now they might well be known for joining the North Scott Hall of Excellence. After John Shannon (Class of ’65) in 2006 and Nancy Shannon (Class of ’72) in 2013, Kathy (Shannon) Henningsen is the latest to be inducted. She’s one of eight children born to Phyllis and Norbert Shannon and grew up on the family farm in rural Long Grove. Her school years predate the North Scott School District, and she began her learning in a series of rural one-room schoolhouses. “My first year of school was in Winfield No. 5.” She later attended a school near McCausland and also one near what is now Pride of the Wapsi pumpkin patch. But by the time she was a teenager, the North Scott School District was up and running, and she was one of the earliest students to attend. “The junior high and high school were mixed together when I was there,” Henningsen said. “We had one wing, and we had to go over to another wing to go to art.” She graduated from high school with the Class of 1968. After high school, she went to college, eventually earning a teaching degree from St. Ambrose. But she didn’t get a teaching job right away and initially went to work for Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric. She worked in a series of departments, including customer service and the line department. Meanwhile, she was still living in rural Scott County. One of her big hobbies was playing softball for town leagues. But she suffered a major injury, hurting her ribs when she slid into home plate and landed on a softball. It took several years for her to recover. At the time, she was engaged to Harvey Henningsen, who she married in 1982. “When I was supposed to go back to work, I was just about to be getting married. If I went back to the power company, I would have to go to work in Rock Island on the night shift starting at 10 p.m., going into homes by myself and working on furnaces.” The couple ruled that option out, and soon a new opportunity presented itself. There was an opening at Alan Shepard Elementary School, working with special education students. “Barry Lahann, I knew him really well, and he offered me the job. It was supposed to be one year, and it turned out to be 18 with Alan Shepard and North Scott.” Henningsen also kept busy in the community, helping young women with an opportunity she never had in high school. In the early years of the district, there were no girls’ sports – Title IX didn’t come along until 1972. So, Henningsen had limited opportunities for extracurriculars. She said band was one of the few activities she was able to participate in. By 1974, girls’ sports began to be offered at the high school, but there were still no opportunities for younger players. There was no counterpart for Little League or Pop Warner, and girls who wanted to play summer ball had no choice but to play for boys’ teams. So, the seeds for the Southern Wapsi Girls’ Softball League began to be planted. This gave girls from third grade through high school the opportunity to experience sports with their peers for perhaps the first time. “Frank Wood was the instigator. We got together and each town had a person in charge. It just started. We worked together and we had kids everywhere.” Henningsen started as a coach in 1975, when her mother asked her to help with a team her younger sister was on. She remained with the league until her retirement last year and served as president for decades. “I just enjoyed it. I worked with it for 50 years. I retired last year, but I’m still doing it. I’m the treasurer now, which is not a real tough job, like the president – making all the schedules and stuff and getting everybody organized with equipment. “I never had any girls that played, but now I have two granddaughters that are playing. It’s hard to drop out.” For her work with the Southern Wapsi Girls Softball League, Henningsen had a ball diamond named in her honor in Long Grove. Her volunteer work extended to the Special Olympics, an organization that her family has been heavily involved with for years, especially her sister Nancy. Henningsen’s work at Alan Shepard wasn’t the only thing to influence her fondness for children with special needs. “When I was in high school, I lived with a family as a babysitter, and they had a special needs son. And that started me going to Special Olympics. “You’ve gotta love the kids, because they’re so excited about what’s happening.” One of the major lessons she’s gotten to teach young people throughout the years is the spirit of competition, and how to be a good winner – and loser. Henningsen was also a familiar face in The Pit during winter sports seasons, sitting at the scorer’s table for 37 years. She retired from that duty following the last home basketball game this year. She’s not entirely sure how she lucked into that position. “I was pregnant with my son in 1989, and Keith Benjamin was getting close to retiring. And I can’t think of who the athletic director was at the time, but evidently, they asked me if I wanted to do it, and I really liked it. So, I did that for 37 years. “But you get so old and then you have to stop. You lose your vision, and I got to where I was too slow on the button. But again, that was just something to do with the school kids. People need volunteers.” Henningsen has been able to reflect on how life in the North Scott community has changed since she was a student. “Back then, it was a small community. Everybody knew everybody. So, it was fun to be involved in different things. “We never did get the chance to be involved in sports at school, because we graduated too soon. But I got to be involved with it outside of the playing part – keeping score and coaching.” But one thing definitely hasn’t changed about North Scott in all these years. “It’s just a community that cares.”
	Coya's Cafe to hold ribbon cutting for new location Coya's Cafe will hold a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its new Avenue of the Cities location.
	FDA commissioner is set to resign after tumultuous tenure The resignation would end Dr. Marty Makary's 13-month stint running the Food and Drug Administration, a period marked by turmoil and controversy.
	FDA commissioner resigns after tumultuous tenure The resignation ends Dr. Marty Makary's management of the Food and Drug Administration, which was marked by turmoil and controversy.
	Hottest Mays in Colorado since 1895 Maxim Grohotov // Shutterstock Hottest Mays in Colorado since 1895 In 2022, the continental United States experienced its third hottest July since 1895, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their 10 hottest days in the same month. The year prior, July marked the hottest month on record worldwide.Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The Earth’s temperature has climbed each decade since 1880 by about .14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total.Stacker compiled a ranking of the hottest Mays in Colorado since 1895 using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation.#10. May 2012- Average temperature: 55.4°F- Monthly high temperature: 71°F- Monthly low temperature: 39.8°F- Total precipitation: 0.91"#7. May 1996 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.5°F- Monthly high temperature: 70°F- Monthly low temperature: 41°F- Total precipitation: 2.01"#7. May 1963 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.5°F- Monthly high temperature: 70.9°F- Monthly low temperature: 40.1°F- Total precipitation: 0.69"#7. May 1897 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.5°F- Monthly high temperature: 70.5°F- Monthly low temperature: 40.6°F- Total precipitation: 2.13"#4. May 2020 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.6°F- Monthly high temperature: 70.7°F- Monthly low temperature: 40.5°F- Total precipitation: 1.07"#4. May 2006 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.6°F- Monthly high temperature: 71.3°F- Monthly low temperature: 39.9°F- Total precipitation: 0.91"#4. May 1958 (tie)- Average temperature: 55.6°F- Monthly high temperature: 70°F- Monthly low temperature: 41.1°F- Total precipitation: 2.09"#3. May 2000- Average temperature: 56.1°F- Monthly high temperature: 71.5°F- Monthly low temperature: 40.8°F- Total precipitation: 1.2"#2. May 2018- Average temperature: 57.2°F- Monthly high temperature: 72°F- Monthly low temperature: 42.4°F- Total precipitation: 1.54"#1. May 1934- Average temperature: 58.5°F- Monthly high temperature: 74.4°F- Monthly low temperature: 42.6°F- Total precipitation: 1.51"
	Dustin Henningsen: 'I always had home to think about' North Scott students of a certain age might remember Channel One, a news program designed for teenagers that usually aired during homeroom every day. Dustin Henningsen might remember it more than most. “When I was a freshman, I remember walking into homeroom and watching clips of the Gulf War on Channel One every morning. At the time, I didn’t know how that war would become a realization for me later in my own life.” Henningsen parlayed a successful career in the military to an even more successful career in law enforcement. But before that, he was just a kid growing up on a farm north of Long Grove. The son of Marvin and Cindy Henningsen, he started at Alan Shepard before being transferred to John Glenn when the attendance boundaries for the district changed in 1982. His parents farmed, while Marvin worked construction and was later employed with the Scott County Secondary Roads department until his retirement. Cindy also worked at the North Scott School District’s copy center. Henningsen has two younger siblings who also graduated from North Scott. Once he reached high school, Henningsen said he took as many classes as he could and was also a member of the wrestling team. He also held a number of jobs during his high school years. “None of the success that came later in my life would have been possible without the help of so many people in my younger years, especially high school. My parents demonstrated hard work their entire life, as did many of my employers throughout high school.” While Henningsen said he had a “a great experience in high school,” he ultimately graduated early. “During my junior year in high school, lots of kids were making plans to go to college or figuring out what they wanted to do after high school. I knew at that time I wasn’t ready for college, so I joined the Navy at 17 and started training one week a month through my junior and senior years. “In 1994, I had enough credits to graduate early, so I left halfway through my senior year for basic training, and by the time graduation came around that summer, I was already stationed on a ship in Japan.” After basic training in Dam Neck, Va., where he learned to be an air traffic controller and firefighter, he spent three years in Japan aboard the USS Dubuque. An amphibious ship, Henningsen said it was similar to the ship that recently picked up the Orion space capsule at the end of the Artemis II mission. Throughout his three years in the Navy, he traveled to and was stationed in 11 countries or locations. He was honorably discharged in the summer of 1997. Once he returned home, he started taking classes at Scott Community College. Eventually, he graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, majoring in psychology and criminology. In 1998, he joined the Army Reserves as an MP (military police). As he joined the Reserves, he was also applying at various law enforcement agencies in the Quad Cities. The same year, he was also offered a job as a trooper with the Iowa State Patrol. After graduating from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, he was stationed with the ISP in Ottumwa. Henningsen described the next two decades as “a whirlwind.” He balanced life as a trooper with his time in the Army Reserves. In 2002, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in response to 9/11 and worked in the first detention camp there for about a year. He was called back to service and deployed to Iraq in 2004. After returning from his deployment, he was honorably discharged from the Army in 2005 and went back to work as a trooper. “The patrol gave me so many opportunities and life was extremely busy after 2005. “Over the next 14 years, I spent time with our tactical unit assisting with felony warrants and taking down methamphetamine labs. I also became a drill instructor for five of our academies and got the opportunity to train over 100 of our new peace officers.” During his later years with the ISP, he joined the auto theft unit, which gave him the opportunity to return to the Quad Cities with his family. Henningsen met his wife, Cherie, in the military in 2001. They have been married for 21 years. Cherie taught psychology and sociology at North Scott High School for 11 years before leaving in 2024 to pursue a second master’s degree. The couple has a daughter, Gracie, who graduated from North Scott in 2024. She’s now a junior at the University of Northern Iowa, where she’s majoring in criminology and psychology, perhaps taking a page from her parents’ book. In 2019, Henningsen was promoted to a special agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. “Since that time, I have been assigned to our major crime unit, which investigates homicides, death investigations, different types of abuse – child and adult – and other felony-level cases.” Henningsen said he never expected to be inducted into the Hall of Excellence and said he’s thankful. “Life is hard, and it’s things like this that can help keep you moving in the right direction and give you the motivation to keep doing good things in the world.” Those good things include a lot of work within the community, volunteering with Special Olympics and Vacation Bible School, providing security for various community organizations, serving on boards and helping with the mobile food pantry. He’s also a frequent guest speaker at North Scott schools, teaching students about work in law enforcement. For as thankful as he is to be inducted into the Hall of Excellence, Henningsen said he’s even more grateful to have grown up in the North Scott community. “There are so many people that impacted my life in this community in a positive way. There is simply no way to thank them all. “Mr. Jeff Newmeister was my wrestling coach and biology teacher in high school, and no matter what kind of wrestling season I was having, he never gave up on me. Coach Clint Long played a role in that as well. “Mr. Dean Birkhofer also helped and encouraged me my senior year, prior to leaving for the military.” And despite his world travels, Henningsen said the North Scott community is the home he was always drawn back to. “When you grow up in a small community like North Scott, you get to know everyone, and you gain a sense of community. “When I left high school, I got the opportunity to serve or volunteer in 19 different countries around the world. No matter where I went or what I was doing in those countries, I always had ‘home’ to think about. The values I learned here have done well for me throughout my entire life. “This community is also why I wanted to come back after being gone for so long. I wanted to raise my family here. Having my wife teach for North Scott and our daughter graduate from here was a huge blessing.”

Wednesday, May 13th, 2026

Tuesday, May 12th, 2026