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Three arrested in Dixon diesel theft

Three people have been arrested in Lee County after deputies said they removed diesel fuel from the Nelson Township Building in Dixon to use in a gasoline-powered truck and tried to hide the evidence. A news release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office says deputies investigated a theft at the township building. An investigation determined [...]

Historic Hewitt family tree removed from TPC Deere Run

The tree planted on Friendship Farm's green was named in honor of the William A. and Patricia Hewitt family.

North Scott Press — March 25, 2026

Just a few bushels more

\With the arrival of spring, there will soon be a flurry of outdoor activity. But animals aren’t the only lumbering beasts awakening. Fire up the tractors and put last week’s snowfall firmly in the rearview. It’s planting season. While their equipment may have been resting, growers have hardly been sitting on their hands all winter. Agriculture is still a full-time job, even after the crop has been harvested and delivered. The hours may be nominally shorter, but there’s still maintenance and Farm Bureau meetings, economic outlook meetings and seminars to attend. And growers have got to take some time to meet with their team: a myriad of folks selling seed, equipment, chemicals and more. It’s all in pursuit of the big goal: How can I get just a few more bushels than last year? That comes down to the right source, right rate, right time and right place. In other words, agronomy. Agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production. It’s about growing crops efficiently, sustainably and profitably, while protecting the soil and the environment. It integrates everything from pest control to soil health to seed hybridization. And Shane Dierickx and Corbin Suiter could spend all day talking about it. Suiter is an agronomist/applicator at Liqui-Grow in Eldridge. He got his start interning with the company while he was a student at North Scott High School and Muscatine Community College, where he earned a degree in agricultural business. A member of the North Scott FFA, Suiter received his American Degree last fall. And it was in FFA that he first became interested in agriculture sales. That’s how he met Dierickx and eventually stepped into Dierickx’s place at Liqui-Grow. Dierickx is also a North Scott alum, and graduated from Iowa State University in 2020, also with a degree in ag business. He said he’s at least a fourth-generation farmer and now works with his dad Pat on the family farm, Pride of the Wapsi, in rural Long Grove. He said he learned a lot from his dad, whose career in ag started during the farm crisis of the 1980s. As Pat worked through the difficulty of trying to find a place in farming, he also went to work in sales, starting for what would become FS in Eldridge. Throughout his career he also worked for Garst, Bayer and finally AMVAC. After Pat retired from AMVAC in October, Shane took over his sales territory. But before that, Dierickx worked for Liqui-Grow. About four years ago, North Scott FFA instructor Emily Kruse asked him to come in and help prepare students for an ag sales competition. Dierickx agreed and had the students present their sales pitches to him so he could provide feedback. Suiter was the last to present. “He did a phenomenal job,” said Dierickx. “I couldn’t hardly say no. Honestly, he was so good. I literally said, word for word, I don’t want to have to sell against you, so I want you to come work for Liqui-Grow.” Suiter started at Liqui-Grow the summer after high school and continued during the two-year program at Muscatine Community College, which has built-in opportunities for internships. Following his internships, Suiter was hired as an applicator and now is shifting into an ag sales job. After Dierickx left for AMVAC, Suiter took on about half of his accounts. How agronomists help growers Suiter said agronomy can help growers increase yields and use tools like fertilizer and water more efficiently, as well as manage pests and diseases. All of this helps maintain soil health and protect the land. Dierickx said helping growers be good stewards of the land is one of the most important factors of agronomy. “It’s really the science of producing plants – whether that plant is corn, beans, cotton. Or if it’s pumpkins or sunflowers, peppers, tomatoes, you name it. So, while we do that, we have to make sure that we put the nutrients back into the soil that we’re taking out.” There’s even a historical component to agronomy – consider the Dust Bowl of the 1920s. The drought at the time was compounded by poor farming practices, where the ground was overworked and overfarmed, and the soil wasn’t properly taken care of. Farming practices changed dramatically in the wake of the Dust Bowl, and growers are now more forward-thinking. And that’s something that Suiter keeps in mind. “Another big thing is just protecting the land for future generations, too. Because, a lot of farmers, as they get older, in 10 or 20 years, they won’t be doing this anymore. Someone has to take over that farm. Keeping the soil in good health is something that, for a lot of farmers, is very important to them.” Dierickx said that’s one of many lessons he’s learned from his dad over the years. “He always instilled in me that being a good steward of the land is wanting to make sure that there’s land to farm if I have kids or grandkids and they want to farm.” Suiter is working with a customer in the Princeton area. While his children aren’t so interested in farming, he has a grandson that has become interested in agriculture as a potential career. “We have to make sure that there’s land to farm, so that if Carter wants to farm, he can,” said Dierickx. But as growers consider their land, they also have to balance being a good steward with profitability for their farm. “We could go out and recommend 10,000 treatments, and they could grow 1,000 bushel corn or 500 bushel beans, but if they’re only making 10 cents per acre because of all those treatments, it just doesn’t end up panning out unless they are an astronomically large farmer,” said Dierickx. “And even then, not so much.” “A big thing is balancing those outputs with inputs,” said Suiter. “I think success in my job is very much correlated to the farmer’s success. If I’m out here pushing all these fufu juices and everything else and making them spend a lot more money on things that maybe aren’t going to help increase their yield, then they’re not going to be able to make a profit. “Seeing the farmer succeed means that I’m doing my job well.” Working on goals The winter months can be just as important as crop season for growers. Economic impact summits give an outlook on the potential global marketplace over the next 12 months. This can also help determine what crops get planted. Growers also spend a lot of time looking at their yields from the recently ended harvest and determining what methods may have worked better than others. Suiter said he often finds himself having sit-down meetings with many of his customers. “There’s always a conversation had after harvest, going over everything – what worked, what didn’t work, what do we need to do next year? That’s kind of the big overview conversation, and then during those winter months, it’s where you talk about, ‘Hey, this is kind of new. Are you interested in trying it?’” Dierickx said the winter months are also about building relationships. “You get to hear about the family; you get to hear about their kids or their grandkids. Because, what’s the average age of a farmer anymore? Sixty something? So, you get that opportunity to build the relationship with these guys and learn – ‘Hey, I was shooting for 210. We got 208, really close to the goal. But that two extra bushels could have gotten me the opportunity to spend a little more time with my kids.’ And then you get to understand, why is the yield goal 210.” “That’s one of the best parts of doing what we do,” agreed Suiter. “We get to meet all of these people and it’s just all of these relationships that you get to build and grow throughout the years. It’s not always just about selling things. It’s about building that relationship, learning about people, and developing friendships and relationships through it all.” Taking the time to build relationships pays off during the busy days when the crop is in the field. “It’s a lot of teamwork, too,” said Dierickx. “When these guys go into busy season, it’s Execute Mode only. You have to have the trust built between you and your customer, you and your applicator, you and your manager, any other kind of co-workers. And if they haven’t properly used that time in the winter to build this relationship and that trust, things can get tough. It does get tough. Because you’re working for, honestly, 54 days straight. No rain in the forecast, there’s always work to be done.” “Working 17-plus hours a day. It gets really tiring,” added Suiter. He described the Eldridge Liqui-Grow location as “kind of a family. Everybody looks out for each other; everybody helps each other out. If I have a breakdown, then I know when I get back, the guys are going to be waiting there with all the tools out, ready to help fix it. It’s not every man for himself. It’s one big team. “And that’s something that I tell growers, too. Yes, I’m the face that you’re going to see when somebody comes out and talks. But when you’re working with me, or you’re working with another salesman, you have an entire team behind us that’s looking out for you as well. It’s definitely them family kind of feeling that I get in the relationships with my co-workers and everything. And it makes me excited to go back to work every day, because I know that we’re going to have fun together. We’re going to make the most of it.  Yeah, it sucks and we’re all going to get tired, but we’re all going to look out for each other and help each other out.” New technology advances One technology that ag manufacturers have been working on is the seed tube. “The seed tube delivers the seed from the planter box down to the furrow, which is the V cut into the ground, where the seed goes before it gets covered up,” explained Dierickx. He said a factor that manufacturers like Deere, Kinze and Case are all trying to work on is how to get the corn planted so the pointed part of the seed (the tip cap) goes in facing down.    “That’s what’s going to give the quickest emergence, and the best opportunity for your coleoptile to go up and your radicle to go down,” said Dierickx. “Because your radicle becomes your roots, and your coleoptile becomes your actual plants and leaves, specifically for corn. And they’ve found that if you can get that to happen, it’ll emerge from the ground 24 hours faster than if you got it planted upside down. “Where do the next 10 bushels come from? That’s the question. How do you take this ground from 200 bushel ground to 210, without costing yourself the equivalent of 12 bushels.” Crop mapping is also a technology that has been emerging within the last five years. While there are several companies exploring the technology, Suiter has been specifically working with John Deere equipment. He and a grower go out into a field on a side-by-side and record boundaries and waterways. That information is sent to John Deere Ops Center from their computer, and a map is created. The data from the map is then input and sent to sprayer rigs using Exact Apply, which is individual nozzle control. “There’s 71 nozzles on a sprayer,” said Dierickx. “Say you’re driving through a waterway, and the waterway is at an angle and you’re driving into it square. It’ll shut off the nozzles individually as you get into the waterway, and as soon as you get out of the waterway, it’ll turn them back on.” Nozzle technology has also improved significantly over the years. Dierickx said it used to be that the nozzles on the entire boom had to be turned off. But gradually, more precision has been added. “A lot of what these machines are capable of doing when they get into these mapped fields is, they no longer have to outline waterways,” said Suiter. “If you have Roundup or something and you spray it through those waterways, you’re going to kill it and you’re going to make the farmer pretty mad. Before Exact Apply, and the machines that aren’t equipped, you’re driving around these waterways and outlining them, which is less efficient. “Then, when you’re going around the waterways, you have to run over a little bit of crop going around it – which, the farmer understands that’s what has to be done – but now you can reduce running over crop with just being able to go straight through waterways, because it’ll shut off automatically.” “It decreases your overspray,” said Dierickx. “It also decreases your time in the field, which ends up decreasing the amount of diesel burned, which decreases your emissions. There’s a lot of good things. Because I can confidently tell you, no one wants to use more of anything if they don’t have to, because it becomes more expensive.” Suiter said Liqui-Grow is also working on technology to maximize fertilizer efficiency, by promoting uniform application of chemicals. “Putting the fertilizer where the crop needs it, not just blanket, throwing it all out onto the field. Really trying to put a concentrated band of fertilizer where the crop needs it.” That system is Exact Strip, which also uses GPS to exactly locate where chemicals need to be sprayed. John Deere also has a system called See and Spray, which uses artificial intelligence to help distinguish weeds from plants. Dierickx said there’s also a greater push for environmental protection to help preserve vital ecosystems. “These retailers and these growers are listening. They are doing those things. Especially around here, split applying nitrogen. Nitrogen can come in a lot of forms, but it all ends up in the nitrate form, which is what gets in the water system. Split applying it helps a tremendous amount … not only does it help keep it from going in the water, it’s better for the plant. “These guys are trying to be good stewards of the land, not just because the government says so. Because it ends up returning better money for them and because they want to see this world continue to grow.” Getting back in the field With last week’s snow melting away, growers were aiming to start getting back in the fields this week – Suiter estimated March 23. Dierickx said the snow might have actually helped get some additional subsoil moisture back into the ground. With the wet ground and the soil starting to warm back up, “We want to get out there, put our spring fertilizer on and get geared up to put our pre-emerge chemical on,” said Suiter. Once the crop goes in the ground, a strict timeline starts to emerge with the plants. Certain chemicals can’t be sprayed once the crop starts growing or reaches a certain height. While the optimal soil temperature for corn and soybeans is between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit at two inches deep, they can germinate at a minimum of 50 degrees, if the soil has been that temperature for at least three days. Crops can be planted in colder soil, but they can go into what Dierickx described as a “hibernation mode” and won’t germinate until the soil warms up adequately. “The longer a plant stays in the ground, its yield can go down,” he said. “The faster you can get it up and out of the ground and evenly emerged.” Youth in agriculture As younger ag professionals, Dierickx and Suiter have also gotten a first-hand view of some of the challenges faced by the industry. But that’s not a bad thing, they say. “You get quickly exposed to real world challenges that farmers face, and you get to find solutions to them,” said Suiter. “The culture tends to be collaborative … so even as somebody new, or somebody young, you get to learn from experienced agronomists, all over, at different locations. You get to pick their brains, and you get to bring your perspectives to the table as well.” He said there are some generational differences with growers now. “If I go out and talk to a grower who’s 65 or 70 years old, we’re going to have a different conversation than when I talk to a new farmer who’s maybe in their 30s. There’s that generational gap. People from different generations expect different things.” He and Dierickx pointed to the emergence of agricultural influencers on social media. “A 70-year-old farmer isn’t going to be influenced by TikTok videos or YouTube videos,” said Suiter. “Liqui-Grow puts out their L.E.A.D. Academy videos, and maybe somebody who is in their 30s is going to be more receptive to that. It just kind of goes into the way that you’re going to work with your growers and understanding that there’s going to be generational gaps and what they tend to prefer when it comes to their farming practices or the way to reach out to them and how to work with them is a little bit different.” Dierickx said there’s also a lot to learn about the ag industry, and there’s a certain amount of pressure knowing that farming is an expensive endeavor. “As inputs go up, you’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars for one person …  as inputs continue to go up, millions of dollars for one person. And the amount of stress that can go with that, because if you make a wrong decision – you spray your bean treatment too late, you kill the whole field. That could be $100,000 for one field. So, there’s a lot of pressure to get it right every single time. There are just so many things you have to keep track of, and you’re going 1,000 miles per hour.” Suiter said that’s what’s helpful about working in a collaborative environment, especially where he can rely on other agronomists and ag professionals. “Nobody wants to see you sink or fail. Everybody wants to watch you succeed as well. And so, they’re going to do what they can to help.” “You can’t understate the community aspect, the family aspect of people that just want to watch you succeed,” said Dierickx. “It can be pretty nerve-racking when you’re working with a fourth or fifth generation farmer and you make a mistake that could bankrupt them. Especially in the next three years – I don’t think it’s going to get any easier in the next three years. But the fact that you have people that want to see you succeed is a silver lining in the cloud.” Dierickx and Suiter said now is a great time for a young person to consider going into agriculture. Suiter said there are tremendous learning opportunities in all facets of the industry. “All of these older people that are farming, at some point, they’re going to retire, and we’re going to need a new flood of young agronomists, young farmers to take over and be educated and knowledgeable about farming practices, and have an understanding of how to use new technologies that are coming in. There’s that incentive of just so much to be able to learn – whether it’s how to run a sprayer or how to run a planter or a combine, or learn the basics of the chemistries of the chemicals or fertilizers and what it takes to grow a good crop.” Dierickx pointed out the opportunities at the Regional Innovation Center in Eldridge, including the rapidly expanding diesel mechanics program through Eastern Iowa Community College. Between new farming equipment and the trucks to haul grain and chemicals, diesel mechanics is another opportunity for young agricultural professionals. Then there are new opportunities for applicators, drivers and other, lesser-known facets of agriculture. Suiter said he sees agriculture going towards a more precise, sustainable and data-driven future. “Growers are increasingly looking to maximize efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.” That means integrating new technologies, such as precision nutrient management and soil health monitoring. There is also growing interest in plant nutrition, and tailoring specific crop needs to local conditions. “Whether that’s soil types or nutrient removal rates for specific crops. The products and fertilizers, like the ones we develop at Liqui-Grow, allow farmers to respond to crop stress by putting on uniform fertilizer and bands, or using our new technology, Exact Strip, to optimize yields and improve overall plant health.” Looking ahead, Suiter said he also sees a blend of innovative plant nutrition solutions, advanced digital tools and sustainable practices leading the way in agriculture. “Ultimately, it’s about feeding a growing world efficiently, while protecting the resources that agriculture depends on, like soil, water and the environment.” “I feel like every new year, there’s a new thing where you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s part of agriculture? Join the club,’” said Dierickx. “Because I think back in the day … my grandfather grew up in the 1920s. He grew up hooking up plows, a two-bottom plow, to horses. And he got to watch John Deere come out with tractors. The original combine was a pull-behind on an open cab tractor for one, maybe two rows. And then you get to watch Kinze out in Williamsburg come out with their brand of planters … there’s so many different parts. There’s R&D, there’s agricultural engineering, agricultural business, agricultural studies, there’s so, so many things. “It’s all about getting the next 10 bushels, or the next one pound a day rate of gain, or the next more efficient engine, or the strongest 135-foot boom on a sprayer. It is a really, really cool time.”  

King's Harvest Ministries needs bottled water donations

Temperatures may be slowly starting to rise, but King’s Harvest Ministries is addressing the critical need for bottled water now. A post on the King’s Harvest Ministries’ Facebook page says the group needs donations of bottled water to help care for the many people they serve each day. Water is crucial for maintaining wellness and [...]

Watch out for tractors this planting season

As farmers prepare to go back into the fields, they’ll be driving their equipment again, too. That means tractors on roadways. And that means drivers should be mindful and careful of traffic. “There have been lots of times, and times in this community, where things have happened. They are very unfortunate, and we’ve lost really good people,” said Shane Dierickx. “So, as we go into this warmer time period, there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to want to be on the road because they want to ride motorcycles, they want to ride four-wheelers, they want to get out and walk.” “Road safety is so important, when you’re going to have tractors, planters, sprayers, all out on the road,” said Corbin Suiter. “Just leave an extra five minutes early or something like that, because, at the end of the day, we just all want to get back to our families as well.” “Every day there’s a beautiful sunrise; let’s make sure we see the next one, because you’re going to be sharing the road no matter what,” said Dierickx. “Whether that’s with motorcycles and four-wheelers – because they’re already hard to see – but you’re going to be sharing with planters, tillage tools, sprayers, you’re going to be sharing whether it’s a tender truck or a semi truck that could be hauling grain or a fertilizer or chemical. Just keep your eyes open.” He said accidents frequently happen when drivers become frustrated and rush to get around farm equipment. Suiter said that it is often difficult for machine operators to see other traffic, because there are many blind spots on the equipment. “God forbid, you could run the sprayer off the road, or, God forbid, you go around, and you don’t see a car coming and you have a head-on collision. I’ve almost seen that numerous times.” “Whether it’s grown or made, pretty much everything came from a plant or an animal. So, we just need to make sure that we’re taking the time to have the reverence these big machines deserve,” said Dierickx.       

Wilton builds for the future

Olivia Sippy, agriculture education teacher at Wilton High School, doesn’t have a classroom. “I’m mobile,” Sippy explained on a recent visit. Her old classroom has been cordoned off as Wilton undertakes an ambitious, $4 million expansion of its agriculture and industrial technology building. Sippy said that new facilities—a lab, classroom, and dedicated agricultural mechanics workshop—will give the give students “hands-on opportunities, on campus, on site.” Any given semester, Wilton’s agriculture education program enrolls a quarter of the 7–12 student body in classes that range from animal nutrition to tractor mechanics.  Since Wilton transitioned to tight, 40-minute class periods, Sippy said the program has struggled to bring students to the learning farm south of town. And as interest in ag mechanics has grown, the program has fought for space with industrial technology classes. The new facility will solve both problems, giving students the space they need to work with animals and large machines right on campus. “I just think it's going to give our teachers, and ultimately, the students, more opportunities to do things they currently can't do in the facilities that exist,” Superintendent Joe Burnett said. Sippy said they should be in the building by the start of the next school year. Project managers told the Wilton School Board earlier this month that the project was on schedule and on budget. A walk through the design Architect David Dobson began designing the expansion that year. That process began with “listening to the space needs of the staff,” he said. “Really, they know the best use of space to promote teaching and learning,” Dobson said. From the outset, the project would expand the existing agriculture and industrial technology building and connect it with the school. In the final design, a new agriculture laboratory, classroom, and storage spaces abut a corridor that runs from the Wilton cafeteria to the existing classrooms. A left turn at the end of that corridor leads to an entirely new agriculture mechanics shop, complete with eight welding booths. Dobson said that bringing all of the school facilities under one roof was a “secure approach to teaching and learning.” Sippy said that while school security hadn’t motivated the project, it was a consideration throughout the design process. Dobson said the design was practical and cost-effective, meeting staff and students’ needs without becoming a costly “Cadillac.” The laboratory, just across from the school cafeteria, will include a ramp, overhead door and animal wash station to allow students to work on animal handling on campus. Lab work can be carried out on six stainless steel tables. “Bringing animals in will help so much, because in our classes, we talk about animals so much, but we never really get the opportunity to bring them in,” Wilton senior Myli Geigle said. And you will not have to be in the room to participate in its activities. A large viewing window will give younger students, especially Wilton’s elementary schoolers, a chance to safely observe animals and older students. A dedicated prep space separates the lab from the new agriculture classroom which leads, by vestibule, to the existing greenhouse. It will keep plants and supplies safe from transport through cold weather, Sippy explained. The largest room of the expansion is the mechanics workshop, with doors large enough to bring in a combine head, and dedicated space for smaller tractors and other equipment.  In addition to classrooms, laboratory and workshops, the expansion adds private offices for Sippy and mechanics teacher Gabe Boorn as well as men’s and women’s restrooms.  Opportunities for students The project is designed to improve opportunities for students, and they are excited about it. Wilton junior and FFA officer Clara Schneider shows animals and loves to work with plants in the school greenhouse. She said the new lab space will allow her to “do more with growing seeds,” “doing things with a germinator,” and genetically modifying plants. “That's something Clara really wants to do,” Sippy added. “She wants to learn how to genetically modify or breed some plants of her own.” The new laboratory will make that possible. Not with more technology, but with more space. “Being able to have some dedicated lab space, where she can kind of put her stuff… we just don't have any room for that right now,” Sippy said. With the new building, Wilton’s agriculture program will be able to offer a supervised agricultural experience class. Sippy described it as an independent research project where advanced students get to “choose their own adventure.” “That is something that every ag kid is supposed to have. It's giving them an opportunity to put the knowledge into practice,” she said. More space will be key for students involved in mechanics, too. Boorn has “two tractors that have been donated,” Sippy explained, and “he wants to take a couple of kids and build those tractors up, restore them from the ground up.” “We have an eight row planter that our kids, with his instruction, have completely revamped, fixed,” she added—proof of instructional concept. But the old space could not handle a tractor. Freshman Gage Maurer comes from a Wilton farming family. He said that the new mechanics space would prepare him for a return home. “My end goal is to come back to the family farm,” he said. “I need to know what I’m doing somewhat for mechanics… being able to have the bigger ag space, we can work on bigger machinery, and know more of what's going on, like in the engine, and how to troubleshoot some of that stuff.” The mechanics space will also open up new room for the school’s industrial technology program, which shares its shop with the agriculture education. Although senior Geigle will never take class in the new building, said she is excited to stop in for a visit or two next year. “I'll be gone next year when the building is finally in place, but I'm really excited. A lot of us seniors, when we graduate, we're still very involved, whether we're showing animals or we're just coming every now and then to help,” she said. Funding the space Superintendent Joe Burnett said that when planning for the project began in 2024, Wilton approached the local Herb Townsend Foundation, begun by a late Wilton farmer. Dwight Glenny is Townsend’s nephew and chair of the foundation. Townsend “loved the town of Wilton and the people in it,” Glenny said. “He loved kids. He just wanted to do things that were good for kids and good for the community.” An expansion of Wilton’s ag program fit the foundation’s mission, and it agreed to pay for a $4 million expansion. “We’re pretty excited about it,” Glenny said. “Back in the 70s, when I was an ag student and an ag teacher—the ag programs have changed a huge amount since then.” “It isn’t just Wilton, it’s the whole state. FFA is growing,” he said. Equipping the next generation Burnett said the project’s goal was “to get kids excited about agriculture.” “Being in Iowa, we want to promote that as much as we can. We need young people going into the agricultural fields,” he said. “In today's world, we understand that there are a lot of pathways to success, and a four year, four year liberal arts degree is not the only pathway,” Burnett said. “We want to give kids opportunities to sample vocational offerings, so they can make a better decision on a career choice post–high school.” Sippy said the agriculture program, like a sprout in springtime, was always ready to grow. “I think that we can always grow. That's not necessarily adding classes ... It's just enhancing what we have,” Sippy said.

Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll highlights rising concerns about soil compaction

Farm equipment such as tractors, combines, grain carts and self-propelled sprayers have become larger and heavier in recent years, and concern about soil compaction and its impacts on crop yields has increased apace. The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, surveyed 945 farmers and found that they are increasingly concerned about soil compaction and that their views on management approaches are changing over time. To  examine  evolving  farmer perspectives on soil compaction, the 2025 Farm Poll survey included questions previously used in the 2013 Farm Poll, allowing researchers to compare responses over time. In terms of concerns, 80% of respondents agreed that they are concerned about the impact of soil compaction on the land they farm, up from 70% in 2013. Similarly, 81% agreed that they are concerned about the impact of heavy agricultural machinery on soil health, an increase from 75% in 2013. “Farms are getting larger while fieldwork windows are shrinking due to changing weather patterns, and equipment is getting bigger and heavier in order to plant and harvest faster,” said J. Arbuckle, director of the Farm Poll, professor and extension sociologist at Iowa State. “The results suggest that these changes are leading to increased worries about soil compaction and its impacts on yields.” There are many ways that farmers can manage soil compaction, and some are more effective than others. The survey repeated several items from the 2013 survey and added new ones to reflect recent developments in compaction management. Among  the  repeated  items, consideration of soil moisture when planning fieldwork garnered the most agreement at 92%, nearly identical to the 91% found in 2013. Similarly, agreement that wheel traffic control is an effective means of compaction management was 65% in both years. “There were also some important changes in perspectives,” said Mehari Tekeste, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State. “Agreement that use of no-till, which can improve soil structure and help mitigate compaction, is an effective compaction management practice increased from 57% to 63%.” The two new items included in the 2025 survey asked farmers about the use of cover cops and machinery with tracks rather than wheels as compaction management strategies. “Substantial majorities of farmers agreed that use of machines with tracks and planting of cover crops can help reduce soil compaction,” said Tekeste. “That said, for both items, 38% indicated uncertainty, which points to opportunities for additional outreach regarding these strategies.” “The finding that 56% of farmers agreed that cover crops can reduce soil compaction is important given that, in addition to compaction management, cover crops can also improve soil fertility and water quality by keeping nutrients in place,” Arbuckle added. “As farmers prepare for the 2026 planting season, it’s important that they consider compaction management strategies to maintain potential productivity,” said Tekeste. Farmers can review the ISU Extension and Outreach publication, “Understanding and Managing Soil Compaction,” to help with fieldwork planning. For more information, contact Arbuckle at arbuckle@iastate.edu. About the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Conducted annually since 1982, the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll gathers insights from farmers statewide to inform research, extension programs and policy decisions. This report and previous reports are available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Reflecting on a childhood back home on the farm

In 2009, my parents bought the Massachusetts dairy farm where I grew up. Leased one, really, for 30 years, and bought the five acres which held a farmhouse, barn, and field where they planted an orchard. Growing up, the farm seemed endless. Every road, trail, barn, field and garden had a name, most of which were inherited from previous owners. Wandering through them, my brother and I were adventurers rediscovering some lost territory. And it had been lost, shuttered in the 1980s when dairy farms died throughout the northeast. The previous owners had ridden horses. My brother and I had no neighbors our age, so there was a spareness to our days. We did not understand that our parents had overthrown their lives and entered the fight for an extinct way of living with the world. The earliest farm memories I have consist of logging, my cleanshaven father and a crew of men trimming trees that had been left to rot or to creep at the edges of the field. Big piles of dirt sat across the farm throughout my childhood, evidence of the fight to remake the landscape. My brother and I slid down barefoot and increasingly toothless; I can still taste the dirt. I remember my mother scraping it out from underneath my black nails. The fact that my father tracked mud or manure into our house sparked bitter fights. He was asked to do his laundry in the barn, with the farmhands. The farm taught us lessons. They were cruel ones which ended in death: a duck frozen, a chicken left headless by a racoon, piglets crushed, cows lamed, bulls shot for an ornery turn in old age, an ancient elm finally dying to Dutch Elm’s Disease. Death became ordinary. My mother worried that I saw too much of it. When I was 10 we had a barn fire, the product of an overheated dishwasher and a failed breaker. It was hot enough to melt the steel frame of our creamery. It made the sky glow orange at three in the morning, and it lit a field of police and firemen who stood watching, waiting for it to cool. Nobody knows the difference between trying to change the world and keeping still within it. Everything that you make must be kept; the enemy is time and chance. The farm had to turn over in death and sweat, and laugh at the notion of victory. Robert Frost wrote of the abandoned homestead, “a belilaced cellar hole, / Now slowly closing like a dent in dough.” Nature is beautiful, flexible, and remorseless. The world will wake you up from every dream. * * * Surrounding the farm were three- and four-acre properties, most of them summer homes with yards tastefully wooded. In the 1980s, the farm had been put into a trust that required lessees to keep it in agricultural use, at least by cutting hay and upkeeping the barns. So it became undevelopable and stuck in time. This was a part of both the magic and the futility of the place. For these summer homes, the farm provided an excellent view and an impression of place. Often as not the impression was hostile to real farming: the ugliest battle my parents ever fought was with a neighbor over a greenhouse they built, which obscured a multimillion-dollar view. Farming is a struggle against mindless forces of nature, an immediate and necessary reality. It does not make time for impressions. Farmers acquire a taste for the real world, like a taste for gin or dark chocolate. Bitterness the only worthwhile flavor. Farming remains the heart of American culture because it so well symbolizes the randomness and tragedy of real life. Sometimes I worry that farming will suffer an extraordinary fate: death to the idea of itself. Preservation always holds that risk. Perhaps I am a kind of fossil, the child of preserved land and stubborn parents. Frost again, at the beginning of the poem: “Back out of all this now too much for us / Back in a time made simply by the loss / Of detail”. But we cannot languish in simplicity. What could be more joyous than living! Frost insists. “This was no playhouse but a house in earnest.”  

War in Middle East causes further stress on U.S. farmers

Corn farmers in the U.S. are bracing for even higher fertilizer prices as conflict in the Middle East impacts the globally traded commodity, according to leaders with the National Corn Growers Association. Corn farmers are approaching a fourth year of negative yields, due to low corn prices and high input costs, including fertilizers. The growers association renewed its call on Congress to legalize year-round, nationwide E-15, a higher blend of ethanol fuel, and for the removal of duties on fertilizers from Morocco. Lesly McNitt, vice president of public policy for National Corn Growers Association, said there is not enough domestically produced fertilizer to meet demand, which means imported fertilizer is vital to farmers. McNitt, speaking during a press conference Wednesday, said duties on phosphate from Morocco and Russia that were put in place in 2020, have “kept phosphate prices high” and caused “availability issues and lack of competitive options for farmers.” A study from the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University found that the countervailing duties increased the cost of phosphorus by about $6.9 billion for the 2021 to 2025 growing seasons. “Now the conflict in the Middle East has further complicated access to critical fertilizers,” McNitt said, noting the U.S. typically imports about 40% of phosphate products from Saudi Arabia. “When these fertilizers can’t be transported through the Strait of Hormuz, there are real implications for availability and price, and there is a global market impact,” McNitt said. Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, an approximately 30-mile-wide channel that connects major Middle Eastern oil, natural gas and fertilizer producers to the Arabian Sea, in response to joint attacks on the country from the U.S. and Israel. The Fertilizer Institute said in a news release that closure of the strait could impact ammonia, urea, sulfur, phosphates and natural gas markets. “Supply disruptions in one part of the world can ripple across the trade routes and affect availability and price in other regions,” The Fertilizer Institute said. “While the United States is both a fertilizer producer and importer, those same global supply dynamics play a role in determining input costs for American farmers.” McNitt said the duties imposed on countries like Morocco further restrict farmers’ abilities to search for other options. National Corn Growers Association sent a letter, along with other national and state farm groups, including Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Soybean Association, to domestic fertilizer producers Mosaic and J.R. Simplot, urging them to withdraw their support of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. The duties were imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce following a petition from Mosaic. Other fertilizers like nitrogen—which corn farmers on the call said is the fertilizer that is most difficult to go without—have greater domestic production, but are still part of the global fertilizer market. McNitt said the nature of the market means that “a shock anywhere, impacts prices everywhere.” Matt Frostic, first vice president with NCGA and a Michigan farmer, said the cost of nitrogen fertilizer coming into U.S. ports currently would raise his production cost by about $90 per acre. U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 2025 corn production had crop production costs at around $890 per acre, and the department projects the average cost of production for corn farmers in 2026 will be $917 per acre. Frostic said that while farmers have the option to lock in fertilizer rates earlier in the season and prepay for some of those inputs, those decisions are often difficult to make, especially coming off several hard years. “Many farmers didn’t necessarily lock in some of those prices, or they didn’t have the finances to do so,” Frostic said. “… There will tend to be a lot of producers out there that have not locked in that price, so we’re going to be a victim to the high cost of fertilizer.” Blocked passage in the Strait of Hormuz is also responsible for the global jump in fuel prices. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had year round, nationwide, E-15 right now?” McNitt said during the call with reporters. According to the association, the higher blend of ethanol fuel saves consumers between 10 cents and 30 cents per gallon at the pump. National and state agricultural organizations have urged Congress to allow for the year-round sale of the fuel across the nation, but the measure has not been passed, despite bipartisan support and calls for the legislation from President Donald Trump. McNitt said that while the association hopes that a “permanent fix” is coming from Congress, the association is also calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue summertime E-15 waivers that allow the fuel to be sold throughout the summer in states that have not enacted their own year-round sales laws. Iowa and California have year-round E-15 laws. Mark Mueller, the president of Iowa Corn Growers Association, said the state association will continue to be “extremely outspoken” about the need for the passage of year-round E-15 and legislation that looks at consolidation in the fertilizer industry. “We have come close to achieving wins on both issues, but we call on Congress for action to officially get them across the finish line,” Mueller said in a news release. “Iowa corn farmers need and deserve the stability that comes with these wins—we cannot afford to slip back into the 1980s.”

Young auctioneers are-ready-to-go-like-never-before

Whether it be on stage behind the microphone or behind the scenes making sure all items, bids, and payments are accounted for, a live auction requires plenty of people to keep it running smoothly and successfully. When it comes to filling these roles, Donovan Yoder of Eastern Iowa Auctions has been more than willing in recent years to give local FFA students and other members of the younger generations to give these jobs a shot, learning what skills they require and exploring what it means to be part of the auctioneering community. “As it goes now, (the next generation) is getting into it younger and younger. I started just going to auctions and enjoying them growing up as a kid, so I got into it early,” Donovan said. Events such as the Iowa Auctioneering Association’s FFA bid calling competition, which recently declared West Liberty student Miles McConnaha as its 2026 Rookie Bid Calling Champion, have also helped drive up interest in auctioneering for students, Donovan added, giving more exposure to the different parts of the auctioneering industry and allowing students to try these parts of it sooner than ever before. “They can try it out earlier than when I was growing up,” he said. “It was a bit harder to get into it; There were more sales around, but unless you had some experience, it was hard for somebody to kind of give you a shot to get going.” Although the students he works with are still learning how to work at an auction, Donovan says he’s happy to support them as they explore the different roles. For bid calling especially, he views it as a valuable experience for both him and the students he’s giving the opportunity to. “I think it’s great seeing the younger guys get up there,” Donovan said. “You take them with you to go to auctions, and us experienced guys have seen enough mic time that the people know us and know what we’re doing, but there’s a little bit of added excitement when you put one of those younger guys up there.” With these young auctioneers still being so new, Donovan knows they can sometimes stumble a bit when they’re first trying it out. Still, he wants to encourage them, even though he knows there will still be the occasional mistake. “It’s not perfectly consistent all the time, but nobody really cares just for the fact that the kids are getting out there and giving it a shot, exposing themselves to being in front of that many people at that amount of time.” Donovan says he also appreciates these students at least giving it a shot and being willing to take a risk in front of a large crowd of people. “I mean, really it’s just kind of a generalized, large comparison to a public speaking event, and it’s something they can show off their talent a little bit with.” Meeting the new generation For Grady Claussen and his brother, Sawyer Claussen, auctioneering was always part of their family. “My dad’s an auctioneer, so we’ve been around it our whole lives,” Grady said. “When he started working with Donovan, Donovan asked us to help. So, we started helping.” In the years since, Grady has learned how to handle the team’s skid loader, loading up goods after they’ve been auctioned, as well as how to call bids. “I’m big on working behind the scenes. I like the money aspect of it—I just think the books are really interesting—but I really enjoy calling bids too.” While he doesn’t see himself becoming a professional auctioneer in the future, Grady said he is still interested in helping behind the scenes at auctions, handling the goods coming in and deciding what goods go into each the sale. In this aspect, he would be using much of what he’s already learned about how much goes into putting on an auction. “You’re spending a lot more time gathering your goods and figuring (the value) and talking on the phone and to people about the goods than you ever are selling them,” Grady said. “We had a lot of help from Donovan, and he still is very helpful. He kind of helps guide us on what to do, telling us what needs to be done in a learning aspect.” “(The Claussen brothers) are absolute excellent ring men, and they’re with me all the time setting up sales,” Donovan said. Someone who has also gained an interest in the financial side of auctioneering is Donovan’s own son, Blake Yoder. While he was also familiar with the industry at a young age, Brady said what drew him into it himself was all the action and energy that came with running an auction. “I just really love doing stuff like that,” he said. Since first starting behind the scenes at local auctions about five years ago, Blake has learned to be a ring man and helps with other aspects such as driving the company’s truck and helping keep track of all previous bids prior to the sale. “All three of those boys are pretty well at every one of my sales, doing everything that an auction needs to make it go,” Donovan said. Blake has also enjoyed the community he’s found within auctioneering, saying, “I love how all the farmers all come out to our meeting spot, just having them all there and showing us in the younger generation what they did as kids too.” Reflecting on their experiences within the industry, both Blake and Grady believe it’s important for members of the younger generations to continue playing a part in keeping auctioneering alive, regardless of what that part may end up being. “I think it’s pretty important that we’re kind of adding to the numbers and trying to get (auctioneering opportunities) out to all the younger kids,” Blake said. “I think auctions are a very important aspect of selling stuff. They can be very enjoyable for people to go to, and you can get more money for your goods if you have an auction than just pricing them to a person,” Grady said. To any other students who may be curious about the industry, Grady added, “Just reach out to the people that are doing it because they’re definitely willing to help you learn if you want to learn.” A new point of view Just as every person on an auctioneering team has a part to play, each person also has their own perspective. For his youngest team members, Donovan feels they’re bringing in a new point of view as well as some different styles of how to perform different tasks and jobs within the auctioneering industry. One of the biggest pieces of know-how the younger generation is bringing to live auctions is their knowledge of the Internet and various social media sites such as TikTok. “They bring in some of that, whether it’s on the marketing aspect or how to get the word out or broadcast what you’re doing at the time that you’re doing it, getting it out to more people. They’re bringing a lot of that stuff in,” Donovan said. In general, Donovan feels the new generation is also bringing a new sense of energy and excitement into the industry. “Some of us would’ve been doing (auctions) for a long time, it’s kind of the same old same old and we go through the motions when we do it,” he said. “But when you see those younger guys get up there with sweaty palms and a little bit of cracking in the voice, it brings a little more of a personal level for the people that are there to watch the auction. There’s that little bit of magic in it, when somebody’s first off doing it, I guess.” Looking to the future, Donovan says he hopes the younger generation continues realizing the importance of live auctions. “An auction is pretty much the original bluebook of any type of item that you’re trying to sell, and for them to see that, it gives you a true value on something.” He also wants more of the younger generation to see just how entertaining and fun an auction can be. “I’d sure hate to see a live auction die off,” Donoban continued. “A lot of stuff is going to online only,  and it takes the personal relationships and the personal contacts out. For us personally, we still offer online bidding, but all of our sales are live in-person. You get to physically interact and shake hands with people, you get to have a real life conversations at the auction site, and there’s something to that that this newer online style just can’t get you.” While he still encourages the younger generation to use the modern tools at their disposal, Donovan also wants them to appreciate the contacts they make in-person on a day-to-day basis through being in the live auctioneering industry, making sure never to forget the value of those connections. “We can buy something online or get it on Facebook Marketplace or any of those types of deals, but it’s still the personal contact and the relationships that you make that make our business what it is and keeps us in business,” he said. As for those who are in FFA or who have an interest in the industry, Donovan wants them to at least give auctioneering a shot. “Whether they’ve never been behind the mic before or have never bid called, just give it a shot if you have any inkling on wanting to do it. There’s a lot of good local auctioneers that are more than willing.” Understanding the fear and bashfulness that can come from bid calling for the first time, he also wants students to know the auctioneering community is behind them all the way. “All the local auctioneers around here that I know will do anything that they can to help that new generation get started. We’ll put them behind a mic, we’ll put them to work, and we’ll see what we can do to get them at least involved in the industry – and if you love it and your passion for it continues to grow, then great! Proceed in it, and if you give a shot and really don’t like it, then you’re not out anything.” Donovan and the rest of his Eastern Iowa Auctions team will be at the Muscatine County Fairgrounds on March 28 for its Spring Consignment Sale at the Muscatine County Fairgrounds, with the Claussen Boys, Blake, and McConnaha all expected to be there doing their part.

Deere combine in Sweet 16 for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’

With nearly 80,000 votes cast, the field of contenders competing in the seventh annual “Makers Madness” contest has been narrowed to the Top 16. The competition celebrates the work of manufacturers across Illinois, a long time backbone of the state’s economy. Manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, [...]

More than just honey

While most apiarists start beekeeping as a hobby, the practice could offer some family farms a diversified stream of revenue. Jars of sticky, sweet local honey are the obvious way to profit from honeybees, but State Apiarist Andrew Joseph said beekeepers can also profit by selling bees, or by moving their bees during the winter season to agricultural areas that need the pollinating work of the bees. “With some years of experience and a little finger crossing … it doesn’t take much to take that hobby … and at least turn it into something that’s got some wind behind its sails, that pays for itself, and in a good year, might help out with some of your other bills,” Joseph said. Joseph spoke to a group of farmers Thursday in a webinar hosted by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation about diversifying the family farm. Zach Brummer, the farmer education program manager with the Farm Bureau, said beekeeping has “manageable” start-up costs and only requires a small amount of land, which makes it an attractive option for farmers and landowners looking to diversify their operations. “Given the current challenges in the ag economy, farmers have shown a growing interest in practical, value-added agriculture opportunities to diversify income, and beekeeping provides a very intriguing opportunity to explore,” Brummer said in a news release about the webinar. Joseph, in addition to leading the apiary program at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, keeps about 300 hives around the Des Moines area. This he said is above the hobby level, but is “nowhere near commercial beekeeping level” where beekeepers will have several thousand hives. At this scale, Joseph gets the rewarding tasks of harvesting honey in the late summer, but is also able to migrate his hives to local orchards and as far west as California to help pollinate various food crops. Iowa does not require a registration of all of the hives and beekeepers in the state, but Joseph said his “best guess” is that there are around 4,500 beekeepers in the state. Of those, Joseph said maybe two dozen are commercial beekeepers that have a thousand or more colonies. Joseph said it’s “very common” for larger and midsized beekeepers like himself, to keep their bees in Iowa during honey season and then truck them to places like California during the cold season to facilitate the pollination that is necessary to grow many food crops. “The more we change the environment, the bigger scale we operate our – specifically agriculture – on, the more reliant we become on honeybees as pollinators,” Joseph said. He said an almond tree farm in California, for example, blooms around Valentine’s Day and has a pollination window across the whole farm during mid-February. “If we were going to rely on wild pollinators to get that job done, it simply wouldn’t,” he said. “Those trees are nearly 100% dependent on a beekeeper to bring in about two hives per acre, drop those down there in the middle of winter, hit that pollination window, do what bees do, and then get them back out of there before they have to come in with their sprays and treatments, fungicides, insecticides, things like that, to protect their crop.” Almonds are just one example of crops that are pollinated by visiting honeybee hives. Even local orchards can benefit from a load of honeybees during their flowering season. Honeybee regulations are “very minimal” in Iowa, Joseph said. Most rules have to deal with protecting bee health. Notably, Iowa implemented the “bee law” in 1979 to help protect honeybees from pesticides that are toxic to the insects. This law has been updated several times since, but in essence, allows beekeepers of any size to register their hives in an online platform that then informs commercial pesticide applicators of nearby hives. Commercial applicators in those areas then have to apply pesticides that are labeled as toxic to honeybees during certain times of days when honeybees are typically in their hives rather than flitting about collecting pollen. “This isn’t perfect, you know, you can shoot holes in this bee rule, but it’s existed for a long time, and I’m one, certainly, that feels like it helps,” Joseph said. “It helps bridge that gap of communication between the beekeeper that’s trying to protect their bees and their neighbors.” Small batch honey, sold directly to consumers in one pound jars, will profit beekeepers between $8-$9 per pound of honey, according to Joseph. On average, he said Iowa beekeepers get about 60 pounds of surplus, or removable, honey per hive in a season. But honey is not the only product from the hive. Producers can also sell the beeswax for a small profit, or can split up their hives and sell them to other beekeepers. Joseph said a “nuc” or nucleus colony that has an established colony and accepted queen, can sell for around $200 apiece. “Once you get good at wintering your bees, it’s not difficult to make up for any losses that you’ve had, and then still have excess bees to either increase your numbers or sell,” Joseph said. And, beekeepers can also get paid at varying rates per hive, for bringing their hives to areas that need pollinating. Getting started The biggest cost to beekeeping is buying the multilayer hives, which Joseph said typically cost between $400 and $500. It’s better to double that cost as most beekeepers, Joseph included, will recommend newbies start with two hives. He said beekeeping is “all about learning the way that things should look” and having two hives allows beekeepers to compare and contrast what looks right and what’s wrong in a hive. Plus, he said elements from one hive can be taken over to the other hive to help repair certain issues. New beekeepers will then need to find some bees to put in their hive, including the all important queen bee that is vital for a functioning hive. Several bills have been introduced in the Iowa Legislature to remove the sales tax on honeybees – which would bring them in line with other livestock in the state – but the measures have not made it to the governor’s desk. Then, beekeepers will want to make sure they have certain tools, like a smoker, hive tool and some protective gear to avoid getting stung by the buzzing pollinators. While this might be some people’s biggest concern with getting into beekeeping, Joseph said that protective gear becomes more minimal as beekeepers learn to move in tandem with their bees. “Beekeeping is, I think, a more pleasant experience as you learn how to work those bees calmly, with well intended, fluid movements that aren’t setting them off,” Joseph said. “You know what you can and can’t do, and you can work with them instead of hiding from them.” Joseph also recommended joining the Iowa Honey Producers Association, or other local beekeeping groups because much of beekeeping, he said, is tied to the local area. “Oftentimes, it is not just you on an island, it’s you surrounded by beekeepers wherever you are here in Iowa,” Joseph said.

Lancer archery stays on target

In archery, consistency is the name of the game. North Scott's squad is as reliable as they come in Iowa. And heading into this year's state tournament, the team is aiming high. Regularly ranking in the upper echelon of schools around the state, this year is no different for the Lancers. Out of 56 high school teams in the state, “We are going in ranked 15th,” Lancer archery coach Troy Bendickson said. “We’ve gone in as high as top 10 a few times. The highest we’ve ever finished was seventh. So, we’re not far off. Most of our years, we’re right in that 14-17 range, so we are pretty consistent.” Of the approximately 90 archers on North Scott’s roster, 35 are heading to Des Moines this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to shoot at state, located at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The program, which is in its ninth year, closed its 2026 regular season surging. At North Scott’s penultimate meet of the season, the Lancer February Bullseye Tournament on Feb. 28 in The Pit, the team shot its first team score over 3,300 since 2024. That tournament was significant for another reason — the school’s record score for an individual came crashing down. North Scott has been led all season by juniors Aaron Raleigh and Anthony Vatnsdal. Raleigh tied the school record of 293 (out of a possible 300) at the Central DeWitt Bullseye Tournament, the team’s second tournament of the season, on Jan. 17. Then, late last month, Vatnsdal posted a 294 to set the new peak performance, surpassing the mark set by Raleigh and, before him, Dylan Orcutt. Raleigh and Vatnsdal are two of the best archers to come through the Lancer archery program. “Their form is excellent. Their gripping is good. And they don’t get flustered,” Bendickson said. “The key to being an archer is nothing can bother you. You can’t get caught up in it. Everybody is capable, even them, but they are able to negate that and handle the mental side of things. They deal with a bad arrow, they deal with a bad round, they do not get caught up in it.” With nearly 1,000 Iowa high school boys recording at least one score this season, Vatnsdal’s 294 score is tied for the fourth-best individual tournament score. Raleigh, and his 293 score, is tied for eighth-best. As individuals, Vatnsdal has won three tournaments this season, and Raleigh has won two. The archers have combined for 10 top-three finishes in the past two months. What has helped North Scott boost its standing toward the end of the season is its female scores. At an archery tournament, teams create a roster of 24 archers who are eligible to contribute to the team score. Of those 24, 12 archers have their scores counted: the top four boys, the top four girls, and then the next four highest scores regardless, of gender. “Early on, on the female side, we weren’t getting the scores that supported our team score. That has drastically changed over the last three or four weeks,” Bendickson said. “We’ve had several girls really improve and find their groove. Now, we are scoring five or six girls.” At the Lancer February Bullseye Tournament, the top three girls’ scores all had personal records: Zoe Schwien at 280, Vivian Oshann at 278, and Anna Heiting at 269. “The teams that are going to be at the very top are those that consistently have both girls and boys leading the team,” Bendickson said. “Early on in the career of our team, it was the girls who led it, and for quite a while. It switched over to the boys for the last many years.” Now, North Scott heads to state for a three-day archery extravaganza. The tournament itself operates much like a regular-season meet. All archers get the same number of arrows and opportunities to rack up a score. The difference comes in the size and the magnitude of the event, which is exponentially larger than a traditional meet. “Normally, when we shoot in the gym, there are 40 or 45 people shooting with you. At the state meet, there will be 150 people per line,” Bendickson said. “It’s a really massive building. You have a lot more people watching. A lot more people shooting. (The Department of Natural Resources) runs it, so you literally have DNR officers walking around, and they are armed and in uniform. “It’s over three days. We get kind of spread out, and we shoot at several times throughout the weekend. It is, as it should be, a bigger environment… There are a lot of people watching, but they are all watching the one kid that they’re there for. That’s it. They can’t see what people are scoring. Just relax and shoot.” North Scott has ambitions of qualifying archers for Nationals. Raleigh and Vatnsdal are squarely in contention, so much so that the team made a point for them to shoot in second-to-last flight on Sunday afternoon. “They need to be physically available in case there is a shoot-off. Dylan (Orcutt) had to make a shoot-off one year to go to Nationals,” Bendickson said. Along with Raleigh and Vatnsdal, one of Bendickson’s sons, Oliver, is highly ranked in the junior high division. Oliver is ranked 17th among the junior high boys with a season-best score of 287. The top 10 shooters in each classification qualify for Nationals. Troy says that if Oliver can shoot close to his high score at state, it will put him in the conversation. No matter how the tournament goes, it is more than just about hitting targets. Bendickson said, “The weekend is honoring a year of hard work and a year of good scores. It’s a fun environment; I love it.”   Practice makes perfect North Scott’s archery team typically shoots three times per week — twice during practices on Tuesday and Thursday and once at a weekend tournament. The team draws significant numbers from the surrounding high school, junior high and homeschool communities. In the team’s first year, 2017, there were 26 kids on the roster. This year, it is around 90, with a peak participation number of 115 in years past. “We love watching the kids come in and enjoy being together,” Bendickson said. “We do all of our training and mechanical form work, and then it’s hands off and we watch. They socialize and enjoy themselves. The experience is always really good. The kids always come out in lots of numbers, so we’re always proud of that.” The archers feel that warm environment too. “It’s a very well-structured program,” Raleigh said. “They do a fantastic job. Troy, you know all these coaches. It makes it feel like family. It’s a very inviting atmosphere. Having friends here is nice. The coaches allow you to joke around and mess around with your friends.” As a club sport run through the high school, kids can get out what they put into the sport, no matter their skill level or desire to shoot. “If you want to take it competitively, you can. Or you can just shoot to shoot,” Vatnsdal said. “It’s not something you have to go all-in with. You’re only here twice a week, and you don’t have to do tournaments. It’s more considered a hobby rather than anything else.” The Lancer archery program, which is run in conjunction with Heart Shot Ministry, works with archers of all skill levels. The coaching staff has seen it all, and they have their improvement process refined. “Early on, it’s all mechanics,” Bendickson said. “We start with bands, red tubing, rubber bands basically. We break the mechanics down into 11 steps, just to give them something to be thinking through the whole time. Early on, we want them to think through every one of those steps. As you progress, you want them to stop thinking about that and do it instinctively. You have to set those patterns. “We spend those first many days on trying to instill habits. You don’t even talk about aiming. You can’t worry about aiming if you can’t repeat the process.” Once the fundamentals are solid, the sport becomes almost entirely mental. “The only thing that an archer can be concerned about is the arrow that’s on their bow. That’s it,” Bendickson said. “Whether they shoot a 10 or a zero, you have to quickly forget about it. You can’t get too high or too low. “We also encourage them to not score their arrows as they go. The elite archers can’t help it. They’re shooting almost perfect scores every time, so you can just subtract from 300 very easily and know right where you stand. Other kids will look back at their parents and tell them the score. We really do our best to say that’s not what we want, because then you’re getting caught up in results.” By the end of the season, it’s all about maintaining consistency and keeping the good habits built up throughout the year. And it isn’t all about arrows. Sometimes, it truly is about the friends you made along the way. “Archery is such a wonderful sport because it’s you versus you. Everyone wants you to succeed, even the other team,” Raleigh said. “You meet fantastic people on the line every day. Just going to all the different places with our time, it’s nice to meet all these different coaches and people. It’s a wonderful opportunity for socialization.” Raleigh and Vatnsdal have been shooting since seventh grade, finding the program through Heart Shot. Both are soccer players as well, so they spend lots of time with Bendickson throughout the middle-to-late parts of the school year. They say Bendickson, who has led the archery program since its inception in 2017, is a big part of the reason for its success. “Me personally, it’s just his attitude. He cares,” Raleigh said. “He consistently shows up. He just has the commitment and drive, and you can feel it. It makes you want to match his level and participate because he shows his passion.” Bendickson’s favorite part of the job, he says, is watching archers break through their own barriers on the line. “Watching kids persevere, and sometimes they have to persevere for several seasons. We’ve had many do it,” he said. “When they finally start getting the scores they want, that’s really, as a coach, what you really love to see.” As the team looks toward completing its ninth season and soon enter its tenth, changes are in the air. North Scott archery is moving out of its home in a renovated building on the Cornerstone Baptist Church property in Eldridge. Bendickson says he’s having good conversations with other locations, and he has a goal of keeping the program in town. “There will be a Lancer archery program next year, and we’re looking forward to announcing where that will be,” Bendickson said. What the program will always be looking for are more shooters. There are many ways to get involved, whether through Heart Shot, North Scott, or just as a recreational activity. “I found archery interesting as a sixth-grader. So, I went to their summer camp,” Vatnsdal said. “It’s a very diverse sport. You don’t have to be fit, you don’t have to be tall, you don’t have to be anybody.” When asked what his sales pitch would be for interested prospective archers, Raleigh added, “I feel like I wouldn’t say anything — I’d go out there and show them. “I’m going to be honest; I’ve never found the appeal of watching archery. It’s hard to get into if you’re just watching. But if you’re actually shooting, and you get your first ever 10, or your first ever 50, the high is just wonderful.”

With tax rate flat, Princeton works to reign in budget

Princeton will tighten spending, pull from reserves, and forego savings to balance its annual budget after Mayor Travis Volrath and the council promised not to raise the city tax levy. The city council also plans to take out a one-day loan so that it can spend general obligation (GO) debt reserves on short-term street improvements first discussed at a February work session. A push to increase property taxes by nearly 50% last spring, to fund the reconstruction of River Drive, led to public backlash and a promise from the mayor and council to keep the levy flat. Among spending cuts, the city will pare its annual contribution to the fire department operating budget down to $6,741. The city will still cover $25,973 in department insurance costs, and Mayor Travis Volrath promised to fundraise reserve money that would go towards the department’s next vehicle purchase. Rural benefit fire district no. 14 will contribute the bulk of the department’s operating budget, approximately $73,000. Trimming the budget Princeton City Council has looked to trim costs across departments in recent budget meetings.  A $50,000 sum initially budgeted for community center improvements has dropped to $6,000. The original sum would have provided the match funds for a cost-sharing grant requested from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). City Clerk Kisa Tweed said the city could not afford to reserve that money before the grant had been awarded. “We don't know if we're doing to get the grant yet, so we're not going to budget to spend it,” she said. The council could pass a spending amendment later, she suggested. Police Chief Freddy Almanza will draw $30,000 from the salvage fund to pay wages for officer Brian Carstens, who has returned to the force full time. Department expenses have risen over 40% year-to-year. The salvage fund has collected revenue form the city’s salvage title inspection program, Tweed said. Years of savings will cover this year’s expenses, but the council would have to find a new revenue source to meet the department’s new budget, she confirmed. Vehicle reserves for public works, police and fire will receive no new funding. In previous years, they have received an annual $5,000 contribution. The fire department requested a $25,000 contribution as it looks to replace its main fire engine in the next five years. Volrath said the city could not commit that sum. “I just don't think we can afford to do it, whether it's right, wrong or different,” he said. “We just can’t.” Councilman Kevin Kernan said other city projects had to take precedence. “There are a lot of roads in town that need to be fixed too,” he said. “That's my concern… We can save for trucks, but if we don't keep the roads where the trucks can get to the places that are on fire, we have a problem.” Other council members suggested a reserve sum below the $25,000 requested, but Kernan insisted the money was better spent elsewhere. “The city’s always going to have the fire departments back, in my mind,” he said. “I just don't think setting $20,000 aside right now is feasible.” Other council members agreed to drop reserve contributions to zero. “I'm not for cutting the budget for public safety that much, in my opinion, but I also know we have other projects,” Councilman Brandon Forristall said. “And this isn't like we're cutting the budget. We're just cutting future expenses for new trucks.” “I agree with Kevin that we have so much other stuff that needs attention,” Councilwoman Lori Maher said. Debt will pay for streets Tweed told the council Thursday, March 19, that they could finance short-term improvements to River Drive and Lost Grove Road out of GO reserves raised last year in anticipation of major street reconstruction. City law firm Dorsey and Whitney confirmed that a one-day loan, borrowed and immediately paid with reserve funds, was legal practice, she said. That will give Princeton access to approximately $210,000 to complete road work. Tweed recommended the council spend no more than $180,000. Early estimates had put that number significantly lower, at approximately $84,000. That figure scraped together road use reserves, capital improvement rollover, and the $60,000 the city budgets for regular road maintenance. Princeton Public Works Director Chris Rindler had said that committing that money to improvements on River Drive or Lost Grove Road would break the city’s regular five-year road maintenance cycle for residential streets. But a quick debt spend would allow regular maintenance to proceed.  L. L. Pelling quoted the city $108,115.40 for a complete tar-and-chip resurfacing of River Drive. Rock shoulder estimates for Long Grove Road came in at $25,652.50 and $34,660. City Planning and Zoning Board member Wyatt Klavon recommended that the city pursue that work in-house. Maher presented those estimates Thursday, March 12. Neither includes engineering work that would be required to make them eligible for debt spending. Volrath suggested that the city use GO debt reserves to fund tar-and-chip work on only River Drive, and take the results to voters next year. “We've already levied the taxes, done the hard part,” he said. “So now, if we can get some stuff done with it before next year, when it's time to levy taxes, then we can tell people—look at what we did with that money.” Volrath said he planned to meet with the county to see whether they could borrow equipment to complete in-house work on Lost Grove Road without dipping into debt reserves.    Fire department concerns The city decision to pull back funding from the fire department has drawn pushback from Chief Josh Luckritz and other members of the department. Luckritz said that over 70% of department calls are within the city, leaving rural taxpayers to subsidize city services. “That’s going to really look bad to the County taxpayers,” he told the council March 12. But the council has raised mirrored concerns about the fire department and its spending habits. The city assumed control of the department’s bank account this year, after audits regularly noted that the department failed to bring out-of-budget purchases before the council. The department also used $60,000 in reserve funds, rather than a surplus in its operating budget, to purchase a brush truck chassis last year. That left $67,654 unspent—over half of the department’s $122,000 operating budget—when the city assumed its accounts last July. The city council agreed March 12 to commit that money, as well as some additional reserves, to paying off a $73,000 loan taken out on the brush truck. The decision will save approximately $7,300 owed in the coming years, the council estimated.  The 2026–27 fire department operating budget breaks down into $34,696 for building expenses; $28,600 for equipment; $7,400 for life-saving supplies and operations; $6,175 for training and memberships; and $12,600 for vehicle expenses. That includes a $4,000 sum for new station computers and $6,500 for new turnout gear. Costs increase The budget crunch is driven in part by fixed costs rising against a flat tax levy. Insurance is among those costs. Budgeted spending on worker’s comp insurance at the fire department will rise from $1,900 this fiscal year to $5,000 in the next. Property insurance at the fire station will rise from $13,790 to $20,973. The city’s garbage contract will also rise, from $73,928 to $82,890. Library expenses will rise over $2,500, to $40,909.

Push for power plant returns

Representatives with Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) will return to Scott County April 6 to present details of a proposed rural power plant in a public hearing before the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC). In February, Scott County supervisors rejected CIPCO’s request for an ordinance that would have opened land zoned for agricultural preservation east of Maysville to construction of the $400 million natural gas plant proposed. But the IUC could choose to override local zoning in its specifications for the generating permit CIPCO has filed to obtain. CIPCO Vice President of Communications Kerry Koonce said the hearing before the IUC is a required part of the permitting process for any energy generating asset. It has proceeded independently of supervisors’ decision, she said. However, the IUC could issue its permit with or without a need finding that would exempt the proposed plant from local zoning. CIPCO could not request such a finding, Koonce clarified. The Concerned Citizens of Scott County, a group of project neighbors opposed to the plant, will meet Wednesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. at the Eldridge branch of the Scott County Library to discuss the IUC and current legislative bills that could potentially overturn local zoning decision. Bills in the Iowa House (HF 2580) and Senate (SF 2447) would standardize zoning language for renewable energy project permitting across the state, independent of county rules.    All local residents are invited to attend both meetings. 

Fire turns attention to Rivercrest Estates

A March 3 fire at Rivercrest Estates, Princeton’s mobile home park, consumed one of 16 vacant trailers tagged uninhabitable by city police and the Scott County Health Department. Police Chief Freddy Almanza and the health department have since tagged two additional trailers uninhabitable, he said. That means 18 of 42 lots are uninhabitable. Princeton began tagging trailers in an effort to trespass squatters staying in the park. The tags also allow the city of Princeton to bill park owner Mary Diercks for the cost of their removal, if she does not make repairs. Residents of the park and city council members regularly accuse Diercks of mismanagement of the property. Almanza said she had promised to remove the burned trailer but its remains still stood last week. Mayor Travis Volrath said the city planned to use low and moderate income support funds provided by the state to remove or board up uninhabitable trailers at the park. Princeton firefighters responded to calls at the park at 12:30 a.m. March 3, during a countywide burn ban, Fire Chief Josh Luckritz said. It “started out as an outside fire and spread to the trailer,” Luckritz reported. “We had the county investigators out, but they couldn’t determine the exact cause,” he added. LeClaire and McCausland Fire Departments both responded to calls for mutual aid. Luckritz said that low water pressure from park hydrants forced the department to rely on tanker trucks. Leaking water mains throughout the park have drawn ire from residents since the summer of 2024, when they made repairs to underground mains at their own expense. The city passed ordinances last year that would allow them to fine Diercks for leaks that burden city pumps. Luckritz reported no injuries from the March 3 fire, and no damage other than the trailer. Almanza reported that Diercks said the burned trailer would be removed; it has not been.

Banners, advertising to go up at city parks

Advertisement banners can go up on outfield fences at Wescott and Victory Park this summer, Walcott City Council decided last week. Councilman Kirk Koberg, who asked the council to table the matter last month, said Walcott Athletics reported that funds would benefit Wescott Softball. He moved to approve the advertisements. The council also granted Walcott Women permission to host food trucks along S. Main Street during the town easter egg hunt this Sunday, March 29. Kelly Tree Farm submitted the only bid for landscaping and maintenance at Welcome Park and Prairie View Park, at $4,912.60. The council accepted the bid. The city will sell its 2013 Ford Explorer, used by the building inspector, and 2019 Dodge Durango, used by the police department, as replacements arrive. The council approved a recommendation from Public Works Director Paul Stagg to post the Explorer on GovDeals now, and post the Durango when a replacement squad car arrives in the coming weeks.     

Presentation on cancer study April 2 in Davenport

Iowa House District 97 State Rep. Ken Croken will host a presentation of the latest findings of the University of Iowa School of Public Health cancer research project.  The event will be held on Thursday, April 2, starting at 6:30 p.m.in the community room of the Scott Community College Urban Campus, located at 101 West Third Street in downtown Davenport.  The project progress report will be presented by Dr. Mary Charlton, Professor of Epidemiology at the UI School of Public Health. According to Croken, every Iowan will be interested to hear the information learned so far by the University School of Public Health research team since it has been widely reported that Iowa has one of the highest cancer incidence rates in the nation.  “Major cancers impacting Iowa include breast, lung and prostate,” Croken noted. “The current cancer rates are disturbing and the lack of legislative action by the Iowa General Assembly is truly disheartening,” he added.  Croken reported that bills he and others have introduced to address the state’s growing cancer crisis have gone unattended.  “I am still hopeful that a significant tobacco tax increase I proposed will receive bicameral consideration before the scheduled end of session next month.  Based on the experience in other states, such tax increases have been effective in curbing smoking, the leading cause of lung cancer.  Failure to act in the face of this health emergency is inexcusable.”  

Farmers and rural community members can access free mental health resources

Farmers and those living in rural parts of the country are affected by mental health issues, and statistically, die by suicide at higher rates than other segments of the population. The volatile nature of farming, as well as a lack of mental health care available in rural communities and a stigma around asking for help contribute to the high rates of farmer mental health crises. That’s why the nonprofit organization Rural Minds said it launched a free, farmer mental health resilience program. The program, which is available online, links to resources and information about mental health, and also provides farmers with access to a free, hour-long course from Cornell University. The course, which was designed for veterinary students, veterinarians and agribusiness professionals, provides an overview of mental health challenges in rural America and gives the virtual attendees “practical support strategies and resources.” Farmers are getting ready to plant after several years of low commodity prices, trade uncertainty and high input costs for things like fertilizer, which could be increasing even more due to the war in the Middle East. Jeff Winton, the founder and chairman of Rural Minds, said farmers face “a tremendous amount of uncertainty” even in “the best of years.” “When these ongoing pressures are elevated by high input costs, trade volatility and worries about labor and immigration, stress levels can spiral out of control,” Winton said in a news release about the program. The mental health resilience program, which is supported by the biochemistry company VM Agritech, links farmers and their families to crisis services, like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and also helps them to understand, identify and start conversations around mental health issues. The website provides easy-to-digest fact sheets about topics like the warning signs of suicide, common mental health conditions and guidance on starting “non-judgmental” conversations with someone who might be struggling. Rural Minds launched the program ahead of National Ag Day, March 24, which also coincides with “Iowa Ag Week” from March 23-30. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the week is a “great opportunity to celebrate the farm families and agricultural leaders who are helping keep Iowa and America strong.” The agricultural appreciation week this year is also part of Iowa’s observance of the 250th anniversary of the country. “Early Americans fought to defend our freedom and liberty, and for the last 250 years farmers have helped sustain that republic by producing the food, fuel, and fiber that keep our nation strong,” Naig said in a news release. “Here in Iowa, agriculture continues that proud tradition every single day.”

Democrat Nikhil Wagle begins campaign for Senate District 47

Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 47 told voters at his campaign launch March 14 that he is running to end a decade of one-party state rule. He said that when he hands out flyers, people can’t figure out his party affiliation. “Good. Ask me your questions,” he responds. Senate District 47 stretches from Eldridge through Bettendorf, and east to LeClaire. Republican Scott Webster of Bettendorf was first elected to the seat in 2022. Wagle is a Bettendorf ophthalmologist and longtime veteran of the Pleasant Valley School Board. He is the only Democratic candidate for the seat and described himself as a moderate. Wagle said that Republicans in control of the State House, Senate, and governor’s office “will pass anything they want because they don’t have to deal with their constituents.” “We are not electing people who are putting Iowans first,” he said. Bills or amendments proposed by a Democrat never receive a hearing in the House or Senate, he added Wagle cited funding and support for education as a lead priority if he were elected to the senate. He said 13 years on the Pleasant Valley school board, watching state supplemental aid (SSA) funding diminish, he had seen too much “deterioration.” But “if I’m going to complain, and I don’t want to be a part of the solution, then I have no reason to complain,” Wagle said. He said criticism of higher education from state Republicans amount to a fear that younger generations would reject their control over state government. “They’re just afraid that if people learn to critically think… they will lean one way or another,” he said. “Not to the party in charge.” Wagle also mentioned support for controlling deficit spending, protecting affordable healthcare, and defending reproductive rights. He said that conversations with medical professionals like himself should be “between me, you, your family and your faith.” He added that there was “not one healthcare worker in the State Senate.” Wagle characterized the District 47 Senate race as one of the state’s most competitive, in which more than $1 million could be spent. “We can flip this seat. We can do it,” he said.

Civil Service Commission upheld county firing now headed to court

The Scott County Civil Service Commission, a government oversight committee, upheld Sheriff Tim Lane’s decision to fire a deputy sheriff now suing the county for wrongful termination. Commission Administrator Marty Guinn provided The North Scott Press with the commission’s 2024 ruling earlier this month. The commission determined that a monthslong investigation by former sergeant Joshua Wall into Department of Corrections officer Jennifer McAndrew Lane, spouse of the sheriff, violated established procedure. Wall “did not follow well established procedure that was clearly known to him regarding reporting his investigation,” the decision reports. “He failed to take proper steps to notify virtually anyone in the Sheriff's Department, or the County Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office, or the Department of Criminal Investigations” about his concerns, the decision states. “If he truly believed a crime had been committed, he really told no one, at least for many months,” it concludes. According to a petition filed last month in Scott County court, Wall brought his concerns to the attention of Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, then a state senator, in March 2024. In June 2023, he had addressed concerns to the county human resources department. The Civil Service Commission determined that the “secretive nature” of Wall’s activity leading up to March 2024, “so far afield from standard and required procedure… show him unsuitable to remain employed within the Sheriff's office.” Wall has alleged that his termination violated Iowa whistleblower protection statutes. Concerns Wall referred to Cournoyer were eventually turned over to Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham. Wall alleges that Cunningham, Lane, and Scott County ignored his concerns and instead begun a counterinvestigation which recommended his termination. Lane and Wall have not responded to request for comment. Cunningham would not comment on pending litigation but referred The NSP to the Civil Service Commission’s decision.

What survived the second legislative funnel?

Following the second “funnel” deadline of the Iowa legislative session, lawmakers often aim to shift their focus from policy to budgeting. But as lawmakers hit week 10 of the 2026 session, it appears agreements have not been reached on some of the top priorities laid out by Republicans at the beginning of session — primarily, eminent domain and property taxes. Friday marked the second major deadline of the session, when most bills must be passed by one chamber and approved by a committee in the other chamber to stay eligible for consideration. There are many caveats to this rule — legislation involving spending, taxes or government oversight are not subject to the funnel. Chamber leadership can also designate bills that have not made it through the committee process required as “unfinished business,” saving the measure from the funnel cutoff – and can also bring back “dead” legislation as leadership-sponsored legislation. Some “dead” bills may be added as amendments to surviving bills in future debate. Though there are still many avenues for state lawmakers to continue working on policy, the Legislature is just over a month away from the scheduled end date of April 21, when per diem expenses end for state lawmakers. Before they can end the session, the Legislature must approve and send budget bills funding the state government to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The March Revenue Estimating Conference has given legislators a framework to start crafting appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2027, but no budget plans have yet been released in either chamber. “We’ll start to work through those, you know, in the next couple of weeks, identify those targets, and then start the process of … winding this show up,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh said Thursday. The Legislature typically adjourns after a budget is sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds. But House Minority Leader Brian Meyer told reporters “there seems to be a lot of work to be done” before that will happen. “We’ve got property taxes, which I don’t think they’re close on. You’ve got eminent domain — I know they’re not close on,” Meyer said. “And then you have a budget. We don’t even have targets down for the budgets yet. So I think at some point, something has to give, and they have to start working together to get this done.” Top GOP priorities remain unresolved Republican leaders in both the House and Senate brought up both property taxes and eminent domain as top priorities to tackle in 2026. The House moved early in the session to pass House File 2104, a bill that proposed directly banning the use of eminent domain in carbon capture pipeline projects. But that bill was amended during Senate committee and replaced with language from Klimesh’s proposal, Senate File 2067. His bill would still allow for hazardous liquid pipeline operators to use eminent domain, but only after proving it had “diligently exhausted” possibilities to seek willing landowner easements within a widened corridor. The last public discussion on the bill was during the Jan. 28 committee meeting. Klimesh said he understood some landowners and advocates believed the Senate was “not moving” on the bill – but he said he and other Republican leaders have been working in private meetings to discuss how to move forward on the issue. “I meet weekly with stakeholders on both sides of the issue, just to be clear, right?” Klimesh said. “And those conversations are looking at the Senate’s proposal, you know, with the conversation at the House proposal they sent over … which was more clearly defined, obviously.” These conversations are about how to improve the Senate proposal, he said, and to “find middle ground” with Iowans on both sides of the issue. “I want folks to realize that, you know, the conversations are ongoing on a difficult issue, and we’re moving in the right direction,” Klimesh said. “I really feel that way.” House Speaker Pat Grassley said Thursday “my hope and expectation was we were going to get a bill over here from the Senate, so we can kind of see where we each are at” on eminent domain — something that has not happened. “At this point, it looks like we’re kind of in a stalemate from that standpoint,” Grassley said. “What I would ultimately say is, as far as House Republicans’ perspective, we still feel that the conversation is not done this legislative session.” Grassley said the House GOP caucus feels “strongly we need to have a further discussion than what we’ve already had this session.” “We have passed multiple different opportunities out of the House over the last several years with the willingness to try to find a level of solution,” Grassley said. “We would love for there to be something that comes back to us — for at least to work off of. But at the same time, just because a bill doesn’t come back from the Senate, I don’t think that we should also just throw up our hands and say, ‘Well, I guess the issue is dead for the year.’” Finding ways to lower property taxes was also brought up as a top goal by both legislative leaders and Reynolds heading into 2026. All three parties have released their plans on property taxes, and legislators have received public feedback on each of the proposals through subcommittee meetings. In a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday, lawmakers advanced House Study Bill 596, the House proposal with planned amendments to add portions from the governor’s proposal. Both the House GOP and Reynolds’ plans include a 2% revenue cap with some exceptions. The House bill, as passed, incorporates certain portions of the governor’s proposal, like creating a $10 million fund of one-time money for local governments to finance consolidation efforts and shared service agreements, and would create a state-sponsored tax-deductible savings account similar to the state’s Iowa 529 Plan for first-time homeowners. The measure still preserves some parts of House Republicans’ original bill, such as creating an exemption of 10% of the taxable value of a property or a maximum $25,000 exemption — whichever amount is less — for all residential properties, instead of cutting property taxes for seniors specifically. Senate Republicans have put forward Senate File 2472, a bill that takes a substantially different approach when compared to the governor and House Republicans’ bills. This bill proposes eliminating the state’s “rollback” system for calculating property tax, reversing certain 2013 property tax cuts for multiresidential buildings like apartments, and eliminating property taxes altogether for Iowa homeowners older than 60. The bill also seeks to provide local governments access to new revenue streams by seeking voter approval to raise the local option sales tax and indexing the state’s gas tax to inflation. The Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced the Senate bill March 11 with bipartisan support. Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, the committee chair, thanked members of the committee for their work on the bill, saying it showed “there is a high desire to overhaul this entire system on a bipartisan basis.” Dawson has repeatedly said that a “simple” bill will not meaningfully lower property tax costs for Iowans. “It should not go unnoticed in this building, that there’s a larger appetite than ‘simple’ and kicking the can down the road to the next year,” Dawson said. “So I thank you all for being part of the process and hopefully getting to a better solution.” Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Dallas Center, the House Ways and Means Committee chair, told reporters Wednesday “obviously, the two bills are very different” between the House and Senate. “Some philosophy differences there, too,” Nordman said. “So all we can do is continue to have those conversations and see if we can get on the same page.” While lawmakers were moving numerous policy proposals through committee meetings in the week leading up to the funnel deadline, the Iowa House passed a tax bill Thursday which faces its own deadline from the federal government. The House passed House File 2739 Thursday, retroactively raising the premium tax rate for health maintenance organizations from 0.925% to 3.5% from Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026 to make up for a shortfall in Iowa Medicaid funding. Republicans said the tax increase was necessary to draw down certain federal funds made available through President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans’ 2025 tax and spending law. Reynolds said the state has a March 31 federal deadline to make the change.   Though there are still several high-profile issues on the table, the funnel has narrowed the field for bills lawmakers will consider for the rest of session. Here is a rundown on the bills that remain on the table following the second funnel deadline and which bills did not make the cut. What survived Agriculture Emissions lawsuits: House File 2527 would limit the ability to sue farmers for greenhouse gas emissions that have had an “alleged actual or potential effect” on the climate. Supporters of the bill, which advanced from the House, said it protects farmers from “frivolous” lawsuits. The bill and its companion, Senate File 2427, were placed on unfinished business. Grain indemnity: House File 2596 makes a small adjustment to the state program that helps farmers get paid when their grain buyers fold. The program was revamped in 2025, but HF 2596 corrects a section of the language that required small grain dealers to undergo audits, even if they didn’t allow for credit-sale contracts. The bill passed from the House floor Feb. 26 and later advanced from the Senate Agriculture Committee. Iowa Farm Act: A comprehensive ag policy from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was introduced in both chambers, though the Senate’s version of the bill, most recently numbered as Senate File 2465, has advanced from an appropriations committee. The bill calls for increased biosecurity, expansions to the Choose Iowa program and various tax relief measures for farmers. Raw milk and farm-to-table events: House File 2444 would allow raw milk to be sold at on-farm stores, allow cottage foods to be sold in grocery stores and create a special permit for farm-to-table events. The bill is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee, making it safe from the funnel deadline. Right to repair: House File 2709 would require manufacturers to sell the mechanisms required to repair agricultural equipment to farmers or independent repair shops. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee Shellfish: A bill would create an individual category for shellfish in Iowa’s animal feeding operation code. House File 2534 advanced from the House and has been placed on unfinished business with its companion, Senate File 2337. Education Antisemitism at schools: House File 2544 would require the Iowa Board of Education to publish an annual antisemitism report. The report would have to identify “each complaint or incident of antisemitism,” using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, at regents universities, community colleges and public school districts. The measure was put on the unfinished business calendar in the Senate. Board of Educational Examiners citizenship checks: As passed by the Senate, Senate File 2218 would direct the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to have education professionals seeking new and renewing licenses to provide information about their legal U.S. work authorization, and to submit proof of their eligibility every five years to remain licensed. This measure was introduced after the immigration arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts. The House amended the bill to include other provisions that were implemented via an executive order from Reynolds on citizenship status verification for other professional licensing and public jobs, which was discussed previously as a separate measure, Senate File 2412. The language added to the BOEE bill would require the state government and state licensing boards to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database and E-Verify system to verify citizenship and legal status of people seeking state government jobs or professional and occupational licenses. Cardiac emergency response: Senate File 2390, which is funnel-exempt because it involves funding, would establish a pilot competitive grant program through the Iowa Department of Education for school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans focused on athletic events and physical education. Charter schools: Senate File 2425 and House File 2699 propose adding costs for the teacher salary supplement cost per pupil to payments for charter schools, in addition to making other funding changes related to charter schools including a Senate proposal to add charter school teachers to the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System. It also would require public school districts’ athletic and other extracurricular activities to be available to charter school students who live within the district’s boundaries. The governor’s proposal on charter schools which also includes much of the similar language, Senate File 2406, was placed on unfinished business. Because the measures involve funding components, they are not subject to the funnel deadline. Civics education: Bills to expand civics education in public higher education have passed out of chamber committees and were placed on unfinished business. House File 2361, passed by the House, and Senate File 2232, approved by the Senate Education Committee, would require state universities to include three-credit-hour courses in U.S. history and government in general education standards, with centers for civic education at each institution responsible for designating courses. Classroom removal: Senate File 2428 would require school attendance centers to form review committees to determine whether a student removed from the classroom should be returned to it, with the ability to override teacher consent if a student’s disruptive behavior was nonviolent. Students removed from the classroom would be placed with the principal or other designated person, and teacher consent would be required to return the student to the classroom if the incident that led to the removal was violent. The bill unanimously passed through Senate debate and saw approval by the House Education Committee just before the funnel deadline March 19. Credit transfers, performance-based funding: House File 2547 passed the House and was recommended for amendment and passage by the Iowa Senate Education Committee. It would expand credit transfers for career and technical education, change career academy rules and establish a fund for students taking summer community college credit courses in areas relating to high-demand jobs. An amendment approved by the House added language from House File 2243, which would require the Iowa Board of Regents to study potential implementation of a performance-based funding model, to the legislation. Education reporting: Senate File 2407, and its House companion bill House File 2725, would consolidate reports on online learning, achievement gaps and other topics into an “annual condition of education report” and change other reporting requirements for Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. Both bills passed through the Senate and House education committees, respectively, and Senate File 2407 was placed on the calendar as unfinished business. Endowment tax: House File 2240, as amended by the Iowa House Higher Education Committee, would impose a tax on university endowments holding more than $500 million, at a rate equaling the highest corporate income tax rate, identified in the bill as currently 7.1%. Institutions that would be impacted by the bill if it is signed into law include Grinnell College, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. After passage by the higher education committee, the legislation was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Free speech: Senate File 2300 and its companion House File 2336, ban schools from penalizing students or discriminating against them for expressing viewpoints through religious, political or ideological speech where “similarly situated students” are not punished. The measure passed the House and was placed on the “unfinished business” calendar in the Senate. During House debate, Democrats said the measure was duplicative of students’ rights already guaranteed by the First Amendment, and would add new legal liabilities alongside increased costs through training and compliance requirements. General education review: House File 2487, attached to Senate File 2303 and placed on the Senate calendar as unfinished business, would require the Iowa Board of Regents to review all general education requirements and core curricula at state universities for diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory-related content. The board “in its discretion” would then direct institutions to eliminate courses or course requirements, the bill stated. Senate File 2303 was approved by the Iowa Senate Education Committee Feb. 12. H-1B visas: House File 2513 would prohibit public universities from entering employment contracts with federal H-1B visaholders who are citizens of China or other “federally designated foreign adversaries,” the bill stated, including Syria, Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela. Having passed the House, the legislation saw support from an Iowa Senate subcommittee and the chamber’s workforce committee March 11, and has been placed on the Senate debate calendar. Law student loan repayment: House File 2331, passed by the Iowa House Higher Education Committee Feb. 4 and approved by an Appropriations subcommittee in the chamber, would establish a loan repayment program for University of Iowa College of Law graduates who practice in the state. Eligible graduates would receive up to $10,000 per year for six years, not to exceed the total balance of their loans. Priority would be given to graduates practicing in rural areas of the state. A previous version of the legislation would have placed an 80% residency requirement in the college of law, but was amended to its current form by the higher education committee. Pediatric cancer research: House File 2310 would provide a standing appropriation of either $1 per Iowa resident or $3 million to the Iowa Board of Regents for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa. Having passed unanimously in subcommittee and the Iowa House Higher Education Committee, the bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee. Presidential searches: House File 2245, passed out of the Iowa House March 12, would require the Iowa Board of Regents to use a presidential search committee when selecting a new university president. The legislation would also keep candidates’ identities confidential unless a written agreement is made. The bill was met with approval by the Iowa Senate Education Committee, with Senate File 2359 attached to it and both placed on the calendar as unfinished business. Social studies: House File 2244 and Senate File 2413, are companion bills requiring seventh and eighth grade students to receive instruction on U.S. government for at least one-half of a semester. The measure was passed by the House and placed on unfinished business in the Senate. Tuition guarantee: Senate File 2227 and House File 2362 would require universities to keep resident undergraduate tuition at the same level as the amount they paid in their first year of attendance, with certain exceptions, starting in 2027. The Iowa Senate moved both bills to unfinished business ahead of the second funnel of the legislative session. Health care Abortion medication: House File 2563 attempts to limit abortion medications like mifepristone coming from outside providers through telehealth and mail-order medication options by requiring these medications be administered or prescribed in person. Doctors dispensing these drugs would also be required to share information with patients about the possibility of reversing “the intended effects of a chemical abortion,” though medical professionals and advocates said this information was not scientifically accurate. Klimesh told reporters Thursday conversations are continuing on the proposal, but that he did not know if lawmakers are close enough to a consensus on the measure to advance restrictions through amendments or other means. In the House, the bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee Thursday, keeping it alive through the second funnel deadline. Conversion therapy: House File 2557 would create exemptions within the state’s definitions of “child abuse” and “child endangerment” related to a parent or guardian choosing not to affirm their child’s gender identity if it differs from their sex assigned at birth, saying these cannot be considered during foster parent licensing, adoption or custody proceedings. These exceptions involve a parent’s “intent to raise, guide or instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child’s sex,” stating actions like refusing to call a child by a name or pronouns that differ from their legal sex, or not consenting to a child receiving gender-affirming medical care, could not be considered endangerment or abuse. However, Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates said they were concerned with the language in the bill stating “seeking and consenting to a mental health service for a child for the purpose of helping the child live a life consistent with the child’s sex” could not be considered abuse or endangerment. Speakers at subcommittee meetings on the bill said this would allow the disavowed practice of “conversion therapy” – treatments seeking to change a person’s gender or sexual orientation – to be exempt from the state’s oversight of child abuse. Governor’s ‘MAHA’ bill: House File 2676 was proposed by Reynolds to codify restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligible food items, make ivermectin accessible over the counter and prohibit food dyes in school meals. The bill passed from the House with several amendments, including one to limit screen time in elementary schools, another asking to waive school lunch nutrition guidelines to instead include more regional foods like beef, pork and dairy and another that sets extracurricular requirements in schools. The bill was attached to Senate File 2367 and placed on unfinished business. HPV vaccine: Under current Iowa law, parental consent is required for vaccinating minors in almost all cases. But there’s an exception in Iowa law, letting minors consent to vaccines without their parent’s permission for vaccinations related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Senate File 304 proposes repealing this exception, meaning minors would need parental approval to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine. Kratom: House File 2133 would designate kratom products – a substance currently legal for sale and possession in Iowa which produces a stimulant effect at low doses, and acts as a sedative at high doses – as a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance. People found in possession of kratom would be subject to a serious misdemeanor charge for their first offense, an aggravated misdemeanor for their second and a Class D felony charge for subsequent offenses. The bill passed the House and was placed on the unfinished business calendar in the Senate. Psilocybin: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee amended and passed House File 978 Thursday, a bill that would allow for the legal, medical use of psilocybin in clinical environments with psychiatric support that have been approved by the state. Products with psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms,” and operators providing treatment involving psilocybin, would be regulated by the state through the Medical Cannabidiol Advisory Board, which would be expanded to include four members with expertise in psilocybin treatment. The program created through this legislation would be limited to individuals seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, but the board could seek legislative approval for using psilocybin in treatment for other mental health issues as more research becomes available. Subacute mental health care: Passed unanimously by the House, House File 2543 proposes several changes that were brought up as suggestions during a January Subacute Mental Health Care Services Interim Study Committee to improve Iowa’s treatment options, coverage and availability for subacute mental health care – programs for people who require in-person, intensive mental health care, but do not need to be kept in emergency hospitalization. The bill is on the unfinished business calendar in the Senate. The measure strikes a current provision in Iowa law limiting subacute mental health care to a period of 10 days – unless a longer stay is approved by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services – and bans preauthorization requirements for being admitted to a subacute mental health care facility for 15 days of treatment. It also restricts Managed Care Organizations’ (MCOs) review of “medical necessity” of this treatment to once per month, as well as preventing MCOs from requiring the discharge of patients from a subacute program without approval from a mental health professional supervising their treatment. Tobacco tax: Several measures aimed at raising excise taxes on tobacco and other nicotine products have failed to advance this session, being removed from the governor’s “MAHA” bill as it moved through the House and Senate Study Bill 3145 failing to advance through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee earlier this session. However, some lawmakers are hoping to revive the conversation before the end of session. Rep. Brett Barker, R-Nevada, introduced House File 2406 in February – a bill raising taxes on cigarettes by $1.50, as well as other nicotine and vape products – which is not subject to the funnel deadline. At a news conference on a study showing support from voters for raising the tax, he said he hoped the measure would come back up as lawmakers look for ways to address Medicaid funding shortfalls. State government Affirmative action: House File 2711 removes several affirmative action requirements for state and educational institutions, including the Iowa departments of Education and Administration, judicial branch, Board of Regents, community colleges and local school districts. The bill also makes changes to a police oversight law passed with bipartisan support in 2020, removing  racial and cultural awareness training requirements at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and annual bias prevention training for law enforcement agencies. The House amended the bill when passing it to add back training requirements for deescalation techniques, and to remove certain references to policies involving citizenship.The Senate Judiciary Committee amended the bill further on March 19, striking the police provisions and leaving only the elimination of references to affirmative action in the law. Budget shutdowns, governor’s powers: Many Democratic lawmakers already had concerns about House File 2694, a bill passed by the Iowa House that restricts governor’s abilities during disasters, including the ability of governors to restrict private businesses’ operations during public health disasters or to order changes to election laws and regulations without legislative approval. The measure also prevents a governor from ordering places of worship to close during disaster emergency situations, in addition to regulating conduct within private residences or requiring vaccines. But Senate Democrats on the State Government Committee further criticized the measure when it was brought before the committee with an amendment Wednesday that added language from Senate File 2388 to the bill. The additional language states that in years where the Legislature fails to pass or present a budget before the beginning of the next fiscal year – July 1 – the state will provide a continuing appropriation based on funding levels from the previous year. This measure would prevent state government shutdowns. While Republicans supporting the bill said the proposal is meant to prevent shutdowns similar to those happening in Washington, D.C., Democrats said the measure would give an avenue for Republican majorities in the Legislature to avoid negotiating with a potential future Democratic governor. The bill, as amended, passed 10-8. Some Republicans have also expressed concerns about the proposal potentially preventing lawmakers from being able to use budget negotiations to bring issues to the floor, as an eminent domain bill was brought to Senate vote in 2025. Commercial volumes: Senate File 2294 proposes restricting the volume of commercial advertisements on video streaming services, saying these ads cannot be transmitted  “at an audio volume louder than the audio volume of the video programming or video content the advertisement accompanies” to Iowa consumers. The measure was referred to the Senate Ways and Means committee, keeping it eligible for debate through the funnel. CDL English tests: Senate File 2426 would require applicants for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) to meet English proficiency standards, assessed using a computer-based exam, which only needs to be passed once. Trucking and bus companies would be prohibited from employing or contracting the services of a driver who does not meet language proficiency standards. The bill passed the Senate and was placed on the unfinished business calendar in the House. Child care assistance: Iowa’s Child Care Assistance (CCA) program has been available to parents of child care workers outside of existing income restrictions through a state pilot program since 2023 – but House File 2514 would make this program permanent. It passed the House in February and is eligible for Senate debate. Language codifying the pilot program has also moved forward as a part of other child care legislation. Driver’s license citizenship checks: Senate File 2187 is one of several measures that would require state entities to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to verify people’s citizenship status. The Iowa Department of Transportation would be required to check the citizenship status through SAVE of each person applying for or renewing a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card who does not provide proof of citizenship, and the DOT could not issue IDs to people whose citizenship or immigration status cannot be verified. Democrats spoke in opposition to requiring the use of SAVE in this process, as there have been instances where SAVE erroneously listed some individuals as noncitizens. Early Childhood Iowa: House File 2712 and Senate File 2462 are companion bills making changes to the Early Childhood Iowa system and funding. The measure, which has been significantly changed from initial proposals, would move funding through the existing ECI “School Ready Fund” for family support services and parent education programs to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services in order to draw down federal money, according to HHS officials. Other ECI funding streams would remain as-is. The measure is not subject to the funnel deadline, because it involves appropriations. E-Verify, SAVE: While some components of Reynolds’ executive order requiring state agencies use the SAVE database and E-Verify system to verify citizenship and work eligibility of state job and licensee applicants moved forward as an amendment to another bill, House File 2608 and Senate File 2412 also survived the funnel deadline by being placed on the unfinished business calendar. In addition to the federal verification requirements, the bill proposed by the governor would also make other changes related to law enforcement for immigrants. Local identification cards: House File 2296 would ban local governments from issuing community ID cards – specifically impacting the Johnson County community ID program. The measure would still authorize counties to issue forms of identification like driver’s licenses, nonoperator’s identification cards and identification devices for persons with disabilities, and local governments could still use employee IDs. Local ordinance cost analysis: Senate File 2434 would ban departments, offices or other subunits of a county or city government from making internal policies or rules without approval through an ordinance passed by the county board or city council respectively. The measure would also require ordinances adopted by these local government bodies to include a cost analysis, accessible via the government entity’s official website. The measure initially included language striking a current requirement in Iowa law for public notices to be published in newspapers, allow these notices to be posted on the government entity’s official website, and a “statewide public notice internet site.” This change was removed from the bill as it passed the Senate, but similar language remains alive in an appropriations bill. NFL stadiums: Senate File 2373 would offer Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program incentives – typically aimed at bringing projects with $1 billion in capital investment to Iowa – to projects building a professional sports stadium by a National Football League franchise in Iowa. The bill was brought up as the Chicago Bears are considering building a new stadium, potentially outside of Illinois. The last action on the bill was in February, but it remains eligible for discussion as a Ways and Means bill in the Senate. Radon mitigation: House File 2297, which has passed the House and is eligible for debate in the Senate, would require new single- and two-family residences to be constructed with passive radon mitigation systems. Lawmakers introduced the bill as an effort to help reduce the prevalence of lung cancer in the state since radon exposure is the second leading cause of the disease. Rulesmaking approval: Agencies within a future state administration would have to seek legislative approval for major administrative rule changes under House File 2717 and Senate File 2395, which were placed on the unfinished business calendar. This proposal – one of several Democrats say are the majority party’s attempts to restrict a potential future Democratic governor – would also reduce gubernatorial appointees’ terms from six to four years. Labor and the workforce Skilled workforce training: House File 2466 would increase funding for the 84E Apprenticeship Act, which goes toward state Registered Apprenticeship programs, from $3 million to $4.5 million. It would also create a “career training physical expansion program fund” to fund new facilities at community colleges, as well as in private sector programs, for in-person training in high demand fields, though the funding amount for this component was not specified. The bill also makes changes on who can provide apprenticeship training for intermediate sponsors – defined as “entity that provides apprenticeship training to multiple employers and serves as the sponsor of the apprentices” – stating they would not be penalized for partner employers’ actions, and would be eligible for Iowa Workforce Development aid. Additionally, it would encourage school districts to expand pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs at high schools. The legislation saw passage with amendment from the Iowa House Higher Education Committee Feb. 11 and was referred to Appropriations, where a subcommittee has recommended passage. Justice and public safety Age verification: House File 864 would require online entities containing obscene materials to implement “reasonable” methods to verify users’ ages, such as checking government-issued ID and financial documents. The bill, which the House passed in 2025, remains eligible for debate in the Senate following February approval from the Senate Technology committee. A similar measure brought forward this session, House File 2606, advanced through the committee process in the House but did not receive floor debate. Bail restrictions: House lawmakers substituted language from Senate File 2399 – a bill passed by the Senate unanimously setting pretrial bond amounts for Class A and forcible felonies – with the language from House File 2505, one the proposals included in House Republicans’ “tough on crime” package. Sent back to the Senate, the measure states a judge could not set bail lower than the uniform bond schedule without written justification for people arrested for certain crimes, like possession of a firearm as a felon or a forcible felony. It would also require judges who deviate from uniform bond schedules in other instances to provide written justification for setting lower bails. “Promise to appear” releases, allowing a person to be released from custody without going to jail after an arrest, would be banned if a person is charged with a simple or serious misdemeanor related to violence or drugs. The bill also allows the bond schedule to be adjusted for inflation. Judicial safety: Senate File 2280, placed on the House unfinished business calendar, is one of the measures proposed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session. State lawmakers, judicial officers, the Attorney General, deputy attorneys general and assistant attorneys general would be eligible through the bill for a professional permit allowing them to carry firearms while anywhere in the state, including on school grounds. The bill would also raise the penalty for threatening a judicial officer or their immediate family members from a misdemeanor to a class C felony.  

Dance Marathon this Saturday

North Scott students will host  their annual Dance Marathon in The Pit Saturday, March 28. They will be raising money in conjunction with the University of Iowa Dance Marathon and Children’s Miracle Network to support families fighting pediatric cancer. The students’ goal is to raise $12,000. The event will take place Saturday from 6–10 p.m. In addition to dancing, there will also be food and family activities. Local families affected by pediatric cancer will be honored throughout. Tickets for the Dance Marathon are $15 for adults and $10 for students and must be purchased on Bound: www.gobound.com/ia/schools/northscotteldridge/tickets. Direct donations may also be made at events.dancemarathon.com/NSDanceMarathon2026/donate.  

Food safety training set for May 7

The North Central Region Center for Food Safety Modernization Act Training will host an Environmental Monitoring Course on May 7 in Des Moines. Food safety and quality professionals, including quality assurance managers, coordinators, sanitation leaders, auditors and technical staff, along with consultants advising food businesses, are invited to attend. Environmental monitoring is used as a verification process to ensure the effective use of sanitation control measures in a food processing operation when an environmental hazard, such as Salmonella or Listeria, is reasonably likely to be present. The course will provide tools to comply with regulatory requirements for implementing effective sanitation practices. Participants will gain practical, decision-focused skills to design and strengthen Environmental Monitoring Program systems that effectively control environmental pathogen risks. The course will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Downtown Des Moines. Participants must be present for the entire eight-hour course to earn the certificate. Byron Chaves, associate extension specialist and professor at Rutgers University, will lead the course. The registration fee is $20 per person and includes lunch and light snacks. Participants must register online before April 22 to attend. The North Central Region Center for FSMA Training, Extension and Technical Assistance at Iowa State University partners with regional universities, food safety centers and national produce safety alliances to support the infrastructure of the national food safety program by communicating and coordinating information within the North Central Region related to the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Control Rule. For more information, contact Ellen Johnsen at johnsene@iastate.edu. This work is supported by the Food Safety Outreach Program (grant no. 2024-70020-42954) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

View the Eldridge Police report from the March 25 NSP!

MONDAY, MARCH 9 7:51 a.m. — A juvenile was cited for person under 21 using a tobacco/vapor product – 2nd offense, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 11:48 a.m. — Andrew Zickert, 37, of Davenport, was arrested for compulsory education violation (truancy), following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 1:16 p.m. — Christina Martin, 39, of Davenport, was arrested for domestic abuse assault – injury or mental illness – 1st offense, following a report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of West LeClaire Road. 5:43 p.m. — Courtney Thomburg, 36, of Eldridge, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail. 6:12 p.m. — Paul Guzewicz, 62, of Davenport, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and Trails Road. 11:52 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of North 6th Avenue. Handled by officer. TUESDAY, MARCH 10 12:53 a.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near East 55th and Brady streets. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 1:43 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 700 block of North 1st Street. Handled by officer. 4:01 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a single vehicle accident near 240th Street and 145th Avenue. 7:50 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 500 block of North 3rd Avenue. 10:06 a.m. — Report taken for fraudulent activity in the 200 block of West Price Street. 1:28 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near South 5th Street and West LeClaire Road. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 1:36 p.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. Handled by officer. 1:59 p.m. — Performed a welfare check in the 200 block of South Park View Drive. Handled by officer. 6:10 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of East Franklin Street. 6:16 p.m. — Terrell Hodrick, 26, of Clinton, was arrested for driving under suspension and cited for no insurance, following a traffic stop in the 100 block of West Slopertown Road. 10:52 p.m. — Complaint of a fire alarm going off in the 1100 block of Cypress Point Court. The call was turned over to the fire department. Handled by officer. 11:26 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of South Scott Park Road. Handled by officer. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 12:50 a.m. — Floyd Home, 36, of Muscatine, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 2:16 a.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 2:50 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 400 block of East Franklin Street. 4:21 p.m. — Report of a carbon monoxide alarm going off in the 400 block of North 3rd Avenue. Handled by officer. 9:27 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, MARCH 12 12:20 a.m. — Assisted another agency with an incident in the 500 block of West Prairie Vista Drive. 7:48 p.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles near West Donahue and North 7th streets. 11:18 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a two-vehicle accident near 270th Street and Scott Park Road. 4:59 p.m. — Complaint of unwanted juveniles in a business in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 10:23 p.m. — Brian Maiden, 38, of Rock Island, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 10:40 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. FRIDAY, MARCH 13 1:43 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 900 block of Trails Road. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 5:37 a.m. — Complaint of a pole leaning over the roadway near South Buttermilk Road and West Spring Street. The call was turned over to the public works department. Handled by officer. 10:35 p.m. — Rose Winters, 33, of Davenport, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 11:15 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop near East Blackhawk Trail and South 1st Street. SATURDAY, MARCH 14 4:55 a.m. — Report of a noise complaint in the 500 block of West Valley Drive. Handled by officer. 10:39 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 1100 block of East Iowa Street. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 11:50 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 100 block of North 16th Avenue. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 5:13 p.m. — Jamie Peterman, 38, of Eldridge, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South Scott Park Road and East Blackhawk Trail. 5:31 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. Handled by officer. 5:54 p.m. — Christopher Madison, 25, of Bettendorf, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Slopertown Road. 6:09 p.m. — Franshawn Washington, 37, of Eldridge, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Slopertown Road. 6:49 p.m. — Lucas Casel, 29, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension and cited for operating a non-registered vehicle and no insurance, following a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Slopertown Road. 7:08 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. 8:17 p.m. — Charles Holliday, 44, of Eldridge, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and West Lincoln Road. 9:39 p.m. — Louis Claeys, 79, of Eldridge, was arrested for OWI – 1st offense, interference with official acts and no driver’s license, following a traffic stop near North Scott Park and East LeClaire roads. 10:00 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. SUNDAY, MARCH 15 2:01 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 2:02 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop near West 53rd Street and Northwest Boulevard. 2:06 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 400 block of East Franklin Street. 3:17 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 100 block of West Scott Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 4:41 p.m. — Report of a noise complaint in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 8:41 p.m. — Report of a noise complaint in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. MONDAY, MARCH 16 5:54 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch near South Hillandale and Slopertown roads. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 6:06 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch in the 700 block of West Slopertown Road. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 6:16 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch in the 2000 block of Slopertown Road. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 7:28 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 8:35 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch in the 300 block of West Slopertown Road. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 8:54 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch on Highway 61. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 9:02 a.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch on Highway 61. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 10:15 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a hit-and-run accident near North Division Street and Research Parkway. 10:41 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a single vehicle accident in the 17400 block of 267th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 4:19 p.m. — Report of a parking complaint in the 100 block of Fairway Circle. A tow sticker was applied to the vehicle. Handled by officer. 4:33 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 900 block of West Sheridan Drive. 5:06 p.m. — Provided traffic control while a vehicle in a ditch was towed out in the 3300 block of South Buttermilk Road. Handled by officer. 5:09 p.m. — Complaint of a two-vehicle accident near West Donahue Street and North Buttermilk Road. Handled by officer. 6:40 p.m. — Complaint of multiple vehicles in a ditch in the 8000 block of North Division Street. Handled by officer. 6:53 p.m. — Complaint of a vehicle in a ditch in the 900 block of West Slopertown Road. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 7:34 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 11:51 p.m. — Provided traffic control while a vehicle in a ditch near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail was towed out. Handled by officer. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 7:44 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 400 block of Linden Lane. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 10:00 a.m. — Complaint of damage to a vehicle due to debris in the roadway on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 4:01 p.m. — Complaint of a vehicle blocking the roadway on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 4:17 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 800 block of South 7th Street Court. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 8:45 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles playing ding-dong-ditch in the 100 block of South 27th Avenue. Handled by officer. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 9:22 a.m. — Complaint of juveniles running in hallways in the 700 block of West Donahue Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 9:33 a.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 700 block of West Donahue Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 10:23 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 500 block of West Davenport Street. 11:22 a.m. — Report taken for a burglary in the 400 block of North 5th Place. 4:10 p.m. — Report taken for hit-and-run damage to a vehicle parked in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. 5:01 p.m. — Report taken for vandalism to property in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. 6:15 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop on Highway 61. 10:59 p.m. — Complaint of subjects tapping on windows in the 200 block of South 8th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 11:00 p.m. — Complaint of subjects tapping on windows in the 400 block of North 8th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 11:18 p.m. — Complaint of subjects tapping on windows in the 1700 block of South 5th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, MARCH 19 1:12 a.m. — Complaint of subjects tapping on windows in the 800 block of West Pinehurst Drive. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 5:23 p.m. — Report taken for vandalism to property in the 700 block of West Price Street. 8:04 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 200 block of South 16th Avenue. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 11:31 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 500 block of West Valley Drive. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 1:07 a.m. — Complaint of damage to property in the 400 block of Dammann Drive. Handled by officer. 2:45 a.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 500 block of South 1st Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 6:21 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. The vehicle was flagged. Handled by officer. 10:33 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 1:21 p.m. — Complaint of dogs running loose in the 600 block of West Davenport Street. The owner retrieved the animals. Handled by officer. 7:00 p.m. — Provided traffic control while a vehicle in a ditch near South 1st Street and Trails Road was being towed out. Handled by officer. 8:59 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Handled by officer. SATURDAY, MARCH 21 11:32 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a runaway in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. Handled by officer. 5:11 p.m. — Complaint of a dog left in a vehicle in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. Handled by officer. 5:13 p.m. — Darbie Schell, 44, of Davenport, was cited for no insurance and no driver’s license, following a traffic stop near Slopertown Road and South 1st Street. 6:50 p.m. — Da’Lante Fitts, 27, of Bettendorf, was arrested for driving under suspension and cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South Buttermilk and Slopertown roads. 8:34 p.m. — Assisted a resident in the 200 block of East Franklin Street. Handled by officer. 11:36 p.m. — Tyler Schoenhard, 35, of Clinton, was cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. SUNDAY, MARCH 22 12:34 a.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of West Sheridan Drive. Handled by officer. 7:38 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 1:31 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 1:41 p.m. — Complaint of a subject walking on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 4:52 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 6:22 p.m. — Assisted with child custody exchange in the 300 block of North 3rd Street. Handled by officer. 7:16 p.m. — Complaint of a loud noise in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the March 25 NSP!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 5:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of Main Street, Buffalo. THURSDAY, MARCH 12 11:47 p.m. — William Holley, 32, Davenport, was charged with failure to appear on a warrant, following a report of a disturbance in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road, Davenport. FRIDAY, MARCH 13 3:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near South Concord Street and West River Drive. 9:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 1100 block of Fenno Drive. 10:43 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 2:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 2:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 3500 block of Wisconsin Street. 4:28 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 4:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft on Park View Drive, Park View. The property was returned. 5:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3700 block of West Locust Street. 6:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near Utica Ridge Road and 230th Street. 7:26 p.m. — Logan Riley Michelle Hocker, 25, Davenport, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near East 53rd Street and Amesbury Drive, Davenport. 7:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 3600 block of East 53rd Street. 8:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 11900 block of 110th Avenue. 9:00 p.m. — Robin Louann Buntjer, 56, Clinton, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant and charged with a controlled substance violation and a drug tax stamp violation, following an incident in the 7200 block of Northwest Boulevard, Davenport. 9:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 900 block of Pius Lane. 11:15 p.m. — Tori Ranae Reed, 32, Port Byron, Ill., was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near East Blackhawk Trail and South 1st Street, Eldridge. SATURDAY, MARCH 14 12:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3000 block of West 71st Street. 1:56 a.m. — Jada Mone Jones, 19, Rock Island, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, possession of tobacco/vapor/cigarettes under the legal age and supplying alcohol to a person underage, following a traffic stop near North Division and West 67th streets, Davenport. 3:04 a.m. — Jasmine Michelle Sanford, 35, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, following a traffic stop in the 2900 block of East 53rd Street, Davenport. 4:10 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 5:08 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 11000 block of 110th Avenue. A vehicle driven by Erick Jesus Cardozo, 23, Kerens, Texas, was southbound on 110th Avenue. Cardozo reportedly told deputies he briefly fell asleep while driving. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled into a ditch. 8:34 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 10500 block of 160th Street. 9:27 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance on Park View Drive. 10:22 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 12:39 p.m. — Randy Allen Schneck, 47, LeClaire, was charged with 3rd degree criminal mischief and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, following an incident in the 24400 block of Valley Drive, Pleasant Valley. 1:05 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 1:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road, Walcott. The complainant reported that diesel fuel had been siphoned from his truck while it was parked in the lot at the Iowa 80 Truckstop. 2:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 5:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance near West 65th Street and North Hazelwood Avenue. 8:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 900 block of West Kimberly Road. 8:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 3600 block of East 53rd Street. 9:25 p.m. — Nolan Lee Givens, 30, Davenport, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop in the 3100 block of Rockingham Road, Davenport. SUNDAY, MARCH 15 12:54 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5200 block of Northwest Boulevard. 1:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 3800 block of Hobson Avenue. 1:41 a.m. — Charles Michael Seaman, 18, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, possession of tobacco/cigarettes/vapor product under the legal age – 1st offense, and possession/purchase of alcohol under the legal age, following a traffic stop near West 53rd and North Pine streets, Davenport. 2:22 a.m. — Avayonica Yvonna Johnson, 20, Davenport, was cited for OWI – 1st offense, following a traffic stop near West 53rd Street and Northwest Boulevard, Davenport. 3:07 a.m. — Roman Christopher Marquardt, 21, Blue Grass, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (not marijuana) – 2nd offense, OWI – 1st offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, and cited for improper use of lanes, following a traffic stop near East 38th and Brady streets, Davenport. 3:58 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3700 block of West Locust Street. 5:40 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 8200 block of Northwest Boulevard. 6:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 6:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 6:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 285 on Interstate 80 West. A vehicle driven by Azamat Adylov, 29, Racine, Wis., lost control due to slushy road conditions. The vehicle went into the median, where it struck a cable barrier. 7:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 8:28 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 8:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with hit-and-run damage near mile marker 282 on Interstate 80 West. A vehicle driven by an unknown driver was westbound on Interstate 80. The driver reportedly lost control and the vehicle fishtailed. The trailer on the back of the vehicle struck a vehicle driven by Rhett Pederson, 26, Minot, N.D. Pederson’s vehicle left the roadway and went into a ditch. The other vehicle did not stop at the scene. 11:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1100 block of Walnut Street. MONDAY, MARCH 16 12:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 10:41 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 17400 block of 267th Street. 10:51 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 1:10 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 200th Street and 110th Avenue. A snowplow operated by Bridget Ann Hillyer, 53, Eldridge, was westbound on 200th Street. A tow truck was parked on the side of the road, and Hillyer attempted to maneuver around the tow truck. Due to snowy road conditions, the snowplow lost traction and struck the tow truck. 1:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 257th Street and 270th Avenue. 2:51 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 3:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 5:03 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of Manor Drive. 8:44 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check near Northwest Boulevard and 210th Street. 8:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 24800 block of Scott Park Road. A vehicle driven by Robert Jermaine Johnson, 42, Davenport, was southbound on Scott Park Road. Johnson reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which went into a ditch. Johnson was cited for failure to maintain control and failure to provide proof of insurance. 8:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 200 block of 2nd Avenue. 10:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near 89th Avenue and 200th Street. 11:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 6200 block of Crow Creek Road. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 3:24 a.m. — Kiara Lanae Culberson, 20, Davenport, was cited for driving while license denied or revoked, driving with suspended/denied/revoked license or registration and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop near Shamrock Drive and Eastern Avenue, Davenport. 3:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near East Grove Road and South 1st Street. 4:04 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check. 4:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 500 block of South Woodlawn Road. 7:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 23300 block of 277th Avenue. 8:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint on Valley View Drive. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 3:26 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 5:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 9:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West Donahue Street. 10:42 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 5300 block of 306th Street. 5:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 200 block of South Park View Drive. 8:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Highway 61 and Zachary Avenue. THURSDAY, MARCH 19 12:45 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 29000 block of Scott Park Road. 12:48 a.m. — Cody Allen Svetlick, 21, East Moline, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, following an incident in the 2300 block of West River Drive, Davenport. 3:34 a.m. — Richard Lee Johnson, 46, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) – 1st offense and cited for operation without certificate of title, following a traffic stop near West Central Park Avenue and Hickory Grove Road. 10:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Silverstone Drive. 12:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 27200 block of Scott Park Road. 2:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of West James Street. 3:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Highway 67. 6:10 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 3900 block of State Street. 6:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 1100 block of State Street. 7:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 9:20 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 1400 block of South Nevada Avenue. 11:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of Chestnut Street. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 12:31 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 7300 block of Volquardsen Avenue. 1:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 2:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of South Dittmer Street. 9:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint on Hillcrest Court.

Dixon Cemetery cleanup April 1

The Dixon Cemetery Company will hold its biannual cleanup on April 1 starting at 9 a.m. All flowers and decorations will be removed.

Schweers to celebrate 80th birthdays with open house

Jay and Janice Schweer of Davenport will celebrate their 80th birthdays on April 4. Friends and relatives are invited to an open house at the Hickory Creek Event Center, 3504 Hickory Grove Road, Davenport, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. No gifts, please. Your presence is the perfect gift. 

Obituary: Franklin ‘Hap’ Anderson

Franklin Dennis “Hap” Anderson, 89, of Nixa, Mo., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026, surrounded by family. He was born on Sunday, Nov. 29, 1936, in Chestnut Ridge, Mo., to Edgar and Emma (Cupp) Anderson.  Hap was united in marriage to the love of his life, Betty Hopper, on Sept. 6, 1956. His passion for concrete began with his contribution of work in the construction of the Table Rock Dam. That passion led to the creation of The Anderson Companies in 1965, in Bettendorf, growing to 250 employees. Growth continued with additional companies in Bloomington and East Moline, Ill., Anderson Commercial Concrete, H.A.P. Excavating, Hapson and Commercial Concrete. Hap was a founding member of the Concrete Foundation Association. That success led to his devotion to his communities, serving on the boards of Bettendorf Bank, Northwest Bank and the Rotary Club. He and Betty shared a love for golf, where they were members at Crow Valley and Highland Springs Country Clubs. Hap loved the Lord; rarely missing time spent with his Ridgecrest Baptist Church family and Faith Family Group. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and 11 siblings.  Hap is survived by a sister, Mary Lou Howe of Springfield Mo., daughters Cindy (Andy) Slusarski of Eldridge, and Jennifer (Michael) Knight of Lathrop, Mo., son Dennis (Tricia) Anderson of Nixa, nine grandchildren; Luke Jansen, Mitch Jansen, Bobby (Amber) Knight, Jessica (Nick) Schulz, Nicholas (Mandi) Knight, Conner Anderson, Caleb (Zeda) Anderson, Haylen McKnelly, Hap Anderson, 10 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804, with funeral services to follow at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Ridgecrest Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences can be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Rhea Sherman

Rhea Marie Sherman, 101, of Eldridge, formerly of Donahue, passed away peacefully at her home on Feb. 27, 2026, with her loving family by her side. Per Rhea’s wishes, a private graveside service was held at Allens Grove Cemetery in Donahue. Born on Aug. 26, 1924, outside of Buffalo, Rhea was the oldest child of Chris and Mary Willroth. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1942, where she was the captain of the girls’ basketball team. She was united in marriage to Grant Sherman on Sept. 30, 1950, in San Diego, Calif., where Grant was stationed serving in the Navy. They enjoyed riding motorcycles, bowling and raising their family together for over 46 years, until his passing in 1997. Rhea retired from Deere & Company after many years of work in the Administrative Legal department. Rhea was a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye basketball fan. She also enjoyed sewing, quilting and attending the sporting events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted member of the Donahue American Legion — Post 532 and an integral part of the Ladies Auxiliary.  Her survivors include her children, Gwendolyn (Don) Henzen, Connie (Clyde) Tobey, and Mike Sherman, all of Eldridge; grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) Hoffmann, Alissa (Terry) Haase, Tony Welp, all of Eldridge, and Clint (Sarah) Henzen of Dixon; great-grandchildren, Erica Henzen, Ava Haase, Grant Haase, and Corrine Henzen. Rhea is preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Mary; husband Grant; brother Eugene Willroth and sister Irene Scherer.   Custom obituary

Scott County voters can request absentee ballots for June election

Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins says voters can now submit requests for absentee ballots by mail for the June 2 Primary Election. Iowa law allows county auditors to accept absentee ballot requests no more than 70 days before an election. “Please plan ahead if you know you will not be able to vote in-person on [...]

As first team all-state, Josiah Harrington makes Lancer history

North Scott junior forward Josiah Harrington earned a spot on the Class 4A all-state boys’ basketball first team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association last week. Harrington is the eighth different Lancer to be named all-state since 2015, and he is the first since Ty Anderson in 2020 to make the first team. This marks the 21st time in school history a Lancer has been all-state. Eight of them have been first team selections. Harrington joins Anderson, Corvon Seales, Cortez Seales, Marlon Stewart and Shaun Logan as Lancer first team honorees. Harrington was the only player from the Mississippi Athletic Conference to be named all-state. Jaidyn Coon, a Storm Lake senior and Creighton commit, was named Iowa Mr. Basketball by the IPSWA. Domination from the start From opening night, Harrington cast his die. He dropped what would remain a season-high and career-high 45 points in the Lancers’ season-opening win at Iowa City Liberty. He did not slow down. Harrington scored 42 points against Linn-Mar on Jan. 3 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse, and 38 points at home against Clinton on Jan. 27. Overall, Harrington scored at least 30 points in a game seven times this season. He had nine double-doubles, and a pair of 15 rebound games against Davenport North on Dec. 19 and Davenport Assumption on Feb. 6. On a per game basis, Harrington scored 24.8 points, grabbed 8.5 rebounds, dished out 1.6 assists, stole 1.8 passes and blocked 0.9 shots. Across the entire state, Harrington ranked seventh in points per game. In just Class 4A, he was second behind Sioux City West freshman Roman Henry (26.4 PPG). In Class 4A, Harrington ranked eighth in rebounds per game, fourth in field goals made per game (8.6), and first in free throws made per game (6.0). This is Harrington's second all-state nod. He was named to the third team in 2025 as a sophomore. If he continues similar success into 2027, he could become the third Lancer to be a three-time all-state player, potentially joining Brandon Voss (2010-2012) and Cortez Seales (2013-2015). Additionally, Harrington is primed to break Cortez Seales’ record as North Scott’s all-time leading scorer early next winter. Seales scored 1,392 points in his four-year career. Harrington, after just three seasons, is already at 1,295 points. Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State Teams Class 4A First Team Colin Rice, Waukee Northwest; Will Gerdes, Cedar Falls; Jaydon Kimbrough, Cedar Falls; Landon Davis, Waukee Northwest; Tevin Schultz, Dubuque Senior; Josiah Harrington, North Scott; Evan Jacobson, Waukee; Amario Aguirre, Ankeny; Charlie Crane, West Des Moines Valley; Noah Martens, West Des Moines Valley. Class 4A Second Team Tyler Hilton, Linn-Mar; Charlie King, Des Moines Roosevelt; Jake Pargeon, Urbandale; Jerimiah Washpan, Iowa City Liberty; Nicare Cavil, Johnston; Tillman Papcun, Norwalk; Alfred Kolee, West Des Moines Valley; Tino Daye Jr., Johnston; Max Roach, Waukee; Jasani Campbell, Ankeny. Class 4A Third Team Jai White, Waukee; Quentin Teeter, Urbandale; Chase Perrin, Dallas Center-Grimes; Will Wehr, Cedar Rapids Prairie; Will Thomas, Ames; George Blake, Indianola; Roman Henry, Sioux City West; Cayden Larson, Cedar Rapids Prairie; Landon Hanson, Waukee; Isaiah Oliver, Waukee Northwest. 2025-26 IPSWA Mr. Basketball Jaidyn Coon, Storm Lake (3A)

Spring sports kick off at home this week

The indoor events were the appetizers. It’s time for the main course. North Scott’s spring sports season begins in earnest this week at home with a pair of track and field meets. The Lancer boys got into the starting blocks with their Early Bird home meet on Tuesday, while the girls got their feet wet in Clinton. The two squads will affix their spikes again on Thursday, with the girls hosting the Lady Lancer Relays. The boys’ team will head down to Pleasant Valley High School for an eight-school meet. North Scott’s girls’ soccer team will start their season with a few home matches. First, on Saturday, is a scrimmage against Central DeWitt. Then, a budding Class 2A rivalry renews with the Independence Mustangs coming to town on April 3. The Lancers and Mustangs have played in the last two regional finals. North Scott won in penalty kicks in 2024, and Independence won in overtime in 2025. The boys’ soccer team will start its nonconference slate a few days earlier with a home meeting against Dubuque Senior on March 31. The Lancer boys’ tennis team will hit their first serves in a home dual against Muscatine on April 7. There is no girls’ tennis spring season in 2026, as the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union completed its first fall season last October. It will be a while longer before the girls’ golf team tees it up for the first time. North Scott’s season-opening meet, a Mississippi Athletic Conference triangular at Duck Creek Golf Course, is not until April 13.

Learn more about cottage food laws April 9

Individuals interested in starting or expanding a home-based food business are invited to attend a Cottage Food Law Presentation on Thursday, April 9, at the Scott County Extension Office. The event will provide participants with a clear understanding of Iowa’s Cottage Food Law, including what foods can be produced at home, labeling requirements, food safety considerations, and steps to legally sell products under the law. To better meet individual needs, one-on-one business consultations will be available from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., allowing attendees to ask specific questions about their food products or business ideas. Penny Brown Huber, Food Business Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will then provide a whole-group presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., offering a comprehensive overview of Cottage Food Law requirements and best practices for compliance and success. This event is ideal for home bakers, food entrepreneurs, farmers market vendors, and anyone curious about selling homemade food products legally in Iowa. For more information, or to register, contact the Scott County Extension Office. • Phone: (563) 359-7577 • Email: sculver@iastate.edu  

2011: North Scott students help stave off Princeton flooding

March 24, 1976 • The City of Eldridge was awaiting a ruling on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against Caterpillar regarding its attempt to annex into the City of Davenport. A hearing on the matter was held in Scott County District Court on March 22, and Judge James Havercamp did not give any indication on when he intended to hand down his ruling. • Keith Jansen was crowned King of Bachelor Capture by Homecoming Queen Pat Green. Janeen Heiman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Heiman, served as flower girl for the ceremony. Keith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jansen of Long Grove. • Students at the Walcott School received a special visit from The Rev. and Mrs. J.J. Ngwenya of the southern African country of Swaziland (now known as Eswatini). Rev. Ngwenya was studying at Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., and the couple spent their spring break as the guests of Helen Wilson of Davenport. Wilson had served as a missionary in Swaziland from 1966-1969. The Ngwenyas shared slides and artifacts from their home country with the students. They also paid a visit to the George Maxwell farm in rural Walcott, where they enjoyed lunch and a tour from John Maxwell, who was an eighth grader at the Walcott School. • Pat Jones and Lisa Hamann were named most valuable players on the girls’ basketball team. Koreen Knutson and Cindy Strobbe were “most improved,” and Deb Bockwoldt was honored as captain. On the boys’ side, Steve Peters was named MVP, and Keith Jansen was named best defensive player. Jansen also received the Lancer Award, which honored the player with the most desire, hustle and sportsmanship. • A group of advanced biology students from North Scott High School planned to attend an April field trip to Table Rock State Park, near Branson, Mo. The trip would be led by science teacher Leon Fox. There would be sightseeing, as well as opportunities to collect biological specimens. “I think it’s a good way for kids to learn to appreciate the outdoors and living things,” said Fox. “It also gives them a chance to be together in a rather unique situation.” March 26, 1986 • A Scott County landmark, The Edgetowner restaurant, was set to close on April 14. The restaurant opened in 1964, and Birch Holden became the manager in 1968. The building burned to the ground in April of 1972, but a newer facility opened the following February, and it became one of the most popular family restaurants in the county. However, when Highway 61 moved out of the heart of Mount Joy, business slowed significantly. “We knew the highway would affect us. That was the main thing,” said Holden. “The day after the road opened, we could tell the difference. This is a really close margin business, and we found that daily sales are affected as much by continuous traffic throughout the day as they are by a good crowd at breakfast, lunch or dinner.” The restaurant had been a regular meeting place for civic and social clubs and had hosted many notables. Gov. Terry Branstad recently kicked off the day of the start of his reelection bid at The Edgetowner. • North Scott superintendent Doug Otto was one of six finalists for the superintendent of schools in Mason City. While Otto said that the opportunity to lead a larger district was something he wanted to consider, he had been asked to apply for the position. “This was unsolicited on my part. I’m not actively looking to move.” • Carma Hoffmann was retiring after 13 years as the North Scott School District’s payroll and insurance bookkeeper. She was helping the new bookkeeper, Kathy Holzhauer, prepare for the job until her final day in April. An open house honoring Hoffmann was set to be held at the administration center. • John Glenn Elementary School hosted its second annual Grandparents and Senior Citizens Day on St. Patrick’s Day. More than 160 senior citizens joined students, so many that the school was forced to borrow extra chairs from Don’s Pub. The crowd enjoyed Irish music by Dale Whiteside, and Donahue’s Harland Rohlk was named the school’s honored senior citizen. He was joined by the previous year’s honoree, Edna Spies, who wore her grandfather’s 100-year-old Irish derby hat, complete with a shamrock, to the event. • Jenni Fitzgerald and Tracy Graham were named first-team all-Mississippi Eight Conference for girls’ basketball. Tracy Moore was a second team selection, and Pam Leslie was named honorable mention. Deb Menke was chosen as Coach of the Year. March 28, 2001 • The North Scott School District sold its 39.25-acre FFA farm south of Long Grove for $5,300 per acre, or $208,025. The auction was attended by 25 people and lasted nine minutes, including a five-minute break. • Jerry Vollbeer of rural Eldridge was appointed to the North Scott School Board. He replaced Steve Abney, who was leaving the North Scott area after accepting a position with Defense Logistics Agency – Europe in Germany. Vollbeer had previously served on the board from 1986-1989 and would hold the position for the next five months, until the Sept. 11 school board election. His previous service on the board made him the unanimous choice, particularly since he had also worked through a superintendent hiring process at that time. • Student at Alan Shepard Elementary School enjoyed Potpourri Day in advance of spring break. They took part in many activities, including crafts and outdoor games. Some students even learned some American sign language. • North Scott students Jason Arp and Bryan Zabel were chosen to represent the Carl Jacobsen American Legion Post of Eldridge at Boys State. • Illusionist and “eco-entertainer” Steve Trash spoke to students in Scott County about environmental education, including at Blue Grass Elementary School. In his act, he used both magic tricks and garbage to teach young people about picking up litter and beautification. Trash, who was a native of Alabama and preferred to keep his real name a secret, had his trip to the area sponsored by Keep Scott County Beautiful. March 30, 2011 • A group of North Scott High School students pitched in in Princeton to help stave off flooding from the Mississippi River. Nearly 200 students were bused out to Boll’s Community Center, where they filled almost 7,000 sandbags. “It’s just very humbling to see this amount of help for the citizens and town,” said police chief Brian Carsten. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” • On a 5-2 vote, the North Scott School Board approved a four-point building plan for the district intended to help alleviate overcrowding at Ed White. Among the proposals was to construct a building for kindergarten and first-grade students at an estimated cost of $4 million. More than 120 people packed into the gym at Virgil Grissom for the meeting, which included about 40 minutes of public comment. Board members Paul Dierickx, Tim Lane, Krista Long, Mark Kruse and Sue Cannon voted in favor of the proposal, with Joe Slater and Liz Bosworth voting no. • Mississippi Valley Fair manager Bob Fox announced the entertainment for the upcoming fair: Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Steve Miller Band, Charlie Daniels Band, and Miranda Lambert. • Students at Neil Armstrong Elementary School celebrated Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day, with special guest readers, Seussian costumes and more. • Andrea Wilson and Chelsey Blake signed letters of intent to continue their soccer careers at St. Ambrose University. March 24, 2021 • Area residents had a chance to step into the shoes of police during an active shooter situation. Eldridge Police Corporal Andrew Lellig organized the training exercise, which included an interactive video screen and laser replicas of 9 mm pistols borrowed from the Blue Grass Police Department. Many members of the public works employees and city staff participated in the exercise in September, and the public was invited to another session at the Eldridge Fire Station. “I thought it would be like a video game. It was a lot more intense though. I’m sweating a little bit,” said Cegan Long. Eldridge water superintendent Mark Schmidt also admitted to being a little shaken by the exercise. “I’m never going to be in these shoes, and I don’t want to be. These are tougher decisions than I ever have to make.” • Countryside Community Theatre announced plans to return with a summer season that included “The Music Man” and Disney’s “Newsies.” The 2020 season, which would have included “The Fantasticks” and “The Music Man,” was cancelled due to the pandemic. “We are so excited to be moving forward,” said CCT board president Tony Dexter. “Having to cancel last year was absolutely horrible, because we had both shows cast and directors lined up. Scripts and scores were here, and it was a gut-wrenching decision.” • The North Scott YMCA was officially moving forward, as both the Eldridge City Council and North Scott School Board approved an $11.8 million contract with general contractor Russell Construction, well under the $14 million estimate approved by voters in the March 3, 2020, referendum. Superintendent Joe Stutting said, weather permitting, site work could start on April 1. • North Scott’s only two-time wrestling state champion, Wyatt Wriedt, became a national champion, capturing the title at 285 at the NWCA Division III National Championships in Coralville. Wriedt had originally wrestled at the University of Nebraska before he was sidelined by a knee injury. He later transferred to Loras College in Dubuque and qualified for the NCAA Division III national tournament in 2020, only to see that meet cancelled by the pandemic. The NCAA also announced plans to cancel the 2021 tournament, but the National Wrestling Coaches Association stepped up to host instead. • Davenport Assumption graduate Dylan Peeters, son of Bernie and Maria Peeters of Eldridge, helped lead the Truman State University basketball team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament. He was averaging 12.4 points per game and led the team with 9.3 rebounds per game and 23 blocked shots. He also started the season with six straight double-doubles.    

A professional cornhole player and quadruple amputee is arrested for murder

Dayton Webber, 27, is accused of shooting a man in his car during an argument. He has shared his story of becoming a pro athlete after losing his arms and legs to a childhood bacterial infection.

Update on ag-related cancer study

This week also marked National Agriculture Week, an annual event that recognizes the impact of agriculture on daily life across the United States. Farming remains the foundation of Iowa’s economy, identity, and infrastructure. Agriculture and related industries make up more than 22 percent of the state’s total economic output, and Iowa continues to lead the nation in pork and corn production.   Last week, a new report from the Iowa Cancer Registry and the Agricultural Health Study provided updated information on cancer rates in Iowa. This remains an important topic, and many Iowans are looking for clearer answers. Earlier this year, a separate report from Iowa Health and Human Services and the University of Iowa Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy highlighted the complexity of cancer and the challenges involved in identifying its causes. The Agricultural Health Study included more than 89,000 farmers and their spouses from Iowa and North Carolina. Participants included more than 31,000 private pesticide applicators, 4,900 commercial applicators, and nearly 21,000 spouses. Over a ten year period, farmers in the study experienced 13 percent fewer cancers than expected compared to the general population, while spouses experienced 10 percent fewer cancers than expected compared to others in Iowa. More than 80 percent of Iowa pesticide applicators chose to participate in the study. Researchers noted that farmers are particularly valuable participants because they can accurately report pesticide use and are exposed to higher levels through mixing, loading, and application. The findings suggest that pesticide use among these farmers does not increase their likelihood of developing cancer. Researchers continue to examine other possible contributing factors, including lifestyle. The University of Iowa study found that Iowans rank among the highest in binge drinking, obesity, and low vegetable consumption, all of which are associated with increased cancer risk. Last year, the legislature allocated one million dollars to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to support further research and develop policy recommendations. An initial report was released in February, and a final report is expected in June 2026 with additional data. These findings will help guide future decisions as the state works to improve public health and strengthen its health care system.

Legislation will ban Kratom in Iowa

As we conclude week 10 of the legislative session, I’m pleased to present our weekly wrap-up of actions taken. This week was particularly significant for me, as the Chairman of Public Safety, I had the honor of floor managing HF2133, an act aimed at scheduling and banning Kratom in Iowa. This bill received considerable attention and ultimately passed with a vote of 69 to 26 after thorough debate. Kratom, derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, poses serious health risks. Its psychoactive properties can lead to addiction, and studies have linked it to a range of adverse effects, including respiratory issues, liver damage, withdrawal symptoms and death due to overdose. Classifying Kratom is not just a precaution, it is a necessary action to safeguard the health and safety of all Iowans. The severe health risks, out of control availability, and rising public safety concerns demanded our attention. By taking this step we can continue to implement crucial safety standards, protect our communities from harmful substances, and align with national efforts to address substance abuse effectively. Looking ahead to week 11. We will return to the House Chamber next week ready to review Senate files that have been sent across the rotunda for House consideration and approval. I anticipate a full week of activity as we continue to address issues impacting the people of Iowa. Your continued engagement and perspective are invaluable as we move forward with this important work. Iowa House Passes Pro-Biofuels Bill The Iowa House continues to support biofuels and agriculture. House File 2643 ensures better implementation of Iowa’s pro-ethanol and pro-biodiesel tax credits. Farmers across Iowa and the nation have identified support for ethanol and biodiesel as a top priority this year. HF 2643 ensures full compliance with Iowa’s biofuel tax credit program. For over a decade, sellers of biofuel have been required to file a report indicating the gallons sold at their establishment. This data is used to determine how the investment of tax dollars is being completed. Unfortunately, the reports have been ignored by some.  This bill provides tax accountability because if documentation is not provided in the report, the taxpayer may not claim Iowa’s biofuel tax credits. AI Statements for Campaign Material Last week House Republicans advanced legislation to provide transparency and accountability for campaign material and advertisements that use artificial intelligence to create or manipulate media. House File 2609, aims to address evolving use of AI and other technology in campaign material. With the proliferation of AI platforms and services more media is artificially created or manipulated. When it comes to Iowa’s elections and campaigns it is important that the material being used by campaigns is transparent and not fake.   HF 2609 requires that any campaign material that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any digital technology to create realistic, but false images, audio, or video of an individual to have a prominent label that contains “THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA”. These materials would include “deep-fake” videos or images of candidates, AI-generated images, or altered audio recordings.   If enacted this legislation will help provide clarity and context of the campaign images and videos to Iowans. As AI becomes more powerful, accessible, and cheaper, it’s increasingly difficult to identify what is real and what isn’t. HF 2609 helps preserve trust in the election process and provide consequences for those who try and manipulate their campaign media.   This column was abridged.

House committee passes historic property tax reform

This week the house ways and means committee passed House Study Bill 596. This property tax reform bill contains multiple divisions and covers a wide array of topics that holds the property taxpayer’s interests at heart—not the government’s. First, the bill limits local government reserve accounts to 35 percent of current budget. This will keep local governments from hoarding taxpayer money and building up unnecessarily big reserve accounts when that money is better off in the pockets of its residents. Next, the bill caps local tax revenue at 102 percent year over year. No more hiding behind increased assessments while saying, “but we did not raise the levy!” While true, that statement was never the whole story. With assessments soaring, local governments never had to raise levies to collect more money. With this revenue cap in place—it will not matter what assessments do, local governments cannot collect more than 2 percent over last year. Everyone realizes that local government costs are going up—but so are the costs to everyday Iowans. This revenue limitation provides a reasonable amount of growth to the local government while keeping things stable and predictable for property taxpayers. House Study Bill 596 also creates a new residential property tax for everyone. No more picking categories of people. The exemption is 10 percent of taxable value up to $25,000. That is a big chunk of property that will not be taxed. The bill also revamps the outdated and confusing property tax statement everyone is mailed. The new statement will provide taxpayers with a better understanding of where their hard-earned money is going and what services they receive. Additionally, the property tax reform bill creates a new FirstHome program modeled after Iowa’s very successful 529 education savings accounts. This will be a new way for Iowans to start saving early for their first home. Finally, House Study bill 596 creates a $10.0 million government efficiency grant program at Iowa State University. For long-lasting reform to happen, local governments need to do things differently and the goal of this program is to help them find efficiencies and savings. House Study Bill 596 represents months of meetings and lots of listening to put together the best reform package possible for taxpayers not tax collectors. With this bill, property taxpayers will see more predictability and stability for generations.

Where does the state budget process stand?

One of the most, if not the most, important functions of the legislature is to pass a budget, and each year, the legislature uses information provided by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) to help build that budget. REC meets three times per year – in March, October, and December – and lawmakers must use the lower estimates from either the December or March meeting when crafting the budget. Using the lower set of estimates is meant as a safeguard against overspending. For example, if the December estimates project $8 billion in revenue but the March estimates project $7 billion, it makes more sense to use the March numbers as a foundation so we don’t spend a billion dollars we don’t have. At least, that’s how it works in theory. Using the March 2025 Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) projections, the Republican lawmakers passed an FY26 budget that spent significantly more money than the state took in, creating a $917 million deficit hole. This happened despite REC estimates projecting a substantial drop in revenues. It’s important to note that Iowa’s fiscal year goes from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026. The governor and Republican lawmakers are using one-time funds, like the Taxpayer Relief Fund (TRF) and surplus carryover, to cover the ongoing expenses and fill the budget hole. But those one-time reserve funds are draining much quicker than they anticipated because their original March 2025 projections have been off by about $443 million, meaning they will need to transfer not the original $917 million, but $1.36 billion from the TRF – far more than anticipated. And the slope gets even more slippery because Republican lawmakers are planning another billion-dollar deficit this year. In fact, according to the governor’s five-year projections, the majority party plans on running budget deficits through at least 2030. This means more transfers from the reserves and fewer reserve funds to help cushion the lack of revenue growth. Beyond the dollars and cents of all of this, why should you care about the state’s budget situation or the information that comes from REC? For starters, the Republican budget is not working for you. The main beneficiaries of their budget priorities are corporations and the very wealthy. Between Fiscal Year 2024 and the current projections for Fiscal Year 2027, the income tax paid by corporations will have dropped by nearly $235 million while, during the same period, sales tax collections will have increased by over $395 million. That means you’re paying more for groceries and other household needs while big corporations are getting a tax break. The budget situation also looms large over everything the legislature is doing this year, which has a direct impact on the issues Iowans care about. Take school funding, for example. The majority party is no stranger to underfunding our schools, but this year’s meager increase is almost certainly affected by budget constraints. Or take SF 2464, which would increase taxes on health insurance companies in an effort to drum up some of the majority party’s missing revenue growth – the tax hike would be passed along to Iowans in the form of higher monthly health insurance costs. So, Republican lawmakers get some money to start filling in their deficit hole, and you get more expensive health insurance premiums. You should also care because this budget mess affects how the majority party plans to govern in the not-so-distant future. Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would let them take their ball and go home when they can’t pass a budget – like when negotiations get a little tougher under a divided government with a Democratic governor. Public Legislative Forums at Home • Saturday, April 4, Maquoketa Legislative Forum at the Maquoketa Art/Chamber Center, 10-11 a.m. • Saturday, April 11, Association of American University Women (AAUW) at the Scott Community College Student Center, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Saturday, April 18, Grow Clinton Legislative Forum at the Camanche City Hall, 9-10:15 a.m. • Saturday, April 18, Grow Clinton Legislative Forum at the DeWitt Community Center, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.   This column was abridged.      

Iowans should be outraged over congressional ICE support

Unless you flew somewhere for spring break, you might not realize that some Federal workers are suffering through the third government shutdown of Trump’s second term. Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over the Democrats’ insistence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers follow the same regulations as every other law enforcement officer in the country. It is reasonable to demand that federal agents respect our Constitution and operate in our streets with identification, warrants, and accountability just like local law enforcement. Instead, masked agents in unmarked vehicles terrorize communities, snatch people off the streets or from worksites, schools, churches, or legal check-in appointments. They assault or kill citizens and immigrants and lie about their actions, even after video evidence disproves their accounts. Republicans rejected the Democrats’ offer to separate immigration enforcement funding from the TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and the rest of the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown doesn’t impact immigration enforcement because of the ridiculous amount of funding allocated in last year’s One Big Ugly Bill (H.R. 1). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R.1 will direct an astounding $168 billion to immigration and border law enforcement, and even more for agencies that indirectly support immigration law enforcement. An additional $64.4 billion for 2026 is currently being held up in the standoff. Iowa’s congressional delegation supported every wasteful dollar allocated. This is money that would be far better spent on providing healthcare for Iowans and other Americans. When the CBO estimated the budget impact of H.R.1, they underestimated the cost of immigration enforcement. According to an analysis performed by the non-partisan libertarian Cato Institute, the actual cost of H.R.1’s immigration enforcement spending is nearly $1 trillion more than the CBO estimates. The CBO assumed the spending would be gradual over 10 years as convicted criminals were repatriated to their home countries. They didn’t anticipate that legal work visas would be revoked, refugee status would end, or that asylum claims would be ignored. They didn’t factor in the cost of removing immigrants who were working and paying more in taxes than they received in benefits. They didn’t factor in the cost of shuttered businesses or the loss of families’ breadwinners. The CBO did not anticipate the reckless spending spree, including a pair of top-of-the-line $200 million Gulfstream G700 private jets for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, hiring bonuses, millions for third-world countries to imprison immigrants, no-bid contracts for media, and concentration camps.    Kristi Noem has been fired, Trump’s war of choice has pushed ICE raids off the front pages, but raids continue. We should all be outraged that Iowa’s congressional delegation supported every bit of this. Every act of cruelty, every death, every terrorized student, every tear-gassed peaceful protester, and every wasted tax dollar. Americans voted for secure borders and removing violent criminals, but nobody voted for this.   Kay Pence Eldridge

Surveillance state must be controlled

There are currently two bills before our legislators tagged as “Unfinished business”, with the potential to become law. The purpose is to allow law enforcement to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle to assist in apprehending a driver eluding or attempting to elude law enforcement. The House bill, HF2295, steps over the line by violating protection against unreasonable search and seizure, protected by the Fourth Amendment. It removes the need for a search warrant cited in Iowa Code Chapter 808, Search and Seizure: 808.15 Unmanned aerial vehicle — information — admissibility. Information obtained as a result of the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle is not admissible as evidence in a criminal or civil proceeding, unless the information is obtained pursuant to the authority of a search warrant, or unless the information is otherwise obtained in a manner that is consistent with state and federal law. The Senate bill, SF2283 achieves the same result by carving out drone evidence captured during pursuit to be admissible in criminal or civil proceedings without a search warrant, while leaving the search warrant requirement of 808.15 intact. My preference is that neither pass, but the house bill must be rejected.  The surveillance state has to be controlled, and it’s our responsibility to make that clear to our legislators.  Laws like this start quite innocent, become easy to expand and impossible to reverse. Our legislators take an oath of office to support the Constitution of the United States and Iowa.  Let’s remind them each year to spend no time writing bills that clearly violate our rights.   Diane Holst Eldridge

SAVE Act attempts to fix system that isn't broken

Following Donald’s loss in 2020, we heard him complain of illegal voters being the cause for his defeat. Numerous investigations were launched and all determined that voter fraud was very minimal and had no effect on the outcome of any of the states elections. This has not stopped the president from repeating the lie hundreds of times. (Was it Hitler who said if you repeat a lie often enough, people will eventually believe it?) Trump’s SAVE act is supposedly about making our elections more secure. What it will do is suppress the votes of millions. If a person has to produce a birth certificate to vote I can’t help but wonder how many people will go to the hassle and cost of obtaining their “proof of citizenship.” The cost of obtaining these documents will certainly discourage the poor from registering. For women who made the choice of taking their husband’s last name when getting married, it creates another potential hassle – obtaining a birth certificate and a marriage certificate to alleviate the discrepancy of having a different last name than is shown on the birth certificate. Let’s call SAVE by what it is – a voter suppression act. Please contact your senators and beg them not to use this act to fix what is not broken.   George Kiefer Eldridge

QC International Airport holds food, toiletry drive for local TSA

The battle over DHS funding continues, but the Quad Cities International Airport, 2200 George Kirk Drive in Moline, is helping TSA workers who are missing paychecks. A post on the airport’s Facebook page says they are heading up a local drive to behalf TSA staff at the airport. They are looking for donations of: Cash [...]

Grassley and Ernst—don’t pass SAVE Act

I am proud to be a poll worker and ensure the legitimacy of elections here in Iowa. But now President Trump is insisting that Republicans in the US Senate pass the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) soon, before the Midterm Election. It is advertised as a way to prevent non-citizens from being on the voter rolls. The act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate with their birth name or passport, to register to vote in elections. Absentee ballots are up for debate also. The GOP Federal has passed it in the House of Representatives. The Federal government is requiring that within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, states would be required to submit their voter registration lists to the Department of Homeland Security, which would compare them against the ‘SAVE’ database. That list is intended to track the immigration and citizenship status of all voters in the state. The Auditor’s office already verifies the voter application, so lists do not need to be given to the Federal government. Leave voting in the states’ hands, where the Constitution documents in Article S4.C1.2-States and Elections Clause. Tell Grassley and Ernst to NOT pass this form of voter suppression.   Jean Semsch Stockton

American people oppose war with Iran

The conflict with Iran costs the United States about $1 billion every day, and this figure does not include broader economic impacts. The Pentagon only tracks direct military expenses, such as munitions, aircraft, and personnel. It leaves out factors such as oil price changes, business uncertainty, and shifts in economic growth. Acknowledging that the conflict might continue for a long time has caused a sharp drop in the stock market. All three major U.S. stock indexes have fallen since the conflict started. Republican members of Congress have ignored oversight of the Pentagon or the White House, and they have not held public hearings; the public has no influence over how national resources are spent. Senate Democrats have twice tried to require the President to obtain congressional approval to continue the conflict. Republicans have turned down these proposals. Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe the conflict with Iran is a poor use of taxpayer money. When asked whether they would still support the conflict if gas prices rose by $1 per gallon, 61% said they would not. The administration has used different types of media to talk about the conflict, sometimes combining military footage with clips from popular culture. A White House official said this was meant to engage the public in new ways. A political strategist commented that this messaging “is appealing directly to the base, especially to these young, very online, MAGA people who, just like Trump, treat war like a video game. You don’t see service members sharing this content.” The Trump administration is sending thousands of Marines to the Middle East, which suggests it expects ground operations. As of this writing, 13 to 14 U.S. service members have died, and about 200 have been injured, some seriously. These numbers are likely to rise in the coming months.   James Turley Eldridge

NHL hockey reporter, Iowa State graduate Jessi Pierce remembered for her passion after fatal fire

The hockey world is mourning the loss of Jessi Pierce, a longtime Minnesota Wild reporter. She got her start in the career as a student reporter at Iowa State.

125 vendors to fill QCCA Expo Center for Spring Craft Show

Organizers said vendors will fill the space with handmade items, seasonal decor, gifts and specialty products.

Casey's awards $50,000 toward West Liberty Elementary School inclusive playground

The $50,000 grant from Casey's will fund wheelchair accessible structures at West Liberty Elementary School. MidWestOne Bank also donated $15,000 toward the playground.

The 2026 GLOW Conference celebrates women in leadership and business

The 2026 GLOW Conference celebrates women in leadership and business. Maria Contreras Huerta from the GLOW Conference planning committee tells us about the event.

Spring Craft Show at QCCA Expo Center March 28 - 29

Find unique, handcrafted goods at the Spring Craft Show this weekend at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue in Rock Island. The show runs on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are [...]

MidAmerican Energy proposes an average $300 a year rate hike for Illinois customers

Customers in Illinois could see an average monthly increase of $24.42 for combined electric and natural gas services by 2028 — an annual increase of $293.04.

Absentee ballot request period open for primary election, Scott County auditor says

Completed absentee ballot request forms are due at the auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on May 18, Tompkins said.

How to evaluate CRM software for Office 365 integration compatibility

How to evaluate CRM software for Office 365 integration compatibilityChoosing CRM software that integrates with Microsoft Office 365 affects how your sales and marketing teams work every single day. Get it right, and data flows seamlessly between Outlook, Teams, and your CRM.Get it wrong, and you’re looking at manual data entry, frustrated team members, and information scattered across disconnected systems.According to Bain & Company research, 70% of companies struggle to effectively integrate their sales operations into CRM and revenue tech tools. That’s not just a technical problem—it directly impacts revenue growth.In this guide, Nutshell shares essential tips for evaluating CRM software for Office 365 integration. This framework helps you choose a CRM that actually works with your Microsoft ecosystem rather than fighting against it.Key takeawaysUnderstanding integration approaches—native versus API-based—helps you match CRM software to your technical resources and customization needs.Real integration costs include ongoing maintenance, data management, and training—typically 60%-70% of first-year investment beyond license fees.Testing CRM Office 365 integration with your actual workflows before committing prevents expensive mistakes and adoption problems.What is Office 365 CRM integration?Office 365 CRM integration connects your customer relationship management software with Microsoft’s productivity suite—Outlook, Exchange, Teams, and Calendar. This connection lets your sales and marketing teams access customer data, log communications, and manage activities without jumping between applications.Not all CRM integrated with Outlook solutions work the same way. Some CRM software builds integration directly into the platform. Others connect through APIs or third-party middleware. The integration method impacts everything from setup complexity to long-term maintenance costs.Understanding integration approaches: Native vs. API-basedBefore evaluating specific CRM options, you need to understand how different CRM software infrastructure connects to Office 365. This understanding should shape your entire evaluation process.Native integrationNative integration is built and maintained directly by the CRM provider. Think of it as the software speaking Microsoft’s language fluently from the start. The provider manages updates, handles compatibility issues, and typically offers guided setup.Benefits: Deeper functionality, automatic updates, easier maintenance, streamlined setup.Trade-offs: Limited to what the provider built—you can’t customize beyond their implementation.API-based integrationAPI-based integration connects CRM software to Office 365 through Microsoft Graph APIs or third-party middleware. The integration acts as a translator between systems.Benefits: Greater flexibility, more customization options, and the ability to create unique workflows.Trade-offs: Requires more technical resources, ongoing maintenance responsibility, and potential compatibility issues with platform updates. Research from Merge’s State of Product Integrations Report shows 59% of organizations cite integrations as helping improve close rates. The integration approach you choose directly impacts whether you’ll be in that 59% or struggling with disconnected systems. Nutshell Which approach fits your situation?Organizations with limited IT resources typically benefit from native integration. For these businesses, the lower maintenance burden means fewer headaches down the road.Organizations with complex workflows or unique requirements might accept the higher maintenance costs of API-based integration. The customization flexibility lets them build exactly what they need.Office 365 CRM integration cost considerations beyond the price tagThe CRM license fee is just the starting point. For companies with 50 to 500 employees, professional CRM implementation projects can run from $15,000 to $100,000+ in one-time fees—separate from software licenses.According to implementation specialists, license fees often represent only 30%-40% of the first-year investment. The other 60%-70% accounts for implementation, integration, customization, and training. All the work that actually makes the system useful. Nutshell Ongoing costs that catch organizations off guardDepending on your chosen CRM, you’ll likely face recurring expenses beyond the initial implementation that can add up over time. These costs may not be apparent up front, which is exactly why they could be missing from your initial budgeting.Integration maintenance and monitoring resourcesAPIs change. Microsoft regularly updates Office 365. Business requirements evolve.Every change potentially means more development hours, testing cycles, and sometimes complete rebuilds. You need dedicated resources—internal staff or external contractors—to monitor integration health and troubleshoot issues. Without this commitment, your CRM that integrates with Office 365 today might not integrate properly six months from now.API rate limit managementMicrosoft Graph enforces strict throttling limits to protect system stability—130,000 requests per 10 seconds globally. More restrictive service-specific limits stack on top of that.When CRM integrations exceed these limits, Microsoft blocks additional requests, and your team sees delayed data updates and calendar events that won’t sync. Organizations must monitor API consumption and adjust sync settings, which takes time and technical knowledge.Data quality managementThis happens gradually.Integration doesn’t automatically mean clean data. As teams use integrated systems, duplicates can creep in, field mapping that worked initially may become outdated, and custom fields might multiply.To combat this, you need processes for regular data audits, deduplication, and mapping reviews. Active management maintains integration value over time. Skip this step, and you’re looking at a data mess within months.Training and adoption investmentsNew employees need onboarding. Features evolve, so teams need refresher training at regular intervals. Team members leave, taking knowledge with them.Organizations that treat training as a one-time event face poor adoption rates and underutilized functionality. Your team won’t use integration features they don’t understand—no matter how good the CRM Office 365 integration is.Essential CRM Office 365 integration evaluation factorsWhen evaluating CRM software options, focus on factors that actually impact daily use and long-term success. Each factor should contribute to overall integration success. Weaknesses in any area can undermine the entire implementation.Integration setup and configurationHow difficult is the initial setup? Native integrations typically offer guided configuration that nontechnical users can handle. API-based integrations often require IT involvement or external consultants.Ask vendors:What’s the typical setup time?Do we need developer resources?What’s included in implementation packages?Data synchronization capabilitiesYour CRM integrated with Outlook needs to handle the data your team actually uses.Key questions to evaluate:Contact synchronization: Do contact records sync bidirectionally? Changes in either system should propagate to the other automatically.Calendar integration: Can team members see CRM activities in Outlook Calendar? Do calendar events created in Outlook appear in the CRM?Email logging: Does the system automatically log emails against relevant contacts and deals? Or does it require manual steps?Custom field mapping: Can you map your unique business fields to Office 365 properties?Test with your actual data. Vendor demos show idealized scenarios—you need to verify the CRM handles your specific use cases.Sync timing and frequencyReal-time sync provides immediate updates but consumes more system resources. Batch sync (where you sync all data every five minutes, hourly, etc.) reduces load but introduces delays.The right sync frequency depends on your workflows. Sales teams closing deals might need a near-real-time calendar sync to avoid double-booking. Marketing teams might find hourly contact sync perfectly adequate.Ask the vendor whether you can customize the CRM Office 365 integration sync frequency. Some CRM software locks you into a predetermined schedule.Security and permissionsCRM software needs proper security to access Office 365 data. OAuth 2.0 serves as the industry standard because it lets the CRM access data without storing passwords.Verify the CRM requests only necessary permissions. Broad permissions like “read and write all user files” signal poor security design. Specific permissions like “read user calendar events” indicate a more thoughtful implementation.If your industry faces regulations (like GDPR), confirm the CRM supports:Data residency controlsAudit loggingCompliance certificationsMobile functionalityCan your team use the integration on mobile devices? Your sales reps may need to log calls from their phones and sync calendar events to their mobile Outlook.Mobile accessibility is often overlooked during evaluation, but becomes critical after deployment.User interface and workflow impactDoes the integration add steps to daily work or remove friction? Adding an extra step to log each email might seem minor. But multiply that by 50 emails daily across 30 team members—you’ve introduced 1,500 additional steps into daily work.The best CRM integrated with Outlook and MS Office enhances workflows rather than interrupting them. Automatic email logging requires no user action. Manual logging creates adoption resistance.Test the integration before you commitNever invest in CRM software without testing the Office 365 integration with your actual workflows and data. Vendor demos don’t necessarily reveal real-world problems. Nutshell A systematic testing framework should cover multiple scenarios:Basic functionality testingCreate a contact in the CRM: Does it appear in Office 365?Schedule a calendar event in Outlook: Does the CRM reflect it?Send an email from Outlook: Does it log against the correct CRM record?These fundamental scenarios must work flawlessly.Real-world scenario testingWhat happens when someone creates a recurring calendar event?How does the system handle calendar events with external attendees not in the CRM?Can users sync multiple calendars, or just their primary?Test scenarios your team actually encounters, not just idealized workflows that exist only in vendor demos.Error handling and recovery testingTemporarily disable the integration, then re-enable it. Does data sync correctly, or do duplicates appear?What happens if Office 365 or the CRM experiences downtime?How does the system communicate errors to users?Quality integrations include clear error messages and automatic recovery.Performance and scale testingThis is often skipped, which leads to problems that only emerge after deployment.Test with realistic data volumes:If your team has 10,000 contacts, does sync performance remain acceptable?If you’re syncing calendars for 50 users, does the initial sync complete in a reasonable time frame?Understanding performance characteristics helps set appropriate expectations and plan sync schedules.Scalability planning and performance factorsCRM integration performance that works fine for a 10-person team can collapse under the load of 100 users. It happens more often than you might think. That’s why it’s important to plan for growth from the start.API rate limits and throttlingMicrosoft enforces rate limits across the Graph API to maintain service stability and ensure fair resource allocation. The global limit allows 130,000 requests per 10 seconds across all apps in all tenants—a ceiling that seems generous until you consider how quickly integrations consume API calls.Ask CRM vendors:How does your CRM handle Microsoft API throttling?Have you experienced issues at scale?Get specifics, not vague reassurances.Data volume growthPlan for data growth over time. Organizations rarely shrink their contact databases or send fewer emails. What performs acceptably with 5,000 contacts and 20 users today may struggle with 20,000 contacts and 75 users in two years.Ask vendors about customers successfully running at your projected scale—not their largest customer, but someone similar to your growth trajectory. Request performance benchmarks for sync times and API consumption at different data volumes.User adoption factorsTechnical compatibility means nothing if teams don’t actually use the integration.Interface complexity directly impacts adoption rates—integrations requiring users to remember multiple logins, switch between applications, or follow complex workflows face resistance from day one.Consider these adoption factors:Workflow impact: Does the integration add extra steps to daily tasks or remove friction?Mobile accessibility: Can sales reps log calls from their phones? Do calendar events sync to mobile Outlook?Learning curve: How much training do team members need to use the integration effectively?Think about how integration affects daily workflows. While adding an extra step to log an email interaction might seem minor on the surface, multiply that by 50 emails daily across 30 team members—suddenly, you’ve introduced 1,500 additional steps into daily work.Conversely, automatic email logging that requires no user action removes friction and increases consistent data capture. The best integrations enhance workflows rather than interrupting them.Common Office 365 CRM integration mistakes to avoidLearning from others’ mistakes costs less than making them yourself. These integration pitfalls appear repeatedly when organizations evaluate CRM Office 365 integration, regardless of size or industry.Underestimating ongoing maintenance needsThis ranks as the most common mistake. Organizations often budget for implementation but not for the two to five years of updates, troubleshooting, and optimization that follow.APIs evolve, business requirements change, and team members who understood the integration might leave, taking institutional knowledge with them. Without dedicated resources for ongoing maintenance, integrations degrade slowly until they provide more frustration than value.Budget, not just for getting it working, but for keeping it working.Ignoring version compatibility and update cyclesMicrosoft updates Office 365 continuously, and CRM vendors release updates on their own schedules. Sometimes these updates conflict, breaking integrations temporarily—or not so temporarily.Organizations should implement processes to test integrations before production updates roll out. They also need maintenance windows and rollback plans for when updates cause problems.Poor planning for API deprecationsMicrosoft occasionally deprecates older API endpoints. They typically provide 12 to 24 months’ notice before turning them off. That sounds like plenty of warning—it’s not.Organizations not monitoring deprecation announcements may wake up one day to find their integration broken. Subscribe to Microsoft Graph API announcements and vendor release notes, know which API versions your integration depends on, and have migration plans ready.Skipping real workflow testingDon’t rely on vendor demos with perfect data and idealized scenarios. Test with your messy real data. Have your actual team members evaluate workflows. They’ll discover problems before you’ve committed.FAQs about CRM Office 365 integration1. What’s the difference between CRM software with native Office 365 integration versus API-based integration?Native integration is built and maintained directly by the CRM provider, offering deeper functionality and easier maintenance. API-based integration connects through Microsoft Graph APIs or middleware, providing greater customization flexibility but requiring more technical resources. Native typically works better for organizations with limited IT support, while API-based suits those with complex custom workflow needs.2. How do I test if a CRM integrated with Outlook will work for my team?Request a trial account and test with your actual data and workflows—don’t rely on vendor demonstrations. Have team members create contacts, schedule calendar events, log emails, and test the specific scenarios they encounter daily. Testing should include real data volumes and edge cases like recurring events, external attendees, and multiple calendar scenarios.3. What happens to my data if the Office 365 integration breaks?Data remains in both systems independently—your Office 365 data stays in Office 365, and your CRM data stays in the CRM. If integration breaks, you lose synchronization between systems but not the data itself. Quality CRM software includes error recovery mechanisms and clear alerts when sync issues occur.4. Can I integrate one CRM with multiple Office 365 accounts?This depends on the specific CRM software. Some support connecting multiple Office 365 accounts for different team members or departments. Others assign one primary connection per CRM instance. If your organization needs multiaccount scenarios, clarify this capability with vendors during evaluation.5. What sync frequency should I choose for CRM Office 365 integration?Match sync frequency to your team’s actual needs while respecting API rate limits. Real-time or near-real-time sync works for calendar events where scheduling conflicts matter. Hourly sync often suffices for contact data. Start conservatively with longer intervals and adjust based on usage patterns and any throttling issues.The bottom line: Think carefully about Office 365 integrationEvaluating CRM software for Office 365 integration requires looking beyond marketing promises to examine how integration actually works in daily use. Organizations that test thoroughly, understand true costs, and plan for long-term maintenance choose CRM solutions that enhance productivity rather than creating new frustrations.Start by understanding whether native or API-based integration aligns with your technical resources and customization needs. Calculate real costs, including ongoing maintenance, not just license fees. Test extensively with your actual workflows and data. And plan for scalability by understanding API limits and growth patterns.Most importantly, it’s best to learn from common mistakes rather than repeating them. The goal is to find the solution that best serves your organization’s specific requirements, technical capabilities, and growth trajectory.Thorough evaluation ensures your choice supports your team effectively for years to come.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

2 Rock Island golf courses open for 2026 season

Rock Island Parks and Recreation said Saukie and Highland Springs golf courses opened Monday.

How to track AI search rankings in 2026

How to track AI search rankings in 2026SEO didn’t die. It just got smarter (and sneakier).Now that AI tools are curating results for users, your brand’s ability to get found depends on whether generative artificial intelligence (AI) thinks you’re worth mentioning. It used to be simple: Find a keyword, climb the rankings, get clicks. But the times they are a-changin’. You need to know how AI sees you, and if it even sees you at all.AI-powered platforms and features like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are generating answers using content from across the web, sometimes linking to sources, sometimes not. That means your pages might be influencing AI results, driving traffic… or being completely ignored.And here’s the kicker: You won’t see any of that in your regular rankings or analytics unless you’re actively tracking it and have a process for how to track your Google ranking accurately. This is where AI visibility tracking comes in.WebFX details how to track AI search rankings to understand traffic sources.What is AI visibility tracking?AI visibility tracking is the process of monitoring how your brand or website shows up in AI-generated search results. This includes mentions, citations, summaries, and links across features and platforms like Google’s AI Overviews, Bing’s AI-powered summaries, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more.It goes beyond traditional keyword rankings. Instead of measuring your position on static search engine results pages (SERPs), you’re tracking whether AI tools pull from your content, credit your brand, or link to your pages when generating answers.So… how is this different from traditional SEO tracking?In traditional search engine optimization (SEO), you track how your site ranks for specific keywords on search engines like Google or Bing. You use tools to monitor your rank position (say, #3 for “best CRM for nonprofits”) and from there, you analyze impressions, clicks, and conversions.But in AI-powered search, there’s no set “ranking.” Instead:ChatGPT might summarize your blog post with or without citing youGemini might link to your competitor’s landing page in an answer you helped informGoogle AI Overviews might pull content from 3-5 domains, and you may not know if yours made the cutThat’s why AI visibility tracking matters. It helps you answer questions like:Am I being cited or linked in AI-generated content?Which platforms are referencing my brand (or skipping it)?What kind of prompts or queries surface my site in AI tools?If you’re not tracking where you show up in this evolving ecosystem, you’re missing half the story and likely leaving traffic, leads, and brand equity on the table.How to track AI search rankings in 2026There’s no single dashboard (yet) that shows where your brand appears across AI-generated search results, but with emerging AI visibility tools, you’re definitely not stuck in the dark.Here’s how to start tracking your AI search rankings step-by-step, using real tools and techniques.Let’s go through each one:1. Run manual AI prompt checksSometimes the fastest way to test visibility is the simplest: Act like your audience. Use a generative AI chatbot or search engine to test keywords relevant to your business. WebFX Here’s how:Go to Google or Bing (to check AI Overviews and AI-powered summaries)Use platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, or ClaudeUse prompts like:“Best [product/service] in [location]”“Top companies for [pain point]”“What is [your brand] known for?”Then check for:Mentions in AI Overviews (in Google search results)Brand citations or links in ChatGPT or Gemini responsesSnippets or summaries pulled directly from your siteCompetitor mentions where your content should be showing upTrack your findings in a spreadsheet weekly or monthly to monitor trends. Note that slight changes in prompt phrasing can surface different results, so test variations to uncover new angles and patterns.2. Use Google Search Console to estimate AI search visibilityGoogle Search Console doesn’t provide segmented tracking for AI Mode and AI Overviews (it’s grouped together in the Web search type), but SEOs have brainstormed a workaround for estimating AI search visibility on Google.How to check:Log in to Google Search ConsoleGo to Performance > Search resultsIn the filters, look for QueryFilter using Custom (regex) matches regexEnter this regex: (\S+\s+){5,}\S+View impressions, clicks, and URLs that receive visibility from queries containing 6 or more wordsWhile this approach doesn’t guarantee complete insight into your AI search visibility on Google, it does provide a starting point by showing the conversational searches where your content appears.3. Track AI Overview visibility in SemrushSemrush has a built-in feature in Position Tracking that lets you monitor if your keywords are triggering AI Overviews and whether your pages are being included. WebFX How to get there:Go to your Semrush dashboardClick Position TrackingEnter your domain and the keywords you want to monitorIn the Overview tab, find the SERP Features filterSelect AI OverviewView which keywords surface AI Overviews, and whether your pages are in themIf you want to up the ante, you can also add competitor domains to track how often they’re featured compared to you.4. Use Ahrefs to see pages appearing in AI OverviewsAhrefs lets you filter your organic keyword data to see which of your pages are showing up in SERPs with AI Overviews. WebFX Here’s how:Go to Site Explorer and enter your domainIn the left-hand menu, click Organic Keywords under Organic SearchUse the SERP features filterSelect AI Overview and applyClick Show results to see:Which keywords trigger AI OverviewsWhich of your pages appear for those keywordsUse this to optimize high-performing content and identify pages that should be visible but aren’t.5. Track citations and mentions in OmniSEOOmniSEO is an AI search visibility platform that tracks brand mentions and citations across AI search experiences, like:ChatGPTGoogle’s AI Overviews and AI ModePerplexityGrokClaudeGeminiMicrosoft CopilotHow to get started:Upload the prompts or searches you want to trackAdd up to five competitors to track alongside your websiteSet up analytics to monitor bot requests to your siteGet AI-powered recommendations for prompts to track and optimizations to make6. Track generative AI traffic in GA4Google Analytics 4 (GA4) won’t show AI traffic by default, but there’s a workaround for that. You can set it up with a custom channel group to track referrals from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and more. Here’s how to do it step-by-step: WebFX Create a ‘Generative AI’ channel group:Go to Admin > Data Display > Channel GroupsClick Create new channel groupAdd a new channel called Generative AIUse this regex to track traffic sources:^(meta\.ai|perplexity\.ai|perplexity|chat\.openai\.com|claude\.ai|chat\.mistral\.ai|gemini\.google\.com|bard\.google\.com|chatgpt\.com|copilot\.microsoft\.com|anthropic\.com|deepmind\.com|deepseek\.com)(\/.*)?$Exclude these sources from your Referral channel to avoid double-countingSave your group and make it your primary channel groupView AI traffic in your reports:Go to Reports > Acquisition > Traffic acquisitionChange the primary dimension to the Session default channel groupLook for Generative AI as a traffic sourceAdd a secondary dimension like Session source or Landing page to see what AI tools are referring traffic and where visitors are landingNote that it may take 15–30 minutes for GA4 to start showing data after setup.Why you need to track AI search rankingsAI-generated results aren’t fringe anymore. They’re quickly becoming the default search experience for millions of users.Google is rolling out AI Overviews by default in search resultsChatGPT already includes real-time browsing in GPT-4Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity are rapidly growing their user basesEven if you’re still ranking well in traditional search, your audience might never see those listings because generative AI has already answered their question first.Meanwhile, AI Overviews are quietly eating into your visibility, and you might not even know it. When AI tools generate responses, they often summarize multiple sources, and sometimes link back to them (but not always). That means:Your content could be influencing AI answers without earning a clickYour competitors might be getting cited and linked, while you’re left outYou could be losing traffic, leads, and authority without any red flags in your standard SEO reportsThe worst part? You can’t optimize what you don’t measure.If you’re not actively tracking where your content shows up in generative AI tools, you’re left guessing, and that makes it nearly impossible to adjust your strategy. Hence, if you’re not tracking it, you’re losing it.How to optimize for AI visibilityGetting your brand into AI Overviews or generative search responses is no longer about climbing to the top of traditional results. It’s about being the most effective source to summarize. If you’re wondering how to improve visibility in AI results, it starts with these:1. Structure content for AI OverviewsSearch engines and AI tools pull from content that’s scannable, structured, and straight to the point. Use formats that are proven to work:Start with concise intros that directly answer the core question or search intent.Use FAQ blocks to preempt follow-up questions and expand relevance.Apply featured snippet formatting: Numbered lists, bullet points, tables, and clear headings help AI understand your hierarchy.Integrate long-tail keywords that match how real users ask questionsWrite in natural language to align with conversational AI inputsAdd structured data (e.g., FAQPage, Article, or HowTo schema) to help search engines and AI better interpret your content contextually.Think like a machine, but write for a human.2. Create content AI loves to citeAuthority is currency in the AI search world. You can’t game it, but you can earn it:Use external links to credible sources (like studies, industry reports, or gov data)Update stats and facts regularly to stay ahead of outdated competitorsInclude clear bylines and dates to boost trustworthinessCite sources properly in-text, especially when referencing unique claims or original dataRegularly re-optimize content, especially older pages, to maintain accuracy and relevancyGenerate reviews and recommendations for your business on trusted platformsAI models increasingly favor content with strong E-E-A-T signals and choose sources with transparency and trust over generic content.3. Build topical authorityDon’t just publish one-off articles. Dominate the topic.Create clusters of related content that target different angles of a core topicInternally link between blog posts, service pages, and guides to show structureAdd natural anchor text and avoid over-optimizationSupplement with external resources that demonstrate good faith and user-first valueThe more depth you offer on a subject, the more likely AI is to recognize your site as a go-to source.What makes tracking AI search visibility so tricky?Tracking AI visibility sounds simple until you realize AI search doesn’t follow the same rules as traditional SEO.AI-generated answers are personalized, volatile, and platform-specific, which makes monitoring your brand’s presence harder than just typing in a keyword and checking the SERPs.Let’s go through each reason:1. Different platforms show different resultsIf you want to see if Google’s AI Overview or generative AI chatbots mention your brand, prepare to check different platforms. That’s because you’ll see various results, even with the same prompt.For example, let’s say you are in the business of home cleaning in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and want to check your AI search visibility. You may find that ChatGPT’s response may differ from Bing CoPilot’s for the prompt “best home cleaning service provider in Harrisburg, PA.”ChatGPT’s response provides a list of home cleaners and offers a tip to check their reviews. On the other hand, Bing CoPilot provides a different list and offers to answer follow-up questions from the user:2. AI responses are personalizedAI models may give different results based on location, search history, and other AI ranking factors. As a result, you may either overestimate or underestimate your visibility in AI-generated results.Even if you optimize for AI Mode responses exceptionally well, for example, a user’s personalization could affect whether your business appears, like due to brand preferences based on their search history.3. AI search results’ algorithms are evolvingAI search engine results are constantly changing.When Google AI Overviews first rolled out in early 2024, users had to be signed into their Google account to see them in the SERPs. Today, searchers are served AI Overviews even when they’re not logged in.ChatGPT was not connected to the Internet when it was launched in 2022 and was only trained with data from 2021 and older. A lot has changed since then.OpenAI recently announced ChatGPT search, which is connected to the Internet and lets users select it if they want the latest information from web sources. Users can access it through a web browser or through the desktop and mobile apps.AI search results’ algorithms will continue to evolve to suit users’ needs.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Bishop Hill hosts Colt Ball concert March 29

Crossroads Cultural Connections presents rising Midwest artist Colt Ball on Sunday, March 29 at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill Street in Bishop Hill. The show is open to all ages, with a suggested donation of $20–$30. All donations from these concerts go directly to the performers. Click here for more information and tickets. [...]

What type of investor are you?

What type of investor are you?Investors have had reason to celebrate over the past few years. Tech stocks have launched to new heights thanks to the AI boom, bitcoin crossed the US$100K mark in 2024 and the S&P 500 has regularly logged new all-time highs since late 2023.Nevertheless, financial pessimism is rampant thanks to geopolitical tensions, inflation and concerns surrounding unemployment and the cost of living.Profitable opportunities are sure to generate a buzz during times of financial stress. But, with so many investment options available, what’s the best way to jump into the market?The answer lies in knowing the type of investor you are.If you aim to be the captain of your fate: StocksIf you want to work smarter, not harder: Index funds and robo-advisorsIf you prefer to play it safe: Investment-grade bonds and high-interest savings accountsIf you’re a capital king or queen: Real estateIf you’re a high-risk, high-reward investor: Cryptocurrency and forexIn this article, Finder explores the different approaches you can take.Be the captain of your fate: StocksIf you’re energized by the prospect of rolling up your sleeves to learn about company valuations, market movements and trading strategies, then self-directed stock investing might be a good fit for you.Buying individual stocks lets you create your own investment strategy and hone in on profitable opportunities with precision. You’re not limited to following a predetermined path or investing in a limited basket of securities.However, the principal advantage of DIY investing—autonomy—can also be a disadvantage. Your portfolio isn’t safeguarded by professionals who have years of experience in finance, asset allocation and risk management.But the more you learn about money, stock trading and, critically, your own psychology, the better positioned you’ll be to maximize profits and minimize losses.Work smarter, not harder: Index funds and robo-advisorsManaging a portfolio might be daunting for the average person, which is why buying shares in index funds is a popular strategy.An index fund holds stocks listed in a specific index (say, the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq Composite) with the goal of copying the index’s performance. So, if the S&P 500 goes up by 1% in a given day, funds structured like the S&P 500 will likewise go up by around 1%.A stock index may exist to reflect the performance of a specific sector, industry or the market overall. Investing in index funds lets you easily position your portfolio to grow with the economy without having to research the best stocks.(Be aware, though, that fund prices can go up or down—there’s always a risk of loss.)Another “set-and-forget” option for low-maintenance investors is entrusting a robo-advisor to create a portfolio for you based on your goals, risk tolerance and other factors. The robo-advisor will then algorithmically adjust your portfolio as needed over time.Like index funds, the fees for robo-advisors are usually low compared to professionally managed funds and, if you plan to follow a fairly straightforward investment strategy, the convenience can be well worth it.Play it safe: Investment-grade bonds and high-interest savings accountsFor stock investors, the promise of rewards outweighs the risk of loss. But low-risk investors who prefer safety and predictable outcomes may find it more worthwhile to invest in bonds and high-yield savings accounts instead.These types of investments take the guesswork out of growing your money, and there’s very little risk to shoulder.Bonds typically offer a fixed rate of return after a set period of time. You can choose between bonds with different ratings. Investment-grade bonds (including many types of government bonds) are issued by companies deemed stable and likely to pay you back on time, while high-yield bonds pay more but are issued by companies deemed less likely to pay what they owe.While you won’t earn as much as you could with stocks, investment-grade bonds can still help you stay ahead of inflation and maybe take home a little extra.One downside to most bonds is that you can’t access your money until the expiration date, which could be years down the road. For easier access to your money, look into high-interest savings accounts.Not the first choice for most investors, given the relatively low yield compared to other types of investments, high-yield accounts offer the benefit of round-the-clock access to your money and, occasionally, promotional rates that are higher than some bonds.For the kings and queens of capital: Real estateLoading hundreds of thousands of dollars or more into property may not be realistic for everyone. But for investors who have accumulated sizable savings and are looking for a way to scale their wealth, real estate holds a lot of promise.Property can go up in value substantially over time and comes with tax advantages (for example, you may be allowed to treat mortgage interest as tax-deductible). You can rent out your property to earn income, and real estate can be leveraged to secure loans.The barrier to entry is high, often requiring tens of thousands of dollars just for a down payment.But some buyers can get a leg up through organizations like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers VA home loans with no down payment for veterans, servicemembers and eligible surviving spouses. In Canada, the federal government offers the Home Buyers’ Amount tax credit for first-time homebuyers.High-risk, high-rewards: Cryptocurrency & forexFor investors who want to challenge the status quo and get ahead of the move towards widespread digital currency adoption, crypto presents a tantalizing (albeit risky) prospect.Although investors have been buzzing about the price of bitcoin for years, governments, banks, and other mainstream institutions have been slow to integrate crypto into their policies and growth strategies.This appears to be changing, however. Notably, President Trump created the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile in March 2025. Among the major banks that have announced, or are actively offering, crypto-related products and services are JPMorgan, Citi, Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab.In contrast to crypto, foreign exchange trading has been around for decades. But like crypto, fiat (government-issued) currencies can be incredibly volatile and risky to trade.A highly dynamic, ever-changing environment, the forex market presents many opportunities to profit—or lose if your knowledge and timing are off.Importantly, you should never invest more than you can afford to lose. So, if you’re just starting to build your savings or you’re new to investing, it’s better to explore low- to moderate-risk investments like index funds or investment-grade bonds.Bottom lineThe best way to invest your money depends on individual factors like your financial goals and the level of risk you’re willing to face.Investment-grade bonds and high-yield savings accounts are suitable for the risk-averse, while high-risk investments like crypto and forex trading are suitable for those who are willing to take a loss (and can afford to do so) for the chance of reaping impressive returns.Investors who fall in between may be drawn to stocks, index funds and robo-advisors, and real estate could be worth considering if you have a sizable amount to invest and are looking for long-term capital preservation and growth.There’s no rule saying you can’t mix it up and invest in multiple asset types. In fact, diversification is encouraged by many investment experts. Reach out to an investment advisor to learn more about your options and design a portfolio that meets your needs.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

INTERVIEW: Celebrating National Cocktail Day with Mississippi River Distilling Company

What makes a great cocktail? General Manager Nathan Carroll and bartender Nick Alvarez from the Mississippi River Distilling Company are mixing things up for us on National Cocktail Day.

Warming trend leads to strong storms

After a chilly start to the week Monday with highs mostly in the 40s, we'll warm more today and really see a bump in temperatures Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday will be the warmest day and when a strong cold front arrives later in the day, strong to severe storms are possible. Here's your complete 7-day [...]

Survey: Flexibility, low fees, and no monthly payments top homeowners’ wish list for equity financing

Survey: Flexibility, low fees, and no monthly payments top homeowners’ wish list for equity financingFor millions of American homeowners, their home equity represents their largest financial asset. Yet, a growing share say the products designed to help them access that wealth feel outdated, rigid, and misaligned with how they actually manage their finances.Hometap surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners to examine their sentiments toward traditional home equity products — including home equity loans, HELOCs, cash-out refinances, and reverse mortgages — and the features they wish those products offered. The October 2025 survey builds on a prior one from June 2025 that explored the broader financial pressures of homeownership.The survey reveals a consistent mismatch between what traditional lenders offer and what homeowners across generations say they need. Their top priorities: lower costs, more flexibility, and the ability to tap equity without adding a new monthly payment.Lower Fees Top the Wish List — But Flexibility Isn't Far BehindWhen asked to name the most important characteristic in a home financing product, nearly 39% of respondents cited lower fees and closing costs, making it the clear top priority. About 17% said they want products they can flex with life changes — such as the ability to pause or adjust payments — and roughly 10% prioritized additional repayment terms and timing options. Hometap Those wishes directly contrast what homeowners say they encounter in practice. More than a third of respondents (36%) said traditional financial products don’t adequately fit the needs of today’s homeowners. High interest rates were the most commonly-cited deterrent to using traditional equity products (nearly 40%), followed by fear of taking on more debt (33%) and concerns about locking into long-term commitments (23%). Hometap While the frustration spans generations, younger homeowners feel it most acutely. When asked whether the lack of flexibility in home equity products adds to their financial stress, 71% of millennials agreed or strongly agreed, compared to 66.5% of Generation X respondents and 52% of baby boomers. Hometap Trust in Traditional Lenders Is ErodingThe survey also surfaces a significant trust gap between homeowners and the institutions that serve them. Across all age groups, the majority said it often feels like traditional lenders don’t have their best interests at heart: 84% of millennials, 83% of Generation X respondents, and 76% of baby boomers shared this view. Hometap That skepticism may be reinforced by financial strain. The companion June 2025 Hometap survey found that 37.6% of homeowners said housing costs were preventing them from achieving other financial goals, with many delaying home repairs, cutting retirement contributions, or deferring healthcare spending.The Application Process Itself Is a BarrierBeyond product terms, homeowners also take issue with the process of accessing home equity. Roughly 78% of millennial respondents, 73% of Generation X respondents, and 66% of baby boomers agreed or strongly agreed that the process of accessing equity through traditional lenders is outdated and difficult. Separately, 17% flagged excessive paperwork and 16% cited a lack of clear understanding of costs and terms as factors that make traditional products unattractive. Hometap This friction appears to be suppressing home equity access. The June 2025 survey found that only 6.2% of financially stressed homeowners had explored it as a financing option in the prior year.No New Monthly Payment: A Near-Universal WishPerhaps the sharpest signal in the data involves monthly payment obligations. Across all respondents, 80% of millennials, 82% of Generation X respondents, and 70% of baby boomers said they wish there were more flexible ways to tap home equity without taking on new monthly payments.That preference reflects the budget pressures documented in the earlier survey: 43.2% of respondents said they are spending a higher share of income on housing than ever before, 49.4% have already cut nonessential spending, and 38.7% have delayed home repairs or maintenance. In that environment, adding a new monthly obligation feels untenable for many.Three in four respondents (74.5%) said today’s homeowners need new types of financing options beyond the traditional mortgage, HELOC, or home equity loan.Younger Homeowners Are the Most Dissatisfied — But the Gap Is Generational, Not UniversalWhile younger homeowners register the most dissatisfaction with traditional equity products, the survey finds the disconnect is not confined to any single demographic. Older homeowners report that traditional products don’t fit their stage of life; younger homeowners say those products don’t fit their financial realities. Both groups arrive at the same conclusion: The current system works for fewer and fewer people.When asked what they would do if traditional products failed to meet their needs in the future, the most common response across all generations was to seek out alternative financial solutions.Methodology: The survey was conducted by AYTM on behalf of Hometap from October 23-24, 2025, among 1,000 U.S. homeowners representing a mix of ages, demographics, and regions. Respondents were recruited through AYTM’s online panel and screened to confirm current homeownership. The 12-question survey was administered online with randomized multiple-choice options; “Not applicable” and “Other” responses were available for all questions. Results reflect a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. Generations were defined as follows: millennials, ages 25-44; Generation X, ages 45-64; baby boomers, ages 64-79.This story was produced by Hometap and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

IRS warns of ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax scams targeting refunds, personal information

Experts say scammers are using new tactics to target taxpayers. Knowing the warning signs could help protect you.

Before running for Congress, Bobby Pulido was a Tejano music icon

Pulido has been a mainstay of Tejano music —a genre blending traditional regional Mexican elements with country, pop and conjunto influences — for more than three decades.

Why parenting feels harder for today’s families

Why parenting feels harder for today’s familiesThroughout the generations, parents have always naturally worried that they were doing it wrong. These days, that worry has been amplified. You search for tips on how to deal with a fussy baby, and within minutes, neatly formatted daily schedules, color-coded meal plans, and milestone charts from other parents start showing up on your social media feeds that really make you wonder if you’re already behind. Advice that used to arrive in single streams from pediatricians, books, friends, or family members now comes from algorithms, group chats, parenting apps, podcasts, and short videos, often all before breakfast. For many families, a lack of information isn’t the challenge; it’s managing the endless flow of it.A 2025 U.S. survey of 1,000 parents, jointly commissioned and released by GROWNSY and motherhood app Peanut, found that modern parenting often feels compressed. On average, respondents reported relying on just over four different sources for pregnancy and early parenting information. Over 86% said they had used at least one parenting app, with most accessing multiple apps at the same time. This layering of inputs means many parents are dealing with the pressures of raising their children while also managing ecosystems of advice.Parents today don’t need more pressure or more noise. They need solutions that feel realistic, supportive, and rooted in the real experiences of modern families. Gen Z caregivers are redefining what parenting looks like. They are deeply thoughtful about the choices they make, open about their challenges, and determined to build families that work for the realities of modern life. They are not striving for perfection. They are seeking practicality, empathy, and solutions that genuinely support them.Dealing with the weight of the mental loadThe survey revealed that there is coordination beyond the onslaught of information. Almost half of the survey respondents (49.5%) identified themselves as the primary caregiver in their household. In 62.6% of families, care and decision-making were concentrated primarily on one person. Around 1 in 5 parents said they manage everything alone.The strain is both physical and cognitive. Meals need to be planned. Sleep tracked. Time slots for dance classes, swimming sessions, football tournaments, and drumming lessons need to be remembered. Supplies need to be restocked. Products must be researched. Important milestones have to be logged. Many parents describe the experience more as project management without a pause button.Independent research mirrors that dynamic. Studies have shown that mothers in particular often carry a disproportionate share of the household mental load, while fathers increasingly report emotional burnout as they balance work and caregiving roles. Despite the load, most parents aren’t disengaging. They’re sustaining attention with very little time to recover.When fatigue becomes the normSleep deprivation has long been associated with early parenthood. What stands out in the survey is how persistent it remains. Sixty percent of parents reported an average of fewer than six hours of sleep a night. Over half said sleep-related challenges were the top issue they most wanted products or support to help solve.Among parents of children under 12 months, sleep strain was especially concentrated. Multiple night wakings, difficulty settling, and anxiety about infant safety contribute to fragmented rest. Even when their babies are asleep, some parents report remaining half-alert. External research supports similar findings. Studies of new parents show significant sleep loss during a child’s first year, often amounting to several hours per night.In this context, fatigue becomes the background condition of everyday life, not simply a phase that passes quickly.Gentle, authoritative, or attachment parenting?Parenting philosophies have taken on a new significance in the middle of all this pressure. Social listening data in North America shows active discussions about different approaches, including gentle parenting, authoritative parenting, and attachment parenting.Although there are differences among these frameworks, they share the common purpose of creating structure in a world that feels noisy. Gentle parenting emphasizes empathy and emotional awareness. Authoritative parenting focuses on clear boundaries paired with warmth. Attachment parenting values closeness and responsiveness. These ideas are debated, defended, and reinterpreted online every day. For many parents, these frameworks are less about ideology and more about manageability. Having a philosophy can offer steadiness when routines begin to feel unstable.Many parents don’t want to choose which “side” to be on. They simply want to find something that makes their day run more smoothly.The shrinking villageTraditional support systems have shifted while all these changes have been taking place. Sixteen percent of survey respondents reported having no additional childcare support. While many rely on relatives when help is available, only around 30% participate in parenting groups or organized activities. Parents are often physically isolated even as they are digitally connected. National surveys from institutions such as The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have found that a majority of parents report feelings of loneliness or isolation at least sometimes.Interestingly, the survey suggests that parents with strong support networks report lower stress levels than those without them. The presence of help, even occasional help, seems to matter. In the absence of a physical village, many parents are building one online. Social media platforms and apps have become spaces for validation, troubleshooting, and comparisons.Who is feeling it the most?When demographic and behavioral data are layered together, women aged 26 to 35 with infants under 1 year old appear to be repeatedly at the center of strain. They are more likely to identify as primary caregivers and are more likely to report limited structural support. These women also tend to prioritize time-saving tools and stress reduction when choosing products.Across the full survey sample, 33.3% of parents said time-saving solutions were a top priority, and many cited efficiency and relief from daily friction as important brand attributes. These preferences suggest that parents are not looking for perfection. They are searching for practicality.Sometimes it doesn’t matter if everything is not done right. A win for parents can look like making it to bedtime without everything unraveling.Expectations have shifted significantlyModern parenting is almost definitely not any softer or stricter than in previous generations. It might simply be heavier. Information is everywhere, and expectations are public. Sleep is fragmented and support systems are uneven. Everyday routines carry more weight in this type of environment. Parents certainly don’t lack intention or care. If anything, the data suggests the opposite. The challenge lies in sustaining that care in situations that demand constant attention. Whether it's by setting clearer boundaries, staying emotionally present, or using time-saving systems, most families seem to be looking for the same thing. Steadiness.And in a world that hardly ever slows down, steadiness can feel like a significant achievement.This story was produced by GROWNSY and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

4 questions to ask about your financial health

4 questions to ask about your financial healthFinancial health is a huge factor in the quality of our lives, yet it’s overlooked in many of the ways we evaluate wellness. Your financial wellness informs your physical and mental health. And it’s not a stretch to see how a bad credit score or unpaid loan could impact how you feel stress — and how you formulate a sense of self-worth.Despite its importance, money can be difficult to talk about. Many people feel shame or isolation when they struggle financially, which can make it harder to step back and evaluate their situation.Experts at Accredited Debt Relief say if you want to understand your financial health, start by asking yourself these questions.1. Can I afford an emergency?No one ever plans to crash their car, lose their job or drop everything to care for a loved one. But people with healthy finances have a plan for when catastrophe strikes: an emergency fund.If you think an emergency could put you into immediate financial hardship, you might want to step back and assess your spending. Financial health experts often say that building an emergency fund should be the highest priority, even before other savings.2. Am I making progress towards my financial goals?It doesn’t matter if you earn $10,000 or $1 million per year, you probably have aspirations to travel, buy a home or save for retirement.One reliable indicator of your personal financial wellness is your progress towards those financial goals. If you’re putting money into savings — no matter how small the amount — it’s a sign that you’re able to provide for yourself beyond your immediate needs.3. Do I have a choice in how I manage my money?Sometimes, we believe that we have more choices for how we conduct our lives than we actually do.This is especially true when it comes to our financial options. From the cost of living to the type of bank in your neighborhood, external factors impact your options for money management.Taking your personal circumstances into account, consider your options for things like loans, credit cards and other banking services. If your budget, debt or credit score impacts your ability to access these opportunities, then your financial health may be more compromised than at first glance.Financially healthy people are able to choose the institutions, credit cards, loans and programs they want to work with, while those lacking options can get stuck with expensive or subpar services. But the good news is that healthy habits can help you maintain stability — and improve the options available to you.4. Do I feel in control of my finances?Especially for those digging their way out of debt, a sense of control can feel unattainable. The inability to save, afford monthly payments or qualify for loans can undercut your motivation, too. Feeling out of control may also be a clue that your spending habits, relationships and career need attention — and, potentially, change.But if you feel pressured, trapped or resigned to your financial situation, there’s hope for you. By simply completing this assessment, you’ve begun to rethink your finances. And the best part? You don’t have to start your journey alone.How do you define financial health?The definition of financial health is two-pronged: It’s both your ability to work towards your financial goals and your capacity to overcome money problems.Consider how two people might respond to the same unexpected expense, like a major car repair. One person has emergency savings and can cover the cost while adjusting their budget. The other relies on credit and may need to take on more debt to handle the bill.Person 1 is upset about the situation, but not stressed: They’ve put money into a rainy day fund for situations just like this.Person 2 feels upset and deeply stressed by this unexpected bill: They have not been putting their money away into savings, rely on credit to get by and do not have plans for their finances beyond their next paycheck.Financial health doesn’t mean avoiding every setback. Instead, it’s about whether you have the stability, habits and resources to recover from financial challenges while continuing to work toward your goals.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Adventure with a touch of luxury: Plan your family summer mountain escape

(BPT) - If you think mountain resorts are just winter playgrounds, think again. When winter's snow melts and temperatures rise, these snowy peaks across the country magically transform into some of the most compelling family summer vacation destinations.Summer mountain vacations are on the rise, and it's not hard to see why. Summer in the mountains offers a unique and sophisticated escape for families seeking something beyond the ordinary. Mountain destinations offer cooler temperatures to beat the summer heat, breathtaking natural beauty and built-in infrastructure designed for unparalleled hospitality for families seeking something beyond the ordinary.Adventures for every generation Modern mountain resorts are the perfect destinations for multigenerational travel. In fact, many now feature dedicated spaces and experiences for different age groups, from toddlers to grandparents.One destination that has cracked the code on multigenerational vacationing is Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. Nestled at 8,100 feet in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, this modern alpine retreat has perfected the art of warm-weather mountain experiences with tailored adventures for every member of the family.For example, the newly renovated Creekside Park now features a state-of-the-art playground that seamlessly blends in with the surrounding nature, thanks to its custom playground design featuring habitat "pods" that connect children to the surrounding environment. It's at this world-class gathering spot where parents can enjoy the summer concert series while children safely explore the open lawn and play spaces.When kids enter their tweens and teens and outgrow the playgrounds, they can head over to Hawk's Nest Cabin, a sophisticated alpine hub in the heart of the village. Unlike the typical teen centers, older kids can enjoy craft nonalcoholic beverages, a ski simulator, arcade games and Instagram-worthy lounge spots that make them feel like they're at their own exclusive club.At Beaver Creek Resort, summer camp is anything but ordinary. Designed for curious, active kids, the program offers flexible weeklong and day options that turn the mountains into an immersive adventure playground. From dinosaur fossil hunting, rock climbing and hiking, to white water rafting, zip line tours, horseback riding, and Jeep touring and paddleboarding, campers ages 5 to 12 can explore, build confidence and discover their own mountain passion.Wellness in the mountainsRelaxation comes naturally thanks to the special combination of fresh mountain air, lower humidity and stunning natural surroundings. As you plan your mountain retreat, look for wellness experiences like:Mud wraps and body treatments infused with indigenous herbs and mineralsMassages al fresco or in rooms with stunning mountain viewsYoga and meditation classes that connect you with natureFitness classes enhanced by the altitudeOutdoor activities at 9,000 feetOutdoor activities abound in mountain settings in winter and summer. At Beaver Creek, for example, summer means access to 50 miles of mountain bike trails and 62 miles of hiking paths that take you on a journey through wildflower meadows and towering aspens. Your family can choose their own adventure, whether that's gentle gondola rides with panoramic views or adrenaline-pumping activities at the Village Base Area like bungee trampolines, gem panning and climbing walls. For a truly unique experience, adults can book an on-mountain wine excursion that starts with a guided scenic hike or 4x4 Adventure Jeep exploration of the Rockies. All trails lead to Beano's Cabin, one of Colorado's most famous restaurants, where you can indulge in gourmet wine and cheese pairings with artisanal charcuterie boards, all while taking in the breathtaking mountain vistas at 9,000 feet.Shopping beyond snow gearWhen you visit a resort village during the summer, you'll find that you've walked into a boutique shopping destination. The shopping scene may surprise you with its sophistication and variety. You'll find:Curated clothing boutiques featuring unique designs from around the worldLocal artisan shops with handcrafted jewelry, leather goods and home decorArt galleries showcasing regional and national artistsSpecialty stores offering everything from gourmet foods to custom outdoor gearThese carefully selected retailers reflect the mountain town's unique character.Exceptional culinary choices in the cloudsMountain resorts go beyond your typical food fare. Many destinations give you the opportunity to dine at Michelin Guide-recommended restaurants, experience farm-to-table concepts and taste creative dishes from talented chefs who've traded city kitchens for mountain vistas.When it comes to dining at altitude, you'll have your pick of food that rivals the views at Beaver Creek. With over 20 exceptional culinary options, many featured in the Michelin Guide, you'll find a wide range of culinary experiences from cozy cabin eateries to fine dining establishments. With so much variety, you'll find something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.Cultural sophistication at altitudeResort towns often host music performances and festivals in the summer and are home to performing arts venues. Beaver Creek's Vilar Performing Arts Center is the first of its kind in a mountain town resort and features year-round programming. Cultural options will vary from place to place, but you may find:Broadway touring shows and other theatrical productionsNational touring musicians and bandsComedy shows and film festivalsDance performances and jazz concertsArt festivalsOpen-air galleriesConcerts featuring both local and national artistsPlan your mountain escapeThis summer, trade the ordinary for the extraordinary. A mountain escape offers your family the space, adventure, and fresh perspective that creates lasting memories. It might just become your new favorite summer tradition. Plan your summer mountain adventure at Beaver Creek.

Study examines whether dropping ESR tests actually lowers costs

Study examines whether dropping ESR tests actually lowers costsEfforts to reduce unnecessary medical testing have led some hospitals to scale back the use of a decades-old inflammation test known as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR. But new research suggests that the decision may come with unexpected clinical and financial trade-offs.A peer-reviewed study published in February 2026 in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research, conducted by researchers working with diagnostic technology company ALCOR Scientific, examined the potential economic and diagnostic impact of using ESR testing alongside another common inflammation marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), when evaluating patients with inflammatory conditions.The analysis found that combining ESR with CRP may reduce misdiagnoses and associated follow-up costs compared with ordering CRP alone.For a representative 739-bed academic medical center in the United States, the model estimated potential annual savings of approximately $9.95 million tied to reduced downstream costs associated with diagnostic errors. Much of the projected savings was linked to avoiding additional diagnostic workups associated with false-positive CRP results.What ESR and CRP tests measureBoth ESR and CRP are blood tests commonly used to detect inflammation in the body. Inflammation can signal a wide range of medical issues, including infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers.Clinicians often use these tests as part of a broader diagnostic process to help determine whether inflammation is present and how it may be changing over time.The two tests measure different biological processes. CRP levels typically rise rapidly within hours of acute inflammation and return to normal within a few days. ESR levels tend to increase more gradually over 24-48 hours and may remain elevated longer.Because of these differences, the study authors note that the tests may provide complementary information in certain clinical scenarios, including inflammatory conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, lupus, and some malignancies.“The kinetics of CRP and ESR are fundamentally different,” the researchers write.Why Hospitals Started Cutting ESR TestsIn recent years, some health systems have reviewed ESR testing as part of broader efforts to reduce potentially unnecessary laboratory testing.Initiatives such as the “Choosing Wisely” campaign encouraged hospitals and clinicians to evaluate tests that might provide overlapping information. Because CRP responds more quickly to acute inflammation, ESR has sometimes been viewed as redundant when both tests are ordered together.At the time many of these recommendations were introduced, ESR testing was often performed manually and required more laboratory resources than today’s automated systems.Today, ESR testing is typically automated in modern clinical laboratories. In the United States, the test is reimbursed at approximately $2.70, according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement data.How the Study Modeled ESR and CRP TestingThe researchers used a decision-tree economic model to simulate cohorts of 100 patients evaluated from the perspective of the U.S. healthcare system payer.The analysis examined eight conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, periprosthetic joint infection, giant cell arteritis, pancreatitis, infection, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.Sensitivity and specificity estimates were drawn from published clinical literature. Cost inputs were based on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement rates (ESR: $2.70; CRP: $5.18). Follow-up costs associated with misdiagnoses were based on U.S. clinical guidelines and reviewed by clinicians.The study also included scenario analyses that varied test costs, follow-up costs, and diagnostic performance assumptions.What This Could Mean for Hospital Diagnostic StrategyThe researchers say the results highlight potential trade-offs health systems may face when evaluating laboratory testing strategies. In particular, the study found that ordering ESR alongside CRP — versus ordering CRP alone — could reduce misdiagnoses and the follow-up costs associated with diagnostic errors.Efforts to reduce unnecessary testing remain a key part of value-based healthcare initiatives. At the same time, the analysis suggests that diagnostic accuracy and downstream healthcare utilization may also influence decisions about which tests are used in clinical practice.For health systems evaluating their lab menus under value-based care frameworks, the relevant question may not be whether ESR costs too much, but whether its absence costs more.This story was produced by ALCOR Scientific and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Cook review: 'Project Hail Mary' is a crowd-pleasing, funny spin on a serious topic

This science-fiction adventure is a lot funnier than you might think. "Project Hail Mary," the weekend box office smash that millions of people enjoyed, is a true crowd-pleaser - a light-hearted take on a serious subject. Based on Andy Weir's book of the same name from 2021, it's science fiction that's understandable and believable: Some [...]

Iran fires more missiles at Israel, dismisses Trump's talk as 'fake news'

Israeli health officials said Iranian missiles struck four sites across Israel Tuesday, including central Tel Aviv, injuring at least six people. Iranian authorities also said a gas supply line in southwest Iran was struck overnight.

Iran fires more missiles at Israel and rejects Trump's talk as 'fake news' for markets

Israeli health officials said Iranian missiles struck four sites across Israel Tuesday, including central Tel Aviv, injuring at least six people. Iranian authorities also said a gas supply line in southwest Iran was struck overnight.

Pakistan is poised to host the U.S. and Iran for talks to end the war

The Pakistani prime minister said his country stands ready to host negotiations toward a settlement as the war with Iran nears the one-month mark.

Kim vows to 'irreversibly' cement North Korea's nuclear status

In his speech, Kim expressed pride in the country's rapid expansion of nuclear weapons and missiles in recent years, calling it the "right" choice.

What streets are in Davenport's plans for this construction season?

Several major roads and neighborhood streets will be reconstructed or resurfaced this construction season in Davenport.

A barn, a pasture, a corn field: How Brad Mundt built an indoor farm in Davenport's RiverCenter

If you give Brad Mundt antique farm equipment, he'll ask to build a barn to put it in. That's exactly what Gathering of the Green attendees found at the RiverCenter.

Anti-Saloon Students

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.By the time Billy Sunday brought his crusade to Rock Island in 1919, to wage eight weeks of war against the liquor…

As parents age, their children face hard choices about when to take the car keys

States have many policies to stop risky older drivers from renewing their licenses. But in practice, it's often adult children who must decide when to take the car keys away from an aging parent.

Denmark holds early elections spurred by Trump's threats to take Greenland

Denmark's prime minister called early parliamentary elections after gaining a popularity boost from standing up to President Trump over his threat to seize Greenland.

ICE deployments created chaos for cities and cost them millions, NPR analysis finds

Local leaders report already-strapped police departments racked up overtime bills in the millions while others report a multi-million dollar hit to business during the worst ICE surges.

Trump takes aim at windmills despite increasing energy costs

President Trump's mission to fight renewable wind energy comes at a time of rising energy costs.

Airstrikes may have destroyed Iran's last F-14s, ending a long, strange saga

The F-14 was made famous in Top Gun. The U.S. sold the planes to Iran in the 1970s, only for the two countries to become enemies. Iran kept its F-14s flying for decades in the face of U.S. sanctions.

Permanent daylight saving time loophole: What to know

Georgia is one of 19 states that have been waiting to lock their clocks on permanent daylight saving time. A new bill could go around the Congressional action they need to make that happen.

QCA demonstrators protest Miller-Meeks' approach to health care

More than a dozen demonstrators showed up outside Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' office in Davenport to protest Miller-Meeks' approach to health care. Demonstrators protested the expiration of the enhanced federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and cuts to Medicaid. Five people spoke at the demonstration. One man said his family wouldn't have been able [...]

At least 66 killed in military plane crash in Colombia, head of armed forces says

Colombian officials say that a military cargo plane with 128 people on board, most of them soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in southwestern Colombia.

UK police probe possible Iran link after Jewish charity ambulances set on fire

Police in London are investigating a suspected antisemitic hate crime attack after four vehicles belonging to a Jewish ambulance service were set on fire.

TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue to perform at Iowa State Fair

Three of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest groups are teaming up for a tour coming to Iowa this summer.

Davenport preschool renovations expected to cost $5.8 million

Renovations would include upgrading the first floor’s HVAC system, a playground and additional parking, according to board documents.

Vote tabled on rezoning proposal that city leaders say could bring 100s of jobs to Rock Island

Changes could be in store for several parcels of land along Sunset Lane and the Centennial Expressway in Rock Island

Mount Pleasant School District leaders hold public meeting on future of Salem Elementary

With the looming financial cuts, dozens of community members showed up to make their voices heard.

Despite state bans and restrictions, the number of abortions in the U.S. holds steady

The Guttmacher Institute has a new analysis on how many abortions happened in 2025.

Victims identified in fatal crash off Highway 61 in Scott County

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Fashawn McCann of Chicago and his 20-month-old son, Sayvier McCann.

DavenportU Citizens Academy kicks off

News 8's Maddie Franz is one of 15 Davenport residents participating in the program, designed to teach community members about how city government works.

Victims identified in fatal crash off Highway 61 in Scott County

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Fashawn McCann of Chicago and his 20-month-old son, Sayvier McCann.

Scott County Sheriff's Department releases names of victims in Sunday crash

The crash occurred at 4:25 p.m. in the 8500 block of 140th Street-U.S. 61 near Blue Grass, killing a 21-year-old woman and her 20-month-old son.

Aledo business recovering following large fire

A fire destroyed about 30,000 square feet of Meminger Metal Finishing late Thursday night. No injuries were reported.

No injuries following crash between semi truck and train in Scott County

The driver of the semi truck was given a citation for failing to stop at a railroad crossing.

Officials identify 2 killed in Highway 61 crash

Officials identified the two people killed in a crash on Highway 61 Sunday afternoon.

These 5 Iowa candidates could get kicked off the ballot

The State Objection Panel meets Tuesday to decide whether five Iowa candidates should be allowed to appear on the June primary ballot.

RI City Council approves rezoning for 50-acre stretch by Illinois Route 92

Rock Island City Council voted Monday night to make more land along Illinois Highway 92 available for economic development. They unanimously approved rezoning about 50 acres south of 31st Avenue for industrial use. The area was originally zoned for nature conservation. Rock Island city officials say the land hasn't been used for that, though - [...]

Illinois bill requiring serial numbers on handgun ammo draws skepticism from lawmakers, gun owners

House Bill 4414 would require all handgun ammunition sold in Illinois to carry serial numbers and be logged in a state police database.