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

North Scott Press — February 25, 2026

Rock Island, DARI to end $300,000-a-year contract, citing ‘realignment and refocus’

Rock Island and DARI said they are are ending the services agreement they’ve had since 2020.

At the Legion

The main drag in Dixon has seen better days: a bank, a post office, and two pop machines. And the Dixon Legion, Post no. 353, where new management hopes the town will see better days yet. Rod Ferris of Maysville has been a member of the Legion since he left the U.S. Navy 50 years ago, after service during the Vietnam War. He is one of less than thirty Dixon Legionnaires who still pay their annual dues. He will not let the post go dark. Ferris decided to take over last month, when longtime manager Pat Reese and Legion Commander Rick Stoltenberg said they planned to close it down. “It’s too nice of a building to close, and I just didn't want to let it happen,” he said. “. . . I’ve got a lot of support behind me. I’m off to a good start.” “We just want to get the word out that we’re still open,” he added. As a child, Ferris’s father Carl Ferris, Jr. was briefly Commander of the post, a term memorialized on the wall. The year was 1957. Ferris said he “grew up” around the Legion, attending dinners, traveling from post to post for bowling tournaments. When he left the Navy, he tended its bar. For 25 years he dealt blackjack at its annual “stag night” fundraiser. The roomy Dixon Legion, 604 Davenport Street, hosts a small bar on its east end. Two joined reception spaces stretch west. Attic rooms hold decades of ephemera, including the rifles used to salute Legionnaires at funerals; Ferris said the Legion sometimes has trouble finding a man for each rifle. The bar has TouchTunes, so patrons can play the songs of their choice. Ferris has brought Shelby Prier, former bartender at Ray’s Pub in Donahue, to manage the reopened venue. Prier said that, like Ferris, she didn’t want to see the Legion close down. “This is the only thing in Dixon besides the pop machine,” she joked. While the Legion used to be a “popping place,” it needed to be revamped. Prier and Ferris have spent the past two weeks sweeping and scouring the neglected venue. Already, opening the bar for an afternoon or evening, Ferris said it has received hearty support. Seats fill quickly with friends and regulars; beer is cheap, and a neighbor might just buy it for you. “Now I’m more motivated,” Ferris said, about seeing friends fill the venue. “They don’t want to see this place closed.” On Friday, they welcomed several hundred guests for their monthly fish and chicken dinner, the first with a new faces behind the bar. Street parking was at a premium Friday night on Davenport Street, as hungry diners packed the bar and the Legion Hall, waiting up to an hour for made-to-order chicken and catfish. They came, not just from Dixon, but from neighboring communities like Walcott, New Liberty, Long Grove, Donahue and Eldridge. People showed up before 5 p.m. to get in line, even though the kitchen didn’t open until 5:30. They were content to wait. Ferris rarely left his post in the kitchen, but as friends came up to shake his hand or give him a pat on the back, he grinned and clacked his serving tongs at them in greeting. Then he got back to work plating baked potatoes and checking the progress of workers on the breading line. They recently switched to catfish fillets, Ferris said. People seemed to like them better than the whole catfish previously offered. The key to a successful dinner is good food, he said. And plate after plate was served up. Two catfish fillets or four pieces of chicken. A baked potato wrapped in foil, coleslaw and a dinner roll. The condiment table featured tartar sauce, lemon juice, sour cream and huge tubs of butter. The kitchen ran out of baked potatoes just before 7:30 and they had to switch to French fries. All in all, Ferris said he was pleased, not just with the event, but with the positive feedback from news of the Legion’s new ownership. There will be another catfish and chicken fry on the third Friday of each month, although they might take a month or two off in the summer when people are busy with outdoor activities and vacations.  Ferris hopes to see a range of events return to the Legion, or start there. A church group from Wheatland uses the reception room on weekends. Prier has already booked a small party for April, and Ferris hopes to see weddings and other family events. “Not everybody has these big, high-dollar wedding receptions,” Ferris said. He hopes to make several improvements to the space, replacing old carpet, updating television sets. Lite beer and fish dinners help raise funds, but so do raffles, which he said have helped support the Maysville Fire Department. Ferris serves as mayor of Maysville. He also hopes to bring back the stag night fundraiser: a night that transforms the Legion into a casino on a one-night gambling license from the county. But that will have to wait until next year, he said. It is a February tradition. Perhaps events will help grow Legion membership, which is open to all active-duty veterans who have served from the Second World War on.  Membership is $50 a year. “I can’t get the young kids,” Ferris said. “They just won't join. I don't know why. It's kind of a shame, but that's happening everywhere.” For now, Ferris just hopes to see the Legion get back on its feet after it appeared ready to close. “I'm not taking any money out of it. I'm just getting it going,” he said. Soon he will return to his seat at the bar, talking to old friends and hoping the Cubs can field another real team.   NSP Editor Erin M.  Gentz contributed reporting.

North Scott Singers head for Milwaukee

The North Scott Singers have long been known for vocal excellence for individual students at the All-State level. But this week, the choir, and their director, will perform at the highest level and demonstrate their skill as a group.  North Scott’s premier vocal ensemble was chosen as one of six high schools to perform at the prestigious Midwestern Choral Directors Convention in Milwaukee. They will sing before an audience made up of music professionals, including other choir directors, on the stage of the historic Pabst Theatre on Thursday morning. “It’s kind of the Super Bowl for choir,” said director Lori Potts. “That’s what I tell the students. For individual singers, it’s All-State. But for full choirs, this is a full group experience to get to that level.” But this honor doesn’t just represent success for this iteration of North Scott Singers. In order to be considered, Potts had to submit recordings from the previous three years, as well as the programming the students performed, so the adjudicators could evaluate the level of music. She also had to propose a 25-minute program for a group of students who had never sung together before. The idea for applying to the convention is one Potts has had for a while. “I’ve gone to a lot of conventions over the years and seen varying levels of performance. And just watching them, I could see our students doing this song, or doing that song, and just thinking that our choir program really needs to be recognized at that level.” But the recognition didn’t come easy. “I believe I’ve submitted applications probably four or five times, with rejection letters,” said Potts. “And this summer, when I got this email in July, I had to read it about five times to actually believe that we were invited.” She said it also wasn’t necessarily easy to program three years out. “My program is what I would consider pretty traditional choir music. When we go there, we’ll see everything from avant-garde to the basic. So, we are just doing the traditional stuff that I feel fits best for our kids. “One piece of advice I got from a colleague was, program the kind of music that got you there. Don’t try to do anything extra tricky. Don’t do anything you don’t already know. So, for me, we just stayed in the lane of what I know that our kids can do.” She said this group is particularly good at rhythmic music and languages, and both of those aspects were built into a program based on the convention theme, “Reflections of Us.” The choir previewed the program during a special concert on Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church, and during the annual “Almost Spring” concert on Monday. These performances can be seen on Faith Lutheran’s Facebook page, and on the North Scott Community School District’s YouTube channel. The program opens with a song that highlights both of the choir’s strong suits, “Rytmus,” which is a rhythmic song in Hungarian. It’s followed by a German piece by Schubert, “Gretchen am Spinndrade” (Gretchen at the spinning rod), featuring an ensemble of Marlayna Cockshoot, Nora Davis, Ben Hill, Grady Kirst, Ben Lightle, Charlotte Madden, Charlie Peterson, Behren Radech, Addalie Reese, Nolan Reese, Natalie Sierk, Anthony Vatnsdal, Taylar Vondal and Lauren White. Rachel Eriksen leads the choir with a solo in “Only in Sleep,” followed by “Hope,” featuring Anthony Vatnsdal on djembe and Kinza Maclin on shaker. Eriksen has another solo in “Do Not Be Afraid.” The program closes with a spiritual, “Ain’t Got Time to Die,” featuring solos by Grady Kirst and Ben Hill. Potts said the students have been “really good sports for me leading them to the unknown, because they have no idea what the audience is going to be. Because it’s all choral directors from across the Midwest, at different levels, that are going to be sitting there with a magnifying glass, listening and just critiquing. So, they have no idea of that.” The students have also been good sports about the rehearsal schedule, putting in extra practice on Saturday mornings for most of the year. “The kids that we have now, I would say they have great attitudes,” said Potts. “It’s a different group. I’ve never had a group like this. I have not heard one complaint, all year, about anything extra. They’re just great workers and they have great attitude. Besides being talented, they’re just here to do the best job that they can do.” Aided in this process by accompanist Kinza Maclin and junior high director Paul Skyles, Potts said each year is built off the next. She said she and Skyles have lots of conversations about how to get students to the next level and seeing the areas that need to be worked on. “We just have to create those opportunities. Whatever the students need, we try and fulfill that to make it to the next level. If they want to go to All-State, then they’ve got to work hard and they have to go through the All-State process, learn how to hold their music and how to communicate. Some schools, they’re able to put those kids in a group and let them do their thing, where we break it down to whatever those students really need. And that’s, I think, the important thing about our program here – these kids are getting good education in choral music.” The students head to Milwaukee Wednesday, where they will have a professional sound check that night. The performance will be early Thursday morning, after which they’ll head back to Eldridge. “They will not get to see any other choirs, which is too bad, because we’ll sing so early in the morning and then they’ll just come right back home. But they will – they should – get some accolades, I would think, from people, and just a really cool experience that we’re actually a performance choir. Main stage.” Potts said she’s also grateful for the support of the community. “Our students did a fundraising push back in October, and we were able to raise every single dollar that we will need to go up. And so, the kids will pay for nothing for housing, charter buses and a couple of meals. So, all of that, plus merchandise for the kids. “That, to me, means that there’s a lot of people that are behind us, rooting us on. So we want to do the best that we can when we get there.” Potts said the last time a concert choir from the Quad Cities area was selected to participate at this convention was in 2000, when the Davenport Central High School Choir performed under the direction of Sally Riewerts. “It’s just awesome that our students are being acknowledged for excellence in the choir classroom, and that we get to perform up against Luther College and other universities and high schools from across the Midwest.” And Potts said she considers this moment to be a monumental personal achievement as well. “It’s an honor for me to be standing up there, because I’ve gone to a lot of conventions, and just trying to envision, is this something that I can do? Can I handle the stress that goes along with everything and just getting them ready? It’s really, probably, the top of the mountain for me as a director, just knowing what I had to prepare.” Soprano 1 Rachel Eriksen Katelyn Peck Anna Philip Natalie Sierk Lauren White Soprano 2 Marlayna Cockshoot Charli Conner Maddy Hillman Jane Nichols Maddie Norin Micayla Ramirez Emma Reif Tori Samara Bella Suarez Addison Yanke Alto 1 Amira Blackwell Nora Davis Riley DeBourcy Brooklyn Lacher Chelsea Nwatchock Taylar Vondal Eisley Weinert Alto 2 Ava Atzen Charlotte Madden Hannah Nelson Ella Peters Addalie Reese Ella Siokos Saeler VenHorst Emma Zrostlik Tenor 1 Evan Keppy Grady Kirst Hayden Lacher Bradyn Mulvaney Charlie Peterson Ezekiel Skyles Gage Wagner Tenor 2 Jax Adkisson Griffin Frank Zach McMann Will Meeks Nolan Reese Gabe Skyles Bass 1 Nathan Anderson Obadiah Hagedorn Parker Hamly Ben Hill Pacey Kane Ben Lightle Alexander Simmons Jack McCarthy Bass 2 Jacob Link Cael Mess Behren Radech Bryce Stewart Kaden Timmerman Anthony Vatnsdal      

The new cop? An artificial intelligence

On a sleepy Eldridge afternoon, a member of the police department completes a routine traffic stop. Lights on, he approaches the vehicle; speaks with the driver; runs plates, perhaps issues a warning. He returns to his squad car and sees a message on his computer. After reviewing body camera footage of the interaction, his supervisor has commended him for professional behavior. Only, his supervisor is not a police officer. It is not a supervisor at all. It is an artificial intelligence. Eldridge police officers have spent the last several months integrating Truleo, an AI assistant dedicated to helping law enforcement agencies manage tasks from bodycam review, to report writing, to real-time translation. The Eldridge Police Department is the first in Scott County to integrate the technology, according to Chief Andrew Lellig. Officer Garrett Jahns, who works as the department’s School Resource Officer, is among the technology’s most eager proponents. While on patrol, he can hold down the space bar of his laptop to ask Truleo questions. “I push the space bar and say, ‘What's the city ordinance for barking dog?’” Jahns offered in a demonstration. Truleo responded quickly. The Eldridge Police Department has uploaded the entirety of city and state code into the program. “If regular, individual or continued barking causes serious annoyance to the neighborhood, it's considered a public nuisance,” Truleo read aloud. “Animal control or city police officers can require the owner to make efforts to quiet the dog, and may impound the dog if the owner is absent.” He prompted Truleo to generate a preliminary police report for a public nuisance citation. He provided his computer with a fictional street address, date, and time, and a brief account of his invented interaction with a neighbor. Truleo kept requesting additional information, but Jahns directed it to jump directly to a report. Truleo silently processed the information before producing several hundred words, faithfully reproducing each of Jahns’ details. Jahns described the AI-generated narrative as the basis of a report he might submit to the county attorney’s office. Jahns said that, for cases more important that a city citation, he uses Truleo to proofread a report he still writes himself. The program will offer feedback on a missed lead or a breach in protocol, he said. Police “have all kinds of tools at our at our discretion,” Jahns said. “We have tasers, we have guns, we have radios, flashlights, all to help us better do our jobs…. But not a lot is talked about when it comes to report writing and courtroom testimony. You don't see a lot of that on TV… how that paperwork gets done, or how difficult that paperwork can be.” Artificial intelligence is a tool for the back end. “Using a system like Truleo can cut that time in half, and by cutting that time in half, it gets the officer back out on the streets a lot faster, too, making them better available for the public,” Jahns said. Integrating Truleo Lellig first encountered the software at a conference last year, where a police chief from Colorado explained the timesaving benefits of AI bodycam review. He said Truleo has already saved the department hundreds of hours of time spent reviewing officer conduct. “It's worth its weight in gold,” Lellig said. “It's able to analyze all the hundreds of thousands of hours of bodycam footage we have.” Truleo watches officers’ bodycam feeds in real time. It summarizes every encounter with the public, noting professional conduct and flagging any breach of protocol or procedure, Lellig explained. “Is he explaining things the way he should? Is he not using profanity—staying cool, calm and collected? It will highlight that,” he said. Both officers and supervisors can see the AI-generated reports. Jahns and Lellig both showed the North Scott Press their Truleo user interface. When Lellig logs on to his office computer, Truleo presents him with a list of recent encounters and summaries for him to review. He no longer spends time combing through hours of footage and preparing reports. It brings certain encounters—such as a possible use of force—to his immediate attention. The program has cut down on what was once 12 to 15 hours of work every week, he said. While the program routinely offers positive feedback, Lellig said that they had got “some good training feedback from the system as well, some proficiency things that we can work on as a department.”  “We had an incident where an officer was just giving a ride to somebody, and should have done a search before they put them in the vehicle, and it flagged that,” Lellig explained. That gave the department an opportunity to review safety protocols, he said. Lellig said the department has encountered few issues as it has deployed the program in recent months. Police use of AI made headlines last month when a report filed in Heber City, Utah, stated that an officer transformed into a frog. AI review of bodycam footage tripped over a Disney movie playing in the background.  Truleo costs the Eldridge Police Department $50 per regular user per month, with a slightly higher fee for the administrative users. It is free for each member of the department who is a veteran of the armed services, Lellig said. Unlike typical AI programs, the software is SIGIS certified, the encryption rating standard for law enforcement use. “They’re a very veteran friendly, law enforcement friendly company,” Lellig said. The first year of the program was purchased using the department’s donation fund. Next year, he has asked the city council for a $4,800 line item in the city budget to keep the program live. He said that time savings justified by bodycam review alone justify the expense. Additional features Truleo has several other features the department hopes to use or integrate in the coming months, Lellig said. For instance, it can provide officers with real-time translation into another language, if they interact with a member of the public who does not speak or understand English. Or when an investigation grows in size, Truleo can host hundreds of documents, generate summaries, and could offer leads, Lellig said, though the department has not yet had an opportunity to try that feature. When first considering the technology, his interested was piqued by an account from Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police that Truleo had generated new leads in a cold case fed hundreds of old files. The department is also working to overcome IT hurdles that make it difficult to integrate with county dispatch. Ideally, Truleo could provide officers with real-time answers to questions as they respond to a call, questions like, “How many times have I been to this residence? Have there been firearms there in the past?” “We don't have that capability yet. We're still working through some IT issues… but that is something that we could get possibly down the road,” Lellig said. He said that the relatively young Eldridge police force has taken quickly to the software.  “We've gotten a lot of good feedback from the officers,” Lellig said. Jahns agreed. “The general consensus is pretty good at the department—the team seems to be really excited about being able to use it,” he said. “I think it's been a great system. You know, it's just another tool for the officers to use to make their lives a little easier,” Lellig said.        

Forum brings legislators to RIC

Area legislators had much to say during a forum on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Regional Innovation Center. Topics ranged from education funding to pipelines and eminent domain, energy policy, right to repair, property taxes, townships, technology training, bail reform and attracting a professional football team to Iowa. Attendees included Sen. Mike Zimmer, Sen. Scott Webster, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, Rep. Gary Mohr, Rep. Mike Vondran, Rep. Norlin Mommsen and Rep. Monica Kurth. All area Scott County legislators were invited to attend. The forum was hosted by the Scott County Farm Bureau, with help from North Scott FFA students. The event was the first stage of the chapter’s National FFA Week activities, which began Saturday. Hailey Schaack, the chapter’s Vice President of Strengthening Agriculture, told the audience that one of the goals of FFA is to be able to “use our leadership skills to be able to make a positive difference in our communities and become a model citizen. A model citizen shows many qualities of citizenship. These qualities include honesty, self-discipline, responsibility, respectfulness and kindness.” Schaack added that FFA members hoped to use the forum to encourage young people to vote. “This helps us meet our quality standard of citizenship, which helps us learn how the government works on a state level.” Chapter Vice President of Building Communities Molly Mose led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and laid out the ground rules for the event, saying it was meant to be non-partisan, respectful and engaging. FFA members collected questions from audience members, which were sorted by a panel that included FFA advisor Jacob Hunter and Scott County supervisors Jean Dickson and John Maxwell. The forum was moderated by Scott County Farm Bureau president Joan Maxwell. Taking questions FFA student Gracyn Koehler led off the questions, asking about Senate File 2219, which would require schools to adopt policies for FFA and 4-H students, including excused absences for school-related activities. Kurth said that there shouldn’t be rampant absenteeism, but there should also be flexibility for students who are involved in school-related activities. Zimmer said that the legislature should not be deciding the issue, and it should be left to school districts and administrators. He said that the bill, as it is now written, only addresses FFA and 4-H, and not myriad other organizations that could have students needing to miss classes for school-related activities.  “I absolutely understand the frustration, but to me, this is what I would say would be Des Moines overreach,” said Zimmer. “It needs to be targeted to the people that make that decision. Your local people.” “In a perfect world, that would be ideal,” said Kaufmann. “But schools are not listening to the complaints. Therefore, we’re going to make them.” Moderator Maxwell asked about legislative priorities for ensuring dependable, affordable energy supplies, while also conserving prime farmland. Mohr said, looking into the future, it’s clear that energy demand is only going to increase. He said he was in favor of reopening the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant near Cedar Rapids, as well as looking for more ways to generate more electricity, whether that was wind, solar or nuclear. He said there was a solar bill right now that he had problems with, because it didn’t protect ratepayers. Kurth added that she had visited the Scott County Landfill over the summer and learned about how they were converting methane into energy. “There are innovations that we can pursue. It would be great if every landfill did something like that.” She said small nuclear was another option. Gruenhagen said he also supported looking into options like anaerobic digestors, which convert animal waste into gas, and can then be pumped into natural gas lines. He said it was important to ensure there were enough reliable energy sources in the state, to ensure new businesses could come in. Webster said right now, Iowa has some of the lowest power rates in the country. He said the state needs to ensure rates stay low, while creating more energy. “It’s a huge issue in looking at all types of energy that come in. Not saying, ‘We don’t want this one; we don’t want that one.’ We need to look at all of it. But the sun doesn’t shine every day … the wind doesn’t blow every day to make those things work. And we have to have an all-around process at this.” Zimmer said energy production and land rights “go hand-in-hand.” He said county supervisors across the state were already under tremendous pressure to balance different ways of producing energy with protecting landowners. He said he was concerned about proposed legislation that would make the Iowa Department of Natural Resources a depository for what county ordinances could look like in the future. He said the state should provide guidance, but it shouldn’t overrule local leaders on the issue. That led directly into a question about proposed legislation that could override local land use decisions and reduce county authority. Maxwell asked how legislators planned to protect both local decision making and ag land, and how they defined the balance between property rights and local planning. Webster said the legislation was currently “morphing,” and conversations were continuing. But he suggested that zoning districts could be created. “I believe that we need to make sure that the ultimate local control is with the person that owns the ground.” Maxwell pointed out that 58% of all farmers in Iowa farm on land that is rented, and some of the largest landowners in the state are investment firms. “Let’s please make sure we understand that landowner and farmer don’t mean the same thing,” she said. She then asked about hydrogen mining and other mineral rights. Zimmer said mineral rights laws in Iowa, as they currently stand, are antiquated and need to be updated quickly. Mommsen agreed and said the issue is also incredibly complex. “It’s especially new to Iowa, but we’ve got to deal with it, because if we don’t, it will be, well, it is a mess.” Pipelines and eminent domain “Where are we in the legislation on defining the CO2 pipeline and eminent domain?” asked Maxwell before pointing to Kaufmann. “I don’t have a lot of thoughts on this issue,” he quipped, to chuckles from the crowd. He said when he became House majority leader, he made a promise that the first bill out would be legislation addressing the use of eminent domain. “My personal view is that a private company does not in any way, shape or form, deserve the right of eminent domain.” He said he believed the legislature could come to an agreement on the issue of eminent domain. He added he was already having good conversations and hoped the issue would be resolved during this session. “But if they don’t come to an agreement, I promise you, the next time there is a left-wing governor in the governor’s mansion, they will use that against us. And every Green New Deal that you can ever think of will be imposed on all of you with or without your consent.” “I will point out that last year, every single senator in the Senate did vote against eminent domain for CO2 pipelines,” added Gruenhagen. “So, that’s not really a question. It’s what the final bill looks like is what we’re working towards.” He said he believed any vote against eminent domain for pipelines was a vote for the status quo. Webster agreed, saying that if the legislature didn’t settle the matter, the issue would come up again for hydrogen pipelines. Zimmer said Senate majority leader Mike Klimesh is also tackling the eminent domain issue. Klimesh has introduced a bill that is “double-barreled,” which Zimmer explained means it cannot be amended. He said the Senate version includes a provision for eminent domain “if there is no other option.” Zimmer described companies like Summit Carbon Solutions as “arrogant.” Kurth said, right now, Iowa does not have a dedicated legislative energy committee, and that is something she thinks could be helpful. Property taxes Kaufmann said that, for the first time in his career, there was a bill out on property taxes from the House, Senate and the governor’s office. He said there were things he liked and disliked about each, and he was hearing a lot of feedback on the issue. Traditionally, tax policy has been one of the last things tackled during each legislative session, because there is no deadline on that policy, in the same way there is for education funding, for instance. “I don’t have an answer for, this is what the bill is going to look like. I can just tell you, for the first time in a long time, we have three bills, which means that something significant will get done.” Mohr said property tax legislation was being negotiated at the highest levels, with representatives from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Speaker of the House Pat Grassley also involved. Zimmer said one of the biggest issues when it comes to property taxes in Iowa is the rollback system, which he said could be individualized based on the size of a community, rather than being a statewide average. Maxwell also asked what the state could do to discourage out-of-state investors from coming in and buying up farm ground. Webster said, constitutionally, there was little the state could do other than trying to disincentivize potential investors. “But we can’t figure out how to do that without hurting the people that are within the state of Iowa already.” He said there was also the possibility of investors creating “straw buyers,” where they registered the land purchase in the name of an Iowa resident, but the land was managed by the investor. “We think we’ve been talking about carbon pipelines for a long time. I have a feeling on this particular one, we’re going to be talking about this for years before we can come up with something that will make it constitutionally through.” Township bill The panel was also asked about proposed legislation that would strip away most of the responsibilities of township trustees and hand that authority over to counties. Township trustees handle issues like fenceline disputes, rural fire protection and caring for rural cemeteries that are not under the purview of a religious organization. Webster said the bill was sparking good conversation, and it was essentially about streamlining government. He said that, between city and county councils and boards, water districts, school boards, and township trustees, Iowa has an incredibly high number of elected officials per capita. “In some ways, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. But we’re trying to streamline government in a way that makes it most effective for the taxpayer, most   for people to find out who they need to talk to, to do certain things. I think this bill is interesting.” He also touched on the issue of consolidating fire departments or at least allowing urban fire districts to extend further into the county to ensure adequate protection. “We don’t want to step on the toes of the volunteer firefighters that we have. Because there’s two sides to that coin – they’re great people and they do great for their communities. But some of those areas – it all depends on where you’re at – Donahue fire is great. It’s got plenty of people. Eldridge has got plenty of people, but they’re looking at trying to go to a more professional type of model. “Volunteerism is getting harder and harder to do with the lives that people have now … it’s hard to get volunteers, and this is a conversation that I think is a good thing to have.” Webster said he believed having these conversations was a proactive measure, looking ahead to future issues. Zimmer agreed that, while the bill might not go anywhere, the conversations were important to have. However, he said he believed that “government serves best when it’s closest to the people.” He added that there were still a lot of questions about what making government more efficient actually looks like. “We’re going to be running head on into this efficiency versus local representation now. And so, it’s a good conversation to have.” Mommsen said he had previous experience as a township trustee, and the job can be difficult for people to understand if they don’t have a lot of knowledge about the issues faced at that level. That said, he added that since township trustees don’t get paid, “I don’t know how eliminating my cohorts would change much.” Education and technology Maxwell asked about policies being pursued to ensure students, including FFA and ag students, have access to the tools and training they need to be workforce ready. Kurth said there is currently a bill working its way through committee that would add a half unit of computer science and artificial intelligence to the curriculum. She said it was important that students have access to technology training. Zimmer, a former educator and school board member, said there was a difficulty in that. He said there are currently bills that would require all kinds of additions to the curriculum, from nutrition to civics to AI. “If that goes through … where do students have time for career technology education coursework?  Because you throw in the math, science, social studies, English requirements on top of it, and physical education. I’m just saying: stop.” Zimmer said it was one thing if the legislation was being put forward to communicate to educators that they should be teaching more about a certain subject, but lawmakers also needed to consider that, “we’ve got to allow time within a student’s school day to be able to access this stuff.” He said he was adamant about not adding any more graduation requirements. Mommsen said, over the last few years, both the governor and the legislature had promoted the importance of apprenticeships, which could fit into academic opportunities.  Gruenhagen also touted the importance of work-based learning. Bail reform Vondran discussed a bill he is championing on bail reform. Maxwell asked if the legislation would lead to an increase in the jail population, putting a substantial financial burden on counties. Vondran said one goal was to put accountability on judges who vary from traditional bail standards. Another goal is to decrease recidivism, because oftentimes, out-of-state criminals will put down their bail, get out of prison, and either reoffend or leave the state and not come back for trial. He said with the House bill, judges would be required to put in writing why they varied from the bail standard, thus creating accountability for that decision making. Webster said he was “ecstatic” Vondran was tackling bail reform. He told an anecdote about an individual from Chicago who attempted to steal vehicle titles. He was released on $100 bail and never heard from again in Scott County. “We need to make sure that we’re making good decisions on bail,” he said, and ensure that individuals determined to commit crimes instead remain in prison. As to the burden on counties, Vondran said, “We’ll have to deal with it … The alternative is to let them roam. That’s unacceptable.” He said out-of-state individuals who want to come to Iowa to commit crimes need to be disincentivized by a stronger bail structure. “Does that come with a cost? One hundred percent. Letting them loose? Much worse cost … We’re going to stop saying we’re tough on crime and be tough on crime. Period.” That said, Vondran said he didn’t want to give audience members a sense of fear that Scott County is “being invaded. The folks that we’re talking about are repeat offenders. In Scott County, it’s a list of about 45 individuals that are causing this problem. That’s not going to overcrowd our jails. But it’s going to stop them.” Education funding The legislators differed on approaches to education funding, with Democrats Kurth and Zimmer both saying that funding had not kept up with inflation. Webster said one of the issues is that the number of children in Iowa is decreasing, while employment in schools has increased. Kaufmann said he considered discussing educational funding based on a percentage to be “extremely intellectually lazy.” If, as in the House bill, Supplemental State Aid is increased by 2%, that will increase per pupil funding by $160, bringing the total to $8,148 per student. Per classroom, Kaufmann said the state is spending about $474,000. “Anyone that says education funding is not our priority is false, and they’re statistically false. It is our number one investment, and it’s going to continue to be our number one investment.” He said that was borne out by the fact that education funding represents the biggest investment in the state budget. Mohr, who has a background in education through community colleges, said he was “always amused” by the argument that funding was not keeping up with the rate of inflation. “Let me ask you guys some rhetorical questions. If you’re a farmer, does your income keep up with inflation every year?” “We’re at a deficit,” said Maxwell. “Bingo,” continued Mohr. “If you’re a retiree on IPERS, does your salary increase? Keep up with inflation every year? How many of the rest of you who aren’t retired or on IPERS or aren’t farmers – how many years does your salary keep up with inflation? Zero. I know that sounds good, that we need to fund education to keep up with inflation. But who in the hell keeps up with inflation? I worked for 41 years. Never one year did my salary keep up with inflation. “We spend $4 billion out of a $9 billion budget on K-12 education. And I always smile when people say, ‘We need fully funded education.’ And I asked the question, ‘What does that mean?’ I haven’t had one answer yet.” Mohr said the state also spends another $1 billion on higher learning and $300 million on educational savings accounts. “I mean, sure, we could spend more. But where are we going to take it from? Because it’s going to come from somebody else.” Bears bill Finally, Maxwell asked about a recent bill put forth attempting to attract the Chicago Bears to relocate to Iowa. Reading from the question card, she said, “Was this bill filed as a publicity stunt? Well, you’re successful. However, it was bad publicity. Please file bills.” Webster said he didn’t believe it was bad, either as publicity or as a bill. He pointed to the economic driving impact of the Newton Speedway. “The day before we filed the bill, the chance of us having the Chicago Bears was 0.00%. The day after we filed that bill, the chance was 0.01%, and everybody in the world now knows that Bettendorf exists in the state of Iowa, and people are looking at it. “This particular bill gave both sides of the aisle the availability to talk good about Iowa and say why Iowa’s a good thing. I don’t think that’s a joke … It’s good to talk good about Iowa. Don’t look at anything like a joke. Look at it as Iowa getting good presence.”  Kaufmann pointed out that he also didn’t believe the bill was a joke, because the state of Indiana has also filed a bill to try to lure the Bears east. “Go Pack, Go,” quipped Vondran. As Maxwell wrapped up the forum, in their closing remarks, legislators also chose to focus on the positive side of working together, pointing out that 92% of bills pass with bipartisan support. Zimmer also thanked the North Scott FFA, saying that the group had recently visited the Capitol and was able to sit in on a subcommittee hearing and learn more about the legislative process and parliamentary procedure. Webster wrapped up by saying, “I believe we need to continue to talk about the good things in Iowa. I believe that we could triple our problems, and we’d still be better off than Illinois.”    

Officials release identity of body pulled from Green River in Colona

The Colona police and fire departments say they recovered a body from the Green River.

Flavor Flav is among women's hockey team fans outraged by presidential snub

The rapper, who also serves as the official "hype man" for multiple U.S. Olympic teams, invited the female hockey players to Las Vegas for a "real celebration."

Why raise school levy March 3?

On March 3, North Scott voters will decide whether to raise a property tax levy dedicated to building and equipment upkeep. The sizable jump—from $0.97 to up to $1.34 per $100,000 in taxable valuation—would bring the North Scott School District in line with neighbors in Bettendorf, Davenport, and Pleasant Valley. In a presentation last week, Superintendent Joe Stutting insisted that the school board needs the additional taxing authority to pay for the rising costs of school equipment, technology, and maintenance. “We all know inflation. We all know what tariffs have done. We all know how budgets are being pushed,” Stutting said. “We are so lucky, in Iowa, to have this voter approved levy that many states don't have that allows us to maintain our facilities,” he said. “We don't lay off teachers in order to fix a building or purchase some large equipment.” The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) is one arrow in the quiver of school funding. School districts pay the bulk of their expenses out of separate funds allocated on a per-student basis by the state legislature every spring. North Scott uses PPEL to pay expenses like preventative maintenance and the purchase of new school buses, Stutting said. “As time goes by, things get more expensive—like buses,” Stutting said. “When I first got here, we bought three buses for under $300,000. Now we buy two buses for $300,000.” The district, which runs 26 bus routes daily, purchases three new school buses every year to keep the fleet in good repair, Stutting said. The North Scott School District maintains over 832,000 square feet of building space, 615,000 square feet of parking, 170,000 square feet of parking, and with a recent purchase, over 150 acres of grounds. Since the PPEL was last approved in 2017, the district has added several facilities, including the Regional Innovation Center last year. Across its buildings, the district spends an annual sum of about $780,000 on preventative maintenance, Stutting said. They repaint walls, maintain fire alarms, and occasionally replace roofs; they keep up 189 HVAC units, 24 boilers, and 422 climate controllers. “We do that in order to make sure we continue to have the best educational environment, and [so] that we don't have to put tons of money into a building or tear a building down,” Stutting said. “We’re always trying to extend the life of anything that we have to get, to maximize what we can get out of it,” he added. The district also buys and replaces hundreds of Chromebook and iPads annually, to maintain its standard of one device per student. “The cost of the Chromebook, which has been falling every year, this year, went up $100 per Chromebook,” Stutting said. “That's another expense that you have that comes out of PPEL.” “Technology generally is cheaper every year, but we're not in that kind of mode right now. It actually is going up in cost,” he added. Stutting said reliable PPEL income prevents the district from having to bond for maintenance and building improvements. “It actually helps protect property tax in the long run,” he argued. “Because if you didn't have this… you're going to run a bond to do the stuff that we don't do.” The March 3 vote would give the school board the authority to raise PPEL to the state maximum, $1.34, beginning in 2029. The district has called the vote early to ensure that, if it fails, they have a year to remake their case and try again, Stutting explained. The rise from $0.97 to $1.34 is the equivalent of a rise from $8 to $11 dollars per month per $100,000 in the taxable valuation of a home. Taxable valuation in Iowa is about half a residential property’s assessed valuation. An Eldridge home worth $400,000 would pay the rough equivalent of $22 a month under an increased PPEL. Since reconvening in January, Iowa State Legislature has focused particular attention on restricting or lowering property tax levies across the state. Most proposals aim to restrict revenue growth year-to-year at a fraction of the jump proposed by the district this year Stutting said potential changes to the district’s tax authority were “a factor” the school board had considered when requesting a rise. “But we wouldn't just do it, just to do it, either,” Stutting said. Rising costs were the district’s primary concern. A successful vote March 3 would preempt any law passed by the legislature this year. “We keep an eye on it because we want to know how it's going to impact us,” he added. Stutting added that PPEL funds are raised locally and paid out largely to local workers and contractors. “It's a local tax that gets spent locally. Most of the contractors that we spend on this work, especially that $780,000 [in maintenance], are generally our smaller contractors right here in the area,” he said. “It's generally our local Quad City businesses that are that we're spending that money with. It's a local tax that stays local.”    

Rock Island, DARI end partnership agreement

The City of Rock Island and DARI (Development Association of Rock Island) are ending their economic development professional services agreement, effective March 31, according to a news release from the city. The DARI Executive Board of Directors voted to end the agreement that originally began on March 11, 2020 and was renewed on December 20, [...]

Meet the candidates for Walcott council

Three candidates—Joe Quick, Joe Aubry, and Lynnette Tarchinski—have asked voters for their support in a cty council special election set for March 3. Mayor Jake Puck vacated a seat on the council at the start of this year. The council appointed Quick to his term, but will Quick must defend that seat after citizens filed an election petition last month. Lynnette Tarchinski previously ran for a seat on the council in November. We asked each candidate to respond to a list of questions. Here are their answers. 1. What has motivated you to run for city council? Tarchinski: I am running for city council because I care about Walcott and believe strong local leadership matters. I want to be a clear, reliable voice for all residents and help ensure families feel represented in city decisions. Walcott’s sense of community and quality of life are worth protecting, and I am committed to thoughtful, balanced decision-making that reflects the priorities of our citizens. Quick: I was very involved growing up in Minnesota in politics. My father was a council member for our town and was also very active in state politics and campaigning. So naturally I followed along.  I spent most of the time when I was in high school working with local and state campaigns alongside my father.  So it is something that I have always shown interest in. With both my children out of high school, I knew this would be the right time to consider running for election. Aubry: Since becoming a father, my core drive has been to pursue improvement in all aspects of life—within myself, my children, my marriage, and the community in which we live. I am motivated to run for city council to ensure that Walcott remains a thriving, vibrant place for all families to grow and succeed.   2. What relevant experience in leadership will you bring to the council? Tarchinski: I bring leadership experience shaped by collaboration, accountability and public engagement. In my current role, I work in public affairs and regularly meet with state representatives and senators in Des Moines to discuss legislation that affects communities like Walcott. I am experienced in evaluating issues, communicating across perspectives and focusing on practical solutions that serve the public interest. Quick: Like I said, I have been around politics from a young age and have seen how things work, from campaigning to elections to being on city council. I have been very active in the city for the past 24 years.  I have been in charge of many groups including the Walcott Unified Fund, Walcott Day Committee, Walcott Community Club, Walcott Athletic Board just to name a few. So this has given me the opportunity to work with many people in the community and build relationships that will only help me work with the community to build a stronger Walcott. Aubry: Civically, I have been actively involved with the "Save Our School" efforts to prevent the closure of the elementary portion of Walcott K-8 School. Additionally, I have served on the city Planning and Zoning Commission for several years and recently began serving on the Calvary Church Board of Trustees. Professionally, I am a recognized top performer in my division at Getz Fire Equipment Company, where I ensure businesses and staff have proper fire protection assets and training. I also have prior management experience involving time management and revenue profit/loss assessment.   3. What is the most pressing challenge now facing Walcott? Tarchinski: Walcott’s most pressing challenge is managing growth and change while preserving the strengths that make our community unique. Responsible planning, sound financial decisions, and maintaining city services are essential. It is also important that Walcott remains proactive and engaged regarding external decisions that may affect our residents, including those impacting our local elementary school and community stability. Quick: I think the biggest issue Walcott as a city is facing is growth!  We have had concerns in regards to the local elementary school being closed and directly affecting the city as a whole. We need to be able to be a city where people want to live to and raise their families, because without that the town slowly dies. That is where the issues come in. You have to entice those to come and move to Walcott and for that to happen you have to start from the ground up.  If you don’t have good infrastructure everything above it collapses.  Roads and sewer are huge to name a few. Aubry: Our community requires strategic growth to survive. A few years ago, we faced the potential closure of our elementary school by the Davenport Community School District. Such a closure would make Walcott less attractive to young families and lead to a decline for our town. I am committed to prioritizing sustainable development and advocating for our local institutions to ensure Walcott remains a first-choice destination for families.   4. What other issues or goals would you hope to see city council address? Tarchinski: I would like the council to prioritize fiscal responsibility, infrastructure and community amenities that support families and residents. My long involvement in Walcott reflects this commitment. I have been a member of the Walcott Chamber, Hearts and Hands, Walcott Women, Walcott PTA, Calvary Church of Walcott, and have served on the Preschool Board of Directors, Walcott Athletic Board of Directors, and Tri-County Townball Board of Directors. These experiences have reinforced the importance of practical leadership and community-focused decision making. Quick: Improving what our city has to offer. We have added many things over the years with the rec trail and splash pad. We need to continue with those projects.  As a council I think we need to work very closely with the Hearts and Hands committee to assist the rec trail to completion and any other projects they continue to come up with. There are a lot of individuals in Walcott that want this city to grow and working together is how we get things done. Aubry: I would like to see a greater emphasis on communication with the public on city activities both small and large. Efforts towards this goal have already been shown by newly-elected mayor Jacob Puck to keep the public better informed by providing greater communications via social media posts and personal outreach. I would like to help further those efforts to ensure the town is always actively working towards the goals of its community members. "Hearts and Hands Working Together" is Walcott's town motto, and I believe we can accomplish much by working together.  

Supervisors join county to new emergency team

Scott County has pledged its support for a new emergency response team that would coordinate efforts across Quad Cities agencies and jurisdictions. The Quad Cities Regional Incident Management Assistance Team (QCRIMAT) would provide short-term support for any participating jurisdiction if a disaster exceeded its response capacity, Scott County Emergency Management Director Brian Payne told supervisors last week. The team would coordinate assistance from nearby agencies and oversee the flow of information to responders, he explained. “They don't take anything over,” Payne said. “They provide assistance in command and coordination.” Payne said QCRIMAT might spring into action after a major industrial accident or weather event, like the Greenfield tornado that struck western Iowa in 2024. He said that state and federal resources have proved unreliable, and that local governments must make up the difference. “We had an incident here recently, within the last couple of years, where we requested the state of Iowa's incident management team, which was unavailable,” Payne said. An incident management team from Illinois responded in its place, and the initial quote for their response was $350–450,000. “Greenfield, Iowa requested not only the state team—they also requested support from the federal government through FEMA. FEMA, after roughly four days, turned around and told them they were not able to come,” he added. A team from Minnesota responded instead. Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday, Feb. 13 to sign a memorandum of agreement that joins their response teams, such as the Sheriff’s Office and MEDIC EMS, to the QCRIMAT. Budget amendment passed Supervisors also passed their annual amendment to the current county budget. The amendment, routine in the middle of the fiscal year, largely revises estimates of expenses and incomes. It also allows county departments to receive and spend grants. Budget and administrative services director David Farmer presented a breakdown of the amendment. Notable changes included nearly an $800,000 jump in spending at the Sheriff’s Office and Youth Justice Rehabilitation Center, to account for overtime pay, medical services, out-of-county jail placements, groceries, and other expenses. Facilities and Support Services, meanwhile, revised down its spending by over $500,000, an apparent result of the county’s decision to outsource janitorial services last summer. The amendment also allotted an additional $1.2 million for new road maintenance equipment. The county revised its expected revenue up by over $5.6 million. That figure includes new grants received, gains on county debt, and opioid settlement funds. ARPA funds dwindle Scott County has spent nearly $31.7 million of the $33.6 million awarded by the American Rescue Plan Act. That leaves the county with just $1.9 million in ARPA funds, which must be spent by the end of the fear, Farmer told supervisors at their quarterly update on the Pandemic-era program. That money has been allocated towards stormwater infrastructure improvements in Mt. Joy. Funds unspent between 2021 and 2026 generated over $2.5 million in interest income, Farmer added. Those funds do not expire. Budget projections for next year divide that sum between MEDIC EMS ($800,000), conservation engineering ($420,000), Park View infrastructure improvements ($749,900), and capital improvements to county buildings ($585,844). Other business In other news, supervisors: • Agreed to a pair of organizational changes at the health department, which will replace existing human resources roles with dedicated recruiting and benefit specialists. • Switched their vehicle registration printing services from Mail Services of Des Moines to Professional Office Services of Waterloo. The change will save the county two cents per mailed notice.  

Princeton considers solar

A plan to install solar panels at Princeton’s water treatment plant, along 285th Avenue and Great River Road, returned to the council Thursday, Feb. 12. The council deferred action on the project last spring after opening a request for proposals and receiving several bids. They worried that paying interest on borrow funds would outweigh the annual savings advocates promised. Tim Ruser, chair of the city Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), invited Kent Kraus, of Eagle Point Solar, to discuss advantages of the project with the council. Kraus warned that growth in energy demand and a lack of supply in Iowa would drive rates up in coming years. “We have demand growing and we have a low supply. What happens? The prices go up,” Kraus summarized. He said a solar array would insulate the city from those costs, a point repeated by Ruser and other supporters of the project. “You’re hedging against utility rates going up faster and faster and faster by having an asset that produces energy at a fixed rate,” he said. “We're going from a flat load to exponential load growth over the next 25 years,” he forecast. He said cities could expect to see 8% to 12% annual increases in their electricity bill. It remains unclear how Princeton would pay for the solar project, and what support they might receive from government incentives. If the project breaks ground before July 4 of this year, it would be eligible for a 30% federal rebate on the cost of installation. Those funds would arrive within 12 to 18 months following construction, Kraus said. Projects that break ground after July 4 are in a “bit of a gray area,” he explained. The federal government has repeatedly delayed issuing revised standards that would affix to any project trying to qualify for the next set of rebates. Kraus said those standards were likely to target projects that, for instance, used solar panels manufactured in a foreign country, which he said Eagle Point does not. But there could be other restrictions. “There might be some other qualifications,” he said. Breaking ground by July 4 would require a rush of effort from the city. Bids received last spring are now ineligible, so the council must vote in March whether to reopen the project for new bids. They would then open and award bids in April. The project site lies adjacent to railroad tracks that run through the town, necessitating a comprehensive review from the railroad operator. That could be difficult before the July 4 deadline, Kraus said. If the city broke ground without it, they could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in changes requested by the railroad. The city would also need to file for an interconnection permit with MidAmerican energy, which Kraus said he expected to arrive in about 60 days. Princeton would have to borrow money to build the array. Interest payments would delay the amount of time it would take for the installation to generate electricity savings that outweigh its cost. The project also lies in a flood plain, raising the cost of engineering and construction. Kraus said the city could save money by cutting back on amenities included in last spring’s request for proposals, including an access road and fencing. City Clerk Kisa Tweed told The North Scott Press that the council would likely see a request for proposals on their March agenda. Princeton P&Z has recommended that the council move forward with installation of the solar array. Anderson estate to be dissolved Princeton City Council gave their approval to a request from the Anderson family to dissolve their trust and establish three separate holdings. The family trust, known as the “Anderson 400,” holds roughly 400 acres of farm and residential land on the south edge of Princeton. Surveyor David West said the request would not lead to rezoning or development requests. “We're just changing the name of who owns what part of the property out there,” he said, at the request of members of the family. “The county has waived their jurisdiction to you, and we do this all the time in other counties, but we are here to ask your blessing… to create three separate parcels that can be transferred amongst the family,” West explained. P&Z recommended approval of the request. Other business In other news, Princeton City Council voted to switch their city management software from gWorks simple city to gWorks cloud. The vendor no longer provided tech support for the previous software, Tweed said. The new software will cost Princeton $10,100 per year.

Neil Armstrong partners with Blankets of Hope

On Friday Feb. 13, Neil Armstrong staff and students participated in the national community service project—Blankets of Hope. Blankets of Hope is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on sharing and teaching kids about kindness, the homeless population and the power of hope for our neighbors. Students participated in a mini-kindness workshop and inspirational visualization and then got right to work to make a difference. Students wrote and decorated hundreds of notes of inspiration and hope for homeless people in our QCA community, which were paired with 210 new, warm blankets from Blankets of Hope.  The purpose is simple, that the personalized package would help bring both warmth and inspiration to those who receive them. The 210 packages have been dropped off to QCA shelters and meal sites to be dispersed amongst the women, men and children in need of authentic notes, blanket and positive vibes. After over seven years leading the BOH program with her groups of fourth graders, Armstrong elementary art teacher Mrs. Elise Ward, shared the idea that an entire school community could make a larger impact with this program. Armstrong students really connected with the purpose of this mission and gladly took on the challenge to share their positivity with others. Students know that their contribution to their community will be making a difference as they lead by example and spread kindness like confetti! Way to be the change Armstrong students and to show how Eagles soar by lifting others!      

Elementary students learn how to collaborate in the classroom

Students at Ed White Elementary School are discovering new ways to learn, not just from their teachers, but from their peers as well. Principal Carrie Lane, instructional coach Laura Jacobsen, and the fourth-grade teaching team of Brynn Dexter, Jenny Greenwood, Carly Keeney and Terri Kilburg shared ways they are using collaborative learning and discourse to improve student engagement. Lane said at the end of the last school year, staff identified a building goal of having 90% of all students reach benchmarks on standardized and screening assessments using High Impact Instructional Practices. These practices help teach self-management or regulation strategies, including the use of collaborative learning. Jacobsen said staff decided on collaborative learning because it has shown success in moving students from solely teacher-facilitated learning to shared discussion that includes student-led conversation, which can lead to deeper understanding of educational concepts. Cooperative learning also allows for additional opportunities for student feedback. “If the only feedback loop you have is from the teacher to the student, students really don’t have to internalize any of that,” said Jacobsen. “I’m just going to wait for the teacher to tell me if I was right or if I was wrong. But when you do that cooperative learning, it’s just that repeated opportunity, and it’s another loop that’s not the adult. Sometimes when students hear it from their peers, it can be a little more powerful.” Kilburg said teachers identified two main ways students could engage in collaborative learning. The first is a “turn and talk,” where a student turns to their neighbor and engages in one-on-one conversation about a topic. “If a teacher puts a question forward and you ask the students to turn and share, they get really excited, they turn quickly, they share.” She said the other method is “think, pair and share,” and explained that process is a little more intentional. “In a think, pair, share, it’s more of giving them some thinking and waiting time. Do I have something that I’m ready to share? When I am ready to share, I’m going to turn and share, and then we’re going to collaboratively share that out.” Dexter said they began with a project in October, where one student had to share detailed steps about a concept, and then their partner had to draw what was explained to them. She said students had to make sure that what they were explaining was clear, to-the-point, and shared constructively. “And then, they got to look and reflect on, did I share appropriately? Did I share all the facts? And the other partner – did I listen? Did I ask clarifying questions about them sharing it? It was just a good way for us to look and see what skills they already had, kind of a starting point for us to see on a low-stakes, fun activity for them.” Students and staff also engaged in conversations about what effective collaboration is like, including topics such as looking at your partner, having respectful conversation, active listening, staying on-topic, speaking calmly, and allowing everyone to participate. Greenwood said they began by having collaborative discussions in a non-academic setting, like morning meeting or snack time, to build student confidence in expectations. This also seemed to be more accessible to all students, because it was low-pressure. An example of discussion included, “Do you prefer talking on the phone or texting?” A student would share their preference and explain why they felt that way. Kilburg said that teachers noticed during “talk and turn” time, there was less collaborative discussion. “We noticed that they would turn and just talk over each other. They weren’t necessarily listening or responding or even sharing. They were excited to share what they wanted to say, but they weren’t really doing that full collaboration.” She said teachers quickly learned there needed to be some more explicit communication lessons for students at the fourth-grade level, in both “talk and turn” and “think, pair, share.” “We were very direct. First of all, you need a minute of think time before you respond. That way, your response has a little more meat to it. So, we would wait, give them a question, and then we would say, ‘It’s time to think now. When you’re ready, give me a thumbs up.’” Kilburg said they also talked about body language and eye contact, and deciding who would share first in partnered discussions. “You can’t assume they know these things,” she said. “Each step, we found, had to be explicitly taught.” Once the first partner shared their information, Kilburg said the other would repeat back the information, and then there would be a discussion starter like, “I agree with that,” or “I respectfully disagree, because I think …” Partners would then share what they had discussed with the whole group. She said staff observed there seemed to be more in-depth conversation with “think, pair, share” than “turn and talk.” Keeney said teachers gradually shifted this technique into academic settings. She gave an example of a math word problem: “Juan read 5/6ths of an hour. Larissa read 10/12ths of an hour. Who read for longer and explain. Now, they’re using the skills that they practiced during those non-academic sessions, but we’re putting in those academic topics with it, which is a little bit harder. We found that they did better with the non-academic, so now we’re really focusing on bringing all these academic areas and bringing that collaboration in.” She said they are continuing to bring students along with these techniques, especially students who might be classified as “on the bubble” when it comes to achieving proficiency. Dexter said that, while students are good at sharing, they are still working on listening and responding. Teachers are working on strengthening these skills and highlighting students who are modeling appropriate behavior. She said that students are also learning these are lifelong skills that they will use outside of school, too. “The ultimate goal is that they are going to have collaborative organic conversations,” said Greenwood. These techniques are being taught building-wide, with age-appropriate instruction. Lane said the building leadership team will soon be working on building-wide expectations for collaborative learning, as well as what it means to learn collaboratively in a respectful, responsible and safe environment. “Your partner has to feel safe if they want to share with you, and take those risks on something they may not be confident in, or asking for help at some point.” Kilburg said one of the interesting things she has noticed is how students react when they are wrong. She went back to the math word problem – where Juan and Larissa read the same amount of time – and said that when students discover they have an incorrect answer, they are still able to talk through their reasoning with their peers and learn why they may have thought that way. Greenwood said it has also helped that students are learning to disagree in respectful ways. “It’s OK to disagree, but you do need to also bring evidence to support why you’re disagreeing. Prove your point, so your partner can say, ‘Oh, that’s right.’” Board member Carrie Keppy asked if the staff has identified future goals. Greenwood said they hope to be able to encourage more student-led conversation, where teachers can initiate the discussion, but the students are able to engage with each other more independently. This includes encouraging questions like, “Why do you think that?” or “Can you say more about that?” “You make learning fun, that’s for sure,” said board vice president Joni Dittmer. Superintendent’s report The board agenda was light, with no old or new business to attend to. Superintendent Joe Stutting shared that the Iowa legislature approved a 2% increase in supplemental state aid, the amount of per pupil funding received by each school district. The legislation also includes a one-time $7 million allocation for statewide support staff, which Stutting said is about half as much as the last few years. The bill will be sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her approval. There will only be one board meeting in March, on the 30th at Virgil Grissom. This will also include a public hearing prior to the meeting regarding the proposed budget. The board will hold a finance work session on Monday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the budget for the next school year. There are also three upcoming public forums with the board, on March 10 at 6 p.m. at Long Grove City Hall; 5 p.m. on April 9 at Princeton City Hall; and 6 p.m. on April 14 at McCausland City Hall. Bills District director of business affairs Jill Van Roekel presented $1,271,479.02 in bills for approval. Highlights included $7,750 to Genesis Outpatient Rehabilitation Services as a partial payment for athletic training services for the 2025-26 school year; $126,997.24 to Park Planet, a progress payment for new playground equipment at Neil Armstrong; and $18,594.34 to Tri City Equipment Co. for a new food merchandiser at the high school. Dittmer led the meeting in the absence of board president Tracy Lindaman. Six students attended the meeting as a requirement of their government class.

Hegseth threatens to cancel Anthropic's $200 million contract over "woke AI" concerns

The company's Claude chatbot is one of the few AI systems cleared for use in classified settings. But a standoff between Anthropic and the Trump administration is putting its government work at risk.

Council purchases equipment for police, pickleball

Walcott City Council approved purchases to outfit pickleball courts and a new squad truck at their regular meeting last Monday, Feb. 16. Equipment for a new police truck, expected to arrive in the coming weeks, will cost $20,684.10 from 424 Warning Systems. A dividing fence for city pickleball courts from Douglas sports will cost $2,699. The council rejected a recommendation from the city park Board to charge $10 to $20 for reservations at the town ball time, which would defray the costs of maintenance and lighting. Electricity costs at the park rose 40% from October of 2024 to October 2025, City Clerk Lisa Rickertsen reported. Members of the council said they did not want to be in the habit of charging for the use of public parks. “I want to be able to reserve the ball diamond, just because,” Councilwoman Bobbie Martinez said. “I want to welcome people from Blue Grass who are going to go to Walcott, welcome people from Buffalo who are going to go to Walcott.” “I think we can find that money somewhere else without charging kids to play in the park,” she added. “I agree with Bobbie that we find a thousand bucks somewhere else,” Councilman Kirk Koberg said. He motioned against the recommendation, and was backed without any dissenting voices. The city council also approved its annual $1,000 donation to Durant Ambulance and appointed Anthony Bein to a term on the city Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), which will conclude in 2030. The city still hopes to fill an open seat on P&Z for a term ending 2029. The council set its annual property tax hearing for April 6 at 5:30.

Iowa Senate sends K-12 funding package to governor’s desk

The Iowa Senate sent legislation to the governor’s desk Monday for the state’s per-pupil funding for Iowa K-12 schools for the 2026-2027 year. Senate File 2201 was amended from the last time it was debated on the Senate floor. Senators initially passed a 1.75% State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate for the upcoming school year. The House sent the measure back with a 2% rate — a compromise, as House Republicans initially called for a 2.25% SSA rate. Other parts of the compromise agreement reached between House and Senate Republicans, as well as the governor, include $7 million allocated for paraeducator and support personnel pay, a $1 million limit on transportation equity payments for school districts, and implementing a new system of calculating student enrollment, with counts occurring twice each year. The legislation also extends property tax relief payments by an additional year and has the state take on an expected $42.2 million in funding for school districts placed on the budget guarantee. The budget guarantee is the state’s system allowing school districts to increase property taxes in years when the district cannot meet its obligations through state funding. Senate Democrats echoed many of the same arguments they made earlier in February when the measure first passed their chamber, saying the 2% rate was inadequate for Iowa’s public school system. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, brought up examples of Story County school districts having to cut programs or staff due to funding issues in communities like Boone, where the school district ended its 100-year-old orchestra program, and Ballard, where the school district plans to cut its preschool program and permanent substitute teacher positions due to budget shortfalls. “You can pretty much go to any school district, and I would encourage you to do so … to learn the lesson that your Senate district, your Senate constituents and their children and their grandchildren, are suffering,” Quirmbach said. “But no. I don’t know if you’ve done that or not, but you certainly haven’t learned the lesson very well, or listened very well. You’re coming back to us with 2%, up from (1.75%), what a magnanimous, generous outpouring of support for our children, our grandchildren, our future.” The Iowa State Education Association and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, alongside several other advocates and educators, have called for a 5% SSA rate, which organizers said would be the minimum amount necessary for schools to keep up with inflation while avoiding budget cuts. House Democrats introduced an amendment to raise the SSA rate to 5%, which failed during Thursday’s floor debate. Iowa CCI Board President Jenny Turner called the 2% SSA rate “a slap in the face to Iowa’s students and public schools” in a statement Monday. “We are only going to see more programs like Boone’s century old orchestra program being shuttered,” Turner said. “Other districts are moving to four day school weeks. Staff is being cut across the board, leaving teachers with unmanageable class sizes. Make no mistake. We will remember each and every vote to shortchange our students come November.” In addition to criticizing the funding shortfalls, Senate Democrats linked the SSA rate with rising costs for the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which provides state dollars for private school tuition and associated costs. The program does not have income limits as of the 2025-2026 school year. Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Marion, said the Republican trifecta in power at the Statehouse has told Iowans “there isn’t enough money to responsibly fund the public schools to the level of which your schools have all asked,” but said the majority party has “written a blank check for private school vouchers” for educational institutions that are not required to accept students with disabilities and English language learners, and do not have to meet the same public accountability standards as public schools. “So somehow, when it comes to private schools, the checkbook is open,” Donahue said. “But when it comes to the public schools, the backbone of the rural Iowa, small towns in our cities, suddenly we are told to tighten the belts. That’s not fiscal responsibility, that is a preference choice. Republicans cannot claim to support public education while systematically draining resources from it.” But Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, said the measure amounts to an increase of $111.5 million in new dollars for Iowa’s schools in the upcoming fiscal year. The measure provides a $160 increase per student compared to the current fiscal year, raising the state cost per pupil to $8,148 in FY 2027. He also pointed to other divisions in the bill — like the transportation equity payments cap and the change to how enrollment counts are certified — as provisions that “are going to be beneficial for a number of districts in our state.” The bill passed in a 27-20 vote and goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for final approval.

Got an ear for frog and toad calls?

Several times each summer, Iowans drive set routes at night and turn a discerning ear to the 16 unique frog and toad songs that can be heard across the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking new volunteers for the state’s frog and toad survey and will host virtual workshops in early March for those interested in the program. DNR started the survey in 1991 to help track amphibian populations in Iowa, which are declining globally. According to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey, if amphibian decline continues at the predicted rate, in 20 years the average amphibian species will be present in only half of the places that it is currently present. Habitat loss, according to USGS, is the top reason for species decline, but several infectious diseases have also contributed to the ongoing decline. The most recent frog and toad report from DNR shows that since 2013, species like the American toad, eastern gray treefrog and spring peeper have shown small declines in detection, while the detection of other species such as the American bullfrog or the cricket frog have increased over the last 13 years. This data was gathered from the volunteers in Iowa who participate in the program. “It’s rare to have such a broad set of data collected over so many years on ONE species, much less a whole group of vulnerable species,” Stephanie Shepherd, the program’s coordinator said in a news release. How does the survey work? New volunteers must attend a training workshop, about three and half hours in length to learn about the program and begin to distinguish the different frog and toad calls. Volunteers can choose an established route in their county, or can opt to develop their own route if there are no available routes in their area. Each route has 5-10 “wet spots” that volunteers stop at to listen and record the different species they hear. DNR has an online library of frog and toad calls to help volunteers learn the difference between the high-pitched trill of an American toad, the sheep’s-bleat sounding Woodhouse’s toad or the cricket frog’s call which DNR describes as sounding like “two glass marbles being banged together.” Survey routes are to be driven three times between designated time periods in spring and summer. Typically, DNR estimates the process takes volunteers a total of six to eight hours each year to complete the survey. Volunteers hold on to and organize their findings and submit the results online and via mail to DNR at the end of the season. In 2025, volunteers covered a total of 135 routes and collected information at 893 wetland sites across the state. While data was more widespread in 2025 than in past years, DNR listed Henry, Ida and Wright counties as those in greatest need of volunteers. To date, no frog and toad surveys have been conducted in these areas. There are plenty of other counties that have had some surveys in the past, but DNR lists as “in need” of volunteers for the upcoming survey season. Many of the routes, and the most needed coverage, are in rural parts of the state, but there are some urban survey routes as well. The virtual training workshops are scheduled for March 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and March 9 from 6 p.m. to 9:30. Interested participants must register for the free training events ahead of time. More information on Iowa’s frog and toad surveys, plus other citizen science programs in Iowa can be found online at DNR’s volunteer wildlife monitoring page.

Keeping rural towns alive, one meal at a time

I hopped out to Dixon on Friday. Partly to grab some photos for the Legion supper, but also the recovering Catholic in me still can’t resist fried fish on a Lenten Friday. The charm of the Legion supper cannot be overstated. It’s an untouched slice of Americana – friends gathering as a community to enjoy good food for a good cause. A kitchen full of folks making that food the right way. No pre-packaged fish and chicken here. There was a full dredging station and every inch of each piece of meat was well-covered and tasty. I got mine to go, and it was still warm and crispy when I got back to Eldridge. Even the fries. The hall itself is a throwback, too – wood paneling, plastic chairs, and long banquet tables covered with vinyl tablecloths. Everyone was good about obeying the signs to clean up their own tables.  Kids ran around, weaving among the adults, and old-timers sidled up to the bar to crack open a beer and share a few dirty jokes that their wives tried to pretend they didn’t appreciate. It all captured something intrinsic about small town life and community. It was idealistic, a scene out of Norman Rockwell. And I was reminded of the stories my mother told about her childhood. She had kin in a small town in Dubuque County called Bernard. Her paternal grandparents operated a tavern, and across the street, her maternal aunt Rose ran a little café. My mom got shipped out to Bernard from Dubuque to spend the summers and work in the tavern. There, she learned about some of the seedier aspects of small-town life. Saturday night sinners saw their transgressions absolved Sunday morning at church. We’d joke about Bernard a lot. Hop on any county road in Jackson or Dubuque County and you’ll probably run into it eventually. The population was 114 in the 2020 census – somehow up from 97 in 2000. I’m related to just about all of them one way or another.  There’s a lovely little Catholic church made from limestone and an adjoining cemetery. I’m related to most of them, too. The town’s so small, I once joked about them not having a mayor. Bernard has a mayor, my mom insisted. Who? Mayor McCheese? I asked. Bernard does not have a website. But according to the Iowa League of Cities, Bernard’s mayor is not, in fact, a sentient cheeseburger. It’s Rick McDonnell. And yes, we’re related. The tavern is long-gone. It closed when my mom’s grandparents moved to Dubuque in the late 1960s or early 1970s, I can’t quite remember. But the café is still there, now owned by my mom’s cousin. Her real name is Carol, but everybody calls her Pearl. And like the Dixon Legion, the décor hasn’t been updated in years. About the only thing that changes are the family photos she hangs on the wall. There’s a huge crack in the floor – a floor bedecked in what’s probably the original linoleum – that the place is locally famous for. Eight stools at the counter, three booths. It’s the kind of place where the hours are a suggestion. She comes in early and stays open until the last old guy wanders away from his bottomless cup of coffee and home for dinner. What’s good on the menu? Well, there is no menu, and everything is good. I recommend the burger and fries. They’re crinkle-cut. I thought about Pearl’s Place, and about my mom, while I was hanging out at the Legion waiting for my food. But I also kept an eye on Rod Ferris for a while, too. After all, he’s working to keep the Legion open and preserve a part of Dixon and rural Scott County. Rod said he practically grew up at the Legion. His dad, Carl “Tuffy” Ferris, was a past Commander. And Rod knows a thing or two about small towns, as the mayor of Maysville. I’m grateful for people like Rod, working to preserve history and build community. Events like the Legion dinner are the kinds of cultural touchstones that should be preserved. It was just nice and heartwarming to be in a room with a bunch of people who wanted to linger with their friends, and share a drink and a meal, with nowhere else they’d rather be. And Rod was, rightfully, the most popular guy in the place. They ran out of baked potatoes, and the gal who gave me my food apologized for the fries. I didn’t mind; fish and chips seem to go together better, anyway. When I got home and popped open my to-go container, I couldn’t help but notice: they were crinkle-cut. I should really get out to Bernard again one of these days.

Rock island City Council approves amending Tax Increment Financing district

The Rock island City Council approved amending a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the Rock Island Regional Port District. The city established the North 11th Street TIF in 2000, then extended it in 2023. The amendments remove some parcels from the district. City leaders say the changes are part of the Rock Island Regional [...]

Taking a long view of farmland’s future

The soil can rest easy for a few months. There will be no zoning variance for a power plant hoping to site on farmland east of Maysville after a decisive vote from the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Four supervisors from across party lines—Republicans John Maxwell, Jean Dickson and Ross Paustian, and Democrat Maria Bribriesco—voted against a variance. Republican Ken Beck abstained, taking what he called a “neutral position.” If you had asked me to bet several months ago on how supervisors would vote, I would have lost money. Back then, excited chatter around the project pointed out that Scott County lacked energy production, and that the presence of a large cooperative and its larger pocketbook could do wonders for the nearby town of Maysville. Meanwhile, the project gave the county a chance to demonstrate that after their principled stand against solar, they were not hostile to energy development ab initio. While there was opposition from the beginning, few believed it amounted to more than a local case of Not In My Back Yard syndrome. But the Concerned Citizens of Scott County armored up for a fight and marshaled considerable support at every county meeting held on the project through the fall. They scored a major point in October by accusing Supervisors Board Chair John Maxwell and other local officials of a conflict of interest with Tom Dittmer, one of Scott County’s largest landowners and hog growers. While a county attorney eventually found the accusation a half-step from baseless, it forced supervisors to table the issue. Weeks passed and the rising chorus of local complaints drowned out early optimism. Supervisors had lingering questions that Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), it turns out, couldn’t answer. When supervisors reconvened on the issue and shot CIPCO down on their requested variance, the questions were those of early opponents. Did we really need the plant in Scott County? Why did it have to be on farmland? Did project opponents win? Certainly. Did they convince supervisors of the merits of their case? I am not sure. Supervisors retreated behind an old line: the sanctity of farmground. Many think it is a noble one, and the Concerned Citizens were wise to pick it up as their leading argument. Other arguments—that CIPCO was nefarious and secretive, or that the plant was acutely dangerous to human health—don’t measure up to the facts. The question now is whether supervisors’ decision is actually the best one for Scott County’s tradition of agricultural preservation. It may not be. Kerry Koonce, CIPCO’s Vice President of Communications, told me last week that the cooperative was closely watching a case out of Cerro Gordo County, where a solar developer has asked the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) to supervene a local ordinance restricting solar energy development. The IUC could issue a ruling that the development is “necessary,” laying waste to Cerro Gordo’s local zoning authority. Many readers of the North Scott Press likely receive the DeWitt Observer, where Nancy Mayfeld has spent over a year chronicling the Clinton County Board of Supervisor’s efforts to stymy wind development. Now the county is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit from landowners who sold to developers. If they win, taxpayers will be on the hook. These cases have caught the eye of state politicians. At the Capitol last week, House Republicans introduced a bill that would permanently denude counties of authority over renewable energy zoning. In comments to the Des Moines Register, Rep. Shannon Lundgren of Peosta could not have been clearer about the bill’s intention: “The state is charged with making sure that we are generating enough electricity and that we don’t see the rolling brownouts and blackouts that other states have. When we have counties that close the door for us… as state legislators, that really causes concern.” The moral? Too many restrictions, and the state can knock them all down. Bill proponent Dustin Miller, of the American Clean Energy Association, was even more pointed: “We’re having three- to five-member boards of county supervisors making energy policy decisions in the state that they’re not equipped to do… Ultimately, with the grid strain that we’re seeing, something has to be done.” State Sen. Scott Webster of Bettendorf, who represents much of the North Scott district, told the NSP last month that it would be “unfortunate” if Scott County supervisors couldn’t work to a deal with CIPCO. You would be forgiven for hearing a threat behind those words. Iowa Senate Republicans have, for instance, ostracized any member of their caucus who hasn’t fallen in line behind a pro-energy platform that includes defending the right of utilities to seize land by eminent domain—certainly the worst case for agricultural preservation. Scott County has followed Clinton, Cerro Gordo, and other Iowa counties in governing out of a fear that energy development poses a threat to local character. It does. But if supervisors aim to stand on principle, they should recognize that the threat posed by the state is existential. They may not have the license they imagine.   

2021: Demolition paves the way for North Scott YMCA

Feb. 25, 1976 • The North Scott School Board ratified the master contract for the 1976-1977 school year, which was the first to be formally negotiated under Iowa’s new collective bargaining law. Under the negotiated contract, the base teacher salary was set at $9,350, $550 more than the present rate. The average teacher would see a salary increase of 9.158%. However, there was also a provision in the contract that the base salary would increase to $9,450 if the Iowa legislature approved additional funds to schools to cover increased IPERS contributions. • The Eldridge Businessmen’s Association donated two medical examination tables to Dr. Wallace J. Litwa, the town’s newest doctor. Litwa recently moved into the clinic on West Franklin Street. “The purpose of the donation is to encourage Dr. Litwa and to say we’re happy to have him here as a member of the community,” said the association’s president Lynn Byers. “We want to help him become better established in the community.” Also pictured during the presentation was Marlene Rauch, association treasurer. • R.F. “Butch” Saling, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 203 of Long Grove, received the Pathfinder District Award of Merit at the annual Scout Appreciation Dinner at the Bettendorf Masonic Temple. He received the award for outstanding service to youth through idealism and citizenship. • Sixty-two people attended the annual Valentine banquet at the Walcott Church. Winning prizes during the event were Ardythe Christensen, Marcia Miller and Walter Reese. • John Steffen qualified for the state wrestling tournament at heavyweight. He had so far compiled a 23-2 record in his senior season and was the first North Scott wrestler to qualify for state since it began competing at the 3A level. Feb. 26, 1986 • Students earning All-State large group speech honors included Jeff Huettman, Rene Johnson, Sue Mailen, Kyle Hall, Dan Meyer, Sue Lindle, Holly Meyer, Jason Lang, and Ticia Eudaley.  Students who received Division I ratings at the state speech competition in Pella included Tania Jackson, Rick Splinter, Bob Ertz, Jennifer Corbin, Randy Fitzgerald, Jeff Huettman, Kyle Hall, Sue Mailen, Colleen Bulazo, Rene Johnson and Todd Schwartz. • Bob McCollam announced he would retire as the wrestling coach at Walcott Junior High, a position he held for 11 years. Many of his young wrestlers had gone on to success at Davenport West High School, including 30 state qualifiers. He would remain an elementary math teacher at the school, however. “It’s getting to be harder and harder to be both a teacher and coach,” he said. “It’s a fast-changing sport and it takes a young and enthusiastic man to stay with it. I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. They have been great years. It’s just time for a change.” • North Scott senior Sue Staudt, daughter of Norman and Jeri Staudt of Long Grove, was set to represent the school in an all-state academic recognition program sponsored by the Des Moines Register. She would compete against other seniors from across the state for a spot on the 10-member all-state team, which would be announced in April. Staudt was chosen for the honor based on her GPA, ACT score, class rank and participation in school activities. She planned to attend the University of Iowa and study biology. • Third-grade students at Ed White Elementary School presented the musical program, “Flags of Many Lands.” Pictured with various national flags were Neal Keppy, Jason Goettsch, Ryan Bare, Tony Rupe, Adam Janik, Shanna Haugland, Stephanie Weeks, Chad Keppy, Marcia Higereda, Chris Brotherton, Hobie Stutt, Matt Ruefer, Amy Farrey, Joshua Witt, Amy Pillard, Shannon Stebbins, Curt Bouril, Lee Bockenfield, Tara Buzzell, Keith Toma, Christy Knight, Kelly Brennan, Anne Howsare, Rebecca Bernhagen, Stacy Lund and Tom Stauffer. • The North Scott Press featured its third annual Bridal Issue, featuring local businesses and two local couples. Feb. 28, 2001 • Faced with mounting financial concerns, the Princeton City Council was considering a 30% tax increase – which meant that a homeowner living in a house valued at $100,000 would see a $215 tax hike. City officials said residents had not seen a significant tax increase in more than 20 years. “This decision was gut-wrenching,” said mayor Jim Darnell. “It was a real soul search for a lot of us on the council. None of us likes the idea of raising taxes, but we simply feel our backs are against the wall. It’s time. We have no other choice.” • Ten North Scott teachers announced they would retire at the end of the school year, including Dan Anderson, Delmar “Deac” Ryan, Mary Sue Ryan, Bob Rhinehart, Mary Ann Schanze, Ken Nevenhoven, Nancy Shilney, Joyce Holland, Pat Mason and Loretta Barron. • The North Scott School Board meeting was interrupted by news of a fire in the kitchen at North Scott Junior High. According to principal Dave Griffin and director of operations Dean Bassett, who were summoned from the meeting to the school, a pile of rags in a closet combusted and caused smoke damage. The fire was extinguished quickly, and although the Scott County Health Department ordered some food commodities be destroyed and that the ducts be cleaned, there was no interruption to food service the following day. • North Scott Junior High presented its annual musical, “Flapper,” a musical comedy tribute to the 1920s. Cast members included Jeanine Link, Elyse Laughead, Danna Wulf, Meghan Kane, Stephanie Wiebel, Kerri Esbaum, Chelsey Devine, Stefi Siemonsma, Jessica Zeimet, Courtney Beadel, Kaity Moss, Susan Pethoud, Beth Niebuhr, Khristie Carter, Molly Schneckloth, Michelle Rude, Ashley Carstens, Jessica Looney, Ross Grunwald, Nate Green, Ross Jallo, Sam Reth, Nathan Meyer, Tim Scheetz and Abbi LaCarte. • The North Scott wrestling team qualified for the state duals tournament in Cedar Rapids for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, at the state individual tournament, Adam Claussen and Greg Green placed fifth, and Tom Power placed fourth. This was just the third time North Scott had three place winners at state wrestling.  March 2, 2011 • Rumors were swirling in Dixon that Hope Lutheran Church was closing. Church officials said that couldn’t be further from the truth. The rumors seemed to have begun after the church cancelled its annual fall festival, but that was because mold was discovered in the church building and remediation forced the congregation to meet outside. Pastor Shelley Nelson said the church was working to be visible in Dixon, and began a community newsletter called “Dixon Details,” which not only shared church news, but information about local businesses. A music student from Augustana College in Rock Island also planned to give piano lessons at the church. • The North Scott Silver Shakers held a youth clinic that was attended by 54 elementary and junior high girls. The students were set to perform a special dance during halftime of an upcoming girls’ basketball game. • As social media was becoming more popular, municipalities and community groups were looking at ways to utilize new technology. Scott County formed a team to create a social media policy, and the health department was considering starting a Facebook page. “This is just expanding an opportunity to provide open government to the community,” said assistant county administrator Mary Thee. Meanwhile, area chambers of commerce were also looking to Facebook. Carolyn Scheibe of the Eldridge-North Scott Chamber said they had already used their page to promote the Moonlight Chase and other events. • Gary Grell of Donahue received the 2010 Golden Achievement Award from the American Truck Historical Society. He had logged more than four million miles during his 50 years in the trucking business. His first job was hauling livestock for a Walcott farmer. He currently owned his own flatbed trucking operation, and his sons, Chris and Kevin, were also part of the business. Meanwhile, he said he had no plans to retire. “I’ll stop when I can’t see anymore.” • Students at John Glenn Elementary School participated in a career fair. Representatives from a variety of local businesses visited the Donahue school and shared information about their jobs. Students also got to participate in hands-on workshops with some of the employers. Feb. 24, 2021 • The North Scott YMCA took a big step towards becoming a reality, as work began to demolish a building on the Petersen property along LeClaire Road. The building once housed a farming implement dealership but had lately been used for storage by the city. The school board planned to livestream the bid opening for construction of the new building.  • The North Scott School Board unanimously voted for a resolution against the Iowa legislature’s plan to support charter and private schools. The Senate had recently passed legislation that would fund charter schools with public money, provide more tax credits for private schools, and expand open enrollment, including making student-athletes immediately eligible for open enrollment. Furthering the board’s disapproval was information from superintendent Joe Stutting saying charter schools were less effective than public schools. “Charter schools in Wisconsin in 20 years have never outperformed the Milwaukee public school system. It is not improving education in states that have done it.” • The Scott County Health Department bid a fond farewell to two longtime employees, Pam Gealy (30 years) and Roma Taylor (42 years). Taylor had twice delayed her retirement due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, Denise Coiner, who had served on the county Board of Health for 32 years, also planned to step aside. Coiner said it was time for new faces on the board. • As the North Scott boys’ basketball team rolled to a 45-37 win over Davenport West in the regular season finale, the team also celebrated Senior Night in style. The team had six seniors, with five starting the game. The sixth, AJ Johnson, sang the national anthem. Ben Hughes, who had only limited playing time in four other games, scored a career-high 12 points, going four for six from beyond the arc. “I thought I’d maybe play the first two minutes or so, but I guess I was hot,” said Hughes after the game. “This was a dream come true, seeing all the fans stand up when I hit the first shot. It was amazing.” • The North Scott wrestling team placed fourth at the state duals tournament and had six medal winners in the individual tournament. Deven Streif finished third, becoming the seventh three-time medalist in school history. Other medalists included Trace Gephart (5th), Josh Connor (6th), Peyton Westlin (4th), AJ Petersen (5th) and Joey Petersen (7th).       

Tuesday’s adoptable pet: Meet Muffin

Muffin is neutered and microchipped. McRae said he is up-to-date on vaccines.

Bipartisan public safety bills on homeless services, foreign influence

As we wrap up Week 6 of the Iowa House Legislature, we mark a significant milestone with the conclusion of the first funnel. This critical period required all bills to pass through the committee process to remain eligible for debate in the upcoming session, set to begin next week. Additionally, we will begin reviewing Senate files for potential House approval. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I’m pleased to report that we’ve managed over 30 pieces of legislation through our committee in just six weeks. This busy first funnel has involved addressing a wide range of issues crucial to the safety and well-being of our communities. The dedication of my fellow committee members has been instrumental in navigating this challenging workload. My responsibilities also extend to the Commerce, Justice Appropriations, and Ways & Means committees, where we have engaged in rigorous discussions and evaluations of various legislative proposals. When constituents share their ideas and concerns, we take them seriously, working hard to bring those perspectives into our legislative discussions. As we move into the next phase of our session, I encourage Iowans to stay informed and involved. Your input is invaluable as we shape policies that impact our state. The last Public Safety meetings of first funnel were filled with bipartisan work. Below are some bills that received votes from Republicans and Democrats. HSB 705: Drug Free Homeless Service Zones House Study Bill 705 proposes the creation of "drug-free homeless service zones" in Iowa, establishing stricter penalties for drug-related offenses near facilities that serve the homeless and receive government funding. The bill makes it a criminal offense to sell or attempt to sell controlled substances within 300 feet of these facilities and holds facility operators criminally responsible if they knowingly allow clients to possess or use drugs on the premises. Penalties for violations are heightened, including longer sentences, mandatory fines, and a loss of eligibility for certain state assistance grants for offending facilities. The bill also requires that clearly visible signs be posted at the main entrances to these facilities to mark them as drug-free zones. HSB 752: Regulating Foreign Entities, Drones and International Directives House Study Bill 752 addresses concerns about foreign influence and technology. The bill bans state and local governments from using drones made by certain foreign companies—especially those linked to countries seen as security risks—and require officials to switch to safer, approved drones. It would also make it a crime to fly foreign-made drones near important sites, like power plants or military bases. The bill sets new rules for people who work in Iowa as agents or lobbyists for foreign governments, requiring them to officially register and report their activities. Finally, international health or government organizations (like the United Nations or World Health Organization) cannot force any rules or orders on Iowa unless the state legislature specifically agrees to them. Iowa agencies and officials would be required to ignore and not help enforce any international regulations unless Iowa lawmakers have approved them first.   This column was abridged.

A history of Iowa school funding

The Constitution does not guarantee a right to an education and the 10th Amendment clarifies that powers not explicitly stated become the responsibility of the states. When Iowa became a State on Dec. 28, 1846, education was provided when groups of families pooled their resources to hire a teacher and build one-room schoolhouses. Eighteen years later, the 1864 Iowa legislature created a new governance board (precursor to the Iowa Department of Education) and created what we now call local school boards and defined what authority they would have. At its peak, there were over 5,000 one-room school buildings and districts in Iowa. In 1950, the Iowa legislature intervened and created a K-12 system which required that districts have no fewer than 300 students and be fully funded by local property taxes. Today, there are currently 52 school districts with less than 300 students being served. Many of these districts serve elementary grades only. It was not long before school districts with a high concentration of business and industry were able to provide better facilities and educational opportunities to their students because of higher local property valuations. In 1967, the Iowa legislature had received enough complaints about high property taxes and subsequent educational inequities between districts that they created one of the most equitable funding formulas in the country, by capping or equalizing how much money could be spent on each student’s education. A funding formula was implemented in 1986, whereby a $5.40 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation was established to provide every school district a steady and reliable revenue stream. Up to 85% of the remaining student cost, would be paid for by the state’s collection of income, corporate and sales taxes, dispersed annually to schools as Supplemental State Aid (SSA). The remaining 15% would be paid for by additional local property taxes. When a school district experiences a loss of enrollment and the annual increase of Supplemental State Aid (SSA) is not enough to cover that loss, they’re placed on Budget Guarantee. Budget Guarantee ensures that for one year, districts can receive 101% of the previous budget but the 1% is collected through local property tax. If the legislature approves a 2% increase in SSA this year, it will place more than 150 districts on Budget Guarantee and result in an automatic property tax increase. Governor Reynolds has proposed that the state use the Taxpayer Relief Fund to cover the estimated $47.7 million property tax increase. With Iowa having to borrow over $1.2 billion to cover the FY26 budget shortfall, this approach is NOT sustainable. Using one-time money for on-going expenses violates every sound fiscal policy. The legislature could provide more local property tax relief with further state funding. But by implementing a flat income tax of 3.8%, reducing the corporate income tax to 5%, maintaining a 6% sales tax rate, and paying for private school vouchers, the state does not have revenue to provide that relief. They could also lower the $5.40 uniform levy and have the state cover more of the cost, but again, they do not have the revenue to do so. Iowa does not have major professional sports teams, mountains, oceanside beaches, or other high interest attractions like Disney World. What we have is some of the most productive soil in the world and people who care for each other. That care had been translated into investing in the education of our citizens at both the Prek-12 and postsecondary level. For years, Iowa was ranked in the top three for student educational performance; we have now dropped to 24th. Nearly every teacher licensure position is listed as hard to fill/find on the Department of Education website, resulting in the Iowa legislature continuing to lower the teaching standards in an attempt to fill open positions. At the same time, the legislature continues to add more requirements, dictate curriculum/books, destroy the Area Education Agency (AEA) support system, and threaten the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System. Public schools are a critical part of any community and by entering the 10th year in a row of funding below Consumer Price Index (CPI), districts are forced to limit community college courses; switch to four-day school weeks; and cut programs not explicit in Chapter 12 of the Iowa Code, including extra and co-curricular activities. Boone Community School District cut their 100-year-old orchestra program. Governor Reynolds has repeatedly stated that Iowans should not expect to maintain services while at the same time receiving tax cuts. We’re going to find out very quickly how true those words are. Disability The 1975 Education for Handicapped Children Act and its 1990 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act explicitly state, “students with disabilities must have access to a Free and Appropriate Education at their public school.” In summary, public-school education is a state responsibility. When IDEA was signed into law, the federal government committed to paying 40% of the cost; that has never happened. Currently, states receive approximately 20% of the funds required to fund education for students with disabilities, and the remainder is the responsibility of each state and, ultimately, local property taxpayers. In Iowa, special education funding is tied to the state cost per pupil, but provides additional weighted dollars based upon the level of disability. Additional funding is allocated to help for specialized teacher certifications, curriculum, nursing, equipment and paraeducator support. Services required for students with differing abilities are determined by the Individual Education Plan team consisting of the parents, student, building administrator, general education teacher, special education teacher, and an AEA specialist. Districts are required by federal statute and U.S. Supreme Court decisions to provide services regardless of funding. If a district incurs a negative special-education balance, they must levy enough local property tax to cover the deficit.

Conservation adoption up

Iowa continues long-term efforts to improve water quality through conservation and land management programs, including the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee received an update from the Department of Natural Resources. In 2023, combined federal and state investment in water quality exceeded $500 million. The INRS dashboard shows continued growth in conservation practice adoption across Iowa farmland. Updated lidar imaging demonstrates measurable progress in watershed protection and soil conservation efforts statewide. While work remains, investment and adoption of conservation practices continue to increase.            This column was abridged.

Strategies to combat ICE

The First Amendment protects individuals' rights to film ICE agents in public places. In January, two Americans were killed while watching ICE operations. ICE officials have increased surveillance by buying online advertising data, using drones, tapping into license plate reader networks, and accessing systems that track mobile phones in neighborhoods. ICE agents sometimes label people filming them as “domestic terrorists.” People who record events, including journalists, can be targeted even when they follow the law and comply with ICE orders. WITNESS, a nonprofit that uses video to fight human rights abuses, says that video documentation can reveal abuses, demand accountability, and challenge ICE’s version of events. To protect your privacy when recording ICE agents, use a burner phone without personal data. If you use your own device at a protest, turn off Face ID and fingerprint unlocking, and use a password or PIN. Officials need a warrant or court order to make you share your PIN or passcode. Record video horizontally to get a wider view. Slowly pan in a circle to show the area, including landmarks and street signs, to make your video more credible. If an agent tells you to step back, do so and say on camera that you are following instructions. Do not try to record secretly or mislead agents. The Freedom of the Press Foundation says the best way to prevent an ICE officer from taking a camera is for bystanders to record what happens. This can provide evidence for legal action if constitutional rights are violated. Consider the privacy and safety of individuals depicted in the video. Publishing footage may have legal consequences. Instead of posting content online, share footage directly with media outlets or affected individuals. There may be an online portal for uploading videos in support of a specific investigation.   James Turley Eldridge

Former McCausland city clerk pleads guilty to theft, forgery

Former McCausland City Clerk Sheila Bosworth was arrested in November after a state auditor investigation found she had issued $55,000 in checks to herself to fund a cryptocurrency scheme.

'An emotional roller coaster week'

Nothing about wrestling is easy. This year’s boys’ state tournament exemplified that. North Scott turned 11 qualifiers into three medalists, up one in both categories from a year ago. These are accomplishments absolutely worthy of praise. But the inevitable thoughts of “what if” are certainly difficult to shake at the end of these four days in Des Moines. The Lancers had hopes of shinier medals and Saturday night dates. The wrestling gods and the injury bugs had other plans. North Scott finished ninth as a team at this year’s state tournament with senior Cole Green (165) and junior Kepler Carmichael (175) each taking home a sixth-place medal. Junior Trey Feist (215) won a seventh-place medal, joining Green as a back-to-back podium placer at the Casey’s Center. “It was a fun week. An up-and-down week. An emotional roller coaster week. But really proud of how they wrestled and the season we had,” Lancer coach Drew Kelly said, speaking by phone Sunday after the tournament. “I’m really proud of those three guys that medaled. They all had their own adversity throughout the week. Five more guys in the top 12. Everybody wrestled and fought and represented North Scott extremely well.” Wrestling is not easy, but it is supposed to be fair. At the business end of this tournament, it sure didn’t feel that way. Green, North Scott’s lone semifinalist, was the biggest victim. The story began to write itself. The No. 4 seed earned a first-round bye in the tournament. In his first match Wednesday night, he pinned Iowa City West’s Campbell Janis in 43 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Green defeated Southeast Polk’s Dokken Biladeau at state for the second consecutive season. He won by a 5-3 decision last year and got an 8-4 decision this time around. Green faced an uphill climb in the semifinals against Indianola’s Mac Crosson, an undefeated reigning state champion who is committed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska. The Lancer senior never got a true opportunity to make his ascent. “The first shot, he’s in deep on the Indianola kid and dislocates his shoulder,” Kelly said. It occurred mere seconds into the match. Green grappled hard with Crosson, but the writing was on the mat. Crosson took Green down seven times in the match, letting Green escape each time for a rinse-and-repeat 21-5 technical fall in 3:52. Crosson went on to win the 3A-165 title. “I know, healthy, how he can compete. He’s one of the best guys in the state,” Kelly said. “A guy like that who means so much to you going out there with one arm doing the best he can, it was pretty tough to watch.” Green returned on Saturday for his placement matches with a sizable strap on his shoulder. He lost his consolation semifinal via 19-1 technical fall to Linn-Mar’s Noah Howk-Erwin. But then, a near miracle. Wrestling for fifth-place, Green came back from a 6-1 deficit with 60 seconds remaining to force overtime against Rylee Brown of Fort Dodge. He secured two quick takedowns, his first takedowns since suffering the injury, to extend the match. Brown quickly regrouped and took Green down 13 seconds into the overtime period, securing the win 10-7 via sudden victory. “That match for fifth, I’ve never seen anything tougher out of a kid,” Kelly said. “He came back and put himself in a position to win the match. He ended up in a little scramble there, and there’s only so much you can do when you’re fighting with one arm. It’s heartbreaking, that match, for sure.” It was a devastating end to what was a stellar career. Green posted a four-year record of 112-44, qualified for state three times and, in each of the past two seasons, won a conference championship, a district championship, and a state medal. “He’s the ultimate competitor. So proud of him,” Kelly said. “It’s a hard way to end an outstanding season. I’m proud of him. There was never a question. He was going to strap it on and go.” Carmichael, in the consolation semifinals with Green on Saturday, was also hurt. A lower back injury that kept the Lancer sophomore out for a large chunk of this season reared its ugly head again Saturday morning. While Green was able to give it a go, Carmichael couldn’t make it to the mat. “His back started spazzing up. We tried to do the best we could to get him ready to go. But he could barely walk. There was just no way he was going to go,” Kelly said. “He wanted to. But he couldn’t compete and do the things he wanted to do. That was tough. He was looking forward to wrestling, and he was wrestling well. Not being able to finish how he wanted to is tough.” In the matches he did wrestle at state, Carmichael went 4-1 with the lone loss coming in the quarterfinals. His first-round match ended in a 17-second pin over Sammy Roemmich of West Des Moines Valley. That was the second-fastest fall of the entire tournament. Carmichael got another pin in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals. He bounced back and won his blood round bout over Pleasant Valley’s Marek Kelsall by decision, 11-7. Friday night, he pulled away in the third period for a 12-2 major decision win over Dallas Center-Grimes’ Tyde Nelsen, guaranteeing a top-six finish. Up at 215, Feist was the No. 2 seed and had hopes of wrestling for a state title. Those dreams ended when Brandon Bogseth of Ankeny Centennial pinned Feist in the second period of their quarterfinal match. Feist defeated Bogseth two weeks ago during the district semifinal via second-period pin. He won his blood round match to get back on the podium, but suffered an almost unbelievable loss to Urbandale’s Ethan Miller in the fifth round of consolations. Feist led 5-3 after two periods and started the third period in top position. Miller did not score any points in the third period until a two-point reversal was granted after time expired. Then, Miller was granted a penalty point for a singlet grab, ending the match. “He was controlling the match for five and a half minutes. To lose on a penalty point was pretty heartbreaking,” Kelly said. “He’s training to be a state champion. That’s how he works, and he’s got all the tools. To lose one that way was hard.” Feist, who finished sixth last season, was relegated to the seventh-place match Saturday afternoon. He earned a 40-second pin against Bryce Williams of Waukee Northwest to end odd, sitting up afterwards with a smile on his face. “Trey capping it off getting a pin, obviously a little bittersweet for him,” Kelly said. “Yeah, you’re happy with a state medal. It’s tough. I know what his goals are and how hard he trains. But he responded and finished things out. “He’ll be back, Kepler will be back, a lot of our guys will be back that were down there this week. Just keep pushing things higher and attack it next year.” Bloody blood round While Feist and Carmichael got through their consolation round four matches, five other Lancers were not as fortunate. The ‘blood round’ can be the most intense non-championship session of every tournament. Win, and you’re on the podium. Lose, and you go home. “I think the dagger, the big gut punch, was we had five guys in that round of 12 and lost blood round matches,” Kelly said. “We had some opportunities, had guys in position, guys wrestled well, and lost some tough matches.” Seniors Will McDermott (138), Collin Kruse (144), and Ben Lightle (157), junior Kade Kelly (190) and freshman Zach Green (150) came up one match short. McDermott and Lightle both won their first two matches to make the quarterfinals, but lost their last two. Kruse and Lightle initially fell in the second round, and Kelly battled back from a first-round loss. “In this tournament, every day you go, it gets tougher and tougher,” Kelly said. “Quarters, second session, we had some tough matches. We had some tough draws in those quarters against some highly ranked guys. Again, I like how our approach was, and that we didn’t back down.” Combined, this group of five went 12-10 at state. Kruse and Kade Kelly both outwrestled their seed while McDermott, Zach Green and Lightle were right in line with theirs. “You put yourself in position to medal, that’s a tough round. While you’re happy with the way you wrestled, those are tough to take as a coach and fan,” Kelly said. “Your guy is right there, and you see your hopes and dreams get dashed. Happy for some, heartbroken for others. Win or lose, it’s how did you compete? How did you wrestle? Did you leave it on that mat? We had some tough spots, some tough breaks, and some tough kids.” At 113, senior Cole Bruck missed the blood round by one match. He won his first match of the tournament, and his first match in the consolation bracket, but his progress was stopped in the consolation third round. Junior Bryce Stewart (285) won his first match of the tournament against Des Moines East’s Lance Williams, but fell in his next two matches. Senior Matthew Williams (126) lost both of his matches, but got to end his prep wrestling career on the state’s biggest stage. “We lost a couple guys in (the first session), but even those guys wrestled well. Just lost some hard-fought matches,” Kelly said. “We had a lot of bonus point victories. Put ourselves in a good spot, in second place after the first day. A good start is what you like to see.” On the local scene, Bettendorf crowned three state champions in Dan Knight’s final season in the Bulldogs’ matside corner. Jake Knight (3A-132) and Lincoln Jipp (3A-215) completed undefeated seasons, with Brayden Koester (3A-190) joining them in the winner’s circle. The Bulldogs finished second in the 3A team race behind Southeast Polk. At 2A-190, Davenport Assumption’s Maximus Purdy won a one-takedown match in the final, snapping a two-year individual title drought for the Knights. Wilton’s Mason Shirk, whose father Ben won two individual state titles as a wrestler and grandfather Steve won two team titles as a coach, joined in the family tradition with a win at 2A-126. Set up for success North Scott boys’ wrestling team has only gotten stronger over the last three seasons. Two state tournaments ago, the Lancers had just one podium placer. It was two last year with Feist and Green, and last week, Carmichael joined the party to make it three. Add in consecutive conference and district team titles, plus one dual team state appearance from last season, and it’s been an incredibly successful couple of seasons. “With our guys, you come in, believe in what we’re doing, put the work in, you’re going to get better and better,” Kelly said. “Hopefully, there’s a steady progression. We tell our guys you want to be wrestling your best matches at the end of the season. Fortunately, we have been most years. It’s fun to watch them when they’re scrapping like that.” The bar is set high, and five state qualifiers from this season can return next winter. This train does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. “As a program, we’ve got great support and great people K-12. Great coaches in place at all levels,” Kelly said. What’s fun is they watch these guys have success in high school, and they want to buy in and put the work in. Guys who aren’t varsity or qualified or returning place winner, they can follow the example of these guys. “The plan is not to slow down. We have high standards as a program and have high expectations for our kids. We have great kids to work with. Every year is different. You have to put the work in. But we’ve been pretty consistent as far as putting kids out there that are going to fight and wrestle hard. Usually, that has fun things in the back half of the year.”

Obituary: Gregg Mostaert

A prayer service will be held at Long Grove Community Center on Feb. 28 at 11:30 in Gregg’s honor, followed by a Celebration of Life from 12-3. A private burial is planned at Mount Calvary Cemetery Davenport. Memorials may be made to Long Grove Lions Club or Long Grove Civic League. Gregg was born June 16, 1955, in Maquoketa, son of Joseph and Ruth (Schmidt) Mostaert. After graduating from Oxford Junction High School in 1973, he found his calling working at the Handicapped Development Center for 40 years. Additionally, Gregg was a successful entrepreneur who established and ran his business, Plowboys Lawn and Landscaping, for 11 years. He fell in love, once upon a ferris wheel, with his sweetheart Catherine Ann Capesius. They were united in marriage on Sept. 17, 1994, at Holy Family Church in Davenport. Together, Gregg and Cathy shared 31 wonderful years, building a life rooted in love, partnership, and devotion. They were blessed with two children, Joseph and Anna, who were among Gregg’s utmost joys and proudest accomplishments. His family was the center of his world and everything he did was guided by his unwavering love for them. Gregg moved through life with a spirit of curiosity and enthusiasm. He was deeply loving and compassionate, always giving the very best of himself to the people he cherished most. Gregg had a remarkable way of brightening every room he entered — his warm smile, quick wit, and contagious humor brought both laughter and comfort. He radiated kindness and generosity in the moments he shared with family and friends. Gregg held a vibrant passion for his pastimes. He enjoyed uncovering unique treasures at thrift stores and estate sales, nurturing a vast appreciation for antiques. Each discovery became even more meaningful as he researched the stories and history behind each item. Gregg was inspiring and innovative. His ideas were reflected in every landscaping project he touched. His creativity and attention to detail were evident in the beauty and care of his impeccably designed yard and home. Those left to cherish his memory include spouse Catherine; children Joseph Mostaert and Anna Mostaert; sister Linda Carlson; in-laws: Mary Capesius, Sandra (Gary) Ragan, Julie (Chris Dalberg) and David Capesius (Renata Piotrowska), and numerous nieces/nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Joseph, his brother, Dave, his nephew, Rod, and his father-in-law, James Capesius.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Geraldine Dobbe

Geraldine “Gerri” Lee Dobbe, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2026, in Davenport. She was born on July 26, 1941, in Marshalltown, to John and Avalee Fitzgerald. She grew up near Nevada, Iowa, attending Milford Schools. She met the love of her life, Earl Dobbe, in 1961 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, and they were married on June 6, 1964. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and community. She was a longtime member of the Catholic Church and appreciated the friendships and community she found there. Gerri attended Marycrest College and then Iowa State University, earning a degree in child development and beginning a lifelong passion for teaching. She first taught at St. Cecilia’s in Ames, before moving to Eldridge in 1979, where she continued her career with the North Scott School District, ultimately retiring after many years of teaching fifth grade at Alan Shepard Elementary. Her dedication to her students and love for education touched countless lives. Nothing brought her greater joy than being a mother and grandmother. She treasured time spent with her children and grandchildren, attending their activities, and celebrating their accomplishments. She also enjoyed baking, playing cards, shopping, and spending time with family and friends, who were always the center of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Dobbe, and her infant son, Christopher. She is lovingly remembered by her son Matt (Jill) Dobbe and their children Eric and John Dobbe; and her daughter Susan (Ryan) Blaskovich and their children Grant (Emma) Blaskovich, and Paige Blaskovich; and her siblings, Marjorie (Joe) Rinehart, Kathy (Allan) Huse, MaryAnn Fitzgerald (Tony Ives), and Mike (Peggy) Fitzgerald, along with many extended family members and dear friends. A Visitation/Celebration of Life will be held Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Traditions in Eldridge (2150 E. LeClaire Road).  A private family service was scheduled at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Memorials may be directed to the North Scott Educational Foundation in her name. Flowers can be sent to 205 S. Tombergs Drive, Eldridge, Iowa. Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: David Kapolka

David A. Kapolka, 72, of Eldridge, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at The University of Iowa Hospitals. Funeral service will be 12 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Runge Mortuary & Crematory.  There will be visitation from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday at the mortuary.  Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to the family.  Please share condolences with the family at www.rungemortuary.com.     David was born June 12, 1953, in Davenport, to David V. and Vivian (Bair) Kapolka.  He was united in marriage to Judy Iseminger (Taylor) on Sept. 10, 1977, in Des Moines.  David had been employed as a machinist for 42 years with Caterpillar, retiring July 1, 2015.  He was a member of the UAW local 2096 Pontiac, Ill.    David was active in bowling leagues, enjoyed riding his motorcycle, and loved to do yardwork, keeping his yard meticulous.  David was a very hard worker, always willing to help.    Survivors include his wife, Judy Kapolka; father David (Skip) V. Kapolka; sister Linda (Bill) Dunk; son David (Monica) Iseminger; daughters Jana (Michael) Iseminger–Hockill and Staci (Nathan) Stroven; eight grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins David was preceded in death by his mother and grandparents.   Custom obituary

Farm & Food Conference seeks presenters

The Food Systems team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development, in partnership with the Iowa Food System Coalition, welcomes practitioners, organizations and businesses to submit proposals to present at the Iowa Farm and Food Conference, to be held June 11–12 in Waterloo. The biennial event, previously known as the Community Food Systems and Farm to School and Early Care Conference, engages, supports and inspires professionals across all sectors of the food system. The conference theme, “Futuring our Food System,” is about imagining bold, transformative possibilities for the future and the measures to get there. Presentation proposals will be accepted online through March 13. A preview of proposal questions is available, and individuals may submit multiple proposals. Accepted proposals will be announced in mid-April. For additional details, visit the event webpage or contact Bre Miller at millerb@iastate.edu  with questions.

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America hosting Train Day & Classic Car Show in April

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) is hosting its Train Day & Classic Car Show on April 25. Tickets will go on sale online starting March 1st. Click here for tickets or more information. This family-friendly event has plenty of excitement, delicious food and unique experiences that celebrate the rich history of railroading and classic [...]

First Central announces promotions

First Central State Bank President and CEO Brigham Tubbs recently announced four promotions. Carrie Carter, Julie Busch, Alyssa Skahill and Matt Dargene earned promotions. Skahill received officer status and is a Teller Supervisor and Customer Service Representative at the LeClaire location, while Dargene, of Eldridge, is now an Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lender. Carter and Busch are part of the Loan Operations team in DeWitt. Carter is now a Vice President, Loan Operations Manager, while Busch is the Lead Loan Operations Officer. “These promotions reflect the hard work, dedication, and exceptional customer service our team members bring every day,” Tubbs said. “On behalf of our leadership team, we’re proud to recognize their achievements and excited to see the continued impact they’ll make for our customers and our organization.” Carter is a 17-year veteran at First Central, while Skahill and Busch have been with the bank for seven and six years, respectively. Dargene has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry and has been with First Central for more than one year. “This is not just about individual achievement,” Tubbs said. “These team members elevate those around them and help maintain our culture.”

Mushroom workshops scheduled by Extension

Iowans with an eye for fungi are invited to participate in upcoming Mushroom Cultivation Workshops in central and eastern Iowa this spring. Hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the workshops are open to anyone interested in learning how to grow mushrooms at home. Each participant will create a two-gallon bucket oyster mushroom grow kit to take home and nurture. The workshop will cover fungi basics, their roles in Iowa ecosystems and common ways people cultivate mushrooms in their own homes and backyards. Gina Buelow, natural resources field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, has led mushroom foraging programs for several years and frequently receives questions about mushroom cultivation. This workshop provides an opportunity for participants to build foundational knowledge, get their questions answered and potentially begin a new hobby. Workshop locations and dates March 16: Big Grove Brewpub, Solon. March 24: Big Grove Brewery, Des Moines. April 6: Big Grove Brewery, Des Moines. All workshops will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the listed locations. Registration is $35 per participant. The workshops are supported by the Big Grove Brewery Big Grove for Good Foundation. For more information, contact Buelow at gbuelow@iastate.edu.

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

MONDAY, FEB. 9 9:00 a.m. — Raymond Hopgood Jr., 26, Davenport, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), and cited for driving with suspended/denied/revoked license or registration and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop near mile marker 295 on Interstate 80 East, Davenport. TUESDAY, FEB. 10 3:03 a.m. — Tiger Trey Pearson, 26, Coralville, was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, following a traffic stop in the 11400 block of 160th Street, Davenport. THURSDAY, FEB. 12 3:45 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 6:46 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 6100 block of Forest Grove Drive. 8:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3300 block of Westmar Drive. FRIDAY, FEB. 13 10:14 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 14900 block of 110th Avenue. 10:27 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint on Valley View Drive. 11:08 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 10700 block of 285th Street. 11:51 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in the 600 block of Belmont Road, Bettendorf. A vehicle driven by Vivek Pranav Patel, 18, Bettendorf, was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Andrea J. Williams, 53. Moline. 12:43 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 200 block of Park Avenue. 2:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in the 17900 block of Great River Road. A vehicle driven by Alysa Marie McKee, 38, Bettendorf, attempted to make a left turn. She was struck by a vehicle driven by Dustin Charles Drach, 42, LeClaire. McKee was transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. She was cited for failure to yield on a left turn. 4:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 110th Avenue and West Kimberly Road, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Denise Jane Thomas, 65, Davenport, was stopped, waiting to turn. A vehicle driven by Joshua Damond Whitaker, 31, Oakville, attempted to pass and struck Thomas’ vehicle. Whitaker was cited for unsafe passing. SATURDAY, FEB. 14 2:23 a.m. — Drew M. Hofmann, 22, Coal Valley, Ill., was charged with OWI – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 2nd offense, possession of a controlled substance (cannabidiol) – 2nd offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near 18th Street and Cumberland Square Drive, Bettendorf. 2:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3700 block of Creek Hill Drive. 10:21 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near North Salina and West Bennett streets. 10:51 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check near 112th Avenue and 140th Street. 11:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 15200 block of 270th Street. 4:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 22700 block of 244th Street. 4:45 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2100 block of State Street. 4:54 p.m. — Yefri E. Hernandez, 20, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) – 1st offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of alcohol under the legal age; and Ledwin Enot Melendez Rivas, 36, Denver, Colo., was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) – 1st offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, and an open container violation (passenger), following an incident near mile marker 3 on Interstate 280, Davenport. 6:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5300 block of Elmore Circle. 6:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage on Valley Drive. A vehicle driven by Carrie Ann Jackson, 46, Long Grove, struck a vehicle that was parked legally on the street. Jackson was cited for striking an unattended vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. 6:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue. 7:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near State Street and Fenno Road. 8:10 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of West James Street. 9:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint. 9:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 1600 block of Prairie Vista Circle. 9:38 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 500 block of 3rd Street. 10:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 5400 block of Appomattox Road. 10:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 10:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 140th Street and 115th Avenue. SUNDAY, FEB. 15 1:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of Wilkes Avenue. 1:24 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 5200 block of Grand Avenue. 1:57 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 3:37 a.m. — Derrick Henry Rhoden, 46, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant, following a traffic stop near West Central Park and North Michigan avenues, Davenport. 3:58 a.m. — Paul Kenneth Howard, 40, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, interference with official acts and an open container violation, and cited for violation of financial liability coverage, following an incident in the 5200 block of Brady Street, Davenport. 10:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 11:27 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West 52nd Street. 1:04 p.m. — Jason Jon Means, 49, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (other) – 1st offense and cited for an improper brake light, following a traffic stop near East Kimberly Road and Eastern Avenue, Davenport. 2:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 1100 block of East 90th Street. 5:03 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near River Camp Road and 288th Street. A vehicle driven by Mozamel M. Hassan, 26, Moline, lost control on a gravel road. His vehicle struck a bridge wall. Hassan was transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. 6:10 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Highway 61 and 210th Street. A vehicle driven by Addam Joseph LeDoux, 41, Eldridge, was attempting to merge onto the Highway 61 exit ramp. He swerved to avoid striking a deer in the roadway. The vehicle struck the deer and a reflective sign on the ramp. 6:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 7600 block of Jersey Ridge Road. 7:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 3100 block of Boies Avenue. 8:44 p.m. — Sebrena Renae Wauqua, 23, Davenport, was cited for driving while license denied or revoked, following a traffic stop near West 2nd and Brown streets, Davenport. 10:15 p.m. — Wesley Santiago, 39, Eldridge, was charged with domestic abuse assault – 1st offense, after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Manor Drive, Eldridge. MONDAY, FEB. 16 3:05 a.m. — Javier Quevedo, 23, Moline, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for no valid driver’s license, violation of financial liability coverage and improper use of lanes, following a traffic stop near Veterans Memorial Parkway and Brady Street, Davenport. 4:17 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 4:49 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 8:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Crest View Drive. 2:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 2900 block of North Plainview Road. 2:49 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of West Grove Street. 4:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint on Valley View Drive, Blue Grass. 5:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to an abuse/neglect claim near Blackhawk and Hillside drives. 8:33 p.m. — Blake Elmer Blanchard, 19, Davenport, was charged with a probation violation and contempt – violation of a no contact or protective order, following an incident near East 59th and Brady streets, Davenport. TUESDAY, FEB. 17 9:50 a.m. — Coung Van Tran, 55, Davenport, was charged with trespassing – 1st offense, after deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of Main Street, Davenport. 10:22 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 10:49 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of Main Street. 11:43 p.m. — Raymond Lee Brewer, 42, Davenport, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near Gaines Street and Kimberly Road, Davenport. 3:38 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 3:43 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 4:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 7000 block of Holdorf Drive. 5:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 6:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 1300 block of East Blackhawk Trail. 7:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of River Drive. 9:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of West Kimberly Road. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 1:22 a.m. — John David Freemon, 51, Ankeny, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, following an incident in the 2300 block of Cumberland Square Drive, Bettendorf. 1:34 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1200 block of East Rusholme Street. 7:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 7:44 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Quail Ridge and Belmont roads, Riverdale. A vehicle driven by Monica Marija Nickels, 44, Bettendorf, slowed due to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. She was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Charles James Whisler, 23, LeClaire. Whisler was cited for failure to maintain control. 8:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in the 29800 block of 70th Avenue. A vehicle driven by Alexander Gene Pace, 25, Atalissa, was attempting to back out of a driveway. As his vehicle entered the roadway, it was struck by a vehicle driven by Eric Nolan Levetzow, 40, Dixon. Levetzow’s vehicle had been cresting a hill in the roadway and was unable to see Pace’s vehicle until it was too late to prevent a collision. 8:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 21100 block of Scott Park Road. 9:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 9:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 17400 block of 246th Avenue. 10:11 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 800 block of Railroad Street. 11:45 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 1:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 1:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1700 block of Iowa Drive. 1:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint. 1:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Interstate 74 West and Middle Road, Bettendorf. 3:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 400 block of LeClaire Street. 6:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 7:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 17900 block of Spencer Road. 10:33 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 900 block of Lost Grove Road. THURSDAY, FEB. 19 1:16 a.m. — Olivia Grace Harrison, 21, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant and charged with providing false identification information; and Ruben Rios, 36, Bettendorf, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near Welcome Way and West 50th Street, Davenport. 1:54 a.m. — Collins Chidozie Oniya, 44, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, and cited for improper use of registration, operating a non-registered vehicle, violation of financial liability coverage, and driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, following a traffic stop near 140th Street and 118th Avenue, Davenport. 6:28 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 23000 block of 240th Street. 10:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1000 block of Gaines Street.

'Source to Sea' travelogue March 3

Come travel by kayak Tuesday, March 3, at 3 p.m. at the DeWitt Operahouse with former DeWitt resident Shawn Hamerlinck from the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minn., to the Gulf waters of Burns Point, La. Experience Shawn’s kayak paddling journey of some 2,400 miles and 55 days from May to July 2025 with alligators, a black bear, an Asian carp, a wild boar, a snake and unruly geese. Even meals were an adventure of camping riverside on a diet of energy bars, tinned meats and crackers leading to a 30-pound weight loss. Doors open at 2 p.m. and every effort will be made to present the Travelogue on the day scheduled, however if inclement weather requires a cancellation, the information will be posted at the theater or contact Monica 563-370-9394 or Lori 563-212-2991.  If Central DeWitt Community Schools are canceled or scheduled to be released early by 1 p.m., Travelogue will also be canceled.  A $5.00 donation is suggested. The proceeds support local community projects such as the Referral Center, DeWitt Library, DeWitt Fire Department, KidSight, Diabetes Awareness, Camp Courageous and Camp Hertko Hollow.    

Virtual field day on March 12

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m. Central time. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Dan Andersen, associate professor and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University, Raj Raman, Morrill Professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and Philip Rockson, agricultural and biosystems engineering graduate research assistant at Iowa State. Any person interested in cover crops, manure application or water quality is welcome to attend the virtual field day. Participants are also encouraged to bring any questions they would like to ask. To participate in the live virtual field day, visit the Iowa Learning Farms website, or join from a dial-in phone line: dial 646-876-9923 or 646-931-3860, with meeting ID 914 1198 4892. The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF Virtual Field Day Archive for future viewing.

View the Eldridge Police report from the Feb. 25 NSP!

MONDAY, FEB. 16 1:57 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of East Price Street. 7:37 a.m. — Report taken for a subject in the 500 block of South 5th Street being harassed. 2:44 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of East Price Street. 2:49 p.m. — Marcus Sharkey, 41, of Moline, was arrested for assault, following an incident in the 200 block of West Grove Street. 6:50 p.m. — Samuel Butler, 29, of Eldridge, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and East Lincoln Road. TUESDAY, FEB. 17 7:58 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 900 block of East Oak Street. 3:17 p.m. — A juvenile was cited for person under 21 using a tobacco/vapor product, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 11:16 p.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of Fox Ridge Road. Handled by officer. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 12:54 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 900 block of Trails Road. Handled by officer. 5:32 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 300 block of Country Club Court. 1:48 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 900 block of East Iowa Street. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, FEB. 19 12:27 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of South 5th Street. 2:16 a.m. — Isaiah Marcum, 20, of Sulligent, Ala., was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 11:31 a.m. — Report taken for a subject in the 700 block of Green Meadow Court being harassed. 12:30 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 100 block of South 5th Street. 2:42 p.m. — Seth Langrehr, 30, of Clinton, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 4:10 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 300 block of West LeClaire Road. 4:57 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle in the 1100 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 5:28 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 6:32 p.m. — Removed debris from the roadway on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 7:32 p.m. — Complaint of a possible dog bite in the 200 block of West Davies Street. The complaint was unfounded. Handled by officer. 10:22 p.m. — Laconika Walker, 44, of Bettendorf, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near East LeClaire Road and South 14th Avenue. FRIDAY, FEB. 20 12:40 p.m. — Complaint of vandalism to a vehicle in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 4:42 p.m. — Assisted a resident in the 600 block of West Valley Drive. Handled by officer. 10:48 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of South 9th Avenue. Handled by officer. 11:07 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop near North 1st Street and East LeClaire Road. SATURDAY, FEB. 21 12:46 p.m. — Report taken for a cat bite in the 800 block of East Iowa Street. 4:33 p.m. — Report of a noise complaint in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 9:00 p.m. — Alan Cruz-Ruiz, 17, of Clinton, was cited for violation of a special minor’s restricted permit, following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of East LeClaire Road. 9:15 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 10:37 p.m. — Madelynn Gooder, 22, of Davenport, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 10:47 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. Handled by officer. 11:13 p.m. — Assisted a motorist on Highway 61. Handled by officer. SUNDAY, FEB. 22 1:52 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of West Torrey Pines Drive. 4:25 a.m. — Performed a welfare check in the 900 block of East Iowa Street. Handled by officer. 7:33 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 1600 block of Leonard Court. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 10:21 p.m. — Removed debris from the roadway on Highway 61. Handled by officer.

North Scott bowling wins district title

Make room in the vans — the Lancers are bringing everybody. For the first time in four years, North Scott’s boys’ bowling team is a district champion. And right now, they are bowling as well as any team in the state. This year’s squad of seniors Lucas Persson and Johnny Grimm, junior Kale Blodig, sophomores Clayton Schroder and Caston Dhuse, and freshman Parker Persson, won the Clinton district by four pins over Central DeWitt last Monday (Feb. 16). To boot, Lucas Persson, Dhuse and Schroder qualified for the individual state competition, making this one of the best district days in program history. “When they started out, and watching them throw the balls, you could tell it was going to be a good day,” Lancer coach Marie Tharp said. “They were so focused and they were executing so well not only on their first shots but on their spare shooting. That can make or break a meet.” Both state competitions are at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo, the same site as the girls’ tournament from two weeks ago. The team event is Tuesday evening, and the singles event is Wednesday morning. As far as teams go, North Scott may be the one to beat. The Lancers posted the highest score of the eight state qualifying teams in Class 2A at 3,222. As district runners-up, the Sabers were second in the entire state at 3,218. Lucas Persson, the team’s anchor, buried a pair of strikes at the end of the 15th game to put his team in front. But as other schools finished up their session, the Lancers had to wait for the official word. “We were a frame ahead of (DeWitt) finishing up. Parents were scoreboard watching. I was scoreboard watching. We knew it was close,” Tharp said. “One of the parents came down and said, ‘You got it.’ When they did that, it got a little loud. We had to say ‘Calm down, there are still teams bowling.’ But they were pretty excited. The minute they made the announcement, everybody went crazy.” The Lancers’ first seven games were all excellent: 267, 255, 196, 216, 233, 225 and 236. Despite a late stumble with scores of 156 and 187 in games 12 and 13, the team rebounded and posted games of 228 and 217 to close things out. “They talked to each other. They listened. They helped each other all day long,” Tharp said. “The communication was great between everybody. It was so much fun to watch. “We talked about splits. We talked about going for pin count. We’re going to take two, you’re not going to take all three. You’re going to take two. And that’s what it came down to — four pins.” On the individual side, Lucas Persson is heading back to state after placing sixth last year. He became the first Lancer boy to medal at the state bowling tournament as an individual. He’ll be hoping to continue his great form after placing third at districts with a 690 series (224/234/232). “Lucas bowled well. He was zoned in for sure,” Tharp said. “A 690, right under 700. The scores were off the charts for those first five guys.” Dhuse bowled even better as district runner-up, rolling a 721 series (253/223/245). After missing the cut by a few spots last season, the Lancer sophomore will get his first chance to roll the rock at state. “He took it pretty hard when he missed in Keokuk. He was so close. It was a redemption for him,” Tharp said. “Caston was executing very well all day. Staying on top of it, making adjustments where he needed to.” The top eight individuals from each site qualify for state. Schroder slipped inside the cut line of 628 with his 637 series (193/234/232), taking sixth place. “Clayton didn’t go to state qualifying last year. This was his first time getting the opportunity and I think he knew what he needed to do as well,” Tharp said. “I’m glad he bowled well, and he stayed calm. There were a couple shots that were a challenge for him, but he made his adjustments and he made the cut.” Along with North Scott and Central DeWitt qualifying as a team, individuals from Davenport West, Davenport North and Clinton made the cut from this site. Throw in a team qualification from Bettendorf and individuals from Muscatine, Davenport Central and Pleasant Valley up in 3A, and the Mississippi Athletic Conference had a great day. “We are represented, the MAC, by every school. Either an individual or a team. That’s a very hard thing to do,” Tharp said. “Whether it’s individual or team, we had a very good showing across the state. It will be nice, whether it’s 1A, 2A, or 3A.” Just before shooting a 3,222 at state qualifying, the Lancers posted a 3,300 baker score against Muscatine on Feb. 3. That is the third-highest team score in program history. This will be the eighth time the Lancers send a full team to state, all since 2011. They hope this time they can capture that elusive team state title. “I think they’re feeling pretty good. They will be ready to go,” Tharp said. “It’s been a few years since the team has gone. And it’s time. It’s just time for North Scott… We’ve had individuals win. We have runners-up. We have top threes. But we need a team winner. It would be nice to be the first one to do that.”

Let's Play Three

In the waning seconds of Thursday’s North Scott at Bettendorf boys’ basketball game, the Lancer student section had one message. “See you next time.” It’s not a stretch to assume that everybody in that gym wants to see a rubber match this Friday. Last week’s game still had high stakes. In front of a packed house, Bettendorf rose to the occasion, winning 57-51 and claiming the outright Mississippi Athletic Conference championship. “It was a great environment. This was perfect for us going into substate next week,” Lancer coach Shamus Budde said. “I thought we played great, except the final four minutes of that third quarter. We were too flat-footed and we weren’t scoring, which impacted how we were defensively.” North Scott started the game off great and was ahead the entire quarter. The Lancer guards led the way with five points from sophomore Vasaun Wilmington, four from junior Miller Haedt and three from junior Khairi Harper. Bettendorf took its first lead one minute into the second quarter. While it see-sawed back and forth, a three-ball from the Bulldogs with four seconds left in the half inched them in front by one, 31-30. North Scott got the lead back midway through the third quarter, 36-35, before the game got away from the visitors. Bettendorf went on a 12-0 run, spanning the rest of the third quarter and the first possession of the fourth quarter, to take an 11-point lead. “They killed us on the glass, and they got us on the 50-50 balls. Those four minutes were the difference in the game,” Budde said. “When you play these good teams, and you get into substate, you have to play every possession. Those four minutes got us there. They beat us in every part of the game.” North Scott didn’t quit, and they got the deficit back to three with three minutes to go, 54-51. It never got closer, as North Scott missed its final four field goal attempts, all three-pointers. With a win, the Lancers would have shared the MAC title with Bettendorf and Muscatine. Instead, the Bulldogs claimed the crown outright after finishing second behind Muscatine last season. “There are a lot of kids who go through high school and never have an opportunity to compete for a conference championship. Our kids had that chance, and it was a good experience,” Budde said. “But I told them to flush this, and we have to get ready for Davenport West. They’ve been in a lot of close games this year, especially recently, so we need to be ready to go.” Postseason path What made Thursday’s game all the more intriguing was the fact that the Iowa High School Athletic Association put North Scott and Bettendorf on a collision course to meet in a Class 4A substate semifinal. Budde said that it had no impact on his team as they went all-out to win the conference title, but it nonetheless added another layer to this heated rivalry. Bettendorf is the No. 2 seed in Substate 6, which comes with a first-round bye. North Scott is the No. 3 seed, which came with a first-round date with Davenport West on Monday. Aside from missing out on a top two seed, North Scott’s substate draw is a dream. North Scott critically avoided Muscatine, also a substate No. 2 seed, a team that has beaten the Lancers four straight times. Additionally, the Lancers avoided all of the top-ranked teams on the No. 1 seed line. In the top half of the bracket is 4A No. 8 Cedar Rapids Prairie. Bettendorf is ranked No. 9. In this MAC-filled substate, Davenport Central and Clinton will play for the pleasure of facing Prairie in the semifinals. Spartan sweep On Tuesday, Feb. 17, North Scott earned a season sweep of the Spartans, defeating Pleasant Valley on the road 59-46. Little separated these two teams until the end of the third quarter. Lancer junior Josiah Harrington drilled a three-pointer, and junior Drew Fischer put back a miss to give North Scott a seven-point lead, its largest of the game to that point. Fischer played one of his best games of the season with 10 points on five-of-six from the floor, seven rebounds, two assists and zero turnovers. “He was flying around getting boards in his area and out of his area. He was getting to the rim with his head up. He was really good tonight, and he was a huge spark for us,” Budde said. “They would get in tight, and Drew came up with big plays. And that’s cool because it’s been other guys throughout the year, but tonight was his night.” Fischer was on the receiving end of a behind-the-head pass from Haedt on one of the first possessions of the fourth quarter. He put the layup in and gave North Scott a 12-point lead. The Lancers never let this game get hairy, unlike games against Central DeWitt and Davenport Central the week prior. “All week, since last week, we’ve been practicing time and score. Our guys did a great job down the stretch with running some clock but still being aggressive,” Budde said. “I was proud of how our guys took that from practice and translated that into the game.” Wilmington scored a game-high 27 points, and Harrington put up 22. As a team, North Scott turned the ball over just four times and outrebounded the Spartans by five. This marks North Scott’s fourth win in a row against Pleasant Valley and fifth in six tries. Over this six-game span, either team has crossed the 60-point threshold just one time. “They are very well coached. When you play a Steve Hillman team, you know you’re going to have to grind it out,” Budde said. “All of our kids, they want to play fast. I get that. But in order to go to the state tournament and advance, you have to be able to play different styles. I was proud of our guys for the way they did that.”

The bad kind of buzzer-beater

It’s something in the air at Yourd Gymnasium. Last-second shots giveth, and last-second shots taketh away. North Scott sophomore Alaina Dreckmeier won it for the Lancers in December. On Saturday, Carryn Sattler sent Clinton to the regional final. In the season’s third and decisive matchup, the River Queens downed the Lancers 51-49 in an epic conclusion to this season’s rivalry. “You have to risk it all to have a story. If you don’t risk it, there is no story. I like that we put it out there and risked it,” Lancer co-coach Paul Rucker said. “We just came up a little bit short tonight.” Sattler didn’t need to hit a step-back three-pointer to be the hero in this game. A layup between a pair of defenders got the job done. Off a sideline inbound, Clinton’s Alli Haskell heaved the ball into the paint for Sattler, who caught, jumped and scored between two Lancer defenders. With eight seconds left in this back-and-forth contest, Clinton took a two-point lead. North Scott quickly put the ball back in play and raced down the floor. Amid the chaos, the Lancers got up a clean look for a shot at déjà vu. From the corner, a three-ball grazed the side of the rim and dropped to the floor. A pass here, a shot there, and the Lancers could have played for their first regional championship since 2023. Despite a breakout season for this young Lancer squad, it will have to wait at least one more year. “Positive discontent,” Rucker said. “Happy that we’re trending in the right direction. Am I happy that we lost some games that we lost this year? No. Am I happy that we lost tonight? No. But when you look at it as a total journey, yes, we are trending in the right direction.” After a low-scoring slugfest through 18 minutes, the game was knotted at 27 midway through the third quarter. Clinton then opened up the floodgates, going on a 12-0 run in three and a half minutes, putting the Lancers’ season on life support. North Scott scored seven of the final nine points in the frame to get the deficit back to a manageable seven. Senior Allie Moeller and junior Alyssa Schroeder hit shots on the team’s first two possessions of the fourth quarter to make it a three-point game. It took until the 2:30 mark, but North Scott got back to even at 45-45. Schroeder put her team ahead by two with 85 seconds to go. Clinton hit two free throws on their next two possessions and went back up by two, 49-47. Moeller, trying to extend her high school career, tied the game again with a tough floater in the lane with 16 seconds on the clock. She went out swinging, scoring 17 of North Scott’s 49 points in the game. “I’m sad for Allie. When you have a senior, you know, that’s it. For her, it’s the end of a really nice career,” Rucker said. “It’s hard because you don’t want it to be done. I don’t want it to be done. For her, it’s going to sting for a while until you get into that next thing.” As Moeller gets ready to transition into her new career at Cornell College, she leaves behind a stellar high school career. She helped guide North Scott’s girls’ basketball team through two tumultuous seasons, and she led its resurgence this winter. A member of the varsity squad all four years, she accumulated 914 points and 445 rebounds in her career. She is a two-time all-conference basketball player, with a third all but certain to arrive next week. “She’s multi-talented. She can handle the ball some. She can step out and shoot it. Playing against her, we saw tonight that once we got the ball moving and her going downhill, it’s a load for anybody. That is hard for people to guard,” Rucker said. Having coached against her for multiple seasons, Rucker got to be in the gym with Moeller every day for this season. He added, “What I see, and maybe what the outside world doesn’t see, is that she has a very big heart. Exterior, she’s kind of rough and tough. But she has a big heart. She really cares about people.” There’s no doubt Moeller is leaving the program better than she found it. On the court, the Lancers are again set up to take a step forward. Losing her will hurt next season, but as the only senior on the roster, it’s the only hit the team will take. “We have a lot of work to do in the offseason to shore up some stuff. We’re not young, but we still have a lot of people coming back. We have a nice foundation to build on,” Rucker said. Part of that foundation, Rucker says, are the people on the bench and behind the scenes that don’t see themselves on the television highlight reels or newspaper headlines. “There are a lot of kids who come to practice every single day and they may not be getting exactly what they want as far as minutes in the game. But I’ll tell you, on really great teams, those are the kids that get it done for you,” Rucker said. “In practice, they go really hard. They are great teammates. They have great energy and effort. They are not about themselves; they are about the greater good. “Our managers, our bench players, those people are super important to a program. I would like to highlight all of our teammates. Our bus driver kicks ass. The fantastic Mr. John. It’s like I’m on a luxury airliner. He does an awesome job.” Chasing down the Grayhounds On Wednesday, North Scott’s girls’ basketball team won its first playoff game in three years in a thriller at home over Burlington, 73-65. In as much of a team win as there has been all season, four Lancers scored in double figures: Moeller (26), Schroeder (15), junior Kamilah Eller (12) and sophomore Grace Hamann (10). “When our backs were against the wall, and we needed scores, we shared it and trusted our teammates to get the job done,” Lancer co-coach Dave Linnenbrink said. “We trusted each other, and that was the difference. It shows with those different kids stepping up tonight.” North Scott had 21 assists in this game, led by Eller’s six, Dreckmeier’s five, Hamann’s three and sophomore Delaney Hill’s three. Moeller and Schroeder combined for 28 of the team’s 50 rebounds. After a bonkers third quarter in which the Lancers and Grayhounds combined for 50 points, Burlington led 55-51. North Scott made a switch to man-to-man defense for the fourth quarter and locked down Burlington, allowing just two points in the first five minutes of the quarter. “We felt that No. 2, (Daphne) Brown, got away a little bit, so we wanted to stop her,” Linnenbrink said. “We went to man, made a slight adjustment, the girls stepped up and got it done.” The defensive ‘MVP’ of this game was Eller, who has been tasked with guarding opposing teams’ best player all season. On Wednesday, her assignment was Burlington star senior Mylee Stiefel, who averages 24.3 points per game. Eller held Stiefel to 5-16 shooting and 0-9 from three, scoring just 13 points. “Kamilah Eller did an amazing job on No. 10. She battled her heart out. She’s such a great defensive player,” Linnenbrink said.

Iowa bill would expand raw milk, cottage food sales

A bill that advanced from a House subcommittee Wednesday would create an event permit for farm-to-table meals, expand the permissible sales of raw milk and allow cottage foods to be sold in grocery stores. House File 2444 was introduced by Rep. Chad Ingels, R-Randalia, who said it was a way to give “easier access” to farmers who want to hold farm-to-table events and to allow raw milk producers to sell their milk at farm stores. The bill was opposed by the Iowa Environmental Health Association, a group representing health inspectors in the state. Jefferson Fink, speaking on behalf of the association, said it had “great concern with many issues” in the bill. The first provision of the bill would create a farm-to-table event license to allow farms to sell meals, featuring farm-raised ingredients, for on-farm consumption. The annual license would cost $100 and allow for farms to hold “any number” of farm-to-table events. Fink argued the state already has an event license for home food processors, and that the bill’s language to make this an annual license would mean departments would need to inspect all of the events under the license, the cost of which is not covered by the $100 annual fee. “This bill provides work-arounds to our already existing food safety regulations,” Fink said. He also argued the bill was “silent on” things like meat slaughtering and processing, restrooms and well water testing. Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield, who chaired the subcommittee, said some of those concerns, like slaughtering and butchering, were not part of the intent of the bill, which she said was more about agritourism. Haley Hook, speaking on behalf of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said more producers are interested in hosting farm-to-table events as part of the Choose Iowa program and IDALS has been trying to “find a fix” with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for these events. IDALS was registered undecided on the bill. Raw milk The bill also allows for the sale of unpasteurized milk, known as raw milk, and raw milk products at home processing or food establishments, provided they are located at the raw milk farm. Current law provides that raw milk can only be sold directly to customers from the raw milk farm. This would allow raw milk and associated raw milk products to be sold at a store on the farm as well. Fink said the Iowa Environmental Health Association is generally opposed to any raw milk legislation, including the language in the bill. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hold that consuming raw milk can lead to “serious health risks.” Unpasteurized milk can expose individuals to things like salmonella, brucella, E.coli, and listeria. CDC also urges against the consumption of raw milk that is contaminated with the H5N1 avian flu virus as a means of developing antibodies from the virus. Cottage laws The bill also provides that cottage foods can be sold at grocery stores, as long as the food items are properly labeled and separated from non-cottage food items. Cottage foods, or foods that are prepared in a private residence and delivered directly to consumers, are exempt from state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws under current code. Sara Throener, speaking on behalf of DIAL, said by allowing the cottage food to be sold in a store instead of directly to a customer, it “no longer is a cottage food.” Throener said she emailed language to lawmakers to “get around that conflict.” Latham said Iowa stores can purchase “whole processed goods” from other states and sell it, but cannot purchase these locally produced cottage foods to sell, which is what the bill intended to fix. Latham said she would sign off on the bill, but that it would need an amendment before it reached the floor. Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, said she couldn’t sign off on the bill as is, but said she looked forward to seeing the amendment. “I’m hugely supportive of anything that opens up new markets and allows our farmers to safely provide their on-farm experiences,” Levin said.

Iowa Rural Summit to be held in Dubuque

The Iowa Rural Development Council will host the 2026 RISE: Iowa Rural Summit in Dubuque on April 9 and 10. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the summit will convene rural leaders and community builders from across Iowa. "The Rural Summit brings together the people who are advancing Iowa's future," said Madison Burke, board chair of IRDC. "When rural leaders connect, share ideas, and support one another, entire communities move forward. I look forward to helping elevate the partnerships that keep rural Iowa thriving."  Rural communities are encouraged to attend as teams of three, with a discounted combined registration rate available, while individuals may also register. Bringing a team allows communities to divide and conquer breakout sessions, gain a wider range of insights, and return home with multiple perspectives to share. The summit offers an opportunity to collaborate, learn, and strengthen your community alongside fellow leaders, economic developers, local government representatives, nonprofit partners, business owners, and others passionate about rural Iowa's future. Participants are invited to experience the Dubuque area during their stay. On Wednesday, April 8, an optional Field of Dreams Tour in Dyersville will be offered at 3 p.m. (pre-registration required), followed by a Welcome Reception at 5 p.m. The evening will be open for attendees to explore Dubuque's restaurants and downtown attractions. To learn more or register for the RISE: Rural Summit visit https://iowardc.org/summit/.

The director of Paris' Louvre Museum has resigned in the wake of a major jewel heist

The French president's office said it had accepted the resignation of Laurence des Cars, who has come under fire since the stunning heist of crown jewels in October.

The Louvre Museum's director has resigned in the wake of October's brazen jewel heist

French President Emmanuel Macron accepted Laurence des Cars' resignation as "an act of responsibility" at a moment when the Louvre needs security upgrades, modernization and other major projects.

Years ago, novelist Tayari Jones snuck into a writing class. It changed her life

Jones' new novel, Kin, is set in 1950s Louisiana and Atlanta, and tells the story of two young women who grow up next door to each other without their mothers.

EPA proposed rule change to the Clean Water Act would end federal protections for nearly 80% of the nation’s wetlands

The Environmental Protection Agency last November announced a change to the Clean Water Act, citing a 2023 Supreme Court decision, that would alter what bodies of water would be regulated under the act. Local and state organizations react to the proposal, some claiming that most of Iowa and Illinois’ wetlands would lose protections and continue to be degraded.

17-year-old killed in rollover crash identified

Officials said Kyler Rugg of Wayland, Iowa, was thrown from a car after he lost control on a curve and the car rolled multiple times.

Why these Iowans are special guests for State of the Union Speech

Iowa's congressional delegation announced special guests for Tuesday's State of the Union Address.

Davenport Democrat Kevin Randle to run for Scott County Board

A political newcomer, Randle leads an AFSCME local, serves on the executive board of the Quad City Federation of Labor and works as a GIS analyst for Davenport.

What does Gov. JB Pritzker’s nuclear energy executive order do?

A recent executive order by Gov. JB Pritzker set a new goal to begin development on new nuclear power plants by 2033.

Dan Tedesco in concert in Bishop Hill March 1

Crossroads Cultural Connections is hosting American singer-songwriter Dan Tedesco on Sunday, March 1st at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 Bishop Hill Street in Bishop Hill. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with an optional community potluck dinner (guests are invited to bring a dish to share), followed by the concert at 7 p.m. The suggested [...]

Families of Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria to attend State of the Union

Families of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria last December will attend President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of Iowa’s congressional delegation.

Former city clerk pleads guilty to improper spending

Former McCausland City Clerk Sheila Bosworth pleaded guilty in Scott County Court Monday.

Prosecutors oppose moving Fisher trial out of Henry County

Henry County prosecutors on Monday filed an objection to moving the trial of Jamison Fisher out of the county.

Brooks & Dunn announce tour stop at Vibrant Arena

Country musicians Brooks & Dunn will perform at the Vibrant Arena on their Neon Moon tour.

Jordan Peace Foundation hosts kids' cancer gift drive

The Jordan Peace Foundation is hosting a Children’s Cancer Donation Gift Drive at TMBC Lincoln Center, 318 E. 7th Street in Davenport, on February 28 from 12 – 3 p.m. The foundation was created in memory of Jordan LaShawn Jackson, who died from neuroblastoma at the age of 3. It works to bring comfort, support and joy [...]

QC libraries receive tech, education program grants

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced over $680,000 in grants have been awarded to public libraries statewide. The $680,522 in Project Next Generation grants will help 36 public libraries expand technology access and educational programming for middle and high school students These area libraries are among the ones receiving Project Next [...]

7 reasons veterans struggle with debt, and how to get relief

7 reasons veterans struggle with debt, and how to get reliefDebt is a widespread issue for Americans, but for veterans and military families, it’s often more than just a temporary setback — it can be a chronic, compounding problem tied directly to their service.According to the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), the burden isn’t just financial. It’s also deeply emotional, affecting mental health, stability and long-term financial readiness.Let’s take a closer look at why veterans face such unique financial challenges and, according to Accredited Debt Relief, what can be done to help.The Debt Burden on Military FamiliesMilitary life comes with sacrifices that most civilians never have to consider. Long deployments, frequent relocations and gaps in income after service all contribute to a perfect storm of financial instability. MFAN’s 2021 Military Family Support Programming Survey highlights just how serious the situation is.75.8% of military and veteran families have debt and they are…Unable to build their savings: 51.2% have been unable to save in the last two years.Unprepared for emergencies: 38.4% have less than $500 saved for emergencies.Burdened by financial stress: 80.7% are experiencing financial stress.These are not just statistics. They represent families who are constantly worried about their next bill, who may be putting off healthcare or who are forced to make impossible decisions between necessities.Why Are Veterans in Debt?Let's take a closer look at the seven common reasons veterans face unique financial challenges:Frequent Moving ExpensesDifficulty Finding a New JobJob or Income LossMedical BillsThe Rising Cost of LivingMissing Bills During DeploymentDelayed or Insufficient Benefits Accredited Debt Relief The Financial Pressures Behind Veteran DebtFrequent Moving ExpensesEven with covered relocation, hidden incidental expenses (like temporary lodging, deposits, lost income and vehicle shipping) add up quickly when you move every 2-3 years. Dual rents or tough home sales during transitions can also strain finances.Difficulty Finding a New JobWhen veterans transition to civilian life, finding a job that truly fits their skills is tough. Often, military experience isn't recognized or there's no clear civilian equivalent. This can lead to long unemployment or underemployment, quickly creating financial strain.Job or Income LossSpouses of military members are often forced to leave their jobs during relocations and veterans may face unexpected layoffs or contract work with inconsistent pay. Without a financial cushion, even a short gap in income can lead to credit card debt or personal loans.Medical BillsEven with VA healthcare, veterans may still face unaffordable medical costs. This is especially true if their conditions aren’t yet rated by the VA or if they need care outside of VA-approved facilities. Private health insurance can come with high premiums, copays and deductibles that stack up quickly.The Rising Cost of LivingRising inflation hits military and veteran families particularly hard. The cost of essentials, like groceries have increased 19.1% since 2022. For families already on tight budgets, price hikes deepen their financial challenges.Missing Bills During DeploymentDeployments are chaotic. Even with careful planning, it’s easy to miss a due date—especially for service members without reliable internet access or who are focused on mission-critical tasks. Missed payments can snowball into collections, late fees and credit damage.Delayed or Insufficient BenefitsWhile VA benefits are a lifeline for many, delays are common. According to the VA, the average processing time for disability claims is currently over 84 days. That’s more than three months that a veteran might go without the financial support they desperately need. Appeals can drag on even longer.What Veterans Can Do to Get Back on TrackVeterans and their families are incredibly resilient — but financial challenges can feel overwhelming without the right tools. Sometimes, careful budgeting just isn’t enough. Fortunately, there are solutions for veterans to help reduce debt, restore stability and rebuild confidence.Debt Consolidation OptionsIf you’re juggling multiple high-interest debts — like credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills — debt consolidation options can offer immediate relief. This solution combines your debts into one simplified monthly payment.For many veterans, this approach is faster and more affordable than minimum payments or bankruptcy. It can free up cash flow, reduce stress and help you get out of debt faster than other debt relief methods.Benefits of consolidation may include:Lower eligible monthly payments by 40% or moreOne manageable payment dateAvoiding bankruptcyLess emotional strainGet out of debt in 24 to 48 monthsVeterans deserve financial options that respect their service and protect their future. Debt consolidation offers a clear, compassionate path forward.Nonprofit Credit CounselingReputable organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) provide personalized financial guidance. Their programs help veterans and military families review their full financial picture, create a budget and understand all their repayment options.VA Financial Assistance ProgramsThe VA Debt Management Center offers solutions for veterans struggling with VA-related debts. These include extended payment plans, pauses on collections and in some cases, debt forgiveness based on hardship.Military Relief SocietiesEach military branch has nonprofit aid societies offering financial support in times of crisis. These include:Army Emergency Relief (AER)Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)Air & Space Force Aid Society (AFAS)Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)These programs can provide grants, interest-free loans and emergency assistance to help with housing, utilities or unexpected expenses.Debt Solutions for VeteransAddressing veteran debt typically requires a combination of financial assessment and access to appropriate resources. Available options may include budgeting assistance, nonprofit credit counseling, hardship programs and debt consolidation options.Many programs, like those offered by debt consolidation companies, provide free consultations with debt professionals, during which they’ll review your income, expenses and unsecured debt. These discussions generally outline estimated timelines, fees and potential outcomes, allowing veterans to evaluate whether a particular approach aligns with their financial circumstances and goals.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Banks are testing a new type of crypto dollar called stablecoins. Here’s what that means for consumers

Banks are testing a new type of crypto dollar called stablecoins. Here’s what that means for consumersIf you’ve ever sent money through Western Union, paid with a Visa card while traveling, or waited days for an electronic payment to settle, you’ve already used the systems known as “payment rails” that move money globally between friends, families and businesses.Now, banks and payment companies are testing how cryptocurrency technologies might speed up those systems and help people process and reconcile payments more efficiently.One of those tools is the stablecoin, a type of digital token designed to hold a consistent value. Stablecoins are most often pegged to the U.S. dollar (USD), but they can also be backed by other currencies, including fiat (government-issued) money and crypto.Unlike other cryptocurrencies that can rise and fall sharply in price, USD-backed stablecoins are intended to remain, like their name suggests, predictable. As such, they’re designed for everyday transactions rather than trading and investing. OpenSea explains how the introduction of stablecoins may affect consumers.Why stablecoins are getting attention nowInterest in stablecoin technology has grown steadily over the past seven months, alongside clearer regulation. In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, which created a federal framework for certain dollar-backed digital crypto tokens. Regulators then opened 2026 by advancing proposals on crypto market regulation and mulling over questions such as which regulatory body should oversee digital assets and how dollar-backed stablecoins could be used inside the banking system.That regulatory momentum has made banks more willing to test the technology at scale, increasing the likelihood you’ll soon see stablecoins as an option at some checkouts. According to Bloomberg, stablecoin transaction volumes reached about $33 trillion in 2025, up from $19.7 trillion a year earlier, and the World Economic Forum predicts that 2026 will be a “defining moment” for crypto technologies.What is a stablecoin, and how do they work?A stablecoin is a digital crypto token that represents a fixed amount of currency, most often one USD. Each token is designed to track that value consistently because it’s backed by an equal amount of reserves held by the issuer, or the organization that creates and manages the stablecoin.Stablecoins can be issued by banks, government-related entities, or private companies. The stablecoin issuer decides how many of the crypto coins will exist and holds the money or assets that back each token. Different issuers operate under different levels of oversight, and the rules for each are still being defined by lawmakers.Still, issuers are responsible for following regulations, providing disclosures to customers, and maintaining systems that help keep the stablecoin’s value predictable. OpenSea Types of stablecoins“Not all stablecoins are created equal,” said Corey Ballou, head of trust and safety engineering at OpenSea. “The term covers a wide range of designs with very different risk profiles.”The main difference between stablecoin types is the method used to maintain their value. Some stablecoins are issued by regulated entities and backed by reserves such as cash or short-term government securities, Ballou explained. Others rely on algorithms or market incentives to try to maintain a peg to the dollar.“Those design choices matter,” Ballou said, “especially for consumers who may assume all stablecoins work the same way.”Ballou explained users should understand how a stablecoin maintains its value before treating it as a payment tool or store of funds. Algorithmic stablecoins, in particular, can behave very differently during periods of market stress.Dollar-backed stablecoinsThis is the most common (and easiest to understand) kind of stablecoin. Each digital dollar is backed by real money or government assets, such as USD or Treasury bonds, held by the company or bank that issued it. The idea is that for every digital dollar in circulation, there is a real dollar or something very close to it set aside.One example is USD Coin, known as USDC, which is issued by Circle, a U.S.-based financial technology company. Circle designed USDC to be used for payments, money transfers, and financial transactions. The company says USDC is 100% backed by cash and “cash-equivalent assets” like short-term U.S. Treasuries.Similar stablecoins also exist for other currencies, too, such as the euro (EUR). Fiat-backed stablecoins are the type most often used by banks, payment companies, government-related projects, and everyday consumers.Crypto-backed stablecoinsInstead of being backed by cash, these stablecoins are backed by other cryptocurrencies. Computer programs help manage this process. Stablecoins in this category are more commonly used by traders who are familiar with crypto platforms than in traditional banking systems or payment apps.One example is SkyDollar (USDS), a stablecoin issued by Sky. Formerly known as MakerDAO, Sky is a remote organization made up of users, developers, and investors, rather than a single issuer. The value of its stablecoin is collateralized by various cryptocurrencies. Because each cryptocurrency is valued differently, the group uses code to manage the system that maintains the stablecoin’s $1 value.Algorithm-based stablecoinsThese stablecoins are not backed by cash or crypto assets. Instead, they rely on software that automatically increases or decreases the number of tokens in circulation in an attempt to keep the price stable. Some of these systems have failed in the past, most notably the collapse of an algorithmic stablecoin known as TerraUSD (UST) in 2022, which “de-pegged” from its $1 valuation and lost value.Where consumers may see stablecoinsFor most consumers, stablecoins are not expected to replace cash, credit cards, or bank accounts outright. Instead, banks, payment companies and online businesses are beginning to offer dollar-linked digital tokens as an additional way to pay for more flexibility. Stablecoins are already used in some online shopping checkouts, money transfer apps and cryptocurrency platforms, and they can sometimes settle faster and with lower fees than traditional payment rails.What financial services are testing stablecoins?Several large technology companies are testing stablecoins as a new way to send and receive money digitally. In January 2026, Polygon, one of the leading firms that builds crypto software, said it would spend more than $250 million to buy two companies as part of an effort to introduce stablecoins to new consumers. One company operates a cryptocurrency exchange, or a marketplace where people can buy and sell digital tokens. The other builds crypto wallet software that allows consumers to store and use digital money in accounts that they own.For most consumers, stablecoins are likely to appear inside apps and services they already use, rather than as a new type of money they need to seek out or manage. In financial apps such as Revolut, which an estimated 65 million individuals use to send money between international families and friends, stablecoins are now a currency option alongside traditional fiat currencies. Revolut announced in October 2025 that it would eliminate transaction fees for certain types of stablecoins, which could also make some of these peer-to-peer payments cheaper.Meanwhile, Visa is testing stablecoins to help businesses pay overseas suppliers, contractors or partners more quickly and at more convenient hours when banks in different time zones are closed.In other cases, the decision to use stablecoins may be entirely up to the customer’s preference, with no need for the recipient to adjust their banking habits at all. Payments company Stripe, for instance, plans to let businesses accept stablecoins from customers who want to pay their invoices and subscriptions in crypto. Customers click “pay” as usual, but choose their stablecoin as the currency. The payments then settle in the business’s Stripe balance as USD like any other “normal” payment would.Similarly, money-transfer apps like Zelle announced in October 2025 that it will begin testing the use of stablecoins in order to allow Zelle users to send money internationally. In the same month, Western Union, a company long known for international money transfers, announced a pilot for its own digital dollar token called USDPT. The token will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, a federally regulated digital asset bank, in the first half of 2026.All this momentum has carried over into public currencies, too: In January 2025, Wyoming became the first U.S. state to launch a state-backed stablecoin, known as the Frontier Stable Token, or FRNT, to test how digital dollars could be used for payments and the financing of public projects while staying within existing laws.Finally, major banks including Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Barclays, Banco Santander, BNP Paribas, MUFG and TD Bank Group have said they are jointly exploring stablecoins tied to major national currencies such as the U.S. dollar, euro and Japanese yen, as they look for ways to move money faster using the underlying technology in a compliant way.Are stablecoins safe for consumers?Stablecoins are designed to be less volatile than other cryptocurrencies, but their safety for consumers depends on how they are issued, stored and used.Beyond the type of stablecoin, Ballou said the way people use applications known as “digital wallets” can also play a major role in safety, sometimes even posing new opportunities for risk.Only store in your crypto wallet what you’d be comfortable spending or, in a worst-case scenario, losing if hacked. “Think of a digital wallet like a payments app you’d use for everyday spending, not a place to store your entire savings,” Ballou said.Crypto wallets function more like payment apps than traditional bank accounts. One example is MetaMask, a widely used app that lets people store and move digital assets. Interestingly, MetaMask has its own dollar-linked stablecoin, mUSD, that users can keep and send directly within the app.Ballou added that starting with small amounts, keeping wallet software up to date, and using device-level protections such as passcodes or biometric locks can significantly reduce risk.He also emphasized protecting recovery information that allows users to regain access to a wallet if they lose a phone or device. “Recovery phrases should be written down and stored offline in a secure location,” he said. “They shouldn’t be saved digitally and should never be shared with anyone.”Finally, Ballou urged users to slow down before sending funds. “Taking an extra minute to verify transaction details before clicking send makes all the difference,” he said. “Users should double-check the destination address, the amount, the fees, and the asset before confirming a transaction.”Used thoughtfully, stablecoins could help make payments faster and more flexible for consumers. Like any new technology, they also require new habits. Sticking to trusted apps and carefully reviewing details before sending money can help users take advantage of the benefits while reducing risk.This story was produced by OpenSea and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Milan man charged with child sexual abuse, child pornography production

Illinois State Police arrested a 56-year-old Milan man on felony sexual abuse and child pornography production charges.

3 Things to Know | Quad Cities morning headlines for Feb. 24, 2026

Bettendorf is stepping up traffic enforcement along Tanglefood Lane and Tech Drive, and road work is starting in Burlington at Washington and 5th Street.

Know the signs before it’s too late: Red Cross shares how to spot a heart emergency quickly

Heart emergencies don’t always look obvious. Red Cross officials share the warning signs you shouldn’t ignore and the first steps to take.

Kevin Randle running for Scott County Board of Supervisors

Kevin Randle, a Democrat and community advocate, has announced his candidacy for the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Randle’s campaign focuses on expanding opportunity and strengthening public services to ensure Scott County remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. His key priorities include increasing access to affordable housing, supporting responsible economic [...]

How often should you actually wash your bed sheets? (Plus expert tips for doing it right)

How often should you actually wash your bed sheets? (Plus expert tips for doing it right)Is there anything better than crawling into a clean bed after a long day? Nothing beats freshly washed sheets. However, a lot of things beat the act of actually washing them.With today’s demands, washing your sheets may not be at the top of the priority list. Everyone is busy, and washing the bedding is not a quick task. Nevertheless, it must be done. But how often, you ask? Naturepedic answers.Why You Need to Wash Your SheetsWashing your sheets is like hitting the refresh button for your bed. Did you know you spend about a third of your life nestled in those cozy layers? Over time, they can become a magnet for things like:Dust mitesSweatDead skin cellsBody oils, allergensBacteria… and even the occasional midnight snack crumb. (We don’t judge!) Freshly washed sheets not only feel fantastic, but also promote better sleep and overall health, helping to create a clean and serene sleep environment.Washing your sheets regularly is essential for maintaining good hygiene. On the other hand, not washing them can contribute to acne, skin irritations, allergic reactions and respiratory issues, particularly for those with asthma or allergies. Regular laundering also helps extend the lifespan of your bedding by preventing the buildup of residues that can weaken the fabric fibers.How Often to Wash Bed SheetsMedical experts recommend washing your bed sheets once per week. This is seen as the standard, although the average person will typically wash them once every two weeks (which is still good). However, if you have allergies, asthma or sensitive skin, you might benefit from washing them even more frequently, such as every three to four days.During the summer months (or if you tend to sweat while sleeping), you may benefit from increasing the frequency with which you wash your sheets. You may also want to wash them more frequently if you allow your pet to sleep in the bed.If you’re not able to wash your sheets weekly, at least keep more than one set on hand and switch them out for a fresh set — the laundry can wait!How to Wash Sheets the Right WayTo wash your sheets, follow these easy steps:1. Begin by checking the care label for specific instructions regarding temperature and washing methods.2. Generally, use warm water to effectively remove dirt and bacteria, but hot water can be used for white or light-colored sheets to ensure thorough cleaning.3. Opt for a gentle cycle to preserve the fabric's integrity.4. Use a mild, EWG Verified® detergent and avoid bleach as it can weaken the fibers over time.5. In order to prevent tangling, wash your sheets separately on their own or with lightweight items similar in fabric and color.6. After washing, tumble dry on low heat or line dry to maintain softness and prevent shrinkage.7. Always ensure your sheets are completely dry before storing to prevent mold and mildew growth.5 Tips for Removing StainsWhile using bleach isn’t recommended , it is important to pre-treat any stains you may have prior to putting your sheets in the wash cycle.Here are some natural and nontoxic tips on how to remove stains that will come in handy with the common offenders.Baking soda and vinegarFor a versatile stain-removal solution, mix baking soda with water to form a paste and apply it directly to the stain. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. For tougher stains, follow up by spraying white vinegar on the baking soda paste. The fizzing action can help lift the stain. After letting it sit for another 15-30 minutes, wash the sheets as usual.Lemon juice and sunlightLemon juice is excellent as it contains natural enzymes. Apply fresh lemon juice to the stain and let the sheets sit in direct sunlight for a few hours. The natural bleaching effect of the lemon juice combined with sunlight can help to lighten and remove the stain. Afterward, rinse with cold water and wash as usual.Hydrogen peroxide and baking sodaFor darker stains, hydrogen peroxide can be very effective. Mix hydrogen peroxide with a small amount of baking soda to form a paste and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Be sure to test this mixture on a small, inconspicuous area first, as hydrogen peroxide can have a bleaching effect on some fabrics.Salt and cold waterThis combination works great on wine. (In bed? Again, we don’t judge!) Immediately soak the stained area in cold water, then sprinkle salt generously over the stain. Gently rub the salt into the fabric and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with more cold water and wash as usual.Cornstarch and milkFor ink stains or other stubborn marks, make a thick paste using cornstarch and a small amount of milk. Apply the paste to the stain and allow it to dry completely, which might take several hours. Once dry, brush off the residue and launder the sheets in cold water. This method helps to lift the ink without spreading it further.Remember to Clean Your Mattress, TooYes, it is possible to wash your mattress.To prolong the lifespan of your mattress, refresh and wash it regularly. While your sheets and other bedding are in the laundry, vacuum your mattress surface to remove dust, crumbs and debris. A designated mattress vacuum can be purchased, or a standard handheld or attachment works, too. Try sprinkling baking soda over the entire mattress to neutralize odors. Vacuum the baking soda thoroughly. If possible, move the mattress outside to air out briefly. Rotate the mattress to ensure even wear, and finish by encasing it in a waterproof mattress pad to protect it from future stains and allergens.Once per week — that’s all it takes to drastically improve your environment and sleep. So hit the refresh button, and wash your sheets. Laundry day never felt so good.This story was produced by Naturepedic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Final phase of I-80 work in Henry County starts March 9

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is in the final phase of construction on Interstate 80 in Henry County. IDOT announced that the final phase of construction on 5.7 miles of Interstate 80 in Henry County will begin Monday, March 9, weather permitting. The work zone is from the Rock River to south of U.S. [...]

Brooks & Dunn coming to Vibrant Arena Oct. 3

Brooks & Dunn, the best-selling country duo of all time and most-awarded artists in CMA history are extending their Neon Moon Tour to include a stop at the Vibrant Arena in Moline. David Lee Murphy and Angie K are the opening acts. An artist presale starts on Wednesday, February 25 at 10 a.m. and general [...]

Bespoke on the move: Custom craftsmanship trends in luxury vehicle interiors

Bespoke on the move: Custom craftsmanship trends in luxury vehicle interiorsThe latest figures from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) suggest that for most showroom floors, 2026 has opened with a cold snap. New light-vehicle sales hit a January SAAR of 14.9 million units—a 4.1% year-over-year decline that marks the slowest start to a year since early 2024. However, the luxury vehicle market has effectively detached itself from the economic gravity pulling down the rest of the automotive sector.While mainstream demand stalls under the weight of high interest rates and “sticker shock,” high-end road transport remains on an aggressive trajectory. Grand View Research projects the niche will grow at a steady 7.2% annually through 2030.This isn’t just a minor statistical gap; It’s a fundamental disconnect. Historically, niche luxury markets were the first to feel the sting of economic volatility, but that rule has been tossed out in this "K-shaped" recovery. The current data suggests that interior quality and deep-level customization have replaced pure engine performance as the primary catalysts for growth.In this article, custom luxury vehicle conversion company Lexani Motorcars examines this definitive shift, where manufacturers are retreating from traditional horsepower wars to cater to a new set of customer expectations focused almost entirely on the tactile and digital experience of the cabin.Investigating the Surprising Strength of Luxury Vehicle SalesThe trajectory of the luxury car market is currently valued at roughly $695.92 billion, with the research mentioned above from Grand View Research forecasting that it will rise above the trillion-dollar mark by 2030. While North America maintains a dominant 23% share of global demand, the drivers behind these sales have shifted fundamentally.Most industry analysis focuses on the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) as the primary reason luxury sales remain buoyant. However, a deeper dive into consumer behavior reveals a more significant factor: a hyper-sensitivity to the sensory experience.According to a 2025 Statista Consumer Insights report, 46.2% of buyers now prioritize “high quality” over pure design or engine specs. In an era where even entry-level cars have reached a baseline of reliability, luxury consumers are moving the goalposts toward how a car feels to the touch rather than just how it looks from the curb.This pivot is largely a defensive one. The JD Power 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study notes that the most significant pain points for modern owners are no longer mechanical—they are digital. Software glitches and “clunky” infotainment systems have become the new measure of an unreliable vehicle. For the luxury buyer in 2026, desirability is increasingly tied to the seamlessness of the tactile and digital cabin, proving that the true value of a premium car is no longer just about what’s under the hood.The Equalizing Impact of Electric VehiclesThe transition to electric vehicles (EVs) isn’t just a trend in sustainability; it is fundamentally rewriting the rules of luxury differentiation. For a century, high-end manufacturers justified their price premiums through mechanical complexity—the V12 engine was a barrier to entry that a standard four-cylinder simply couldn’t touch.Electrification has effectively leveled that playing field. Today, when a mid-range electric sedan can deliver near-instant torque and sub-four-second acceleration, pure performance has shifted from a luxury hallmark to a standard baseline.This performance “leveling” has forced a strategic pivot. Since manufacturers can no longer rely on a straight-line speed advantage to justify six-figure price tags, they are turning their focus to the “tactile sanctuary” of the cabin.Brands are betting that if they cannot win on horsepower alone, they must win on the sensory experience—using bespoke materials and extreme acoustic insulation to protect their brand margins. This has triggered an interior “arms race” in an era where speed has become commoditized.Reliability is the second half of this equation. Historically, the most expensive cars were often the most temperamental, burdened by intricate cooling and fuel systems. According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, battery-electric vehicles cost roughly 40% less to maintain over their lifetime compared to internal combustion engines.This shift allows luxury buyers to look beyond the spec sheet and instead compare vehicles based on how they feel to inhabit for long-haul travel. While some enthusiasts argue that electrification has turned cars into technology platforms rather than mechanical art, the surging demand for bespoke cabin specifications suggests that for most affluent buyers, this is a necessary evolution.The Return and Reinvention of Bespoke Luxury Vehicle InteriorsThe demand for quality and customization is so great that vehicle manufacturers cannot meet it alone. While options lists might be longer than ever, and in-house alterations from the likes of Porsche and Lamborghini are big hits with their target demos, we are also in an era of renewed interest in third-party bespoke interior providers.Aside from the reasons discussed so far, the call for bespoke craftsmanship has grown as buyers seek features that automakers can’t justify adding to their volume products. Customers at the very pinnacle of the market now want interiors that match or exceed what you’d find in their offices and private jet cabins.Everything from integrated infotainment capable of carrying out videoconferencing on the go to complete coffee-making facilities and even restrooms (in certain vehicles) can be included. More importantly, the expected quality is such that the integration looks seamless rather than bolted on.In short, aesthetic alterations are now a small part of what bespoke luxury vehicle interiors must deliver. And if a manufacturer can’t or won’t meet customer requirements, a third-party conversion company will step in to take the lead.Is This Trend Here to Stay?The data doesn’t just suggest growth; it reveals a market that has fundamentally split. Luxury vehicle sales are currently defying traditional automotive cycles because high-end buyers no longer view these cars as simple hardware—they are mobile workspaces and sensory extensions. As long as technology continues to drive cabin productivity and comfort, the demand for bespoke features will remain the industry’s primary engine.The rest of the sector faces a more hostile reality. With rising prices and high interest rates effectively squeezing the middle class, volume-focused manufacturers are left fighting for the few buyers who haven’t been pushed toward the used market.This story was produced by Lexani Motorcars and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Country music duo Brooks & Dunn to make tour stop in Quad Cities

Best-selling country music duo Brooks & Dunn is coming to Vibrant Arena.

Amateur searches can help, hurt

Volunteers have launched their own searches in the dense desert near Savannah Guthrie’s Tucson home, but the Sheriff’s Department has asked for space to let investigators do their job.

The real estate route that attracted billions is gone: Inside Portugal's Golden Visa pivot to innovation

The real estate route that attracted billions is gone: Inside Portugal’s Golden Visa pivot to innovationFor more than a decade, Portugal ran one of the most successful residency-by-investment programs in the world — and real estate was its engine. Between 2012 and 2023, foreign investors poured an estimated 6.45 billion euros into Portuguese property through the Golden Visa program, reshaping neighborhoods across Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve in the process.Then, in October 2023, the Portuguese government shut the engine off.Under the “Mais Habitação” (More Housing) law, real estate purchases were eliminated as a qualifying investment for the Golden Visa. So were capital transfers and real estate-linked funds. The move was designed to relieve pressure on a housing market where prices had risen 55% over the preceding decade while local incomes grew just 9%.What happened next surprised many observers: Instead of collapsing, the program posted its strongest year on record. Movingto.com compiled and analyzed publicly available data from Portugal’s immigration agency to examine how Portugal’s Golden Visa affected the country.7.3 Billion Euros and a Housing CrisisPortugal launched the Golden Visa — formally the Autorização de Residência para Atividade de Investimento (ARI) — in October 2012, in the middle of a severe economic downturn. The pitch was straightforward: Invest at least 500,000 euros in Portuguese real estate, and receive a residence permit with visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area, a minimal stay requirement of roughly seven days per year, and eligibility for citizenship after five years.The program worked. According to official statistics compiled by Movingto.com, it attracted approximately 17,700 main applicants and over 7.3 billion euros in total investment through 2024. Real estate accounted for approximately 6.45 billion euros of that total — roughly 88% of all capital that flowed through the program. Capital transfers made up another 837 million euros, with the remaining investment split across job creation, research, and cultural heritage routes.At its peak, the Golden Visa was issuing over 1,500 residence permits per year to main applicants alone. Including family members, more than 42,600 people obtained Portuguese residency through the program.But the investment came with side effects. In Lisbon, nonresident buyers accounted for over 11% of home purchases by 2022, and average property values had climbed more than 30% in just two years. Rents in the capital surged, short-term tourist rentals consumed housing stock, and local residents — particularly younger Portuguese — found themselves priced out of their own cities.The Golden Visa became a political lightning rod. Movingto.com has processed over 2,500 Golden Visa applications with a 98% approval rate. The program contributed a fraction of total foreign property investment in Portugal, but it became the face of the housing affordability debate.Critics, including Lisbon’s mayor, argued that the Mais Habitação bill failed to address the structural causes of the crisis — insufficient housing construction, booming tourism demand, and regulatory constraints that limited new supply. Portugal built roughly 20,000 new residential units in recent years, compared to 200,000 annually at the turn of the century. But the political calculus was clear: The real estate route had to go.The Pivot: From Property to FundsWhat replaced it was a fundamental reorientation of the program’s economic logic. Instead of channeling foreign capital into an already-overheated property market, the reformed Golden Visa directs investment toward venture capital funds, scientific research, cultural heritage preservation, and job creation.Here are the current qualifying routes, as outlined in Portugal’s Golden Visa program guide.Investment funds: A minimum 500,000 euro commitment to CMVM-regulated venture capital or private equity funds that invest at least 60% of their capital within Portugal. This is now the dominant route.Cultural heritage: A 250,000 euro contribution to certified cultural or artistic projects, reduced to 200,000 euros in designated low-density areas.Scientific research: A 500,000 euro investment supporting certified Portuguese research institutions or projects.Job creation: Establishing or investing in a business that creates a minimum of 10 jobs in Portugal.The shift has been dramatic. According to Movingto.com’s internal client data, 96% of current Golden Visa applicants are choosing the investment fund route, with just 3% opting for cultural heritage and 2% for scientific research. The job creation route, while still available, accounts for a negligible share of applications.Funds are the clear winner of the reform. American investors in particular understand fund structures — they know how to evaluate a prospectus, they’re comfortable with a five-year lock-up period, and they don’t have to manage a property from 5,000 miles away.The eligible funds span sectors that Portugal is actively trying to develop: technology, renewable energy, healthcare, life sciences, and sustainable infrastructure. All must be registered with Portugal’s securities regulator, the CMVM (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários), and are subject to ongoing compliance requirements.A Record Year — Without Real EstateThe most striking data point in the post-reform era is that 2024 was the program’s strongest year on record. According to AIMA’s annual Migration and Asylum Report, published in October 2025, approximately 4,990 total Golden Visa permits were issued in 2024 — including both main applicants and family members — representing a 72% year-over-year increase and surpassing the previous high set in 2017.The surge was partly driven by AIMA clearing a significant backlog of applications inherited from the former immigration agency SEF. But it also reflected genuinely strong new demand, particularly from American investors who now make up the largest national group of applicants. In 2023, U.S. nationals received 567 Golden Visa permits — a 162.5% increase from the prior year.The family reunification numbers tell another important story. In 2024, 2,909 family members received residence permits linked to Golden Visa investments, up 87% from 1,554 in 2023. The growth in dependents suggests that investors are not simply parking capital in Portugal — they are making long-term plans that include spouses, children, and sometimes dependent parents.The Housing Market Kept Rising AnywayPerhaps the most uncomfortable data point for the Mais Habitação law’s architects: Portuguese property prices continued climbing after the Golden Visa real estate route was removed.By April 2025, median bank appraisal values had risen 16.9% year-over-year, reaching 1,866 euros per square meter. The housing market’s trajectory suggests that the Golden Visa was never the primary driver of price increases — a conclusion that multiple real estate analysts and even members of the subsequent government have acknowledged.The structural supply problem persists. Construction constraints, including labor shortages, elevated material costs, and administrative delays, continue to limit new housing stock. The Portuguese government has since launched a 2 billion euro public housing initiative and proposed easing construction restrictions to promote denser urban development, tacitly conceding that cutting off Golden Visa capital alone was insufficient.What the Shift Means for Portugal’s EconomyThe Golden Visa’s pivot from real estate to funds represents a broader bet on economic transformation. The earlier model concentrated foreign capital in an asset class that, while visible and politically sensitive, produced limited multiplier effects. An investor buying a 500,000 euro apartment in Lisbon’s Chiado neighborhood generated transaction taxes and occasional renovation spending, but contributed little to Portugal’s productive economy.The fund-based model is designed to work differently. Capital channeled through regulated venture capital and private equity funds flows into Portuguese companies — startups, SMEs, research projects, and infrastructure developments — that generate employment, tax revenue, and intellectual property. The CMVM’s requirement that at least 60% of fund capital be invested domestically provides a structural floor for Portuguese economic exposure.Whether this bet pays off depends on factors that will take years to evaluate: the performance of the underlying funds, the quality of the companies they invest in, and Portugal’s ability to develop the innovation ecosystem needed to absorb and productively deploy this capital.Early indications are promising. Portugal’s tech ecosystem has expanded significantly in recent years, anchored by events like the Web Summit (which relocated from Dublin to Lisbon in 2016) and a growing cluster of startups and venture-backed companies. The country’s GDP growth forecast of approximately 2.4% for 2025 outpaces the eurozone average, and foreign direct investment has remained robust even as the Golden Visa underwent its structural overhaul.A Program in TransitionThe Golden Visa’s reinvention is not complete. Processing times through AIMA remain lengthy — typically 12 to 24 months from application to initial permit — and the pending nationality law changes could extend the citizenship timeline from five years to 10. Portugal’s Parliament is still deliberating on the revised legislation, which was vetoed by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in December 2025 after the Constitutional Court struck down several provisions.For investors, the calculus has changed but the fundamentals remain intact: European residency with minimal physical presence, access to the Schengen Area, and a citizenship pathway — the timeline of which remains uncertain. For Portugal, the question is whether redirecting billions in foreign capital from apartments to innovation can deliver the economic returns the government is banking on.What is clear from the program’s 12-year statistical record is that the Golden Visa has proven remarkably resilient through multiple political upheavals, regulatory overhauls, and a global pandemic. The real estate era generated 6.45 billion euros and reshaped Portugal’s cities. The fund era is just beginning — and its consequences may prove even more transformative.Methodology: This analysis draws on publicly available data from Portugal’s immigration agency AIMA, as compiled and analyzed by Movingto.com; internal client data from Movingto.com based on over 2,500 processed applications (2022-2025); AIMA’s annual Migration and Asylum Reports (2023 and 2024); CMVM fund registration data; and Portuguese housing market statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Historical Golden Visa program data covers October 2012 through 2024. Investment breakdowns through 2023 are drawn from official ARI reporting, as AIMA ceased publishing granular investment-type data after that date.This story was produced by Movingto.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

In search of affordability: Where to find a lower cost of living

In search of affordability: Where to find a lower cost of livingIf there’s one issue that every single American is dealing with these days, it’s that costs are going up. Food, shelter, energy — the bills just keep getting bigger, and the affordability of daily life is being strained.But here’s some surprising math you might not be aware of: Affordability can be extremely different depending on where you live.That means you can completely change your budget outlook by picking up stakes and finding somewhere that’s a better fit for your finances.“As costs have risen in recent years, this has become a big topic,” says Andrew Fincher, a planner with VLP Financial Advisors in Vienna, Virginia.It’s more common than you might think. In fact, in a February 2026 survey commissioned by Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, and conducted by Talker Research, 38% of respondents said they moved because where they were living had become too expensive. Among Gen Zers, that figure rises even higher, to an eye-popping 51%. In addition, over half of respondents didn’t believe they’d ever be able to live in their “ideal” city (52%) or state (48%), with Gen Z again being the most pessimistic, with 64% saying they don’t think they will be able to afford their ideal city.To be sure, a move is not something to be taken lightly: it involves a lot of different factors, social as well as economic, from job status to friends to family.But if you’re looking for something to dramatically change your cost-of-living equation — and even your eventual retirement prospects — a big move is certainly one way to pull that off.Do your due diligenceThe first step in getting it right is to do your research. The survey provides a critical piece of information: The states reported as being most affordable by their own residents.The affordability “winners” are Mississippi, at 62%; Alabama, at 61%; and Oklahoma, at 60%. Those are followed closely by Iowa, at 57%, with Missouri, South Dakota, and Texas all tied at 56%.Of course, just as useful is the information about which states are not affordable. On that end of the spectrum, you find Hawai’i, at 12%; Alaska and Colorado, at 14%, and Connecticut, at 16%.But that isn’t the only statistic to consider when weighing whether to pack up and go. Some other factors that could influence such a big life decision:Tax rates If state income taxes are a major concern for you, good news — there are nine states that don’t have them at all, including major population centers like Texas and Florida, which came in at 56% and 32% of residents, respectively, calling those states “affordable” in the study.Of course, that’s only one piece of the total tax hit: States have to fund their operations somehow, so you would be wise to look into issues like sales and property taxes as well. The areas with the stiffest property taxes in the nation are New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut, while the lowest are Hawai’i, Alabama, and Colorado.Your stage of lifeAt certain life moments, moving is a much more challenging operation. If your kids are settled in a good school with a rich network of friends, you might not want to disrupt that. Or if a job you love requires you to be on-site at a particular office, you likely don’t want to give that up, especially in this turbulent economy.But at other life stages, when you have more flexibility, a move can make a lot of sense. “Is your life at a point where it’s going to change anyway?” asks Nick Weisert, a Denver financial planner. “Are you selling a house, or your kids no longer live with you, or are you close to retirement?”Housing costsThe biggest chunk of our paychecks typically goes toward shelter, whether we’re buying or renting. Financial planners often suggest that housing costs not exceed 30% of income, although many of us are already well beyond that.When real estate Zillow crunched the numbers to find which cities across the nation had the largest share of affordable listings, it came up with this top five: Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Buffalo, Detroit, and Indianapolis.A final note: While state affordability is definitely a factor to consider, remember that some money-saving actions can be taken no matter where you live.That could include shifting savings — which could be earning you nothing — into higher-earning accounts. Increasing your credit score will also alter what you pay on everything from car notes to personal loans to mortgages. If your score needs a boost, you may want to consider using a secured charge card. You’ll want to look for one that reports to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and has a low or no required minimum deposit.Combining those two strategies — maximizing your finances right where you are, while also looking at lower-cost possibilities around the country — can be a powerful step in making life more affordable.Advises Weisert: “Generally, a move is a good idea if it frees up 20% or more of your cash flow, or pulls retirement up by 2-3 years — and leads to a meaningful improvement in quality of life.”Wondering where your ideal state fell on the “affordability” survey? Here is the full list!Hawai’i — 12%Alaska, Colorado — 14%Connecticut — 16%Rhode Island — 17%New Jersey — 21%Oregon, Massachusetts — 23%Maine, Nevada, Vermont — 24%California, Illinois, New York — 27%New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah — 28%Washington — 30%Maryland — 31%Florida — 32%Montana — 37%Minnesota — 38%North Carolina — 39%New Mexico — 40%Arizona — 41%Virginia — 42%Georgia, Michigan — 43%West Virginia, Wisconsin — 44%Idaho — 45%Indiana, Louisiana — 49%Delaware, Wyoming — 50%Nebraska — 51%Tennessee — 52%Kansas, Kentucky — 53%Arkansas, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina — 54%Missouri, South Dakota, Texas — 56%Iowa — 57%Oklahoma — 60%Alabama — 61%Mississippi — 62%Research methodologyTalker Research surveyed 5,000 Americans, state by state (100 in each state), who plan to file taxes, split evenly by generation (1,250 Gen Zers, 1,250 millennials, 1,250 Gen Xers, 1,250 baby boomers), who have access to the internet. The survey was commissioned by Current and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Dec. 17, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026.This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Resignations, hirings from United Township School District in February

See the following personnel items are from the Feb. 9 agenda of the United Township Board of Education in East Moline.

Resignations, hirings, other Central DeWitt School District personnel news from February

The following personnel items are from the Feb. 16 agenda of the Central-DeWitt School Board. The School Board met at the Central DeWitt Boardroom, 1010 4th Ave. East in DeWitt.

Iowa, Administration for Children and Families partner to modernize child welfare information systems

Iowa's VISION system will be used as a national model for state and federal partnerships to modernize Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems.

Two chances of wintry weather on the way to the Quad Cities

Officially, 1.8" of snow has fallen in 2026 in the Quad Cities with only 0.1" of that falling in February. Two weather systems threaten us with some snow. The first will be Wednesday night and Thursday. High temperatures over the next week will see many highs and lows. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Muscatine proclaims Alexander Clark Day, honoring civil rights pioneer's 200th birthday

The 2026 observance marks the 200th birthday, Feb. 25, of the laborer, entrepreneur, lawyer, diplomat and civil rights activist.

New Business Spotlight: ManaFest Card Shop now open in East Moline

A one-stop shop for all things magical can be found in East Moline.

Special Weather Statement until TUE 4:00 PM CST

Elevated Fire Danger with Gusty Winds Today

Democrats tap Spanberger and Padilla to respond to State of the Union

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver Democrats' response on Tuesday following President Trump's State of the Union address.

Is the YIMBY movement doomed?

For decades, rising home prices have been an engine for middle-class wealth. Now a growing movement wants to slow — or even reverse — that trend. Are the politics around new housing development inherently stacked against them?

More people bought and sold homes in the Quad Cities in 2025

Compared to 2024, 7% more homes were sold and 6% more were listed in 2025.

The Carp

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Among most Rock Islanders, the carp has a low reputation. If you invite a dozen of your friends over for a grand carp…

'Fear of Flying Clinic' helps anxious travelers back into the skies

For 50 years, a San Francisco-based group has created a space where fearful flyers can get supported exposure to air travel.

Why Gavin Newsom refuses to be a "bystander" in this political moment

What does the Democratic leader see for himself in the years to come?

These small business owners are owed tariff refunds. Will they ever get them?

Anyone who paid the taxes should get reimbursed, but the high court did not address how. Business owners wonder if they'll need lawyers, brokers, money — or luck.

FBI director invites fresh scrutiny over travels with appearance at US men's hockey team celebration

When the American men's hockey team retreated to their locker room to celebrate their Winter Olympics gold medal win, they were joined by a special guest from the United States: FBI Director Kash Patel.

France moves to bar US Ambassador Charles Kushner from direct government access

France's top diplomat has requested that U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government. Kushner skipped a meeting Monday to discuss comments by the Trump administration over the beating death of a far-right activist.

From Davenport to Canton: How Roger Craig’s experiences in Quad Cities led him to greatness

Long before Roger Craig was making history with the 49ers, his unlimited potential was evident at Davenport Central.

Sheriff: 'Purely speculative' if suspect was previously photographed at Guthrie's door

Officials are urging caution over reports that a suspect in Nancy Guthrie's abduction was previously seen at her Tucson home, calling the claims unsubstantiated.

New Muscatine housing will provide safe homes for Jefferson Elementary families

Collaborative partners gathered recently to celebrate the completion of a new housing triplex designed to increase access to safe, stable, and affordable rental housing for families with children attending Jefferson Elementary School, a news release says. This project marks the successful launch of a pilot initiative made possible through a $1.25 million grant from the [...]

Improving Defense Acquisition to Help America’s Warfighters

(NewsUSA) - The Department of Defense's, now renamed the Department of War by the current administration, acquisitions, notoriously sluggish and inefficient, is undergoing a change to make its historically sluggish acquisitions system more agile and responsive.Defense acquisition is the process by which military forces, such as the U.S. Department of Defense, identify needs, manage investments, and procure technology, systems, and services. The goal of an acquisition plan is to deliver whatever warfighters need in a timely and cost-effective way.The main components of the United States’ Defense Acquisition System include identifying the warfighter’s needs, allocating resources/securing funds, and managing the development and purchase of systems.In a recent podcast with the at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI, Steve Blank, co-founder of the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, discussed the recent revision of the Department of War’s acquisition system. Blank shared how an attitude shift has the potential to drive changes in DoW activities to maintain competitiveness in the future.Changes in acquisition start by changing the culture of those involved in the process, Blank said. Those in charge need to switch to a problem-centric and minimum-deployable model, he explained.In late 2025, the DoW announced the implementation of a new "Acquisition Transformation Strategy" (ATS), announced in late 2025, to shift to a wartime-oriented, rapid-fielding model focused on speed, industrial base expansion, and leveraging commercial technology. Key pillars include empowering the workforce, maximizing flexibility, reducing bureaucratic oversight, and strengthening lifecycle risk management. Key elements of the new ATS include:· Workforce Transformation: The Defense Acquisition University is being redesigned as the "Warfighting Acquisition University" (WAU) with the goal of instilling a more efficient warrior mindset, according to the DoW.· Streamlining development: Reducing bureaucracy, including the number of test managers, is intended to accelerate the acquisition process.· Going commercial: The new strategy includes adopting existing commercial off-the-shelf technology and using outside contractors, when possible, in order to speed up procurement.· Broadening the base: Rebuilding and diversify the defense industrial base is needed to ensure a steady, reliable demand signal.· Taking more risks: The ATS allows for accepting higher, calculated risks to deliver capabilities faster, rather than waiting for long-term, traditional cycles. This new strategy marks a shift from a "requirements-based" to a "solutions-based" acquisition model, that is designed to get tools into the hands of warfighters more quickly.Visit scsp.ai to learn more about the evolution of DoW strategies and other issues related to America’s global competitiveness.

Rock Island City Council hears public comment on future of Chief Blackhawk statue

An update on a TV6 Investigates story which unveiled where the City of Rock Island put the Chief Blackhawk statue.

More people bought and sold homes in the Quad Cities in 2025. Here's why.

Compared to 2024, 7% more homes were sold and 6% more were listed in 2025.

Report: Groundwork for fraud in Minnesota human services goes back 50 years

Tim O’Malley, the state’s new Director of Program Integrity, spoke at a Capitol press conference announcing his appointment Friday Dec. 12, 2025. (Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer)A report published Monday by an appointee of Gov. Tim Walz to oversee program integrity  found that state agencies have been repeatedly warned about vulnerabilities in state-run social services going back to at least the 1970s. Tim O’Malley, who was designated the state’s Director of Program Integrity in December, said in a press briefing that the state has “long-standing vulnerabilities” that people have used to defraud state programs. The 57-page report, titled “Roadmap to Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention,” includes a long list of recommendations, including for a “skilled independent monitor” who has “subject matter expertise and the requisite gravitas to drive home accountability.” O’Malley, a veteran of the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, didn’t explicitly answer a question about whether the monitor should be appointed by the governor, though he said that being appointed by Walz hasn’t influenced his own work. A legislative effort to establish an independent Office of Inspector General got broad bipartisan support in the Minnesota Senate in the 2025 legislative session, stalled in the House but has now been revived this year.  The report comes days after the start of the 2026 legislative session, with fraud a central issue, though a closely divided Legislature and election year politics will make passing major legislation a challenge. O’Malley included recommendations for legislation in his report, including requiring fraud-prevention funding for every bill. Another state-commissioned report published Feb. 6 in a separate anti-fraud effort included a list of policy recommendations that were completely redacted in public files; lawmakers Monday said in committee hearings that they still haven’t received the unredacted policy recommendations. The new program integrity role is just one effort by the Walz administration to get a handle on fraud, waste and abuse in Minnesota’s social services, which has turned into a yearslong political scandal that began with revelations that hundreds of millions of dollars were stolen from a pandemic-era food aid program. O’Malley said that his review found that the root of the state’s vulnerabilities to fraud goes back much farther. “Problems that are a half-century in the making will not be solved easily,” O’Malley said. The report includes a slew of warnings from audits and reports over the past 50 years. The earliest is a warning to the Department of Human Services from Feb. 17, 1977: “Regardless of a rule’s precision or stringency, the level of care available in facilities will not consistently meet requirements unless an active enforcement program exists.” O’Malley said that plans were repeatedly put in place to strengthen the state’s protections against fraud and inefficiency, but they weren’t executed well. Services called out in warnings over the past several decades have drawn new scrutiny today for their vulnerability to fraud: group homes, child care assistance, personal care assistance and medical transportation. Despite reviewing the state’s repeated failures to adequately address vulnerabilities, O’Malley said he has no doubt that “this can be fixed” given enough effort. O’Malley also credited the state’s vulnerability to fraud on the culture of state agencies overseeing social services, which he said focused more on “compassion than compliance.” The written report said that former Department of Human Services leaders have said that the agency should be “guided by 70% compassion and 30% compliance.” O’Malley called that mentality “misplaced” though understandable, since people working in social services want to care for the vulnerable. The report also includes references to supervisors retaliating against state workers for raising concerns around fraud, among a list of violations by state employees, in line with whistleblower reports frequently referenced by Republican legislators in hearings. The Walz administration has faced enormous criticism for yearslong complacency despite numerous red flags. O’Malley’s report indicates that the conditions for the current fraud scandal were laid out over time, with preventative measures “incrementally … not done literally for half a century,” he said. O’Malley, a former superintendent of the BCA under Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said that Walz has not interfered with his work. He told reporters that with the report is finished, he’s “happy to continue advising” state officials, though he wouldn’t want to be the appointed independent monitor: “I have other things I’d like to do with my time.” The Trump administration has repeatedly singled out Minnesota for fraud in its social services and sent 3,000 federal immigration agents to the state in an unprecedented immigration enforcement surge, citing fraud as a rationale. O’Malley described fraud in Minnesota as being “well-documented” and “extensive,” though he added that he doesn’t know whether the state’s fraud is disproportionate compared to other states and said that fraud is “a national problem.” Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer

Iowa school funding bill for 2% increase advances

The Iowa Senate passed its version of a school funding bill, approving a 2% increase. The move would increase the state's cost per student by roughly $160. The bill would also cap individual school districts from spending more than $1 million for transportation and would allocate $7 million for paraeducators. Republicans say it would provide [...]

2nd Iowa lawmaker diagnosed with cancer

An Iowa state senator disclosed on Monday that he has cancer.