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

Saturday, June 20th, 2026
	Bettendorf man charged with sexual abuse of a child A Bettendorf man has been charged with sexual abuse of a child.
	The Phoenix, Downtown Davenport restaurant, calls on community for support A longtime Downtown Davenport business known for its gourmet food and extensive wine and martini list is calling on the community for support by dining in.
	Windborn Group, QC Arts announce artist for mural in downtown Aledo The Windborn Group and Quad City Arts have announced that artist Madeline Dieters has been selected to create a new public mural on the South side of 112 E. Main St. in historic downtown Aledo, according to a news release from Quad City Arts. Supported by the Illinois Arts Council's America's 250th Public Art Grant, [...]
	Clinton County Sheriff’s Office warns of door-to-door asphalt and paving solicitors A scam alert to watch out for.
	'Plant a Seed, Read' and more at Rock Island library programs Opportunities to grow free summer fun with Rock Island Public Library Plant a Seed, Read summer events are in full bloom for the weeks of June 22-30, a news release says. Fans of the orange cartoon cat Garfield can drop in for his 50th birthday party on Monday, June 22, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the [...]
	Geneseo Police Department to conduct drone operations, Sunday A heads up to residents in Geneseo as the police department plans to conduct drone operations this weekend.
	Paul Mizzi: “Proud Americans,” June 28 Bridging the 57th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with the 250th anniversary of the United States, flutist Paul Mizzi, Paul Mizzi – principal flutist with the Galesburg Symphony and professor of flute at Black Hawk College – will present the flute recital and celebration of queer composers Proud Americans at Davenport's Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities on June 28.
	Moline reminds residents on finance department’s change of location A reminder to Moline residents on the location of the city’s finance department.
	Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, hosts three days of patriotic events This Independence Day weekend, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa will transform into a tribute to America's veterans as it hosts A Soaring Salute, a two-day Fourth of July celebration benefiting Honor Flight of Dubuque and the Tri-States. Taking place July 3-4, the patriotic events will bring together veterans, military families, history enthusiasts, local residents, and visitors for a weekend [...]
	Bettendorf man pleads guilty to possessing child sex abuse materials A Bettendorf man has pleaded guilty to possessing child sex abuse materials during a hearing in Scott County District Court.
	More buildings evacuated in Muscatine, Salvation Army, Muscatine County Emergency Management open reception center in response All buildings on the north side of the 200 block of second street in Muscatine are now being evacuated
	Knox Arts in Action offers summer community art pop-up workshops This summer, Knox College is offering free summer pop-up art workshops for all ages and skill levels through the Arts in Action program. Participants can learn various forms of art, including collage, drawing, music, poetry, and printmaking. Associate Professor of Dance Kathleen Ridlon will oversee the work of six Knox student artists, a news release [...]
	Hooppole celebrates 50 years, nation's 250th anniversary Hooppole Fun Day celebrates 50 years in 2026, and a big celebration is planned to coincide with America 250, a news release says. The decades-long event returns on Saturday, June 27, with a full day of family activities, live music, a parade, and fireworks. The festivities kick off early in Hooppole for local bakers with [...]
	Memories of Muscatine: A newspaper office in the late 1800s This week for Memories of Muscatine: The Daily and Weekly Tribune and Job Office in the late 1800s.
	Judy Blume says she's done writing: '50 years is enough!' Judy Blume wrote her last book more than a decade ago. At the Santa Fe International Literary Festival, NPR's Scott Simon talked to Blume about her long career and why she doesn't miss writing.
	These nuns spent a lifetime helping others. In their last years, who will help them? The sisters of Uganda are teachers, health-care advocates and more. Those who are in their twilight of their life need help. Who will come to their aid?
	Lowden to celebrate America's 250th anniversary with parade, family activities Lowden's America 250 Celebration will be on Saturday, June 27, at Lowden Memorial Park. As communities across the nation commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the residents of Lowden will observe a day-long celebration honoring the country's history and the small-town traditions that continue to bring Americans together. The event will feature [...]
	Fighting persists in Lebanon despite a ceasefire as U.S.-Iran deal is under threat Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least seven people, including two children, hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement.
	Henry Bosse This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Some promotions take place only after death. For many years, a number of large oval photographs of 19th century…
	Illinois pheasant and wildlife habitat grant applications begin July 1 The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will begin accepting applications for pheasant and wildlife habitat grant programs July 1. According to a release from the IDNR: The pheasant habitat and wildlife habitat programs enhance the natural environment for pheasant and wildlife through projects developed by not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities for conservation. Funding for [...]
	This couple got married at the end of Romeo and Juliet — and so will 31 others At Free Shakespeare in the Park in New York, real weddings are happening every night after a production of Romeo and Juliet. But don't those characters die?
	Shot by ICE and still in pain. LA detainee highlights gaps in DHS oversight Federal officers shot Ricardo Parias eight months ago during an ICE operation to detain him. His lawyer says he is still in pain, highlighting gaps in oversight and care in DHS facilities.
Friday, June 19th, 2026
	Iowa, Illinois county fair dates, events KWQC has compiled a full list of county fairs in the area including the dates and main events.
	'Find Local Bites' website helps locate meal deals in the Quad Cities The website was designed by a local developer.
	Home Runs for Life honors 6-year-old Bryce Gronowski Bryce was born with cerebral palsy, and he's overcome a lot on his journey to run the bases.
	Clinton celebrates the true meaning of Juneteenth The holiday's origins can be traced all the way back to 1863.
	5th annual 108th USCT memorial service held at Rock Island Arsenal Juneteenth is the holiday commemorating the day when the last slaves were informed of their freedom, in slavery's unofficial end in the United States. A longtime ceremony and celebration got underway once again on the Arsenal Island. Our Quad Cities News spoke to descendants of some of these honored soldiers. "I've had somebody ask me [...]
	Muscatine reception center set up to help those affected by 2nd Street evacuations In response to the Second Street evacuations in Muscatine, The American Red Cross - in partnership with The Salvation Army and Muscatine County Emergency Management - has opened a reception center to support people affected. The location is at The Salvation Army, 1000 Oregon St., Muscatine. Reception center services include a safe place to stay, [...]
	Officials release body camera footage of former Des Moines superintendent arrest Iowa State Patrol has released body camera video of the arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts.
	Third man involved in Davenport shooting incident sentenced to probation A third man involved in a downtown Davenport shooting incident in November has been sentenced to five years on probation.
	Dunleavy vetoes nine bills, but Alaska lawmakers override two in special session flurry Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks in favor of the veto override on Senate Bill 41 on Friday, June 19, 2026. Watching at left is Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy extended his record-high veto rate Thursday by vetoing nine of the 82 bills passed by lawmakers in the second year of the 34th Alaska State Legislature. Among the vetoed bills were measures that would have provided mental health lessons to kids in public schools, created a retirement plan for private-sector workers who don’t have one and updated the state’s corporate income tax system. Two of the vetoed bills — one expanding the power of pharmacists and the other covering the state’s board of engineers and architects — were put into law Friday after lawmakers overrode the governor. Dunleavy has now vetoed or attempted to veto almost one-fifth of all bills passed by the 34th Legislature. Other governors have issued more vetoes, but none have vetoed a higher proportion of bills than Dunleavy. Pharmacists’ powers expanded State legislators voted 43-17 on Friday to override Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 195, which gives pharmacists more authority to prescribe medicines and conduct simple medical tests. Forty votes were needed. Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, spoke in favor of the override, saying the bill will enable Alaskans to get cheaper medical care from pharmacists instead of more expensive providers. Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, offered an example: For a parent with a child suffering from strep throat after their pediatrician had closed for the day, going to an urgent care clinic might cost hundreds of dollars, and an emergency room visit could cost thousands. “This bill allows a parent to take their child to a pharmacy” and get a strep throat test, he said. “We have a growing number of families in Alaska that cannot afford health insurance. If they can’t take their kid to a pharmacy, they’re just not going to get treated,” he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Some antiabortion advocates lobbied against the bill, saying they believe the bill could allow pharmacists to more easily dispense abortion-inducing drugs. Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, spoke to that point, but Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole and a strong antiabortion advocate himself, said that information is incorrect. Alaska law limits who may perform an abortion in the state, Prax said. “It just simply isn’t an issue, and therefore the benefits of this bill clearly outweigh any of the risks,” he said. Interior designers added to architecture board Lawmakers also overrode Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 314 by a 45-15 margin. Forty votes were needed. A revised version of a bill Dunleavy vetoed last year, HB 314 will regulate some aspects of interior design in the state by adding them to the State Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. The bill also renewed the board’s legal authority, and when Dunleavy vetoed HB 314, it could have at least temporarily eliminated the board as a side effect. While the duties of the board would have been assumed by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, lawmakers said they did not want to eliminate the board just as the state considers a state-spanning natural gas pipeline. No extra oversight for for kids’ psychiatric facilities Forty of the Legislature’s 60 members are needed to override the veto of a policy bill, and legislators failed to reach that threshold on three votes Friday due to the opposition of Republican lawmakers. On House Bill 52, which would require increased oversight of youth psychiatric facilities, the vote was 36-24. The bill, from Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, was introduced in response to reports of widespread problems at North Star psychiatric hospital in Anchorage. If enacted, the bill would have required unannounced state inspections of facilities like North Star and reports on the use of physical and chemical restraints on children, among other items. In his veto message, the governor said that while he supports oversight, he believes the bill duplicates what the state is already empowered to do. No mental health education in public schools Despite an impassioned speech from Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, the Legislature declined to override Dunleavy’s veto of Senate Bill 41, which would have required the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to draft a mental health curriculum in the same way that it has a physical education program. Alaska Legislature approves plan for mental health education in schools Local districts would have been responsible for implementing that curriculum. The override vote was 38-22, two votes short of what was needed. The issue, Gray-Jackson told legislators Friday, is nothing short of a matter of life and death. Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation, she said, and “in many rural communities, suicide rates are nearly four times that the national average. Teaching our students how to recognize mental health challenges, to seek help and support one another, is one of the most basic and meaningful steps we can take to address this crisis.” In his veto message, the governor said, “this bill places the state in the role of imposing upon school districts to mandate the development of mental health education at a time when districts are already working to meet existing requirements.” “Decisions about sensitive classroom instruction, especially instruction involving a student’s mental and emotional health, should remain as close as possible to parents, local school boards, and communities,” he said. Gray-Jackson lambasted that statement, saying it repeated “false” and “harmful” misinformation from “online blogs and commentators.” “SB 41 didn’t remove parents from the conversation, it didn’t strip authority from local school boards, it didn’t replace community values with a one-size-fits-all mandate,” she said. “The reality is much simpler,” Gray-Jackson said. “The governor vetoed a bill with the potential to save lives in every community represented in this chamber, and I can’t emphasize that enough.” No retirement plans for minimum-wage workers Legislators failed by a single vote to override Dunleavy’s veto of Senate Bill 21, which would have provided state-run retirement plans for workers in businesses that do not currently offer retirement benefits. The program under SB 21, similar to efforts already launched by other states, would have principally affected minimum-wage workers and those in small businesses. Unless they opt out, eligible workers would have had 5% of their paychecks automatically deducted and deposited into an investment account managed by the state. In his veto message, the governor said he opposes a mandate, even with an opt-out provision. “Although employees may opt out, the bill relies on automatic enrollment and places employers in the middle of a state-run investment program. Alaska businesses should not be required to administer or facilitate retirement savings accounts created by the State when private retirement and investment options are already available,” Dunleavy wrote. The vote on an override was 39-21, with Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, casting the last and decisive vote to sustain the governor’s decision. No updates to corporate or tobacco taxes Of the governor’s nine vetoes, legislators declined to vote on four, permitting them to stand without a vote. Dunleavy vetoed two bills — House Bill 280 and Senate Bill 24 — saying that he is unwilling to approve tax changes without a comprehensive fiscal plan that brings state expenses and revenue into line over the long-term. Both bills had been passed in different forms by prior editions of the Legislature and were also previously vetoed by Dunleavy. If SB 24 had been enacted, it would have imposed Alaska’s first tax on e-cigarette products. HB 280 would have modernized the state’s corporate income tax system, taking tax revenue for online sales from other states to the Alaska treasury by declaring that sales to Alaskans take place in Alaska, not at the location of a warehouse or computer server operated by the seller. House Bill 23, also vetoed by the governor, would have subjected nonprofit businesses to the authority of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, which handles discrimination complaints against employers. “While I support protecting Alaskans from unlawful discrimination, this bill expands the commission’s reach over nonprofit employers, including charitable, educational, and religious organizations. That expansion creates uncertainty for small community organizations and risks unnecessary administrative proceedings and litigation,” the governor wrote in his veto message. The last of the vetoes, Senate Bill 258, would have forbidden the state from signing computer software deals that lock in the state to a particular company or limit the software to a particular geographic area. The governor’s veto message said in part that the “bill places rigid statutory limits on how the State and political subdivisions may contract for software in a highly technical and rapidly changing marketplace.” “Software licensing, cybersecurity requirements, cloud services, support, hosting, and pricing models are complex and often negotiated together. Restricting those negotiations in statute could reduce flexibility, limit access to needed products, and increase costs for agencies and local governments,” he wrote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Aledo movie expands into scripted podcast series debuting June 25 The film "Everything Fun You Could Possibly Do in Aledo, Illinois" is now being turned into a 4-part comedy podcast with all the same characters and a brand new one!
	California couple takes over Rookies Sports Bar in Davenport Mike Burzynski and Liz Connaughton-Burzynski purchased Rookies recently and are gearing up to reopen soon.
	Bettendorf man accused of sexually abusing girl over two days in November A 29-year-old Bettendorf man is accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl over two days in November.
	Friends, family and community members gather to remember the McFarland family in Muscatine A funeral service was held on Friday for members of the McFarland family, as loved ones shared memories and paid their respects.
	New Rock Island bagel shop offers scratch-made bagels Blue Collar Bagels, named in honor of Quad Cities history, has opened up its shop in downtown Rock Island.
	Rob Sand not ready to say whether he agrees with paying private companies for Iowa’s IT services Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democratic nominee for governor, said that he isn't ready to say whether he agrees with plans to switch information technology operations of state governement to two private companies.
	Tattoo festival, vinyl show and more among weekend activities in the Quad Cities Find out where you can find some fun times this Father's Day weekend!
	More buildings evacuated in Muscatine All buildings on the north side of the 200 block of second street in Muscatine are now being evacuated
	4 displaced after house fire in Davenport Officials said the fire spread into the residence, causing damage to the kitchen area.
	New Rock Island bagel shop offers bagels made from scratch Blue Collar Bagels, named after Quad Cities history, has opened up its shop in downtown Rock Island.
	'Everything Fun You Could Possibly Do in Aledo, Illinois' movie expands to comedy podcast The film debuted at last year's Rhubarb Festival. Now, the story is expanding into a four-part scripted podcast series, featuring the original characters.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of June 19, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Showers and storms looking more and more likely for Father's Day After a few passing showers Friday evening, things look good Saturday in the Quad Cities. We'll see sunshine and highs in the lower 80s. Sunday...doesn't look quite so good. Father's Day looks rainy with highs barely making it into the 70s. Showers and t'storms start up Sunday morning and linger throughout the day.
	New Perspective Silvis assisted living center celebrating 20th anniversary The event will have live music, a classic car show, food trucks and more.
	Clinton County officials warning of issues regarding door-to-door asphalt and paving solicitors Law enforcement in Iowa and the Midwest has received complaints alleging that transient contractors have used high-pressure sales tactics on unwary customers.
	Widespread rain Father’s Day Cooler than normal conditions expected mid-week before active pattern returns
	Eldridge police arrested suspect in child exploitation case The Eldridge Police Department, working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force based in Kansas City, Missouri, have announced the arrest of a 46-year-old Missouri man after an undercover investigation into online child exploitation, according to a news release. The arrest was on Thursday, June 18, after an investigator [...]
	Clinton Hy-Vee employee honored on company truck Hy-Vee honored a Clinton employee by putting her photo on one of the company’s semitrailers. According to a release from Hy-Vee: Jody Turner, greeter at the Clinton Hy-Vee, is a 2025 recipient of the Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service Award, which recognizes exemplary achievement in providing service that exceeds customers’ expectations. Turner first started at the [...]
	James Burrows, director of classic shows 'Cheers' and 'Friends,' dies at 85 Burrows spent his career behind the camera specializing in situation comedies. Few viewers recognized him or knew his name, other than to see it flash quickly on the screen in the opening credits. But they knew his work.
	Local government roundup: New Davenport chief sworn in, settlements with parkgoers, church to be demolished From business grants to public safety programs, local governments took action on several major issues this week.
	A new study rewrites the history of the plague A new study looks at one of the most prolific pathogens in human history — the plague.
	Air Force One, gifted to Trump from Qatar, arrives at Joint Base Andrews The luxury Boeing 747, initially valued at $400 million, arrived ahead of schedule on Friday. The jet caused controversy as one of the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.
	Eldridge police and FBI arrest Missouri man in undercover child exploitation sting Eldridge police and the FBI arrested Christopher Cassidy, 46, after an undercover sting. He now faces multiple federal child exploitation charges.
	Juneteenth events taking place this weekend across the Quad Cities The Quad Cities has several Juneteenth events this weekend. The annual holiday is the oldest-known celebration commemorating the end of slavery.
	Trump and Italy's Giorgia Meloni used to be buds. But a rift is widening "Italy and I do not beg," Meloni said in a video rebuke posted on social media Friday. Italy's top diplomat, meanwhile, said he was cancelling a visit to the U.S because of the alleged remarks.
	Italy's Meloni, once Trump's closest ally in Europe, says he made up a story about her "Italy and I do not beg," Meloni said in a video rebuke posted on social media Friday. Italy's top diplomat, meanwhile, said he was cancelling a visit to the U.S because of the alleged remarks.
	Railway confirms 18 train cars blown off tracks near Monmouth during severe storm BNSF confirmed that 18 train cars derailed near Monmouth after severe storms.
	Muscatine plans to resume building demolition next week The city paused the project on Tuesday and will resume pending a review by a second structural engineer. It is also evacuating additional nearby buildings.
	Henry County approves 12-month moratoriums on carbon sequestration, data centers Under the carbon sequestration moratorium, Lapis Carbon Solutions can proceed with engineering work on its project, but cannot store carbon at the site.
	Death Notice: Joni King A celebration of life for Joni K. King, 71, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26, at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge. Visitation will be Thursday, June 24, from 4-7 p.m. at the church. Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. King died Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Fieldstone of DeWitt. Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or to Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the June 24 edition of The NSP.
	4 displaced after overnight house fire in Davenport Officials said the fire spread into the residence, causing damage to the kitchen area.
	4 Your Money \| Small Cap Slumber Most investors focus on the S&P 500, but a significant portion of the market remains largely overlooked. Nate Kreinbrink, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, explains why the performance gap continues for small cap stocks.
	We should transform a state watching the technology race to a state where the race is won A portion of a data center owned by Big Watt Digital north of Pierre, pictured on Dec. 23, 2025. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)America is in a race, one that will define global economic leadership for the next decade. China is aggressively positioning itself as a center for artificial intelligence development and deployment. The winner will capture enormous competitive advantages in innovation, job creation and geopolitical influence. But there’s a detail often overlooked in this high-stakes competition. None of it happens without reliable critical infrastructure, such as power and data centers. Winning the AI race is fundamentally about establishing the critical infrastructure that powers innovation. AI systems rely on data centers, and data centers require electricity. If the United States intends to remain competitive, we must be able to build and power that infrastructure efficiently and affordably. That requires thoughtful policy, modernized permitting and a clear commitment to growth. Data centers are not secondary to the tech economy. They are the foundation. The nation that builds and controls the most advanced, reliable and affordable data center infrastructure will lead in AI development and deployment. Here in South Dakota, we have the essential components to build this critical infrastructure. Our affordable energy, vast land and strong workforce create the necessary conditions for establishing data center facilities that can compete globally. Tech employment in our state has grown 17% in recent years, outpacing many parts of the country. This is a signal that South Dakota can support and sustain the specialized environment required for advanced infrastructure development. Sully County, home to SD’s largest data center, would welcome more with ‘open arms,’ official says But having these advantages is not enough. The window of opportunity is finite, and other states are mobilizing their own competitive advantages. If we want South Dakota to be where America builds the critical infrastructure that powers the AI future, we must act decisively. Supporting and enabling this infrastructure development is not a favor to industry. It is imperative for our state and our nation. Establishing critical data center infrastructure in South Dakota delivers immediate and long-term benefits for our communities. The Big Watt data center in Sully County alone contributes roughly $900,000 a year in kilowatt-hour taxes directly to local schools and could eventually provide more than $160 million annually as future phases come online. Its payroll already totals several million dollars a year, with nearly all staff drawn from within the region. This kind of investment can strengthen schools, support local businesses and create lasting economic opportunity. Additionally, construction and development of this infrastructure alone can support hundreds of electricians, contractors, engineers and skilled trades workers. These are good-paying jobs that circulate dollars through local businesses. For rural parts of our state, that kind of investment can be transformative. At Oahe Electric Cooperative, we see how thoughtful planning and load growth can support grid upgrades while protecting affordability for the families and small businesses we serve. We also know South Dakota is already a leader in renewable energy, with 29 wind projects totaling 3,476 megawatts, along with growing solar capacity and grid storage resources. As demand for electricity grows, we are taking on new generation responsibly through an all-of-the-above energy strategy that rests on a reliable foundation of natural gas and coal, accompanied by wind and solar resources. Just as importantly, data centers should be required to pay the upfront costs associated with their onboarding so existing consumers are not left subsidizing the infrastructure needed to support large-scale new load. When planned responsibly, this approach can support grid upgrades and new generation in ways that maintain reliability and protect affordability for South Dakota’s households and small businesses. The broader significance is strategic. By establishing critical infrastructure for the technology economy, South Dakota positions itself as essential to American competitiveness. We attract complementary investment, develop specialized workforce expertise and build advantages that strengthen our state’s position in the global economy for decades. If our policies create uncertainty or make infrastructure development financially unworkable, capital will flow to other states where the path is clearer and the commitment is stronger. We must transform from a state watching the technology race to a state where the race is won. Our state must act now to establish the critical infrastructure that will power American innovation for the next decade. This is our moment to position South Dakota as essential to winning the technology race. With practical regulations and a clear commitment to supporting data center infrastructure development, we can ensure that South Dakota is where America builds the advanced infrastructure that leads the world in artificial intelligence. The technology shaping the global economy will be powered by the infrastructure we build today. South Dakota can be that foundation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Davenport Schools supports hundreds of students facing homelessness Nearly 500 Davenport students started the school year without permanent housing. A district liaison and her team work to connect families with help.
	Warning issued about potential Clinton County solicitor scams The public is being advised about potential door-to-door asphalt and paving scams. According to a release from the Clinton County Sheriffs Office, residents are advised to exercise caution when approached by door-to-door solicitors offering asphalt paving, driveway repair, seal coating or similar services: Throughout Iowa and the Midwest, law enforcement agencies and consumer protection officials [...]
	Yanks and Shanks Disc Golf shop in Rock Island to close Yanks and Shanks said it will finish out the tournaments it has scheduled and discs will still be on-site at tournaments to use "funny money."
	Therapist who admitted stealing drugs from patients’ apartments faces license suspension The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing is being taken to court over a decision on the state's registry of dependent-adult abusers. (Photo illustration via Getty Images; logo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) A state-licensed therapist who admitted burglarizing the apartments of assisted living residents in an effort to steal their medications is now facing licensing sanctions. The Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapists has opted not to revoke the license of Eric Newsom of Cedar Rapids, who pleaded guilty last month to a criminal charge of tampering with a consumer product, but to instead suspend his license for three years. Court records show that in October 2025, federal prosecutors charged Newsom with one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count acquiring a controlled substance through fraud or misrepresentation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Prosecutors alleged that as an Iowa-licensed occupational therapist in Iowa who owned and operated his own company, Element Therapy Solutions, Newsom diverted narcotics from patients. One 74-year-old patient who lived in an assisted living facility had cancer and required medication to control her pain from multiple-organ failure, prosecutors said. According to court and board records, Newsom was accused of picking up the woman’s hydrocodone prescription from a local pharmacy, then swapping the pills with zinc tablets, adding score marks across the pills to make them look like hydrocodone. As a result, prosecutors said, the patient did not receive her pain medication in the days immediately before her death in March 2025. According to court documents, Newsom also admitted burglarizing the apartment of another assisted living resident while seeking narcotics, and admitted targeting two sisters who lived in different apartments at a Cedar Rapids care facility. On at least three occasions, Newsom admitted, he took the sisters to a gym for therapy and then falsely claimed he had left his phone in their apartments so he could go back and steal their narcotic medications. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Newsom pleaded guilty last month to one count of tampering with a consumer product, but he has yet to be sentenced. Court records indicate he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In November 2025, shortly after the criminal charges were filed, the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy charged Newsom with several regulatory violations, including professional incompetence, negligence in the practice of the profession, unethical conduct, habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs, and obtaining or attempting to obtain controlled substances without lawful authority. On March 13, 2026, a board hearing was held on the matter. According to the board, Newsom’s company, which employed as many as 13 people, offered therapy services primarily to eight care facilities in eastern Iowa including Keystones of Cedar Rapids and Legacy Manor of Cedar Rapids. Quotation There is no dispute that Newsom stole narcotic medications from four elderly patients in three different facilities ... Newsom took doctor-prescribed medication from a vulnerable population to serve his addiction. – Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy In the summer of 2024, the board alleges, Newsom sustained an injury and was prescribed pain medication — specifically, oxycodone and hydrocodone — and then developed an addiction to the narcotics. “To relieve his cravings, Newsom diverted or stole prescription narcotic medications from his patients,” the board concluded after its hearing. “Newsom eventually admitted to diverting prescription narcotic medication on four occasions from four residents in total — specifically, two at Legacy Manor, one at Boyson Heights, and one at Keystones.” The board records indicate Newsom also stated there had been “plenty” of times he went into the apartments of assisted living residents and failed to locate any narcotics he could steal. Two occupational therapy assistants later complained to the licensing board that Newsom appeared to engage in unethical billing practices by conducting brief evaluations of five to 10 minutes each but billed for more than that, backdated his documentation, and reported seeing patients he had not actually seen. According to the board, Newsom, in his interview last year with board investigator Derrek Ross, admitted he had stolen prescription narcotics from four patients, but denied fraudulent billing practices and falsifying patient records. “There is no dispute that Newsom stole narcotic medications from four elderly patients in three different facilities,” the board stated at the conclusion of the hearing. “The board finds that this fact alone constitutes professional incompetence because Newsom took doctor-prescribed medication from a vulnerable population to serve his addiction … Newsom stole narcotic medications from his patients, failed to timely complete progress notes, failed to see patients as required by Iowa regulations, falsely reported that he had seen patients when he had not, and failed to properly supervise his occupational therapy assistants.” In deciding Newsom’s actions warranted a three-year suspension of his license to practice, the board stated that it “acknowledges the hard work that Newsom has shown in addressing his addiction and appreciates Newsom taking accountability for his actions. Further, the board commends Newsom for advocating and working with the addiction community.” However, the board added, “Newsom took advantage of a vulnerable population and the board is concerned that if allowed to work with such a population again — or any population that may be prescribed narcotic medications — there is a risk that Newsom will relapse.” In addition to suspending Newsom’s license for three years, the board ordered that he participate in the Iowa Practitioner Health Program and that before applying for reinstatement he must complete a course on ethics and boundaries, submit to random drug testing for at least three years, and submit to a background check. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Newsom for comment Tuesday at either his home or his office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	14-year-old Rock Island student makes waves as first Channel Cat artist Eva Kendall, a 14-year-old Rock Island High School student was the first featured musician on the Channel Cat Water Taxi Thursday, June 18, in a new summer music series.
	Four displaced after overnight house fire on West 8th Street in Davenport Fire crews were called to a house fire in the 1400 block of West 8th Street in Davenport. Details are limited and the fire department has not released more.
	Eldridge police officer awarded for live saving efforts Eldridge police officer Erik Johnson has been awarded a Livesaving Award, in recognition of exceptional service and heroic response. Johnson received the award in relation to an emergency medical call he responded to on Jan. 15. During the call, the individual, identified only as Angel, was reportedly unresponsive and not breathing. Upon arrival, Johnson assessed the situation and was able to stabilize Angel until emergency medical personnel arrived, helping to save the individual’s life. “Officer Johnson’s professionalism, dedication to duty, and commitment to preserving life exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement,” said Eldridge Police Chief Andrew Lellig. “His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Eldridge Police Department.” Lellig added Johnson’s “calm demeanor, quick thinking and decisive response” resulted in a positive outcome for the situation.
	Eldridge Police assist FBI with child exploitation arrest The Eldridge Police Department, working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force based in Kansas City, Mo., assisted with the arrest of a 46-year-old Missouri resident. This followed an undercover investigation into online child exploitation. Christopher Cassidy of Oak Grove, Mo., was charged in federal court with two counts of attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The arrest occurred on Thursday, June 18th, after an investigator with the Eldridge Police Department’s Special Investigations/Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit conducted a controlled online operation involving the suspect. During the investigation, the suspect allegedly used the internet to attempt to engage in illegal contact with an individual they believed to be a minor. “This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting children from online predators,” said Chief Andrew Lellig. “We will continue to use every available resource to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.” The Eldridge Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force Squad 1, Kansas City, Missouri for their assistance and collaboration in this investigation. The department also reminds parents and guardians of the importance of discussing online safety with children and actively monitoring their internet use. Anyone with information regarding suspected child exploitation is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or submit a tip through: Quad Cities Crime Stoppers at www.qccrimestoppers.com or by using The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.
	Davenport declares June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day The City of Davenport declared June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day. According to a Facebook post, Mayor Gordon and the city council issued a proclamation June 17 to recognize June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day. Tracy Singleton and Ryan Saddler accepted the proclamation. For more information, click here.
	Part of Dammann Drive in Eldridge to close for speed-hump construction Eldridge will close Dammann Drive just north of West Donahue Court starting June 23 for speed hump work. Detours posted; reopen June 29.
	Traffic alert: Lane changes on Dubuque bridge Construction will close the eastbound lane on the US 20 Julien Dubuque Bridge most days, but it will reopen weekdays from 3–6 p.m.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for June 19, 2026 Expect closures heading into this Friday in recognition of Juneteenth. Closures include the Government Bridge for a scheduled cleaning.
	Rock Island County releases identity of man killed in June 18 crash Law enforcement is continuing its investigation of the single-vehicle crash outside Milan, per the county coroner.
	Iowa-licensed nurse accused of theft, being under the influence at work (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)An Iowa-licensed nurse has been charged with stealing medications or supplies and being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work. The Iowa Board of Nursing has charged Kenneth Junior Stevenson of Moline, Ill., with misappropriating or attempting to misappropriate medications or property of a patient or a agency; practicing nursing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and obtaining or attempting to obtain controlled substances without lawful authority. The board has not disclosed any information as to the alleged conduct that gave rise to charges or indicated when or where they’re alleged to have taken place. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2026. Board records indicate Stevenson has been an Iowa-licensed registered nurse since March 2009. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Stevenson for comment. Other Iowa-licensed nurses recently sanctioned by the board include: — Lynette Tokach of Cedar Rapids, who is charged by the board with engaging in unethical conduct or practices that are harmful to the public; failing to notify the board of a criminal conviction within 30 days; and failing to comply with an order of the board. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 31, 2026. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Tokach for comment. — Haley Dugdale of Sioux City, who is charged with violating an initial agreement or contract with the Iowa Professional Health Program, which assists healthcare professionals with alcohol or drug issues. The board approved the charges in April 2026, but did not make them public until June 17, 2026, which was two days after the scheduled hearing date in the case. Dugdale said Wednesday the hearing is now scheduled for July 30, 2026. She said her agreement to participate in the Iowa Professional Health Program stems from a December 2024 incident in which her “former employer decided to turn me in for taking medications when I was off the job.” In 2019, the board charged Dugdale with fraudulently using blank prescription forms “on more than one occasion” to obtain medications under false pretenses. According to court records, she later pleaded guilty to a felony criminal charge of obtaining a prescription drug by fraud, and received a deferred judgment which has resulted in most of the case file being expunged from Iowa court records. As part of that case, a related misdemeanor charge of theft was dismissed by the court. In that case, police had alleged that on Sept. 7, 2018, while working as a registered nurse at Sioux City’s Wagner Ear, Nose & Throat clinic, Dugdale forged a prescription for hydrocodone, then left the doctor’s office and went to a Hy-Vee Pharmacy to obtain the narcotics. Dugdale’s license was indefinitely suspended in 2019, and reinstated two years later. In 2025, she was charged by the board with being involved in the unauthorized possession or use of a controlled substance, excessive use of drugs and/or alcohol which might impair her ability to practice, and engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional. The board scheduled a hearing in that matter for June 15, 2026 – the same day as the canceled hearing on the more recent charge of violating an initial agreement or contract with the Iowa Professional Health Program. Dugdale said Wednesday she is “devastated by the charges and I would never, ever put the public in any danger. I love my job.” — Wendell Dishman of Council Bluffs, who was denied the reinstatement of his nursing license. According to the board, Dishman was issued an Iowa registered nurse license in September 1986. In 2016, while working in Nebraska, he “administered an excess dosage of morphine” to a nursing home patient, the board alleges. State records show that in 2018, Dishman surrendered his license, and in February 2026, he applied for reinstatement of his license. The board recently denied that application, stating Dishman had not demonstrated that the reasons for his license surrender no longer exist. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Dishman for comment. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool The shallow, sunny waters of the reflecting pool are an ideal incubator for algae growth in the summertime. Experts say the recent renovation may have helped accelerate it.
	Algae clouded Trump's vision for the Reflecting Pool. But scientists aren't surprised The shallow, sunny waters of the reflecting pool are an ideal incubator for algae growth in the summertime. Experts say the recent renovation may have helped accelerate it.
	Iowa company to shine bright at LA Olympics Oskaloosa-based Musco Lighting will provide broadcast and presentation lighting for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and Team USA.
	FDA panel recommends mRNA flu vaccine for older adults Currently, the FDA has no permanent vaccine chief nor a commissioner, so it’s not clear who will make the final decision on Moderna’s flu shot.
	Coroner identifies 79-year-old killed in Milan crash on Knoxville Road A driver died after hitting a tree on Knoxville Road in Milan, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office said.
	‘Clothes on fire’ put out in minutes by Muscatine firefighters A “clothes on fire” 911 call led crews to a Muscatine home on Gas Lantern Square. Fire was controlled in seven minutes; no injuries.
	State officials settle on Laurel for forensic psychiatric facility An artist's rendition of what a state psychiatric facility would look like. That facility is being proposed in Laurel, Montana. These building renderings were presented to state legislators on March 9, 2026 (via Montana Legislature, Children, Families and Public Health Committee). Despite pushback from neighbors, state officials made a final decision to build the 32-bed hospital on the edge of Laurel’s city limits. The 114-acre parcel has been the subject of a nearly yearlong tussle between residents and state officials, and Gov. Greg Gianforte promised in December 2025 that a facility would not go where it’s unwanted. Defendants will be evaluated for whether they’re fit to stand trial at the facility. Nearby residents argued it will be at least as dangerous as a jail, and too close to an elementary school and residential housing. “Commenters have presented no data demonstrating that siting a forensic mental health facility within any given proximity to a school causes adverse impacts or effects to the human environment,” a state report released last week said. “A prison, by contrast, is part of the correctional system and exists to securely confine people who have been criminally convicted and sentenced.” Officials from the Montana Board of Investments and the Department of Public Health and Human Services, which will run the facility, detailed their rationale in the 289-page report. The battle to keep the state from building the psychiatric facility right outside Laurel has led to the ouster of the mayor who resigned after residents launched a signature-gathering recall effort. They alleged Dave Waggoner worked behind the scenes to draw the facility to Laurel. Residents have vowed to fight the decision in court and tried recruiting the Custer County Board of Commissioners to join a future lawsuit. The Custer County Commissioners turned down the offer, citing concerns of costs — Miles City in Custer County was one of two communities (along with Hardin) that submitted proposals for the facility. State officials said they chose Laurel because of its proximity to the interstate, and Yellowstone County — the state’s largest by population — has more need for forensic mental health evaluations. State law tilts toward the state, not the county The Laurel City Council has struggled to find ways to block plans since the parcel is technically on county land, bordering city limits. Yellowstone County Commissioner Chairman Mark Morse has also been a critic of the state’s plans, saying it hasn’t answered safety questions, and asking why officials didn’t select other sites that wanted the facility. Since the state bought the land, it renewed its request for a zoning change. The parcel, which has been used in agricultural production, had also been targeted by Laurel city leaders for housing. The proposed zoning request will change the designation to “government use” — allowed nearly anywhere. While the county may hold a zoning change hearing, attorneys from the state and county said there’s nothing to stop the change. Laurel residents also raised objections to the stress the facility could place on water and sewer systems. Officials countered the facility would place significantly less stress than the dozens of houses the city said should go there instead. The facility is slated for 32 beds but could expand to 64. State law and a business agreement may render the zoning issue moot. Last year, Laurel voted to annex land around an Interstate 90 exit for a Love’s truck stop. In order to get the truck stop connected to city services, Love’s agreed to run the municipal service at a cost of more than $2.5 million on the condition that any development done on county land between the business and city connect to Laurel services and pay a prorated portion of the costs back to Love’s. The psychiatric facility land is covered by the Love’s Truck Stop agreement. A change during the 2025 Legislature could also factor in. Montana House Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, successfully pushed through House Bill 629, which said if property comes within 1,000 feet of any municipal services the development must connect to municipal services, regardless of whether the land is within city limits. The state’s case State officials have focused on Yellowstone County for a number of reasons. In addition to being the state’s largest county, it has been the most affected by the state’s backlog. The need In its executive summary of its report, state officials made their case for building a forensic psychiatric facility: The forensic waitlist at the facility in Galen reached 128 individuals in 2025 — a patient population held in county jails while awaiting treatment, often without adequate psychiatric care. As of June 5, there are 87 patients on the waitlist. Since 2022, the Galen facility has maintained a waitlist consistently exceeding 70 patients, creating a systemic bottleneck affecting county courts, jails, local mental health systems and defendants’ constitutional rights. The only state forensic facility is in Galen, Montana. Transporting prisoners to and from Galen from Yellowstone County is more than 250 miles and takes nearly eight hours roundtrip. Two-thirds of the patients admitted to Galen from east of the Continental Divide come from Yellowstone County. Put another way: The average number of people waiting for psychiatric services in Yellowstone County is more than all other eastern counties combined. State officials have said that building a facility elsewhere would recreate the transportation problem. “The forensic waitlist has directly contributed to the dismissal of criminal charges on due process grounds” — at least 24 known cases in 2024 and 2025, according to the report. “Each dismissal represents a safety risk if the underlying criminal conduct is attributable to untreated mental illness …The proposed facility enables the criminal justice process to move forward appropriately, protecting both defendants’ rights and community safety.” On Tuesday at a news conference in Billings, Gianforte was asked by media outlets at least twice whether he was concerned by Laurel residents’ opposition. He responded, “No.” Courtesy of Daily Montanan
	Leave the firewood, clean boots and other tips to reduce spread of invasive species Iowans can help prevent the spread of invasive species like garlic mustard, pictured here. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Summertime recreation in Iowa’s outdoor landscape can be a catalyst for spreading invasive species, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The department said certain precautions, like scrubbing down hiking boots, keeping firewood in the county where it was purchased and being able to identify plant species can help to stop the spread of invasive forest species. “Much of the spread of invasive species comes from people simply enjoying nature,” DNR said in a news release. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Invasive species are plants and animals that are not native to a region and cause environmental or economic harm. Sometimes these species can be directly harmful, like the emerald ash borer whose larvae will feed on the inner bark of ash trees and eventually cause the tree to die. Other invasive species, like garlic mustard or bush honeysuckle, will outcompete native plants and thus disrupt forest ecosystems. Invasive species are usually spread unintentionally by humans moving from one area to another, which is why DNR encourages Iowans to be proactive in protecting forest ecosystems. Learn about invasive species The nonprofit organization Trees Forever will host a field day Saturday to teach Iowans more about invasive species identification and management. The field day begins at 1 p.m. at Resilient Farms near Red Oak, and will also demonstrate agroforestry practices like riparian buffers, alley cropping and windbreaks. Those interested can register for the workshop on the Trees Forever website. Many invasive species, like the emerald ash borer, sirex woodwasp, Asian long-horned beetle and a fungus causing oak wilt, can live on firewood. DNR encourages Iowans to purchase firewood near campsites and to burn all of their firewood at a campsite to avoid transporting it to a new location. According to a report from DNR, the continued spread of these pests will lead to habitat loss as the trees die and billions of dollars in lost tree-derived community benefits, like energy savings, property value and storm water retention. Seeds from invasive plants can also be transported on hiking boots and shoes. DNR said Iowans can wipe down their boots before leaving an area to reduce this risk. The spongy moth is another common invasive species hitchhiker. Spongy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of hardwood trees and can defoliate the trees during their growth season. Several years of intense feeding depletes nutrients in the tree and causes its health to decline. DNR estimates this critter causes an annual loss of $22 million for forest landowners and wood products businesses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health has tracked the spread of spongy month through the country, and designates certain counties as spongy moth quarantine areas. APHIS requires all outdoor items, such as furniture, lawn equipment and toys, to be inspected for spongy moth egg masses before moving from a spongy moth quarantine zone. While Iowa does not currently have any federally designated spongy moth quarantine zones, the moth has been recorded in eastern and urban areas of the state. DNR recommends inspecting outdoor equipment for the egg masses before traveling. Watch: how to detect and dispose of egg masses from spongy moth and spotted lanternfly Know what you grow DNR said Iowans can also help to stop the spread of forest invasive species by verifying the plants they are putting in their yards or gardens are noninvasive. DNR maintains a list of forest invasive species, some of which, like queen Anne’s lace, Japanese barberry or a winged burning bush, might otherwise seem like attractive additions to a landscape. The guide links to a USDA profile for each species with photos and information to help Iowans identify their backyard flora. Additionally, Iowans can contact their district foresters, for more information and assistance with forest conservation practices. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	This Pride month, teen flicks are recasting familiar tropes with a queer sensibility Teen movies like She's the He, Girls Like Girls and Leviticus are all turning tropes on their heads by centering queer characters.
	Pesticides ‘shatter’ leaves of Iowa’s state tree Oak tatters from herbicide contamination in 2026 at Prairie Oaks Reservation in LeClaire, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Tony Singh)In 1996, Tony Singh began rewilding a plot of land in LeClaire, hoping to restore its oak savanna, native prairie, woodlands and wetlands. Less than five years later, he noticed the leaves on his oak trees were in tatters. “When the leaf is coming out, if it is natural, it’s a beautiful thing,” Singh said. “But then they start spraying this pre-emergent herbicide, and the leaves get completely shattered.” Over the last 20 years, Singh has been documenting the phenomenon and trying to raise awareness about it. But his 50-acre reserve is surrounded by an industrial agriculture system that is economically entwined with the land he seeks to restore. “Acetochlor has been correlated strongly with oak tatters, where the tissue just is missing from the oak leaf, and you just see the veins, or with dicamba, you’ll see cupping and curling,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Program Leader Tivon Feeley. Tony Singh shows off pre-emergent herbicide damage to an oak tree in 2026 on his reservation in LeClaire, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Tony Singh) Acetochlor and dicamba are two widely used herbicides. Acetochlor is typically applied to target early grasses and weeds on row crop plots. Dicamba is used to target broadleaf weeds. Singh has noticed both effects in the oaks on his plot of land. Oaks are Iowa’s state tree, but there are 12 different species of oak native to Iowa’s forests. These oaks fall into the broader white oak and red oak families, but according to Feeley, “all oak species are sensitive to any herbicide injury.” Most oaks are especially vulnerable to herbicides during the spraying season, as it correlates with their emergence in spring. Breaking out of dormancy and pushing out their first set of leaves requires some of the most energy in a tree’s lifecycle. Feeley said a single year of exposure to herbicides is unlikely to cause long-term damage. “The greater concern is if we see repeated injury year after year,” he said. Singh said affected trees respond by pushing out a second set of leaves to account for the herbicide damage, but they’re not designed to repeatedly push out a second flush each year they try to regrow in the spring. Instead, they weaken and die. The ones that die are often many of his reserve’s old-growth trees. Singh has lost over 50 bur oaks, many of them more than 200 years old. The oak savannas Singh works to restore were once common through north America. The lands contained expanses of prairie grasses and native flowers with open-grown oak trees dotted the horizon. These underbelly and open canopy areas were maintained by low-intensity wildfires every one to 10 years. In the Midwest, only 30,000 acres of these lands remain today — between 0.02-0.06% of their original land coverage. Singh said the weather plays a role. “It doesn’t have to be adjacent to you. (Herbicide) volatilizes, so if it’s a warmer day, you spray it, it warms up, it evaporates, and it can even be in rainwater,” Singh said. “It could be sprayed a mile, mile and a half away.” Dicamba is especially prone to volatilization, a process where the chemical dries and is converted into a gas. The gas is then swept up by the atmosphere and can drift for miles, impacting vegetation across the state. As both Feeley and Singh noted, volatilization also makes herbicide drift cases difficult to enforce. Repeated complaints leave issues unresolved Singh has filed repeated complaints through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The investigation process involves IDALS agents taking plant samples for analysis. In his experience, responses can take up to three or four months. The result is often the same, he said — the samples contain a different mix of chemicals depending on the year, but often they include acetochlor, and in recent years, more of them show traces of dicamba. In 2025, IDALS conducted 257 misuse investigations, only 25 of which were non-agriculture related complaints. According to the department’s website, investigation reports typically take more than five months to complete. The department cannot require an offender to pay for any losses due to pesticide misuse. When clear documentation of a violation is not available, the department can dismiss the case with no regulatory action. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship declined a request for comment. “I’ll get a response next year, and it is usually nothing, it’s just, you know, a warning letter or notification to the farmer, but nothing, there is nothing punitive there,” Singh said. “Forget punitive, there is nothing there to, you know, tell him the harm he has done.” Rather, Singh treats this process as a paper trail of “chemical trespass.” Singh has tried to address this problem in several ways. He rents and buys adjacent land from the neighboring farm to create a buffer zone between his reservation and the farmland. He also manages his reserve without the use of herbicides, removing invasive weeds “surgically.” Oak tatters from acetochlor contamination in 2026 at Prairie Oaks Reservation in LeClaire, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of Tony Singh) He’s also set up cameras around his property to record when neighboring fields are sprayed. He captures wind speed and temperature at the time of spraying to help bolster his annual tradition of an IDALS inspection, but still he’s had “no relief.” He hasn’t had much luck engaging elected officials either, going so far as to describe Iowa as a “captured entity.” “Nobody wants to come here. Nobody wants to see it, even though this is a beautiful place,” Singh said. “The politicians have absolutely no empathy towards this, because they are beholden to the Farm Bureau, and that’s how they get their money.” Feeley doesn’t fear extinction for Iowa’s state tree in general, but he has “some concern” for white oaks. He attributes the decline of white oaks partially to climate factors, including drought, but more prevalently to “lack of land management.” Feeley said oak trees need ample sunlight. Since trees are long-lived organisms, at some point they may need to be removed to open up canopy space for direct light. This type of land management is “really lacking in Iowa,” he said.</span> Despite the many frustrations, Singh said he continues his rewilding project simply because it’s a part of his identity. “Most of us are driven by an innate sense of what we think is right. And it’s in my nature to plant trees. I get innate joy out of trees,” Singh said. “When the leaves are coming out after the dormancy, it is the most wonderful feeling I get.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	The solution to urban heat is much, much simpler than you think The solution to urban heat is much, much simpler than you thinkJohnny Appleseed was ahead of his time. Not because he fed so many people by planting apple trees (really, he got them drunk instead, as his real goal was encouraging the production of cider), but because he created so much shade to enjoy on hot days. More than two centuries later, American cities are wishing they had better followed Appleseed’s lead, as rising temperatures and a lack of tree cover combine to make urban life increasingly stifling.Two new studies show how simply planting more trees can provide huge temperature benefits, not to mention how the additional plant life would boost biodiversity and improve mental health for urbanites, Grist reports. The first finds that tree cover can cancel half of the heat island effect, in which the urban jungle gets much hotter than the surrounding countryside. The second compares neighborhoods in 65 American cities, finding that canopy-deprived areas suffer up to 40% more excess heat than heavily greened spots.Places like New York and Atlanta and Los Angeles, then, don’t just have to foster and maintain their “gray” infrastructure — roads and sidewalks and such — but their living infrastructure as well. “Heat is already a major public health threat. It kills 350,000 people a year by some estimates, and it’s worse in cities,” said Robert McDonald, the Nature Conservancy’s lead scientist for nature-based solutions and the Europe region, who spearheaded the first paper. “The urban heat island effect would be about double what it is now if world cities didn’t have trees.”By increasing their canopies, metropolises dress themselves like their more comfortable rural counterparts. A vegetated area cools itself both because plants “sweat” by releasing moisture from their leaves, and because trees provide shade. By contrast, concrete absorbs the sun’s energy, driving temperatures up, and releases it throughout the night. That beats back the cooling typically experienced in the evening, meaning urbanites without air conditioning don’t get respite. This is especially dangerous for vulnerable groups like the elderly, and it’s one reason heat kills more Americans every year than all other extreme weather events combined.Such conditions are especially dangerous for those living in lower-income neighborhoods, which tend to have significantly less tree canopy than richer areas. In industrialized areas, for example, vast stretches of concrete absorb and radiate heat. In urban centers, policymakers may have prioritized building dense housing without incorporating ample tree cover. Compare that to the suburbs, which have plenty of parks, curbside trees, and yards to cool things down.The differences in greenery between neighborhoods translate into striking differences in temperatures. The second study calculated this “cooling dividend,” or the difference in the average urban heat island in areas with low and high canopy cover. It found gaps reaching almost 4 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re lucky enough to live where there are lots of trees, you might experience 20% to 40% less excess heat. The report found that this is playing out regularly across the U.S. “I think what maybe was surprising is that there was a dramatic amount of consistency,” said Steve Whitesell, executive editor at the Healthy Green Spaces Coalition, which authored the report. “In other words, they were all showing an impact.”The trick is not just planting enough trees, but planting the right kind. The biggest species provide the most shade, of course. But more cryptically, some provide more evaporative cooling than others — drought-adapted trees, for instance, try to retain as much water as they can. A neighborhood might also want to prioritize food production, opting for trees that create both shade and fruit. Favoring native varieties will also help support native animal life, like birds and pollinating insects.Climate change, though, is complicating these calculations. Even in rural areas, without the added temperatures of the urban heat island effect, some places are getting so hot that native plants are moving north in search of cooler climes. Within cities, they are blasted with still more heat — and temperatures will only climb from here. So urban arborists aren’t just planting species that will thrive today, but will survive the climate of tomorrow. “I think that for us to use trees as a type of living infrastructure, that can counter those increased temperatures, is paramount,” said Edith de Guzman, a cooperative extension researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies urban heat but wasn’t involved in either study. “I think it’s pretty much the most important thing we can do.”But trees alone can’t save urbanites. McDonald’s study found that even if cities planted as many as possible, it would only offset 20% of the potential running up of temperatures due to climate change. Designers will have to deploy other techniques, like reflective rooftops, to manage the heat. That’s especially important in poorer nations, whose cities are rapidly growing but have much less tree cover than richer countries, the study found. “It’s just to say that climate change is a big enough challenge that while planting more tree cover helps with temperatures, it won’t do the job by itself,” McDonald said.Urban areas have been here before, McDonald added. As the Industrial Revolution kicked in, people in overpopulated metropolises would have to travel to the countryside to glimpse greenery. An exception was London, with its many publicly available green spaces, which Paris took as inspiration when it essentially rebuilt itself in the 1800s and made room for massive parks. Today, planners are similarly bringing some of the country back into the city, blurring the lines between rural and urban. “We know how to increase tree cover, if we put our minds to it,” McDonald said. “But it takes effort and time.”This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Here’s why Utah has become one of America’s surprising plastic surgery hot spots Here’s why Utah has become one of America’s surprising plastic surgery hot spotsBillboards flank the freeway, encouraging you to “love thy selfie.”On television and social media, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Jessi Draper openly discusses the work she’s had done: four breast procedures, a labiaplasty, a nostril reduction, and several other facial surgeries, one of which she is not happy with. Heather Gay, one of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake,” estimates she’s spent $200,000 on cosmetic procedures.Everywhere you look, it seems there are fuller lips, lifted faces and madeover mommies.Yes, Utah has become a hot spot for plastic surgery.But how hot? And why?Surgeons, researchers and the data tell a fascinating story.How much plastic surgery is there in Utah?Maybe you’ve heard the claim that Utah leads the nation in plastic surgeries. But it’s hard to know how many cosmetic procedures are actually performed here. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons compiles data by region, piling Utah into a Western cohort that includes all of the states from California to Colorado. That region does have the highest rate of plastic surgeries nationwide — but it’s hard to know if that’s due to Hollywood or HolladayOverall, surgeons don’t like to share their data.“They all have their own and everybody keeps their data secret because they don’t want other people to know,” Dr. Bhupendra Patel, a Salt Lake City facial surgeon, pictured below, told The Salt Lake Tribune. Francisco Kjolseth // The Salt Lake Tribune Reply So that question had to be answered via proxies. An obvious one is the number of plastic surgeons in any given area; the thinking being that if there’s more plastic surgery somewhere, there are likely to be more plastic surgeons.Perhaps the best count comes from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), which any doctor who takes health insurance is required to sign up for. This database indicates there are 110 plastic surgeons in Utah. On a per-capita basis, that ranks seventh in the U.S. Andy Larsen and Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune Most of those surgeons, 80 of them, are in Salt Lake County. Even on a per-capita basis, there are significantly more plastic surgeons in Salt Lake County than in any other county in the state. Twenty-three of the surgeons are affiliated with the University of Utah. Andy Larsen and Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune One caveat: Most plastic surgeries are performed on women (93%), and on people between 34 and 53 (75%). Utah does have a larger percentage of women between the ages of 25 and 54 — the Census age bracket most similar to the above — than other states. If you account for this demographic tendency, Utah ranks 20th in the nation in plastic surgeons per capita.But Google search data indicates that interest in plastic surgery is growing in the state. Less than a decade ago, Utah ranked No. 26 in terms of the number of searches per capita for “plastic surgery.” In 2025, though? It ranked No. 3. Andy Larsen and Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune Utah’s cultural influencesIn 2023, Brigham Young University professor and researcher Sarah Coyne and colleague Lauren Barnes looked at the crossover between body image, cosmetic surgery, and religiosity in a sample of 1,333 Latter-day Saints, aged 18 to 70, from across the nation. According to their findings: “If you are saying that your religion is really important to you, you tend to have less cosmetic surgery,” Coyne said. “That’s odd, living in Utah, where we have a very high religious population, but then we have this certain stereotype of everyone having cosmetic surgery here.”Nearly 14% of Latter-day Saints surveyed had major cosmetic surgery, and 20% had cosmetic enhancements. The study also found that people who believed in “costly grace” tended to have more cosmetic enhancements.“Costly grace means this is a belief that I have to earn God’s love and grace,” Coyne said. “Now, the way that I earn that could be anything. It’s usually like I’ve got to be perfect. … Sometimes appearances are tied into that.”Other factors contribute to Utah’s plastic surgery numbers, too.“Perfectionism tends to be high in certain parts of our culture. [It] just kind of teaches you what you need to look like and need to be,” Coyne said. “The main reason that goes into this is that we have extremely unrealistic standards of beauty for women. Patriarchy, all of the different things, that’s why.”Last year, the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University published a research brief on cosmetic surgery and body image among Utah women, which said the state’s “puzzling reputation for vanity and cosmetic surgery” is “fueled by a perfect storm of religious and cultural influences.”The snapshot quotes research that has “found that homogenous societies, such as Utah, can have a contagion effect that pressures individuals into cosmetic surgery.”Susan Madsen, the director of UWLP, said two of those homogenous characteristics in Utah are race — 89% of the state identifies as white — and religion.“When we are around people that are like us, in terms of looks, skin, culture, religion, this competition for some reason arises,” Madsen said.Reclaiming her bodyDr. Kevin Rose, a plastic surgeon with 25 years of experience, lists similar reasons as to why Utahns gravitate toward plastic surgery as Coyne and Madsen. He’s also noticed that his patients from Utah like to take care of themselves — particularly moms.“So many women have a lot of children in Utah. There’s a lot of breastfeeding,” Rose said. “They just want to get their pre-baby body back.” Trent Nelson // The Salt Lake Tribune That was the case for Lehi resident Amy Williams, above, a patient of Rose’s who first saw him eight years ago for a breast augmentation — a decision she made to reclaim her body.“I am a mom of six kids and I nursed all of my six babies, and I had absolutely no breast tissue left,” Williams said. “I wanted to restore what was lost.”Williams is also a fitness influencer dedicated to losing weight and building muscle. She said that led her to have a “very flat chest.” “I just felt so masculine, so I really wanted to just restore my femininity the first time around,” she said. Earlier this year, Williams did a reaugmentation with Rose since her implants had loosened from her body recomposition.“As soon as I got it done, I was so happy with the results, I thought to myself, ‘Why didn’t I do this years ago?’” Williams said. “It completely restored my femininity and the way I felt about myself. It gave me confidence.”Williams hears similar stories from the women who attend her weightlifting classes.“It is absolutely a sacrifice to give up our body for pregnancy, nursing,” Williams said. “There’s some things that just can’t be restored without intervention or without help.”In her work, Williams said seeing women go through various surgeries like mommy makeovers, tummy tucks or breast augmentations has a lasting effect.“They turn into a more confident, outgoing, kind person. There’s just this beauty that they have that comes from within when they feel good about themselves,” she said. Trent Nelson // The Salt Lake Tribune What are the trends in plastic surgery?Thanks to those societal factors, the explosion in plastic surgery interest in Utah has occurred differently in Utah compared to other states. Perhaps due to Utah’s focus on families, searches for “Mommy makeovers” are very common in Utah relative to other states.Patel, who has done body work in the past, considers Utah “the capital for mommy makeovers.” Andy Larsen and Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune In searches for “breast augmentation,” Utah ties for the No. 1 spot with Connecticut, with Nevada’s unique economy coming in third.Twenty years ago, Rose said larger implants were more popular. But these days, most people come in and ask for more subtle and natural breast implant options. In fact, the most popular procedure he does is a breast rejuvenation procedure. Utahns aren’t enamored with all kinds of plastic surgery, though. Brazilian butt lifts — more frequently referred to as “BBLs” are rarely searched for in Utah. Instead, it’s Louisiana that comes in No. 1 here, with fellow southern states Georgia and Florida tying for second. Rose has observed this data firsthand.“Utah tends to be maybe a little bit more conservative than other areas of the country in terms of what’s asked for,” he said.For searches about facial surgeries, which are most popular in California, Utah’s ranks vary. For the search term “nose job,” Utah ranks third; for “face lift,” Utah ranks 14th; and for “neck lift,” Utah ranks 28th.Patel was the chief of facial surgery at the University of Utah before he opened his private practice and is well-known for two procedures he designed: the hammock lift — which rejuvenates the top two-thirds of a face — and the Patel deep plane facelift — which utilizes soft tissue in the skin to prevent neck sagging.“Most of my work these days is head and neck reconstructive and cosmetic surgery,” Patel said. “I do a lot of face and brow lifts, blephs, tumors and cancers, and broken bones and all that sort of stuff.”He’s currently working on a book featuring 100 essays from his male and female patients. All the testimonials answer one question: Why did the individual decide to do a facelift?“The reasons can be everything,” Patel said. “Men will say: ‘I started this company. I’m the boss. People keep on telling me, I look tired. When am I going to retire?’”And, for women, “It’ll be a life change, either they get a divorce or a death in the family. … When ladies get in their late 40s, 50s, many women will say, ‘I became invisible,’ Patel said, “This is a phrase that I’ve heard again and again.”Throughout his career, Patel has seen many changes in the industry.Because of social media, he said, people are more aware of the variety of plastic surgery procedures out there, and his facelift practice has “grown enormously.” He’s also seen exponential growth in nonsurgical procedures like Botox since he first started.Cost also plays into it. “We’re a lot cheaper than New York and LA, they charge literally eight, nine, [even] 10 times what we charge,” Patel said.Another change: the audience for surgeries.“[There] used to be a time when cosmetic surgery was sort of for the upper classes, people in the higher financial brackets,” Patel said. “In the last 10 years, I’ve started seeing just ordinary people, who work ordinary jobs, housewives, secretaries.”Utahns do care deeply about the quality of their plastic surgeons, though. In general, Utah tended to rank very highly for various searches looking for reviews of surgeries, and the state ranked No. 1 for the term “best plastic surgeons.”Rose specializes in breast and body contouring. When he moved to Utah in 2004, he remembers people questioning his decision to come to the Beehive State, wondering who would be getting plastic surgery there. Now, the self-described “King of Cleavage” has had patients visit all the way from China.“People come from all over because they just know that a lot of plastic surgery is done here,” Rose said. “They want to go somewhere where people are really experienced.”So, yes, Utah is a hot spot for plastic surgery — and a growing one. Through the state’s confluence of social media and reality TV, quality doctors at a reasonable price, and even a bit of unique religious influence, there’s no doubt: Utahns’ minds are changing on the business of changing bodies.This story was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Elected office or not, a host of possibilities await Kentucky’s Thomas Massie Elected office or not, a host of possibilities await Kentucky’s Thomas MassieEven though he lost his reelection bid to Congress in May, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s supporters signaled they’re ready for his next campaign.Shortly after the Associated Press called the race for Massie’s opponent, President Donald Trump’s candidate Ed Gallrein, Massie took to the stage in a packed ballroom at the Marriott Hotel near the Cincinnati airport in Hebron. He gave a nearly 30-minute concession speech but was largely all smiles as the crowd before him interrupted him multiple times with cheers.“What happens in 2028?” Massie quipped in response to the crowd chanting the presidential election year over and over again. “Oh, you want me to run for Congress again?” Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern The crowd yelled “no” in response and then started chanting “president” over and over again.“You made a compelling argument. You spoke your piece, but I need a medical margarita right now and we’ll talk about it later,” Massie said before leaving the stage.For the next couple of hours or so, Massie was in the crowd talking with supporters. A long line formed to take photos with the congressman and get his autograph. One attendee brought a white rabbit to show him.Dalton Henry, a Massie supporter who previously told the Kentucky Lantern that he traveled from Florida to campaign for the congressman ahead of the primary, said Massie’s congressional run was “definitely a start of a movement” and compared him to former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican, who gained national attention as a Libertarian.“If he runs, I’m there. If he runs — I don’t care if he runs for dog catcher,” Henry said when asked if he’d support a future Massie campaign. “I don’t even know if you run for dog catcher in this state, but I’ll come in.”A lot of optionsMassie, who has seven months left in Congress before his term ends, has options before him, Kentucky political observers say — whether or not that’s to seek another office or build something outside of politics.Massie cannot make a run as an independent candidate against Gallrein in the fall. Kentucky election law has a “sore loser” prohibition, preventing someone from running in a general election if they were a primary candidate. Another statute prevents someone defeated in a primary from running as a write-in candidate for the same office in the general election.But even if he doesn’t take up the crowd’s offer on a presidential campaign, he could consider a run for Kentucky governor in 2027 — he previously didn’t rule out the possibility earlier this year.Trey Grayson, a former Republican secretary of state in Northern Kentucky, said running for governor would make “some sense as a potential next step” for Massie. The only candidate to formally announce a run so far is Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. Rumored Republican candidates are U.S. Rep. James Comer and Secretary of State Michael Adams. Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers also hasn’t ruled out a run. Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern Massie did lose by 10 points, according to unofficial results, but “he was running against the president of the United States for a congressional seat,” Grayson said. Massie’s following as a Liberty Republican could be “a different sort of base of support than” someone like Comer, “so there would be a lane for somebody like him in that race.“All that being said, he did lose. And I don’t think his concession speech did him any favors,” Grayson said.While Massie’s remarks were well-received in-person, some Republicans online bashed Massie’s opening joke, which was that he would have come to the stage sooner to speak, but he had to call his opponent and concede, “and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv.”On May 17, Politico reported that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel interest groups have spent $9 million against Massie, who often supports isolationist politics and opposes foreign aid. AIPAC congratulated Gallrein in a statement: “Our community was proud to support Gallrein and help ensure Massie’s defeat.”Massie also faced fierce attacks on his personal life leading up to Tuesday, Grayson noted. Massie said he was consulting legal counsel after an interview with former girlfriend, Cynthia West, went viral on X and she accused Massie of offering her hush money to drop a complaint against his ally Indiana Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz. He has repeatedly denied this. Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern “He wouldn’t be the first person to say, ‘I’m good. I’m done. I can go do something else,’” Grayson said.Blake Gober, who is a former campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr’s U.S. Senate campaign, said that Massie’s “elected political career is over.”Massie ally, Kentucky Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, son of the aforementioned Ron, hasn’t ruled out a presidential run himself. If Rand does that, maybe Massie runs for U.S. Senate, Gober said, but he doesn’t “see a path” to being elected.On the governor question, Gober said Massie and Comer have “a cordial, if not friendly, relationship,” and would not see Massie run against him in that race.Massie does “100%” have a nonpolitical future, Gober said.“I think that he is technically a genius. He will, for sure, make sure everybody knows he has two degrees from MIT,” Gober said. Massie could be influential in Republican politics with groups like Young Americans for Liberty or Reason Foundation, a Libertarian think tank, to work on writing legislation.Massie could also back other political candidates he agrees with and help fundraise for them, or “write a book that probably would become a New York Times bestseller,” Gober said.“Also, he can go into the private sector and probably make a whole ton of money, so he has an extremely bright future, and just because his elected political career is over, in my opinion, doesn’t mean that his future is any less bright,” Gober said. “As far as having influence politically, some of that is based upon what he does between now and January, when he’s no longer in Congress.”Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky, said that Massie’s concession speech “clearly was teasing some kind of future activity.” If Massie doesn’t seek another office, he could appear on news shows as a spokesperson on politics, kind of like Scott Jennings on CNN, or find work at a think tank to reshape policy, Voss said.“Massie’s built a substantial national following,” Voss said. He’s become almost a household name, which not a lot of members of Congress are able to do, and he’s giving voice to a segment of the electorate that doesn’t have a lot of spokespeople.”What does this mean for Liberty Republicans?Throughout Massie’s seven terms in Congress, he became a leader of Liberty Republicans in Kentucky, with several of them being elected to the state legislature and to local positions in Northern Kentucky.Voss said that Massie’s loss might make Liberty Republicans “more cautious” and cause legislators to “pick their battles a little more selectively.”“I’m not sure the Liberty Republicans needed Massie’s loss to convince them that they needed to play ball most of the time. I would look back at when you know some of the Liberty Republicans were more disempowered within the state legislature as a message that already got through,” Voss said before adding that the caucus was “much more cooperative this last legislative session, almost sleepy.”In 2023, some Liberty-aligned Republicans were removed from some committees at the end of the session, and said it was a punishment for bucking leadership. Massie came to their defense at the time and said the move had “an air of pettiness that voters detest.” The lawmakers were later added back to their assignments.Some Liberty allies had wins on Tuesday, like Chet Hand in the Republican primary for Boone County judge-executive, Grayson said. That shows “that there’s still a lot of vibrancy in this Liberty movement inside the Kentucky Republican Party,” but Massie’s loss also “doesn’t help” the Liberty Republicans.Gober said that if Massie doesn’t run for governor, he could see someone from that wing of the party throwing their hat in the ring. That could be someone like state Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, who initially declared a 2023 run for governor but ended her campaign in 2022.“I think that that would be a dumb decision personally, but obviously we don’t know what’s going to happen between now and then,” Gober said. Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern This story was produced by Kentucky Lantern and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Tick season is getting worse. Can managing deer help? Health officials and researchers hope that efforts to control deer populations, which serve as "party buses" for mating ticks, can reverse the tide of ticks and the illnesses they cause.
	Niabi Zoo holds Pride Night Amid the celebrations, visitors also got to check out the new litter of Pallas's Cat kittens.
	Pop the Cork wine lounge to open in Moline Pop the Cork is the newest wine lounge in the Quad Cities. They will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. on Monday.
	Orion school board says goodbye to retiring superintendent Board members and school principals recognized Joe Blessman at his final school board meeting as superintendent on Wednesday.
	Comfortable temperatures ahead Cooler than normal conditions expected mid-week before active pattern returns
	Mockingbird, Black Hawk College, Moline, announce new theater collaboration Black Hawk College and The Mockingbird have announced a new, ongoing partnership dedicated to producing professional-caliber theater that is accessible, educational and deeply connected to the community, a news release says.. This collaboration brings together Black Hawk College’s commitment to student opportunity and learning with The Mockingbird’s mission to create bold, meaningful storytelling rooted in [...]
	Rhaenyra, Rhaena, Aegon, Aemond — let us help you keep up with 'House of the Dragon' No one can blame you for getting lost in the fight over the Iron Throne. Here's our cheat sheet ahead of House of the Dragon's third season starting Sunday.
	What you need to know about the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement signed by Trump Here's a look at the preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, and the challenges that remain to find lasting peace.
	Two health departments will offer preventative Lyme disease treatment due to ‘extreme tick season’ The lone star tick can cause alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy, in those it has bitten. (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention)Amidst an increase in tick bites and cases of Lyme disease, two West Virginia health departments are offering medication that can prevent the onset of the disease. Doxyclycline, an antibiotic, can prevent Lyme disease when taken within 72 hours of a tick bite. The medication is now available at the Kanawha-Charleston and Fayette County health departments. Dr. Steven Eshenaur, an emergency room physician who is health officer and director of both health departments, said the agencies are offering the medication in response to the need of people who call the health departments, emergency rooms and primary care offices about tick bites. Emergency room visits for tick bites have surged this year, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In West Virginia, Lyme disease cases have quadrupled from 1,000 per year in 2020 to 4,000 last year, and cases are on track to exceed 4,000 this year, Eshenuar said. “We felt it would be good to offer a prophylaxis, so that someone might prevent an ER visit, prevent an urgent care visit or a (primary care physician) visit to get that prophylactic dose earlier rather than later,” Eshenaur said. “Because timing is everything on it,” he said. “The earlier you get it, you can do a prophylactic dose and may not require the full regimen of doxycycline.” In addition to treating and preventing lyme disease, doxycycline can also treat ehrlichiosis, a disease carried by the black-legged tick and the lone star tick, he said. The antibiotic will not prevent the onset of alpha-gal syndrome, a tickborne meat allergy that’s also on the rise in West Virginia. Alpha-gal is caused by the saliva of the lone star tick, which is characterized by a white spot on adult females. The West Virginia Department of Health started tracking cases of alpha-gal in June 2025. In the last half of 2025, the state had approximately 482 investigations of the illness, and confirmed 185 of them, state epidemiologist Shannon McBee told West Virginia Watch. Suspected cases indicate there was a positive laboratory result for alpha-gal but state investigators were not able to get information about the person’s symptoms to confirm the case, she said. As of late May, the state had initiated 289 alpha-gal investigations for the year, McBee said. Health officials encourage people who are going into the woods to avoid high grass and stay on trails. They should also wear long sleeves and pants, use bug spray and to shower and check their bodies for ticks when they get back. Wearing light clothing can help people spot and remove ticks before they bite. Clothes and camping gear can be treated with permethrin, a chemical insecticide that kills ticks. If people do find a tick attached to them, they should use fine-tip tweezers to immediately remove it by grasping it as close as to the skin as possible and pulling straight up, McBee said. Afterwards, wash the area with warm soapy water and monitor yourself for symptoms for 30 days. An expanding rash or one with a bull’s-eye pattern is cause for concern, as well as fever, chills, fatigue and muscle aches. Pet owners are encouraged to check their cats and dogs for ticks when they come in from outside. Eshenaur said people who remove a tick within 24 hours have a low chance of getting Lyme disease. If a tick stays attached for 72 hours, there’s a high chance someone has contracted the virus, he said. “So that kind of that magic window is to either get that tick off very early or get a prophylactic dose of doxycycline, which is just two tablets, within 72 hours,” Eshenaur said. “That’s the key. If that tick has been on you less than three days, then you could qualify for just a single prophylactic dose.” Lyme disease can be a “significant” illness for some people, Eshenaur said. Early symptoms can be a rash and flu-like symptoms of fever, chill and body aches. “As far as long-term, ticks can cause even more significant issues, to include heart palpitations, nerve pain,” Eshenaur said. “It can affect the nervous system as well, and cause even facial palsy, muscle weakness in the face. That’s with somebody who’s had it for a long time, typically late stage.” Kanawha and Fayette residents are encouraged to call their respective health department clinics and schedule an appointment for the doxycycline, but walk-ins are also welcome. The clinic can ask questions to determine if the person qualifies to take the antibiotic. A $25 fee will cover the consultation and the cost of the medicine. Reach the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department at 304-348-8080, or the Fayette County Health Department at 304-574-1617. Courtesy of West Virginia Watch

Saturday, June 20th, 2026

Friday, June 19th, 2026