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

Thursday, May 21st, 2026
	Walmart plans price cuts using tariff refunds as shoppers get skittish Now that the U.S. government must refund most tariffs, Walmart says it might put its refund money toward lowering store prices. Executives say the cost of gas has shoppers increasingly under stress.
	Davenport man arrested, charged with possession of child sex abuse material A man from Davenport accused in a shots-fired incident at St. Ambrose earlier this month has been arrested again, this time in connection with possessing CSAM (child sex abuse material) on an iPhone. The criminal complaints filed in Scott County Court said Davenport Police officers were investigating a shots-fired incident in a parking lot at [...]
	This fashion-forward new footwear brand is trending Content by Kelley Kouture. This Richmond, Virginia–based brand introduces a refined new perspective in luxury footwear.
	Man charged in St. Ambrose shooting faces child sex abuse material charges The man accused of shooting at a driver in a St. Ambrose University parking lot is now facing child sexual abuse material charges.
	2 injured in Muscatine County crash One person was airlifted and another taken to a Muscatine hospital after two cars crashed Wednesday night.
	Summer camp opportunities opening up at Nahant Marsh Activities participants can expect range from basic survival skills to environmental studies, and are open to children of all ages.
	Preview of the first Quad Cities Comic Con Comic fans can start planning their costumes. Quad Cities Comic Con 2026 is coming to the Bend XPO isn East Moline. Joey Mills joined us in the studio to tell us what we can expect.
	Susan Collins brings federal dollars to Maine. She's hoping that's worth it to voters As Maine's Senate matchup is all but set, incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins urges voters to pick her over Democrat Graham Platner because she can fund state priorities due to her seniority.
	Rock Falls plans Memorial Day services Rock Falls American Legion Post #902, invites the community to Memorial Day Services on Monday, May 25, as the community comes together to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, a news release says. The day’s schedule is: For more information, contact: Commander John Roush of [...]
	Muscatine, Louisa counties foundations award over $684,000 in scholarships The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and its affiliate, the Community Foundation of Louisa County, awarded over $684,000 in scholarships to graduates of Columbus Community, Louisa-Muscatine, Muscatine, Wapello, West Liberty, and Wilton High Schools, a news release says. Over 210 scholarships were awarded through funds established by Community Foundation donors to support students pursuing post-secondary [...]
	Sandburg, Galesburg, announces poetry competition winners Sandburg, Galesburg, has announced the winners of the 37th annual Sandburg Poetry Competition. First through third place and honorable mentions were selected in four categories: elementary (grades K-5), junior (grades 6-8), intermediate (grades 9-12) and adult. Award winners were invited to attend a banquet April 30 in the Student Center on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus. Elementary [...]
	Limited rain chances for the Quad Cities While we may see a few sprinkles or light showers today, our best chance over the next few days is on Friday. It'll be cooler than average today and tomorrow, but warmer days are ahead. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	Riverside Riverslide, Moline, prepares to open for season The City of Moline Parks and Recreation Department has announced the official of Riverside Riverslide for the 2026 season starting at noon Saturday, May 23, a news release says. Features include: zero-depth entry to the 5' pool that includes a basketball hoop, spray features, ADA chair lift and lap pool.; three slides: Tube, drop and [...]
	Geneseo High School dedicates new career center to long-time leader Here’s what Ted McAvoy and others said at the dedication of the new career center named in his honor at Geneseo High School.
	Brews Energy in Sherrard opens in brick and mortar Brews Energy was operating out of their mobile trailer in Sherrard and upgraded into a permanent dine-in storefront location across the street from their new storefront.
	Kindergarten This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.For twenty years, Marian Lardner taught kindergarten at Earl Hansen School in the city of Rock Island.Mrs. Lardner's…
	Explore emergency vehicles and meet first responders in Muscatine EMS Week is May 17-23, and families can explore emergency vehicles and meet first responders in Muscatine. According to a release from the City of Muscatine, the Muscatine County EMS Day is May 23 at Blain’s Farm & Fleet. Local emergency responders and partner agencies will offer demonstrations, activities and safety education for all ages: [...]
	Amid allegations of abuse on Epstein's 'Zorro Ranch,' New Mexico opens new probes Epstein owned a 10,000-acre property with a mansion. After calls by the public, the state attorney general searched the property and the state House created a "Truth Commission."
	Researchers say the Trump administration is finding new ways to punish science Even with federal grants largely restored, scientists say the Trump administration is still preventing those funds from reaching them. The consequences, they say, are already becoming clear.
	Sisters reunite in Ali Smith's 'Glyph,' bringing light after the darkness of 'Gliff' The author restores balance in the homophones with her latest novel; both stories are thought-provoking, although somewhat less beguiling than her usual fare.
	TSA's new 'Gold+' program looks to increase private security screening at airports The agency calls the program an update to the Screening Partnership Program, in which 20 U.S. airports currently use private security screeners rather than federal workers.
	Even as anxieties grow under Trump, these swing voters aren't ready to back Democrats Swing voters in North Carolina say they are frustrated with President Trump and the state of the economy, but aren't ready to abandon him or his party as the midterms inch closer.
	Spencer Pratt is 'winning the internet,' but can he become mayor of Los Angeles? Pratt, a former reality TV star, is flooding social media with edgy humor, AI slop and combative rhetoric as a way of grabbing attention and winning the vote of the very online. It's a strategy some political experts see as the future of online campaigning.
	A guide to converting your lawn into a wildlife friendly garden Turning your grass into a garden isn't as complicated as you think, but it will take time and effort. This step-by-step guide breaks down the process, from killing your lawn to picking plants to grow.
	Illinois in top 10 of highest gas prices Gas is over $4 in every U.S. state for the first time since the war in Iran began.
	Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from fund Two police officers who helped defend the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot are suing to block anyone from receiving payouts from a new settlement fund.
	Ex-prosecutor charged with sending to herself report on Trump classified probe The former prosecutor faces federal charges over allegations that she sent a report on Jack Smith's investigation into President Trump's hoarding of classified documents to her personal email account.
	Ebola fears surge on the ground in Congo over rapid spread of a rare type Healthcare workers in eastern Congo said Wednesday they are underprotected and undertrained in a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak of a rare type of the virus in one of the world's most vulnerable places.
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
	Liberal U.S. mayors team up with European counterparts to fight authoritarianism Ten U.S. mayors from cities such as Chicago and Cincinnati have joined a pact with European mayors to defend democracy and progressive values and fight right-wing populists and authoritarianism.
	Davenport man charged in shooting arrested for alleged possession of child sex abuse materials Officers found the images while investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred earlier this month.
	Public gives input after officials narrow alternatives for Centennial Bridge The options for what will happen with the Centennial Bridge have been narrowed down. Read about what they are and what members of the public are saying.
	Community members sound off on future of Centennial Bridge Rehabbing, rebuilding, or adding a span are all but a no-go. The more likely option is that the Mississippi River would get an entirely new bridge.
	‘That final achievement’: Project SEARCH honors 7 interns at graduation Project SEARCH celebrated seven interns as they finished their internship program at a graduation ceremony Wednesday.
	Community members sound off on future of Centennial Bridge Rehabbing, rebuilding, or adding a span are all but a no-go. The more likely option is that the Mississippi River would get an entirely new bridge.
	Senate panel hears testimony on online sports betting, prediction markets Senate lawmakers grilled sports betting industry officials during a hearing focused on recent cheating scandals, companies' marketing tactics and regulatory battles.
	HVAC classes at QCA college supplement aging workforce Students at Eastern Iowa Community College are in their first week of a program focused on a labor shortage for heating and air conditioning companies. They're taking a nine-week program to learn the skills needed for the trade. Wednesday marked three days into the program. Students meet four hours a day, four days a week. [...]
	Open house gives opportunity for public input on the Centennial Bridge project Plans for the future of the Centennial Bridges got more attention on Wednesday. The Iowa and Illinois Department of Transportation held an open house for the public to give their input. It's part of the long process to determine whether to rehabilitate the 85-year-old bridge or replace it. The final three options are to rehab [...]
	Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island, will present 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' A joyous family musical and off-Broadway hit will make its debut at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse when the Rock Island theater premiers Ogden Nash's "The Tale of Custard the Dragon." Hailed by Kennedy Center Vice-President of Education Derek Gordon as a show that “will delight both the young and the young at heart," this hour-long [...]
	When the school year ends, their paychecks do too. Lawmakers could change that The Illinois General Assembly is considering helping educational support staff workers like Taylor whose incomes dry up each summer by allowing them to collect unemployment benefits between academic terms beginning on June 1.
	Field of Dreams press box to be named in honor of Voice of the Hawkeyes Gary Dolphin The press box at the Field of Dreams ballpark under construction will honor the name of Gary Dolphin, the “Voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.”
	Project opponent files federal lawsuit; uranium drilling permit hearing paused A view of Craven Canyon in South Dakota's southern Black Hills, where a company has proposed an exploratory drilling project. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)The status of a hearing on an exploratory uranium drilling permit was left uncertain Wednesday after a state board adjourned until further notice, following a private session to discuss legal matters. The permit application is from Clean Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is seeking to drill dozens of holes up to 700 feet deep on state land. The proposed site is near the rim of Craven Canyon in South Dakota’s southern Black Hills. Dozens of people and some organizations have raised formal complaints about the project to the Board of Minerals and Environment, which will decide on the permit. Opponents have said the drilling could disturb ancient Native American petroglyphs on the canyon’s walls, disrupt Lakota ceremonies and potentially contaminate groundwater, among other concerns. On Monday, the board started a hearing in Hot Springs on the permit application. The hearing was scheduled to continue through Friday. Tension grows between state board and project opponents at hearing on uranium drilling permit On Wednesday, the third day of the hearing, project opponent Elizabeth Lone Eagle filed a federal lawsuit against the board, the state’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Clean Nuclear Energy and state employees involved in evaluating the permit application, alleging violations of due process. Lone Eagle filed the lawsuit herself, without representation by an attorney. Lone Eagle, along with six other people, including five described as Lakota first-language speakers, are listed as plaintiffs in the suit. The suit alleges “systematic, ongoing, and deliberate denial of meaningful participation to Lakota first-language speaking” project opponents. Lakota is spoken by western South Dakota tribes, which once controlled the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. The board agreed prior to the hearing that the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources would provide a Lakota interpreter for the proceedings. The department failed to provide an interpreter on Monday, but provided interpreters Tuesday. At times on Tuesday, project opponents objected from seats in the audience when parts of the hearing proceeded without interpretation. The lawsuit also alleges that a “significant multi-jurisdictional law enforcement presence” creates an “atmosphere of intimidation” at the hearing. The board did not provide a date to resume the hearing, which was being held at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs, a little more than 20 miles from the proposed drill site. Several project opponents who’d been attending the hearing told South Dakota Searchlight on Wednesday evening that they were going home to await a further announcement. Neither the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources nor Clean Nuclear Energy immediately responded to Searchlight’s requests for further information. For broadcasters Host script. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Scott County using opioid settlement funds to expand addiction recovery resources Opioid care coordinators are paid entirely through settlement funds. They help connect those dealing with opioid use disorder to resources and treatment.
	Future of Centennial Bridge sparks debate as DOT narrows options A major decision about the future of the Centennial Bridge could reshape the Quad Cities skyline for generations as transportation officials narrow down alternatives for the aging structure.
	Sewer replacement, resurfacing projects continue in Bettendorf This week, crews will begin replacing the sewer from 14th Street to 18th Street in Bettendorf, according to a news release. To complete their work safely, 15th Street to 17th Street will be closed to through traffic with the rest of the section open to local traffic only. A detour will be in place using [...]
	Local researcher uses eDNA testing to search for endangered turtles in Milan Bottoms Are there Blanding's Turtles in the Bottoms? Elizabeth VanCamp thinks so. Here's how she's using new technology to try and prove it.
	Northeast Iowa sees continued black bear activity as populations grow nearby The Iowa DNR said an average of 2-3 black bears visit the state each year, especially the end of May. Iowa doesn't have any documented breeding populations just yet.
	Davenport schools launch QR code system to track students boarding, exiting buses Davenport Community School District is introducing PathWise Student Tracking, a new QR code system to monitor bus routes and enhance student safety.
	Arizona nurses say Prop. 139 should give them the right to perform abortions Photo by iStock / Getty Images PlusNearly twenty years ago, Republicans in Arizona passed laws barring nurses from providing abortions. That could change under the state’s newly adopted right to abortion, but it will be almost a year before a judge will get a chance to render a verdict. In February, the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court on behalf of two nurses and two midwives claiming that multiple laws which hinder the ability of advanced practice clinicians like them to provide abortion care or outright ban them from doing so are unconstitutional. The organization’s argument relies on Proposition 139, a voter-approved initiative that won overwhelming support two years ago, to call for the restrictions to be struck down. The initiative added the right to abortion to the Arizona Constitution, and it forbids the state from adopting or enforcing any law that denies or interferes with that fundamental right. While reproductive rights advocates are hopeful the case could dramatically increase access to the procedure, a resolution may be years away: A hearing to determine when a trial can be held has been scheduled for April 2, 2027. Amanda Mollindo, a spokeswoman for the Arizona chapter of the ACLU, said the prolonged wait time is likely because of how much evidence needs to be collected first. The lawsuit is challenging nearly four dozen laws limiting the ability of nurses and physician assistants to help perform abortions. Arizona law prohibits anyone but a qualified doctor from providing medication or surgical abortions. And a bevy of other laws require a doctor’s presence during routine interactions with patients, like conducting physical exams before a procedure, estimating a fetus’s gestational age or performing ultrasounds. In their lawsuit, reproductive rights attorneys argue that mandating a doctor’s involvement in tasks that nurses and physician’s assistants are trained to handle unnecessarily prolongs the procedure and is intended to narrow access to it. In addition, state law bars nurses from performing abortions that are intended to terminate a pregnancy, but are allowed to perform near identical procedures during ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. The treatment for miscarriages often includes uterine aspiration, which is commonly used during first trimester abortions. Lindsey Huang, an attorney for the group of nurses and midwives, urged the court to block the state’s prohibitions that prevent them from providing abortion care. She called the restrictions, known as the “APC Ban,” “unjustifiable” under the fundamental right to abortion adopted by voters in 2024. APC stands for advanced practice clinicians, which includes advanced nurse practitioners or physicians assistants. “Because the APC Ban restricts and interferes with Arizonans’ ability to obtain pre-viability abortion, and because it does not protect patients, is inconsistent with evidence-based medicine and clinical standards, infringes on patient autonomy, and penalizes Plaintiffs for assisting Arizonans seeking an abortion, it plainly violates the (constitution),” Huang wrote. “Indeed, such a restriction has no place in a state whose citizens voted to enshrine fundamental reproductive rights in their constitution.” Huang pointed out that, before the laws were passed, abortion was accessible in clinics operating across five counties. Today, that access has largely shrunk to just two counties, Maricopa and Pima, with the majority of clinics centered in Phoenix and Tucson. In Northern Arizona, only one clinic in Flagstaff offers the procedure. The state’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood Arizona, runs four women’s health clinics that provide abortions, including the one in Flagstaff. A spokesperson for the organization noted that it employs just eight doctors but 15 nurses, signaling the extent to which abortion services could expand if the state’s restrictions are eliminated. Abortion rights attorneys face opposition from Republican lawmakers in the effort to ease access to the procedure. Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro have joined the case to convince the court that the laws should be kept in place. The Republican duo have unsuccessfully sought to defend anti-abortion laws amid a wave of litigation from reproductive rights groups filed after voters agreed to make the procedure a fundamental right. In a response to the lawsuit, attorneys for the pair argued that the restrictions were passed with the goal of keeping women safe and posited that, because the laws might, in some cases, serve as protections for patients, they are compatible with Arizona’s abortion rights amendment and should be preserved. “Plaintiffs cannot establish that no set of circumstances exists under which the challenged laws would be valid, and thus Plaintiffs cannot prevail,” wrote attorney Katlyn J. Divis. Petersen and Montenegro have made similar arguments before, saying that restrictive laws may sometimes be necessary or helpful to maintain a patient’s health to undermine the arguments from reproductive rights groups. But so far, that view hasn’t been convincing in court. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat who ran on a campaign to protect abortion access, largely sided with the ACLU, filing a statement that said her office agreed that the majority of the laws violate the state’s constitution. But Mayes will be defending the state laws that require a doctor to obtain written parental permission before a minor can receive an abortion and require seeking a doctor’s advice if a pregnancy is suspected, even after an abortion was performed. The law mandating parental permission before a minor can get an abortion includes exceptions allowing a judicial order to serve as permission, or letting a doctor perform an abortion without permission if the minor says the pregnancy was the result of incest or their medical record shows one is necessary to prevent death or major bodily harm. Richie Taylor, a spokesman for the AG’s office, said that Mayes believes those laws do not violate the constitutional right to abortion. While the state is currently siding with reproductive rights attorneys, that could change if Mayes loses her re-election bid in November. Petersen, a Republican who represents Gilbert and has long pushed to further narrow access to abortion care, is aiming to unseat her. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	City of Bettendorf schedules Memorial Day observance The City of Bettendorf will honor and remember those who have served our country with a ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday, May 2, a news release says. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at Bettendorf’s Veterans Memorial, in Veterans Memorial Park, 1645 23rd St. Guest speaker will be Col. William J. “Joe” Parker, of [...]
	Dip into pools around the Quad Cities area Summer is just around the corner, and pools are opening around the Quad Cities! Find out where you can go to beat the heat.
	Central Avenue resurfacing begins The resurfacing is expected to take five to six weeks.
	Over 500 college aviators take to skies at Quad Cities International Airport Visit Quad Cities and the Quad Cities International Airport are hosting the conference, known as SAFECON, which runs through Saturday.
	Muscatine proclaims May as Affordable Housing Month The City of Muscatine has declared May 2026 is Affordable Housing Month. The proclamation was made during the May 19 Muscatine City Council meeting. According to a release: Why Affordable Housing Matters in Muscatine - Community Stability — Safe, attainable housing helps families build long term roots and contributes to neighborhood resilience. - Workforce Support [...]
	Black Hawk College selects new VP for student services The new Black Hawk College VP for student services will join the school from Oklahoma.
	Sunsets getting later and later this month in the Quad Cities Have you noticed how long the days are this time of year? The sun comes up around 5:30 and doesn't set until almost 8:30! This gaining daylight trend keeps up for another month, until we hit the summer solstice on June 21st. Here's a look at the sunset specifically, it's heading toward the latest ones [...]
	GOP races for lieutenant governor, ag commissioner headed to runoffs Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers her inaugural address during inauguration ceremonies at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Voters on Tuesday chose party nominees, and narrowed their choices for two offices, for the 2026 midterm elections. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)Alabama primary voters chose their Republican and Democratic nominees for the state’s constitutional offices, and set up two Republican primary runoffs. John Wahl, former Alabama Republican Party Chair, and Secretary of State Wes Allen advanced to a runoff for the party nomination for lieutenant governor. There were seven candidates running in the primary for an office that has little power. Wahl got the most votes at 192,432, about 40.6%, and Allen got 180,292, about 38%, according to unofficial results. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, Nicole Jones Wadsworth, Patrick Bishop, Dr. Stewart Tankersley and George Childress split the remaining 101,762 votes cast. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Wahl, who entered the race after getting an endorsement by President Donald Trump, thanked voters in a post on Facebook Wednesday. “Coming in first place in the primary is the honor of a lifetime. I am ready to get back out in the runoff and continue fighting for freedom, liberty, and the American Dream,” he wrote. Republican voters, and those who did not vote in the primary, can choose between Wahl and Allen on June 16. The winner will face Democratic nominee Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery. Ensler won the Democratic primary over Darryl Perryman with 57.6% of votes. In an acceptance speech Tuesday night, Ensler vowed unity if he is elected to the office. “People are tired of the divisiveness, they’re tired of backwards policies, they’re tired of Alabama ranking last in so many categories,” Ensler said. “So we are running to fight the bad stuff, but stand up for good to make sure that we’re proposing things that are going to put more money in people’s pockets, that are going to keep hospitals open, that are going to have safer neighborhoods, and reduce gun violence, and that are going to make sure that we strengthen our public schools.” Secretary of State Caroleen Dobson, Republican nominee for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in 2024, won the party’s nomination for Secretary of State, and will face Democratic nominee Wayne Rogers in November. Dobson received 286,914 votes, about 65.5%, Christopher Horn received 99,108 votes, about 22.6% and Glenda Jackson got 52,177 votes, about 11.9%, according to unofficial results. State Treasurer Young Boozer, the current State Treasurer, won the Republican nomination with 396,295 votes, about 68%, over banker Steve Lolley, who got 143,864 votes, about 32%. Boozer will face Democratic nominee Rosilyn Houston, a bank executive in Birmingham, in the general election in November. State Auditor Republican voters chose incumbent Andrew Sorrell for the party’s nominee for State Auditor over attorney Derek Chen by 35.8 percentage points. Sorrell will face Democratic nominee and Madison County Commissioner Violet Edwards in the general election. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries In a race with three candidates, all got about 30% of votes cast. Corey Hill, mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, got 150,598 votes, about 35.2%, sending him to a runoff with Christina McInnis, a fifth-generation farmer in Baldwin County, who got 149,179, about 34.9%. Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, came in third place with 129,112, about 29.9%. The winner of the June runoff will face Democratic nominee Ron Sparks in the general election. Sparks served as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from 2003 to 2011 and was the Democratic party’s gubernatorial nominee in 2010. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Stephen Pearcy of RATT, May 29 Credited as a pioneer of the early '80s, Sunset Strip rock scene, and with his band's multi-platinum-selling smashes including Out of the Cellar and Invasion of Your Privacy, RATT founder and frontman Stephen Pearcy headlines a May 29 concert event at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, RATT's hit singles including “Lay It Down,” “Way Cool Jr.,” “Wanted Man,” and top-five Billboard smash “Round and Round.”
	Chad Gray, May 29 Performing at the East Moline venue on his “30 Years of Mayhem” tour, Chad Gray headlines a May 30 engagement at the Rust Belt, this powerhouse vocalist behind Mudvayne and Hellyeah lauded for decades for the intensity and grit that helped define modern heavy metal.
	RFK Jr. delivers youth screen time advisory while in Iowa for MAHA bill signing U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered remarks at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines May 20, 2026 in support of Gov. Kim Reynolds signing into law a "Make America Healthy Again" measure. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)GILBERT — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in Iowa Wednesday, announced a surgeon general’s advisory on the harms of screen time for children. He said states like Iowa that have implemented restrictions on cellphone use in schools helped chart the path on national guidelines around screen time for youth. He also joined Gov. Kim Reynolds as she signed legislation including a limit on digital instruction in schools. The advisory, released alongside a “toolkit” providing tips and guidance for families, schools, healthcare providers and policymakers, specifically lays out guidance on creating a school cellphone policy. It is similar to the measure signed into law in 2025 by Reynolds requiring public K-12 school districts in Iowa set policies that at minimum ban the use of cellphones during class time. Kennedy said during a news conference held at Gilbert Elementary School that “Iowa is leading the nation by taking decisive action to protect children’s health, including limiting excessive classroom screen time,” and the advisory is aimed at having more states and local communities take similar steps. He called excessive screen use “among the most urgent public health challenges facing American children,” saying high use of cellphones and similar devices are correlated with children developing problems with their physical health, mental health, academic performance and social development. “Our message to children is simple: life exists beyond the screen,” Kennedy said. “Children build confidence, imagination, resilience, and joy with nature, with books, through creativity and friendship, through conversations, and being full of human connections. Screens do often displace these experiences instead of supporting. Today’s advisory is not just a warning, it’s a call to reclaim childhood, lead our children to spend less time scrolling and more time living, less time isolated online and more time connected with family, or their community, to nature, or to real life.” The advisory is a call to action, but does not set any specific policy mandates or restrictions on screen use in schools. However, Kennedy’s visit also came in conjunction with Reynolds signing House File 2676 into law — a measure that incorporates a number of health-related proposals into one package. The bill is referred to as the state’s “Make America Health Again,” or “MAHA” bill — referring to the national health-centered movement led by Kennedy. One of the provisions in the law limits screen time through digital learning for students in kindergarten through grade 5 to one hour per day, with certain exemptions. Reynolds said the state departments of Education and Health and Human Services will work to develop these policies for school districts to implement, as well as looking at the impacts of screen time for digital education on students in grades 6-12. “Not only are we limiting the digital instruction … we’re encouraging kids to get healthy, and we’re really refocusing our systems and the benefits on nutrition,” Reynolds said. “So it’s really an all-of-the-above policy that was included in the ‘MAHA’ bill, and its intent is to really help these kids get out there and experience life, communicate, enjoy each other.” New law restricts food dyes, SNAP choices The Iowa “MAHA” law includes measures requiring the state to continuously request waivers to the federal government to keep in place approved restrictions on purchasing unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as through the federal Summer EBT program. It also requires Iowa medical school students to complete at least 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and metabolic health prior to graduation alongside continuing nutrition coursework to remain certified as a physician. Reynolds thanked Kennedy at the bill signing as someone who “inspired the MAHA movement.” “He has never wavered in his commitment to reform what’s broken across food, health, and scientific systems, and restore better health for Americans,” Reynolds said. “And, as you know, the time for action is now. … Iowa isn’t immune to the chronic disease epidemic that’s plaguing our nation. More than 37% of adult Iowans are obese, and sadly, so are 17% of our youth aged 16 to 17. Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing and worsening many chronic illnesses.” There are also several policy pieces related to nutrition and exercise at Iowa’s K-12 schools. The law will ban certain food dyes and additives from school meal programs and vending machines, implement the Presidential Fitness Test in schools, and have K-5 students to have two hours of physical activity a week. It also requires the state Department of Education to apply for a waiver to the Federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to exempt sodium limits, whole grain requirements and fruit and vegetable variety stipulations, which Republicans said during floor debate in March is aimed at prioritizing regional food sources. Additionally, the proposal allows the ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic infections that some sources claim can be used to prevent or treat symptoms of COVID-19, to be distributed over the counter by pharmacists. Kennedy said the measure shows Iowa’s leadership on making changes to address an “existential crisis” in public health. “Iowa is showing the country what bold public health leadership looks like by focusing on prevention, nutrition, physical fitness, and healthier lifestyles for the next generation,” Kennedy said. “… Decades of failed policy and perverse incentives transform one of the world’s greatest healthcare systems into a sick-care system that profits from illness instead of protecting health. But under President Trump’s leadership, HHS has delivered the most sweeping public health reforms in modern history in just 15 short months.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	MercyOne announces new president/CEO After a nationwide search, Robert Baxter, FACHE, has been named the new president and CEO of MercyOne beginning Monday, June 22, according to a news release. He will succeed Michael Taylor, who has served in an interim capacity since the beginning of January. Baxter brings more than 30 years of health care experience, most recently [...]
	Brandon Santini, May 31 Revered for delivering high-energy performances, driven by searing harmonica and passionate vocals, Brandon Santini returns to Davenport's Gypsy Highway Bar & Grill in a concert co-presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, his May 31 headlining engagement treating audiences to the artist whom Blues Blast magazine called "one of the best harp players in the blues scene today."
	Matt Barber & Friends, May 30 Fresh off his two-month tour of Southern California, Matt Barber returns to Davenport's Grape Life Wine Store & Cellar on May 30, the gifted crooner and Rock Island High School graduate performing a thrilling repertoire of jazz, pop, and '50s-'70s classics alongside Quad Cities musicians and brothers Kellen Meyers on keyboard and Logan Meyers on drums.
	Researchers looking for endangered Blanding's turtles in the Milan Bottoms Elizabeth VanCamp joined The Current to discuss the difficulties with finding the turtles and why people should care about their shelled friends.
	Mirah, June 1 Touring in support of her February release Dedication, an album in which, according to The Spill Magazine, "all the experience she has gathered so far as an artist is coming to full bloom," alternative-folk singer/songwriter Mirah headlines a June 1 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, her latest recording hailed by Pitchfork as a "wistful account of motherhood, gratitude, and grief" where "unabashed earnestness is its greatest strength."
	Water Is the Sun, May 30 Traveling the country in support of their acclaimed springtime release Ritual Fever, the experimental musicians of Water Is the Headline headline a May 30 concert at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox, Psychotropic Wonderland describing the group's recording as "an endlessly evolving balancing act between timeless, rustic, and haunted-sounding samples and alternately understated and epic-sounding synthesizer motifs.”
	Choral Dynamics: “Raising Spirits with Song,” May 29 through 31 Celebrating both the organization's 50th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the United States this May, the revered vocal ensemble Choral Dynamics presents its annual pre-summer show at the Orhpeum Theatre May 29 through 31, with Raising Spirits with Song boasting favorite choral tunes, patriotic numbers, and memories of the past 50 years in Galesburg.
	The Quire of Eastern Iowa: “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray,” May 30 Debuting their new cantata for the first time in Iowa, the vocal talents of the Quire of Eastern Iowa brings Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on May 30, celebrating the pioneering Civil Rights activist, lawyer, poet, and Episcopal priest whose work helped shape modern movements for racial and gender equality.
	State: Patients’ narcotic painkillers were replaced with vitamins, antihistamines (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)An Iowa nursing home where hundreds of narcotic painkillers for residents were secretly replaced with vitamins or over-the-counter medications is facing a $500 fine. State inspectors allege that in March, the staff at the Oakland Manor nursing home in Pottawattamie County noticed that its supply of narcotic painkillers appeared to have been tampered with. According to the inspectors, a registered nurse at the home contacted the director of nursing on March 4, 2026, to report that during a shift change that day, a discrepancy in the inventory of narcotics was noticed. One of the other nurses had questioned the appearance of one resident’s oxycodone medications while counting controlled substances in the home’s medication cart. Inspectors allege that during the count, it was noticed that a blister card in which several oxycodone tablets were packaged appeared to have been secured with medical tape. On further examination, a nurse noticed the back of the blister pack appeared to have been tampered with and some of the tablets looked different from the typical oxycodone tablets. According to the inspectors, it was then discovered that each area where the tablets rested in the card had been opened and then covered with a small piece of tape. The staff then discovered that additional cards of oxycodone, in both 5-milligram 10-milligram doses, appeared to have been tampered with, and the narcotic was replaced with an over-the-counter antihistamine. The inspectors allege that an internal investigation at Oakland Manor revealed that one resident’s 10-milligram oxycodone tablets had been replaced with over-the-counter tablets of vitamin B-12, and two other residents had their 5-milligram oxycodone tablets replaced with an antihistamine. The investigation eventually concluded that oxycodone painkillers for at least five residents were either missing or had been surreptitiously replaced with over-the-counter vitamins or medications, the inspectors allege. In one instance, 84 oxycodone tablets prescribed for a single resident were either missing or had been replaced with over-the-counter tablets, the internal investigation concluded. “A total of 279 narcotic tablets were missing,” state inspectors reported. The $500 fine imposed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing is tied not to the theft of residents’ medications, but to the facility’s alleged failure to report the matter to the state in a timely fashion. The state inspection reports give no indication as to who was behind the apparent theft or whether a criminal investigation has been launched. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	‘Santa’ facing extradition after being accused of money laundering, police say A 73-year-old man who is known locally for portraying Santa Claus is facing extradition after being charged with several fraud and money laundering charges.
	MercyOne names Robert Baxter as new president and CEO MercyOne names Robert Baxter as new president and CEO, effective June 22. Baxter, a University of Iowa alum, joins from Bon Secours Mercy Health.
	Boston appeals court rejects RI child advocate’s emergency relief petition The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Rhode Island Office of Child Advocate’s petition for emergency relief, clearing the way for the release of medical records for transgender youth treated at Rhode Island Hospital. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit refused Tuesday night to block the initial transfer of transgender youth-related records from Rhode Island Hospital to a Texas federal court. The records will be held in the custody of the court and unavailable to the public, according to an order from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Chief Judge Reed O’Connor. The records were subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice last July as part of an ongoing, nationwide investigation into potentially fraudulent labelling and billing practices involving hormone therapy and other pharmaceutical treatments for gender dysphoria. Rhode Island Hospital intends to release records to comply with Texas judge’s midnight deadline “While we are disappointed in this result, this decision is not the end of our fight to protect Rhode Island children’s medical privacy,” Kevin Love Hubbard, an attorney with the Lawyers’ Committee of RI and the Rhode Island’s Office of the Child Advocate’s representative in the case, said in a text message to Rhode Island Current Wednesday. “We know that even if the DOJ is not receiving these records now, the uncertainty generated by this ongoing legal battle has been harmful.” Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros, whose office represents youth in state care plus kids who receive behavioral health services through the state’s child welfare agency, filed an emergency motion in an appeal in the First Circuit in Boston Tuesday, hoping to avert the transfer before the midnight deadline set by O’Connor. The petition came after Medeiros’s legal team successfully acquired a ruling that would strike down the subpoena last week in Rhode Island U.S. District Court. But after that ruling, on May 18, O’Connor ordered that even with the subpoena quashed, the records would need to be sent to his district, and held in the court’s custody, or in camera, and inaccessible to the government or anyone outside the court for the time being. The Child Advocate’s legal team argued that even an abbreviated sharing of these records would constitute harm to the youths’ privacy. The three judges on the appellate court were unconvinced. “The Child Advocate contends that providing the records to anyone, even to a court, represents an irreparable harm given ‘the psychological and institutional costs of compelled production of sensitive medical records even when redacted,” the opinion by Circuit Judges Gustavo A. Gelpí, Lara E. Montecalvo, and Joshua Dunlap read. “The Child Advocate cites no authority for the proposition that providing anonymized records to a court — particularly one that has assured the parties that the records will not be disseminated unless and until the parties’ appeals are resolved — could constitute irreparable harm.” Circuit Judge Dunlap backed up the main opinion with a separate, concurring one. The May 18 Texas order, the appellate judges noted, “does not require…production to, and review by, an adverse party.” That was one sticking point and part of why Rhode Island Hospital moved sluggishly to release the records when it feared violation of privacy rights should the DOJ receive unrestricted and direct access to select information in the requested caches. The DOJ’s subpoena requested five categories of especially sensitive patient information, like diagnostic, treatment and family histories. A spokesperson for Brown University Health, the parent healthcare organization of Rhode Island Hospital, said in an unsigned email Wednesday that there was no patient identifying information in the information it shared with the court. “With the DOJ, for the first time with respect to the subpoena issued to Rhode Island Hospital, unequivocally agreeing on the record that it would accept records from the hospital that do not contain sensitive personal health information, no production to the court — not yesterday’s and none in the future — will include patient identifying information,” the spokesperson wrote. Rhode Island Hospital first shared with Rhode Island Current shortly before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday that it was sending an initial batch of documents to the Texas court. A filing Tuesday in the Texas court from Rhode Island Hospital noted that the “production of records, and necessarily compliance with the Court’s May 18 Order requiring in camera production, will take a period of months,” due to “the volume of the data to be collected, and the time-consuming and costly nature of the review process, which will divert RIH personnel from their daily responsibilities.” The hospital expects that the next batch of records will be shared on May 29. Hubbard agreed that “the anonymization and de-identification does reduce the risk” involved with the hospital sharing the documents, although he noted that the government’s intentions — especially its willingness to accept anonymized data — were unclear when the Child Advocate first moved to act. “It only became clear that the government was accepting that after we filed our emergency motion, when they represented to the First Circuit there was less harm because of the anonymization,” Hubbard said. “The First Circuit relied on that, and the fact that DOJ will not be able to access the records pending the appeal, for its finding that there was no irreparable injury for the patients.” Hubbard said that, to his understanding, the documents the hospital shared Tuesday night were “not medical records” and were “non-privileged documents responsive to other parts of the subpoena.” They were not in the five contended categories of medical records central to the litigation, Hubbard said. More to come But, as Hubbard suggested, the fight does not appear to be over, and on several levels at that. Rhode Island Hospital’s acceptance of the anonymity condition is similar to compromises the DOJ offered other subpoenaed hospitals in its nationwide efforts. Karen Loewy, senior counsel and director of constitutional law practice at Lambda Legal, said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the records are part of a larger grab by the DOJ. “DOJ’s goal here is to end the provision of gender affirming medical care to adolescents — full stop — whether through intimidation of the hospitals, threatening their funding, going after their providers, or scaring patients into not seeking care in the first place,” Loewy wrote. “Sowing distrust between providers and the transgender young people who need their care is all part of the plan.” Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, agreed in a phone interview Wednesday. “This is this administration weaponizing the criminal subpoena system to just grossly invade the most sensitive private confidential information,” Minter said. “The harm here is so grave. The betrayal of patient confidentiality is so extreme that they should have taken every possible measure to fight it.” An unsigned comment from DOJ Wednesday read: “This Department of Justice will use every legal and law enforcement tool available to protect innocent children from being mutilated under the guise of ‘care.’” The harm here is so grave. The betrayal of patient confidentiality is so extreme that they should have taken every possible measure to fight it. – Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights For the appellate court judges, meanwhile, they had to “set aside a host of procedural problems,” in their ruling’s words, to even arrive at a decision. Was it right to grant an injunction “that would order the Hospital not to turn responsive records over to anyone,” or could the Child Advocate even “obtain an injunction against the Hospital that would subject the Hospital to mutually irreconcilable orders”? The appeals court did not determine those answers, and relied on what it saw as a lack of irreparable harm to settle the score. In his separate, concurring opinion, Circuit Judge Dunlap — an appointee of President Donald Trump who took his seat on the First Circuit in November 2025 — identified deeper problems he saw with the child advocate’s argument. “The Child Advocate claims that she is not asking us to ‘review, vacate, or direct any action by the Texas court,’ and instead is only requesting that we enjoin the Hospital from turning over materials to the Northern District of Texas,” Dunlap wrote. “But that argument is little more than sophistry.” The judge was also concerned with Rhode Island’s U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy’s May 14 order that squished the DOJ’s administrative subpoena, partly because it failed to engage with “the government’s theory that the Hospital caused the distribution of drugs that are misbranded for off-label uses or conspired with manufacturers or distributors to misbrand such drugs.” “Assuming these theories are valid, the district court’s improper purpose reasoning would fall away,” Dunlap wrote. “There are therefore serious questions about the merits of the district court’s decision.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	“Riverdance 30: The New Generation,” June 3 Hailed by DC Metro Arts as “an exhilarating ride of pride and precision” and by the Chicago Tribune as “superbly and joyously performed,” the touring spectacle Riverdance 30: The New Generation comes to Davenport's Adler Theatre on June 3, this astoundingly choreographed sensation a show that, according to Broadway World, “will appeal to long-time fans and captivate a new audience.”
	State: Nursing home resident called 911 after being left ‘gasping for air’ The Good Samaritan nursing home in Red Oak, Iowa. (Photo via Google Earth)An Iowa nursing home where a resident called 911 to receive medical attention while struggling to breathe could be facing fines of more than $27,000. According to state inspectors, the Good Samaritan care facility in Red Oak failed to provide quality nursing care when it neglected to intervene when one of the home’s 34 residents showed signs of critically low oxygen levels and another resident was coughing up blood. Inspectors allege that on April 15, 2026, a female resident of the home whose oxygen levels had been dropping called 911 for medical assistance. When paramedics arrived at the home, they inquired about the resident’s condition and one staff member allegedly responded, “She’s been like this all day.” According to the inspectors’ written report, as the paramedics “approached the patient’s room, audible screams for help were heard.” The woman was lying in bed and exhibited signs of an altered mental status, with possible hallucinations. Inspectors alleged the woman’s oxygen levels, when first measured by paramedics, was in ranged from the “high 60s to low 70s” — with anything below 80 generally considered to be life-threatening. The woman was taken by ambulance to a hospital emergency room to be assessed for possible pneumonia, was placed on high-flow oxygen, and then transferred to a larger hospital that was better equipped to handle her medical condition. Inspectors allege the woman later reported that she had been “gasping for air” so much that she was hallucinating and seeing things, while adding that she had called 911 because the Good Samaritan staff had not been answering her call light. The woman’s primary care physician allegedly told inspectors that oxygen levels in the 60s were “a very big concern” and under those circumstances, the nursing staff should have had the woman transferred to the emergency room. Home cited for failure to adequately respond to resident with lung condition Inspectors also faulted the Good Samaritan home for its alleged failure to adequately respond to a male resident who was coughing up blood on March 30 and March 31, 2026. The inspectors reported that caregivers in the home had noticed two paper cups on the man’s windowsill that appeared to be partially filled with blood the man was coughing up. On April 2, 2026, the resident was admitted to an acute care hospital and diagnosed with hemoptysis – a potentially serious condition caused by bleeding in the lungs or the respiratory tract. According to the inspectors, doctors then discovered a blood clot that obstructed the man’s airway and caused active bleeding. The man reportedly told inspectors he was never asked if he wanted to go to the hospital’s emergency room, and that he would have gone if that was presented as an option. As a result of the state inspection, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has cited the Good Samaritan home for violations related to medications and treatment; overall quality of care; unsafe or unsanitary food storage and preparation; the failure to maintain a safe, clean, homelike environment; the improper use of chemical restraints; inadequate respiratory care, and other issues. State: No COVID-19 vaccines in 2025 According to the inspectors, none of the home’s 34 residents had been offered, or had received, the COVID-19 vaccine during 2025 – although the staff reportedly provided conflicting reasons for the situation. The home’s infection preventionist, who is also a registered nurse, reportedly told the inspectors “COVID-19 vaccines were not given to residents at the facility at all unless the residents specifically requested the vaccine.” The home’s director of nursing allegedly told inspectors the home’s pharmacy “could not get the new vaccine” for COVID-19, while the home’s pharmacist allegedly told inspectors the vaccine was available to give residents once it was ordered. Inspectors noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that it is “especially important to get the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine for ages 65 and older” since that population is more at risk for “severe” forms of COVID-19. The state inspections department has proposed a state fine of $27,750, but has held that fine in suspension while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decides whether a federal fine is warranted. Currently, the Red Oak Good Samaritan home has a one-star rating for inspection results and overall quality on CMS’ five-star quality scale. CMS reports that in August 2025, it imposed a federal fine of $29,894 against the facility. The administrator of the Red Oak home, Mike Early, who also serves as the administrator of the Good Samaritan home in Villisca, could not be reached at either of two facilities Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Black bears becoming regular visitors in northeast Iowa Vince Evelsizer with the Iowa DNR joined The Current to discuss where the bears are being spotted and what you need to know to keep safe around them.
	“Called to Reckon: Replacing History & Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College” Discussion, June 2 Presenting a panel discussion on the new Jane E. Simonsen book about Rock Island's Augustana College, the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch, on June 2, hosts a talk on the fascinating nonfiction Called to Reckon: Replacing History & Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College.
	“PIEOWA: A Piece of America,” May 30 With her documentary hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "a soulful slice of Americana" that has been covered by national outlets including CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 and the Hallmark Channel's Home & Family, former Quad Citizen Beth Howard brings her film PIEOWA: A Piece of America to the Bettendorf Public Library, the May 30 screening featuring an appearance by the filmmaker and, fittingly, a bit of dessert, to boot.
	“Waking Life,” June 4 With Stephen Holden of The New York Times calling the film "so verbally dexterous and visually innovative that you can't absorb it unless you have all your wits about you,” Waking Life enjoys a June 4 screening at Rozz-Tox, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater's animated 2001 classic the latest presentation in the Rock Island venue's popular Filmosofia series.
	Advice for 2026 commencement speakers: Don't bring up AI Commencement speakers who bring up the sweeping changes that artificial intelligence is driving are facing boos from the Class of 2026.
	A sneak peek into the Memorial Day Weekend Just a couple of days now until the Memorial Day weekend here in the US, and for us here in the Quad Cities, it couldn't be any better. While temperatures have been a bit on the cooler side so far this week and will continue to remain that way through Friday, things are warming up [...]
	2026 Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest, May 30 and 21 With the eagerly anticipated weekend event hosted by Rock Island's Quad City Arts and taking place for the 10th time, glorious colors and imaginative designs will be gracing the pavement of Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park in the Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest, a May 30 and 31 pre-summertime fixture boasting free admission, beautiful artistic creations, live music, children's activities, food and drink vendors, and more than $2,000 in cash prizes.
	Elon Musk's SpaceX files paperwork for what's likely to be the biggest IPO in history The company is on track to pull off the largest IPO in history — making CEO Elon Musk even wealthier.
	Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO plans reveal blockbuster spending on rockets and AI The company is on track to pull off the largest IPO in history — making CEO Elon Musk even wealthier.
	Final major group of Iowa National Guard soldiers to return home soon Nearly 200 soldiers are now back in America.
	Former Dubuque Teacher facing federal child exploitation charges A former Dubuque high school teacher is charged with six federal charges connected with child exploitation allegations.
	ORA Orthopedics introduces first-in-the-nation weight-bearing CT scanner The Planmed XFI Cone-beam CT Scanner can take scans while patients are standing or seated, instead of only while laying down.
	Channel Cat Water Taxi to open for 2026 season with expanded experiences, live music series The Channel Cat Water Taxi, a Quad Cities summertime staple is opening for the 2026 season, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
	MercyOne announces new president and CEO An interim president and CEO has been leading the company since January.
	“The Rainmaker,” June 4 through 14 Hailed by the New York Daily Mirror as “a hit you must see” and by the Los Angeles Times as “a handsomely staged case for miracles,” playwright N. Richard Nash's 1953 classic The Rainmaker enjoys a June 4 through 14 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, this optimistic charmer famed for its beloved 1956 movie adaptation starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn.
	Quad City Arts' Chalk Art Fest needs volunteers Quad City Arts needs volunteers for the 2026 Chalk Art Fest, taking place on May 30 – 31 in Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. Chalk Art Fest is a free, live outdoor arts festival that brings hundreds of artists together who spend hours transforming the cement pavement at Schwiebert Park into a museum of chalk [...]
	Eastern, northern Montana hit with ‘disastrous’ wind storm A camera image from 3:00 p.m. on May 14 is pictured from a Montana Mesonet weather station near Medicine Lake. (Montana Climate Office photo) Jared Miller, a farmer who lives south of Havre, was at a high school conference track meet on May 13 when a “disastrous” wind storm whipped through eastern Montana. The storm stopped the track meet for an hour. “There was no visibility, and the winds were nuts,” Miller said. “Everyone headed to buses. We only had the mile relays left. It came in during the two mile, and there was like one girl still out on the track when it hit. We’d already got everybody else cleared out of there, and there was one girl still finishing up, but she did finish the race, and will get to go on the divisionals, which is kind of cool.” He added: “I mean, you could see across the track, but that was about as far as you could see when it hit.” Miller reported the worst damage to his farmland was to fencing — tumbleweeds stacked up on some fence line and pushed it over. “Luckily, no cows were in that pasture,” Miller said. Eastern and northern Montana suffered a large windstorm last week, causing issues for producers, the Montana Climate Office said in a news post. The storm blew up on May 13, and according to researchers was a “strong midlatitude cyclone.” Montana Mesonet weather stations recorded strong gusts and sustained high winds. Windspeeds over 70 mph were observed, which were, “capable of transporting large amounts of topsoil.” The area was already experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Farmers and ranchers along the Hi-Line and throughout the impacted areas saw damage. Stine Decker, who lives south of Inverness, mostly grows wheat, peas, and safflower and said “the dirt literally sandblasts the tiny plants that are trying to grow.” Decker said the storm blew tin off her shop and the dust and dirt also led to dangerous driving conditions. “It was zero visibility,” Decker said. “I was just going to leave to grab the kids from school, and I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I’m going to make it.’ I stopped up at the corner of my road and couldn’t see, and I turned around, came home.” The area around where Miller lives received about a half-inch of rain after the storm, he said. “We’ll take the rain however we have to get it,” Miller said. “I guess, it was a good thing, because we were to the point that I was starting to think about skiing in South America, that’s how dry and depressing this wind has been this year.” The storm was the most significant dust-blowing event “in recent years” across the Hi-Line, the Climate Office, which is an independent, state-designated body attached to the University of Montana. This is the time of the year where farmers are planting their crops, and the report outlined several issues, including crops being buried and seed loss due to the wind carrying soil away. “Across portions of the Hi-Line and northeast Montana, winds lifted loose soil into the atmosphere, creating widespread dust plumes that reduced visibility and transported valuable topsoil away from agricultural fields,” the Climate Office news post said. “In several areas, blowing dust became dense enough to resemble brownout conditions, significantly impacting local travel and field operations.” Photos from Mesonet stations show significant dust, including photos from around the Medicine Lake area resembling “Mars” a caption for one of the images reads. There could be longer-term problems as well. “The loss of nutrient-rich topsoil threatens productivity by reducing water infiltration, degrading soil health, and increasing vulnerability to future erosion events,” the post says. “Repeated wind erosion events of this magnitude can diminish crop resilience, reduce yield potential, and place additional financial strain on producers.” Courtesy of Daily Montanan
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: GONKARNUE KPAN, 37, 6’2”, 182 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Wanted in Scott County for parole violation and escape on a conviction for indecent [...]
	Bettendorf man arrested after alleged rifle sale to undercover agent A Bettendorf man is accused of trying to sell a rifle to an undercover MEG agent. Read more about the case here.
	How to help children cope after shootings like the San Diego mosque killings Children closest to an incident of gun violence have the most risk of lasting psychological effects. Here's what all parents should know about how to buffer trauma.
	North Carolina lawmakers push bills to require AEDs in public schools An Automated External Defibrillator, (AED) placed on the wall in public locations. (Photo: Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images) Former East Carolina University track athlete Hailey Yentz went 10 minutes without a pulse after collapsing in a campus weight room before athletic trainers revived her with four shocks from an automated external defibrillator. “What most of us aren’t usually thinking about when we walk into a building is that the people around us and the equipment in that building could determine whether we live or die,” Yentz said. On Wednesday, Yentz joined lawmakers and medical professionals at the Legislative Building in Raleigh to support legislation that would require AEDs in North Carolina public schools. The House has passed its version of the legislation, the Rep. Becky Carney Cardiac Arrest Act, by a 111-1 vote with bipartisan support. The bill would require at least one automated external defibrillator, or AED, in every public school, and mandate CPR and defibrillator training for school personnel. The bill is named after Rep. Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) whose life was saved by an AED after she collapsed inside the Legislative Building in 2009. A separate Senate bill, S278, goes even further. It would require schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans, set up response teams, hold annual drills and coordinate with local emergency medical providers. It would also require AEDs to be placed so they can be reached and used within three minutes. It has not yet had a hearing. Advocates also are seeking $2 million in the state budget to help schools purchase AEDs and train school staff. A North Carolina Department of Public Instruction survey from the 2023-24 school year found gaps in AED coverage across the state. Emma Kate Burns, government relations director for the American Heart Association in North Carolina, said the survey found 99% of schools reported having at least one AED, but five counties reported at least one school without a device. Supporters pointed to cardiac arrests in schools during that same school year as evidence of the need for the legislation. They cited data from the AHA that showed 13 cardiac arrests on North Carolina school campuses; six involved children, and one was fatal. “It didn’t make sense to me that we didn’t have defibrillators in every public school,” said Rep. William Gable (R-Onslow) a primary sponsor of the House bill. Setting politics aside, NC lawmakers approve bill to increase survival from cardiac arrest Denny Kellington, the Carolina Panthers athletic trainer who performed CPR on Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest in 2023, said the funding request is a small cost compared with the consequences for families. “I don’t think that should be considered when you’re able to rescue a kid,” said Kellington. “ You don’t want to be able to go talk to a parent and say, ‘Oh, we wish we had an AED available, but we got caught up in the red tape.’” Sara Council, lead school nurse for the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, said her district expanded AED access after a middle school student died from cardiac arrest during recess a few years ago. The district now keeps AEDs in every building and trains staff alongside local emergency responders. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Channel Cat Water Taxi opens for the 2026 season this Friday New this season, local musicians will perform live on the boat during regular operating hours. Here are the details.
	Ascentra Credit Union to break ground in Rock Island on new branch Ascentra Credit Union is planning to add another branch to the Quad Cities community.
	Champion Your Health Through Everyday Choices (BPT) - More Americans than ever are living longer. As of 2024, nearly 24% of the U.S. population is age 60 or older, making healthy aging increasingly important for individuals, families and communities. Everyday habits like eating well, staying active, keeping up with preventive care and staying connected can meaningfully support long-term health, independence and quality of life.Each May, communities across the country recognize Older Americans Month, an observance led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to celebrate the contributions of older adults and promote healthy aging."This year's Older Americans Month theme, 'Champion Your Health,' encourages people to take an active role in their health and well-being," said Mary Lazare, principal deputy administrator at ACL. "Simple habits like staying active, managing stress and keeping up with preventive care can help people stay healthy and independent over time."This Older Americans Month, look for simple ways to support health and connection in your daily life and community.Simple Tips for Healthy Aging Stay up to date on checkups and screenings to help prevent health problems.Spend time with friends, family and community groups to stay socially connected.Eat nutritious foods and stay active to maintain strength and balance.Support your mental health by managing stress and getting enough sleep.Ways to Support Older Adults in Your CommunityCheck in on older neighbors, friends or family members to help them stay connected.Support caregivers by offering encouragement and help when you can.Support local programs that serve older adults by volunteering or helping raise awareness.How Communities and Organizations Can Help Share resources and tips that support healthy habits and preventive care.Highlight local programs and events that help older adults stay healthy and connected.Organize volunteer activities or donation drives for older adults.For more ideas and information, visit acl.gov/oam.
	NC senators consider new restrictions on artificial intelligence in insurance and medical billing AI is revolutionizing modern medicine, but some NC senators want guardrails that prevent artificial intelligence from denying insurance claims and overcharging patients. (Photo: Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images) Senator Amy Galey (R-Alamance) says artificial intelligence in medical research has led to new understanding of diseases, new treatments, and new efficiencies. But she says AI in healthcare also has the potential to be disruptive and to contribute to increased costs for patients. Galey introduced a proposed committee substitute to House Bill 565 Wednesday that would prohibit health insurers from denying a claim based solely on the use of AI. “If the AI does not approve the claim, it must be reviewed by a living human being,” Galey told members of the Senate Health Committee. “We do not want robots or computers to deny care to sick people.” More controversially, H565 would also create new rules for the use of AI in hospital coding and billing. Senator Amy Galey (R-Alamance) says AI in healthcare could be contributing to increased costs for patients. (Photo: NCGA livestream) Galey says there is evidence that ambient AI is being used in medical settings not only to simplify charting, but also to select the most lucrative billing codes for a diagnosis. She said legislation is needed to keep AI from automatically increasing hospital bills without human oversight or intervention. “[It’s] resulting in a higher bill that increases costs for insurers, including Medicaid and the state health plan and the patient,” said Galey. Galey pointed to a report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy that found hospital service prices have surged more than 200% since 2000. Galey said it’s not labor costs or the fact that patients are sicker that drive up costs. “There is evidence that AI and hospital billing is driving the appearance of more serious diagnoses without corresponding changes in treatment,” said Galey. The more serious the diagnosis, the more a hospital charges for care, according to Galey. Sen. Gale Adcock (D-Wake), a family nurse practitioner, was skeptical of the bill. She said upcoding, which is choosing a higher billing code than warranted, is already banned. The state Department of Health and Human Services can already suspend or terminate a provider’s status if they discover upcoding. Adcock called the bill “one-sided” and noted that it didn’t address different charges for inpatient or outpatient services. “I think this bill needs a great deal of work on it to achieve the balance we’re looking for, and also the ability to enforce it,” said Adcock. Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) (Photo: NCGA livestream) Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) said the two large hospitals in her district were concerned with how the legislation defines upcoding and fraud. “They definitely don’t want to be in a position where they believe they provided a service that was needed and thought that it was appropriate, [that] they’re not stuck with looking as if fraud came into play,” said Murdock. The good, the bad and the unknown: The future of AI in North Carolina Murdock said it’s clear that the legislation will evolve as AI technology evolves, but for now more people from the healthcare community are needed at the table. “As a state, we haven’t even scratched the surface with what other states are doing in the AI space, but medical billing and coding is going to be a real issue. I just want to make sure we get it right,” said Murdock. Blair Borsuk with the North Carolina Healthcare Association said AI coding and billing can be very complex, and the association looks forward to working with the General Assembly to evaluate current practices and develop appropriate language around AI usage and regulations. A second committee hearing on the bill, originally set for Thursday, was canceled. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	3 QC men arrested, accused of selling drugs at work Three Quad Cities men have been arrested after Davenport Police say they distributed drugs at a business where they were employed. Criminal complaints filed in Scott County Court say the Davenport Police Department's Tactical Operations Bureau executed a search warrant on April 28 at the Breeze Market Shell, 3622 N Brady Street, regarding a marijuana [...]
	Death Notice: Louis Allers A Celebration of Life luncheon for Louis D. Allers Sr., 70, of Davenport, will be held at noon on Wednesday, May 27, at the Walcott American Legion. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 26, from 4-7 p.m. at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Mr. Allers died Monday, May 18, 2026. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com. An obituary will appear in the May 27 edition of The NSP.

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