Ever since I first tore tiny, perforated receipts for Mrs. Cordell’s Indianapolis News subscription in 1967, I’ve made most of my living selling newspapers.

April 19, 2000: Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill that raised the cap on the amount of money that could be used towards early retirement in IPERS. As a result, three North Scott principals, Dennis Albertson, Joe Ragona and Barry Lahann announced they would retire at the end of the school year. The three represented 92 years of administrative experience and more than a century in education. Albertson had been with the district since 1967 and had been a principal for the last 33 years, including at Grissom and Armstrong, a record for the district.

The late newspaper columnist Bill Wundram of the Quad-City Times in Davenport wrote seven days a week for 31 years. Many of his columns, highlighting a wide variety of concerns in his home community, included the refrain, “Is anybody there? Does anybody care?”

As the 91st Iowa Legislative Session begins to wind down, the financial situation for FY26 (the fiscal year that begins on July 1) is becoming clearer. Gov. Reynolds and Senate Republicans have each proposed an approximate $9.4B expense budget. Meanwhile, the Iowa March Revenue Estimating Committee stated that Iowa will collect $8.5B to pay for the budget.

During the 13th week of the legislative session, lawmakers focused on debating bills that made it past the final legislative deadline. With just one month remaining, the focus now turns to passing Iowa’s state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

"Somebody needs to grow a spine and tell Elon and his wealthy buddies they have had quite a run up in wealth but it’s time for them to pay their fair share ..."

"There had been a tariff war in the past, and it did not end well for us. A 1945 decision against high tariffs created stable economies worldwide in reaction to that economic downturn ..."

"Libraries are more than buildings filled with books—they are lifelines to opportunity. They provide free access to knowledge, job resources, technology, and a safe, welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds. In a world that sometimes feels increasingly divided, libraries remain one of the last truly inclusive public spaces ..."

April 10, 1985: Dean Bassett announced he would close his International-Case farm equipment dealership in Eldridge effective July 1. Bassett said the closure was due in part to a diminishing agricultural market in Scott County. “We stuck it out longer than anybody thought we would,” said Bassett. “We just can’t keep losing money and losing money.”

Iowa’s economy had its strongest months in three years, according to a Creighton University survey.  The duration of the move into positive territory is unknown with impact of new tariffs acting as a wildcard.

Visitation for Jadyn N. Hesselmann, 21, of Dubuque, will be Wednesday, April 23, from 4-7 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, Dubuque. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Long Grove, on Thursday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Eldridge Community Center. 

A funeral service for Debra Ann (Doerscher) Hughes, 67, of Maquoketa, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A memorial service for Jane Ellen Leggins, 73, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow in Oakview Cemetery, Welton.

Kenny J. White, a longtime resident of Davenport, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, in Palm Springs, Calif. Surviving him is his second wife of 33 years, Jill Owens. Born on Oct. 20, 1942, Kenny is also survived by his three beloved daughters (from his first marriage to Lynn White), Wendy (Andy) Hamann of Eldridge, Heather (Paul) Yoerger of New Liberty, and Holly (Willie) Gaskins of Fairplay, Colo. He also dearly loved his six grandchildren, Drew, Logan and Layne Hamann, Mitchell, Tyler and Caden Yoerger, and one great-grandchild, Jalen Hamann. Kenny is also survived by his brothers Rob, of Eldridge, and David, of Anacortes, Wash., and was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph (Doc) and Dorothy White.

David W. Amhof, 65, of Long Grove, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Genesis East/Mercy One Hospital in Davenport.  Visitation for him will be Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Park View Lutheran Church. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. His final resting place will be later in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may go to the church.

A memorial service for Carol Nagle, 80, of LaPorte City, formerly of Long Grove, was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation was one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, assisted the family with arrangements.

A funeral service for Kenny J. White, 82, a longtime resident of Davenport, will be held at noon on Thursday, April 17, at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Thursday at the mortuary. Burial will follow in Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport.

A memorial service for David W. Amhof, 65, of Long Grove, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Park View Lutheran Church. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park at a later date. The Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

A memorial service for Carol Nagle, 80, of LaPorte City, formerly of Long Grove, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery.  The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ruby Jean (Goodell) Claussen, 85, of Eldridge, passed away on April 4, 2025. A celebration of life will be held on Friday April 11, at the Walcott American Legion from 4-7 p.m., following a private burial at Davenport Memorial Park.

Stephen W. Ehrecke, 65, passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, April 4, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, surrounded by his loving family. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 11, from 4–7 p.m. at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Stephen on May 10, at the Blue Grass Community Center from 2–6 p.m.

Ben G. Curtis, 95, of Long Grove, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Fieldstone of DeWitt, surrounded by his loving family.

Robert Myron Boyle, 90, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away peacefully on March 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

A memorial service honoring the life of Edwin J. “Ed” Stoltz, 82, of Eldridge, formerly of Dubuque, was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church. Following the service, full military honors were accorded by the VFW at the church, where friends and family also gathered for food and fellowship. The Tri-State Cremation Center, East Dubuque, Ill., assisted the family with arrangements.

 A celebration of life for Ruby Jean (Goodell) Claussen, 85, of Eldridge, will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 11, at the Walcott American Legion. Private burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. The Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.