Judging from the dollars, number of yard signs and the sign locations, incumbent Republican State Senator David Hartsuch appears to be in trouble in his re-election bid.

Hartsuch defeated long-time Republican Maggie Tinsman in the District 41 primary four years ago by just 68 votes, and then won the general election by a 51-49 percent margin against Democrat Phyllis Thede.

The state's 10 percent funding cut for schools will likely push the Pleasant Valley School District into deficit spending over the summer months.

The school board at its April meeting approved a resolution authorizing the district to borrow funds under the Iowa School Cash Anticipation Program (ISCAP).

The board approved a 5 percent increase in property taxes last month, but the impact on district revenues won't be felt until this fall.

Scott, Muscatine and Clinton counties all received an "F" in air quality from the American Lung Association (ALA) because of high fine particulate levels over the 3-year period, 2006-2008.

The three counties received the failing designation for having a weighted average of nine days or more over the 24-hour pollution standard for particulate matter 2.5 microns and smaller (PM 2.5).

I don’t get lawns. I mean, I’m glad I have one and I revel in its revivification each spring. I’m just not particularly particular about its constitution. Green is great, but green alone lacks drama and verve. What is up with the incredible close cropped homogeneity that pervades most of suburbia?

A sketch of the open area adjacent to the library and Family Museum.

City officials are seeking ideas for redevelopment of the site formerly occupied by the vacant Eagle Food Store along 18th Street, adjacent to both the Family Museum and Library.

The city purchased the vacant grocery store in 1999 for $1.7 million and had the building demolished last year after a series of plans for reuse of the facility were unsuccessful.

Marie Winn wrote 'The Plug in Drug' in 1977 examining the effects of television on the developing minds of young people. In the 25th anniversary edition, she put the range of new electronic media under her scrutiny and, among other stuff, gave it all as the cause of a significant decline in average SAT scores of U.S. high school seniors.

Bettendorf city officials are threatening to go to court to try to maximize the length of the appointments the council can make to fill vacant elected positions in the city. For the Quad City Times article on the issue, CLICK HERE.

Admissions at the Bettendorf Isle of Capri Casino in March continued a decade long decline for the riverfront gambling operation, off more than 40 percent since 2001. Ten years ago, the riverboat drew 177,745 gamblers during March, providing the Isle with $9.2 million in revenues. Last month, the boat had 101,000 admissions and $6.7 million in revenue. The Isle's best March was 2000 when 183,640 gamblers visited the casino.

Fine particulate pollution in the vicinity of Garfield Elementary School, Muscatine, exceeds the air quality standards designed to protect public health, according to the 2007-2009 monitoring results released Tuesday (April 13) by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

A “Notice of Annual Meeting Of Shareholders,” aka proxy statement, is the bland accompaniment to large public corporations’ glossy annual reports. Especially when economic tides rise high, the latter are filled with impressive graphs and color photos of beaming faces in far flung places. The former are little more than ink on paper whatever the water level.