Maddie Franz

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Articles

FAFSA forms should be easier than last year

Dec 2, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Right now, students applying to college are filling out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Student Aid. The application portal opened in November after weeks of testing. The chaotic rollout of what was meant to be a simplified FAFSA last year left prospective college students waiting months to learn what kind of aid they would get. Normally, the FAFSA is released Oct. 1. Schools will use that information to determine what financial aid they can offer students.
Niabi Zoo seeking funding to repair damaged animal enclosures

Nov 19, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

COAL VALLEY, Ill. — Niabi Zoo is one step closer to fully funding repairs to its exhibits. It's been almost a year since Niabi Zoo saw unprecedented damage to its enclosures. Snowstorms in January dumped about 25 inches of snow, which was weight some enclosures couldn't handle. The wire mesh and foundation of the big cat building was destroyed. Netting on the bald eagle enclosure was stretched, the Pallas cat enclosure bent in on itself and the lorikeet hut collapsed.
Community members give their thoughts on I-80 bridge project

Oct 30, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

LE CLAIRE, Iowa — Residents are weighing in on plans for a new I-80 bridge between LeClaire and Rapids City. They saw maps at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and an in-person meeting in LeClaire City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The I-80 bridge across the Mississippi has served drivers since the 1960s. Right now, it carries about 36,000 vehicles every day. But in just a few years, it'll be replaced with a new bridge.
Mr. Thanksgiving Community Dinner coming to an end

Oct 28, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

MOLINE, Ill. — A Quad Cities tradition stretching back more than 50 years is coming to an end. Bob Vogelbaugh, better known as Mr. Thanksgiving, has spent more than half a century hosting free Thanksgiving meals for thousands of Quad Citizens. "They’re just gracious, and they don't mind waiting all those hours out there," Vogelbaugh said. But on what would have been the 55th year, something changed.
Air EMS filling in the gaps for rural ambulance services

Oct 25, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

DAVENPORT, Iowa — University of Iowa Healthcare is expanding its services in the Quad Cities. Its fourth AirCare base will be opening in Davenport this fall. AirCare is UI Healthcare's air EMS system. It transports about 1,000 patients a year between medical facilities and from the scene of accidents. The majority of patients have an urgent medical need like a traumatic injury, neurological injury or cardiac issues. Greg Martin is the assistant director of the upcoming Davenport base.
Family of missing Davenport woman ask for help

Oct 23, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

DAVENPORT, Iowa — It's been a sleepless week for Kyle and Delitha Burrage. "We're desperate right now," Kyle said. "She's a major, major part of our family, and we miss her dearly." The couple's daughter, 24-year-old Olivia Harrison, hasn't been seen since Wednesday, Oct. 16. According to her mother, Olivia left for the riverfront at 9:30 p.m. "She likes to be out here, take walks and clear her mind," Delitha said. Her mother brought Olivia back home, near Vander Veer Park, then went to sleep.
Iowa Democrats hold press conference on school choice vouchers

Oct 11, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst held a press conference on Iowa's school choice voucher program. Since it was signed into law in 2023, students have used state dollars to help cover the cost of private school. C. Max Roach, headmaster of Bettendorf private school Rivermont Collegiate, gave a statement on how the school choice vouchers have affected his school.
Muscatine to appeal Iowa DOT ruling on speed cameras

Oct 10, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine will be fighting the Iowa DOT rulings that shut down its fixed speed cameras. That came after the state legislature passed a law earlier this year allowing the DOT to evaluate speed camera locations across the state. The requires cities to submit an application for each location. The law also says tickets can't be given out unless drivers are going at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.
The devices that let you text without internet, cell service or satellite

Oct 9, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — It starts with a few boxes of wires, batteries and plastic cases. With a few minutes of fiddling, two dozen Augustana students are connected to a unique network. It's part of a workshop on Meshtastic, a type of radio device that lets people connect to each other, sharing texts, location data and weather information. Brad Isbell, a student radio advisor at the college's station, held the workshop. "It doesn't require internet. It doesn't require a cell network.
Rock Island County Democrats celebrate Labor Day

Sep 2, 2024 | wqad.com | Maddie Franz

EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The Quad Cities aren't just celebrating Labor Day with parades. The Rock Island County Democratic Party celebrated with the 55th Annual "Salute to Labor" Picnic. Along with a meal, candidates and lawmakers gave speeches about their history with unions, campaign promises and their voting records. "Organized labor are the ones who are fighting for hardworking people every single day," Christina Bohannan, a U.S. Congressional candidate in Iowa, said.