State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-65), Assistant Minority Leader, reports from Springfield as the legislature winds down its session. He discusses the mega-projects bill that includes the Bears stadium, property tax relief, the budget, gerrymandering, energy, ethics reform and Republican hopes to gain power in Illinois.

The city of Rock Island and Augustana College are holding a public informational meeting on Tuesday, May 5th, at Hanson Hall in room 234, starting at 5:30. The meeting is to update residents on the research partnership and the city’s work to preserve the 550 acres of wetlands. WVIK also interviewed biologist Kelly McKay on his final data set for this past winter’s bald eagle night roosting usage within the Milan Bottoms.

Seventh Ward Alderman Bill Healy said the removal is to allow the city to move forward, and there is no basis to claims of impropriety.

Farmers may soon see certainty with programs after the House voted to pass the 2026 Farm Bill, mostly along party lines, with moderate rural Democrats' support clearing the chamber in a vote of 224-200.

Liaquat Ahamed talks about his book Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World. He reveals history through biography--the lives of four central bankers whose decisions precipitated the Great Depression and led to World War II. Key topics include the gold standard, financial "bubbles," the role of tariffs (Smoot-Hawley Act), lessons for today, and Ahamed's new book coming out soon that is a prequel to Lords of Finance. This book was awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for History.

The Army announced Thursday that it’s canceling the collective bargaining agreement with AFGE, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order stripping workers at 40 agencies of their bargaining rights. A representative from the AFGE claims the move is unprecedented in its nearly century-long history and that the union will take the Trump administration to court.

Daniel Bullen discusses his book, Daniel Shays's Honorable Rebellion: An American Story. He talks about how this 'rebellion' was misrepresented, the economic conditions that led to the protests by small farmers in western Massachusetts, profiles of Daniel Shays and his fellow protesters, the roles of Founders George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, the similarities and differences with the Whiskey Rebellion, and why this story is important for today.

Jon Ralston talks about his book, Games Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight. We discuss Reid's upbringing into poverty in small town Nevada, his rise in politics, relationship with the casino industry, connection with Howard Hughes, investigations of him by the FBI, his rebuilding of the Nevada Democratic party, and the evolution of his political views, including on the filibuster and "nuclear option." Ralston is Founder and CEO of Nevada Independent and regular commentator on MS-NOW. He is recognized as the leading authority on Nevada politics.

Iowa Representative Ken Croken (D-Davenport) is hosting University of Iowa School of Public Health researchers at the Scott Community College Urban Campus on Thursday, April 2nd, starting at 6:30 p.m. A presentation will cover preliminary findings of a new cancer study, including demographic and behavioral risk factors.