MACOMB, ILLINOIS (September 17, 2026) — Western Illinois University (WIU) is inviting the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 3:30PM, Monday, September 21, on the first floor of Sallee Hall.

DES MOINES, IOWA (September 17, 2026) — Iowa’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in August, steady for the fourth consecutive month and down from a jobless rate of 3.5 percent one year ago. The US unemployment rate also held steady at 4.1 percent.

The total number of unemployed Iowans was 54,700 in August, unchanged from July.

DAVENPORT, IOWA (September 17, 2026) — As concerns grow across Eastern Iowa regarding the expansion of major AI data centers, Independent Congressional Candidate Michael Bridgford continues to meet directly with affected community members to examine the local economic, energy, and land-use impacts.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN (September 17, 2026) — The Senate Ag Committee passed an important milestone yesterday in seeing the completion of a farm bill by advancing the Agricultural Act of 2026 out of committee on a 12/11 party-line vote. Bringing the bill out of committee now triggers a conference committee between the version passed by the Senate Ag Committee and the House version. The House passed their version in April.