Moline standout 6 teens arrested after Gomez is chase in stolen car A7 Special Counsel Mueller close to a ‘we’ runner B1 rendering judgment on Russian probe A10

141ST YEAR · MOLINE, ILLINOIS Thursday, October 18, 2018 | QCOnline.com | $1.50 168TH YEAR

Tornadoes spinning up farther east Illinois, Iowa among states with increased activity SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press‌

‌WASHINGTON — Over the past few decades tornadoes have been shifting — decreasing in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas but spinning up more in states along the Mississippi River and farther east, a new study shows. Scientists aren’t quite cer- tain why. Tornado activity is increasing most in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, In- diana, Wisconsin, Iowa and parts of Ohio and Michigan, according to a study in Wednesday’s journal JESSICA GALLAGHER / [email protected]‌ Climate and Atmospheric Science. There has been a slight decrease in Rose Johnson, a keeper at Niabi Zoo, shows the live traps set up close to the exhibit that two badgers escaped from on Oct 4. Zoo officials believe the Great Plains, with the biggest the badgers are still in the vicinity of the Coal Valley zoo. drop in central and eastern Texas. Even with the decline, Texas still gets the most tornadoes of any state. The shift could be deadly because the area with increasing tornado ac- tivity is bigger and home to more Niabi Zoo setting traps people, said study lead author Vic- tor Gensini, a professor of atmo- of their habitat in the biodiver- gers’ favorite meal — dead mice previously wasn’t. He said the spheric sciences at Northern Illi- Missing badgers sity building Oct. 4. The bad- or rats — and checked daily. burrowing marks a badger nois University. Also more people gers were purchased for $6,000 “Some of the (live) traps have leaves behind is very different live in vulnerable mobile homes and believed to close in July from a zoo in Wisconsin been entered and tripped, but from what a raccoon does. tornadoes are more likely to happen and moved into their enclosure the animal got away,” Jackson “Badgers dig burrows and at night in those places, he said. to ‘home’ following a 30-day quarantine. said. “Some of the traps have they also dig for food,” Jackson Even though Texas, Kansas and Zoo director Lee Jackson said been turned over. In some cases, said. “We’ve seen test holes, Oklahoma get many more torna- SARAH HAYDEN there have been many clues the the rodents are gone. looking for food. The holes are does, the four deadliest states for [email protected]‌ animals haven’t gone far: im- “The traps are not put out a lot bigger than what raccoons tornadoes are Alabama, Missouri, ages captured on trail cams, until the end of the day be- do. It could be a groundhog, but Tennessee and Arkansas, according ‌COAL VALLEY — Two North bait missing from live traps, and cause the badgers are noctur- it’s in an area where we haven’t to the National Oceanic and Atmo- American badgers that escaped signs of digging. nal. We’ve already caught and seen (digging) before. If there spheric Administration. from their enclosure at Niabi Jackson said zoo staff put out released several other animals is food in the area, there really “More folks are generally at risk Zoo may be in the immediate five live traps in an attempt to like feral cats, opossums and isn’t reason for them to leave.” because of that eastward shift,” area, according to zoo officials. lure the animals and two more raccoons.” Jackson said three trail cams Gensini said. The male and female pair es- live traps have been ordered. Jackson said he has seen caped from the outside portion The traps are set with the bad- signs of digging where there See BADGERS, Page A2 See TORNADO, Page A2 Original Big Bird flies the nest

formers that I have worked with and Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy After 49 years on and respected — and actually for Disney’s Muppets. ‘Sesame Street,’ hand-picked for the guardianship “Before I came to ‘Sesame of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch Street,’ I didn’t feel like what I puppeteer retiring — to take my alter-egos into their was doing was very important. hands and continue to give them Big Bird helped me find my pur- life,” he continued. pose,” Spinney said in the release. CHRISTIE D’ZURILLA Spinney’s been the guy in the “Even as I step down from my Los Angeles Times (TNS)‌ big yellow suit since “Sesame roles, I feel I will always be Big Street” premiered in 1969, notch- Bird. And even Oscar, once in a ‌For the first time in nearly 49 ing seven Emmys, including an while! They have given me great years, Big Bird and Oscar the Lifetime Achievement Award, two joy, led me to my true calling — Grouch just won’t be the same: gold records and two Grammys and my wonderful wife! — and cre- Lifelong puppeteer Caroll Spin- along the way. He also met wife ated a lifetime of memories that I ney has announced his retire- Debra on the show, and they’ve will cherish forever.” ment. been married for 45 years. “I plan to be an ambassador for The two men stepping into Caroll Spinney said today is his last Sesame Workshop for many years Spinney’s yellow and green shoes day on “Seseme Street,” which he to come. After all, we’re a family!” are Matt Vogel as Big Bird and joined from the start in 1969. In the 84-year-old said Wednesday in Eric Jacobson as Oscar. Vogel is addition to Big Bird, the 84-year-old an announcement from the work- the show’s “Puppet Captain” and shop, the nonprofit behind “Ses- also performs Count von Count. was also Oscar the Grouch. ame Street.” Jacobson does Grover, Bert and “But now it’s time for two per- Guy Smiley for “Sesame Street” Gil Vaknin/Sesame Workshop

Keep up with the news INDEX WEATHER Business B6 Daily Record A5 Obituaries A4, A8-9 High: 59 Low: 43 ClassifiedC1-8 Dear Abby B8 Sports B1-5 Today: Plenty of sun. 24/7 Comics B10, C3 Life B7-8 Television A11 Tonight: Increasing clouds. QCOnline.com Crosswords C3, C5 Nation & World A10 Viewpoints B11-12 Full report A11 D Making Medicare EASY! • Independent Brokerage Firm • Educational Seminars • Licensed & Certified in Medicare Plans • Walk-ins are always Welcome! Stop by our Medicare Store to compare your current Medicare plan

with the leading Insurance Companies Medicare Plans for 2019. MEDICARE STORE Located in the SouthPark Mall - Von Maur Court 00 1 Monday – Thursday 9:00-5:00, Friday 9:00-12 Noon 309-764-6444