QCA.news - Quad Cities news and view from both sides of the river

Monday, July 27th, 2026
	Democrat Rob Sand calls for social media age limit in kids’ tech safety plan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said he supports banning social media for children under age 16.
	Arconic Foundation, Undue Medical Debt eliminate $3.5 million in medical debt in Quad Cities Arconic Foundation and Undue Medical Debt have teamed to eliminate $30 million in medical debt. According to a release from Arconic, more than 26,000 residents in communities near facilities in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New York have receiving medical debt assistance through a partnership between the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt and Arconic Foundation. The [...]
	Iowa cases may be tied to national outbreak of cyclosporiasis State officials say there are Iowa cases of cyclosporiasis that are possibly tied to the national outbreak.
	Clock, Inc. LGBT+ Community Center in dire straits as costs rise, grants decrease Mary Francis, programs and innovations lead at Clock, Inc., said she fears the center will close without a change in finances.
	YWCA Quad Cities expands preschool program The YWCA Quad Cities Early Learning Academy is opening a free morning preschool classroom for ages 3 to 5 and hosting an open house Wednesday.
	Iowa among states under the emergency energy order To prevent blackouts during an intense heat wave, the Department of Energy has issued an emergency order for 17 states, including Iowa.
	REVIEW: Mean Girls at Countryside Community Theatre OMG! If you’re looking for a raucous good time to escape the oppressive summer heat, I’ve got just the thing: Mean Girls at Countryside Community Theatre with book by the brilliant Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live fame, and under the incandescent direction, choreography, and costuming of Ashley Mills Becher, whose dazzling talent I’ve seen many times at Circa 21 and she outdoes herself with this show. Husband Bobby Becher takes on the task of Music Director and the result of this team is an explosive, riotous, energetic extravaganza of entertainment that will have you out of your seat for a “Standing O.”
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shots fired early Monday morning A Davenport man is charged with attempted murder after police said he shot at another man several times Monday in the 1400 block of Main Street.
	Extreme heat warning issued for the Quad-Cities on Monday, thunderstorms possible The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning through Monday evening with heat indices up to 115 degrees.
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shots fired early Monday Davenport police say around 1 a.m. several shots were fired at a person in the 1400 block of Main Street.
	QC nonprofits receive more than $145K in grants The Quad Cities Community Foundation has awarded $147,600 to nine local nonprofits to help with staffing, technology, and organizational growth.
	Cyclospora outbreak not under control yet, says former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Sunday the agency does not yet have the outbreak of cyclosporiasis under control.
	Davenport man arrested for attempted murder following Monday morning shooting A man was taken into Scott County Jail for attempted murder charges after a shooting in Davenport early morning on Monday, July 27.
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT: Prepare for Dangerous Conditions
	Humility Homes and Services building an 11-unit triplex and quadplex in Davenport The Davenport housing service nonprofit is working with developer Built to Suit to add 11 units on West 50th Street. The $4.2 million project will include ADA-compliant housing with wraparound services. Construction is expected to be completed in April.
	Get hands-on with city vehicles at Touch-a-Truck in Moline! Families and kids of all ages can get hands-on with city vehicles at Touch-a-Truck! According to a release from the City of Moline, kids can honk horns, sit in driver's seats and get a close look at the vehicles they see every day at the Moline Public Works' free Touch-a-Truck Saturday, August 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m. [...]
	The ROI of unifying enterprise fragmentation The ROI of unifying enterprise fragmentationYour team logs into dozens of apps every day. Sales works in one CRM, support in another ticketing system, and finance in yet another ERP platform. Each department chooses the “best tool for the job,” but no one stops to ask what happens when those tools can’t communicate with each other. The answer is a fragmented enterprise that drains value in ways most organizations never measure.The constant need to switch between disparate applications exacts a significant toll on productivity, wasting valuable time throughout the day. This digital friction compounds daily across every department, workflow, and customer interaction. Unifying fragmented systems is critical, and it offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond immediate cost savings.This guide from DataMotion maps the hidden costs of enterprise fragmentation and the real returns of unifying your systems.What Is Enterprise Fragmentation and How Does It Occur?Enterprise fragmentation happens when different systems and applications across your organization operate in isolation from one another. Data lives in separate silos, and workflows stop at departmental boundaries. Information that should flow seamlessly instead requires manual intervention, duplicate entry, or custom integration work.Understanding Tool SprawlOrganizations are increasingly juggling a vast and ever-growing number of applications. A significant portion of these tools often operate in isolation, lacking seamless integration with one another. This fragmentation happens gradually as departments independently adopt software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools to address immediate operational needs without considering enterprise-wide implications.This pattern manifests differently across target industries, for instance:Financial services: Client onboarding systems operate independently of wealth management platforms, forcing advisors to manually transfer data between disconnected tools and creating compliance gaps.Healthcare: Patient data lives in multiple electronic medical record (EMR) systems that don’t communicate with their secure messaging portals, preventing care teams from accessing complete patient data when they need it most.Public sector: Different citizen services run on separate systems with no shared identity management, requiring residents to create multiple accounts and repeatedly provide the same information.The problem compounds as organizations scale. What starts as a handful of specialized tools becomes dozens, then hundreds of disconnected applications that create data silos across every business function.Compounding Costs of a Disconnected EnterpriseWe’ve established what enterprise fragmentation is and how it occurs organically through growth. Now let’s examine the financial reality of operating this way. Think of fragmentation as a tax on every business process. Unlike a one-time expense, this tax compounds daily and worsens as your application portfolio expands.How Fragmentation Impacts Operational EfficiencyWhen systems are disconnected, employees spend significant time searching for information rather than using it productively. Constant hunting for data across various platforms diverts focus from critical tasks and hinders effective decision-making. A lack of cohesive digital organization frequently impedes employees’ ability to work efficiently.The mental burden of constantly switching between numerous applications to complete routine tasks can drastically reduce an individual’s productive time. Consider a common scenario where an employee might:Start with email.Move to a project management tool.Switch to a document repository.Jump to a CRM.Reference a spreadsheet.Circle back to the email just to respond to a single client inquiry.This workflow fragmentation directly impacts how quickly teams can execute. Data silos also prevent effective collaboration. When sales, marketing, and customer success teams work in separate systems, no one has a complete view of the customer journey. Critical information remains locked in departmental databases while teams make decisions based on incomplete data.Increased Operational and IT OverheadThe financial costs of fragmentation extend far beyond productivity losses:Redundant software licenses: Departments often purchase overlapping tools that serve similar functions, creating unnecessary duplicate costs across the organization.Custom integration labor: IT teams spend enormous resources building and maintaining brittle point-to-point integrations between systems that were never designed to work together.Decision paralysis: Leadership receives inconsistent or delayed data from siloed systems, forcing strategic decisions based on outdated information and leading to potential revenue loss.High error rates: Data mismatches between disconnected systems lead to costly errors in accounting, inventory management, and customer records that require expensive correction efforts.Calculating the Hidden Costs of FragmentationEnterprise fragmentation carries substantial and often unmeasured consequences. These hidden costs impact various facets of an organization, from security and compliance to employee and customer experience. Understanding these costs is crucial for justifying investments in unifying systems.Security and Data ExposureWhen data is scattered across hundreds of systems, securing that information becomes exponentially more difficult. Monitoring access controls, tracking data flows, and maintaining consistent security policies across a fragmented landscape stretches security teams beyond their capacity.The risks compound in specific ways that create vulnerabilities most organizations don’t recognize until a breach occurs:Fragmented security monitoring: When security tools operate independently across disconnected systems, correlating alerts becomes extremely difficult, and incident response times can stretch dangerously long.Lateral movement opportunities: Attackers can exploit unsegmented, fragmented infrastructures to move laterally across systems while remaining undetected for extended periods.Excessive privilege accumulation: Fragmented systems make enforcing the principle of least privilege nearly impossible, leading users to accumulate excessive access rights across multiple platforms.Alert correlation failures: Independent security tools generate alerts that security teams cannot correlate, allowing patterns of malicious activity to go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.The mean cost of a data breach in 2024 was around $4.4 million, according to IBM, and the average company spent 241 days to identify and contain the breach. The reputational damage and erosion of customer trust often exceed the immediate financial penalties.Compliance ProcessesProving compliance becomes a challenge when data lives across dozens or hundreds of disconnected systems. Regulations and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI-DSS require organizations to demonstrate complete control over data flows, access controls, and audit trails. Fragmented systems make this demonstration nearly impossible without significant manual effort.Manual compliance processes in fragmented environments also create substantial hidden costs. Consolidating reports for regulators becomes a time-consuming, error-prone exercise when each system maintains its own logs and records. Teams spend weeks preparing for audits by manually gathering evidence from disconnected sources and reconciling inconsistencies between systems.Conflicting data across systems can lead to regulatory noncompliance, resulting in heavy fines, legal issues, and severe reputation damage.Employee Engagement and ExperienceEnterprise fragmentation can create daily frustration, impacting employee satisfaction and engagement. Workers may log into multiple incompatible platforms to complete simple tasks. The resulting app fatigue and workflow interruptions can contribute to increased stress.When departments operate in separate systems, information silos can prevent employees from understanding how their work connects to broader organizational goals. For example, sales teams may be unable to see the marketing campaign’s performance, or customer support may lack visibility into product development priorities.This disconnection leads to inconsistent employee experiences, communication gaps, and disengagement. To put it in perspective, in 2024, Gallup estimated that employee disengagement cost the global economy $434 billion.Customer Journeys and TrustInternal fragmentation inevitably manifests in customer-facing interactions. When your systems don’t communicate, customers experience the consequences directly. They may receive inconsistent service depending on which department they contact, or they might have to navigate disconnected portals and interfaces for different interactions with your organization.U.S. companies risk losing $846 billion due to poor client experiences, and 51% of customers reduce or stop spending completely after a negative experience, according to research. Customers expect seamless interactions where your organization remembers their preferences, understands their history and provides consistent service regardless of channel. Fragmented systems make delivering this experience impossible.The Strategic Shift from Fragmentation to a Unified Platform DataMotion A unified platform consolidates fragmented tools into a single ecosystem where data flows seamlessly between functions. Imagine a single interface where employees access all necessary tools, including:Customer information updates in real time across every department.Security protocols apply consistently across all data.Audit trails generate automatically without manual compilation.AI-powered insights flow through connected channels.This vision contrasts sharply with the fragmented reality most organizations accept. Disconnected systems might have been “good enough” when digital transformation was optional, and customer expectations were lower. Those conditions no longer exist.The demands of modern business, the opportunities created by AI, and the expectations of digitally native customers have turned fragmentation into a significant competitive disadvantage.Organizations pursuing digital transformation hit immediate walls with fragmented data exchange. For instance, AI initiatives require clean, accessible data from across the enterprise, while customer experience improvements need unified views of interactions across all touchpoints. In the same breath, compliance automation depends on consolidated audit trails. McKinsey research suggests that successful organizations treat unified platforms as foundational requirements, not future aspirations.The Tangible ROI of a Unified System DataMotion The strategic case for unification is clear, but decisions require numbers. Let’s consider the ROI that a unified platform delivers value across multiple dimensions.Reduced Operational CostsThe most immediate financial returns come from eliminating redundant spending and inefficient processes. Consolidated platforms replace dozens of solutions, cutting software licensing spending and demonstrating how unification reduces operational costs.Unified systems eliminate the massive ongoing expense of building and maintaining custom integrations between disconnected applications, allowing IT teams to reclaim resources previously consumed by integration maintenance. They can allocate these resources to strategic initiatives that drive competitive advantage rather than simply keeping existing systems functional.Operational overhead drops when employees stop wasting time searching for information across disconnected systems.Enhanced Productivity and EfficiencyProviding a single source of truth fundamentally changes how quickly organizations can operate. Employees access complete, consistent information without having to hunt across multiple platforms. Decision-makers see real-time data instead of waiting for manual reports that consolidate information from disconnected systems.In the same breath, context-switching costs disappear when workflows occur within integrated environments. An employee completing a complex task no longer has to jump between a dozen applications. Unified platforms maintain workflow context, preserve relevant data, and guide users through connected processes without forcing constant mental reorientation. By enabling workflow automation across previously disconnected functions, these platforms allow organizations to handle higher volumes with the same headcount.Stronger Security PostureA unified platform consolidates your attack surface by reducing the number of distinct systems that require independent security measures. Centralized security controls apply consistently across all data and communications rather than varying by application.Unified visibility transforms threat detection and incident response. It allows security teams to monitor activity across the entire platform from a central point, making suspicious patterns immediately visible. When security events occur, investigation and remediation happen faster because relevant information lives in connected systems rather than isolated silos.Simplified ComplianceUnified audit trails transform compliance from a recurring stressor into a manageable, proactive process. By consolidating all relevant activities into connected systems, generating comprehensive compliance reports becomes a straightforward query operation, eliminating the need for manual data gathering across disconnected platforms. This unification offers several tangible benefits:Real-time compliance monitoring: Unified platforms enable continuous, real-time monitoring, allowing organizations to stay on top of their compliance posture and identify issues immediately.Proactive violation detection: Shifting from reactive remediation to proactive prevention, unified systems help detect potential violations as they occur. This dramatically reduces the costs associated with post-audit remediation and ensures compliance issues are addressed before they become larger problems.Reduced audit preparation time: Significant time savings in audit preparation translate directly to reduced labor costs and faster audit cycles. Teams can produce complete documentation in hours, compared to weeks of manual evidence gathering across disparate sources.Increased Business AgilityLeaders with access to unified, real-time data can make faster, more informed decisions. The ability to respond quickly to market shifts, customer needs, and competitive threats creates a competitive advantage that compounds over time.Data-driven organizations can achieve superior business outcomes across revenue growth, customer retention, and operational efficiency. Unification makes the data-driven approach feasible by providing the integrated information required for analytical decision-making.How Does Unification Support Long-Term Business Strategy?The strategic value of unification extends beyond short-term operational effectiveness to long-term competitive positioning and future capability development.Building the Foundation for Responsible AI and InnovationArtificial intelligence requires clean, accessible, and governed data. Fragmented environments make effective AI deployment nearly impossible since models trained on incomplete or inconsistent data produce unreliable results. Unified platforms with governed data create the essential foundation for leveraging AI and other next-generation technologies.The data integration, quality controls, and access governance that unified systems provide become prerequisites for responsible AI deployment. Plus, Dell research found that organizations with unified data foundations deploy AI faster and more effectively than competitors still struggling with fragmentation.Establishing a Sustainable Competitive AdvantageAn organization that operates with higher productivity, stronger security, simpler compliance, and faster innovation builds competitive advantages that compound over time. The productivity advantage alone creates separation. Your unified teams deliver faster results with fewer resources because they’re not fighting with disconnected tools. This efficiency gap widens as competitors continue to bleed time and money due to fragmentation, while you reinvest those resources into innovation and growth.Data strategy matters now more than ever as a primary driver of competitive advantage, given the exponential growth in data volumes and complexity. The winners will be organizations that unify their data and extract strategic value from integrated information.Unlocking the Full Value of Enterprise UnificationFragmentation creates massive hidden costs across your enterprise. From daily employee friction to invisible security vulnerabilities, these compounding losses threaten both immediate operations and long-term competitive positioning. The reverse is equally true. Unification delivers multifaceted ROI that compounds in your favor. Organizations that act now gain ground that their competitors can’t recover, including stronger security, simplified compliance, and accelerated innovation.If you want to eliminate enterprise fragmentation, look for solutions that unify secure messaging, document exchange, forms processing, and AI-driven insights into a single platform. It’s also better to settle for tools specifically built for your industry, whether that’s financial services, healthcare, or the public sector. The best platforms deploy in days, not months, and strengthen data security with military-grade encryption and a zero-trust architecture while ensuring full compliance with industry regulations.Finally, choose a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, eliminating the need for multiple fragmented point solutions. Organizations using a robust unification platform reduce IT overhead, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver seamless experiences across every customer and employee touch point.This story was produced by DataMotion and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Financial planning after the loss of a spouse Financial planning after the loss of a spouseIn the wake of losing a spouse, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. Along with navigating grief, family responsibilities, and daily life, many surviving spouses are also faced with important financial and estate planning decisions. In the months that follow, understanding which financial matters and estate planning steps after a spouse’s death require immediate attention—and which can wait—can help provide greater clarity and reduce uncertainty during a difficult time."After a loss like this, your focus should be on taking care of yourself and your family," says Kirk Ross, a regional fiduciary executive at Fifth Third Private Bank in Toledo, Ohio. "Your advisory team is there to help shoulder the financial details and guide decisions when you are ready, so you do not have to navigate them on your own."When to consult your team of advisorsIn the months following the loss of a spouse, many financial matters come into focus at once. Rather than trying to address everything on your own, your estate attorney, accountant, and wealth management advisor can help ensure that you’re addressing the financial issues related to your spouse’s death and your life going forward while also preserving the space and time you need to grieve."There is no single right order for these conversations," Ross says. "The goal is to help provide structure and confidence, so decisions unfold at a pace that feels manageable." A surviving spouse is often faced with several important considerations, including prioritizing next steps, organizing financial information, addressing tax filing requirements, assessing Social Security survivor benefits, and revisiting estate plans during an already demanding time.Professional advisors can help organize financial information, confirm required filings, and explain available options as questions arise. Seeking experienced guidance can help simplify what might otherwise feel like an unstructured or overwhelming process.Financial considerations after a spouse’s deathAfter the death of a spouse, financial decisions often arise alongside emotional and family considerations. While every situation is different, there are a few areas that are useful to review as you adjust to life moving forward. The following list outlines a few key considerations that can help to provide clarity and a sense of direction.1. Seek professional guidance. Connecting with your legal, tax, and financial advisors early can help create a clear starting point. Whether you already have a relationship with your team or you’re introducing yourself for the first time, they can provide support and guidance in the early days of your loss, while also helping to take some of the burden off your hands. "Your team will be able to provide you with timelines for finance-related matters that need your immediate attention," Ross says. Just as importantly, advisors can also help you understand which issues can wait, so you can take time to care for yourself and your family.2. Embrace your role in financial decisions. In some cases, managing family finances may be a new responsibility for a surviving spouse, and making decisions without a partner’s input can feel unfamiliar. Rather than thinking in terms of permission or precedent, it can be helpful to view financial choices through the lens of how they can support your needs and goals today. "At this stage, it is about understanding that you are the decision-maker," Ross advises. "The role of an advisor is to provide guidance and perspective, not approval."3. Focus on what matters first. He adds that many aspects of your financial life can wait until you’re ready to address them. However, he also points out that you need to "move deliberately toward resolving a few high-priority issues" within four to six months of your spouse’s death. These include:Current income and expenses. "The first thing you need to do is learn where your finances are today," Ross says. Talk with your wealth management advisor about your current financial picture and ensure that you have a clear idea of your assets, income, and expenses. You may have no intention of making changes, but in the near term, consider what you need to feel financially secure.Tax considerations. Reviewing your most recent tax return can offer a helpful overview of your financial situation. The IRS allows you to file jointly for the full year in which your spouse passed away, which may provide certain tax advantages, such as a higher standard deduction and higher income ranges within each tax bracket that are available to married couples. You may also need to file an estate tax return, which can facilitate a step-up in cost basis that may significantly reduce capital gains taxes on the assets your family inherits.Social Security. Reviewing Social Security benefits for surviving spouses is another important part of near-term financial planning, especially if your spouse was the primary earner. Your advisors can help you understand the different benefit options available, eligibility requirements, and the appropriate timeline for claiming benefits. In most cases, the funeral home will notify the Social Security Administration about a death, though it may be helpful to confirm that notification was completed.4. Estate settlement and plan review. Working with your estate attorney can help ensure that your spouse’s wishes are carried out and that account ownership, beneficiary designations, and estate documents are properly updated to help execute the provisions of your spouse’s estate plan. This may include filing life insurance claims, dispersing trust assets, locating key documents, and updating ownership of bank and investment accounts. Many elements of an existing estate plan may remain in place, but your attorney can guide you through any necessary actions during this period.5. Plan for the future. After you’ve addressed your immediate financial needs, it is important to give yourself time. Decisions about lifestyle, spending, or legacy do not need to be made right away.As you move through the next year, you may consider whether your financial goals and priorities still feel right for you. Some may remain unchanged, while others may naturally shift as your life evolves."There’s a misconception that the plans in place have to remain the same forever," Ross says. "While some things, such as annuities or the amount of assets, can’t be changed, many aspects of a financial plan can be adjusted over time to better reflect how you want to live."Loss affects every part of life, and financial considerations are only part of that experience. Your team’s role is to be present and supportive, taking care of the financial responsibilities you have entrusted them with so you can focus on what matters most to you. Taking one step at a time can help bring greater clarity and confidence in the months ahead.This story was produced by Fifth Third and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Registration open for Clinton Half Marathon Registration is open for the 15th annual Clinton Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Run/Walk. According to a release from YWCA Clinton, races are September 13. Runners, walkers and spectators can enjoy of the most scenic road races of the season. The race begins at 7:30 a.m., starting in historic downtown Clinton. Participants will journey north [...]
	Bettendorf men charged with alleged vandalism, including arson, at Kiwanis Park Two Bettendorf men are facing charges after they allegedly used Molotov cocktails to damage the futsal field and used red spray paint to graffiti at Kiwanis Park.
	Jersey Mike's Subs franchise system is consolidating fast ahead of its IPO, according to ZoomInfo data Jersey Mike's Subs franchise system is consolidating fast ahead of its IPO, according to ZoomInfo dataJersey Mike's franchise system is consolidating into the hands of large, multi-unit operators ahead of the sandwich chain's planned initial public offering, according to a new analysis from ZoomInfo, an all-in-one AI GTM platform.Ownership is consolidating into larger operatorsJersey Mike's roughly 630 franchise owners span a wide range: More than 330 run just one or two stores, while a small tier runs the bulk. The top 10 operators control about 16% of U.S. locations, the top 25 control about 25%, and the top 50 control about 36%. No single operator dominates, the largest runs about 90 stores, roughly 3% of the system, but the center of gravity is shifting toward professional multi-unit operators. ZoomInfo A wave of franchisee-to-franchisee M&A, with virtually no failuresStore transfers between franchise owners tripled to 218 in 2025, up from 77 in 2024 and 96 in 2023, the highest total in at least five years. Over that same five-year window, Jersey Mike's recorded zero franchise terminations and zero non-renewals. This is consolidation by choice, operators buying each other, not stores failing.Growth is compounding inside the existing baseJersey Mike's reports a development pipeline of more than 1,600 stores, with over 90% committed by existing franchise owners. ZoomInfo identified 190 locations that Jersey Mike's year-end 2025 filing listed as under construction, concentrated in Texas, California, and New York. Checking those addresses against live business listings, 59% had already opened by July 2026, a marker of how fast the footprint is turning over.About one in six owners also run other brandsAbout one in six Jersey Mike's operators also runs at least one other franchise brand, together operating more than 750 locations outside Jersey Mike's. The brands they most commonly also run include The UPS Store, Subway, Little Caesars, Wingstop, Dave's Hot Chicken, Chester's, CiCi's Pizza, and Scooter's Coffee. These are professional multi-unit operators, not single-brand sandwich shop owners.MethodologyZoomInfo’s proprietary franchise dataset maps ownership across more than 600,000 U.S. franchise locations spanning 3,000-plus brands, resolving each one to its operating owner and the decision-makers inside it. ZoomInfo built this analysis using this proprietary franchise dataset, combining its operator-resolved view of Jersey Mike's locations with the chain's Franchise Disclosure Documents and its S-1.ZoomInfo identified the cross-brand ownership pattern by matching franchise owner identities against its own company data, verified through a multi-source pipeline that includes more than 300 human researchers.This story was produced by ZoomInfo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	6 projects to protect your home and property from a natural disaster 6 projects to protect your home and property from a natural disasterNo matter where you live in the U.S., chances are you experience your fair share of natural disasters. If it's not flooding or rockslides, it could be hurricanes or tornadoes. Fortunately, with the summer months upon us, you have time to prepare your home to minimize the risk of damage without having to work in the rain or snow. Achieve shares some low-cost home maintenance projects that should make you feel a little bit safer—and help you protect your pocketbook by avoiding major insurance claims and costly repairs.1. Clean your guttersCleaning your gutters, down pipes, and drains is the surest way to avoid blockages. Blockages can lead to water overflowing under the eaves and straight into the roof cavity. The goal is to do whatever you can to direct water away from the home and to prevent it from pooling. It's such a simple way to avoid a water overflow issue that could lead to a large repair bill or unwanted debt.If you're afraid of heights or a bit unsteady on a ladder, enlist the help of a friend or family member to keep the gutters clear. 2. Mind your treesThere's no way to predict the future, so inspect the trees in your yard and identify any branches that may fall on your home or property during strong winds or a rainstorm. Cutting back the branches that are most likely to fall can help you avoid an expensive repair or a complicated insurance claim.Be tree mindful. When you’re out in the backyard BBQing or hanging out, pay attention to what’s over things, like wires, rooftops, etc. Summer winds after a few dry months could pose issuesAgain, enlist a friend if you're not up to trimming suspect-looking branches. The idea is to remain safe and healthy while checking maintenance projects off your to-do list.3. Check your roofIt's easy to take a roof for granted until you realize it's your first line of defense against whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Inspect your roof, looking for loose or missing shingles as well as wear and tear. Simply reattaching and replacing shingles can go a long way toward protecting your house from damage.4. Put surge protectors in placeIt requires a very small amount of voltage to damage many of today's sensitive electronic devices. Before the next storm hits, walk through your home to check for any electronics that are not already plugged into a dedicated surge-protected outlet. If needed, single surge protector plugs can be purchased for as little as $3 a piece, and multi-outlet surge protector strips can be found for less than $10.Three minutes and $3. That’s what it takes to protect your home.5. Focus on your foundationWater should run away from your home. If the soil around your foundation is currently pitched toward the house, add dirt to the area and reshape it to slope away from the house. Any rain that hits your home is less likely to gather at the foundation and leak in.6. Secure your yardFinally, before the next major weather event, scan your patio, balcony, and yard to determine which items could become missiles in a storm. For example, outdoor furniture, lightweight swing sets, trampolines, kidsâ€™ toys, and yard decor can be picked up and blown around, damaging anything they hit. Stake or tie down anything that you can't move inside. If you have time, move anything indoors that you have room for. If you don't have room for patio furniture in your garage, basement, or house, stack it in a sheltered area against an exterior wall.It's not possible to plan for everything that could go wrong. However, it is possible to make educated guesses based on history. If, based on history, you can safely guess that the coming year could usher in weather-related challenges, facing them today can save you time and financial hardship in the future.This story was produced by Achieve and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Do traffic accidents increase during back-to-school season? What the data shows Do traffic accidents increase during back-to-school season? What the data showsEach August and September, millions of children in the U.S. return to classrooms, altering traffic patterns nationwide. More school buses run their routes, more families make morning drop-off trips, and more children are on foot or on bikes near busy intersections. Whether that shift translates into more traffic accidents has a more nuanced answer than commonly assumed, based on federal data. In this article, Mokaram Injury Lawyers, a Houston-based personal injury law firm, examines what the federal data actually shows.What the Seasonal Fatality Data Actually ShowsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks monthly traffic fatality data through its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide census of fatal crashes going back to 1975. That data does not support the claim that the back-to-school season produces a sharp increase in overall traffic fatalities.FARS data shows that total traffic fatalities peak in summer, particularly in July and August, when vehicle miles traveled are highest. A NHTSA analysis of monthly and daily crash patterns covering data over several decades found that total daily fatalities trend upward from January through July, plateau through the summer, and then decline after September. That pattern does not align with the timing of the traditional school year.The Federal Highway Administration's Traffic Volume Trends reports, which track vehicle miles traveled monthly using data from approximately 5,000 continuous counting locations nationwide, show that August consistently produces among the highest VMT of any month. In August 2023, total travel on all U.S. roads was estimated at 288.4 billion vehicle miles. September 2023 came in lower at 275.6 billion vehicle miles, a decrease compared to the summer peak.Crash volume generally increases as vehicle volume increases. The back-to-school transition coincides with a period when total driving volume is beginning to ease from its summer peak, and not when overall crash volume is climbing.Where Pedestrian Data Tells a Different StoryThe pattern differs when examining pedestrian fatalities, particularly among children.The same NHTSA monthly analysis found that pedestrian fatalities follow a different seasonal pattern than total traffic fatalities. While overall crash deaths tend to fall after September, pedestrian fatality rates trend upward through the fall and into the winter months. NHTSA researchers attribute this partly to reduced daylight hours as the year progresses, which increases the share of walking that occurs in the dark, a documented risk factor in pedestrian deaths.NHTSA's 2023 pedestrian data shows that 77% of all pedestrian fatalities that year occurred when it was dark. That proportion becomes particularly relevant as school schedules place children on sidewalks and crosswalks during early morning and late afternoon hours, when daylight decreases through the fall months.NHTSA's 2023 Children data report shows that 63% of child pedestrian fatalities in traffic crashes occurred during weekday crashes, defined as 6 a.m. Monday through 5:59 p.m. Friday. This timing corresponds with typical school schedules. In 2023, 171 children were killed as pedestrians in traffic crashes, representing 17% of all child traffic fatalities that year.School-Transportation-Related Crashes Are a Specific Federal CategoryNHTSA tracks a distinct data category called school-transportation-related crashes, which covers any fatal crash involving a school bus or a vehicle being used as a school bus. The most recent 10-year report, covering 2013-2022, found that 1,082 people were killed in such crashes over that period, averaging 108 fatalities per year.The breakdown highlights where risk is concentrated: 71% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles, not students. Pedestrians accounted for 169 of the deaths over the 10 years, more than the 111 school transportation vehicle occupants killed. Among school-age pedestrians, more fatalities occurred between 3 p.m. and 3:59 p.m. than during any other hour of the day, according to the same report, a period that corresponds with school dismissal and afternoon travel.That concentration of risk during dismissal hours is one reason AAA has run its "School's Open — Drive Carefully" campaign since 1946, which encourages reduced speeds and increased driver awareness during school travel periods.Teen Drivers: A Separate but Related RiskAAA's back-to-school safety data also identifies teen drivers as a distinct risk factor during the fall period. More than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs between 3 and 7 p.m., the after-school window, according to AAA, which draws on NHTSA's crash data. Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.NHTSA's 2023 Children report recorded 1,019 total child traffic fatalities, which was the lowest rate in the ten years covered by the report, at 1.71 per 100,000 child population. That rate has declined over time, even as overall pedestrian and cyclist fatalities nationally have increased.What the Data Shows — and What It Does NotFederal data does not show a dramatic spike in total traffic accidents at the start of each school year. Instead, the data identifies specific, recurring risks that concentrate during school-related hours and the fall period:Pedestrian fatalities among children are disproportionately concentrated during weekday hours that align with school schedules.The 3-4 p.m. hour is the most dangerous for school-age pedestrians in school-transportation-related crashes.Pedestrian fatalities broadly increase in fall and winter as daylight decreases.Teen driver crashes are more common in the after-school window. Mokaram Injury Lawyers Total vehicle miles traveled decline from their summer peak as school resumes, which may contribute to lower overall crash volumes. The school-specific risks documented in federal data are concentrated in particular hours, locations, and populations rather than reflected in a broader seasonal surge in fatalities.This story was produced by Mokaram Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Registration open for Floatzilla paddlers Registrations are flowing in as River Action's Floatzilla, according to a news release. Now in its 17th year, Floatzilla is the largest paddle event on the Mississippi River. This year, it will be held Aug. 15. To see the various launch sites and to register, visit here. Show your creativity for a chance to win [...]
	Quad Cities Community Foundation awards nine operational grants The Quad Cities Community Foundation announced it awarded operational grants to area nonprofits. According to a release: As the needs of our communities continue to evolve, so does the need for strong, resilient nonprofit organizations. Behind every successful program or service are the systems, leadership and infrastructure that make meaningful impact possible. To help strengthen [...]
	How much debt does the average American have? How much debt does the average American have?Most people don’t set out to accumulate $100,000 in debt. It just happens. A mortgage here, a car payment there, a few months of leaning on credit cards, and suddenly the balance is overwhelming.Debt is one of those topics most people avoid talking about, which makes it easy to assume you’re the only one struggling. But you’re not. Knowing how your debt compares to others can help you spot what’s manageable, what’s worth prioritizing and where you might need outside help.Here’s what the numbers look like across each major debt category.Total U.S. household debt reached a record $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025, per the New York Fed.The average American household carries $104,755 in total debt, per Experian.Mortgage balances account for roughly 70% of all household debt at $13.17 trillion, according to the New York Fed.The average credit card balance is $6,523 per borrower, with APRs averaging 19.57%, per TransUnion and Bankrate.The average auto loan balance is $24,602, with new car payments averaging $748/month, per TransUnion and Experian.The average student loan borrower owes between $37,400 and $43,300, per Education Data Initiative.About 77% of Americans carry some form of debt, and delinquency rates are at their highest since 2017, per the Federal Reserve Board and New York Fed.Total American Household DebtTotal U.S. household debt reached $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Federal Reserve, a record high. When you spread that across American borrowers, Experian puts the average American household debt at $104,755 as of mid-2025. Accredited Debt Relief Those numbers reflect something important: Debt is a near-universal experience. About 77% of Americans carry some form of debt, according to the Federal Reserve Board . That means if you’re managing multiple balances or feel stretched thin by payments, you’re far from alone.For many households, debt isn’t a sign of poor decisions. It’s the result of navigating rising costs, major life milestones and an economy that increasingly runs on credit. And while carrying a balance is common, every type of debt comes with its own risks.The U.S. National Debt vs. Household DebtThe two figures often get conflated in headlines, but they measure completely separate things. Accredited Debt Relief Average American Mortgage DebtAccording to the New York Fed’s Q4 2025 report, total mortgage balances stand at $13.17 trillion, roughly 70% of all household debt in the country.On an individual level, TransUnion puts the average mortgage balance at $268,060, with a median monthly payment of approximately $2,025 as of December 2025, per the Mortgage Bankers Association. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have also climbed for 15 consecutive quarters, reaching $434 billion as of Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed.A mortgage is often called “good debt” because it builds equity and typically carries lower interest rates than other loan types. But for homeowners also carrying unsecured debt, the combined monthly obligations can create real cash-flow stress.Average American Credit Card DebtCredit card debt is where many Americans feel the most financial pressure, and it’s easy to see why. Total credit card balances hit $1.28 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed. The average American credit card debt per borrower was $6,523 in Q3 2025, per TransUnion. Accredited Debt Relief What makes credit card debt particularly costly is the interest rate attached to it. With average APRs at 19.57% as of April 2026 (per Bankrate.com), paying only the minimum can extend your debt timeline by years.Average American Auto Loan DebtAuto loans now rank as the third-largest household debt category in the U.S. Total auto loan balances reached $1.67 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed. Experian’s Q3 2025 data puts the average American auto loan balance at $24,602.Monthly payments reflect how much car costs have risen in recent years. The average new car payment was $748 per month in Q4 2025, while the average used car payment was $532 per month, according to Experian. Interest rates have added to the burden: New car APRs averaged 6.36% while used car loans averaged 11.40% in Q3 2025, per Experian Automotive data.Longer loan terms, such as 72- and 84-month agreements, have become more common as dealers try to make high sticker prices feel manageable month to month. The tradeoff is that borrowers often end up paying significantly more in interest over the life of the loan.Average Student Loan Debt in AmericaStudent loan debt affects more than 43 million Americans, and the balances are significant. As of early 2026, the average borrower carries between $37,400 and $43,300 in student loan debt, according to Education Data Initiative and Investopedia analyses of 2024-2025 data.Repayment hasn’t always kept pace with those balances. Starting in Q1 2025, previously unreported missed federal student loan payments began appearing in credit reports. The serious delinquency rate jumped sharply as a result, reaching 7.74% of aggregate student debt, according to the New York Fed.Student loan debt remains one of the most complex and fast-changing pieces of the household debt picture.How Debt Varies by GenerationDebt doesn’t look the same at every stage of life. Experian’s data shows average consumer debt varies widely by generation:Adults between 40 and 49 carry the most total debt, about 4 times more than adults between 18 and 29, according to the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel. Millennials carry the highest average mortgage debt, while Generation X leads in credit cards and auto loans. Accredited Debt Relief While Generation X leads in average credit card debt, there has been a notable rise in Gen Zers with credit card debt in recent years, with balances growing 15.35% in 2023 alone, according to Experian.Debt Delinquency by the NumbersRising debt levels have come with a rise in delinquencies. According to the New York Fed, 4.8% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency as of Q4 2025, up from 3.6% a year earlier and the highest rate since Q3 2017. Transitions into serious delinquency increased for credit card balances, mortgages and student loans during the quarter.These trends reflect economic pressures that are affecting millions of households, not just individual missteps. Rising costs, stagnant wages and higher interest rates have made it harder for many people to stay current even when they’re doing everything right.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Summer costs are adding up: 5 ways to save on everyday essentials Summer costs are adding up: 5 ways to save on everyday essentialsSummer may bring longer sunny days, family vacations, and more time outdoors, but it can also put added pressure on household budgets. From higher electricity use during heatwaves to more driving, groceries, and family activities, many seasonal expenses are tied to everyday essentials rather than luxuries.A new CreditFresh survey of 2,000 adults across the United States found that 70% of respondents spend more during summer, with household budgets increasing by an average of 14.3%. Respondents estimated spending an additional $143 per week, or approximately $1,859 over a typical 13-week summer. A few practical changes can help households manage those seasonal costs while still covering food, housing, transportation, and other basics. CreditFresh Why Summer Can Put Pressure on Household BudgetsSummer spending often rises because several recurring costs increase at the same time. In the CreditFresh survey, 41% of respondents named higher energy bills as a major pressure, 40% cited food and groceries, and 35% pointed to gas costs.Cooling and transportation are an important part of that seasonal picture. The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that electricity demand and natural gas use by power generators typically peak in July and August as temperatures and air-conditioning use rise. Its July 2026 outlook also warns that heatwaves can temporarily push wholesale electricity prices higher. CreditFresh How Summer Costs Add UpAn extra $143 per week may not seem dramatic in isolation, but over 13 weeks, it totals approximately $1,859. That makes it useful to treat summer as a distinct budget period, similar to the holidays or back-to-school season, and to plan for predictable changes in utilities, groceries, transportation, and activities.5 Tips to Help You Save on Summer Essentials1. Budget Smarter, Not HarderAs summer begins, budgeting is a useful first step. Think of your budget as a financial GPS—it tells your money where to go so you don’t get lost. Start by identifying fixed costs (rent, insurance, and personal loan payments) and summer-variable expenses (food, gas, cooling, travel, and entertainment).Then look for ways to adjust seasonal spending. For example:Switch from brand-name groceries to store brands.Batch-cook meals to lower food waste and takeout spending.Use cashback or loyalty programs to stretch your dollar and save money.Apps like Mint, YNAB, or even a simple spreadsheet can make budgeting less intimidating.2. Get Creative with Grocery ShoppingFood is one of the fastest-rising expenses. To save money on groceries:Shop weekly flyers and build your meals around what’s on sale.Buy in bulk (especially for staples like rice, beans, or pasta).Don’t shop hungry—seriously, it leads to impulse buys.Use apps like Flipp or Checkout 51 to find digital coupons.Many communities also have food co-ops or discount grocers that offer quality items at lower prices. Planning meals ahead helps lower “what’s for dinner?” stress and keeps you from blowing your budget.3. Save on TransportationGas and car maintenance can be another pain point. If you drive regularly:Use apps like GasBuddy or AAA’s app to find the lowest gas prices in your area.Carpool or do all your errands in one trip to save on gas. For example, if you usually make three separate trips a week, combining them into one could save you a quarter tank of gas—or about $20 a month, depending on your car and gas prices.Keep tires inflated and stay up to date with oil changes—good maintenance equals better mileage.Public transit, where it’s available, can be a budget-friendly option.4. Cut Back on Utilities Without Sacrificing ComfortUtilities are essential, but you can still lower costs:Use energy-efficient LED bulbs.Unplug devices that draw power when not in use.Adjust your thermostat by a few degrees—especially at night or when you’re out. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 F while you sleep may help you save in the long run without even noticing the difference.Wash clothes in cold water and line dry when possible.These small shifts help not only with bills but with your long-term energy footprint.5. Plan a Low-Cost Summer Vacation or StaycationSummer plans do not have to mean expensive flights, hotels, or packed itineraries. Before booking a trip, set a clear spending limit and compare it with lower-cost options close to home. A staycation can still feel like a break if it includes summer-specific activities such as a beach day, a picnic in the park, an outdoor movie night, a local festival, a splash pad visit, or a day trip to a nearby town.Pick one “anchor” summer activity each week, like a free concert, public pool day, community event, or picnic, and plan meals and transportation around it.Look for weekday or off-peak discounts on local attractions, museums, parks, or family activities.Pack snacks, refillable water bottles, and simple meals when heading out for the day to help avoid extra takeout costs.This gives households a practical way to enjoy the season while keeping discretionary spending more predictable.Keeping Summer Costs ManageableNearly one-third (32%) of Americans surveyed said they were not prepared for higher summer spending or emergency costs, while 80% planned to take steps to offset the added expenses. A few small changes can help households stay on track without reworking their entire budget.Whether it’s spending less on groceries, combining errands, or using less energy during peak heat, small adjustments can make summer costs easier to manage. The goal is not to avoid summer spending altogether but to plan ahead so everyday expenses feel more manageable.Disclaimer: Information in this article, including references to third parties, is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or individualized financial or legal advice.This story was produced by CreditFresh and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New York-based rockers Platinum Moon will be part of Galva Music Series New York-based rock band, Platinum Moon will perform Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series in Galva, a news release says. Platinum Moon is known for their energetic musical blend of modern and classic rock. This group has headlined shows and performed at festivals across the US and Canada, sharing the stage [...]
	Millions of Americans live in mental health care deserts. Here’s where the gaps are worst. Millions of Americans live in mental health care deserts. Here’s where the gaps are worst.The average American who develops a mental health condition waits around 11 years before receiving any treatment. This figure has barely changed for many years, despite growing media coverage raising awareness and the expansion of mental health benefits in insurance coverage. Cost, the difficulty in recognizing a problem and stigma all play a part in that delay, but for a great number of people, the obstacle is that they live somewhere where there is a shortage of mental health providers. In these areas, whether someone is able to pay for care matters much less than if there is anyone available to provide it, April Health reports.This is the unfortunate reality for more than 137 million Americans who live in what the federal government defines as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. More than 7,500 communities across the country now fall under that definition, marking where demand for mental health support has outpaced supply and making residents eligible for certain funding and workforce programs. But what it doesn’t do is place a mental health provider in these areas. It simply confirms what the residents already know, which is that getting an appointment can be difficult and sometimes nearly impossible. The shortage of mental health professionals is also far from evenly distributed, and the areas with the most severe shortages tend to share a similar profile.The South and rural West areas carry much of the burden, with Mississippi, Alabama and Wyoming consistently ranking among the states with the fewest mental health providers per person, and some counties within these areas having no practicing psychiatrist at all. Texas stands out as a particularly grim example of this, as despite having one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., it contains some of the most underserved areas anywhere in the country. In the western part of the state and the Panhandle, the nearest psychiatrist can be a two- or three-hour drive away, which becomes a real obstacle for anyone without reliable transport or the ability to take time off work.Across much of Appalachia, communities in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee have experienced decades of economic decline and the effects of the opioid epidemic and also rank among the most underserved areas for access to mental health care. These pressures have an impact on one another, as the same conditions that cause higher rates of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders exist alongside a limited supply of clinicians able to treat them. Over time it snowballs, with more and more people needing support and still almost no one available to treat them.The problem is not restricted to just rural regions or lower-income states, though. There are also significant shortages within some of the wealthiest states in the country, including California, Illinois and New York. In cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, you tend to find providers clustered in the more affluent ZIP codes, and they grow scarcer as you reach the lower-income areas. Across nearly every state in the country, wealth and the availability of care are closely linked, leaving the communities with the least resources with the fewest options for mental health treatment.Insurers typically reimburse mental health services at lower rates than for physical health care, which makes it difficult to sustain a practice where many patients depend on their insurance for treatment or cannot afford to pay out of pocket. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was created to address this issue by requiring insurers to cover mental health on equal terms with physical health, although enforcement of this has been inconsistent.For many people in these areas, the first step is a visit to their usual primary care provider, who refers them to a specialist. The first one they try won’t have spaces anytime soon, the next isn’t taking on new patients, and this goes on until they find that the nearest place with availability is hours away, so they decide not to bother. The referral from their primary care provider is logged in the system, but the fact that they never make it to seeing a specialist isn’t. Left untreated, the condition gets worse, and it is usually family and friends who see it worsening, until the only place left to turn is the emergency room.Federal programs have been introduced to try to drive more graduates toward the places that need them, most notably through the National Health Service Corps, which repays student loans for clinicians who commit to working in one of the areas defined as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area for a set number of years. Although these programs have placed thousands of providers in the underserved communities, the scale of the gap is far larger than the scale of the incentives, and once they have served their commitment, many participants move on, and while the program is making small improvements to the system, it is still not fixing the issue.Technology has helped in a way, seeing as a video appointment can replace a long drive for people who have a good internet connection. The counties with the fewest providers, however, are also the ones with the weakest broadband connections or access to broadband at all. Historically, state licensing laws have stopped providers from being able to treat patients from across state lines, which limits how much a well-served state can help others. To bypass this, states have introduced interstate licensing agreements allowing psychologists to practice across the participating states, which most states have now signed up to. Once again, these arrangements do not create new providers; they simply change how far the existing workforce can be stretched.Some primary care practices have approached the problem from a different angle, by building mental health support into the care they are already delivering so that patients don’t have to join a specialist waitlist. One of these is the Collaborative Care Model, which introduces a care manager and a consulting psychiatrist into the patient’s care alongside their usual primary care provider.America's mental health care deserts have been mapped and tracked for years, so their locations are not a mystery. Recently, however, there has been an increase in tools that work around the distance rather than waiting for the workforce issue to be resolved, but for that 11-year wait to start coming down, there would have to be enough workforce to meet the demand across every shortage area. Until then, the person who decided not to bother after their search ended at a dead end is likely still struggling and may not try reaching out for help again. The biggest barrier to receiving mental health support in America remains where a person happens to live.This story was produced by April Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Sunburn relief: Dermatologist-approved methods that actually work Sunburn relief: Dermatologist-approved methods that actually workThat painful red glow after a day outdoors is more than just discomfort. It signals real cellular damage happening beneath the skin's surface. The good news is that dermatologist-approved treatments can significantly reduce pain, speed healing, and prevent long-term damage when applied correctly. Many people reach for whatever lotion is nearby, but not all products help, and some can actually worsen the burn. Understanding the science behind sunburn symptoms and using proven methods makes the difference between a few uncomfortable days and weeks of peeling, blistering misery. Below, Doctronic explains how to handle a sunburn in those crucial first 24 hours.Key TakeawaysThe first 24 hours after sunburn are critical for minimizing skin damage and inflammation.Aloe vera and soy-based products provide effective cooling and healing, while benzocaine and lidocaine should be avoided.Hydration and anti-inflammatory medications help the body recover from the inside out.Never pick or exfoliate peeling skin, as this delays healing and increases infection risk.Blistering, fever, or severe pain may indicate second-degree burns or sun poisoning requiring medical attention.The Science of Sunburn and Immediate ResponseUnderstanding the Inflammatory ResponseSunburn is the skin's inflammatory response to damage from ultraviolet radiation. When UV rays penetrate the epidermis, they damage DNA in skin cells. The body responds by increasing blood flow to the area, which causes redness and warmth. Inflammatory chemicals flood the damaged tissue, triggering pain receptors. This process peaks between 12 and 24 hours after sun exposure, and the damage is already done by the time skin turns red.The Critical First 24 HoursActing fast during the first day determines how severe the burn becomes. Getting out of the sun immediately prevents additional damage. Cool showers or compresses help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Avoid applying ice directly to the skin, as this can cause additional tissue damage. Drinking extra water is essential during this window, since the inflammatory response draws fluid to the skin's surface, potentially causing dehydration.Dermatologist-Recommended Topical TreatmentsAloe Vera and Soy-Based ProductsAloe vera remains the gold standard for sunburn relief, with compounds that reduce inflammation, provide cooling sensations, and support skin repair. Pure aloe gel works best. Products with added fragrances or alcohol can irritate damaged skin further. Soy-based lotions offer an alternative, containing natural anti-inflammatory properties that help skin retain moisture during healing. Some dermatologists recommend alternating between aloe and soy products throughout the day.Hydrocortisone CreamsOver-the-counter hydrocortisone creams at 1% strength can significantly reduce inflammation and itching. Apply a thin layer to affected areas two to three times daily. This treatment works best for moderate burns without blistering, and should not be used on broken skin or blisters.Why Avoid Benzocaine and LidocaineDespite their presence in many sunburn relief products, benzocaine and lidocaine can cause allergic reactions in sun-damaged skin. These numbing agents may provide temporary relief but often lead to contact dermatitis, adding another layer of irritation to an already painful situation. Dermatologists consistently advise against these ingredients for sunburn treatment.Internal Recovery and Hydration StrategiesCombating DehydrationSunburn pulls fluid from the rest of the body toward the skin's surface, causing mild to moderate dehydration, especially with larger burns. Drinking water alone may not be enough. Oral rehydration solutions or drinks containing balanced electrolytes help replace sodium and potassium lost during the inflammatory process. Signs of dehydration include dark urine, dizziness, and increased thirst.Anti-Inflammatory MedicationsNSAIDs such as ibuprofen reduce both inflammation and pain associated with sunburn. Taking these medications within the first few hours of noticing a burn can limit the inflammatory cascade before it peaks. Acetaminophen helps with pain but does not address inflammation, making anti-inflammatory options the better choice, specifically for sunburn. Understanding how long the healing process takes helps set realistic expectations for recovery.Safe Skin Care During the Peeling PhaseMoisturizing to Repair the Skin BarrierAs damaged skin begins peeling, usually three to seven days after the burn, consistent moisturizing becomes critical. The skin barrier is compromised during this phase, making it vulnerable to infection and further damage. Fragrance-free, gentle moisturizers containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid help rebuild the skin's protective layer while keeping moisture locked in.The Dangers of Picking and ExfoliatingPeeling skin tempts many people to help it along by picking or using exfoliating products. Pulling away skin that is not ready to shed exposes raw tissue beneath, increasing the risk of infection and potentially causing scarring. Let peeling happen naturally. The body knows when skin is ready to release, and forced removal only delays complete healing.When to Seek Professional Medical AttentionIdentifying Second-Degree BurnsBlisters indicate a second-degree burn, which requires more careful treatment. These burns damage deeper skin layers and carry higher infection risks. Large blisters, especially those covering a significant area of the body, warrant professional evaluation. Experiencing severe blistering sunburns during youth substantially increases melanoma risk later in life, making proper treatment and future prevention essential.Warning Signs of Sun PoisoningSun poisoning describes severe sunburn accompanied by systemic symptoms. Fever, chills, nausea, and severe headache indicate the body is struggling to cope with extensive UV damage. Confusion or fainting requires immediate emergency care, as these symptoms suggest a whole-body inflammatory response that may need IV fluids and prescription medications.Long-Term Skin Repair and Future PreventionRecovered skin remains more sensitive to UV damage for weeks or months after a severe burn. Using sunscreen that has not expired and applying it daily, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak sun hours prevent repeat damage to healing tissue. Wide-brimmed hats and UPF clothing provide additional protection without requiring reapplication. Building consistent sun protection habits now prevents painful burns and reduces long-term skin cancer risk.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long does sunburn take to heal completely?Mild sunburns typically heal within three to five days. Moderate burns with peeling take one to two weeks. Severe burns with blistering may require three weeks or longer to fully heal.Can sunburn cause permanent skin damage?Repeated sunburns accelerate skin aging and significantly increase the risk of skin cancer. Even a single severe burn can cause lasting changes in skin cells that may lead to problems years later.Should blisters from sunburn be popped?Never pop sunburn blisters. They protect healing skin underneath from infection. If a blister breaks on its own, clean the area gently and apply antibiotic ointment.Is it safe to take a hot shower with sunburn?Hot water worsens sunburn pain and inflammation. Use cool or lukewarm water only. Hot showers strip moisture from already damaged skin and intensify discomfort.The Bottom LineEffective sunburn relief combines immediate cooling, proper topical treatments, hydration, and patience during the peeling phase. Acting quickly within the first 24 hours makes the biggest difference in outcomes.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine Police will host National Night Out at Musco Sports Center The Muscatine Police Department will host National Night Out at the Musco Sports Center from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, a news release says. Families are invited to an evening of free, family-friendly fun, food, and community connections both inside and outside the sports dome. “This event is about coming together as a community,” said [...]
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shooting on Main Street Demaine Glenn, 34, faces attempted murder and stolen weapons charges after allegedly shooting at a man early Monday morning on Main Street in Davenport.
	Is agentic trading safe? What the SEC inquiry means for investors Is agentic trading safe? What the SEC inquiry means for investorsLess than a month after Robinhood let customers hand their brokerage accounts over to an AI agent, a group of lawmakers wants to know who’s on the hook when something goes wrong.On June 23, seven Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins asking how the agency plans to police a trading model that barely existed a year ago. Illinois Rep. Bill Foster and California Rep. Brad Sherman led the letter, and Reps. Stephen Lynch, Jim Himes, Sean Casten, Rashida Tlaib, and Sylvia Garcia cosigned it. Atkins has until July 31 to respond.The timing was no accident. Robinhood launched Agentic Trading for equities on May 27 and added the Agentic Credit Card the same day. Options followed shortly after, and on July 1, Robinhood confirmed crypto agentic trading was rolling out next. Public began rolling out its own version, called Agents, on March 31. SoFi launched Composer in late June, right after acquiring Composer Securities. Coinbase introduced its own crypto-focused agent tool, Coinbase for Agents, on June 11. Kraken has said agentic trading will sit at the core of its next app redesign.In about four months, this went from a novelty to something several major brokerages now offer by default. Finder examines what the SEC’s agentic trading inquiry means for everyday investors.What the letter actually asksThe Foster-Sherman letter isn’t a ban or an accusation of wrongdoing. It’s a request for information — the kind Congress uses to build a paper trail before deciding whether new rules are needed. It also points back to the SEC’s 2023 proposal on conflicts of interest in predictive data analytics, urging the agency to revisit that framework. The 13 questions go after the basic setup of these products, not just how they perform.A central concern is how brokerages describe the AI agents. Robinhood classifies connected agents as third-party tools and states plainly that it doesn’t control, supervise, or audit them. The lawmakers argue this framing could let platforms sidestep normal investor protections. The letter says agentic trading “raises serious questions for investor protection [and] broker-dealer responsibilities” — and, in the same breath, extends those concerns to market integrity and to whether AI developers can be held accountable.The letter also raises herding risk. If large numbers of AI agents are trained on similar data, they could all converge on the same trades independently, amplifying volatility rather than smoothing it out.Then there’s the liability question. The letter asks the SEC to clarify when an AI agent or its developer would need to register as a broker or advisor, and whether current rules can even apply here. That’s not hypothetical — Robinhood’s disclosures already say customers assume all risk for the agent’s trades and for what happens to their data once it leaves Robinhood’s systems.How the brokerages describe itNone of this is hidden. Robinhood’s terms state that once customer data reaches the AI provider, it leaves Robinhood’s environment and is governed by the provider’s terms instead. The company uses dedicated accounts, sends push notifications for every trade, and lets users disconnect agents at any time. CEO Vlad Tenev has framed it as giving retail traders institutional-grade tools, telling CNBC the goal is that “every capability a human can do will be available to an AI agent.”Other platforms built in more friction on purpose. Public’s Agents require customer approval before going live and keep everything inside one authenticated environment. Coinbase built its version around strict user-set limits on trade size and spending, describing it as handing over a gift card rather than full account access. SoFi’s Composer runs on rules that the customer sets and can be backtested before activation. Kraken says it’s keeping a human in the loop, with its chief data officer telling CNBC the aim is to make the tool feel “like talking to your well-informed best friend.”Whether that’s enough oversight is exactly what the SEC has been asked to weigh.What to watch nextFor everyday investors already using or considering these tools, the practical guardrails haven’t changed: fund a dedicated account with money you can afford to lose, set spending and symbol limits where a platform offers them, and treat an agent as something to supervise rather than hand off entirely. None of that changes based on how the SEC responds.What could change is the regulatory path. If the July 31 response doesn’t satisfy the committee, the letter leaves the door open for Congress to pass its own legislation rather than rely on brokerage disclosures. Given how fast things have moved this year — from a single beta in May to crypto, options, and even a Guinness World Records stunt by July — that answer may shape the next phase more than any company’s safety features.This guide has been edited and fact-checked by Richard Laycock.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Are British Columbia mushrooms unfairly subsidized? US growers think so Are British Columbia mushrooms unfairly subsidized? US growers think soMushrooms may not be the first crop that comes to mind when you think of high-tech agriculture. But in B.C., Agaricus bisporus — the fungal species sold in grocery stores as button mushrooms, creminis, and portobellos — is grown using cutting-edge techniques.“If you go back 10 or 15 years, you would travel to Holland to find the most productive, leading-edge mushroom facilities in the world,” Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs Mushrooms, said in an interview with The Narwhal. “Today, you travel to Holland and British Columbia.”In 2017, Pennsylvania-based South Mill merged with Aldergrove-based Champ’s Mushrooms to form South Mill Champs. The company now supplies more B.C.-grown mushrooms to the U.S. market than any other, around 22,675 tonnes per year.Before B.C.’s mushroom tech boom, farms often mimicked more natural growing conditions. Modern B.C. farms use what’s called the Dutch method: metal shelves heaped with a mixture of manure and straw to cultivate their crops. The mushrooms are grown in air-tight facilities that are closely controlled for temperature and humidity. Unlike other indoor crops, mushrooms don’t need much light to grow. The buildings are dim, the opposite of brightly lit commercial greenhouses. This method results in faster-growing, higher-quality mushrooms and fewer pests, according to Macleod. But it’s not as common in the U.S.Nearly all Canadian mushroom exports — 98% in 2024 — are sold in the U.S. As B.C.’s technologically advanced mushroom industry has grown into a global leader, some American producers have accused Canadian growers of benefiting from unfair government subsidies. It’s set off a trade dispute that could reshape the cross-border market.SummaryB.C. is a world-leading mushroom producer with much of the provincial crop being exported to the United States.Recently, the United States Department of Commerce added tariffs to Canadian-grown mushrooms on the grounds they receive unfair government subsidies.One B.C.-based mushroom farm is fighting the tariffs, but more could be coming by the end of the year.BC mushroom trade sparks US concernsIf you ask B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, mushrooms are among the most unique of the province’s commercial crops.“They have to be harvested 24 hours a day and they grow in the dark,” Popham said in an interview. “There’s been a lot of technology that’s been coming around, a lot of innovation that is allowing for different types of harvesting [and] different types of lighting conditions.”This innovation may be part of what sparked a trade complaint from a group of U.S. mushroom producers last year.A September 2025 petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce from the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition argued fresh Canadian mushrooms are being “unfairly” subsidized by government programs.“Canadian producers are exporting fresh mushrooms to the United States at prices below fair value and are benefiting from countervailable subsidies provided by the government of Canada,” the petition says. “These practices have resulted in significant negative impacts on U.S. mushroom growers and packers, including lost sales, depressed prices and declining profitability.”In fact, none of the subsidies provided by Canadian governments specifically target the mushroom industry and are instead directed at farmers generally.But in May, the Commerce Department agreed with the U.S. petitioners and applied duties on some Canadian mushroom producers. The preliminary decision concluded Canadian governments do unfairly subsidize mushroom production.For now, about two dozen Canadian mushroom producers are facing a 2.84% tariff on the mushrooms they sell in the U.S.South Mill Champs is contesting the Commerce Department’s decision, which Mushrooms Canada, the national trade association representing Canadian mushroom growers, called “deeply flawed.”“It’s using regulatory tactics to stifle healthy competition,” Macleod said.Champ’s Mushrooms was handed a 1.62% tariff by the Commerce Department.The Commerce Department has yet to decide on whether to hit Canadian mushrooms with anti-dumping duties, a type of tariff applied to imported goods that are being sold at lower prices, as a way to protect domestic producers.Government subsidies aren’t specific to mushrooms, and US growers get them tooThere’s no denying Canadian mushroom growers receive support from the government. B.C. producers do not have to pay provincial sales tax on equipment for their businesses and can also access grant programs that support agricultural operations.The province also offers funding to help farms cover the cost of adopting new technologies, but Popham pointed out that none of the province’s programs are targeted specifically at bolstering B.C. mushrooms.“It’s not specific at all to the mushroom industry,” Popham said. “It’s just the way we support farmers in B.C.”And that means the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition’s complaint lacks merit under U.S. trade law, according to Mushrooms Canada CEO Ryan Koeslag.“It is difficult to reconcile Commerce’s preliminary approach with the fact that comparable agricultural tax treatment exists in the United States,” Koeslag said in a statement after the Commerce Department’s preliminary duties were announced. “Canadian mushroom growers are not receiving special treatment. They are operating under ordinary rules that apply to farmers.”The Commerce Department did not respond to questions about these criticisms of its decision and whether it will assess tax exemptions available to U.S. mushroom farmers before reaching its final decision on the tariffs. The Narwhal also contacted Giorgio Fresh Co., one of the U.S. companies that formed the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition, for comment, but did not receive a response.Macleod doesn’t believe the trade complaint is really about subsidy programs at all.“This case is not about the U.S. versus Canada — it’s about companies who have invested in new infrastructure and those who haven’t invested in new infrastructure,” he said.Most Canadian-grown mushrooms are grown using the Dutch method, Macleod explained. This technique gives growers large, reliable yields quickly, he added, while also reducing pest pressures and creating mushrooms that consumers prefer.In the U.S., the majority of mushrooms are grown on wood shelves, an older technique that isn’t as efficient as the Dutch method.Growing mushrooms on wood makes it “very hard to consistently produce a fine-looking mushroom and ensure disease doesn’t, at times of the year, really damage the crop,” Macleod said.South Mill Champs’ U.S. operations have learned a lot about the benefits of modern mushroom growing from their Canadian counterparts, he added.Switching from wood-based cultivation to the Dutch method isn’t cheap, though government grant programs and tax exemptions can help take the edge off the costs. Macleod said it takes years for a mushroom farm to see a return on investment into a whole new cultivation set-up. But the new technology can reduce ongoing costs, increase revenue, and open the door to further technological innovation, he added.With new cultivation systems in place, Popham said some B.C. farms are introducing robots to harvest their mushrooms.“Technology is taking over what I would call mundane tasks,” she said, adding that human workers are still needed to oversee the machines.“They don’t expect, as they bring in technology, to see displacement of labour. It’s adding to a better quality of workplace, which is really cool.”Robots can’t harvest mushrooms grown using wood-based shelving, Macleod said, potentially putting old-style producers at even more of a disadvantage.“If you don’t have new infrastructure, you have to build from scratch,” he said.Final decision on additional cross-border costs for BC mushroom growers could take monthsWhile additional duties on Canadian mushrooms could be announced within weeks, a final determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce may not come for months. Macleod is hopeful the final determination will be that Canadian-grown mushrooms do not harm U.S. producers.“I really do not think less mushrooms will be exported from Canada into the U.S.,” he said. “Duties paid will mean ultimately the consumer pays more for mushrooms, which is bad for the consumer and the industry.”Popham believes that B.C.-grown mushrooms are popular because of the industry’s embrace of innovation and its proximity to the U.S. market.“I hope that what results from this most recent challenge is that there’s an acknowledgement that we’re just doing it really, really well,” she said.At a time when many British Columbians want to support locally grown food, mushrooms are a perfect choice, she added.“When we talk about being more resilient and growing more at home, mushrooms have been there the whole time,” Popham said. “I think that when consumers understand how big of an industry it is here and I think that this is another feather in our cap.”This story was produced by The Narwhal and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Illinois, Iowa offering back-to-school sales tax holidays Starting Aug. 7, shoppers in Illinois and Iowa can save money on clothing, shoes, and school supplies during back-to-school sales tax holidays.
	The role of water in back-to-school wellness (BPT) - As students return to the classroom, back-to-school planning extends beyond school supplies and class schedules. It's also an ideal time for families to create strong routines that support their children's wellness, foster family well-being and keep household essentials running smoothly.From hydration habits to laundry care to snacks, these everyday practices can play a meaningful role in helping families start the school year strong. Consistent routines that prioritize hydration, nutrition, cleanliness and household maintenance can help support healthy, productive learning environments.Why water quality matters throughout the homeWater plays a bigger role in overall well-being than many families realize. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, "even mild dehydration, as little as a 1%–2% loss in body water, can negatively affect children's attention, memory, mood and cognitive performance, all of which are critical for learning." While healthy eating habits often receive the most attention, the quality of the water students drink each day is key. Clean, great-tasting water can support healthy hydration habits and make it easier for families to choose water over sugary beverages.Water quality can influence how much water children and adults drink. When water tastes and smells fresh, family members may be more likely to reach for it throughout the day. Additionally, as concerns about water quality continue to grow, many households are looking for ways to improve the water they use every day. Kinetico®, a global leader in water treatment solutions, recently introduced HYDRO® ECO™, an electric tankless reverse osmosis system designed to meet the needs of families. By providing cleaner, better-tasting water, hydration can be a simple and sustainable part of a healthy school-year routine.Building a healthier lunchboxA well-balanced lunch can help students be ready to learn throughout the school day. When packing lunches and snacks, families can look for foods that provide a balanced mix of nutrients while also supporting healthy hydration habits.Pairing water with fruits and vegetables is an easy way to support this balance. Water-rich foods such as watermelon, oranges, cucumbers, celery and bell peppers naturally contain high amounts of water, helping students stay hydrated while providing essential vitamins and minerals.Families can also encourage healthier beverage choices by packing a reusable water bottle each day. Keeping water readily available makes it easier for students to make hydration a regular part of their school-day routine.Protecting school clothing and uniformsBack-to-school shopping extends beyond classroom supplies. Every year, families also invest in back-to-school clothes, uniforms and athletic wear. With households spending hundreds of dollars preparing for the school year, protecting those purchases can be an important part of keeping costs manageable.That protection often starts in the laundry room. Using a trusted detergent, following garment care instructions and avoiding overloading the washing machine can all help extend the life of clothing. Water quality can also play a role. Hard water can leave mineral residue on fabrics, which may contribute to damage and wear over time. Whole-home water softening solutions, from providers like Kinetico, can help reduce the effects of hard water on laundry, helping school clothes and uniforms look and feel their best longer.Healthy habits beyond the classroom The beginning of the school year is an opportunity to build healthy habits that support student and family wellness. By prioritizing hydration, balanced routines and thoughtful home care, families can create a strong foundation for success.
	Rock Island-Milan back-to-school event draws families to Schwiebert Park Rock Island-Milan School District hosted its Ready to Rock back-to-school event at Schwiebert Park, giving out free supplies ahead of Aug. 5.
	Democrat Rob Sand calls for social media age limit in kids’ tech safety plan Social media would be banned for kids under age 16 under a tech safety proposal by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. (Stock photo by Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said he supports banning social media for children under age 16, setting age verification and parental consent requirements on certain apps and providing more safeguards for minors online, according to a kids’ online safety policy platform released Monday. The plan, shared first with Iowa Capital Dispatch, is focused on restricting and providing more parental oversight for social media and other online platforms as a way to ensure children stay safe online, Sand said Friday in an interview — as well as make sure Iowa youth are socializing and developing life skills offline. Sand, who currently serves as state auditor, said the influence of technology in children’s lives has been a major concern as he raises his two sons, age 9 and 12. He said the policies reflect both his considerations as a parent, as well as research and reports showing the negative impacts of social media use on children’s mental health. Banning social media for children under age 16 is a way to ensure children are building “healthy habits” in the real world, he said. “The bottom line to me on a lot of this stuff, is that real life matters, and we want our kids to learn that real life matters,” Sand said. “You know, we play a lot of board games as a family, we’ll have reading nights, we hunt, we fish. We do activities that involve interacting with each other and finding ways to have fun, that have existed for hundreds of years, that actually build relationships and build confidence and build grit. … A lot of this, to me, is just pointing us towards things that can be good for us, when social media, at the end of the day, is conclusively — even from the social media company’s own studies — bad for children.” While the proposal focuses on traditional social media platforms, Sand said he wants to “address all platforms” that are linked with potentially dangerous or negative impacts on children, including gaming platforms like Roblox or video platforms like YouTube. Sand said he would model policy for Iowa on Utah’s “App Store Accountability” Act, signed into law in 2025. The measure requires app stores run by companies like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages before allowing them to download applications. It requires minors have parental consent in order to download apps requiring a terms of service agreement. The law also requires parental consent for app and in-app purchases from minors’ accounts. The Utah law is being challenged in federal court by Computer & Communications Industry Association, which says in the lawsuit the measure is “a violation of the First Amendment” because it would impact access to apps outside of social media, like email and e-books. Age verification steps also present questions about data collection. During this year’s Iowa legislative session, speakers during subcommittee meetings on House File 864 expressed concerns about entrusting tech companies with users’ data and personal information, needed to verify their age. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law in June, which requires websites and social media platforms to implement “reasonable” age verification steps if one-third or more of the content available is pornographic. Sand’s policy platform includes requiring users’ data be protected and that only “pertinent age information” is shared with app developers. “But I also want to emphasize this — when you’re in uncharted territory, with a new technology that you know is hurting children, the answer is not … to do nothing. The answer is to do something,” Sand said. “And if it doesn’t work perfectly, then adjust, and keep trying, keep doing it.” The proposal calls for banning the sale of minors’ data and banning targeted advertising for minors, specifically related to their personal data, search history and other information collected online. It also would require minors’ accounts to be private by default, with restrictions on functions like geolocation and direct messages coming from adult users. The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has previously considered similar proposals specifically regarding social media age limits. In 2025, House lawmakers discussed legislation requiring social media companies to obtain parental authorization before allowing a child to create an account on their platform, which would have allowed a parent or guardian to have access to the approved account to view posts and messages received. Republicans have also called for setting similar restrictions: Sand’s proposal brought up issues like limiting screen time for youth — an issue brought up by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when he came to Iowa in May. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican running for Iowa’s Senate seat in 2026, held an event focused on children’s tech safety Saturday alongside Sen. Ted Cruz. Sand also praised Reynolds, the current Republican governor, for the 2025 law setting statewide minimum policies banning the use of cellphones in classrooms, and said he believes this issue is an area where he could find common ground with Republicans. “I’m very aware of the reality that I’ll be working with the Republican Legislature, and I want to propose stuff that those Republicans are likely to look at and say, ‘yes, I would be proud to do that with you, let’s go do it,'” Sand said. Some concerns about setting legal restrictions on minors’ ability to access these platforms come based on how social media has been integrated into many young people’s lives — and how enacting limits could result in negative social impacts for children. But Sand said he has talked to families across the state who are “really struggling with the presence of social media and their kids’ lives,” and said he believed stricter limits were appropriate. “It was not hard for us to communicate with people or to stay in touch with people that we met before social media existed,” Sand said. “There was still email. There was still the phone. We still had pen pals. You probably don’t want to go back as far as pen pals, but, there’s plenty of other tools that are available that do not harm our children’s mental health, that don’t make them depressed, and that’s where we should be focused.” Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	In Oregon, big grocery, retail companies have highest number of employees on Medicaid People shop for groceries at a Walmart store in Ohio. Walmart was the most frequently listed employer on Oregonians' Medicaid forms in 2025. (Photo by Marty Schladen/Ohio Capital Journal)Multi-billion-dollar grocers and retailers such as Walmart and Amazon were among the most listed employers on Oregonians’ applications for publicly-funded health insurance last year, according to a Capital Chronicle analysis of Oregon Health Authority data. The data, taken from Medicaid income verification forms, shows that dozens of major national and multinational corporations that often pay relatively low hourly or median wages rely on the government’s health insurance program for low-income and disabled people to cover the costs of thousands of their Oregon employees’ healthcare. Most don’t sponsor health insurance for all employees, but only for those who work at least 30 hours a week or who hold some special and seasonal roles. The U.S., unlike most economically prosperous countries, does not provide universal government-sponsored healthcare, and Americans spend more per capita on healthcare than any other population in the world. The Capital Chronicle requested data showing the 500 most frequently listed employers on Medicaid income-verification forms received between January 2025 and December 2025, and the frequency each employer was listed. More than 118,000 Medicaid applicants or recipients listed one of these 500 employers on their forms — representing nearly 14% of the more than 860,000 working-age adults in Oregon covered by Medicaid. Walmart was the most-listed employer on Oregonians’ Medicaid paperwork — both those working full and part-time. Safeway and parent company Albertsons were close behind. Online retail giant Amazon and its affiliates, including Whole Foods, came in fourth, followed by Fred Meyer and its parent company Kroger. One in six of the most listed employers on Medicaid forms in Oregon was a major grocer and retailer. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Those same companies were among the top five employers listed on income verification forms for SNAP — the public assistance program for low-income Americans to cover their food costs — the Capital Chronicle recently reported. One in five of those most commonly listed employers on those forms was a major grocer and retailer. A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that since 2020 the number of Amazon employees using SNAP and Medicaid tripled. Medicaid in Oregon by the numbers: About 1.4 million Oregonians — 1 in 3 people — get health insurance through Oregon’s Medicaid program called the Oregon Health Plan. More than half of the state’s children receive health coverage through Medicaid. This year, the state will pay an average of $6,358 per year for each Oregon Health Plan member’s coverage. In Oregon, the federal government covers 71% of costs for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP; up to 88% of the costs of the Affordable Care Act adult expansion program; and 58% for other Medicaid populations. An individual is eligible if they earn about $22,000 per year or less, and a family of four is eligible if their annual household earnings are about $45,500 or less. Since 2024, the Oregon Health Authority has also offered a “bridge” program through the Oregon Health Plan available for individuals and families with incomes that are up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or about $32,000 or less per year for an individual and $66,000 or less for a family of four. Businesses tout benefits Spokespersons for Amazon, Walmart and the Northwest Grocery Retail Association defended wages they said were significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which hasn’t changed since 2009. Oregon’s minimum wage, which increases annually, is $14.55 in rural counties, $16.80 in the Portland metro area and $15.55 in the rest of the state as of July 1. The average hourly wage of a Walmart employee in Oregon is $20.51 per hour, according to company spokesperson Jimmy Carter. Company spokespersons also touted the benefits they offer the majority of their employees and said Medicaid enrollment does not necessarily indicate that employer-sponsored coverage isn’t available. “Medicaid eligibility is based on total household income and family size, not an individual’s wages or whether their employer offers coverage,” Alisa Carroll, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement. “Two employees earning identical pay can have entirely different eligibility outcomes depending on their household circumstances and the state in which they live.” Carroll added that in 2025 the company invested $1 billion in higher wages and lowering healthcare costs for its U.S. operations employees. After large grocery retailers, the industry employing the largest number of Oregonians on Medicaid is fast food, followed by home healthcare workers and temporary staffing agencies. Home healthcare and fast food companies are also among those most listed on Oregonians’ SNAP verification forms. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); States to lose billions As more companies rely on Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage for their employees, the program is enduring historic funding cuts as part of a 2025 congressional Republican tax cut and spending law, which added new Medicaid eligibility requirements and restrictions for states starting in January. The Oregon Health Authority expects the state to lose about $9.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding during the next decade because of those changes, among which is a new requirement that nondisabled enrollees aged 19 to 64 prove they are working, volunteering or in school at least 80 hours a month. More than 60% of the state’s current Medicaid recipients are in that age range, according to health authority data. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that more than 5 million Americans could be uninsured by 2034 under the rules. The state health authority estimates about 200,000 Oregonians could lose coverage because of the change. The same GOP tax and spending cut law extended and expanded President Donald Trump’s 2017 corporate and income tax cuts, saving Amazon and Walmart billions of dollars they would otherwise have paid in income taxes to fund programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Today, Walmart’s effective income tax rate is about half of what it was 10 years ago, according to the left-leaning think tank Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Amazon, which saw its pre-tax U.S. profits increase by nearly 45% last year to almost $90 billion, paid in 2025 half of the taxes it had in the previous two years: about $2.8 billion, down from $7 billion in 2024 and 2023. Alan Dubinsky, a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union Local 49, said large corporations are taking advantage of the public healthcare system to subsidize their profits. The union represents more than 15,000 healthcare and building service workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington, who he said are already grappling with funding issues expected to get worse with the new Medicaid cuts. “Our feeling about this is that it’s time for corporations working in our communities to step up for our communities,” he said. “Stop gouging the state and provide healthcare for your workers. If Jeff Bezos can afford hundreds of billions of dollars to build data centers, he can afford to provide healthcare for the people that built this wealth for him through their labor.” States begin to call out big businesses Some states are considering fines for companies that have large numbers of employees enrolled in Medicaid, according to reporting in KFF Health News. New Jersey’s Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill in June signed into law new penalties for companies that have 50 or more employees enrolled. Companies with 50 to 249 Medicaid-enrolled workers will have to pay the state $325 per year per employee, and companies that have 500 or more employees enrolled will be fined $725 per employee per year. Similar proposals in Washington and Colorado failed to pass during legislative sessions this year. Other states, such as Oregon, have proposed laws that would mimic what Nevada’s Health Authority has been required to produce since 2020: An annual public report listing the companies with the most employees on Medicaid. Amazon and Walmart have made the top five every year. Oregon lawmakers’ attempt during the 2026 legislative session to mandate the Oregon Health Authority produce a similar annual report passed in the House but died in the Senate Rules Committee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	5 ways summer impulse buying is wrecking American budgets 5 ways summer impulse buying is wrecking American budgetsAbout 84% of all shoppers have made impulse purchases before.1Most people have been perpetrators of impulse buying. It’s a familiar experience—the sudden feeling that a particular item on the shelf is absolutely necessary.You write down the list of things you need to purchase before going into the store, but somehow you walk out with 20 other items that weren’t even on your mind before walking in, let alone on the actual list. You’re scrolling through an online store, only to be convinced you positively need that new gadget you had never even heard of 10 minutes ago.CreditNinja examines how summer impulse buying is driving overspending, increasing debt and limiting Americans’ long-term financial potential.The Ease of Online PurchasesWith the growing popularity of online purchases, it seems like it's getting easier to fall into the habit of impulse buying. With just a few clicks you can make a variety of purchases. Consumer research is providing corporations with better marketing strategies that encourage impulse buying to benefit their bottom line. And while impulse buying can be fun in the moment, and it is a socially accepted behavior, most consumers are aware that it’s not always the best move for financial health.How does impulsive buying behavior affect us? When it happens only occasionally, and you have a good amount of wiggle room in your income, it might have a minimal impact on your overall financial situation.However, if it is an ongoing issue, these kinds of impulse-buying decisions could lead to negative consequences that harm your financial well-being.Difference Between Impulsive and Compulsive SpendingThere can be confusion between impulsive and compulsive buying behavior. These terms are often used interchangeably when there is a significant difference between the two.Impulse buying and compulsive spending are different in their internal motivations. Consumer impulse buying tendencies usually consist of unplanned purchases, while compulsive buying behavior tends to be more purposeful and planned to relieve negative emotions.Actual impulse buying is spur of the moment for immediate gratification that usually has to do with external factors. In comparison, compulsive spending isn’t always made up of unplanned purchases and can quickly become an addiction because of the deep internal psychological factors at play.Impulse buying behavior is an enduring consumer trait that can have negative consequences if left unchecked. However, compulsive spending can become far more damaging if it becomes an addiction.What Consumer Research Suggests Is Behind Impulse Buying BehaviorThere have been many studies done that attempt to explain consumer behavior and why impulse purchases occur. Researchers have been curious as to what cultural factors and marketing strategies have the most considerable influence on shopping behavior and unplanned purchases.Consumer research suggests that a wide array of factors affect impulse buying decisions, from marketing strategy to the shopping environment. All manner of sensory and psychological factors could trigger impulse purchases in consumer buying behavior.External Factors Encourage Impulse BuyingTypically, impulse purchases arise from an external trigger and the consumer’s internal reaction to it. These external triggers might look like advertisements that bring about positive emotions or store environments that encourage impulsive purchases.Most often, the unplanned purchases that result from impulse buying tend to look like this: You see something, you want that thing, you buy that thing, and you have immediate gratification. It was not a part of the consumer’s purchase intention but rather a marketing strategy or store atmosphere that brought about the impulse purchase.The Negative Impacts of Impulse PurchasesThere are many ways in which your life can be negatively impacted by persistent impulse buying behavior. One impulse purchase every once in a while won’t be too big of a deal. However, too many impulse purchases can eat away at your monthly budget, leaving you struggling to pay your regular bills.Persistent, repetitive purchasing behaviors that are impulsive can seriously harm your finances if you are not careful. Here are some of the possible consequences of impulse buying behavior:1. Living Paycheck to PaycheckConsumers with an impulse-buying trait are more likely to struggle with living paycheck to paycheck. Making impulse purchases often leaves you with significantly less money for your monthly expenses.Unless you have a substantial disposable income, constant impulsive buying could have you spending every paycheck by the time you receive the next one. This is a dangerous position to be in if you have no savings; you could be one emergency away from a financial disaster.2. Buyer’s RemorseOnce you get that immediate reward after an impulse purchase, negative emotions might follow. When you buy something without thinking it through, the likelihood that you will experience buyer’s remorse is much higher.You likely have had prior impulse-buying experiences where this has occurred. You make an unplanned purchase and experience that rush of positive emotions, a release of dopamine in your brain.After the dust has settled, you begin to feel uneasy. You realize the decision was an impulse buy, and you didn’t really need the thing you were convinced you needed. Then you look at your bank account, and the buyer’s remorse really starts to kick in.3. Unmanageable DebtConsumer credit card use can significantly contribute to impulse buying behavior because revolving credit allows you to spend money you don’t actually have. Credit cards will not only make impulsive buying more tempting but also more risky.Stacking up impulse purchases with your credit cards could leave you with unmanageable debt. You may get charged with extremely high interest rates every month to pay for your impulsive buying habits.No positive emotions in the moments after an exciting purchase are worth sky-high minimum payments that you can no longer afford on your credit card bills.4. Bad CreditIrresponsible consumer credit card use for impulse buying can also harm your credit score considerably. When impulse buying behavior gets out of control, and you rack up debts you cannot afford to pay back, your credit utilization ratio increases, and your payment history worsens.Having bad credit can affect many different areas of your life, from where you can live to what kind of loans you can be approved for. Loans for people with poor credit usually have high interest rates.The only way you will be able to reverse the effects of consumer impulse buying on your credit will be to minimize your impulse purchases and pay down your debt.5. Restricts Your True PotentialEven though following your buying impulses might satisfy that desire for an immediate reward, you could be limiting your potential in the long run. When you skip over the typical consumer decision-making process to purchase something without thinking it through, you are spending money that could have been put towards long-term goals.When impulse buyers spend a significant portion of their income on unplanned purchases, they will be saving less to make their dreams come true. Think of what impulse buyers could do if they kept that money instead of spending it.They could travel the world or pursue a desire to start their own business. They could save money to buy a home or start a college fund for their child. But fulfilling these dreams can become exponentially more difficult when caught up in regular impulse buying.Is It Possible To Stop Impulse Buying?To better avoid these negative effects of impulse buying, use strategies to stop impulsive behavior in its tracks.Consumer research suggests that becoming aware of the sensory and psychological factors that affect you at any given moment while you are shopping could help curb the impulse-buying tendency. Notice things like whether you make more impulse purchases in physical stores compared to online shopping, or the other way around.Best Strategies To Reduce Impulse BuyingTaking a two-fold approach by using your willpower to stop impulse buying alongside determining what triggers impulsive behavior in you personally will give you the most long-term success. It is important to remember that not all unplanned purchases are a bad thing. Being too hard on yourself is counterproductive.However, if impulse buying has become a habit that has begun to affect your finances, here are a couple of strategies you can use to cut back on those unplanned purchases.Sleep on the DecisionWhen urges to make impulse purchases arise, wait a day or two to complete them. It might be hard to immediately tell yourself you cannot make the purchase you are considering, full stop, because, at that moment, impulse buyers are often convinced they need it. Instead, say to yourself that you can sleep on it, and if you still want to make the purchase the next day, you can.This is particularly helpful for online shopping. You can load up your virtual shopping cart with online purchases and come back to the cart a day or two later. Only after you pause and lengthen the consumer decision-making process will you complete the purchases by checking out.A lot of cultural factors contribute to the feeling of impatience and immediacy. But if you stop those in their tracks and wait just a short while longer, you can determine whether you really need to make the purchases without the fear of stopping yourself from buying something you legitimately need.Don’t Spend Money You Don’t HaveConsumer buying behavior consistently becomes more impulsive when the money can be paid back later. If you want to cut down on impulse purchases seriously, consider stopping all credit card use. Especially if you are attempting to pay off debt from prior impulse buying, it is a good idea to stop adding to your balances altogether.Consumers use all kinds of tricks to avoid using their credit cards when shopping in stores or on websites that encourage impulse buying. Some people cut up their credit cards, freeze them in an ice block, or ask their spouse to hide them in a secret location in the house. Whatever you think might work, try it out.Put Your Money in a Savings AccountIf you need to stop yourself from spending the money, you have in addition to the money you don’t have, use savings accounts to your advantage. After receiving your paycheck, transfer the money you don’t plan to use for budgeted expenses into a savings account.Savings accounts have withdrawal limits, meaning you can’t keep transferring money out. When you are in situations that trigger impulse purchases, you might be less tempted to give in if you need to take several extra steps to complete them.Knowing that you are only allowed four withdrawals or whatever your account’s limit is might give you pause before making a transfer. Limited funds being readily available could make impulse purchases occur less frequently.Clearly Budget Your ExpensesHaving a clearly outlined monthly budget will greatly reduce unplanned purchases. Budgeting expenses helps impulse buyers stick to their original consumer purchase intention.By being fully aware of exactly how much disposable income you have each month, you are far less likely to overspend on impulse purchases. No one wants to miss rent or utility payments. If you know that a particular purchase will cut into your necessary expenses, you won’t be as susceptible to impulsive behavior.Do a Spending DetoxConsider doing a temporary spending detox. There are many different types of detoxes you can do: a detox from online shopping, a detox from clothes shopping, or a full spending detox for all unnecessary expenses.Stopping your spending altogether, even planned purchases that aren’t necessary for your basic needs, can help you understand the psychological factors contributing to your impulse buying behavior.You might find clarity on what positive and negative emotions stimulate impulse purchases for you. How does the store atmosphere influence your shopping behavior? Which marketing strategies have the most significant impact on you?A thorough spending detox for two weeks or one month could enlighten you with the answers to these questions, allowing you to move forward with a better understanding of your impulsive behavior.The Bottom LineWhile impulse buying is a socially accepted behavior encouraged by corporations through marketing strategies to get you to spend money, it can severely impact your overall quality of life if it becomes a common occurrence. If you find that your impulse purchases have taken over your budget, you have the power to take your purchasing power back into your own hands.If you find yourself in a situation where the strategies mentioned above do nothing to improve the impulse buying tendency, it may be time to consider whether your spending habits have become compulsive. Compulsive buying behavior can be significantly harder to control and may require professional help from a mental healthcare provider or financial expert.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtags Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtagsEvery day, hundreds of millions of posts go live on Instagram, and hashtags are still one of the most dependable ways to be found by people who don’t already follow you. An Instagram hashtag generator removes the guesswork: Instead of recycling the same tired tags, hoping something sticks, or juggling a stack of third-party apps, you get a relevant, ready-to-use set of hashtags matched to your content in seconds. That means more of the right people discovering every photo, Reel, carousel, and repost you share, without spending your night researching tags. Linktree, the tool for influencers, digs into Instagram hashtags here to help you grow your audience.That speed matters most in the creator economy, where reach and revenue are tightly linked, and even a modest but engaged following can start making money. For influencers, the right blend of niche and midsize hashtags drops your content into engaged communities that are far more likely to follow, save, and share, which are exactly the signals Instagram rewards with more distribution. For brands, it’s a low-cost way to reach new customers, join conversations that are already happening, and keep posts working long after you publish. Whoever you are, a smart hashtag strategy turns a single post into an ongoing discovery engine.Why You Should Use Hashtags in an Instagram PostHashtags are Instagram’s original discovery layer. When you add them to a post, you’re telling the algorithm what your content is about and which feeds, Explore surfaces, and search results it belongs in. Leave them off, and you’re relying almost entirely on your existing followers to see your work. For anyone building an audience (creators testing a new niche, influencers expanding into a new category, or brands launching a product), hashtags are how you reach people who’ve never heard of you but are actively searching for what you make. And once they find you, knowing how to post links on Instagram turns that new attention into clicks that actually go somewhere.They also compound over time. A well-tagged post keeps surfacing in hashtag feeds and search for days, long after it slides out of your followers’ timelines. In the creator economy, that extended shelf life is often the difference between a post that fizzles and one that keeps pulling in new followers and buyers. Influencers use hashtags to signal relevance to the communities they want to belong to, and brands use them to appear alongside the trends their customers already care about. Used well, hashtags aren’t spammy filler: They’re free, precise targeting.Knowing how to use them well is half practical, half analytical. On the practical side, put your tags at the end of the caption or in the first comment, and blend a few high-volume tags with a stack of midsize and niche ones you can realistically rank in. The analytical side is where hashtags earn their keep: Instagram Insights shows how many impressions a post pulled “from hashtags,” which tells you whether strangers actually discovered it or your existing followers just scrolled past. That’s the clearest read on what your account reach really means. Track it over time, and the patterns surface on their own: which topics and formats land, which trending hashtags are worth joining while they’re hot, and when you’re leaning on the same tired tags so heavily you risk an Instagram shadowban.Here’s what that broad-to-niche mix can look like across a few common categories: Linktree Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtagsA good mix is one lever. Pair it with these tactics, and you’ll see real gains in reach.Pick hashtags you can actually rank inThe Top Posts slot is won by engagement, not tag inclusion. Using #love (2 billion+ posts) will bury you instantly. Using hashtags that appear in only 50,000-500,000 posts gives you a better chance.Save three to five hashtag sets for different content typesReels, carousels, quotes, and promos each perform best with different mixes. Save them so you don’t have to retype every time.Engage in hashtag feeds you useSpend 10 minutes after posting, liking, and commenting on posts in two to three of your tags. Instagram reads that as “this account is relevant here” and boosts distribution.Watch which hashtags your post actually ranked inTap Instagram Insights, then Reach, then “From Hashtags” to see which tags drove impressions. Double down on the ones that worked.Track link-in-bio traffic after hashtag-heavy postsA spike in hashtag reach should translate into profile visits and link-in-bio clicks.This story was produced by Linktree and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nominations open for 39th annual Rock Island Citizen of the Year Awards The City of Rock Island seeks nominations for the 39th annual Citizen of the Year awards, according to a news release. Each year, Rock Island residents nominate those who have inspired others or made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island. There are nine categories available for nomination: Individual; Youth; Education; Professional; [...]
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT: High Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses
	Man charged after leading Davenport police on chase, crashing into front yard Gilberto Castillo, 31, faces eluding and OWI charges after allegedly fleeing police and crashing into a Davenport yard before trying to flee on foot.
	Bettendorf man builds and donates mobility trainers for children A Bettendorf man is using his 3D printer to build and donate custom mobility trainers, giving children with limited mobility the chance to experience the world around them more independently.
	A federal advisory panel voted to increase access to a popular peptide. Here's what that means. A federal advisory panel has voted to increase access to a popular peptide. Here's what that means.A federal advisory committee has recommended making BPC-157, a peptide popular in online wellness and fitness circles, available again through licensed compounding pharmacies.The FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted to recommend adding BPC-157 to the 503A Bulks List, the set of substances that compounding pharmacies may prepare for patients who have a prescription, Ivim Health reports. Compounded medications are mixed by a specialized pharmacist and formulated for an individual patient. This is typically done when FDA-approved drugs don’t work, often because of allergies, delivery methods or dosage strengths.The recommendation is not binding; the FDA usually follows its advisory panels but is not required to. A place on the list is also not the same as FDA approval of BPC-157 as a drug.One detail is easy to miss.The committee evaluated BPC-157 for ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, not the injury-recovery and training uses that drive most of its online popularity. However, if the FDA follows the July 23 favorable vote, the peptide can be prescribed and compounded for other uses.What do we know about BPC-157?BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide, a short chain of amino acids based on a protein found in human gastric juice. It’s sometimes referred to online as a “wolverine peptide” because much of the interest centers on tissue repair. Many of BPC-157’s loudest supporters and users claim the drug reduced joint pain, sped up injury recovery, and improved their gut health.However, evidence on its efficacy is thin. Most of the research is new and done on animals. Clinical human data is extremely limited. A review published last year found that across 544 articles published about BPC-157 between 1993 and 2024, only 36 were original work. Of those, just one study was done on humans, with only 12 patients.Supporters point to a large real-world usage record with few reported problems. Skeptics counter that those figures come from voluntary reporting rather than controlled trials, and that questions remain about immunogenicity, whether the body mounts an immune response to the peptide. Some clinicians have also raised concerns that BPC-157’s influence on growth-related pathways could present a risk of tumor growth in cancerous cells.What does this mean for patients?For patients, the practical implications are narrow. Even if the FDA adopts the recommendation, BPC-157 would remain prescription-only, available through a licensed pharmacy and requiring a clinician to weigh a patient’s history against still-limited evidence. It would not become a product to buy and use on one’s own.The FDA’s vote follows a 2023 reclassification that pulled BPC-157 out of the reach of licensed compounding pharmacies. But demand did not disappear three years ago. Physicians who testified at the hearing described patients continuing to use the peptide, now sourced from unregulated online sellers rather than pharmacies.One report found peptides ordered from this digital “gray market,” had inconsistent purity levels, often nowhere near what was advertised, and even contained lead.“They come for a visit and hold up a vial with no label, no dose, no ingredient list, something they ordered based on a video they saw on their phone,” said Dr. Jessica Duncan, an obesity medicine physician and chief medical officer at the telehealth practice Ivim Health, who testified before the panel. “They don’t know what they’ve actually been taking, or how much.”Supporters argue that allowing BPC-157 and similar peptides back on the compounding list would pave the way for safer use.What the vote may do is reopen a supervised path to a compound many people are already obtaining through unregulated channels. What it does not do is settle how well BPC-157 works, or for whom. For anyone considering it, the safest first step is the same as before the vote: a conversation with a clinician rather than a purchase of unknown origin.The panel also voted to approve five other peptides: KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Epitalion, and Semax. Only one peptide put in front of the panel, Emideltide, was voted no.This story was produced by Ivim Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	World Cup fever has changed American attitudes toward soccer World Cup fever has changed American attitudes toward soccerA new survey has highlighted the growing appeal of soccer across the United States following the 2026 World Cup. Respondents revealed their desire to own Lionel Messi’s Argentina jersey, their preference for watching soccer over the NFL, and even their hopes to travel to Europe to enjoy the Premier League.The 2026 World Cup, played out across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was the biggest ever in soccer history. Forty-eight nations battled it out across North America, with 104 games played across a hectic 39-day period. Spain was eventually crowned world champions for the second time in 16 years. 247Bet In the aftermath of the historic tournament, a July 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. respondents by 247Bet suggests that it will leave a strong legacy in the United States. Just over 25% of survey respondents revealed that the World Cup led them to watch soccer for the first time. More than half revealed that they’d now be more likely to follow an MLS team after the tournament. Many also said they would watch a game of soccer over traditional American sports, like the NFL (39%), the MLB (36%), and college football (49%).While the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) produced some strong performances and unearthed some new national soccer stars, the glamour of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remains an ever-present, with U.S. soccer fans hoping to get their hands on the duo’s jerseys over the U.S. national team’s big names.Americans of all ages are engaging with soccer for the first timeThe World Cup gave soccer a platform in front of a new generation of potential fans in the United States for the first time, and it’s evident that it went down a hit. FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised the tournament’s impact on America by saying, “soccer conquered America and America has become now a soccer country.” Overall, just over 1 in 4 respondents (26%) revealed that they watched soccer for the first time during the tournament, but the real impact runs deeper.More American men (33%) admitted to watching soccer for the first time at the 2026 World Cup than women (19%).Male millennials (30-45) were the generation to engage the most with the sport for the first time, with over a third (34%) of respondents beginning their soccer-watching journey this summer.MLS teams are set to welcome a new wave of supportersThe MLS has surged in popularity since 2026 World Cup finalist Lionel Messi arrived in Miami, and it appears that the World Cup could supercharge attendances across the United States.More than half (52%) of survey respondents revealed that they would be more likely to follow an MLS team following the success of the World Cup. This was particularly prevalent with males, with 6 in 10 (60%) keen to follow the domestic game in the U.S.Millennial men were once again the most engrossed generation, with almost two-thirds (64%) revealing that they intend to follow an MLS team, along with more than 4 in 10 (45%) Millennial women.Despite the USMNT unearthing new heroes, Americans want to get their hands on Messi, Ronaldo and Haaland jerseysWhen asked to pick their three most wanted jerseys from the tournament, Americans didn’t opt for America’s 2026 World Cup icons like Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic. Instead, they are choosing to wear the jerseys of global superstars.Lionel Messi’s Argentina jersey is the most wanted across the United States, with the majority of respondents (52%) selecting him as their top choice. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was already extremely popular in Miami, but the 2026 World Cup has spread his appeal across America.Cristiano Ronaldo was unsurprisingly the second-most popular pick, with just over 4 in 10 (44%) of respondents revealing they want to purchase his Portugal jersey.Norway’s Erling Haaland, who gained over 30 million Instagram followers over the tournament, rounded out the top three, after recording over a third of the votes (36%).Jude Bellingham jerseys are in demand from both Millennial and Gen X womenDespite England missing out on a spot in the final, Jude Bellingham was a winner in the U.S. with female soccer fans.The England midfielder’s superb performances made him a hit with Millennial women (aged 30-45), with over 4 in 10 (42%) selecting his jersey in their top three most wanted. They also had Ronaldo as their first pick (50%), contrary to the overall findings, with Messi coming in second place (45%).Gen X women, however, viewed things slightly differently, with over 6 in 10 (62%) choosing Messi’s jersey as their most wanted. Cristiano Ronaldo once again was the second-most popular (40%), followed by Jude Bellingham (38%).Gen X women were the biggest supporters of the USMNT, with a third of respondents (33%) choosing “any USMNT player” as their top jersey pick, but that still didn’t make the top three.Many Americans would now choose to watch soccer over college football and the NFLSoccer previously wasn’t seen by many Americans as one of the country’s top sports, but the impact of the World Cup could be changing perceptions.When asked to pick up to five sports they’d watch a soccer game over, almost half of the respondents (49%) revealed that they’d now be interested in watching soccer over college football, while just under 4 in 10 (39%) would pick it over the NFL.Millennial men follow this trend, with just under half of respondents selecting the NFL (48%) and college football (48%) as sports they’d ditch for soccer. Millennial women also overwhelmingly chose college football (53%), while almost 4 in 10 said they would watch a game of soccer instead of the NBA (38%).Gen X (45-61) men, however, bucked the trend, with almost half of respondents (47%) revealing they would choose soccer over the NBA, while over 5 in 10 (51%) Gen X women would be willing to ditch the NHL in favor of soccer (48%).Millennial men and women are keen to experience soccer in EuropeDespite the game’s growth across the U.S., Europe is where many of soccer’s top stars are in action week in, week out. More than half of the survey respondents are keen to experience the elite level of the game in person.Over half of respondents (53%) revealed they’d like to travel to Europe to sample soccer overseas. Millennials were the most enthusiastic generation, with almost two-thirds of men (65%) revealing their intent to see a Premier League or La Liga match live. Female Millennials followed suit, with just under 6 in 10 (58%) wanting to head to Europe.The World Cup will leave a lasting legacy on the US, but there’s still plenty of progress to be madeThese survey statistics show that the 2026 World Cup has had a significant impact on the average American’s perception of soccer. However, there is certainly a way to go before the sport becomes a natural obsession.While the jerseys of international megastars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in high demand, the USMNT players’ jerseys found their way into fewer shopping baskets.The impact of the 2026 World Cup influenced just over half of the survey respondents to now follow an MLS team or even fly across the Atlantic to watch Europe’s elite play the game. However, there is still plenty more pitch to cover before soccer truly changes America.MethodologyTo uncover how the United States’ relationship with soccer has changed following the World Cup, 247Bet conducted a nationwide survey of 2,000 U.S. respondents in July 2026. The survey is nationally representative of age (25+), gender and state.This story was produced by 247Bet and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	BankOrion opens new branch in Aledo BankOrion has expanded to the Aledo community.
	Country Style Ice Cream opens second location in Bettendorf Ice cream treats are reduced-fat, kosher, gluten-free, and contain no high-fructose corn syrup.
	KY scientists learned what causes sleep loss in Alzheimer’s patients — and how to stop it Alzheimer's disease. Illustration of amyloid plaques amongst neurons and neurofibrillary tangles inside neurons. Amyloid plaques are characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease. They lead to degeneration of the affected neurons, which are destroyed through the activity of microglia cells. (Getty Images)University of Kentucky scientists have discovered the cause of sleep loss in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and how to help restore hours of rest. They originally set out to see how sleep loss worsened over the course of the disease, believing Alzheimer’s patients lost sleep because their neurons were dying or because of amyloid plaques, which are proteins that form in the brain and are believed to be a significant driver of Alzheimer’s. Instead, they discovered that microglia, which are brain immune cells, are so busy trying to address amyloid plaques that they are keeping the brain active and causing sleep loss. Shannon Macauley, an associate professor of physiology in the UK College of Medicine, said these findings, which were published last month in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, which is the Alzheimer’s Association’s journal, means sleep could be also used as an early diagnostic tool for the disease. “The idea that we can find sleep as this early biomarker of when we start to see these pathological changes, and that maybe it’s just more binary than having to know exactly what the threshold is, is actually really exciting to consider if you think about sleep as a biomarker,” she told the Lantern. “That was just really exciting to us and completely opposite of what we all had hypothesized. We thought that aging in and of itself would really just make your sleep really poor, and that’s not what we found. Certainly, it does impact sleep in some regards, but not to the extent that we would have hypothesized, meaning that there is something pathological about sleep problems.” Natalie Sutton, the executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Kentucky Chapter, said early detection and early diagnoses can help people make lifestyle changes that can help slow the disease and may open doors to research trials and expanded treatment options. Natalie Sutton, the executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association Kentucky Chapter. (Photo provided) “With sleep, similar to any other symptoms, it’s important for people to be aware of what is normal for them and what they might see as a change for them, and then when they experience that change, to make sure that they’re talking with a healthcare provider about that change,” Sutton said. Quality of life Alzheimer’s disease, which falls under the umbrella of dementia, is characterized by memory loss and is incurable. Treatments exist, though, including Lecanemab (brand name Leqembi), which underwent clinical trials at the University of Kentucky. This is an antibody that targets — and in some cases, removes — amyloid plaques from the brain, and has shown some success in slowing cognitive decline. Report shows effects of Alzheimer’s in KY, the disease ‘you can’t see’ Nicholas Constantino, a recent PhD neuroscience graduate who works in Macauley’s lab and is the first author of the new research, said it’s unclear if sleep restoration could increase a patient’s lifespan, but it can certainly improve quality of life. “If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter, you notice the effects pretty quickly the next day of how it’s hard to concentrate, it’s hard to focus, you don’t feel good, your whole body doesn’t feel good, and that there’s a rebound period to that,” he said. With the right medication — the UK lab is now studying a way to use drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration to calm microglia cells — Alzheimer’s patients could gain back hours of sleep a night. “Quality of life is so important. As we think broadly about people who are living in their later years of life, having not only time but quality time is really what most people want, right?” Sutton said. “It’s what they’re looking for, and so I wouldn’t underestimate what it means to those living with the disease and their families to improve that quality.” Research that helps more people get screened, diagnosed early and treated will help a huge number of people in Kentucky, from patients to their families and loved ones to the health care system. The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7 helpline to support people who live with Alzheimer’s as well as their loved ones, caregivers and others. The number is 800-272-3900. There were around 80,000 Kentuckians aged 65 and older living with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis last year, according to a report that the Lantern reported on at the time. There are also nearly 200,000 Kentucky residents providing unpaid care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s — care Sutton said, that is worth nearly $7 billion. Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	Oppressive heat and humidity again Monday On Sunday, the Quad Cities experienced highs in the low-90s, but it felt like 110°-115°. We expect the same for today for many of us. A few strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	How dual enrollment programs propel high school students toward success (BPT) - Most students are focused on just getting through high school. However, some students finish high school with a diploma and a college degree thanks to dual enrollment programs.That's what happened to Chicago resident Jennifer Brici. This spring, she graduated from DeVry University Advantage Academy (DUAA) and received not only a high school diploma but also an associate degree in Networking and Systems Administration. Now, she's off at DePaul University to study psychology.Enrolling in DUAA offered Brici many academic and extracurricular opportunities that she would not otherwise have experienced at her old school. These opportunities allowed her to explore several of her interests, which eventually led her to choose psychology as her main area of study, and it all started with robotics."During my junior year at DUAA, I joined the school's robotics team," Brici said. "I've always wanted to do robotics but never had the chance at my old high school. During DUAA's open house, I learned that I could easily join the robotics team and start learning right away."Joining a robotics team as a junior among mostly seniors was intimidating, but Brici rose to the challenge. When the group's adviser asked who would take on which responsibilities, Brici considered her organizational skills and volunteered to manage the team's tools."I organized every tool and part in that room," Brici said. "Anytime someone needed a part, I could quickly find it and bring it over. I may not have known what the parts did, but I knew where they were. That's how I found my place on the team and was quickly able to help build our robot and learn along the way."Thinking outside the boxBrici's perspective as a relative outsider to robotics came in handy when the team was stumped with an engineering problem during the First Tech Challenge (FTC). For that year's competition, teams had to create a robot that could lift itself up. While the rest of the team was trying to make it work with a pull-up in mind, Brici suggested a different approach, flipping the robot's grip to perform a chin-up instead of a pull-up."I just thought to myself, which was easier to perform, a pull-up or a chin-up?" Brici said. "The simple switch ended up making a huge difference. That was when I realized that when it comes to robotics, thinking like an engineer doesn't always lead you to a solution."As the year progressed, Brici became the robot's co-driver during matches. By the end of the year, the team voted her as team captain for the following school year. That season, the team also qualified for the FTC state competition, marking DUAA's first state qualification in approximately seven years.Being part of the DUAA robotics team fed Brici's love for collaboration, teamwork, organization and problem solving, which served her well during her next project opportunity.At the end of the robotics season, a professor approached the team and asked if they were interested in collaborating on a project with William Fremd High School (Fremd), another school in the Chicagoland area. Brici and her team were not given any information on what the project entailed, but Brici was excited about another opportunity to learn.Brici and the DUAA robotics team worked alongside students in Fremd's business program to create a safety bracelet. The safety bracelet devised by the Fremd students features a hidden button that the wearer can press to text 911 their location in an emergency. To present their business plan, the Fremd group needed a working prototype, which Brici and her team successfully created."I'm not an expert in microcontrollers, but I worked closely with my professor and my robotics partner Victor," Brici said. "Victor worked on coding the device while I handled the physical design. It was a lot of work, but I had so much fun learning how to do it and also seeing how someone would build and present a prototype in the corporate world."Expanding horizonsRobotics and business collaboration weren't the only opportunities enrolling in DUAA gave Brici. During her time in school, she also had the opportunity to participate in an FBI program that aligned with her other interests: criminology and psychology."I love teamwork and problem solving," Brici said. "Problem solving is a useful skill in all careers, but I wanted to find a career that used that skill the most. For me, criminology seemed like the most natural fit. When someone doesn't feel safe, they're not going to innovate or change, and communities aren't going to grow."During her time in the FBI program, Brici met many agents from various walks of life, including a Navy SEAL, a kindergarten teacher, and a mental health therapist. Meeting these individuals showed her that criminology wasn't the only way to make an impact on public safety."All these people came from such different backgrounds and specialties, but all of them had transferable skills that allowed them to work at the Bureau," Brici said. "It made me realize that I didn't need to pursue criminology to do something like this and be locked into one career. Criminology pushes you toward law enforcement, but psychology is very broad, and I can go anywhere with it if I change my mind in the future."Providing opportunities for exploration and success Brici is just one example of how dual enrollment like DUAA gives students a chance to explore their interests, inform their career decisions and ultimately give them an edge in life.According to a new report from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, dual enrollment students have higher rates of college attendance and completion than their peers who don't participate in similar programs. The report also found that dual enrollment students who enrolled in college in the first year after high school completed college credentials at higher rates than students who entered college immediately after high school without dual enrollment."We're incredibly proud of the work we do at DUAA and the students who take every opportunity the program offers to give themselves a head start in higher education and whatever careers they decide to pursue," said Brian Niro, assistant dean of teaching and learning at DeVry University. "My greatest hope is that every student graduates from this program with the experience, knowledge and self-confidence that will serve them the rest of their lives."Brici echoes Niro's sentiment."Enrolling in DUAA opened my eyes to all that I'm capable of," she said. "It gave me a lot of confidence. It's that confidence that allowed me to apply to the FBI program, to apply to a school that's a little more competitive and to apply for scholarships I didn't think I'd get."To learn more about how DUAA is helping high school students gain confidence and find their passions, visit DeVry.com.
	Prescriptions for nutrition: Nevada program connects food banks to health care Mobile harvest delivery. (Photo coutresy of Food Bank of Northern Nevada)For families across northern Nevada, fresh groceries can mean the difference between costly health outcomes and fewer trips to the emergency room. Poor nutrition remains one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other health disparities in the U.S., according to health experts. Early research also indicates that “food as medicine” initiatives including medically tailored groceries and meals are a cost-effective way to improve community health outcomes. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada’s Prescription Pantry Program is one of the solutions nutrition advocates in the state have launched to pair local health clinics with fresh food and nutrition support for neighbors facing hunger. Thousands of groceries have been delivered to medically vulnerable Nevadan’s through the program, which is supported by 14 health care partners and 14 partner food pantries across northern Nevada. “Nutritious food plays an important role in health and well-being, but many people in our region do not have consistent access to the foods that support their health, preferences, and families,” said Frankie Ortiz, health equity manager at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The model is also supported by the Feeding America’s Food as Medicine program, a national initiative funded by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and evaluated by the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact, a nonprofit research center. A report published by Feeding America in July found that pairing food assistance with health care support led to real health gains for participants in Nevada, including a 13% drop in emergency room visits. Program participants who picked up food more frequently were also less likely to report having to miss or delay medical care due to cost, compared with those who picked up food less often, according to the report. Between April 2023 and December 2025, nearly 41,000 patients received food through the Nevada program, and nearly 100 were referred to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The report is based on a total of 103 participants who responded to the baseline survey and follow-up surveys. The majority of participants were women (80%) and around two-thirds of participants identified as either Hispanic or Latino. “There’s a lot of moving parts to this program. It’s really exciting because it finally proves that nutritious food is not only important, but can influence health outcomes. That’s important,” said Jocelyn Lantrip, the director of marketing and communications for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Under the program, patients facing a cardiovascular condition or diabetes are screened for food insecurity and connected with food banks that offer the Prescription Pantry Program. Eligible Nevadan’s receive “a food prescription” that provides them access to a wide variety of nutritious foods, including lower-sodium options, dairy, and lean proteins. “We know that heart disease and diabetes are significant health issues in our community. They’re very typical diagnoses that can be helped by nutrition,” Lantrip said. “Groceries in those pantries will have even more fresh produce and lean protein and whole grains and foods that are good for those diagnoses.” The Food Bank of Northern Nevada launched the program in 2017, and expanded to rural areas in 2021 after receiving additional funding from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. Nationally, the report found a 14% decrease in hospitalizations and an 11% drop in emergency room visit rates for patients participating in the program compared to the baseline. Food security among participants also rose nearly 7% under the program. Courtesy of Nevada Current
	Biz Bytes: IowaWorks to host success fair, free healthy cooking series returns, and more economic Quad-Cities news IowaWorks to host success fair, Empowering Abilities earns accreditation, and more economic Quad-Cities news.
	Omamori Hibachi Japanese Steak House opens Restaurant has a variety of menu items that include seafood, chicken, steak, burgers, ramen, boba tea, kids menu, and more.
	OneTable QC to host "From Burnout to Fortitude: Sustaining Nonprofit Leaders" event Unlike many conversations centered on self-care, this event will introduce attendees to emerging research on fortitude.
	Galesburg grant helps All-Stars Sports Academy purchase property The Galesburg City Council approved a $266,941 grant for All-Stars Sports Academy to ensure its youth programs continue.
	Bix Jazz Festival will celebrate new home as Common Chord program The 55th Bix Jazz Festival celebrates its emerald anniversary with events highlighting Bix Beiderbecke’s collaborations with Jean Goldkette, a news release says. The 2026 festival will also recognize the festival's new home as a program of Common Chord. The festival begins Thursday, July 30, with a 5-9:45 p.m. session at Rhythm City Casino, Davenport. Festival [...]
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for July 26, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	New coffee shop, DG Market opens, new Japanese restaurant, Mexican restaurant relocating, and more Quad-Cities business news New Japanese restaurant, DG Market opens in Aledo, new coffee shop, and more Quad-Cities business news.
	Parents worry WA developmental disabilities program is about to get axed The Washington state Capitol in Olympia on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)Parents of children with developmental disabilities fear the unexpected and potentially imminent elimination of a Washington state support program they’ve come to depend on. As the state deals with budget troubles, Washington officials say the Parent to Parent program’s future isn’t guaranteed past August. Parent to Parent provides support and resources for families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The program’s name comes from its pairing of newer parents with more experienced ones to help guide them through the complicated system of resources, as well as provide support and community. It also features “sibshops” to support siblings of people with developmental disabilities. The first Parent to Parent program in Washington was established in 1980 in King County. Today, it serves families of children and adults in all of Washington’s 39 counties, with tens of thousands of calls and emails for assistance every year. Parents believe the program, costing about $900,000 a year, is invaluable, and can’t be replicated or recreated if state funding disappears. “We fill in the gaps for areas where government really can’t provide this kind of support,” said Stacy Dym, executive director of The Arc of Washington State, an organization advocating for people with developmental disabilities. The Arc oversees the statewide program under a contract with the state Department of Social and Health Services. ‘Completely taken aback’ This comes as Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged not to propose tax increases in his two-year budget proposal later this year. Instead, the first-term Democrat says he’ll rely on cuts as the state faces another, potential multibillion-dollar shortfall. He has specifically cited programs created or expanded after 2019 as possible targets for reductions. Lawmakers will pass a new budget working off the governor’s blueprint next year. Parent to Parent received funding in the current budget. But advocates are worried the Department of Social and Health Services is letting contracts lapse, trying to get ahead of budget talks. Dym was “completely taken aback.” “It’s destructive, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense, and probably would cost more to rebuild the infrastructure,” said Cathy Murahashi, advocacy and policy specialist at The Arc. Agency spokesperson Jessica Nelson said “no funding decisions have been made for Parent to Parent or any other DSHS program.” “Budget conversations are ongoing and must consider our state and federal funding,” Nelson said in an email. “Our goal is to meet the challenge of the moment in a way that sustainably protects core services and ensures that Washington has a solid financial foundation for the long-term.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. She said the agency doesn’t have a timeline for a decision on the future of Parent to Parent, but the program’s contract only runs through August. Initially, it was only through July, but state officials extended it another month. Dym is frustrated with the process, as usually decisions on spending cuts are subject to public hearings in the Legislature. “We didn’t get any of that notice,” she said. “We just got told that the contract is under review, and there’s a good chance it won’t be renewed. “ ‘It’s everything to our family’ Jenna Vogel first encountered the program at a “breaking point” when her son, Jonah, was 2 years old. Jonah has Level 2 autism and complications from being born premature. Unable to find support for her child, she felt she was failing. Vogel’s husband was working extra hours, as she left her job. Parent to Parent, which Vogel accessed through Children’s Village in Yakima, made her feel for the first time her family wasn’t alone. “They understand everything that you’re going through, the grief and the joy that exists in every day, and they walk through it with you,” Vogel said. “It’s everything to our family.” Services the program can connect parents to include therapies, doctors to get an official diagnosis, caregiving, educational and employment help, Social Security support for people with disabilities, and other safety net resources. Vogel, for example, was able to get caregiving services for Jonah, now 7. After leaving her career as an accountant, helping connect families to Parent to Parent has become her purpose. Its end is unimaginable, she said. Parent support groups have also been helpful for Claudia Ramirez, whose 9-year-old son has autism. Like Vogel, she felt isolated, like no one understood what she was going through. Hearing from parents with similar experiences made her feel seen. They’ve become her best friends. “We hang out and we talk and there’s no judgment,” Ramirez said. “I tell my husband ‘I don’t have friends that don’t have kids with disabilities’ because I don’t feel comfortable, because they don’t understand.” Without Parent to Parent, families will still need services, but it’ll just be harder to find them, advocates say. “You can cut us,” Dym said, “but the people and the issues and concerns they have don’t go away.” Courtesy of Washington State Standard
	Reproductive Freedom for All announces six-figure Michigan canvassing investment A sign at the Michigan Pride rally in Lansing on June 26, 2022. \| Photo by Laina G. StebbinsReproductive Freedom for All, one of the largest reproductive rights nonprofits nationwide, announced Monday a six-figure investment in a Michigan canvassing effort in advance of the November midterm elections. The investment is part of the organization’s “My Body. My Ballot.” campaign — $23.5 million going to the group’s “largest-ever midterm electoral program and will focus on persuading and mobilizing voters – including independents, soft Republicans, and split-ticket voters – whose support for abortion access puts them at odds with Trump and his endorsed candidates.” Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett of Charlotte, was listed as one of the campaign’s top-tier targets. “Even with the protections we fought hard to pass here in Michigan, we know our reproductive freedom is not safe from extreme anti-abortion Republicans. We still feel the nationwide attacks on funding and access. Reproductive freedom will be a defining issue in November, and Michigan voters deserve to know exactly where the candidates stand,” Reproductive Freedom for All Director of Michigan Campaigns Shanay Watson-Whittaker said in a press release. The group specifically named Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the frontrunner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the Aug. 4 primary, as well as Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, who are the Democratic nominees for Secretary of State and Attorney General, respectively, as “champions for reproductive freedom.” The press release did not name any candidates in highly contested Democratic primaries — including for the 7th Congressional District and the U.S. Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The group also announced on Monday that its president and CEO, Mini Timmaraju, will travel to Michigan in August to join candidates, organizers and advocates. The press release also specifically targeted Barrett and fellow Republican U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, who is running for governor with the endorsement of President Donald Trump in a primary against businessman Perry Johnson, for their support of “devastating Medicaid cuts that threaten reproductive, preventive, and essential health care, while standing with a movement determined to push abortion care further out of reach,” Watson-Whittaker continued. The press release cited an internal study based on a focus group and survey of voters who did not vote for Kamala Harris but who voted “Yes” on abortion referendums in Arizona, Michigan, or Nevada. It found that, among battleground voters, 43% considered a politician that supports a national abortion ban to be a dealbreaker — just a slightly lower percentage than a politician who supports raising taxes on middle class families or cutting Medicaid. “Most battleground voters are not hearing about the issue of abortion, so while many express concerns about Republican policies that restrict access to abortion, they also believe these policies are unlikely to happen,” a summary of the survey results said. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	France continues to fight devastating wildfires, while progress is made in Spain In southern France a wildfire in the region of Gironde is still active, while two major fires in central Spain are finally coming under control, ahead of the fourth heat wave of the summer.
	In Idaho, a public transit program can take you to the doctor. If it has enough funding. A Valley Regional Transit bus drives by the Idaho State Capitol on July 17, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)For Ann Kirkwood, doctor appointments sometimes come all at once. One week in mid-May, she had a big one coming up: To see if she had kidney cancer. Kirkwood, who uses a wheelchair, has tapped a free medical transportation program through Valley Regional Transit, a public transit agency in southwest Idaho. But when she went to book her ride that week, she was told she couldn’t: The service, called Rides2Wellness, had been suspended after it ran out of funds. Then she put her journalist hat on — calling policymakers and reaching out to journalists to see why the service was halted. “I canceled my appointment, and thought if I made enough phone calls, maybe somebody would come to the rescue,” Kirkwood said. Transit officials say the medical transportation program had hit a budget hiccup. Money set aside, largely by hospital systems, wasn’t enough to account for rising demand for the service as health insurance companies cut benefits for medical transportation, officials said. So they had to limit how many trips the service could do each month, until the health care systems came through with more funding. But transit officials say the lapse is part of a bigger budget problem for public transit in Idaho. The state doesn’t dedicate funding for public transportation. And without the ability to tax to fund public transit, local transit agencies rely on whatever local governments and other entities are willing to chip in, and what the federal government matches. “When we talk about it piecemeal, we find piecemeal solutions. But we never really address the root cause, which is that our transportation system is not very resilient,” Valley Regional Transit CEO Elaine Clegg said in an interview. In the spring, the Valley Regional Transit board approved a plan to let the agency lobby state lawmakers for the power to tax. But that push will likely face an uphill battle in the Idaho Legislature, where Republican lawmakers have cut state spending to make room for more state tax cuts — by adopting cuts from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act — after years of deep tax cuts. Ann Kirkwood missed doctors appointments after a medical transportation program had to cap visits after high demand. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) Why the medical transportation program hit a funding hiccup The medical transportation program, founded in 2016, is built with a partnership from the region’s two largest health care systems — St. Luke’s and Saint Alphonsus. It serves Idaho’s two most populated counties, Ada and Canyon. Officials are testing an expansion pilot phase into Elmore County, a nearby rural county. Last year, the program drew 16,000 rides. But this year, transit officials say demand spikes after some health insurance companies cut transportation benefits, as part of efforts to cut back on supplemental benefits. By May, Valley Regional Transit officials said they needed to limit how many rides people could take, so the program could stay on budget to finish up the fiscal year by Sept. 30. In Ada County, that cap was 500 rides per month, according to an internal budget memo shared by Valley Regional Transit. The entire month was booked. For Canyon County, it was already at its budget by the start of May, the memo showed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. That meant Valley Regional Transit needed to turn riders away. “At this time, all rides for May are being denied,” the memo said. The demand shows up in the data. The program budgeted for nearly 1,300 rides in Ada County, and nearly 250 rides in Canyon County for each month of the entire fiscal year 2026, which ends in September. But by the end of April, demand had already outpaced that by about 14%. The actual number of rides booked each month was more than 1,400 in Ada County, and around 370 in Canyon County, according to the memo. By the end of May, the health care systems came through with funding to resume the services, said Leslie Pedrosa, Valley Regional Transit’s chief operating officer. The amount committed — $77,500 — is enough that the transit system isn’t expecting more interruptions for riders this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, the memo said. For next year’s budget plans, Valley Regional Transit is preparing for more rides — about 5% more than it will do this fiscal year. When rides were capped, Kirkwood tried to figure out other ways to get to her doctor’s appointments. The service, she said, has “been a godsend.” Her husband is too sick to drive her to all her appointments, and she said she ran out of friends to ask. “It’s a lot to ask a friend to take someone in a wheelchair to the doctor,” Kirkwood said in an interview. So she thought about hiring a company, like Valley Regional Transit contracts with for the program, to drive her out. But it was unaffordable. Each trip would cost $60, Kirkwood said. How strained city budgets are — and aren’t — funding Valley Regional Transit In Nampa, which doesn’t fund the medical transportation program, City Council members are facing a tough budget year as they brace for millions of dollars in deferred maintenance, said City Council member Sebastian Griffin. Earlier this month, the Nampa City Council voted to cut funding for Valley Regional Transit, instead of reducing funding to around a half million dollars for less services in the city, the Idaho Statesman reported. But locals can still weigh in on the cuts at a public hearing on Aug. 17. In an interview earlier this month, before the council decided on the cuts, Griffin said funding public transit has been an issue in Nampa for years. “I feel that a number of us don’t feel that the numbers justify the cost, that the service isn’t proper when you have to weigh it against … potable water and sewer piping,” he said. But he acknowledged that the transit agency has a tough job. “It makes it an enormous lift for (Valley Regional Transit) to go and lobby every city in the valley, just to be able to provide a service,” Griffin said. “I feel — my heart goes out to them. I wouldn’t want their job. And it’s just a difficult situation all the way around.” Meridian is the only city that funds the Rides2Wellness program. The city contributes about $64,000 this fiscal year, less than half of what each of the two health care systems give. But the city is preparing to scale back, by $10,000 to $20,000, amid a tough budget year, said Brian Whitlock, a Meridian City Council member. He also serves as president of the Idaho Hospital Association, an organization that represents and lobbies for hospitals. And he sees the needs for the program. Brian Whitlock is a member of the Meridian City Council as well as the president of the Idaho Hospital Association. “Look at what a gallon of gas costs. People just, financially, are struggling to the point where they’re making really, really tough decisions,” Whitlock said in an interview. “And if the cost of a gallon of gas is going to keep them from accessing healthcare, then I think the community and I think nonprofit entities can step up and should step up and say ‘No, we want you to be healthy.’” But he also thinks policymakers in the state need to start talking about the role that public transportation should play in one of the fastest growing states in the nation. “If a case can be made that a separate taxing authority can be set up to meet the needs that we all agree on, then we have a path forward,” he said. “But if the decision is made that ‘No, we want a patchwork quilt. We want to keep this thing together with baling twine and duct tape, and not look long term of what the needs of this community will be,’ then we’re going to suffer from those consequences.” Whitlock said he feels those repercussions daily. “I sit in traffic coming from my home in Meridian to downtown Boise, where I work, upwards of an hour every morning and an hour every day, every evening. And that’s not a productive use of my time, and the 10s of thousands of other people who are sitting in vehicles next to me,” Whitlock said. “ So, public transportation needs to be discussed as an alternative to that.” Valley Regional Transit’s budget for the medical transportation program next year accounts for Meridian’s decrease — by raising contributions from the healthcare systems to more than $226,000 each. How the medical transportation program is funded: According to a budget memo on the Rides2Wellness program, half of the program’s funds come from local entities. That local match portion, a total of $323,500, comes mostly from St. Luke’s and Saint Alphonsus healthcare systems, which each pay $130,000, along with the city of Meridian, which pays $64,000. The other half comes from the federal government through a match of the local contributions. Valley Regional Transit lobbies the Legislature for taxing authority Idaho is one of just two states that doesn’t dedicate state funding for public transit, according to a 2024 report by the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho. The medical transportation program is one of several specialized transportation services that Valley Regional Transit has created, on top of its regular bus ride system, said Clegg, Valley Regional Transit’s CEO. Other regions with more public transportation don’t have as much need for these speciality services, she said. “Without the revenue, the service hours on regular service, we’ve instead (used speciality services) as a stopgap until we can, we hope, become a more robust transit system,” Clegg said in an interview. “… I don’t think the need for Rides2Wellness will go away, necessarily, if we had really robust transit, but it would be less pronounced.” In January, the board that oversees Valley Regional Transit endorsed a plan to push the Legislature on state taxing authority — including floating a draft bill. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Back then, Idaho’s 2026 legislative session was just starting up. And lawmakers were gearing up for blanket budget cuts across state government services — and to make even more tax cuts. Transit officials acknowledged their push would be a slow burn. “The idea is to begin the discussion now, and hopefully by next year have it ripe enough that we can begin more active discussion on it,” Clegg said at a Jan. 5 board meeting, according to Boise State Public Radio. Part of the pitch, Clegg said, is that transit is treated differently than most other specialized government agencies, called political subdivisions, like cemetery districts and mosquito abatement districts. “We are one of only three political subdivisions in the state of Idaho that don’t have property tax levy authority, or permission to ask voters if they’re willing to increase property tax to pay for the service we provide,” Clegg said. She said talks with lawmakers this year were more conceptual, focused on how the Legislature could allow transit authorities to pursue dedicated funding, which is a class of state tax revenue that’s set aside for specific purposes. “There was pretty good agreement that many (in) the Legislature, at least philosophically, support letting voters make choices like that,” she said. Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, answers a reporter’s question during a press conference on Jan. 6, 2025, at the Statehouse in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) But House Speaker Mike Moyle, a Star Republican who is one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers, bluntly summed up the chances of that clearing the Legislature. “Hell no,” he said in an interview. “… I do not see the Legislature, in any way, going forward with an increase in property or sales tax to fund empty buses.” He pointed out that several cities — like Nampa and Eagle — recently cut funding to Valley Regional Transit. “There’s this perception that if you build it, somebody else will ride it,” Moyle said. “People don’t come to Idaho to ride a bus. Most of them have their own cars and everything else.” The Idaho Republican Party updated its platform this summer to call to remove property taxes, which some might look to tap for public transit. But Sen. Treg Bernt, a Republican from Meridian, said he’d be open to exploring the idea more. He said he’d need to explore a few things first, like ridership levels. When he served on the Meridian City Council, he said Valley Regional Transit “wasn’t hugely popular.” But he sees the promise public transit can offer. “As communities grow … especially in a regional level, I think that the more that we can get cars off the roads and people in other forms of transportation is important,” Bernt said. “I don’t know if the Treasure Valley is to that yet. I don’t think that we have the population yet to be able to justify that. It’s just my thought. But there’s going to be a time when we will be there. And I think that it’s important to start having these conversations right now.” Weeks after her canceled doctor’s appointment, Kirkwood made it in. And she found out her problem wasn’t cancer. “That had been hanging over my head for weeks and weeks,” she said. But she’s left uncertain about whether the service will need to be paused again. “I think that’s inevitable, unless there’s a change in how it’s funded,” Kirkwood said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Lack of access to adequate healthcare impacts Alabama infant mortality rates Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. One reproductive health provider said that birth centers, and access to them, is one way to reduce Alabama's infant mortality rate. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Alabama’s infant mortality rate improved in 2024, but access to adequate healthcare impacts outcomes for babies in their first year of life. According to data from the Alabama Department of Public Health, the state’s infant mortality rate was 7.1 babies per 1,000 live births in 2024, reflecting the rate of infants who died within their first year of life. That was down from 7.8 deaths per 1,000 births in 2023, which was a seven-year high. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris wrote in a letter to state lawmakers in the Fiscal Year 2025 Perinatal Report that the maternal and infant health crisis is not unique to Alabama. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “Lack of access to care, closure of labor and delivery services, poverty, poor nutrition and chronic disease play significant roles in the health of mothers and infants,” he wrote. “With the purpose to improve, promote and protect health, it is essential that we address the factors that contribute to maternal and infant poor health outcomes.” Alabama infant mortality rate, and locations of hospitals that offer delivery services. (ADPH) Some of the counties with the highest infant mortality rates do not have an active delivering hospital, according to the ADPH data. There were 41 counties in Alabama without an active delivering hospital in 2024, and there were 42 active delivering hospitals elsewhere in the state. According to the University of North Carolina’s Sheps Center, nine rural hospitals have closed in Alabama since 2009. Only 30% of the state’s rural hospitals have labor and delivery units, leaving many expectant parents to drive long distances for care. Providence Hospital in Mobile closed its labor and delivery services at the end of June. While the infant mortality rate has been on a downward trend nationwide over the past 50 years, it has been more mixed in Alabama. Harris said reducing infant mortality is challenging, but important work, in an interview after the report was released earlier this month. Alabama’s infant mortality rate has fluctuated over the last decade, according to data from the Alabama Department of Public Health. (ADPH) Alabama’s infant mortality rate has fluctuated over the last decade while the national average has been on a downward trend. (ADPH) “We want legislators and then their constituents to understand the importance of the work we do around infant mortality and keeping moms and babies safe. Alabama consistently ranks low nationally in how well we do with that, but it’s not because we aren’t trying,” Harris said. “We have a lot of tremendous people who are doing great work, but it’s really difficult to overcome a lot of the barriers that people have in our state, and we just want our legislature to understand that.” The leading causes of death for infants in 2024 were congenital anomalies, preterm births and low birth weight (LBW), and bacterial sepsis. The three accounted for 42.5% of infant deaths in 2024. Racial disparities were observed in the top two leading causes of infant death, according to the report. About 74% of babies who died from congenital anomalies were white, and about 65% of babies who died from preterm and LBW were Black. Robin Marty, executive director of WAWC Healthcare, said in an interview that losing access to labor and delivery services means losing access to prenatal care. “We are not getting the follow-up care that babies need in their first year in order to make sure that they have healthy lives,” Marty said. “That’s the inherent problem: when you lose hospitals, you lose those doctors as well. Once you increase the burden of a mother being able to get to a pediatrician, a mother being able to get into an OB/GYN for their prenatal care, a mother being able to get the follow-up care that they need and get all of those appointments that they need, that’s how you get low birth rates. That’s how you get people who go into premature labor, and that’s how you get infants that are dying at birth or within just a year of their birth.” WAWC used to provide abortion services, but now it provides prenatal and pregnancy services, contraceptives, STI/STD testing, gender-affirming care and annual exams. In western Alabama, there were two inactive delivering hospitals in 2024 in Greene and Clarke counties. The infant mortality rates in the region range from 4.8 deaths per 1,000 births in Monroe County to 31.1 deaths per 1,000 births in Wilcox County. Some counties in the region did not report data. A 2023 report from March of Dimes, a nonprofit, identified 22 Alabama counties as “maternity care deserts,” most of which were in the western part of the state. “We have moms who have difficulty with transportation to get care. We have many counties that just don’t have providers that are available,” Harris said. “We have a lot of people who can’t afford to get the care they need. We have people who just haven’t been educated on how to keep themselves healthy, and how to have a healthy pregnancy and how to take care of their baby very well.” Infant mortality rates for Black Alabamians remain disproportionately high. The infant mortality rate among white Alabamians was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024. For Black Alabamians, the rate was 11.8 per 1,000. In 2023, the rates were 5.7 and 13.1 deaths per 1,000 births, respectively. Black babies make up about one-quarter of Alabama’s births, but more than 40% of its infant deaths. (ADPH) Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, said in an interview that Alabama should consider a different approach when caring for pregnant patients. “I think there’s a lot that can be done with looking at the role of doulas and midwives and the scope of practice for nurse practitioners,” she said. “I’m really encouraged by the community health model.” Huntsville Hospital, a non-profit community hospital, in June awarded $600,000 total to 11 local non-profits that aim to improve overall health outcomes across the region, according to a press release. According to the Perinatal report, incorporating “evidence-based efforts will help address factors impacting health outcomes such as access to healthcare, geographical disparities, lack of quality education, poverty and unemployment.” “The big difference I think is that we’re when you have a low birth weight or a preemie, and this is a population that, because of lack of prenatal care, but also lack of preventative healthcare and all of the other isms – lack of food, lack of clean water – that is why we are seeing lower lower birth weights and also early early births,” Marty said. Solutions Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager, talks about the resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector) The report also included suggestions for the Legislature for the future, like continuing the Perinatal Report program and increasing the number of autopsies performed on maternal deaths. The last Maternal Mortality Review done by ADPH was released in 2021. It found that 78% of the reviewed deaths were preventable. Marty said that the Legislature and ADPH should do more, including “get over whatever their issue is with birth centers.” “That is the number one thing that they can do. And once that is released, then that would allow the opportunity to be able to open up the whole area, quite frankly, to being able to have more access to healthcare,” Marty said. ADPH and birth centers in the state have been in a legal battle for years because the department wants to regulate the centers – which provide an option between home and hospital birth – as it does hospitals. A Montgomery County judge ruled last week that the centers can keep operating despite a ruling earlier this year subjecting them to the regulation after Harris sent the centers cease-and-desist letters in June. Alabama birth center licenses still valid despite appellate court ruling, says Montgomery judge Lands, who often sponsors reproductive care-related legislation, said in an interview that incorporating midwifery and doula care, and community-based care could help close the care gap in rural areas. “I think we really have to get creative and rethink the way we’re delivering prenatal care and taking care of pregnancy and newborns,” Lands said. “I think we need a new model. This one size fits all that we’ve been offering here is not working for us.” Lands sponsored the House version of a 2025 law that allows pregnant people to be eligible for Medicaid, which sunsets in 2028. Marty said she was frustrated that the access to health insurance was not mentioned in the report. According to a 2025 memo sent to Alabama providers and hospitals from the Alabama Medicaid Agency, providers and insurance determiners have to complete a training and sign a waiver with the agency in order to become a “qualified determiner” of presumptive eligibility for pregnancy. A message seeking comment from the Alabama Medicaid Agency was left Friday. “There is no mention of the fact that actually training doctors to recognize or training healthcare providers to recognize that this is a person who could be qualified be able to get them their care as quickly as possible and get them into Medicaid as quickly as possible,” Marty said. “That would save lives, and that is not mentioned at all.” Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Beard talks priorities, pivot from Nebraska primary election to Nov. 3 faceoff Rick Beard of Omaha, the Legal Marijuana NOW nominee for Nebraska governor, meets with voters at a developmental disabilities community listening event on April 30, 2026, in Lincoln a couple weeks before the May 12 primary election. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)Editor’s note: This is the third in a three-part series with Nebraska gubernatorial candidates about their pivot from the May 12 primary election to the Nov. 3 general election. LINCOLN — Rick Beard knows the uphill climb he faces to be elected Nebraska’s next governor but feels his third-party status and ideas for a state-run medical cannabis program to generate new tax revenue could appeal to voters. In a one-on-one interview with the Nebraska Examiner a few weeks after the May primary, Beard, the gubernatorial nominee for the Legal Marijuana NOW party, outlined his top priorities if elected: legalizing strong medical cannabis and industrial hemp programs, getting corporate and political action committee money out of the state and taking a more serious, in-depth look at data centers, including a pause on development and mandated closed-loop cooling systems. Beard, a wine professional and private chef, will face Republican Gov. Jim Pillen of Columbus and former Democratic State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen of Columbus, a Republican at center, is running for reelection against former Democratic State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, left, and Rick Beard of Omaha, the nominee for the Legal Marijuana NOW party. (Photos courtesy of the candidates/campaigns \| Nebraska Capitol photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The trio could also face former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, an ex-Republican and now registered nonpartisan who announced a signature campaign to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. His deadline is Aug. 3, in one week. Of why Beard is the right choice, he said he understands working-class issues and has the “most realistic, solid, viable plan” to help Nebraska. Still, he recognizes the hard path for third-party candidates and sees 2026 as his shot to share his ideas and make a difference. “If there’s any year that a third party is going to stand out and shine,” Beard said, “I think that this is the year more than any other year that we’ve had in the past.” State-run medical cannabis program Beard said he woke up a couple of days after the May primary with his “big idea” to mitigate and avoid the fears of politicians worried about “big cannabis,” “bad players” or cartels. He proposed that the state runs “everything” around medical cannabis, such as hiring farmers, buying facilities and overseeing land. “All along the way, we make the money, we make all the profit and we make the taxes,” Beard said. Commissioners on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission during an April 13, 2026, meeting. From left, Commissioners Bud Synhorst of Lincoln, Jim Elworth of Nebraska City, Lorelle Mueting of Gretna (interim chair) and J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. All but Mueting also serve on the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The idea stems from a current regulatory system he says is set up to fail with onerous regulations and “astronomical” or “unrealistic” fees more stringent than in the liquor industry. “I feel that the intention of the [Medical] Cannabis Commission is to prevent this whole thing from happening, which they’ve been doing a very good job of so far,” Beard said. The voter-created Medical Cannabis Commission consists of three governor-appointed members of the Liquor Control Commission and up to two more at-large appointees. Pillen has appointed all current members and solicited applications for one vacancy. He has praised the commission for enacting strict guidelines at his request to further his goal to provide narrow access to the medicine and prevent it from spilling into recreational use. Former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the Democratic nominee for Nebraska governor, left, and Rick Beard of Omaha, the Legal Marijuana NOW nominee for Nebraska governor, attend a developmental disabilities community listening event on April 30, 2026, in Lincoln, a couple weeks before the May 12, 2026, primary election. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Beard said it’s an “election-year tactic” for the commission to appear as if it’s moving forward when regulations would actually make it “impossible” for the program to succeed. Pursuing a state-run program might require more legislation or a constitutional amendment, Beard noted, but he estimates doing so could generate $100 million in new tax revenue each year, up to $500 million when everything is up and running. ‘Changes the game’ Asked whether he would pursue recreational marijuana, Beard said he would like to keep it medical because that’s what Congress, and now the U.S. Department of Justice, offers protections for. However, he said Nebraska’s program needs to be “compassionate.” Rick Beard holds up the release of a new wine in Murphys, California, in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Rick Beard) Beard said Nebraska would not get the upward of $500 million in annual revenue without a “compassionate” program that gives “nearly full access to everybody” with a doctor’s note, “not to where you have to be dying.” “As long as an adult doctor gives you a recommendation, from this state or any other state, I feel that our citizens should be allowed to use it compassionately,” Beard said. He said smoking cannabis is also necessary for some people to get needed relief. Current state regulations prohibit the sale of smokeable or vapor products. The state could face a deficit as high as $1 billion, combining a $200-million-plus deficit through the current fiscal year, ending June 30, and initial projections for the following two years. Lawmakers will need to tackle that shortfall in the 2027 legislative session that begins in January. Beard said the state must eliminate tax breaks for corporations and Nebraska’s “ultra-rich” and must not turn away federal dollars. “We can continue to be preyed on for our natural resources, underpaid labor and billionaire tax breaks, or we can join together and put an end to this absurdity,” Beard said. Beard said Nebraska could also double its biofuel production using hemp while doing so in a cleaner way that uses less fertilizer and water and also helps clean the soil and reduce nitrates. He said the new industry could generate millions more and help keep young people in the state. Rick Beard sits on a tractor in Murphys, California, in April 2019 and talks about tractors with a young child. (Photo courtesy of Rick Beard) He said hemp-grown products could also help housing by being cheaper to make. “We’re just pissing away so much money, and we’re falling behind while other states move forward with money and progress and reform,” Beard said. Beard said the increased revenue would also be critical in addressing property taxes. “It really changes the game as to what cannabis can do for our state financially to where we’re really talking about fixing roads … and the actual ability to reduce property taxes,” Beard said. He continued: “I don’t honestly believe that the other candidates have a powerful plan for Nebraska finances like this.” Working with the Legislature One potential 2026 ballot measure could complicate Beard’s ideas around medical cannabis. The proposal, from the Respect Nebraska Voters campaign, would increase the threshold to change voter-approved laws — including laws around the legalization and regulation of medical cannabis — from 33 of 49 state lawmakers to 40 of 49 state senators. Supporters turned in signatures by the July 3 deadline and await verification to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot. Some advocates of the successful 2024 campaign around medical cannabis have urged caution and warned that doing so could lock in “gridlock” should any legislative changes be needed. In 2025, for instance, an advocate-backed bill failed to garner a simple majority, let alone 33 votes. Pillen talks priorities, pivot from Nebraska primary election to Nov. 3 faceoff Beard said he is “all for” the Respect Nebraska Voters proposal that “protects the will and vote of the people.” Whether it’s a state-grown, state-sold and state-operated system or a regulatory licensing, testing and oversight system, he said he wants to ensure access to medical cannabis. However, Beard said, the question is whether people can “save” the voter-approved laws from “damage” inflicted by legislative inaction and guidelines from the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, or whether another petition or constitutional amendment would be needed. “When we have fewer than 100 people dismantling the vote of 2 million people, we need this to protect us,” Beard said. Should Beard continue to face executive branch or legislative pushback, he said he could go back to his original idea to pursue a 2028 ballot measure or constitutional amendment. In the meantime, Beard said he would deploy a lesson he says he learned from Pillen: lead with executive orders and executive action. “I don’t know why, when I’m governor, why I can’t do that,” Beard said. “I think that if they want to oppose it with these kinds of powers and these kinds of techniques, I think that we can make it happen with these same kinds of powers and techniques.” Beyond working around hemp and cannabis, Beard said he doesn’t foresee needing to drive action in the Legislature from the Governor’s Office. Pillen has been among governors who have taken a more active role in pushing their legislative priorities. ‘Committed to rising above’ Beard has not yet filed a finance disclosure committee with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, which is required if he raises or spends more than $5,000. That’s by design, Beard said, as he has refused to take corporate or PAC money and doesn’t want to take money from voters. “It’s a difficult uphill push without money, but at the same point, what am I going to do?” Beard said. Walz talks priorities, pivot from Nebraska primary election to Nov. 3 faceoff Even if he had funds, he said it would likely lead to negative campaigning and an expectation that he uphold the interests of his donors. He said that’s holding back his opponents. “It just kind of really takes the honesty out of politics and out of deciding who we elect,” Beard said. “I’m hoping through our campaign that by not taking the money, people realize our purity and our intent to represent the people more than represent corporations or the interests of PACs.” Since taking office in 2023, Pillen has raised more than $12 million and had more than $9.5 million in his campaign account by mid-June. In the last year, Walz raised nearly $1.5 million, with almost $675,000 in her campaign account by mid-June. By Sept. 1, Beard will need to select a running mate, and he said he’s on the search for someone who will “have some brilliant ideas” and perhaps bring qualities he doesn’t, such as a little more political experience, a legal background or a more agricultural, rural-based view. Beard said that if given the chance, he “absolutely” would debate his opponents. He said that’s important for Nebraskans to see candidates interact and speak and assess them accordingly. “I am truly not Democrat. I am truly not Republican,” Beard said. “I find heavy faults with both of those parties, and I’m committed to rising above that.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	The Harlequin This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.What follows is a second-hand Rock Island story; I was not there. It may be one of those stories that are true rather…
	How did you become a Deadhead? Beginning Aug. 1, NPR Music will publish a week-long list of stories and podcast episodes exploring the legacy and future of the Grateful Dead. And we want to hear from you!
	Baltimore will turn 911 into more than just an emergency number Baltimore is rethinking what it means to call 911, and who responds. Callers who don't need police will get help finding social services and healthcare before they actually fall into crisis.
	Kalshi attacks Wisconsin law banning election bets as 'voter suppression' The spat between the leading prediction market company and a key battleground state could be a glimpse into the next major fight between states and the fast-growing industry.
	Unchecked and Imbalanced: Speaker Welch’s Handling of Harassment Claims Draws Criticisms of Its Own By now, you’ve probably read at least something about the scandals surrounding former state Representative Harry Benton, D-Plainfield. In a nutshell, a young female district office staffer alleged Representative Benton sexually harassed her in 2023.
	Ladies/Gaga: Genesius Guild's “Women's Festival,” at Lincoln Park through August 2 Director Michael Callahan is credited as writer, but as he explained before Saturday’s opening performance, the script evolved with a workshop-style model, with the whole cast participating in the writing. That’s likely why this production is one of the funniest season-enders I’ve seen.
	On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, We Wear Pink: Countryside Community Theatre's “Mean Girls,” at the North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium through August 2 Featuring lyrics by Nell Benjamin, a book by Tina Fey, and music by Jeff Richmond (Fey’s husband), and boasting the exemplary direction (plus choreography and costume design) by Ashley Becher, Mean Girls is sure to put a smile on your face and give you a reason to beat the heat.
	Exhilarating Depression: “Bonnie & Clyde,” through August 2 at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre Make no mistake: Bonnie & Clyde is not a feel-good musical.
	Dangerous Heat & Humidity & Storms Possible This Afternoon Heat indices could reach 115 degrees as organized thunderstorms threaten damaging winds
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT
	Latest Pa. budget provides support for nursing homes, but work remains A physical therapist guides a nursing home resident through an exercise. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Providers caring for the commonwealth’s fastest-growing population got a little relief in Pennsylvania’s latest spending plan, securing guaranteed minimum funding for nursing homes. “I would say the General Assembly and the governor heard us loud and clear and I believe they absolutely came through on this,” said Garry Pezzano, the president and CEO of LeadingAge PA. For decades, a state budgeting maneuver known as the Budget Adjustment Factor, or BAF, reimbursed nursing homes below the cost of care. Regulators would determine payments depending on dollars allocated under the state budget, often at a rate that left operators shorthanded. Pa. long-term care providers call for more state dollars and predictable funding In a budget that neglected to tackle looming policy questions, lawmakers chose not to eliminate the BAF, a long-time goal for providers, but opted to set a floor at 86% — above the current 79% — starting in 2027. Over the next two years, nursing homes will receive an additional $162 million through the state formula, with a federal match of $215 million. Having a minimum gives facilities greater flexibility to budget, making their income more predictable, Pezzano said. “The fluctuation of the floor can be tremendous, and it’s something that happens on a quarterly basis,” he added. “Imagine what that does with your ability to forecast, to budget, to develop programs. You (now) know that at least you can count on that 86% of your allowable costs (being) covered.” In a rapidly aging state, the fifth-oldest in the country, the need for long-term services is only growing. The number of residents over the age of 84 is expected to triple by 2050, but capacity is shrinking as nursing homes close or decertify beds. Inadequate funding — especially through Medicaid, which funds care for more than 70% of nursing home residents — was just one of three roadblocks for operators identified by LeadingAge, alongside workforce shortages and consumer preferences. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The General Assembly also declined to revisit staffing ratios or tackle delayed Medicaid approvals, all items on LeadingAge’s wishlist. “We’ve got priorities now for continued momentum,” beyond steady funding, Pezzano continued. “I would say that we lobbied just as hard to reform staffing ratios and that didn’t happen.” Not enough nurses The long-term care sector struggles to recruit and retain qualified staff amid a nationwide nursing shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Attracting people is a real priority, and we really need to work better together to attract people to see that there is really meaningful work, satisfying work to be done in long-term care,” said Pezzano. One method would expose high school students to the field, allowing juniors and seniors to earn school credit while working in a facility — Senate Bill 116, which creates that pathway, passed the chamber unanimously in February. Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) speaks at a Capitol rally on June 2, 2026 while Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) looks on. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) In addition, Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill) authored two more measures to shore up long-term care staffing, both of which have passed the chamber. Senate Bill 114 would allow students to take a certification exam “upon completion of relevant coursework,” while Senate Bill 115 offers an “alternative competency exam” as a replacement for potential hires who might not have a high school diploma or GED. All three proposals have LeadingAge’s support and await action in the House. Pezzano said “overly prescriptive” staffing ratios added to the difficulty, setting minimum requirements for patient care using a formula based on hours worked, types of licensed staff and the number of residents. Operators chafed at the requirements under a national version, which proponents say would improve care, and the federal government reversed course late last year. Cheila Martinez, a former certified nursing assistant and now housekeeper at Spruce Manor in Reading, said quality resident care “depends on the entire nursing home team,” from nurses to laundry staff. “When any part of that team is short-staffed, residents feel the impact and workers burn out,” Martinez continued in a statement sent through her local union. As an SEIU union member, Martinez and others pushed for the updated reimbursement “because resident care requires much more money to stabilize the workforce,” saying her local contract gives workers the right to bargain over new public funding. The budget invests $2.5 million into the Nursing Shortage Assistance Program, which are grants that help offset student loans for nurses hired by hospitals, potentially growing the pool of qualified providers. The program, which launched last year with a $5 million investment, hasn’t yet allocated funds. “I’m lucky to work at a Saber facility, where workers and management have built a strong partnership that works together to improve care and job standards,” she added. “But not every nursing home operator is like Saber.” She called for the legislature to pass an accountability measure like the one proposed by Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), which doesn’t yet have a bill number. The accompanying memo focuses on transition periods between operators and owners, and requires state approval before new companies take over. However, Martinez’s union seeks more emphasis on accountability to make sure staffing ratios are enforced. “We will also continue to work hard to improve the ownership and operator regulations so that Pennsylvanians can trust their state taxpayer dollars are going where they belong,” she concluded. Beyond institutional care Long-term care encompasses more than nursing homes, which are the most expensive and intensive version of care. The budget barely touched pay for home health visits — a long-time goal for advocates — but did include a rate increase for Living Independence For the Elderly (LIFE). The LIFE program had 8,446 unique participants as of last summer, but growth has been stagnant despite the state’s aging population. Pezzano, whose organization represents LIFE operators as well as skilled nursing facilities, called the program a “value-based solution” that allows individuals to age at home but still have access to certain health services. State-funded senior programs in Pa. see opportunity in federal rural health dollars “This program really is the most cost-effective way to care for people. It costs a fraction of what it costs to stay in a nursing home,” said Pezzano. Families who might not know about LIFE or other homecare options might use a nursing home as “a default setting,” Pezzano continued. “People don’t want to think about getting older, and the absolute last thing you want to think about is being older and not well. So people put it off, and then individuals and their families are forced to make really important decisions under duress because there isn’t a plan for it,” he added. The program received a 3.9% increase, equal to $7 million. A proposal from Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie), Senate Bill 482, tries to spread awareness about LIFE by requiring more organizations to share information with Medicaid enrollees. LIFE, home health and skilled nursing facilities were all part of one larger interconnected “ecosystem,” continued Pezzano, noting that housing shortages complicate care as well as delayed Medicaid approvals. “We have really been deliberate in introducing the whole concept of needing to look at aging services as an ecosystem,” he said. “We’re very sensitive to the fact that it’s not just about advocating for skilled nursing facilities. Because what you do in skilled nursing facilities will impact LIFE, will impact home health, homecare.” Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Special Weather Statement until MON 7:00 AM CDT Dense Fog Advisory for Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois Tonight
	Can the U.S. and Iran take the off-ramp? The U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war.
	Cook review: Everyone should be talking about 'Motor City's' action "The Odyssey" continues to draw a well-deserved audience in theaters. But when it comes to action, everybody should be talking about "Motor City," too. This is, more or less, a silent movie, with a handful of spoken words, much like John Woo's "Silent Night." It's a gritty, violent, no-holds barred action flick that would have [...]
	With just a few primary elections to go, the competitive Senate map keeps shifting For Democrats to take control of the U.S. Senate, they have to flip 4 seats currently held by Republicans. Republicans, meanwhile, are playing defense and pickup opportunities are harder to find.
Sunday, July 26th, 2026
	5 Ways to Naturally Support Summer Energy and Focus (Feature Impact) Summertime means sunshine, longer days, family vacations and social events everywhere you look - but summer can slip away if you feel too tired and distracted to make the most of your experiences. According to a survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Botanic Tonics, many adults ages 21 and older struggle to feel fully present in summer activities. Nearly half of respondents said having enough energy and a clear mind would help them get more enjoyment out of the summer moments that matter most. With that in mind, here are five simple daily habits to support your energy and focus throughout the rest of the summer season. Improve Your Sleep Quality It might sound obvious, but getting better sleep should be a top priority for anyone trying to harness more physical and mental energy throughout the day. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet; avoid consuming caffeine too close to bedtime; and wind down with a relaxing routine like reading or yoga. Get Regular Exercise Even though a workout consumes energy in the short term, it pays you back with dividends. Just 30 minutes of movement a day - including favorite summer activities like swimming or playing games in the yard - can improve your mood. Physical movement also helps reduce stress, which was a reported obstacle for 33% of survey respondents who wished they could be more present with friends and family during the summer months. Stay Hydrated When the weather is hot, it becomes more important to stay on top of your hydration. Even mild dehydration can negatively impact your energy and focus. When you're out of the house, bring a reusable water bottle and set reminders to drink regularly, especially during and after outdoor activities. Limit Device Usage When you're feeling sluggish, it can be tempting to collapse on the couch or in bed to scroll on your phone or watch TV. There's nothing wrong with screen time in moderation, but digital fatigue is real and it can drain your energy and disrupt your sleep. Plus, 49% of surveyed adults said social-media-driven FOMO ("fear of missing out") made it harder for them to enjoy their summer experiences in the moment. Try Botanical Energy Offerings When energy levels start to dip, it's easy to reach for a cup of coffee, a sugary energy drink or soda. Products made with thoughtfully sourced botanical ingredients offer a different approach. For example, Botanic Tonics' "feel free" kava-centric supplements are designed to deliver chilled energy: a unique combination of energy, focus and elevated mood. For smooth, sustained energy without caffeine jitters or sugar crashes, try KavaMat , crafted with noble kava root and yerba mat . For those looking to elevate their mood and enhance focus, feel free Classic is thoughtfully crafted with noble kava root and natural whole leaf kratom - never synthetic ingredients, alcohol or concentrates. Learn more about these products, responsible consumption and where to purchase at BotanicTonics.com. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
	Beyond Protein: 2 Nutrients Your Plate Might Be Missing (Feature Impact) Everyone is talking about protein these days whether watching their weight or managing a disease like type 2 diabetes. However, fiber and healthy fats are nutrients many people are overlooking. The latest reports show most Americans already meet or exceed recommendations for protein while nearly all (about 95%) do not eat enough fiber, and many people consume too much saturated fat versus unsaturated fat, according to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Prioritizing ways to get more fiber and healthy fats on your plate could be key to managing weight and type 2 diabetes goals this summer. One food that makes it easier to invest in your health, according to nutrition experts: avocados. A growing body of research and materials from Avocados - Love One Today, a science-based resource, suggests fresh avocados offer weight management benefits, help with type 2 diabetes management and are good for blood sugar management. According to a study* of more than 27,000 adults published in the journal "Internal Medicine Review," people who ate just over half of an avocado per day weighed 7.5 pounds less, had smaller waist sizes and tended to have healthier overall eating habits, including higher intakes of fiber and healthy fats, compared to people who didn't eat avocados. Among the list of benefits, this delicious and healthy fruit uniquely contains fiber and healthy fats in each nutrient-dense bite which slows digestion, helping you feel satisfied and fuller longer which can help you consume fewer calories overall. In fact, if you're using a GLP-1, avocados are one of the foods to add to your menu to make small meals feel more filling and satisfying while supporting nutrient needs. Scientists also recently took a second look at the largest study* about avocado consumption to-date involving close to 1,000 adults, per the journal "Current Developments in Nutrition," and found that consistently eating one avocado every day for six months (no other diet changes required) significantly reduced dietary glycemic load (GL) by nearly 14 points, a metric that evaluates how what you are eating is affecting your blood sugar levels. GL may be an important consideration in the management of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. By slowing digestion, fiber and healthy fats also support stable blood sugar levels. There are many ways to enjoy avocados, including chopped, sliced, mashed, blended, in baked goods or even frozen. Avocados add flavor, variety and nutrition across the day. Try these recipes for Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding, Avocado Breakfast Bowl with Leafy Greens for your next breakfast or snack. *Remember: Small, consistent food choices can add up over time. Research suggests regularly eating avocados may support weight management and blood sugar targets while providing the fiber and healthy fats that many Americans are overlooking. These studies were supported by the Avocado Nutrition Center. While these findings are encouraging, the studies highlighted show an association, not cause and effect, and thus more research is needed to confirm these findings in other populations. To explore evidence-based avocado nutrition information, along with practical tips and easy recipes, visit Avocados - Love One Today, a leading resource for avocado nutrition information. Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding 1 1/2 cups plain, unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice) 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted and peeled 3/4 cup frozen blueberries 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1/3 cup chia seeds To Serve: 1/3 cup granola 1/3 cup fresh blueberries 1 kiwi, chopped 1/2 fresh, ripe avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and chopped In blender, puree soy milk, avocado, blueberries, yogurt and maple syrup until smooth. Pour mixture into storage container or bowl and add chia seeds. Whisk well to combine. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight, until thickened. To serve, divide into bowls and top with granola, fresh blueberries, kiwi and avocado. Notes: Use any milk (dairy or non-dairy) that you prefer in pudding. Use fresh blueberries or conventional frozen blueberries. Other topping options include: nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, sliced banana or strawberries, or nut butter. Avocado Breakfast Bowl with Leafy Greens Bowl: 1 medium sweet potato, chopped (about 1 3/4 cup) nonstick cooking spray 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup quinoa 1 cup water, plus additional for boiling eggs, divided 2 eggs 2 cups arugula 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and chopped 1/4 cup pickled red onions Avocado Tahini Dressing: 1/2 large avocado 1/4 cup tahini 1 lemon, juice only (2 tablespoons) 3/4 cup water 1 tablespoon fresh chives salt, to taste pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 400 F. Add chopped sweet potato to baking sheet. Spray with cooking oil then add smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt. Toss to coat in spices. Bake 22-25 minutes, or until tender. In medium saucepan, add quinoa and water. Bring to simmer and cover, cooking 12-15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and fluffy. Fill small saucepan with water and bring to boil. Use slotted spoon to lower eggs into water. Cook 8 minutes then transfer eggs to bowl of ice water to cool before peeling. To make dressing: In small blender, puree avocado, tahini, lemon juice, water and fresh chives until smooth. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed, to thin until pourable. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Assemble bowls, each with 1/2 sweet potato, 1/2 cup quinoa, 1 egg, 1 cup arugula, 1/2 avocado, 2 tablespoons pickled red onion and 3 tablespoons dressing. Reserve remaining dressing in refrigerator. Heart-Healthy Frozen Avocado Banana Paleta 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and diced 4 cups orange juice 2 medium bananas, peeled and sliced 1 tablespoon lime juice 8 paper cups (5 ounces) 8 wooden craft sticks In blender, blend avocado, orange juice, bananas and lime juice on high until smooth. Divide into paper cups. Cover cups with aluminum foil. Insert one stick through center of each foil. Freeze 4 hours until firm.
	5 Tips to Make Hosting Easy and Fun (Feature Impact) From celebratory parties to casual get-togethers, hosting is a wonderful way to bring people together, share laughs and make memories. Of course, planning and hosting can be quite a bit of work, so a little preparation can go a long way to ensure an enjoyable time for everyone, including the host. Follow these tips from the hosting experts at Bravo, makers of eco-friendly, high-performance paper towels, to plan your next gathering so it goes off without a hitch. Keep the Menu Simple Naturally, you want to make sure your guests are well-fed and happy, but trying to achieve a Michelin-star rating in your home kitchen is usually just a recipe for stressing yourself out. If you're serving a meal, stick to some tried-and-true crowd-pleasers you can make in your sleep. Cook or bake in advance as much as possible so you'll have less to worry about on the day itself. Let Guests Know What to Bring Good houseguests often enjoy contributing something, so make it easy for them - and yourself - by letting them know how they can help. You could ask one person to bring snacks, another to pick up beverages and a third to cover dessert. Potluck-style lunches or dinners are a great way to make sure everyone has enough to eat and drink while taking the pressure off just one person's shoulders. Have a Backup Plan In case you're arranging an outdoor get-together, remember the weather can betray you. Keep alternative plans on standby in case you need to move the party indoors. Tidy up your living areas and ensure there is enough seating for everyone attending. It doesn't hurt to have indoor-friendly entertainment options available too - often, people are content to just sit and chat with one another, but depending on the crowd, classic party games can still be a hit. Set Up Kids' Zones If you'll be welcoming children to your home, provide one or two dedicated areas where they can safely play and enjoy themselves away from the rest of the action. Having an assortment of toys, games, coloring books, chalk, bubble wands and other sources of kid-friendly fun makes it easy for the whole family to have a great time. Make Prep and Cleanup a Breeze Keeping quality cleaning supplies on hand like Bravo paper towels means you can quickly wipe up spills and messes while you're prepping. Then, after your guests depart, the strong, absorbent sheets make it easy to get your countertops sparkling again. They're made with 75% curbside recycled paper and cardboard, making them sustainable-household-approved. Use them with water or your go-to cleaning solution before enjoying some well-deserved post-hosting relaxation in your fresh, clean home. "Hosting can put paper towels to work, from quick countertop wipes to stuck-on foods and bigger cleanup jobs," said chef and lifestyle expert Jamie Gwen. "Bravo has a clothlike feel that is soft on your hands, but it is still durable enough for scrubbing and strong enough to rinse and reuse." Find more smart cleaning tips at BravoTowel.com.
	The Nutrient-Packed Fruit Families are Adding to Their Fruit Bowls (Feature Impact) Busy families are looking for snacks that do more than simply satisfy hunger - they want foods that deliver great taste along with meaningful nutrition. That's one reason kiwifruit has become one of the fastest-growing fruits in the produce department with more shoppers discovering its sweet taste and impressive nutritional benefits. With its vibrant golden flesh, smooth skin and juicy tropical-sweet flavor, an option like Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit makes it easy to enjoy a snack that's as delicious as it is nourishing. Whether packed into lunchboxes, sliced over breakfast or enjoyed straight from the fruit bowl, it's a simple way to add more nutrition to everyday routines. Why Every Bite Matters Kiwifruit is one of the most nutrient-dense fruits available, making it an ideal choice for busy families looking to maximize nutrition with minimal effort. When time is tight, choosing foods that deliver whole food nutrition becomes essential. Naturally packed with vitamins and minerals, Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit provides 100% of your daily vitamin C needs in just one fruit. They also provide potassium to support normal muscle and nerve function, vitamin E to help protect cells from everyday damage and folate to support healthy cell growth and development. Sweet Flavor, Endless Possibilities The versatility of sweet kiwifruit allows it to pair beautifully with everything from smoothies and yogurt bowls to salads, desserts and savory dishes. For a fresh twist on breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack, try this Kiwi and Whipped Feta Toast. Creamy whipped feta, ripe avocado and slices of sweet kiwi come together for a delicious balance of vitamins, minerals and vibrant flavor that's as nourishing as it is satisfying. Discover more delicious ways to get more nutrition from every bite, including recipes, at Zespri.com. Kiwi and Whipped Feta Toast 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt 8 small rustic bread slices, 3/4-inch thick, toasted 2 Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, peeled and thinly sliced 1 firm but ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced extra-virgin olive oil fresh basil In small food processor, process crumbled feta cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth. Spread equal amounts onto bread slices and top with alternating slices of kiwi and avocado. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil before serving. Optional: Add 1 tablespoon tahini sauce to feta for richer flavor. Variation: Omit avocado and use three kiwis. Sprinkle lightly with chopped Kalamata olives. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with snipped fresh oregano and crushed red pepper flakes.
	Back-to-School Sandwiches to Nourish Kids' Bodies and Minds (Feature Impact) When you picture a schoolchild sitting down at a cafeteria table and opening their lunchbox, you're probably already imagining there's a sandwich inside. After all, it's a classic back-to-school staple that parents rely on for ease, convenience and nutrition when they're trying to get everyone out the door on time - all you have to do is put bread and fillings together, and you're good to go. That, of course, only leaves the question of which bread and fillings to choose. A new survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Nature's Own indicated that modern parents care a lot about nutrition when deciding which kind of bread to buy, with 88% of survey respondents agreeing that feeding their kids wholesome bread feels like an easy parenting win. With clean, simple ingredients that balance taste and nutrition, Nature's Own bread supports an attainably healthy lifestyle for busy families. Whether you choose a classic white bread, reach for a whole-wheat loaf or need to account for dietary restrictions, you can feel confident you're selecting bread that's free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. For a nutritious lunch that fits the bill for 85% of parents who show strong interest in breads made with whole grains, pack this Ham, Turkey, Bacon and Cheese Pocket made with honey wheat bread. The flavorful mixture of deli meats and American cheese baked to perfection make every bite satisfying. Consider getting the whole family involved assembly-line style to make multiple batches at once, cutting down on time in the kitchen during the week ahead while encouraging learning opportunities as kids count ingredients and measure fillings. Some school days call for simple, fun comfort food, and that's where the Fluffernutter comes in. Soft bread, creamy peanut butter and fluffy marshmallow make for a combination that nourishes kids of all ages not just physically, but emotionally. Whether you pack it as a lunchbox surprise or have it ready as an after-school treat, this is a sandwich that promises sweetness and nostalgia - a perfect fit for the 78% of parents who agreed that sandwiches are a canvas for small moments of care, like notes in lunch bags. Since sandwiches are so customizable, you can easily adapt these recipes to your family's unique preferences and needs. Whether you decide to use different seasonings or swap to a multigrain bread, there's no such thing as a wrong sandwich decision as long as it works for you. To view ingredients and decide what kind of loaf you want to stock up on during the school year, visit naturesownbread.com. Ham, Turkey, Bacon and Cheese Pocket 8 slices Nature's Own Honey Wheat Bread 1/4 pound deli turkey 1/4 pound deli ham 4 slices cooked bacon 4 slices white American cheese 1 egg 1 tablespoon cold water 1 teaspoon coarse salt Preheat oven to 350 F. Chop turkey, ham and bacon and toss together. Set aside. Using knife, cut off crust on each piece of bread. With rolling pin, roll and flatten each slice of crustless bread. Take four slices and place spoonful of chopped meats in middle of each slice. Top with broken slices of cheese. Place remaining slices of crustless bread on top of each pocket. In small bowl, crack egg and add water. Beat together. Dip fork into egg mixture and crimp each edge of pocket until two slices are sealed together. Repeat on each pocket. Brush top of each pocket with remaining egg mixture and sprinkle salt on top. Place on sheet pan and bake until golden brown, 7-10 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and enjoy. Fluffernutter Sandwich Total time: 10 minutes Servings: 1 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 slices Nature's Own Butterbread 2 tablespoons marshmallow fluff Spread peanut butter on one bread slice. Spread marshmallow fluff on second slice. Put both slices together to form sandwich.
	How Invasive Pests Spread and How You Can Help Stop Them (Feature Impact) Invasive pests can hide in places you'd never expect, and once they spread, they can destroy the trees, plants and food people rely on every day. These pests pose a serious threat to agriculture, forests, ecosystems and the food supply. Many invasive species cannot travel far on their own; instead people unknowingly move them from place to place. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, invasive pests hitchhike on everyday items such as plants, produce, firewood, vehicles and outdoor equipment. That makes many common activities - from traveling and online shopping to camping and gardening - potential "pathways" for invasive pests to move and reach new areas. Understanding these pathways is the first step to stopping pests before they spread. Traveling Abroad When you travel abroad and return from another country, the agricultural items you bring back can introduce new invasive pests into the U.S. and threaten crops or trees that have no natural defenses against them. Even harmless-looking fruit, seed packets or souvenirs made with plant materials can carry pests such as fruit flies and diseases like citrus canker. That's why it's critical travelers declare food, plants and other agricultural products when entering the country from abroad. Shopping Online Just because you can order seeds and plants from sellers around the world, it doesn't mean those items are legal or safe to import. In fact, some invasive snails and plant diseases have entered the U.S. this way. Many agricultural products from overseas require permits, inspections or special paperwork before they can enter the country. Buyers should check where an item ships from, learn the import requirements before purchasing and make sure sellers follow all labeling and shipping rules. Partaking in Outdoor Activities When you spend time outdoors hiking, camping, hunting or fishing, you could inadvertently spread invasive species. For example, transporting firewood from one location to another can spread tree-killing insects, such as the emerald ash borer, which can live inside the wood and emerge later in a new area. The safest choice is to buy or use firewood where you burn it. Additionally, clean all outdoor clothing, gear, equipment and vehicles before leaving an area. Moving Outdoor Equipment When you move to a new home, your move can create another opportunity for invasive insects to travel. Before relocating patio furniture, grills, trailers or lawn equipment, inspect and clean them carefully. Look for insects, plant debris and egg masses like spotted lanternfly egg masses, which can blend into outdoor surfaces and look like smears of mud or clumps of dirt. A few minutes of checking and cleaning before you move can help prevent pests from invading your new neighborhood. Invasive pests cost the U.S. billions of dollars every year and damage forests, farms, parks and backyards. Stopping invasive pests starts with simple steps anyone can take: checking what you pack, clean, move and buy. When everyone does their part, fewer pests spread and communities stay healthier and more resilient. Visit aphis.usda.gov/hungrypests to learn more about how invasive pests spread and the simple steps you can take to help stop them and protect America's agriculture and natural resources. Invasive Pest Protection Checklist Declare all food, plants and agricultural items when returning from another country. When ordering items online, check where the products ship from and verify U.S. import rules before buying. If you're camping, buy firewood where you plan to burn it. Clean clothing, gear and vehicles before leaving. Before moving to a new home, inspect outdoor furniture and equipment, looking closely for egg masses or insects. Content courtesy of USDA.
	Galesburg provides grant to help All-Stars Sports Academy purchase building The Galesburg City Council approved the one-time, $266,941 grant to help the nonprofit acquire the building and six acres of property at 1855 E. Knox St.
	Smithfield Foods temporarily suspends operations at processing facility in Monmouth Smithfield Foods temporarily suspended operations at its Monmouth facility because of technical issues at their wastewater facility.
	Smithfield temporarily suspends operations at Monmouth processing facility Officials say operations have been temporarily suspended at Smithfield Foods processing facility in Monmouth.
	'House of the Dragon,' Season 3, Episode 6: Assassination nation In which Gwayne has a good eye.
	Monmouth apartment fire leaves unit uninhabitable, sends 1 to hospital A Saturday night apartment fire in Monmouth left a unit uninhabitable and sent one resident to the hospital with minor smoke-related injuries.
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Monday
	Chance for some severe storms tonight With temperatures hot in the 90s and a very high dew point in the Quad Cities, we are watching for the chance of storms that could rapidly develop from these conditions. A slight risk of severe weather has been issued for most of the area as the timing of these storms will mainly be toward [...]
	Iowa Dems lose first-caucus status after 54 years; South Carolina to take lead in 2028 The Iowa Democrats lost their first-in-the-nation caucus status after 54 years, sparking frustration and debate over political motives and state law.
	Illinois GOP ticket talks taxes, crime and election strategy \| News 8 This Week - July 26, 2026 Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar joins This Week to discuss the Bailey campaign's priorities ahead of the Illinois election.
	Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia wins the 2026 Tour de France, his fifth victory in the race The route for the iconic cycling race's final stage was shortened because security and police were reassigned to assist with wildfires in southwest France.
	Galesburg Waste Management to run early July 27 due to heat Galesburg's Waste Management routes will start early Monday, art Early on Monday, July 27 due to forecasted heat. According to a release from the Galesburg Community Development Department, all collection routes will begin 30 minutes early due to forecasted high heat and humidity. Residents are reminded to ensure all refuse is placed at the curb [...]
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Monday
	U.S. pauses attacks on Iran for a second straight day and Tehran does too The United States paused attacks on Iran for a second straight day Sunday and Tehran said it had done so too, as efforts continued to bring the countries back to negotiations on an interim ceasefire.

Monday, July 27th, 2026

Sunday, July 26th, 2026