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

Sunday, August 9th, 2026
	A Stone Story This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Often it happens that Rock Islanders tell their own stories best. Here is one from Dr. Alex Stone, a retired…
Saturday, August 8th, 2026
	Community walks in honor of missing Oquawka man The community gathered Friday to honor 33-year-old Alan Stanley, who has been missing since April 12. Friends and loved ones continue efforts to find him.
	Cambridge Natural History Museum marks two-year anniversary under world record holder Cambridge's Natural History Museum, curated by 11-year-old Anderson Taylor, is celebrating two years.
	Winning numbers for $856M Powerball jackpot Grab your tickets: the winning numbers for one of the largest Powerball jackpots have been drawn.
	Rock Island man on probation faces new drug, gun charges A Rock Island man sentenced to four years of probation in a meth case six months ago is accused of trafficking ecstasy and possessing two firearms.
	Will we see August 12's solar eclipse? Parts of the U.S. will be able to at least see a partial eclipse, but how much totality will depend on where you live.
	Fire at Self Help in Sterling may have started from cardboard compactor Issues with a cardboard compactor may have caused a fire that severely damaged the Rock Valley Self Help Enterprises building in Sterling on Friday. No series injuries were reported.
	Roger Craig reveals he has vascular dementia during his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech Roger Craig revealed during his induction speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he has vascular dementia.
	'The Boys,' 'Obsession' honored by annual Critics Choice Super Awards The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has announced announced today the winners of the sixth annual Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres across both television and movies, including Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action. Our Quad Cities News Linda Cook has been a member of the CCA for more than 25 years. “The [...]
	Two Henry County men sentenced to federal prison in separate meth cases Two Henry County, Illinois, men received federal prison sentences in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases.
	Solar eclipse to occur next week. Here is what to know It will be visible in parts of the U.S. on Wednesday.
	American Serenade will dock in Muscatine The City of Muscatine will temporarily close the downriver boat launch and adjacent parking lot near the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park on Tuesday, August 11, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate the arrival and docking of the American Serenade, a river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines. The American Serenade [...]
	11-year-old celebrates 2 years of his natural history museum in Cambridge An 11-year-old in Cambridge opened a natural history museum at age 9, and his growing collection is now attracting visitors and benefiting the community.
	Hot weather returns with storms After a pleasantly warm Saturday, it turns hot and humid again Sunday and Monday. Strong to severe storms are possible over the next couple of days. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Cyclosporiasis in Iowa: Doctor discusses symptoms, prevention and when to seek treatment An infectious diseases doctor with UnityPoint Trinity says young children, seniors and immunocompromised people are most at risk.
	Davenport Police Association to host 11th annual Cops and Cones The Davenport Police Association will host the 11th annual Cops and Cones Ice Cream Social from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Vander Veer Botanical Park.
	Governor Reynolds appoints Martin Noven as new IPERS CEO DES MOINES, Iowa -- Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed a new IPERS CEO who is slated to take over the position by the end of the month. Reynolds announced Friday that Martin Noven, former Executive Director of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, would take over as CEO of the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System [...]
	Bettendorf couple accused of physically abusing son arrested A Bettendorf couple, accused of physically abusing their 11-year-old son over a prolonged time, faces child endangerment charges.
	Quad City native Roger Craig inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame For the first time ever, a Quad City native has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
	Quad City native Roger Craig inducted in Pro Football Hall of Fame For the first time ever, a Quad City native has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
	Ukraine mourns "collector of souls" Oleksiy Yukov, killed recovering war dead Oleksiy Yukov spent two decades recovering the bodies of soldiers – including many Russians. He was killed during a recovery mission after stepping on a landmine.
	ImpactLife announces QC blood drive dates ImpactLife is partnering with local blood donors and drive hosts on community blood drives in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities during the week of Aug. 17: SAU Physician Assistant StudentsAugust 17: Noon-2 p.m., 1320 West Lombard St., DavenportSchedule Appointment Park View Lutheran ChurchAug. 17: 3-6:30 p.m., 14 Grove Road, EldridgeSchedule Appointment Stella's 4th Annual [...]
	K-pop's global wave inspires Chile's next pop stars K-pop conquered the world — now Chile's young creatives are remixing the movement and making it their own.
	Coach Ken Carter will speak at Moline High School The Moline-Coal Valley School District will welcome renowned educator, author and motivational speaker Coach Ken Carter for a back-to-school event to kick off the 2026-27 schoolyear, according to a news release. Known for the inspiring true story depicted in the 2005 film "Coach Carter," with Samuel L. Jackson in the title role, Carter will share [...]
	Heavy school backpacks: How they can be a hazard for kids It's good to be prepared, but kids who walk to school or participate in extracurricular activities may be lugging more than their bodies can handle.
	Students will present Nahant Marsh research at public session At the Nahant Marsh Education Center's annual Research Poster Session, undergraduate research interns will present the results of their summer-long ecological research projects conducted at one of the Upper Mississippi River's largest urban wetlands. The event is free and open to the public from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at the Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 [...]
	Democrats in Iowa’s competitive 1st, 3rd Districts release first campaign ads of 2026 Iowa congressional campaign ads launch as Democrats Sarah Trone Garriott and Christina Bohannan release general election spots in key toss-up races.
	Muscatine students participate in Study in China Experience Through the Sarah D. Lande Education Co., in partnership with Wanxiang America Corporation, eight students from Muscatine participated in a Study in China Experience, according to a news release from the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. This immersive four-week program allowed students to explore China, study the Chinese language, participate incultural experiences, and gain insight [...]
	Switzerland is a neutral nation but has more nuclear bunkers than any country in the world Instead of scrapping its network of bomb shelters after the Cold War, Switzerland kept building them. The country has more than 370,000 nuclear bomb shelters. Some are now used to house migrants.
	Memories of Muscatine: A Currier & Ives lithograph This week for Memories of Muscatine: Currier & Ives’ American Fruit Piece.
	The Women's Professional Baseball League makes its historic debut The Los Angeles Queens, the New York Heights, the Boston Hunters and the San Francisco Firebells take the field in Springfield, Ill., as the Women's Pro Baseball League kicks off its inaugural season.
	Snow This is Roald Tweet, on Rock Island.One January morning, Rock Islanders woke to fourteen inches of snow. It fell fast, blowing into drifts on the downwind…
	Private prisons announce $1.4 billion in revenue as immigration detentions climb That revenue does not include net proceeds of $1.6 billion made by CoreCivic after the recent sale of four of their facilities to the Department of Homeland Security.
	Our QC Crime Watch: Superintendent acquitted in student records case: Episode 76 Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: Mercer County School District superintendent acquitted in student-records access case A Kewanee man is arrested after a vehicle [...]
	How Jim James and Jeff Tweedy learned to love the Grateful Dead Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco are two artists who've dipped their toes into the Grateful Dead extended universe through a singular experience: by sharing the stage with Bob Weir.
	Data centers are a political issue crossing party lines, driving voters to candidates Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong called for a moratorium on data centers. So did Ohio Republican governor hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, as data centers begin to dominate campaigns.
	Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general early Saturday morning, elevating President Trump's former personal lawyer to head the Justice Department.
Friday, August 7th, 2026
	High school football preview: Newman Central Comets The Newman Central Comets are entering their fifth season under head coach Mike LeMay, looking to build on an 8-3 record and a 4-1 conference finish a year ago.
	Henry County, Iowa man charged after allegedly shining spotlight at helicopter pilot's eye The helicopter managed to land safely, although the pilots had to remove their night vision goggles.
	Spire partially collapses at Rock Island church; police detour drivers from area About 10 p.m. Friday, police and other emergency responders remained at the scene of a partial collapse of a Rock Island church spire. About 7 p.m., police, firefighters and public-works employees gathered at 5th Avenue and 20th Street at Grace City Church, where at least three parts of the church's spire fell and scattered debris [...]
	City of Eldridge looking for firefighters after all 20 volunteers announce they're quitting During a city council meeting this week, a representative for the current 20 firefighters from the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department said they will quit on Oct. 1.
	Self Help in Sterling damaged in fire One firefighter was hospitalized for dehydration and overheating but wasn't injured by the fire itself.
	Cyclosporiasis in Iowa: Doctor discusses symptoms, prevention and when to seek treatment An infectious diseases doctor with UnityPoint Trinity says young children, seniors and immunocompromised people are most at risk.
	DeWitt woman looking to help expecting/new mothers with drug addiction Jenna Harrison, a DeWitt resident, is six years sober from being addicted to drugs. She was once in a dark place, but now she has kids and a loving family. Harrison wants to use her successful recovery to help other drug addicts, specifically expecting and new mothers. "It's a really under-served demographic," said Harrison. "Rehabs [...]
	Residents say nasty stench lingers in Camanche, starting in January Since January, some Camanche residents have noticed a "gross" stench in their air. They say it smells similar to dog poop or something dead. An online petition calling for action from city officials started on July 31. Now, it has more than 500 signatures. "I hope it shows to all of our city leaders that [...]
	Community helps ‘Fill the Bus’ with school supplies for Davenport students Partnering with the Davenport Schools Foundation, the KWQC drive helped local students get the essential tools to succeed this school year.
	Sterling's Self Help suffers significant damage in fire One firefighter was hospitalized for dehydration and overheating but wasn't injured by the fire itself.
	Owner of 'The Green Store' in Rock Island recognized for his work in the community Demetrius Johnson was presented with the Bryant True Heroes Award, a national recognition of those making a difference in their community.
	Building damaged after fire breaks out at Sterling nonprofit Crews responded just before 1 p.m. Friday.
	Riverfront Pops secures five more years of Quad City Bank & Trust support During a joint press conference, the organizations announced a new five‑year sponsorship agreement for the Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops concert, extending a partnership with Quad City Symphony Orchestra that has already spanned 15 consecutive years.
	Davenport forming plan to preserve historic Levee Inn The Levee Inn, otherwise known as the Riverfront Hot Dog Stand, is nearly a century old and often used to measure past floods in downtown Davenport.
	Clinton man sentenced to five years in prison in sex abuse case A Clinton, Iowa, man who was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in 2021 has been sentenced to five years in prison.
	Firefighter transported to hospital after QCA structure blaze A firefighter was taken to a hospital after a structure fire in Sterling, according to a news release from the Sterling Fire Department. Shortly before 1 p.m. Friday, the Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, CGH EMS and Sterling Police Department were dispatched for a possible structure fire. Crews arrived to find heavy fire [...]
	6pm Friday severe t'storm update The Quad Cities is now included in a Severe T'Storm Watch until 10pm. Storms with strong winds and hail are heading toward to the Quad Cities and should arrive by around 7pm. Check this video for the latest:
	Rocky grad is new Rock Island High School Resource Officer Rock Island High School has a familiar face as its new School Resource Officer. According to a Facebook post from the Rock Island Police Department, Jacklyn Young, a Rocky graduate, started at Rock Island High School as School Resource Officer August 7. Young has served with the Rock Island Police Department for over five years. [...]
	Villages of Erie, Albany consider police partnership Under the partnership, Albany would provide about $150,000 annually to support Erie's police department. They would also share equipment like patrol cars and radios.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of Aug. 7, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Red Sand Project raises awareness of human trafficking Each grain of sand in the sidewalk at Leach Park represents someone who's been lost to human trafficking.
	Fifth man arrested for allegedly trafficking marijuana at two Davenport convenience stores A fifth man who allegedly was involved in a scheme to traffic marijuana out of two Davenport convenience stores was taken into custody Thursday.
	Red Sand Project returns to Bettendorf to raise awareness about human trafficking Community members gathered at Leach Park Friday for the return of the Red Sand Project, an event aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking in Iowa and honoring those affected by the crime. Organizers used red sand as a symbol to draw attention to how victims of human trafficking can go unnoticed — falling through the cracks both literally and figuratively.
	Erie and Albany could partner on police services under new agreement Under the partnership, Albany would provide about $150,000 annually to support Erie's police department. They would also share equipment like patrol cars and radios.
	Mississippi Valley Fair update - Chance for storms Friday evening There's a chance we get some thunderstorms in the Quad Cities right around showtime Friday evening... That's not a great thing for the MVF concert. If we get storms this evening the most likely time would be between 6:30 and 9:30. It's not a sure thing we get storms though. There's still a good chance [...]
	4 injured after truck pulling horse trailer strikes SUV broadside on Highway 218 A Highway 218 crash involving a truck pulling a horse trailer and a broadsided SUV leaves four people hospitalized on Friday afternoon in Iowa.
	Man in critical condition after shooting himself at Rock Island hospital No other injuries were reported and there is no danger to the public at this time, police say.
	20th Mutt Strut planned for Camden Park during Milan Harvest Festival The Quad City Animal Welfare Center will hold the 20th Annual Mutt Strut from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at Camden Park in Milan during the Milan Harvest Festival, according to a news release. Register here. Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray from Our Quad Cities News will be the master of ceremonies. Your registration [...]
	Thrill of a lifetime: Fans meet Keith Urban at the Mississippi Valley Fair You never know when you'll come across some magic at the Mississippi Valley Fair. Residents from the Prophetstown S.T.R.I.V.E. facility had the thrill of a lifetime when they got to meet country superstar Keith Urban after his performance at the fair. They say it was a great honor the meet Urban, and they were blown [...]
	Davenport woman charged with conspiracy, child endangerment in drug investigation A Scott County drug investigation finding over 9,000 grams of marijuana has a Davenport woman facing charges of conspiracy and child endangerment.
	Muscatine street closes for railroad crossing work It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. According to a release from the City of Muscatine, Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Rail (CPKCR) will perform repairs on the railroad crossing on E. 2nd St. east of Oak St. on Tuesday, August 11. Both lanes of E. 2nd St. will be closed during this work. The release [...]
	Cubs-Royals broadcast on KWQC-TV6 prompts temporary programming shift Cubs and Royals baseball on KWQC this Friday night means a temporary schedule shift for NBC primetime programming this weekend.
	Quad City Rollers celebrate 20 years of women’s roller derby and doing good The fearless, fun-loving women of the Quad City Rollers are celebrating 20 years of the nonprofit, a close-knit family that not only has a blast on the track, but works to help the community.
	Resident deaths at two Iowa nursing homes lead to state sanctions Nursing homes in Cedar Rapids and Newton are facing sanctions for alleged quality-of-care violations tied to resident deaths.
	Illinois House begins investigation into indicted Rep. Carol Ammons Carol Ammons investigation begins as an Illinois House committee starts examining federal misconduct allegations against the indicted state representative.
	Iowa man charged after allegedly shining spotlight at medical helicopter A Henry County, Iowa, man is charged after deputies say he shined a powerful spotlight at a Med Force medical helicopter, illuminating the cockpit during flight.
	Spokane Fires: Beyond the Burn Behind every fire are stories that are just beginning. We explore what sparked the fires and the people forever changed by this tragedy.
	Davenport Fire Department seeks public input as it forms 5-year strategic plan A survey is open through Aug. 21, where residents can leave feedback on topics such as emergency response, fire prevention and community education programs.
	Celebrate Atkinson's 170th anniversary at Heritage Days Celebrate Atkinson’s 170th anniversary with a classic Midwestern community festival. Atkinson Heritage Days will be held on Friday August 21 and Saturday August 22 in Atkinson, Illinois. This year’s event marks 170 years of Atkinson and honors America’s 250th birthday. Festival organizers have expanded every part of the weekend, with more attractions, more vendors, live [...]
	This city has more English learners than ever, but they often struggle to graduate. Here’s what could help. This city has more English learners than ever, but they often struggle to graduate. Here’s what could help. English learners make up a growing share of Philadelphia’s district enrollment, with around 25,000 enrolled last year.But they’re significantly less likely to make it to graduation than their peers — and that gap has only widened over the past decade.English learners include a diverse range of students from various language and cultural backgrounds. Some students arrive in Philly from wholly different education systems, and some have received little previous education in English at all. Last year, they represented around 22% of the district’s enrollment, more than double the share from a decade prior.Families and advocates say the district doesn’t provide families enough support or students enough flexibility, especially in high school. Even with English as a second language classes and newcomer programs, students often need more help, several English as a second language teachers told Chalkbeat.Last year, only 70% of students identified as English learners at any point in high school graduated within four years, compared with 88% of students who were not identified as English learners, according to district data. Sophie Hayssen // Chalkbeat Source: School District of Philadelphia That data doesn’t include students who were identified as English learners in elementary or middle school and reached English proficiency before ninth grade. But advocates say the lower graduation rate among high school English learners underscores that older students need additional support to get their diplomas.“The School District of Philadelphia is pretty far behind and out of touch with what it means to support high school age newcomers,” said one district English as a second language teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the district did not authorize her to speak publicly.She and other teachers and advocates said the biggest issue is poor attendance. Many English learners have to balance school with work to support themselves or their families. Though the district has some flexible options, such as accelerated or virtual programs, they are rarely accessible to students who are just beginning to learn English or who have just started formal schooling.As a result, students often cut class to go to their jobs, the teacher said. Those absences can lead to suspensions and truancy. “It winds up pushing them out of school,” she said.In a statement, district spokesperson Monique Braxton said the district “remains deeply committed to ensuring each and every EL student has a clear, supported pathway to graduation.”Braxton said the district ensures students can access high-quality curriculum and get support to meet graduation requirements. The district also provides training to teachers across subjects in how to work with English learners.Advocates: High school English learners need more flexibilityAcross the country, English learners are less likely to graduate than their peers, though some studies have found that those who attain English proficiency before high school outperform their peers who are native English speakers. Since 2022, English learners’ average scores on standardized math and reading tests have declined more sharply than those of other students, according to national assessment data.Some of that gap is expected because the category, by definition, includes students who are not yet proficient in English, said Michael J. Kieffer, a professor of literacy education at New York University.“It’s a long-term narrative that English learners are struggling, and often they’re referred to as if they’re perpetually struggling,” Kieffer said. He said it’s important to remember that some English learners’ success isn’t captured in data focused solely on high school.Philadelphia has expanded its newcomer academies to three schools in recent years, providing additional support and resources for students who are new to the country and learning English. It also offers English as a second language classes and support programs for English learners in several other neighborhood high schools.Still, advocates say families and students constantly struggle to get information in a language they understand and to get help accessing the curriculum.“We often get calls from families who realize that their children are not making progress in their neighborhood schools, not learning enough English, or getting enough support,” said Kristina Moon, a senior attorney in the Philadelphia office of the Education Law Center.Moon’s group and others have advocated for the district to put more resources toward newcomer programs in high schools to help students reach English proficiency faster. Doing so would help students pass classes and connect with the greater school community through extracurricular activities and sports, Moon said.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump renews push to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook Trump is once again threatening to fire Cook over unproven allegations of mortgage fraud after an earlier effort to remove Cook was struck down by the Supreme Court.
	The 90-day countdown: What the end of the SAVE Plan really means for your student loans The 90-day countdown: What the end of the SAVE Plan really means for your student loansThe scariest part of debt is rarely the math. It's not knowing what you actually owe, what your options are, or what happens if you do nothing. And right now, millions of student loan borrowers are staring down a deadline that's forcing them into something new, ready or not.If you've been on the SAVE Plan, you've gotten used to a strange kind of quiet. SAVE launched in 2023 as the most affordable federal repayment plan ever offered, and it got tangled in lawsuits almost immediately. For years, that legal limbo meant a lot of borrowers simply didn't have to think about their loans. No required payments. Life went on.That quiet is over. Starting July 1, loan servicers began sending formal notices to the more than 7 million people still enrolled in SAVE. You now have 90 days—landing around the end of September—to choose a new repayment plan. According to the Department of Education, if you don't, you'll be automatically enrolled into the Standard Repayment Plan or the new Tiered Standard Plan—both of which base your payment on your loan balance rather than your income, which can mean a much bigger bill than borrowers are prepared for.So if you do nothing, you don't automatically get the plan that's best for you. You get the plan that requires the least paperwork. Convenience for the system, not for the borrower. Earnest explains what the end of the SAVE Plan and the rollout of new repayment options mean for borrowers’ monthly bills.The impact of this change is hard to overstate: More than half of SAVE borrowers had a $0 monthly payment. So this isn't just a slight tweak or small change. Some people are going from paying nothing to paying hundreds of dollars a month.And here's the part that catches people off guard: even though payments weren't required, interest didn't stay paused. It started accruing again back in August 2025. So while a lot of borrowers assumed their balance was frozen, it's actually been quietly growing for almost a year—meaning the number on that first new bill may be bigger than the one they remember.Here's what that actually looks like: say you had a $60,000 balance at a 6.39% interest rate. Since August 2025, that loan would have been accruing roughly $320 a month in interest, which adds up to around $3,500 that's been silently tacked onto a balance you probably thought was frozen in place. That's not a hypothetical fee. It's money you already owe.Meet RAP, the plan replacing SAVEBeyond the Standard Plan, the other big new option is the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, also available starting July 1. It's designed as the long-term replacement for SAVE and works differently: payments run 1% to 10% of income, with a $10 monthly minimum. There's no more $0 payment like there was under SAVE. Forgiveness takes 30 years, longer than the 20- to 25-year timelines for most other income-driven plans. In exchange, RAP cancels unpaid interest each month and guarantees your principal drops by at least $50 a month, which helps prevent runaway balances.Two other options, Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment, stopped taking new enrollees on July 1 and will be gone entirely by 2028. Income-Based Repayment is expected to remain as the main legacy option—meaning most borrowers, going forward, are really choosing between Standard, IBR, and RAP.Let's make this real with actual numbers: let’s say you owe $35,000 in federal loans at 6.39% interest, and you earn $50,000 a year with no dependents.Option A: Enrolling in RAP. Your payment would be calculated as 5% of your income, divided by 12, so about $208 a month. That sounds great compared to a $395 Standard Plan payment. But look closer: at 6.39% interest, this loan is accruing about $186 a month in interest right out of the gate. That means only about $22 of your $208 payment is actually chipping away at what you owe. The government tops that up to a guaranteed $50 a month, but you're still barely moving the needle on your balance. RAP runs for up to 30 years, and unlike the old system, whatever's left at the end is forgiven—but that forgiven amount now gets taxed as income, since the tax exemption on forgiven balances expired.Option B: Refinance at a lower fixed rate. Say you qualify for 4.5% on a 10-year term. Your payment comes out to about $363 a month—higher month-to-month than RAP's $208, but lower than the $395 you'd pay on the Standard Plan. And because you're paying it off in 10 years instead of 30, you'd pay about $8,528 in total interest, compared to roughly $12,455 under the Standard Plan—a difference of nearly $3,900—and you'd be done paying it off in a decade instead of carrying it for most of your working life.However, it’s important to note that refinancing federal student loans into a private loan means giving up federal benefits tied to those loans, including income-driven repayment plans, Economic Hardship Deferment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and other deferment and forbearance options. And if you file for bankruptcy, you may still be required to repay a refinanced private loan.Neither option is universally right—or even universally great. If $208 a month is what keeps your budget afloat right now, RAP's lower payment could matter more than the long-run cost. But if you can comfortably handle something closer to $363 a month, refinancing in this example gets you out of debt in a third of the time and for meaningfully less overall interest. The term you choose matters, too: refinancing into a longer term may lower your monthly payment but increase the total interest you may pay, while a shorter term may increase your monthly payment but lower the total interest you may pay. Review your loan documentation for the total cost of your refinanced loan. That's the actual tradeoff—not an abstraction, a real comparison worth running with your own numbers before picking a box on a form.Why this deadline is differentI know how it feels when someone tells you to "review your options.” It's the financial equivalent of "we should catch up sometime." Easy to nod along to, easy to never do.What's different now is that doing nothing isn't neutral. For years, staying on SAVE by default was a fine choice because nothing was really happening. Now, waiting could mean wasting money—and possibly more debt. Not making your own choice could have a specific, costly outcome. The question isn't "should I think about my repayment plan" anymore. It's "I have to pick something in the next 90 days, so what should I pick?" That's a better question. Most people just haven't had to sit with it before.2 common mistakesCertified financial education instructors see the same two mistakes come up again and again. The first is treating "federal" as a synonym for "safe." Federal loans come with real protections—income-driven forgiveness, deferment, and PSLF eligibility if you qualify. But the question isn't whether those protections are valuable in theory; it's whether your situation is one where you're likely to actually need them. A borrower with stable income, no public-service plans, and a high-rate balance may be paying every month for a safety net they might not need.The second is overestimating your own odds of forgiveness. PSLF has specific employer and payment-history requirements. Under RAP, forgiveness now takes 30 years, and with the federal tax exemption on forgiven balances expired, that forgiveness could come with a tax bill. "What if I need forgiveness someday?" is a fair worry. It's not the same as being on track for it.None of this means refinancing is right for everyone facing this deadline. If you're actively pursuing PSLF, your income is unstable, or you'll likely need an income-driven plan's protections soon, staying federal is probably still the better move—RAP's interest cancellation is a real safety net if your income is unpredictable. The point isn't that refinancing is always the answer. It's that the 90-day window is forcing a decision anyway, so it should be made with real numbers instead of by default.What to actually do in the next 90 daysConfirm your deadline. Check studentaid.gov and your servicer directly. Notices go out in waves through the fall, so your window depends on when you were notified, not just July 1.Check your real balance. Interest has been accruing since August 2025, so the number may be higher than you remember, and it's the number every other decision should be based on.Be honest about forgiveness. If you're not actively pursuing PSLF and don't have a realistic, specific path to IDR forgiveness, say so plainly.Run the numbers two ways. Use the federal Loan Simulator at studentaid.gov to see what RAP or IBR would cost you. Then compare that to what refinancing with a private lender could look like for your rate and balance—most prequalification tools won't affect your credit score.Choose on purpose. Actively enroll in whatever you land on before your 90 days are up. The one outcome worth avoiding is doing nothing and landing in the Standard Repayment Plan by default—often the most expensive option month to month.None of these steps takes more than an afternoon. That afternoon is the difference between a plan you chose and one you got handed.The clock is already running. Waiting could mean wasting money. Whatever you choose in the next 90 days, make it a choice you made on purpose.Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.This story was produced by Earnest and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	4 Your Money \| Profits, Not Promises Recent market commentary has focused on whether the current AI-driven investment boom bears similarities to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. Nate Kreinbrink, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, joins us to share if that is a fair comparison and if investors should be concerned.
	The best airline food and drinks of 2026 The best airline food and drinks of 2026Meals, snacks and drink options at 30,000 feet have always inspired strong opinions. From the coffee you'll nurse through a transcon flight to the wine list in business class, in-flight and airport lounge food is a topic that many travelers have very specific thoughts about.In May, point.me, an award travel search platform for points and miles, asked its users for their hot takes on all the most pressing in-flight food and beverage topics, including the best and worst coffee and the best airline snacks in economy. Also on the agenda — which lounge pours the best cocktail, which business class wine list is worth booking around, and what the most seasoned travelers actually want from their morning cup. Finally, there’s the topic everyone wants to talk about: the one thing you should never pull out of your carry-on. And point.me members aren't exactly newbies: More than half fly five or more times a year, and two-thirds are sitting on 200,000-plus credit card and airline points. These are people with feelings about the best airline food, and the butt-in-seat miles to back them up.Here’s the rundown of what frequent fliers love — and love to hate — about airline and airport lounge food.Delta wins the airline coffee wars, but aficionados opt for Alaska and StumptownOverall, Delta’s Starbucks topped the survey at 24.8% — but frequent travelers broke ranks.A decisive 35% chose Alaska Airlines' Stumptown Holler Mountain over Starbucks. There's a reason it works up there: Stumptown developed the blend specifically for high-altitude drinking, accounting for how taste buds function differently at 30,000 feet — and seasoned travelers noticed. point.me “This result also seems to reflect a growing coffee culture, where people are considering other brands outside of Starbucks,” says Jimmy Yoon, head of Points Intelligence at point.me.Millennials (37%) and high-earners (27%) also skipped Starbucks for Stumptown, but Gen X and Boomers chose Delta’s Starbucks. Interestingly, fliers apparently don’t run on Dunkin’ (JetBlue’s official in-flight coffee). It was voted the worst coffee in the skies overall.Air France does wine betterAre people really moved to book an award flight — or pony up cold hard cash for a business class seat — just because of an airline's wine list? Short answer: Yes. Especially when Air France is the airline.More than 36% of respondents named Air France the best business class wine selection in the sky, and with good reason. Head sommelier Xavier Thuizat — Best Sommelier of France 2022, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2023, Michelin Guide sommelier award winner 2024 — curates a list that runs from premium Champagnes to white Burgundies and Bordeaux reds, finished with French digestifs like Cognac, Calvados and Armagnac. It's a serious wine program."At Air France, wine is an integral part of the French travel experience we strive to offer every customer," said Nicolas Henin, senior vice president of Air France-KLM, North America. "In partnership with Xavier Thuizat, our head sommelier, we carefully curate our onboard wine and champagne selection to showcase the excellence and diversity of France's renowned wine regions. We're very happy to see this commitment recognized by travelers, and we'll continue to elevate the onboard dining experience by bringing the best of French gastronomy and hospitality to the skies." point.me But there’s more good news for oenophiles — Air France didn't just win the best wine list. It also won for the heaviest pour. At 34.5%, it more than doubled runner-up Emirates’ results at 14.9%. Better wine, and more of it.Southwest and American are losing the airline snack wars2026 has been a rough year for Southwest. The airline took it on the chin when flyers pushed back on two big changes: the end of open seating and the arrival of checked bag fees. And now there’s another problem: Nobody likes Southwest Airlines’ snacks. More than 32% of point.me members said Southwest has the worst airline snacks, with its lineup of Stellar Pretzel Braids, Remy's Grahams, and OREO cookies.Nearly 24% said the same about American's meager options: Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels. But their less-than-stellar snack reputation could be temporary, says Yoon. “We could see a turnaround with American Airlines’ snacks. They've recently mentioned that they want to invest in a more premium experience.”Everyone hates a tuna sandwichTravel days are stressful, so most people try to give others grace. Even so, the point.me community made one thing abundantly clear: Don't be that person who stashes a strong-smelling meal in their carry-on. Forty percent of respondents agreed — you will be persona non grata the moment you pull out a tuna sandwich. One reader put it best: "Sat next to a guy eating a tuna sandwich — with onion — on the way to Iceland. Nightmare." Other no-no’s: hard-boiled eggs, soups and messy liquids, anything fried or fast food and beans. point.me Delta is ready for the Ozempic eraWhich airline serves the best meals for GLP-1 users? One point.me respondent called the question "absurd" — but with 1 in 8 Americans taking GLP-1 medication to manage their weight or diabetes, it's a real concern for a growing number of travelers. Delta won decisively at 31.6%, nearly doubling second-place Alaska at 17.4%, and the menu tells you why. Standard options include fish, chicken breast, lentils, edamame, and chickpeas. Think chilled salmon salad, BBQ chicken thigh, and citrus lime shrimp. There's also a special-order Balanced Meal built around lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. point.me Amex Centurion Lounge is an undisputed winnerAirport lounges are a refuge from chaos — gate-area scrambles, $18 sandwiches, nowhere to sit.Nearly 36% of survey respondents ranked American Express Centurion Lounges as the best in the business. DFW offers day beds, private showers and craft cocktails; SFO has locally curated wines with tarmac views; Atlanta's got "The Reserve," the first dedicated American whiskey bar in any Centurion location. point.me “Centurion Lounges were the first airport lounges started by a bank, and they remain the best. They're known for having a great food selection and bar program. It’s hard to beat,” says Yoon.But that’s not the end of the lounge story. Men leaned toward Centurion (40%), while women split more evenly between Centurion (30%) and Chase Sapphire (29%). Affluent travelers — those earning $150,000 or more — named Amex their top pick at 37% versus 26% for Chase Sapphire.“Having the largest network of lounges within the US, compared to Chase and Capital One, helps with this ranking, too,” says Yoon.Emirates is tops in elevated diningIf there's a single dominant force in in-flight dining, it’s Emirates. The airline won best business class meal at 26.3%, and for good reason. It offers a true restaurant-in-the-sky approach: regional menus developed with celebrated chefs, dine-on-demand service, and finishing details like Royal Doulton china. Singapore came in second at 19.4%.“Emirates is known for having a premium product across the world,” says Yoon. “Their win in the best in-flight dining category isn't a surprise.”Emirates also swept the best business class breakfast at 25.2% and the best economy meal at 23%. In the latter category, they were neck-and-neck with Singapore, which came in a close second at 22.7%. point.me By this point, it wasn’t exactly a surprise that Emirates also took the prize for best cocktail program at 24.1%. “To experience Emirates’ wonderful cocktail program, consider booking a flight on one of their A380s, which has a dedicated bar and lounge for premium cabin passengers,” says Yoon.There was one interesting caveat in this category, however. More experienced fliers preferred the Virgin Atlantic bar program over Emirates.Delta dominates domestic airlinesDelta swept three main survey categories, leaving the competition in its contrails.In addition to having the best overall in-flight coffee (Starbucks) and the best GLP-1 friendly snacks, Delta also won for overall best economy snack choices, pulling 30% overall, while Southwest and JetBlue tied for a distant second at 18% each. Cheez-Its, Biscoff cookies, Sun Chips Minis, and gluten-free MadeGood Granola Bars apparently have universal appeal. In the economy snacks category, Delta won every single age group without exception.“No surprise here,” says Yoon. “Delta has a pretty underwhelming program that won't rank high when it comes to redemptions, but people love the in-flight experience.”The most seasoned fliers have spokenExperienced travelers — the kind who fly more than five times a year, carry six-figure point balances, and have strong feelings about wine pours — know what they want in the air. This survey shows that Delta owns the domestic experience, and Air France pours better wine, and more of it, while Emirates is simply in another class. And everyone agrees on one thing: Leave the tuna sandwich at home.About this surveyIn May 2026, point.me surveyed 556 members on food and beverage experiences across airlines and airport lounges. Fieldwork ran May 28-29. Respondents skew experienced: 51.6% fly five or more times a year, 66% hold 200,000 or more points, and 58% report household incomes of more than $150,000.This story was produced by point.me and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	French companies are inviting unhoused people to sleep in their offices French companies are inviting unhoused people to sleep in their officesFor several years, when Pierre-Yves Loaëc left his office in Nantes in the evenings, he passed a woman sleeping rough in the parking lot near Nobilito, the marketing agency he runs. The contrast nagged at him. Outside, she huddled near a parking garage vent for warmth during the winter. “My office had heat, a kitchen, sofas, a shower, toilets, but was sitting empty all night,” he recalls to Reasons to be Cheerful. Yet he never spoke to her, unsure how he could help.Instead, Loaëc became interested in a broader question: Why were so many offices sitting empty every night while thousands of people lacked a safe place to sleep? The answer became Bureaux du Coeur (“Offices of the Heart”), a nonprofit that turns unused office space into temporary overnight accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.Today, the initiative works with 400 companies in 40 cities across France, and beyond, in Lisbon, Barcelona, and Brussels. Since its founding in 2019, Bureaux du Coeur has helped more than 1,000 people and provided roughly 160,000 nights of shelter. Its ambition is even larger: to expand across Europe as cities grapple with two parallel crises — a persistent rise in homelessness and a glut of underused office space following the shift to remote and hybrid work.Bureaux de Coeur’s solution remains remarkably simple: When employees go home, offices become homes.Loaëc did not arrive at the concept alone. He is president of the Nantes chapter of the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD), a longstanding French business leaders’ movement founded on the principle that economic activity should serve society. “I always imagined the solution collectively,” he says. “I knew I couldn’t do it alone.”When he first presented the idea to around 15 fellow business leaders, “many people thought I had lost my mind,” Loaëc says with a laugh. Some immediately listed potential problems — security concerns, insurance issues, liability risks, property damage. Others focused on the practical question that would ultimately define the initiative: How could it actually work?The group developed a model that companies could realistically adopt. To qualify for Bureaux du Coeur, candidates must meet strict criteria: They must be adults, without children or pets, reside legally in France, use neither alcohol nor drugs, and not suffer from severe physical or mental health issues. Also, every candidate must participate in accompanying measures to help them reintegrate into a job or vocational training.Naturally, these criteria exclude a large number of those in need. “We can’t accommodate everybody,” Loaëc acknowledges, noting that roughly 350,000 people are homeless in France. That limitation disappointed him at first, but he says participating companies are not equipped to provide medical treatment, addiction support, or intensive social care. Their role is to offer space while partner organizations select participants and provide professional support.Each company takes only one guest at a time. The “guests,” as Loaëc insists on calling them, sleep in meeting rooms, break areas, or spaces that are temporarily converted into bedrooms each evening.The first host was Loaëc himself. In 2019, he welcomed Elisabeth, a woman fleeing domestic violence who had been sleeping in her car despite holding a job. She stayed in his office for three weeks while securing longer-term housing.A second guest, known as Booba, stayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, practically alone in the building throughout the country’s first lockdown. At the time, emergency shelters were among the most significant clusters of coronavirus transmission in Nantes. “Knowing he was safe in the agency and away from that risk was important,” Loaëc says.The breakthrough came in May 2020, when France’s largest regional newspaper, Ouest-France, published a story about the initiative. Companies and social-service organizations from across the country began calling. “The response was completely crazy,” Loaëc remembers.What had started as a local experiment became a national movement. The initiative now employs 12 staff members and coordinates approximately 270 volunteers nationwide. Funding comes from foundations and private donations.Participants consistently describe the experience as life-changing. Samy, a Sudanese trainee electrician, struggled to find stable accommodation while pursuing vocational training. “I feel a little bit at home here,” he said during his stay. “I feel a little freer.”The comments reveal a reality that social workers know well: Homelessness is not only a lack of shelter. “People spend their days wondering where they will sleep, whether they will be safe, where they can shower, charge a phone, store their belongings, or simply rest,” Loaëc says. “You can’t keep a job if you don’t have a roof over your head. The mental burden becomes enormous.”The apparent simplicity of Bureaux du Coeur masks a carefully structured system. Every placement involves three parties: the host company, the guest, and a partner social service organization, which selects the participants.All parties sign a formal agreement. Guests commit to searching for long-term housing and employment opportunities. Social service partners provide guidance and monitoring. Companies provide accommodation. Once a month, everyone involved meets to review progress.One of the initiative’s less obvious effects is its ability to challenge assumptions. Loaëc admits he used to carry many common stereotypes. “A homeless person is not necessarily someone who begs, doesn’t wash, and drinks a lot of alcohol,” he realized. What surprised him most was the number of working people struggling with housing insecurity. Others are apprentices, students, refugees, or people recovering from sudden crises such as domestic violence. Their biggest obstacle is often not unemployment but the lack of a stable place from which to rebuild.One former guest, Souleymane Diarra, emphasized the emotional significance of being welcomed into a workplace. “Here, people don’t judge me for the hardships I’ve been through,” he said. “People here lift me up. It encourages me to move forward.”That sense of belonging extends beyond the guests themselves. They are not expected to pack up before the employees arrive every morning. On the contrary, Loaëc hopes they will share a coffee and a conversation.Alain, a formerly homeless man hosted by Bureaux du Coeur at the company Haxoneo in northern France, describes how depression led to the collapse of his life. He lost his job, home, car, partner, and child. During the time he was homeless, he says he was largely ignored or treated with hostility: “For two years, people either shouted at me, ‘Get out of here,’ or a police officer would shine a flashlight into my eyes and say, ‘Do you think that guy is dead?’”The employees at Haxoneo and Bureaux du Coeur were the first people who actually had conversations with him. What transformed his situation was not only a safe place to sleep but ordinary human interaction, being spoken to as a person, and regaining confidence. During his stay, he found employment and began preparing for independent housing.“Having a coffee with him sounds trivial, but for him, who had coffee with him over the last two years?” a Haxoneo employee reflects. “What’s great is that beyond making our offices available, it created this social bond.”For companies, Loaëc believes Bureaux du Coeur strengthens social cohesion at a time when remote work and flexible schedules have weakened many workplace relationships. “What we promise companies is an experience of community,” he says. Hosting a guest, he argues, often does “much more than bungee jumping and other [traditional corporate] team-building events” to unite employees.According to an impact study commissioned by the organization, between 85% and 90% of participants leave the program with both housing and employment after an average stay of four and a half months.Loaëc is careful not to claim credit for achievements that belong to partner organizations. Yet housing stability appears to be the missing piece that allows other interventions to succeed. “It’s a transition solution,” Loaëc says. “Our role is simply to put a roof over someone’s head so the rest becomes possible.”The model is also comparatively inexpensive. According to figures provided by the organization, a place in a traditional emergency shelter costs public authorities roughly 10,000 euros per year. A place through Bureaux du Coeur costs less than 2,000 euros because the infrastructure already exists, and much of the support network relies on volunteers.Things can go wrong. One guest became isolated and stopped receiving adequate support, eventually leaving the accommodation in poor condition. Another drove away with a company vehicle. Yet such incidents remain rare. Among more than 1,000 guests, Loaëc estimates only four or five placements have resulted in serious problems. The common factor in those cases, he says, is that host companies ignored established guidelines.Insurance companies have adapted to support the model. Firms such as AXA have modified commercial policies to allow businesses to host people overnight in office buildings, removing what was initially a significant obstacle.The guests usually stay for a maximum of three to six months, but Loaëc’s company just accommodated a guest for 18 months, until the young man could enroll in a job training program. “I’m the boss, I can break the rules,” Loaëc says with a laugh.Despite its rapid growth, Loaëc insists there is nothing revolutionary about the concept. He sees it as reviving an older tradition of hospitality that modern society has forgotten. For centuries, farms, workshops, and family businesses routinely provided temporary shelter to workers, travelers, and people in need.Modern offices simply became detached from that tradition.The woman who first inspired the project still sleeps outside. Loaëc still sees her sometimes.But the question she forced him to confront has now produced a network that has sheltered more than a thousand people and provided hundreds of thousands of nights of safety.Every evening, across France, office lights switch off, and employees head home. And in hundreds of buildings, someone else arrives carrying a key.This story was produced by Reasons to be Cheerful and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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