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

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026
	Student Hunger Drive marks 40th year with goal of 1 million meals Quad City students kicked off the 40th annual Student Hunger Drive at River Bend Food Bank in Davenport, aiming to collect 1 million meals for people facing food insecurity.
	67th Honor Flight takes off Tuesday The group includes five Korean War-era veterans, along with service members from the Vietnam and Cold War eras.
	Rock Island man sentenced to 38 years over child porn, sex abuse crimes A Rock Island man has been sentenced to 38 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sex abuse materials and sexually assaulting a person.
	Just Us & Treats ice cream trailer opens in new storefront today in East Moline Just Us & Treats ice cream shop ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Saturday with face painting, music, giveaways, ice cream and more.
	Featuring a local veteran taking a flight to the nation's capital News 8's Joe Habersham caught up with Sammy Kipp, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, to talk about what he's most excited to see on the flight to DC.
	News 8 travels with local veterans on the 67th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities News 8's Joe Habersham is sharing the stories of local veterans as they make their way to Washington D.C., on the annual Honor Flight.
	Fall is officially here, but peak colors may arrive later this year Shortening daylight triggers the change, but weather will determine how vibrant Quad Cities fall foliage becomes
	Trinity Heart Center to host free community heart screening event The event will offer free heart health screenings and free EKGs for adults 18 and older.
	One more rainy day for the Quad Cities While rain is in the forecast Tuesday, it won't be as heavy as what we picked up this past weekend. Cooler than normal temperatures stick around through the weekend. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Humility Homes & Services to raise money with brunch fundraiser Humility Homes & Services, Inc. (HHSI) invites the Quad Cities community to raise a glass—and raise hope—at A Toast to Home, a brunch fundraiser presented by Build to Suit Inc., taking place 9:30 a.m.-noon Sunday, Oct. 4, at Bally’s Quad Cities Event Center in Rock Island. A Toast to Home will bring together community members, [...]
	Twin State Technical Services announces Executive Director of AI Strategy & Data Innovation Twin State Technical Services expands AI and data offerings by naming Jeanna Schoonmaker as Executive Director of AI Strategy & Data Innovation.
	Houthis try to push deeper into western Yemen, upending life, witnesses tell NPR As the U.S. conflict with Iran drags, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have opened a new front, taking new territory and displacing more than 100,000 people.
	New DNA analysis adds evidence Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings A lock of hair, 15 years of sleuthing and a 200-year-old question. In History by a Hair, Smithsonian Institution scholar Richard Kurin follows the DNA trail back to Thomas Jefferson.
	AI solved one of math's hardest problems. Humanity learned nothing (so far) OpenAI beat humans to solving the Navier-Stokes problem, but mathematicians say the AI's solution isn't telling them much.
	The House Freedom Caucus has to transform — it could preview the GOP's post-Trump era The conservative House Freedom caucus grew in prominence along side President Trump, now they are considering what the future of their movement looks like.
	Police, fire, EMT and mental health: How one city is leading the charge to reshape 911 Alternative response programs, where mental health clinicians respond to 911 calls instead of police, have proliferated since George Floyd's murder. What does it take to do this work well?
	Grand jury finds no evidence of criminal conduct in the death of Nolan Wells A grand jury found Wells' cause of death "consistent with drowning," and decided not to bring indictments. The teenager was found dead on Horn Island, after he boated there with friends to celebrate Independence Day.
	New book by Princess Diana's brother prompts war of words with King Charles III A new book by the late Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, has made headlines with damning allegations about King Charles III. Buckingham Palace responded with a strongly-worded statement.
	Skye Consort & Emma Björling plays Cambridge International ensemble Skye Consort & Emma Björling is set to perform in Cambridge. Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, this all-ages show is September 27 at Ca d’Zan House Concerts. According to a release: Skye Consort & Emma Björling takes the stage Sunday, September 27 at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge. An optional potluck dinner [...]
Monday, September 21st, 2026
	Diesel over $6 in 49 states: Illinois among the highest California has the most expensive diesel in the U.S. at an average of $8.42 per gallon, according to AAA.
	Residents and activists ask East Moline to cancel Flock Safety contract The city's current contract for automated license plate readers is funded through a grant.
	Smithfield leaders speak at Monmouth City Council Last week, the company announced that one of its workers, 44-year-old Patou Mpinda, died in a workplace incident. It addressed community concerns on Monday.
	Pecking Order This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Anyone who has raised chickens understands "pecking order." A hundred new baby chicks let loose in a farm yard will run…
	Smithfield leaders address concerns during Monmouth City Council Last week, the company announced that one of its workers, 44-year-old Patou Mpinda, died in a workplace incident. The nature of the incident has not been disclosed.
	State and local leaders gather at Mercado on Fifth to discuss homelessness among Latine Illinoisans A first-of-its-kind report was released earlier this year examining the structural factors contributing to housing instability among Latine people in the state.
	Crash involves vehicles on Interstate 74 East Shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, emergency vehicles and responders were on the scene of a crash just past Exit 5 to Interstate 280 West. Our Quad Cities News crew saw the crash site, where traffic lanes were closed. We do not know whether anyone was injured or ticketed, and will stay in touch with police [...]
	Veterans meet before their Honor Flight of the Quad Cities Veterans from the QCA will be headed out on the next Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, and they got a chance to meet each other and their guardians for the trip. Our Quad Cities News photojournalists Mike Colón looks at that special dinner as these heroes prepare for their journey to Washington, D.C.
	Rising fuel prices became flashpoint in fuel debate Record fuel costs brought different reactions from politicians about what should be ahead.
	Illinois falls short in reducing carbon emissions: What to know A new report shows that despite progress, Illinois is falling short of its lofty goals to reduce carbon emissions. The goal is net zero by 2050, but the state is only predicted to reduce emissions by 53 percent from the 2005 baseline. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau chief Alex Whitney shows why there's [...]
	Clinton's MS Fest to raise money for local people living with multiple sclerosis MS Fest returns on Sunday, Sept. 27. It's all raising money for the QCA nonprofit, the Finch Fund, which helps local people living with MS.
	DA Colom urges judge to end murder case against Tameshia Shelton, arguing evidence could point to suicide: ‘State does not have evidence’ Columbus-area District Attorney Scott Colom urged a judge Monday to dismiss the murder indictment against Tameshia Shelton, months after the state Supreme Court let stand a Court of Appeals ruling that threw out her conviction for the death of her sister’s boyfriend. Shelton served 11 years behind bars in the 2009 shooting death of 21-year-old Danelle Young. She was freed from prison in June after the Mississippi Supreme Court ruling. The Mississippi Court of Appeals had stated that prosecutors failed to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Shelton murdered Young. The mother of four, now 48, is supposed to face a new murder trial in Clay County on Oct. 5. If Circuit Judge James T. Kitchens Jr. grants the district attorney’s request, it could put an end to a case that has followed Shelton the last 17 years. The office of District Attorney Forrest Allgood, Colom’s predecessor, oversaw the 2015 prosecution. Now Colom is arguing the state doesn’t have evidence to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Young didn’t kill himself. Upon hearing the news about Colom’s request to the judge Monday, Shelton screamed and said, “Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh! I’m so overwhelmed.” She said she feels like doing cartwheels. The Clay County Circuit Clerk’s Office told Mississippi Today on Monday that the judge had not determined whether to dismiss Shelton’s indictment, but would reach a decision by the time of the retrial. A crumbling case On June 1, Mississippi Today published its four-year investigation that found much of the evidence in Young’s death suggested he killed himself. A key piece was Young’s apparent suicide note, but the jury in Shelton’s 2015 trial never saw it before convicting her of murder. Days after the story ran, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in Shelton’s favor, and she was freed on bond, awaiting trial. Not long after arriving at Young’s fatal shooting on Oct. 16, 2009, Clay County sheriff’s deputies concluded his death was a homicide. Shelton, who has maintained her innocence, became the prime suspect because she was the last known person to see Young alive. A pathologist with the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Young’s death a homicide, based on the trajectory of the bullet, but reversed that decision in a 2021 hearing, concluding that the death should have been “undetermined,” most likely suicide. District Attorney Scott Colom of Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District stands in his office in Columbus on May 12, 2026, beside a photo of Levon Brooks, middle, and Kennedy Brewer, who were two of the six people convicted under Colom’s predecessor, Forrest Allgood, for murder and later exonerated. Credit: Madeline Nguyen/Mississippi Today In his motion, Colom wrote that he asked the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office to review the pathologist’s autopsy and that the office told him it could not provide any additional services. “In light of this development,” Colom wrote, “the State does not have evidence upon which a reasonable jury could rely to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Young’s death was a homicide rather than a suicide.” Shelton also called 911 to report Young’s death to officers and get him medical aid, which could make her innocent in the eyes of a “reasonable jury,” Colom wrote. Colom: ‘The evidence sounded thin’ For years as district attorney, Colom had supported a second look at Shelton’s murder conviction. Her case first came to his attention in 2018, after Shelton’s family came to him in an effort to get her out of prison. He had inherited a prosecutor’s office that oversaw six tossed-out murder convictions, all under Allgood. If the judge grants Colom’s new request, Shelton would become the seventh. Allgood previously told Mississippi Today that he and his staff never tried anyone they thought was innocent, but that he did not recall the Shelton case, which other prosecutors in his office tried. After Colom looked into her case, he started to have questions. “The evidence sounded thin,” he told Mississippi Today. “There was not much motive.” Colom reached out to the Mississippi Innocence Project, whose attorneys ultimately secured the reversal of Shelton’s murder conviction and her freedom from prison. He also wrote a sworn statement supporting a hearing to determine whether she deserved a new trial. When the state Supreme Court unanimously ordered such a hearing in 2020, Judge Kitchens removed Colom from the case because of that statement and had the attorney general’s office replace him. “Eight years ago, Scott Colom met with Tameshia’s family to hear their concerns that she had been convicted of a crime that never happened,” Shelton’s current attorney, Sandra Levick, said in a statement Monday. “He had nothing to gain in taking that meeting. He had nothing to gain in signing an affidavit urging the Court of Appeals to allow a hearing so that the facts could be known.” An apparent suicide note goes unseen When Young was found shot outside Shelton’s trailer, he had been in town to visit his girlfriend and her younger sister, Ketina Tutton. The couple had been planning on living together, and Young wanted to get married. But Tutton changed her mind after getting a new job, her family said. At about 8 p.m. on the evening of Young’s death, the couple’s dreams of a new life together had deteriorated into a verbal spat that lasted 15 to 20 minutes. “I had just told him that we were not – that I was not going to move in January like we had planned,” Tutton later told deputies. “This was something we had planned … until I got the job.” The argument ended with the couple parting ways. She said she walked inside her mother’s house, and Young headed to Shelton’s trailer. It was dark when Shelton said Young knocked on her bedroom window. She was already in bed with her two daughters. When she came to the front door, she said Young told her there was a raccoon in the tree and that he needed Shelton’s revolver and only one bullet to kill it. She said she replied that he might need more than one bullet, so she loaded the .22 pistol and handed it to Young. She said she heard a shot, and when Young didn’t return, she went outside to check on him and found him under a tree. A scan of the apparent suicide note that Danelle Young signed and addressed to his girlfriend’s sister, Tameshia Shelton, before his death. Credit: Mississippi Supreme Court records Weeks after Young’s death, Shelton said she found an apparent suicide note in which he wrote, “I have no life without (Ketina). These are my last words.” She shared the note with her defense lawyer, Rod Ray, who failed to introduce the note as evidence at trial. Mississippi Today shared the note with five jurors in Shelton’s original murder trial. Three said they believed the note created reasonable doubt about her guilt. In Mississippi, a person can’t be convicted of murder unless every juror agrees on a guilty verdict. In his Monday request, Colom wrote the note is another piece of evidence that “undermines” any prosecution against Shelton for murder. “Today, he moved to dismiss the indictment because the facts are known and they show that a grave injustice has taken place,” Levick said in a statement Monday. “We join in urging the Court to grant the motion to put an end to this nightmare for Tameshia Shelton and her family.” Courtesy of Mississippi Today
	Arkansas corrections department abandons restrictions on physical books, newspapers Board of Corrections Chairman Jamie Barker (center) and board member Nathan Lee (left) listen to department staff during a Sept. 21, 2026 board meeting. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas Department of Corrections will shift its focus away from creating a policy restricting access to physical books in an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons, officials told the state corrections board Monday. Officials instead plans to tighten the language of a 2022 policy and give the department more authority to ban “misbehaving” third-parties selling publications laced with drugs to incarcerated people, said Tawnie Hughes, the department’s chief legal officer. The ability to purchase physical newspapers, books and other publications will not be taken away, based on the draft policy obtained by the Advocate. Arkansas inmates restricted from receiving physical books, other media directly under new policy “Please do not print a headline that says we’re banning books, because we’re not,” said corrections board chairman Jamie Barker during Monday’s meeting. The department first proposed banning incarcerated people from receiving physical books last year in order to tamp down on drugs making their way into prisons. Physical books in state prison libraries were not affected under that proposal, but books that incarcerated people purchased from businesses like Amazon or Barnes & Noble were. The proposal faced pushback from civil liberties and prison reform groups, and the families of incarcerated people. Officials paused implementation of the proposal earlier this year so it could go through the formal rulemaking process. Critics of such restrictions have said they severely limit access for people in prison to reading materials because offerings in prison libraries and on prison-issued tablets can be limited or outdated. But prison officials said they were needed to combat a surge of illegal drugs. Rowell said the Baxter County sheriff tried implementing a policy similar to the one proposed by the corrections department, but it was blocked in federal court. “You really have to be demonstrative that you’ve taken all of the steps before moving to something that’s that extreme,” Rowell said. Corrections Secretary Linsday Wallace said the changes to the initial proposal that were discussed with the board Monday were made for several reasons, including that digital reading options for incarcerated people did not meet the standards necessary to enable a ban on physical books. “If we could get some library options that were bolstered and they had more opportunities to get what they wanted, I don’t have a problem with that,” Wallace said. “But also, not everybody gets tablets.” Prison-issued tablets often do not bridge the gap when access to physical books is curtailed, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy group. Wallace said department officials would see if the new proposal discussed Monday made a difference before attempting more restrictive policies. The conversation about the book policy came during a broader discussion about overdose deaths within state prisons. Incarcerated people have been overdosing on drugs that don’t respond to naloxone, an opioid-overdose antidote, department staff told board members, and the ever-evolving nature of the illicit drugs that make their way into the prisons means there’s no single test for identifying them. “This is not an Arkansas-unique problem,” Wallace said. “It’s happening everywhere. Everybody is dealing with these drugs coming in and their deaths.” Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Former pro hockey player proposes new Quad Cities sports facility A former professional hockey player is proposing a new sports, entertainment and wellness facility that he hopes will expand access to ice sports and other activities in the Quad Cities.
	Study: ‘Doubled-up’ homelessness impacts nearly 100,000 in Illinois New study finds why Latin Americans face homelessness at a higher rate.
	Century-old Davenport homes saved from demolition to house refugee families Two historic homes in Davenport, once marked for demolition, have been restored to provide affordable housing for refugee families.
	Iowa Senate candidates release fuel price plans as diesel tops $6 a gallon Two candidates running for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat have released plans to address record fuel prices as the war with Iran reaches seven months.
	Redeploy program aims to keep at-risk youth out of Illinois juvenile justice system Community members gathered in Moline to discuss the new Rock Island County Redeploy program, designed to redirect high-risk youth from incarceration.
	Report on Latine homelessness in Illinois: What to know A new report is shedding light on Latine homelessness in Illinois, including factors contributing to housing instability. The report was presented at Mercado on Fifth in Moline, followed by a local panel discussion. The report estimates about 30,000 Latine people in Illinois are living doubled up, sharing housing with other households, while about 1,000 are [...]
	Galena and U.S. Grant Museum relocates fragile historic artifacts to new home The Galena and U.S. Grant Museum began moving 160 historic artifacts, including Thomas Nast's Peace in Union painting, to its new, updated facility.
	Weekend downpours flood over 100 Quad Cities basements as cleanup crews face backlogs The Quad Cities area saw heavy rain over the weekend leading to several homes experiencing basement flooding.
	Had enough of the rain? More coming tonight We've had measurable rain for the last 7 straight days in the Quad Cities! That's only happened one other time in the last 60 years in the Quad Cities! And some of the rain has been heavy at times too. Especially over the weekend: There is more rain in the forecast for Monday night and [...]
	News 8 to follow Quad Cities veterans for 67th Honor Flight Dozens of Quad Cities veterans are traveling to Washington, D.C., as part of the 67th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. News 8 will follow their trip.
	Burlington receives $6.7M DOD grant for third fire station The Department of Defense is awarding more than $6.7M to Burlington for the city's new fire station.
	Tapestry Farms helps with renovating Davenport homes for refugees First Presbyterian Church and Tapestry Farms have fixed up two century-old homes that will now provide safe, affordable housing for two families.
	Two Davenport homes renovated for refugee families Two properties in Davenport went under major renovations and will house local refugees. The homes were owned by the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church and were to be demolished after suffering fire damage a few years ago, but a collaboration between the foundation, Tapestry Farms and Falcon Contracting turned the houses into affordable homes for [...]
	'They touch everything': Sylvan Esso confronts the Spotify dilemma, again A year after pulling its music in protest, the duo is back on Spotify. For Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, that journey has been frustrating, eye-opening — and full of smaller victories.
	Special Olympics Iowa Polar Plunge set for Sept. 26 in Davenport Special Olympics Iowa Polar Plunge is set for Sept. 26 in Davenport, raising funds for sports training and programming.
	Sterling Police Department ending contract with Flock Safety The Sterling Police Department is ending its contract with Flock Safety immediately.
	MS Fest coming to Clinton this Saturday The free event will feature live music, mini ponies, raffles and more. It's all to raise money for The Finch Fund, which supports local people living with MS.
	Can you solve the mystery at whodunit Fatal Fiction: The Next Chapter? It's a night of mystery in an interactive whodunit, and you can help solve the crime! Tessa Wallace joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Davenport Public Library's Fatal Fiction: The Next Chapter. For more information, click here.
	Court documents: Man said fatal Rock Island stabbing ‘felt kind of good’ Court documents also identify the man who was killed.
	This leafy green is packed with protein — and global farmers want you to try it What’s a leafy green that’s packed with protein? It’s not spinach — it’s lenga lenga! The vegetable is a staple ingredient in many central and eastern African recipes. This harvest season, you can try the superfood at Global Greens’ International Market in Des Moines.
	Galesburg K9 Dax to retire The city of Galesburg is set to approve K9 Officer Dax's retirement after several years with the department.
	Vacant Davenport houses renovated into homes for refugee families Tapestry Farms and First Presbyterian Church completed an 18-month, $180,000 renovation of two vacant Davenport homes for refugee families.
	Sterling to discontinue use of Flock cameras The City of Sterling and Sterling Police Department announced the use of Flock cameras will be discontinued. According to a release from the Sterling Police Department: In May 2025 the City of Sterling and specifically, Sterling Police Department, entered into a contract with Flock Safety, Inc., for the placement of automated license plate reader (ALPR) [...]
	City of Sterling discontinues contract with Flock Safety The city joins a handful of local communities discontinuing their contracts with Flock over increasing concerns of misuse.
	Rock Falls Lumberjack Show offers shows, skillet throwing competition Rock Falls Tourism and Selmi’s Family Farm are hosting the sixth Lumberjack Show on Saturday, October 3, at Selmi’s Family Farm, 1206 Dixon Avenue in Rock Falls. The annual event is a full day of family-friendly entertainment, featuring the excitement and skill of Lumberjack Enterprises. Three lumberjack shows will be held at 11 a.m., 1 [...]
	Burlington lands $6.7M Department of Defense grant for third fire station The City of Burlington has been awarded a $6.7M grant from the Department of Defense to build a third fire station in support of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.
	Sterling Police end Flock camera contract citing privacy, public trust concerns Sterling Police are ending their Flock camera contract immediately, citing nationwide privacy concerns and the need to protect public trust.
	5 free ways to see how fast you're aging Your birthdate tells you how long you've been alive. It doesn't tell you how well your body is holding up. For that, look at what your body can do. How easily you get off the floor, balance on one leg, or walk briskly offers a real-world snapshot of your functional capacity: how well your body's systems are performing relative to your age."Physical performance tests are some of the most sensitive early indicators we have of how a person is aging," says Susan Grabowski, D.O., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with Hone Health who is also board certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. "They reflect what's happening with your hormones, metabolic health, and neurological systems, often before those issues show up as disease or disability."Hone Health shares five longevity tests to take at home for a basic read on your health and fitness. For a deeper view of how you’re aging, comprehensive blood work, body-composition analysis, and bone-density testing can uncover what’s changing beneath the surface and where you have the greatest opportunity to intervene.1. Sit-to-Stand TestWhat it measures: Lower-body and core strength, mobility, balance, and coordinationWhy it mattersThe sit-to-rise test assesses longevity by testing agility, flexibility, core strength, and leg strength. A high score with the sit-to-stand test means you are more likely to move through your everyday activities strongly and easily. It also tests hip flexor mobility, balance, and flexibility, which support speed and agility and help prevent injuries during workouts.A 2025 study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that those who scored 0–4 on the sit-to-rise test had a 3.8-fold higher risk of death from natural causes and a 6.0-fold higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who scored a perfect 10.How to do itStand barefoot on a flat, nonslip surface. Cross one foot in front of the other, lower yourself to the floor in a crisscross position, and stand back up without using your hands, forearms, knees, or the sides of your legs for support.Each component of this longevity test — sitting and rising — is scored separately from 0 to 5, with one point subtracted each time you use a hand, forearm, knee, or side of the leg for support, and half a point subtracted for each wobble. Add both scores for a final result out of 10. Hone Health "If you scored lower than 5, if your performance has declined unexpectedly, or if it's accompanied by muscle loss, fatigue, weakness, pain, or poor exercise recovery, talk to your doctor about underlying causes and treatment options," Grabowski says.If you struggled with this self-test and you don’t have an obvious injury, Grabowski would recommend body composition testing to look for low muscle mass and blood work to check for hormone imbalance or metabolic dysfunction, both of which can contribute to lower strength and energy.2. 10-Second Single-Leg Balance TestWhat it measures: How effectively the brain combines input from the eyes, inner ear, muscles, and joints to keep the body stableWhy it mattersGood balance leads to fewer injuries and greater independence as you age. In a British Journal of Sports Medicine study of about 1,700 adults ages 51–75, those who could balance on one leg for 10 seconds had a substantially lower risk of dying over the next seven years than those who couldn't. They also tended to have lower rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, unhealthy cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.How to do itStand upright with your feet together and hands at your sides. Lift one foot off the ground — ideally at least 12 inches — keeping your arms down and your gaze fixed straight ahead. Count how long you can hold the position without lifting your arms or lowering your raised foot. Repeat three times and average the results. Hone Health "Difficulty holding the position may reflect problems with strength, vision, sensation, ability to maintain equilibrium, or neuromuscular control," Grabowski says. Bring a new or worsening balance problem to a clinician, particularly if it occurs along with dizziness, fainting, numbness, weakness, vision changes, or falls.3. Grip Strength TestWhat it measures: Grip strength reflects muscle force as well as whole-body muscle mass and quality, nervous-system function, nutritional status, and general health. A 2024 review in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition proposed adding the grip strength test to routine care as a clinical vital sign.Why it mattersThe weaker your grip, the older your biological age. In a study of 1,274 adults published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, researchers measuring changes in DNA found that weaker grip strength was linked to faster aging at the cellular level. A separate study following nearly 140,000 adults found that weak grip strength was a better predictor of longevity factors such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart attack than systolic blood pressure.How to do itThe gold standard for measuring grip strength is a hand dynamometer, a device typically used in a doctor's office. As a home proxy, perform a dead hang: Grip a secure pull-up bar with an overhand grip, arms extended, feet off the floor, and hold for as long as possible. This measures grip endurance relative to body weight, a slightly different but equally helpful metric.What your result could meanA hang time of 90 seconds to two minutes indicates excellent endurance, Grabowski says. A time of 30–60 seconds is a reasonable baseline to build from. Training history, body size, hand injuries, and arthritis can all influence the results of this longevity test. An unexplained decline — particularly when accompanied by muscle loss, fatigue, numbness, poor exercise recovery, or difficulty building muscle — is more telling than a result that has always been low."When someone's grip is weaker than it should be for their age and activity level, there may be a hormonal driver like low testosterone or a metabolic driver like insulin resistance or prediabetes behind it," Grabowski says.4. Pushup TestWhat it measures: Upper-body and core muscular endurance, strength relative to body weight, and the ability to sustain repeated effortWhy it mattersPushups reflect the health of your cardiovascular system. In a 10-year JAMA Network Open study of 1,104 active male firefighters, those who completed more than 40 pushups had a 96% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared with those who completed fewer than 10. The study population was active men, so the 40-pushup threshold isn't a universal benchmark — results vary by age, sex, body composition, and training background."A pushup recruits several large muscle groups at once, and increasing reps increases oxygen demand, forcing the heart to raise its cardiac output," Grabowski explains. "The number of pushups you can do represents whole-body endurance and cardiorespiratory reserve."How to do itStart in a high-plank position with hands approximately shoulder-width apart and your body in a straight line from head to heels. Lower your chest toward the floor and press back up — elbows facing down toward your feet, body line maintained throughout. Knee pushups are a valid option if you’re just starting to build upper-body strength. Hone Health Again, an unexpected decline is more meaningful as a longevity test than a number that has always been low, according to Grabowski.If your score has declined or you’re struggling to build strength, Grabowski would run cardio-metabolic and hormone panels to check for underlying issues. “Metabolic dysfunction — insulin resistance, diabetes, or pre-diabetes — will impact mitochondrial health, which will impact endurance and strength,” she says. “Low testosterone will lower muscle mass and also reduce stamina.”5. 1.5–Mile Walk or Run TestWhat it measures: How efficiently the cardiovascular system delivers oxygen to working muscles during sustained effortWhy it mattersCardiorespiratory fitness is one of the strongest predictors of all-cause mortality in the published literature. A 2025 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine following nearly 80,000 adults over nearly 17 years found that brisk walking for as little as 15 minutes a day was associated with a nearly 20% reduction in total mortality, especially from cardiovascular-related causes.How to do itFind a flat 1.5-mile course — six laps on a standard quarter-mile track or about 30 city blocks — or use a GPS running app. After a brief warm-up, walk, jog, or run as fast as you can for the full distance. Record your time. Hone Health “Declining speed that’s not just from deconditioning often points to cardiovascular or metabolic changes we can address — sometimes with lifestyle measures, sometimes with treatment,” Grabowski says.If your time is high for this longevity test, she recommends evaluating metabolic function, muscle mass, and testosterone levels as well as nutritional deficiencies, like in iron and B12, which might indicate anemia. “I might also order a lipid panel that can indicate whether atherosclerosis is contributing to shortness of breath and limited endurance,” she adds.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Building an accessibility program without a dedicated team Accessibility landed on your desk. Maybe it came from a customer complaint, or maybe your legal team forwarded a demand letter. Or your manager just said, “Can you own this?” and moved on with their day.Every guide you found assumed a dedicated accessibility team, a governance committee, and an engineering queue that exists to fix issues. None of which is coming.One person can run a digital accessibility program when they own accountability and sequencing. Testing and actual fixing are different kinds of work, and no amount of effort turns one person into a testing team. Below, AudioEye covers what you can build on your own, what you have to hand off, and how to put both into practice.Can One Person Run an Accessibility Program?Yes, and many companies are doing so right now with one person’s name on it. Most of them started the same way, after a complaint or a demand letter brought accessibility to the top of their priority list.What makes a one-person program work is a narrower definition of the job. When accessibility falls on you, the instinct can be to think you now have to become the person who finds and fixes the issues. That's the version that isn't possible on your own. You can make some progress solo, but you'll hit a ceiling well before your site is actually accessible, and that ceiling isn't about how hard you work.The actual job is smaller than the one you may be picturing. You're accountable for the program and decide what happens and in what order. You're the person who knows which pages matter to the business, which release is coming, and who to go to when something has to change. That’s context about your company that you already have, rather than information that requires accessibility expertise.The expertise is what gets supplied. Finding the issues a scan can't detect, verifying that a checkout flow works for someone using a screen reader, engineering the harder fixes, producing the documentation enterprise customers ask for — that work comes from an accessibility partner, not you. The bottom line: One person can run a digital accessibility program when they own accountability and sequencing, and a partner does the testing and fix work.The difference becomes clear once you see how these programs actually develop.The Five Stages of Accessibility MaturityMost people inheriting accessibility have no idea whether they're behind, and there's no obvious way to tell. The accessibility maturity model below gives you a read: five stages from unaware to integrated, and most mid-market companies begin at stage two, after a complaint or a demand letter. AudioEye Find your row, then look at the one under it.Getting from stage two to stage three is the move that matters. Naming an owner is free. Continuous automated scanning isn't, and without it, you're guessing at the size of the problem. This is where programs either get a platform or sit at stage two for years.After that, it's cadence: testing on a schedule, fixes tracked to closure, and documentation kept current. Stage five is where accessibility becomes someone else's step too, and most mid-market companies don't need to be there yet.What to Outsource and What to Own InternallyAn accessibility program owner keeps four things in-house: accountability for the program, prioritization against the roadmap, vendor management, and policy, including the public accessibility statement. Everything that requires specialized testing skills gets outsourced or supplied through a platform instead.This split works because of how the two kinds of work actually get done.Automated scanning covers volume and catches common issues on every page in seconds. Expert testing covers judgment: the criteria that ask whether alt text actually describes an image or whether a keyboard user can complete a task, something no automated tool can detect on its own. AudioEye What Each Role Needs to Know When Nobody Is an Accessibility ExpertNobody on a small team needs to become an accessibility expert. Each role needs a short, specific list of what to watch for in their own work, and nothing more.MarketerA marketer supporting an accessibility program needs to know alt text, link text, heading order, and color contrast.In practice, that means writing alt text that conveys what an image shows, writing link text that makes sense out of context rather than ‘click here,’ keeping heading levels in order, and checking contrast on landing pages, email templates, and ad creative. That’s the whole list. Your marketers don’t need to know the full list of WCAG criteria, run audits, or interpret a scan report. And asking them will cost you their attention on the four things that matter.DevelopersA developer supporting an accessibility program needs to know semantic HTML, keyboard operability, and how to read a fix ticket. As marketers, they do not need to know the full set of WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria.The practical version is: Use native semantic elements before reaching for ARIA, make every interactive element keyboard operable, manage focus deliberately in modals and dynamic content, and be able to action a fix ticket without someone translating it first. Expert auditing and assistive technology testing aren't their job. Those come from your platform, and a developer who can implement a well-written fix is worth more to the program than one who can half-run an audit.DesignersA designer supporting an accessibility program needs to know about color contrast ratios, target sizes, and not to encode meaning in color alone.Most of this gets solved once in the design system rather than page by page: contrast minimums baked into the palette, touch targets sized adequately, a visible focus state designed on purpose rather than left to the developer, and no information carried by color itself. Designers don’t need to test with screen readers or understand how fixes are implemented. They need to stop new issues from entering the site, which is the cheapest accessibility work there is.Content EditorsA content editor supporting an accessibility program needs to know document structure, descriptive links, captions, and table headers.Day-to-day, that’s structuring pages with real headings rather than bolded text, writing links that describe where they go, captioning videos, and properly marking up table headers in the CMS. Nothing here is technical, and none of it requires touching the codebase. It’s mostly a matter of using the CMS the way it was built to be used, which is why this role tends to show the fastest improvement once someone explains it.Your First 90 DaysA working digital accessibility program takes about 90 days to stand up, and the order matters as much as the actions themselves.Days 1 to 30The first 30 days are about naming and knowing, not fixing. Name the accessibility program owner in writing, so the role has an actual person attached to it. Run an automated baseline scan across the site, because every later decision depends on knowing the current state. Inventory the ten highest-traffic templates, and flag the highest-risk flows first: checkout, forms, and login. Brief leadership on what the scan found before day 30 ends, so budget conversations start early instead of late.Days 31 to 60With a baseline in place, days 31 to 60 shift from knowing to fixing. Select and onboard a platform that combines automated fixes with expert testing. Testing waits until now on purpose: the baseline scan is what tells you which templates need it most. Get expert testing scheduled on your highest-traffic templates. Open a tracked fix backlog so nothing found gets lost between departments. Run one 30-minute training session each for marketing and development, using the role breakdown above.Days 61 to 90The last 30 days turn the work into a program instead of a project. Publish a public accessibility statement that names your commitment and how users can report an issue. Set a monitoring and reporting cadence that the accessibility program owner can sustain on their own; monthly is realistic for most mid-market teams. Add an accessibility check to your design and release workflow, even a lightweight one. Agree to a quarterly review with leadership so the program has a standing checkpoint rather than relying on memory.What a One-Person Accessibility Program Owner Needs from an Accessibility PlatformA one-person accessibility program owner should require a platform that combines automation with expert testing, continuous monitoring, and documentation support, so that no in-house testing capability is needed.Here’s what those look like as requirements you can ask a vendor:Automated detection and fixes, running continuously rather than on requestExpert testing performed by professionals and individuals with disabilitiesContinuous monitoring instead of point-in-time assessment, because your site changes frequentlyDocumentation and VPAT support, since procurement and enterprise customers will askLegal response support, so a demand letter does not become your problem aloneReporting you can hand to leadership without translating it firstThose six are the shortlist, and the gaps are what to interrogate. If a vendor covers the first two but not monitoring, you're buying an audit, which describes your site on one day. If it covers monitoring but not expert testing, you’re buying a scanner, which describes the parts of your site that a machine can evaluate. Either one leaves you holding work you can’t do alone.What This Looks Like in PracticeMid-market companies with a working accessibility program aren't the ones with the largest budgets. They're the ones where a single person got named, got a baseline, and stopped trying to do the expert work themselves.The pattern is consistent. Someone in marketing or IT takes the program, onboards a platform in the first month, and gets automated coverage running before they've read a single WCAG success criterion. Expert testing follows on the highest-traffic templates, turning a long issue list into a short, ordered one. After that, the job is maintenance, and the owner spends their time prioritizing instead of discovering.Frequently Asked QuestionsDo you need an accessibility team to comply with the ADA?No; however, an accessibility team does make the compliance process easier. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets no staffing requirement, so compliance depends on whether a website meets the standard, not on who is employed to maintain it.How many people do you need to run an accessibility program?One accountable accessibility program owner is enough to run stages one through four of a digital accessibility program, provided expert testing and fixes come from a platform rather than an in-house team.Who should own accessibility at a mid-market company?Whoever already owns the website roadmap, usually someone in marketing, IT, or operations, not a new hire.Should you hire an accessibility specialist or use a platform?For many mid-market companies, a platform can get you there faster. Hiring a specialist means a recruiting cycle, a salary, and testing capacity still capped at one person once they're in the seat.How long does it take to set up an accessibility program?A working digital accessibility program can be set up in 90 days: a named accessibility program owner and a baseline scan in the first 30 days, expert testing by day 60, and a published accessibility statement with a monitoring cadence by day 90.Is automated scanning enough on its own?No. It catches a meaningful share of issues, but it can't make the judgment calls that require a person, which is why expert testing runs alongside it.What's the first thing to do if you have no accessibility program at all?Name an owner and run a scan. Everything else, the outsourcing decisions, the 90-day plan, the role breakdowns, depends on knowing who's accountable and what's actually broken today.This story was produced by AudioEye and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What the equinox 'henge' effect tells us about U.S. cities The fall equinox, which arrives Tuesday in the U.S., brings shorter days, and chances to witness alignment between Earth and the sun. It's a modern version of ancient observances of a celestial shift.
	Train derailment closes all railroad crossings in Lee Co. town A train derailment in Franklin Grove has closed all railroad crossings and Gap Road, with officials directing traffic to Willow Road as a detour.
	Rep. John Larson won’t seek third-party run after primary defeat U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, won’t seek a third-party run in the November general election after his loss in the Democratic primary, formally marking the end of his 28-year congressional tenure that winds down early next year. Larson conceded his loss to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in the August four-way primary a couple of hours after the polls closed. He wouldn’t give a firm answer that night about whether he was calling it a career. But Larson’s spokesperson Charles Perosino confirmed Monday that he won’t pursue another path to get on the Nov. 3 ballot. The deadline for minor parties in Connecticut to select their candidates and submit for certification to get on the general election ballot was Sept. 2. In a statement provided to the Connecticut Mirror, Larson said the party must unify to take on President Donald Trump. “As the president prosecutes an illegal war in Iran and costs continue to rise for working families, now is the time for Democrats to come together to hold Donald Trump accountable and deliver for the American people,” Larson said in a statement. Larson had offered a similar characterization of his time left in Congress to the dozens of supporters who attended his election night party in the summer. On the night of the August primary, he indicated in his speech that he’s focusing the remaining months of his term on battling the president. “The people of this district have spoken, and it’s time for us to come together and make sure that we all join forces,” Larson said that night. “Because the issue here, as I said throughout this campaign, is Donald Trump and what he’s doing to this country.” “There’s still a lot of fight left and a lot to be done,” Larson added. “And I intend to fulfill my responsibility until the last day.” When asked by reporters at the time whether he would seek the Working Families Party line or mount an independent bid in the fall, he quickly brushed aside those questions by saying, “take the night off, relax, take a deep breath.” Larson’s decision not to run was first reported by CT Insider. Larson was seeking a 15th term in the Hartford-based seat in an election cycle that’s been dominated by calls for generational change within the Democratic Party and some backlash to incumbency and the political establishment. He faced Bronin, state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and Hartford Board of Education member Ruth Fortune in the Aug. 11 primary. It was the first primary Larson as a sitting member of Congress faced since he was first elected in 1998. Bronin was able to break out of the crowded field of candidates because of his name recognition and his ability to raise money. Bronin and Larson frequently tangled over the sources of their fundraising, which played out on the campaign trail and in advertisements. Following the primary and the month-long August recess, Larson returned to Washington, D.C., for a couple of weeks before Congress was to leave again for the election. But the U.S. House wrapped up its work much earlier than expected and left town in the middle of last week. Lawmakers will have seven weeks back in their home districts, primarily meant for campaigning ahead of a pivotal election that will determine control of Congress. Larson and the rest of the lawmakers now won’t return to D.C. until after the election. They’ll have several more weeks in the lame-duck session to finish up any remaining work before the holidays. Members try to pass last-minute priorities, but the final weeks of session are typically dominated by government funding bills and an annual defense policy bill that is crucial for Connecticut’s defense industry. Larson’s signature issue of Social Security was a centerpiece of his reelection campaign. He had said he could be chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security if Democrats regain the House majority. The issue recently gained some steamed in Congress as a reports estimate the trust fund for retirees could dry up by the early 2030s. Larson recently applauded the attention to the issue by others in Congress and continued to push for passage of his own bill to strengthen Social Security, even as he gets ready to depart. Larson’s 14th term will finish up early next year. The new session of Congress will begin Jan. 3, 2027, when new members are sworn in. Bronin will square off against Republican nominee Amy Chai on Nov. 3. Bronin served as the mayor of Hartford for two terms, leaving office in 2024. He joined a crowded field in the summer of 2025 to take on Larson in the primary. He led the pack in fundraising and had also clinched the party’s endorsement in an upset at the nominating convention this spring. “This is a political earthquake in Connecticut,” Bronin said following his primary victory in August, while also thanking Larson for a “lifetime of service.” “The goal is to shake things up in Washington D.C., and we’re just getting started.” Chai has sought elected office before, running as an independent against U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, in 2022. She was previously an independent but “realized she couldn’t win” unless she was affiliated with a major party. “My motto is listen more, hate less,” Chai said as she stood at the polls on the August primary day. If elected, Chai, who’s a doctor, wants to focus on the prevention of mental illness and addiction. She believes politics is making mental health disorders worse. But Bronin is considered the heavy favorite in the general election. Of the five U.S. House seats in Connecticut, the 1st Congressional District is the bluest. Courtesy of CT Mirror
	Single game tickets on sale for Quad City Storm hockey The Quad City Storm has released its promotional schedule for the 2026-2027 season. Tickets are on sale now.
	Nearly 9 in 10 companies will have AI talking to customers by year's end. Can it tell when you've had enough? By the end of the year, 88% of companies expect to have AI agents handling some of their customer conversations, according to a 2026 Sinch survey of 2,527 senior decision-makers across 10 countries.That doesn’t mean human representatives are out of the picture. Gartner reported that nearly 80% of customer service organizations plan to reshape the roles of some of their human agents as routine work gets automated, while high-stakes conversations still need a person.But this requires a system that can spot someone who’s had enough, and that can recognize the questions an AI agent shouldn't answer at all. For the person on the other end, that escalation decides whether they get an accurate answer, a confidently wrong one, or no answer at all.Below, Sinch looks at what it takes for a customer support AI agent to know when to hand over.When AI agents fail to helpAI agent failures make the news regularly. Sometimes, the cause boils down to the agent having no set guardrails, or failing to connect a customer with a person when it can’t help.One of the best-known examples is probably DPD's AI assistant, which in 2024 failed to track a missing parcel, then failed to connect the customer with a human representative and to give him a phone number for customer service. It ended up writing him a poem about how unhelpful it was. That’s the kind of failure that generates immediate customer complaints and public shaming on social media.But a failure to escalate is harder to spot when the AI agent provides an inaccurate answer with total confidence. In this scenario, nobody asks to be transferred because there’s no obvious reason to. In February 2024, a British Columbia tribunal ordered Air Canada to pay damages after its website AI assistant told a grieving customer he could claim a bereavement discount within 90 days of booking. The company's actual policy, published on its website, said otherwise, but the AI agent contradicted it anyway, and the customer was later refused the refund. The tribunal found the company liable for negligent misrepresentation, rejecting its argument that the chatbot was a separate legal entity.And these failures haven't stopped happening, as NBC Chicago reported this month. Sinch Confidently wrong answers are a common reason companies pull back AI agents handling customer communications. In the Sinch survey, 22% of organizations running live AI agents had rolled one back due to hallucinations or brand risk.When asked about the most significant business impact of an AI-driven customer interaction failure, 34% of organizations chose reputational damage and lost customer trust. This is the kind of damage that might never be reversed.Some customers will never ask for a person, because nothing in the conversation suggests they should. For the company running the AI agent, the challenge is defining when a person should take over regardless, and making sure it actually happens, whether the agent has run out of useful answers, wasn’t equipped to give a correct one, or shouldn't be the one answering at all.Reading the room: Sentiment analysis explainedSometimes, messages get shorter. Sentences clip, capitals appear, the word “please” drops off the end. A conversation that gets to that point is often one that should have already been handed over.Sentiment detection assesses the emotional tone of each message in real time, alongside intent recognition, which detects what the customer is trying to get done. Together, they inform the agent’s next step, helping to determine whether someone should step in, and who, before the customer thinks to ask, or gives up and never comes back.By scoring emotional weight, sentiment analysis also helps ensure the most pressing customer queries move up the support queue. An AI agent can escalate a case, flag it as urgent, and transfer it to the right team. This means a furious customer charged for a booking they never made goes to billing. A customer whose order is weeks late goes to the team that can trace it. Neither waits behind someone asking about opening hours. And whoever takes over needs to see the conversation as it stands, with full history, to avoid creating additional friction. Sinch Sentiment is one input, not the whole decision. An irritated customer might be one reply away from an answer that an AI agent can give. What happens when frustration is detected is a design choice, not the agent's call.Drawing the line: What an AI agent should and shouldn’t handleAn AI agent’s error rate can be reduced but never brought to zero, so what matters is where its limits are set, which questions it answers and which it passes on. That’s a company decision made before the agent goes live, rather than a judgment made inside the conversation. The narrower the scope, the fewer ways a wrong answer turns into a real problem for a customer. Sinch An agent whose scope is narrowed too far, though, is no help at all, since most of what makes it useful is the amount of context it's allowed to work with.Some subjects still naturally belong with a person regardless of what the AI agent knows. Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026, Sinch asked 2,501 consumers across eight countries which tasks they would trust AI with. Responses show that while overall confidence in AI agents is high, it tends to drop the closer the task gets to money and account security. Sinch Instead of scoping those out entirely, companies deploying these agents should make the handover easy, not something the customer has to fight for."I don’t know" might be the smartest answerIt's still tempting to read an AI agent admitting it can't help as a system that’s failed, and the way customer support performance is measured encourages this conclusion. Containment and deflection rates track how many conversations AI handles without a person stepping in, and teams are scored on keeping rates high. This means the measured performance goes down when a customer reaches someone who can actually help.The same logic applies when an AI agent gets pulled back after a failure. It looks like governance hasn't paid off, where it’s actually the program working as it should. Across all organizations running AI agents in customer communications, 74% have done it at least once. Where it gets interesting is that among those describing their AI safeguards as fully mature, the number rises to 81%.That gap comes down to monitoring rather than performance, as fewer rollbacks may just mean poorer visibility into them. Which means the first signal telling a company its AI agent has failed is somebody complaining to customer service or on social media.For a customer trying to sort out a problem, an AI agent that admits it can’t help and hands over to a human is worth more than one that pretends it can. How the two work together makes the difference to the customer experience, not which one provided the resolution.This story was produced by Sinch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What are the risks of not having a cybersecurity plan? Without a cybersecurity plan, your business is more vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches, financial losses, operational downtime and reputational damage. When an incident happens, the lack of a clear plan can leave teams scrambling to identify the problem, protect affected systems and keep the business moving while costs and risks continue to grow.Over the last year, 56% of U.S. small businesses experienced at least one cyberattack. When these attacks lead to data breaches, ransomware, downtime or exposed customer information, the costs can continue long after systems are restored.Businesses need to understand the cybersecurity risks they face, how these threats can impact their operations and what they can do to reduce their exposure. Here, iuvo breaks down the risks every business should know and why a cybersecurity plan is a foundational strategy.Key TakeawaysCybersecurity gaps create business-wide risk: Without a plan, businesses are more exposed to cyberattacks, data breaches, downtime, financial losses and reputational damage.Cyber incidents can be expensive to recover from: Data breaches, ransomware recovery, legal support, customer notifications and lost revenue can create costs that continue long after the initial attack.Modern threats are becoming more complex: Phishing, ransomware, AI-driven attacks, third-party vulnerabilities and cloud security gaps can all create openings for attackers.Recovery depends on preparation: Incident response planning, access controls, employee training, vendor risk management and ongoing monitoring help businesses respond faster and reduce damage.Strategic IT planning supports long-term resilience: Aligning cybersecurity with business priorities can help protect sensitive data, support compliance and strengthen operational stability.7 Cybersecurity Risks Businesses Should Know iuvo 1. Financial Exposure and Recovery CostsA cyberattack can create costs that continue to affect businesses long after the initial incident. To find the source of the attack and restore operations, businesses may need to pay for investigations, legal support, system restoration and customer notifications while also losing revenue during downtime.Recent breach and ransomware data show how quickly these costs can add up:U.S. data breach costs: The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. reached $10.22 million in 2025, an all-time high, according to IBM’s 2026 Cost of Data Breach report.Global average: Worldwide, the average breach cost stood at $4.4 million in 2025, according to the IBM report.Ransomware recovery expenses: For businesses dealing with ransomware specifically, the average U.S. recovery cost was $1.91 million, excluding any ransom payment, according to a 2025 Sophos report.Ransom payments: In the U.S., the median ransom payment reached $1.5 million, per the Sophos report.Small business impact: More than 62% of breached small and midsized businesses (SMBs) reported total financial impact exceeding $250,000, according to a 2025 Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) report.2. Operational Disruption and Unplanned DowntimeCyberattacks can quickly turn from a security issue into a business continuity issue. When systems go down or data becomes inaccessible, teams may be unable to serve customers, complete internal work or maintain normal operations. Without a coordinated response plan, downtime can last longer, recovery can move more slowly and productivity losses can grow.In 2025, organizations took an average of 241 days to identify and contain a cyber breach, resulting in nearly eight months of exposure and response activity, per the IBM report. Ransomware recovery timelines vary, but only 53% of ransomware-affected organizations fully recovered within a week, per the Sophos report.The impact can also reach the people responsible for response and recovery. In the Sophos report, every organization that had data encrypted in a ransomware attack reported direct repercussions for its IT and cybersecurity team, including increased stress, guilt and, in 25% of cases, leadership replacement. The human cost of operating without an incident response plan compounds the technical, operational and financial challenges.3. Data Vulnerabilities and Information ExposureSensitive data is one of the most valuable assets a business holds, and a common target for cybercriminals. Customer records, financial information, employee data and intellectual property all need clear protections. Without a cybersecurity plan, businesses may not have a reliable way to identify where sensitive data lives, who can access it or how it should be protected.The risks increase when that data is exposed. In 2025, customer personally identifiable information (PII) was the most stolen or compromised data type, per the IBM report, appearing in 53% of breaches. Employee PII was stolen or compromised in 37% of incidents, while intellectual property appeared in 33%.Data risk also extends beyond internal systems. Information held by vendors, partners or service providers may also be vulnerable. A comprehensive data protection strategy should account for both internal and external data flows so critical assets are not left exposed.4. Reputational Impact and Shifting Customer ConfidenceA cyber incident can affect how customers, partners and investors view a business long after systems are restored. If sensitive data is exposed or operations are disrupted, customers may question whether the organization can protect their information and provide reliable service. For businesses in data-sensitive industries like financial services, biotech or professional services, that loss of confidence can be especially difficult to repair.The market impact can also be measurable. In a 2025 AON analysis, major cyber incidents resulted in an average 9% decrease in shareholder value in the year following the event. Of 1,407 cyber events analyzed, 49 developed into reputation risk events, resulting in a 27% decline in shareholder value.Certain attack types may create greater reputational risk than others. In the 2025 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, malware and ransomware attacks accounted for approximately 60% of reputation risk cyber events, and 29% of SMBs that experienced a cyberattack reported negative publicity as a direct consequence.5. Legal, Regulatory and Contractual ObligationsWithout a cybersecurity plan, businesses may face legal, regulatory and contractual issues at the same time. These risks can be especially serious for organizations in heavily regulated industries like financial services, biotech and life sciences, where data protection is tied directly to compliance and business continuity.Key areas of exposure include:Regulatory fines: Compliance failures related to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) can trigger substantial penalties after a breach. Europe issued 1.2 billion euros in GDPR fines in 2024 alone, with cumulative fines since 2018 exceeding 5.88 billion euros. Noncompliance can also increase breach-related costs on top of fines.Civil lawsuits: Individuals whose data is compromised may pursue legal action, including class-action lawsuits that can increase costs and extend the recovery process.Government investigations: Regulators may investigate businesses that experience breaches tied to negligence or inadequate safeguards. These investigations can be costly, time-consuming and damaging to customer confidence.Contractual breaches: Vendor, partner and client contracts often include data protection requirements. A breach may violate those terms and create additional financial or legal exposure.License and certification risk: In regulated sectors, a significant cybersecurity lapse can jeopardize operating licenses or industry certifications required to conduct business.The financial impact also varies by industry. Healthcare breaches cost an average of $7.42 million per incident, according to IBM, while financial services breaches averaged $5.56 million per incident. For businesses in these sectors, cybersecurity compliance regulations are part of protecting operations, customers and long-term stability.6. Cyber Insurance Eligibility and Coverage GapsCyber insurance can help businesses recover after an incident, but it does not replace a strong cybersecurity plan. Insurers often want to see that basic protections are already in place before approving or renewing coverage. If those controls are missing or undocumented, a business may have fewer policy options or face complications when filing a claim.These insurance-related risks are becoming more common:Rising claim complications: Cyber insurance claims may be rejected when an incident falls outside the policy's terms, coverage is lower than the total claim or the incident falls below the policy's self-insured retention.Required security controls: Insurers often look for safeguards like multi-factor authentication, endpoint detection and response systems, tested backups, and a formal incident response plan.Uninsured businesses: According to the Hiscox report, 27% of SMBs lack cyber insurance entirely, leaving them to absorb breach-related costs like recovery work, legal support, customer notification and downtime losses on their own.Coverage gaps: Having a policy does not always mean a claim will be paid. If the controls listed on the insurance application were not actually in place, the insurer may deny the claim.7. Evolving Exposure to AI-Powered ThreatsAI is changing how cybercriminals plan and carry out attacks. With AI, attackers can create more convincing phishing messages, test new tactics faster, scale campaigns across more targets, and uncover security gaps that may have gone undetected. A cybersecurity plan can help businesses keep pace with these AI-driven risks by updating employee training, response procedures and security tools, including AI-enabled defenses where appropriate.A cybersecurity plan helps businesses keep pace with those changes. It gives teams a way to update employee training, security policies and response procedures as AI-driven risks evolve. Understanding how AI affects your IT environment can also help your business make smarter decisions about access controls, data protection and long-term security planning.What Are the Most Common Cybersecurity Threats Businesses Face Today?A strong cybersecurity plan starts with a clear view of how attackers gain access to business systems, data and networks. Today, businesses face several common threats. iuvo Phishing and Social EngineeringAttackers use phishing to send an email, text or message that can trick an employee into sharing credentials, downloading malware or sending money to the wrong account. As AI tools become more common, these messages can also sound more personal and convincing, making them harder to spot.In 2025, phishing accounted for 16% of all breaches studied, per IBM, with human involvement as a factor in approximately 60% of cases. AI-generated phishing emails have become more convincing, which makes the risk more difficult to manage. Targets are 4.5 times more likely to click AI-generated phishing emails than traditionally crafted messages, per the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).Reducing phishing risk takes both technology and training. Security awareness programs help employees recognize suspicious messages, report potential threats and avoid actions that can give attackers access to larger systems. Without that support, phishing can become the entry point for a much larger incident.Ransomware and Data ExtortionRansomware can stop normal operations by locking teams out of critical systems or data. In many cases, attackers can also steal information and threaten to release it publicly if the business does not pay. This situation creates both an operational crisis and a data exposure risk.Smaller organizations may have fewer resources to prevent and recover from these attacks. However, paying a ransom does not guarantee a full recovery. Effective incident response planning can reduce the likelihood of a successful ransomware attack and help businesses recover faster if one occurs.AI-Driven CyberattacksAI is giving attackers new ways to make existing cyberthreats more convincing and harder to detect. It can help them write stronger phishing messages, test variations faster, develop more evasive malware and automate attacks across a wider set of targets.Recent data shows how quickly this risk is growing. AI-enabled cyberattack activity grew by 89% from 2024 to 2025, according to the CSIS, and some organizations are already seeing breaches tied to AI models or applications. These trends make AI governance an important part of cybersecurity planning.Many organizations are still catching up. Nearly two-thirds lack AI governance policies, per IBM, which can leave gaps around access, acceptable use, data protection and response planning.Industrialized CybercrimeCybercrime has become more organized and easier to scale. Rather than relying solely on one-off attacks, many cybercriminals now use automated tools and repeatable tactics to find vulnerable businesses faster.This shift challenges the idea that cybercriminals only target one type of organization. Different types of businesses can be attractive targets for different reasons:Large organizations often have more data, more connected systems and a larger financial footprint.Small and midsized businesses may have leaner IT teams, fewer security tools or less-developed response plans.Highly connected businesses can attract attackers because of their relationships with vendors, customers or broader supply chains.Attackers can use automated tools to scan thousands of potential targets at once, so risk is not limited to a single industry or company size. An unpatched system, weak access controls or exposed data can be enough to put a business in their path.Third-Party and Supply Chain VulnerabilitiesA business's cybersecurity also depends on the vendors, partners and software providers it works with. Even if internal systems are well protected, a third party with weak security practices can create an opening for attackers. This risk is especially important for regulated businesses that share sensitive data with outside organizations. These incidents can also take longer to resolve because the affected systems, data and responsibilities may span multiple organizations.A strong cybersecurity plan should include vendor qualification and ongoing management to ensure external partners meet security expectations and do not weaken the business's overall security.Cloud-Native Security GapsCloud adoption can help businesses move faster, but it can also make security harder to manage. Data may live across public cloud, private cloud and on-premises systems, while employees may also use outside AI tools as part of their daily work.Without clear oversight, it becomes harder to know where sensitive information is stored, who can access it and which settings may create risk. That visibility gap can slow response after a cyberattack. In 2025, per IBM’s 2026 report, 30% of breaches involved data distributed across multiple environments.Clear policies for cloud services, AI platforms and access controls help reduce those risks before they turn into data exposure.What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Significant Cyber Incident on a Business?A cyber incident can continue to affect a business long after systems are restored. Revenue, customer relationships, market position and day-to-day operations may all feel the impact for months or even years.Long-term consequences can include:Market value decline: In one report, major cyber incidents led to an average 9% decline in shareholder value in the year following the event, per AON’s report. For incidents that escalated into reputation risk events, shareholder value fell by 27%.Business performance degradation: In the Hiscox report, 28% of businesses that experienced a cyberattack saw a reduction in business performance, and 25% reported that their company’s solvency or viability was materially threatened.Price increases and competitive pressure: The Identity Theft Resource Center reported that 38.3% of breached small businesses raised prices to cover the financial impact, creating downstream consequences for customers and competitiveness.Industry-specific compounding costs: According to IBM, healthcare breaches averaged $7.42 million per incident, the highest of any industry for the 14th consecutive year.For businesses in regulated industries such as financial services, biotech and life sciences, the long-term effects can also include ongoing regulatory scrutiny and sustained customer skepticism. Building cyber resilience before an incident occurs can be far less costly than rebuilding trust, operations and momentum afterward.The Role of Strategic IT Planning in CybersecurityA cybersecurity plan is strongest when it connects security decisions to business priorities. Strategic IT planning helps leaders identify which systems, data and workflows carry the most risk, then prioritize the investments that will make the biggest difference.Building a Cybersecurity Plan for Your BusinessA strong cybersecurity plan gives businesses a practical way to reduce risk, respond faster and make better security decisions over time. Instead of treating cybersecurity as a one-time project, the plan should guide ongoing work across people, systems, vendors and compliance needs.Key components include:Risk assessment: Identify where sensitive data lives, who has access and which systems are most critical to daily operations.Access controls: Use multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions and least-privilege access principles to limit unnecessary exposure.Encryption and data protection: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in motion. Use data loss prevention and information rights management tools to help control how sensitive information moves, who can access it and how protections persist as files travel.Employee training: Build security awareness across the organization so employees can recognize and report potential threats.Incident response plan: Document the steps for detecting, containing and recovering from security incidents to minimize downtime and damage.Vendor risk management: Evaluate third-party security practices and contractual obligations to reduce supply chain exposure.Compliance review: Confirm alignment with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA or PCI DSS that apply to your sector.Ongoing monitoring: Maintain visibility into network activity, system health and emerging threats so issues can be addressed before they escalate.This story was produced by iuvo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	‘We have more deer than our forests can support’: Norwich walk highlights browse damage Dan Healey, center, a Vermont county forester based in the White River Junction office, at an event organized by the Upper Valley Land Trust at Brookmead Conservation Area in Norwich, Vt., on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. Photo by Alex Driehaus/Valley News This story by Alex Driehaus was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 14, 2026. NORWICH — About 30 people walked through the woods at Brookmead Conservation Area recently clad in hiking gear and armed with printouts of a deer browse assessment index. Attendees scanned the forest understory looking for saplings with torn leaves and chewed stems and other telltale signs of deer browse. The Aug. 31 event, organized by the Upper Valley Land Trust, brought together foresters and deer biologists from both sides of the Connecticut River to teach members of the public about the impact that overabundant deer can have on forest ecosystems. Brookmead is a good example of that impact because “it has been hit extremely hard by deer,” said Holly Henderson, naturalist and outdoor programs leader with the Upper Valley Land Trust. Deer eat a variety of food sources, from herbaceous plants and fresh leaves on saplings to beech nuts and acorns. They eat around 7 to 10 pounds of food per day, about what would fit in a 5-gallon bucket, according to Vermont wildlife biologist and deer project leader Nick Fortin. When deer density gets too high, heavy browsing can limit forest regeneration and allow for the proliferation of invasive species. Warmer winters and increased suburbanization have contributed to an increase in the deer population over the past several decades, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department deer project leader Becky Fuda. “We have more deer than our forests can support,” Fortin said. New regulations in Vermont — like allowing hunters to fill antlerless tags with rifles during the regular season in November — will help address the problem, Fortin said, but won’t be enough to fix it. While regulation changes can make it easier for hunters to harvest deer, managing deer density would require more landowners to allow hunting on their properties. “What we’re seeing today is an artifact,” Fortin said. “It took decades to get to this point.” During the event, foresters discussed other management strategies to help promote forest regeneration. Attendees visited a sample deer exclosure, which helps support the growth of saplings and other native plants by protecting them from deer. Dan Healey, a Vermont county forester based in the White River Junction office, talked about the benefits of creating large clearings with no canopy, which allows saplings to grow because deer are less comfortable in areas with no cover. Henderson said she hopes that attendees left with a better understanding of the impact of deer browse and the many approaches that can be implemented to support the northern hardwood forests around the Upper Valley. Read the story on VTDigger here: ‘We have more deer than our forests can support’: Norwich walk highlights browse damage. Courtesy of VT Digger
	Home foundation collapses from heavy rain in Iowa The Fayette County Emergency Management Agency reminds home owners to check their property after this weekend’s rains caused a collapse.
	City of Galesburg considering temporary ban on new data center development City leaders will discuss a 180-day moratorium on processing and approving data center applications during Monday night's city council meeting.
	Reimagining work in the age of AI: From roles to skills AI is giving leaders an opportunity to reimagine work, roles, skills, and human potential. Rather than asking how AI can make existing jobs more efficient, leaders can ask a different question: Knowing what AI can do and the unique value of human workers, how do we want to organize jobs differently to improve business outcomes?The urgency is growing. According to a 2025 World Economic Forum report, employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change by 2030, while 63% identify skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation. AI and information-processing technologies rank among the most powerful drivers of workforce change over the next five years.Employees recognize this urgency as well. BDO’s Winning on the People Side of Business research, also released in 2025, found that 93% of employees and 94% of business leaders identify skills development and training as important to helping their organizations thrive now and in the future, making it one of the most highly ranked people priorities in the study.In this article, accounting and advisory firm BDO explains how this is not simply an HR initiative. This leadership imperative could redesign work in ways that unlock both business value and human ingenuity.Rethinking How Work Gets DoneFor decades, organizations have used defined jobs as the way to structure work. They hired employees into specific roles, assigned responsibilities, and their work evolved gradually over time.AI is disrupting that model.Many tasks that once required significant human effort can now be automated or augmented. At the same time, uniquely human capabilities such as judgment, creativity, empathy, relationship building, ethical decision-making, and complex problem-solving are becoming even more valuable.This means leaders may want to be asking very different questions:Which tasks create the greatest value?Which tasks should remain human-centered?Which tasks can be automated or augmented through AI?Which tasks do our employees find the most meaningful or engaging?Where do people and technology produce better outcomes together?How should workflows, teams, and decision-making evolve as work changes?Employees know which activities create value, which consume unnecessary time, which boost engagement, where bottlenecks exist, and where AI can improve efficiency without sacrificing quality, innovation, or relationships. By involving employees in reimagining work, leaders gain better solutions while building trust, reducing uncertainty, and creating greater ownership of change.Why Traditional Job Architecture Can’t Keep PaceAs organizations reimagine work, they quickly discover that traditional job architecture no longer provides enough flexibility.Mercer research from 2024 found that fewer than half of organizations believe their current job architecture effectively supports business needs. Traditional structures often struggle to adapt to changing priorities, provide limited visibility into career opportunities, and make it difficult to understand workforce capabilities beyond job titles.Instead, work is increasingly defined by the combination of capabilities required to achieve an outcome rather than by a fixed position on an organizational chart. In other words, work is becoming more dynamic while many talent systems remain static.As the pace of change accelerates, organizations may benefit from greater visibility into the skills and capabilities that exist across the workforce than traditional job titles alone can provide. Business leaders recognize the implications. According to a 2026 report from the World Economic Forum, 59% of CEOs consider the availability of critical skills a significant business risk, while nearly one-quarter believes their current organizational structure is limiting performance.That naturally moves organizations from managing jobs to managing capabilities. Once work has been reimagined, leaders can identify the skills required to perform it, understand where those capabilities already exist, and invest intentionally in developing the workforce they will need for the future.Building a Skills-Based OrganizationOnce organizations reimagine work, they can answer a more strategic question: What capabilities do our people need to create value now and in the future?This represents a significant shift in workforce planning. Instead of asking, “Who can fill this position?” leaders begin asking, “What skills and capabilities are needed to achieve this outcome?”This creates meaningful advantages across the organization.First, it improves agility. When leaders understand the capabilities available across the workforce, they can redeploy talent more quickly as business priorities change.It also strengthens workforce planning. Rather than relying on job titles alone, organizations gain better insight into where to invest in development, where to hire, where to automate, and where existing talent can be reskilled or redeployed.It expands internal mobility as well. Employees gain greater visibility into adjacent career opportunities and the capabilities needed to pursue them, making career growth more flexible and responsive to changing business needs. It also creates greater visibility into hidden capabilities that often go unused in traditional role-based talent systems.Finally, it helps organizations realize greater value from AI. Gartner notes that organizations seeing the strongest returns from AI focus not only on technology adoption but also on redesigning work and business processes to support it.Unlocking Hidden TalentA skills-based strategy can reveal capabilities organizations often do not realize they already possess, which creates benefits for those employees as well.Traditional talent systems typically define employees by the jobs they hold rather than the full range of capabilities they possess. Yet employees frequently develop valuable skills through previous roles, education, volunteer experiences, certifications, stretch assignments, and personal interests that are never reflected in formal job descriptions.These untapped capabilities are becoming increasingly important as organizations respond to rapid technological change, evolving customer needs, and ongoing talent shortages. Too often, organizations hire for capabilities they already have. They simply cannot see them in their existing talent pool.Understanding the capabilities within their workforce allows leaders to make better decisions about staffing projects, developing employees, building leadership pipelines, and preparing for future business needs. It also creates opportunities for employees to apply skills that might otherwise remain untapped.What’s Holding Organizations BackWhile many leaders recognize the need to reimagine work, translating that ambition into meaningful organizational change remains difficult. One challenge is data. Many organizations lack a common language for defining skills or a consistent way to assess workforce capabilities across the enterprise.Another is governance. Mercer found that organizations with effective job architecture are significantly more likely to have governance processes that keep jobs, skills, and business priorities aligned as work evolves.Perhaps the greatest challenge, however, is being able to move beyond optimization to redesign.Many organizations are still asking how AI can improve existing jobs instead of asking whether those jobs should be redesigned in the first place.Reimagining work requires leaders to challenge long-held assumptions about roles, reporting structures, career paths, and how value is created. That kind of transformation cannot happen without employees.As AI becomes more integrated into everyday work, employees naturally ask:How will my work change?Which tasks will AI perform?Which skills will become more important?What opportunities will exist for me in the future?How will I continue to learn and grow?These concerns are particularly relevant for workers in roles experiencing significant AI-driven change. Research conducted by Lean In shows that women are overrepresented in some of the occupations most exposed to AI disruption, including clerical, administrative, and data-entry roles. At the same time, many younger workers are employed in occupations with medium-to-high AI exposure. For these employees, uncertainty about the future of work can feel especially personal. Without proactively acknowledging or addressing these questions, leaders risk creating uncertainty and resistance at the very moment they need employees to embrace change.When employees are invited to help reimagine work rather than simply respond to change, they become active participants in shaping the future instead of passive recipients of it.How Leaders Can Reimagine WorkReimagining work helps leaders make one of the most important workforce decisions they now face: whether capabilities should be built, bought, borrowed, or automated.Historically, organizations addressed capability gaps primarily through hiring. Today, leaders have more options. The right decision depends on a clear understanding of the work to be done, the capabilities required, improving human talents, and where people and technology create the most value together. That is why continuous learning is an important part of the organization’s operating model. As AI evolves, so will the skills needed to create value. Leaders can create the conditions for employees to build new capabilities, apply them in meaningful ways, and grow as work changes.This story was produced by BDO and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Bank of Greece paper suggests Golden Visa reform shifted property activity nearby A Bank of Greece study found that property transactions clustered differently after Greece changed its Golden Visa thresholds.For years, the country’s Golden Visa program allowed non-EU buyers to qualify through a property purchase of at least 250,000 euros. As Aegalis explains below, transactions began clustering around that figure. When Greece doubled the minimum in selected high-demand areas, the transaction clustering changed.A March 2026 Bank of Greece working paper examined 109,407 residential transactions completed between 2017 and 2024. In places where the threshold rose to 500,000 euros, the cluster around 250,000 euros weakened. It became more pronounced in places that kept the lower threshold.The working paper authors interpret the threshold as a price anchor, with transaction patterns consistent with changes in reported values and location choices.The threshold became a price anchorGreece introduced its real-estate Golden Visa route in 2013 with a 250,000-euro minimum. Law 5007/2022 later increased the minimum to 500,000 euros in selected high-demand locations, including parts of Athens, the municipality of Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini. The researchers treat 2023 and 2024 as the period after that change.The property register does not record a buyer’s nationality or whether a purchase was made for a Golden Visa. The researchers could not label individual transactions as investor purchases. Instead, they looked for changes around the exact price needed to qualify.The researchers found pronounced clustering around 250,000 euros. Before the reform, many transactions sat close to 250,000 euros. Ministry of Migration and Asylum data cited by the researchers showed the same concentration in actual Golden Visa applications: About 58% of recorded property applications from 2017 to 2024 reported an investment between 250,000 and 260,000 euros.There are several reasons a market might settle around that number. A seller could raise a price slightly to make a property eligible for foreign buyers. Another seller might stay just below the threshold to appeal to local buyers. In both cases, the legal minimum becomes part of the pricing decision.What changed after the minimum roseSome municipalities moved to 500,000 euros. Others stayed at 250,000 euros, giving the researchers a natural comparison.After the change, transactions stopped clustering as heavily around 250,000 euros in the higher-threshold areas. The cluster grew in lower-threshold markets. In Attica, the researchers also found more activity around 250,000 euros in nearby municipalities where that amount still qualified.Some Golden Visa demand appears to have moved rather than disappeared. Buyers who no longer qualified in one municipality looked at another where the lower minimum remained available.The data cannot follow an individual buyer from one municipality to another. Nor can it show that every 250,000-euro sale involved a Golden Visa applicant. The case rests on timing, location and the sharp concentration of transactions around the legal minimum. The paper therefore says the evidence is “consistent with” demand shifting across municipal borders.What the Attica estimate meansIn the authors’ preferred model, reported transaction values in affected municipalities were about 9.5% lower after the reform than they would have been if the 250,000-euro threshold had remained in place.That does not mean Athens property prices fell by 9.5%. Prices could rise in both the affected and comparison areas. The finding simply shows that values in the higher-threshold municipalities rose more slowly than in comparable municipalities that kept the lower threshold.The authors put the estimate into euros. Using a pre-reform average transaction value of 117,892 euros, they calculated a difference of roughly 11,200 euros per sale. Across about 6,315 transactions in the affected parts of Attica, that adds up to approximately 70.7 million euros less in reported buyer expenditure than the counterfactual estimate.These are officially reported transaction values, which may differ from underlying market prices. The calculation is not a measure of the program’s total economic cost or benefit. It does not include tax revenue, investor gains or longer-term effects.The same result did not appear across Greece. Once fixed effects were included, the national estimate was not statistically significant. Neither were the estimates for Thessaloniki and the South Aegean. The strongest evidence came from Attica, where there were more transactions and more exposure to Golden Visa demand.Today’s rules are differentThe study looks at the earlier move from 250,000 to 500,000 euros. It does not measure the full effect of the rules investors face today.Since September 1, 2024, the standard property minimum has been 800,000 euros in Attica, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini and Greek islands with more than 3,100 residents. The standard minimum is 400,000 euros elsewhere.A 250,000-euro property route still exists, but only for qualifying commercial-to-residential conversions and listed-building restorations. It is not the general entry price for an ordinary residential purchase.Standard 800,000- and 400,000-euro purchases must involve one property with at least 120 square meters of main space. The 120-square-meter minimum does not apply to either 250,000-euro route.Because the study’s data end in 2024, it cannot show how the current three-tier system has changed prices or buyer behavior. Answering that question will require newer transaction data.What the findings mean for buyersGolden Visa eligibility does not establish that a property is fairly priced.Buyers still need to check whether a property qualifies under the current rules and whether its price is reasonable compared with similar homes not marketed around residence eligibility.Those questions can point in different directions. A qualifying property may be overpriced; a competitively priced one may fail because of its use, size, planning history or listed status.That makes ordinary property due diligence especially important near a visa threshold. Buyers should compare price per square meter, condition and local resale demand, and then verify title, encumbrances, permitted use and any claimed change of use or listed status before committing funds.The study suggests that a Golden Visa threshold can shape the property market around it. When one area becomes more expensive for program eligibility, transaction activity may shift toward nearby places where a lower minimum still applies.MethodologyThe analysis is based on Bank of Greece working paper 359, “Threshold-Based Policies and Distortions in Housing Markets,” by Dimitris Karamanis, Christos Kotsogiannis and Evangelia Papapetrou. The property register does not identify buyer nationality or Golden Visa purpose, so the paper describes the geographic result as evidence “consistent with” a shift in demand.Current program rules were checked against Law 5100/2024 and official Greek government guidance.This story was produced by Aegalis and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Delphi murders appeal hearing: What you need to know \| Delphi Debrief Richard Allen was convicted in 2024 of murdering Libby German and Abby Williams. His appellate attorneys argued in court today that he did not get a fair trial.
	Police seek man captured on surveillance video inside Muscatine elementary school It happened early Sunday.
	Burlington receives federal funding for new fire station Burlington is receiving millions in federal funding for a new fire station in the city. The city has been awarded $6,765,530 to construct the new fire station in support of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middleton. The funding comes from the Defense Community Infrastructure Program. The program is a competitive grant program that addresses [...]
	Top 10 states embracing creative baby name spellings Americans love to show off their creativity when it comes to giving their children names. Rather than relying on certain classics they may love the sound of, trends show new parents are opting instead to provide their own unique spellings.Nontraditionally spelled names can give a child a special feeling of uniqueness while having a name that is still easily recognizable. The leading example of this comes from the Social Security Administration's May 2026 update on the most popular names of 2025. Klarity, a fun respelling of Clarity, topped charts for the fastest-growing girls name.Kaleb, Camryn, and Madiysn are additional examples that jump off the page. To see just how common this trend was across the country, ThatsThem pulled SSA state-level name files from 2025 and grouped 15 common name families into standard and variant spelling clusters. From there, the share of each state’s births in those clusters that used the nonstandard version was calculated. Here’s the list of states where babies tend to have nonstandard names.Methodology noteBefore diving into the states with the most unique spellings, a quick note on the methodology used to compile the list. ThatsThem pulled the SSA’s state-specific baby name data for 2025 births, which is a full accounting of Social Security card applications by state. A state’s overall variant share was calculated as the total variant-spelling births divided by total cluster births across all 15. Only states with at least 30 qualifying births were ranked to ensure a handful of odd names in smaller states couldn’t swing the national results.An important caveat worth flagging in this methodology is that the SSA strips out names used fewer than five times in a state during the year, so the rarest spellings of names will never make it into the account. This means the real respelling rate is likely slightly higher across the board than what shows up here.Top 10 states by respelling share1. Mississippi — 42.7% Variant ShareMississippi topped the charts with the highest respelling rate in the country, and two name families drove most of that. Of the 576 births across the tracked clusters, 246 had unique spellings against just 330 standard. Drilling in deeper, the Caden group logged 122 variant births against just 12 for the standard spelling. This was led by Kayden (55), Kaiden (33), and Kaden (14). Cameron split in a similar way with Kamryn (18) and Kameron (16), both of which outpaced the six births with conventional spelling. The next-highest state trailed by more than 6 percentage points, meaning Mississippi had more than a healthy lead.2. Alabama — 36.0% Variant ShareAlabama came in second and is the leader of a regional pattern that’s dominant across the eastern United States. 887 births were pulled into its cluster. Of those, 568 standard names were measured compared to 319 variants. Klarity was the clearest case for this state, with 18 girls getting the respelled version while the standard spelling didn’t even have enough numbers to meet the cutoff. The Caden family also emerged again with 63 Kaydens and 32 Kaidens against 17 Cadens.3. Louisiana — 35.8% Variant ShareBarely half a percentage point behind Alabama is Louisiana. Out of 796 tracked births, there were 511 standard namings compared to 285 unique variations. Cameron split fairly evenly here with Kameron (19), Camryn (11), and Kamryn (10) against 54 standard spellings.4. West Virginia — 35.2% Variant ShareOut of all the states on the list, West Virginia had the smallest sample size with only 324 total births pulled in. There were 210 standard and 114 variants, yielding a 35.2% share, but it’s worth remembering the smaller sample size. It’s also the only state where the respellings had no clear favorites. Kayden (17), Kaden (14), and Kaiden (11) all pretty much landed on top of each other, and Camryn (7) and Kamryn (6) split the standard Cameron family almost down the middle.5. Georgia — 32.7% Variant ShareServing as the complete opposite to West Virginia, Georgia had more births than almost every other state on the list. A total of 2,161 births were tracked in the 15 clusters. There were 1,454 standard names compared to 707 variant spellings. Cameron shows up as Kameron (43), Kamryn (40), Camryn (32), and Camron (8), but no single respelling took over. Kaleb also interestingly accounted for another 53 births and Klarity hit 31.6. Arkansas — 32.1% Variant ShareArkansas is another state from the southern cluster, but it sits dead in the middle of the rest with a 32.1% variant share. This was based on 489 total tracked births, with 332 spellings deemed standard against 157 variant choices. The smaller families are where the trend appeared here. Kaleb reached 17 against 36 Calebs and Klarity just cleared the cutoff at 5. Maddison also popped up with 12 appearances.7. Nevada — 32% Variant ShareNevada is a true outlier on the list as the only top 10 state not situated in the south of the country. Its 32% variance share, based on 132 variant spellings against 412 tracked births, breaks the pattern of what would otherwise have been a clean regional story. Even where geography breaks, though, the naming pattern holds. Only five babies in Nevada were named Caden in 2025, against 42 with respelled versions: Kayden (21), Kaden (9), and Kaiden (7). Kaleb further tipped the scales with 15 appearances.8. Oklahoma — 31.6% Variant ShareComing in eighth is Oklahoma, just 0.4% behind Nevada. Of 613 total tracked births, there were 419 standard naming conventions and 194 variant options. Interestingly, Camryn (12) is the most common version of that name here while Mississippi and Tennessee both favor Kamryn. Kayden (34) still leads the Caden group though, with Kaden (18) and Kaiden (12) not far behind.9. Florida — 31.3% Variant ShareThe ninth position goes to Florida, and it’s also the state with the most dominant sample size on the list. A total of 3,939 births were recorded within the 15 clusters, of which 2,708 were standard and 1,231 had variant names. The scale makes it hard to brush off. Kayden alone accounted for 253 of those variant births, followed by Kaiden and Kaleb at 129 and 118, respectively. Florida is also the only state on the list where both Klarity (42) and Clarity (18) make it past the cutoff, helping respellings win by more than a two-to-one ratio.10. Tennessee — 31.1% Variant ShareFinally, Tennessee closes out the list in 10th place with a 31.1% variance share. This was based on 1,395 tracked births, split across 961 standard names to 434 variant options. This state leads towards the ‘K’ spellings. Kamryn (23) edges out Kameron (19) and Camryn (17), while Kayden (75) and Kaiden (42) stand high over a Caden group that only logged 32 original spelling births.The bigger picture of namesWhile the states on this list had enough of a variance share to form a top 10, they shouldn’t be mistaken for outlier states. Unique naming conventions have taken the U.S. by storm, and other states are following the trend as well. The SSA’s data shows Klarity-style variants climbing nationally, not just in regional pockets. It turned up in 22 states in 2025, with 320 births in all, as compared to 63 Clarity births across seven states. What may separate Mississippi from, say, California, isn’t whether or not parents are choosing unique names for their children. It’s just how many of them are.This story was produced by ThatsThem and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	From paychecks to pay transparency, survey shows why payroll is becoming a strategic trust function For years, payroll had one primary job: Pay employees accurately and on time.That expectation hasn't changed. But employees increasingly expect something more. They want to understand how they're paid, why deductions changed, how overtime was calculated, where benefits are reflected, and how compensation decisions connect to the bigger picture.In other words, payroll is becoming part of the broader movement toward workplace transparency.Transparency has become one of the defining themes in today's workforce. Employees expect greater visibility into compensation, benefits, time tracking, tax withholdings, and even how workplace policies affect their pay. New pay transparency laws have accelerated conversations around salary ranges, but employee expectations extend well beyond job postings.The paycheck itself has become one of the most important moments of trust between employers and employees.Trust Is Built Every PaydayMost employees don't think much about payroll until something looks wrong. An unexpected deduction. Missing overtime. A benefits change that wasn't anticipated. A tax withholding that suddenly shifts. Even when payroll is technically correct, confusion can create unnecessary concern.According to the 2026 State of Payroll Report conducted by HR and payroll software company Paylocity, 69% of organizations rely on two or more systems to manage payroll inputs. This statistic is important because fragmentation creates multiple points at which information can become disconnected before payday. Nearly half of HR teams also spend five or more hours every payroll cycle reconciling data and correcting issues.Accuracy is a must. But transparency helps employees understand and trust the outcome. When employees can clearly see how their pay was calculated and quickly find answers to common questions, payroll extends beyond an expected transaction to a confidence-building experience.Payroll Is Becoming a Communication ToolPayroll has traditionally been viewed as a financial process. Increasingly, it is turning into a communication channel.Every paycheck communicates something about the organization:We value accuracy.We communicate clearly.We handle your information responsibly.You can trust our systems.That communication becomes especially important as organizations manage increasingly complex workforces that include remote employees, multiple pay types, flexible schedules, incentive compensation, and evolving benefits. As payroll grows more complex, clarity becomes just as important as calculation.Transparency Requires Better DataTransparency gives employees accurate information they can trust. And transparency requires consistent data flowing across HR, payroll, benefits, finance, and time systems.Paylocity's research found that only 13% of organizations operate on a fully unified HR and finance platform, while 87% still manage payroll across fragmented environments. When payroll data lives in disconnected systems, employees are more likely to encounter issues and confusion around their pay.Paylocity's research found that organizations operating on connected HR and finance platforms place greater emphasis on transparency and employee self-service, while organizations with fragmented systems are far more likely to prioritize correcting payroll errors and improving paycheck accuracy.The findings suggest that once organizations establish a reliable payroll foundation, they can shift their focus from fixing problems to giving employees greater visibility into their pay. Those challenges create operational inefficiencies and make transparency harder because employees receive inconsistent information across different systems.When payroll data is unified, organizations are better positioned to provide employees with timely, consistent answers about their compensation. Transparency starts with trustworthy data.Payroll's Role Is ExpandingToday's payroll leaders increasingly support employee financial wellness, regulatory compliance, workforce planning, and organizational trust.Paylocity's State of Payroll Report reflects this shift. Nearly one-third (30%) of HR and finance leaders say better mobile payroll tools would most improve employee trust, while leaders operating on connected HR and finance platforms are significantly more likely to prioritize transparency, self-service, financial wellness, and on-demand pay.In contrast, organizations with fragmented systems remain focused on faster error correction and paycheck accuracy—suggesting that once payroll operations are stable, organizations can shift their attention from fixing problems to creating a better employee experience.As organizations invest in employee experience, payroll becomes one of the few recurring touchpoints every employee shares.Unlike many HR initiatives, payroll is something every employee interacts with every pay period. That consistency gives payroll an outsized influence on how employees perceive the organization.Looking AheadPayroll has become one of the most consistent touchpoints in the employee experience. Every paycheck shapes an employee's perception of their employer.Organizations that make pay easier to understand and questions easier to answer build trust with every payroll cycle. Over time, those everyday interactions help strengthen trust across the organization.MethodologyThis report is based on a survey conducted by Centiment on behalf of Paylocity between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2, 2026. The survey includes 776 HR and finance leaders in the United States, representing a range of industries and company sizes.The analysis examines how payroll outcomes vary by system structure, comparing organizations operating on combined HR and finance platforms with those relying on integrated or fragmented systems. Payroll leakage reflects the percentage of payroll value lost due to errors, overpayments, duplicate payments, incorrect deductions, or reconciliation issues. Time-loss estimates reflect the hours payroll teams report spending each month correcting errors or processing off-cycle payroll adjustments. The margin of error is approximately ±4% at a 95% confidence level.This story was produced by Paylocity and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Columbus Junction authorities, school district looking into social media post There is no immediate threat and local and county authorities are looking into the post.
	America’s air monitors are disappearing. So is your power to expose polluters. Across much of the U.S., people have little way to know when the air they breathe turns dangerous.Over recent decades, federal funding for public air monitoring has declined, the number of monitors has fallen, and much of the remaining equipment is aging or located far from major polluters.Now, the stakes are rising: Wildfire smoke is reaching more communities, data centers are adding pollution, and climate-driven heat waves are worsening ozone levels. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has delayed and rolled back requirements meant to hold companies accountable for their emissions.As the public monitoring system has weakened, communities have increasingly turned to an alternative: low-cost sensors they can use themselves.But a Floodlight investigation finds industry is moving to restrict that option, too.Since 2024, lawmakers in Louisiana, Ohio and Kentucky have passed strikingly similar bills — backed by chemical or manufacturing trade groups — that curb the use of community-collected data in enforcement actions.The bills share a common thread: They block regulators from using air-quality data for enforcement purposes unless it meets EPA-approved standards. Similar bills in West Virginia have yet to pass.In case after case, proponents have made the same argument: Community monitoring isn’t reliable enough for regulatory enforcement.Yet when lawmakers in West Virginia offered a version of a bill designed to ensure accuracy, industry resisted.The bill “essentially codifies what we are trying to prevent,” an official at the chemical giant Chemours wrote in an internal email.An early-warning system in declineThousands of small, often unremarkable instruments serve as the nation's early-warning system for dangerous air, detecting pollution that people can’t always see or smell.Some sit inside shelters the size of garden sheds. Others are mounted on rooftops or tucked into fenced compounds. Together, these monitors measure pollutants ranging from ozone and carbon monoxide to carcinogens such as benzene and vinyl chloride.The network grew out of the 1963 Clean Air Act and transformed the way the nation tracked air pollution, giving regulators data they could use to identify dangerous conditions and hold polluters accountable. Since then, air pollution has fallen dramatically across much of the U.S.But today, the network is “showing its age,” said Chet Wayland, who led EPA's Air Quality Assessment Division for nearly two decades. “And it's getting smaller over time.”For example:Leaks, termites and ants plague monitoring stations in one state while officials in another have resorted to shopping on eBay for discontinued parts, according to a 2020 congressional watchdog report.Adjusted for inflation, federal grants to support the network have fallen more than 35% over the past two decades, while the Trump administration tried unsuccessfully last year to eliminate them entirely — and is trying again this year.The number of government air monitors nationwide fell by nearly half over the same 20-year period, according to EPA data.The decline was especially pronounced among air monitors that track toxic chemicals, including those linked to cancer and other serious health effects.For example, the network monitoring vinyl chloride — the carcinogen at the center of the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio — shrank by more than half from 2004 to 2025. So did the network for chloroprene and benzene.Floodlight analyzed the largest industrial sources of air pollution in Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio and West Virginia — where the monitoring legislation was introduced — and compared what each one reported releasing against what public monitors in those states are capable of detecting.For 71 of the 100 facilities examined, the chemical they release the most isn't measured by any government monitor in the state.Consider hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and methanol — no air monitor currently reporting to the EPA measures those toxic chemicals.Nelson Roque, an assistant professor at Penn State, co-authored a 2025 study that found nearly six in 10 U.S. counties have no public air monitor at all.Such gaps matter most in communities already facing higher risks. Black and low-income people bear a disproportionate share of elevated cancer risks from air toxics, according to the EPA.“We've realized the value of other infrastructure, and yet not this one,” Roque said. “Last I checked, we all breathe air.”The shrinking public network has set the stage for another fight: Who gets to measure the air, and whose data counts.Louisiana: A monitoring gap, and the fight to keep itPublic air monitors in Louisiana — a national hub for oil, gas and petrochemicals — are often located miles from major industrial polluters and fail to test for some of the most dangerous chemicals, a recent Floodlight investigation found.Community groups have tried to fill that gap. A $500,000 grant awarded under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act would have allowed the Louisiana Environmental Action Network to establish air monitoring in 27 communities it identified as pollution hot spots.But the group was able to install monitors in only four communities before the Trump administration canceled the grant last year.“It's like having your legs knocked out from under you,” said LEAN executive director Marylee Orr.In 2024, meanwhile, Louisiana became the first state to restrict the use of community air monitoring data.The Louisiana Chemistry Association helped draft the Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act (CAMRA), which cites the need for “science-based standards” and bars the use of air pollution data in enforcement or regulatory actions unless it’s captured by EPA-approved monitors. That equipment typically costs tens of thousands of dollars.In a previous statement to Floodlight, LCA president David Cresson defended the law, saying it ensures “data used to enforce our state's environmental protection laws complies with minimum U.S. EPA standards” and doesn't stop residents from monitoring air quality for their own information — only from using unregulated methods for enforcement purposes.The same period brought other rollbacks, some of them sought by the chemical industry’s most powerful national lobbying group. The American Chemistry Council — the LCA’s national counterpart — spent more than $22 million lobbying in 2024, ranking 10th among 9,200 organizations tracked by an independent watchdog group.The ACC and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers last year requested a blanket two-year exemption from Biden-era regulations meant to cut certain toxic emissions by nearly 80 percent at roughly 200 chemical manufacturing plants. They didn't get the blanket exemption — but individual plants that applied did.So far, President Donald Trump’s EPA has granted more than 60 petrochemical facilities exemptions from the rule, and the agency is now weighing whether to rescind it entirely.The ACC also successfully lobbied against federal rules that would have required about two dozen chemical plants to conduct fenceline monitoring for ethylene oxide, a carcinogen that contributes substantially to the elevated cancer risk in Louisiana's Cancer Alley.The national trade group did not respond to Floodlight’s questions about its lobbying or its involvement in Louisiana’s CAMRA law. Nor did it explain its role in promoting similar legislation in other states.But in an emailed statement, the ACC said it has invested in community air-monitoring projects and “publicly advocated for expanded access to credible air quality information.” It said it supports monitoring that produces reliable, transparent data and gives communities and regulators information they can use to make informed decisions.Kentucky takes a page from LouisianaOdors from Rubbertown, an industrial complex that housed tire and synthetic rubber plants during World War II, have long bothered residents in west Louisville, Ky. So, in the early 2000s, the city’s Air Pollution Control District, the EPA and others launched a study that confirmed what residents had long known: The air had unacceptably high levels of toxic pollutants.A plan was enacted, regulations were revised, and the air was continuously tested. More than 15 years later, regulators announced toxic air contaminants in the Louisville metro area were down by almost 80%, with the most dangerous chemicals cut by 96%.Despite the success of expanded air monitoring in Louisville, Kentucky, lawmakers have moved in the opposite direction. In March 2025, 10 months after Louisiana’s CAMRA law, they passed House Bill 137, which also restricted how air-monitoring data can be used in enforcement actions.Lloyd “Rusty” Cress, executive director of the Kentucky Chemical Council, told the Kentucky Lantern that the bill was similar to Louisiana’s community air monitoring legislation. The law says air needs to be tested with “scientifically defensible” methods — echoing a phrase used in an ACC blog post in 2023.The ACC, the American Petroleum Institute, Dow Chemical and Chemours all lobbied for it.Jess Loizeaux, a Chemours spokesperson, said the company doesn’t object to community air monitoring. “We object to community air monitoring results being used for enforcement decisions without first verifying the validity and accuracy of the data through official tests performed by trained technicians at the appropriate regulatory authority,” she told Floodlight.Kentucky’s political push unfolded against a backdrop of major gaps in public air monitoring. Only one of the state’s 25 largest air polluters is near an air monitoring station that measures the toxic chemical it emits the most.Fewer than a quarter of the state’s counties have an air monitoring station.Ohio’s restrictions meet with legal challengeOhio’s new air monitoring rule was tucked into last year’s budget bill with no named sponsor. It, too, stops regulators from acting on air-monitoring data collected by community groups.“When we take away the ability for those folks to have a reasonably priced monitor … for their own protection, we've just taken any tool they had right out of their hands,” said Miranda Leppla, an attorney who sued the state over the new rules last year on behalf of environmental groups.The lawsuit also challenges another provision in the budget bill that instructs state regulators to remove Ohio’s “air nuisance rule,” which allowed citizens to take legal action against companies whose emissions endanger public health.One of the plaintiffs, Donna Ballinger, lives in Middletown, Ohio, hundreds of feet from a steel manufacturing plant that frequently rains down black, white and gray particles onto her house and yard, she said. Fumes sometimes burn her eyes and throat, she said, and she often holds her nose when walking between her house and car.“My fear is cancer,” Ballinger told Floodlight.She has an air monitor mounted in her front yard. But Ohio’s new requirement has made it impossible to use the data such monitors collect “as evidence of the nuisance conditions,” the lawsuit says.The Ohio Chemistry Technology Council backed the measure. The group did not respond to Floodlight’s requests for an interview.Tony Long, general counsel for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are concerned that uncalibrated air monitors will spread misinformation.“Given our litigious nature in this state, we think that the guardrails make sense,” he told Floodlight. “You don't want to be stopped for speeding on an uncalibrated speed gun.”With more than 90 public air monitoring stations, Ohio has a more robust air monitoring network than some states. Yet none of Ohio's 25 largest air polluters are within 20 miles of a public air monitoring station that measures their top toxic emission. In fact, no air monitor in the U.S. measures the chemical that 10 of them release most.Ohio’s Syensqo Specialty Polymers plant, which makes a resin used in plastics, released more than 130 tons of volatile organic compounds into the air last year.The nearest air monitoring station is about four miles away — in West Virginia — and doesn’t measure VOCs.Industry resistance stalls West Virginia effortsWest Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection runs just 14 monitoring sites in 12 counties. The other 43 counties have no state monitoring stations at all.None of West Virginia's 25 largest air polluters has a public air monitor within 25 miles that measures the pollutant it releases the most. For 17 of the facilities, no air monitor anywhere in the U.S. measures their top toxic emission.In 2024, a state bill backed by the West Virginia Manufacturers Association would have barred community air monitoring data from use in regulation, enforcement and lawsuits; it passed the House but died in the Senate — partly because industry couldn’t agree on what to include.A compromise version of the 2024 bill, drafted to address the concerns of some lawmakers, would have let regulators use community data if the monitors met manufacturer standards. Industry refused to support it.In emailed comments about the compromise bill, West Virginia Manufacturers Association Bill Bissett said it “neuters” the measure and was “now toothless.” Chemours’ Jeff Fritz wrote, “I do not like this draft,” and said the bill “essentially codifies what we are trying to prevent,” according to emails obtained by Mountain State Spotlight. Neither Bissett nor Fritz responded to requests for comment.Subsequent bills, introduced in 2025 and 2026, also failed.Why monitoring mattersEvidence shows that better monitoring can reduce pollution — and potentially save lives.In 2018, the EPA made refineries begin monitoring benzene along their fencelines, and within five years, the number of refineries above the EPA’s benzene action level dropped by half, according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project.While some states have made it difficult to know what’s in the air, others have been proactive:California is funding equipment and training for residents in fenceline communities to monitor for things like pesticides, hexavalent chromium and other toxic chemicals. From 2017 to 2025, the state budgeted $1.4 billion to help communities that have historically been overburdened with air pollution.Colorado required four industrial plants to install fenceline monitors that measure hydrogen sulfide, benzene and hydrogen cyanide in real time. The state also bought two mobile vans that regularly sample the same pollutants in surrounding neighborhoods.The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and its contractors operate 33 automated gas chromatographs — sophisticated equipment that collects air samples hourly and provides near real-time readings of volatile organic compounds.But in much of the U.S, those who live near industrial plants still have little way to know what they’re breathing.An unanswered questionReonda Victor lives in Louisiana's heavily industrialized corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where flares from industrial plants often illuminate the night sky.Her mother, grandmother and sister all had breast cancer. Concerned about her own risk, she underwent genetic testing, which showed no predisposition to the disease, she said.The closest public air monitoring station to her home — which lies in an area where air pollution poses one of the highest cancer risks in the country — tests only for lead.Did industrial pollution cause the illnesses that struck her family members? She can’t say. But proper air monitoring could help answer that question, she said.“Without information, we don’t know.”Kentucky Public Radio contributed to this investigation.This story was produced by Floodlight and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Aviation regulators turn to AI to help manage the nation's airspace The Federal Aviation Administration launched an ambitious $875-million-dollar push to make the U.S. airspace more efficient. But critics say it won't solve bigger problems with air traffic control.
	High income, low growth? The surprising reason your wealth isn’t scaling Earning well? You’ve likely done what many financially successful people do: focused on building a strong career first. No matter your career path, years of discipline, long hours, and smart decisions have helped you reach a high-income position. That part of the equation is working.Yet when you step back and look at the bigger picture, your net worth may not be growing at the pace you expected. This disconnect is surprisingly common among high earners, according to a BHG Financial survey conducted in 2025, which found that 27% of respondents making over $100,000 or more per year don’t feel like they have enough money for an emergency fund to cover three to six months of costs.The good news is that this isn’t a reflection of poor choices or missed opportunities. More often, a few overlooked structural gaps are holding back long-term progress. Once you identify them, you can better align your income, financial strategy, and investment decisions to support sustained growth and the future you want for yourself and those who depend on you.When high earnings don’t equal wealth growthAt a certain income level, the rules change. If most of your income still depends on your time and effort, building lasting wealth can become more challenging, even if you are making more.This is where the concept of "wealth scaling" comes in. Wealth scaling occurs when your financial system becomes capable of growing on its own, through a combination of assets, equity, and cash-flowing investments that compound over time.As Eric Croak, certified financial planner and accredited wealth management advisor at Croak Capital, explains, “It’s when your financial life becomes large enough to sustain itself. It becomes less about work and more about letting your dollars do the heavy lifting.”Many high-income professionals assume that rising earnings will naturally lead to greater wealth, but income alone doesn’t drive long-term growth. Without the right financial structures in place, higher earnings can also mean higher taxes, increased complexity, and spending that outpaces asset growth—without a corresponding rise in net worth.That helps explain why some six-figure professionals eventually hit a plateau. Their income continues, but their net worth advances more slowly than expected because their money isn't positioned to compound efficiently.The sections ahead explore the most common barriers to wealth scaling and practical ways to overcome them.Root cause #1: High income, high expense growthThe expense trapSpending tends to rise in step with income, and often, this happens unconsciously. “Larger paychecks can easily hide poor structures. Someone making $25,000 per month may feel like they are invincible until lifestyle creep burns through $23,000 of that,” explained Croak.Upgrades or luxury choices might feel more attainable (e.g., your vehicle, vacations, and even your home), but there's little consideration of the broader picture and how those one-time purchase decisions may add up over time.How it stops wealth from scalingUnfortunately, a higher income doesn’t automatically increase your savings. Even if you earn a nice living, your savings rate may stay the same or in some cases, drop due to rising expenses. The reality is that unless your savings rate increases, your net worth growth stalls.“Keep in mind that your savings rate does more heavy lifting than your paycheck. An individual making $180,000 per year with a 30% savings rate outperforms someone making twice that amount with a 5% savings rate,” said Croak.Fixing the trapThe best way to continue to grow your savings rate and in turn, your net worth is to implement a rule. For example, you might decide to put 50% of any income increase toward savings or investments. It’s also a good idea to automate your savings and investments before you make any upgrades to your lifestyle. In addition, make sure you’re on the right track with budgeting tools and periodic rules, every month or every quarter.Root cause #2: High-interest debt and carrying costsDebt erodes wealth behind the scenesIt’s not uncommon for high earners to carry unwanted debt, often in the form of credit cards, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and personal credit lines. You may think you can afford the debt, but the cost of high interest rates plus variable APRs and fees can add up quickly.The average credit card interest rate these days is around 20%, making it all too easy for debt to eat up much of your hard-earned paycheck.Why it blocks wealth scalingAccording to Croak, high earners tend to overlook high-interest debt and its costs because it steals momentum invisibly. “In other words, your debt may grow in the background even as you continue to earn more money and further your career,” explained Croak.The math plays a sly trick in this case: You might feel like you’re moving forward financially, but debt payments can effectively freeze your progress with savings and investments.“Frankly, the problem is less about the existence of debt and more about how you manage it,” added Croak.Strategic solution: Debt consolidationIf you’re a six-figure earner seeking greater control of your debt so you can scale your wealth effectively, debt consolidation should be on your radar. Through this strategy, you move multiple high-interest debts into a single account, ideally with a lower interest rate and more favorable terms to improve your cash flow through consolidating debt.Instead of managing several debts with varying due dates and balances, you’ll only have to worry about one monthly payment. In addition, you may save a significant amount on interest and enjoy a clearer path to becoming debt-free.Root cause #3: Under-utilization of tax-advantaged and growth vehiclesHigh earners face unique tax and investment challengesWhile earning a high income is exciting, it can also make taxes and investing a bit complex, especially if you’re unaware or unfamiliar with the advanced strategies at your disposal. Due to a lack of knowledge or guidance, you might rely on default employer investments or generic tax advice that may or may not apply to you. This can ultimately reduce your investment returns and increase your tax liabilities.How it limits wealth scalingMany high earners underutilize tax‑advantaged accounts simply because they fail to see the impact of higher taxes on compounding growth. “As a result, a single contribution opportunity or HSA contribution dollars goes to waste and can potentially reduce long‑term growth by tens of thousands of dollars,” said Croak.At the end of the day, the more you earn, the more tax structure factors into your outcomes. Missed structure is the same as missed scaling. “The point is that taxes take money off the top before it even has the chance to compound,” added Croak.How to maximize growth potentialFortunately, there are many tax-advantaged products you can leverage to save on taxes and simultaneously increase your returns. While the ideal accounts depend on your unique situation, 401(k)s, backdoor Roths, and health savings accounts are a few options to explore.It’s also in your best interest to diversify across growth assets with real estate, alternative vehicles, and more. Just make sure you understand the fees, downsides, and tax implications of each of your investments.Root cause #4: Lack of liquid asset buffer & opportunity fundWhy liquidity mattersLack of liquidity is another barrier that high earners often overlook. You may have your wealth tied up in business interests or real estate, for example, and therefore have limited cash or short-term liquid assets on hand.“Liquidity is the oxygen that fuels opportunities when they appear, such as the ability to write a check for twenty thousand dollars to buy a piece of private credit tranche with attractive yield,” explained Croak.The impact on growthWithout sufficient liquidity, you’re more likely to miss out on valuable investments and resort to high-interest borrowing, which can cost you a great deal of money over time. Even if you have millions of dollars' worth of assets, it may take months or even years to convert them into cash and new growth opportunities.Building a growth-friendly liquid bufferSet aside an “opportunity fund,” which includes three to six months of expenses plus additional capital for any appealing investments, real estate, or business opportunities that may pop up. Keep the fund in a highly liquid asset, such as a high-yield savings or money-market account.If you decide to pay off debt with a debt consolidation loan, you can use your freed-up cash to build this buffer. Just remember to reevaluate it every year to ensure your fund still aligns with your evolving income and expense profile.Root cause #5: Failure to track net worth and adjust strategyIncome vs. net worth monitoringAs a six-figure earner, it’s all too easy to focus on your monthly income, bonuses, commissions, or salary increases. While there is nothing wrong with this, it’s important to prioritize your net worth. Without tracking it, you’ll find it difficult to understand whether you’re truly growing wealth and using your income to its fullest potential.Why wealth doesn’t scale without measurementNo matter your age or stage in life, you need a scoreboard that doesn’t lie. Fortunately, tracking your wealth can provide you with just that. “Income feels more exciting than static net worth. As a result, when a person tracks both, the strategy they build is based on math instead of emotions,” said Croak.At the end of the day, you may be increasing your income but seeing little change in your net worth due to rising expenses, debt, tax drag, and related factors.How to measure and manage growthKeeping tabs on your net worth is easier than you think. All you have to do is create a net worth statement each quarter, which includes your assets minus your liabilities at that point in time. You can also set an annual target growth rate, such as 8% to 10%, for example, and consider using software that integrates with your accounts.Schedule regular “wealth reviews” to check your status and adjust as needed. A financial advisor or planner may attend to provide recommendations and confirm whether you’re on the right track.Putting it all together: Your high-income growth game planIf you’re a high earner who hopes to increase your net worth and scale your wealth, these steps can help you design a solid plan of action.Step 1: Audit your current financial state, including your income, expenses, debt, net worth, and savings rate. Figure out where you stand so you can decide how to best proceed.Step 2: Identify your top two blind spots from above. Depending on your situation, this may be the high cost of debt and excessive spending after getting a raise, for example.Step 3: Deploy one tactical fix this month. If high-interest debt is your issue, you might want to consolidate it with a debt consolidation loan. If you tend to overspend after you get a bonus, automate savings when you receive your next income bump.Step 4: Set measurable growth goals for the next 12 months. For example, you may reduce debt by 25%, increase net worth by 40%, or automate 15% of your bonus. Be as specific as possible so you can easily measure your progress.Step 5: Put regular check-ins on your calendar. These may be quarterly financial reviews where you make adjustments as needed.Remember, high income comes with great opportunity—but also hidden complexity. The key to success is to transition from “earning a lot” to “growing a lot.”From high income to high growthEarning a high income is a strong advantage, but it’s not a guarantee that your wealth will scale. True growth comes from addressing hidden financial blind spots, including expense creep, debt drag, tax inefficiencies, lack of liquidity, and failure to measure net worth. With the right strategy, you can convert your high income into high-growth net worth.This story was produced by BHG Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The real cost of payroll: A small business guide for 2026 Setting up a payroll system can feel like a steep climb if accounting isn’t your strong suit, but it’s the backbone of your business's health. In fact, when asked what one job they would trust AI to do perfectly, 17% of small business owners ranked bookkeeping and taxes as the top tasks they would outsource, according to the 2026 Intuit QuickBooks Business Owner Report.The true cost of payroll extends far beyond the salaries you pay your staff. It includes software subscriptions, tax filing fees, and the value of the time you spend managing it all.The right choice for your business depends on your company size, how often you pay your team, and the complexity of your benefits. This guide from Intuit QuickBooks breaks down exactly what you’ll pay for different payroll methods this year.Understanding payroll costs: Price comparisonWhen calculating your budget, look at two numbers: the monthly base fee (your rent for the software) and the per-employee fee (your utility cost that scales with your team).In 2026, budget options now start around $40/month, while premium all-in-one platforms can exceed $150/month before adding a single employee.Payroll service providers typically charge a monthly base fee plus additional fees for each employee or paycheck processed to handle your payroll accounting. When choosing a payroll solution, consider your specific needs and requirements.Four ways to manage your payrollThere are four main methods for running payroll for your company:In-house payrollUsing payroll softwareOutsourced payrollOnline payroll servicesEach of these options has distinct advantages, disadvantages and costs that you should consider as you look for ways to make paying an employee more efficient and less costly.1. In-house payrollIf you think you’re up to the task, you might try managing payroll yourself. It’s not uncommon for new small business owners to personally handle their company’s payroll.These owners are trying to get their company off the ground, often on a tight budget with very few employees, if any.On a small scale, payroll isn’t very complicated, but once your business grows, handling payroll yourself becomes much more challenging. As a business owner, you’ll likely want to focus on other aspects of your business instead of spending your time doing payroll.Performing payroll in-house gives you the most control over the process, but it can also increase the potential for costly mistakes. Even leaning into automation can only take you so far.According to Glassdoor, hiring an in-house payroll specialist might cost you $54,000 to $82,000 per year, the average salary for a payroll specialist. Add in benefits and taxes, and the figure can jump up quickly.2. Payroll softwareAutomating payroll can streamline the process and minimize the time you, as a business owner, have to spend managing payroll. The services included in payroll software vary based on the plan or version of software you choose.Most accounting software offers basic payroll functions, while others offer more advanced features like employee time tracking and tax filing services. The cost of payroll software varies widely depending on the size of your company and the features you’re looking for.Software can streamline in-house payroll by automating most parts of the process that you’d otherwise have to do manually. Good software is user-friendly and easy to understand, so you can worry less about creating problems that could result in fines.Some payroll software also provides an online portal for employees to update their direct deposit and tax information.3. Outsourced payrollOutsourcing payroll is when you hire a bookkeeper or accountant to keep track of company finances and handle the payroll process. Ideally, this person is an organized financial professional who knows their way around tax laws and regulations.While the cost of a bookkeeper depends on the services you want them to perform and their experience, they can be expensive. You wouldn’t be paying that full amount for an outsourced accountant, but depending on your payroll needs, you may pay quite a lot.The expertise, experience, and familiarity with the payroll process and the laws that govern payroll and taxation could be significant positives. Payroll mistakes are common and expensive. If your employees know that there’s a professional ensuring they’re paid what they’re owed on time, it could go a long way toward gaining or keeping their trust in you.4. Online payroll servicesSince payroll can be tedious and time-consuming, outsourcing payroll to an online payroll service provider is common. An online payroll service provider is a company that handles payments, withholdings, tax filings, and other payroll services for your business.Depending on your small business’s needs, an online payroll service provider can help you save time and minimize payroll mistakes. It can also be a cost-effective option.One of the possible downsides to using an online payroll service is that you don’t have as much oversight and flexibility as you would if you were running payroll inside your company. Depending on the service, you may also pay a lot to add new employees or make other changes.What is included in payroll costsThe payroll costs you pay cover a range of services, including labor, automation, and the distribution of payroll to your employees.Providers also maintain records, withhold taxes, distribute funds to retirement accounts, and often handle tax payments. Another key value that payroll providers offer is ensuring compliance with complex and ever-changing payroll regulations.While the core services are generally included, providers may charge extra for specific add-ons. Here's a list of common extra charges:Workers' compensation401(k) plansTime trackingTax penalty protectionAutomatic check signaturesDirect depositState and federal tax filingPrinting and check deliveryTax form processingHR servicesGarnishment paymentsEmployee self-service portalsInternational payrollThe cost of these add-ons can vary based on the number of employees. Typically, larger companies can negotiate volume discounts. Similarly, very small businesses or startups may be eligible for special pricing or discounts. Always inquire about potential discounts and negotiate pricing based on your specific needs and company size.Factors that impact payroll costsMany factors can impact how much it costs to run payroll. However, some of the most important parts of the equation can be confusing and may open your business up to liability and even fines if done incorrectly.The number of employees: Many payroll providers use pricing models with per-employee fees. For example, a company with 100 employees using a provider that charges $5 per employee per month would pay $500 in monthly per-employee fees. Larger employee counts also mean more manual work for in-house payroll processing, potentially requiring more staff or resources.Payroll frequency: Payroll providers typically charge a fee for every employee in your company's payroll schedule or for each check sent. For instance, if there’s a $3 fee per employee every pay period and you pay employees every two weeks, that fee will add up to $6 per month per employee. But if you choose to pay your employees weekly, that fee jumps to $12 per month.The number of states employees are paid in: State payroll taxes differ, and each state has different tax laws. You could pay more taxes in one state than another. Payroll providers may also charge extra fees to cover employees located in multiple states.Direct deposit costs: Setting up a direct deposit is an additional cost for your business, but most employees will expect it, as it’s a convenient way to get paid.Tax filing: Payroll providers often charge extra fees for tasks like filing state and federal taxes, FICA taxes for Social Security and Medicare, preparing year-end taxes, and processing tax forms.End-of-year processing: At the end of the year, a payroll provider can calculate taxes that need to be paid and send out W-2 forms to employees.Software costs: If your provider has an online system or software to upload and update employee records, the provider will probably charge for using it. These fees also go toward maintaining these systems.Subscription costs: Some of the services offered by payroll companies are covered by the cost of your subscription, while others aren’t. Ask the company for clarification on which features are extra.Add-on services: Add-on services can mean anything from printing and mailing physical checks to filing payroll taxes on your behalf.While these factors determine your baseline expenses, the true cost of payroll often lies in the fine print. Beyond standard monthly subscriptions, specific administrative actions can trigger hidden fees that quickly inflate your budget.Next steps for streamlining your payroll processManaging payroll is a necessary part of running a company. And, believe it or not, payroll accounting doesn't have to be difficult or expensive.Tools like payroll software and online payroll services can save valuable time and reduce payroll costs. So, evaluate your business’s needs, do some research, and find the right payroll solution for you.This story was produced by Intuit QuickBooks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Man breaks into Muscatine elementary school early Sunday morning Muscatine police are asking for help identifying a man who illegally entered Mulberry Elementary School between 4 and 5 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20.
	Slow down, watch for farm equipment: Illinois State Police Harvest season is underway in the Midwest and drivers are finding themselves sharing the roads with farming equipment that moves much slower than normal traffic. Ryan Wagand, an Illinois State Police trooper, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to explain why drivers need to pay even closer attention to the roads this time [...]
	Traffic alert: Overnight roadwork on westbound I-74 starting Wednesday Drivers should expect overnight lane shifts and barrier work on westbound Interstate 74 starting early Wednesday morning through Saturday.
	5 questions about menopause you might be too embarrassed to ask Experienced workers in women’s health may notice that the questions women actually have about menopause are rarely the ones they ask out loud.They Google them at midnight. They mention them offhandedly at the end of a doctor’s appointment, already halfway out the door. Or they don’t say anything at all and just wonder if something is wrong with them.There’s no good reason for this. Menopause affects every woman who lives long enough to experience it. But because so many of its symptoms touch on things women have been conditioned to find embarrassing — their bodies, their emotions, their sense of self — the conversation stays muted. And women suffer through treatable symptoms for years, assuming it’s just part of getting older.It’s not. Here, Ivím Health shares the answers to five questions women may feel too embarrassed to ask.1. Why is my weight going up when I haven’t changed anything?You’re not imagining it, and it’s not a willpower problem.This is a common refrain from women in their 40s and 50s: I’m doing everything the same and my body is doing something different. The weight is showing up in my belly. Nothing I used to do is working anymore.The hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause — declining estrogen, changes in insulin sensitivity, shifts in how cortisol behaves — alter how the body processes and stores fat. What changed isn’t your effort. It’s your biology.That doesn’t mean weight change is inevitable or permanent. But it does mean the approach needs to match where your physiology actually is now. More protein, strength training to preserve muscle, real attention to sleep quality, and in some cases, medical support. Trying harder at something that no longer fits your biology is not the answer. Understanding what’s actually happening is.2. I snapped at my kids for no reason and then cried in the car. Am I losing it?No. But it’s understandable why it feels that way.The emotional symptoms of perimenopause are real, they’re biological, and they’re dramatically underestimated. Mood swings. Anxiety that appears out of nowhere. Irritability that feels outsized and out of character. A kind of emotional rawness that makes you feel like you don’t recognize yourself. Brain fog thick enough that you lose a word mid-sentence and start wondering if something is seriously wrong.Estrogen has a direct effect on serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Your brain has estrogen receptors. When those levels fluctuate — which they do, sometimes wildly, during perimenopause — your mood and cognition feel it.Often, women are being told this is stress or just a lot going on. Sometimes that’s true. But if these symptoms arrived without an obvious trigger, or intensified alongside other symptoms on this list, the hormonal explanation deserves to be taken seriously before anything else.You’re not losing it. Your hormones are shifting, and that shift has a real effect on how you feel.3. My periods are all over the place, but I’m only 44. Could this actually be menopause?This could certainly be perimenopause. And yes, 44 is well within normal range.Menopause itself is a single moment: Technically, the 12-month anniversary of your last period. But perimenopause — the transition leading up to it — can last anywhere from four to ten years, and it’s during this phase that most symptoms appear. Irregular cycles are often one of the first signs. So are sleep disruption, mood changes, and that unexplained abdominal weight gain. Symptoms come in waves. Hormone levels fluctuate dramatically, sometimes day to day, which is part of why the whole experience feels so inconsistent.The confusion is compounded by the fact that several of these symptoms overlap with other conditions. For example, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and mood changes can also be signs of thyroid dysfunction, which becomes more common in midlife women. If you haven’t had a full thyroid panel recently, it’s worth asking for one.Blood tests can offer useful data, though they should be interpreted alongside your symptoms, not in isolation. The most important thing is finding a provider who will look at the full picture. If your current doctor makes you feel like you’re complaining, find a different doctor. This is not a small chapter of your life.4. I’m waking up at 3 a.m. and can’t get back to sleep. Will I ever sleep through the night again?This is one of the most common complaints from women in midlife — but this is fixable, and it’s not in your head.Sleep disruption is one of the most underestimated symptoms of perimenopause. Women describe it almost identically every time: They fall asleep fine, then wake up somewhere between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., mind going, sometimes drenched in sweat, completely unable to get back to sleep. They spend the next day exhausted and assume this is just what getting older feels like.It isn’t. Progesterone, which declines early in perimenopause, has a natural calming, sleep-promoting effect. When it drops, sleep quality drops with it. Estrogen loss contributes to night sweats that fragment sleep even when you don’t fully wake up. Cortisol patterns shift too, which is part of why the 3 a.m. wake-up feels so consistent rather than random.Poor sleep contributes to worsened mood, accelerated weight gain, impaired memory, and increased insulin resistance. When women say everything started falling apart at once, sleep is often a factor.The good news: This responds well to treatment. Hormone therapy addresses the root cause for many women. For those who can’t or don’t want hormones, there are non-hormonal options worth a conversation with a provider. You don’t have to just be tired.5. My hair is coming out in the shower, and my skin looks completely different. Is this just … me now?No. And too many women accept this as the price of getting older.The hair thinning, the dryness, the skin that seems to have lost something — these are impacted by declining hormones. Estrogen supports collagen production, skin moisture, and the hair growth cycle. As levels decline, skin loses thickness and elasticity. Hair follicles shift from growth phase to resting phase faster than they used to, which is why you’re seeing more in the drain and less on your head.These changes tend to be gradual enough that women adapt to them without realizing they don’t have to. By the time someone brings it up in an appointment, they’ve usually been grieving it for a year or two.Hormone therapy can slow and, in some cases, partially reverse these changes, particularly when started earlier in the transition. Topical estrogen, collagen-supporting nutrition, and targeted hair loss treatments also have real evidence behind them. The approach depends on your full picture.Try to push back on the instinct to write it off. The way you look can affect how you feel. That’s not vanity. It’s worth addressing.A closing thoughtNone of these questions should feel embarrassing. But it’s understandable when they do — women don’t have great cultural scripts for talking about bodies in transition, especially when the symptoms touch on things they’re often conditioned to stay quiet about.The women who get the answers they seek, who find providers who take them seriously, and who stop accepting discomfort as the default consistently say the same thing: I wish I’d asked sooner. You don’t have to wait.This story was produced by Ivím Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Same debt, different outlook: Men and women experience debt differently, survey finds They have the same amount of debt. But why do they feel so differently about it? While 53% of men say their financial situation is sustainable long term, only 39% of women say the same, according to Accredited Debt Relief’s 2026 Everyday Debt SurveyThe 14-point spread is one of the widest demographic splits in the survey, which polled 2,000 U.S. adults through Atomik Research. The same pattern turns up in questions about monthly cash flow and emotional strain — in each case women reported the tighter squeeze.Key Takeaways53% of men say their finances are sustainable long term, vs. 39% of women.34% of men can cover monthly expenses and still save, vs. 21% of women.17% of women call their debt overwhelming — nearly double the 9% of men.The Gap Widens After the Bills Are PaidThirty-four percent of men said they can cover their monthly expenses and still set money aside. Among women, that figure was 21%.Covering the bills and getting ahead are two different financial realities. A household that breaks even every month has no cushion when something goes wrong, so a car repair, a medical bill or a two-week gap between paychecks lands on a credit card. A household with even a few hundred dollars in reserve pays the same bill and adds nothing to its balances. Over a year, that difference compounds into two very different debt loads.Nationally, the cushion has not been growing. The Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025, published in May 2026, found that 55% of adults had enough set aside to cover three months of expenses, unchanged from 2024 and down from 59% in 2021. Sixty-three percent said they could cover an unexpected $400 expense with cash or its equivalent, also unchanged. Averages like those hide the gaps underneath them, and this survey found one.Where the Pressure Shows UpSeventeen percent of women called their debt overwhelming, compared with 9% of men — nearly twice the rate.The survey did not measure whether women carry larger balances than men, only how differently the two groups describe living with what they owe. That distinction matters for anyone reading their own situation into these numbers. Feeling underwater is not evidence of a bigger balance. It is often evidence of a smaller margin. Accredited Debt Relief What’s Behind the SplitEarnings are the obvious place to start. Among full-time, year-round workers, women earned 80.9 cents for every dollar men earned in 2024, according to Census Bureau data released in September 2025. An identical debt payment takes a larger bite out of a smaller paycheck, which leaves less room to save and less reason to expect the arrangement to hold.And the budget gets even tighter for caregivers. The Federal Reserve’s 2025 household survey found that care for children and adults who need assistance falls disproportionately on women, and that mothers of children under 13 were much more likely than fathers to say they were the primary caretaker even when both parents worked. That’s reflected in employment patterns: 71% of prime-age women were working for pay in 2025, a rate the Fed attributes in part to the expense of being a caretaker.But no matter why the debt exists or how you feel about it, the goal remains the same for everyone: to become debt-free.What to Do NextFinancial counselors generally recommend building a small emergency fund, even a few hundred dollars, alongside debt payments rather than after them. The buffer is what keeps the next unexpected expense from turning into new debt.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat makes debt “unsustainable”?There is no single threshold. Common warning signs include making only minimum payments, using credit cards for essentials such as groceries or utilities, borrowing to cover other debt payments and having no savings to absorb an unexpected cost.What kinds of debt can a debt relief program help with?Eligible debts include credit cards, personal loans, medical bills and some private student loans. Mortgages and home equity loans, auto loans, federal student loans, tax debt and child support or alimony are not eligible.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Three arrested after allegedly assaulting two with baseball bat in Davenport Two Davenport men and one Davenport woman are facing charges for their alleged connection to a riot that injured two in Davenport on the early morning of Tuesday, Sept. 15.
	Soles for Children event provides clothing and more in Rock Island Families across the Quad Cities are facing rising expenses, prompting Soles for Children to provide shoes and winter clothing at their annual event.
	Creation Studio at Bettendorf Library gets major upgrade The $35,000 grant will be used to upgrade equipment in the space.
	Paramount makes concessions to salvage $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal Paramount's owners have made concessions to 12 Democratic state attorneys general to settle a lawsuit that endangered the media company's bid for its larger Hollywood rival, Warner Bros. Discovery.
	Burlington receives $6.8 million DOD grant for new fire station Burlington was awarded a $6.8 million Department of Defense grant to construct a new fire station supporting the city and Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.
	Why Hispanic-owned small business growth is outpacing the national average The economic contribution of Latinos living in the U.S. is estimated at $4.4 trillion, equivalent to having the fourth-largest gross domestic product in the world, according to a joint report from California Lutheran University and the UCLA Health Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture. For the fourth year in a row, the GDP is larger than the output of India, the U.K., France or Japan, according to recent data.And Latino small businesses are increasing by 7.7% annually, according to Brookings, nearly 17 times the national average for all small businesses. This same segment grew 158% from 2007-2023, compared to 24% for other businesses, according to 2026 research.Data from a 2025 Stanford Graduate School of Business survey found that Latino employer-owned businesses grew 44% between 2018 and 2023. This exceeded the growth of non-Latino employer businesses by 4.5% each year.With 2 out of every 3 American jobs being created by small businesses, that growth can be a significant source of jobs for all American workers.As Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2026) celebrates Latino Americans and their contributions to the culture and society, data on the current state of small businesses also highlights their significant economic contributions.ERGO NEXT examined why Hispanic-owned small businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments in the United States.Hispanic-owned businesses are growing 17 times faster than the national averageAt the state level, the number of businesses owned by the Hispanic community has grown in 48 out of 50 states and in nearly 90% of major metropolitan areas. According to the most recent 2023 U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey data, between 2018 and 2023, the state of Utah saw the greatest increase in Latino-owned small businesses at 145%, followed by North Dakota (140%), Idaho (130%), and Minnesota (114%).Hispanic-owned companies accounted for 8.4% (496,000) of businesses with one or more employees and 17.5% (5.3 million) of nonemployer businesses in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2025.Altogether, Hispanic-owned businesses earned more than $970 billion in 2023. They outperformed other demographics in profitability, and they were more likely to include sustainability measures, according to the Stanford survey data.The impact of Latino-owned business growth“One of the biggest shifts I’m seeing is that we are not simply seeing more Hispanic-owned businesses being started,” said Viridiana Ponce, a Latina business consultant and financial educator. “We are watching a new generation redefine what it means to be the CEO of a Latino-owned business.”As the owner of VP Consulting, she has spent more than a decade helping Latina entrepreneurs, particularly in the food industry, build profitable businesses with a focus on sustainable growth.“I work with many immigrant and family-owned food businesses, and increasingly, I see daughters stepping into businesses their mothers built,” Ponce said. “They are raising prices, seeking capital, entering pitch competitions, bringing in technology, outside resources and consultants, and asking harder questions about business and growth.”This shift illustrates the potential impact that Latino entrepreneurs can have on both the economy and American communities.“When Latino/a-owned businesses become financially strong, the impact extends far beyond one owner,” Ponce said. “We hire within our communities, involve the next generation, support other local businesses, mentor other entrepreneurs, contribute to our local economies, and create wealth within our families.”The fastest-growing sectors for Latino-owned businessesThe rise in Latino business owners touches all industries, but especially the following sectors, according to a Brookings analysis of Census Bureau data:1. ConstructionAccording to Brookings, 18.8% of Latino employers own businesses in the construction industry. They’ve added more than 37,500 companies during this period, for an increase of 75% from 2017 to 2022.2. Restaurants, catering, food services and hospitalityAbout 12% of Latino-owned businesses are in the restaurant, catering, food service or hospitality industry, according to Brookings, making it the second most common industry for Hispanic-owned businesses. This sector saw a 37% increase from 2017 to 2022.One entrepreneur in this industry is Marcelo Cardenas, who built a specialty coffee company called Luisa Coffee in Miami. Cardenas, who was born in Chile, says he built his portfolio of coffee brands from scratch, with no prior café or hospitality experience.“I entered the coffee business from scratch a few years ago and built it into a multibrand operation, largely solo with part-time help for events,” he said. “My background is an MBA plus naval mechanical engineering and fintech entrepreneurship in Latin America.” He also added that many Hispanic entrepreneurs are driven to build across sectors rather than concentrate on one business.3. Professional and business servicesThe industry with the third-highest concentration of Latino entrepreneurs is in professional, scientific and technical services, such as consulting or information technology, at 10.9%. This group saw growth of 48% over a five-year period.One growth driver in this industry is the rise in highly educated Hispanic professionals with business experience and valuable skills. Latinos who earned college degrees grew at a rate more than three times that of non-Latinos between 2010 and 2024, for an increase of 144.5% in college graduates, according to the Latino GDP report.“After a corporate layoff in my 50s and nine months of unsuccessful job searching, I started my own business from scratch,” said Hady Méndez, a Latina entrepreneur and founder/owner of Boldly Speaking LLC, a professional services company.“I was looking for work, and I finally decided, after a moment of clarity, that I had lots of skills that were highly transferable and that people would be willing to pay for,” she said.Méndez now offers business consulting and coaching services that help other professionals reach their fullest potential in corporate and other settings.How Latino business owners can protect and grow their businessesAlthough business formation is the first step, growth can’t follow without strategic planning. For example, Méndez says that partnerships are a key to her business growth, helping her find others who are aligned with her vision and the impact she wants to have.For many Hispanic business owners, artificial intelligence is a critical component of their growth strategy, with 20% using the technology to improve their products and services and help their employees skill up, according to the Stanford report. Many small businesses from all demographics also use AI to identify which business insurance coverages can protect their newfound success from some of the most common risks that small businesses face.Business insurance is often required for small businesses to grow. It can be necessary to obtain professional licensing, rent a commercial building or land important client contracts. Even when it’s not required, business insurance could offer a protective shield against unexpected costs that can quickly drain a business’s reserves. Some of the most common types of business insurance can help cover these costs include:General Liability insuranceGeneral liability insurance is often the first coverage a small business owner buys. It can help with costs when a nonemployee is hurt at your place of business or if you or your employees damage someone else’s property. Landlords commonly require proof of general liability insurance (also called commercial general liability) when signing a business lease, often in the form of a certificate of insurance (COI).General liability is a common coverage for business owners in industries like:ConstructionRetailFood and beverageProfessional servicesJanitorial and cleaning servicesSports and fitnessWorkers’ Compensation insuranceWorkers’ compensation insurance could help cover medical costs, lost wages and other expenses if an employee is hurt on the job. Many states require workers’ compensation insurance for businesses with employees. Sometimes, hiring even just one employee triggers this requirement.Business owners in the following industries often need workers’ compensation coverage:Restaurants and food serviceConstructionRetail and e-commerceHouse cleaning servicesCommercial Property insuranceCommercial property insurance could help cover costs if your business space or its contents that you use for work suffers damages from a covered event like a fire, theft or vandalism. It could also help with costs related to an interruption of your business income.Commercial property coverage is often necessary for businesses with equipment or those that own or rent commercial space, such as:Restaurants, bars and coffee shopsStores and boutiquesGyms, spas and salonsProfessional officesProfessional Liability insurance (E&O insurance)Professional liability insurance, which may be called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance in some professions, could help protect you financially if you make a business mistake that costs a client money. It can help with costs, including legal defense costs, if you’re accused of professional negligence or omission, such as missing a deadline or a miscalculation.Many types of business owners could benefit from professional liability insurance, such as:Business consultantsAccountants and other financial professionalsReal estate agentsEngineersThis story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Months after IEEPA tariffs were struck down, some refunds remain caught between Customs and the courts In April 2025, the Trump administration introduced one of the most sweeping economic and trade policy decisions in decades: tariffs by way of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The policy remained in effect until Feb. 20, 2026, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the implementation of tariffs by way of IEEPA was an overreach of executive power. As a result of the policy being ruled unconstitutional, Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must refund importers overpaid duties during the time the policy was in effect but did not mandate one process by which to process and distribute refunds.Several months into the ruling, the process for claiming a refund has changed, which Freight Right, a freight forwarder and licensed customs broker based in Los Angeles, examines here. Importers early on could attempt to claim their refund themselves on behalf of their organization or hire outside help, a customs broker or legal counsel, to do it for them. Now, the process has moved away from self-service to all but requiring often pricy outside expertise to make sense of options available to importers if the entries are liquidated, when they were liquidated and whether a protest, a formal challenge contesting the final liquidation and duty assessment, is open and fits in CBP’s current refund rules.One refund, several paths for importers to considerCBP created the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries system (CAPE) to process IEEPA refunds. But CAPE did not cover every affected entry at once.CBP rolled out phases, currently Phase 1 through to Phase 3 at the time of writing, to manage the massive volume of claims and to allow for space to build the complex CAPE system required for processing billions of dollars in refunds.Phase 1, the first phase CBP introduced, allowed for refunds on unliquidated entries that were filed between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2025, and recently liquidated entries.Phase 2 was rolled out in June 2026. Phase 2 added to the criteria of what types of entries were eligible for refunds entries flagged for reconciliation. Reconciliation means that two entries that paid the same tariff may not qualify for the same refund process. Liquidation, the point at which CBP finalizes the duties owed on that shipment, was and still is the main reason why there’s this distinction. The liquidation date can determine which administrative or legal options remain available for the importer’s entries.Freight Right has seen importers with entries spread across several categories at once: unliquidated, recently liquidated, still within the protest period and already final.The CAPE window and protest deadline are differentOne major source of confusion for importers navigating IEEPA refunds is the distinction between CAPE's processing windows and the separate statutory period for filing a customs protest. When CBP launched CAPE Phase 1 on April 20, 2026, the system initially accepted certain unliquidated entries and certain liquidated entries only if they were within 80 days of liquidation. Separately, customs law generally provides 180 days from liquidation to file a protest challenging certain CBP decisions. An entry could be outside CAPE's initial 80-day processing window while still being within the 180-day protest period. The expiration of the CAPE window did not necessarily mean that the importer had lost all available avenues for seeking relief.A protest is a formal way to challenge certain CBP decisions, but protests are not automatically required before every IEEPA refund lawsuit. Attorneys may still use protective protests in some cases to preserve an administrative option before the deadline closes.Protests create an additional consideration for importers seeking IEEPA refunds. An entry that is the subject of a protest may not be processed through CAPE in the same manner as an otherwise eligible entry. For certain protests that challenge only IEEPA duties, CBP has provided a process under which an importer may withdraw the protest and submit the entry through CAPE instead, provided the entry otherwise meets CAPE's eligibility requirements. Importers should consider the relationship between the protest and CAPE before withdrawing a protest, particularly because the two processes have different eligibility requirements and deadlines.The situation becomes more complicated when a protest challenges issues beyond IEEPA duties. In those circumstances, CAPE, the customs protest process, and litigation may all be relevant to the same entry, but each serves a different purpose and may have different eligibility requirements and deadlines. An importer cannot determine its available refund or challenge options simply by looking at the total amount of IEEPA duties it paid. An importer may have one entry still eligible for CAPE, another approaching its protest deadline and another already involved in litigation.Why some IEEPA tariff claims are still going to courtCustoms entries that have already become final can present a different problem. Once an entry reaches final liquidation, CBP may no longer be able to address it through the same process used for newer entries.John Anwesen, founder and principal of Lighthill PC, an international trade law firm headquartered in Washington D.C., commented, “Phase 3 gives importers another reason to consider filing a CIT action now. For eligible entries, a court order directing reliquidation could put an importer on a clearer path to a refund of those duties.”Some plaintiffs have sought class-wide relief, different from simply consolidating existing outstanding lawsuits. A class action could potentially cover additional importers who meet a court-approved definition. Until a court defines that scope, importers outside existing cases cannot assume they will be covered.The relationship between importers, law firms and customs brokersThe uncertainty surrounding the refund process also creates an economic consideration for importers. Attorneys have quoted approximately $10,000 to $15,000 for certain Court of International Trade matters involving IEEPA refunds, Freight Right reports, although actual fees may vary depending on the law firm, the scope of the engagement, and how the case develops. For an importer seeking a $15,000 refund, a $10,000 legal bill could make litigation economically impractical. The calculation looks very different for a company seeking $250,000 or $1 million. For example, a $10,000 legal expense could consume a substantial portion of a $15,000 potential refund, while representing a much smaller percentage of a $250,000 or $1 million recovery.Importers should therefore distinguish between their total IEEPA duty payments and the portion of their potential refund associated with entries that cannot otherwise be resolved through the administrative refund process. This cost differential helps explain why broader judicial relief, if available, could have particular economic significance for importers with relatively smaller individual refund claims.How customs brokers and attorneys are finding common professional ground for importersThe process for importers claiming refunds has continued to evolve with each new phase CBP introduces. Phase 1 and 2 were brand new for importers. New tools, new processes, new issues arising with these tools and processes, but importers had the choice of going through the process of figuring all this out for themselves or turning to a customs broker or lawyer to have them do it for them. With Phase 3, the process has become far less friendly to self-service solutions and more litigious, all but requiring off-the-bat expertise from lawyers and customs brokers alike.Prior to Phase 3, customs brokers and attorneys could help importers file for a refund. Since Phase 3 and the process of tariff recovery becoming more involved and less conducive to self-service, both can still help importers file for refunds, but the key difference is often cost. Working exclusively with an attorney means the importer is paying hourly attorney fees to handle everything — from entry evaluation through to filing the protest and beyond. Custom broker-attorney partnerships are becoming more common, Freight Right has found, where customs teams identify where IEEPA duties were paid, calculate the amounts involved, verify liquidation dates and sort entries by procedural status and attorneys handle the legal side, including jurisdiction, litigation strategy and court filings. That distinction matters most for importers with large numbers of entries, where a single refund figure can hide major differences among individual shipments.“CBP’s Phase 3 announcement makes clear that filing a CIT action can expedite refunds for certain entries. Phase 3 specifically covers importers that have already filed suit and obtained court orders directing reliquidation,” Anwesen said.The refund process is still evolving for importersThe Supreme Court answered whether the tariffs were lawful. It did not create one process for returning every dollar collected under them and instead deferred to CBP to resolve the issue. Since the gates opened for refunds, importers have found that some entries can move through CBP's administrative process. Others are affected by protests, final liquidation or ongoing litigation.This story was produced by Freight Right and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	See how Quad-Cities gas prices compare to other regions Gas in the Quad-Cities is averaging $4.49 per gallon.
	Quad-Cities gas prices jump nearly 27 cents in past week Prices in the Quad-Cities are 30.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.
	What to know about wage theft: Understanding overtime and your rights When you work 45, 50 or 60 hours a week, you expect your paycheck to reflect that time. Instead, you may be told you are “exempt,” be classified as an independent contractor, or receive the same hourly rate for every hour of overtime. At this point, you know something feels wrong, but you don’t have the legal language to explain why. Overtime misclassification can hide behind a job title, salary or contract that does not match the work you perform.Here are key insights from Weisberg Cummings, P.C., on employer pay practices, overtime rules and your rights regarding potential wage theft. Key TakeawaysOvertime eligibility depends on the law and the work you perform. Your employer’s chosen title does not settle the question, so keep these key points in mind:Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most employees who work over 40 hours a week are entitled to overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate.There are two primary forms of misclassification — exempt status misclassification and independent contractor misclassification.Overtime misclassification may constitute wage theft under both federal and state lawIn FY 2025, the Department of Labor recovered $146.3M in back wages specifically for overtime violations, covering 110,551 workers.When a misclassification practice affects multiple workers, collective or class action claims may be an option.What Is Overtime Misclassification?Overtime misclassification occurs when an employer incorrectly treats a worker as exempt from overtime or an independent contractor when the worker should receive employee protections.Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most covered employees who work over 40 hours a week must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate, known as time and a half.Misclassification can happen in several ways. An employer might give a worker a management title and assume that makes the position exempt. They might pay a salary and stop tracking the employee’s hours. In another case, the employer could issue a Form 1099 to classify the worker as an independent contractor, even though the employer controls the worker’s work in the same way as an employee’s.How Does Overtime Misclassification Happen? Weisberg Cummings, P.C. There are two ways overtime can be misclassified. An employer may incorrectly treat an employee as exempt from overtime or assign the employee the wrong classification.Exempt Status MisclassificationThe FLSA permits employers to classify certain workers as exempt from overtime when specific legal criteria are satisfied. Generally, an employee must:Be paid on a salary basis.Meet the applicable federal salary threshold.Satisfy the requirements of the particular exemption with primary duties.The exemption depends on what the employee does each day. For example, calling someone a “manager” does not establish the executive exemption when that worker spends most of the workweek performing the same production-level tasks as nonexempt employees.Similarly, an office worker does not become an exempt administrative employee because the employer changes their title to “administrator.” The applicable duties must be satisfied.These rules can involve detailed factual and legal questions. A worker should not assume an exemption applies solely based on a title, offer letter or pay arrangement.Independent Contractor MisclassificationAnother form of overtime misclassification happens when an employer classifies a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee.A person who receives a 1099 Form is not necessarily an independent contractor for every legal purpose. If a company sets the worker’s schedule, controls how the work is done and treats the person like part of its regular workforce, the classification may warrant closer examination.The FLSA Duties TestThe FLSA’s white-collar exemptions are based on the employee’s primary duties. The key focus is on the work performed. A written job description can offer useful information, but it does not replace an analysis of real responsibilities.The main categories include:Executive employees: Executive exemption generally focuses on management as the employee’s primary duty. They must satisfy requirements involving management, supervision and authority over personnel.Administrative employees: Administrative exemption generally applies to employees whose primary duty involves office or nonmanual work directly related to the employer’s business operations. Part of these duties includes exercising discretion or independent judgment on significant matters.Professional employees: Professional exemption generally covers certain learned professionals whose primary duties require advanced knowledge in a recognized field. These also include certain creative professionals whose work requires invention, imagination, originality or talent.Computer employees: Computer exemption applies to systems analysts, programmers, software engineers or highly skilled computer professionals. These duties include design, documentation, development, analysis and computer systems or program testing.Outside sales employees: Outside sales exemption applies to those whose primary duties involve obtaining orders and contracts or making sales. These individuals regularly work away from the business location and have no minimum salary requirement.Salary Thresholds Under Federal LawMeeting the duties test is only part of the analysis. For many white-collar exemptions, the employee must also satisfy a salary requirement.The U.S. Department of Labor regulations require most employees covered by the executive, administrative or professional exemptions to receive at least $684 per week or a $35,568 annual salary. The highly compensated employee threshold is $107,432 per year, with at least $684 a week, paid on a fee or salary basis. This higher salary does not automatically create an exempt status. The applicable FLSA duties must also be satisfied.When Overtime Misclassification Becomes Wage TheftOvertime misclassification can become wage theft when an employer’s classification results in workers being denied wages they legally earned.The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division reported recovering over $259 million in back wages for nearly 177,000 workers nationwide during the 2025 fiscal year — an average of $1,465 per individual. While these figures include different types of wage violations, they still show the scale at which unpaid wages can accumulate across the workforce.What Workers May Be Owed When MisclassifiedA worker who was incorrectly denied overtime may be entitled to several forms of recovery, depending on the claims and facts.The starting point is usually the overtime that should have been paid. For example, if a nonexempt employee worked 50 hours in a week, the employee would generally be entitled to overtime for the 10 hours above 40.Under the FLSA, qualifying workers may recover an additional amount equal to their unpaid overtime. Liquidated damages are generally designed to compensate workers for the loss caused by delayed payment, although the amount available may depend on the circumstances.The FLSA provides for reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs for successful claims.When Overtime Misclassification May Lead to Class Action LawsuitsWhen employees face a common pay practice, the FLSA Section 216(b) may allow them to pursue claims collectively. Workers generally must affirmatively opt in by providing consent to join the federal collective.Collective or class claims may allow workers with similar claims to address a shared pay practice in one proceeding. A company that denied one worker 10 hours of overtime may have denied those same hours to other workers, too. The size of a group claim does not guarantee certification or recovery. Courts examine the facts, the applicable legal standards and whether the workers’ claims are sufficiently connected.Steps to Take If You Suspect Overtime MisclassificationIf your pay does not match the hours you work, preserve the information that may show what happened:Track your hours: Keep your own record of when you started, stopped, took breaks and performed work outside of your scheduled hours.Save pay records: Keep pay stubs, timecards, schedules, commission records, employment agreements and written communications about your pay.Look beyond your job title: Write down what you actually do each day, including how much time you spend supervising, performing administrative work or doing routine production tasks.Document the classification: Have records showing whether you were described as exempt, salaried or an independent contractor and whether the company controlled your work.Identify similar workers: If co-workers have the same job title, duties, schedule or pay arrangement, note those similarities. They may help establish whether the practice extended beyond one employee.Consider the deadlines: Do not assume you can wait indefinitely. Federal FLSA claims have two-year limitations rules, unless the violation is willful.Frequently Asked Questions About Overtime Misclassification and Wage TheftThese common questions and answers can help clarify the difference between a payroll mistake, misclassification and a potential wage claim:What is the difference between overtime misclassification and wage theft?Overtime misclassification refers to the practice of denying overtime pay by incorrectly classifying an employee as exempt or an independent contractor. Wage theft is the broader concept of withholding wages to which an employee is legally entitled. In many cases, even if an employer pays by the hour and pays overtime in certain circumstances, employers may refuse to pay for all hours worked. This may include time worked after an arbitrary “clock out” time, or time spent on the employer’s premises before or after a scheduled shift when an employee is required to log onto computer software, don required safety gear, wait in security check lines or walk significant distances through a plant to clock in.When should I contact a wage theft attorney?Consider speaking with an attorney when:You believe you have been denied overtime.The employer insists that your title makes you exempt.Even if you are paid by the hour, your employer refuses to pay you for all hours worked or all hours you are required to be on the employer’s premises.You were treated as an independent contractor despite working like an employee.The same pay practice affected multiple workers.It can also be useful to seek advice before signing a settlement, releasing wage claims, or accepting an employer’s explanation that you were not entitled to overtime. Wage claims can involve overlapping federal and state laws, and the applicable deadlines matter.Can I file a wage claim if my employer says I’m an independent contractor?Yes. An employer’s classification is not necessarily the final word.The facts surrounding the working relationship are important. A written “independent contractor” agreement may be relevant, but it does not automatically resolve every classification question.Understanding Your Rights When Overtime Goes UnpaidState and federal laws establish overtime protections for many workers, while exemptions only apply when their specific requirements are met. A job title, salary or 1099 form does not, by itself, settle the question.When an employer misclassifies workers, the financial impact can extend far beyond one missed paycheck. Unpaid overtime can accumulate over months or years, and the same practice can affect an entire workforce. Consulting with a wage theft attorney can help identify the correct classification, the hours worked, the applicable law and relevant deadlines, and help to clarify a confusing pay dispute.This story was produced by Weisberg Cummings, P.C., and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The neighborhoods where property values are moving fast this fall, and what the records show Real estate investors must always think one step ahead of the competition. A state, metro area, or city that’s a top choice for transplants could see its popularity wane in a matter of weeks.Does that mean, however, that past is not prologue? Not necessarily. Areas with positive real estate trends that have stretched over (at least) several months can offer great starting points for investors’ portfolios.Follow along as PropertyReach looks at some of the nation’s hottest ZIP codes throughout 2026 and provides some pointers for cashing in on the favorable trends.National Property Values Hold Steady in the First Half of 2026Before zeroing in on some of America’s hottest towns for real estate, it’s worth taking a glimpse at some noteworthy trends and data pieces.The median sales price for a home in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2026 stood at $410,700, a slight increase from $408,500 during the previous quarter. It’s remained steady for a year now; the median sales price of $442,600 in 2022’s second quarter remains the highest ever recorded.The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of late August 2026, according to Experian, is 6.96% .The rate of existing-home sales held steady in the South and Northeast in July 2026, with no meaningful changes from July 2025. The Midwest and the West saw increases of 2.1% and 1.4%, respectively, in the same time frame.The Elgin, Illinois, metro’s median home sales price increased the most throughout 2025 (10.8%). Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos in Texas experienced the biggest decrease (6.9%).Of the 10 U.S. cities with the most housing construction permits in 2026, four are in Texas, and seven are in the Sun Belt region.In the near future, many real estate experts predict that home sales will continue to even out after the post-COVID frenzy, owing largely to rising mortgage rates and continued economic uncertainty.6 ZIP Codes with Rising Home Sale PricesThe trend of slowed home sales does not hold true for every metro or city in the U.S. Plenty of areas are experiencing property value appreciation, and for a wide number of reasons. Below are six notable towns and cities with year-over-year increases in home listing prices. Each ZIP code has at least 30 active listings on prominent real estate websites.Information from Realtor.com’s data library was used to compile the following list.1. 31201 \| Macon, Georgia (+48.3% YoY)Although Macon, like most of the U.S., saw spikes in violent crimes in the immediate post-COVID period, the rate has dramatically fallen in the past three years. That trend, combined with the relatively higher prices of Atlanta and Georgia’s burgeoning film industry, has led to an impressive jump in Macon real estate prices since July 2025.2. 55616 \| Two Harbors, Minnesota (+42.3% YoY)A popular recreational destination on Minnesota’s North Shore, Two Harbors has seen more than its fair share of residents take up a permanent vacation. According to data from Realtor.com, the median listing price as of July 2026 is $369,000, a dramatic 42.3% increase since July 2025.3. 72114 \| North Little Rock, Arkansas (+39.4% YoY)Another city experiencing a decrease in crime rates, North Little Rock is emerging as an affordable alternative to Little Rock, where property prices are relatively high. The median single-family home in North Little Rock stands at $120,950, which is almost 40% higher than in July 2025.4. 75964 \| Nacogdoches, Texas (+35.3 % YoY)Transplants flooded Texas in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in search of lower taxes and affordable real estate. The Dallas metro received a large share of new residents, but many areas to the east—like Nacogdoches—didn’t see a huge increase.Nevertheless, property rates in parts of Nacogdoches have soared in the past year, as inventory has stayed relatively stagnant. Two nearby Pilgrim’s Pride poultry production and processing plants have ensured plentiful job opportunities in the area.5. 14211 \| Buffalo, New York (+32.7 % YoY)Like the Bills at nearby Orchard Park, Buffalo has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. The 14211 ZIP code, in particular, is seeing rapidly rising home listing prices. The median single-family home there is listed at about $152,000 today.6. 46526 \| Goshen, Indiana (+12.4% YoY)Indianapolis has garnered attention for its real estate affordability relative to the metro’s amenities and strong job market, and those trends have seemingly migrated upstate to Goshen, Indiana, near South Bend. The lack of new housing supply has kept the median home sales price in Goshen at $345,000, nearly $30,000 more than the median in Indianapolis.Best Tools for Identifying Profitable Investment OpportunitiesMost software providers will tell you that a good real estate investment strategy can only be achieved by forking over a bunch of cash for their products. It might make sense for larger investment firms to use expensive online tools, but you can get started with some basic ones. Many of them are free.Stessa. Investors can get basic dealmaking analyses with this free program. It also helps you keep track of the cash flow from your current portfolio.Bankrate. If you’re looking for a basic tool that calculates estimated mortgage payments and property values, Bankrate is one to consider.County tax assessor. Checking out public records can help you find financially distressed owners who might be motivated to offload a residential property.Property finder tools. Accessing an accurate and comprehensive property finder website will help you discover granular details about homes you’re considering adding to your portfolio.The most successful real estate investors combine boots-on-the-ground knowledge with effective research tools.Look for a Balanced Market Throughout 2026 and BeyondSellers still have the advantage in many U.S. metros, but buyers have already begun regaining ground they lost from 2020–2023. Market adjustments and calibrations have been slow and steady, and interest rates are unlikely to see much movement in the near future. Many investors are anticipating a modest increase in home sales in 2027.This story was produced by PropertyReach and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How AI is changing the way people think about mental health support A lot of emotional pain stays private for many people, and the loneliness around it can make speaking to another person feel harder than saying nothing at all. But AI has moved into daily life faster than expected, and some people are now typing personal concerns into a chatbot that they have never brought to a friend or a therapist.Key takeawaysAI chatbots are becoming a common source of emotional support because they are accessible, immediate, and may feel easier to use than opening up to another person.AI may be most useful as a supplement to mental health care, helping people organize thoughts, journal, track moods, and prepare for therapy sessions.General-purpose AI chatbots cannot replace licensed mental health professionals, particularly when someone needs clinical judgment, individualized care, or crisis support.Privacy, bias, transparency, and accountability remain major concerns as AI becomes more involved in mental health support.The future of AI in mental health may be strongest when technology helps expand access while keeping human connection and professional care at the center.John Torous, director of the Digital Psychiatry Division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said during a National Academy of Medicine discussion that 1 in 3 people have used an AI chatbot for emotional support.That same behavior appears in BetterHelp’s 2026 State of Stigma Report, which found that 15% of Americans use AI for mental health support, while 74% said society still discourages people from seeking help. As more people turn to AI for support, clinicians are increasingly considering where these tools may fit alongside care from licensed professionals.Why some people are turning to AI firstThere are several reasons people turn to AI first when emotional concerns become hard to sort through, and accessibility is one of the easiest to understand.Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, told CNN that chatbots are available at any hour and respond right away, letting someone type out what they are feeling before a scheduled appointment is possible.Wen also points to privacy, noting that some people feel more comfortable typing about a problem than discussing it with a parent or counselor.For someone who is not ready to open up, spending money on care creates another hurdle, especially if therapy requires paying out of pocket or dealing with insurance. Arthur C. Evans Jr., chief executive of the American Psychological Association, describes general chatbots as “readily available and easy to access without insurance.”BetterHelp’s 2026 State of Stigma Report found that 52% of 2,000 U.S. adults named it as a barrier to therapy while 27% pointed to stigma or fear of judgment. Those barriers may help explain why some people experiment with AI before seeking professional care, but whether they continue using it depends on whether the tool proves useful once the conversation begins.Where AI can add value in mental wellnessPerhaps what is most fascinating about AI is how useful it becomes for the smaller tasks that often surround mental health care.A person heading into therapy may know they have been anxious or overwhelmed but still struggle to explain what has been happening, and Penn State World Campus has described AI as a tool for compiling questions or concerns before meeting with a licensed professional.The same need to organize thoughts continues even between appointments, especially when something difficult happens days before a person is scheduled to speak with a therapist. AI-guided journaling gives people a place to write down what happened and how they reacted while the details and feelings are still fresh.Dr. Mona Barman, director of care transformation at BetterHelp, says day-to-day concerns do not wait for therapy sessions. In that context, responsibly used AI may help people organize their thoughts, reflect on experiences, or document concerns between sessions rather than replace licensed care. Experts have found that writing those experiences down can also make changes in mood easier to follow over time.A review of AI applications in mental health found that AI-based apps can monitor mood fluctuations and help identify possible triggers, giving people and clinicians more specific information about when distress appears or what tends to happen around it.Research has also moved into clinical studies, where teams are testing whether carefully designed AI systems can support people who are already living with diagnosed mental health conditions.In a 2025 clinical trial involving 106 adults, Dartmouth researchers found significant symptom improvements among participants using a purpose-built generative AI mental health chatbot, including a 51% average reduction among participants with depression and 31% among those with generalized anxiety. The findings came from a single study of this specific system and should not be generalized to consumer AI chatbots.But even with those results, study author Michael Heinz said no generative AI agent is ready to operate fully on its own in mental health, leaving a lot of important questions about safety and reliability unresolved.The Limitations AI Cannot OvercomeThe biggest issue with AI is that it’s still in its infancy, especially when it comes to mental health. A chatbot can sound caring, but it does not build the same relationship as a therapist who learns how someone communicates over time.APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. has said general chatbots are “supportive to a fault” and lack the same ability to recognize warning signs as human professionals. And missing one of those signs is especially serious during a crisis, where the response depends on recognizing risk and knowing when immediate human help is needed.General-purpose AI chatbots should not be relied on for crisis intervention or emergency mental health support; people in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency should seek immediate human help through emergency services or an appropriate crisis resource.But even before a situation reaches that level, a chatbot struggles to recognize when reassurance is the wrong response. C. Vaile Wright, senior director of the Office of Healthcare Innovation at the APA, has said chatbots simply validate what someone is already doing, even when harmful thinking needs to be challenged.Ioana Literat, an associate professor of technology, has warned that people can mistake fluent AI responses for credibility, even when the information itself is wrong, so a user may not realize the response needs to be checked against a qualified source.Still, public trust leans heavily toward human judgment, with BetterHelp’s report finding 74% of people would never trust AI more than a licensed professional.Ethical questions will shape the futureGiven how complex AI is, sharing personal mental health details with a chatbot raises immediate questions about where that information goes and who may have access to it. APA guidance says people receiving psychological services should be told when AI is being used, and tools handling sensitive behavioral health data need strong privacy protections.Knowing an AI system is involved, however, does not settle who is responsible if its guidance causes harm. APA says psychologists remain responsible for final decisions, while legal responsibility is less settled when a general chatbot operates outside clinical care.Trusting AI with mental health support also depends on whether the tool has been tested well enough to work fairly across different groups. APA recommends rigorous validation before AI tools are used in psychological practice, especially when incomplete data may produce biased results.The need to prove that a tool works fairly, while protecting the personal data it relies on, is also leading regulators to consider new rules around transparency and data use. But even with new rules under consideration, many people still want a person involved. BetterHelp’s report found 46% said AI-based tools work best paired with a medical professional.The future may be human care enhanced by AIStruggling with mental health is a deeply human experience, and the tools people use to get through it are changing faster than the field can study them. George Nitzburg, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, has said technology reduces barriers so people can get something rather than nothing, with the goal being to widen access and help people find support before things reach a crisis.And younger adults tend to see AI the same way, with 42% of Millennials surveyed by BetterHelp calling it a stepping stone or supplement to human care. One place where that supporting role is especially clear is in the work clinicians already do.TakeawayPsychotherapist Kaytee Gillis has written that AI can help therapists identify patterns in session transcripts or take on administrative work, leaving more of the appointment for direct interaction. So someone who has already worked up the courage to seek help gets more time with a therapist who is able to listen and respond.And more time with a person is what the research keeps pointing back to, which is why AI’s future in mental health care will come down to whether it helps more people find the human support they need.This story was produced by BetterHelp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Agasaje a sus invitados en reuniones otoñales “con uvas” (Feature Impact) Las reuniones de otoño adoptan muchas formas, desde ocasiones especiales con seres queridos hasta veladas en el vecindario y elegantes encuentros. Para los anfitriones, estas oportunidades de entretener a lo grande requieren comidas frescas y sabrosas, bebidas e ingredientes que complementen una temporada que vale la pena celebrar. Ya sea que sirva un plato principal espectacular, comparta platos pequeños o haga de bartender (o las tres cosas a la vez), las uvas de California pueden ser el ingrediente versátil que realza tanto los platillos como las bebidas. Su delicioso sabor jugoso y su toque de color dan vida a las recetas otoñales, como el pollo asado, los wraps de lechuga o los cócteles. También puede probar congelarlas para reemplazar los cubitos de hielo en las bebidas, usarlas como cobertura para crostini o simplemente colocarlas en vasos o tazones para disfrutarlas como un refrigerio fresco y saludable, mientras rompe el hielo y espera a que se sirva la comida. Para encontrar más consejos, trucos y recetas para entretenimiento otoñal, visite GrapesFromCalifornia.com. Pollo asado con uvas de California, chalotes y tomillo Porciones: 6 1 pollo entero (aproximadamente 4 libras) 1 cucharada de mantequilla, a temperatura ambiente 1 cucharadita de sal de mar 3/4 cucharadita de tomillo seco pimienta recién molida, al gusto 2 tazas de uvas rojas y negras Uvas de California 1/3 taza de chalotes finamente picados 1/3 taza de vino blanco seco hojas de tomillo fresco, para decorar (opcional) Precaliente el horno a 375 °F. Enjuague el pollo y séquelo con papel absorbente; colóquelo en una bandeja para hornear de 13 x 9 pulgadas. Unte mantequilla sobre la superficie del pollo y espolvoree con sal, tomillo y pimienta al gusto. Hornear durante 45 minutos. Agregue las uvas, los chalotes y el vino a la bandeja y hornear 30-40 minutos más, o hasta que las uvas se ablanden y los muslos alcancen una temperatura interna de 165 °F en el termómetro de cocina. Retire del horno y cubra con papel aluminio; deje reposar 15 minutos antes de cortar. Coloque las uvas, los chalotes y los jugos de cocción en un tazón y sirva sobre las rebanadas de pollo. Decore con hojas de tomillo fresco, si lo desea. Información nutricional por porción: 260 calorías; 29 g de proteína; 11 g de carbohidratos; 9 g de grasa (31 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa); 3 g de grasa saturada (3 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa saturada); 90 mg de colesterol; 480 mg de sodio; 1 g de fibra. Wraps de lechuga con carne bulgogi y uvas de California Porciones: 6 Uvas encurtidas: 1/3 taza de vinagre de arroz sin sazonar 2 cucharadas de azúcar 1/2 cucharadita de semillas de cilantro 1/2 cucharadita de semillas de mostaza 1/4 cucharadita de hojuelas de chile rojo trituradas 1 1/2 taza de Uvas de California, cortadas por la mitad 2 cucharadas de cebolla morada finamente picada Carne bulgogi: 1/2 libra de carne de res redonda o filete sirloin 1/3 taza de salsa bulgogi, más cantidad adicional para servir (opcional) 2 cucharadas de vinagre de arroz sin sazonar 1 cucharadita de aceite de sésamo 1/2 cucharada de aceite vegetal 12 hojas grandes de corazones de lechuga romana, limpias y secas cebollina picada (la parte verde) Para preparar las uvas encurtidas: En una cacerola pequeña, mezcle el vinagre, el azúcar, las semillas de cilantro, las semillas de mostaza y las hojuelas de chile; lleve a fuego lento. Retire del fuego y revuelva para disolver el azúcar; deje enfriar hasta que esté tibio. Incorpore las uvas y la cebolla y reserve para que se enfríen. Deje reposar 1 hora, revolviendo ocasionalmente. Para preparar la carne bulgogi: Corte la carne en tiras pequeñas del tamaño de un bocado. En un tazón mediano, mezcle 1/3 de taza de salsa bulgogi, el vinagre y el aceite de sésamo, luego agregue la carne. Deje marinar 1 hora, revolviendo ocasionalmente. En una sartén grande a fuego medio, caliente el aceite vegetal. Con una cuchara ranurada o pinzas, retire la carne de la marinada y agréguela a la sartén. Saltee hasta que la carne esté bien cocida y dorada, revolviendo constantemente; deje enfriar. Para servir: Coloque cantidades iguales de carne y uvas encurtidas en las hojas de lechuga romana y espolvoree con cebollina. Sirva de inmediato con salsa bulgogi adicional, si lo desea. Información nutricional por porción: 150 calorías; 11 g de proteína; 20 g de carbohidratos; 3.5 g de grasa (21 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa); 1 g de grasa saturada (6 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa saturada); 25 mg de colesterol; 65 mg de sodio; 1 g de fibra. Whiskey Smash de uvas de California y tamarindo Porciones: 2 3/4 taza de uvas verdes Uvas de California hielo 6 cucharadas (3 onzas) de whiskey 1 cucharada de jugo de limón amarillo fresco 1 cucharadita de pasta de tamarindo gotas amargas o bitters para cócteles, al gusto En un tazón mediano, machaque las uvas hasta que estén trituradas y en trozos pequeños. Pase a dos vasos bajos y agregue hielo casi hasta el tope. En una coctelera o tazón pequeño, combine el whiskey, el jugo de limón y la pasta de tamarindo; agite o mezcle. Agregue unas gotas de bitter, al gusto. Vierta en los vasos sobre las uvas y revuelva energéticamente para enfriar y diluir ligeramente. Información nutricional por porción: 140 calorías; 0 g de proteína; 11 g de carbohidratos; 0 g de grasa (0 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa); 0 g de grasa saturada (0 % de las calorías provenientes de la grasa saturada); 0 mg de colesterol; 0 mg de sodio; 1 g de fibra.

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026

Monday, September 21st, 2026