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

Friday, June 12th, 2026
	Trump says Lahn is ‘much more Trump’ than Feenstra following GOP gubernatorial primary President Trump said he was misled into endorsing Randy Feenstra over Zach Lahn in the Iowa GOP governor primary, calling Lahn "much more Trump" .
	It's SpaceX's first day on the stock market The initial public offering from the rocket and AI company raised some $75 billion, making the company one of the biggest in the world — and likely making Elon Musk a trillionaire.
	QC Chamber hosts annual meeting, seeks nominations for business awards The Quad Cities Chamber will host its 2026 annual meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Rhythm City Casino Resort, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport, a news release says. The event will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 3:30 p.m., followed by the program at 4 p.m. Register here. “This year, we’re putting a fresh spin [...]
	YWCA QC, Rock Island, kicks off season with Summer Block Jam The YWCA Quad Cities, 513 17th St., Rock Island, invites the community to kick off summer at its Summer Block Jam, a free, family-friendly event designed to celebrate connection, community, and the start of the summer season. The event will take place from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 14, when 17th Street will be closed between 5th and [...]
	Middle school students use data science to ‘Reinvent Muscatine’ Connecting classroom lessons to community impact was top of mind as teacher Pam Joslyn designed this project.
	5 things to know from the Davenport 2026 State of the City Davenport Mayor Jason Gordon gave his first State of the City address on Thursday, highlighting recent successes and laying out future priorities. Here are five takeaways from what he said.
	Longtime owners of beloved Fairport riverside bar and grill hanging up their hats The Lighthouse Grill and Bar is one of the very few commercial properties with direct access to the Mississippi River.
	Muscatine to offer vehicles, equipment in two‑week online auction Residents can browse and bid on surplus items beginning Monday, June 15, through Monday, June 29.
	Zach Lahn picks state Rep. Derek Wulf to be running mate Zach Lahn, the Republican candidate for governor, chose state Rep. Derek Wulf to be his running mate.
	Great day ahead for the Quad Cities A fantastic Friday is in the forecast today and even cooler weather is coming. We do have the chance for some strong to severe storms Saturday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	IA Supreme Court supports nonprofits that help low-income residents get legal aid The Iowa Supreme Court has approved $1,226,592 in grants to non-profit programs - including some in the Quad Cities area - that provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans with civil legal problems, a news release says. The court awarded grants to 14 different organizations throughout Iowa. The grants are funded by the Interest on Lawyers' [...]
	'Stop! That! Train!' is Loud! Dumb! and Gay! It's camp. It's drag. A Stormaganza is coming and the Glamazonian Express is in trouble!
	David Hockney, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, dies at 88 Hockney moved from London to Southern California in the 1960s and was an innovative painter, photographer, stage designer and printmaker.
	Parkander This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.It is hard to believe that this November, after forty-nine years of teaching English literature at Augustana College in…
	Which billionaire said they learned a 'significant lesson' this week? The quiz knows This week, Knicks fans had a big win after a big loss; fans of inflation were delighted and World Cup fans went broke. How will quiz fans fare?
	She waited decades for Scotland to make the World Cup. At 93, she'll be cheering in person Moira Brown, perhaps the oldest of Scotland's Tartan Army of soccer fans, will be in Boston when Scotland's team plays against Haiti on June 13. "I'm the luckiest person in this world," she says.
	How small-business loans got caught in Trump's immigration crackdown For decades, immigrants who are legal permanent residents in the U.S. could get loans through the Small Business Administration, a core pillar of small-business lending. Not anymore.
	Frozen pizza product sold in Iowa, other states recalled: FDA It is a Class II recall, meaning that consuming the product may temporarily cause adverse health consequences.
	Want a better skin care routine? Sign up for our one-week guide Spending too much time and money on skin care? Find out what really works to improve skin health and appearance with our one-week newsletter guide. Sign up here.
	Cook review: 'Power Ballad' will make your heart sing "Power Ballad" is one of those movies that has the ability to touch your heart as much as your favorite song does. Director Jim Carney must love music as much as I do, and that's one reason I love his films so much. (If you haven't seen "Once" or "Sing Street," you really should.) Our [...]
	Our QC Cime Watch: Tragedy in Muscatine with murder-suicide incident: Episode 69 Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: To view, click the video above or watch on-the-go on Spotify. The QC Crime Watch Podcast \| Pod
	Kennedy Center board seeks pause of ruling ordering removal of Trump's name President Trump's board at the Kennedy Center is mounting a last-minute effort to keep his name on the facade of the performing arts facility before a court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday.
	Ousted South Korean President Yoon given prison term for drone flights over Pyongyang South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and his former defense minister were sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday in a case alleging Yoon ordered drone flights over Pyongyang in 2024 to heighten tensions with North Korea and justify declaring martial law at home.
	Coffeemakers sold at Walmart, Amazon recalled after user burns You should stop using the product immediately.
Thursday, June 11th, 2026
	Olivia Rodrigo, pop princess of vengeful angst, tries her hand at love songs Ditching the punchy pop punk of Guts to play with a soft '80s pop and New Wave-indebted sound, her new LP is about the life cycle of her first "real, big girl" relationship. The result is bittersweet.
	President Trump is taking aim at forest and wildfire research just as the West is poised to burn President Trump is trying to downsize the U.S Forest Service and eliminate wildfire and smoke research as the American West is facing a potentially epic summer fire season.
	Illinois State Police ask for help in 2018 death investigation The Illinois State Police is asking the community for information regarding the 2018 death of Tyler Smith.
	Pay It Forward: Galesburg instructor fights obstacles, motivates those with Parkinson's John Peterson was presented with the WQAD and Ascentra Credit Union Pay It Forward award for his unwavering sacrifice and care for others in the community.
	KENT WORLDWIDE dedicates World’s Best Cat Litter manufacturing plant KENT WORLDWIDE dedicated its new manufacturing plant in Muscatine to produce World’s Best Cat Litter. Muscatine city leaders joined KENT employees to unveil the 174,000-square-foot facility equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment to help with the growing demand for corn-based litter products. The project has been in the works for about five years. The plant will [...]
	QC adoptive parents arrested: Biological mom speaks out A Clinton woman wonders what she can do after a couple who adopted her biological children are accused of abusing one of them. The adoptive parents from Davenport are charged with child endangerment, among other charges. Police say one of the children wound up severely malnourished after being locked alone in a room. Now Katarina [...]
	The Heart of the Story: Not an everyday fish tale Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. He grew up fishing in creeks in Illinois, [...]
	Supreme Court prohibits Alabama from using nitrogen gas for execution Because of the ruling, Jeffrey Lee's execution will be delayed. He still faces the death penalty.
	Davenport mayor delivers first State of the City address Davenport Mayor Jason Gordon delivered his first State of the City address on Thursday.
	Planned Parenthood sues to overturn Alaska ban on telehealth abortion services Abortion pills and drinking water are seen in an undated photo. Alaska's constitutional privacy and equal protection guarantees give residents the right to get abortion medication prescriptions and related services through telehealth, argues a lawsuit filed Thrusday in state Superior Court. (Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)Abortion-rights advocates filed a lawsuit in Alaska Superior Court on Thursday to overturn a state ban on telehealth for abortion services. The lawsuit was filed in Anchorage by Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky. It targets an element of state law that requires patients receiving abortion services to be treated on-site in hospitals or other facilities approved by the Alaska Department of Health or in federal government hospitals. That requirement bars the use of telehealth for the prescription of abortion-inducing medicine, which advocates say is a breach of the Alaska constitution’s guarantees of privacy and equal protection. Alaskans are allowed to use telehealth for numerous other medical services, so the ban on its use for abortion services violates patients’ rights to equal protection, the lawsuit argues. Past court rulings have confirmed that Alaskans have the right to abortion under the state constitution’s privacy provisions, but the telehealth ban compromises privacy rights by taking away the option for medical abortions at home, which many patients prefer, the lawsuit also argues. In Alaska, where a significant percentage of the residents live off any connected road system, the telehealth ban is particularly onerous, the lawsuit says. “Planned Parenthood’s patients often must travel significant distances to have an abortion in Anchorage or Fairbanks, sometimes at great expense and difficulty, including due to weather conditions,” the lawsuit says. Filed with the lawsuit was a motion for an injunction barring enforcement of the telehealth ban while the case is pending. “The restriction creates unnecessary barriers that fall hardest on people in rural and remote communities, survivors of violence, and those already facing economic hardship — sometimes barring patients from care entirely. Simply put, this telehealth ban is yet another unnecessary barrier to abortion access, and Alaskans deserve better,” Rebecca Gibron, president of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky, said in a statement. The Alaska Department of Law was not prepared to comment Thursday on the new Planned Parenthood arguments, said Acting Attorney General Cori Mills. “We will have to review the complaint and have no comment on the specific allegations. As a general matter, the department will defend the law, which carries a presumption of constitutionality and represents state policy validly enacted by the legislature and the governor,” she said by email. The lawsuit comes at a time when a legal battle is being waged nationally over access to mifepristone, a medicine commonly used to induce abortions. Some states are seeking to outlaw use of mifepristone, though Alaska is not among them. Planned Parenthood has already won a related case at the Superior Court level with the same arguments about the state constitution’s privacy and equal protection guarantees. In that case, Superior Court Judge Josie Garton in 2024 struck down a portion of state law that allowed only licensed physicians to perform abortions. The ruling broadened the availability of abortion services, allowing advanced practice clinicians – such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives – to provide the services. Garton had issued an injunction in 2021 that allowed advanced practice clinicians to perform abortions, temporarily blocking enforcement of the physician-only rule while the case played out. The state appealed Garton’s ruling, and the Alaska Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in October. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Jo Daviess County revises disaster response plans Emergency managers in Jo Daviess County are revising disaster response plans. Managers are updating the county's hazard mitigation plan this year. The Jo Daviess County Emergency Management Agency oversees the county's readiness to respond to natural and manmade threats. The Jo Daviess County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee is made up of representatives from the county's [...]
	Rhode Island lawmakers move at lightning speed on last night of session Rep. Brian Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican, takes a breather on the House floor during the final day of session on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)With controversial topics like charter schools and sex abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence already decided — or preemptively killed in the case of a state Voting Rights Act — lawmakers whipped through the final day of the 2026 legislative session with unusual speed and agreement. The initial calendars concluded by 6:30 p.m., though there may be more action following Senate committee gatherings later Thursday night. The final session focused on the ceremonial approval by which one chamber rubber stamps the other’s identical bill, a process known as concurrence. The lack of fiery debate contrasted with the steamy temperatures in the airless State House, inspiring Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone to replace his usual business attire with a pair of shorts for a second year in a row. More in vogue than Ciccone’s fashion choices are measures that respond to and protect state residents from federal overreach, including restricting immigration authorities at state courts and polling places. No new charter schools for the next three years A three-year moratorium on new charter schools received final affirmation by a 30-6 vote from the Senate Thursday night, sending the legislation to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk. The teachers union-backed bill has two parts: blocking new charter school approvals for three years and reducing the statewide cap on charter schools from 35 to 28. Whether the embattled governor facing a tough reelection path will agree to both those provisions remains in question. McKee’s office said Thursday he was still reviewing the bill. During an unrelated event Wednesday, he told reporters he was fine with the moratorium, but uncertain about reducing the cap. Still, the moratorium — which proponents have called temporary, and which opponents have described as more permanent than it might appear on its surface — did not exit the General Assembly without one more attempt to corral the legislation. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfild Republican, rises to introduce an ultimately unsuccessful amendment that would allow the opening of De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz introduced a floor amendment which attempted to tweak the bill to allow the opening of De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School, a school that received preliminary approval from the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in January. The planned K-12 dual-language charter school would serve students from Providence, Pawtucket and Cranston, but without final approval, it is ineligible for a Senate carveout added last week for charter school openings and expansions that have received the final OK. “This amendment is about fairness, it’s about good governing, it’s about honoring the process that existed when the application was submitted,” de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, said. “The state told them, ‘Continue,’ the state encouraged them to invest, and then at the eleventh hour pulled the rug out from underneath 600 students and families without warning,” de la Cruz added. Sen. Melissa Murray, the Woonsocket Democrat who sponsored the Senate moratorium bill, told her colleagues to reject the amendment. “Preliminary approval is just that, it is preliminary,” Murray said, The amendment still garnered 15 votes of support from progressives and Republicans, who were outnumbered by the centrist Democratic majority. The Rhode Island House of Representatives on the last night of the legislative session on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Freezing out ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers cannot enter Rhode Island’s courthouses without a judicial warrant, nor can they be within 200 feet of any polling place in the state. Lawmakers voted mostly along party lines Thursday to give final approval to “Protect Our Courts Act” filed in direct response to recent incidents where federal immigration officers tried to detain people from court buildings in Providence. Under the bill, law enforcement officers who enter a courthouse must identify themselves to security and promptly present any arrest warrant or judicial order for review. Violators of the law could be found in contempt of court and open to civil action. Another bill approved by lawmakers Thursday would let people sue federal immigration officials in state courts for violating the U.S. Constitution, recouping attorneys fees in addition to damages and injunctions if they win. The statute of limitations would be three years. A one-day change in the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor crime — from 365 to 364 days — also secured long-awaited approval after five years of stalling in the House. The “364 bill” protects immigrants from being detained or deported for minor offenses, serving as a workaround to federal law, which exposes undocumented residents and green card holders to detention and deportation if sentenced to one year or more. The House and Senate also voted along party lines to pass each others’ versions of legislation to prohibit federal immigration enforcement within 200 feet of polling places. Blue states across the country have started to beef up election security ahead of the November midterm elections. Protecting candidates for office As election season kicks into high gear, candidates will get an extra way to spend their campaign cash under bills given final approval Thursday. Personal security, including home and office alarm systems and surveillance cameras, are now among the list of authorized expenditures for candidates, effective as soon as Gov. Dan McKee lends his signature. The measure comes amid a wave of violence, and threats of violence, against state and federal lawmakers nationwide, including Rhode Island Senate leaders who received emailed bomb threats last fall, though the threats were later determined to be a hoax. At least 20 states, including Minnesota and Massachusetts, let candidates for office spend campaign funds on security, either via formal legislation or opinions via attorneys general, ethics panels or secretaries of state. The Federal Election Commission codified a 15-year practice, previously considered on a case-by-case basis, to let federal candidates spend money on security devices, personnel and software in September 2024. Rhode Island’s new policy does not include personnel or cybersecurity. Deputy Senate President Pro Tempore Matthew LaMountain checks his smartphone on the last night of the 2026 legislative session Thursday, Jun 11, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) So much sludge, so few places to put it Solid sewage — and specifically, where to put it — remains a lingering question across the state amid the promised closure of Woonsocket’s regional wastewater treatment facility. To that end, lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a resolution creating a 21-member joint legislative panel to study and recommend solutions to Rhode Island’s sewage problem. Among the options awaiting panel review: high-heat waste processing, or pyrolysis, which is how a North Kingstown energy company has proposed solving the sewage problem. Even though QSS Biosolids, a subsidiary of Green Development, already has a preliminary approval from the Quonset Development Corporation Board of Directors to open the $225 million project in Quonset Business Park, the project was paused amid community backlash over the lack of transparency in the review process. A separate set of companion bills also given final approval by both chambers Thursday cements the project pause, banning any thermal waste conversion facilities in the industrial park until June 1, 2027. That’s the same date that the study commission will expire, though its reported recommendations are due to the legislature on April 1. Expanding expungement, strengthening other penalties Rhode Islanders with nonviolent felony convictions could have up to four offenses expunged from their records, following overwhelming passage of legislation in the Senate Thursday, despite reluctance among progressives that the measure made beneficiaries wait too long for a clean slate. The House of Representatives already approved identical legislation on Tuesday. Existing law allows a person to expunge one nonviolent felony conviction 10 years after completing their sentence, provided they have no subsequent criminal convictions. Up to five misdemeanor convictions can be expunged five years after completion of the person’s most recent sentence. The updated measure approved Thursday extends the forgiveness options for criminal records 15 years after sentences are completed, providing people can prove “good character.” Crimes such as child endangerment, elder abuse and driving under the influence would be ineligible for expungement. What would be expungeable: attempting to disarm a police officer, which is poised to become a felony — rather than a misdemeanor — with approval by lawmakers Thursday. The legislation was introduced in the wake of a September 2023 brawl on Bowen’s Wharf in Newport that led to a half dozen arrests, including a woman shown on video attempting to disarm two officers who responded to the fight that broke out after a wedding. Penalties have also been strengthened for motor vehicle incidents involving road rage, with rare explicit backing from McKee. “Casey’s Law,”is named for Casey Bassignani, a 23-year-old Johnston woman killed last November after another driver forced her car off Route 295 in Cranston, witnesses said. Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican, explains her legislation that would change contract law to allow physicians to charge ‘reasonable’ fees for non-clinical services on the House floor. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) More flexibility for independent primary care One proposed legislative answer to the shortage of primary care physicians in the Ocean State: the Primary Care Preservation Act, which passed the House Thursday on a 64-8 vote after a 30-minute debate — one of few points of discussion among lawmakers on their final day. At issue was whether the measure would help keep independent primary care practices open, or expose patients to new kinds of fees. But, the Senate never took up the bill during its final hours of debate, effectively killing the measure. The bill would have modified contract language law and prevents insurers or other payers from barring physician practices from charging “reasonable” fees related to “non-clinical services…and other administrative functions,” such as reception, scheduling, care coordination, referral management, communications systems and record handling, per the bill text. It would allow “only the independent providers to charge back to the house reasonable fees, so that they can stay in business,” bill sponsor Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican, said on the House floor. She said the bill was intended to help keep small practices afloat and prevent them from being pushed toward concierge models or closure. Opponents of the bill raised concerns about a lack of caps on fees. Defenders noted the bill stops insurers from using contract language to block providers from charging fees that are otherwise legal at the federal level. “Everyone agrees if we don’t provide some lifeline, some tiny lifeline, access is done to shut down altogether,” Hopkins, a nurse, said of independent providers. Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, stands on the House floor as other representatives debate the ‘Primary Care Preservation Act.’ (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Disclosure of use of AI tools during medical visits Health care providers who use AI tools to document medical visits would need to divulge the tools’ use to patients under legislation given final passage Thursday. House sponsor Teresa Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat, said in a press statement that the measure responds to an increase in AI-driven documentation of patient visits. These tools might decrease provider burden and the tedious tasks of documenting visits, but that benefit is compounded with some risk, “particularly in a sensitive field like health care,” Tanzi said. Every drink needs a lid Grabbing a drink at any of Rhode Island’s bars? You could soon ask for a protective lid to prevent spiking under legislation approved Thursday. The bill mandates that bars and nightclubs offer tamper-proof lids with a seal upon a customer’s request starting Jan. 1, 2027. A previous version would have required businesses to put signs in a “prominent and conspicuous location” to let people know, but the provision was stricken amid opposition from the hospitality industry. Rep. Brian Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican, takes a breather on the House floor during the final day of session on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski looks over the chamber floor on June 11, 2026, the final day of the legislative session. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) House Majority Leader Katherine Kazarian. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Senate Majority Leader Franck Ciccone, in jacket and tie and shorts, talks with Kristen Silvia, deputy chief of staff and legislative director, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the last night of the 2026 session. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Deputy Senate President Pro Tempore Matthew LaMountain checks his smartphone on the last night of the 2026 legislative session Thursday, Jun 11, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Senate Majority Leader Franck Ciccone, left, talks with Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian, a Smithfield Democrat, right, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the last night of the 2026 session. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Senate Minority Leader Jessica De la Cruz, a North Smithfild Republican, rises to introduce an ultimately unsuccessful amendment that would allow the opening of De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rep. Jason Knight, left, a Barrington Democrat, and Rep. Arthur Corvese, right, a North Providence Democrat, confer in the House chamber. Re. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, is seen in the background . (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, stands on the House floor as other representatives debate the 'Primary Care Preservation Act.' (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican, explains her legislation that would change contract law to allow physicians to charge 'reasonable' fees for non-clinical services on the House floor. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type" : "ImageGallery", "id" : "https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/06/11/rhode-island-lawmakers-move-at-lightning-speed-on-last-night-of-session/#modula-gallery-31216", "url" : "https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/06/11/rhode-island-lawmakers-move-at-lightning-speed-on-last-night-of-session/" } SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. 10:22 pmUpdated to clarify that the Primary Care Preservation Act was never approved by the Rhode Island Senate, and therefore did not advance out the legislature. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Merger oversight out, but whistleblower protections and CEO pay caps remain in NC hospital bill The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)The NC Senate Healthcare Committee endorsed a hospital regulations bill on Thursday after removing a section that could have affected the Atrium Health/WakeMed merger. Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), the bill’s sponsor, told reporters that he didn’t want legislation to interfere with the Atrium/WakeMed merger, which is already in progress. “I don’t want us to put a finger on it one way or another,” Burgin said. But there would have been more discussion and public information about the hospitals’ agreement if a law requiring pre-merger review was already in place, he said. The public learned of the merger just a few days before Wake County Commissioners were scheduled to vote last month to change WakeMed’s articles of incorporation, which would have essentially approved the merger. WakeMed sought the merger, which hospital leaders said would strengthen WakeMed’s finances. But commissioners delayed the vote following an outcry from state officials, who warned the merger would drive up healthcare costs. WakeMed touts benefits of Atrium deal after weekend backlash Higher costs remain a concern for Burgin. “When large systems acquire smaller providers, it often results in higher prices without necessarily improving access or outcomes,” Burgin told the committee. What’s left in the bill are whistleblower protections for hospital healthcare staff, restrictions on non-compete contract clauses, and caps on nonprofit hospital CEO pay. Sen. Julie Mayfield (R-Buncombe) said the whistleblower protections and the non-compete restrictions stem from problems at Mission Hospital in Asheville after for-profit HCA Healthcare bought it in 2019. Mayfield called the purchase a “disaster,” evidenced by the “immediate jeopardy” health and safety citations imposed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The hospital has received this most serious citation four times in the last five years, and twice in the last eight months after patient deaths, she said. Employees at Mission were fired, Mayfield said, after speaking openly with state and federal surveyors, or after indicating they would share recommendations for improving care with the public. “It is unconscionable that providers are not free to raise quality of care concerns internally and externally, and these provisions can address that,” she said. Non-compete contract clauses forced healthcare providers to leave western North Carolina to continue to work in their fields, Mayfield said. In an email, Mission Hospital spokesperson Nancy Lindell said,” We respectfully disagree with that characterization. Mission Hospital is committed to providing high-quality care for the patients and communities we serve, and that commitment is reflected in both our investments and our outcomes.” She included a list of accomplishments that included opening a $5 million clinical simulation and training center to support nurses and caregivers, expanding nursing education partnerships and cancer care capacity, investing in advanced technology, and continuing improvements to facilities and patient care services across the region. “Mission Hospital offers numerous avenues for employees to identify issues and share feedback, including anonymous reporting options, employee engagement groups, patient care councils, and established processes for submitting and tracking operational and patient care concerns,” Lindell’s email said. “We not only encourage team members to raise concerns, we expect it. Our focus remains on supporting our workforce and delivering safe, high-quality care to the communities we serve.” Senate Bill 987 would also cap not-for-profit hospital CEO annual salaries, bonuses and other compensation at 400% of the wage of the lowest-paid full-time employee. “I have a problem with the CEOs making as much as some of the CEOs make,” Burgin told reporters. Burgin said he hoped to move the bill through the Senate as quickly as possible, and then start working to have the state House consider it before the end of session. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Supporters of reproductive, transgender healthcare bill rally in Trenton People fan themselves during a rally outside the Statehouse in support of A2218, a bill meant to protect reproductive and transgender healthcare, on June 11, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Supporters of a bill that aims to protect reproductive and transgender healthcare in New Jersey rallied outside the Statehouse on Thursday. The bill was initially scheduled for a final vote in the Assembly on Thursday — its last step before heading to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s desk for her signature or veto — but a last-minute move to amend the bill caused a delay. The bill is now expected to get a final vote later in June. Seen in the photos from the top: Pastor Erin Kinahan, Josephine Oliveri, Melissa Firstenberg, Sen. Teresa Ruiz, Josephine Oliveri with CWA local 1040, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, Martha Madrigal, and Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	East Moline works to reduce lead in drinking water East Moline hosted an open house to go over the city's plan to keep lead from getting into drinking water. The City of East Moline is working to replace all lead and galvanized pipes while upgrading the water treatment process to reduce the risk of lead in drinking water. Residents could notice a change in [...]
	One dead following officer-involved shooting in Ottumwa, investigation ongoing A man dies in officer-involved shooting in Ottumwa Iowa
	Another chance for some severe weather After some severe weather from yesterday, with heavy rain and thunderstorms we are watching another one for today. We already saw a lot of the heavy rain and storms from earlier this morning with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and are looking to see more tonight.
	LIVE BLOG: Severe weather continues into Thursday The First Alert Weather team is tracking unseasonable warmth, humidity and strong to severe thunderstorms Thursday.
	With giant IUD outside Capitol, Arizona Democrats call on GOP to protect contraception access Americans for Contraception, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for the passage of legislation across the country enshrining access to contraception as a fundamental right, set up a massive inflatable IUD at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza across the street from the Arizona Capitol on June 11, 2026. (Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror)Standing in front of a 20-foot tall, inflatable IUD across the street from the state Capitol, Democratic lawmakers lambasted Republicans for blocking efforts to ensure Arizonans have a right to contraception. In 2023, on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court eliminating the constitutional right to abortion — a decision that prompted Justice Thomas Clarence, in his concurring opinion, to write that a reconsideration of the constitutional right to contraception should be next — Gov. Katie Hobbs and Democrats in Arizona unveiled an intent to pass statewide protections for contraception ahead of any federal challenges that might arise in response to Clarence’s proposal. The bills that would have done just that, both of which were entitled ‘The Right to Contraception Act’, were never put up for debate in the Republican-controlled legislature. And when Democrats tried to force floor votes on the bills, they were quickly shut down. That pattern has been repeated for the last three years. The most recent attempt to fasttrack the ignored legislation was in March, as part of the Arizona chapter of Reproductive Freedom for All’s fifth annual “Reproductive Freedom Day” at the legislature. That same day, Republicans held a news conference intended to overshadow the event during which they vowed to continue working to undermine the state’s abortion rights amendment. On Thursday, Americans for Contraception, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for the passage of legislation across the country enshrining access to contraception as a fundamental right, set up a massive inflatable IUD at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, the landmark Supreme Court decision that made contraceptives a constitutional right at the federal level in 1965. Sen. Priya Sundareshan, a Tucson Democrat who heads the party’s members in the upper chamber, warned that, while the federal protection remains in place, it shouldn’t be taken for granted because the right-wing supermajority on the Supreme Court has shown an eagerness to overturn precedent. “We know that those threats are real, and something as basic as the right to contraception should not be in question,” she said. “That’s why we have put forward bills at the state legislature every single year in order to cement that right here in state law.” The Arizona proposal would guarantee the ability of Arizonans to obtain any form of birth control, including the pill, IUDs and emergency contraception like plan B, and it would protect the right of healthcare providers to prescribe them or inform their patients about them. Sundareshan lamented that Democratic efforts to advance the legislation have been repeatedly foiled by Republicans, a move that she criticized as out of step with what Arizonans actually want. “We’ve seen no action at the state legislature to show that Republicans are hearing the will of the voters in wanting to protect the right to contraception,” she said. A 2024 poll found that 91% of Americans believe birth control should be legal, including a majority of Republicans. And about 81% of people across the political spectrum at the time supported the idea of Congress codifying the right to obtain contraception, including plan B, which has been targeted by some anti-abortion activists and politicians. Kelley Dupps, the director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Arizona, the state’s largest abortion provider which also offers a range of reproductive health care and family planning services at its clinics, emphasized that the majority of voters support the legalization of contraception. “It’s really a bipartisan issue,” he said. “So, the question really isn’t, ‘Where do voters stand on this? Where are Arizonans?’ It’s about why are Republican politicians standing in the way of access to basic healthcare rights?” Similar to the push to protect access in the Grand Canyon State, recent efforts to make contraception a right at the federal level through the legislative process have so far proven unsuccessful. But that hasn’t deterred Democrats in Congress, either. U.S Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat from Houston, filed a discharge petition earlier this week that could force a vote on the Right to Contraception Act, which she sponsored but has not been given a hearing. The petition needs to win support from 218 members to override any opposition from Speaker Mike Johnson and be considered by the full chamber. On Thursday, Sundareshan called on Arizona’s congressional delegation to help Fletcher make that possible. “I especially challenge our representatives, Congressman (David) Schwiekert, Congressman (Andy) Biggs, Congressman (Juan) Ciscomani…to sign onto that petition,” she said, referring to three of the state’s GOP members of its congressional delegation. “Let’s protect this right that the vast majority of Arizonans demand.” In 2022, a Right to Contraception Act failed to move forward in Congress, with both Biggs and Schwiekert voting against it. And all three congressmen have previously supported legislation that could bestow personhood to fetuses at every stage of development, which critics say could result in outlawing some types of birth control, like plan B. Democrats also urged voters to keep Gov. Katie Hobbs in office in November, noting that her Republican opponents — Biggs and Schwiekert are squaring off in the July primary election — have shown little inclination to preserve access to contraception in their time in Congress. Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, D-Tucson, said that the best way for voters to guarantee that Arizonans can keep using the birth control of their choice is at the ballot box. “We must hold elected officials accountable when they fail to protect fundamental freedoms and continue working to ensure contraception remains affordable, accessible and protected under Arizona law,” she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	Illinois launches statewide digital library resource program Illinois is launching a statewide digital library resource program. Illinois residents now have free access to trusted online resources, including e-books, journals, magazines, newspapers and research databases. Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias says the program helps ensure residents have access to high-quality information regardless of where they live or financial resources. For [...]
	Historic Walcott building gets new life A historic downtown building in Walcott is getting a new lease on life as a new café and event venue prepares to open its doors.
	Eight months after the fact, board discloses charges against Iowa nurse (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)Eight months ago, a state licensing board charged an Iowa nurse with multiple regulatory violations, including soliciting or accepting money from a patient. This week, for the first time, the Iowa Board of Nursing publicly disclosed those charges. The records show the board has charged Abbriel Rae Mitchell, 44, of Roland with five separate regulatory violations: violating patient confidentiality or privacy rights; soliciting, borrowing, or misappropriating money or property from a patient; committing an act that causes physical, emotional or financial injury to a patient; participating in or attempting to initiate a sexual, social or business relationship with a patient; and engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. As is customary with the Board of Nursing, it has publicly disclosed no information as to the alleged conduct that gave rise to the charges or indicated when or where that conduct is alleged to have taken place. State records indicate the board’s investigation of the matter was initiated in 2024. The charges were formally approved by the board on Oct. 8, 2025, but were made public only this week in the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing’s official Notice of Board Action for the month of June 2026. It’s not clear why the charges were not publicly disclosed last year. In recent months, DIAL has indicated questions about the numerous licensing board errors and lengthy delays in public disclosure of disciplinary charges are best directed to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. That office has, in turn, referred such questions back to DIAL. Board records indicate Mitchell was first authorized to work in Iowa as a licensed practical nurse in July 2005. A hearing on the charges against her is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2026. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Mail-order pharmacy faces charges from Iowa regulators The Iowa Board of Pharmacy oversees state-licensed pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Iowa. (Photo by Getty Images; logo courtesy the State of Iowa)Iowa regulators have filed charges against a mail-order Florida pharmacy that has been accused of wrongdoing by at least three other states. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has charged CRE8 Pharmacy Group of Coral Springs, Florida, with failing to ensure preparations compounded pursuant to federal legal requirements are prepared in accordance with the standards outlined in federal regulations for both sterile and nonsterile compounds. The company is also charged with failing to comply with the legal requirement that counseling be provided to every patient for a new or changed prescription prior to dispensing the prescription. The board has not disclosed the underlying circumstances that gave rise to the charges. State and federal records indicate CRE8 Pharmacy Group is headed by company CEO Nancy Dube of Parkland, Florida. Dube did not respond Thursday to calls and emails from the Iowa Capital Dispatch, and company officials said there are no media relations or marketing personnel who could comment on the licensing board’s charges. CRE8 Pharmacy Group is a mail-order compounding pharmacy, founded in 2016, that provides direct-to-patient medications as well as medications for licensed healthcare providers, in 42 states. In 2023, the Kansas Board of Pharmacy sanctioned CRE8 for allegedly shipping drugs into Kansas at a time when it had no valid registration to do so. The company was fined $1,320. In 2025, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy fined CRE8 $5,640 for dispensing approximately 376 prescriptions of compounded products into Louisiana that failed to meet the minimal standards of acceptable pharmacy practice. Also in 2025, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy suspended CRE8’s license in that state over allegations it sold compounded drugs to clinics containing unapproved or non-FDA-approved components, including the experimental weight-loss drug Retatrutide. CRE8 later entered into a settlement agreement with the Ohio board in which it agreed to pay a civil penalty of $200,000. On the company’s website, CRE8 Pharmacy Group claims to be compliant with the specific regulations cited by the Iowa board, adding that it holds non-resident licenses, such as the one issued by Iowa, throughout the United States. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	RI Senate confirms new Cannabis Control Commission chair Robert Jacquard, left, and Michelle Reddish, right, were confirmed to seats on the Cannabis Control Commission during the Senate's final day of the 2026 legislative session on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)The independent state agency shaping the nascent cannabis industry is whole again, with a new chairperson confirmed by the Rhode Island Senate on its final day of the legislative session. The chamber’s unanimous vote Thursday confirms Michelle Reddish as chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, filling the seat left open since October when former leader Kim Ahern resigned to run for attorney general. Reddish, who has led the state’s Cannabis Office since 2024, now transitions from operational duties to policymaking as chair of the commission. The $204,069 post is the only full-time position on the panel charged with regulating the state’s medical and recreational marijuana and hemp industries. Also Thursday, the Senate reappointed commissioner Robert Jacquard for a second term on the cannabis panel. Both Jacquard and Reddish will serve until May 17, 2031. The upper chamber also confirmed one new member apiece to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and Energy Efficiency Council during its final session Thursday, and reappointed two members of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. On Wednesday, the Senate gave its blessing by a unanimous vote to a new president and CEO for the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. Bob Cormier, a medical technology and healthcare executive, takes the helm of the quasi-public life science agency after its inaugural president, Dr. Mark Turco, unexpectedly resigned in March, one year into a three-year contract. Cormier, who most recently served as CEO of Swiss-American medical device company Sentec, which has U.S. headquarters in Lincoln, was picked by the Hub’s 15-member volunteer board following a nationwide search. As president and CEO, with a $295,000 salary, Cormier will help the three-year-old agency establish Rhode Island as a center for medical research and innovation, including through a first-of-its-kind wet lab incubator in the new state public health laboratory in Providence. Not advancing on the Senate’s laundry list of last-minute confirmations: McKee’s pick for the Public Utilities Commission, and two other selections for the Energy Efficiency Council, all of whom drew concern from legislators. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for parole violation Robert Carson, 41, is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections High Risk Unit for a parole violation for domestic abuse.
	Crime Stoppers: Reward upped to $7K for arrest in fatal motorcycle crash Crime Stoppers says a $7,000 reward is being offered for the arrest of 41-year-old Alex Uthoff.
	1,000+ businesses commit to new Iowa anti-human trafficking coalition A new group announced efforts to combat human trafficking in Iowa.
	Davenport mayor delivers State of the City address The City of Davenport hosted its State of the City address at the Putnam Museum and Science Center. Gordon focused on a $9 million grant to help with flood mitigation efforts. He also talked about other grants improving the Eastern Ave. bridge and fire equipment. Additionally, Gordon’s speech focused on major projects and initiatives and [...]
	Want to vote early in SC’s primary runoffs? Here’s how. The South Carolina state seal is seen in a state office in Columbia, S.C. in March of 2026. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — For South Carolinians who want to vote ahead of the June 23 primary runoffs, early voting is open for two days next week. Polling locations across the state will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Wednesday and Thursday, according to the state elections office. To find a location in your county, go online to the state Election Commission’s website. While state law calls for “Wednesday through Friday” voting before a runoff, June 19 is the Juneteenth federal holiday. That’s not a state-recognized holiday. But the same law bans opening early voting centers “on legal holidays.” Republicans have three statewide races on runoff ballots: governor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture. No crossovers Democrats have no statewide runoffs. But anyone who voted in the June 9 Democratic primary cannot vote in the Republican runoff. That’s because state law bans crossover voting between party primaries and runoffs. Voters don’t register by party in South Carolina, but they must stick with a party during the primary cycle. Registered voters who didn’t vote at all in the primary can vote in either party’s runoff. Only 25% of South Carolina’s 3.4 million registered voters cast a ballot in the primary. Absentee voters must return ballots by mail or in person to county elections offices before polls close at 7 p.m. June 23. Because of the short time frame between the primary and runoff, the state does not have time to reprint ballots. Instead, election officials mark out any candidates who did not make the runoff, as well as offices for which there is no runoff. Election officials will not count any votes cast for candidates that are marked through, according to the Election Commission. Overseas and military voters already turned in a second ballot, on which they ranked candidates in case of a runoff. Statewide and congressional runoffs In the race to replace Gov. Henry McMaster, Republicans will pick between Lt. Gov. Pam Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson. The Republican attorney general’s race features state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, of Murrells Inlet, and 8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo, of Greenwood. Vying for the GOP nomination to be the state’s next agriculture commissioner are Dany Ford II, an Upstate cattle rancher and son of legendary Clemson University football coach Danny Ford, and Cody Simpson, former agricultural adviser to Gov. Henry McMaster and Trump administration appointee to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. In the coastal 1st Congressional District, there are runoffs for both parties’ nominees. On the Republican ballot are Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt, an attorney, and state Rep. Mark Smith, who owns a funeral home on Daniel Island. The two Democrats are retired-Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore and Mac Deford, a Coast Guard veteran and Charleston-area attorney. And Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District still need to pick their nominee to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. The district covers includes all of Lexington, Aiken and Barnwell counties, as well as parts of Richland and Orangeburg counties. They will choose between David Robinson II, a disabled Army veteran, and Zyon Khalifa, who recently graduated from law school after serving four years in the Air Force. Statehouse runoffs There are also three Republican Statehouse races still up for grabs. Incumbent state Rep. Don Chapman is up against Sherry Hodges, an active member of the Anderson County Republican party who led efforts against a proposed sales tax to pay for roads and bridges in the county, for the House district covering the county’s northwest corner. Hunter Hackett, a maintenance worker with Michelin Tire in Lexington County, and former Lexington County Councilman Scott Whetstone face off for the GOP nomination to represent the mostly rural Lexington County House seat held by state Rep. Ryan McCabe. The Lexington Republican decided not to seek a fourth term. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Republicans in the runoff to replace Smith, who is running for Congress, features Berkeley County Councilman Jarrod Brooks and Kristy Gore, a realtor and retired law enforcement officer living in Hanahan. The recount One Statehouse race, the GOP primary for the House district that covers the area of Spartanburg County between Greer and Spartanburg, is up for an automatic recount. With a margin of .98% — less than 1% — a recount is triggered under state law. The recount will take place Friday at 3 p.m., according to the state Election Commission. If the count holds, incumbent state Rep. Rob Harris will have narrowly beat out Lyman Town Council member and repeat primary challenger Adam Crisp for the nomination. The last time Harris and Crisp faced off, in 2024, Harris won by nearly 17 percentage points. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
	Celebrate Celtic culture in the QCA at Celtic Night Out The Scottish American Society of the Quad Cities is bring the sights and sounds of Celtic culture to the QCA! Mary Gloeckner-Bouljon and Henry Marquard joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about Celtic Night Out. For more information, click here.
	Federal court hears oral arguments in appeal of Arkansas’ library obscenity law The exterior of the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, June 5, 2026. The courthouse includes the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Andrew DeMillo/Arkansas Advocate)A federal appeals court heard arguments Thursday to uphold the injunction of a 2023 Arkansas law governing challenges to library content, while Arkansas’ solicitor general said the plaintiffs’ allegations were “too speculative.” The three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis will rule on whether two sections of Act 372 of 2023 can go into effect. A district judge blocked the provisions in 2024, and the state appealed the ruling in 2025. The two challenged sections would create criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that some consider “obscene” or “harmful to minors,” and give city and county governing bodies the final say over library content. The 18 plaintiffs in the case include libraries, bookstores, advocacy groups and individual library patrons. The defendants are Arkansas’ 28 prosecuting attorneys, Crawford County and its county judge, Chris Keith. Crawford County lost another federal lawsuit in 2024 after three parents claimed the county library violated the First Amendment by moving LGBTQ+ children’s books into separate “social sections” that only adults could access. Federal judge declares sections of Arkansas’ library obscenity law unconstitutional The library made this move after county residents complained at quorum court meetings about the availability of LGBTQ+ books. Crawford County officials cited Act 372 as a reason to keep the books segregated, even before the statute became law. This made Crawford County an example of how one of the challenged sections of Act 372 would have worked in practice, said John Adams, the plaintiffs’ lead counsel. He noted that libraries already had content challenge policies before Act 372, which would create a new avenue for books to be removed from children’s reach but not provide any way to challenge a book’s removal. “Act 372, Section 5 takes what was otherwise a fairly comprehensible due process…and turns it into a kind of one-way ratchet that gives censorious parts of the local population power that my clients don’t have,” Adams said. Crawford County residents compiled a list of LGBTQ+ books they wanted out of children’s reach, but Keith said in his deposition in the other lawsuit that he had not reviewed the books even though he would be partially responsible for enforcing Section 5 of Act 372, Adams told the judges. The potential harm of enforcing the law’s other blocked provision, Adams said, is the threat of jail time for librarians and booksellers for simply having books on their shelves that some consider “harmful to minors.” Section 1 of Act 372 would make “furnishing a harmful item to a minor” a Class A misdemeanor. The law leaves the definitions of “furnishing” and “harmful” up to overly broad interpretation that could lead to viewpoint discrimination, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks wrote in his injunction ruling. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The state’s argument Arkansas Solicitor General Autumn Hamit Patterson argued that public libraries’ curation processes inherently practice content-based discrimination “by deciding what books would be edifying or beneficial for their communities and serve their interests, and which would not.” Patterson also disputed Adams’ claim that the threat of jailing librarians was directly traceable to the Crawford County defendants’ enforcement of Section 5 because the county library’s “social sections” predated Act 372 and the library was ordered in the other lawsuit to return the LGBTQ+ books to their original sections. The plaintiffs have not identified specific books that would likely be challenged under Act 372, Patterson said. “Their testimony even states that they don’t believe the books in their collection were always in the obscenity provision’s definition,” she said. An unchallenged provision of Act 372 removes schools and public libraries from the part of Arkansas state code that previously exempted them from prosecution for disseminating obscene content. Another unchallenged provision made school and public library employees liable for a Class D felony if they “knowingly” distribute obscene material or inform others of how to obtain it. Crawford County appeals injunction of Arkansas library law, citing dispute over legal fees School boards have the final say over challenged materials in public school libraries, according to the final unchallenged section of Act 372, which has been in effect since August 2023. Additionally, attorney Forrest Stobaugh argued on behalf of the Crawford County defendants that they should not be liable for attorneys’ fees in the county’s other lawsuit. The county cited its ongoing debate over the legal fees as its reason for joining the state’s appeal of the Act 372 ruling last year. “The fee award must be reasonable, and I would submit it’s per se unreasonable to hold a defendant jointly and severally liable for fees from a plaintiff that never actually sued it,” Stobaugh said. Similar litigation Chief Judge Steven Colloton said the 8th Circuit panel “will file a decision in due course” but did not indicate a specific time. He and the other two judges, Ralph Erickson and L. Steven Grasz, offered little comment on Adams’ and Patterson’s arguments. President Donald Trump appointed Grasz and Erickson to the appeals court in 2017. Colloton was appointed in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush and has been the court’s chief judge since 2024. In April, another 8th Circuit panel allowed a 2023 Iowa law to go into effect, requiring the removal of books containing “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act” from Iowa public school libraries. A district judge had previously blocked the law on First Amendment grounds. Appeals court permits enforcement of 2023 law on school programs, books Erickson was on the three-judge panel that ruled “the First Amendment does not guarantee students the right to access books of their choosing at taxpayer expense.” Patterson said Thursday that this conclusion supports the state’s defense of Act 372. The oral arguments came before the court while the Arkansas Department of Education is accepting public feedback on proposed rules requiring libraries to restrict children’s access to “sexually explicit materials” in order to receive state funding. A 2025 bill with similar restrictions failed in the Arkansas Legislature in 2025. The education department will accept feedback online until Monday and will hear in-person public comment on the rules at 10 a.m. Friday at its Little Rock headquarters. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	John Deere bringing back 20 workers to Davenport Works John Deere will be hiring 20 workers back to Davenport Works
	ISBE zeroes in on improving math education in Illinois The Illinois State Board of Education formally adopted a plan Wednesday aimed at improving math instruction and boosting student math scores throughout the state.
	Feds declare disaster for April freeze that killed NJ farms’ crops Hillsborough farmer Ed Clerico shows a hazelnut sapling that died in a four-day freeze in April 2026 that ravaged crops across the Northeast. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)Federal agricultural officials have declared all 21 counties in New Jersey natural disaster areas after a mid-April freeze killed off early-blooming fruits and other crops, a designation that clears the way for farmers to apply for low-interest emergency loans to recover from losses. Gov. Mikie Sherrill had declared a state of emergency and wrote to federal authorities seeking the federal disaster declaration in May, a month after the four-day cold snap zapped budding crops and caused damages officials expect could top $300 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also approved the disaster declaration for 15 counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Tree fruits, strawberries, blueberries, and other early-budding perennial crops were especially hard hit, farmers have reported. Sherrill cheered the federal action, which makes farmers eligible for loans through the Farm Service Agency. The loans can be used to replace essential farm items like equipment or livestock, reorganize farming operations, or refinance certain debts, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “For a family farm, the difference between a lost season and a fresh start often comes down to whether help arrives in time,” Sherrill said in a statement. She urged New Jersey residents to help farmers recover. “Visit a nearby farm. Buy local. Show up for your neighbors. Every dollar spent at a New Jersey farm stand is a vote of confidence in the people who feed us,” she said. Sherrill also issued an executive order, which remains in place, directing state agencies to work together to facilitate farm recovery and granting farms statewide temporary regulatory flexibility. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	Scott County road to close for utility work It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. According to a release from the Scott County Road Department, 230th Ave. may be closed to through traffic to allow utility crews to repair power lines from recent storms. The work is expected to run through June 19, depending on weather, field conditions and repair progress. Drivers [...]
	Abandoned East Moline building collapses An abandoned building in the 1400 block of 9th Street in East Moline collapsed into the street. 14th Avenue is closed due to debris in the road. Crews are planning to bring in equipment to demolish what remains of the building on Friday --weather permitting.
	John Deere hiring 30 workers in Dubuque, bringing back 20 employees in Davenport The additions are expected to begin this month and are intended to support increased production needs at both facilities.
	Oregon health officials issue tougher air quality guidance for youth sports, outdoor activities The outside of Chiloquin Elementary School, which is part of the Klamath County School District in southern Oregon, is pictured. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)Oregon kids and teens participating in outdoor activities need to protect themselves from air pollution that is more harmful than scientists previously understood, according to new state guidance. The Oregon Health Authority released new guidelines this week to help families, schools and athletic leagues decide when and how to host outdoor activities during wildfire smoke and instances of poor air quality. The new recommendations come as Oregon’s wildfire season started early this year and is expected to last into October amid historic heat and drought. Oregon’s guide relies on the air quality index, which measures particulates, carbon monoxide and other pollutants and ranges from 0 to 500. Higher ratings mean less healthy air. The updated guidance for children and youth comes in response to what the health authority said was increasing scientific research concluding that smoke can harm children at lower levels of exposure than previously thought by researchers. Children breathe more air relative to body weight than adults, and kids with asthma, lung or heart disease or diabetes are particularly vulnerable to air quality, according to state health officials. Here’s a look at health officials’ recommendations: When the air quality index is between 0 and 50, or “good,” no restrictions on outdoor activity are necessary. In the ”moderate” status between 51 and 100, children and youth with underlying health conditions should be allowed to opt out of activities, stay inside or limit intensity. For activities like summer camp or outdoor school that last four or more hours, children with health conditions should move to an area with greater air quality, and all other youth should be allowed to opt out of activities or to stay indoors. The previous guide stated that “It’s a good day to be active outside” for short activities. When air quality levels are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” with an index between 101 and 150, or orange status, the health authority recommends limiting the intensity of all youth outdoor activity regardless of the duration or whether individuals have underlying conditions. The guidelines encourage schools and institutions to consider canceling or moving the event to areas with better air quality if the intensity and length of an activity cannot be changed. If an event lasts longer than four hours, the intensity of the activity cannot be lowered and the event cannot be relocated, it should be canceled. Once air quality is considered “unhealthy,” “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” — anything higher than 150 on the air quality index — the guidance is the same: Cancel outdoor activities or move them to an area with safer air conditions. That previously only applied to very unhealthy or hazardous air quality conditions at any duration. The guidance also recommends light indoor activity if the level of fine and inhalable particulate matter indoors from emissions such as gas, oil and diesel is “high.” Oregonians seeking more information and resources for responding to smoke and wildfire can learn more at this state website. “We fully recognize the importance of outdoor time and exercise for the physical and mental health of children and youth,” Gabriela Goldfarb, manager of the Oregon Health Authority’s environmental public health section, said in a statement. “We offer this guide to support adults making decisions that balance those needs with the reality that children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke, because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	Nearsightedness: treatments to keep it from getting worse Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming much more common in children, and it can raise the risk of long-term eye problems as they grow.
	Trump now says a peace deal will be announced 'soon,' cancels further strikes President Trump had previously been amping up his rhetoric against Iran.
	Minnesota resumes payments to most of the Medicaid providers it cut off in mass anti-fraud effort The Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building in St. Paul, MN Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer)The Minnesota Department of Human Services says it is resuming payments to most of the thousands of care providers that it had cut off from Medicaid funding in May in a rush to meet a federal deadline. The state agency notified Medicaid providers Wednesday that it would reinstate payments to providers that had appealed their terminations to ensure Medicaid recipients keep getting care. The update comes after legislators from both parties and advocates for people with disabilities expressed outrage about the agency’s move to cut off payments to 60% of providers of 13 Medicaid services. The 13 Medicaid services are designed to help Minnesota’s most vulnerable populations; they have also been deemed by the state as high-risk for fraud, waste and abuse. In rush to meet federal deadline, Minnesota cuts funding to 60% of providers in 13 Medicaid programs The back-and-forth announcements underscored the chaos that’s beset Minnesota’s safety net programs in the past year, when the administration of Gov. Tim Walz began more seriously grappling with a years-old problem of fraud and waste in Minnesota social services, including shutting down one Medicaid program altogether. This was followed by intensive scrutiny — and, critics say, political opportunism — of the Trump administration, which has repeatedly threatened to cut billions in Medicaid funding from the state. Sue Schettle, the CEO of the Association of Residential Resources Minnesota, which advocates for care providers, called the resumption of payments a move “in the right direction” and a “recognition that the providers that did nothing wrong” need to keep getting paid for services. The state agency had stopped payments to more than 3,000 providers in its sweeping four-month screening of roughly 5,500 providers — dubbed Minnesota Revalidate 2026 — in response to heightened federal scrutiny over fraud in Minnesota’s social services. The move drew sharp criticism from providers, who said they were terminated for small paperwork details and, in some cases, because the agency didn’t review their applications in time. Carrie Guida, the executive director of a group home provider in Cass and Crow Wing counties, said that the mass payment cutoff was “unnecessary to start with.” “They suspended our billing as if we were one of the fraudsters, and we were not,” Guida said. Guida’s organization, Pine River Group Home, had a revalidation pending review from the Department of Human Services since March. On May 31, the state’s deadline to complete revalidations, Pine River Group Home was terminated. Like many providers that were terminated, the group home provider received a letter from the Department of Human Services Thursday confirming that it can keep billing Medicaid while its revalidation is in process. Many providers received a notification from the Minnesota Department of Human Services Thursday Jun. 11, 2026, that they can keep billing for payments while their revalidation continues. In a statement, the state agency said that they’ve resumed payments for 2,140 providers, including roughly 1,400 providers in the Thursday batch, and that it has been telling providers that it can turn payments back on if they submit appeals. “We don’t want to harm legitimate providers. We care deeply that vulnerable Minnesotans are getting the care they need from trusted providers. We also have to make sure that providers are meeting legal requirements to provide services,” the statement reads. The Department of Human Services, fearing political backlash in the form of funding cuts, didn’t ask for a federal extension to its tight timeline to screen providers. It appears that Minnesota couldn’t reach the four-month Trump administration timeline. The massive undertaking would normally be completed over the course of 3 to 5 years. Still, in a press release, the Department of Human Services said it had “finished a comprehensive top-to-bottom review … on time on May 31.” The screening process, or “revalidation,” involves a review of provider documents and unannounced site visits. The department, which enlisted employees from other state agencies for site visits, said it conducted 2,300 visits — fewer than half of the total 5,500 or so providers — by May 31. It also said that not every provider submitted the documents required to move onto a site visit. One provider advocate, Matthew Bergeron of the Residential Providers Association of Minnesota, said the appeals process seemed to be a way “to get more time without drawing the ire of the feds.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	A week after announcing budget cuts, Kentucky gov moves millions to offset them Gov. Beshear said he would restore some budget cuts he announced last week. (Screenshot)A week after announcing cuts to Medicaid, foster care and other social service programs, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday he now believes he has the flexibility to move funds from elsewhere to support those programs. Beshear is now moving $30 million from projects that are “outdated or ineffective” to support programs he announced last week he had to cut in order to operate within the budget passed by the General Assembly this year. He blamed the Republican controlled legislature at the time. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, responded to Beshear’s announcement by calling it a “cruel and unnecessary blow” on June 4. Osborne also said the legislature, in its two-year budget, “gave the governor and his administration the flexibility to use existing state funding to protect priority services like those for vulnerable Kentuckians when making reductions. We also directed the administration to prioritize state spending and seek savings by addressing outdated and ineffective programs, as well as services already provided by other agencies or the private sector.” Beshear said Thursday he interprets that statement to mean it is the legislature’s intent that he has the flexibility to move funds he previously didn’t believe was possible. When the GOP-controlled state legislature had crafted the two-year state budget earlier this year, House budget chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, emphasized repeatedly the legislature was funding “needs, not wants” in making cuts and trying to control what he believed was escalating spending by the executive branch. Petrie changed the budget crafting process this year by having a number of committee meetings to scrutinize spending requests by state agencies, ultimately enacting a budget that Democrats and a progressive think tank described as restrained in its spending. GOP leaders also emphasized Beshear has the ability to prioritize funding for some programs over others, pointing to how he allocated funds for senior meals last year. As a result, Beshear will move $25 million from “a specific economic development project that didn’t happen” and another $5 million from a housing project at Eastern Kentucky University that he said fell through because it relied on a federal grant. The Lantern has asked the governor’s office which project the $25 is coming from. Those monies, Beshear said, will keep foster care payments as they are and prop up Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds but “this can’t fix everything.” “Under this plan, we may be able to blunt about half of the devastating cuts from the General Assembly,” Beshear said at his weekly press conference. The reallocated funds will financially support 8,841 children in foster and residential care and keep 1,500 Kentuckians from losing TANF benefits. “These are extraordinary measures, and we’ll see if the General Assembly means what they said, that I have flexibility, or if it was just meant to shift blame for the cuts they know they were making,” Beshear said. “We’ll get our answer based on whether they challenge this in court, but if legislators or the attorney general do this, the money’s already moved. All they’ll be doing is taking it away from foster families and foster care residential providers that desperately need it.” This story may be updated. Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	Trump names Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence The announcement follows Trump's decision to nominate an ally and political attack dog to serve as acting director. The pick sparked a backlash that doomed efforts to renew a key intelligence tool.
	Bad Momz of Comedy playing Rhythm City Casino Bad Momz of Comedy is bringing mom/female comics to delight fans at Rhythm City Casino’s Rhythm Room on Friday, July 10. Tickets are on sale now; click here to purchase. The show is for ages 21+. Bad Momz of Comedy was founded by Chicago-based comic Orly K.G. in 2022 and features a small showcase of talent from its [...]
	Nearly half of adults struggled to afford healthcare last year, survey finds A new report analyzing survey results of 10,000 U.S. adults found widespread healthcare affordability challenges. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)Forty-six percent of U.S. adults — regardless of insurance type — reported struggling to afford healthcare last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research think tank. The report analyzed findings from a December 2025 survey of 10,000 working-age adults across the nation. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the research comes at a time of U.S. cost-of-living concerns and economic woes. Uninsured adults were most likely — 60% — to report at least one affordability problem. Researchers defined affordability challenges as: trouble paying family medical bills in the past year, a family member not getting healthcare they needed due to costs, or the family having medical debt at the time of the survey. Almost 40% of adults with private employer coverage, roughly 54% of those with Marketplace or plans, and 57% of adults with Medicaid reported having problems affording medical care. More than a third — about 35% — of all surveyed adults said a family member had unmet healthcare needs because of costs. Far fewer people buy Obamacare coverage as insurance premiums spike The survey also found disparities in care affordability. Adults with disabilities, for example, were more likely to have trouble affording healthcare for their families at almost 69% of those surveyed, compared with 40% of adults without disabilities. And the majority of Black and Hispanic adults reported struggling to afford care, compared with about 42% of white adults and 28% of Asian adults. Health conditions also coincided with affordability troubles: More than 7 in 10 people who suffered strokes reported problems affording care for their families, followed by 70% of those with COPD, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and about 64% of those with cancer and heart disease. Half of adults living in the South — a region home to several states that haven’t expanded Medicaid eligibility — and those in rural areas of the country also reported affordability challenges, in contrast with roughly 45% of adults in urban areas. Survey results also showed about 1 in 5 adults with private health insurance coverage reported large increases in insurance premiums — but adults with individual Marketplace plans were nearly twice as likely to report large premium increases as those with employer coverage. According to health policy research organization KFF, the average Marketplace deductible surged by about $1,000 per person this year, as more enrollees shift to higher-deductible plans after enhanced subsidies expired. Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Maryland to require registration of EV chargers, at reduced annual fee A Maryland Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures yellow tag and wire seal on an EV charger in Catonsville. (Photo by Lanny Hartmann)Maryland officials are moving forward with a plan to require electric vehicle charger owners to register their devices with the state — and pay a fee — so that the chargers can be inspected. State officials decided to lower the annual fee from $150 to $75 per charging port, after EV owners and charger companies expressed concerns earlier this year that the program could stymie the spread of chargers in Maryland. But some concerns linger. “We’ve listened to the concerns, support and feedback shared by electric vehicle owners, local businesses and industry partners,” Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said in a news release Thursday. “Reducing the registration fee allows us to continue supporting a reliable and accurate electric vehicle charging network while easing the cost for Maryland residents and businesses.” Charger owners are required to register their ports with the Maryland Department of Agriculture using an online form no later than July 1, or they could face fines. The registration date was delayed about six months as the department worked to address concern from stakeholders. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The department, which already has a Weights and Measures program that inspects gas pumps and commercial scales for accuracy, will largely be testing EV chargers for accuracy, but will also be flagging inoperable or malfunctioning chargers along the way, officials have said. Some inspections have already begun. In response to concerns, the department also issued clarifications about which chargers must be registered with the state. The registration requirement applies to any publicly available charger where a commercial transaction takes place, but chargers at private residences and free chargers are excluded. But chargers in parking lots for apartment and condo complexes, or workplaces, must be fenced off or otherwise blocked from public access, marked for private use and must not be listed on public charging websites. Some EV advocates and charging companies have expressed worries that those stipulations may be hard to meet, and that buildings may choose to remove chargers rather than erecting barriers and paying the annual fees. To conduct the accuracy testing, the state must purchase costly equipment called a “standard,” part of the reason for the $150 per port fee. But during this year’s General Assembly session, the Agriculture Department partnered with the Maryland Energy Administration to use renewable energy funds to cut the fees in half. The money will come from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which has burgeoned in recent years because Maryland’s electric utilities can bypass a requirement to purchase scarce solar energy credits by paying into it. The fund has become a slight political flashpoint. Republicans in Annapolis have argued that the fund’s growth is representative of policy failures on renewable energy, and that the money should be returned to ratepayers, who essentially fuel the fund in the first place. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally. New research reveals the childhood experiences that help adults thrive Loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally. New research reveals the childhood experiences that help adults thriveKids have more ways to connect than ever. They can text, scroll, game, comment and chat all before they even leave the house. Yet for many young people, all that connection does not necessarily translate into feeling known, useful or part of something larger than themselves.The World Health Organization (WHO) calls loneliness a global health threat, and the numbers explain why. With 1 in 6 people affected worldwide, loneliness hits the hardest among teens and young adults ages 13 to 29, where between 17% and 21% report feeling lonely. Young people experiencing chronic loneliness are twice as likely to develop depression and 22% more likely to earn lower grades, according to the WHO. If screens are now built into childhood, what actually helps kids build confidence, purpose and belonging?New research from Harris Poll, commissioned by Scouting America, examined more than 3,000 U.S. adults, including those who earned the Eagle Scout rank, the program's highest designation, and compared them with adults who never participated. Conducted for three months beginning October 10, 2025, the survey of 3,178 adults asked for feedback on well-being, civic engagement, leadership and character development. The findings reveal meaningful differences in how those groups describe their relationships, outlook, civic involvement, connection and sense of purpose.The clearest difference may be loneliness. Just 11% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they frequently feel lonely, compared with 23% of non-participants. Those who earned the rank are also more likely to report a strong sense of purpose, with 78% saying they feel one compared with 60% of those who were never in the program, and 95% describe themselves as happy versus 82% of adults who never took part.The data does not reduce childhood connection to a single activity. It shows how structured, real-world experiences can give young people repeated chances to be active participants rather than passive ones, working alongside others, taking responsibility, solving problems, serving a community and building confidence over time.That matters because belonging is not built in theory, it is built through repetition and lived experience. A young person shows up, learns a skill, helps with a project, gets trusted with responsibility and begins to see that their presence matters. From the outside these moments may look small, but over time, they can shape how a person sees themselves and how they relate to others.Those patterns extend into adult life. The research does not establish that the program causes these outcomes, but the consistency across measures is striking. Some 74% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they have held leadership positions at work, compared with 31% of non-participants. Another 57% say they have spoken up for a cause they believe in or on behalf of others, versus 33% of those who never took part.The story inside the numbers is not that every child needs the same path. It is that young people need places where they are asked to show up, contribute and be counted on. They need adults who mentor them, peers to collaborate with them and real responsibilities that help them practice who they are becoming.In a childhood increasingly shaped by digital life, those experiences can be easy to underestimate. But the research shows the long-term value of giving kids something to do, somewhere to belong and a reason to see themselves as capable. For families worried about loneliness, confidence or lack of meaningful connection alongside their digital lives, the takeaway is practical: Look for structured experiences that allow young people to participate, contribute and lead. Connection is not just something kids feel. It is something they get to practice.MethodologyThe research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Scouting America among 3,178 U.S. adults ages 18-plus, including 1,549 who were never members of Scouting America (“non-Scouts”) and members of Scouting America (“Scouts”), including 1,067 who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout (“Eagle Scouts”) and 562 who did not achieve the rank of Eagle Scout (“non-Eagle Scouts”). The survey was conducted initially from Oct. 10 through Nov. 17, 2025, and relaunched from Dec. 16, 2025, through Jan. 9, 2026.This story was produced by Scouting America and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New local history mural to be done at Davenport’s MLK Park Friends of MLK has chosen nationally recognized artist and muralist Cbabi Bayoc to create a new public next to the Martin Luther King Jr. Interpretive Center, 501 N. Brady St., in downtown Davenport.
	New Mexico reports fatal plague case in Santa Fe County Plague is a bacterial disease carried by rodents and often transmitted through infected fleas biting animals and people. (Courtesy for Centers of Disease Prevention and Control)New Mexico’s first human plague case of the year has resulted in the death of a Santa Fe County woman in her 50s, health officials said Thursday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of the woman who passed away due to plague,” New Mexico Department of Health state public health veterinarian Erin Phipps said in a statement. “This tragedy emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and for taking measures to prevent plague infections.” The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed it is determining that no close contacts of the woman are exhibiting symptoms. Plague is a bacterial disease carried by rodents and often transmitted through infected fleas biting animals — including pets — as well as humans. If the infection is in the lungs, humans can also transmit the disease through coughing. The first warning symptoms of plague are a sudden, high fever, chills and often painful swellings in the groin, armpit or neck. In a short interview with Source NM, Phipps said antibiotic treatments can greatly reduce the fatality rate of the disease in pets and people, but requires prompt diagnosis. “Plague is one of those illnesses that can become very severe, very quickly,” Phipps said. “So anybody who experiences sudden onset of a high fever, any shortness of breath, any weakness, those are all signs that medical attention should absolutely be sought.” Spate of rodent-related diseases kicks off New Mexico spring New Mexico consistently has some of the highest rates of plague in the U.S. and has accounted for more than half of infections nationwide since 1970, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State health officials documented three human cases in 2025 and one in 2024 which was fatal. Two dogs also have been diagnosed with plague this year in Santa Fe County — and a third in Bernalillo County — none of which had a direct relationship with the human case, Phipps said. To reduce the chances of contracting plague, NMDOH recommends avoiding contact with sick or dead rodents and rabbits; cleaning up areas where they may be tempted to burrow; using insect repellent when outside and speaking with veterinarians about flea and tick prevention for pets. “Most human cases of plague are transmitted via fleas, either directly from wild rodents or through their dogs or cats, so it’s something that can protect both people and their pets,” Phipps said. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	The premium room arbitrage: Why early booking beats last-minute discounting in peak season The premium room arbitrage: Why early booking beats last-minute discounting in peak seasonLuxury hospitality occupies a distinct operational tier from budget accommodations in terms of the audience it courts and the experiences it offers. However, the fundamental strategies available to operators in both spaces are effectively identical. Either the aim is to book out the peak season well in advance to maximize profitability and guarantee high occupancy rates, or the expectation is that last-minute discounting will draw the largest crowds.For a long time, reactive, late-stage distribution was historically used as a dominant yield-maximization strategy, with high-end hotels and resorts focusing more on leisure travelers, prioritizing flexibility and a high perceived value proposition. Now, there’s evidence that prioritizing advanced bookings is a far better way to ensure peak season profitability.While traditional hospitality frameworks often relied on late-stage distribution to fill remaining inventory, modern revenue optimization has shifted toward early pace capture. Data from market intelligence platform Lighthouse indicates a widespread compression of the booking pipeline, with travel searches conducted within a 28-day window of arrival increasing by 9% globally.In an environment with shrinking lead times, luxury operators who rely on reactive, last-minute discounting run the risk of cannibalizing their brand equity. According to 2026 benchmark metrics from STR, baseline growth in the luxury and upper-upscale segments is projected to be driven primarily by preserving average daily rate (ADR) rather than maximizing absolute occupancy numbers.Properties that secure high-value advance bookings well ahead of the peak season protect their margins against short-term market volatility and avoid the downward pricing spirals that erode profitability. TravNow Last-Minute Deals Incentivize a Race to the BottomThe operational volatility associated with late-stage promotional discounting has been documented for over a decade, with a foundational Management Science paper picking apart this practice as early as 2010. The report’s authors point out that there’s a cycle of price degradation initiated by hospitality businesses that routinely offer steep discounts to customers who wait until the last moment to book.Strategic consumers accurately anticipate the discount and delay their purchases, leading to an equilibrium that reduces the hotel's overall revenue.Despite this trend being covered over a decade ago, it hasn’t gone away; rather, it has morphed into something different, as discussed in a 2026 piece published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management.Here, the authors point out that peak season disruption now stems from the habit of canceling an existing booking to rebook at a lower price offered closer to the arrival date. Only 0.94% of bookings in the study’s sample fall into this category, but the revenue leakage associated with it topped 1.24 million euros ($1.44 million) annually for a single hotel group.As observed by TravNow, a curated travel directory, the revenue loss and additional administrative overheads of last-minute discounting can be mitigated by early-booking strategies that reward customers who reserve premium rooms well in advance. That way, existing guests who’ve already booked a room won’t be tempted to cancel and rebook down the line. It also suggests that having firm yet fair cancellation policies is more appropriate for premium hospitality businesses seeking to enhance operational profitability.Early-Booking Guests are More ValuableThe second facet of the peak season profitability question regarding the importance of catalyzing early booking over last-minute discounting is the value of the customers that the former strategy attracts. As discussed in a Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management paper, last-minute bookers exhibit significantly lower emotional involvement with the property and intense price sensitivity. Conversely, early bookers value product desirability over price.This psychological disconnect is particularly relevant to luxury hospitality businesses, since a seemingly simple strategic dichotomy can fundamentally reshape the composition of a property's core clientele. The primary advantage of prioritizing advanced commitments over spontaneous reservations is that luxury operators secure resilient, brand-aligned guest segments while still charging a premium to those who book closer to peak season, when demand is naturally higher.Peak Season Profits Follow Well-Established TrendsThe final point to consider when deciding whether an early-booking-oriented strategy of premium room pricing and promotion has the edge over last-minute deals comes from CoStar and STR’s benchmarking, with analysts indicating that travelers tend to book much earlier when the trip is scheduled for peak season. The obvious reason is that they know demand will spike around major holidays and events, so being proactive prevents them from missing out on the accommodation they actually want.Relying on a late-stage surge to rescue peak-season occupancy is a statistical trap. CoStar and STR benchmarking data continuously confirm that true revenue dominance, measured by the revenue generation index (RGI), favors yield over raw volume.Compressing the baseline ADR to spark an artificial occupancy spike in the final 14 days invites lower-tier, high-maintenance guests and causes massive revenue leakage as early premium bookers exploit flexible cancellation windows to cancel and rebook at the reduced promotional tariff.In short, the data demonstrates that profits are locked in more than 120 days out, not 72 hours before check-in. This statement applies acutely to premium hospitality brands, although it holds equal relevance to chains lower down the price spectrum that want to make the leap to the next level.This story was produced by TravNow and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	As more athletes speak about depression, anxiety and suicide, a minority of fans are weaponizing it Sprinklers water the infield at Segra Park, home of the Minor League Baseball team Columbia Fireflies in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) It’s a cool Tuesday night in Columbia, and fans of the Minor League Baseball team the Columbia Fireflies are letting an opposing batter named Marcos Torres hear it. “Marco!” one fan calls. “Polo!” a half dozen fans respond, mimicking the swimming pool game. The batter swings and misses. The cacophony begins again. “Marco!” “Polo!” Baseball fans have developed a reputation for shouting wisecracks to try to rattle players. But there’s a dark side to heckling, one that concerns me as a researcher of sports, media and mental health: when fans cross the line from playful taunt into verbal abuse. The latest publicized incident occurred during a game between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins on April 14, 2026. A fan in the stands at Target Field in Minneapolis reportedly told Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran to kill himself. Duran responded by giving him the finger. It was at least the second time a fan used Duran’s mental health as verbal ammunition since the 2025 release of the Netflix documentary, “The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox,” in which Duran described attempting suicide. After the game, Duran told reporters, “Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health, because I kind of brought in the haters.” U.S. society holds elite athletes in high regard; they’re uniquely trusted and admired. That’s why they appear as spokespeople for everything from car insurance to foot powder. And it’s why so many kids look up to athletes as role models. So, when someone like Duran gets harassed after revealing a mental illness — and then expresses regret for having opened up — an impressionable onlooker could decide that talking about their mental health struggles isn’t worth the risk. Most fans respond positively Elite sports can be a cauldron of stress. Aside from the pressure to perform, there are the demands of travel, training and managing relationships. In this cutthroat environment, your replacement is often waiting for you to stumble. So it’s no wonder that athletes have long felt compelled to hide any signs of perceived weakness or vulnerability, mental health included. Norms are changing in sports, though, perhaps in part due to shifts in public attitudes concerning mental illness. Social media has also afforded athletes a direct connection with fans, permitting greater insight into the human behind the hero. Duran is part of a growing group of athletes who have recently shared their experiences with mental illness to raise awareness and challenge stigma. Since its launch in 2014, The Players’ Tribune has published more than two dozen athlete essays about mental health, including testimonials from NBA player John Wall and WNBA star A’ja Wilson. WNBA All Star A’ja Wilson poses with the Legacy Award during the Columbia Parks & Recreation Foundation Event at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. The Columbia native and former Gamecocks player also received a key to the city. (Photo by Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) My colleagues and I have studied these disclosures, the public’s response to them and their societal effects. We used surveys, experiments and interviews with athletes who have become mental health advocates, such as 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. The growing number of athlete testimonials coincides with changes to how professional sports leagues and teams are addressing mental health. Organizations are hiring mental health professionals and advocating on behalf of mental health-related causes in their communities. In a recent analysis, we found that NFL, MLB and NBA teams made 258 social media posts between 2021 and 2025 that advocated for mental health funding, education and policy. Each year, the number of posts increased. When coupled with other findings that we published in 2020, our research suggests that sports fans appreciate the athlete testimonials and team-driven conversations. Their response has been overwhelmingly positive. Athletes appear to inspire fans to open up to family, pursue treatment and take other steps to buoy their well-being. Vulnerability comes with risks Yet Duran’s recent experience illustrates how a minority of fans and sports commentators can threaten this progress. After the recent incident in Minneapolis, the sports and opinion outlet OutKick described Duran’s behavior as an “act” that was “wearing thin.” The backlash reminded me of the criticism NBA star Ben Simmons was subjected to a few years ago. In 2021, Simmons sat out the season with the Philadelphia 76ers, citing mental health issues. A year later, he returned to play for the Brooklyn Nets. Cynics accused him of “weaponizing mental health” to avoid playing for the 76ers. Fans have targeted the mental health problems of other athletes. During the 2019 MLB playoffs, New York Yankees fans were caught on camera mocking Houston Astros pitcher Zack Greinke for taking medication for his social anxiety as Greinke warmed up. Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, stepped away from competition during the Tokyo Olympics because she experienced the “twisties,” which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a “dangerous disconnect between mind and body” brought about by stress and other factors. Some critics showed little sympathy, describing her as a quitter. Prepping for the aftereffects Beyond being exposed to barbs and verbal abuse, athletes who talk about their mental health can also be expected to take on responsibilities that they didn’t necessarily sign up for. A disclosure of a mental health struggle can shift an athlete’s reputation from athlete to advocate. For example, social media users debated whether Duran owed it to fans to share his steps toward recovery. Doing so would provide others guidance while lending legitimacy to Duran’s experience, one side said. It’s none of our business, the other side replied. The mental illness label can also color people’s judgment of an athlete’s performance. Did throwing a helmet after a strikeout reflect his mental illness, or a brief moment of frustration? Does this slump mean he’s going through another period of depression? Athletes also worry whether they’ll be judged by teammates and coaches. In 2023, the NCAA surveyed more than 2,000 college athletes and found that just half would be comfortable seeking help for mental health struggles through campus resources. Furthermore, only around half believed fellow athletes took teammates’ mental health seriously, and about half felt comfortable speaking with coaches about their mental health. For athletes — or anyone — interested in disclosing mental health struggles, a good game plan can help accentuate positive responses and mitigate negative ones. The National Alliance on Mental Illness recommends people — whether they’re famous or not — consider the audience, timing and the amount of information they’re comfortable sharing. Meanwhile, fans, coaches and teammates can do their part by publicly supporting athletes who disclose. When Duran first shared his experiences in 2025, his then-manager, Alex Cora, immediately signaled his support. “It takes a person with courage and being transparent and genuine to do that,” Cora said. “I hope that’s how we see it — that he will impact others and he’s going to save lives.” With stigma, the battle between silence and dialogue can be a back-and-forth contest, akin to a long rally in tennis or a tense overtime in basketball. But sometimes all it takes is one defining moment to change the game — as when Marcos Torres ripped a line drive to quiet his hecklers that chilly evening in Columbia, South Carolina. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Segra Park, home of the Minor League Baseball team Columbia Fireflies in Columbia, South Carolina, as seen from a parking garage across the street on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
	Fallen tree damages 2 East Moline homes during Wednesday storms High winds during Wednesday's storms knocked a tree onto power lines in East Moline, tearing down electrical pipes and causing minor damage to homes.
	Davenport and Scott County Humane Society reach new temporary animal control agreement Davenport reached a transitional agreement with the Scott County Humane Society as the city prepares to take its animal control services in-house.
	Ebola testing has improved in DRC, but still isn't nearly enough The DRC has improved testing capacity for Ebola, with two facilities operating in or near the epicenter. But this still may not be enough to keep up with a rapidly expanding disease.
	The long-distance family: How American relatives stay close when they live thousands of miles apart The long-distance family: How American relatives stay close when they live thousands of miles apartThere’s a version of family life that many people idealize, one that instantly evokes a feeling of nostalgia. Sunday dinners within driving distance, cousins who see each other more than just on holidays, and parents who drop by on a whim without needing to get on a plane.For a growing number of Americans, though, these close-knit connections just aren’t possible. The forces that allow families to move far apart from one another nowadays include remote work flexibility, cost-of-living increases, and educational or career opportunities.Geographic distance between relatives has become a defining feature of modern family life. Distance doesn’t have to equal disconnection, though. Spokeo has analyzed key data from leading sources including the Pew Research Center, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Library of Medicine, and the American Psychological Association to show how families are navigating this new world.The scale of the shift: How family geography has changed since 1980The world is a remarkably different place than even just 40 years ago. Data from 2022 from the Pew Research Center found that 55% of U.S. adults say they live within an hour’s drive of at least some extended family members, but one in five say they don’t live near any at all. That 20% figure represents tens of millions of Americans having to navigate familial relationships across state lines or even greater distances.There’s a reason for this divide, and it’s happening more than ever before. From 2020 to 2024, an average of 12% of Americans moved annually, according to Census data, with many of those moves driven by the rise of remote work, paired with the search for housing affordability. Family connections don’t always follow people as they relocate.A 2020 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that, while 74.8% of adults with at least one living parent or adult child had their nearest relative within 30 miles, only about one third had all parents and adult children that close. Having some family nearby and having your whole family nearby are two very different experiences.Education and income naturally play a significant role in these patterns. Over three in five adults with a high school education or less live near extended family, while just two in five adults with a postgraduate degree do. The higher a person’s income, the more likely they are to live farther from family. Upward mobility may create career opportunities, but it comes with a geographic cost.The rituals that actually workResearch on long-distance family maintenance consistently points to one key finding above all else: It’s how deliberately and regularly you connect that matters, not how close you are physically. Routines, such as family rituals with predictable timing and shared expectations, are what distinguishes close families from those that lack tight bonds.A 2021 review from the journal, New Media & Society, which examined social media, communication rituals, and long-distance family maintenance, found that families who use messaging and video calls aren’t just doing it to catch up. Rather, they are practicing something known as “assuring behavior.”Assuring behavior is small, repeated acts of checking in that signal an ongoing commitment to the relationship. Video calls in particular play a key role in preserving shared identity among extended family members across distances, as they can enable a sense of belonging and emotional connection through seeing other people. Here are four key tips that can bolster this effect.1. Host standing weekly video callsThe families that retain the strongest connections tend to be those who also schedule video calls in advance and hold them consistently. That means the same day and same time. The ritual aspect, as opposed to spontaneous coordination, matters as much as the content of the call.2. Set up group chats with agreed normsMost families already have a group chat. The difference between one that sustains connection and one that is full of ghosts, however, is a mutual understanding of what it’s for. Chats that function as a running thread including photos from daily life, quick updates, reaction to news, and more help keep families present. Chats only used for logistics or milestones can sometimes feel hollow.3. Create annual in-person reunionsGathering in person allows families to naturally share stories, create lasting traditions, and make new memories that can translate across generations. They also help family members remember to maintain connection throughout the year by turning events at the reunion into future talking points. Even just a single annual gathering for the holidays or a long weekend can help anchor a family’s sense of shared identity.4. Share experiences across distanceFinally, some families have found creative ways to create parallel experiences despite being in different places around the world. Whether that’s a shared TV show, photo challenges, or cooking the same recipe, having a shared object of attention can create common ground for chats.The tools families are relying onThe digital infrastructure of the world today can help families across distances stay together. Based on Pew Research Center data from 2025, nine out of 10 Americans use the Internet on a daily basis. The challenge, however, is to choose a combination of those tools that works for everyone, including members of different generations with differing levels of digital fluency.Video calling via FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet remain the backbone of long-distance family connection. The platform matters less than the consistency of calls, and a weekly cadence tend to perform the best.Group messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal also serve slightly different use cases. Families that are multigenerational and spread internationally tend to find WhatsApp better, given its cross-platform accessibility. On the other hand, iMessage works seamlessly for families where everyone has an Apple device. Families who value privacy may prefer Signal.In addition to communication through video and messaging, shared platforms for other content are prominent today. Dedicated family photo sharing is a popular choice through apps like Tinybeans, Google Photos, or Amazon Photos. These apps provide a low-friction way to quickly share visual updates without needing to jump on a formal call. Similarly, shared calendars, such as on Google Calendar, can make coordination for calls, visits, reunions, or just staying up to date on people’s lives far easier.Finally, platforms designed around family storytelling can be a great way to make new memories. StoryWorth is a popular option that prompts family members with weekly questions and compiles all of the answers into a book. It serves a unique but important function. Narratives can be shared across generations, which is the kind of context and history that families who live close together get already.The correlation between long-distance family bonds and healthThe science on close relationships and health outcomes is surprisingly consistent. A meta-analysis of 148 studies on mortality risk published in PLOS Medicine found that strong social relationships increase the likelihood of survival by 50%. Conversely, social disconnection is at least as harmful to health as well-established risk factors including obesity and physical inactivity. Family relationships are among the most powerful of those social bonds.The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has tracked participants and their families across generations for over 80 years, came to a similar conclusion. In a 2017 summary noted in The Harvard Gazette, aggregated data showed that relationship satisfaction at age 50 is a better predictor of physical health at age 80 than cholesterol levels. The number of close relationships mattered less than their overall quality.For long-distance families in particular, this research points to a few key predictors of bond strength over time:1. Frequency and consistency of contact: Regular, patterned contact, as opposed to occasional long conversations, can predict long-term relationship quality across distance.2. Intentionality of connection: Families that actively create shared experiences together, rather than waiting for connection to happen naturally, report stronger relationships. Distance removes the contact that physical proximity provides, so it needs to be replaced with something.3. Relational trust and reciprocity: Both parties must be equally invested in maintaining a relationship for it to have the strongest predictors of long-term quality.4. In-person anchoring: Even just a single annual gathering can significantly strengthen the bonds that digital connection maintains during the course of a year, further improving the long-term outlook of those relationships.In a busy world, maintaining long-distance familial relationships can feel challenging, but all of the necessary tools are at your fingertips.How to re-establish contact with a family member you've lost touch withPlenty of people have lost contact with loved ones over the years. Whatever the reason for the drift, it’s never too late to reconnect after a long gap. However, it will require a different approach than maintaining a relationship that’s gone a little quiet recently.Reconnecting is a process that will require time and effort, so it’s best to start small. Even an initial text or quick phone call can re-build a foundation. These modest and early gestures, on a continuous basis, show a greater interest in getting back in contact more than a single grand reconciliation that has no follow up.The Conflict Expert blog, run by an accredited Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution mediator, offers up some helpful tips for this first interaction:Offer to meet in-person at a neutral location like a nearby park, cafe, or mallFocus conversations on the present and avoid revisiting past tensions or fallouts too quicklySteer clear of toxic forms of communication such as playing the blame game for disconnectionBe positive about the meetup or reconnection and thank the other person for their timeFor estrangements that are rooted in deeper conflict such as abuse, resentment, or value divergence, a family therapist can provide structure for conversations. The American Psychological Association also offers support via a topic page designed for families, which can be an excellent starting point for understanding and rekindling familial relationships.Connection is a practice, not a placeThe families that stay close across thousands of miles aren’t doing something magical, but rather they’ve accepted that geographic distance requires deliberate effort to maintain relationships. Proximity provides connection naturally, and long-distance relationships require intentionality.Successful families have built structures across distances. Whether it’s a Sunday call that never moves, a group chat that always stays active, or an annual week together that everyone blocks off on the calendar, it’s about a focused effort to foster your familial relationships.More than half of Americans may be living within an hour of at least some extended family, but that still leaves millions trying to navigate family life across time zones and state lines. However, the digital tools of today have never been better and the research is unusually clear on what works. All that remains is finding the will to treat connection as something you build, rather than just let happen.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Socioeconomic factors are becoming 'biologically embedded' in children's brains A study of more than 2,300 9- to 10-year-olds found that socioeconomic factors explained most differences in the preteens' brain development.
	Davenport Mayor Jason Gordon gives first State of the City speech In his first State of the City address, Mayor Jason Gordon highlighted infrastructure projects, housing and other recent and upcoming changes for the city.
	White House response to hantavirus and Ebola contrasts with COVID criticisms The administration imposed mandatory quarantine orders on two passengers from the cruise ship hit by hantavirus and is blocking Americans who catch Ebola from returning home for treatment.
	Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion: Emergency response guide Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion: Emergency response guideUnderstanding the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion can mean the difference between life and death during extreme heat emergencies. When temperatures soar and humidity climbs, your body's cooling system faces intense pressure. While both conditions stem from heat exposure, they represent vastly different medical situations requiring distinct responses, Doctronic reports.Key TakeawaysHeat stroke involves body temperature above 103°F with altered mental state, while heat exhaustion presents with profuse sweating and weakness.Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate 911 call, heat exhaustion can often be managed with cooling and hydration.Core body temperature and mental status are the two critical distinguishing factors between these heat illnesses.Recognition within the first 30 minutes improves outcomes for both conditions.What Are Heat Stroke and Heat ExhaustionHeat exhaustion serves as your body's warning system when cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed, but continue to function. Think of it as your internal thermostat working overtime, producing excessive sweat while struggling to maintain normal temperature. Your body recognizes the threat and attempts to compensate by increasing blood flow to the skin and rapid breathing.Heat stroke occurs when your body's temperature regulation completely fails, posing an immediate risk of organ damage. Unlike heat exhaustion, this represents total system breakdown. Your internal thermostat stops working entirely, leaving core temperature to climb dangerously high. Brain function becomes impaired, and without intervention, permanent damage or death can occur within hours.Both conditions result from prolonged exposure to high temperatures combined with dehydration, but heat stroke represents the most severe form of hyperthermia, requiring immediate medical intervention. The progression from normal temperature regulation to heat stroke can happen rapidly, especially in vulnerable populations. Understanding this spectrum helps you respond appropriately when someone shows signs of heat-related illness.When Heat Emergencies Strike: High-Risk ScenariosOutdoor labor during heat waves creates prime conditions for both heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially in construction, landscaping, and agricultural work. Workers wearing protective equipment face additional risk as gear prevents natural cooling through evaporation. Even experienced outdoor professionals can develop heat illness when temperature and humidity levels exceed their body's adaptation capacity.Athletic activities in temperatures above 85°F with high humidity levels challenge even the fittest individuals. Football practices, marathon running, and intense training sessions push athletes beyond normal heat tolerance. The competitive drive to continue despite early warning signs often leads to dangerous escalation from heat exhaustion to heat stroke.Elderly individuals in homes without adequate air conditioning during extended heat periods are also particularly vulnerable. Age-related changes in circulation and medication effects can impair natural cooling responses. As with conditions affecting circulation that can cause non-cardiac chest pain, heat stress impacts multiple body systems simultaneously.Children left in vehicles present extreme emergency situations where temperatures can rise 20°F in just 10 minutes. Their smaller body mass and immature temperature regulation make them susceptible to rapid heat stroke development. Even brief exposures can prove fatal.How to Recognize Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion SymptomsHeat exhaustion presents with heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, and crucially, normal mental function. Victims remain alert and responsive, though they feel terrible. Their skin appears pale and feels cool despite the sweating. They may complain of headache, dizziness, or muscle cramps. Body temperature typically stays below 103-104°F.Heat stroke is characterized by a body temperature above 103°F, hot, dry skin, and confusion or unconsciousness. This altered mental state represents the key danger sign. Victims may seem disoriented, agitated, or completely unresponsive. Their skin feels hot to the touch and appears flushed red. Sweating often stops entirely as the body's cooling system fails.Pulse characteristics differ between conditions. Heat exhaustion produces a rapid and weak pulse as the cardiovascular system struggles with dehydration and heat stress. Heat stroke creates a rapid and strong pulse as the heart works frantically to circulate blood through overheated organs.Skin temperature assessment reveals cool and moist skin in exhaustion versus hot and dry skin in stroke. This simple touch test provides immediate diagnostic information. Just as recognizing early signs of serious conditions like stroke can save lives, identifying these skin changes guides proper treatment.Emergency Response Protocols for Heat IllnessHeat exhaustion response focuses on moving the person to a cool environment, removing excess clothing, and implementing gradual cooling measures. Start by relocating them to shade or air conditioning. Remove unnecessary clothing layers and apply cool, wet cloths to skin. Encourage small sips of cool water if they remain conscious and alert.Heat stroke requires immediate 911 activation followed by aggressive cooling with ice packs applied to the neck, armpits, and groin areas. These locations contain major blood vessels that rapidly distribute cooled blood throughout the body. Time becomes critical as brain damage can occur within 15-30 minutes of core temperature exceeding 106°F.Hydration protocols differ between conditions. Heat exhaustion patients who remain conscious can take small, frequent sips of cool water or sports drinks. However, never give oral fluids to suspected heat stroke victims due to altered consciousness and aspiration risk. Professional medical teams will provide intravenous fluids.Continuous monitoring of consciousness level determines if the condition escalates from exhaustion to stroke. Any change in mental status warrants immediate emergency services activation.Critical Treatment Differences Doctronic Heat exhaustion allows for gradual cooling over 30-60 minutes while maintaining patient comfort. You have time to implement cooling strategies and observe the response. Most people recover fully with proper treatment and can return to normal activities within 24-48 hours.Heat stroke demands aggressive cooling within 30 minutes to prevent permanent organ damage. Every minute of delay increases the risk of brain injury, kidney failure, or death. Even if the person seems to improve with cooling, emergency transport remains necessary for complete evaluation and monitoring.Heat exhaustion patients can often recover at home with proper cooling and hydration, assuming they respond appropriately to initial treatment. Monitor them closely for the next 24 hours and ensure they avoid heat exposure until fully recovered.Heat stroke always requires emergency medical transport regardless of apparent improvement. Hospital teams need to assess organ function, provide advanced cooling techniques, and monitor for complications. Heat stroke can cause unpredictable effects requiring professional management.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan heat exhaustion turn into heat stroke if untreated?Yes, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke within minutes to hours without proper treatment. The transition occurs when the body's cooling system completely fails. This is why immediate cooling and hydration are crucial for heat exhaustion, and why any change in mental status requires emergency activation.How accurate are infrared thermometers for diagnosing heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion?Infrared thermometers can provide useful temperature readings, but shouldn't be the sole diagnostic tool. Core body temperature measurement requires rectal thermometry for accuracy. Focus on overall symptoms, including mental status, skin condition, and sweating patterns rather than relying exclusively on forehead temperature readings.Should I give water to someone with suspected heat stroke?Never give oral fluids to suspected heat stroke victims due to altered mental status and choking risk. Their confusion or unconsciousness makes swallowing dangerous. Focus on external cooling measures while waiting for emergency services. Professional medical teams will provide appropriate intravenous hydration.When is it safe to return to activities after heat exhaustion?Wait at least 24-48 hours after complete symptom resolution before returning to heat exposure or strenuous activity. Your body needs time to restore fluid balance and repair heat-stressed systems. Gradually increase activity levels over several days, ensuring adequate hydration and monitoring for symptom recurrence.Can AI symptom checkers help distinguish between heat stroke and heat exhaustion?AI tools can provide valuable guidance for symptom assessment, but heat emergencies require immediate action and medical attention based on key signs like mental status and body temperature. Use AI consultations as supplementary information while prioritizing direct emergency response for suspected heat stroke cases.The Bottom LineRecognizing heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion saves lives through appropriate emergency response. Heat exhaustion responds well to cooling and hydration measures, allowing many people to recover at home with proper care. Heat stroke represents a true medical emergency requiring immediate 911 activation and aggressive cooling to prevent permanent organ damage or death. The key distinguishing factors remain core body temperature above 103°F and altered mental status in heat stroke, versus normal consciousness with profuse sweating in heat exhaustion. Understanding these differences empowers you to take correct action when minutes matter.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	DIY or don't? How to know when to call a professional for home renovations DIY or don't? How to know when to call a professional for home renovationsWith real estate and financing costs remaining sky high, it makes sense that many homeowners are choosing to stay put and invest dollars into upgrades and remodeling projects. In fact, 91% of homeowners surveyed by Houzz said they expected to renovate in 2026, and improvement spending is anticipated to reach $518 billion by the end of this year, per the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.Plenty of these folks will try to tackle the work themselves. Angi's recent poll of 750 homeowners found that 71% attempted DIY projects to save money, with nearly 3 in 4 respondents expressing confidence in their ability to manage a home improvement endeavor. However, 70% of homeowners admitted to experiencing problems with their DIY projects, with 1 in 4 needing to hire a professional to fix or complete them.Before attempting to fly solo on a home improvement job, TheZebra.com recommends carefully considering the hidden financial and insurance risks that can lead to serious DIY regret.The new renovation economyTruth is, continued high mortgage rates and rising home sale prices have discouraged Americans from selling their properties, leaving them trapped in aging housing stock. This has helped fuel a renovation boom in recent years.“When you are sitting on a 3% mortgage, and the house you’d move into requires a 7% rate, that monthly payment difference can be pretty jarring,” explains Taylor Kovar, a certified financial professional. “So instead of moving, a lot of people are staying put and putting money into what they already have. And after a few years of not going anywhere, people start noticing everything they wish was different about their home: the kitchen feels dated, the bathroom needs work, and the backyard is just sitting there. That pent-up frustration often eventually turns into a project list.”HGTV, online videos, and the desire to avoid contractor fees have further fueled the recent remodeling wave.“Even if reality TV shows aren’t as popular as they were a decade ago, that desire to renovate has simply migrated online. Now, anyone can open YouTube and find a tutorial on tiling or drywalling—meaning the barrier to entry for DIY is lower than ever,” says Beth Swanson, insurance analyst with The Zebra.The hidden costs (and insurance risks) of DIY projectsBut cutting corners on experienced labor often ends up costing you more in the long run, the experts agree.“Many who choose to do renovations themselves often neglect to consider the hidden costs. You can correctly calculate the expense of construction materials, but forget the costs of tools, construction waste removal, and fees for construction permits,” cautions Ben Mizes, president of Clever Real Estate.There’s also the risk of a DIY project taking much longer to complete than it would if you had hired a pro, as well as the high cost of paying an expert to fix any DIY mistakes you end up making.Additionally, many ambitious homeowners get blindsided by unexpected insurance headaches. Case in point: Imagine you knock down a wall to expand your bedroom but find hidden rot from a leaky toilet upstairs.“Standard insurance policies cover sudden and accidental events like a burst pipe, but they don’t cover damage that happens over time. In this scenario, your insurance company will view the damage from that leaky toilet as maintenance-related and deny your insurance claim,” adds Swanson. “Or, let’s say you spend $30,000 to build a new outdoor kitchen but forget to tell your insurance agent or adjust your coverage. If a tree falls on that outdoor kitchen, you risk paying out of pocket.”Luxury outdoor features, like a new outdoor kitchen, also increase your liability risk. If you host a backyard barbecue but a guest is seriously injured by your new grill and files a lawsuit, your existing coverage may not fully protect you; without expanding your liability coverage limit ahead of time or purchasing an umbrella insurance policy, you could be financially vulnerable.“Other insurance problems can happen when, for example, you complete unpermitted electrical, plumbing, structural, or roof work that causes a loss and the insurer questions whether the work was legal or professionally done,” notes Dennis Shirshikov, a professor of finance and economics at City University of New York/Queens College.When to call a pro: Projects that require a licensed contractorIt’s best to hire an experienced contractor when the project impacts safety, home structure, utilities, major home systems, roofing, or permits, and could result in major property damage or code violations.“Electrical panel work, major plumbing, load-bearing wall changes, gas lines, roof replacement, foundation work, and HVAC installation should be handled by licensed contractors,” advises Shirshikov.Where it tends to get riskier is when a homeowner overestimates their skill level on a more complex job.“Homeowners insurance generally assumes that work is being done to code. If a DIY repair causes damage and the insurer learns that the work wasn’t done properly or with necessary permits, that coverage may not respond the way you expect,” Kovar says.Swanson’s rule of thumb? If a renovation mistake has the potential to burn down or flood your house, don’t DIY it.“Saving a few hundred bucks on a DIY electrical job, for example, isn’t worth risking your family’s safety or voiding your insurance policy,” she continues.Taylor points out that licensed contractors typically create a valuable paper record that insurance companies and future buyers can reference.“But when that record doesn’t exist, it can create real complications when you go to sell or when you file an insurance claim,” he says.The rise of “hybrid renovations” and safe DIYsOften, the best strategy is to pursue a “hybrid renovation.” This means tackling low-risk cosmetic projects yourself — like painting, swapping out cabinet hardware, adding landscaping elements, and completing minor cosmetic updates — while entrusting the structural, mechanical, or permitted work to a professional. In addition to saving on labor, you’ll also get the satisfaction of doing part of the work yourself.“A hybrid renovation is the sweet spot of modern remodeling, and it can be slightly more fun as a homeowner. Contractors charge a premium for basic labor because their time is valuable. But you can do the messy prep work, like ripping up old carpeting, before your professional installs new hardwood floors. Leave the heavy lifting, structural changes, and precision-framing to the pros,” suggests Swanson. “This strategy can save serious dollars and still allow you to feel a genuine sense of ownership over your space.”With the hybrid approach, you still get the documentation and workmanship quality where it really matters, but you’ll trim labor costs on the lower-stakes stuff.“In many cases, that split can potentially save somewhere in the range of 20% to 40% compared to hiring everything out,” says Kovar. TheZebra.com The prerenovation checklist: Questions to ask before you demoPrior to picking up that sledgehammer or power tool, ask yourself some key questions, which can help determine whether or not you should enlist an expert for the project:Do I need permits for this project?Will my carrier cover damage caused during renovation?Do I have the right tools and experience, or am I relying entirely on a video tutorial?What will the repair cost be if my DIY project goes wrong?Do I need homeowners association approval first (if you live in an HOA community)?Could this renovation impact resale value if done incorrectly?Can hiring a professional save me time and money in the long run?“If you end up hiring a contractor, ask them questions, too,” Swanson recommends. “Inquire if they are licensed, bonded, and insured, and ask to see the proof of that. If they drop a beam through your ceiling, their general liability coverage should protect you, not your homeowners policy.”Lastly, always contact your insurance agent before construction starts.“If a remodeling project is massive enough that you have to move out for a few months, your standard policy might actually pause coverage because the home is unoccupied. You may need a specialized builder’s risk policy or a construction endorsement to protect your home while it is in renovation,” says Swanson.The bottom lineUpgrading instead of moving makes a lot of financial sense right now. But safeguarding your real estate investment is paramount. So if you plan to make home improvements soon, stick to cosmetic DIYs that safely increase your home’s value, and hire professionals for the more complex jobs. This protects your home, your family’s safety, and your insurance policy.This story was produced by TheZebra.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Off Point Pub of Davenport set to close later this month Brenda Milam, owner of Off Point Pub in Davenport, announced she is closing her bar on June 29. Events are still scheduled until the final farewell.
	Deere hiring, calling back staff at Davenport, Dubuque Works Increased demand is leading John Deere Dubuque Works and Davenport Works to call back employees and hire others. Deere announced that it plans to hire 30 employees at its Dubuque Works facility after employee callbacks were completed. Davenport Works is calling back 20 employees to the facility. The hiring in Dubuque and callbacks in Davenport [...]
	7 hidden tax inefficiencies for households earning $200K and above 7 hidden tax inefficiencies for households earning $200K and aboveYou've heard it before: "With more money comes more problems." This can be particularly true when it comes to people who find themselves earning higher wages. As the amount of money you earn increases, so will the complexity of your taxes.However, when your household income surpasses the $200,000 benchmark, you'll deal with more than just moving into a higher tax bracket. You'll start to experience what is referred to as "tax drag," which is essentially the steady decline of your wealth due to inefficient planning techniques. These aren’t exactly mistakes, and these are certainly not tax code violations. They're just common ways people miss opportunities to save on their taxes.Fortunately, most of these issues can be fixed. Below, Domain Money shares seven of the most common inefficiencies experienced by higher-wage-earning households, along with some possible solutions:#1: RSUs being treated as a stock, instead of a cash bonusOne of the most misunderstood types of assets held within a portfolio is restricted stock units. This isn’t due to a lack of care from the person holding those restricted stock units (RSUs), but because RSUs bring an added layer of complexity for retail investors. If you believe in your company and have seen positive performance each year, it’s easy to see why you would want to hold those RSUs — you may also have the idea of saving on taxes if you can hit long-term capital gains.However, holding onto your RSUs creates two major problems. First, you create a significant weighting of your portfolio toward a single stock, a stock that in many cases generates your income. That means not only your portfolio but also potentially your income or even your career are all pinned to the same company.Second, if you do nothing proactively with your vested RSUs, you will miss the opportunity to take those gains and place them into a more tax-efficient and diversified investment vehicle. To create a more intentional plan for your RSUs, treat vested RSU shares as a cash bonus.Many high-wage earners successfully utilize automated strategies to sell off vested shares and invest the proceeds into low-cost index funds or direct indexing as part of their overall investment strategy, instead of letting the value build up as equity over time.#2: Abandoning Roth IRA contributionsIn 2026, you need an income of $153,000 or below for single filers or $242,000 for married filers to make the full, tax-advantaged contributions to a Roth IRA.Often, once people’s incomes exceed those limits, they give up entirely on continuing to contribute to Roth accounts, but there’s still another way to keep funding a Roth account.The backdoor Roth strategy enables high earners to make nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA and subsequently convert that money into a Roth IRA. Regardless of income level, this redirects your money into a tax-free growth environment. Roth accounts carry no required minimum distributions (RMDs), experience tax-free growth, and can be passed down to beneficiaries free of taxation, making them extremely impactful account types.In addition to the basic backdoor Roth strategy, for those with access to a 401(k) plan that offers high contribution limits, megabackdoor Roth strategies can increase after-tax contributions up to an additional $47,500, depending upon the plan rules.#3: Overlooking asset locationWhile many investors spend considerable amounts of time deciding what to own in terms of investments, far fewer focus on where to own it.Strategically allocating investments across taxable accounts and tax-deferred accounts can significantly minimize annual tax drag without having to change any holdings.High-dividend-producing stocks and bonds generate ordinary income and therefore should be placed in tax-advantaged accounts. Tax-efficient investments such as low-turnover exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or municipal bonds produce little in terms of ordinary income and therefore are some of the easiest equities to keep in taxable accounts.A properly managed asset allocation program isn’t an exciting part of your life; however, if improperly managed, you might wind up with an unnecessary tax liability each April.#4: Accepting SALT caps without utilizing alternative strategiesSince 2017, State and Local Tax (SALT) caps have created frustration for households residing in high-tax states, including New York, California, and New Jersey. While recent legislation has raised the SALT cap from $10,000 to $40,400, this relief doesn’t reach those on the higher end of high earnings, as the SALT cap phases out once your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) reaches $505,000.For example, for those earning over $606,000, the SALT deduction will revert to the original $10,000 limit.There are several legitimate strategies available to avoid limitations on SALT caps — particularly for business owners and/or individuals who receive income from pass-through entities. Business owners and individuals receiving pass-through entity income may elect to utilize pass-through entity (PTE) elections, whereby they can deduct state taxes at the business level, thus avoiding SALT caps on their personal returns.These PTE election options will continue to grow in relevance throughout 2026, particularly for higher earners who will soon exceed newly established upper limits.‍#5: Not using ‘bunching’ to create alternating years of itemized deductionsBy deliberately creating "bunched" years where you concentrate multiple years' worth of charitable contributions into a single tax year using a donor-advised fund (DAF), high-income households can shift from standard deduction territory into itemized deduction territory on alternate years — without changing their overall charitable donations.#6: Underutilizing HSAs triple-tax benefitsAmong the most underused tax-efficient investment options available to many Americans are health savings accounts (HSAs). HSAs are a tax-efficient vehicle that provides a triple tax benefit — contributions are deductible; the funds grow tax-free; and withdrawals made for qualified medical expenses are fully exempt from taxation. You do need to have a high-deductible health insurance plan that offers an HSA, but if you do, the rewards are impressive. No other account type provides all three tax-advantaged benefits. Furthermore, after age 65, HSA funds can be withdrawn for any reason (albeit subject to taxation as if coming from a traditional IRA).An overlooked feature of HSAs relates to reimbursement of medical expenses. Unlike virtually all other forms of tax-preferred investing accounts — such as 401(k) and IRAs — there is no deadline for reimbursing yourself for qualified medical expenses incurred prior to opening an HSA account. Thus, if you incur medical expenses during the year but do not need the cash immediately, you can pay for those expenses out-of-pocket now and store relevant receipts until you want to withdraw your HSA funds and use those receipts for reimbursement. Any withdrawal utilized for reimbursement will be tax free regardless of how much the HSA account has grown in value since the date of withdrawal.Although HSAs are limited to individuals with high deductible coverage — and thus require absorbing greater out-of-pocket healthcare costs in order to take advantage of this strategy for extended periods of time — those willing to assume the risk can benefit greatly from this strategy. For 2026, the maximum contribution limits are $4,400 for individuals and $8,750 for families; plus an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution permitted for individuals aged 55 or older.#7: Putting too much emphasis on retirement accountsThis final issue may be somewhat less obvious but is becoming increasingly important for high-wage earners seeking financial independence or establishing an optional work period prior to traditional retirement ages.Although many people diligently maximize every tax-advantaged account available to them (i.e., 401(k) and IRAs) — without regard to liquidity considerations — they are ultimately limiting their ability to achieve their desired levels of flexibility in their 40s or 50s. Traditional retirement accounts are designed for distributions beginning at age 59 1/2 or later. Prior to reaching that milestone, withdrawing from these accounts usually results in both penalties and taxes that negate much of the benefits associated with these accounts, although there are strategies to start withdrawals earlier.Rather than relying solely on restrictive retirement accounts, implementing an appropriately balanced plan may involve strategically investing excess amounts in taxable brokerage accounts in conjunction with traditional retirement vehicles. In essence, developing a liquid bridge that supports optionality prior to age 60 while minimizing penalty risks.Although primarily a cash flow alignment issue versus a tax issue, there are real tax ramifications associated with failing to balance your investment portfolios accordingly.‍The Bottom LineTax laws evolve. Household incomes fluctuate. Company-owned equity vests according to its own timing.Ultimately, executing all the pieces of an advantaged tax strategy simultaneously while managing a demanding job, along with everything else that life entails, is no easy task.Households that ultimately succeed in maximizing their earnings while minimizing their taxes are not always those simply earning the most. They are those whose financial planning objectives have been clearly defined — and who have someone helping them implement those objectives.This story was produced by Domain Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Niabi Zoo hosting Pride Night Niabi Zoo is celebrating inclusion, community and conservation during Pride Night on Thursday, June 18, as part of its Zoo Nights summer event series. Pride Night will be co-hosted with Quad Cities Pride Alliance and allows guests to explore the zoo during extended evening hours while enjoying family-friendly entertainment, community activities and animal experiences. Visitors [...]
	Renter nation: America’s fastest-growing rental markets Renter nation: America’s fastest-growing rental marketsAmerica’s renter story isn’t simply about 20-somethings delaying homeownership. Renter-occupied units are exploding in unlikely places, and they’re increasingly occupied by a group you might not expect.MoveBuddha compared renter-occupied units across the U.S. from 2019 to 2024 to identify where new units were added fastest.Here’s the key: Occupied rental units aren’t springing up in cities that are adding population with the same percentage growth. They’re exploding in locales that stand a chance of getting swept up into high regional growth and in spots that already have economies built on transient jobs. Further, these newly occupied rental units aren’t just getting leased by new grads or visiting professors; they’re often occupied by retirees.Key TakeawaysThe top renter-growth markets tell three stories: military churn in #1 Lexington Park, Maryland (+33.46%), tourism demand in #2 Atlantic City, New Jersey (+31.32%), and new construction in Austin, Texas (+29.15%).The South dominates the fastest-growing renter markets with 28 of the top 50. Texas (10) and Florida (4) have the most markets in the top 50.19 of the top 50 cities are college towns. Even when enrollment hasn’t increased at the same rate, these brainy locations saw renter occupancy rise, on average, 18%.The rise of retired renters: Renters aged 65 and older increased 14.12% from 2019 to 2024 across the 889 areas analyzed, the fastest growth of any age group. moveBuddha The Same Rental Boom, 3 Different StoriesThe top three markets show why renter growth is not the same as a building boom: Lexington Park points to military churn, Atlantic City to tourism demand, and Austin to new supply.To see why, first dispel the idea that “new rental units” is about cities that are building new housing.Adding rental units is about the raw count of rental units occupied in a city. That includes new homes getting built and quickly occupied by renters. But it could also be that previously owner-occupied homes are converted to rentals, or that many more people move in, creating more renter households. And if an unsold property made you an “accidental” landlord? That’s also an “added rental unit” in this dataset.Understanding that is key to seeing that in #1 Lexington Park (+31%), the rental surge doesn’t mean a building boom is underway.Home to Naval Air Station Patuxent, Lexington is used to high residential turnover, hosting 20,000 military and civilian employees working in dozens of organizations. The shift in occupied rental units now suggests that even more people are moving in, in response to rising demand in the defense-oriented market.In #2 Atlantic City, the renter-occupied units spike of 31% likely speaks to another reality: increased demand for rental housing around the tourism, convention, and casino economy. A building boom is unlikely, given the city approved just seven new housing units in 2024.But in #3 Austin, a flurry of new construction might be the best explanation for the 29% increase: The city’s robust development has helped stabilize housing prices and increased supply, even amidst waves of in-migration interest. The metro added 93,206 renter-occupied units from 2019 to 2024, the largest numeric increase among the top 25 fastest-growing renter markets. moveBuddha The South Claims the Most Fast-Growing Rental MarketsDominance of the South, 28 of the top 50 cities, points not to casinos or military bases, but to a larger Sun Belt narrative that’s sweeping multiple “types” of locations into the rental boom, from major job hubs in Texas like Austin and San Antonio/New Braunfels to smaller markets like Sherman, college-centered areas like Statesboro, Georgia, and fast-growing Florida metros like Lakeland. moveBuddha These Southern markets have attracted new movers and are likely increasing renter-occupied units through new construction or the filling of previous vacancies.The common thread is migration, and it helps explain why the list includes a mix of cities without a common economic base connecting them.Southern markets are among those with the highest numeric growth in occupied-renter units: moveBuddha Dallas added the most renter-occupied units among the top 50 fastest-growing renter markets, while Austin stands out for ranking near the top by both percentage growth and raw unit growth.Other Southern markets show how renter growth is spreading beyond the biggest metros.For example:San Antonio, Texas, has added 50,909 renter-occupied units, and with New Braunfels included, the metro has added 254,751 new residents (about 1 new renter-occupied property per 5 new residents).Lakeland, Florida, added 12,285 renter-occupied households alongside 127,842 new residents (about 1 new unit per 10.1 new residents).Sherman, Texas, increased occupied rental units by 2,655 and added 14,940 residents (about 1 unit for every 5.6 newcomers).Florida and Texas show how broad the pattern is: Rental growth here has spread from urban cores to college, retirement, logistics, and service hubs. The common thread? Just that they’re part of a region that’s been gaining people. And those people need to live somewhere, pulling rental growth southward, leaving the Northeast and Midwest behind.So while renter growth is often treated as an affordability issue, from 2019 to 2024, its growth is centered around areas already considered “affordable” vis-à-vis U.S. averages (Lakeland’s current $312,001 average home price is still 15.26% less than the U.S. average of $368,198).In recent years, renter-occupied growth has been more about migration than affordability alone.The College-Town Rental Boom Is Bigger Than StudentsMany university-centered areas are adding rental households at a pace that cannot be explained by student enrollment alone.Nineteen of the top 50 fastest-growing renter markets are university-dominated places, from classically collegiate Madison, Wisconsin; College Station, Texas; or Auburn, Alabama, to more diversified economic hubs like Raleigh, North Carolina, or Fort Collins, Colorado. Ten rank in the top 25: #3 Austin, Texas, #4 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, #5 Statesboro, Georgia, #8 Cookeville, Tennessee, #12 La Crosse, Wisconsin, #13 Flagstaff, Arizona, #14 Bowling Green, Kentucky, #15 Gainesville, Florida, #18 Bozeman, Montana, and #19 St. George, Utah.Universities are rental-normal. From frat house mansion rows to student apartments, these locations are dominated by the rotating course offerings of the academic calendar. That’s meant that they, historically, have rental-centered markets. But they’re increasing even more their renter-occupied units than what, say, their popularity for move-ins or enrollment would explain.The pattern is clearest in places where renter growth and current move-in interest are both high.Bowling Green has the highest in-to-out move ratio among these college-centered markets, with 3.25 searches for moves in for every move out, plus a 19.79% increase in renter-occupied units from 2019 to 2024. However, Western Kentucky University student enrollment is falling.Cookeville, home to Tennessee Tech University, added 371 students from 2019 to 2024. But the city added 3,630 renter-occupied units. The micropolitan area added 8,600 new residents in that time frame, 1 for every 2.37 newcomers. It also earns 2.38 move-in searches for every move-out search.Bozeman, with a 2.16 in-to-out move ratio and a 17.35% increase in renter-occupied units, keeps drawing in new moves and students too. moveBuddha Eleven of the 19 college towns see a high number of searches for moves in versus out. Seven of them are getting more requests for move-outs than move-ins, likely reflecting the difference between a five-year renter-growth window and a newer 2025 to 2026 search snapshot.Ownership consolidation may be at play. As housing is bought up in college towns, for student rentals or to be leased out for weekend visitors catching a football game, would-be buyers can find that the limited supply forces them to rent.The Renter Boom Is Older Than You ThinkIt’s not always young grads landing in the rental markets of cities where they can’t afford to buy.Renters aged 65 and older increased 14.12% from 2019 to 2024, the fastest growth of any age group across the 889 metro and micro areas analyzed. Renters aged 15–25 also rose, up 7.39%, reinforcing the college-town pattern. moveBuddha Together, the data show renter growth is being driven by both ends of the age spectrum: young and older movers.If renting is a migratory story above an economic one, the fact that units are occupied by retirees is a story of the continued flow of seniors out of snowy climes, seeking shovel-free lifestyles without homeownership responsibilities.America’s Renter Boom Is Moving South, Into College Towns, and OlderRecent Apartment List research frames renting as increasingly intentional. So it’s no surprise America’s rental market is growing, but not everywhere equally. Instead, niche economic hotspots, college towns, and all types of cities in the South (and a few in the Mountain West) are adding occupied rental units, though not always above and beyond the numbers of in-movers they’re seeing. Many are betting the current inflow will keep paying off.And whereas America’s big coastal hubs used to be places where renting was the default option, over the past few years, that math has added up differently. Today, renter-occupied home growth is showing up where home values are nationally known as “affordable.”Increasingly, renting is a map of population mobility itself, showing an America (and an older population) that’s spreading into smaller, cheaper metros, Sun Belt cities, and university towns.MethodologyTo identify where renter-occupied housing grew fastest, moveBuddha analyzed renter-occupied housing units across 889 U.S. metro and micro areas from 2019 to 2024, using U.S. Census ACS data. The final analysis looks only at areas with at least 10,000 units for each period to avoid skew from very small markets.For each metro or micro area, researchers looked at:Renter-occupied units in 2019Renter-occupied units in 2024Numeric change from 2019 to 2024Percentage change from 2019 to 2024Areas were ranked by percentage growth in renter-occupied units to highlight places where rental occupancy increased fastest from 2019 to 2024.Additional context was included:moveBuddha moving-cost-calculator search data; as a measure of moves in divided by out, the move-in-to-out ratio. Data ranges from April 1, 2025, through March 27, 2026. 34 of the 251 areas in the closer analysis did not have sufficient data.Age-group renter growth, calculated across the same 889 metro and micro areas by comparing renter counts by age group from 2019 to 2024.Regional and state-level patterns, based on the number of metro and micro areas appearing among the top 50 fastest-growing renter-occupied markets.This story was produced by moveBuddha and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Ceremony marks Joint Munitions Command's move under Army Sustainment Command The colors of Joint Munitions Command will remain enclosed in glass following a casing of colors ceremony on Wednesday, June 10.
	Ariana Grande's new song debuts at No. 1, keeping a streak alive Ariana Grande is about to release her eighth album, Petal. With "Hate That I Made You Love Me," she continues an impressive and unusual streak on the charts.
	Need to generate some extra income? Your home may hold the keys Need to generate some extra income? Your home may hold the keysMost people think of their home as the place where their money is spent on rent or mortgage payments, maintenance and repairs, insurance, property taxes, etc. Fewer think of it as an income generator. But for a growing number of Americans, their home has become an important source of additional cash flow.You don’t need to buy a rental property, hire a property manager, or become a full-time landlord to generate income from real estate. In many cases, the opportunity is already sitting inside the home you live in, and it might be a spare bedroom, a driveway, or a patch of yard you never thought twice about.The strategy has a name: house hacking. It’s been around for decades, went viral during the Covid pandemic, and has since evolved into something more practical and accessible than its social media reputation suggests.Below, RentRedi reveals how house hacking can help you generate extra income from your home.Key TakeawaysHouse hacking allows homeowners to generate income by renting out parts of their home, such as bedrooms or driveways.The strategy gained popularity during the pandemic due to low mortgage rates and rising rents, making housing more affordable for many.House hacking remains relevant as home prices continue to rise, offering a way to reduce monthly mortgage costs and build equity.Creative options for house hacking include renting storage spaces, parking spots, or even unique properties for events.Modern technology simplifies management tasks, enhancing profitability and making house hacking a viable option even for those new to real estate.How house hacking became a household wordThe basic idea of house hacking — buying a property, living in part of it, and renting out the rest to offset your costs — isn’t new. Smaller, independent landlords have long known that a duplex or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can make owning a home far more affordable.In 2013, Brandon Turner, a prominent real estate investing influencer, wrote a blog post for BiggerPockets that outlined how to “hack” your home and get paid to live in it. The premise had mass appeal, because it offered a viable solution to the unaffordable housing crisis.The strategy found a devoted following in real estate investing communities throughout the 2010s, but the pandemic era took it to new heights. Historically low mortgage rates along with fast appreciation and rising rents made covering a mortgage payment with rental income genuinely achievable for many buyers. And thanks to content creators with large followings who promoted house hacking, the idea reached people who had never thought about real estate investing before.When interest rates climbed sharply starting in 2022, however, the math changed, and the conditions that made the pandemic-era version of house hacking so compelling narrowed considerably, turning the fast, outsized returns that social media had promoted into an outcome that was harder to replicate. The house hacking trend has since shifted to a more stable, long-term strategy for improving finances and building wealth.Why house hacking still makes senseHouse hacking has stayed relevant because of shifts in the housing market. Home prices rose about 45% between 2020 and mid-2025. During that same period, monthly mortgage costs on the median-priced U.S. home more than doubled, rising from roughly $1,200 to over $2,500. For many, the appeal of house hacking today is simpler than building a portfolio: A few hundred (or even thousand) extra dollars a month makes a meaningful dent in a mortgage. Over time, that income can help you pay down the loan and build equity faster. That opens up more real options to build on that momentum, such as renovating, selling, or buying something else.House hacking is especially appealing to those trying to enter the homebuying market for the first time. In fact, a 2023 Zillow survey found that 55% of Millennial and 51% of Gen Z homebuyers rated the ability to rent out part of their home as very or extremely important in their purchase decisions, up eight percentage points from previous years and compared to 39% of all homebuyers.Real estate investor Malika McCalla started house hacking just out of college, when she bought her first home for $155,000 and rented a room to another student while completing her graduate studies. The rental income helped her pay the mortgage, build equity, renovate the property and sell it for a profit. She then used that equity to invest in multifamily properties and scale to five rental units. “This is one of the best ways to get started in real estate,” she says, “if you are patient and consistent, results will follow.”Creative ways to rent out propertyTraditional approaches to house hacking involve renting out a bedroom, converted garage, finished basement, or ADU in your single family home, or purchasing a small multi-unit property (a duplex, triplex, or fourplex) and living in one unit while renting out the others. These are the most efficient ways to build cash flow quickly, but they aren’t always feasible or desirable options.If you don’t have the capital to purchase a property, or you simply don’t feel comfortable sharing living spaces with strangers, there are plenty of other ways to rent out property. Think creatively about what you already have that others might need. Even smaller spaces can generate impressive returns.Renting out parking spots, garages, or driveways offers steady, low-maintenance income. In big cities like New York, parking spaces average around $400 per month according to Spacer. Rates in smaller cities generally run between $150 and $300.Storage space rentals are another overlooked opportunity. If you have an unused attic, basement, or shed, you can rent it out for storage. Industry data from SpareFoot shows that, as of May 2026, the average monthly rent for a 10x20 ft. self-storage unit in the U.S. is $130. Prices vary widely by size and location, of course, and private rentals are typically priced somewhat lower than commercial units. So, for example, if you were to charge $100/month for each space, five spaces could bring in $500 monthly with minimal investment and management.Larger or more distinctive properties with expansive yards, gardens, pools, or unique architecture can be in high demand for filming locations, photoshoots, and events. Event venues typically earn $50–$275 per hour in 2026, while the average rate for a filming venue is $5,000 per day. Even home gyms and pools have found audiences among people who want access to equipment without a gym membership.Lady Landlords founder Becky Nova, who credits house hacking with launching her investing career, puts it plainly: “It is a fantastic way to tip your toe into being a landlord and is an amazing way to leverage finances to really pick up an asset that generates cash flow, even if you don’t have a lot of capital on hand.”Practical steps for getting startedIf you’re considering house hacking, here are a few things worth thinking through before you start:Check local regulations: Zoning laws, HOA rules, and short-term rental regulations vary widely. Make sure the type of rental you’re considering is permitted in your area before listing anything.Get the numbers right: Calculate what you’d realistically earn, factor in any costs (repairs, service fees, taxes), and make sure the income justifies the effort and any upfront investment.Start simple: You don’t need to convert a basement or build an ADU to start. Renting a bedroom or a parking space is a low-friction way to test the model and build confidence before scaling.Use the right tools: Property management software makes it easier to run things professionally from the start, which protects both you and your tenants and sets better habits for when you grow. Technology makes it more manageable (and more profitable)One reason people hesitate to rent out property is the management side: finding tenants, collecting rent, handling repairs. The reality is that property management apps have made most of those tasks much simpler, and the data shows the right tools also make rentals more profitable.RentRedi’s internal data found that tenants who went through a formal screening process paid rent 17 days faster and on time about 90% of the time. Landlords whose tenants use autopay see on-time payment rates of 99%, compared to 88% for those who don’t — a gap that holds even for tenants with weaker credit histories. That kind of consistency is the difference between rental income that reliably contributes to cash flow and income you’re constantly chasing.Beyond payments, modern apps handle lease signing, maintenance requests, income and expense tracking, and tenant communication from one place, and from your mobile phone. That’s a significant part of what makes house hacking a realistic option for people who aren’t looking to make landlording a second career. This story was produced by RentRedi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport Schools cancel today's Summer Meals Program due to weather An email from Davenport Community School District says the Summer Meals Program scheduled for today, June 11, is canceled due to weather.
	Kansas Democratic women’s club evaluates U.S. Senate candidate who put ‘fetal personhood’ into law Sen. Patrick Schmidt talks to the Capital Area Democratic Women club about abortion policy and political rivals on his campaign for the U.S. Senate Democratic nomination. (Photo by Baya Burgess/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Democrats questioned U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Schmidt’s position on abortion Wednesday at a Capital Area Democratic Women meeting in Topeka. Schmidt, a Democratic state senator from Topeka and the meeting’s guest speaker, defended an amendment he made last year to legislation establishing “fetal personhood” by allowing child support orders for pregnancy-related costs from the date of conception. He said he was trying to sabotage the bill. “If you watched the YouTube video from that day in session last year, the Republicans start scurrying about because they realize exactly what I’m doing, and they don’t want it to pass,” he said. Fetal personhood can establish human rights and protections to unborn fetuses and embryos, which could challenge future pro-choice legislation. Schmidt’s amendment allows all pregnant parents to claim an unborn child on their tax return. The bill advanced on a 30-9 party-line vote, with all present Republicans in favor of the amended bill. Vic Miller, a former state House representative and minority leader who lost the state Senate seat to Schmidt in the 2024 Democratic primary, pointed out Republicans voted for the amendment but Democrats did not. “We weren’t able to get it stopped, but there was nothing that passed on that bill as a result of my actions that changed the outcome for women’s health care in Kansas,” Schmidt said. Stacey Cooper, a Democrat from Topeka, disapproved of Schmidt leaving his state Senate seat before serving a full term. “You came and talked to me on my porch and we sat for like 30 minutes,” she said. “I specifically asked if you were going to run and stay in Kansas if you won, or if you were going to then turn around and run for U.S., and you said you wouldn’t do that.” Schmidt said his greatest concern is with the Iran War and election security under the Trump administration. “As bad as you think it is with this war, it is worse,” he said. “And what you’re seeing right now, where this administration is trying to claim voter fraud in California, they don’t give a damn about voter fraud in California. They are trying to lay the predicate to mess with this election and every election moving forward.” Schmidt is one of 11 Democratic candidates running for the nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall. Schmidt criticized one of his primary opponents, Adam Hamilton, for his handling of sexual abuse 20 years ago at a camp run by the church Hamilton leads. Schmidt made accusations about Hamilton at a May 27 news conference, some of which could not be verified in court documents. “It will drag down every Democrat running in Kansas. That’s my concern,” he said Wednesday after slamming thick binders of court documents on a table. Schmidt also criticized Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican campaigning for governor with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. “Ty Masterson has a quarter-million-dollar-a-year no-show job at Wichita State University,” he said. “The United States Navy pays me $20,000 a year to be a reservist, and I have to freaking fly to Washington, D.C., for three days a month, at least. It’s not worth the $20,000.” “You get reimbursed, though,” said Claudia Elkins, who said she is also a retired Navy reservist. “I almost break even,” Schmidt said in response. “It’s a pleasure to serve.” Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	John Deere hiring 20 workers back to Davenport John Deere will be hiring 20 workers back to Davenport Works
	The only states where you can find the last drive-in movie theaters in the US Michael Williamson // The Washington Post via Getty Images States with the most drive-in movie theaters Drive-in theaters evoke nostalgia, a step back to the 1950s. The first opened in New Jersey in 1933, when opening night drew people from at least 20 states to watch movies outdoors from their cars. Drive-ins reached their peak in popularity in the mid-1950s, with more than 4,000 operating across the country. But by the late 1970s, exploding property values, television, and large indoor theaters all lured movie fans away from the drive-in experience. "The decline of the drive-in was directly related to the movement away from Main Street America and towards the mall society, where convenience, times, weather and the idea of 'all-inclusive' became the popular way to enjoy a night out, pushing away the classic night out at the drive-in," John Stefanopoulos, the manager of the Hudson Valley Four Brothers Drive-In, told Fox Business. During the coronavirus pandemic, however, drive-ins saw a resurgence as pop-up outdoor theaters appeared to replace indoor ones that were closed, allowing moviegoers to stay outside. They even had a significant impact on the box office when most other theaters were shut down, with some experts speculating that the drive-in would be back for good. But the problems bedeviling drive-ins persisted, especially as the virus waned and traditional theaters reopened. Stacker examined County Business Patterns 2022 data from the Census Bureau, the most recent data available, to determine which states have the most drive-in movie theaters. Rankings were determined by the number of drive-ins per 1 million residents. In 2022, there were 177 drive-in theaters operating in 25 states. States with the highest number of drive-ins per capita are largely located in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. For the count, film festivals or other types of movie theaters were not included. Stacker Drive-in theaters becoming harder to find The pandemic gave drive-in movie theaters a spurt of new popularity as people were eager to be entertained but wanted to stay outside. But the difficulties drive-ins face are hard to overcome, from the need for often expensive land to having to buy pricey high-resolution projectors to show first-run movies. Alexander Tamargo // Getty Images for HBO #25. Florida - 0.2 drive-ins per 1 million people - 5 drive-ins total Drive-in theaters have long been popular in Florida, with the first opening in Miami in 1938. The Silver Moon in Lakeland has been in operation since opening in 1948, except for a few months in 1950 because of tornado damage. There are plenty of other spots where you can still pull up in front of a big screen: Ocala Drive-in in Ocala, the Ruskin Family Drive-in Theater in Ruskin, Joy-Lan Drive-in Dade City, and Nite Owl Drive-in in Miami. ullstein bild via Getty Images #24. New Jersey - 0.3 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The first drive-in movie theater in the U.S. opened in Camden on the Pennsauken border in 1933. It promised that "motorists and their guests will see and hear talking pictures while they smoke, talk, or partake of refreshments without annoying others in the audience," Tyler Hoffman, a professor at Rutgers University told the South Jersey Times. Today one place you can watch movies in the open air is the Delsea Drive-in Theatre in Vineland—rain or shine! Paras Griffin // Getty Images #23. Georgia - 0.4 drive-ins per 1 million people - 4 drive-ins total The Starlight Drive-in Theatre on the outskirts of Atlanta has been in operation since 1949. The theater encourages you to make sure your car battery is strong enough to power the radio through the show, but if it fails, jump starts are available. Other spots for a movie under the stars: the Swan Drive-in Theater in Blue Ridge, whose name comes from the swans in England, the Tiger Drive-In Theater in Tiger—which had closed but reopened exactly 50 years after its first showing—and the Jesup Drive-in in Jesup, which opened in 1948. Michael Williamson // The Washington Post via Getty Images #22. Virginia - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 4 drive-ins total The Family Drive-in Theatre in Stephens City advertises itself as the only drive-in theater in the Washington D.C. metro area. Also in Virginia are Goochland Drive-in in Sandy Hook (open only since 2009 but with a retro vibe), the Starlite Drive-in in Christiansburg, and the Park Place Drive-In in Marion. Carlos Avila Gonzalez // The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images #21. California - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 18 drive-ins total The home of Hollywood, California fittingly has among the most drive-in theaters in the country. The Rubidoux Drive-in in Riverside once had a petting zoo and miniature railroad. Those are gone but it still has its art deco-styled original screen. In northern California, the West Wind Drive-ins have three locations: Concord, Sacramento, and San Jose. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge // Getty Images #20. Missouri - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The aptly named Sunset Drive-In Theater in Aurora opened in 1951 and kept its original wooden screen until it burned down in 1979. The sound system was upgraded after it was struck by lightning in 2001. An old drive-in theater in Blomeyer was revitalized in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and is now the Rock 'N' Roll Drive-In. Andrew Burton // Getty Images #19. Michigan - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 5 drive-ins total A nod to the cherry harvest of northern Michigan, the Cherry Bowl Drive-in Theatre in Honor opened in 1954 and also features a playground, volleyball net, and a 1950s-style mini-golf course. The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn was once the country's largest drive-in-theater with nine screens and parking for 3,000 cars but has since reduced the number of screens to five, viewable by up to 2,500 cars. HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #18. Washington - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 4 drive-ins total The Skyline Drive-In Theater in Shelton featured "Lady and The Tramp" and "Billy Budd" on its opening night in 1964. The Rodeo Drive-in Theater in Bremerton was originally the "Rodeo Motor Movies," built in 1949 as part of the United Drive-Ins chain and claims it is the largest outdoor theater complex north of California. MARLIN LEVISON // Star Tribune via Getty Images #17. Minnesota - 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The Long Drive-In Theater in Long Prairie is one of the few drive-in theaters that allows you to stay overnight. Because the movies run late and some people have driven long distances, tents and RVs are permitted with reservations. Other drive-ins in Minnesota: the Starlite Drive-In in Litchfield, Verne Drive-In Theater in Luverne, and Sky-Vu Drive-In Theatre in Warren. xradiophotog // Shutterstock #16. Texas - 0.6 drive-ins per 1 million people - 17 drive-ins total Drive-in theaters in Texas date to 1934 when only the third in the country opened in Galveston. At its peak, the state had more drive-ins than any other. On the one hand, there is the Big Sky Drive-In Theatre, its name celebrating the big sky of the West Texas Permian Basin between Midland and Odessa. On the other, there is The Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In in Austin, which accommodates only 15 to 40 cars per night. Canva #15. Colorado - 0.7 drive-ins per 1 million people - 4 drive-ins total The only original drive-in still open in the greater Denver area, the 88 Drive-In Theatre in Commerce dates to 1972. The Holiday Twin Drive-In in Fort Collins shows both classic and modern movies, and although pets are allowed, the theater notes: "Barking is disruptive." HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #14. Oklahoma - 0.7 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total At the Winchester Drive-In Theatre in Oklahoma City, moviegoers are greeted by a vintage neon cowboy. The landmark has been in operation since 1968. The Admiral Twin Drive-In is just off Route 66 in Tulsa and was used for Francis Ford Coppola's famous drive-in movie scene in "The Outsiders." George Frey // Getty Images #13. Utah - 0.9 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The Erda Dive-In in Tooele opened around the late 1940s or early 1950s (accounts conflict, according to its website). Whatever the year, it operated seasonally, from May to October depending on the weather. The screen had to be rebuilt in 1991 after it was destroyed by a tornado. lev radin // Shutterstock #12. New York - 0.9 drive-ins per 1 million people - 18 drive-ins total The state's first drive-in movie theater was on Long Island when the Sunrise Drive-In opened in 1938 in Valley Stream with a showing of "Start Cheering." It was demolished but the Finger Lakes Drive-In in Auburn retains its vintage charm now as New York's oldest open-air theater. It dates from 1947. HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #11. Wisconsin - 1.0 drive-ins per 1 million people - 6 drive-ins total The Skyway Drive-In Theatre opened in 1950 and is now the longest continuously running drive-in found in Wisconsin. It remains a one-screen theater, the snack bar has not changed much, and it continues to show cartoon advertisements created decades ago before the movies. Another historic theater, Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre, 2 miles west of Jefferson, first opened in 1953 and then reopened in 2000. HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #10. Kansas - 1.0 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The Boulevard Drive-In says it was the first drive-in theater anywhere to install digital sound and 4K resolution digital projection. The original screen was made completely out of wood but a strong wind tore out about a third of it in 1971, which led to a replacement metal screen. The Kanopolis Drive-In in Kanopolis is located along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway. Canva #9. Tennessee - 1.1 drive-ins per 1 million people - 8 drive-ins total The Stardust Drive-In Theatre in Watertown holds Retro Wednesdays. Coming up this summer are showings of "Steel Magnolias" from 1989, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" from 1982, and "Back to the Future" from 1985. The Parkway Drive-In in Maryville shows movies rain or shine but will keep its gates closed in the event of a tornado warning by the National Weather Service. HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #8. Kentucky - 1.3 drive-ins per 1 million people - 6 drive-ins total The Knox Drive-In is located in Barbourville City Park. The local city council wanted to offer something different from neighboring cities, according to its website. The Sauerbeck Family Drive-In in La Grange notes that "unfortunately for those looking to catch a free show," it positioned its screens to minimize any view from the road. AProvchy // Shutterstock #7. Ohio - 1.4 drive-ins per 1 million people - 17 drive-ins total At the Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater in Liberty Center, free games such as putt-putt golf, corn hole, and sand volleyball are available before the movies begin. It opened in 2007 after the owners planted grass instead of crops on their property and added a second screen in 2010. The Toledo Blade once warned that the theater can be surrounded by so much corn by midsummer that you might miss its narrow entrance. Canva #6. Indiana - 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 10 drive-ins total The Georgetown Drive-In Movie Theater, established in 1951, opened for its 72nd season in May 2023. The Starlite Drive-In opened in 1955 and has had only five owners since then. And the Tibbs Drive-In, family owned and operated since 1967, is the last drive-in theater in Indianapolis. HUM Images // Universal Images Group via Getty Images #5. Pennsylvania - 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 20 drive-ins total The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, established in 1949 in Lehighton, offers a retro 35 mm film program, in which movies are shown reel-to-reel via the original 1940s Simplex projectors. "At the Drive-In" is a documentary about the theater. Becky's Drive-In was begun by William D. Beck, known as Becky. He started out showing movies outside at Uncle Charlie's Lunch in the 1930s. Karen Desjardin // Getty Images #4. Idaho - 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total In the history of the Parma Motor-Vu, Karen Dobbs Cornwell writes that the Dobbs family bought the Parma, New Plymouth, and Wilder drive-in theaters in 1944. Her father, Bill Dobbs, drove to Wilder each night while she and her mother, Gladys Dobbs, spent each night at the Parma. Gabe Souza // Portland Press Herald via Getty Images #3. Maine - 2.2 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The Narrow Gauge Drive-In in Farmington opened the 2023 season with screenings of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." The drive-in mixes movies with live music shows. The Skowhegan Drive-In, which opened in 1954, saw a surge in attendance during the pandemic, followed by a subsequent drop-off. But it has opened for the 2023 seasons. Gabe Shakour // Shutterstock #2. New Hampshire - 2.9 drive-ins per 1 million people - 4 drive-ins total The Milford Drive-In Theater was built in Milford in 1958, with several contractors from the area contributing labor and materials in the hopes of sharing in the profits, according to the theater's history. A group of local people owned the drive-in, which opened with a single 84-foot wooden frame screen. Also popular: Weirs Drive-In Theater at Weirs Beach, whose motto is "Let the popcorn fly." Canva #1. Vermont - 4.6 drive-ins per 1 million people - 3 drive-ins total The Fairlee Drive-In Theater in Fairlee also has a motel. The theater came first in 1950 and six motel rooms were added a decade later in 1960. Bethel Drive-In in Bethel opened in 1954 and operates on weekends from early June to Labor Day. Sunset Drive-In in Colchester was established in 1948 and has four screens. Data reporting by Elena Cox. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Elizabeth Ciano.
	Paid vs. unpaid interns: What small businesses need to know Paid vs. unpaid interns: What small businesses need to knowInternship wage laws are stricter than many people realize. For solopreneurs and small business owners, interns can meaningfully support their businesses during busy seasons. Although an unpaid internship helps students or early-career workers gain experience, it comes with trade-offs.The main issue when discussing the classification of internships is whether the internship primarily benefits the intern or the business. If an intern is doing work that directly supports daily operations, that suggests the intern may need to be paid. Misclassifying internships can lead to wage disputes and unpaid-work claims, causing major problems down the road.Legal requirements for unpaid internships are specific; this doesn’t mean that internships always need to be paid, but small businesses should be extra careful when posting a role or assigning work to ensure boundaries aren’t blurred. Rocket Lawyer explains what small businesses should keep in mind when classifying interns as paid or unpaid.The Difference Between Work ClassificationOne of the most important questions to ask when discussing internship classifications is whether the experience gained will be truly educational.In general, unpaid internships are more likely to comply with labor rules when:There is hands-on training similar to an educational program.The experience benefits the intern more than the employer.The intern is closely supervised.The role does not replace a paid employee.There is no promise of future employment.Problems often arise when interns take on regular business tasks without structured learning. This can mean that an intern manages customer emails, handles sales support, leads meetings, or consistently performs work that your business depends on; regulators may view that role as compensable work.Why Small Businesses Need to Be Especially CarefulLarger companies tend to have HR teams and structured internship programs, whereas solopreneurs and freelancers may rely on informal arrangements. These agreements, however informal, are not low risk.Sometimes, a simple misunderstanding about responsibilities or compensation can later lead to a wage dispute. In some cases, unpaid interns may later claim they should have received minimum wage or overtime.There are also operational considerations. If you are spending time training and supervising someone, you should ask whether a paid part-time role may ultimately create clearer expectations for everyone involved.Questions to Ask Before Bringing on an InternBefore you make any decisions, ask yourself a few key questions about the structure of the internship and the type of work involved.Is this internship primarily educational or primarily helping my business? Would the intern still benefit if they were not handling productive work?Will the intern perform tasks similar to paid employees? Could this role be viewed as replacing regular staff or paid contractors?Do I have a structured learning plan or supervision process? How will I document training, mentorship, or educational outcomes?Am I confident this internship complies with wage laws? Should I ask a legal professional to review the role before making an offer?What to Do NextA little planning up front can help you avoid confusion and reduce legal risk later.Write a clear internship description outlining learning goals, supervision, and expected responsibilities.Review federal and state internship wage laws before deciding whether the role should be paid.Consider whether a paid internship or temporary contractor arrangement may be a better fit for your business needs.Keep records of schedules, training activities, and communications with interns.Draft internship agreements and create role descriptions to clarify expectations.When the structure is clear from the start, an internship program can support both your business and early-career talent. The right setup will help you create meaningful opportunities while also protecting your business.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	YWCA Quad Cities hosting Summer Block Jam Kick off summer this weekend at the YWCA Quad Cities’ Summer Block Jam! The free, family-friendly event will be held on Sunday, June 14 from 1 – 4 p.m. and celebrates connection, community and the start of summer. Guests of all ages can enjoy an afternoon filled with food, entertainment and interactive activities as 17th [...]
	Severe Thunderstorm Warning until THU 10:30 AM CDT Severe Thunderstorms with Damaging Winds and Hail Expected Until 10:30 AM CDT
	University of Iowa's struggling Center for Intellectual Freedom faces required expansion due to law Iowa's Board of Regents faces challenges as the University of Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom must expand rapidly to meet a new law.

Friday, June 12th, 2026

Thursday, June 11th, 2026