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

Thursday, October 8th, 2026
	From Iowa fugitive to San Diego head chef: How a 2012 Davenport shooting suspect hid in plain sight for a decade U.S. Marshals arrested Brian Anthony Williams in San Diego, where he lived as a head chef under an alias after fleeing a 2012 Davenport kidnapping case.
	The Heart of the Story: A fawn named Peaches 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. A discovery on the side of the road [...]
	Wellness center serving union members opens in Rock Island Premise Health, the largest direct healthcare company serving unions and large employers, in partnership with the National Coalition of Labor (NCL), Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council (MACRC), International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 and the Midwest Operating Engineers Fringe Benefit Funds (MOE), and Teamsters Local 301 Health and Welfare Fund, has opened the MCL [...]
	Trump administration denies Illinois’ request for disaster relief — again President Donald Trump’s administration denied Illinois’ request on Thursday for federal disaster relief in eight counties after days of severe weather hit the state in August.
	Man involved in Davenport shooting sentenced to 10 years in prison A man involved in a Davenport shooting of two houses was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
	Rob Sand backs Medicaid pay changes for disabled Iowans, proposes ending privatization Sand spoke with caregivers and Iowans with disabilities during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council.
	2 people, infant hurt in Henry County, Iowa, crash Henry County dispatchers got a report about a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Old Highway 34 around 9:45 p.m., according to a media release.
	Davenport launching 'Strong Minds' program to help local teens work through emotions The Davenport Parks and Recreating Department is launching Strong Minds, a program to help young people, ages 12 to 15, work through emotions.
	3 injured in 2-car crash near Mount Pleasant on Tuesday A 21-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman and her infant child were all treated by ambulance for their injuries. Both vehicles involved in the crash were totaled.
	Traffic Alert: Crash slows traffic on I-74 East north of John Deere Road A KWQC said the crash was in the construction zone on the interstate around 4:40 p.m.
	Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate visits Davenport to test Scott County voting machines Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate visited Scott County Thursday as election officials conducted a public test of voting equipment ahead of Election Day.
	Crime Stoppers: Scott County Sheriff wants man for sex offender registration violations Christopher Huntley is wanted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office for sex offender registration violations.
	Crime Stoppers: Around $5K in fiber cable wire stolen off utility poles Officials said the estimated cost of the stolen wire is around $5,000.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for escape Devonte D. McGee is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections, 7th District High Risk Unit for escape.
	New Davenport program gives teens tools to navigate emotions and mental health "STRONG Minds" is accepting applications for its fall session. The goal is to help local teens better understand and work through their emotions.
	Wednesday night Davenport house fire under investigation No injuries were reported in the fire, officials said.
	Help your business grow with the Level Up: Small Business Summit Running a business can be a real challenge, but you can join fellow entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals for real-world strategies to help your business grow! Ramon Ray joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Quad Cities Chamber's Level Up: Small Business Summit. For more information, click here.
	Scott County election officials test voting machines ahead of midterm elections Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate was present for the testing, in which election workers processed multiple ballot styles through tabulation machines.
	Getting to Know the CEO of Habitat for Humanity QC, Tom Fisher-King Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	Scott County tests voting machines in Eldridge for 2026 elections Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate joined Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins Thursday morning, Oct. 8, as they did tests on election equipment in Eldridge ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
	Treatment for mental health illness combined with addiction Treatment is more effective addressing the two issues together, rather than separately.
	Circuit Judge Peter Church elected to two-year term as Chief Judge of 14th Judicial Circuit Circuit Judge Peter Church elected to two-year term as Chief Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit.
	Ameren shares Halloween safety and energy-saving tips Spooky season is also a perfect time to check your home for “energy vampires.”
	Keeping your green thumb through the fall and winter seasons As the days get shorter and cooler, that doesn’t mean your garden life has to be over. A horticulturist from Hoerr Nursery said that when the first frost happens, gardeners can keep gardening, but it takes more preparation.
	Iowa officials test Scott County voting machines ahead of November general election Iowa election officials and Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins tested all 66 voting machines using sample ballots to ensure accuracy and security.
	Davenport house fire under investigation No injuries were reported after a Wednesday night house fire in Davenport.
	Clinton postpones public hearing on data center zoning ordinance The public will have more time to review Clinton's proposed data center ordinance after the city postponed a hearing to provide additional notice.
	Discursive Verses: Vic Mensa and the rise of a rap manosphere counterculture NPR Music culture critic and reporter Rodney Carmichael ruminates on the latest in rap culture. This week: an unbothered, radically different, equal but opposite response to rap's podcast bros.
	Thursday's public hearing on Clinton's data center ordinance postponed The Special Council meeting will continue as scheduled for an item on the agenda that's unrelated to the data center ordinance.
	Crews investigating Davenport house fire Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 563-326-7906.
	Suicide is up among Black Americans. We need to talk about it. NPR's Michel Martin hosted a panel conversation about mental health and suicide in the Black community, exploring a difficult subject in deeply personal conversations.
	John Deere Classic's Birdies for Charity raises record-breaking $20.1M The John Deere Classic announced this year's tournament generated $20.1 million for 492 local and regional charities.
	Davenport weighs $1 million for regional homelessness plan Davenport leaders want to move from reacting to homelessness to addressing it more proactively. A proposed $1 million commitment could help fund a new regional strategy.
	US Senate Dems demand apology from Chuck Grassley to Jack Smith for attacks at hearing Democrats demand an apology after false accusations at the recent hearing for Jack Smith.
	Birdies for Charity raises around $20M for charities during 2026 John Deere Classic This broke last year's record of $16.9 million which had followed another record-breaking award.
	International Erosion Control Association conference taking place in Dubuque The conference will focus on erosion control and stormwater management to prepare for spring construction.
	Clinton postponing data center zoning public hearing Clinton is postponing tonight’s scheduled public hearing about the proposed data center zoning ordinance, according to a news release from the city. The city provided notice of the public hearing, according to the applicable requirements of Iowa state law, but while preparing for the hearing, a provision within the city’s zoning regulations was identified that [...]
	Report: Illinois tax revenue from gambling increased 19% last year Illinois bettors lost more money than ever last year, according to a new state report.
	Police looking for missing 11-year-old out of Silvis The Silvis Police Department is looking for an 11-year-old girl who was last seen on Wednesday.
	11-year-old reported missing from Silvis The Silvis Police Department is asking the community for help in locating a missing 11-year-old.
	Birdies for Charity raises record $20.1 million The 2026 Birdies for Charity program has reached a new fundraising milestone. The John Deere Classic announced that it generated a historic $20.1 million for 492 local and regional charities in 2026. This reinforces its position as one of the most impactful charitable initiatives associated with the PGA Tour. Most of the funds were raised [...]
	Vehicle crashes into Bettendorf emergency room Bettendorf authorities are investigating the cause of a crash that left a vehicle lodged into a window near the entrance of the emergency room at UnityPoint Health.
	New central Iowa exhibit honors acts of service made beyond the battlefield The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston is welcoming a first of its kind exhibit that focuses exclusively on military nurses. The display will open to the public during a dedication event on Saturday.
	Vehicle crashes into Trinity Bettendorf hospital, injuring driver Bettendorf firefighters responded to an unusual scene Wednesday night: A vehicle had struck a hospital building near the emergency room entrance.
	Vehicle crashes into Bettendorf hospital emergency room The vehicle had become lodged in a window near the emergency room entrance.
	The long-deployed USS Lincoln is returning home to San Diego The USS Abraham Lincoln is returning home to San Diego Thursday after supporting the Iran war during a record long deployment of 265 uninterrupted days at sea that included reports of deteriorating conditions among its crew.
	Suspect charged in Iowa realtor’s murder wants trial to stay in Dallas County Kristin Ramsey does not plan to file a change of venue request, according to court records.
	Quad Cities hosting 2027 Small Market Meetings Conference The Quad Cities will host the 2027 Small Market Meetings Conference (SMMC) on September 21-23, 2027, at Bend XPO in East Moline. The announcement was made at the Small Market Meetings Conference in El Paso. This will be the first time the Quad Cities has hosted SMMC. Click here for more information. Group Travel Family's [...]
	New U.S. indictment charges former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with torture U.S. authorities charged the former Venezuelan president with conspiring to torture his fellow citizens as well as Americans. That adds to drugs and weapons charges against him.
	Henry County Humane Society welcomes 'Weather Watch Kittens' The Henry County Humane Society has seven new 'Weather Watch Kittens,' each named after a weather event.
	Negative political ads on the rise across Iowa You're right -- you are seeing more attack ads than normal
	Driver extricated after car crashes into ER entrance in Bettendorf Bettendorf police are investigating after a vehicle crashed directly into an emergency room entrance at UnityPoint Health-Trinity late Wednesday night.
	4 people on NASA's Crew-12 mission return to Earth after 8 months in space Four people — two NASA astronauts, one from the European Space Agency and a Russian cosmonaut — spent nearly eight months at the space station, conducting spacewalks, science experiments and research.
	College baseball tournament coming to Field of Dreams Iowa Community College Athletic Conference announced a three year deal to host the Region 11 Division II Baseball Tournament.
	Wetland project in Durant filters water, paves way for housing development "A completed wetland project in Durant, Iowa filters stormwater and protects Mud Creek, funded by a $750,000 state grant to support future housing growth.
	How real estate can help build generational wealth There are many ways to create generational wealth, and real estate is among the most established ways families have built it. Urban Institute research has tied homeownership to financial security, with property making up an important part of household wealth for many families. And the amount set to move between generations is enormous, with Cerulli Associates projecting that $124 trillion will transfer through 2048 and $105 trillion will go to heirs. A transfer of that size puts more focus on preserving family wealth, so more of what has been built remains available for the people who eventually inherit it. Preserving that wealth also shapes how experienced real estate investors approach ownership. Across multiple market cycles, Buchanan Street Partners has observed that long-term success in real estate is often driven less by predicting short-term market movements and more by disciplined ownership, allowing income to compound and investments to appreciate over time and tax-efficiently. The financial value behind that disciplined approach starts with how real estate builds wealth while an investor owns it.How Real Estate Builds Wealth Over Time Real estate has always been a cornerstone of long-term wealth creation, with property producing value through rising prices and income. The National Association of Realtors reports that between the third quarters of 2014 and 2024, the typical homeowner gained $201,600 from price appreciation. And mortgage principal payments build on those gains by increasing equity. But beyond price growth, rental property adds recurring income, with a July 2026 review noting that income has historically accounted for 70% to 80% of apartment returns. Tax treatment extends those financial benefits, with depreciation and other provisions allowing a significant portion of real estate distributions to be tax-deferred. Along with those tax benefits, lease renewals give property owners opportunities to adjust rents as costs rise, helping rental income respond to inflation. And since direct real estate returns have historically moved differently from stocks, adding property gives investors another source of return outside the stock market.The Many Ways to Invest in Real EstateThe beauty of real estate is that there is more than one way to invest, and Yahoo Finance notes that options vary by budget and how hands-on an investor wants to be.At one end of the spectrum is direct ownership. You’re the landlord, property manager, leasing agent, and sometimes the plumber. You’re fielding tenant calls after hours, coordinating repairs, collecting rent, and handling every detail required to execute the business plan.In the middle sits private real estate. Investors can access larger, institutional-quality properties while outsourcing day-to-day operations to experienced real estate professionals. You remain invested in the property’s success and enjoy the tax benefits without personally managing tenants, maintenance issues, or capital projects.At the other end are publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs). With a few clicks in a brokerage account, investors gain exposure to diversified real estate portfolios.The Benefits of Institutionally Managed Real EstateInterestingly, not many people know that individual investors have access to institutionally managed real estate without buying or operating an entire property themselves. PwC describes institutional-grade real estate as property sought by institutional buyers and meeting common institutional investment standards. Within that standard, professional teams handle sourcing and due diligence before a purchase, screening properties before capital is committed. The same teams then oversee leasing and operations, so investors are not personally handling tenants or repairs. And with those duties handled, commingled funds spread an investor’s money across multiple properties and provide access to commercial properties that would be difficult to buy alone. Managing many properties also gives an investment firm more bargaining power with lenders and insurers, helping it secure better loan terms and pricing. And with several professionals involved in managing the investments, decisions do not depend on one person staying involved over time.But even with those responsibilities handled, the way an investment is owned still affects how income is distributed and how much of it an investor ultimately keeps. Tax Considerations That Can Influence Real Estate Wealth StrategiesTax considerations are central to real estate wealth strategies, since taxes affect how much income investors keep. A major part of that tax treatment comes from depreciation, which the IRS describes as recovering an income-producing property’s cost through yearly deductions. Industry experts note that those deductions often defer tax on real estate distributions. The tax code also recognizes some of the costs that come with owning the property, with mortgage interest and many operating expenses deductible under IRS rules. Depreciation can also be accelerated, as cost segregation places qualifying property components into shorter depreciation periods, and bonus depreciation currently allows a 100% first-year deduction for certain qualified property. During ownership, depreciation and other factors can help reduce an investor’s taxable income, potentially allowing a larger portion of property cash flow to be tax deferred. Beyond the benefits available while holding the asset, long-term real estate investors may also qualify for favorable capital gains treatment when they sell. Real estate held for more than one year generally receives long-term capital-gains treatment, although a portion of the gain attributable to prior depreciation deductions may be subject to depreciation recapture. Instead of recognizing that gain immediately, investors also use qualifying 1031 exchanges to defer it by exchanging investment real estate for other like-kind real estate. If property is held until it passes to heirs, a step-up in basis generally resets its tax basis to fair market value at death, often reducing later taxable gain. REIT investors follow separate rules, with eligible taxpayers qualifying for a Section 199A deduction on qualified REIT dividends. REIT shareholders generally do not receive the same direct benefit from property-level depreciation deductions or access to tax-deferral strategies such as 1031 exchanges. In exchange for greater liquidity and convenience, REIT investors may face a different after-tax profile than investors in directly owned or privately held real estate.Building a Diversified Legacy Through Real Estate That Lasts Beyond One GenerationGiven how much goes into building a family legacy, combining different property investments starts with matching each choice to a family’s income needs and long-term goals. Real estate investment managers who work with family enterprises point to diversified investing and tax-efficient growth as important parts of building wealth across multiple generations.Keeping those investments aligned over many years requires consistency in how they are managed, especially as family circumstances and decision-makers change. Institutional real estate managers support that consistency through ongoing underwriting and asset management rather than leaving each investment dependent on one person’s involvement. Maintaining that consistency also depends on the people who eventually inherit responsibility, since understanding why the family owns certain investments helps guide how they are managed. Preparing the next generation means leaving more than financial resources behind. It means creating a portfolio that can continue serving the family long after today’s decision-makers are gone. By combining income generation, growth potential, diversification, and tax efficiency, real estate can play a meaningful role in preserving wealth across generations and help build a lasting legacy that future family members can understand, steward, and benefit from for decades to come.This story was produced by Buchanan Street Partners and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The trucking companies with the worst federal safety scores Roadside inspections offer one of the clearest public views into the condition of commercial vehicles operating across the United States. Federal records track how many vehicles and drivers inspectors examined, how many were placed out of service and how frequently carriers were involved in reportable crashes.A vehicle can be placed out of service when an inspection identifies a condition serious enough that the truck cannot continue operating until the problem is corrected. The resulting out-of-service rate represents the percentage of vehicle inspections that ended with an out-of-service order — not the percentage of a carriers entire fleet deemed unsafe.The distinction matters. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says the performance information in its Safety Measurement System is intended to help enforcement agencies determine which carriers may warrant additional attention. The agency cautions that the information should not be treated as an overall federal safety grade. FMCSA also notes that crash records show a carrier’s involvement in a reportable crash, not who was responsible.To examine how federal inspection findings differ among large interstate carriers, THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys, a Las Vegas personal injury law firm, reviewed FMCSA carrier records and Federal Highway Administration freight corridor data. This analysis includes three active interstate carriers with more than 500 power units and at least 400 vehicle inspections, with reported vehicle out-of-service rates exceeding FMCSA’s national average of 22.26%. Freight corridors are included as geographic context based on each carrier’s registered headquarters. They do not represent verified company route shares.North American Van Lines: 31.3% vehicle out-of-service rateNorth American Van Lines reported 1,333 power units and 1,357 drivers in its FMCSA company snapshot. Of 485 vehicle inspections conducted during the preceding 24 months, 152 resulted in an out-of-service order, yielding an out-of-service rate of 31.3%. That was 9 percentage points above the 22.26% national average reported by FMCSA.Its driver out-of-service rate moved in the other direction. Inspectors placed drivers out of service during 3.9% of 883 driver inspections, compared with a national average of 6.67%.In the same report, FMCSA recorded 34 reportable crashes involving the carrier during the same 24-month period: two fatal crashes, 11 involving injuries, and 21 requiring a tow. The agency notes that its figures document crash involvement without assigning responsibility. North American Van Lines remained active and authorized to operate and held a satisfactory federal safety rating in the snapshot dated July 25, 2026.The carrier’s registered headquarters is in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Interstate 69 passes through the city, while Interstate 469 forms a bypass that connects with I-69 on Fort Wayne’s north and south sides. FHWA designates the portion of I-69 extending north from Indianapolis to the Michigan line as part of the Primary Highway Freight System, a network of nationally important freight routes. I-469 is also part of the National Highway Freight Network.Transco Lines: 29.7% vehicle out-of-service rateTransco Lines reported 565 power units and 655 drivers. Inspectors conducted 671 vehicle inspections during the 24-month reporting window and placed vehicles out of service in 199 of them, resulting in a 29.7% rate. The company’s driver out-of-service rate was substantially lower: 14 of 1,343 driver inspections resulted in an out-of-service order, or 1%.The carrier was involved in 56 reportable crashes during the period covered by the July 19, 2026, snapshot. One involved a fatality, 15 involved injuries,and 40 required a tow. Transco was active, authorized to operate and had a satisfactory federal safety rating.Transco’s registered headquarters is in Russellville, Arkansas, along the Interstate 40 corridor. FHWA classifies the entire 284-mile portion of I-40 between Arkansas’ borders with Oklahoma and Tennessee as part of the Primary Highway Freight System. Federal freight-flow analysis has also identified I-40, along with I-30, as one of Arkansas’ highest-volume routes for trucks passing through the state.Atlas Van Lines: 24.1% vehicle out-of-service rateAtlas Van Lines had the largest fleet in this group, reporting 2,731 power units. FMCSA records showed 879 vehicle inspections during the previous 24 months. Of those, 212 resulted in vehicles being placed out of service, for a rate of 24.1%.The company’s driver out-of-service rate was 4.3%, based on 71 out-of-service findings among 1,634 driver inspections. Both rates were closer to their respective national averages than those of the other carriers examined.Atlas was involved in 61 reportable crashes during the 24-month period: none were fatal, 13 resulted in injuries and 48 required a tow. Its July 2026 FMCSA snapshot listed the carrier as active and authorized, with a satisfactory safety rating following a 2024 compliance review.Atlas’ registered headquarters is in Evansville, Indiana, near the southern end of Interstate 69. The Indiana Department of Transportation describes I-69 as a primary north-south artery for moving goods and services and part of a longer corridor intended to connect the Canadian and Mexican borders. Portions of I-69 around Evansville are included in the National Highway Freight Network.What the federal records can and cannot showOut-of-service rates provide a standardized way to compare roadside inspection outcomes, but they do not measure every vehicle in a carrier’s fleet. Commercial vehicles are inspected at different frequencies and enforcement agencies may focus inspections on particular carriers, vehicles, locations or observed conditions.The numbers also describe different dimensions of carrier operations. A relatively high vehicle out-of-service rate can appear alongside a below-average driver out-of-service rate, as it did for all three carriers examined here. And although crash counts add context, they do not establish fault or show how many miles a carrier traveled for each crash.All three carriers remained authorized to operate and held satisfactory federal safety ratings in the latest records reviewed. FMCSA specifically notes that roadside performance indicators are not substitutes for those formal ratings or for a broader assessment of a company’s safety practices.Likewise, the highways identified here are major freight corridors near the carriers’ registered headquarters, not confirmed rankings of the roads their trucks use most. Public FMCSA inspection data can support an analysis of the states in which each carrier was inspected most frequently, but it does not include carrier-specific highway mileage or complete route histories.Used carefully, the records are best understood as a snapshot of what inspectors found, rather than a verdict on how a company operates across every mile of its network.This story was produced by THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Vehicle strikes UnityPoint Health-Trinity near emergency room Bettendorf firefighters were called to UnityPoint Health-Trinity after a vehicle drove into a window near the emergency room, according to a news release from the Bettendorf Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched to UnityPoint Health-Trinity Bettendorf, 4500 Utica Ridge Road, on Oct. 7 at 11:30 p.m. for a report of a vehicle that had driven into [...]
	John Deere Classic to announce charitable contributions for 2026 John Deere Classic officials are announcing the total of their charitable contribution from this year’s event.
	What every woman should know about menopause and heart health Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., yet most doctors wait until cholesterol reaches dangerous levels to treat it. That can mean missing the silent cardiovascular shifts that begin years earlier — often during perimenopause.As Hone Health explains below, that’s why perimenopause is increasingly viewed as a critical “window of opportunity” to protect heart health. A 2026 analysis in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that perimenopausal women were twice as likely to have lower measures of cardiovascular health as women with regular menstrual cycles.Before menopause, estrogen clears cholesterol from the blood, keeps blood vessels healthy, maintains insulin sensitivity, and regulates inflammation — all of which support heart health. When estrogen levels fluctuate in perimenopause and then plummet after menopause, those protections erode, even as a basic cholesterol panel continues to stay within a normal range.How Declining Estrogen Affects the HeartEstrogen protects the heart across multiple pathways, which is what makes its loss during menopause so destabilizing. Hone Health Cholesterol and blood vesselsHDL cholesterol (the “good” kind) carries excess cholesterol to the liver for disposal. Estradiol, the main form of estrogen, helps regulate both the amount of HDL in the blood and how well it works. As estradiol falls, HDL particles can become smaller and less effective, even if HDL levels on a blood test fall within normal reference ranges.At the same time, LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and ApoB, which reflects the number of plaque-forming particles in the blood, rise fastest in the year before and after menopause. So now you’ve got more bad cholesterol and fewer good particles to effectively clear it.Blood vessels may also become stiffer, making it easier for plaque to build. A study of more than 52,000 women linked estrogen loss during menopause with increased arterial stiffness.Abdominal fat and blood sugarBefore menopause, estrogen helps direct fat to the hips and thighs. As estrogen declines, fat storage shifts toward the midsection, where it’s more harmful for the heart.The 2021 SWAN study found that visceral fat, the deeply embedded fat surrounding the internal organs, begins accumulating faster in the two years before the final menstrual period. It rises from roughly 5%–8% of total body fat before menopause to 15%–20% afterward. Research has linked this buildup to increased plaque in the arteries supplying the brain, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke.Estrogen also helps cells respond to insulin and keeps blood sugar stable. As estrogen falls, insulin resistance may increase, raising the risk of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.Blood pressure and inflammationEstrogen’s anti-inflammatory effects help keep blood vessels healthy and blood pressure stable. As it declines, inflammation and blood pressure may rise.Inflammation makes arteries thicker, stiffer, and more likely to accumulate plaque, while high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder. Over time, both can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.Blood clottingEstrogen also helps regulate the platelets that form blood clots. As estrogen declines, the clotting system may become more reactive. A clot that forms on arterial plaque can block blood flow to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.These shifts may help explain why stroke rates double in women between their late forties and early sixties.Heart Health Tests to Ask About in MidlifeA standard cholesterol panel is a useful starting point, but it may not tell the whole story. Ask your doctor whether you also need:Lipoprotein(a). This genetic marker, which you need to check only once, measures a sticky, inflammation-promoting form of LDL that independently raises risk for heart disease and stroke. Lp(a) levels rise after menopause by 20%–30%, but can be lowered with hormone therapy.Hematocrit. This marker measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. Higher levels mean thicker blood. Elevated hematocrit can signal reduced circulation efficiency and increased clotting risk.Blood pressure. Sustained increases over time, even within the normal range, can suggest blood vessel stiffening and warrant deeper cardiac evaluation.Hot flash frequency and duration. Women whose hot flashes persist across four or more annual checkups have a measurably increased cardiovascular risk. Studies have linked persistent hot flashes to stiffer arteries, which often lead to plaque buildup.Measuring estrogen itself generally does not reveal a woman’s heart risk. Levels fluctuate widely during perimenopause, and women with similar estrogen levels can have very different heart risks depending on their age, genetics, health history, and lifestyle.Can HRT Help Protect Heart Health?For many women, HRT can restore estrogen to levels that significantly reduce the factors driving heart disease, particularly when initiated at the right time and under the right conditions. Benefits may depend on these factors:TimingThe cardiovascular risk-benefit profile is generally most favorable when HRT is started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause. In the large-scale Women’s Health Initiative study, women ages 50–59 who received estrogen-only HRT had a 40% lower risk of heart attack than those who received a placebo.After age 60, the risk-benefit equation shifts, raising cardiovascular risk, which is why decisions made later require more individualized assessment.Type of HRTThe formulation of HRT affects how estradiol is metabolized and the risks it carries. Oral estrogen passes through the liver and can increase triglycerides and clotting factors in some women. Transdermal estrogen — delivered through a patch, gel, or cream — bypasses the liver and may offer a more favorable clotting profile for some patients.Whether a woman needs estrogen alone or estrogen plus progesterone also depends on her health history and whether she has a uterus. A clinician can help determine the safest option.Your health historyHRT requires individualized guidance if you have a history of:Breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive cancerBlood clots or a clotting disorderHistory of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular diseaseLiver or gallbladder diseaseSome women with these conditions may still have hormonal treatment options, but the decision should be made with a clinician familiar with their history. Hone Health A Smarter Approach to Midlife Heart HealthHone-affiliated physicians recommend going beyond standard cholesterol testing to assess whether estrogen loss is affecting arterial inflammation, metabolic health, liver function, and hormones together.If HRT is appropriate, treatment should be matched to the patient’s symptoms, health history, test results, and stage of menopause. But hormones are only one part of the picture. Strength training, aerobic activity, sleep quality, and diet all directly influence ApoB, blood pressure, and insulin resistance, the same markers driving cardiovascular risk.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why you sweat more in Halloween costumes, and how to stay fresh anyway The look is perfect at 7 p.m., and it's only 55 degrees outside. But 10 minutes into wearing your Halloween costume, and you're already sweating. A lot. By 10 p.m., you're hunting for a bathroom to assess the damage.Knowing how to stay fresh in a Halloween costume starts with understanding why costumes turn into a sauna in the first place. It comes down to a simple chain: synthetic fabrics, layers, and zero airflow trap body heat. AXE, the deodorant brand for guys, shares why Halloween costume sweat happens and how to fix it. AXE How Halloween Costumes and Parties Turn Up the Heat1. Synthetic fabrics that trap moistureMost costumes are polyester, nylon, or vinyl, and they’re designed for affordability and durability, not airflow, giving bacteria exactly what they need to get to work. Vinyl, latex, and PVC are the worst offenders, with zero breathability and a full barrier against evaporation. Expect more sweat and a stronger odor in a full vinyl or latex costume."Clothing doesn't just absorb sweat; it changes the climate sitting on top of your skin, which directly determines how much your body sweats," says Unilever R&D scientist Matt Annecharico. "Breathable fabrics and natural fibers allow for more evaporation, while clothing that’s synthetic and fits tightly doesn’t allow for as much evaporation, which means more sweat can occur."Cotton-based costumes breathe better and are a more comfortable choice for Halloween-party freshness. But they also show those wet patches more.2. More layers, more sweaty buildupA costume may also require more layers than you'd normally wear. You may be wearing an undershirt, costume piece, accessories and a cape or robe on top. Each layer adds heaviness and reduces the chance of sweat evaporating.3. The heat traps of masks and hatsYour head and face release a significant share of body heat. Block them with a hat, mask, or headpiece, and your core temperature rises, triggering sweat production across your whole body.Wigs also trap heat and hold onto bacterial buildup faster than real hair while masks limit airflow around your face and neck. A few minutes of breathing into one creates warm, damp conditions where bacteria get busy fast.4. Crowded indoor partiesBody heat from 30 other people in a small space seriously raises the room temperature. Add dancing and drinks, and your body is working hard.5. Excitement triggering stress sweatThe anticipation and social energy of Halloween fire up your apocrine glands to release stress sweat. This is on top of your eccrine glands already doing the cooling-down work. Apocrine sweat contains proteins and fats that bacteria break down, and this is what causes a stronger odor.Halloween costume sweat isn't just about heat. It's two types of sweat hitting at once.How to Prep Before Putting on a CostumeThe work happens before the costume goes on. Here's how to set yourself up, so the fabric, the heat, and the crowd don't win.Shower with an odor-fighting body washBacteria turn sweat into odor. Start clean, and there's less for them to work with. A body wash with odor-busting ingredients is more effective than regular soap, especially before a long event in a costume.Apply antiperspirant the night beforeAluminum-based active ingredients in antiperspirant need time to work properly. Applying your product the night before to clean, dry skin keeps protection going through the next day.Towel dry well before dressingAntiperspirant on damp skin won't work properly. Towel dry your pits well before applying, and give it 60 seconds to set before the first costume layer goes on.Layer your scent familyBody wash, antiperspirant, and a spritz of body spray from the same scent family reinforce fragrance through the night. In a costume that traps odor, your scent needs all the help it can get.Antiperspirant or Deodorant Under a Heavy Costume?Antiperspirant and deodorant are different products with different jobs. Under a heavy or restrictive costume, this matters more than usual.Antiperspirant is the right base. It reduces sweat reaching the skin, which means less moisture trapped all night, less bacterial activity, and less odor. For full-coverage costumes with limited airflow, this is where you start.Deodorant alone won't cut it. It helps with odor but doesn't stop sweat. In a costume that traps moisture, the sweat itself becomes the problem.The move is an antiperspirant base the night before, and body spray during the night for scent refresh without needing a costume change.How to Stay Fresh All Night Without Breaking CharacterCarry a travel-size body sprayIt’s your most useful Halloween night accessory. A quick spritz to the neck and wrists refreshes scent without disturbing the costume or makeup. And it fits in a pocket or small bag.Strategic bathroom breaksA quick wipe of your pits plus a body spray refresh is a 30-second reset that buys you the next few hours. Don't reapply antiperspirant over sweat. It won't bond, and you'll get residue on the fabric.Plan a costume-light momentBetween events, trick-or-treating or before the afterparty, shed a layer or step outside for five minutes of cool air. Your body resets, and the next phase starts fresher.Watch your drinksAlcohol increases sweat. Pacing with water keeps you cooler inside the costume and reduces sweat output throughout the night.Skip the heavy pre-party mealSpicy food, garlic, and onions make body odor worse. Save the feast for after.Why Your Scent Is Part of the Costume TooScent is a powerful thing, hitting the part of your brain that handles emotion and memory even before you’re aware of it. Research also shows that wearing a scent you like boosts your mood and confidence. It’s useful when you're about to walk into a packed party in a hairy monster suit.The people around you also pick up on your scent, even when they don't consciously register it, so it makes sense to choose one that fits.A signature scent gives you something consistent when everything else is a costume. Layer your body wash, antiperspirant and body spray, and this move outlasts any single product on its own.FAQsHow long before Halloween should I apply antiperspirant?The night before. Not the morning of. Sweat production drops overnight, which gives aluminum-based active ingredients time to do their thing. Protection carries into the next day, even after your morning shower.What's the best way to remove sweat smell from a costume after Halloween?Mix one cup of white vinegar with cold water and pre-soak the costume for 30 minutes, then wash cold with an extra rinse cycle. Skip the fabric softener and air-dry if you can. Vinyl or latex? Check the care label first. Some need spot-cleaning only, and the dryer isn’t their friend.Will sweating in a costume ruin my Halloween makeup?Yes, if you're not prepared. Sweat breaks down cream-based and powder products fast. Setting spray, oil-control primers, and waterproof formulas hold up much longer. For the rest of your body, night-before antiperspirant means less sweat reaching your costume fabric in the first place.What antiperspirant works best for a Halloween costume party?A 48-hour antiperspirant stick applied the night before. Active ingredients get time to work while your sweat production is naturally lower, and protection carries through a full night of heat, layers, and the dance floor.Why does my costume still smell after washing?Synthetic fabrics trap bacterial buildup deep in the fibers. Standard detergent often can't shift it. Pre-soak in vinegar before washing to break down the residue. Skip the dryer if any smell remains. High heat sets odor into the fabric, and then it stays there.Halloween is one night. The costume is temporary. The memory of being the guy who smelled great in a full latex suit is forever.Apply antiperspirant the night before, use an odor-fighting body wash and keep a body spray in your pocket. That's the whole routine. It’s just a few steps to save you from a 10 p.m. odor emergency when you’re trapped in rubber.This story was produced by AXE and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Put the credit cards away. Workforce Pell will help pay for career training Indiana has more than 500 job openings for medical assistants, but training for the job isn’t cheap — between $1,500 and $4,000 at lower-cost schools, such as Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College.The reduced $1,500 tuition for low-income people the college offers is still a challenge for students trying to bootstrap their way to an entry-level job.But a major expansion of Pell Grants, long a key part of college financial aid, will soon pay for a big part of career training programs and can make some programs like Ivy Tech’s essentially free to low-income students.The 74 examined how new Workforce Pell Grants, created by Congress last year and rolling out this summer, will help pay for training for career credentials taking less than four months, potentially in fields such as nursing, commercial truck driving or cosmetology. The change breaks Pell’s longstanding restriction to only pay for degree programs, which usually take two years or more.With Americans losing faith in colleges and seeking less-costly, less time-consuming ways to train for jobs, short-term programs that help students earn credentials have grown in popularity, tripling by some measures.Quick credentials rarely lead to jobs with middle class pay, with some offering less than $30,000 a year. Experts say students should look at them as just a building block to adding skills over time, but the grants will help students start working for more than minimum wage.“This is going to give students a real opportunity to enter into higher education for the first time, where they’re going to take on little to no debt…and get into the workforce faster,” Nicholas Kent, federal under secretary of education, told reporters earlier this year.Grant amounts depend on a student’s finances, but those with low income can receive as much as $4,000 to cover training costs, depending on the length of the program. Students in Ivy Tech’s program, at just eight weeks long, would receive about $1,800, leaving a few hundred dollars extra to pay for books and transportation.“This is going to be a huge benefit to both students and employers,” said Molly Dodge, senior vice president of workforce and careers at Ivy Tech. “We can reach more students who have financial need and support their education and training.”Iris Palmer, an analyst for nonprofit think tank New America, agreed that Workforce Pell will be a big help to some students. She pointed to an analysis last year by the Pew Charitable Trusts showing most people are paying for the costs of work credentials out of pocket, without help from loans or grants.“It will help a group of people not pay for these things on their credit cards,” Palmer said.Originally created by Congress as Basic Educational Opportunity Grants in 1972, the Pell Grants are the single biggest source of federal financial aid grants for low- and moderate-income students attending college. Students receive between $740 and $7,400 a year, depending on family size and income, toward associate and bachelor’s degree programs.Making smaller Pell Grants available for work training has been a goal of some legislators and advocates for two decades or more, and was even tested as a pilot at a few colleges between 2012 and 2017.After years of debate, Congress created the Workforce Pell as part of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. The U.S. Department of Education released detailed rules in May to make sure grants cover training with a track record of helping students, and the program officially launched July 1.Rollout will be slow, however, as states sort through requirements that programs serve in-demand jobs, have a shorter length than traditional Pell (150 to 599 clock hours over eight to 15 weeks), show that students are hired quickly after finishing, and lead to pay of at least $24,000 a year — all factors that vary by program and local economies.States have to approve programs individually before sending them to the Department of Education for a final decision, which has states at varying stages of accepting, reviewing and approving applications from colleges. In many cases, income data for each program isn’t readily available or existing programs are a little shorter or longer than the new requirements, so they are not eligible without changes.“It’s going to take a while for states and institutions to figure out,” said Randall Stamper, who leads work training efforts at Virginia’s community colleges. “It’s just not plug and play.”The first program approved by the Department of Education was a 14-week EMT training program at Iowa Central Community College. Meanwhile, other states are still deciding which programs to even submit for federal approval.Ohio, for example, has received applications from six community colleges for 10 programs ranging from firefighting to nursing and EMT training. Ohio’s Department of Higher Education has rejected a few applications for not meeting requirements and has yet to approve any to pass on to the federal government.In Indiana, Ivy Tech’s Certified Medical Assistant training was the only program that could immediately meet all the requirements. The state submitted that program for federal approval in July, and the Department of Education approved the program in August.Dodge said the school is looking at other programs it can adapt, sometimes by adjusting training length, or if there are new ones it can create with businesses to help fill their needs for employees.“We really wanted to enable our campuses to have a program right off the bat to help us test this model,” Dodge said. “It’s brand new … We want a program that we can pilot, learn from, and then take those lessons learned into new program offerings.”Stamper said Virginia has few programs that immediately qualify, despite a statewide effort called Fast Forward aimed at helping students earn credentials at community colleges as fast as possible. Sometimes students can earn a credential in six or seven weeks or in just 80 to 120 hours — too fast, he said, to fit the Workforce Pell rules.Virginia, like other states, is exploring whether to adjust programs by a few hours or bundle training for a few certificates into one program, but Stamper said it won’t add extra hours only to qualify.“If a student can go to a college and earn a valuable credential in four weeks that will get them employed…I am reluctant to force that student to stay twice as long simply to be able to apply for a portion of federal money to pay for the tuition,” he said.Stamper understands why Congress and the Department of Education set the rules, though.“Do I think that some valuable programs are not going to be eligible because they miss that duration? Yeah, I do,” he said. “But I recognize the need to try to have some way to ensure value to a student if they’re going to receive Pell to pay for it. It’s a hard needle to thread.”With so few programs immediately matching Workforce Pell’s requirements, it’s hard for students to know if and when they might receive the help pursuing their field. But experts offer some hints at which fields are likely to have qualifying programs.Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, at the request of The 74, combined income data it tracks with a list of fields that require training that roughly meets the range covered by Workforce Pell. Researchers there found that training for welding, auto repair, cosmetology and early childhood education could potentially qualify, along with the fields colleges are already applying for.A separate analysis of earnings of training programs in Washington state by American University’s Postsecondary Education and Economics Research (PEER) Center found that training for fields such as vehicle maintenance, medical assisting, and clinical lab science are likely to qualify, but programs for practical nursing and cosmetology may not meet income requirements.PEER’s analysis differs from Georgetown’s, notably, on cosmetology, which often has such low pay that people often earn less than people with just high school degrees even after paying for training and earning a license.Cosmetology is one field where low pay will make Workforce Pell approval variable, depending on program cost and local demand and pay. But advocates say requiring programs and states to find real hiring and income data is forcing hard looks at the real value of all training programs, not just those applying for Workforce Pell, that should eventually weed out programs students may be wasting time and money on now.Jeff Strohl, director of Georgetown’s center, said students should consider the pay a program leads to carefully. Though a quick credential can give students an immediate pay boost, that credential alone is usually not enough to earn middle class wages over time. Students should consider them a first step and stack other credentials or degrees together as they go.“Not many of these bring a nonpoverty wage if that’s all you get,” he cautioned. “We have to be really, really careful trying to sell youth that you can go take a six-week course and expect to be getting a living wage.”This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The faster-turnaround advantage: How preferred SBA lenders help businesses move quickly Small businesses are a pillar of the U.S. economy, generating trillions of dollars in economic output and employing roughly 62.3 million workers. But they are also among the first to feel the pain of an economic downturn. Unlike large corporations, small businesses rarely have the luxury of large cash reserves.When cash gets tight, owners typically turn to bank loans, lines of credit, and credit cards to keep the business running, smooth out volatile cash flow, or fund growth. That makes funding speed critical. A business with only a few weeks of cash can’t afford to wait months for financing.This is why the Preferred SBA Lenders program exists: to give qualified lenders greater authority to approve SBA-backed loans and small businesses faster access to capital.Below, Plains State Bank explains how preferred SBA lenders can help small businesses.Why Preferred Lenders Cut Loan Approval Time in HalfThe Preferred Lenders Program (PLP) is an official program managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Its purpose is to streamline administrative processing, shorten loan turnaround times, and relieve federal administrative burden.Since the SBA does not act as a direct lender, the cash has to come from standard private institutions, also known as SBA lenders. Under PLP, some lenders perform better than others and are granted delegated authority.This means PLP banks can make final credit decisions, issue approvals, and handle loan servicing internally without waiting on the SBA.The Authority That Speeds ApprovalsSBA lenders without PLP status must gather applicants’ financial documents, complete underwriting, and then submit the full loan package to an SBA government processing center. A federal loan officer reviews the package and decides whether to issue the government guarantee.But if a lender receives PLP status, it means the SBA trusts it enough to step back. Unlike standard loan processing, where the data must go through the SBA, a PLP lender can make the decision internally.This means that an SBA preferred lender can cut weeks from a small business owner’s loan application. If the standard approval process can take 60-90 days, it often drops to 30-45 days with a PLP lender. For a small business financing its growth, this can be enough time to snag commercial real estate or acquire competitors before larger companies can act.Why PLP Status Is Rare and Hard to KeepThe Preferred Lenders Program is backed by a broad, nationwide network. Across the U.S., there are thousands of financial institutions authorized to issue SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loans, which gives small businesses access to a wide lender network.The network spans almost every tier of the financial sector, from national megabanks like Huntington National Bank or TD Bank, local community banks, non-bank institutions, and digital-first banks.Still, not every financial institution can gain PLP status. This privilege is reserved only for institutions vetted by the SBA that have demonstrated a high volume of successfully originated SBA loans, deep knowledge of SBA regulations, and low historical default rates.Also, PLP status is not permanent. The SBA reviews preferred SBA lenders every two years. If a lender’s default rates spike, or if SBA audits reveal they are taking shortcut risks, the SBA strips them of their delegated authority.How PLP Helps Small Businesses Move FasterThe main advantage of working with an SBA lender with PLP status is the shorter approval period. However, small business owners need to understand that this doesn’t bypass federal underwriting criteria. A borrower still has to provide standard tax returns, debt schedules, and financial statements.The timeline savings occur entirely in the administrative phase, not the borrower-preparation phase. Here’s a quick overview of the difference in funding speed between non-PLP lenders and PLP ones: Plains State Bank In fast-moving business scenarios, such as commercial real estate acquisitions, inventory buys, or business purchases, the shortened timeline can be invaluable. Owners can act on time-sensitive, high-dollar opportunities that are hard to come by in markets dominated by companies with larger budgets and operations.A PLP lender delivers the favorable interest rates and terms of a government-backed loan with the operational efficiency of a streamlined private commercial lender.Matching Your Deal Type to the Right LenderFinding the right preferred lender is more than just picking a bank off a list. A borrower’s deal profile (commercial real estate, working capital, or business acquisition) must match a lender whose internal risk tolerance aligns with the industry.Since PLP lenders have internal underwriters who make the final call, approval criteria vary significantly from one financial institution to another. So, even though the process is shorter, borrowers still have to identify, vet, and select the right PLP lender for their business.Businesses looking to finance a commercial real estate project should apply to large regional or national brick-and-mortar banks. For business acquisition and/or partner buyouts, it’s best to look to specialized digital/online SBA banks. Meanwhile, non-bank PLP lenders are more open to accepting higher-risk profiles or non-traditional cash flows.The Search for a Local LenderSince the PLP lender network is vast, the SBA streamlines the process for small businesses to connect with local, regional, and national lenders based on business type and funding needs.Owners can also use the SBA’s quarterly or annual Top 7(a) Lenders Report. The top 20 to 30 lenders on this list almost universally hold national PLP status and have dedicated, streamlined SBA underwriting departments.For a non-digital approach, businesses can contact their state’s SBA district offices and request a current directory of active preferred lenders in a specific market.Why PLP Matters for Growing BusinessesPreferred SBA lenders are financial institutions vetted by the SBA as trustworthy partners for small businesses in need of quick funding. Their purpose is to support small entrepreneurs by reducing the loan processing time without increasing risks.This story was produced by Plains State Bank and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A few scares, some laughs and dirt in your beverage \| Dani's Weekend Rundown for Oct. 8-11 Want to get out and get busy? It's the perfect weekend for a race, concert, vintage market, scary movie, festive food or raising awareness for a great cause.
	Three things to know: Oct. 8, 2026 Birdies for Charity, Junior Achievement of the Heartland celebrates 70 years and an update on your forecast.
	Self-Employed and Can’t Get a Mortgage? The Loan Type May Be the Problem Many self-employed borrowers who are told they do not qualify for a mortgage are not actually unqualified. They are applying through a loan type that measures income in a way that works against them. Conventional mortgages rely on tax returns, and for self-employed borrowers, tax returns are designed to minimize taxable income. That creates a gap between what a borrower actually earns and what a traditional lender sees on paper. Daniel Norris, a wholesale account executive at a California-based non-QM residential lender, says he encounters this disconnect daily, not just from borrowers, but from the mortgage brokers who are supposed to find them solutions. The Broker Bottleneck The first barrier for many self-employed buyers is not the lender; it is their own broker’s assumptions, according to Norris. He says the most common reaction he gets when reaching out to brokers about non-QM products is flat dismissal. “I don’t do non-QM,” he hears. “I just take my borrowers conventionally.” That response means the broker has already decided, before examining the deal, that any borrower who does not fit a conventional box simply does not get a loan. For a salaried W-2 employee with steady pay stubs, conventional lending works. For a freelancer, small business owner, or contractor, the rigid documentation requirements of conventional loans can be a dead end. Self-employed borrowers often have tax returns that understate their actual cash flow, Norris explains. Write-offs, depreciation, and other legitimate deductions reduce the income figure on paper. A conventional underwriter looks at that reduced number and rejects the application, even when the business itself is thriving. Alternative Documentation Paths Non-QM lenders address this gap with a range of alternative documentation products. Bank statement loans are among the most common for self-employed borrowers: rather than relying on tax returns, the lender reviews months of business or personal bank deposits to gauge actual income. Other non-QM paths include asset-depletion loans, which qualify borrowers based on liquid assets rather than income, and debt-service-coverage-ratio (DSCR) loans, used primarily by real estate investors and based on a property’s rental income rather than the borrower’s personal earnings. As Norris describes the bank statement approach, the idea is to “take a look at their bank statements and see what their business is doing and being able to go off of that income.” If money is flowing into a borrower’s accounts consistently, that deposit history can offer a more accurate picture of earning power than a tax return engineered to reduce a tax bill. These products still involve underwriting, credit review, and documentation requirements. They are not the stated-income loans of the pre-2008 era, but they answer the same underlying question — can this borrower afford this mortgage — using different evidence than a tax return. Beyond Self-Employment The self-employed scenario is the most common, but non-QM products fill other gaps as well. Norris notes that non-QM lending also serves foreign national borrowers, non-permanent residents, and buyers purchasing non-warrantable condos, properties that do not meet the criteria conventional lenders require for condominium financing. Each of these categories represents a buyer who has the financial capacity to purchase a home but does not fit the specific documentation or property requirements of conventional lending. The Cost of the Alternative Path Non-QM loans typically carry higher interest rates than conventional mortgages, reflecting the additional risk lenders take on with alternative documentation. The exact difference depends on the borrower’s credit profile, the loan-to-value ratio, and the specific product. Non-QM loans also fall outside the Qualified Mortgage designation established by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which carries certain borrower protections tied to standardized ability-to-repay documentation. Stepping outside that framework means both borrower and lender accept additional risk. For a self-employed buyer, the relevant question is whether paying a higher rate for a loan they can actually obtain is preferable to being shut out of homeownership by conventional underwriting. That is a personal calculation, not a universal answer. A Growing but Still Unfamiliar Market Norris frames the core problem as one of awareness. “The misconception is I already have what I need, I don’t do non-QM, I don’t need it,” he says of how many brokers think. Brokers who work exclusively in conventional lending may never present the alternative to borrowers who could benefit from it. Non-QM lending has expanded in recent years, with new lenders entering the space and some conventional lenders adding non-QM offerings alongside their existing lines. For self-employed borrowers shopping for a mortgage, the most practical step is asking a broker directly whether they work with non-QM lenders, and if they do not, finding one who does. About the Expert: Daniel Norris leads a wholesale sales team at American Heritage Lending, a California-based non-QM lender. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views and opinions expressed herein reflect those of the individuals quoted and do not represent an endorsement of any company, product, or service mentioned. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
	A Seller’s Strongest Negotiating Position in Fairfield County, CT Starts Before the First Showing The Fairfield County, Connecticut housing market heading into fall 2026 doesn’t fit neatly into a single headline. Some homes are drawing multiple offers above asking. Others, in the same county and sometimes in the same town, are sitting. According to Kristin Egmont, a Coldwell Banker Realty agent based in Trumbull who has been licensed and active since 2003, understanding that split is the most important thing a seller can do before listing this fall. “Buyers will still compete for a home that’s well prepared and priced correctly, but they’re not automatically competing for everything,” Egmont said. “A house can attract multiple offers where another is going to sit because the price doesn’t reflect its condition or the work that needs to be done.” A Market That Depends on the House Egmont describes the current market as softening, with conditions varying widely by town, price point, and property type. In Westport, she says, competition remains strong and homes are still going over asking. In Trumbull, she recently worked with buyers who had spent two years searching for the right home, found it at $1.3 million, and then paused because of where interest rates had moved. At the same time, a home she listed in the $700,000 range, well positioned and priced correctly, received multiple offers. “Things are definitely softening, not to the extent of the national headlines, but Connecticut is starting to feel it a little bit,” she said. “A strong market doesn’t eliminate the need for a strategy. Sellers hear hot market and sometimes assume that means any price will work.” Buyers are also negotiating more than they did a few years ago. “Inspections are real, inspection negotiations are real, they’re still happening,” Egmont said. Buyers are looking past the kitchen to the age of the roof, the condition of the mechanicals, and any deferred maintenance that could become their expense after closing. Who Is Doing Well, and Who Is Struggling Egmont draws a clear line between the sellers getting strong results and the ones who find the process frustrating. “The sellers who are doing well understand where their home fits in the market,” she said. “They prepare, they price it against the right competition, and they make it easier for buyers to see. The sellers who struggle often price their home based on what they need to net, what they spent on renovations, or the highest sale they heard about in the neighborhood.” “Those things matter personally,” she added, “but they don’t necessarily establish market value.” She points to a current listing that received an above-asking offer after two weeks on the market. Even so, the sellers wondered why there weren’t multiple offers, comparing it to a sale from earlier in the year. “Price is a moment in time,” Egmont said. “It was the summer, it was a different market, it was a different house, it was a different price point. There are so many variables that go into a house getting multiple offers.” Egmont notes that the Fairfield County August report showed single-family homes selling at an average of 103 percent of asking price. She is careful about how sellers read that figure. “That doesn’t mean every seller receives an above asking offer,” she said. Getting the Launch Right the First Time For Egmont, the most valuable moment in any sale is the one before a buyer ever walks through the door. “I tell sellers your strongest negotiating position starts before your first showing,” she said. “The preparation, the pricing, and the launch all work together. If we miss that initial opportunity, we can spend the next several weeks trying to regain buyers’ attention.” That doesn’t mean a full renovation. Egmont works with sellers on repairs, staging, lighting, and photography, focusing on the items most likely to make a buyer hesitate. She recently staged a vacant Trumbull listing with an unusual layout so buyers could see how each room could be used and where their furniture would go. “People buy based on emotion,” she said. “A beautiful presentation gets them interested, but the condition and the value help them move forward.” More on how Egmont prepares and launches a listing is available on her seller process page. About The Expert: Kristin Egmont is a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. With more than 20 years of local market experience, she is known for her strategic approach, professional marketing, and hands-on client service. Learn more at kristinegmont.com. This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions. Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
	Massachusetts Appraisal Rules Change in November. Buyers Who Wait to Prepare Will Lose Deals. Most Massachusetts homebuyers will not think about new appraisal rules until those rules delay their closing. By then, according to Colleen Barry of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, the damage is already done: a seller with competing offers has no reason to wait for a buyer whose lender cannot commit to a clear timeline. Barry’s firm, a residential and commercial brokerage with roughly 700 agents across Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine, is already reaching out to lending partners to understand how the changes will affect underwriting timelines. The changes, which take effect in November, involve how appraisals are conducted and reviewed. While the full scope is still being absorbed across the industry, the immediate concern is processing delays. Barry frames the risk in practical terms: “You don’t want a deal to go sideways because you underestimated the amount of time it was going to take for them to go through the appraisal process.” How Lender Readiness Becomes a Competitive Advantage The issue is not the appraisal rules themselves but what happens downstream. If a mortgage company needs more time to complete the appraisal review, every deadline in a purchase contract is affected: the mortgage commitment date, the closing date, and any extension penalties tied to either. Barry says the key question is “understanding your lender and what their process is.” Different lenders will adapt at different speeds. Some may already be adjusting workflows. Others may not have a clear answer yet. Knowing where a lender stands before submitting an offer lets a buyer build realistic timelines into the contract from the start rather than renegotiating deadlines after the fact. This matters most in a market where well-priced, move-in-ready single-family homes still draw competition. A buyer whose offer includes tight deadlines based on current processing norms could find those deadlines unworkable under the new appraisal framework – and a seller with multiple offers has little reason to grant extensions. Using the Months Before November Barry notes that “the changes don’t take place until November,” and her firm is using that window to survey its lending partners. The goal is to learn what each lender anticipates needing from buyers and agents once the rules take effect. For buyers, the starting point is a direct conversation with their lender about whether the November changes will affect processing times on their loan type and property. Barry describes this preparation as something her firm is doing now – not waiting until the rules are live – because the competitive dynamics of the market punish uncertainty in an offer. This is not the only regulatory change Massachusetts buyers and sellers are navigating. Barry says the state has seen significant regulatory changes in recent years, layering new requirements on top of one another. Condominium financing is also shifting, with mortgage companies changing how they assess condominium buildings as a whole. Buyers purchasing a condo unit after November may face updated building-level financial review alongside the new appraisal process. Why Eastern Massachusetts Amplifies the Risk Inventory for single-family homes in the region remains tight, according to Barry. The market has been resilient despite inflation and mortgage rate fluctuations, and pricing is holding up – showing what Barry calls “moderate and normal appreciation.” Sellers who receive multiple offers can be selective, and an offer with uncertain financing timelines looks weaker than one backed by a buyer whose lender has already mapped out the new process. Barry’s concern is not that deals will collapse in large numbers. It is that avoidable delays will cost individual buyers specific properties. In a competitive market, the margin between winning and losing a home can come down to how clean and confident an offer looks. Barry notes that her firm works with lenders who help mortgage-dependent buyers appear nearly as competitive as cash buyers by completing approval steps early in the process. That kind of preparation becomes more important when appraisal timelines are less predictable. Buyers who enter the fall market with a lender who has already accounted for the rule changes will be better positioned than those who discover the delays mid-transaction. About the Expert: Colleen Barry is with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, which operates about 700 agents across 34 offices in Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views and opinions expressed herein reflect those of the individuals quoted and do not represent an endorsement of any company, product, or service mentioned. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
	Mortgage-Dependent Buyers Are Being Squeezed Out of the Florida Keys There is a growing divide in the Florida Keys housing market, and it runs along a single fault line: whether a buyer needs a mortgage. Cash buyers – many of them retirees and business owners from out of state – are driving the market’s strongest numbers. Buyers who depend on financing face compounding costs that have effectively priced out the demographic that once made up a large share of transactions. Lisa Ferringo, a realtor with the Lisa Ferringo Group at Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co. who has sold across the Keys for more than two decades, has watched this shift accelerate. Before the pandemic, she estimates roughly half her buyers came from elsewhere in Florida – many of them younger couples with children looking for a weekend or summer house. A waterfront home could be had for around $450,000, with a mortgage payment near $3,500 and manageable insurance and tax costs. That buyer has largely disappeared. “That $3,500 mortgage payment is now 6,500 or 7,000,” Ferringo said. The families who once drove demand for entry-level Keys properties can no longer afford a weekend house. Where the Money Comes From Now The buyers replacing them look different. Ferringo described a mix of retirees, Midwest farmers, company owners, and small-business operators, many from Mid-Atlantic states – South Jersey, Maryland, Delaware – along with more affluent Florida buyers. The common thread is purchasing power that does not depend on favorable interest rates. For cash buyers at the upper end, the Keys’ biggest cost headaches barely register. Citizens, Florida’s insurer of last resort, will not write policies on homes with replacement costs above a million dollars, according to Ferringo. That pushes mortgage-dependent buyers into private markets where premiums can be steep. But many cash buyers at the high end take a different approach – some carry no homeowners insurance at all, choosing to self-insure, especially on concrete-built homes they consider resilient enough to weather storms. The same property can therefore be a viable purchase for one buyer type and financially unreachable for another. A cash buyer sees a waterfront concrete home and writes a check. A mortgage-dependent buyer sees monthly principal, interest, insurance, property taxes, and flood coverage that push the real cost far beyond the list price. Rate Sensitivity Is Compounding the Problem Even for mortgage-dependent buyers who can technically qualify, rate sensitivity is shaping behavior. With rates near 7 percent, Ferringo said the impact is tangible: “That’s definitely put a little bit of a damper on the investor market.” Ferringo’s approach with financing-dependent clients is to explore seller concessions – asking sellers to buy down mortgage points for the first couple of years, with the expectation that refinancing becomes possible if rates decline. Her framing to clients: “Marry the house, not the rate,” because a home’s price appreciation is permanent while a rate is temporary. But that strategy depends on seller willingness and does not solve the insurance cost problem that hits on top of the mortgage. Deals are falling apart over these compounding costs. Ferringo said the most common reasons transactions collapse are sticker shock when the full mortgage-plus-insurance number arrives, and home inspection findings that reveal deferred maintenance – a frequent issue with second homes whose owners are not on-site to catch problems. Buyers in the Keys want a home they can use immediately, Ferringo said. “They want to go fishing, they want to come in, they want it furnished. They want to hop on their boat and have fun. They’re not here to oversee any renovation.” What This Means for Buyers Who Need Financing The Keys amplify the cost squeeze that mortgage-dependent buyers face across Florida. Construction costs are among the highest in the state – Ferringo said local builders now charge $700 to $1,200 per square foot for concrete construction. The market’s 180-mile-per-hour wind code – the highest in Florida, according to Ferringo – makes building materials and methods more expensive by design. And unlike mainland Florida, there is no nearby suburb where prices drop enough to offer relief. For buyers who need financing, the Marathon and Key Colony Beach submarkets still support weekly vacation rentals, which can offset carrying costs. Ferringo said a good rental property there could book roughly 46 weeks a year. But the gap between what a property can earn and what it costs to carry on a financed basis is wider than it was before the pandemic. The financial picture is substantially more complex than the listing price suggests. Insurance, wind coverage, flood insurance, property taxes, and potentially high renovation expenses can rival the mortgage payment itself. For properties above a million dollars in replacement cost, buyers may need to budget for private wind insurance that Citizens will not cover – a cost most first-time Keys buyers do not anticipate until deep into the transaction, according to Ferringo. Buyers relying on financing need to map out those layered costs before committing to a purchase price, not after. About the Expert: Lisa Ferringo leads the Lisa Ferringo Group, covering the Florida Keys market since relocating from Miami. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views and opinions expressed herein reflect those of the individuals quoted and do not represent an endorsement of any company, product, or service mentioned. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
	Columbus, Ohio Has 2.23 Million Residents and Barely 6,000 Homes for Sale A metropolitan area of 2.23 million people should have a deeper housing market than what Columbus, Ohio is showing right now. According to Central Ohio MLS data cited by Barbara Gale of the Gale Group at Keller Williams Consultants Realty, only 6,098 listings are active across the entire Columbus metro, a figure that falls well short of the 10,000 to 15,000 listings Gale says would represent a more normal supply level. That gap between current inventory and historical norms defines the central tension in a market that cooled from its pandemic-era frenzy but never loosened up. Gale has worked the Columbus and Dublin markets since the 1970s. She describes a market where buyer demand has softened, but supply remains too thin for prices to meaningfully decline. A Correction That Didn’t Produce Enough Supply From the COVID period through roughly early 2025, Columbus experienced the same bidding-war dynamics familiar to markets across the country, buyers paying $50,000 to $100,000 above asking price, low inventory, and intense competition. That intensity has faded. Rates have climbed into the high sixes and low sevens, and buyer demand has softened. But the expected flood of new inventory hasn’t materialized. Total listings in central Ohio sit at roughly 8,600, with only about 6,100 of those active. For a metro of 2.23 million, those numbers create a structural tightness that persists even as individual buyers pull back. Gale attributes much of the inventory lock to homeowners who refinanced or purchased at historically low rates during 2020 and 2021. Those owners have little financial incentive to sell and take on a new mortgage at current rates. Meanwhile, buyers entering the market now are balking at rates that, while historically average, feel high after a period of 2.5 to 3 percent financing. “The people that have the low interest rates that they got in 20 and 21, they’re not going to move,” Gale says. Hesitancy Beyond Rates The mood among buyers and sellers is cautious, and interest rates are only part of the explanation. Gale points to broader economic uncertainty, stock market volatility, and geopolitical tensions as factors weighing on sentiment. Real estate, in her experience, tends to track the stock market: when equities are up, housing follows, and the reverse holds too. The result is a market caught between limited supply and dampened demand. Homes that are well-staged, well-priced, and in good condition still sell quickly, often at or above asking. Those that miss on any of those three factors sit. “There always has been and always will be three reasons the house doesn’t sell: price, location, and condition,” Gale says. “The price fixes all three every time.” For sellers, the implication is direct: condition and pricing discipline matter more now than during the bidding-war years, when buyers competed aggressively enough to overlook shortcomings. Where New Construction Is Reshaping the Landscape One segment that continues to move is new construction, particularly in Dublin, where available land still allows outward development. Gale says buyers are gravitating toward newer homes when they can get them, which puts pressure on the resale market for older properties. The dynamic plays out differently in Upper Arlington, a community south of Dublin that is landlocked; there is no undeveloped land left to build on. Instead of expanding outward, the market there is rebuilding in place. Developers are purchasing older homes, tearing them down, and constructing new ones on the same lots. Gale describes a recent transaction that illustrates the scale of the price gap this creates: she sold a home in Upper Arlington that needed significant updating, had a two-car garage and a small lot – roughly 60 by 120 – for $600,000. The buyer, a builder, already has the property under contract to build a new home priced at $2.2 million on a street where surrounding values run closer to $700,000 or $800,000. The schools and the area’s reputation are driving the premium. “People think if you can live in Upper Arlington, you’ve arrived,” she says. Because the community is landlocked, buyers who want to live there either accept existing housing stock or tear it down and build what they want. Gale expects the older homes will gradually give way to newer construction, with prices continuing to rise as that transition unfolds. Opportunity in Older Neighborhoods For investors looking at central Ohio, Gale points to older housing stock in established neighborhoods as the clearest opportunity. Upper Arlington is one target, but she also identifies Clintonville Beechwold, an area within Columbus city schools that draws interest because of its older homes with architectural character. Properties in these neighborhoods that need significant work are increasingly going to auction as demand from buyers willing to renovate pushes competition. Columbus’s relative affordability compared to coastal markets remains a draw. Gale says buyers arriving from California, Colorado, and similar markets find they get significantly more square footage for the same money. She owns a one-bedroom condominium in New York – under 900 square feet – that cost over a million dollars, a sum that would buy substantially more space in Columbus. The metro’s employer base reinforces the affordability advantage. Amazon, Google, and other major corporations have located offices in Columbus, and an Intel facility east of the city remains in development, though Gale notes it is currently on hold. That corporate presence supports steady job growth, which in turn supports housing demand even when transaction volume slows. What Comes Next Gale expects the market to remain slow as long as rates stay elevated and economic uncertainty persists. The structural inventory shortage, 6,000 active listings serving a metro of 2.23 million, keeps a floor under prices even as fewer transactions close. “That’s not a lot,” Gale says of the current supply level. For buyers willing to act in a hesitant market, the trade-off is clear: competition is lighter than it was during the bidding-war years, but available inventory remains thin enough that well-priced homes in strong locations still move fast. The window is narrower than the mood suggests. About the Expert: Barbara Gale is with the Gale Group at Keller Williams Consultants Realty, which has worked the Columbus and Dublin, Ohio markets since the 1970s. This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
	Housing Is the Largest Asset Most Americans Own. It’s Also the Only One They Don’t Diversify. Stock portfolios get diversified. Bond holdings get diversified. Even alternative investments get spread across categories and geographies. But the single largest asset on most American household balance sheets – the home – sits as a fully concentrated position in one property, in one neighborhood, in one local market. Economists have been documenting the cost of that concentration for years. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has found that homeownership should constitute a limited share of a household’s assets, despite its role in a sound portfolio. The reason is volatility: individual home prices can swing roughly twice as much as broad house-price indexes, and combined with the leverage built into a mortgage, that lack of diversification can meaningfully increase a family’s risk. Stanford economists Monika Piazzesi and Martin Schneider have made a related point using the language of portfolio theory – that the high volatility of individual house prices, paired with high transaction costs, produces a lower risk-adjusted return on housing than the concentration would suggest is worth bearing. The affordability side of the problem is just as well established. First-time buyers made up just 21% of nationwide home sales last year, the lowest share ever recorded, and most of the ones who do buy aren’t putting down anything close to 20%. A recent National Association of Realtors poll put the median down payment at 19% overall, but only 10% for first-time buyers specifically, which means a large share of first-time purchases are still carrying private mortgage insurance or an FHA premium on top of the mortgage itself. A handful of companies have tried to chip away at the concentration problem directly. Hometap is among a group of firms – including Unison, Unlock, Point, and Aspire – that offer what’s known as a home equity investment: a lump sum of cash in exchange for a share of a home’s future value or appreciation, positioned as a new, debt-free asset class alongside traditional home-equity borrowing. Unison and Point have each pushed the model far enough to securitize the contracts and sell them to institutional investors, arguing the structure gives investors access to one of the largest asset classes in the world – residential home equity. That category of product is now well established enough to have its own competitive landscape and its own secondary market, even if it remains a small corner of housing finance overall. Most of those products, though, are built for homeowners who already have equity to trade. A smaller and more experimental strand of proposals asks a different question: could the same diversification logic be applied at the point of origination, to reduce the credit risk a lender takes on and make zero-down, no-PMI lending viable in the first place? Home Diversification Corp., founded by CFA charterholder and former bank profitability analyst Marc Biron, is one attempt at that version of the idea. How a Risk-Swap Structure Works The mechanism Biron has designed operates as a pool rather than a direct cash payout. Homeowners who participate swap their individual home’s price trajectory for the return of a national home price index. Those whose homes underperform the index receive the difference; those whose homes outperform pay back the spread. “We have a closed system, which is important for commercial and risk management purposes,” Biron says. Homeowners retain full ownership and occupancy under the structure. The arrangement is secured not by a lien but by a memorandum, a legal instrument that cannot trigger foreclosure and is always subordinated to existing debt, with its sole function being to ensure the homeowner settles any amount owed at contract maturity. According to Biron, the credit-risk reduction from this structure is substantial: he cites published studies showing four to six basis points of expected loss on a zero-down mortgage originated under the framework, compared with 29 basis points of credit risk on a conventional mortgage carrying 20% down or PMI. He also points to a separate published study modeling the diversification benefit – available even to homeowners who already own free and clear, with no new mortgage required – at roughly 14% of a home’s value in risk-adjusted economic benefit. None of those figures have been tested in a live lending environment. The Affordability Pitch Biron is candid that concentration risk isn’t what motivates most homeowners. “Homeowners don’t wake up every day thinking, my goodness, my home is entirely concentrated,” he says. The more immediate appeal, in his telling, is the absence of a down payment and PMI, and a lower monthly payment as a result. A simulated survey the company conducted – which Biron describes as directional rather than definitive – found the product preferred two-to-one over PMI and FHA options combined. The primary target for this kind of structure would be the same borrowers reflected in the industry data above: buyers relying on FHA loans or paying PMI because they can’t put 20% down. Biron argues the underlying logic extends further than that entry point, though: “Everyone should diversify their home,” he says. “Theoretically and even practically speaking, it just makes sense for everyone.” Whether lenders will actually originate loans on these terms depends on whether the credit-risk model performs the way the published studies project once it meets real underwriting. An Idea Still Looking for Its First Loan The concept hasn’t reached the market. Home Diversification Corp. isn’t a lender; it needs a lending partner willing to originate the first pool of loans, plus secondary-market buyers willing to purchase them, and neither piece is in place yet. That gap is a familiar one for new financial products: getting the first institution to commit is usually the hardest part, after which, as one advisor to the company put it, “there’s 800 people lining up.” Biron points to the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis as a frame for the kind of risk his model is meant to avoid: non-prime lending that concentrated credit risk in individual, undiversified properties rather than spreading it across a broader index. It’s a useful illustration of the theoretical case for risk-sharing structures in mortgage lending generally, though it’s worth noting the comparison is Biron’s own reading of history rather than a tested claim about what his specific product would have done. The Larger Question Concentration risk in housing isn’t a new observation; economists have been making the case against it for over a decade, and the affordability numbers driving first-time buyers toward low- or no-down-payment loans aren’t going away on their own. What’s less settled is whether any risk-sharing mechanism, whether structured as an equity investment after the fact or a credit enhancement at origination, can move from a modeled paper case to something lenders are willing to originate at scale. The home equity investment industry took the better part of two decades to build a securitization market around its version of the idea. Whether an index-swap approach aimed at the point of purchase follows a similar path – or stalls at the pilot stage – is likely to say as much about lender appetite for a new asset class as it does about the underlying math. About the Expert: Marc Biron is a CFA charterholder and former bank profitability analyst who founded Home Diversification Corp. This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
	Washington Is Starting to Name the Middle-Income Renter, Without Yet Funding the Fix A new federal housing effort has directed the Government Accountability Office to study a formal income definition for the middle class, roughly 80 to 120 percent of area median income, and to recommend where that band fits in national housing policy. For the households in it, the recognition is overdue. For years, the renter earning around 90 percent of AMI has fallen through the middle of the system: too well paid to qualify for subsidized affordable housing, not well paid enough for new Class A apartments. Ron Kutas, Chief Executive Officer of OneWall Communities, has built a workforce-housing portfolio around that renter for 15 years. His reading of the new measure is that it matters more as a signal than as a solution, and that the way it is being described is already wrong. A Study, Not A Definition The first correction Kutas offers is technical but important. The measure does not define workforce housing, he says. It orders the GAO to study the question and recommend a middle-class income band. “Washington hasn’t specifically named it,” he says, but the request itself is an admission that something in the framework has been missing. The practical value, in his view, is future leverage. Once a federal standard exists, a lender, an investment committee, or a city council can point to it rather than argue over what the words mean. That clarity, he notes, is still some way off. The New Middle Class Kutas frames the gap in terms of who the renter has become. Earning 80 percent of AMI, he argues, is now what counts as middle class, where it once took 60 percent to live comfortably. Inflation, the cost of goods, and the economics of running older apartments have moved the line. The people in that band, in his description, are teachers, nurses, police officers, and warehouse supervisors: households that do not need a subsidy, but that do need a policy keeping the housing they rely on from disappearing. Named But Not Funded For all the labeling in the measure, Kutas points out that most of it carries no appropriation, which limits how much it can change in the near term. Provisions were named without funding attached. The change he thinks could matter is the higher FHA multifamily loan limits, which he calls the best provision in the package, finally catching up to what buildings actually cost. A restriction on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, by contrast, he reads as mostly presentational, since the build-to-rent product where most of that capital concentrates is carved out of the limit. The Real Need Is Preservation Where Kutas would like to see policy focus is preservation. The country has an aging stock of workforce apartments, and the economics of maintaining them are getting harder: higher taxes, insurance, labor, and interest costs set against rent regulation in many states that caps the income side. Squeezed on both ends, he argues, an owner starts cutting, less qualified maintenance staff, deferred landscaping, an HVAC unit repaired long past the point of replacement, and the building slides toward the bottom of the market and, eventually, out of the usable stock. Grants or incentives to reinvest in these assets, in his view, would do more than another label. What Would Make It Real Asked what he would need to see before trusting new federal guidance on a real deal, Kutas named three things. Speed, because HUD financing can take up to nine months to close, which makes it a strong refinancing product but unworkable for an acquisition on a normal timeline. Compliance, because a workforce-eligibility regime that mirrored the complexity of affordable-housing rules would put the product out of reach for most operators. And certainty, because no one will underwrite a ten-year hold on rules a new administration can rewrite in two. Even naming the gap, Kutas allows, is a win. Whether the measure becomes more than a name will depend on funding, and on guidance that has not yet been written. For now, the middle-income renter has been noticed, which is not the same as being helped. About OneWall Communities: OneWall Communities is a vertically integrated property management and investment firm specializing in workforce housing. With 15 years of owner-operator experience, OneWall has evolved to offer institutional-level 3rd party management services that combine operational excellence with a community-first approach. For more information, visit onewallcommunities.com. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views and opinions expressed herein reflect those of the individuals quoted and do not represent an endorsement of any company, product, or service mentioned. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions. Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
	In Palm Beach County, Single-Family Homes and Condos Are Now Separate Markets The question heard most often in Palm Beach County this year is whether the housing market is crashing. The numbers point somewhere else: two markets operating in the same zip codes, moving at different speeds. Single-family homes remain in seller’s territory, while condos have tipped toward buyers. Loodmy Jacques, a real estate agent who leads The Jacques Team at Keller Williams Reserve in West Palm Beach, says the gap shows up less in price than in time and leverage. Supply and Speed According to Jacques, single-family homes in the county carry roughly 3.5 months of supply, a level still associated with a seller’s market. Condos sit closer to 6.7 months. The median single-family home goes under contract in about 40 days, compared with about 69 for condos, and single-family homes typically close near 95 percent of their original list price, against roughly 93 percent for condos. That extra month on the market carries weight, since each additional week tends to invite a lower offer. Multiple offers still occur on well-priced houses but are uncommon on condos unless the building is newer or fully funded. Condo prices have not collapsed, either: Jacques puts the median condo price up about 5 percent year over year. The Post-Surfside Reset Much of the pressure on older condos traces to reforms Florida adopted after the 2021 Surfside collapse. For years, associations could choose not to fund reserves, and many did. Buildings three stories or taller must now complete a Structural Integrity Reserve Study and set money aside for the repairs it identifies. “Owners in older buildings are now paying for decades of delayed repairs all at once,” Jacques says. That cost arrives as higher monthly dues, special assessments, or both. Financing has tightened alongside it. Jacques estimates that only about 21 of roughly 2,400 South Florida condo buildings are approved for FHA loans, and more than half of condo purchases in Palm Beach County are now paid in cash. Tight Single-Family Inventory The single-family side faces the opposite problem. Many owners holding low-rate mortgages are staying put, and Jacques estimates the county has about 24 percent fewer single-family homes available than a year ago. Buyer preference is shifting too, toward owning land without association rules and toward simpler financing. That does not make it 2021 again. Buyers remain price-sensitive, and homes that are priced in line with the market tend to move quickly while those that are not can sit. Reading the Median The county-wide condo figure can mislead. A headline showing condo prices up 5 percent blends newer, well-funded buildings with older ones that may be flat or declining. For an individual unit, Jacques says, the building’s reserve study and financial health matter more to price than the county median does. That makes the buyer’s side of the process increasingly about documents rather than square footage. The county’s housing story heading into the fall is less about direction than divergence. Single-family homes are being priced against a shortage. Condos, as Jacques puts it, “are a building-by-building decision.” About Loodmy Jacques: Loodmy Jacques is a real estate agent and team leader of The Jacques Team at Keller Williams Reserve in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has 17 years of experience in South Florida residential real estate, serving Palm Beach County and surrounding areas, and works with clients in English, French, and Spanish. loodmyjacques.com This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions. Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
	In South Denver, Colorado, Temporary Rate Buydowns Are Expiring – and the Safety Net Isn’t There The 2-1 buydown was supposed to be a bridge. Buyers who locked in mortgages two to three years ago at rates near 7% used the program to ease into ownership, paying two percentage points less in year one, one point less in year two, and the full rate in year three. The implicit bet was that rates would fall before the full payment kicked in. In the south Denver market, that bet is now coming due, and the rate environment hasn’t cooperated. “A lot of them locked at seven or close to seven, and that third year is up now, and people can’t afford the 7% interest rate,” says Michele Gwin, who leads the Gwin Properties Team at RE/MAX Professionals in the south Denver area. Some of those homeowners are selling, but many can’t – because home values haven’t appreciated enough to give them equity. “A lot of them are actually refinancing right back into another 2-1 buydown and hoping that in three more years it better look good, because these first three years everyone promised they didn’t look good,” Gwin says. That cycle – temporary relief followed by the same problem – captures something broader about the Denver housing market right now. Rates, prices, and buyer behavior have all settled into a holding pattern that Gwin calls stale. A Market Where Nothing Moves Enough South Denver’s housing market is defined by three conditions that aren’t budging. Mortgage rates have hovered between 6% and 7% for the past couple of years. Homeowners who locked in at 2% or 3% aren’t selling. And home prices, despite what some agents report anecdotally through individual price reductions, have barely declined, maybe a percent, according to Gwin. “We’re in this very stale market,” Gwin says. “We’ve got all these people that own homes at 2 and 3%. They’re not moving. We’ve got these interest rates that hover between 6 and 7%. Those aren’t moving. And then we’ve got buyers that are taking forever to make decisions.” Supply remains structurally limited even as demand has softened. Denver still has what Gwin describes as a massive shortage of housing available for purchase, compounded by a rental market with high demand. Population growth, once a reliable tailwind fueled by tech employment, medical industry jobs, and the state’s outdoor lifestyle, has flattened. Gwin, a Denver native, says the metro may have lost residents in the past year – a first in a very long time. Buyer Hesitancy Runs Deeper Than Rates The reluctance to transact isn’t purely financial. Gwin points to a broader erosion of consumer confidence tied to the political cycle. Decision-making tends to slow around elections, she notes – including midterms. “Their confidence on the overall picture of where the nation is headed” is what’s driving hesitancy, Gwin says. Rate surprises, geopolitical disruptions, and election uncertainty layer on one another. “When they compound on top of each other, it really does something to somebody’s confidence, and people go, I’m going to hold back.” The first-time homebuyer age in the area tracks national trends, pushing toward 40, according to Gwin. Affordability is the main driver: Denver has seen some of the fastest housing price appreciation in the country, propelled by its desirability as both an economic and lifestyle destination. Some prospective buyers are finding that renting makes more financial sense in the current environment – a calculation that varies by individual, Gwin says. Meanwhile, some newer buyers are watching what happened to the 2-1 buydown cohort and choosing to stay on the sidelines. “I feel a lot of them are sitting on the fence because they’ve been observing all of these folks that did the 2-1 buydown a couple of years ago,” Gwin says, “and they’re like, oh, I wonder how that turned out for them. Oh, geez, not so good.” Where Deals Fall Apart For buyers who do commit, the transaction is fragile. The number-one reason deals collapse in this market is inspection findings, according to Gwin. Buyers in this environment are deploying all of their financial resources and have spent considerable time reaching a purchase decision. Their expectation – whether sellers agree with it or not – is a move-in-ready home. Any deferred maintenance, whether the seller avoided it, didn’t know about it, or simply let it slide, can kill a deal. “A buyer is a dang serious buyer that’s put a lot of thought, time, and effort into that decision,” Gwin says. “Their expectation is they want a move-in-ready house.” For sellers, the implication is direct: unresolved condition issues that might have been overlooked during the frenzied market of a few years ago now carry enough weight to end a transaction entirely. Pricing Discipline Still Works – When Sellers Accept It One signal cuts through the noise: days on market. Gwin says that any home sitting beyond 45 to 60 days on the market in the current Denver market is almost certainly overpriced. Even in a challenging environment, properly priced homes are selling within that window. Her team’s approach is to build likely concession costs into seller estimates from the outset, setting expectations before listing rather than negotiating from surprise later. In practice, nearly every buyer in today’s market asks for concessions – the exception being cash buyers who don’t need rate-related help. “If our sellers agree kind of with our pricing strategy from the get-go, we’re getting them sold,” Gwin says. When sellers push back and price higher, and the home hasn’t moved after 45 or 60 days, “it’s a tough conversation for people right now.” The pattern reinforces itself: sellers who accept data-driven pricing and prepare for concessions are closing within 60 days. Sellers who resist are watching their listings age past the point where buyers assume something is wrong with the property – making the eventual price correction steeper than it needed to be. About the Expert: Michele Gwin leads The Gwin Properties Team at RE/MAX Professionals in the south Denver, Colorado area. This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
	In Austin, Texas, Tech Layoffs Are Reshaping Who Buys and What Sells Austin’s residential real estate market has long been associated with tech-driven demand. But in 2026, the buyer pool powering the city’s housing activity looks different than it did even two years ago, according to Shivraj Grewal, founder of Grewal RE Group. The tech workers who flooded in during the pandemic-era boom – many on H1B visas, many in programming and consulting roles – are pulling back. Some are leaving. In their place, a different cohort is stepping forward: medical professionals, C-suite executives, and employees at companies like Tesla and SpaceX that continue to hire. The shift is not just changing who buys. It is reshaping which price segments move and which ones stall. “Unless you are in the field of AI, nobody knows if they’re going to have a job or not,” Grewal says of the broader tech workforce. He points to Oracle’s recent layoffs – roughly 25% of its workforce cut – as an example of the scale of contraction hitting the sector. The $500K-to-$1M Problem The clearest sign of the split shows up in pricing tiers. In West Austin’s most desirable neighborhoods – Westlake, Tarrytown, Barton Creek – homes priced above $2 million are moving, provided they are in strong condition. The $1 million to $2 million range is also active, though Grewal says homes in that band need to be in excellent shape to attract offers. The segment struggling most is $500,000 to roughly $1 million. That range represents where many of the hesitant tech-sector buyers would be shopping. “Those are the people who have their heads on the chopping block,” Grewal says. “They don’t know if they’re going to have a job tomorrow or not.” Property taxes compound the hesitation. Grewal cites effective rates ranging from 1.75% to about 2.5%, which, combined with current mortgage costs, create a steep gap between renting and owning. He puts the math plainly: it is difficult to convince someone paying $2,000 in rent to take on a $4,000 monthly mortgage payment. Sellers Facing a Different Calculation Some of the market’s most instructive dynamics are playing out on the listing side. Grewal describes a current client – a first-time buyer who purchased during the boom, recently upgraded to a larger home as their family grew, and is now selling the original property at a loss. The client is on an H1B visa and wants to reduce liability rather than hold an asset they may not be able to maintain if their employment situation changes. Others in similar positions are choosing a different path: leasing out the Austin property and renting in whichever city their employer has called them back to, often in the Bay Area. They cannot afford to buy in California, and they have too much capital tied up in Austin to walk away. The result is a growing class of reluctant landlords – people who did not plan to become investors but whose circumstances have made selling unattractive. Grewal says he is actively advising sellers who have the financial capacity to hold rather than list. “I’m advising sellers not to sell their property if they have the ability to hold – lease it, hold it,” he says. Pricing Right in the First Two Weeks Grewal says that regardless of market conditions, the first 14 days on market determine a home’s outcome. A correctly priced home in turnkey condition will not need a price reduction. Sellers who overprice based on what they believe their home is worth, rather than what comparable sales support, get corrected quickly. “If you’re not priced correctly, the market is going to tell you exactly you are not priced correctly,” he says. Within West Austin, performance varies street by street. The Zilker and Barton Hills areas are outperforming, particularly for newer homes. Certain streets in Tarrytown sell immediately while others in the same neighborhood sit. Lost Creek in Westlake, while desirable, is not moving as fast despite new construction activity. Where Investors Can Still Find Workable Numbers For investors considering Austin, Grewal draws a sharp line between strategies. Buy-and-hold rental acquisitions on existing inventory are difficult to justify. He estimates cap rates in central Austin at roughly 3% to 3.5% when a mortgage is factored in – well below the 5.5% to 6% range he considers the minimum threshold for a rental to make financial sense. New construction is the exception. Builders are currently offering incentives that change the math: up to 10% in closing cost credits and seven-year adjustable-rate mortgages bought down to 3.75%. At those terms, Grewal says, rental income can cover 100% of carrying costs with a small monthly surplus. The catch is scale – he advises investors to have the capacity to purchase three or four units for the portfolio economics to work. “Five to seven years down the lane, I don’t know where the market is going to be, but that’s a risk that as an investor you have to take,” he says. Ground-up development presents a different opportunity. Grewal points to neighborhoods like Crestview and Shoal Creek, as well as parts of East Austin where lots are available in the $300,000 to $500,000 range. Investors building new units there, he says, can see roughly 30% returns within 12 months. The Next Wave of Corporate Demand The trend Grewal is watching most closely is corporate relocation. He cites Apollo, the investment firm, as a recent example of a company announcing a move from New York to Austin. Those relocations bring high-income buyers – the exact profile that is active in the current market. SpaceX and Tesla remain steady employers in the region, and Grewal notes that neither company followed the tech industry’s pattern of overhiring and subsequent layoffs. “They hire the right number of people for the right number of jobs,” he says. “So their jobs are a little bit more secure than most others.” For buyers in Austin’s mid-range, job security remains the deciding factor. The $500,000 to $1 million segment will stay slow as long as tech-sector uncertainty persists. For sellers in that range, Grewal’s advice is direct: if you can afford to hold and lease, do so rather than sell at a loss. The buyers who are active – medical professionals, executives, employees at companies still expanding – are concentrated above $1 million, and that is where Austin’s market continues to function. About the Expert: Shivraj Grewal is the founder of Grewal RE Group, covering Austin, Texas’s west-side neighborhoods. This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
	Workplace bullying: How to identify and deal with it Workplace bullying and adult bullying in general are big problems in the United States. According to a 2021 Workplace Bullying Institute Survey, 49% of Americans say that they’ve been impacted by bullying in the workplace. Workplace bullying describes a pattern of mistreatment within a work environment that includes behaviors such as personal attacks, exclusion and inappropriately harsh criticism. This type of bullying can have a lasting impact on a person’s health and well-being.While some bullies have multiple targets, others harass a single person. Workplace bullying isn’t always obvious, so a bully’s behavior may go undetected if it’s not reported.Just because this type of bullying often involves adults doesn’t mean people always know how to handle it. The psychological effects of bullying can be damaging and painful, regardless of age. Knowing the signs can help you recognize workplace bullying and understand how to respond. Talkspace offers resources to help employees recognize and address workplace bullying.Identifying Workplace BullyingBullying in the workplace can take many forms and create a toxic work environment. While some bullies may be openly hostile toward their targets, others may behave in subtler ways. Harassment can describe a single instance of inappropriate behavior, while bullying involves persistent, repeated acts and aggression toward a victim.Types of workplace bullyingIntimidation: A bully can intimidate a target by threatening them, spying on them or socially excluding them.Verbal abuse: Verbal bullying can include harsh criticism, direct insults, mocking and offensive jokes, malicious gossip, verbal sexual harassment and humiliation.Work interference: Bullies may sabotage a coworker, blame them for mistakes or take credit for their work and ideas.Retaliation: Sometimes, reporting bullying can lead to increased workplace harassment, including heavier workloads, unfair scheduling, abusive conduct or even being denied a promotion.Institutional bullying: Some workplaces have policies or practices that harm workers, including forced overtime or singling out those who fail to meet goals.Warning signs of workplace bullyingUltimately, all types of bullying can share similar warning signs to some extent, but some are specific to the workplace. Knowing the signs can help if you suspect someone is being bullied at work. It can also help you identify if you’re dealing with a bully.Being ignored or excluded: The target of a workplace bully may be ignored by coworkers or excluded from events without an explanation.Close monitoring: Bullies may constantly monitor a target’s work, making it difficult for them to complete tasks or do their job efficiently.Unusual work assignments: Bullying behavior can include pointless work assignments or being given work without proper training. Failure to complete tasks may result in criticism, punishment or ridicule.Dismissing or minimizing concerns: When bullying is confronted or reported, the behavior may be downplayed by the workplace bully or other employees.Missing items: Personal or work-related items may go missing inexplicably.Public embarrassment: Bullies may berate, humiliate or mock targets in front of coworkers, upper management or customers.Effects of Workplace Bullying on HealthBullying in the workplace isn’t just uncomfortable and embarrassing. It can have a lasting impact on someone’s physical and emotional well-being. Research available through PubMed shows that workplace bullying can predict future mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.Not only does bullying have lasting consequences for victims, but it can also be damaging to the workplace environment and culture — even after the bullying has stopped.Physical effectsBullying at work can increase stress and anxiety, which may lead to physical symptoms like:Elevated blood pressureHeadachesLoss of appetiteNausea and digestive issuesDifficulty sleepingUlcersMuscle achesHeartburnResearch available through PubMed has also linked the stress of bullying to increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. People who experience chronic stress are also more likely to develop heart disease. While bullying is sometimes treated as harmless, it can have a serious and lasting impact on a victim’s health.Mental effectsBeing the target of bullying can negatively affect mood and emotional well-being. Effects may include:A loss of self-esteemLosing interest in activitiesDepression and anxietyConstantly dreading workDifficulty trusting othersPanic attacksSuicidal ideationThese effects tend to become more pronounced the longer the bullying continues, and they can persist even after the behavior has stopped. Some people who experience bullying may benefit from working with a mental health professional to overcome self-doubt and rebuild self-confidence.How Workplace Bullying Affects the Work EnvironmentWhen an employer fails to respond to bullying appropriately and in a timely manner, it can have serious negative consequences, such as:Higher rate of employee absences.Increased turnover rates.A decline in productivity.Decreased morale.Lost the trust of employees.Legal action costs.Effects on job performanceBullying is a significant distraction that can interfere with a person’s ability to do their job. When someone’s being bullied, they may be less productive and spend their time:Trying to avoid the bully.Worrying about future abuse.Struggling with anxiety.Seeking support from co-workers.Attempting to defend themselves from the bully.Ongoing harassment from a bully can be traumatizing, making it difficult for bullied workers to focus on their tasks. People who experience bullying at work are more likely to make mistakes and may take longer to complete their work, which can decrease the productivity of the entire team.Effects on the workplace environmentBullying can disrupt the entire workplace culture and negatively impact all workers, even those who aren’t being bullied. It creates a hostile work environment for everyone. Workplace bullying can:Increase employee turnover.Harm the company’s public image.Interfere with employee teamwork.Encourage poor behavior in employees.Lead to a hostile work environment.How to Deal with Workplace BullyingWhen people are targeted by bullies at work, they often feel helpless. If you’ve been the victim of workplace bullying, it’s important to remember that you’re not at fault. The right strategies and tools can help you cope with a bully’s behavior and protect your well-being.Document the bullying: Write down the details of the event every time you’re bullied at work. Be sure to include the time and date of the incident and the nature of what happened. Detail the names of workers who may have witnessed the bullying in your reports.Lay down boundaries: The next time a bully does something inappropriate, make it clear that you won’t tolerate this treatment any longer. Let them know that you’ll be reporting the behavior and that, if it continues, you’re ready and willing to escalate.Report bullying: Report any intimidating or inappropriate behavior to your employer if a bully fails to respect your boundaries. Provide the employer with documentation of the abuse and let them know that you expect the behavior to be addressed immediately.Seek outside support: It can be tough to stand up to a bully’s bad behavior, which is why a strong support system is crucial. Talk to friends, family members or mental health professionals about what you’re going through. In extreme cases, if you’re not seeing results or getting the support you need from your employer, you might need to seek legal counsel.Helping Someone Deal with Workplace BullyingIt isn’t always easy to speak up when you see bullying in the workplace. You may be afraid that confronting a bully will make you a target, but it’s important to remember that ignoring bullying will only make the issue worse.Don’t hesitate to report bullying to your employer, even if you weren’t directly impacted. If one of your coworkers is being repeatedly bullied, your report could significantly improve their life.It’s common for bullies to gaslight targets by denying or diminishing their actions and behaviors. This makes some bullying victims hesitant to report abuse. When multiple people speak up about bullying, it’s much harder for bullies to deny, defend, or continue their bad behavior.If you’re the victim of workplace bullying, knowing your rights and the resources available to you can be critical to determining the next steps needed to heal. Speaking with a therapist about your experience and your options, as well as the pros and cons of those options, may help you take the next right step for you.The effects of workplace bullying aren’t just limited to victims. When there’s a bully in any environment, it harms everyone. That’s why it’s crucial for companies to establish policies to prevent bullying.If you’re being bullied at work, it can be difficult to speak up. Don’t be afraid to take steps to protect your mental health and well-being. With a strong support system, you can recover from bullying and improve your work environment.If you’re dealing with workplace bullying or a toxic environment and don’t have a strong support system, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. Therapy can help you develop a strategy.Therapy can offer you guidance and support from experienced mental health professionals. Workplace bullying can be difficult to deal with, but you don’t have to face it alone. Learning how to navigate the hostility you’re facing can help you feel more prepared to deal with workplace bullying and protect your well-being.This story was produced by Talkspace and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Medicare open enrollment scams are ramping up. Here's how to protect your identity this fall The annual Medicare open enrollment period is quickly approaching, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be a busy one. From Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, many beneficiaries will start their Medicare benefits or consider changing plans.Unfortunately, Medicare open enrollment scammers have already set their sights on potential victims. The ballooning costs of medical services and equipment mean that scammers are realizing greater returns than ever, and the lucrative racket shows few signs of slowing down.If you or a loved one is planning to participate in this year’s annual enrollment period, it’s crucial to understand how Medicare scams operate and what you can do to protect your card number.Below, PeopleFinders explains what you need to do to help protect yourself from Medicare scammers this fall.What Does a Medicare Open Enrollment Scam Look Like?The first thing to know about Medicare open enrollment scams is that they revolve around your all-important Medicare card number. That’s the code your doctors use to reimburse themselves and their staff for medical services they render to you.Determined scammers stop at nothing to get Medicare numbers from victims, and they’ll try every trick in the book. You might encounter the following types of scams during open enrollment.1. A stranger calls you before sending a new Medicare card.Because many people change plans during open enrollment, many Medicare cards are mailed to beneficiaries across the U.S. Scammers often call beneficiaries hoping to reach someone who expects a new card.If they get one on the phone, they might ask them to “confirm” their card number so that they can “mail” it to the beneficiary as soon as possible. It’s common for scammers to throw in some scare tactics; they often throw out phrases like, “Not confirming your Medicare number today could result in immediate loss of benefits.”2. Someone tells you that you’ve qualified for a better, cheaper plan.The allure of saving money is enough to make many people let their guard down, at least temporarily. So, when someone calls to let you know about a better Medicare plan you’re eligible for—lower costs, better benefits—it’s tempting to dive in with them.But legitimate Medicare representatives do not cold call people about switching plans. Someone might call you if you asked to be contacted about your Medicare benefits, but even then, they must abide by strict consumer protection rules.3. A scammer “spoofs” the phone number of a legitimate organization.An insidious new scam tactic is flooding phone lines: call spoofing. When a scammer spoofs a phone number, they make the caller ID display numbers of legitimate, reputable organizations, such as a Medicare services department or health insurance company.Spoofed phone numbers add a layer of credibility for scammers, as many cell phone providers display the entity’s name when a consumer receives a call. So, in addition to the spoofed number, victims might see “XYZ insurance provider” or “Medicare offices” flash on their smartphone screens.4. The caller informs you that you’re eligible for free tests, durable medical equipment, or services.Nothing is free in the medical industry. It’s exciting to hear you can get free or heavily discounted genetic testing or orthotic braces, since both can be incredibly expensive, but the offer isn’t real.Here’s how this scam works: After you give your Medicare card number to a scammer, they’ll bill Medicare and claim you received your test or durable medical equipment. In actuality, you never receive anything, but the scammer still gets the Medicare reimbursement.Quick Statistics on Medicare FraudJust as Medicare fraud enforcement divisions have upped their technological capabilities, so have scammers. Medicare fraud remains high, as evidenced by the record-breaking $14.6 billion bust the U.S. Department of Justice announced in 2025.Around $10.6 billion of that total stemmed from fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment, including catheters. Just as alarming were the one million stolen identities used to submit those fraudulent claims.In related news, a study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that ads for fraudulent Medicare Advantage benefits received 215 million views in 2025, more than six times the total views from previous years combined.Protecting Yourself from Medicare Scams: 3 TipsInformation and understanding are key in preventing scammers from getting ahold of your personal information and wreaking havoc on your Medicare benefits. Guard yourself with these pieces of advice this open enrollment season.1. Never give out your Medicare number after an unexpected call.It’s worth reiterating that Medicare representatives will not call you unless you have already opened a line of inquiry with them. You should protect your Medicare card number with the same care and caution you use with your Social Security and credit card numbers. Hang up if something seems fishy.2. Hang up if the caller provides only vague details about your Medicare benefits.When scammers successfully spoof numbers of legitimate organizations, it can be extra difficult to determine who, exactly, you’re dealing with if they reach you on the phone.One sign that a call from a seemingly legitimate entity is a scam is the lack of specificity or details about your Medicare plan. Scammers often identify themselves as representatives of a “Medicare office” or “your health insurance provider.” If they stick to these general identifiers, err on the side of caution and end the call.3. Verify the identities of callers.If you receive a call from an unknown number and the person on the other end claims to work for Medicare, you could consider performing a reverse phone number search to find out the caller’s identity. This approach won’t root out spoofed numbers, though, so always rely on your intuition when a scammer contacts you.What to Do if You’ve Already Been ScammedAfter making contact with someone you believe to be a Medicare scammer, you can make an online report with the Senior Medicare Patrol. You can also call the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477.If you believe you’ve given your Medicare care number to a scammer, there are some extra steps you should take beyond reporting the scammer.For a while after the suspected scammer contacts you, it’s important to monitor your Medicare Summary Notice page. As soon as you see an illegitimate claim—a request for reimbursement for a test that you haven’t taken, for example—call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it.Protect Your Medicare Benefits this Open Enrollment SeasonAfter working for decades and paying your FICA taxes, you deserve to safely access your government benefits. Scammers, unfortunately, don’t share that belief and will take every opportunity to steal Medicare numbers and information during the 2026 annual open enrollment season. Stay skeptical and vigilant this fall.This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Here’s the salary it takes to live comfortably in each US state in 2026 As housing, grocery, transportation and other essential costs pressure household budgets, earning a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial comfort in much of the U.S. A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every state, while the threshold exceeds $100,000 in nearly half of states. For a family of four, the income needed to live comfortably is as much as $329,000.SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to analyze the living wage in each state — what a full-time worker must earn to cover minimum basic needs — and adjusted it using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. Under the rule, 50% of income goes to necessities like housing and utilities, 30% to discretionary spending and 20% to savings for retirement and emergencies. The resulting estimate represents the annual, pre-tax income needed to live comfortably in each state.Key FindingsIn most states, a family of four needs at least $200,000 a year to live comfortably. That threshold applies in 40 states for households with two working adults and two children.Massachusetts and Hawai‘i are the most expensive states to live comfortably. Massachusetts is the most expensive state for a family of four, with an income requirement of $329,555. Hawai‘i is the most expensive state for single adults, who need $129,002.Montana had the largest increase in the income needed to live comfortably. For a single adult, that threshold rose 8.6% since 2025, the largest increase in the study.Mississippi and West Virginia are the least expensive states to live comfortably. Mississippi is the least expensive state for a family of four, with an income requirement of $187,533. West Virginia is the least expensive state for single adults, who need $81,245.In six states, the income needed to live comfortably has declined since 2025. Those states are Tennessee, Maryland, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi and Texas. In each, a single adult needs less income in 2026 than in 2025. SmartAsset SmartAsset States Ranked by Year-over-Year Change for Single Adults1. MontanaIncome needed for a single adult: $100,797Year-over-year change: 8.6%2. New YorkIncome needed for a single adult: $124,342Year-over-year change: 8.4%3. MaineIncome needed for a single adult: $102,918Year-over-year change: 6.5%4. CaliforniaIncome needed for a single adult: $126,797Year-over-year change: 6.1%5. MassachusettsIncome needed for a single adult: $127,213Year-over-year change: 5.9%6. MinnesotaIncome needed for a single adult: $96,970Year-over-year change: 5.7%7. OregonIncome needed for a single adult: $110,074Year-over-year change: 5.2%8. MichiganIncome needed for a single adult: $91,811Year-over-year change: 5.2%9. IndianaIncome needed for a single adult: $90,646Year-over-year change: 4.7%10. New JerseyIncome needed for a single adult: $113,776Year-over-year change: 4.4%11. New MexicoIncome needed for a single adult: $91,229Year-over-year change: 4.4%12. WisconsinIncome needed for a single adult: $91,021Year-over-year change: 4.4%13. North DakotaIncome needed for a single adult: $85,738Year-over-year change: 4.2%14. VermontIncome needed for a single adult: $103,667Year-over-year change: 4.1%15. New HampshireIncome needed for a single adult: $107,203Year-over-year change: 4%16. South DakotaIncome needed for a single adult: $85,405Year-over-year change: 3.9%17. Hawai‘iIncome needed for a single adult: $129,002Year-over-year change: 3.6%18. AlaskaIncome needed for a single adult: $103,917Year-over-year change: 3.6%19. IllinoisIncome needed for a single adult: $101,587Year-over-year change: 3.6%20. NebraskaIncome needed for a single adult: $90,480Year-over-year change: 3.6%21. UtahIncome needed for a single adult: $102,794Year-over-year change: 3.3%22. ConnecticutIncome needed for a single adult: $108,368Year-over-year change: 3%23. OhioIncome needed for a single adult: $87,360Year-over-year change: 3%24. FloridaIncome needed for a single adult: $100,214Year-over-year change: 2.9%25. Rhode IslandIncome needed for a single adult: $104,042Year-over-year change: 2.7%26. KansasIncome needed for a single adult: $89,981Year-over-year change: 2.7%27. AlabamaIncome needed for a single adult: $87,610Year-over-year change: 2.7%28. ArkansasIncome needed for a single adult: $83,242Year-over-year change: 2.7%29. OklahomaIncome needed for a single adult: $86,237Year-over-year change: 2.3%30. ColoradoIncome needed for a single adult: $108,160Year-over-year change: 2.1%31. IowaIncome needed for a single adult: $88,566Year-over-year change: 1.9%32. MissouriIncome needed for a single adult: $88,483Year-over-year change: 1.9%33. IdahoIncome needed for a single adult: $98,176Year-over-year change: 1.8%34. PennsylvaniaIncome needed for a single adult: $97,011Year-over-year change: 1.8%35. DelawareIncome needed for a single adult: $98,966Year-over-year change: 1.5%36. WyomingIncome needed for a single adult: $89,232Year-over-year change: 1.5%37. NevadaIncome needed for a single adult: $100,506Year-over-year change: 1.3%38. GeorgiaIncome needed for a single adult: $100,714Year-over-year change: 1.1%39. WashingtonIncome needed for a single adult: $110,614Year-over-year change: 0.9%40. South CarolinaIncome needed for a single adult: $92,934Year-over-year change: 0.9%41. KentuckyIncome needed for a single adult: $84,074Year-over-year change: 0.6%42. West VirginiaIncome needed for a single adult: $81,245Year-over-year change: 0.5%43. VirginiaIncome needed for a single adult: $106,995Year-over-year change: 0.3%44. ArizonaIncome needed for a single adult: $101,795Year-over-year change: 0.2%45. TexasIncome needed for a single adult: $90,563Year-over-year change: -0.2%46. North CarolinaIncome needed for a single adult: $93,475Year-over-year change: -0.3%47. MississippiIncome needed for a single adult: $86,070Year-over-year change: -0.3%48. LouisianaIncome needed for a single adult: $84,739Year-over-year change: -0.7%49. MarylandIncome needed for a single adult: $107,910Year-over-year change: -0.9%50. TennesseeIncome needed for a single adult: $89,898Year-over-year change: -1.7%MethodologyMIT Living Wage Calculator data was used to gather basic cost-of-living estimates for a single adult with no children and for a household with two working adults and two children. MIT last updated the data in February 2026 to reflect the most recent data available; 2025 data was also sourced to calculate year-over-year changes. Estimates were modified using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule for all 50 states by treating the living wage as the amount needed for necessities, or 50% of the total budget. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	As grocery bills increase, Gen Z claps back For Gen Zers dealing with higher grocery bills, no-spend and low-buy challenges are becoming a simple way to cut back without feeling like they have to stop spending altogether. What started as a social media trend is starting to feel a lot more practical when groceries are taking up more of the budget, Intuit TurboTax reports.A no-spend day can look pretty simple: no coffee run, no Target trip, and no impulse online purchases.Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z consumers say they’re participating in or considering a “no-buy” challenge this summer (or no-spend day), according to a new study from Intuit Credit Karma.That figure jumps to 59% for a “low-buy” challenge (the conscious effort to curb nonessential spending without cutting it out entirely).The study, which surveyed over one thousand consumers across the U.S., highlights the growing financial pressure many Americans are feeling among “foodflation.”Stress-free grocery shopping has become a luxuryGrocery prices are seeing their biggest surge in grocery prices in a half-century.USDA data, analyzed by the Associated Press, reveals that buying food at home costs about 33% more today than it did in 2019. And Intuit Credit Karma reports that 72% of Americans are stressed about rising grocery costs.They’re also switching up their shopping habits: 63% say healthy eating now feels like a luxury, and one-quarter are trading fresh food for frozen or processed alternatives to drive down their spending.Gen Z, in particular, feels the pinch. One in five Gen Zers have applied or considered applying for food stamps, while 16% rely on or have considered using food banks — the highest of any generation.They’re also feeling psychological pressure from high prices. One-fifth of Gen Z consumers (22%) say they feel ashamed at not being able to afford groceries, while one in three say they hide their grocery spending from a partner or family member.Mindful spending is helping Gen Zers take control of their moneyRather than micromanaging their budgets, younger consumers are shifting spending from an everyday habit to a more mindful one.For many, it’s a matter of necessity: 44% of Gen Zers say necessities already consume their whole budget.Between nonnegotiable monthly payments like subscriptions and weekly grocery trips, budgets are tapped before the month even begins. In response, many young consumers find themselves unintentionally doing “no-spend days” at the top half of the week to make up for the hefty grocery bill.But it’s not always a defensive move. It’s also a way for consumers to reach their financial goals. Roughly one-third (31%) are embracing no- and low-buy challenges to save for a specific goal, while 27% want to rein in overspending.Making no-buy work for youThe beauty of no-buy and low-buy is that they’re personal challenges. You get to make rules that work for you. But nixing spending on one or two days a week is one of the easiest ways to get started.One or two no-spend days a week can feel like nothing. It’s just one day where someone can skip the coffee run, not wander into Target, and not make a random online purchase because they were scrolling. Those little things don’t seem like much in the moment, but when you stop doing them once or twice a week, it really starts to add up.How you accomplish that is up to you. You might embrace a slow morning at home instead of hitting the Starbucks drive-thru or romanticize your Saturday by exploring the free attractions in your city. And, of course, you can turn to social media for support: #nobuy has more than 30,000 posts on TikTok.Another tip: Cancel one subscription you don’t use, and make that money work for you.This story was produced by Intuit TurboTax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Where U.S. Senate candidates agreed and disagreed in 1st debate Two U.S. Senate candidates in Iowa sat down for their first debate less than a month before the mid-term election.
	Davenport teen sentenced to probation for enticing a minor A Davenport teen has been placed on probation after pleading guilty to enticing a minor.
	South Korea to recall its ambassador to Ukraine over North Korean POW dispute The South Korean announcement on Thursday came days after its President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation.
	Tom Cruise digs deep in ‘Digger,’ Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s bizarre and brilliant satire Tom Cruise transforms himself into a balding, beer-bellied oil tycoon in Digger, a cataclysmic dark comedy from Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
	South Korea test-flies its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon The test follows North Korea's recent hypersonic missile test. Tensions between the Koreas have increased after land mine explosions injured three South Korean soldiers near the border. North Korea denies responsibility.
	Car crashes into Bettendorf hospital Police are investigating after a car crashed into a Bettendorf hospital overnight.
	Strike on Ukrainian public bus leaves 30 dead as blackouts worsen in Kyiv Russian strikes in eastern Ukraine have killed 30 people and injured at least 18, according to authorities. The attacks included a strike on a public bus and have worsened power outages in Kyiv.
	Dry today with showers on the way It won't be as warm today as yesterday, but this weekend looks very warm. Showers are on the way again by daybreak Friday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Artificial wetlands clean and carry stormwater in Durant Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited the project to promote available grant money for similar water management efforts.
	EICC chancellor speaks on the college’s impact to local economy With over $700 million to local economies, EICC Chancellor Bryan Renfro is proud of the work his students and alumni contributed to their communities.
	What's next for the man accused of murdering Trudy Appleby? Jamison Fisher is charged with the 1996 murder of Trudy Appleby, and his trial is slated to start in early 2027. Here's an update on the case and what’s next.
	ICE has quietly used this warehouse as a detention facility all summer, neighbors say Throughout the summer, rumors have been bubbling in North New Jersey that ICE has quietly been using a warehouse as a detention center. NPR investigated.
	The Commodore's Prayer This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The best of the steamboat captains on the Upper Mississippi River became legends in their own lifetimes for their…
	Flock is catching flak. Experts say other police surveillance tools are more worrisome Real-time crime-center software is a sometimes overlooked but powerful tool allowing police to aggregate immense amounts of data, significantly expanding their surveillance reach.
	As crypto and prediction markets expand, their regulator shrinks Even as the agency is tasked with drawing up new rules for crypto and prediction markets, its staffing and enforcement actions have dropped precipitously during the second Trump administration.
	Syrian general accused of atrocities is protected by U.S. and Lebanon, NPR and BBC find A former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity is living quietly in Lebanon, bankrolled and protected by American and Lebanese authorities, a BBC/NPR investigation has found.
	Toss-ups, triage and targets: How to read the wide-open 2026 House map Both parties are spending heavily in roughly 60 House districts — where Trump won by an average of nine points in 2024 — that could be key to deciding control of the chamber, an NPR analysis finds.
	Milwaukee PD renews Flock contract as former detective appears in court for misuse A Milwaukee police squad in front of the Municipal Court downtown. (Photo \| Isiah Holmes)The Milwaukee Police Department intends to renew its contract with Flock Safety, the multi-billion dollar producer of controversial AI-powered license plate reader cameras. In a statement, an MPD spokesperson said that the contract will be renewed “to maintain the investigative and public safety benefits the system provides.” Flock cameras store images of traveling vehicles and their license plates in a database which can be searched by law enforcement. While police say that the cameras are valuable tools used to investigate serious crimes like gun violence, theft and kidnapping, Flock surveillance has been criticized as an invasion of privacy. Numerous cases of officers misusing the cameras for personal reasons to surveil people have emerged around the country, including in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. Two of those cases played out in Milwaukee over the last year. Former Milwaukee police detective Tehrangi Chapman pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony misconduct in public office and misdemeanor misuse of a GPS device. Chapman is accused of using Flock to track the movements of two people 20 times for personal reasons, and also of placing a GPS device on one of their vehicles. He’d kept tabs on these individuals even before Milwaukee adopted Flock in 2022. As an internal affairs detective, Chapman was involved in the investigation of Josue Ayala, a former Milwaukee officer who used Flock to track an ex-girlfriend and her new partner over 170 times. Ayala was given probation and avoided prison time. Both Chapman and Ayala were reported by the people victimized by their use of surveillance technology. Websites like haveibeenflocked.com helped them determine that they had been tracked. Two other cases of officers or sheriff’s deputies being charged for Flock misuse have also appeared in Kenosha County and the city of Menasha. As opposition to Flock grew in the community, Milwaukee PD has gone through a couple of phases of tightening and restricting the cameras. The department restricted access to the system to supervisors only, and limited the kinds of crimes that can trigger Flock use. Following a trend among some other agencies, MPD created a transparency portal describing how Flock is used, and restricted its network to use by outside agencies including other local jurisdictions. One of the main appeals of Flock is the ability to conduct searches across a network composed of thousands of law enforcement agencies. MPD has also increased auditing of the system to flag suspicious uses. The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted last week to remove Flock cameras from county property. In arguing to keep the cameras, the sheriff’s office attributed a 43% decline in certain crimes around county parks between 2023 and 2026 to the cameras. Their removal from county property follows a cascade of cities and towns across Wisconsin canceling their Flock contracts. Stevens Point, Fond du Lac County, Winnebago County, Sheboygan, Verona, Stoughton, Dane County, Sturgeon Bay, Appleton, Manitowoc, and other local governments have worked to cancel contracts and disable their cameras. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner
	DCA Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Trump proposes Camp David-style presidential retreat at his private Florida golf club President Trump said he wants to develop one of his Florida golf courses into a presidential retreat where his successors can spend quiet weekends, describing it as "sort of a Camp David."
	Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction shook Spain, has died María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home sparked nationwide protests across Spain and unleashed a political crisis, died on Wednesday while hospitalized.

Thursday, October 8th, 2026