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

Monday, January 12th, 2026
	Eldridge City Council continues to discuss community center closure The council previously voted to close the community center and skate park at their December 12 meeting.
	School Board names next Moline High School principal Officials said he will replace Chris Moore, who will retire on June 30.
	Rock Island introduces amended urban gardening ordinance Since it came before the council in October, staff removed restrictions on the height of homeowner gardens and the distances of those gardens from property lines.
	How will the new food pyramid affect QCA farmers? Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled new dietary guidelines, including a new food pyramid. The move promises better health practices, but how will it affect the agriculture industry in the QCA and beyond? Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief Alex Whitney shows how the new focus on [...]
	Moline-Coal Valley School Board approves new high school principal Jeff Whitaker, assistant principal of curriculum, instruction and assessment, will become Moline High School's principal school next year.
	Rock Island firefighters honored for bravery Three firefighters with the Rock Island Fire Department were honored for their bravery during a fire. Chaon Hanson, Jacob Kelly and Grant Jorgensen were recognized for their bravery and teamwork during a life-threatening structure fire on the morning of December 1, 2025. According to a release from the City of Rock Island: The firefighters arrived [...]
	Moline High School names new principal Jeff Whitaker will become MHS principal in the 2026-2027 school year. He's currently the school's assistant principal for curriculum, instruction and assessment.
	Davenport mini golf fundraiser to support local youth mentoring The 21st annual Putt-A-Round is coming back Feb. 4-6, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley and local kids. Here's how to get your tickets.
	Lawsuit puts Illinois on offensive against ‘menacing’ immigration raids Illinois and Chicago sued the Trump administration Monday, seeking to severely limit immigration agents’ authority in the state after accusing the feds of unleashing an “organized bombardment” to coerce state and local officials to change their immigration policies.
	Rural Illinois hospitals warn of service cuts without state funding Hammond Henry Hospital CEO says Medicaid cuts could force closures of non-revenue services
	Augustana student-led volunteer initiative takes off in its first year A student-run volunteer initiative is about to celebrate finishing its first year of service. 'Participate' is an initiative at Augustana College that connects students with community organizations - and one of the founders hopes to pass the torch when she graduates in May. "It kind of just fell into my lap. I came to Augustana, [...]
	QCA's Doug House to serve on Illinois Finance Authority Governor JB Pritzker appointed a former Moline Public Works manager to be on the Illinois Finance Authority. Pritzker picked Doug House to serve on the board. According to a release from the State of Illinois: House also serves on the Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee. For more information, click here.
	Kewanee receives over $166K in fire prevention grant Officials said the money will help decrease fire-related risks and make the community better prepared and aware.
	Kewanee first responders help parents avoid dangerous car seat mistakes A simple tug on a car seat strap can be the difference between a child walking away from a crash or suffering a serious injury — and in Kewanee, first responders are making sure families get it right.
	New Whitey's location officially opens in Bettendorf Whitey’s Ice Cream expanded into north Bettendorf with a new Forest Drive location, updated drive-thru and seasonal jobs.
	Offshore wind developer prevails in U.S. court as Trump calls wind farms 'losers' A federal judge ruled Monday that work on a major offshore wind farm can resume, handing the industry at least a temporary victory as President Trump seeks to shut it down.
	The Waiting Child: Amir loves math and helping his community; waits for a Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Big’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. One of those kids is Amir, who loves math and helping his community. Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen introduces us to Amir and shares [...]
	Minnesota officials sue to block Trump's immigration crackdown as enforcement intensifies More than 2,000 federal immigration agents are in Minnesota, and that number is expected to increase. On Monday, an NPR reporter witnessed multiple instances where immigration agents drove around Minneapolis — and in parking lots of big box stores — and randomly questioned people about their immigration status.
	Rabid, Run: “Primate,” “Is This Thing On?”, and “Father Mother Sister Brother” PRIMATEOne can only hope that director/co-writer Johannes Roberts' Primate remains the worst 2026 horror flick to feature a previous Oscar winner. It should be said, however, that Troy Kotsur, who earned a deserved Best Supporting Actor trophy for 2021's CODA, is the finest thing that could've happened to a dopey, rather repugnant shocker about a chimp gone ape.
	Mild for now, but not for long in the Quad Cities We've had a nice reprieve from the butter cold weather lately in the Quad Cities. It's about to make a comeback though. This week is off to a mild start with highs in the middle 40s Monday. We're heading up to around 50° with clouds on Tuesday. Then a series of cold fronts drops the [...]
	Illinois state senator hosts roundtable at rural hospital ahead of legislative session Republican Li Arellano was at Hammond Henry Hospital to hear about what's working and what isn't as the Illinois General Assembly prepares for the spring session.
	Illinois Poll Shows Crime State’s Fifth-Biggest Concern, Below Immigration, Above “Something Else” Governor JB Pritzker set off a chain reaction last November when he told reporters he’d be open to changes in the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and replaced it with a new pre-trial release/retention system, among other things. Governor Pritzker was asked about the case of a woman, Bethany MaGee, who was horrifically set ablaze while riding on a Chicago commuter train.
	Rock Island Police looking for ‘porch pirate’ Officials said the man was seen taking a package in the 1100 block of 37th Street Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post.
	Rock Island County Health Department offers clinics to keep our community healthy As cases of respiratory illness continue to climb across the QCA and beyond, there are steps you can take to help keep you healthy. George Verastegui from the Rock Island County Health Department joined Our Quad Cities News with about area clinics to help our community. For more information, click here.
	American Red Cross helps 18 displaced residents after Davenport fire American Red Cross is helping 18 displaced residents after a Davenport apartment fire, providing food, water and assistance finding temporary housing.
	Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley hosting annual mini-golf fundraiser The 21st annual Putt-A-Round takes place Feb. 4-6. It's one of Big Brothers Big Sisters' biggest fundraisers and supports its mission locally.
	Elon Musk's X faces bans and investigations over nonconsensual bikini images After the social media app's AI chatbot started generating sexualized images of women and children, two countries have blocked it and several more have launched investigations.
	Better Health Foundation offers innovation grant opportunities The Better Health Foundation is issuing innovation grants to bring new players, methods or partnerships to improve community health results. Missy Gowey joined Our Quad Cities News with more information on the grants and the process. For more information, click here.
	Whitey’s opens second Bettendorf location, triple drive-through featured Whitey’s Ice Cream opened its second Bettendorf location Monday at the corner of Forest Grove Drive and Devil’s Glen Road.
	Trump administration tells states to end 'orphan tax' on foster kids There's a growing move to end what some call "the orphan tax" and stop states from taking benefit checks from children and youth in foster care.
	Flu shot recommendation for kids dropped just as the illness rages The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its advice that kids get an annual flu shot at a time when flu cases and hospitalizations are surging.
	Trump calls for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates With credit card interest rates near modern highs, President Trump says he wants to cap the rates for one year.
	CPR on TV is often inaccurate – but watching characters jump to the rescue can still save real lives Television characters who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital are more likely to receive CPR than people in real life. But the CPR on these shows often depicts outdated practices and inaccuracies about who is most likely to experience cardiac arrest and where, according to newly published research from my team at the University of Pittsburgh. How CPR is portrayed in the media is important to understand because research has shown that health content on screen can influence viewers. When Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023, the world watched as medical professionals swiftly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Hamlin went on to make a full recovery, and in the aftermath, a team of emergency medicine professionals and I at the University of Pittsburgh – where Hamlin is an alumnus – worked to teach all Division I athletes hands-only CPR. During the CPR training we held at Pittsburgh area middle schools and college athletic programs, participants frequently asked whether they should check for a pulse or give rescue breaths. Many mentioned seeing CPR on television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy.” While these are steps that medical professionals do when giving traditional CPR, hands-only CPR is an effective version recommended for untrained bystanders. After determining the person needs help and the scene is safe, hands-only CPR has just two steps: Calling 911 and giving hard and fast chest compressions. Hands-on CPR takes just two steps. As someone who researches how medical topics on screen influence viewers, this piqued my curiosity. I wondered whether participants asked about checking a pulse or giving breaths in part because they saw these practices on screen. The power of media In 2022, my team and I analyzed 165 studies on the effects that health and medical content on scripted television has on viewers. We found that TV stories can influence viewers’ health-related attitudes, knowledge and behaviors. Sometimes this influence can be harmful, such as exposing viewers to inaccurate information about organ donation from television. But sometimes it can be positive – one study found that viewers of an “ER” storyline about breast cancer were more likely to recommend screening and a patient navigator who supports patients through treatment. However, we hadn’t found any studies examining how seeing CPR on screen influences viewers. While previous studies on in-hospital cardiac arrest and CPR found inaccuracies with chest compression technique and survival rates in media, none had looked at portrayals of cardiac arrest that occur outside of hospitals and CPR conducted by a lay rescuer. Performing CPR on TV My team searched the Internet Movie Database to identify episodes in American TV shows that depict out-of-hospital cardiac arrest or hands-only CPR. We limited our results to episodes released after 2008 – the year the American Heart Association first endorsed hands-only CPR. Of the 169 episodes that fit our criteria, we documented the sociodemographic characteristics of the character experiencing cardiac arrest and the primary witnesses, as well as whether, how and where hands-only CPR was administered. On a positive note, we found that over 58% of on-screen characters who experienced cardiac arrest outside a hospital had a layperson perform CPR. But in real life, less than 40% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital receive CPR. Seeing such high rates of CPR being performed on screen could motivate viewers to act, as in the case of a 12-year-old boy who saved a life in 2023 using the CPR techniques he saw on “Stranger Things.” However, less than 30% of episodes showed hands-only CPR being performed correctly. Almost 50% of episodes showed characters giving rescue breaths, and 43% of episodes had characters checking for a pulse. While we didn’t directly assess whether these episodes influence how viewers behave, based on our observations while conducting CPR training, it’s clear that these depictions may mislead viewers about how to administer hands-only CPR. Who gets CPR and where on screen Our findings also raise concern that how cardiac arrest is depicted on TV may mislead viewers about where cardiac emergencies happen and who may need CPR the most. Of the on-screen cardiac arrests that didn’t occur at a hospital, we found that only 20% happened at home. In real life, over 80% of nonhospital-based cardiac arrests occur at home. Additionally, those experiencing cardiac arrest on screen were younger than those in real life, with over 50% of characters under age 40. In real life, the average age is about 62. Lastly, we found that almost 65% of the people receiving hands-only CPR and 73% of rescuers performing CPR were white and male. This is consistent with real-world statistics, where people of color and women who experience cardiac arrest outside the hospital are less likely to receive CPR from a layperson. Accurate TV to save lives The American Heart Association’s 2025 guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care emphasized the need to help the general public envision themselves performing hands-only CPR and improve CPR education to ensure all people who need CPR receive it. Our team is working to understand what viewers take away from TV depictions of CPR, with the goal of collaborating with public health and medical professionals to improve how CPR is portrayed in Hollywood. Previous research has shown that entertainment narratives have the power to inspire altruistic behavior, and news reports have documented instances of people who perform CPR after seeing it on screen. Similarly, I believe scripted, compelling television may be a powerful, cost-effective way to improve CPR education and ultimately save lives. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Beth Hoffman, University of Pittsburgh Read more: Making the moral of the story stick − a media psychologist explains the research behind ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘Arthur’ and other children’s TV Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during ‘Monday Night Football’ could be commotio cordis or a more common condition – a heart doctor answers 4 questions Meet the springtails: little-known fantastic beasts that live everywhere on Earth Beth Hoffman receives funding from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health. She also consults with Hollywood, Health & Society.
	Herrell, Kranovich named to Destinations International committees Two QC tourism professionals have been named to committees with the world’s largest destination organization. Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, has been appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the Destinations International (DI) Membership Committee and the Social Impact Committee for 2026, the world’s largest, most respected association for destination organizations and [...]
	Rural Iowa theater receives national arts grant to celebrate American history Cedar Summerstock Theatre in Saint Ansgar was awarded $18,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to present a series of performances that highlight American history. It’s part of a $16 million initiative to support projects celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
	Man arrested in connection with robbery at gas station Officers learned a person wearing a mask demanded money from an employee.
	A judge orders HHS to restore children's health funding as a lawsuit continues The judge ordered the restoration of nearly $12 million in funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics, including money for rural health care and the identification of disabilities in children.
	Death Notice: Susan Whitney A memorial service celebrating the life of Susan M. Whitney, 81, of Eldridge, will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Following the service, all are invited to continue celebrating Susan's life at Rudy's Tacos in Eldridge from 6-9 p.m. Mrs. Whitney died Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Memorials may be made to ImpactLife in Davenport, Faith Lutheran Church of Eldridge, or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Jan. 14 edition of The NSP.
	18 displaced after apartment fire in Davenport; one injured A Monday morning fire at an eight-unit apartment building in Davenport left 18 people displaced and one person injured.
	Davenport Fire responds to apartment building fire The Davenport Fire Department started Monday by responding to a structure fire at an apartment building. A news release from the Davenport Fire Department said firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1800 block of Dixwell Street on January 12 at about 8:23 a.m. The initial reports indicated the building had eight [...]
	42-year-old man injured in Monday morning apartment fire in Davenport Four of the eight units in the apartment building were rendered uninhabitable, according to the Davenport Fire Department.
	Man burned, several displaced after apartment building fire Crews came to a fire about 8:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Dixwell Street, according to Davenport Fire Chief Jeff VanderWiere.
	Local Iowa lawmakers return to State Capitol with focus on property taxes and school safety Iowa lawmakers begin the legislative session Jan. 12, with State Rep. Daniel Gosa prioritizing school safety and property tax concerns alongside bipartisan efforts.
	New Whitey's location officially opens in Bettendorf Whitey’s Ice Cream expanded into north Bettendorf with a new Forest Drive location, updated drive-thru and seasonal jobs.
	What is below Earth, since space is present in every direction? Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. What is below Earth, since space is present in every direction? – Purvi, age 17, India If you’ve seen illustrations or models of the solar system, maybe you noticed that all the planets orbit the Sun in more or less the same plane, traveling in the same direction. But what is above and below that plane? And why are the planets’ orbits aligned like this, in a flat pancake, rather than each one traveling in a completely different plane? I’m a planetary scientist who works with robotic spacecraft, such as rovers and orbiters. When my colleagues and I send them out to explore our solar system, it’s important for us to understand the 3D map of our space neighborhood. Which way is ‘down’? Earth’s gravity has a lot to do with what people think is up and what is down. Things fall down toward the ground, but that direction depends on where you are. Imagine you’re standing somewhere in North America and point downward. If you extend a line from your fingertip all the way through the Earth, that line would point in the direction of “up” to someone on a boat in the southern Indian Ocean. By convention, looking ‘down’ on the solar system you see the planets orbiting counterclockwise. Andrzej Wojcicki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images via The Conversation In the bigger picture, “down” could be defined as being below the plane of the solar system, which is known as the ecliptic. By convention, we say that above the plane is where the planets are seen to orbit counterclockwise around the Sun, and from below they are seen to orbit clockwise. Even more flavors of ‘down’ Is there anything special about the direction of down relative to the ecliptic? To answer that, we need to zoom out even farther. Our solar system is centered on the Sun, which is just one of about 100 billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. Each of these stars, and their associated planets, are all orbiting around the center of the Milky Way, just like the planets orbit their stars, but on a much longer time scale. And just as the planets in our solar system are not in random orbits, stars in the Milky Way orbit the center of the galaxy close to a plane, which is called the galactic plane. This plane is not oriented the same way as our solar system’s ecliptic. In fact, the angle between the two planes is about 60 degrees. A side view of galaxy NGC 4217 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope shows how all the stars and their planetary systems lie on one plane. NASA Goddard, CC BY Going another step back, the Milky Way is part of a cluster of galaxies known the the Local Group, and – you can see where this is going – these galaxies mostly fall within another plane, called the supergalactic plane. The supergalactic plane is almost perpendicular to the galactic plane, with an angle between the two planes of about 84.5 degrees. How these bodies end up traveling paths that are close to the same plane has to do with how they formed in the first place. Collapse of the solar nebula The material that would ultimately compose the Sun and the planets of the solar system started out as a diffuse and very extensive cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. Every particle within the solar nebula had a tiny amount of mass. Because any mass exerts gravitational force, these particles were attracted to each other, though only very weakly. The particles in the solar nebula started out moving very slowly. But over a long time, the mutual attraction these particles felt thanks to gravity caused the cloud to start to draw inward on itself, shrinking. There would have also been some very slight overall rotation to the solar nebula, maybe thanks to the gravitational tug of a passing star. As the cloud collapsed, this rotation would have increased in speed, just like a spinning figure skater spins faster and faster as they draw their arms in toward their body. Watch how the cloud’s particles collided and eventually clumped. As the cloud continued shrinking, the individual particles grew closer to each other and had more and more interactions affecting their motion, both because of gravity and collisions between them. These interactions caused individual particles in orbits that were tilted far from the direction of the overall rotation of the cloud to reorient their orbits. For example, if a particle coming down through the orbital plane slammed into a particle coming up through that plane, the interaction would tend to cancel out that vertical motion and reorient their orbits into the plane. Eventually, what was once an amorphous cloud of particles collapsed into a disc shape. Then particles in similar orbits started clumping together, eventually forming the Sun and all the planets that orbit it today. On much bigger scales, similar sorts of interactions are probably what ended up confining most of the stars that make up the Milky Way into the galactic plane, and most of the galaxies that make up the Local Group into the supergalactic plane. The orientations of the ecliptic, galactic and supergalactic planes all go back to the initial random rotation direction of the clouds they formed from. So what’s below the Earth? So there’s not really anything special about the direction we define as “down” relative to the Earth, other than the fact that there’s not much orbiting the Sun in that direction. If you go far enough in that direction, you’ll eventually find other stars with their own planetary systems orbiting in completely different orientations. And if you go even farther, you might encounter other galaxies with their own planes of rotation. This question highlights one of my favorite aspects of astronomy: It puts everything in perspective. If you asked a hundred people on your street, “Which way is down?” every one of them would point in the same direction. But imagine you asked that question of people all over the Earth, or of intelligent life forms in other planetary systems or even other galaxies. They’d all point in different directions. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jeff Moersch, University of Tennessee Read more: Does outer space end – or go on forever? Are people at the South Pole upside down? Why does everything look flat even though the Earth is round? Jeff Moersch receives funding from NASA an the U.S. National Science Foundation.
	Financial case for college remains strong, but universities need to add creative thinking to their curriculum A college degree was once seen as the golden ticket to landing a well-paying job. But many people are increasingly questioning the value of a four-year degree amid the rising cost of college. Almost two-thirds of registered voters said in an October 2025 NBC News poll that a four-year college degree isn’t worth the cost – marking an increase from 40% of registered voters who said that college wasn’t worth the cost in June 2013. Caroline Field Levander, the vice president for global strategy and an English professor at Rice University, argues in her December 2025 book “Invent Ed” that people have lost sight of two factors that made universities great to begin with: invention and creativity. Amy Lieberman, education editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Levander to break down the benefits of going to college and university – and how schools can better demonstrate their enduring value. How can we measure the value of a college degree? College graduates earn substantially more than people who do not have a college degree. The average high school graduate over a 40-year career earns US$1.6 million, according to 2021 findings by the Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce. The average college graduate, over this same 40-year time frame, earns $2.8 million. That $1.2 million difference amounts to around $30,000 more salary per year. People who earn a degree more advanced than a bachelor’s, on average, earn $4 million over 30 years, making the lifetime earning difference $2.4 million between these graduates and people with just a high school diploma. College graduates are also better protected against job loss, and they weather job disruption cycles better than high school graduates. The unemployment rate for people with a high school degree was 4.2% in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By contrast, 2.5% of people with a bachelor’s degree and 2.2% of people with a master’s degree were unemployed in 2024. Do any of these benefits extend beyond individual students? In addition to the substantial financial benefits college graduates experience, colleges and universities are major employers in their communities – and not just professors and administrators. Higher education institutions employ every trade and kind of worker, from construction workers to police, to name a few. Universities are crucial to developing and strengthening the U.S. economy in other ways. The discoveries that faculty and researchers make in laboratories lead to new products, businesses and ideas that drive the U.S. economy and support the country’s financial health. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern did important work in helping to discover statins, while scientists at the University of Pennsylvania developed the mRNA vaccine. The list of inventions that started at universities goes on and on. Some people are questioning the value of a degree. What role can universities play in reassuring them of their relevance? Discovery and invention have traditionally been the focus of many graduate programs and faculty research, while undergraduate college educations tend to focus on ensuring that students are able to successfully enter the workforce after graduation. Undergraduate students need to gain competency in a field in order to contribute to society and advance knowledge. But I believe universities need to teach something else that is equally valuable: They also need to build creative capacity and an inventive mindset into undergraduate education, as a fundamental return on the investment in education. Employers report that creativity is the top job skill needed today. The IBM Institute for Business Value, for example, concluded in 2023 that creativity is the must-have skill for employee success in the era of generative AI. The Harvard Business Review reports that employers are developing short courses aimed to build creative capability in their workers. Creativity and innovation are both likely to become increasingly important for young people entering the workplace, especially as AI continues to grow. Andriy Onufriyenko/iStock/Getty Images via The Conversation What can faculty and students easily do to encourage creativity and innovation? Professors can build what I call a “growth mindset” in the classroom by focusing on success over time, rather than the quick correct answer. Faculty members can ask themselves as they go into every class, “Am I encouraging a growth mindset or a fixed mindset in these students?” And they can use that answer to guide how they are teaching. Students could also consider committing to trying new courses in areas where they haven’t already been successful. They could approach their college experience with the idea that grades aren’t the only marker of success. And I think they could benefit from developing thoughtful ways to describe their journey to future employers. Simple practices like keeping a creativity notebook where they record the newest ideas they have, among many others that I describe in my new book, will help. And university leaders need to open the aperture of how we define our own success and our university’s success so that it includes creative capability building as part of the undergraduate curriculum. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Caroline Levander, Rice University Read more: Federal funding cuts are only one problem facing America’s colleges and universities Despite naysayers and rising costs, data shows that college still pays off for students – and society overall New federal loan limits will worsen America’s nursing shortage and leave patients waiting longer for care Caroline Levander does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows Older adults can dramatically reduce the amount of ultraprocessed foods they eat while keeping a familiar, balanced diet – and this shift leads to improvements across several key markers related to how the body regulates appetite and metabolism. That’s the main finding of a new study my colleagues and I published in the journal Clinical Nutrition. Ultraprocessed foods are made using industrial techniques and ingredients that aren’t typically used in home cooking. They often contain additives such as emulsifiers, flavorings, colors and preservatives. Common examples include packaged snacks, ready-to-eat meals and some processed meats. Studies have linked diets high in ultraprocessed foods to poorer health outcomes. My team and I enrolled Americans ages 65 and older in our study, many of whom were overweight or had metabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance or high cholesterol. Participants followed two diets low in ultraprocessed foods for eight weeks each. One included lean red meat (pork); the other was vegetarian with milk and eggs. For two weeks in between, participants returned to their usual diets. A total of 43 people began the dietary intervention, and 36 completed the full study. In both diets, ultraprocessed foods made up less than 15% of the total calories – a significant reduction from the typical American diet, where more than 50% of total calories comes from ultraprocessed foods. The diets were designed to be realistic for everyday eating, and participants were not instructed to restrict calories, lose weight or change their physical activity. Maintaining metabolic health promotes healthy aging. Giselleflissak/E+ via Getty Images via The Conversation We prepared, portioned and provided all meals and snacks for the study. Both diets emphasized minimally processed ingredients and aligned with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. government’s nutrient-based recommendations for healthy eating, while providing similar calories and amounts of key nutrients. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released on Jan. 7, 2026, explicitly recommend eating less ultraprocessed food, but the previous versions of the guidelines did not specifically address food processing. Our feeding study design allowed us, for the first time, to examine the health effects of reducing ultraprocessed foods while keeping nutrient levels consistent with recommended targets. We compared how participants fared while eating their habitual diets with how they responded to the two diets that were low in ultraprocessed foods. During the periods when participants ate fewer ultraprocessed foods, they naturally consumed fewer calories and lost weight, including total and abdominal body fat. Beyond weight loss, they also showed meaningful improvements in insulin sensitivity, healthier cholesterol levels, fewer signs of inflammation and favorable changes in hormones that help regulate appetite and metabolism. These improvements were similar whether participants followed the meat-based or the vegetarian diet. Why it matters Ultraprocessed foods make up more than half the calories consumed by most U.S. adults. Although these foods are convenient and widely available, studies that track people’s diets over time increasingly link them with obesity and age-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With older adults making up a growing share of the global population, strategies that preserve metabolic health could support healthy aging. Most previous feeding studies testing how ultraprocessed foods affect people’s health haven’t reflected real-world eating, especially among Americans. For example, some studies have compared diets made up almost entirely of ultraprocessed foods with diets that contain little to none at all. Our study aimed to more closely approximate people’s experience while still closely tracking the foods they consumed. It is the first to show that for older adults a realistic reduction in ultraprocessed foods, outside the lab, has measurable health benefits beyond just losing weight. For older adults especially, maintaining metabolic health helps preserve mobility, independence and quality of life. What’s still unknown Our study was small, reflecting the complexity of studies in which researchers tightly control what participants eat. It was not designed to show whether the metabolic improvements we observed can prevent or delay diseases such as diabetes or heart disease over time. Larger, longer studies will be needed to answer that. On the practical side, it’s still unclear whether people can cut back on ultraprocessed foods in their daily lives without structured support, and what strategies would make it easier to do so. It’s also not fully understood which aspects of processing – for example, additives, emulsifiers or extrusion – matter more for health. Answering these questions could help manufacturers produce foods that are healthier but still convenient – and make it easier for people to choose healthier food options. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Moul Dey, South Dakota State University Read more: Ultraprocessed foods – like cookies, chips, frozen meals and fast food – may contribute to cognitive decline Fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management – rather than cutting carbs out of your diet, eat them in their original fiber packaging instead MAHA report on children’s health highlights harms of ultraprocessed foods – a food scientist explains the research Moul Dey receives funding from the National Pork Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project).
	1 person suffers burn injuries after Davenport apartment fire Between 10 and 15 residents were displaced and one person injured after Davenport fire Monday morning, Jan. 12, on the 1800 block of Dixwell St.
	Davenport school district highlights new projects Crews are expected to wrap up Davenport school projects by the end of 2026-2027 school year.
	Suspect arrested in Galesburg after early morning gas station robbery Galesburg police arrested a 29-year-old man after report of a robbery at a Beck’s Gas Station on East Main Street Jan. 12, 2026.
	Davenport officer saves life at Bears game Riley McIntyre, a Davenport officer, performed CPR on a fan during the Bears game Nov. 9, 2025
	'Hijack' and 'The Night Manager' continue to thrill in their second seasons Idris Elba returns as the world's most unlucky traveler in Season 2 of the Apple TV series Hijack. And Tom Hiddleston is back as a hotel worker/intelligence agent in The Night Manager on Prime Video.
	New Whitey's opens in Bettendorf Whitey’s is bringing more of their world-famous ice cream to Bettendorf! The new store at 3491 Forest Grove Drive opened for business at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 12. The new store will have three drive-thru windows; the first two are for taking orders and the third on the opposite side of the building is [...]
	Galesburg man arrested, accused in gas station burglary A Galesburg man is in the Knox County Jail after police say he robbed a gas station early this morning. A news release from the Galesburg Police Department says police responded to Beck’s Gas Station, 1581 E. Main Street, on January 12 at about 2:20 a.m. for a report of a robbery that had just [...]
	Are we entering 2026 in an AI bubble? Are we entering 2026 in an AI bubble?As trade tensions cooled and the policy fog lifted, investors’ attention as we exited 2025 gravitated to a single question: Are we in the midst of an AI bubble?To evaluate where we are in the cycle, we need to understand the anatomy of a bubble. Range adapted Ray Dalio’s classic six-part “Bubble Indicator” to diagnose the current landscape.The diagnosis? There are a few areas of concern in public markets—mainly around increasing use of leverage—but the bubble indicators are more mixed than alarming. One hypothesis is that the bigger vulnerability sits in private markets, where valuations are harder to validate and outcomes are more sensitive to financing conditions. Range The Outlook for 2026 — Turbulence Along The WayAn AI bubble-pop is unlikely to derail U.S. market performance in 2026. But there are areas experts are watching closely, and the ecosystem is fragile. AI-driven leadership may continue this year, but with heightened volatility.AI investment and AI-led performance will likely continue (with air pockets)AI is still in an investment upcycle: Capex, model deployment, and enterprise adoption should keep advancing. But with the ecosystem changing rapidly, we may see “two steps forward, one step back” trading in 2026—periodic resets driven by guidance, competitive surprises, extended retail positioning or changes in public sentiment around AI. The theme can keep working even if the ride is bumpier.Private markets look most vulnerable to bubble dynamicsThe highest bubble risk isn’t necessarily in liquid mega-cap equities—it’s in areas where:Price discovery is slower.Financials are murkier.Financing terms can change quickly.Private markets, including venture, growth equity, and private credit, seem particularly vulnerable to AI-related hiccups. If we see a few high-profile down rounds, a stalled fundraise, or stress in private credit tied to AI-adjacent assets, the reset could spill over into public markets—driving volatility even if the fundamentals of the public AI leaders remain intact.Overbuilding risk rises as the cycle maturesHistory says that major infrastructure waves tend to be temporarily overbuilt. If investment accelerates faster than near-term monetization, markets can enter a “digestion” phase—where returns are delayed. That’s a volatility risk, not necessarily a secular thesis-break.Disclosures:This communication contains forward-looking statements that reflect Range Advisory, LLC’s (“Range”) current views, expectations, beliefs and/or projections about future events or results. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties — including, without limitation, market conditions, regulatory changes, economic conditions — any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Range undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Recipients should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The views, opinions and analyses expressed by Range in this material are those of Range as of the date shown, and are provided for informational purposes only.This story was produced by Range and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport fire displaces up to 15 residents; man injured A Monday morning fire at an eight-unit building in Davenport displaced up to 15 residents and injured one tenant.
	Clinton home damaged in structure fire A Clinton home experienced significant damage after a fire yesterday morning. A news release from the Clinton Fire Department said firefighters were called to the 2300 block of N. 12th Street for a report of a structure fire on January 11 at about 6:30 a.m. Their response included 13 firefighters in two ladder trucks, one [...]
	5 examples of AI agents in the workplace 5 examples of AI agents in the workplaceJust like a fancy camera doesn't make you a photographer, just having access to powerful AI tools doesn't mean you're getting real value out of them. It's what you do with the tools—how you structure the workflow, train the agent, and plug it into your systems—that determines whether it's a novelty or a strategic advantage.Zapier spoke with business leaders about how they're using AI agents to build autonomous workflow solutions at scale. Here are five real-world examples.What are AI agents?An AI agent is an entity that can take in information from its environment, make decisions based on that input, and act on its own to achieve a goal.AI agents can understand and interact with their circumstances. They'll run once you give them an objective or a stimulus to trigger their behavior—you don't need to keep prompting them. This makes them great for complex and unpredictable tasks. And even though they don't have complete accuracy, they can detect their mistakes and figure out ways to solve them as they move forward.5 examples of AI agents in the workplace1. Analyze customer sentimentArtūras Lazejeva, chief technology officer at Whatagraph, needed an AI solution to address his team's biggest problem. Customer feedback was pouring in across multiple communication channels, but combing through all that for actionable insights and getting it to the right teams? That was slow, painful, and way too manual.So Lazejeva built an AI agent called CommsQA. Lazejeva explains how it works: "Our CommsQA bot connects to all our communication channels, plus our product and billing data. It then uses large language models (LLMs) to analyze sentiment, identify recurring themes, and categorize the feedback. It can even flag or prioritize items based on customer revenue."But it doesn't stop there. "All of this information feeds directly into Slack," Lazejeva continues. "We receive a daily digest of the overall product feedback, top requests, pain points, and critical issues, which means we can address critical items much faster than before." Zapier You can also chat with CommsQA in Slack and ask for specific insights about a client. Zapier For Lazejeva, the impact of incorporating an AI agent into his workflow is clear. "It's bridged the gap between our customer-facing staff and product development," says Lazejeva. "It's led to a significant reduction in manual analysis time, a much quicker feedback loop, and the ability to make more data-driven roadmap decisions."2. Pull up-to-date research on prospects and competitorsUsman Mahomed, head of product at egg, built a personal sales research assistant that shrinks hours of manual prospecting into minutes.The agent learns egg's target profiles and then autonomously scours Google Maps, news sites, and industry directories for live data. From there, it fills in missing details from the profile and compiles everything into a Google Sheet tagged for review.Mahomed's research assistant also inspired the rest of his team to build custom agents. "Everyone's using it," he says. “It's taking them less than five minutes to do what used to take them three hours.”3. Recommend products based on dynamic feedbackJonathan Moore, marketing and e-commerce director at Simba Sleep, uses online quizzes to help customers find their ideal mattress. But the difference between Moore's quiz and, frankly, every which-leave-in-conditioner-is-right-for-you quiz ever taken is that he uses an AI agent to dynamically update the product recommendations so that a customer isn't inexplicably pointed to a one-star product with multiple scathing reviews.Here's how his AI agent works: "Our AI agent analyzes customer quiz data, inventory data (mattress types sold and returned), and product reviews to suggest refinements to our mattress quiz, which we then apply on a quarterly basis," explains Moore. Zapier "This helps our team continuously improve the product matching logic and identify any gaps in our product line."4. Generate and qualify leads at scaleAndrew Harding, VP of marketing and content partnerships at Slate, created an agent when he realized that manual prospecting couldn't keep up with demand.It became Slate's on-demand sales assistant. Here's how it works: The agent searches the web for ideal prospects based on Slate's target advertiser personas and their audience strategy. It then organizes those prospects in Google Sheets for the marketing team to review, and any contact that meets Slate's criteria flows into their customer relationship management or outreach tools for immediate follow-up. It all happens automatically.The impact was huge. "It generated over 2,000 leads in a single month," says Harding. "It's generated so many leads that we're still working through them months later."5. Scale content creationJBGoodwin REALTORS was stuck in a content bottleneck: They had one marketing coordinator trying to keep over 900 agents visible online.To fix that, Edward Tull, vice president of technology and operations, built two agents to turn raw research into ready-to-publish blog and social media posts every week. Here's how they work:News agent: This AI agent scrapes Google for the top five real estate stories in the region, summarizes each article with a title, link, and blurb, and then writes a 250-word regional roundup. It also generates two social posts per market.Analytics agent: This AI agent pulls housing-market data every week and spins up an 800-word blog post on the Austin market. From there, it emails everything straight to the team for review."Before this, our VP of marketing and social media manager had to manually search for news," Tull shares. "Now, the agents serve it up ready to go—it's fast, relevant, and fully automated."Get more done with AI agentsJust like a great camera can't frame the shot for you, an AI agent won't deliver results unless you've set it up properly. But once you've trained it on the right inputs, connected it to your tools, and pointed it toward a goal—it can handle the rest.Every example in this article started with the same thing: a repetitive task worth offloading. If you've got one of those, you've got what you need to start building.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The New Threat to American Innovation: Patent Trolls for Hire (NAPSI)—In local communities across America, the “next big idea” often takes shape in a garage, a small startup office or a community college lab. New American inventors and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our nation. They are responsible for turning bold ideas into products that create jobs and make life easier for all of us. They are often the lifeblood of local economies. But in recent decades, a particular kind of legal threat has emerged that puts that engine of entrepreneurial innovation at risk. These lawsuits come from shell companies that are commonly known as patent trolls. Patent trolls don’t invent things or make products but exist solely to pursue lawsuits related to patents they buy. Patent troll litigation costs U.S. firms an estimated $29 billion annually in direct legal expenses, and approximately $60 billion when accounting for lost firm value and diverted resources. Patent troll litigation surged 22% from 2023 to 2024 alone, making it a fast-growing issue for American business. Patent trolls have been at work for decades. But now, in a new twist, patent trolls are being hired to file lawsuits against others in the industry. The aim isn’t to defend a real invention, but to make it harder for rivals by driving up legal costs, scaring off customers, delaying product launches, or pushing for monetary settlements. This puts more pressure on the price of everyday technology products. This legal warfare acts like a hidden tax on local innovation. Money that could be spent fueling research and development of promising new ideas instead gets diverted to paying legal bills. A product that could have shipped in spring slips to the fall—or launches with fewer features. Over time, those suits have a chilling effect on small-business innovations and growth, in communities throughout the US. Economists and consumer advocates warn that these tactics could stifle growth in key industries like semiconductors, artificial intelligence and clean energy—fields that depend on fast-moving innovation and open competition. Each time an inventor or startup is forced to settle or shut down, another potential breakthrough gets delayed or disappears entirely. This troubling legal trend is not just hurting startups and small businesses. Patent trolls clog the courts with frivolous filings, overloading judges and regulators who could be spending their time on real cases. It’s a drain on innovation and public resources. The good news is that policymakers are beginning to push back. Over the past year, 15 governors—Republicans and Democrats alike—have signed new laws to curb abusive patent litigation. More than thirty U.S. states are now taking action to make it harder for shell companies to weaponize the legal system against innovators. In states like Massachusetts, lawmakers are even debating fresh measures to crack down on the rise of patent trolls that file lawsuits not to protect innovations, but to sabotage. Across the country, Americans are taking note. In a recent national poll on the topic, 90% of Americans agree that the U.S. must ensure a fair legal playing field so smaller businesses can innovate and compete without fear of costly, frivolous lawsuits. Nearly nine in ten are concerned that smaller companies would be harmed as larger companies benefit from patent troll abuse, and 82% worry about the impact on jobs at small, innovative companies. The United States has always been defined by invention. But that only works when the system rewards creators, not manipulators. Patent trolls for hire may be an invisible problem to most Americans, but the costs are real; they show up in lost jobs, shuttered startups and innovations that never reach the market. Innovation should be a race toward the best ideas. Instead, it’s quickly becoming a race to the courthouse. It’s time to ensure that our legal system serves those who build, not those who bully. Because when deep-pocketed corporations and hired patent trolls win, America’s innovators and entrepreneurs lose. Word Count: 633
	Person injured, several displaced after apartment building fire Crews came to a fire about 8:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Dixwell Street, according to Davenport Fire Chief Jeff VanderWiere.
	Indian women and the global skilled workforce: A measurable shift in H-1B participation Indian women and the global skilled workforce: A measurable shift in H-1B participationIndia has long been recognized as the dominant source country for high-skilled global labor, particularly in technology and engineering.Historically, however, this outward flow of talent via work visas has been disproportionately male. While that trend is not quite unique to India, cumulative data from the U.S. H-1B visa program over the past half-decade reflects that this imbalance is beginning to change.Over the last five fiscal years, Indian women have accounted for a steadily increasing share of approved H-1B petitions. While the overall program does remain male-dominated, the trend line is in fact changing. In this article, Manifest Law analyzes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, which shows an increasing participation among Indian women in the H-1B visa program.Rising Share of H-1B Visa Approvals for Indian WomenAs mentioned, USCIS data from the annual Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers reports clearly reflect a consistent, continuing increase in the percentage of Indian-born H-1B beneficiaries who are women.The data shows:Female Indian H-1B Visa Approvals by Fiscal Year (FY)FY 2020: 21%FY 2021: 23%FY 2022: 24%FY 2023: 24%FY 2024: 25%While a one- to two-percentage-point increase on an annual basis is modest, Indian women are closing the gender gap faster than H-1B recipients from other countries.This represents thousands of additional Indian women entering high-skilled roles in the U.S. labor market.For context, the overall share of women among the approved H-1B beneficiaries as a whole has increased as well, rising from roughly 26% in FY 2020 to 29% in FY 2024, averaging out to roughly a 0.6 percentage-point change per year.Indian women moved from a 21% share to a 25% share in that same period, averaging out to roughly a 0.8 percentage-point change per year. The share of women from the next-largest country for H-1B workers, China, has increased by just 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points per year.What the H-1B Data Actually SignalsThe significance of this trend lies less in its scale than in its persistence.In the past, the gender composition of the H-1B visa program has changed very little year over year. Against that backdrop, the consistent rise in Indian women’s share of approvals is notable, even if the absolute percentage remains low.H-1B approvals sit at the end of a highly constrained pipeline that includes employer recruitment, sponsorship decisions, wage thresholds, lottery selection, and adjudication standards. Movement at the approval stage implies that change is occurring somewhere upstream, even though USCIS data does pinpoint exactly where that change originates.It’s important to remember that this H-1B data reflects outcomes, not just access, as USCIS does not publish data on applicants, sponsorship attempts, or rejected petitions by gender or country.As a result, rising approval shares should be viewed less as evidence that barriers have been removed and women have broader access, but more as women themselves making progress and successfully navigating the system.H-1B Gender, Selection, and Higher BarriersWhile H-1B data does not allow for the analysis of education levels by both gender and country simultaneously, broader approval patterns still offer some interesting insights.Across the program as a whole, women who receive H-1B approvals are more concentrated in higher education categories, including master’s and doctoral degrees. This can be viewed through two different lenses, one carrying more weight than the other.First, this might come across as an optimistic finding, where women who succeed in the H-1B system tend to be highly credentialed. On the other hand, as women appear more likely to clear the H-1B threshold when they bring stronger academic credentials, this raises concerns that higher qualifications are often a prerequisite for approval rather than a differentiator after the fact to achieve outcomes similar to male applicants.What the data makes clear is that lower female representation in approvals does not imply lower qualification. If anything, it raises the possibility that selection thresholds are uneven, shaped by factors such as sponsorship decisions, occupational sorting, or several other gender-focused variables.As a result, increases in approval share should be interpreted cautiously. They demonstrate movement within the system, yes, but not exactly equality of access to it.Why the Broader Indian Economic Context Still MattersThis developing H-1B trend should not be treated as a proxy for how Indian women are doing in the workforce overall.This picture captures a very narrow population: people who are already in specialized roles, already connected to employers willing to sponsor them, and already positioned to relocate for work. That is not the average worker, and in most cases, not even the average professional.This is where the broader economic context is useful.A June 2025 report by Goldman Sachs argues that one of India’s biggest growth constraints is the gap between women’s potential participation and actual participation in the workforce, driven by structural barriers like caregiving load, mobility constraints, and the way careers narrow when women step out of the labor market for even short periods.That research does not explain the H-1B approvals, but changes in international outcomes are likely to appear first among a small subset of women who can clear those barriers.In other words, the fact that the H-1B channel is narrow is exactly why the trend is meaningful. If Indian women’s share of approvals is rising even in a pipeline that requires employer sponsorship, high-skill roles, and relocation readiness, that is a measurable signal of movement at the top end of the opportunity spectrum.Now, it is not at all proof of parity, and it is not proof that barriers have been reduced or removed. Instead, it is evidence to the contrary, where Indian women are making progress while increasingly being pushed into rural-focused work.Even with all of these barriers, more women are reaching the point where global employers will sponsor them, and USCIS will approve them, meaning (as noted earlier), Indian women are, against all odds, putting in the work and navigating the process with more success year in and year out.A Narrow but Meaningful SignalThe H-1B data does not support sweeping claims about equity, nor does it signal a definitive era of change to come. What it does support, though, is a narrower, but hopeful conclusion: Indian women are slowly increasing their representation within one of the world’s most selective skilled-migration systems, even while they are increasingly motivated to remain in more rural work roles back home.Rising participation in the H-1B program is not evidence that systemic change is taking place in India or that the H-1B system has experienced major shifts in this area. It is more so a testament to the fact that Indian women are making a measurable change on their own.For India, the implication is strategic rather than symbolic. Expanding women’s access to professional opportunities, both domestically and internationally, is not only a question of fairness but one of economic capacity. The H-1B data offers a limited but reliable window into how that capacity is beginning to expand.This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Warm start to the week turns much colder and snowier We're enjoying a warm start to January, but that's going to change. We had our first measurable snow of the month this past weekend. More snow is on the way to the Quad Cities later this week into the first part of the weekend. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	What is human trafficking? Signs, myths, how to get help Human trafficking doesn’t just happen overseas or in big cities, it can happen in any community, including right here in the Quad Cities.
	Eldridge City Council to vote on community center closure The council previously voted to close the community center and skate park at their December 12 meeting.
	Bring your favorite TV shows to life: Designers recreate iconic sets for the home Bring your favorite TV shows to life: Designers recreate iconic sets for the homeTelevision has created some of the most memorable backdrops in pop culture, from cozy coffee houses to dramatic throne rooms. Beyond entertainment, these beloved settings can also serve as rich sources of inspiration for interior design, sparking ideas for color palettes, textures and layouts that evoke the same emotion at home. This season, Houzz worked with five leading design and construction firms to reimagine iconic TV settings as real-world living spaces. The designers took inspiration from Gilmore Girls, Yellowstone, Mad Men, Friends and Game of Thrones to prepare fresh, functional and unforgettable spaces that can be applied to any home.Read on to see how the pros transformed beloved television sets from Central Perk to Westeros into kitchens, living rooms and other spaces, and how you can bring that same spirit to your own home. Interior Impressions, courtesy of Houzz Family Room inspired by Gilmore Girls \| Designed by Interior ImpressionsGilmore Girls, set in the idyllic town of Stars Hollow, has charmed generations, not only through its quick-witted dialogue and heartfelt relationships, but also through its warm, eclectic interiors. For fans who love the show’s cozy aesthetic, this family room imagined by Interior Impressions, offers inspiration for bringing that familiar Gilmore charm into your own home.“This living room design is our interpretation of a now more worldly Rory Gilmore,” said Amy Leferink, founder and principal designer of Interior Impressions. The room blends nostalgic warmth with sophisticated detail, using approachable design elements homeowners can adopt. Architectural touches like built-in cabinets, French doors, generous windows, and arched openings echo the original set’s character and can be recreated through thoughtful millwork, paint choices or even furniture placement that frames key focal points.Lighting plays a major role in capturing Stars Hollow’s lived-in glow. Leferink’s team layered table and floor lamps, wall sconces, and a statement ceiling fixture to build a soft, welcoming atmosphere, which is a strategy that interior designers use to instantly warm up a space. Vintage-inspired floral wallpaper, layered rugs, mix-and-match pillows and collected accessories bring in the eclectic cottagecore feel fans know and love.Personal touches like books, a record player and a writing desk highlight Rory’s love of literature and music, and offer ideas for showcasing your own passions. May Construction, courtesy of Houzz Kitchen inspired by Yellowstone \| Designed by May ConstructionSet against the sweeping backdrop of rural Montana, the neo-Western drama Yellowstone has made the Dutton Ranch kitchen almost as iconic as its characters. With its rugged materials, stainless steel cookware, and no-nonsense functionality, the space captures the essence of Western living, and it’s a look many homeowners are eager to bring into their own homes.For May Construction, a Yellowstone-inspired kitchen meant blending rustic authenticity with modern comfort in ways homeowners can easily adapt. Stone finishes, exposed beams and warm wood textures establish a rugged foundation, while sleek countertops and updated appliances add the kind of refined practicality that works beautifully in a contemporary home. May Construction, courtesy of Houzz The refrigerator styling, stocked with fresh milk and marinating meat, reinforces the Dutton family’s connection to their working cattle operation. “I really wanted to include a butler’s pantry. Gator seemed like an impressive chef on the show, with many key moments taking place around his cooking,” said Donna Gutto, designer at May Construction. “And the saloon doors took me back to the 1923 prequel series.” These elements help construction and design pros to create a kitchen that feels both rugged and refined for their clients — a modern interpretation of the Dutton Ranch aesthetic that’s just as at home off-screen as it is on it. Honeybee Interiors, courtesy of Houzz Bedroom inspired by Mad Men \| Designed by Honeybee InteriorsMad Men, the acclaimed period drama set against the backdrop of 1960s advertising, continues to captivate viewers with its impeccable storytelling and its equally iconic interiors. The show’s midcentury furnishings, warm wood tones, sculptural lighting and tailored aesthetic all contribute to a look that remains just as timeless today. For homeowners drawn to the elegance of the era, the style offers countless opportunities for designers to weave that refined, vintage charm into a modern home.Honeybee Interiors embraced this spirit by interpreting midcentury design through a contemporary lens. “We wanted the space to feel timeless and tailored, a modern interpretation of midcentury luxury,” said Sacha Berger, principal designer of Honeybee Interiors. The resulting primary bedroom blends authenticity with accessibility, giving readers a clear roadmap for achieving their own Mad Men–inspired retreat.A wall of fluted wood paneling adds depth and architectural presence, which can be replicated through textured wall treatments or wood accents. Rich walnut furniture and smooth neutral textiles reinforce the clean lines and warm palette that defined the midcentury era. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed by velvet drapery let soft light filter in yet provide complete privacy when closed, echoing the show’s themes of polished appearances and quiet introspection. And for a true Don Draper touch, a well-placed whisky decanter adds a moment of indulgence and vintage charm. Allito Spaces, courtesy of Houzz Living room inspired by Friends \| Designed by Allito SpacesAs the beloved gathering place for six twentysomethings navigating life in New York City, Friends’ Central Perk became one of the most recognizable TV hangouts of the ’90s and beyond. Its relaxed, eclectic style — anchored by the iconic orange couch — offered an inviting backdrop for heartfelt conversations and hilarious moments. For fans, the café’s charm remains endlessly appealing, and many of its design cues translate beautifully into a warm, welcoming home.Allito Spaces embraced this spirit, blending the comfort of home with the casual character of the show. “With this design, I wanted to capture the sense of togetherness that defined the series,” said Allison Garrison, principal designer of Allito Spaces. Elements from Central Perk make an appearance in approachable ways that readers can adapt: brick accents evoke the café’s walls, while a wall of windows mirrors its connection to the bustling city beyond or helps create an airy, open feel in a real home. Allito Spaces, courtesy of Houzz A layered Oriental rug and fringe-trimmed upholstery bring texture and nostalgia into a room, while collected artwork and accessories add the lived-in charm that passionate fans will recognize. These details not only nod to the show but also offer simple, effective ideas homeowners can use to cultivate a welcoming space of their own. Interiors by Design, courtesy of Houzz Parlor inspired by Game of Thrones \| Designed by Interiors by DesignIn the television drama Game of Thrones, the throne room was crafted to inspire awe with its cavernous, imposing space that underscored the power and legacy of the kingdom. While most homes don’t call for that level of grandeur, many fans are drawn to the show’s rich textures, dramatic lighting and old-world craftsmanship. Those elements can translate beautifully into a modern interior when approached with balance and intention.Interiors by Design embraced this idea, transforming the iconic throne room into a grand parlor and office that feels both commanding and inviting. “Winter is coming. And this year, it’s bringing with it more than cold weather; it’s bringing inspiration,” said Azelia Dickson, principal designer of Interiors by Design. Drawing from what she calls “Medieval Fantasy Grandeur,” the team blended deep, color-drenched walls with towering arched windows that flood the room with natural light, which is a combination homeowners can use to achieve drama without sacrificing livability.A monumental marble fireplace framed by polished stone columns serves as the heart of the space, offering a stately focal point that can be echoed in any home through bold materials or an architecturally detailed mantel. An ornate desk stands in place of the Iron Throne, establishing a sense of presence, while a carved wood chess table adds a layer of strategy and storytelling. Decorative choices from wrought iron chandeliers and candelabras to gilded accents and heavy drapery amplify the regal atmosphere. With the right balance of texture, form, and light, homeowners can work with design and construction pros to find ways for even the boldest fantasy elements to be adapted into a sophisticated, everyday living space worthy of its own legend. Whether inspired by small-town charm, ranch life or medieval drama, these spaces highlight the power of storytelling through interior design and how visual tools can help design and construction professionals to bring bold visions to life for their clients.Houzz is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the referenced TV shows or their respective production companies.This story was produced by Houzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Bring your favorite TV shows to life: Designers recreate iconic sets for the home Bring your favorite TV shows to life: Designers recreate iconic sets for the homeTelevision has created some of the most memorable backdrops in pop culture, from cozy coffee houses to dramatic throne rooms. Beyond entertainment, these beloved settings can also serve as rich sources of inspiration for interior design, sparking ideas for color palettes, textures and layouts that evoke the same emotion at home. This season, Houzz worked with five leading design and construction firms to reimagine iconic TV settings as real-world living spaces. The designers took inspiration from Gilmore Girls, Yellowstone, Mad Men, Friends and Game of Thrones to prepare fresh, functional and unforgettable spaces that can be applied to any home.Read on to see how the pros transformed beloved television sets from Central Perk to Westeros into kitchens, living rooms and other spaces, and how you can bring that same spirit to your own home. Interior Impressions, courtesy of Houzz Family Room inspired by Gilmore Girls \| Designed by Interior ImpressionsGilmore Girls, set in the idyllic town of Stars Hollow, has charmed generations, not only through its quick-witted dialogue and heartfelt relationships, but also through its warm, eclectic interiors. For fans who love the show’s cozy aesthetic, this family room imagined by Interior Impressions, offers inspiration for bringing that familiar Gilmore charm into your own home.“This living room design is our interpretation of a now more worldly Rory Gilmore,” said Amy Leferink, founder and principal designer of Interior Impressions. The room blends nostalgic warmth with sophisticated detail, using approachable design elements homeowners can adopt. Architectural touches like built-in cabinets, French doors, generous windows, and arched openings echo the original set’s character and can be recreated through thoughtful millwork, paint choices or even furniture placement that frames key focal points.Lighting plays a major role in capturing Stars Hollow’s lived-in glow. Leferink’s team layered table and floor lamps, wall sconces, and a statement ceiling fixture to build a soft, welcoming atmosphere, which is a strategy that interior designers use to instantly warm up a space. Vintage-inspired floral wallpaper, layered rugs, mix-and-match pillows and collected accessories bring in the eclectic cottagecore feel fans know and love.Personal touches like books, a record player and a writing desk highlight Rory’s love of literature and music, and offer ideas for showcasing your own passions. May Construction, courtesy of Houzz Kitchen inspired by Yellowstone \| Designed by May ConstructionSet against the sweeping backdrop of rural Montana, the neo-Western drama Yellowstone has made the Dutton Ranch kitchen almost as iconic as its characters. With its rugged materials, stainless steel cookware, and no-nonsense functionality, the space captures the essence of Western living, and it’s a look many homeowners are eager to bring into their own homes.For May Construction, a Yellowstone-inspired kitchen meant blending rustic authenticity with modern comfort in ways homeowners can easily adapt. Stone finishes, exposed beams and warm wood textures establish a rugged foundation, while sleek countertops and updated appliances add the kind of refined practicality that works beautifully in a contemporary home. May Construction, courtesy of Houzz The refrigerator styling, stocked with fresh milk and marinating meat, reinforces the Dutton family’s connection to their working cattle operation. “I really wanted to include a butler’s pantry. Gator seemed like an impressive chef on the show, with many key moments taking place around his cooking,” said Donna Gutto, designer at May Construction. “And the saloon doors took me back to the 1923 prequel series.” These elements help construction and design pros to create a kitchen that feels both rugged and refined for their clients — a modern interpretation of the Dutton Ranch aesthetic that’s just as at home off-screen as it is on it. Honeybee Interiors, courtesy of Houzz Bedroom inspired by Mad Men \| Designed by Honeybee InteriorsMad Men, the acclaimed period drama set against the backdrop of 1960s advertising, continues to captivate viewers with its impeccable storytelling and its equally iconic interiors. The show’s midcentury furnishings, warm wood tones, sculptural lighting and tailored aesthetic all contribute to a look that remains just as timeless today. For homeowners drawn to the elegance of the era, the style offers countless opportunities for designers to weave that refined, vintage charm into a modern home.Honeybee Interiors embraced this spirit by interpreting midcentury design through a contemporary lens. “We wanted the space to feel timeless and tailored, a modern interpretation of midcentury luxury,” said Sacha Berger, principal designer of Honeybee Interiors. The resulting primary bedroom blends authenticity with accessibility, giving readers a clear roadmap for achieving their own Mad Men–inspired retreat.A wall of fluted wood paneling adds depth and architectural presence, which can be replicated through textured wall treatments or wood accents. Rich walnut furniture and smooth neutral textiles reinforce the clean lines and warm palette that defined the midcentury era. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed by velvet drapery let soft light filter in yet provide complete privacy when closed, echoing the show’s themes of polished appearances and quiet introspection. And for a true Don Draper touch, a well-placed whisky decanter adds a moment of indulgence and vintage charm. Allito Spaces, courtesy of Houzz Living room inspired by Friends \| Designed by Allito SpacesAs the beloved gathering place for six twentysomethings navigating life in New York City, Friends’ Central Perk became one of the most recognizable TV hangouts of the ’90s and beyond. Its relaxed, eclectic style — anchored by the iconic orange couch — offered an inviting backdrop for heartfelt conversations and hilarious moments. For fans, the café’s charm remains endlessly appealing, and many of its design cues translate beautifully into a warm, welcoming home.Allito Spaces embraced this spirit, blending the comfort of home with the casual character of the show. “With this design, I wanted to capture the sense of togetherness that defined the series,” said Allison Garrison, principal designer of Allito Spaces. Elements from Central Perk make an appearance in approachable ways that readers can adapt: brick accents evoke the café’s walls, while a wall of windows mirrors its connection to the bustling city beyond or helps create an airy, open feel in a real home. Allito Spaces, courtesy of Houzz A layered Oriental rug and fringe-trimmed upholstery bring texture and nostalgia into a room, while collected artwork and accessories add the lived-in charm that passionate fans will recognize. These details not only nod to the show but also offer simple, effective ideas homeowners can use to cultivate a welcoming space of their own. Interiors by Design, courtesy of Houzz Parlor inspired by Game of Thrones \| Designed by Interiors by DesignIn the television drama Game of Thrones, the throne room was crafted to inspire awe with its cavernous, imposing space that underscored the power and legacy of the kingdom. While most homes don’t call for that level of grandeur, many fans are drawn to the show’s rich textures, dramatic lighting and old-world craftsmanship. Those elements can translate beautifully into a modern interior when approached with balance and intention.Interiors by Design embraced this idea, transforming the iconic throne room into a grand parlor and office that feels both commanding and inviting. “Winter is coming. And this year, it’s bringing with it more than cold weather; it’s bringing inspiration,” said Azelia Dickson, principal designer of Interiors by Design. Drawing from what she calls “Medieval Fantasy Grandeur,” the team blended deep, color-drenched walls with towering arched windows that flood the room with natural light, which is a combination homeowners can use to achieve drama without sacrificing livability.A monumental marble fireplace framed by polished stone columns serves as the heart of the space, offering a stately focal point that can be echoed in any home through bold materials or an architecturally detailed mantel. An ornate desk stands in place of the Iron Throne, establishing a sense of presence, while a carved wood chess table adds a layer of strategy and storytelling. Decorative choices from wrought iron chandeliers and candelabras to gilded accents and heavy drapery amplify the regal atmosphere. With the right balance of texture, form, and light, homeowners can work with design and construction pros to find ways for even the boldest fantasy elements to be adapted into a sophisticated, everyday living space worthy of its own legend. Whether inspired by small-town charm, ranch life or medieval drama, these spaces highlight the power of storytelling through interior design and how visual tools can help design and construction professionals to bring bold visions to life for their clients.Houzz is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the referenced TV shows or their respective production companies.This story was produced by Houzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How businesses can save money with LTL contract management How businesses can save money with LTL contract managementLTL (less-than-truckload) shipping allows multiple shippers to share space and costs for smaller freight loads that don’t require a full truck. However, rising LTL shipping costs are a persistent challenge for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and e-commerce businesses. Broussard Logistics explains how strategic contract management can reduce LTL shipping costs.While many companies focus on negotiating lower rates, true savings come from a strategic, ongoing approach to LTL contract management. By treating contract management as a continuous process, you can unlock significant, long-term savings and bring predictability to your supply chain.What Is Strategic LTL Contract Management?Strategic LTL contract management goes beyond simply shopping for the lowest rate. It’s a cyclical, data-driven process that includes analysis, negotiation, monitoring and continuous optimization. The goal is to create a partnership with your carriers that balances cost savings with reliable service so your shipping contracts are always working in your favor.Key elements of strategic LTL contract management include:Data analysis: Regularly review your shipping data to understand true costs, shipping patterns and areas for improvement.Informed negotiation: Use data insights to negotiate contract terms that reflect your actual shipping needs and leverage your volume for better rates and terms.Performance monitoring: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like on-time delivery, damage rates and invoicing accuracy to ensure carriers meet agreed standards.Continuous optimization: Adjust contract terms and carrier relationships as your business changes so your agreements remain competitive and cost-effective.Collaborative partnerships: Open communication and long-term relationships with carriers encourage flexibility, proactive problem-solving and mutual success.The Foundation of a Strong Contract: Data and ForecastingTo better understand how to save money with LTL contract management, start at ground level. Before entering negotiations, consider your shipping profile and anticipate future needs. Gathering the right data and using forecasting tools will enable you to negotiate optimally and avoid unexpected costs down the road.Analyzing Your Current Shipping ProfileBefore you can optimize your LTL contracts, thoroughly analyze your current shipping profile to understand where your costs are coming from and identify opportunities for improvement:Conduct a comprehensive freight audit to uncover your true shipping costsIdentify your most common shipping lanes and freight classes to target high-impact areasPinpoint frequent accessorial charges like liftgate or inside delivery fees that can be negotiated or eliminatedUse historical data to spot trends and inefficiencies in your current shipping operationsProjecting Future Shipping RequirementsEnsure your LTL shipping contracts remain effective as your business develops by projecting your future shipping requirements and anticipating changes in demand, volume and service needs:Factor in business growth, seasonality and market changes to anticipate future shipping needsUse forecasting tools to estimate future volumes and budget accordinglyPrepare for new product launches, geographic expansion or changes in customer demand that could impact shipping patternsBuild flexibility into your contracts to accommodate anticipated changesKey Elements of a Cost-Saving LTL ContractEffective negotiation is about more than the base rate. The most impactful LTL shipping contracts deal with a range of terms that can significantly affect your bottom line. Understanding and negotiating these elements is key to maximizing your savings:Pricing and discounts: Compare different pricing models to find the best fit. Negotiate meaningful discounts based on your volume, consistency and shipping profile. Ensure discounts are clearly defined and not subject to hidden conditions.Fuel surcharges: Understand how fuel surcharges are calculated and how they impact your total cost. Negotiate for a more favorable surcharge formula or cap to reduce volatility.Accessorial fees: Identify common accessorial charges like residential delivery, liftgate or reclassification. Work to standardize or reduce these fees in your contract.Liability and insurance: Review and negotiate liability limits to avoid unexpected costs from damages or lost shipments. Ensure insurance requirements are clear and cost-effective. Broussard Logistics Building Strong Carrier PartnershipsA well-negotiated contract is only as effective as the relationship that supports it. Businesses ultimately save money with LTL contract management because it establishes collaborative partnerships with carriers that lead to better service, more flexibility and a greater willingness to resolve issues in your favor.Clear Communication and Operational EfficiencyBuilding strong carrier partnerships starts with clear, consistent communication and operational efficiency. When your logistics partner provides carriers with accurate shipment information, ensures timely pickups and maintains efficient dock operations, it positions your business as a preferred customer or “shipper of choice.” This can lead to faster service, fewer delays and greater flexibility from carriers.Operational excellence not only streamlines your supply chain but also gives you leverage to negotiate better rates and service terms, ultimately driving down your shipping costs.Long-Term CommitmentsCommitting to longer contract terms or providing consistent shipping volumes can be a powerful tool in negotiations. Carriers value stability and predictability and are often willing to offer more favorable pricing and service guarantees in return. By building trust and reliability with your carriers through long-term commitments, your business is better positioned to secure capacity and maintain stable rates, even in periods of high demand or market volatility.Dispute Resolution and FlexibilityA collaborative carrier relationship is essential for resolving issues quickly and fairly. Instead of defaulting to extra fees or drawn-out disputes, a strong partnership encourages open dialogue and problem-solving. This helps avoid unnecessary costs and ensures the smooth management of your supply chain.Encouraging carriers to proactively communicate potential problems or opportunities for improvement further strengthens the relationship. When carriers feel comfortable sharing insights or flagging issues early, your business can address concerns before they escalate, adapt to changes efficiently, and continuously improve shipping performance.Ongoing Contract Management and OptimizationSigning the contract is just the beginning. Real savings and supply chain resilience come from actively managing your LTL agreements and carrier relationships over time. Ongoing contract management ensures you continue to get the best value as your business and the market evolve.The following are strategies for optimizing contract management:Leverage transportation management software (TMS): Monitor KPIs like on-time delivery, damage rates and invoicing accuracy. Use data to identify trends, address issues and hold carriers accountable.Plan regular business reviews: Schedule quarterly or semiannual reviews with your carriers to discuss performance, address concerns and explore new opportunities. Use these meetings to renegotiate terms as your business needs change.Be flexible: Remain proactive in communicating changes in your shipping profile or business strategy. Work with carriers to adjust contract terms midcycle if necessary, ensuring continued alignment and value.This story was produced by Broussard Logistics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine Area Habitat for Humanity will dedicate 15th Habitat home Muscatine Area Habitat for Humanity will be proudly celebrating a major milestone on Saturday, January 17, 2026, with the dedication of its 15th Habitat home, marking another step forward in its mission to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for families in the Muscatine area. The home dedication ceremony will be held at 1246 E. [...]
	How businesses can save money with LTL contract management How businesses can save money with LTL contract managementLTL (less-than-truckload) shipping allows multiple shippers to share space and costs for smaller freight loads that don’t require a full truck. However, rising LTL shipping costs are a persistent challenge for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and e-commerce businesses. Broussard Logistics explains how strategic contract management can reduce LTL shipping costs.While many companies focus on negotiating lower rates, true savings come from a strategic, ongoing approach to LTL contract management. By treating contract management as a continuous process, you can unlock significant, long-term savings and bring predictability to your supply chain.What Is Strategic LTL Contract Management?Strategic LTL contract management goes beyond simply shopping for the lowest rate. It’s a cyclical, data-driven process that includes analysis, negotiation, monitoring and continuous optimization. The goal is to create a partnership with your carriers that balances cost savings with reliable service so your shipping contracts are always working in your favor.Key elements of strategic LTL contract management include:Data analysis: Regularly review your shipping data to understand true costs, shipping patterns and areas for improvement.Informed negotiation: Use data insights to negotiate contract terms that reflect your actual shipping needs and leverage your volume for better rates and terms.Performance monitoring: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like on-time delivery, damage rates and invoicing accuracy to ensure carriers meet agreed standards.Continuous optimization: Adjust contract terms and carrier relationships as your business changes so your agreements remain competitive and cost-effective.Collaborative partnerships: Open communication and long-term relationships with carriers encourage flexibility, proactive problem-solving and mutual success.The Foundation of a Strong Contract: Data and ForecastingTo better understand how to save money with LTL contract management, start at ground level. Before entering negotiations, consider your shipping profile and anticipate future needs. Gathering the right data and using forecasting tools will enable you to negotiate optimally and avoid unexpected costs down the road.Analyzing Your Current Shipping ProfileBefore you can optimize your LTL contracts, thoroughly analyze your current shipping profile to understand where your costs are coming from and identify opportunities for improvement:Conduct a comprehensive freight audit to uncover your true shipping costsIdentify your most common shipping lanes and freight classes to target high-impact areasPinpoint frequent accessorial charges like liftgate or inside delivery fees that can be negotiated or eliminatedUse historical data to spot trends and inefficiencies in your current shipping operationsProjecting Future Shipping RequirementsEnsure your LTL shipping contracts remain effective as your business develops by projecting your future shipping requirements and anticipating changes in demand, volume and service needs:Factor in business growth, seasonality and market changes to anticipate future shipping needsUse forecasting tools to estimate future volumes and budget accordinglyPrepare for new product launches, geographic expansion or changes in customer demand that could impact shipping patternsBuild flexibility into your contracts to accommodate anticipated changesKey Elements of a Cost-Saving LTL ContractEffective negotiation is about more than the base rate. The most impactful LTL shipping contracts deal with a range of terms that can significantly affect your bottom line. Understanding and negotiating these elements is key to maximizing your savings:Pricing and discounts: Compare different pricing models to find the best fit. Negotiate meaningful discounts based on your volume, consistency and shipping profile. Ensure discounts are clearly defined and not subject to hidden conditions.Fuel surcharges: Understand how fuel surcharges are calculated and how they impact your total cost. Negotiate for a more favorable surcharge formula or cap to reduce volatility.Accessorial fees: Identify common accessorial charges like residential delivery, liftgate or reclassification. Work to standardize or reduce these fees in your contract.Liability and insurance: Review and negotiate liability limits to avoid unexpected costs from damages or lost shipments. Ensure insurance requirements are clear and cost-effective. Broussard Logistics Building Strong Carrier PartnershipsA well-negotiated contract is only as effective as the relationship that supports it. Businesses ultimately save money with LTL contract management because it establishes collaborative partnerships with carriers that lead to better service, more flexibility and a greater willingness to resolve issues in your favor.Clear Communication and Operational EfficiencyBuilding strong carrier partnerships starts with clear, consistent communication and operational efficiency. When your logistics partner provides carriers with accurate shipment information, ensures timely pickups and maintains efficient dock operations, it positions your business as a preferred customer or “shipper of choice.” This can lead to faster service, fewer delays and greater flexibility from carriers.Operational excellence not only streamlines your supply chain but also gives you leverage to negotiate better rates and service terms, ultimately driving down your shipping costs.Long-Term CommitmentsCommitting to longer contract terms or providing consistent shipping volumes can be a powerful tool in negotiations. Carriers value stability and predictability and are often willing to offer more favorable pricing and service guarantees in return. By building trust and reliability with your carriers through long-term commitments, your business is better positioned to secure capacity and maintain stable rates, even in periods of high demand or market volatility.Dispute Resolution and FlexibilityA collaborative carrier relationship is essential for resolving issues quickly and fairly. Instead of defaulting to extra fees or drawn-out disputes, a strong partnership encourages open dialogue and problem-solving. This helps avoid unnecessary costs and ensures the smooth management of your supply chain.Encouraging carriers to proactively communicate potential problems or opportunities for improvement further strengthens the relationship. When carriers feel comfortable sharing insights or flagging issues early, your business can address concerns before they escalate, adapt to changes efficiently, and continuously improve shipping performance.Ongoing Contract Management and OptimizationSigning the contract is just the beginning. Real savings and supply chain resilience come from actively managing your LTL agreements and carrier relationships over time. Ongoing contract management ensures you continue to get the best value as your business and the market evolve.The following are strategies for optimizing contract management:Leverage transportation management software (TMS): Monitor KPIs like on-time delivery, damage rates and invoicing accuracy. Use data to identify trends, address issues and hold carriers accountable.Plan regular business reviews: Schedule quarterly or semiannual reviews with your carriers to discuss performance, address concerns and explore new opportunities. Use these meetings to renegotiate terms as your business needs change.Be flexible: Remain proactive in communicating changes in your shipping profile or business strategy. Work with carriers to adjust contract terms midcycle if necessary, ensuring continued alignment and value.This story was produced by Broussard Logistics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Three dead, 12 injured after 'possible riot' at Georgia prison, sheriff's office says Three inmates are dead and at least 12 others are injured after a possible riot broke out at a Georgia prison on Sunday, authorities say.
	Are trade skills now more valuable than a college degree? Are trade skills now more valuable than a college degree?Going to college used to be a defining milestone in the classic American Dream. But as costs rise and returns on investment shrink, many young people are rethinking what “success” looks like and redefining the traditional path altogether.A new study by Skillit finds that a growing majority of Americans now view trade skills as more valuable than a college diploma for landing a high-paying, stable job. This shift is driven by mounting frustration over tuition costs, student debt, and the threat of AI in the white-collar workforce.The data paints a clear picture. Americans are turning to the trades not out of nostalgia but out of necessity, seeking stability, affordability, and a tangible path to prosperity.Key findings:60% of Americans say trade skills are more valuable than a college degree in securing a well-paying job.39% believe a trade or vocational skill offers greater long-term career stability than a college degree.75% agree that the cost of a college degree outweighs its benefits in 2025.68% say trade or vocational skills deliver a faster return on investment.88% believe student loan debt makes trade skills more appealing.54% of Gen Zers believe construction will be the industry that most values trade skills in the coming years.45% are very or extremely concerned that AI will replace college-educated workers in the next decade.The New American Dream: 60% Believe Trade Skills Outweigh a College Degree Skillit Public perceptions of higher education are changing fast. Rising tuition, record debt, and a shortage of skilled labor have flipped the old hierarchy of “college first, trades later.”The survey found that 60% of Americans now see trade skills as more valuable than a college diploma for securing a well-paying job.For many, it comes down to economics. Paying more than $100,000 for a degree that does not guarantee employment feels increasingly irrational. Trade certifications, in contrast, are faster, more affordable, and directly linked to income. During economic downturns, trade work often proves more stable than traditional office jobs.From Layoffs to Longevity: Americans View Trades as the Path to StabilityMany Americans are no longer just chasing higher salaries. They are looking for careers that last. Widespread layoffs in tech, finance, and media have shattered the illusion of white-collar security.Nearly four in ten (39%) Americans now believe a trade or vocational skill offers greater long-term career stability than a college degree.That shift reflects a growing awareness that trade jobs are recession-resistant and harder to outsource or automate. In 2023 alone, roughly 200,000 tech workers lost their jobs, a stark contrast to the chronic worker shortages in plumbing, electrical, and construction trades.The Tipping Point: Is Higher Education Pricing Itself Out of Value? Skillit Higher education faces a credibility crisis. Tuition keeps climbing while wages remain stagnant, and the student debt debate has polarized the nation. Many now feel that a four-year degree no longer delivers a return worth the price tag.According to the Education Data Initiative, tuition and fees now average $18,981 for the 2025–26 academic year. Meanwhile, 75% of Americans in this survey say the cost of college outweighs its benefits, a striking consensus that signals a cultural tipping point.The rising cost of higher education has turned what was once a rite of passage into a financial risk. More Americans are choosing shorter, cost-effective paths that lead to stability and prosperity sooner.Skip the Debt, Start the Paycheck: Americans Recalculate Education ROIAmericans are not just comparing salaries. They are calculating the time to payoff. The traditional degree path often delays earning potential by four to six years, making it feel like a long, expensive gamble.The survey found that 68% of Americans believe trade or vocational skills lead to a faster return on investment than a four-year degree.That math checks out. Most trade programs take less than two years to complete and cost a fraction of university tuition. Graduates enter the workforce sooner, earn earlier, and carry little or no student debt, giving them a financial head start in today’s fast-moving economy.Debt-Free Dreams: Student Loans Drive Americans Toward the Trades Skillit Perhaps the most powerful force behind this shift is the student loan crisis. With total U.S. student debt now exceeding $1.7 trillion, Americans are increasingly skeptical of higher education’s promise.An overwhelming 88% of Americans in this study say the student loan crisis makes trade skills a more appealing option in 2025.For many, the math is simple: Four years and six figures of debt versus one year and immediate income. The trade path offers financial freedom, a debt-free route into the middle class that can feel both practical and empowering.Gen Z Sees Gold in Hard Hats: Young Americans Bet on Construction’s Future Skillit For Gen Z, the appeal of skilled trades is both economic and cultural. Many have grown up watching economic instability and value transparency over prestige.Construction, in particular, stands out. The industry faces one of the largest labor shortages in decades, with the average worker now in their mid-40s and retirements accelerating. At the same time, federal investment in infrastructure, housing, and clean energy is fueling a boom in demand for skilled labor.The survey found that 54% of Gen Zers believe construction will be the industry that most values trade skills in the coming years.This generation does not see construction as “old-school.” They see innovation through drones, 3D modeling, modular design, and sustainable building practices. To them, building is not just a job; it is a way to shape the future.The Automation Anxiety: Is AI Coming for White-Collar Jobs? Skillit AI has upended assumptions about which jobs are safe. For the first time, it is white-collar workers, not blue-collar ones, who are worried about being replaced.This survey found that 45% of Americans are very or extremely concerned that AI will replace college-educated workers in the next decade.This fear is not unfounded. A Goldman Sachs analysis estimates that AI could affect up to one-quarter of U.S. jobs, largely in degree-dependent fields once considered secure.Trade work remains grounded in human skill, physical precision, on-site problem-solving, and trust. These roles are difficult to automate. As AI enters traditional “safe” careers, Americans are rethinking which professions are truly future-proof.The Revival of Skilled WorkWhat this research reveals is not the decline of higher education, but the reemergence of skilled labor as an equally valid and valued path to success.This shift represents a broader cultural correction, a renewed appreciation for the people who build the American Dream rather than simply manage it.The trades are reclaiming their place at the center of economic stability and social value, not as an alternative, but as a cornerstone.In 2025, many believe that success is not defined by a diploma on the wall, but by the skill in your hands, the pride in your craft, and the freedom to build a life on your own terms.MethodologyThe findings presented in this report are based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Skillit team. Skillit surveyed 1,000 Americans in October 2025 to gather insights into their perceptions of higher education versus skilled trades.The survey was administered online using a third-party polling platform, ensuring a diverse sample of participants from various demographic backgrounds, including age, geographic location, and income level across the United States.All responses were collected anonymously and aggregated for analysis. The data was then processed to calculate the percentages that form the basis of the key findings discussed throughout this article.This story was produced by Skillit and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Are trade skills now more valuable than a college degree? Are trade skills now more valuable than a college degree?Going to college used to be a defining milestone in the classic American Dream. But as costs rise and returns on investment shrink, many young people are rethinking what “success” looks like and redefining the traditional path altogether.A new study by Skillit finds that a growing majority of Americans now view trade skills as more valuable than a college diploma for landing a high-paying, stable job. This shift is driven by mounting frustration over tuition costs, student debt, and the threat of AI in the white-collar workforce.The data paints a clear picture. Americans are turning to the trades not out of nostalgia but out of necessity, seeking stability, affordability, and a tangible path to prosperity.Key findings:60% of Americans say trade skills are more valuable than a college degree in securing a well-paying job.39% believe a trade or vocational skill offers greater long-term career stability than a college degree.75% agree that the cost of a college degree outweighs its benefits in 2025.68% say trade or vocational skills deliver a faster return on investment.88% believe student loan debt makes trade skills more appealing.54% of Gen Zers believe construction will be the industry that most values trade skills in the coming years.45% are very or extremely concerned that AI will replace college-educated workers in the next decade.The New American Dream: 60% Believe Trade Skills Outweigh a College Degree Skillit Public perceptions of higher education are changing fast. Rising tuition, record debt, and a shortage of skilled labor have flipped the old hierarchy of “college first, trades later.”The survey found that 60% of Americans now see trade skills as more valuable than a college diploma for securing a well-paying job.For many, it comes down to economics. Paying more than $100,000 for a degree that does not guarantee employment feels increasingly irrational. Trade certifications, in contrast, are faster, more affordable, and directly linked to income. During economic downturns, trade work often proves more stable than traditional office jobs.From Layoffs to Longevity: Americans View Trades as the Path to StabilityMany Americans are no longer just chasing higher salaries. They are looking for careers that last. Widespread layoffs in tech, finance, and media have shattered the illusion of white-collar security.Nearly four in ten (39%) Americans now believe a trade or vocational skill offers greater long-term career stability than a college degree.That shift reflects a growing awareness that trade jobs are recession-resistant and harder to outsource or automate. In 2023 alone, roughly 200,000 tech workers lost their jobs, a stark contrast to the chronic worker shortages in plumbing, electrical, and construction trades.The Tipping Point: Is Higher Education Pricing Itself Out of Value? Skillit Higher education faces a credibility crisis. Tuition keeps climbing while wages remain stagnant, and the student debt debate has polarized the nation. Many now feel that a four-year degree no longer delivers a return worth the price tag.According to the Education Data Initiative, tuition and fees now average $18,981 for the 2025–26 academic year. Meanwhile, 75% of Americans in this survey say the cost of college outweighs its benefits, a striking consensus that signals a cultural tipping point.The rising cost of higher education has turned what was once a rite of passage into a financial risk. More Americans are choosing shorter, cost-effective paths that lead to stability and prosperity sooner.Skip the Debt, Start the Paycheck: Americans Recalculate Education ROIAmericans are not just comparing salaries. They are calculating the time to payoff. The traditional degree path often delays earning potential by four to six years, making it feel like a long, expensive gamble.The survey found that 68% of Americans believe trade or vocational skills lead to a faster return on investment than a four-year degree.That math checks out. Most trade programs take less than two years to complete and cost a fraction of university tuition. Graduates enter the workforce sooner, earn earlier, and carry little or no student debt, giving them a financial head start in today’s fast-moving economy.Debt-Free Dreams: Student Loans Drive Americans Toward the Trades Skillit Perhaps the most powerful force behind this shift is the student loan crisis. With total U.S. student debt now exceeding $1.7 trillion, Americans are increasingly skeptical of higher education’s promise.An overwhelming 88% of Americans in this study say the student loan crisis makes trade skills a more appealing option in 2025.For many, the math is simple: Four years and six figures of debt versus one year and immediate income. The trade path offers financial freedom, a debt-free route into the middle class that can feel both practical and empowering.Gen Z Sees Gold in Hard Hats: Young Americans Bet on Construction’s Future Skillit For Gen Z, the appeal of skilled trades is both economic and cultural. Many have grown up watching economic instability and value transparency over prestige.Construction, in particular, stands out. The industry faces one of the largest labor shortages in decades, with the average worker now in their mid-40s and retirements accelerating. At the same time, federal investment in infrastructure, housing, and clean energy is fueling a boom in demand for skilled labor.The survey found that 54% of Gen Zers believe construction will be the industry that most values trade skills in the coming years.This generation does not see construction as “old-school.” They see innovation through drones, 3D modeling, modular design, and sustainable building practices. To them, building is not just a job; it is a way to shape the future.The Automation Anxiety: Is AI Coming for White-Collar Jobs? Skillit AI has upended assumptions about which jobs are safe. For the first time, it is white-collar workers, not blue-collar ones, who are worried about being replaced.This survey found that 45% of Americans are very or extremely concerned that AI will replace college-educated workers in the next decade.This fear is not unfounded. A Goldman Sachs analysis estimates that AI could affect up to one-quarter of U.S. jobs, largely in degree-dependent fields once considered secure.Trade work remains grounded in human skill, physical precision, on-site problem-solving, and trust. These roles are difficult to automate. As AI enters traditional “safe” careers, Americans are rethinking which professions are truly future-proof.The Revival of Skilled WorkWhat this research reveals is not the decline of higher education, but the reemergence of skilled labor as an equally valid and valued path to success.This shift represents a broader cultural correction, a renewed appreciation for the people who build the American Dream rather than simply manage it.The trades are reclaiming their place at the center of economic stability and social value, not as an alternative, but as a cornerstone.In 2025, many believe that success is not defined by a diploma on the wall, but by the skill in your hands, the pride in your craft, and the freedom to build a life on your own terms.MethodologyThe findings presented in this report are based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Skillit team. Skillit surveyed 1,000 Americans in October 2025 to gather insights into their perceptions of higher education versus skilled trades.The survey was administered online using a third-party polling platform, ensuring a diverse sample of participants from various demographic backgrounds, including age, geographic location, and income level across the United States.All responses were collected anonymously and aggregated for analysis. The data was then processed to calculate the percentages that form the basis of the key findings discussed throughout this article.This story was produced by Skillit and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	News 8 This Week: Jan. 12, 2025 News 8 This Week: Jan. 12, 2025
	A protest was held in Moline for the death of Renee Nicole Good, debating ICE agents’ actions Protesters in Moline rallied over the death of Renee Nicole Good, citing fear and morality as the national debate continues over an ICE agent’s actions.
	Martin Equipment celebrates 100 years of growth as a John Deere dealer John Deere dealer, Martin Equipment, century-long milestone reflects commitment to customers, employees and communities.
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for Jan. 11, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	Hy-Vee introduces the FoodHealth Score to its customers Hy-Vee introduces the FoodHealth Score to its customers in collaboration with the FoodHealth Company brings nutrition transparency to customers online.
	New burger restaurant coming, sports bar to close, Guatemalan & Mexican restaurant opens, and more Quad-Cities business news New smash burger restaurant, Sizzle & Smash, coming to Bettendorf; bar closing, Guatemalan & Mexican restaurant opens, among other Quad-Cities business news.
	WQUD Vintage Radio 107.7 10th year of live broadcasting WQUD Vintage Radio 107.7 celebrated its 10th year of live broadcasting on Jan. 6, 2026.
	START THE WEEK OFF RIGHT: Choosing the right care when you need it A fever, a deep cut or a lingering sore throat: where should you go?
	Who are the figure skaters representing Team USA? Key names and backstories to know Sixteen U.S. figure skaters are competing in all four Olympic disciplines: men's, women's, pairs and ice dance. The team includes a mix of seasoned vets, world champions and rising stars.
	Cómo elegir la red inalámbrica adecuada (BPT) - Si ha experimentado problemas de consistencia en la red y de atención al cliente con su proveedor inalámbrico actual, es probable que esté considerando otras opciones. La desventaja es que cambiar parece una gran molestia, y ¿cómo saber cómo elegir la mejor red inalámbrica para usted?La buena noticia es que existen varios motivos objetivos para considerar un cambio, entre ellos el rendimiento, la innovación, los beneficios de valor agregado y, especialmente, la facilidad para probar y cambiar al "Un-carrier": T-Mobile.A continuación, se detallan los motivos.Calificada como la mejor red de Estados UnidosOokla, líder mundial en inteligencia de conectividad, nombró a T-Mobile como la Mejor Red de Estados Unidos en una de las pruebas de red más grandes de su tipo realizadas en el país.Ookla basó su evaluación en 500 millones de datos reales de millones de usuarios de telefonía móvil para obtener resultados que reflejan cómo las personas usan sus teléfonos para funciones como streaming de video, navegación web y mucho más. Al medir tanto la velocidad como la experiencia, Ookla confirmó la posición de T-Mobile como líder, superando a sus competidores."Durante años, los clientes de telefonía móvil se vieron obligados a elegir la mejor red y la mejor relación calidad-precio", afirmó Mike Katz, presidente de Marketing, Estrategia y Productos de T-Mobile. "Sin embargo, eso termina hoy, con la prueba que respalda lo que venimos diciendo desde hace mucho tiempo".La innovación mejora el rendimiento y la cobertura de la red T-Mobile atribuye su éxito a su enfoque innovador en la tecnología, pero la compañía no se duerme en los laureles. La temprana adopción y expansión del 5G le ayudó a alcanzar su objetivo de brindar a sus clientes el servicio más rápido posible, y a principios de este año, T-Mobile fue aún más lejos con el lanzamiento de su nuevo e innovador servicio de satélite a móvil, T-Satellite con Starlink. T-Satellite amplía la cobertura inalámbrica a más de 500,000 millas cuadradas de territorio estadounidense, donde las torres de telefonía celular tradicionales no pueden llegar, incluidos los principales competidores. A través de T-Satellite, tendrá acceso a servicios como los siguientes:Mensajes de texto SMS para Android e iOS.Mensajes MMS como imágenes y clips de audio cortos disponibles para Android.Versiones optimizadas para satélite de aplicaciones como WhatsApp, AllTrails, Google Maps, Apple Maps y X, y se añadirán más continuamente.A partir de octubre, T-Mobile también hizo que el servicio de mensajes de texto al 911 vía satélite sea gratuito para cualquier persona con un dispositivo compatible, independientemente de quién sea su proveedor principal. Para quienes buscan tranquilidad, esto significa que podrán contactar a los servicios de emergencia cuando estén fuera del alcance de las torres terrestres, incluso si no están suscritos a T-Satellite."Hicimos grandes apuestas en 5G y llevamos los límites más allá para ofrecer una velocidad y una cobertura que nadie creía posibles", expresó Mike Sievert, director ejecutivo de T-Mobile. "Al agregar una capacidad de satélite a móvil sin igual, estamos dando forma al futuro de la tecnología inalámbrica con una red diseñada no solo para la velocidad, sino también para la posibilidad".Beneficios adicionales para los miembros de T-MobileSi la consistencia, la amplia cobertura y la velocidad máxima no lo convencen, los beneficios adicionales podrían resultar aún más atractivos. A partir del 8 de julio, T-Mobile ofrece aún más valor en la mayoría de sus planes con DashPass gratuito, el programa de membresía de DoorDash que permite a los miembros obtener $0 en gastos de envío y cargos por servicio reducidos en pedidos elegibles (con un valor de $120). Esto le permite disfrutar de la forma más económica de comprar en DoorDash, además de ofertas exclusivas en pedidos elegibles de cientos de miles de tiendas locales en todo el país y descuentos y beneficios para socios de viajes compartidos.Magenta Status en T-Mobile ya ofrece beneficios como acceso a paquetes de entretenimiento con Apple TV+, Hulu y Netflix, además de suscripciones gratuitas para MLS Season Pass y MLB.TV cuando estén disponibles. Los clientes también pueden disfrutar de wifi gratuito a bordo de vuelos y datos internacionales sin costo en más de 215 países y destinos, beneficios exclusivos en hoteles y alquiler de autos, acceso a conectividad T-Satellite, acceso exclusivo a boletos y experiencias premium en miles de conciertos y festivales en todo el país, beneficios semanales a través de T-Mobile Tuesdays, y mucho más.Cambiar es más fácil que nuncaT-Mobile también ha abordado el mayor problema de la industria móvil: el cambio de proveedor de servicios inalámbricos. Ahora, cualquiera que quiera cambiarse al Un-carrier puede hacerlo en tan solo 15 minutos, todo desde la app de T-Life, con nuevas herramientas basadas en IA que recomiendan los mejores planes según sus cuentas actuales con AT&T y Verizon. Para rematar, quienes se cambien pueden obtener una actualización de dispositivo dentro de los 90 días posteriores al cambio. Ya sea que esté esperando el lanzamiento de un nuevo dispositivo o que prefiera no gestionar la compra de varios teléfonos para toda la familia de una sola vez, no hay necesidad de apresurarse. Y cuando los clientes estén listos para recibir su nuevo dispositivo, podrán recibirlo el mismo día a través de DoorDash al realizar su pedido en T-Life.¿Todavía duda sobre si realizar el cambio? Puede probar la red de manera gratuita durante 30 días con T-Mobile's Network Trial, para que experimente personalmente lo que significa contar con la mejor red y el mayor valor en servicios inalámbricos. Además de poder probar la red sin costo durante 30 días, también tendrá acceso a algunos beneficios de Magenta Status, entre los cuales se incluyen los siguientes:T-Mobile TuesdaysWifi gratuito a bordo de vuelosDescuentos en marcas premium como Hilton, Dollar y HertzDescuentos en viajes con T-Mobile TravelBeneficios de Club MagentaAcceso a T-Satellite"¿Listo para probar la mejor red? Hazlo gratis por 30 días en T-Mobile.com/offers/free-trial hoy mismo.
	Who's Got the Courthouse? This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Up in Jackson County, Iowa, just south of Dubuque, they used to brag that keeping track of the county seat was even…
	Marrying for health insurance? The ACA cost crisis forces some drastic choices While Congress debates bringing back Affordable Care Act subsidies , many Americans have already made life-altering decisions to afford health care.
	How IVF has led to a record number of single moms in their 40s Who gets to be a parent has been reshaped by IVF: Single women in their 40s are increasingly opting to become moms.
	Exercise is as effective as medication in treating depression, study finds New research shows exercise is as effective as medication at reducing symptoms of depression. And you don't need to run a marathon to see benefits. So how much is enough?
	Celebrities wear pins protesting ICE at the Golden Globes Some celebrities donned anti-ICE pins at the Golden Globes on Sunday in tribute to Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer last week in Minneapolis.
	Malaysia, Indonesia become first to block Musk's Grok over AI deepfakes Malaysia and Indonesia have become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI, after authorities said it was being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images.
	Death toll from protests in Iran increases as Trump says Iran wants to talk President Trump said Sunday that Iran proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its crackdown targeting demonstrators. Activists say at least 544 have died.
Sunday, January 11th, 2026
	Iowa state lawmaker announces legislation following Minneapolis shooting State Representative Ken Croken announced that he’s introduced two bills in the upcoming Iowa legislative session to help ensure the safety of people in the Quad Cities during a press conference on Friday.
	Iowa state lawmaker announces legislation following ICE shooting State Representative Ken Croken announced that he’s introduced two bills in the upcoming Iowa legislative session to help ensure the safety of people in the Quad Cities during a press conference on Friday.
	Easy Bites for the Big Game (Family Features) Whether you're tailgating with friends or hosting a watch party at home, every football fan needs a game plan to crunch, dip and cheer their way through opening kickoff, halftime and right down to the final play of the game. Some of the best game day grub is hearty and savory but adding layers of flavor and texture can take recipes to the next level. For example, these Burger Bowls feature all the classic ingredients of a great burger, just without the bun. A tasty option for gluten-free guests or those who are cutting carbs, the bowls are made with Dandy Iceberg Lettuce from Duda Farm Fresh Foods, which boasts a legacy of quality, innovation and consistency in fresh produce cultivation since 1926. Pulled pork, another tailgating treasure, gets an instant upgrade with the crunch of a fresh coleslaw topper and zesty pickled celery and jalapenos on the side. The winning play is to use crisp, fresh celery for the best flavors and a satisfying crunch with every bite. Since celery is 95% water and high in fiber, it leaves fans feeling comfortably full and ready to root for their favorite team. This season, keep your snacks fresh and healthy while winning prizes like product coupons and gift cards to stock up for the next game through the Dip It to Win It Sweepstakes. Visit dudafresh.com to learn more and find additional game day recipes. Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pickled Celery and Jalapenos Recipe courtesy of The Adventure Bite Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 hours Servings: 9-10 4 1/2 pounds pork shoulder or Boston butt 26 ounces sweet and spicy barbecue sauce 1/2 tablespoon garlic 1/2 tablespoon fresh cracked black pepper fresh sandwich buns Dandy Celery, cut and pickled jalapenos coleslaw (optional) potato salad (optional) baked beans (optional) Place pork in slow cooker. Mix barbecue sauce, garlic and pepper. Pour over pork shoulder. Cook on low 8 1/2-10 hours or high 6-7 hours. Shred meat and serve on buns with pickled celery and jalapenos. Top with coleslaw, if desired. Serve with potato salad or baked beans, if desired. Burger Bowls Recipe courtesy of Casa de Crews Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 Burger Bowls: 2 cups French fries, homemade or frozen 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Dandy Iceberg Lettuce, shredded 2-3 Roma tomatoes, diced pickle chips or spears, chopped cheddar cheese, shredded Burger Sauce: 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or yellow mustard 1 tablespoon pickle juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika To make burger bowls: Cook French fries according to package directions. In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and saute until translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add ground beef to skillet, breaking up meat with spatula. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper; brown until cooked through. Drain and discard excess liquid and grease. To make burger sauce: In jar, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika well to combine. Assemble bowls with layer of shredded lettuce, 3-4 ounces ground beef, diced tomatoes, pickles, cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup fries. Drizzle with burger sauce and mix well. Tip: Burger sauce can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator in jar with airtight lid.
	What Professional Locksmiths Say Homeowners Get Wrong About Security (Family Features) You have locks on your doors and windows, and you make sure they're secure before you leave the house or head to bed each night. You may even have a security system with an alarm or cameras to protect your home. Some locksmiths say that may not be enough. Bryan McCabe, director of locksmith operations with KeyMe Locksmiths, the nation's leading provider of local locksmith services and No. 1 provider of key duplication kiosks, said homeowners should be mindful of common security vulnerabilities, many of which go unnoticed until it's too late. A thief who wants to gain access to your home may do so by any means possible, including breaking windows or kicking in doors. However, those methods are loud and may attract attention. Instead, thieves will look to find the easiest house to enter. Consider these small changes you can make to deter thieves from your home. Close the Garage Leaving your garage door open may seem harmless, but it can signal easy access to thieves. An open garage suggests relaxed security habits and can make burglars assume doors or windows might also be unlocked. Keeping it closed is a simple step that instantly makes your home more secure. Make Your Home Look Lived-In Burglars often target homes that appear empty. Dark houses - especially after nightfall - can stand out as easy opportunities. Leaving a light or two on helps create the impression someone is home. If you want to level up, use light timers or smart bulbs to automatically turn lights on and off, even when you're away. Keep Your Home Visible from the Street Thieves prefer to work unnoticed. Overgrown trees, tall bushes, or dense landscaping near entrances can provide cover for someone trying to break in. Trimming greenery and maintaining clear sightlines from the street makes your home less appealing and more exposed - exactly what burglars want to avoid. Upgrade Entry Points to Improve Security Some relatively minor updates can make a big impact toward protecting your home. Start by assessing all home entry points, including secondary points like sliding doors, garage entries and basement doors. In addition to checking door frames, homeowners should examine strike plates, hinge security and whether existing locks are outdated. Add Eyes to Your Front Door with a Doorbell Camera Doorbell cameras are an affordable way to boost your home's security. Visible cameras can stop many would-be thieves as they don't want to be seen or recorded. Beyond deterrence, doorbell cameras let you see who's at your door, receive alerts and check on your home anytime, whether you're home or away. Install Smart Locks for Control and Peace of Mind Smart locks are another smart investment in home safety. They allow you to track who enters your home and when by assigning unique access codes. You can even lock (or unlock) the door remotely from your phone. With the ability to monitor, control and limit access, smart locks offer convenience and security. A local locksmith can help you choose the right option and handle installation, making the upgrade simple and stress-free. Connecting customers with professional locksmiths in their area, KeyMe Locksmiths provides comprehensive home security and lockout services - from key replacement to lock installation or repair - with more than 7,500 kiosks nationwide. These self-service machines utilize advanced technology for fast, accurate and "one-stop-shop" key copying, including home and office keys, car keys and fobs, mailboxes, padlocks and RFID access cards. Find more advice to help protect your home and belongings, and a locksmith or kiosk near you, by visiting key.me.
	6 Steps to Start a New Year Routine (Family Features) With time away from work and school - not to mention indulgent feasts and social commitments - it's easy to let good habits go by the wayside around the turn of the new year. Whether you're resolving to get back to a regular routine or starting one anew in 2026, now is a perfect time to rethink your day-to-day for heightened productivity and less stress. Commit to a new year of new routines with this step-by-step guidance. Establish Bed and Wake Routines When routines begin to fade, sleep is often one of the first areas of health that can slip. It's also one of the simplest bad habits to shake. Hold yourself accountable by preparing for sleep at the same time each night with an easy-to-follow routine - like brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water and changing into pajamas - that signals to your body it's time to rest. Waking up at the same time each day, even on the weekends, can help you dial in on a more natural sleep and wake rhythm. Organize and Declutter If a messy home is what's keeping you awake at night, try putting a weekly or biweekly "cleaning day" on the calendar and ask family members to do their part. Start in shared spaces like the kitchen, bathrooms and living areas then divide and conquer bedrooms, prioritizing throwing away (or recycling) items that aren't used frequently while reorganizing chaotic spaces for peace of mind. Plan Meals and Snacks The hectic nature of life, especially busy weeknights, is inescapable. Whether you're wrapping up late work meetings, running kids to activities, tackling homework or juggling errands, turning to a tasty, convenient air fryer snack like Mrs. T's Snack Pierogies can hold the family over before mealtime. All you need is an air fryer and 8 minutes to enjoy big and bold, on-trend flavors including Cheddar Sour Cream and Onion, 5 Cheese or Cheddar Ranch Seasoned with Bacon. Easy for teens to prep on their own and ideal for busy moms, they're a perfect bite to whip up while getting back into the swing of things in 2026. Update Family Calendars Keeping up with a schedule full of field trips, sporting events, work meetings, social commitments and weekend activities can be a chore, but turning to technology makes it more manageable. Choose a family calendar app that can be downloaded to your devices and log all of your upcoming events so everyone stays in the know. Review Screentime Habits While tech can encourage better organization and planning, it can also encroach on special moments together. After a break from school and work, you might've noticed more screentime around the house - making this an ideal time to return to screentime limits or, at the least, mindfulness of how often you and your loved ones are in front of a TV, computer or mobile device. Encourage kids to put down the tablets and instead opt for family game nights or craft sessions, putting your creativity to the test while reconnecting offline. Plan for Downtime Reshaping day-to-day schedules, reviewing routines and preparing for a strong start to 2026 doesn't mean fun is out the window. You can meet your goals and set your family up for success with, like always, a little planning. While building out your calendar with mandatory meetings and obligations, make sure to prioritize downtime, too. Schedule family game nights, dinners at home when everyone is available or a weekend trip to a favorite nearby attraction. Remember what matters most in the hustle and bustle: shared moments with your nearest and dearest. Learn more and find quick, easy snacking solutions as you dive into 2026 at mrstspierogies.com/snackpierogies.
	Usher in Cool Weather with Easy Pumpkin Soup Usher in Cool Weather with Easy Pumpkin Soup (Family Features) Pumpkin may be a classic fall flavor, but there’s no reason you can’t satisfy your craving for savory comfort foods all year long. Forget spiced latte; with its wholesome nutrition and plenty of earthy flavor, pumpkin is the perfect ingredient for all kinds of flavorful dishes. It may inspire a warm, fall feeling but it’s much more than a seasonal product. Pumpkin puree can be enjoyed all year long mixed into your favorite baked goods, stirred into chilis or even scooped into your morning smoothie. The smooth, creamy texture of Green Giant 100% Pure Pumpkin, made in the United States with premium quality in mind, is a go-to ingredient for a variety of recipes, including this heartwarming and simple Pumpkin Soup. Simply simmer the pumpkin puree with coconut cream, vegetable stock, garlic and ginger for a soup that is comfort in a bowl. Explore new ways to enjoy seasonal recipes at greengiantvegetables.com. Watch video to see how to make this recipe! Pumpkin SoupCook time: 10 minutesServings: 4 1 can (15 ounces) Green Giant 100% Pure Pumpkin1/2 cup coconut cream1 cup vegetable stock1 tablespoon garlic paste or 1 teaspoon garlic powder1 tablespoon ginger paste or 1 teaspoon ground gingersalt, to tastepepper, to tastecoconut rice, for serving (optional)bread, for serving (optional) In saucepan over medium heat, combine pumpkin, coconut cream, vegetable stock, garlic, ginger and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir until well incorporated, cook 10 minutes.Serve over coconut rice or with bread, if desired. Notes: For an elegant garnish, top with toasted pepitas, pumpkin seeds or swirl of coconut milk. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months. Thaw frozen coconut ginger pumpkin soup in fridge then reheat in microwave or saucepan on stovetop.
	Finding Your Rhythm Again: Reestablishing Routines in the New Year (Family Features) The holiday season is special, fun and often a bit chaotic, filled with family gatherings and joyful celebrations. Once the decorations come down and chaos subsides in the new year, many families face a familiar challenge: getting children back into their regular routines. After weeks of excitement, travel and inconsistent schedules, the transition back to structure can feel daunting. However, with a thoughtful approach, parents can help their children ease back into their daily rhythms, and in the process, restore calm for the entire family. Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, provides this insight and guidance for parents. Understand Why Routines Matter Children thrive on predictability. Routines provide a sense of security, reduce stress and support emotional regulation. Children feel safe, even proud, when they know what comes next. Routines also help them develop independence and self-control. After the holidays, reestablishing these patterns is essential for a smooth return to school and everyday life. Start with Sleep For young children, sleep is the foundation of a successful routine. Consistent sleep supports focus, tolerance and cooperation. For optimal brain repair and growth, preschoolers typically need 10-13 hours of sleep per night, but seasonal festivities can disrupt sleep schedules, frequently leaving children overly tired. Begin by gradually adjusting bedtime by moving it earlier in 15-minute increments each night until you resume your regular schedule. Pair this with calming pre-bedtime rituals like reading or quiet play to signal it's time to wind down. The morning routine is equally important. Strive for consistent wake-up times, even on the weekends. If your child is resistant, teach them how their sleep routine helps their body and mind. For example: "Your body relaxes and grows stronger when you get enough sleep, so you feel good afterward." Reintroduce Standard Mealtimes Holiday snacking and large meals at family gatherings can disrupt normal eating habits. Reinstate regular meal and snack times to help your child feel grounded. Offer balanced options and involve them in planning or preparing meals, as they're more likely to embrace healthy choices when they have a role in the process. Prioritize Physical Activity After extended periods of lounging indoors - and likely an overdose of screen time - children need movement to burn energy and boost their moods. Coordinate outdoor play and family walks. If the weather isn't cooperative, move around indoors with hide-and-seek and dance sessions. Physical activity not only supports health but also helps regulate sleep and behavior. Strategically Provide Choices When children have a voice, they are more likely to stay engaged and stick to their routines. As your child settles back into familiar patterns, this is an ideal moment to assess where you can ease your grip just enough to support their growing autonomy. This doesn't mean relinquishing full decision-making power; rather, it's about offering structured, intentional choices that help them feel a sense of control over their day. You know your child best, so you can determine when to be flexible. For example, it may not matter if they change into their pajamas right after dinner or just before bed but shifting when they go to the bathroom could completely disrupt their routine and, in turn, your day. Model Behavior Children learn by example and they are always watching their parents. If you reestablish and consistently maintain your own routines - healthy meals, quality sleep and physical activity among them - your child is more likely to follow suit. Make it a family effort rather than a set of rules imposed on them, and make it fun. To help routines stick, consider sticker charts to track progress and incentivize independence and accountability. Resetting routines isn't about perfection; it's about creating a supportive environment where children feel secure and prepared for what's ahead. With patience, consistency and a positive attitude, you can help your child start the new year on the right foot. For more parenting guidance and insights, including a blog and webinar series, visit the Parent Resource Center at GoddardSchool.com. Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
	Mix a Little Luck into Your Big Game Menu (Family Features) Picture this: Your team is down three points, but the taste of victory is just one field goal away. Sometimes, all you need is a little luck and a whole lot of guac. After all, an estimated 250 million pounds of avocados are consumed during the Big Game each year, according to Hass Avocado Board Volume Data. That's enough to fill 30 million football helmets with guac - but filling your belly instead is a win-win for good luck and great flavor. Dip into good fortune this football season with help from Avocado From Mexico's Guac Guru, Rob Riggle, whose visionary Good Luck Guac recipe is ready to share just in time for the Big Game. Whether you're in it for the football, the commercials or the snacks, this recipe can score major points with your entire crew. Crafted for fans of every team, this bold, golden twist on a favorite football snack is infused with ingredients associated with good luck - edible gold flakes and pomegranate seeds - to get you through the most nail-biting moments of the game. The star ingredient is fresh, high-quality Avocados From Mexico that offer good taste, good nutrition, and good times. Beyond delicious dips, chips and lots of fun, hosting a watch party can also be a lot of work. Make sure your hosting duties don't create interference or put you on the sidelines with these tips: Get a jumpstart on party prep. The day before the game, tidy up your space and prepare as much of the food as you can. For dishes best served fresh - like guac - take care of the ingredient prep, like chopping veggies. Create comfortable seating and viewing areas. For a watch party, you'll want plenty of room for guests to sit comfortably where they can see the screen and have easy access to the guac. If there's not enough space in the living room to fit everyone, consider bringing a TV to the kitchen so people can snack and watch at the same time. Know your guests. From non-alcoholic beverage options to additional entertainment like board games and kid-friendly activities, become a next-level party host by providing a setup tailored to your guests' needs. One thing almost everyonecan agree on: Guac made with Avocados From Mexico can be the star of nearly any party's snacking lineup. Make it your team's lucky day with more game day recipes at AvocadosFromMexico.com/recipe. Good Luck Guac Recipe courtesy of Rob Riggle on behalf of Avocados From Mexico 4 Avocados From Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 tablespoon onion, minced 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 pinch edible gold leaf flakes In large bowl, mash avocados until chunky-smooth. Fold in lime juice, onion, pomegranate seeds and salt until well combined. Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes.
	Enhance Your Home with Bold Colors (Family Features) Homeowners seeking ideas to make a design statement and modernize their home interiors and exteriors can incorporate bold colors to achieve their renovation goals. Neutrals may be versatile, but bold colors introduce a striking way to reflect personality and elevate a home's design. Learn how to incorporate bold colors into your home with these tips from the design experts at Simonton Windows & Doors, part of Cornerstone Building Brands, a leading manufacturer of windows in North America. Interior Paint The wall color sets the tone of a room's overall ambiance, but many homeowners are cautious about incorporating too much color. That's a valid concern, since too many vibrant hues can feel overwhelming or create competing focal points that leave a room feeling cluttered and busy. The key to bold colors on walls is balance. Bold walls offset by moderate flooring and furnishings create a room that is equally attention-grabbing and tastefully grounding. If you're hesitant about taking bold colors too far, try designing your room with one bold accent wall and complement that color with accessories such as pillows and rugs or even statement furnishings to tie it all together. Replacement Windows Windows often fade into a home's design aesthetic, but that doesn't have to be the case. In fact, dark window finishes are becoming one of the season's biggest design statements, offering homeowners a way to refresh their home's curb appeal. In response to growing consumer demand for sleek, modern window designs, Simonton introduced on-trend black and bronze interior and exterior finishes across its vinyl window collections, including DaylightMax Windows, which feature a unique slim-frame window design offering ample natural light while providing maximum energy efficiency. For maximum impact, durability and low-maintenance appeal, consider pairing black or bronze window finishes with trending seasonal palettes and decor. Cabinetry Architectural elements can also play an important role in establishing a modern design motif for your home. This is especially true when it comes to the cabinetry in your kitchen and bathroom. Stepping away from classic neutral wood stains, white or gray to use bold paint or stain colors instead can completely transform a room. Some homeowners go all-in and incorporate color across the entire room while others apply different colors for the tops and bottoms to create some variation or avoid overdoing a bold hue. Still others opt for a statement approach, and similar to choosing just one wall, they add a bold color to just one section of cabinetry, such as a coffee station or island base. Cabinetry hardware adds another dimension of bold design. Stepping away from classic brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze and instead installing matte black, brushed brass, bronze or gunmetal brings a contemporary vibe that can accentuate a bold color choice. Patio Doors Establishing continuity between your indoor and outdoor living spaces means making your patio door part of a cohesive design that flows from the indoors out. An option like the Simonton MaxView Multi-Slide Patio Door Collection does precisely that. With custom sizing up to 10 feet high and 30 feet wide, the collection is available in multiple panel options with bypass, pocket or bi-part configurations. The doors also come in black or bronze exterior finishes, reflecting the trend toward bolder color choices. "Homeowners want modern design without compromising performance," said Kate Land, vice president of product and innovation at Cornerstone Building Brands. "Incorporating these innovative, durable finishes into our premium vinyl window and door collections delivers exactly that. These bold color options elevate a home's overall design while the advanced glass and functionality of these vinyl windows deliver the highest standards of energy efficiency and durability." Incorporating bold colors into your design can make the space feel your own while demonstrating personality and modernization. Find more ideas and inspiration to answer the call for bold style at simonton.com.
	Preparing Students for What's Next in Work (Family Features) Automation, AI and societal economic changes are affecting the workforce and making a significant impact on the employment prospects of future generations. More than one-third of today's college graduates are "underemployed," meaning they work jobs that don't require a college degree and may pay less than a living wage, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. At the same time, a World Economic Forum report explored how advances in AI are threatening to negatively impact access to entry-level and even mid-level jobs for millions of Americans. Looking ahead, research by Georgetown University indicates that by 2031, 70% of jobs will require education or training beyond high school. However, data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicate only one-third of high school graduates go on to complete a college degree with many of those being in fields that are not in high-earning, high-growth professions. These challenges are not lost on today's students. In a survey by Junior Achievement and Citizens, 57% of teens reported AI has negatively impacted their career outlook, raising concerns about job replacement and the need for new skills. What's more, a strong majority (87%) expect to earn extra income through side hustles, gig work or social media content creation. "To put students on the path toward greater earning potential and economic mobility in a rapidly changing economy, students need proactive education and exposure to transferable skills and competencies, such as creative and critical thinking, financial literacy, problem-solving, collaboration and career planning," said Jack Harris, CEO, Junior Achievement. This assertion is consistent with findings from the Camber Collective. This social impact consulting group identified four key life experiences students can consider and explore that positively affect lifetime earnings, including: Completing secondary education Graduating with a degree in a high-paying field of study Receiving mentorship during adolescence Obtaining a first full-time job with opportunity for advancement Students aiming to equip themselves with the skills and experience necessary for the future workforce can seek: Learning opportunities that are designed with the future in mind. For example, learning experiences offered through Junior Achievement reflect the skills and competencies needed to promote economic mobility. Internships or apprenticeships that provide hands-on experience and exposure to a career field that can't be found in a textbook. Volunteer or extracurricular roles that develop communication and leadership skills. Virtually every career field requires these soft skills for growth and greater earning potential. Relationships that provide insight and connection. Networking with individuals who are already excelling in a chosen field, as well as peers who share similar aspirations, offers perspective from those who are where you wish to be and potentially opens future doors for employment. Courses that offer introductory insight into a chosen career path. Local trade or technical schools and other training organizations may even offer certifications that align with a student's area of interest. To learn more about how students can pursue education for what's next, visit JA.org.
	What makes Iowa 2026 legislative session unique The first official day of the 2026 Iowa legislative session is Monday, Janary 12th.

Monday, January 12th, 2026

Sunday, January 11th, 2026