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

Sunday, January 25th, 2026
	Highest average home sale price in LeClaire, Pleasant Valley, $443K; See housing report Take a look at the Quad-Cities housing report for December.
	MARK-TO-MARKET: How do we define the legacy of Bitcoin? Created in 2009, Bitcoin was heralded as the world’s first cryptocurrency – a digital form of currency that exists only in electronic form. Thus, there are no physical banknotes or coins.
	Henry County Board hears from Hillcrest Home administrator "My history and experience mean absolutely nothing without a good team," hHillcrest Home administrator Kevin Powell said.
	U.S. rock climber Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as Alex Honnold reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower, about 90 minutes after he started.
	It's a blast from the passed in the musical comedy 'Lucky Stiff' at Circa '21, Rock Island Opening 2026 with a musical comedy hailed by "Tripodas" as "sublimely silly and highly entertaining," Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island presents the Quad Cities debut of the song-and-dance slapstick "Lucky Stiff." Performances will be on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday matinées at 1:15 p.m. Pre-show [...]
	Meet the director of 'Alice's Ordinary People' at East Moline Public Library East Moline Public Library will be hosting a screening and discussion of "Alice's Ordinary people" at 6:00pm on Friday, February 6th. The screening will take place at the library, 745 16th Ave. East Moline, IL and will feature an introduction by director Craig Dudnick. "Alice's Ordinary People" features the story of Alice Tregay, a woman [...]
	Blue Cat Brewing bought by RIBCO owner, beer to brew in Rock Island this spring Blue Cat Brewing, and its beer, are coming back to Rock Island this spring.
	Here's how 'shared decision making' for childhood vaccines could limit access Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new approach to six shots that were formerly given routinely will introduce new hurdles for getting kids immunized. And it could have a chilling effect on doctors.
	Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County say 2% property tax growth cap unsustainable Iowa Quad-Cities officials are concerned a proposed 2% cap on property tax revenue growth would not keep pace with escalating bills for things such as wages, fire trucks and insurance.
	5 things to know about the latest Minneapolis shooting Tensions are escalating in Minneapolis after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen, was killed during an encounter with immigration officials on Saturday morning. Here is what to know.
	Purple Loosestrife This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.If Hercules had been ordered to clean purple loosestrife out of the Upper Mississippi River as one of his 12 labors,…
Saturday, January 24th, 2026
	Pedestrian struck on I-80 near Durant A pedestrian was struck on I-80 near Durant and was pronounced dead at the scene.
	Moline Police Department investigates shooting The Moline Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened at Chimies Taco Bar on Friday, Jan. 23
	Chicago Alder-Person, Jesse Fuentes, appears in Davenport for ICE civil training Chicago Alder-Person, Jesse Fuentes, appears in Davenport for civil training against ICE.
	Davenport man facing federal charges for allegedly possessing child sex abuse materials He had initially been charged in Scott County District Court, but a federal grand jury has now indicted him.
	Russian strikes knock out heat in freezing Kyiv as peace talks continue Russian strikes left much of Kyiv without heat, water and power during freezing temperature, even as Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. held talks on ending the nearly four-year war.
	A long stretch of cold weather in the Quad Cities. Another one on the way It is no doubt that this past Friday was dangerously cold on the thermometer and through the wind chills with the coldest it got reaching -37 degrees in the Quad Cities. This stretch of wind chills started 9PM Thursday when wind chills first fell below 0 and only, albeit temporarily, broke out of the negatives [...]
	Pedestrian believed to be struck by vehicles found on I-80 near Durant: ISP report A deceased pedestrian believed to be struck by vehicles was found early Saturday on Interstate 80, according to an Iowa State Patrol report. Shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday, Iowa State Patrol was called to Mile Marker 277 on I-80 for a report of a pedestrian found on the roadway, the report says. The pedestrian, whose [...]
	Pedestrian struck and killed on I-80 near Durant, troopers say A person was found dead on I-80 near Durant early Saturday after being struck by vehicles, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
	QCA community holds informational meeting about ICE As immigration and customs enforcement actions ramp up across the country, community members are learning about what to do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes to the QCA. Iowa Representative Ken Croken and Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes hosted a conversation at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Davenport. Croken announced the event in response [...]
	Iowa State Patrol investigates death of pedestrian on I-80 in Cedar County According to the crash report, troopers were sent to mile marker 277 near the exit for Durant at 5:46 a.m.
	Chicago alderperson, speaking in Davenport, urges residents to know their rights Every seat was full in the parish hall at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Davenport as Jessie Fuentes described federal immigration actions in Chicago and gave advice for other cities.
	Quad Cities residents get advice on how to respond to ICE Dozens of concerned Quad Cities residents filled St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Parish Hall, in downtown Davenport, for a Saturday morning meeting on how to prepare and respond to potential ICE activity in the area.
	TIPS: What to do if your car gets stuck in snow If you have to drive in snow, here's what to know.
	Why a push for corn growers and E15 gasoline fell through A push to open markets for corn growers to allow all-year sales of higher-ethanol blend E15 gasoline has fallen through, and supporters aren't sure when the chance will come again. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief Alex Whitney reports why the deal fell apart, confusing those who want corn growers to get a [...]
	Man shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis The incident, which was caught on video, marks the second deadly shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis in less than a month.
	Man shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis The incident, which was caught on video, marks the second deadly shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis in less than a month.
	Troopers investigate death of pedestrian on I-80 Details are limited.
	2 injured in shooting at downtown Moline restaurant Moline police are investigating a shooting at Chimies Bar Friday night. Two people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
	Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over its new trade deal with China The announcement is a reversal for Trump, who initially initially praised the agreement with China as something Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney "should be doing."
	Family donates blood in honor of their late grandfather The Butler family came to ImpactLife Friday afternoon to give blood, even in the freezing cold temperatures.
	Heavy snow and rainfall kill 61, injure 110 over 3 days in Afghanistan Dozens were killed and hundreds homes destroyed, according to the country's disaster management authority, in storms impacting 15 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
	Police investigating after two people injured in shooting at Moline bar Friday night The incident remains under investigation as of Saturday morning.
	Galesburg man faces felony gun-, drug-related charges after traffic stop A 27-year-old Galesburg man faces felony charges after the Knox County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop Jan. 20 in Galesburg, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Deputies saw a traffic violation involving a red Toyota Camry. During the traffic stop, deputies "observed indicators consistent with criminal activity" and, in accordance with [...]
	China's top general under investigation in latest military purge Analysts believe these purges aim to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Another commission member, Liu Zhenli, is also under investigation.
	2 injured in shooting at downtown Moline restaurant The shooting is under investigation.
	Explore sports and cultures at 45th Knox College International Fair Knox College's International Club will be hosting its 45th annual International Fair on Saturday, January 31. The fair celebrates cultures, customs, and traditions. This year's theme is Sports from Around the World. Events will start at 10:30a.m. with the Booth Fair running until 11:30a.m. in the lobby of the Ford Center for the Fine Arts. [...]
	Opinion: Mark Carney's warning and its echoes from the past When he spoke at Davos this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney referenced a 1978 essay by Vaclav Havel, written when Czechoslovakia was under Soviet control.
	This sprawling, surrealist movie is a tribute to cinema itself Director Bi Gan, known for his films Kaili Blues and Long Day's Journey Into Night, sets his latest film in a world where people can live forever, unless they dream.
	QC Arts visiting artist will be in concert Quad City Arts Visiting Artist, Barron Ryan will be in the Quad Cities for performances next month. Ryan will perform in the Butterworth Center Library, 1105 8th St., Moline, in a free program on Monday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available in the lots to the north and east of Butterworth Center, and [...]
	Davenport man sentenced to 20 years in prison on sexual exploitation convictions He had pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, five counts of first-degree harassment and one count of possession of a depiction of a minor engaged in a sex act.
	Shellie Moore Guy This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Ever since Shellie Moore Guy of Rock Island began writing poetry a few years ago, she has upset me. And I'm too old to…
	As the winter storm rages, here's what to know in your state Reporters across the NPR Network are covering the impact of the storm and how officials are responding. We've also got tips for staying safe once bad weather hits.
	Local basketball games provide entertainment during cold temperatures Local basketball games provided entertainment and warmth during QC cold spell.
Friday, January 23rd, 2026
	Heavy police presence in downtown Moline; bar patrons brave subzero temps to watch Patrons of downtown Moline bars braved subzero temperatures late Friday to watch police during an incident shortly before 10 p.m. Our Quad Cities News crew saw a dozen squad cars and officers on the scene near Chimie's Taco Bar and Bent River Brewing on the 1400 block of 5th Avenue. A man, who was handcuffed, [...]
	Officials: Moline police investigate after shooting inside downtown restaurant A large police presence is gathered in downtown Moline, across from Lagomarcino’s Confectionery.
	Family donates blood in honor of their late grandfather The Butler family came to ImpactLife Friday afternoon to give blood, even in the freezing cold temperatures.
	Previewing Week 3 of The Score Basketball News 8's Shelby Kluver, Kory Kuffler and Jenna Minor preview tonight's basketball action from across the region.
	Inside Iowa Politics: What Gov. Reynolds said she will do about cancer crisis Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said her $50 million state commitment to cancer will have a "hub and spoke" model.
	Cook review: 'Bone Temple' is gory, smart, terrifying look at zombie dystopia The film "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is more than just another zombie movie. It's a post-apocalyptic tale that will whet the palette of gore hounds, fans of the "28 Days" franchise, and audiences who want their blood sprinkled with character development and literary references. By far the best episode (so far) of the [...]
	Davenport man sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearm A federal grand jury indicted him on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm on April 9, 2025, and he pleaded guilty to the counts in August.
	Community mental-health conference scheduled for Moline Learn about the connection between anxiety and trauma at a community mental health conference Friday, March 20. at Black Hawk College. "Strength in Numbers – The Anxiety & Trauma Connection: Empowering Individuals, Supporting Professionals" will be 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the college’s Quad-Cities Campus in Moline. Cost is $45 and includes a light [...]
	School buses and the cold, how fleet managers prepare Brutally cold temperatures can impact how your child gets to school on time.
	Highlight Zone: Week 3, high school basketball This week’s episode brings some heat to the frigid QCA.
	Tips for protecting your pets from the cold With dangerously cold temperatures, it’s important to know how to keep your furry friends warm.
	Crews battle house fire in Clinton in bitterly cold temps Crews are battling a house fire in Clinton.
	TSA releases 10 best ‘catches’ of 2025, Moline makes list The TSA released their list for the 10 best “catches” of 2025 and the Quad Cities International Airport made the cut.
	Girl Scouts spotlight skills, service and a new cookie flavor Girl Scout cookie season is underway, bringing a new rocky‑road‑inspired flavor and offering girls across eastern Iowa and western Illinois the chance to build skills while raising funds that stay local to support camps, programs and financial assistance.
	Opening night for musical comedy 'Lucky Stiff' at Circa '21 The murder mystery comedy musical is Circa's first show of the year. It opens Friday night, Jan. 23, in Rock Island and runs through March 7.
	-45° "wins" as lowest wind chill of Friday morning Lowden, Iowa hit the cold wind chill jackpot - if there is such a thing. The combo of bitter cold temps and strong winds sent the wind chill in Cedar County (Lowden) plummeting to -45° at 7:01 Friday morning. In the Quad Cities we had wined chills of -38° and -37° from Rock Island to [...]
	Learn about veterinary careers at Black Hawk College Teddy Bear Hospital Black Hawk College and Kewanee Animal Shelter are presenting a Teddy Bear Hospital on Saturday, January 24th at 9a.m. to 12:00p.m. The event will be at the Black Hawk College East Campus Veterinary Sciences Center, 26230 Black Hawk Road Galva, IL. Kids are encouraged to bring in their teddy bears for a checkup that includes [...]
	Niabi Zoo's baby fennec foxes staying warm in the cold The fennec kits were born to mom Dahlia and dad Cosmo.
	Cook review: 'The Rip' tears up the screen with Damon, Affleck, mystery, action "The Rip" involves a huge stash of cash, a group of dirty-cop suspects, and the dependable duo of Affleck/Damon. It's the perfect cure for the winter blues for grownups who like a good mystery and thriller. The setting is present-day Miami, right after what appears to be the assassination of a well-respected police captain. Matt [...]
	ComEd files $15.3 billion grid plan proposal addressing rising demand The plan, if approved in full by state regulators, would add between $2.50 and $3 to the average customer’s monthly bill.
	Quad Cities International Airport makes TSA's list of top 10 unusual finds for 2025 Among the top 10 were turtles found in pants, pills in a shampoo bottle and bullets hidden in a container of strawberry Nesquik.
	Illinois saw no fatal expressway shootings last year The number of shootings on Illinois highways has dropped for the fourth consecutive year, with no fatal shooting incidents on the expressways.
	Clinton barn fire still under investigation No one was injured in a barn fire Thursday evening in Clinton, according to a news release from the Clinton Fire Department. The fire began about 4:30 p.m. on the 2600 block of West Stockwell Lane, where crews responded with one engine, one tanker, a command vehicle, and one ambulance. The remaining on-duty crews were [...]
	Crews respond to early morning fire in Rock Island The Rock Island Fire department responded to a house fire shortly after 1:15 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.
	Iowa Quad-Cities lawmakers look to ramp up energy production in the state Area lawmakers gave their views on property taxes, workforce training, energy production and public safety and mental health initiatives to help the few people who repeatedly require emergency resources.
	Get help planning the wedding of your dreams at the Jaycees of the Quad Cities' Wedding Expo If you need help planning the wedding of your dreams and need ideas, you're in luck! Brianna Powell and Drew Grace stopped by Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Jaycees of the Quad Cities' Wedding Expo. For more information, click here.
	3 new members join Empowering Abilities Board of Directors Empowering Abilities has announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: Tracy Lindaman, Kendra Mulcahy Glazier, and Eric Langan. Each new board member brings valuable professional experience, strong community connections, and a shared commitment to Empowering Abilities’ mission of supporting individuals with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in the community. according [...]
	Minnesotans turn out in the frigid cold to protest Trump's immigration crackdown Minnesota residents took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis to protest the federal government's immigration campaign in the state, after weeks of sustained resistance in their communities. Businesses across the region closed in solidarity.
	Police responding to report of threat on UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus Police are responding to a threat Friday at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater at Rock County campus.
	Trump expands policy banning aid to groups abroad that discuss or provide abortions In addition to adding to the list of groups that will lose funding for providing or discussing abortion, the policy now also calls for ending aid to groups that embrace DEI.
	What you need to know about water main breaks: Iowa American Water Freezing temperatures aren’t just a threat to people and animals; they pose a threat to plumbing inside and outside your home as well. Lisa Reisen, senior manager of external communications with Iowa American Water, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to give an update on the condition of water pipes in the Iowa [...]
	Trump heading to Iowa, how to reserve a spot, tickets President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Iowa next week.
	What to know about the deal to keep TikTok in US Questions remain about whether TikTok users’ experience will change after the deal to keep the app in the US and whether the changes actually address security concerns around the app.
	Rock Island family displaced after early morning house fire A family was displaced after a fire on 25th Street near 33rd Avenue in Rock Island early Friday morning.
	No injuries reported following early morning Rock Island fire No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported following an early morning fire in Rock Island. According to a release, the Rock Island Fire Department was dispatched January 23 at 1:17 a.m. for a structure fire in the 3300 block of 25th St. Firefighters discovered a single-story home with light smoke coming from the inside. [...]
	Two Rock Island residents displaced after early Friday house fire The Rock Island Fire Department was dispatched at 1:17 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, to a report of a structure fire in the 3300 block of 25th Street.
	Designed to grow: New pediatric heart valve could spare children lifetime of surgeries (BPT) - A newborn's heart will grow roughly 15 times larger in volume by the time adulthood is reached — a remarkable transformation that presents an extraordinary challenge for pediatric heart surgeons treating congenital defects such as aortic and pulmonary valve disease.Heart defects affect approximately 1% of babies born in the United States each year, or roughly 40,000 infants. For many families, these diagnoses mark the beginning of long and arduous journeys. Children born with complex valve defects often require repeated surgeries and other treatments as their hearts grow, exposing them to risks and potential complications and their families to overwhelming emotional and financial strain.Finding a better way to treat these young patients has been a longtime goal for Minoo N. Kavarana, M.D., chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and co-director of the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital."I kept thinking about babies born with the most common congenital heart defect — bicuspid aortic valve," Kavarana said. "When infants need valve surgery in the first week of life, they often face multiple open-heart procedures and catheter-based balloon dilations over their lifetimes."While advances in postoperative care have significantly improved outcomes for pediatric heart surgery, risks still remain. And each additional operation compounds that risk."Every time we reopen a child's chest, we expose them to more trauma," Kavarana said. "That's when I started asking: 'Could we implant a valve early in life that could be expanded over time with a balloon and continue functioning into adulthood after a single operation?'"That idea — a pediatric valve stent capable of growing with a child — had the potential to change pediatric heart care, and it aligned with the culture of innovation that has earned national recognition for MUSC's program.The Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital is ranked No. 4 in the nation for 2025–2026 by U.S. News & World Report, marking its fourth consecutive year in the top four and its ninth straight year in the top 12. The program is recognized for outcomes, cutting-edge technology and advanced clinical expertise, placing it among the nation's elite programs.A constructive reunionAs Kavarana searched for a solution, he got a call from a bioengineering team at Clemson University with whom he had previously collaborated. The team, led by Clemson bioengineering alumnus Lee Sierad, Ph.D., and his mentor Dan Simionescu, Ph.D., the Harriet and Jerry Dempsey Professor of Bioengineering, was developing a novel valve concept to treat congenital heart defects in infants. They had confidence in their design but needed clinical insight into how hearts grow, how valve disease evolves over time and how surgeons confront these challenges in the operating room. That led them to reconnect with MUSC and Kavarana.Kavarana helped the team to tie innovation to clinical reality, clarifying which defects mattered most and how growth patterns should inform device design."We were asking fundamental questions," Sierad recalled. "Would this look like a metal stent that expands? Should we design it for a one-month-old, a one-year-old or a 10-year-old?"Simionescu said that Kavarana's input led them to shift the design team's direction. "Historically, we take adult devices and make them smaller," he said. "That approach doesn't work for children. Pediatric patients need something that grows with them."From concept to prototypeWith vital funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation, which was created in honor of the infant daughter of Susan and Jason Smith who passed away due to a congenital heart defect, the MUSC-Clemson collaboration led to the creation of ExpandValve, designed to evolve in tandem with a growing heart. The device is a thin metal scaffold capable of expanding from an infant-sized diameter of 10 to 12 millimeters to an adult-sized diameter of 24 millimeters (just less than an inch) through gradual, controlled balloon dilations.But allowing the valve to grow was only part of the puzzle. The team also had to account for changing blood pressures, flow dynamics and tissue response across every stage of childhood."All of the clinical data we shared helped the engineers to recreate conditions that closely mirror the human heart," Kavarana said. "They're able to test these valves in a bioreactor that simulates real physiologic environments."What comes nextIf all goes well in the simulations, the next step on the road would be proof-of-concept testing in living hearts, which must yield positive results before potential clinical trials could begin."This step is essential," Kavarana said. "If successful, this technology could dramatically reduce the cumulative trauma children experience from repeated heart surgeries and change what lifelong care looks like for families."For Kavarana and the Clemson team, the goal is clear: to replace a lifetime of repeated interventions with a future defined by fewer surgeries, fewer risks and far more hope.Learn more about the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the Medical University of South Carolina at Children.MUSCHealth.org/medical-services/heart.
	Quad-City Times building for sale The former Quad-City Times building along Davenport’s riverfront has been listed for sale online for $4.2 million.
	Why does your dog get so excited about snow? Why does your dog get so excited about snow?It’s a delightful scene: The first snow of the year falls, and you get your dog all suited up to venture outside for a walk. The second they lay eyes on the winter wonderland, their ears perk up. Setting that first paw print into the snow, their snout goes into overdrive, and the seemingly endless zoomies start.You may have wondered: What is it exactly about snow that gets them going? Is it the look of it? The texture on their paws? The cold sensation? Does it do something to the scent landscape that entices their olfactory senses?Of course, not every dog responds eagerly to snow days; some positively hate the cold, can’t stand wearing booties, and go on walk strike during inclement weather. But there are those who go bananas for the white stuff. Pet advice website Kinship talked to a couple of veterinarians about what makes snowfall so appealing, plus, the safety tips you need to know to keep your abominable snowdog safe in freezing temps.They like the sensory experience.“Many dogs love anything that feels different from their daily routine,” says Dr. Ashly Smith, regional medical director for Small Door Veterinary.Dr. Smith points to the texture of snow under their paws, cool air on their skin, and the visual brightness as “sensory newness triggers” that dogs find stimulating. “Some even stomp or dig simply to recreate the crunchy sound of fresh snow underfoot because the feedback is so satisfying,” she explains.A cold dip in temperature can also cause a burst of energy in dogs, though some can get sleepier. (Just picture your dog’s activity level on a hot and humid summer day, compared to a wintery 35 degrees, and this is pretty evident.) The natural boost encourages activity like zoomies, digging, and jumping. Plus, “the buoyancy and softness of snow can make some dogs feel momentarily ‘lighter,’” she explains. If your pup transforms into a bouncy rabbit on a snowy day, you may have noticed this.They have a genetic predisposition for cold temps.Compared to a Retriever or Samoyed, your average eight-pound Chihuahua may act less than thrilled stepping outside for a snowy walk, likely cowering and beginning to shake. That’s because there is a genetic predisposition to a dog’s affinity for snow, according to Dr. Mondrian Contreras, veterinary expert for Pumpkin Pet Insurance.Dr. Contreras says breeds like Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are especially fond of the snow due to their thick fur coats and a history of working in cold environments as sled dogs, hunting dogs, or search-and-rescue dogs. These breeds typically don’t even need an exterior coat or sweater in the winter. Their natural double-coated fur — made up of an insulating under-layer, close to the skin, and a protective topcoat — keeps them extra toasty.Many sporting and working breeds also get excited in the snow, which they see as a prime setting for exploring and games. “I personally have a Bernese and German Shepherd mix, and she loves exploring in the snow and bringing us back ‘treats’ (typically one of my kids’ toys left in the yard),” says Dr. Contreras.Beyond breed, a preference for snow can come down to a dog's individual personality, per Dr. Smith. “Some are more curious, playful, or energetic, and snow amplifies those traits,” she says. “Others may be cautious, dislike getting wet, or simply prefer predictable environments.”They love a snowy maze of smells.Something interesting happens to the scent landscape under layers of snow.“Snow can both mute and amplify odors,” Dr. Smith explains. “Fresh snow temporarily seals off scent trails, which can make sniffing feel like a puzzle. As the snow melts or gets disturbed, new scent layers are released.”Dr. Smith describes the challenge of rooting out buried scents as “intrinsically rewarding” for many dogs.How can you keep your dog safe in the snow?Even if your dog is a natural-born snow dog, there are still safety tips you should follow to ensure their excitement doesn’t get the best of them. Dr. Contreras recommends limiting the amount of time your dog spends outside, because they can develop hypothermia and frostbite. This can vary from dog to dog and breed to breed.The aforementioned Chihuahua, for example, can safely withstand the cold for much less time than your average Husky — but keep an eye out for signs of adverse reactions to the cold, like excess shivering, slowing down or acting confused, pale or blueish skin, or feeling very cold to the touch.There’s also the salt-and-ice melt mixture that gets sprinkled on sidewalks ahead of snowstorms. It can be toxic if ingested, so putting booties on your dog or wiping their paws after walks, is key to prevent sickness. Plus, the combo of the cold snow and the chemical mixture can lead to cracked and sore paws. Dogs will often hold up a paw in mid-air because it hurts to walk on. That’s a sign it’s time to go back inside, and applying a balm or paw wax like Musher’s Secret or coconut oil, can help it heal.Keep your dogs well-hydrated; just because it's cold out doesn’t mean they need less water after exercising, particularly on very cold days when the air is dryer. And, they may need to eat more than usual: “When body temperature drops, dogs must generate more heat to stay near their core temperature,” Dr. Contreras explains. “This means it’s also important to keep them well-fed since they might also be burning a lot of calories.”This story was produced by Kinship and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	At Davos, U.S. allies question a fraying world order It was a volatile week for trans-Atlantic relations, marked by President Trump statements that unsettled global markets and strained ties with U.S. allies — on topics ranging from Greenland to Gaza.
	Catch Ms. Pat at Rhythm City Casino Spend an evening with Ms. Pat in the Rhythm City Casino Event Center on Friday, August 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the public on January 28 at 10 a.m. and this event is intended for mature audiences ages 18+. Click here for tickets or buy them at The Market at Rhythm [...]
	Firefighters battle early morning house fire in Rock Island A family was displaced after a fire on 25th Street near 33rd Avenue in Rock Island early Friday morning.
	No injuries reported in early morning rollover crash in Davenport Police said driver got distracted and crossed the center line, rolled and hit the back of a trailer.
	Pleasant Valley School District announces finalist for superintendent replacement Next, the board will meet for a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29, to interview the three candidates in open session.
	The 25 best places to retire in the US in 2026, ranked by what retirees value most The 25 best places to retire in the US in 2026, ranked by what retirees value mostWhat’s the best place to retire? To answer that question, The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 retired Americans to understand what matters most in retirement and used those insights to rank the best places to retire across the United States.Based on the survey results, The Motley Fool identified seven key retirement factors and weighted each according to retiree preferences: quality of life (31%), healthcare access and quality (15%), housing affordability (13%), crime and safety (12%), weather and climate (12%), state and local taxes (11%), and non-housing affordability (6%).These weightings were applied to secondary data from eight public and institutional datasets to calculate a final retirement score for every U.S. county, reflecting real retiree needs and preferences rather than assumptions about where people “should” retire. Counties were excluded if their population was below 40,000, their quality-of-life score was below 35, or their housing affordability score was below 35. The survey of U.S. retirees 55 years old and older was conducted by Pollfish for The Motley Fool in December 2025, and scores were computed at both the county and state levels. The survey methodology employed techniques to reflect nationally representative data based on age and gender, as well as to minimize selection bias and ensure a diverse participant pool.The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire list reflects what retirees value most on average, but there’s no single “right” retirement destination for everyone. The best place to retire depends on personal priorities, retirement planning, and expected retirement income. For some, that means keeping costs low so that savings and investments in their retirement accounts go further. Others may place more weight on access to amenities or choosing a more expensive location with great weather.With that in mind, here’s The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire list.1. Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, FloridaQuality of life: 78 \| Healthcare: 33 \| Housing: 45 \| Cost of living: 64 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 62 \| Climate: 88 \| Total retirement score: 64Sometimes dubbed the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale averages 246 days of sunshine and offers miles of waterfront, including Atlantic beaches and boating canals.Pros: Easy access to beaches, including Fort Lauderdale Beach and Las Olas Beach; year-round sunshine; outdoor activities centered around Hugh Taylor Birch State Park; and a strong cultural, shopping, and dining scene, including NSU Art Museum and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.Cons: Housing and rent costs above the national average; below-average healthcare outcomes; and crime rates that are higher than in many other communities in South Florida.2. St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FloridaQuality of life: 70 \| Healthcare: 17 \| Housing: 42 \| Cost of living: 57 \| Crime: 74 \| Tax: 64 \| Climate: 84 \| Total retirement score: 59St. Augustine offers walkability, Atlantic beaches, a thriving downtown, and a strong history as the oldest European-established settlement in the continental United States.Pros: A historic downtown offering easy access to museums, shops, and restaurants along St. George Street; outdoor activities, including birdwatching, fishing, and beach-going at Anastasia State Park and St. Augustine Beach; and a humid subtropical climate with plenty of sunshine.Cons: A hurricane-prone region means insurance is expensive and flooding risks are high, while heavy tourism means historic areas are crowded for much of the year.3. Quincy, Gadsden County, FloridaQuality of life: 41 \| Healthcare: 61 \| Housing: 63 \| Cost of living: 80 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 65 \| Climate: 80 \| Total retirement score: 59Quincy is a small city near Tallahassee with the feel of a classic old Florida town, an expansive historic district, and a diverse population that enjoys modest living expenses.Pros: Traditional small-town feel; a growing, diverse population; below-average cost of living; and a historic downtown including cultural attractions like the Gadsden Arts Center.Cons: Healthcare, retail, and restaurant options are more limited than in other cities, so driving to Tallahassee may be necessary; summer heat and humidity can be uncomfortable.4. Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OhioQuality of life: 53 \| Healthcare: 43 \| Housing: 61 \| Cost of living: 79 \| Crime: 78 \| Tax: 48 \| Climate: 68 \| Total retirement score: 58Cleveland’s location on the southern shore of Lake Erie offers lakefront neighborhoods with a relatively low cost of living, while the Cleveland Clinic and UH Cleveland Medical Center ensure there’s no shortage of top-notch medical care.Pros: Below-average cost of living; affordable housing; world-class healthcare; major cultural attractions, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; and outdoor lakefront recreational opportunities at Edgewater Park.Cons: Freezing and snowy winters; higher-than-average crime rates in some parts of the city; and more urban decay resulting from industrial decline than in many Sun Belt retirement destinations.5. Little Rock, Pulaski County, ArkansasQuality of life: 52 \| Healthcare: 48 \| Housing: 62 \| Cost of living: 80 \| Crime: 55 \| Tax: 56 \| Climate: 75 \| Total retirement score: 58More than just Arkansas’s capital, Little Rock offers an active downtown, an attractive riverfront, and an affordable cost of living for a mid-sized city.Pros: Plenty of restaurants and museums in the River Market District; below-average cost of living; quality healthcare options, including UAMS Medical Center; and opportunities for outdoor activity at Riverfront Park and along the Arkansas River.Cons: Sweltering summers with high humidity and many days above 90 degrees; above-average crime in some parts of the city; and low median incomes, which affect the tax base and public service funding.6. Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PennsylvaniaQuality of life: 46 \| Healthcare: 52 \| Housing: 59 \| Cost of living: 85 \| Crime: 69 \| Tax: 53 \| Climate: 71 \| Total retirement score: 57Philadelphia offers big-city amenities, is home to numerous historical sites, and boasts a regional rail network that makes car-free living possible.Pros: Revolution-era history; home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall; a strong public transit system; top-notch healthcare at Penn Medicine; professional sports teams; and plenty of culture, including fine-dining establishments and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.Cons: Expensive property and sales tax; cold winters; and high crime in some parts of the city.7. Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MinnesotaQuality of life: 67 \| Healthcare: 27 \| Housing: 51 \| Cost of living: 79 \| Crime: 74 \| Tax: 39 \| Climate: 64 \| Total retirement score: 57Minnesota’s capital city of Saint Paul offers a robust park system, access to the cultural scene in the Twin Cities, and plenty of historic neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and affordable homes.Pros: Affordable home prices; below-average cost of living; large park system, including the Como Park complex; recreational activities like the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, and access to the Twin Cities cultural scene.Cons: Long, cold, and snowy winters; higher crime rates in some parts of the city; higher taxes than most Sun Belt states, including taxes on Social Security for higher earners; and aging public infrastructure.8. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WisconsinQuality of life: 54 \| Healthcare: 45 \| Housing: 55 \| Cost of living: 87 \| Crime: 72 \| Tax: 42 \| Climate: 66 \| Total retirement score: 57Milwaukee’s location on the western shore of Lake Michigan means retirees can enjoy waterfront property and plenty of outdoor activities, along with brewery tours and visits to cultural icons like the Milwaukee Art Museum.Pros: Recreational activities and community events, including Summerfest; access to decent healthcare options, including the highly ranked Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center; and a below-average cost of living, especially for a major metro area.Cons: Cold and snowy winters, including lake-effect snow; higher property tax rates than other popular retirement areas; high crime rates and urban blight in some areas, characteristic of older industrial cities.9. Miami, Miami-Dade County, FloridaQuality of life: 58 \| Healthcare: 34 \| Housing: 40 \| Cost of living: 62 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 63 \| Climate: 88 \| Total retirement score: 57Miami is best known for its famous shoreline and Latin-influenced culture, but it also offers a tropical climate, proximity to the Everglades, and plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining.Pros: Warm winters; world-famous neighborhoods and beaches; shopping and dining options along Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road; major sports teams, and easy access to renowned museums, including the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.Cons: Expensive housing market with high price-to-rent ratios; significant risk of extreme weather events and damage due to rising sea levels; large tourist presence can cause crowds, especially during certain times of the year.10. Armstrong County, PennsylvaniaQuality of life: 44 \| Healthcare: 37 \| Housing: 69 \| Cost of living: 90 \| Crime: 86 \| Tax: 48 \| Climate: 65 \| Total retirement score: 57Armstrong County offers the best of rural living, with low living costs, outdoor activities along the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers, and very affordable prices on housing and everyday essentials.Pros: Low housing costs and an extremely low cost of living, outdoor activities, including the Armstrong Trails, a 50-mile trail running along the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers, and very low crime.Cons: Few options for public transportation; may need to visit a larger city for medical specialists or to access more shopping and dining options than the rural location provides; cold and snowy winters can lead to icy driving conditions.11. Dallas, Dallas County, TexasQuality of life: 45 \| Healthcare: 38 \| Housing: 53 \| Cost of living: 78 \| Crime: 74 \| Tax: 60 \| Climate: 82 \| Total retirement score: 57Dallas boasts diverse neighborhoods, a strong economy, and big-city amenities while still providing a moderate cost of living.Pros: Vibrant art and culture scene, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center; Katy Trail and White Rock Lake Park offer outdoor recreation; warm winters; and average housing costs but a low cost of living, and decent tax burden.Cons: Heavy traffic along major corridors; limited public transportation outside of core areas; and extreme heat in the summers, with temperatures sometimes topping 100 degrees.12. Austin, Travis County, TexasQuality of life: 56 \| Healthcare: 24 \| Housing: 43 \| Cost of living: 69 \| Crime: 72 \| Tax: 62 \| Climate: 86 \| Total retirement score: 56Austin offers all the amenities you’d expect from the capital of Texas, including a strong music culture and plenty of outdoor recreational activities.Pros: Vibrant food and cultural scene, including many live music venues; no state income tax; the University of Texas offers community engagement and educational opportunities; access to quality healthcare options but outcomes are mixed; and extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation at Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake Trail.Cons: Rent, housing, and other costs of living are rapidly rising; high levels of traffic congestion; above-average property taxes; a large tourist presence that creates crowds; and very hot summers with days above 100 degrees, although winters are mild.13. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PennsylvaniaQuality of life: 48 \| Healthcare: 31 \| Housing: 59 \| Cost of living: 85 \| Crime: 86 \| Tax: 47 \| Climate: 68 \| Total retirement score: 56Pittsburgh is a hilly city with historic neighborhoods, rich cultural attractions, and an extensive system of riverfront parks and trails.Pros: Below-average cost of living for a metro area; low housing costs; extensive park and riverfront trail system, including the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and Point State Park; Carnegie Museum, Heinz Hall, and other cultural activities; and a good public transportation system that includes buses and light rail.Cons: Hilly streets and an abundance of public staircases create mobility challenges; periodic air quality issues; above-average property taxes; economic inequality means some areas lack services; and cold winters with snowy, icy weather.14. Killeen, Bell County, TexasQuality of life: 35 \| Healthcare: 40 \| Housing: 57 \| Cost of living: 87 \| Crime: 81 \| Tax: 61 \| Climate: 85 \| Total retirement score: 56Killeen is best known for its proximity to Fort Hood and offers an easy drive to Austin and Waco while allowing retirees to live life at a slower pace.Pros: Lower housing costs and lower overall cost of living than other Texas metros; strong community built around Fort Hood; outdoor recreational activities nearby at Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake; relatively mild winters; and proximity to Austin and Waco with easy freeway access.Cons: Fewer cultural opportunities and more limited entertainment options compared with larger cities; limited public transportation options; and local healthcare is limited.15. Birmingham, Jefferson County, AlabamaQuality of life: 41 \| Healthcare: 46 \| Housing: 61 \| Cost of living: 66 \| Crime: 73 \| Tax: 60 \| Climate: 75 \| Total retirement score: 56Birmingham may be a historic city, but its revitalized downtown districts offer plenty of cultural attractions along with affordable housing.Pros: Below-average cost of living, including affordable housing; downtown redevelopment means many restaurants and stores are available around Uptown and Railroad Park; outdoor recreational opportunities at Ruffner Mountain and Red Mountain Park; and milder winters than many northern states.Cons: Summers are hot and humid with frequent storms; limited access to public transportation and many areas aren’t very walkable; infrastructure is aging in some areas, and inequality means some parts of the city lack services.16. Baltimore, Baltimore City, MarylandQuality of life: 44 \| Healthcare: 58 \| Housing: 65 \| Cost of living: 69 \| Crime: 64 \| Tax: 43 \| Climate: 73 \| Total retirement score: 56Baltimore’s museums and historic districts make it a favorite for those who prioritize cultural experiences, while its Inner Harbor offers scenic views and walkable waterfront areas.Pros: Historic waterfront and harbor areas provide recreational opportunities at Inner Harbor and Fell’s Point; professional sports teams; architectural character with historic row houses; cultural activities abound, including the Baltimore Museum of Art; world-class healthcare at Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Maryland Medical Center; and excellent public transportation, including connections to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.Cons: Higher-than-average crime rates in certain parts of the city; rush hour traffic congestion is high; above-average property tax rates; aging infrastructure in some parts of the city; and cold winters with snowy and icy roads.17. San Marcos, Caldwell County, TexasQuality of life: 36 \| Healthcare: 47 \| Housing: 54 \| Cost of living: 74 \| Crime: 72 \| Tax: 63 \| Climate: 88 \| Total retirement score: 56Located along the San Marcos River, San Marcos offers a college-town feel as well as proximity to both Austin and San Antonio.Pros: Presence of Texas State University creates vibrant college-town feel; cost of living and housing expenses below those of nearby metros; mild winters but hot summers; easy access to both Austin and San Antonio; and plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities along the San Marcos River.Cons: Limited healthcare options; influx of students during the school year can cause congestion in certain areas; flooding risks along low-lying areas; and limited dining and entertainment options.18. St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FloridaQuality of life: 48 \| Healthcare: 34 \| Housing: 49 \| Cost of living: 72 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 64 \| Climate: 87 \| Total retirement score: 56St. Petersburg is home to some of the most popular Gulf beaches in Florida, and it also offers a walkable downtown and thriving arts scene.Pros: Abundant sunshine and warm winters; world-class beaches including Fort De Soto and St. Pete Beach; walkable downtown with dining and shopping options; vibrant arts scene including the Salvador Dali Museum; and an active retirement community with many events for seniors.Cons: High housing costs and very expensive homeowners’ insurance; limited public transit; flooding and hurricane risks; and crowds during many parts of the year due to tourist influx.19. Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TexasQuality of life: 42 \| Healthcare: 35 \| Housing: 52 \| Cost of living: 76 \| Crime: 74 \| Tax: 60 \| Climate: 83 \| Total retirement score: 55Fort Worth’s cost of living is lower than that of many metro areas, but it still offers big-city amenities, including the Kimbell Art Museum and the extensive Trinity Trails network for outdoor lovers.Pros: Strong Southwestern culture, including the Fort Worth stockyards; cost of living below that of many other large metros; many cultural opportunities like the Modern Art Museum and the Kimbell Art museum; DFW International Airport is very close by; and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, including through river walks on Trinity Trails.Cons: Above-average property taxes; limited public transportation and lots of traffic; air quality issues; and very hot summers with long heat waves and both tornado and thunderstorm risks.20. Denver, Denver County, ColoradoQuality of life: 61 \| Healthcare: 31 \| Housing: 40 \| Cost of living: 66 \| Crime: 56 \| Tax: 62 \| Climate: 72 \| Total retirement score: 55Denver’s access to the Rocky Mountains is its claim to fame, while the city’s surprisingly mild climate makes the area ideal for outdoor lovers who want to explore its extensive parks and trail networks year-round.Pros: Proximity to the Rocky Mountains offers summer and winter recreational opportunities, including world-class skiing and hiking; the Denver Art Museum is the center of a vibrant arts and culture world; the climate is mild and sunny; decent public transportation options, including commuter and light rail lines; and access to top healthcare options like UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, although overall healthcare outcomes are mixed.Cons: Housing costs have soared in recent years; snow and ice can make winter driving difficult, especially if traveling into the mountains; air quality can suffer due to seasonal wildfires; traffic congestion is high, especially during some parts of the year; and the high altitude can worsen cardiac or respiratory conditions.21. Tampa, Hillsborough County, FloridaQuality of life: 47 \| Healthcare: 33 \| Housing: 48 \| Cost of living: 69 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 63 \| Climate: 86 \| Total retirement score: 55Tampa is known for warm, sunny weather, the Tampa Riverwalk, its pro sports teams, and its easy access to Gulf beaches.Pros: Waterfront recreational opportunities, including Riverwalk; access to nearby Gulf beaches; many dining and entertainment options, especially in Ybor City; a low cost of living; and no state income tax.Cons: Expensive housing and very high homeowners’ insurance costs; hurricane risk and flooding risks in many areas; crowds during tourist season, causing lots of traffic congestion; and hot, humid summers.22. Palm Bay, Brevard County, FloridaQuality of life: 44 \| Healthcare: 36 \| Housing: 50 \| Cost of living: 75 \| Crime: 61 \| Tax: 64 \| Climate: 86 \| Total retirement score: 55Palm Bay provides a suburban lifestyle with less hustle and bustle than some Florida cities, but there’s still plenty to do, including beaches, nature preserves, and outdoor activities at the nearby Indian River Lagoon.Pros: Lower housing costs than in many other Florida metro areas plus a low overall cost of living; outdoor recreational activities including Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Indian River Lagoon, and nearby Atlantic beaches; suburban lifestyle; and mild winters.Cons: Not a walkable area and few public transportation options make retirees car dependent; limited cultural, dining, and entertainment venues within city limits; and intense heat and humidity during the summer months, although winters are very mild.23. Lapeer, Lapeer County, MichiganQuality of life: 43 \| Healthcare: 32 \| Housing: 54 \| Cost of living: 80 \| Crime: 76 \| Tax: 66 \| Climate: 66 \| Total retirement score: 55Lapeer is perfect for small-town lovers with beautiful architecture, plenty of outdoor amenities, including fishing lakes, Torzewski County Park, and a historic downtown that’s home to the Lapeer Heritage Museum.Pros: Cost of living below the national average; close to Flint and Detroit for many healthcare and recreational options; small-town living with community events like farmers’ markets; and low traffic congestion.Cons: Limited access to healthcare, dining, and retail within city limits; many homes are older; car-dependent areas without much public transportation; cold and snowy winters that are characteristic of central Michigan.24. Lynchburg, Lynchburg City, VirginiaQuality of life: 43 \| Healthcare: 35 \| Housing: 58 \| Cost of living: 84 \| Crime: 85 \| Tax: 39 \| Climate: 72 \| Total retirement score: 54Lynchburg’s location at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes the scenery unbelievable, especially when combined with its riverfront and historic downtown districts that ooze small-town charm.Pros: Affordable housing and cost of living below national averages; attractive area with hill-country landscapes and historic architecture; revitalized downtown with riverfront districts and dining opportunities; Liberty University and University of Lynchburg create a college-town feel.Cons: Limited options for public transportation; lacks the cultural and event venues characteristic of larger cities; specialized healthcare needs may require traveling to nearby Roanoke or Charlottesville; and walkability is limited by hilly terrain.25. Lorain, Lorain County, OhioQuality of life: 43 \| Healthcare: 37 \| Housing: 57 \| Cost of living: 79 \| Crime: 78 \| Tax: 52 \| Climate: 68 \| Total retirement score: 54Located to the west of Cleveland, Lorain is a quiet lakefront community that provides beach and marina access as well as affordable housing options.Pros: Close to Cleveland for healthcare and other activities; affordable housing; below-average cost of living; access to Lake Erie’s beaches for boating, fishing, and recreation; community parks; and fun local attractions, including the Lorain Lighthouse.Cons: Few options for healthcare within city limits; older houses could require more maintenance and repairs; economic challenges may lead to limited services in some areas; limited dining and cultural attractions in town; and winters are cold and blustery.MethodologyHow The Motley Fool Identified the Best Places to Retire in AmericaChoosing where to retire is a deeply personal decision, but retirees consistently prioritize a few key needs: affordability, safety, access to healthcare, and quality of life.The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire Index combines secondary data about each location with primary data on what retired Americans say matters most when picking where to live.This hybrid approach creates a ranking that is both data-driven and human-centered – a methodology built by retirees for retirees.Survey-Informed WeightsThe Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 retired Americans aged 55 and above in December 2025 via Pollfish and employed a constant-sum approach (100 points), allowing respondents to clearly allocate points across the factors that mattered most to them when choosing a place to retire. Their average point allocations formed the weights given to scores for each retirement-location factor. The Motley Fool Final scores reflect what retirees value most, not what The Motley Fool assumes they value.Survey Method DetailsSurvey was conducted online on Dec. 2, 2025, via Pollfish.Survey respondents were U.S. retirees 55 years and older.Survey results were post-stratified to reflect nationally representative data based on age and gender.Pollfish employs organic random device engagement sampling, a statistical method that recruits respondents through a randomized invitation process across various digital platforms. This technique helps to minimize selection bias and ensure a diverse participant pool.How Each Factor Was ScoredScores were computed at both the county and state levels. All data were normalized on a min–max scale before applying survey weights.Each factor below includes the justification readers care about most: why it matters to retirees.Healthcare Access & QualityWhy it matters: Aging well requires reliable care, specialists, and strong healthcare outcomes. Healthcare outcomes measure whether people get healthier, live longer, and maintain a good quality of life.Sources:University of Wisconsin County Health Rankings (local outcomes & access)United Health Foundation’s 2025 Senior Report (state-level system performance)Housing AffordabilityWhy it matters: Home costs are the No. 1 expense in retirement and drive relocation decisions.Source: Zillow Home Value Index (October 2025)Counties with a housing affordability score below 35 were excluded.Nonhousing AffordabilityWhy it matters: Day-to-day expenses – food, transportation, utilities – determine how far savings stretch.Source: Economic Policy Institute Family Budget CalculatorTaxesWhy it matters: State and local tax burdens directly affect retirement income sustainability.Sources:Tax Foundation (effective tax burden)EPI Family Budget Calculator (county-level effective rates)Weather & Climate ComfortWhy it matters: Retirees seek comfortable climates that support year-round activity.Source: NOAA NCEI temperature & precipitation averages (2020–2025)Crime & SafetyWhy it matters: Personal safety ranks as a top emotional and financial priority.Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer – violent, property, and social offense ratesQuality-of-Life ComponentsRetirement isn’t only about saving money, it’s about living well.The Motley Fool measured features that enable connection, mobility, recreation, and fulfilling lifestyles: The Motley Fool Data sets were spatially aligned to counties and aggregated to states when necessary for consistency and national comparison.Counties with a quality-of-life score below 35 were excluded.Counties with a population of less than 40,000 were excluded.This story was produced by The Motley Fool and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Death Notice: Richard 'Rich' Meyer A Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Peter "Rich" Meyer, 70, of Eldridge, will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. Meyer died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Memorials may be made to St. Ann's Catholic Church or to the Ohl Strong Foundation to support patients and families with pancreatic cancer. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the Jan. 28 edition of The NSP.
	Gladys West, mathematician whose work paved the way for GPS, dies at 95 A self-described "little farm girl" in the Jim Crow Era, Gladys West's complex and pioneering work for the U.S. Navy helped to improve billions of lives — and keep us from getting lost.
	How to build a simple mental health routine this winter (no overhaul needed) How to build a simple mental health routine this winter (no overhaul needed)Winter isn’t just a change in scenery. It’s also a shift in routine and a shock to your physiology. Short days and long nights naturally reduce access to natural light, which can influence mood and circadian rhythms. For some, this contributes to seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression linked to seasonal shifts.Even those without clinical symptoms can still experience the famous “winter blues,” which cause a drop in motivation and an increase in stress. Here are six tips from April Health to keep your spirits up this winter.1. Take 10‑minute outdoor light and movement breaksExposure to natural daylight can help regulate the circadian rhythm and counteract low winter light levels. Light therapy is one of the key treatment methods for seasonal affective disorder, according to the nonprofit academic medical center Mayo Clinic. Combining light with gentle movement, such as taking a walk around the block, can add cardiovascular benefits and a small dopamine lift to your daily life. This exercise isn’t about breaking a sweat. Rather, it’s a way to signal wakefulness to the brain through motion and daylight.If a stroll outside isn’t possible, light therapy boxes can be a potential alternative. For most people, though, taking just 10 minutes to walk around the neighborhood can make a major difference.2. Keep a gratitude or daily-wins journalGratitude journaling is a well-documented way to reduce stress and support cognitive reframing, which can lead to a more positive outlook. During the wintertime, this small reframing can matter even more. Taking the time to write three things you’re grateful for or three small wins you had every day doesn’t force toxic positivity, but instead balances the brain’s bias toward threats and stress. The American Psychological Association notes this practice is a key part of cognitive behavioral therapy, an effective method for transforming thoughts for the better.3. Take a 5‑minute mindful breathing or a body scanMindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises and body scans, can help downshift the nervous system from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest. Organizations that produce mental health resources for the winter season frequently recommend mindful breathing as a tool for coping with stress and overwhelming feelings related to the holidays. A five-minute body scan or guided breath session can help clear mental static and reduce rumination, two things that often spike during the darker months.4. Have a simple weekly social check‑inSocial withdrawal is common in wintertime, especially when the weather limits spontaneous interaction. Providers who work with seasonal affective disorder often emphasize that structured social touchpoints, like a weekly coffee with friends or a hobby group, can help to counteract isolation. Even just brief social contact can help maintain emotional regulation, reduce loneliness, and reinforce a sense of belonging.5. Practice one tiny movement ritual at homeBack to the theme of movement, you don’t need a full workout program to benefit during the winter months. Public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that even small intervals of physical activity support mood, sleep, and energy levels. A microhabit like 10 push-ups before a shower, a five-minute stretch while your kettle boils, or just a short yoga workout can help keep you engaged during a sedentary session, bolstering your mood.6. Embrace a calming, consistent presleep wind‑downWinter can disrupt sleep patterns due to circadian changes and holiday stress. Behavioral psychologists recommend consistent presleep routines, such as lowering lights, reading, and gentle stretching, to support the body’s natural sleep transition. Creating a “sleep boundary,” even just 20 minutes of predictable quiet, can help train the brain to anticipate rest.Improve your mood this winterWinter often asks us to slow down, biologically, socially, and psychologically. Instead of fighting that shift, microhabits give us a way to work with the season. Small exposures to light, movement, mindfulness, and connection create resilience during the darkest months of the year. For some individuals, especially those experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, professional support and clinical treatment may also be appropriate. However, for others, winter can become more manageable, perhaps even meaningful, through gentle consistency rather than dramatic change.This story was produced by April Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Murder-for-hire trial ends in acquittal after other Operation Midway Blitz cases fell apart A federal jury in Chicago on Thursday found Juan Espinoza Martinez not guilty in a murder-for-hire case alleging he solicited a $10,000 bounty on U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino.
	ICAN reschedules candidate event in Andalusia Extreme weather has caused the Illinois Conservative Action Network (I-CAN) to reschedule tonight’s meeting with candidates for state office in Andalusia. Annette Parchert, chairman of the Illinois Conservative Action Network (ICAN), spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to announce the cancelation and upcoming event dates. “The weather is so severe and we sent [...]
	Rheumatoid arthritis has no cure – but researchers are homing in on preventing it More than 18 million people worldwide suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, including nearly 1.5 million Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis, meaning a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing substantial inflammation. This inflammation can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, and in many cases, patients report fatigue and a flu-like feeling. If left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to damage of the joints. But even when treated, this condition can lead to significant disability. In highly active disease or advanced stages, patient may have difficulty performing daily tasks, such as preparing food, caring for children and getting dressed. Up to now, this condition has been treated once patients have already developed symptoms. But a growing body of evidence suggests this disease can be identified earlier – and maybe even ultimately prevented. I’m a physician specializing in rheumatoid arthritis and a researcher who has conducted a clinical trial on treatments for this condition. I believe this research is moving us toward being able to identify people who are at risk for rheumatoid arthritis before the disease fully develops, and to finding treatments that will delay or prevent it altogether. My hope is that this could lead to changes in how we manage rheumatoid arthritis in the next several years. Finding the disease before it causes harm Currently, when someone visits their health care provider because they are experiencing joint pain or other symptoms of an immune attack, health care providers can make a diagnosis by examining the joints for swelling. The health care provider will also run tests to find blood markers called autoantibodies, which help in confirming the diagnosis. While not all people with rheumatoid arthritis will have abnormal blood markers, the two autoantibodies that are seen in up to 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis are rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide. In addition to joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis affects a person’s entire immune system. But multiple studies have now confirmed that rheumatoid arthritis has a preclinical stage of development. This is a time about three to five years or longer, prior to the onset of swollen joints when markers like rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide are detectable in the blood. The presence of these markers indicates that autoimmunity is occurring, yet the body and organs are still functioning well, and a person who is at risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis may not feel sick yet. Now that researchers have identified this preclinical stage, health care providers can use markers such as autoantibodies and symptoms like prolonged early morning joint stiffness to identify people who are at risk for rheumatoid arthritis but do not yet have joint inflammation. At this point, predicting future rheumatoid arthritis is still in the research stage, although the field is working toward established ways to test for risk for rheumatoid arthritis as a routine part of health care. This is akin to how cardiovascular disease risk is assessed through measuring cholesterol levels. Ongoing research Because of advances in the ability to predict who may get rheumatoid arthritis in the future, researchers are now working on identifying treatments that can delay or prevent the full-blown condition from developing. In particular, trials have been performed in people who tested positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, or who have other risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. These risk factors include joint pain and subclinical joint inflammation, which is when an imaging study, like magnetic resonance imaging, sees joint inflammation that can’t be seen by a clinician examining the joints. To date, almost all of these trials have used immune drugs that are commonly used to treat full-blown rheumatoid arthritis, such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and rituximab. Researchers have been testing whether a short course of any of these drugs could lead to a lasting reset of the immune system and prevent rheumatoid arthritis from developing. While there is not yet an approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis prevention, these studies offer hope that researchers are on track to find the right drug – as well as the right dosage and duration of that drug. Researching the preclinical stage of rheumatoid arthritis Some challenges remain to be addressed before preventive treatments become the norm in clinical care. First, researchers need to better understand the biology of the preclinical stage of disease. Until recently, most studies have focused on patients with full-blown arthritis and generally ignored people at risk for developing the disease. But now, researchers can use blood markers like anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies to identify those who are at risk much more easily. And a growing number of studies of people with this marker are informing how scientists understand the biology of rheumatoid arthritis development. In particular, it is now apparent that the preclinical stage is marked by multiple circulating immune system abnormalities in cells, autoantibodies and inflammation. The hope is that researchers will find interventions that effectively target the immune system abnormalities driving the development of rheumatoid arthritis before the patient’s joints begin to swell. Researchers are also finding that the abnormalities in the immune system during the preclinical stage may be coming from sites in the body other than the joints. An emerging idea called the mucosal origins hypothesis posits that the early autoimmunity of rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation at mucosal surfaces of the body, such as the gums, the lungs and the gut. According to this theory, the joints are involved only later as the disease progresses. More research is needed, but the mucosal origins hypothesis may help explain why periodontal disease, emphysema or other forms of lung disease and exposure to tobacco or forest fire smoke are risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. It would also explain why certain bacteria have been associated with the disease. Future trials targeting interventions to a mucosal process could help researchers better understand the nature of this disease. At some point, testing for biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis may become routine. For now, it can still be difficult for health care providers to determine which of their patients may be at risk for rheumatoid arthritis. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images via The Conversation Making predictions But while biomarkers like the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies are strongly predictive for future rheumatoid arthritis, one difficulty remains: Some people who test positive for them never develop the full-blown disease. Studies have shown that about 20% to 30% of people who are positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies develop rheumatoid arthritis within two to five years, although the presence of combinations of risk factors can identify people who have a greater than 50% risk for developing the condition within one year. This makes it difficult to find participants for clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis prevention. If you can’t predict who will get the disease, it’s hard to know whether you’re preventing it. So far, researchers have tried to recruit people who have already come to their health care provider with early joint symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis but still no swollen joints. That has worked well, but there are likely far more people at risk for rheumatoid arthritis who have not yet sought care. Since health care providers are not yet testing everyone for blood markers for rheumatoid arthritis, researchers will need larger, international networks that can test for risk factors like autoantibodies to identify candidates for participation in prevention trials. More needs to be done, but it’s exciting to see the field advancing toward the point where prevention may be part of routine clinical care for rheumatoid arthritis. 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: Kevin Deane, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Read more: Newly discovered species of bacteria in the microbiome may be a culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis Pregnancy brings unique challenges for people with autoimmune diseases – but with early planning, pregnancy outcomes can be greatly improved What is inflammation? Two immunologists explain how the body responds to everything from stings to vaccination and why it sometimes goes wrong Dr. Deane has received grant funding from the Arthritis Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead and ThermoFisher, and has had consulting/advisory board participation with Werfen, Boehringer Ingelheim, AllInBio, and Lilly. Dr. Deane also part of task forces for prediction of rheumatoid arthritis that are sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology.
	4 Your Money \| Long-Term Cycles When investors evaluate long-term stock market returns, it is helpful to look through the lens of rolling 20-year periods. Nate Kreinbrink, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, shares the history of S&P 500’s returns and where the index stands now.
	Trump’s vow to arrest immigrants lifted private prison stocks. Then why did they tank? Trump’s vow to arrest immigrants lifted private prison stocks. Then why did they tank?The GEO Group and CoreCivic, the largest companies that provide detention space for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, seemed likely to reap a windfall after their stocks soared in the weeks leading up to last year’s inauguration of President Donald Trump.But while Trump’s deportation machine had explosive growth, its reach hasn’t lived up to Wall Street expectations. Stock prices for both companies slumped. Despite a series of immigration blitzes and high-profile raids, the government didn’t use as much detention space as investors expected.Detention industry experts and other observers believe all that could change this year, with the immigration system — and privately run holding facilities — expected to grow even larger.“Once Trump was elected, there was a rush and belief that all this was going to occur at the snap of a finger,” said Joe Gomes, an equity analyst for Noble Capital Markets, an investment bank. “It’s just taken a little longer than many investors thought to see these numbers really jump up,” he told The Marshall Project.On his first day in office, Trump reversed an executive order from former President Joe Biden to curb the use of private companies to operate federal prisons for the Justice Department — though they continued to be used for immigration detention. Contractors like GEO Group and its primary competitor, CoreCivic, welcomed the news. Days later, the first piece of legislation Trump signed into law, the Laken Riley Act, made it easier to detain undocumented immigrants accused of low-level crimes.At the beginning of 2025, the companies had about a dozen prison facilities sitting empty, ready to be reactivated. GEO Group, based near Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home in Florida, seemed particularly well-suited.“This is a unique moment in our company’s history, and we believe we are well-positioned to scale up our diversified segments — in secure housing, transportation, electronic monitoring — to meet the changing needs of this new administration, and to continue to enhance value for our shareholders,” George Zoley, the Greek-born founder of GEO Group, said during a quarterly earnings call in February.By summer, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was signed into law, approving $170 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement.Oddly enough, the price of GEO Group’s stock, which had nearly tripled between the waning months of the presidential campaign and Inauguration Day, then plummeted. At the end of 2025, GEO Group’s stock was trading around $16 per share, down from a high of $36.46 on Trump’s second day in office. Stock prices also fell for CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America.“Investors got over their skis,” said Gomes, the analyst.The Trump administration has said it intends to deport 1 million people a year. In December, the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, claimed it had deported 605,000 people since Trump was elected and that an additional 1.9 million people self-deported. The department dangled financial carrots like a “free flight home for Christmas and $1,000.”Immigrant arrests climbed. In December, ICE detained 68,000 people nationwide, up from about 40,000 at the beginning of the year. That’s more than ever before on record, yet only a quarter of those people had been convicted of a crime, including low-level offenses. Another 25% had criminal cases pending.Detention capacity is still far from ICE’s stated goal of having access to more than 100,000 beds at a time to detain immigrants.Early last year, GEO Group said it expected to provide 32,000 beds for ICE, more than double the amount at the end of the Biden administration. In doing so, the firm told investors that it was likely that all of its idle prisons would be activated by the end of the year.GEO Group resumed admitting immigrants at its 1,940-bed Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California after a COVID ban was lifted. On the East Coast, in Newark, New Jersey, GEO Group’s 1,000-bed Delaney Hall Facility opened with the help of an ICE contract valued at $1 billion. In the Midwest, North Lake Processing Center, a notorious 1,800-bed facility in Baldwin, Michigan, also opened.As of Dec. 15, GEO Group had idle facilities with nearly 4,700 empty beds in California, Colorado, North Carolina and Texas, according to its report to investors.CoreCivic also ramped up, but not as quickly as investors expected. Notably, in March, the Tennessee-based firm said it resumed “operations and care” for up to 2,400 people, including families, at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, a contract expected to generate $180 million in annual revenue.“Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now,” CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger, a former correctional officer himself, said during an earnings call in May.At the end of September, CoreCivic reported that it had idle facilities with more than 7,000 empty beds.Adding pressure to stock prices, the federal government apprehended fewer people at the U.S. southern border, lowering the number of new arrivals to detain or monitor. Still, in December, GEO Group touted that the “alien population” in the United States holds strong at 16.8 million, citing a figure from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a nonprofit seeking to reduce immigration. GEO Group also said that 182,000 people were being monitored in the community for ICE’s Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (down from about 370,000 under the Biden administration).Zoley said GEO Group subsidiary BI Incorporated could scale up its monitoring contract to serve millions of people for ICE.The Trump administration is also still ramping up. And investors and observers expect the system to keep growing this year.“As they expand their infrastructure — that includes officers, buildings, fleets, buses, planes, technology — then that’s when we are probably going to see more people, more numbers captured into all of this,” said Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, a national human rights nonprofit that monitors the prison industry.The Department of Homeland Security recently signed a $140 million contract to buy planes from Boeing for deportations. Thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents are being recruited, with others offered $50,000 signing bonuses to come out of retirement. More local police and sheriff departments have formal agreements to support national immigration enforcement efforts.The White House and ICE see publicly traded private prison companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic as “allies and assets” to their ongoing efforts to deport many more people, said David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.“The contractors are the consequence of the policy choice made by this administration,” he said.And as a libertarian, he said he views illegal immigration as the consequence of a broken immigration system. He described the Trump administration’s immigration policy as “indiscriminate mass deportation.”“If you go down the list, it’s hard to find a right that they haven’t violated in the Constitution,” he said. “I find it incredibly troubling that they are getting away with it so far.”He said trying to open 100,000 ICE detention beds nationwide is an “absurd goal” that has required the government to arrest people for a far broader set of reasons than previous administrations have used.“There aren’t enough criminal immigrants in the United States that they can catch to fill those facilities, so this is all about caging a bunch of peaceful people who aren’t bothering anyone,” Bier said.He expects the Trump administration to surpass its detention bed goal.“They could easily be at 200,000 by the end of this term,” he said. “The main limitation would just be the personnel to man that. You have to find actual people willing to do this work. But in terms of just paying for it, they got way more money than they could possibly spend on this.”Gomes, the analyst, said that as ICE brings more people into work, it could improve the financial results of GEO Group and CoreCivic.“As those employees come on, you will see the number of detentions increase,” he said.This story was produced by The Marshall Project and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Feeling unprepared for the AI boom? You’re not alone Journalist Ira Glass, who hosts the NPR show “This American Life,” is not a computer scientist. He doesn’t work at Google, Apple or Nvidia. But he does have a great ear for useful phrases, and in 2024 he organized an entire episode around one that might resonate with anyone who feels blindsided by the pace of AI development: “Unprepared for what has already happened.” Coined by science journalist Alex Steffen, the phrase captures the unsettling feeling that “the experience and expertise you’ve built up” may now be obsolete – or, at least, a lot less valuable than it once was. Whenever I lead workshops in law firms, government agencies or nonprofit organizations, I hear that same concern. Highly educated, accomplished professionals worry whether there will be a place for them in an economy where generative AI can quickly – and relativity cheaply – complete a growing list of tasks that an extremely large number of people currently get paid to do. Seeing a future that doesn’t include you In technology reporter Cade Metz’s 2022 book, “Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World,” he describes the panic that washed over a veteran researcher at Microsoft named Chris Brockett when Brockett first encountered an artificial intelligence program that could essentially perform everything he’d spent decades learning how to master. Overcome by the thought that a piece of software had now made his entire skill set and knowledge base irrelevant, Brockett was actually rushed to the hospital because he thought he was having a heart attack. “My 52-year-old body had one of those moments when I saw a future where I wasn’t involved,” he later told Metz. In his 2018 book, “Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” MIT physicist Max Tegmark expresses a similar anxiety. “As technology keeps improving, will the rise of AI eventually eclipse those abilities that provide my current sense of self-worth and value on the job market?” The answer to that question, unnervingly, can often feel outside of our individual control. “We’re seeing more AI-related products and advancements in a single day than we saw in a single year a decade ago,” a Silicon Valley product manager told a reporter for Vanity Fair back in 2023. Things have only accelerated since then. Even Dario Amodei – the co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, the company that created the popular chatbot Claude – has been shaken by the increasing power of AI tools. “I think of all the times when I wrote code,” he said in an interview on the tech podcast “Hard Fork.” “It’s like a part of my identity that I’m good at this. And then I’m like, oh, my god, there’s going to be these (AI) systems that [can perform a lot better than I can].” What will happen to workers who have spent their entire lives learning a skill that AI can replicate? jokerpro/iStock via Getty Images via The Conversation The irony that these fears live inside the brain of someone who leads one of the most important AI companies in the world is not lost on Amodei. “Even as the one who’s building these systems,” he added, “even as one of the ones who benefits most from (them), there’s still something a bit threatening about (them).” Autor and agency Yet as the labor economist David Autor has argued, we all have more agency over the future than we might think. In 2024, Autor was interviewed by Bloomberg News soon after publishing a research paper titled Applying AI to Rebuild Middle-Class Jobs. The paper explores the idea that AI, if managed well, might be able to help a larger set of people perform the kind of higher-value – and higher-paying – “decision-making tasks currently arrogated to elite experts like doctors, lawyers, coders and educators.” This shift, Autor suggests, “would improve the quality of jobs for workers without college degrees, moderate earnings inequality, and – akin to what the Industrial Revolution did for consumer goods – lower the cost of key services such as healthcare, education and legal expertise.” It’s an interesting, hopeful argument, and Autor, who has spent decades studying the effects of automation and computerization on the workforce, has the intellectual heft to explain it without coming across as Pollyannish. But what I found most heartening about the interview was Autor’s response to a question about a type of “AI doomerism” that believes that widespread economic displacement is inevitable and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. “The future should not be treated as a forecasting or prediction exercise,” he said. “It should be treated as a design problem – because the future is not (something) where we just wait and see what happens. … We have enormous control over the future in which we live, and [the quality of that future] depends on the investments and structures that we create today.” At the starting line I try to emphasize Autor’s point about the future being more of a “design problem” than a “prediction exercise” in all the AI courses and workshops I teach to law students and lawyers, many of whom fret over their own job prospects. The nice thing about the current AI moment, I tell them, is that there is still time for deliberate action. Although the first scientific paper on neural networks was published all the way back in 1943, we’re still very much in the early stages of so-called “generative AI.” No student or employee is hopelessly behind. Nor is anyone commandingly ahead. Instead, each of us is in an enviable spot: right at the starting line. 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: Patrick Barry, University of Michigan Read more: More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction? What are Hollywood actors and writers afraid of? A cinema scholar explains how AI is upending the movie and TV business AI isn’t what we should be worried about – it’s the humans controlling it Patrick Barry 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.
	Is being virtuous good for you – or just people around you? A study suggests traits like compassion may support your own well-being Virtues such as compassion, patience and self-control may be beneficial not only for others but also for oneself, according to new research my team and I published in the Journal of Personality in December 2025. Philosophers from Aristotle to al-Fārābī, a 10th-century scholar in what is now Iraq, have argued that virtue is vital for well-being. Yet others, such as Thomas Hobbes and Friedrich Nietzsche, have argued the opposite: Virtue offers no benefit to oneself and is good only for others. This second theory has inspired lots of research in contemporary psychology, which often sees morality and self-interest as fundamentally opposed. Many studies have found that generosity is associated with happiness, and that encouraging people to practice kindness increases their well-being. But other virtues seem less enjoyable. For example, a compassionate person wants to alleviate suffering or misfortune, but that requires there be suffering or misfortune. Patience is possible only when something irritating or difficult is happening. And self-control involves forgoing one’s desires or persisting with something difficult. Volunteers who drive homeless people to shelters talk with a person from Ukraine in Berlin on Jan. 7, 2026. Michael Ukas/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images via The Conversation Could these kinds of virtues really be good for you? My colleagues and I investigated this question in two studies, using two different methods to zoom in on specific moments in people’s daily lives. Our goal was to assess the degree to which, in those moments, they were compassionate, patient and self-controlled. We also assessed their level of well-being: how pleasant or unpleasant they felt, and whether they found their activities meaningful. One study, with adolescents, used the experience sampling method, in which people answer questions at random intervals throughout the day. The other, studying adults, used the day reconstruction method, in which people answer questions about the previous day. All told, we examined 43,164 moments from 1,218 people. During situations that offer opportunities to act with compassion, patience and self-control – encountering someone in need, for example, or dealing with a difficult person – people tend to experience more unpleasant feelings and less pleasant ones than in other situations. However, we found that exercising these three virtues seems to help people cope. People who are habitually more compassionate, patient and self-controlled tend to experience better well-being. And when people display more compassion, patience and self-control than usual, they tend to feel better than they usually do. In short, our results contradicted the theory that virtue is good for others and bad for the self. They were consistent with the theory that virtue promotes well-being. Why it matters These studies tested the predictions of two venerable, highly influential theories about the relationship between morality and well-being. In doing so, they offered new insights into one of the most fundamental questions debated in philosophy, psychology and everyday life. Moreover, in the scientific study of morality, lots of research has examined how people form moral judgments and how outside forces shape a person’s moral behavior. Yet some researchers have argued that this should be complemented by research on moral traits and how these are integrated into the whole person. By focusing on traits such as patience, compassion and self-control, and their roles in people’s daily lives, our studies contribute to the emerging science of virtue. What still isn’t known One open question for future research is whether virtues such as compassion, patience and self-control are associated with better well-being only under certain conditions. For example, perhaps things look different depending on one’s stage of life or in different parts of the world. Our studies were not randomized experiments. It is possible that the associations we observed are explained by another factor – something that increases well-being while simultaneously increasing compassion, patience and self-control. Or maybe well-being affects virtue, instead of the other way around. Future research could help clarify the causal relationships. One particularly interesting possibility is that there might be a “virtuous cycle”: Perhaps virtue tends to promote well-being – and well-being, in turn, tends to promote virtue. If so, it would be extremely valuable to learn how to help people kick-start that cycle. 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: Michael Prinzing, Wake Forest University Read more: Even as polarization surges, Americans believe they live in a compassionate country Transform the daily grind to make life more interesting – a philosopher shares 3 strategies to help you attain the good life What 13th-century Christian theologian Thomas Aquinas can teach us about hope in times of despair This research was made possible through the support of grants from the John Templeton Foundation (#61221, #62208). The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
	Dogs can need more than kibble, walks and love − consider the escalating expenses of their medical care before you adopt Many Americans struggle to pay for health care for themselves and other members of their families, even if they have insurance coverage. Some very big bills arise when the furriest members of their households get sick or just need an annual checkup: their dogs. Americans spend an average of about US$1,700 annually on their dogs’ food and care, including $580 for veterinary bills. All told, Americans spent more than $41 billion on their pets’ veterinary care in 2025, primarily on dogs and cats. Veterinary costs have soared in recent years, rising much faster than inflation in the past decade. The average cost of any visit to a veterinarian for a dog is about $214 today. Appointment costs for a routine examination for a dog range from $70 to $174, depending in part on the vet’s location and your dog’s conditions. Estimating future costs Aidan Vining, a Canadian public policy scholar, and I, a public policy researcher based in the U.S., considered the extent to which economics can explain our canine relationships in our 2024 book “Dog Economics.” Our own love of dogs helps us understand how people bring dogs into their lives without fully taking account of future costs. One of these often unanticipated costs is for veterinary bills that may break the family budget. Indeed, a Gallup survey of dog and cat owners conducted for PetSmart Charities in 2024 and 2025 found that 42% of respondents had declined veterinary care for their pets because they could not afford it. In the same study, an additional 38% declined care because they did not believe it was worth the cost. I think that people should consider the risk of bearing these costs before bringing a dog into the family. Part of the family Between 60 million and 68 million U.S. households include at least one dog. That means that as many as half of all occupied U.S. homes include a dog. Most families with dogs revere them. A survey I conducted with colleagues in 2018 found that 73% of people with pet dogs strongly agreed with the statement “I consider my pets to be part of the family.” A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of pet owners viewed their animals as being as much a member of their family as their human relatives. Because many of us will spend whatever we can to save the life of our family members, being unable to afford lifesaving care for dogs can be very upsetting. Steep veterinarian bills But sometimes dogs require very expensive care. And veterinarians in cities where the costs of living are high tend to charge more than elsewhere. Treating some fairly common dog ailments can cost a bundle: as much as $3,000 for gastroenteritis, $7,000 for intestinal obstruction surgery, $5,000 for severe pancreatitis and $8,000 for stomach bloat. The tab for canine cancer treatments involving chemotherapy or radiation can set you back more than $10,000. The initial phase of treatment for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia for my family’s poodle, for example, cost more than $10,000 in veterinary costs. She is doing well but needs continuing medical care. Ming, the author’s family poodle, needs continuing veterinary care. Dave Weimer Sometimes pooches require overnight veterinary supervision. That can cost you as much as $1,500 per night they spend in an animal hospital on top of those other expenses. Many Americans cannot afford to pay for such expensive care – only 41% could cover a $1,000 unanticipated expense of any kind from their savings. Although only a stopgap,there are charities that provide free or lower-cost veterinary care for the pets of low-income people? Insurance coverage is rare and often falls short Pet insurance can help make these expenses more manageable, but it covers only about 4.9 million dogs – about 8% of all American dogs. Most of those policies have deductibles you have to meet before they’ll reimburse you for at least part of the cost of your animal’s care. Some policies cover treatment only for accidents. Many exclude routine checkups and impose caps on total claims, typically at $5,000. Ironically, people who can most easily afford pet insurance are also the most likely to have enough money to pay for veterinary expenses. Insurance premiums for dogs, which depend on breed, where you live, their age and coverage terms, average about $62 per month. Premiums that cover well visits and either have high caps – annual limits on what you can be reimbursed through pet insurance policies – or no caps at all cost more than that. And pet insurers may exclude preexisting conditions. That is, unlike human patients protected by the Affordable Care Act, insurers can decline to cover dogs with prior illnesses. To be sure, some claims of over $60,000 have been paid by insurers through policies without any claim caps. But in most cases, it’s clear that having a dog can mean you’ll bear substantial financial risks when your dog gets injured or ill. And that’s true whether or not you’re paying pet insurance premiums throughout its lifetime – which on average lasts about a dozen years. Going into debt to pay the vet Americans who do pay big veterinary bills often have to borrow to do so – 39% of pet owners say they have gone into debt to pay for veterinary care, according to a survey conducted by MetLife’s pet insurance division. Even when they can afford those bills, many families often find providing care demanding and difficult to accommodate, given their work schedules and the caregiving that other relatives require. People who cannot afford the cost or lack the time to provide their dogs with the veterinary care required may choose to euthanize, give their dogs to someone else – known as rehoming – or surrender them to shelters. There’s no reliable data about this but I’m certain that veterinary issues contribute to the 6% of the pet surrenders that happen for financial reasons. And these surrenders contribute to the over 330,000 dogs that U.S. shelters euthanize each year. 3 considerations before acquiring dogs Although dogs can enrich your life with their devotion and companionship, I urge anyone considering bringing a dog into your home to think through these financial issues first. 1. The potential cost of veterinary care for dogs is high and likely to increase. Veterinary science will continue to develop new treatments, and some inevitably will be very expensive. As a result, dog owners will more often face heartbreaking choices between extending the life of an animal they consider to be a family member and destabilizing their own finances. 2. Like your human relatives, dogs tend to have more medical problems as they age. Most people with dogs will outlive their pets and will eventually have to confront canine medical problems. In other words, veterinary costs will at some point challenge almost all pet parents. 3. Whether or not our relatives want to get expensive medical care, we usually err on the side of providing whatever we can afford unless they demand a switch to palliative care only. Despite our emotional bonds with our dogs, they cannot tell us how they feel about the trade-off between quality of life and longevity. We should not ignore their suffering even when we can afford extensive veterinary care. Sometimes, euthanasia is the most loving decision. Those facing these difficult end-of-life decisions may benefit from seeking out veterinary palliative and hospice care, which is increasingly available. 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: David L. Weimer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Read more: Raccoons break into liquor stores, scale skyscrapers and pick locks – studying their clever brains can clarify human intelligence, too Your dog’s nose knows no bounds – and neither does its love for you Thousands of genomes reveal the wild wolf genes in most dogs’ DNA David L. Weimer 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.

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