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

Friday, September 25th, 2026
	Rock Island school celebrates Dolly Parton Day Students at Longfellow School in Rock Island celebrated Dolly Parton Day on Friday.
	New owners bringing back Captain’s Table name to Moline riverfront The owners of Stumphy’s in Geneseo are moving to Moline to revive the longtime Captain’s Table riverfront restaurant, aiming for a November opening date.
	Early voting underway in Illinois, starts soon in Iowa: What Quad Cities voters need to know Early voting has begun in Illinois and starts soon in Iowa. Here are key dates, deadlines, and ID laws Quad Cities voters need to know before Election Day.
	Davenport fire chief retiree dies Mark Frese dedicated 37 years to the Davenport Fire Department until his retirement in 2011.
	Rock Island homecoming game postponed due to 'unexpected illness' impacting athletes, coaches The district said several athletes, coaches and family members "were impacted by an unexpected illness" Thursday evening.
	Bettendorf man sentenced to five years in prison for possessing child sex abuse materials A Bettendorf man who pleaded guilty to possessing child sex abuse materials has been sentenced to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections.
	Man charged with arson after Davenport apartment fire 31-year-old Dominick Ponciano of Davenport faces first-degree arson, burglary and criminal mischief.
	Dr. Edward Rogalski dies; President Emeritus of St. Ambrose was 84 St. Ambrose University is mourning the loss of one of its best-known staff members. Brian Boesen, associate vice president of communications and marketing for St. Ambrose University confirmed for Our Quad Cities News that Dr. Edward Rogalski, President Emeritus and the 12th president of the university, died this week. Dr. Rogalski was named the 12th [...]
	Rock Island postpones Homecoming game Rock Island High School officials announced on Friday that they are rescheduling their Homecoming football game.
	Rock Island High School homecoming postponed due to illness Rock Island High School's homecoming has been postponed. According to a Facebook post by the Rock Island-Milan School District: Scholar athlete well-being is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we are rescheduling our Homecoming game. Several athletes, coaches, and family members were impacted by an unexpected illness last evening. We are working [...]
	Rock Island elementary school honors Dolly’s love of reading on 9/25 Staff, students and guests of Longfellow Liberal Arts School in Rock Island honored Dolly Parton's legacy by celebrating the late country star Sept. 25, with a special day centered around reading.
	St. Ambrose University President Emeritus dies Dr. Edward Rogalski, President Emeritus and St. Ambrose University’s 12th president died this week at age 84.
	Muscatine police looking for man involved in burglary The Muscatine Police Department is requesting the public’s help in identifying a man in connection to a burglary.
	Rock Island considers temporary travel dispatchers to cover 911 staffing shortage Rock Island City Council will vote Monday on a $175,000 contract to bring in outside dispatchers as RICOMM faces persistent staffing shortages and overtime.
	Clinton caretaker pleads guilty to elder abuse after dependent adult dies malnourished, covered in sores Clinton man Justin Babers pleaded guilty to dependent adult abuse after 76-year-old Kenneth Flaugh died severely malnourished and covered with sores.
	Applications open soon for Iowa LIHEAP heating assistance Iowa residents who need help paying heating costs can soon apply for supplemental assistance. The 2026-2027 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay part of their primary heating costs. The program offers supplemental assistance and is not designed to pay a household’s total energy costs. Households with an [...]
	Illinois receives A- in 2026 Digital States Survey This evaluation happens every two years, and on Thursday, Illinois’ grade increased.
	Ella Langley bringing Dandelion Tour to Moline tomorrow Country music star Ella Langley will perform at Vibrant Arena in Moline tomorrow night as part of her Dandelion Tour.
	Heading to Ella Langley on Saturday? Check out these restaurants in downtown Moline Where are you heading to eat before the concert?
	Big Brothers Big Sisters to ‘light the town green’ this weekend You might be seeing green this weekend thanks to the Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative to ‘Light the Town Green.’
	Three things to know: Sept. 25, 2026 Today's Three Things to Know: Give Like Dolly Day, Special Olympics Polar Plunge and Kewanee Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
	Woman who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault says her claims were false On Thursday, the woman identified as Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court stating that all of her original claims against the rapper were false.
	Honor Flight guardian helps Vietnam veteran reconnect with a lasting bond An Honor Flight guardian helps a Vietnam veteran search for a connection to a fallen friend, while honoring her late father's dream of taking the trip to D.C.
	Whiteside County Animal Control director files defamation suit over Starsky comments The Whiteside County Animal Control director filed a defamation suit against two people over social media comments about the euthanasia of a dog named Starsky.
	There's a global pandemic treaty that's signed -- and in 'limbo.' What's the holdup? The treaty aims to help the countries of the world prepare for — and defeat — any future pandemic. Why hasn't it gone into effect?
	Illinois bill calls for K-12 student athlete cardiovascular screenings An Illinois bill could require cardiovascular screening for K-12 student athletes in the near future.
	Man arrested after months long investigation into Burlington cocaine distribution A man was arrested on Thursday after a several months long investigation into cocaine being distributed throughout Burlington.
	The Supreme Court revives a controversial data system for citizenship checks The Supreme Court is allowing use of a data system that Trump officials overhauled. The system has erroneously flagged U.S. citizens and a lower court found it violated federal privacy protections.
	High diesel prices put pressure on school bus budgets in the Quad Cities Rising diesel prices are putting pressure on school districts that operate their own buses, while one district says another fuel source is helping control costs.
	Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent? Small business ownership means sacrificing time, predictable income, and sometimes even your own paycheck to build a business. Those sacrifices can become permanent if you’re not careful.Becoming your own boss often comes with a trade-off or two. Starting a business can mean leaving behind a steady paycheck and paid time off, only to find yourself working evenings and weekends, while losing sleep over planning.Based on input from 883 U.S. small business owners, and fielded in June 2026, Rocket Lawyer's 2026 Small Business American Dream Survey found that 55.3% of small business owners started their business in part for more flexibility in their schedule. However, 23% named time as one of the biggest barriers to starting or growing that same business.One small business owner put it plainly: Business ownership means working constantly, "often times more than a traditional 9-5," with the tradeoff being control over your own schedule and job security. Another owner described the exchange more bluntly: Having a business might mean a more flexible schedule, but it might also mean "not enough income."As Rocket Lawyer explains below, these insights show just how much business owners may be giving up. But instead of accepting those sacrifices as part of the job, it may be time to ask whether the sacrifices that helped you get started are still helping you grow.Which sacrifices are necessary?In the short term, working extremely long days or taking less pay can make sense. Maybe you are saving cash for new equipment, covering a slow season, still finding clientele, or just doing most of the work yourself.But if those temporary sacrifices become your normal way of operating, they may point to a business problem worth examining. Start by examining these sacrifices:Look at your time. If you still handle every invoice, customer question, order, and administrative task yourself, ask whether you can delegate or automate some of the work. Improving an entrepreneur's work-life balance isn’t an overnight change. It’s building systems that make your business less dependent on you over time.Look at your money. Paying yourself as a business owner can be complicated because the appropriate method may depend on your business structure and tax situation. But repeatedly skipping your own pay can be an issue. This usually means it’s time to examine pricing, costs, margins, and cash flow.Where is your money going?Sometimes, the sacrifices you’re making may be tied to how money comes into and goes out of your business. Reviewing key parts of your business operations to understand your cash flow is important to ensure your business is running properly.Review your customer agreements. Are your current prices still covering your costs and the time required to do the work? Are customers paying you for your service or product on time? Could deposits, milestone payments, shorter payment periods, or clearer late-payment terms improve cash flow?Review your expenses. Many software subscriptions, supplier agreements, professional services, and other costs can increase over time. Have you seen those increased prices? Are you still willing and able to pay those increases? Renegotiating a contract, changing vendors, or eliminating an expense you no longer need could give your business more room to pay you and reduce some of the pressure that comes with common small business challenges.It may be time to reassess the sacrificesThe goal when reviewing your cash flow and business operations is to choose them intentionally, rather than continuing habits your business has outgrown.Am I still working the hours I worked when I started? Which tasks do I need to handle, and which could someone or something else handle?Am I paying myself enough and consistently? If not, is the problem pricing, expenses, cash flow, or how customers pay me?Could better contract terms improve my income? Should I revisit prices, deposits, payment deadlines, or vendor costs?Could my business operate without me for a few days? If not, which processes, responsibilities, or decisions should I document or delegate?What to do nextTrack where your time goes. For one or two weeks, note which tasks take the most time and which you could delegate, outsource, or automate.Review how your business pays you. Look at your cash flow, pricing, margins, and owner compensation to see whether your current approach is sustainable.Revisit important contracts. Check customer payment terms and recurring vendor costs for opportunities to improve timing or reduce expenses.Build a business that depends less on you. Document repeatable processes, assign responsibilities, and research and implement available tools to help with routine business and legal tasks. Consider asking an attorney before changing important contracts.It’s very common to make sacrifices when starting your business. As your business grows, remember to review those sacrifices regularly to make sure you’re still getting the flexibility you set out to have.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The CRM AI tools built for email personalization are the ones teams often overlook Many sales teams have enough faith in AI to let it help them with prospect outreach. In fact, HubSpot’s 2025 State of Sales Report reveals that 83% of sales professionals agree that AI can be used to personalize prospect engagement, and 31% deem it the tool that delivers the highest return. Despite that, 72% of sales organizations fail to invest in high-value sales activities (such as email personalization), according to a Gartner survey conducted in 2026.The technology is there, but many sales teams haven’t taken the time to implement it. This Nutshell guide offers an insight into how the trust in CRM AI tools hasn’t yet evolved into high-value habits, how sales reps should deploy email personalization, and how to gauge if your personalization efforts are paying off.Key takeawaysThe barrier to AI email personalization is awareness of the feature availability, and developing a habit of using the AI tools when sending emails.Effective email personalization focuses on high-value data points, such as deal stage, interaction history, and behavioral signals.An increase in email reply rate and sales meetings booked are signs that your personalized emails are working.What is AI email personalization in a CRM?AI email personalization involves using your CRM’s native AI features to craft custom email content, including subject and opening lines, using the contact’s stored data and behavior. The AI in your CRM uses data points like the contact’s industry, last activity, and deal stage to customize the email content.Data volume affects the depth of AI personalization. In other words, the more contact history in your CRM, the more specific your messaging can be. That means that an email sent to a contact with years of purchase history and support tickets could potentially include many more specifics than one sent to a brand-new lead that has only completed a submission form.Beyond the historical context, another common function in the personalization process is optimizing when the email is sent. A CRM AI tool uses a contact’s past activity to predict when they are most likely to open an email, and tailors the send time to maximize the chances of an open.It’s a level-up approach to standardized email templates used for prospect outreach and lead follow-ups. And it’s a capability that most modern CRMs include.Why do many sales teams still send generic emails?Sales teams are still sending out non-personalized generic emails because activating that capability involves making a deliberate decision, which is often just postponed to a “more convenient time” later. Considering the praise teams have given AI personalization, it’s likely that they have enough faith in the feature.The missing element is ownership, because without an official owner, teams are unlikely to switch the capability on. Businesses must identify and assign ownership of the feature’s rollout, the creation of its initial templates, and the continuous monitoring of the tool’s efficacy to ensure it’s turned on and utilized.A framework for turning on AI personalization the right wayTurning on the AI personalization feature is the easiest part of the process. Making sure your team uses it well and reaps the benefits is where the real work lies.Which data points are worth using for email personalization?These days, adding the name of the recipient to the email subject line and greeting doesn’t really count as personalization. And some CRM fields are better suited for personalization than others, so it’s important to know what data is useful here.It’s important to focus on more than just demographic data. Data points that typically prove helpful for personalization include deal stage, interaction history, and behavioral signals. Nutshell How do you ensure AI-personalized emails sound natural?To make sure that your AI personalization efforts deliver natural-sounding emails, it’s important to read every email draft before it’s sent to your recipients. Check for everything from openers and subject lines to information the contact already knows. Make the necessary adjustments before you hit send.But beware of crossing the line when personalizing your messaging. A 2021 study by McKinsey discovered that while 71% of consumers expect personalized brand interactions, 76% don’t respond well to messaging that feels invasive or misses the mark.For example, mentioning a specific LinkedIn comment posted by the prospect in your first meeting might give them the impression that you’ve been surveilling their social media accounts. The better play is to keep the conversation focused on the information they’ve volunteered.What’s a simple rollout plan for a CRM AI email personalization tool?Rolling out your CRM’s AI email personalization feature shouldn’t be a complicated process, but it should incorporate a few stages for the smoothest possible integration into your workflow.These four steps should be all you need to get up and running:Audit active features: Run an audit to establish whether you already have any active AI personalization features.Select your data points: Avoid trying to personalize your messaging with every possible piece of data off the bat, and pick one or two core data points as a start instead.Review emails manually: Although the point is to speed up the email personalization process, test and double-check an initial batch of emails before locking in.Expand if effective: If your CRM’s AI tool has successfully personalized your emails to the point that you’re seeing an increase in replies and conversions, start implementing the feature across a broader set of email communications. Nutshell How do you measure personalized email performance?To figure out whether AI personalization actually improves email performance, run an A/B test sending a personalized email to a portion of your list and your standard email template to a different portion. Then, compare the numbers to see which one performs better.Two core metrics you’ll want to keep tabs on to determine whether your AI personalized emails are performing well, including:Reply rate: This is the percentage of emails that your recipients actually respond to, and a great indicator of real engagement.Time-to-first reply: This is the time between when the email is sent and when you receive a response. A quick response is indicative of stronger engagement.But at the end of the day, the real impact of effective AI email personalization through your CRM tools is seen in your team’s sales productivity. When personalization works well, it reduces time spent on manual personalization, increases your reply rate, and makes your team more productive.The next step is turning AI personalization onAnother key insight from McKinsey’s 2021 research is that companies that personalize their messaging generate 40% more revenue from their personalization efforts than standard messaging.AI email personalization already exists as part of your team’s CRM toolset. What’s missing is the decision to flick the switch and the ownership that comes with that. Then, teams can start personalizing based on the data points that matter most to them, and track and check results as they interact with contacts.The gains are literally one simple setting away.Frequently asked questions about AI email personalization1. Does AI email personalization work for small sales teams, or only large teams?It works at any team size. Small teams often see the clearest gains because a handful of reps can review and adjust AI-drafted emails quickly, without layers of approval slowing down the rollout.2. Is AI email personalization the same as mail-merge?No. Mail-merge inserts a name or company name into a fixed template. AI email personalization adjusts the message itself, including the opening line, examples included, and sending time, based on CRM data.3. Will personalized emails have a negative impact on deliverability?Deliverability is the likelihood that an email reaches a recipient’s inbox and not a spam folder. Personalization itself won’t hurt your deliverability. Things like sending volume, list quality, and authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM affect deliverability far more than whether an email is personalized.4. How much editing does AI-drafted copy typically need before sending?Most teams do a quick manual pass, checking the tone of the email, removing anything that feels invasive, and confirming factual details pulled from the CRM are current.5. How long before a team sees measurable results?Reply rate differences between personalized and generic emails typically show up within a few weeks, once a reasonable sample size of sent emails accumulates.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Millie Moo Foundation Walk raises pediatric cancer awareness The Millie Moo Foundation is hosting its Pediatric Cancer Awareness Walk in downtown Port Byron on Saturday, September 26th. Community members are encouraged to “chalk the walk” and write positive messages along the walk route from Rams Riverhouse, 102 S. Main Street, to Riverbend Pizza, 709 S. High Street at 9:30 a.m. There will be [...]
	Volkswagen recalls 2.86 million VW and Audi models over possible steering issue Volkswagen Group said Friday it is recalling 2.86 million Volkswagen- and Audi- branded vehicles as a precautionary measure over a screw whose failure could cause a loss of steering.
	Farm bill provision on SNAP error payments holds up Senate vote States could soon pay a share of benefit costs based on error rates.
	Family holds vigil for 10-year-old who died on school field trip The family of 10-year-old Ahmed Osman held a vigil Thursday night to honor him and his teacher, whom they called a “hero” after the two died during a field trip.
	How to adjust to new eyeglasses You wear your new glasses for the first time, but something feels off. The edges of the room curve slightly, straight lines look tilted, and a dull headache begins to develop. It's natural to think that something isn’t right with your prescription, but in most cases, what you're experiencing is completely normal.Mild visual changes and discomfort are often part of adjusting to new glasses. These symptoms are temporary for many people. Whether you're wearing glasses for the first time or switching to a new prescription, your brain needs time to adapt to clearer visuals.This guide from Eyemart Express helps you understand common adjustment symptoms, expected timelines and signs you should follow up with your eye care provider.Key TakeawaysThese takeaways can help you set expectations for the adjustment period:Adjustment timeline varies: Most people adjust to new glasses within a few days to a couple of weeks, but complex prescriptions may take longer.Symptoms are temporary: Headaches, blurriness and the fishbowl effect are standard and typically fade within the first week.Consistent wear is key: Switching back to old glasses may slow your adjustment.Fit affects comfort: Frame fit issues can lead to physical discomfort like sliding or pressure marks, while prescription symptoms are primarily visual.Know when to call: Follow up with your eye care provider if symptoms do not gradually improve.How Long Does It Take to Adjust to New Glasses?Many people adjust to new glasses within a few days to two weeks. However, the exact timeline depends on whether you’ve previously worn glasses, your prescription and lens type.During the first day, you may notice mild distortion, tilted lines, headaches, dizziness or unusual peripheral vision. These symptoms can occur as your brain learns to interpret the clearer visual information your new lenses provide.Within the first week, symptoms should start to become less noticeable, particularly if you consistently wear your glasses. Stronger prescriptions, bifocals, astigmatism correction and progressive lenses can take longer to feel natural. Eyemart Express Here's what you can typically expect within the first couple of weeks:First day: Mild blurriness, distortion, headaches, dizziness.First week: Symptoms may gradually improve.Weeks 2-3: Complex prescriptions continue to settle.After 2-3 weeks: Most people feel fully adjusted. Persistent symptoms may require a follow-up with your eye care provider.Follow up with an eye care provider if significant discomfort continues beyond the normal adjustment window.Is It Normal to Have a Hard Time Adjusting to New Glasses?Yes, it is normal to have a hard time adjusting to new glasses, especially during the first few days. The key is steady improvement. Symptoms should become less noticeable over time and likely won't disappear immediately.First-time glasses wearers may need a little longer to adjust because the frames, lenses and corrected vision all feel new at once. You may notice the frame edges in your vision, feel more tired with screen use or find brighter spaces more intense than usual.These symptoms usually fade as your brain adjusts to the frames and corrected vision. Wearing your glasses consistently during the first two weeks can help make the adjustment smoother. Activities such as reading or using a computer may feel slightly different at first, but they generally become more comfortable as your brain adapts.Common Symptoms of Adjusting to New GlassesNew glasses change the visual information reaching your brain, so mild symptoms are common during the first few days. Some people experience only one or two of the symptoms, while others may notice several at once.The combination depends on factors such as any differences in lens type and prescription.Blurriness, Peripheral Distortion and the Fishbowl EffectBlurriness and mild visual distortion are among the most common symptoms. Although these changes can feel unsettling at first, they usually improve as your brain adapts to your new prescription:Blurry edges: Mild blurriness around the edges of your lenses is normal during the first few days as your brain learns to translate clearer visual information.The fishbowl effect: You may notice the edges of your vision looking curved or slightly distorted, particularly with stronger prescriptions, progressive lenses or astigmatism correction.Environmental changes: Straight lines may appear slightly bent, and floors or walls can seem tilted. Many people notice this most when walking through large open spaces or long hallways.Noticeable astigmatism correction: Even small changes to an astigmatism prescription can temporarily change how your vision feels, as astigmatism causes distorted vision. This makes the adjustment period feel more pronounced.Your central vision should remain clear during normal adjustment. If you’re experiencing persistent blur through the center of your lenses, book an appointment with your eye care provider.Headaches and EyestrainHeadaches and eyestrain are common during the first few days, especially across the forehead, around the brow and behind your eyes. They should become less frequent or intense during the first week.Keeping your glasses on, even if they're slightly uncomfortable, is usually more effective than taking them off repeatedly throughout the day. Even small prescription changes can cause mild eyestrain or headaches early on.If headaches persist or worsen after the first two weeks, contact your eye care provider.Dizziness and Balance IssuesDizziness during the adjustment period can feel similar to mild motion sickness because your balance and visual systems are learning to work together. Curbs, stairs and depth perception may feel temporarily unfamiliar, especially with significant prescription changes or progressive lenses.Walk a little more slowly than usual when going down stairs or stepping off curbs until your depth perception feels comfortable again. Most wearers only notice this symptom during the first couple of days. If dizziness is severe or does not improve, follow up with an eye care provider.How to Adjust to a New PrescriptionKnowing what to expect from your lens type and prescription strength can help you stay patient while your vision adapts.Adjusting to a Stronger PrescriptionStronger prescriptions can make objects appear slightly smaller or larger, or change your perception of distance, during the first few days. This perception usually settles as your brain adapts to the corrected input.For standard single-vision changes, adjustment often takes a week or two. Larger prescription changes may take longer. Even if your new prescription offers clearer vision, your brain still needs time to adjust to that level of clarity.Adjusting to Astigmatism CorrectionAstigmatism typically involves an irregular curve in the cornea or lens, which affects how light focuses in the eye. New astigmatism correction can make straight lines seem skewed, floors appear tilted and peripheral distortion feel more noticeable.Glasses correct that imbalance, but the correction can feel unfamiliar until your brain adjusts. Your brain can take time to adapt because astigmatism correction changes how visual information reaches the eye. Proper frame fit and lens positioning are especially important for astigmatism.Adjusting to Bifocals and Prism-Based PrescriptionsBifocals can create an “image jump” as your eyes move between prescription zones. This typically fades with practice as you learn where to look for distance and close-up tasks.Prism prescriptions can also take longer to adjust, as they affect spatial perception and eye alignment. Schedule an appointment with your eye care provider if these lenses continue to feel disorienting.How to Adjust to Progressive LensesProgressive lenses can take extra time to adjust to because they feature multiple prescription zones in a single lens. Distance correction sits at the top, intermediate vision is in the middle and near vision is at the bottom.At first, you may worry you’ve received the wrong prescription as you notice peripheral blur, a sway sensation or difficulty finding the right viewing zone. These symptoms are common while your brain learns how to use the lens design.Here are some tips to make the adjustment process smoother:Practice head movement and finding the right zones: Progressive lenses work best when you move your head, not just your eyes. Point your nose to what you want to see, then adjust your chin up or down to find the correct prescription zone. For distance, look through the top of the lens. For reading, look down at the end of the page with your chin slightly down. For computer work, use the middle zone.Wear them consistently: Daily wear helps your brain learn the new lens zones.Use caution on stairs: Look through the distance zone at the top of the lens when walking, especially on stairs and curbs.Progressive lens adjustment can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months.How to Adjust to New Glasses More QuicklyThere is no way to skip the adjustment period entirely, but consistent habits can make it smoother:Put them on in the morning: Start wearing your glasses when you wake up to give your brain more time with the corrected visual input.Do not switch back: Stick with your new prescription as much as possible. Going back to old glasses can make it harder for your brain to adapt.Start at home: Spend the first day or two in familiar spaces before tackling visually demanding settings like crowded stores or busy roads.Wait to drive: Avoid driving until you feel safe and confident, especially if your depth perception or peripheral vision feels off.Use the 20-20-20 rule: If screens make your eyes tired, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.Clean your lenses: Smudges and fingerprints can make it difficult to judge how your vision is improving.How Frame Fit Affects Your Glasses Adjustment Eyemart Express Not every uncomfortable symptom is caused by the prescription. Poor frame fit can also cause headaches, slipping and visual distortion that mimic prescription adjustment. Some signs that your frames may need adjustment include:Pressure at the temples or behind the ears.Red marks on your nose.Uneven lenses.Off-center pupils.Frames touching your eyebrows or cheeks.Fit issues tend to cause physical discomfort, while prescription adjustment symptoms are usually more visual. If your frames consistently feel uncomfortable or sit unevenly, return for a professional refit instead of bending them yourself.Small professional adjustments can usually resolve most fit problems. Many frame adjustments only take a few minutes and often improve comfort without replacing your lenses.When to Follow up With Your Eye DoctorContact your eye care provider if your symptoms worsen or something clearly feels wrong with your new glasses. Watch for warning signs such as:Persistent blurry vision: If your vision is still blurry after two to three weeks, schedule a follow-up appointment to check that your prescription and lens measurements are correct.Eye pain: Eye pain is not a typical part of adjustment, and it’s advisable to see your eye care provider as soon as possible.Consistent headaches: If you’re experiencing headaches beyond the first two weeks, your eyes may be struggling to adapt.Severe dizziness: If balance or dizziness symptoms do not improve, avoid activities like driving until you've spoken with an eye care provider.Double vision: Continuous or new double vision requires prompt evaluation, especially if it develops suddenly or persists beyond the first few days.Worsening vision: If your vision feels worse with new glasses than without them, your lens positioning, prescription or frame fit may need to be evaluated.Damaged or misaligned lenses: If your lenses appear distorted or scratched, return to your eyewear provider for a follow-up appointment.What to Expect After Adjusting to New GlassesThe discomfort you feel today will not last. Within a few weeks, your new glasses will feel like a natural part of how you see the world. You will move through your day without thinking about the frames on your face.Depth perception settles, and headaches fade. This adjustment period is temporary, but the benefits are lasting. Clearer vision means you can read without straining, drive with confidence and see the details that matter most in your daily life. The learning curve may feel challenging now, but it leads to a more comfortable, capable way of navigating the world.Give yourself time to adapt. Gradual improvement is usually a sign that your eyes and brain are adjusting successfully.This story was produced by Eyemart Express and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	6 reminder email templates for small business waiting up to a month to get paid Chasing a late invoice is one of the more awkward parts of running a small business. The work has been done and the invoice has been sent, yet the money still hasn't landed. According to Xero Small Business Insights, U.S. small businesses were paid an average of 8.5 days late and waited about 29.3 days to be paid in the June quarter of 2026.Late invoices can hurt a small business, as they tie up cash needed to run the business, and reminders can be uncomfortable to send. However, a simple sequence of payment reminder emails (starting friendly and getting firmer over time) can create a system to collect without damaging client relationships. Xero compiled the six templates below to cover every stage of that cadence, with suggested timing for when to send each one.Stage 1: A few days before due dateA short, friendly note a few days ahead of the due date confirms the invoice arrived and keeps the payment on the client's radar without any pressure attached.There’s little harm in an early reminder. For an owner juggling several clients, a couple of days shaved off each payment can add up across a month of receivables. Include a copy of the invoice and a payment link to make it easy for the client to pay right away.Subject: Quick reminder: Invoice [#0000] due [date]Hi [client name],This is a friendly reminder that invoice [#0000] for [amount] is due on [date]. A copy is attached for your reference, and you can pay online using the link below.[payment link]If it's already on its way, thank you, and please ignore this note. If you have any questions, just reply here.Best,[your name]Stage 2: A few days after it’s dueOnce the due date passes, the payment is officially late. Keep the tone light, as most late payments are simply oversights.In this nudge, be sure to restate the specifics: the invoice number, the amount, and the original due date. Then give one easy next step. It also helps to hint at what comes next if it remains unpaid.Subject: Invoice [#0000] is now past dueHi [client name],Just following up on invoice [#0000] for [amount], which was due on [date].You can settle it in a couple of clicks here: [payment link]. If there's a question holding it up, let me know and I'll sort it out. If I haven't heard back by [date], I'll follow up again.Thanks,[your name]Reminders also convert better when paying is easy. Offering a couple of one-click options, such as card and bank transfer, with a pay-now link on the invoice itself, takes away the small frustrations that push a payment to next week.Stage 3: One and two weeks overdueOnce an invoice is one to two weeks overdue, it’s appropriate to shift the tone. Still keep it professional, but be firmer. Be clear about what’s owed, days overdue, any late fees that apply, and what comes next.Repeated lateness by the same client is worth taking seriously. In the Federal Reserve Banks' 2025 Report on Employer Firms, drawn from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey, 51% of small employer firms cited uneven cash flow as a financial challenge. Every invoice stuck in limbo feeds that problem.Late fees or interest should be included in this reminder, but only if they were agreed upon up front. This is why talking about payment terms is important. Second reminder, subject: Second notice: Invoice [#0000], [X] days overdueHi [client name],Invoice [#0000] for [amount] is now [X] days past due, and I haven't received payment or a reply to my last note.Please arrange payment by [date]. If something is preventing that, tell me and we can work out a plan.Regards,[your name]Third, firmer reminder, subject: Action needed: Invoice [#0000] overdueHi [client name],Despite two reminders, invoice [#0000] for [amount] remains unpaid and is now [X] days overdue. Payment is due by [date].Per our agreed terms, a late fee of [amount or %] applies from [date] if the balance isn't settled. I would much rather resolve this directly, so please call me at [number].[your name]If two written reminders still go unanswered, a phone call often helps to get a more direct response from the client to understand why the payment is delayed.Stage 4: 30 days and beyond (final notice)If reminders and a phone call haven't worked, it’s time to be direct. A clear final notice should state the total due, including any late fees, the days overdue, a firm deadline, and the consequence for continued nonpayment, whether that’s pausing further work or applying a late fee.The stakes are real for a small business. With payments averaging nearly a month late, that’s potentially a month of revenue sitting locked up in receivables at any given time. That wait strains cash flow directly: One large unpaid invoice can push an owner from comfortable to scrambling, especially when several clients pay late in the same cycle.For serious cases, a formal payment reminder letter, sometimes called an overdue payment letter, escalates beyond email. It carries the same facts in a more official register, typically on letterhead and sent by mail or as a signed PDF, which shows the matter has moved past routine follow-up.If it stays unpaid, the next steps should be practical rather than alarmist: Offer a payment plan, make a direct phone call, document every attempt in writing, and only then consider a collection agency or legal action such as small claims court.Final-notice email, subject: Final notice: Invoice [#0000], [X] days overdueDear [client name],This is a final notice for invoice [#0000] for [amount], originally due [date] and now [X] days overdue. Earlier reminders remain unanswered.Please pay the full balance by [date]. If payment doesn't arrive by then, I will [pause work / apply the agreed late fee / refer the account for collection]. I remain open to a payment plan if you contact me first.Regards,[your name]Formal payment reminder letter[Your business name and address][Date][Client name and address]Re: Overdue invoice [#0000]Dear [client name],Our records show invoice [#0000], dated [date] for [amount], remains unpaid at [X] days past due. This letter is a formal request for full payment of [amount] by [date].If payment is not received by that date, we may pursue further steps to recover the amount owed, including [late fees / a collection agency / small claims court], as allowed under our agreement and applicable state law.Please treat this as a priority. Contact us at [phone or email] to arrange payment or discuss options.Yours sincerely,[your name], [title]The system that actually worksThese four stages share a simple backbone. Whatever the tone, every message should state the invoice number, the amount, the original due date, and a clear way to pay. Whether reminders go out from a spreadsheet or online invoicing software, the cadence matters more than the tool.Keep it friendly and assume an oversight at first, then get progressively firmer. At 30 days, a final request for payment is appropriate, followed by offerings of payment plans.A predictable reminder system turns an uncomfortable task into routine admin and gives small businesses a fair shot at getting paid on time. The sooner the reminders become routine, the less any single late payment can knock a business off balance.This story was produced by Xero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pope Leo warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity on his France visit Pope Leo XIV raised existential concerns about scientific progress, life and human rights during a speech on his first papal visit to France.
	Weekend events expected to strain downtown Moline traffic Downtown Moline faces road closures and parking limits this weekend as the Quad Cities Marathon and an Ella Langley concert draw large crowds. Here's what drivers need to know.
	Hurricane Nolo, a zig-zagging storm, threatens Hawaii with flooding rain Nolo will slow down as it nears Hawaii's Big Island and is expected to become a major hurricane this weekend, bringing torrential rain to areas that have been flooded by big storms this summer.
	Bettendorf man accused of assaulting woman in her sleep, police say A Bettendorf man is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a sleeping woman, police say.
	Merchants are running separate shipping operations for parcel and LTL freight, and only optimizing one Most retail businesses run two shipping operations. One is integrated into their software, automated, and refined over time. The other is simply managed.For many merchants, parcel receives the most attention. Those businesses often use rate shopping, automation, real-time tracking, returns management, and other tools that connect parcel shipping to the rest of the business.But freight has evolved differently. It often runs through phone calls, broker relationships, separate portals, and workflows that were never integrated with anything else. Some businesses don’t even consider freight part of their shipping system.That’s exactly the problem.ShipStation’s 2026 Merchant Insights Report surveyed 868 U.S. retail merchants and found that 78% already ship freight. Yet most manage it through a platform that doesn’t connect to the one handling the parcel.This structural gap runs through a significant portion of retail businesses—and, in many cases, one that nobody is actively working to optimize.Modern shipping has always been more than parcel. Most businesses simply haven’t managed it that way.Here’s what the data reveals, why the divide matters, and how merchants can address the fulfillment and shipping challenges that arise when running freight and parcel as separate operations.When shipping costs start setting the limitsShipping and freight rates limit growth for 62% of merchants—nearly double the next-closest challenge, expensive or limited warehouse space at 34%. It’s also the only challenge that appears consistently across businesses of every size.And the costs continue to rise. Shipping costs increased over the past 12 months for 75% of merchants, while 67% now spend more than 10% of total revenue on shipping and fulfillment.At those levels, shipping and fulfillment costs don’t just affect margins. They can limit what a business can afford to do next.But here’s the part many merchants miss when they talk about “shipping”: They’re often only looking at half of the operation.LTL freight shipping is still operating outside the systemFreight is now the norm: 78% of merchants already ship freight, handling shipments that are too large for traditional parcel networks but don’t require an entire truckload. In less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, multiple shippers share trailer space and each pays for the capacity their freight occupies.Whether freight originates from a bulk order, a growing wholesale account, or another part of the business, it’s often handed to a broker or representative. Once the shipment moves successfully, the process rarely gets a second look because it “works, more or less.”The businesses that don’t ship freight tend to be the smallest, and that isn’t always a strategic choice. Freight requires merchants to understand how to quote, classify, and book shipments. Without that capability, businesses can quietly limit the size of orders they can accept—and the revenue and profit those orders could generate.The result is two completely different shipping workflows inside the same business, with only one receiving consistent attention and optimization.That’s where the problem becomes structural.Among merchants that ship freight, 58% use a third-party provider that isn’t connected to their parcel platform. Every quote, booking, tracking update, and invoice occurs elsewhere. Teams move between carrier portals, wait for emailed quotes, and reconcile separate invoices. Manual handoffs appear throughout the process.Comparing the parcel and freight workflows side by side:Parcel: An order enters the system, rates are automatically compared, a label prints, tracking flows back to the order, and billing is managed through the same platform.Freight: Someone emails or calls a broker, waits for a quote, has limited visibility into alternatives, books via a phone call or a separate portal, tracks the shipment elsewhere, and then receives another invoice.Without centralized LTL tracking, merchants often don’t know where a shipment stands until a customer asks, and every additional step creates opportunities to lose time, visibility, and money. Building a smarter freight strategy starts with understanding what that second workflow is actually costing the business.Freight is an outlier in another important way. Merchants often keep fulfillment, warehousing, returns, and parcel shipping under their direct control. Freight is the activity they’re most likely to hand off to a third party—and more than a fifth of merchants skip it altogether.That’s the second workflow in a nutshell: not necessarily a system merchants deliberately chose, but one that was never integrated into the rest of the operation.Peak season exposes the cracksA second workflow can seem manageable when volume is predictable, and there’s time to chase down a quote. Then comes the one quarter of the year when neither is true.More than 70% of merchants earn over a quarter of their annual revenue in a single quarter, while 25% generate more than 40% of their annual revenue during peak season. And businesses aren’t waiting until Q4 to prepare: when the survey was conducted in the second quarter of 2026, 45% were already preparing for peak or planned to begin within the following month.Ask merchants what concerns them most heading into peak, and the issue isn’t simply generating demand. It’s whether they have the capacity to handle it, whether shipments can move reliably, and what those shipments will cost when volume increases.When shipping operations are fragmented, those pressures become harder to manage. The manual freight workflow, which is merely inconvenient during normal periods, can become a bottleneck when volume spikes, and teams have less time to intervene.Price opens the conversation. Capability closes it.When merchants rank what matters most in a logistics partner, rates come first—no surprise there. What’s more interesting is everything that follows.Better carrier rates matter to 88% of merchants. But the ability to scale during peak season, technology that provides real-time visibility across the fulfillment operation, and access to a single provider for shipping, freight, and warehousing rank close behind.Cost still opens the door. Saving money is the top reason 32% would switch logistics providers—more than any other single reason.But larger businesses are already looking beyond price alone. Companies with 50 or more employees are three times as likely as the smallest businesses to choose a logistics partner based on technology and visibility rather than cost.That distinction matters. As operations become more complex, the value of a logistics platform isn’t limited to negotiating a better rate. It’s also about reducing the number of systems, handoffs, and disconnected workflows required to move an order from start to finish.Asked directly whether they would value consolidating freight and parcel shipping on a single platform, merchants are clear: 74% say having a single provider for parcel shipping, freight, and warehousing is important or very important.What’s been missing is a practical way to bring both halves of the shipping operation together.Parcel and LTL freight shipping work better as a systemFor years, merchants have invested heavily in making parcel shipping faster, more automated, and easier to manage. Freight hasn’t always received the same treatment.That divide may have been manageable when freight represented an occasional exception. But with nearly four out of five merchants now shipping freight, it increasingly looks like a core part of the operation that has simply remained disconnected from the systems around it.The opportunity isn’t just to find better freight rates. It’s to eliminate the idea that freight and parcel need to operate as separate businesses inside the same company.The merchants that bring those workflows together can reduce manual handoffs, improve visibility, and create a more consistent process across the full range of shipments they need to move.This story was produced by ShipStation and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	5 reasons why enterprise AI implementations fail If you’ve felt the pace of AI innovation is surpassing your ability to keep up, you’re not alone. A recent survey of 2,000 CIOs and CTOs across 33 countries found that 70% of respondents felt their teams were deploying AI faster than IT could track.These numbers are often read as evidence that GenAI technology is not ready for the enterprise. Foundation models improve almost quarterly, resolving previous issues each time. What's inhibiting organizations' ability to scale GenAI implementations is their ability to build systems around frontier models, including governance and data strategy. Additionally, the teams’ understanding of the technology determines whether a deployment delivers value or becomes a sunk cost.Ironclad shares some of the recurring mistakes organizations make when trying to use GenAI and the implementations to fix them. 1. Treating foundation models as universal toolsThe instinct to route every task through the largest available model is understandable, given its capabilities. But conflating capability with efficiency is a costly mistake. A recent Gartner survey found that only 28%of AI infrastructure projects deliver the promised return, and one in five failed outright because they were “overly ambitious or poorly scoped.” Matching a model to a task’s complexity and risk profile is a critical step for delivering better ROI.Extraction of a contract’s data from a complex legal risk analysis are two applications that require different models because of the associated work, risk, and validation. Could a powerful model deliver on both tasks? Probably, but that’s the wrong question to ask. The right question: "Which model delivers the best ROI for a given task?”2. Underspecified objectives, i.e.what AI should and shouldn't doGenerative AI operates probabilistically and must be used accordingly. When you give a model an open-ended objective without constraints, it will likely take the path of least resistance to satisfy it, and that path may diverge significantly from what you intended.Research shows that detailed prompts with structured guidelines will generate more accurate results. When tuning models using methods like Reinforcement Learning, where AI systems improve through iterative feedback, a model's improvement is tied to clear goals, as well as what not to do. For complex enterprise work, building production-ready systems should include reference documents, boundary conditions, and explicit constraints that give models the necessary context.3. Building feedback loops around the wrong dataUnlike previous software, GenAI tools are shaped through interaction data: Every prompt, correction, and accepted output teaches the system what "good" looks like. But that learning loop only works if the data collected is representative of the full range of intended applications.If an enterprise’s finance team uses an agentic expense management tool primarily for one region's spending patterns, the system learns specific tax codes, vendor classifications, and reporting requirements that differ significantly from those used in global applications. Unaware of this training, the team inadvertently builds a compounding deficiency with the tool’s applicability.It’s critical to assess AI tools against the full scope of work your team actually does. To ensure feedback loops share the right data, it's important to monitor inputs and regularly evaluate the tool’s outputs.4. Relying on one model for both creation and verificationAs AI-generated code and content scale beyond what any team can manually review, engineering organizations are building verification models to check the output of generation models. This layered approach is architecturally sound, but only when the verification model is genuinely independent of the generation model.Using the same provider's model to generate and verify output is the equivalent of seeking a second medical opinion from the same doctor. Models from different providers, trained on different datasets with different methodologies, carry different biases. Cross-provider verification introduces the randomization needed to surface errors that single-model confidence will mask.5. Ignoring hidden errors in the technologyThe wide gap between what these models can do and how they’re applied is certainly a factor for enterprises’ failed attempts, as the Gartner report illustrated. When developing software for past mobile or cloud technologies, an incorrectly structured push notification or cloud deployment generated a failure notice, but that's not the case with GenAI. Even poorly framed inputs will yield seemingly plausible outputs, hiding the underlying structural issues.Closing the gap requires teams across an enterprise to have operational fluency with the technology. Designers, engineers, and product managers should all have equal footing. Otherwise, engineers, agentically coding, are constantly seeking new tasks, while designers and product managers inefficiently wire together new features.What these mistakes shareThese five mistakes all stem from treating GenAI as a technology problem, but it’s actually a systems problem. The models are the easiest component to improve. Governance, data discipline, and organizational adaptation are where value is actually created or destroyed. Successfully scaling GenAI usage starts with teaching and building the understanding of how to use the technology, because without it, better technology only scales the same mistakes faster.This story was produced by Ironclad and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Two downtown Davenport vintage stores hit in ‘smash and grab’ Downtown Davenport’s Abernathy’s and Doodads were both burglarized sometime between the night of Friday, Sept. 18 and the morning of Saturday, Sept. 19, and Abernathy’s was hit Saturday night again.
	Peoria deputies searching for man after responding to fatal shooting, death of infant Peoria County deputies are searching for a man after responding to vehicle fire, shooting death and the death of an infant.
	Woman who died after Galva crash identified Driver killed in Galva crash identified as Alisa Gillen, 56, of Cameron, Illinois.
	ADD vs. ADHD: Is there a difference? What parents and other adults need to know The confusion between ADD and ADHD affects millions of families trying to understand attention-related challenges. Parents often wonder if their child has ADD or ADHD, while adults question whether their childhood diagnosis still applies under current medical terminology.This distinction matters more than you might think. Using outdated terms can create confusion during medical appointments, insurance claims, and school accommodation meetings. Doctronic explains the current classification system to help you communicate effectively with healthcare providers and access the right treatment options.Key takeawaysADD is now considered an outdated term. ADHD is the official medical diagnosis with three subtypes.Inattentive ADHD (formerly called ADD) focuses on attention difficulties without hyperactivity.Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD involves restlessness and impulsive behaviors but fewer attention problems.Combined ADHD presents both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms together.What Are ADD and ADHD? Understanding Current Medical TerminologyADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, was the original term used in psychiatric manuals until 1987. This classification separated attention problems from hyperactivity, creating categories like "ADD with hyperactivity" and "ADD without hyperactivity." However, medical understanding has evolved significantly since then.ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) became the official diagnosis in 1987 and remains the current medical standard today. This change wasn't just cosmetic — it reflected new research showing that attention and hyperactivity symptoms are more interconnected than originally thought. The modern ADHD diagnosis encompasses three distinct presentations: inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type.Many healthcare providers and families still use "ADD" colloquially when referring to attention problems without obvious hyperactivity. While understandable, this can create confusion during medical consultations. When discussing symptoms with your doctor, it's helpful to use current ADHD terminology.The shift to ADHD terminology also acknowledges that hyperactivity can manifest internally as restlessness or racing thoughts, not just external fidgeting or movement.When ADD vs. ADHD Terminology Matters MostUnderstanding current terminology becomes crucial in several important situations. School IEP meetings and 504 plan discussions require precise ADHD language for proper accommodations. Special education teams need to document specific ADHD presentations to justify classroom modifications, extended test time, or behavioral support plans.Insurance claims and medical records exclusively use ADHD diagnostic codes from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Using outdated ADD terminology on forms or during phone calls with insurance representatives can create processing delays or coverage denials. Healthcare billing systems recognize specific ADHD subtypes but may not process older ADD classifications correctly.Research studies and clinical trials specify ADHD presentations when determining participant eligibility. If you're interested in new treatments or contributing to ADHD research, understanding your specific subtype helps match you with appropriate studies. This precision also matters for accessing specialized treatment programs.Adult workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act reference specific ADHD presentations in legal documentation. Employers and human resources departments need current diagnostic language to implement reasonable accommodations like flexible scheduling, written instructions, or modified work environments. Whether using telehealth to help with adhd treatment or in-person care, using proper terminology ensures smoother communication with all healthcare providers.How ADHD Subtypes Work in Modern DiagnosisModern ADHD diagnosis relies on specific symptom criteria for each presentation type. Inattentive ADHD requires six or more symptoms of inattention lasting at least six months. These include difficulty sustaining attention in tasks, frequent careless mistakes, seeming not to listen when spoken to directly, and struggling to organize activities.Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD needs six or more hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms for the same duration. Common signs include fidgeting with hands or feet, leaving seats inappropriately, running or climbing excessively, talking excessively, and blurting out answers before questions are completed.Combined ADHD meets the full criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive presentations simultaneously. This is the most common ADHD subtype, affecting roughly 60-70% of people diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and significantly impair functioning in at least two settings, such as home and school.Healthcare providers use standardized rating scales and behavioral observations to assess symptom severity. The diagnosis process often involves input from multiple sources, including parents, teachers, and sometimes the individuals themselves. Whether seeking urgent care help with mental health concerns or specialized ADHD evaluation, thorough assessment ensures accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.Recognizing Symptoms Across Different ADHD PresentationsInattentive ADHD symptoms often appear as daydreaming, losing important items like homework or keys, avoiding tasks requiring sustained mental effort, and making frequent careless mistakes in schoolwork. Children with this presentation may seem quiet or withdrawn in classroom settings, leading to delayed identification compared to their hyperactive peers.Hyperactive symptoms manifest differently across age groups. Young children might climb furniture inappropriately, run when walking is expected, or struggle to play quietly. Teenagers and adults often experience internal restlessness, excessive talking, or difficulty engaging in leisure activities calmly.Impulsive behaviors include interrupting conversations, difficulty waiting for turns in games or lines, making hasty decisions without considering consequences, and blurting out inappropriate comments. These symptoms can strain relationships and create social challenges across various environments.Combined presentation shows fluctuating patterns of both attention and hyperactivity-impulsivity challenges throughout the day. A child might struggle with focus during morning math class but display hyperactive behavior during afternoon recess. Adults might experience attention difficulties at work while showing impulsive decision-making in personal relationships. Understanding these patterns helps families and educators provide appropriate support to help individuals succeed in school and other environments.ADD vs. ADHD: Diagnostic ComparisonThe evolution from ADD to ADHD reflects significant advances in understanding attention-related disorders. Here's how the old and new systems compare: Doctronic Research shows that what was once called "ADD without hyperactivity" often involves subtle hyperactive symptoms like internal restlessness, racing thoughts, or emotional reactivity. The current system better captures these experiences while maintaining clear diagnostic categories.Modern ADHD understanding emphasizes executive function challenges rather than just attention span problems. This includes difficulties with working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control that affect daily functioning beyond traditional "attention" measures.Frequently Asked QuestionsIs ADD still a valid medical diagnosis in 2024?No, ADD is no longer an official medical diagnosis. Healthcare providers now use ADHD with specific subtypes (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined). While some people still say "ADD" informally, medical records and treatment plans use current ADHD terminology for accuracy and proper documentation.Can adults have inattentive ADHD without childhood hyperactivity?Yes, many adults receive inattentive ADHD diagnoses without obvious childhood hyperactivity. Girls and women particularly may have been missed in childhood because inattentive symptoms are less disruptive than hyperactive behaviors. Adult evaluation focuses on current symptoms and retrospective childhood history.Does insurance cover ADHD treatment regardless of subtype?Most insurance plans cover ADHD treatment, including medication, therapy, and evaluations for all subtypes when medically necessary. Coverage depends on your specific plan benefits rather than ADHD subtype. Prior authorization may be required for certain medications, particularly newer or brand-name options.What's the difference between ADHD medication for inattentive vs hyperactive types?ADHD medications (stimulants and non-stimulants) work similarly across all subtypes by improving dopamine and norepinephrine function. Dosing and timing might be adjusted based on individual symptom patterns, but the same medications treat all ADHD presentations effectively. Mental health medication decisions depend on individual response rather than subtype alone.How do doctors determine which ADHD subtype someone has?Doctors use standardized rating scales, clinical interviews, and behavioral observations from multiple sources. They count specific symptoms in inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories, assess impairment levels, and review developmental history. The subtype reflects which symptom category predominates, though individuals may show mixed presentations over time. The Bottom LineUnderstanding the difference between ADD and ADHD terminology helps you navigate modern healthcare and educational systems more effectively. While ADD was the original term used until 1987, ADHD is now the official diagnosis with three distinct presentations: inattentive (formerly called ADD), hyperactive-impulsive, and combined types. This evolution reflects a better understanding of how attention and hyperactivity symptoms interconnect and affect daily functioning. Using current ADHD terminology ensures clear communication with healthcare providers, schools, and insurance companies while accessing appropriate treatment and accommodations for yourself or your loved ones.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to cope after losing someone to suicide There aren’t many losses in life that compare to grief after suicide. It’s intense, unique, and devastating. Many people can’t understand this type of grief unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Suicide grief is complicated and can be more isolating than other forms of grief. Your pain might feel so deep that it seems like you’ll never find a way through. The truth is, there’s no “right” way to experience suicide grieving, but there are ways to care for yourself as you start to heal.If you or someone you love is trying to navigate grief after a suicide, Talkspace offers healthy coping tools to help you get through this time.Give Yourself Permission to Feel EverythingOne of the most important things about healing from a loss like this is that you accept it’s OK for you to feel whatever you’re feeling. Feelings aren’t forever, and there’s no formula for how to walk through suicide grief. It’s vital that you give yourself permission to feel anything and everything you are.The range of emotions that can follow such a loss can be wildly unpredictable. Research shows that losing someone to suicide can cause shame, blame, and feelings of judgment. You might be angry one minute and ashamed or embarrassed the next. You may wake up feeling guilty about what you did—or didn’t—say or do, and go to bed confused because you have a sense of relief. Whatever you feel during this time, know that your feelings are valid and important.“When someone loses a person to suicide, they may feel a range of emotions such as anger, guilt, relief (especially if they believe the person was suffering), or confusion because nothing seems to make sense,” says Talkspace therapist Famous Erwin LMHC, LPC. “It’s important to let them know that these emotions are normal and do not mean they are a bad person. Grief is not simple, and there is no one right way to feel. When a person expresses their emotions, it reveals what’s going on inside them—and that’s a key part of healing.”Let Go of the “Why” (When You’re Ready)There’s no timeline for grief. Learning how to cope with a suicide loss is a process, and a big part of it involves being able to let go of the why.Trying to understand someone’s decision to end their life can be agonizing. You can’t predict or rush when or how it’ll happen. One day, though, you will be able to free yourself from the burden of needing to understand. You may never fully understand their decision, but coming to terms with this is a powerful part of your healing after a loved one dies by suicide.“As a counselor, I often encourage clients to begin by naming the uncertainty they're sitting with,” Erwin says. “ Acknowledging ‘I don’t have all the answers’ can ease the pressure to resolve the unresolvable. I help them practice self-compassion and focus on what they can control, like daily structure or meaningful routines, while gently normalizing that some questions, especially in grief may remain unanswered. Together, we explore ways to stay grounded in the present moment, create meaning in small ways, and lean into safe relationships for support and healing.”Talk About Your Loved One and Your GriefThe American Psychological Association (APA) discusses the importance of talking about your loved one's death. Openly sharing memories and emotions helps you process the reality of death, rather than avoiding it. Avoidance may feel protective in the moment, but it can intensify loneliness, strain your connection with others, and slow down the grieving process. By naming your grief and speaking about your loved one, you make space for support, meaning, and emotional release.Create a Ritual or Tribute That Honors Their LifeIt feels good to honor a loved one. Find comfort in celebrating the good things you remember about them. Do things to celebrate the connection you had with them and their impact on others. It can be as simple as getting together for an annual gathering with family, lighting a candle for them on future birthdays, planting a tree in their memory, or even writing them a letter every so often.Rituals help you feel connected, even after a loss. It reminds you how special they were and that they’re still in your heart. There’s no right or wrong way to have a tribute to honor someone’s life. All that matters is whatever you plan feels meaningful to you.If you’re overwhelmed at the idea of planning a tribute, think about things they loved, that made them happy, or that you enjoyed doing together. Small acts of remembrance can help you feel close to them, even years after their passing.Make Space for Self-CareSelf-care is a critical part of learning how to cope with the suicide of a loved one. Being aware of your own needs and taking steps to care for yourself ensures you have the strength to heal.Remembering to do the little things—like eating, sleeping, and sometimes, just getting out of bed—can be incredibly difficult as you recover from the death of a loved one. If you’re struggling with your basic self-care routine or daily functioning, be kind to yourself.Grief is complex, messy, and challenging. In the moments when you feel like you can’t manage, focus on the basics: rest, nourishment, and gentle movement. If all you have the strength for is showering one day, you’re doing enough. If it’s all you can manage to make a bowl of cereal, that’s enough, too.Simple ways to practice self-care when you’re grieving include:Going for a walkTaking a bath or showerGoing to bedMaking a simple meal, like toast or soupAsking for help from a friend or family memberMeditatingDoing yogaJoining a grief support groupFind Support from People Who Understand Suicide LossFew things are more powerful than connecting with someone who understands suicide grief. It can be someone who’s also lost a family member or loved one to suicide, a support group, or anyone who understands where you are emotionally and physically. Finding a safe space to share what you’re feeling and listen to others will help you feel understood and less alone as you learn how to manage grief.According to research, participants of peer support groups for suicide bereavement report reduced grief and significant improvement in overall well-being.Work with a Therapist or Grief CounselorSurviving a suicide loss can be incredibly difficult to do alone. Working with a therapist or grief counselor ensures you have the tools you need to heal. A professional who’s trained in suicide bereavement can help you process the complex emotions and feelings you’re likely experiencing. They can help you navigate your trauma and teach you healthy coping skills that support your recovery process.If it feels like your grief is all-consuming or too much to handle on your own, it’s OK. You’re not alone. Reaching out for help is empowering—it’s a sign of strength, not something to feel weak about. Through tailored grief therapy techniques, a grief therapist will help you make sense of your feelings and honor the memory of your loved one. They can help you find a path forward, even if it feels impossible right now.“With suicide loss survivors, I often use a combination of grief-focused therapy and trauma-informed care to help them process complex emotions like guilt, anger, and confusion,” Erwin says. “Techniques like narrative therapy allow clients to share their story and find meaning, while grounding exercises help manage overwhelming feelings. I also emphasize creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where all emotions are valid and healing can unfold at the client’s pace.“Accept That Healing Takes TimeGrief is a journey you can’t rush. Surviving a suicide loss is not a linear process. You can feel completely “normal” one day, like you’re making progress and healing, only to feel like you can’t function the next. Your pain will be daunting and all-encompassing at times, and that’s completely normal. Be patient with yourself and accept that the only thing you can rely on is the fact that healing takes time. You might still have difficult days, even months or years later.It’s worth noting that, sometimes, dealing with loss evolves into what’s known as complicated grief. Also called persistent complex bereavement disorder, complicated grief describes painful feelings and emotions that last more than a year after a loss. If you’re carrying pain from suicide grief, and it’s been over a year, and you just can’t see a way out, it might be time to seek professional help. Healing from complicated grief can happen, but you might need to seek counseling or therapy to get there.Take Breaks from Grief When You Need ToIt sounds strange, but you might need to take a break from your grief. Of course, this doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending that you’re over the loss, but it’s OK to give yourself permission to step away for a little while. Finding small moments of peace will help you heal and recover. You can watch a movie, go to lunch or coffee with a friend, or do a hobby you enjoy. Over time, doing things outside of your grief will become easier.Taking a break from your heartache doesn’t mean you’re forgetting about the loss. It also doesn’t mean you’re moving on too soon. It just means you’re allowing yourself the space and time you need to heal. At first, you might feel guilty for enjoying yourself or laughing, but moments like these are part of healing, and they’re essential for your well-being.You’re Not Alone—Support Is Always AvailableGrieving after suicide can be a lonely, isolating experience, but support and help are available. Healing is an ongoing process, so it’s all right if you’re struggling right now. The most important thing to remember is to ask for help, whether it’s from a friend, a grief counselor, a support group, or a trained mental health professional.This story was produced by Talkspace and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A rural county banned renewables. It’s having second thoughts Jeff Hough did not pull any punches. What his fellow Republican county commissioners were about to do, he said to the packed courthouse, would violate America’s founding ideals. He quoted the Declaration of Independence to make his case.The three-person commission was about to vote on an ordinance that would ban utility-scale solar and wind development in Bannock County, Idaho.“We cannot deny the entire county the opportunity to exercise their property rights,” Hough said. “That goes against the principles this country was founded on.”A few minutes after Hough’s emphatic speech, the ordinance passed by a 2-1 vote. Hough was the lone dissenter.Since that consequential vote in March 2024, Hough has become the chair of the county commission and has dedicated himself to overturning that ordinance. He will soon have a chance to make that happen. This fall, Hough and the other two commissioners are set to vote on an ordinance with new language that would allow the development of solar and wind, along with nuclear energy, in the county.The Bannock County vote is a test case of whether — and how — a community can revisit its assumptions about the costs and benefits of clean energy and decide to welcome development it once swore off.In 2025, nearly 1 in 4 U.S. counties had some kind of ban, moratorium, or impediment to clean energy development, up from 15% of counties in 2023. More than 60% of counties with bans are rural, according to a Daily Yonder and Canary Media analysis of data from USA Today and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. (The Daily Yonder defines “rural” using criteria from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.) Julia Tilton // The Daily Yonder Bucking this national trend and reversing the ban would put Bannock County back in play at a moment when Idaho needs all the energy it can get. Idaho Power, the state’s largest utility, expects electricity demand to grow by 1 gigawatt by 2030, a roughly 26% leap from current levels.“The need to build stuff now is critical to Idaho’s economic future,” said Aaron Menenberg, the Idaho policy manager for Renewable Northwest, a nonprofit working to decarbonize the region’s grid. “We can’t afford to say no to anything.”Bannock County, nestled in a valley a few hours north of Salt Lake City and 100 miles west of Wyoming’s Teton Range, is a prime location for new power plants. It’s home to the Populus substation, a critical juncture for getting electrons onto the grid and into Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and the Pacific Northwest. Building new power plants near a substation is cheaper, and those savings can help bring down costs for utility customers.But the biggest opportunity for county residents, as Hough sees it, is not utility-bill savings: It’s economic development. In recent years, Bannock County’s population has grown far more slowly than Idaho’s. The county’s rural communities, meanwhile, are watching essential services disappear, and drought worsened by climate change is making it difficult for family farms to stay afloat.Hough believes renewables would bring money into the community. Bannock County’s neighbors offer local proof: In 2024, projects in nearby Power and Bingham counties generated $909,000 and $639,000 in tax revenue, respectively. Hough wants to send a message — to the renewables industry and others — that Bannock County is “open for business,” too.“Rural America is in a transition state,” Hough said from his office in Pocatello, the county seat, in July. “How do we make or help rural America … transition to this new way of life, so that they can thrive and prosper?”Not everyone shares Hough’s vision of prosperity. In south Bannock County, Hough’s campaign has met with fierce opposition. Two camps exist: On one side are residents who are willing to lease their own land to solar energy developers or stand by their neighbors’ right to do so. On the other are those who are skeptical of renewables and believe that leasing land to developers is equivalent to selling out — many of them do, however, support nuclear.Steve Criddle, a third-generation farmer and lifelong resident of south Bannock County, voiced his support for solar in 2024 before the ban passed. He described the situation today simply: “It’s confrontational.”Bannock County’s moratorium on solar and wind stemmed from an unlikely source: Hough himself.It was the fall of 2023, and he had just attended a conference of the Idaho Association of Counties in Boise.At the conference, the Lava Ridge Wind Project, a 1-GW development slated for more than 57,000 acres of federal land in southern Idaho, dominated the conversation. County leaders from around the state were concerned about clean energy developers running roughshod over their communities. (President Donald Trump’s Interior Department canceled Lava Ridge in August 2025.)The discussion got Hough thinking. Months before the conference, he had learned that several developers, including Chicago-based Hecate Energy and Moab, Utah-based Balanced Rock Power, were approaching landowners about solar projects in Bannock County.When Hough returned from Boise, the cautionary tale of Lava Ridge fresh in his mind, he took action.“I realized that we didn’t have any kind of ordinance,” Hough said. “So I knew they’d come in and do whatever they wanted.”On Oct. 12, 2023, spearheaded by Hough, the county commissioners voted unanimously to enact a six-month moratorium on large-scale energy projects. The idea was not to ban solar and wind, but simply to give the county time to regulate the developments and ensure they balanced economic opportunity with responsible land stewardship. A public hearing on the topic was set for the following February, and the commissioners would vote on the future of the moratorium in March.But Hough’s moratorium took on a life of its own. In the months that followed, a group of concerned residents organized to make it permanent. Otto Kitsinger Rebecca Falcon, above, led the charge. A decades-long resident of Downey, a town in south Bannock County, Falcon had been approached by Balanced Rock in September 2023 about leasing a portion of her 80 acres for solar. Appalled, she turned the company away. But Balanced Rock’s proposed Harmon Solar Project (aka Harmon I), a 300-megawatt solar facility with a 1,200-megawatt-hour on-site battery energy storage system, included her neighbors’ land. Stopping it would take more than just Falcon saying no.Falcon and another neighbor, Dez Hauser, who had also turned away Balanced Rock, encouraged other concerned community members to show up to the February 2024 public hearing about the future of the moratorium.By the time the hearing rolled around, residents had sorted themselves into two groups: for solar and against it. The meeting attracted such interest that it was moved from the county courthouse to a local high school auditorium in south Bannock County. The venue was still packed.More than two dozen speakers, nearly all of them from south Bannock County, showed up to say their piece. The vast majority testified in opposition to solar.The commissioners convened the next month to decide what to do with the moratorium. Hough voted to repeal it. The other two commissioners voted to extend it. The commissioners framed it as an additional pause to study the potential effects of large-scale renewable energy development in the county. Yet as the controversy mounted through the spring and summer of 2024, the county declined to take further action.The ban stayed in place. Falcon, Hauser, and the other opponents had won.Dale Lish, a grain farmer based in Downey, was frustrated with the decision. Recently retired from a career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lish became familiar with solar while working on projects in Idaho and Washington through the Rural Energy for America Program. He spoke in favor of the energy source at the same hearing where Falcon and Hauser expressed their concerns.“The approach was just no to everything, which bothered me,” Lish said of the county’s decision, in a June interview on his property. “A straight-out ban — I don’t think that’s American. I think we, as private-property owners, ought to have a chance to do what we want within reason.”In 2023, Lish signed a one-year contract with Hecate to option about 400 acres of his land for solar development. Hecate declined to renew the contract in 2024 because of the county’s ordinance.The company has since pulled out of the county altogether. Representatives from Hecate did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Otto Kitsinger For the two and a half years since that March vote, Hough has been beating the drum of private-property rights while also trying to educate the community on Idaho’s power needs and how they might be met in Bannock County.While the commission won’t vote until later this fall on the new ordinance, which is still undergoing public review, at least one of Hough’s colleagues may have changed his tune. Ernie Moser, an incumbent who supported the ban in 2024, said in an interview in June that his fears about solar and wind are “not as big” as they were two years ago. Still, Moser, who’s retiring from the commission at the end of this year, stressed that he wants “to do it right” when it comes to revisiting the county’s energy policy. The other commissioner, Ken Bullock, declined to comment.May’s primary elections offered another indication of the county’s divided views. In the Republican primary, Hough faced a challenger from south Bannock County with an anti-solar platform, and though he won his race by 14 percentage points overall, his opponent captured 70% of the vote in Downey. No Democrat is running in the race, so Hough won’t face competition in the November general election.This year’s results mirror those of 2024, when former county commissioner John Crowder, who voted for the ban in March of that year, won big in Downey but lost to Ken Bullock, an ally of Hough’s.“In south Bannock County, it’s a supermajority of residents that do not want this,” Crowder said about solar development. Otto Kitsinger Steve Criddle, above, can trace his family’s roots in Downey back to 1876, when his ancestors first filed paperwork for water rights. His grandfather farmed grain, including wheat. Criddle’s father did the same. He’s kept the agricultural heritage alive himself, but because of a changing climate, grain farming is no longer enough to sustain him.“We don’t get enough moisture anymore,” Criddle said. The fields where he grows crops without irrigation now hardly produce enough to make ends meet. He’s turned some of his land over to cattle grazing and has worked odd jobs over the years to hold on to the farm.On a sunny day in late June, Criddle drove down a dirt road in his wife’s pickup truck. He was headed to one of his alfalfa fields. Three years ago, he said, the field produced some 800 bales of hay. This year, it produced only a dozen.“The drought’s been tough,” Criddle said. Before last year, he’d never had to buy hay for his cows. This year, he’ll likely have to buy hay again, as more than 87% of the county is now experiencing extreme drought conditions after a winter with record-low snowfall.Lish, who also grows crops without irrigation, said that wells in the valley are limited.“That’s the Achilles’ heel of this area. There’s just a lack of groundwater, and then, of course, sparse rainfall,” he said. To accumulate enough moisture to grow wheat, Lish leaves his fields fallow every other year, allowing the soil to stock up on water.While Criddle and Lish have fought to hang on to their land over the past six decades, climate change and the loss of small-scale farming have reshaped their community.“You don’t have family farms anymore,” said Criddle’s wife, Keedrin. “The families can’t survive on a farm.”As neighbors sold their land to corporations or moved out of Downey altogether, the town’s services have struggled to stay open. Over the years, the rural hospital closed, along with the town’s bank, pharmacy, movie theater, grocery store, and farm-equipment shop. Gone too are the dairies and granary. Otto Kitsinger So when representatives from Hecate knocked on the Criddles’ door in 2023 proposing a lease for solar development, Steve and Keedrin heard them out. And while the couple didn’t sign a contract, they realized how such a lease could bring them a stable source of income, which they could use to hire help and reinvest in the long-term sustainability of the farm.The Criddles now have 11 grandchildren, with another one on the way. Steve often thinks about what he’ll leave for the next generations.“I don’t want my kids to have to work this hard,” he said.Lish, who did sign a contract with Hecate, said the decision didn’t come easily. But, he added, it would have been “kind of irresponsible” not to consider the opportunity. With solar, the per-acre income projections were four to five times higher than with wheat alone, Lish said.“Lots of people have lots of opinions on what you’re going to do to your ground. I get that, and I can appreciate it. But we love this land too, and we’re not going to do something that’s going to be harmful,” Lish said. “We’re just looking at something that’s going to help us continue on to multiple generations.”A few years earlier, Lytton Bastian, below, another farmer in Downey, had found himself contemplating the same questions. Otto Kitsinger Bastian, who was born and raised in Bannock County, is a multigenerational farmer and father of six. He owns over 2,000 acres in the valley. Balanced Rock was interested in 840 of those acres adjacent to the Populus substation, a parcel Bastian currently uses as a gravel pit and as cattle pasture for a month each fall and spring. In 2021, he signed a five-year contract with Balanced Rock that includes modest quarterly payments. If the ban lifts and Balanced Rock installs solar, the payments would increase.Bastian’s neighbor is Falcon. She criticized his decision to lease to Balanced Rock, saying that he sold out to make more money than he could with agriculture.“My biggest issue is that it’s all ag land,” Falcon said. “They’ll take the grain; they’ll take the hay; they’ll take the cattle; they’ll take it all.”Bastian said he only went through with the contract because Balanced Rock wanted his “least productive piece of ground.” An irrigated parcel would have been out of the question, he said. “Any normal farmer will not sell out good prime ground, because that’s hard to come by.”At the February 2024 hearing at the high school, Bastian was among the few local farmers who spoke in favor of solar.For Bastian, the stakes are getting higher. His contract with Balanced Rock is up at the end of this year. He thinks the renewal hinges on the county overturning the ban. Otherwise, he fears that the company could go the way of Hecate and look elsewhere.“If the ban is lifted, the short answer is yes, we will move forward with our project,” said Katarina Bagri, a senior manager of development at Balanced Rock who’s leading the Harmon Solar Project, which includes Bastian’s land. “If there’s still a ban, there’s not many options, so we’ll just have to see what are the options left.”It’s not just individual landowners who stand to miss out if the ban continues. Property tax payments from solar development would also deliver revenue to help the town bring back much-needed local services, like a grocery store. Balanced Rock, anticipating that the ban would be lifted, offered the city of Downey $100,000 in direct payments last fall via a community benefit program.If Balanced Rock is unable to build, the city will not receive this money. Hough addressed this directly in an op-ed published in the local paper in February. Counties with bans in place, he wrote, “will watch the projects — and the money — go elsewhere.”Just outside Downey, the northbound portion of Interstate 15 stretches over a pass and opens onto a sprawling valley. Golden fields give way to towering peaks. It’s part of why Falcon, who grew up in Utah, moved to Idaho: The landscape is all mountains and rolling hills. The idea that solar panels could become part of the view is unthinkable.“I think, my goodness, why do you have to build it where we live?” Falcon said.Falcon and her husband, Rudy, bought their 80-acre parcel of land in Downey more than three decades ago. That was before the Populus substation was built within view of their house. Now, transmission lines crisscross their land and that of their neighbors.“It is the ugliest thing on this planet,” Falcon said about the substation. “I wish it wasn’t there.”In the coming years, two new high-voltage transmission lines will join the existing lines running through Populus. They’re part of the yearslong Energy Gateway project being built by PacifiCorp, one of the largest utilities in the West. The goal is to improve the region’s power transportation and reliability as energy demand grows, said Jonathan Whitesides, a spokesperson for Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp that operates in Idaho.As much as Falcon doesn’t like looking at the substation, she understands the need for transporting power. Rudy works for the Bonneville Power Administration and is often on the road in Washington and Oregon building substations himself. But solar, to Falcon, is a different story. She said that she struggles with the amount of land it requires to produce power, a talking point that’s been popularized by the fossil fuel industry.She and Hauser, her Downey neighbor, have continued to speak out against solar since the 2024 ban. Hauser is active on community Facebook pages, and Falcon runs an email chain to share information with friends and neighbors. “I wasn’t willing to be quiet about it,” Hauser said.For years, the women have regularly filed public records requests with Bannock County and the federal government. That’s how they discovered that a month after Bannock County voted to maintain its ban, Balanced Rock applied for federal authorization for a second solar project, called Harmon II. The project, like Harmon I, was slated for 300 MW, and its application outlined solar and battery energy storage development on approximately 1,300 acres of public land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Bannock County. Harmon II was proposed on land adjacent to Harmon I, which had stalled because of the county’s ban.In July, Bagri from Balanced Rock acknowledged that the company had been sitting on the application. “All of our focus is on the private land, [the] initial 300 megawatts. So once we make progress with that, we’ll figure out whether we want to pursue an expansion,” she said. In August, Balanced Rock officially withdrew its application for Harmon II.Falcon and Hauser saw the second project as evidence of a lack of transparency from the developer.“The public has a right to know this will change this valley for 50 years,” Falcon said. “We will have left that mess to our children and grandchildren, because who’s going to guarantee who owns it in 50 years to decommission it and clean it up? You can’t make those kinds of guarantees.”Bagri said the guardrails the county was considering in early 2024 — which are now baked into the ordinance the commissioners will vote on this fall — include provisions on decommissioning. The draft ordinance stipulates that in order to get projects permitted, developers must pay into a bond and submit a plan for the removal of all energy infrastructure at the end of the project’s lifetime. Bagri said these plans involve restoring project sites “back to as close to preconstruction condition as possible.” Today, project lifetimes range from 35 to 40 years, she said.Still, for Hauser and Falcon, the feeling of disempowerment persists. Falcon pointed to other counties across the state, including Ada County, home to Boise, that have taken matters into their own hands to “put a limit” on development. In Ada County, solar is now prohibited on prime farmland, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In southeast Idaho, some of Bannock County’s neighbors, like Caribou County, have also banned utility-scale solar, though others, such as Power and Bingham counties, have embraced it.“If you don’t build in the brakes, they will run you over,” Falcon said.For all their ire toward solar, Falcon and Hauser see promise in nuclear energy. That puts them in the majority: In January, Bannock County surveyed residents to gauge public opinion on nuclear energy. Over 700 people responded, with 90% indicating favorable views toward the industry.Hough was surprised by the results. “I didn’t think our community could agree on anything,” he said.Southeast Idaho is home to Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which leads the nation’s advanced nuclear research. As part of the Trump administration’s embrace of nuclear energy, the lab was given priority in May 2025 to expedite construction of on-site microreactor test beds. The U.S. Department of Energy announced in July that INL will receive $60 million as part of a public-private partnership to use AI in nuclear energy development and operation. Buzzy nuclear startup Oklo aims to build its first fission reactor there.Plus, next door in western Wyoming, the Bill Gates-backed TerraPower is building what it hopes will be the country’s first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant. The project, now under construction in rural Kemmerer, is expected to be completed in 2030 and will supply PacifiCorp with up to 500 MW of power.The excitement around INL and the TerraPower project leaves many in Bannock County wondering when their big opportunity might come along. In July, the Bannock County commissioners hosted a public educational forum with INL to discuss how the county could get involved with small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and nuclear manufacturing.Falcon and Hauser were both in attendance. They said they’d much rather see the development of nuclear energy in Bannock County than renewables. “If you can have 30 acres with a semitruck-size nuclear plant on it, why wouldn’t you do that? Why would you give up thousands of acres to solar?” Falcon said.But the construction of SMRs and the broader nuclear revival touted by Trump remain highly uncertain prospects.Only two next-generation nuclear projects in the U.S. have received construction permits: TerraPower’s Kemmerer 1 and Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Neither has an operating license, however.Even if more projects obtain licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission amid Trump’s push to streamline permitting, the SMR industry is far from a sure thing. Most companies are proposing first-of-a-kind projects rife with engineering and economic unknowns. There’s little to no supply chain for the type of fuel many SMRs are designed to use. The United States’ first fully licensed SMR project was canceled in 2023 over cost concerns. Only two commercial SMRs operate in the world today — one in Russia and one in China.Dustin Manwaring, a Republican state representative for Pocatello and a land-use and development attorney for Balanced Rock, is an ally of Hough’s. He said the commissioner wants to usher in a future where Bannock County leads Idaho’s burgeoning nuclear industry.“[It’s] a worthy, noble thing to do,” Manwaring said. “If you take a step away, I don’t know how realistic that is. I love that he’s trying.”In the near term, Hough recognizes that bringing nuclear power to Bannock County could take years. That’s why he doesn’t want to turn down other types of economic development — like solar and wind — in the meantime. “Everybody’s claiming nuclear is the future, which it is, but nuclear is 10 years away, maybe, so you’ve got to have something to help get you there,” Hough said.Some clean energy advocates, like Linda Engle with the Portneuf Resource Council, the region’s environmental nonprofit, are optimistic that the support for nuclear energy could help overturn the ban. “With the nuclear piece in there, hopefully it gets passed,” Engle said.For all the community debate, the future of clean energy in Bannock County ultimately rests on the decision of the three commissioners. To Commissioner Moser, who in 2024 voted in favor of the ban, the choice isn’t black-and-white.Hanging on the walls in Moser’s office are two landscape paintings depicting Idaho’s wilderness. In one, a crisp blue stream is flanked by forest and purple mountain cliffs; in another, two people perch on a log, fishing rods in hand, waiting patiently for a catch. Moser has arranged the paintings, which were created by his now-grown son, so he can see them while sitting at his desk. On another wall, a second pair of paintings depicts the American Revolution. In a snowy forest scene, George Washington kneels beside a horse, praying.Five days before the Fourth of July, Moser sat in his office, considering the paintings. “I love our country, the freedoms that we enjoy — 250 years is amazing,” he said. “God created this for us. I’m a steward now. I’ve been called to take care of it.”It is this ethos that guides Moser, who was born in south Bannock County, as he contemplates the county’s new energy ordinance.Moser’s fears have to do with solar site cleanup and the risks of battery fires. Moser is not alone in these concerns; they are often cited by solar opposition groups, which point to rare but devastating instances of battery fires in California. Such anxieties are also spreading nationwide. In December 2025, the volunteer fire departments in Downey and Lava Hot Springs, another rural community in south Bannock County, sent letters to the county commissioners warning that they were unprepared to fight battery fires and would need special equipment and training to do so.Bagri said Balanced Rock has tried to ease concerns about decommissioning and fire risk. During the numerous public hearings in 2024, representatives from both Hecate and Balanced Rock responded to the community’s concerns. “They addressed every one of those fears head-on, concisely with facts, and I thought they communicated very well,” said E.J. Zita, a rancher in Robin, Idaho, who’s had residential solar on her property for over a decade. But she said the anti-solar camp had dug in. “People didn’t listen; they just didn’t hear it.”Despite his fears, Moser said he understands the weight of his responsibility.That’s why he’s tried to educate himself about Idaho’s energy needs over the past two years. In 2025, Moser visited a 40-MW solar project in neighboring Power County, a 20-minute drive west from Pocatello. The visit was organized for the Bannock County commissioners by Balanced Rock. The same year, Moser and Hough attended the energy academy hosted by Idaho Power in Boise and had conversations with Rocky Mountain Power. Language in Bannock County’s new draft ordinance requires energy developers to help local fire departments with training and equipment for dealing with battery fires.In June, Moser said he recognized that there’s a need for growth in Bannock County. He’s not the only one whose opinion has shifted. Wade Egan, the former chair of the county’s volunteer planning and development council, was “neutral” about the ban passing in 2024. Egan grew up next door to Dale Lish in Downey and now farms around 5,000 acres in the area. He has friends on both sides of the issue.This time around, though, Egan is pro-solar. Echoing Hough, Egan said he sees it as a matter of property rights. “I really do believe the right to control and own personal property is as fundamental as speech,” he said.Moser, meanwhile, is focused on getting things right for future generations. Pointing to the landscape paintings in his office, he spoke about the Idaho wilderness that he wants his son and grandchildren to enjoy.“It’s not a personal choice. It’s hard choices,” Moser said. “We wake up at two o’clock in the morning thinking about them, and it isn’t a simple deal.”This article was co-published with Canary Media, a newsroom covering clean energy.This story was produced by The Daily Yonder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Are you a DINK? How to manage your money when you don't have kids Are you in a DINK (double income, no kids) household? Whether you and your partner are waiting to expand your family or have no plans for children, being kid-free can impact your finances in a variety of ways. If you fall into the DINK category, take full advantage of this period of your life with these tips from Ally Financial.Financial planning essentials for DINK couplesWhether you have combined finances or keep separate accounts, make the most of your extra funds by being on the same page about budgeting.Setting financial goals togetherAre you saving up for a dream wedding, investing in your retirement or putting money aside for a down payment on a home? Whatever your priorities, it’s important to set financial goals that matter to both you and your partner.Maximizing your two incomesTo make the most of your double income, first determine how much your household earns. Then, review joint expenses, including needs (think rent, utilities, etc.) and wants (like dining out or entertainment). Understanding your full financial picture will help you set realistic goals and determine where you can spend and save.Preparing for the unexpectedYou can’t plan for every possibility, but setting up an emergency fund can help. You’ll want to have easier access to this money, so consider keeping it in a savings account, rather than in investments.Consider life insuranceAdditionally, life insurance is an important piece of creating financial security for you and your partner. Without kids, you might think it isn't as much of a priority, but it can help take care of your significant other financially in the event of your passing.The amount of life insurance you need depends on your life stage, goals and budget. One rule of thumb is to purchase a life insurance policy worth approximately 10 times your income. But you may need more depending on your individual needs.Planning for retirementWithout the costs of kids, DINKs may also have more money to put toward retirement. Depending on your personal, professional and financial goals, that could mean an early retirement. If that is one of your goals, consider contributing a little bit extra from your paycheck.Preparing your legacyEstate planning is an important but sometimes difficult part of planning your financial future. Whereas couples with children might leave their assets to the next generation, DINKs might choose other options like donating to a charity, or leaving assets to family and friends.Free to choose your financial futureDINK status means you have some clear-cut financial benefits: Two incomes and more flexibility with where that money goes. Make sure your budget reflects your priorities and you consider using extra income to plan for unexpected expenses, invest more for retirement and prepare your legacy.This story was produced by Ally Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	DeWitt’s Lincoln Park to host annual Autumn Fest with live music, car show, and family fun The DeWitt Chamber & Development Company will host its free 39th annual Autumn Fest on Sept. 25 and 26 in Lincoln Park, featuring a Friday night movie followed by a Saturday car cruise-in, live music from The Hot Rods, and family activities.
	Future of regional tourism and storytelling takes center stage at Destination QC! 2026 National travel experts and local visionaries will gather on Oct. 29 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Rhythm City to reveal a fresh strategy for regional economic development and community storytelling, as hosted by Visit Quad Cities
	The states where home insurance is becoming unaffordable in 2026 Florida has the highest average home insurance premium in 2026, according to new Insurance.com data fielded by Quadrant Information Services; rates climbed to $8,471 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability, a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible.Other states with average home insurance rates over $5,000 are:Nebraska ($5,513)Colorado ($5,511)Oklahoma ($5,378)Kansas ($5,289)Louisiana ($5,185)But the states with the highest premiums aren't necessarily the states where insurance costs are rising the fastest. Massachusetts had the largest percentage increase, with average premiums rising 42.9%. Nebraska had the largest dollar increase, at $960. And while rates remain below average in Massachusetts, steep increases are cause for concern.Below, Insurance.com looked at the states with the highest home insurance costs, how they compare with the national average, which states saw the biggest increases, and which states saw the biggest decreases.Key Takeaways:Florida has the most expensive home insurance in the country in 2026, with an average annual premium of $8,471.Six states have average home insurance premiums above $5,000 a year: Florida, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana.Massachusetts had the largest percentage increase in home insurance premiums, at 42.9%.Nebraska had the largest dollar increase, with average premiums rising $960.Where is home insurance least affordable in 2026?Florida has the highest average home insurance premium at $8,471 annually, $5,599 above the nationwide average of $2,872.Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana all have homeowners insurance premiums above $5,000 a year. Severe weather risks, including hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and other catastrophic events, can contribute to higher insurance costs, although the factors affecting premiums vary by state. Insurance.com All of these states have premiums above the national average:Florida: The average premium rose to $8,471 per year in 2026. It’s by far the most expensive state for homeowners insurance, despite legislative efforts to bring rates down, and saw an increase of 6.8%. Hurricane risk and companies leaving the state created a crisis that the state has still not recovered from.Nebraska: Nebraska saw the largest increase among the top 10 states at 21.1% and has the second-highest average home insurance premium at $5,513 per year.Colorado: Colorado, also up year-over-year, has the third-highest average home insurance premium, at $5,511 a year.Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s rate rose moderately by 7.3%, making it the fourth most expensive state at $5,378 a year.Kansas: Kansas had the smallest increase among the top five states, but still has the fifth-highest average annual home insurance premium, at $5,289.Louisiana: Louisiana, which faces home insurance issues similar to those in Florida, with hurricanes and company departures, has the sixth-highest average home insurance premium, at $5,185 a year.Texas: Texas, prone to a variety of severe weather, has the seventh-highest average home insurance premium, at $4,582 a year.Kentucky: Kentucky saw a double-digit increase of 10.6% and has the eighth-highest average home insurance premium at $4,471 per year.North Carolina: North Carolina had the biggest decrease of any state in the top 10, down 6.3%, but still has the ninth-highest average home insurance premium, at $3,799 a year.Missouri: Missouri’s average rates also dropped slightly, but at $3,783 annually, it still ranks in the top 10.How much more do homeowners in the most expensive states pay compared to the national average?Florida homeowners pay about three times the national average for home insurance, a difference of $5,599 above the national average of $2,872. All with rates over $5,000 a year, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana residents pay about twice the national average. Insurance.com The six states with the highest home insurance premiums pay significantly higher rates than the national average:Florida: Florida homeowners pay an average of $5,599 more than the national average.Nebraska: Nebraska homeowners pay an average of $2,641 more than the national average.Colorado: Colorado homeowners pay an average of $2,639 more than the national average.Oklahoma: Oklahoma homeowners pay an average of $2,506 more than the national average.Kansas: Kansas homeowners pay an average of $2,417 more than the national average.Louisiana: Louisiana homeowners pay an average of $2,313 more than the national average.How is home insurance impacting home affordability?Home insurance can add hundreds of dollars to a homeowner's monthly housing costs, depending on the state and the home's cost. Homeowners with an escrow account typically pay their insurance premiums as part of their monthly mortgage payment. In the most expensive state, Florida, where the average mortgage payment is $1,957, the average monthly home insurance cost of $706 brings the homeowner’s total monthly cost to $2,633. For those on a tight budget, that cost may push homeownership out of reach.The table below shows how adding home insurance costs to your monthly mortgage affects average payments in each state. Mortgage payments are based on Rocket Mortgage data for the average monthly payment in each state, and home insurance is based on the average cost of a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible, as well as a 2% hurricane deductible in applicable states. Note that mortgage payments vary significantly with the amount financed, and insurance premiums vary with home reconstruction costs. Insurance.com What is the average home insurance premium in every state in 2026?Average premiums in 2026 range from $738 in Hawaii, the least expensive state, up to $8,471 in Florida, the most expensive. That’s a difference of more than $7,700 between the cheapest and priciest states. Hawaii’s average rates are always much lower than in other states, because standard policies don’t include coverage for hurricanes. Insurance.com Despite the largest percentage increase of any state (+42.9%), Massachusetts ranks only 31st at $2,112, well below the national average of $2,872.Which states had the biggest home insurance rate increases in 2026?Massachusetts had the largest percentage increase in average home insurance premiums, rising 42.9% from 2025 to 2026. However, Massachusetts' 2026 average premium of $2,112 is still below the national average of $2,872. Minnesota had the second-biggest increase at 22.1%, driving rates to $3,333 a year, $461 above the national average.Rate changes are driven by local factors, including severe weather and construction costs.“Generally, market conditions differ by geography and are influenced by weather risk, rebuilding costs, claims patterns and insurer participation,” Michele J. Campbell, director of communications for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, said.Massachusetts’ aging homes may be contributing to rate increases, Campbell added.“Massachusetts has a relatively older housing stock, and the Coverage A amounts are adjusted each year by carriers, usually based on third-party indexes (following consumer price index). Houses in Massachusetts also have size and construction characteristics that differ from those in other states, leading to differences in replacement/reconstruction cost, driving differences in premium,” she said.Nebraska, Colorado, Kentucky, and Texas are the only states that appear in both the top 10 most expensive list and the top 10 fastest-rising list, meaning homeowners there face both a high absolute cost and a fast-rising one.The table below shows the states with the largest percentage increases in average home insurance premiums from 2025 to 2026. A state can have a large percentage increase without having the highest premiums overall, and a state with expensive insurance may see little change from one year to the next. Insurance.com The top five states with the biggest home insurance premium increases are:Massachusetts: Massachusetts’ average home insurance premiums increased from $1,478 in 2025 to $2,112 in 2026, a 42.9% increase. As Campbell noted, the state has many aging homes. It’s also a coastal state, vulnerable to hurricanes.Minnesota: Severe storms, including tornadoes and large hail, have increased claim costs in the state. Average home insurance premiums increased from $2,729 in 2025 to $3,333 in 2026, a 22.1% increase.New Mexico: New Mexico average home insurance premiums increased from $2,869 in 2025 to $3,497 in 2026, a 21.9% increase. According to the Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk to Communities, New Mexico’s wildfire risk is high.Nebraska: Nebraska, situated in “Tornado Alley” and prone to severe storms as well as damaging winter weather, saw average home insurance premiums increase from $4,553 in 2025 to $5,513 in 2026, up 21.1%. Nebraska also had the largest dollar increase of any state at $960.Maryland: Maryland average home insurance premiums increased from $1,906 in 2025 to $2,242 in 2026, a 17.6% increase. Rates are still below average, but Maryland is not immune to the severe weather risks that are increasing nationwide.Home insurance affordability in 2026: The most important takeawaysEven in states where rates have been slow to increase and stayed low, home insurance rates can take a big hike from one year to the next. Massachusetts’ 42.9% increase from 2025 to 2026 demonstrates the big impact of a market adjusting for skyrocketing costs caused by inflation, severe weather and other factors.The cost of home insurance is a major factor in the ability to own a home, affecting home buyers even in states where the monthly mortgage payment is on the lower side. In Nebraska, for example, the average monthly mortgage payment is $1,761, while the average monthly cost of home insurance is $459, driving up a homeowner's monthly payment to $2,220.Those costs can surprise homeowners on renewal and push their budget to the breaking point. Campbell reminded homeowners of the importance of reviewing their policy annually to ensure coverage is accurate and of shopping around to find the best price.“Homeowners should talk with their insurance agent or company, and review their coverage carefully. Consumers should make sure their dwelling limit reflects the cost to rebuild and understand their deductibles and endorsements,” she said.“Homeowners should also ask their insurer whether they qualify for available discounts or whether particular mitigation measures could lower their premium,” Campbell added. “The Division of Insurance also strongly encourages consumers to shop around for coverage. The Massachusetts home insurance market is a competitive marketplace, and insurers compete for business.”FAQs: Rising home insurance costsWhat state has the most expensive home insurance in 2026?Florida has the most expensive home insurance in 2026, with an average annual premium of $8,471 for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage, a 2% hurricane deductible and a $1,000 deductible for all other perils. That's nearly three times the national average of $2,872.How much is the average home insurance premium in Florida in 2026?The average home insurance premium in Florida in 2026 is $8,471, up from $7,928 in 2025, for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability, a 2% hurricane deductible and a $1,000 deductible for all other perils.Which states have the highest home insurance costs after Florida?The states with the next-highest home insurance costs after Florida in 2026 are Nebraska ($5,513), Colorado ($5,511), Oklahoma ($5,378), Kansas ($5,289), and Louisiana ($5,185).How does the most expensive state compare to the national average home insurance cost?Florida’s average home insurance premiums for 2026 are $8,471, and the national average is $2,872. Florida’s premiums are almost three times the national average.Which state had the fastest-rising home insurance premiums in 2026?Massachusetts had the fastest-rising home insurance premiums in 2026 at a 42.9% increase. Average premiums rose from $1,478 in 2025 to $2,112 in 2026.Is the state with the fastest-rising premiums also the most expensive?No, Massachusetts had the fastest-rising premiums with an increase of 42.9%, while Florida had the most expensive home insurance for 2026 at an average of $8,471 annually.What is the average home insurance premium in the U.S. in 2026?The average home insurance premium in the U.S. in 2026 is $2,872, based on a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage, a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible in applicable states.MethodologyInsurance.com commissioned home insurance rates in every state and Washington, D.C., through Quadrant Information Services. Rates were fielded in the summer of 2026.National and state home insurance averages are based on the following parameters:An HO-3 homeowners policySingle-family home, two stories, two-car attached garageBuilt in 19972,000 square feetFrame construction with composition roofingGood creditCoverage limits are set at:$300,000 in dwelling coverage$300,000 in liability coveragePersonal property coverage of $150,000 (50% of dwelling coverage)Other structures coverage of $30,000 (10% of dwelling coverage)Loss of use coverage of $30,000 (10% of dwelling coverage)Medical payments coverage of $5,000A $1,000 deductibleA 2% hurricane deductible in applicable statesLearn more about the data and methodology.This story was produced by Insurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Survey: How US restaurants are handling inflation, labor, AI, and revenue growth The state of the U.S. restaurant industry in 2026Restaurants are proving their durability in 2026.Each year, Toast polls hundreds of restaurant operators to get a pulse check on the industry. How are restaurants faring in 2026? What are the biggest pain points? Where do they see opportunity, and how has that changed since last year?What was clear from the 2026 survey from April 3, 2026, to April 20, 2026, of 676 restaurant operators and decision-makers, is that restaurants are durable, and they’re doubling down on being busy and effective to achieve their business goals.And the data backs it up: 91% of operators rate their business as good or excellent — matching last year's high mark — with growth and efficiency topping their list of priorities.This is a blind survey of operators and decision-makers with 16 or fewer locations in the United States and includes both Toast and non-Toast customers. Respondents were not informed that Toast was conducting the study.Key takeaways from the 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey:Restaurants are durable: 91% of operators rate their business health as good or excellent, unchanged from 2025.Inflation (27%) and hiring (22%) are the top two challenges, and both rose more than any other pain point year over year (+7 and +6 points).Profitability is the No. 1 goal (37%), and operators are increasingly pursuing it by serving guests in new ways and staying busy, not by cutting.AI is now mainstream: 87% of operators feel comfortable using AI, and nearly 9 in 10 are experimenting with it.Growth is the plan: bringing in more guests is the top revenue focus.What's the state of the restaurant industry in 2026?Restaurant operators are proving remarkably resilient in 2026. Despite rising inflation and hiring difficulties, 91% of operators polled said their business is good or excellent, holding steady with last year's strong showing even as external pressures mounted.That confidence runs deep: More than 8 in 10 operators feel neutral to extremely comfortable with the current macro climate. Larger operations ($1 million+ GMV) are naturally keeping a closer eye on conditions than smaller ones, but across the board, the overwhelming majority remain steady and optimistic about where their business is headed.What are restaurants' biggest challenges in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:Inflation: the No. 1 challenge for operators, with 27% ranking it in the top three difficulties for their restaurant in 2026, up 7 points year-over-year.Hiring: 22%, the No. 2 challenge, up 6 points year-over-year.Guest foot traffic: 15%, no change year-over-year.Managing finances: 15%, no change year-over-year.Increasing guest throughput: 14%, up 2 points year-over-year.Marketing: 14%, down 2 points year-over-year.Conducting cost of goods and services (COGS) analysis: 14%, up 2 points year-over-year.Inflation has been a challenge for many this year, and it’s no surprise that, among surveyed operators, it’s the number one challenge they face in 2026. Hiring the right staff to keep things running smoothly was the next top concern for restaurant operators, and both of these challenges rose significantly in 2026 compared to last year. The remainder of the top challenges remained relatively consistent with last year, with good foot traffic rounding out the top three. Toast What are restaurants' top business goals in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:Improve profitability: the No. 1 goal for operators, with 37% of operators ranking it as their top three goals, down 3 points year-over-year.Increase guest demand: 30%, up 1 point year-over-year.Improve employee productivity: 28%, up 3 points year-over-year.Increase the number of ways I generate revenue: 27%, up 6 points year-over-year — the biggest riser.Increase same-store revenue: 24%, up 2 points year-over-year.Improve employee retention: 22%, down 1 point year-over-year.Start using new tech to run the business better: 20%, down 3 points year-over-year.Simplify operations: 20%, up 1 point year-over-year.Increase guest throughput/turn times: 20%, up 1 point year-over-yearProfitability is the top business goal for restaurant operators in 2026, with 37% of operators ranking it their number one priority, which is in line with the most important goal from last year’s survey.Also shifting is the way in which restaurants meet that goal of profitability. 30% of operators hope to increase guest demand, and 28% want to improve the productivity of their employees. The biggest jump year-over-year was the goal of increasing the ways restaurants generate revenue, such as adding a new service model, like catering, retail, or online ordering. This signals that restaurants aim to get busier to hit their goals, instead of cutting staff or services to increase their topline. Toast Are restaurants hiring in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:Increase staff: 49% of operators polled hope to grow the number of staff they have, down 11 points year-over-year.Keep the same number of staff: 48%, up 10 points year-over-year.Reduce staff: 3%, up 1 point year-over-year.Don't know: 1%.Restaurants are almost always hiring. But fewer restaurants plan to increase the number of employees they have in 2026 compared to last year. Still, nearly half (49%) of restaurant operators in this survey said they plan to increase staffing levels, compared to 60% in our 2025 survey. A similar number (48%) plan to keep the same number of employees, and just 3% plan on reducing the number of staff they have. Toast How are restaurants handling labor challenges?Among the 676 operators surveyed:51% of operators polled will increase staff efficiency & speed of service should labor challenges increase.Increase employee retention strategies: 49%.Optimize shift scheduling: 45%.Implement technology to reduce staff and guest touchpoints: 35%.Purchase hiring software and/or a recruiter: 27%.Reduce menu size: 23%.Reduce tables available: 20%.As mentioned earlier, hiring is the number two challenge for restaurants in 2026. So what are they doing to manage the pain if labor challenges increase in the next 12 months? The top strategies are increasing staff efficiency and retaining those great employees. Restaurant operators polled say they are focused on investing in their team and the workflows they use to manage labor, rather than cutting things like the size of the menu or the number of tables available.*Labor challenges refer to the difficulty in finding and retaining staff at your business, as well as, paying them a competitive wage. Toast Which restaurants feel the most economic pressure in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:Larger operators ($1 million+ GMV): extremely comfortable 18%, comfortable 43%, neutral 13%, concerned 22%, extremely concerned 4% with current market conditions.Smaller operators (<$1 million GMV): extremely comfortable 25%, comfortable 45%, neutral 18%, concerned 11%, extremely concerned 1% with current market conditions.Every restaurant is different and faces its own unique challenges, but larger restaurants are more concerned about current market conditions than smaller ones.26% of restaurants operating with a Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of $1 million or more said that they were concerned about the current market conditions, such as inflation, tariffs, the labor market, consumer spending, and the political climate. Meanwhile, that number shrank to just 12% of restaurants operating with a Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of less than $1 million. Toast How are restaurants responding to inflation and rising food costs?Among the 676 operators surveyed:43% of operators polled will increase prices on menu items if the cost of goods rises, down 5 points year-over-year.Tightly manage/run leaner inventory: 39%, up 12 points year-over-yearConduct menu profitability analysis at the item level: 35%, down 3 points year-over-yearStart tracking the price of key ingredients: 33%, up 4 points year-over-yearAdjust the number of food suppliers used: 29%, down 2 points year-over-yearRestaurant operators are increasingly looking at more disciplined inventory to keep costs down, while fewer are looking to raise menu prices compared to last year.Still, 43% of restaurant operators said they will increase menu prices if the cost of goods increases in the next 12 months, but that’s down five points compared to last year.Operators are increasingly looking at other avenues to control costs. 39% of respondents said they will tightly manage their inventory or manage a leaner inventory in response to rising costs, a 12-point jump from 2025. And 33% of operators polled said they will start tracking the price of key ingredients, a 4-point increase from 2025. Toast How comfortable are restaurants using AI in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:87% of operators polled feel comfortable using AI, up 1 point year-over-year.Will use AI more in the future: 85%, up 4 points year-over-year.Believe AI will help them be more efficient at work: 81%, no change year-over-year.Trust AI with their business needs: 81%, up 2 points year-over-year.Say AI tools offer great value for the money: 81%, up 3 points year-over-year.A lot has changed in the past year when it comes to artificial intelligence. Tools are more powerful, reliable, and integrated into platforms to give better and new insights. Operators are embracing the new tech, but their feelings toward AI are similar to the survey last year.87% of restaurant operators polled in Toast’s 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey say they’re comfortable using AI, which is up one point compared to 2025. And 85% of respondents said they will use more AI in the future, up 4 points compared to last year. Toast How are restaurants experimenting with AI?Among the 676 operators surveyed:19% of operators polled are actively experimenting with AI on their own, but not through vendors: (QSRs 16% · FSRs 23%).Actively experimenting with AI through vendors, but not on their own: 42%.Experimenting both on their own and through vendors: 25%.Considering AI but haven't started: 11%.Not considering or using AI: 2%.Nearly 9 in 10 restaurant operators polled said they are currently experimenting with AI, but how they’re doing so shifts a little bit by segment. Only 19% of operators said they’re experimenting with AI on their own, with that number increasing to 23% for full-service restaurants (FSRs) and just 16% for quick-service restaurants (QSRs). Which makes sense — the more complex the operation, the more areas there are to experiment with, and they may feel more comfortable.42% of respondents said they were experimenting with AI through one of their tech vendors, and 25% said they’re experimenting both on their own and with their tech vendors.But just 11% of operators polled said they’re considering AI but haven’t started experimenting, while only 2% of respondents said they aren’t considering the technology or using it at all. Toast How are restaurants planning to grow revenue in 2026?Among the 676 operators surveyed:Increase guest demand (bring in more diners): 47% overall — the top focus for both sizes, at 53% of $1 million+ operators and 43% of <$1 million operators.Adding new revenue streams (catering, online ordering, etc.): 26% overall — 24% of $1 million+ operators and 28% of <$1 million operators.Increasing check sizes: 16% overall — 14% of $1 million+ operators and 17% of <$1 million operators.Opening a new location: 11% overall — 10% of $1 million+ operators and 12% of <$1 million operators.Busy is the goal, and for the majority of restaurant operators, bringing in more guests to serve is the key to unlocking more revenue.And that’s more pronounced for larger operations with over $1 million in GMV. 53% of restaurant operators at these restaurants said it was their number one priority to drive more revenue, compared to just 43% of operators whose restaurants bring in less than $1 million in GMV.Those smaller operators, though, are more focused on adding new revenue streams like catering and online ordering to bring in more revenue. Toast The bottom line: durable, efficient, and leaning into growthThe story so far in 2026 is that restaurants are operating with familiar challenges in years past, but they’re leaning into the hard work with a growth mindset. Operators are navigating cost and labor pressures, and are protecting their profitability through efficiency, optimized menus, keeping their teams happy and intact, experimenting with AI, and betting on guest demand.The challenges at play are familiar for restaurants, and their instinct to turn them into momentum is also something we’ve seen from this durable industry.DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation.Frequently asked questionsWhat are the biggest challenges facing restaurants in 2026?According to Toast's 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey, operators surveyed said that inflation and hiring are the top two, cited by 27% and 22% of operators respectively — and both rose more than any other challenge year over year (+7 and +6 points).Do restaurants feel profitable and healthy in 2026?According to Toast's 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey, operators surveyed said that confidence is steady: 91% of operators rate their business health as good or excellent, unchanged from 2025, and improving profitability remains the #1 business goal (37%).Are restaurants hiring in 2026?Yes. According to Toast's 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey, operators surveyed said that 49% plan to increase staff and 48% plan to keep staffing steady over the next 12 months, while only 3% plan reductions. Hiring plans cooled from 2025 (60% planned to increase) but remain healthy.How are restaurants using AI in 2026?According to Toast's 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey, 87% of operators surveyed feel comfortable using it, 81% say it offers great value for the money, and nearly 9 in 10 are experimenting with AI — most often through the technology vendors they already work with.How are restaurants dealing with inflation and rising food costs?Increasingly through cost discipline rather than price hikes: 43% of operators polled in the 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey would raise menu prices (down 5 points), while tighter inventory management jumped 12 points to 39%, and roughly a third are conducting item-level menu profitability analysis or tracking key ingredient prices.How are restaurants planning to grow in 2026?By bringing in more guests. According to Toast's 2026 Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey, operators surveyed said increasing guest demand is the top revenue focus for both larger (53%) and smaller (43%) operators, with smaller restaurants also leaning into new revenue streams like catering and online ordering (28%).Methodology2026 Survey MethodologyTo help better understand the restaurant industry, Toast conducted a blind survey of 676 restaurant decision-makers operating 16 or fewer locations in the United States, including both Toast and non-Toast customers, from April 3, 2026, to April 20, 2026. Respondents include a mix of both full-service and quick-service restaurants. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Panel providers granted incentives to restaurant respondents for participation. Using a standard margin of error calculation, at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error of +/- 4%.2025 Survey MethodologyTo help better understand the restaurant industry, Toast conducted a blind survey of 712 restaurant decision-makers operating 16 or fewer locations in the United States, including both Toast and non-Toast customers, from April 18, 2025, and May 13, 2025. Respondents include a mix of both full-service and quick-service restaurants. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Panel providers granted incentives to restaurant respondents for participation. Using a standard margin of error calculation, at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error of +/- 4%.2024 Survey MethodologyTo help better understand the restaurant industry, Toast conducted a blind survey of 755 restaurant decision-makers operating 16 or fewer locations in the United States including both Toast and non-Toast customers from May 17, 2024 to June 2, 2024. Respondents include a mix of both full-service and quick-service restaurants. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Panel providers granted incentives to restaurant respondents for participation. Using a standard margin of error calculation, at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error on average is +/- 4%.This story was produced by Toast and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Just Us & Treats ice cream shop hosts grand opening Saturday in East Moline Just Us & Treats ice cream shop grand opening celebration will have face painting, music, giveaways, ice cream and more.
	Julia Jacklin on her latest album, 'The Gem' The Australian musician's newest album is named for a neighborhood bar in Melbourne that just so happens to have a recording studio upstairs.
	Showery couple of days Scattered showers are likely across the Quad Cities into the weekend. Temperatures will continue to run below average for late September. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	'To Catch a Predator' drama 'Primetime' brings the sleaze, and it's almost enough Primetime dramatizes the story behind the series To Catch a Predator. It's full of big swings from the director and the actors — but doesn't engage with the most complicated questions the series raised.
	Netanyahu rages against critics, including Mamdani, at UNGA Middle East crises in focus as UN General Assembly hears from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Yemen.
	Netanyahu rages against critics, including Mamdani, at the U.N. General Assembly Middle East crises in focus as UN General Assembly hears from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Yemen.
	Fill in the blank in the quiz: Trump's says his triumphal arch will include _____ Plus: It's a very special week! But which one?
	Mom! Mom! MOM! 3 ways to stay calm in stressful parenting moments Parenthood can be overwhelming. A therapist and mom of three shares techniques to help calibrate your emotions — so you can show up better for yourself and your family.
	Trump's state dinner for Xi features sea bass and a long list of tech titans A tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it, who sat where and what was on the menu marked the softer — often and glitzier — details of diplomacy as Donald Trump threw a Thursday night state dinner honoring China's leader Xi Jinping.
	Man shot during 2024 Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died James Copenhaver, one of three campaign rally attendees shot in 2024 during an assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump, has died in Pittsburgh, his lawyer said Thursday. He was 76.
Thursday, September 24th, 2026
	Clean Elections fraud fight goes to court as Green Party candidates seek to block repayment Risa Lombardo, a Green Party candidate for governor, is being accused of fraudulently qualifying for public campaign financing. On Aug. 27, 2026, the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission is expected to consider asking her to repay the $2.8 million her campaign was given. (Screenshot via Google Ads Transparency Center)The attorney for two Green Party candidates accused of fraudulently obtaining public campaign funding and lawyers for the commission that regulates that funding sparred in Maricopa County Superior Court Thursday over whether the commission has the power to make candidates repay ill-gotten funding. Tim La Sota, the attorney for Risa Lombardo and Duwayne Collier, the Green Party nominees for governor and secretary of state, argued that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission had overstepped its legal authority for political reasons, in an attempt to derail their campaigns. Although he said his clients had done nothing wrong and were being unfairly targeted, La Sotat later admitted that the candidates had violated Clean Elections regulations that they agreed to in exchange for the public campaign funding. If Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Iyer Julian fails to block the Clean Elections Commission from attempting to claw back the funding, La Sota said that their campaigns would remain frozen through the general election. “The Commission has made them afraid, which is the Commission’s purpose,” he said. “It’s Tom Collins’ purpose to intimidate these candidates into silence.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. La Sota said that both candidates had stopped spending their public campaign funds last month, after Collins, the commission’s executive director, sent them letters informing them of an investigation into their campaigns. In the letter, Collins “strongly encouraged” Lombardo to stop spending public campaign funds and to seek legal representation, but made clear that the commission hadn’t made any final decisions and was still in the midst of its investigation. Attorneys Craig Morgan and Bill Richards, representing Collins and the five-person bipartisan commission, respectively, said there was no evidence that their clients had any political axe to grind against the candidates — but there was evidence suggesting the candidates may have committed fraud. Lombardo, Collier and Republican Scott Neely, who lost his primary for governor to Andy Biggs, are all being investigated by the Clean Elections Commission and the Arizona attorney general for allegations that they falsified documentation for enough $5 contributions from voters to qualify for a collective $4.7 million in public campaign funds. Like other Clean Elections candidates, Lombardo, Collier and Neely agreed to forgo large contributions and money from PACs in exchange for a fixed amount of public funding, based on the office they seek. Last month, the Arizona Mirror exclusively reported that six people who were listed in campaign finance records as having made $5 contributions to all three candidates were adamant they didn’t give any money to the candidates. “I can tell you right now, with 1,000% certainty, that I did not make a single contribution, let alone three of them,” Christopher Scott of Peoria told the Mirror when asked about forms filed by the candidates showing he had donated $5 to each in order to help them qualify for Arizona’s public campaign finance program. La Sota mentioned the article numerous times during Thursday’s hearing, and dismissed what voters told the Mirror, suggesting instead to the judge that they forgot they made the contributions. While La Sota said that the Clean Elections Commission’s investigation is “largely based” on the Mirror’s reporting, Collins told the commission during its Aug. 27 meeting that he had already been conducting his own investigation. The Mirror’s reporting, he said, confirmed what he’d already found. Both the Mirror and Collins separately found that thousands of donors were listed as contributing $5 to all three campaigns on the same days. Many of them had never made a contribution to any other candidate, according to campaign finance reports. Voters rarely donate qualifying contributions to more than one Clean Elections candidate, but the Mirror’s analysis found that the three long-shot candidates reported collecting contributions from nearly 4,000 of the same voters — including more than 2,600 who were listed as giving to all three La Sota tried to convince Julian that, because the Maricopa County recorder and the Arizona secretary of state approved the Green Party candidates for public funding after determining that the candidates’ qualifying contributions came from registered voters and contained what looked like those voters’ signatures, the Commission couldn’t take back that funding months later. He argued that only the secretary of state had the power to approve or deny that funding. La Sota failed to note that all six of the people who spoke with the Mirror said they had signed unrelated petitions in grocery store or marijuana dispensary parking lots within the past year, and believed their information and signatures had been taken without their knowledge from the petitions to be used instead to qualify the candidates for public funding. The attorneys for Collins and the commission countered that the Clean Elections Act not only gave the commission the power to investigate possible fraud, but required it to do so. Morgan argued that the court couldn’t block the Commission from taking action, because whatever action it might take hasn’t been determined. The investigation is still underway with an Oct. 29 deadline for completion. After that, he said, the candidates could contest the commission’s decision. La Sota said that at that point, days before the Nov. 3 election, the candidates’ campaigns would be effectively over, even if the investigation found no wrongdoing. “They haven’t actually issued an order, and they never will, because once Nov. 3 comes along, they don’t have to issue an order,” La Sota said. “It’s done with and they don’t have to do anything.” Morgan reminded the judge that the Clean Elections program is voluntary and that the commission hadn’t ordered Lombardo or Collier to stop spending campaign money. The decision to do so, he noted, was a choice they voluntarily made after Collins sent them the letters informing them of his preliminary findings, advising them that a formal investigation was likely and warning them that they could be on the hook to repay the money. “Nobody has told them they can’t do anything,” he said. “They’re making a choice. And maybe it’s because they’re being cautious, maybe it’s because they’re guilty as hell and they know it, I don’t know.” But La Sota said that Collins and the Commission had violated the candidates’ First Amendment rights by telling them how they could spend their public campaign funds and attempting to bully them into halting their campaigns. Morgan called La Sota’s allegations of First Amendment violations “absurd.” La Sota said that because Collins mentioned in his letter to Collier and Lombardo that the Green Party had disavowed them and called them “sham” candidates, it was proof that the investigation was political. “Collins admitted in his letter he doesn’t like these candidates, that the Green Party called them a sham, and he put that right in his letter,” he said. “There’s a political element here… There’s obviously a political axe to grind because he said it himself in his letter. In the letters, Collins questioned how the candidates had the infrastructure to collect thousands of $5 contributions, without spending any money, and without the support of their party. The Arizona Green Party accused Collier and Lombardo of being Republicans in disguise, aimed at pulling progressive votes from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to help Republican candidates Andy Biggs and Alex Kolodin. Lombardo was a local Republican Party official until days before she filed her intent to run for office last year and has extensive ties to the Republican Party. Both candidates hired multiple businesses and people closely tied to the AZGOP to work for their campaigns. While La Sota correctly argued that candidates aren’t allowed to pay people to collect $5 contributions, Collins told the Commission on Aug. 27 that it didn’t make sense that the candidates reported spending nothing on coordination of those volunteers or supplies for them. La Sota dismissed as minor other campaign finance violations that the commission was investigating, saying that the candidates had no knowledge of any wrongdoing. “I mean, you collect 4,300 signatures, candidates can’t know every single person who gives them a $5 contribution when they run for governor,” he said. Lombardo signed each $5 contribution slip, attesting under penalty of perjury that she had personally received the $5 contribution from the voter who signed the form. La Sota admitted during an Aug. 27 Clean Elections meeting that Lombardo had not collected all of the $5 donations herself but signed all of the forms anyway because she was confused about the rules. And he downplayed additional concerns highlighted in Collins’ letter that the candidates failed to disclose subcontractors they hired to do work for their campaigns, as is required by state law and Clean Elections rules. Lombardo and Collier both made large lump sum payments to Bootstrap Campaigns, a shadowy Nevada business created by California GOP political operatives weeks before Lombardo made her first payment to it. Neither candidate disclosed payments to Uncle Sam Petitions or O’Neil Printing on their campaign finance reports, despite evidence that both businesses did work for their campaigns. La Sota said that didn’t matter, because Collins figured out who their subcontractors were on his own. “He’s basically sort of filling in the gaps about how, precisely, the money was spent, in the same letter where he’s saying, ‘You’re going to have to repay misspent monies,’” La Sota said of Collins. “It doesn’t make any sense.” Lombardo and Collier paid more than $1 million in public campaign funds to Bootstrap for a wide variety of services that even major, established firms would typically delegate to subcontractors. That makes it likely that the campaigns used other subcontractors that weren’t disclosed. Richards asked Julian to imagine that the candidates did receive the public campaign funds fraudulently, and what it would mean if she ruled that the commission had no authority to claw back those funds. “It may well be that that fraud was so good that it fooled the Secretary of State’s Office,” he said. “But Mr. La Sota is saying, ‘Great, that’s a win to the candidate who’s committed the fraud. If they pull the wool over the eyes of the secretary of state, that’s it. The Clean Elections Commission can do nothing about it. The money can be spent. The public dollars could be expended, even though they were not lawfully obtained.’” Julian said she would take the arguments under advisement and hoped to issue a decision early next week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	Race to succeed Vern Buchanan in CD 16 is getting increasingly interesting Map of Congressional District 16As Donald Trump’s poll numbers continue to erode, some Republicans, even in Florida, are slightly backing away from being linked to the president. Sydney Gruters is not one of them. The 44-year-old Sarasota resident is running against Democrat Kelly Kirschner and NPA candidate Mark Davis to succeed longtime Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan in Florida’s 16th Congressional District — dramatically reconfigured in the mid-decade redistricting earlier this year in Tallahassee. Gruters is a former legislative and political aide to Buchanan whom Trump appointed in his first term as rural development state director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her most recent job was vice president and executive director of the New College Foundation, the Sarasota college transformed from a progressive, arts-focused campus to a conservative redoubt in a state-directed makeover led by Gov. Ron DeSantis. She is best known in political circles as the spouse of Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, a very Trump-friendly Sarasota state senator and former Republican Party of Florida chairman whose close alliance with the president paved the way for his election to lead the RNC a year ago. Sydney Gruters (photo from New College of Florida) “I am proud to have his endorsement,” Sydney Gruters said of Trump in a recent interview with WFLA News Channel 8 in Tampa. “He has done a phenomenal job. He’s been elected to be our leader overwhelmingly by the American people, and that is not something I’m running away from. I’m very proud to have his endorsement and I’m very much looking forward to working with him when I get elected.” Kirschner, 51, is a former Sarasota mayor and city commissioner who has also served in higher education. He was vice president and dean in the division of executive and continuing education at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg for 13 years before stepping down from that position last year. Wild card Former veteran and businessman Mark Davis, 42, is the third person on the ballot, running as a progressive non-party-affiliated candidate. “I’m just a regular dude in the middle of Florida who decided that ‘enough is enough,’ and I just got upset one day and during Trump 2.0 and I think that we’re all tired of this Trump administration and decided to something about it,” Davis said this week in a virtual candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters (LWV). “I got loud and vocal online and made some pretty large scenes in the local community. I stood up to Ron DeSantis, and really it was the community that said, ‘Hey Mark. We love your fire. We love your tenacity. We would like you to run,’” he said. The district previously was primarily located in Manatee County but now sprawls across six counties after Florida Republicans rewrote its boundaries in a project designed to snag as many as four additional seats for the GOP — Manatee, southern Pinellas (including downtown St. Petersburg), eastern Sarasota, southern Polk, and the rural, agriculture economies of Hardee and DeSoto counties. With Republicans the party in power as an unpopular war grinds on with attendant high gas prices, Democratic candidates up and down the state have published internal polls indicating surprising strength in GOP strongholds, like CD 16. Kirschner recently released an internal poll showing him leading by a single point in the race, even though the district is a 13-point Republican-leaning district, with 27% NPA voters. “I’m increasingly telling people that this won’t be a razor thin or narrow margin of victory. It’s going to be a healthy margin of victory on Nov. 3,” he told a Phoenix reporter on WMNF 88.5 radio in Tampa last week. Gruters doesn’t refute that Kirschner is doing better than expected. “If you look at polling right now, it’s not as great as we would all want it to be,” she acknowledged while addressing the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee in Clearwater earlier this month. “That doesn’t mean we’re not going to win. We’re going to win, but we all have to work together. We all have to be united, because guess who is united? The Democrats.” She’s running on affordability and ending corruption in Congress. She says she supports congressional term limits and a ban on stock trading for members of Congress. Kirshner scoffs at her platform, saying her husband has presided over “the transactional politics” of the past decade in Tallahassee, which he says Republicans, Democrats, and independents are “fed up with.” “They’re fed up with the machine-style, Tammany Hall-style politics in the state of Florida, nowhere more evident in Sarasota-Manatee counties, where Joe has presided over the Sarasota County Republican Party,” he said. Gruters replies that Kirschner “may paint himself as a moderate, but he is anything but that,” citing his stance on Medicare for all. Kirschner says he supports “looking into” the idea; Davis says that for his part he’s an unapologetic supporter of universal healthcare. Those stances baffle Gruters. “What is the government doing that is so amazing that you’re going to entrust them to managing this?” she said during the LWV forum. She cited her time working with the USDA on rural development, and said she’s seen the hospitals and health community centers providing access to care for people in places like Wauchula and Arcadia. “The federal government is supporting that growth and that economic development … for these communities to make sure that every resident has access to affordable, safe, quality healthcare.” Kirschner says the first thing he’d push for if elected is to have Congress restore the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies added by the Biden administration during the pandemic that were allowed to expire at the end of last year, removing around 440,000 Floridians from that coverage, according to the Associated Press. Big differences on immigration When it comes to immigration, Gruters takes a hardline perspective. Joe Gruters sponsored Florida’s 2019 law banning sanctuary cities, legislation that has been the vehicle for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to threaten elected officials with removal from office when they expressed concerns about or opposition to working with ICE. “Under the last administration, we had over 15 million undocumented immigrants come into this country,” she says, adding that all six sheriffs in the district support her campaign. “Because they know that we have to start with safe communities, and when you’re letting people who come in here, who are violent criminals, murderers, it affects all of us. And so I think we have to be more outraged for the victims of illegal immigration and those who are coming in here unlawfully.” The Pew Research Center reported in August 2025 that the unauthorized immigrant population reached a high of 14 million in 2023, with 3.5 million entering the U.S. from 2021-2023, the first two years of the Biden administration. “Abolish ICE,” says Davis. Republicans for Kirschner Kirschner, a Bradenton native, recently held a press conference to announce that a handful of Republicans were endorsing him for the seat, including Dan Miller, who represented Sarasota in Congress from 1992 to 2002. “All my life, I’ve voted Republican. This year, I’m voting for the person, not the party label,” Miller said. Gruters was not impressed. She told WFLA TV, “If I were him, I’d be more focused on my base,” adding, “57% of the Democrats voted against him in the primary.” While it’s true Kirshner received a plurality (43%) and not a majority in his primary race, he was running against four other Democrats and beat the second-place finisher by more than 23 points. During this campaign, Kirshner has taken plenty of verbal shots at Gruters’ husband Joe, but he also has assailed Republican leadership overall, alleging a lack of fiscal conservatism at New College of Florida; Sydney Gruters served as executive director of the New College Foundation the past two years. NPA candidate Mark Davis (from his campaign Facebook page). “Prior to the takeover of New College, a New College degree cost all of us as taxpayers less than $60,000 to pay for that degree,” he said this week. “Today, we are spending nearly half-a-million dollars for a degree from New College. The vast majority of those students are now athletes; it’s no longer an honors college. It is the height of Tallahassee grift … .” According to a report by Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency last November, it now costs $494,715 to produce a degree at New College, far surpassing any other state institution. A note about Davis: He was arrested in July on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer when Manatee County sheriff deputies were serving a court order at his home while conducting a court-ordered welfare check on his children. Davis has said child services were called to his house because of “my political beliefs.” He told WTSP 10 News that he raised more than $5,000 after the arrest became public. Inside Elections, a nonpartisan analysis website, noted some movement in the race, but not too much. The organization last week shifted the race to “Likely Republican.” Meanwhile, the campaign could get rougher if Kirschner continues to hang around. Observers believe the Gruters’ ties to the White House will bring additional financial resources to their campaign if needed next month. “Sydney Gruters is the fighter families need to lower costs, cut taxes, keep communities safe, secure our border, and put Florida first,” says RNC spokeswoman Emma Hall. “Democrat Kelly Kirschner doesn’t stand a chance with socialist hack Angie Nixon and far-left lunatic David Jolly at the top of the Democrat ticket.” Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Ed Lamp This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Ed Lamp is 97 years old. He still lives by himself in one of a cluster of small homes and cottages along the Rock…
	Fundraiser set up for victim of fatal LeClaire crash Moriah Rosa was killed in the crash, and her three children were critically injured.
	Iowa City schools devastated after loss of student and teacher on Lake Macbride The school community will wear black and yellow on Friday in honor of the victims.
	Popular Astronomy Club celebrates 90 years of exploring the skies The Quad Cities club invites you out to its next public observation night on Oct. 3 in Rock Island's Longview Park.
	High diesel prices pressuring school bus budgets in the Quad Cities Rising diesel prices are putting pressure on school districts that operate their own buses, while one district says another fuel source is helping control costs.
	MetroLINK celebrates addition of electric vehicle charging stations in the QCA Because of increased need in the Quad Cities, MetroLINK has opened new electric car charging stations in Moline and East Moline in 2026. MetroLINK has more similar projects planned for 2027, all part of an effort to embrace new technology. "Just to utilize all the new technology that is coming out," said Jennifer Hirsch, chief [...]
	Cook review: 'Resident Evil' is enjoyable horror regardless of whether you're a gamer This is the most fun you'll ever have at a movie inspired by a video game. This is far from the original "Resident Evil" franchise. I had a great time, and although I noticed a couple of obvious nods to video games I had no way of knowing what Easter Eggs I missed that players [...]
	‘Tone deaf’: Rep. Moore backs Sen. Curtis’ call to investigate Trump Jr. gift from Russian oligarch Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, speaks during a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics in Salt Lake City on Sept. 24, 2026. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch)Utah Rep. Blake Moore said on Thursday that he “absolutely agrees” with Sen. John Curtis’ call to investigate Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish, private-island wedding after-party that was bankrolled by a Russian oligarch with ties to President Vladimir Putin. “Maybe one of the most tone-deaf things I’ve ever seen,” Moore said, “to take money from a Russian oligarch for a wedding.” Moore’s comment about Curtis’ calls came in response to a question near the end of a speaking event in front of students at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, hosted by the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank based in Utah. Moore is currently running to stay in Congress. In the upcoming Nov. 3 general election, he’s slated to compete for Utah’s new 2nd Congressional District against four other candidates — Democrat Peter Crosby, Libertarian Daniel Cottam, Independent American Carlton Bowen and unaffiliated candidate Robert Moesinger. Students listen as Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, speaks during a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics in Salt Lake City on Sept. 24, 2026. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) Curtis earlier this week issued a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, asking them to “launch an investigation into the use of presidential family relationships for private financial benefit, preferential treatment, or access by domestic and foreign interests.” A toaster is a wedding gift. A private-island party paid for by a Putin-connected oligarch is something else. Republicans nearly wore out the subpoena machine investigating Hunter Biden’s foreign relationships. We should not unplug it now. ‘Trust us’ was not enough then, and it is not enough now. — Senator John Curtis (@SenJohnCurtis) September 22, 2026 In the letter, Curtis urged the committee to subpoena both Trump Jr., and Hunter Biden “to testify regarding their past business dealings, relationships with foreign individuals and entities, gifts, or other benefits they have received, and any instances in which their relationship to the President was invoked or understood to provide value.” Curtis noted that Hunter Biden “conducted substantial business with foreign entities, including interests in China and Ukraine,” while his father, former President Joe Biden, was in the White House. Hunter Biden has previously been investigated, but Curtis said “congressional testimony has produced conflicting accounts about the extent to which his father’s name, presence, or political stature played a role in those relationships.” While Hunter Biden has denied involving his father in his business dealings, Curtis wrote “there is little question that President Biden’s decades in public office gave his son a degree of access, name recognition, and influence that materially enhanced his value in business dealings and opened doors that otherwise may have remained closed.” In a social media post that included a copy of the letter, Curtis wrote that “Republicans nearly wore out the subpoena machine investigating Hunter Biden’s foreign relationships. We should not unplug it now.” Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, speaks during a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics in Salt Lake City on Sept. 24, 2026. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) Curtis’ calls to also investigate Trump Jr. came after ProPublica reported earlier this month that Umar Kremlev, the Russian oligarch close to Putin, attended the wedding and “footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses.” Last week, President Trump said his son would pay back Kremlev while also defending the payments as “very common” and “totally allowed,” The New York Times reported. Moore said Thursday he was “really involved in the Hunter Biden stuff” as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has oversight of the IRS, while Hunter Biden was investigated for tax evasion. In 2024, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. Later that year, President Biden pardoned his son. Moore, however, made a distinction between Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden. “So there’s a difference between evading taxes, that’s a criminal penalty, versus taking a gift that’s going to be an ethical decision at some point,” Moore said. “But I absolutely agree to look into anything.” Moore reiterated that “it’s just tone deaf, and it’s just not the type of stuff that we need to, you know, be dealing with right now.” “I appreciate that they gave the money back, but why in the world is there not somebody advising them?” Moore said. “Like … this is going to be a bad look, if nothing else, other than highly, highly unethical.” It’s unclear what will come of Curtis’ calls to investigate, if anything. Congressional Republicans are split on whether to back his subpoena requests, and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee haven’t committed to opening an investigation, the Deseret News reported Wednesday. Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, mingles after a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics in Salt Lake City on Sept. 24, 2026. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	Judge accepts plea deal of woman who operated Davenport massage parlor A Scott County judge has accepted the plea deal of a woman who operated a Davenport massage parlor where police said illicit activity in the form of prostitution took place.
	Gov. Sherrill seeks Lt. Gov. Caldwell’s resignation over alleged ethics violations A new report alleges that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell violated ethics rules by making crass remarks to women who worked for him and by seeking a promotion for a state worker he was dating. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Gov. Mikie Sherrill called for Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign Thursday evening after an outside investigation found he had committed sexual harassment, sought promotions for a state employee he was dating, and brought uninvited guests to ticketed events without payment or reimbursement. The 61-page report says the 66-year-old former Centenary University president made sexual comments to a staffer after being rebuffed by her friend and continued to violate ethics rules despite repeated trainings on workplace conduct. It also says he continued to seek a promotion for his romantic partner even after having been admonished for doing so. “The investigation found that the Lieutenant Governor engaged in serious, repeated violations of state policy and failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office. I’m calling for his resignation and giving him until tomorrow to do so,” Sherrill said in a statement Thursday evening. It’s not clear what force lies behind her ultimatum. Caldwell, who is also secretary of state, was elected and can only be removed from the lieutenant governorship if he resigns or is impeached with a two-thirds supermajority in the state Senate. Caldwell denied many of the allegations and his attorneys disputed the report’s findings in a statement Thursday. “We firmly disagree with the three findings,” Thomas Calcagni, one of his attorneys, said in a statement. “Dr. Caldwell believes that a fair review of the complete record will show that the conclusions reached in the report go far beyond what the evidence establishes.” Caldwell was elected in November along with Sherrill. Both are Democrats. New Jersey Republicans have been calling for Sherrill to be more transparent about the investigation into Caldwell. Assemblyman John DiMaio, the Republican leader of the Assembly, criticized the governor for “dropping a report after business hours on a Thursday night.” “Now that the investigation is complete, she owes the public answers in real time. What did she know about the warnings to Caldwell, when did she know it, and why was he allowed to remain in office while this dragged on?” DiMaio said in a statement. “The governor should have stood before the press tonight and answered every question. Instead, she released a statement and left everyone else to sort through the wreckage. That is unacceptable. She needs to hold a full press conference tomorrow.” Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell speaks during his inauguration at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor) Inappropriate comments The investigation into Caldwell by former New Jersey Attorney General Chris Porrino was prompted by an anonymous ethics complaint that alleged Caldwell brought uninvited female guests who were granted free entry to ticketed events because of his position and that he was “hitting on women at functions while traveling using taxpayer money.” It found the lieutenant governor flirted with a much younger friend of a female staffer, who shared an account of the incident with an official at a state agency. Later, Caldwell asked the staffer about the woman’s relationship status. After she told him her friend was uninterested, Caldwell said ambitious women needed a man to help them, “but you young women are looking for young sperm.” The staffer memorialized the statement with a timestamped photo of a nearby statue, the report says. A state trooper present in the vehicle where the exchange took place said he did not recall the remark but added he did not typically pay attention to conversations in the back seat, it says. Caldwell told investigators he asked for the woman’s phone number but denied making the remark about sperm. He said he did not recall bringing up the staffer’s friend in the car. Calcagni said there is no proof the comment was ever made. “The question is not simply whether investigators believed one person over another,” Calcagni said. “The question is whether the evidence actually proves that a violation occurred. In our view, the evidence does not support these findings.” Some staffers recounted other inappropriate comments, including one where the lieutenant governor, walking with a female staffer on either side, said having one on each arm made him look good. Caldwell denied that comment was about physical appearances and said he made similar comments to men. Numerous witnesses told investigators Caldwell was overheard saying he was looking for a “first lady,” and a senior staffer in the lieutenant governor’s office said he asked her to find him one. Caldwell was “pushy” when she refused, the senior staffer told investigators. “These violations substantiated in the investigation reflect a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this Administration. The ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings,” Sherrill said. Caldwell told investigators the remark was not serious, the report says. A portion of an investigative report that alleges Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell made a crass remark to a female subordinate. Ethics violations The investigation found Caldwell in an email sought a promotion for a state worker he was dating who worked within a different executive department. Officials told him the woman would not be promoted and warned him of how his request could be perceived. He made a verbal request for her promotion to a separate official in the department. Caldwell did not initially disclose their relationship on either occasion, the report says, though one of his staffers informed other officials of their relationship. Caldwell told investigators he regularly forwarded resumes people sent to him and did not direct anyone to hire them. The conduct would only rise to the level of an ethics violation if he insisted on their hiring, Caldwell said, according to the report. “There is a difference between failing to disclose a personal relationship when forwarding the resume of a qualified job applicant and actually using the power of public office to secure a job or financial benefit for someone,” Calcagni said. Investigators said the behavior violated ethics rules that bar state officers from being involved, in their official capacity, with any matter relating to a person they are dating. “These rules do not turn on whether the LG’s request was framed as a demand, as they prohibit any attempt to use one’s official position to benefit a romantic partner,” the report says. The woman was not promoted and no longer works in state government. Investigators also identified seven ticketed events to which Caldwell brought at least one uninvited guest. Those included, among others, a show at the State Opera of New Jersey in Trenton, a Crossroads Theater Company event in New Brunswick, and a Rowan University Rosa Parks Scholarship Luncheon in Glassboro. Ticket prices for the events ranged between $65 and $300, the report says. Caldwell provided one $175 reimbursement for a friend who attended a 250th Anniversary event at Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton. He told investigators he did not fully understand the rules and denied that bringing guests constituted wrongdoing. Caldwell received ethics training upon taking office and again in February, according to the report. “We firmly disagree with the three findings,” Mr. Calcagni said. “Dr. Caldwell believes that a fair review of the complete record will show that the conclusions reached in the report go far beyond what the evidence establishes,” Calcagni said. Witnesses said he continued to bring uninvited guests despite a senior staffer’s urging he give advance warning so his team could provide reimbursement where necessary. What’s next Sherrill cannot unilaterally remove Caldwell from the lieutenant governorship, but his position as secretary of state may be less secure. Though New Jersey secretaries of state typically serve terms concurrent with the governor’s, a 2003 Office of Legislative Services legal opinion opined that the governor could remove a secretary of state or attorney general for cause. Those cabinet posts enjoy enhanced job protections, and some legal scholars have disputed that legal opinion, which predates the amendments to the New Jersey Constitution that created the lieutenant governorship. “In my Administration, we are committed to doing what is right, not what is politically expedient. The Lieutenant Governor’s resignation is necessary and in the best interest of New Jersey residents,” Sherrill said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	Iowa Medicaid fraud unit reports 37 convictions, calls for more use of False Claims Act The head of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit said his team secured 37 fraud convictions and recovered $3.9 million during the previous fiscal year, but said more could be done.
	Celebrate 4 years of The Eclectic Market! Help celebrate fours years of The Eclectic Market! The Eclectic Market features offerings from curated vendors from all over the region as they offer vintage/upcycled clothing and accessories, handmade jewelry, art, plants, apothecary, whimsy and delight, all while shopping local. Check out DJ Ramiro the Haj laying down the soundtrack for the market and so [...]
	Questions raised over possible misuse of Flock camera data by Whiteside County sheriff's deputy After an inquiry from the Washington Post, the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office is holding an internal investigation, and the deputy involved is on leave.
	Botanical Center, Rock Island, will present first Market in the Gardens The Quad City Botanical Center will have its first Market in the Gardens from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, a news release says. A collaboration with Made Market, the event will feature a curated mix of local makers, art, clothing, candles, pantry staples and more. This event is free for Botanical Center and FunBundle [...]
	Area high schools honored for outstanding financial aid application rates Dozens of Central Illinois high schools went above and beyond when it comes to financial support for students who want college to be their next stop after graduation.
	Beatification Mass for Blessed Fulton J. Sheen Thursday, Sept. 24 marks the Beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Join 25News starting at noon for special coverage celebrating the life and legacy of Fulton Sheen.
	ISP highlights safety checks across Illinois The Illinois State Police is urging parents and caregivers to check their children's car seats during Child Passenger Safety Week.
	Henry Co., Illinois, Coroner identifies woman who died after crash near Galva The crash was reported near Illinois Route 34 and 1850 East in rural Galva.
	TV6 Investigates: Metro Flock cameras logging millions of vehicles a month In a recent 30-day period, Bettendorf’s cameras logged more than 10.3 million vehicle detections, according to data obtained by TV6 Investigates.
	The Heart of the Story: Historic hunting dogs Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. Come along as friends and family gather to [...]
	East Moline Public Library debuts Electric vehicle chargers MetroLINK said the level three chargers can add between 100 and 250 miles of range to an electric vehicle in about 30 to 45 minutes.
	Quad Cities nonprofit Lead(h)er celebrates 10 years of empowering women Lead(h)er pairs local mentors and mentees for professional development and community. You can celebrate with them at this year's Fuel the Fire Gala on Oct. 8.
	Whiteside County Animal Control director files defamation suit over social media comments The animal control's attorney said social media comments over the decision to euthanize a dog went too far.
	Bettendorf YMCA honors Dolly Parton Bettendorf YMCA hosted a Dolly Parton party, honoring the musician's life.
	Whiteside County sheriff expects more Flock audits after possible misuse The Whiteside County sheriff says an investigation into a deputy’s possible misuse of the Flock camera system could lead to increased auditing of the technology by his department and other law enforcement agencies.
	Popular Astronomy Club of the Quad Cities celebrating 90 years of space exploration The group hosts several events each month to share the world of astronomy with its members and the public. It even has a mobile observatory.
	Davenport City Council will appoint new council member The city of Davenport says it will appoint a new Ward 2 council member.
	Lawsuit filed against 2 women who allegedly made false claims against Whiteside Co. Animal Control director A defamation lawsuit have been filed against two Whiteside County women who allegedly made false claims about the county’s Animal Control director.
	Suspect involved in Cedar Rapids officer-involved shooting has died, DCI says Video shared with KCRG captured the gunshots Tuesday afternoon.
	Veteran carries golf clubs across Iowa to start conversations about mental health For the retired U.S. Army Ranger, the clubs are a way to connect with fellow veterans along the route.
	Restore hope for QCA families in need at Habitat for Humanity's Build a Dream Fundraiser You can help Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities' mission to build and renovate homes, revitalize our community and restore hope for families in need. Cassandra Erwin joined Our Quad Cities News with all the details on the Build a Dream Fundraiser. For more information, click here.
	Quad Cities nonprofit Lead(h)er to host annual gala, Girl on Fire Awards The 2026 Fuel the Fire Gala will take place on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Old Oaks Winery. Lead(h)er provides professional guidance, connection and more for local women.
	Henry Dinkins, man who killed Breasia Terrell, seeking jury trial in 2003 case The man who murdered Breasia Terrell has waived his right to a speedy trial and demanded a jury trial at a hearing Thursday.
	Colona Fire Department awarded $30,000 FEMA grant Fire officials said the funding will be used to purchase gear for each firefighter, as well as funding tuition for the Chief Fire Official Program Certification.

Friday, September 25th, 2026

Thursday, September 24th, 2026