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

Friday, August 14th, 2026
	Davenport man sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearm as felon A Davenport man was sentenced on August 12 to 115 months (just over 9 ½ years) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Deveil Oliver Jean Westerfield, 28, possessed several firearms, including a rifle with an extended magazine. Officers responded to a [...]
	Milan mayor urges RI Co. board to refuse permit for battery storage facility Milan Mayor Bruce Stickell is urging Rock Island County leaders to reject a proposed 200-megawatt battery storage plant over fire safety concerns.
	Tyson plant closure leaves 2,700 workers without jobs with no warning Tyson Foods is permanently closing its Joslin, Illinois beef plant, leaving more than 2,700 workers without jobs. The facility is expected to shut down by Monday.
	U.S. missionary who was kidnapped in Niger is released Kevin Rideout "is in good health in the care of US officials," SIM International said in a statement, adding he would soon be reunited with his family.
	Western Illinois University Quad-City campus awarded workforce grant A total of $510,754 has been invested in the program, which will start next month and end in August 2029.
	Cook review: 'The Easy Kind' docu-drama is one of the best movies of the year Where on earth did this movie come from? In a year of sequels, horror and action, here's "The Easy Kind," an indie docu-drama about a talented musician who - through no fault of her own - can't seem to fit into the Nashville music scene. The movie is based - how loosely I don't know [...]
	Bourbons Bar & Grill now open seven days a week The business said it is thrilled to be able to hang out with customers every day of the week.
	Flash flooding likely across parts of the Quad Cities Several inches of rain fell overnight into Friday morning. Several more inches are likely this morning. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Some Davenport aldermen urge constraint until impacts of tax law understood Aldermen will discuss a motion that would instruct staff to remain within the fiscal year 2027 budget until property tax changes are assessed.
	'The End of Oak Street' is a good time at the movies, plain and simple Writer-director David Robert Mitchell knows what he's doing: this movie is silly, scary, and over-the-top all at once.
	Hot and humid weather returns Saturday After highs Thursday and Friday in the upper-70s and low-80s, heat headlines may be needed Saturday as it turns hot and humid again. Severe weather is expected Friday and Saturday, especially in the overnight hours Friday into Saturday morning. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	From Europe to Asia, floods to heatwaves, world experiences weather shocks At least eight people died in Japan as heavy rains flooded roads and disrupted traffic while firefighters from Britain to France and Croatia struggled to contain blazes in Europe's fifth heatwave this summer
	Keelboats This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The Greek strongman, Hercules, performed his twelve labors satisfactorily, but had the gods really wanted to test his…
	Fill in the blank on this week's quiz: Rep. AOC is documenting ____ on Instagram Plus, which beloved animal crossed the rainbow bridge, and what bit of papal paraphernalia did Chicago baseball fans get this week?
	ICE uses controversial program to boost deportations. Here's how it works in 1 county Details on how ICE cooperation agreements work in practice have been hard to come by. NPR took a close look at how sheriff's deputies in Walton County, Fla., approach immigration-related arrests.
	Davenport Police Department earns 8th national law enforcement accreditation The Davenport Police Department has maintained its law enforcement accreditation. According to a release, the department earned its eighth award for Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The Davenport Police Department has continuously maintained its accredited status since 2003, which also distinguishes it as a meritoriously accredited agency. [...]
	New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln.
	Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit alleging antisemitism at Harvard University The decision from U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns said that President Donald Trump's administration failed to prove an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws.
	Magnetic 'Goody King' toys recalled over risk of blood poisoning, death after ingestion Building cube sets sold on Amazon are being recalled after at least two children had to undergo surgery after ingesting the magnets inside them, per the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
	Judge drops Nevada case against electors accused of forging certificate in 2020 election The dismissal marks the latest setback in swing states' efforts to prosecute fake electors who tried to keep Trump in the White House after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
Thursday, August 13th, 2026
	Phillies beat Twins 7-1 at Field of Dreams Major League Baseball came back to the Field of Dreams carrying a big piece of Cooperstown.
	Jibaro de Puerto Rico to reopen in downtown Muscatine After nearly two months of closure, Jibaro de Puerto Rico will reopen Friday, August 14. The family-owned restaurant, located at 211 W. 2nd St. in downtown Muscatine, had to close June 19 due to structural issues with their building. The restaurant has changed locations, made renovations and are ready to get back to business with [...]
	Fire leaves Burlington home uninhabitable Fire officials said no one was injured in the fire.
	Jibaro Puerto Rican Kitchen reopens in new home The restaurant was forced to leave its home when buildings on 2nd Street were evacuated due to structural concerns.
	Tyson Foods plant in Joslin, Illinois to close The company cited cattle shortages as the reason for the closure.
	Rain forces postponement of Davenport Speedway season championship races A week’s worth of rain has forced SR Promotions to postpone the Davenport Speedway 2026 Season Championship races scheduled for Friday, a news release says. SR Promotions is working with the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds and IMCA to reschedule the event. To get the latest information, visit here.
	OSF St. Joseph patients, employees safe, ISU cancels move-in for rest of Thursday after wind, rain tears through area Tens of thousands in the Heart of Illinois are without power after wind and rain blow through the area.
	Feds probe 'mention markets' amid White House Kalshi controversy Betting on what people say is becoming an increasingly popular category of prediction market sites. Now, federal officials have opened a probe examining whether those markets are a magnet for manipulators.
	QC Corporate Games will celebrate winners in friendly competition Winners of the Quad Cities Corporate Games presented by Wellmark will be celebrated at the Awards Celebration at noon Friday, Aug. 14, at the Quad Cities Tennis Club in Moline, a news release says. A QCCG record 42 companies brought athletes together to engage in friendly competition and team building. Corporate champions (listed in order of first, second and [...]
	Clinton man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for trafficking meth, possessing firearm A man who lost his duffel bag containing meth, cash and a handgun was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Wednesday.
	Getting to Know Josh Sallows and Barry Long Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	Red Cross prepares for possible flooding as more rain moves into QC With more rain on the way and much of the area under a flood watch, the American Red Cross is preparing to respond if flooding impacts communities across the Quad Cities.
	5 pediatrician-backed tips to beat back-to-school anxiety Along with the excitement of new teachers and classmates, back-to-school season often brings a wave of anxiety—not just for kids, but for parents too.
	Coal Valley man arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a child A Coal Valley man was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a child by Illinois State Police on Thursday.
	U.S. ambassador to NATO visits Davenport Matt Whitaker spoke at an event hosted by the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.
	Davenport man arrested for allegedly driving getaway car in July 4 shooting A Davenport man is charged in Scott County District Court after allegedly driving the getaway vehicle in the July 4 shooting.
	The Heart of the Story: Birds of a feather 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. Fly along as Gary Metevier takes us to [...]
	Storms greet fairgoers on opening day of Iowa State Fair Severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and lightning met fairgoers on the first day of the Iowa State Fair, but hundreds still showed up.
	Read the new contract for Rock Island-Milan Superintendent Sharon Williams The Rock Island-Milan School Board approved the new contract on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
	Rock Island, East Moline secure grants to propel economic opportunity Rock island and East Moline have each received grants from the state to help with economic growth in their respective cities.
	[Executive Corner] The Daylight Test: Why the True Value of Perfect Black Is Revealed in Bright Rooms (BPT) - By Lee Myong Young, Research Fellow at Display Picture Quality Development Team, LG Media Entertainment Solution Company at LG ElectronicsEvery premium TV looks spectacular in a pitch-black, cave-like room. But that isn't how most of us watch. More often than not, when we actually have a moment to sit down and catch up on our must-see shows, there's either sunlight pouring in through the windows, or all the lights are on inside the house. And it is in these bright environments that the true value of a display's black levels becomes more apparent.At LG, we recognized that mastering this daylight viewing experience required a two-fold solution: maximizing screen brilliance and shielding that brilliance from ambient light. This realization led us to pair Brightness Booster Ultra, which dramatically elevates luminance, with Reflection Free Premium technology, a picture quality solution designed to help preserve OLED evo's Perfect Black1 and Perfect Color,2 even in the most brightly lit rooms.The Hidden Trade-Off of Reducing ReflectionCoatings or technologies that reduce screen glare are nothing new. The conventional approach is to scatter incoming light across the screen's surface, breaking up the sharp, mirror-like reflections that make a TV hard to watch in light-soaked spaces. It works up to a point. But it causes a side effect that we weren't willing to accept.True reflection-reduction technology must do more than simply lower the reflectance rate. It must be able to minimize reflections without compromising the original picture quality. Diffusion-based anti-reflection treatments successfully cut down on mirror-like reflections, but they frequently make the screen look hazy, blurring fine details and degrading color vibrancy.Picture a canvas painted with vivid, richly saturated colors, and then imagine someone spreading a layer of dust across the entire surface. The images on the canvas are still visible, but the colors have become muted, flat and lifeless. The same thing happens when a TV employs a conventional light-scattering coating to combat reflections: the picture is still there, but the vitality is gone.The real question, then, is not "Does your TV have anti-reflection technology?" It's "Does that technology preserve the picture quality you paid for in the first place?"Why Perfect Black Isn't Just About Dark ScenesThe impact of conventional reflection-reduction technology on picture quality goes deeper than you might realize. Take "black level" for instance. This isn't a standalone specification of interest only to tech reviewers. It's the foundation everything else in the picture is built on, including color accuracy and fine detail.Consider a tightly zoomed-in scene: a woman with blonde hair fills the screen. Around her hairline, subtle shadows help distinguish individual strands from the skin beneath. If black levels become washed out, those shadow gradations begin to disappear. You can no longer tell exactly where the hairline ends and the skin begins.The effect compounds at higher resolutions. A 4K image can only reveal the full extent of its razor-sharp detail, such as a single bead of sweat or the weave of a silk scarf, if there is enough contrast between neighboring pixels. When black levels wash out, that contrast margin shrinks and the finest details become indistinct. As a result, the benefits of 4K resolution can become harder to perceive. Not because the number of pixels has somehow shrunk, but because weakened contrast makes it difficult to perceive visual nuance and subtlety. However, when Perfect Black remains intact, all those minuscule details stay clearly defined and the overall image retains its depth and vibrancy.LG's Answer: Absorb, Don't ScatterOur answer to dealing with reflections came from an obsession with detail. Rather than scattering incoming light, LG's Reflection Free Premium technology is engineered to absorb it, taking in the vast majority while dispersing the rest in multiple directions. What little reflection remains is not enough to distract the eye. Relying on light-absorbing materials alone cannot drop a screen's reflectance below the 1 percent mark, as residual light inevitably bounces back. Through earlier advances in reflection reduction, our previous generation of OLED had already overcome this barrier, achieving an impressive reflectance rate of 0.6 percent.Pushing reflectance down by a further 0.1 percentage point required an additional technological breakthrough. To achieve this, we developed a three-layer coating designed to make incoming light waves collide and cancel each other out, much like two ocean waves meeting and flattening into calm water. Any minuscule amount of light that survives this process is then finely dispersed to minimize visible, mirror-like reflections.The road to Reflection Free Premium technology wasn't straightforward. Although the difference between 0.6 and 0.5 percent may sound marginal, developing and optimizing the three-layer coating took a year and a half of relentless engineering.The real challenge wasn't just dropping the reflectance rate but doing so without introducing secondary issues like color shifts, screen haze or loss of sharpness.Matching reflectance, color accuracy, surface quality and sharpness all at once proved to be a monumental engineering hurdle. Even the slightest mismatch in the formulation ruined the entire result. We built and tested hundreds of display samples, repeatedly refining the formulation to find the perfect balance. But in the end, as a growing number of customers can now attest, these exhaustive efforts yielded significant and measurable returns.The latest LG OLED evo displays have been independently certified by Intertek as Reflection Free Premium,3 achieving an exceptionally low reflection rate of around 0.5 percent. However, this certification goes far beyond just measuring how much light bounces off the screen. It is a comprehensive evaluation of uncompromised picture quality. Achieving the "Premium" tier signifies that the display can deliver outstanding picture quality in bright environments, reducing reflections without sacrificing resolution, low-tone detail visibility or color accuracy.This rigorous standard unlocks a new level of freedom in how we design our days around entertainment. Historically, enjoying a truly cinematic experience at home meant choosing between living in a dimly lit cave or accepting a compromise on what we saw. LG OLED evo removes this barrier entirely. By satisfying Intertek's dual demands for reflection reduction and absolute image fidelity, the technology protects from the daylight so it doesn't dilute the deep, velvety shadows and rich textures of your favorite content. You no longer have to wait for sundown or manually adjust your environment to appreciate every subtle detail on screen.Ultimately, this breakthrough actively and effectively safeguards everything that makes the OLED experience so incredible: pure blacks, vibrant colors, high contrast, smooth gradations and sharp details.Premium Picture Quality, Designed for Real LivingReflection Free Premium technology is applied to the LG OLED evo W6 and G6 AI TVs, bringing the technology described above to LG's latest flagship OLED lineup.These flagship models are powered by Brightness Booster Ultra, which achieves luminance levels up to 3.9 times brighter than conventional OLEDs.4 By pairing this intense brilliance with the glare-absorbing defense of Reflection Free Premium, LG OLED evo's signature depth and vividness remain uncompromised, even when daylight floods the room. Combining refined design with this powerful engineering synergy, our TVs deliver peak performance in real-world living spaces.For many years, the display industry wrestled with the challenge of how to lower screen reflectance without sacrificing picture quality. A rejection of the compromise solutions that have come before it, Reflection Free Premium technology is our declaration that a true premium viewing experience — and the true value of Perfect Black — should be available at any time, regardless of lighting conditions.1 LG OLED Display is verified by UL for delivering black levels ≤0.24nit up to 500lux, based on IDMS Section 11.5 Ring light reflect measurement.2 LG OLED Display is verified by UL for delivering color consistency levels >99 percent up to 500lux, based on IDMS Sections 11.5 Ring light reflect measurement.3 LG OLED display is certified by Intertek for Reflection Free measured to IDMS 11.2.2 sampling-sphere implementation. Reflection Free Premium applies to W6 and G6 series (except 97, 48-inch models).4 Brightness may vary based on model, screen size, and market region. Peak brightness is 3.9 times brighter than conventional OLED @3 percent window by internal measurements.
	Death Notice: Elmer Mess A funeral service for Elmer Laverne Mess, 86, of rural Davenport, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Our Savior Presbyterian Church, Argo. Burial will follow in Summit Cemetery, rural Davenport. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the church. McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. Mess died Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Harmony Utica Ridge, Davenport. Memorials may be made t the Scott County Historical Society at Summit Church. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Aug. 19 edition of The NSP.
	Bartlett Grain holds grand opening for grain export facility in Sheffield Bartlett Grain Company on Thursday held a grand opening for a new state-of-the-art grain export facility in Bureau County, a news release says. Because of high winds and inclement weather, the Bartlett open house was moved from the facility to the McCormick Event Center at 205 E. 3rd, Rock Falls, for safety reasons. Bartlett’s Sheffield [...]
	Tyson Foods closing its plant in Joslin, Illinois The company cited cattle shortages as the reason for the closure.
	Comedian Leslie Mitchell previews Alternating Currents performance Mitchell, a winner of the "funniest person in Iowa" award, joined The Current to talk about her work and what makes Alternating Currents so special.
	Local leaders respond to closure of Tyson plant in Joslin Politicians and local business leaders are reacting after Tyson announced it is closing its beef plant in Joslin, Illinois.
	Crime Stoppers: Rock Island County authorities search for man wanted on forgery warrant Jacob L. Frank is wanted by Rock Island County law enforcement for failing to appear in court on a forgery charge.
	Crime Stoppers: Iowa Corrections searches for man wanted on probation violations and theft charges Reggion L. Anderson is wanted by Iowa authorities for probation violations stemming from assault and first-degree theft.
	Tyson Foods closing Joslin facility Employees received a letter on Thursday informing them most job responsibilities are ending today and tomorrow.
	Rock Falls holding annual 'Art in the Park' event Shop local art, check out new sculptures and more at the annual event!
	River Bandits game to air free on COZI 6.3 and KWQC+ Stream the Quad Cities River Bandits Saturday game for free live on COZI 6.3 or the KWQC+ app starting at 4:30 p.m. from Modern Woodmen Ballpark.
	$1 billion Powerball jackpot ticket sold in Illinois One of the largest Powerball jackpots ever has finally been won.
	Burlington firefighters respond to structure fire A structure fire in Burlington last night left a residence uninhabitable. A news release from the Burlington Fire Department said crews responded to a report of a structure fire in the 1000 block of Iowa Street on August 13th at about 10:30 a.m. They arrived within four minutes and saw flames and smoke from the [...]
	Shop local art, check out new sculptures at Visit Rock Falls' annual 'Art in the Park' event Visit Rock Falls said the annual Sculpture Walk started in 2018 as a way of bringing art, culture and color to the RB&W District.
	Burlington home uninhabitable after Thursday morning fire Fire officials said no one was injured in the fire.
	Tyson ends operations at its Joslin plant Tyson Foods is making strategic changes to its beef operations to "position the company for long-term success," according to its website. The company will end operations at its Joslin, Illinois, beef facility and its Eagle Mountain, Utah, case-ready facility, the website. Capacity from these locations will be moved to more strategically located facilities with ample [...]
	Tyson announces Joslin plant closure Tyson Foods announced they are closing their Joslin, Illinois, plant on Thursday.
	Tyson closing Joslin plant, no date given Tyson confirmed the closure, but did not give a date or say how many employees would be affected.
	Eldridge City Council votes 3-2 to advance second fire department ordinance readings Eldridge City Council member Adrian Blackwell joined Brian Dockery in opposing the second reading of two ordinances designed to establish a municipal fire department during a special city council meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 12. Blackwell voted for the first reading on Aug. 3, but changed his vote Wednesday, saying it had been his understanding that the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company would be more involved with the process going forward. Meanwhile, Dockery asked if he and council member Ryan Iossi could sit down with members of the EVFC to discuss outstanding issues with the transition, and specifically if the Oct. 1 deadline imposed by the EVFC could be softened. Assistant fire chief Dave Engler, who was in the audience, indicated he might be amenable to a meeting. The Oct. 1 deadline was cited as a sticking point by the other three members of the council, Jeff Ashcraft, Scott LaPlante and Iossi, who voted in favor of advancing the second reading. They said, with the deadline looming, they did not support slowing down the process. The vote followed more than a half hour of public comment, during which residents almost exclusively urged the council to slow the process down. Several residents expressed fear for themselves, their neighbors and their property, as the full membership of the EVFC has said they will decline to serve on a municipal fire department. Others accused the council of not listening to resident concerns. Marilyn Leonard urged the council to consider response times and also expressed concern that the city was opening itself up to liability “because of senseless loss of life due to a plan that is not well thought out. “Public safety cannot be an afterthought,” she continued. “I certainly am not feeling safe with the decisions you have made. I certainly am not feeling safe with your lack of a complete and transparent plan.” She asked the council to pause, hold open work sessions, and present a clear operational plan the residents. James Fitzgerald acknowledged, “The City of Eldridge and the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company have both made mistakes and both have genuine concerns. The volunteers have served this community well for decades, and the city has a legitimate duty to oversee taxpayer funds. Neither of those truths cancels out the other. But I believe we are heading towards a cliff.” Fitzgerald said no one has signed up to volunteer after Oct. 1, the fire chief application deadline isn’t until Aug. 23, and no transition team yet exists for the municipal fire department. “That is not a plan, that is hope,” he said. He also expressed concern that the transition itself may cost more than the budget request the EVFC put forth and residents “may spend more to end up with less.” Fitzgerald also said there was a risk to homeowners if fire protection weakened, and many residents could see their homeowner’s insurance increase. He specifically asked for the Oct. 1 deadline to be paused until a replacement plan was in place; a weekly transition update with transparent information on hiring and ordinance status, applicant counts and other information; and for the city to return to the table with the volunteers, saying he believed compromise was still possible. “None of us want to win an argument,” Fitzgerald concluded. “We want to count on someone to answer that call when we dial 911. Please don’t let Oct. 1 arrive before we’re ready.” Amy Meskimen said she saw a lot of red flags going forward and that many people in Eldridge did not feel like they were being properly represented on this issue. “With so many uncertainties and rushing to make decisions, it feels reckless and irresponsible on behalf of the city.” She encouraged an open forum with a mediator and asked the crowd to raise their hands if they felt the same. Nearly everyone in the standing room only audience put their hand up. Judith Gilbert criticized the council for a lack of transparency in holding the special meeting, saying the notice of the meeting had not been posted on social media or on the homepage of the city website. She reiterated a concern she expressed at the Aug. 3 meeting that there was no language in the ordinance providing for EMS service and brought up an issue several other residents pointed to, saying that the city may be allowed to bill for services that are free now. Michelle Crawford said she felt “this council is currently making it unnecessarily harder on yourselves. This is not what the collective community wants.” She said not only does the EVFC feel disrespected, many residents do, too. “No budgets have been presented, no guarantee of continuity of service, no answers as to the impact on our future taxes and insurance. It’s hard to admit when you’ve overplayed your hand … but sometimes we have to find the humility within us to say, OK, maybe this wasn’t our best move. You were elected to serve we, the people of Eldridge. I implore you to soak that in, take a deep breath and pull back on this. There is common ground to find in this matter, and I have the utmost confidence that there are solid people on both sides that love our community and the people here to bring a much better and much more agreeable outcome.” Tim Reimers read a quote from mayor, then-council member Scott Campbell, from March of 2024, when the city was embroiled in a dispute with the utility. At the time, Campbell said he ran for council because he was tired of reading and hearing about the drama within the city. Reimers asked if the city was any better off now than it was then with regard to drama. Dockery, Blackwell stand in opposition As the meeting moved away from official public comment, Blackwell said it had been his understanding that there would be more input from the EVFC going forward, and he was no longer in favor of moving forward “until we have our department here and it looks cohesive and we get input from them and we’re totally transparent with the community members.” Iossi countered by saying the city was in its current position because of the deadline imposed by the EVFC. He said the fire department had asked to be taken over by the city a year ago. “What we didn’t expect, what nobody wants, was a deadline,” he said. “We didn’t create that July 15 deadline. We didn’t create that Oct. 1 deadline. But we did get put in a position to make the decision, A or B. It was clear, there was no negotiation. It was, give what the fire department wanted, or the city had to make a decision to take it over. Fair, right? Well, not really. Somebody said there’s no winners here. Somebody’s going to be a winner here. It’s going to be the citizens. It has to be. Do I like the fact that we had to decide at that meeting? No. Do I like the Oct. 1 deadline? No. Is it enough time? No. But that’s a decision we made because we did not have a choice.” Iossi said the city has already received several qualified applicants for the fire chief’s position, and that the candidates could bring something to the table that members of the EVFC could be excited about. He then asked the EVFC members if they were committed to the Oct. 1 deadline or if they were willing to be flexible. “We keep getting asked to pause. We have a deadline. We can’t pause on a deadline.” Iossi said that members of the council had heard from residents who were “very happy with the direction we’re going,” a claim that was met with skepticism from the audience. Iossi went on to say that many of these residents were scared to speak in public. Dockery asked if he and Iossi could sit down with members of the EVFC to see if there was a compromise to be had. He said that while he felt the city needed to have financial oversight, he wondered if the Oct. 1 deadline could be softened, “so it’s not forcing the council to keep moving forward.” “I think if we can sit down and have a meaningful discussion, absolutely, we’re willing to sit down and talk,” said assistant chief Dave Engler from the audience. This was met with applause. Iossi said he was also comfortable with being involved with further discussion going forward. He also asked Engler if he would be willing to be on the transition team. Engler said he thought he already was. Campbell said Engler’s name was one of several submitted by the fire department, although he said the transition team was about moving forward and he would like Engler and the others to consider being members of the municipal fire department if they were to take part in the transition. It's unclear when that became a stipulation of serving on the transition team, as at the Aug. 3 meeting, Campbell merely asked for the names of four members of the EVFC, of whom two would be selected. Still, Engler said, speaking for himself and not the entire department, perhaps the Oct. 1 deadline could be changed if there was a meaningful start to discussions. Iossi said he wanted Engler to be on the transition team regardless of whether he was willing to be part of the municipal department. Ashcraft spoke next, saying he had also heard from residents who were supportive of the city’s position, but who did not want to speak out for fear of retaliation. He then read from communications the EVFC sent to the city on June 12, explaining that the department had told the city, “in the event the city does not support the independent model or the required budget, we ask the city expedite the necessary resources to absorb the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company as a city department no later than Oct. 1. “That’s the date we’re working against,” said Ashcraft. “None of us want to fight that date. None of us want to be pinned with two options – either support that budget or absorb the department. None of us wanted to choose from that, but we were told on July 20, make a decision.” Ashcraft said he understood that decision was unpopular with many people, “but we were literally told, you have a binary choice; choose something.” He said that he had offered mediation, and the city offered mediation in the winter, and those requests had been rebuffed. “If there’s some room on the date, if there’s some room with a mediator, then yeah, maybe we should pause,” said Ashcraft. “If there’s not, we have to continue marching towards Oct. 1. Because here’s what I’m concerned about … when somebody calls 911 on Oct. 1, Oct. 2, who’s going to answer the phone and who’s coming? And if we pause without knowing that we’ve got some sort of negotiation plan in place and that doesn’t happen, doesn’t come to fruition, we just set ourselves back even further. So, I support the ordinance. However, if the fire department is willing to make some concessions, to change that date and maybe do exactly what Ryan was talking about, then we have a different conversation, potentially.” LaPlante said he wanted to see the council be proactive, not reactive, and that city staff was working on a plan behind the scenes. However, he described the deadline as a “tough row to hoe. So, if there’s room, let’s talk about it.” Dockery said he was disappointed by the division and the animosity that was playing out on social media. “If anybody’s putting some of that hatred out there or making threats, I’m going to talk to our chief and have them arrested. I don’t care what side of the issue it’s on, but nothing will ever get resolved by this constant battle in the public arena.” Campbell addressed Reimers’ question, saying he was saddened and disheartened things had devolved to this point. “Where I struggle is, we’re giving the fire department exactly what they wanted. They came to us and said this is what they want. And so, we did that.” Campbell said city officials had spoken to other communities during this process and cited LeClaire as an example. He said LeClaire’s transition in 2022 had taken a full year, but they now have a paid chief and captain, and at least 30 volunteers. “LeClaire’s budget, with two paid firefighters, is $561,000 per year. And our city staff has done their due diligence over the course of the last 14 months and done comparables with other cities. We believe we can do it for that,” said Campbell. “In our budget, we have budgeted $364,000 and another $120,000 in capital improvements. That’s $482,000. We believe we can make this work. But the key is the volunteers. If the volunteers would just come on board, we would all be happy. They would have input on the chief. They’re part of the transition plan.” Someone in the audience asked what was wrong with the current chief, Keith Schneckloth. Campbell said during the transition, it had been stated Schneckloth would not be eligible to be hired as chief because he was dismissed from his previous job as city mechanic. He turned the floor over to city attorney Allison Wright for further clarification. Wright said, “There’s a lot of public information about Mr. Schneckloth’s termination that’s either been just disregarded or it’s been misstated quite publicly from what I’ve seen.” She said there had been an internal investigation, and Schneckloth reportedly admitted to using the city’s NAPA account to avoid paying sales tax, as well as in unemployment hearings. “The records are there; they’re public. You’re welcome to look at them,” said Wright. She also said that there were questions regarding whether Schneckloth misrepresented his status with the fire department when applying for the FEMA SAFER grant. Dockery said many people were becoming highly sensitive on the fire department issue and again asked for the opportunity to sit down with the EVFC to attempt to find common ground. “I think there is a very reasonable path to coming up with a hybrid situation that involves the city and the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company Inc. to move this town forward. “I think there is a solution, but we need to calm this down a little bit and let calm heads figure out a path.” Who owns the assets? Wright asked about the claim that there was no budget for the department. “It’s my understanding that a budget has been approved for the fire department. It’s been approved by the state. I’m a little confused by the commentary back and forth about that.” “We don’t own the assets,” said Dockery. “We don’t own a fire station.” “What does ‘absorb the fire department’ mean?” asked Iossi. “What was the first discussion when this came up a couple of years ago – we would take over the assets, the equipment. Let’s be clear – what are you going to do with a firehouse and equipment and apparatus if you’re not a fire department anymore?” Campbell said Scott Haycraft and John Schnekloth, trustees of Benefitted Fire District No. 3, had met with the fire department. “The message (Haycraft) came back with was, if we can agree to some type of hybrid model – the city would have the assets, meaning building and equipment – and the fire department may maintain control of the day-to-day operations, including the fire chief. He thought that the fire department would agree to that, and we could move on. In that model, Haycraft said the city would control the purse strings and give us oversight. I told him that I would share that tonight, and so I have. But we’ve heard from Allison in the past that that model probably isn’t correct. I mean, it isn’t really legal for us.” Wright said she believed that model would be inconsistent with the council’s prior vote, because “the department is people, not assets. A hybrid model in a traditional sense means partially paid and partially volunteer. That’s a hybrid model. I think that has evolved here into a conversation of creative options, but ones that I don’t legally recommend. “If the fire company’s concern is that they want unfettered control and supervision over their own personnel, we would essentially be taking on all of the liability and costs for the assets, and we’d have no ability to subject the personnel that are using it to comply with city policies or procedures or oversight. So, if they’re in control of those personnel, that disconnect creates significant liability concerns from my perspective.” Campbell said he had also spoken with John Maxwell, chair of the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Maxwell reportedly said that, while the county is not taking sides in this matter, if the city were to create a municipal fire department, the county would sign a 28E agreement with that agency to provide fire service for Benefitted Fire District No. 3. “It’s also his understanding of the law, and we have documentation on this as well, that if we did that, and we had that 28E agreement, the city would take over the fire station and the apparatus in order to provide fire protection to the residents of Eldridge and Benefitted Fire District No. 3,” said Campbell. “So, we’ve heard a lot of comments about the apparatus and what we’re going to do without a fire station or whatever. That is the path forward if this happens,” continued Campbell. “That’s the path forward that the fire department wanted a year ago. They wanted us to take over. They were going to give us everything. This is the vehicle to do that.” Someone in the audience asked why the council couldn’t table the issue until after there was additional conversation with the fire department. Campbell said passing the second reading was strictly procedural and wouldn’t make the ordinance law yet. He said with the Oct. 1 deadline, “every day is precious.” Blackwell asked for the fire department to continue to be involved in the public facing conversation. Ashcraft countered by saying he believed more meaningful progress could happen in smaller, focused groups, and that group could come back with progress updates, rather than having everything play out in front of an audience. An audience member continued to lobby for tabling. “We just sat here and listened to a whole lot of stuff, but you say this train keeps moving down the track.” “This train has to keep moving down this track because we’re staring down the barrel of an Oct. 1 deadline,” said Ashcraft. “And that’s unfortunate, but that’s the pressure this council feels right now. I think to Councilman Dockery’s point earlier in the discussion, if there is some potential for softening there, then maybe there’s something that we can do different. But if there’s not, as the mayor said, every moment is precious.” “Your Honor, that’s why I requested an opportunity to find middle ground, and we can do it at a fairly quick pace and find out if the fire department is willing to soften that Oct. 1 day, move it to some other date for the timeline, to see if there is a middle ground,” said Dockery. “There may not be a middle ground. But I personally owe it to the taxpayers to find that middle ground, so we know what the costs are going to be long term.” That included the assets, he said. The council voted 3-2 for the second readings, and prior to the vote, Campbell said, “Approving this would not commit us to anything at this point in time. It’s just a second reading of three, and so we can still pass this and then we revisit it again, if necessary. And that will give us time to figure out a plan.” Dockery also said he had some proposed language changes to the ordinance establishing the city department. He was asked to submit the changes in writing so the rest of the council could review them prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
	Wildfires can leave surviving homes and their water unsafe – safety tips for residents as they return When fire evacuation orders are lifted and residents start returning to burned neighborhoods, many people assume “cleared to return” means “safe.” It rarely does. As an environmental engineer who has worked with communities recovering from some of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history, I have seen the same pattern repeatedly: Families return to still-standing homes, turn on taps without knowing whether plumbing has been contaminated, and view debris removal as the end of recovery when it is often only the midpoint. While there are many safety concerns after a wildfire like the destructive blazes Spokane, Washington, experienced in August 2026, three deserve particular attention: chemicals in surviving buildings, the safety of drinking water and whether burned lots are ready for rebuilding. A standing home is not automatically a safe home Buildings that appear unscathed after a nearby fire may still be unsafe. Smoke, toxic ash and chemicals from burning buildings and vehicles can enter through windows, vents, HVAC systems and other openings. These contaminants settle in ductwork, walls, carpets and furniture, as well as on clothing, blankets and toys. They can include lead, which can harm human lungs and children’s brain development; arsenic and asbestos, which can cause cancer and damage the respiratory system; and volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs, which can damage the organs; among other risks. Exposure to each through the air, food or drinking water can harm human health. The home might seem fine, but contamination like this cannot be reliably identified by sight or smell. That’s why, before moving back into a home near where a wildfire burned, owners should consider professional inspections, especially if part of the home or a nearby structure burned. Inspections should test living spaces, attics, crawlspaces, garages, HVAC systems, ductwork and indoor surfaces for harmful metals, chemicals and other substances. Dust is often tested for lead and other metals, as well as asbestos, while indoor air is often analyzed for volatile organic compounds. Following a fire, asbestos contamination can affect both old and new homes. Wind and debris can transport asbestos to locations where it was not previously present. Andrew Whelton/Purdue University The quality of the testing is critical. Reviews of wildfire recovery efforts have found instances of inappropriate laboratory methods, incorrect comparison standards and results that could not be properly interpreted. Property owners should ask what contaminants will be tested, where samples will be collected, which analytical methods will be used, how results will be reported and when the report will be delivered. If tests reveal contamination, remediation work comes next, followed by confirmation testing conducted by an independent firm. Visitors and workers restoring the site must use protective equipment and safe practices to protect their health. Do not assume the building’s water system is safe Drinking water contamination is one of the least visible wildfire hazards. A functioning faucet can create a false sense of security. Fires may damage water systems when firefighting demands and broken pipes cause the system to lose pressure. This can allow smoke, contaminated air or debris to enter pipe networks. Heat from a fire can also damage plastic pipes and plumbing equipment, releasing chemicals into the water supply. Contaminants such as benzene, which can cause cancer, have been detected in plumbing and water systems after fires at concentrations capable of causing illness through drinking, bathing or showering. Boiling water does not remove these chemicals and may actually increase the chance people will be exposed to them by releasing them into indoor air. A loss of water pressure, discolored water, melted plastic components or nearby fire damage can signal problems, but the contamination is often invisible, so testing is essential. Three ways water systems can become chemically unsafe when fires burn nearby. Andrew Whelton/Purdue University Utilities are generally responsible for testing and repairing infrastructure up to the property line and should provide public guidance on water safety. Property owners are responsible for water safety once it enters the property. That includes pipes, water heaters, irrigation systems and private wells. Even when utility water has been declared safe, contamination can persist inside a building’s plumbing. Tests can look for volatile organic compounds, bacteria and, in some cases, semi-volatile compounds and metals. The samples for testing are commonly collected after water has been stagnant in plumbing for about 72 hours, allowing contaminants to accumulate. Depending on how the home was affected, residents may need to use alternative water sources such as bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Rural and agricultural water systems require similar attention. Heat-damaged water tanks, troughs and irrigation lines may release chemicals, while smoke or ash can enter through vents. Repairs should be completed by licensed contractors and followed by disinfection and certified testing before the system returns to use. Local health departments have lists of approved water-testing laboratories. Debris removal is a first step, not a finish line Removing debris after wildfires burn through a property is only one phase of recovery, and it carries its own risks. Effective restoration generally involves three steps: Removing major hazards, such as propane tanks, gas cylinders, batteries and damaged vehicles. Removing debris, ash and contaminated surface soils. Testing the soil for contamination after cleanup. This final step is often overlooked. A woman searches through the remains of her parents’ home after a wildfire hit the northern part of Spokane, Wash., in August 2026. While a face mask can help avoid breathing in large particles, it can’t stop gases that can harm humans. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson via The Conversation A property is not necessarily safe to rebuild on simply because debris trucks are gone. Research after previous wildfires found that up to 34% of properties still contained hazardous contamination, such as heavy metals, even after the debris had been removed and the topsoil scraped away. To be safe, testing should be overseen by a board-licensed professional engineer or geologist, independent of the debris-removal contractor. A notice that debris removal is complete indicates only that initial cleanup has ended. In many cases, local health departments or environmental agencies must review testing results before rebuilding can proceed. The bottom line While many hazards in the days and weeks after a wildfire are invisible, lessons from past events provide a clear path to restoring safety: Do not rely on appearance or odor to judge safety. Use qualified professionals to evaluate homes, water systems and soils before reoccupying or rebuilding. Consult local health departments for guidance and approved testing resources. Restoring properties to safe use is possible. Following evidence-based guidance can help homeowners manage the process safely and with more certainty of a full recovery. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University Read more: Why the Spokane wildfires became so catastrophic Wildfires can contaminate drinking water systems with harmful chemicals − here’s what Los Angeles needs to know How heat waves increase wildfire risk Andrew J. Whelton receives funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, City of Louisville, Paradise Irrigation District, Paradise Rotary Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, the Spanicciati Family, the Water Research Foundation, and crowdfunding.
	Controlling wild pigs can work if it’s a group effort The federal government is injecting millions of dollars into efforts to combat feral hogs – and it’s considering spending even more in the coming years. The problem has grown for decades, but our research has found that a recently revived federal effort offers the potential for bringing the hogs under control. Feral swine roam in 35 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The most recent population figures, from 2016, estimated that 7 million feral pigs were loose in the nation then. That number may be much higher today: Feral hogs breed year-round and each year can produce up to two litters of four to 12 piglets per litter. Feral hog populations have been estimated to be able to double in just four months. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wild pigs do between US$2.5 billion and $3.4 billion in property damage each year. At least $800 million of that is destruction of crops. Beyond crops, feral hogs spread disease to livestock, damage farm infrastructure such as fences and roads needed for agricultural production, destroy recreational parks and cause extensive environmental damage to wildlife habitats, water quality and plant ecosystems. They’re hard to control because feral hogs roam across large areas of privately owned land. If neighboring landowners don’t work together, the hogs just move rather than being killed or contained. Basic economic theory says landowners would wait for others to spend the time, money and energy to control hogs – which means nobody does, and the problems grow. Feral hogs can tear up vegetation, disturb the soil and otherwise damage land and property. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert via The Conversation An initial test In the 2018 Farm Bill, a major piece of legislation covering wide areas of agricultural policy, Congress agreed to spend $75 million to encourage private landowners to step up together to kill feral hogs. That program was active in selected counties in 10 hog-plagued states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Starting in 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded private landowners’ purchases of trapping equipment, on-farm trapping efforts and restoration of land the hogs had damaged. Originally slated to end in 2023, the program was given $105 million more to spend through 2029 in the major budget and immigration package Congress passed in July 2025. Through Sept. 21, 2026, the government is accepting grant applications for the first $35 million allocation from that money. The Farm Bill that has passed the House and is awaiting debate in the Senate would increase that funding by $150 million and extend the effort through 2031. A useful question, before spending all that money, is how effective the first test of the program was. Hunting feral hogs from helicopters is just one way people have sought to control their spread and damage. AP Photo/Eric Gay via The Conversation Reducing hogs’ damage to cornfields Our research team of agricultural economists at the University of Tennessee and the University of Arkansas set out to examine the program’s performance. We used federal data on crop insurance claims to compare crop damage in counties where the program was active against counties where it was not, both before and after the federal trial began. Not all the counties reported crop damage from wildlife. Among those that did, counties where the program wasn’t operating had crop insurance claims for wildlife damage to corn that averaged 70 acres (17.5 hectares) per policy. In counties where hog eradication efforts were coordinated, however, the average claim for cornfield acres damaged from wildlife declined to 10 acres per policy. That is a statistically significant result – and given the scale of corn production across the study region, it represents a meaningful reduction in losses. When comparing crop insurance claims for soybeans, wheat, cotton and peanuts, however, we found no difference between counties with active hog control efforts and those without. A way forward Corn is reportedly the crop most commonly damaged by feral swine. That could help explain why we found cornfields to have the only statistically significant reduction in damage. More generally, the program’s effectiveness may have been more limited because it launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted the community meetings and public outreach that could have boosted landowner participation. Also, the fact that it was a pilot effort may have made people reluctant to commit, fearing the program might disappear in a few years. It is likely our study underestimates the benefits of the program. Some farmers have crop damage that is not severe enough to warrant an insurance claim, so those numbers are excluded from our analysis. And our study did not evaluate any potential changes in noncrop damage from feral hogs, such as to property, livestock, recreational parks and the environment in general. Our research indicates the hog control program can be effective and offers several ideas for improving it, both over time and with more funding. For instance, if the efforts focused specifically on corn-producing counties, it might yield more success per dollar invested. And expanding participation through additional outreach efforts could mean more hogs are caught or killed across a wider area, amplifying the return further. Feral hogs will be nearly impossible to eradicate completely, and the damage they cause isn’t going away either. The data suggests that with the right design and sustained investment, the federal government has a program that can make a real difference for America’s farmers. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Chris Boyer, University of Tennessee; Aaron Smith, University of Tennessee, and Eunchun Park, University of Arkansas Read more: Rotting feral pig carcasses teach scientists what happens when tons of animals die all at once, as in Australia’s bushfires Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs Feral pigs harm wildlife and biodiversity as well as crops Aaron Smith receives funding from USDA. Chris Boyer and Eunchun Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	Teens are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support – here’s how to keep kids safe It’s 2 a.m., and a teenage girl, worrying about a friend issue, lies awake. Rather than wake her parents, she picks up her phone, opens an AI app and types, “I’m so stressed out, I can’t sleep.” A reply arrives swiftly: “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Want to tell me a bit about what is stressing you?” The conversation unfolds, and 20 minutes later she is calmer and able to sleep. The supportive voice that calmed her? A large language model, or LLM, chatbot. While this is a hypothetical scenario, it represents a very common pattern of artificial intelligence use by teens. Many teens are turning to AI chatbots, which are designed to simulate empathy and maintain human engagement, for companionship, emotional support and mental health advice. Research shows that this is increasingly common, with 72% of teens having interacted with AI companion chatbots, and 13% to 20% having sought support through AI for emotional concerns in a two-month period in 2025. In another recent study, 63% of the teens and young adults who used an AI chatbot for mental health advice had not disclosed it to anyone. As clinical psychologists and a child psychiatrist who work with adolescents, we’ve seen this shift firsthand. In 2025 we published guidelines for clinicians on how to address teen chatbot use safety, and we’re now working to help parents and other trusted adults do the same. Why teens are vulnerable Unlike social media platforms, which connect teens with peers, AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini function as simulated conversation partners and companions, offering on-demand responses that can feel supportive and engaging. While a small number of purpose-built therapeutic chatbots have been studied in controlled settings, most teens are using general-purpose tools that were never designed or validated for mental health support. This includes stand-alone platforms such as ChatGPT and chatbots built into apps that teens already use, such as Snapchat’s My AI. These chatbots are everywhere, highly accessible and difficult for teens to avoid. Teens often describe chatbot interactions as emotionally meaningful or supportive, sometimes even preferring chatbot conversations to talking with friends. Teens, still forming their sense of self and often craving social validation, may be especially prone to experiencing these simulated relationships as real. This trend is happening in real time, and a pressing question is how to guide teens to use chatbots safely. Mental health-focused chatbots vs. general ones There is evidence that some therapeutic AI chatbots can help adults with mild symptoms when used alongside professional mental health support. Woebot, for example, a fully automated cognitive behavioral therapy-based chatbot, reduced depressive symptoms in college students after two weeks of use. Some early evidence shows potential for helpfulness for younger teens as well. But these are specialized tools tested in research studies — not the general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT that most teens actually use. These systems typically lack effective crisis protocols or pathways to escalate care when someone is in danger. A November 2025 Common Sense Media report rated general-purpose chatbots as unacceptably risky for teen mental health support. Chatbots may not recognize signs of self-harm or suicidal thoughts as a person would. Navigating the benefits and risks General-purpose chatbots can generate inaccurate or misleading advice that is presented with high confidence. For some users, this can create confusion or reinforce unhealthy beliefs. Adolescents, especially those experiencing loneliness, anxiety or social-communication challenges, may form strong attachments and turn to chatbots in place of human connection. This can, in turn, distort their expectations of real relationships. Most concerning is how these systems handle thoughts that pose real risk to teens, including thoughts of risky social behaviors, self-harm or even suicide. Studies of chatbot performance in detecting and responding to thoughts of suicide, by both therapeutic and general-purpose chatbots, show inadequate response. Even when the chatbots offer resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a national crisis line, conversations with concerning content are often permitted to continue without a hard stop. The safety of the interactions tends to degrade over the course of long conversations. So 2 a.m. ruminations can become even riskier interactions at 3 a.m. as chatbot responses become more chaotic and less subject to safety guardrails. Lawsuits filed and settled in 2025-26 have alleged that interactions with language models such as ChatGPT led to teen suicidal behavior and tragic losses, highlighting that commercial chatbots lack effective guardrails and crisis protocols. Given these concerns, some chatbot programs have instituted restrictions. Character.ai, for instance, recently banned open-ended chat for users under 18. The app now requires age verification and allows parents to opt in to receive notifications. However, many options exist for teens to still experience open-ended chats with AI, and teens often bypass safety-oriented restrictions online. Chatbot safeguards tend to go down as teens converse with them longer. Fabio Principe/iStock via Getty Images via The Conversation Red flags to watch for Parents and other trusted adults can be on the lookout for teens’ problematic behaviors, such as: Spending increasing amounts of time chatting with AI companions. Reducing time and effort in relationships with family, friends, teachers and others. Showing distress or irritability when chatbot access is limited. Reaching for chatbot interactions rather than human supports in moments of emotional distress or crisis. These patterns mirror problematic social media use by teens – a trajectory that offers a cautionary lesson. Broad acknowledgment of social media’s risk came only after harms became entrenched; in 2023 the U.S. surgeon general warned that social media poses a “profound risk of harm” to youth mental health. In our assessment, chatbots pose a comparable risk, and early awareness is crucial. How parents and trusted adults can help The most powerful step is straightforward: Talk with teens about their chatbot use. Approaching teens with curiosity and nonjudgment is helpful. It makes sense to assume a teen is using a chatbot, because this is most likely the case. Rather than a closed-ended question like “Do you talk to chatbots?” which some teens may perceive as judgmental, adults can begin with open-ended questions like “When you use chatbots like ChatGPT, what do you talk about?” Additional detail can be gathered from questions like “Has anything ever felt uncomfortable, confusing or surprising?” or “How do you use chatbots or AI companions when you are feeling upset or overwhelmed?” Many teens can feel relieved that parents are willing to discuss this openly, rather than dismissing or banning it outright. Parents can use what they learn in these conversations to provide guidance. Setting boundaries for safe use As families set boundaries around screen time and social media, they can include chatbot use as well. Time limits, particularly late at night when teens may be more emotionally vulnerable, can be helpful. Parents and teens should come to clear agreements about when chatbots should not be used, particularly during moments of crisis or high distress. It can be useful to review how to access human supports, such as a trusted friend, a parent, a school counselor or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also research alternative emotional-regulation techniques, such as journaling, distraction, grounding and breathing techniques. Regular check-ins about how chatbot use is going and whether concerns are coming up can keep information flowing and improve safety. The goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate chatbot use but to set thoughtful boundaries that protect connection with real people and reduce the probability of unsafe interactions. Parents talking with their kids about chatbot use can help ensure safer interactions. Lock Stock/DigitalVision via Getty Images via The Conversation Key points for AI literacy Our clinical guidelines emphasize helping teens understand what chatbots are and aren’t. Parents can reinforce this as well. Important topics to discuss with teens include: Chatbots don’t “know” people; in interactions, they are predicting responses based on patterns in the chat. Therefore, any sense of understanding, connection or empathy – however convincing – is simulated, not real. Chatbots can make mistakes or entirely make things up – called “hallucinations” in the AI field – while showing great confidence in these inaccuracies. Chatbots are “tuned” by their creators to be agreeable and they tend to tell people what they want to hear, which can make their outputs less trustworthy or less useful in real-life contexts. Chats with chatbots are not private or privileged, and conversations may be stored, used to train future models, reviewed by humans or surfaced in a data breach. Talking openly about these limitations helps teens engage more critically and safely. Open lines of communication Research is only beginning to emerge around how AI chatbot interactions specifically affect adolescent mental health, but the emerging concerns are real and important. While chatbot interactions are increasingly difficult for teens to avoid, supporting teens toward safer use is possible. The time to talk with teens is now, and these conversations can protect their safety and deepen their human connections. If you or someone you know is in crisis and are based in the U.S., call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to speak with a trained listener, or text HELLO to 741741. Both services are free, available 24/7 and confidential. If you are a reader from outside the U.S., please use a helpline like the one above or speak to a healthcare professional. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Phoebe S. Moore, UMass Chan Medical School; Megan Kelly, UMass Chan Medical School, and Yael Dvir, UMass Chan Medical School Read more: The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health? AI chatbots are intruding into online communities where people are trying to connect with other humans Too many em dashes? Weird words like ‘delves’? Spotting text written by ChatGPT is still more art than science Phoebe S. Moore has, in the past, received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center at UMASS Chan Medical School, the SHINE Initiative, and Stanford University. She has served as a consultant to Human Systems, Inc., d/b/a Matter and Space, a startup that uses AI chatbots as tutors and wellness facilitators for adult learners. Megan Kelly receives royalties from New Harbinger Publications for a book on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She has received research grants from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of any institution or funder. Yael Dvir does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	Finding healthier alternatives for school lunches Dr. Aubrey Riefe with UnityPoint Health joined us in studio to talk about nutritious food choices parents and students can make as schools open for the year.
	NATO Ambassador: Europe's military spending 'biggest foreign policy victory' of Trump's second term Iowan and Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker praised the Trump administration's pressure on European countries to increase military defense spending.
	AI gives millions of answers every day. Here's where they come from. AI gives millions of answers every day. Here's where they come from.Searching for information has become the most common way Americans use AI. According to an AP-NORC survey, 60% of U.S. adults—and nearly three-quarters of adults under 30—say they use AI to find answers to their questions.Whether they're asking "Should I lock in my mortgage rate?" "Is this rash something I should worry about?" or "What's the best laptop under $1,000?," millions of people are increasingly turning to ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude instead of a Google search. In fact, earlier this year, Federal Reserve researchers reported that 41% of U.S. workers now use generative AI for work and 50% of Americans use generative AI outside of work, up 26% and up 31% year-over-year, respectively.Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michael Barr said in February that generative AI is being adopted at an unprecedented pace. "The speed of AI adoption may be much faster than previous general-purpose technologies, boosting productivity growth, but also allowing less time for workers, businesses, and the economy to adapt," he told the New York Association for Business Economics.As more people rely on AI to make everyday decisions, one question has become increasingly important: Where do those answers actually come from?The answer isn't as simple as "the internet." Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude the same question and you're likely to get different responses because each model draws from a different mix of sources. When all three were asked, "Who makes the best pickup truck?" ChatGPT recommended the Ram 1500 and cited Cars.com. Claude chose the Ford F-150 without citing a source. Gemini declined to name a winner, responding that the best truck "depends entirely on what you prioritize: maximum towing capacity, daily luxury, or long-term reliability."25 Million AI Citations AnalyzedWhile the answers are often instant and remarkably confident, the differences aren't necessarily a sign that one AI is right and another is wrong. They reflect the information each model chooses to retrieve, prioritize and synthesize.To better understand those differences, Muck Rack’s Generative Pulse analyzed more than 25 million citations generated by ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude across thousands of real-world prompts. The analysis found that AI models rely on different sources to build their responses, and the type of question someone asks can dramatically change the information an AI model chooses to surface.ChatPGT, Claude, and Gemini Don’t Use the Same SourcesOne of the clearest findings was that there is no single information ecosystem powering generative AI. ChatGPT cites sources in nearly every response and frequently draws from Wikipedia, news outlets and reference sites. Claude cites less often but relies heavily on scientific research and academic literature. Gemini turns to Reddit far more often, giving community discussions a larger role in many of its answers.The Type of Question Changes What AI CitesThe research also found that AI changes its sourcing strategy depending on what people ask. If someone asks, "Why are egg prices rising?" or "What's happening with the housing market?" AI is much more likely to rely on recent news coverage. If they ask, "Which robot vacuum should I buy?" or "How do I remove a wine stain?" it's more likely to draw from product reviews, reference sources and corporate sites.One of the clearest examples comes from "best of" questions. When people ask ChatGPT for recommendations such as the best restaurants, hotels or attractions, it frequently cites Google Maps. In Muck Rack's analysis, ChatGPT cited Google Maps search results at a rate of 188 Maps citations per 1,000 queries. It included an average of seven Google Maps pins each time Maps appeared in a response. Claude cited Google Maps only once across the entire study.Does AI Search Still Rely on Journalism?Despite some concern that AI is replacing journalism, the study found that news reporting continues to play a significant role in shaping AI answers. More than one quarter of all citations came from journalistic sources. More than half of those articles had been published within the previous year. Rather than concentrating on a handful of prominent national publications, AI models cited more than 20,000 outlets including local newspapers, trade publications and specialized expert sites reporting on issues like healthcare, travel, personal finance and technology.The next time AI recommends a financial product, summarizes a breaking news story or explains a medical condition, remember that the answer is shaped by the information it chose to retrieve. Asking another AI assistant, checking the cited sources or reading the original reporting can help provide a fuller picture. As AI becomes a more common way to discover information, understanding where an answer came from may become just as important as the answer itself. Muck Rack MethodologyWhat Is AI Reading? is published by Muck Rack's Generative Pulse team and examines how generative AI systems cite sources when responding to realistic consumer prompts. The May edition analyzed more than 25 million links from responses generated by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini across 17 industries and multiple query types. Because generative AI systems evolve quickly, citation behavior may shift as models are updated or retrained.This story was produced by Muck Rack and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island-Milan Superintendent’s contract extended through 2030 School officials announced Thursday that the district approved a four-year extension for Sharon Williams’ contract, according to a media release.
	What are cornea ulcers? They strike the cornea, the eye’s clear protective “window,” and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
	Kennedy Center Board votes again to shut main building down — and add Trump's name back The board voted to close the Washington, D.C., arts complex's main campus for a $250 million renovation — three months after a federal judge temporarily blocked a similar closure.
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	Chicago Bears say Hammond is ‘sole focus’ for new stadium Team president says no final decision has been made, but the organization’s attention is fixed on a development in Hammond.
	In-channel rain guards vs. stick-on: 3 key differences drivers should know In-channel rain guards vs. stick-on: 3 key differences drivers should knowRain guards are slim, aerodynamic accessories that mount above your vehicle's side windows. Their main job is to redirect rain, wind, and road debris away from partially open windows, allowing you to let in fresh air—even in bad weather—without soaking your interior or dealing with loud wind noise.They also help reduce window fogging, minimize sun glare, and can even enhance the overall look of your vehicle. Whether you're commuting, road-tripping, or just running errands, Husky Liners explains the differences between in-channel and stick-on rain guards and breaks down how they can add comfort and functionality to your daily drive.In-Channel Rain Guards vs. Stick-On Rain Guards: The 3 Key DifferencesNow that you know what rain guards do, let's take a closer look at how in-channel and stick-on styles differ—starting with how each one is designed. While both serve the same purpose, their construction and fitment offer distinct pros and cons. Husky Liners DesignIn-channel rain guards are engineered to fit directly into the window channel, or the narrow track where the window slides up and down. This design creates a sleek, flush-mounted look that blends smoothly with the window frame. Since they tuck into the channel, no adhesive is applied to your vehicle's painted surfaces.On the other hand, stick-on rain guards (also called tape-on deflectors) adhere to the exterior of the doorframe using automotive-grade adhesive tape. This design gives them a slightly more pronounced appearance but also allows for a wider fit range across different vehicle models.While both offer reliable protection and airflow control, the choice primarily depends on whether you prefer a more integrated appearance or a straightforward, utility-focused solution.Installation ProcedureWhile both types of rain guards are DIY-friendly, their installation processes vary.In-channel rain guards slide into the upper window channel and often include adhesive strips along the inside edge for extra security. Installation typically involves cleaning the channel, doing a dry fit, peeling the adhesive backing, and pressing the guard into place. After installation, you'll need to keep the windows rolled up for 24 to 48 hours to help the guards seat properly and avoid interference with window operation.Alternatively, stick-on rain guards are even simpler to install. These use automotive-grade adhesive to attach directly to the outside of the doorframe. After cleaning the surface, you peel off the backing and press the visor into place, with no tools, no waiting period, and no fuss.In short, in-channel deflectors require more finesse but offer a cleaner look, while stick-on options are quicker to install and more forgiving for first-time DIYers.AestheticsWhen it comes to appearance, both styles offer a sleek upgrade, but the finish and fit are where the differences stand out.In-channel rain guards have a more seamless, factory-style appearance. Because they sit inside the window channel, they follow the natural lines of the vehicle and appear more integrated. This low-profile look is popular with drivers who want subtle styling that doesn't distract from their vehicle's design.Stick-on rain guards are slightly more visually prominent, since they mount directly onto the doorframe. While they still offer a clean, contoured look, they're generally more noticeable than in-channel versions—something many drivers prefer for the added contrast and aggressive styling.Ultimately, the aesthetic difference comes down to personal taste. Whether you're going for a refined original equipment manufacturer (OEM) feel or a bold, functional accent, there's a rain guard style to match your vision.This story was produced by Husky Liners and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'I'm a say yes person': Actor Colman Domingo is up for new challenges Domingo is nominated for two Emmy Awards for two very different performances — in the Netflix comedy The Four Seasons and in HBO's Euphoria. "I can go very deep with my characters," he says.
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	How value-based bidding can reduce cost per qualified lead How value-based bidding can reduce cost per qualified leadMany advertisers understand value-based bidding in theory. Far fewer have the signal quality to make it work, and the difference comes down to conversion data.That matters more than it used to. In automated PPC bidding, spam does not just waste budget; it becomes training data. Imperva recently reported that 53% of internet traffic is from bots, while Anura estimates that 1 in 4 paid leads is fake.If fake form fills or low-quality leads get assigned real value, Google can learn to chase the wrong traffic. That is why the signal behind value-based bidding matters so much: When spam enters the data set as a valuable conversion, it can drag performance back toward volume-bidding behavior after an early lift.Value-based bidding optimizes toward whatever is designated as valuable, a step that is often overlooked in many setups. Clean data and accurate values point it to your best customers, while incorrect values or unfiltered spam point it to the worst, faster than volume bidding ever would. As WebFX explains below, the strategy is only as good as the signal underneath it.The data referenced in this article comes from anonymized internal WebFX analyses of paid advertising performance. WebFX's PPC team reviewed campaign and lead-quality data before and after implementing changes to the conversion signals used for value-based bidding, including how lead quality and downstream outcomes were communicated back to the advertising platform.In one analyzed account, the cost per qualified lead dropped about 47% year over year. That gain came from cleaning the signal fed to the bid strategy, not from the switch itself.How value-based bidding functions in Google AdsValue-based bidding is a Google Ads strategy that optimizes toward the total value of your conversions rather than the raw number of them. Instead of chasing more conversions, it chases more valuable ones.The difference from volume bidding is the whole point. Maximize conversions and target CPA (cost per acquisition) optimize toward conversion volume, a solid fit when your conversions are similar in value. Maximize conversion value optimizes toward the conversions worth the most, but only if it has been told what each one is worth. WebFX In practice, conversion value bidding is what shifts Google from chasing raw volume to chasing real revenue.Getting value-based bidding turned on is the easy part. Selecting Maximize conversion value or target ROAS (return on ad spend) allows the strategy to run. What decides whether it works is the quality of the values and data fed to it. Many implementations prioritize the strategy while neglecting the underlying signal.Why isn’t your value-based bidding strategy working?Most value-based bidding strategies underperform because the conversion signal feeding the algorithm is messy, incomplete, or misleading. The bidding strategy itself is rarely the problem. Google’s system does what you tell it to do, so when the results are bad, the instructions are usually the reason.Here are the failure modes commonly seen:Too many primary conversion actions: Primary conversion actions are the actions that actually train the bidding algorithm. Having too many of them (especially those that are part of the same pipeline) dilutes what matters. Google will end up optimizing toward the easiest conversion to produce, which is often the least valuable one.Static or inaccurate values: A value ladder that never reaches Google makes the algorithm treat every conversion as equal. Feed it wrong values, and it does something worse, optimizing hard toward conversions that only look valuable.Spam counted as real conversions: Junk leads logged as wins teach Google to find more junk. This is the biggest failure mode, and it gets its own section below.Offline outcomes never reach bidding: Your CRM knows which leads became revenue, but if that truth never flows back to Google through offline imports or value updates, the algorithm keeps optimizing on the wrong definition of success.This does not necessarily mean a team did something wrong. It is accumulated debt, the residue of old tests, quick fixes, and conversions nobody wanted to touch. Most accounts more than a couple of years old look like this, and all of it is fixable once you know what to look for.What messy conversion data looks like in Google AdsMessy conversion data is any conversion signal that misleads Google about who your best customers are, whether by telling it something false or leaving out what makes a lead valuable. It is the root cause behind most of the failure modes above, and it is more common than most advertisers realize.A few patterns recur in real accounts.Bot form fills: Automated submissions that look like leads but were never real people. Each one rewards Google for finding spam, so it goes looking for more.Duplicate leads: The same conversion is tracked twice, so one lead counts as two and Google overweights whatever produced it.Unqualified leads counted as wins: Form fills from people who were never a fit, logged at the same value as real prospects, so Google optimizes toward the wrong audience.Junk traffic inflating volume: Clicks and conversions that pad your numbers while draining budget, teaching Google that low-intent traffic is worth chasing.Misfiring conversion tags: Tracking that fires on the wrong action, or when nothing happened at all, so Google learns from events that were never real conversions.Low-intent actions weighted like high-intent ones: A newsletter signup logged as equal to a sales-qualified lead, so budget flows toward the cheaper, weaker action.Every one of these teaches Google the wrong lesson. Google Ads spam and bot spam are the clearest examples, because the algorithm cannot tell a bot’s form fill from a real one. It just sees a conversion and goes looking for more like it. Clean the data, and conversion value bidding finally has something honest to learn from.The signal architecture that makes value-based bidding workFixing value-based bidding comes down to three moves: Consolidate your conversion signal, let values update as leads progress, and remove spam instead of just discounting it. Together, they give Google one clean, honest picture of what a good customer looks like. WebFX Consolidate around one authoritative conversion actionGoogle needs one clean source of truth, not a scattered set of primary conversions all competing for importance. The fix is to route everything through a single conversion action that fires across your real conversion events.That one action carries a value that changes as the lead advances. What most advertisers miss is that tracking the lead, qualified, and closed stages as separate conversion actions causes Google to read them as three unrelated wins, rather than a single lead maturing. Turning them into updated values on a single action fixes that, so Google sees a single lead moving through the pipeline.This is important because the algorithm cannot tell which of a dozen primaries is the real north star. Disjointed events and data, even when coming from event data that you think is valuable, dilute the training data the same way it would in any model. To achieve effective value-based bidding, the bidding algorithm cannot have competing priorities. Valuable actions must be unified, and impact communicated via conversion-value adjustments, not separate events.Let conversion values update as leads progressConversion value bidding is only as good as the values behind it, so a value should reflect what a lead is actually worth, rather than a number you set once and forget. When a lead enters, it gets an initial value. As it qualifies and closes, that value updates on the original record, so your conversion counts stay clean while the signal gets richer.Timing is the catch. The bidding model only learns from value updates that reach Google inside a seven-day window from the original click. For B2B cycles that run 60 to 90 days or longer, the deal closes long after that window shuts.The workaround is to assign meaningful values early, based on the funnel stage versus the final outcome. What matters most is the relative weighting, not the exact dollar figure. A quote request should take precedence over a newsletter signup from the moment it comes in, and Google needs to know that on day one.Remove spam from the signal instead of letting it train your biddingOnce a conversion is sent to Google, you can do one of two things with it: Retract it, which pulls it out of the data set entirely, or restate it, which changes its value but leaves the conversion on the record. Which one you can do depends on your setup, and the difference matters.If a spam lead comes in valued like a real one and you restate it to $0 later, the damage is already partly done. Google saw a valuable conversion and started chasing the pattern that produced it, and restating after the fact does not completely undo what it already learned.Spam is hard to catch because it rides on your own tracking. A bot clicks your ad, Google attaches its click ID to your landing page URL, the bot fills out your form, and your tracking captures that click ID exactly as it would for a real lead. The fake lead travels the same path as a real customer.So the fix works on two fronts. Retract spam and disqualified leads where your setup allows it, so the algorithm unlearns the pattern instead of adjusting around it. If retracting is not possible on your setup, then you can assign every new lead a low starting value (i.e., $1), then restate it upward only as it qualifies, or restate it to $0 if spam or unqualified. That way, a lead that enters at a dollar and turns out to be spam never gets valued above a real customer. A flood of low-value spam cannot pull your budget in the wrong direction as badly as a batch of inflated-value conversions would.Either way, someone has to own a regular lead-quality review, and the catches have to land inside the same seven-day window to affect bidding.What went wrong before the results improvedThree issues surfaced during this analysis. Each one informed this approach to value-based bidding, so they are worth walking through.The signal outage that no dashboard caught. On one account, the process of sending values back to Google broke silently. Roughly half the value updates failed to land, with no alert anywhere in the platform. The campaigns looked healthy on the surface, while the signal underneath them starved. Watch the plumbing, because the dashboard will not always warn you when it breaks.Spam moved faster than expected. On one performance max launch, value-based bidding first improved performance more than 40% month over month. Then it slid back toward volume-bidding levels, because spam leads were being assigned enough value to influence bidding. At scale, a flood of spam could easily match or exceed the value of a single real, highly qualified lead, so Google chased it. The campaign was paused for about two weeks to correct the setup.Shared budget rescued a stalled migration. Some campaigns had too little conversion volume to hold a value-based bidding switch on their own. Rather than force them, pooling them into a shared portfolio strategy allowed them to reach the learning threshold together. The lesson here is that if a campaign is stuck below the volume threshold, consolidate first, then migrate, so the strategy has enough data to actually improve efficiency.What a clean signal did to the numbersOnce the signal was clean, the results showed up across every important metric. These figures come from accounts tested, not projections. Account names are withheld for confidentiality, and the figures below come from anonymized internal analyses reviewed by the PPC team. WebFX There are a few things to note. On the account where conversion volume jumped 68%, spend more than doubled year over year. Normally, more spend means worse efficiency, yet the cost per sales-accepted lead still improved 32%. The volume grew in large part because of the increased spend, but because of the better efficiency created with this value-based bidding method, the investment dollar stretched much further in driving real revenue and results, even on more than double the budget.Part of any reported value improvement also comes from better measurement rather than an overnight business change. When you move from placeholder conversion values to numbers that reflect real lead quality, your reported return improves because the math is finally accurate. The volume and cost gains are independent of that, which is why they should lead.Expect a short adjustment period before the gains show. Google re-enters a brief learning phase whenever the conversion signal changes, so give it two to three weeks to stabilize before you judge the results.All these gains came from feeding the bid strategy a cleaner signal.Value-based bidding takes more coordination than it looksThe reason most value-based bidding underperforms is rarely the algorithm. It is that the fixes require coordination across teams that paid search does not control on its own. The setting may only take a minute to change, but the operation behind it takes real alignment.Look at what each fix actually depends on. Value updates only work if sales moves leads through CRM stages quickly, inside the window Google can still learn from. Spam removal only works if someone owns a standing lead-quality review. Consolidating conversion actions means touching things that look like they are working, which nobody volunteers to do.That pulls in more people than a change in bidding suggests: Paid media, sales, CRM and data teams, web and analytics, and the revenue leaders who care about the number at the end. None of it is conceptually hard. All of it is organizationally hard, and that gap is where most paid efficiency leaks.The real shift is that automated, advanced bidding strategies are becoming a commodity that any competitor can, and will, copy. Clean first-party data and accurate conversion signals, maintained as an ongoing discipline, are the parts they cannot.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	Celebrate Cancer Survivor Night at River Bandits game Join Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois families at Cancer Survivor Night at the River Bandits game on Friday, August 28, as the home team takes on Beloit. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes a fireworks finale. RSVP is required and includes a free ticket. Free tickets for guests are available, pending [...]
	Automation vs. the workforce: Will robots really replace cleaners? Automation vs. the workforce: Will robots really replace cleaners?Cleaning businesses and workers confront a market paradox: The services sector is booming while job growth stalls. Automation threatens to displace workers, yet the technology remains prohibitively expensive to deploy at scale. The tension between market expansion and employment stagnation reveals what's really at stake: persistent pressure on wages, job security, and the viability of automation as a solution.Understanding this gap matters for businesses planning investments and workers assessing long-term prospects in an industry that's transforming faster than technology can keep up. ProTeams How Market Demand and Job Growth Have DivergedTwo forces shape the cleaning market. The first is illustrated by the BLS’s Occupational Outlook Handbook for janitorial jobs. Here, government data shows that the number of roles in this field is expected to grow by just 2% between now and 2034, which is cited as slower than average across every occupation for which the BLS creates records.In total, there are around 2.45 million cleaning jobs nationally, and the BLS estimates that 351,300 openings in this field arise each year, which seems to contradict the slow growth stat. What it actually reflects is that the majority of openings aren’t new jobs being created, but rather workers changing careers or retiring and thus needing to be replaced. On top of this, the handbook explicitly singles out new cleaning technology as a limiting factor for employment growth in this niche of the job market.Government data indicates that automation will be a key cause of stagnation in cleaning and janitorial roles over the next decade, even if there will still be close to 2.5 million people working as cleaners when 2034 arrives.The Cleaning Services Market Keeps Expanding, But Jobs Lag BehindThe second half of the story of the cleaning services market comes from the impressive annual growth that’s projected, most notably in a Grand View Research report that predicts a CAGR of 6% between now and 2033. At that point, the market will be bringing in revenues of over $147 billion a year, and will hold this upward trajectory beyond the scope of that particular report.According to ProTeams, a commercial cleaning software platform, robotics is not the only way for companies in this industry to keep up with the growing demand for their services. Streamlining and automation of the administration side of these businesses will give cleaning businesses the means to meet and exceed client expectations, even if they are not immediately able to invest in the cutting-edge hardware that’s often seen as the main risk to human worker employability.Why Automation Remains Uneconomical at ScaleThe part of the story that gets overlooked is how much it costs to acquire cleaning robots as they stand on the market at the moment, and how this is counterbalanced with the functionality they bring to the table when weighed against the flexibility of a human worker.The BLS pegs median pay for a cleaner at $35,930 per year, which is roughly in line with an entry-level commercial-grade cleaning robot, while high-end models cost upwards of $80,000, according to Sedona Technology. In isolation, this suggests that a cleaning robot would pay for itself in the first year of operation through saved wages, then move into profitability. However, Sedona Technology also points out that yearly maintenance costs for robotic cleaners can be up to 20% of the purchase price.These ongoing maintenance costs must also be calculated alongside the eventual need to replace a cleaning robot outright once it reaches the end of its serviceable life. Software-dependent machines face obsolescence once manufacturers end support.There’s also the issue of specialization, which is a necessary design feature of the most widely used cleaning robots. Most have one primary task that they can fulfill, usually cleaning floors.Robots remain years away from completing all the cleaning tasks a human worker handles in a shift, moving from vacuuming to polishing furniture to changing bed linen to emptying bins. This adaptability is precisely why human workers remain essential. Cleaning demands flexibility—responding to unexpected spills, assessing surface types, adjusting to client preferences—tasks that require judgment, not just programming.Automation in the cleaning industry is not an existential threat to human workers. Job market stagnation indicates tech’s influence is significant, but poses a manageable challenge.This story was produced by ProTeams and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Florida man who scammed Quad-Cities credit unions enters guilty pleas to theft and forgery A Florida man who scammed local credit unions with fake U.S. Savings Bonds enters into plea agreement with prosecutors.
	LG Electronics launches '2026 Life's Good Campaign' to free up people's minds for what truly matters (BPT) - LG's new global campaign spotlights the mental load of modern life and shows how LG AI can help ease itNews SummaryLG Electronics launches its 2026 Life's Good campaign under the key message "Free up your mind."According to LG survey findings, people spend nearly a quarter of the year burdened by mental load — the equivalent of 87 days a year. While people work hard to stay organized, what they miss most is the freedom to be spontaneous.Through the campaign, LG AI demonstrates how it can reduce routine demands and free up people's minds to focus on what truly matters.The campaign marks the fourth year of LG's Life's Good campaign, showcasing how innovation makes Life's Good and bringing the brand promise to life.LG Electronics (LG) launched its 2026 Life's Good campaign under the key message "Free up your mind." The campaign explores how LG AI can help reduce the mental load of everyday life by quietly taking care of routine demands, creating more room for people to focus on what truly matters.The campaign arrives at a time when people work harder than ever to keep everyday life running, yet increasingly struggle to switch off from its demands. According to LG survey findings, people spend nearly a quarter of the year burdened by mental load — the equivalent of 87 days a year. Mental load is the invisible burden of constant information, countless micro-decisions and everyday demands. For many people, mental load follows them home, occupying their minds even during moments of rest and recharge."As technology becomes part of everyday life, it should quietly help people reclaim their time and attention to enrich their lives," said Kim Hyo-eun, head of LG's Brand Management Division. "Now in its fourth year, the Life's Good campaign continues to showcase how innovation makes Life's Good and brings the brand promise to life."Building on previous campaign films such as We don't make life good, you do (2024) and Less artificial. More human (2025), this year's campaign centers on the growing mental load of modern life and making room for what makes life good.Bringing the Campaign to LifeThe real family featured in the 2026 Life's Good campaign film shares their everyday mental load.The campaign's hero film follows a family stepping away from the mental load of everyday life for one evening. The film captures small but meaningful moments crowded out by everyday demands, from spontaneous conversations and shared meals to the simple pleasure of being fully present.With this story, LG invites people to consider a simple question: what might you make room for if you could set your mental load down, even for just one evening?The campaign's message comes to life through product-focused films featuring LG WashTower, LG Styler, LG OLED and LG DUALCOOL. The films show how LG products can help reduce everyday mental load by quietly taking care of routine demands, freeing up people's minds to enjoy life's meaningful moments.As part of the campaign, LG also offers an interactive experience designed to help people better understand their own mental load. By answering a set of questions, people can reflect on how much mental load they carry and what contributes to it. By making an invisible burden more visible, LG hopes people will free up their minds to experience Life's Good.The campaign is grounded in research that reveals just how deeply mental load has become embedded in everyday life.The Scale of the ProblemSurvey findings show that, on average, people experience 27 mental load interruptions during their waking hours."Through my research on high-functioning depression, I've found that the constant weight of unshared domestic tasks is a silent trigger for emotional exhaustion," said Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and a 2026 TIME100 Creator. "LG's focus on reducing mental load targets the root of this modern crisis. True well-being in the AI era means easing these invisible burdens with intelligent technology, freeing up the psychological capital required to reclaim joy, spontaneity, and human connection."The Human CostMore than half (51%) of respondents said mental load stops them from sleeping well, while nearly half (49%) said it impacts their physical health.The findings also revealed a key human truth: people work hard to stay organized, yet what they miss most is the freedom to be spontaneous. When asked what they would do if that weight were lifted, people did not reach for greater productivity or achievement. Instead, they spoke about getting lost in a book, spending unplanned time with loved ones and enjoying moments free from everyday responsibilities.The Role of TechnologyThe study found that unpaid responsibilities at home contribute more to mental load than paid work, highlighting the opportunity for household technology to make a meaningful difference.Nearly three in four (73%) of respondents believe the right household technology could help reduce their mental load, with the strongest demand for solutions that proactively handle routine tasks without requiring constant attention.The findings suggest a clear direction for technology: not simply to help people do more, but to quietly take care of everyday demands so they can spend less time managing life and more time living it. This insight aligns with LG's Affectionate Intelligence vision and the campaign message: Free up your mind. Life's Good.A scene from the 2026 Life's Good campaign film.To learn more about the campaign, visit www.lg.com/lifesgood.Survey Methodology Fieldwork: Conducted April 24–28, 2026 via FocaldataCountries: US, UK and AustraliaAge: 18–64Sample size: 3,165 respondents (a minimum of 1,000 per market), nationally representative by age, gender and regionNote: Survey results reflect respondents' perceptions and do not constitute clinical or scientific evidence of health benefits.Photo above: A scene from the 2026 Life's Good campaign film.About LG Electronics, Inc.LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG's four Companies – Home Appliance Solution, Media Entertainment Solution, Vehicle Solution and Eco Solution – combined for global revenue of over KRW 89 trillion in 2025. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, automotive components and solutions, and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names the world over. Visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/ for the latest news.Media Contacts:LG Electronics, Inc.LG Electronics, Inc.Lea LeeJiyoung Bang+82 2 3777 3981+82 2 3777 3692lea.lee@lge.com jiyoung.bang@lge.com
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	That itchy summer rash? Here’s how to calm it down That itchy summer rash? Here’s how to calm it downThe weather warms up, and the sun comes out. What scene do you picture? Maybe you imagine yourself relaxing on the beach, soaking up the rays, or frolicking in the water. Or maybe you picture the consequences of forgetting to apply sunscreen — a painful sunburn.But wait. You put on plenty of sunscreen and didn’t even stay in the sun for that long. What’s that red, itchy rash doing there? The culprit might be heat rash.While there’s no quick fix for heat rash, there are treatments that can soothe your skin. And if you’re more prone to heat rash, there are steps you can take to keep your skin smooth and free from rashes all summer long.GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, shares tips for prevention, as well as what to do if you get heat rash.Key takeaways:Heat rash is an itchy skin condition caused by blocked sweat glands.There’s no way to get rid of heat rash fast, but it usually goes away on its own.Skin exfoliation, cool compresses, and antihistamines can help soothe heat rash.What is heat rash?Heat rash (miliaria rubra) is a skin rash that can develop when sweat glands on your skin get blocked. It’s also called prickly heat and sweat rash.Sweat glands become blocked all the time. Debris and bacteria that live on your skin can build up and clog your sweat glands. Because of this, heat rash can develop whenever you sweat. Once you have heat rash, continuing to sweat can make the rash worse, creating a vicious cycle.People commonly develop heat rash after being exposed to hot or humid weather. Interestingly, you’re more likely to develop heat rash when you first get to a hot climate. After a while, your body adjusts, and you sweat less. This makes you less likely to develop heat rash.This is good news if you’ve just moved somewhere warm. But it’s not great news if you’re only somewhere for a short time, like on vacation.What does heat rash look like?Heat rash looks like small, raised bumps that may itch. The bumps are often grouped in bunches and may be red or clear on lighter skin tones, and white to gray on darker skin tones. The itchiness usually gets worse when you sweat.You can develop heat rash anywhere on your body. But it’s more likely to show up on parts of your body that don’t get exposed to fresh air or rub against clothing. Common areas include your armpits, skinfolds, groin, and under your breasts.Which treatments get rid of heat rash quickly?The bad news is that there’s no way to get rid of heat rash fast. The good news is that it often clears within a few days after you cool down. More inflamed cases can take a week or two to heal.In the meantime, here are six tips to break the sweat-rash cycle and help you feel more comfortable as quickly as possible.1. Cool downMove to a cooler environment as soon as you can. This can be in the shade, or under a tree or umbrella. Better yet, move somewhere indoors with air conditioning. You may not be able to escape the heat forever, but take breaks whenever possible.Fabrics can trap a lot of heat against your skin. Try wearing loose-fitting clothing and choose breathable fabrics like cotton. Make sure you’re using lightweight bedding, too.If you’re wearing a medical dressing or compress, talk to a healthcare professional about whether you can loosen or remove it for part of the day. They may have recommendations about options that are more breathable and less likely to trap heat.2. Take a cool bath or showerA cool bath or shower does double duty. It helps your body cool off and soothes irritation from heat rash.If you only have a small area of heat rash, try applying a cool compress to the area for 10 to 15 minutes. Just run a small towel or cloth under cool water, then place it on your skin.Good to know: Water should be cool, not freezing. Very cold water or ice packs can lead to cold injury, which can damage your skin.3. ExfoliateWhile you’re enjoying a cool bath or shower, gently exfoliate your skin with a clean cloth. Exfoliating gets rid of dead skin cells, dried sweat, and other things that could be blocking your sweat glands.Opening up your sweat glands keeps your heat rash from getting worse and taking longer to heal.4. Take an antihistamineHeat rash can be itchy, but avoid the urge to scratch. Scratching irritated and damaged skin can lead to skin infections.To lessen the itchiness, you can try taking an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine, such as:Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)Cetirizine (Zyrtec)Loratadine (Claritin)Fexofenadine (Allegra)Benadryl can make you feel sleepy, so it’s best to use it at night, especially if itching is keeping you awake.5. Try a gentle soap and lotionSoap can actually worsen heat rash by irritating skin and drying it out. Until your heat rash heals, choose a gentle soap that’s free of fragrances and dyes.You can also use a gentle moisturizer to soothe your skin. But make sure it’s also free of fragrances and dyes. For added relief, keep your moisturizer in the refrigerator so it can cool off your skin.6. Prescription medicationsIf you have heat rash all over your body, or it is very bothersome, it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional. There are prescription medications that can help treat heat rash.Topical steroids can reduce inflammation, reduce itching, and help your skin recover faster. Some people may need prescription steroids instead of the ones that are available OTC.Antibiotic ointments aren’t needed for typical heat rash. They come into play only if the bumps become infected, which is called miliaria pustulosa. Antibiotic ointments help clear the infection by killing the bacteria and calming the surrounding inflammation. Popular options include clindamycin and erythromycin ointments.Prevention tips and what to avoidPreventing heat rash is pretty similar to the steps you’ll take to treat it. Hot and sweaty conditions are the top risk factors for heat rash. Here’s how to lower your risk of heat rash:Keep your body cool. When possible, stay in an air-conditioned environment during the heat of the day. If you have to go outside, do your best to stay in the shade.Wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight clothing doesn’t let air circulate freely. Wearing loose-fitting clothes can help reduce sweating and keep your skin dry. Pick breathable fabrics, like cotton.Keep your skin dry. If your clothes get wet and sweaty, change into something dry as soon as possible. Limit exercise that makes you sweat a lot. And avoid skin-to-skin contact.Follow a skin care routine. This can include taking a cool shower and gently exfoliating your skin. Exfoliation helps prevent clogged pores. What raises your risk of heat rash?Things that increase your risk of heat rash include:Exercise or any physical activity that makes you sweatWearing tight clothingWearing a medical dressing or medication patchesIllnesses that cause feverTaking medications that cause sweating, like bethanechol, clonidine, and neostigmineWhen to seek medical attentionHeat rash isn’t contagious. It’s also not generally dangerous and doesn’t cause skin scarring.In rare cases, people who get severe or repeated episodes of heat rash can develop damage to their sweat glands. Damaged sweat glands may produce too much sweat, which can lead to excessive sweating. Or they may stop producing sweat, which can increase the risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke.Frequently asked questionsWhat does a heat rash look like on infants and newborns?Rashes in children are common, and it can be hard to tell them apart. Heat rash on infants can look similar to that in adults. You may notice very small bumps on their skin. The rash is common in neck folds, armpits, and the groin. It can be itchy and uncomfortable. On lighter skin tones, the bumps can be clear, pink, or red. On darker skin tones, they may appear brown, gray, or purple.Can you get heat rash on your face?Yes, you can get heat rash anywhere on your body, including your face. You’re more likely to get heat rash on body parts that don’t get fresh air or where skin rubs against clothing or skin folds. Wearing a face mask for a long time can put you at risk of heat rash on your face. This is because the mask can rub against your face, block air flow, and create a hot, humid environment.The bottom lineHeat rash is an itchy, red, and sometimes painful rash that’s triggered by overheating. It develops when sweat glands in your skin get blocked after overproducing sweat. Heat rash does go away on its own, and it’s not contagious.There are treatments that can help with heat rash recovery and prevent further heat rash. Staying cool, wearing cotton clothing, exfoliating, and switching to a gentle soap and moisturizer can all help soothe heat rash. People with more severe heat rash may need treatment with prescription medications like topical steroids or antibiotics.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	United Way Quad Cities to pilot program helping parents find living-wage careers The initiative aims to remove barriers that often prevent working parents from completing education and workforce training that lead to living-wage careers.
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	The toggle tax: What 1,200 daily app switches are costing sales teams The toggle tax: What 1,200 daily app switches are costing sales teamsSales reps spend only about 40% of their week actually selling. The rest of their time disappears into CRM data entry, quote-building, planning, and dozens of other tasks that don’t directly contribute to moving a deal forward.If software was supposed to lighten the load, it has yet to do so. Instead, the average sales team has quietly built a stack that’s so fragmented the tools meant to save time have become part of the drag. Apollo analyzed data from Salesforce, Forrester, Okta, Harvard Business Review, Bain & Company, and Microsoft to come up with key solutions to this common pain point.The selling time problemBased on Salesforce’s State of Sales report, reps now spend 60% of their time on nonselling tasks, which is down from 70% in the previous year. This is the majority of the workweek. A breakdown of an average rep’s week from the same research shows clearly where that time actually goes:Meetings with customers - 22%Prospecting - 18%Planning - 16%Creating quotes - 13%Manually entering data - 11%Training - 3%Other nonselling work - 17%The two primary selling tasks only make up 40% of their time.A Forrester study of 3,031 sales reps found that the average rep burns nearly two full days a week on administrative tasks alone, which is the single biggest nonselling time sink.When you apply this math to a whole sales team, the human capital problem is apparent. Hiring 10 reps effectively buys a company less than three full-time sellers.The app-count problemPart of the reason nonselling time has barely moved is that the tools piled on to fix the issue contributed additional friction.The average company now runs 101 apps, a threshold that was crossed for the first time in 2025, according to Okta’s Businesses at Work 2025 report. Individual sales reps navigate 10 or more of those apps daily as a part of their standard workflow.While each standalone tool may have been purchased to solve a specific pain point, collectively, the stack has become the bottleneck that many companies bought to remove. The promise of “best of” software has fragmented data and multiplied logins, and 84% of sales teams now say they plan to consolidate their tech stack into fewer, more unified platforms, according to the Okta report.The toggle tax: Quantifying the dragResearch published in 2022 by Harvard Business Review on 137 workers across three Fortune 500 companies found that the average worker toggles between apps and websites around 1,200 times per day, adding up to nearly four hours a week or 9% of total work time. Broader cognitive science on multitasking and context switching puts that ceiling even higher, estimating that chronic task-switching can consume up to 40% of a worker’s productive capacity.This pie chart, compiled using Salesforce State of Sales data, shows how unaffordable this loss of time is: Apollo This issue translates directly into dollars lost. A Forrester study, Total Economic Impact of Island Enterprise Browser, modeled a composite 5,000-worker organization and found that productivity gains from reduced app-switching and latency were worth a three-year, risk-adjusted $5.1 million. This was a smaller part of a total of $9.7 million and a 344% return on investment.Why adding more AI tools repeats the mistakeThe obvious next pitch that companies inevitably consider to solve the time issue is adding artificial intelligence tools. However, there is little evidence that these tools will increase productivity.Bain & Company’s Technology Report 2025 projects that AI could roughly double selling time for those who redesign their workflows around it. However, the gains will only go to firms that redesign how work gets done, rather than just slapping an AI tool on top of an already over-sprawling tech stack.If fragmentation is the diagnosis, another standalone AI tool without a proper overhaul will only add more, not less. The real question isn’t which AI tool a rep should add to their rotation, but instead where needed information should live, so a rep can access it without changing tasks.The sharper close: Intelligence in the rep’s existing surfacesCompanies are going to implement AI. The evidence of this shift is already clear. Reps are increasingly pulling live pipeline data, account details, and outreach drafts directly into the surfaces they already work in, querying Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity through Model Context Protocol or inside the browser and CRM itself.This is where toggle-tax data is pointing. It’s not another app to learn, but intelligence that travels to the rep. The CRM becomes queryable from wherever the rep already is, and the browser becomes the working environment.This follows directly from the data already on the table, including Harvard Business Review's toggling research, Forrester's dollar quantification, and Bain’s own workflow redesign. The fix for a fragmented stack goes beyond adding AI tools. The solution is smart use of the tools that work with reps, not against them.This story was produced by Apollo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New Quad City Arts executive director loves connecting lots of art to community As an actor, it seems Ben Gougeon was born to play his latest real-life role – executive director of the nonprofit Quad City Arts, the organization’s third full-time leader in less than two years.
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	Nearly half of Americans have used mental health medication, so why are 68% still hesitant? Nearly half of Americans have used mental health medication, so why are 68% still hesitant?Next time you’re at a party, look around and consider this: Nearly half of the people in the room have probably taken mental health medication at some point. Still, most people feel uneasy about it.That’s one of the central findings in Thriveworks’ 2026 Pulse on Mental Health Report—the third annual nationally representative survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by Wakefield Research in March 2026—where 47% of Americans say they’ve been prescribed mental health medication at some point, yet 68% of people still have at least one hesitation about taking it.“Once clients start opening up, they find out about half of their network is already on medications for mental health and they just never knew because we still have some stigma there,” said Jami Dumler, licensed clinical social worker and clinical programs director at Thriveworks. That stigma might be growing thanks to a steady stream of misinformation coming out of everyone from social media influencers to politicians. Thriveworks Thriveworks talked to three clinical experts about where these hesitations around mental health medications come from and how mental health providers can help people feel comfortable getting whatever kind of support they need.Who’s using medication—and who isn’t?Mental health medication has become a mainstream experience, even if we rarely talk about it that way. Nearly half (47%) of Americans say they’ve been prescribed it at some point, with 24% currently taking it and 23% previously prescribed it.But most people still see medication as a supporting player in the realm of mental health care: Talk therapy remains the primary preference, with 51% of people saying that’s the type of care they’re most likely to seek, followed by a combined approach of therapy and medication (35%), and medication alone being the least popular approach (14%). Thriveworks Here’s how medication views differ by age, life circumstances, and demographics:Generational breakdownMillennials are the most likely to have used mental health medication (64%), followed by Gen Z (50%), while only one-third of Boomers have used it. But oddly enough, the younger generations are actually more hesitant of mental health meds than their elders, with 80% of Gen Z and 73% of Millennials having at least one reservation about medication, compared with 56% of Boomers.Dumler wonders if this is driven by wellness trends online. “The younger generations are really focused on health and wellness overall, and there’s a lot of noise around natural support and avoiding traditional medication,” she explained. Thriveworks Parents vs. nonparentsParents are far more likely than nonparents to have tried medication (58% versus 41%), which likely speaks to how life stressors may affect your need for support. “I often see medication used as a helpful tool during periods of significant life transition, whether that’s starting a new job, experiencing a major loss, or recovering from a traumatic event,” Dumler said. “Parenthood is another major life transition. Many have used medication temporarily during previous challenging seasons and find it to be a helpful support again while navigating the busy, ever-changing early years of parenting.”Cultural differencesThe clinicians weren’t surprised to see that there were differences among cultural and racial backgrounds, most notably that Black adults had the lowest use rate of medications (36%) and that Hispanic adults had the highest hesitation rate (78%).For many people, the hesitation is inherited—shaped by how mental health was understood, or avoided, in the communities and families they grew up in. “In some cultures, it can be seen as a weakness to need medication or mental health support. For some it’s around privacy—sharing what’s challenging, or about your family history, can feel like you’re breaking the trust of your family,” Dumler said.And for some, it likely circles back to bigger systemic problems in America. “It’s a really existentially threatening time to be in any kind of underrepresented, marginalized, or minority population in this country,” said Kate Hanselman, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and vice president of clinical psychiatry at Thriveworks. “It would not surprise me at all if people were feeling more reluctant to access care.”Fears of side effects are top of mind, but often overblownThe most common concern Americans have about mental health medications is the potential for side effects and long-term dependency, with 36% of survey respondents listing this hesitation.While side effects are possible with any medication, the clinicians we spoke with said that many of these fears are overblown and largely a symptom of too much information. For starters, there’s the ubiquity of pharmaceutical commercials naming a long list of side effects that few patients actually experience.“In any clinical trial, they’re required to report every side effect that happened during that entire trial. So if somebody just had a headache because they were dehydrated, they still put that down,” Hanselman explained. Older generations have another layer to work through: Their frame of reference is often an earlier era of psych meds that genuinely did carry harsher side effects.Then there’s everything you read on the internet. Hallie Kritsas, licensed mental health counselor at Thriveworks, sees a lot of her clients’ side effect concerns coming from Googling or asking artificial intelligence about the meds they’re considering. They read about one person’s bad experience and assume they’ll have the same—especially when a mental health challenge is already amping up their anxiety. It can make it hard to remember that bodies respond differently, and that finding a medication where the benefits outweigh any downsides is exactly what a psychiatrist is there for.“No medication is one-size-fits-all,” Dumler said. “Most people will try a couple of different medications, and they’ll often find one that has very minimal to zero side effects.”The fear of long-term dependency is a little more complicated to unpackConcerns about becoming dependent on a mental health medication likely stem from a few different factors. For starters, some worry that they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping an antidepressant. What they’re actually referring to is something called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which can occur if an SSRI is tapered or discontinued too quickly. This doesn’t indicate dependence or addiction, but simply a need to slow down medication changes.Others may worry about the habit-forming potential of certain mental health meds, like stimulant ADHD medications. These medications do carry a risk of dependence, which is why they are classified as Schedule II controlled substances and are monitored carefully. When prescribed and managed appropriately, dependence should not occur.Finally, some people just worry about starting a mental health medication without knowing how long they’ll need to take it. The truth of that is: It depends. While not the case for everyone, some people do stay on mental health medications long-term if it’s the best way to manage their symptoms, Hanselman says, and being on a medication long-term isn’t any better or worse than taking it for a short time. Thriveworks American individualism runs deep and is affecting our ability to ask for helpNot every hesitation is about the medication itself. For nearly a quarter of Americans (24%), the holdup is a belief that they should be able to handle their mental health on their own. It’s a common stigma associated with mental health medications, and it’s one that clinicians trace back to the core of American culture.“We’re very ‘bootstrappy’ as Americans,” Hanselman said. “Hard work is praised. So if you’re not feeling your best, well, go figure it out, suck it up, do better. It gets really harmful because people don’t give themselves permission to accept help.”And while this may seem like an antiquated opinion, Millennials and Gen Z (29%) were actually more likely to report this hesitation than Boomers (20%). “There’s a difference between ‘I can acknowledge I’m having a hard time’—which the younger generations are anecdotally better at—versus ‘I should be able to handle this,’” Hanselman said, noting that internet culture may be contributing to the pressure to figure things out on your own.How to address medication hesitations in mental health careRemind patients that they’re in the driver’s seatHanselman likes to make sure her patients know that this is a collaborative approach that’s truly driven by them.“This cannot be a paternalistic relationship—we have to work together because you’re the one living your life and taking your meds every day,” she said. “We can move very, very slowly and minimize your risk of any side effects if you’re concerned. And if we see any side effects you don’t like, we can slow it down, pause, or try something else. We have a ton of different options.” Knowing they can come to her if something goes wrong often gives her patients ease.When patients are nervous to even take the first step of considering meds, Dumler points out that an appointment with a psychiatrist doesn’t mean an automatic prescription. “I remind folks: You don’t have to walk out of there with medication. I’d love for you to just have a conversation and get your questions answered. Then you’ve got all the information to make your own informed decision,” she said.Compare mental health treatment to physical health treatmentFor patients stuck on the idea that needing medication is a personal failing, clinicians reach for physical-health parallels. “Both my dog and I took Zyrtec this morning because our allergies are not very friendly right now,” Kritsas said. “I would never think taking Zyrtec is a bad thing because it’s ‘just a crutch.’ It’s another tool in our toolbox, another coping mechanism. It’s not the one end-all, be-all—but therapy probably won’t be the one end-all, be-all either. So why wouldn’t we try both things together?” Thriveworks Helping patients access affordable careWhile not a dominant hesitation, 14% of people cited cost or insurance and 7% cited difficulty finding a provider as barriers to trying medication. “There are folks who are low-coverage, underinsured, or not insured, and not all medication is covered by different plans,” Dumler said. “Health care reform is always a challenge in the U.S. and is part of the story.”Some of these cost problems can be improved with prescribing, Hanselman says, such as by opting for more affordable generic meds or completing a prior authorization to support medication coverage for a patient.And if the barrier is finding a provider at all, the fix can be telehealth, or even pointing a patient to their existing provider. “I remind folks that are hesitant in terms of care costs, your primary care doctor is a great place to start,” Dumler said. “If you’re not able to access a psychiatrist, having a conversation with your trusted family doctor is another great space to explore if medication could be helpful for you.”This story was produced by Thriveworks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Winning Powerball ticket sold in Quincy A winning ticket for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing was sold at the Hy-Vee gas station on Broadway Street in Quincy.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted after stealing 2 AC units from Moline apartments The Moline Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding a man who broke into an apartment building and stole two AC units.
	By sky and sea, Ukraine's drone strikes challenge Russia's grip on Crimea Russia maintained an iron grip on Crimea since seizing it from Ukraine in 2014. Many Russian civilians go there to enjoy the beaches. But now Ukraine is hitting Crimea hard, upending daily life.
	LIVE BLOG: Severe weather in Quad Cities area Thursday The First Alert Weather team is tracking severe storms.
	Discovery Fair offers Family Events in Bettendorf Families can explore, create and even meet a few animals this weekend it Bettendorf.Discover Fair returns Saturday with activies spread across the Bettendorf Public Library, Family Museum, and Faye's Field. Andrew Miller with the Bettendorf Public Library explains what you can expect.
	The silent struggle: Why many men still avoid talking about mental health The silent struggle: Why many men still avoid talking about mental healthMental health and therapy are discussed more openly now than they were only a few years ago, but men are still less likely to advocate for themselves once the subject becomes personal.Therapists and researchers have tracked the reluctance for years, and what worries them most is how long men hold out even as emotional distress starts interfering with daily life. And none of the national data suggests men are struggling any less.Key takeawaysMen experience anxiety and depression at similar rates as women, but are less likely to receive counseling or therapy.Cultural expectations around toughness, independence, and emotional control can make it harder for men to recognize distress and ask for support.Untreated mental health concerns can affect relationships, work performance, physical health, substance use, and personal safety.Younger generations, athletes, and public figures are helping normalize conversations about men’s mental health, though stigma and misinformation remain barriers.Online therapy and flexible scheduling can make care more discreet and convenient, but affordability, provider availability, and long wait times may still limit access.BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma Report surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults in March 2026 and found men and women reporting anxiety and depression symptoms at nearly equal rates. Yet CDC data gathered from 2021 through 2023 found 33.2% of males with depression received counseling or therapy over a 12-month span, compared with 43% of females. And much of the hesitation begins with what boys and men are taught about handling emotional pain on their own.Why men have historically avoided mental health careOften, men try to push through mental health struggles alone, and the habit usually starts long before adulthood. Michael Addis, a psychology professor at Clark University, studies how boys and men learn which emotions they are allowed to show and which problems they are expected to solve alone.Boys learn early to tie emotional control to growing up, so a scraped knee or a real scare tends to draw an order to toughen up instead of an invitation to talk. But over time, those lessons harden into adult rules, and independence becomes the yardstick a man measures his own worth against.Culture keeps that lesson going into adulthood, and as Addis told the Christian Science Monitor, "we tend to hide the emotional and physical vulnerabilities of men."He points to the public praise handed to men who come across as stoic and invincible. Addis also traces part of the reluctance to a culture that has treated asking for care, whether for depression or physical pain, as feminine.So speaking up under those rules can feel like risking the respect of family members and close friends. And years spent hiding emotion may leave some men with little practice naming sadness or fear.As Addis explained, men may feel anxious about activities treated as feminine, and “seeking help falls under that.” The effort to appear invincible can then keep emotional suffering hidden, leaving even close relatives unsure what a man is carrying.And with those feelings left unnamed, the National Institute of Mental Health notes that depression among men often surfaces as irritability or physical symptoms, leading many to discuss bodily problems with a doctor before mentioning emotional pain. By adulthood, staying silent may feel safer than admitting they need support from someone else.The cost of staying silentLeaving mental health problems untreated can change far more than how a man feels, since the strain often follows him home and into his working life. Danesh A. Alam, medical director of Behavioral Health Services at Central DuPage Hospital, says men often minimize symptoms and "push through negative feelings."Alam also warns that "the longer depression goes untreated, the more severe the episodes can get," leaving some men with weaker concentration and less ability to manage ordinary responsibilities.At home, irritability may replace conversation, while withdrawal can leave a partner or child unsure how to respond. The same strain may follow a man to work, where missed deadlines or absences begin affecting how others depend on him. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost 12 billion working days worldwide each year.But physical health can also suffer, with the American Heart Association linking depression, chronic stress, and anger to poorer cardiovascular health. Some men then use alcohol or drugs to dull emotional distress, adding another health risk while the mental health problem goes untreated.If the distress continues to worsen, a man may reach a point where his safety is at risk. And national suicide data shows just how severe that danger can become, with the CDC reporting that the male suicide rate was nearly four times the female rate in 2024. However, there are many other factors that may drive someone to suicide, and silence is only one piece of it.Younger generations are changing the conversationCompared with many men from earlier generations, Gen Z has grown up hearing mental health discussed as part of everyday life. The advocacy group Active Minds reports that Gen Z talks about mental health more openly than any generation before it, and the group credits that openness with helping families who once stayed silent become more willing to ask for help.Still, greater comfort with the subject has not removed the fear of being judged once a young man speaks about his own distress. Athletes have done a lot to ease that fear.Michael Addis, the Clark University psychologist, points out that athletes may be the last men to have their manhood questioned, which puts them in a rare spot to admit they struggle without losing respect. Once one of them says out loud that he lives with anxiety or depression, Addis notes, it gives men of every background room to say the same.Miami Heat veteran Kevin Love has become one of those voices after writing in The Players’ Tribune that mental health is hard to talk about in sports since showing weakness in a sport built on toughness is treated as something to be ashamed of. But Love now runs a foundation aimed at helping athletes manage the pressure he once carried alone.Interestingly, much of this conversation now happens on social media, where young men may learn words for what they are feeling and hear from others who have faced similar struggles.But the same platforms also carry advice from people with no clinical training. An analysis of popular TikTok videos found that 33% of the mental health advice was misleading, leaving young men to separate reliable guidance from personal opinion while trying to understand their own mental struggles.What makes support more accessible todayGiven how much pressure men still feel to hold up a tough exterior, getting help is far easier now than it was even a few years ago.Walsh University notes that even the thought of being seen inside a clinical waiting room may keep someone from seeking care. But teletherapy removes that concern by allowing someone to meet with a licensed counselor by video or phone from a safe place.The same technology also makes appointments easier to fit around daily responsibilities. Walsh reports that telehealth sessions may be scheduled outside regular business hours, giving shift workers and men caring for family another way to attend.NAMI, the country's largest grassroots mental health organization, directs men toward therapist locators and crisis resources, allowing awareness campaigns to lead toward qualified care.But safe places and flexible hours do not remove every barrier. Research with men who had left mental health services found that long waits made returning harder, while participants also called for lower costs. While there are many factors that may deter men from treatment, cost is often an attributable factor that deters many men from seeking care.TakeawaySeeking help is not a sign of weakness, and now more than ever, men are seeing that stepping forward early changes what happens before distress turns into a crisis.Naming a problem while work and home life still feel manageable takes more nerve than pretending nothing is wrong, and it gives a man time to understand what he is feeling before his choices begin to narrow.This story was produced by BetterHelp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Survey: Nearly two-thirds of US homeowners are shocked by their property tax bill Survey: Nearly two-thirds of US homeowners are shocked by their property tax billHomeowners across the country are feeling the squeeze of rising tax bills, are largely unaware of their legal right to push back, and are increasingly skeptical of the system setting their assessments, according to an Ownwell survey of 2,500 U.S. homeowners.The March 2026 survey asked homeowners about their property tax bills, appeal and protest behaviors, awareness of taxpayer rights, and attitudes toward homeownership costs.The second annual national property tax sentiment survey also reveals year-over-year shifts in awareness and financial pressure. Ownwell Key FindingsSixty-four percent were surprised or shocked by their most recent property tax bill, up from 59% in 2025 9 in 10 are concerned about the long-term financial impact of rising property taxes on homeownership Seventy-six percent say property taxes in recent years have been more than what they budgeted for, up 10% year-over-year Seventy-four percent have never appealed their tax bill (a 4% decrease from last year); of those, 57% didn’t know they had the right to1. Property Tax Bills Are Outpacing Household BudgetsMore than three in four U.S. homeowners report their property taxes have increased since moving in, and for most, those increases have been larger than anticipated. Ownwell The financial pressure isn’t just that taxes are rising; it’s that they’re rising faster than households can plan for. Over three in four (76%) of homeowners say their property taxes in recent years have been more than what they budgeted for, a 10-point increase from the 2025 survey. Ownwell Behind that bill shock sits a deeper level of systemic frustration. Eighty-four percent of respondents agree that their county’s property tax process negatively affects homeowners — 33% strongly agree, and only 16% disagree. Ownwell But how does it negatively affect them?For 22% of U.S. homeowners, their property tax bill’s total amount is too high and unaffordable, while 19% feel the valuation or appraisal process feels unfair and arbitrary.Less than 1 in 10 are unconcerned about property taxes.2. Most Homeowners Have Never Appealed, and Many Don’t Know They CanDespite broad financial pressure from property tax bills, most U.S. homeowners have never used one of the formal tools available to them: the legal right to contest their property’s assessed value. Ownwell Seventy-four percent of homeowners have never appealed or protested their property tax bill — a slight improvement from 78% in last year’s survey.Among the 74% who have never appealed, the knowledge gap is significant: 57% said they did not know they had the right to appeal or protest their tax bill, up four points from last year. Ownwell Ownwell The other 43% knew they could appeal, yet still didn’t act. For this group, the barrier seems less about awareness and more about friction:Uncertainty about the processLimited confidence in a successful outcomeThe time and effort requiredThe data points to a two-part challenge.A persistent knowledge gap about basic taxpayer rights.For those who do know, it’s a confidence and access gap that prevents action.3. The Assessment Process Feels Arbitrary and OpaqueWhen asked about their primary concern regarding property taxes, homeowners more often than not pointed to the fairness and transparency of the system that sets their bills.Among those with concerns:Twenty-two percent say the total amount is simply too highNineteen percent say the valuation and appraisal process seems unfair and arbitrarySeven percent cite a lack of transparency from their local government or appraiserOnly 9% of respondents said they were unconcerned about property taxes.These concerns express not only frustration with bill amounts but also deeper distrust of how assessments are determined. The valuation process, which many homeowners feel they can’t audit or are unaware they can appeal, sits at the center of that concern.4. Most Homeowners Are Open to Professional Help, But Privacy Represents a BarrierFor the 26% who have appealed, more than half (53%) say they handled it entirely on their own, while 19% used a tax firm or online resource, and 17% hired a lawyer.However, given the friction around self-filing and the knowledge gaps documented above, a natural question follows:Are homeowners willing to let a third-party service handle an appeal on their behalf?The answer, broadly, is yes. Ownwell Seventy-three percent of homeowners express at least some trust in a third-party service to handle an appeal on their behalf, with 12% describing themselves as “very trusting.”However, among the 27% who are distrustful, the primary barrier is not skepticism about results; it’s autonomy and privacy.Forty-two percent of distrustful respondents said they simply choose to handle property matters themselves.Another 39% cited data privacy and security concerns.Only 20% doubted that a third-party service could achieve a better outcome than they could on their own.This efficacy-versus-comfort distinction is worth noting. For most skeptics, the question isn’t whether a service can deliver results. Instead, it’s whether they’re willing to hand over control and personal information to do so.Section 5. High Taxes Have 2 in 5 Homeowners Considering MovingFor most homeowners, their property is where they’ve planted roots. However, property taxes aren’t just an annual line item. For 2 in 5 homeowners, they’re influencing where people choose to live. Ownwell Forty percent of U.S. homeowners have considered moving to a new location specifically because of high property taxes. The majority (60%) have not.But those 4 in 10 homeowners represent a notable portion for whom property taxes have become a factor in one of the most consequential decisions they can make.Conclusion: What The Results Mean for U.S. HomeownersThree interconnected patterns emerge from this data.1. Monetary stress is real and worsening.Three in four homeowners say property taxes have exceeded their budget, up 10 points from last year. That kind of year-over-year movement shows a genuine shift in how much property tax bills are burdening household finances.2. The most direct path to relief (filing a property tax appeal) remains dramatically underused.Nearly three in four homeowners have never done it, and more than half of those who haven’t didn’t know they could. That’s a solvable problem with education and resources.3. Trust in appraisal systems is low.Nearly 1 in 5 homeowners view the valuation process as opaque and difficult to challenge. In contrast, 7% of homeowners’ top concern regarding property taxes is the lack of transparency from local governments and appraisers.Again, it’s worth noting that in most states, you can appeal or protest your appraised value annually; no legislation is required. For homeowners wanting to act, the other most direct lever is to apply for qualifying homestead exemptions.MethodologyThis study is based on a March 2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. homeowners, conducted via Pollfish. Respondents span all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Texas homeowners (n=520) were asked additional state-specific questions, which the researchers analyzed separately. You can find those results here.Pollfish handled all data collection. Survey responses are self-reported and subject to the standard limitations of online survey research, including recall and response bias.Ownwell conducted a comparable national survey of U.S. homeowners in 2025, enabling year-over-year comparisons where noted. The researchers rounded all percentages to the nearest whole number; in some cases, rounded figures may not sum to exactly 100%.This story was produced by Ownwell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	49th annual Watermelon Stampede will cause delays for Muscatine drivers Runners, walkers, and plenty of summer spirit will take over Muscatine streets on Saturday, Aug. 15, as the 49th annual Watermelon Stampede gets underway, according to a news release from the City of Muscatine. The event runs from 8-10 a.m. Drivers should prepare for temporary delays and increased foot traffic along the race routes. Drivers [...]
	Buy, sell gear at River Action Kayak/Canoe Swap Outdoor living fans can buy and sell paddling equipment and gear during River Action’s Kayak/Canoe Swap/Outdoor Expo. The expo will be held on Friday, August 14 from 4 – 7 p.m. at Credit Island Lodge, 2200 W. River Drive in Davenport and is similar to a garage sale. Sellers set their own prices to sell [...]

Friday, August 14th, 2026

Thursday, August 13th, 2026