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

Saturday, July 25th, 2026
	Extreme Heat Warning from SUN 11:00 AM CDT until SUN 9:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning and Watch in Effect: Dangerously High Temperatures Expected
	Trump returns to correspondents' dinner 3 months after shooting President Donald Trump returned to the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner Friday night, delivering a rambling, hour-long speech.
Friday, July 24th, 2026
	Assumption wins 3A State Baseball Championship game against Wahlert Assumption beat Wahlert 5-3 in the 3A State Championship game. The Knights ended the season on an 11 game winning streak.
	Habaneros moving out of SouthPark Mall, will stay in Moline in new location Owner Josue Sanchez expects to open his new location on Avenue of the Cities in the first few weeks of September.
	Bix Family Jam honors Beiderbecke's 'Davenport Blues' There was plenty of food and music to be had for the second year of the event, held on the eve of the Bix 7.
	Orion 250 event to bring music, history and community together Aug. 1 Free hot dogs, apple pie and ice cream await at the family-friendly event. There will be several hours of patriotic performers, ending with a movie in the park.
	Man involved in fentanyl, cocaine trafficking case sentenced to 5 years in federal prison A man who pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl in Henry and Rock Island counties was sentenced to serve five years in federal prison.
	Oregon initiative that would have banned most killing of animals won’t be on November ballots Members of the Yakama Nation harvest Pacific lamprey at Wilumpt, or Willamette Falls, near Oregon City on June 24, 2026. The lamprey are an ancient and culturally significant species for many Northwest tribes. Fishing would have been banned under an initiative that failed to gather sufficient signatures to make the November ballot. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)Oregonians won’t vote in November on whether to ban hunting, fishing, livestock farming and animal research after backers of a widely criticized initiative failed to gather enough valid signatures to make the ballot. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office announced late Friday afternoon that it had determined Initiative Petition 28, an effort led by Portland-based vegan advocates to dramatically expand the state’s animal cruelty laws, had less than 75% of the valid signatures it needed from Oregon voters to make it onto the November ballot. Oregonians trying to pass laws through a statewide vote need to collect signatures from 6% of voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial election. This year, that’s 117,173 signatures. Backers of the animal cruelty initiative, who did not immediately return a call for comment Friday, reported handing in 142,784 signatures. But through two statistical samples, state election officials determined that just 104,262 of those signatures matched individual Oregon voters’ signature records. Election officials compare signatures submitted to voter records and exclude duplicates. Initiative Petition 28 would have banned nearly all harming or killing animals, with exceptions for self-defense and veterinary care. It would not have applied to insects, which aren’t considered animals under Oregon law, but would cover all other non-human creatures. The initiative had widespread opposition from Democratic and Republican political leaders, the farming, ranching and fishing industries and Oregon’s federally recognized tribes, whose treaty-protected rights to hunt and fish in their traditional land would not have been exempted from the ban. A coalition opposing the initiative welcomed the news. Lauren Kuenzi, government affairs director at the Oregon Farm Bureau and a coalition spokesperson, thanked Oregonians who raised alarms about the potential consequences of the proposed law. “Today’s announcement means Oregonians will not be faced with a ballot measure that would have made criminals out of law-abiding citizens, threatened family farms and ranches, increased food costs and undermined the science-based wildlife management that protects our state’s natural resources,” Kuenzi said. This was the third election cycle that animal rights advocates have introduced a version of the initiative, and the closest they’ve come to making the ballot. The campaign raised more than $300,000 for its efforts this time around, state campaign finance records show, allowing it to pay petition circulators. None of the other 88 initiatives Oregonians proposed this year submitted enough signatures, so this will be the first general election in decades without a citizen-led initiative on the ballot. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	Bubba's 33 restaurant opening in Davenport on Monday This is the chain's first location in Iowa. It's owned by the same company as Texas Roadhouse.
	Hughes Taylor, August 2 Performing blues-rock that, according to Blues Blast Magazine, delivers a sound "loaded with explosive, steady-driving fretwork" and "a heavy beat and a voice to match," genre great Hughes Taylor performs an August 2 concert sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, his Pour Bros. Craft Taproom set treating fans to what Creative Loafing called "a fiery brand of blues-rock whose power trio lineage stretches back to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cream and Jimi Hendrix."
	Half a century of Bix: Davenport runner celebrates 50 consecutive races Mark McMullen ran in his first Bix at just 18 years old. Here's why he keeps coming back, year after year, and his advice for any first time Bix 7 runners.
	Crash slows traffic in Downtown Davenport A crash has slowed traffic on River Drive in Davenport
	Iowa left out of early 2028 Democratic presidential calendar Iowa will not be among the states holding an early Democratic presidential contest in 2028.
	Idaho’s strict Medicaid work requirements to start next year. Most meet the rules, official says. Hundreds of Idahoans gathered in the rotunda of the Idaho Capitol on Jan. 12, 2026, to protest budget cuts to the state's Medicaid program. The protest, organized by Idaho Voices for Children, took place before the governor's State of the State Address. (Photo by Christina Lords/Idaho Capital Sun)Idaho state health officials plan to start implementing work requirements for people on Medicaid expansion starting next year. Idaho Republican lawmakers and Gov. Brad Little in April adopted the work requirements from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state’s largest agency that runs Medicaid and other public assistance programs, plans to implement the work requirements on Jan. 1, 2027, agency officials announced in a news release this week. Under the federal law, work requirements, also called community engagement requirements, require people enrolled in Medicaid expansion to prove that they are working, doing community service or educational or training activities for at least 80 hours each month. About 85,000 Idahoans are enrolled in Medicaid expansion, the state says. Medicaid work requirements and other changes in the “Big Beautiful Bill” could kick 20,000 to 34,000 Idahoans off Medicaid expansion by 2028, according to an analysis by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. That’s lower than what some other researchers estimate. Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Sasha O’Connell presents to the Legislature’s Medicaid Review Panel in Rexburg on Dec. 15, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) In a statement last week, Idaho Medicaid Administrator Sasha O’Connell said in an initial review, the Department of Health and Welfare found that “the vast majority” of people on Medicaid expansion were already “meeting the new requirements.” The agency found that 68,400 Idahoans on Medicaid expansion met the new work requirements, out of the roughly 83,000 on the program at the time of the review, she said. She said the agency found that many Idahoans on Medicaid expansion already met the work requirements for several reasons, such as meeting work requirements for other programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or state officials could see they were working through sources such as the Department of Labor. “The remaining population will have the opportunity to provide documentation showing that they met the requirements if it wasn’t in our systems,” O’Connell said. How far back do you need to prove work history under Idaho Medicaid’s work requirements? Idaho lawmakers decided to require Medicaid expansion enrollees to prove work history for three months before their application for Medicaid. That time period, called a lookback period, is the longest allowed under the federal law. Only three states — Idaho, Indiana and North Carolina — plan to use lookback periods that long, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research organization. “If you can show that you have been working, going to school, participating in a work program, volunteering, or earning at least $580 in the three consecutive months before applying for Medicaid, you will meet the new requirements,” a state website explaining the new work requirements says. People on Medicaid will also be required to re-apply to the program every six months, another change under the new federal law that increases the eligibility verification frequency from once a year. Medicaid expansion is a program, approved by Idaho voters through a 2018 ballot initiative, that offers health insurance coverage to a group of people commonly called the working poor. Idahoans can qualify for Medicaid expansion if their household earns up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or $29,863 for a family of two each year. What exemptions are there to Idaho’s Medicaid work requirements? There are several exemptions to the work requirements, including for: People who have been pregnant within the past year People who are primary caregivers of children age 13 or younger, or who are caregivers of a person with a disability People who are blind, or who have “a serious or complex health condition that requires regular medical care,” along with people who have “a substance use disorder, or are in a drug or alcohol treatment program,” or people who have “a disabling mental health condition,” or people who “have a serious or complex health condition that requires regular medical care.” People who are Native American or Alaska Natives, veterans with a 100% disability rating, people who are aged 18-25 and aged out of foster care, people incarcerated or released from incarceration in the last 90 days. People who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or cash assistance through the Temporary Aid for Needy Families program, and “are already required to meet work requirements for those programs.” How will patients find out about work requirements? The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says it is sending letters to all households affected by the policy. Based on Idaho’s plan to require work proof for three months, Idaho must start sending outreach notices this month, KFF says. If you’re on Medicaid expansion and want to make sure you receive updates on the program, state health officials encourage you to visit Idalink to make sure your mailing address, phone and email are up to date, and that you are signed up for email and text alerts. Verify your enrollment status in Idaho Medicaid by calling 1-877-456-1233. The Department of Health and Welfare plans to host virtual town halls in the coming months. Find more information online at the agency’s Medicaid website or its website about Medicaid expansion. Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Runners prepare to run the Bix 7 Throughout the day on Friday, runners bustled in and out of the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. Most were picking up the necessities at the Running Wild Expo for the Bix 7 on Saturday morning. It's where runners can grab their poster, this year's shirt, and the most essential, the racing bib. Race leaders and signs [...]
	Cloud cover and 69 degrees expected for Bix 7 start time Saturday No rain delays for this year's running of the Quad-City Times Bix 7. Instead, race time temperatures should be around 70 degrees with some cloud cover.
	Paramount says it will pause its Warner acquisition while legal challenges play out A dozen states and the Writers Guild of America had challenged the merger.
	IMPACT Conference brings agencies together to improve crisis response Agencies from across the region gathered Friday for the IMPACT Conference, a multi-year initiative focused on equipping first responders with tools to better support people experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
	Extreme Heat Watch Sunday and Monday Pleasant weather settles in, cooler through end of work week
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of July 24, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Davenport native to run his 50th Bix 7 race A Davenport native will run his 50th Bix after first running it at the age of 18.
	With ‘The Odyssey,’ Christopher Nolan embarks on his own cinematic homecoming After conquering the Oscars with Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan turned his attention to the foundation of all modern epics, finding inspiration in the ancient Greek poet Homer. His resulting adaptation of The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and many more A-list stars, is a towering cinematic achievement and yet another filmmaking leap forward for Nolan.
	Bix weekend begins in Downtown Davenport The 52nd running of the Bix 7 begins on Saturday morning.
	Democrats approve new primary election calendar, putting South Carolina first Democrats chose South Carolina for the first 2028 presidential primary, then Nevada, prioritizing Black and Latino voters. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia also hold early contests.
	Orion to hold America 250 event Orion will hold its America 250 celebration on Aug 1.
	Scott County Sheriff's Office celebrates four big promotions It was a busy day for the Scott County Sheriff's Office. In addition to their usual tasks, they held a ceremony to celebrate the promotion of four officers. Lt. Thomas Leonard was promoted to captain. Sgt. Eric Roloff will take over as lieutenant. Deputies Brad Rubino and Ethan Rolling will be promoted to sergeant. The [...]
	Josh Turek, Iowa Democrat running for Senate, visit Maquoketa phrarmacy Turek discussed how Medicaid cuts are impacting rural pharmacies.
	QCA cooling centers to open as extreme heat expected High heat and humidity readings between 105 and 110 degrees are in the National Weather Service forecast starting at noon Sunday, July 26t, and continuing through Monday, July 27, according to a news release. As a result, the Knox County Emergency Management Agency will monitor local weather conditions, and these locations will be available as cooling [...]
	Kewanee man wins $1 million from Illinois Lottery Instant Ticket A Kewanee man is $1 million richer after scratching his way to a top prize on a $5 Onyx Instant Ticket. According to a release from the Illinois Lottery, Steve purchased the winning ticket at Beck’s North in Kewanee. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus, equal to one percent [...]
	Federal judge says certain abortion drug restrictions are unlawful A lawsuit filed in 2023 by abortion providers in Kansas, Montana and Virginia challenges the FDA’s restrictions on mifepristone as excessive, unwarranted and inconsistent with other legal requirements. A federal judge ruled Thursday that the federal agency didn’t sufficiently justify the Biden-era rules. (Photo by Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)A federal judge in Virginia ruled Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not sufficiently justify restrictions imposed in 2023 on a drug used to terminate early pregnancies, adding another layer of complexity to a string of legal cases with opposing goals that could affect future abortion access. The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by abortion providers in Kansas, Montana and Virginia to challenge the restrictions as excessive, unwarranted and inconsistent with other legal requirements. A similar case in Hawaii was already decided in October, with a federal judge also finding that the restrictions were arbitrary. In Virginia, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Ballou, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, said the FDA failed to conduct an appropriate review of the 2023 restrictions on mifepristone, which include rules that prescribing pharmacies and clinicians must be specially certified and prescribers and patients must sign a form acknowledging the medication’s risks. Unpacking the fight over telehealth access to abortion medication “The 2023 REMS modification is unlawful and must be remanded to the FDA for review,” Ballou wrote, using the acronym for the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies protocols. Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of lead plaintiff Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, based in Virginia, said in a statement Friday that eliminating those three restrictions would help clinic staff focus on patient needs instead of “excessive paperwork.” “I have worked in abortion care for over 30 years, and I can attest that these regulations serve no medical purpose, nor do they add value to our patients’ experience of abortion,” Hagstrom Miller said in the statement. The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Stateline on Friday. Ballou did not give a timeline for a review of the restrictions, but the FDA has said it is conducting a broader safety review and has sought to dismiss cases related to mifepristone regulation until it completes that review. Trump administration officials told the Wall Street Journal in June that the review was expected to take about six months, meaning it would conclude after the national midterm elections. Katie Keith, founding director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, said the Virginia and Hawaii decisions mean the FDA has been ordered by two courts to reconsider its restrictions and more thoroughly explain why they are necessary. “They’re going to have to look at everything these various courts are telling them to look at,” Keith said. But the two rulings come at the same time the administration is receiving pressure from anti-abortion groups to further restrict access to mifepristone, even in states where abortion is legal. The 2023 rules, which were decided under the Biden administration, also eased restrictions to allow mifepristone to be dispensed without an in-person provider for the first time. That helped expand national access to the medication, which is one of two drugs typically used to end a pregnancy before 10 weeks and to treat miscarriages, and allowed people who live in one of the 13 states with near-total abortion bans to continue to receive it by mail. That expanded access prompted three other lawsuits from attorneys general in states with abortion bans that are still pending in federal courts. In Louisiana, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether to strike down the provision allowing telehealth prescriptions, and will hear oral arguments in the case in September. The 5th Circuit initially granted an emergency request from Louisiana to block telehealth access to the medication, but after drug manufacturers appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices reversed the circuit court ruling. That stay from the high court will remain in place as the case continues. Two other cases with different implications for the future of mifepristone are ongoing. One is in Missouri, joined by attorneys general from Idaho and Kansas, where they have asked the court to return all of the restrictions to what they were in 2016. The other is in Texas, joined by Florida’s attorney general, asking the federal court to revoke the drug’s approval entirely. Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at kmoseley@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Sterling police arrest felon on weapons and drug charges following retail theft investigation Sterling police arrested Jordan L. Kaye on multiple weapons and drug felonies after investigating a retail theft and vehicle trespassing on Thursday.
	Humane Society of Scott County waives some adoption fees through July 26 due to space issues Due to space issues, the Humane Society of Scott County announced some adoption fees are being waived through July 26. According to a Facebook post from the Humane Society: According to the post, all adult dog and cat adoption fees are waived through the end of day Sunday, July 26. The Humane Society of Scott [...]
	Love's adds 90 jobs in Whiteside County with new Rock Falls stop The new location off of Interstate 88 and State Route 40 offers convenient access to food including Godfather's Pizza and Naf-Naf Grill.
	New Vibrant Arena executive director already having the time of his life Rik Edgar is in heaven right now, as just the third executive director in the 33-year history of Vibrant Arena at The MARK, Moline.
	How to get a handle on NC healthcare costs? Affordability experts agree it’s no easy feat Gov. Josh Stein announced the formation of the North Carolina Health Care Affordability Commission earlier this summer to develop practical recommendations to reduce healthcare costs and make care more affordable. (Photo: Getty Images)North Carolinians pay more than many Americans for healthcare. The state ranks 38th nationally in healthcare access and affordability, according to a 2025 scorecard by the Commonwealth Fund. A separate study by RAND found North Carolina had the 15th highest overall hospital prices in the country. Gov. Josh Stein announced the formation of the North Carolina Health Care Affordability Commission earlier this summer to develop practical recommendations to reduce healthcare costs and make care more affordable. When the bipartisan commission held its first meeting this week, they learned just how daunting their mission would be. Professor Barak Richman (Photo: GWU Law) Professor Barak Richman, co-director of the Health Law Program at the George Washington University Law School, told the commission that affordability is a national problem. He said America spends substantially more on healthcare than other wealthy countries – $5.3 trillion in 2024. “It’s important to say that we are no healthier. In fact, we are actually less healthy than those [other] industrial nations,” Richman said. About 1 in 6 U.S. adults go without healthcare due to the cost, according to an analysis by KFF. Richman said businesses increasingly cannot afford to offer health insurance benefits. And for people who do obtain health insurance through work, premiums have been rising faster than inflation since 2013. The result is a state of constant worry about whether a person can afford to see a doctor when they are sick. One in five North Carolinians struggling to pay their medical bills will be contacted by a collection agency. “In 2023, 8% of North Carolinians had medical debt in collections. It’s not just that they had medical debt, but that they were contacted by a court saying that they were being sued for a collection,” Richman said. “And that was the fourth highest in the nation.” What’s driving costs higher: lessons from the Hoosier state If you look at what is driving health care costs higher, Richman said, hospital care and physicians account for 65 cents of every health care dollar spent. And costs tend to rise when there is a lack of price transparency. “You don’t have price competition if patients can’t compare prices,” said Richman. Others on the commission pointed to private equity firms buying health care physician practices and facilities. Private-equity ownership can result in higher prices for patients and a consolidation of practices as the focus turns to profit over patient care. Members of the commission are taking a closer look at efforts in Indiana, which has moved quickly over the past three years to rein in costs. Last year, Indiana’s legislature passed bills that would codify into state law the federal hospital price transparency rule and require third party administrators and pharmacy benefit managers to act as fiduciaries. To further control costs, lawmakers in the Hoosier state passed bills to ban excess hospital fees and prohibit non-compete clauses for primary care. Mergers must now be reported to the state attorney general. A controversial bill to rein in AI use in medical billing advances in NC Senate An executive order signed by Governor Mike Braun denies tax exemptions to hospitals that provide less charity care than the amount they receive in state tax breaks. The promise and pitfalls of technology Beyond passing more legislation, Mark McClellan, the director of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, said controlling costs may also require becoming more comfortable with technology and telehealth. “It’s going to be hard to get to where we want to go, given trends in the population and workforce, without new kinds of digital supports,” said McClellan. “It really enables primary care planning and primary care practices to not just survive, but maybe thrive more effectively in the future when delivering care.” Sen. Gale Adcock (Photo: NCGA) Panel member Sen. Gale Adcock, D-Wake, a family nurse practitioner, told her colleagues that while consumers want lower healthcare costs, a huge percentage of the population doesn’t use technology or doesn’t want to when faced with a personal health problem. “My mom is just an example of a whole section of people who don’t want to talk to a machine. They don’t want to talk to AI,” said Adcock. “They want to call their provider that they know and trust.” Adcock says in many cases, a costly trip to the emergency department can be avoided if the patient can simply talk to a reassuring person at their primary care provider’s practice. “What they really need to do is talk to their physician, their nurse practitioner, their P.A. and say, “Can this wait until tomorrow? I’m scared,'” Adcock said. The Health Care Affordability Commission holds its next meeting in October when it decides which specific areas and unique ideas will have the greatest impact in reducing healthcare costs. The group is slated to deliver its recommendations to Gov. Stein in January 2027. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	How The Illharmonic's mix of hip-hop and classical builds community, one show at a time The Illharmonic Orchestra's performances blend hip-hop lyricism with classical instrumentation, and feature all-Black musical ensembles. The group's leaders speak with NPR's Juana Summers about how they build community around their high-energy performances and represent musicians and audiences in spaces where they may have not traditionally felt welcomed.
	Cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise, as Michigan remains hardest hit state Vegetables and lettuces at a grocery store in Michigan. Michigan health officials say lettuces and salad greens are emerging as a likely source in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, which has sickened thousands of people across the country. (Photo by Jon King/Michigan Advance)Michigan has documented 8,176 cases of cyclosporiasis, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, marking a significant increase from the 5,002 cases it reported last Friday. The department is issuing daily updates on the number of documented cases with weekly updates on Thursdays on the number of cases resulting in hospitalization, as well as the number of cases recorded in each of Michigan’s 83 counties. A total of 160 individuals have been hospitalized due to cyclosporiasis, up from 102 reported last Thursday. Cyclosporiasis has been detected in 71 counties, though 16 reported cases do not have a known county of residence. Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Ingham and Shiawassee counties have the highest number of reported cases. The state health department announced on July 1 that it was investigating an outbreak into the illness, which is caused by the microscopic Cyclospora parasite, spread through consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms can emerge between two days and two weeks, and include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. As of Friday, the state’s investigation pointed to lettuce and salad greens as a potential source of this outbreak, though it could not completely rule out other types of produce, or identify a specific grower or supplier as a source of the outbreak.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. On July 17, Taylor Farms De Mexico issued a voluntary recall on iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico. On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is continuing its investigation into infections linked to iceberg lettuce from the region alongside with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments. As of Friday, the outbreak includes nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The CDC is issuing weekly updates on cyclosporiasis cases, documenting 4,173 cases as of June 20, with 7,400 cases – mostly stemming from Michigan and Ohio – yet to be confirmed through laboratory testing. The federal agency notes its reports do not include probable cases, which may result in lower case counts than those reported by state health departments. Michigan remains the hardest hit state, with the CDC recording between 901 and 2,100 cases. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	What Bix-7 runners need to know to stay out of the medical tent The medical tent typically sees 25 to 100 patients each year.
	State releases $4 million in federal money for rural emergency services Photo illustration by Getty Images.The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced this week it is opening grants for rural emergency medical services across the state. There is $4 million available for rural EMS agencies in Montana. The money can be used to upgrade ambulances or equipment, a state press release said. “Modern, well-equipped ambulances are the backbone of effective emergency care in Montana,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said in a press release. “This grant is a critical investment in our local EMS agencies, so even our most rural and frontier communities can count on fast, high-quality, life-saving care when every second counts.” Eligibility is based on need, the release said, as well as age, model, and operational status of ambulances, as well as gaps in patient care. Some rural communities face hours of time before they can get to larger medical facilities. The money comes from $233 million in federal rural healthcare funding, which is being run through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That money is part of a larger, five-year commitment that could net the state $1.2 billion in federal healthcare funding. The Rural Health Transformation Program, created as part of the “One Big, Beautiful” reconciliation bill allocates $10 billion per year for rural healthcare funding around the country. Montana got the fourth-highest initial award of any state — all 50 states received some degree of funding through the programs. Applications for grants will be available through Aug. 15, 2026, the press release said. Courtesy of Daily Montanan
	Tennessee child abduction ends with non-custodial parent's arrest in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa The local police department learned that the suspect and child in the McMinn County, Tennessee, abduction were traveling on U.S. Highway 218.
	Bix 7 boosts tourism in Quad Cities, downtown Davenport The Quad-City Times Bix 7 brought an estimated $2.6 million impact last year, with tourism leaders expecting another boost for Quad Cities businesses.
	New dashboard tracks Kansas Affordable Care Act enrollment by legislative district, county A new dashboard created by Kansas Health Institute shows enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance by county and by legislative district. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — A new dashboard tracks the number of Kansans enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, offering data for legislators and others to understand the effects of policy changes, a health organization said. The Kansas Health Institute designed the dashboard to create an easy way for people to access data and see how federal and state changes to marketplace health insurance affects enrollment, said analyst Kaci Cink. The organization already had been maintaining maps to track ACA enrollment, but KHI wanted to break the data down not just to the county level but to legislative districts levels, as well, she said “We’ve been doing maps for the marketplace for a long time, and we wanted to explore creating something that was a little bit more interactive and was also able to get down to legislative districts, the community level, your neighborhood essentially,” Cink said. The dashboard shows the percentage of people in a county, state Senate or House legislative district or federal congressional district enrolled in the ACA. By county, Hodgeman County has the highest percentage of enrollees with 21%, or 340 people, and Riley County has the lowest percentage at 3.3%, or 2,373 people. Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, which is served by Republican Rep. Ron Estes, has the highest enrollment among federal districts at 7.2%, or 53,958 people. The 1st District, represented by Republican Rep. Tracey Mann, is 5.5%, or 40,255 people. The dashboard also compares the state by peer counties, showing the differences in population density between rural and urban counties through categories defined by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Cink said. Linda Sheppard, KHI senior analyst and strategy team leader, said the organization shared the dashboard information with legislators so they know the number of people in their districts affected by ACA. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated premium help that many people were receiving to enroll on the ACA marketplace. Area health experts said 20% of Kansans enrolled in 2025 didn’t re-enroll in 2026. Sheppard said the state is seeing a further decrease in ACA enrollment as people are not paying their premiums, even though they were enrolled for 2026. That information isn’t included on the dashboard, because the federal government doesn’t update enrollment data until the next open enrollment, for 2027. “I think the expectation is that maybe for 2027 we’ll see a more significant drop in that initial open enrollment period because maybe some of those people that figured out that they couldn’t afford it anymore just won’t enroll,” Sheppard said. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	4 Your Money \| Inflation's Second Wind While inflation had been showing signs of easing last year, all the developments this year suggest renewed volatility. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, shares the Core PCE Price Index which is the preferred measurement the Federal Reserve uses when analyzing inflation.
	Autism, veteran organizations to benefit at Backyard Classic in Bettendorf A series of sports competitions will be on deck Aug. 22, including tournaments in bags, wiffle ball and bucket golf. Cash prizes are offered in select activities.
	2 southeast Iowa men indicted for alleged multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme The Ponzi scheme involved dozens of victims and millions of dollars lost, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa said.
	Surgeon General suggests high measles counts could be tied to abortion opposition Dr. Joseph Ladapo talks to reporters after the Florida Senate confirmed him as state surgeon general on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Imani Thomas/Florida Phoenix)Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo suggested Friday that opposition to abortion could have helped fuel a measles outbreak in Florida since many cases are tied to a private Roman Catholic college. Federal data show Florida had 141 confirmed measles cases as of July 23, ranking the state fifth in the nation for most infections. During a press conference in Orlando Friday, a reporter asked Ladapo about his level of concern about the measles cases and what he’d tell Florida families about the rising number of cases. The surgeon general, long known for his vaccine skepticism, initially replied, “Oh no. Everyone’s got to take a vaccine.” But he followed noting that “a lot of those cases” were reported at Ave Maria University, a private Roman Catholic college in Collier County. Ninety-three measles cases were reported in Collier County where the university is located. “You know, for some people — people may or may not know that the measles vaccines is developed with the cells that are a progeny from … an aborted fetus, and you know whether there’s a connection between the fact that you know some of the students at this university chose not to receive that vaccine, and it happens to be a vaccine that is related to the practice of abortion, I’m not sure.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Measles vaccines are made from two cell strains that came from human fetal lung tissue in the 1960s. These original tissues were collected from elective abortions, and scientists used them to grow the live measles virus safely. These same fetal cells have continued to grow in the laboratory and are used to make vaccines today. No further sources of fetal cells are needed to make these vaccines. The Pontifical Academy for Life in 2017 issued updated moral considerations on vaccinations, telling Roman Catholic parents they should vaccinate their children for the good of the children and the community, and they can do so with a “clear conscience,” the Catholic Standard reported. Ave Maria University did not immediately respond to Florida Phoenix’s requests for comment. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles spreads through the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air for two hours after the infected person leaves. It is so contagious that about nine out of 10 people who come near a person with measles will become infected if not vaccinated. The best way to avoid measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. To stop the spread of the measles virus and for a population to be considered safe from infection, referred to as herd immunity, 95% of the population should be vaccinated. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 89% of kindergarten students in the 2024-25 academic year had been vaccinated in Florida against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine series. Meanwhile, Toluwalasè A. Ajayi, M.D., chair of the American Medical Association, urged families Friday to get vaccinated as the number of measles cases surge. “The MMR vaccine has protected our communities for decades. There is no cure for measles, but vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent it,” he said in a prepared statement. “Choosing to vaccinate protects not only you and your family, but also babies, people with weakened immune systems, and others who can’t be vaccinated. Protecting yourself helps protect your entire community. If you have questions about measles, please talk with your doctor.” Ladapo and his boss — Gov. Ron DeSantis — held a press conference last year calling on the Legislature to eliminate all vaccine mandates from Florida statutes. DeSantis administration pushes to eliminate all vaccine mandates in Florida A bill that would specifically have made it easier for parents to opt out mandated school vaccines was killed by the Florida House. DeSantis, who is term limited out of office, promised to keep the issue on the front burner during his last months in the Governor’s Mansion. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Deputies seek witness information after Route 150 crash in RI Co. injures 2 Two hospitalized after a three-vehicle crash on Route 150 Thursday, and Rock Island County deputies are seeking information from witnesses.
	Habanero's in SouthPark Mall to close Sunday, plans to move to new location A new location has not yet been announced.
	Measles cases have reached a 35-year high A nurse vaccinates a child at the Latino Community Development Agency on July 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. As vaccination rates decline nationwide, measles cases have surpassed 2025 to the highest since the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. (Photo by Courtney Bell/Oklahoma Voice)Measles cases this year have surpassed all of 2025 to become the worst since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with cases now in 44 states and the District of Columbia, according to a federal report released Friday. There were 2,318 confirmed cases as of July 23, compared with 2,289 in all of 2025, with 93% of cases for both years being among unvaccinated people, mostly younger than 20. There have been fewer hospitalizations this year, 151 compared with 243 last year, and no deaths yet, compared with three in 2025. The highest number of new cases was in mid-January 2026, when there were almost 300 new cases. The largest number of current cases are in South Carolina (670), Utah (522), Texas (188), Virginia (176) and Pennsylvania (134). Except for Virginia, all those states have childhood vaccination rates below the 95% level considered necessary to prevent outbreaks among unvaccinated people as of the 2024-25 school year. Measles, whooping cough spike amid low vaccination rates Virginia’s statewide rate was 95.6%, but the measles outbreak was in two rural counties west of Richmond where measles vaccination rates are less than 75%. The last time national cases were higher than 2025 and 2026 was in the 1990s as national vaccinations were still ramping up, with 9,643 cases in 1991 and almost 28,000 in 1990. Most states now have childhood vaccination rates below the 95% level considered necessary to prevent outbreaks among unvaccinated people, including people who choose not to be vaccinated and small children too young for the shots. Oklahoma has a low childhood vaccination rate of 88.7% and saw 20 cases last year, but only one so far this year. A foundation has sent a mobile health van around the state to vaccinate thousands of children. Delaware declared a new outbreak this week. The state’s first measles cases in a decade climbed to five cases in a few days. The state’s child vaccination rate is 94.1%. “High vaccination coverage has protected even the unvaccinated and undervaccinated because of herd protection, keeping measles at bay for the past few decades,” said Dr. William Moss, director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University, in a published statement. “But in communities with pockets of susceptible individuals across a broad age range, measles has been able to take hold, infecting those who are susceptible and spreading rapidly,” he said. The center used its own measles tracker to declare more cases in 2026 than last year as of July 21. The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to review the U.S. measles status in November and consider revoking “elimination” status as it did for Canada last year. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Drug used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder recalled nationwide A popular prescription medication used nationwide to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder is being recalled, according to a Food and Drug Administration enforcement report.
	Rock Island LGBTQ+ community center in urgent need of more funding Despite a successful art auction last month, Clock Inc. community center in Rock Island is in desperate need of more private financial help.
	Moscow churches team up to keep Idaho kids fed on weekends all summer At present, Food for Kids distributes bags of food to over 200 local children each Friday from 11 a.m. until noon at Lena Whitmore Elementary School throughout the summer. (Courtesy photo)This story was first published by FāVS News on July 22, 2026. MOSCOW, Idaho — In late 2012, Moscow’s League of Women Voters published a study of local poverty, which pointed to food insecurity for children as one of its most serious effects. A perfect storm for Boise’s unsheltered neighbors — and how you can help St. Mark’s Episcopal Church took note, and in the summer of 2014 debuted what is now known as its Food for Kids initiative — a privately-funded complement to the Moscow School District’s weekday Summer Food Program. A year later, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse stepped in to partner with St. Mark’s, and the two houses of worship have maintained the effort ever since. At present, Food for Kids distributes bags of food to over 200 local children from 11 a.m. until noon each Friday at Lena Whitmore Elementary School throughout the summer. The program is all-volunteer, and relies on individual donations and recurring fundraising efforts. How the Food for Kids program works “We basically try to give them enough food for the whole weekend,” said St. Mark’s parishioner Lois Clifton, who has been involved almost since the beginning and is the most senior volunteer currently with the team. “Canned pasta, canned chili, canned vegetables, chocolate milk, juice pouches, apple sauce cups, macaroni and cheese cups, instant oatmeal, pop tarts, snack foods, fruit snacks, granola bars.” Mary Jo Hamilton organizes the UUCP side of Weekend Food for Kids. Volunteers purchase and pack food on Thursdays at the churches before taking them to Lena Whitmore on Fridays for distribution. “I have a few friends around here that have good fruit trees, so I’m able to pick cherries or plums or something like that and give that to kids,” Hamilton added. To receive the food, children need only to show up, and do not have to apply or register in any way. Meeting the food program’s expenses The program saw a fundraising bump of thousands of dollars early this year when longtime Moscow resident and Food for Kids volunteer Joanne Sutton made it her dying wish that others would contribute in her memory. Her family put out the word in her obituary, published in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News this January, that “in lieu of flowers and in honor of (Sutton’s) service to both students and the food bank,” donations should be made via checks payable to St. Mark’s with “Food for Kids” written along the bottom left line. Two months later, the UUCP hosted a benefit concert for the charity starring the local band Gefilte Trout. “We’re going to be doing this program for a long time,” Hamilton said. “Food prices have gone up so high, it’s amazing how much more we’re spending on food — but we do have people that give us money to buy food. As long as they’re willing to give us money to buy food, we’ll keep doing it. “This is one of the more important things we could be doing for kids in the summer, and I know we have a lot of adults that are very, very grateful to get those bags of food.” FāVS News uses professional journalists and thoughtful commentary to explore faith, values and ethics. Support journalism like this by making a tax-deductible donation. FāVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. © FāVS News. All rights reserved. Reproduction permitted only to authorized media partners or with written permission. Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Rock Island Arsenal Museum social media account to deactivate The Rock Island Arsenal Museum announced that its Facebook account will be deactivated by July 30.
	2 Backwater Gamblers skiers injured during Wednesday night performance Two Backwater Gamblers water skiers are recovering after being injured during a performance on the Rock River, prompting an early end to the show.
	Kewanee man wins $1M prize on scratch-off ticket A Kewanee man won $1 million from a $5 scratch-off ticket just before his birthday.
	Owen Foster stepping down as chair of state’s most powerful healthcare regulator Owen Foster, chair of the Green Mountain Care board, speaks during roundtable on health care costs hosted by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in Burlington on Friday, May 31, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger The chair of the regulatory board that decides hospital budgets and health insurance premium increases in Vermont is stepping down at the end of September, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday. Scott appointed Owen Foster as the Green Mountain Care Board’s chair in 2022 and reappointed him to serve through September 2030. But Foster has decided to cut that term short, saying he wants to spend more time with his children and focus on other professional pursuits. He intends to remain on the board as one of the four regular members, filling a vacancy created by the departure of board member Jess Holmes, whose term ends this year. The decision was “entirely mine,” he told VTDigger in an interview. “I have young children. I’m a lawyer. I want a chance to focus on my family and my other professional interests a little bit more too.” In a press release posted Friday, Scott wrote “I appreciate Owen’s willingness to continue serving the people of Vermont. He’s been an effective leader as we work to make healthcare more affordable for Vermonters, and I believe he’ll continue to be a valuable member of the board in this new role.” Under Foster’s leadership, the board has taken a tougher stance on reining in hospital budgets and insurance premium increases. He leaves his post as hospitals across the state struggle to stay out of the red and Vermonters pay some of the highest rates in the country for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans. The Green Mountain Care Board was created in 2011 as part of Vermont’s effort to create state-funded healthcare for all. It is an independent government regulator tasked with approving hospitals’ annual budgets and ACA marketplace plans’ annual rate changes, among other authorities. The board’s hospital budget review for the coming fiscal year begins Aug. 3. Foster intends to remain as chair through the whole budget process, until the end of September. The board is already reviewing next year’s rates for the two insurers that sell plans on Vermont’s ACA marketplace — BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont and MVP. This year, Foster has recused himself from participating in the board’s review of BlueCross BlueShield’s rates, citing personal reasons, though he declined to provide more details when the state’s healthcare advocate requested an explanation. Under Foster’s tenure the board has shifted from being a body that largely rubber-stamped hospitals’ and insurers’ requests to one that put serious pressure on both to reduce expenses. Mike Fisher, the state’s health care advocate, has watched the evolution of the board since its early days: the original idea to combine the regulatory authority of approving hospital budgets and insurers’ premium increases came from a need to make sure that the costs of hospitals’ healthcare services stayed in-line with the amount of money insurers raise through premiums to pay out those claims. “That hasn’t always happened,” Fisher said. “More and more in recent years, the board has responsibly aligned both the spending and revenue side.” He also sees this moment of Foster’s tenure as one of much more urgency, one that the board has met “responsibly.” In an interview, Foster said that one of the board’s defining points of progress under his leadership has been a push to move care into less-expensive settings if it does not need to occur in a hospital — for example, outpatient surgery, imaging or lab work. During his tenure, he said, the board has also brought a high level of scrutiny to how much Vermonters are paying for administrative services in healthcare. “Since I’ve been here, (the board has) very, very much focused on ‘let’s stop spending on healthcare administration and let’s start spending on the fundamentals of a good healthcare system,’” he said. When Vermont ran its all-payer model of healthcare funding, the care board also regulated the Accountable Care Organization responsible for coordinating those payers and payments. In his early days as chair, Foster brought a similar skepticism to the ACO’s budget and its executives’ compensation that he has brought to the state’s largest hospital group in recent years. “When we cut (the ACO’s) budgets, what we did was we redirected the money from spending on healthcare bureaucracy at an ineffective ACO, and we literally took the dollars and said, ‘Give this to primary care,’” he said. In the early days of Foster’s tenure, when the state still had the all-payer model, Vermont saw itself as more of a leader in innovative healthcare, even as costs mounted and health outcomes plateaued for many Vermonters, Foster said. “When I started, it was not widely understood or accepted how fragile and distressed our healthcare system was,” he said. “I do think a big part of what the staff and the board has done the last four years has focused on educating the Legislature, (the Agency of Human Services), the governor’s office and the public, that we are in a tough situation, and we need to make changes. And now I think everyone really recognizes that.” But he suggested that the biggest changes ahead for healthcare need to come not from the care board, but from hospitals, the state, and private and public insurers working together to take a serious look at how hospitals can cut spending without cutting services for Vermonters who need them. “There are different leaders for different moments,” Foster said. “And I do think my role as a leader was to look hard at what we’re doing and evaluate if it was working. The next stage is a different stage.” This story will be updated. Read the story on VTDigger here: Owen Foster stepping down as chair of state’s most powerful healthcare regulator . Courtesy of VT Digger
	Open bar, closed case: Do you need liquor liability for events? Open bar, closed case: Do you need liquor liability for events?If you’re planning an event with alcohol, whether that’s a company party, a school fundraiser, or a wedding reception, you’ll want to make sure you are covered for your liability related to the serving of liquor.Liquor liability insurance coverage isn’t automatically included in all event insurance policies, and if, as a host you’re not sure what to ask for or what to look for, you might find out you don’t have adequate coverage when it’s already too late.The concept of exposure in the context of insurance coverage refers to what kind of risks or what degree of risk is involved for the insured that could result in legal (and financial) repercussions. The legal exposure that comes along with serving or selling alcohol at events includes social host liability laws, dram shop laws, and other considerations.Social host liability laws can hold event hosts responsible if a guest drinks too much and causes harm to someone else or themselves. Dram shop laws work similarly in that they can make anyone who served the alcohol liable for damages caused by an intoxicated guest.Liquor liability insurance coverage should be more straightforward. Below, Thimble breaks it down and makes it easy to understand what to look for, what this coverage is, when you need it, and what to do before your policy incepts.What is liquor liability coverage?Liquor liability insurance (also called retail liquor liability insurance), in plain language, means insurance that protects you if a guest becomes intoxicated at your event and causes injury or property damage to a third party as a result, and you are being held responsible.Not every carrier offers liquor liability insurance for event coverage. And carriers set unique eligibility criteria to manage risk. Each liquor liability policy needs to be inspected for not only eligibility criteria, but also coverage details, and more.An example of some specific underwriting eligibility requirements for a special event liquor liability policy could look like this:Guest count: Event must have fewer than 200 guests.Alcohol revenue cap: Alcohol receipts must not exceed $5,000 per day.Trained bartenders: Alcohol must be sold or served by a professional, trained bartender—or all volunteer bartenders must complete appropriate training before the event.Third-party bartender requirements: If a third-party bartender is hired, they must carry their own liquor liability insurance and name you (the event host or organizer) as an additional insured on their policy.Liquor liability policies that qualify for their respective eligibility criteria can cover:Providing the investigation and defense costs of a claim, which includes retaining an attorney and paying court costs.Settlements and judgments.Because each policy and carrier is unique, review the coverage details with a fine-toothed comb to be sure you understand exactly what’s covered, the eligibility criteria, and more.Host liquor liability coverage vs. standard liquor liability coverage: Know the differenceEvents should fall in one of these three categories. Whichever one applies to your event will inform what coverage you need:No liquor liability coverage required: No alcohol present, so no liquor liability coverage is needed.Host liquor liability coverage required: Recommended when alcohol is provided by someone who is not in the business of manufacturing, selling or serving liquor. This is sometimes included under a general event liability policy, but not always. Note that if a bar owner provides alcohol for free, host liquor liability coverage does not apply.Standard liquor liability coverage required: Alcohol is provided by an insured who:Manufactures, sells or distributes alcoholic beverages;Serves or furnishes alcoholic beverages for a charge whether or not such activity: (a) Requires a license; (b) Is for the purpose of financial gain or livelihood;Serves or furnishes alcoholic beverages without a charge, if a license is required for such activity; orPermits any person to bring any alcoholic beverages on your premises, for consumption on your premises.In these situations, one is required to have standard liquor liability coverage.It is important to remember that if you hire a third-party bartender or caterer to serve alcohol, your event may require a different category of coverage than you expect. Consider these key liability impacts when you hire a third party to serve alcohol:Transfer of Liability(dram shop laws): When you hire a commercial bartender or catering service with alcohol, state laws may dictate that that entity assumes some of the legal liability for accidents caused by their service (related to alcohol). Since professionals are trained not to over-serve, this decreases exposure risk.Verification and Certificates of Insurance: Always require proof of liquor liability coverage from the vendor you hire (and subcontractors of the vendor) because a host can be pulled into a lawsuit regardless of whether a vendor is insured. Requiring the vendor to carry its own insurance can mitigate the financial responsibility of the host.Additional Insured Status: To help ensure that the third party’s coverage defends and indemnifies you, as the host, if you are named in a third-party lawsuit related to the vendor’s bar service, you’ll want to require the catering and bartending companies to add you or your company as an additional insured on their policies.It’s not always included: Why you need to look for this coverage specificallyJust because you have event insurance doesn’t mean you have the liquor liability coverage that you need. Unfortunately, full liquor liability insurance is typically a separate coverage that must be identified, confirmed, and usually purchased as an additional coverage option.Coverage for liquor liability can usually be purchased at the time you purchase general liability, or at any point before the policy begins. This is good news for planners who realize late (but not too late) in the process that they need it.Don’t forget to review policy documents carefully and contact your insurer or broker if you’re unsure or have questions about the scope of your coverage.What to do before your policy begins: A pre-event checklistEvaluate which liquor liability exposure you and the vendors at your event fall into (no liquor at the event, host liquor status, or liquor liability exposure).Confirm whether your current event insurance policy includes liquor liability coverage (and which type of coverage is included) or if the correct coverage needs to be added.Check to see if the insurer has imposed eligibility requirements for your specific event (guest count, alcohol revenue, bartender qualifications).If hiring a third-party bartender or caterer, require proof of their full liquor liability insurance and confirm you are listed as an additional insured.Purchase or add appropriate liquor liability coverage before your policy starts.Request Certificate of Insurance (COI) for your liquor liability coverage and share it with the venue ahead of time. Many venues request that they be listed as an additional insured.Bonus: Tips for reducing risk at events that serve alcoholLiquor liability coverage is a safety net, not a substitute for responsible event management. Hosts should always implement practical risk-reduction strategies whenever possible, such as:Check IDs before serving—regardless of event type.Have a clear cut-off plan if guests appear intoxicated.Offer non-alcoholic drinks and food to help moderate consumption.Post rideshare signage to encourage safe transportation home.Keep an incident log documenting any notable moments (e.g., cutting off a guest), especially if you’re operating in a retail liquor context.Ensure bartenders are licensed, trained, and aware of their responsibilities before the event begins.This story was produced by Thimble and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island man fails to return to jail after being granted furlough A man who pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and then was granted a furlough from jail failed to return and is wanted for escape.
	Two Iowa men indicted on Ponzi scheme charges Two Iowa men were indicted on federal charges related to a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. According to a release and public records, a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment in May 2026 charging offenses related to a Ponzi scheme involving dozens of victims and millions of dollars of loss. As alleged in the Indictment, [...]
	Jr Bix promises cuteness from Diaper Dash to sprinting preteens The Arconic Junior Bix 7 kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. in downtown Davenport, offering races and a festive post-race party for kids up to age 12.
	Mapping rural data center development finds growing opposition Mapping rural data center development finds growing oppositionWashington, D.C.’s metropolitan area has long hummed with data centers. The region, which encompasses much of Northern Virginia, has become known as Data Center Alley, home to more data centers than anywhere else in the world. But the data center boom, driven by the rise of AI and the race to build the infrastructure powering it, is changing the geography of these energy-intensive, warehouse-like facilities.Data centers have arrived in rural America.The Daily Yonder analyzed crowd-sourced data on the locations of data centers, how they connect to existing grid infrastructure, and where communities are fighting back.Though the majority of in-progress data centers are in metropolitan areas, this reporting and data analysis show that large data centers, characteristic of the current boom, represent outsized investments in rural areas. Smaller populations often mean smaller tax bases and fewer government officials, leaving rural communities with fewer resources to negotiate deals with developers or weather the tax revenue fallout after facility closures.The Geography of the Data Center BoomThe following map shows the number of data centers in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan, or rural, counties. As of June 2026, approximately 30 of the 529 data centers currently in operation are located in rural counties, representing about 6% of operating data centers. At the time of this analysis, 16 rural data centers were either recently approved or currently under construction, representing about 12% of all in-progress projects.The Daily Yonder uses a county-level definition of rural derived from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). All counties outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) are classified as rural for the purposes of this analysis. The Daily Yonder Information on the locations of data centers comes from FracTracker Alliance, an organization providing the public with interactive tools to understand oil, gas, petrochemical, and data center development across the country.While there are many other datasets out there tracking data center development, few of them are publicly accessible, making a complete analysis difficult. This report uses FracTracker because of the organization’s methods for obtaining data and the monthly frequency with which it updates the database. That frequency is a key metric for tracking this fast-evolving issue. FracTracker obtains information from crowd sourcing, media announcements, partner datasets, and public records. While the organization is primarily focused on proposed data centers, it is slowly adding existing data centers to the database.That means that the data used in this analysis is preliminary. Because it is a work in progress, FracTracker encourages readers to share new and updated information about data centers in their own communities via a submission form.How Do the Daily Yonder’s Findings Compare to Others?Analyses that rely on other rural definitions and datasets yield different results. For instance, a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center relied on data from Data Center Map, an industry database. Pew Research found that more than 1,500 new data centers are planned nationwide, with 67% slated for rural areas.Yet Pew Research uses a slightly broader interpretation of rural than the Daily Yonder. Pew Research interprets rurality as it is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau’s urban-rural classification, which includes areas on the outskirts of metropolitan counties that have low population density. These communities are not captured in the OMB definition that the Daily Yonder uses.Still, as data centers expand beyond metropolitan areas, their development and reception in Census-defined rural places often resemble patterns found in non-metropolitan counties defined by the OMB.So, although figures may vary by rural classification method, the general trend is that the presence of data centers is a growing concern in rural communities, particularly because the complex dynamics of data center development show up differently in smaller municipalities.“It is fundamentally a power imbalance for a city attorney in a medium or small-sized city to be able to go up against Amazon’s lawyers, right? That’s not a fair negotiation,” said Asad Ramzanali, former deputy director for strategy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Biden Administration.An example of that imbalance can be found in Port Washington, Wisconsin, where Vantage Data Centers is building a $15 billion hyperscale data center campus to serve OpenAI and Oracle as part of OpenAI’s $500 billion Stargate campaign to develop AI infrastructure across the U.S.The investment in Port Washington, a town of around 13,000 on the shores of Lake Michigan, represents 50% of the community’s tax base, according to Prescott Balch, a local advocate who advises Wisconsin communities on data center negotiations. Balch is a retired software developer and former technology executive at U.S. Bank. He lives in Caledonia, Wisconsin, a rural village south of Milwaukee, and helped organize his neighbors to get a Microsoft data center proposal canceled in October 2025, which he opposed in part because of the project’s financial impact.“If fifty percent of your tax revenue dries up, then everybody’s tax bills double overnight,” Balch said. “That’s a disaster in no uncertain terms. Nobody would run an investment portfolio or a retirement portfolio that way.”Data Center Development Maps Onto Existing InfrastructureThe following map displays non-metropolitan data centers on top of transmission lines with voltages at or above 345 kilovolts (kV). Data centers’ electricity needs often drive their construction in relative proximity to power grid infrastructure that can support their operations. The Daily Yonder But not all transmission lines are created equal. The transmission lines relevant to the data center conversation are those with higher voltage classes, typically 345kV and up, since they deliver the most substantial power, according to Anna Haensch, an associate research professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Data Science Institute.The map above shows how rural data centers track onto major transmission line networks. The majority of the facilities are five miles or closer to high-voltage transmission lines. According to this analysis, the median distance from a rural data center to one of these major transmission lines was about four miles.In Wisconsin, for example, all of the data centers in the FracTracker dataset are in close proximity to 345kV transmission lines. Observe the same trend in southern Minnesota, where a Goodhue County District Court Judge recently ordered developers to halt a hyperscale project near Rochester until an environmental lawsuit is resolved.According to the FracTracker data, there are more than 113 data centers proposed in rural counties. In regions like the mid-Atlantic and Appalachia, many of these proposed data centers track alongside existing transmission line networks that stretch across Pennsylvania and Virginia into West Virginia and Ohio. In Texas, many facilities are proposed or have already been built in close proximity to the state’s 345kV network. There, locals from across the political spectrum have been fighting to stop the development of a 765kV transmission line in rural Central Texas that will power oil, gas, and data centers in West Texas.But in some regions without the right infrastructure, data centers aren’t being constructed, even if the local or state political environment is favorable to development. Take Northern Wisconsin, for example. There, Haensch said, fewer data centers have been proposed because the rural region lacks high-voltage infrastructure.“If a data center wanted to build there, then they would have to be paying for laying down transmission lines, which is already really expensive, but the social cost of it is so tremendously high, because then you’re talking about blasting through people’s farms and claiming right of way.”The Growing Resistance to Data Center DevelopmentAccording to this analysis of data from the Data Center Opposition Report, a coalition of organizations and academics tracking resistance to data centers, there are approximately 129 groups in rural counties that are fighting the rise of data centers.Opposition movements are largely concentrated in regions where there is more data center development, like the Washington, D.C., metro area and adjacent rural communities. The Daily Yonder But across the country, opposition is growing. Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans are concerned about data center development. In May, a Gallup poll found that 7 in 10 Americans oppose constructing AI data centers in their area, with nearly half being strongly opposed. In June, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 77% of Americans are concerned that AI data centers will make electricity more expensive. That same poll found that 57% of Americans, including two-thirds who identify as Democrats and half who identify as Republicans, said they’d oppose building a data center in their community.“These data centers[…], there’s really a rush to build them as quickly as possible, and communities often feel like they’re being forced upon them without their consent and bypassing standard processes for approving projects,” said David Krueger, one of the authors of the Data Center Opposition Report and an AI professor at the University of Montreal who has been studying AI safety for more than a decade.Some groups encompass large geographic areas, like a whole state or region within a state. A group might therefore be based in an urban area, but include organizers in surrounding rural areas. These groups are not without success. In rural communities, some resistance groups have brought together broad coalitions to cancel or pause proposed data centers.“Generally, it’s quite non-partisan or bipartisan,” Krueger said. “We found a pretty even distribution of these sorts of groups in more or less conservative or liberal areas. I think that’s probably the main thing that stands out.”This story was produced by The Daily Yonder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine names Nick Gow as Recreation and Parks Director The city of Muscatine has removed the interim tag and promoted Nick Gow to director of parks and recreation.
	Rock Island County Sheriff's Office investigates multi-vehicle crash The crash occurred in the 10000 block of Route 150 on Thursday evening. Two people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
	Group O announces executive leadership transitions Group O announced two executive leadership appointments. According to a release from Group O, the moves are designed to support the company's continued growth and long-term strategic success. Effective July 24, Bob Marriott and Suerrette Franck are changing roles with the company. According to the release, the transition reflects a deliberate succession planning process that [...]
	Why Americans feel poorer in 2026: Key economic factors explained Why Americans feel poorer in 2026: Key economic factors explainedAccording to CNN, 76% of Americans say cost of living is their biggest economic problem. Despite having the largest economy in the world, many Americans report feeling financially strained. In recent years, rising living costs, increasing debt, and limited savings have contributed to widespread economic pressure across households.This article from CrediNinja examines the primary factors driving financial stress in the United States and highlights key economic trends supported by current data.Stagnant Income and Rising Cost of LivingOne of the most significant contributors to financial strain is the imbalance between income growth and living expenses. CreditNinja According to U.S. Census data, median household income has seen minimal real growth when adjusted for inflation, particularly following the spike in prices after 2020.At the same time, the cost of essential goods and services, including housing, food, and transportation, has increased, reducing the amount of disposable income available to households.Inflation and Reduced Purchasing PowerInflation has played a central role in shaping financial conditions. Between 2021 and 2023, the United States experienced the fastest inflation growth in over four decades.Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that consumer prices rose significantly across major spending categories, including groceries, energy, and housing.Although inflation has moderated, price levels remain elevated. As a result, households continue to experience reduced purchasing power compared to pre-2020 levels.Record Levels of Consumer DebtRising expenses combined with limited income growth have led many consumers to rely on credit. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total U.S. credit card debt reached approximately $1.28 trillion in 2025, the highest level on record.In addition, average credit card interest rates have exceeded 20%, increasing the cost of carrying balances and making repayment more difficult for borrowers.These conditions contribute to a cycle in which households rely on credit to meet expenses while facing increasing interest costs.Housing Affordability ChallengesHousing remains one of the largest financial burdens for American households. Both home prices and rental costs have increased significantly over the past decade. CreditNinja Additionally, rising mortgage rates and home prices have made homeownership less accessible, particularly for first-time buyers.Limited Emergency SavingsMany households lack sufficient savings to absorb financial shocks. According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, a significant portion of Americans would have difficulty covering an unexpected expense without borrowing or selling assets.Limited emergency savings increase financial vulnerability and often lead to greater reliance on credit during emergencies.Rising Healthcare and Education CostsHealthcare and education expenses continue to place additional strain on household budgets.Employer-sponsored family health insurance premiums have risen steadily, reaching nearly $27,000 annually in recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.At the same time, student loan debt remains a major financial obligation. The Federal Reserve estimates that approximately 45 million Americans hold student loan debt, totaling around $1.6 trillion.These expenses represent long-term financial commitments that can limit savings and wealth-building opportunities.Increasing Food InsecurityFood affordability has become a growing concern. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), millions of households experience food insecurity each year, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.Rising food prices have contributed to this issue, particularly for lower- and middle-income households.Understanding the Financial PressureThe perception that Americans are becoming poorer is supported by several measurable economic factors, including stagnant real wages, sustained inflation, rising debt levels, and increasing costs for essential needs such as housing, healthcare, and food.While the overall economy remains strong by global standards, these underlying pressures continue to affect individual financial stability.Understanding these trends can help individuals make more informed financial decisions and better navigate economic uncertainty.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Cook review: 'The Invite' is clever adult dramedy about intimate - sort of - behavior They're married. They're settled. They're miserable. And their neighbors both repulse and fascinate them. "The Invite" characters may remind you of yourself, your partner, or certainly people you know. This four-person grownups-only dramedy begins with Angela (Olivia Wilde, who also directs) and her husband Joe (Seth Rogen,) apartment dwellers who annoy the daylights out of [...]
	High heat and humidity cook up late weekend chance of thunderstorms in the Quad-Cities Officials said heat indices could reach or exceed 100 degrees Sunday and Monday.
	Man arrested in Sterling on drug and aggravated unlawful use of weapons charges A man was arrested in Sterling on drug and aggravated unlawful use of weapons charges. According to a release from the Sterling Police Department, Sterling officers responded to a report of a retail theft in the 400 block of Locust St. While investigating, officers were alerted to criminal trespass to vehicles in the 200 block [...]
	How to help remote employees create a healthy work-life balance How to help remote employees create a healthy work-life balanceRemote work offers real advantages. It can reduce commuting time, increase flexibility, improve focus, and give employees more control over how they organize their day.That flexibility can support:Better routines.More time with family.A work setup that feels more compatible with individual needs and working styles.And for employers, remote work is considered a big driver of rising productivity rates in the U.S.Remote work also creates its own set of challenges. Employees may feel isolated from colleagues, less connected to company culture, or unsure when the workday is actually over.Without a physical transition between work and home, many people carry work stress longer into the evening. They may check messages after hours, work through breaks, or feel like they are never fully off.Spring Health explores how HR and people leaders can design remote work to protect employees’ well‑being and work‑life balance.How remote work can affect mental healthRemote work can support mental health in some situations and strain it in others. Employees who gain autonomy and schedule flexibility may feel more focused and less overwhelmed. Employees who lose routine, social connection, and boundaries may experience:Burnout, when the workday feels endless and recovery time starts to disappear.Isolation and loneliness, when employees have fewer meaningful points of connection.Increased stress and anxiety, especially when expectations feel constant or unclear.Depression, when employees struggle to disconnect, rest, or feel supported.What healthy remote work should look likeHealthy remote work does not mean employees are always comfortable, always available, or always perfectly balanced. It means the work model gives them a realistic chance to succeed without sacrificing recovery, connection, or mental health in the process.For HR leaders, that means asking questions about your remote-work employees, like:Are employees able to disconnect?Do managers know how to lead remotely?Are meeting norms sustainable?Do employees have enough focus time?Are employees encouraged to use paid time off fully?Do employees have a clear path to support when remote work starts to feel isolating or overwhelming?Work-life balance improves when employers treat it as part of workforce design, not just employee self-management.How employers can support a healthier work-life balanceEmployers have a much bigger role in work-life balance than many employees realize. Remote employees do not create healthy boundaries through willpower alone. They do it more successfully when the organization makes those boundaries possible.1. Build flexibility with clarityFlexible work policies can support retention and well-being, but flexibility works best when expectations are clear.Employees need to know what responsiveness is expected, when collaboration is required, and when they truly have space to work asynchronously. Unclear flexibility can turn into constant low-level availability. Clear flexibility is what reduces stress.2. Encourage asynchronous work and reduce unnecessary meetingsOne of the simplest ways employers can improve remote work-life balance is by making the workday less reactive.Fewer unnecessary meetings, more thoughtful documentation, and more asynchronous collaboration give employees more control over focus time. They also make it easier for people to work in ways that fit their actual lives.3. Train managers for remote leadershipManaging a remote team requires more than replicating in-office habits over video.Managers need to know how to:Set expectations clearly.Check in without micromanaging.Spot early signs of overload.Model healthy boundaries themselves.Remote employees often take their cues from managers about whether it is truly acceptable to log off, take time off, or ask for support.4. Offer mental health support employees can useRemote employees need more than encouragement to take care of themselves. They need access to real support when stress, anxiety, isolation, or burnout begin building.A strong mental health benefit should make it easy for employees to find the right level of care, whether they need coaching, therapy, medication management, or another form of support.5. Lead by exampleCulture is shaped by behavior more than policy.If leaders send late-night messages, work through vacations, or treat constant availability as commitment, employees will notice. If leaders model boundaries, respect offline time, and treat mental health as part of sustainable performance, employees will notice that too.Healthy remote work has to be designedRemote work is here to stay, but healthy remote work does not happen automatically. It has to be designed.The companies that do this well will not just offer remote work as a perk. They will build a remote environment where employees can do strong work, protect their mental health, and sustain that balance over time.FAQWhy is work-life balance harder for remote employees?Work-life balance can be harder for remote employees because work and home happen in the same place. Without a commute or physical office boundary, employees may work longer hours, check messages after hours, skip breaks, or feel like they are always available.How does remote work affect mental health?Remote work can support mental health when it gives employees flexibility, autonomy, and focus. It can strain mental health when it creates isolation, unclear expectations, constant availability, or difficulty disconnecting. The impact depends on how the work model is designed and supported.What can employers do to support remote employees?Employers can set clear expectations, reduce unnecessary meetings, encourage asynchronous work, train managers for remote leadership, model healthy boundaries, and offer mental health support employees can use when stress, anxiety, isolation, or burnout begin building.Why should HR leaders treat remote work-life balance as a mental health issue?Remote work-life balance affects more than productivity. When employees cannot disconnect, they may experience burnout, stress, loneliness, anxiety, and exhaustion. Treating work-life balance as a mental health issue helps HR leaders address the conditions that make remote work sustainable.This story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Visit Quad Cities' Dave Herrell appointed to Destinations International board of directors Visit Quad Cities president and CEO Dave Herrell has been appointed to the Destinations International board of directors. According to a release from Visit Quad Cities, Herrell joins destination leaders from around the world to help guide the future of destination organizations and the global visitor economy. Herrell will help provide strategic leadership and advocate [...]
	Musical performances grew from backyard acts into a full production at senior living community A Davenport family brought joy to Ridgecrest Village residents on Thursday, continuing a beloved musical tradition that started decades ago.
	36 years after the ADA, accessibility advocates turn their attention to the home 36 years after the ADA, accessibility advocates turn their attention to the homeRamps, curb cuts, accessible parking spaces, and automatic doors have become standard features of American public life since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. As the law nears its 36th anniversary, a parallel shift is underway in a space the ADA never regulated: the home. Three-quarters of adults age 50 and older say they want to remain in their current home for as long as possible, according to AARP's 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey, which polled more than 3,000 U.S. adults between June and July of that year. Seventy-three percent said the same about staying in their current community.QMedic, a national medical alert and remote monitoring provider, examines how aging in place, fall risk, and changing accessibility needs are reshaping the home for older adults.The survey, fielded through NORC's AmeriSpeak and Cint panels, found that nearly two-thirds of respondents aged 50 and older expect they will need a medical alert system to support independent living as they age. That figure marks a change from how researchers have historically framed this issue. Housing surveys in past decades tended to ask whether older adults wanted to stay home; the 2024 survey instead asked what tools they believed they would need to do it, and found 44% anticipating a need for smart home security features, 72% expecting bathroom modifications such as grab bars, and 71% expecting entryway changes such as ramps or wider doorways."Most older adults want to stay in their homes, yet rising housing costs and limited options create serious barriers," Rodney Harrell, AARP's vice president of family, home, and community, said in a statement accompanying the survey's release. AARP has cited affordable housing stock and accessible design as ongoing constraints on that preference, separate from the technology question. Falls remain the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injury among adults 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 14 million people in that age group, about 1 in 4, report falling each year, and the CDC estimates that 37% of those falls cause an injury serious enough to require medical treatment or restrict daily activity for at least a day.The National Council on Aging's Falls Prevention Resource Center puts the annual healthcare cost of nonfatal falls at roughly $80 billion, up from $50 billion in 2015, with costs projected to top $101 billion by 2030. Medical alert devices have changed accordingly. Where earlier systems relied on a wearable pendant that a user had to press manually, current products combine automatic fall detection, GPS tracking, two-way communication, and caregiver notifications into a single device or app. Brooke Miller, QMedic's vice president of sales, said the shift reflects what families are asking for. "Families are looking for ways to support independence, not replace it," Miller said, adding that the goal of newer systems is to operate passively in the background rather than requiring the user to initiate contact during an emergency.Falls are not the only reason families call, according to AARP's caregiving research. A recurring theme in that data is burnout among adult children managing a parent's care from another state, along with missed medications and stretches of isolation that don't show up in a fall report. Chronic illness is part of why no single device covers every household: 93% of adults 65 and older live with at least one chronic condition, and close to 79% live with two or more, according to NCOA. Federal law does not currently set accessibility requirements for private homes the way the ADA does for public buildings and transit systems, and the growth in this market so far has been driven by consumer demand rather than regulation. As the U.S. population ages, AARP expects demand for tools that support independent living at home to grow.This story was produced by QMedic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	States are rushing to regulate AI chatbots States are rushing to regulate AI chatbotsAdults and children alike are turning to chatbots with some of their most personal questions, despite a confusing mix of fast-moving safety rules and legal protections that vary depending on where they live and when they use the chatbot. In March 2026, KFF found that one in six U.S. adults had used an AI tool or chatbot for information or advice about their mental health or emotional wellbeing in the previous year. Among adults aged 18 to 29, this rose to 28%. Almost 100 different bills aimed specifically at regulating AI chatbots have been introduced across U.S. state legislatures in 2026 alone, according to a tracker maintained by the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), a non-profit policy research organization. FPF is currently tracking 98 chatbot-specific bills across 34 different states, plus three proposals in Congress.The public tracker, which is updated weekly, focuses on legislation that has passed at least one legislative chamber. FPF marks the various bills across six main provisions: Disclosure & Transparency, Age Assurance & Access Controls, Content Safety, Harm Prevention, Data Protection, and Liability & Enforcement. The various bills cover a range of products, from general-purpose chatbots and mental health-specific chatbots, to “companion” style bots designed to simulate ongoing relationships.Though each bill differs, what’s relevant to all of them is a string of high-profile incidents in which chatbot interactions have been linked to harm, particularly involving minors and including incidents of suicide. Such incidents have led to investigations into chatbots and pushed lawmakers in dozens of states to act quickly. But with no comprehensive federal chatbot law in place, the proposed bills differ greatly, right down to the very definition of what a chatbot actually is, Wysa reports.General-purpose chatbots can help with many kinds of tasks. Companion chatbots are designed to build an ongoing emotional connection with users. Mental health chatbots offer support linked to wellbeing or mental health. The risks can differ for each group, so a state law could cover one type of chatbot and leave another outside of the rules. Of course, a chatbot’s official category might not reflect how people actually use it. Someone can talk to a general-purpose assistant for advice about anxiety, depression or relationships, even when the product was never designed as a mental health service. A 2026 study found that 17% of people surveyed had used ChatGPT for mental health support. Stress and anxiety were the most common reasons, followed by relationship problems.What's already lawAs of July 16, 15 states have signed chatbot-specific legislation: California, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Iowa, Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington.Harm detection and response are among the most common requirements across these laws. This requires providers to have protocols in place for identifying signs of self-harm or harm to others in chatbot conversations. Upon detection of such incidents, chatbots can be required to provide information about crisis services or direct a user to a crisis hotline. The frequency with which this provision appears makes it the closest thing to an emerging national baseline that currently exists.Some people are forming emotional attachments to AI chatbots that can feel similar to online human connections, but users in some states will be reminded periodically that they are interacting with AI. The intervals at which these reminders occur vary by state and sometimes by user. For instance, Connecticut's law requires disclosure every three hours for adults, but hourly disclosures are required when the user is a minor.This means that a 17-year-old could have a very different experience depending on where they live. In one state, the chatbot may have to remind them every hour that it is not human. It may also need to tell them to take a break or allow a parent to oversee the account. In another state, it could be that none of those chatbot-specific protections apply. Some laws have already taken effect, while others have been agreed upon, but will not take effect until the future.Specific protections aimed at children are common, too. Several enacted laws restrict sexual content or content that encourages self-harm for users under 18. Several states, including Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, and Nebraska, also require platforms to give parents tools to oversee or control a minor's account.A newer category of restriction targets what FPF calls humanized or emotional systems and relates to chatbots designed to foster emotional attachment, isolate, or create a sense of secrecy between the user and the bot. Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington have enacted some version of this restriction, with Oregon and Washington specifically flagging sycophancy, meaning a chatbot's tendency to excessively agree with or flatter users, as a concern.What’s not yet lawSeveral significant bills related to AI chatbots are in motion, having passed at least one legislative chamber, but haven’t yet been signed. California’s SB1119/AB2023 bill meets this category. The bill would add requirements for chatbot risk assessments, independent audits, age verification, and testing before deployment, on top of provisions already common in other states.New York has two further bills that have passed the full legislature but have not been signed as of the date of the FPF tracker. Other proposals have passed one legislative chamber in California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.However, having bills in motion does not guarantee a clear pathway to their passage as law. In Arizona, the HB2311 artificial intelligence bill banning AI systems from claiming sentience or acting like mental health professionals passed the legislature but was vetoed by the governor. Similarly, several other bills in states such as Maryland, Oklahoma, and Washington stalled, and are now considered inactive.AI chatbot regulation is patchworkAccording to FPF, the core challenge the U.S. faces is that there is no shared definition of what constitutes a chatbot across these bills. Definitions of "chatbot" differ widely, contributing to an emerging regulatory patchwork in which similar systems may be subject to different requirements across jurisdictions. In practice, that means two functionally similar AI chatbot apps can face very different legal obligations depending on how each state's law happens to define its scope, and the same app can be regulated differently depending on which state its users are in.Enforcement also varies: Most enacted laws are enforced by the state Attorney General, which means that the state itself investigates and can bring legal action. California, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington also grant individuals a private right of action, which means a person could potentially sue a chatbot provider directly rather than relying on the state to act on their behalf. But it’s still complicated, as a private right of action doesn’t mean every user can sue over every breach. Each state sets its own rules about who can bring a case, what they must prove and what action a court can take.What's missingThere is currently no comprehensive federal law specifically regulating chatbots. Three proposals exist in Congress, but none have been enacted. For now, the chatbot-specific protections a person gets can depend heavily on which state they happen to be in. Sixteen states have not proposed any bills specifically regulating AI chatbots. Existing federal laws and regulation may still apply to chatbot providers in areas such as consumer protection, privacy, children’s data, healthcare and discrimination, however, there is currently no single national set of rules written specifically for chatbot products.The new laws also introduce difficult questions and new safety compromises. A platform may need to watch conversations for signs of harm, but users may expect those conversations to stay private. Checking a person’s age may also mean collecting more personal information. Sending someone a crisis hotline number may help, but it isn’t always the ideal of what the safest chatbot response can be. The right response may depend on the person, the level of risk and the context of the conversation.How to use chatbots safelyUntil the rules become clearer, people may want to make their own checks before trusting a chatbot with sensitive information:A general-purpose AI chatbot is not designed, tested or monitored as a mental health service, so shouldn’t be relied on for a diagnosis, treatment decision or help during a crisis.Check whether the chatbot clearly explains what it is designed to do and where its limits are. Look for published research, clear clinical oversight and an explanation of how the chatbot handles risk.Privacy policies matter, especially when conversations may include details about health, relationships or family life. Look for easy-to-read answers about whether conversations are stored, shared or used to train AI models, and whether your information can be deleted.Chatbots should make it clear that users are speaking to AI. It should not pressure people to keep secrets, discourage them from seeking human help or suggest that the chatbot understands them in the same way a person would.If you are in immediate danger or thinking about self-harm or ending your life, do not rely on a chatbot for help. Contact emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.FPF updates its tracker weekly to reflect new bill movement and amendments. This article references the FPF tracker as of July 16, 2026.This story was produced by Wysa and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Food assistance available for areas Tropical Storm Arthur hit Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, was approved for Tropical Storm Arthur. (Image via Louisiana DCFS)State health officials announced Thursday that federal disaster-related food assistance is now available for Louisiana residents in areas affected by last month’s Tropical Storm Arthur. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, benefits for eligible households affected by Arthur, a short-lived storm that spawned tornadoes and heavy rainfall in Louisiana on June 17. The USDA also approved automatic supplemental SNAP benefits for eligible recipients. D-SNAP provides temporary food assistance to households that don’t normally receive SNAP benefits but experienced disaster-related losses and meet certain income eligibility thresholds. The new D-SNAP benefits are separate and in addition to the SNAP hot-meals waiver announced earlier this week. Eligible areas are portions of Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes, according to a Louisiana Department of Health news release. “Recovering from a disaster doesn’t end when the storm passes,” LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein said in a news release. “As families continue rebuilding their lives, these temporary food assistance programs help meet an essential need. Through D-SNAP and automatic supplemental benefits for eligible SNAP recipients, we’re making it easier for eligible households to access the support available to them.” To determine eligibility, LDH will review household income received and disaster-related expenses paid during the disaster period of June 17 through July 16. Applicants can use LDH’s benefits calculator to determine eligibility: Louisiana Benefits Estimator Not everyone living in an eligible parish will qualify. A general description of the eligible areas is provided below, though residents should use the online eligibility map and address lookup tool at D-SNAP Eligible ZIP Codes and Census Tracts before applying. After opening the map, click the magnifying glass to search for an address. General description of eligible areas: Avoyelles Parish ZIP code 71362 Areas generally along LA 1 from Simmesport to Mansura, south of Marksville to the St. Landry Parish line, and west of Marksville to the Rapides Parish line St. Landry Parish Areas generally north of U.S. 190, east of Bayou Teche, west of LA 359 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line, and north of Lebeau east of U.S. 71 Terrebonne Parish Portions of Gray, Schriever, Bayou Cane, eastern Houma, Bayou Blue, Bourg, Dulac, Theriot and Montegut St. Tammany Parish ZIP codes 70452, 70458, 70460 and 70461 How to apply Applications will be accepted July 27-31 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 1-888-524-3578. Residents should apply according to the first letter of the primary applicant’s last name. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Alpacas & sheep visit Bettendorf Public Library The Bettendorf Public Library is welcoming alpacas and sheep from McCarty's Corner Farm on July 25 for a free, family-friendly event. Abby Sauer joined us to share details about the event and the library's Summer Reading Program.
	6 ways to get rid of poison ivy rash symptoms fast 6 ways to get rid of poison ivy rash symptoms fastFor many people, warm weather brings more time outside. But it can also bring itchy skin from bug bites, allergies, and poison ivy.Poison ivy rash can be very uncomfortable, especially if it covers a large area of your body. And it can take weeks to go away completely. Unfortunately, there’s no way to get rid of a poison ivy rash immediately — but there are things you can do to help relieve the itch.GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, shares six treatments that will relieve poison ivy symptoms fast.Key takeaways:Poison ivy rash is a painful, itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to the oil on poison ivy leaves.There’s no way to get rid of poison ivy rash overnight, but treatments work fast to lessen discomfort.Over-the-counter treatments that provide quick relief to poison ivy symptoms include cold compresses, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and oatmeal baths.1. Calamine lotionMany people have childhood memories of this bubblegum-colored lotion. Calamine lotion has been around for a long time because it works wonders to stop itching.As it dries on the skin, it creates a cooling sensation that can quickly relieve itching. It also helps to dry out blisters and protect skin from further injury caused by scratching.Here’s how to use calamine lotion for quick poison ivy symptom relief:Wash your skin with warm water and gentle soap.Gently pat the rash dry — don’t scrub.Shake the bottle.Use a cotton ball or clean cloth to dab calamine lotion over your rash.Wait for the calamine lotion to dry.You can use calamine lotion whenever you feel itchy.Check the ingredients label on the calamine product before you buy it. Some brands of calamine lotion contain additional ingredients, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Combination products may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions or young children.2. Oatmeal bathsOatmeal baths are another home remedy with a long history of treating itchy skin. Colloidal oatmeal helps relieve minor skin irritation and itching, including itchiness from poison ivy.You can make an oatmeal bath at home using any uncooked, unflavored oatmeal. Grind about 1 cup into a fine powder, add it to a lukewarm bath, and bathe in the water for 15 minutes to help soothe poison ivy rash. You can also buy ready-to-use colloidal oatmeal bath packets at retail pharmacies and grocery stores.You take an oatmeal bath whenever you feel itchy.3. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that helps relieve allergy symptoms, like itching. But it doesn’t work very well when it comes to itching from poison ivy rash.Diphenhydramine works by blocking histamine release. But the itchy rash caused by poison ivy isn’t caused by histamine release.The sedating side effects of diphenhydramine, however, can be helpful when you’re trying to go to bed. People find that it’s easier to “ignore” the itching when they take diphenhydramine. The sedating side effects can help you fall asleep more easily when you have a poison ivy rash.Make sure to follow dosing instructions on the package. Avoid taking diphenhydramine during the daytime because it can make you sleepy.4. Hydrocortisone creamHydrocortisone cream is a topical corticosteroid. It’s available OTC as a lotion or ointment. Steroid creams lower inflammation and swelling. This helps relieve itching and other poison ivy symptoms.You can apply hydrocortisone cream to your rash up to four times a day for a week. Stopping steroid cream after a week can help you avoid side effects.Talk with a healthcare professional before using steroid creams on your face. Steroid creams can damage and thin the delicate skin on your face.5. Cold compressesCold temperature can temporarily numb nerve endings in the skin, which will relieve itching. Try soaking a washcloth in cold water. Wring it out and gently apply to your itchy skin for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can use a cool compress anytime you feel itchy.You can use ice or a frozen pack instead of a cool compress. Just make sure to wrap it in a cloth before applying it to your skin. Ice or other frozen items can cause damage if you apply them directly to your skin.Take a cool shower if you have a poison ivy rash over a large area. The cool water can also help relieve itchiness and swelling.6. Burow’s solutionBurow’s solution is an OTC astringent that contains aluminum. It’s available under several brand names and can be found in most retail pharmacies. It can help keep your rash clean and dry when poison ivy blisters pop and start to weep.Burow’s solution often comes in packets that you need to dissolve in cool water. You can then soak your rash in the solution for 15 to 30 minutes. You can also soak a clean cloth in the solution and then place the cloth over your rash.You can use a Burow’s solution soak three to four times a day.How can you stop poison ivy rash from spreading?Poison ivy rash spreads when the oil from the plant touches your skin. The rash isn’t contagious. So once you get rid of all traces of the plant oil, the rash shouldn’t spread.The oil from poison ivy can stick to the skin, under fingernails, on clothing and pet fur. To prevent a poison ivy rash from spreading:Take off any clothes that may have touched the plant.Wash your skin with soap and water. Repeat a few times.Clean underneath your fingernails, where oil can get trapped.Wash clothing and shoes before using again (and use gloves to handle until you do).Bathe pets if they spend time outdoors near poison ivy.When should you get medical care for poison ivy?Most of the time, poison ivy rash can be treated at home. But there are some cases where it’s best to see a healthcare professional. Get medical care for poison ivy if:The poison ivy rash is on your face or genitals.The rash is over large areas of skin.Itching isn’t relieved with at-home treatment.You have other symptoms, like fevers, chills, difficulty breathing, nausea, or headache.You may need to take oral steroids (by mouth) if the rash is very large or involves a sensitive area like the face, hands, feet, or groin. Oral steroids, like prednisone or methylprednisolone, are prescription medications that reduce swelling, itching, and redness from poison ivy rash.You should also get medical care if you think your skin might be infected. Scratching itchy skin can introduce bacteria that cause infection. See your healthcare professional if the rash is getting worse or has yellow or thick drainage (pus) coming from it.Frequently asked questionsHow do you identify the poison ivy plant?A helpful way to identify the poison ivy plant is the saying “leaves of three, let it be.” While poison ivy isn’t the only plant with three distinct leaves, this general rule of thumb lets you err on the side of caution. Poison ivy can grow as a climbing vine or spread low through grass. The leaves are shiny and green (though the color changes with the seasons), and the middle leaf is bigger than the other two.How long does it take a poison ivy rash to show up?If you’ve had poison ivy rash before, symptoms can start within a few hours of another exposure to urushiol. But if it’s your first time getting poison ivy, it can take a few days or even weeks for itchiness and redness to show up.Is everyone allergic to poison ivy?No, not everyone is allergic to poison ivy. But most people do have an allergic reaction when they come into contact with urushiol — the oil in poison ivy (along with poison oak and sumac) that causes an allergic reaction.The bottom lineThe rash from poison ivy can be itchy and uncomfortable. There’s no way to cure poison ivy rash immediately, but there are lots of ways to lessen symptoms and prevent the oil from spreading. OTC treatments like calamine lotion, colloidal oatmeal baths, and hydrocortisone cream are all proven remedies for treating poison ivy. Get medical care for serious cases of poison ivy, or if the rash is getting worse.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AI search has moved the digital front door, and most websites haven’t noticed AI search has moved the digital front door, and most websites haven’t noticedFor years, making a website accessible meant starting at the homepage. Audit the navigation. Fix the hero image. Make sure the main call-to-action button works with a keyboard. The homepage was where users arrived, so it was where accessibility teams focused their attention.That logic made sense when users followed a predictable path. As AudioEye explains below, it makes less sense now.AI-powered search has fundamentally changed how people find content online. Instead of landing on a homepage and navigating to what they need, users are dropped directly onto the page that answered their query: a product detail page, a blog post, a benefits form, a patient portal. According to AudioEye's 2026 Digital Accessibility Index (DAI), 95% of AI search traffic bypasses the homepage entirely. The pages users are landing on now are not the pages most organizations have prioritized for accessibility.Where users go, accessibility gaps followThe 2026 DAI scanned 166,457 pages across 6,161 domains spanning seven industries in the U.S. and Europe. One of its clearest findings: The pages beyond the homepage average 10% more accessibility issues and 18% more page elements than homepages. More page elements mean more surface area for failures.The same five issues appear on roughly 3 in 4 pages across every industry: images a screen reader cannot describe, links that give no indication of where they go, buttons and form fields that cannot be identified by assistive technology, interactive elements that are too low-contrast to see, and no way for keyboard users to skip repetitive navigation.Roughly one in five of those issues blocks users from completing a task entirely, with no workaround and no alternative path. For a user relying on a screen reader or keyboard navigation, that is not an inconvenience. It is a dead end."It's genuinely disheartening, and it's way too common,” said Chris Preiman, a member of AudioEye’s A11iance Team, comprised of people with disabilities. “I could not tell you how many times I've been unable to access my cart, fill out my shipping information, or solve the CAPTCHA.”The compliance programs built for a different webMost accessibility programs were designed around a model that no longer reflects how users move through the web. Teams identify a set of priority pages, run periodic audits, and fix what they find. That approach worked when traffic followed a predictable path. It does not work when AI search routes users around the pages that have been reviewed.According to AudioEye's 2026 Accessibility Advantage Report, 44% of organizations manage accessibility internally, and 64% of those report lacking the expertise to do it well. The result is often programs concentrated on a small portion of a site, running on a schedule that cannot keep pace with how often content changes.The litigation data tells the same story. U.S. web accessibility litigation has more than doubled since 2020, reaching 26,253 total filings in 2025, according to AudioEye's 2026 Web Accessibility Litigation Report. The issues driving most of those cases — keyboard and navigation failures, screen reader incompatibility, and inaccessible links and buttons — are the same criteria the DAI found failing on roughly three in four applicable pages, and courts have taken notice.What whole-site accessibility actually requiresThe shift in how users enter websites is not reversible. AI-powered search is not going away, and the volume of traffic it routes to non-homepage pages will only grow. For accessibility programs, that means the scope of what needs to be covered has expanded significantly.Many organizations have turned to accessibility widgets as a quick fix. The problem is that widgets rely on automation alone, and automation alone cannot catch every issue. Research shows that 38% of companies sued for accessibility violations already had a widget in place. A tool that promises instant compliance but misses the issues users actually encounter is not protection. It is a false sense of security.Keeping up with a site that changes constantly requires monitoring that runs across every page, not just the ones that made last year's priority list. Automation can handle a significant portion of issues at scale. The ones that require human judgment, the nuanced failures that affect how real people with disabilities experience a site, need expert review on top of it.AI has changed which pages users find. To ensure those pages are ready for those users, organizations should address accessibility proactively, across their full site and not just the pages they have already reviewed.This story was produced by AudioEye and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Will Ferrell brings goofiness to the golf course in 'The Hawk' Ferrell plays a zany former golf star who's trying to regain his mojo in a new Netflix series. While The Hawk has its flaws, it delivers satisfying silliness, amusing shenanigans and surprise cameos.
	Small businesses and accessibility: How to make sure your policies are correctly in place Small businesses and accessibility: How to make sure your policies are correctly in placeWhile inclusion and policies are important all year round, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities and reflect on how workplaces can become more inclusive. Accessibility goes beyond ramps and elevators; in fact, for many small businesses, it's just the beginning.Inclusivity requires more than just good intentions. If your employee handbook is outdated or if your managers lack guidance on handling accommodation requests, teams can get confused, which in turn hinders efficiency and collaboration. Proactively reviewing accessibility policies is important not only for compliance but also for fostering a supportive and high-performing environment for all employees, Rocket Lawyer reports.Accessibility Is More Than PhysicalThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t cover all small businesses. Under Title I, employers with 15 or more employees are required to comply with federal standards. However, it is important to check your local requirements, as state disability discrimination laws may apply to even smaller employers depending on your business location.For ADA-covered businesses, employers are responsible for providing reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. A clear disability accommodation policy will give your employees guidelines on how to ask for help, while ensuring your managers handle each situation consistently and fairly.If your business has grown, adopted hybrid work, introduced new technology, or changed job responsibilities, it's a good time to review whether your existing policies still reflect your business today.Even Small Policy Updates Can Make a Big DifferencePolicy updates can sound like just another item on the to-do list, but they’re actually one of the best ways to show you value your team. Small, clear changes can take the guesswork out of difficult situations and help everyone stay on the same page.First, a great workplace policy explains the rules and gives your managers a reliable playbook.Next, take a fresh look at your employee handbook. Is it clear who an employee should talk to when they need an accommodation? Is the process straightforward and easy to find? It’s also important to consider whether supervisors have received training on responding appropriately to accommodation requests.At the end of the day, improving workplace accessibility is about building a culture where everyone feels respected and set up to succeed.Questions to Ask Yourself About AccessibilityDisability Pride Month serves as a reminder to review whether your workplace policies support accessibility in practice.Do employees know how to request a workplace accommodation? Is the process clearly explained in our employee handbook?Are managers prepared to respond appropriately? Have supervisors received guidance on handling accommodation requests consistently?Do our old written policies reflect how our workplace operates today? Have remote work, business growth, new technology, or changing job duties created gaps?Should I review my ADA-related policies with an attorney? Are my workplace policies aligned with current legal requirements and business practices?What to Do NextDon't wait for an accommodation request to improve your workplace policies. Consider these next steps:Review your employee handbook to make sure accessibility and accommodation procedures are current and easy to understand.Train supervisors on how to recognize and respond appropriately when employees request accommodations.Evaluate whether workplace policies reflect your current operations, including remote or hybrid work arrangements.Thoughtful workplace policies help create a more accessible and supportive workplace for your employees so you can continue to grow your business and thrive.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Where the down payment burden has grown most Where the down payment burden has grown mostSaving for a home down payment has become a moving target. As rising home prices outstrip wage growth, the amount of time buyers may need to set aside enough money has changed sharply in many parts of the country. In some states, rising incomes have helped offset higher home values. In others, buyers may face a substantially longer path to ownership than they did just one decade ago.SmartAsset analyzed typical home values in each state in 2016 and 2026 and compared them with median household income to estimate how many years of savings would be required to afford a 20% down payment, assuming households set aside 10% of annual income. The analysis also evaluates how long a minimum-wage earner would need to save for a down payment in 2026, based on each state’s minimum wage. The estimate is a point-in-time affordability measure and does not model income growth or investment returns during the saving period. This approach allows for a consistent state-by-state comparison of how current home values and incomes affect the relative burden of saving for a down payment.Key FindingsIdaho had the largest increase in time needed to save for a down payment. Median-income households in the Gem State now need 11.2 years to save enough for a home, up three years and four months from 2016.Pricey coastal states still require the most time to save for a down payment. In three coastal states, median-income households need at least 12 years to save enough for a home: Hawai‘i (15.6 years), California (14.7 years), and Massachusetts (12 years).West Virginia has the nation’s lowest down payment burden. A median-income household there needs 5.5 years to save for a down payment in 2026, three months longer than in 2016.In three states, median-income households can save for a down payment faster than they could in 2016. In Mississippi, North Dakota, and Louisiana, income growth outpaced home-price growth. As a result, it now takes less time to save for a down payment in Mississippi (two months less), North Dakota (six months less), and Louisiana (17 months less).Saving for a down payment on a minimum-wage income alone is essentially impossible in every state. Even in Missouri, the most favorable state, a minimum-wage earner would need 17 years to save enough for a down payment on a home. In Utah, that timeline exceeds 70 years. SmartAsset SmartAsset States Ranked by Change in Time Needed to Save for a Home Down Payment1. IdahoApril 2016 typical home value: $203,447April 2026 typical home value: $477,506Median household income2016 median household income: $51,8072026 median household income: $85,592Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 40 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 63.3 years2. Rhode IslandApril 2016 typical home value: $248,509April 2026 typical home value: $504,793Median household income2016 median household income: $60,5962026 median household income: $88,088Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.5 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 39 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $33,280Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 30.3 years3. New HampshireApril 2016 typical home value: $239,022April 2026 typical home value: $510,709Median household income2016 median household income: $70,9362026 median household income: $105,248Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 9.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 36 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 67.7 years4. MaineApril 2016 typical home value: $195,978April 2026 typical home value: $412,608Median household income2016 median household income: $53,0792026 median household income: $80,600Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 10.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 34 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,408Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 26.3 years5. UtahApril 2016 typical home value: $261,055April 2026 typical home value: $540,993Median household income2016 median household income: $65,9772026 median household income: $101,920Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 10.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 32 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 71.7 years6. MontanaApril 2016 typical home value: $227,136April 2026 typical home value: $467,919Median household income2016 median household income: $50,0272026 median household income: $79,456Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 32 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $22,568Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 41.5 years7. WashingtonApril 2016 typical home value: $307,616April 2026 typical home value: $604,087Median household income2016 median household income: $67,1062026 median household income: $104,832Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.5 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 28 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $35,630Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 33.9 years8. New JerseyApril 2016 typical home value: $309,556April 2026 typical home value: $571,373Median household income2016 median household income: $76,1262026 median household income: $109,980Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 10.4 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 27 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,678Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 36.1 years9. New YorkApril 2016 typical home value: $283,872April 2026 typical home value: $510,449Median household income2016 median household income: $62,9092026 median household income: $90,532Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.3 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 27 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $33,280Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 30.7 years10. MassachusettsApril 2016 typical home value: $366,592April 2026 typical home value: $661,755Median household income2016 median household income: $75,2972026 median household income: $110,552Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 12 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 27 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 42.4 years11. NevadaApril 2016 typical home value: $227,181April 2026 typical home value: $447,225Median household income2016 median household income: $55,1802026 median household income: $85,592Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 10.5 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 27 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $24,960Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 35.8 years12. WisconsinApril 2016 typical home value: $170,732April 2026 typical home value: $333,909Median household income2016 median household income: $56,8112026 median household income: $81,744Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 26 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 44.3 years13. ConnecticutApril 2016 typical home value: $243,732April 2026 typical home value: $441,466Median household income2016 median household income: $73,4332026 median household income: $101,296Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 25 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $35,235Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 25.1 years14. TennesseeApril 2016 typical home value: $163,763April 2026 typical home value: $334,075Median household income2016 median household income: $48,5472026 median household income: $75,920Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 25 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 44.3 years15. North CarolinaApril 2016 typical home value: $171,688April 2026 typical home value: $337,273Median household income2016 median household income: $50,5842026 median household income: $78,000Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 22 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 44.7 years16. IndianaApril 2016 typical home value: $128,398April 2026 typical home value: $256,584Median household income2016 median household income: $52,3142026 median household income: $75,868Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 22 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 34 years17. MichiganApril 2016 typical home value: $136,024April 2026 typical home value: $263,590Median household income2016 median household income: $52,4912026 median household income: $76,336Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 21 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $28,558Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 18.5 years18. GeorgiaApril 2016 typical home value: $166,473April 2026 typical home value: $333,559Median household income2016 median household income: $53,5592026 median household income: $84,344Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 20 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 44.2 years19. ArizonaApril 2016 typical home value: $219,358April 2026 typical home value: $423,746Median household income2016 median household income: $53,5582026 median household income: $85,956Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 9.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 20 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,512Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 26.9 years20. NebraskaApril 2016 typical home value: $151,338April 2026 typical home value: $279,080Median household income2016 median household income: $56,9272026 median household income: $80,548Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 19 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 17.9 years21. OhioApril 2016 typical home value: $127,813April 2026 typical home value: $244,844Median household income2016 median household income: $52,3442026 median household income: $76,180Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.4 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 19 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 32.5 years22. CaliforniaApril 2016 typical home value: $446,711April 2026 typical home value: $776,233Median household income2016 median household income: $67,7392026 median household income: $105,612Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 14.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 18 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $35,152Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 44.2 years23. MissouriApril 2016 typical home value: $142,907April 2026 typical home value: $265,398Median household income2016 median household income: $51,7462026 median household income: $75,504Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 18 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 17 years24. KentuckyApril 2016 typical home value: $125,569April 2026 typical home value: $232,231Median household income2016 median household income: $46,6592026 median household income: $68,068Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 30.8 years25. FloridaApril 2016 typical home value: $196,979April 2026 typical home value: $376,504Median household income2016 median household income: $50,8602026 median household income: $82,004Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 9.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $29,120Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 25.9 years26. New MexicoApril 2016 typical home value: $174,734April 2026 typical home value: $317,474Median household income2016 median household income: $46,7482026 median household income: $71,500Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $24,960Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 25.4 years27. WyomingApril 2016 typical home value: $232,073April 2026 typical home value: $363,685Median household income2016 median household income: $59,8822026 median household income: $79,664Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 9.1 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 48.2 years28. South CarolinaApril 2016 typical home value: $163,923April 2026 typical home value: $305,174Median household income2016 median household income: $49,5012026 median household income: $76,284Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 40.5 years29. South DakotaApril 2016 typical home value: $178,715April 2026 typical home value: $319,255Median household income2016 median household income: $54,4672026 median household income: $81,068Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 16 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $24,648Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 25.9 years30. Hawai‘iApril 2016 typical home value: $533,475April 2026 typical home value: $830,219Median household income2016 median household income: $74,5112026 median household income: $106,236Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 15.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 16 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $33,280Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 49.9 years31. KansasApril 2016 typical home value: $134,162April 2026 typical home value: $246,369Median household income2016 median household income: $54,9352026 median household income: $79,664Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 16 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 32.7 years32. MinnesotaApril 2016 typical home value: $208,251April 2026 typical home value: $350,891Median household income2016 median household income: $65,5992026 median household income: $91,884Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 15 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $23,733Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 29.6 years33. VirginiaApril 2016 typical home value: $248,601April 2026 typical home value: $414,320Median household income2016 median household income: $68,1142026 median household income: $97,136Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.5 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 15 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $26,562Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 31.2 years34. OklahomaApril 2016 typical home value: $126,963April 2026 typical home value: $221,765Median household income2016 median household income: $49,1762026 median household income: $69,784Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.4 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 14 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 29.4 years35. PennsylvaniaApril 2016 typical home value: $167,302April 2026 typical home value: $286,387Median household income2016 median household income: $56,9072026 median household income: $81,796Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 13 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 38 years36. OregonApril 2016 typical home value: $291,792April 2026 typical home value: $501,661Median household income2016 median household income: $57,5322026 median household income: $89,856Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 11.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 12 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $29,224Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 34.3 years37. VermontApril 2016 typical home value: $232,440April 2026 typical home value: $394,227Median household income2016 median household income: $57,6772026 median household income: $87,256Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 12 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $29,994Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 26.3 years38. IllinoisApril 2016 typical home value: $173,121April 2026 typical home value: $290,210Median household income2016 median household income: $60,9602026 median household income: $87,776Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 11 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 18.6 years39. IowaApril 2016 typical home value: $141,866April 2026 typical home value: $234,891Median household income2016 median household income: $56,2472026 median household income: $79,612Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 5.9 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 10 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 31.2 years40. ColoradoApril 2016 typical home value: $321,332April 2026 typical home value: $543,271Median household income2016 median household income: $65,6852026 median household income: $102,440Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 10.6 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 10 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,533Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 34.5 years41. TexasApril 2016 typical home value: $181,155April 2026 typical home value: $302,187Median household income2016 median household income: $56,5652026 median household income: $84,084Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 9 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 40.1 years42. DelawareApril 2016 typical home value: $248,044April 2026 typical home value: $405,836Median household income2016 median household income: $61,7572026 median household income: $92,300Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 9 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 26 years43. MarylandApril 2016 typical home value: $284,871April 2026 typical home value: $431,934Median household income2016 median household income: $78,9452026 median household income: $108,524Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 9 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $31,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 27.7 years44. ArkansasApril 2016 typical home value: $134,157April 2026 typical home value: $222,300Median household income2016 median household income: $44,3342026 median household income: $65,520Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.8 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 9 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $22,880Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 19.4 years45. AlabamaApril 2016 typical home value: $141,213April 2026 typical home value: $236,705Median household income2016 median household income: $46,2572026 median household income: $70,304Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 8 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 31.4 years46. AlaskaApril 2016 typical home value: $280,295April 2026 typical home value: $390,107Median household income2016 median household income: $76,4402026 median household income: $100,880Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 5 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $27,040Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 28.9 years47. West VirginiaApril 2016 typical home value: $112,167April 2026 typical home value: $174,876Median household income2016 median household income: $43,3852026 median household income: $64,116Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 5.5 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 3 months longerMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $18,200Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 19.2 years48. MississippiApril 2016 typical home value: $133,508April 2026 typical home value: $194,242Median household income2016 median household income: $41,7542026 median household income: $62,348Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.2 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 2 months lessMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 25.8 years49. North DakotaApril 2016 typical home value: $227,816April 2026 typical home value: $286,406Median household income2016 median household income: $60,6562026 median household income: $82,108Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 6 months lessMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 38 years50. LouisianaApril 2016 typical home value: $183,116April 2026 typical home value: $214,727Median household income2016 median household income: $45,1462026 median household income: $64,324Time needed to save at median household income (2026): 6.7 yearsChange in time needed to save (2016 to 2026): 17 months lessMinimum wage2026 annualized minimum wage: $15,080Time needed to save at annualized minimum wage (2026): 28.5 years States are ranked by the change in time needed to save for a home down payment at the median household income.MethodologyThe typical home value in each state in April 2016 and April 2026 was sourced from Zillow’s Home Value Index for all homes. Median household income for each state in 2016 was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey one-year estimates. For 2026, median household income was estimated by adjusting each state’s 2024 ACS one-year median household income by national growth in the Employment Cost Index for private-industry wages and salaries from the 2024 annual average through the first quarter of 2026. Time needed to save for a home down payment was calculated as a point-in-time affordability estimate, using the typical home value and estimated household income in each respective year. The calculation assumes a 20% down payment and annual savings equal to 10% of income, and does not model investment returns or changes in income over the course of a household’s saving period. For minimum-wage workers, annual income was calculated using each state’s 2026 minimum wage, as recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor, multiplied by 2,080 hours. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Robotic prostate treatment launches at UnityPoint-Trinity Rock Island UnityPoint Health in Rock Island introduces Hydros Robotic System, offering minimally invasive aquablation therapy for an enlarged prostate.
	Natural vs. organic vs. clean: The truth behind beauty marketing Natural vs. organic vs. clean: The truth behind beauty marketingConsumer demand for clean beauty is rapidly increasing. The global clean beauty market is expected to grow from 10.79 billion in 2025 to 37.91 billion by 2034, Fortune Business Insights reports. As brands capitalize on consumer demand, shoppers need to know what to look for.There is currently no federally regulated definition for clean beauty in the United States. With little oversight, clean beauty products aren’t created using the same standard. Beauty brands often use popular marketing terms, like non-toxic, clean, and natural. Brands can use these labels without verification, however, whereas certified organic makeup brands must meet specific, regulated standards to advertise as organic.While consumer interest in clean beauty is growing, there’s still confusion about what clean beauty means. Ogee Beauty shares how learning to evaluate clean beauty labels, ingredients, and certifications will help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.Why Consumers Are Paying AttentionConsumer interest in sustainable products has increased across all industries, especially for younger generations. Gen Z is 1.3 times more likely to want eco-friendly products, Nielsen reports.The clean beauty market's rapid growth reflects a trend toward conscious consumerism. “The primary driver of Clean Beauty Market Growth is growing consumer awareness regarding ingredient safety and long-term health impact,” Fortune Business Insights reports.The internet has increased access to information on sustainability, wellness, and preventative care. People are now aware that long-term exposure to certain chemicals can cause harm. Growing health and environmental concerns inform consumer purchasing behavior today. Consumers are seeking out products with transparent formulas and credible verifications and avoiding products with harmful ingredients.Social media greatly impacts consumer demand for clean beauty products. People can easily discover dermatologist recommendations and peer-reviewed viral beauty products online. Consumers aren’t simply taking recommendations and advertisements at face value; they are doing their research. Through social media, search engines, and popular community forums like Reddit, shoppers can quickly verify if a product is credible and effective.Thanks to shoppable content, consumers can now instantly buy and subscribe to clean beauty products. McKinsey’s 2026 Global Beauty Market Model reveals that social commerce sales are growing faster than any other channel. At 28%, e-commerce currently accounts for the majority of all beauty sales. For clean beauty, e-commerce sales are even higher, with 35% market share, according to Fortune Business Insights.What Is Clean Beauty: What “Clean” Actually MeansClean beauty largely refers to products made without certain ingredients that may be considered harmful or toxic. These include irritants, allergens, potential endocrine disruptors, and potential carcinogens. Clean beauty brands also often value transparency, sustainable sourcing, and environmentally friendly packaging.Clean beauty meanings can vary, however, since there is no federally regulated definition for clean beauty in the United States. Beauty brands don’t have to meet specific criteria or exclude certain ingredients to label themselves as “clean.” Brands often define “clean” according to their own convenient standards.Consumers can look up what beauty ingredients are considered safe, but ingredient “blacklists” vary by state and country. What’s legal in one state may be banned in another. In the U.S., California has some of the strictest sourcing and ingredient standards, yet products deemed safe in California may still be banned in Europe. This makes it challenging and costly for brands to formulate and sell products that adhere to different federal and global regulations.To add to customer confusion, retailers create their own clean criteria to categorize and advertise clean products. Dominant beauty retailers like Credo, Sephora, and Ulta assign various marketable labels like clean, conscious, and planet-aware to beauty products that fit their specific criteria. Clean beauty brands may formulate their products in accordance with these labels. It’s unlikely, however, that a product will be considered clean by every retailer, since they each have different standards.Without one clear, regulated definition, it’s difficult for consumers to understand what products are truly safer or healthier.Natural vs. OrganicBeauty brands commonly advertise as natural and organic, but these terms mean different things. Natural refers to the ingredient origin. Natural makeup is made from ingredients sourced from nature. Natural isn’t a strictly regulated term, however. A “natural” product can still contain synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and petrochemical-derived ingredients.Organic refers to how ingredients are grown and processed. Organic makeup brands should contain certified organic ingredients. A United States Department of Agriculture organic certification means that a product was produced in accordance with USDA organic standards. The ingredients in USDA-certified cosmetics must be grown without synthetic pesticides and genetically modified organisms. This federally regulated process may prohibit certain chemical processing methods and require farmers to implement measures to protect soil health, biodiversity, and livestock care.Organic beauty brands can also obtain COSMOS certification. COSMOS offers two globally recognized certifications for cosmetics: COSMOS Organic and COSMOS Natural.Third-party certifications give consumers additional insight into a brand’s manufacturing process. These certifications mean that an independent institution reviewed a product and determined that it meets specific quality standards. Consumers should look for beauty brands with credible third-party certifications, like EWG Verified, before buying.The Ingredient Transparency MovementMany “clean” beauty brands rely on deceiving terminology and green-colored branding to appeal to today’s consumers. As consumer interest in clean beauty grows, more brands will use clever marketing and greenwashing. Experts recommend that consumers always read the ingredient list before buying to ensure products meet clean standards.People are becoming more conscious of clean makeup ingredients and what to look for. For example, a proprietary blend or “fragrance” might be included on the ingredient list. These are trademarked formulas that may contain hidden synthetic ingredients or hidden concentrations. Shoppers can use credible online databases, like EWG Skin Deep, to easily evaluate any product label.Brands that lead with transparent labels have a competitive advantage in today’s market. According to the Fortune Business Insights 2026 Consumer Report, consumers now look for transparent ingredient lists, information on sourcing, and verified labels. Women consumers have more ingredient awareness and currently account for 72% of clean beauty consumption. Increased consumer awareness directly impacts beauty sales. Across all categories, ingredient safety reportedly influences which beauty products.The Future of the Clean Beauty IndustryThe beauty industry is changing. Brands must adapt to meet evolving consumer preferences. Clean beauty demand is growing across all markets, from men’s grooming to women’s fragrance. As “clean” becomes the new standard and global consumer awareness increases, shoppers will be increasingly vigilant when researching products. Ingredient transparency in the beauty industry will become necessary.Brands that embrace social responsibility and ethical sourcing will stand out, particularly for younger consumers. Expect to see more beauty brands introduce sustainable initiatives like refillable packaging and biodegradable materials.Consumers are now opting for affordable or conventional beauty brands with clinically verified results over luxury beauty brands, McKinsey reports. Brands will continue to build trust and interest through clinically proven clean formulations.While natural and organic makeup was previously considered lower-performance, targeted plant-based ingredients and modern technology have made organic makeup competitive and effective. Beauty brands will increasingly utilize innovative bio-based ingredients to produce shelf-stable products that meet both clean and high-performance standards.Despite clean beauty’s growth, there’s still global confusion about what clean beauty is. Creating a standardized, global definition for clean beauty should be a priority for the clean beauty industry. Until this happens, there’s a key opportunity for beauty brands to provide consumer education. Brands that offer valuable, accessible information will build customer trust and loyalty and stand apart in a competitive market. These brands will be the future of the clean beauty industry.This story was produced by Ogee and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Is this the solution to your city's broken sidewalks? Is this the solution to your city's broken sidewalks?Anna Apostolos knows sidewalks. Since 2000, she’s orchestrated the repair of tens of thousands of square feet of sidewalk for hundreds of Angelenos.Her official title is “capital projects specialist” for the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI), which partners with local council districts to repair sidewalks using discretionary funding. Unofficially, Apostolos has become a sidewalk whisperer in a city where fixing the sidewalk can seem impossible.“[It’s] one of the most fulfilling things that I have done, even though it seems like a small thing. People are so grateful,” she told Next City for this article.In April, the city of L.A. approved nearly $5.3 million to improve pedestrian facilities near venues for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Of that, $4 million will go to LANI and the nonprofit Los Angeles Conservation Corps, which offers paid on-the-job training to local youth ages 18 to 26, to speed up sidewalk repairs.For many L.A. residents — especially people with disabilities — broken, uplifted sidewalks are a huge barrier to everyday activities. In 2015, the city settled an ADA lawsuit brought by disabled residents, agreeing to spend $1.4 billion over 30 years on accessibility improvements.Over 10 years later, the program has barely made a dent, with some Angelenos waiting a decade for their access requests to be completed.The city’s new initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Karen Bass, leverages existing partnerships with nonprofits to change that.A cheat code for fixing sidewalks in your neighborhoodFor over a decade, LANI has helped homeowners fix the buckled, unpassable sidewalks that the city has failed to address.“Some people, they couldn’t even get homeowners' insurance anymore because of the uplifted sidewalks,” Apostolos said.LANI was founded in 1994 by then-Mayor Richard Riordan to improve neighborhoods lacking trees, shade and functioning sidewalks using federal transportation dollars. In 2000, newly formed neighborhood councils enlisted LANI to fix the sidewalks that the city neglected. Then, in 2014, Councilmember Bernard Parks started working with LANI to repair sidewalks in his South L.A. district using discretionary funds.Going through the official channels to get sidewalks fixed, he told news outlets at the time, was expensive and unreliable.“We found that it’s far more successful than waiting for city employees and city staff because it seems to break down somewhere in that process,” he told NBC Los Angeles.The work eventually expanded to other council districts as well to include about half of L.A.’s 15 districts.LANI works with council districts to put together an estimate for sidewalk repairs at different sites before putting a package out for bid. The nonprofit pulls all the necessary permits and contracts for the actual repair work, which is subject to the state’s prevailing wage requirements.Trees are one of the trickiest factors in sidewalk repair. Although they are often the cause of uplifted sidewalks, the city very rarely removes a tree. Instead, the preference is to prune the roots on one side to maintain the tree’s stability.“You dig this hole and then you put a root guard against the sidewalk, so that way the roots have to go down further to get water,” said Aleigh Lewis, director of programs at LANI.For the upcoming 2028 Games, LANI is looking at not only the sidewalks surrounding event and watch party venues, but also the path from transit stops all the way to the venue itself.According to Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, broken sidewalks are a “chronic issue” in the city, including in her San Fernando Valley district. In 2024, she launched the Youth Sidewalk Repair Program in collaboration with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) to offer hands-on job training to youth ages 18 to 26.“I wanted to make sure that the young people came from my district and that they got to repair the sidewalks in their own community,” she said.So far, 30 youth have completed the program, with 30 more set to complete training as the program expands to the rest of the city.Each crew has five corps members to keep the instructor-to-student ratio small. The program consists of one to two weeks of classroom instruction, followed by two to three months of on-the-job training. Trainees are paid $18.50 per hour.Alex Lopez, senior program director for LACC, estimates that four or five participants have gone on to pursue a union job in the trades after finishing the program. Many choose to stay in the Corps, joining the main conservation track and continuing their job training.The most fun part of building sidewalks? Operating heavy machinery, Lopez said. Trainees get to use jackhammers, skid steers, mini excavators, and concrete cutters.The least fun part? Finishing the concrete, especially in the heat of the San Fernando Valley.“They have to get on their hands and knees and use those different types of finishing tools before it dries up,” explained Lopez. LA Conservation Corps The costs of concreteOne major reason a city might partner with nonprofits to fix sidewalks: cutting costs.According to LANI, repairs cost an average of $63.90 per square foot, including overhead like pulling permits and a contingency fee. Construction costs alone have risen dramatically since the pandemic, going from about $18 per square foot to $45 today.And while advocates have raised alarms about the cost of building out curb ramps — $50,000 per ramp — it’s not clear how much sidewalk repair is costing the city. The Bureau of Engineering, which oversees the program, declined to answer a question about costs.For LACC, costs run about $227 per square foot for basic sidewalk repair, including all overhead.In 2021, an audit of the sidewalk program by the city controller found that construction costs were $38 per square foot or $51 with soft costs included. The report notes that the city’s strategy at the time was inefficient and expensive. In one example, crews fully repaired a sidewalk from property line to property line but failed to address major accessibility issues in an adjacent parcel.LANI has more discretion over how it repairs sidewalks, addressing major obstacles rather than fixing every issue that might make a sidewalk non-ADA compliant.It’s a “balancing act,” said Apostolos. “We want to fix this, but where do you stop? There’s a crack here, but it’s not uplifted. Do we stop and not do that area?”Prioritizing major issues means the nonprofit can fix more sites. The Bureau of Engineering did not respond to a question about whether the sidewalk program is still fixing all non-compliant sidewalk issues in a sidewalk parcel.Los Angeles might be spending millions every year, but it doesn’t have a dedicated source of funding for sidewalks. After the city took over fixing sidewalks in the case of tree root damage in the 1970s, it has unsuccessfully tried multiple times to turn responsibility back over to property owners. Despite these failed attempts, the city’s new Capital Infrastructure Program includes a recommendation from the Bureau of Street Services to force property owners to pay for sidewalk repairs.How should the city prioritize repairs?While the city is investing millions in pedestrian infrastructure around LA28 venues, disabled Angelenos are still waiting for traversable sidewalks where they live and work — sometimes for more than a decade.Cynde Soto, a disability advocate and wheelchair user, said she understands that the sidewalks around Olympic and Paralympic venues desperately need to be fixed. Last year, she took public transportation to the LA Memorial Coliseum, a major venue for LA28, to watch Mayor Bass sign a proclamation on improving accessibility for the Games.“I had to go out into the street… sidewalks are narrow and they’re broken.”But she also believes ordinary Angelenos are being left behind. Soto has long pushed for repairs to sidewalks downtown, where she works.“What about people who have been waiting years for their own neighborhoods?” she asks. This program “is for the elite of our society, and I just don’t think that’s fair.”This story was produced with support from the Solutions Journalism Network’s How Government Responds Innovation Fund.This story was produced by Next City, a nonprofit newsroom covering solutions for equitable cities, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Missouri drops out of lawsuit challenging federal disability rights protections About 1,200 Missourians with disabilities, their families, care staff and advocates crowded into the Capitol in February to attend Disability Rights Legislative Day, as lawmakers contemplated cuts to home and community based services (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).Missouri withdrew this week from a multi-state lawsuit seeking to strike down a part of federal law requiring states to provide services to allow people with disabilities to live in their communities instead of institutions. The lawsuit began in September 2024 with 17 Republican-led states challenging a Biden administration rule that indicated gender dysphoria “may be a disability” under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Eight states withdrew from the lawsuit after the Trump administration proposed a rule that would exclude gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability. Several more states dropped out over the following months, leaving four before Missouri’s exit. A spokesperson from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office told The Independent in an email that Missouri joined the lawsuit “to protect our state from overreach from bureaucrats in Washington.” “We are thankful that the Biden Administration’s absurd addition of gender dysphoria to the list of disabilities covered under Section 504, our original reason for joining the litigation, has since been corrected,” the spokesperson said. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Attorney General Catherine Hanaway “remains dedicated to protecting services for Missourians who need them most,” the spokesperson said. After a months-long push to raise awareness about the lawsuit, advocates for Missourians with disabilities greeted the state’s exit with relief. Sangyeal Lee, a member of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council from Springfield, told The Independent he was “so happy” when he found out about the state’s withdrawal. “When I heard, I said, ‘Yahoo!’” Lee said. “…You know, ‘Finally, somebody’s thinking.’ That was my exact reaction.” Hannah Satterwhite, assistant director of advocacy and education for St. Louis Arc, thanked the attorney general’s office for “withdrawing from this lawsuit and protecting the rights of people with disabilities to remain living, working and interacting with their communities.” Christina Ingoglia, policy advocacy director for the council, told The Independent she and other disability advocates began meeting with staff from Hanaway’s office about the lawsuit in February. Those efforts coincided with a groundswell of opposition against $80.7 million in proposed cuts to state and federal spending on Medicaid programs that help Missourians with developmental disabilities live safely in their homes and participate in their communities. Lawmakers reversed cuts that would have slashed pay rates for care staff hired through self-directed supports or working in structured group programs called day habilitation. But the budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe June 30 eliminated two smaller programs, including a “community specialist” service designed to help participants become more independent outside their homes. Ingoglia said this year’s budget process shows that “it’s very real that these cuts could happen as funding decreases and as the state budget gets tighter.” Federal policy shifts Ongoing changes in federal policy could further complicate Missouri’s budget picture, experts and advocates said. The Biden-era rule challenged in the lawsuit was intended to update the regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reflect decades of statute and case law on disability rights, said Alison Barkoff, who led the Administration for Community Living in the department from 2021 to 2024 and helped write the rule. While states in the lawsuit initially challenged the entire rule, which included updates on website accessibility and check-in kiosks, an amended complaint filed in January focused on the “integration mandate” in federal law. The integration mandate requires states to provide services to people with disabilities in their homes and communities whenever possible. It was first articulated in Section 504 and elaborated in Title II of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. And it was reinforced in the 1999 Olmstead decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and subsequent court rulings and guidance from federal agencies. Barkoff, now a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, told The Independent that the rule challenged in the lawsuit elaborated on the department’s 1977 regulations in two major ways. It expanded the description of the “most integrated setting” and clarified that states can be sued if their actions put people with disabilities at “serious risk” of institutionalization. “So for example, cutting services in a way that might place people at serious risk of going into an institution,” Barkoff said. Sangyeal Lee sits with Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council Director Emily Hartley and MODDC Chair-elect Allie Friedrich at a national developmental disabilities conference in Washington, D.C. in 2024 (photo submitted). But the U.S. Department of Justice has in recent weeks signaled its intent to revisit decades of federal consensus on disability rights. A June 18 Justice Department memorandum stated that neither Section 504 nor the Americans with Disabilities Act requires states to provide services to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting possible. And the Justice Department on Monday issued a “clarification” that it will no longer use a 2011 policy document interpreting the integration mandate. The document, among other things, says budget shortages don’t necessarily excuse states from providing community-based services. “Even in times of budgetary constraints, public entities can often reasonably modify their program by re-allocating funding from expensive segregated settings to cost-effective integrated settings,” the document says. Barkoff said these recent moves are significant because the Justice Department is “the primary enforcer of these disability rights laws.” The Justice Department can’t change the law, Barkoff said, but states can use the recent memorandum in courts. “This is just their reinterpretation of the law,” Barkoff said. “(But) it is clear that they are trying to get courts to adopt this position.” Faced with proposed budget cuts this year, advocates argued that funding self-directed supports and day habilitation saves the state money. The Missouri Department of Mental Health indicated in its 2026 program book that while the average cost of self-directed supports per person was $48,534 in fiscal year 2025, the average cost of residential services that year was $227,317 per person. Ingoglia said the recent Justice Department communications are worrisome as Missouri faces continued budget pressure. “It feels like this in partnership with the lawsuit is attempting to undermine home and community based services and their funding,” Ingoglia said. Nightmares Lee, the advocate with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council, said that although his 14-year-old daughter Isabella, who has Down syndrome, hasn’t yet needed to use the services protected by Section 504, he “wanted to make sure that Missourians, especially people who have disabilities, have the services they deserve.” “If we have 20 years of (disability work) and wipe it out, we have to do everything again and better,” Lee said. “So that would be like going back to the time with no cars, no phones.” Advocacy, he said, can be discouraging, and he’s had nightmares about the lawsuit. “I was really afraid, actually,” he said. Lee, who leads the council’s Olmstead standing committee, said he’s hopeful that the three states remaining in the lawsuit — Texas, Florida and Alaska — will decide to withdraw. Advocates and people with disabilities, he said, are asking states to follow federal law. “We’re not talking about, ‘Give me a favor,’” Lee said. “Let’s do it by the law. We have ADA, and Section 504 is the law that we’re following.” Courtesy of Missouri Independent
	Proposed Coal Valley sports complex draws concerns from neighbors The mayor says economic growth is important for the tax base. People living near the site worry about noise and traffic.
	I-80 Cafe is temporarily closed I-80 Cafe announced the temporary closure for family vacation.
	RAGBRAI Day 6 takes riders to Dyersville Keep following KCRG’s Joe Winters and Rebekah Vaughan as they bike across the state.
	From Winterset to London, Rebecca Fons thinks art house cinema is for everyone Rebecca Fons knows art house cinema when she sees it. The Iowan has spent nearly two decades in independent film exhibition and now works in London as a film curator. Ahead of Art House Theater Day on July 30, she shared what it means to bring independent movies to cinemas across the world.
	The best battery backup for your budget (BPT) - Key takeawaysBackup power solutions are essential with today's tech-dependent lifestyles, extreme weather events and aging power grids.Solar generators provide a noise-free, fume-free battery backup option for power outages.The HomePower Series from Jackery offers power solutions to fit every home, family and budget. And yes, it's possible for a solar generator, even a portable power station, to power a house during an outage.With more people working remotely and the expansion of smart technology in recent years, renters and home owners have changed how they use their spaces. Between needing work-from-home options and the growing popularity of smart household appliances, home upgrades in 2026 reflect the demand for continual power without worry about outages, or the stress being placed on the aging power grid.Reasons to have home backup powerAmong today's remote-capable U.S. employees, over 27% work fully remote and over half (52%) work hybrid. That means the home office is a permanent fixture for most white collar or information workers. For others, a home office is convenient for performing work-related duties on occasion, or managing household tasks.When you make upgrades in 2026, you're more likely to be updating computers or other electronic devices, adding a standing desk, buying high-tech appliances or installing a smart thermostat. All these needs are part of today's lifestyle, which further increases grid stress during hot summer months.But power interruptions have also become an expected occurrence. In 2024, U.S. electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of power interruptions, nearly twice the annual average of the prior decade. In the first half of last year, nearly half (45%) of U.S. utility customers experienced power outages.Backup power solutions for every homeTo help ensure your home's system can cope with increased energy needs uninterrupted, you've probably considered backup power. The good news is, backup power is more accessible than ever and with advancements in battery technology, a solar generator can power a house during an outage.Home backup power used to be an unvaried product for just one type of household: storm-country homeowners with a generator and a garage. Not anymore. The Jackery HomePower Series offers customized solutions designed for remote workers in a one-bedroom apartment, families that want a backup power solution for keeping a refrigerator running, and homeowners wanting whole-house protection without a fuss. One series. Every home.In 2024, U.S. electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of power interruptions, nearly twice the annual average of the prior decade.What size solar generator is right for home backup?Understanding your energy needs can help you find a solar-powered home backup solution. The new, next generation of solar generators within the HomePower Series are built on LiFePO4 battery technology, with 6,000 charge cycles and a 16-year design life. Even better, they're all indoor-safe, silent alternatives to gas generators — causing no fumes and no noise complaints. All of the models support solar, wall outlet and car port charging for greater ease of use.Which HomePower is yours?1. Solar generators for renters and remote workers If you work from home and have experienced the professional and personal disruption of losing power in the middle of a workday, or while running local AI workloads, you'll appreciate Jackery's HomePower 1000 v2, which can keep your laptop running up to 57 hours and keeps your refrigerator cold and running for up to 19 hours. Jackery Priority Routing™ prioritizes critical devices (like your desktop PC over your monitor), and provides Emergency Charging to full in under 50 minutes. The HomePower 1000 v2 provides 1024 Watt hours (Wh) and 1500 Watt output, as well as 3 kilovolts (kV) surge protection.This model is a great option for apartments, and for modern households with modest emergency energy needs. Best yet, it's under 24 pounds and designed for portability, making it easy to move between rooms or pack with home office gear. It can also be bundled with Jackery's solar panels.For a limited time, the HomePower 1000 v2 is available for $499, 41% off through Jackery and Jackery's Amazon Storefront.2. Solar generators for smaller homes with growing needsFor budget-conscious families who want a system that can grow with them, the HomePower 2000 Plus v2 provides a compact, smart, unobtrusive solution. A 2048Wh capacity backup battery is ideal for a two-person household to get through an outage of up to 8 hours, while the 2400W rated output (4800W peak surge) can power essential appliances like refrigerators, electric ovens and microwaves. Its scalability, with the ability to expand up to 12kWh, ensures households are fully equipped to handle extended outages and more long-term backup power needs for up to 2.5 days with ease.If you have children, aging parents or other members of your household who depend on refrigeration, medical devices or continuous connectivity, this system is a great investment for the long term and will pay off with every unexpected outage.For a limited time, the HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is available for $899, 50% off through Jackery and Jackery's Amazon Storefront. 3. Solar generators for homeowners seeking full protectionIf your home is in a storm-prone region or area with an aging grid infrastructure, you may want comprehensive, automatic protection without the noise, fumes or complexity of traditional gas generators. This may be the perfect time to upgrade to the HomePower 3600 Pro Max, which offers 2000W output at 120V, and 4000W output at 240V, and is compatible with a Manual Transfer Switch (MTS) for automatic backup power during an outage, saving homeowners up to $3,000 and half the installation time required for traditional Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) installation. You can opt for a single portable power station unit + MTS for 4kW multi-room backup, or two paired units up to 8kW for larger homes or extended blackout coverage, scalable up to 43kWh.The HomePower 3600 Pro Max is quieter and safer, thanks to sub-30 decibel operation and a UL 9540 fire-resistant certification and 5VA rating. This model has 8 charging methods, and app-controlled Time-of-Use (TOU) scheduling can save homeowners up to an additional $4,238 on their annual energy bills.For a limited time, the HomePower 3600 Pro Max is available for $1699, 43% off through Jackery and Jackery's Amazon Storefront.Whichever solution sounds right for your household, you can find it at Jackery.com and on Amazon.
	Overdoses haven’t fallen as much in NV as in rest of nation, officials trying to find out why Naloxone in a vending machine at the LGBTQ+ Center of Las Vegas. (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)Nevada overdose rates have dropped by 2% since last year, but that’s a smaller decline than in most of the rest of the country, and local health officials aren’t sure why. The number of people dying from an overdose has declined roughly 16% nationally, health officials told a district’s Public Health Advisory Board meeting earlier this month. The district recently participated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epi-Aid project, a rapid investigation looking into a particular public health issue, to better understand overdose deaths in Southern Nevada. In May, local and federal officials conducted 69 interviews with Southern Nevada residents living in overdose hot spots to get a snap shot of those struggling with substance use, what their housing status was, and if and how they have access to overdose interventions like naloxone. The effort’s preliminary findings were presented to the health advisory board this month. Final results, expected within another four to six months, will provide insights about overdose deaths and help shape recommendations for addressing the issue, officials said. During the next few months officials will go through the transcripts from those interviews to gather qualitative data, Marco Mendez, a public health evaluator with the health district, said in an interview. “My expectation would be to have a richer understanding of how our residents experience the substance use care system here in Clark County, what barriers and facilitators there are to access, and how SNHD can best partner with the community to keep those rates going down,” Mendez said. The interviews could also illuminate causes of substance use, including whether it stemmed from a legal prescription or as a way to cope with experiencing homelessness. Both were scenarios Mendez heard during interviews. The health district has been able to identify “hot spots” for overdose deaths using emergency services outcomes data and hospital discharge data. Areas with the highest number of overdoses include the East Fremont Corridor, Valley View Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, and the UNLV area. The district identified 89101 and 89104 as the ZIP codes with high numbers of overdoses. CDC and health district officials deployed to those areas over two-weeks in May to conduct interviews as part of its investigation. Of those 69 people interviewed for the project, 32 people were unhoused. Those counting as being housed included people residing in group homes and mental health treatment facilities, as well as apartments. About 85% of all respondents said they hadn’t had a regular place to stay in the last year. The lack of housing and wraparound services were cited as barriers to care, according to the preliminary findings. Interviews also indicated the lack of access to Medicaid or other health insurance was is a barrier to accessing mental health and substance abuse treatment “We know that the amount of folks in need versus the amount of treatment that’s available doesn’t really line up,” Mendez said, nodding to“systemic issues that are ongoing as well.” People often struggle with accessing treatment “because they’re not able to get their insurer to pay for more than one day in detox,” he said. “In those situations it’s kind of like you come in, you detox, and they’re like, ‘All right, your insurance isn’t paying anymore. Bye,’” he said. “That can also add to the stigma and adverse experiences that lead to more substance use potentially.” Access to Medicaid and health insurance is expected to become an even bigger barrier as policy changes such as new work requirements under President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax cut bill passed in July 2025 take effect. The health district initial findings didn’t indicate how many respondents relied on Medicaid or health insurance subsidies. “We did find that the drugs that were most frequently reported as being used by our respondents matched up with the drugs implicated most commonly based on our overdose rates,” Mendez, adding the top three are methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. More people cited meth use, but two-thirds of people were aware fentanyl was likely being cut into drugs. Though people are aware of the lethality of fentanyl, they also might risk it to prevent going into withdraw, Mendez said Half of respondents said they used more than one substance and preferred using alone. The findings showed that 73% called 911 to report an overdose, and 85% administered naloxone. One of the more surprising data points, Mendez said, was that 60% were aware of Nevada’s Good Samaritan law, which is supported to prevent punitive actions against people who call 911 to report a drug overdose. But more than half indicated they didn’t trust the law. Mendez said the high percentage of people knowing about the law was still encouraging. “People are actually aware that they are protected legally, so they shouldn’t fear helping a friend or whomever is experiencing an overdose,” he said. Courtesy of Nevada Current
	Our QC Crime Watch: Davenport man faces child-pornography charges: Episode 74 Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: Why a Quad Cities bar had its license revoked A Davenport man who faces charges involving child pornography. [...]
	California Burritos in Davenport to relocate "Come get your fix in Bettendorf while we cook up our next move!"
	Resignations, hirings, other Central DeWitt School District personnel news from July 20 The following personnel items are from the July 8 agenda of the Central-DeWitt School Board.
	Trump threatens Iran escalation as tit-for-tat airstrikes continue The U.S. continued airstrikes in Iran while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Gulf as the region braced itself after President Trump said he was close to deciding whether to launch "a massive attack".
	Trump threatens Iran with further escalation as tit-for-tat airstrikes continue The U.S. continued airstrikes in Iran while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Gulf, as President Trump said he was close to deciding whether to launch "a massive attack."
	Trump threatens a major escalation in Iran as the war rounds its 4th month The U.S. continued airstrikes in Iran while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Gulf, as President Trump said he was close to deciding whether to launch "a massive attack."
	Trump threatens a major escalation in Iran as the war nears the end of Month 5 The U.S. continued airstrikes in Iran while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Gulf, as President Trump said he was close to deciding whether to launch "a massive attack."
	Trump threatens a major escalation in Iran as the war nears the 5-month mark The U.S. continued airstrikes in Iran while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. targets in the Gulf, as President Trump said he was close to deciding whether to launch "a massive attack."
	Heat and humidity build back in for the weekend One more comfortable day for the Quad Cities before it turns hot and humid again. A few showers are possible today and tonight, but many of us will stay dry. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Statewide EMS task force faces shutdown amid funding crisis New Jersey's EMS Task Force outside MetLife Stadium preparing for the World Cup matches. (Photo courtesy of the task force)Members of New Jersey’s Emergency Medical Services Task Force spent July 4th evacuating a Voorhees nursing home of more than 200 people after the facility’s air conditioning failed during a heat wave that would lead to a record 29 deaths statewide. Other members were deployed to help local responders at fireworks events in five counties and America250 celebrations along the Delaware River, to track wildfires in South Jersey, and to standby at World Cup matches in East Rutherford, an assignment that would eventually involve 8,500 personnel hours over five weeks, its largest undertaking ever. The nonprofit task force, which was founded to manage large-scale emergency medical responses in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, serves as a statewide backup for local emergency services, coordinates emergency preparedness for large-scale events, and leads regional emergency response planning. But as of August, it has just 60 days of funding left, according to its president, Michael Bascom. “We have zero funds to sustain, repair, or replace any of our equipment,” Bascom told the New Jersey Monitor, let alone money to continue to pay its handful of staff. The task force had pushed Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Democratic leaders in the Legislature to include $500,000 for its work in the most recent budget, but the $60.7 billion budget she signed in late June did not include it. Bascom said it is now requesting at least $8 million in one-time capital funding while it searches for sustainable revenue. “If our organization fails to maintain — there IS NO OTHER backup. Local EMS cannot absorb the work scope. Hospitals cannot replace it,” Beau Huch, a longtime EMS advocate and director of government affairs for the law firm Porzio, wrote in a funding request to lawmakers this spring. “This is not a warning bell ringing. This is an emergency siren blaring,” he added. Senate Democrats declined to comment on the request. A spokeswoman for Sherrill said she is grateful to the first responders, including the EMS task force, who have worked hard to protect public health during high-profile sporting events, extreme heat and summer celebrations, an “especially demanding period.” “Federal partnership has been essential to supporting New Jersey’s preparedness for health threats. As certain funding comes up for renewal and as other COVID-era federal funding streams end, the State remains committed to exploring ways to sustain key preparedness work. At the same time, no state can fully absorb the fiscal impact of expiring federal funds and broader federal policy changes,” Sherrill spokesperson Maggie Garbarino told the New Jersey Monitor. Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor) Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), a sponsor of a bill to codify the task force, said it’s the state’s responsibility to protect residents and that failing to fund the organization “could be a life-or-death thing.” “It’s just a continued demonstration that this administration, like the previous one, doesn’t give a damn. It would have been easy if they cared,” O’Scanlon told the New Jersey Monitor. Most of the task force’s 200 members work full-time for other emergency response organizations, which cover the cost of their deployments with the task force. It maintains equipment valued at $70 million, Bascom said, including 19 medical ambulance buses that can transport ten times as many patients as a regular ambulance, oxygen generators, field hospital shelters and more, all available for use by local responders in the state’s 21 counties. Repair needs are estimated at close to $30 million, he said. Bascomb said its funding needs were amplified over the Independence Day weekend, when several ambulance buses malfunctioned. Severe thunderstorms swept through the state that Saturday, causing extensive flooding and damage. “We learned a lot from Saturday, lessons we’ll take on the road to the next mission and beyond,” Bascom wrote in an email to task force members, thanking them for their work. The state Department of Health is tasked with maintaining and coordinating the activities of the task force under the 2017 law that formalized the group. But the $1.1 million in federal funding the department provided last year to ensure the task force could operate through the World Cup will soon be gone, Bascom said. The soccer matches are now history, but Bascom said the task force’s work continues, including its mandate to staff all events at MetLife Stadium. In 2025 alone, task force members deployed at least 225 times to evacuate nursing homes or hospital facilities and assist with major emergencies and led 1,500 hours of emergency preparedness training, according to task force data. Members of New Jersey’s EMS Task Force attend a briefing before the final World Cup match in the Meadowlands on July 19, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the task force) Once funded as a function of the state Department of Health, Bascom said the task force was pushed to become a nonprofit under Gov. Phil Murphy, but the grant money officials said would be available has not yet materialized. The group played a key role in the state’s COVID-19 response, setting up testing sites, vaccine clinics and field hospitals, but funding has been sporadic and unreliable, he said. The Department of Health did not respond to a request for comment. O’Scanlon took a swipe at Democratic legislators for focusing too much on pork, a Trenton-insider term for money that legislative leaders add to the budget for pet projects, during this year’s budget process. “Emergency preparedness should come before one dime of pork, and it didn’t,” he said. “The priority was pork over preparedness.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor

Saturday, July 25th, 2026

Friday, July 24th, 2026