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

Friday, May 29th, 2026
	Alleman girls soccer wins sectional championship 4-3 in thriller over Geneseo Alleman girls soccer won the 1A sectional championship in a thriller double OT and PK’s 4-3 over Geneseo.
	Davenport North boys soccer punches ticket to state for the first time in school history Davenport North boys soccer punched their ticket to the state tournament for the first time in school history after defeating North Scott 3-2.
	Woman tased, arrested after Centennial Bridge stabbing Krystal Spears, 37, was arrested and faces felony charges after police say she stabbed a man on the Centennial Bridge and refused to drop her knife.
	Line wrapped around the block to get into Phoebe Bridgers pop-up show at Raccoon Motel Venue officials handed out 120 wristbands and had to turn the rest of the line away.
	John Deere volunteers partner with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing Volunteers from John Deere Harvester Works teamed up with Habitat for Humanity QC to help build affordable housing amid a regional housing shortage.
	OQC Crime Watch: Three men charged for selling drugs at work: Episode 67 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: To view, click the video above or watch on-the-go on Spotify. The QC Crime Watch Podcast \| Podcast [...]
	Sterling man arrested for home invasion Adam Euell faces home invasion and burglary charges after Sterling police responded to reports of a woman screaming at a home Thursday night.
	5 arrested during narcotics investigation in Sterling A raid at a Sterling home led to the arrest of five men on felony meth, drug delivery, and outstanding warrant charges on Friday.
	Pre-Election Day voting continues this weekend: Scott County auditor Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins is reminding voters absentee voting (early and in-person voting) is available Saturday, May 30, a news release says. “This is a great opportunity for those who are not able to vote on Election Day.” said Tompkins. Voting will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Scott County Administrative Center, [...]
	Illinois bill could pave the way for self-driving taxis Illinois state lawmakers could give the green light to driverless taxis. The Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act (Senate Bill 3392) would clear the way for robotaxis. known as Waymo, in a limited number of cities on a trial basis. The move would gauge whether they are safe. The use of driverless cars could expand to [...]
	Crews battle Galesburg home fire No injuries were reported following a Galesburg fire. According to a release, the Galesburg Fire Department responded May 28 at 4:33 p.m. to a structure fire in the 2100 block of Sodhi Ave. Fire crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the home and flames in the kitchen. The Fremont Station fire crew made an initial [...]
	Stroke survivor works toward recovery one step at a time at Moline rehab center Five months after suffering a stroke, a QC man is rebuilding his strength through rehab, motivated by a goal that means more than anything else: his grandkids
	Knox County wildlife rescue hosting benefit concert to help fund its mission Critter Cove is the only Illinois Department of Natural Resources-certified wildlife rehabilitator in the county. Some services have stopped due to lack of funding.
	Bridgford to file nomination petitions in Iowa's 1st Congressional District race Independent candidate Michael Bridgford will officially file his nomination petitions on Monday, June 1, to appear on the ballot for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, according to a news release. "Over the past several weeks, our team has completed an internal validation process on all collected signatures to ensure we comfortably exceed the required threshold prior to filing," the [...]
	Restaurant inspections: Mouse droppings in rice, shrimp in stagnant water Scott County health inspectors cited six Davenport food establishments for alarming health violations, including rodent droppings and unsafe food storage.
	Local teen driving course teaches emergency maneuvers and crash avoidance 'Street Survival' picks up where driver's ed leaves off by teaching what to do when the unexpected happens. This summer's sessions are July 11-12 in Mossville, IL.
	All aboard train lovers: 'Big Boy 4014' steam locomotive making stop in Sterling on America 250 tour The city has released a guide with event parking, viewing locations, accessibility services and vendors on site.
	Students cycling from Seattle to Washington D.C. stop in the QCA A group of college students is cycling across the country from Seattle to Washington D.C. to spread kindness and learn about regenerative food systems, while documenting 250 acts of kindness along the way.
	Remember when Trump promised Great American State Fair would be in Iowa? The Great American State Fair is set to run from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in D.C. — but that’s not what President Donald Trump promised Iowans last summer.
	Legendary QC cyclists honored with new sculpture in Schwiebert Park Local cycling legends were honored with a colorful sculpture in Schwiebert Riverfront Park Friday. The cycling community wanted to honor Dean and Deb Mathias and all the work they've done, with a sculpture that would stand out and stand the test of time. The man known as the "GOAT of RAGBRAI" and his wife are [...]
	Your forecast for the last weekend of May After a week full of sunshine and hot weather staying in the mid 80s, it is not going to be any different for your weekend. Temperatures will continue to stay in the mid 80s for your afternoon highs for both Saturday and Sunday, with lots of sunshine to enjoy.
	Metro Link partners with local libraries for summer reading programs to provide free rides The program is available across the Illinois Quad Cities in Moline, Rock Island, East Moline or Silvis.
	Authorities confirm remains at Northeast Park in Kewanee belong to unidentified adult Kewanee police say investigators are working to obtain dental records as part of the identification process.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of May 29, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Bike sculpture dedicated to honor 2 locally involved cyclists The sculpture was dedicated to honor Deb and Dean Mathias, who have spend more than four decades contributing to the cycling community.
	What's going on in the Quad Cities this weekend? \| Friday, May 29 Bring your dog to a day at the park, browse dozens of vintage item sellers, or enjoy some craft beer!
	Driving safety class for teens coming up in July The Illini chapter of the BMW Car Club of America is hosting its 15th annual "Street Survival" program on July 11 and 12 in Mossville, Illinois.
	Large portion of Davenport's Main Street Landing pedestrian bridge installed The bridge should be completed by mid-June.
	Quad Cities youth hockey programs get rebrand through new partnership The Quad City Hockey Association approved a partnership expansion with the Quad City Storm that rebrands several local youth hockey programs.
	Woman arrested after Davenport stabbing Davenport police responded to the Centennial Bridge for a weapons call on Wednesday, May 27.
	Trump endorses Randy Feenstra in Iowa governor race The primary will take place on Tuesday, June 2.
	Phoebe Bridgers will play for pop-up, sold-out concert at Raccoon Motel, Davenport Doors will open at 6 p.m. in downtown Davenport today (Friday, May 29) for a surprise pop-up concert by a popular musician. Indie-folk star Phoebe Bridgers will perform at the Raccoon Motel, 315 E. 2nd St., Davenport. Word of tonight's concert came quietly, with a sign posted on the venue window. Bridgers, a solo artist [...]
	Autopsy confirms skeletal remains found in Kewanee park are human Kewanee police said what could be a human skull was found in a waste holding tank at Northeast Park.
	John Deere partners with Habitat for Humanity QC to build homes The new partnership includes six John Deere facilities across Iowa, where workers are framing and assembling walls of entire homes for Des Moines, Quad Cities, Waterloo, and Dubuque.
	One year later, family of Bettendorf woman killed in motorcycle crash still seeks answers One year after Samantha Burke was killed in a Davenport motorcycle crash, her family is raising reward money and urging anyone with information to come forward.
	Kids can have a whale of a time at Cops n' Bobbers Kids 15 and under can have a whale of a time as they fish with law enforcement officers from the QCA! Sgt. Greg Hill and Brooks VanDerBeek joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about Cops n' Bobbers. For more information, click here.
	Remains found in Kewanee confirmed to be those of an adult An autopsy was performed Friday and found the remains were those of an adult human. The person has not yet been identified.
	Skeletal remains found at Kewanee park belong to adult human, police say Police said they are working to identify the remains.
	Former McCausland city clerk sentenced for stealing from the city Former McCausland City Clerk Sheila Bosworth has been sentenced on six of 31 charges including first-degree theft and multiple forgery charges.
	Driver won’t be charged in Ankeny crash that injured 16 students The case was presented to the Polk County Attorney's Office for review, and, based on all presented facts and evidence, there is no basis for criminal charges against the driver.
	View our map of roadwork across the county Scott County Roadwork Map :root { --accent: #b8341b; --accent-dark: #8a2614; --muted: #6b6660; --status-active: #b8341b; --status-upcoming: #c98a1b; --status-complete: #4a7a3a; } .roadwork-map-root { background: transparent; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; } .roadwork-map-root , .roadwork-map-root ::before, .roadwork-map-root ::after { box-sizing: border-box; } .roadwork-map-root .legend { display: flex; gap: 18px; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 10px 0 14px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; color: inherit; } .roadwork-map-root .legend .item { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; } .roadwork-map-root .legend .dot { width: 11px; height: 11px; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid currentColor; flex-shrink: 0; } .roadwork-map-root .dot.active { background: var(--status-active); } .roadwork-map-root .dot.upcoming { background: var(--status-upcoming); } .roadwork-map-root .dot.complete { background: var(--status-complete); } .roadwork-map-root .legend .count { font-weight: 600; } .roadwork-map-root #map { width: 100%; height: 70vh; min-height: 480px; background: #ddd; } .roadwork-map-root .pin-icon { background: transparent !important; border: 0 !important; } .leaflet-popup-content-wrapper { border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 6px 24px rgba(0,0,0,0.18); } .leaflet-popup-content { margin: 14px 16px; min-width: 240px; font-family: inherit; } .pop-status { display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 700; padding: 3px 8px; color: #fff; margin-bottom: 10px; } .pop-status.active { background: var(--status-active); } .pop-status.upcoming { background: var(--status-upcoming); } .pop-status.complete { background: var(--status-complete); } .pop-title { font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0 0 8px; } .pop-meta { font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); margin: 0 0 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; } .pop-desc { font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 0 12px; } .pop-link { display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--accent); text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1.5px solid var(--accent); padding-bottom: 1px; } .pop-link:hover { color: var(--accent-dark); border-color: var(--accent-dark); } .roadwork-map-root .error-msg { padding: 30px 20px; text-align: center; color: var(--accent-dark); font-style: italic; } .roadwork-map-root .footnote { padding: 10px 0 0; font-size: 11px; color: var(--muted); opacity: 0.8; } Active — Upcoming — Recently completed — Last updated from source spreadsheet on page load. function loadLeaflet(callback) { const sources = [ 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/leaflet/1.9.4/leaflet.min.js', 'https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.js' ]; let i = 0; function tryNext() { if (typeof L !== 'undefined') { callback(); return; } if (i >= sources.length) { document.getElementById('map').innerHTML = '<div class="error-msg">Could not load the map library. 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	Davenport releases name of man who died in North Park Manor fire The fire department has not yet determined a cause for the May 22 fire, but does not believe it was intentional.
	Officials identify victim of fatal Davenport apartment fire 50-year-old Jason Wold died after a fire broke out on the 1400 block of East 39th Street around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22.
	Trump's name must come off of the Kennedy Center, judge rules The judge wrote in his 94-page ruling that it was "crystal clear" that the arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. He also ruled that the center could not wind down its programming and close for two years of renovations – at least for now
	Officials identify man killed in apartment building fire Officials said the man was found dead inside an apartment.
	Former McCausland city clerk sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for theft, forgery Sheila Bosworth pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, misconduct and forgery and was tied to more than $63,000 in improper spending during her time in office.
	Line wrapped around the block to get into sold-out Phoebe Bridgers pop-up show at Raccoon Motel Venue officials handed out 120 wristbands and had to turn the rest of the line away.
	River Bend Food Bank to receive 40,000 pound donation as part of America250 initiative A semi truck loaded with up to 40,000 pounds of food and cleaning supplies will arrive at the food bank on June 3, according to a news release.
	89,000-pound bridge section hoisted over rail lines Friday morning Train traffic was stopped as a massive piece of Main Street Landing’s pedestrian bridge was put in place Friday morning.
	Augustana Prison Education Program celebrates 10 graduates during commencement ceremony “If I wasn’t a writer, I wouldn’t have been able to push past my limits to get here,” Justin Dismuke said while giving the student commencement address.
	4 Your Money \| Stay in May or Go Away? There is an old Wall Street expression — “Sell in May and Go Away”. Nate Kreinbrink, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, explains the history behind that phrase and shares if investors should be selling right now.
	Sterling man arrested, charged with battery, home invasion A Sterling man is in the Whiteside County Jail after police charged him with burglary, home invasion and battery. A news release from the Sterling Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call of a woman screaming in the 500 block of West 5th Street on May 28 at about 10:36 p.m. When officers [...]
	President Trump announces support for Iowa Rep. Feenstra in race for governor President Donald Trump announced his support on social media Friday for U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in the Iowa Republican primary race for governor.
	MercyOne North Health Plaza in Clinton closed for remainder of Friday MercyOne North Health Plaza in Clinton is closed for the remainder of Friday, May 29 due to a city sewage issue.
	9 pasos para una alimentación saludable para el corazón durante toda la vida (Feature Impact) Más de la mitad de los adultos y alrededor del 60% de los niños en Estados Unidos tienen una alimentación poco saludable, lo que puede contribuir a un aumento de la frecuencia de factores de riesgo para la salud, como la hipertensión y la obesidad, y provocar directamente problemas de salud, incluyendo la muerte por enfermedades crónicas como las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Estos hallazgos provienen de la American Heart Association, una organización global que está transformando el futuro de la salud para todas las personas, la cual publicó su documento “Guía Alimentaria 2026 para Mejorar la Salud Cardiovascular” (“2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health”) en su revista insignia revisada por pares, “Circulation”. en la cual se recomienda que los estadounidenses sigan un patrón de alimentación saludable durante toda la vida que pueda reducir el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares y mejorar la calidad de vida, con base en la evidencia científica más reciente. La declaración describe nueve características clave de un patrón de alimentación saludable para el corazón: Ajustar la ingesta y el gasto de energía para lograr y mantener un peso corporal saludable: intenta equilibrar lo que comes con tu nivel de actividad física para alcanzar y mantener un peso corporal saludable. Consumir una variedad de verduras y frutas: incluya diferentes colores, texturas y tipos de productos frescos. Recuerde que incluso los alimentos enlatados y congelados pueden ser nutritivos y accesibles. Elegir alimentos elaborados principalmente con cereales integrales: los alimentos como el pan integral, el arroz integral y la avena suelen ser mejores opciones que los cereales refinados, incluyendo el pan y el arroz blancos. Elegir fuentes saludables de proteína: sustituya parte del consumo de carne por fuentes vegetales, como legumbres, incluidos frijoles, chícharos y lentejas, junto con nueces y semillas; consuma pescado y mariscos con regularidad; elija productos lácteos bajos en grasa o sin grasa; y, si desea consumir carne roja, prefiera cortes magros, evite las carnes procesadas y limite el tamaño de las porciones. Elegir fuentes de grasas no saturadas: reemplace las grasas saturadas por grasas no saturadas saludables, incluyendo las que provienen de nueces, semillas, aguacates y aceites vegetales no tropicales. Elegir alimentos mínimamente procesados: consuma alimentos cercanos a su estado natural, con una cantidad mínima de ingredientes comerciales añadidos, en lugar de aquellos altamente procesados con aditivos. Minimizar el consumo de azúcares añadidos: limite las bebidas azucaradas que consume y los alimentos con azúcar añadido que ingiere. Elegir alimentos bajos en sodio y prepare los alimentos con poca o nada de sal: considere las fuentes ocultas de sodio en los alimentos preparados y empacados, y sazone sus alimentos con opciones más saludables, como hierbas, especias o limón, en lugar de sal. Si no consume alcohol, no comience; si consume alcohol, limite su ingesta: el alcohol puede aumentar el riesgo de hipertensión y otros problemas de salud, por lo que, si usted no bebe, no empiece a hacerlo. “Para que una alimentación saludable sea más alcanzable y sostenible, recomendamos que las personas se enfoquen en su patrón general de alimentación y no en nutrientes o alimentos específicos”, dijo Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., FAHA, presidenta voluntaria del comité encargado de redactar la declaración científica y científica principal y líder de la Directiva de Dieta y Prevención de Enfermedades Crónicas en el Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging de la Tufts University. “Cada vez que usted decide hacer un cambio por una alternativa más saludable, está dando un paso hacia una vida más saludable”. Aunque la guía actualizada está diseñada específicamente para mejorar la salud cardiovascular, en general es consistente con las recomendaciones alimentarias para otras condiciones, como la diabetes tipo 2, la enfermedad renal, algunos tipos de cáncer y también la salud cerebral, debido a factores de riesgo compartidos, incluyendo la hipertensión, el colesterol elevado, el nivel alto de azúcar en sangre, el exceso de peso y la disminución de la función renal. “Un patrón de alimentación saludable puede favorecer la salud y el bienestar durante toda la vida, más allá de la salud cardiovascular”, afirmó Lichtenstein. Para obtener más información sobre la alimentación para la salud del corazón y del cerebro, visite heart.org/healthydiet y consulte con su proveedor de atención médica sobre lo que puede funcionar mejor para usted. Foto cortesía de Shutterstock
	Main Street Landing bridge reaches milestone over Davenport rail line Crews lifted an 89,000-pound bridge section over active rail tracks Friday, marking a major milestone for Davenport’s Main Street Landing.
	Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warnings Ready to recall: These meats are behind 40% of USDA food warningsA staggering 37 million pounds of frozen chicken and pork products, much of it ready to eat, is no longer considered safe for consumption after being shipped to retailers, including Trader Joe’s, across the U.S. and exported to Canada and Mexico. Four customers complained about glass shards in the food to the manufacturer, Ajinomoto Foods North America, which issued a recall and alerted regulators at the U.S Department of Agriculture. The federal agency notified the public in February and again about an expanded recall in March.Both recalls remain in effect nationwide, representing two of the USDA’s four active recall alerts in effect. They all share the same culprit: ready-to-eat (RTE) meats, which can be eaten with minimal to no preparation, typically after more intensive processing to kill pathogens and extend their shelf life. Sentient The only other recalls still underway, first announced by the USDA in 2025, involve pieces of metal and wood, respectively, found in BBQ pork jerky produced by meat snack manufacturer LSI, Inc. and chicken corn dog and turkey sticks produced by Foster Farms, California’s largest poultry producer. These recalls are part of a broader pattern of these widely accessible meat products being pulled from shelves, accounting for at least 40% of USDA food safety warnings between 2014 and 2025, according to Sentient’s analysis of public USDA data.It’s easy to see the appeal of RTE meats: cheap, quick, protein-rich foods that can last longer in the fridge or shelves than uncooked meat. They’re the junk food of meat — hot dogs, salami, pâté, jerky, prosciutto, rotisserie chicken — often branded for quick consumption, while serving as an affordable staple of many diets. Yet these products carry an elevated risk for contaminants, foodborne illnesses, and chronic diseases. And the consequences are often severe: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there are 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses every year in the U.S., resulting in 3,000 annual deaths, with many outbreaks tracing back to RTE meats.Earlier this month, the USDA alerted the public to a Listeria outbreak that may have originated with contaminated pork deli meats, or headcheese, when it was discovered that three people were sick in Illinois. Headcheese — jellied meat molded into a loaf, traditionally eaten cold — has emerged as the most likely source of this outbreak following a positive test result for the pathogen.This is not a surprise to food safety experts because moist environments, which are typical for processing RTE meats, provide ideal conditions for Listeria. “Listeria is one of those bacteria that does really well in what you often see in processing environments. They like the really moist environment,” says Ellen Shumaker, the director of outreach of North Carolina State University Extension’s evidence-based food safety programming.Along with these food safety risks, a growing body of research has linked processed meats, including RTE meats, to chronic health conditions, such as colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization also classifies processed meats as carcinogenic to humans.Sentient’s analysis highlights the scope of the public health risks as a consequence of RTE meat contamination and other risks introduced in the supply chain.Meat and poultry recalls are typically initiated by the manufacturer notifying the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the agency responsible for ensuring the safety of the U.S. meat and poultry supply. The USDA investigates the concern, and if verified, issues a public recall notice warning consumers to avoid the affected products. If they are no longer being sold — or when a company refuses to recall the products — the agency instead issues a public health alert. (The USDA’s food safety warnings are limited to meat and poultry, whereas the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates a wider range of food and has a separate process for issuing and communicating recalls.) Sentient Sentient examined 1,163 recalls and public health alerts — which will be collectively referred to as food safety warnings for the sake of simplicity in this article — in order to determine which USDA-regulated meat and poultry products tend to raise concerns. The findings are stark: Perishable RTE meats account for at least 4 in 10 of all of the USDA’s food safety warnings, underscoring the elevated health risks that come with some of the most widely accessible meats.These results are an underestimate because the 40% figure includes only fully cooked, perishable RTE meats. This excludes other RTE meats, including fully shelf-stable meat like jerky and cured meats, that could not be reliably separated out in the USDA data. Still, a clear pattern emerged: RTE meats are a major driver of USDA food safety warnings, most often due to product contamination (pathogens or foreign material, like glass), followed by misbranding, undeclared allergens and products that had not undergone inspection before making it into the U.S. food supply.Sentient did not receive a response from either the USDA or Ajinomoto Foods to its request for comment before publication.Not Exactly Safe to Consume Without CookingAlthough RTE meats are, by the USDA’s definition, “edible without additional preparation to achieve food safety,” Sentient’s analysis of food recalls and public health alerts — contributing to a growing body of evidence on the health risks of highly processed meats — shows that this promise of safety can be compromised. And the USDA acknowledges that RTE meat is susceptible to bacterial, physical and chemical contamination “as a result of the different ingredients and process steps these products may undergo.”A high number of recalls due to bacterial contamination in RTE meats didn’t come as a surprise to Donald Schaffner, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University. Bacterial contaminants, like Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, can result in severe health complications and even death to immunocompromised and high-risk groups, prompting Schaffner to urge caution while browsing the deli counter.A bit of cooking can go a long way in reducing the risks posed by RTE meats by killing off potentially dangerous bacteria, he advises. According to the FDA, RTE meats should be heated up to 165 F to eliminate bacteria. “I would say, if you’re planning on eating raw deli meats, you shouldn’t, if you’re immunocompromised, just to be safe,” says Schaffner. He would also extend this advice to other RTE meats, like hot dogs and luncheon meats.“If you really have a hankering, you know, for a bologna sandwich, maybe make a fried bologna sandwich.”The CDC recommends that pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems avoid unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, and meat spreads. But even people outside of these high-risk groups may still want to avoid or reheat this type of meat, given that foodborne illnesses, like listeriosis (the disease caused by bacteria Listeria), can still cause intense and draining symptoms of fever, diarrhea and muscle aches in healthy people.Pâté, a spreadable paste made from minced meat, was behind a recent, fatal Listeria outbreak in France. As of mid-March, there had been 12 illnesses and two fatalities after the individuals had eaten pâté en croûte, a French charcuterie dish with ground meat encased in a bakery crust, sold by Drôme Ardèche Tradition. In the U.S., a severe Listeria outbreak in 2024 linked to Boar’s Head’s liverwurst pâté and other deli meats resulted in ten deaths and 59 hospitalizations.Most food labels don’t mention the risk of eating RTE meats without reheating, particularly for vulnerable groups. “There was a big to-do around putting labels on raw meats, saying that it has to be cooked,” Schaffner says, referring to a 2016 rule. “And the industry pushed back on that for years.” He suspects that industry pushback is similar to why RTE meat products don’t include any advice on heating them prior to consumption, or warnings for vulnerable groups. Sentient Food Safety Concerns With the Trump AdministrationJust before Donald Trump returned to office in 2025, the USDA released initial findings from an investigation into a 2024 Listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats. The agency concluded that “inadequate sanitation practices” contributed to the outbreak, noting that a fan was “blowing condensate directly on products” in the plant’s RTE meat section.A couple of weeks later, the Trump administration fired USDA General Inspector Phyllis K. Fong, who had served in this role since 2002 and was responsible for ordering the investigation.This was the beginning of a drastic restructuring of the USDA. The mass firing of employees and the appointment of meat industry affiliates to top food safety positions have prompted concerns about the agency’s compromised regulatory capacity.In a move backed by meat industry associations, the USDA recently proposed increasing line speeds in meat processing plants, which would reduce the time inspectors have to identify and discard meat that could be contaminated. Adding to concerns, the administration dissolved two advisory committees that had been helping steer the USDA’s strategies to decrease some of the worst risks to food safety, including microbial contamination.One of those committees, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, was first established by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1988. It was “charged with answering big questions that FDA and USDA had around microbial food safety,” says Ben Chapman, department head of agriculture and human sciences at North Carolina State University. Chapman was appointed to the committee in 2023 and served until it was abruptly dissolved in March 2025.“We were then told that the advisory committee was being disbanded and our work was essentially done,” says Chapman, who was part of a subgroup that had just finished drafting safety recommendations on infant formula when this news came. “There’s been really important reports that have come out of this [committee],” he says, including on reducing the risk of Salmonella throughout the poultry supply chain.These concerns, though not directly correlated to Sentient’s analysis, prompt questions about the USDA’s ability to detect health and safety issues in meat before entering stores.Based on the agency’s own data, the USDA alerted the public about a total of 71.4 million pounds of meat and poultry recalled in 2025, more than the past six years combined. Almost all of the meat and poultry recalled between 2014 and 2025, 94%, were categorized as a Class I risk, defined as a “health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”Last year also saw a sharp uptick in complaints to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service about meat and poultry concerns, which prompted some of the recalls, according to a recent USDA report.What Makes RTE Meats Higher Risk?So, what exactly is it about RTE meat that makes it more prone to contamination and other food safety concerns? It’s typically related to the production process, though risks can also be introduced through improper storage, cross-contamination in retail stores and a wide range of hazards throughout the supply chain, up until it is sold as “ready-to-eat.”In the case of Listeria, which resulted in four USDA recalls and six public health alerts in 2025, these meats are processed in the ideal conditions for this bacterium to grow.“A big reason that we see high rates of recalls associated with RTE meats is you’re often seeing those associated with Listeria monocytogenes,” says Shumaker. And Listeria risk doesn’t stop at production, but continues even after it’s packaged and refrigerated. “One of the really difficult parts about Listeria is that it actually grows at refrigerated temperatures,” says Shumaker.Beyond disease-causing pathogens, unintended materials, like rocks and glass, could accidentally be introduced during RTE meats processing — in fact these materials were the top reason for USDA food recalls in 2025, accounting for almost all of the 71.4 million pounds recalled. Processing plants for meat and poultry are typically required to have procedures in place to mitigate this risk, but it can be hard to fully eliminate. The foreign object contaminants often stem from broken manufacturing machinery.“When we’re seeing things like metal pieces, or maybe something like glass, that’s where we might see some breakdown in actual machinery that’s being used,” says Shumaker. In the case of Ajinomoto Foods, the glass originated with carrots produced by another company and mixed into their RTE chicken products, according to the USDA warning — an example of how multiple processing steps can introduce more opportunities for risk along the supply chain.That said, Shumaker also notes that an increase in food recalls doesn’t always indicate an increase in risk; it could also indicate a greater capacity to detect risk.“We’re getting better technology at identifying these things, and I think overall,” she says. “Companies are finding ways to be more proactive in terms of identifying food and getting it off the marketplace quicker.”MethodsSentient accessed USDA data on recalls and public health alerts (PHAs) via the USDA recall API. After removing duplicate records in Spanish, 1,163 food safety warnings were identified, including 1,010 recalls and 153 PHAs issued between 2014 and 2025. Recall extensions were included as part of its original recall. They were then grouped by processing category, which was available for 91% of the food safety warnings. The processing category Fully Cooked – Not Shelf Stable, which contains only RTE meat products, comprised 463 food warnings (39.8% of the total) over the time period. Three other USDA processing categories contain at least some RTE meat products, so 39.8% is likely a substantial underestimate. Products can appear in multiple processing categories.Figures for pounds of meat recalled by year, reason, and risk class are calculated directly from the USDA’s published annual summaries.This story was produced by Sentient and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Microdosing has come for skincare Microdosing has come for skincareMicrodosing is having a moment that extends well beyond Silicon Valley executives nibbling on magic mushrooms on Tuesday mornings. The principle that smaller, sustained doses of a potent substance can deliver the benefits without the punishing side effects has gone mainstream. Ozempic patients are splitting pens and tapering to the lowest effective dose to manage weight with fewer gastrointestinal complications. Psychiatrists are prescribing subhallucinogenic doses of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. The cultural instinct has shifted: more isn't better. Enough is better.The same logic is reshaping one of dermatology's most effective drugs. But, unlike most microdosing trends, this one has a 20,000-patient study backing it up.Below, Honeydew, an online dermatology platform, examines how lower-dose isotretinoin treatment is changing acne care.Isotretinoin, sold for years under the brand name Accutane, has been FDA approved since 1982. It is the only acne treatment that addresses all four pathogenic mechanisms simultaneously. It shrinks sebaceous glands, normalizes the way skin cells shed, suppresses acne-causing bacteria, and reduces inflammation. Clinical data shows long-term remission in roughly 80% of patients after a single course, and above 90% after a second. Unlike most pharmaceutical interventions for chronic conditions, isotretinoin doesn't require indefinite use. Patients complete a course, stop taking the drug, and, for the majority, the acne doesn't return.By almost any clinical measure, it is the most effective acne drug ever developed. It also has a reputation.The belief that isotretinoin causes depression became entrenched in public consciousness after a U.S. congressman's son, who was taking the medication, died by suicide in 2000. The ensuing national campaign linking the drug to psychiatric harm was, in the assessment of many dermatologists who have spent careers prescribing it, misinformed."In my clinical experience, most patients tolerate Accutane far better than its reputation suggests," says Dr. George Skandamis, a dermatologist at Honeydew and Medical Director at Universal Dermatology & Vein Care. "The internet tends to amplify the worst-case stories, but the average patient's experience is usually much more manageable. By the end of therapy, the vast majority of my patients are very happy they did it."A 2023 meta-analysis of more than 1 million isotretinoin patients found no association between the drug and increased rates of any psychiatric disorder. Patients who completed treatment showed a lower risk of suicide than those on alternative therapies, a finding consistent with research on the psychological burden of severe, persistent acne. Similarly, the reported link to inflammatory bowel disease is more nuanced than it looks. The genetic factors that predispose someone to severe acne appear to independently elevate IBD risk, making it difficult to isolate the drug as a cause.Although science has moved on, Accutane’s reputation hasn't. For decades, that reputation was compounded by the fact that isotretinoin, prescribed at standard doses, produces side effects that some patients find difficult to tolerate. Dr. Skandamis is direct about what patients should actually expect: "Virtually every patient on isotretinoin experiences some degree of dryness. Dry, chapped lips are by far the most universal side effect, to the point that if a patient has no lip dryness at all, I usually question whether they're actually taking or adequately absorbing the medication."Dry skin, dry eyes, nasal dryness, and increased sun sensitivity are extremely common and should be anticipated rather than viewed as complications. Most patients will need to adjust their skincare routine to include heavier moisturizers, lip balm throughout the day, gentle cleansers, and sometimes lubricating eye drops. The side effects that dominate the conversation online, including serious liver abnormalities, major triglyceride elevations, and severe mood changes, are, in Dr. Skandamisâ€™ experience, relatively uncommon in healthy patients being appropriately monitored.Traditional isotretinoin protocols involved a standard daily dose based on body weight. Patients only had to receive treatment for five or six months of treatment, but the speed led to too many side effects for some. A 70-kilogram patient might take 40 to 80 milligrams daily. At those concentrations, the drug saturates the body quickly but increases the chance of experiencing side effects like lip cracking, dryness, and joint pain.The assumption behind these protocols was that a higher daily dose meant faster, more durable results. A study published in JAMA Dermatology, led by Harvard dermatologist John Barbieri and analyzing data from nearly 20,000 isotretinoin patients, challenged that assumption directly.In Dr. Barbieri’s study, the variable that predicted long-term success in treating acne wasn't the daily dose. It was the cumulative dose: the total amount of isotretinoin a patient's body received over the full course of treatment. Patients who reached a cumulative target in the range of 150 to 220 mg/kg showed a continuous inverse relationship with relapse. But the path to that target, high dose over five months or low dose over 12, didn't significantly change outcomes."The latest research shows that it does not matter whether a patient reaches the cumulative target quickly or slowly," says Dr. Skandamis. "What matters more is that the acne is adequately controlled and the patient can stay on treatment consistently. A slower, lower-dose approach can actually improve adherence and quality of life for many patients while still producing excellent long-term outcomes."What that means is a patient taking 20 milligrams daily for a year can reach the same cumulative target as a patient taking 60 milligrams daily for five months. Same destination. The difference is that the patient on a microdose protocol experiences fewer and less intense side effects while still reaping the full skin-clearing benefits of the drug.In practice, microdosing isotretinoin means taking a lower daily dose sustained over a longer course to reach the same evidence-based cumulative target. Ten to 20 milligrams a day instead of 60. Twelve to 14months instead of five.Patients on low-dose protocols report dryness that's manageable and few to no additional side effects. They exercise normally. They don't structure their lives around the drug's side effects. The long-term efficacy remains the same.But not every patient is chasing a cure. There is a useful distinction between two different low-dose approaches that are easy to conflate. The first is microdosing with the intent to reach the cumulative target,the same destination as a full-dose course but traveled more slowly and more comfortably. The second is maintenance dosing: a very low, ongoing dose, around 5 milligrams per day, for patients whose goal isn't remission but management. As Dr. Skandamis explains: "If the goal is durable remission — even at a slower pace — cumulative low-dose treatment makes sense. If the goal is long-term suppression of chronic relapsing acne without seeking a cure, maintenance low-dose isotretinoin may be appropriate for those patients."For this patient, maintenance dosing functions less like a finite treatment and more like a long-term calibration tool, one that keeps symptoms in check without the commitment of a full course. It won't cure the underlying condition, but for someone whose acne is persistent rather than severe, that trade-off may be exactly what they're looking for. The result is a spectrum of low-dose options that can be tailored to what a patient actually wants from treatment: a cure, a controlled reduction, or something in between.The consumer skincare industry operates on a different paradigm from dermatology: clear skin is a matter of finding the right combination of topical products. The right cleanser, the right serum, the right retinol. For mild or occasional breakouts, this works. But for the tens of millions with persistent acne driven by genetics and hormonal signaling that no topical can reach, the "find the right routine" approach doesn't address the underlying biology.Isotretinoin does. And Dr. Barbieri's research has effectively removed the side-effect barrier that kept it from broader adoption. What remains is largely an access problem.The United States graduates roughly 500 new dermatologists per year, and more than half go into cosmetic practice. Wait times for medical dermatology appointments stretch for months. Most traditional practices don't offer low-dose protocols because the economics of managing a patient over 12 to 14 months don't align with a high-volume office model. Telehealth platforms specializing in isotretinoin have emerged in part to address this bottleneck — though the full picture still includes patients for whom low-dose treatment was never the right fit. Patients with severe cystic acne — deep, disfiguring cysts with real scarring potential — remain candidates for full-dose Accutane, and for that population, which numbers in the millions, the standard protocol remains the appropriate one.There is a familiar pattern in how pharmaceutical narratives shift. A drug has existed for decades, effective but poorly understood or culturally stigmatized. New research clarifies how it works, or reveals that the way it's been prescribed is unnecessarily harsh. Access expands. The conversation changes.Ozempic followed this arc. Semaglutide existed in diabetes treatment long before it became a cultural phenomenon. Ketamine was an anesthetic for decades before it became a depression treatment. Isotretinoin may be the next drug to undergo this kind of public reevaluation, not because anything about the molecule has changed, but because the evidence on how to use it has caught up with the fear surrounding it.The drug that could have ended the skincare search for millions of people has been on the shelf since 1982. What's changed is that we finally have the data to use it gently enough that there's no good clinical reason not to.This story was produced by Honeydew and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	Louisiana lawmakers pass a congressional map to dismantle a majority-Black district Louisiana's Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of two majority-Black congressional seats in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the current map unconstitutional in a sweeping ruling.
	What vets want you to know about traveling with your dog this summer What vets want you to know about traveling with your dog this summerSummer is when most Americans actually travel with their dogs. Road trips, beach weeks, weddings in other states, lake houses, the cross-country move you've been putting off. And more dog owners are doing it than ever before. The American Pet Products Association found that 37% of pet owners now travel with their pets, almost double the rate from a decade ago. Of those, 87% travel by car and 74% travel by plane.Whatever this trend is, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down.The catch is that traveling with a dog isn't as intuitive as people think it should be. Dogs aren't small humans. They don't understand why they're suddenly in a crate at 30,000 feet or why the car ride has been going on for six hours. The owners who travel with their dogs successfully are usually the ones who put in the work weeks before the trip starts, not the ones who throw a leash in the car and hope it goes well.Two veterinarian advisors for Spot & Tango who deal with this constantly, Dr. Stephanie Liff and Dr. Jordyn Zoul, have seen pretty much every version of dog travel go right and wrong. Below is what they wish more owners knew before the next road trip, plane ride, or weekend away.Start Weeks Before You Leave, Not DaysThe single most common mistake vets see is owners showing up the week before a trip, expecting everything to get handled in one appointment.It rarely works that way. Depending on where you're going and how you're getting there, the paperwork and vaccine timing can be surprisingly strict. Some states require a health certificate issued within a specific window before travel. International trips can require months of lead time, with rabies vaccines, dewormers, and exams that have to happen in a specific order and on a specific timeline. Miss one detail and your dog can get denied at the gate."Too often, clients wait until the week before travel to come see the vet, and this is often too late," says Dr. Zoul. Her recommended starting point is the Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service pet travel website, which lays out the country-by-country and state-by-state requirements that most owners don't know exist.Dr. Liff makes a similar point about anxiety medication. If your dog needs a sedative or anti-nausea med to handle travel, that's a conversation you want to have well in advance, not the night before a flight. Most travel-related prescriptions need a trial run at home first to make sure the dog tolerates the dose. Trying a new medication for the first time in an airport is, predictably, a bad time.The general rule of thumb: Book a vet appointment for travel prep at least three to four weeks before any domestic trip and several months out for anything international. If your dog has never traveled before, build in even more time. There's almost always something you didn't think of.The Car Travel Stat That Should Stop You In Your TracksIf you're driving with your dog this summer, here's a number worth sitting with: Only 16% of dog owners use any kind of restraint when their dog is in the car. That's from a survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and explained by the American Humane Society. The same survey found that more than 80% of those owners know that an unrestrained dog in a moving vehicle is dangerous. They just don't do anything about it.The physics is worse than most people realize. According to AAA, an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a 50-mph crash exerts roughly 500 pounds of force. An 80-pound dog in a 30-mph crash exerts about 2,400 pounds. A friendly golden retriever in your back seat becomes a projectile the moment something goes wrong.Dr. Liff is direct about this one: "I believe seat belt devices enhance safety for pets, so fit your pet for one and make sure you use it." There's no shortage of options on the market. Harness-and-seatbelt clip combos, crash-tested crates, back seat barriers, hard-sided travel carriers. The brand matters less than the fact that you're actually using one.A few other things worth knowing before a long drive:The back seat is safer than the front. Front-seat airbags can kill or seriously injure a dog, even one that's restrained. Dr. Liff and most veterinary safety guidance recommend keeping dogs in the back at all times.Feed them lighter before you go. Dr. Liff recommends feeding about 25% to 50% of a normal meal before travel. Full stomachs and motion don't mix well, especially for dogs prone to car sickness.Plan bathroom breaks every four to six hours. Longer than that and you're asking for accidents or stress.Don't skip the ID layer. Make sure your dog is microchipped, wearing a collar that actually fits, and that the tags have current contact info. "Travel opens up a new opportunity for pets to get loose or lost," Dr. Liff notes. It's the most preventable kind of trip disaster.And one more, because it bears repeating: never leave your dog in a parked car in summer, even with the windows cracked. Interior temperatures can climb above 100 degrees within 10 minutes on a 70-degree day. A "quick stop" can become a tragedy faster than most owners expect.Flying With Your Dog Is More Complicated Than Most Owners ThinkRoughly 2 million pets travel on commercial flights in the U.S. every year. That number sounds bigger than it feels until you've actually tried to fly with a dog, at which point it sounds about right.Flying is the travel mode where the most things can go wrong, mostly because there are multiple authorities involved with separate, sometimes contradictory rules. Dr. Zoul breaks it into three layers worth checking before you book anything:The airline: Every airline has its own pet policy, including whether your dog can fly in the cabin or has to go in cargo, what kind of carrier qualifies, what the weight limit is, and how far in advance you need to book the pet slot. Some flights only allow a handful of pets per cabin.The destination: Different states and countries have different entry requirements. International destinations are where this gets brutal. Some require rabies titers, deworming on a specific schedule, and exams within a narrow window before departure.The return trip: This is the one most owners forget. Coming back into the U.S. or another country can have its own paperwork requirements, especially for international travel.Miss one detail and the trip falls apart. "I was once turned away at the gate for a paperwork issue, and I can assure you, it's not fun," Dr. Liff says. If a veterinarian who travels constantly with her service dog can get caught out, the rest of us can too.The sedation question comes up almost every time someone flies with a dog. The short answer from both vets: it depends, and it's more complicated than people assume.If your dog is flying in cargo, sedation is off the table entirely. The airlines require pets to have full faculties at all times in cargo, and sedated animals are at higher risk for blood pressure problems and dehydration during the flight. Dogs flying in the cabin with their owner can sometimes be sedated, because the owner is there to monitor them, but Dr. Liff still leans toward drug-free travel when possible.Liff’s honest take, which doesn't always go over well, is that some dogs genuinely shouldn't fly. "It is not a popular opinion, but humans have the right to make the choice that air travel doesn't suit them, so I think some pets have the same aversions that can be insurmountable," she says. If your dog has a history of severe anxiety, breathing issues, or panic responses, the question worth asking isn't how to medicate them through a flight. It's whether there's another way to get where you're going.For dogs that do fly well with a little pharmaceutical help, common prescriptions include trazodone, gabapentin, and Cerenia for motion sickness. None of these should be tested for the first time at the airport. Run the dose at home well in advance to see how your dog actually responds.Buses, Trains, And Boats: The Edge Cases Worth KnowingMost public transportation in the U.S. is more restrictive about pets than people assume. Amtrak allows small dogs under 20 pounds on most routes, but only with a reservation and only on trips under seven hours. Most intercity buses (Greyhound, Megabus) don't allow pets at all, with service animals being the only exception. Local transit varies wildly by city.The rule of thumb: confirm in writing before you show up. Dr. Liff's advice is simple: Make sure your dog is welcome before you make the plan, not after.If you're traveling by public transit and your dog isn't in a carrier, bring a pad or a blanket for them to sit on. Partly for your dog's comfort, partly out of consideration for the next passenger who'd rather not sit in a pile of golden retriever fur. It's a small thing that makes the whole experience smoother.Boats and ferries are their own category. Personal boats need life jackets that actually fit. Motion sickness, while not common in dogs, is real for some, and worth a vet conversation if your dog tends to get queasy in the car. Commercial ferries usually have specific pet policies, often involving a designated area on the boat. Larger ocean crossings have stricter requirements, including vaccine documentation and sometimes cargo-only travel for the dog. Plan that one well in advance.What To Actually Pack For A Trip With Your DogThe packing list for a dog is shorter than most owners think. The trick is being intentional about a handful of things rather than overpacking everything.Here's what both vets agree should make the trip.Vaccine records and a health certificateEven for domestic travel, having your dog's vaccination history accessible is nonnegotiable. For air travel, hotels, dog-friendly venues, and some state borders, a current health certificate from your vet is often required.A first aid kitBasic supplies (gauze, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, a pet-safe wound cleaner, etc.) cover most minor scrapes. If your dog takes medication, bring more than you think you'll need. Dr. Liff specifically recommends packing enough medication to cover the entire trip plus any delays. A flight cancellation that strands you for two days shouldn't also mean your dog goes without their heart medication.Their normal foodThis one's bigger than it sounds. Switching foods abruptly while traveling is one of the most common causes of dog stomach issues on the road. Bring what they normally eat, in the amounts they normally eat.Updated IDBring a microchipped collar that actually fits and has tags with a current phone number. Dr. Liff calls this one of the most overlooked travel essentials: "Travel opens up a new opportunity for pets to get loose or lost." A dog who slips out of an unfamiliar Airbnb yard is a lot easier to recover when the tag has a working phone number on it.The emergency vet planLook up the nearest 24-hour veterinary emergency clinic at your destination before you leave. Save the address and number in your phone. You almost certainly won't need it, but if you do, you'll need it fast.A familiar item from homeA favorite blanket, a chewed-up toy, the bed they sleep in. Dogs orient through smell more than anything else, and the scent of home in an unfamiliar place reduces stress significantly. This is also why so many boarding facilities ask owners to bring something that smells like them when leaving a dog behind.The thing most owners overpack is toys and treats. The thing most owners underpack is documentation, medication, and anything related to ID. Adjust accordingly.A Few Things Vets Wish More Owners Knew About Traveling With A DogSome of the most useful travel advice doesn't fit neatly into a category. Here's the assorted stuff worth knowing before the next trip.Never walk your dog onto an escalatorThis one comes straight from Dr. Liff, who practices in New York City and sees enough escalator accidents to make it her top safety message. Paws get caught in the moving treads. Injuries can be severe. Carry small dogs or take the stairs. Worth knowing in any city with subway escalators or busy airports.Avoid the head-out-the-window thingIt looks adorable, and it's genuinely risky. Debris, bugs, and rocks kicked up by other cars can cause real eye injuries, and the high-speed wind can damage the soft tissue inside a dog's ears. Cracking the back window a few inches for airflow is fine. Letting them lean their whole head out is not.Heat is the silent killer of summer travelHot pavement burns paw pads, hot car interiors climb to lethal temperatures within minutes, and dogs with short muzzles (bulldogs, pugs, boxers) have a much harder time regulating their body temperature in heat. If you can't comfortably hold your hand on the asphalt for seven seconds, it's too hot for your dog to walk on. Plan walks for early morning or evening during a heat wave.Motion sickness is more common in puppies and young dogsMost dogs grow out of it, but if your dog tends to drool excessively, yawn repeatedly, or get sick in the car, that's worth a vet conversation. Dr. Liff and Dr. Zoul both reference Cerenia as the prescription anti-nausea option of choice, with over-the-counter options like Dramamine or Benadryl in lighter cases. Don't do anything without checking with your vet first.Some dogs really don't enjoy traveling, and that's okayThis is Dr. Liff's most honest take, and it's worth taking seriously. If your dog gets visibly panicked at the airport, shakes uncontrollably in the car, or refuses to eat for days after a flight, the answer isn't a stronger sedative. It's reconsidering whether the trip is worth what it costs them. A trusted pet sitter or boarding facility is sometimes the more loving option.A Better Summer With Your DogThe relationship between Americans and their dogs has gotten more travel integrated over the last decade. More road trips with the dog in the back seat. More plane rides. More dog-friendly hotels may be filling up months in advance. Travel used to be the thing you did after you found someone to watch the dog. Now the dog is part of the trip.That shift is worth honoring with a little preparation. The vets quoted throughout see the same patterns over and over: owners who do the prep work weeks in advance have smoother trips. Owners who restrain their dogs in the car avoid the worst outcomes. Owners who plan around their dog's actual personality, rather than the dog they wish they had, end up with a better summer for everyone involved.One small piece of that prep is keeping your dog's diet consistent on the road. Whatever you feed, the principle is the same: The fewer things you change about your dog's routine on a trip, the more energy they have left for actually enjoying it.So pack the harness, double-check the paperwork, and don't forget the leash. Your dog probably won't remember whether the road trip itself was perfect. But they'll remember they got to come.This story was produced by Spot & Tango and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The rising cost of slip and fall claims for US businesses The rising cost of slip and fall claims for U.S. businessesSlips and falls are a regular occurrence for customer-facing businesses. A customer might slip on a wet floor in a restaurant, or someone could fall at a trampoline park. Visitors can also trip and fall in retail stores, hotels or gyms. The fall might only last a few seconds, but the claim following it can arrive weeks, months or in some cases, years later, often resulting in significant costs for the business.Slip-and-fall claims have long been a risk for customer-facing businesses. Liability data shows that general liability claims are becoming more expensive to resolve, while restaurant sector data indicates that slips, trips, and falls account for a large share of losses.For businesses, this creates a growing risk management challenge. It’s no longer a matter of whether an incident happened, but whether the business has the evidence, records, and processes in place to understand what happened when a claim is made.Below, Videoloft explains what businesses need to know about managing these risks and rising costs.General liability claims are becoming more expensiveSlip-and-fall incidents are usually covered by a business's commercial general liability or premises liability insurance. This is the part of business insurance that responds when a customer claims bodily injury arising from a business’s premises or operations.In recent years, data has shown that claim severity is increasing. Verisk’s 2025 general liability analysis reports that annual severity increased by 45%, from $70,000 in 2020 to $101,000 in 2024. The analysis also found that the average premium change per policy increased by 8.5% in 2024, after a 7% increase in 2023. Bodily injury claims primarily drove these losses due to their high severity.That’s important for customer-facing businesses because slip-and-fall incidents are classed as bodily injury events and higher claim severity can affect businesses through legal costs and increased premiums.Restaurants are seeing more pressure from slips, trips and fallsThis is even more relevant for restaurants where wet floors, busy entrances, spills and high foot traffic can all increase risk.Marsh’s 2024 Restaurant Loss Cost Trends report found that the portion of losses from claims involving slips, trips, and falls is increasing. Marsh also reported that these claims are significantly more severe than other claim types.That makes slips, trips, and falls more than an inconvenience. They can affect loss history, insurance premiums, internal safety procedures, and the amount of time managers spend dealing with claims.Insurance Journal, citing NEXT Insurance data from 2021 to 2024, also identified slip and fall among the most expensive restaurant claim categories, alongside fire, assault and battery, and water damage.For restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, gyms, and trampoline parks, the problem is even more acute. These are environments where customers move through shared public spaces, often around food, drink, equipment or high-activity areas. Even with good safety procedures in place, incidents can still happen. When they do, the business needs to be able to quickly piece together the facts.Claims can arrive long after the incidentTiming is one of the biggest challenges businesses face when handling slip-and-fall claims.The deadline for filing a premises liability lawsuit typically varies by state. LawInfo’s state-by-state premises liability guide says limitation periods usually range from one to six years, depending on the state and circumstances. That means a business may hear about an alleged slip-and-fall incident long after it happened. By then, staff might have changed, witnesses might be hard to identify, and CCTV footage may have been overwritten.This timing issue, therefore, creates an evidence gap. A business might have had all the information needed to verify the incident when it happened, but not kept it long enough to be used when the claim arrives. When evidence is missing, businesses and insurers have to rely on incomplete information, making it harder to determine whether a hazard existed, whether staff knew about it and whether reasonable steps were taken to prevent it.In a restaurant slip and fall claim, relevant evidence might include things like cleaning logs, staff statements, CCTV footage, floor condition and previous complaints or incidents. No single piece of evidence proves everything, but together these records help insurers assess liability and they can also help distinguish genuine claims from fraudulent ones.This is where video footage can be useful. Nationwide’s guidance for food-service facilities says security cameras can help verify the legitimacy of claims, protect against fraudulent lawsuits, and ensure genuine incidents are addressed. However, if video is being recorded, it needs to be retained long enough to support an investigation.Long-term storage might support better insurance outcomesInsurance pricing depends on many factors. The Hartford says insurers look at many different factors when pricing insurance premiums for businesses, including industry, business size, number of employees, location, and claims history. It also notes that implementing risk management practices can help businesses reduce insurance costs.This is where longer-term CCTV storage might help. If businesses have CCTV footage readily available, they may be able to investigate incidents quickly, provide clearer evidence to insurers, and challenge questionable claims more effectively, which could then reduce losses over time. A stronger claims history and managing risk better could then support a better position at renewal.Do insurers require longer CCTV retention?There is not a single standard rule requiring all businesses to retain CCTV footage for a specific period of time for general liability purposes. Requirements vary by insurer, policy, industry, and risk profile.However, insurers do treat cameras and evidence capture as part of risk management. Nationwide’s guidance for both food-service and retail businesses explicitly connects security cameras with claim verification and protection against fraudulent lawsuits.For higher-risk public venues — such as restaurants, bars, trampoline parks, gyms, leisure facilities, hotels, and large retail sites — it’s worth asking the insurer whether the policy includes expectations around camera coverage, retention periods, incident reporting, or evidence preservation.Businesses should also document their own retention policy. A camera system is less useful if managers do not know how long footage is stored, who can access it, how footage is exported, or what process applies after an incident.What business should do nowThe rising cost of customer injury claims does not mean every business needs to overhaul their entire security processes. But it does mean they should review whether their current processes are fit for the claims environment in which they operate.As liability claims become more expensive and restaurant-sector data shows slips, trips, and falls taking a larger share of losses, businesses need to think beyond prevention alone. They also need to think about proof.When a claim arrives months after an incident, the business that can produce clear records, preserved CCTV footage, inspection logs, and a consistent response process is in a stronger position than one relying on memory and incomplete paperwork.This story was produced by Videoloft and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'Big Boy 4014' steam locomotive coming to Sterling Sterling is welcoming the world’s largest and most powerful operating steam locomotive as it makes a stop on its latest tour. “Big Boy 4014” will stop in Sterling at the Avenue B railroad crossing on June 2 at about 1:30 p.m., near the Sterling Farmers Market. The locomotive and train will stop for about 30 [...]
	Phoebe Bridgers to play pop-up concert in Davenport The box office opens at noon and tickets be be sold as first come, first served.
	The ultimate guide to pet food safety The ultimate guide to pet food safetyKeeping up with pet safety can feel a bit overwhelming. Between scrolling through updates on dog food recalls and trying to decipher complex ingredient labels, navigating the world of pet food safety is a lot. You want to provide the absolute best care for your pup, ensuring that their diet contributes to their well-being rather than putting it at risk.In this guide, Ollie breaks down the latest pet nutrition news, decodes exactly how dog food is made safely, and explores what human-grade standards actually mean.What is Pet Food Safety?Pet food safety refers to the entire process of ensuring dog food is free from harmful pathogens (like salmonella and listeria), environmental contaminants (mycotoxins and heavy metals), and foreign materials. It involves rigorous testing, supplier verification, controlled manufacturing processes, and proper cold chain management, from the farm to your dog’s bowl.The key difference? Human-grade pet food, manufactured to FDA human food standards, is held to significantly higher safety standards than traditional feed-grade pet food, which is regulated under less stringent animal feed standards.Making Sense of Pet Safety News and RecallsIf you casually browse pet nutrition news, you’ve likely seen headlines about dog food recalls. It’s natural to want to know what to look for and what actually matters. Often, these recalls happen when regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the manufacturers themselves discover that a batch of animal food has been compromised. But what exactly are they looking for?Recalls typically stem from a few major risk categories:Pathogens: Harmful bacteria like Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli are the most common culprits. The FDA maintains a strict zero tolerance policy for these specific pathogens in pet food. Salmonella can cause severe illness, listeria is particularly dangerous for puppies, pregnant dogs, seniors, and immunocompromised dogs, and specific strains of E. coli (like O157:H7) can lead to serious health complications.Contaminants: Beyond bacteria, safety checks monitor for environmental contaminants. This includes mycotoxins (toxic compounds produced by molds on grains), heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and foreign physical materials like stray plastic or metal from manufacturing equipment.Nutritional Imbalances: Sometimes, dry pet food is recalled because it contains too much or too little of a vital nutrient, such as excess vitamin D.Staying informed about pet safety doesn’t mean you have to live in a state of constant worry. The fact that recalls happen means that safety monitoring systems are actually working. However, the frequency of these issues in traditional feed-grade pet food has driven many dog parents to look for a fresher, more reliable way forward.Decoding the Standards: Human-Grade vs. Feed-GradeWhen you are trying to understand how to ensure your dog is eating a safe diet, you inevitably run into the terms “feed-grade” and “human-grade.” The difference between these two categories isn’t just marketing fluff; it is a regulatory divide that dictates exactly how the food is sourced, handled, and processed.Feed-Grade Pet FoodTraditional feed-grade pet food is regulated under 21 CFR Part 507 (Good Manufacturing Practices for Animal Food). While this standard ensures the food is safe for animals, the ingredients are not necessarily edible for humans. Feed-grade diets can legally include animal by-products, rendered meals, and parts of animals that have been deemed unsafe for human consumption. Furthermore, the facilities that produce feed-grade food have less stringent design requirements and can manufacture animal feed for multiple species simultaneously, which can increase the risk of cross-contamination.Human-Grade Pet FoodHuman-grade pet food operates on an entirely different level. To claim human-grade status, a manufacturer must meet the stringent requirements of 21 CFR Part 117 (Good Manufacturing Practices for Human Food) plus the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Human Grade standards.What does this mean for your dog? It means 100% human-edible ingredients sourced directly from the human food supply chain. It means USDA-inspected meat, with no by-products or rendered meals. The facilities themselves require dual licensing, strict separation of raw and cooked areas, advanced ventilation, and rigorous employee hygiene protocols, such as hair coverings, gloves, and strict handwashing stations.Safe Handling of Fresh Food at Home: Treating Their Food Like Your FoodFood safety doesn’t stop at your front door. Because human-grade fresh dog food is made from the same quality ingredients you keep in your own refrigerator, it needs to be treated with the same level of care.Here are the best practices for handling fresh dog food safely at home:Mind the Thaw: Always thaw frozen dog food in the refrigerator, never out on the kitchen counter at room temperature. Leaving fresh food at room temperature allows bacteria to multiply rapidly.The Fridge Life: Once a pack of fresh food is fully thawed in the fridge, it should be consumed within four days. If your pup is a slow eater or you have a tiny breed, keep the rest safely stashed in the freezer until you need it.Prevent Cross-Contamination: Just like when you are prepping chicken for your own dinner, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling pet food. Keep your dog’s food scoops and storage containers strictly separate from your human utensils.Wash the Bowl: Your dog may lick the bowl clean, but you still need to wash it. Dog bowls are notorious breeding grounds for bacteria. Wash their bowl with hot, soapy water after every single meal to prevent the buildup of biofilms that can cause digestive upset.Decoding the Standards: Common Concerns AddressedIsn’t all pet food regulated and safe?Not all to the same standard. Traditional feed-grade pet food is regulated under 21 CFR 507 (animal feed standards), which are significantly less stringent than human food standards (21 CFR 117). Here’s what that means in practice.Feed-grade facilities can produce animal feed for multiple species simultaneously (pets, poultry, cattle), which increases cross-contamination risks. They can legally include by-products and rendered meals—parts of animals deemed unsafe for human consumption. And their facility design, employee hygiene protocols, and testing requirements are less rigorous.Human-grade facilities must meet the stricter human food standards. They can only handle ingredients from the USDA-inspected human food supply chain. In short: Human-grade manufacturing means your dog’s food is held to the same safety standards as your food.How often is pet food actually tested for pathogens?It depends on the manufacturer. The FDA doesn’t mandate specific testing frequencies; it’s up to manufacturers to determine risk-based testing plans. Many manufacturers test finished products on a skip-lot basis or only when safety concerns arise (reactive testing).Some manufacturers test every batch, every day, before any product is shipped. This proactive approach catches contamination before it can reach a dog’s home.What makes fresh food safer than kibble?Fresh food is frozen immediately after gentle cooking, which halts bacterial growth. The low-temperature cooking process (160-190 degrees F vs. kibble’s 300-plus degrees F) is validated to kill pathogens while maintaining nutritional integrity. Kibble’s extreme heat and long shelf-life (12-18 months at room temperature) create different safety challenges. Both can be safe when manufactured correctly, but fresh food’s cold chain is a powerful control mechanism for pathogen prevention—and it does that without relying on artificial preservatives.This story was produced by Ollie and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	50 web design FAQs to help your business succeed in 2026 50 web design FAQs to help your business succeed in 2026Web design refers to how a website looks, works, and guides users toward action. It includes layout, navigation, mobile responsiveness, UX, accessibility, and performance.WebFX compiled the following web design FAQs for that reason.Below are 50 common web design questions, divided into the following categories.Web design definition and basicsThis first section covers the most intro-level, foundational questions about web design, including its definition. These web design FAQs are perfect for businesses just getting started with building their website, or for those trying to understand the value it offers.1. What is web design?Web design is the process of building and optimizing the look and layout of a website. It incorporates both visual and functional elements, from making use of white space to improving page load speeds. Businesses use web design in conjunction with other marketing strategies to help drive revenue.2. What’s the difference between web design and web development?Web design and web development often get confused, but they’re different terms. Where web design refers to optimizing the layout of a website and improving the user experience, web development refers to more backend tasks like programming and coding. In short, web design covers the parts of the website users see, and web development covers the parts they don’t see.That said, people often use “web design” as a catchall term for all elements of building and creating a website. That’s why when you hear people talk about web design as a marketing strategy, they often mention things like page speed optimization and site security alongside things like graphic design.3. What does a web designer do?A web designer is responsible for designing the layout and appearance of pages on a website. That includes tasks like:Structuring site navigationCreating compelling visual page designsMaintaining consistency with site styles and brandingUpdating and redesigning pages over timeEssentially, web designers do all the things that go into making websites look the way they do when users visit them.4. Why is web design important for businesses?Web design is an essential tool for businesses because your website is at the center of your digital presence. Strategies like search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing are meaningless if you don’t have a website for those strategies to direct users to, or if that website is so poorly optimized that it drives those users away.In fact, 83% of online users in a 2026 Clutch survey of 600 people say they appreciate it when a website looks attractive and up to date, so optimizing those aspects of your site is a way to encourage more traffic retention. By optimizing your web design, you ensure that your site is functional, navigable, and appealing to users. That produces the following benefits:Better rankings in search enginesHigher website trafficGreater traffic retentionMore leads and conversionsUltimately, all of those things lead to more revenue for your company, making web design vital to your success.5. Which businesses need web design?Virtually all businesses need web design. In today’s digital world, having a website isn’t optional — it’s essential. That’s true whether you operate a restaurant, a pest control company, a clothing brand, or anything in between. But your website won’t benefit you if it’s poorly optimized and doesn’t appear in search results, which is why it’s crucial to optimize it based on core web design practices.6. How do I justify the return on investment (ROI) of web design?If you’re struggling to justify the cost of web design to skeptical executives, you can tie it directly to conversions and revenue. A well-designed site builds trust, improves the user experience, and makes it easy for visitors to convert. Even small lifts in conversion rate can translate into big jumps in revenue.When you’re talking to executives, focus on three angles:Conversion rate: Show how a redesign could raise your conversion rate from (for instance) 1% to 2%, effectively doubling the leads or sales you get from the same traffic.Revenue per visitor: Tie design changes to higher revenue per visit — for example, more completed quote forms or higher average order values.Lead quality: Explain how clearer messaging and a better UX attract more qualified leads, not just more traffic.You can also benchmark your site against competitors. Look at how quickly their pages load, how easy it is to find key information, and how prominently their calls to action appear. If their sleek, easy-to-use sites are leaving you in the dust when it comes to rankings and conversions, you can use that gap to make the case that an updated design will help your business win back those clicks and conversions.Elements of web designThis section covers questions related to the most essential elements of web design, from site speed to performance analytics. When you’re creating a website, these are among the most important questions to get the answers to.7. What are the most important elements of web design?If you’re trying to figure out which elements of web design to prioritize, these are the most important ones to consider:Mobile-friendly site designTransparent value offering and conversion routesKey SEO practices like meta tags, heading hierarchy, and schema markupUser-friendly navigation layoutYou can hold off on most other elements of web design until these are taken care of.8. Why is website speed important?Website speed has a huge impact on the performance of your site. First of all, if your site takes too long to load, users won’t want to stick around. They’ll hit the “back” button and visit another site instead.Equally as important, though, is the fact that a slow-loading site will perform badly in search results. One of the biggest ranking factors in Google is Core Web Vitals, which are metrics relating to the way pages load. If your site performs poorly in relation to those metrics, it won’t rank, so most users won’t find it to begin with.9. What security features should a website include?The first and most foundational security feature that any website should have is HTTPS. You may have noticed that most website URLs start with “http” or “https.” HTTP is the standard protocol used to load webpages, but HTTPS is the encrypted version. It keeps your website safe from attempts to steal user data. That means users can visit your site safely.Not only is this important for getting users to trust your site, but it’s also important for ranking in Google, where non-HTTPS sites are ranked lower and marked as unsafe.In addition to HTTPS, you can also use additional encryption services. And if your site features an online store, you should be sure to get some website security plugins (like Sucuri) that protect users’ financial information when making purchases.10. How do I measure the success of my web design?Defining success in the context of web design is highly subjective, so to some degree, it’s going to depend on the specific goals and audience of your company. Having said that, some common ways of measuring website success include the following metrics.Search engine rankings: Is your site ranking well in search engines like Google?Website traffic: How many visitors is your site earning?Average session duration: How much time are users spending on your site?Conversion rate: How many site visitors end up converting?Even if you aren’t defining success based solely on these metrics, they’re definitely important to monitor and analyze when considering your website’s performance.11. What are the biggest mistakes in designing a website?There are a lot of different mistakes you can make when designing a website, but here are some of the most common ones:Not optimizing for mobileFailing to use HTTPSNeglecting page load speedsCreating a confusing navigation setupNot maintaining the site after launchAdditionally, you should try to avoid having too many cooks in the kitchen when creating a website design. That can compromise the quality of your site due to clashes between the multiple, competing viewpoints for how it should look.Those are some of the biggest mistakes to watch out for, but there are plenty of others as well, which is why it’s important to spend time learning the best web design tactics before you start building or reoptimizing a website.Web design process and preparationThe process of building a website can seem very convoluted, and in many ways it is. But with these web design answers, you can hopefully get a better grasp on what to expect from it. The FAQs below deal with some of the elements that go into creating a website for the first time.12. How long does it take to design a website?There’s really no reliable way to measure how long a website design will take to complete. That’s because everything depends on the specifics of what you’re doing. Here are just a few questions that impact the length of the process:Are you building a site from the ground up, or redesigning an existing one?Are you using templates or designing your site layout yourself?How many pages will be on your website?Will you have an online store on your site?Will your site feature custom graphics or videos?Depending on the answers to those questions, the process of designing a website can take anywhere from a few days to several months.13. How do designers test websites before launch?There are several ways designers can test the performance of their websites before those sites go live. Some of the methods they’ll commonly use include:Audience surveys and focus groupsHTML and CSS validationLive testing on different browsers and devicesAccessibility testing (with a tool like Insytful)Manual proofreading of all contentOf course, no matter how much testing you do beforehand, you’ll likely still have things to fix or trim up after the site launches, so be prepared for that.14. What is A/B testing in web design?A/B testing refers to the process of creating two versions of a particular website element and testing them by showing each version to a different group of users to determine which performs better.For example, say you’re creating a CTA button for your homepage, but you have a couple of different ideas for what the button should say. To determine which one is better, you can run an A/B test, where half the users who visit your homepage see one version and the other half see the other version. If you see way more clicks come from Version A, you know that’s the version you should go with.15. How do I perform competitive analysis for web design?Competitive analysis is important for seeing what other businesses in your industry are doing with their web design so you can outperform them. Here’s a simple way to approach competitive analysis for web design.Start with actions and results: Analyze the overall user experience on your competitors’ sites, looking at things like CTA placement and navigation setup.Dig deeper with tools: Use specialized competitor analysis tools to analyze specific aspects of a competitor’s site (like using SpyFu to assess their website’s SEO).Find the gaps: Look for opportunities your competitors are missing, like poor mobile UX or missing content around your audience’s biggest pain points.As a side note, one thing you’ll often hear is that you should perform competitive analysis by looking for attractive competitor sites and then mimicking what they’re doing. But this is a bad idea.When you imitate the look of competitor websites, you’re only focusing on aesthetics. True competitor analysis should look at strategy — why certain visual designs are successful for your competitors (if they’re really successful at all). Keep that in mind as you analyze your competitors’ websites.Web design costs and budgetingAs with nearly every type of marketing, one of the biggest questions on your mind (or your company executives’ minds) might be “So, how much is this gonna cost, anyway?” And that’s for good reason — you need to know how to budget, after all. Fortunately, the answers to these web design questions will help you get some clarity on that subject.16. How much does web design cost?On average, web design costs between $1,000 and $30,000, with most companies paying between $500 and $5,000 per year. For businesses with particularly large or complex websites, though, that price can get even higher, with some businesses spending as much as $100,000 on their web design.Of course, those numbers form such a broad range that you may not find it super helpful. But the reason for that breadth is that web design is impacted by so many different factors that contribute to the overall cost. Consequently, one company could spend $2,000 on their website while another spends $50,000, simply because they have different approaches to their web design.That said, here’s a breakdown of some more specific web design cost ranges:Website size ($1,000–$10,000)Copywriting ($60–$300 per page)Style ($2,000–$15,000)SEO ($2,000–$10,000)Responsive design ($3,000–$25,000)E-commerce functionality ($5,000–$25,000)Database integration ($2,000–$25,000)17. What factors affect the cost of web design?The exact cost of web design depends on a variety of factors, including:Website size: How many pages will your website have?Web design experience: How much web design experience do you have?Customization level: Will you be using existing templates, or coding everything from scratch?Website features: How heavily will your website feature multimedia or interactive elements?Agency expenses: Are you partnering with an agency for your web design? What is their pricing?As you can imagine, you can end up with very different web design costs depending on how you answer each of those questions.18. Is it cheaper to redesign an existing site or build a new one?The answer to this question depends heavily on the extent of your proposed redesign. If the foundation of your site is staying the same, and your redesign is focusing more on things like your visual branding, a redesign is almost certainly cheaper and easier than building a whole new website.On the other hand, if you’re reworking your entire website structure, or if you’re trying to expand your site in a way your current website platform doesn’t support, building a new site could honestly be better and cheaper.But affordability isn’t the only factor here. When you build a whole new website, you’re starting from scratch with your SEO, which is not something you want to do unless you absolutely have to. That means you shouldn’t build a whole new site without very good reason.19. Are there ongoing costs after a website is built?Yes. Web design doesn’t end when a site goes live — you have to regularly update and maintain it, and that comes with expenses. Those expenses include:SEO maintenance costsContent creationWeb hostingPlugin subscriptionsThe specifics depend on your company’s unique web design approach, but the factors listed above are among the most common contributors to ongoing website costs.CMS and website platformsYour website doesn’t appear out of thin air. It takes work to build it, and for many businesses, that work goes more easily with the help of a content management system (CMS) or other site-building tool. If you’re trying to navigate the different tools available out there and find which one is right for you, these FAQs should help.20. What is a content management system (CMS)?A content management system (CMS) is a type of software application that allows you to create and publish website pages and online content. Many businesses use a CMS to build and maintain their website, and that’s something worth considering for your own site, too. Some of the most widely used CMS platforms include WordPress, Magento, and Wix.21. Which CMS should I use for my website?There’s no one CMS that every business should use. You’ll have to evaluate your options and decide for yourself which CMS is right for you. That said, some of the most common options include:WordPressMagentoWixJoomlaOf these, WordPress is by far the most popular, with 43% of all websites using it.22. Is WordPress a good CMS for web design?WordPress is definitely a good CMS for many businesses. Some of its notable features include:Intuitive interface: You don’t have to have in-depth coding knowledge to use it.High versatility: You can use WordPress for blogs, e-commerce, and more.Plugins: There are tons of helpful plugins designed specifically for WordPress.Cost-effectiveness: WordPress is free to use, so it’s great for your budget.All of these aspects of the platform contribute to its high popularity, and they’re why it might also be a good option for your business.23. Can designers work with my existing CMS?Yes, almost certainly. Just about any web designer will be able and willing to work with whatever CMS you’re currently using — their expertise isn’t limited to a specific platform. That means whether you use WordPress, Wix, Joomla, or something else entirely, a web design agency can handle your existing website.24. Should I custom-build my website or use a template?Only you can decide if a custom-built site or a template is the right choice for you. Having said that, it’s almost always better to custom-build your site if you have the means. That’s because you want your website to stand out from your competitors so that your brand will stick in users’ minds.With a template, your site will just blend in with all the others out there. A custom-built site allows you to do something more unique.25. Do I need coding knowledge to manage my website?It depends. If you’re using a user-friendly CMS or other website platform, you don’t necessarily need any coding knowledge. But if your site is custom-built from the ground up — or if you want to apply a high level of customization to your CMS-built website — coding knowledge is good to have, and sometimes essential. You’ll need to take that into account when deciding how to build your site.UX and UI designTwo key components of web design are user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). These components are explored in the following sections.26. What is UX design?UX design refers to the process of optimizing a website’s technical layout to make things as functional and seamless as possible for users. Some of the most important UX optimizations include:Visual hierarchy (headings, font sizes, and spacing)Intuitive navigation setupMobile-friendlinessPage speed optimizationThese elements help ensure a smooth user experience.27. What is UI design?UI design refers to the process of optimizing the visual appeal of a website to make it aesthetically pleasing for users. It’s very similar to UX, and the two often go hand in hand. Some common optimizations of UI design include:Color schemesWhite spaceBrandingAlignment of page elementsUI design aims to enhance the visual appeal of a website. Visually unappealing sites may cause users to leave quickly.28. What’s the difference between UX and UI design?UX and UI design are related, but they’re not the same thing. The difference comes down to focus.UX focuses on the functional side of your website — making sure everything runs smoothly, is free of technical issues, and is easy to use. UI, meanwhile, focuses on the aesthetic side of your website — making sure everything looks good on a purely visual level. A successful website will optimize for both of these areas.29. Why is UX important for websites?The reason UX design is so essential is that it plays a huge role in the amount of traffic and conversions your site generates. When your UX is poorly optimized, not only will Google not rank your site as well, but even what traffic you do get will be driven away by frustration over your slow load times or confusing navigation.A good user experience, on the other hand, ensures that your site ranks well, pulls in a lot of traffic, and drives that traffic to stick around long enough to convert.30. How do designers improve UX design on a website?There are several ways to improve the UX design of your website, including:Optimizing your page load speedsMaking your site mobile-friendlyCreating an intuitive navigation setupUsing a clear visual hierarchyEnsuring all links and buttons work correctlyThese are standard practices for website optimization.Website accessibilityAccessibility is an important component of modern web design. The following FAQs address website accessibility.31. What is website accessibility?Website accessibility refers to the practice of making websites accessible to all users. In particular, that means optimizing your website to make it available to and usable by people with disabilities, such as those who use screen readers to read text content.32. Why is accessible web design important?There are two big reasons why accessibility is important to web design. Firstly, if your website isn’t accessible, there will be some potential leads who won’t be able to use it. Those leads would have become clients if they could use your site, but since they can’t, they don’t. Needless to say, that hurts revenue.More importantly, though, a certain level of website accessibility is required by law — specifically, by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States. The ADA requires accessible digital experiences, and the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely used standard for demonstrating compliance in the U.S. Following these guidelines helps ensure legal compliance.33. How do designers make websites accessible?There are many ways to make your website more accessible. Some of the most common steps web designers take include the following:Adding alt text to all imagesWriting transcripts for all audio and video contentAdding captions to videosUsing a clear heading hierarchy for text contentCreating a logical navigation setup with an HTML sitemapMobile website optimizationGiven how many people use the Internet on their phones in today’s world, it should go without saying that mobile optimization is important for your website. But why, specifically? And how do you go about optimizing a site for mobile? Well, that’s exactly what this next section covers with these web design answers.34. Why is mobile-friendly web design important?Mobile-friendliness is one of the most important optimizations for your website. That’s the case for two reasons. Firstly, the majority of website traffic comes from mobile devices — over 62% of all traffic worldwide, in fact. To take advantage of that traffic, your site needs to be optimized for mobile devices.The second reason mobile optimization is so crucial is that Google doesn’t rank websites that don’t have mobile versions. That means that in order to appear in search results at all, you need to have a mobile-friendly website.35. What happens if my website isn’t mobile-friendly?If you don’t have a mobile-friendly website, your website likely won’t appear in Google rankings. That means your entire SEO strategy will be pretty much dead in the water, and almost no one will visit your website, so it won’t benefit you at all. Furthermore, even among what little traffic you do get, anyone visiting your site on mobile — which will be most of them — won’t stick around long, since your site won’t load properly on their devices.In short, a site that isn’t optimized for mobile will fail to drive rankings, traffic, leads, or conversions.36. What’s the difference between mobile-friendly and mobile-first design?A mobile-friendly website is one that’s optimized to be viewable on mobile devices. However, even on a mobile-friendly site, mobile users could still be an afterthought. The mobile optimization might meet a bare minimum threshold, while still remaining mainly optimized for desktop users.Mobile-first optimization, however, refers to building your website primarily around mobile users. Since the majority of traffic comes from mobile devices, this is the optimal approach to take. Designing with mobile users in mind from the start is often the preferred approach.With mobile-first optimization, you take a website designed for mobile devices and expand it to desktop. That’s a lot easier than the traditional approach of taking a website designed for desktop and trying to condense everything to a mobile screen where it might not fit.37. Will my website look the same on all screens?No. Different screens come in different shapes and sizes, so your website page elements will need to be resized and repositioned to fit. Here’s an example of how a page looks on desktop compared to mobile: WebFX WebFX If you try to display the desktop version of a site on a mobile screen, text becomes tiny, buttons are hard to tap, and users need to pinch and zoom to read basic information. That’s why it’s important to create different versions of your site that display on different screens. The easiest way to do this is with responsive design.38. What is responsive web design?Responsive design is a type of web design that automatically rearranges page elements on your website to fit the screen where they appear. That means a responsive website will display pages one way on a desktop screen, but another on a mobile phone screen.Responsive design is the simplest and most straightforward way to make your site mobile-friendly, because it’s a lot easier than manually building a completely different website for each screen size.Web design impact on other strategiesThis next group of web design questions focuses on the way it impacts other areas of marketing. After all, web design doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it works together with other strategies to form your overall digital marketing presence. Here’s some more info about how that works.39. How does web design affect SEO?Web design has a huge impact on SEO. In fact, there’s a lot of overlap between the two. That’s because search engine ranking algorithms tend to reward sites that feature a positive user experience, which means optimizing for those algorithms involves a lot of the same steps as optimizing for good web design.Some aspects of web design that also affect SEO include:Mobile optimizationPage speed optimizationClear visual hierarchyIntuitive navigation layoutUsing HTTPS40. How does web design affect lead generation?Just as web design has a big impact on SEO, it also has a big impact on lead generation. That’s because the whole point of a well-optimized website is to drive leads and conversions. Earning rankings and traffic are just the first steps toward that goal. So, web design that doesn’t drive leads isn’t good web design.Consequently, every aspect of web design — from responsive design to HTTPS — serves to boost your lead generation efforts.41. How does web design affect trust and credibility?Web design plays a pretty big role in the overall credibility of your brand. If your website is poorly optimized, people will trust it far less.That makes sense when you think about it. If you visit a company’s physical location and find that it’s a dilapidated old building that no one’s bothered to maintain, you’ll immediately hear the warning bell go off in your head, and you’ll probably go elsewhere. It’s the same with a website.If you want users to trust your content and offerings, you need your website to be well-optimized so they can have a positive experience using it.42. What role does branding play in web design?Branding is a big part of any good web design strategy. One aspect of web design involves optimizing the visual look of your site, and branding plays a major role in that. The color scheme you choose, the font you use for your content, the way you align your page elements — all of those things communicate a particular brand.Do you want to present your business as prestigious? Laid-back? Professional? Fun? Whichever it is, the design of your website is a crucial way of communicating that. If you want to seem professional but your web design screams “silly,” it’ll be very off-putting to your target audience. A site that communicates your brand, on the other hand, helps it stick in users’ minds.Website maintenance and updatesWeb design doesn’t end when your website first launches. Continual maintenance is needed to keep it up to date, and these FAQs will help you see why that is and how to approach it.43. What is website maintenance?Website maintenance is the process of continuously updating, fixing, and adding to your website over time. It includes tasks such as:Updating old contentRedesigning graphicsFixing technical issuesImproving SEOMaintaining your website is a key part of web design. Without it, your site will eventually become outdated, making it far less effective at driving traffic and leads.44. How often should a website be updated?The frequency of your website updates is up to you, and it depends on the specific details of your site. Some sites may not require as many updates as others. But most websites will need a significant refresh every three to five years, at least.This question is difficult to answer because companies don’t really update websites on a set schedule. They update when they see things that need to be fixed or when they feel that their site has grown outdated in some way. That means you’ll need to keep an eye on your website and make updates when you determine they’re needed.Having said that, many websites benefit from following a loose schedule similar to this one:Monthly: Review analytics, fix bugs, and address obvious UX issues.Quarterly or annually: Refresh key pages, update outdated stats, and test new UX tweaks.Every three to five years: Consider a broader redesign if your branding, tech, or UX feels behind the curve.45. What is the difference between a website update vs a website redesign?To some extent, the difference between an update and a redesign is a matter of semantics. You’ll often hear the terms used interchangeably. That said, one might define a website update as a smaller change — like fixing a technical issue or refreshing a piece of content — while a redesign could be defined as a large change that affects the whole layout and/or appearance of the website.Web design services and agenciesThis final set of FAQs about web design looks at the role played by web design agencies. Should you partner with a professional agency for help building or optimizing your website? If so, how should you choose one? Get the answers to those questions below.46. What does a web design agency do?A web design agency is a company that helps other businesses design their websites. These agencies offer help with everything from setting up your domain to optimizing your UX.You don’t have to take advantage of every service a web design agency offers, although sometimes you may want to. At the very least, you may want to hire an agency as a web design consultant.47. When should I hire a web design agency?There are many situations where your business would benefit from partnering with a professional agency. Some of the most common situations where you might need an agency include:You don’t have time to build or optimize your websiteYou don’t know how to build or reoptimize your site effectivelyYou aren’t sure what your website should look likeYour web design optimizations aren’t driving resultsShould you find yourself in one or more of those situations, an agency partnership is well worth considering.48. What’s included in professional web design services?In most cases, professional web design services will include the following:Website domain setupWebsite page creationNavigation setupContent creationMobile-friendly optimizationPage speed optimizationA good web design agency can help you with just about any aspect of designing your website.49. How do web design services differ from freelance designers?There are three main areas in which professional agencies differ from freelancers when it comes to web design.Pricing: Freelancers are typically far less expensive than agencies.Time consumption: Agencies have more hands on deck, and can therefore build (or update) your website more quickly.Support: Agencies will typically offer comprehensive support across all aspects of your website, which will continue after the initial design is up and running.Overall, freelancers are a good choice for small businesses on a tight budget, but agencies have more to offer for those who can afford it.50. What should I look for in a web design agency?Here are some of the most essential attributes to look for when choosing a web design agency.Affordability: Your chosen agency should be within your budget, but not suspiciously cheap.Deliverables: The agency should offer all the specific web design deliverables you need.Results: Your agency should have a proven history of driving results through web design.Reviews: Whichever agency you choose should have overall positive reviews from clients.An agency that checks all of those boxes is likely a great choice for your business.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Metro Link partners with local libraries to provide free rides for summer reading programs Metro buses are partnering with local libraries to provide free rides to summer reading programs for children ages four to 12.
	MercyOne Clinton North closing today due to sewage issues A sewage issue in Clinton had led to MercyOne Clinton North Health Plaza closing for the day. An email from the hospital says MercyOne Clinton North Health Plaza, 915 13th Avenue North, will be closed for the rest of the day today, May 29, due to a problem with the city's sewage system. This closure [...]
	Applications open for Hubbell-Waterman Foundation grants The 2026 Hubbell-Waterman Foundation grant cycle is now open. The foundation offers grant funding to nonprofits in Scott and Rock Island Counties. Applications for this year’s grants are due by August 15. Nonprofits must apply through the online grant system administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation. “The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation is proud to support the [...]
	Tense hearing on uranium drilling tests new language-translation law before its effective date The South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment conducts a hearing about a uranium exploration permit application on May 19, 2026, at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs, South Dakota. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight) https://southdakotasearchlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lakota-interpretation-explainer-web.wav Listen to an audio version of this story by reporter Meghan O’Brien. Broadcasters: See below for a downloadable version with a script. A new state law requiring language translation services for some government proceedings — like a contentious recent hearing for a permit application to drill for uranium in the Black Hills — has had its first test drive, even though it doesn’t take effect until later this summer. The law requires the decision-making office or board in an administrative contested case to hire an interpreter or translator when a witness or party needs it. “Any proceeding that’s open to the public would receive or have those translation services available at no cost to the participants, so it would be covered by the state of South Dakota,” said Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, the law’s sponsor. The law was adopted in March, and it takes effect July 1. Hearing on proposed Black Hills uranium drilling opens with hours of opposition testimony Meanwhile, a decision on a permit application for a company to explore underground for uranium in the southern Black Hills near Edgemont has been pending since 2024. Dozens of people have signed on as official project opponents, making the matter a contested case. Some have expressed concerns about potential water contamination they said could result from underground drilling, while others have said the proposed drilling site is too close to Craven Canyon — which is lined with ancient Native American petroglyphs and is used for prayer and ceremonies. Some of those people speak Lakota, the language of tribes in western South Dakota. Elizabeth Lone Eagle, a project opponent, submitted a request for Lakota interpretation services last August and listed five interested parties in the case as Lakota first-language speakers. Despite not being legally required to provide a translator since the new law hasn’t taken effect yet, Board Chairman Glenn Blumhardt referenced the new law during a March meeting, when the board was voting to overturn an earlier decision by Hearing Chairman Bob Morris, who had denied interpretation services. “Is this bill currently in effect? The answer is no,” Blumhardt said. “The point is whether or not this is applicable at this time.” The board voted to provide translation services as outlined in the law. What the law says Muckey introduced the legislation known as Helen’s Law, for Helen Red Feather, one of five Lakota first-language speakers who requested Lakota interpretation services. “This isn’t just about this particular case and trying to tip the odds of this particular instance, but to make it a fair process for this case and virtually every case going forward,” Muckey said. “I’m just grateful that the department saw that need and was willing to change course to follow the spirit of a new law that was soundly supported.” The state will pay for interpretation services needed during a proceeding. People involved in a contested case can pay for translation services for processes like discovery and document translation. If they’re successful in the case, they can recover those costs. Searchlight Report podcast Voices from South Dakota politics and policy. Listen > Oral interpretation slowed the pace of the uranium drilling permit hearing. “But I don’t know that I was necessarily concerned about that when we were drafting the law,” Muckey said. “The concern was, are we leaving people out of the law? And the answer to that was yes. And so we had to find a way to correct that.” Though the bill was inspired by Red Feather’s need for translation throughout the case’s proceedings, it’s not just for Lakota speakers, Muckey said. “We’re also talking about folks who are hard of hearing. They might be blind, and they might need those types of interpretive or translation services, and you have a litany of other languages that are spoken in South Dakota,” he said. “We can’t turn people away from due process of law.” State officials offered to pay $61.88 per hour for interpreters during the uranium drilling contested case hearing. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources said the rate would be split between the two interpreters who were hired, “so only one interpreter is being paid at a time.” “I was insulted,” by the rate, said Alex White Plume, an Oglala Sioux tribal member, and one of the two interpreters hired. “I did it anyway,” he said. “I did it because there was a need and it was important for the ones to hear exactly what it’s like in their own language so they can have a clearer understanding.” Lakota has experienced a decline in speakers as an effect of colonization, and because of forced attendance at boarding schools that required Native American students to speak English in the 1800s and much of the next century. But White Plume said most of the people in his area still speak their own language. “I grew up speaking Lakota, and English is my second language,” he said. “The vast majority of the members of my community will still speak Lakota, and it’s funny to hear somebody come speak white-man language amongst us, cause it sounds funny.” Translating for Lakota speakers in the audience was an honor, White Plume said. “That was really important for the Lakota speakers to really hear their language and get a clear understanding about what the legal jargon was that the lawyers were speaking,” he said. Hearing started without interpretation The uranium drilling permit hearing started May 18 in Hot Springs and was scheduled for five days. On the first day, state officials began the hearing without a Lakota interpreter, despite agreeing to provide one. A state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources staff member said potential interpreters had conflicts of interest or scheduling conflicts that prevented them from accepting the role. After project opponents complained about the lack of an interpreter, the state entered into a contract with White Plume and Leola One Feather to interpret the second and following days of the hearing. Project opponent files federal lawsuit; uranium drilling permit hearing paused When some portions of the hearing’s second day proceeded without Lakota interpretation, project opponents objected. “This is institutionalized racism, and you are promoting it,” Elizabeth Lone Eagle said, standing from her seat in the audience. She said the board was “forbidding” the translator, One Feather, “from doing her job, because you want your white colonizer sanitized way of doing things.” The audience cheered, and the board did not respond. On the third day, the hearing was adjourned indefinitely after Lone Eagle filed a federal lawsuit against the board, the state’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Clean Nuclear Energy and state employees involved in evaluating the permit application, alleging violations of due process. Lone Eagle filed the lawsuit herself, without representation by an attorney. Lone Eagle, along with six other people, including five described as Lakota first-language speakers, are listed as plaintiffs. The suit alleges “systematic, ongoing, and deliberate denial of meaningful participation to Lakota first-language speaking” project opponents. A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources told South Dakota Searchlight “the Board has postponed the hearing pending resolution of the federal case. Because the Department is a party to the litigation, we are not able to comment on the lawsuit.” Last week, a federal judge denied Lone Eagle’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have stopped the permit hearing’s proceedings, but the lawsuit remains active. For broadcasters: Produced 4 minute, 10 second audio story with host intro script Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	How long could your family survive without your income? How long could your family survive without your income?No one wants to think about what would happen to their families if they died unexpectedly. But that reluctance to plan for the future could leave loved ones at serious financial risk. And according to new data from the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), many families would feel the impact within a month after the death of the primary breadwinner.In this article, Everly Life looks at what the LIMRA data shows and suggests steps you can take to help secure your family’s financial future.Data Shows Families Feel the Financial Impact Almost ImmediatelyWith gas prices on the rise and economic uncertainty more prevalent than ever, it’s no surprise families are feeling the financial squeeze, with six in 10 Americans reporting feeling only somewhat financially secure. How might that picture change with the sudden death of a primary breadwinner?According to LIMRA’s 2025 Insurance Barometer, here’s the breakdown of how long it would take a family to feel financially impacted if the primary wage earner passed away:One month or less — 27%Six months — 20%One year — 12%Two or more years — 26%Don’t know — 15%The data shows that nearly half of all respondents would feel a financial impact within six months or less (47%). Given the top answer was within one month or less, it suggests that many families rely solely on the breadwinner’s income to stay financially afloat. That creates sudden and steep risk if the primary wage earner passes away.Particularly telling is the 15% of respondents who don’t know how they’d be impacted, which suggests that their families may be ignoring these financial conversations until it’s too late.The picture shifts meaningfully for families with a life insurance policy, with 52% of respondents indicating they’d rely on a life insurance policy if the primary breadwinner died unexpectedly, second only to a savings account.Why Are So Many Families at Financial Risk?Many assume employer coverage is enough.It’s estimated that 55% of American workers have a life insurance policy through their employer, with 57% of those workers believing that it provides them with sufficient coverage. While that’s an important step in keeping families financially protected, employer-only coverage may not provide enough protection to keep loved ones financially afloat, given the median basic coverage is either a flat sum or one to two times the individual’s salary.Pricing misconceptions prevent families from buying.Americans have a persistent belief that life insurance is more expensive than it really is; in some cases, overestimating costs by six to10 times. This misconception means many families struggling with competing financial priorities are deciding to forgo life insurance coverage before comparing quotes.Coverage may not keep pace with life changes.As families grow and circumstances change, coverage needs to evolve as well. That means families who purchased a policy before having another kid or buying a new home may find themselves underinsured.The stay-at-home parent gap leads to underestimating insurance needs.It’s estimated that stay-at-home parents contribute about $4,500 per month (about $54,000 per year) in unpaid labor. While we’ve largely explored the impact of losing the primary breadwinner, it’s important to note that the loss of a stay-at-home parent can have major financial consequences for a family, potentially leaving the breadwinner to cover new expenses. And with childcare alone costing more than public college tuition in most states, these sudden financial obligations could present a serious financial challenge for a breadwinner.The good news is that addressing the factors that create financial risks is more straightforward than most families might expect.How to Get the Right Level of Life Insurance CoverageA quick way to estimate how much coverage your family might need if your primary breadwinner passes away is to get coverage that’s 10 times that person’s salary. For a more comprehensive look at how much your family really needs, try the DIME method: debt, income replacement, mortgage, and education costs. This method involves adding up how much it would take to cover these costs if the primary breadwinner passes away. The DIME method can give families a more personalized look at what it would take to feel financially secure.Taking Care of Your Family’s Financial FutureThe data highlights just how many American families are one unexpected loss away from serious financial hardship. Take the time to understand your family’s current financial picture, what your future costs could look like without your income, and what you can do to help bridge that protection gap.This story was produced by Everly Life and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Former Davenport Central security guard pleads guilty in federal sexual exploitation case On Wednesday, Noah Xsavier Garcia, 26, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a child and attempted enticement of a minor in federal court.
	Bra hacks to beat the heat Bra hacks to beat the heatBoob sweat comes for most of us. If you've ever found yourself in a sticky situation, you're definitely not alone. Though moderate boob sweat can be perfectly normal, it's not always comfortable. The good news? There are plenty of methods to keep you feeling fresh and dry all day long.What is Boob Sweat?Boob sweat is the perspiration that collects inside your bra, between, and around your breasts. It's usually caused by the normal sweat culprits, like excessive heat and exercise. However, changes in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can also be the cause.Most of the time, a little extra sweat around your breasts is a totally normal body function. That said, too much dampness can lead to skin irritation and discomfort. Not to mention, boob sweat can also ruin a perfectly good outfit. Luckily, Honeylove has some solutions.Bra Hacks to Beat the HeatOne way to combat boob sweat is by picking the right bra material. If you’re looking for something that’s breathable and keeps you cool, you’ll want a natural material like cotton or tencel, or something super light like mesh. Breathable materials can help prevent sweat from forming. Wireless bras are also a great option, since they don’t have heavy underwire.If your goal is to find something that’s moisture-wicking, you’ll want a synthetic material like nylon or polyester. While synthetic materials are known to trap heat (which can sometimes make the problem worse), they're a better option if your primary goal is concealing sweat rather than preventing it.If your favorite bra is making you sweat but you're not quite ready to give it up, you can purchase a moisture-wicking bra liner. This liner creates an absorbent barrier between you and your bra to physically mop up any sweat before it bleeds through your top.Proper fit can go a long way to helping you look and feel your best when the weather is warm. You can use a bra size calculator to make sure you’re wearing the correct bra size.Wardrobe Tips for Reducing Breast SweatSweat-busting can also happen at the wardrobe level. Loose, flowing tops made from lightweight fabrics like cotton or linen promote air circulation and help sweat evaporate faster. Wearing black clothing can make sweat less noticeable.Products to Prevent and Manage Boob SweatThere are a ton of really effective products that can help combat boob sweat. Sweat-absorbing body powder and whole-body deodorants are two items you can add to your routine when the summer weather hits. These products are designed to dry up sweat, prevent new sweat from forming, and leave a nice scent.When to See a DermatologistFor many, boob sweat is just a minor inconvenience. But if it disrupts your daily life or causes severe discomfort, it might be time to consult a dermatologist.Excessive sweating might indicate hyperhidrosis, a condition where you sweat more than usual. A dermatologist can suggest stronger treatments, such as prescription-strength antiperspirants, to help manage the issue.This story was produced by Honeylove and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Is Temu legit? What to know before shopping (and how to stay safe from scams) Is Temu legit? What to know before shopping (and how to stay safe from scams)At this point, Temu is impossible to ignore when it comes to e-commerce, especially for online shoppers who are keen for a deal (and who don’t mind longer shipping times, as many Temu products come directly from China). As of late 2025, the shopping app boasted 416.5 million monthly active users and well over one billion downloads.But before you join those many millions of shoppers, you need to know: Is Temu legit? And even if so, is Temu safe? Heck, how does Temu work in the first place? Spokeo provides answers.Key TakeawaysTemu is a legitimate website and a genuine e-commerce platform that sells real products.Shopping on Temu is generally safe, but Temu is subject to common scams, much like other e-commerce marketplace platforms.Temu has been embroiled in more than a few controversies, so it is up to you to decide if you feel comfortable shopping from the retailer.Is Temu Legit?Temu is indeed a real online retailer based in China, best known for offering products at incredibly low prices. (Though the extent of the deals has been impacted by recent tariffs imposed on goods from China, including many Temu products.) Available as a desktop and mobile site, but often used as an app, Temu sells just about everything you can imagine, from electronics and clothing to car accessories, cosmetics, decor, furniture, toys, collectibles, and way, way beyond.So while Temu is absolutely a legitimate business, it has also increasingly come under the scrutiny of consumers and legislators alike.Are Temu Products Legit?Long story short, yes. The transaction process of buying something from Temu is typically seamless, and the retailer does deliver real, actual products to its customers at the end of that transaction. That said, the quality and authenticity of Temu products have often come under scrutiny. Shopping on Temu can be a bit of a crapshoot, if public opinion is to be believed.One of the most common complaints from customers pertains to the overall quality of Temu products. While the platform offers a plethora of items at often rock-bottom prices, customers have widely reported receiving products that look different from their online depictions or are of inferior quality to what was advertised. So much so that comparing Temu products to their listings and, uh, “colorfully” reviewing them has become something of its own niche on YouTube and TikTok.Is Temu Safe?As of early 2026, Temu is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but the BBB does award the company a B- rating. According to the BBB, Temu has accrued 5,767 complaints in the last three years, with 2,211 of those complaints closed in the last 12 months. In terms of customer reviews, Temu is rated at 2.31 out of five stars on the BBB, based on over 1,880 ratings.In 2023, the platform’s sister app, Pinduoduo (also a Chinese e-commerce platform), faced allegations of containing malware and was suspended from the Google Play Store. This revolved around the app allegedly bypassing user security settings to access data such as private messages and device settings, and disabling uninstallation. According to chief information security officer Kevin Reed at cybersecurity firm Acronis, “Temu is not as aggressive as Pinduoduo [in terms of] requesting all kinds of privileges.”In the ensuing years, there have not been any widely notable controversies regarding data or security on Temu, and the company discloses its privacy policy — including what information is collected and shared — at its official website.Common Temu Scams to Look For (and How to Stay Safe)The question “Is Temu safe?” is a broad one, but here’s how it shakes down, generally speaking. Temu is a legitimate e-commerce platform that isn’t going to straight-up steal your debit card information or launch a virus onto your phone. But it can be — like many shopping apps and well-known brand names — a breeding ground for scammers to do their thing.To maximize your safety when shopping, keep an eye out for these common Temu scams:Fake Temu PromosBe wary of Temu codes, gift cards, or promotions that promise outrageous discounts or free money. Scammers often use social media to lure unsuspecting users into this trap, which is usually a phishing attack designed to trick you into disclosing valuable private information like bank account data. Never disclose your private info in exchange for a promo like this.“Enter Code” GriftingWhile this one won’t hurt you, it is deceptive. Temu is huge on TikTok, and many influencers receive a kickback when you use their specific code to buy Temu products or input it when downloading the app. So these TikTokers will often make high-energy, high-pressure videos urging viewers to “Enter my code now!” or “Enter code to win!” and promising a reward, freebie, or discount. In reality, all that entering the code does is give the influencer some money from their Temu deal. You, on the other hand, get nothing (other than what you ordered, of course).Phony Order TrackingIn this scam, you’ll get a phishy email or text message claiming to be from Temu, urging you to track your order (whether you actually ordered Temu products or not). In reality, it’s a scammer trying to get you to hit a fake “tracking” link to enter your private info, or straight-up infect your device with phishing malware.Prevention is the best medicine here: don’t click sketchy links, and don’t willingly divulge your private info unless you’re positive the recipient is exactly who they say they are (and someone you wish to divulge that info to).Impersonating Temu Customer ServiceSimilarly, criminals may pose as Temu customer service reps to phish you, a common scam that leverages all sorts of popular brand names, including Amazon and Best Buy’s Geek Squad, to name a few. Remember that legit customer service channels never ask for sensitive information via unsolicited messages or calls. Only engage with customer support through official channels.If you’re not 100 percent certain you’re dealing with the real thing, use a people search tool to look up who the number or email address of the “customer service rep” in question, or whoever else is making you give them a side eye, belongs to.Is Temu Ethical?The platform has been accused of not taking adequate steps to ensure that its products comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which aims to promote accountability regarding goods produced under the forced labor of the ethnic group largely oppressed by the Chinese state.Alongside labor concerns, Temu relies heavily on a flashy, hyper-stimulating, highly gamified shopping experience that constantly urges you to spin a wheel for discounts, play a variety of in-app games to earn rewards, make referrals for incentives, take quizzes for discounts, and so on. This user experience can be manipulative and addictive. For example, elements like spinning the wheel are not chance games, but are actually predetermined. Others rely on a perceived sense of urgency to pressure users into shopping “now!”Frequently Asked Questions About TemuHow does Temu work?Temu operates on a reverse-manufacturing model where it connects customers directly to suppliers, thereby cutting down on supply chain costs to keep prices low. Similar to Amazon or Mercari, it does not own the products listed on its site, but rather serves as a liaison between buyers and sellers.Is it safe to enter my card on Temu?Temu asserts that it employs advanced security measures to protect customers’ personal and payment information. Temu also complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and conducts regular security audits, according to their site. So yes, largely it is as safe to enter your credit card onto Temu as it is to do so at any other large retailer.Does Temu offer refunds?Yes, Temu’s return and refund policy is pretty standard when compared to other e-commerce platforms, and is very comparable to sites like Amazon, for instance. You can make your claim in the app or online, enter some info, and receive a refund to your payment method or Temu account balance. Depending on the issue, you may or may not have to return the product (and in cases of customer dissatisfaction with Temu products, sellers may offer full or partial refunds).Of course, it’s better to know what works about Temu and what might be a little sketchy before you jump in, but hey, worst-case scenario, if something doesn’t work out, you will most likely get your money back.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Crime Stoppers solved: Man was wanted for failure to appear Crime Stoppers said Friday that Statucki had been in the Muscatine County Jail since December and is no longer wanted.
	Why renting may now be a better financial move than buying Why renting may now be a better financial move than buyingNot long ago, buying a home felt like an automatic milestone in many American adults’ lives, but those days are increasingly behind us. In 2025, home sales reached a new 30-year low, and with homeownership out of reach for many Americans, more people are renting to preserve their monthly cash flow.The housing affordability crisis facing America has raised plenty of questions. Is buying still a smart financial move in today’s market? Does renting offer more financial breathing room in both the short and long term? What other choices do renters have to build wealth outside of homeownership?In this article, TurboTenant runs a detailed comparison of renting versus buying a home, including monthly costs, the flexibility that comes with renting, and the hidden expenses of ownership that buyers might not see coming. The story will also break down when renting may simply make more financial sense than buying a home.Buying used to be the obvious moveFor decades, many Americans viewed buying a home as the no-brainer path to building wealth. Homeownership has long symbolized stability and success, and when monthly mortgage payments were closer to rent, potential buyers would understandably prefer to build equity rather than toss cash into a landlord’s pocket.Plus, lower mortgage rates also made homebuying possible for more average Americans. And as home values rose, buyers who entered the market early saved money and saw stronger appreciation. But as home prices have outpaced incomes, buying is no longer the obvious choice.The true cost of homeownership goes far beyond the mortgageTraditionally, Americans view rent payments as unrecoverable. But homeownership comes with plenty of sunk costs, too, many of which buyers may overlook when comparing rent to a monthly mortgage payment.Mortgage interestPerhaps the most glaring unrecoverable cost is the money paid toward mortgage interest. Interest alone can make up the majority of a buyer’s early mortgage payments, and with rates hovering between 6% and 7% in 2026, homeownership has become significantly more expensive from the start.Property taxesRates vary widely by state and county, but property taxes can significantly increase the monthly cost of owning a home. On a $500,000 home, the national average effective property tax rate of 0.9% adds about $375 per month on top of the mortgage, and higher-tax markets can cost far more.Maintenance and repairsWhereas renters can call their landlords to handle property maintenance and repairs, homeowners have to shoulder those costs themselves. For example, if a roof leaks or a pipe bursts, the homeowner, not the renter, will bear the full financial burden of the repairs. Older homes, in particular, often entail large, unexpected expenses that can catch first-time buyers off guard.Homeowners insuranceDue to more frequent natural disasters and recent policy shifts, homeowners’ insurance premiums have risen significantly in many markets nationwide. And if you’re considering buying a home in an area with greater climate risk, such as a wildfire- or flood-prone market, you may face higher premiums, fewer coverage options, or stricter policy requirements.Closing costs and upfront expensesThe down payment isn’t the only upfront expense of purchasing a home. Buyers also often have to pay closing costs, which typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On a $500,000 home, that range equals about $10,000 to $25,000. Covering these costs, along with the down payment, can greatly reduce homebuyers’ financial flexibility in the near term.Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)As homeownership has become more difficult, many lenders offer low-down-payment programs that allow buyers to obtain mortgages with as little as 3% down, rather than the traditional 20%. However, buyers who put less than 20% down often have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can add several hundred dollars to their monthly payment. And unlike homeowners’ insurance, PMI protects the lender, not the homeowner.HOA feesBuying a house, condo, or townhome governed by a homeowners’ association can also make monthly costs less predictable. Monthly HOA dues may increase once or twice a year, depending on the HOA’s rules, and some communities also charge special assessments for major repairs, upgrades, or shared expenses in addition to regular fees.The statistics of buying vs. renting a $500,000 homeSince homeownership comes with additional costs beyond principal and interest, it’s fair to question whether buying or renting makes more financial sense. Here’s how the numbers can break down on a $500,000 home.The average monthly cost of owning a $500,000 homeThe financial reality of homeownership includes many recurring expenses that can add up quickly, strain finances, and potentially affect a buyer’s savings. On a $500,000 home, these costs may include:30-year mortgage payment: $2,528/month based on a 6.5% interest rate and 20% downProperty taxes: $375/month based on 0.9% average effective U.S. property tax rateMaintenance and repairs: $417/month based on 1% of home value annuallyHomeowners insurance: $208/month based on $2,490 annual average premiumPMI (if applicable): $250/month based on 0.75% of the loan amount annuallyHOA fees (if applicable): $135/month based on median HOA feeAverage one-time closing costs: $15,000 based on 3% of purchase priceSetting aside the question of building equity, renting may cost less than owning a home in today’s market. Buyers have to cover expenses that renters often avoid, particularly insurance, maintenance, and property taxes. And though building equity is certainly an important factor to consider, these additional costs can make renting the obvious choice in some markets.Approximate cost of owning a $500,000 home with no PMI or HOA fees: $3,527/monthApproximate cost of owning a $500,000 home with $250 PMI and no HOA fees: $3,777/monthApproximate cost of owning a $500,000 home with $250 PMI and $135 HOA fees: $3,912/monthThe average monthly cost of renting a comparable $500,000 homeSince renters don’t have to deal with many of the direct expenses of homeownership, they can set aside more money each month. Those valuable savings can go to investment opportunities, which often offer a higher rate of return than property appreciation, as well as crucial day-to-day needs affected by inflation.This example estimates monthly rent at roughly 0.5% of the home’s value. On a comparable $500,000 home, that comes out to about $2,500 per month, though the actual rent-to-value ratio will vary by market.Average cost of renting a $500,000 home: $2,500/monthRenting a $500,000 property saves tenants between $1,000 and $1,400/monthWhile rent prices will likely rise over the years, renting may still be the better financial decision in some markets. Depending on the local rent-to-buy comparison, renting can lead to monthly savings of up to $1,400. That money can fund investments, repay debts, or create more breathing room in a budget.What happens when renters invest the difference?Of course, homeownership is far from the only way to build wealth these days. By investing the money saved from renting, renters may be able to compound their earnings into meaningful gains and build valuable assets outside of traditional home equity.How investing monthly savings from renting may build wealth over 30 yearsThere are countless investment opportunities, but for simplicity’s sake, focus on a fund tracking the S&P 500, a widely followed benchmark for the U.S. stock market. While it’s not the only investment option and not a guaranteed outcome, the index has averaged an annual return of 8.3% over the last 30 years.For ease of math, assume that a renter invests the full $1,200 per month they save by not buying a home in the example above. That’s a big assumption (and not entirely realistic), but if the renter can invest that amount consistently over 30 years, the long-term math is powerful:Approximate renter investment portfolio after 30 years: $1,900,000Math: $1,200/month invested for 30 years at 8.3% returns annuallyHow homeownership may build wealth over 30 yearsNow, compare investments to how homeownership may pay off over time. Eventually, mortgage payments turn debt into home equity, and property appreciation can increase homeowners’ wealth in the long term. Plus, making fixed mortgage payments may become more affordable as income grows over the years.The home’s potential value was calculated using the average annual appreciation rate for U.S. home values. However, repairs, home upgrades, and selling costs can all impact a homeowner’s bottom line and reduce the amount they earn by appreciation. The exact proceeds also depend on the property’s location and the timing of the sale, among other important factors.Approximate home value after 30 years (before selling costs), assuming a 6.5% interest rate and no PMI or HOA fees: $1,400,000Math: $500,000 home appreciating at 3.5% annually for 30 yearsUnpredictable influencing factorsOf course, it’s impossible to predict exactly how the market will change for homeowners and renters over the next 30 years. Factors you can’t be certain of include:Appreciation: Home appreciation can shift significantly up or down, especially after major local market changes or climate disasters.Interest rates: Economic conditions and Federal Reserve policies can keep mortgage interest rates in flux.Refinances: Buyers may be able to refinance their mortgages in a very different future market.Investment returns: Depending on investments, returns may vary for better or worse.Rent growth: Rent prices tend to rise over time and could one day exceed some mortgage payments.Repair costs: The cost of home repairs can also vary with market conditions.Property taxes and insurance: As laws and insurance policies evolve, taxes and insurance may increase or decrease.Rental property income: The amount of money landlords can earn may change, affecting housing costs.There are countless other hard-to-predict factors not mentioned here, such as other forms of financial hardship, like job loss or medical bills. Suffice it to say, though, circumstances can and likely will change significantly over the next 30 years. It’s up to each buyer or renter to stay well-informed so they can prepare for whatever comes next.The honest truth: Most renters will not invest the savingsRealistically, most renters will not be able to invest every dollar they save by renting. Building a $1.9 million portfolio with those savings sounds great in theory, but doing so takes a strong sense of discipline, which can determine whether renting actually helps accumulate wealth.A phenomenon known as “lifestyle creep” can easily eat up those extra savings. Meanwhile, buying a house forces owners to build equity through their monthly mortgage payments. Renters without the discipline to save and invest for themselves may struggle to build the same kind of wealth as homeowners.When renting makes financial senseRenting over buying isn’t for everyone. But it might be the right choice depending on your finances, timeline, and lifestyle. To start, renting can cost much less than owning a comparable home. And if the renter has enough discipline, they can consistently invest their monthly savings to create other avenues of wealth.You may also want to rent if you need the flexibility for a potential move within the next five years and don’t want to deal with property maintenance. If you’d rather keep more flexibility than take on the long-term costs of ownership, and you don’t have the cash for major repairs, renting might be the better decision.When buying makes financial senseWhen it comes to buying over renting, long-term stability matters. If a buyer has the money to take on repairs and plans to stay put for many years, purchasing a home may make sense. Homebuying can also be a stronger option if ownership costs are comparable to local rent prices.Buyers should also think about their personal priorities and whether they want more control over their housing, even with the added financial responsibility. If they have the means to buy a home without stretching their budget too thin and the local housing market has strong appreciation potential, buying may make more financial sense.Renting vs. buying is no longer a simple decisionHomeownership is far from the default milestone it once was, a change that’s affected both home purchases and the rental industry. As higher costs have thrown traditional homebuying plans off course, many Americans are reconsidering whether renting gives them more short-term financial flexibility. However, even with elevated interest rates, homebuying can still build wealth under the right conditions.If you want to invest in real estate, consider whether buying a house specifically to rent it out makes sense for your goals. Ask yourself questions like how long you plan to own the property, whether you can handle the expenses, and how you’d use rental income to determine whether becoming a landlord is right for you.As you answer those questions, look closely at your local housing market and compare the amount you could realistically earn against homeownership costs before making your decision. With the right numbers, preparation, and know-how, becoming a landlord can help you capitalize on rental demand and achieve a strong return on investment.This story was produced by TurboTenant and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Knox County wildlife center hosts concert to bring in critical revenue Currently, the Critter Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Center cannot accept new animals due to a lack of funds, but it is asking the community for support.
	Girl Scouts receive $20,000 gift from American Water Charitable Foundation Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois recently received a $20,000 gift from the American Water Charitable Foundation. “Collaboration is essential to driving meaningful, lasting change,” says Brad Nielsen, president of Iowa American Water. “Through our partnership with the American Water Charitable Foundation and committed community organizations like Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and [...]
	Back from Cannes, a critic shares the films he's most excited to see again Though the 2026 festival featured less Hollywood razzle-dazzle than in years past, there were still plenty of great films. Most notable: All of a Sudden, from the Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi.
	Stress sweating vs. heat sweating Stress sweating vs. heat sweatingPicture this: Eighty thousand fans in a stadium are on their feet and holding their breath, anticipating a penalty kick that could decide everything. In that suspended moment, players and supporters alike feel that familiar prickle of sweat that has nothing to do with the afternoon sun. That's anxiety sweating, and it's completely different from the sweat people break during a workout or a hot summer commute.Aside from being interesting science, understanding the difference is practical knowledge that helps you stay comfortable and confident when you need it most. Degree explored the differences between heat sweat and anxiety sweat while providing tips for managing both kinds.Two Types of Sweat, Two Different TriggersThe body has two distinct sweating systems, each activated by different circumstances and with different purposes. Also, how much you sweat is unique to you. “The amount of sweat that an individual produces varies from person to person,” Unilever R&D scientist Matt Annecharico explained. “This is due to a number of factors that include environmental temperature, physical effort, emotional stress, and fitness level.”Anxiety sweatAlso known as stress sweat, this type kicks in when your brain senses a high-stakes situation. Anticipation, fear, excitement—all of these can trigger it. “Stress sweat is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, and when adrenaline or the heart rate rises, this system triggers sweat that contains lipids and proteins, which bacteria naturally found on the skin love,” Annecharico said.Importantly, this type of sweat has nothing to do with your body temperature. You could be sitting in an air-conditioned room, watching your team take a penalty in the FIFA World Cup final, and still experience a sudden rush of nervous sweating on your palms, in your armpits or on your soles.Heat sweatThis is your body’s natural cooling system. When your body temperature rises during exercise or in warm weather, it releases sweat, which then evaporates from your skin to help bring your temperature back down.Same output, very different cause. Degree The Glands Behind the SweatHeat sweating is managed by eccrine glands, which can be found throughout the body. These glands produce a clear, watery sweat made mostly of water and electrolytes. Because it's used for quick evaporation and cooling, it's odorless on its own.Stress sweat, on the other hand, comes from the apocrine glands found mainly in the underarms and groin. “Apocrine glands are activated by an emotional response and produce an oily sweat. This fatty and oily sweat does not have any odor on its own, but when certain skin microbes feed on it, this breaks it down to produce a strong odor,” Unilever Personal Care R&D manager Bivash Dasgupta explained.This is why, when anxious or stressed, your sweat can smell more intense than the sweat your body produces during a long run. It's not about how much you sweat; it's about which glands are active.What Each Type of Sweat Is ForHeat sweating is one of your body’s most effective ways to cool down. As sweat evaporates from the skin's surface, it draws heat away, helping to regulate your body temperature during physical activity or when it's hot. You can think of it as your body’s natural thermostat at work.Anxiety sweating has a different purpose. It’s part of the body’s natural fight-or-flight response, a physical reaction to stress or stressful situations. It’s an old survival system that once helped prepare the body for quick action in moments of danger. Today, that same response can still kick in during everyday situations like writing an exam, waiting for a job interview, or watching a last-minute penalty shootout from the stands.Easy Ways to Manage Both Types of SweatFor stress sweatBreathing exercises, mindfulness, and regular physical activity can all help calm your body’s stress response. Before high-pressure situations, slow, controlled breathing can help reduce the physical reactions that lead to nervous sweating.For heat sweatIf you’re heading to a stadium on a hot day, a little preparation can go a long way. Stay hydrated, choose breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics, and dress in a way that helps your body stay cool naturally. This means loose, comfortable clothing, a hat or cap, sunglasses—and don’t forget the sunscreen.Protect Against SweatAntiperspirants are one of the most effective ways to manage sweat. Unlike deodorants, which only help with odor, antiperspirants work by reducing sweat production, which also means less odor.Regular use, especially after your evening shower before bed, when sweat glands are less active, can provide reliable protection against both types of sweating.FAQsWhy does emotional sweating feel different from heat sweating?Emotional sweating is triggered by stress or anxiety rather than changes in temperature. It often shows up in areas like your palms, feet, or underarms, which can make it feel quite different from heat-related sweating. Heat sweating occurs across the body and helps cool you down.How can I manage emotional and heat-related sweating effectively?Managing both types of sweating can involve stress-reduction techniques, staying hydrated, using an antiperspirant, and wearing appropriate clothing.When should I seek help for excessive sweating?If you notice sudden changes in your sweating pattern, night sweats, or sweating alongside symptoms like weight loss or fever, it could point to an underlying health issue. It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor to get it checked out.Anxiety sweat, nervous sweat, stress sweat, whatever you call it—it’s completely normal. The same goes for heat sweat. Both are simply your body doing what it’s designed to do: responding to its environment, regulating itself, and preparing for what’s ahead.The difference comes down to what triggers it, which sweat glands are involved, and the composition of the sweat itself. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right tools and approaches for each, so you can stay fresh, dry, and confident—even at the game.This story was produced by Degree and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump Force One: The 2026 technical overhaul of the world’s most famous 757 Trump Force One: The 2026 technical overhaul of the world’s most famous 757In the private aviation sector, the line between legacy narrow-body aircraft and modern strategic assets is increasingly defined by technological retrofits. There’s no better evidence for this than the fact that, while many operators are eyeing newer airframes, the strategic overhaul of “Trump Force One” — the nickname for the President’s personal Boeing 757 — proves that capital liquidity is better served by retrofitting proven platforms with next-generation avionics and propulsion.According to market data from Fact.MR, narrow-body jets like the 757 now command a 46% share of the interior modernization sector in 2026. As BlackJet, a private jet card service, explains below, this trend confirms that for owners with specific mission profiles, the capital expenditure of a new aircraft struggles to compete with the return on investment (ROI) of a deep technical refresh. Courtesy of BlackJet Modernizing The Flight Deck HierarchyThe 2026 revamp of Donald Trump’s best-known aircraft centers on a total transition from legacy electromechanical gauges to a fully integrated glass cockpit. Beyond aesthetics, this upgrade represents a fundamental shift in operational safety and in the predictability of maintenance.Installing the Innovative Solutions & Support Flat Panel Display System lets the aircraft achieve a 70% reduction in total component count within the avionics suite. Such a massive drop in hardware translates directly to lower mean time between failure (MTBF) rates, ensuring that the aircraft remains mission-ready without the chronic unscheduled downtime common in aging fleets.The flight deck now mirrors the capabilities of the most modern long-range jets through three primary upgrades:Installation of four 10-by-13-inch 6x8 color active matrix liquid crystal displays.Integration of dual WAAS/LPV GPS receivers for precision approach capability.Replacement of the legacy weather radar with a solid-state multi-scan system.Sustaining Propulsion And PerformanceThe heart of the 757 remains its pair of Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines, which are widely considered the most reliable powerplants in their thrust class. The strategy for these engines shifted from reactive maintenance to the TotalCare Flex program offered by Rolls-Royce.This program prioritizes asset accumulation by managing the engines based on their remaining on-wing life, allowing the owner to maximize the 40,000-plus-hour durability of the core components. Executives seeking equivalent reliability may be better served by fractional ownership, as maintenance responsibilities like these are shifted elsewhere. For an airframe of this profile, maintaining engine health is the single largest factor in preserving the aircraft's residual value, looking at cost estimates and technical impact data based on 2026 market analysis from Coherent Market Insights and data on executive airlift SATCOM costs. Courtesy of BlackJet Advanced Connectivity And Cabin SystemsBeyond the engines and cockpit, the 2026 refresh focused heavily on the office-in-the-sky requirement for executive leadership. Modern aviation demands more than just satellite phone capability; it requires the same bandwidth expected in a terrestrial C-Suite.The integration of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet enables global, high-speed data transfer, supporting encrypted communications and real-time media streaming. This ensures that the 757 remains a functional command center even during transcontinental crossings.In fact, the comparative affordability of connectivity upgrades makes them even more relevant for both Donald Trump and other major decision-makers. Being able to host high-stakes meetings with full 4K video support while flying eliminates the productivity losses traditionally associated with extended flight times.Sustaining The Executive 757 AdvantageThe technical overhaul of Trump Force One serves as a blueprint for the 2026 executive aviation market. It proves that with the right combination of avionics retrofits and engine management, a 30-year-old airframe can outperform modern rivals in both reliability and brand presence.By merging historical airframe durability with modern digital infrastructure, fleet operators can protect capital reserves while significantly extending the operational lifespan of a proven asset.This story was produced by BlackJet and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'Plant a Seed, Read' with Bettendorf Public Library The Bettendorf Public Library encourages residents to “Plant a Seed, Read” this summer. The library’s Summer Reading Program starts on Monday, June 8, with fun challenges and exciting rewards for all ages. The library’s Summer Reading Program is free and open to everyone. Click here for early online registration. In-person registration starts on June 8. [...]
	Former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts to be sentenced Friday Former Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Roberts was detained by federal immigration officers on September 26, 2025, just weeks into a new school year.
	Cook review: 'The Crash' has viewers talking. You might want to join the conversation. Netflix has created a streaming niche for itself with its true-crime documentaries. And here's another one that may take up more of your time after you've seen it than during its run. That's because, brief though it is, "The Crash" posits a number of questions that aren't directly answered. It's a film that presents facts, [...]
	Importers receiving almost $8,000 per entry from IEEPA refunds, survey finds Importers receiving almost $8,000 per entry from IEEPA refunds, survey findsThe race is on for importers to claim their International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff refunds.As importers start filing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is processing claims and beginning to issue refunds. Along with these refunds are coming lots of data about the refund process from refund amounts, rejection rates, performance by CBP’s Centers of Excellence (COEs) and more.Freight Right, a licensed customs brokerage and freight forwarding company based in Los Angeles, California, has conducted an encompassing survey of its own customs brokerage IEEPA refunds data. The survey has identified early trends in entry refund amounts, which industries are receiving refunds the fastest and in what percentage relative to other industries. In this article, Freight Right outlines the survey findings and what they mean for importers.What are IEEPA tariff refunds?IEEPA tariff refunds refer to the return of duties paid under tariff actions imposed through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. After legal challenges to those tariffs, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the tariffs were illegally implemented by the Trump administration and ordered Customs and Border Protection to administratively process refunds for affected importers.To implement that process, CBP developed the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) inside the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CAPE went live on April 20, 2026. The system allows eligible IEEPA tariff refund claims to be submitted through ACE rather than handled through a fragmented manual process.The process is not automatic for most importers. CBP has the authority and system capability to process certain refunds, but importers or their customs brokers still need to take affirmative action by submitting CAPE declarations through ACE.It’s important to point out that many businesses may be eligible for refunds. That said, many of those same businesses are at risk of not receiving them quickly, or at all, if they do not identify eligible entries, prepare the right filing data, or resolve account issues before deadlines and liquidation status limit their options.Importers who filed for IEEPA refunds are starting to get their money and getting it quicklyAn analysis of anonymized IEEPA tariff refund work handled by Freight Right found that the average entry refund size per entry is around $8,000 dollars. Freight Right The data suggests that IEEPA tariff refunds may represent a meaningful cash recovery opportunity for importers, but one that depends heavily on execution. Importers need to know which entries are eligible, who was listed as the Importer of Record, whether the right broker has filing authority, whether their ACE account and ACH setup are current, and whether their entries fall within the correct phase of CBP’s CAPE process.That creates a gap between the total amount potentially available and the amount importers are actually positioned to claim.Freight Right’s data also shows that refunds are going to importers very quickly. So far, this is just over two weeks: about 18 days, on average. Freight Right Importers from the consumer goods industry are getting refunds most oftenFreight Right data is showing that consumer goods importers are making up the largest category of importers getting IEEPA refunds. Consumer goods is a massive industry in the U.S. and covers a wide range of importers, both in size and offerings, from a one-man Amazon FBA store to multinational retailers and everything in between. Freight Right Turnaround times for refunds vary by CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs).CEEs are specialized, industry-focused organizations within Customs and Border Protection that manage post-release trade activities. As Phase 1 of the IEEPA refunds continues, Freight Right’s data reveals that not all Centers of Excellence are processing refunds at the same rate. Those handling electronics and consumer products are processing refunds closer to 14 days while others have yet to process refunds. Freight Right Importers’ readiness to file for IEEPA refunds is across the boardFreight Right has found that importers’ knowledge of the IEEPA tariffs, including that they are happening, varies. Some businesses still do not know whether they paid IEEPA tariffs. These importers may have relied on brokers, freight forwarders, or internal trade teams without ever isolating the duty line items tied to IEEPA. They may know tariffs affected their landed costs, but they have not reviewed entry-level data to determine whether a refund is available.Other importers know about IEEPA tariff refunds but have not acted. These businesses may assume the process is automatic, that their broker is already handling it, or that the refund amount is too small to justify review. In some cases, those assumptions may be wrong.A third group has tried to file but remains blocked. These importers may have ACE access issues, incomplete ACH setup, missing entry records, or confusion over which broker has authority to file. Some may have worked with multiple brokers over the relevant period and do not have one centralized view of their eligible entries.Another group has already filed but may not know whether all eligible entries were captured. A CAPE submission does not necessarily mean every refundable entry has been included, especially if the importer’s data is incomplete, segmented across multiple brokers, or affected by entries that become eligible in later phases.Finally, some importers face a more complex filing problem. These businesses may have multiple Importer of Record numbers, high entry volume, entries handled by several brokers, foreign ownership structures, DDP transactions, or refund routing issues involving U.S. banking and ACH setup. For these importers, the filing process is less about a single form and more about data reconciliation and coordination.Importers who have already filed still might need a second review of their filed entriesSome importers believe their work is complete because a CAPE declaration has already been submitted. That isn’t always the case.Freight Right’s review process shows that already-filed importers may still need to ask several questions:Did the filing include every eligible entry?Were entries from every broker included?Were entries tied to every relevant Importer of Record number reviewed?Did the filing include only entries eligible for the current CAPE phase?Were any entries rejected or excluded because of validation issues?Were any entries not yet eligible but likely to become eligible later?Has the importer confirmed that ACH and ACE refund information are current?Has the importer monitored whether accepted declarations have moved to liquidation, reliquidation, refund calculation, and payment?This is where many importers may underclaim without realizing it. Importers who self-service their filing can be accurate for the entries included, but still incomplete if the importer did not have a full entry population at the outset.That issue is especially common when import records are spread across departments, brokers, subsidiaries, or systems.What importers should be checking nowImporters who may have paid IEEPA tariffs should begin with an entry-level review. The goal is to understand not only whether duties were paid, but whether the business is positioned to claim the refund correctly.A practical checklist includes:Confirm whether the company was the Importer of Record on affected entries.Identify all brokers that filed entries during the relevant period.Pull entry summaries and duty payment data from ACE or broker records.Separate entries by liquidation status and CAPE phase eligibility.Confirm whether any CAPE declarations have already been submitted.Check whether any eligible entries were excluded, rejected, or left for later phases.Verify that ACE account access is active.Confirm ACH refund banking information.Identify whether any refunds may be routed to a designated party through CBP Form 4811.Create a process for monitoring accepted filings through liquidation, reliquidation, refund calculation, and payment.Importers should also avoid assuming that all entries are treated the same. Some entries may be eligible for immediate CAPE filing. Others may require later-phase monitoring or a different procedural strategy depending on liquidation status and CBP guidance.What the IEEPA tariff refund filing process means for importersThe IEEPA tariff refund process is a very rare moment in U.S. trade policy and for importers. Few, if any other moments in U.S. policy have resulted in such an upheaval and reversal where so many groups, businesses and consumers were so affected that the policy needed to be deemed illegal in the highest court and tangible refunds issued.For some businesses, the next step is awareness. They need to determine whether they paid IEEPA tariffs at all.For others, the next step is validation. They know they may be eligible, but they need to estimate the refund amount and decide whether the opportunity is worth pursuing.For self-service filers, the next step may be quality control. They need to determine whether the filing was complete, accepted, and connected to the correct payment setup.For blocked filers, the next step is remediation. They need to resolve ACE, CAPE, Importer of Record, broker, or ACH issues before the refund can move.For complex importers, the next step is coordination. They need a structured review across brokers, entry records, internal teams, and refund status data.The larger lesson from Freight Right’s filing data is that IEEPA tariff refunds are a data problem as much as a customs problem. Businesses that can identify the right entries, prepare clean filings, and monitor the process are better positioned to recover money. Businesses that wait may lose time, miss eligible entries, or face avoidable delays.MethodologyFreight Right analyzed anonymized customs brokerage records related to IEEPA tariff refund work, spanning May 5-24, 2026.Refund amounts were grouped into bands to protect client confidentiality. The analysis excludes importer names, account numbers, entry numbers, company identifiers, banking information, and other confidential customs records.Figures reflect Freight Right’s own filing and review data and should not be interpreted as a national estimate of all IEEPA tariff refunds. The dataset may overrepresent importers with complex customs issues, larger refund motivation, or a need for broker support.This story was produced by Freight Right and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AI CRM use cases that deliver: Where AI in CRM pays off AI CRM use cases that deliver: Where AI in CRM pays offFull pipelines with missed quotas are one of the greatest frustrations that many AI-invested companies face. But the lack of data isn’t the issue here. Most modern CRM platforms have baked in AI. The issue is that no one told the team where precisely to direct this data.Research in 2025 by the IBM Institute for Business Value claims that 74% of CRM users are still struggling to improve customer experience and engagement despite the increase in AI. The tools exist, but the results are missing.There are seven specific AI CRM use cases that are backed by research and have proven to help improve pipeline performance. Each use case is made to work on a specific part of the process where revenue is either won or lost.This is Nutshell's breakdown of how and why AI in CRM is worth the investment.Key takeawaysResearch consistently shows that AI exhibits the clearest return on investment (ROI) in customer relationship management (CRM) when applied to activities such as lead scoring, forecasting, pipeline management, conversation intelligence, personalization, churn prediction, and dataset enrichment.Most implementations fail because of data quality issues and a lack of clear case ownership, not the AI.An analysis by Gong Labs in 2024 of over 1 million sales opportunities revealed that AI deal execution leads to a 35% increase in deal win rates.What does AI actually do inside a CRM?AI and CRM become one when machine learning, analysis of customer data, prediction of future behavior, and automation of time-consuming tasks come into play. Prediction of future behavior relies on algorithms that analyze historical data. AI and algorithms rely on fast and accurate systems that learn and modify data.CRM systems are beginning to predict future trends, thanks to the integration of AI tools. The difference is that these systems no longer simply store past events and data. They determine and carry out the next best course of action. Nutshell What are the 7 proven AI CRM use cases?1. Predictive lead scoringPredictive lead scoring is the use of machine learning (ML) to analyze and rank prospects for their likelihood to convert based on a combination of behavioral, firmographic, and engagement-based heuristics.Traditional lead scoring is based on static components and an arbitrary point system for attributes such as job title, company size, and form fills. Predictive lead scoring replaces static criteria with adaptive models based on the closed deals present in your CRM history.A peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence in 2025 determined that machine-learning-based lead prioritization and scoring outclassed traditional methods for B2B environments.Gradient boosting models were able to identify the conversion-predictive signals that the manual model consistently failed to address. The end result is that reps will focus on leads that are most likely to convert, as opposed to leads that are most desirable on a static scoring system.2. AI-powered sales forecastingThe reality concerning how most teams forecast revenue is a bit awkward. According to Gartner’s 2025 research on the role of AI in sales, only 7% of sales teams or organizations achieve 90% or greater forecast accuracy. The average falls within the range of 70% to 79%.AI-powered sales forecasting is the use of ML to analyze the various components of a sales pipeline, such as deal age, engagement frequency, and stage velocity, and provide a forecast of revenue that has been weighted for probability.The use of AI and ML results in a forecast variance of approximately 8% to 15%, which is an improvement of 15% to 25% compared to a forecast created by the manual method. Improved forecasting results in better allocation of resources, fewer unexpected events at the end of each quarter, and finance meetings that don’t require a spreadsheet disclaimer. Nutshell 3. Pipeline and deal managementAutomated, AI-driven, closed opportunity pipeline management identifies stalls, risks, and momentum in deal activity. Deal health scores track real-time risks, alerting sales and management to cooling deals. This eliminates the need for scheduled deal reviews and the associated time-consuming and tedious spreadsheet audits.This is crucial for growing teams where deal activity is outpacing management. A 2025 industry analysis by Optif.ai of 47,548 B2B deals across 938 companies highlighted that pipeline deals that stalled beyond 28 days resulted in 67% lower conversion rates. The study found that when teams acted on AI-generated warning signals within 72 hours, they reduced failure rates by more than half.4. Conversation intelligenceConversation intelligence is the integration of AI into sales meetings and sales communications to understand language, sales process, and sales psychology that correlate to successful and unsuccessful sales. This makes your sales team’s top performers visible, to then be developed and coached.In 2024, Gong provided an analysis of over 1 million sales opportunities linked to 1,418 sales organizations. It found that using AI conversation intelligence data to help facilitate deals increased team win rates by 35%. And introducing generative AI functionality increased team win rates by 26%.5. Personalization and outreach automationAt scale, AI has the capability to send personalized sales messaging across multiple touch points for every deal in your pipeline. And the adoption of AI technology is gaining speed.LinkedIn’s 2025 ROI of AI report shows a staggering statistic: 56% of sales professionals who were surveyed globally by Ipsos reported that they use AI in sales on a daily basis. And Gong’s research found that the use of AI to write sales emails had increased by an astounding 464% in 2023.Sales professionals now spend less time writing and more time selling due to the increased rate of email replies because of AI.6. Customer churn predictionAnother use case for AI is predicting customer churn. AI analyzes the customer engagement of a company through logs, ticketing, usage data, etc., to predict which customers might churn. Those customers are assigned a churn risk score according to the customer engagement signals that suggest they will churn.For SaaS and subscription-based businesses, this AI application is very valuable. A systematic literature review published in 2026 in the Sibatik Journal determined that companies that adopted AI in CRM reported a sales increase of 29% on average. The proactive management of customer churn was one of the five mechanisms identified as driving that increase.7. Data enrichment and hygieneCRM data enrichment is the automation of improving records and data management. Through data enrichment, firmographics, demographics, and data about customer engagement are added to CRM systems. Data hygiene for CRM systems is the identification and resolution of records that are incomplete, outdated, or duplicated.It may sound unglamorous, but this functionality is indispensable. Each of these cases relies heavily on the availability of clean data. AI trained on stale records and incomplete datasets produces poor predictions.In 2024, Salesforce and Forrester Consulting conducted a survey on more than 700 global business leaders. The survey results showed that 92% of respondents believe a sound data strategy is imperative for AI CRM success, but that only 34% have formalized this strategy. That gap directly corresponds to a big majority of the failed implementations.Frequently asked questions about AI CRM use cases1. What is an AI CRM?An AI CRM is a customer relationship management platform that incorporates ML, predictive analytics, and natural language processing to automate tasks, surface insights, and improve decision-making across the sales and customer life cycle.2. Which AI CRM use case delivers the fastest ROI?Predictive lead scoring and conversation intelligence tend to show the fastest measurable impact because they directly influence win rates on the active pipeline. Gong’s 2024 research on over 1 million opportunities showed win rate improvements of 26% to 35% when AI deal execution tools were applied consistently.3. Do small businesses benefit from AI in CRM?Yes. AI CRM capabilities are no longer exclusive to enterprise platforms. Smaller teams benefit most from use cases that reduce manual work. This includes data enrichment, automated follow-up personalization, and pipeline health alerts, which free up limited rep capacity for high-value conversations.4. What is the biggest barrier to AI CRM success?Data quality. A Salesforce-commissioned Forrester study found 92% of business leaders believe a strong data strategy is critical for AI success, yet only 34% have a formal strategy in place. AI models trained on incomplete or inaccurate CRM data produce unreliable outputs regardless of the underlying technology.5. How is AI different from standard CRM automation?Standard CRM automation is a rules-based system that executes predefined actions when set conditions are met, like sending a follow-up email three days after a demo. AI in CRM is an adaptive system that learns from data patterns to make predictions that no fixed rule could anticipate, like identifying which deal is most likely to slip before any explicit warning appears.Why do so many AI CRM implementations still fall short?There are two main reasons AI CRM implementations fail, neither of which relies on technology.The first issue is data. A majority of CRM databases are inconsistent, riddled with duplicates, gaps, or outdated data. These all but guarantee the failure of any AI integration at the onset. There are many AI tools that are operational within sales teams. But if there’s bad data going into the system, the output will be bad too.The second issue plaguing teams is specificity. Companies employing broader AI functions without specifying the problem that each AI function solves are unlikely to see any return on their investments. Deploying AI solutions to combat specific problems will render far better results.The use case gap is the real problemThe problem that most sales teams have boils down to targeting.The data and results for the AI use case in the sales pipeline are irrefutable. What most companies need is a clear connection identifying which AI capabilities belong to which sales pipeline stages.The AI use cases above offer the map sales teams need. It’s clear that the companies that have the edge have established the true problem: It’s not that they need more AI, but rather that the AI tools they employ align with specific use cases and solve specific issues. When taking this targeted approach, AI CRM integration becomes a real revenue-driving investment.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Former eastern Iowa city clerk sentenced in theft case Former McCausland city clerk Sheila Bosworth has been sentenced for theft and improper spending.
	Algal toxins emerge as a new concern in Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea A juvenile crab washed ashore on Nome beach after stormy weather is seen on Oct. 1, 2020. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)For countless generations, people of the Bering Strait region have relied on the food they harvest from the sea without worrying about harmful algal blooms that threaten seafood eaters in warmer and more southern latitudes. Now, as the Northern Bering Sea undergoes cascading effects of a warming climate, algal risks pose a new challenge. The change has been dramatic. And it has prompted a change in the way Nome youth grow up learning about collecting food from the waters around their home. In early April, Nome high school students traveled to Bethel with their science teacher, where they presented their research at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference held by Alaska Sea Grant. Algal toxins were present, at very low but detectable levels, in fish they eat. Sophomore Audrey Bruner-Alvanna was among the group of student researchers. She said young people are concerned about algal blooms, which proliferate in warmer conditions, and their potential effects on wild food resources. “Because, you know, as the climate changes, as the world gets warmer and stuff, there’s going to be more of these toxins and stuff during summer,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people that I’ve talked to have been wondering about how our subsistence is going to change in the future based on all of that.” The student research came about after one of the nation’s densest and biggest concentrations of toxin-producing Alexandrium algae ever documented burst forth in the waters of the Bering Strait region in 2022. An adult saffron cod, also known as tomcod, is held by a researcher. (Photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Until the appearance of the “massive bloom, the most toxic bloom, the longest-persisting bloom in the U.S.,” local people barely knew what harmful algal blooms or Alexandrium are, said Emma Pate, president of the Nome Eskimo Community, the local tribal government. “So we had to figure things out and learn really fast,” Pate said during an October “Strait Science” presentation hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Nome campus. That 2022 bloom followed prior years’ discoveries of Alexandrium toxins in clams and marine mammals, and it was followed by more discoveries and another big Alexandrium bloom. For local people, who harvest marine foods year-round, using sea ice as a platform in winter and open water after the ice melts in summer, the developments present new questions. How far in the marine food web have the paralysis-causing algal toxins spread? How can people ensure that wild foods are safe? How can younger generations understand and manage something that used to be a non-issue but is now an environmental reality? SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Those high school students were enlisted to help find some answers. Pate, who was working at the time for the Nome-based tribal health provider Norton Sound Health Corporation, and Gay Sheffield, the Nome-based marine advisory agent for the Alaska Sea Grant program, recruited the students from Nome-Beltz High School. They led them in a crash course in 2023 on harmful algal blooms. The instruction included field work to learn how to sample water for algal contents. The students followed up by descending on Nome’s frozen harbor with ice-fishing gear. They plucked out masses of tomcod, a species also known as saffron cod, that is a favored local food. They shipped off some of the tomcod to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation lab in Anchorage for testing; they cooked, shared and ate the rest. The assumption was that no toxins would show up in tomcod swimming in the harbor in winter but that the exercise would be a good lesson in the scientific method, said Sarah Liben, the Nome-Beltz High science teacher helping to lead the project. Results reported in early 2024 from the DEC lab were startling: Livers of the tomcod that Liben’s students caught held detectable levels of Alexandrium-produced saxitoxin and related gonyautoxin that also cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Levels were far below anything that would pose dangers to people, but the presence itself was an important scientific discovery. “When these results first came out, scientists were actually shocked,” Liben said. Her students’ work continued. An ice-fishing expedition last December produced another round of fish tested at the DEC lab, this time in a different methodology that examined full body contents. The lab tests revealed no saxitoxin in the students’ tomcod, but they did show the presence of potentially poisonous gonyautoxin compounds, which are related to saxitoxin. Three of the Nome -Beltz High School students who took part in the study of algal toxins in local waters and fish, along with their teacher, stand outside the school on April 10, 2026. From left are Allen Yingling, science teacher Sarah Liben, Francis Luelle Papalid and Audrey Bruner-Alvanna. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Changing environment holds a ‘sleeping giant’ Scientists have already confirmed the potential for continued massive blooms of algal toxins in the Bering Strait region and farther north. On the sea floor, they have discovered some of the world’s biggest and most concentrated beds of dormant Alexandrium, the algae that produces saxitoxin and related toxins. Those Alexandrium cyst beds were once the dead end for algal cells that, for decades and even centuries, drifted north and sank. But now underwater temperatures are occasionally high enough to enable those cyst beds to bloom. Don Anderson of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who has been leading research expeditions mapping the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort sea cyst beds, describes them as a “sleeping giant” that are poised to erupt in massive blooms if temperatures get warm enough. A map of Alexandrium cyst abundance, data from 2018–2022 shows significant accumulation zones from the Pribilof Islands to Utqiaġvik. The map was derviced from research cruises led by Don Anderson of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The cysts beds are described by scientists as some of the biggest in the world, growing over decades and possibly centuries but existing in a dormant state in cold water for most of that time. The mapping work stopped at the U.S-Russia maritime border, so the extent of cyst beds in neighboring Russian waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas remains unknown. (Map provided by the Anderson Lab, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) Anderson and Kathi Lefebvre, a Seattle-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research biologist, have devoted several years of study to the spread of harmful algal blooms in Alaska’s northern waters. Their work is part of a NOAA program called Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms, or ECOHAB. In the Bering Strait region, the algal blooms and the toxins they produce are among the long-term and cascading changes that stem from warming. There is less sea ice year-round, and what exists is thinner and younger than the ice cover used to be. Successive marine heat waves have triggered bird and mammals die-offs. Fish species are shifting, with the higher-fat Arctic species like Arctic cod being pushed out by expanding lower-fat boreal species like pollock and Pacific cod. More open waters have drawn more ship traffic through the Bering Strait, the Pacific gateway to the Arctic Ocean. There is increased industrial activity, including harvests by large-scale fishing vessels chasing Pacific cod and other species that have moved north from the southern Bering Sea. Heightened activity extends the military sphere; there are increased geopolitical tensions as Russian and Chinese aircraft and ships make incursions into territory near the strait. All that affects the people who depend on the sea for their food, starting with clams, the usual suspects in paralytic shellfish poisoning cases farther south. Clams retrieved from the seafloor in the floors of the Northern Bering and Chukchi seas during research expeditions from 2019 to 2022, as well as some harvested by residents, turned out to have saxitoxin levels well above the threshold for safe consumption by people. One clam harvested at St. Lawrence Island was shown to have toxin levels more than five times the safety threshold. There were no reports of algal toxin-related sickness in this region during and after the 2022 algal bloom. But it did affect people’s behavior. Many residents opted out of eating their traditional wild foods, substituting sometimes costly store-bought items for them, according to a study co-authored by Nome-based tribal and health care officials. A model of traditional foods for people in the Bering Strait region is displayed at the Bering Land Bridge National Presere visitor center in Nome. The displayed meal, seen April 10, 2026, includes red king crab legs; moose stew; muktuk, or whale fat with skin attached; seal oil; willow greens; and agutiq, or berries mixed with seal oil. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Traditional foods from the sea include the tomcod, like the fish the Nome-Beltz High students caught, which some people eat frozen and dipped in seal oil. They include fish that support important commercial harvests: salmon, halibut and king crab. They also include some invertebrates that might seem a little obscure elsewhere, like tunicates, sometimes called sea squirts. Traditional consumption extends to parts of those fish that are not usually eaten elsewhere – organs like livers, which can be mixed with berries to make a traditional dish, and the crab viscera that is usually discarded by commercial harvesters. That is part of the tradition of “comprehensive utilization of the marine environment for food,” as described by Gay Sheffield, the Nome-based Alaska Sea Grant marine advisory program agent. Walrus concerns Walrus hunting is another tradition for Indigenous residents — supplying meat, along with skins and walrus crafted into artwork. The food includes what is in walrus stomachs. “We eat the clams that wash up from the storms,” said Merle Apassingok, a walrus hunter and traditional knowledge holder from Gambell, one of the two St. Lawrence Island communities. “But we also eat clams from inside the walrus.” Those clams found inside walrus stomachs are already cooked by digestive juices, he explained. “They microwave naturally in the walrus stomach,” he said with a laugh. People who depend on wild foods from the sea have another worry besides algal toxins’ impacts on food safety: the conservation of the fish and wildlife populations that support their cultures. There are already some indications of impacts to clam-eating walruses. In the late summer of 2019, there was a die-off of 39 walruses in the western part of the Bering Strait. Four of them were found to have saxitoxin in their bodies. The walrus die-off was not considered an algal toxin smoking gun, and its cause remains undetermined. It was not until 2024, when several dead northern fur seals were found on St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs archipelago nearly 500 miles south of Nome, that saxitoxin was confirmed as killing any marine mammals. A walrus is seen in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea in June of 2010. (Photo by Sarah Sonsthagen/U.S. Geological Survey) Scientists are trying to learn about what is a toxic level for walruses and other marine mammals, as well as for finfish and birds, said Thomas Farrugia, coordinator of the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network. The network is a collaboration of government agencies, tribal organizations, science institutions and other entities that monitor algal blooms in the state. In general, toxins in birds and mammals are more transitory than they are in clams and mussels, which can hold toxins for several months, Farrugia said. However, toxins can accumulate and linger in organs like fish livers and crab viscera, also known as “crab butter,” which are part of some traditional diets, he said. It will take much more work to figure out what is dangerous for animals and people, Farrugia said. “All this is cutting edge,” he said. Even sublethal amounts of algal toxins could be a problem, he said. Chronic exposure to toxins might, over time, weaken animals and compromise their ability to forage effectively. “It could kill them by starvation, eventually,” he said. Lefebvre pioneered the study of algal toxins in Alaska’s Arctic and subarctic marine mammals. A groundbreaking study she led, published in 2016, found toxins in all 13 species examined. But figuring out the population-wide impact of algal toxins on animals like walruses is difficult, given the wide range of challenges they face in the Arctic, she said. “Marine mammals have so many things to deal with,” she said during an April trip to Nome, where she met with tribal members to plan upcoming research tasks. “I mean, the loss of ice, the warmer waters, the movement of prey, other diseases. And then on top of it, harmful algal bloom toxins.” Loss of summer sea ice is forcing walruses to crowd on shore, away from prime feeding areas where they used to forage from ice floes, for example. In such crowded conditions, young walrus calves can be killed in stampedes. Those stampedes can be touched off by noise and other disturbances from ship and aircraft traffic that is growing as the open-water season widens. Average sea surface temperatures in the Being Sea have risen steadily over the long term, and nine of the 10 warmest years between 1900 and 2023 were recorded after 2020. (Graph provided by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness/University of Alaska Fairbanks) Another question the scientists and tribes are trying to answer is how the fish and mammals are ingesting saxitoxin and related toxins. While walruses’ clam-eating behavior can explain their exposure, the mechanism of toxin delivery to fish like tomcod remains unknown, Farrugia said. The students’ detection of paralytic toxins in tomcod bodies in the winter adds to the mystery. “If you see toxins in December, January or February, somebody along the way, some component in the food chain, has held onto toxins,” he said. Tribes and local partners doing research The emerging questions about algal toxins are at the core of a new ECOHAB project led by Anderson and Lefebvre that is putting Bering Sea tribes at the forefront of the research. The project, part of NOAA’s ECOHAB program, is aimed at assessing the exposure risks and impacts of algal toxins on marine resources utilized for subsistence and the security and safety of traditional wild foods. The Nome Eskimo Community and more than a dozen other tribal governments are partners, as is the North Slope Borough. The project began last year and is to run until 2030. Goals include the fine-tuning of methods to measure harmful algae in the water, building local toxin quantification capabilities and establishing foundations for early warnings about food safety and potential risks to wildlife. The tribes have incentives to take on the project responsibility. The Bering Strait region is somewhat isolated from government agencies that might otherwise do a lot of the work. A rock formation is seen at the edge of Safety Sound east of Nome on Sept. 30, 2020. Safety Sound is an imporant subsistence fishing and hunting area for Nome residents. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The DEC lab in Anchorage that tested the Nome-Beltz High School students’ tomcod is about 550 miles away. While the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the National Park Service have offices and staff in Nome, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Alaska Department of Natural Resources do not. There is no year-round U.S. Coast Guard presence, though the Coast Guard conducts a summer operation based in Kotzebue, 180 miles north of Nome. Trump administration cuts have affected the work of the National Weather Service, an agency that provides information critical to people who gather their foods from the land and water. The detailed daily weather reports broadcast by local radio station KNOM, now come with a disclaimer: “Due to staffing changes at the National Weather Service, the current weather may differ from what has been forecasted.” The region’s residents and the ECOHAB-affiliated scientists are also challenged by the lack of information from the Russian side of the Bering Sea. International tensions have shut down communications, even though conditions and events on the Russian side of the maritime border affect Alaskans. One important feature is the Anadyr Current, which originates in Russia’s Gulf of Anadyr. It is a major source of low-saline water, nutrients and algae, including Alexandrium, that sweeps up through the Bering Strait. Conditions on the Russian side of the Bering Sea might prove important this summer; while the Eastern Bering Sea off Alaska was unusually cold, the Western Bering Sea off Russia has been unusually warm. Those obstacles make local observation and science more important as algal blooms spread north. Still, even as the environment changes, close examination of it is nothing new, said Apassingok, the walrus hunter, who himself is a co-author of a 2024 scientific study about climate change impacts on walrus hunters. “Our forebears were vigilant people,” Apassingok said. “They were vigilant of wild animals, creatures. But nowadays we’re being vigilant on the molecular level, too.” Kathi Lefebvre, a research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries service, stands by a mural at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Nome campus on April 9, 2026. Lefebvre, an expert on algal toxins and their effects on marine mammals, is one of the leaders of a research project partnering with Bering Sea tribes. The project is evaluating risks from harmful algal blooms to subsistence food resources; the mural depicts traditional hunts of walruses, seals and whales, which supply meat that is part of the subsistence diet. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) This article was produced as a project for USC Annenberg’s Center for Health Journalism and Center for Climate Journalism and Communication 2025 Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	The importance of personalized mental health medication treatment (BPT) - In today's world, personalization is the norm. From curated music playlists and tailored shopping recommendations to customized social media feeds, the culture is now shaped around individual preferences. One surprising area that often feels left behind though is mental health treatment.According to the latest GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor national survey from Myriad Genetics®, even in today's highly customizable environment, many Americans feel that mental health treatment isn't designed with them in mind.The survey found that 41% of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety, and who are currently taking a mental health medication, think it feels "one-size-fits-all," and 74% of those who are still finding a medication that works for them say that mental health treatment feels "one-size-fits-all." Of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety, just over two-thirds (67%) say their mental health is a daily struggle, and more than half (52%) feel the healthcare system treats them like part of an "assembly line" more than an individual."People today expect to experience personalization everywhere they go, but many of my patients feel like their mental health treatment is a lengthy, uncertain trial-and-error process," said Dr. Crystal Nelson, board-certified psychiatrist and CEO of Blueprint Psychiatry in Atlanta. "It's crucial to find ways to tailor mental health medication treatment to each individual so they can feel better, sooner."How lack of personalization impacts treatment Many patients feel their mental healthcare isn't tailored to them, which may shape their confidence in their treatment plan. In fact, a majority (roughly 70%) of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety think various aspects of their mental healthcare are "only somewhat," "not very" or "not at all" personalized to them, and most of the same group (88%) say they would be more confident in their mental healthcare plan if it were personalized to them.This lack of confidence is especially important when it comes to mental health medication. Among those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety and currently taking a prescribed mental health medication, nearly two-thirds (65%) are not confident their medication was selected specifically for them. At the same time, patients are signaling that personalization could make a meaningful difference: Nearly three-quarters (74%) indicated that personalization would make them more likely to stay committed to a prescribed mental health medication.This is important, as mental health medication treatment can involve a degree of trial and error. According to the national survey, only 13% of those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression who have taken mental health medication previously said the first medication they tried worked for them, meaning many spend time trying multiple medications before finding one that works. However, 78% of the same group said they felt more like themselves after finding a medication that worked for them, highlighting the value of a more personalized approach to mental health medication treatment.A tool to help personalize treatment: genetic testing For clinicians, genetic testing can be a useful tool to help them offer more personalized mental health treatment. For example, the GeneSight Test from Myriad Genetics is a simple cheek swab that analyzes how a patient's genes may affect medication outcomes. The GeneSight Test looks at clinically important genetic variations in each patient's DNA, providing results that may inform clinicians about how a patient may break down or respond to over 60 FDA-approved medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.These insights supplement other key information, like your medical history, to help your clinician create a comprehensive medical assessment and treatment plan. With this additional information, clinicians can better understand if you may need dose adjustments, if certain medications may be less likely to work for them, or if they may have an increased risk of side effects based on your genetics. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of survey respondents were unaware that genetic testing may help inform mental health medication decisions, but after learning about this option, more than half (55%) say they would have preferred their clinician to offer it as part of their care."The GeneSight Test is a valuable tool in my practice," said Nelson. "Many of my patients are surprised to learn that genetic testing may help inform mental health medication decisions and often wish they had known about it sooner. The test provides additional insights about each person as an individual, helping me make more informed decisions about prescribing mental health medications and better tailoring each patient's treatment plan."Learn more about how genetic testing can help personalize mental health treatment at GeneSight.com.*The GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor is a nationwide survey conducted online by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. between February 23-March 6, 2026, among a representative sample (n=1002) of U.S. adults age 18+. The margin of error in survey results for the total base population at a 95% confidence interval is +/- 4%. A nationally representative sample of adults aged 18 years or older was recruited and balanced to match U.S. Census quotas across five primary metrics (i.e., age, gender, income, education and ethnicity). In addition to the nationally representative sample, a statistically reliable sample was achieved of respondents who were self-reported as being diagnosed by a medical professional with depression or anxiety. ACUPOLL has more than 30 years of experience conducting statistically valid research through careful recruiting and quality control measures.
	Summer hiring made simple: Your small business game plan for the busy season ahead Summer hiring made simple: Your small business game plan for the busy season aheadLate May is when summer hiring should already be in motion. For small businesses in retail, food service, tourism, and hospitality, industries that run on warm-weather customers and shorter seasons, the window to find and train seasonal workers is short, Intuit QuickBooks reports.According to the QuickBooks Small Business Index for May 2026, leisure and hospitality shed 4,300 U.S. jobs in April—the steepest drop of any sector that month. Revenue also fell 4.38% over the same period.That combination makes summer staffing an opportunity to shine. Businesses that approach seasonal hiring with a clear process enter peak weeks with a confident, prepared team ready to deliver their best when it matters most.Start your search by MayThe QuickBooks guide to hiring seasonal employees recommends planning at least one full season in advance—two months before the busy period begins. For a summer season that picks up in late June or July, late May is the moment to move.Early recruitment matters because college students, a major pipeline for seasonal work, start searching before their semesters end. Getting a posting up by late May gives businesses the best shot at reaching motivated, available candidates before they commit elsewhere.Small businesses have a structural advantage here. An owner-operator can extend a job offer in days. A large retailer works through HR processes that take weeks. Used early, that speed becomes a competitive advantage.Know what you need before you postBefore writing a single job listing, assess exactly where your business needs support. Do you need customer-facing sales help? Evening and weekend coverage? Someone to handle packing and shipping? A quick look at last season's sales peaks and staffing patterns can help translate past seasons into specific staffing numbers for this one.Seasonal hires given clear role expectations from day one are better positioned to hit the ground running and more likely to come back next year. Clarifying responsibilities before posting saves time during both hiring and onboarding.Your best hire may already know your businessBefore posting publicly, start your search with former seasonal workers. Someone who worked last summer already understands your products, your customers, and how busy shifts run. They may need little to no additional training—a significant advantage when the season is already underway.Beyond returning workers, relevant experience in the sector matters. A retail business benefits from candidates who have worked a register before. A restaurant does better with someone who has handled a weekend dinner rush. When experienced candidates are scarce, hiring for adaptability and work ethic rather than a polished résumé widens the pool.Seasonal doesn't mean informal in complianceThe Fair Labor Standards Act applies to seasonal workers just as it does to full-time staff. That includes minimum wage, overtime for hours beyond 40 per week, and federal anti-discrimination protections. Businesses that hire younger workers take on additional obligations under federal and state youth labor laws.Depending on state and industry, Social Security contributions and workers’ compensation coverage are also required for seasonal employees. The first paycheck matters more than most—seasonal workers relying on timely pay will notice delays immediately.Rushed onboarding costs more than it savesFor seasonal staff, rushed onboarding is one of the primary drivers of turnover and poor customer service during peak periods. Real onboarding means giving new hires the context, tools, and time to feel confident before their first shift.Effective onboarding includes time to ask questions, a walkthrough of products and services, mock customer scenarios, a clear outline of daily duties, and the chance to shadow a senior team member before working independently. That first-week investment pays back across the whole season.Recognition matters throughout the season. Simple gestures like acknowledging extra effort, praising performance, and displaying trust reduce turnover and build loyalty that makes next year’s hiring easier.Keep track of prior seasonal workersWhen summer ends, the seasonal employees who showed up, learned quickly, and kept customers satisfied are worth tracking. Keep contact information for standout seasonal workers so next year’s search starts with a warm list rather than a blank one.For businesses growing toward a full-time hire before next summer, that list does double duty: a pool of people who already know the operation and have proven themselves under real conditions.Small businesses that start recruiting early, set clear expectations, and invest in proper onboarding consistently come out of peak season with stronger teams—and a shorter search ahead of them next year. The summer window is open. Now's the time to move.This story was produced by QuickBooks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Normal bee sting vs. allergic reaction Normal bee sting vs. allergic reactionWhen enjoying outdoor activities, bee stings are an unfortunate but common occurrence. Understanding the difference between a normal reaction and an allergic response can help you respond appropriately and potentially save a life. While most bee stings cause only temporary discomfort, some individuals may experience severe allergic reactions requiring immediate medical attention. Knowing what to expect, how to treat stings at home, and when to seek professional help empowers you to handle these situations confidently and safely, Doctronic reports.Key TakeawaysNormal bee stings cause localized pain, redness, and mild swelling that resolves within hours to daysAllergic reactions can range from moderate local swelling to life-threatening anaphylaxis within 10 minutesRemove bee stingers immediately using a credit card edge to prevent more venom absorptionSeek emergency care if you experience difficulty breathing, throat swelling, or widespread hives after a stingUnderstanding Normal Bee Sting ReactionsA normal bee sting reaction is what most people experience when stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet. The initial sensation is a sharp, burning pain that radiates a few centimeters from the sting site. Within minutes, you'll notice a small, red welt forming with minor swelling around the area. The affected skin may feel warm to the touch and develop mild itching.The appearance of a normal bee sting is quite distinctive. You'll typically see a small red bump with a tiny black dot in the center where the stinger penetrated the skin. If the bee left its stinger behind, you might notice it as a small, dark speck embedded in your skin. This black dot appearance is particularly common with honeybee stings, as their barbed stingers are more likely to remain lodged in the skin compared to wasp stingers.Normal reactions typically resolve within a few hours to a couple of days. The pain usually subsides within the first hour, though some tenderness may persist. Swelling and redness gradually decrease, and any itching becomes less bothersome. During this healing process, it's important to avoid scratching the area, as this can introduce bacteria and lead to secondary infections.The severity of normal reactions can vary slightly based on the type of insect and individual factors like skin sensitivity. However, if symptoms remain localized to the sting site and don't worsen after the first few hours, you're likely experiencing a typical response that will resolve on its own with basic care.Recognizing Allergic Reactions to Bee StingsAllergic reactions to bee stings fall into two categories: moderate local reactions and severe systemic reactions. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for determining appropriate treatment and when to seek medical help. Similar to how people experience varying responses to other allergens, such as those discussed in Is It Allergies, Asthma, or Understanding Latex Allergy, bee sting allergies can manifest differently in each person.Moderate local reactions involve more extensive swelling and redness that spreads 5-10 centimeters beyond the sting site. The affected area may become significantly swollen, sometimes extending to nearby joints or body parts. For example, a sting on the hand might cause swelling that reaches the wrist or forearm. This type of reaction typically develops over several hours and can last 5-10 days. While uncomfortable and concerning, moderate local reactions are generally not life-threatening.The body's response in allergic reactions occurs because the immune system produces histamine when exposed to bee venom. This histamine release causes the characteristic symptoms of itching, hives, and welts that extend beyond the immediate sting area. Unlike normal reactions, allergic responses may not appear immediately and can sometimes develop hours or even the day after the sting occurs.People who experience moderate local reactions don't necessarily have an increased risk of developing severe allergic reactions with future stings. However, it's wise to be prepared and informed about the signs of more serious reactions, especially if you spend considerable time outdoors or in areas with high bee activity.Anaphylaxis: When Bee Stings Become Life-ThreateningAnaphylaxis represents the most severe form of allergic reaction to bee stings and constitutes a true medical emergency. This systemic reaction affects multiple body systems simultaneously and can rapidly progress to life-threatening complications. Unlike local allergic reactions, anaphylaxis typically occurs within the first 10 minutes after being stung, making quick recognition and treatment absolutely critical.The hallmark symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, widespread hives or rash, rapid pulse, dizziness, and severe drop in blood pressure. Some individuals may also experience nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. The airway swelling can quickly compromise breathing, while the dramatic blood pressure drop can lead to shock and cardiovascular collapse.If you witness someone experiencing these symptoms after a bee sting, call 911 immediately and administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) or spray if available. People with known severe bee sting allergies typically carry these devices and should use them at the first sign of systemic symptoms. Even after epinephrine administration, emergency medical care is essential, as the effects of the medication are temporary and symptoms can return.The unpredictability of anaphylaxis makes it particularly dangerous. Most people experiencing their first severe allergic reaction have no prior warning or history of significant reactions. While allergy testing exists, it's rarely recommended for bee sting allergies due to the low predictive value and potential risks of the testing procedure itself. This unpredictability underscores the importance of recognizing symptoms quickly and responding appropriately.Treatment and Management StrategiesProper treatment of bee stings depends on the severity of the reaction and begins with immediate first aid measures. The first priority is removing any visible stinger, as bee stingers continue to pump venom into the skin for several minutes after the sting. Use the edge of a credit card or fingernail to scrape the stinger out at an angle, avoiding tweezers or pinching motions that might squeeze more venom into the wound.For normal reactions, home treatment focuses on reducing pain, swelling, and preventing infection. Clean the area thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water, then apply a cold compress for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling and numb the pain. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines like Benadryl, Claritin, or Zyrtec can help control itching and reduce histamine-mediated swelling.Topical treatments can provide additional relief for localized symptoms. Hydrocortisone cream helps reduce inflammation, while topical antihistamines like Benadryl cream can address itching and minor hives. Some people find relief using home remedies like a paste made from baking soda and water, which has natural anti-inflammatory properties. However, avoid hydrogen peroxide on bee stings, as it can actually slow the healing process.For those with known allergies, management strategies extend beyond immediate treatment. Just as individuals with other allergies might consider allergy shots for long-term relief, people with severe bee sting allergies may benefit from venom immunotherapy. This treatment involves gradually exposing the immune system to increasing amounts of bee venom to reduce sensitivity over time. Courtesy of Doctronic Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long does a normal bee sting reaction last?Normal bee sting reactions typically resolve within a few hours to 2-3 days. Pain usually subsides within the first hour, while minor swelling and redness gradually decrease over the following days.Can you develop a bee sting allergy later in life?Yes, bee sting allergies can develop at any age, even after previous stings without reactions. Your immune system can become sensitized over time, making future stings potentially more problematic.Should I go to the doctor for every bee sting?Most bee stings can be treated at home with basic first aid. Seek medical care if symptoms worsen after 5 days, show signs of infection, or if you experience any systemic allergic symptoms.Is it safe to use home remedies like toothpaste on bee stings?While some home remedies like baking soda paste may provide mild relief, stick to proven treatments like antihistamines and cold compresses. Avoid unproven remedies that might irritate the skin further.How can I prevent bee stings when outdoors?Wear closed-toe shoes, avoid bright colors and floral patterns, don't swat at bees, cover food and drinks, and avoid areas with high bee activity like flowering plants or hives.The Bottom LineUnderstanding the difference between normal bee sting reactions and allergic responses empowers you to respond appropriately in these situations. While most bee stings cause only temporary discomfort that resolves with basic home care, recognizing the warning signs of allergic reactions can be life-saving. Remember that anaphylaxis occurs rapidly and requires immediate emergency treatment, while moderate local reactions, though uncomfortable, are generally manageable with proper care. Whether dealing with seasonal allergies like those covered in Understanding and Managing Hay or acute reactions to bee stings, having reliable medical guidance is invaluable.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	West End Revitalization will host Centennial Corridor community discussion West End Revitalization (WER) will host a community discussion on the future of the Centennial Bridge corridor and its potential impacts on the West End, according to a news release. As the June 3 public comment deadline approaches, WER seeks holding space for residents, businesses, and stakeholders to better understand the process and share concerns, [...]
	How electric fireplaces can impact value for a home How electric fireplaces can impact value for a homeHomeowners are always thinking about what they can do to add equity to their homes while homebuyers are similarly thinking about home valuation before purchasing. Installing fireplaces is one way, as they can be the focal point of any room, whether it be a living room, bedroom, or covered patio; the options are endless. They can add elegance and sophistication for a more comfortable atmosphere, while also adding overall value to the home. Redfin reports that homes with fireplaces are often listed for more (on average, 13% above the national median).Unsurprisingly, homes with fireplaces located in regions with cold, long winters especially see an increase in value in the homes. While owners and buyers have the option to choose a gas, wood, or electric fireplace, Modern Flames took a closer look at the value fireplaces add to a home and why electric fireplaces are the most flexible and affordable.With an electric fireplace, installation is easy and affordable; all you need is wall space or an existing wood or gas fireplace. Replacing an outdated wood or gas fireplace is hassle-free, since electric fireplaces are available as inserts that simply fit into that designated space. Similarly, built-ins are a low-maintenance solution that can work with most walls without the need for a chimney or ventilation system. It can be an easier and quicker process, especially when renovating. In addition, electric fireplaces operate efficiently — saving money and energy in the long run for homeowners.Electric fireplaces are designed to be versatile, functional, and beautiful. They can also produce enough heat to warm a room or operate without the heat, providing a year-round feature at home. You get the comfort of warmth without the hassle of gas lines or the clean-up from a traditional wood-burning fireplace. They also provide efficient heating, typically providing warmth less than a minute after turning the heat on, unlike wood or gas, which require ignition and buildup time. Many also include a built-in thermometer so you can set the heat level to your personal preference. In addition to heat, many electric fireplaces include ambient crackling sounds, engineered to recreate the warmth and comfort of a natural wood fire.The flame colors, patterns, and speed can be changed with the touch of a button, either on a remote control or sometimes an app, creating a personal experience that is unique to you and your home. Some of the most advanced electric fireplaces allow users to download new flame styles, colors, or themes. Integration within a smart home is smooth and subtle, allowing Alexa or Google Home to work seamlessly with the features provided along with an electric fireplace.When looking for a competitive edge in the real estate market, consider adding an electric fireplace to your home or replacing an aging gas or wood fireplace with an electric fireplace insert. Welcome a modern solution to your home that creates a centerpiece you’ll be proud to showcase.This story was produced by Modern Flames and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	SpaceX stock: 7 things every investor should know ahead of the SpaceX IPO SpaceX stock: 7 things every investor should know ahead of the SpaceX IPOThe newly unveiled Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) S-1 registration statement delivers essential financial disclosures that potential investors must scrutinize before considering buying SpaceX stock. This filing officially lifts the veil on SpaceX's financials, detailing everything from its rapid Starlink subscriber growth to a massive, capital-intensive pivot into orbital artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.Because this is a preliminary prospectus — the regulatory filing companies submit before going public — the final share price and size of the public float, which is the number of shares available to buy, are still blank. Investors will need to monitor subsequent announcements closely, as these missing figures will ultimately dictate the exact share availability, SpaceX's stock price, and SpaceX's valuation at debut.Prospective buyers should keep a close eye on the upcoming timeline as the company gears up for its historic market launch. The official executive roadshow is expected to begin June 4, which will lead directly to the final initial public offering (IPO) pricing on June 11. Trading is expected to officially commence the very next day, with the highly anticipated public listing on June 12.Below, The Motley Fool breaks down what investors need to know ahead of the SpaceX IPO.Key PointsSpaceX S-1 reveals a $4.9 billion loss in 2025, driven by heavy AI and Starship investments.Elon Musk, who serves as CEO, CTO, and chairman of SpaceX, retains 85.1% voting power post-IPO, ensuring control over company decisions.Starlink, SpaceX's profitable segment, shows slowing growth with revenue per user decreasing.SpaceX was not profitable in 2025, and the S-1 explains whyWhile SpaceX posted a net income of $791 million in 2024, its new S-1 filing reveals a pivot to a $4.9 billion net loss in 2025 due to aggressive investment in the business.The loss does not mean the underlying business is faltering. The company's space and connectivity segments demonstrated their financial muscle, generating $6.6 billion in non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and $6.8 billion in operating cash flow over the same period. The Motley Foot Instead, the net loss stems directly from a $6.4 billion operating loss in its newly integrated AI segment and $3 billion in capital expenditures dedicated to developing the company's massive Starship rocket, totaling $20.7 billion.To cushion this intensive spending, SpaceX also holds 18,712 Bitcoin, purchased at a cost basis of $661 million, which had a fair value of $1.637 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.These metrics show that while the launch and satellite operations are engines of real cash, overall short-term profitability is being absorbed by the double-edged sword of scaling xAI and accelerating Starship simultaneously.Elon Musk controls 85% of the votes required to remove him as CEO and chairmanThe SpaceX filing continues a trend in tech IPOs toward founders taking steps to retain control.Post-offering, CEO Musk will retain 85.1% of the combined voting power preoffering, including 93.6% of the class B shares, which will elect 51% of the board as a separate class. Because of this structure, any attempt to remove Musk as CEO or chairman requires the approval of a majority of class B shares, effectively giving him absolute unilateral control over leadership.To raise future capital without diluting this tightly held power dynamic, SpaceX has also authorized the issuance of 10 billion nonvoting class C shares.It should also be noted that legal recourse for outside investors is severely limited. All shareholder disputes are funneled into mandatory ICC arbitration, stripping shareholders of their rights to class actions or jury trials.This framework means public shareholders receive pure economic exposure to SpaceX's growth but no meaningful governance rights. This extreme voting concentration, zero-vote share structure, and restrictive legal environment underscore a vital reality for potential buyers: You aren't just investing in a company, you are explicitly buying into Musk himself.Starlink is the only profitable segment of SpaceX, but growth is slowingSpaceX’s S-1 reveals that Starlink is its only profitable segment, generating $11.4 billion in revenue in 2025, even though its annual revenue growth slowed to 49.8% from 96.4% in 2024.Despite this deceleration, the division boasts exceptionally robust margins, recording GAAP operating income of $4.4 billion, a 39% GAAP operating margin, and a 63% non-GAAP segment-adjusted EBITDA margin. To feed this massive deployment, SpaceX utilized 122 of its 165 total Falcon launches in 2025 for internal Starlink missions, successfully propelling total subscribers to 10.3 million as of March 31, 2026 — a 105% year-over-year increase. The Motley Foot However, this rapid global expansion has diluted pricing power, causing average revenue per user (ARPU) to plunge from $91 a month in 2024 to $81 in 2025, and down to $66 in the first quarter of 2026. So while Starlink is highly profitable with strong margins, its average revenue per subscriber has fallen 27% in just over a year.This trend is critical for potential shareholders to track, as Starlink's cash generation is funding both the company's intensive Starship development and its massive AI investment cycle.The big question for the market is whether this declining ARPU will soon stabilize, and if the segment can continue expanding at a pace that will satisfy public investors.Anthropic is paying SpaceX $1.25B a monthInvestors found out earlier this year about a deal between SpaceX and Anthropic. The S-1 provided the details, most notably the $1.25 billion monthly compute fee Anthropic will pay through May 2029.The SpaceX AI segment generated $3.2 billion in revenue in 2025, and Grok reached 117 million monthly active users (MAUs) as of March 31, 2026.SpaceX also has the option to acquire AI firm Cursor at an implied equity value of $60 billion.The newly revealed Anthropic contract confirms there is genuine, large-scale commercial demand for SpaceX’s AI compute infrastructure rather than just internal workloads.This deal serves as the strongest evidence that SpaceX's heavy tech infrastructure commands true market value, forcing prospective investors to decide whether the AI segment's steep losses represent a lucrative multi-year investment or an ongoing financial drain.The AI bet is enormous, and years from profitableSpaceX aggressively expanded its technological footprint in 2025, investing roughly $19 billion in AI as overall spending continued to accelerate.In total, the company reported a 2025 operating loss of $6.4 billion from AI, with $12.7 billion in AI capital expenditures (capex) and $5.1 billion in AI research and development. Additionally, the company recorded $9.1 billion in "other financings," representing AI infrastructure assets categorized as failed sale-leaseback transactions. The Motley Foot This momentum carried over heavily into Q1 2026, when AI capex reached $7.7 billion. That number surpassed the company's full-year 2023 capex of $4.4 billion.SpaceX's space and connectivity businesses are both EBITDA-positive. Investors hope the AI segment can follow a similar path, but on a capital base roughly 10 times larger.SpaceX carries $29B in debtAs of March 31, 2026, SpaceX's total debt stands at $29.1 billion, including a $20 billion bridge loan established in March 2026 to retire xAI's legacy debt.In the "Use of Proceeds" section of the S-1, SpaceX is focused on growth, noting investments in AI compute infrastructure, launch infrastructure, and satellite constellations. However, a separate liquidity disclosure reveals a stricter reality, disclosing that the $20 billion bridge loan must be repaid within six months of receiving IPO proceeds.This means that a highly meaningful portion of what investors are funding through the IPO is actually a massive debt refinancing rather than new operating investments.Further complicating the long-term capital outlook is a separate deal with EchoStar to acquire its wireless spectrum assets, set to close in November 2027. That deal includes the issuance of 261.8 million new Class A shares at $42.40 per share, plus up to $8.5 billion in cash.As a result of these heavy financial commitments and restrictive debt covenants, no dividends are planned for the foreseeable future.SpaceX dominates space launches, but it’s betting the future on StarshipSpaceX commanded more than 80% of the global mass to orbit in 2025, continuing an aggressive trajectory in which total payload mass surged from 1,210 metric tons in 2023 to 1,699 metric tons in 2024 and to 2,213 metric tons in 2025.This scaling is underpinned by extreme efficiency, with Falcon Heavy reducing launch costs to low Earth orbit to just $1,400/kg — a 92% drop from NASA’s historical average of $18,500/kg.Flight-proven boosters handled 157 of 165 launches in 2025, including a single booster reused 34 times.While this unmatched launch dominance provides the structural foundation for both Starlink’s economics and the company's orbital AI ambitions, future growth hinges entirely on Starship, which received $3 billion in 2025 R&D and is targeting its first commercial payload delivery in the second half of 2026.This timeline carries intense pressure because Starship has not yet successfully delivered a commercial payload to orbit.The success of Starship could determine the success of the space business. The prospectus flags any potential Starship delay as the single most consequential risk to SpaceX's growth strategy.How should investors think about the SpaceX IPO?The prospectus confirms that SpaceX's core launch and satellite operations are robust, cash-generative engines, with the company commanding more than 80% of global mass to orbit in 2025 and Starlink generating $11.4 billion in connectivity revenue. But the steep 2025 net loss of $4.9 billion also shows the impact of growing investments into Starship R&D and a rapidly scaling AI infrastructure segment.On governance and leverage, the filing discloses an incredibly restrictive structure in which Musk controls 85.1% of the voting power, leaving public shareholders with economic exposure but no meaningful corporate governance rights. Furthermore, SpaceX carries $29.1 billion in total debt, including a critical $20 billion bridge loan used to retire xAI's legacy debt that must be repaid within six months of closing the IPO. While the final company valuation and exact equity dilution remain unanswered until pricing, it is clear that a meaningful portion of investor funds will immediately go toward debt refinancing rather than fueling fresh operational expansion.Ultimately, the prospectus frames SpaceX as a high-stakes combination of an unparalleled aerospace growth story and an early-stage, capital-intensive AI titan. The opportunity lies in the company successfully replicating its space profitability model across an AI infrastructure segment built on a capital base roughly 10 times larger. The challenge, like the challenge of reusable rockets and moon colonies, is formidable. But the opportunity is massive if SpaceX can execute from here.FAQWhat does SpaceX's IPO prospectus say about its finances?SpaceX’s prospectus revealed a highly complex financial picture. The document shows that while its core aerospace operations generate significant cash, the company has transformed into a massive, capital-intensive bet on artificial intelligence infrastructure.Is SpaceX profitable?SpaceX is not currently profitable, but it has been profitable in the past. The company posted a net loss of $4.9 billion last year, down from a net income of $791 million in 2024.What is Elon Musk's stake in SpaceX after the IPO?Musk will control 85.1% of SpaceX's voting power after the IPO, including ownership of 93.6% of a special B-class of shares.This story was produced by The Motley Fool and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Free fishing days returning to Oregon next weekend Oregon residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy free fishing days across the state’s waterways June 6 and 7. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)Oregon residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy free fishing days across the state’s waterways June 6 and 7. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering free fishing days so anyone can fish, clam or crab without a license or tag. And on June 6, Oregon State Parks is offering free parking. All other fishing regulations still apply, including area closures, gear restrictions, bag limits, size restrictions and season regulation changes for certain fish. Drought conditions may impact fishing conditions, particularly in smaller lakes and ponds. Anglers should consider fishing early in the day or changing it up to warm water fish like bass, bluegill and crappie. The agency offers a weekly Recreation Report with information about the best bets for fishing for the upcoming week. Anglers can expect lots of rainbow trout to be stocked in Oregon’s ponds and lakes for free fishing days. Agency staff, volunteers and partner organizations will host events near Ukiah, Toledo, Silverton, Florence, Gaston and Eugene, as well as a youth-only event near Estacada, to teach new anglers how to fish. Fishing gear will be provided at those locations. While crabbing is open statewide, there are location restrictions on clamming. As of Thursday, razor clamming is open from the Washington border to Cape Blanco, and closed from Cape Blanco to the California border because of elevated levels of domoic acid. Shellfish harvesting status is available on the Oregon Department of Agriculture website. Those interested in clamming or crabbing should visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website to see a map of locations and tips. The state regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make them unsafe to eat. For more information about upcoming Free Fishing Days and events, visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	Asia defense summit opens amid doubts over U.S. priorities The Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will also address tensions in the Middle East and Russia's war on Ukraine.
	Patching project may result in single lane of traffic on Scott County road Beginning Monday, June 1, 2026, Y4E (Allens Grove Road and 275th Street) may be reduced to one lane of traffic from the south corporate limits of the City of Dixon to Y52 (115th Avenue) for a Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) patching project., a news release says. Traffic will be maintained with flaggers and a pilot [...]
	15 beers to try during Quad-Cities Craft Beer Week Quad-Cities Craft Beer Week runs May 29-June 5. Here are 15 local beers worth adding to your list.
	Colona to install new storm sirens Had the city not acted on Tuesday, the plans would have been delayed until August.

Friday, May 29th, 2026