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

Monday, July 27th, 2026
	Rock Island considers ordinance for high-CC motorized bikes, ATVs, dirt bikes A new ordinance proposed by the Rock Island City Council would curb reckless driving on mini bikes, ATVs and dirt bikes. Police say the city is getting a lot of complaints about those vehicles on major roads around town. "I wouldn't say it's specifically a Rock Island issue. It's a statewide issue," said Tim Muehler, [...]
	Less than 40 without power in Quad Cities Less than 40 people are without power in the Quad Cities Monday night. .
	2nd man charged in Bettendorf recreational field vandalism A second person has been charged in the burning of a new recreational field in Kiwanis Park.
	New Davenport gym offers workouts, personalized training, child care Burn Boot Camp just opened on Ravenwood Lane off East 53rd Street, Davenport. The gym offers 45-minutes workouts, personalized training, and more. You also can bring your kids, because the gym offers "childwatch," which acts as a daycare during your 45-minute workout. "There's a lot of moms in our community that need something like this. [...]
	Community meets new police department leaders at Davenport meet-and-greet Davenport residents had a chance to visit a police department in the Quad Cities metro area to meet its new leaders. The Davenport Police Department hosted a meet-and-greet Monday for new Chief Greg Behning and Assistant Chief Jason Smith. Both hope these kinds of community events will help local law enforcement connect with the community [...]
	Chicago Farmer will bring 'working-class folk music' to Cambridge concert Chicago Farmer, the performing name of Illinois singer-songwriter Cody Diekhoff, will bring his heartfelt, working-class folk music to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Friday, July 31. Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages concert will begin at 7 p.m., following an optional community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Raised in the small farming [...]
	TEDxDavenport returns Aug. 12 with new venue, expanded speaker lineup TEDxDavenport returns Aug. 12 at The Last Picture House, featuring a new venue, a diverse speaker lineup and a rooftop meet‑and‑greet, with limited seating tickets available now.
	Christmas in July: QC Arts reveals 2026 Festival of Trees theme, calls for designers Quad City Arts has announced the 2026 Festival of Trees theme, Winter Wonderland, while encouraging designers to register by Aug. 1 for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card ahead of the Nov. 21–29 event at the RiverCenter.
	Muscatine chooses preservation plan for evacuated downtown block over full demolition Muscatine will pursue a plan to stabilize much of its evacuated downtown block after engineers said several historic buildings can still be saved.
	Monmouth under partial boil order Monmouth was under a partial boil order Monday evening. Click on the video to see and hear where residents in portions of the city are advised to boil their water before drinking or using it.
	Rand Paul releases Anthony Fauci's pandemic-era diary notes. Here's what they tell us Sen. Rand Paul has released a tranche of Dr. Anthony Fauci's diary entries from the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci is set to appear before a Senate committee Wednesday on the origins of the coronavirus.
	Red Cross issues rare blood-crisis declaration; QCA donation dates scheduled For only the second time in history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis — and patients may already be feeling the impact, according to a news release that says donors are asked to act immediately to help save lives. Quad-City donation Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening [...]
	Cisco's Mexican Bar and Grill to reopen in Moline The restaurant sustained minor damage when part of its brick facade gave way on July 11.
	Over 1500 without power in Iowa Quad Cities More than 1500 people are without power in the Iowa Quad Cities Monday evening.
	Moline Public Works to host Touch-a-Truck event Kids will be able to honk horns, sit in the driver’s seat and get a close look at the vehicles.
	Iowa advocates push for federal newborn supply program Iowa advocates were in the nation’s capital pushing for a bipartisan bill that would support a federal program providing newborn supply kits and postpartum resources to new mothers.
	Over 1600 without power in Iowa Quad Cities More than 1600 people are without power in the Iowa Quad Cities Monday evening.
	Power outage affects hundreds in Iowa QC Hundreds of people in the Iowa Quad Cities are without power as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to MidAmerican Energy updates. The cause is a tree on wires, according to a text from MidAmerican to customers. Crews are working to restore power, which is estimated to return by 7:30 p.m., the text says.
	Extreme heat moves Rock Island High School band practice indoors Extreme heat pushed the Rock Island High School marching band indoors, and as wildfire smoke returns, they may have to go indoors for the remainder of the week.
	Davenport man faces attempted-murder charges: Court records A 34-year-old Davenport man faces felony charges after a gunfire incident early Monday in Davenport, according to Scott County arrest affidavits. Demaine Glenn faces charges of attempted murder, going armed with intent, dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon, and trafficking in stolen weapons - first offense, affidavits show. Glenn "did intentionally attempt to [...]
	Just over 1,500 MidAmerican customers without power in Davenport The impacted area is near E. Kimberly Road and Brady Street.
	A new hottest day of the year! To start the work week in the Quad Cities we were greeted with some very intense and dangerous heat all across the area. This includes a new holder for the hottest day of the year as we reached a high of 96 degrees this afternoon, bringing our 90 days total up to 15. On top [...]
	LeClaire Culver's to hold grand opening The new Culver's in LeClaire will hold its grand opening on Aug. 10.
	He Unsaid, She Unsaid: “Motor City,” “Hadestown: The Musical,” and “Her Private Hell” It's not that the characters can't talk. They just don't, or do without our being able to hear them, and that makes many of the goings-on here silly to the point of absurdity.
	Packets for Rock Island candidates available now Candidates for office in the City of Rock Island may pick up a campaign packet beginningTuesday, July 28, at 8 a.m. in the City Clerk’s office, 1528 Third Ave., a news release says. The packets include general information regarding the election and the necessary forms for nomination. Offices to be elected in Rock Island in [...]
	Tip leads to arrest of Davenport man for allegedly possessing child sex abuse materials A tip from Snapchat to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest of a Davenport man for allegedly possessing child sex abuse materials.
	St. Ambrose University president meets Pope Leo, discusses AI This summer, Dr. Amy Novak traveled to Rome to meet with Pope Leo XIV. They discussed technology, a call to action and service and even a joke about Saint Ambrose.
	Snowstar to hold Slip 'n Slide event amid extreme heat Snowstar will hold a Slip 'n Slide event on Aug. 1 and 2 from 1 to 5 p.m.
	Muscatine's SPARK! students design logo for Towhead Island The island was gifted to the community foundation to support conservation, education, recreation and community engagement.
	Illinois recognizes gambling addiction, allowing new treatment options Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Friday that officially recognizes gambling disorder as an addiction in Illinois.
	Snowstar holding Slip 'n Slide event amid hot temperatures this weekend The event will be held Aug. 1 and 2 from 1-5 p.m. A single ticket is $15, and a family pack of four is $50.
	Dangerous heat drives demand at The Third Place QC As dangerous heat settles over the Quad Cities, The Third Place QC in Rock Island is seeing more people turn to the daytime resource center for relief.
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Tonight
	Traffic Alert: Section of 12th Street closed in Rock Island Part of 12th Street is closed in Rock Island for roadway improvements starting Monday.
	Authors have mixed feelings about the $1.5B Anthropic copyright infringement ruling Some say the $3,100 per title payout is small compensation for what they view as big, ongoing threats from the makers of generative AI models.
	Arconic Foundation helps to eliminate $3.5 million in medical debt in the Quad-Cities More than 2,775 residents in the Quad-Cities were helped.
	Pritzker signs bills designating Emmett Till Day, requiring boater’s liability insurance Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation codifying the designation ahead of what would have been Till’s 85th birthday. It was one of 78 bills the governor signed last week.
	Arconic Foundation wipes millions in medical debt in its communities The company's charitable arm partnered with Undue Medical Debt to erase nearly $30 million in medical debt for those living in communities near Arconic facilities.
	Geneseo house struck by vehicle Police say a house was hit by a vehicle on North Chicago Street in Geneseo on Monday morning.
	$3.5M in medical debt bought, eliminated in Quad Cities The Arconic Foundation teamed up with Undue Medical Debt to erase $3.5 million in medical debt for 2,775 people across the Quad Cities region.
	Full Interview: Dr. Amy Novak discusses meeting with Pope Leo Dr. Novak is the president of St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University. She joined The Current to share what Pope Leo had to say during their meeting.
	John's colleague told him he didn't belong. It was just what he needed to hear John Moe was languishing at his job when a woman in HR reminded him of his potential.
	New genetic approaches raise hopes for restoring the American chestnut to its former glory The American chestnut tree was a dominant and iconic species in many Appalachian forests until it was devastated by an introduced fungus from Asia called chestnut blight. Healthy American chestnuts were giants in the forest. Forest History Society, Durham, N.C. A majestic forest tree, an American chestnut was typically 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) in height, but could grow as tall as 150 feet (45 meters) over its several-hundred-year lifespan. Its leafy canopy provided shade and beauty from Maine to Mississippi. The chestnuts it produced had helped to nourish wildlife, Indigenous peoples and European settlers alike. Its rot-resistant wood was also prized for lumber. People first noticed the blight fungus in New York City in 1904, when it began killing trees at the Bronx Zoo. Over subsequent decades, it spread south and east through the chestnut’s range, killing nearly every mature tree in its path. A ghost forest of blighted American chestnuts. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Chestnut lovers, foresters and scientists – many under the umbrella of the American Chestnut Foundation – have been working for about a century to bring the trees back. The main strategy has been the use of conventional crossbreeding methods to create blight-resistant varieties. Resistance is exceedingly rare in the American chestnut itself. So breeders have relied on hybridization, crossing the American chestnut with the naturally resistant Asian chestnut by putting pollen from one into the flowers of the other. They recross the hybrids with American chestnut and pick out offspring that are blight-resistant and look like American chestnuts in growth and form. However, progress had been limited. More recently, scientists have learned more about the tree’s genome – its complete set of DNA – including how its genes are expressed, interact and give rise to traits. Now, researchers are turning to genome science for new strategies for chestnut restoration. I am a forest biotechnologist who has been studying and teaching about the genetics and engineering of forest trees and other plants for more than 40 years. My laboratory has been using genomic methods, and developing gene transfer and editing methods, for a variety of tree species, including the American chestnut. Our goal is to develop improved genetic transformation techniques to facilitate the restoration of American chestnuts to their dominant role in Eastern forests. OXO excites, then disappoints The first major genetic engineering approach focused on inserting a single gene from bread wheat into the American chestnut. This gene encodes a protein called OXO, short for oxalate oxidase, which breaks down oxalic acid, the fungus’s key weapon for invading and killing plant tissues. For about 20 years, it appeared the OXO gene could produce fully blight-resistant and healthy chestnuts. This work was pioneered by the late William Powell and his colleagues in the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the State University of New York in Syracuse. Unfortunately, recent field results suggest that this approach is not working as well as hoped. Many of the trees with the OXO gene unexpectedly developed large abnormal growths called galls, grew slower and showed other symptoms of poor health. Although work to expand and refine the OXO approach continues, new methods and insights from the ongoing genomics revolution in biology have provided new options. Genomics is helping in two distinct ways Scientists using genome-guided breeding can rapidly identify thousands of DNA segments that, when used together, can predict blight resistance in young, healthy plants. Then researchers can choose individual trees for making crosses, and for field testing, that have genomes that contain those same DNA segments. This method enables much faster breeding progress, as breeders can quickly zero in on the best parent trees and progeny, rather than waiting five or more years for the baby tree to grow to see how it fares against the blight. By improving the precision of field studies and disease evaluation, it can save time and money. An ‘omics’ approach looks at the genes, the mRNA transcripts and the proteins that the transcripts direct the cell to make. Rujirat Boonyong/iStock via Getty Images Plus The second genomic approach, often just called “omics,” focuses not just on DNA segments, but on genes and what they do. The goal is to figure out how the presence or absence of a particular gene, the matching mRNA transcripts or cellular biochemicals that a gene codes for relates to blight resistance. Scientists have now identified numerous genes and expressed molecules that are statistically associated with blight resistance in Asian chestnuts. These are logical targets for genetic transformation approaches – that is, using genetic engineering methods to modify naturally occurring genes or introduce genes from one organism into another. My lab has been practicing these techniques for many years in poplars, eucalypts, hops and, recently, chestnut. The goal is to insert genes from Asian chestnuts, or modify American chestnut genes to act more like those in Asian chestnuts. Genomics-informed studies have been carried on in a modest way for some time, but they are poised to expand rapidly given all the new genomics-informed leads now in hand, together with highly efficient gene-editing technologies like CRISPR. There are also some surviving large American chestnuts, some of which have heritable blight resistance. Genomic studies of these rare survivors can provide additional insight into the critical genes and processes keeping them healthy, potentially informing both genome-guided breeding and transformation approaches. American chestnut shoots propagated in tissue culture, ready for use in transformation experiments. Steven Strauss Challenges beyond the science From a scientific viewpoint, genomics-guided breeding and genetic transformation approaches are complementary technologies. The former integrates easily into conventional breeding because it’s just another way to choose parents for crossing and field testing. Transformation approaches enable researchers to create or refine novel mechanisms that are not easily accessible by simple breeding. In practice, however, both tactics add significant costs to conventional breeding. To make matters worse, transformation approaches also face two additional noneconomic barriers to adoption. First, for reasons scientists don’t yet understand, chestnut remains technically challenging to genetically transform. It is often hard to insert genes into chestnut cells; and even once the DNA is in cells, it can be very difficult to get those modified cells to develop into normal plants. Another limiting factor is that most previous transformation approaches have relied on tissues from developing seeds that are only available during limited times of the year and require very specialized culturing methods. My lab is currently working on a new and hopefully more efficient approach that we hope will mitigate this bottleneck. Researchers pollinate flowers on American chestnut trees at a field research station. Lauren Petracca/The Washington Post via Getty Images via The Conversation Genetic transformation approaches also face major social barriers in the form of government regulations. Though any kind of chestnut hybrid can be grown in the field freely, those produced with most transformation methods – even when using chestnut genes as the “active ingredients” – cannot. Transformation-modified trees require strict containment and federal inspections during field studies. Pollen or seed movement – which are very difficult to restrict from mature trees – would violate federal guidelines. Limits on field trials are likely one of the reasons that the problems with OXO were not revealed for many years. The Agriculture Department has recently begun considering regulatory changes that I hope lead to regulations more in line with consensus scientific advice about genetically engineered crops; these should ease the burdens of conducting field tests. But similar moves over past decades have failed or been reversed due to legal challenges. Market restrictions also come into play. All the major green certifiers, such as the Forest Stewardship Council, do not allow any materials that result from transformation approaches in certified forest products. These prohibitions on gene editing and transfer reduce the land area where trees created with transformation approaches could be grown, and dampen interest in associated research. As a scientist, I hope that the barriers to transformation approaches for chestnut, which also apply to the many other forest trees under threat from exotic pathogens and climate stresses, fade. Genomic methods in all their forms have the potential to help protect and restore forests. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Steve Strauss, Oregon State University Read more: New genetically engineered American chestnut will help restore the decimated, iconic tree Can genetic engineering save disappearing forests? Nobel Prize for CRISPR honors two great scientists – and leaves out many others Steve Strauss' laboratory at Oregon State University receives research (not personal) funding from a variety of industry and government organizations, including the National Science Foundation, USDA, and DOE, to advance the science and methods relevant to plant and tree biotechnology. He has also consulted with The American Chestnut Foundation and supervised grant reviews for chestnut related studies under The former Forest Health Initiative (https://2017-2019.archive.usendowment.org/what-we-do/forest-health/forest-health-initiative/).
	Jimothy the raccoon survived against the odds, a testament to sophisticated brains and devoted mothers As a neuroscientist who studies raccoon and rats, I see the viral story of Jimothy the raccoon as a compelling tale of an animal overcoming disability and surviving in the wild. Jimothy, the unique-looking raccoon living in Seattle, became an internet celebrity over the course of a week in July 2026, thanks to a viral Instagram post that has amassed millions of views and thousands of comments cheering for the proverbial underdog. Jimothy has even been honored with a city proclamation. Something about him was obviously different. His body and tail were unusually short, and his back was curved. Although Jimothy hasn’t been officially examined by a veterinarian, he’s thought to have a form of a rare cervical vertebral malformation called short spine syndrome. A handful of cases have been seen in dogs. These animals are born with a condition that prevents their vertebrae from fully developing. With less physical space in the body, organs are crowded into a smaller space than usual and can lead to mobility issues. Adaptations are necessary for these animals to navigate their environments and secure the necessary resources for survival. How did Jimothy overcome the odds and emerge as a survivor? The sophisticated raccoon brain Although it’s easy to imagine a pet dog that’s under the close care of human pet parents surviving a challenging condition such as short spine syndrome – the probability of a disabled or injured wild animal successfully living in the uncertain outdoors is a different story. Even for healthy raccoon, it’s a challenge to survive the harrowing time of being a helpless newborn. Up to half of young kits die without emerging from the natal den. If an individual raccoon is among the fortunate to leave the den as a young adult, life’s challenges don’t stop there. Typically there are no safe zones that are reliably protected from predators. To survive, raccoon have to be vigilant, persistent and physically agile to navigate the physical and mental challenges of life in the wild. In fact, it’s so dangerous out in the wild that many raccoon only live two to five years, even though they have the capacity to live for around 12 years in captivity. It’s difficult to imagine how Jimothy has navigated life’s challenging terrain to survive in the wild. However, if any mammal can transcend the limitations of a disability, raccoon would be at the top of my list. The dexterity of raccoon hands enables their humanlike escapades. Zocha_K/iStock via Getty Images Plus Very few studies have been conducted on the raccoon brain, but my lab’s limited research has revealed the neuroarchitecture of a complex and sophisticated brain. Raccoon have exceptionally high neuron densities, resembling those of small primates. More neurons lead to greater flexibility in behavior, a characteristic that is likely facilitating Jimothy’s survival. My team also identified the presence of specialized and fast-conducting brain cells called von Economo neurons, which are typically located in the areas of the brain involved in emotional, social and internal processing in people. And perhaps the neuroevolutionary pièce de résistance of the raccoon: their hands. The forepaws of raccoon are extremely dexterous and sensitive, and occupy a large portion of their brain’s motor cortex, like that of people. This investment in hand movement takes raccoon learning abilities to the next level – explaining why Toronto paid roughly US$24 million to develop raccoon-proof trash bins. These brain capabilities likely give Jimothy some neural backup as he navigates narrow fences, climbs trees, searches for food and scopes out places for rest and refuge. Jimothy’s mom as hero Equally impressive as Jimothy’s own adaptations is the continuous care provided by his mother. As challenging as the raccoon mother’s role is while raising her young, raising a kit with special needs likely requires extra energy and patience. For raccoon families, the mother is very much a single parent. Not only does she not have help from the father, but she often moves the litter to different dens to escape the threat of males potentially harming the kits. She also needs to be an efficient forager to prevent excessive time away from her vulnerable offspring. Unlike many mammals whose young become independent soon after weaning, raccoon mothers continue taking care of their kits for much longer. Although nursing typically ends around 16 weeks, raccoon youngsters often remain with their moms for up to nine months. From weaning to leaving the natal den, maternal raccoon take their family through something like homeschooling. Raccoon moms teach their children the ropes. milehightraveler/E+ via Getty Images via The Conversation One of my favorite examples appears in the PBS documentary “Raccoon Nation,” where a raccoon mom takes her kits on a field trip to teach them how to collapse their spines to slide past a wooden garage door. For hours, she models the behavior for her young – then observes their attempts, catching them when they fall and nudging them to try again. It’s apparent that Jimothy’s mother was no exception to the prototypical raccoon mother – serving as nurturer, protector and teacher. Based on the videos of older Jimothy running across a field, navigating fences and exploring his world, it appears that his mom’s hard work resulted in a remarkable return on her investment. Evolutionary perseverance Even though the odds were stacked against Jimothy from the day of his birth, he persevered. Jimothy is being celebrated for being different. But, in my opinion, the most interesting aspects of his story are two remarkable evolutionary achievements that all mammals share: a brain capable of adapting to an imperfect body and other life challenges, and a patient and caring mother or guardian who translates her offspring’s capabilities into abilities. Jimothy’s mom celebrated his value long before his video debut and viral following. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Kelly Lambert, University of Richmond Read more: Raccoons break into liquor stores, scale skyscrapers and pick locks – studying their clever brains can clarify human intelligence, too I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life 3‑legged lizards can thrive against all odds, challenging assumptions about how evolution works in the wild Kelly Lambert does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	Driver killed, officer stabbed in western Iowa Iowa DCI is investigating after a Jefferson officer shot a fleeing driver who crashed in a ditch and then stabbed the officer in the face Sunday.
	Bettendorf dad 3D printing mobility trainers for local children in need So far, Anthony Duran has completed and delivered three chairs, with two more close to finished.
	Boil order issued for part of Monmouth Part of Monmouth is under a boil order Monday afternoon.
	Boil order issued for parts of Monmouth The Monmouth Public Works Department has issued a boil water order for part of the citydue to a large water main break. Affected areas include the area north of Broadway, south of Detroit Ave., roughly between B St. and Main St. The area also includes the blocks along Clinton Ave., Boston Ave. and Archer Ave. [...]
	Culver's in LeClaire to hold grand opening Culver's will open its doors in LeClaire with a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 10.
	Quad Cities Community Foundation awards $147,600 in operational grants The Quad Cities Community Foundation awarded more than $147,000 total in operational grants to nine local nonprofit organizations.
	McKee backed a charter school moratorium. Now a major teachers union has endorsed him. Gov. Dan McKee, left, and his Democratic rival Helena Buoanno Foulkes, right, have scored respective wins securing endorsements from various unions. (Photos by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)Five weeks after Gov. Dan McKee signed into law a controversial bill temporarily banning new charter schools — departing from his own past support for charter schools — the payoff has come through for his reelection campaign. The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) endorsed McKee in an announcement Friday. The backing of the 12,000-member teachers union marks a significant gain for McKee’s reelection campaign after the state party and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO declined to endorse a gubernatorial candidate, a move seen as a snub to a sitting governor. McKee trailed challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes by double digits in the most recent public polling in May, and was outfundraised by Foulkes by a more than 2-to-1 margin as of March 31. Second-quarter campaign finance reports must be submitted to the state elections board by Friday night. “This could be a plus for the governor,” Joe Fleming, WPRI TV-12 political analyst, said in an interview Monday. “He needs some momentum.” The teachers union did not back McKee in 2022, instead endorsing Nellie Gorbea, one of three Democratic challengers in a five-way primary that also featured Foulkes. Foulkes finished second, losing to McKee by 3 percentage points, while Gorbea, the former secretary of state, came in third, another 3 points behind Foulkes. McKee’s recent actions, including signing the three-year charter school moratorium bill this year, a key priority for teachers unions, show his “willingness to work with educators and take meaningful action to strengthen Rhode Island’s public schools,” the federation said in a statement. The union also cited McKee’s approval on legislation limiting state intervention in local school districts, and his signature after-hours community learning program, Learn365, as other reasons for its endorsement. “Our members don’t expect to agree with every governor on every issue,” President Maribeth Calabro said in a statement. “What matters is whether a governor listens, engages in good faith, and is willing to act when it counts. Governor McKee has demonstrated that by signing important legislation that protects public education and supports local school communities.” More information, including the vote breakdown among union members, was not immediately available. A dual-language K-12 charter school that received preliminary, but not final, approval and is now subject to the three-year ban, sued McKee and state lawmakers Monday. In announcing the 55-page federal lawsuit, leaders of De La Comunidad Bilingual Public Charter School called McKee’s signature on the bill a political move to win support from the teachers unions in his reelection campaign. Quotation This could be a plus for the governor. He needs some momentum. – Joe Fleming, WPRI TV-12 political analyst The equally large and influential National Education Association of Rhode Island — the other major state teachers union that also has 12,000 members — has not announced its endorsements yet. Its president, Sen. Valarie Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, is also the leader of the Rhode Island Senate. Both teachers unions represent a mix of public school teachers and higher education faculty throughout the state, and often collaborate in Rhode Island to advocate for state funding, pension adjustments and curriculum changes. The federation features the over 2,000-member Providence Teachers Union along with faculty at Rhode Island College, Bryant University, and the Brown University Graduate Labor Organization. The association features public school teachers and support staff in mostly suburban and rural school districts, and faculty and graduate workers at Roger Williams University and the University of Rhode Island. The association endorsed McKee in 2022. Fleming thought it likely the association would again endorse McKee this year given his recent approval of the charter school moratorium and his administration’s recommendation to return the Providence Public School District to local control. The association’s political action committee is expected to make endorsements by the middle of this week, Stephanie Mandeville, an association spokesperson, said in an email Monday. The committee’s decision incorporates results from a candidate survey and screening interviews with candidates seeking endorsements, which are determined by a simple majority vote among members, Mandeville added. The association’s political action committee donated $500 to McKee in January, according to campaign finance reports. Foulkes is unlikely to receive, or expect, an endorsement from the teachers union; she said publicly she would have vetoed the charter school moratorium bill. “It’s not a loss for her if McKee gets the teachers unions,” Fleming said. “But it’s a win for him if he does.” Angelika Pelligrino, a spokesperson for Foulkes’ campaign, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There’s more than bragging rights on the line. The large membership of both teachers unions could make the difference in the Sept. 9 primary if rank-and-file members turn out at the polls, Fleming said. But, Foulkes has her own roster of union supporters, including the 12,000-member SEIU State Council and the Rhode Island Troopers Association. McKee was previously endorsed by the Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, and General Teamsters Local 251. “It’s clear the unions are not united in their support for one candidate or another,” Fleming said. The divisions are evidenced by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO’s recent decision to stay neutral in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, the first time in decades that the leading state labor federation has not backed a Democratic incumbent in the governor’s race. The Rhode Island Democratic Party opted not endorse a gubernatorial candidate at its state party convention in June. But Foulkes has received strong support among local Democratic party leaders. On Monday, she picked up the endorsement from the Newport Democratic City Committee, having already won the backing of 13 other local party committees — including in McKee’s hometown of Cumberland. Advocacy groups are also weighing in, with Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island, the lobbying and political arm of the reproductive services group, backing McKee last week, while Foulkes picked up the endorsement from the Providence Streets Coalition. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence declined to make an endorsement in the gubernatorial race, though the gun safety group endorsed Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in her reelection bid and Rep. Jason Knight for attorney general. The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals backed Xay Khamsyvoravong in the Democratic lieutenant governor’s race, and Keith Hoffmann in the attorney general primary. The Democratic primary for lieutenant governor also includes former state Sen. Cindy Coyne and Providence City Councilor Sue AnderBois. The Democratic primary for the open attorney general’s seat also includes Kim Ahern and Rep. Joe Solomon Jr. Early voting begins Aug. 20 for the Sept. 9 primary. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	YWCA Quad Cities expands preschool program YWCA Quad Cities announced its Early Learning Academy is expanding by opening an additional preschool classroom. According to a release from YWCA Quad Cities: Through collaboration with the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education, the new classroom will operate as a Preschool for All (PFA) program, offering high-quality early childhood education to children aged [...]
	Don’t create political theater — fund the Medicaid fraud fighters Iowa's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates abuse, neglect and financial fraud affecting Medicaid beneficiaries. (Photo illustration using images from the State of Iowa and Getty Images) With the 2026 election approaching, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird have unveiled a new priority: cracking down on Medicaid fraud. That comes as a big surprise to those of us who know the system and have actually fought Medicaid fraud. Why such a surprise? Because our governor and attorney general have long disregarded the most effective tools already at their disposal to fulfill their pronounced objective. The real purpose of their newly created “Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force,” unveiled with considerable fanfare, appears to be generating political headlines rather than meaningful results. And, with each new task force meeting streamed to the public, they have concocted a pretext for sustained Medicaid fraud political theater. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. For decades, like every other state, Iowa has maintained a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). Ours is housed within the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), formerly the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA). By law, this specialized unit investigates Medicaid provider fraud, patient abuse, neglect, and the financial exploitation of vulnerable Iowans. It works closely with county attorneys and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, which prosecute many of the state’s largest Medicaid fraud and health care fraud cases. One would have expected that during the task force’s first meeting, the director of DIAL and the director of the MFCU, both members of the task force, would have reminded the chair, Bird, of one simple fact: Iowa already has the legal framework, an established Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with strong federal, state, and local partnerships needed to combat Medicaid fraud. AG Bird: ‘There is no acceptable amount’ of Medicaid fraud in Iowa If Bird is now serious about combating Medicaid fraud, she should begin by fulfilling the responsibilities already assigned to her under Iowa law. The Iowa False Claims Act provides that “[t]he attorney general shall diligently investigate” violations of the act and bring appropriate actions. Enacted in 2010, the Iowa False Claims Act remains one of the state’s most effective tools for recovering taxpayer dollars lost through Medicaid fraud. Rather than chairing a task force, the attorney general should aggressively enforce the law she’s already been directed to implement. Required public reporting by Bird regarding her required False Claims Act efforts reveals a dearth of action. One area where the False Claims Act requires immediate pursuit is the quality of care provided by taxpayer-funded, for-profit nursing homes. When facilities accept millions of public dollars and profit while failing to provide legally required care, both taxpayers and vulnerable residents suffer. Yet, in 2024, Bird led a coalition of Republican attorneys general challenging the federal minimum nursing home staffing standards rule (a rule researched to save thousands of lives). Her opposition to those standards, together with other state policy decisions, has coincided with Iowa experiencing a higher rate of nursing home staffing violations than neighboring states. Iowa’s state auditor also plays an essential role in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse. It is difficult to understand why Iowa’s state auditor was not invited to participate on a task force supposedly dedicated to protecting taxpayer dollars — or perhaps it is not difficult to understand at all. Sand is the state’s lone Democratic statewide officeholder and a candidate for governor in 2026. Rather than limiting the auditor’s ability to conduct independent oversight, Reynolds and Bird should welcome rigorous audits and public reporting that strengthen accountability throughout Iowa’s Medicaid program. Further, regarding the actually appointed members of the task force — instead of seating Iowa’s money-making managed care organizations, Iowa should be demanding detailed reports on their fraud detection systems, payment integrity programs, provider audits, and other MCO efforts to prevent improper Medicaid payments. Accountability — not another task force — is what protects taxpayers. Our perspectives come from firsthand experience. Kevin Techau served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, where he worked alongside the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and federal investigators to prosecute health care fraud. Earlier, he served as director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, overseer of MFCU, and later as commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Dean Lerner served for 16 years as an Iowa assistant attorney general and thereafter, for nearly a decade, as deputy, then director of the Department of Inspections and Appeals. He, likewise, oversaw Iowa’s MFCU. Later, he served as the Northern District’s Health Care Fraud Specialist. We know firsthand that Iowa already possesses the legal authority and strong federal, state, and local partnerships needed to effectively combat Medicaid fraud. What’s been missing is this administration’s true commitment to that effort. The warning signs of this administration’s lack of total commitment have been evident for years. In 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued its multiyear inspection report of Iowa’s MFCU, finding “…that the unit did not maintain staffing levels in accordance with its approved budget, maintained low staffing levels in relation to State Medicaid expenditures, and experienced significant turnover of investigators and high caseloads.” MFCU staffing is measured by several criteria: whether it is in accordance with the MFCU’s budget, its relationship to the state’s Medicaid expenditures, turnover, and caseloads are among the factors. Iowa’s then-DIA Director Larry Johnson responded to the OIG Report on June 7, 2022, stating that Iowa’s nine employees, with two vacant investigator positions, “…are adequate at this time to operate effectively and efficiently.” In 2024, Iowa Capital Dispatch Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman reported on a new OIG Report and noted, among other items: “[f]ederal data indicates Iowa’s staffing issue dates back several years,” adding that “[a]lthough Iowa’s unit was approved for 11 employees in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, it actually employed seven or eight individuals at the end of each of those years. “Even if all of the vacant positions were filled, the inspector general reported, the Iowa unit’s staffing levels remained low compared to all other fraud-control units in the nation,” Kauffman reported. In 2025, according to the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, Iowa spent just $1.3 million on its 10-person fraud unit while overseeing a Medicaid program exceeding $8.7 billion. Arkansas, with a similarly sized Medicaid program, invested approximately $3.9 million in its 23-person fraud unit. Kansas employed 16 staff members and spent approximately $2.2 million to oversee its Medicaid program of roughly $6.5 billion. It doesn’t take a task force to know that proper staffing will yield maximum results. Iowa’s excuses are just that, excuses. Medicaid Fraud Control Units investigate providers who bill for services never performed, create phantom patients, up-code claims, perform unnecessary procedures, commit pharmacy and home health fraud, engage in kickback schemes, or abuse and neglect vulnerable Medicaid recipients. Cases are developed through whistleblowers, patients, employees, audits, sophisticated data analytics, and referrals from state and federal agencies — not by another executive order creating a task force. Investing in MFCU staff is one of the best bargains in government. For every 25 cents Iowa invests in its MFCU, the federal government contributes 75 cents. Nationally, Medicaid Fraud Control Units recover roughly $3 to $5 for every taxpayer dollar invested. Few public investments generate a better return. If our honorable governor and attorney general are truly serious about protecting taxpayers and vulnerable Iowans, the task force should meet one more time, adopt the following recommendations, and then disband without further grandstanding. Fully fund Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with sufficient numbers of highly qualified investigators and staff. Aggressively enforce the Iowa False Claims Act. Modernize investigative technology and data analytics. Restore and promote a rigorous statewide Medicaid Fraud Hotline. Empower — not sideline — the state auditor and other independent oversight agencies. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Two Oregon residents tied to nationwide recall of lettuce over parasitic outbreak The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking outbreaks of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis. (Photo courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Two people living in Oregon have tested positive for an intestinal parasite that health officials believe may be tied to a recent nationwide outbreak, according to state public health authorities. Both individuals recently traveled to states involved in the July 17 recall of Taylor Farms’ pre-shredded iceberg lettuce associated with the parasite, according to the agency, which said products linked to that recall have not been sold in Oregon. The Beaver State so far this year reported having 23 cases of the illness, aligning with previous years. The parasite cyclospora infects the small intestine, and symptoms of the illness can include watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, weight loss, stomach cramps and nausea. “Cyclospora is not spread directly from person to person,” the Oregon Health Authority said in a statement. “Oregon has not detected an unusual increase in the number of cyclosporiasis cases. Cyclosporiasis is reported in Oregon each year, though they’re not typically linked to a national outbreak and most cases report recent international travel.” Concern over the parasite’s outbreak across the country comes as the Trump administration has gutted funding for local public health agencies and reduced state-level surveillance requirements for a federal program to monitor foodborne illness. The outbreak is currently concentrated in states such as Michigan, New York, Illinois and Texas, but some health officials on the West Coast have expressed concern that there could be spillover from the Midwest. “As the federal outbreak continues, additional cases linked to the outbreak are expected among people who recently traveled to affected areas, or as additional products may be identified as part of the nationwide outbreak,” the health authority added. To reduce chances of ingesting the parasite, Oregonians should make sure to wash their hands and surfaces frequently, rinse fresh produce thoroughly under running water and ensure food is cooked at the necessary temperature, according to public health officials. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	A novelist followed her mother's advice: The more you read, the freer you are I'll Take the Fire is the third book in a trilogy inspired by generations of Leïla Slimani's Moroccan French family. She is also the author of the bestselling thriller The Perfect Nanny.
	Democrat Rob Sand calls for social media age limit in kids’ tech safety plan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said he supports banning social media for children under age 16.
	Arconic Foundation, Undue Medical Debt eliminate $3.5 million in medical debt in Quad Cities Arconic Foundation and Undue Medical Debt have teamed to eliminate $30 million in medical debt. According to a release from Arconic, more than 26,000 residents in communities near facilities in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New York have receiving medical debt assistance through a partnership between the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt and Arconic Foundation. The [...]
	Iowa cases may be tied to national outbreak of cyclosporiasis State officials say there are Iowa cases of cyclosporiasis that are possibly tied to the national outbreak.
	Clock, Inc. LGBT+ Community Center in dire straits as costs rise, grants decrease Mary Francis, programs and innovations lead at Clock, Inc., said she fears the center will close without a change in finances.
	YWCA Quad Cities expands preschool program The YWCA Quad Cities Early Learning Academy is opening a free morning preschool classroom for ages 3 to 5 and hosting an open house Wednesday.
	Iowa among states under the emergency energy order To prevent blackouts during an intense heat wave, the Department of Energy has issued an emergency order for 17 states, including Iowa.
	REVIEW: Mean Girls at Countryside Community Theatre OMG! If you’re looking for a raucous good time to escape the oppressive summer heat, I’ve got just the thing: Mean Girls at Countryside Community Theatre with book by the brilliant Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live fame, and under the incandescent direction, choreography, and costuming of Ashley Mills Becher, whose dazzling talent I’ve seen many times at Circa 21 and she outdoes herself with this show. Husband Bobby Becher takes on the task of Music Director and the result of this team is an explosive, riotous, energetic extravaganza of entertainment that will have you out of your seat for a “Standing O.”
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shots fired early Monday morning A Davenport man is charged with attempted murder after police said he shot at another man several times Monday in the 1400 block of Main Street.
	Extreme heat warning issued for the Quad-Cities on Monday, thunderstorms possible The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning through Monday evening with heat indices up to 115 degrees.
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shots fired early Monday Davenport police say around 1 a.m. several shots were fired at a person in the 1400 block of Main Street.
	QC nonprofits receive more than $145K in grants The Quad Cities Community Foundation has awarded $147,600 to nine local nonprofits to help with staffing, technology, and organizational growth.
	Cyclospora outbreak not under control yet, says former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Sunday the agency does not yet have the outbreak of cyclosporiasis under control.
	Davenport man arrested for attempted murder following Monday morning shooting A man was taken into Scott County Jail for attempted murder charges after a shooting in Davenport early morning on Monday, July 27.
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT: Prepare for Dangerous Conditions
	Humility Homes and Services building an 11-unit triplex and quadplex in Davenport The Davenport housing service nonprofit is working with developer Built to Suit to add 11 units on West 50th Street. The $4.2 million project will include ADA-compliant housing with wraparound services. Construction is expected to be completed in April.
	Get hands-on with city vehicles at Touch-a-Truck in Moline! Families and kids of all ages can get hands-on with city vehicles at Touch-a-Truck! According to a release from the City of Moline, kids can honk horns, sit in driver's seats and get a close look at the vehicles they see every day at the Moline Public Works' free Touch-a-Truck Saturday, August 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m. [...]
	The ROI of unifying enterprise fragmentation The ROI of unifying enterprise fragmentationYour team logs into dozens of apps every day. Sales works in one CRM, support in another ticketing system, and finance in yet another ERP platform. Each department chooses the “best tool for the job,” but no one stops to ask what happens when those tools can’t communicate with each other. The answer is a fragmented enterprise that drains value in ways most organizations never measure.The constant need to switch between disparate applications exacts a significant toll on productivity, wasting valuable time throughout the day. This digital friction compounds daily across every department, workflow, and customer interaction. Unifying fragmented systems is critical, and it offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond immediate cost savings.This guide from DataMotion maps the hidden costs of enterprise fragmentation and the real returns of unifying your systems.What Is Enterprise Fragmentation and How Does It Occur?Enterprise fragmentation happens when different systems and applications across your organization operate in isolation from one another. Data lives in separate silos, and workflows stop at departmental boundaries. Information that should flow seamlessly instead requires manual intervention, duplicate entry, or custom integration work.Understanding Tool SprawlOrganizations are increasingly juggling a vast and ever-growing number of applications. A significant portion of these tools often operate in isolation, lacking seamless integration with one another. This fragmentation happens gradually as departments independently adopt software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools to address immediate operational needs without considering enterprise-wide implications.This pattern manifests differently across target industries, for instance:Financial services: Client onboarding systems operate independently of wealth management platforms, forcing advisors to manually transfer data between disconnected tools and creating compliance gaps.Healthcare: Patient data lives in multiple electronic medical record (EMR) systems that don’t communicate with their secure messaging portals, preventing care teams from accessing complete patient data when they need it most.Public sector: Different citizen services run on separate systems with no shared identity management, requiring residents to create multiple accounts and repeatedly provide the same information.The problem compounds as organizations scale. What starts as a handful of specialized tools becomes dozens, then hundreds of disconnected applications that create data silos across every business function.Compounding Costs of a Disconnected EnterpriseWe’ve established what enterprise fragmentation is and how it occurs organically through growth. Now let’s examine the financial reality of operating this way. Think of fragmentation as a tax on every business process. Unlike a one-time expense, this tax compounds daily and worsens as your application portfolio expands.How Fragmentation Impacts Operational EfficiencyWhen systems are disconnected, employees spend significant time searching for information rather than using it productively. Constant hunting for data across various platforms diverts focus from critical tasks and hinders effective decision-making. A lack of cohesive digital organization frequently impedes employees’ ability to work efficiently.The mental burden of constantly switching between numerous applications to complete routine tasks can drastically reduce an individual’s productive time. Consider a common scenario where an employee might:Start with email.Move to a project management tool.Switch to a document repository.Jump to a CRM.Reference a spreadsheet.Circle back to the email just to respond to a single client inquiry.This workflow fragmentation directly impacts how quickly teams can execute. Data silos also prevent effective collaboration. When sales, marketing, and customer success teams work in separate systems, no one has a complete view of the customer journey. Critical information remains locked in departmental databases while teams make decisions based on incomplete data.Increased Operational and IT OverheadThe financial costs of fragmentation extend far beyond productivity losses:Redundant software licenses: Departments often purchase overlapping tools that serve similar functions, creating unnecessary duplicate costs across the organization.Custom integration labor: IT teams spend enormous resources building and maintaining brittle point-to-point integrations between systems that were never designed to work together.Decision paralysis: Leadership receives inconsistent or delayed data from siloed systems, forcing strategic decisions based on outdated information and leading to potential revenue loss.High error rates: Data mismatches between disconnected systems lead to costly errors in accounting, inventory management, and customer records that require expensive correction efforts.Calculating the Hidden Costs of FragmentationEnterprise fragmentation carries substantial and often unmeasured consequences. These hidden costs impact various facets of an organization, from security and compliance to employee and customer experience. Understanding these costs is crucial for justifying investments in unifying systems.Security and Data ExposureWhen data is scattered across hundreds of systems, securing that information becomes exponentially more difficult. Monitoring access controls, tracking data flows, and maintaining consistent security policies across a fragmented landscape stretches security teams beyond their capacity.The risks compound in specific ways that create vulnerabilities most organizations don’t recognize until a breach occurs:Fragmented security monitoring: When security tools operate independently across disconnected systems, correlating alerts becomes extremely difficult, and incident response times can stretch dangerously long.Lateral movement opportunities: Attackers can exploit unsegmented, fragmented infrastructures to move laterally across systems while remaining undetected for extended periods.Excessive privilege accumulation: Fragmented systems make enforcing the principle of least privilege nearly impossible, leading users to accumulate excessive access rights across multiple platforms.Alert correlation failures: Independent security tools generate alerts that security teams cannot correlate, allowing patterns of malicious activity to go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.The mean cost of a data breach in 2024 was around $4.4 million, according to IBM, and the average company spent 241 days to identify and contain the breach. The reputational damage and erosion of customer trust often exceed the immediate financial penalties.Compliance ProcessesProving compliance becomes a challenge when data lives across dozens or hundreds of disconnected systems. Regulations and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI-DSS require organizations to demonstrate complete control over data flows, access controls, and audit trails. Fragmented systems make this demonstration nearly impossible without significant manual effort.Manual compliance processes in fragmented environments also create substantial hidden costs. Consolidating reports for regulators becomes a time-consuming, error-prone exercise when each system maintains its own logs and records. Teams spend weeks preparing for audits by manually gathering evidence from disconnected sources and reconciling inconsistencies between systems.Conflicting data across systems can lead to regulatory noncompliance, resulting in heavy fines, legal issues, and severe reputation damage.Employee Engagement and ExperienceEnterprise fragmentation can create daily frustration, impacting employee satisfaction and engagement. Workers may log into multiple incompatible platforms to complete simple tasks. The resulting app fatigue and workflow interruptions can contribute to increased stress.When departments operate in separate systems, information silos can prevent employees from understanding how their work connects to broader organizational goals. For example, sales teams may be unable to see the marketing campaign’s performance, or customer support may lack visibility into product development priorities.This disconnection leads to inconsistent employee experiences, communication gaps, and disengagement. To put it in perspective, in 2024, Gallup estimated that employee disengagement cost the global economy $434 billion.Customer Journeys and TrustInternal fragmentation inevitably manifests in customer-facing interactions. When your systems don’t communicate, customers experience the consequences directly. They may receive inconsistent service depending on which department they contact, or they might have to navigate disconnected portals and interfaces for different interactions with your organization.U.S. companies risk losing $846 billion due to poor client experiences, and 51% of customers reduce or stop spending completely after a negative experience, according to research. Customers expect seamless interactions where your organization remembers their preferences, understands their history and provides consistent service regardless of channel. Fragmented systems make delivering this experience impossible.The Strategic Shift from Fragmentation to a Unified Platform DataMotion A unified platform consolidates fragmented tools into a single ecosystem where data flows seamlessly between functions. Imagine a single interface where employees access all necessary tools, including:Customer information updates in real time across every department.Security protocols apply consistently across all data.Audit trails generate automatically without manual compilation.AI-powered insights flow through connected channels.This vision contrasts sharply with the fragmented reality most organizations accept. Disconnected systems might have been “good enough” when digital transformation was optional, and customer expectations were lower. Those conditions no longer exist.The demands of modern business, the opportunities created by AI, and the expectations of digitally native customers have turned fragmentation into a significant competitive disadvantage.Organizations pursuing digital transformation hit immediate walls with fragmented data exchange. For instance, AI initiatives require clean, accessible data from across the enterprise, while customer experience improvements need unified views of interactions across all touchpoints. In the same breath, compliance automation depends on consolidated audit trails. McKinsey research suggests that successful organizations treat unified platforms as foundational requirements, not future aspirations.The Tangible ROI of a Unified System DataMotion The strategic case for unification is clear, but decisions require numbers. Let’s consider the ROI that a unified platform delivers value across multiple dimensions.Reduced Operational CostsThe most immediate financial returns come from eliminating redundant spending and inefficient processes. Consolidated platforms replace dozens of solutions, cutting software licensing spending and demonstrating how unification reduces operational costs.Unified systems eliminate the massive ongoing expense of building and maintaining custom integrations between disconnected applications, allowing IT teams to reclaim resources previously consumed by integration maintenance. They can allocate these resources to strategic initiatives that drive competitive advantage rather than simply keeping existing systems functional.Operational overhead drops when employees stop wasting time searching for information across disconnected systems.Enhanced Productivity and EfficiencyProviding a single source of truth fundamentally changes how quickly organizations can operate. Employees access complete, consistent information without having to hunt across multiple platforms. Decision-makers see real-time data instead of waiting for manual reports that consolidate information from disconnected systems.In the same breath, context-switching costs disappear when workflows occur within integrated environments. An employee completing a complex task no longer has to jump between a dozen applications. Unified platforms maintain workflow context, preserve relevant data, and guide users through connected processes without forcing constant mental reorientation. By enabling workflow automation across previously disconnected functions, these platforms allow organizations to handle higher volumes with the same headcount.Stronger Security PostureA unified platform consolidates your attack surface by reducing the number of distinct systems that require independent security measures. Centralized security controls apply consistently across all data and communications rather than varying by application.Unified visibility transforms threat detection and incident response. It allows security teams to monitor activity across the entire platform from a central point, making suspicious patterns immediately visible. When security events occur, investigation and remediation happen faster because relevant information lives in connected systems rather than isolated silos.Simplified ComplianceUnified audit trails transform compliance from a recurring stressor into a manageable, proactive process. By consolidating all relevant activities into connected systems, generating comprehensive compliance reports becomes a straightforward query operation, eliminating the need for manual data gathering across disconnected platforms. This unification offers several tangible benefits:Real-time compliance monitoring: Unified platforms enable continuous, real-time monitoring, allowing organizations to stay on top of their compliance posture and identify issues immediately.Proactive violation detection: Shifting from reactive remediation to proactive prevention, unified systems help detect potential violations as they occur. This dramatically reduces the costs associated with post-audit remediation and ensures compliance issues are addressed before they become larger problems.Reduced audit preparation time: Significant time savings in audit preparation translate directly to reduced labor costs and faster audit cycles. Teams can produce complete documentation in hours, compared to weeks of manual evidence gathering across disparate sources.Increased Business AgilityLeaders with access to unified, real-time data can make faster, more informed decisions. The ability to respond quickly to market shifts, customer needs, and competitive threats creates a competitive advantage that compounds over time.Data-driven organizations can achieve superior business outcomes across revenue growth, customer retention, and operational efficiency. Unification makes the data-driven approach feasible by providing the integrated information required for analytical decision-making.How Does Unification Support Long-Term Business Strategy?The strategic value of unification extends beyond short-term operational effectiveness to long-term competitive positioning and future capability development.Building the Foundation for Responsible AI and InnovationArtificial intelligence requires clean, accessible, and governed data. Fragmented environments make effective AI deployment nearly impossible since models trained on incomplete or inconsistent data produce unreliable results. Unified platforms with governed data create the essential foundation for leveraging AI and other next-generation technologies.The data integration, quality controls, and access governance that unified systems provide become prerequisites for responsible AI deployment. Plus, Dell research found that organizations with unified data foundations deploy AI faster and more effectively than competitors still struggling with fragmentation.Establishing a Sustainable Competitive AdvantageAn organization that operates with higher productivity, stronger security, simpler compliance, and faster innovation builds competitive advantages that compound over time. The productivity advantage alone creates separation. Your unified teams deliver faster results with fewer resources because they’re not fighting with disconnected tools. This efficiency gap widens as competitors continue to bleed time and money due to fragmentation, while you reinvest those resources into innovation and growth.Data strategy matters now more than ever as a primary driver of competitive advantage, given the exponential growth in data volumes and complexity. The winners will be organizations that unify their data and extract strategic value from integrated information.Unlocking the Full Value of Enterprise UnificationFragmentation creates massive hidden costs across your enterprise. From daily employee friction to invisible security vulnerabilities, these compounding losses threaten both immediate operations and long-term competitive positioning. The reverse is equally true. Unification delivers multifaceted ROI that compounds in your favor. Organizations that act now gain ground that their competitors can’t recover, including stronger security, simplified compliance, and accelerated innovation.If you want to eliminate enterprise fragmentation, look for solutions that unify secure messaging, document exchange, forms processing, and AI-driven insights into a single platform. It’s also better to settle for tools specifically built for your industry, whether that’s financial services, healthcare, or the public sector. The best platforms deploy in days, not months, and strengthen data security with military-grade encryption and a zero-trust architecture while ensuring full compliance with industry regulations.Finally, choose a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, eliminating the need for multiple fragmented point solutions. Organizations using a robust unification platform reduce IT overhead, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver seamless experiences across every customer and employee touch point.This story was produced by DataMotion and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Financial planning after the loss of a spouse Financial planning after the loss of a spouseIn the wake of losing a spouse, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. Along with navigating grief, family responsibilities, and daily life, many surviving spouses are also faced with important financial and estate planning decisions. In the months that follow, understanding which financial matters and estate planning steps after a spouse’s death require immediate attention—and which can wait—can help provide greater clarity and reduce uncertainty during a difficult time."After a loss like this, your focus should be on taking care of yourself and your family," says Kirk Ross, a regional fiduciary executive at Fifth Third Private Bank in Toledo, Ohio. "Your advisory team is there to help shoulder the financial details and guide decisions when you are ready, so you do not have to navigate them on your own."When to consult your team of advisorsIn the months following the loss of a spouse, many financial matters come into focus at once. Rather than trying to address everything on your own, your estate attorney, accountant, and wealth management advisor can help ensure that you’re addressing the financial issues related to your spouse’s death and your life going forward while also preserving the space and time you need to grieve."There is no single right order for these conversations," Ross says. "The goal is to help provide structure and confidence, so decisions unfold at a pace that feels manageable." A surviving spouse is often faced with several important considerations, including prioritizing next steps, organizing financial information, addressing tax filing requirements, assessing Social Security survivor benefits, and revisiting estate plans during an already demanding time.Professional advisors can help organize financial information, confirm required filings, and explain available options as questions arise. Seeking experienced guidance can help simplify what might otherwise feel like an unstructured or overwhelming process.Financial considerations after a spouse’s deathAfter the death of a spouse, financial decisions often arise alongside emotional and family considerations. While every situation is different, there are a few areas that are useful to review as you adjust to life moving forward. The following list outlines a few key considerations that can help to provide clarity and a sense of direction.1. Seek professional guidance. Connecting with your legal, tax, and financial advisors early can help create a clear starting point. Whether you already have a relationship with your team or you’re introducing yourself for the first time, they can provide support and guidance in the early days of your loss, while also helping to take some of the burden off your hands. "Your team will be able to provide you with timelines for finance-related matters that need your immediate attention," Ross says. Just as importantly, advisors can also help you understand which issues can wait, so you can take time to care for yourself and your family.2. Embrace your role in financial decisions. In some cases, managing family finances may be a new responsibility for a surviving spouse, and making decisions without a partner’s input can feel unfamiliar. Rather than thinking in terms of permission or precedent, it can be helpful to view financial choices through the lens of how they can support your needs and goals today. "At this stage, it is about understanding that you are the decision-maker," Ross advises. "The role of an advisor is to provide guidance and perspective, not approval."3. Focus on what matters first. He adds that many aspects of your financial life can wait until you’re ready to address them. However, he also points out that you need to "move deliberately toward resolving a few high-priority issues" within four to six months of your spouse’s death. These include:Current income and expenses. "The first thing you need to do is learn where your finances are today," Ross says. Talk with your wealth management advisor about your current financial picture and ensure that you have a clear idea of your assets, income, and expenses. You may have no intention of making changes, but in the near term, consider what you need to feel financially secure.Tax considerations. Reviewing your most recent tax return can offer a helpful overview of your financial situation. The IRS allows you to file jointly for the full year in which your spouse passed away, which may provide certain tax advantages, such as a higher standard deduction and higher income ranges within each tax bracket that are available to married couples. You may also need to file an estate tax return, which can facilitate a step-up in cost basis that may significantly reduce capital gains taxes on the assets your family inherits.Social Security. Reviewing Social Security benefits for surviving spouses is another important part of near-term financial planning, especially if your spouse was the primary earner. Your advisors can help you understand the different benefit options available, eligibility requirements, and the appropriate timeline for claiming benefits. In most cases, the funeral home will notify the Social Security Administration about a death, though it may be helpful to confirm that notification was completed.4. Estate settlement and plan review. Working with your estate attorney can help ensure that your spouse’s wishes are carried out and that account ownership, beneficiary designations, and estate documents are properly updated to help execute the provisions of your spouse’s estate plan. This may include filing life insurance claims, dispersing trust assets, locating key documents, and updating ownership of bank and investment accounts. Many elements of an existing estate plan may remain in place, but your attorney can guide you through any necessary actions during this period.5. Plan for the future. After you’ve addressed your immediate financial needs, it is important to give yourself time. Decisions about lifestyle, spending, or legacy do not need to be made right away.As you move through the next year, you may consider whether your financial goals and priorities still feel right for you. Some may remain unchanged, while others may naturally shift as your life evolves."There’s a misconception that the plans in place have to remain the same forever," Ross says. "While some things, such as annuities or the amount of assets, can’t be changed, many aspects of a financial plan can be adjusted over time to better reflect how you want to live."Loss affects every part of life, and financial considerations are only part of that experience. Your team’s role is to be present and supportive, taking care of the financial responsibilities you have entrusted them with so you can focus on what matters most to you. Taking one step at a time can help bring greater clarity and confidence in the months ahead.This story was produced by Fifth Third and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Registration open for Clinton Half Marathon Registration is open for the 15th annual Clinton Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Run/Walk. According to a release from YWCA Clinton, races are September 13. Runners, walkers and spectators can enjoy of the most scenic road races of the season. The race begins at 7:30 a.m., starting in historic downtown Clinton. Participants will journey north [...]
	Bettendorf men charged with alleged vandalism, including arson, at Kiwanis Park Two Bettendorf men are facing charges after they allegedly used Molotov cocktails to damage the futsal field and used red spray paint to graffiti at Kiwanis Park.
	Jersey Mike's Subs franchise system is consolidating fast ahead of its IPO, according to ZoomInfo data Jersey Mike's Subs franchise system is consolidating fast ahead of its IPO, according to ZoomInfo dataJersey Mike's franchise system is consolidating into the hands of large, multi-unit operators ahead of the sandwich chain's planned initial public offering, according to a new analysis from ZoomInfo, an all-in-one AI GTM platform.Ownership is consolidating into larger operatorsJersey Mike's roughly 630 franchise owners span a wide range: More than 330 run just one or two stores, while a small tier runs the bulk. The top 10 operators control about 16% of U.S. locations, the top 25 control about 25%, and the top 50 control about 36%. No single operator dominates, the largest runs about 90 stores, roughly 3% of the system, but the center of gravity is shifting toward professional multi-unit operators. ZoomInfo A wave of franchisee-to-franchisee M&A, with virtually no failuresStore transfers between franchise owners tripled to 218 in 2025, up from 77 in 2024 and 96 in 2023, the highest total in at least five years. Over that same five-year window, Jersey Mike's recorded zero franchise terminations and zero non-renewals. This is consolidation by choice, operators buying each other, not stores failing.Growth is compounding inside the existing baseJersey Mike's reports a development pipeline of more than 1,600 stores, with over 90% committed by existing franchise owners. ZoomInfo identified 190 locations that Jersey Mike's year-end 2025 filing listed as under construction, concentrated in Texas, California, and New York. Checking those addresses against live business listings, 59% had already opened by July 2026, a marker of how fast the footprint is turning over.About one in six owners also run other brandsAbout one in six Jersey Mike's operators also runs at least one other franchise brand, together operating more than 750 locations outside Jersey Mike's. The brands they most commonly also run include The UPS Store, Subway, Little Caesars, Wingstop, Dave's Hot Chicken, Chester's, CiCi's Pizza, and Scooter's Coffee. These are professional multi-unit operators, not single-brand sandwich shop owners.MethodologyZoomInfo’s proprietary franchise dataset maps ownership across more than 600,000 U.S. franchise locations spanning 3,000-plus brands, resolving each one to its operating owner and the decision-makers inside it. ZoomInfo built this analysis using this proprietary franchise dataset, combining its operator-resolved view of Jersey Mike's locations with the chain's Franchise Disclosure Documents and its S-1.ZoomInfo identified the cross-brand ownership pattern by matching franchise owner identities against its own company data, verified through a multi-source pipeline that includes more than 300 human researchers.This story was produced by ZoomInfo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	6 projects to protect your home and property from a natural disaster 6 projects to protect your home and property from a natural disasterNo matter where you live in the U.S., chances are you experience your fair share of natural disasters. If it's not flooding or rockslides, it could be hurricanes or tornadoes. Fortunately, with the summer months upon us, you have time to prepare your home to minimize the risk of damage without having to work in the rain or snow. Achieve shares some low-cost home maintenance projects that should make you feel a little bit safer—and help you protect your pocketbook by avoiding major insurance claims and costly repairs.1. Clean your guttersCleaning your gutters, down pipes, and drains is the surest way to avoid blockages. Blockages can lead to water overflowing under the eaves and straight into the roof cavity. The goal is to do whatever you can to direct water away from the home and to prevent it from pooling. It's such a simple way to avoid a water overflow issue that could lead to a large repair bill or unwanted debt.If you're afraid of heights or a bit unsteady on a ladder, enlist the help of a friend or family member to keep the gutters clear. 2. Mind your treesThere's no way to predict the future, so inspect the trees in your yard and identify any branches that may fall on your home or property during strong winds or a rainstorm. Cutting back the branches that are most likely to fall can help you avoid an expensive repair or a complicated insurance claim.Be tree mindful. When you’re out in the backyard BBQing or hanging out, pay attention to what’s over things, like wires, rooftops, etc. Summer winds after a few dry months could pose issuesAgain, enlist a friend if you're not up to trimming suspect-looking branches. The idea is to remain safe and healthy while checking maintenance projects off your to-do list.3. Check your roofIt's easy to take a roof for granted until you realize it's your first line of defense against whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Inspect your roof, looking for loose or missing shingles as well as wear and tear. Simply reattaching and replacing shingles can go a long way toward protecting your house from damage.4. Put surge protectors in placeIt requires a very small amount of voltage to damage many of today's sensitive electronic devices. Before the next storm hits, walk through your home to check for any electronics that are not already plugged into a dedicated surge-protected outlet. If needed, single surge protector plugs can be purchased for as little as $3 a piece, and multi-outlet surge protector strips can be found for less than $10.Three minutes and $3. That’s what it takes to protect your home.5. Focus on your foundationWater should run away from your home. If the soil around your foundation is currently pitched toward the house, add dirt to the area and reshape it to slope away from the house. Any rain that hits your home is less likely to gather at the foundation and leak in.6. Secure your yardFinally, before the next major weather event, scan your patio, balcony, and yard to determine which items could become missiles in a storm. For example, outdoor furniture, lightweight swing sets, trampolines, kidsâ€™ toys, and yard decor can be picked up and blown around, damaging anything they hit. Stake or tie down anything that you can't move inside. If you have time, move anything indoors that you have room for. If you don't have room for patio furniture in your garage, basement, or house, stack it in a sheltered area against an exterior wall.It's not possible to plan for everything that could go wrong. However, it is possible to make educated guesses based on history. If, based on history, you can safely guess that the coming year could usher in weather-related challenges, facing them today can save you time and financial hardship in the future.This story was produced by Achieve and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Do traffic accidents increase during back-to-school season? What the data shows Do traffic accidents increase during back-to-school season? What the data showsEach August and September, millions of children in the U.S. return to classrooms, altering traffic patterns nationwide. More school buses run their routes, more families make morning drop-off trips, and more children are on foot or on bikes near busy intersections. Whether that shift translates into more traffic accidents has a more nuanced answer than commonly assumed, based on federal data. In this article, Mokaram Injury Lawyers, a Houston-based personal injury law firm, examines what the federal data actually shows.What the Seasonal Fatality Data Actually ShowsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks monthly traffic fatality data through its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide census of fatal crashes going back to 1975. That data does not support the claim that the back-to-school season produces a sharp increase in overall traffic fatalities.FARS data shows that total traffic fatalities peak in summer, particularly in July and August, when vehicle miles traveled are highest. A NHTSA analysis of monthly and daily crash patterns covering data over several decades found that total daily fatalities trend upward from January through July, plateau through the summer, and then decline after September. That pattern does not align with the timing of the traditional school year.The Federal Highway Administration's Traffic Volume Trends reports, which track vehicle miles traveled monthly using data from approximately 5,000 continuous counting locations nationwide, show that August consistently produces among the highest VMT of any month. In August 2023, total travel on all U.S. roads was estimated at 288.4 billion vehicle miles. September 2023 came in lower at 275.6 billion vehicle miles, a decrease compared to the summer peak.Crash volume generally increases as vehicle volume increases. The back-to-school transition coincides with a period when total driving volume is beginning to ease from its summer peak, and not when overall crash volume is climbing.Where Pedestrian Data Tells a Different StoryThe pattern differs when examining pedestrian fatalities, particularly among children.The same NHTSA monthly analysis found that pedestrian fatalities follow a different seasonal pattern than total traffic fatalities. While overall crash deaths tend to fall after September, pedestrian fatality rates trend upward through the fall and into the winter months. NHTSA researchers attribute this partly to reduced daylight hours as the year progresses, which increases the share of walking that occurs in the dark, a documented risk factor in pedestrian deaths.NHTSA's 2023 pedestrian data shows that 77% of all pedestrian fatalities that year occurred when it was dark. That proportion becomes particularly relevant as school schedules place children on sidewalks and crosswalks during early morning and late afternoon hours, when daylight decreases through the fall months.NHTSA's 2023 Children data report shows that 63% of child pedestrian fatalities in traffic crashes occurred during weekday crashes, defined as 6 a.m. Monday through 5:59 p.m. Friday. This timing corresponds with typical school schedules. In 2023, 171 children were killed as pedestrians in traffic crashes, representing 17% of all child traffic fatalities that year.School-Transportation-Related Crashes Are a Specific Federal CategoryNHTSA tracks a distinct data category called school-transportation-related crashes, which covers any fatal crash involving a school bus or a vehicle being used as a school bus. The most recent 10-year report, covering 2013-2022, found that 1,082 people were killed in such crashes over that period, averaging 108 fatalities per year.The breakdown highlights where risk is concentrated: 71% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles, not students. Pedestrians accounted for 169 of the deaths over the 10 years, more than the 111 school transportation vehicle occupants killed. Among school-age pedestrians, more fatalities occurred between 3 p.m. and 3:59 p.m. than during any other hour of the day, according to the same report, a period that corresponds with school dismissal and afternoon travel.That concentration of risk during dismissal hours is one reason AAA has run its "School's Open — Drive Carefully" campaign since 1946, which encourages reduced speeds and increased driver awareness during school travel periods.Teen Drivers: A Separate but Related RiskAAA's back-to-school safety data also identifies teen drivers as a distinct risk factor during the fall period. More than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs between 3 and 7 p.m., the after-school window, according to AAA, which draws on NHTSA's crash data. Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.NHTSA's 2023 Children report recorded 1,019 total child traffic fatalities, which was the lowest rate in the ten years covered by the report, at 1.71 per 100,000 child population. That rate has declined over time, even as overall pedestrian and cyclist fatalities nationally have increased.What the Data Shows — and What It Does NotFederal data does not show a dramatic spike in total traffic accidents at the start of each school year. Instead, the data identifies specific, recurring risks that concentrate during school-related hours and the fall period:Pedestrian fatalities among children are disproportionately concentrated during weekday hours that align with school schedules.The 3-4 p.m. hour is the most dangerous for school-age pedestrians in school-transportation-related crashes.Pedestrian fatalities broadly increase in fall and winter as daylight decreases.Teen driver crashes are more common in the after-school window. Mokaram Injury Lawyers Total vehicle miles traveled decline from their summer peak as school resumes, which may contribute to lower overall crash volumes. The school-specific risks documented in federal data are concentrated in particular hours, locations, and populations rather than reflected in a broader seasonal surge in fatalities.This story was produced by Mokaram Injury Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Registration open for Floatzilla paddlers Registrations are flowing in as River Action's Floatzilla, according to a news release. Now in its 17th year, Floatzilla is the largest paddle event on the Mississippi River. This year, it will be held Aug. 15. To see the various launch sites and to register, visit here. Show your creativity for a chance to win [...]
	Quad Cities Community Foundation awards nine operational grants The Quad Cities Community Foundation announced it awarded operational grants to area nonprofits. According to a release: As the needs of our communities continue to evolve, so does the need for strong, resilient nonprofit organizations. Behind every successful program or service are the systems, leadership and infrastructure that make meaningful impact possible. To help strengthen [...]
	How much debt does the average American have? How much debt does the average American have?Most people don’t set out to accumulate $100,000 in debt. It just happens. A mortgage here, a car payment there, a few months of leaning on credit cards, and suddenly the balance is overwhelming.Debt is one of those topics most people avoid talking about, which makes it easy to assume you’re the only one struggling. But you’re not. Knowing how your debt compares to others can help you spot what’s manageable, what’s worth prioritizing and where you might need outside help.Here’s what the numbers look like across each major debt category.Total U.S. household debt reached a record $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025, per the New York Fed.The average American household carries $104,755 in total debt, per Experian.Mortgage balances account for roughly 70% of all household debt at $13.17 trillion, according to the New York Fed.The average credit card balance is $6,523 per borrower, with APRs averaging 19.57%, per TransUnion and Bankrate.The average auto loan balance is $24,602, with new car payments averaging $748/month, per TransUnion and Experian.The average student loan borrower owes between $37,400 and $43,300, per Education Data Initiative.About 77% of Americans carry some form of debt, and delinquency rates are at their highest since 2017, per the Federal Reserve Board and New York Fed.Total American Household DebtTotal U.S. household debt reached $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Federal Reserve, a record high. When you spread that across American borrowers, Experian puts the average American household debt at $104,755 as of mid-2025. Accredited Debt Relief Those numbers reflect something important: Debt is a near-universal experience. About 77% of Americans carry some form of debt, according to the Federal Reserve Board . That means if you’re managing multiple balances or feel stretched thin by payments, you’re far from alone.For many households, debt isn’t a sign of poor decisions. It’s the result of navigating rising costs, major life milestones and an economy that increasingly runs on credit. And while carrying a balance is common, every type of debt comes with its own risks.The U.S. National Debt vs. Household DebtThe two figures often get conflated in headlines, but they measure completely separate things. Accredited Debt Relief Average American Mortgage DebtAccording to the New York Fed’s Q4 2025 report, total mortgage balances stand at $13.17 trillion, roughly 70% of all household debt in the country.On an individual level, TransUnion puts the average mortgage balance at $268,060, with a median monthly payment of approximately $2,025 as of December 2025, per the Mortgage Bankers Association. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have also climbed for 15 consecutive quarters, reaching $434 billion as of Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed.A mortgage is often called “good debt” because it builds equity and typically carries lower interest rates than other loan types. But for homeowners also carrying unsecured debt, the combined monthly obligations can create real cash-flow stress.Average American Credit Card DebtCredit card debt is where many Americans feel the most financial pressure, and it’s easy to see why. Total credit card balances hit $1.28 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed. The average American credit card debt per borrower was $6,523 in Q3 2025, per TransUnion. Accredited Debt Relief What makes credit card debt particularly costly is the interest rate attached to it. With average APRs at 19.57% as of April 2026 (per Bankrate.com), paying only the minimum can extend your debt timeline by years.Average American Auto Loan DebtAuto loans now rank as the third-largest household debt category in the U.S. Total auto loan balances reached $1.67 trillion in Q4 2025, according to the New York Fed. Experian’s Q3 2025 data puts the average American auto loan balance at $24,602.Monthly payments reflect how much car costs have risen in recent years. The average new car payment was $748 per month in Q4 2025, while the average used car payment was $532 per month, according to Experian. Interest rates have added to the burden: New car APRs averaged 6.36% while used car loans averaged 11.40% in Q3 2025, per Experian Automotive data.Longer loan terms, such as 72- and 84-month agreements, have become more common as dealers try to make high sticker prices feel manageable month to month. The tradeoff is that borrowers often end up paying significantly more in interest over the life of the loan.Average Student Loan Debt in AmericaStudent loan debt affects more than 43 million Americans, and the balances are significant. As of early 2026, the average borrower carries between $37,400 and $43,300 in student loan debt, according to Education Data Initiative and Investopedia analyses of 2024-2025 data.Repayment hasn’t always kept pace with those balances. Starting in Q1 2025, previously unreported missed federal student loan payments began appearing in credit reports. The serious delinquency rate jumped sharply as a result, reaching 7.74% of aggregate student debt, according to the New York Fed.Student loan debt remains one of the most complex and fast-changing pieces of the household debt picture.How Debt Varies by GenerationDebt doesn’t look the same at every stage of life. Experian’s data shows average consumer debt varies widely by generation:Adults between 40 and 49 carry the most total debt, about 4 times more than adults between 18 and 29, according to the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel. Millennials carry the highest average mortgage debt, while Generation X leads in credit cards and auto loans. Accredited Debt Relief While Generation X leads in average credit card debt, there has been a notable rise in Gen Zers with credit card debt in recent years, with balances growing 15.35% in 2023 alone, according to Experian.Debt Delinquency by the NumbersRising debt levels have come with a rise in delinquencies. According to the New York Fed, 4.8% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency as of Q4 2025, up from 3.6% a year earlier and the highest rate since Q3 2017. Transitions into serious delinquency increased for credit card balances, mortgages and student loans during the quarter.These trends reflect economic pressures that are affecting millions of households, not just individual missteps. Rising costs, stagnant wages and higher interest rates have made it harder for many people to stay current even when they’re doing everything right.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Summer costs are adding up: 5 ways to save on everyday essentials Summer costs are adding up: 5 ways to save on everyday essentialsSummer may bring longer sunny days, family vacations, and more time outdoors, but it can also put added pressure on household budgets. From higher electricity use during heatwaves to more driving, groceries, and family activities, many seasonal expenses are tied to everyday essentials rather than luxuries.A new CreditFresh survey of 2,000 adults across the United States found that 70% of respondents spend more during summer, with household budgets increasing by an average of 14.3%. Respondents estimated spending an additional $143 per week, or approximately $1,859 over a typical 13-week summer. A few practical changes can help households manage those seasonal costs while still covering food, housing, transportation, and other basics. CreditFresh Why Summer Can Put Pressure on Household BudgetsSummer spending often rises because several recurring costs increase at the same time. In the CreditFresh survey, 41% of respondents named higher energy bills as a major pressure, 40% cited food and groceries, and 35% pointed to gas costs.Cooling and transportation are an important part of that seasonal picture. The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that electricity demand and natural gas use by power generators typically peak in July and August as temperatures and air-conditioning use rise. Its July 2026 outlook also warns that heatwaves can temporarily push wholesale electricity prices higher. CreditFresh How Summer Costs Add UpAn extra $143 per week may not seem dramatic in isolation, but over 13 weeks, it totals approximately $1,859. That makes it useful to treat summer as a distinct budget period, similar to the holidays or back-to-school season, and to plan for predictable changes in utilities, groceries, transportation, and activities.5 Tips to Help You Save on Summer Essentials1. Budget Smarter, Not HarderAs summer begins, budgeting is a useful first step. Think of your budget as a financial GPS—it tells your money where to go so you don’t get lost. Start by identifying fixed costs (rent, insurance, and personal loan payments) and summer-variable expenses (food, gas, cooling, travel, and entertainment).Then look for ways to adjust seasonal spending. For example:Switch from brand-name groceries to store brands.Batch-cook meals to lower food waste and takeout spending.Use cashback or loyalty programs to stretch your dollar and save money.Apps like Mint, YNAB, or even a simple spreadsheet can make budgeting less intimidating.2. Get Creative with Grocery ShoppingFood is one of the fastest-rising expenses. To save money on groceries:Shop weekly flyers and build your meals around what’s on sale.Buy in bulk (especially for staples like rice, beans, or pasta).Don’t shop hungry—seriously, it leads to impulse buys.Use apps like Flipp or Checkout 51 to find digital coupons.Many communities also have food co-ops or discount grocers that offer quality items at lower prices. Planning meals ahead helps lower “what’s for dinner?” stress and keeps you from blowing your budget.3. Save on TransportationGas and car maintenance can be another pain point. If you drive regularly:Use apps like GasBuddy or AAA’s app to find the lowest gas prices in your area.Carpool or do all your errands in one trip to save on gas. For example, if you usually make three separate trips a week, combining them into one could save you a quarter tank of gas—or about $20 a month, depending on your car and gas prices.Keep tires inflated and stay up to date with oil changes—good maintenance equals better mileage.Public transit, where it’s available, can be a budget-friendly option.4. Cut Back on Utilities Without Sacrificing ComfortUtilities are essential, but you can still lower costs:Use energy-efficient LED bulbs.Unplug devices that draw power when not in use.Adjust your thermostat by a few degrees—especially at night or when you’re out. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 F while you sleep may help you save in the long run without even noticing the difference.Wash clothes in cold water and line dry when possible.These small shifts help not only with bills but with your long-term energy footprint.5. Plan a Low-Cost Summer Vacation or StaycationSummer plans do not have to mean expensive flights, hotels, or packed itineraries. Before booking a trip, set a clear spending limit and compare it with lower-cost options close to home. A staycation can still feel like a break if it includes summer-specific activities such as a beach day, a picnic in the park, an outdoor movie night, a local festival, a splash pad visit, or a day trip to a nearby town.Pick one “anchor” summer activity each week, like a free concert, public pool day, community event, or picnic, and plan meals and transportation around it.Look for weekday or off-peak discounts on local attractions, museums, parks, or family activities.Pack snacks, refillable water bottles, and simple meals when heading out for the day to help avoid extra takeout costs.This gives households a practical way to enjoy the season while keeping discretionary spending more predictable.Keeping Summer Costs ManageableNearly one-third (32%) of Americans surveyed said they were not prepared for higher summer spending or emergency costs, while 80% planned to take steps to offset the added expenses. A few small changes can help households stay on track without reworking their entire budget.Whether it’s spending less on groceries, combining errands, or using less energy during peak heat, small adjustments can make summer costs easier to manage. The goal is not to avoid summer spending altogether but to plan ahead so everyday expenses feel more manageable.Disclaimer: Information in this article, including references to third parties, is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or individualized financial or legal advice.This story was produced by CreditFresh and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New York-based rockers Platinum Moon will be part of Galva Music Series New York-based rock band, Platinum Moon will perform Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series in Galva, a news release says. Platinum Moon is known for their energetic musical blend of modern and classic rock. This group has headlined shows and performed at festivals across the US and Canada, sharing the stage [...]
	‘Inspired by art’: Murals help unite and define Kansas towns, boosting pride, health and economy Artist Lissa Sexson works on a mural in St. Francis, Kansas. As economic development director for Wallace County, she sees the importance of showing community pride. (Photo submitted by Lissa Sexson)TOPEKA — Artist Sarah Fizell doesn’t need convincing that public art affects neighborhood pride, community perceptions and even residents’ physical health. But sometimes the real impact is conveyed in simple words from a little boy, who stopped by as she painted a mural on a Topeka bridge near Ripley Park. “There was a kid who came and told us that before we painted the bridge, he just had to tell people he lived near where there had recently been a couple of murders that had been really high profile,” she said on the Kansas Reflector podcast. “Since we painted the bridge, he could tell people he lived by the bridge. “That’s important for kids. That’s important for anybody to be able to be proud of where they live.” Hundreds of murals dot the Kansas landscape, lending a touch of outer space to downtown Leavenworth with a “Star Trek” Spock mural, or in numerous communities reminding people they’re visiting the Sunflower State with splashes of the golden flowers and meadowlarks. Murals bring color and personality to small communities like Weskan, with a population of 158. The town wanted a way to welcome U.S. Highway 40 travelers as they enter Kansas from Colorado, said Lissa Sexson, an artist and director of community development in Wallace County. Sexson painted the brightly colored wheat and stylistic sunflowers on the Weskan mural, and has done others in St. Francis, Leoti and Colby. She also was the lead designer for a project called “Pieces of Rice County,” designing eight murals for each community in Rice County and painting two of the eight. Murals and other public art can bring a sense of optimism and hope to any space but can be especially important in rural areas like Wallace County, with a population of 1,800 people, she said. “You go into each one of those communities, and each one of them has a little bit different story,” she said. “The unique piece of murals is that you can see all these places trying to talk about their identity.” Bushton, for instance, is the central point of Kansas, Sexson said. Geneseo, a town of about 220 people, is known locally as the UFO Capital of Kansas, she said. Each has the chance to show its pride through the subjects chosen for public art. Students at Envision Arts work on a mural on the Wichita organization's new location in Wichita. (Submitted by Eva Cummings)A mural in Weskan welcomes travelers along Interstate 70 to Kansas. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)A mural in Winfield celebrates the town's history. (Photo by Kansas Tourism)Colorful and modern murals are located in Santa Fe Park in Topeka. (Photo from Kansas Tourism)Colorful and modern murals are located in Santa Fe Park in Topeka. (Photo by Kansas Tourism)St. Francis mural (Photo submitted by Leesa Sexson)This mural in Mitchell County sets the stage for an entire display that honors the county's history. (Photo by Kansas Tourism)A Fredonia mural brings a burst of sunshine to the southeast Kansas town. (Photo by Kansas Tourism)Artist Eva Cummings works on a mural on Envision Arts' new Wichita building. (Photo submitted by Ava Cummings)This mural celebrates Dodge City's history as a cattle town. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)A mural in Bushton highlights the community, including the fact that it is the central point in Kansas. (Photo submitted by Lissa Sexson)The Beloit Historical Society building is one of several murals in Mitchell County. (Submitted by Lissa Sexson)The north-facing mural of the Cozy Inn as seen on June 10, 2026, in Salina. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)A mural in Hays celebrates the town's history. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)One of several murals in Hays. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)Sculptural art welcomes travelers to Dodge City, honoring the ranchers who built the community. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) A mural depicts Theodore Roosevelt addressing the crowd from his private railway car on Aug. 31, 1910. The mural is in a courtyard adjacent to the recreated Missouri Pacific depot in downtown Osawatomie. (Photo by Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)A mural of Spock from Star Trek is located in downtown Leavenworth on the side of a games store. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)Envision Arts' building in Wichita sports a mural designed to look like a quilt that shows pieces of the community. (Photo submitted by Ava Cummings) Defining community “Public art has been a really, really important definer of community historically,” said Curtis Young, director of the Kansas Arts Commission. “Especially when you think about public art that is supported by whatever the powers that be are in the society at the moment, whether that’s the king or the Legislature or a rich benefactor or the Medicis or whoever.” The Medici family supported the Italian Renaissance period through funding artists like Michelangelo and Donatello. The art pieces put in places for the public specifically to access are “infinitely democratic because they’re available to everybody,” he said. “They help to bring a community together to help them define what it is that makes them, them,” Young said. Whether funding for the public art comes from private donors, the government or is part of a business endeavor, the message is that the community is worth it, he said. It is one of several reasons the Kansas Department of Commerce supports and encourages rural art projects through grant programs, he said. Sarah Kephart, director of Envision Arts in Wichita, said public art makes art available to people who may never step into a gallery or museum, or who may not feel comfortable in those spaces. “This gives them that opportunity to appreciate, learn about and be inspired by art,” she said. “Public art is so important in the way that it elevates a space. It also can turn a dismal location or space into something very lively.” Artist Sarah Fizell, appearing on on a recording of the Kansas Reflector Podcast on July 16, 2026, talks about the importance of public art to the community. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) Health matters Public art beautifies spaces, starts conversations and helps people feel pride in their surroundings, Fizell said. Research, though, is showing that it also affects physical and mental health, she said. “The medical industrial complex has figured out that loneliness and isolation are a huge reason that people get sick, like physically sick, and why they don’t recover from surgery,” Fizell said. Research, much done by the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine, finds that placing and creating public art, as well as offering artistic activities, has far-reaching effects, Fizell said. Public art encourages people to linger in spaces where they are more likely to connect to others in the community, she said. And murals offer the chance for people to feel part of their community, and that connection can fight loneliness and isolation. “When people who live in that community maybe don’t see themselves as part of it, if they can see something on a wall that represents them or makes them feel included, then it’s again doing those same things that make each person feel valuable, which changes behavior,” Fizell said. Young said art and wellness are inextricably combined. “The results that are coming back are just incredible,” he said, adding that he worked a few years ago on a project at the University of Florida to measure and quantify the relationship between community wellness and arts participation. A result of that study was finding that where people can experience art — which can be anything from singing in a church choir to doing an artistic activity — were places where people tended to self-report better health, Young said. “They tend to self-report liking their communities more. They tend to self-report that where they live is a good place to live, and when you live in a good place to live, you’re going to be healthier,” he said. Some communities use public art, which by definition is accessible by anyone, to tackle tough issues. The National Endowment for the Arts supported “Ask the Question,” a project in Oregon that created art focused on encouraging people to ask others if they are OK as a response to a rise in suicides in the community. Envision Arts’ building in Wichita sports a mural designed to look like a quilt that shows pieces of the community. (Photo submitted by Ava Cummings) The economics Clay Center started a large mural project a few years ago, with the goal of being the mural capital of Kansas, he said. “People are coming off the road to see it,” Young said. “While they’re there, they’re going to lunch. They’re buying gas. They’re stopping at the store.” Public arts projects are economic drivers, and businesses near public arts projects “almost universally” report more business, he said. Young said research from the Americans for the Arts organization highlights that aesthetics is one of the top three characteristics that cause residents to attach themselves to a community. “When I read ‘attach themselves to a community,’ that doesn’t mean move there or stay there,” he said. “It means why they develop an emotional connection to their community.” In her Wallace County community development role, Sexson said she sees the effects of art on drawing people to small towns. Wallace County is holding its third music series, which involves live music in the downtown areas and encourages tourism and spending in the community. “We’re in a small place,” she said. “Outside of maybe the school or outside the churches, there’s not a lot of places for people to gather.” Americans for the Arts has been studying economic impacts of arts for more than 30 years. It’s most recent report found that arts generated $151.7 billion in economic activity nationally in 2022. The Beachner Grain Elevator mural is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest mural in the world painted by one artist. (Photo by Kansas Tourism) Telling a story Businesses and nonprofits often create public art that supports their mission or business focus. Kephart, the Wichita arts director, said her organization received a grant from the city to create a mural on a new building after it moved to a new neighborhood. Artist Eva Cummings, who is also the gallery coordinator for the Envision Arts Center, said the organization wanted a chance to “show who we are.” “The back of this building, it’s a very long strip that is just all beige,” Cummings said, adding there was a mural there that represented the former ax-throwing business with Carrie Nation holding an ax. It needed to change to reflect Envision’s work, which is an organization that supports people who are blind or visually impaired, she said. “Envision Our City was really built upon the idea of stitching community together,” Cummings said. “Now it’s this very bright, colorful, welcoming and inviting entryway.” The mural is designed to look like a quilt, with pieces highlighting favorite places around Wichita drawn from input of artists and others at Envision, she said. It also has stimulated surrounding businesses to think about murals and putting art in their spaces, Cummings said. One of her favorite Wichita murals is the Beachner Grain Elevator north of the city, which is the largest mural done by a single artist in the world, Cummings said. According to the Travel Kansas website, the mural is part of the Horizontes Project, an artist-driven project designed to connect two underrepresented neighborhoods, the Latino NorthEnd and African-American Northeast. “It represents the different faces of the communities that really built Wichita, with the agricultural industry in that district, and to me, just the sheer scale of that project really shows me what Wichita supports,” Cummings said. A mural of Spock from Star Trek is located in downtown Leavenworth on the side of a games store. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Public art beyond murals Murals can be the easiest way to put public art in place, Fizell said, and people engage with them easily, including taking photos.Sculptures tend to be more expensive and they also tend not to engage people as actively or build community as much, she said. “So there to me is a real drop-off in effectiveness as community building between those two,” Fizell said. “However, there is not a drop in effectiveness between music in community with your neighbors and friends. I really think that as we move forward in trying to establish art policies in Topeka, I really feel strongly that those have to include public performance as public art.” Even the simplest art can be controversial because someone is going to think it is beautiful while someone else thinks it is ugly, Young, with the Kansas Arts Commission, said. “Art is always an experiment,” he said. “There are acceptable levels of (controversy), of course. You know, you don’t want a piece of art that is going to divide the community, but good public art can help people look at areas that would be controversial to them and find ways to agree.” Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Millions of Americans live in mental health care deserts. Here’s where the gaps are worst. Millions of Americans live in mental health care deserts. Here’s where the gaps are worst.The average American who develops a mental health condition waits around 11 years before receiving any treatment. This figure has barely changed for many years, despite growing media coverage raising awareness and the expansion of mental health benefits in insurance coverage. Cost, the difficulty in recognizing a problem and stigma all play a part in that delay, but for a great number of people, the obstacle is that they live somewhere where there is a shortage of mental health providers. In these areas, whether someone is able to pay for care matters much less than if there is anyone available to provide it, April Health reports.This is the unfortunate reality for more than 137 million Americans who live in what the federal government defines as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. More than 7,500 communities across the country now fall under that definition, marking where demand for mental health support has outpaced supply and making residents eligible for certain funding and workforce programs. But what it doesn’t do is place a mental health provider in these areas. It simply confirms what the residents already know, which is that getting an appointment can be difficult and sometimes nearly impossible. The shortage of mental health professionals is also far from evenly distributed, and the areas with the most severe shortages tend to share a similar profile.The South and rural West areas carry much of the burden, with Mississippi, Alabama and Wyoming consistently ranking among the states with the fewest mental health providers per person, and some counties within these areas having no practicing psychiatrist at all. Texas stands out as a particularly grim example of this, as despite having one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., it contains some of the most underserved areas anywhere in the country. In the western part of the state and the Panhandle, the nearest psychiatrist can be a two- or three-hour drive away, which becomes a real obstacle for anyone without reliable transport or the ability to take time off work.Across much of Appalachia, communities in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee have experienced decades of economic decline and the effects of the opioid epidemic and also rank among the most underserved areas for access to mental health care. These pressures have an impact on one another, as the same conditions that cause higher rates of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders exist alongside a limited supply of clinicians able to treat them. Over time it snowballs, with more and more people needing support and still almost no one available to treat them.The problem is not restricted to just rural regions or lower-income states, though. There are also significant shortages within some of the wealthiest states in the country, including California, Illinois and New York. In cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, you tend to find providers clustered in the more affluent ZIP codes, and they grow scarcer as you reach the lower-income areas. Across nearly every state in the country, wealth and the availability of care are closely linked, leaving the communities with the least resources with the fewest options for mental health treatment.Insurers typically reimburse mental health services at lower rates than for physical health care, which makes it difficult to sustain a practice where many patients depend on their insurance for treatment or cannot afford to pay out of pocket. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was created to address this issue by requiring insurers to cover mental health on equal terms with physical health, although enforcement of this has been inconsistent.For many people in these areas, the first step is a visit to their usual primary care provider, who refers them to a specialist. The first one they try won’t have spaces anytime soon, the next isn’t taking on new patients, and this goes on until they find that the nearest place with availability is hours away, so they decide not to bother. The referral from their primary care provider is logged in the system, but the fact that they never make it to seeing a specialist isn’t. Left untreated, the condition gets worse, and it is usually family and friends who see it worsening, until the only place left to turn is the emergency room.Federal programs have been introduced to try to drive more graduates toward the places that need them, most notably through the National Health Service Corps, which repays student loans for clinicians who commit to working in one of the areas defined as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area for a set number of years. Although these programs have placed thousands of providers in the underserved communities, the scale of the gap is far larger than the scale of the incentives, and once they have served their commitment, many participants move on, and while the program is making small improvements to the system, it is still not fixing the issue.Technology has helped in a way, seeing as a video appointment can replace a long drive for people who have a good internet connection. The counties with the fewest providers, however, are also the ones with the weakest broadband connections or access to broadband at all. Historically, state licensing laws have stopped providers from being able to treat patients from across state lines, which limits how much a well-served state can help others. To bypass this, states have introduced interstate licensing agreements allowing psychologists to practice across the participating states, which most states have now signed up to. Once again, these arrangements do not create new providers; they simply change how far the existing workforce can be stretched.Some primary care practices have approached the problem from a different angle, by building mental health support into the care they are already delivering so that patients don’t have to join a specialist waitlist. One of these is the Collaborative Care Model, which introduces a care manager and a consulting psychiatrist into the patient’s care alongside their usual primary care provider.America's mental health care deserts have been mapped and tracked for years, so their locations are not a mystery. Recently, however, there has been an increase in tools that work around the distance rather than waiting for the workforce issue to be resolved, but for that 11-year wait to start coming down, there would have to be enough workforce to meet the demand across every shortage area. Until then, the person who decided not to bother after their search ended at a dead end is likely still struggling and may not try reaching out for help again. The biggest barrier to receiving mental health support in America remains where a person happens to live.This story was produced by April Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Sunburn relief: Dermatologist-approved methods that actually work Sunburn relief: Dermatologist-approved methods that actually workThat painful red glow after a day outdoors is more than just discomfort. It signals real cellular damage happening beneath the skin's surface. The good news is that dermatologist-approved treatments can significantly reduce pain, speed healing, and prevent long-term damage when applied correctly. Many people reach for whatever lotion is nearby, but not all products help, and some can actually worsen the burn. Understanding the science behind sunburn symptoms and using proven methods makes the difference between a few uncomfortable days and weeks of peeling, blistering misery. Below, Doctronic explains how to handle a sunburn in those crucial first 24 hours.Key TakeawaysThe first 24 hours after sunburn are critical for minimizing skin damage and inflammation.Aloe vera and soy-based products provide effective cooling and healing, while benzocaine and lidocaine should be avoided.Hydration and anti-inflammatory medications help the body recover from the inside out.Never pick or exfoliate peeling skin, as this delays healing and increases infection risk.Blistering, fever, or severe pain may indicate second-degree burns or sun poisoning requiring medical attention.The Science of Sunburn and Immediate ResponseUnderstanding the Inflammatory ResponseSunburn is the skin's inflammatory response to damage from ultraviolet radiation. When UV rays penetrate the epidermis, they damage DNA in skin cells. The body responds by increasing blood flow to the area, which causes redness and warmth. Inflammatory chemicals flood the damaged tissue, triggering pain receptors. This process peaks between 12 and 24 hours after sun exposure, and the damage is already done by the time skin turns red.The Critical First 24 HoursActing fast during the first day determines how severe the burn becomes. Getting out of the sun immediately prevents additional damage. Cool showers or compresses help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Avoid applying ice directly to the skin, as this can cause additional tissue damage. Drinking extra water is essential during this window, since the inflammatory response draws fluid to the skin's surface, potentially causing dehydration.Dermatologist-Recommended Topical TreatmentsAloe Vera and Soy-Based ProductsAloe vera remains the gold standard for sunburn relief, with compounds that reduce inflammation, provide cooling sensations, and support skin repair. Pure aloe gel works best. Products with added fragrances or alcohol can irritate damaged skin further. Soy-based lotions offer an alternative, containing natural anti-inflammatory properties that help skin retain moisture during healing. Some dermatologists recommend alternating between aloe and soy products throughout the day.Hydrocortisone CreamsOver-the-counter hydrocortisone creams at 1% strength can significantly reduce inflammation and itching. Apply a thin layer to affected areas two to three times daily. This treatment works best for moderate burns without blistering, and should not be used on broken skin or blisters.Why Avoid Benzocaine and LidocaineDespite their presence in many sunburn relief products, benzocaine and lidocaine can cause allergic reactions in sun-damaged skin. These numbing agents may provide temporary relief but often lead to contact dermatitis, adding another layer of irritation to an already painful situation. Dermatologists consistently advise against these ingredients for sunburn treatment.Internal Recovery and Hydration StrategiesCombating DehydrationSunburn pulls fluid from the rest of the body toward the skin's surface, causing mild to moderate dehydration, especially with larger burns. Drinking water alone may not be enough. Oral rehydration solutions or drinks containing balanced electrolytes help replace sodium and potassium lost during the inflammatory process. Signs of dehydration include dark urine, dizziness, and increased thirst.Anti-Inflammatory MedicationsNSAIDs such as ibuprofen reduce both inflammation and pain associated with sunburn. Taking these medications within the first few hours of noticing a burn can limit the inflammatory cascade before it peaks. Acetaminophen helps with pain but does not address inflammation, making anti-inflammatory options the better choice, specifically for sunburn. Understanding how long the healing process takes helps set realistic expectations for recovery.Safe Skin Care During the Peeling PhaseMoisturizing to Repair the Skin BarrierAs damaged skin begins peeling, usually three to seven days after the burn, consistent moisturizing becomes critical. The skin barrier is compromised during this phase, making it vulnerable to infection and further damage. Fragrance-free, gentle moisturizers containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid help rebuild the skin's protective layer while keeping moisture locked in.The Dangers of Picking and ExfoliatingPeeling skin tempts many people to help it along by picking or using exfoliating products. Pulling away skin that is not ready to shed exposes raw tissue beneath, increasing the risk of infection and potentially causing scarring. Let peeling happen naturally. The body knows when skin is ready to release, and forced removal only delays complete healing.When to Seek Professional Medical AttentionIdentifying Second-Degree BurnsBlisters indicate a second-degree burn, which requires more careful treatment. These burns damage deeper skin layers and carry higher infection risks. Large blisters, especially those covering a significant area of the body, warrant professional evaluation. Experiencing severe blistering sunburns during youth substantially increases melanoma risk later in life, making proper treatment and future prevention essential.Warning Signs of Sun PoisoningSun poisoning describes severe sunburn accompanied by systemic symptoms. Fever, chills, nausea, and severe headache indicate the body is struggling to cope with extensive UV damage. Confusion or fainting requires immediate emergency care, as these symptoms suggest a whole-body inflammatory response that may need IV fluids and prescription medications.Long-Term Skin Repair and Future PreventionRecovered skin remains more sensitive to UV damage for weeks or months after a severe burn. Using sunscreen that has not expired and applying it daily, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak sun hours prevent repeat damage to healing tissue. Wide-brimmed hats and UPF clothing provide additional protection without requiring reapplication. Building consistent sun protection habits now prevents painful burns and reduces long-term skin cancer risk.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long does sunburn take to heal completely?Mild sunburns typically heal within three to five days. Moderate burns with peeling take one to two weeks. Severe burns with blistering may require three weeks or longer to fully heal.Can sunburn cause permanent skin damage?Repeated sunburns accelerate skin aging and significantly increase the risk of skin cancer. Even a single severe burn can cause lasting changes in skin cells that may lead to problems years later.Should blisters from sunburn be popped?Never pop sunburn blisters. They protect healing skin underneath from infection. If a blister breaks on its own, clean the area gently and apply antibiotic ointment.Is it safe to take a hot shower with sunburn?Hot water worsens sunburn pain and inflammation. Use cool or lukewarm water only. Hot showers strip moisture from already damaged skin and intensify discomfort.The Bottom LineEffective sunburn relief combines immediate cooling, proper topical treatments, hydration, and patience during the peeling phase. Acting quickly within the first 24 hours makes the biggest difference in outcomes.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine Police will host National Night Out at Musco Sports Center The Muscatine Police Department will host National Night Out at the Musco Sports Center from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, a news release says. Families are invited to an evening of free, family-friendly fun, food, and community connections both inside and outside the sports dome. “This event is about coming together as a community,” said [...]
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after shooting on Main Street Demaine Glenn, 34, faces attempted murder and stolen weapons charges after allegedly shooting at a man early Monday morning on Main Street in Davenport.
	Is agentic trading safe? What the SEC inquiry means for investors Is agentic trading safe? What the SEC inquiry means for investorsLess than a month after Robinhood let customers hand their brokerage accounts over to an AI agent, a group of lawmakers wants to know who’s on the hook when something goes wrong.On June 23, seven Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins asking how the agency plans to police a trading model that barely existed a year ago. Illinois Rep. Bill Foster and California Rep. Brad Sherman led the letter, and Reps. Stephen Lynch, Jim Himes, Sean Casten, Rashida Tlaib, and Sylvia Garcia cosigned it. Atkins has until July 31 to respond.The timing was no accident. Robinhood launched Agentic Trading for equities on May 27 and added the Agentic Credit Card the same day. Options followed shortly after, and on July 1, Robinhood confirmed crypto agentic trading was rolling out next. Public began rolling out its own version, called Agents, on March 31. SoFi launched Composer in late June, right after acquiring Composer Securities. Coinbase introduced its own crypto-focused agent tool, Coinbase for Agents, on June 11. Kraken has said agentic trading will sit at the core of its next app redesign.In about four months, this went from a novelty to something several major brokerages now offer by default. Finder examines what the SEC’s agentic trading inquiry means for everyday investors.What the letter actually asksThe Foster-Sherman letter isn’t a ban or an accusation of wrongdoing. It’s a request for information — the kind Congress uses to build a paper trail before deciding whether new rules are needed. It also points back to the SEC’s 2023 proposal on conflicts of interest in predictive data analytics, urging the agency to revisit that framework. The 13 questions go after the basic setup of these products, not just how they perform.A central concern is how brokerages describe the AI agents. Robinhood classifies connected agents as third-party tools and states plainly that it doesn’t control, supervise, or audit them. The lawmakers argue this framing could let platforms sidestep normal investor protections. The letter says agentic trading “raises serious questions for investor protection [and] broker-dealer responsibilities” — and, in the same breath, extends those concerns to market integrity and to whether AI developers can be held accountable.The letter also raises herding risk. If large numbers of AI agents are trained on similar data, they could all converge on the same trades independently, amplifying volatility rather than smoothing it out.Then there’s the liability question. The letter asks the SEC to clarify when an AI agent or its developer would need to register as a broker or advisor, and whether current rules can even apply here. That’s not hypothetical — Robinhood’s disclosures already say customers assume all risk for the agent’s trades and for what happens to their data once it leaves Robinhood’s systems.How the brokerages describe itNone of this is hidden. Robinhood’s terms state that once customer data reaches the AI provider, it leaves Robinhood’s environment and is governed by the provider’s terms instead. The company uses dedicated accounts, sends push notifications for every trade, and lets users disconnect agents at any time. CEO Vlad Tenev has framed it as giving retail traders institutional-grade tools, telling CNBC the goal is that “every capability a human can do will be available to an AI agent.”Other platforms built in more friction on purpose. Public’s Agents require customer approval before going live and keep everything inside one authenticated environment. Coinbase built its version around strict user-set limits on trade size and spending, describing it as handing over a gift card rather than full account access. SoFi’s Composer runs on rules that the customer sets and can be backtested before activation. Kraken says it’s keeping a human in the loop, with its chief data officer telling CNBC the aim is to make the tool feel “like talking to your well-informed best friend.”Whether that’s enough oversight is exactly what the SEC has been asked to weigh.What to watch nextFor everyday investors already using or considering these tools, the practical guardrails haven’t changed: fund a dedicated account with money you can afford to lose, set spending and symbol limits where a platform offers them, and treat an agent as something to supervise rather than hand off entirely. None of that changes based on how the SEC responds.What could change is the regulatory path. If the July 31 response doesn’t satisfy the committee, the letter leaves the door open for Congress to pass its own legislation rather than rely on brokerage disclosures. Given how fast things have moved this year — from a single beta in May to crypto, options, and even a Guinness World Records stunt by July — that answer may shape the next phase more than any company’s safety features.This guide has been edited and fact-checked by Richard Laycock.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Are British Columbia mushrooms unfairly subsidized? US growers think so Are British Columbia mushrooms unfairly subsidized? US growers think soMushrooms may not be the first crop that comes to mind when you think of high-tech agriculture. But in B.C., Agaricus bisporus — the fungal species sold in grocery stores as button mushrooms, creminis, and portobellos — is grown using cutting-edge techniques.“If you go back 10 or 15 years, you would travel to Holland to find the most productive, leading-edge mushroom facilities in the world,” Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs Mushrooms, said in an interview with The Narwhal. “Today, you travel to Holland and British Columbia.”In 2017, Pennsylvania-based South Mill merged with Aldergrove-based Champ’s Mushrooms to form South Mill Champs. The company now supplies more B.C.-grown mushrooms to the U.S. market than any other, around 22,675 tonnes per year.Before B.C.’s mushroom tech boom, farms often mimicked more natural growing conditions. Modern B.C. farms use what’s called the Dutch method: metal shelves heaped with a mixture of manure and straw to cultivate their crops. The mushrooms are grown in air-tight facilities that are closely controlled for temperature and humidity. Unlike other indoor crops, mushrooms don’t need much light to grow. The buildings are dim, the opposite of brightly lit commercial greenhouses. This method results in faster-growing, higher-quality mushrooms and fewer pests, according to Macleod. But it’s not as common in the U.S.Nearly all Canadian mushroom exports — 98% in 2024 — are sold in the U.S. As B.C.’s technologically advanced mushroom industry has grown into a global leader, some American producers have accused Canadian growers of benefiting from unfair government subsidies. It’s set off a trade dispute that could reshape the cross-border market.SummaryB.C. is a world-leading mushroom producer with much of the provincial crop being exported to the United States.Recently, the United States Department of Commerce added tariffs to Canadian-grown mushrooms on the grounds they receive unfair government subsidies.One B.C.-based mushroom farm is fighting the tariffs, but more could be coming by the end of the year.BC mushroom trade sparks US concernsIf you ask B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, mushrooms are among the most unique of the province’s commercial crops.“They have to be harvested 24 hours a day and they grow in the dark,” Popham said in an interview. “There’s been a lot of technology that’s been coming around, a lot of innovation that is allowing for different types of harvesting [and] different types of lighting conditions.”This innovation may be part of what sparked a trade complaint from a group of U.S. mushroom producers last year.A September 2025 petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce from the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition argued fresh Canadian mushrooms are being “unfairly” subsidized by government programs.“Canadian producers are exporting fresh mushrooms to the United States at prices below fair value and are benefiting from countervailable subsidies provided by the government of Canada,” the petition says. “These practices have resulted in significant negative impacts on U.S. mushroom growers and packers, including lost sales, depressed prices and declining profitability.”In fact, none of the subsidies provided by Canadian governments specifically target the mushroom industry and are instead directed at farmers generally.But in May, the Commerce Department agreed with the U.S. petitioners and applied duties on some Canadian mushroom producers. The preliminary decision concluded Canadian governments do unfairly subsidize mushroom production.For now, about two dozen Canadian mushroom producers are facing a 2.84% tariff on the mushrooms they sell in the U.S.South Mill Champs is contesting the Commerce Department’s decision, which Mushrooms Canada, the national trade association representing Canadian mushroom growers, called “deeply flawed.”“It’s using regulatory tactics to stifle healthy competition,” Macleod said.Champ’s Mushrooms was handed a 1.62% tariff by the Commerce Department.The Commerce Department has yet to decide on whether to hit Canadian mushrooms with anti-dumping duties, a type of tariff applied to imported goods that are being sold at lower prices, as a way to protect domestic producers.Government subsidies aren’t specific to mushrooms, and US growers get them tooThere’s no denying Canadian mushroom growers receive support from the government. B.C. producers do not have to pay provincial sales tax on equipment for their businesses and can also access grant programs that support agricultural operations.The province also offers funding to help farms cover the cost of adopting new technologies, but Popham pointed out that none of the province’s programs are targeted specifically at bolstering B.C. mushrooms.“It’s not specific at all to the mushroom industry,” Popham said. “It’s just the way we support farmers in B.C.”And that means the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition’s complaint lacks merit under U.S. trade law, according to Mushrooms Canada CEO Ryan Koeslag.“It is difficult to reconcile Commerce’s preliminary approach with the fact that comparable agricultural tax treatment exists in the United States,” Koeslag said in a statement after the Commerce Department’s preliminary duties were announced. “Canadian mushroom growers are not receiving special treatment. They are operating under ordinary rules that apply to farmers.”The Commerce Department did not respond to questions about these criticisms of its decision and whether it will assess tax exemptions available to U.S. mushroom farmers before reaching its final decision on the tariffs. The Narwhal also contacted Giorgio Fresh Co., one of the U.S. companies that formed the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition, for comment, but did not receive a response.Macleod doesn’t believe the trade complaint is really about subsidy programs at all.“This case is not about the U.S. versus Canada — it’s about companies who have invested in new infrastructure and those who haven’t invested in new infrastructure,” he said.Most Canadian-grown mushrooms are grown using the Dutch method, Macleod explained. This technique gives growers large, reliable yields quickly, he added, while also reducing pest pressures and creating mushrooms that consumers prefer.In the U.S., the majority of mushrooms are grown on wood shelves, an older technique that isn’t as efficient as the Dutch method.Growing mushrooms on wood makes it “very hard to consistently produce a fine-looking mushroom and ensure disease doesn’t, at times of the year, really damage the crop,” Macleod said.South Mill Champs’ U.S. operations have learned a lot about the benefits of modern mushroom growing from their Canadian counterparts, he added.Switching from wood-based cultivation to the Dutch method isn’t cheap, though government grant programs and tax exemptions can help take the edge off the costs. Macleod said it takes years for a mushroom farm to see a return on investment into a whole new cultivation set-up. But the new technology can reduce ongoing costs, increase revenue, and open the door to further technological innovation, he added.With new cultivation systems in place, Popham said some B.C. farms are introducing robots to harvest their mushrooms.“Technology is taking over what I would call mundane tasks,” she said, adding that human workers are still needed to oversee the machines.“They don’t expect, as they bring in technology, to see displacement of labour. It’s adding to a better quality of workplace, which is really cool.”Robots can’t harvest mushrooms grown using wood-based shelving, Macleod said, potentially putting old-style producers at even more of a disadvantage.“If you don’t have new infrastructure, you have to build from scratch,” he said.Final decision on additional cross-border costs for BC mushroom growers could take monthsWhile additional duties on Canadian mushrooms could be announced within weeks, a final determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce may not come for months. Macleod is hopeful the final determination will be that Canadian-grown mushrooms do not harm U.S. producers.“I really do not think less mushrooms will be exported from Canada into the U.S.,” he said. “Duties paid will mean ultimately the consumer pays more for mushrooms, which is bad for the consumer and the industry.”Popham believes that B.C.-grown mushrooms are popular because of the industry’s embrace of innovation and its proximity to the U.S. market.“I hope that what results from this most recent challenge is that there’s an acknowledgement that we’re just doing it really, really well,” she said.At a time when many British Columbians want to support locally grown food, mushrooms are a perfect choice, she added.“When we talk about being more resilient and growing more at home, mushrooms have been there the whole time,” Popham said. “I think that when consumers understand how big of an industry it is here and I think that this is another feather in our cap.”This story was produced by The Narwhal and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Illinois, Iowa offering back-to-school sales tax holidays Starting Aug. 7, shoppers in Illinois and Iowa can save money on clothing, shoes, and school supplies during back-to-school sales tax holidays.
	The role of water in back-to-school wellness (BPT) - As students return to the classroom, back-to-school planning extends beyond school supplies and class schedules. It's also an ideal time for families to create strong routines that support their children's wellness, foster family well-being and keep household essentials running smoothly.From hydration habits to laundry care to snacks, these everyday practices can play a meaningful role in helping families start the school year strong. Consistent routines that prioritize hydration, nutrition, cleanliness and household maintenance can help support healthy, productive learning environments.Why water quality matters throughout the homeWater plays a bigger role in overall well-being than many families realize. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, "even mild dehydration, as little as a 1%–2% loss in body water, can negatively affect children's attention, memory, mood and cognitive performance, all of which are critical for learning." While healthy eating habits often receive the most attention, the quality of the water students drink each day is key. Clean, great-tasting water can support healthy hydration habits and make it easier for families to choose water over sugary beverages.Water quality can influence how much water children and adults drink. When water tastes and smells fresh, family members may be more likely to reach for it throughout the day. Additionally, as concerns about water quality continue to grow, many households are looking for ways to improve the water they use every day. Kinetico®, a global leader in water treatment solutions, recently introduced HYDRO® ECO™, an electric tankless reverse osmosis system designed to meet the needs of families. By providing cleaner, better-tasting water, hydration can be a simple and sustainable part of a healthy school-year routine.Building a healthier lunchboxA well-balanced lunch can help students be ready to learn throughout the school day. When packing lunches and snacks, families can look for foods that provide a balanced mix of nutrients while also supporting healthy hydration habits.Pairing water with fruits and vegetables is an easy way to support this balance. Water-rich foods such as watermelon, oranges, cucumbers, celery and bell peppers naturally contain high amounts of water, helping students stay hydrated while providing essential vitamins and minerals.Families can also encourage healthier beverage choices by packing a reusable water bottle each day. Keeping water readily available makes it easier for students to make hydration a regular part of their school-day routine.Protecting school clothing and uniformsBack-to-school shopping extends beyond classroom supplies. Every year, families also invest in back-to-school clothes, uniforms and athletic wear. With households spending hundreds of dollars preparing for the school year, protecting those purchases can be an important part of keeping costs manageable.That protection often starts in the laundry room. Using a trusted detergent, following garment care instructions and avoiding overloading the washing machine can all help extend the life of clothing. Water quality can also play a role. Hard water can leave mineral residue on fabrics, which may contribute to damage and wear over time. Whole-home water softening solutions, from providers like Kinetico, can help reduce the effects of hard water on laundry, helping school clothes and uniforms look and feel their best longer.Healthy habits beyond the classroom The beginning of the school year is an opportunity to build healthy habits that support student and family wellness. By prioritizing hydration, balanced routines and thoughtful home care, families can create a strong foundation for success.
	Rock Island-Milan back-to-school event draws families to Schwiebert Park Rock Island-Milan School District hosted its Ready to Rock back-to-school event at Schwiebert Park, giving out free supplies ahead of Aug. 5.
	Democrat Rob Sand calls for social media age limit in kids’ tech safety plan Social media would be banned for kids under age 16 under a tech safety proposal by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. (Stock photo by Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said he supports banning social media for children under age 16, setting age verification and parental consent requirements on certain apps and providing more safeguards for minors online, according to a kids’ online safety policy platform released Monday. The plan, shared first with Iowa Capital Dispatch, is focused on restricting and providing more parental oversight for social media and other online platforms as a way to ensure children stay safe online, Sand said Friday in an interview — as well as make sure Iowa youth are socializing and developing life skills offline. Sand, who currently serves as state auditor, said the influence of technology in children’s lives has been a major concern as he raises his two sons, age 9 and 12. He said the policies reflect both his considerations as a parent, as well as research and reports showing the negative impacts of social media use on children’s mental health. Banning social media for children under age 16 is a way to ensure children are building “healthy habits” in the real world, he said. “The bottom line to me on a lot of this stuff, is that real life matters, and we want our kids to learn that real life matters,” Sand said. “You know, we play a lot of board games as a family, we’ll have reading nights, we hunt, we fish. We do activities that involve interacting with each other and finding ways to have fun, that have existed for hundreds of years, that actually build relationships and build confidence and build grit. … A lot of this, to me, is just pointing us towards things that can be good for us, when social media, at the end of the day, is conclusively — even from the social media company’s own studies — bad for children.” While the proposal focuses on traditional social media platforms, Sand said he wants to “address all platforms” that are linked with potentially dangerous or negative impacts on children, including gaming platforms like Roblox or video platforms like YouTube. Sand said he would model policy for Iowa on Utah’s “App Store Accountability” Act, signed into law in 2025. The measure requires app stores run by companies like Apple and Google to verify users’ ages before allowing them to download applications. It requires minors have parental consent in order to download apps requiring a terms of service agreement. The law also requires parental consent for app and in-app purchases from minors’ accounts. The Utah law is being challenged in federal court by Computer & Communications Industry Association, which says in the lawsuit the measure is “a violation of the First Amendment” because it would impact access to apps outside of social media, like email and e-books. Age verification steps also present questions about data collection. During this year’s Iowa legislative session, speakers during subcommittee meetings on House File 864 expressed concerns about entrusting tech companies with users’ data and personal information, needed to verify their age. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law in June, which requires websites and social media platforms to implement “reasonable” age verification steps if one-third or more of the content available is pornographic. Sand’s policy platform includes requiring users’ data be protected and that only “pertinent age information” is shared with app developers. “But I also want to emphasize this — when you’re in uncharted territory, with a new technology that you know is hurting children, the answer is not … to do nothing. The answer is to do something,” Sand said. “And if it doesn’t work perfectly, then adjust, and keep trying, keep doing it.” The proposal calls for banning the sale of minors’ data and banning targeted advertising for minors, specifically related to their personal data, search history and other information collected online. It also would require minors’ accounts to be private by default, with restrictions on functions like geolocation and direct messages coming from adult users. The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has previously considered similar proposals specifically regarding social media age limits. In 2025, House lawmakers discussed legislation requiring social media companies to obtain parental authorization before allowing a child to create an account on their platform, which would have allowed a parent or guardian to have access to the approved account to view posts and messages received. Republicans have also called for setting similar restrictions: Sand’s proposal brought up issues like limiting screen time for youth — an issue brought up by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when he came to Iowa in May. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican running for Iowa’s Senate seat in 2026, held an event focused on children’s tech safety Saturday alongside Sen. Ted Cruz. Sand also praised Reynolds, the current Republican governor, for the 2025 law setting statewide minimum policies banning the use of cellphones in classrooms, and said he believes this issue is an area where he could find common ground with Republicans. “I’m very aware of the reality that I’ll be working with the Republican Legislature, and I want to propose stuff that those Republicans are likely to look at and say, ‘yes, I would be proud to do that with you, let’s go do it,'” Sand said. Some concerns about setting legal restrictions on minors’ ability to access these platforms come based on how social media has been integrated into many young people’s lives — and how enacting limits could result in negative social impacts for children. But Sand said he has talked to families across the state who are “really struggling with the presence of social media and their kids’ lives,” and said he believed stricter limits were appropriate. “It was not hard for us to communicate with people or to stay in touch with people that we met before social media existed,” Sand said. “There was still email. There was still the phone. We still had pen pals. You probably don’t want to go back as far as pen pals, but, there’s plenty of other tools that are available that do not harm our children’s mental health, that don’t make them depressed, and that’s where we should be focused.” Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	In Oregon, big grocery, retail companies have highest number of employees on Medicaid People shop for groceries at a Walmart store in Ohio. Walmart was the most frequently listed employer on Oregonians' Medicaid forms in 2025. (Photo by Marty Schladen/Ohio Capital Journal)Multi-billion-dollar grocers and retailers such as Walmart and Amazon were among the most listed employers on Oregonians’ applications for publicly-funded health insurance last year, according to a Capital Chronicle analysis of Oregon Health Authority data. The data, taken from Medicaid income verification forms, shows that dozens of major national and multinational corporations that often pay relatively low hourly or median wages rely on the government’s health insurance program for low-income and disabled people to cover the costs of thousands of their Oregon employees’ healthcare. Most don’t sponsor health insurance for all employees, but only for those who work at least 30 hours a week or who hold some special and seasonal roles. The U.S., unlike most economically prosperous countries, does not provide universal government-sponsored healthcare, and Americans spend more per capita on healthcare than any other population in the world. The Capital Chronicle requested data showing the 500 most frequently listed employers on Medicaid income-verification forms received between January 2025 and December 2025, and the frequency each employer was listed. More than 118,000 Medicaid applicants or recipients listed one of these 500 employers on their forms — representing nearly 14% of the more than 860,000 working-age adults in Oregon covered by Medicaid. Walmart was the most-listed employer on Oregonians’ Medicaid paperwork — both those working full and part-time. Safeway and parent company Albertsons were close behind. Online retail giant Amazon and its affiliates, including Whole Foods, came in fourth, followed by Fred Meyer and its parent company Kroger. One in six of the most listed employers on Medicaid forms in Oregon was a major grocer and retailer. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Those same companies were among the top five employers listed on income verification forms for SNAP — the public assistance program for low-income Americans to cover their food costs — the Capital Chronicle recently reported. One in five of those most commonly listed employers on those forms was a major grocer and retailer. A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that since 2020 the number of Amazon employees using SNAP and Medicaid tripled. Medicaid in Oregon by the numbers: About 1.4 million Oregonians — 1 in 3 people — get health insurance through Oregon’s Medicaid program called the Oregon Health Plan. More than half of the state’s children receive health coverage through Medicaid. This year, the state will pay an average of $6,358 per year for each Oregon Health Plan member’s coverage. In Oregon, the federal government covers 71% of costs for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP; up to 88% of the costs of the Affordable Care Act adult expansion program; and 58% for other Medicaid populations. An individual is eligible if they earn about $22,000 per year or less, and a family of four is eligible if their annual household earnings are about $45,500 or less. Since 2024, the Oregon Health Authority has also offered a “bridge” program through the Oregon Health Plan available for individuals and families with incomes that are up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or about $32,000 or less per year for an individual and $66,000 or less for a family of four. Businesses tout benefits Spokespersons for Amazon, Walmart and the Northwest Grocery Retail Association defended wages they said were significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which hasn’t changed since 2009. Oregon’s minimum wage, which increases annually, is $14.55 in rural counties, $16.80 in the Portland metro area and $15.55 in the rest of the state as of July 1. The average hourly wage of a Walmart employee in Oregon is $20.51 per hour, according to company spokesperson Jimmy Carter. Company spokespersons also touted the benefits they offer the majority of their employees and said Medicaid enrollment does not necessarily indicate that employer-sponsored coverage isn’t available. “Medicaid eligibility is based on total household income and family size, not an individual’s wages or whether their employer offers coverage,” Alisa Carroll, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement. “Two employees earning identical pay can have entirely different eligibility outcomes depending on their household circumstances and the state in which they live.” Carroll added that in 2025 the company invested $1 billion in higher wages and lowering healthcare costs for its U.S. operations employees. After large grocery retailers, the industry employing the largest number of Oregonians on Medicaid is fast food, followed by home healthcare workers and temporary staffing agencies. Home healthcare and fast food companies are also among those most listed on Oregonians’ SNAP verification forms. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); States to lose billions As more companies rely on Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage for their employees, the program is enduring historic funding cuts as part of a 2025 congressional Republican tax cut and spending law, which added new Medicaid eligibility requirements and restrictions for states starting in January. The Oregon Health Authority expects the state to lose about $9.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding during the next decade because of those changes, among which is a new requirement that nondisabled enrollees aged 19 to 64 prove they are working, volunteering or in school at least 80 hours a month. More than 60% of the state’s current Medicaid recipients are in that age range, according to health authority data. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that more than 5 million Americans could be uninsured by 2034 under the rules. The state health authority estimates about 200,000 Oregonians could lose coverage because of the change. The same GOP tax and spending cut law extended and expanded President Donald Trump’s 2017 corporate and income tax cuts, saving Amazon and Walmart billions of dollars they would otherwise have paid in income taxes to fund programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Today, Walmart’s effective income tax rate is about half of what it was 10 years ago, according to the left-leaning think tank Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Amazon, which saw its pre-tax U.S. profits increase by nearly 45% last year to almost $90 billion, paid in 2025 half of the taxes it had in the previous two years: about $2.8 billion, down from $7 billion in 2024 and 2023. Alan Dubinsky, a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union Local 49, said large corporations are taking advantage of the public healthcare system to subsidize their profits. The union represents more than 15,000 healthcare and building service workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington, who he said are already grappling with funding issues expected to get worse with the new Medicaid cuts. “Our feeling about this is that it’s time for corporations working in our communities to step up for our communities,” he said. “Stop gouging the state and provide healthcare for your workers. If Jeff Bezos can afford hundreds of billions of dollars to build data centers, he can afford to provide healthcare for the people that built this wealth for him through their labor.” States begin to call out big businesses Some states are considering fines for companies that have large numbers of employees enrolled in Medicaid, according to reporting in KFF Health News. New Jersey’s Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill in June signed into law new penalties for companies that have 50 or more employees enrolled. Companies with 50 to 249 Medicaid-enrolled workers will have to pay the state $325 per year per employee, and companies that have 500 or more employees enrolled will be fined $725 per employee per year. Similar proposals in Washington and Colorado failed to pass during legislative sessions this year. Other states, such as Oregon, have proposed laws that would mimic what Nevada’s Health Authority has been required to produce since 2020: An annual public report listing the companies with the most employees on Medicaid. Amazon and Walmart have made the top five every year. Oregon lawmakers’ attempt during the 2026 legislative session to mandate the Oregon Health Authority produce a similar annual report passed in the House but died in the Senate Rules Committee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	5 ways summer impulse buying is wrecking American budgets 5 ways summer impulse buying is wrecking American budgetsAbout 84% of all shoppers have made impulse purchases before.1Most people have been perpetrators of impulse buying. It’s a familiar experience—the sudden feeling that a particular item on the shelf is absolutely necessary.You write down the list of things you need to purchase before going into the store, but somehow you walk out with 20 other items that weren’t even on your mind before walking in, let alone on the actual list. You’re scrolling through an online store, only to be convinced you positively need that new gadget you had never even heard of 10 minutes ago.CreditNinja examines how summer impulse buying is driving overspending, increasing debt and limiting Americans’ long-term financial potential.The Ease of Online PurchasesWith the growing popularity of online purchases, it seems like it's getting easier to fall into the habit of impulse buying. With just a few clicks you can make a variety of purchases. Consumer research is providing corporations with better marketing strategies that encourage impulse buying to benefit their bottom line. And while impulse buying can be fun in the moment, and it is a socially accepted behavior, most consumers are aware that it’s not always the best move for financial health.How does impulsive buying behavior affect us? When it happens only occasionally, and you have a good amount of wiggle room in your income, it might have a minimal impact on your overall financial situation.However, if it is an ongoing issue, these kinds of impulse-buying decisions could lead to negative consequences that harm your financial well-being.Difference Between Impulsive and Compulsive SpendingThere can be confusion between impulsive and compulsive buying behavior. These terms are often used interchangeably when there is a significant difference between the two.Impulse buying and compulsive spending are different in their internal motivations. Consumer impulse buying tendencies usually consist of unplanned purchases, while compulsive buying behavior tends to be more purposeful and planned to relieve negative emotions.Actual impulse buying is spur of the moment for immediate gratification that usually has to do with external factors. In comparison, compulsive spending isn’t always made up of unplanned purchases and can quickly become an addiction because of the deep internal psychological factors at play.Impulse buying behavior is an enduring consumer trait that can have negative consequences if left unchecked. However, compulsive spending can become far more damaging if it becomes an addiction.What Consumer Research Suggests Is Behind Impulse Buying BehaviorThere have been many studies done that attempt to explain consumer behavior and why impulse purchases occur. Researchers have been curious as to what cultural factors and marketing strategies have the most considerable influence on shopping behavior and unplanned purchases.Consumer research suggests that a wide array of factors affect impulse buying decisions, from marketing strategy to the shopping environment. All manner of sensory and psychological factors could trigger impulse purchases in consumer buying behavior.External Factors Encourage Impulse BuyingTypically, impulse purchases arise from an external trigger and the consumer’s internal reaction to it. These external triggers might look like advertisements that bring about positive emotions or store environments that encourage impulsive purchases.Most often, the unplanned purchases that result from impulse buying tend to look like this: You see something, you want that thing, you buy that thing, and you have immediate gratification. It was not a part of the consumer’s purchase intention but rather a marketing strategy or store atmosphere that brought about the impulse purchase.The Negative Impacts of Impulse PurchasesThere are many ways in which your life can be negatively impacted by persistent impulse buying behavior. One impulse purchase every once in a while won’t be too big of a deal. However, too many impulse purchases can eat away at your monthly budget, leaving you struggling to pay your regular bills.Persistent, repetitive purchasing behaviors that are impulsive can seriously harm your finances if you are not careful. Here are some of the possible consequences of impulse buying behavior:1. Living Paycheck to PaycheckConsumers with an impulse-buying trait are more likely to struggle with living paycheck to paycheck. Making impulse purchases often leaves you with significantly less money for your monthly expenses.Unless you have a substantial disposable income, constant impulsive buying could have you spending every paycheck by the time you receive the next one. This is a dangerous position to be in if you have no savings; you could be one emergency away from a financial disaster.2. Buyer’s RemorseOnce you get that immediate reward after an impulse purchase, negative emotions might follow. When you buy something without thinking it through, the likelihood that you will experience buyer’s remorse is much higher.You likely have had prior impulse-buying experiences where this has occurred. You make an unplanned purchase and experience that rush of positive emotions, a release of dopamine in your brain.After the dust has settled, you begin to feel uneasy. You realize the decision was an impulse buy, and you didn’t really need the thing you were convinced you needed. Then you look at your bank account, and the buyer’s remorse really starts to kick in.3. Unmanageable DebtConsumer credit card use can significantly contribute to impulse buying behavior because revolving credit allows you to spend money you don’t actually have. Credit cards will not only make impulsive buying more tempting but also more risky.Stacking up impulse purchases with your credit cards could leave you with unmanageable debt. You may get charged with extremely high interest rates every month to pay for your impulsive buying habits.No positive emotions in the moments after an exciting purchase are worth sky-high minimum payments that you can no longer afford on your credit card bills.4. Bad CreditIrresponsible consumer credit card use for impulse buying can also harm your credit score considerably. When impulse buying behavior gets out of control, and you rack up debts you cannot afford to pay back, your credit utilization ratio increases, and your payment history worsens.Having bad credit can affect many different areas of your life, from where you can live to what kind of loans you can be approved for. Loans for people with poor credit usually have high interest rates.The only way you will be able to reverse the effects of consumer impulse buying on your credit will be to minimize your impulse purchases and pay down your debt.5. Restricts Your True PotentialEven though following your buying impulses might satisfy that desire for an immediate reward, you could be limiting your potential in the long run. When you skip over the typical consumer decision-making process to purchase something without thinking it through, you are spending money that could have been put towards long-term goals.When impulse buyers spend a significant portion of their income on unplanned purchases, they will be saving less to make their dreams come true. Think of what impulse buyers could do if they kept that money instead of spending it.They could travel the world or pursue a desire to start their own business. They could save money to buy a home or start a college fund for their child. But fulfilling these dreams can become exponentially more difficult when caught up in regular impulse buying.Is It Possible To Stop Impulse Buying?To better avoid these negative effects of impulse buying, use strategies to stop impulsive behavior in its tracks.Consumer research suggests that becoming aware of the sensory and psychological factors that affect you at any given moment while you are shopping could help curb the impulse-buying tendency. Notice things like whether you make more impulse purchases in physical stores compared to online shopping, or the other way around.Best Strategies To Reduce Impulse BuyingTaking a two-fold approach by using your willpower to stop impulse buying alongside determining what triggers impulsive behavior in you personally will give you the most long-term success. It is important to remember that not all unplanned purchases are a bad thing. Being too hard on yourself is counterproductive.However, if impulse buying has become a habit that has begun to affect your finances, here are a couple of strategies you can use to cut back on those unplanned purchases.Sleep on the DecisionWhen urges to make impulse purchases arise, wait a day or two to complete them. It might be hard to immediately tell yourself you cannot make the purchase you are considering, full stop, because, at that moment, impulse buyers are often convinced they need it. Instead, say to yourself that you can sleep on it, and if you still want to make the purchase the next day, you can.This is particularly helpful for online shopping. You can load up your virtual shopping cart with online purchases and come back to the cart a day or two later. Only after you pause and lengthen the consumer decision-making process will you complete the purchases by checking out.A lot of cultural factors contribute to the feeling of impatience and immediacy. But if you stop those in their tracks and wait just a short while longer, you can determine whether you really need to make the purchases without the fear of stopping yourself from buying something you legitimately need.Don’t Spend Money You Don’t HaveConsumer buying behavior consistently becomes more impulsive when the money can be paid back later. If you want to cut down on impulse purchases seriously, consider stopping all credit card use. Especially if you are attempting to pay off debt from prior impulse buying, it is a good idea to stop adding to your balances altogether.Consumers use all kinds of tricks to avoid using their credit cards when shopping in stores or on websites that encourage impulse buying. Some people cut up their credit cards, freeze them in an ice block, or ask their spouse to hide them in a secret location in the house. Whatever you think might work, try it out.Put Your Money in a Savings AccountIf you need to stop yourself from spending the money, you have in addition to the money you don’t have, use savings accounts to your advantage. After receiving your paycheck, transfer the money you don’t plan to use for budgeted expenses into a savings account.Savings accounts have withdrawal limits, meaning you can’t keep transferring money out. When you are in situations that trigger impulse purchases, you might be less tempted to give in if you need to take several extra steps to complete them.Knowing that you are only allowed four withdrawals or whatever your account’s limit is might give you pause before making a transfer. Limited funds being readily available could make impulse purchases occur less frequently.Clearly Budget Your ExpensesHaving a clearly outlined monthly budget will greatly reduce unplanned purchases. Budgeting expenses helps impulse buyers stick to their original consumer purchase intention.By being fully aware of exactly how much disposable income you have each month, you are far less likely to overspend on impulse purchases. No one wants to miss rent or utility payments. If you know that a particular purchase will cut into your necessary expenses, you won’t be as susceptible to impulsive behavior.Do a Spending DetoxConsider doing a temporary spending detox. There are many different types of detoxes you can do: a detox from online shopping, a detox from clothes shopping, or a full spending detox for all unnecessary expenses.Stopping your spending altogether, even planned purchases that aren’t necessary for your basic needs, can help you understand the psychological factors contributing to your impulse buying behavior.You might find clarity on what positive and negative emotions stimulate impulse purchases for you. How does the store atmosphere influence your shopping behavior? Which marketing strategies have the most significant impact on you?A thorough spending detox for two weeks or one month could enlighten you with the answers to these questions, allowing you to move forward with a better understanding of your impulsive behavior.The Bottom LineWhile impulse buying is a socially accepted behavior encouraged by corporations through marketing strategies to get you to spend money, it can severely impact your overall quality of life if it becomes a common occurrence. If you find that your impulse purchases have taken over your budget, you have the power to take your purchasing power back into your own hands.If you find yourself in a situation where the strategies mentioned above do nothing to improve the impulse buying tendency, it may be time to consider whether your spending habits have become compulsive. Compulsive buying behavior can be significantly harder to control and may require professional help from a mental healthcare provider or financial expert.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtags Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtagsEvery day, hundreds of millions of posts go live on Instagram, and hashtags are still one of the most dependable ways to be found by people who don’t already follow you. An Instagram hashtag generator removes the guesswork: Instead of recycling the same tired tags, hoping something sticks, or juggling a stack of third-party apps, you get a relevant, ready-to-use set of hashtags matched to your content in seconds. That means more of the right people discovering every photo, Reel, carousel, and repost you share, without spending your night researching tags. Linktree, the tool for influencers, digs into Instagram hashtags here to help you grow your audience.That speed matters most in the creator economy, where reach and revenue are tightly linked, and even a modest but engaged following can start making money. For influencers, the right blend of niche and midsize hashtags drops your content into engaged communities that are far more likely to follow, save, and share, which are exactly the signals Instagram rewards with more distribution. For brands, it’s a low-cost way to reach new customers, join conversations that are already happening, and keep posts working long after you publish. Whoever you are, a smart hashtag strategy turns a single post into an ongoing discovery engine.Why You Should Use Hashtags in an Instagram PostHashtags are Instagram’s original discovery layer. When you add them to a post, you’re telling the algorithm what your content is about and which feeds, Explore surfaces, and search results it belongs in. Leave them off, and you’re relying almost entirely on your existing followers to see your work. For anyone building an audience (creators testing a new niche, influencers expanding into a new category, or brands launching a product), hashtags are how you reach people who’ve never heard of you but are actively searching for what you make. And once they find you, knowing how to post links on Instagram turns that new attention into clicks that actually go somewhere.They also compound over time. A well-tagged post keeps surfacing in hashtag feeds and search for days, long after it slides out of your followers’ timelines. In the creator economy, that extended shelf life is often the difference between a post that fizzles and one that keeps pulling in new followers and buyers. Influencers use hashtags to signal relevance to the communities they want to belong to, and brands use them to appear alongside the trends their customers already care about. Used well, hashtags aren’t spammy filler: They’re free, precise targeting.Knowing how to use them well is half practical, half analytical. On the practical side, put your tags at the end of the caption or in the first comment, and blend a few high-volume tags with a stack of midsize and niche ones you can realistically rank in. The analytical side is where hashtags earn their keep: Instagram Insights shows how many impressions a post pulled “from hashtags,” which tells you whether strangers actually discovered it or your existing followers just scrolled past. That’s the clearest read on what your account reach really means. Track it over time, and the patterns surface on their own: which topics and formats land, which trending hashtags are worth joining while they’re hot, and when you’re leaning on the same tired tags so heavily you risk an Instagram shadowban.Here’s what that broad-to-niche mix can look like across a few common categories: Linktree Tips for growing on Instagram with hashtagsA good mix is one lever. Pair it with these tactics, and you’ll see real gains in reach.Pick hashtags you can actually rank inThe Top Posts slot is won by engagement, not tag inclusion. Using #love (2 billion+ posts) will bury you instantly. Using hashtags that appear in only 50,000-500,000 posts gives you a better chance.Save three to five hashtag sets for different content typesReels, carousels, quotes, and promos each perform best with different mixes. Save them so you don’t have to retype every time.Engage in hashtag feeds you useSpend 10 minutes after posting, liking, and commenting on posts in two to three of your tags. Instagram reads that as “this account is relevant here” and boosts distribution.Watch which hashtags your post actually ranked inTap Instagram Insights, then Reach, then “From Hashtags” to see which tags drove impressions. Double down on the ones that worked.Track link-in-bio traffic after hashtag-heavy postsA spike in hashtag reach should translate into profile visits and link-in-bio clicks.This story was produced by Linktree and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nominations open for 39th annual Rock Island Citizen of the Year Awards The City of Rock Island seeks nominations for the 39th annual Citizen of the Year awards, according to a news release. Each year, Rock Island residents nominate those who have inspired others or made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island. There are nine categories available for nomination: Individual; Youth; Education; Professional; [...]
	Extreme Heat Warning until MON 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT: High Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses
	Man charged after leading Davenport police on chase, crashing into front yard Gilberto Castillo, 31, faces eluding and OWI charges after allegedly fleeing police and crashing into a Davenport yard before trying to flee on foot.

Monday, July 27th, 2026