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

Thursday, January 29th, 2026
	Rock Island mayor to deliver state of the city address Rock Island Mayor Ashley Harris will deliver his 2026 state of the city address Thursday.
	Alleman High School students volunteer during annual Day of Service School leaders said the day gives students the opportunity to learn new skills and have fun outside the classroom.
	Better Business Bureau seeks nominations for Torch Awards for Business Ethics The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Greater Iowa has announced that nominations and applications are now officially open for the 2026 Torch Awards for Business Ethics, a news release says. This award recognizes local companies that display an outstanding level of integrity and an unwavering commitment to ethical business practices. To celebrate the finalists and [...]
	Few more frosty, cold days followed by a warming trend January temperatures are now below average, and we'll close out the month colder and drier than average. So far this January, only 1.7" of snow has accumulated in the Quad Cities. A little more snow is on the way Sunday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Two new playgrounds will be coming to Davenport elementary and preschool schools Children's Village West and Jefferson Elementary School in Davenport will receive new playgrounds in the coming years.
	Colona changes format of committee meetings; will hold competition for new logo, slogan Aldermen on Monday approved a six-month trial period for committee of the whole meetings.
	Geneseo moves closer to phosphorus removal at wastewater treatment plant The current cost estimate for the project is $12.8 million, down from $13.9 million.
	Cesar Toscano: Introducing Cesar in the Classroom and looking for classrooms to visit Education Reporter Cesar Toscano invites educators to collaborate with Quad-City Times/Dispatch Argus on classroom visits.
	The Bellevue War This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.If the Guinness Book of World Records had been around in 1840, the good citizens of Bellevue, Iowa would certainly have…
	Senegal and Morocco fined and players banned after African Cup final chaos Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month.
	Sarah Smith named director of Galesburg Tourism & Visitors Bureau Sarah Smith has been named director of the Galesburg Tourism & Visitors Bureau (GTVB) Board. According to a release, Smith will lead efforts to promote the Galesburg area and advance tourism for economic growth. Smith brings extensive experience in strategic marketing, communications and community-centered storytelling across various industries. She most recently led tourism marketing for [...]
	Caregivers for the elderly could lose wage protections under Trump proposal The Labor Department has proposed rescinding an Obama-era rule that gave home care workers the right to overtime pay and other wage protections. The administration says the rule made care too costly.
	'Philadelphia,' 'Clueless,' 'The Karate Kid' added to the National Film Registry Every year, the National Film Registry adds 25 films to its collection to be preserved for posterity. Selections for 2025 ranges from 'The Thing' to 'White Christmas'
	Trump has sued universities for billions. Here's what the strategy tells us Each deal between colleges and the administration is unique, but they have common goals: altering the culture at powerful institutions and making their policies more aligned with President Trump's.
	Starmer and Xi call for deeper UK-China ties as Trump shakes up global relations British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing called for a "comprehensive strategic partnership" to deepen ties amid global uncertainty.
	Iowa Senate to amend House bill banning eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines DES MOINES, Iowa -- A House-passed bill banning the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines won't move forward in its current form in the Senate. Last week, the Iowa House passed HF 2104 64 to 28, prohibiting hazardous liquid pipeline companies from using eminent domain to construct pipelines. On Tuesday morning, a Senate [...]
Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
	Potential plans for Centennial Bridge presented at public input session Another public information session was held on the possible reconstruction of the Centennial Bridge.
	How the Minneapolis killings look from Trump country The shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good by federal agents in Minneapolis have enraged many people across the country. NPR wanted to know what supporters of President Trump's immigration policy think about the shootings.
	U.S. life expectancy hits a new high, as deaths from overdoses and COVID fall An American born in 2024 can expect to live to be 79, on average. But people in other wealthy countries can expect to live longer.
	Illinois Congressman urges new federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), who represents the 8th Congressional District in the Chicago area, discussed his proposed First Home Affordability Act on Wednesday at a roundtable in Moline Township Hall.
	Illinois cities added to trucking video game Some of the new additions to American Truck Simulator include Peoria and Bloomington.
	Crews respond to Rock Island apartment fire No injuries were reported following a fire on the 1800 block of 30th Street in Rock Island, but 40 people have been displaced.
	Davenport community calling for city council to take a stand against ICE The city council unanimously passed an issue paper which would prevent the state from taking control of local law enforcement.
	Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault merging with Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence The news comes the same day that IowaCASA announced it would be dissolving.
	State transportation officials continue gathering public feedback on Centennial Bridge's future The U.S. 67 (Centennial Bridge) Corridor Project is a long-term plan formed by state transportation officials to address the bridge's aging infrastructure.
	Davenport residents sentenced to federal prison for selling cocaine in QC area Two Davenport residents were sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, according to a news release from the U. S. Attorney's Office - Southern District of Iowa. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Lloyd Demico [...]
	How Moline is working to solve their affordable housing problem Much like the rest of the country, the Quad Cities is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Illinois Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) hosted a roundtable in Moline to speak about the crisis with members of the local government and community, and Moline officials said they have laid the groundwork that could help provide [...]
	QC residents weigh in on the future of the US 67 (Centennial Bridge) Corridor Project Plans for changing or replacing the Centennial Bridge between Rock Island and Davenport are taking a new step. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has designed five alternative plans for the Centennial Bridge, and the public has the opportunity to give input on the designs. Our Quad Cities News reporter Gavin Waidelich was at an [...]
	Officials: Cambridge restaurant no longer closing A Cambridge Mexican restaurant won’t be closing after all as it was sold to new management.
	Davenport man accused of making bomb threat A Davenport man is facing charges after police say he made a threat to damage a car wash with an explosive.
	Lower drunk driving limit approved by WA Senate (Photo by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)Washington took a major stride Wednesday toward slashing the state’s legal limit for driving drunk. A divided state Senate voted 26-23 to approve legislation to reduce the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%. If it makes it through the House and into law, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation on July 1. Utah moved to a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration limit in 2018. Wednesday’s passage of Senate Bill 5067 culminates several years of effort by Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, a longtime Washington State Patrol trooper before serving as Snohomish County sheriff. “This bill is about community safety. It is about changing the culture of driving in our state,” Lovick said. Drunk driving is a choice, he said, and drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%, 0.06% or 0.07% are “not good for the community.” Republican Sens. Jeff Wilson of Longview and Jim McCune of Graham joined 24 Democrats to pass the bill. Democratic Sens. Mike Chapman of Port Angeles, Yasmin Trudeau of Tacoma, Steve Conway of Tacoma, Adrian Cortes of Battle Ground, Claudia Kauffman of Kent and Deb Krishnadasan of Gig Harbor joined 17 Republicans in opposition. Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said there is “clear evidence and clear data” that it will result in fewer deadly crashes involving impaired drivers. State Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, looks on toward the end of the roll call vote for his Senate Bill 5067, which would lower the blood alcohol limit for drunk driving to 0.05% from 0.08% in Washington. The bill passed the Senate on a 26-23 vote on Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) “If we had enacted this policy a couple years ago, we would have 100 more Washingtonians walking on the streets with us because we could have saved their lives,” he said. Opponents doubt a lower limit will change the culture around drinking and driving or make a difference on Washington’s roads safer as promised. “I truly believe that it is not going to do what we think it’s going to do,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the lead Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee. He said hiring more state troopers and conducting more special DUI patrols would do more to curtail impaired driving. Bar and restaurant concerns Typically, a person would not reach the lower standard with a couple of beers after work or a glass of wine, or two, with dinner, state health officials have said. It takes at least four drinks for the average 170-pound man to exceed 0.05% in two hours on an empty stomach, three drinks for a 137-pound woman, Tao Kwan-Gett, chief science officer for the Washington Department of Health, told a House panel in a 2024 hearing. Still, foes of the bill cited concerns with enforcing it and worries it will drive away customers of bars, wineries and other hospitality businesses. “In a state that is already not fertile ground for new businesses, this is going to be a business killer,” said Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley. A former mayor of the city, he said hospitality businesses drive the economy and foster culture in rural areas. “We’ll kill that as sure as someone who drinks 10 drinks and goes on the highway and kills somebody,” he said. Liias insisted that businesses dependent on income from alcohol sales will not be harmed. “This policy serves as a deterrent. It convinces Washingtonians not to stop enjoying the best wine in the world or the most amazing microbrews. It convinces them not to drive in their car after they’ve done that,” he said. Sharp rise in traffic deaths In 2021, Washington recorded 674 traffic fatalities, of which 345 occurred in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, according to data compiled by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. In 2023, the death toll rose to 809, with 409 linked to an impaired driver. Over the course of five years, 2020-2024, 936 people died in crashes involving a driver who had been drinking. Of those who died, 156 were in crashes involving an impaired driver with a blood alcohol concentration less than 0.08%, according to the commission. AAA Washington, an ardent proponent of the change, said a lower limit could result in fewer lives lost each year. After the switch, Utah experienced a 20% drop in fatal crashes, but that figure crept back up during the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with national trends. Tourism and alcohol sales did not decrease, according to the commission. Senate Bill 5067 directs the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to carry out a statewide public education campaign on the change. It must include ads on television, radio, and online, and in the largest newspapers in each county. The campaign must be conducted in the nine “most significant” non-English languages spoken in the state. At least 10% of the ads must be developed in concert with Washington hospitality businesses and address safe alternatives to driving after drinking. Another provision requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to track and report on what happens in the first two years of the law, including the number of serious and fatal traffic crashes, driving under the influence arrests, and adjudications for driving under the influence. The institute also must consider the law’s effect on breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other hospitality businesses, as well as its impact on overburdened communities. The report is due March 1, 2029. Senate Bill 5067 now goes to the House for consideration. Similar legislation, sponsored by Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Snohomish County, is awaiting action in the House Transportation Committee.
	A lot of Windy days for this month As we approach the end of January, it was no question that these last few days have been very cold in the Quad Cities. But as well as the cold, it was also very windy. According to weather observations over the past 20 or so days, (Jan 8th-Jan27th), 15 of those 20 days had wind [...]
	40 residents displaced after fire at Rock Island apartment building Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 2:34 p.m.
	America’s 250th: Quad-Cities podcast explores region’s role in history New series pairs Putnam Museum artifacts with Davenport Public Library archives
	40 displaced after fire in apartment building 40 people have been displaced after a fire in an apartment building Wednesday afternoon.
	Kwik Star rounding down prices as penny production stops The U.S. minted its last penny in November because it cost more to make the coins than they're worth.
	2 sentenced to federal prison on cocaine charges Two people from Davenport will spend several years in federal prison on cocaine charges Wednesday, officials said.
	Public weighs in on future of Centennial Bridge Officials hope to have a decision made on the bridge's future by the end of the year.
	Proposed Iowa bills would be tough on crime Iowa House Republicans introduced a series of bills they say would be tough on crime. One bill would create a point system for repeat offenders; any convictions on felonies or aggravated misdemeanors like sex offenses, assault and drug possession would be one strike.All other aggravated misdemeanors would be a half-strike. Any conviction of someone with [...]
	Tesla profits slumped 46% last year, as it lost its crown as the top EV seller The company announced it was ending production of its higher-end Model S and Model Y, and turning that production space over to making humanoid robots.
	Firefighters union says 6 positions at risk as grant nears end in Clinton The Clinton firefighters union is raising concerns about future staffing as a federal grant that helped fund additional firefighter positions comes to an end later this summer.
	Univ. of Iowa football releases 2026-27 conference schedule The University of Iowa released its football 2026-2027 conference schedule on Tuesday.
	Add another below 0° temp to the QC tally For the 11th time this season (5 in December and 6 in January,) the temperature dropped below 0° in the Quad Cities Wednesday morning. This only happened 9 times last season! And the wind chill was below 0° for most of the night. This continues the stretch of below 0° wind chills that started last [...]
	In Moline, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi talks housing, affordability and tariffs U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for U.S. Senate, recently proposed a bill that would create a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 for qualified first-time homebuyers.
	Come hungry to Hand in Hand's chili cook-off Come hungry to enjoy the handiwork of 15 chili teams as you help empower kids and adults of all abilities to learn and grow. Ashley Hicks joined Our Quad Cities News with all the delicious details on Hand in Hand's chili cook-off. For more information, click here.
	Davenport firefighter injured after floor collapses during apartment fire A Davenport firefighter was treated for injuries after falling through an attic floor during a Tuesday night apartment fire.
	Crowds protest Iowa Trump event Many of the signs outside Trump's event criticized ICE and its recent operations in Minneapolis.
	Illinois radio station celebrating 10 years on the air WQUD in Erie, Illinois, focuses on "the way radio used to be," with a lineup of live DJs and community connection.
	Gray Matters Collective talks suicide prevention A recent suicide on the I-74 Bridge has Quad Cities residents talking about this difficult topic. Haley DeGreve, founder and executive director of Gray Matters Collective, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to talk about the options available to help people who are in a suicidal frame of mind. She says this time [...]
	Road closes after fire crew response Rock Island fire crews were at an apartment building for reports of a fire Wednesday afternoon.
	Crews respond to apparent apartment fire in Rock Island A News 8 journalist arrived at an apartment complex on the 1800 block of 30th Street around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28. We're working to learn more.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: BRITTANY OWENS, 29, 5'3",125 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes. Wanted by Bettendorf Police for possession of contraband inside a correctional facility. JUAN PANIAGUA-HERRERA, 44, [...]
	Trial postponed in lawsuit against Davenport over settlement records Davenport resident Ezra Sidran filed a lawsuit on Oct. 31, 2024, alleging the city violated open records laws when it delayed producing a letter from its former city administrator.
	Fire in Rock Island Emergency crews in Rock Island responded to a fire on Wednesday afternoon. It happened after 2 p.m. in an apartment building near the busy intersection of 18th Avenue and 30th Street. Heavy smoke was seen by an Our Quad Cities News crew, as well as several residents standing outside as firefighters went inside.
	Public input sought on future of Centennial Bridge Illinois and Iowa DOTs are taking public input on major options for the aging Centennial Bridge, ranging from continued repairs to a full rebuild.
	Michael Mayo's 'Fly' is a soaring testament to his artistry and creative vision Vocalist Michael Mayo reached new heights through his latest album Fly, with the project earning the crooner his first Grammy nominations of his career.
	For first-time Grammy nominee Michael Mayo, vocal expression is innate Vocalist Michael Mayo reached new heights through his latest album Fly, with the project earning the crooner his first Grammy nominations of his career.
	Lucky Moline Chick-Fil-A customer 1 of 3,000 nationwide to win free meals for a year A lucky Chick-Fil-A customers in Moline will be eating good for a year.
	Incarcerated Eastern Kentucky man dead after injuring head on work detail Marvin Knuckles, 48, was eligible for parole in 2028, according to his online inmate profile. (Getty Images)The incarcerated man in Eastern Kentucky who died Tuesday after injuring his head while on a snow and ice removal detail had volunteered for the work, a corrections spokeswoman said. Marvin Knuckles, 48, was eligible for parole in 2028, according to his online inmate profile. Knuckles, who was incarcerated at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex on drug charges, was part of a “work crew of inmates” that was “removing snow and ice debris on facility grounds prior to the start of regular inmate movement” early on Tuesday morning, according to the Justice and Safety Cabinet. During that work, the cabinet said, he fell and injured his head. He died at Appalachian Regional Hospital in West Liberty around 7:30 a.m. Cabinet spokeswoman Morgan Hall said Tuesday night Knuckles was assigned to an outside detail unit “for good behavior.” “Inmates assigned to this unit outside the prison fence are provided opportunities to work several jobs,” she said. Knuckles worked on the tree farm, road crew and special details. “When asked who was able to help with the special assignment of ice removal, Knuckles volunteered to assist,” Hall said. A winter storm hit Kentucky over the weekend, with some areas getting 13 inches of snow. In Eastern Kentucky, the National Weather Services reports about 3-4 inches of snow. Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson said in a statement that “we will conduct a thorough review of this situation to better prevent this from happening again.” “This tragic accident is one that we work to avoid each day as we protect those in our custody,” Jackson said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Knuckles and to our correctional staff.” This story may be updated. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
	The FBI conducts a search at the Fulton County election office in Georgia The FBI would not clarify whether the action is tied to the 2020 election, but last month the Department of Justice announced it's suing Fulton County for records related to the election.
	Not all mindfulness is the same – here’s why it matters for health and happiness Over the past two decades, the concept of mindfulness has become hugely popular around the world. An increasingly ubiquitous part of society, it’s taught everywhere from workplaces and schools to sports programs and the military. On social media, television and wellness apps, mindfulness is often shown as one simple thing – staying calm and paying attention to the moment. Large companies like Google use mindfulness programs to help employees stay focused and less stressed. Hospitals use it to help people manage pain and improve mental health. Millions of people now use mindfulness apps that promise everything from lowering stress to sleeping better. But as a professor of religious studies who has spent years examining how mindfulness is defined and practiced across different traditions and historical periods, I’ve noticed a surprising problem beneath the current surge of enthusiasm: Scientists, clinicians and educators still don’t agree on what mindfulness actually is – or how to measure it. Because different researchers measure different things under the label “mindfulness,” two studies can give very different pictures of what the practice actually does. For someone choosing a meditation app or program based on research findings, this matters. The study you’re relying on may be testing a skill like attention, emotional calm, or self-kindness that isn’t the one you’re hoping to develop. This makes it harder to compare results and can leave people unsure about which approach will genuinely help them in daily life. From ancient traditions to modern science Mindfulness has deep roots in Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other Asian contemplative lineages. The Buddhist “Satipatthana Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness” emphasizes moment-to-moment observation of body and mind. The Hindu concept of “dhyāna,” or contemplation, cultivates steady focus on the breath or a mantra; Jain “samayika,” or practice of equanimity, develops calm balance toward all beings; and Sikh “simran,” or continuous remembrance, dissolves self-centered thought into a deeper awareness of the underlying reality in each moment. In the late 20th century, teachers and clinicians began adapting these techniques for secular settings, most notably through mindfulness-based stress reduction and other therapeutic programs. Since then, mindfulness has migrated into psychology, medicine, education and even corporate wellness. It has become a widely used – though often differently defined – tool across scientific and professional fields. Why scientists disagree about mindfulness In discussing the modern application of mindfulness in fields like psychology, the definitional challenge is front and center. Indeed, different researchers focus on different things and then design their tests around those ideas. Some scientists see mindfulness mainly in terms of emphasizing attention and paying close attention to what’s happening right now. Other researchers define the concept in terms of emotional management and staying calm when things get stressful. Another cohort of mindfulness studies emphasizes self-compassion, meaning being kind to yourself when you make mistakes. And still others focus on moral awareness, the idea that mindfulness should help people make wiser, more ethical choices. These differences become obvious when you look at the tests researchers use to measure mindfulness. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, or MAAS, asks about how well someone stays focused on the present moment. The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory – FMI – asks whether a person can notice thoughts and feelings as they come and accept them without judgment. The Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences – CHIME – adds something most other tests leave out: questions about ethical awareness and making wise, moral choices. As a result, comparative research can be tricky, and it can also be confusing for people who want to be more mindful but aren’t sure which path to take. Different programs may rely on different definitions of mindfulness, so the skills they teach and the benefits they promise can vary a lot. This means that someone choosing a mindfulness course or app might end up learning something very different from what they expected unless they understand how that particular program defines and measures mindfulness. Why different scales measure different things John Dunne, a Buddhist philosophy scholar at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, offers a helpful explanation if you’ve ever wondered why everyone seems to talk about mindfulness in a different way. Dunne says mindfulness isn’t one single thing, but a “family” of related practices shaped by different traditions, purposes and cultural backgrounds. Mindfulness isn’t just one thing, and that is why its practice can look different. FG Trade Latin/E+ via Getty Images via The Conversation This explains why scientists and people trying to be mindful often end up talking past each other. If one study measures attention and another measures compassion, their results won’t line up. And if you’re trying to practice mindfulness, it matters whether you’re following a path that focuses on calming your mind, being kind to yourself, or making ethically aware choices. Why this matters Because mindfulness isn’t just one thing, that affects how it’s studied, practiced and taught. That’s important both at the institutional and individual level. Whether for places like schools and health care, a mindfulness program designed to reduce stress will look very different from one that teaches compassion or ethical awareness. Without clarity, teachers, doctors and counselors may not know which approach works best for their goals. The same rough idea applies in business for organizational effectiveness and stress management. Despite the disagreements, research does show that different forms of mindfulness can produce different kinds of benefits. Practices that sharpen attention to the moment are associated with improved focus and workplace performance. Approaches oriented towards acceptance tend to help people better manage stress, anxiety and chronic pain. A focus on compassion-based methods can support emotional resilience. Programs that emphasize ethical awareness may promote more thoughtful, prosocial behavior. These varied outcomes help explain why researchers continue to debate which definition of “mindfulness” should guide scientific study. For anyone practicing mindfulness as an individual, this is a reminder to choose practices that fit your needs. 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: Ronald S. Green, Coastal Carolina University Read more: Trump’s framing of Nigeria insurgency as a war on Christians risks undermining interfaith peacebuilding Mindfulness is gaining traction in American schools – but it isn’t clear what students are learning What loving-kindness meditation is and how to practice it in the new year Ronald S. Green 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.
	Death Notice: Harold Gordon Anderson A funeral service for Harold Gordon "Andy" Anderson, 82, of Bettendorf, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Durant. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 29, from 4-6 p.m. at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf. Mr. Anderson died Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. Memorials may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Durant. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Feb. 4 edition of The NSP.
	Solving for burnout: 7 strategies to enhance workers’ mental health and productivity in 2026 Solving for burnout: 7 strategies to enhance workers’ mental health and productivity in 2026Loneliness and burnout—deeply interwined in the workplace—are hitting American workers (and companies) hard.In 2025, global healthcare firm Cigna found that over half of all employees surveyed felt lonely. Around 57% admitted to feeling unmotivated and stagnant, while two-thirds of full-time workers say they experience burnout on the job, according to a 2025 Gallup study.The financial toll is jaw-dropping. Harvard Business Review reports that loneliness costs U.S. companies up to $154 billion annually through lost productivity, increased burnout, and employees resigning. Globally, Gallup puts the cost of low engagement at $8.9 trillion in 2024—approximately 9% of global GDP.Leaders at Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other major companies are bringing staff back to the fold through return-to-office mandates, citing concerns around eroding company culture and collaboration. Starting in February, Meta’s Instagram will require all employees to work in the office five days a week to foster a more creative and collaborative working environment and build a “winning culture.”But professionals overwhelmingly want to work remotely, at least some of the time, citing enhanced productivity, better work-life balance, and the freedom to work from anywhere. Robert Half, which topped Forbes’ List of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms for seven consecutive years, reports that fewer than one-fifth of workers said their top choice would be an in-office job last year.In 2026, business leaders need to answer a key question: What are the best strategies for balancing employee job satisfaction and proven productivity gains with a company culture built on connection?As workplace models and trends continue to evolve, CANOPY shares seven strategies to attract, retain, and support talent in 2026, from coworking membership stipends to personal wellness budgets.1. Follow Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in Formally Adopting a Hybrid Model—and Communicate Policies Clearly to Staff.Hybrid work arrangements—especially those that incorporate varied work locations—are linked to significant reductions in burnout symptoms by restoring balance and personal rhythms to the workday. Flexible work arrangements support the hiring of top talent and reduce workforce churn. Resume builder firm LiveCareer found that 57% of candidates drop out of the interview process when a company’s remote work policy is unclear; Pew Research Center found that nearly half of employees would consider quitting if remote work were removed.Leaders at major companies, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, have implemented return-to-office mandates, requiring at least three in-office days every week to address eroding company culture and enhance collaboration. Some theorize that working with team members in person for part of the workweek may help people manage their time, stay inspired, and communicate better while avoiding Zoom fatigue.2. Create a Third Space by Offering Stipends for Coworking Spaces.Various studies have reported that anywhere from half to 90% of workers say they’re more productive out of the office, citing a lack of commute and coworker interruptions during the day. But the home environment can also bring distractions, including from family members and pets, making it harder for some employees to switch into “work mode” in an environment they associate with relaxation.Shared offices are an ideal “third location,” restoring the psychological “commute” while allowing workers to benefit from a professional setting as part of a diverse community. Some of the world’s largest companies are jumping on coworking spaces, including Pfizer, Amazon.com, JPMorgan Chase, Lyft and Anthropic. Staff at HubSpot and website-building company Webflow receive a monthly allowance for remote work expenses; tech jobs platform BuiltIn has a running list of more than 1,800 firms offering a budget for home offices.3. Redesign Physical Workspaces To Be Somewhere Employees Choose To WorkIn San Francisco, architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler has found that design is no longer a backdrop—it’s the engine driving performance, loyalty, and resilience, redefining the workplace as a destination people choose. “The best workplaces don’t just support work—they reflect what people value most,” said Janet Pogue McLaurin, Gensler’s global director of workplace research.The trend toward hybrid working necessitates new spaces or the reinvention of existing locations to accommodate flexible models and workforce sizes. At the same time, organizations are recognizing that outdated, poorly lit, and uncomfortable office environments negatively impact productivity and well-being. Conversely, spaces that foster collaboration and interaction help employees thrive—and, more importantly, inspire them to commit to the commute.Polsinelli Law’s new Clayton, Missouri, office, designed by HOK, features coffee bars and a signature café, along with other hospitality-focused elements, like lounge areas. T-Mobile’s renovated campus headquarters in Washington incorporates two floors of amenities—six diverse dining kiosks, a vintage Airstream serving frozen yogurt—connected by a 1,000-square-foot grand staircase that doubles as amphitheater seating.4. Integrate Well-Being and Mental Health as an Ecosystem, Not Disconnected Perks and PoliciesMental health should be treated as a core benefit, not “nice to have.” Stress, physical and mental health, loneliness, and burnout are deeply entwined, and workplace policies to tackle them must be holistic, including manager training to recognize the early signs of fatigue. Formal, confidential access to preventative mental health care reduces stigma, supports early help-seeking, and helps de-escalate stress before it becomes burnout, supporting healthier, more engaged teams.Google offers employee assistance programs (EAPs) with mental health counselling and access to virtual therapy for staff and their families, integrated into broader well-being benefits. Microsoft’s well-being benefits include counseling resources and reimbursed mental health support via its global CARES programs and partnerships with Thrive Global and Headspace.5. Offer More PTOCompared to other developed nations, the United States famously has some of the lowest federal allowances for vacation days, and taking time away from the office has become a source of friction—especially in start-up culture where “unlimited PTO” invariably means most employees take none. Several companies use “well-being days,” mental health leave, or additional personal time off specifically for rest or recovery, signalling that employers recognize employee well-being is a business priority, not a reward.6. Provide Personalized Wellness BudgetsEmployers are going beyond health insurance to offer covered, personalized programs that let employees choose which products and services most benefit them. Previously, ahead-of-the-curve companies offered curated activities in-house—Johnson & Johnson’s Live for Life program was founded in the 1970s, helping people be tobacco-free and drive safely—but now many companies, such as Holisticly, offer employee benefit programs as standalone B2B products spanning ceramics classes, meditation, and acupuncture.Salesforce offers a monthly “Wellbeing Reimbursement” budget that employees can spend on therapy, mindfulness, fitness, or rest activities. Outdoor apparel company Patagonia encourages employees to spend time outdoors, hosts on-site and off-site yoga, and helps employees with financial stress by providing a 100% college tuition reimbursement and on-site childcare.7. Reduce Meeting Load and Protect Time for Deep and Focus WorkMeeting overload is a well-documented driver of burnout. When workers are forced to continually context switch, they lose momentum and focus—especially if the meeting has no bearing on their work. In his company-wide memo ordering staff back to the office five days a week in 2026, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri also told workers to reduce meetings to biweekly 1-on-1s and decline meetings that fall during their “focus blocks.” “We all spend too much time in meetings that are not effective, and it’s slowing us down,” Mosseri noted.Shopify famously used a bot to delete thousands of recurring meetings, freeing up over 322,000 hours of employee time, designating Wednesdays as a permanent meeting-free day. LinkedIn also has “No-Meeting Wednesdays” to give teams uninterrupted time for deep work, reducing cognitive fatigue.This story was produced by CANOPY and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Police: Galesburg man charged after over 2 kilograms of pills found in car, home Knox County deputies said that while searching a car during a traffic stop, they found a large quantity of what they believed were illegal pills and a loaded firearm.
	PFAS are turning up in the Great Lakes, putting fish and water supplies at risk – here’s how they get there No matter where you live in the United States, you have likely seen headlines about PFAS being detected in everything from drinking water to fish to milk to human bodies. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals. They have been used for decades to make products waterproof and stain- and heat-resistant – picture food wrappers, stain-resistant carpet, rain jackets and firefighting foam. These chemicals are a growing concern because some PFAS are toxic even at very low levels and associated with health risks like thyroid issues and cancer. And some of the most common PFAS don’t naturally break down, which is why they are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Now, PFAS are posing a threat to the Great Lakes, one of America’s most vital water resources. Many cities, including Chicago, draw their drinking water from the Great Lakes. Franckreporter/E+ via Getty Images via The Conversation The five Great Lakes are massive, with over 10,000 miles of coastline (16,000 kilometers) across two countries and containing 21% of the world’s fresh surface water. They provide drinking water to over 30 million people and are home to a robust commercial and recreational fishing industry. My colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and I study how chemicals like PFAS are affecting water systems. Here’s what we’re learning about how PFAS are getting into the Great Lakes, the risks they’re posing and how to reduce those risks in the future. PFAS’ many pathways into the Great Lakes Hundreds of rivers flow into the lakes, and each can be contaminated with PFAS from sources such as industrial sites, military operations and wastewater treatment plants in their watersheds. Some pesticides also contain PFAS, which can wash off farm fields and into creeks, rivers and lakes. The concentration of PFAS in rivers can vary widely depending on these upstream impacts. For example, we found concentrations of over 1,700 parts-per-trillion in Great Lakes tributaries in Wisconsin near where firefighting foam has regularly been used. That’s more than 400 times higher than federal drinking water regulations for PFOS and PFOA, both 4 parts-per-trillion. However, concentration alone does not tell the whole story. We also found that large rivers with relatively low amounts of PFAS can put more of these chemicals into the lakes each day compared with smaller rivers with high amounts of PFAS. This means that any effort to limit the amount of PFAS in the Great Lakes should consider both high-concentration hot spots and large rivers. The Welland Canal, part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, carries ships between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Rivers and other waterways are a major source of PFAS contamination in the Great Lakes. Jim Feng/E+ Getty Images via The Conversation Groundwater is another key route carrying PFAS into the Great Lakes. Groundwater is a drinking water source for more than one-third of people in the U.S., and it can become contaminated when PFAS in firefighting foam and other PFAS sources seep into soil. When these contaminated plumes enter the Great Lakes, they carry PFAS with them. We detected PFAS concentrations of over 260 parts-per-trillion in the bay of Green Bay in Lake Michigan. The chemicals we found were associated with firefighting foam, and we were able to trace them back to a contaminated groundwater plume. PFAS can also enter the Great Lakes in unexpected ways, such as in rain and snowfall. PFAS can get into the atmosphere from industrial processes and waste incineration. The chemicals have been detected in rain across the world, including in states surrounding the Great Lakes. Although PFAS concentrations in precipitation are typically lower than in rivers or groundwater, this is still an important contamination source. Scientists estimate that precipitation is a major source of PFAS to Lake Superior, which receives about half of its water through precipitation. Where PFAS end up determines the risk Much of the PFAS that enter Lake Superior will eventually make their way to the downstream lakes of Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. These chemicals’ ability to travel with water is one reason why PFAS are such a concern for drinking water systems. Many communities get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. PFAS can also contaminate other parts of the environment. The chemicals have been detected in sediments at the bottom of all the Great Lakes. Contaminated sediment can release PFAS back into the overlying water, where fish and aquatic birds can ingest it. So, future remediation efforts to remove PFAS from the lakes are about more than just the water – they involve the sediment as well. PFAS can also accumulate in foams that form on lake shorelines during turbulent conditions. Concentrations of PFAS can be up to 7,000 times higher in natural foams compared with the water because PFAS are surfactants and build up where air and water meet, like bubbles in foam. As a result, state agencies recommend washing skin that comes in contact with foam and preventing pets from playing in foam. Fish, like this yellow perch spotted in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., can ingest PFAS through water and food. The chemicals are also found in the sediment of lake bottoms. Elizabeth Beard/Moment via Getty Images via The Conversation Some PFAS bioaccumulate, or build up, within fish and wildlife. Elevated levels of PFAS have been detected in Great Lakes fish, raising concerns for fisheries. High PFAS concentrations in fish in coastal areas and inland waters have led to advisories recommending people limit how much they fish they eat. Looking ahead Water cycles through the Great Lakes, but the process can take many years, from 2.6 years in Lake Erie to nearly 200 years in Lake Superior. This means that PFAS that enter the lakes will be there for a very long time. Since it is not possible to clean up the over 6 quadrillion gallons of water in the Great Lakes after they have been contaminated, preventing further contamination is key to protecting the lakes for the future. That starts with identifying contaminated groundwater and rivers that are adding PFAS to the lakes. The Sea Grant College Program and the National Institutes of Water Resources, including the Wisconsin programs that I direct, have been supporting research to map these sources, as well as helping translate that knowledge into actions that policymakers and resource managers can take. PFAS contamination is an issue beyond the Great Lakes and is something everyone can work to address. Drinking water. If you are one of the millions of people who drink water from the Great Lakes, find out the PFAS concentrations in your drinking water. This data is increasingly available from local drinking water utilities. Fish. Eating fish can provide great health benefits, but be aware of health advisories about fish caught in the Great Lakes and in inland waters so you can balance the risks. Other chemicals, such as mercury and PCBs, can also lead to fish advisories. Personal choice. Scientists have proposed that PFAS only be used when they have vital functions and there are no alternatives. Consumer demand for PFAS-free products is helping reduce PFAS use in some products. Several states have also introduced legislation to ban PFAS use in some applications. Decreasing use of PFAS will ultimately prevent downstream contamination in the Great Lakes and around the U.S. 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: Christy Remucal, University of Wisconsin-Madison Read more: Removing PFAS from public water systems will cost billions and take time – here are ways you can filter out harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home How to destroy a ‘forever chemical’ – scientists are discovering ways to eliminate PFAS, but this growing global health problem isn’t going away soon What are PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’ showing up in drinking water? An environmental health scientist explains Christy Remucal receives funding from National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, and Department of Defense.
	Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' On Wednesday Bruce Springsteen released 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a protest song condemning the violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis.
	Davenport safe from reported Amazon layoffs, 16,000 corporate jobs cut In May 2025, Amazon estimated it had 2,000 employees in Davenport.
	Fed holds interest rates steady, taking a pause from rate cuts to assess the economy The central bank cut rates at its three previous meetings in an effort to support the job market. But with inflation still elevated, the Fed is cautious about additional rate cuts.
	Trump's National Guard deployments could cost over $1 billion this year, CBO projects The operation in Washington, D.C. alone is projected to cost upwards of $660 million if it runs through the end of this year as expected, according to new data released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
	60 Super Bowl trivia questions and answers for your 2026 Super Bowl party 60 Super Bowl trivia questions and answers for your 2026 Super Bowl partyHosting friends for a Super Bowl party? Super Bowl trivia is an easy way to get everyone locked in before kickoff — and figure out who actually knows ball.From iconic plays and dynasties to halftime shows and commercials, PrizePicks shares these 60 Super Bowl trivia questions, which cover the full history of the NFL’s biggest game.Looking back at historical stats — like passing yards, touchdowns, or memorable performances — is how fans and analysts understand what actually matters on the Super Bowl field.The questions range from easy to genuinely tricky, making them perfect for a party game or a quick test of NFL knowledge. Each question is multiple choice, with a complete answer key included at the bottom of each section.2026 Super Bowl Trivia QuestionsHere are 60 Super Bowl trivia questions to get you ready for Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026.All questions are multiple choice, with a full answer key included at the bottom of each section: History and Records, Iconic Plays Players and Coaches, Halftime Shows and Commercials, and Dynasties and Memorable Games.Super Bowl History, Origins, and RecordsSuper Bowl history is filled with records, firsts, and defining moments that have made this game the annual spectacle it is. These questions cover the foundational facts behind the league’s biggest game, from trophies and venues to teams that defined entire eras.1. What trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl champion?A. George Halas TrophyB. Vince Lombardi TrophyC. Paul Brown TrophyD. Mike Ditka Trophy2. Which two cities are tied for the most Super Bowls hosted, with 11 each?A. Los Angeles and New OrleansB. San Francisco and MiamiC. Miami and New OrleansD. Dallas and Los Angeles3. Which team lost four straight Super Bowls from the 1990-1993 seasons?A. New York JetsB. New York GiantsC. Dallas CowboysD. Buffalo Bills4. Which team did the Bears defeat in their lone Super Bowl win (Super Bowl XX, 1985 season)?A. Kansas City ChiefsB. Buffalo BillsC. New York JetsD. New England Patriots5. Which team became the first wild card team to win the Super Bowl in 1980 (Super Bowl XV)?A. Tampa Bay BuccaneersB. Philadelphia EaglesC. Oakland RaidersD. New England Patriots6. Which quarterback won Super Bowl VIII while completing just six passes on seven attempts?A. Trent DilferB. Bob GrieseC. Jim McMahonD. Tom Brady7. Which team stopped Tom Brady’s three-peat bid in Super Bowl LII (2017 season)?A. Philadelphia EaglesB. Tampa Bay BuccaneersC. Atlanta FalconsD. Carolina Panthers8. Which quarterback became the first player to throw and catch a touchdown pass in the same Super Bowl?A. Jim KellyB. Troy AikmanC. Nick FolesD. Joe Flacco9. Which became the first domed stadium to host a Super Bowl?A. Louisiana SuperdomeB. Pontiac SilverdomeC. Houston AstrodomeD. Seattle Kingdome10. Who became the first female official to work a Super Bowl in 2021?A. Maia ChakaB. Sarah ThomasC. Karina TovarD. Robin DeLorenzo11. Which Roman numeral was intentionally skipped for Super Bowl branding?A. Super Bowl VB. Super Bowl XC. Super Bowl LD. Super Bowl M12. Which metropolitan area hosted the first outdoor cold-weather Super Bowl with a kickoff temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit?A. Minneapolis areaB. Chicago areaC. New York City areaD. Detroit areaAnswer Key: Super Bowl History, Origins, and Records1) B, 2) C, 3) D, 4) D, 5) C, 6) B, 7) A, 8) C, 9) A, 10) B, 11) C, 12) CIconic Super Bowl Plays and Game-Winning MomentsSuper Bowl legacies are often decided by one catch, one throw, or one unforgettable stat line. These are the game-changing plays that fans dream of their player or team.1. Who made “The Catch” in Super Bowl XVI (1981 season)?A. Jerry RiceB. Dwight ClarkC. Freddie SolomonD. Roger Craig2. Who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII (2008 season)?A. Larry FitzgeraldB. Santonio HolmesC. Hines WardD. Steve Smith Sr.3. Who caught the late touchdown that spoiled the Patriots’ perfect season in Super Bowl XLII (2007 season)?A. Heath MillerB. Willie ParkerC. Alan FanecaD. Plaxico Burress4. Who intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX (2014 season)?A. Darrelle RevisB. Devin McCourtyC. Malcolm ButlerD. Tom Brady5. Which quarterback was injured in Week 2, finished under center in the AFC Championship, but was benched again (in favor of Tom Brady) before his team won the Super Bowl?A. Drew BledsoeB. Jake DelhommeC. Carson WentzD. Marc Bulger6. Who made the famous helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII (2007 season)?A. Eli ManningB. David TyreeC. Hakeem NicksD. Mario Manningham7. Which kicker missed a potential game-winning field goal “wide right” in Super Bowl XXV (1990 season)?A. Scott NorwoodB. Pat LeahyC. Morten AndersenD. Nick Lowery8. Who caught Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XXIII (1988 season)?A. Dwight ClarkB. Marvin HarrisonC. John TaylorD. Jerry Rice9. Which player scored the first points on the opening snap of Super Bowl XLVIII by falling on his own team’s fumble in the end zone (2013 season)?A. Peyton ManningB. Wes WelkerC. Demaryius ThomasD. Knowshon Moreno10. Who returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in a Super Bowl, the longest interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl history?A. Malcolm ButlerB. Leonard SmithC. James HarrisonD. Reggie White11. Which player came up one yard short of a game-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV (1999 season)?A. Eddie GeorgeB. Earl CampbellC. Kevin DysonD. Jackie Harris12. Which team overwhelmed Denver with a safety on the opening snap of Super Bowl XLVIII (2013 season), setting the tone for a 43-8 win?A. Philadelphia EaglesB. Seattle SeahawksC. Green Bay PackersD. Dallas Cowboys13. How did the Patriots score the winning points in Super Bowl XXXVI (2001 season)?A. Tom Brady-to-Troy Brown bombB. Kevin Faulk 1-yard runC. Ty Law pick-sixD. Adam Vinatieri field goal14. Which player returned the opening kickoff of a Super Bowl for a touchdown — the first opening-play TD in Super Bowl history?A. Dante HallB. Jacoby JonesC. Devin HesterD. Deion SandersAnswer Key: Iconic Super Bowl Plays and Game-Winning Moments1) B, 2) C, 3) D, 4) C, 5) A, 6) B, 7) A, 8) A, 9) D, 10) C, 11) C, 12) B, 13) D, 14) CLegendary Super Bowl Players, Coaches, and MVPsGreat Super Bowl performances turn players and coaches into legends, often remembered by one dominant stat line.1. Who is the only defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP while playing for the losing team?A. Chuck HowleyB. Bruce SmithC. James HarrisonD. Jake Scott2. Which quarterback famously guaranteed a Jets victory before Super Bowl III (1968 season)?A. Richard ToddB. Joe NamathC. Troy AikmanD. Bart Starr3. Which coach led the Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the 1992 and 1993 seasons?A. Tom LandryB. Barry SwitzerC. Jimmy JohnsonD. Jason Garrett4. Who coached the Los Angeles Raiders to a blowout win over the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in Super Bowl XVIII (1983 season)?A. John MaddenB. Mike ShanahanC. Art ShellD. Tom Flores5. Which team did Joe Namath defeat in Super Bowl III, despite being heavy underdogs?A. Kansas City ChiefsB. Oakland RaidersC. Cleveland BrownsD. Baltimore Colts6. Who coached the 49ers to a win in Super Bowl XXIII (1988 season)?A. George SeifertB. Kyle ShanahanC. Bill WalshD. Steve Mariucci7. Who caught the final touchdown pass of Joe Montana’s Super Bowl career in Super Bowl XXIV (1989 season)?A. John TaylorB. Terrell OwensC. Roger CraigD. Jerry Rice8. Who was named Super Bowl MVP in the Eagles’ first championship win?A. LeGarrette BlountB. Zach ErtzC. Nick FolesD. Carson Wentz9. Which head coach won Super Bowls with two different franchises?A. Andy ReidB. Bill BelichickC. Bill ParcellsD. None10. Which coach was carried off the field after winning the Super Bowl, marking his final game as the team’s coach?A. Hank StramB. John MaddenC. Vince LombardiD. Chuck NollAnswer Key: Legendary Players, Coaches, Super Bowl MVPs1) A, 2) B, 3) C, 4) C, 5) D, 6) C, 7) A, 8) C, 9) D, 10) CSuper Bowl Halftime Shows, Broadcast, and CommercialsThe Super Bowl has become bigger than just football — it’s also one of the biggest nights of the year for music, television, and advertising. These trivia questions highlight the cultural moments that became part of Super Bowl history.1. Who first said “I’m going to Disney World!” after winning Super Bowl XXI (1986 season) — a phrase now repeated by all NFL MVPs?A. Joe MorrisB. Lawrence TaylorC. Phil SimmsD. Joe Montana2. Who delivered the iconic halftime performance in the rain at Super Bowl XLI (2006 season)?A. Paul McCartneyB. Michael JacksonC. Bruce SpringsteenD. Prince3. Who was the first pop or rock artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime show (Super Bowl XXVII, 1992 season)?A. Garth BrooksB. U2C. Michael JacksonD. Def Leppard4. Who performed an iconic rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV (1990 season) during the Gulf War era?A. Whitney HoustonB. Mariah CareyC. MadonnaD. Paul Simon5. Which team won the Super Bowl that’s often remembered for a second-half power outage (2012 season), following Beyoncé’s halftime show performance?A. New England PatriotsB. Baltimore RavensC. Pittsburgh SteelersD. Dallas Cowboys6. Who is headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowl LX (2025 season)?A. Kendrick LamarB. Taylor SwiftC. Elton JohnD. Bad Bunny7. What famous actor made a cameo at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowl LIX (2024 season)?A. Brad PittB. Samuel L. JacksonC. Dwayne “The Rock” JohnsonD. Jamie Foxx8. Which two networks both televised Super Bowl I (1966 season)?A. CBS and ABCB. CBS and NBCC. ABC and NBCD. NBC and Fox9. Whose Super Bowl halftime show controversy led to broadcast delay reforms?A. MadonnaB. Lady GagaC. Janet JacksonD. Michael Jackson10. Which company created a Super Bowl commercial featuring a talking baby?A. GoogleB. BudweiserC. E-TradeD. McDonald’s11. Which company aired the famous “1984” commercial during Super Bowl XVIII (1983 season)?A. AppleB. Coca-ColaC. MicrosoftD. Pepsi12. What color Gatorade became most famously associated with the Super Bowl, as it’s the most frequent color used in celebrations?A. YellowB. RedC. GreenD. Orange13. Which announcer famously said, “This might be the greatest Super Bowl ever” late in Super Bowl XLIX (2014 season)?A. Al MichaelsB. Joe BuckC. Bob CostasD. Mike Tirico14. Which artist refused to lip-sync during a Super Bowl halftime performance?A. Dr. DreB. Bruno MarsC. PrinceD. UsherAnswer Key: Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Broadcast, and Commercials1) C, 2) D, 3) C, 4) A, 5) B, 6) D, 7) B, 8) B, 9) C, 10) C, 11) A, 12) D, 13) A, 14) CDynasties, Comebacks, and Memorable Super Bowl GamesThe most memorable Super Bowls are defined by massive comebacks, dominant dynasties, and historic stat totals. Those game-level storylines often drive interest in player stats and projections leading up to kickoff.1. How many NFL teams have won two Super Bowls in a row (back-to-back) at least once?A. 2B. 3C. 6D. 82. How many NFL teams have won five Super Bowls or more?A. 2B. 3C. 4D. 53. Which team did the Cowboys defeat in both Super Bowl XXVII (1992 season) and Super Bowl XXVIII (1993 season)?A. New England PatriotsB. Buffalo BillsC. Miami DolphinsD. Pittsburgh Steelers4. Which team famously chose to wear white jerseys in a Super Bowl due to superstition after Super Bowls V and VI?A. New England PatriotsB. San Francisco 49ersC. Dallas CowboysA. Indianapolis Colts5. Which team holds the record for the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history, with a 45-point margin of victory?A. New England PatriotsB. Pittsburgh SteelersC. Philadelphia EaglesD. San Francisco 49ers6. Which team played in a Super Bowl without logos on their helmets?A. Pittsburgh SteelersB. New York JetsC. Kansas City ChiefsD. Green Bay Packers7. Which team defeated the New England Patriots in two Super Bowls during the Tom Brady era?A. New York GiantsB. Philadelphia EaglesC. San Francisco 49ersD. Green Bay Packers8. Who coached the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s?A. Mike TomlinB. Chuck NollC. Hank StramD. Vince Lombardi9. Which team blew a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI (2016 season) to the New England Patriots?A. Chicago BearsB. Detroit LionsC. Atlanta FalconsD. New Orleans Saints10. What quarterback racked up over 400 yards of offense, four touchdowns, and 35 points for his team in a losing effort in Super Bowl LVII (2022 season)?A. Patrick MahomesB. Joe BurrowC. Dak PrescottD. Jalen HurtsAnswer Key: Dynasties, Comebacks, and Memorable Super Bowls1) D, 2) C, 3) B, 4) C, 5) D, 6) D, 7) A, 8) B, 9) C, 10) DThis story was produced by PrizePicks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	99 Deere employees return to Davenport, Dubuque Works There’s good news for the eastern Iowa economy as 99 John Deere team members return to work at Davenport Works and Dubuque Works. A news release on Deere’s website says the team members will return to the construction and forestry facilities by the middle of next month. “As demand increases, these callbacks help ensure we [...]
	Why recognition pays off: The data behind retention programs and performance Why recognition pays off: The data behind retention programs and performanceEmployee turnover drains time, money, and resources from organizations in every industry, yet solving its key causes can be a low priority because of the perceived complexity of cultural intervention, Kudos reports.The numbers tell a clear story: For organizations with a churn rate exceeding 15%, the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of implementation.According to 2024 analysis from Gallup, the implementation of a structured recognition program provides the specific "loyalty anchor" needed to stabilize teams, reducing the probability of high-performer exit by 45%.This shift moves employee engagement from a "soft" HR initiative to a critical piece of operating expense (OpEx) management. While many leaders view recognition as a perk, the data suggests it is a fixed requirement for preventing brain drain and maintaining long-term stability.The Overlap of Loyalty and RecognitionThe link between employee loyalty and recognition is measurable rather than anecdotal. When Gallup researchers isolated the impact of "high-impact" recognition, defined as feedback that is both fulfilling and authentic, they found a direct correlation to long-term tenure.When recognition is infrequent or poorly directed, the retention benefit evaporates. Conversely, for those within the "recognition-rich" bracket, the likelihood of actively seeking external roles within a 24-month window drops significantly, stabilizing the workforce even in volatile labor markets.According to the Arbinger Institute’s 2024 Workplace Trends Report (as reported by Human Resources Director), job satisfaction has reached a critical low, with only 22% of employees rating their organization as excellent. 34% of respondents listed recognition and appreciation as a significant factor in their satisfaction.This message is filtering through to business leaders, as Gallup’s ongoing research once again highlights. In 2022, just 19% of decision-makers were prioritizing employee recognition. Just two years later, 42% of execs reported accepting the value this brings to the table.Unfortunately, while higher-ups might claim to be more on board with taking retention programs seriously, employees still think more must be done to properly crystallize recognition for their contributions. While 42% of execs now prioritize recognition, the proportion of team members satisfied with what they receive remains stagnant at 22%. This 20-point perception gap indicates that while leaders talk about culture, they are failing to execute it.The Performance AngleStructured recognition improves employee engagement, which in turn translates into better workplace performance. This is anecdotally true, but more than that has a proven basis in research.Experts at MIT put together a trio of studies to get to the bottom of this, with the overarching finding being that consistent engagement is the most important facet in determining employee performance. The more variable this is, the more likely it is that productivity will exhibit peaks and troughs.This reinforces the idea that using employee recognition software can be beneficial in the moment and in the long term. Managers cannot afford to be slapdash or sporadic with recognizing team members if they are concerned about minimizing turnover and ameliorating performance. They need tools and tactics in place to handle this in a unified, consistent manner.The Costs of High TurnoverIt should now be clear that the potential upsides of codifying employee recognition and adopting retention programs are many and varied. But what about the drawbacks of resting on your laurels rather than taking action in light of this information?One report by McKinsey showcases that leaders must look beyond the base-level costs of recruitment that come with high employee turnover. It found that 26% of employees said they were not happy in their current role and would leave it given the opportunity. Of this group, just a quarter had actually done so three years on from the initial survey.In other words, a small but significant proportion of employees in a typical organization are dissatisfied and disengaged, but remain in-post over long periods. From this, we can infer that a small but significant number of team members are treading water, not performing anywhere near their potential year after year.In turn, adopting a retention program can not only keep employees from leaving but also address this engagement gap and translate into improved morale and measurable performance boosts.Functional vs. Dysfunctional TurnoverIt is important to acknowledge that not all turnover is negative. "Functional turnover", which is the departure of underperformers, is necessary for organizational growth. However, the data focuses on the loss of high-performers. When an organization loses its top talent, it loses the institutional memory and social capital that keeps teams running. The goal is not 0% turnover, but preventing the "brain drain" of mission-critical people.The Future of Employee Retention ProgramsThe final thing worth noting regarding employee recognition, retention, and performance is that these interlinked aspects of modern management can be addressed more efficiently with modern tools.Software that aims to structure internal recognition and make it consistent, as researchers have proven to be vital, enables a high degree of automation. So managers don’t end up with additional responsibilities, and in many cases, the recognition process doesn’t just have to be a top-down thing.Peer recognition gets enabled, and company culture improves. It’s a positive cycle that pays off in measurable performance boosts and points to operational stability for businesses that embrace it.This story was produced by Kudos and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	State mottos, translated: What your state’s official motto really means State mottos, translated: What your state’s official motto really meansEvery U.S. state has its own seal, a carefully designed emblem that is stamped on official documents, flags, and even courtroom walls. However, hidden in plain sight are also mottos that reveal each state’s values, history, and self-image. From bold declarations of independence to humble nods towards faith, nature, and even resilience, these mottos form a sort of secret code. AnyWho has decrypted this code by outlining all 50 state mottos, categorized by theme, providing insights into the story behind the seals.50 state mottos by themeWhen you line up all 50 state mottos, patterns start to emerge. Some celebrate liberty and freedom, others honor unity, progress, or nature, and some still pay homage to something more. Together, each motto forms a patchwork of American ideals that reflect the country’s regional diversity and shared spirit.Theme 1: Liberty and freedom (14 states)Two defining traits of the country, liberty and freedom, are recognized in the mottos of 14 states.New Hampshire – “Live Free or Die”Origin: Revolutionary War Gen. John Stark wrote this as a toast to veterans in 1809, emphasizing that freedom is worth dying for; it was officially adopted in 1945.Virginia – Sic Semper TyrannisTranslation: Thus Always to TyrantsOrigin: George Mason recommended this in 1776 for the state seal. The phrase warns that tyrannical rulers will inevitably fall, and is possibly attributed to Marcus Brutus after Caesar’s assassination.Massachusetts – Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate QuietemTranslation: By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under LibertyOrigin: The Massachusetts Provincial Congress adopted this motto in 1775 during the Revolutionary War. It is attributed to English patriot Algernon Sidney from his 1659 “Book of Mottoes.”West Virginia – Montani Semper LiberiTranslation: Mountaineers Are Always FreeOrigin: This motto reflects the independent spirit of West Virginia’s mountain settlers and their resistance to outside control.Delaware – “Liberty and Independence”Origin: The state motto reflects Delaware’s role in the Revolutionary War and its status as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.Pennsylvania – “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence”Origin: Pennsylvania’s motto combines moral virtue with the revolutionary ideals that shaped the state’s founding.New Jersey – “Liberty and Prosperity”Origin: The state motto balances personal freedom with economic opportunity, the core values of New Jersey’s colonial settlers.Iowa – “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain”Origin: This motto declares Iowa’s commitment to defending personal freedoms and constitutional rights.Oregon – Alis Volat PropriisTranslation: She Flies With Her Own WingsOrigin: Judge Jessie Quinn Thornton wrote this motto in 1854, referring to the Oregon Territory’s 1843 vote to form a provisional government independent of the U.S. and Britain. It was readopted in 1987 after the motto was changed to “The Union” during the Civil War.North Carolina – Esse Quam VideriTranslation: To Be, Rather Than to SeemOrigin: North Carolina’s motto emphasizes authenticity and genuine character over appearances.Maine – DirigoTranslation: I Direct or, I GuideOrigin: Maine adopted its motto in 1820, which is inspired by the North Star and Maine’s many lighthouses that guided ships, symbolizing leadership.Alabama – Audemus Jura Nostra DefendereTranslation: We Dare Defend Our RightsOrigin: This motto was approved in March 1939, and reflects Alabama’s history in the War of Independence and Civil War.Louisiana – “Union, Justice, and Confidence”Origin: The state motto represents Louisiana’s values of unity, fairness, and trust in governance.Kentucky – “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”Origin: Kentucky’s motto comes from John Dickinson’s 1768 “The Liberty Song,” favored by the state’s first governor, and is especially significant considering Kentucky was a border state during the Civil War.Theme 2: Unity and progress (12 states)Unity and progress represent a forward-looking view, which 12 states acutely incorporate into their seals via their mottos.Illinois – “State Sovereignty, National Union”Origin: This motto was born from debates during the War of Independence and Civil War about balancing state independence with federal unity.North Dakota – “Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable”Origin: The state inherited this motto from the Dakota Territory before North Dakota and South Dakota split in 1889.Vermont – Stella Quarta Decima FulgeatTranslation: May the Fourteenth Star Shine BrightOrigin: Vermont was the 14th state admitted to the Union in 1791.Nevada – “All for Our Country”Origin: This state motto reflects patriotism and Nevada’s role in supporting the Union during the Civil War.New York – ExcelsiorTranslation: Ever UpwardOrigin: This motto expresses the hopes and ambitions of New Yorkers after the War of IndependenceWisconsin – “Forward”Origin: Wisconsin’s motto was chosen in 1851 during the revision of the state seal, reflecting progressive optimism.Alaska – “North to the Future”Origin: Journalist Richard Peters chose this motto in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial to represent “Alaska as a land of promise” and northern opportunity.New Mexico – Crescit EundoTranslation: It Grows as It GoesOrigin: This motto symbolizes New Mexico’s continuous growth and development.Kansas – Ad Astra Per AsperaTranslation: To the Stars Through DifficultiesOrigin: This phrase was submitted by Sen. John J. Ingalls in 1861. It refers to Kansas’s long, difficult path to statehood due to slavery disputes, illustrated on the state seal with a farm beneath 34 stars.Idaho – Esto PerpetuaTranslation: Let It Be PerpetualOrigin: This motto wishes for Idaho’s eternal existence and prosperity.Indiana – “The Crossroads of America”Origin: Adopted in 1937, the state motto highlights Indiana’s central location and importance in transportation.Texas – “Friendship”Origin: Texas adopted this motto in 1930. It derives from the Caddo Indian word “taysha,” meaning “friends” or “allies,” which became the state’s name when Spanish explorers encountered the Caddo people in the 17th century.Theme 3: Nature and resources (5 states)Given the vast landscapes across the country, it’s only right that the following five states would include an homage to their natural beauty.Montana – Oro Y PlataTranslation: Gold and SilverOrigin: This motto references Montana’s mineral wealth, matching its nickname “The Treasure State.”California – EurekaTranslation: I Have Found ItOrigin: “Eureka” is a Greek word that has appeared on California’s seal since 1849, celebrating the discovery of gold during the Gold Rush. It has been the official motto since 1963.Michigan – Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam CircumspiceTranslation: If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look About YouOrigin: This phrase celebrates Michigan’s beautiful peninsular geography.Minnesota – L’Étoile du NordTranslation: The Star of the NorthOrigin: The French motto “L’Étoile du Nord” highlights Minnesota’s northern location.Hawai'i – Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka PonoTranslation: The Life of the Land Is Perpetuated in RighteousnessOrigin: King Kamehameha III read this motto aloud on July 31, 1843, when Hawaiian sovereignty was restored after a brief British occupation; it was adopted as the state motto in 1959.Theme 4: Industry & work (6 states)Serving as the historical workhorses of the country, the following six states show their pride through their mottos.Tennessee – “Agriculture and Commerce”Origin: This motto has been official since 1801, and recognizes Tennessee’s large agriculture sector and trade economy.Oklahoma – Labor Omnia VincitTranslation: Hard Work Conquers All ThingsOrigin: The state’s motto emphasizes the value of labor and perseverance; ironically, only 38% of Oklahoma residents could identify their motto in a 2021 survey by Solitaire Bliss.Utah – “Industry”Origin: Utah’s motto became official in 1959, and is connected to the beehive symbol representing hard work, community cooperation, and pioneer values from the Book of Mormon word “deseret” (meaning honeybee).Wyoming – “Equal Rights”Origin: Wyoming was the first territory to grant women the right to vote in 1869 and the first state to guarantee equal suffrage in its 1890 constitution, earning it the nickname "Equality State."Georgia – “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation”Origin: Georgia’s motto reflects balanced governance principles.Nebraska – “Equality Before the Law”Origin: The motto for Nebraska emphasizes fair legal treatment for all citizens.Theme 5: Faith and divine providence (8 states)As some of the evangelical centers of the United States, the following eight states reflect this.Ohio – “With God, All Things Are Possible”Origin: This motto was the winning suggestion by a 12-year-old boy in a 1950s contest. It survived a 1997 ACLU lawsuit challenging the separation of church and state when a judge ruled it was a generic religious reference.Florida – “In God We Trust”Origin: Florida adopted the U.S. national motto, which was established in 1956.South Dakota – “Under God the People Rule”Origin: South Dakota’s motto combines divine authority with democratic governance.Arizona – Ditat DeusTranslation: God EnrichesOrigin: This motto attributes Arizona’s natural resources and prosperity to divine blessing.Colorado – Nil Sine NumineTranslation: Nothing Without ProvidenceOrigin: This phrase acknowledges divine guidance in Colorado’s success.Connecticut – Qui Transtulit SustinetTranslation: He Who Transplanted Still SustainsOrigin: Connecticut’s motto first appeared on the 1639 colonial seal, making it one of America’s oldest mottos. It refers to the Puritan belief that God, who transplanted them to the New World, continues to sustain them, possibly inspired by Psalm 80.Maryland – Fatti Maschii, Parole FemineTranslation: Manly Deeds, Womanly Words (or Strong Deeds, Gentle Words)Origin: The Italian phrase is from the Calvert family, who were among Maryland’s initial colonizers.Missouri – Salus Populi Suprema Lex EstoTranslation: The Welfare of the People Is the Highest LawOrigin: William Wells proposed this motto in 1847 when designing the state seal, inspired by Cicero’s “De Legibus.”Theme 6: Resilience and defense (5 states)Finally, resilience and defense are two cornerstones of America. The following five states demonstrate this through their unique mottos.Mississippi – Virtute et ArmisTranslation: By Valor and ArmsOrigin: The state motto emphasizes courage and military strength.Arkansas – Regnat PopulusTranslation: The People RuleOrigin: This phrase affirms popular sovereignty and democratic governance.South Carolina – Animis Opibusque Parati; Dum Spiro SperoTranslation: Prepared in Mind and Resources; While I Breathe, I HopeOrigin: South Carolina has two mottos on its state seal — one emphasizing preparedness and the other expressing hope and perseverance.Washington – Al-kiTranslation: By and ByOrigin: “Al-ki” is a Chinook word meaning “eventually” or “someday,” reflecting patient optimism — though it was never formally adopted by the legislature.Rhode Island – “Hope”Origin: This motto was adopted in 1664 and was later formalized in 1875. It was likely inspired by the biblical phrase “hope we have as an anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:18-19). Colony founder Roger Williams also named islands in Narragansett Bay, including Hope, Patience, and Prudence, after virtues.Decoding the spirit of the state sealsState mottos may be short, but they carry centuries of meaning baked within. These mottos serve as tiny phrases that capture the hopes, struggles, and character of the people who chose them. Whether rooted in revolution, resilience, or even reverence, each motto offers a unique glimpse into what mattered most to that state’s specific founders and what still resonates today.This story was produced by AnyWho and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A breakthrough for severe depression: MUSC Health delivers relief in days, not months (BPT) - For millions of people living with major depressive disorder, finding an effective treatment can feel like a never-ending process of trial and error — with no guarantee of relief. Although depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, the most common first-line approach, talk therapy combined with medication, frequently falls short.The problem with this approach is that the first medication prescribed works only about 30% of the time, with the likelihood of success dropping with each subsequent attempt — to under 7% by the fourth medication. Meanwhile, patients continue to suffer debilitating symptoms, endure negative side effects from the medications and, in some cases, remain at a heightened risk of suicide.In the early 1990s, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) psychiatrist and neurologist Mark George, M.D., pioneered a more effective, noninvasive approach: transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS. Considered the birthplace of clinical TMS for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, he was instrumental in TMS receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2008. George's TMS work continues today, now spanning research in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), pain management and smoking cessation."The brain is an electrochemical organ," explained Baron Short, M.D., medical director of MUSC Health's Brain Stimulation Service. "In people with major depressive disorder, there are usually parts of the brain that are underactive. With TMS, we produce an electromagnetic pulse that we apply to the top left part of the head. That pulse reactivates the part of the brain that's underactive, leading to a resolution of depressive symptoms."Typically, TMS treatments are administered in 20-minute sessions over the course of several weeks, for a total of 30 to 36 treatments. Real-world data suggests that TMS leads to complete remission of depression in 62% of patients, with an 83% response rate — defined as at least a 50% reduction in symptoms."People tend to start feeling better at about week four, although many people feel better much sooner," said Short.An even better approachIn 2024, MUSC Health became the first hospital system to offer a revolutionary new depression treatment to patients, taking a successful innovation a leap further. Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy, or SAINT, is a next-generation approach that is fundamentally changing how severe depression and suicidal tendencies can be treated. This dramatically accelerated form of TMS brings patients out of depression in a matter of days — not months — offering rapid relief for people whose severe depression has gone untouched by drugs or psychotherapy.Building on decades of TMS research at MUSC and countless late-night conversations about how to move the frustratingly slow needle on the treatment of depression, two neuropsychiatrists who trained under Short and George at MUSC, Nolan Williams, M.D., and Brandon Bentzley, M.D., Ph.D., developed SAINT while at Stanford, and it is fundamentally changing how severe depression can be treated.Rather than delivering treatment over several weeks, the SAINT protocol condenses therapy into five days, with patients undergoing 10 sessions per day. By taking "a video of the brain" using a functional MRI (fMRI) scan and analyzing the data through eight hours of machine learning, physicians can pinpoint the area of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that requires stimulation for each patient, personalizing the treatment with precision targeting by sending an electrochemical signal to the exact location.The results have been striking: remission rates of 80% by day five, with an average time to remission of only 2.6 days and an overall 80% to 90% remission rate for treatment-resistant depression. With treatments of 10 minutes each hour, patients feel a tapping sensation on their heads. They then rest for the remaining 50 minutes before the next round. Generally mild and short-lived, side effects include minor discomfort at the treatment site and muscle twitching."Think of it like an exercise," said Short. "If you were going to build your biceps, you wouldn't do 50 curls at once. You would do a set of 10 and then rest. SAINT is like that, but it's very targeted."Untold potentialShort is encouraged by the results seen with SAINT as well as its future potential. Expanding access to this accelerated approach to depression treatment has become a key focus of his work."We see people recover extremely quickly, thanks to SAINT, which has a dramatically higher remission rate for depression than previous treatment options. People wake up out of that mask of depression so they can reengage the world with new vigor and life," he said."I have been involved in well over 18,000 TMS and SAINT treatment sessions. It's really rewarding to be a part of that. Why would we make people try inferior treatments and spend months of their lives in agony when you can get them out of depression in a matter of days?"One challenge he is working to address is limited insurance coverage, which is currently available primarily through Medicare and select insurers.Why the urgency? Baron explained that major depressive disorder remains one of the few serious medical conditions that is still not treated with the urgency of illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. He stressed that it's not simply "feeling down." Rather, the condition is characterized by persistent and debilitating symptoms that include insomnia, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes, a decrease in energy and loss of interest in life that last not days or weeks – but months or even years. It can escalate, he warned, to thoughts of suicide.A relaxed approach to its treatment, he said, is not acceptable."We know 25% of people with major depression will try to commit suicide, and somebody commits suicide every 40 seconds," he said. "We now have more tools than talk therapy, medications that may not work and electroconvulsive therapy, which can be an intimidating procedure for patients. It's critical that we start treating depression as the emergency it is so we can actually do something about it. SAINT enables us to do that. It's like we've been given the keys to the kingdom."Short explained that SAINT also has the potential to treat other mood disorders, as many of them also find their roots in underactive or overactive areas of the brain."SAINT TMS offers intelligent, individualized treatment with unparalleled, fast recovery for patients," he said. "I believe this will change the trajectory of how we treat the depression epidemic."Learn more about MUSC's trailblazing work on TMS at MUSCHealth.org/medical-services/behavioral-health/brain-stimulation. People interested in a consultation for outpatient treatment using TMS and SAINT can call 843-792-5716.
	As Amazon’s marketplace grows, sellers face new compliance challenges As Amazon’s marketplace grows, sellers face new compliance challengesAmazon accounts for 40% of all e-commerce revenue in the United States. While the online retail giant’s dominance has continued to grow for more than two decades, the way Amazon operates its marketplace has changed significantly.In 2010, third-party sellers (independent merchants selling products on Amazon) were responsible for roughly one-third of all units sold on the platform, according to Marketplace Pulse data. Today, 62%, or nearly two-thirds, are attributed to third-party sellers. For many e-commerce brands, Amazon has become a central sales channel rather than a supplemental revenue stream.As the leading e-commerce marketplace, Amazon faces the ongoing challenge of policing counterfeit products and fraudulent sellers. Amazon has reported investing more than $1 billion in 2024 into AI innovation aimed at protecting customers and sellers from counterfeits and fraud. Amazon claims that these controls block more than 99% of suspected cases without requiring action from affected brands.Amazon uses AI systems to detect counterfeit products and enforce seller policies, protecting customers and compliant sellers. However, automated enforcement and tightened requirements affect all sellers on the platform. Listings or accounts can be suspended unexpectedly, even for sellers following the rules. Some sellers violate guidelines unknowingly, while others are flagged incorrectly by automated systems. With third-party seller revenue exceeding $150 billion annually, occasional false positives are an inherent part of operations.Rosenbaum & Segall, P.C., a law firm focused on compliance issues affecting Amazon sellers, examines how enforcement changes are affecting third-party merchants.How Enforcement Affects SellersThird-party sellers have always been susceptible to Amazon’s enforcement actions, but the growth of automated compliance systems requires sellers to be more alert than ever. Since Amazon does not release public data on account suspensions, it’s difficult to assess how widespread enforcement actions are, but independent surveys offer partial insight, though results vary by methodology and sample size. Entresource reports that its survey of more than 300 sellers found that 22% have had their accounts suspended at least once. And a separate SmartScout survey of 325 sellers revealed that 35% of sellers have experienced an account suspension.Another challenge for sellers is that the range of possible noncompliance issues has expanded. Where enforcement actions were once mostly intellectual property disputes from brand owners, sellers now face increased scrutiny over product safety documentation, regulatory certificates, and listing language that Amazon's automated systems flag as potentially violating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or consumer safety rules.When Listing Language Triggers EnforcementAmazon’s automated reviews scan listings for terms associated with regulated products. In some cases, sellers unintentionally use a descriptive word that causes the listing to be flagged.“Terms like ‘anti-microbial’ or ‘anti-bacterial’ are often used when describing apparel, for example,” said David Holmes, founder of Red View Ventures, a firm that manages Amazon seller accounts, “but they can trigger a pesticide review very quickly.”As Amazon relies more heavily on automated systems to evaluate millions of product listings, enforcement decisions are increasingly driven by keyword interpretation and classification rules that may not be obvious to sellers operating across diverse product categories.Counterfeit Claims and Temporary Listing RemovalsIn addition to automated compliance reviews, sellers also face challenges related to counterfeit claims. Brand owners and rights holders can submit complaints alleging counterfeit or inauthentic products from other sellers. In many cases, listings are temporarily removed until the accused seller can prove the product’s legitimacy.While the reporting and investigation of counterfeit products is essential for protecting customers, brands, rights holders, and legitimate sellers, these reporting tools can be misused by sellers to harm competitors. Amazon prohibits false counterfeit reports, but listings may be temporarily unavailable, regardless of whether the claim is ultimately upheld.The Cost of Downtime for Marketplace BusinessesAmazon’s enforcement actions can be temporary (until the issue is resolved) or permanent. Even temporary actions have a significant impact and create financial strain on sellers. For businesses that rely on Amazon as a primary sales channel, a suspended listing or account can decrease revenue and complicate relationships with suppliers and logistics partners.Enforcement reviews often require sellers to wait for a response from Amazon before listings are restored. “It will take Amazon at least 24-48 hours just to respond to your request,” said Holmes. “So if you get hit with a compliance request and submit information immediately, you still might be down for at least two to three days.”What Sellers Can Do if They Are SuspendedLower-level actions typically focus on specific products or compliance issues that can be resolved if the seller provides additional information or documentation.More serious cases fall under Amazon’s Business Solutions Agreement, including suspensions commonly referred to as Section 3 actions. Section 3 of the agreement allows Amazon to suspend or terminate a seller’s privileges when it determines an account may be associated with deceptive, illegal, or high-risk activity. These actions are often triggered by factors, such as suspected account linkage, repeated policy concerns, disputed counterfeit complaints, or signals that Amazon’s automated systems associate with fraud or misrepresentation.The process for reinstating suspended accounts has grown increasingly complicated, according to many Amazon sellers and law firms. Section 3 suspensions can take weeks or months to resolve and often require legal assistance to overturn Amazon’s initial ruling. Sellers may receive a limited explanation and, in some cases, funds are withheld pending the review.Scott Needham, founder and CEO of SmartScout, a tool for Amazon market research, said, “My biggest gripe is how often Amazon doesn't bring their best minds and resources on their end of resolution. There's an A team at Amazon, but they're not always the ones responding to your cases.”Increased Oversight in Supplements and Consumer GoodsSellers of dietary supplements, personal care products, and children’s goods are more likely to face compliance reviews for documentation, testing requirements, and product claims. These categories are subject to oversight from the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, which results in Amazon watching sellers and product listings more closely.In December 2023, the FDA issued a warning letter to Amazon regarding the inaccurate labeling of supplements. In the letter, the FDA cited products sold through Amazon that were labeled as supplements or foods but contained undeclared prescription drug ingredients.In July 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found Amazon responsible for hazardous products (specifically carbon monoxide detectors, hair dryers, and children’s sleepwear) sold by third-party sellers. Consumer Reports praised this outcome, calling it a “landmark decision.”As a result of issues like these, Amazon’s enforcement scrutiny related to consumer health and safety has intensified in recent years. In 2024, Amazon updated its policy, requiring all dietary supplement products to be verified through a third-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) organization. Amazon's automated systems identify listings that may require additional review, and sellers must be able to provide all documentation required.While Amazon’s enforcement systems are designed to protect consumers and legitimate sellers, the heightened scrutiny adds complexity for businesses operating in regulated product categories. Sellers must stay up to date on rules and guidelines that can be complicated or change quickly.Cross-Border Selling Increases Compliance ChallengesAmazon operates separate marketplaces across dozens of countries, each subject to unique consumer protection laws, product regulations, and reporting requirements. According to Jungle Scout, 46% of Amazon’s U.S. sellers also sell in at least one international marketplace.While all Amazon sellers encounter compliance challenges, international sellers and those operating in multiple countries face the biggest hurdles.Because Amazon’s systems link related accounts and business entities, an issue originating in one marketplace may impact seller operations elsewhere, even when the underlying rules differ by jurisdiction.“It’s very easy to run things in one country that get completely shut down in another,” said Needham. “Understanding the nuances internationally is nearly impossible, if we’re being honest. Amazon is always changing, and so are the government agencies overseeing consumer products.”What Amazon’s Enforcement Model Signals Going ForwardWhile Amazon’s automated compliance systems catch most of the issues they’re designed to prevent, they also introduce complexity and sometimes confusion for sellers. Sellers should audit their product listings for compliance language, maintain certificates of analysis and third-party testing reports, and ensure all documentation is current and readily accessible before enforcement actions occur.Compliance standards continue to change, and enforcement decisions are often made through systems designed to prioritize speed and efficiency over individual nuance. As a result, even experienced sellers may encounter issues. When these issues arise, sellers must be familiar enough with the rules and regulations to communicate with Amazon or seek professional assistance.This story was produced by Rosenbaum & Segall, P.C. and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	February cash collections sprint: 10 operational tactics to navigate the shortest month February cash collections sprint: 10 operational tactics to navigate the shortest monthFebruary is an unforgiving time of the year. With both fewer calendar and working days, and one federal holiday, the margin for error in cash collections is virtually nonexistent. Shipments can slip, approvals can compress, and payment runs that might normally fall on the 30th accidentally get pushed into early March. Revenue that is technically earned in February won’t convert to cash until weeks later regardless, but in such a short month, the run-off can further appear to distort year-end performance and put unnecessary pressure on your business’s liquidity.However, this isn’t a structural problem. It’s an operational one and a solvable one at that. This February, focus on fine-tuning your cash collection cycle with a targeted approach that focuses on improving invoice timing, removing approval friction, and accelerating remittance before the calendar flips. To assist, Gateway Commercial Finance, an invoice factoring company, has compiled 10 key operational tactics to help you navigate this complicated process.Why February demands a different approachFebruary is the shortest month on the calendar, but the operational impact goes beyond losing just two or three days. On average, each U.S. month includes 20-23 working days, depending on weekends and holidays, with February ending up on the low end of the range. When Presidents’ Day falls mid-month, as it does in 2026, it effectively removes another full processing day for banks, payroll providers, and accounts payable teams alike.From a collection standpoint, this compression can create three main structural risks: invoices that are issued too late and miss accounts payable approval cycles, shipments completed in the fourth week don’t generate February cash, and a Net 30 model effectively becomes Net 35. However, whether your company realizes it or not, 28-day cycles actually align better with internal approval cadences when optimized properly. The only problem is that February forces this reality with no leeway.Therefore, your solution shouldn’t be to demand faster payment, but rather to resequence your work so that invoices land earlier, cleaner, and are harder to ignore during the short month. The following 10 tips will help achieve exactly this.Tactic #1: Ship earlier in week threeIf there is a breaking point in February, it’s almost certainly during week three. Invoices that are generated in week four are disproportionately likely to be paid in March simply because of the number of days in the month and when internal approval windows close. Consider making one simple change in February: issuing invoices earlier in the month. Pricefic, a leading accounting platform built for freelancers, found that issuing invoices on Tuesday can result in 30%-40% faster payment as compared to later issuings.To take advantage of this in February in particular, pull forward shipments and service completions that were originally planned in week four to week three wherever possible. Even just a shift of three to five days can mean the difference between hitting a February payment run and missing it completely. This will require more coordination across operations, logistics, and billing, but it produces an immediate cash impact without changing payment terms.Tactic #2: Switch to milestone billing on longer jobsLonger-term projects are especially vulnerable to the shorter days in February. Waiting until there is substantial completion on a task can often push billing past the month-end threshold. Milestone billing breaks work into more discrete, billable phases, allowing companies to invoice as value is delivered rather than at final completion. Naturally, this can improve cash flow predictability by allowing you to map out the different milestones and invoice dates.To optimize this, identify any projects that may be scheduled for February into March and introduce a February-specific milestone, even if it’s temporary. One additional invoice issued in the middle of the month can materially improve collections for February without your needing to renegotiate your entire billing contract.Tactic #3: Pre-book accounts payable calls for week fourBy the fourth week of February, accounts payable teams are overwhelmed with vendors calling, stacked approvals, and payment files being finalized. Waiting to check in with them at this point is far too late. Instead, schedule accounts payable confirmation calls or emails to happen at the beginning of February for delivery in week four so that it gets on the calendar. In these touchpoints, include confirmation of information such as:Receipt of the invoiceApproval status of the invoiceThe scheduled payment date on fileAny missing documentationProactive contact can help to reduce last-minute surprises. As the financial consulting firm Pacific Resources Group suggests, planned and early follow-ups far outperform reactive chasing for payment.Tactic #4: Require proof of delivery within 12-24 hoursProof of delivery is one of the most common and arguably most avoidable causes of invoice delays. When POD is missing or delayed, invoices inevitably stall in a pending status even if the work is complete. Shipping technology platform provider EasyPost notes that real-time or same-day POD submission significantly accelerates invoicing and payment authorization, which is why enforcing a “no delivery until POD is received” rule for February can be beneficial. This will tighten the invoice clock and help to prevent late-month deliveries from slipping into March billing.Tactic #5: Auto-send “Invoice + Statement” bundles on FridaysInvoices that are sent alone are easier to miss and statements sent alone lack urgency. Together, however, they reinforce context and accountability. By increasingly bundling invoices with account statements, coupled with automated reminders, you can work toward reducing collection time and dispute columns.Consider picking a set day, such as a Tuesday, where you send an invoice and statement concurrently. Alternatively, you can choose Friday delivery, which may give accounts payable teams more visibility heading into the following week and allow for discrepancies to be caught before payment runs lock.Tactic #6: Flag any invoice missing PO/line-level detailPurchase order mismatches are another silent killer in February. PO errors and line-level mismatches can cause invoice rejection and cycle delays, often adding time to payment timelines. Before the short month begins, implement a hard stop on purchase orders. Demand that invoices missing required PO numbers, itemization, or pricing alignment details do not go out. After all, it’s better to delay issuance by a single day rather than trigger a rejection that pushes a payment out into March.Tactic #7: Set microdiscounts that expire before month-endEarly payment discounts don’t need to be aggressive in order to be effective. Even just a 1%-2% microdiscount could be enough to influence customers, especially when paired with short expiration windows, to accelerate their payment timing. Better still, microdiscounts don’t have a significant impact on your margins.Consider implementing February-only microdiscounts, such as 1% off if paid by the end of the month and 2% off if paid within seven days. The most critical part of these microdiscounts is ensuring that they expire before the end of the month, as this will help reinforce urgency and pull more cash into February rather than March.Tactic #8: Automate cash application to eliminate reconciliation delaysReceiving payment is only half the battle, as applying it correctly in February will matter just as much. Manual cash application creates posting delays, especially during high-volume months if you’re a seasonal business. Automation tools can consistently help with faster reconciliation, lower error rates, and improved visibility into your accounts receivable position. For the month of February, consider prioritizing automation for high-volume customers or payment methods. Faster application will improve real-time key performance indicator tracking and prevent your collection teams from wasting time chasing already-paid invoices.Tactic #9: Implement escalation protocols for overdue accountsFebruary leaves little room for soft follow-ups. Without a defined escalation path in place for overdue invoices, you’ll be faced with lingering payments that may slip into March simply because no one followed up. In all months, not just February, make sure that your organization has a structured escalation path in place, designed to run the gamut from simple reminders to management involvement. This can help to improve resolution rates. Set specific thresholds during the month and don’t hesitate to follow up if any of the deadlines are past. Clarity will help to reduce hesitation on payment and lead to action.Tactic #10: Monitor February-specific KPIs and adjust in real-timeFinally, the 10th and final tactic to increase payment turnover in February is to monitor key metrics during the month. While it may sound simple, letting this monitoring slip can lead to less enforcement on payments. Simple metrics per JPMorgan, should be monitored weekly, rather than monthly, during an abnormal month like February. Aim to track weekly movement, any invoice issuance lags, and the percentages of paid invoices your business is receiving before Day 28 so that you can adjust tactics in real-time rather than needing to wait.Implementation timeline: Your February action planWith no time left to waste with February on the horizon, consider implementing the following four-week action plan for your business.Week 1Clean all invoice data, including purchase orders and line details.Schedule future accounts payable calls.Enable automation feature and set up submission bundles.Week 2Introduce milestone billings for key projects.Activate microdiscounts with expiration dates at month-end.Start KPI tracking.Week 3Pull shipments forward from week four.Begin to enforce proof-of-delivery deadlines.Intensify follow-up efforts on invoices that haven’t been responded to.Week 4Execute all necessary escalation protocols.Confirm payment runs.Try to close any existing gaps before month-end.February may be a short month, but that doesn’t mean you should slack off on collections. By making use of all of the 10 tips and implementing a version of the four-week timeline, you can start to improve your cash flows during the short month.February is short, but your strategy doesn’t need to beFebruary doesn’t forgive any existing passive collection strategies that you may have, but it will reward planning and precision. By compressing billing cycles, tightening executive, and front-loading communication, you can consistently start to outperform your industry peers during the shortest month of the year. Better yet, improving collection during the month can also help with key metrics such as days sales outstanding and lead to higher invoice resolution rates. During the month of February, remember that it’s not about working harder, but working earlier.This story was produced by Gateway Commercial Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport firefighter falls through attic floor while fighting fire Tuesday night The firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated and released several hours later. No other injuries were reported, but three people were displaced by the fire.
	Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education opens Quad Cities chapter to foster maintenance technician careers Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), seven manufacturers, and Grow Quad Cities are forming a new chapter of the Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME), the first in Iowa. Grow Quad Cities Vice President of Business Retention, Expansion, and Workforce, Chris Caves, said Riverbend FAME’s focus is on a single occupation: manufacturing maintenance technicians.
	A special delivery: Iowa woman gives birth at FedEx facility A Des Moines family got a very special delivery on Monday.
	Challenger: A Dream Unfulfilled Jan. 28 marks 40 years since the Challenger exploded seconds after liftoff. Brian Yocono and Amanda Hill take a look back at some of our coverage from that day.
	5 email deliverability mistakes killing your cold outreach 5 email deliverability mistakes killing your cold outreachBack in 2016, cold email was simple. “You could plug in a brand new account on a brand new domain, and on day one, send a hundred to 300 emails — absolutely zero problem,” recalls Benny Rubin, CEO of email deliverability specialists Senders..But things have changed dramatically. “Mailbox providers have really clamped down on cold email because of the sheer volume,” he explains.After nearly a decade helping companies navigate these changes, Rubin shares insights with Apollo.io on key mistakes that consistently hurt cold email campaigns.Mistake #1: Using open rates to measure campaign successOpen rates are a go-to metric for measuring email performance, but they’re increasingly unreliable.When security systems scan emails within fractions of a second, bot opens happen, artificially inflating your numbers. Privacy features block tracking pixels, deflating them. Email client updates can swing your rates dramatically overnight.Many sales teams make critical campaign decisions based on open rate fluctuations that might just be technical noise. Even worse, focusing on open rates can lead to optimizing the wrong things, like flashy subject lines that get opens but don’t generate business results.The fix: Focus on reply rates, especially interested replies, as your primary health metric. These represent actual human engagement and correlate directly with revenue. Use open rates as a secondary indicator, and look for dramatic changes over time rather than absolute numbers.Mistake #2: Skipping the domain aging processNew domains are like strangers on the internet. They have no reputation, good or bad. Email providers are suspicious of domains that suddenly start sending hundreds of emails with no history.There’s something called a “fresh domain blacklist” that can affect domains for up to 90 days after purchase. This is why advice you see to buy dozens of domains and rotate through them is a hack, not a sustainable strategy.The fix: Purchase domains well in advance (at least 90 days before use) and warm them up properly. For immediate capacity, use subdomains of existing aged domains. Then make sure you’re setting up your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication.Mistake #3: Hiding or removing unsubscribe linksSome sales teams remove all links, including unsubscribe options, after hearing that “links hurt deliverability.” This backfires because unsubscribe links signal responsible behavior to email providers like Google.The bigger threat is spam complaints. When people can’t easily unsubscribe, they’re more likely to mark you as spam, which is far more damaging to deliverability than including an unsubscribe link.The fix: Always include functional unsubscribe links. People who want out will find a way regardless. It’s better that they unsubscribe than report you as spam.Mistake #4: Spiking send volume instead of ramping graduallyHere’s a common scenario: The quarter’s ending, targets loom large, so the sales team decides to crank up email volume — doubling or tripling daily sends overnight. This is the email equivalent of walking into a bank wearing a ski mask. It doesn’t matter if your intentions are innocent; you’re triggering all the alarm systems.Email providers prefer gradual, predictable increases that look like natural business growth rather than aggressive scaling that resembles spam operations. For instance, going from 20 to 30 to 40 emails per day over three weeks signals healthy growth. Jumping from 20 to 160 overnight looks suspicious.The fix: Avoid sudden spikes. Ramp up linearly by adding the same number of emails daily (5, 10, 20) instead of doubling your volume. This looks more natural and sustainable to email systems.Mistake #5: Treating catch-all emails like regular addressesNot all email addresses are created equal.Catch-all addresses (like info@company.com or hello@company.com) are configured to accept emails sent to any address at that domain — even non-existent ones like randomstring@company.com. These addresses typically belong to larger companies with aggressive security systems.Sending too many emails to catchalls can damage your sender reputation because these emails are more likely to be flagged or filtered aggressively.The fix: Segment catchall emails into separate sequences with lower volume limits, ensure they make up less than 2%-3% of your daily send volume, or filter them out of your searches altogether.Cold email still works, when done correctlyThe good news? Email isn’t dead — far from it. As Rubin puts it, “email still works because people are even more phone-addicted and checking their email more often.” The channel is thriving; it’s just become more discerning about who gets through.Companies regularly send thousands of emails daily with high deliverability rates. The difference is they understand that email deliverability is a technical discipline requiring proper setup, monitoring, and maintenance.If you’re facing deliverability issues, audit your setup. Are you using aged domains? Are you scaling linearly? Are you following compliance best practices?Get these fundamentals right, and you’ll consistently land in more inboxes.This story was produced by Apollo.io and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	State of third-party risk management: Expert insights and the path forward State of third-party risk management: Expert insights and the path forwardIn today’s fast-moving digital economy, growth depends on strong, trusted relationships with vendors, suppliers, and partners. These third parties are often essential to modern business operations; however, they also open the door to a range of risks, from regulatory fines to operational slowdowns. Many organizations have already felt the impact of these risks becoming reality firsthand.The State of Trust Report by Vanta, which surveyed over 3,500 IT and business leaders in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in July 2025, found that nearly half (46%) of all respondents experienced a data breach from a vendor after beginning their partnership.This data makes it clear that vendor risk doesn’t end at onboarding and reinforces the need for continuous oversight through a strong third-party risk management (TPRM) program. A TPRM program will operationalize your approach to identifying, assessing, and managing the risks associated with all external vendors, suppliers, and partners that have access to your organization’s operations.While often used interchangeably, vendor risk management (VRM) focuses specifically on a subset of third-party risks. A truly effective TPRM strategy extends beyond vendor contracts to manage risks across the full spectrum of third-party relationships—including suppliers, partners, and service providers. This means addressing multiple risk types, from cybersecurity and privacy to ESG, legal, and any reputational risks.This guide will review the common challenges of TPRM strategies, explore how teams are working to close those gaps, and highlight why AI and automation are crucial for scaling TPRM efforts.Key takeawaysWhile often used interchangeably, VRM is a subset of TPRM focusing on the security and compliance risks associated with vendor relationships. TPRM is the practice of identifying, assessing, and managing all types of risk across all external partners.Many best practice TPRM frameworks address the full range of third-party risk exposure.Nearly half (46%) of IT and business leaders say that one of their vendors experienced a data breach since they started working together, highlighting the need for continuous TPRM.Mature TPRM programs offer significant benefits, including enhanced security, improved compliance, greater operational resilience, and stronger vendor relationships.Organizations that effectively manage third-party threats prioritize their vendor portfolio criticality and implement structured, risk-based reassessment schedules. This programmatic approach helps ensure high-risk vendors receive frequent monitoring while lower-risk relationships are reassessed on longer cycles.Unstructured TPRM processes often overlook shadow IT, inherited supply chain risks, and unvetted AI tools—gaps that can undermine security.AI-driven tools are reshaping TPRM, enabling real-time risk monitoring, smarter supply chain discovery, and more efficient decision-making.Why TPRM matters: Navigating a complex landscapeAs businesses grow, so do their vendor ecosystems—and the risks that come with them. The State of Trust Report found that organizations with one to 50 employees work with an average of 55 vendors. For companies with 1,000 or more employees, that number more than triples to 182. Vanta Managing this scaling vendor footprint effectively requires a clear, structured approach to TPRM. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) outlines four implementation tiers that help organizations identify the strength of their risk management practices.Partial: Organizations are building security foundations with minimal resources, handling risk reactively, and focusing on basic compliance management.Risk-informed: Organizations are scaling programs with structured policies and controls to support growth and meet rising customer demands.Repeatable: Organizations are optimizing programs with advanced practices and a focus on improving efficiency and driving competitive advantage.Adaptive: Organizations are automating security processes to operate more efficiently and scale faster across the business.Vanta’s 2025 Trust Maturity Report found that 77% of organizations at the “risk-informed” tier conduct formal vendor risk assessments. By the “repeatable” tier, that number climbs to nearly 100%. This trend could signal that vendor risk management is often one of the first structured practices that companies adopt as they begin to scale their TPRM efforts.That said, as organizations scale, they may overlook less obvious risks, like unmanaged fourth-party connections, unsanctioned software use by employees (shadow IT), or inherited vulnerabilities buried deep in the supply chain.These blind spots can undermine even well-intentioned programs, especially when security processes aren’t fully developed or consistently applied. Evan Rowse, governance, risk, and compliance subject matter expert at Vanta, sees this gap all too often.“Quite a low percentage of companies have implemented processes to manage third-party risks across their organization. Very often, organizations only start managing risk consistently once it becomes mandatory,” Rowse says.Rowse elaborates on this disconnect, pointing out that while a given individual in an organization may have a good perception of risk, the supporting organizational structures to manage what’s “known” often fall short.“Many humans are inherently good at managing risk in their own sphere of knowledge and experience,” he explains. “We all know how to cross a road safely while watching for cars, loose pebbles, and perhaps even knowing it may be icy.”“Organization executives are usually experienced in risk assessment. However, one executive’s appetite for risk is usually different from the next, and this is what makes us all human. Without a defined process, risk management efforts are likely to be misaligned until something goes wrong.”So, what does it look like when a company is properly managing third-party risk? Rowse identified these key factors. Third parties are tiered and measured by criticality: Companies that excel at TPRM categorize their vendors by criticality and create structured, risk-driven review schedules. This strategic approach helps prevent over-monitoring lower-risk relationships and under-monitoring more critical threats.Assessments happen at onboarding and beyond: Reviewing suppliers and partners up front is important, and having a consistent cadence for reassessing top-tier vendors over time is also crucial.Documenting risk appetite: TPRM-savvy companies clearly outline the level of risk they’re willing to accept while pursuing their objectives. This guides decision-making and helps prevent impulsive decisions, leading to a more consistent approach to risk management.Board-level visibility: When third-party or supply chain risk appears on the boardroom agenda, it reflects meaningful executive alignment and long-term commitment.Taken together, these traits demonstrate a more structured, intentional approach to TPRM. Without these practices, companies may be exposed to a complex set of third-party security risks.Examples of third-party security risksThird-party risk can take many forms, and not all are easy to spot. Below are some examples that underscore the need for structured oversight. This is particularly true as businesses expand their third-party partnerships and integrate emerging technologies, like AI.Geopolitical, jurisdictional, and concentration risks: Vendors in foreign or high-risk regions can face regulatory and supply disruptions. Moreover, relying on a few critical suppliers creates single points of failure.Compromised SaaS provider: When a trusted software platform suffers a breach involving sensitive customer data, the impact extends directly to the business, not just the vendor.Inconsistent contractor security controls: When measures like multifactor authentication or endpoint protection aren’t applied consistently to contractors and freelancers, attackers can exploit these gaps to access internal systems and sensitive data.Fourth-party dependency outage: If a critical vendor’s own provider fails, the disruption can cascade to your organization—even if your direct vendor is still operational.Expired compliance certifications: If a vendor allows a key certification or report (such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2) to lapse, it might signal internal control breakdowns or a deprioritization of compliance—both of which introduce risk to your organization.Unvetted SaaS tools or integrations: Also known as shadow IT, this risk occurs when third-party AI-powered tools or integrations—like adding an AI assistant to Slack—are adopted without proper vetting. While they may speed up workflows, unchecked data handling can create serious security risks. With the rapid emergence of innovative AI services, many of these unapproved tools can unintentionally expose sensitive information, violate internal security policies, or introduce compliance gaps.How businesses approach TPRM todayTPRM relies on identifying risks through vendor security reviews. These reviews often use security questionnaires to collect a snapshot of a vendor’s security posture during onboarding or contract renewal.Comprehensive security reviews go beyond just gathering credentials and compliance reports. They involve a structured process with key steps: Defining the review scope and security criteria.Standardizing due diligence and review methods.Assessing the vendor’s security risks.Assigning a vendor risk score.Today’s TPRM programs, largely centered on these reviews, often include extensive document collection and risk scoring based on self-reported data from questionnaires. While these workflows offer structure, they can be time-consuming and difficult to scale as organizations add dozens or even hundreds of third-party relationships. To address these challenges, many teams turn to leading vendor risk management solutions that help streamline evidence collection, standardize assessments, and support ongoing vendor monitoring at scale.This was observed in the State of Trust Report, which reveals that IT decision-makers spend an average of 6.5 hours per week assessing and reviewing vendor risk. That adds up to 7.6 full working weeks each year. Vanta “I believe we have only scratched the surface of how vendor risk management will evolve with the use of AI,” says Rowse. “We can already use AI to ask or respond to questions, and even conduct assessments without directly contacting a vendor. We can also monitor and analyze vendors based on publicly available information. As we can shift much of the painstaking and manual effort in conducting assessments, we can have more time to focus on what's important, like making better decisions about the relationships we hold.”The future of TPRMAdvances in tech and growing supply chain interdependencies are reshaping how businesses identify and manage vendor risks. Here are four key trends that may define the future of TPRM.AI automation goes full circleAI in TPRM is moving beyond current applications toward comprehensive automation of the entire risk assessment lifecycle.“AI co-pilots will be involved in reviewing, writing, sending, and even answering questionnaires on the vendor side,” explains Rowse. “AI co-pilots on the purchaser side will then assess those responses to determine what constitutes risk. I see a future of AI interacting with AI until an important decision needs human involvement.”While AI introduces new risk dimensions, it’s becoming increasingly important to assess how vendors use AI within their own operations. TPRM programs must now account for this, incorporating questions about AI governance, transparency, and compliance into their risk assessments. The AI Governance Survey found that 50% of respondents were very confident in vendors using AI responsibly, while another 42% were somewhat confident—highlighting the need for TPRM practices that validate and continuously monitor vendors’ AI usage. Vanta Always-on vendor risk monitoring becomes the normVendor monitoring is evolving beyond traditional questionnaires toward sophisticated, continuous monitoring solutions that help manage risks by providing real-time insights through multiple data streams.“Active vendor monitoring solutions have been around for a while, but will significantly improve,” notes Rowse. “The solutions we have will become more sophisticated and comprehensive for certain vendor types, offering better insights into third-party issues than traditional questionnaires were ever able to uncover.”This might include monitoring public sentiment on social media for ESG risk, analyzing news feeds, and reviewing financial statements. The challenge lies in processing the massive amount of data available, drawing out relevant risk insights from the noise, and highlighting potential choices and decisions that would require human intervention.Supply chain discovery gets smarterIdentifying and managing single points of failure is evolving from documentation to proactive discovery of critical dependencies.“We’re heading toward a future where we can manage relationships more effectively than ever before—and tools that help us filter, interpret large volumes of data, and act on what truly matters will be fundamental to that journey,” Rowse says.Automated supply chain discovery would provide unprecedented visibility into extended vendor networks, revealing hidden connections and potential cascade failure points that traditional methods might miss.AI-driven tools will manage data inundationTechnology can improve relationship management. But it also creates a new challenge: making sense of the sheer amount of data available to us.“In the coming years, we’ll be able to manage relationships better than ever before, as important data will be at our fingertips to help make decisions,” Rowse says. “However, we’ll likely be inundated with data, so having tools to make sense of it all will be essential.”Relationship management success will depend on transforming raw data into actionable insights through AI-driven analysis tools that identify patterns and emerging risks while filtering out noise and presenting information in formats that support effective decision-making.Benefits of robust TPRM (and the cost of neglecting it)The business case for mature TPRM extends far beyond compliance checkboxes. Organizations with robust TPRM programs could gain competitive advantages, while those that neglect it may face mounting costs or operational challenges.Benefits of mature TPRM practicesEffective TPRM delivers measurable value across multiple dimensions of business operations: Stronger security posture through early detection of emerging threats and vulnerabilities before they escalate into incidents.Easier compliance with frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA when vendor risk assessments are systematically documented and regularly updated.Reduced audit burden through centralized documentation that provides readily available evidence and clear audit trails.Increased operational resilience from a better understanding of third-party dependencies, supporting improved business continuity planning.Better vendor relationships, as structured processes create shared expectations and clearer communication channels.Cost savings from both breach prevention and operational efficiencies in vendor onboarding and management processes.Costs of neglecting TPRMThe consequences of inadequate TPRM and vendor risk management can be severe and far-reaching:Data breaches and ransomware attacks frequently originate through vulnerable vendors or the interfaces used to connect with them, creating incidents that organizations didn’t directly cause but may remain responsible for addressing.Regulatory fines, legal liability, and failed audits multiply quickly when vendor-related incidents occur, creating lasting business impacts.Reputational harm from vendor-related incidents that erodes customer trust and damages competitive positioning.Downtime and service outages from vendor failures that halt revenue-generating activities and damage customer relationships.Higher cyber insurance costs or lost coverage eligibility as carriers recognize poorly managed vendor risk.Beyond these direct costs, inefficient TPRM processes create hidden operational drag that impacts strategic business objectives.“This inefficiency often diverts personnel from other core tasks and increases the time it takes to onboard new third-party services, delaying the realization of their intended benefits,” says Rowse. “Inefficient processes don’t just affect taking on new vendors. Imagine a scenario where enabling an innovative new feature from one of your existing vendors, like Slack or AWS, takes multiple weeks simply due to an inefficient risk management process… This can have a huge impact on the business outcomes, especially where first to market is important.”Common TPRM challenges and how to overcome themDespite its importance, implementing and maintaining an effective TPRM program comes with significant challenges. These often stem from the sheer volume and complexity of third-party relationships, coupled with evolving technological and regulatory landscapes.Here’s how to address some of the most common challenges:Shadow IT can create blind spots in your risk visibilitySolution: Use tools and practices that help discover and monitor unsanctioned applications and services operating outside formal oversight (e.g., network discovery tools, cloud access monitoring).Questionnaire fatigue overwhelms teams and vendorsSolution: Design streamlined assessments with shorter, more focused questionnaires to encourage meaningful responses and reduce administrative burden.Manual processes slow down vendor risk workflowsSolution: Introduce automation where possible to reduce time spent on routine tasks (such as sending, tracking, and processing questionnaires) and improve accuracy.One-size-fits-all assessment approaches don’t reflect varying risk levelsSolution: Develop customizable risk rubrics or frameworks that tailor assessments to the specific characteristics and risk profiles of different third parties.Point-in-time assessments provide limited insight into evolving risksSolution: Move toward ongoing or continuous monitoring practices to gain better visibility into changing vendor risk profiles over time.The root of many TPRM challenges lies in the traditional approach to security questionnaires and other cumbersome processes. Matt Cooper, director of governance, risk, and compliance at Vanta, advocates for a fundamental shift in this approach: “If you give a vendor 400 questions, you won't get real engagement. Ask the 10 or 12 that truly matter, and they'll respond meaningfully.”This philosophy represents a shift from checkbox compliance to actionable risk assessment that strengthens vendor relationships while providing better security outcomes.This story was produced by Vanta and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport firefighter injured after floor collapses during apartment fire A Davenport firefighter was treated for injuries after falling through an attic floor during a Tuesday night apartment fire.
	Rock Island published poet to read from her new books at Downtown Library In a very divisive, violent world, we could all use more peace, love and understanding, and Rock Island’s Rita Melissano is just the person to help provide them.
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	New SNAP work requirements go into effect Feb. 1, threatening recipient eligibility H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, changes the work requirements for the federal food assistance program known as SNAP.
	John Deere to bring back nearly 100 employees in Iowa as production demand increases Since August 2023, Deere has laid off more than 3,800 workers across Illinois and Iowa.
	How portable energy has become a necessity indoors and out (BPT) - Power isn't a luxury anymore. It's the thread that holds modern life together. This reality becomes especially clear during extreme weather events, like the severe snowstorms currently impacting Texas and large parts of the U.S., where millions of households face sudden and prolonged power outages. Battery-based power stations and solar generators have fundamentally changed the way people access electricity, especially when the grid isn't available. From keeping food fresh and medical devices running to staying connected for work and safety, reliable power now is nearly at the heart of everything we do.As technology advanced, independent power sources became smaller and lighter, evolving into modern battery-based power stations, which have become necessary equipment for outdoor adventurers in demanding environments. Now, the capabilities and applications of independent, portable power have made them an essential part of home infrastructure, outdoor gear and "office" supply for digital nomads. Today, portable power has become a critical part of home preparedness — especially during winter storm season — while still serving outdoor adventurers and digital nomads alike.What connects all these uses of portable power is preparedness. In a world where power runs nearly every part of daily life, preparedness means never having a gap in what you need. It's about the confidence to keep moving forward when conditions change, or plans don't go as expected. Below are just a few cases that highlight how reliable, on-demand energy has become the cornerstone of resilience, creativity and independence in modern life.Storm preparednessThe most obvious use for portable power stations is home emergencies, especially during snow, wind and rainstorms. For homeowners in areas prone to blizzards, hurricanes and flooding, losing power isn't a matter of if, but when. Depending on the severity of a storm, residents may be facing days — if not weeks — without power.As the U.S. experiences increasingly severe winter storms, a rugged, indoor-safe portable power station can make a meaningful difference when families are sheltering at home. Demand for reliable backup power solutions surged in states such as Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, where residents faced unexpected power outages.In these situations, being able to keep lighting and appliances on, heating and cooling systems running, medical equipment powered and electronic communications open is paramount. In these emergency situations, it's not enough to have portable power. A solution that can power multiple devices at once and run for an indeterminate amount of time can mean the difference between life and death.Having a power station on hand that can withstand these real-world emergencies is well worth the investment. In cases where you need to keep appliances and equipment running, you'll need a backup option that can handle the job. For example, the Explorer 1500 Ultra from Jackery is capable of delivering 1,800W of continuous AC output, with extended peak capacity to support household appliances, heavy-duty tools, pumps and other household essentials, helping to maintain comfort, safety and communication when the grid goes down. Built with extreme weather resilience in mind, its dustproof, waterproof and shock-resistant design ensures dependable indoor and backup performance.Cold-weather adventuresCold is one of the main enemies of battery-powered technology. You've probably experienced this when using your phone outdoors during the winter. One minute you're taking a series of gorgeous snow-filled landscapes or filming your friend conquer the slopes, and the next minute your phone powers off without warning.If you're skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, or winter camping and roadtripping, you don't want to be in a position where you can't stay connected, track your position or be unable to use essential equipment to stay safe in frigid conditions. In these demanding conditions, having a reliable portable power source is a must.That said, one of the challenges of portable power stations is that they're often too heavy to haul when you want to pack light. Modern users need equipment that's not only portable, but rugged enough to survive extreme cold, moisture and physical impact. Luckily, portable power design continues to evolve, offering lighter, stronger solutions that don't compromise on performance.For example, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is a professional-grade portable power station made of titanium alloy to balance strength and lightness, coming in at just under 39 pounds — almost half the weight of comparable models. Engineered for extreme environments, it features IP65-rated dustproof and waterproof protection, a 9-level seismic shockproof design, and the ability to deliver up to 10 times longer peak power discharge than standard systems. Its stable EV-grade LiFePO4 battery chemistry performs reliably in temperatures as low as 5°F, helping ensure dependable power even in harsh winter conditions.Overlanding expeditionsOverlanding expeditions are some of the most demanding trips a person can take, because they're truly not about the destination. The whole point of overlanding is to journey through unforgiving conditions like windy deserts, towering mountains and rainy forests in remote areas where opportunities to refuel and recharge — literally and physically — are few and far between. It's a true test of self-reliance that requires rigorous planning and thoughtful preparation, with no guarantee that the road ahead will cooperate.In situations where you can't count on finding power along your route, having a power station that packs a punch and can recharge without an electric hookup is crucial, doubly so for filmmakers and other creatives documenting their overlanding journey.A portable power solution like the Explorer 1500 Ultra can be just as resilient and reliable in overlanding expeditions as it is in more casual adventures. It delivers up to 3,600W of peak power — up to 10 times longer than comparable systems — and can sustain 2,000W output for up to 15 minutes, providing the muscle needed for high-demand gear in remote locations. Using solar power, the unit can reach a full charge in 2.5 hours under optimal conditions, allowing overlanders to travel with peace of mind.The Explorer 1500 Ultra's dust- and waterproof construction and one-meter drop resistance reflect the kind of purposeful engineering required for overlanding, an approach that recently earned the power station a Red Dot Design Award. After all, gear has to survive the journey, not just look good doing it.Living and working off the gridOff-grid living isn't just for hermits and survivalists. Van-lifers, off-grid travelers and digital nomads rely on portable power stations to live, work and stay connected as they seek an independent and itinerant lifestyle. It's not about escaping modern life. It's redefining where it happens.For living and working off-grid, having reliable power isn't just for emergency situations or a temporary journey. These types of travelers require a power source that can withstand daily use to efficiently power appliances, as well as laptops and internet connections.Not all power stations are made for regular, daily use. Those living an off-grid life will need portable power that offers long-term reliability for years to come. A model like the Explorer 1500 Ultra is the type of equipment to power a nomadic lifestyle. Its EV-grade LiFePO4 battery cells retain up to 70% capacity after 4,000 cycles, supporting up to a decade of dependable use. Plus, multiple output options offer versatile power for modern needs, including supporting Starlink® connectivity in off-grid locations. It's built not just to supply power, but to keep up with lives that don't stand still.Stay ready for real-world challengesPreparedness isn't about expecting the worst, it's about refusing to be stopped by it. From powering through a winter snowstorm at home to navigating remote backcountry terrain, today's portable power solutions are designed to meet real-world challenges head-on. Explore the quiet confidence that comes from being prepared. To learn more about how portable power stations offer you freedom, security and resilience in parts unknown and at home, visit Jackery.com.
	The state of home insurance in 2026: Increasing rates, climate change, and consumer frustration The state of home insurance in 2026: Increasing rates, climate change, and consumer frustrationRate increases over the past few years have been hitting homeowners hard, thanks to increasingly volatile weather, inflation, and other factors. 2026 should see stabilization in the home insurance market, but, depending on where you live, you probably shouldn’t count on seeing lower rates on your renewal.The Consumer Federation of America’s April 2025 report, Overburdened, found that U.S. homeowners spent $21 billion more on homeowners insurance in 2024 than in 2021.Although the market in general is improving, with AM Best elevating the market segment from negative to stable in December 2025, it may be a while before many homeowners see any sign of lower rates.What’s driving home insurance rate increases? Will rates go down in 2026, or ever? What can homeowners expect when it comes to their insurance coverage and bills, and how do they feel about it? While we see improvements on the horizon, home insurance remains a source of sticker shock and frustration. Read on for insights from Insurance.com, data, and details on the state of home insurance in 2026. Insurance.com Home insurance rates rise: Here’s what’s to blameHome insurance rates have been climbing over the past few years, with homeowners facing sticker shock both on renewal and when shopping for new coverage. There are several reasons, some less obvious than others.Severe weather and natural disasters. 2025 began with some of the worst wildfires in history, with billions of dollars in damage resulting from the Palisades and Eaton fires in California. Following several years of devastating wildfires and hurricanes, along with increasing damage from storms nationwide, home insurance companies responded with rate increase requests. The good news? A quiet Atlantic hurricane season provided some breathing room.Increased construction costs. Inflation has made all the materials used to build and repair houses more expensive. The more it costs to rebuild a home, the higher claim costs become, and insurance companies respond by increasing premiums to offset the additional expenses.Litigation. High numbers of lawsuits, particularly in states where the law has been favorable toward those suing insurance companies, drive up costs for insurance companies, which are again passed on to consumers.State regulations. Some states have much stricter limitations on home insurance rate increases than others.Why do natural disasters or lawsuits elsewhere affect my insurance rates?Insurance companies spread risk. While rates will go up a lot more in high-risk areas to reflect that risk, the increases can spread well beyond those areas as insurers balance their incoming premiums with their outgoing claims payments, or what they call loss ratios.Where have home insurance rates increased the most? State-by-state trendsThe state where home insurance rates have increased the most in the past two years is Louisiana, with a 58% rate increase from 2023 to 2025.The top five states for rate increases between 2023 and 2025 are:Louisiana (58%)Michigan (41%)Virginia (37%)Kentucky (33%)Minnesota (29%)What about Florida? Although Florida has struggled with high insurance rates for years, Insurance.com data show a slight reduction between 2023 and 2025. It remains the most expensive state for home insurance, but rates are starting to decrease. Insurance.com Where have homeowners insurance rates gone down?Some states have seen significant reductions in average home insurance rates over the past two years, with North Carolina experiencing the largest drop of 28%.The five states with the biggest home insurance rate reductions are:North Carolina (-28%)Mississippi (-25%)Alaska (-18%)Oklahoma (-14%)Oregon (-9%)The biggest surprise here is that Oklahoma, previously the most expensive state for home insurance, saw a 14% drop in home insurance costs.Florida’s modest decrease (down 6%) is good news, but less surprising, given that changes in legislation have been showing signs of improving the market and reducing insurance rates over the past year.In December 2025, Florida’s insurer of last resort, Citizens, filed for a rate decrease of 2.6%. That follows years of big rate increases. Citizens has reduced its policy count dramatically to end 2025 with the lowest count ever (385,000 policies) as new carriers have entered the market and eased the burden. Insurance.com The big picture: How much home insurance costs across the U.S. Insurance.com Homeowners insurance buyers' pain points: What’s driving customer satisfaction?Not surprisingly, rates are the biggest pain point for homeowners insurance customers. Insurance.com’s annual survey found that both satisfaction with fair rate increases over time and with discounts is down five points from last year’s survey.The areas where satisfaction decreased the most are:Fair rate increases (-5%). In last year’s survey, 65% of customers were satisfied with how their insurance company applied rate increases. This year, that rate dropped to 57%, indicating that while rate increases weren’t an area of high satisfaction before, the situation has worsened.Discounts (-5%). Fewer people are satisfied with the discounts offered by their home insurance companies, which may tie into rate increases overall. Satisfaction with discounts dropped from 68% to 63%.Older homes (-5%). As insurance companies pull back on risk, older homes are likely to be among those viewed as higher risk; that may result in higher rates or more difficulty finding coverage. Insurance.com’s survey found a decrease from 73% to 68% satisfaction for older home coverage.Digital experience (-5%). As people rely more and more on digital tools to handle insurance policies, there’s a higher expectation for those tools to be top-notch. Insurance.com’s survey found that insurers may be missing the mark, as overall satisfaction dropped from 85% to 80%.Buying process (-4%). Whether it’s that they are having trouble finding affordable rates, that it’s harder to get a person on the phone, or simply that the process of buying home insurance has become more of a chore, satisfaction in this area dropped from 82% to 78% overall.Overall, customer satisfaction took a drop of 2% year over year, likely driven by some of the pain points above. Other areas that dropped:Exceptional standard coverages (-3%)Claims handling (-2%)Billing process (-1%)Are homeowners insurance customers more satisfied in any areas?There were a few categories of the survey that saw an improvement, notably in customer sentiment:There was a 3% increase in people who said they would recommend their home insurance company, those who said they trust their insurance company, and those who plan to renew.Additionally:Satisfaction with bundling increased 2%Ease of service and policy offerings saw slight increases of 1% for each categoryAre people switching home insurance companies?Rate increases are driving some customers to switch, according to J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Home Insurance Study, which tracks customer satisfaction with the overall home insurance experience.The study found that 49% of people reported a rate increase, and it’s impacting their decision to switch carriers:Among people who reported a rate increase, 43% of those who also said they don’t intend to renew gave rate increases as the reason.Homeowners who already pay higher-than-average premiums and have multiple types of insurance were more likely to say rate increases were driving them to switch; 45% of these customers (called high-value customers due to the value of their business) who said they probably won’t renew said increased rates are the reason.The fallout of fires and hurricanes: How increasing natural disasters are affecting insuranceScenes of homes engulfed by fast-moving flames and washed away by hurricane-driven floodwaters have horrified viewers across the nation, and in their wake, billions of dollars in insurance claims have been filed.More and bigger insurance claims have caused insurance companies to file rate increases, while in some areas, insurers have pulled back or even gone out of business.State Farm in California: A real example of disaster directly driving ratesState Farm, the largest home insurance company in the state, stopped writing new homeowners insurance policies in 2023 and has nonrenewed thousands of policies.State Farm requested a 30% increase in June 2024, which has not been approved.Following the Eaton and Palisades fires in January 2025, State Farm filed for a 22% rate increase and was approved for a 17% increase on homeowners insurance policies.If the company wins the additional increase to 30% it’s still pursuing, homeowners in California will see an average increase of $600 a year.However, the impact of natural disasters and severe weather on home insurance extends far beyond California’s wildfires and hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast. Rates are skyrocketing even in places far from the coasts.Severe convective storms, marked by high winds and large hail, cause cumulative losses in a year on par with a one-time hurricane event. Midwest states, like Minnesota, have seen a significant jump in rates as a result.Home insurance challenges across the nation: Regional rate impactsWhat’s most likely to raise your home insurance rates depends on where you live. While there are many areas of overlap, it’s good to know what risks are most likely to damage your home, so you can be prepared. Insurance.com The future of home insurance: Where will rates get higher or lower?Whether rates will continue to increase in 2026 and beyond depends on a lot of factors. For one, rate increases for which insurance companies have filed haven’t hit many homeowners yet, and some are still in the process of approval.There are both some points in favor of home insurance rates stabilizing in 2026 and some factors that may still point to increases.Rates may stabilize or even get lower due to:A quiet Atlantic hurricane season. Mainly impacting the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the lack of any hurricanes making landfall in 2025 is likely to ease insurance companies’ loss ratios.Regulatory changes. A number of states are making efforts to better regulate insurance rate increases and minimize the impact of litigation on home insurance rates; Florida, where legislation has curbed frivolous lawsuits, is a good example.Previous rate increases. Rate increases over the past few years have pushed insurance company profits up, which makes it less likely they’ll need to file for additional increases.On the other hand, rates may increase due to:Rate changes that haven’t hit yet. Rate changes that were approved haven’t necessarily reached consumers yet. The example of State Farm in California is just one area where increases are still on the horizon.Future natural disasters. An active hurricane or wildfire season in 2026 could put the brakes on any possible rate reductions and even drive rates higher. Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), a tropical storm tracking resource, predicts seven Atlantic hurricanes for 2026, three of which are predicted to be intense, but early forecasts are subject to change.Tariffs. While there has yet to be any significant reported impact on home insurance rates, tariffs on building materials (such as lumber from Canada) will raise costs and have the potential to drive additional rate increases.This story was produced by Insurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	6 signs your dog is feeling lonely 6 signs your dog is feeling lonelyOur dogs might not play “Creep” by Radiohead while baking and then subsequently eat an entire boxed cake recipe when they’re lonely, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel it. Like all of us, dogs require a certain level of socialization — both with their own kind and with their humans. And when those needs go unmet, they can start feeling agitated and, to borrow a label from Thom Yorke, act like total weirdos.Loneliness, as we understand it, is a bit of a human concept; dogs who don’t enjoy enough social time don’t sit down on the couch, sigh, and think to themselves, “I’m really lonely.” Still, just like with people, isolation can leave our pups in a particular kind of distress. From the outside, our dogs’ expressions of that grief might seem strange or even frustrating, but in reality, separation anxiety and other behaviors associated with canine loneliness come from a place of real pain.If you suspect your dog is feeling neglected or understimulated, it’s worth taking seriously. But try to fact-check your suspicions. Dr. Ori Stollar, a veterinarian and behavior specialist with Massachusetts Veterinary Behavior Service, has been approached by many clients who assumed their dog had separation anxiety because they heard them barking whenever they left home and returned. “Then, they took my advice and recorded the dog alone and found out that once they were gone, the dog spent most of the time sleeping,” he says, “which is normal.”So how can you tell if your dog is actually lonely? Kinship shares some expert advice.How can you tell if your dog is lonely?Your dog might not tell you they’re feeling lonely, but there will be signs. Dr. Stollar says that different dogs have different needs and coping mechanisms, just like humans do. “Some people don't mind being alone or might show subtle signs when lonely,” he says, “and so do dogs.”If you suspect your dog is feeling isolated, Dr. Stefanie Schwartz, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and founder of Civilized Pet, recommends looking for agitated behavior. Agitation doesn’t necessarily mean your dog is lonely, but it’s a good starting point to determine if something might be wrong.Signs your dog might be lonely (or has some other unmet need) can include:Destructive behaviorThink “ripping through the closet and grabbing shoes,” Dr. Schwartz says. Sometimes, this can escalate into agitation and even more mayhem.RestlessnessIf your dog seems to be wearing a track into the floor, that’s a sign they can’t settle.“It could be lying down for a second, getting up and walking to the window and pacing along the windows, and going back to bed for two minutes and getting up again,” Dr. Schwartz says. “Or it could be nonstop wandering around the house, and that can escalate to running.”Excessive vocalizationWe’re not talking a couple of whines here and there. According to Dr. Stollar, this is more like “whining or barking nonstop.”Inability to rest when you’re awayA dog suffering from separation anxiety often can’t sleep away from its parents, Dr. Stollar says. Instead, they’ll spend all their time staring at the door or acting out of fear.If your dog barks up a storm every time you leave, Dr. Stollar recommends using a camera to monitor their behavior while you’re away. Leave behind a few interactive toys, food puzzles, or long-lasting treats. Dogs who struggle when left alone usually will not eat or play, even with their favorite toys and treats, Stollar says. On the other hand, she adds that “a bored dog will usually take interest in these items until he gets bored with them.”Accidents in your houseThis one should go without saying. If your potty-trained dog is peeing or pooping in your home, something is wrong.Going wild every time another dog comes aroundThis one is a particularly solid clue, according to Dr. Schwartz. “If a dog is pulling on a leash, trying to get to another dog, wagging their tail, looking like they absolutely want to play, and busting out of their skin trying to get to them,” she says, “then I think that’s an obvious sign.”Does loneliness look different from boredom?According to Dr. Stollar, it definitely can. These are two separate experiences, so it’s worth determining which one is bugging your dog. To do this, you might try some (loving) surveillance.How can you help your dog feel less lonely?There’s nothing sadder than a big, watery pair of puppy-dog eyes. But before you start booking playdates and canceling your plans to spend all day with your dog on the couch, it’s worth figuring out why they’re lonely. Does your dog want more time with their fellow canines, with you, or perhaps even a dog walker?Give them more attentionSome dogs prefer playtime, while others like a good cuddle on the couch. Whatever your dog likes, now is the time to consider giving them more of it. Doggie daycare or a midday stroll with a dog walker could also help, but only if your pooch is receptive to humans outside of their family.“To know if your dog is the former or the latter,” Dr. Stollar says, give daycare or walks a try and ask your dog’s daytime guardian to report back. “For example, if the daycare personnel tell the caretaker that the dog was crying the entire time or was sitting in a corner and not interacting with people or staff, then it's not the solution for that dog.”Make sure they have enough dog-on-dog timeHuman interaction is great, but some dogs prefer hanging out with their own kind. Each pup is an individual, Dr. Schwartz says, “but the majority of dogs would benefit from the company of other dogs.” For example, dogs can play with each other in a way we never could engage with them. As Dr. Schwartz puts it, “They can’t play with us by grabbing our ears and dragging us in the dirt.” Point taken.Meet their other basic needsWhile you’re evaluating your dog’s general happiness levels, it’s worth making sure their other canine necessities are being satisfied as well. For example, if you’re in the habit of letting your dog out into the yard for some solo playtime, Dr. Schwartz cautions that your dog might not feel as intellectually stimulated as you think.“The yard is really just a holding pen,” Dr. Schwartz says. “It’s part of the bubble. You’ve got to get them out of the bubble.” That means putting on their leash and venturing out with them for an adventure that will exhaust both their body and mind.Another commonly neglected need? Chewing. Specifically, gnawing. It’s instant anxiety relief, Dr. Schwartz says, and it’s best to let your dog do it for 15 to 20 minutes a day. (As a side benefit, this can also be great for their teeth.)Look for:Rawhide strips, rolls, and sticksBully sticks (use caution with puppies)Cow and pig earsSweet potato chips, celery sticks, and carrotsAnd avoid:Plastic and nylonAntlers, hooves, horns, and any real bonesKnotted rawhideShould you get a second dog to keep your pup company?Only get a second dog if you want a second dog. It’s a big decision, and you might regret bringing them home for a quick fix.If you do want another dog, Dr. Stollar says it could potentially help a lonely pup — under the right conditions. For instance, if your dog’s issues stem from boredom and not from attachment issues, a companion could potentially provide more stimulation and engagement. At the same time, he cautions, if your dog is very attached to you and struggles to cope when you leave, “then adding another dog will either not help or sometimes might even create worse problems.”Dr. Schwartz also urges against jumping the gun when it comes to bringing home another dog. “I wouldn't necessarily get another dog automatically out of desperation,” she says. If your dog seems lonely, she says, “I would still have the dog evaluated and then ask that veterinary behaviorist if getting another dog would be part of the solution.”This story was produced by Kinship and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Riverbend FAME debuts at EICC as Iowa’s first advanced manufacturing training chapter Riverbend FAME, Iowa’s first FAME chapter, is now offering Quad Cities students a paid earn‑and‑learn pathway that pairs industrial maintenance coursework at EICC with hands‑on training from regional manufacturers.
	Bettendorf Police mark American Heart Month with red awareness patch in February Bettendorf Police are marking American Heart Month by selling a red Heart Disease Awareness Patch in February to raise funds for the Quad Cities HEARTSafe Coalition’s free Hands‑Only CPR training programs.
	John Deere to recall 99 workers at Davenport, Dubuque plants in February John Deere will recall 99 workers to its Davenport and Dubuque plants in mid-February 2026, following recent layoffs across multiple Iowa facilities.
	One firefighter injured in Davenport structure fire One firefighter was injured while responding to a fire on Marquette Street last night, according to a news release from the Davenport Fire Department. Davenport Fire responded to a structure fire in the 1500 block of Marquette Street on January 27 at about 10:45 p.m. Crews arrived on the scene within three minutes and found [...]
	Davenport man charged with making bomb threat to car wash on Tuesday According to police, he called a Davenport car wash and said he would obtain an explosive device and cause destruction to the building
	Nearly 100 employees set to return to 2 John Deere facilities The company said increased production demand and ongoing factory needs sparked the return.
	Rep. Krishnamoorthi introduces First Home Affordability Act According to Zillow, the average price of an Illinois home has reached more than $275,000, marking an increase of almost 35% compared to five years ago.
	Davenport officer adopts dog he rescued while on patrol The officer found the dog tied to a pole and brought it to the humane society, where he continued to check up on its wellbeing. Soon, he returned adopt 'Odin.'
	How to choose a startup CRM at different growth stages How to choose a startup CRM at different growth stagesEvery startup experiences a moment of reckoning: the point where the informal, relationship-driven approach to customer management becomes a liability rather than an asset.When a founder can hold the entire customer database in their head, customer relationship management tools seem unnecessary. But as the team expands beyond five people and the customer count exceeds a few dozen, that personal knowledge becomes fragmented across email inboxes, messaging platforms, and individual notebooks.This is where many founders face a common misconception: CRM is a tool for large enterprises, not scrappy startups. The reality is different. CRM maturity should evolve with your business. The system that works at the seed stage will likely not be the best fit at the Series A stage. And the solution you select at Series A may not scale effectively to Series B.Nutshell explains how to select a CRM aligned with your business’s growth stage. The right CRM isn’t about finding the most powerful platform—it’s about finding the right platform for where your startup is right now, while building in the flexibility to grow beyond it.Key takeawaysCRM needs evolve with your startup’s stage: What works at the seed stage (simple contact management) becomes inadequate at Series A (automation and reporting) and Series B (advanced analytics and enterprise integration). Select a system for your current stage, not your imagined future.Alignment matters more than features: A CRM with 500 unused features will fail faster than a simple system your team actually uses. Involve your sales team in the selection, prioritize ease of adoption over feature richness, and focus on aligning with your actual workflow.Plan for migration as you grow: Most startups will use multiple CRM systems as they scale. This isn’t a failure—it’s natural. Reassess your CRM annually to identify when it’s constraining growth, recognizing that the total cost of ownership (implementation, training, integration) matters as much as monthly subscription fees.Understanding when and why CRM mattersBefore evaluating any specific CRM solution, founders must understand the fundamental purpose of CRM systems and when they become truly necessary.A CRM isn’t primarily about automation or fancy dashboards. At its core, it’s about creating a single source of truth for customer interactions, ensuring that knowledge doesn’t live exclusively in individual team members’ heads.The view of the startup landscape has evolved considerably. The global CRM market reached $112.91 billion in 2025, according to Fortune Business Insights, which expects it to grow 12.4% by 2034.Many founders struggle to identify the right moment to implement a CRM, or they select solutions misaligned with their growth stage.It’s critical that CRM adoption is driven by operational necessity, not industry trends. The question isn’t “should we have a CRM?” but rather “at what point does our current approach to managing customer relationships create risk?”The three stages of CRM maturityStartup growth isn’t linear, and neither is the evolution of its CRM needs. By understanding the three primary growth stages—and the specific operational characteristics of each—founders can make informed decisions about when and how to implement customer relationship management systems.Pre-seed to seed stage: Building the foundationThe relationship-driven phaseAt the earliest stage, your startup is fundamentally relationship-driven. The founding team often has direct relationships with early customers. Communication happens through phone calls, coffee meetings, and personal emails. Data exists in multiple locations: a founder’s notebook, a shared spreadsheet, email threads, and the memories of individual team members.This approach has genuine advantages. The founder maintains deep context about each customer’s needs, concerns, and potential. There’s no overhead from system administration or data entry. Decisions can be made quickly because information is readily accessible—albeit informally.Many successful startups have scaled to $1 million or more in revenue using little more than organized spreadsheets and founder intuition. But this model breaks down at a predictable inflection point, typically when the team grows beyond five people or the customer count exceeds 50-100 accounts. At that point, information silos emerge.A salesperson is unaware of what the founder discussed with a prospect. A customer service issue isn’t visible to the sales team. Critical follow-ups are forgotten because they existed only in one person’s calendar. The very strength of relationship-driven management—deep founder knowledge—becomes a bottleneck as the company scales.CRM essentials at this stageThe CRM need at the pre-seed to seed stage is straightforward but often underestimated: Create a centralized repository for customer information and interaction history. This prevents customer context from being lost when team members are busy, on vacation, or focused on other priorities. It establishes the foundational discipline of documented customer relationships.At this stage, focus on fundamentals.Simple contact database: Is there a centralized place to store customer and prospect information?Basic activity tracking: Does it keep notes on interactions, meetings, and follow-ups?Minimal customization: Out-of-the-box functionality that works immediately is key.Low cost or free: If cash is scarce, you need a solution that minimizes burn rate.Mobile accessibility: Your team needs access to customer data from anywhere, anytime.The goal isn’t comprehensive automation or advanced analytics. The goal is to prevent customer information from slipping through the cracks and to establish foundational habits around customer communication.What to prioritize at this stageEase of use is nonnegotiable. Your team lacks dedicated CRM administrators and extensive training resources. Any solution you choose must be intuitive enough that team members adopt it naturally, without extensive onboarding. This isn’t a limitation—it’s actually a strength. Systems that require minimal explanation tend to be genuinely useful rather than feature-bloated.Cost often matters intensely at this stage. Many startups operate on seed funding or bootstrapped revenue. Look for solutions that offer free plans or affordable entry-level pricing.According to CRM adoption research, few businesses adopt a CRM within their first year of operation, often because founders don’t recognize the need early enough. But when the need becomes acute, you need a solution you can implement immediately, not one that requires months of planning or significant capital.Speed of setup is critical. You need to be operational within days, not weeks. Implementation timelines matter when your team is juggling multiple priorities and can’t afford to dedicate someone to a lengthy implementation project.Evaluating options for early stage startupsWhen researching CRM solutions at this stage, think beyond feature lists. Focus on whether the system enables your actual workflow by asking yourself:Can users get started without extensive configuration?Does the free or trial plan offer genuine functionality, or is it just a stripped-down demo?Is customer support available to help with setup, or are you limited to community forums?Can the system integrate with tools you already use (email, calendar, other productivity apps)?What does upgrading cost when you outgrow the free or entry-level plan? Is the pricing transparent and predictable?Avoid solutions with steep learning curves, complex customization requirements, or pricing that jumps dramatically at the next tier. You’re looking for a system that grows with you, not one that forces you to switch platforms in 12 months.Series A: Establishing processes and scaleThe process-driven inflection pointSeries A represents a qualitative shift in organizational maturity. You’ve demonstrated repeatable customer acquisition. Your team has grown to between five and 20 people, and multiple team members are now interacting with customers.The informal coordination that worked at the seed stage becomes a bottleneck. Different team members are following different processes. Data quality is inconsistent. Sales forecasting becomes guesswork because pipeline visibility is poor.At Series A, CRM transcends data repository and becomes a process enabler. You need visibility into the status of your deals. You must identify which leads are advancing and which are stalled. You need to spot patterns: Which products resonate with which customer segments? Which sales tactics are working? What’s your average sales cycle length?The fundamental shift from seed to Series A is moving from ad-hoc relationship management to systematized, repeatable processes. At this stage, your CRM becomes the tool that enforces these processes and provides visibility into their execution. This is also where automation begins to matter. With a larger team, manual processes often fail to scale.Advanced CRM features becoming essentialAs your startup grows, new CRM capabilities become crucial for maintaining coordination across your expanding team.Sales pipeline management: visual representation of deals in progress, stage definitions, and forecasting.Lead scoring and automation: automatic assignment of leads, follow-up reminders, and automated messaging.Team collaboration features: shared notes, task assignments, and communication history visible to the entire team.Reporting and dashboards: visibility into key metrics like conversion rates, sales cycle length, and pipeline health.Integration ecosystem: connection with email, calendar, accounting software, and marketing automation tools.Data synchronization: automatic capture of customer interactions rather than manual data entry.Automation capabilities matter more as your business grows, because you can’t afford to have salespeople spending hours on administrative work. For example:When a lead arrives, someone needs to automatically assign it to the right salesperson.When a deal moves to a certain stage, you want it to trigger a follow-up task.When a customer email arrives, it should be automatically attached to the relevant account without requiring manual filing.These aren’t nice-to-haves—they’re the difference between a sales team that scales and one that drowns in administrative overhead. And at Series A, data quality becomes a competitive advantage.The right CRM at this stage is one that aligns with how your team actually works, not one that forces them to adopt rigid processes. Nutshell Key CRM decision factorsSeveral critical factors should guide your CRM selection at Series A, and these deserve deeper consideration than simple feature comparisons.ScalabilityWill the platform scale with your growing team and customer base? Can you add users, custom fields, and workflows without hitting architectural limits? This matters more than you might think. Some platforms that work beautifully for 10-20 users become sluggish at 50-plus users. Others have hard limits on customization fields or workflow complexity. Ask the vendor directly about their largest customers of a similar size and whether they’ve reached scaling constraints.Data integrityHow does the system prevent duplicate records and ensure clean data? As your team grows, data quality control becomes essential. One person might enter a prospect as “John Smith” while another enters “J. Smith” or “Jon Smith.” These end up as separate records, fragmenting your view of the customer. What deduplication tools does the platform offer? How easy is it to merge records?Automation capabilitiesCan the system automate repetitive tasks, such as lead assignment, follow-up reminders, and routine updates? This matters increasingly as your team expands. A manual process that worked with five salespeople becomes unmanageable with 15. You need workflows that handle routine escalations, automatically create tasks, and remind salespeople when follow-ups are due.Reporting depthWhat reports can you run? Can you segment data, drill down to individual rep performance, and forecast revenue accurately? Basic reporting (deals by stage, conversion rates) is a table-stakes requirement. Sophisticated reporting (sales cycle trends over time, win/loss analysis by product, forecast accuracy) is where you gain a competitive advantage.Support qualityAt Series A, you may need more than self-serve documentation. Assess the vendor’s support offerings, response times, and availability. When something breaks in your CRM during a critical period, can you get help quickly?What to evaluateThe most effective evaluation approach at Series A involves getting past vendor demos. Request demos from multiple vendors, but don’t just watch the feature tour. Instead, walk through your actual sales process step by step. Can the system accommodate your workflow without significant workarounds? Will your team need to manipulate data post-entry, or does the system capture information the way you work?Ask about implementation timelines. At Series A, you have more resources than pre-seed companies, but time is still limited. Typical implementations take four to 12 weeks, depending on complexity. Factor this into your planning.Finally, talk to references. Better yet, talk to companies that are just barely outgrowing the system you’re considering. Ask them, “What started to break as you scaled? What limitations became apparent?” These conversations often reveal constraints that vendor demos won’t surface.Series B and beyond: Optimizing for growthThe data-driven phaseBy Series B, you’re no longer operating as a startup in the traditional sense. You’re a scaling company with 20-50 or more employees, multiple revenue streams, or complex go-to-market strategies.Your investors expect professional operations and data-driven decision-making. The personal involvement that characterized Series A leadership becomes impossible—you can’t attend every customer meeting or monitor every deal.At this stage, CRM evolves from process enabler to analytical engine. You’re asking sophisticated questions, like:Which customer segments are most profitable?What’s our customer acquisition cost by channel?Which sales reps are performing well, and why?Can we predict which customers are at risk of churning?Can we identify the characteristics of our highest-value deals and systematically pursue similar opportunities?Potential gains from these efforts don’t materialize automatically. They require a CRM system that generates trustworthy data and provides the analytical tools to extract insights from it.Critical CRM features for scalingEnterprise-class CRMs offer capabilities that matter at scale.Advanced customization: custom fields, custom modules, workflow builders, and logic-based automation.Sophisticated analytics: predictive analytics, pipeline forecasting, and AI-driven insights about customer behavior.Multiuser permissions and workflow controls: role-based access, approval processes, and audit trails.Native and third-party integrations: deep connections with accounting software, marketing automation, customer support systems, and business intelligence tools.AI and machine learning: lead scoring, next-best-action recommendations, and anomaly detection.Scalable infrastructure: multicurrency support, multilanguage support, and the ability to handle large data volumes.Dedicated support and professional services: implementation teams, training programs, and ongoing optimization support.At Series B, you’re not just adopting a CRM—you’re building a data-driven sales engine. According to a 2024 report from Salesforce, 83% of sales teams that used AI in their CRM that year experienced revenue growth, compared to 66% of teams that didn’t use AI. This represents a substantial competitive advantage if your organization can effectively harness these CRM AI capabilities.CRM ROI considerations at scaleHere’s where the total cost of CRM ownership becomes genuinely important. Implementation costs can escalate significantly compared to earlier stages.Licensing fees: Multiply per-user costs across a larger team.Implementation and customization: professional services to configure the system for your processes.Data migration: moving customer data from legacy systems or spreadsheets.Integration work: connecting your CRM to accounting, marketing automation, and other business systems.Training and change management: ensuring your team adopts the system effectively.Ongoing support and optimization: monitoring system health, optimizing processes, and adding features.Budget $50,000 to $250,000, and more for a proper implementation, depending on the system’s complexity. That may sound exorbitant, but the payoff is significant. The critical point is that at Series B, you can’t implement a CRM on a shoestring budget. The system needs to be deeply integrated into your business, which requires professional implementation, training, and change management. Cutting corners on implementation typically results in poor adoption, incomplete data, and unreliable analytics—which means you won’t achieve the ROI you expected.CRM evaluation framework at Series BAt this stage, evaluation becomes more rigorous and forward-looking. You must consider several.Track record with scale-ups and midmarket companies: Does the vendor have experience with companies of your size?Roadmap alignment: Are the vendor’s product priorities aligned with your future needs?Community and third-party ecosystem: Are there extensions and integrations available from partners?Long-term viability: Is this a stable vendor that will be around in five 10 years?Flexibility without customization: Can the system adapt to future business changes without requiring custom development?At Series B, you’re making a decision with longer-term implications. You’re not just deploying a tool for the next 12 to 18 months—you’re potentially building a system you’ll use for three to five years and more. This warrants a deeper examination of vendor stability, product direction, and ecosystem strength.Key CRM selection criteria across all stagesRegardless of your startup’s stage, certain CRM selection criteria apply across the board, and they deserve careful consideration because they transcend the specific growth phase you’re in.Data security and complianceYour CRM will store sensitive customer and financial information. This isn’t an optional consideration. Evaluate the vendor’s security practices thoroughly:Encryption: data in transit and at rest.Compliance certifications: GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, or industry-specific standards.Access controls: role-based permissions and audit logs.Backup and disaster recovery: How is your data protected if something goes wrong?Data residency: Where are servers located? Do you have control over data location?Integration ecosystemNo CRM exists in isolation. You’ll need to connect it to email, calendar, accounting software, marketing tools, and other business systems. A CRM that works beautifully in isolation but doesn’t integrate well with your existing tech stack will create more problems than it solves. Evaluate these elements.Native integrations: What systems are connected out of the box?API quality: If you need custom integrations, how well-designed is the API?Third-party marketplace: Are there pre-built integrations from partners?Data synchronization: Is data synced in real time or batched?Total cost of ownershipLook beyond monthly subscription fees. Hidden costs often exceed the visible software costs. Include these costs in your calculations:Implementation and setup costsTraining and change managementData migration and integration workOngoing support and maintenanceScaling costs as you add users and dataCRM vendor support qualityGood support matters more than most founders realize, especially once your team is dependent on the CRM for daily operations. As such, it’s important to assess support criteria.Response times: How quickly does the vendor respond to support requests?Support hours: Is support 24/7 or business hours?Knowledge base: Is there comprehensive documentation?Professional services: Does the vendor offer implementation and training support?Ease of implementation and adoptionImplementation ease and team adoption matter more than raw features. Consider these factors:Time to first value: How quickly can your team be productive?Training requirements: How much onboarding does your team need?Configurability: Can the system adapt to your process without extensive customization?Common CRM selection pitfalls to avoidEven with the right framework, startups often make mistakes in selecting a CRM. Understanding these pitfalls can help you sidestep them.Implementing too early without clear needsDon’t adopt a CRM because “all startups use one.” Wait until you have a specific problem that needs to be solved. If your team consists of five people and everyone knows the customers personally, a formal CRM might not be the answer yet.But once missed follow-ups start costing deals, once important customer details are lost when someone is unavailable, it’s time to act. The worst implementations occur when founders select a CRM proactively (which seems smart) but lack the operational maturity or team size to fully benefit from it.Selecting based on feature lists rather than fitA CRM with 500 features is worthless if your team won’t use 80% of them.The right question isn’t “What features do we want?” but rather “What system will my team actually use consistently?” Feature richness is a distant second to daily usability.Overlooking the total cost of ownershipA cheap monthly subscription can become expensive once you factor in implementation, integration, training, and ongoing support. Many founders select based on price per user and are shocked when implementation costs exceed their software budget.Conduct a comprehensive financial analysis before committing, including the cost of professional services, training, and the opportunity cost of your team’s time.Implementing a CRM system without team inputYour sales team will utilize this system on a daily basis. Involve them in the vendor selection and demo process. If they’re not bought in, they won’t adopt it, regardless of how sophisticated the system is. The best CRM in the world will fail if salespeople perceive it as burdensome.Postponing CRM migration indefinitelyMany startups continue to rely on spreadsheets or legacy systems for too long, missing out on the productivity gains that CRM offers. As your team grows, spreadsheets become increasingly unmanageable. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment to migrate—recognize when the current approach is slowing you down and creating risk. Nutshell The path forward: Embracing evolutionRather than thinking of CRM selection as a one-time decision, it’s more useful to think of it as a waypoint in your company’s evolution. Unless you sign up with one of the few CRMs capable of scaling with your business, you’ll likely use multiple CRM systems throughout your journey to scale. This isn’t a failure—it’s a natural part of the growth process for most businesses.Successful founders select systems that work exceptionally well for their business’s current growth stage, implement them thoughtfully, and extract maximum value from them. They also remain attuned to when the system is constraining growth—a signal that it’s time to evaluate alternatives.Key questions to revisit periodically (annually or every 18 months):Is our team using all the features that matter? Or are we constrained by missing capabilities?Are there processes we’ve created specifically to work around system limitations?How much time are we spending on manual data entry, reporting, or system administration?Are new hires struggling to get up to speed because the system is overly complex?These signals indicate it’s time to re-evaluate. But if you’re getting value, if your team is engaged, if the system is supporting growth, there’s no need to change.Startup CRM FAQs1. At what point should a pre-seed startup actually implement a CRM?Implement CRM when you don’t have one, and it starts negatively affecting customer experiences. Consider it when:You’ve lost a customer or deal because follow-up information wasn’t accessible.Multiple team members are managing different pieces of the same customer relationship.You’re spending more than an hour per week consolidating customer information from different sources.You’ve scaled beyond the point where one person can hold all customer context in their head.If your team comprises two to three people with under 50 customers, a well-organized Google Sheet might suffice. Once these conditions are no longer true, CRM becomes necessary.2. Why do so many startups abandon their CRM after implementation?The main reasons are misalignment and poor configuration. When a founder selects a CRM without involving the sales team, the system often requires workarounds that don’t match actual workflows, and adoption fails.Another reason is often that the CRM wasn’t customized to the startup’s specific sales process—it’s implemented “out of the box” without matching actual pipeline stages or deal structures.Insufficient training can also be a factor, which means teams don’t see immediate value and revert to old processes.Startups also often fail to reassess their CRM as their needs evolve from seed to Series A, resulting in the system becoming underutilized.3. Can a startup really go from spreadsheets directly to a Series B-level CRM?Technically, yes, but practically no. Enterprise CRM systems are built for established processes, larger teams, and complex requirements. If you’re using spreadsheets, implementing enterprise software typically results in poor data quality, underutilization (teams using only 10%-20% of features), implementation failure, and wasted capital.The evolutionary path is more effective: Start simple at the seed stage (basic pipeline, activity tracking), upgrade to midmarket at Series A (add automation and reporting), then move to enterprise at Series B when you have process maturity. The total cost is actually lower than attempting a direct jump.4. What’s the difference between startup CRM needs and enterprise CRM needs?Startup CRM (Pre-Seed to Series A): simple standardized process, small teams (under 20 people), limited customization required, focus on adoption over analytics, low implementation budget, and fast deployment needed.Enterprise CRM (Series B+): complex multiprocess operations, large teams (50 or more people), extensive customization needed, focus on analytics and insights, substantial implementation budget, and long timelines (three to six or more months).The mistake is buying enterprise features for startup needs. You pay for complexity you don’t need and create friction for your team. Match the tool to your current reality, with intentional migration plans for future stages.5. How do you balance CRM customization with keeping things simple?Customize only what’s required to match your actual process, not what you might need in the future. Start with the system’s default structure—if it handles 80% of what you need, don’t customize the other 20% yet.Only add customization when you hit genuine operational problems that the default system can’t solve. Every customization increases complexity and future migration costs. The paradox: The simpler you keep your CRM, the more likely your team will use it. An 80% utilized system is far more valuable than one with 500 features and 10% adoption.Positioning your startup for sustainable growth through deliberate CRM selectionChoosing a CRM for your startup is fundamentally a question of alignment: between the tool’s capabilities and your current operational needs, between the system’s complexity and your team’s capacity to implement and manage it, and between the cost and the value you’ll extract at your current stage.There’s no universally “best” CRM. The right choice depends on where you are in your growth journey. The system that’s perfect for a seed-stage company may be too constraining for a Series B business. The system that enables a Series B business could overwhelm a seed-stage team.The founders who succeed are those who recognize this reality and make deliberate choices. They understand their current stage, recognize their pain points, and select solutions designed specifically for companies like theirs. They involve their teams in the decision. They plan for migration as they grow. And they focus on adoption and value extraction rather than accumulating unused features.Your CRM is a tool that should enable growth, not constrain it. By choosing thoughtfully and implementing strategically, you position your startup to maintain the operational discipline that successful scaling requires.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	These 10 job markets are setting the stage for strong housing demand in 2026 These 10 job markets are setting the stage for strong housing demand in 2026Of the numerous factors that impact the housing market, one is emerging as particularly important for 2026: employment.Employment strength is the driver behind buyer confidence, income growth, and, ultimately, housing demand. Conversely, slower hiring, layoffs, and rising unemployment have a direct correlation to weaker housing markets.With this logic, NewHomeSource parent company Zonda produced a list of the top employment markets to watch in 2026. Each market is likely to have a strong housing market in 2026 given the strength of AI employment, manufacturing investment, health care employers, or other employment-related factors.The resulting Markets to Watch (MTW) Index highlights markets where employment growth, capital investment, and demographic momentum intersect to influence future housing demand. Below are Zonda’s top 10 employment markets to watch in the year ahead. Zonda Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina, is supported by strong employer diversification, a desirable coastal location, and a growing tech sector. A potential limiting factor is the market economy’s reliance on tourism as well as the rising cost of living due in part to an increase in construction activity.Columbia. The capital city in South Carolina has a central location, access to four major airports, and an economy supported by its proximity to the University of South Carolina.Columbus. The lone non-Carolina market in the top five, Columbus, Ohio, is undergoing a significant economic and cultural identity shift. An expanding high-income job base and the strong multiplier effects tied to Intel’s Ohio One investment support optimism for the employment market in the city. Investment in retail, food, and urban amenities are more potential green shoots in the economy.Raleigh. The North Carolina market is home to a growing, younger workforce and a strong research and innovation ecosystem that is fueling job creation across technology, life sciences, and professional services. However, with an increase in construction, the market is prone to rising home prices that may impact affordability.Charlotte. Strong corporate clusters and a large white-collar workforce in finance and professional services are supporting short- and long-term employment growth in the market. Similar to Raleigh, this North Carolina market is also experiencing rising prices due to its growth.Boise. The pro-business climate and low operating costs have attracted large-scale manufacturing investment as well as entrepreneurial activity. A reason for concern is the market’s potential sensitivity to technology sector cycles and the threat of AI-related layoffs.Louisville/Jefferson County. This market has strong national logistics connectivity and a reasonable tax environment for businesses. In addition to traditional sectors of employment, the market is also home to a growing culinary scene. Despite its inclusion on the list, labor force growth is comparatively modest.Phoenix. The Phoenix economy is supported by a robust manufacturing ecosystem and a strong migration base that continue to expand the workforce. The market is home to strong high-income employment growth, too. Reasons for caution include the market’s reliance on in-migration and exposure to shifts in immigration policy.Provo. The Utah market is home to a growing high-tech hub, led by investments by Apple and Texas Instruments. The semiconductor sector is also strong in the market.Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania market is anchored by robust health care employment and a growing MedTech ecosystem, driving stable job growth. Like Louisville, the market is home to slower overall labor force growth than comparable peer markets.This story was produced by NewHomeSource and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

Wednesday, January 28th, 2026