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

Friday, September 18th, 2026
	Death Notice: Patricia Hansen A funeral service for Patricia Hansen, 89, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Cornerstone Church, Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Private family inurnment will be in Rock Island National Cemetery. Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Hansen died Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Grand Haven Retirement Community, Eldridge. Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Church or Empowering Abilities (HDC). Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Sept. 23 edition of The NSP.
	Trump says he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House The president chalked the ban up to what he called unfavorable coverage, and he threatened that bans on other media companies could be coming.
	Davenport 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigning The resignation is effective immediately, according to city officials.
	Defamation lawsuit investigation underway for claims against Whiteside County Animal Control director A defamation lawsuit investigation is underway for claims made about the Whiteside County Animal Control Director James Garcia.
	Illinois’ 13 Division I Athletic Directors support Protect College Sports Act in letter to U.S. Senators In support of the Protect College Sports Act, Illinois’ 13 NCAA Division I Athletic Directors have sent a letter to the U.S. Senators from Illinois.
	Syrian regime planned American journalist's kidnapping for weeks New reporting finds the abduction of journalist Austin Tice was planned by the Syrian government for weeks.
	Davenport second ward alderman resigns Davenport’s Second Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigned on Thursday.
	Pedestrian killed after being hit by a train Thursday night in Davenport First responders were called to the intersection of West 5th and Warren Streets just after 8 p.m. on Thursday.
	Tim Dunn resigns at Davenport 2nd ward alderman Davenport Alderman Tim Dunn, representing the city’s second ward, submitted his resignation to Mayor Jason Gordon, effective immediately, according to a news release from the city. Dunn’s resignation letter read: “Mayor Gordman, Please accept this as my formal letter of resignation from my position as 2nd Ward Alderman effective September 17, 2026.” More information on [...]
	Resurfacing project may reduce lanes on 130th avenue, Scott County Starting Monday, September 21, 130th Avenue in Scott County may be reduced to one lane of traffic between 210th Street and 240th Street for a Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing project, according to a news release from the Scott County Road Department. Flaggers and a pilot car will maintain traffic. Drivers should be prepared to [...]
	Driver found dead after single-vehicle crash in Cascade A deputy came across the car shortly after 3 a.m. in the 2900 block of Goose Hill Road.
	Construction worker dead after incident at ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant A construction worker died recently after an incident at the ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
	New K-9 officer for Rock Island Police Department The Rock Island Police Department has a new K-9 officer. A post on the department’s Facebook page says the new K-9, Dex, is a one year old Belgian Malinois from Cedar Creek Kennels. Starting in October, Dex will be training with his new partner, Officer Andrew Eagle. A private donation and a partnership with the [...]
	Person hit and killed by train in Davenport A person was hit and killed by a train on Thursday in Davenport.
	Judy’s Family Cafe opens Aledo location Judy’s Family Cafe held a ribbon-cutting for their Aledo location on Friday.
	Person killed after being struck by train in Davenport A person was pronounced dead on the scene after being struck by a train in Davenport late Thursday evening.
	Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Avenue of the Cities in Moline The Moline Police Department responded to a traffic crash involving a pedestrian Thursday evening.
	Will even one of the U.N.'s 17 'sustainable development goals' be met by 2030? The 17 goals agreed upon by world leaders are incredibly ambitious. Are we even close to achieving any of them? If we don't, is the project a failure?
	Bicyclist airlifted with serious injuries after crash with car in Rock Island A bicyclist was airlifted after a crash with a car in Rock Island on Thursday.
	Man hospitalized after being struck by vehicle in Moline A man was taken to a local hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Moline on Wednesday night.
	The Heart of the Story: A range of mentoring Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. Whether it's on the range or for a [...]
	AWAKE Coffee Company opens third location in East Moline The new East Moline location are open daily from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and features a convenient drive-thru.
	There's 'Hope' for this divisive alien invasion film that mixes art and schlock Shape-shifting aliens attack a South Korean border town in Hope, a big-budget thriller that blends third-rate CGI with exhilarating action scenes.
	LIVE AT NOON: Vice President Vance speaking at RNC rally in Council Bluffs Vice President JD Vance is set to make an appearance in the metro Friday.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for Sept. 18, 2026 Rock Island police are connecting with their community during Coffee with a Cop at Augustana College, and in Iowa, flags are at half-staff for Ray Gaesser.
	Agriculture in the Classroom looks to inspire next generation of farmers and innovators To end the school week, third grade students in the Davenport Community School District got a moment out of the classroom to learn about lives they may not know much about. Agriculture in the Classroom put on an event to show kids what farmers do and how they impact their community. "Half the time kids [...]
	Moline man seriously injured after being hit by car A man was seriously injured on Thursday after being hit by a car in Moline near the Dunkin’ Donuts on Avenue of the Cities.
	What no one tells you about burnout when loving someone with addiction Addiction acts as a wrecking ball not only for the life of the person struggling but to their entire family unit. Author David Sheff summed up the experience in his memoir “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction”: “Anyone who has lived through it, or those who are now living through it, knows that caring about an addict is as complex and fraught and debilitating as addiction itself.”According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), family support can play a large role in the recovery of someone struggling with addiction; however, as a loved one, it’s often challenging to know how to provide that support in a healthy way without burning out or losing one’s self.American Addiction Centers laid out what families dealing with addiction should know.Loved Ones Can’t ‘Fix It’There’s a real allure for families in the belief that they can “fix” their loved one’s addiction. Unfortunately, that’s not reality, and operating under that belief can cause families to live with a great amount of shame, frustration, and burnout.Philip Van Guilder, director of community affairs for American Addiction Centers, is a father who has been in recovery for more than two decades. He recalled his reaction to finding out his own child was addicted to drugs. “I believed that my experience [with addiction] would prepare me for anything … I thought I alone could fix it. With the best tools, the right words, and enough love, I convinced myself I could make it all go away.”Van Guilder went on to recall the cycle of hope and heartbreak that so families know all too well. “For a while I thought I did it. I got my daughter into treatment! My wife and I joined her in family sessions. She told us she’d changed. When she begged to come home early, we relented. And then she came home and went right back to using.”Unfortunately, this experience is very common. Many people require multiple attempts before achieving lasting recovery (on average about five), and many families live through this cycle over and over again. It often takes multiple cycles for loved ones to accept that they cannot control their loved one’s journey, and that their loved one’s recovery is their own responsibility.Al-Anon, an organization created for the support of those navigating a loved one’s alcohol addiction, recognizes the strong temptation among loved ones to both blame themselves and also “fix” the addiction. In response, they created the “Three C’s of Al-Anon”: “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”These concepts can be tough to swallow initially. But letting go of the delusion that one can love someone else out of addiction or control their recovery can bring families a certain sense of peace, or at least an understanding of an important truth: Families can love and support their addicted loved one and remove obstacles to getting help, but in the end, their loved one has to make the commitment and do the work.Burnout Thrives in IsolationThe burnout that comes from loving someone with addiction differs from normal stress that peaks and resolves in that it feels never-ending. Research shows that caregivers of those experiencing addiction often suffer from psychological distress and feelings of helplessness and are at risk of anxiety, depression and trauma.Distress felt by families is often worsened by the weight they tend to put on every action they take and word they say, wondering, “Will this upset my loved one? Did I say too much? Not enough?” They rehearse conversations in their head and replay them on a loop afterward.Meanwhile, many lose their sense of safety. Every unanswered text and late-night call sends their mind racing toward worst-case scenarios like overdose.To top it off, shame commonly starts to erode family members’ desire to open up to and connect with others. Secrecy feels safer than honesty, but there’s a cost attached: deeper isolation and increased burnout.In its Booklet for Families, SAMHSA encourages families to seek connection and support for themselves, whether by opening up to close friends and family members, seeking support from a church or other spiritual organization, or by attending groups for families and loved ones like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.While loved ones may feel alone, or that their experience is unique, addiction affects millions of families across the U.S. In fact, two-thirds of adults in the U.S. report having personal experience with addiction (either experiencing it themselves or having a family member with a substance use disorder). There are people everywhere with similar stories and experiences waiting to offer their support.In some cases, more significant support may be required. The National Institute on Aging recommends seeking professional mental health care for symptoms of anxiety or depression.Blaming Yourself Won’t Help Them HealSelf-blame is all too common for families of those experiencing addiction, especially parents. Unanswerable questions are ruminated over. “What did we do wrong? What could we have done to prevent this?” Those questions don’t help. They only hurt.Therapy and support groups can help families resolve self-blame and learn to relinquish the illusion of control over their loved one’s addiction. Letting go of the responsibility means acknowledging one’s role as a support and not a puppet master. It doesn’t mean that a family member stops caring about their loved one but rather they stop letting their loved one’s disease destroy their own life in the process.Helping Can HurtMany parents have to learn over time that what seems like helping can actually hurt.In his appearance on the recovery podcast “Addiction Talk,” Art Dielhenn, former Hollywood director and author of “Addiction Is a Family Disease,” described his experiences as a parent learning to set boundaries with his addicted daughter, saying “I believe that I was codependent because I was afraid of being abandoned; I was afraid of losing love; I was afraid of saying no.”Boundaries are not about punishment, and implementing them doesn’t mean rejecting a loved one. Boundaries are necessary for survival, safety, and honesty. Without them, everyone gets sicker.SAMHSA encourages families to educate themselves about the disease of addiction while also holding loved ones accountable, stating in its Booklet for Families: “Your loved one is not at fault for having a disease, but he or she is responsible for getting treatment.”Navigating addiction is impossibly hard and, at times, extremely demoralizing. But there is hope. Recovery is possible, but it’s not always a straight line.During the darkest times when conflict seems endless, families should try to hold onto hope for the future of their relationships. In “Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy,” his follow-up to “Beautiful Boy,” David Sheff proposes that healing is possible for families: “It’s often possible for people who’ve never had meaningful relationships because of their addictions … to develop ones that are deep, trusting, and nurturing.”This story was produced by American Addiction Centers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Shortlisting a residential water softener: A buyer’s guide Over time, high concentrations of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium in hard water crystallize on heating elements, accumulate in pipework, and degrade household appliances.Because property layouts and consumption patterns vary significantly across regions, shortlisting the right water softener requires evaluating a property's technical infrastructure rather than relying on headline marketing numbers. The following framework from Culligan Harvey outlines how to narrow down options based on household demand, plumbing requirements, and operational efficiency.Step 1: Evaluate Household Demand and Space ConstraintsSizing a water treatment system begins with assessing daily water usage and physical installation parameters:Occupancy and daily volume: Daily water consumption scales directly with household size. Shortlisting should begin by calculating peak daily water usage to ensure the system's resin bed can process the required volume before needing to regenerate.Installation footprint: Compact cabinet-style units are designed to fit tight spaces like under-sink enclosures or small utility closets. Larger standalone or dual-tank systems require dedicated floor space near the main water entry point.Step 2: Calculate Flow Rate and Plumbing CompatibilityA softener must deliver treated water without causing a drop in household water pressure:Peak flow rate (L/min or GPM): Peak flow measures the maximum volume of water a system can soften simultaneously. A shortlisting evaluation should account for high-demand periods, such as running a dishwasher or washing machine while multiple showers are in use.Plumbing line pressure: Modern pressurized plumbing systems put continuous stress on internal control valves.Step 3: Compare System ArchitecturesWater softeners periodically undergo a regeneration cycle to flush trapped minerals from their filtration media. Shortlisting requires choosing between two core system designs:Single-tank systems: These units feature a single resin cylinder and typically regenerate overnight when water usage is low. During this one- to two-hour process, untreated hard water either bypasses the system or soft water service is temporarily paused.Twin-tank systems: Featuring two interconnected cylinders, these systems alternate tanks so that one continues supplying soft water while the other regenerates. This design guarantees continuous, 24/7 treated water for high-demand households. Culligan Harvey Culligan Harvey Step 4: Assess Long-Term Maintenance and Warranty TermsNarrowing down a final shortlist involves reviewing the long-term total cost of ownership beyond the initial purchase price:Resin bed warranty coverage: Ion-exchange resin beads remove hard minerals from the water. Sanitizing chemicals like chlorine in municipal water degrade resin over time. Buyers should confirm whether manufacturer warranties explicitly cover resin degradation or exclude it as standard wear and tear.Regeneration efficiency: Demand-initiated metered valves track actual water usage and trigger regeneration only when the resin bed is exhausted, saving significant salt and water compared to older timer-based models.Return on investment: While softeners require upfront equipment and salt costs, treating hard water prevents scale buildup on heating elements, extends appliance lifespans, and reduces household spending on cleaning products and soaps.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do consumers shortlist the right softener for a specific property?Calculate peak water usage based on household size and how many fixtures run simultaneously. Match those needs against the softener's peak flow rate and daily capacity to ensure water pressure remains consistent.Which technical features matter most when evaluating a system?Prioritize peak flow rate, water and salt consumption per regeneration cycle, long-term warranty coverage (specifically for the resin bed), and total maintenance requirements.What type of water softener is best for a family of four?There is no single model suitable for every four-person household. Assess total bathrooms, simultaneous appliance usage, baseline pressure, and installation space to choose between a high-capacity single-tank or a continuous twin-tank system.How can property owners estimate whether a water softener will pay for itself?Compare initial equipment and installation costs with ongoing savings on water heating efficiency, reduced detergent consumption, fewer descaling chemicals, and extended appliance life.This story was produced by Culligan Harvey and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to protect kids online from 5 common internet scams Parents often tell their kids, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And today’s online scams may come from a hacked friend’s account, an AI-generated voice that sounds like someone they know or a message shared by someone who believes the information is real.That can make scams especially difficult for children and teens to recognize. According to Verizon research, 63% of Americans have experienced some type of cyber threat in the past year, and 80% of parents worry about their children being manipulated by online scams.Many scams succeed by creating urgency and getting kids to react before they stop to question what is happening. Parents can help by teaching children to pause and ask three simple questions before clicking a link, sending money or sharing personal information:Who is asking me? Could this account be fake, hacked or copied?Why are they asking me to act so fast? Urgency is one of the oldest tricks scammers use.Can I verify this another way? Is there a way to call, text or ask a trusted adult before responding?Here is a deeper look at five scams kids may encounter, what parents should know, what children should watch for and what to do if a child is targeted.5 internet scams parents should know aboutCommon scams targeting kids include gaming scams, phishing and smishing, AI impersonation, money mule schemes and sextortion.What is a gaming scam?Many scams happen entirely inside online games. Scammers may promise free in-game currency, exclusive skins or rare items. Gaming accounts often contain years of progress, purchased games and rare items, making them valuable targets for scammers.One common tactic is offering to buy in-game items through a digital wallet, in-game currency or another payment service — but only after the child sends the items first. Once the trade is complete, the scammer disappears without sending the money.Another common scam involves account sharing. Someone may say, “Let me log in to your account, and I’ll buy you currency or rare items with my credit card. I’ll remove my card afterward.” Instead, the scammer changes the password, recovery email and security settings, locking the owner out completely.Why kids fall for it: Kids think of their favorite games as places where friends hang out, which can make offers from other players feel more trustworthy.If this happened to your child:Change the account password immediately.Turn on two-factor authentication.Report it to the game’s support team.Check whether any payment information is attached to the account.What is phishing and smishing?Phishing scams arrive by email. Smishing scams arrive by text. Both try to trick kids into clicking a link or sharing usernames, passwords or other personal information. The message may look like it came from a game, school or streaming service.What to teach your kids: They do not need to memorize every kind of scam message. Instead, look for common patterns:The message creates urgency — for example, it asks the recipient to “click the link now” to resolve a crucial issue.It asks for login information.It says something is wrong with the account.If this happened to your child:Change passwords immediately.Change the password on any other account that uses the same one.Watch for unusual account activity or unexpected charges on a bank card.Tell the child’s school if a school account was involved.What is an AI impersonation scam?AI-generated impersonation gives scammers another way to make a fake request look or sound real. Scammers can create convincing voices, photos and videos that appear to come from someone a child knows or even a popular influencer.For example, a teen might receive a voice message that sounds like a friend asking for money or a password. Scammers can also copy profile photos, usernames and posts to create convincing fake accounts.Why this one feels believable: For most people, hearing someone’s voice or seeing their face has been enough to suggest they were real. AI is changing that. Kids may be especially likely to respond quickly when a message feels urgent or emotional, making it even more important to pause before acting.If this happened to your child:Contact the real person another way before responding.Report the fake account.Save screenshots before blocking the scammer.Create a family safe word so everyone has a simple way to confirm whether an emergency is real.What is a money mule scam?Money mule scams can be disguised as easy-money jobs or referral opportunities shared through social media and messaging apps. Teens may believe they are helping with a simple online job or earning money when they are actually moving stolen money for a criminal.Why kids fall for it: Kimmel says these offers can be difficult for families to counter when friends or social media influencers appear to be promoting similar ways to make money.If this happened to your child:Stop communicating with the person who made the offer.Cancel any pending payments if possible.Talk through what happened without blame.The Federal Trade Commission also provides a step-by-step guide for people who have been scammed.What is a sextortion scam?This scam can begin with friendship. Someone pretending to be another tween or teen builds trust over days or weeks before asking for an intimate photo. Once the scammer has it, they demand money or more images to keep it from being shared.Why kids stay quiet: Fear and embarrassment can keep children from telling an adult. That is exactly what scammers are counting on. Helping a child feel safe enough to ask for help can be just as important as reporting the crime.If this happened to your child:Tell the child they are not in trouble.Stop communicating with the scammer.Save evidence instead of deleting it.Report the incident to the platform and, if appropriate, law enforcement.The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers sextortion resources that can help remove or stop the spread of explicit images taken when a person was under 18.How technology can help keep your child safeTechnology can provide a backstop, but it does not replace conversations about how scams work. Two-factor authentication can help secure accounts, while identity-monitoring services can alert families if personal information has been compromised and may offer restoration support if a child’s identity is stolen and misused.By teaching kids how to think instead of simply what to avoid, parents can help prepare them for whatever comes next.Internet scam glossary for parentsAccount takeover scam: A scammer tricks a child into sharing a password or verification code, then changes the account settings so the real owner cannot get back in. Gaming accounts are common targets.AI impersonation scam: A scammer might ask for money while pretending to be a friend, a relative in trouble or even a popular influencer.CAPTCHA scam: Some fake websites use phony CAPTCHA tests to trick people into downloading malware or running harmful commands on their computer. A legitimate CAPTCHA should not ask someone to copy code into a computer’s settings or install software.Credential stuffing: Criminals take usernames and passwords stolen in previous data breaches and try them on other websites. Using a unique password for each account can help prevent one stolen login from becoming many.Crypto investment fraud (pig butchering): A long-term scam in which a criminal builds trust before encouraging someone to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake investment platform. The scammer may show fake profits to encourage larger investments before disappearing with the money. Teens should be cautious of investment opportunities from strangers or anyone promising guaranteed returns.Deepfake: An AI-generated image, audio clip or video designed to look or sound real. It may show someone saying or doing something that never happened. Families can get into the habit of verifying surprising media before believing or sharing it.Gaming scam: Gaming scams often promise something kids already want, such as in-game currency, rare skins or exclusive items. Others involve fake trades or offers to “help” with an account. If someone asks a child to share login information or send items first, the offer may be a scam.Money mule scam: A scam that tricks someone into moving money for a criminal. Teens may think they are helping with a simple online job or earning money when they are actually transferring stolen money.Phishing: An attempt to steal passwords or personal information through fake emails, websites or messages that look legitimate. A phishing message may look like it is coming from a school, streaming service, game company or bank.QR code scam: Some scammers place QR codes on packages, flyers or signs that send people to fake websites designed to collect personal or payment information. If a child does not know where a QR code came from, it is safer not to scan it.Sextortion: Sextortion often begins with someone pretending to be another young person online. After building trust, the scammer pressures a child to share an intimate photo, then demands money or more images to keep it from being shared.Smishing: Phishing through text messages. A text may claim a package could not be delivered, a payment failed or an account has been locked. The goal is to get someone to click a fake link or share personal information.Social engineering: The practice of manipulating people instead of hacking computers. Rather than breaking into an account, scammers build trust, create urgency or play on emotions to convince someone to give away information voluntarily.Virtual kidnapping scam: A scam in which criminals use AI-generated voices or other fake evidence to convince a parent that a child has been kidnapped or is in danger and needs money immediately. Families can prepare by creating a private code word and agreeing to verify emergency requests before sending money.Vishing: Phishing over the phone. Instead of an email or text, the scam arrives as a phone call or voice message. The caller may pretend to represent a bank, government agency or technology company and pressure someone into sharing personal information.Ray Pastore, Ph.D., is an instructional technology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a researcher who studies how people learn with technology and a father of three.This story was produced by Verizon’s Parenting in a Digital World and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	One hospitalized after Moline pedestrian/vehicle crash A pedestrian was hospitalized after an incident involving a car on Avenue of the Cities in Moline last night. A news release from the Moline Police Department said officers responded to the 3500 block of Avenue of the Cities on September 17 at about 11:40 p.m. for a traffic crash involving a pedestrian. A preliminary [...]
	7 reasons personal spending budgets fail Most budgets don’t fail because the person behind them lacks discipline. They fail because of predictable design flaws: the numbers were optimistic rather than real, irregular expenses were never accounted for, there were too many categories to maintain, or one overspent week made the whole plan feel broken. Each of those has a specific fix. If budgeting hasn’t worked for you before, the useful question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” — it’s “what was wrong with the budget?”Many people have tried a budget, only to abandon it later. They build it carefully, follow it for a few weeks, hit a month where the car needs brakes and a friend gets married, and then quietly stop opening the spreadsheet. Eventually, they conclude that budgeting works for other people but not for them.The truth is, the budget was probably badly designed, not badly followed. Budgets fail in a small number of specific, recognizable ways, and every one of them is fixable once you can see it. Beyond Finance examines the most common ones.1. The numbers were aspirational, not realThe most frequent flaw is building a budget around what you wish you spent. You look at last month’s $600 on groceries and takeout, decide that’s too much, and write down $400 — not because anything has changed, but because $400 feels more responsible.Now your budget is fiction. You’ll blow past that number in week three, not because you failed, but because $400 was never a real forecast; it was a wish. And when a budget is wrong in month one, most people assume they’re the problem.The fix: build version one from your actual spending, even if the numbers make you wince. A budget’s first job is to describe reality accurately. Once it does that, you can start deliberately shifting a category down — $600 to $550, then $500 — with changes you’ve actually planned for. Accuracy first, ambition second.2. It ignored the expenses that don’t show up monthlyMost budgets account beautifully for rent, groceries, and gas — and completely omit car registration, annual insurance premiums, holidays, birthdays, vet visits, and the dentist. Those expenses are real and largely predictable, but because they don’t appear every month, they don’t make it into a monthly plan.So the budget works in January and breaks in March, when something “unexpected” arrives that wasn’t actually unexpected at all.The fix: List your irregular annual expenses, total them, divide by twelve, and treat that figure as a monthly line item — sometimes called a sinking fund. If your annual irregular expenses come to $2,400, that’s $200 a month set aside so that the March dental bill is funded rather than disruptive. This single change fixes more budgets than anything else on this list.3. There were too many categories to keep up withA budget with twenty-eight categories is more precise than one with six. It’s also far more work, and that maintenance cost is what kills it. People build elaborate systems in a burst of motivation, then discover in month two that categorizing every transaction is a chore they don’t want to do.The fix: Match the level of detail to the effort you’ll realistically sustain — not the effort you can imagine sustaining on a good day. If detailed tracking appeals to you, a granular approach works well; if it doesn’t, a simpler framework like 50/30/20 will serve you far better. The comparison between the detailed and simple approaches is worth thinking through directly. A rough budget you maintain beats a precise one you abandon.4. One overspend made the whole thing feel brokenThis one is worth understanding, because it’s the most common way budgets die, and it has almost nothing to do with money.You overspend in one category. The plan is now imperfect — so it feels ruined, and if it’s ruined, there’s no point tracking the rest of the month. This pattern is well documented in behavioral research on self-control: psychologists Janet Polivy and C. Peter Herman named it the “what the hell” effect, describing how a single small violation of a self-imposed rule often triggers full abandonment of the goal rather than a minor correction. It was first studied in dieting, and it maps onto budgets almost exactly.The fix: Design the budget expecting to go over sometimes, because you will. Build in a small buffer category — a genuine “miscellaneous” line — so that variance has somewhere to live instead of breaking the plan. And treat an overspent category as information to rebalance, not a verdict. Going $80 over on food means you move $80 from somewhere else, not that the month is a write-off.5. There was no tracking, so it was flying blindA budget is a plan; tracking is how you find out whether the plan is happening. Plenty of people make a thoughtful budget, never check their spending against it, and discover at the end of the month that they were nowhere close — with no idea where it went.The fix: The tracking has to be light enough that you’ll actually do it. A weekly ten-minute check of your accounts is enough for most people; you don’t need to log every coffee in real time. And much of it can be taken off your plate entirely by setting up your accounts so the money is separated before you can spend it. The less a budget depends on you remembering to do things, the more likely it survives.6. It was never revisedMany people treat their first budget as a commitment rather than a draft. When it doesn’t fit, they experience that as personal failure instead of what it actually is: normal feedback from a first attempt.The fix: Plan to revise monthly for the first several months. The first version is a hypothesis. Month one tests it, and you adjust — loosen what was too tight, tighten what had slack, add the category you forgot. A budget should be a living document you keep shaping to fit your life, not a contract your life has to fit.7. It left no room for anything enjoyableA budget that eliminates every pleasure has a short shelf life. If your plan allocates nothing to eating out, hobbies, or small indulgences, you will eventually spend on them anyway — and then feel like you’ve failed, which starts the cycle in point four.The fix: Deliberately fund your wants, in a named category. This isn’t a lack of discipline; it’s what makes a plan sustainable. Frameworks like 50/30/20 build this in on purpose, dedicating 30% of income to wants, precisely because budgets with no give in them snap.When the problem is deeper than the budgetSometimes the design is fine and the spending still doesn’t follow the plan — the overspending is being driven by something a spreadsheet can’t address. If you find yourself repeatedly spending in ways that don’t match your intentions, and adjusting the budget hasn’t touched it, that’s worth understanding on its own terms rather than treating it as a budgeting problem.Final WordsBudgets fail for boring, fixable reasons: optimistic numbers, forgotten annual expenses, too much upkeep, no buffer, no tracking, no revisions, no room for joy. Notice that none of those are character flaws. If you’ve abandoned budgets before, you probably didn’t lack discipline — you were handed a design that couldn’t survive a normal month. Fix the design and budgeting stops feeling like a test you keep failing. Or start fresh with a version built to last.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy can’t I stick to a budget?Usually because of how the budget was built rather than anything about your willpower. The most common causes are numbers based on what you hoped to spend rather than what you actually spend, no provision for irregular expenses like annual insurance or car repairs, too many categories to maintain, and no buffer, so a single overspend makes the whole plan feel broken. Each of those is a design problem with a specific fix.What is the most common budgeting mistake?Forgetting irregular expenses. Budgets that account only for monthly bills break the first time an annual premium, a car repair, or the holidays arrive. Totaling your yearly irregular costs and dividing by twelve into a monthly set-aside prevents most of these blowups.How long does it take for a budget to start working?Give it about three months. The first month is essentially data collection — you’ll find out where your estimates were wrong. The second and third are where you correct them. Most budgets that “fail” were actually abandoned during the normal adjustment period, before they had a chance to fit.Should I start over if my budget isn’t working?Usually, you should revise, not restart. Starting over from scratch tends to repeat the same design flaws, whereas diagnosing what specifically broke — an unrealistic category, a missing expense, too much detail — fixes it. Treat your budget as a draft you keep improving.Is it normal to go over budget?Completely normal, and a well-designed budget expects it. That’s why a buffer or miscellaneous category matters: It gives variance somewhere to go. Going over in one category means shifting money from another, not that you’ve failed for the month.This story was produced by Beyond Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	From the drive-thru to the digital model: How decades of store redesigns changed the way people shop and eat Most people can’t recall the first time they used a drive-thru, pulled into a curbside pickup spot, or tapped through a self-checkout screen. The biggest movements in how Americans shop and eat rarely feel like milestones when they happen. They become the new normal, one renovated store or restaurant at a time. Together, the last several decades of retail and restaurant design tell a clear story, and much of it happened in the construction most customers never think about. Here, Sevan Multi-Site Solutions looks back at the last few decades and what changes they brought. The Drive-Thru Made Fast Food Actually FastBefore the drive-thru became the standard at fast-food restaurants in the 1970s and ‘80s, getting dinner on the way home meant parking, walking in, and waiting at the counter. The drive-thru window changed the basic promise of fast food: You never had to leave your car. It also set an expectation of speed and consistency that consumers came to expect as part of their everyday lives.Self-Checkout Promised Speed, With Mixed ReviewsBy the 2000s, self-checkout lanes had become a fixture in grocery and big-box stores. Consumer opinion has always been split. Some shoppers love scanning their own items, while others curse the machine waiting to clear an “unexpected item in bagging area” error. As Accenture notes, self-checkout was an early example of stores redesigning the customer’s path around technology, not just around shelves and aisles.BOPIS Turned the Parking Lot into Part of the StoreThe most significant recent shift came with buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), which moved from a luxury to a near-necessity across the 2010s, and especially during the pandemic. A customer could order from the couch and be in and out of a parking lot in minutes. Restaurants changed too, adding dedicated shelves and pickup windows for mobile and delivery orders that the original building layouts never accounted for.Few customers noticed the construction behind that shift, but it was extensive. For example, Chipotle added digital order pickup shelves at more than 1,100 restaurants and new digital make-lines at hundreds more, all installed in three to five days. For customers, that speed meant a restaurant stayed open and functional instead of going dark for a longer renovation.The point is for customers to notice the new pickup shelf, not the construction that put it there. When restaurants can be updated over a weekend instead of closing for a week, the guest experience doesn’t miss a beat. That’s where the planning up front pays off for both the owner and customer.The Renovations Consumers Never Noticed, On PurposeThat focus on speed points to a wider change happening out of sight: the technology teams use to plan renovations. Retailers and restaurants increasingly depend on 3D laser scanning and digital modeling to map a building before any work begins. This catches problems like a pipe in an unexpected place or a wall that doesn’t match the old blueprints before they become delays.For customers, the payoff is invisible by design. The retail store reopens on schedule instead of sitting wrapped in construction plastic for an extra month, or a restaurant that adds an ordering kiosk over a weekend instead of closing for a week.What’s Coming Next for ShoppersA few changes are likely to feel just as familiar. According to a 2026 report by McKinsey, stores are shrinking as brands lean into smaller-footprint formats, fueling more “store-in-store” setups, like a beauty counter or coffee shop housed inside a larger box retail store, that give shoppers more variety in a single stop. Parking lots are getting busier and more purposeful, with dedicated pickup lanes now standard at many chains. And EV charging, once found mostly at gas stations, is starting to appear at restaurants, shopping centers, and medical offices, letting drivers charge while they’re already parked. None of these will feel like a big deal in the moment. It’s just a slightly different parking spot, a new pickup shelf, a charger by the door. But that’s how nearly every change in how Americans shop and eat has arrived: one renovated location at a time, until the old way is the thing nobody can quite remember.This story was produced by Sevan Multi-Site Solutions and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Blackhawk Bank & Trust to open east Davenport branch Blackhawk Bank & Trust announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the former bank branch property at 3325 West Kimberly Road in Davenport, adjacent to Kimberly Commons. The property will become Blackhawk Bank & Trust’s new full-service banking office when the acquisition is complete. The new office will expand Blackhawk’s presence in [...]
	A risk of severe weather to start the weekend After what has already been a very wet week in the Quad Cities, we still have more rain on the way for us. To start the weekend, more showers and thunderstorms will be moving through the area early in the morning around 4 am. Some of these storms do have the potential to be severe [...]
	How millions of Americans working two jobs can avoid burning out As of mid-2026, over 8.5 million Americans are working more than one job. It’s becoming increasingly common for Americans to take on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. While having a second job may be a great way to earn extra income to afford bills or help save up for larger expenses, it’s important to keep your mental well-being in mind. Before you commit to working an extra job, consider how you can set yourself up for success and avoid burnout.CreditNinja compiled a list of tips for workers on how to juggle multiple jobs and reach personal finance goals.Eight Pro Tips for Working Multiple Jobs and Not Burning OutWorking two jobs or more is certainly no easy task, but while having a second job may be hard work, it’s not impossible. Once you have the ability to afford your expenses and with some extra money left over after everything is paid for, you’ll thank yourself for all your efforts in the long run.To set yourself up for success, try these eight helpful tips for working more than one job without burning out.1. Find Quick Fixes for Essential Life TasksWhen you have two jobs or more, efficiency is vital. Keep your life running smoothly by planning out some quick solutions for life tasks you need to take care of regularly.For example, instead of letting an extra job throw you off, make things easier for yourself by signing up for automatic bill payments wherever you can. That way, you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay bills on time; it will be done for you.Or, to make mealtimes effortless, try to plan or prep your meals. Keep things basic, and it may take just an hour or so to prepare a week’s worth of meals. Then when you’re hungry, all you have to do is grab one of your prepped meals, with no effort necessary.2. Plan and Make Your Work ScheduleIf you have one, two, or even three jobs, you may find it helpful to organize your busy schedule. Get a day planner and put together to-do lists for each day. You can include items like:Start or stop times for shifts you are working.Assignments or tasks you need to complete by a certain day/time.Other personal responsibilities you need to take care of along with your multiple jobs.Having a to-do list can help you visualize all your responsibilities on a daily, weekly, or monthly scale. Furthermore, you may find that seeing everything you need to do a week ahead or more gives you time to prepare mentally and, therefore, better able to complete all your tasks successfully.3. Prioritize DowntimeIf you have a job where you are sitting down at a computer for long periods of time, make it a priority to get up and walk around every hour or so. Sitting hunched over and working on a computer for hours on end isn’t good for the mind or body. You may find yourself unable to focus on work tasks or other things. Keep your head clear while you’re working by taking periodic breaks. Not only will you get a great mental break, but you will also get a bit of exercise.Alternatively, if you have a job where you are on your feet and moving most of the day, try to sit down and rest in any spare time you may have. Otherwise, employees are typically allotted a 30-minute break for every eight hours worked or a 10-minute break for someone working a shift of at least four hours.4. Give Yourself Time OffIf you work two or more jobs seven days a week, you don’t get the time to de-stress on the weekend. While the lure of earning overtime may seem like a legitimate reason to give up a weekend, it’s a bad idea to work without any long-term breaks constantly. Maintain balance in your life and schedule time off for yourself.Then, do something fun with your time off. Relax and recharge so you can eventually get back to work feeling refreshed.5. Watch Your Body and Stress LevelsOverall, your health should be the first priority. Depending on when you work, getting a second job could leave you feeling sleep-deprived. If you don’t get enough rest at night, you may find yourself unable to perform your other job duties, or you may start to feel overly stressed after a while. When planning your work schedule, keep the time in mind to ensure you can get enough sleep during the night or day.6. Set Earnings GoalsFor some, working for an extended period of time is easier when they have something to look forward to. Reward yourself for your hard work and try setting some earnings goals. For example, say you are working two jobs. You could set aside $25 every paycheck from both jobs to use in the future. If you receive paychecks from each job biweekly, you should have about $300 saved up in approximately three months. Take that $300 and buy yourself something nice.Your earnings goal can also be based on a more immediate financial need. For example, if an unexpected expense means you need $1,500 ASAP, you can calculate how many additional hours or shifts you would need to work to reach that amount. Having a specific goal can help you determine whether taking on extra work makes sense for your timeline.7. Keep Up With RelationshipsWhen working multiple jobs, it’s essential not to neglect your relationships with your friends and family. You don’t always have to have company over to your home in order to keep in touch. When you have time, simple phone calls or text messages show your loved ones that you still care. Also, if you find yourself stressed or worried about your situation, it can be a comfort to rely on friends and family for extra support during tough times.8. Know When To StopFor some, working more than one job is just too stressful. If you are not getting enough sleep, find yourself slipping up at your main job, or feel like your personal relationships are suffering due to your second job, it may be time to quit. Keeping a healthy body and mind is important, and if working a second job stops you from achieving that, you may want to look for other options.Pros and Cons of Working Two JobsBefore committing to working two jobs, consider the pros and cons. On the positive side, working two jobs means extra money and possibly learning new skills. If you have trouble keeping up with bills and expenses on your current salary, working a bit extra could be your solution. Or, if you are trying to save up for a wedding, vacation, or other high-priced expense, working two jobs for a short amount of time could help bring in the funds you need.Besides extra cash, working multiple jobs allows you to learn new skills. Many people keep a day job to cover their bills so they can work a second passion job in their spare time. With this, the goal is to gain experience and perfect your skills until you are able to support yourself fully with the career you’re most passionate about.On the other hand, working two jobs also means less free time. Be prepared to have less time to yourself during the evenings or weekends with a second job. Another potentially negative aspect of working more is the taxes you may have to pay. Working a second job may mean an adjustment in your tax bracket. The higher the tax bracket, the more funding the government takes out of someone’s yearly earnings. To avoid a bracket jump, check your current tax bracket and make sure your extra earnings allow your annual income to stay within your bracket’s range.Types of Side Gigs That Make Great Second JobsWhile it may be possible to work two full-time jobs, those looking for extra work may find it much more manageable to work a part-time job. There are many part-time jobs that pay well and could help you earn the money you need. Below are some popular part-time jobs you may consider.ChildcareOne great suggestion for earning additional income is to babysit. There are plenty of parents looking for someone trustworthy to watch their children during the day or at night. Not all parents are looking for childcare during typical nine-to-five working hours. You may find that babysitting offers flexibility that allows you to earn money outside of your main job.FreelanceWorking freelance is another fantastic way to earn money in your free time. You can write, do design work, be a virtual assistant, or perform other tasks that require skills you possess. Freelancing allows you to pick and choose what work you take, so you’ll never get stuck with a project you don’t want to do.RideshareIf you own a car, you could work for a rideshare company for food delivery service. Some food delivery services like Uber Eats pay per delivery, so you bring home money at the end of each working day if you wish.Alternatives to Getting a Second JobIf working a second job sounds like something you don’t want to do, rest assured there are other options available. Check out these alternatives to getting a second job.Work Overtime at Your Full-Time JobBefore applying for a second job, see if you can work overtime at your current full-time job. With overtime, your rate would increase to time and a half. That means if you earn $15 an hour, after working 40 hours, your rate will increase to $22.50 an hour. At that rate, you may just have to work some extra shifts for a few hours to earn the money you need.Try Organizing Your FinancesInstead of getting a second job, you may find all you need to do is organize your finances. If you impulsively make purchases often, planning out your finances could help you spend your money more mindfully so you waste less.Sell Unwanted ItemsOne way to make money without a job at all is to sell any unwanted items you may have. Go through your closet, basement, or other storage space and review what you have there. You may find there are clothes, appliances, decorative items, or other possessions you are willing to part with. By selling things you no longer use, you can clear up space in your home and put some extra cash in your pocket.Get a Personal Installment LoanThose who need just a bit of extra money to cover a few expenses may consider getting a loan. You don’t have to worry about taking time out of your schedule to work with a personal loan. You may find a convenient personal installment loan that provides the financial relief you need. However, before you agree and sign for a loan, make sure you can afford to pay back what you borrow.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Is your skin care truly clean? A data-backed checklist Consumers today are increasingly searching for clean skin care products, and retailers are stocking their shelves with options. More skin care brands now offer clean products, but what does clean really mean? In the United States, “clean” is an unregulated term with no universal definition. Beauty brands do not need to meet a specific criterion to call their products clean. Without regulation, the clean label can quickly become meaningless.As more brands market clean products, it’s harder for consumers to trust that products align with their expectations. Beauty brands can prove their clean credentials through transparent ingredient lists and trustworthy certifications like “certified organic.”If consumers know what to look for, they can determine what products are clean and what products to avoid. Ogee created the checklist below for shoppers to verify whether or not a skin care product is truly clean before buying.#1: Look Beyond Front-of-Pack MarketingSkin care products often feature labels like clean, natural, green, or nontoxic on the front of packaging. These marketing terms are eye-catching and popular, but they don’t necessarily mean what they claim. These trendy terms are popular in advertising because they are unregulated. Brands don’t have to meet certain criteria to say they are clean or natural.When choosing a skin care product, don’t take marketing at face value. Look for science-backed evidence that supports these claims. If a brand doesn’t provide any, their products most likely don’t align with clean standards.#2: Read the Ingredient List, Not Just the ClaimsThe ingredient list proves whether or not a skin care product is clean. Review the ingredient list to ensure there are no synthetic ingredients, harsh chemicals, toxic fragrances, or hidden additives. Shoppers today don’t need to become experts in ingredient safety to vet beauty products. They can simply copy and paste ingredients into reputable checkers like EWG to easily verify ingredient safety.While ingredients are important, so is product formulation and function. Natural and organic ingredients aren’t necessarily safe for skin care. Some natural or botanical ingredients, particularly essential oils, can be irritating for skin, especially at higher concentrations. Certain popular natural oils, like coconut oil, are comedogenic and clog pores. These oils may not be suitable for skin care.Brands can also use ingredients with clinically proven benefits, but that doesn’t guarantee that their formula is beneficial. If the formula doesn’t contain enough of the key ingredient, it won’t be effective.#3: Look for Third-Party CertificationsThird-party certifications help shoppers determine if a clean beauty brand is what they claim to be. If a skin care brand has a third-party certification, it means an independent, reputable organization determined that their ingredients, sourcing, and/or operations meet the certification criteria.There are numerous trusted certifications that clean skin care brands can obtain such as certified organic, Cosmos certification, EWG Verified, Made Safe, and Ecocert. Shoppers can look for brands with certifications that align with their values and expectations.#4: Focus on Ingredients With Clinical SupportSkin care products are often bought to target specific concerns like aging, redness, acne, and uneven texture. Knowing what ingredients are effective helps consumers choose the best product for their specific skin care needs.Look for ingredients with clinically proven benefits. Transparent, reputable brands will choose science-backed ingredients and provide research to verify their claims.#5: Pay Attention to Skin Barrier HealthA healthy barrier is the foundation of skin care. Environmental stress and using products with harsh chemicals, irritating synthetic ingredients, or too many active ingredients can harm the skin barrier. Numerous dermatological concerns are caused or exacerbated by an impaired skin barrier, including acne, dry skin, redness, and dermatitis.If the skin barrier is compromised, targeted skin care products like retinol will be irritating instead of effective. Choosing clean, nonirritating skin care products can help repair the skin barrier. Prioritize gentle, hydrating products with ingredients that support and restore the skin barrier, like ceramides. These products can be used daily and will improve overall skin health long term.#6: Evaluate the Brand's TransparencyTransparency builds consumer trust and loyalty. Reputable clean skin care brands make it easy for consumers to understand what’s in their products and why. To determine if a brand is transparent or not, look at what information they make available to the public. Transparent brands should explain how they source ingredients, as well as their formulation philosophy, manufacturing standards, and testing practices.As consumer education grows, transparency determines whether or not shoppers buy a skin care product. When choosing what brand of lotion to buy, 40.2% of consumers say that natural ingredients are the most important factor, followed by whether the brand respects the environment and uses recyclable packaging, according to a NielsenIQ analysis.The Future of Clean Beauty Is Evidence, Not BuzzwordsShoppers are no longer taking marketing claims at face value. Findings from an NSF survey show only 9% of American consumers today trust voluntary labels. Shoppers are increasingly learning how to vet clean skin care brands and have more tools to do so. They can easily research products online and scan ingredients using apps and databases.As consumer demand for clean beauty products grows, shoppers are holding brands accountable. They expect beauty brands to support their claims and look for evidence before buying.The Best Checklist Starts With Asking Better QuestionsAsking the right questions can help consumers make better-informed purchasing decisions. Before buying a new skin care product, savvy shoppers should verify marketing claims, read the ingredient list, look for third-party certifications, check for clinically proven and functional ingredients, and review brand transparency.The clean beauty industry is growing, but it’s also becoming more transparent. Consumer education has shaped today’s growing demand for transparent, science-backed clean skin care products. Beauty brands are adapting as more brands use clean yet clinically proven ingredients and provide transparent sourcing and ingredient lists. As younger generations influence demand, the clean beauty industry will continue to evolve to meet new evidence-based standards.This story was produced by Ogee and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	More people are identifying as neurodivergent. Here’s what that means The term neurodivergent is everywhere lately — in headlines, in conversations, in captions on your social feed. Maybe you use it to describe yourself. Maybe someone you love uses it, and you want to understand it better. Either way, it’s a word worth understanding, since it covers a lot of ground. This article from Understood examines what neurodivergent means.Neurodivergence is an umbrella term for conditions — like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — that cause a brain to learn, think, or process the world differently from what society considers “typical.” If that sounds like you, you might choose to identify as neurodivergent.One thing to note: Neurodivergence isn’t a medical diagnosis. And you don’t need an official diagnosis of the conditions it covers to identify as neurodivergent. You might use the word simply because it fits how you experience the world — how you focus, process information, or take in your surroundings, whether or not a doctor has ever named it.Where does the term come from?Researchers have studied autism and ADHD since the early 20th century. But the language used to talk about neurodivergence is much newer.Australian sociologist Judy Singeropens is widely credited with introducing the term neurodiversity in the late 1990s. It was the idea that brain differences are natural variations in how people experience the world, not medical problems that need fixing. Some researchers now note that this framing developed collectively, shaped by many voices in the autism and disability communities rather than by a single person.A few years later, in 2000, American autism rights activist Kassiane Asasumas coined the terms “neurodivergent” and “neurodivergence.” This new language gave people a name for brains that work differently from what’s considered mainstream.Neurodivergent vs. neurodivergence vs. neurodiverse vs. neurodiversityNeurodivergent, neurodiverse, and neurodiversity sound similar and are related terms. But they have distinct meanings, which can be pretty confusing. Here’s a breakdown that can help:Neurodivergent: A term that describes a person whose brain learns, thinks, and functions differently from what people consider typical.Neurodivergence: An umbrella term for the many ways a brain can learn and think that’s different from what society considers typical. For example, ADHD is a form of neurodivergence.Neurodiverse: A setting or a group that includes a range of people who are neurodivergent and neurotypical.Neurodiversity: A concept that describes the idea that differences in the brain are just natural variations in how people see and experience the world, rather than being medical conditions that require treatment or fixing.Is neurodivergence a diagnosis?Neurodivergence isn’t a diagnosis. It’s an umbrella term for conditions — like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — that cause your brain to learn, think, or process the world differently from what’s considered typical. So while you can be diagnosed with a condition under that umbrella, you can’t be diagnosed as “being neurodivergent.”That’s why you don’t need an official diagnosis to identify as neurodivergent. Many people recognize themselves in the word neurodivergent before — or without ever — getting a diagnosis. And that’s OK. Self-identification is welcomed in the neurodivergent community, partly because it honors how you understand your own experience, and partly because an official diagnosis (and the support that comes with it) isn’t accessible to everyone who needs it.Types of neurodivergenceResearch on neurodivergence is still growing, and not all researchers and clinicians agree on the boundaries of what is and isn’t considered neurodivergence.While there’s no official list of diagnoses that count as neurodivergence, here are some of the more common categories that can fall under the overarching term.Neurodevelopmental disordersThis group includes conditions that describe differences in how the brain develops and functions.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Specific learning disorders, like dyslexia and dyscalculiaDevelopmental coordination disorder (DCD)Tourette syndromeGenetic and intellectual disabilitiesThis group typically includes conditions that are present from birth that cause cognitive, behavioral, or emotional delays.Down syndromePrader-Willi syndromeDiGeorge syndrome, or 22q11.2 deletion syndromeWilliams syndromeCognitive and sensory differencesThis group includes challenges that can occur on their own or with any of the conditions listed above:Sensory processing disorderSlow processing speedExecutive function challengesAphantasiaSynesthesia Mental health conditionsWhile not always included within the boundaries of neurodivergence, this group includes conditions that affect mood, emotional regulation, and overall functioning.Bipolar disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderSocial anxiety disorderGeneralized anxiety disorderMajor depressive disorderPTSD or complex PTSD How common is neurodivergence?There’s no simple number that clearly explains how many people identify as neurodivergent. But research does give us a range of how common neurodivergence may be. Studies estimate that around 15% to 20% of the global population may be neurodivergent.However, these estimates are a little higher than the reported numbers. Since not everyone has proper access to health care, neurodivergence is often underdiagnosed. It’s also one of the reasons why self-diagnosis is more accepted in the community.Signs you might be neurodivergentSince neurodivergence isn’t a diagnosis, there’s no complete checklist to run through — and you don’t need to recognize every single item below for this to be worth exploring. But people across the neurodivergent community often describe similar experiences, including:Experiencing sensory sensitivities, such as being overstimulated when you hear loud music or see bright lightsDeveloping a deep or intense interest in specific topics or hobbiesNoticing differences in how you communicate with others, such as not making eye contact or using more hand gesturesFinding it difficult to stay organized, manage your time, make decisions quickly, or complete tasksHaving unique learning and memory patterns, such as being an innovative and abstract thinker, while also struggling to memorize more basic conceptsNone of these add up to a diagnosis on their own. But they can be a good starting point for understanding yourself, or someone you care about, a little better. If you ever want to know for sure, an evaluation from a mental health provider (such as a psychologist, neuropsychologist, or developmental pediatrician) is the clearest path. It can also open the door to support at work, at school, or at home.How to tell if you’re neurodivergentHave you noticed any of the common signs of neurodivergence in yourself or in your child? If the signs are long-term — and not just observed in relation to a single stressor or challenge — talking to a professional about a formal evaluation is a solid next step. That process looks different depending on age.For kids: Public school students (and some private school students) are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA requires schools to provide free evaluations when they suspect a student needs extra support. Schools can’t make a medical diagnosis, but they can help you understand what’s showing up in your child’s learning — and often point you toward a referral for a psychologist or a pediatrician who can evaluate further.For adults: If you want an evaluation, start with your primary care provider or ask for a referral to a specialist who can order testing. These evaluations can be expensive, and insurance doesn’t always cover them.Depending on your experience and coverage, you might see a psychologist, neuropsychologist, neurologist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner. However, there may be a long wait time for an appointment with these health care providers.Because access to evaluation and testing isn’t always easy to come by, many people turn to social media to learn more. That can be a genuine source of belonging and community. But it can also be full of misinformation. In fact, a new study published in the Journal of Social Media Research found that misinformation rates on various social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram were as high as 57%. So, it’s worth treating what you find there as a starting point for conversation with a provider, not a replacement for one.Keep in mind that an evaluation may lead to a diagnosis that falls under the umbrella term of neurodivergence. But a diagnosis doesn’t automatically make you neurodivergent in your own eyes, and going undiagnosed doesn’t disqualify you from the word. How you describe your own differences is entirely up to you.This story was produced by Understood and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Cook review: True-crime aficionados will appreciate 'Death of the Pastor's Wife' Most true-crime documentaries based on violent situations are triggering in one way or another because of physical abuse, mental abuse and brazen behavior by the killer. This one is a difficult but fascinating watch. It begins with a 911 call from a woman who calmly says she is going to take her own life. "I [...]
	Man pleads guilty to fatally shooting Clinton man He will be sentenced next month.
	How one factory is surviving America’s solar policy whiplash Inside the vast Qcells factory in Cartersville, Georgia, workers — and a bevy of robots — move ultra-thin slices of polysilicon through a lengthy series of machines and chemical baths to get what are known as cells.“The $2.5 billion, the 3.5 million gallons of water, the 90 megawatts of power, the 60 tons of chemicals on site, and all of the football fields’ worth of infrastructure you’ve seen is to arrive at this,” said Scott Bell of Qcells, holding up one of the paper-thin blue cells.It’s the basic building block of a solar panel.In June, the plant, about an hour northwest of Atlanta, began its expansion from assembling the major components of solar panels to bringing the whole production process under one roof. It’s a major milestone for the U.S. solar industry. China has dominated solar panel manufacturing since the 2010s, flooding the global market with far cheaper panels than anyone else could make. For a host of reasons — national security, labor practices, job creation — the U.S. is trying to bring back domestic production, Grist reports.In its latest move, the Trump administration plans to levy new tariffs and impose minimum import prices on polysilicon, the key ingredient for solar cells. The new measures go into effect in December.“Having the full supply chain is critical,” said solar manufacturing expert Ben Damiani, chief technology officer at Atlanta-based solar developer Cherry Street Energy. Moving that supply chain to the U.S., he said, hasn’t been a smooth road. “Probably the biggest hindrance has been the constant change of our own policies.”The Biden administration took a carrot approach to attracting solar panel makers: The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included tax credit bonuses for solar projects that used U.S.-made panels. Qcells, a South Korean firm, has said those incentives were a major reason they built their Cartersville plant.The Trump administration, by contrast, is taking a stick approach. While last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” revoked most of the tax credits, it also made solar equipment from certain countries — including China — ineligible for the few tax credits that remain. That, along with the new tariffs, may help a U.S. manufacturer like Qcells compete with Chinese imports, which are now more expensive.The two policy approaches have the same ultimate goal, according to researcher Coco Zhang of the banking and investment firm ING. But it’s been whiplash for companies.Following Trump’s latest executive actions, Qcells is still likely able to find a way to be successful, Zhang said. But Qcells has already made a multibillion-dollar investment in its brand new facility that took more than three years to come online. For other companies with less capital and poorer timing, the supply-side incentives for domestic production may not be enough — especially when the policies could completely change again.As a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump administration closed the Inflation Reduction Act loophole that had left room for China-based solar companies to simply set up shop in the U.S., which, according to Zhang, may go further still toward rooting out Chinese competition. In the long run, she’s optimistic that the U.S. solar panel industry can complete its shift to domestic production. But because the rules discouraging foreign ownership cut deeper into the supply chain, those restrictions and the policy back-and-forth could make things harder to navigate in the short term, she said.The short-term outlook is complicated for those buying solar panels, too. The phaseout of federal clean energy tax credits removed a major incentive to develop new solar projects, and the Trump administration has taken steps to cancel federal funding for clean energy projects and add new hurdles for solar and wind installations on federal land. The courts have blocked or reversed some of those actions, but the delays add costs and uncertainties even for projects that do ultimately move forward.In the first quarter of this year, clean energy advocacy group E2 tracked nearly $13 billion in abandoned investments in solar, wind, and battery projects. But some $18 billion in new projects were announced as companies scrambled to meet the deadline of the expiring tax credits. While the new tariffs and price controls on polysilicon could help U.S. manufacturers compete to supply the solar developments that remain, they could also drive up costs for developers, Zhang said, and “limited U.S. supply means many will still depend on imports and face higher costs.”But industry experts maintain that solar isn’t going anywhere. It’s still one of the cheapest sources of electricity at a time when energy demand is growing fast. Solar panels are also readily available, while gas turbines are backordered for years. Solar and storage made up 90 percent of new power added to the U.S. grid in the first quarter of the year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.“We absolutely should make solar, right? Like, it is the fastest deployed, lowest cost foreseeable,” said Damiani. “Solar will be, for the next hundred years, a good portion of our energy.”The questions, experts agreed, aren’t whether solar development will keep happening, but how quickly, how much it will cost, and who — and where — will make the solar panels.This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station.This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	US moves up in PISA test score rankings because other countries are doing worse In the early 2000s, politicians and pundits were swept up in anxiety about U.S. performance on a key international test known as PISA. Delegations traveled to learn from high-achieving countries like Finland. Journalists and researchers wrote books on the topic. Leaders like President Obama bemoaned the country’s dire results.The good news from the latest PISA results, released Sept. 8, is that the U.S. has gained relative standing in recent decades. Today, U.S. students score well above average in science and reading. Math scores, long America’s weakest subject, are now on par with other developed countries.The bad news is how this happened. The U.S. has steadily moved up largely because other countries’ scores have deteriorated faster than ours over the last decade. A bevy of data points show American students are learning less than they used to. Even U.S. PISA scores in math and reading are at or near their lowest level. Chalkbeat The international release suggests student achievement is not something that only the U.S. is struggling with. Whatever factors are driving down scores here — and academics aren’t sure what those are — might also be affecting children elsewhere, Chalkbeat reports.“There’s an ongoing global decline, and it seems like the pandemic has a long, long tail,” said Tracey Burns, chief of global strategy and research at the National Center on Education and the Economy, an organization that studies education systems globally.The declines in reading proficiency are particularly concerning, Burns said, due to the role reading plays “not just in scholastic and later life success, but also democracy and civic participation.”Scores have declined across the globe with smaller dips in U.S.PISA is an international test administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to 15-year-olds from countries across the world. Thousands of American students from dozens of schools sat for the exam last year. PISA tests problem solving skills in math, reading, and science.U.S. scores were reported with an asterisk — literally. OECD chose to report the U.S. results but warned that because of incomplete responses from schools, it “is not possible to rule out bias in PISA performance results, nor to determine its most likely direction.” That means U.S. students might be doing better or worse than the test results suggest.While many countries have some issues with sampling, only Albania’s results were flagged with a similar level of uncertainty this year.In most countries, math and reading scores fell sharply between 2022 and 2025, which follows similar drops between 2018 and 2022.“Learning outcomes have stagnated or declined in many countries, in some cases for well over a decade, and gaps in achievement persist across socioeconomic groups,” wrote OECD’s Andreas Schleicher.Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada were among a handful of countries that scored better than average on all four tests.In the U.S., reading scores fell, but math and science results were essentially flat between 2022 and 2025. Seventy-four percent of American 15-year-olds reached basic proficiency in reading, compared to 69% among 38 relatively affluent countries that are part of the OECD. In math, U.S. proficiency was 65%, the same as the OECD average. Chalkbeat These are more encouraging proficiency rates than those reported by the U.S. federal government on the widely cited NAEP test. This reflects the subjective nature of measuring mastery.U.S. students scored above average on a new test measuring computational problem solving skills in the digital age. American students were also less likely than those in other countries to hastily respond to questions, indicating that most 15-year-olds here took the exam seriously.By some measures, the U.S. has unusually unequal educational results. The gap between the top and bottom performers in science and reading was larger in the U.S. than most other countries. Chalkbeat U.S. results were not broken out by race and family poverty, key drivers of academic gaps, because more than 40% of U.S. students who took the tests did not take an accompanying questionnaire. The Education Department acknowledged a “month-long pause in PISA activity in spring 2025” resulting in some questionnaires not being administered.This was also when the U.S. DOGE Service was cutting contracts and staff at the Education Department research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences. Matthew Soldner, acting director of IES, did not respond to questions about whether these cuts were related to the data gaps.PISA scores effectively measure not only countries’ educational systems, but also cultural and economic factors that contribute to — or detract from — success in schools. Researchers have repeatedly linked countries’ scores on PISA to future economic growth.NCEE officials said that despite the “good story” of the nation’s rise relative to other countries, the PISA results still raise serious questions about how well the U.S. is serving its most disadvantaged students.“Is it able to deliver on the aspirations that the U.S. holds as the world’s major economic power?” Burns said. “That’s where the story becomes less clear.”On a different international test of fourth and eighth graders’ math skills, U.S. scores between 2019 and 2023 fell faster than most other countries.There are no definitive answers for why test scores have fallen in so many countries. What’s clear is that this was not just a pandemic-era blip. In many places, scores dropped just as sharply — if not more so — after the pandemic ended.OECD officials offered a number of hypotheses: heightened student absenteeism, greater classroom disruptions, and the proliferation of phones and screens. Educators and researchers in the U.S. have raised similar theories.Burns noted that U.S. students report relatively positive relationships with teachers, higher growth mindset, and more access to peer-to-peer tutoring. They also are less likely to learn in schools with teacher or material shortages. These factors may contribute to American students declining less than those in other countries.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pedestrian injured in vehicle crash on Avenue of the Cities Police responded around 11 p.m. to a vehicle travelling eastbound on Avenue of the Cities after it struck a pedestrian. The victim's condition is unknown.
	Pritzker's new ad touts 12 credit upgrades. Bailey's campaign agrees they happened. The fight is over what they mean. The claims in the governor's statewide ad check out. So does the number it leaves out: Illinois still has the lowest credit rating of any state.
	Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman, succeeded by his son Warren Buffett will remain on the Berkshire Hathaway board but will be succeeded as chairman by his son, Howard Buffett.
	Ignite Pilates & Wellness Studio grand opening Saturday in Davenport The new boutique reformer pilates studio offers welcoming, energizing classes designed for all experience levels throughout the Quad Cities region.
	Mother, daughter duo open Candle Witch Company in downtown Moline Candle Witch Company at 1421 5th Avenue in Moline is owned by mother, daughter pair Dani Jones and Hannah Rosenbaum. It’s in the former skate shop in downtown Moline.
	Local Head Start leaders push back against proposed program changes Early education leaders opposed proposed federal changes to Head Start, warning they could diminish program quality.
	An orchard in the city: Rock Island man grows pawpaw trees in his backyard Pawpaw fruit are native to North America but unlike anything available in a traditional supermarket.
	Ms. Rachel has entered her album era, and she is so happy about it Ms. Rachel has conquered YouTube, Netflix and the toy aisle. Now she's making an album, with real instruments, big feelings and her littlest listeners in mind.
	Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after serving in the role for more than 50 years. His son, Howard, will become Berkshire Hathaway's new chairman
	South Africa 'feels like a prison' for women amid spate of femicides South Africa has some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world, and a spate of killings of nine women in the same area in recent weeks has led to renewed outrage.
	Why Moline Police are suspending the department's Flock Safety contract Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati says there needs to be a balance between legislation, public sentiment and technology.
	National Cheeseburger Day deals for September 18 From BOGOs to steep discounts, there are plenty of deals for National Cheeseburger Day.
	True or false: Trump's name is now on the Kennedy Center. The quiz has the answer The world made it to another Friday without an AI apocalypse, so here's the quiz! See you next week … maybe.
	'Scour Order' by metal band Krallice is worthy of symphony halls The band's new album, Scour Order, looks back on nearly two decades of making challenging metal and forges a new way forward.
	Could trees developed with gene-editing technology protect Florida's citrus industry? A bacterial infection is wiping out Florida's citrus trees. Growers hope a rootstock developed with gene-editing technology could keep the disease at bay.
	A DHS email raises new questions about the Trump administration's election plans A heavily redacted email from last year, reported first by NPR, reveals that DHS personnel shared a list of jurisdictions that offer election materials in non-English languages. It's unclear why.
	Google is helping write AI chatbot safety laws — while pushing for loopholes As states push to regulate chatbots, tech companies are trying to write safety rules in ways that exempt some of their key products.
	What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil The Houthis' biggest land grab in years reignited Yemen's 12-year civil war and pushed up global fuel prices, extending their reach to a key maritime chokepoint and threatening Saudi Arabia's oil exports.
	It's illegal for armed federal officers to be at polls. Lawsuits seek to ensure that The latest lawsuit, first reported by NPR, argues the Trump administration's repeated suggestions that federal officers could be at polling sites is a form of illegal voter intimidation.
	How to get relief from fall allergies in Iowa WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Cold and flu viruses are spreading as temperatures drop and school resumes. But allergies could also be causing the sniffles this year. “Fall can be a big time for allergies," says Dr. Javen Wunschel, a board-certified allergist at The Iowa Clinic. "The biggest thing we’re seeing right now is ragweed [...]
	The driver who slammed into an LA bus before helicopter crash is charged with murder An SUV driver was under the influence of drugs when she swerved into the wrong lane, blew a red light and slammed into a Los Angeles city bus, killing two riders, prosecutors said as they charged her with murder.
Thursday, September 17th, 2026
	Assumption shuts out West 51-0 Assumption football defeated Davenport West 51-0 on Thursday night.
	Rockridge, Riverdale set for showdown of unbeatens The Rockets and the Rams are both 4-0 this season in the Three Rivers Rock Conference.
	Raise your voice about climate change If you watched the news over the last days of August, you saw video of an almost inconceivable wave of destruction in Nepal. Untold numbers of people and both the infrastructure and cultural heritage of this ancient region were swept away. Glaciers in the mountains above a populated valley were weakened by rising global temperatures and came cascading down in a deadly tsunami. It may have seemed a world away, but the reality is you and I caused that disaster as surely as if we had pushed a big red button that released the deluge. You may roll your eyes but it is literally true. Why? How? We have failed over several years to take any significant action on climate change. Meanwhile we consistently produce the most carbon emissions of any country on earth — emissions that are causing the globe to get hotter. Nepal may seem too far away. Put it aside for the moment. What about the weather forecasts seemingly day after day for the past several months putting literally millions of Americans on alert for extreme weather? It’s been record-breaking weather of every description. Snowfall measured in feet instead of inches. Rainfall amounts considered once in a thousand years occurring annually. Los Angeles burning down! There is no need to list them. The majority of Americans now recognize that this extreme weather is the result of human-generated climate change. It’s also clear that at a time when “affordability” squeezes every household, climate degradation is getting costly. Maybe it’s just the added cost of running the AC more or having to crank the furnace higher. Millions of Americans have endured moderate to severe storm damage. The cost of repairs comes either from your own wallet, insurance companies, or some level of government. Inevitably we will all bear increased costs due to these continuing catastrophes. Considering all this, why is virtually no one in political leadership or mainstream journalism talking about it! Why? You know what? It does not matter. As of today — right now — you and I have to start hollering. Imagine if your kids were in a locked car that rolled into the river. That is how loud, and frantically, and persistently we have to yell. Yell! Do not grasp for a complacency based on today’s already eroded standards, thinking we can adjust to this “new normal,” because this is all only going to get worse. And all the data indicates that the rate of decline is quickening. First target of our new-found rage: No candidate for office, either challenger or incumbent, should get our support unless they are committed to a strong position of climate safety action. Complain to the media about their pathetic coverage of the most important story, maybe, in human history. How can they report the weather forecast every 10 minutes but fail to provide any analysis about how rapidly weather is becoming more severe, why that is happening and what the future holds unless we eliminate carbon emissions? Get on your marching shoes. We need to be gathering in large numbers to protest this lack of action by those who control the levers of power in this society. In government, that means both the federal and state leadership. Those culpable include the executive and legislative branches of government for generally gutless lack of action across the board. True, more is happening on the state level than nationally, but not nearly enough. The prime target of our ire ought to be the private sector, which continues to engorge itself at the profit smorgasbord while they kill the earth. They have so far successfully lulled most of the population into somnambulant acquiescence to their path of destruction. But no more. For God’s sake, no more. At this moment, in the days after Labor Day, unions must take up the call: “Workers DEMAND a safe planet!” If unions’ primary role is to safeguard the rights of working people and ensure they enjoy a decent, stable quality of life, what could be more important, more urgent, than fighting to maintain and restore our climate? If the members do not understand it, teach them. DO NOT Continue to be complacent. Do not surrender the future of your children and their children. Complain. Confront. Holler, yell. Raise hell! DEMAND a safe planet. John Harrity is the former president of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists. He lives in East Hartland. Courtesy of CT Mirror
	Brooms and Antlers This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Even the Mississippi River seems to know when it has crossed the Mason-Dixon line. The Upper Mississippi is a Yankee…
	Ask About Clinical Trials on Day One (Mitch Jelniker) - For people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, the clinical trial conversation belongs in the very first appointment.A diagnosis of SCLC can trigger a whirlwind of appointments, tests, and decisions. But amid all that noise, there is one question patients should ask their doctor as early as possible:“Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?”Many patients may associate that question with running out of treatment options. But according to Dr. Ashish Saxena, Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine, that’s not always the case.Some clinical trials are available only before treatment begins, while others are studying promising therapies as a first treatment. For someone facing a fast-moving cancer like SCLC, timing is everything.“There are a lot of changes going on in the landscape today, more than we've seen for a very long time. Emerging treatments now involve immunotherapy, where your immune system attacks small cell lung cancer. Studies are also exploring antibody-drug conjugates, antibodies that target specific proteins in small cell cancer and deliver chemotherapy with them, rather than free-flowing chemotherapy in your bloodstream. And we’re learning more about the biology of small cell lung cancer and how certain patients may react better to certain drugs. So, all of these things should give patients a lot of hope when they are diagnosed with small cell lung cancer,” says Dr. Saxena.Why Clinical Trials MatterFor years, people with SCLC had few treatment options. Now, research is expanding what may be possible, from new treatment approaches to a better understanding of distinct types of SCLC that could lead to more personalized care.For patients, that progress means something especially important: hope.Living Better, Not Just LongerThe research happening in clinical trials isn’t focused only on extending life. Researchers are also paying closer attention to how patients feel while they are living it.Along with tracking whether a tumor shrinks or how long a treatment keeps cancer from growing, clinical trials increasingly look at how treatment affects everyday life, including fatigue, breathing problems, pain, and emotional well-being.“The goal is to have meaningful time, not just more time,” says Dr. Saxena.These patient-reported outcomes can also provide clues about whether a treatment is working before the next scan. A cough may improve. Breathing may become easier. Energy may return.Your Voice Is Part of Your TreatmentPatients can play another important role in their care: Speak up.Reporting side effects and changes in how you feel can help doctors adjust medications or dosages and better manage symptoms, helping patients maintain their quality of life and potentially stay on treatment longer.In clinical trials, that feedback also helps researchers understand how a therapy affects a person’s daily life, not just what appears on a scan.For Wendy Brooks, who is living with small cell lung cancer and is a member of the LCFA's Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau, the pace of change is encouraging.“I'm more hopeful today than I have ever been,” says Brooks.For people facing SCLC, the message is simple: Don’t wait to ask about clinical trials. Ask early. Ask before treatment begins. And keep asking as your treatment journey continues.That one question: “Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?” could open a door you didn’t know was there.Learn MoreTo hear the full conversation between Wendy Brooks and Dr. Ashish Saxena on the Hope With Answers podcast and learn more about small cell lung cancer research, clinical trials, and treatment, visit LCFAmerica.org.About LCFALung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) is dedicated to dramatically improving survival rates and quality of life for people diagnosed with lung cancer. Through funding innovative research, amplifying patient stories, and raising awareness, LCFA brings hope to the millions impacted by the world’s deadliest cancer. Learn more at LCFAmerica.org.
	Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program and Scholastic Expand Access to Books for Disadvantaged Children (NewsUSA) - The Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program’s Operation Turn the Page initiative continues throughout September, putting books in the hands of children living in low-income communities across the country. Rooted in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream, Operation Turn the Page highlights the life-changing impact of reaching children who may otherwise have few or no books to call their own. For many of these children, a single book can spark a love of reading, build confidence, and open the door to opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.Helping turn that mission into reality is Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company. Scholastic has served as a valued partner of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program since 1998 and has helped provide books to millions of students, teachers, and families nationwide.Together, the organizations are giving children more than stories to read. They are opening doors to imagination, building confidence in young readers, and creating opportunities that can last a lifetime.One of the most impactful examples of this partnership can be seen in its support of Title I funded schools.Through collaborative efforts between the Toys for Tots Literacy Program and Scholastic, 146 Title I funded schools have received book donations so far in 2026, resulting in the distribution of 79,070 books to students and classrooms. For many children, these books represent far more than stories on a page. They provide opportunities to explore new worlds, strengthen reading skills, and develop a love of learning that can influence the trajectory of their education and future success.Scholastic’s support has also enabled the Toys for Tots Literacy Program to partner with the Kids In Need Foundation. This year, the effort has supported 3,800 teachers in Portland, Oregon; Dayton, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wichita, Kansas; and Little Canada, Minnesota. By providing 4,021 educational resources, including 2,100 books and 1,921 teacher supplies, the organizations are helping educators create engaging learning environments where students can thrive. These resources empower teachers to focus on what matters most: inspiring a love of reading and helping every child reach their potential.The Toys for Tots Literacy Program and Scholastic have also supported projects designed to meet unique community needs. At Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida, the organizations provided 250 books to students, expanding access to educational resources and supporting academic achievement. In Tucson, Arizona, 210 books were distributed through a partnership with the Tucson Police Department, demonstrating how literacy can strengthen community connections and bring people together around a shared commitment to helping children succeed.“Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the power of a book, and our partnership with Scholastic is helping make that possible for thousands of children across the Nation,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, U.S. Marines (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “When a child turns the page of a book, they also turn the page toward new possibilities in life.”The continued success of these initiatives and the partnership between the Toys for Tots Literacy Program and Scholastic are testaments to what can be achieved when organizations unite around a common purpose. Together, they are helping disadvantaged children across America Turn the Page Toward Opportunity, one book, one child, and one future at a time.To learn more about the Toys for Tots Literacy Program or to donate, visit https://www.toysfortots.org/programs/literacy-program.
	Judy's Family Cafe opening in Aledo on Friday Judy already has two Galesburg locations that have garnered national attention on social media.
	State of Illinois to offer incentives in hunt for new operator of former Tyson Foods plant in Joslin Officials with the governor's office said resources from the Invest in Illinois Fund will be offered to help incentivize a new buyer.
	Recall Roundup: Fire truck toys, dairy free ice cream, heated blankets Check your receipts for any of these items being recalled from retailers around the country.
	State of Illinois to help search for new operator of former Tyson Foods plant in Joslin Officials with the governor's office said resources from the Invest in Illinois Fund will be offered to help incentivize a new buyer.
	Train stopped in west end of Davenport Several blocks to the west of Gaines Street are blocked off while police respond to the situation.
	Here's why Moline Police are suspending the department's Flock Safety contract Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati says there needs to be a balance between legislation, public sentiment and technology.
	Clinton Symphony will open season with Beethoven's 'Eroica' Beethoven’s Third Symphony, the “Eroica” is the featured work on Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s 73rd season opener. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the Durgin Performing Arts Center at Clinton High School. Silas Nathaniel Huff will conduct the orchestra of 50 area musicians. Huff was recently named a finalist in the [...]
	Head Start proposal draws concern from local advocates Local advocates raise concerns over a federal proposal to expand Head Start without added funding, warning of cuts to bilingual programs and health screenings.
	Arizona asks US Supreme Court to halt prison healthcare takeover in ‘Hail Mary’ filing Photo by Matthew Hendley \| Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0Attorneys for Arizona’s prison system ran to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to make one last plea to delay a court-ordered takeover of its healthcare system. A federal district court judge and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already denied the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry’s request to put off receivership of the prison healthcare system until an appeals court makes a final call. But in a final attempt to buy more time, a lawyer for the Corrections Department argued the state is entitled to the opportunity to fully argue its case before it loses control of its employees, its contractors and its multimillion-dollar healthcare budget. “The gravity of that action and the costly and disruptive consequences for the department and the state are hard to overstate,” former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement wrote in an application to stay filed with the high court on Sept. 16. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. An attorney representing the roughly 25,000 inmates in Arizona prisons called the request a “Hail Mary” and noted they had yet to receive a deadline to respond to the stay request. But in any case, Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, said their clients cannot wait any longer for constitutional healthcare. “You wish that the time and money that they’re spending on fancy Supreme Court attorneys to write these briefs for them were better spent focusing on improving the healthcare and implementing the reforms and working collaboratively so that the receiver can get in place.” Kendrick said. Inmates first sued the department in 2012, alleging prison medical, mental and dental care posed a threat of serious injury and death and constituted “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment. After more than a decade of litigation and an ultimately unsuccessful settlement agreement, Judge Roslyn Silver issued a final injunction in 2023, finding the department’s healthcare system was “plainly grossly inadequate.” Two years after the order, attorneys for the plaintiffs claimed slow progress by the department and continual harm to the state’s incarcerated population warranted a takeover of prison healthcare. And in February, citing after court-appointed monitors reported the department’s failure to comply with 131 of the court order’s 154 “quality indicators” and eight deaths in custody, Silver greenlit receivership. She then appointed Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to serve as receiver, effective Oct. 19. The department immediately sought a stay to delay Chambers-Smith’s start date until after the receivership issue was decided by the appellate court. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to press pause but agreed to speed up briefing on the appeal. The department then filed a last-ditch request for a stay on the Supreme Court’s “shadow docket,” where justices can decide on emergency and procedural orders without oral argument, extensive briefing or written opinions. In the filing, Clement argued receivership is meant to be the “remedy of last resort” but has not been treated as such by the district court. “Rather, the court reached for one of the most powerful and federalism-defying tools in its arsenal as a first resort when the state did not promptly live up to the court’s expectations under a wide-ranging and demanding injunction,” Clement wrote. He claimed Silver had ignored the improvements the department has made since she issued her final injunction in March 2023 and incorrectly focused on the more than decadelong history of litigation. The arguments are largely the same as the Corrections Department argued before Silver and the appellate court when they asked those courts to pause the receivership. Clement contended the department had made “tangible” progress since Silver’s final order, pointing to the department’s work growing its healthcare staff by more than 50%, opening and improving facilities, increasing access to treatment for substance-use disorder and implementing a new model of care. He added that Silver’s order was “impatient,” too, as the receiver was allowed a minimum of five years to fix the healthcare system, while the department had less than three between the final injunction and the receivership order. At bottom, Clement said Silver was legally required to start with the least invasive fix and move toward receivership only after initial attempts to compel compliance failed. “The district court inverted that approach here, dropping the proverbial nuclear bomb without exhausting less devastating firepower,” Clement wrote. Kendrick noted that Silver had, in fact, taken steps to push the department in the right direction. “The facts and the history shows that (Silver) has bent over backwards for years, and court judges before her tried to avoid receivership,” Kendrick said. “But ADCRR was just so intransigent that she found that it was absolutely necessary.” Kendrick said attorneys for the plaintiffs are waiting on the justices to set a deadline for response. Meanwhile, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is starting to delve into the merits of the receivership order itself. In an opening brief filed Sept. 15, the department’s attorneys leaned on the same arguments presented in the bid to the Supreme Court. A response from the plaintiffs is due Oct. 15. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	Drop in Nebraskans receiving public food assistance hastens, drawing concern at hearing Together food pantry in downtown Omaha helps people in need pack up free grocery items during a past holiday season. The number of Nebraskans receiving public food assistance has dropped since the Trump administration's stricter eligibility and work requirements were implemented in summer of 2025. Advocates are concerned, saying some who need help aren't getting it and that pressure is weighing on private pantries and food banks. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — The number of Nebraskans receiving public food assistance continues a downward slide, punctuated by recent back-to-back record drops in monthly participation since the state began releasing public SNAP data in 2014. The latest figures show that about 7,600 fewer Nebraskans were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in July compared with the month before. Total participation was 116,703 Nebraskans, down from about 150,000 a year ago. July beat June in terms of the biggest single-month loss of SNAP participants in more than a decade and since the summer of 2025, when Congress approved a massive tax-and-spending-cuts package described by President Donald Trump as big and beautiful. In a legislative hearing Thursday, a Nebraska Appleseed nutrition advocate sounded further alarm. Eric Savaiano, manager of food and nutrition access and economic justice for the nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed. (Courtesy of Nebraska Appleseed) Records show that compared with July 2025, nearly 33,000 fewer people in Nebraska received public food assistance this July, a nearly 22% dip over the year. Eric Savaiano, the nonprofit Appeseed’s manager for food and nutrition access, said about half of that loss represents Nebraska youth and teens under age 19, with 13% of the total annual loss being infants and children under 5. He called that shocking and said the decline does not mean “someone solved hunger last summer.” “Fewer people on SNAP means hungry people, half of which are children, are experiencing more strain and struggle, more trips to limited food pantries and food banks, and more long-term pain for school nutrition programs and educators for the foreseeable future,” Savaiano said. He laid out concerns during a hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. Though the focus was an interim study on food insecurity for pregnant and postpartum women and their children in Nebraska, SNAP emerged as part of the discussion. Call for ‘accountability’ The committee chair, state Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, took a challenging stance and asked Savaiano if there should be “accountability” for people to work if they’re being provided public food benefits. Recent declines in SNAP and other public benefits have been tied to eligibility changes and stricter work requirements called for in the 2025 tax and spending measure. The Trump administration said it wanted to curb waste, fraud and abuse and spend federal dollars wisely. The Department of Agriculture covers the cost of SNAP benefits. States administer the program and share those administrative costs with the federal government. Hardin said much of the national debt is related to health “in some way, shape or form.” State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering. (Photo courtesy of Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “If we don’t go after something in the health space, we will never get a handle on that,” Hardin said after Savaiano’s testimony. “And if we don’t get a handle on that national debt, what happens to Nebraska?” Savaiano responded, “Are we doing that on the backs of people who need the support right now?” Appleseed officials believe that Nebraska’s declining SNAP participation has been exacerbated by the state’s implementation in May of new eligibility verification requirements for all applicants. Savaiano said states have flexibility in their verification process and that Appleseed believes the tactics employed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are overly burdensome and have scared off some Nebraskans who need aid. He hopes for future legislation to rein in the process. Savaiano said, for example, that Nebraska SNAP beneficiaries must certify the number of people who live in their household, and that can take the form of getting a neighbor to sign paperwork. Savaiano referred to the case of a rural Nebraskan who balked, saying her neighbors would laugh and make her life miserable. She no longer participates in the program. Protecting taxpayer dollars A spokesperson for Nebraska DHHS acknowledged that the state’s drop in SNAP participation is in part due to stepped-up verification requirements. Jeff Powell, the spokesperson, said the process was created in response to the federal law change and requirement that states maintain a SNAP payment error rate below 6%. States with error rates above that threshold, beginning in October 2027, must pay a portion of federal benefit costs. Nebraska was one of only nine states with a reported error rate below 6%. Error rates measure the accuracy of states in determining who is eligible for SNAP and how much they receive. “The enhanced verification measures will ensure program integrity, error rates remain below 6%, and taxpayer dollars are protected,” said Powell. The entrance to a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. (Stock photo by hapabapa/Getty Images) He said Nebraska has reduced the instances when the “honor system” is used. He said that is “critical” to remaining below the error threshold. “DHHS is working to streamline the new measures to achieve quicker benefit determinations and will ensure that all Nebraskans eligible for SNAP benefits can receive them,” Powell said. State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, who had requested that the Legislature examine food insecurity particularly for women and their children, noted during the hearing that Gov. Jim Pillen signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 14-18 as Malnutrition Awareness Week. Only two members of the committee were present at Thursday’s hearing, though it was livestreamed and recorded. Rountree testified that many pantries and food banks have been running low on healthier items as Nebraska families are leaning more on private food providers. Healthy brain development Among experts invited to speak was Abbie Raikes, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center whose focus is on early childhood development. She said she was speaking as a private individual and noted that nutrition in early years is essential for healthy brain development. She and other academics who spoke said food insecurity can negatively affect school readiness, academics and behavior. Rountree asked members to consider the testimony when acting on future legislation related to low-income Nebraskans. “Develop well now so we can have our children in school able to learn and be productive members in our society,” he said. Most recent Nebraska SNAP statistics reflect activity through July. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	The Roadless Rule rollback is an opportunity not a threat An Alaska Forest Practices Act compliant forest road is seen in what was previously an unroaded forest setting. (Photo courtesy of Keith Coulter)While environmentalists oppose the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule, which would remove prohibitions on road construction and logging on nearly 59 million acres of national forest, I see this as an opportunity for professional foresters to manage federal land, reduce wildfire risk and boost the economy. I’ve spent 30 years in the industrial logging sector of the Western U.S. in states such as Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Environmental rhetoric is nothing new to those of us who have chosen to make working in western forests their career. Recently, I read a commentary in the Alaska Beacon that argued for maintaining the Roadless Rule and I was not surprised to view the typical laundry list of doom from one side of the debate. Words like “threatened” and “imperiled” come up as authors weave their case for almost certain environmental ruin unless we curb industrial activities immediately for what can only be described as the “do-nothing alternative.” As a professional forester with decades of boots-on-the-ground experience, a few obvious counterpoints come to mind. The rhetoric that forests are a stagnant sea of trees that do not grow or become more dense year after year is simply wrong. That’s a Forestry 101 issue. You’d think something this simplistic would be understood by the average environmentalist: forests do grow, year after year, becoming denser. In a warming climate with limited resources of water, nutrients, space, sunlight and dwindling snowpack, continued growth will inevitably lead to insect and disease issues, dying trees and catastrophic wildfire. Look at the news. The wildfire epidemic appears to be growing year to year and lasting longer each year due to warmer winters and dwindling snowpack. Catastrophic wildfire events are real and increasingly common. People are dying. Whole communities are being lost. Throughout my career I’ve watched the environmentalist movement become very successful. It has demonized building roads, tree cutting and forest management as a whole. Regions of the Western U.S. and Alaska that used to have large milling infrastructure are now idled and gone. There is no one left to do the work or send the logs to mills because they aren’t there. There are few ways to complete forest restoration work, because there are no longer markets for the material. Revenue from the logging industry that can support public schools is in decline. Had forest management activities been allowed to continue, forests could be managed and local economies supported in the effort. One hundred years of fire suppression in the western forests means they are overstocked as the climate warms. From what you know about forests, even if it is just a little: what do you think is going to happen in those areas in the years to come? I’m not sure what the environmentalists’ long-term goal is, other than “preserve the forests and the forests will take care of themselves.” The evidence does not support that message. Their messaging to “do nothing” seems reckless and misplaced. The sediment contribution to nearby water bodies from a well- managed forest road is probably difficult to even measure when compared to the benefits of accessing areas that can be managed for forest health, wood products, jobs and long-term recreation, resulting in stronger regional economies. Now, let’s consider what the contribution to sediment loads in fish bearing creeks or watersheds that supply drinking water to scores of people are after a catastrophic wildfire burns through an area. Keep in mind that forest operations in the Western U.S. and Alaska have strict forest practices rules and regulations. Timber harvesting is inspected by not only State agency forestry professionals but also Dept of Fish and Game and the Dept of Environmental Conservation representatives. Western states have strict regulatory standards that the forest industry must adhere to while simultaneously creating fire resilient and healthy forest ecosystems. The forest products sector is largely our only hope for navigating our way out of the overstocked forest problem that blankets the Western U.S. There are thousands of professional foresters and land managers that have been trained by Society of American Foresters accredited universities working to improve forest health across the nation. I disagree with environmental organizations that want to stop science-based management of forests in the name of preservation, regardless of the cost to local economies. Arguing for the preservation of the Roadless Rule puts mother nature in the driver’s seat — and few people will be able to tolerate how she’ll manage the forests if it happens through destructive wildfire events. We already know how to solve forest management issues: with roads and active forest management. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Taco Throwdown Festival will blend food, music, wrestling in Rock Falls Rock Falls Tourism will bring together an evening of food, entertainment and family fun at the Taco Throwdown Festival on Friday, Sept. 25, at the RB&W District. The Taco Throwdown Festival will be 4-10 p.m. at the RB&W District, 201 E. 2nd St., Rock Falls. The event celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month and will feature [...]
	Quad Cities early education leaders speak out against potential changes to Head Start Proposed federal changes to Head Start could affect language instruction, class sizes and local control, prompting concerns from Quad Cities advocates.
	Bicyclist airlifted to Iowa City for treatment after Rock Island crash Officers responded to a crash involving a bicyclist and a vehicle in the 3500 block of Fifth Avenue on Thursday afternoon, police say.
	Hispanic Heritage Month: Moline restaurant serves authentic family recipes rooted in Mexican heritage Meet a local family who overcame hurdles to share a piece of their heritage with the Quad Cities.
	Quad Cities Heart Walk brings people together around CPR, survivors & heart health This year's Heart Walk will be on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Bettendorf and emceed by James Zahara. Here's how your attendance will help save lives.
	State of Illinois provides help to attract buyers for former Tyson plant in Joslin Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on Thursday announced that the State of Illinois is making resources available through the Invest in Illinois Fund to help attract potential buyers for the former Tyson Foods beef facility in Joslin, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of [...]
	Quad Cities International Airport receives over $200k in federal funding The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grant Program.
	Former Mulkey's becoming a sushi and hibachi restaurant A banner on the building has made the announcement, but no further details were provided.
	Iowa audit: Governor’s office salaries up 35% while other departments shrank Salaries for the Iowa Governor’s office and Secretary of State’s office have gone up while many other state departments saw budget cuts, according to a new report from the Iowa State Auditor.
	The unique farm buildings of Iowa are on display at this weekend's All-State Barn Tour Richard Tyler doesn’t know why he decided to purchase the Secrest Octagonal Barn in 1992; he just knew it was something he wanted to do.
	Section of Muscatine County road will close to traffic for paving project Beginning Tuesday, September 22, 230th Street (G28) between Iowa Highway 70 and the intersection of Atwood Avenue will be closed to traffic for a PCC paving project, according to the Muscatine County Road Department. Construction is anticipated to be suspended late this fall and resume in the spring of 2027. The project is tentatively scheduled [...]
	T'storm chances hang around for the weekend We've had at least a chance for rain several days in a row, and that stretch doesn't end soon enough for some people! Storm chances are here Friday morning, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And it's a big weekend for some - it's homecoming! The weather will be dry for most games Friday evening. But, there's [...]
	WIU to highlight new emergency operations center with ribbon cutting Western Illinois University in Macomb is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new state-of-the-art emergency operations center.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for escape Jones, 33, is 5-foot-8, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
	Crime Stoppers: Moline police searching for woman who rented vehicle under false name, never returned it Police said the woman gave a false name that was later reported in an identity theft report.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted in Rock Island County for failure to appear in court on burglary, drugs and other charges Lawrence Dean is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear for burglary, domestic abuse, manufacturing ecstasy pills and failure to register as a sex offender.
	Join the annual Quad Cities Heart walk this weekend! WQAD is proud to sponsor the Heart Walk, and our own James Zahara will be emceeing the event!
	Knox-Galesburg Symphony opens for its 75th season on Saturday The symphony will perform "A Little Night Music" at the Orpheum Theatre.
	Comments open for proposed Head Start changes Area Head Start programs are speaking out about potential changes to the program and asking government officials to pull back the proposed rules. The changes include implementing English-only instructions. Locally, 66 percent of Head Start's student demographic is bilingual. Another proposal would remove any restrictions on student-to-teacher ratio. Supporters of Head Start say health services [...]
	Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, a GOP ‘giant’ and ‘workhorse’ who shaped water policy, dies at 84 Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who shaped landmark water policies in the U.S. West and guided the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has died.

Friday, September 18th, 2026

Thursday, September 17th, 2026