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

Friday, May 8th, 2026
	Bettendorf Scholarship Night celebrates the hard work of scholars and high achievers Bettendorf High School seniors received scholarships for their dedication to academics, athletics and the arts.
	Augustana College peer-led program helps those struggling with their mental health Augustana College students Addi Wessel and Morin Windle are not just students, they are providing trained peer support to their classmates dealing with mental health struggles.
	UAE reports drone and missile attack as Iran war ceasefire is challenged The Iran war's shaky ceasefire was further strained on Friday as the United Arab Emirates responded to a missile and drone strikes.
	Military drills on the edge: U.S. and allies test capabilities near Asia's flash points From drone boats to long-range missiles, the U.S. and its allies tested new military tactics in the Philippines, sharpening deterrence as tensions with China intensify.
	Oscar Wilde This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.No sooner had the dust of the Civil War settled than the fledgling cities around Rock Island decided to make something…
	Ribbon cutting ceremony for Black Resources Inc. on Monday Black Resources Inc. is a non-profit organization making its mark in Davenport. Ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 11.
	Prices are up, but Mother's Day still means brunch It's the biggest day for America's restaurants, and one of the biggest for flower sales. Despite anxieties over rising gas prices, people are ready to splurge to celebrate.
	Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands.
	What video got Kash Patel in the headlines this week? The quiz knows Plus: The Met Gala, GameStop, Canada and Banksy (again!).
	Dave Kietzman to serve as Bettendorf Middle School interim associate principal An interim associate principal has been selected for Bettendorf Middle School. According to a release from the Bettendorf Community School District, Dave Kietzman will serve in the position beginning in July 2026, pending Board approval. Kietzman will replace Rachael Dierickx, who is moving to the interim principal position at Herbert Hoover Elementary School. Kietzman currently [...]
	European countries emerge as NATO leaders as U.S. role recedes President Trump's decision to leave NATO in the dark before launching strikes on Iran has inflamed tensions and is putting new urgency on rethinking the alliance.
	March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season The NCAA will expand its March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season. It will add more early-round games in the first week without altering the overall format.
	North Korea says it will deploy new artillery guns targeting Seoul North Korea says it'll deploy new long-range artillery systems capable of striking the capital region of rival South Korea this year and commission its first naval destroyer in coming weeks.
Thursday, May 7th, 2026
	Quad City Storm and QCHA expanding partnership to support youth hockey The Quad City Storm and Quad City Hockey Association is excited to announce an expanded partnership that features a rebranding of the Quad City Ice Eagles youth hockey and Quad City Blues and Lady Blues high school hockey to the Quad City Junior Storm.
	Davenport schools to host Dual Grad Program information night The program, which is hosted at Davenport North High School, allows students to earn their diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges simultaneously.
	Muscatine Art Center Board President speaks about anonymous $200,000 donation The donation helped the center cover the difference after Muscatine City Council cut finding to balance the city budget.
	Davenport schools to host dual grad program informational night The program, which is hosted at Davenport North High School, allows students to earn their diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges simultaneously.
	Iowans protest vote from Miller-Meeks in favor of Medicaid cuts Organizers argued that vote endangers hospitals and access to healthcare while Iowans struggle with industrial-agriculture linked water and cancer rates.
	Iowans protest vote from Miller-Meeks in favor of Medicaid cuts Organizers argued that vote endangers hospitals and access to healthcare while Iowans struggle with industrial-agriculture linked water and cancer rates.
	Hackers breach Canvas learning platform, exposing data on millions of students and teachers A criminal extortion group claims to have stolen 275 million records from Instructure, the company behind the widely used Canvas platform.
	University of Iowa students help fast-growing West Branch plan for the future West Branch has the 10th-highest growth rate in Iowa. For a city that has focused so much of its time on its history - the birthplace of Herbert Hoover - city leaders needed to shift that focus to the future. To do that, the city needed to bring new voices and new ideas into the [...]
	Scott County Supervisors fail to vote on giving county final say in zoning decisions A resolution to determine authority of zoning and land-use decisions in Scott County failed to come to vote Thursday night. That's after no county supervisors seconded the vote. The resolution would give only the Scott County Supervisors the ability to make zoning and land-use decisions in the county. Scott County supervisors voted down a zoning [...]
	Cook review: It's the same all over in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' I find it interesting that sequels are being created many years - sometimes a generation of years, in this case - after the original has appeared on the big screen. .I remember "The Devil Wears Prada," but I had not seen the original for, well, 20 years. It came back to me right away as [...]
	Study: QCA homes in top ten for oldest median age Buying a home is on just about everyone's 'to-do' list. When done correctly, it can be a sound investment in a person's (or family's) future. However, a new study released by the research company 'Construction Coverage' is shining light on an interesting trend. According to the latest version of its 'American Cities With the Oldest [...]
	Traffic alert: Street lanes to close in Galesburg for new manhole construction Lanes of two streets in Galesburg are set to close for construction of a new manhole.
	The Heart of the Story: Through his lens 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. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, [...]
	Illinois jurors could get a pay increase Illinois residents could soon get a pay hike for jury duty. House Bill 4844 would require employers to pay workers regular wages while they serve on jury duty. Currently, jurors get $50 dollars a day for federal court, and it varies widely according to the county. Business groups argue this would be unfair to small [...]
	Bird migration season to peak across Iowa, DNR says An estimated 800 million migratory birds will pass through Iowa this spring.
	Former eastern Iowa city clerk pleads guilty after state audit finds $66K in theft A former Conesville city clerk has pleaded guilty to theft and financial crimes after a state audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments she allegedly made to herself and her family.
	Iowa lawmakers send radon mitigation bill to governor The bill would require passive radon mitigation systems in all newly built single- and two-family homes across the state.
	Eight people remain in ICE custody after April arrests in Davenport This is a developing story. Check qctimes.com for updates.
	Teen suffers life-threatening injuries in Clinton shooting 23-year-old Caleb Davis was charged with reckless use of a firearm and assault while displaying a weapon.
	Bishop Hill celebrates American history with Civil War Day events You can enjoy a weekend of quilts, music, speeches and Civil War reenactments May 15-16. Here's the full schedule of events happening in Bishop Hill.
	Great Sounds Promotions will present 2 days of music at Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf Great Sounds Promotions will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special two-day music celebration on May 8–9 at Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf. This milestone event will feature nationally recognized artists and highlight the organization’s long-standing commitment to presenting quality live music, cultural programming, and youth arts education throughout the Quad Cities region. The [...]
	Bettendorf schools add bus cameras to crack down on stop arm violations Bettendorf schools and police are using bus-mounted cameras to identify drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, improving response time and accountability.
	Bettendorf names new interim associate principal for middle school Dave Kietzman will become interim associate principal at Bettendorf Middle School this July, pending approval. He currently serves as dean of students. Read more here.
	Illinois legislators gear up for final budget talks Illinois lawmakers are making their voices heard about what should be included in the fiscal year 2027 budget that’s set to be approved by May 31.
	Trade court strikes down a second round of Trump tariffs The Court of International Trade has struck down a second round of global tariffs ordered by President Trump, after his earlier import taxes were outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision is a victory for importers and a setback for the administration.
	Bettendorf schools, parks team up to offer free summer meals for kids Breakfast and lunch available at multiple locations starting June 8
	U.S. military says it intercepted Iranian attacks on 3 Navy ships in Strait of Hormuz The U.S. military also says that it "targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces." The exchange occurred Thursday as U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.
	Knox County Courthouse closing Friday for underground repairs Contractors working on the bathroom renovation project noticed several sewer lines had collapsed under the building, causing soil to erode and form a void.
	Viral Dubai chocolates made by refugees in the QCA The viral Dubai chocolate trend has made its way to the Quad Cities. "Two of our colleagues who are from Syria make the most amazing Dubai chocolate," said Ann McGlynn, founder and executive director at Tapestry Farms. Fatima C and Betul Qamizou have found a home here in the QCA. They also happen to make [...]
	2 baby bison find a home on the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead The home and the bison are available for viewing on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the month of October.
	15-year-old suffers life-threatening injury after shooting in Clinton A 15-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Clinton on Thursday morning, according to a news release from Clinton Police Department. Shortly before noon, officers from the Clinton Police Department and personnel from the Clinton Fire Department responded to a report of a person who had been shot in the 200 block of [...]
	World’s largest train to make 2 stops in QCA on tour across America The train will make a stop in both Grand Mound, Iowa and Sterling, Illinois on June 2.
	Beagles rescued from Wisconsin research facility arrive at King’s Harvest Ten beagles rescued from a breeding and research facility in Wisconsin are now at King’s Harvest Pet Rescue in Davenport.
	Police: Clinton teen suffers life-threatening gunshot wound A 15-year-old Clinton boy suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound Thursday while he and others were handling firearms, police said.
	Illinois legislators advance bill renaming part of Route 150 after fallen Galesburg soldier The bill would rename a stretch of the highway after Sergeant First Class Kyle Wherly, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005.
	15-year-old suffers life-threatening injuries in shooting A 15-year-old boy was shot in Clinton Thursday.
	Police investigate gunfire at apartment complex Officers responded to gunfire at 12:20 a.m. on April 29 in the 1200 block of 49th Avenue Court, according to Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted on both sides of the river Rodney Rohde, 30, is wanted by Bettendorf police for marijuana delivery and by Davenport police for criminal mischief.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for escape Sabastian Bustillos, 27, is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections High Risk Unit for escape on convictions of burglary and criminal mischief.
	How families can navigate complex Mother’s Day relationships How do you balance celebrating all the moms, grandmothers, stepmoms and mother-figures in your life? Here are some tips from a University of Iowa expert.
	Teen suffers life-threatening injuries in Clinton shooting 23-year-old Caleb Davis was charged with reckless use of a firearm and assault while displaying a weapon.
	Help stamp out hunger with QCA food drive The National Association of Letter Carriers, River Bend Food Bank, Quad City Federation of Labor and United Way QC are working together to help eliminate hunger in our community. Dan Gosa joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. For more information, click here.
	World’s largest train to stop in Sterling on tour across America The train will make a stop in Sterling at 1:30 p.m. on June 2.
	2 baby bison find a home on the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead The home and the bison are available for viewing on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the month of October.
	Knox County Courthouse closing Friday for underground repairs Contractors working on the bathroom renovation project noticed several sewer lines had collapsed under the building, causing soil to erode and form a void.
	Baby geese hatch at MercyOne Genesis Davenport West A goose who gives cancer patients a welcome distraction from their treatments has expanded her family.
	Eldridge man accused of dragging, injuring elderly woman An Eldridge man is facing several charges after police say he dragged and seriously hurt an elderly woman Thursday.
	Davenport Party in the Park to return for 2026 season Organizers said, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., attendees can enjoy food, entertainment and a variety of kids’ activities.
	Confused about the abortion pill news? Here's where things stand The courts are considering ending telemedicine access to mifepristone, one of the two pills used in a medication abortion. Here's what's happened this week and what's to come.
	Survey finds failure doesn't scare founders, and most say they would try again Survey finds failure doesn't scare founders, and most say they would try againFounders are launching companies at record levels despite high failure rates and economic uncertainty.According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Americans filed over 532,000 new business applications in January 2026. But a startup doesn’t equal success. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approximately 4 in 5 businesses survive their first year, but that rate declines to about 50% by year five.However, fear of failure shouldn’t prevent anyone from starting a business. One way to raise the odds of startup success is to learn from current and past entrepreneurs. Wilbur Labs, a startup studio that builds businesses, surveyed 200 startup founders on startup failure to look for commonalities and patterns.The study found that more than 80% of entrepreneurs said going through a startup failure made them more likely to launch a new company, not less. While outside factors can have an outsized impact, serial founders learn from past mistakes to increase their odds of success.Nick Woodman, the founder of GoPro, first launched a gaming and marketing platform called Funbug in 1999, which folded when the tech bubble burst. He came up with the idea for a wearable action camera on a surf trip he took to clear his head.Stewart Butterfield’s gaming company failed when its online game Glitch shut down, but the internal communication tool his team built became Slack. And Travis Kalanick’s first startup, a peer-to-peer file-sharing search engine called Scour, was forced into bankruptcy after several massive entertainment companies sued Scour for copyright infringement. Years later, he co-founded Uber.For those willing to study their mistakes, seek advice, and apply what they have learned, a failed startup can become the most valuable training they will ever get.Pivoting Is the New NormalPivoting has always been a part of startup life. Some of the most successful technology companies began as something entirely different. Shopify began in 2004 as Snowdevil, an online snowboard shop. Instagram began as a cluttered location-based social app called Burbn before its founders realized users were drawn almost exclusively to its photo-sharing feature. Even YouTube was originally conceived as a video dating site before its creators noticed that people simply wanted a fast way to upload and share videos. Wilbur Labs According to the 2026 Wilbur Labs survey, 81% of founders said their company pivoted from its original idea, with 57% making a major pivot or multiple pivots. Notably, 42% of founders said that pivoting was essential to preventing failure. When asked why their company failed or needed to pivot, founders most often pointed to competition and shifting market dynamics (45%), followed closely by technology or product issues (44%).The most effective pivots tend to follow recognizable patterns, such as doubling down on what's already working or solving a problem the founders themselves encountered without a good solution. Slack emerged from an internal tool a gaming company built for itself. Shopify's founders built their own e-commerce platform because nothing else fit their needs, and then they realized other businesses needed the same thing.The same conditions that drive companies to pivot are sometimes what cause them to fail in the first place. Wilbur Labs Without Product-Market Fit, Nothing Else MattersMore than half of survey respondents (54%) said the most important lesson they learned from failure was the need to better understand product-market fit. Compared to the 2023 survey (conducted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic), founders most often cited running out of money as the primary cause of failure (38%). By 2026, that number fell to 25%. The top causes are now technology or product issues (44%), external factors outside their control (31%), and hiring missteps (30%).This likely reflects how the AI era has made it faster and cheaper to build, launch, and find early signals of traction. Funding, or lack of it, is less likely to be seen as the biggest obstacle to success.For founders trying to close the product-market fit gap before it becomes a liability, the approach doesn't need to be complicated. Talking directly to potential customers before building, running small tests to validate demand, and revisiting core assumptions when early signals are weak are among the most commonly cited habits of founders who caught misalignment early.MethodologyThis study was designed and conducted by Wilbur Labs as part of ongoing research into startup failure and founder experiences. Wilbur Labs engaged Wakefield Research to assist with survey administration. The survey was fielded between Feb. 3 and Feb. 12, 2026, using email invitations and an online questionnaire. Respondents were asked a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions about their experiences building startups, including company failures, pivots, operational challenges, and lessons learned.As with any survey research, results are subject to sampling variation. For the 200 interviews conducted in this study, the margin of sampling error is ±6.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. In addition, the survey relies on founders’ self-reported experiences, which may be influenced by factors such as attribution bias, exaggeration, telescoping, and recency bias.This story was produced by Wilbur Labs and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Eldridge man arrested after elderly woman taken to hospital with serious injuries The Eldridge Police Department responded to the 100 block of West Spring Street on Thursday after receiving reports of a woman being assaulted.
	Muscatine supports kids in foster care during Foster Care Month Muscatine is honoring the vital role foster families, youth advocates and child welfare partners play in strengthening the community as part of National Foster Care Month in May. Mayor Brad Bark issued an official proclamation affirming the City’s commitment to supporting children and teens in foster care and the families who open their homes to [...]
	Man arrested for allegedly dragging elderly woman in Eldridge Scott County MEDIC EMS transported the victim, an elderly woman, to UnityPoint Health - Trinity Bettendorf for immediate treatment.
	How families can navigate complex Mother’s Day relationships How do you balance celebrating all the moms, grandmothers, stepmoms and mother-figures in your life? Here are some tips from a University of Iowa expert.
	Knox County Courthouse temporarily closes due to sewer collapse The courthouse will close at 4:30 Thursday and remain closed through the weekend.
	Movers for Moms collects items for QCA shelter Humility Homes and Services strives to end homelessness with housing opportunities and services in the QCA, and they're getting a hand from a moving company. The Movers for Moms donation drive is collecting household items, feminine care products and more to support people staying at the shelter. Humility houses up to 80 adults year-round, and [...]
	A Trump council recommends overhauling FEMA. Here are 3 key changes A group of emergency experts wants the Trump administration to raise the bar for federal help after disasters, and also make it easier for survivors to get money quickly.
	America’s 250th is driving a boat-rental boom. These 10 cities are booking out fast for July 4 fireworks America’s 250th is driving a boat-rental boom. These 10 cities are booking out fast for July 4 fireworks Few summer traditions draw people to the water like Fourth of July fireworks. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, known formally as the “semiquincentennial,” demand for July 4, 2026, boat rentals has surged in recent weeks. New data from Getmyboat shows 2026 boat bookings are up 18% compared to this time last year, accumulating around harbors and lakes where celebrations will take place.Perhaps it's fitting, since historic waterfronts played a pivotal role in the battles that led to our independence. Today, you need not join the Navy to celebrate American independence; you can simply pick a sunny spot to dock your boat and watch the skyline light up after dark. Chicago and Miami remain the top July 4 boating markets year over year, but San Diego; Lake Tahoe; Washington D.C.; Los Angeles; and Tampa, Florida, are gaining more popularity in 2026. Below, Getmyboat’s booking analysis reveals where boat rental demand is strongest, and what to consider when booking your Independence Day rentals. Getmyboat Top boat rental destinations for July 4, 20261. ChicagoShortly after Black Yacht Week comes to a close after Juneteenth, Chicago's Lake Michigan waterfront hosts one of the country's most iconic July 4 celebrations. The Navy Pier fireworks show lights up the skyline in classic fashion, as any Chicagoan knows. The lakeside event center sets off weekly fireworks during the summer months, but is adding an extended show to the sparkling display this year just for the 25th. Chicago’s enduring role in American history makes the Midwestern city a natural choice for semiquincentennial celebrations.Most popular boat style: Yachts are favored in the Chicago market, where renters opt for larger vessels that provide ample deck space, premium seating, and full amenities for the evening ahead.2. MiamiMiami's year-round boating culture extends into the Fourth of July, with the piers lining Biscayne Bay all hosting parties and get-togethers. The city will celebrate the semiquincentennial this year with cultural programming along the water, including the free Fourth of July Celebration at Tropical Park with live music, food vendors, family-friendly games and fireworks under the stars.Most popular boat style: Yachts are the rental of choice in Miami, and is it any surprise? Miami's luxury boat culture has long commanded premium vessels equipped for entertaining and all-night celebrations.3. Charlotte, North Carolina (Lake Norman)Lake Norman ranks among the Southeast's most popular July 4 boating destinations thanks to its sprawling scenic reservoir that provides ample space for celebrations and fireworks.Most popular boat style: Pontoons are the most popular Lake Norman rentals, likely because they provide the comfortable, family-friendly vessel that makes sense for a day-to-evening celebration on this massive freshwater lake.4. San DiegoSan Diego's new prominence as a top July 4, 2026, boating destination is no surprise. Known as “the Big Bay Boom,” the San Diego Bay fireworks display rivals any in the country, and the city boasts three harbors where boaters can relax, dock and watch.Most popular boat style: Yachts are the preferred rental type in San Diego, likely due in part to the region’s mild climate that makes it a premium spot for entertaining groups. A longtime seafaring hub, San Diego has earned its nautical reputation as a three-time America's Cup race host and the country’s second-largest naval base.5. Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaLake Tahoe's alpine-dotted shores provide one of the most scenic Fourth of July backdrops in America. The lake's deep blue waters calmly sway your boat beneath the fireworks displays, and the region will be celebrating America's 250th anniversary with the annual Lights on the Lake fireworks alongside historic storytelling events like the Re-Ride of the Pony Express on June 24 and the Highway 50 Wagon Train in May. Tahoe bookings are climbing for 2026 as travelers seek meaningful experiences outside in unexpected settings while celebrating America’s natural beauty.Most popular boat style: Open recreational boats known as “bowriders” and wake boats designed for water sports can be seen everywhere in Tahoe. Boaters there show a clear preference for honoring the lake’s recreational culture with nimble, passenger-friendly vessels that position a group of friends well for optimal fireworks viewing.6. Phoenix (Lake Pleasant)Located northeast of Phoenix, Lake Pleasant provides city dwellers and visitors with a desert lake alternative for an unforgettable July 4 celebration amid the cacti. Clear Arizona skies and warm summer evenings combine to create arguably perfect conditions for boating, and visitors who make it in time for the semiquincentennial can explore Arizona's heritage landmarks and cultural attractions through the Passport250 program.Most popular boat style: Pontoons are the boat rental standard at Lake Pleasant, likely because their open deck designs are perfect for hot-weather boating and group gatherings.7. Tampa, FloridaBetween the occasional rogue alligator and feral chicken population meandering through its historic streets, Tampa is an undoubtedly distinctive setting for Fourth of July celebrations. Stroll along the Hillsborough Bay waterfront at the Tampa Riverwalk, or dock the boat and hop on an old-fashioned trolley to check out Ybor City, a 140-year-old historic Cuban cigar district tucked away amid colorful street art, live music venues, trendy dining establishments, and Spanish Colonial buildings. The city hosts fireworks displays and will, this year, roll out semiquincentennial celebrations like live entertainment, comedy performances, and food festivals. Boaters can dock at one of six major marinas, with eateries and lodging aplenty. You might even see a pirate ship or two.Most popular boat style: Pontoons are the boat rental of choice in Tampa, with their spacious deck layouts perfect for gathering groups and watching the festivities unfold across the bay.8. Spokane, Washington/Coeur d'Alene, IdahoSpokane, Washington, and Idaho’s Lake Coeur d'Alene region are in the inland Pacific Northwest, where rivers and mountain lakes babble with cold, clear water. Boaters in these sister destinations can recreate on dozens of glacial lakes created during the ice age, which today attract thousands of summer visitors every year. Spokane offers a few options for July 4 fireworks. Catch them downtown over the Spokane River or Liberty Lake, as both waterfront areas put on a family-friendly fireworks show. Meanwhile, boaters on Lake Coeur d'Alene can enjoy a sparkly spectacle beginning at dusk.Most popular boat style: Pontoons are popular for watching fireworks on calm lakes, while jet skis are popular among visitors who want active recreation on the region's mountain waters.9. Washington DCFew cities represent the historical significance of the Fourth of July like the nation’s capital of Washington D.C., which also happens to be among the top destinations to view fireworks. Boat rentals in D.C. are booking fast because visitors want to watch fireworks from one of the main rivers where American history happened. Boating in D.C. is meaningful because the Potomac River is the same waterway that early American figures navigated for everything. From the water, you can see the city's monuments and government buildings lit up at night. Attractions like the National Archive Museum will host daytime exhibits showcasing foundational, defining documents such as the Declaration of Independence and tell the story of the nation's founding. And at night, the sky explodes with twinkling fireworks.Most popular boat style: Yachts are most popular among boaters in D.C. Large luxury boats with comfortable spaces to watch fireworks from the cabin become prime viewing spots on the river.10. Los AngelesWhile San Francisco makes the list of California’s best fireworks destinations, Los Angeles boat rental bookings are rising for July 4, when even locals stay put to watch fireworks from the water. Long Beach and Marina del Rey both host fireworks visible from yachts, and Marina del Rey has thousands of boat slips and waterfront restaurants nearby. Warm summer weather without the east coast’s humidity and unbeatable sunset views make visiting LA seem like a no-brainer. Nearby, the emerald island of Santa Catalina, an internationally recognized yachting destination with clear waters, calls out to boaters, sweet-talking them into booking multiday yacht rentals. The Southern California summer provides warm, predictable boating conditions, ideal for spending hours on a yacht or listening to a live performance by the likes of the Beach Boys, who are playing an outdoor concert on July 4 this year in Hollywood.Most popular boat style: People rent yachts the most in San Diego, a destination where having the amenities to entertain guests on the water certainly makes life more fun. Kotryna Paze // Shutterstock How 2026 July 4 boat rentals compare to last yearTop 10 Locations 2025Chicago, ILMiami, FLAustin, TXDallas–Fort Worth, TXLos Angeles, CALake Norman, NCSeattle, WAPhoenix, AZTampa, FLLake Minnetonka, MNTop 10 Trending Locations 2026Chicago, ILMiami, FLLake Norman, NCSan Diego, CALake Tahoe, CAPhoenix, AZTampa, FLSpokane/Coeur d’AleneWashington D.C.Los Angeles, CAComparing the most popular July 4 boat rentals in 2026 with those of 2025, two Texas destinations lost momentum while two California destinations gained ground.In the Southeast, Lake Norman shows a rise in popularity this year, while inland Pacific Northwest markets attracted more boat renters over coastal ones.Boating safety tips for July 4July 4 is the busiest boating weekend of the year. Waterways are packed, and late-night celebrations can increase accidents and risk. Always wear your flotation device, especially after dark. Book early to prioritize safety, as last-minute bookings on the busiest boating weekend could mean limited availability and rushed preparation.Also consider hiring a captain. A United States Coast Guard-licensed captain handles navigation so you can celebrate safely. When renting a boat, adding a captain can cost about $300 to $500 for a four-plus-hour trip depending on location and vessel size. Early booking helps to ensure availability.Finally, check the weather and plan ahead. Summer storms can move fast, and water conditions can change more quickly than a firecracker.MethodologyThis analysis is based on Getmyboat booking data and platform activity tied to July 4 holiday travel demand from 2025 to 2026. Rankings reflect destination popularity across the July 4, 2025, holiday period and early 2026 booking signals as of April 1, 2026. Comparisons are based on relative booking volume, search activity and reservation timing across U.S. markets where data is available. Vessel type breakdowns and behavioral insights reflect aggregated platform trends and may vary by local inventory, weather conditions and demand during the holiday period.This story was produced by Getmyboat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Eldridge man arrested after assault A man from Eldridge is being held in the Scott County Jail on a secured $14,000 bond after police responded to a report of a woman being dragged outside an apartment in the city. A news release from the Eldridge Police Department said police, firefighters and Scott County MEDIC EMS responded to the 100 block [...]
	Iowa DNR: Bird migration season reaching peak across the state An estimated 800 million migratory birds will pass through Iowa this spring. Here's how you can track and see their flights through our hometowns.
	Eldridge man arrested for assault An Eldridge man was arrested Thursday morning following a report of an assault on an elderly woman. Jeremiah Chambers, 50, of Eldridge, was charged with willful injury causing serious injury (Class C felony), assault with injury on an elderly person (aggravated misdemeanor) and assault while carrying a dangerous weapon (aggravated misdemeanor). He is being held at the Scott County Jail on $14,000 bond. Eldridge Police were alerted to a situation in the 100 block of West Spring Street at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning. An elderly woman covered in blood was reportedly being dragged outside of an apartment building. The Eldridge Fire Department and Medic EMS also responded to the scene. The woman suffered serious injuries and was transported by Medic to UnityPoint Trinity in Bettendorf. Eldridge police chief Andrew Lellig said the incident remains under investigation and more information will follow at a later date.
	Noah Kahan gets a No. 1 album at last, while Michael Jackson reenters the top 10 This week on the charts, Noah Kahan's coronation as an A-list superstar is complete, while another artist makes serious waves as well: the late Michael Jackson.
	DHS blames funding lapse for shutdown of internal detention oversight The office investigates detainee deaths and access to medical care, among other issues. It's being wound down, even as the number of detention deaths and length of detention stays has grown.
	As enrollment falls, old schools find new life as apartments As enrollment falls, old schools find new life as apartmentsIn a once-thriving neighborhood in the southeast part of Atlanta, Lakewood Elementary served families who came to work at the General Motors assembly plant, a sprawling 100-acre landmark that became a path toward economic mobility for entry-level workers. At its height in the late 1970s, the plant employed as many as 5,700 people. But by the early ‘90s, when Gloria Hawkins-Wynn moved into the community, signs of decline were evident. The last Chevy Caprice rolled off the assembly line in 1990, and a popular antique market at the now-defunct Lakewood Fairgrounds shut down in 2006. The closure of the elementary school two years earlier further contributed to neighborhood blight, turning the abandoned structure into a hotspot for criminal activity. “We get prostitution. We get drug dealing. We get drive-by shootings,” Hawkins-Wynn told a local news station four years ago. A neighborhood representative, she urged city leaders to turn the eyesore over to a developer. Former students begged the city to save the school, home to some of their earliest memories: Dick and Jane books, dances in the auditorium, a principal named Mr. Hinkle. Still visible on the school’s deserted playground is a faded map of the United States.“Please don’t demolish it,” wrote one woman. Walking to Lakewood with her mother, who died when she was 7, is a cherished memory. Now the old school is one of several in Atlanta slated to become apartments. It’s a transformation that is increasingly taking place across the country as city leaders and developers look to give new life to vacant buildings once bustling with students and teachers, The 74 reports. Courtesy of Atlanta Urban Development and Atlanta Public Schools In 2024, nearly 2,000 apartments were built in former schools across the U.S., a record high and four times the number a year earlier, according to an analysis from RentCafe, a property search website. School-to-apartment conversions are now the fastest growing segment of a niche industry devoted to makeovers of historic spaces. The 74, Source: RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data As student enrollment continues to shrink nationwide and more districts, including Atlanta, make the painful decision to close schools, the Lakewood project offers a glimpse of what’s to come: Seventy-four school conversion projects are already underway across the country, RentCafe’s data shows. With enrollment loss in traditional schools expected to continue, districts will be left with even more surplus properties. Renovating existing structures “offers a way to help those buildings continue on as community assets,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of RePurpose Capital, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.For the first time since the Great Depression, renovation projects, including historic preservation, surpassed new construction in 2022, according to the American Institute of Architects. Supply chain gridlock and “the rapid escalation of materials costs” likely contributed to the shift, Frey said. The pandemic also played a part as parents chose charter schools or uprooted to other districts and states to find in-person learning. The rapid expansion of private school choice has also contributed to enrollment declines, school consolidations and closures. Data from the Brookings Institution showed that between the 2018-19 and 2021-22 school years, 12% of elementary schools and 9% of middle schools lost at least one-fifth of their students. Many districts delayed closures in response to parents and generations of former students who pleaded with leaders to keep the neighborhood institutions open. Some districts, like Seattle, are still putting it off.But maintaining underenrolled schools, especially those with just a couple hundred students, can be a financial drain. The Houston, Memphis-Shelby and Cedar Rapids districts are among those that have recently announced or discussed closures. That means they’ll eventually have to decide what to do with the buildings.An earlier Atlanta project, completed in 1999, offers a preview of what’s in store for Lakewood and many other former schools. Bass High School was redeveloped into Bass Lofts, a three-story structure that sits in a bohemian neighborhood known for vintage clothing stores, dive bars and record shops. Mallory Brooks, a photographer, moved into one of the units 10 years ago after relocating from Florida. Courtesy of Mallory Brooks “It was the first place I looked at, and I was definitely smitten,” she said. Stepping through the main entrance, “you are transported immediately to being in a school.” Old lockers, welded shut, line the ground floor hallways, and a large Depression-era mural of women dancing sits above the stage in the auditorium. While rows of seats remain intact, some tenants also use the space to store their bikes. Brooks appreciates how sunlight pours through the 10-foot-high windows — “I’ve been able to basically create a greenhouse in my apartment,” she said. But regulating the temperature is difficult, and she looks forward to HVAC upgrades. Judith Fuller ‘Legacy residents’Lakewood Elementary is one of eight sites that the Atlanta Public Schools is now repurposing through an agreement with the Atlanta Urban Development Corp., a nonprofit arm of the city’s housing authority that renovates historic properties into mixed-income residences. The plan, part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ pledge to increase affordable housing, includes giving teachers the first choice of apartments. That was important to Cynthia Briscoe Brown, a former Atlanta Board of Education member whose last vote in December was to close or merge 16 schools. “Seventy percent of APS employees do not live within the city limits of Atlanta,” she said. “One of the board’s priorities in developing these properties is to make it possible for our employees to not have to drive so far before their work day.” A lawyer with experience in real estate, she took an interest in the dilapidated properties when she was first elected in 2013. But she also has personal ties to the site where Peeples Street Elementary, one of the eight former schools, once stood. Her father, Woodson Briscoe, attended the school, which sat just down the street from the boarding house, run by an aunt, where the family lived. “This was the Depression. They were a young couple with a family, and they couldn’t afford their own house,” she said. Today, as real estate costs in the neighborhood climb, with some homes priced well over $500,000, families are facing the same problem. “The West End is gentrifying to a point where a lot of legacy residents are having trouble staying.” ‘A pall over neighborhoods’ Peeples Street closed in 1982. The structure has been gone for 30 years, torn down after a fire left little worth saving.But some shuttered schools can sit vacant for decades, attracting crime and casting “a pall over neighborhoods,” Alyn Turner, a sociologist with Research for Action, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, told a group of Atlanta leaders in February. In a hotel east of downtown, they gathered in a dining room to discuss ways to lessen the negative impacts of the upcoming closures on both students and the neighborhoods where they live.“People can experience a (school) closure as yet another signal of neighborhood decline.”Alyn Turner, Research for Action sociologistTurner cited a Pew study showing that between 2005 and 2013, 12 urban districts, including Atlanta, Chicago and Pittsburgh, sold, leased or repurposed 267 school properties, but still had more than 300 on the market. School closures “tend to concentrate in communities that have already experienced displacement and disinvestment,” she said. “People can experience a closure as yet another signal of neighborhood decline.”In Gary, Indiana, reporters examined a rising number of 911 calls near abandoned schools — an almost 600% increase between 2022 and 2024. They found fires, hundreds of requests for extra police patrols and 26 reports of “shots fired.” In 2015, a Chicago teenager was found dead in Emerson High School, a former Gary high school. Four years later, three teenagers fatally shot a woman and dumped her body in an emptied-out elementary school. Like any abandoned building, a boarded-up old school can “provide cover” for criminals, according to researchers at Arizona State University. Run-down, vacant structures can even escalate criminal behavior, they write, sending a message that no one owns or cares about the property.Maintaining former school buildings until they’re sold or repurposed can make the neighborhood feel safer, Turner told the Atlanta group. But like Briscoe Brown, some participants said they worry about the opposite effect — gentrification that leaves some lower-income families behind. “How can you help the people who are still there?” asked Femi Johnson, a senior director at Achieve Atlanta, a nonprofit that focuses on college access. “Can it be a food bank? Can it be a community health center?”In her hometown of Philadelphia, she saw the former Edward Bok Vocational School, part of a wave of closures in 2013, transformed into an event space with a rooftop bar, a destination she felt didn’t serve the community’s needs.Developers are drawn to former schools because of their historic architectural features, like wide hallways and stairwells. The former Monsignor Coyle High School in Taunton, Massachusetts, now Coyle School Residences, boasts “soaring ceilings” and original windows. Tax credits for historic preservation can offset some of the costs of modernization, but come with restrictions on what developers can change and which “character-defining features,” like a gymnasium, must go untouched, said Pittsburgh developer Rick Belloli.In 2022, his company, Q Development, acquired Mt. Alvernia, a former Sisters of St. Francis convent and all-girls school north of Pittsburgh. He described the massive, 333-room main building, the Motherhouse, as “a gloriously spectacular historic building” with cast iron stairways and arched ceilings. But he’s still navigating the approval process, and some developers, he said, avoid former schools because of those hurdles. Q Development ‘Choice properties’Like Coyle and Mt. Alvernia, many of the school-to-apartment conversions are concentrated in the northeast and midwest. Columbus, Ohio, ranked first on RentCafe’s list of cities with the most school conversion projects. The 74, Source: RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data, July 2025. Next on the list is Cleveland, where the former Martin Luther King Jr. High School, in the predominantly Black Hough neighborhood, was among those affected by more recent enrollment loss. In 2020, the district closed the school, which had dropped to less than 350 students, and a Maryland-based developer acquired the 11-acre site for $880,000.Last fall, knowing the building might be demolished, former students gathered to reflect and grab what mementos they could. Some cut strings off the basketball hoops, said Ronald Crosby, who attended in the late 1980s. Others took old library cards and team jerseys. Erika Ervin Ronald’s sister Johnetta Crosby has fond memories of the school. “We had teachers that took their time to make sure you learned,” she said. “If you didn’t have anything to wear, they made sure you did. If you couldn’t afford to eat lunch, they fed you anyway.” D’Angelo Dixon, who graduated in 2018, felt more conflicted. “Black stuff” leaked from the ceiling, he remembered, and academically, he felt behind friends who attended other schools. “Once I went to college, I felt like I didn’t know anything,” he said. But he credited the school’s career-tech program with inspiring him to work in health care. He’s now a nursing assistant. At the alumni gathering last year, he headed for the art room to grab a ceiling tile he painted with his nickname, Delo — part of a senior class assignment. Some alumni hoped the developer, Kareem Abdus-Salaam, would save the building but that’s not part of his vision for the new residential community, a mix of apartments, townhomes and retail space.“I really want to just level the whole site and bring it up, almost like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” he said. He expects to break ground this spring. “There are so many abandoned schools in this country that are sitting on choice properties.” Structures Unlimited LLC He does, however, intend to make use of the large stones that still border one corner of the property by crushing them into gravel for a quarter-mile walking trail that will wind through the development. Along that pathway, he plans to erect signposts with historical photos of the school so former students “can have some feeling of yesteryear.” In Atlanta, the partnership between the school district and the city gives officials a say in what the developers preserve. They’ll integrate the original Lakewood Elementary building into the overall design. With a strip of commercial properties on the corner, including a popular restaurant and coffee shop, Hawkins-Wynn, who still lives a few blocks away, hopes the redevelopment will spur even more investment in the neighborhood.On a recent afternoon, the transition was obvious, but so were the obstacles in its path. As she walked the perimeter of the property, a construction crew put up plywood on a new home across the street. A few lots down, trash and discarded mattresses piled up on the curb.“This is why we need redevelopment,” she said, pointing to the debris. “It’s still shady around here, but it’s changing like you won’t believe.” This story was co-published with Next City.This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A judge unsealed Epstein's purported 2019 suicide note. More documents could follow At the request of the New York Times, a judge unsealed a goodbye note that Jeffrey Epstein's former cellmate says he found after the convicted sex offender's first suicide attempt in July 2019.
	Tennessee Republicans pass a map to break up the state's lone Democratic House seat Tennessee Republicans' map would crack Shelby County — home to majority-Black Memphis — into three different districts, in an effort to eliminate the state's lone remaining Democratic-held seat.
	The gift she actually wants this year (Hint: It powers everything she loves) (BPT) - It's a fact: Not all moms are the same. Do you want to celebrate your own mom, or express your appreciation for some of the other important mother figures who are part of your life? It helps to recognize that moms (and great mom gifts) are not one-size fits all. While candy and flowers are nice, it's likely that many moms would really appreciate a gift that more clearly reflects their lifestyle and everyday needs.So for Mother's Day this year, consider one of these out-of-the-chocolate-box ideas for ways you can make a positive impact on her daily life.Give her peace of mindDoes your mom give you feelings of comfort and security? For the moms who keep everyone in the household feeling connected, comfortable and safe, consider giving her a tool that will do the same thing for her.Jackery's Explorer 5000 Plus solar generator is the ideal gift for a mom who runs the house and expects it to keep running, even during power outages. When she needs large appliances to stay on during severe weather events or any other circumstance, the 5000 Plus makes that possible. It provides 5040Wh of capacity, a 7200W output and 120V/240V dual-voltage so it can handle the big stuff, such as refrigerators and medical devices.The Explorer 5000 Plus also pairs with Jackery's Smart Transfer Switch for seamless, automatic backup. Providing your mom with energy independence and peace of mind when she's at home, no matter what, could be the best gift you ever give her. Offer the gift of independenceHas your mom always been your biggest cheerleader, no matter what you're up to? Now it's your turn to support her efforts. Many of today's moms are out there having adventures: They're camping, hiking and biking, gardening or doing outdoor yoga. They might even run a side hustle from their home or patio, or they may simply refuse to be tethered to a wall outlet. In other words, what a lot of moms really need is a power source that's compact enough to throw in her car trunk or gear bag, so it can go wherever she wants to be next.Fortunately, Jackery has the answer, with their solar-compatible Explorer 1000 v2 in Dune White power station, which is specifically built for green, off-grid living. The Explorer 1000 v2 provides a 1070Wh LiFePO4 battery, a 1500W output and a one-hour fast charge, so it's always ready when she is.Even better, the power station comes in a warm, neutral colorway that can fit in perfectly anywhere — whether on a kitchen counter, on a patio table or at a campsite — without looking like it just came out of a job site toolbox. In other words, this is a power station she'd actually leave out, and use daily. It helps that Jackery products are designed with everyday lifestyle in mind, not just emergencies.Ready for Mother's Day? You can't go wrong if you consider what your mom really needs. No matter where she is, as long as she has power, connection, comfort and safety, she'll feel at home.Jackery is sold at major retailers near you, including Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, Costco and Best Buy. Visit Jackery.com to learn about these products and more.
	Dead stock to hot stock: Managing seasonal inventory shifts Dead stock to hot stock: Managing seasonal inventory shiftsAs the weather transitions into warmer months, sales demand does not increase proportionally. Instead, there is a shift in sales demand due to outdoor activities, seasonal products and goods, and apparel related to current events. While there is more opportunity for retailers to drive sales in warm weather months, there is also more risk in overselling and the subsequent need for markdowns and clearance sales. By studying the changes in customer behavior, retailers can take steps to increase sales while decreasing losses.What is the difference between dead stock and hot stock? Quite simply, the difference exists because of how a company manages its product on a seasonal basis.For retailers, whether on a day-to-day basis or with seasonal fluctuations, understanding these factors is important. Below, Rapid POS explains how retailers can manage seasonal inventory shifts and reduce the risk of excess or unsold stock.Understanding Warm-Weather Demand ShiftsWhatever time of the year it is for you, there is a definite shift in customer buying patterns — whether it’s the start of spring/summer or back to school, people suddenly appear in stores searching for ways to enjoy the good weather, planning a vacation, or looking to enhance their lifestyle.For many businesses, tracking seasonal trends is necessary for planning and profitability. While there is obviously a typical or expected “season” for most product categories, reality can vary from year to year and even from month to month. What drives demand, and how can you make the best seasonal inventory decisions for your business?For those retailers that rely on past sales data to predict future activity, the answer to the above question is simply: You won’t know when demand will occur this season. By understanding the timing, product categories, and sales velocity of peaks and drops in past demand, retailers can respond to the unique requirements of this season. A well-designed retail point-of-sale system can process the data and even summarize key insights for the retailer, enabling them to better understand historical sales trends and apply that information to forecast future trends.The Risk of Getting It WrongSeasonal inventory presents even greater risks than regular inventory due to the fact that products go out of season more quickly. If you miscalculate demand for a product before it goes in season, by the time the next season rolls around, the product will be hot for the past season, not the current one. Conversely, if you miscalculate demand and forecast too high for a seasonal product, you can end up with inventory that has lost value before you have a chance to sell it.Excess inventory accounts for around 38% of total stock levels within retail businesses, tying up valuable capital that could be released to sell more product at a margin.In order to successfully sell warm-weather products, companies must avoid the trap of a single misjudged season or sell-through. As time passes, inventory can rapidly decay in value, resulting in discounted sales that are often less than desirable. As a result, achieving success with seasonal inventory management is paramount to the overall achievement of warm-weather products.Turning Seasonal Inventory into OpportunityWhile some products will reach new heights and far exceed your sales goals, others will fall short. Analyzing sales performance and making adjustments as quickly as possible helps prevent decline.Most successful retailers are not waiting until the end of a season to handle their seasonal product inventories. They spend their time all season monitoring sales and making adjustments as needed. Instead of letting a slow summer slip into unsalable out-of-season merchandise, a retailer can remargin a slow shoe product and market it with a clever point-of-sale bundle.You don’t have to get too creative to move off-the-shelf merchandise. Simply make a few operational changes to how the merchandise is presented, labeled, seasonalized, or promoted. Give some away at a deep discount for a limited time. The sooner you take your shot, the less risk there is of your inventory turning against you.Our solution to the retailer provides analysis of the best and worst-selling products and enables swift action to capitalize on sales of popular items and to reduce slow-selling inventory.Timing Purchases with PrecisionFor retailers, there is a window to optimize the timing of inventory purchases during seasonal times of the year. If products are purchased too early in the season, the retailer is left holding onto dollars that could have been more productively utilized later in the season. Conversely, if products are purchased too late in the season, the retailer may miss out on peak sales opportunities.According to the National Retail Federation, seasonal shifts like spring and summer drive significant changes in consumer behavior, with categories tied to outdoor activity, travel, and home improvement seeing consistent demand spikes as temperatures rise.However, retailers need to be both proactive and flexible in forecasting and planning in order to meet demand but without running the risk of overstocking or understocking. By analyzing real-time sales data, retailers can adjust their purchasing decisions as demand for the product increases. Meanwhile, the supplier’s lead time becomes irrelevant to making these immediate purchasing decisions.Have real-time visibility into current and future sales so retailers can make decisions in real time as the season unfolds, rather than relying on forecasts that often turn out to be inaccurate.Why Real-Time Visibility MattersSeasonal inventory management requires more visibility than many current retail software programs offer. Without sufficient visibility into your products’ current and historical inventory data, many of your corporate and store-level decisions will be suboptimal.Today’s modern inventory systems offer great insight to retailers, enabling them to see what is happening throughout their organization. They have real-time access to data that describes the current state of the business, information that can detail the location of products throughout the organization, as well as the current sales trends and velocities. As a result, they can dynamically respond to any increases or decreases in demand, shifting products to those SKUs driving the highest sales.Learning from Every SeasonSeasons are learnable. It doesn’t matter which one you’re in and how much you’re enjoying it. The better you’re going to be in the next season is exactly how you perform the analysis of the last season.Understanding sold-through products, discounted items, and the accuracy of forecasts is vital for companies to better sell through seasonal products in the future in a more organized and efficient way.The goal is continuous improvement over time.Seasonal product sales can prove a valuable opportunity for a retailer during the summer months; however, this same season can soon turn cold and result in a mountain of dead stock if the retailer fails to plan and manage the appropriate levels of inventory.This story was produced by Rapid POS and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Bettendorf schools and Parks and Rec offer free summer meal program This summer, students will be able to have free meals as part of a collaboration with Bettendorf Community School District and the city's parks and rec department
	“Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Iowa Cities,” May 12 On May 12, guests of Davenport's Figge Art Museum are invited to a special live dance performance in the Quad City Bank & Trust Grand Lobby, as the first movement of Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Iowa Cities explores how art, movement, and place connect across communities, turning visual artwork into live performance while honoring each original artist’s work.
	Bettendorf Police to add Drone First Responder program The two-year program will connect drones directly to 911 calls across the city.
	Meet the AI fighting crime before it happens Meet the AI fighting crime before it happens“The nature of threats facing public spaces and critical infrastructure has changed,” said Harry Mead, CEO and cofounder of London-based AI security startup Augur, referring to the rise of so-called “grey zone” attacks in Europe.These threats, often coordinated by hostile actors to try to destabilize democratic nations, have targeted electricity grids, satellite communications, and transport infrastructure, and Mead is using AI to fight back.“Incidents are faster, more dispersed, and often designed to exploit gaps. Augur exists to close those gaps,” he said.The startup uses AI to make sense of real-time video data from sensors like CCTV camera networks, helping security operators flag suspicious activity to prevent threats before they happen and track suspects more effectively.But processing high volumes of video and audio data in real time, in scenarios where every second counts, creates complex infrastructure questions. These companies need high-performance computing that complies with tight regulations concerning privacy and surveillance, as the era of AI crime fighting creates new challenges for the cloud industry.Below, The Infinite Loop by Nebius explores how AI is being used to detect threats in real time and support crime prevention efforts.Public safety meets privacyAugur’s AI technology is designed to protect against threats to critical infrastructure, as well as terror attacks and other criminal activity in large public spaces like stadiums or shopping malls, combining data from legacy hardware like CCTV camera networks with AI vision models.From its U.K. headquarters, Augur set out to provide European countries with public safety technology that is compatible with regional laws and values around the right to privacy, and made the decision not to use facial recognition to track individuals.“Our mission at Augur is to make public spaces and critical infrastructure safer without compromising privacy or civil liberties,” said Stefan Kopieczek, pictured below, far right, an Augur cofounder and head of engineering, adding that steering away from facial recognition also makes tracking people in busy spaces more effective. Courtesy of Augur “This approach is much more robust in the real world, where image quality is variable, and you can’t rely on getting regular face captures. So in this case, the right thing to do is also the best solution in engineering terms.”Augur has achieved this by rethinking how person tracking works: Instead of simply drawing a box around a detected individual in an image, it uses the position and orientation of cameras to infer where the person is in 3D space.“Our tracker combines those spatial features with visual features, and the combination of the two means we can be very confident in a match, even when the person isn’t consistently visible in the camera frame,” said Kopieczek.Augur came out of stealth mode in March 2026 and said it has already signed contracts with football stadiums, retail centers, transport hubs, power plants, data centers, and military sites, which see the potential of its AI to help catch suspects and prevent threats before they happen.A step ahead of the criminalsSyntelligence, a London-based joint venture established by major telecom providers, is tackling a different kind of threat: the scam call.“Scam calls are one of the key problems that telecom providers have been suffering from for the past two decades,” said Prateek Choudhary, CEO of Syntelligence. “Even though it's such a persistent problem, and pretty much impacts everyone on the planet who has a mobile phone, it's not really solved, and it's actually becoming progressively worse.”Syntelligence uses AI to try to prevent scam calls before they happen, based on metadata like whether a phone number has been used to call multiple new numbers in a short space of time, and sends a warning to the recipient. It then gives people the option to send the call to an AI agent that can assess whether it’s a scam before they take the call, or they can ask it to listen live.“We are using speech to text, and then we get the transcription, and the LLM analyzes that transcription,” said Choudhary.“It could be someone claiming they are calling from the police, saying you have an outstanding payment, and you need to do it now, otherwise we are coming with a warrant. Essentially, creating this artificial urgency for giving quick payment information. As soon as that is happening, our model will understand that it's evolving into a scam, and it will give you live alerts.”The threat of scam calls has become even greater due to the rise of audio deepfakes, which can make malicious attempts harder than ever to spot.“This is essentially someone calling you pretending to be someone else, but using exactly the same voice. We have seen cases like that happening already, and it will probably become more common, so we have to fight this,” said Choudhary.Crime prevention in the cloud“Stadiums range from high tens to low hundreds of cameras. We preprocess the video streams on premise in order to reduce the network bandwidth, but it can still be as high as gigabits of data per second for a large site,” said Kopieczek.Alongside the ability to scale capacity and offer low latency, the companies have distinct needs from the cloud industry.For Syntelligence, some of the hardware required to power its AI solution will come from telecom providers that run their own data centers, and, in cases where that is combined with additional cloud compute, it will require seamless integration.Augur’s biggest requirements from cloud providers are data sovereignty, governance, access to the latest GPU hardware, and the capacity to scale compute needs in response to customer demand.“In some cases, the data needs to stay within the originating country, whether that is the U.K. or an allied nation,” said Kopieczek.“We’re also keen to question the assumptions of the industry and push the envelope of what’s possible. We’ve had some great conversations with forward-looking providers who are willing to be partners on that journey when it comes to frontiers like large-scale fine-tuning of vision-based LLMs and experimenting with new hardware.”This story was produced by The Infinite Loop by Nebius and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Iowa DOT warns of snail-mail scam asking for financial information Iowa residents: watch out for fake vehicle registration vouchers in your mail. They are a scam meant to steal your data. Here is what you should do.
	Teachers say there’s a rise in misbehavior even among the littlest kids Teachers say there’s a rise in misbehavior even among the littlest kidsSchool had been in session at Lead Elementary for less than an hour, but already Andrea Quinn had paused teaching her first graders nearly 20 times, she told The Hechinger Report.First, there was the child who had zipped his entire face inside the hood of his green sweatshirt.“Is that a good choice?” Quinn asked.“Yeah?” responded a muffled voice.Then, there was the girl in pink leggings who stood up from her seat, wandered over to Quinn as she was teaching and stood next to her at the front of the room.“Can you go sit in your spot?” Quinn whispered. The girl stayed put.A few minutes later, there was the boy spinning around uncontrollably from his corner of the carpet in the front of the room, kicking students near him with his black and white sneakers.“Your feet are not safe,” Quinn told him. He stopped and sat on his knees, bouncing up and down as Quinn continued her lesson.Teaching first grade has always involved dealing with wiggly and talkative kids. But it hasn’t always been quite like this. Over the past 10 years, Quinn has seen an increase in challenging behavior and more emotions among her 6- and 7-year-olds, with a particular ramp-up since the pandemic.Elementary teachers nationwide say they’re seeing the same trend: worsening and increasingly severe behavior problems in young children. Students are more disruptive. They sometimes lash out physically at classmates and teachers. They’re more defiant. It’s pushing many teachers and schools to try new methods to bring classrooms under control, with districts and states sharply divided over the right approach.While policymakers have been focused on stalled academic progress and math and reading interventions, far less attention has been paid to understanding why students are displaying more challenging behavior and supporting and training teachers as they try to manage it. Federal data shows educators want help: The percentage of elementary schools where educators say they need more training on classroom management increased from 51% in May 2022 to 65% last year.Even though these children were toddlers, infants or not even born when the pandemic began, experts say that the disruption has had long-lasting repercussions. In 2021, researchers at Brown University found that toddlers who were born during the pandemic had significantly lower verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to toddlers born in the previous decade. Those “pandemic babies” would now be around 6 years old and in first grade.In a 2025 National Center for Education Statistics survey, 76% of elementary school leaders said they “agree” or “strongly agree” that the pandemic has continued to negatively affect the behavioral development of students.Many young children missed out on preschool and other social experiences during the pandemic that could have helped prepare them for school. A study published last year showed that children whose early childhood education was highly disrupted by the pandemic suffered from more emotional problems and lower reading skills compared to students who were in more stable programs.These children are also entering challenging environments. Over the past two decades, schools have started requiring even the youngest children to focus on more challenging academic tasks. At the same time, children are getting less time for recess, even though recess is proven to improve behavior and learning. Children are also on screens now more than ever, which is believed to contribute to more anxiety, depression, aggression and hyperactivity.“A lot of things have changed since the pandemic,” said Wendy Reinke, co-director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, a research group, and a professor of school psychology at the University of Missouri. Those years “really disrupted a lot of children’s social-emotional development and routines, and the profession of teaching is not as sought after as it used to be. There are a lot of staffing shortages and there’s a lot of mental health indicators going on,” she added. “I think teachers are seeing that and feel undertrained to deal with some of those things.”Dealing with disruptive kids makes it harder to teach and harder for kids to learn, whether they are the ones with the behavioral challenges or the ones watching it all unfold in their classroom.“There has been — in research for decades — very clear, established connections between kids’ academic skills and kids’ behavioral skills,” said Brandi Simonsen, a professor of special education at the University of Connecticut and co-director of the university’s Center for Behavioral Education and Research. A child may act up in class to avoid lessons that are too hard for them or get kicked out of class because of their behavior and then miss academic time.“Then you get into this vicious cycle where both skills are struggling,” Simonsen added.Quinn, who has taught at the same Northern California school for 21 years, says child misbehavior was relatively minimal during the first decade of her career: kids who couldn’t sit still or who would blurt things out when she was speaking.In the years leading up to 2020, she started to notice students weren’t as independent and struggled more to manage their emotions, get started on assignments and ask for help when they didn’t know what to do. Then the pandemic hit, and as kids navigated tough situations at home, isolation, more screen time and school closures, misbehavior got worse.“They’re just so much more physical,” she said. “We’re struggling with kids being able to talk to each other and talk to adults in a respectful manner, and say, ‘I need a new pencil. That’s why I’m angry,’” she added. “It’s a lack of understanding how to interact with others.”Educators are overhauling their classroom management approach to cut down on the chaos.In New Jersey, kindergarten teacher Tahnaira Clark said she has seen more challenging behaviors with her current class of “Covid babies” than previous student cohorts. Her students have more trouble controlling their bodies and expressing their feelings. They also spend more time on phones and tablets outside of school, which she believes has contributed to noticeably shorter attention spans. “Getting them to sit on the carpet for a long book can be challenging,” she said.Clark spent six weeks at the beginning of this school year setting up and practicing classroom routines and procedures with her students. She was as explicit as possible about her expectations. “I’m explaining everything from how you throw your trash in the trash can to how you hold your pencil,” Clark said. She rewards good behavior in her young students with a sticker.Kindergarten teacher Cristina Lignore, who teaches in New York City, said, “There’s a lot of interruptions. And a lot of times when I have to pause and address behaviors over and over again, that can interfere with students who are 100 percent ready to learn.”From 2022 until 2025, Lignore says she benefited from a behavior coach sent from the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit focused on child mental health. Her coach observed her frequently and gave feedback on classroom management, something she felt she didn’t learn much about even after getting her master’s degree in education.The coach also pulled small groups of challenging students out of Lignore’s class to teach them social and emotional skills and helped Lignore make and consistently use behavior charts with her students. She still uses many of the strategies she learned, though she tweaks them based on the needs of students in her class.“It’s hard teaching a class, especially by yourself when you don’t have an aide or assistant, trying to balance behaviors and trying to teach,” Lignore said. “You have to find what works for you and make it your own.”Across the country, schools are divided on how to handle these problems. Some are backing away from exclusionary discipline like suspensions and expulsions and have embraced schoolwide approaches that reward positive behavior and provide social skills practice through games and role-playing. Others are opting for restorative practices, which emphasize group conversations where students share feelings and perspectives to build community and resolve conflict.In Texas, the International Leadership of Texas charter school network hired more behavior coaches and specialists to support teachers after seeing an increase in “pretty severe behavior issues” post-pandemic, said Laura Carrasco, assistant superintendent of the network. Each K-8 school in the network now has three counselors, each of whom focuses on specific grade levels.“They help remove some of the barriers that prohibit kids from learning, or in some cases, their peers,” Carrasco said. The team also offers more support for teachers: If they are struggling with a student, they can call their school’s administrative team and a counselor will be in their classroom within 90 seconds.Research has found restorative practices can improve student behavior and academic performance. Still, these schoolwide systems are not always rolled out correctly or get all teachers to buy in, which can affect their success.Some states are taking a different approach to student misbehavior, saying that the answer is to bring in more consequences and give teachers more power to punish disruptive students.For example, a West Virginia law passed in early 2025 gives teachers more power to exclude disruptive students from their classrooms. The law also creates a discipline process for preschool and elementary students where there was none before. Young children who are violent must go through a behavioral intervention program and can be removed from the classroom if they don’t make adequate progress.President Donald Trump has also called for a return to what he called “common sense discipline policies” in an April executive order. The directive repealed federal guidance that schools work to avoid racial disparities in school punishments.As behavior challenges persist, educators say teacher preparation programs could better prepare new teachers. Only 27% of teacher preparation programs surveyed by the National Council on Teacher Quality in 2020 mandate that aspiring teachers practice the effective management skill of reinforcing positive behavior before they graduate. Only 53% of programs require aspiring teachers to practice addressing serious misbehavior. Difficulty managing student behavior is frequently cited as one of the main reasons why teachers quit.Some teacher preparation programs are trying to evolve to meet the need. At Relay Graduate School of Education, a nonprofit, independent institution of higher education that offers teacher and administrator preparation programs and professional development, Challa Flemming, the assistant dean of clinical experience, said the program has added a focus on trauma-informed teaching practices and restorative practices over the past few years. They now teach aspiring educators strategies like having a “calm down corner,” where students can go when they are having big emotions, and a system to check in with each student daily to see how they’re doing.“Behavior has meaning,” said Flemming. “If we can reposition ourselves to be curious about why students are doing what they’re doing, and help them move through that, then we can end up in a much stronger place in terms of classroom culture.”Quinn has cycled through various management techniques over the past two decades. She no longer relies on popular strategies like offering treasure chest prizes for good behavior or a “clip chart,” where clothespins with student names are moved up and down a chart based on how good or bad their behavior is. Not only were they ineffective, Quinn said, but the public shaming made behavior worse.Now, she focuses on affirming positive behavior, hoping students will want to then emulate it. She tries to assume there’s a reason behind students acting out. It’s an immensely challenging, exhausting job that on some days feels impossible to do alone. “I’m just one person,” Quinn said. “My real purpose is to teach them content. … I’m not trained in psychology. I’m not trained in social work,” she added.Simonsen, from the University of Connecticut, said there’s a need to provide more education on research-backed strategies that can support teachers and improve behavior at school, like teaching social skills and improving school environments, so they’re not going it alone.“We know a lot about the science of behavior,” she said. “It’s never talked about as much as it should be. To me, it all starts with this.”This story was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pennsylvania is getting $193M for rural health. What comes next? The inability to regulate substances like kratom and need for maternal health investments were two key focuses at Thursday's budget hearing. (Photo by Getty Images)With hundreds of millions of federal dollars flowing into the commonwealth’s coffers for rural health, a coalition of stakeholders considered the potential funding opportunities Wednesday for nearly three hours in Harrisburg. “Being from the rural, rural part of Pennsylvania, (healthcare is) something I hear about virtually every day,” said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), who chairs the Center for Rural Pennsylvania that hosted the meeting. The state’s $193 million Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) award, the first of five funding rounds, is designed to help offset the $20 billion Pennsylvania is expected to lose in Medicaid dollars between 2028 and 2038. Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Val Arkoosh talks about the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan on May 6, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) With tight deadlines — dollars must be committed by Oct. 30, 2026 — and a short time to prove itself before the next round of applications begins, the commonwealth is focusing on stabilization funding, establishing committees to direct regional priorities and a smattering of narrowly defined projects. “(The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) had a lot of constraints on this … there’s a cap on how much money can be spent on electronic health records. So we can spend some, but we can’t spend as much as we would like,” said state Secretary of Human Services Val Arkoosh. State leaders will be focusing some dollars this year on a public awareness campaign for 988, the mental health crisis hotline, alongside a pilot program to add car seats for parents using transportation services to get to medical appointments. “We heard (about this) from community members in every single place we went,” said Arkoosh about the car seat pilot program. “It’s a huge barrier for parents to get to doctor’s appointments, both for their child and for themselves.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The state is rescored annually on whether it used its allotted dollars to meet the goals described in its project narrative, which includes: Aging and Access, Behavioral Health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Transportation, Maternal Health, Technology and Infrastructure, and Workforce. The last priority resonated with Yaw, who said every one of the five counties in his rural district is projected to lose population over the next few decades. “It’s impossible to find a psychiatrist in the area I live in. Even dental care is becoming a real issue,” said Yaw. “People just don’t want to practice in rural Pennsylvania.” Focus on EMS and behavioral health One of three panels before the committee focused on expanding access for EMS and behavioral health, with an emphasis on the potential benefits of mobile integrated health (MIH). “EMS is not just the front line of rural health care. It’s often the lowest barrier, front-door entry into the health care system. And in many areas of the commonwealth, EMS clinicians are the only healthcare professionals available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Dr. Alvin Wang, who is Montgomery County’s Chief Medical Officer & Regional EMS Medical Director and a practicing physician. The challenge in Pennsylvania, Wang said, is that transportation services are the primary source of reimbursement. But EMS does more than give rides to hospitals, he continued, such as home-based care. In other states, EMS clinicians can be paid for home assessments, follow-up visits after hospital discharges, chronic disease or substance use management and more. One example, from Mason County in Washington, combines fire and medical services under one entity for the rural, high-poverty area. Pa.’s federal rural health funding doesn’t compare to projected Medicaid loss “What we find is with our most challenging patients, who are constantly engaging the 911 system, it’s not just a medical issue; it’s not just a substance use; it’s not just a mental health issue. It’s usually a combination of all of those put together, so we try to be holistic in our care,” said North Mason County Regional Fire Authority Chief Beau Bakkan. State law in Washington allows him to charge private insurance for MIH services like the above and nurse practitioners can operate without constraints. In the commonwealth, those providers must work under the supervision of a doctor and can’t be independent. Bakken estimated that his MIH program had saved the local hospital and EMS system $12 million and reduced emergency calls by 10%. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX “What we have done is we have centralized medicine outside and away from our rural communities,” Bakken added about healthcare access, generally speaking. “We’ve centralized that medicine so much that we have depleted the health resources that are available. The mobile integrated health team has tried to push back and combat that.” Wang noted that the state has pursued global integrated health programs, which are somewhat similar. The one he oversees in Montgomery County focuses on substance use disorder. “I think this is just an example of how funding that exists through RHTP can also support existing EMS agencies,” said Wang. “And then we can get the most for our money.” An opportunity for school-based services School-based health centers pitched themselves as another investment, though they aren’t mentioned in the state’s 68-page plan. These clinicians can focus on at-risk youth facing “significant” health disparities, said Julie Cousler, the executive director of the Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance. Services can go beyond medical needs to include behavioral, dental and vision services. “They do not replace the school nurse. It is a very, very different service,” Cousler continued. Cousler said seven states included the centers as part of their federal rural health plans — but not Pennsylvania. Of the two dozen states with such organizations, Pennsylvania is one of three without any state funding. Existing Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance, seen above, will be tasked with convening regional stakeholders for Rural Care Collaboratives to oversee area strategies. Areas shaded in gray are rural areas, as defined by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. (Map from PA’s Rural Health Transformation Fund application) Researchers found that students in rural New York counties bordering the commonwealth benefited from the centers, missing less school, staying up-to-date with vaccinations and making more healthcare visits than their peers. “We know full well what works and the return on investment … we just need to implement them,” said Cousler. “The Rural Health Transformation dollars are a perfect way to do that.” A study on Pennsylvania’s school-based health centers at the state’s Department of Human Services is underway, she noted. Most of the state’s 30 centers are operated by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which receive higher-than-average Medicaid reimbursement rates. FQHC operator Jenny Englerth, the president and CEO of Family First Health, which has locations in both New York and Pennsylvania, said, “for children, the optimal location is in schools.” School-based services negate transportation barriers and caregiver schedule conflicts, she said, translating into “earlier intervention, fewer missed appointments and reduced reliance on emergency departments for non-urgent needs.” “This model offers a particularly promising path forward in rural areas with well-documented challenges, provider shortages, hospital closures, long travel distances and higher rates of chronic disease,” Englerth added. “Schools, however, remain one of the most stable institutions in all of these communities.” Allocating RHTP dollars is underway, though the initial funds are for stabilizing existing resources and not expansion. The first annual report is due at the end of the summer and the next year of funding is slated to be awarded on Oct. 31. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	AI deepfakes and teens’ digital footprint: What parents should know AI deepfakes and teens’ digital footprint: What parents should knowA child’s birthday photo, a cute dance video. When shared online, they become part of a family’s digital footprint. Depending on privacy settings, AI could use them.Dr. Siwei Lyu, a digital forensics expert and father of two, is a distinguished professor of computer science at the State University of New York who studies how AI learns from public data. The danger of sharing anything online is that it becomes fair game for AI deepfakes: fake photos, videos, or voices built from real images or recordings. Deepfakes can impersonate anyone, including kids and teens.“A child’s data might be misused to recreate an image or video of them in situations that aren’t real,” Lyu explains. “That content can stay online and affect your child for years.”Quitting social media isn’t necessarily the answer. Instead, Lyu encourages more intentional sharing: post less, choose private settings, and pause before uploading anything personal. For families looking for practical ways to put those habits into practice, Verizon provides resources including tips on managing privacy settings and talking with kids about what to share.Here, Lyu explains how digital footprints can be manipulated into AI deepfakes.How real photos become AI deepfakesStep one: The photo goes public. When a photo or video is uploaded, it can become accessible beyond the intended audience. Even private photos could be screenshotted and go public.Step two: Manipulation happens. In some cases, an image has to be uploaded into an AI deepfake tool. That’s when it crosses from simple image capture to digital manipulation.Step three: It’s shared. Once created, the content can spread fast—shared on social platforms, sent in private chats, which increases the harmful risks.Steps families can take to manage their digital footprintExperts suggest checking app privacy settings regularly. Set accounts to private and limit who can view or download photos.Be cautious with “fun” photo apps. Many viral “age me,” “AI art,” or “cartoon me” apps can collect and store uploaded photos. Check the app’s usage terms for any mentions of using images for “research,” “training,” or “improvement,” which may indicate the images could be used for training AI systems.Teach kids that there’s really no “delete” once it’s online. Explain that once something is posted online, it can be copied, saved, or reshared—even if the person who posted the original chooses to delete it later.Helping families build awareness around AI deepfakesLyu recommends a few practical safety habits for families:Lyu suggests using animated avatars instead of real photos for social profile pics.Removing any location data from images before sharing online can also reduce exposure. For example, in your phone’s photo gallery, select a photo, swipe up, and remove the photo’s location data.Watermarking real photos and selfies may also make them less appealing to AI crawlers.This story was produced by Verizon and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nathan Lane says 'Death of a Salesman' is 'the most rewarding thing I've done' Lane is nominated for a Tony for his portrayal of Arthur Miller's iconic salesman: "When people come back and talk about it, if they're not weeping, they're saying things like, 'You were my father.'"
	Ayotte will now decide whether to remove deadline for inmates to introduce new evidence in court The New England Innocence Project and other innocence advocacy groups say the bill would allow the wrongfully convicted to prove their innocence. (Getty Images)The New Hampshire Senate approved House Bill 1422 Thursday, sending the legislation to Gov. Kelly Ayotte for final approval. The bill, sponsored by Pelham Republican Rep. Tom Mannion with bipartisan support, would eliminate New Hampshire’s three-year deadline for convicted inmates to request another trial if there is new evidence of their innocence. The New England Innocence Project and other innocence advocacy groups say the bill would allow the wrongfully convicted to prove their innocence. There have been 3,808 exonerations across the United States since 1989 as of Thursday, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, yet only three of those have taken place in New Hampshire. The advocacy groups argue that isn’t because people aren’t wrongfully convicted in the Granite State, but because the state’s legal framework for proving innocence post-conviction is too onerous. Prosecutors who oppose the bill argue it would encourage a deluge of frivolous claims by inmates who are legitimately guilty. Now, Ayotte — a former prosecutor — will have the option to either sign the bill into law, veto it, or let it become law without her signature. This is the third time in three years lawmakers have tried to change the law. In 2024, then-Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a similar bill on the grounds that it would overload the courts with frivolous claims. In 2025, both the House and Senate approved a similar bill, but through legislative maneuvering and an unrelated amendment pertaining to public library confidentiality requirements, the bill died during negotiations between the two chambers. Courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin
	Northwoods League team coming to the Field of Dreams in 2027 The summer collegiate league will start playing at the ballpark in 2027.
	Rubio visits Vatican amid escalating tensions between Trump and Pope Leo Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Rome in an effort to preserve a crucial relationship between Washington and the Holy See.
	The importance of business transformation The importance of business transformation Change is inevitable, and it feels like it’s accelerating. In 2025, small businesses are navigating a volatile mix of economic uncertainty, technological disruption and shifting consumer behavior.Inflation in the United States remains above target levels, tariffs have the potential to reshape supply chains and consumer confidence, which can affect buying intent, and has been wavering. In April 2025, consumer confidence declined to levels not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to the Conference Board. At the same time, new opportunities, such as AI-powered tools and digital payment innovations, are redefining how small businesses operate.Thriving in this environment requires an intentional, proactive strategy to recognize and adapt to the evolving landscape. Whether you’re launching a new product, pivoting your approach to marketing or expanding locations, successful change starts with a plan.Fifth Third shares how small business owners can recognize the need for change, prepare for it, communicate effectively and come out stronger on the other side.Key takeaways:Business transformation helps small businesses stay competitive by adapting how they operate, serve customers or use technology.Watch for signs it’s time to make a change, like declining sales, supply chain instability or shifting consumer needs.Effective change management starts with a clear plan, backed by strong communication and the right resources.When making a change, stay flexible and measure results along the way to drive long-term growth.What is business transformation?Business transformation refers to adjusting how your business runs, whether that’s tweaking your tools, teams, processes or products. For small businesses, this can look like upgrading your point of sale systems, adding new digital sales channels, bundling products, offering loyalty programs or altering your business model in response to customer needs.Unlike a one-time adjustment, transformation is often ongoing. It’s about positioning your business to adapt, grow and lead over time. Even small, incremental changes can have a major impact when paired with thoughtful strategy and execution.Understanding change managementChange management, or strategic management, is how you support your team and systems through a business transformation. It’s especially critical for small businesses, where even modest changes can ripple quickly through a tight-knit team or customer base.A good change management strategy ensures everyone, from leadership to front-line staff, is aligned, informed and equipped to succeed. It also accounts for emotional and organizational pushback, helping teams feel empowered rather than blindsided.Recognizing the need for changeBefore making changes, it’s important to identify when transformation is truly needed. Signs may include:Declining customer engagement or sales.Rising costs or supply chain instability.New competitors or technologies disrupting your industry.Shifting demographics.Regularly reviewing your operations, customer data and financial performance can help reveal gaps and opportunities. And don’t underestimate employee feedback—your team may spot early signals of change before they show up in the numbers.Business strategies: Planning for changeOnce you’ve identified a need for change, it’s time to build a plan that accounts for your team, tools, timeline and goals.Ask yourself:What exactly needs to change, and why?Does your entire business plan need overhauling, or can you simply tweak one key function?Who will be affected?What tools, skills or resources are needed to implement the change?A strong business transformation strategy includes:Goal setting. Change is a process. Plan in short- and long-term stages, with regular checkpoints, so you can adapt as needed.Scenario planning. Plan for the ideal scenario along with “what ifs.” What happens if costs spike, a supplier falls through or your customer base doesn’t respond the way you expected? Scenario planning will help your business be more agile and resilient in the face of uncertainty.Flexible operations. Whether you rely on suppliers, third-party platforms or seasonal employees, having contingency plans in place can protect you from unexpected disruptions. With tariffs and pricing shifting rapidly, consider diversifying your supply chain, exploring local and international options, and revisiting your pricing model. Credit options, including letters of credit, import financing and supply chain financing, can also support flexibility during change.Innovation readiness. Emerging technologies like generative AI are rapidly transforming small business growth operations, including everything from demand forecasting in inventory management to customer service workflows. To adopt these tools effectively, assess whether your current workflows, systems and teams are equipped to integrate new solutions. You may need to upskill staff or redefine roles to make the most of new capabilities.Financial preparedness. Growth often takes capital. Evaluate your funding options in advance, like a Small business loan or working capital line of credit. Knowing what’s available to you can help reduce stress when it’s time to act.Expert advice. You don’t have to navigate change alone. An advisor can support you during business transformation and connect you to consultants, technology specialists or legal experts. Getting outside perspective early can save you from expensive detours later.Communicating change internally and externallySuccessful change hinges on communication. Internally, leaders should clearly explain the what, why and how of any shift—ideally in ways that inspire rather than alarm.Depending on your business size, that might mean:Hosting all-hands meetings or town halls.Sending out email updates or setting up dedicated Slack channels.Establishing one-on-one check-ins with affected team members.Creating educational programs about new systems or workflows.It’s also important to tailor the message to your team. Not every employee needs to know every detail, but each team should understand how the transformation affects their role.Having open channels for feedback, like surveys or small-group sessions, can also surface concerns early and allow you to make adjustments before issues escalate. Two-way communication reinforces that transformation is something your team is part of rather than something that’s happening to them.Externally, communicate only what your customers or partners need to know. If a change affects pricing, product availability or service hours, share that clearly via email, social media or in-store signage, and explain the benefit.On the other hand, if your internal changes won’t affect the customer or client, you may not need to communicate anything at all.Putting change into actionWith a solid plan in place and your team aligned, it’s time to move from strategy to execution.Here are a few tips to help you bring your transformation to life:Start small. If possible, pilot the change in a single location or with a limited group and then scale from there. This allows you to test new systems, gather feedback and make changes before a full-force rollout. A phased approach also helps reduce risk and improve employee confidence.Assign ownership. It might make sense to designate a project manager or transformation lead to coordinate change across departments and keep the process on track. Some companies appoint a chief transformation officer, or CTO, for this.Empower your team. Make sure your employees have the tools, training and support they need to successfully adopt or execute a change.Resource the change. Don’t underestimate the time, money or staffing needed to make change stick. You may need to temporarily shift workloads, adjust schedules or bring in outside help during the transition.Measuring success—and adaptingOnce your transformation is in motion, it’s critical to evaluate whether the changes are having a real impact, and to stay flexible if they’re not.Start by identifying the right metrics to track. Depending on your goals, this might include:Increased revenue or reduced operating costs.Improvements in product or service quality.Improved customer satisfaction or retention.Faster turnaround times or streamlined workflows.Greater employee engagement or lower turnover.Digital adoption or productivity improvements.Use both quantitative and qualitative data to assess your progress. Digital tools, like dashboards, CRM platforms or customer feedback software, can help you track performance in real time. Don’t underestimate anecdotal feedback either. Conversations with employees and customers often surface insights you won’t see on a spreadsheet.Be prepared to make adjustments. If a new process isn’t working, or if your team is overwhelmed, use what you’ve learned to tweak the plan. Flexibility is a competitive advantage, and some of the most successful transformations evolve over time.Bottom line: Treat measurement as an ongoing loop: Plan, implement, evaluate, adjust. That cycle is what turns transformation into sustainable growth.This story was produced by Fifth Third and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Lee Enterprises reports sharp Q2 gains, digital revenue leads growth A strong digital business and lower borrowing costs helped Lee Enterprises post improved second-quarter results Thursday.
	Public invited to give input on Kiwanis Park, Bettendorf Bettendorf’s Parks & Recreation Department is looking for community input on a new playground scheduled for replacement at Kiwanis Park, 4233 Greenbrier Drive. The Parks & Recreation Department is holding a community input event on Thursday, May 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Kiwanis Park so residents can share their ideas on what kind of playground [...]
	Which type(s) of small business insurance does your business need? (Almost) every coverage explained Which type(s) of small business insurance does your business need? (Almost) every coverage explainedSmall business insurance needs aren’t the same for every owner. While “business insurance” is often talked about as a single thing, it usually includes multiple types of small business insurance policies designed to address different risks.Insurance needs vary based on a few key factors. A contractor, retailer, consultant and restaurant owner will all face very different risks. The right mix of policies can help protect your business and may help reduce financial losses from unexpected events.Understanding what insurance is needed for a small business starts with knowing the risks tied to your industry, size and location. ERGO NEXT’s guide breaks down 39 common types of small business insurance policies, including options that apply to specific industries and risks.What insurance do I need for a small business?There’s no single checklist that answers the exact insurance policies right for your operations because coverage needs depend on how you work. Consider these factors when figuring out which types of business insurance you need.Industry and daily operations. The type of work your business does influences whether liability, professional, property or industry-specific coverage could be needed.State and contract requirements. Are you required by state laws to have coverage? Do third parties, like customers, require certain coverages?Employees, vehicles and physical locations. Hiring employees, using vehicles for work or operating from a physical space can introduce additional risks to consider.Digital risks and customer data. Most businesses have some form of digital operations today, which can expose the business to cyber-related risks. Do you store customer information, process payments or rely on software to do your job?Growth plans and risk tolerance. As a business expands or takes on larger contracts, owners often reassess coverage based on evolving risks.Once you’ve thought through your risks, it’s easier to understand what insurance small businesses need and how different policies are typically used.Liability insurance types for small businessesLiability insurance is often the foundation of a small business insurance plan. These core liability policies are part of the coverage many small businesses consider. Not every business needs every type of liability coverage, so understanding the core options can help you decide what’s right for your company.1. General Liability insuranceGeneral liability insurance is often one of the first coverage business owners purchase because it can help cover many of the most common accidents businesses face, including:Slip and fall injuries (non-employees)Property damage for property that doesn’t belong to youLegal feesMedical payments (non-employees)General liability insurance is commonly considered by businesses that interact with customers or vendors — such as contractors, retail shops, cleaners, fitness professionals and food service providers. It’s also frequently required to get a professional license, or by landlords or clients as part of a contract.2. Commercial Umbrella insuranceCommercial umbrella insurance can extend general liability policy coverage limits. Businesses may consider it as they grow, take on larger contracts or face higher risks that could exceed standard policy limits.3. Professional Liability insurance/Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O)If you’re a knowledge worker who makes a professional mistake that costs someone money, professional liability insurance — also called errors and omissions insurance or E&O insurance in some professions — can help cover the cost of those mistakes.This type of coverage is often considered by consultants, accountants, designers, IT professionals, marketers, real estate agents and other service providers whose advice or research influences client decisions or outcomes.While general liability typically focuses on physical injuries or property damage, professional liability insurance is more concerned with financial losses tied to errors like missed deadlines, misrepresentation or a failure to deliver a promised service.4. Cyber Liability insuranceCyber liability can help protect your business from expenses related to data breaches, data theft, hacking, ransomware extortion, denial of service and more.Any business that stores customer data, processes payments or relies on digital systems may face cyber-related exposures. Cyber liability can be sold as a standalone policy, or offered as an add-on to general liability or professional liability coverage.5. Product liability insuranceIf something you sell causes someone to get injured or become ill, you may be held responsible, whether you made the product or not. Product liability insurance can help protect your business from claims that a product you sold caused an injury or property damage.This insurance is commonly considered by retailers, e-commerce sellers, manufacturers, wholesalers and food and beverage companies.6. Directors and Officers insurance (D&O)Directors and officers insurance is designed to help protect individuals in business leadership roles from claims tied to business decisions and governance. D&O insurance claims might allege mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty or improper decisions by leadership.While D&O insurance is often associated with larger companies, it can also be relevant for small businesses, startups and nonprofits — especially those with boards or investors involved in decision making.Property protection insurance for business ownersProperty and asset protection insurance focuses on the physical things your business owns or needs to operate. These policies are designed to help businesses recover from covered losses involving buildings, equipment, inventory or interruptions to normal operations.7. Commercial Property insuranceCommercial property insurance is designed to help protect the physical assets your business uses to operate. This can include equipment, furniture, inventory and the building itself. People sometimes assume commercial property insurance only covers the building where they do business — “property” as in real estate. But it can also help cover your business property inside.Coverage can help with repair or replacement costs if property is damaged by covered events, such as fire, theft, vandalism or some weather events.8. Business Owner’s Policy (BOP insurance)A Business Owner’s Policy (or BOP insurance) is general liability policy combined with a commercial property policy, and it can be more cost-efficient than buying two separate policies. It’s commonly designed for businesses looking for foundational coverage in a simplified package. This bundle is so widely used that it got a name of its own.9. Business Income insuranceBusiness income coverage (also called business interruption insurance) is designed to help replace lost income if a business must close temporarily or scale back after a covered event. It can help with ongoing expenses, such as rent or payroll, while repairs are being made. It’s usually included in commercial property insurance.10. Business Personal Property insurance (BPP)Business personal property insurance focuses on the contents of your business space, such as your goods, gear and inventory. It’s often part of a commercial property policy.11. Equipment breakdown insuranceEquipment breakdown insurance is designed to help with sudden mechanical or electrical failures of covered equipment. This can include things like HVAC systems, refrigeration units or production machinery.Equipment breakdown insurance helps address how equipment fails — internal mechanical or electrical failure. In contrast, inland marine coverage focuses on where equipment is and how it moves.12. Inland Marine insurance (Tool and Equipment insurance)Inland marine insurance (also called tools and equipment insurance) can help cover tools, equipment or property that get damaged, stolen or lost. This coverage focuses on tools that move between locations or are stored off-site. It’s commonly considered by contractors, cleaners and janitors, and other businesses that work on a client’s site and regularly transport valuable items for work.13. Builders risk insuranceBuilders risk insurance is commonly used by property owners during construction or renovation projects. It may help cover building materials, fixtures and unfinished structures if they’re damaged by covered events while work is in progress.Employee-related insuranceHaving employees changes your risks. Your coverage needs often depend on where you operate and what employees do.14. Workers’ Compensation insuranceWorkers’ comp insurance, sometimes referred to as workman’s comp, may help with costs related to lawsuits and other financial losses when an employee is injured or becomes ill at work. It can help with work-related medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation costs.In most states, businesses with employees are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage, though rules and exemptions can vary by location and industry.In some cases, sole proprietors or business owners without employees might choose to carry workers’ comp coverage, especially those who perform physical or hands-on work themselves, or who need coverage to meet contract requirements.15. Employment Practices Liability insurance (EPLI)Employment practices liability insurance can help cover legal fees, defense costs, settlements or judgments if your business faces discrimination lawsuits from employees and job applicants. Common EPLI claims include harassment, wrongful termination, ADA violations and discrimination from employees, former employees, vendors or other business partners.16. Key person insuranceKey person insurance is designed to help a business manage the financial impact of losing a critical employee or owner. It can help cover lost revenue, hiring costs or operational disruptions while the business adjusts or transitions leadership.Vehicle-related business insuranceThese types of insurance help address risks tied to vehicles. Coverage needs often depend on who owns the vehicle and how it’s used.17. Commercial Auto insuranceCommercial auto insurance is designed for vehicles owned by a business and used for work purposes, such as deliveries, service calls or transporting tools and equipment. It differs from personal auto coverage, which often excludes or limits business-related use of a vehicle. It can help pay for injuries and property damage after an accident.18. Hired and Nonowned Auto insurance (HNOA)Hired and nonowned auto insurance applies when employees or owners use employee-owned vehicles or rentals for business-related tasks. It may help with liability claims tied to work-related driving, even though the business doesn’t own the vehicle.19. Garage liability insuranceGarage liability insurance is commonly used by auto service, repair and dealership businesses. It may help cover common accidents that happen in garage operations, such as a customer slipping and falling in your shop or damaging a customer’s property.This coverage focuses on liability tied to garage operation — not the vehicles in the garage or shop. Vehicles are typically covered by garagekeepers liability insurance.20. Garagekeepers insuranceGaragekeepers liability insurance is designed for businesses that have customers’ vehicles in their care, custody or control, such as mechanics shops, repair shops or detailing services. It may help cover damage to those vehicles caused by covered events while they’re on your premises.Financial, contractual and crime-related insuranceThis category of insurance focuses on financial risks that don’t always involve physical damage but can still disrupt cash flow and operations. If your business handles money or extends credit, you might consider these coverages.21. Commercial crime insuranceCommercial crime insurance is designed to help with losses related to theft, fraud, forgery or other dishonest acts. This can include employee theft, social engineering scams or financial losses caused by deception.22. Tax audit insuranceTax audit insurance is intended to help cover certain costs associated with a tax audit, such as professional fees for accountants or tax advisors. It’s sometimes considered by businesses that want support in managing the expense and time involved in an audit process.23. Business credit/trade credit insuranceBusiness credit or trade credit insurance helps protect against losses from unpaid invoices when customers are unable or unwilling to pay. It’s often considered by businesses that offer payment terms or rely heavily on accounts receivable to manage cash flow.Industry-specific business insurance policiesSome types of business insurance are designed for specific industries or operations. These specialized policies are often considered when standard coverage doesn’t fully address the risks tied to how a business operates.24. Contractor’s E&O insuranceContractor’s E&O insurance can help protect construction trades and contractors from errors and mistakes on a job. Contractor’s errors and omissions insurance may help cover costs if they’re accused of making workmanship errors. For example, if you are accused of installing the wrong cabinets for a client, contractors’ E&O could help cover expenses to fix the problem or defend your business against legal action and legal judgments.25. Bailee coverage (Customer property insurance)Bailee insurance can apply when your business temporarily holds or stores property that belongs to someone else. It can help cover damage or loss to a customer’s property while it’s in your care, custody or control.26. Liquor Liability insuranceRestaurants, bars and event businesses that serve or sell alcohol often consider liquor liability insurance. It can help cover alcohol-related legal fees, property damage repairs and medical costs.27. Host Liquor Liability insuranceUnlike liquor liability coverage, host liquor liability is meant for businesses that serve alcohol occasionally, such as at company events or private functions. This policy can help with liability claims tied to alcohol service, even when selling alcohol isn’t the business’s primary activity.28. Food spoilage insuranceFood spoilage insurance can benefit businesses that rely on refrigerated or frozen inventory, such as restaurants and grocery stores. It can help cover losses if food spoils due to certain covered equipment failures or power outages.29. Event liability insuranceEvent liability insurance is often written as a short-term policy designed for businesses or individuals hosting one-time or recurring events. It can help with liability claims related to injuries or property damage that occur during an event.30. Event cancellation insuranceEvent cancellation insurance focuses on financial losses if an event must be canceled, postponed or interrupted due to certain covered circumstances. This might include weather issues or venue-related issues.31. Malpractice insuranceMalpractice insurance is a form of professional liability coverage used by medical, legal and similar professions. It’s designed to help address claims alleging professional negligence, errors or omissions related to specialized services.32. Technology E&O insuranceTechnology E&O or cyber tech liability insurance is designed for software, SaaS and IT service providers. It may help with claims tied to technology failures, data breaches or errors in digital products or services.33. Media liability insuranceMedia liability insurance applies to businesses involved in advertising, marketing, publishing or content creation. It can help cover claims related to copyright infringement, defamation or misuse of content.34. Home-based business insuranceBusinesses operating out of a residence might consider home business insurance. It may help fill coverage gaps where homeowners insurance doesn’t extend to business-related activities or property.35. Farm and ranch coverageFarm and ranch insurance is tailored to agricultural operations, combining elements of property, liability and equipment coverage. It’s designed to address risks unique to livestock and rural property.Disaster and environmental insuranceSome types of insurance are designed to address large-scale or environmental risks that are often excluded from standard commercial property policies. Business owners often consider these coverages based on location and exposure to certain natural or environmental hazards.36. Commercial flood insuranceCommercial flood insurance is usually purchased as a separate policy, since most commercial property insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. In the U.S., flood coverage is commonly managed through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Businesses in flood-prone areas or those required to carry it by lenders or local regulations consider this coverage.37. Earthquake insuranceEarthquake insurance can help protect against damage caused by seismic activity. It’s often purchased by businesses in regions with higher earthquake risk, where standard property coverage may not apply.38. Wildfire coverage enhancementWildfire coverage can help address losses related to wildfire damage, especially in high-risk areas. Availability and coverage terms often depend on location, structure and local regulations.39. Environmental or pollution liability insuranceEnvironmental or pollution liability insurance is designed to help with claims involving hazardous materials or environmental damage. It’s commonly considered by businesses that handle chemicals, fuel, waste or other potentially harmful substances.Small business insurance types FAQThis list of frequently asked questions can answer many common queries about small business insurance needs.How many types of insurance does a small business usually need?What insurance does a small business need? There’s no single answer that applies to everyone. Coverage often depends on factors like industry, location, employees, vehicles and how the business operates day to day.Is business insurance required by law?Some types of business insurance are required by law, such as workers’ compensation in many states. Other coverage requirements may come from landlords, clients, lenders or professional licensing rules.Can small businesses bundle insurance coverage?Yes, some small businesses choose to bundle certain types of coverage into a single policy, such as a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP insurance). At ERGO NEXT, business owners who bundle two or more of some policies can save up to 10%.*How often should businesses review their coverage needs?Many business owners review their insurance at least once a year or when major changes occur, such as hiring employees, adding services or moving locations. Regular reviews can help ensure coverage still aligns with how the business operates.What’s the difference between insurance and bonds?Insurance is designed to help protect a business from certain losses, while bonds are typically used to guarantee performance or compliance with a contract. Bonds are used to protect the customer or client, not the business itself.This story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The 3 financial statements and what they tell you as a small business owner The 3 financial statements and what they tell you as a small business ownerFor many small business owners, the bank balance is still the default scorecard. It’s quick and familiar, but increasingly unreliable. It serves as a snapshot, not a strategy. By only showing what’s there at a given moment, a healthy-looking balance can mask deeper issues. You might be making sales but losing margin. Profitable on paper but short on cash. Growing but more fragile than you realize.A bank balance doesn’t explain how you got there, whether it’s sustainable or what’s about to change. In today’s environment, when costs are shifting, margins are tightening and customer payments are less predictable, that missing context is critical.Looking beyond the bank account is becoming less of a best practice and more of a necessity. According to Xero’s guide to financial statements, there are three core reports that offer a more complete view of business health. Each answers a different question. The income statement answers, “Are we profitable?” The cash flow statement answers, “Can we operate day-to-day?” The balance sheet answers, “Are we financially stable?” Together they help explain what’s actually happening beneath the surface.The income statement: Are you building a profitable business or just staying busy?The income statement, or profit and loss (P&L), tracks revenue, expenses and profit over a set period. On its face, it answers a simple question: ”Did the business make money?” But the more useful question is how. Revenue growth can look encouraging, but it doesn’t always translate into stronger performance. Right now, many small businesses are seeing costs rise faster than they can adjust pricing. If costs are rising faster than pricing, or even alongside it, profitability will quietly erode.P&L can be more than a summary. It highlights patterns such as:Margin pressure: If your gross margin is shrinking, your costs are outpacing pricing and it’s time to renegotiate suppliers or adjust prices.Profit quality: Strong revenue with weak net profit signals overhead is creeping up.Trend direction: Compare month-over-month or year-over-year data to see whether performance is improving or eroding.A few indicators tend to stand out quickly. Gross margin reflects how well pricing holds up against direct costs. Net margin shows what’s actually left after everything else. If margins are holding and profits are consistent, you may have room to hire or invest. If not, it’s a signal to tighten operations before scaling further.Looking at those over time, rather than in isolation, usually tells a clearer story. Use your P&L to guide action. When looked at consistently, the income statement helps answer a practical question: “Is the business improving, or just getting busier?”The cash flow statement: Does your business have enough money?If the P&L is about profitability, cash flow is about timing and whether the business can keep operating. Profit doesn’t keep your business alive; cash does. This is where many businesses get caught off guard: They look profitable but can’t cover short-term obligations.This is where the gap between “on paper” and “in reality” shows up. Revenue can be recorded well before cash arrives, while expenses tend to hit immediately. That mismatch is only manageable if you know what to look for.The cash flow statement lays out:Whether day-to-day operations are generating enough cash.How long it’s taking customers to pay.Where cash is being used or tied up.Operating cash flow is often the first signal. If it’s consistently negative, the business isn’t generating enough cash from its core activities, even if profits look positive. Accounts receivable is another area to watch. When that balance grows, it can indicate slower payments, effectively shifting the burden onto the business to float those costs. It’s not unusual, but it does require closer attention.Use this report proactively. If cash flow is tightening, consider adjusting payment terms, invoicing more frequently or delaying nonessential spend. Reviewing this monthly can help you spot pressure before it becomes a crisis.The balance sheet: How strong is your business, really?The balance sheet tends to get less attention, but it’s where the overall structure of the business becomes clear. It shows what you own (assets), what you owe (liabilities) and what remains (equity). In practical terms, it answers the question, “If the business had to stop today, where would things stand?”That perspective is particularly relevant in a higher-cost capital environment. How the business is financed and how much flexibility it has matters when borrowing isn’t as cheap or accessible.A few areas are worth focusing on:Whether short-term assets are enough to cover short-term obligations.How much of the business is funded through debt.Whether equity is building over time.Even simple measures, like comparing current assets to current liabilities, can give a quick read on financial stability. This is also the report lenders and investors prioritize. A strong balance sheet doesn’t just reflect health; it creates options, from securing financing to funding expansion.Why these matter more than your bank balanceIf a bank balance is a snapshot, these reports are the context. The income statement shows performance. The cash flow statement shows liquidity. The balance sheet shows stability. Looking at one without the others can be misleading. Together, they make it easier to spot changes early, before bigger problems show up.For small business owners, this is about building simple habits: reviewing these reports regularly, noticing what’s changing and using that information to guide decisions. Understanding your business is about knowing how the business is actually functioning and where it might be heading next.This story was produced by Xero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Two University of Iowa alumni win 2026 Pulitzer Prizes Two University of Iowa alumni won Pulitzer Prizes this year.
	China gives suspended death sentences to 2 ex-defense ministers Both were the latest to be sentenced in President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which started more than a decade ago.

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