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

Saturday, February 28th, 2026
	West Liberty Raceway announces season SR Promotions has announced its schedule of races for the West Liberty Raceway, 101 N. Clay St., West Liberty, in 2026, a news release says. The season kicks-off with the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series on Saturday, April 11. The SLMR series last raced in West Liberty in 2023, when Chad Simpson was [...]
	Hands-on diabetes cooking class returns to UnityPoint Health - Trinity UnityPoint Health - Trinity has announced the return of in-person Cooking with Heart for Diabetes classes beginning in March 2026, a news release says. Cooking with Heart for Diabetes supports individuals with prediabetes, Type I or Type II diabetes. This hands-on class emphasizes how nutrition can help individuals live well and manage their blood sugars [...]
	Augustana Symphonic Band to kick off Midwest tour The Augustana Symphonic Band will be beginning its Midwest tour on March 20th, performing across Illinois and Wisconsin. Concerts will be open to the public and donations will be accepted. The tour will run until march 26th. Concerts will be directed by Dr. James Lambrecht, and will take place in Oregon, Naperville, Manlius, Cambridge, and [...]
	Muscatine Compost Facility prepares to open for season The Muscatine Compost Facility at the Transfer Station will open for the season at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, weather permitting. Residents are encouraged to gather and transport any yard waste that accumulated over the winter. Yard Waste drop-Off Muscatine and Fruitland residents may bring yard waste from their homes—grass clippings, leaves, and garden [...]
	What to know about growth, projects mentioned in Bettendorf’s State of the City address Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher gave is State of the City address on Wednesday. Here's what to know:
	Memories of Muscatine: The Mrs. L. I. Crowley Residence This week for Memories of Muscatine: the house where Lepha (Woodhouse) Crowley lived after returning to Muscatine around 1890.
	Moline provides $7,500 grant for pickleball tournament at Riverside Park The tournament, hosted by the nonprofit Quad Cities Pickleball Club from Sept. 17-20, is in its eighth year and is the fifth tournament to take place at Riverside Park.
	Putting ‘conservation on the land’: Rich Stewart has shepherded Quad-Cities area soil, water programs Rich Stewart, 72, of Moline, has been chosen the 2026 winner of the Oberholtzer Award for present-day conservation leadership, given by Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport.
	Four things to know about worker's claim of mold exposure at Cody Elementary in LeClaire The mold has been remediated and all tests have all come back at acceptable levels. Here are four things to know about the situation:
	St. Margaret's This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Generous hearts often find it difficult to draw a line between being a gracious giver and being a pushover. That was…
	Parents, are you sure your kid's car seat is installed right? Here's how to know In this visual guide, certified car seat experts walk through common installation mistakes and how to fix them. Learn what a secure car seat base and a tightly fastened tether look like and more.
	Israel and the U.S. launch strikes against Iran Israel and the U.S. have lauched strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and air raid sirens sounding across Israel. A nationwide state of emergency has been declared as officials warn further missile and drone attacks could be imminent.
	Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran Israel and the U.S. have launched strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and air raid sirens sounding across Israel.
	Trump says he is 'not happy' with the Iran nuclear talks but indicates he'll give them more time U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he's "not happy" with the latest talks over Iran's nuclear program but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East.
Friday, February 27th, 2026
	Bill Clinton says he 'did nothing wrong' with Epstein as he faced grilling over their relationship Former President Bill Clinton told members of Congress on Friday that he "did nothing wrong" in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of Epstein's sexual abuse as he faced hours of grilling from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago.
	Grass fire breaks out north of Milan Fire officials told News 8 the fire did not cause any injuries, but it burned through approximately 80 bales of hay.
	Nebraska immigration-related bills draw hours of public comment, largely anti-ICE testimony State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha speaks at a rally of pro-immigrant advocates Friday in the State Capitol. Many spoke during public hearings later on five different immigration-related legislative proposals. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — Dozens of Nebraskans converged at the State Capitol Friday for a rally and back-to-back hearings on five immigration-related measures aimed at reining in ICE tactics in the state and increasing public scrutiny. Advocates for greater restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities dominated the roughly four hours of testimony before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Only two people spoke against any of the five bills. Both were agency heads in Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration. The first two hearings — on Legislative Bills 854 and 906, which seek to halt mask-wearing by immigration agents in Nebraska, except in certain circumstances — drew more than 20 supporters. “It is un-American to have a secret masked police force in our country,” State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said in discussing her LB 854. “The reasons why are manifold.” State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha introduced the similar LB 906. Both bills include certain exceptions. Sponsors said they intend also to stop ICE impersonators from concealing their faces to try and commit crimes. Mia Perales, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was among proponents who said she wanted to give lawmakers a feel for what was on young peoples’ minds. She said she would not be part of any “brain drain” fleeing Nebraska because of high taxes or housing costs. Rather, she said, her concern is transparency and respect for people of all backgrounds. If she left, Perales said, it would be because “my values aren’t being upheld.” The two people opposing the bills on Friday were Col. Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, and Rob Jeffreys, director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections. They took issue with Legislative Bills 963 and 881, introduced by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha and State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha, respectively. McKinney’s LB 963 would prohibit state agencies and officials from entering into agreements related to immigration enforcement without legislative approval and seeks to void a Nebraska deal with the federal government that last fall converted a rehabilitative-focused state prison in McCook into an ICE detention facility for migrants. He has been a vocal opponent of Pillen’s decision to partner with federal officials in the arrangement, saying the Legislature should have had oversight. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, chair of the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “ICE is out of control in the United States of America,” McKinney said. “They are killing U.S. citizens.” Jeffreys, as he has on previous occasions, said the governor had the authority to convert the Work Ethic Camp into the ICE detention center. He contends that the change did not “disrupt” WEC inmates who had to be relocated to other facilities and said the federal government has been timely in reimbursing the state for costs. Pillen’s office has estimated ICE reimbursements will net Nebraska $14.5 million annually. Over the next month or so, Jeffreys said, the facility should finish construction that would allow for 100 more detainees, up from the current capacity of about 200, he said. Several speakers protested the lack of public input on the conversion, however. Among them was Phil Lyons, a McCook lawyer and Red Willow County deputy county attorney who said he was speaking for himself. Lyons said he resented that community members were not consulted. “I think it’s a bad picture,” he said. “I don’t want to be associated with a concentration camp. I don’t want that to be associated with McCook. We deserve better.” Guereca, in describing his LB 881, focused on local and state law enforcement agencies entering into 287(g) agreements with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. The legislation would require prior notification to a local governing body and calls for a public hearing. Waugh said the new requirements could “unintentionally hinder public safety operations, delay time-sensitive decision-making and create administrative burdens.” Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “Many agreements or interactions with federal partners occur in urgent situations,” he said. “The bill’s framework may limit the flexibility agencies need to respond.” The State Patrol leader challenged Guereca’s assertion that such agreements cost Nebraskans. He said six state troopers have gone through 40 hours of Department of Homeland Security training and have made 65 immigration-related arrests. Waugh said the federal government has reimbursed the state for car mileage and other costs. Guereca said, however, reimbursement is not guaranteed. He said he was concerned about county sheriff’s departments entering into agreements and local residents shouldering expenses. He offered examples, including Harris County in Texas, which ended its program in 2017 because it cost $675,000 a year. Guereca said the DHS Office of Inspector General estimated that ICE saves $120,000 to $250,000 a year for every 287(g) agreement because “local law enforcement agents perform similar functions” to ICE officers. “Taxpayers deserve the right to have a voice in the process,” Guereca said. Another Juarez legislative proposal aired Friday would prohibit law enforcement agents from entering certain “community safe spaces” to enforce immigration law without a judicial warrant. Legislative Bill 907 drew multiple supporters, including Daniel Russell of the Nebraska nonprofit Stand for Schools. State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha speaks at a news conference and rally on Feb. 27, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) The measure aims to ensure that places such as schools, child and health care facilities are not “disrupted by warrantless immigration enforcement.” Russell said families and students are on edge in Nebraska, seeing immigration enforcement activities unfolding in cities such as Minnesota and Los Angeles. When parents are worried, he said, “Kids don’t show up or don’t fully engage in the school day.” He said that while ICE hasn’t reached into Nebraska schools, the Juarez bill could help alleviate tension and be preventative. Lina Traslaviña Stover joined Russell and others at a State Capitol rally prior to the hearings. She said many in the Latino community in Nebraska are living in fear. “Men in masks and unmarked cars are taking our neighbors away.” “Fear is not public safety,” she said. Juarez spoke to the roughly 50 rallygoers, many of whom carried signs saying, “Protect our Communities” and others who wore T-shirts saying, “I am a friend of immigrants.” She said the country and Nebraska are in unprecedented times. As lawmakers, she said, “We are here to show them we care.” The Judiciary Committee took no immediate action Friday on any of the proposals. Friday was the last day of public hearings, and the rest of the 60-day legislative session that ends in mid-April will be full days of debate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Grass fire breaks out north of Milan Fire officials told News 8 the fire did not cause any injuries, but it burned through approximately 80 bales of hay.
	Man charged with arson after fire at Great River State Wildlife Management Area 21-year-old Trent A. Schafer was charged with one count of arson after witnesses allegedly saw him set fire to grass in the preserve. About 700 acres were burned.
	Arconic to expand, hosts groundbreaking ceremony for ‘Pit 10′ project Arconic will be expanding and brining new jobs to the QCA with the construction of a new casting complex in Bettendorf.
	Family Resources helps parents navigate traumatic events for children Thursday’s tragic incident can be traumatic for small children who witnesses it.
	Davenport Works has groundbreaking for Pit 10 project Davenport Works will host a ceremonial groundbreaking for its Pit 10 project on Friday, Feb. 27, marking a major milestone in continued investment at the facility, an Arconic news release says. The event brought together company leadership, labor representatives, project partners, and employees to recognize progress on the project and reaffirm a shared commitment to [...]
	Shed, vehicle, and heavy machinery deemed total loss after fire Firefighters said a car, backhoe, two telephone poles, and trees were also lost in the fire.
	Brush fire in Carbon Cliff burns 5-10 acres in wooded area on Friday The fire was located in a wooded area south of the intersection of First Avenue North and State Street.
	Man charged with arson after fire at Great River State Wildlife Management Area 21-year-old Trent A. Schafer was charged with one count of arson after witnesses allegedly saw him set fire to grass in the preserve. About 700 acres were burned.
	Fire causes severe damage to shed A building appeared to be severely damaged after catching fire Friday evening.
	May hearing set for change of venue motion in Jamison Fisher murder case Jamison Fisher is accused of murdering 11-year-old Trudy Appleby in 1996.
	Officials: Volunteer firefighter, charged with arson in connection to Lee County, Illinois grass fire The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve made an arrest into a grass fire that was set intentionally at Green River Wildlife Area on Friday.
	Arconic breaks ground on new complex The Davenport Works facility held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Pit 10 project.
	Volunteer firefighter arrested after 700-acre fire in Lee County wildlife area A volunteer firefighter is in custody in connection with a fire at a Lee County wildlife area that spread over 700 acres, a news release says. Shortly before 11:15 a.m., Lee County Dispatch was notified of a large grass fire in the Green River State Wildlife Management Area that was intentionally set, the release says. [...]
	Alaska Senate resolution highlights ‘mutual respect’ and cooperation with Greenland The red and white flag of Greenland, along with those from other far-north regions, hangs from the chalet at Government Peak Recreation Center in Palmer while cross-country skiers race on March 14, 2024, during the Arctic Winter Games. The competition, which drew 2,000 competitors from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and northern Scandinavia, is an example of cultural and social ties between Alaska and Greenland. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)As President Donald Trump presses for a takeover of Greenland, some Alaska state lawmakers are trying to send a different message about state cooperation with the Arctic island. A resolution recently introduced in the state Senate, Senate Joint Resolution 24, seeks to promote continued friendship, cooperation and “mutual respect” between Alaska and Greenland, an autonomous and self-ruling territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and with a mostly Inuit population that has cultural ties to Alaska’s Indigenous peoples. The resolution expresses a commitment “to fostering friendship, mutual respect, and long-term cooperation between the peoples of the state and Greenland in support of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Arctic.” It names multiple links between Alaska and Greenland. Among those are “Indigenous cultures with histories stretching back millennia,” shared participation in organizations like the Arctic Council and research institutions, shared challenges concerning Arctic climate change and environmental protection and longstanding military collaborations that focus on Arctic security. Legislative resolutions, which express policy or philosophical positions, do not carry any power of law. But they can influence actions in Congress or other parts of government. At the first hearing on the resolution, held Thursday by the Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs, the main sponsor referred to the Trump administration’s continued Greenland push. “The impetus for this was the discussions on the federal level that could really disrupt this collaborative and this friendship that we have with other Arctic nations, Denmark and, by extension, Greenland,” said Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage. Giessel chairs the committee. Responding to a question, she said the measure is not intended as a criticism of Trump, although “certainly, there will be people that have that mindset.” Rather, “there’s people who recognize that the Arctic communities, the Arctic circumpolar countries, have such shared values, such shared culture. That’s what really is what we’re trying to emphasize here.” Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, the committee co-chair, addressed a false claim by Trump that the U.S. previously owned Greenland but returned control to Denmark. Trump made that claim during a speech at an international meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “I mean, we’ve never owned Greenland. We had a working relationship with it, but that is the truth,” Stevens said at the hearing. “It’s no intention to really slam the administration. But I think facts are facts.” The resolution was held for further consideration. Its next hearing in the committee is scheduled for March 5. Trump has continued to apply pressure on the international community in a quest to take control of the Arctic island. In a January social media post, he announced a 10% tariff, rising to 25% in June, on the Scandinavian nations, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with money due “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” But this week, he paused that tariff plan. Trump also announced last week that he was sending a U.S. Navy hospital ship to the island, which he claimed would deliver health care services to Greenlanders that the Danish government was failing to provide. But there is no evidence of any U.S. hospital ship being sent to Greenland, according to the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Greenlander’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, dismissed the hospital ship idea. “President Trump’s idea to send an American hospital ship here to Greenland is noted. But we have a public health system where treatment is free for citizens. It’s a deliberate choice. And a basic part of our society. It’s not like that in the United States, where it costs money to go to the doctor,” Nielsen said in a statement posted on Feb. 22 on Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Muscatine Compost Facility to open in March The Muscatine Compost Facility at the Transfer Station will open for the season in March.
	1 person injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall Davenport police said the victim's injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
	Iowa bill would classify hemp as agricultural commodity, restrict some products House Study Bill 753 would classify hemp as an agricultural commodity, which could give farmers clearer legal protection to grow, transport and sell their crops.
	Iowa chainsaw artist turns ash trees killed by invasive beetle into public art The emerald ash borer has decimated ash trees across the Midwest. Several cities have asked Gary Keenan to turn those leftover stumps into art.
	Girl Scout Week bringing promotions and celebrations to the Quad Cities The Girl Scout Week events will run from March 8-14.
	Arconic breaks ground on $175 million expansion in Riverdale, expected to add 40 jobs "This project represents continued investment, not only in equipment or infrastructure, but in people," Riverdale Mayor Anthony Heddlesten said.
	Iowa man turns tree stumps into art Emerald ash borers are an invasive species that can kill ash trees in one to three years. One Iowa man is turning those ash tree stumps into works of art.
	Highlight Zone: Week 8, high school playoff basketball The Highlight Zone airs Friday night at 10:15 p.m.
	Driest month EVER in the Quad Cities! It's not often we break an all-time weather/climate record in the Quad Cities, but it looks like we're about to do that once February comes to an end! The lowest precipitation total for any month ever was 0.01" in October of 1964. The second lowest is 0.02" in September of 1979. So far this February [...]
	Man injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall, police say A man was injured after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall Friday.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region for the week of Feb. 27, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Fire at Muscatine apartment results in an estimated $80K in damage The cause of the fire remains unknown and no injuries were reported.
	Man hospitalized after stabbing at NorthPark Mall, Davenport A 22-year-old man was transported to a Quad Cities hospital after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall on Friday afternoon, according to a news release from Davenport Police. Shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, Davenport police, Davenport Fire and Medic EMS responded to NorthPark Mall, 320 W. Kimberly Road, for a report of a stabbing. An initial [...]
	Man injured after stabbing at NorthPark Mall, police say A man was injured after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall Friday.
	Iron Tee's driving range reopens after wind damage The range was closed for a few days so crews could repair the damage.
	AmeriFile Tax Time Sweepstakes March 2026 OFFICIAL RULES Official rules for this sweepstakes
	Community mourns child killed in Davenport bus crash Davenport police and school officials have announced they will not be releasing the name of the child who was killed.
	Traffic alert: Portion of a street in Muscatine to close for bridge replacement project 155th Street will be closed to traffic over Little Mosquito Creek for a bridge replacement project, the Muscatine County Engineer’s Office said.
	Simon Estes has filled opera houses around the world This Iowan broke racial barriers for Black men in opera and used his acclaim and faith to give back as a philanthropist and humanitarian.
	Crews battle field fire in Carbon Cliff Firefighters from Carbon Cliff, Silvis and Colona all worked to extinguish the blaze.
	Will refunds for tariff revenue go into effect? Following the Supreme Court striking down President Trump's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, some lawmakers are trying to get businesses and consumers refunds for tariff revenue taken in. Our Quad Cities News Washington correspondent Maddie Biertempfel looks at when and if refunds would go into effect.
	Portion of Bridge Avenue closed as crews repair damaged power pole A portion of Bridge Avenue is closed near the Locust Street intersection as crews repair a power pole after a vehicle crash Friday afternoon.
	NorthPark Mall employee says fight broke out in food court, police present News 8 is on scene and will update when more details are available.
	QC Senior Expo returning to Davenport The QC Senior Expo returns to Davenport on Friday, March 27 with 40 senior-focused vendors to attend.
	22-year-old man injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall on Friday Police were called to the mall at about 2:49 p.m.
	Inside Iowa Politics: What’s the reason behind new way to handle budget standoff Iowa Republican legislators are discussing a change when a budget standoff stretches into a new budget year.
	Trudy Appleby: Judge can't rule on defense's change of venue request until hearing takes place Jamison Fisher's attorneys asked the judge to move his murder trial to a different county, claiming an impartial jury is "highly unlikely" due to media coverage.
	University of Iowa promotes robotic surgery for living kidney donations University of Iowa Health Care transplant surgeon Ramy El-Diwany recently performed the first robotic living donor nephrectomy, paving the way for more living kidney donations in the state.
	Project NOW Head Start program to receive $1.8 million in federal funds The funds, announced by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen on Friday, come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
	Iowa hunters can pitch rule changes at local meetings in March The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host a series of public meetings across the state to recap the recent hunting seasons and discuss potential rule changes for hunting and trapping.
	Police respond to NorthPark Mall A large police presence is gathered at NorthPark Mall.
	Multiple crews battle Carbon Cliff fire Our Quad Cities News has crews on the scene of a fire in Carbon Cliff. The fire is near the intersection of First Avenue North and State Street in Carbon Cliff. The fire is in a wooded area to the south of that intersection. Fire crews from Carbon Cliff/Barstow, Silvis, Colona, Hillsdale and Rapids City, [...]
	Crews battle field fire in Carbon Cliff Firefighters from Carbon Cliff, Silvis and Colona are all working to extinguish the blaze.
	Rock Island High School students walk out of class to protest district administration About 60 students participated in the walkout.
	Pentagon puts Scouts 'on notice' over DEI and girl-centered policies After threatening to sever ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts, Defense Secretary Hegseth announced a 6-month reprieve
	NASA redirects Artemis moon mission program, postponing a planned astronaut landing In shaking up its Artemis lunar program, NASA's new moon plan looks more like the Apollo missions of the 1960s. Instead of landing on the surface on Artemis III, NASA hopes to do so on Artemis IV.
	Jamison Fisher makes court appearance in Trudy Appleby case Jamison Fisher appeared in Henry County Court in Cambridge on Friday, February 27 for a pretrial hearing in the murder case of 11-year-old Trudy Appleby. Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal entered a motion to withdraw from the case. The motion was granted without objection. The court scheduled a hearing on other motions, including [...]
	Crews battle brush fire in Silvis, Carbon Cliff area Crews are battling a large brush fire behind the Silvis Walmart.
	Jamison Fisher appears in court, witness testimony hearing scheduled Jamison Fisher, charged in connection with the 1996 death of Trudy Appleby, appeared in court Friday for a pretrial conference.
	11 women business leaders to watch in Silicon Valley 11 women business leaders to watch in Silicon ValleyInternational Women’s History Month began as a weeklong event in the San Francisco Bay Area.In 1978, local teacher Molly Murphy McGregor led a celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society. She pegged the weeklong festivities to International Women’s Day on March 8—a rallying cry for women’s rights advocates dating back to 1908 when thousands of women marched through New York City, demanding better working hours and pay.In the 1980s, President Jimmy Carter declared March 2-8 Women’s History Week before Congress expanded the holiday to a full month. Now, millions of people around the world celebrate the visionary accomplishments of women every March. From the Olympic podium to ultraviolet light devices that clean hospitals and shared offices in seconds, CANOPY highlights 11 inspiring women transforming the future from San Francisco and Silicon Valley.Jenn HeilCEO, RevvelFreestyle skier Jenn Heil won her first Olympic medal, a gold for Canada, at the 2006 Winter Olympics and later held the Guinness World Record for most World Championship gold medals.In 2023, after graduating from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Heil turned her energy and winning mindset toward founding RYA, an AI-powered health platform that puts an Olympic-level care team at every woman’s fingertips. Last year, Heil was at the start line once again—this time as CEO of Revvel, which matches women with a personalized team of AI agents built by elite trainers of the world’s best athletes. The goal? To build resiliency, performance, and confidence, and champion womanhood in all forms.“Women’s health has been a hugely neglected area,” Heil said. “Women don’t have information on managing their health because it doesn’t exist, or their care providers aren’t adequately trained, and we’re looking to close that gap. I’m leveraging my background, taking sports science and blending that with healthcare to bring expertise from disciplines, including nutrition, physiotherapy, and kinesiology, to the everyday woman.”Sam De BrouwerCofounder and CEO of XY.AI Labs; Curator and Producer, TEDAI San FranciscoSam De Brouwer founded agentic AI health platform XY.AI Labs in 2023 after seeing firsthand how AI agents could solve problems to help mitigate the $1.5T “soul-crushing frictions” of healthcare operations. By offering a suite of AI agents to automate operations for revenue cycle management (RCM), data entry, document processing, and scheduling, XY.AI Labs gives clinicians more time to focus on care, not clicks. De Brouwer also curates and produces TEDAI, the first-of-its-kind TED Conference in San Francisco, inspired by her nonprofit work with One Laptop per Child from MIT Media Lab and TED conferences.“I’m excited by the opportunities that generative AI can offer in education and healthcare, specifically in medicine and biotech, and how it could accelerate discoveries for new treatments and therapeutics,” De Brouwer said. “I’m also fascinated by the conversations that generative AI triggers and how it pushes us to think and reflect on progress. It’s almost like witnessing a new cycle of human evolution in real-time.”Tory SchenkkanManaging Director, AvroKO SFInterior designer Tory Schenkkan worked in New York before returning to San Francisco, her home city, to raise a family and oversee the local studio of the critically acclaimed hospitality design firm AvroKO.Globally, AvroKO has delivered projects in 22 countries, including the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai—a textured aesthetic journey across continents and cities—and Thailand’s BKK Social Club, which pays homage to Argentine cuisine and the Belle Époque era of Buenos Aires in 1900. In the Bay Area, recent projects include SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, a restaurant and inn with three Michelin stars, the Jay Hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District, and the reimagination of a former popular stagecoach stop and Prohibition-era hangout into coastal escape The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. “It’s a challenging industry and can take a lot out of you, but there’s nothing like walking into a space you spent months or even years fussing over every detail and seeing all your ideas fully realized,” Schenkkan said. “If you want a career in interior design, go for it!”Catherine Crystal FosterFounder and Principal, Crystal Foster AdvisingCatherine Crystal Foster has decades of experience as a social entrepreneur and philanthropic leader, most recently as vice president, advisory, at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, where she led the San Francisco-based team to serve clients worldwide, accelerating hundreds of millions of dollars in philanthropic capital for ultrahigh-net-worth families, independent foundations, and corporate foundations.Now, Crystal Foster is dedicated to helping families and philanthropic organizations deliver “greater joy, meaning, and impact” under her eponymous advisory.“In this moment of fundamental rupture and breathtaking change across the U.S. government and civil society, there’s no shortage of thoughtful counsel and alarm-ringing within the philanthropic sector,” Crystal Foster said. “But this chaotic moment gives donors the precious opportunity to ground themselves in their ‘why,’ recommit to their ‘what,’ while revising their ‘how’ (the way they give). This grounding process can both activate the courage necessary to address current challenges and influence others who otherwise might not feel emboldened to act.”Liz WhitmanFounder and CEO, Exponent BeautyAntioxidants are fabulous anti-aging ingredients because they fight free radicals, but they’re fragile and degrade easily—despite efficacy claims, today’s skincare products contain premixed ingredients that degrade within weeks when exposed to light and air. Serial entrepreneur Liz Whitman’s “aha” moment came when she was President of The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden, a marquee salon- and spa-inspired beauty brand. Inspired by the way talented estheticians optimized skincare by mixing it immediately before treatment, Whitman founded and patented Exponent Beauty: the first skincare system that protects active ingredients in a powder format for peak potency.Exponent Beauty’s first product line, a consumer line of power serums available at Credo Beauty and Nordstrom, is patented to seamlessly dose clinical-grade vitamin C, retinol, and CoQ10 with hyaluronic acid to visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. Stamp, pump, mix in the palm of your hand, and apply.“People who use Exponent products see visible changes in their skin within one to two weeks—we’ve had customers report that their stubborn sunspots have faded within a very short period of time, which is incredible,” Whitman said. “Getting to a place in my career where I can make a product that I know for sure works is such a pleasure and a privilege.”Charlotte WeinerCofounder and CEO, Frontdoor BenefitsCharlotte Weiner and her cofounder Ben Sheldon launched Frontdoor Benefits in 2024. Their goal: to turn dead ends into front doors for public benefits access, so low-income Americans can easily access over $100 billion in unclaimed safety net benefits each year. Weiner says that while many people are aware that benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exist, the application process—from determining eligibility and enrollment through renewal and recertification—can pose significant obstacles and carry a stigma. Frontdoor Benefits partners with players like grocery stores and health plans to transform how families access public benefits through simple, mobile-friendly applications that connect directly to government systems and support people through every step.“A single parent in Norwalk applied for SNAP with Frontdoor Benefits. I’ll never forget her reaction. She described the financial burden that receiving SNAP benefits each month will lift for her family, and she also realized that SNAP entitles her to $3 tickets to the Norwalk Aquarium,” Weiner said. “This client was able to bring her son to the aquarium right after they got enrolled and sent our team beautiful photos from the aquarium. Those photos remind me why we do the work.”Jess HeitzCEO, TandyJess Heitz—who helped scale the supplements brand OLLY into a household name before its acquisition by Unilever—has always had a personal passion for all things sweet. When Tandy came knocking with an offer to develop candy that was both tasty AND beneficial, Heitz jumped at the opportunity.Tandy’s line of gummies and chocolate, NomNoms—available in Salted Caramel Crunch, Peanut Buttery Peanut, and Chocolate Dipped Churro—combine fun and function in outrageously tasty bites that tear down the wall between “candy” and “supplements.” “Tandy brings these worlds together for a treat that offers a real functional benefit, addressing the real reason you reached for it in the first place,” Heitz said. “Just enough sugar to taste amazing. A variety of classic, craveable flavors. Perfectly chewy texture—no stickiness was a must! Plus, functional ingredients people want: Stress Relief, Relaxation, Focus, Energy, and now Protein.”Julia CollinsFounder and CEO of Planet FWDIn 2019, food systems pioneer Julia Collins founded Planet FWD, a leading sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform for global consumer brands. A year later, she leveraged Planet FWD to create the crackers brand Moonshot Snacks under a concept of shorter, low-emission supply chains and more traceable ingredients. (Moonshot was such a successful impact showcase that Patagonia Provisions acquired the company in 2023.)Today, Planet FWD is focused on guiding companies to achieve net zero by spending less time reporting on their environmental impacts and more time actually reducing them. Using artificial intelligence to build digital twins of its customers’ operations, Planet FWD helps brands measure the impact of every aspect of its supply chain. from their head office downstream to a head of lettuce in a field.“We find that customers working with Planet FWD, such as the world’s largest global food service company, Compass Group, have been able to accelerate the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 percent. We’re making expansive, measurable impact,” Collins said.Karine SarkissianFounding Partner at Tamar Capital, Design Lead at Le StudioKarine Sarkissian cofounded Single Family Office, Tamar Capital, with her two brothers in 2016; now, they operate offices in Beirut, London, and San Francisco with a shared mission: deploying human and financial capital to create value, empower societies, and communities.Sarkissian believes that design is a way of life. In 2020, she cofounded Le Studio with Sophie Durey, an in-house Venture Studio-as-a-Service (VSaaS) model for enterprises, combining theory and practice to support every part of an entrepreneur’s journey through a curated curriculum and a series of resources, including workshops, toolkits, and a podcast.“We aim to be thought leaders in the space and to promote impactful entrepreneurship,” said Sarkissian. “We understand a company’s lifecycle, and we can work with firms at many different stages, from inception to raising future rounds. Our biggest goal is to give teams something tangible to implement quickly and successfully. We aspire to become the recognized gold standard for purpose-driven founders.”Caroline BarlerinFounder and CEO, Platypus AdvisorsCaroline Barlerin built her career on social innovation. Barlerin launched the neighborhood learning center NeighborNest as Twitter’s (now X) head of philanthropy and community outreach. She also built HP’s “Matter to a Million” game-changing partnership with Kiva, which subsequently made over $20 million of loans to more than 350,000 people.As CEO and founder of Platypus Advisors, Barlerin partners with companies at any growth stage, including Google, Okta, Uber, Splunk, Cruise, and Sephora, to implement cross-sector social initiatives that accelerate real-world impact. Barlerin also sits on the Board of the Global Fund for Women, which does crucial work around the intersection of climate and women’s rights.“Where planet and people come together is one of the intersections I think about most,” Barlerin said. “Tech has a critical role in sustainability and harnessing the power of innovation to help solve problems humans are causing in the short, middle, and long term. We must do this work in conversation with those impacted the most.”Jennifer NucklesChief Executive Officer and Chairperson, R-ZeroHealthy buildings company R-Zero combines ultraviolet light devices that disinfect air and surfaces in seconds with data to help companies and organizations improve indoor health while making energy savings across their real estate footprint.Netflix, Stanford Children’s Health, and the 49ers are already customers. Jennifer Nuckles believes Far UV technology will be as commonplace as mains electricity and a clean water supply within the next decade, providing sustainable, cost-effective solutions for protecting human capital and the environment for future generations.“I like building companies at scale, using technology to solve problems, benefit users, and disrupt large industries for the common good,” Nuckles said. “R-Zero allowed me to build a sustainable business that matters to everyone, not just early adopters. We spend so much money investing in computers and protecting our IP; why shouldn't we protect our human capital?”This story was produced by CANOPY and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	From snowplows to school buses: 10 ways cities are getting smarter From snowplows to school buses: 10 ways cities are getting smarterThe term “smart city” used to evoke shiny infrastructure projects—sensors bolted to streetlights, standalone apps, and dashboards that mostly reported activity, including maps and charts that looked impressive in a control room but weren’t connected to dispatch, work orders, routing, or how crews made decisions in the field. What’s changing now is quieter, but more consequential. It’s operational, and residents are starting to feel it in the basics: plowed streets, passable roads, reliable trash service, faster restoration after storms, and safer buses.The reason is straightforward: cities already run on moving assets. Snowplows, garbage trucks, bucket trucks, ambulances, buses, and heavy equipment are the front line of public services. When those fleets and assets are connected—through GPS, telematics, cameras, and automated reporting—cities can shift from “we think it happened” to “here’s what happened,” without pulling supervisors into hours of manual reconstruction or wasting taxpayer dollars.Research suggests that when cities use connected technologies to create real-time operational visibility, the payoff shows up in outcomes residents actually feel: 8%-10% fewer fatalities, 20%-35% faster emergency response, 10%-15% lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a 10%-20% reduction in unrecycled solid waste per capita. In many cities, smart mobility tools can also shave 15–30 minutes off the daily commute, meaning fewer cars stuck idling on the road and cleaner air overall. Improvements like these raise service quality, reduce costs and strengthen public confidence that city services are working.That’s why connected fleet technology is becoming one of the most practical forms of smart city technology. It doesn’t require rebuilding roads or installing brand-new citywide infrastructure. Instead, it turns vehicles and equipment cities already own into a real-time system for dispatch, documentation, and accountability. Public-sector outlets have increasingly pointed to these tools as a straightforward way to improve service delivery and reduce waste, even for fleets as unglamorous as garbage trucks.Samsara highlights 10 ways cities are using connected fleet technology to improve public services.1. Real-Time Snow Plow TrackingSnow response rarely fails because a city doesn’t have enough plows. It fails because conditions change faster than the plan. Drifting closes a priority corridor, an untreated hill turns into a hazard, and the city can’t confidently answer the simplest resident question: “Has my street been done yet?” Real-time tracking turns snow operations from a static route sheet into a live system that can be managed as the storm evolves—and, in many cases, shared publicly so residents can see progress street by street after a storm.In Grand Rapids, Michigan, local reporting described supervisors tracking snowplows with a GPS system so they can see where trucks are moving during storms, improving both internal coordination and transparency into post-storm operations.2. Pothole DetectionPotholes don’t show up one at a time—they spike after freezing–thaw cycles and heavy wind and rain seasons, when crews are already stretched thin. In many places, the discovery process is still complaint-driven: Residents hit a hole, report it, and wait. If vehicles can automatically flag repeated “hard hits” at the same location, road repair becomes prioritized based on where the damage is actually impacting drivers most.Jackson, Tennessee, announced a pothole response initiative that included piloting AI detection to automatically log pothole locations after winter weather. Local TV coverage later explained the citywide repair push and how teams were deployed across districts.3. Improved Trash Pickup and Service DeliveryFew services generate as many disputes as trash and recycling—often with limited evidence either way. When the only record is a route plan and a phone call, supervisors lose time reconstructing what happened, and crews get pulled off service to investigate.Digital verification changes that dynamic by making routes and service activity confirmable, so disagreements get resolved faster and operations stay focused on pickup, not paperwork.In Poughkeepsie, New York, the city’s program has been described as using fleet visibility and video to improve operations, including a reported reduction in accidents and faster clarity when incidents occur.4. Emergency Response Optimization (EMS and Fire)During a major incident, the challenge isn’t getting one department moving—it’s getting multiple departments moving in sync. Fire, EMS, police, utilities, and public works may all be responding at once, and the operational picture can change minute by minute. That’s where real-time visibility matters: It replaces static snapshots with a live view of where critical vehicles and assets actually are, so leaders can stage resources, redeploy units, and avoid delay when time is the constraint.With cities often juggling a patchwork of tools— including radio GPS, modem GPS, and Apple AirTags—consolidating into a single real-time system can help emergency teams better coordinate response.5. Faster Power RestorationStorm response is as much a dispatch-and-logistics challenge as it is a repair challenge. Utilities need to coordinate crews quickly while reducing preventable incidents in hazardous conditions—long shifts, low visibility, and constant reprioritization. Real-time crew and vehicle visibility turns restoration into a coordinated logistics operation rather than a chain of phone calls and guesswork.6. Public Transportation That’s More Predictable (and Safer)For riders, the “smart city” version of public transportation isn’t a flashy app—it’s a bus that arrives when the schedule says it will. The hardest part of delivering that reliability is that transit is dynamic: Congestion shifts, dwell times vary, and one delay can ripple into missed connections across an entire route. Without real-time visibility, agencies struggle to answer the most basic rider question—”Where is my bus?”—and to intervene early enough to prevent minor delays from becoming system-wide disruption.By deploying real-time vehicle gateways and open APIs, the transit systems can benefit from second-by-second tracking—even in underground tunnels where GPS signals typically fail–that enables them to make more accurate arrival predictions, solve the problem of ghost buses . and streamline maintenance by allowing teams to remotely diagnose engine faults. When cities eliminate data blind spots, they can create a more reliable, efficient, and rider-focused transit network.7. School Bus Safety and Parent Peace of MindSchool transportation is one of the most visible public operations, because the “customers” are kids and the audience is every parent. For a parent, a bus being late is time spent wondering where their child is. This lights up the phone lines, and teams have to focus on call responses rather than the important task of keeping the children safe on the road.But running safe service at scale requires more than annual training—it requires consistent, day-to-day reinforcement of behaviors like speed control, smooth braking, and seat belt compliance. When districts can measure those behaviors and review incidents quickly via GPS units and camera technology, safety becomes something they can manage continuously rather than react to after something goes wrong.8. Preventing Equipment TheftA stolen excavator or trailer isn’t just a property loss—it can stall roadwork, delay storm cleanup, and disrupt schedules across an entire department. Recovery also depends heavily on the first hours; if the search is broad and slow, the odds drop quickly. Real-time asset location data including GPS and video evidence narrows the hunt immediately and helps agencies act while the trail is still fresh.9. Air Quality and ‘Idle’ ReductionIdling is the kind of inefficiency that hides in plain sight: It happens in small increments across thousands of stops, shifts, and routes, quietly driving up fuel use, emissions, and wear. Most cities don’t have a way to see it consistently, which makes it hard to change without blunt rules that frustrate crews. When idling is measurable by vehicle and context via telematics, cities can help reduce idle time, vehicle downtime and fuel consumption without disrupting service.This is also where many cities start building the data foundation for electrification.10. Automated ReportingAfter hurricanes and severe storms, the work doesn’t end when debris is cleared and lights come back on—finance and operations teams still have to document what happened. Reimbursement often hinges on details that are easy to lose in the chaos: where crews were deployed, how far they traveled, and how long they worked. Automated reporting turns that documentation into a byproduct of operations, rather than a monthslong reconstruction effort.For agencies without maintenance facilities, the paper trail is often the first point of failure. Relying on drivers to collect, store, and submit physical documents is a massive administrative burden that wastes time and money.What’s next for smart cities?Across all 10 examples, the “smart” part isn’t a futuristic gadget. It’s operational clarity: knowing what’s happening in the field, being able to redirect work quickly, and having defensible records when residents, regulators, or auditors ask what occurred. That’s why connected fleet and field operations have become one of the most practical foundations for smart cities—they improve service reliability without requiring cities to rebuild the physical world to become more digital.Next, that same foundation is likely to be used in three ways cities are already moving toward:Predictive operations: using patterns in vehicle data and maintenance signals to prevent breakdowns, schedule work earlier, and keep critical services running with fewer surprises.Resilience and recovery at scale: not just responding faster to storms and emergencies but producing documentation automatically so reimbursement, audits, and after-action reviews aren’t a monthslong reconstruction effort.Targeted electrification and sustainability: as cities expand EV adoption, using real-time operations data to answer practical questions—what routes can electrify first, where charging is needed, and how to keep service levels stable during the transition.This story was produced by Samsara and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	LIST: Iowa QCA polling places for March 3 election Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins reminds voters that March 3 is Election Day for Davenport, North Scott and Pleasant Valley Community School Districts, as well as filling a vacancy on the Walcott City Council. “To reduce taxpayer expenses, Vote Centers will be open which allows voters to cast their vote at any of the 14 [...]
	OpenAI says it shares Anthropic's 'red lines' over military AI use OpenAI's Sam Altman says he shares the "red lines" set by rival Anthropic restricting how the military uses AI models, amid Anthropic's escalating feud with the Pentagon.
	PPEL, Walcott special election sites for March 3 election Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins reminds voters of the upcoming Election Day on March 3 for Davenport, North Scott and Pleasant Valley Community School Districts, as well as filling a vacancy in the office of City Council for the City of Walcott. “To reduce taxpayer expenses, Vote Centers will be open which allows voters to cast their vote at any of the 14 sites throughout the county,” said Tompkins. This election will include the Physical Plant & Equipment Levy for North Scott Schools. On March 3, Election Day, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the sites below: VC1 AG Donahue Fire Station 302 N Main St Donahue, IA VC2 B23 Bettendorf Library 2950 Learning Campus Dr Bettendorf, IA VC3 B53 TBK Bank Sports Complex 4850 Competition Drive Bettendorf, IA VC4 BG Bluegrass Public Safety Building 606 W Mayne St Blue Grass, IA VC5 D11 Davenport Fairmount Library 3000 N Fairmount St Davenport, IA VC6 D33 Scott County Administrative Center 600 W 4th St Davenport, IA VC7 D64 Duck Creek Park Lodge 3300 E Locust St Davenport, IA VC8 D72 C.A.S.I. 1035 W Kimberly Rd Davenport, IA VC9 D84 Davenport Eastern Library 6000 Eastern Av Davenport, IA VC10 EL1 Scott County Library 200 N 6th AVE Eldridge, IA VC11 LC1 First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire 200 S 12th St LeClaire, IA VC12 PR Princeton Community Center 428 River Dr Princeton, IA VC13 PV Trinity Lutheran Church 18137 Criswell St Pleasant Valley, IA VC14 WC Calvary Church of Walcott 100 E James St Walcott, IA For the upcoming Primary and General Elections later this year, all 66 Scott County poll site locations will be used as normal. For more information, please review the website: Elections - Elections - Scott County, Iowa
	Celebrate Girl Scout Week March 8 - 14 Girl Scouts nationwide will celebrate Girl Scout Week from March 8–14. The week recognizes the impact and legacy of Girl Scouts in local communities and across the country. The celebration culminates on March 12, the anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts in 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low officially launched a program that inspires millions of [...]
	4 Your Money \| Leading The Way When evaluating the overall economy, it is important investors focus on the future instead of past or current conditions. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, explains the Leading Economic Indicator and how the data suggests good news for risk assets.
	Multifamily dwelling fraud: What operators need to know to protect net operating income Multifamily dwelling fraud: What operators need to know to protect net operating incomeFraud isn’t a new challenge for apartment operators, but it’s becoming an increasingly costly one. From falsified application documents to check fraud and chargebacks, multifamily fraud takes many forms—and it’s hitting property management companies where it hurts most: their bottom line.Zego’s Multifamily Revenue Operations Report surveyed over 600 property managers across the industry about their critical revenue challenges in February 2025. And with fraud becoming a growing pain point, multifamily operators were asked to share how it’s impacting their business. The findings are a wake-up call for operators who haven’t yet prioritized fraud prevention as part of their revenue strategy.Let’s dig into the numbers and explore what you can do to protect your properties.Multifamily Fraud Is More Common Than You Might ThinkUnfortunately, there are numerous types of fraud that apartment operators need to take precautions against. When asked to identify the types of fraud they’ve encountered, operators pointed to a wide range of tactics that span across the resident lifecycle. Global Payments Only 23% of respondents said they had not experienced fraud—meaning the vast majority of multifamily operators are dealing with this issue in some capacity.The survey responses reveal just how widespread fraud has become. 77% of multifamily property operators reported experiencing some form of fraud at their properties in the past 12 months.Only 23% of respondents said they had not experienced fraud—meaning the vast majority of multifamily operators are dealing with this issue in some capacity.Even more concerning? 39% of property managers said they have experienced non-payment of rent directly tied to fraud. That’s nearly 4 in 10 communities losing rental income because a bad actor slipped through the cracks. Global Payments The Financial Toll of Multifamily FraudFraud doesn’t just create headaches for on-site teams. It drains revenue that could be reinvested into upgrading the property, improving resident experience, or operational efficiency. When asked to estimate their financial losses due to fraud over the past year, operators revealed some significant losses:22% lost more than $30,000.1 in 5 property managers lost over $40,000.Some reported losses exceeding $80,000. Global Payments Keep in mind that these figures don’t account for legal fees or additional labor costs to resolve instances of fraud. So it’s likely companies are losing far more than this to fraud. For companies operating on tight margins or managing large portfolios, these losses add up quickly. Suffice to say that multifamily fraud isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a serious threat to NOI.Check Fraud Is a Growing ConcernIs there one specific type of multifamily fraud keeping operators up at night? Check fraud. When asked about their level of concern regarding check and payment fraud:26% said they are extremely concerned.39% said they are very concerned.25% are somewhat concerned.That means 9 out of 10 property managers express some level of concern about check fraud, and for good reason. Global Payments Security deposit refunds are a particularly vulnerable area. Since most refunds are still issued via paper check, they present an easy target for fraudsters. When operators were asked if they had ever experienced check fraud related to a security deposit refund, 39% said yes. Global Payments Paper-Based Payments Are Part of the ProblemHere’s an important connection: Multifamily fraud and paper-based payments often go hand in hand.Multifamily operators report that 38% of their rent payments are still made using cash or check, while 62% are digital transactions. That’s a significant portion of payments flowing through methods that are more susceptible to fraud, errors, and processing delays. Global Payments Every paper check that comes through your office requires manual handling, introduces the risk of human error, and slows down cash flow. Checks can bounce. They can be forged or stolen. And they take days, or sometimes weeks, to clear.Accepting cash or money orders also comes with risks, including theft and a lack of a reliable audit trail.The takeaway? Reducing your reliance on paper-based payments and aiming for 100% digital payment acceptance is one of the most effective ways to minimize your exposure to multifamily fraud. Encouraging residents to pay digitally creates a more secure, trackable, and efficient process for everyone involved.5 ways to fight back against multifamily fraudThe good news is that you don’t have to accept fraud as a cost of doing business. There are five proactive steps you can take to protect your properties and your revenue.1. Prioritize Digital PaymentsThe more rent payments you can shift from cash and check to digital methods, the better. Digital transactions are easier to track, faster to process, and far less vulnerable to fraud. Consider offering multiple digital payment options—such as ACH, credit card, and debit card—to make it as convenient as possible for residents to pay electronically.2. Strengthen Your Screening ProcessWith 40% of operators reporting identity theft and 37% encountering falsified income documents, thorough applicant screening is essential. Verify identities, cross-check employment and income claims, and use technology that can flag inconsistencies before a lease is signed.3. Digitize Security Deposit RefundsAll phases of the resident lifecycle are susceptible to fraud, and that includes renter move-out. Since nearly 4 in 10 operators have experienced check fraud tied to security deposit refunds, it’s time to rethink how you handle move-out payments. Digital security deposit refunds eliminate the risks associated with paper checks and provide a clear, auditable record of the transaction.4. Invest in Revenue Protection TechnologyTechnology built specifically for multifamily fraud prevention can help you stay one step ahead of bad actors. These types of tools are designed to help operators safeguard their income by reducing payment fraud, minimizing chargebacks, and creating a more secure rent collection process. When fraud prevention is built into your payment platform, you gain peace of mind without adding complexity for your team.5. Train Your TeamYour on-site staff are your first line of defense. Make sure they know how to spot red flags—whether it’s a suspicious application, an unusual payment method, or a request that doesn’t add up. Regular training keeps fraud prevention top of mind across your organization.Protect Your Revenue Against Multifamily FraudMultifamily fraud isn’t going away, but operators who take a proactive approach can significantly reduce their risk. By embracing digital payments, tightening screening procedures, and leveraging purpose-built technology, you can protect your properties from costly losses.This story was produced by Zego and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Project NOW receives $1.8M for Head Start programs Project NOW, Inc. has been awarded $1,845,266 in federal funding for Head Start programming in the Quad Cities through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will support early childhood education and services for children and families in the area. “Head Start changes lives,” said Rep. Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “This $1.8 million [...]
	6 critical capabilities high-volume shippers should not ignore 6 critical capabilities high-volume shippers should not ignoreHigh-volume shippers face unique challenges that can make or break their e-commerce operations. When you’re processing thousands—or tens of thousands—of orders each month, the margin for error shrinks while the demand for speed, accuracy, and cost-efficiency multiplies. Manual processes that worked for shipping 500 packages per month become bottlenecks when scaled to enterprise-level shipment volumes.Enterprise shipping operations require sophisticated, robust technology designed to handle the complexities of large-scale fulfillment. Without a solution that creates a seamless shipping experience, brands face mounting costs, increased error rates, and frustrated customers.The fundamental value proposition is simple: automate repetitive tasks, eliminate manual data entry, reduce errors, and process exponentially more orders without proportionally increasing headcount or operational costs.But the devil is in the details. This guide from ShipStation helps you understand which capabilities matter most for high-volume operations, so you can make the right investment.1. Automation that optimizes operationsLabor-intensive shipping operations drain resources and increase costs. Enterprise automation changes this dramatically, as sophisticated workflows decrease labor and processing times. changes this dramatically. Sophisticated workflows can decrease labor and processing time by 66%.Shipping software can create rules that automate routine decisions across thousands of shipments, removing repetitive tasks and time-consuming steps and enabling leaders to redirect human resources toward higher-value activities.Automation allows scaling order volume without proportional increases in cost. An operation processing 10,000 monthly orders can scale to 20,000 without doubling the number of employees.Without automation, warehouse workers must manually determine the optimal carriers for each shipment, select the appropriate service levels, calculate shipping costs, verify addresses, route orders to the correct warehouses, and update inventory across multiple systems. Multiply these decisions across hundreds of daily orders, and errors, slowdowns, and inconsistencies become inevitable.Intelligent shipping software transforms chaos into clarity, making complex operations manageable through automated decision-making based on predefined business rules.The system selects the most cost-effective carrier service that meets delivery requirements, validates addresses to prevent costly shipping errors, and updates inventory seamlessly across all sales channels without manual intervention. Barcode-scanning integration accelerates picking and packing, and batch processing updates shipping statuses and prints thousands of shipping labels simultaneously. Meanwhile, key fulfillment milestones trigger automatic customer notifications and alert you of situations that require extra attention.Modern enterprise shipping platforms integrate directly with platforms and technology solutions—no workarounds necessary. These integrations can include e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, major carriers, ERP systems, warehouse management solutions, CRMs, and custom databases.Ultimately, automation drives measurable improvements in cost efficiency, accuracy, reliability, customer satisfaction, and scalability—the metrics that actually increase profitability and turn fulfillment from a cost center requiring constant oversight to a competitive advantage.2. Automation that strengthens flexibilitySoftware built for high volume lets you fulfill orders however you want. It automatically splits or routes orders based on inventory availability, customer proximity, and shipping requirements, resulting in fewer shipments, lower overall shipping costs, and decreased time in transit.With auto-splitting, the system divides orders into multiple shipments when items must ship separately due to weight restrictions, different warehouse locations, or partial fulfillment requirements.This helps manage orders that need unique handling, contain oversized items, are too heavy for a single box, or include products on backorder.If your products are bulky and awkwardly shaped, there’s little chance you’ll fit them all into a single package. Similarly, if you need to ship really heavy items, you’ll likely need to split orders into a few packages that are easier to handle in transit and don’t cost a fortune to ship. In many cases, it may be cheaper to send two smaller packages rather than one large one.Auto-routing determines the most efficient way to fulfill orders and routes them to the optimal fulfillment locations based on which warehouses are closest to the recipient’s address and which ones stock the items. It also groups products that can be shipped together from a single location, enabling faster delivery to your customers.With these order automation capabilities, you can prioritize shipping by proximity, create as many individual shipments as needed, reduce the number of locations required to fulfill an order, and avoid splitting an order unless necessary.3. Tools that transform shipping data and analytics into insightsOperational data isn’t just interesting. It’s essential for unlocking insights that drive business impact.Every shipment generates dozens of data points: carrier selection, service level, transit time, delivery status, cost, zone, weight, dimensions, and exceptions. Multiply this across tens of thousands of monthly shipments, and you’re generating millions of data points that either drive strategic advantage or remain untapped potential.The challenge isn’t collecting data—it’s turning raw shipping data into insights that actually improve performance and efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience.Most enterprise shippers operate partially blind to their true shipping performance. They know overall volumes and total costs, but lack granular visibility into what’s actually happening across carriers, service levels, and zones.You can’t improve what you can’t measure, and you can’t measure effectively without a consolidated shipping analytics platform that gives you a clear view of your entire shipping operation.The best shipping platforms feature built-in reporting and data tools for convenient access to information that informs optimizations—without building custom tools or manually stitching together reports—and for automatically generating and sharing specific reports with other teams.Some of the most intuitive analytics and visualization capabilities include:Geographic analysisCost analytics broken down by carrier, service level, and zoneOn-time delivery rates, transit times, and label breakdowns by carrierReal-time monitoring of delivery status and transit progressException analyticsPackaging and dimensional weight analysisSales insights and buying patternsFor businesses using shipping software APIs, analytics platforms can monitor API health to ensure reliability and prevent downtime and technical disruptions. Tracking API call volumes, response times, and error rates over time lets you identify degrading performance and uncover optimization opportunities for high-volume API users making millions of calls monthly.4. Rate shopping and carrier discounts that cut costsAt enterprise volumes, saving even a small percentage on each shipment adds up to significant annual savings. Shipping software attacks costs from multiple angles, creating compounding savings.The most direct and immediate savings come from access to prenegotiated carrier discounts and rate shopping capabilities across UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL Express, and other major carriers.Rate shopping helps you stay ahead of frequent rate and service changes by managing dynamic rates at scale. More importantly, it optimizes costs by comparing carrier options in real time and automatically selecting the shipping service that meets your requirements, balancing speed, cost, and reliability to get the best rates every time.Savings aren’t always obvious and are often overlooked. Poor inventory visibility leads to overselling and the cost of carrying excess stock, while shipping errors incur hidden costs that include reshipping expenses, customer service time, and potential customer attrition. These are more reasons why automated verification, address validation, systematic workflows, and real-time inventory synchronization are so crucial.5. Technology that streamlines international growthInternational expansion represents both a tremendous opportunity and significant complexity. It involves navigating customs regulations, preparing specialized documentation, managing carrier relationships across multiple countries, and ensuring compliance with varied international requirements.Enterprise shipping technology lets you ship internationally with confidence by transforming international fulfillment from a daunting challenge into a manageable, systematic process. Platforms can streamline cross-border shipping, removing barriers that have traditionally prevented companies from reaching customers worldwide.The most significant barrier to international shipping is customs documentation. Manually creating forms for thousands of global shipments is impossibly time-consuming and error-prone.Automated customs documentation eliminates the complications by pulling item information from your product database and account settings, then generating complete customs documentation.This automation isn’t just faster—it’s more accurate and consistent. When you define customs information once in your product records, that data automatically populates every international shipment containing those items.High-powered shipping platforms also electronically submit customs information directly to carriers’ systems, accelerating customs clearance, reducing risk, and eliminating the manual step of printing and attaching forms to packages.Beyond generating customs documentation, an enterprise-grade platform helps you navigate and adapt to compliance and regulatory requirements and manage duties and taxes.6. A single source that manages multiple international carriersDifferent carriers excel in different regions and service levels. Shipping software that integrates with multiple international carriers enables enterprises to optimize carrier selection by destination, service level, and cost without managing separate systems for each carrier.The best shipping platforms integrate with major international carriers and regional carriers across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe, so businesses can leverage the strengths of different carriers for different international markets through a single platform.There’s no need to learn different processes for different carriers. The software automatically adapts to each carrier’s requirements.The cumulative effect of these capabilities means companies can expand into new international markets knowing their shipping infrastructure handles customs documentation, carrier integration, and compliance requirements automatically. What once required specialized expertise and significant manual labor becomes a smooth process with minimal additional overhead.Future-proofing operations with software that grows with youFast-growing brands should also pay attention. Navigating the transition from mid-volume to high-volume shipping requires investing today in handling tomorrow’s volume. Implementing enterprise-ready capabilities now builds the foundation your business needs to scale with revenue. Otherwise, you risk outgrowing your shipping solution.What starts as a simple task, like printing labels and dropping off packages, can quickly turn into a daily strain as order volume climbs. That’s why investing early in powerful shipping software is a smart move, not a luxury. Strong systems established early tend to last.Growth is exciting—but only when your operations can keep pace with increased demand.High-volume and enterprise-level shippers need to move fast, automate everything, and integrate their complex systems without slowing down. The right platform empowers brands to fulfill more orders faster, maintain accuracy, and reduce expenses.At its core, it consolidates order management, label creation, carrier selection, inventory tracking, warehouse management, customer communication, and other shipping capabilities into a single platform that optimizes enterprise operations.This story was produced by ShipStation and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	2026 insurance satisfaction survey: How Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers compare 2026 insurance satisfaction survey: How Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers compareBoomers are more likely to be impressed by their insurer’s range of policy offerings, especially with auto insurance (88%), while Millennials report the highest satisfaction with the digital experience (85% for both auto and home).Across all generations, satisfaction with ease of service was high, while fair rate increases over time received the lowest satisfaction scores.Here, Insurance.com broke down the results of its annual insurance customer survey by generation — Gen Zers (30 and under), Millennials (31-45), Gen Xers (46-60), and Baby Boomers (61-79) — to find out what each generation thinks their home and auto insurance companies are doing right — and what they’re doing wrong.Key Takeaways:Ease of service has the highest satisfaction: Across generations, people feel their insurer is easy to deal with.Rate increases are a cross-generational pain point: Only Gen Z appears to feel rate increases are fair, especially with auto insurance, and satisfaction decreases with age.Satisfaction with policy offerings increases with age, from 73% among Gen Zers to 88% among Boomers.No generation is satisfied with discounts, especially when it comes to auto insurance.How does Gen Z feel about insurance companies?Key findingsGen Z (under 30) reported the highest satisfaction with auto insurance in the areas of ease of service, digital experience, and bundling:Ease of service: 83%Bundling: 82%Digital experience: 81%It’s worth noting that other generations show higher satisfaction with both the ease of service and the digital experience, possibly indicating higher expectations from a tech-savvy generation. Gen Z expects to compare car insurance quotes online with ease.For home insurance, Gen Z reported the highest satisfaction with ease of service, exceptional standard coverages (90%), and claims handling:Ease of service: 92%Exceptional standard coverages: 90%Claims handling: 86%The score for exceptional standard coverages was well above that of any other generation, suggesting lower expectations for a newer generation of home insurance policyholders.Gen Z’s pain pointsThe lowest-satisfaction category among Gen Zers for auto insurance was for discounts, at 68%, followed closely by fair rate increases over time, at 70%.However, it’s notable that these were still the highest scores in each category across all generations.The discounts category was a pain point for Gen Z in the home insurance survey, but satisfaction was still higher than for any other generation at 78%.Gen Z expects a solid digital experience but is frustrated with the process of comparing insurance options.“I’m currently with State Farm, but I’m moving soon and am looking for new auto insurance,” says Natalie Schwartz, a Gen Z registered behavioral technician. “I’d love to find a company that offers discounts and uses an app with Face ID to make things easier. I’ve been looking already, but I keep getting a lot of spam emails from putting in my email. It’s so frustrating.”Insight: Because younger people started paying for insurance more recently and came into an already expensive insurance market, they’re used to paying higher rates and haven’t seen rates rise over a long period of time.Gen Z: The takeawayGen Z had generally high satisfaction with their insurers, even in areas where older generations were particularly displeased. Characteristics of the youngest generation in the insurance market could explain some of their reactions.Younger people have only recently started buying insurance and don’t have as much experience with insurance companies to compare.Insurance rates have been rising steadily for several years, so rate increases don’t appear as an anomaly.The digitization of insurance policy purchase and management is precisely what they expect, while older generations may have found it harder to adapt.How do Millennials feel about insurance companies?Key findingsFor Millennials (31-45), overall customer satisfaction, ease of service, and the digital experience are the most important. However, the category rankings vary for auto and home insurance.For auto insurance, categories with the highest satisfaction ratings are:Overall customer satisfaction: 87%Ease of service 86%Digital experience 85%Millennials reported higher overall customer satisfaction and a better digital experience than other generations, showing that easy-to-use digital platforms provide a better insurance experience. Millennials balance digital services with personal help.“I have Progressive through a local agent,” Cody Robinson, a millennial office manager from South Carolina, says. “I’m happy with the rates and how easy it is to deal with the company. I use the app for everything, and it works well. I’ve only had them for a year, so I’m not sure how rates will go up.”Home insurance is slightly different, with the highest ratings for:Ease of service: 87%Digital experience: 85%Overall customer satisfaction: 83%As with auto insurance, millennials report higher satisfaction with the digital experience than other generations, suggesting that they are sufficiently tech-savvy to manage insurance needs online.Pain points for MillennialsMillennials report the lowest satisfaction with auto insurance was fair rate increases over time, at 61%, followed by discounts, at 64%.Home insurance followed the same pattern, with 67% of rate increases over time being fair, followed by 71% for discounts.However, in both auto and home, these low satisfaction scores were higher than those offered by Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.Insight: Millennials have faced a difficult economy, where high costs have made it harder to achieve goals like homeownership that were more readily attainable for previous generations. That makes them more likely to be frustrated with high insurance costs.Millennials: The TakeawayMillennials reported higher satisfaction with digital platforms than any other generation and were less satisfied than Gen Z with rate increases and discounts.Millennials were the first generation to grow up with easy access to computers, making them more comfortable with digital platforms.Millennials prefer to handle most insurance needs online or through an app, with the option to speak with a human if necessary.With high student loans and personal debt and the rising cost of homeownership, millennials seek the greatest value for their money.How does Gen X feel about insurance companies?Key findingsGen X (46-60) reports the highest satisfaction with ease of service, policy offerings, and overall customer satisfaction for both auto and home.Categories with the highest satisfaction scores for Gen X in auto insurance were:Ease of service: 87%Overall customer satisfaction: 84%Policy offerings: 81%Gen X reported higher satisfaction with ease of service and policy offerings than Gen Z and Millennials, but their overall customer satisfaction was lower than that of Millennials and Boomers, although car insurance rates for this age group are the cheapest.Gen X reported the highest satisfaction for home insurance in the same three categories as auto:Ease of service: 87%Overall customer satisfaction: 82%Policy offerings: 82%While Gen X reported the highest satisfaction with ease of service, it was lower than that of other generations, possibly indicating a less seamless transition to digital services than among younger generations. Personal service still matters when it comes to satisfaction."I have State Farm, and I've been with them through a local agent for 20 years," says Candace Phillips, a Gen X office manager. "I've never had problems, and they are quick to answer questions and concerns. I have a home and car bundle, and the prices are very reasonable."Pain points for Gen XGen X reports the lowest satisfaction with auto insurance cost, with fair rate increases over time at 55% and discounts at 60%.Home insurance saw similar findings, with 56% for fair rate increases and 60% for discounts. Only Baby Boomers showed less satisfaction in these categories.Gen X had the lowest satisfaction score of all generations with the digital experience in the auto insurance survey.Insight: High satisfaction with ease of service for Gen X, combined with lower scores for digital service, speaks to a generation that has seen the shift away from personal service and still appreciates being able to access it.Gen X: The TakeawayGen X reported the highest satisfaction with service ease, but these numbers were lower than those of other generations. The lowest satisfaction for both home and auto was with fair rate increases over time.As Gen X approaches retirement, rising costs are causing frustration for a generation that already struggled to recover from the Great Recession of 2008.Many Gen X cohorts expect to bundle home and auto insurance and to take advantage of other discounts.Gen X didn’t grow up online, but they are tech-savvy, blending online services with the human touch.How do Baby Boomers feel about insurance companies?Key findingsBaby Boomers (61-79) report the highest satisfaction for ease of service, policy offerings, and overall customer satisfaction for both auto and home insurance.For auto insurance, the highest satisfaction categories are:Ease of service: 90%Policy offerings: 88%Overall customer satisfaction: 86%Boomers had the highest satisfaction ratings for ease of service and policy offerings compared to other generations, indicating that insurance companies are still providing good service despite the loss of the personal connection older generations were used to.“When I started getting insurance, an agent would come to your house and suggest appropriate coverage after talking to you for a while,” says Patricia Robinson, a Baby Boomer retiree from South Carolina. “Now you do everything over the phone and online instead of having a personal connection. It can be more convenient, but it makes you feel unimportant.”Results for home insurance were similar:Ease of service: 87%Policy offerings: 86%Overall customer satisfaction: 84%Baby Boomers reported higher satisfaction with policy offerings and overall customer satisfaction than other generations, indicating greater satisfaction with their insurers overall.Boomers’ pain pointsBaby Boomers reported the lowest satisfaction in auto insurance, with drivers with tickets at 48% and fair rate increases at 51%.Home insurance had the lowest satisfaction, with fair rate increases at 50% and exceptional standard coverages at 53%, likely reflecting higher expectations.In both auto and home insurance, Baby Boomers had the lowest satisfaction rates across these categories compared with other generations.Insight: Baby Boomers have been buying insurance for decades, have seen skyrocketing rates, and are the generation least likely to see those increases as fair.Baby Boomers: The takeawayBaby Boomers report the highest satisfaction with service ease and with policy offerings of any generation. They report the lowest satisfaction with fair rate increases among all generations.Boomers have had insurance the longest and have seen premiums rise exponentially.Baby Boomers are typically retired and on a fixed income, seeking affordable coverage.Baby Boomers want to develop a relationship with their agent and expect personalized service to meet their needs.“Baby Boomers are more used to everything just being covered and wanting smaller deductibles, but several do not fall in that category. They have probably experienced a more drastic change than other age groups,” says Zack Pope, agency manager at David Pope Insurance in Missouri.Cross-generational comparison: What drives insurance company satisfaction?While each generation has its own unique views on insurance, there are some commonalities:Across generations, people report the highest satisfaction with ease of service and the lowest satisfaction with the fairness of rate increases.Overall, customer satisfaction is high across generations, although Gen Z is less impressed when it comes to auto insurance.Satisfaction drops with each older generation in categories related to costs, including discounts, fair rate increases over time, and drivers with tickets.The tables below compare our survey results for auto and home insurance. You can see many similarities across insurance types and generational cohorts. Insurance.com Insurance.com Final thoughts: Insurers should consider generational differences moving forwardRecent generations have grown up with a greater digital presence and increasingly diverse values and expectations. Insurers cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to insurance and expect it to translate across multiple generations.While younger generations prioritize the insurer's user experience, older generations prioritize trust and are willing to maintain a more personal relationship with the insurer. To bridge the generation gap, insurers need a strong digital platform complemented by human support.Across all generations, frustration is only growing with ongoing rate increases, although younger generations are more likely to view those increases as fair. As this drives people to look for cheaper coverage, insurers will need to find new ways to keep customers loyal.“I feel that age groups have less to deal with how people handle insurance than economic standing, density of population, or where the person lives,” Pope says.However, generation is also interconnected with those factors, with younger generations more likely to face financial struggles and to gravitate toward urban centers, where amenities are accessible. Older generations tend to be more financially stable and purchase larger homes in suburban areas. They may be more concerned with finding the best home and auto insurance companies than with the cheapest.All of these things impact insurance needs, and what people value in an insurance company as they move through the stages of life, one thing is clear: Good service is not negotiable.MethodologyIn the fall of 2025, Insurance.com surveyed 2,000 insurance customers. The survey was conducted by independent market research service Dynata. Customers were asked to rate their insurance company on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating very unsatisfied and 5 indicating highly satisfied, across various categories for home and auto insurance.Responses of 4 or 5 were included to create an average for satisfied customers, and those averages were separated by generation into:Generation Z, represented by ages 30 and underMillennials (Generation Y), represented by ages 31-45Generation X, represented by ages 46-60Baby Boomers, represented by ages 61-79+This story was produced by Insurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to assess CRM customer support quality before you commit How to assess CRM customer support quality before you commitChoosing a CRM solution is never an easy decision. Sales managers, marketing directors, and business owners spend weeks comparing features, pricing models, and integrations. But when it comes time to sign the contract, most teams overlook a critical factor: The quality of the CRM’s customer support system.This oversight becomes costly fast. When your team faces a technical issue during a critical sales quarter or needs urgent help configuring a new automation workflow, the difference between responsive, knowledgeable support and a frustrating ticket queue can directly impact your bottom line.According to a customer experience survey, 73% of customers say they would switch services after multiple bad support experiences. In the CRM world, where adoption drives ROI, poor vendor support doesn’t just frustrate users—it derails implementations and diminishes the value of your entire investment.Here’s Nutshell’s framework for evaluating CRM vendor customer support systems before you commit, ensuring you get the most from your CRM investment and partner with a vendor that will support your team when it matters.Key takeawaysSupport quality directly impacts productivity and ROI—evaluate it before committing, not after problems ariseMost vendor SLAs are misleading because response time doesn’t equal resolution time—know what questions to ask before you investA structured evaluation framework prevents costly support disappointments and helps you compare vendors objectivelyWhy CRM vendor support quality mattersThe connection between vendor support quality and CRM success extends far beyond resolving technical glitches. When sales representatives can’t access critical customer data because of a sync error, or marketing teams lose hours troubleshooting email automation failures, the productivity cost compounds quickly.Research shows that 89% of customers are more likely to make repeat purchases after experiencing good customer service—and this principle applies equally to software vendors and their clients.The productivity impact of poor supportConsider a common scenario: A sales manager implements a new pipeline workflow on Monday morning, only to discover that lead routing rules aren’t triggering correctly. With responsive CRM support, this issue is resolved within hours through live chat or phone support, minimizing disruption.Without quality support, the same issue becomes a multiday email thread where team members repeatedly explain the problem to different support agents. It leads to missed follow-ups and frustrated sales representatives who lose trust in the system.How support quality affects CRM adoptionThe impact on CRM adoption rates is particularly significant. When teams know they can get quick, knowledgeable help when problems arise, they’re more likely to explore advanced features and optimize their workflows.But when support experiences are consistently frustrating, users revert to spreadsheets and manual processes, undermining the entire purpose of the CRM investment.What support quality reveals about vendorsBeyond immediate problem resolution, vendor support quality tells you something deeper about the CRM vendor’s organizational characteristics. Companies that invest in a comprehensive support infrastructure—including robust knowledge bases, multiple communication channels, and well-trained support teams—tend to demonstrate the same attention to detail in their product development and customer relationships.Evaluating support quality during the vendor selection process provides insight into the long-term partnership you’re considering.Understanding the CRM support evaluation frameworkEvaluating CRM vendor support requires moving beyond surface-level promises and examining concrete, measurable factors that indicate true support quality.Many CRM vendors highlight their “award-winning support” or “dedicated customer success teams” in marketing materials. But these claims mean nothing without a structured evaluation framework to assess actual capabilities. Nutshell The 7 evaluation dimensionsA solid support evaluation framework should examine seven key dimensions:Response time guaranteesAvailable communication channelsSeverity classification systemsEscalation processesSupport team expertiseVendor track recordTransparency around security and pricingEach dimension provides specific insight into how the vendor will handle your support needs across different scenarios, from routine questions to critical system failures.Why structured evaluation prevents biasWithout structured evaluation criteria, buyers can experience “last-vendor bias”—where the most recent demo or sales conversation disproportionately influences their decision.Research indicates that organizations with documented evaluation requirements complete vendor selection faster and with better outcomes than those that define needs reactively during the RFP process.Creating objectivity through scoringPutting together a weighted scoring system before you talk to vendors allows for objective comparison across multiple CRM options.This systematic approach reveals meaningful differences that casual conversations miss—such as whether “24/7 support” truly means round-the-clock access to knowledgeable agents or simply an automated ticket system that acknowledges requests outside business hours.7 key evaluation criteria for CRM vendor support1. Response time guarantees (and what they really mean)Most vendor SLAs highlight impressive response times. But understanding what these promises actually deliver requires careful examination. Many CRM vendors advertise impressive response times—”We respond to all inquiries within one hour!”—without clarifying what “response” means in practice.The critical distinction: Response vs. resolutionThe critical distinction lies between response time and resolution time. A “response” might be an automated email acknowledging your ticket, while “resolution” represents actual problem-solving by a knowledgeable support agent.According to research on IT service management, organizations frequently confuse these metrics, leading to inflated expectations and disappointment when urgent issues remain unresolved despite meeting published response time SLAs.What to examine in response time SLAsWhen evaluating response time guarantees, there are two specific factors to look out for.First, determine if the commitment applies 24/7 or only during business hours. A vendor promising one-hour response times during their business hours offers significantly less value than one providing round-the-clock support, particularly for teams operating across multiple time zones.Second, verify how the vendor defines different severity levels and if response times would vary accordingly. Critical production outages should trigger faster response protocols than general feature questions.Real-world example: Same-day responseConsider this example: Company A’s CRM vendor promises “same-day response for all support inquiries.” When a database sync failure prevents the sales team from accessing updated lead information, they submit a support ticket at 9 a.m.They receive an automated acknowledgment within minutes, but the first substantive response from a human agent doesn’t arrive until 4 p.m.—technically meeting the same-day commitment but leaving the team without functionality for a full business day.On the other hand, Company B’s CRM vendor defines response time as “initial troubleshooting begins within” specific time frames based on severity level. This provides Company B’s sales team with clearer expectations and more meaningful guarantees.What to look for in quality CRM vendorsThe best CRM with excellent customer support will provide detailed SLA documentation that specifies exact time frames for both response and resolution across different issue types, along with clear escalation procedures when these commitments aren’t met.2. Support channels and availabilityModern CRM users need flexibility in how they access support, and the range of available communication channels reveals the vendor’s commitment to accessibility.The importance of multichannel supportThe most effective support systems offer multiple channels, including phone, email, live chat, and video conferencing. This multichannel approach allows users to choose the method that best fits their immediate needs and communication preferences.Why live chat mattersLive chat has emerged as a particularly valuable support channel for CRM users. Unlike email, which can involve lengthy back-and-forth exchanges, or phone support, which requires scheduling and availability alignment, live chat enables real-time problem-solving while maintaining written documentation of the conversation.Teams can share screenshots, error messages, and account details instantly, accelerating diagnosis and resolution. Live chat maintains a consistently high average customer satisfaction rate, typically over 80%.The role of AI chatbots in 24/7 supportThe integration of AI chatbots alongside human support represents an evolution in CRM customer support availability. Well-implemented AI chatbots provide instant responses to common questions about features, account settings, and basic troubleshooting. And it’s available 24/7 without the need for a human agent.When issues require human expertise, effective chatbot systems seamlessly hand off the conversation to live agents along with the full context of the discussion, preventing customers from repeating information.Example: AI chatbot with human handoffConsider how a comprehensive support system might work: A marketing manager encounters an issue with email automation at 11 p.m. while preparing a campaign for the next morning. They access the CRM vendor’s live chat, where an AI chatbot trained on the vendor’s knowledge base immediately provides relevant troubleshooting steps based on the specific error message.If the automated guidance resolves the issue, the manager continues their work without much delay. If the problem requires human expertise, the chatbot captures all relevant details and routes the conversation to the first available support agent when business hours resume. This ensures the support agent has complete context for immediate troubleshooting.Evaluating coverage hours and geographyThe availability dimension extends beyond channel variety to include coverage hours and geographic support. Vendors serving global clients should provide support across multiple time zones, while those focused on specific regions might reasonably limit coverage to business hours in their primary markets.The key is transparency—vendors should clearly communicate when different support channels are staffed and what level of assistance is available during off-hours.3. Severity classification systemA well-defined severity classification system ensures that CRM vendors prioritize support requests appropriately. With it, critical issues receive immediate attention, and routine questions move through standard channels.Why severity definitions matterThe absence of clear severity definitions creates ambiguity that can leave urgent business problems languishing in general support queues.The standard four-tier systemMost enterprise software vendors, including leading CRM platforms, use a four-tier severity system that establishes objective criteria for classifying issues.Severity 1 (Critical): Typically covers situations where the CRM system is completely down or a critical business function is unavailable, requiring immediate response and continuous work until resolution.Severity 2 (High): Addresses significant degradation where key features are impaired, but workarounds exist.Severity 3 (Medium): Encompasses partial degradation or minor feature issues that don’t prevent overall system use.Severity 4 (Low): Includes general questions, feature requests, and informational inquiries.How objectivity prevents misclassificationThis framework’s value lies in its objectivity. When a sales director can’t access the CRM due to authentication failures, a clear severity system classifies this as S1 or S2, triggering appropriate response protocols.When a user asks how to customize a dashboard view, the same system appropriately categorizes this as S4, setting realistic expectations for response timing without suggesting the request lacks importance.Red flags: Missing severity definitionsRed flags emerge when vendors lack published severity definitions or use vague language like “we treat all issues seriously” without specifying how priorities are assigned. This ambiguity often results in critical issues receiving the same queued response as routine questions, potentially leaving teams without essential functionality for extended periods.Questions to ask CRM vendorsWhen evaluating a CRM vendor’s customer support, ask specifically about their severity classification system. Request documentation showing how different issue types map to severity levels, what response and resolution time commitments apply to each level, and how customers can escalate if they believe an issue is misclassified.Vendors confident in their support systems will readily provide this information, while those who deflect or provide vague answers may lack structured support processes.4. Escalation process documentationEven the most capable front-line support agents occasionally encounter issues requiring specialized expertise or management intervention. A documented escalation process ensures that complex problems move efficiently to the right resources without leaving customers stuck in endless back-and-forth with agents who lack the authority or knowledge to resolve their concerns.Three types of escalation pathsEffective escalation frameworks typically incorporate three types of escalation paths:Functional escalation: Routes issues to specialists with specific technical expertise—transferring a complex API integration question from general support to the engineering team, for example.Hierarchical escalation: Elevates issues to managers or senior engineers when initial troubleshooting doesn’t achieve resolution or when customers request higher-level involvement.Automated escalation: Triggers when predetermined time frames pass without resolution, ensuring no issue languishes unattended regardless of manual oversight.The impact of documented proceduresResearch on vendor management shows that companies with well-defined escalation procedures experience 37% faster resolution times and higher satisfaction rates. Documentation itself signals organizational maturity—vendors who have formalized escalation paths have typically invested in support infrastructure and accountability systems that prevent issues from falling through gaps.What to request from vendorsWhen evaluating CRM vendors, request specific documentation outlining their escalation procedures. This should include clear contact points at each escalation level, time frames that trigger automatic escalation, and protocols for customers who believe their issues require immediate escalation.Strong vendors will confidently share this information, often providing direct access to escalation tools within their support portal.Warning signs of poor escalationRed flags include vague statements like “We escalate as needed” without documented procedures, resistance to sharing escalation pathways, or support systems that require customers to start over with new agents each time an issue escalates. These patterns suggest ad-hoc support processes that create frustration when complex problems arise.Escalation example: Integration sync failureConsider how escalation might work in practice: A finance team discovers that their CRM’s integration with their accounting software stopped syncing overnight, preventing invoice generation.They submit a support ticket classified as S2 (high severity). The tier-one agent troubleshoots standard connectivity issues but can’t identify the cause.A well-designed escalation process automatically routes this to a tier-two specialist with integration expertise after 30 minutes, who discovers a recent API change requiring configuration updates.The escalation happens seamlessly, with the specialist receiving full context from the initial troubleshooting. As a result, the issue reaches resolution within two hours of the initial ticket.Without clear escalation processes, the same issue might bounce between multiple agents over several days as the customer repeatedly explains the problem.5. Support team expertise and resourcesThe knowledge and capacity of a vendor’s support team directly determine how effectively they can help users maximize their CRM investment. Even the most sophisticated support infrastructure delivers poor results when staffed by inexperienced agents working with inadequate resources or unrealistic workload expectations.Training and product knowledgeSeveral factors indicate support team quality. Examine whether the vendor invests in comprehensive agent training. CRM systems can be complex, spanning sales automation, marketing workflows, reporting analytics, and integrations with dozens of third-party applications.Support agents need deep product knowledge to diagnose issues quickly and provide accurate guidance. Vendors who treat support as a cost center rather than a strategic investment often underinvest in training, resulting in agents who read from scripts rather than truly understanding the platform.Team capacity and turnover ratesAssess team capacity and stability. High agent turnover rates—common in call centers with demanding quotas and limited support—create inconsistent experiences as institutional knowledge continuously walks out the door.Industry data suggests call center attrition rates average around 42%, but a CRM with the best customer support typically maintains significantly lower turnover by treating support professionals as valued technical experts rather than expendable call handlers.Specialization and tiered expertiseInvestigate how the vendor structures support tiers and specializations. Mature support organizations may even include specialists who focus on specific product areas—marketing automation experts, API integration specialists, data migration professionals—allowing complex issues to reach appropriate expertise quickly rather than exhausting general agents who lack specialized knowledge.Questions about team qualificationsWhen evaluating vendors, ask direct questions about their support team:What training do new support agents receive?What is the average tenure of support staff?How are complex issues routed to specialists?Do agents have the authority to make decisions, or must they escalate routine requests to management?CRM vendors with strong customer support systems will answer these questions confidently, often highlighting their team’s expertise as a competitive advantage.Red flags in team capabilityRed flags include resistance to discussing team qualifications, vague responses about training programs, or evidence that support agents lack basic product knowledge during initial interactions. If the sales process reveals that the vendor’s own team struggles to answer product questions accurately, this foreshadows the support experience after purchase.6. Track record and referencesPast performance provides the most reliable predictor of future support quality. While every vendor can craft compelling marketing messages about their commitment to customer success, their actual track record with existing customers reveals the truth about their support capabilities.Requesting similar customer referencesDuring evaluation, specifically request references from companies with similar characteristics to your organization—Comparable size, industry, and use cases. When speaking with these references, ask targeted questions that reveal support quality:What was your last critical issue, and how long did the resolution take?How often do you need to escalate beyond first-level support?Do support agents typically understand your questions, or do you spend significant time explaining context?Has the vendor’s support quality changed over time as they’ve grown?Examining aggregate review dataBeyond individual references, examine aggregate indicators of support quality. Review platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot provide unfiltered customer feedback across large user bases.Look beyond overall ratings to read specific comments about support experiences, noting patterns in both praise and criticism. Strong vendors typically show consistent positive feedback about responsiveness and expertise, while problematic patterns—repeated complaints about slow response times, unhelpful agents, or unresolved issues—signal concerns regardless of how impressive the sales pitch sounds.Learning from case studiesCase studies offer another valuable perspective, particularly those documenting how vendors handled challenging situations. Did they help customers navigate major product updates or platform migrations successfully? How did they respond when service outages occurred?Vendors confident in their support quality will readily share stories of how they’ve supported customers through complex challenges.Evaluating incident transparencyAlso consider the vendor’s public transparency during incidents. When technical problems affect customers, strong vendors communicate proactively through status pages and direct notifications, providing regular updates until resolution.Vendors who go silent during outages or provide vague, defensive responses demonstrate a problematic support culture that will frustrate users during inevitable technical issues.7. Security, compliance, and transparencyA vendor’s approach to security, compliance, and pricing transparency reveals fundamental characteristics about their trustworthiness and long-term viability as a CRM partner. Evasiveness or opacity in these areas often indicates deeper organizational problems that will manifest in support quality and overall reliability.Security certifications and practicesA security evaluation should examine both technical safeguards and organizational practices. Strong CRM vendors maintain industry-standard certifications like SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and compliance with regulations such as GDPR, where applicable.These certifications require regular third-party audits, demonstrating ongoing commitment to security rather than one-time efforts. Beyond certifications, evaluate how the vendor handles data—including encryption practices, access controls, backup procedures, and incident response protocols.How vendors respond to security questionsDuring vendor evaluation, discuss security practices directly and observe how the vendor responds. Confident vendors with mature security programs will discuss their practices openly, often providing detailed documentation and connecting you with security specialists who can address technical questions.Red flags include reluctance to discuss security, vague responses about “industry-standard practices” without specifics, or resistance to providing evidence of certifications.The importance of transparencySeventy-five percent of consumers rate transparency as the top qualitative attribute they value in service providers. This transparency extends beyond security to include honest communication about product limitations, realistic timelines for issue resolution, and clear pricing without hidden fees.Many fail because SLA language lacks clarity around performance expectations, escalation paths, or accountability—problems rooted in insufficient transparency during the sales process.Pricing transparency mattersPricing transparency particularly matters for CRM support evaluation. Some vendors advertise attractive base prices but charge additional fees for phone support, after-hours assistance, or faster response times on support tickets. Others include comprehensive support in standard pricing.Neither approach is inherently wrong, but the lack of transparency creates budget surprises and resentment. When evaluating CRM vendors, explicitly ask whether any support channels or services incur additional costs beyond standard subscription fees.Transparency as a competitive advantageThe most trustworthy CRM vendors treat transparency as a competitive advantage, knowing that honest communication builds long-term partnerships. They readily discuss both strengths and limitations, provide clear documentation of security practices and pricing structures, and demonstrate through actions—not just promises—their commitment to supporting customers effectively.Creating your CRM support evaluation scorecardConverting evaluation criteria into an objective decision-making tool requires a structured scorecard that weights different factors according to your organization’s specific priorities. Nutshell Building your scorecard structureStart by listing the seven key evaluation criteria as scorecard rows:Response time guaranteesSupport channels and availabilitySeverity classification systemEscalation process documentationSupport team expertiseTrack record and referencesSecurity/compliance/transparencyFor each criterion, define specific rating levels (typically 1 to 5 or 1 to 10) with clear descriptions of what each score represents.Assigning criterion weightsNext, assign weight percentages to each criterion based on your priorities. A global enterprise operating across time zones might weigh after-hours support availability at 25%. In contrast, a small business working standard hours might assign this only 10% and place greater emphasis on response time guarantees at 25%.The weights should total 100% and reflect your team’s realistic needs rather than theoretical ideals.Example weighting approachFor example, a mid-sized B2B company might weigh its scorecard as follows:Response time guarantees (20%)Support channels and availability (15%)Severity classification (10%)Escalation processes (15%)Team expertise (20%)Track record (15%)Security/transparency (5%)This weighting reflects that response speed and team knowledge matter most to them, while they’re less concerned about after-hours availability or security certifications.Gathering evidence for scoringWhen evaluating each vendor, gather specific evidence for scoring.For response time guarantees, examine SLA documentation and note whether commitments cover response or resolution and apply 24/7 or business hours only.Test available support channel options:Initiate a presales chat to assess responsiveness.Submit a question via email to gauge typical response quality.Review the knowledge base for comprehensiveness.For a track record, speak with at least three references and read recent online reviews.Documenting your rationaleDocument the rationale behind each score. Rather than simply assigning “7/10” for team expertise, note “Score 7: Support agents demonstrated strong product knowledge during presales interactions, training program described as comprehensive, but several online reviews mention increased wait times, suggesting possible capacity issues.”This documentation helps when scores are close across vendors and provides justification for your final recommendation.Calculating weighted scoresCalculate weighted scores by multiplying each criterion score by its weight percentage, then summing these for a total score.Example: A vendor scoring 8 on response time (20% weight) contributes 1.6 points (8 × 0.20) to their total.The highest-scoring vendor based on weighted criteria represents the most objective match for your specific support needs.Using scorecards to inform decisionsRemember that scorecards inform decisions rather than make them automatically. If two vendors score within a few points of each other, review the detailed scoring to understand where the differences lie.Perhaps one vendor excels at response speed but lacks robust escalation processes, while another offers the inverse. Understanding these trade-offs helps you make informed choices aligned with your true priorities.Creating stakeholder documentationThe scorecard approach also creates valuable documentation for stakeholders. When explaining your CRM selection to leadership or budget committees, you can demonstrate a thorough, objective evaluation process rather than relying on subjective impressions from demos.This documentation proves particularly valuable if support quality issues emerge after purchase. It allows you to reference the evaluation criteria and vendor commitments made during the selection process.Red flags in CRM vendor support systemsCertain warning signs during vendor evaluation reliably predict problematic support experiences after purchase. Recognizing these red flags allows you to eliminate poor options before committing, regardless of how attractive other aspects of their CRM platform might appear.Vague scope definitionsVague scope definitions rank among the most common and consequential red flags. When vendors describe support coverage using broad language like “comprehensive support” or “assistance with all platform features.” Without specifying what’s included or excluded, they’re setting up future conflicts.Strong vendors provide detailed documentation listing covered support areas, explicitly noting any limitations or services requiring additional fees. Ambiguous scope language often leads to disputes where customers believe certain requests should be covered while vendors claim they fall outside standard support boundaries.Weak response time guaranteesResponse-time guarantees that lack substance represent another critical warning sign. Vendors may advertise impressive response times while defining “response” as mere acknowledgment rather than active troubleshooting.Weak guarantees also fail to specify coverage hours, severity-based variations, or consequences when commitments aren’t met. When vendors resist providing specific SLA documentation, they’re signaling that their actual support performance doesn’t match their marketing promises.Missing escalation proceduresMissing or unclear escalation procedures indicate ad-hoc support structures that function poorly under pressure. During evaluation, ask vendors to explain their escalation process step-by-step, including contact points, time frames, and criteria triggering escalation.Vague responses like “customers can request escalation if needed” without documented procedures suggest the vendor lacks a formal support infrastructure.Security and compliance evasivenessVendors handling sensitive customer data have an obligation to discuss security practices transparently.Those who deflect security questions, provide only vague assurances, or resist sharing certification documentation may lack adequate safeguards. This evasiveness often correlates with broader trust issues that manifest in support interactions.Overpromising without proofOverpromising capabilities without proof represents a red flag extending beyond support to overall vendor reliability.When vendors make extraordinary claims—”We resolve 95% of issues within one hour!” or “Our support team has never missed an SLA commitment!”—without offering evidence through case studies, customer references, or published metrics, they’re likely exaggerating.Strong vendors back bold claims with data and readily connect you with customers who can verify these assertions.Poor pricing transparencyHidden fees for support services, vague language about what triggers additional charges, or resistance to providing detailed cost breakdowns all signal vendors prioritizing short-term deal closure over long-term partnership.Service contract research shows that this lack of transparency directly contributes to high vendor relationship failure rates.Single points of failureSingle points of failure in the support structure indicate insufficient resource investment. If one person handles all specialized support for your industry, you’ll encounter significant delays when that individual is unavailable.During evaluation, ask about team depth and backup coverage for specialized expertise areas.Reactive-only service approachReactive service with no strategic guidance suggests vendors view support narrowly as problem-fixing rather than partnership. The best CRM customer support proactively shares best practices, alerts customers to potential issues before they become problems, and provides strategic guidance on maximizing platform value.When service is reactive, vendors focus purely on closing tickets without helping customers succeed, demonstrating concerning priorities.When to walk awayWhen you encounter these red flags during evaluation, don’t rationalize them away based on attractive pricing or features.Support quality issues compound over time, and what seems like a minor transparency concern during the sales process typically becomes a major friction point once you’re locked into a contract.Trust the warning signs and continue evaluating alternatives.Questions to ask during CRM vendor evaluationAsking targeted questions during vendor evaluation reveals critical details about support quality that marketing materials deliberately obscure. The following questions, organized by category, help you assess vendor capabilities objectively.Response and resolution time framesWhat is your average first response time for each severity level?How do you define “response” versus “resolution”?Do your SLA commitments cover response time, resolution time, or both?What hours does your SLA coverage apply—24/7, business hours in specific time zones, or variable by support tier?What happens if you miss your SLA commitments—do customers receive credits, refunds, or other compensation?Support channels and availabilityWhich support channels do you offer (phone, email, live chat, video conferencing, in-person)?Are all channels available during the same hours, or do some have limited availability?Do you use AI chatbots or automated systems, and if so, how do they hand off to human agents?Can customers speak directly with technical specialists, or must all requests route through generalist agents first?Do any support channels incur additional costs beyond base subscription fees?Escalation and issue trackingDo you have a documented escalation process?Can you provide written escalation procedures showing contact points and time frames at each level?How do customers request escalation if they feel their issue isn’t receiving adequate attention?Do escalated issues get assigned to new agents, or do they maintain continuity with existing support relationships?How do you prevent escalated issues from falling through organizational gaps?Team expertise and knowledgeWhat training do new support agents receive before handling customer requests?What is the average tenure of your support team members?Do you have specialists focused on specific product areas (integrations, automation, reporting) or general agents handling all request types?How do you measure and maintain support team knowledge as the product evolves?Can customers request assignment to specific agents who understand their environment?Security and complianceWhat security certifications do you maintain (such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance)?Can you provide documentation of your most recent certification audits?How do you handle data encryption, access controls, and backup procedures?What is your incident response process if security issues occur?How do you notify customers about security incidents?Pricing and hidden costsDoes your quoted pricing include full access to all support channels?Are there additional fees for phone support, after-hours assistance, or priority response times?How do you handle support costs if our team size or usage grows significantly?What support is included during initial implementation and onboarding versus ongoing operations?Do you charge separately for data migration, API support, or complex integration assistance?References and track recordCan you provide references from companies similar to ours in size, industry, and use case?What was your largest service outage in the past year, and how did you handle customer communication during the incident?How has your support quality changed as your customer base has grown?What do your customer satisfaction scores or Net Promoter Scores for support indicate?Can you share case studies showing how you’ve helped customers through complex implementations or challenges?How the CRM vendor responds mattersThe vendor’s response to these questions often reveals as much as the answers themselves. Strong vendors welcome detailed questions, answer confidently with specifics, and readily provide documentation.Defensive responses, vague generalities, or pushback against transparency requests signal concerns.Pay attention to whether vendors try to deflect questions to “discuss after contract signing” or claim certain information is “proprietary.” Reputable vendors understand that customers need this information to make informed decisions.Document vendor responses systematicallyKeep organized records of vendor responses, ideally using a spreadsheet where you can compare answers across multiple CRM options. This documentation proves valuable during final decision-making and provides reference material if support quality issues emerge after purchase.Making your final CRM vendor decisionConverting evaluation findings into a confident vendor selection requires synthesizing objective scores, subjective impressions, and strategic considerations about long-term partnership potential.Reviewing scorecard resultsBegin by reviewing your weighted scorecard results. If one vendor scores significantly higher than alternatives—typically 15% or more difference in total weighted score—this provides strong quantitative support for that selection.However, when scores fall within a narrow range, examine where vendors differ most significantly. Perhaps Vendor A excels at response speed but lacks robust escalation processes, while Vendor B offers comprehensive escalation but slower initial response.Understanding these trade-offs helps you prioritize based on your team’s realistic needs rather than theoretical ideals.Aligning with team needsConsider how each vendor’s support strengths align with your team’s working style and pain points. A sales organization that rarely encounters technical issues but needs fast answers when problems arise might prioritize response speed over escalation infrastructure.A marketing team running complex automation workflows might value deep technical expertise and proactive guidance over multichannel availability. The “best” support system isn’t objectively the best—it’s the best for your specific requirements.Negotiating SLA commitmentsNegotiate SLA commitments based on evaluation findings. Rather than accepting vendors’ standard support agreements, discuss customizing terms to address your priorities.If response time is critical, negotiate specific commitments with financial penalties for missed targets. If you need guaranteed escalation paths for critical issues, get these procedures documented in your contract.Strong vendors accommodate reasonable customization requests, recognizing that formalized commitments demonstrate confidence in their support capabilities.Identifying dealbreakersIdentify dealbreaker red flags that eliminate vendors regardless of other factors. Perhaps your organization handles sensitive customer data requiring specific security certifications, or your global operations demand 24/7 support coverage.Vendors who can’t meet these nonnegotiable requirements shouldn’t remain under consideration, regardless of attractive pricing or features. Compromising on true requirements creates ongoing problems that compound over time.Creating decision documentationDocument your decision rationale comprehensively. When presenting your CRM selection to leadership, stakeholders, or budget committees, explain how you evaluated support quality systematically rather than relying on sales pitches.Show your weighted scorecard, summarize key differentiators between vendors, and explain how your recommended option aligns with organizational priorities. This documentation proves particularly valuable if you need to revisit vendor selection or if support issues arise post-purchase—you can reference the evaluation criteria and commitments the vendor made during selection.Planning for accountabilityPlan for post-purchase accountability. Before signing contracts, establish baseline metrics for measuring actual support performance against vendor commitments.How will you track response times, resolution rates, and satisfaction? What triggers will indicate you should escalate concerns about support quality to vendor management? Setting these parameters in advance creates objective standards for ongoing vendor relationship management rather than relying on subjective impressions.Recognizing that selection isn’t permanentRemember that vendor selection isn’t permanent. Most CRM contracts include annual renewal points that provide opportunities to renegotiate or switch vendors if support quality doesn’t meet commitments.Document support experiences throughout the contract term, noting both positive interactions and concerning patterns. This ongoing assessment informs renewal decisions and provides leverage for requesting service improvements.Accepting reasonable uncertaintyFinally, recognize that even a thorough evaluation involves some uncertainty. Vendors can’t predict every scenario your team will encounter, and support quality sometimes changes as companies grow or face resource constraints.The goal isn’t eliminating all risk but rather making the most informed decision possible based on available evidence. Your structured evaluation significantly improves the odds of selecting a vendor whose support capabilities truly match your needs.Frequently asked questions about CRM customer support1. What’s the difference between response time and resolution time?Response time measures how quickly a vendor acknowledges your support request, while resolution time measures how long actual problem-solving takes. Many vendors define “response” as an automated acknowledgment rather than human troubleshooting. Always clarify whether SLA commitments cover response, resolution, or both—and verify that response means meaningful engagement.2. How do I know if a CRM vendor’s SLA is actually achievable?Look for specific, measurable commitments with defined consequences for missing targets. Achievable SLAs specify exact time frames for different severity levels, clarify 24/7 versus business hours coverage, distinguish response from resolution, and explain customer compensation when commitments aren’t met. Request references and check online reviews for patterns in actual support performance experiences.3. Should I prioritize 24/7 support or business hours support?It depends on your team’s working patterns and how critical uninterrupted CRM access is. Organizations with global teams, operations outside traditional hours, or automated workflows requiring constant uptime typically need 24/7 coverage. Companies working standard hours in a single region may find business hours support adequate, especially with strong self-service resources like comprehensive knowledge bases and AI chatbots available outside staffed hours.4. What does “escalation” mean in CRM support?Escalation moves support issues to a higher expertise or authority level when initial troubleshooting doesn’t resolve problems. Functional escalation routes to specialists, hierarchical escalation elevates to managers with decision-making authority, and automated escalation triggers after predetermined time frames. Effective escalation ensures complex problems reach appropriate resources quickly rather than bouncing between general agents.5. How can I verify a vendor’s security and compliance claims?Request official documentation like SOC 2 Type II reports, ISO 27001 certificates, or GDPR compliance attestations. Legitimate certifications come from independent auditors with specific dates—vendors should readily provide this during evaluation. You can verify certifications directly with issuing organizations. Also, ask references about their security experience and whether any incidents occurred.Make CRM customer support work for you from day oneEvaluating CRM vendor support quality before purchase is one of the most strategic decisions in software selection. While features, pricing, and integrations dominate discussions, support quality ultimately determines whether your team will successfully adopt the platform and achieve ROI.The framework in this guide—examining response time guarantees, support channels, severity classification, escalation processes, team expertise, track record, and transparency—provides a systematic approach that reveals meaningful differences between vendors.By creating a weighted scorecard, asking targeted questions, and recognizing red flags, you can move beyond marketing promises to understand true support capabilities.Support quality issues compound over time. What seems minor during evaluation—vague SLA language, missing escalation documentation, or resistance to transparency—becomes a major frustration after purchase. The most expensive CRM is one that sits underutilized because users can’t get the support they need to succeed.Invest time in a thorough support evaluation during vendor selection. Speak with references, test support channels, review online feedback, and document commitments. This upfront diligence prevents costly mistakes and positions your organization with a CRM partner committed to your success.When technical issues arise, or your team needs guidance, you’ll have confidence that responsive, knowledgeable support is ready to help you get the most from your CRM investment.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Super midsize jets: Why fractional fleets favor these models Super midsize jets: Why fractional fleets favor these modelsYou can be a private jet owner and still prioritize operational efficiency; the two are no longer mutually exclusive. While ultra-long-range flagships like the Bombardier Global 7500 capture the headlines, the real momentum in 2026 is happening in the “middle” of the market.Data from Honeywell’s 34th Annual Global Business Aviation Outlook indicates that the super midsize category is a primary driver of fractional fleet growth, which has grown by more than 65% since 2019 as operators expand to meet record demand.Corporations, in particular, favor this class because it perfectly aligns with the geography of global business. Beyond lower operating costs, these aircraft can access shorter regional runways, offering proximity to final destinations that larger "heavy" jets simply cannot reach. This article from Fractional Jet Ownership reveals that this combination of range, flexibility, and cost-efficiency is why super midsize models continue to lead fractional programs into the second half of the decade.The Shift Toward Private AviationPrivate aviation has maintained its post-2021 trajectory, but the method of travel has evolved.Sole ownership is increasingly viewed as an administrative burden; instead, the 2026 market has embraced the fractional model. Several parties share a single aircraft while providers manage the “logistics of flight”—crew recruitment, maintenance, and 2026 regulatory compliance.Under these models, the fractional fleet providers manage the heavy lifting of the operational side. By handling the complex requirements of hangaring, staffing, and safety compliance, they allow owners to focus on the utility of the aircraft rather than the logistics of the hangar.Within these managed fleets, the landscape is defined by four distinct categories:The light jet workhorse, like the Phenom 300 and its successor, the 300EThe super midsize (Bombardier Challenger 300/350 Series)The midsize standard, such as the Cessna Citation Latitude and XLS+The ultra-long-range flagships, mainly Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global 7500Among these, the super midsize remains the most requested share. Operators have leveraged this demand to record-breaking effect; for instance, the Challenger 300 series recently recorded over 210,000 departures in North America alone—the highest of any private jet model.Why the Love for Super Midsize Jets?Large fractional fleet operators are among the best clients for Bombardier's super midsize models, with over 1,000 aircraft delivered. According to recent reports, this platform recorded over 210,000 departures in North America in 2024, which is the highest of any private jet model.The appeal of this aircraft category is a combination of factors, such as:Good range: A range of approximately 3,200 nautical miles provides reliable coast-to-coast travel, a prerequisite for the North American corporate market.Access to a full-height cabin, which provides long-haul comfort typically reserved for the heavy-jet class.The ability to utilize shorter, regional runways, which expands destination options and significantly reduces time spent in ground transit.A more defensible hourly cost structure compared to ultra-long-range models, without sacrificing the premium "boardroom" environment.Let’s take them one by one:Range and Fuel EfficiencyWhile flagship jets are designed for 7,500 nautical mile polar hops, the vast majority of private missions are regional or transcontinental. A super midsize jet provides 3,000 to 3,500 nm of range, sufficient for New York to London (with a stop) or nonstop coast-to-coast flights regardless of winter headwinds.For a fractional owner, paying for the range of a heavy jet for a four-hour mission is increasingly seen as an operational inefficiency.The CabinThe defining characteristic of the super midsize class is the stand-up cabin, a feature historically reserved for $15M-plus heavy jets. Models like the Challenger 3500 and Cessna Citation Latitude feature completely level floors, allowing passengers to walk upright from the cockpit to the lavatory.On a five-hour transcontinental flight, this physical mobility is a productivity multiplier, allowing travelers to arrive prepared for work rather than fatigued by the cabin's geometry.In 2026, these cabins function as “offices in the sky.” High-speed Ka-band/Ku-band Wi-Fi and Starlink integration have become standard, ensuring the boardroom environment remains uninterrupted by altitude.Direct Operating CostsOne reason the super midsize is seen as a disruptor in the private aviation world is that it provides 90% of the luxury of a $75M Gulfstream for about 60% of the price. A Challenger 3500 might cost around $4,000/hr to operate, whereas a Global 6000 can easily double that.For a fractional provider, this translates to more competitive pricing for the share owner. Plus, these models hold their value better due to high demand in the pre-owned market.The Future is Super Midsize and FractionalThe use of fractional ownership by figures like Patrick Mahomes or Bill Gates reflects a broader market correction toward “smart” lift. The era of the “trophy asset” is being replaced by a focus on utility and ease of management. As the super midsize category continues to evolve, it remains the definitive sanctuary for the value-driven traveler in 2026.This story was produced by Fractional Jet Ownership and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Students at Rock Island High School held a walkout The students said they are protesting "unfair treatment" by the school administration and ICE actions.
	Community mourns loss of Jefferson Elementary students Police say the 11-year-old "Slipped and fell under a bus," and later died from their injuries.
	Students walk out at Rock Island High School About 60 students walked out of Rock Island High School on Friday. It happened around 9:40 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Rock Island-Milan School District. "A small group of scholars created a group chat yesterday to encourage participation in the walkout," a statement to Our Quad Cities News said. "Preliminary indications from scholars [...]
	How structured data helps your brand get cited in AI results How structured data helps your brand get cited in AI resultsTLDR: Search and discovery are no longer limited to traditional blue links. Content is cited in AI-generated answers inside platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.WebFX unpacks why structured data plays such a crucial role in getting cited in AI results and which schema types can help your brand stand out in the era of conversational discovery.What are LLM citations (and why they matter)While traditional SEO aims for position zero results, AI search covets citation visibility. Structured data for AI citations ensures your pages carry the entity and provenance signals AI systems use to decide which sources to cite inside conversational results.LLM citations occur when AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, or Microsoft Copilot reference, summarize, or link to your content within generated answers. Instead of showing up in a ranked list of results, your brand becomes part of the answer itself, surfaced in conversational context.LLM citations equal:Visibility: Your content appears directly inside the user’s interaction with AI (often before they ever click a search result).Authority: Being cited signals to both users and algorithms that your content is trustworthy and well-structured.Referral traffic: When users expand sources or click “learn more,” citations drive highly qualified traffic to your site.Brand trust: Seeing your name in authoritative AI outputs builds long-term credibility and brand recall.LLM citations combine the reach of organic rankings, the prominence of featured snippets, and the credibility of expert sources, all within the AI tools where people research, shop, and make decisions.The link between structured data and LLM understandingLarge language models don’t just “read” your site — they interpret it, and structured data helps them do that accurately.When you add schema markup to your content, you give AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity a structured context for what your page contains — who it’s about, what entities it describes, and how different details relate.Structured data links human-friendly content and machine-readable meaning, helping search systems and AI extract and verify facts, relationships, and attributes that can appear in Google AI Overviews, product descriptions, event summaries, and other grounded AI results. It doesn’t guarantee LLM citations.While structured data has the strongest impact on AI models that use search grounding (actively pulling live information from the web), it still shapes how broader search systems learn and interpret trustworthy sources.Ultimately, structured data helps AI systems parse, validate, trust, and surface your content. By prioritizing structured data for AI citations, you make it easier for models to resolve entities, verify authorship, and attribute summaries back to your brand.Types of structured data for AI citationsDifferent schema types serve different purposes. Here are a few schema types that help shape how and when AI models cite your content: WebFX Choosing the right schema types is a strong start. You’ll earn more accurate AI mentions when that markup is reinforced by clear on-page context and consistent entity signals across the web (for local brands, that includes a solid local AI citation strategy).How to audit and enhance structured data for AI discoveryTo maximize your visibility in AI results, your structured data needs to be accurate, complete, and consistent.Here’s a structured data checklist to help make that happen:Audit regularly: Use tools like Schema.org Validator and Google’s Rich Results Test to identify missing or invalid markup.Match markup to intent: Align your schema type with the page’s goal — FAQ for educational content, Product for ecommerce, Article for thought leadership.Cross-reference entities: Make sure names, organizations, and authors match across Wikidata, LinkedIn, and your site’s About pages.Stay consistent: Maintain the same structured fields (author, organization, publication date) across all content.Optimize context: Pair schema with clear headings, descriptive metadata, and internal links to reinforce meaning for LLMs.Looking ahead: Structured data as the language of AI-powered searchLLMs continue to power discovery, and structured data will expand to describe relationships, sources, and even credibility signals in more detail.Expect to see schema evolve toward:Richer entity relationships: Mapping how people, organizations, and topics connect.LLM-specific markups: Designed for AI retrieval systems and “explainable” outputs.Auto-generated structured data: Built directly into CMS and AI content tools.As AI systems evolve, structured data will link human content with machine understanding. At the end of the day, if your content isn’t structured, it’s invisible to the systems shaping the next era of discovery.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	US employer healthcare costs are rising at historic levels. How mental healthcare can contain these costs US employer healthcare costs are rising at historic levels. How mental healthcare can contain these costsAnnual premiums for U.S. employer-sponsored family health coverage increased 6% in 2025 to $26,693. And that number is expected to rise even more in 2026, with employers projecting a median 10% increase in healthcare costs.Employer healthcare costs rising is nothing new, but there’s little precedent for projected increases like what we’ve seen in recent years. Spring Health dives into what is driving these increases and how innovative mental health solutions can help your organization contain these rising costs.Employer healthcare costs are rising. What’s driving this?There’s no one cause you can point to as universally driving up healthcare costs, but here are a few frequent contributors:GLP-1s. Weight loss drugs, such as GLP-1s, have emerged as a driver of healthcare costs for employers. In a 2025 survey, 79% of employers said they’re seeing an increase in member utilization of obesity treatments, with another 15% saying they anticipate they will see an increase.High-cost claimants. For fully funded health plans, high-cost claimants (ER visits, out-of-network care, etc.) lead to increased premiums down the road. For self-funded health plans, high-cost claimants impact the here and now.Medical care utilization. The unit cost and utilization of healthcare services have increased. And that’s left employers seeking a way to contain these costs and ensure benefits are providing value.Mental health and substance use needs. 73% of employers say they are currently seeing an increase in services to treat mental health and substance use disorders.Pharmaceutical costs. U.S. employers are expecting an 11 to 12% increase in pharmacy costs in 2026, which outpaces the percentage gain in general healthcare costs projected. GLP-1s contribute to this, but 50% of respondents to a recent survey who cited prescription drug cost concerns indicated that cancer drugs were also predominantly responsible.Cancer and musculoskeletal conditions. Cancer care is increasingly driven by high-cost specialty drugs, longer treatment durations, and survivorship-related care needs. Musculoskeletal conditions—often linked to chronic pain—drive repeat imaging, procedures, surgeries, and long recovery timelines. Together, these conditions are frequently cited by employers as top contributors to catastrophic and recurrent high-cost claims.A better mental health solution can help contain costsRising costs create complexity for benefits leaders, who are trying to balance budgets without sacrificing employee wellbeing. Enhanced EAPs offer a unique, high-leverage opportunity to address this challenge because it intersects with nearly every other cost driver. By treating mental health effectively, you can influence medical utilization, chronic disease management, high-cost events, and workforce productivity.GLP-1s and obesity treatment costs: Where mental healthcare fitsThe GLP-1 conversation isn’t just medical. It’s deeply psychological, shaped by stress, stigma, and a culture that too often equates body size with moral worth or “health.”That’s why mental healthcare has an important role to play, not to replace GLP-1s or weight management programs, and not to take a position on who should or shouldn’t use these medications (that’s a medical and plan-design decision). Instead, mental healthcare can help employers address the behavioral and emotional dynamics that often show up alongside weight change efforts, including:Body image distress and weight-related anxiety in a fat-phobic culture.Depression or anxiety that can affect motivation, sleep, and self-care routines.Disordered eating risk and the reality that many people may not be screened for eating disorders before starting a GLP-1.Practically, employers can strengthen their GLP-1 strategy by building an obesity-care pathway that includes psychological and behavioral support. For example, access to measurement-based mental healthcare, coaching, and care navigation can help people set sustainable routines, challenge shame-driven “all-or-nothing” thinking, and stay engaged in care.It’s also important to keep the goalposts honest. Weight is only one marker of health. For many people, lasting progress may show up in improved mental wellbeing and healthier behaviors alongside other clinical indicators.High-cost claimants: Prevention, early intervention, and navigationUntreated mental health needs often escalate into avoidable, high-cost medical events. A mental health crisis that goes unaddressed can lead to emergency department visits, inpatient stays, or expensive out-of-network claims.An enhanced EAP helps mitigate these risks. By connecting employees to in-network care quickly, you can steer them away from high-cost settings and toward appropriate, evidence-based treatment. In that way, mental health utilization is a great way to drive down overall healthcare costs.For self-funded employers, this approach reduces the volatility associated with shock claims. For fully insured plans, preventing these escalations helps keep long-term premiums stable.Mental health utilization is a key driver in containing employer healthcare costs, which is how organizations truly experience mental health ROI.Rising medical utilization: Getting people to the right care soonerWhen employees cannot access timely mental healthcare, they often turn to expensive default settings like urgent care clinics or emergency rooms. These visits drive up medical utilization without resolving the root cause of the distress. This cycle leads to repeated visits and fragmented care that fails to improve the employee’s health.Faster access to specialized care breaks this cycle. When employees can see a provider within days rather than weeks, they receive the right support before their condition worsens. Measuring outcomes is essential here. Tracking symptom improvement and engagement rates ensures that the care provided is effective, reducing the need for repeated, low-value medical interactions.Mental health/substance use: Treat early to reduce downstream costsUntreated mental health and substance use disorders complicate the management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, increase the risk of workplace incidents, and contribute to higher rates of disability and leave of absence.Better care looks like early identification and evidence-based treatment. Programs that use measurement-based care to track progress help ensure that employees get better, not just that they get services. Culturally responsive provider matching further enhances engagement, ensuring that employees feel understood and stick with their treatment plan. By addressing these needs proactively, employers can reduce the downstream financial impact of untreated conditions.Pharmaceutical costs: Where mental health reduces avoidable spendWhile specialty drugs and GLP-1s drive a large portion of pharmacy spend, mental health support can influence other areas of prescription costs. For example, effective management of anxiety or depression can improve adherence to medication regimens for other chronic conditions, preventing complications that require expensive pharmaceutical interventions.Additionally, addressing substance use disorders through proper clinical pathways can reduce risks associated with unsafe pain management. Adherence support provided by mental health professionals helps ensure that employees use medications safely and effectively. This approach helps reduce avoidable pharmacy spend without overpromising on the complex drivers of drug pricing.Cancer and musculoskeletal costs: How mental healthcare helps reduce escalation and repeat utilizationA cancer diagnosis or chronic pain condition frequently brings anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and uncertainty about work, finances, and identity. When these mental health needs go unaddressed, employees are more likely to disengage from care plans, experience complications, rely on emergency settings, or remain out of work longer than necessary. Caregivers face similar risks, contributing to absenteeism and productivity loss that often goes unmeasured.Mental healthcare plays a complementary role alongside medical treatment by stabilizing the psychological factors that shape utilization and recovery. Timely access to therapy, coaching, and care navigation helps employees cope with diagnosis-related distress, manage pain more effectively, and stay engaged in appropriate treatment pathways. Measurement-based mental healthcare can also support sleep, motivation, and adherence, which can influence whether care remains preventive and planned or escalates into high-cost, reactive use.Take control of rising costsRising healthcare costs are a reality, but they are not uncontrollable. By prioritizing mental healthcare that is fast, effective, and integrated, you can address the root causes of many high-cost claims.An enhanced mental health solution does more than support employee wellbeing. It serves as a practical, strategic lever to manage medical, pharmacy, and productivity costs across your organization.This story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Community builds memorial to honor child who died after bus-related incident The memorial is forming in the 1100 block of East 37th Street.
	Construction brings short-term challenges, long-term hopes for downtown East Moline Construction on 15th Avenue in East Moline is slowing business access now, but owners say city investment could bring more visitors downtown in the future.
	Ghana picks Rhode Island as its World Cup training ground A soccer ball featuring the Ocean State 2026 logo — the nonprofit created by the state to lead business sponsorship efforts on World Cup-related activities in Rhode Island.(Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)The Ghana men’s national soccer team will call Smithfield home this summer when it competes in the FIFA World Cup 2026. State officials announced Thursday the Ghanaian Black Stars will use Bryant University’s 43,000-square-foot field house and wellness and athletic center as its training ground for the quadrennial tournament. “Rhode Island is honored to welcome The Ghanaian Black Stars,” General Treasurer James Diossa, chairman of the nonprofit formed by the state last June to lead business sponsorship efforts on tournament-related activities, said in a statement. “They are a talented team with great depth and some young stars.” Bryant is roughly 30 miles from Foxboro, Massachusetts — where seven matches are scheduled to be played between June 13 and July 9. That includes a match between the Black Stars and England set for June 23. The four-time African soccer champions will also face off against Panama on June 17 in Toronto and Croatia’s national team on June 27 in Philadelphia. Ghana’s national team is expected to stay in Providence while they practice in North America, Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed. He also extended an invitation to the soccer club’s fans and family members to stay in Rhode Island’s capital city for the tournament. “We are committed to being a festive destination for soccer fans from around the world and look forward to announcing our fan experience plans,” Smiley said in a statement. Tournament hosts FIFA on Oct. 1 added Bryant to its list of potential base camps for the games spanning 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. At the time it was the only New England location listed as a training ground location. Will Bryant University live up to its potential as World Cup base camp? R.I. officials are all in. Rhode Island is no longer alone in the region in hosting a team, as the French Football Association announced in January that its national team would practice at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Ghana’s training sessions at Bryant will be closed to the public, according to the state’s announcement. But during their Rhode Island stay, officials say the Ghanaian team will participate in community programming with local youth soccer players. “We’re working hard to ensure that the FIFA World Cup leaves behind a legacy of passion for the sport and a commitment to growing the game of soccer in Rhode Island,” Jonathan Walker, executive director for the Rhode Island Sports Commission, said in a statement. State and local officials are also anticipating a significant economic boost for Rhode Island during the matches, noting earlier projections that the Massachusetts games could generate more than $330 million in local impact. “Hosting this team highlights Rhode Island on the international stage and will help build on our record-breaking tourism numbers, bringing even more visitors to our state,” Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	HUD proposes time limits and work requirements for rental aid The rule would allow housing agencies and landlords to impose such requirements "to encourage self-sufficiency." Critics say most who can work already do, but their wages are low.
	Paramount and Warner Bros' deal is about merging studios, and a whole lot more The nearly $111 billion marriage would unite Paramount and Warner film studios, streamers and television properties — including CNN — under the control of the wealthy Ellison family.
	Newsom expanded free preschool. Now private daycares can’t afford to stay open Newsom expanded free preschool. Now private daycares can’t afford to stay openThere were once so many children at Frisha Moore’s Elk Grove preschool that families filled up the waitlist. Now, one of her playgrounds and two classrooms sit empty because one key group of kids has stopped coming.Dozens of families in recent years have opted not to enroll their 4-year-olds at Moore Learning Preschool & Childcare Center, she said. Instead, they’re putting their children in transitional kindergarten, California’s new public prekindergarten grade.Even though she provides a full day of preschool, compared with transitional kindergarten that lasts only about 3.5 hours, Moore can’t compete: Public school is free. She hasn’t broken even in months and thinks about closing the preschool “every single day.” That would remove 91 licensed child care spots from the county, including 20 for children under age 2, for whom child care options are particularly scarce.Transitional kindergarten’s expansion is one of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature educational achievements and a key part of his legacy on how California cares for its youngest residents.Early childhood advocates were delighted when he was sworn into office seven years ago, his arms around his scene-stealing 2-year-old son. The first governor in decades to hold the office while raising young children, he had promised to achieve universal preschool — publicly funded preschool for all families who want to enroll — and expand access to child care for working parents.As he prepares to leave office, he is sure to tout those accomplishments. During his State of the State address to lawmakers in January, he boasted of “the most significant expansion of child care in America.”“It should be better known,” he told MS Now last month. “It’s not.”Many advocates say his legacy on child care includes some unfulfilled promises, though the expansions have been substantial. Newsom has nearly tripled funding for subsidized child care and early childhood programs, including state-subsidized preschools and transitional kindergarten, from more than $5 billion in 2020 to more than $14 billion this year.His administration has funded 130,000 new subsidized child care spaces for low-income families and allowed private, in-home child care providers that receive the subsidies to unionize, which has led to health care and retirement funds for a low-wage, overwhelmingly female workforce.No move has been more significant than the expansion of a free, public prekindergarten grade for all families regardless of income. The grade was available for a limited number of children for about a decade before Newsom’s administration began expanding it to all 4-year-olds four years ago. This school year, it was open for the first time to all children who turned 4 by September.Despite rocky rollouts in some school districts, parents who have enrolled their children in transitional kindergarten say it’s saved them a year of child care costs — from $9,000 to $24,000 for that age — while better preparing kids for school and even allowing some students to be screened for special education services a year earlier. CalMatters spoke with a dozen parents around the state who said the program was a positive experience for their 4-year-olds.Melissa Chen and her husband, of San Jose, were paying $1,800 a month to send their son to day care, where she said he struggled to get along with others and hated naptime. Now her 4-year-old is making friends and thriving with an attentive teacher in the Berryessa Union School District, she said. They still pay for an after-school care program on campus, but it’s only about a third of the cost of private preschool.“If anyone doubted that the state was going to be able to stand up an entire [traditional kindergarten] program in five years, you would never know it from how smoothly it’s gone for us this year,” Chen, an attorney, said.But the rollout has also come with unintended consequences and destabilized the child care sector, which could make care harder to find for younger children. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. // CalMatters In Los Angeles County, a December UC Berkeley report found 167 preschools closed between 2020 and 2024 — a decline in child care spots that researchers attributed partly to the addition of the public school grade.Private providers like Moore’s preschool operate with strict regulations and thin margins. The enrollment of 4-year-olds, who need less hands-on care, typically helps cover the higher labor costs of caring for infants, so shifting solely to serving younger children doesn’t always pencil out financially.Whether Newsom can achieve his ambitious child care goals depends in part on whether people like Moore can afford to stay open.“He’s done a hell of a lot” to allow more kids to get cheaper early childhood care, said Bruce Fuller, the Berkeley sociologist who authored the LA County report. “He’s also expanded a lot of pieces to the puzzle, without solving the puzzle.”A patchwork of optionsThe U.S. has long lagged far behind other developed nations in public funding for child care and early childhood education.But the benefits of preschool are well documented, both developmentally for children and economically for working parents. As middle-income families consider leaving California over crushing costs, making it easier to raise kids in a state with a declining child population is savvy politics, too.Newsom prioritized child care early in his first term, appointing a cabinet member to work on the issue and commissioning a master plan, which recommended universal preschool for 4-year-olds and for income-eligible 3-year-olds.“It was the first time we really had a governor coming into office that prioritized our issues,” said Donna Sneeringer, president of the Child Care Resource Center in Los Angeles County, a nonprofit that helps families find child care. The center also runs its own preschools, some of them state-subsidized, and maintains a waitlist for low-income families waiting for subsidized care.Unless they pay for preschool out-of-pocket, a cost that can easily surpass rent or a mortgage payment, working parents looking for child care face a patchwork of options. Low-income families can qualify for subsidized slots at state-contracted child care centers or receive vouchers for private preschool or child care providers. The state also funds preschool centers for kids from low- to middle-income families; federal funds pay for separate Head Start programs that are also income-restricted.To achieve universal preschool, Newsom boosted some of those programs and more:He committed billions of dollars to permanently expanding transitional kindergarten.By enrolling more 4-year-olds in public schools, the administration hoped to free up spots for 3-year-olds in other preschools. It spent hundreds of millions of dollars to expand access to state-funded preschools and increased payments for 3-year-olds in that program to create an incentive for centers to enroll them.To give parents more child care options, the state has also added about 130,000 subsidized child-care spaces, both in contracted centers and in the form of vouchers, for low-income families with children of any age. That is still short of the 200,000 Newsom promised. Most vouchers go toward paying licensed family child care providers who care for children in their homes and often offer more flexible hours.Other states have taken a different approach.In Colorado, all children, regardless of family income, are eligible for at least 15 hours a week of free preschool the year before kindergarten; they can use it in a public school or at a preschool, day care center, or other provider. Vermont and Georgia similarly allow families to choose between local schools and private centers. Laure Andrillon for CalMatters By contrast, California expanded only transitional kindergarten as the free option for all, while the other public options remain limited, both by family income and the number of slots available. In Los Angeles County alone, more than 20,000 families are eligible for subsidized care but haven’t gotten a spot yet, Sneeringer said. And those subsidies usually don’t fully cover costs, making it hard to stay afloat, providers say.Placing the biggest expansion in public schools was a boon to school districts and the state’s powerful teachers’ unions: It boosted public school enrollment in a time of declining birth rates, leading to increased funding. And with record state budget surpluses during the COVID-19 pandemic, California was able to do it without touching other school funding. The ongoing cost of transitional kindergarten is about $3 billion a year; the state has also put $1 billion toward implementing the new program, including building improvements to accommodate younger kids.Jessica Holmes, education program budget manager at the Department of Finance, said that approach was the only way to guarantee there would be spots for 4-year-olds statewide, even in areas where private child care providers are scarce.“One structure that is consistent across the state is the school system,” she said. “Even in the most rural areas, we have schools.”Holmes spoke on behalf of Newsom’s administration; a spokesperson for the governor declined to make him available for an interview.Erika Jones, secretary-treasurer of the California Teachers Association, said it has helped families be part of local school communities earlier.“Public schools are a beacon in the community, you build lasting friendships,” she said. “To start that and have that process from the beginning makes the most sense.”But critics say the expansion doesn’t give parents enough options.Middle- and upper-income families who were paying full fees had the most incentive to switch from private preschools to free transitional kindergarten, if it worked for their schedules. Middle- and lower-income families who get off the waitlist for a subsidized spot have more options, while tens of thousands of families remain on waitlists.The public grade “is an incredible opportunity for many kids to have access to a preschool education,” Sneeringer said. “It doesn’t work for every family.” Laure Andrillon for CalMatters Many working families need alternative hours that only private child care providers can offer. School districts are required to give any enrolling 4-year-old a spot in transitional kindergarten, but not necessarily at the child’s nearest elementary school if there isn’t enough space, so some parents have been offered seats at schools that are too far. Four-year-olds vary widely in how ready they are for a school setting; some aren’t potty-trained or still need naps.And though the state has also paid to expand free or low-cost after-school care, school districts vary in how they provide it. Some parents couldn’t enroll their students in transitional kindergarten because they couldn’t get a limited after-care spot.Nearly 180,000 children statewide were enrolled in transitional kindergarten last school year. The Berkeley report on LA County found affluent families may be benefiting the most. From 2021 to 2024, enrollment growth in the county’s wealthiest areas was triple that in the poorest.Private preschools forced to closeHolmes disputed the study’s conclusion that transitional kindergarten was contributing to private preschool closures, noting that it could have been driven by declining birth rates, too. And she said parents in income-restricted programs can choose between transitional kindergarten and certain subsidized providers.One parent who has benefited from having options is Brittany Jackson, whose 3-year-old son attends preschool at Moore’s center in Elk Grove.Jackson, a single mom who works an administrative job, was reluctant to enroll him in transitional kindergarten later this year. She worried it’s too early for her son to leave a play-based preschool for more formal schooling, and didn’t want to worry about finding after-school care. Because she receives a state-funded voucher that covers most of her son’s preschool fees, she can afford to keep her son with Moore for one more year.“The way they speak and handle situations when things come up, it’s very much in alignment with how I parent,” she said.On a recent Friday morning, Jackson’s son, sporting a Spider-Man sweatshirt, picked flowers with a friend in one of Moore’s playgrounds. Their classmates whirled around them on tricycles, tinsel streaking their hair. After playtime, they gathered inside around teacher Kara Hannigan, who read from a picture book and prompted the children to act out each page with dramatic flair.Moore started the center in 2017, when her own children were young. Her whole family chipped in to outfit the playgrounds and paint brightly colored illustrations on the walls.Most of the families there are low-income and pay with vouchers, but state reimbursement rates don’t cover all the costs of running the place. She’s reluctant to raise fees on families who can barely afford it, and has instead cut staff, combining 3- and 4-year-olds into one class so she could still fulfill state-mandated adult-to-children ratios. The center is about 40% full. With small business loans unpaid, she can’t even afford to close.Besides, she said, “this is like my second child.”Patricia Lozano, director of Early Edge California, an advocate for transitional kindergarten, acknowledged the state must do more to ensure abundant options for all parents and keep private centers like Moore’s open to serve younger children.One idea is to require school districts to partner with private centers to offer child care outside of transitional kindergarten hours, which some school districts already do. She and other advocates are also pushing Newsom to honor his commitment to fund more vouchers.Any such proposal would come too late for Shilpa Panech, who owned a preschool for 13 years in San Ramon, caring for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.Panech supported Newsom’s promises of universal preschool. She thought it would look the way it does in other states, where families could choose a free program at school or at her center.Instead, Panech watched the enrollment of 4-year-olds at her once-full preschool dwindle from 24 to one. She considered expanding infant care but found the staffing costs and licensing requirements prohibitively expensive. Her family was draining its savings and accumulating debt to make payroll.Last month, she helped the 30 remaining enrolled families find other day cares, and closed the doors on Panache Enfants. It eliminated 72 licensed child care spots from Contra Costa County.“Nobody gets into this industry necessarily to make money,” she said, tearing up. “We’re in it because we love the kids and their families.”By then, Panech had also started a second career teaching elementary school, and had the unique view of watching things unfold simultaneously in local public schools. The transitional kindergarten classes and after-care programs she saw, she said, were “fantastic.”“I think this was wonderful,” she said. “I think this is something our country needs, our state needs. It’s important for families to be able to afford child care and to be able to go out and work. For private providers, I wish it would have been more gradual. I wish there would have been more opportunities.”This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'Heated Rivalry' is quietly changing how autism looks on screen, and fans are taking notice ‘Heated Rivalry’ is quietly changing how autism looks on screen, and fans are taking noticeIf you’ve been online in the last few months, you’ve probably heard about “Heated Rivalry.” The Canadian series has become an unexpected smash hit with more than 10 million viewers in the U.S. alone. The show follows two professional male hockey players—Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie)—who go from athletic rivals to secret lovers over a tumultuous 10-year relationship.The show is a significant moment for LGBTQIA+ representation, showcasing a thoughtful, racy, and poignant love story between two masculine athletes in a way that feels fresh and inspiring. But the nuances of the show also make room for another type of representation: the subtle portrayal of autism through Shane’s character.In the weeks following the premiere, there’s been significant online discourse about this portrayal. But if you watched and thought, “I didn’t notice that,” you may have hit the nail on the head. Thriveworks spoke with experts to explore Shane’s behavior, what’s behind it, and why this kind of subtle representation is resonating so powerfully.What makes Shane's autism portrayal different?Autism representation in the media has improved in recent years, but many people still associate autism with a narrow set of symptoms: overt meltdowns, refusing eye contact, and extreme difficulty socializing or functioning. While this describes some people on the higher end of the autism spectrum (level two or three), many autistic people navigate daily life much like anyone else—just in a world not designed for them.Autism affects about one in 100 people worldwide. Many autistic people—particularly those with lower support needs—can mask their symptoms effectively, which means they often go undiagnosed or receive diagnoses as adults.Autism presents differently across individuals. “One thing I wish more people knew is that no one character has to represent all autistic people,” says Noor Pervez, community engagement coordinator at the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN). “The more ways people see autism existing, the more ways people learn autistic people can be. That’s really key for people to recognize and to better understand themselves and others.”Thriveworks’ Kate Hanselman, PMHNP, sees this value reflected in her clinical work. “A lot of my clients on the spectrum don’t want autism to define their whole life. It touches many areas and is part of what makes them who they are, but it’s not all of who they are. I think that’s beautifully demonstrated in the show: You can have a character on the spectrum in a story about many different marginalized identities, and the autism isn’t the focus.”Hollander’s character has many facets: He’s a hockey player, half Japanese, a gay man, highly competitive, and inescapably earnest. By highlighting these other dimensions, the show allows his autism to be just another facet—a part of the whole that makes up Shane Hollander.Why Shane's autism isn't the focus—and why that mattersShane’s autism is never mentioned on screen. Instead, it was confirmed by the book’s author and the show’s creators.This wasn’t an afterthought. Hudson Williams, the actor who plays Shane Hollander, told The Hollywood Reporter that he was aware of Shane’s autism from the start and modeled his portrayal after his father, who is on the autism spectrum. “I took a huge page out of living my life with him,” Williams said.While visible representation is crucial, representation that centers on a character’s difference can sometimes reduce that person to a single defining trait. When the goal is solely to spotlight that difference, the focus can shift away from normalization. Both approaches are necessary, but subtle representation like this is rarer—which may be why audiences find it so refreshing.7 subtle signs of Shane's autism in the showThough never explicitly mentioned, Shane’s autism appears throughout his behavior. Here are some of the traits you may have noticed while watching that hint at autism.1. He folds his clothes before hookups.Some scenes that stick out involve Shane pausing to fold his clothes. On its own, it’s not unusual—but stopping a hookup to neatly fold shirts, pants, underwear, and even ties might strike neurotypical people as odd.“Part of autism is an insistence on order,” Hanselman says. Shane likes things neat, clean, and tidy, following that routine to a nearly compulsive extent. He doesn’t notice this might be strange. It doesn’t occur to him not to do it. Later, viewers see him relax more with Ilya, but when nerves are high or he’s out of his element, Shane reaches for order.2. He’s on a strict diet.Shane’s macrobiotic diet is mentioned several times in episodes one and four. He maintains it strictly and refuses to drink alcohol during hockey season, all framed as keeping his body in top physical form, though his commitment is shown to be stricter than that of other professional hockey players in Shane’s circle.Restrictive eating frequently accompanies autism. Many autistic people eat only specific foods due to sensory sensitivities around textures, while others develop strict routines around meals or use food to maintain control and familiarity.Viewers rarely see Shane break this diet. In episode four, he doubles down on it with his parents during a high-stress moment. This inflexibility helps him feel in control, finding security in a stable, predictable routine, explains Isabelle Mathewes, a researcher in the psychology department at the University of Virginia and autism advocate.3. He sometimes struggles with eye contact (and sometimes doesn’t).Shane struggles to make eye contact with family and friends, especially when stressed or uncomfortable. In locker rooms, for example, he often talks shoulder-to-shoulder with teammates rather than face-to-face. His mother, Yuna, even draws attention to this during conversations where Shane is frustrated or uncomfortable, likely because she taught him social skills like eye contact that came naturally to other children.For autistic people, eye contact is often overstimulating. Autistic brains are already working overtime to process conversation and social cues while filtering sensory stimuli—something neurotypical brains do automatically. Eye contact only adds pressure.However, Shane makes noticeable, even prolonged, eye contact with one person: Ilya. This highlights how Ilya becomes a safe, familiar space where Shane feels less need to mask and can simply be himself.4. He feels deeply (but might not show it).Shane isn’t highly expressive. He struggles to admit how he feels, even to himself, and struggles more to put feelings into words. However, he’s deeply earnest and can’t fully conceal his emotions.Williams conveys this beautifully through Shane’s eyes: Fans noted how he expresses emotion through eye contact while maintaining limited facial expression. Shane’s eyes often fill with tears, though they rarely fall until the final episode. He doesn’t feel he can express feelings outright, but is incapable of fully hiding them.For people with autism, facial expressions often don’t come naturally—they have to be learned, sometimes through training. This leads to “flat affect” (showing no emotion) or “blunted affect” (showing minimal emotion). Autistic people may also struggle to understand and communicate their emotions, though they feel them intensely.“When I work with clients on the spectrum on expressing emotions,” Hanselman says, “I often hear confusion about why their emotions aren’t being understood: ‘I’m feeling a lot—why is it not coming across?’ The show exemplifies how intense emotions can hide under the surface.”Mathewes also notes how this representation diverges from societal assumptions about autism. “There are many stereotypes about autistic people being emotionally stunted or limited, and autistic characters in media often have an emotionally reserved air,” she says. “It was such a breath of fresh air to see Shane cry, get mad, joke around—generally experience a full range of emotions.”5. He’s hard to flirt with.Shane and Ilya’s approaches to flirting couldn’t be more different. Ilya is forward and loves pushing Shane out of his comfort zone with innuendo-laden comments and texts—innuendo that Shane struggles to match or might miss entirely.Abstract communication like sarcasm or double-entendres doesn’t translate naturally for autistic brains. Everything is literal, and implied meaning is often lost.Shane’s literalism appears vividly in text conversations with Ilya, where Shane follows flirtatious messages with charmingly earnest answers. More subtle examples appear when Shane reacts to jokes—especially about Ilya—with alarm or confusion rather than humor, taking statements literally rather than parsing out intended meaning.6. He struggles to process overwhelming emotions.The clearest glimpses of Shane’s autism appear in moments of high stress or discomfort. His emotions become too strong to manage internally and escape externally, often reading as irritation or panic.Two key moments stand out: the infamous tuna melt scene in episode four, and two scenes in episode six—at the cottage and after. In the tuna melt scene, something disrupts Shane’s emotions to an overwhelming degree. His panic causes him to leave abruptly, stumbling over words, needing physical and emotional distance from the source of his distress.In the cottage scenes, viewers see him spiral differently—in a safer, more understanding environment. He’s given space to freak out and express disjointed thoughts with a trusted person who eventually grounds him in the present moment. His emotions are validated; there’s no rush to fix things, and he’s allowed to just be.7. He leans heavily on his parents.Shane’s family, especially his mother, is deeply involved in his life as both a teenager and an adult. Yuna acts as his professional manager, but viewers also see her check in consistently: reminding him about endorsement deals, telling him what to focus on, and managing his screen time.This could simply be “momager” behavior, but Hanselman notes parallels to her clinical practice. “I’ve worked with parents whose kids on the spectrum needed far more parental support than other kids their age—involvement that extended well beyond the typical developmental period.”Hanselman continues, “eventually Shane pushes back more, but he still spends significant time with his family. The reliance and comfort he has with his parents that he doesn’t have with the rest of the world felt related to what I see in my clients. They played that beautifully.”Why this representation resonatesPervez emphasizes that normalizing autism in the media is essential for acceptance. “Making autism an everyday, normal part of the human experience is key to the world treating us as people who deserve to be living our lives, among our loved ones—not people to be pitied or looked down on, but as everyday people,” he says. “Media representation, either coming directly from or with input from the autistic community, is a tool to combat fear of autistic people with acceptance.”“I loved that the show featured someone with a successful family life, social life, and love life,” Hanselman adds. “There was acceptance—not pushing it to the background or making fun, but acknowledgment in a way that felt loving and supportive.” She goes on to say, “Here’s someone with autism who might be socially awkward at times or struggle to make eye contact, but it’s still fine to those who care about him. He gets to be successful and be a regular person. I thought that was huge for the neurodivergent community: We can know someone is autism-coded without it being ‘a portrayal of autism.’”Finally, Mathewes hits on the importance of the “love” part of the story: “Many stereotypes paint autistic people as either uninterested in or incapable of romantic relationships,” she says. “It’s powerful to see a show that portrays an autistic man as capable of both desiring and being desired.”The bottom lineShane Hollander’s character shows that autism doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. By making it just one part of who he is, “Heated Rivalry” offers a refreshing model of acceptance—one where autistic people can simply exist, thrive, and be loved exactly as they are.This story was produced by Thriveworks and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport woman arrested; accused of assault with fire extinguisher, pocketknife A Davenport woman is in the Scott County Jail after police said she damaged an apartment door with a fire extinguisher and threatened a person inside. The criminal complaint filed in the case said Davenport Police received three 911 calls to respond to the 500 block of W. Third Street on February 27 at about [...]
	Gov. Kim Reynolds says she only flew for ‘official use’ in State Patrol plane Gov. Kim Reynolds said she believes her use of an Iowa State Patrol airplane purchased using COVID-19 relief funds to travel for official events was appropriate, she said during a news conference Thursday.
	How to protect your home's gutters in winter How to protect your home's gutters in winterDuring the winter, falling debris, snowfall, and freezing temperatures increase the chances of clogged gutters. In turn, clogged gutters can lead to water seeping into your roof or walls—and for many, an increased opportunity for ice dams to form. That’s why now’s the time to winterize your gutters.You may be wondering, “Can I install gutters in the winter?” or “How can I keep my gutters from freezing over in the colder months?”To help answer these and other common homeowner questions, LeafFilter put together this quick-reference guide on winterizing your roof and gutters.Should You Take Down Gutters in the Winter?Gutters are essential to the upkeep of your home, diverting water away from the most vulnerable parts of your house, like the roof and foundation. When spring showers arrive, snowmelt becomes an issue.The absence of gutters could cause all sorts of problems, from soil and landscape disturbances to significant issues like basement flooding, damage to your home’s foundation, and other water damage.Some homeowners believe they should remove their gutters in the winter, usually because they’re concerned about the formation of ice dams. While clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and freeze in the winter, gutters do not cause ice dams.Gutter problems often become more visible in the winter. With the weight of snow and ice, some gutter systems may sag or even rip away from the home.What Are Ice Dams?Ice dams are massive sheets of ice that form near the edge of a roof. While it’s easy to assume ice-covered gutters are responsible for ice dams, they are not the cause.Poor insulation and a loss of heat within the roof cause ice dams. Gutters are not typically heated, so this is often the portion of the roof that is coldest.As snow melts and slides down the roof, it freezes upon reaching the colder sections. Winterizing your roof and gutters is essential to preventing ice dams.Should You Remove Gutter Guards in the Winter?The short answer: it depends, but generally no. If you have an effective gutter guard solution installed, there’s no need to remove it in the winter. In fact, removing gutter guards that are capable of holding up to and performing in winter weather may actually be detrimental.That’s because removing your gutter guards leaves your gutters vulnerable to debris buildup, frozen debris, and the formation of clogs. Clogs inside your gutters create a domino effect of issues that ultimately can damage your roof, your siding, your interior walls, your home’s foundation, and even the landscaping surrounding your home.On the other hand, if you have poor-quality gutter guards, they may bend or warp under the weight of heavy snow and ice. This can damage your gutters and cause them to separate from your roof, resulting in roof damage. In this case, not only do you have the same potential issues as you’d have without gutter guards, but you also have to deal with repairing or replacing your gutters and potentially your roof.The best solution is to invest in a proven, durable gutter protection system and leave your gutter guards in place throughout the winter while taking the proper steps to winterize your gutters.How to Winterize Your Gutters to Prevent Ice DamsIce dams form at the mercy of environmental factors, including air that is below freezing and a thick layer of snow on the roof. Take a few simple steps to minimize the formation of ice dams.1. Clear Out Gutter DebrisIf your gutters are full of leaves, sticks, and other debris, they cannot drain water running down the roof. Gathered water will inevitably freeze, adding weight and wear to your gutter system.Keeping them clean helps to keep them flowing through the winter and prevents clogs from forming inside your gutters.2. Properly Insulate Your AtticIncreasing the amount of insulation in an attic space can help prevent heat loss. Less heat loss means lower utility bills and less snow melting on the roof. And less snow melting means less water freezing on roof edges and gutters.3. Apply Heat Tape to Your GuttersYou could also consider heat tape, also called heating cables, which can cause ice dams to melt. However, they’re notoriously ineffective in snowy climates.The cycle of freezing and melting snow can cause ice dams to become even more problematic. Shingles may become damaged, and heat cables can elevate the risk of an electrical fire.4. Consider Alternative Roofing MaterialsA less common—but equally effective—method to winterize gutters is upgrading to a smoother roofing style, like a metal roof. A metal roof can prevent a thick, fluffy layer of snow from settling on the roof and freezing.Keep in mind this requires long-term planning and budgeting. Metal roofs often come with a high price tag, but they also have a longer lifespan than traditional roof styles.Unprotected gutters may be damaged in the winter months. Snow and ice can weigh upon gutters, causing potential damage. Here, a clogged, overflowing gutter has warped under the weight of heavy icicles. ND700 // Shutterstock How to Keep Gutters From Getting Damaged by SnowNot all gutter protection is created equal when it comes to winterizing gutters. DIY solutions like screens, brushes, and foam gutter guards can often collapse or freeze under the weight of snow and ice.Is It Normal for Gutters to Freeze in the Winter?It’s common for gutters to freeze if they’re not clear of debris or protected with a gutter protection system. However, it’s not really normal, nor is it something you can take lightly should it happen.If there’s debris buildup inside your gutters, it may block the flow of melting snow and ice, resulting in water retention. When temperatures drop, the retained water freezes, adding extra weight to your gutters.The added weight can cause your gutters to bend, warp, and break away from your roof, which may damage your roof. Additionally, frozen gutters trap snow and ice on the surface of your roof, which can damage or loosen your shingles, weaken your roof, and cause leaks inside your home.How to Keep Your Gutters From FreezingIf your gutters are cleaned out and flowing, you can rest easy. Often, clogs inside your gutters are a major cause of wintertime issues. In many freezing environments, snow will gather inside and on top of your gutters, no matter what you do.If you can easily reach your gutters, walking around the home with a broom and brushing snow off of them is a quick and easy way to minimize the risk of ice formation.Additionally, ensuring your gutters are properly pitched and free of any leaks, cracks, or other concerns is essential to keeping them in proper working condition.Final ThoughtsMany homeowners opt to wait until spring to address gutter problems. But winterizing your gutters at the start of winter minimizes new gutter problems in the spring. Keeping your gutters clean of debris, ensuring proper insulation, and installing gutter guards minimizes ice dams and potential gutter, roof, and home damage.Frequently Asked Questions on How to Winterize Your GuttersWhat can I put in my gutters to keep them from freezing?Sprinkling sodium chloride (salt) in your gutters can prevent them from freezing. However, it’s not recommended to use rock salt, ice melt, or other chemical solutions in your gutters because they can damage your gutters and shingles.Installing heat tape inside your gutters is another potential solution. Heat tape keeps your gutters warm, melting snow and ice as it falls into them and preventing melted ice and snow from refreezing.However, putting heat tape inside your gutters can increase the risk of an electrical fire. There’s also a risk of heat tape contributing to the formation of ice dams due to the freezing-melting cycle.Can you install gutters and gutter protection in the winter?Gutters can be installed in the winter, as these should not disturb brittle shingles or the roof. However, some types of gutter protection typically cannot be installed at this time of year.Many gutter guards are installed under your shingles, making working with brittle rooftops nearly impossible in the winter months. These gutter guards are also notorious for voiding roof warranties, so it’s best to stay away from any guard that disturbs your roof, no matter the season.Should you knock icicles off gutters?Icicles, as previously mentioned, may be caused by heat escaping from your roof or clogged gutters, creating overflow. Either way, it’s best not to knock icicles down.In addition to falling debris threatening your safety, large pieces of ice may damage your home. In extreme instances, disturbing ice can cause your gutters to rip away from the roof.How do you protect gutters in heavy snow?To protect your gutters in heavy snow, take some steps to winterize them before winter begins, such as ensuring that they’re securely attached and have the appropriate reinforcements to withstand the added weight of snow and ice.Make sure your roof is properly insulated to reduce the risk of ice dams from forming. In heavy snow, use a broom to brush the snow off your roof and gutters periodically.This story was produced by LeafFilter and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Shippers face roadblocks to transpacific trade Shippers face roadblocks to transpacific tradeThe week of Feb. 23 was dominated by a constitutional collision in the United States that fundamentally reshaped the global trade landscape. Freight Right Global Logistics examines key events that have led to the current situation as part of its TrueFreight Index.The Supreme Court's ruling against the use of emergency powers for tariffs effectively dismantled the legal foundation of the administration's IEEPA tariff program, leading to the imminent cessation of billions of dollars in duties. However, the resulting pivot to a 15% global surcharge under Section 122, a bridge measure valid for 150 days, plunged international relations into fresh turmoil.The European Union’s decision to pause its summer trade deal with Washington underscores a growing “trust deficit,” as allies and adversaries alike struggle to navigate a U.S. trade policy that has transitioned from high-stakes negotiation to a state of near-total legal and procedural volatility.This Week’s Ocean, Air and Freight MarketsChina-US Ocean Freight Market:The transpacific ocean freight market has remained in a state of stasis as the industry navigates the tail end of the Lunar New Year holiday. Rates have held firm at the low levels established earlier in the month, with almost no price movement recorded week over week due to the total shutdown of manufacturing and logistics activity in Asia.CEA to USWC: Pricing remains stable at the current floor of $1,450 to $1,600 per container. This represents a continuation of the breakeven levels seen since early February.CEA to USEC: Rates to the East Coast also showed no change, holding steady between $2,400 and $2,500. Freight Right Global Logistics Freight Right Global Logistics Freight Right Global Logistics What Happened This Past Week:Lunar New Year “Main Event”: The market is currently experiencing the peak of the Lunar New Year holiday, which has effectively halted all new bookings and shipping operations in China and Southeast Asia.Operational Dormancy: Most market participants in Asia are currently away for the holiday, leading to a complete lack of interest in new business or shipping schedules.Pre-Holiday Volume Exhaustion: The rush to ship cargo before the shutdown concluded last week left behind very little in terms of current cargo movement.Air Freight Stability: Similar to the ocean sector, air freight has seen no major spikes this week, with rates settling in the high $3.00 to mid-$4.00 range per kilogram as airlines handle the final bits of pre-holiday cargo.Trucking Rate Normalization: Following the high trucking rates at origin last week across China, internal logistics costs in China have leveled off as the workforce has largely transitioned into the holiday period.Looking Ahead:The immediate outlook remains exceptionally quiet, with next week expected to be even shorter in terms of market updates as the holiday concludes. The market is effectively on autopilot until the end of the month.The industry is now focused on the post-holiday recovery in March. Shippers should anticipate a period of catch-up as factories reopen, though the strength of this recovery will depend on whether carriers can find ways to push rates above current breakeven levels. A key milestone to watch will be the release of new contract rates toward the end of March, which will signal whether carriers intend to maintain these low levels or implement aggressive capacity management to force a market correction.This story was produced by Freight Right Global Logistics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Woman caught in prostitution sting in Bettendorf enters into plea agreement Under the agreements, the state will recommend a suspended 180-day jail sentence, and the defendant will pay a $855 fine.

Saturday, February 28th, 2026

Friday, February 27th, 2026