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

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026
	Death toll from a Bangkok music bar fire rises to 30, dozens remain in hospital More than 70 people were injured, with 24 of them still in critical condition, according to a statement by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
	MAP: Cases of 'explosive' diarrhea illness climb Michigan alone has confirmed more than 2,000 cases. It's still unclear what has caused the spike in illness.
	The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain The expanded World Cup allowed FIFA to introduce a new seeding system that placed the world's top teams in opposite corners of the knockout bracket. Now, the semifinals are both heavyweight matchups.
Monday, July 13th, 2026
	Moline holding 'Caught Caring Challenge' for America 250 The City will award commemorative challenge coins to everyday heroes.
	American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage \| How you can help in the Quad Cities The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.
	Buffalo city council says no to pit-bull ban There will be no ban of pit bulls in Buffalo. A heated debate about whether to prevent people from having the dog breed dominated Monday's city council meeting came after two pit bulls attacked people in Buffalo this year. "The dog that attacked my nephew wasn't vaccinated," said Eli Gerishcher, a Buffalo resident. "I don't [...]
	American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage \| Where you can donate in the Quad Cities The national blood supply dropped 25% in June. The Red Cross says it needs donors urgently.
	New Illinois law to protect health care for teens and kids for DCFS Children and teenagers under care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will have more protection if they are moved outside state lines. Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois SECURE Act (Safeguards to Ensure Continuity and Uphold Rights and Equity), or House Bill 4966, into law. The move aimed at transgender youth. [...]
	Illinois state treasurer announces Charitable Trust grants for 3 QCA nonprofits Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced $195,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations - including three in the Quad Cities region - across the state that provide food and housing to people in need. “Through these grants, we are lending a hand to people who are struggling to meet basic needs like [...]
	Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour makes QCA stop TPC Deere Run is hosting another professional golf tournament. The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour is making its only stop in Illinois. The association is a nonprofit that works to inspire inclusivity in golf, giving aspiring golfers access to a professional tour setting. A total of 54 players will be competing this week. Defending [...]
	Moline Mayor launches ‘Caught Caring’ program People can be nominated for things like beautifying their neighborhood, bringing people together and looking out for their neighbors.
	Bettendorf schools taps alumnus John W. Elkin as interim leader Almost two weeks after Michelle Morse's resignation, Bettendorf schools has a new interim superintendent. Meet John W. Elkin.
	East Moline bike camp helps children with disabilities learn to ride independently A bike camp in East Moline empowers children with disabilities to build confidence by learning to ride two-wheeled bicycles, using specialized equipment and support.
	It's a Man, Man, Man, Man World: Genesius Guild’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” at Lincoln Park through July 19 Rather than trying to explain discomfort away, director Cait Bodenbender embraced the play's history by simply casting as Shakespeare himself did: with an all-male cast.
	Jackson County ambulance service using new, quicker EKG technology A new and quicker way of doing electro cardiogram’s is being used in Jackson County.
	More "pool" weather this week in the Quad Cities Hot and sunny - that sums up the forecast for this week in the Quad Cities! We'll see highs in the 90s with plenty of sunshine. We've had 8 days so far with highs in the 90s and that number will definitely climb this week. This is typically the hottest time of the year in [...]
	Quad City Tennis Club new state-of-the-art grass tennis courts Three new state-of-the-art grass tennis courts are one of the only commercial public grass facilities in the United States.
	Meet the newest member of our weather team, Evelyn Maruszak! Evelyn is an Illinois native and studied at St. Louis University. We are excited to have her on the team!
	Looking back: Lindsey Graham visits the Quad Cities in 2015 Graham visited the Quad Cities during his presidential campaign.
	Traffic alert: Davenport runs trial change to East Davenport intersection A major change to a traffic pattern at the intersection of River Street and River Drive in east Davenport is under a trial run. A concrete barrier has been placed to bar drivers from driving onto River Street directly from River Drive. Drivers on River Drive now will have to make a 90-degree right turn [...]
	Film series celebrating Latino culture launches at The Last Picture House The Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series begins July 15 at The Last Picture House, offering four films that celebrate Latino culture while directing all ticket proceeds to local Hispanic nonprofits.
	80 Iowa National Guard members deployed to Eastern Europe Nearly 100 members of the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Regional Support Group departed Monday for a year-long deployment to Eastern Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
	Hawk and Piña and Joe and Angie: “The Invite,” “Evil Dead Burn,” “Gail Daughtry & the Celebrity Sex Pass,” and “Moana” Watching romantic relationships crack and crumble can be enormous, if nerve-racking, fun – just so long as those breakdowns are viewed from the perspective of an auditorium, and not a mirror.
	Morrison teen’s quick actions help save woman’s life A 16-year-old Morrison teen is being praised after trusting his instincts and stopping to check on a car in a ditch.
	Iowa lawmaker praises federal housing bill after it becomes law without Trump's signature All six members of Iowa's congressional delegation voted for the bill.
	Boil order issued for Aledo Aledo residents and businesses connected to the city water system are under a boil order until repairs are completed and water testing confirms it is safe.
	Mercer County libraries begins summer readathon Mercer County libraries are holding a summer readathon to support local children enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
	Iowa hosting the 2026 National Balloon Classic More than 100 balloons are expected to be featured.
	Muscatine boat launch temporarily closes for American Serenade docking The City of Muscatine will temporarily close the downriver boat launch and adjacent parking lot near the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park on Tuesday, July 14, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate the arrival and docking of the American Serenade, a river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines, a news release [...]
	Mercer County readathon to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library The nonprofit Mercer County Better Together is trying to raise enough money to provide free books for hundreds of county kids through Dolly Parton's book program.
	East Moline Fire Department: Scammers pretend to raise money for charity East Moline Fire Department warns residents and local businesses that scammers are falsely claiming to represent the department and are requesting donations for a fundraiser or charitable drive, according to a Facebook post. "Please do not provide any personal or financial information if you receive one of these calls," the post says. "At this time, [...]
	Pritzker signs new laws on birth control, AI regulations, play-based learning Gov. JB Pritzker signed 31 new laws on Friday as he continues evaluating measures passed in the spring session, including bills banning certain ingredients from cosmetics and correct the state’s property tax laws.
	Expect single-lane closures on Government Bridge The Government Bridge will have intermittent single-lane closures for electrical work from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, according to a news release. Flagmen and signage will be in place during the single-lane closures.
	Augustana College may get new school street name signs Augustana College is looking to add a little more school pride to the streets surrounding the campus. The Rock Island City Council will consider a request from the college to install street name signs featuring both the City of Rock Island and Augustana College logos throughout the campus neighborhood. The proposal includes 60 new signs [...]
	1 injured after single-vehicle crash on Credit Island Officials said one person suffered minor injuries after a vehicle crashed into the woods on Credit Island Sunday.
	Semi spills granite on I-80 off-ramp in LeClaire A semitrailer spilled large pieces of granite onto the I-80 off-ramp in LeClaire on Monday morning. The driver was not injured or cited.
	Lanes to close on Government Bridge for electrical work Lanes on the Government Bridge will close Tuesday for electrical work.
	Government Bridge to have lane closures July 14 It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. According to a release from the U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal, the Government Bridge will have intermittent single lane closures for electrical work Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Flagmen and signage will be in place during the single lane closures.
	MidAmerican Energy seeks to increase gas delivery fee MidAmerican Energy customers in Iowa were recently notified about a potential gas rate adjustment, pending approval by the Iowa Utilities Commission. Geoff Greenwood, spokesperson for MidAmerican Energy, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to explain why the adjustment is necessary and how it will make service safer for customers. He says the request [...]
	Scott, Muscatine residents invited to REAP conservation meeting Want a say in local conservation? Attend the Region 9 REAP assembly July 24 and help guide future projects.
	Trump's HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care NPR has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing its most aggressive attempt to end gender-affirming care for youth nationally.
	Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown branch closing remainder of Monday due to heat The Watts-Midtown branch does not have air conditioning.
	South Carolina's governor names Lindsey Graham's sister to serve out his term South Carolina's governor says he is appointing Darline Graham Nordone to finish the term of her late brother. Top Republicans, including President Trump, have coalesced around the pick.
	Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch temporarily closed due to heat The Rock Island Public Library has closed the Watts-Midtown Branch for the remainder of Monday due to heat concerns with no air conditioning. The Downtown and Southwest branches remain open.
	Cancer support organization schedules educational workshop on cancer biology Curious about the biology of cancer? Attend a July 27 workshop with guest speaker Russ Dunn in person or on Zoom.
	Boil order issued for City of Aledo Aledo residents and businesses connected to the city water system are under a boil order until repairs are completed and water testing confirms it is safe.
	'Caught Caring' recognizes Moline residents making a difference Moline has a new way to recognize the everyday people working to make the city better. Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati is launching "Caught Caring," a new program that will award 30 commemorative challenge coins to the people making Moline a better place, often without anyone noticing. She will personally present commemorative challenge coins to people and [...]
	Pint-sized obsessions: America's favorite ice cream flavors and brands, according to Instacart data Pint-sized obsessions: America's favorite ice cream flavors and brands, according to Instacart dataJust in time for National Ice Cream Day on July 19, Instacart dug into a year of ice cream orders to find the flavors and brands filling America's carts, along with the delightfully regional tastes that make every state unique.Ice cream occupies a rare sweet spot in the grocery aisle: It’s nearly universal in appeal yet deeply individual in taste. Ask 10 people their favorite flavor, and you'll get 10 different answers.In order to map the country's sweet tooth, Instacart purchase data from 2025 was used to see how Americans stocked their pints and tubs, tracking which classics held the line, which newer brands surged, and which scoop each state reaches for more than anyone else.Key TakeawaysVanilla is untouchable. It's America's most-ordered flavor, accounting for about 21% of all ice cream orders, and the single most popular pick in every one of the 50 states and D.C.Häagen-Dazs tops the brands. At roughly 24% of orders, it edges out Ben & Jerry's, with Breyers rounding out the top three.Every region has a signature scoop: rocky road out West, coffee across New England, and butter pecan in the South.Hometown dairies win locally. Tillamook is the brand the West favors most, Blue Bell rules the South, and Blue Bunny owns the Plains.Better-for-you is booming. The fastest-growing brands are premium, better-for-you pints, led by Alec's Ice Cream, Rebel, and Van Leeuwen.Vanilla still rulesSome things never melt. Vanilla remains the country's runaway favorite, representing over one-fifth of ice cream purchases, the dependable base for every sundae, float, and à la mode. Behind it, chocolate (7.9%) and cookie dough (6.9%) round out the podium — proof that when it comes to ice cream, comfort beats novelty almost every time.The rest of the top 10 leans nostalgic and crowd-pleasing faves: cookies and cream (5.8%), chocolate fudge/brownie (5.1%), and peanut butter (4.7%) all earn their spots, while mint chocolate chip (4.7%) and coffee (4.5%) keep their loyal followings. The list rounds out with two fruity flavors, strawberry (3.7%) and cherry (3.1%), taking the #9 and #10 spots. Adventurous flavors exist, but Americans mostly want the hits. Instacart A 2-pint race at the topWithin the freezer aisle, we have a duel. Häagen-Dazs takes the national crown, with Ben & Jerry's close behind. Between them, they stake out the two great camps of American ice cream: the velvety-premium and the chunk-loaded-indulgent. Breyers holds a comfortable spot in third as the everyday family favorite.From there, the list turns into a tour of beloved names: Pacific Northwest favorite Tillamook, better-for-you pioneer Halo Top, and regional institutions like Turkey Hill and Blue Bell that inspire fierce hometown loyalty. It's a top 10 that rewards both the splurge and the staple. Instacart Every state's signature scoopVanilla is the most popular flavor in every state hands down, so to find each state's true personality, Instacart asked a different question: Which flavor is unique to each state, claiming a bigger share of local orders than it does nationally?The answer draws a surprisingly tidy map. The West runs on rocky road, while coffee percolates across New England, Oregon, New Mexico, and Hawai‘i. The South has a soft spot for butter pecan, the mid-Atlantic reaches for mint chocolate chip, and the Heartland stays loyal to good old vanilla.The real fun, though, is in the one-off favorites.Wisconsin, true to its dairy-state roots, goes all in on Moose Tracks, the fudge-and-peanut-butter-cup classic with Midwestern origins.Tennessee has a singular soft spot for cheesecake, the only state where the dessert-in-a-tub tops the list.And out in the Mountain West, cherry reigns in both Colorado and Wyoming, a pairing that hints at a shared regional taste for something bright and a little old-fashioned. None of these would crack a national top 10, yet each one quietly defines the state that loves it. Instacart America's regional loyaltiesFew groceries are as local as the ice cream brand in your freezer. Measured by which brand each state favors most compared with the country overall, the map becomes a portrait of America's great regional creameries.Tillamook blankets the West, dominating a dozen states. Blue Bell reigns across the South, Blue Bunny owns the Plains, and New England stays faithful to Friendly's. Even the national champ shows up, with Häagen-Dazs standing out most in dense coastal markets like New York and New Jersey. Instacart The rising stars scooping it upThe freezer aisle's old guard remains steady, but the energy in 2025 came from ice cream’s rising stars. Better-for-you and premium pints like Alec’s Ice Cream (+50%), Rebel (+39%), Straus Family Creamery (+38%), Van Leeuwen (+37%), and Graeter’s Ice Cream (+31%) posted some of the strongest growth year over year.To keep it honest, Instacart measured how much each brand's share of ice cream orders grew from 2024 to 2025, looking only at brands that already had a real foothold the year before. The result is a snapshot of who truly gained momentum. Instacart The last scoopFor all our regional pride, America's ice cream story is one about comfort first. Vanilla, chocolate, and cookie dough anchor nearly every freezer in the country, and the biggest brands keep getting bigger.But underneath the classics, flavor preferences are gloriously local, and the next generation of premium and better-for-you pints is melting its way into the mainstream.This story was produced by Instacart and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Heartland British Autofest brings British cars to LeClaire The Quad Cities’ British Auto Club is holding its 39th Annual Heartland British Autofest on Saturday, August 1 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the levee in LeClaire. Admission is free for spectators. The event showcases an array of classic British cars, including Jaguars, Land Rovers, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, Mini Coopers and more. [...]
	New survey reveals children's heroes are parents, teachers and siblings Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. var bptVideoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); if (bptVideoPlayer) { var cssText = "width: 100%;"; cssText += " background: url('" + bptVideoPlayer.getAttribute("poster") + "');"; cssText += " -webkit-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -moz-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -o-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " background-size: cover;"; bptVideoPlayer.style.cssText = cssText; var bptVideoPlayerContainer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayerContainer"); if (bptVideoPlayerContainer) { setTimeout(function () { bptVideoPlayerContainer.style.cssText = "display: block; position: relative; margin-bottom: 10px;"; var isIE = navigator.userAgent.match(/ MSIE(([0 - 9] +)(\.[0 - 9] +) ?) /); var isEdge = navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1 \|\| navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident") > -1; if (isIE \|\| isEdge) { fixVideoPoster(); } }, 1000); } var bptVideoPlayButton = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayButton"); if (bptVideoPlayButton) { bptVideoPlayButton.addEventListener("click", function () { bptVideoPlayer.play(); }, false); bptVideoPlayer.addEventListener("play", function () { bptVideoPlayButton.style.cssText = "display: none;"; }, false); } var mainImage = document.getElementById("mainImageImgContainer_sm"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var mainImage = document.getElementById("photo-noresize"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("asset_gallery")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("trb_article_leadart")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.querySelectorAll("[src='https://d372qxeqh8y72i.cloudfront.net/3a517e33-df3a-4fe3-82b4-1e1c470c004b_web.jpg']")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } } function fixVideoPoster() { var videoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); var videoPoster = document.getElementById("bptVideoPoster"); fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, true); window.onresize = function() { fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster); }; videoPoster.onclick = function() { videoPlayer.play(); videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; videoPlayer.onplay = function() { videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; } function fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, display) { setTimeout(function () { var videoPosition = videoPlayer.getBoundingClientRect(); videoPoster.style.position = "absolute"; videoPoster.style.top = "0"; videoPoster.style.left = "0"; videoPoster.style.width = videoPlayer.offsetWidth + "px"; videoPoster.style.height = (videoPlayer.offsetHeight + 20) + "px"; if (display) { videoPoster.style.display = "inline"; } }, 1010); } (BPT) - To a child, the ultimate superheroes aren't on a screen — they're sitting right across the dinner table. A recent Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care survey finds 71% of children look up to their own parents as role models. What's more, children aren't selecting their heroes because of their super speed or flawless ways. Traits like bravery, strength, kindness and honesty outrank superficial heroic traits. According to the survey, 82% of children whose parents were polled want to be considered a hero someday, which means parents' hard work may be paying off. It's important to allow children to find themselves and have role models who support their dreams and the qualities they most want to embody. Cheers to real-world heroes!
	Davenport Sleep Inn evacuated Monday morning after pool wiring overheats Officials said the fire was caused by the pool’s wiring overheating and burning the sheeting around the pump’s wires.
	Standard time could become permanent: What to know While a House bill to make daylight saving permanent could be voted on this week, another new bill calls for an opposite approach.
	Two no-party candidates seek Scott County Board seats with focus on housing, engagement Eight candidates are competing for three Scott County Board seats. Meet the two running without party affiliation.
	Rock Island Library closes branch due to excessive heat Rising temperatures have led to a branch of the Rock Island Public Library to close early. The Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street, will close for the remainder of Monday, July 13 due to a lack of air conditioning and rising temperatures inside the building. The closing took effect as of 1 [...]
	Mitchell Tenpenny coming to Rust Belt Multi-platinum selling artist Mitchell Tenpenny is extending his “Speed of Light Tour” with a stop at The Rust Belt, 533 12th Avenue in East Moline on November 14. Jake Banfield will appear as a special guest. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. A pre-sale for members of [...]
	Aledo under water boil order Officials said the order was caused by a water system maintenance issue.
	Death Notice: Celeste Murphy A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Celeste M. Murphy, 100, of Long Grove, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the church, where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday at the church. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Murphy died Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Kahl Home, Davenport. Memorials may be made to St. Ann's Parish or to the Kahl Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the July 15 edition of The NSP.
	Gov. Reynolds plans farewell 99-county tour At the Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner, outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds announced one final 99-county tour.
	Aledo issues boil order for entire city Aledo has issued a boil order for the entire city, according to a news release. Aledo is now under a water boil order for all residents and businesses connected to the Aledo water system. An unforeseen maintenance issue with the water system led to the boil order, which will remain in effect until the issue [...]
	How the duo behind 'The Invite' wrote a sex comedy (that's not really about sex) Rashida Jones and Will McCormack met decades ago, when McCormack's sister set them up on a date. It didn't work out as a romantic pairing, but it was the start of a long-running creative partnership.
	MercyOne Clinton launches Air Med 4, patient shuttle service MercyOne Clinton is expanding care beyond its walls with Air Med 4 and new patient transportation services.
	Scam alert: East Moline Fire says impersonators calling for donations The East Moline Fire Department is warning of callers falsely asking for donations. Learn how to spot the red flags and protect your money.
	Semi loses part of load on I-80 LeClaire offramp A flatbed semi lost part of its load on an offramp from I-80 this morning. Our Quad Cities News was on the scene and saw a semi that lost part of its load on the I-80 offramp to LeClaire this morning. Glass was reportedly strewn along the side of the offramp and into the grass. [...]
	Trump says the U.S. will reinstate its blockade on Iran and charge a toll on ships The move comes after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire for the third weekend in a row, raising the specter of a return to all-out war after a shaky ceasefire took effect in June.
	Trump says the U.S. is back to blockading Iran and will charge ships a toll in Hormuz The U.S. and Iran are fighting for control of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a return to all-out war after agreeing to a ceasefire last month.
	Trump says the U.S. will blockade Iran again and charge ships a toll in Hormuz The U.S. and Iran are fighting for control of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a return to all-out war after agreeing to a ceasefire last month.
	East Moline Fire Department warning of donation scam The East Moline Fire Department is warning the public of a scam, where the caller claims to be from the department and asks for charitable donations.
	Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club hosts biology of cancer workshop Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club is hosting an informative and supportive workshop to discuss the biology of cancer. Russ Dunn, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a Master of Science degree in molecular biology, will discuss universal aspects of cancer and how cancer cells differ from healthy cells on Monday, [...]
	States sue to stop Paramount-Warner Bros blockbuster merger California is among the states suing to block Paramount from buying Warner Bros. Discovery in a Hollywood mega-merger that would unite some of the nation's largest movie studios and TV newsrooms.
	MercyOne Clinton adds Air Med helicopter service MercyOne Clinton Medical Center is expanding emergency transportation services in eastern Iowa with a new air ambulance and patient shuttle program.
	Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage The American Red Cross is declaring an emergency blood shortage after the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to donate to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially critical for platelets and types O positive and B negative blood. There has been a [...]
	Moline hosts open house for Comprehensive Plan draft Moline is hosting an open house to share a draft of its Comprehensive Plan. The city invites residents, business owners and community members to attend a Comprehensive Plan Open House on Thursday, July 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Moline Public Library, 3210 41st Street. The event is free and open to the [...]
	Best of the Wurst competition returns to Davenport The German American Heritage Center and Museum hosted its ninth annual Best of the Wurst competition, featuring bratwurst tastings and more.
	The craftsmanship cliff: Woodworking named the trade hardest hit by skills shortage The craftsmanship cliff: Woodworking named the trade hardest hit by skills shortageWhen construction and trades professionals are asked which single trade the skills shortage will hit hardest, they don't name electricians or plumbers first. They name the carpenters and woodworkers, and the consequence they point to most isn't a blown budget or a slipped schedule. It's a decline in the quality of the work itself.For this article, Eagle Woodworking surveyed 500 U.S. construction and trades professionals, a mix of contractors, tradespeople, project managers, and builders, to understand where the skilled-labor shortage is landing hardest and what it's doing to the work.The results describe a shortage that has moved well past a hiring inconvenience. Respondents report turning down jobs they can't staff, paying more and waiting longer for the work that does get done, and watching the most experienced hands in the trade age out faster than anyone is replacing them.One finding cuts through the rest. The shortage isn't mainly a story about too few workers. It's a story about too few skilled ones, and in a trade built on craft, that's where the real damage shows up.Four patterns run through the data, and together they explain who the shortage hits, what it breaks first, and why it's likely to get worse before it gets better.Quick Summary: Four Insights From the DataThese four findings reframe the labor shortage from a scheduling headache into a threat to the quality of the build itself.1. Woodworking Sits at the Center of the ShortageCarpenters and woodworkers were named the most-exposed trade no matter how the researchers asked. They led the field of trades expected to feel the shortage (47%) and topped the list when respondents had to pick a single hardest-hit trade (19.6%). The view held across contractors, tradespeople, and project managers alike.2. Craftsmanship Is the First Thing to SlipAsked what the shortage hurts most, respondents didn't lead with cost or schedule. They named quality of workmanship, the single biggest impact for 39.4%, nearly double the share that pointed to timelines. Because the scarcest workers are the most experienced ones, craft is what thins out first.3. The Shortage Is Already Capping OutputNearly three-quarters of respondents (72.8%) have turned down work because they couldn't staff it. The jobs that do get done cost more and run longer for the overwhelming majority, and the people who plan and own projects are the ones walking away most often.4. The Cause Is Demographic, but the Fix Everyone Names Is PayRespondents blame a thinning pipeline, fewer young people entering the trades and an aging workforce heading for the door, far more than low wages. Yet asked for the single best fix, they reach for pay first. And the closer a worker is to retirement, the more pessimistic they are about what comes next.What This Means for Builders and RemodelersThe shortage is an experience problem before it's a numbers problem, and craftsmanship is the variable most likely to give. For anyone building or remodeling, that turns a sourcing question into a quality question: where the finished woodwork comes from matters more, not less.Woodworking at the Center of the ShortageAcross both ways researchers asked, woodworking came out on top. When respondents could flag every trade they expect the shortage to affect, carpenters and woodworkers led at 47%, ahead of electricians at 41% and plumbers at 37%. Forced down to a single choice, they picked woodworking again at just under 20%, with cabinet makers and millworkers, the same craft under a different name, adding another 4% on top.This isn't a trade talking up its own importance. The pattern held no matter who was answering. Among contractors, roughly 19% named carpenters and woodworkers as hardest hit; among tradespeople, 20%; among project and site managers, roughly 25%. The people running the jobs and the people doing them agreed. The trade that produces the surfaces a client actually sees and touches is the one the industry expects to lose the most ground.The scale of the broader squeeze backs them up. Construction needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 just to keep labor supply and demand in balance, a figure that climbs to roughly 456,000 in 2027. Eagle Woodworking Craftsmanship Is the First Casualty, Not Cost or ScheduleMost coverage treats the labor shortage as a story about delays and budgets. The respondents told a different one. When they had to name the single biggest impact of the shortage, quality of workmanship ran away with it at 39.4%, close to double the share that named project timelines and more than double the share worried about cost. Eagle Woodworking The reason sits one layer down, in where the gap actually falls. The hardest workers to find aren't the entry-level ones. They're the master-level tradespeople at the top of the ladder, named by 41.6% of respondents as the scarcest group, ahead of both mid-level and apprentice-level workers. When the people in shortest supply are the most experienced, the knowledge that separates good work from merely acceptable work is the first thing to leave with them.That's a pointed finding for a market that sells on craft. The survey doesn't just say the trades are short-handed. It says the part of the work that's hardest to fake, the finish, the fit, the detail, is exactly the part most exposed. Eagle Woodworking The Shortage Is Already Capping OutputThe shortage has moved past inconvenience and started costing real revenue. Almost three-quarters of respondents (73%) have turned down work because they couldn't find the skilled labor to do it, and close to half do it frequently or occasionally rather than as a one-off.The jobs that do go ahead carry a penalty on both sides of the ledger. More than 8 in 10 respondents say the shortage has pushed their costs up, and for a sizable share those increases run past 10%. A similar majority report projects taking longer, with most losing a week or more and better than a third losing three weeks or more.Tellingly, the people most likely to walk away from work are the ones who plan and own it. Among builders and developers, 83% have turned down a job they couldn't staff, as have 79% of project and site managers, both higher than the rates for contractors or tradespeople. The same squeeze shows up in the 2026 contractor outlook, where small firms reported hiring difficulty at nearly double the rate of larger ones. When the people deciding which jobs to take are routinely saying no, the shortage has become a ceiling on how much the industry can build at all. Eagle Woodworking A Pipeline Problem, and a Pay ParadoxAsk what's causing the shortage and the answers point to demographics more than dollars. Fewer young people entering the trades was the most-cited cause at 59%, followed by an aging, retiring workforce at 45.6%. Low starting wages came in well down the list. The picture respondents paint is a generational one: the trade is losing its veterans faster than it's bringing in replacements.Then comes the contradiction. Asked for the single most effective fix, the same respondents reached for pay first. Raising starting salaries topped the list at 29%, ahead of earlier exposure in schools, more apprenticeships, or better trade-school training. They don't mainly blame low pay for the problem, but pay is the lever they grab to solve it, and a money fix for a demographic problem may not pull as hard as they hope.The aging-out worry isn't just sentiment. Most of the new-worker demand projected for 2026 traces to retirement rather than fresh construction activity. And the anxiety climbs right alongside experience. Among the youngest respondents (18-34), 39.2% think the shortage is getting worse; that share rises through every age band to 60.7% of those 55 and older. The workers closest to retirement, the master-level talent already in shortest supply, are the most worried about who's coming up behind them. Eagle Woodworking What It Means for Builders and RemodelersThe survey ultimately finds that woodworking is the trade most exposed to the skills shortage, and the first thing the shortage takes is the quality of the work, because the workers in shortest supply are the most experienced ones. For the pros who keep winning work through it, the edge won't be cheaper labor. It'll be deciding, deliberately, where the craftsmanship in a build comes from.MethodologyData source: Pollfish survey platformTotal sample size: 500 respondentsTarget audience: U.S. construction and trades professionals, screened by roleCollection period: June 16, 2026 (single-day field)Sample composition by role:Contractors/general contractors: 55.0% (275)Tradespeople (carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC, and others): 25.6% (128)Project managers/site managers: 12.2% (61)Builders/developers: 7.2% (36)Analysis note: Percentages for "select all that apply" questions are reported as a share of all 500 respondents and sum to more than 100%. Single-answer questions sum to 100% across the answer set. Figures use unweighted raw counts; Pollfish also provides census-stratified weights, which shift individual values by roughly 1-3 points without changing the rank order of any headline finding.This story was produced by Eagle Woodworking and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Find unique items at A Very Vintage Market, Burlington A Very Vintage Market is back, bringing vintage finds, handmade goods, food, music, shopping and summer fun to downtown Burlington. Downtown Partners, Inc. is hosting the 11th Annual A Very Vintage Market on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in downtown Burlington. The open-air market stretches throughout the downtown district, featuring over [...]
	They call it stupid hot for a reason: Heat muddles animal brains They call it stupid hot for a reason: Heat muddles animal brainsOn a blazing hot day in South Africa, female southern pied babblers can’t think straight. The medium-sized black-and-white birds are trying to get at tasty mealworms behind a see-through barrier. On cooler days, the birds can quickly figure out that all they have to do is go around the small wall of plastic. But when the mercury goes up, the birds just keep stubbornly pecking at the barrier.That experiment is part of a growing body of research showing that animals get their minds muddled during heat waves. When it’s hot outside, birds struggle to learn, dogs bite more often, goat-like chamois pick fights, Knowable Magazine reports. This is bad news not just for those who get on Fido’s toasted nerves. If the animals can’t stay alert enough to find food or avoid predators, their chances of survival go downhill, says Amanda Ridley, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Western Australia who coauthored the pied babbler study.With climate change making heat waves more common, such cognitive impairments across the animal kingdom could ripple through entire ecosystems, putting already fragile species at greater risk. If pollinators forget which flowers to visit, crops and wild plants may fail. If birds can’t find food as easily, their young may not survive. And on a warming planet, a sharp mind is particularly vital. “A changing climate means that your ability to behaviorally adapt is even more important,” Ridley says.HotheadedThere is plenty of evidence that animals are affected by heat. Birds, for example, spend less time looking for food and feeding their young; they even sing less. Instead, they’ll sit around for hours with wings spread to dissipate the heat, and pant with their beaks wide open. Some animals retreat to shade or hide in cool burrows — again, skipping meals. Bees, meanwhile, splash their faces with droplets of water midflight when the weather is sizzling. This way, “they get convective cooling for their brain,” says Emily Baird, a neuroscientist at Stockholm University.Some of the first hints that hot temperatures can mess up minds, however, came from studies on humans. Back in the 1800s, Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetelet noticed that violent crime in France peaked in the summer. Later studies linked high temperatures with gun violence, mental-health-related hospital admissions, suicide and gambling. When it’s hot, people have trouble making decisions, and their memory suffers. For students at schools without air conditioning, a school year just one degree Fahrenheit hotter reduces test scores by 1%, a study found.Increasingly, there’s evidence that other species may also be more aggressive when mercury shoots up. A 2023 study that combed through nearly 70,000 reports of dogs biting people across eight U.S. cities, from Chicago to Baltimore, found that such incidents were more likely to happen on hot, sunny and smoggy days. The risk was 10% higher on a 90-degree day than on a 60-degree day — and not only because people are more apt to venture out for walks when the sun is shining (the researchers controlled for seasonal effects in their data).Still, the scientists were unable to determine whether dogs become more aggressive as it gets hot, or if cranky humans provoke more attacks. “It’s likely that both humans and dogs get stressed and more irate at higher temperatures,” said Clas Linnman, a neuroscientist at the University of Miami and a coauthor on the study.And it’s not only dogs: A 2025 study out of China showed that many animals, including snakes and cats, are more inclined to bite people when it gets hot.Animals also seem to lose their cool with each other, especially if there is food involved. Scientists used binoculars and spotting scopes to spy on wild goat-like chamois that feed on protein-rich plants on the slopes of the Italian Apennine Mountains. More than 1,600 hours of observations over two summers revealed that when temperatures rose from 54 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, vegetation grew scarcer, and chamois aggression in turn shot up. The animals became territorial over patches of food, they assumed threatening postures, chased each other — attacks that, at times, escalated. The study authors predict that chamois aggression will go up 50% by 2080 due to climate change.The small tropical fish called Golden Julie also gets confrontational in the heat. Ordinarily, when a Golden Julie is placed in front of a mirror, it sees its reflected image as a stranger and shows some hostility, raising its fin, for example. But if the normally 78-degree water is raised to a hot 84 degrees, the fish is more likely to get aggressive, and may bite or slap its tail against the mirror, as it tries to scare or attack the reflected image.Cognitive problemsHeat waves can also hamper the ability of animals to learn, as Ridley and her colleagues observed with the southern pied babblers. In one of their experiments, the birds were presented with a simple wooden block with two holes drilled in it, each covered with a lid. If the bird pecked at the lid, it would rotate, revealing either an empty hole or a tasty mealworm (the babblers, Ridley says, “are highly motivated by mealworms”). One lid was dark, and the other a lighter shade of the same color. During heat waves, the birds needed twice as many trials to learn that the mealworm was always hidden under the lid of the same shade. C. SORAVIA ET AL // ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2025 Another group of scientists tested zebra finches, pretty Australian songbirds, and discovered that if temperatures are high, they too have cognitive problems. When figuring out how to get a mealworm out of a see-through tube with an opening at one end, they would just keep pecking on the tube, says study coauthor Elizabeth Derryberry, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It’s the bird equivalent of “banging your head against a brick wall,” she says.Adding to the tally, several years ago researchers showed that when the heat is on, mice have trouble finding their way around a maze and forget objects they’ve seen the day before. More recently, researchers found that male guppies, popular aquarium fish, also have trouble getting through a maze after spending several days in heat-wave-like 90-degree water, even if the prize for getting it right is a virgin female, which they tend to find particularly attractive.For animals such as fish and insects that can’t control their body temperature, heat waves could be particularly detrimental. “Changes in air temperature will affect brain temperature,” says Baird. A hotter brain could hinder the functioning of nerves, and that, she says, “might affect sensing, memory and learning.”When Baird and colleagues tried to teach bumblebees to associate sweet sucrose with the color blue and bitter quinine with yellow, most of the bumblebees learned the trick at 77 degrees, but fewer than half managed to do so at 90 degrees. Such impaired cognition could spell trouble in the field: If the insects forget which flowers they should pollinate (in the case of bumblebees, these include tomatoes and blueberries) or how to get back home with nectar, not only will the pollinators suffer, but human agriculture too, Baird says.Heat appears to dangerously diminish animal vigilance as well. In Ridley’s recent experiments, once mercury in the Kalahari Desert reached 96 degrees Fahrenheit, pied babblers lost their ability to properly respond to predators. In their studies, researchers lured birds toward a mystery shape covered in a sandy-colored blanket, using worms as bait. Once a babbler approached, the scientists would reveal what was hidden underneath: either a taxidermied cat-like carnivore called a genet, or a similarly sized and colored wooden box. The birds got scared of the genet in cooler temperatures — they’d call out, scan their surroundings, or simply flee. But once it got hot, they behaved similarly whether they were facing the carnivore or the box. Ridley suggests that this could translate into higher chances of fatal predator attacks as heat rises, which could harm populations of babblers and other prey species.Heat hampers brain cellsIn addition to highlighting behavioral changes, animal studies can also offer insight into how heat meddles with brain cells. Experiments with mice, for example, show that poor performance in hot mazes is linked to inflammation in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, and can lead to the death of neurons there. If fruit flies are exposed to heat in early life, their adult brains have fewer mushroom bodies — structures that are important for insect learning. And a 2025 study on cleaner wrasses, a fish species that cleans parasites off other fish, showed that after a heat wave, a key part of the fish brain that controls cognitive functions such as memory shrank considerably.These studies are not just abstractions. In the Kalahari, where southern pied babblers use their wits to search for worms, temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average. In tropical rivers, where male guppies seek mates, heat waves are growing longer and more intense. It’s the same story across much of the planet — temperatures climb, and animal thinking becomes strained, potentially putting species at risk. The effects may be magnified in certain areas, such as cities, which often exhibit even warmer temperatures than non-urban areas. If anything, Ridley says, “We are probably underestimating the impacts of increased heat on animal minds.”This story was produced by Knowable Magazine and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Push to loosen regulations on New Hampshire meat industry meets veto Some New Hampshire farmers say a shortage of slaughterhouses has constrained business. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)New Hampshire legislators’ efforts to deregulate meat processing for certain of the state’s small producers has stalled after Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed the measure Friday. “Agriculture is an important part of our state’s economy and heritage, and I appreciate the bill’s intent to provide additional meat processing access for small farmers and producers,” Ayotte wrote in a message announcing the veto. However, she continued, passing the bill would put New Hampshire in violation of federal food safety laws. House Bill 396, from Barnstead Republican Barbara Comtois, sought to allow farmers to sell certain meat products, within state lines, from animals that had been slaughtered and processed on the farm rather than at a slaughterhouse facility certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Such a move would violate the federal Meat Inspection Act, which requires farmers to work with U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified programs or send their livestock to department-certified facilities for processing. In her veto message, Ayotte cited a letter from federal officials asserting that passage of the bill would put New Hampshire in violation of the law. Discussing the bill earlier this year, some New Hampshire farmers said the state was facing a shortage of slaughterhouses that forced them to wait for processing appointments and constrained their business. But others said they would have concerns about food safety if inspection requirements were loosened. In her Friday statement, Ayotte said she would direct Shawn Jasper, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, “to convene a group of our small producers to discuss a path forward that does not violate federal law.” Courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin
	Silvis alderman steps down amid ethics complaint Silvis Ald. Craig Pirmann has resigned immediately. An investigation into an ethics complaint will continue as the city looks to fill his seat.
	Crews respond to fire at Sleep Inn in Davenport Crews respond to fire at Sleep Inn in Davenport
	Playcrafters hosting paranormal investigation fundraiser Hunt for ghosts while raising funds for Playcrafters Barn Theatre. The second paranormal investigation fundraiser will be held at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue in Moline on Saturday, July 18 from 6 – 8 p.m. QC Haunts & History and S&S Paranormal Investigations lead the investigations, with all proceeds going directly to Playcrafters. Is [...]
	Tips on displaying confidence without the cringe Tips on displaying confidence without the cringeConfidence for young guys today is less about showing off and more about feeling comfortable being yourself. Sometimes, all it takes is the right mindset, a fresh scent and less overthinking. In this article, AXE, the deodorant brand for guys, asks Ben “Benny” Hart to unpack the confidence habits that work in real life..A New York City-based multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, author, speaker and dating strategist known for his raw, humorous and no-nonsense take on both business and human connection, Hart has nearly one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. In this guide, Hart reveals how you can boost your confidence without feeling awkward.Scroll through social media, listen to a podcast, or watch a few dating advice clips online, and you’ll see endless opinions about what it means to be confident. A lot of them still revolve around outdated concepts like being the “alpha male”—dominating conversations, or trying to impress others with status and success.Today, people are more socially aware, more emotionally intelligent, and much more sensitive to authenticity. When someone tries too hard to perform confidence rather than actually embody it, most people can spot it immediately.So what does real confidence look like? It’s quiet, steady and comes from being comfortable with yourself. If you strip away all the noise, confidence without the cringe comes down to a few core principles: self-awareness, authenticity, and listening.Self-AwarenessMany people try to copy what they think confidence should look like. The most unattractive thing you could do is to try to be something you’re not.Confidence can’t be copied. Real confidence starts with understanding who you are. What’s your personality? What are your strengths? And what are some areas you want to grow in? When you know who you are, you stop trying to perform and start working with what's already yours. The key is learning to lean into your own strengths instead of trying to manufacture someone else’s.When this happens, you begin to trust yourself. That self-trust carries into dating and social situations. You make clearer decisions about who belongs in your life and when it’s time to walk away if the energy isn't reciprocated.“The key is learning to lean into your own strengths instead of trying to manufacture someone else’s," Hart says.AuthenticityIf you struggle in dating or social environments, you might start to believe you need to act differently to be accepted. So, you adopt behaviors that look confident on the surface, like overasserting yourself or bragging about a promotion. Confidence that's built on performance eventually breaks down because it’s not rooted in anything real. The goal should be to build on internal traits that naturally produce confidence. Those traits come from growth, self-development, and real-life experience. You need to develop yourself so that you can be yourself.“You need to develop yourself so that you can be yourself," Hart says.When you start to overshare accolades, what car you drive or what kind of house you live in, you might think that this is going to get women more interested. But ironically, most women who are smart enough know you’re kind of bluffing.ListeningListening more than you speak is one of the most underrated confidence signals. The art of listening is an actual art, because it's not just about probing questions and trying to get deeper. It's about letting people talk and letting people disclose. A natural curiosity for the other person creates a dynamic where they become more interested in you as well.The ability to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and let conversations unfold naturally signals confidence far better than trying to impress someone with a résumé of achievements.What’s Influencing Your Confidence?Social MediaSocial media shows highlight reels of people’s lives. It shows curated moments, polished photos, and crafted narratives about success. But those moments represent a tiny fraction of reality. Sometimes, with all the things we experience and see, we hold people to crazy high-level standards and pedestalize things.The people who appear confident online often have a lot of unseen experience behind the scenes. They have practiced speaking, networking, building businesses, or navigating social situations repeatedly. This is why comparing yourself to online personas can be misleading.The Story You Tell YourselfA lot of the awkwardness or anxiety you feel in social situations comes down to the story you are telling yourself. You might tell yourself that people are judging you, that you don't belong, or that you’re going to say the wrong thing. Those internal narratives shape how you behave, from your body language to your voice. It may make you avoid engaging with others.That is why it is so important to know yourself. Maybe you're not the best storyteller, but you're great at starting conversations. Maybe you're not the person who dominates the room, but you're someone who listens and makes others feel comfortable. Confidence doesn’t come from being perfect at everything. It comes from recognizing your strengths and giving yourself permission to use them. When you start telling yourself a different story about who you are, your sense of self-worth begins to shift.“Confidence comes from recognizing your strengths and giving yourself permission to use them," Hart says. AXE Questions To Ask Yourself To Start Building Confidence1. What's influencing my decisions on a daily basis?The content you consume, what you listen to, and what you surround yourself with all reinforce your mindset more than you think.2. Am I surrounding myself with people I admire?Being around a group that’s supportive matters. When the pack does well, all the individuals are lifted up.3. Am I involved in something bigger than myself?Confidence grows faster when you’re not doing life in isolation. Get involved in groups and communities to build a support system.4. What subtle signals am I sending?Pay attention to your posture. Make sure you're making eye contact in a relaxed way and speak clearly. These things can shift how others perceive you.5. What first impression am I making?Personal grooming, clothing, and your scent give people an impression of who you are before you say a word.If there is one thing to remember, it’s that confidence rarely appears all at once. It grows through small moments, small shifts in thinking, and small actions taken over time. You don't need a persona. You don't need a script. You need self-awareness, a genuine interest in the people around you, and the willingness to keep building yourself even when it's uncomfortable.This story was produced by AXE and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	La Cruz Roja declara una emergencia nacional por escasez de sangre Los donantes de sangre latinos pueden marcar la diferencia y salvar vidas(NAPSI)—La Cruz Roja Americana ha anunciado una emergencia nacional por escasez de sangre y urge a todas las personas que puedan hacerlo a donar sangre para que los pacientes reciban las transfusiones y atención médica que necesitan. Esta emergencia se produce luego de que el suministro de sangre disminuyera casi un 25 % durante junio debido a una alarmante falta de donaciones.Los retos del verano para colectar sangreEsta disminución en el suministro de sangre y en el número de citas para donar coincide con el verano, una época que presenta importantes desafíos para la recolección de sangre. Las escuelas y universidades están de vacaciones, por lo que disminuyen las jornadas de donación que habitualmente ayudan a mantener el suministro de sangre.Al mismo tiempo, más personas viajan y participan en actividades al aire libre, lo que aumenta el riesgo de accidentes. Según la Asociación Estadounidense del Automóvil, durante los llamados «100 días más mortales del verano», que van desde el Día de los Caídos hasta el Día del Trabajo, los accidentes fatales que involucran a conductores adolescentes aumentan un 30 %. Esto afecta de manera desproporcionada a comunidades como la hispana, que cuenta con una población juvenil más numerosa.Un paciente de trauma puede necesitar hasta 100 unidades de sangre, y es la sangre que ya se encuentra disponible en los estantes y lista para su uso la que puede marcar la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte.La necesidad de sangre no se detieneA diferencia de otros tratamientos médicos, la sangre no puede almacenarse indefinidamente. Debe reponerse constantemente porque solo es apta para transfusiones durante unas semanas y, en algunos casos, como las plaquetas, durante apenas unos días.Un suministro de sangre bien abastecido es clave para tratar y salvar la vida de una persona que ha sufrido una emergencia, una madre que enfrenta una hemorragia o un paciente con cáncer que necesita una transfusión para continuar su tratamiento.Esta emergencia por escasez de sangre es especialmente crítica para los pacientes que necesitan sangre tipo B negativo y O positivo.«Aquí es donde los latinos podemos hacer la diferencia», dice la Dra. Maribel García, directora médica de la Cruz Roja. «Casi el 60 % de los latinos tenemos sangre tipo O, que es el más utilizado durante las emergencias». La Cruz Roja agradece a los donantes latinos, cuyo número aumentó un 7 % el año pasado, y los invita a seguir apoyando el suministro de sangre y ayudando a pacientes de todas las comunidades mediante sus donaciones de sangre.Programe una cita ahoraLa mejor manera de ayudar durante esta emergencia por escasez de sangre es programar una cita para donar sangre hoy mismo usando la aplicación Blood Donor (en inglés), visitando RedCrossBlood.org/espanol o llamando al 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).Como agradecimiento, todas las personas que acudan a donar sangre entre el 13 y el 31 de julio de 2026 recibirán por correo electrónico una entrada de cine de Fandango (hasta un valor de $15, incluidos los cargos). Para más información, visite RedCrossBlood.org/July.Word Count: 506
	Countdown to the Bix: Events begin with Senior Bix The 52nd Quad City Times Bix 7 is coming up. From the Senior Bix to the main race on July 25, here is the full event schedule in Davenport.
	Postpartum nutrition: What your body needs for healing, hormones and milk production Postpartum nutrition: What your body needs for healing, hormones and milk productionThe early postpartum period—often called the fourth trimester—is a time of major transition. While you’re getting to know your baby and settling into a new rhythm, your body is also doing significant work behind-the-scenes.You’re healing from pregnancy and birth. Your hormones are shifting quickly. If you’re breastfeeding, your body is producing milk day and night. And if your energy, appetite and routine feel unpredictable, that's completely normal.The good news? You don’t need a perfect plan to support your body. With a few simple, consistent habits, you can give it what it needs to heal, feel more balanced, and support your postpartum recovery in a realistic, sustainable way.In this article, Aeroflow Breastpumps provides realistic guidance that meets mothers where they are—because postpartum nutrition and recovery don’t happen under perfect conditions, and support should reflect that.Why Postpartum Nutrition MattersAfter birth, your body is balancing several important processes at once. Understanding what’s happening can help make sense of why postpartum nutrition plays such a key role in how you feel day to day.Physical Healing and RecoveryYour body is actively repairing tissue, whether from vaginal delivery or a cesarean birth, while restoring blood volume and reducing inflammation. Balanced, nutrient-dense meals and snacks support that process and help recovery feel steadier.Hormonal ShiftsAfter delivery, estrogen and progesterone levels drop quickly, while hormones involved in milk production rise. These shifts can affect your mood, appetite and mental clarity. Postpartum brain fog, hot flashes and emotional sensitivity are very common. For most women, they begin to improve in the first few weeks as hormones stabilize.Increased Energy NeedsIf you’re breastfeeding, your body requires additional calories to support milk production. Many women notice increased hunger, though appetite can sometimes feel inconsistent depending on sleep, recovery and overall energy levels.Supporting Your Body’s Physical HealingThere’s no need to overhaul your diet. ust focus on a few key nutrients that help support your recovery and healing over time.ProteinProtein supports tissue repair and helps you maintain strength in the postpartum period. Including a source of protein with meals and snacks can help support healing and recovery over time. Foods like eggs, yogurt, chicken, beans and nut butter can help support your protein intake throughout the day.IronIron helps replenish what was lost during birth and supports healthy energy levels. Low iron can show up as fatigue, dizziness or difficulty concentrating. Red meat, lentils, spinach and fortified cereals are all helpful sources of this vital nutrient.HydrationStaying hydrated can make a noticeable difference in how you feel. Fluids support circulation, digestion and milk production. Keep a water bottle nearby and sip throughout the day, especially during feedings. Pale yellow urine is a reliable sign you're well hydrated.Supporting Hormones & Mood Through NutritionIf things feel a little off emotionally or mentally, you’re not imagining it. Between hormonal shifts and sleep disruption, your body is adjusting in big ways.Healthy FatsFats—especially omega-3 fatty acids—support brain function and mood stability during this transition. Foods like salmon, chia seeds, flaxseed and walnuts are simple ways to include them in your diet.CarbohydratesCarbohydrates provide steady energy and help stabilize blood sugar levels. Skipping meals or under-eating carbs can worsen postpartum fatigue and irritability. Oats, whole grain bread, brown rice and sweet potatoes help keep energy more consistent throughout the day.MagnesiumMagnesium supports muscle relaxation and nervous system regulation, which is especially helpful when your body is under both increased physical and emotional demand. You can find it in foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds and even dark chocolate.Supporting Recovery Beyond NutritionNutrition provides the foundation for healing, other forms of support matter too. Gentle movement, rest and pelvic floor recovery all play a role in helping your body heal and regain strength over time.In the early postpartum weeks, regular naps, short walks outside, and accepting help with meals and household tasks can support both physical recovery and mental health. Some women also benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to help improve comfort, coordination and core support after pregnancy and birth.Nutrition and Milk Supply: What Actually HelpsMany mothers wonder if certain foods will increase milk supply, especially with so much information circulating online. Here's what the evidence actually supports.The Foundation Comes FirstMilk production is primarily driven by three things: frequent and effective milk removal, adequate calories and consistent hydration. These factors have the greatest impact on establishing and maintaining supply.Calories Needed for BreastfeedingBreastfeeding increases your energy needs, and it’s common to feel hungrier than usual. Listening to your hunger cues and eating regularly throughout the day supports both your energy and your milk supply.Galactagogues: Do They Work?Foods and supplements marketed as lactation “superfoods” (called galactagogues) are popular, but the research on their effectiveness in increasing milk supply is mixed. Because herbal and dietary supplements aren’t regulated in the same way as medications, product quality and potency vary, which means results aren’t always consistent.Some mothers notice a difference. Many don’t. In most cases, feeding frequency, effective milk removal, adequate calories, and hydration has a greater impact than any specific products.If you’re concerned about your milk supply—or unsure about whether a supplement is right for you—a lactation consultant can help you look at the bigger picture and identify what may actually support your individual situation.Do You Need to Avoid Certain Foods?Most babies tolerate a wide variety of foods in their mother’s diet. If you notice consistent symptoms—ongoing fussiness, skin reactions or rashes or blood in stool—check with your baby’s healthcare provider or a lactation consultant before making significant dietary changes or eliminating entire food groups.When Eating Well Feels Hard in the Postpartum PeriodEven with the best intentions, meeting your postpartum nutrition needs can feel challenging in real life. You might be running on very little sleep, feeding your baby around the clock, feeling very hungry (or not hungry at all) and adjusting to a completely new routine with limited support.If this sounds familiar, you’re not doing anything wrong.Instead of aiming for perfect meals, it can help to focus on small, realistic ways to stay nourished throughout the day.Easy Postpartum Meal Ideas for Busy New MomsWhen energy is low, simple is best. These meals include a mix of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats without requiring much prep, cleanup or decision-making.Quick, balanced meal ideas:Plain greek yogurt with granola and fruitEggs with whole-grain toast and avocadoRotisserie chicken with microwave brown rice and veggiesOatmeal with nut butter and berriesSandwich with turkey, cheese and fruitEasy Snacks for Breastfeeding MomsHaving simple, one-handed snacks within reach can make it easier to stay fueled during feedings.Some quick options include:Protein barsTrail mix or nutsHard-boiled eggsHummus with veggiesApple slices with peanut butterCheese sticks with whole-grain crackersThink of these as “bridge foods” between meals. They’re not something extra you have to plan, they just need to be accessible.Simple Strategies to Make Postpartum Nutrition More DoableSmall, flexible habits can go a long way. Even using just one or two of them consistently can make a real difference.Keep Meals SimpleInclude protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats when you can, but don’t worry about making every meal “perfect.” Some days, simple is exactly what your body needs and all you have time for.Keep Food VisibleOut of sight often means out of mind in the postpartum period. Keep snacks where you spend most of your time.Pair Eating with FeedingTry to eat and drink something each time you feed your baby. It doesn’t have to be a full meal—just a snack or a few bites can keep your energy steady throughout the day.Use Convenient OptionsPre-cut produce, meal kits, rotisserie chicken and frozen meals are not shortcuts—they're what makes nourishment possible during this season.Double What You MakeIf you’re already cooking, make extra. On low-energy days, having something already made can take the pressure off figuring out what to eat at the moment.What About Postnatal Vitamins?A postnatal vitamin can help fill nutritional gaps, especially on days when meals feel less consistent or may be lacking in certain nutrients. However, it’s important to remember: vitamins are meant to support your nutrition, not replace it. Food remains the foundation for energy, recovery and postpartum wellness.Tips and Tricks to Keep Up with HydrationYour body needs more fluids postpartum, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Even mild dehydration can look a lot like common postpartum symptoms: fatigue, headaches, irritability, and even increased hunger. This is part of why staying on top of hydration can make such a noticeable difference in how you feel day to day.Signs You’re Likely Well HydratedWhile there’s no need to obsess over exact amounts, your body does give helpful cues. You may be well hydrated if you notice:Light yellow or pale urineRegular thirst cues (without feeling overly thirsty or “behind”)Steadier energy throughout the dayFewer headaches or “afternoon crashes”Simple Ways to Stay HydratedIn the postpartum period, hydration works best when it’s simple and automatic.Keep a water bottle in every place you regularly feed your babyTake a few sips every time you sit (or lay down) down for a feedingPair hydration with snacks so both needs are met togetherIf plain water feels hard to keep up with, that's okay. Soups, broths, herbal teas, and water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables all count. Some women also find it helpful to add electrolytes occasionally, but these are not necessary for normal daily hydration.A Gentle ReminderPostpartum nutrition isn’t something you have to figure out all at once, and it’s not a short-term project. It unfolds gradually over months—and for many women, even years—as your body continues to recover, adjust and find its new rhythm.There’s no perfect starting point and no “too late” moment. Whether you’re in the early newborn days or further along in your postpartum journey, small, supportive choices still matter and can be incorporated whenever you’re ready.Some days that looks like balanced meals and plenty of hydration. Other days it looks like eating something nourishing when you can and giving yourself permission to rest. Both are enough.Small, steady choices—eating when you can, staying hydrated, keeping simple foods on hand—make a meaningful difference over time. And even when it doesn't feel like much, it still counts.This story was produced by Aeroflow Breastpumps and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Dorm Room and Apartment Shopping: How to Pick Upholstered Furniture and Bedding (NAPSI)—If you are shopping for your college student’s dorm room or apartment, you want to choose furniture and bedding that meets their needs and will last while they are at college. Here are some questions to consider when selecting upholstered furniture or bedding:Will it fit? Get the measurements of the relevant room in advance and plan where you will put items. Some retailers have online features that will let you “picture” how a new item looks in your space.How will your purchase get into the dorm room or apartment? Check the location and dimensions of elevators, stairwells and doorways to be sure new furniture—which may be in large boxes or disassembled—can be carried into the student’s new abode. It’s no fun to return something you like because it won’t fit up the stairs or around a sharp corner. Scope out your route on-site or ask building staff ahead of time.Will it clean up and wear well? Ask sales staff how mattresses, bedding toppers, pillows or upholstered furniture will age over time and how to clean them. Consider looking for furniture fabrics that are stain-resistant.Does it make sense to invest in better quality furniture? High-quality, better-made upholstered furniture or bedding costs more because it is built with materials that are designed to last longer. If your student is just starting out or intends to continue using the furniture after graduation, it may make sense to spring for higher quality.Does my student need a mattress cover, encasement or topper? Mattress covers, also known as mattress protectors, safeguard your mattress from spills, stains, allergens, and bed bugs. They can be waterproof, hypoallergenic, cooling, or a combination of these features. If you have a new mattress, you may need only a cover or pad that fits snugly over the corners or is anchored by elastic bands. Check if your cover is machine-washable.You probably know what size your mattress is, but to find the right cover, you might need to measure the height and depth of your mattress. Many dorm twin beds use extra-long mattresses, so pay attention when purchasing!Encasements have six sides to fully enclose a mattress and/or foundation (another word for box spring). Some encasements have padding on top, offering an extra layer of cushioning between you and the mattress. If you are moving, it’s a good idea to protect your mattress with an encasement. If your student needs additional comfort (or the dormitory mattress is not quite right), consider buying a foam-cushioned topper. Memory (viscoelastic) foam toppers are available in different thicknesses. Memory foam conforms to body weight and slowly springs back to its original shape. Convoluted foam (molded into peaks and valleys) is often thinner and lighter weight. Some toppers have special cooling foams or a ventilated design to facilitate airflow.What’s inside? While you’re thinking about your student’s comfort, consider their indoor air quality. Look for mattresses, bedding and upholstered furniture made with CertiPUR-US® certified foam. Certified foams are made without formaldehyde; ozone depleters; mercury, lead and other heavy metals; or phthalates regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It also means the foam has low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million). Certified foams are screened for relevant chemicals, including flame retardants, that are classified as carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins and are harmful to human health.Visit certipur.us/directory or download the CertiPUR-US® app to find manufacturers and retailers offering upholstered furniture, mattresses and pillows made with certified foam.Word Count: 576
	Dermatologists have a new approach for Accutane, and it's changing who takes it Dermatologists have a new approach for Accutane, and it's changing who takes itIsotretinoin, formerly known by its brand name Accutane, has long had a reputation for intense side effects. What many patients do not know is that there's now a gentler path to the same result.Routines, such as cleansers, serums, retinoids, and antibiotics, can help patients manage acne. However, acne is a biological problem, driven by genetics and hormonal signaling. Unfortunately, you cannot cure acne by lathering products atop your skin.Isotretinoin is the only medication that addresses all the root causes of acne. Nonetheless, it comes with a reputation for dryness, joint pain, purging, monthly blood draws, and months of significant side effects. Despite isotretinoin’s reputation, enduring nefarious side effects is no longer the only option for patients.Today, dermatologists have three distinct ways to prescribe isotretinoin in their armamentarium. Each treatment path differs in dosage as well as how it feels, how long it takes, and what it is designed to accomplish. The appropriate path depends on your skin, your lifestyle, and what you want from an acne treatment.Understanding the difference requires a primer in cumulative dose, a concept that upended how dermatologists think about acne treatment and opened a path to lower side effects. Honeydew breaks down how modern isotretinoin dosing options give acne patients more control over side effects, timelines, and long‑term results.It Was Never About the Daily DoseFor decades, dermatologists prescribed isotretinoin based on a set daily dose, which they typically calculated using a patient’s body weight. For example, a 70-kilogram patient would take a course of 40 to 80 milligrams a day for approximately six months. The logic was that stronger daily doses yielded faster, more durable results.Albeit intuitive, that assumption proved wrong.A study published in JAMA Dermatology analyzed data from nearly 20,000 isotretinoin patients and found that the variable predicting long-term success was not a patient’s daily dose. Instead, the patient’s cumulative dose determines treatment success. Cumulative dose is defined as the total amount of isotretinoin your body received over the entire course of treatment. According to the study, patients who reached a cumulative target in the range of 150 to 220 mg/kg experienced the lowest rates of relapse. Each additional mg/kg further reduced that risk. Whether they got there quickly or slowly did not significantly affect outcomes.As a corollary, a patient taking 20 milligrams a day for 14 months will have achieved the same cumulative total as a patient taking 60 milligrams a day for five months. The only difference is the road, which is where side effects live, and the treatments split into three distinct protocols.Three Paths, Three TradeoffsEvery isotretinoin protocol presents patients with tradeoffs between speed, comfort, and goals.Traditional / Full Dose: The SprintTraditional dosing for isotretinoin is 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day. For most adults, that is 40 to 80 milligrams. Normally, the course runs for six to eight months.The goal is to reach the cumulative dosing target fast. For people with severe acne, this may be the correct choice due to scarring risks. Therefore, if you have severe cystic acne with deep, painful nodules and real scarring potential, your dermatologist will almost surely steer you toward this option. The sprint is worth the side effect profile because scarring is hard to reverse.Traditional dosing for isotretinoin has a higher risk of side effects when compared to other dosing protocols. Nearly everyone experiences dryness around the lips, skin, nose, and sometimes eyes. Musculoskeletal issues, such as joint aches and muscle soreness, present in approximately 10% to 15% of patients, which is still a minority.Apropos of feared psychiatric side effects, such issues are largely unsupported by evidence. In particular, a meta-analysis of more than 1 million patients found no association between isotretinoin and increased rates of depression.What you gain by taking a traditional dosing course is the fastest path to lasting remission. Most of the time, completion of the course prevents acne recurrence, at the cost of comfort during treatment.Microdose-to-Target: The Long Road to the Same Place (Slow and Steady)Microdosing isotretinoin involves a much smaller dose of 10 to 20 milligrams a day (0.1-0.3 mg/kg/day), spread over 12 to 24 months.The destination is the same cumulative dose target as full-dose isotretinoin, and so is the long-term efficacy. The difference is how you get there. At 10 to 20 milligrams a day, severe dryness, cracked skin, and joint pain are side effects that most patients simply do not encounter. Although some patients report lip dryness, this side effect typically responds to regular lip balm usage.The key drawback of a low-dose protocol is time. It takes a year or longer to complete a full course of treatment. Consequently, you need to deal with additional months of monitoring, more lab draws, and, for patients who can become pregnant, more pregnancy tests and time navigating the iPLEDGE program.With a microdose protocol, patients may experience a dramatically more comfortable treatment experience with the same long-term outcomes.Maintenance Dose: The Dial, Not the DestinationMaintenance dosing for isotretinoin is around 5 mg/kg, sometimes taken every other day. Unlike microdose and traditional dose protocols, there is no end to treatment. Whereas traditional and microdose protocols both drive toward a cumulative target to cure acne, maintenance dosing aims for keeping your skin at a desired level of clarity and texture at all times.Think of a maintenance protocol as a calibration tool rather than a course of treatment. At very low doses, isotretinoin still suppresses oil production, reduces breakout frequency, and improves skin texture. However, your body needs to be subject to a minimum daily dose to accumulate enough isotretinoin in your system over time to produce permanent changes to the sebaceous gland that create lasting remission.For patients whose acne is persistent but not severe, that may be the appropriate tradeoff.How to Think About Your ChoiceChoosing the right dose is something you do in conjunction with your dermatologist, who evaluates your acne severity, your medical history, your lab work, and your risk factors to assess which protocol is right for you. When you speak with your dermatologist, mention your priorities to help inform the suggested treatment plan.First, ask yourself about your preferred treatment timeline. If you want this behind you as fast as possible, the full dose is the shortest path. If you would rather barely notice you are on medication, microdosing gives you that at the cost of a longer commitment.Second, determine if you want a cure or control. If you want lasting remission and the possibility of being done with acne, you need to reach the cumulative target, which means either full dose or microdose. Maintenance dosing does not clear the threshold necessary to achieve a cumulative effect, but it can keep your acne manageable for as long as you stay on it.Lastly, reflect upon the severity of your acne. If your acne is scarring and leaving marks that will not fade, your dermatologist will likely recommend full-dose regardless of your comfort preferences, because scarring is irreversible and speed matters. If your acne is persistent but not destructive, the full range of options opens up.Although researchers have learned more about how isotretinoin works and how to prescribe it effectively since its introduction in 1982, its reputation among consumers is still catching up. There are gentler paths that lead to the same place, and there are lighter-touch options for people who need management more than a cure.This story was produced by Honeydew and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Heat index could reach 100 degrees in parts of the Quad-Cities region Hot and humid weather is expected through Friday, with heat index values possibly reaching 100 degrees. Stay updated as the forecast evolves.
	Moline to unveil draft Comprehensive Plan at public open house The City of Moline is inviting the public to review its draft Comprehensive Plan and share feedback before it’s finalized. Learn more about Thursday’s open house.
	A closer look at mental health in underserved communities A closer look at mental health in underserved communitiesMental health in underserved communities refers to the unique needs, stressors, and barriers to care faced by diverse communities. Access to mental health support is an ongoing nationwide issue. But it disproportionately impacts underserved groups.Factors like cultural stigma, systemic racism, and a lack of awareness have negatively affected mental health in these communities for a very long time. And systemic injustice continues to harm those who need the most support. But by raising awareness and advocating for inclusivity, you can help ensure that everyone has access to life-changing care.Rula takes an in-depth look at mental health in underserved communities, highlighting the systemic barriers to care and the importance of culturally competent support.Key TakeawaysPeople with diverse backgrounds and identities often have difficulty accessing mental healthcare. This is due to systemic barriers like institutional racism and discrimination.Culturally competent care honors and affirms each aspect of a person’s background and identity. But, unfortunately, this form of support can be difficult to find.If you’re a member of an underserved community and are having trouble finding a therapist, know that you’re not alone. Connecting with your community, practicing self-care, and exploring teletherapy can help you feel supported.The state of mental health in historically marginalized communitiesThe U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse. By 2044, it’s estimated that over half of Americans will belong to an underserved group. Despite shifting demographics, historically marginalized communities continue to experience mental health disparities.A 2024 report found that 56% of white adults with a mental health condition in the U.S. received treatment. In comparison, Hispanic (40%), Black (38%), and Asian (36%) adults were less likely to receive mental healthcare.Here’s more of what is known about the unique mental health challenges faced by historically marginalized communities:Depression is reported less often in Black and Hispanic communities than in white communities. But when it does happen, it often lasts longer because many people don’t get the help they need.People who identify as two or more races are the most likely to experience a mental health concern.Native Americans/Alaskan Natives have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder than any other ethnic or racial group.Historically marginalized groups are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. About 50% to 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a mental health condition.Research shows that generational trauma can affect mental health in underserved communities. For example, the effects of racism can be passed down through generations and may increase the risk of depression.Having an intersectional identity (like identifying as BIPOC or LGBTQ+) may lead to poorer mental health. This is due to increased discrimination.Communities of color with untreated mental health concerns are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, and/or experience incarceration.What’s in the way of mental health equityMany systemic barriers stand in the way of health equity. Here are a few:Access to affordable healthcare: People can’t access the services they need often due to being uninsured or underinsured.Cultural stigma: Some groups maintain cultural beliefs that make it harder to ask for help.Lack of access to culturally competent care: It’s difficult to find care that reflects and respects all aspects of a person’s identity.Language limitations: There’s often limited access to providers who speak the same language or share the same background.Mistrust in the healthcare system: Many people don’t reach out for support due to historic discrimination and racism.Despite these persistent challenges, efforts are underway to close the mental healthcare gap for historically marginalized communities. For example, July is now officially designated as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S.This awareness is important to increase representation, but more is needed to address these disparities. From mental health educational materials being made available in different languages to encouraging diversity within the mental health field, we have a long way to go in ensuring that people from all backgrounds have access to the care they need.Accessible mental healthcare for underserved groupsIf you’re looking for a culturally competent or identity-affirming provider, here are a few tips to help you start your search:Talk to your community. Someone from your community may be able to recommend a provider who shares your identity or understands your culture on a personal level.Check online resources. If you’re unable to access culturally competent care in your community, teletherapy can be a great option. Technology can allow you to expand your search and find the right provider for your needs.Consider a support group. Being surrounded by people with similar backgrounds can be a healing experience. There are many support groups for people of diverse identities that you can attend either in person or online.Vet potential providers. When you contact a potential therapist, know that you can ask questions. You can inquire about their experience treating people like yourself or how they approach supporting people from underserved groups.Practice self-care. If you’re having a hard time finding a culturally competent therapist, know that it's not your fault. The barriers you’re facing are entrenched and systemic. This isn’t something one person can solve. So, try to cultivate self-compassion and make time for self-care. Participating in healthy activities you enjoy can give you strength throughout this process.Find culturally competent careMembers of underserved groups face unique barriers to mental healthcare. Factors like systemic racism, insufficient insurance coverage, and a lack of access to culturally competent providers can make it harder to seek help. Historically, underserved groups have been underserved by the medical and mental health communities. While this is slowly improving, many of these challenges persist today.So if you’re a member of a diverse group and you’ve had trouble finding mental healthcare, know that you’re not alone. Talking to someone in your community you trust, using teletherapy, and vetting potential providers can help you find the culturally competent care you deserve.This story was produced by Rula and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What to do after getting a hypertension alert from your smartwatch What to do after getting a hypertension alert from your smartwatchFor years, smartwatches have helped us monitor our health. From tracking how many steps we take each day to measuring our heart rate, our watches have helped us stay healthy.More recently, many smartwatches can measure our blood pressure, letting the user take a reading as and when they need to. But now, thanks to FDA approval, users can receive a notification if their smartwatch detects signs of hypertension.This guide from Beurer North America explains how this feature works and what you should do if you receive a hypertension notification.What Is Hypertension?Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when your blood vessels experience too much pressure. Blood pressure readings take two measurements into account — the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats (systolic blood pressure) and then when your heart is relaxed (diastolic blood pressure).Blood pressure measurements are given as “systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure.” To be diagnosed with hypertension in the U.S., a reading of 130/80 mmHg must be measured on two separate days.Hypertension is a common condition that affects over 1.4 billion people aged 30-79 around the world, according to the World Health Organization. While it is manageable, high blood pressure can be dangerous or fatal if left untreated. Many people are unaware that they have hypertension, which is why it can often go unaddressed.How to Know if You Have Hypertension Beurer Hypertension can affect anyone, although some factors increase your likelihood:Age: As you age, your blood vessels will stiffen and thicken, increasing the risk of hypertension.Genetics: Hypertension can run in families, as some genes can increase the risk of the illness.Weight: People who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience hypertension.Diet: Regular alcohol and caffeine consumption and high-salt diets can increase the risk of hypertension.Lifestyle: People who aren't physically active, are regularly stressed, or experience poor sleep quality are more likely to develop high blood pressure.The only sure way to know if you have hypertension is to take a reading with a blood pressure cuff. If you have extremely high blood pressure readings of around 180/120 or higher, you may experience symptoms of hypertension, which include chest pain, severe headaches, and difficulty breathing.However, people with hypertension below these levels often don't exhibit any symptoms. Until recently, you would have to be conscious of the risk factors and symptoms or take your blood pressure to learn that you may have hypertension.But now, your smartwatch might be able to give you an early warning that you have hypertension.Which Smartwatches Send Hypertension Notifications?Currently, the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that can provide hypertension notifications. Following FDA approval, Apple first launched its hypertension notification feature in September 2025. It's now available in over 150 countries.However, only some Apple Watches can use this function. Hypertension notifications are available on:Apple Watch Series 9.Apple Watch Series 10.Apple Watch Series 11.Apple Watch Ultra 2.Apple Watch Ultra 3.Users will also need to ensure their Apple Watch has the latest version of watchOS installed for this feature to work. They'll also need an iPhone 11 or newer model with the latest version of iOS installed on it. Finally, the user must be at least 22 years old, not pregnant and not diagnosed with hypertension.Other smartwatches can measure your blood pressure, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Huawei Watch D2. However, these watches can't send hypertension notifications.What You Should Do if You Get a Hypertension NotificationApple expects over 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension to receive a hypertension notification within the first year. So, many people will likely wonder what to do when they receive this notification.1. Keep CalmThe first thing you should do when you receive a hypertension notification is stay calm. Just because you've received a notification, it doesn't guarantee that you have high blood pressure.2. Check and Monitor Your Blood PressureYour next step should be to use a medically certified, FDA-approved blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure. These devices are more accurate and can provide real measurements when you need them. Monitor your blood pressure using this device for the next week, and consult your doctor if it reads high. If it reads as low, mention the notification to your doctor at your next checkup so they can perform any additional tests they might deem necessary.3. Make Lifestyle Adjustments as NeededIf you do have high blood pressure, you might try making some lifestyle changes to reduce it, such as eating a low-sodium diet, exercising more regularly, and cutting alcohol and caffeine. You should also try to get a good night's sleep every night and avoid stressful situations as much as possible. Your doctor can advise you on specific dietary, exercise, and other lifestyle adjustments, or they might prescribe a blood pressure medication if necessary.How to Accurately Log and Track Blood PressureIf you receive a hypertension notification and want to track your blood pressure for the next week, it's important to make sure you measure and monitor it accurately.First, you need to choose a medically approved blood pressure monitor that you can use at home. Once you have this, you can take your first blood pressure reading.When you take your blood pressure, don't exercise, smoke, or drink caffeine for at least 30 minutes beforehand. You should empty your bladder, too. Place the cuff over your upper arm, ensuring there's no clothing between the cuff and your arm. Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor and your cuffed arm resting on a flat surface at heart level.Follow your monitor's instructions to take a reading, and make a note of the results. Wait a minute, and then take a second reading and note this down, too. Your blood pressure monitor may have a memory tracker, but it's always useful to also make a note on paper or on your phone.Take and record measurements at the same time each day for the next seven days.How to Turn on Hypertension NotificationsHypertension notifications may not be automatically enabled on your Apple Watch. To enable them, just follow these steps:On your iPhone, open the Health app.Tap the profile icon.Under “Features,” tap “Health Checklist.”Tap "Hypertension Notifications.”Confirm your age and whether you’ve ever been diagnosed with hypertension, then tap “Continue.”Tap “Next” on each prompt to learn how the notifications work.Tap "Done" to finish setting up notifications.You also need to ensure that Wrist Detection is turned on for this feature to work.Concerns With Hypertension NotificationsSmartwatch hypertension notifications have the potential to warn people that they may have hypertension. However, some experts worry about overreliance on this feature. If users rely on their Apple Watch to tell them that they have hypertension, they may build a false sense of security and ignore other warning signs. They may also choose not to check their blood pressure with medically approved devices and instead trust their Apple Watch to monitor their blood pressure.Apple itself states that not everyone with hypertension will receive a notification, which shows that it's not a foolproof feature. Its accuracy can be lower in particular situations, such as during activity or if the user has certain medical conditions. Sometimes, the device's calibration might just be off.Despite this warning, it's still likely that people will rely on it as their sole measure of hypertension.Another problem is that people can receive a notification even if they don't have hypertension. This can cause undue worry and stress until the user can check in with their doctor or use a medically approved blood pressure monitor.Finally, the feature can't be used if you're pregnant, as it can't reliably adjust to the physiological changes your body undergoes during pregnancy. However, many people may not realize this and continue to rely on the feature even after they become pregnant. This can lead to either false or missed alerts.How Does a Smartwatch Check Hypertension?Apple Watches have been able to track heart rate for many years by using an optical heart sensor. As your heart beats, the watch uses light to measure changes to your blood vessels. It then calculates your blood pressure by analyzing photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.Users can't spot-check this feature. Instead, it works in the background and assesses your blood pressure over a rolling 30-day period. When it detects consistently high levels of blood pressure, it will send you an alert.It's important to note that this feature isn't intended to replace cuff-based blood pressure readings. Rather than being a diagnostic tool, the Apple Watch's hypertension detection tool is designed to be an additional check, which may inform the user that their blood pressure could be high. Apple explicitly says that users should verify the alert with a third-party medical device.Why Does Early Hypertension Detection Matter?Like many medical conditions, it's much better to know sooner rather than later if you do have hypertension. Beurer Organ Damage PreventionSince hypertension affects your blood vessels and your heart's ability to pump blood around your body, it can affect many of your organs, including your:Heart: Hypertension can cause coronary heart disease, heart failure, metabolic syndrome, and an enlarged left heart.Brain: Dementia, strokes, cognitive impairment, and transient ischemic attacks have all been associated with hypertension.Kidneys: If hypertension damages your blood vessels, it can lead to kidney failure, and it can be made worse by diabetes.Eyes: Hypertension can cause retinopathy, choroidopathy, and optic neuropathy, all of which can damage vision.Not everyone who has hypertension will develop these illnesses. However, if left untreated, all of these complications are possible. By detecting and treating hypertension early, you can greatly reduce the chances of them happening.Improved Quality of LifePeople with hypertension can develop complications that might impact their daily lives. Beyond the serious effects due to organ damage, hypertension can cause many physical side effects, such as fatigue and reduced stamina.Hypertension can affect your mental health, too. While stress can be a contributing factor to hypertension, high blood pressure can increase anxiety and stress in turn.Catching hypertension early can put your mind at ease and minimize its impact on your daily life.Extended LifespanKnown as “the silent killer” since it's often asymptomatic, hypertension causes millions of fatalities each year, many of whom are unaware that they even have the condition. Lower systolic blood pressure in middle-aged individuals could contribute to a lifespan over four years longer than those who have higher blood pressure.By catching hypertension early, you give yourself the opportunity to take action.Reduced Medical CostsIn 2019, hypertension cost the U.S. around $219 billion. That same year, people with hypertension had medical expenses that were $2,759 higher than those of people without hypertension.One of the main causes of this cost increase isn't the treatment of hypertension itself, but the treatment of the complications it causes. That's why diagnosing hypertension early and managing it can decrease health care costs. It's estimated that self-measured blood pressure monitoring programs could reduce health care costs by $7,794 per person over the age of 20.When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention for HypertensionHypertension usually affects you slowly over a long period of time. However, your blood pressure can occasionally spike quickly, and if it rises too much, you may need to seek immediate medical attention.A rapid and dangerous increase in blood pressure could cause:A heart attack.Chest pain.Blindness.Memory loss or confusion.A stroke.Shortness of breath.Loss of consciousness.If you experience any of these symptoms as a result of high blood pressure, you'll need immediate medical attention.Next Steps After You Receive a Hypertension NotificationHypertension notifications have the potential to alert millions of people to the possibility of hypertension. While this technology isn't perfect or designed to replace medically approved blood pressure cuffs, it could save lives, cut health care costs, and lead to a healthier lifestyle for many people around the world.If you receive a hypertension notification, remember to stay calm, check your blood pressure with a medically approved blood pressure monitor, and check it every day for seven days. If it measures high, speak to your doctor.This story was produced by Beurer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Mainstream Home Improvement opens second location in Bettendorf "Opening a second location while celebrating 25 years in business makes this an exciting milestone for our entire team."
	Lost and Found Again consignment and thrift store grand opening Three days of shopping at new retail shop with food, drinks, raffles and lots of sales.
	IMEG expands Southeast footprint with Phillips Gradick Engineering Phillips Gradick Engineering, P.C., a multidisciplinary engineering firm in Georgia and North Carolina specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and telecommunications services.
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for July 12, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	Mexican restaurant opens, new consignment and thrift store, Lock 14 Kitchen opens, and more Quad-Cities business news Consignment and thrift store grand opening, new Mexican restaurant, two temporary restaurant closures, new commercial kitchen, and more Quad-Cities business news.
	A New Y2K Moment: What the Threat of Frontier AI Tells Us about Enterprise Modernization (BPT) - Key takeawaysThe vulnerabilities buried inside legacy systems at every large organization are no longer hidden.While Y2K forced organizations to look honestly at decades of accumulated code, the frontier AI moment is forcing the same reckoning.The organizations responding fastest are the ones that have built the capacity to remediate vulnerabilities at machine speed.You have a password manager, or you don't. You use two-factor authentication on some accounts but not others. You read the breach notification email, change the password and move on. Most of us trust that the systems we depend on (our banks, our health records, our social platforms, our employers) are doing the work in the background.But they're not. Or rather, they can't anymore. A new generation of artificial intelligence, capable of scanning entire enterprise estates in hours, has fundamentally changed the problem. The vulnerabilities buried inside legacy systems for decades, the technical debt that every large organization carries, are no longer hidden. To anyone with access to the right models, these flaws are thrown into sharp relief. The audit that used to take weeks now takes hours, and the people tasked with defending these systems are no longer the ones finding the vulnerabilities first.This is what some in the industry describe as a new Y2K moment, though the comparison is less about the threat than the reckoning it forces. Y2K had a known deadline, a known fix, and years of coordinated global response. Engineers went in to patch one thing (the date field) and discovered a catastrophe's worth of brittle, tangled code no one fully understood. The frontier AI moment offers no such certainty.The defining feature of this moment is a structural mismatch: offense now moves at machine speed while defense still moves at the speed of human review and scheduled maintenance. The deadline is unclear, the scope expands faster than fixes can be deployed, and the response is being navigated company by company. The true parallel is that both moments expose the cost of deferred modernization. Y2K forced organizations to look honestly at decades of accumulated code. This time, adversaries are running the audit in real time.From finding to fixing, the bottleneck has changed For all the urgency the moment demands, the organizations responding fastest are not the ones with the best threat detection. They are the ones that have built the capacity to remediate vulnerabilities at machine speed.Detection has stopped being the constraint. A good security team with the right tools can find vulnerabilities in hours. What determines survival is what happens next: the ability to prioritize, patch, and deploy fixes faster than threats accumulate. Remediation capacity is now the bottleneck. When discovery outpaces repair, the backlog of known but unpatched flaws grows faster than teams can close it, and that patch queue itself becomes the attack surface: a published list of openings an adversary can work through while defenders wait for a maintenance window. Closing that remediation-velocity gap is the capability that now separates resilient organizations from exposed ones. That capacity is not something you buy from a single vendor. It requires orchestrating across the stack: linking defense, intelligence, and modernization at scale.The same forcing function that has made security a board-level concern is reopening conversations about modernization that have stalled for years. In recent Cognizant research, 73% of Global 2000 leaders identified cybersecurity as a major driver of legacy modernization, the joint-highest rating alongside reducing operating costs.[1] For two decades, the case for enterprise modernization was made in the language of efficiency, cost, and competitive advantage. These arguments were easy to resist. Like patching your roof before a storm hits, the work that prevents catastrophe rarely feels urgent until the danger is right in front of you. The organizations responding fastest are not the ones with the best threat detection. They are the ones that have built the capacity to remediate vulnerabilities at machine speed.The frontier AI moment is changing that calculation. The cost of waiting is no longer abstract. It's measurable and increasingly visible in the form of a continuously expanding attack surface that legacy systems cannot defend. What was once a productivity argument is now a survival argument. And leaders know they are behind. Half of Global 2000 leaders say the current pace of progress in updating defense systems is not yet fast enough.[1]What modernization looks like now In the age of frontier AI, modernization is no longer a program run alongside cybersecurity. It is cybersecurity, expressed at the architectural level. Each vulnerability is a symptom; the aging architecture that let it persist is the underlying condition. Patching the symptom without modernizing the architecture leaves the condition in place, which is why remediation at scale and modernization are the same work.Three patterns are emerging across organizations moving fastest. The first is the systematic retirement of legacy systems that cannot be defended at scale. Unsupported platforms are not merely operational risks; they are mapped terrain for adversaries. The second is the embedding of zero-trust principles (identity, segmentation, encryption) as platform fundamentals rather than incremental fixes. The third is the deliberate design of operations that can withstand AI-era threats, including the inventories, baselines, and governance frameworks autonomous systems require.These aren't new ideas. What is new is that the frontier threat has made them unavoidable. The scope of the problem is forcing the scope of the solution. No single company, no product vendor, no single-service firm, can orchestrate this alone. Closing the remediation-velocity gap means making endpoint defense, data security, threat intelligence, incident response, and architectural modernization work as one system, with governance holding throughout. A point tool secures its own layer; only an orchestrating partner can engineer the whole. It is the work of an AI builder: the party that integrates capability across an ecosystem and embeds it into how an enterprise actually operates.In financial services, AI-driven defense systems now detect and respond to anomalous activity in milliseconds, often before customers notice anything unusual. In healthcare, modernized claims platforms protect patient data while accelerating reimbursement. In retail and logistics, architectures built for security by design allow responsive experiences without exposing underlying systems to risk.None of this is what most consumers think about when they tap a card or open an app. But it is the reason the experience works.The work behind the scenes The frontier AI moment is not ultimately a story about cybersecurity. It is a story about how the digital economy is rebuilt to remain trustworthy in a faster and more contested environment.Y2K was a test run. It taught a generation of leaders that infrastructure matters, that technical debt comes due, and that coordinated effort can avert catastrophe. The frontier era is the real thing. The organizations that come through it well will be the ones that recognize the threat as also the moment.The work is happening. Most people will never see it. That is the point. But the window to do it is not open indefinitely. The enterprises that close the gap before their adversaries reach parity are the ones that will define trust in the decade ahead._______________[1] Cognizant, "Legacy modernization and the AI timeline." Available at: cognizant.com/us/en/insights/insights-blog/legacy-modernization-mandate-ai-timeline
	Democratic governors say proposed changes to federal grants would harm reproductive healthcare White House budget director Russell Vought speaks with reporters inside the U.S. Capitol in 2025. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget, under Vought, has proposed a new rule that would overhaul the federal grantmaking process, worrying Democratic governors. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)A coalition of 23 state governors and the governor of Guam, all Democrats, submitted a joint comment to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on Monday objecting to a proposed rule that would drastically change the federal grantmaking process, saying it threatens programs related to maternal health and reproductive care. The public comment period on the draft rule, posted on May 29 with 41 co-signing federal agencies, closes at the end of the day Monday, July 13. The current rule emphasizes that grant applications should be reviewed based on merit, with language about measurable results that align with an agency’s strategic goals and objectives, while considering available data, evidence and results from past programs. The proposed rule, which runs more than 100 pages, would make a host of changes related to applications, decision making, oversight and cost sharing. The wide-ranging rule could affect billions of dollars in federal grant funding for criminal justice, healthcare, the environment, elections administration, housing and education. Federal health agency cancels most of its teen pregnancy prevention grants The Democratic governors writing about reproductive healthcare Monday also expressed concern about the speed at which the rule is set to be adopted. There were more than 278,000 public comments on the draft proposal as of Sunday afternoon, and the office said it intends to adopt the formal rule by Oct. 1. According to Regulations.gov, after a comment period closes, the agency typically reviews all comments received and conducts an analysis responding to the issues raised. The proposed new rule states that senior political appointees would be part of the merit review process to ensure that awards “advance the president’s policy priorities.” The proposal says this approach would improve transparency, accountability and proper oversight that was not used during the Biden administration. “Federal awards were often used during those years to promote a ‘woke’ policy agenda that did not reflect the values of the vast majority of the American public,” the proposed rule says. “For example, federal programs and funding opportunities were designed to advance unlawful identity-based ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ (DEI) policies and preferences across the country.” The Democratic governors said in their comment that the proposed rule would jeopardize states’ ability to maintain stable access to reproductive healthcare and support critical service providers in their states by allowing agencies to “unilaterally terminate discretionary grants based on political considerations, even where the award terms never reserved that right and the grantee did not have advance notice.” One example is Perinatal Quality Initiatives meant to improve maternal health and funded in part by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are 34 collaboratives that address issues such as bloodstream infections in newborns, reducing pregnancy complications associated with high blood pressure and hemorrhaging, and maternal mental health care. Trump changes pregnancy-prevention program to promote childbearing The funding is passed along to healthcare providers, hospitals and community-based organizations. Other programs include Safe Motherhood and Infant grants, Rural Maternal Health grants and others that are meant to improve services and care over a period of years. The proposed rule would also prohibit the use of federal funds for statistical or demographic analyses, which the letter said is key to achieving longstanding federal health goals that help identify and address problems specific to certain populations. That portion of the rule could cause confusion among grantees and result in worse health outcomes, the letter said. The draft rule states that there would be broad authority to cancel an award at any time, at the federal government’s discretion, without notice. Stateline reported the Trump administration recently canceled most of the active grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, telling 53 of 67 grantees that their funding was terminated immediately because their programs normalized or promoted sexual activity for minors. The grants were canceled two years before their expiration dates. The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a family planning organization in Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services agency in June alleging that it is politicizing the Title X grant funding program by requiring grantees to pass an “alignment review” before being awarded any funds. “We’re sort of already getting a preview of what they’re thinking about and trying to solidify and put into official regulation,” said Christina Chang, executive director of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, in an interview with Stateline on Friday. The governors signing the letter are all members of the alliance, which exists as a way for governors to speak in support of reproductive healthcare. The Reproductive Freedom Alliance letter also highlighted a portion of the proposed rule that refers to an existing federal budget rule called the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion services with limited exceptions. The draft rule would add that costs associated with “elective abortions” are not allowable under federal awards. The governors called that language vague and overly broad, which could discourage providers from offering comprehensive reproductive healthcare out of fear of losing their funding. Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at kmoseley@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	South Dakota law change lets young rescuer save more wild game bird eggs Nineteen-year-old Madison Grimm, of Wallace, South Dakota, tends to ducklings at Second Chance Flight. (Courtesy of Madison Grimm)South Dakota farmers who run into the nests of pheasants, grouse or prairie chickens in their fields can now call someone to rescue the eggs, thanks to a teenager and a new state law. Nineteen-year-old Madison Grimm, of Wallace, started Second Chance Flight to rescue viable wild duck eggs from nests destroyed when farmers harvest hay from a field. She hatches and raises the ducklings, and releases them into the wild. Grimm already held a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit to rescue the eggs of migratory waterfowl. But state law prevented her from doing the same work with eggs from birds such as pheasants. “I decided I really needed to get this law changed because there was a huge problem last year,” Grimm said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Grimm’s father Adam, a nationally recognized wildlife artist and three-time winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, traveled with his daughter to Pierre to testify for her bill. The new law lets federal permit holders expand their work to other kinds of birds. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the bill in March, and it took effect July 1. Grimm had her own private waterfowl aviary prior to Second Chance Flight, with over 100 birds from 21 species. It was originally built as a hobby and a source of reference material for her wildlife paintings. Madison is the only artist to ever win the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Junior Duck Stamp Contest three times. Farmers visiting the aviary knew she owned incubators. So when their farm equipment struck nests, they began asking whether she could save the surviving eggs. Madison Grimm joins Gov. Larry Rhoden as he signs her bill allowing federal waterfowl rescue permit holders to expand their work to other kinds of birds. (Courtesy of Madison Grimm) At first, Grimm had to decline because she lacked the necessary federal permit. “It kind of broke my heart,” she said. “I didn’t know this was happening, and there’s apparently nothing anyone can do about it.” Some farmers told her they could encounter 20 or 30 nests in a single field they are haying, particularly near waterbodies. The machinery may kill the hen and crush some eggs, but other eggs often remain intact and viable. After researching a similar program in another state, Grimm secured a federal permit and founded Second Chance Flight. When farmers strike a nest, they contact her, and she or a volunteer retrieves the eggs. She shines a light through to check the embryo’s development, disinfects cracks, and seals the shell with clear nail polish to block bacteria. Grimm had accepted over 450 eggs as of late June, and nearly 700 since the program launched. She estimates that about 98% of the viable eggs placed in her incubators hatch. She raises the ducklings for six to eight weeks and releases them in groups on wetlands. She releases them shortly before they can fly, so they remain together as they adjust to the wild. Grimm has also applied for federal permission to place leg bands on released birds. That would help her learn whether the birds survive. Farmers have welcomed the program, she said. They have to cut hay to feed livestock, but many feel terrible when a hen is caught up in the machinery and disappears in a burst of feathers. “And they know she’s got a whole nest right there,” Grimm said. She hopes to eventually expand Second Chance Flight across the Prairie Pothole Region — an expanse of ponds and wetlands crucial for millions of migratory birds — and train others to conduct rescues. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Parents of children with serious mental health needs should not have to relinquish custody (Getty Images.)Imagine raising a child with serious mental illness. You are doing your best and seeking intensive help for the child. In many states — though thankfully, not Minnesota — parents in this situation have to relinquish custody of their child to the state or county, including decisionmaking about school, medicine and more, just to access residential mental health treatment. It has nothing to do with the parents — no neglect or abuse has been found — and everything to do with the acuity of the mental health needs of the child. The term is “custody relinquishment,” and it brings anguish to parents around the country. It’s a horrible public policy and the time has come to change it. The data is imperfect, but one report for instance estimated that between 2017 and 2019, 25,000 families might have relinquished custody. In Minnesota, where we don’t require parents to give up custody, we still commingle the process of getting children the mental health treatment they need with the child protection system. As with so many other frustrating details of our mental health system, this perverse wrinkle is about funding. When states use federal Title IV-E funds, i.e., child welfare funds, to pay for room and board in a residential facility, the state (or county) is required to have custody. In some states, if families cannot provide the level of in-patient, residential care their child needs, they are also charged with neglect. Until a recent legislative change, families in Minnesota whose children were stuck in an ER due to lack of options were also charged with neglect. Charged or not, families must go through a complicated child protection process to have their child admitted to residential treatment. Some history: Back in 2008 the Minnesota Legislature created what’s called a voluntary placement agreement. This allowed our state to continue using federal Title IV-E funding for room and board for residential treatment but also allowed parents to retain legal custody and associated decision-making for their child. While parents still had to go through what we might call the child protection door, they did not have to appear in court or suffer through the county asking all relatives if they’d be willing to take a child into their home. The process was also greatly simplified. When Congress passed the federal Family First Prevention Services Act Law in 2018, it required Minnesota to change both its child protection and voluntary placement laws. The upshot was that it made it more difficult for parents who have not been charged with abuse or neglect to access residential treatment for their child. The process now includes the aforementioned relative search. While this makes sense for child protection to keep children with family members, it doesn’t make sense for a child who needs residential treatment as a medical necessity. As one parent told me, “This isn’t a sleepover.” (And imagine if your child needed a hospital stay for, say, leukemia, and we required you to go through the child protection process.) A screening team comprising a variety of people — though not necessarily the treating mental health professional — meets and makes a recommendation about residential treatment. This highly bureaucratic approach might make sense for child protection, but not for a child solely needing treatment. A qualified individual (again, not necessarily a mental health professional) makes a final recommendation. And this all goes through the courts as well. The reason for this lengthy process was to make sure that children in foster care did not languish in mental health residential institutions. But unfortunately, families whose child has a serious mental illness and meets the medical necessity requirement for residential treatment are put through the same process. It is an unnecessary intrusion into these families’ lives when a mental health professional has already assessed and concluded that the child needs this level of treatment. Due to these required changes under federal law, Minnesota passed a law known as the “third path.” This allows families to go through the children’s mental health system and use state funding to pay for room and board. Since Title IV-E dollars aren’t used, families don’t need to go through the child protection door, i.e., no relative searches, screening teams or court involvement. Unfortunately, the Legislature did not appropriate enough funding, so it is not being used. The other way to avoid the child protection door is by using facilities that are funded by Medicaid. But due to discriminatory federal policies, Medicaid can’t be used for most residential facilities. Right now access is very limited, and it’s not unusual for children to be sent to other states for care or simply not receive any care at all. There are only four facilities (soon to be three) in Minnesota that can receive Medicaid funding, and unfortunately when the other treatment facilities lost Medicaid funding many of them closed. Since 2005 we’ve lost nearly 900 beds. So, we are losing capacity at a time when children are languishing in ERs, waiting in a hospital bed, or being housed in juvenile detention. There are some myths about residential treatment that need to be addressed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Many of the studies of effectiveness lump children removed from the home under child protection and who go into foster homes with children with serious mental illnesses being treated in a residential facility. There are two entirely different settings and so shouldn’t be evaluated together. Languishing is also a concern, but the average time a child spends in residential treatment typically ranges from 60 to 90 days, a bit longer for a few with higher severity. And if a child returns to residential treatment, that’s not necessarily failure. The symptoms of a mental illness can be cyclical and require a higher level of care again. I have met families whose children did well in residential treatment. There was treatment, structure, accountability, trauma-informed care, relationship building and even fun. The children’s aggression, suicidality and other symptoms were addressed. At a recent conference in Washington, D.C., I heard the story of a mom who had to relinquish custody of her child in Iowa, and it brought home the need to continue working on this issue. Funding should not be driving how we treat families, especially in light of the need for this level of care. Here are some steps that can be taken: Fully fund the third path in Minnesota so we can keep families from having to go through that child protection door for good. Expand access to residential treatment by ensuring the state sets adequate payment rates and eliminate the barriers to federal funding. Create a training program for people working in direct care with youth in residential settings. Develop a model state law that builds on what Minnesota did to allow voluntary placements and a third path so families in other states can avoid the child welfare system. While we certainly want to avoid residential treatment and keep children with their families, the reality is that some children — despite intensive services — need this level of care. But under no circumstances should any family in this country be required to give up custody of their child to access medically necessary treatment. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	Summer heat builds this week Abundant sunshine is in the forecast for much of the upcoming week along with climbing temperatures. Rain chances slowly increase later this week and weekend, but are still slim. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

Monday, July 13th, 2026