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

Thursday, July 30th, 2026
	Eldridge fire department warns volunteers may dwindle if city absorbs department Several Eldridge volunteer firefighters said they’re unlikely to stay after Oct. 1, following the city’s vote to absorb the department into the city.
	Much-needed rain headed to the Quad Cities One more nice summer day is in the forecast before it turns very wet tomorrow. It'll be warm today, but much cooler tomorrow and Saturday with the rain. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Scott, Muscatine, Clinton counties haven't yet raised speed limits Scott, Muscatine and Clinton counties must finish engineering analyses before raising speed limits for some rural roads to 60 mph.
	Some updates, but no charges 13 months after teens removed from Louisa County camp On Wednesday, Louisa County Attorney Adam Parsons said he "hopes" authorities can release further information "within a month."
	The Professor and the Computer This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.“There is no zeal like a convert's zeal,” goes an old truism. That is doubly true when it comes to the computer. Those…
	Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least 8 civilians and wound dozens The blitz expanded Russia's almost daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities as Moscow apparently looked to exploit Kyiv's critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.
	Muscatine street closures begin August 3 It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. According to a release from the City of Muscatine, the Muscatine Public Works announced Devitt Ave. will close to through traffic from Newell Ave. to Pinefield St. beginning Monday, August 3. The closure is as sanitary and storm sewer work advances. Limited access will also affect Eisenhower [...]
	Here's how 'parasite' went from a laughing matter to a serious biological threat Odysseus did not face the parasite Cyclospora in his 10-year journey home. But the word "parasite" originated as a popular character trope in Greek literature.
	Congress hasn't passed AI rules for schools. So these 98 teens did it themselves Should students be allowed to use AI on assignments? What about on tests? Who should teach AI literacy? About 100 teenagers got together to try to decide.
	Creation Station North: Burnt McMelba Toast 2.0 Is Set to Thrive Again Rod had invited us to hang out with his co-founder Matt Friesz and each of their sons who had joined the [Burnt McMelba] Toast band this year to hear them rehearse for two gigs in August. He wanted us to learn more about how Toast was not having a reunion. The band was having a revival with second-generation blood and new variations on past themes.
	Long Burn the Fire: The Return of Burnt McMelba Toast Tucked away in a string of houses between the highway and the river somewhere north of the Quad Cities is an old river cabin, marvelously redone and modernized into a rock 'n' roll minimalist dream. There's no reason to believe that Burnt McMelba Toast are practicing here until I finally step out of the car, a few wrong turns finally pointing me to the rumble of a bass amp in the riverside seclusion.
	Pediatricians and health officials are sidestepping Trump's CDC on vaccine advice The Trump administration's upending of years of vaccine advice puts many pediatricians in a quandary. Some are steering patients away from the CDC to other authoritative websites, including their own.
	Senate panel delays vote on Blanche's nomination as key Republicans withhold support The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance Todd Blanche's nomination. But resistance from two Republican senators threw his confirmation into doubt.
	Man convicted in terrorism trial over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie A man was convicted of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel "The Satanic Verses."
	Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23 Time was running out to find survivors, as rescuers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Japan 's southern main island of Kyushu, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026
	Cy-Hawk football series extended through 2031 Iowa and Iowa State have verbally agreed to extend the Cy-Hawk football series through 2031, pushing past the original contract expiration in 2027.
	Rock Island trying to regulate small offroad vehicles driving in city streets Since March 1, Rock Island Police have received about 75 complaints involving dirt bikes, mini-bikes and ATVs driving recklessly.
	Rock Island wants to regulate small offroad vehicles on city streets Since March 1, Rock Island Police have received about 75 complaints involving dirt bikes, mini-bikes and ATVs driving recklessly.
	Silvis officials want public input on first comprehensive plan update since 1998 Silvis city leaders are updating their comprehensive plan for the first time since 1998. Officials say the new plan could unlock state and federal grants for aging infrastructure and park expansion. Public input is open now.
	Cuts to Illinois school mental health programs blocked A federal judge stepped in to protect school mental health programs serving more than 50,000 Illinois students. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 15 states secured a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from cutting congressionally-approved mental health grants. The move comes just days before U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon [...]
	Trump administration to end subsidies for Medicare Plans from the Trump administration will end federal subsidies that help pay for Medicare. The administration claims the subsidies benefit insurance companies more than enrollees.The subsidies for Medicare Part D established during the Biden administration expire at the end of the year and will not be offered next year. Medicare Part D is optional prescription [...]
	Golfing for Good: UnityPoint Health Cup returns to TPC Deere Run Sept. 11 The 2026 UnityPoint Health Cup returns Sept. 11 to TPC Deere Run, raising funds for Trinity’s Area of Greatest Need Fund through a public golf outing with morning and afternoon shotgun starts.
	Paddle, decorate, float: Floatzilla expands its tradition Aug. 15 Floatzilla returns Aug. 15 with a full day of paddling, a new boat‑decorating contest and the signature mass raft‑up photo at Lake Potter. Participation supports River Action’s mission to promote and protect local waterways.
	Davenport daycare provider plans overnight expansion to meet childcare demand Jennifer Conner with Adventures and Lullabies Daycare and Nursery plans to offer five openings for children with parents who work overnight.
	Knox County Board approves countywide transportation agreement with Galesburg The proposed partnership would expand public transportation beyond Galesburg by introducing an on-demand transit service throughout Knox County.
	Heartland British Autofest returns to LeClaire for 39th year The 39th Annual Heartland British Autofest returns to the LeClaire riverfront on Aug. 1, showcasing classic British cars, food, music and awards during a free, family‑friendly event hosted by the Quad Cities British Auto Club.
	Dubuque County probationer charged in Davenport shooting A Davenport man on probation in Dubuque County has been charged in connection with a Davenport shooting in which one person was wounded.
	Empty shelves, high need: Henderson County food pantry struggles to keep up with demand Henderson County ranks number one in child and food insecurity rates within the River Bend area, according to a report.
	Traffic Alert: Additional street closers in Muscatine amid sanitary and storm sewer separation project Drivers are encouraged to use caution near the work zone and followed posted traffic control.
	Illinois bill targets predatory tow trucking Predatory tow trucking businesses in Illinois could face tougher punishments under a bill sent to Governor JB Pritzker. House Bill 4843 expands Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ authority to suspend or revoke certificates and special registration plates issued to tow truck and wrecker operators who fraudulently obtain registrations, illegally use tow truck plates or violate [...]
	Judge rules on witness testimony in upcoming Trudy Appleby trial On Wednesday, a judge ruled on what witness testimony will be allowed in the upcoming trial of a man suspected in the death of an 11-year-old girl. Additionally, the trial may be moved from Henry County to a different county. During Wednesday's pretrial hearing, 51-year-old Jamison Fisher appeared in Henry County Court. Our Quad Cities [...]
	Abortion matters to voters — but it may not mobilize them, poll suggests Protestors hold signs at an April 14, 2024, protest in favor of reproductive rights and abortion access in Scottsdale. (Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez/Arizona Mirror)A survey of voters in three battleground states, including Arizona, found that abortion remains a deciding issue in choosing which candidates to support. Impact Research, a public opinion research company that frequently works with progressive organizations, partnered with Reproductive Freedom for All to gauge how abortion might affect how voters in Michigan, Nevada and Arizona view candidates in the November midterms. Abortion rights advocates are hoping concern over the procedure’s access will sway voters in an election year when its continued legality turns on the outcomes of multiple races. Arizona made abortion a fundamental right in 2024, with 61% of voters approving Proposition 139, which added the right to the state constitution. But who wins the contests for governor and attorney general in November could lead to new restrictions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, both staunch abortion rights supporters, will face off against longtime congressman Andy Biggs and state lawmaker Warren Petersen, respectively. Biggs has repeatedly backed federal legislation that would ban abortion nationwide, while Petersen has pushed anti-abortion laws at the state-level and directed the legislature to defend a near-total ban from 1864 in court. That stark difference on abortion may prove to be a key factor as voters consider which candidates to back. Impact Research’s study found that 8 in 10 voters in the three battleground states believe it’s important for lawmakers to protect access to the procedure. Less than one quarter of respondents, just 22%, said they would like to see more restrictions on abortion care. And 43% said they would refuse to vote for a candidate who supported a national ban. But alarm over future impediments to abortion access are secondary to other concerns, making it unclear if abortion is the mobilizing issue reproductive rights advocates hope it will be. Voters in all three battleground states ranked concern about Medicaid cuts and rising taxes as more important than abortion restrictions. According to researchers, that’s partly because of a “believability gap”: Voters simply don’t think that abortion bans are as likely to happen as deep cuts to Medicaid spending or increasing the tax burden on middle-class families. “Most battleground voters are not hearing about the issue of abortion, so while many express concerns about Republican policies that restrict access to abortion, they also believe these policies are unlikely to happen,” reads the research memo. An overwhelming majority of voters, about 76%, reported fearing that congressional Republicans would move to cut Medicaid funding. And 61% said they strongly believed that could happen. In a bid to put abortion access at the forefront, Democrats and reproductive rights groups are investing in voter outreach efforts and trying to draw contrasts with their Republican foes. For instance, Hobbs has made countering her opponent’s anti-abortion track record with examples of her work to protect access to the procedure a pillar of her political strategy. And Reproductive Freedom for All, which helped propel Arizona’s abortion rights amendment to success, is investing millions in voter messaging and canvassing efforts to keep the topic in the spotlight. The organization launched a $23.5 million campaign in June dubbed “My Body. My Ballot.” A portion of that, about $2 million, will be spent in the Grand Canyon State. Athena Salman, the director of the Arizona chapter of Reproductive Freedom for All, urged voters not to become complacent about the right to abortion care, saying that the only way to guarantee continued access to the procedure is by rejecting candidates who seek to restrict it. “Even with the protections we have fought hard to pass here in Arizona through Proposition 139, we know our reproductive freedom is under attack. Arizona Republicans continue to propose some of the most extreme anti-abortion legislation in the country,” she said in an emailed statement. “Voters will have the opportunity to hold them accountable for their anti-abortion extremism that puts lives in danger.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	Wastewater in Alaska’s largest city signals warning about measles The gate to the John M. Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility is seen on July 29, 2026. The plant serves most o the residents of Alaska's largest city. Wastewater samples taken in early and mid-July revealed genetic material from measles. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)At least one person in Anchorage had measles in early and mid-July, creating a risk that the highly infectious disease could spread through the state’s largest city, state health officials are warning. The proof is in the sewage. Samples taken from Anchorage’s John M. Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility revealed genetic material from the strain of measles that has caused outbreaks in the Lower 48. It means someone carrying the virus was in the part of Anchorage served by the state’s biggest wastewater treatment plant, said Dr. Joe McLaughlin, Alaska’s state epidemiologist. “It doesn’t tell us where exactly they were in the sewershed, and it also doesn’t tell us if there was any human-to-human transmission that’s occurring,” he said. But it does provide an early warning to health providers and the general public, McLaughlin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “It’s important for people to take a look and see if they’ve been vaccinated, or if their children have been vaccinated,” he said. If children have not been vaccinated, “go ahead and get them vaccinated, because we know that this virus has been present in the community. And it may still be present.” The presence of measles RNA, the virus’ single-strand genetic material, was detected in samples taken on July 7, 8, 9 and 14, health officials said. State and municipal health officials are still waiting for results from more recent wastewater testing, McLaughlin said. Samples from the Asplund plant are usually taken every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, said Clayton Weingartner, the Division of Public Health’s wastewater surveillance coordinator. Performing the scan that detects measles genetic material is a complex process, he said. “it’s an expensive test, and it takes longer to get the results,” he said. That is why state officials are still waiting for results from last week’s sampling, he said. For now, public health officials say, Anchorage residents and other Alaskans should be on the lookout for signs of measles. A measles-infected baby being treated in 2014 at a hospital in Manilla, the Philippines capital city, has a rash that is a hallmark symptom of the disease. The Philippines experiencing a large measles outbreak after Typhoon Haiyan, an especially powerful natural disaster. (Photo by Jim Goodson/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Symptoms, which usually arrive a week or two after infection, include a high fever, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash. The disease can be serious and even fatal, especially for young children. There were three measles deaths in the United States last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Tuesday, there were no new reports of any patients with measles in Anchorage. The last Anchorage case was in October, affecting an adult who tested positive after traveling to the city from the Lower 48, according to municipal officials. There was also a child in Anchorage who was diagnosed with measles in May of 2025. Elsewhere in the state, there were four measles cases diagnosed last year, according to health officials. McLaughlin said there are reasons for Alaskans to be vigilant. There are more measles cases in the United States now than at any time in the past 35 yeas, he said. “And we’re at peak tourist season right now, so there are people coming into Alaska from the Lower 48 and from many different countries, and they’re bringing with them, some of them, different pathogens,” he said. “And one of them can be measles. And we know that measles is the most contagious virus that we’re aware of on the planet.” Additionally, Alaskans are at elevated risk because the rate of measles vaccination is low compared to the rest of the nation. Medical providers should be notified if there are suspected measles infections, McLaughlin said. Patients should not be in clinic waiting rooms because the virus is so contagious, he said. Whenever a case is identified, health officials have to trace the places where that patient may have exposed others to the virus, such as daycare centers, stores and recreational sites. “All that kind of stuff takes a lot of work, and that’s just for one case,” he said. Wastewater sampling in Alaska screens for a variety of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, different varieties of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, as well as measles. Numerous sites participate in the National Wastewater Surveillance System, or NWSS, that was set up by the CDC in 2020 as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Asplund plant, which serves most of Anchorage’s residents, is the only one in Alaska that participates in the most advanced testing program, a privately operated system called WastewaterSCAN, Weingartner said. “The WastewaterSCAN program has very limited testing slots,” he said. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corp. are also testing wastewater for disease pathogens, he said. Samples are regularly collected from wastewater in Eagle River, Juneau and Bethel. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	ImpactLife says blood donation are decreasing ImpactLife officials have seen blood donation decrease during the summer months in the QCA.
	Iowans with disabilities say Medicaid is now failing them, 61 years after program became law Sixty-one years after Medicaid became law, Iowans with disabilities say the program is now failing them.
	Animal spillover? Lab leak? What the science says about the origins of COVID-19 The release of Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic diaries has rekindled the debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Here's how scientists have weighed in.
	Judge rules majority of witness testimony is evidence that can be used in Jamison Fisher's murder trial Jamison Fisher is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in Trudy Appleby's 1996 disappearance.
	Retirements, hirings and other Davenport schools personnel news from July 13 See the personnel items from the July 13 agenda of the Davenport Community School District.
	Ag secretary candidate Chris Jones wants 50% of school meals to be sourced locally Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Candidate Chris Jones says he wants to put more local food in schools to help farmers. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA)As part of his bid to be Iowa’s next secretary of agriculture, Democratic candidate Chris Jones unveiled policy framework with a 10-year goal of requiring schools to source half of their food from local farms. Jones, whose platform focuses largely on improving water quality in Iowa, said building the infrastructure to support locally grown food in Iowa will in turn, lead to “healthier people, cleaner water, more perennial vegetation, and more pasture-based systems on the land.” The Food, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Resilience, or F.A.I.R. Farm Deal, as the campaign calls it, suggests a $10 million investment into Iowa’s local food and farm program fund, investment into the local food supply chain, prioritization of education around local food preparation and farming and “zealously” enforced pesticide laws. “My plan is simple: let’s make it easier for schools to buy fresh food grown right here in Iowa,” Jones said in a news release. “That means healthier meals for our kids, reliable markets for local farmers and more food dollars staying in our communities. If we can feed Iowa’s kids with Iowa-grown food, we can build a stronger farm economy from the ground up, and make meaningful improvements to our water quality.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Jones is running against current Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, a Republican who has held the role since 2018. While secretary, Naig initiated a local food marketing program, known as Choose Iowa, that has since expanded to include investments for schools and nonprofit organizations purchasing Iowa-raised food. Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture, speaks to Iowa Farmers Union members July 25, 2026 in Elkhart. (Photo by Joanna Schroeder for Iowa Capital Dispatch) A spokesperson for Naig’s campaign said through Choose Iowa and “other local food initiatives” he has secured more than $12 million to “support small farms and young and beginning farmers.” “These programs expand markets into schools, restaurants and food banks, invest in processing and value-added infrastructure, and grow Iowa’s rural communities,” the spokesperson said in a statement. Naig’s Iowa Farm Act, which was enacted this year, made the Choose Iowa purchasing programs permanent, rather than pilot programs, and the state’s budget for the agriculture department allocated $200,000 for the Choose Iowa school purchasing program. Jones has criticized the industrial agriculture system that prioritizes corn and soybean crops. In his brief about the F.A.I.R. Farm Deal proposal, Jones said it would build the markets to help farmers sell more food within the state, which would give farmers more opportunities to grow specialty crops instead of corn and soybeans. “Across Iowa, many young people are interested in growing food for their communities, starting farm businesses, using land for food production, and connecting agriculture with health, conservation, and local economies,” the policy brief said. “They need real pathways to do that.” According to the Iowa Food System Coalition, Iowans spend $12.6 billion on food annually, a large share of which is imported from out of state. Jones said schools, which serve nearly 80 million meals in Iowa annually, are the “best place to start” building a local food demand. The overall goal is to “grow more Iowa food, create more Iowa markets, and build a stronger, more resilient food system for the state.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	1 killed, 3 injured in head on collision in rural Dubuque County A woman has died and 3 people are injured after a head-on collision in rural Dubuque County.
	Illinois law protects from genetic discrimination Advocates for Alzheimer's patients are celebrating a new Illinois law they say will protect people from genetic discrimination. Governor JB Pritzker signed an update to the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act, adding biomarker testing. The tests can help detect diseases like Alzheimer's by identifying signs in the body. Advocates say the law prevents that information [...]
	City of Burlington breaks ground on new fire station Shovels hit the dirt to celebrate the start of construction for a new fire station in Burlington. The station will cost $6.9 million. Voters approved a $7 million budget in a ballot referendum three years ago. City leaders spent more than 30 years trying to build a station on the northwest side of the city. [...]
	City of Burlington seeks public input on Cascade Bridge project Burlington city leaders want to know what people think about the future of a bridge that's been closed for more than seven years. The Cascade Bridge will be torn down and replaced. People who live there can respond to a survey available on the city's website. The new bridge will have a historic center. People [...]
	Arkansas suspends enforcement of law preventing limits on which pharmacies can sell medications Medications are stored on shelves at a pharmacy in Los Angeles. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy decided Tuesday to not enforce a 2025 law that would remove drugmakers’ power to limit which pharmacies can purchase their drugs after a federal judge called the measure unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky in May granted Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ request to block the state from enforcing Act 630 of 2025 against the New Jersey-based company. Rudofsky is presiding over similar suits filed by Bristol Myers Squibb and Accredo Health Group. The plaintiffs didn’t respond to requests for comment. Act 630 is the second 2025 law related to prescription drug access that was blocked in federal court after Act 624, which would have banned pharmacy benefit managers from holding drugstore permits. Accredo Health Group is among the plaintiffs that sued over Act 624. Act 630 injunction Both laws were found to violate the U.S. Constitution’s dormant commerce clause, which prohibits states from making laws that discriminate against interstate commerce. The pharmacy board voted Tuesday to support settlements in the lawsuits against Act 630 and to not process any applications from pharmacies seeking limits on their distribution networks in Arkansas. Republican Rep. Brandon Achor of Maumelle, a practicing pharmacist and Act 630’s sponsor, said the injunction was frustrating but provides guidance for how to amend the law in a future legislative session. Achor is running for a state Senate seat in November. He said he found it disappointing that drug companies did not take the opportunity Act 630 gave them to “show their work and show cause for why their current network was necessary for patient care.” “Rather than complying and taking on the opportunity to show why their process is for the good of the patient, they sued and said, ‘Stop asking us questions,’” said Achor, who also co-sponsored Act 624. In addition to more legislative action, the state could come up with “a market-based solution, if the manufacturers would come to the table and listen and be open-minded,” Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO John Vinson said. “Until they do, I think there’s going to be a continued fight over it as long as patient lives and access are still at stake,” Vinson said. He noted that a northeast Arkansas pharmacy has been unable to stock a specific life-saving cancer medication manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb. Cancer patients’ mortality increases by 10% for every four weeks without treatment, Vinson said. From left: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (fifth from left) announces a lawsuit against several prescription drug manufacturers on July 22, 2026. Supporters of the litigation include Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO John Vinson (far left) and pharmacist and Republican state Rep. Brandon Achor of Maumelle (fourth from left). (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) Achor and his wife, also a pharmacist, have both been through cancer treatment. “I’ve seen that from the patient’s perspective, I’ve seen it from the provider’s perspective, and from my perspective as a legislator, I’m not willing to accept the current norm as something that is sustainable for Arkansas,” he said. Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb are among 13 drug companies the state sued last week. Attorney General Tim Griffin alleged that the companies violated Arkansas’ 2021 law requiring drugmakers that participate in Medicaid to sell discounted drugs to contract pharmacies. The 2021 law survived a federal court challenge when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that federal law does not preempt Arkansas law. Both the 2021 law and Act 624 of 2025 were the first laws of their kind nationwide. Arkansas also sought to improve patient access to medication with another 2025 law allowing nonprofit hospitals to hold pharmacy permits. The state appealed the Act 624 injunction, but an appeal in the Act 630 litigation “is very unlikely,” representatives from Griffin’s office told the pharmacy board Tuesday. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Trudy Appleby's father, 12 other requested witnesses can testify in Jamison Fisher's trial A judge ruled Wednesday about who can give testimony in the trial of the man accused of killing Trudy Appleby in 1996.
	New Mexico officials celebrate state bucking Obamacare enrollment trend New Mexico officials, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, on July 29, 2026, celebrated the state’s increase in Affordable Care Act enrollment despite the expiration of federal subsidies. (Julia Goldberg/Source NM)New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state Health Care Authority officials on Wednesday celebrated a new analysis showing that New Mexico is the only state in the country in which Obamacare enrollment increased since Congress allowed federal subsidies to expire late last year. The Kaiser Family Foundation study published Tuesday evaluated recent enrollment trends for those who purchase coverage from exchanges established through the 2010 Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. The study found that New Mexico’s enrollment increased 14% since 2025. Nationally, enrollment dropped 12% in the same period. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Kaiser’s study attributes the nationwide decline to the expiration of federal subsidies, known as the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit, that reduced premiums for certain Obamacare enrollees who made less than 400% of the federal poverty level ($128,600 for a family of four.) A 2021 federal law created the tax credits with a four-year expiration date, and Congress did not extend them, despite efforts from minority Democrats. But unlike other states, New Mexico used its own funds, both in an October 2025 special legislative session and during the regular legislative session earlier this year, to fully pay for the expiring tax credits with state funds. Roughly 65,000 New Mexicans receive the tax credits. In some cases, the tax credit covers 90% or more of the premium. Obamacare enrollment declines in every state but New Mexico The Kaiser study noted that New Mexico is the only state to fully fund the tax credits on its own. In the period the study analyzed, between late 2025 and May of this year, Obamacare enrollment increased from roughly 69,000 New Mexicans to more than 80,000. In a statement Wednesday to Source NM, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the enrollment increase shows that New Mexico was right to prioritize healthcare affordability. “Affordability is a top priority in New Mexico,” she said. “The results speak for themselves — people urgently need affordable health care. New Mexico is proving that it is possible, even in the face of Congress’s failure to extend these tax credits.” Health Care Authority spokesperson Marina Piña noted that the state’s Health Care Affordability Fund, which the Legislature established in 2021 and expanded during the 2026 session, “helped keep premiums and out-of-pocket costs low despite federal subsidy reductions.” The 2026 expansion transferred $91 million into the fund through July 1, 2027, along with an additional $162 million in the two fiscal years afterward. “We are grateful to the Legislature and the Governor for having the foresight to establish the fund in 2021 and support policies that protect the health and wellbeing of New Mexicans,” she said. New Mexico House of Representatives Majority Floor Leader Rep. Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), who championed state legislation funding the expiring subsidies, told Source NM in a text message Wednesday that maintaining New Mexicans’ access to healthcare during this tumultuous period will have lasting benefits. “If we can continue to increase access to healthcare, we will make gains in everything from education to public safety to economic development, because it all starts with good health,” she said. “It’s not too late for Republicans in Congress to act and restore the support that families need.” Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	Illinois Department of Transportation wants feedback on proposed U.S. 30 project A proposed $23 million reconstruction project could transform one of Morrison’s busiest roadways as the Illinois Department of Transportation continues gathering public feedback before selecting a final design.
	Maquoketa secures funding for new splash pad The project is expected to be ready by June 2027.
	86 Nebraska counties facing drought approved for USDA emergency loan assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks with officials who had been fighting Nebraska wildfires in March 2026. (Courtesy of USDA, via Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins' X post)LINCOLN — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has approved another disaster declaration for 13 Nebraska counties due to drought, bringing the total counties covered by a USDA declaration for drought conditions this year to 86 of 93 counties. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced Rollins’ latest approval Wednesday, one day after she approved it. A secretarial designation frees up loan assistance for Nebraska farmers impacted by drought for up to eight months after the declaration is issued. Six counties are now covered for the first time in 2026. Local USDA Farm Service Agency offices can provide affected farmers with additional information, according to Pillen’s office. Rollins has approved similar drought-related orders for nearly all Nebraska counties since April. Some are listed multiple times, particularly those in western and north-central Nebraska. The eight-month deadline is restarted for any Nebraska county under a subsequent drought disaster declaration. “I appreciate Sec. Rollins, her constant attention to the needs of [our] farmers and ag producers who might require this assistance as a result of the drought impact during this growing season,” Pillen said in a Wednesday statement. Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor as of July 21, 2026. The service is produced through a partnership among the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NOAA and NASA. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor) The secretary also signed off on a disaster declaration for 21 counties affected by wildfires in early July. President Donald Trump issued a federal emergency for five of those counties, too. Rollins’ latest drought-related declaration designates Lancaster and Saline Counties as primary counties plus any adjacent counties: Butler, Cass, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Otoe, Saunders, Seward, Thayer and York. All but seven Nebraska counties on the eastern edge of the state are covered under recent declarations due to drought conditions: Burt, Douglas, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy and Washington, according to USDA data up through June 17, plus the latest declaration. More than 76% of Nebraska faces at least “moderate” drought conditions, according to the most recent state-level data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is produced through a partnership among the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the USDA, NOAA and NASA. That’s estimated to be 636,883 Nebraskans. Data is released each Thursday. Nearly 94% of the state faces at least “abnormally dry” conditions, and over 24% of Nebraska is at the “extreme” or “exceptional” drought designation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Clinton City Council appoints interim city administrator The Clinton City Council appointed Police Chief Kevin Gyrion to serve as interim city administrator July 28. According to a release from the City of Clinton: The appointment is effective immediately. For more information, click here.
	Free admission offered for Thursday's River Bandits game against the Dayton Dragons! Fans can attend Thursday’s River Bandits game for free, with complimentary amusement rides for kids and rewards for donating books.
	Quad City Fire Wire hosting community Touch-a-Truck event The family-friendly event is from 12 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Camden Centre in Milan.
	Illinois state elections board tells DOJ it follows federal law on voting integrity The Illinois State Board of Elections told the U.S. Department of Justice this week it is complying with all federal laws governing voter registration and the maintenance of voter rolls, and it pushed back against threats by the Trump administration to prosecute state and local authorities for allowing illegal election activity.
	Alaska’s Congressional delegation has abandoned U.S. veterans Nearly all abortions, except those to save a patient’s life, would be banned at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and would no longer be covered by VA medical benefits under a rule proposed by the Trump administration. The policy change comes from the Project 2025 playbook. (Getty Images)It is a disgrace the way our congressional delegation has abandoned U.S. veterans. The Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, which Murkowski, Sullivan and Begich all voted for, gave more tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations, while at the same time squeezing the middle class and the poor. Among the casualties are U.S. veterans. In order to fund more tax breaks for the top 1%, government services to everyone else had to be cut. NPR reported that the Trump administration killed a Veterans’ Administration home loan program. Veterans are now losing their homes to foreclosure. The New York Times reported that the Veterans Affairs Department cut thousands of positions for doctors and nurses, and left vacant many unfilled positions. Furthermore, the Trump administration reversed expanded health benefits for women. The VA also pledged to end support for Housing First, the approach that was the VA’s greatest housing success. Huffington Post reported that mass firings at the VA — where many of the employees are veterans — will negatively impact its critical mission in healthcare, disability claims, services for transition to civilian life, suicide prevention and addiction treatment. The VA cut funding for research, including a promising study using electronic medical records to improve outcomes for veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The New York Times reported that among the cuts at the VA was a collaborative research study with Harvard Medical School into veterans’ suicide. NPR further reported that the VA is making it harder for male veterans to get care for breast cancer — a rare disease for men, but just as deadly for them as it is for women. It has been widely reported, including in the Huffington Post, that ICE has arrested for deportation legal residents who served in the military with a promise of thereby obtaining US citizenship. Apparently, we are no longer a people of our word. The repercussions of the decimation of the staff and programs at the VA will last for years. It will not be easy for a new administration — one committed to honoring the service keeping the promises to our veterans — to undo the damage done by the Big Beautiful Bill by fully funding the agency and its programs. While all of our congressional delegation shares the responsibility for this disgraceful bill, I think it is Sen. Dan Sullivan who is the most to blame. He runs his campaigns in part on the fact that he is a former Marine and a champion of veterans’ causes. In a Congressional hearing, he went so far as referring to them as “my veterans.” Well, he has let them down and they are now our veterans. It is up to us to inform our congressional delegation that they will soon answer to us at the polls. Candidates now running for Senate and the House of Representatives should give voters specifics of how they will revitalize the VA. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Man killed in Depue motorcycle crash 24-year-old Joan Garcia of Depue was killed in a crash along Arlington Drive on Tuesday.
	Free photos and resources available to families at ‘Babies & Bumps’ event EveryChild’s “Babies & Bumps” event is made to celebrate families and connect them with resources and support, according to a media release.
	“Disney's Frozen,” August 7 through 16 Based on the Oscar-winning modern classic that stands as one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, Disney's Frozen enjoys an August 7 through 16 run at Moline's Spotlight Theatre, this magical family enchantment a three-time Tony Award nominee hailed by The Guardian for its "theatrical razzmatazz" and "the sense of a real, beating heart in the relationship between the two tortured sisters."
	1 dead in Bureau County crash, officials investigating A motorcyclist died in a crash in Bureau County Tuesday.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: TYLER COPELL, 27, 5'7" 171 pounds. Wanted by IDOC 7th District High Risk Unit for burglary 3rd degree, possession of a controlled substance. MICHAEL [...]
	The Trump administration's move to end subsidies for Medicare drug plans could cost consumers Federal subsidies that have helped defray insurers' Medicare drug costs will disappear at the end of the year. Millions of beneficiaries could face higher premiums in 2027.
	Former Quad City Arts interim director appears in court on child sexual abuse material charges Benjamin Morris was arrested Monday night on 30 charges related to possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
	3 new outdoor sirens to replace Colona’s second-hand siren from 1950s Colona officials said they have a grant to buy three outdoor sirens.
	Does your body absorb heavy metals? Bioavailability explained Does your body absorb heavy metals? Bioavailability explainedIf you believe TikTok, everything in your pantry is trying to poison you. One week, it’s Girl Scout cookies or protein powders laced with lead. The next, it’s farm-fresh veggies riddled with arsenic. The implication: If it’s in your food, it’s in your body, and that’s bad news.But it’s not that simple, or that scary. Many foods contain trace amounts of heavy metals because these elements occur naturally in soil and water and can make their way through the food chain into produce and meat. But your gastrointestinal tract isn’t a pipeline straight to your bloodstream. It’s a selective filter that blocks, binds, and eliminates heavy metals to reduce the amount entering your bloodstream and the risk of harm to your health. Only a fraction of the heavy metals you eat are absorbed; most pass right through your system.This concept — that not everything you eat is absorbed — is called bioavailability, and this LMNT article demystifies it to help you separate real toxicology from fearmongering.Does Your Body Absorb All the Heavy Metals You Eat?No, your body only absorbs a small fraction of the heavy metals you consume. This fraction, known as a food’s bioavailability, depends on a long list of factors, including what else you eat, your nutrient status, gut health, age, and more.Keep in mind, many essential minerals you actually need for life, like iron, zinc, and copper, are heavy metals in the chemical sense.The ones worth worrying about are the nonessential metals, like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. These serve no useful purpose in the body, and, at high enough levels, they can cause harm. But here’s the part that usually gets lost in translation: dose and absorption matter. Most vitamins, minerals, and metals can be toxic at certain levels; it’s the exposure and bioavailability that make the difference.Trace amounts of nonessential heavy metals show up naturally in food, but your body only absorbs a small fraction of them. Here’s what the research suggests about approximately how much is absorbed in adults in typical dietary situations:Lead: 3%-10%Cadmium: 3%-8%Mercury: 12%-79%Arsenic: 60%-70%Some of those percentages might look alarming, but keep this in mind: These are percentages of an already small amount. Research shows that the heavy metal content in a serving of many whole and packaged foods falls well under federal and international safety limits.To put it in perspective, let’s look at the amount of lead in a serving of four common foods, along with how much your body actually absorbs, based on a 3%-10% absorption rate.As you review this table, keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration recommends total daily lead intake from food stays under 8.8 mcg for women of childbearing age — its most protective limit — and under 12.5 mcg for the general adult population. LMNT Even at the high end, these absorbed quantities are so microscopic they’re not even visible to the human eye. A single grain of salt weighs about 60 mcg — that’s about 566 times heavier than the amount of lead absorbed from any of the foods above.What’s more, a portion of the small amount your body absorbs is processed and excreted through stool and urine. For example, most of the arsenic your body absorbs is converted into a less harmful form by the liver, and 70%-80% is cleared out within a week.How Food Protects You From Heavy Metal AbsorptionYour body doesn't passively soak up whatever you eat. Many whole foods contain nutrients and compounds that bind, block, or escort heavy metals out of your system.Selenium: Counteracts mercurySelenium is a mineral that binds strongly to mercury. When these two nutrients are ingested together, less toxic mercury-selenium complexes are formed, which are harder to absorb and easier to eliminate.Selenium may also play a role in demethylation, the process that converts methylmercury (the more absorbable form) into inorganic mercury, which is largely excreted. This is an active area of research, with much of the evidence so far coming from experimental studies.And it supports a healthy gut barrier, which prevents metals from “leaking” into circulation.While fish is often flagged for containing high levels of mercury, headlines don’t mention that many species also contain selenium. When selenium levels exceed mercury levels (the case in nearly all commonly eaten fish), selenium may help reduce mercury toxicity by forming stable complexes.Bottom line: For most people, eating two to three 4-ounce servings of salmon, sardines, or trout each week keeps mercury exposure within safe limits while providing omega-3 fats, protein, and other essential vitamins and minerals.Calcium, iron, and zinc: Block heavy metal absorptionHeavy metals and essential minerals compete for the same nutrient transport proteins in your gut. When you eat nutrient-dense meals, more minerals occupy these transporters, leaving fewer available for heavy metals, effectively blocking their absorption.Zinc decreases cadmium absorption.Iron decreases both lead and cadmium absorption.Calcium decreases lead absorption.Fiber and phytochemicals: Bind and block heavy metalsCompounds in plant foods, including dietary fiber, polyphenols, and other phytochemical compounds, reduce the absorption of heavy metals. This may be because they bind to heavy metals in the gut, forming complexes that are too large to cross the intestinal wall and are unable to use metal transporters.The result: Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic are excreted instead of absorbed. Phytochemical compounds with heavy metal-reducing properties include:Catechins in green teaQuercetin in apples and onionsProanthocyanidins in berriesCarotenoids in carrots and spinachCurcumin in turmericFiber and phytochemicals also support a diverse, resilient gut microbiome and strengthen the intestinal barrier, both of which may further reduce heavy metal absorption.Probiotics: Support a healthy gut barrierResearch suggests that consuming certain probiotic strains (via yogurt or supplements) may reduce blood levels of heavy metals in people with known exposure. The likely reason: reduced absorption in the gut.Here’s what might be causing that:Probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus strains, may improve gut barrier integrity. In one animal study, Lactobacillus plantarum helped block cadmium absorption by reversing damage to tight junction proteins — structures in the gut’s lining that prevent compounds from “leaking” into circulation.Probiotic bacteria may also help trap and eliminate heavy metals or convert them to less bioavailable forms the body can’t absorb as well, according to lab studies.Although early findings are promising, much of this evidence comes from animal and lab studies, with only limited human research so far — more is needed to confirm these effects.The bottom line here: Foods often flagged for containing heavy metals also contain nutrients that prevent their absorption. Testing reports measure total content but don’t reflect these protective interactions, missing the complete biological picture.Why Do Some People Absorb More Heavy Metals Than Others?Two people can eat the same meal and absorb very different amounts of heavy metals. That variability comes down to individual factors like nutrient status, life stage, and gut health.Nutrient deficienciesLow mineral status opens the door to higher metal absorption. Iron, zinc, and calcium deficiencies are linked to higher absorption of heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Animal studies have found that mice on a calcium-deficient diet eliminated 40% less lead than mice that got enough calcium.Here’s why: When you’re low on these nutrients, it makes it easier for heavy metals to attach to the nutrient transporters in the gut and enter your circulation. Mineral deficiencies often trigger the body to create more of these transporters, giving heavy metals more “doors” to slip through and less competition to get through them.Life stageChildren can absorb 40%-50% of the lead they ingest. That’s about four to five times as much as adults, and they're more likely to be on the high end if they have iron and calcium deficiencies.Although research is lacking, pregnant women may also absorb more heavy metals. That’s because, as nutrient demands rise, many pregnant women experience nutrient deficiencies that can increase heavy metal absorption.Research in rats suggests that pregnancy may also increase the number of nutrient transporters, which can let more heavy metals into the body.Gut microbiome and barrier functionYour intestinal lining is meant to be selectively permeable, allowing the regulated uptake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into circulation while keeping harmful compounds out, or at least reducing their absorption.Alcohol, low fiber intake, and high sugar consumption disrupt the balance of microbes, leading to changes that make the gut barrier “leaky,” or less discerning about what (or how much) gets through. When that happens, heavy metals may have an easier route into circulation.Gut microbiome disruption can also blunt demethylation of a highly toxic form of mercury, a reaction that makes mercury less bioavailable and less toxic.What Bioavailability Means for Your Daily Food ChoicesMost foods contain trace heavy metals, but most healthy adult bodies are generally well-equipped to handle those minuscule exposures, especially when you’re properly nourished. So it’s best not to fixate on whether a specific food contains metals.Instead, ask: “Am I eating in a way that minimizes their bioavailability?” Here’s what that looks like in practice:Focus on overall diet quality, not trace-level contamination. Build meals around whole and minimally processed vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats like olive oil, and high-quality dairy, fish, and meats. These foods supply the minerals that block metal absorption and the fiber that helps remove what gets through.Meet your mineral needs. Regularly eat foods rich in calcium (e.g., dairy, sardines and salmon with bones, dark greens), iron (e.g., beef, beans, lentils, spinach), zinc (e.g., fish, meat, pumpkin seeds), and selenium (e.g., Brazil nuts, sardines, cottage cheese, eggs). Getting enough of these minerals ensures that transport proteins in the gut move nutrients into circulation instead of heavy metals.Maintain a healthy gut. A healthy microbiome supports detoxification and gut barrier integrity. Prioritize fiber, probiotic-rich fermented foods, and colorful plant foods containing phytochemicals. Limit alcohol and sugar and take steps to curb stress.Trace heavy metals are everywhere, but your body has systems in place to deal with them. So don’t major in the minors. Stay nourished, keep your gut healthy, and you’ll have already solved most of the problem.FAQsDoes your body absorb all the heavy metals you eat?No. Bioavailability varies widely depending on the metal, your nutrient status, gut health, and the overall food matrix (the physical and chemical structure of a food). A significant portion of heavy metals passes through the digestive tract unabsorbed, while another portion is processed by organs like the liver and eliminated.How does selenium protect against mercury?Selenium (especially when present in greater quantities) binds tightly to mercury, forming stable, less toxic complexes that reduce its reactivity and absorption. Selenium also supports demethylation, a process that converts methylmercury into less bioavailable inorganic mercury. Most fish contain more selenium than mercury, providing natural protection.Why do some people absorb more heavy metals than others?Absorption depends on factors like nutrient status, gut integrity, and life stage. Deficiencies in minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc increase metal uptake because these elements share nutrient transport pathways. In fact, pregnant women may absorb more lead as they’re at greater risk for iron deficiency, while growing children may absorb more due to greater nutrient demands.Are heavy metals in vegetables dangerous if they're not absorbed?No. Only a portion of the trace metals present in vegetables is absorbed, and many plant components may reduce absorption further. Fiber, polyphenols, and minerals in vegetables bind metals in the gut and support elimination. The nutrients that make vegetables healthy are the same ones that help keep heavy metals in check.This story was produced by LMNT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Oregon is on track for its worst wildfire season yet Wildfires in central and eastern Oregon are prompting evacuations and forcing ranchers to scramble to move cattle and find feed as public range land burns. More than a million acres have burned so far. Most fires have little or no containment.
	River Bend Food Bank report growing demand amid rising fuel and food costs The food bank serves a 23-county area distributing over 17 million meals across its 400 hunger-relief partners according to data from its most recent fiscal year.
	Florida Democratic chair calls on Ashley Moody to release grand jury report on Hope Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody in Orlando on Jan. 16, 2024, via DeSantis Facebbook feed. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried is calling on Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody to use her power to seek release of a grand jury report into the $10 million in taxpayer funds diverted to the Hope Florida Foundation in 2024. Hope Florida is the community-based, state-wide welfare assistance initiative launched by First Lady Casey DeSantis in 2021. That $10 million was part of a legal settlement that the state received later diverted by Hope Florida to political committees — one controlled by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ then-chief of staff James Uthmeier — and used to help defeat a 2024 ballot initiative that would have legalized recreational marijuana. Revelation of the controversy led to an investigation in the Florida House of Representatives in 2025 and later a grand jury investigation by State Attorney Jack Campbell in Tallahassee. No charges were brought in that investigation but, under state law, the report was supposed to have been released within 15 days of its completion, unless someone in the report (or “presentment”) objected and asked for redactions or withholding. Moody approved the transfer of the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation as part of a larger $67 million agreement the Florida Agency of Healthcare Administration (AHCA) signed with Centene Health Plan, one of several managed care providers the state contracts with to provide health services to the poor, elderly, and disabled. The other $57 million went to the agency. State Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican from Pensacola, told CBS Miami over the weekend he has “nothing but respect for Senator Moody, but the Attorney General’s office was a signatory to the settlement with Centene that led to this money going to the Hope Florida Foundation.” Andrade said that along with John Guard, who served as the deputy attorney general under Moody at the time, the only other person who could answer such questions “would be Senator Moody.” Moody is running for election for the U.S. Senate for the first time this November after being appointed to the position last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The two Democrats vying to run against her in the fall, Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon, have criticized Moody about her involvement with the Hope Florida situation, and party chair Fried said Wednesday that she should call on Uthmeier to release the report. “Floridians deserve answers,” Fried told reporters Wednesday on a Zoom conference call. “What did Ashley Moody know? When did she know it? What is so damning in this report that she still is trying to keep it sealed? Ashley needs to stop keeping secrets from the people of this state. It’s time she owns up and shows up. That starts with immediately unsealing the grand jury report in the findings of the Hope Florida scandal. Something she can call on the attorney general to do today.” Uthmeier mum Uthmeier has refused to say whether he has asked a judge to keep that grand jury report secret. When asked about the report during a meeting of the Tampa Tiger Bay Club in April, the attorney general said he was not allowed to confirm or deny that there is grand jury report, adding that “nobody did anything wrong.” “This has been a politically motivated and media-driven farce,” he said. On other occasions, he has said that the only people who care about the topic are “the liberal media.” Fried says the fact that the public has not been allowed to view the Leon County grand jury reporting on Hope Florida is “a travesty.” “Whether it is DeSantis or whether it is Uthmeier or whether it is Moody, this is information that people in our state need to know,” she said. “We have Sunshine laws for a reason. And if there’s been criminal activity or unethical activity from those who have been put in charge with the responsibility of protecting and defending this state, the people of this state need to know the answers.” The Phoenix reached out to Sen. Moody’s campaign for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Man charged with possession of child sex abuse material His bond was set at $200,000, court records show.
	Pedestrian hit by vehicle side mirror while walking near New London A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle’s side mirror while walking on Highway 34 near New London.
	Why is gynecology still using a Civil War-era tool? Why is gynecology still using a Civil War-era tool?Taylor Townsell remembers her OBGYN reassuring her that her IUD insertion would feel like “just a pinch.” The pain came a split second later. The 32-year-old described it to Truthdig and 19th News in still-vivid detail: “Bright, electric, as if my body had become nothing but nerve endings.” She passed out.Six years later, in 2023, as the time to get a new IUD inserted came closer and closer, Townsell grew increasingly terrified. For medical reasons, the IUD was the only contraceptive available to her — “though my doctor in Tennessee did suggest abstinence,” she noted. “I felt powerless,” she said.Townsell wanted to understand what had happened to her back in 2017 and figure out whether the pain could be avoided this time around. On Instagram’s #IUDinsertion, she came across patient testimonies just like hers. Some even filmed themselves during the procedure: crying, vomiting, fainting, bleeding through paper gowns.Townsell learned that the source of her pain was not her IUD itself but the instrument used to insert it: the tenaculum forceps. This was her first time hearing about the tenaculum, let alone seeing it. “I sort of understand why they don’t show it to us before using it in us,” she said: “It looks more like a medieval torture device than a gynecological tool.”Shaped like a pair of metal scissors, the tenaculum’s sharp, pointed claws, curved inward, grab onto the cervix to stabilize it and grant easier access into the uterus. “That’s the pinch I’d been so casually warned about,” Townsell realized — though she described it more “like being stapled on the inside.”A highly effective tool, the tenaculum is still routinely used without anesthesia on 120 million patients a year for IUD insertions, biopsies, hysteroscopies, and fertility treatments. It causes mild to severe pain in 90% of patients and has remained largely unchanged for over 135 years.Though Townsell finally knew why she’d felt such pain, she couldn’t seem to find a way around it. Until one day, her online search led her to the website of a medical device company named Aspivix, which claimed to be “reimagining gynecology with ‘gentle’ in mind.”Townsell read all about Carevix, a suction-based device to alleviate pain during cervical procedures. The tenaculum’s sharp metal claws were replaced with a plastic suction wand, which gently stabilizes the cervix without piercing it, dramatically reducing pain and bleeding during procedures.“I knew this was what I’d been looking for,” Townsell said.At your cervixThe story of Aspivix begins, improbably enough, with three men.By the mid-2010s, David Finci, a Swiss OBGYN, had grown increasingly uncomfortable using the tenaculum on his patients during IUD insertions. Ikram Guerd, Aspivix’s general manager and CMO, said that Finci often felt “ashamed” of hurting his patients with a tool that had been adapted from a Civil War-era bullet extractor.Several decades ago, researchers proved that the cervix is actually dense with nerve endings. Though the science has been corrected, the instrument itself hasn’t. The same goes for the cold, metal speculum; tested on enslaved Black women and still routinely described as the “can opener” by uncomfortable patients, it continues to be sold, taught, and used, often alongside Pozzi’s bullet extractor.In 2015, Finci turned to his brother Julien — a medical device engineer — for help designing an alternative to the tenaculum. They were soon joined by Mathieu Horras, a colleague from the med-tech world. Together, the trio began experimenting.Carevix’s origins are almost implausibly earnest. Inspired by the vacuum pump used in obstetrical procedures to pull the baby out during difficult deliveries, Finci knew what he wanted from the start: to use suction rather than claws to grab and hold the cervix without piercing it. “I had no idea what a cervix even looked like,” his brother Julien said with a laugh, “so my first prototype was completely upside down, and totally unusable on an actual cervix.” David eventually stepped in, using his kids’ Play-Doh to model a cervix for Julien to work with.This origin story captures a broader contradiction within gynecology itself — a field historically shaped by men attempting to solve problems they did not physically experience and often did not fully understand. Many of the technologies and procedures governing reproductive care are still designed, financed, and approved within overwhelmingly male institutional structures. Aspivix’s founders seem aware of that imbalance, frequently citing Horras’s wife, a midwife, as a “constant source of inspiration” during the device’s early development.When the three men finally figured out a design, they quit their jobs to launch Aspivix full-time and develop Carevix — a portmanteau of “care” and “cervix.”Carevix was tested against the standard cervical tenaculum in a randomized controlled trial involving 100 women undergoing IUD insertion, who were asked to rate their pain levels throughout the process. These trials found that Carevix reduced pain during IUD insertion by up to 73% and bleeding by 78%, compared to the tenaculum.Aspivix has since grown into a 14-person team that includes eight women.‘Selling ballet shoes to a football team‘Developing Carevix was one thing. Convincing financiers to confront an instrument many had never heard of, and a pain they had never experienced, was another entirely.“Here we were,” Julien said, “three men trying to pitch rooms full of male investors a tool meant to alleviate cervical pain: it was like trying to sell ballet shoes to a football team.”Over the past two decades, studies have repeatedly found that women are more likely to have their symptoms minimized, attributed to anxiety or emotion, and treated later and less aggressively — particularly when the pain is gynecological in origin.To bridge the empathy gap in potential investors, Horras began carrying an old tenaculum in his bag. During pitch meetings, he’d pinch their fingers with it, asking them to imagine this same tool being used on their most sensitive bits. “They tend to all close their legs at once,” Guerd said with a laugh.Growing more serious, Guerd added: “That’s when we would tell them that women have somehow been expected to normalize this exact sensation for centuries, without anesthesia.” Too often, investors would still leave the meeting with vague promises to ask their wives or girlfriends about the tenaculum, she said. “There’s still this reflex where anything involving the female anatomy immediately becomes niche,” Guerd said.What Aspivix needed, they soon realized, was a story. The team began telling the story of a fictional young woman named Emma, a young student who accidentally fell pregnant because she was too afraid to have an IUD inserted. Investors, Julien explained, seemed more responsive to the broader social consequences of gynecological pain — unwanted pregnancy, contraception failure, lack of reproductive autonomy — than to the pain itself.“Protected sex,” he said. “That caught their attention.”In 2015, Bioceptive, a medical device company based in Louisiana, received Food and Drug Administration clearance for its own cervical suction retractor, which creates a portal through the cervix without needing a tenaculum. Like Aspivix, the company foregrounds its tool’s use in avoiding the undesirable “side effects” of pain and bleeding that “discouraged some women from necessary procedures.” As for pain itself, it, again, takes a back seat.A no-brainer?By 2024, Carevix had received FDA clearance and had been named one of Time magazine’s best inventions.“You would think it would be a no-brainer,” Guerd said from California, where the company has spent the past two years trying to persuade U.S. hospitals and clinics to abandon the tenaculum. “You present the two instruments side by side and think: ‘Obviously doctors won’t choose the scary-looking scissors.’” But, as it turns out, she said, they often do.The reason is, in part, inertia. The tenaculum is cheap, reusable, and embedded in medical training. Entire workflows are built around it. To replace it requires not only a new device but retraining, new purchasing approvals, reimbursement negotiations, and — perhaps hardest of all — convincing doctors to spend more time and money solving a pain many still underestimate.Over the past two decades, a whole array of FemTech startups have run into similar roadblocks when attempting to redesign the speculum — the dreaded duck-shaped metal tool used to look into the vaginal opening. These new alternatives are made out of plastic, silicone, or polyurethane; some are inflatable, others come equipped with LED lights or come with fuzzy comfort socks. But few have actually made it into doctors’ offices. The barriers to entry still feel too high — especially when very few patients actually complain directly to their doctor about the speculum as it is.Some doctors, Julien said, reacted defensively when presented with Carevix, insisting that the tenaculum worked perfectly well for them and that they would never hurt their patients.“There’s a lot of ego involved,” Guerd added. Aspivix had initially hoped patients themselves would help accelerate adoption by requesting Carevix directly from providers. But that strategy occasionally backfired: “We had one patient who was extremely enthusiastic and brought the tool up to her doctor,” she recalled. The physician didn’t appreciate learning from their own patient that a new alternative existed and refused to use it.“You often also have to convince doctors that there’s something in it for them,” Julien said. With this in mind, Aspivix began emphasizing that less bleeding meant less cleanup, that less fainting meant quicker turnover in examination rooms, and that happy patients tended to come back and recommend the practice to their friends.Insurance, however, has only complicated matters. One of Aspivix’s biggest challenges, Guerd explained, is reimbursement. Insurers remain reluctant to cover “elective” pain relief during gynecological procedures, which leaves many patients with out-of-pocket costs.To navigate that obstacle, Aspivix introduced what it calls a “Letter of Medical Necessity” on its website. Patients can download the document, ask their physician to sign it, and submit it to their insurer in hopes of securing reimbursement. “The idea,” Guerd explained, “was to create pressure on insurance companies by showing there is real patient demand for pain management options in gynecological care.”Patient-centered and drivenSelf-doubt remains one of gynecology’s quietest inheritances. Even the language clinicians use during procedures performs a kind of anticipatory minimization: Patients are told to expect “pressure,” “mild discomfort,” or “a small pinch.”Growing distrust in the medical establishment left many patients fearful and anxious. Over time, thanks to social media, many realized that their pain was not mysterious or personal but rather systemic. POVs of painful IUD insertions were followed by multiple videos of Black women in labor writhing in pain in hospitals as they were ignored.In the past few years, Aspivix has come to rely on this growing resistance to create momentum. One of the company’s earliest American adopters, Natalie Paul, a nurse practitioner and founder of Lavender Spectrum Health in Portland, Oregon, posted a Carevix demonstration on TikTok. The video quickly went viral, and patients began flooding in.“Before adopting Carevix,” Paul said, “I had nearly stopped offering IUD insertions altogether. I hated doing it. I hated hurting people.” But when Carevix became available in the United States, Paul, whose practice focuses heavily on trauma-informed care, immediately ordered a dozen devices. Much of the response to the video, both online and in the clinic, Paul said, was less about technological fascination than relief at seeing a provider publicly acknowledge that gynecological pain mattered.Aspivix began rolling out Carevix territory by territory, focusing on smaller regional networks before attempting national expansion. Guerd compared the strategy to “political campaigning”: train enough doctors in one area, generate enough patient demand, then gradually widen the circle. “The goal,” she explained, “is for a patient to be able to show up and ask about Carevix, “and the doctor already knows it, already trusts it, already knows how to use it.”Carevix is now offered by some 50 providers across the United States.The shift opened by patients has begun to ripple through medicine itself. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its recommendations around pain management during IUD insertion, acknowledging that pain is often underestimated and poorly managed. The following year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new guidance emphasizing patient-centered gynecological care.One size fits all?Of course, the device itself isn’t a panacea, and some parts of it could still use improvement, doctors say. But its limitations themselves expose a deeper problem: Efforts to make gynecology gentler are necessarily complicated by centuries of disregard for gynecological care. Though well-informed (and well-insured) patients can pick from an array of pain management options (ranging from ibuprofen or anti-anxiety medication to general anesthesia), none of these address the root cause of said pain.Alissa Conklin, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Indiana University, ran the first U.S. pilot study on Carevix. “I volunteered,” she said, “because no one’s invented anything new to hold onto the cervix since the 1890s. That sounded amazing. ”After months of trials, she found that the device significantly reduces pain during IUD insertion, but that it has some practical limitations that the tenaculum didn’t. In some cases, she said, if the cervix is too small, if it has any cysts on it, if its shape has changed after pregnancy, Carevix’s current U-shaped suction cup just isn’t the right fit, or could actually end up causing bleeding. Conklin also pointed to the device’s current size and shape — “a long plastic wand with a fat handle” — which doesn’t fit into smaller speculums and can sometimes be difficult to handle when you’re used to the small tenaculum.“It’s not a perfect replacement. But it also doesn’t poke holes in your patient’s cervix,” she concluded with a dry laugh. “So that’s nice.”Something several practitioners also pointed out is that the device is currently single-use and significantly more expensive than a reusable metal tenaculum — depending on the size of a provider’s order, they could pay $50, $35, or $25 per device — creating financial strain for clinics with tighter budgets. Recent tariffs on imported goods have further complicated distribution in the United States. “The challenge,” Conklin explained, “is that the places serving the most vulnerable patients are often the least able to absorb additional costs.”The team at Aspivix said that they are working on developing a reusable version of their device and attempting to adapt its suction cup to a more varied set of anatomies.Even if massively adopted, Carevix would not solve every problem in gynecology. The process of measuring the uterus ahead of an IUD insertion can still hurt regardless of the tool used to hold the cervix. With or without Carevix, women still report severe cramping during and after insertions.But now, Conklin pointed out, patients have options. “I think we as providers could do a much better job at providing patients with that autonomy,” she said. “Some patients, the younger ones, come here ready for that. They own the body, they own their experience, and they are 100% going to speak up for themselves. But I try to speak for the people who aren’t yet ready to speak for themselves — older women, Black women, patients whose pain has long been ignored — to let them know: You have that right, you have these options.”Being heardWhen Townsell found Aspivix’s website in her online search for an alternative to the tenaculum, she sent them a panicked email: “I basically wrote: ‘Please, please help me. I don’t know if I can do this again.’” Someone from the company replied almost immediately, and then followed up when she hadn’t answered. She was put in touch with physicians at Columbia University Medical Center, one of the first sites in the United States offering Carevix.At the time, Townsell lived in Philadelphia. During her trip to New York, she braced herself for another traumatic ordeal. Accompanied by a supervising physician, a trainee, a patient advocate, and her boyfriend, she underwent the procedure using Carevix. “I kept waiting for the horrible part,” she said, “and then, suddenly, it was over.”What stayed with her most, however, was not merely the absence of pain but the atmosphere surrounding the procedure itself. The doctors actually showed her the instrument to be used on her. They treated her fear as rational rather than exaggerated.“It was the first time I felt like my pain had been anticipated instead of dismissed,” she said. “Women have been saying this hurts forever — it feels like we’re just now being heard.”This article was co-published with Truthdig.This story was produced by 19th News and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Utah eyes applications for new independent medical cannabis pharmacy in ‘underserved’ area Buds of marijuana on display inside Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)Next week, Utah state officials will begin accepting applications to license a new independent medical cannabis pharmacy to be located in a “medically underserved” or rural area with a population that’s smaller than Salt Lake, Utah, Davis or Weber counties. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced in a news release Tuesday the application period will open on Aug. 3, and it will remain open until Sept. 2. The application is for the second of two independent medical cannabis pharmacies required to open under HB54, a bill passed by the Utah Legislature in 2025 that, among other measures, expanded the number of medical cannabis pharmacies allowed to operate in the state, including in “medically underserved” areas. It also aimed to create more opportunities for pharmacy operators that aren’t owned by large medical cannabis corporations. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The first independent medical cannabis pharmacy to open under the bill was Boojum in Moab. Before it opened, the nearest medical cannabis pharmacy was in Price, a nearly two-hour drive away. Before Boojum opened this year, its chief science officer Olivia Kulunder told Moab Sun News “we were awarded this license over a two billion dollar holdings corporation from Chicago.” “While we might not have over 150 dispensaries to our name, that means we will be pouring everything we have into this one pharmacy,” Kulunder told the outlet at the time. Kulunder, who grew up in Castle Valley, also said the licensing board cited Boojum’s local connection as a key reason for awarding its license. “We do know that this distance drives a lot of people to go out of state, which carries legal risks,” Kulander told Moab Sun News. “Having dependable local access to cannabis means that those who need it most will be able to access it safely and legally.” Now it’s up to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to decide where the next pharmacy will go. The independent medical cannabis pharmacy will be required to operate under Utah Department of Agriculture and Food regulations “to ensure patient safety and product quality,” the department said. To be eligible for the license, applications “must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of medical cannabis regulations, possess the necessary financial resources, and propose a secure and compliant facility,” the department said. The following requirements must also be met: Independence: The new licensee must not own a financial interest in a medical cannabis pharmacy or be owned by an entity that owns any interest in or operates a medical cannabis production establishment that is owned, partially or entirely, or operated by a medical cannabis production establishment. Location: The new licensee shall be located in an area designated as medically underserved and in counties with populations smaller than 260,000. Eligible counties include Box Elder, Cache, Iron, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Washington, Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Millard, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Wasatch, Emery, Grand, Juab, Kane, Morgan, Piute, Daggett, Garfield, Rich and Wayne counties. Facility plan: Each applicant is required to provide a detailed layout and security plan for the proposed pharmacy. Operational procedures: Each applicant must provide comprehensive standard operating procedures for dispensing, inventory management, and patient consultation. Personnel Qualifications: Each applicant must provide information on key personnel, including pharmacists and technicians, and their qualifications. After state officials review the applications, they’ll pick one proposed pharmacy to receive the license, which must be issued no later than Jan. 1, 2027. For more information on how to apply, visit the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s website. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	McKee picks up second teachers union endorsement Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee visits students in a summer program in 2024. (Office of the Governor)Gov. Dan McKee now boasts endorsements from Rhode Island’s two major statewide teachers unions, having secured the recommendation of the National Education Association of Rhode Island on Wednesday. The endorsement, made by a unanimous vote of the association’s political action committee, is not a surprise. The 12,000-member union also backed McKee in 2022, and donated $500 to his campaign in January. McKee’s decision to sign a contested charter school moratorium into law in June — prompting a federal lawsuit by a dual language charter school now blocked from opening — was widely viewed as a political move meant to win favor with the influential teachers unions. The other, equally sized state teachers union, the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, endorsed McKee last week. The National Education Association, led by Senate President Valarie Lawson, includes mostly suburban and rural school districts along with faculty and graduate workers at Roger Williams University and the University of Rhode Island. At least one representative from all of the association’s 76 locals participated in the endorsement vote, following interviews with Democratic gubernatorial candidates on Tuesday night. Stephanie Mandeville, an association spokesperson, declined to share the total number of members who voted in the endorsement decision. “Our endorsement is something our members take very seriously,” Amy Mullen, an elementary math intervention specialist in Tiverton who chairs the political action committee, said in a statement. “Committee members asked thoughtful, challenging questions and carefully considered not only the candidates’ positions, but also their willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue and demonstrate a clear understanding of the issues affecting our members. We weren’t looking for talking points, we were looking for leadership, honesty, and a proven commitment to public education and working families.” The association cited McKee’s “demonstrated understanding” of education issues and “detailed responses” to questions about his priorities as reasons for the endorsement. Democratic primary challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Foulkes has said she would have vetoed the charter school moratorium bill if she was governor. Foulkes, who lost to McKee by 3 percentage points in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary, leads McKee by double digits in the most recent public polling and has secured a majority of the municipal Democratic endorsements, including from McKee’s hometown of Cumberland. Neither the Rhode Island Democratic Party nor the AFL-CIO made an endorsement in the gubernatorial primary in a decision seen as a snub for an incumbent Democratic governor. But McKee has picked up several large union endorsements in recent weeks. In addition to both state teachers unions, he also received backing from the 10,000-member Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the United Nurses and Allied Professionals and General Teamsters Local 251. Smaller labor groups, including local chapters of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association and the International Union of Elevator Constructors have endorsed McKee, too. He is expected to receive an endorsement from the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council at a rally scheduled for tomorrow, as first reported by WPRI-TV 12 Foulkes has also won favor with labor groups, including the Rhode Island SEIU Council, UNITE Here hospitality workers, and the Rhode Island Troopers Association. And she has a considerable cash advantage over McKee, helping her dominate the airwaves battles with more than $1.1 million spent on local TV commercials, according to the most recent filings with federal regulators. McKee’s campaign has spent just over $582,000 on political ads. Second-quarter campaign reports for all state primary candidates are due to the Rhode Island Board of Elections by Friday night. Early voting begins Aug. 20 ahead of the Sept. 9 primary. Reporter Christopher Shea contributed to this story. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Rock Island-Milan School Board approves funds for remediation, repairs at Denkmann The approval covers expenditures for repairs done last year after a July storm and further needed repairs, which are expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
	Government Bridge reopened after semi gets stuck The Government Bridge was closed late Wednesday morning after a semitruck got stuck on the Davenport side.
	Sing it loud, New Hampshire: ‘We’re No. 1! We’re No. 1!’ Oh, wait, we’re not? Gov. Kelly Ayotte celebrates the signing of a pair of bills at the State House in June 2025, one to broaden "parental rights" and the other to expand the voucher-like education freedom accounts program. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)Over the past three decades, New Hampshire Republicans have held trifecta power over the State House — or simultaneous control of the governor’s office, House, and Senate — for 11 years, including the past six. Democrats, meanwhile, have held trifecta power for just four years in that span. And while Democrats had a decade-long run of success winning the governor’s seat starting in 2005, since 1995 Republicans have held majority control of both branches of the state Legislature at the same time for a staggering 22 years. So, for better or worse, it’s fair to say the state of the state belongs to the Republican Party. That’s why they get so excited when the U.S. News and World Report “Best States” rankings come out every year. The great thing about rankings as far as a Republican politician is concerned (and you may remember that I’ve written about their love of WalletHub lists, too) is that they can cherry-pick the good categories, deliver the news to voters without defining context or methodology, and essentially suggest that the ranking is more real than the reality of personal experience. As Gov. Kelly Ayotte and other state Republicans proved this week, it can be a politically dangerous game to play. In separate press releases about the U.S. News and World Report rankings, Ayotte touted the state’s top rankings in a pair of subcategories, safety and economic opportunity. She did not, however, mention that on her watch New Hampshire dropped in the overall rankings from No. 2 in 2025 to No. 6 this year, most likely dragged down by a No. 41 ranking for affordability, No. 40 ranking for higher education, No. 39 ranking for fiscal stability, and a No. 32 ranking for the state’s economy (which also includes a No. 49 subcategory ranking for growth). Even when you discount the latest lists and rankings, and we probably all should, July as a whole hasn’t been particularly kind to Republicans. A couple of weeks ago, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute released a report outlining the toll of $51 million in back-of-the-budget cuts for the state Department of Health and Human Services in the 2026-2027 biennium. Among the programs most affected are: community mental health services, family intervention and prevention-related services, food assistance programs, and child and maternal health services. Importantly, Health and Human Services was just one of 11 state departments hit with such cuts. “Policymakers faced significant expenditure needs, potential costs and federal policy shifts, and decreases in State revenue due in part to the previous choices of legislators,” wrote report author Jessica Williams, a senior policy analyst, “which resulted in more difficult funding tradeoffs for State Fiscal Years (SFYs) 2026 and 2027 than in the prior four budget cycles.” So purposeful self-sabotage, in other words. The timing of the NHFPI report wasn’t great for Republicans. Days earlier Ayotte had vetoed the 10-year state transportation plan, upsetting lawmakers in both parties. The governor’s big beef was with a proposed toll increase aimed at out-of-state drivers, which was meant to help address a $400 million funding shortfall. See a pattern? “You want your roads, we’ve got to do something about it,” said Republican Rep. David Milz, who called the toll increase “almost a no-brainer.” That’s an important, and too rare, lightbulb for the state’s majority party. You see, if you want the things that make everybody’s life better, like roads, public education, childcare, healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc., you do have to pay for them. And for that you need revenue. But the pattern keeps repeating. New Hampshire cuts off, reduces, or claws back funding for needed services and investments, calls it fiscal responsibility, and life gets a little harder not just for low-income residents but a middle class that can’t keep up with a deluge of higher prices, from gas and groceries to healthcare and housing. I suspect that part of the slide under Republicans’ watch is due to the elevation of fringe voices with disparate axes to grind, with targets ranging from immigrants and LGBTQ+ people to vaccines and literature that offends them. But there has to be some responsibility taken by the Republican traditionalists who have not only embraced the anti-government dreams of the many Free Staters in their ranks but continue to peddle the idea that we don’t actually owe anything to each other. Low (or no) taxes, small government, and an unrestrained free market are all we need, and the resulting tide will raise all boats, they argue. Except it hasn’t, and it won’t. What has happened is that more and more boats sink every day, and just so a few more rich guys can buy super yachts. When you hear economists fret over the historic levels of wealth inequality, that’s precisely what they’re talking about. Should a majority of the Republican Party ever come to disavow the presidency of Donald Trump, my guess is that they will try to paint him and his Cabinet as accidents of their movement, as outliers. The perfect crime was committed in broad daylight by a sitting president, they’ll say, and fully at the expense of the poor, innocent people he was elected to serve. If only we had had the ability then, they will lament, to see his actions for what they really were. To that end, they could easily cite the obscene profits he and his family have collected while in power, or the way he greedily sabotaged the nation’s post-pandemic economic recovery through a thoughtless war, misguided tariffs, a violent and destabilizing mass deportation campaign, Elon Musk’s DOGE rampage, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which primarily exists to reward the rich at the expense of those below them on the wealth ladder. But if you look at what’s happening in New Hampshire, in every red chamber in every red state, it’s clear that Trump was no accident, and he certainly is not an outlier. He is the fulfillment of what the right’s movement has long held as its primary, but often unspoken, tenet: The only way forward is to leave many behind. Maybe that sounds just fine to a lot of Republican and independent voters in New Hampshire, as they peer back at the abandoned rabble in their dust. But what they’ll realize when they at last turn around is that the caravan has left without them, too. They will see that they were always among the “others” meant to be culled. Courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin
	United Way Quad Cities announces new president and CEO The social change organization has tapped former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Augustana College, Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, as its next leader. Hilton-Morrow will begin her new role on September 14th.
	United Way Quad Cities names new president and CEO Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Augustana College, will start with United Way on Sept. 14.
	Traffic Alert: Part of Central Avenue closed for resurfacing project A section of Central Avenue is closed for a resurfacing project Wednesday.
	Purina Incredible Dog Team coming to Alternating Currents Alternating Currents and Purina are bringing Purina's Incredible Dog Team to downtown Davenport this August to celebrate Dog Chow's 100th anniversary and Purina's nearly century-long connection to the Quad Cities. Purina's Incredible Dog Team will perform three free, high-energy shows during the 2026 Alternating Currents festival on Saturday, August 15 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Residents [...]
	Why the Fed picked 2% as an inflation target Why the Fed picked 2% as an inflation targetIn mid-July, new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh testified before two congressional committees and pledged to restore annual inflation to the central bank’s stated target of 2%. Given that inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, has been above that mark for 63 consecutive months, Warsh has some work ahead of him.The Fed has a statutory mandate to stabilize prices, alongside its twin objective of maximizing employment. Since 2012, the bank has chosen to balance the two mandates by publicly aiming for a stable target of 2% annual inflation.Inflation flickered below 2% for much of the 2010s, but it spiked dramatically in 2021 and 2022 as America emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and both Donald Trump and Joe Biden spearheaded massive fiscal stimulus packages. To understand why the Fed is still committed to its 2% goal after over five years of running above it, examining the history and economic reasoning behind the target is in order, which The Dispatch explores here.Why set a public inflation target?The Fed’s price-stabilizing role formally began in 1977, when Congress passed the Federal Reserve Reform Act near the tail end of the Great Inflation, a 17-year period in which annual inflation rates spiked as high as 14%. Paul Volcker, the Fed chair at the time, began aggressively raising interest rates and succeeded in curbing inflation, but the interest rate hikes triggered unforeseen consequences. Unemployment spiked, and the economy plunged into a recession. The episode demonstrated that the Fed’s use of monetary policy could shape economic conditions.When Alan Greenspan assumed the role of Fed chair in 1987, he commissioned a series of debates at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) about setting an exact inflation target. Proponents of the policy argued it would anchor the public’s expectations even through periods when the Fed would adjust interest rates away from the target value, limiting aftershocks. As the Fed’s website puts it, “When households and businesses can reasonably expect inflation to remain low and stable, they are able to make sound decisions regarding saving, borrowing, and investment, which contribute to a well-functioning economy and the well-being of all Americans.”Inflation targeting was first adopted in 1990 by New Zealand, which set a band of 05 to 2% for its central bank to keep inflation within. By 1993, Australia, Canada, Finland, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom had joined it in adopting an official inflation target.By 1996, Greenspan was convinced that a 2% target was broadly consistent with price stability. However, he did not want that number to be public knowledge, as he felt it might burden the Fed to make decisions that were not in the economy’s best interest to avoid having to explain its deviation from the target. It took until Ben Bernanke’s tenure as Fed chair to enshrine the target as the central bank’s official policy in 2012.“Greenspan was in favor of maximum flexibility, so if you don’t have a stated target, no one can say you’re missing your target,” David Wessel, the director of The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution, told The Dispatch. “Bernanke had exactly the opposite argument. This is a way to hold the central bank accountable. It tells … the markets and the politicians, ‘This is what we want to do. And if we’re not meeting our target, you should ask us why not.’”Why 2%?At a 1996 FOMC meeting, Greenspan defined price stability as “that state in which expected changes in the general price level do not effectively alter business or household decisions.” Pressed by then-Fed governor and future chair Janet Yellen to put a number on that state, Greenspan replied, “I would say the number is zero, if inflation is properly measured.”Greenspan’s point, as he articulated in greater depth a year later, was that most inflation measures do not properly account for the improved quality and longevity of new products, which ultimately save the consumer money. “In theory, economists understand how to value such innovations; in practice, it is an enormous challenge to construct such an estimate with any precision,” Greenspan said in the 1997 speech. Indeed, figuring out what value of inflation by conventional measures best represents a true value of zero is far from straightforward.The Fed uses the PCE index to track inflation, while the consumer price index (CPI) numbers typically attract more press coverage. The CPI measures the out-of-pocket expenditures of all urban households on a representative basket of goods and services. The PCE measures prices for a broader range of goods and services purchased by consumers or on their behalf, including expenditures by some nonprofit groups serving households and third-party payments like employer-provided health insurance. The CPI tends to slightly outrun the PCE because the two indexes use different formulas, and the PCE more fully accounts for consumers substituting cheaper goods in response to rising prices. But some economists claim both overmeasure real inflation (Warsh has called these measures “imperfect” and said he prefers “trimmed” mean inflation gauges, which remove the most extreme outliers in price change from the dataset).As the first nation to implement a public inflation target, New Zealand had a significant influence in setting a precedent for the policy. But even by the account of those who were intimately involved in crafting the target, the number was not settled upon by exact science. “It was a bit of a shock to everyone,” Roger Douglas, the country’s former finance minister who is considered a chief architect of the policy, told Reuters in a 2023 interview. “I just announced it was gonna be 2%, and it sort of stuck.”New Zealand achieved its goal of bringing inflation below 2% within the first two years of its plan. From there, several other countries followed, adopting inflation targets around 2%. “The central banks move in herds, and once a few did it, then the U.S. adopted it, everybody kind of adopted it,” Wessel said. “Now it’s kind of accepted, even though there’s no economic model or particular rationale for why 2 versus 1.5 or 3.”Yet, while 2% may not have resulted from a precise formula, it did represent something real. Essentially, economists concluded that any meaningfully higher target would too consistently erode purchasing power, a phenomenon that has come to define American politics over the past five years. Conversely, any meaningfully lower target would come with the risk of deflation, which would likely trigger a vicious cycle of reduced spending, increased debt burdens, falling wages, and increased unemployment. Keeping the target above zero also makes it easier for employers to effectively reduce real wages during economic downturns as an alternative to laying off workers, without the political friction that comes with nominal wage cuts.Given the Fed’s statutory mandate to balance price stability with maximum employment, the 2% number was seen as a happy medium between the two.Is 2% still a useful number?What American central bankers likely did not anticipate was that they would spend much of the decade after the 2008 financial crisis struggling to raise the inflation rate back to their 2% target. For seven years from December 2008 to December 2015, interest rates were at near-zero levels, meaning the Fed had little room to stimulate the economy through its rate-setting mechanism.Because the federal funds rate is a nominal interest rate, had the Fed set a higher inflation target, that would have resulted in higher interest rates during normal conditions and given the Fed more policy leverage.“When the 2% target was picked, nobody contemplated long periods of time when interest rates would be at zero,” Wessel said. “It seemed like something that would never happen. So, given that, I would think that if you were starting over again and you knew everything that’s transpired, you’d pick a slightly higher target—maybe 2.5 or 3, or a range like 2 to 3%.”Nevertheless, Wessel and many economists contend that any shift away from the 2% target at this point would be a major blow to the Fed’s credibility. In a 2023 article for the Council on Foreign Relations, former Fed Vice Chair Roger Ferguson argued that even if there was wisdom in raising the target, such a move might undermine the Fed’s fight to lower inflation. “One of the Federal Reserve’s main aims is to keep inflation expectations anchored in the public,” Ferguson wrote. “Completely abandoning an inflation target in the middle of a battle against high inflation might do the opposite, thus raising people’s long-term inflation expectations.”Despite annual inflation stabilizing since its peak in 2022, the specter of rising prices remains a significant political liability for President Donald Trump. May’s PCE numbers saw inflation rise to 4.1%, partially because of elevated oil prices resulting from the Iran war. But Trump brushed off that bump, saying “the numbers were great.” And while he frequently pressured the most recent Fed chair, Jerome Powell, to lower interest rates, reports indicate that Trump is allowing Warsh a grace period as he begins his tenure. With Warsh publicly reaffirming the Fed’s target, the 2% goal appears stable for now.This story was produced by The Dispatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Moline Municipal Election packets now available, signature collection begins Moline’s 2027 Municipal Election candidate filing packets are now available online or at the City Clerk’s Office for candidates to start collecting petition signatures.
	Confusion over Trump changes to graduate student loan limits hurting Oregon programs Oregon Health & Science University's hospital, located in the southwest Portland hills. The university is grappling with a potential loss of enrollment from new limits on federal loans for graduate student borrowers that don't cover the full costs of degree programs for many students who hope to attend. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Bieleck/OHSU)PORTLAND — Enrollment in some graduate education and healthcare programs at Oregon’s public universities is expected to be down this fall, in part because students who might have enrolled face confusion and uncertainty over whether they can get the federal loans they need to attend, according to school leaders. The issue stems from new rules congressional Republicans passed last summer in their massive tax and spending cut bill, which caps the amount of federal student loans graduate students can borrow from the U.S. Department of Education. They allowed for higher caps on some degree programs, such as those for doctors and dentists, but did not include many high-demand, high-cost medical and education degree programs, such as nursing, physical therapy, social work and counseling. Republicans hope loan caps can, over the next few years, spur universities to lower graduate tuition costs, which have risen considerably over the past four decades as unrestricted borrowing from the federal education department rose, and states pulled back public university funding in the nearly two decades since the 2008 recession. A 2020 Brookings Institute study found that graduate students held about half of all outstanding student loan debt despite making up about one-quarter of borrowers. But none of the university leaders in Portland at a Tuesday panel convened by Portland-area U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat representing Oregon’s 1st Congressional District, said the move would cause graduate tuition to decline at their institutions. Instead, they said, would-be students will likely take on private loans with higher interest rates than federal loans, or forgo programs altogether. Eli Herr, financial aid and scholarships director at Oregon Health & Science University, described the risks to Oregon’s universities as “astronomical.” He and leaders from the University of Oregon, Portland State University and Oregon’s largest nursing and teachers unions said the changes are made more challenging by lawsuits temporarily blocking the caps, meant to hit on July 1, from taking effect until a final judgement can be issued by the end of the year. Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs, dean of OHSU’s School of Nursing, said incoming students have already told financial aid officers that they don’t have cosigners for private loans they think they need to take out to supplement what is expected to be inadequate federal loan amounts. Others have said they’re struggling to figure out how they would be able to afford the interest rates on private loans, often up to three times more than interest rates on federal loans. Fall enrollment in Oregon State University’s graduate school of education is down, according to Dean Susan Gardner, because students thought they would not have access to adequate loan amounts. Many are part-time students, and the new loan limits would be pro–rated to a borrower’s credit hours in school, rather than allowing them to borrow the same amount as a full-time student. “In some ways, I worry the damage has already been done,” she told Bonamici. Loan changes Graduate student loan borrowers were previously allowed to borrow the full cost of tuition for their degree programs. Under the changes, annual borrowing would be capped at $20,500 per year with a total $100,000 limit, unless the program is a “professional” program, which includes 11 specific categories such as medical doctor and dentist but doesn’t include nursing. For those professional programs, borrowers can take out $50,000 a year in loans, with an overall $200,000 cap. Republicans defending the caps have argued that many academic programs come with unjustifiably high price tags given the jobs and salaries that exist for their graduates. Bakewell-Sachs said that logic doesn’t make sense for nursing, where demand is high and earnings post-graduation are high enough to justify the average $40,000 to $45,000 of debt that most nurses leave school with. Bonamici said a lot of bipartisan outcry over the changes in Congress came in response to the caps on loans for nurses. She recently submitted a proposal to undo the loan cap rules under the Congressional Review Act, which members can use to pass legislation that overturns a federal agency rule. She so far has 60 cosponsors in the House, she said, and Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, also a Democrat, is leading the campaign to overturn the loan caps in the Senate. If the limits survive federal lawsuits, they would not impact current borrowers but students who enroll in programs in the next three years. Many university leaders said they’re most concerned that limiting loans will result in fewer first-generation and low-income college students enrolling in graduate education programs, leading to a lack of diversity in fields that need more of it. Research shows Black students who have during their academic career at least two Black teachers are 32% more likely to enroll in college, and Black men are more likely to get preventative healthcare if they are assigned a Black doctor. Bonamici encouraged university leaders to talk to their representatives in the Oregon Legislature, who control the purse strings for the bulk of public funding that goes to universities from Oregon’s general fund. About 25 years ago, state funding accounted for up to 75% of the cost of each full-time employee at an Oregon university, according to a 2022 report commissioned by lawmakers from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, a nonprofit think tank in Colorado. Now, the state pays about 50% or less of those costs, the researchers found. Oregon’s per-pupil funding for full-time college students is significantly less than what California and Washington provide per student. Today, student tuition and fees make up more than half of revenue at every Oregon university. That’s one of the highest proportions in the nation, according to the report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	What financial advisors are saying about the risks of concentrated stock What financial advisors are saying about the risks of concentrated stockA concentrated stock position can often represent success. It typically comes from owning company stock or equity compensation, a successful business exit, an early investment, an inheritance, or simply years of loyalty to one company. However proud you may be of your stock position, it brings up some questions for your investment portfolio. Below, Wealth Enhancement examines what financial advisors are saying about the risks of concentrated stock.When you talk to a financial advisor about a concentrated stock position, the conversation is rarely as simple as whether to sell or hold. A large single stock position can create several risks including company-specific volatility, overlapping career and portfolio risk, tax exposure, liquidity constraints, and the possibility that one stock becomes too important to your retirement or estate plan.Rather than immediately selling the entire position, a financial advisor can help evaluate how the stock fits into your broader financial picture. The goal is often to create a thoughtful transition plan that reduces concentration risk over time while balancing diversification, taxes, liquidity, and your long-term goals.Key TakeawaysA concentrated stock position isn’t always a bad thing, but it comes with key financial risks, and it’s important to be intentional when creating or maintaining it.Strategies to manage a concentrated stock position include rebalancing, staged selling, tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving, and more, and require both coordinated investment and tax planning.The right strategy to deal with your concentrated stock position depends on your financial goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, cost basis, tax situation, vesting schedule, and total financial picture.What Is a Concentrated Stock Position?A concentrated stock position is when a single stock makes up an unusually large portion of your investment portfolio, net worth, or overall financial security.There’s not necessarily a set percentage that advisors define as “too concentrated,” but it depends on your total assets, liquidity, age, income, tax situation, and retirement timeline, not to mention how much volatility you can handle emotionally. A stock concentration that’s an acceptable level of risk for one investor might be too concentrated for someone else.Common Ways Investors End Up With Concentrated StockA concentrated stock position could be the result of a long-term buy-and-hold investing strategy in a single company, but that’s not usually the case. Instead, concentrated stock is usually the result of a career or life event. Common examples include:Equity compensation from your job, including restricted stock units (RSUs), incentive stock options (ISOs), or non-qualified stock options (NSOs).Employee stock from a purchase plan or retirement plan.Founder shares or shares from a business exit.Inherited stock, usually from someone who earned shares in one of the ways listed above.A concentrated stock position is often about more than just money — it can also be an emotional attachment. It can represent years of hard work, either starting and growing your own business or spending many years helping build the business you worked for.What Advisors Say Are the Biggest Risks of Concentrated StockWhile a concentrated stock position can often feel like a mark of success, it also brings some serious risk. Here are some of the biggest risks of having a large concentration of stock from a single company, according to financial advisors.Single-Company VolatilityOne of the biggest risks of having a high stock concentration is that the success of your investment portfolio largely depends on the fate of a single business. Even a strong company can have ups and downs due to below-expected earnings, leadership changes, regulatory pressures, sector disruption, and other business risks.When one company’s success or failure drives a large share of your net worth, a single bad year can have an outsized effect on your financial plan, including retirement timing, spending flexibility, and other long-term goals.Career Risk and Portfolio Risk Can OverlapIn many cases, a high stock concentration is due to employer stock from equity compensation or an employee stock purchase plan. If you still work for the company whose stock makes up a large portion of your portfolio, then your career and investment portfolio are relying on the same company’s success.If the company struggles, you could face pressure on multiple fronts at once: job security, future income, unvested equity, and the value of shares you already own. In other words, the same downturn could affect both your paycheck and your portfolio.A concentrated stock risk review can help you assess your situation and determine whether your career and portfolio risk overlap too much and how to diversify.Tax Risk Can Delay Good DecisionsSelling off a large amount of stock at once can trigger huge tax consequences, especially if you have a low cost-basis on the stock (often the case when you’ve purchased with stock options). You might find yourself avoiding selling off your concentrated stock in an effort to avoid a large capital gains tax bill. Unfortunately, this avoidance could lead to poor overall financial decisions.If managing your capital gains tax burden is a priority for you, a financial advisor can look at your portfolio and help you create a schedule and strategies to sell some of your concentrated stock while minimizing your tax liability.To learn more about the potential tax consequences of selling your concentrated stock position, visit the IRS page on capital gains and losses (topic no. 409).Liquidity Risk Can Show Up at the Worst TimeA high net worth on paper doesn’t necessarily equal easy access to cash, especially if your trading is restricted (which can sometimes be the case for your employer’s stock).If you find yourself in need of cash to help you cover expenses during a job loss, buy a home, pay for your child’s education, or fund your retirement spending, you could find yourself rich on paper, but without the money you need to reach your goals.Emotional Attachment Can Cloud Decision-MakingA concentrated stock position is often the result of years of hard work at the same company — possibly even as a founder, executive, or early start-up employee. That brings with it an emotional attachment and a feeling of identity that’s wrapped up in that stock. Additionally, you might worry about missing out on future gains by selling the stock too early.Unfortunately, these emotions don’t necessarily lead to the best decision-making, and you could find yourself hanging onto company stock for far longer than you should because you’re emotionally attached.Retirement and Estate Plans May Become Too Dependent on One StockA concentrated stock holding affects your finances right now, but it also affects your long-term financial planning, including retirement and estate planning.As you near retirement, you should be reducing risk in your portfolio, and that’s hard to do with too much of your money wrapped up in one company’s stock. Additionally, waiting until too close to retirement to sell could create a huge tax burden when you least want to deal with it.Similarly, if you’re planning to leave your investment portfolio to your loved ones in your estate, a high stock concentration passes that risk (and possibly also the emotional entanglement) down to the next generation, which you may want to avoid.How Financial Advisors Evaluate Whether a Stock Position Is Too ConcentratedThere’s no set number advisors use to determine whether your portfolio is too concentrated in a single company’s stock. However, there are some questions they ask to evaluate your unique situation. Wealth Enhancement Advisor Strategies for Managing Concentrated Stock RiskOnce a financial advisor has evaluated your situation and determined that you have a concentrated stock position, they may rely on one or more of these strategies to address it.In some cases, you might be most comfortable holding onto your concentrated stock position. You’ll maintain your upside and avoid an immediate tax bill, but you should only go this route if you’re aware of and comfortable with the risk.Alternatively, you can explore the strategies below. The right approach will differ from person to person based on your financial goals, tax situation, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and any other factors at play.Strategy 1: Rebalance Around the PositionThe simplest way to deal with a concentrated stock position is to rebalance your portfolio around it. Rather than selling off your concentrated stock, your advisor might have you gradually reduce your concentration by investing future contributions and dividends into different assets to adjust your asset allocation.Strategy 2: Use a Staged Selling PlanRather than selling off all of your concentrated stock at once, consider a staged selling plan, where you gradually sell off shares year to year. This strategy helps manage your tax liability, while also helping reduce some of the emotional pressure and helping to avoid an all-or-nothing decision.Strategy 3: Pair Diversification With Tax-Loss Harvesting StrategiesIf you have investment losses elsewhere in your portfolio, you could use those to offset some of the capital gains from selling off your concentrated stock. Direct indexing can often give you more control over tax-loss harvesting and transition planning, making it easier to take advantage of those losses to lower your tax burden.Strategy 4: Deploy a Long/Short Transition StrategyFor investors with a large, low-basis concentrated stock position, a long/short transition strategy provides more immediate diversification without requiring the entire position to be sold up front. The investor can retain the concentrated stock while a separate long/short portfolio creates broader market exposure around it. Losses generated within the portfolio are used to offset gains by gradually selling the concentrated positions, making this a more tax-aware and flexible exit strategy.Strategy 5: Consider Charitable Giving With Appreciated StockIf you want to avoid a large tax bill and have philanthropic goals, you can combine those objectives by gifting your appreciated stock to charity. This allows you to support a cause you care about while reducing your tax burden. If you’re considering this, be sure to read the IRS’s guidance on charitable contributions.Strategy 6: Use a Rule 10b5-1 Plan for Executives or InsidersExecutives and other company insiders often face blackout periods and internal trading policies that limit when and how they can sell their stock. A prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan creates a structured framework for selling your shares under predetermined conditions. Make sure to set this plan up with coordination from legal counsel, tax professionals, and your company’s compliance team.Strategy 7: Evaluate Exchange Funds for Highly Appreciated PositionsExchange funds can help certain high-net-worth investors diversify a highly appreciated stock position without immediately selling it and realizing gains up front. Instead, these funds pool your shares with other investors in a similar situation, giving you exposure to a more diversified basket over time. These funds typically have eligibility requirements, fees, and long holding periods, so they aren’t right for everyone.Strategy 8: Review Net Unrealized Appreciation for Employer Stock in a Retirement PlanIf you have employer securities in your qualified retirement plan, net unrealized appreciation (NUA) might be relevant. This is a specialized area of tax planning that’s often overlooked, but it’s important to review with a qualified tax professional before rolling over or selling your shares.Strategy 9: Consider Advanced Hedging or Income Strategies CarefullyCovered calls, collars, prepaid variable forwards, and other advanced trading strategies can, in certain cases, help you manage your risk or generate income around your concentrated stock position.These strategies are extremely complex and risky, and they come with a limited upside, so they aren’t suitable for most investors and should only be done with the help of a professional.Concentrated Stock Strategy Comparison TableTo help you determine which stock concentration strategy might be right for you, review the table below to learn about the potential benefits, risks, and best-fit scenarios. Before executing any of these strategies, consider consulting a financial advisor for their feedback and assistance. Wealth Enhancement The Tax Question: Why Advisors Don’t Treat Concentrated Stock as Purely an Investment IssueDealing with a concentrated stock position involves both investment and tax analysis. Some of the factors that advisors will look at when evaluating your situation and the best strategies include:Your cost basisYour holding periodUnrealized gainsShort-term vs. long-term tax treatmentState tax considerationsTax-loss harvesting opportunitiesCharitable giving optionsTiming decisions across tax yearsRetirement income implicationsEstate and wealth-transfer goalsInvestment decisions involve plenty of nuance, and the right strategies differ from person to person. Additionally, tax laws are complex and can change from year to year. Be sure to consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation, and only take the information in this article as general informational content, not tax advice.What Financial Advisors Are Saying NowThe Position Should Be Intentional, Not AccidentalMany concentrated stock positions are the result of business success, company loyalty, or even tax avoidance. Rather than letting your concentrated stock position come about accidentally, make intentional decisions about whether to continue holding your shares and whether (and how) to sell them.Taxes Matter, But Risk Still MattersYes, tax implications are important, but they aren’t the only factor to consider. It’s not worth avoiding a large tax bill if it ultimately results in your investment portfolio taking a huge hit if your company has a bad year. The goal isn’t to avoid taxes, but to weigh the cost of taxes with the risks of not acting.Diversification Does Not Have to Mean Abandoning the CompanyReducing your concentrated stock exposure doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on the company that helped you build your wealth. It’s possible to reduce your concentration while also maintaining exposure to that company, sector, or market.The Right Strategy Depends on Liquidity, Time Horizon, and GoalsThere’s no single correct strategy for everyone. A founder, retiring executive, mid-career employee, new startup employee, and heir may have similar stock concentrations, but will need to use very different strategies to deal with them. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, making the help of a financial advisor invaluable.When Concentrated Stock May Be AcceptableIt’s always worth evaluating your situation when you have a concentrated stock position, but there are situations where it’s okay to hold onto your position. A few examples of when an advisor might be comfortable with a concentrated holding include:The investor understands their downside risk.The holding is part of a deliberate plan.The investor has substantial diversified assets elsewhere.The investor’s liquidity needs are already covered by other sources.The tax cost of immediately selling outweighs the benefits.The investor has a staged reduction plan already in motion.The exposure makes sense given the investor’s age, time horizon, and risk tolerance.There are legal or company restrictions that prevent the investor from selling.Signs You Should Talk to a Financial Advisor About Concentrated StockIt’s often worth having a conversation with a financial advisor if you have a concentrated stock position, especially in the following situations:One stock represents a large share of your portfolio or net worth.Your employer is also your largest stock exposure.You have a low cost basis and are worried about the tax implications of selling.You hold RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPP shares, or founder shares.You’re approaching retirement.You’re subject to blackout periods or insider trading policies.You recently inherited an appreciated, concentrated stock position.You’re considering a business sale or exit.You have a concentrated stock position and charitable goals.You’re unsure whether to hold your position, sell your shares, hedge your risk, or diversify gradually.FAQs About Concentrated Stock RiskWhat percentage of a portfolio is too much in one stock?There’s no universal percentage that applies to everyone. Advisors look at your big-picture financial situation, which includes your total investment portfolio, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax exposure, and other financial goals, to determine what’s an acceptable concentration.Is concentrated stock always bad?A concentrated stock position isn’t always bad. In fact, it’s how many people build wealth. However, it also comes with key risks that could impact your long-term financial security. Even if you ultimately decide to hold onto the position, it’s worth working with a financial advisor to monitor the situation and make intentional decisions about your portfolio makeup.How can I diversify concentrated stock without selling everything at once?Some strategies advisors might recommend for a concentrated stock position include rebalancing around the position, a staged selling plan, tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, charitable giving, a 10b5-1 plan, exchange funds, and certain hedging strategies. It’s important to speak to an advisor to narrow down the best strategies for your situation.Should I sell company stock as soon as it vests?It’s not always necessary (or the best option) to sell your company stock as soon as it vests. The right choice depends on your overall financial situation, the company’s outlook, the potential tax consequences, and how much of your wealth is tied up in the company.What is a 10b5-1 plan?A 10b5-1 plan is a trading agreement that allows company insiders, including founders, executives, and other employees, to sell their stock under a prearranged framework, accounting for legal and compliance limitations.What is net unrealized appreciation?Net unrealized appreciation (NUA) refers to appreciation of company stock in your retirement plan. There are tax benefits associated with it, but also important nuances to understand and consider.Can charitable giving help reduce concentrated stock risk?Yes, charitable giving can help reduce your concentrated stock risk by helping you offload some of the stock while also avoiding the tax consequences of selling. You may be limited by the type of asset, the specific charity, deduction limits, and holding periods.What should I ask a financial advisor about concentrated stock?Ask your financial advisor to review your concentrated stock position relative to your overall net worth, what risks the position might present, the tax consequences of selling, and the best way to manage the exposure while managing your other risks and tax burden.Concentrated Stock Is a Planning Decision, Not Just an Investment DecisionConcentrated stock often comes after years of hard work and business success, but it brings its own unique set of risks. A financial advisor can help investors take what’s often an emotional, tax-sensitive decision and turn it into a structured, intentional plan that works for that person’s financial situation.This story was produced by Wealth Enhancement and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Currency swings cut the dollar equivalent of some investor-residency routes by up to $60,600 Currency swings cut the dollar equivalent of some investor-residency routes by up to $60,600At the January benchmark, an investment of 500,000 euros translated to about $586,050. At the latest available benchmark, the same euro amount translated to $570,900, a difference of $15,150.This is a currency-translation exercise, not a historical audit of immigration rules. It applies both exchange rates to the current standard or listed amounts shown in the table.The European Central Bank's reference rate moved from $1.1721 per euro on Jan. 2 to $1.1418 on July 21, the latest posted business-day rate when this analysis was completed. That is a 2.6% decline.At fixed thresholds, the dollar effect scales directly with the euro amount. The difference was $7,575 at 250,000 euros, $24,240 at 800,000 euros and $60,600 at 2 million euros.Movingto explains how currency swings change what investor‑residency programs cost in U.S. dollars. Movingto Movingto calculated each euro figure by multiplying the threshold shown by the ECB's U.S. dollar reference rate for the two dates. This method does not assume that each route's rules were identical on both dates; it isolates how currency changes the dollar equivalent of the same local-currency amount. Portugal's rows use its standard listed amounts; low-density exceptions are explained below. The United Arab Emirates estimate uses the midpoint of the UAE Central Bank's official intervention rates of 3.672 dirhams to buy a dollar and 3.673 dirhams to sell one. Figures do not include exchange-provider spreads, transfer charges, government fees, taxes, legal costs or investment performance. Movingto Dollar difference between the Jan. 2 and July 21 exchange-rate benchmarks. The statutory thresholds did not change.Portugal's fund route differed by $15,150Portugal no longer accepts a new property purchase as a Golden Visa investment. Its Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum lists a 500,000 euro investment in a qualifying nonreal-estate fund among the current routes. The fund must have a maturity of at least five years when the investment is made, and at least 60% of its investments must be in companies based in Portugal.For a dollar-funded applicant, that 500,000 euros fund minimum translated to $586,050 at the January benchmark and $570,900 at the July benchmark. Portugal's standard research threshold produces the same $15,150 difference. AIMA's research guidance says qualifying activity in low-density territory can reduce the research amount by 20% to 400,000 euros; that amount translated to $468,840 and $456,720, a difference of $12,120.Portugal's 500,000 euro company-capitalization route carries employment conditions as well. A new company must create five permanent jobs. For an existing company, AIMA describes either creating five permanent jobs or maintaining at least 10 jobs, including five permanent positions, for at least three years.Portugal also lists a standard 250,000 euros arts and cultural-heritage route. Its dollar equivalent differed by $7,575 over the same period. AIMA's arts and culture guidance says the amount may be reduced by 20% in low-density territory, but the same document prints 220,000 euros in parentheses; 20% off 250,000 euros is 200,000 euros. Because the official guidance is internally inconsistent, this analysis does not assign a dollar conversion to that reduced amount. Applicants should confirm the applicable threshold with AIMA. The separate job-creation route is not in the table because it does not have a fixed capital-transfer minimum that can be converted in the same way.Greece's location tiers magnified the differenceGreece has three prominent property thresholds. Under the country's investor-residence legislation the 800,000 euro tier applies in Attica, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini and Greek islands with more than 3,100 residents. The threshold is 400,000 euros in other eligible areas.A 250,000 euro tier is available when a property's main use is changed to residential, or when the investor buys a listed building for restoration or reconstruction. Those categories have conditions beyond reaching the headline amount.The exchange-rate effect therefore varied sharply by location and property type. It was $7,575 at the 250,000 euro tier, $12,120 at 400,000 euros and $24,240 at 800,000 euros.At the 800,000 euro level, a 2.6% currency move becomes a $24,240 budgeting swing before fees or property costs enter the calculation.Italy produced the largest numberItaly's official Investor Visa portal lists four qualifying commitments: 250,000 euros in an innovative startup, 500,000 euros in an Italian limited company, a 1 million euros philanthropic donation or 2 million euros in Italian government bonds.The startup route is the least expensive of the four. Its dollar equivalent differed by $7,575 between the two benchmarks.The government-bond route sits at the opposite end. A 2 million euro commitment translated to about $2.34 million at the January benchmark and $2.28 million at the July benchmark. The $60,600 difference is the largest in this comparison.The percentage change is the same across every euro row. Italy's bond route produces the largest dollar figure because its local-currency minimum is the highest.The UAE provides a dollar-pegged comparisonThe UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security lists a minimum of 2 million dirhams for Golden Residency investors in public investments or real estate.That threshold was about $544,600 on both comparison dates. The Central Bank of the UAE maintains the dirham's peg by buying U.S. dollars at 3.672 dirhams and selling them at 3.673 dirhams.For an applicant whose capital is in dollars, that policy largely removes the exchange-rate swing seen in the euro-denominated programs. Other UAE costs can still change, and a property or investment can move in value, but the dollar equivalent of the 2 million dirhams statutory minimum is highly stable.Dollar equivalents leave many costs outThe figures capture one part of an investor's budget on two dates. They do not show the amount a bank or currency provider would actually quote. Retail spreads and transfer fees can add thousands of dollars to a large transaction.The table also excludes application charges, residence-permit fees, lawyers, property taxes, fund fees and due-diligence costs. Some routes involve investments that can gain or lose value; others, such as Italy's philanthropic route, are donations.Timing matters as well. An applicant who already held euros on Jan. 2 would not receive the same benefit as someone converting fresh dollars in July. The euro could also reverse direction before funds are transferred.The practical step is to keep the official threshold in its local currency, then reprice the full transaction in the currency that will fund it. For a dollar-funded applicant, the useful budget has two lines: the official local-currency minimum and the dollar amount required when capital is converted.This story was produced by Movingto and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Morrisey: 52K kids applied for school clothing assistance before program ran out of money Gov. Patrick Morrisey holds a press conference about the state’s foster care system on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey)Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office says 52,000 children in West Virginia applied for the school clothing assistance program before funds ran out by Monday night. Applications were open for seven days after the program launched July 20, which was later than expected. “Applications were to be accepted through August 15 or until available funding was fully allocated. This year, demand for the benefit was extraordinarily high, and the available funding was exhausted before the application period ended. As a result, approximately 52,000 eligible children applied for school clothing allowance vouchers,” said Lars Dalseide, the governor’s communications director. Last year, the state’s school clothing assistance program has typically served more than 57,000 children, according to the governor’s office. Eligible families can use the vouchers to shop for shirts, pants, shoes, coats and more at retail stores before school starts. West Virginia pays for the program through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Family, or TANF, program. Earlier this year, lawmakers authorized $177 million in TANF funding for the state Department of Human Services to spend this current fiscal year on programs that help low-income children and families. “While the Legislature appropriated spending authority for the voucher program (and other programs supported by the state’s TANF allotment), spending authority is not the same as funding,” Dalseide said. “West Virginia has been spending significantly more on TANF programs each year than it receives in recurring federal TANF dollars, with the difference covered by reserve funds accumulated over time. At the current spending rate, those reserves were projected to be exhausted in approximately 13 months.” Due to the projected $43 million TANF deficit, Morrisey has been reviewing the state’s use of TANF dollars. The review caused a delay in launching the school clothing assistance program.. In the past, the program typically began accepting applications July 1. “This year’s School Clothing Allowance program was administered with a defined funding allocation as part of the administration’s broader review of TANF spending. The goal is to ensure these critical services remain available not only this year, but for years to come, while placing the program on a more sustainable financial footing by not spending more TANF dollars than we receive,” Dalseide said. “West Virginia cannot continue relying on one-time reserve funds to support ongoing programs,” he continued. “The administration is committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and federal assistance while continuing to work with the Legislature to evaluate every available option to support West Virginia families and preserve essential TANF-funded services for the future.” West Virginia uses TANF funds to also pay for foster care services, the child care assistance program, family support centers and to support nonprofits focused on helping needy families. The Morrisey administration has not yet publicly shared budget documents that could provide additional details about the deficit. During the budget approval process earlier this year, lawmakers based their TANF authorization amount on Morrisey’s request. DoHS officials never alerted lawmakers that the state could face a deficit in TANF funds, some lawmakers noted. Members of the House of Delegates Finance Committee plan to ask the Morrisey administration for details about their TANF spending during legislative interim meetings in August. 3:16 pmThis story was updated to say that 57,000 children received the school clothing assistance program in 2025. Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	As college graduates fret over finding jobs, a record shortage of workers is projected As college graduates fret over finding jobs, a record shortage of workers is projectedEven as job seekers fret about artificial intelligence and tech behemoths announce massive layoffs, Matt Walsh is finding it surprisingly hard to help technology companies hire certain kinds of workers.That’s what Walsh’s recruiting firm, Blue Signal, does. And in specialties including semiconductor production, “the unemployment rate is probably negative 20%,” the CEO of the Phoenix-based search company said. “It’s ridiculous. There just aren’t enough people.”College graduates booed commencement speakers who hyped AI, which has steadily reduced the number of entry-level jobs available, and Meta cited AI when laying off more than 8,000 workers in May.But economists are sounding alarms that the AI talk is masking a different problem, notes The Hechinger Report.It’s not that there won’t be enough jobs, these experts say — it’s that the United States is already facing what’s projected to be the biggest shortage of workers in its history.The problem “could hobble the American economy for years to come,” predicts the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Lightcast, a labor market data company, calls it “the largest labor shortage the country has ever seen.” JPMorganChase warns of a national security risk from “a pervasive talent deficit that constrains the nation’s capacity to build, compete, and protect its interests.”And it’s not only tech workers. There will be shortages in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of nurses, physicians, teachers, engineers, pharmacists, mental health counselors, construction workers and airplane mechanics, both government and independent sources project. Most are jobs AI generally can’t do.“All of these people who keep a society functioning are the very people we’re not going to have enough of,” said Ron Hetrick, Lightcast’s principal economist.Among the trends that have been leading to this moment: a mismatch between the careers college graduates are pursuing and the kinds of jobs employers are struggling to fill. Far fewer students are majoring in health care fields than are needed to meet demand, for instance.“We have pumped so many young people into business and finance,” when what’s really in demand are graduates in other fields, Hetrick said. “It’s like a factory producing these workers like widgets, even though society is saying, ‘We really don’t need them.’ And the factory just keeps pumping them out.”But the principal reason for the looming workforce shortages is much more basic. It’s that a protracted decline in the birthrate is coinciding with a record wave of retirements.Between 2024 and 2032, when the last baby boomers sign up for Social Security, more than 18 million college-educated workers will leave the labor force while fewer than 14 million enter it, according to the Georgetown Center. Meanwhile, even as the number of people with associate and bachelor’s degrees falls, the center forecasts that the number of jobs requiring them will grow.That will leave a gap of 4.6 million fewer workers than are needed. Lightcast puts the deficit at an even higher 6 million.These aren’t dystopian predictions. The shortages are already showing up, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports. In many industries, it says, even if every worker now unemployed were plugged into an open job, there would still be positions left unfilled.“We have a crisis in front of us in not preparing people for the world that’s coming,” said Bill Haslam, the Republican former governor of Tennessee and co-chair with Democratic former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on the American Workforce.The effect of population shifts on the supply of talent, with or without degrees, has been compounded by a drop in the proportion of high school graduates choosing to go to college; a sharply reduced rate of immigration; and a growing number of Americans who have left the workforce altogether because of such things as lack of child care, early retirement, incarceration and substance addiction.College and university enrollment is down by nearly 2 million students since its peak in 2010, the U.S. Department of Education reports. The low birthrate since around then means the number of college-age Americans is forecasted to decline by another 13% through 2041. The Hechinger Report Fewer than half as many people immigrated to the United States last year as the year before, the Census Bureau says; yet 41% of the home health aides who will be increasingly needed to care for the nation’s aging population have historically come from somewhere else, along with a fifth of nursing assistants, dentists, pharmacists and registered nurses.“We’re doing a fantastic job of rolling up the welcome mat and saying, ‘We don’t want you,’” said Brad Hershbein, senior economist and deputy director of research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Walsh, at Blue Signal, has a theory about why there seems to have been little attention to the looming labor shortage, outside of the industries affected. He uses the metaphor of frogs that will jump out of a pot of boiling water if they’re dropped into it, but not if the water is brought to a boil gradually. In the same way, people are only slowly becoming aware of shortages, Walsh said.Already, in his small Illinois hometown, he said, he’s noticed it takes six months for people to get a doctor’s appointment because there aren’t enough doctors.“‘Everybody needs to hear this,’” Lightcast principal economist Ron Hetrick said an audience member implored him after he spoke at an event about the problem. But “some people really haven’t felt the pain enough to care as much as they should.”Besides, said Allison Shrivastava, education and labor market economist at the college search and ratings platform Niche, attention has been focused on the shrinking supply of entry-level jobs in certain fields. “When people are having trouble getting into the labor market, it’s hard to say there are going to be labor shortages soon,” Shrivastava said.The fact is, she said, that “we are going to be hard pressed to find a corner of the economy where labor shortages don’t have an impact.”Shortages of workers have already begun to slow production lines at manufacturing facilities tied to the defense industry, according to JPMorgan Chase. Semiconductor plants are being built faster than they can be staffed. Too few electricians, line workers and technicians mean delays in the modernization of the energy grid.The semiconductor industry payroll is projected to grow by nearly 115,000 jobs by 2030, which is 67,000 more than there are workers now or projected to be in the pipeline to become technicians and engineers, the Semiconductor Industry Association estimates.“The semiconductor industry is not alone here,” however, said Erik Hadland, the association’s director of technology policy. “We’re a small part of a much larger issue.”State governments, which are closest to the problem, have been scrambling to avert it. To get college graduates to come or stay and work, some will help them pay off their student loans. A bill under consideration in Minnesota would offer in-state tuition to most public colleges and universities for children of parents who take jobs in that state, waiving the previous requirement that students have graduated from a Minnesota high school after attending for a minimum of three years.Several states have combined their higher education and workforce development agencies, including Missouri and Colorado. Connecticut has established both an Office of Workforce Strategy and a Career Pathways Commission. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has formed a working group to review that state’s workforce development infrastructure and increase the number of college graduates.Some states face shortages that appear more severe than others. South Dakota has just 41 workers for every 100 open jobs, for instance, while California and nine other states have more workers than jobs, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds.In Pennsylvania, a study commissioned by the state Department of Education has projected that the state needs to increase the number of people with credentials beyond high school by more than 4% to fill a shortage of 218,000 such workers a year by 2032. That will be a significant challenge, considering that college enrollment there has generally been falling.There are also shortages in industries whose workers don’t need college and university degrees. Fewer than half as many people are entering the construction trades as are needed, for example, according to Branka Minic, CEO of the Building Talent Foundation, which represents 3,600 employers who are trying to fill that gap.“There’s plenty of jobs” in the skilled trades, she said, some starting at $50 an hour. “Show me what college graduates earn that kind of rate.” As for the prospect that AI can fill those largely physical roles, she told of seeing a poster plastered on an unfinished building. “Finish this, ChatGPT,” it said, mockingly.That higher pay is an example of how the market will respond to shortages, said Hershbein, at the Upjohn Institute. In some industries, he said, “wages and compensation will adjust, people will find training, businesses will train people and there will be adaptations. Necessity is the mother of invention.”Job seekers also need more current information about where the demand is greatest, said Cheryl Oldham, former vice president of education and workforce policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and now executive vice president for human capital at the Bipartisan Policy Center.“We’ve got to develop systems that can be much more nimble and responsive to the needs of the labor market, because the labor market is changing probably faster than it’s ever changed,” said Oldham, who also served in the George W. Bush administration.Some savvy workers are figuring it out for themselves.Seth Russell’s high school counselor nudged him toward college. Instead, he learned welding and now works full-time as a fabricator.“I got hired straight out of high school. I have no debt. I’m just making money, paying bills,” said Russell, now 22, who lives in Torrance, California. “There’s so many jobs out there.”This story was produced by The Hechinger Report and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine refreshes residents on refuse and recycle cart placement, city waste guidelines Muscatine’s Public Works and Solid Waste Division wants to reiterate the proper guidelines for refuse and recycling container curbside placements to local residents.
	Muscatine refreshes residents on refuse and recycle cart placement, city waste guidelines Muscatine’s Public Works and Solid Waste Division wants to reiterate the proper guidelines for refuse and recycling container curbside placements to local residents.
	'Taiwan Travelogue' rethinks history, colonialism, and identity The author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue, the winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize, discuss identity and history amid the debate over Taiwan's colonial ties to Japan and escalating geopolitical pressure from China.
	United Way Quad Cities announces new CEO, set to start in September She is joining United Way from Augustana College, where she teaches communication studies and journalism.
	Government Bridge closed after semi gets stuck The Government Bridge is closed late Wednesday morning after a semitruck got stuck on the Davenport side.
	What is a digital business card and how do they work? What is a digital business card and how do they work?A digital business card is the modern replacement for the paper card you hand over at a meeting, a conference booth, or a jobsite. Instead of printing your name, title, and phone number onto a stack of cardstock, you share a link, a QR code, or a wallet pass that opens a page holding your contact information. The person you just met scans it or taps it, and your details land on their phone in seconds. There is no app to download, no card to lose, and no box to reprint every time your job title, number, or company changes. Linktree provides in-depth knowledge into digital business cards and how to modernize your virtual presence.Most digital business cards work the same basic way. You build a profile once, with whatever you want a new contact to know: your name, role, company, phone number, email, and often links to your website or social accounts. That profile lives online, and you share it through a QR code, a near-field communication (NFC) tag, a wallet pass, or a plain link. When someone scans or taps it, they land on your profile in their phone's browser, with no dedicated app required on their end. Many services also let the other person save your details straight to their contacts, and some let them share their own information back with you, so the introduction works both ways.Why paper cards are losing groundPaper cards have an obvious shelf-life problem. A phone number changes, a title changes, a company changes, and the stack in your bag is outdated the moment those details shift. Most also end up in a drawer or a bin within a week, since there's no easy way to act on one later without typing everything in by hand. Digital versions solve both issues at once, as they update the instant you change your details, and they hand the other person something to save or tap through immediately.That combination, always current and instantly actionable, is why digital cards have become a normal part of networking rather than a novelty:Always current: Update your details once, and every card you've shared reflects the change, with nothing to reprint.No printing costs and no boxes of outdated cards to toss when your details change.Works with just a phone camera. The other person doesn't need to install anything.Many cards let visitors save your info to their phone, and some let them hand their own details back to you.Some services include basic analytics, so you can see roughly who opened or scanned your card.Easier to carry, since it lives in your phone rather than a stack in your bag or glove box.Who actually uses themDigital business cards get the most use from people who exchange contact details often and in person: freelancers and consultants meeting new clients, real estate agents working open houses, tradespeople quoting jobs on-site, musicians after a gig, wellness practitioners meeting new clients, and sales teams working a conference floor. Anyone with a steady stream of “here's how to reach me” moments tends to benefit from swapping cardstock for something that lives in their pocket and updates itself.Here's roughly how the two formats compare: Linktree Why creators, influencers, and business professionals benefit mostFor creators and influencers, a card is rarely about a phone number. A scan works better as a shortcut to everything else you're already doing: your latest video, your merch, your booking page, and the accounts someone should actually follow. If you hand someone a static contact card, most people will forget who you are by the next event, but if you hand them something that opens to your whole presence, then they have a reason to look you up later, follow you, or book you.For business professionals, the part that usually falls through is closing the loop after a conversation. A prospect who has to type your number in later often just doesn't, and a card shoved into a jacket pocket has a short life span. A digital card removes both problems: Your details save in one tap, and if the card supports two-way exchange, you walk away with theirs too, ready for a proper follow-up instead of a vague memory of who you spoke to. It also means one consistent, current version of your professional details rather than a card that quietly goes stale while the rest of your online presence moves on without it.Whether a digital business card is worth setting up comes down to how often you hand out contact details and how much of your work already lives online. If you already manage your presence through a single profile or link-in-bio page, a digital card version of it is a small extra step. If you're starting from nothing, it's worth deciding what you actually need: a simple way to exchange contact information or something that opens onto your wider online presence at the same time. Either way, the shift away from paper is well underway, and there's little downside to trying a digital card before your next stack of printed ones runs out.This story was produced by Linktree and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How online predator hunters pointed police to a former Quad City Arts leader Benjamin Morris, former interim executive director at Quad City Arts, was arrested on 30 felonies relating to child pornography Monday night.
	Rock Island announces Thursday Night Groove schedule The Thursday Night Groove Concert Series returns to the Ellis Kell Stage at Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 1st Avenue and 18th Street in Rock Island, next month. Concerts are free and appropriate for all ages. Concerts start at 6 p.m. with food and beer sales. A featured food truck will be on site each week, along [...]
	Brattleboro drops idea of tax hike meant to aid its hospital’s endangered birthing center Supporters of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s birthing center march in the town’s recent Fourth of July parade. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger BRATTLEBORO — A week after proposing a municipal tax hike to help Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s fiscally ailing birthing center stay open, the town selectboard dropped the plan Tuesday night upon the suggestion of leaders at the southeastern Vermont healthcare hub. “I’m worried about this tax,” Dr. Tony Blofson, the hospital’s acting co-CEO, told the selectboard at a special meeting. “People say, ‘I can’t afford it,’ and this is going to be a divisive issue at a time when we really need to all be together.” The not-for-profit facility, facing a multiyear, multimillion-dollar budget deficit after recent management upheaval, has announced it will close its obstetric services in the next six to nine months if it can’t find a way to cover estimated annual unit losses of $4.8 million. At a meeting last week, the five-member selectboard introduced the idea of an unspecified one-time special tax above the town’s current $27 million annual budget, proposing it could raise somewhere between $100,000 and $1 million. Municipal leaders said the tax would give the hospital more time to search for a long-term financial solution and save expectant mothers a potential half-hour drive to the nearest maternity care option in Keene, New Hampshire. But observers ranging from local social media commenters to state government officials have questioned the idea, with Gov. Phil Scott noting at his most recent press conference, “That’s not going to fix the problems.” Hospital leaders, meeting with town officials privately and publicly Tuesday, voiced appreciation for local interest while stressing their desire to find a state-level fix. “This actually is an opportunity, I think, that we see for our state to tackle rural healthcare issues that one institution can’t do alone,” said Chloe Learey, chair of the hospital’s board of directors. A recent letter by seven Vermont medical groups urged the state Agency of Human Services to help the hospital by raising Medicaid obstetric reimbursement rates to match those paid for other primary care services. Medicaid pays for nearly half of Windham County births, the groups noted — a ratio higher than the state average of 36.9%. Both Scott and Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson have spoken encouragingly about the idea, although the state has yet to decide anything. State regulators, for their part, have said they’ll address the hospital’s financial situation at an Aug. 14 hearing of the Green Mountain Care Board, which assesses and approves hospital budgets. The hospital has operated with acting administrators since former President Christopher Dougherty exited without explanation in November and former Chief Financial Officer Laura Bruno departed amid similar silence in December. The hospital’s new leaders haven’t publicly addressed the reasons for the changes in administration and accounting but have acknowledged receipt of a $1 million state grant to study and help stabilize its finances. They’ve also yet to confirm a total for their multiyear budget deficit, although tax filings show a fiscal year 2022 net income loss of $2.9 million, an FY23 net income loss of $1.5 million and an FY24 net income loss of $3.2 million. Administrators recently reported a $16 million shortfall for FY25 — four times their initial loss estimate, or 13% of a $119 million budget. They’ve also projected a $14.5 million deficit for the current year’s $130 million budget, although Blofson said Tuesday without offering a figure, “It’s going to be considerably less.” Read the story on VTDigger here: Brattleboro drops idea of tax hike meant to aid its hospital’s endangered birthing center. Courtesy of VT Digger
	Country singer, ‘The Voice’ finalist Morgan Myles to perform in Cambridge “The Voice” finalist and country singer Morgan Myles will sing at in Cambridge on Wednesday night.
	'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson says Nolan shouldn't have written the movie himself The renowned classics scholar caused a stir when her critical review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey went viral. Wilson explains her reaction to the film and why she's translating the poem again.
	Dr. Heather A. Wakefield joins Hammond-Henry Hospital staff Hammond-Henry Hospital is expanding its surgical team. Dr. Heather A. Wakefield, general surgeon, will join Dr. James Schrier at Hammond-Henry Hospital, 600 N. College Avenue in Geneseo, starting September 1. A public open house in Dr. Wakefield’s honor will be held on Thursday, August 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Hospital Dining Room. [...]
	The back-to-school shopping money strategy wealthier parents are turning to The back-to-school shopping money strategy wealthier parents are turning toA third of parents will use a credit card as their primary payment method for back-to-school shopping this year, according to a Motley Fool Money survey of 2,000 parents of K-12 students in the U.S. conducted in July 2026.With back-to-school shopping expected to average around $864 per family this year, according to the National Retail Federation, that is a significant expense to put on a credit card, though most parents said they would only charge a portion of their total spending on one.Higher-income families—those making $150,000 or more a year—are largely choosing to use a credit card for back-to-school shopping, citing rewards and convenience as their top reasons. Tellingly, they're also the least likely income group to say they're spreading payments out over time, the clearest sign their credit card use is a choice, not a cash-flow crutch. Lower-income earners, who earn less than $50,000 a year, by contrast, are more likely to say they're concerned about affording their back-to-school shopping bill. For a third of American parents in 2026, back-to-school shopping is as much a financing decision as a spending one.Back-to-school shopping trends in 2026: A third of parents are financing with a credit cardBack-to-school spending is projected to reach $43.3 billion this year, an average of $864 per family, according to the National Retail Federation. Motley Fool Money’s survey finds a clear divide in how parents are paying for it.Debit cards remain the default back-to-school payment method, but credit cards are a close second. Nearly half (49%) of parents name a debit card as their primary back-to-school payment method this year, compared with 34% who pick a credit card, 12% who plan to pay mostly in cash, and 5% who point to a buy now, pay later service as their primary payment method, the survey finds.Credit card use for back-to-school shopping rises sharply with income and is skewed toward males. At least 1 in 5 (22%) parents earning under $50,000 name a credit card as their primary back-to-school payment method, compared with 58% of parents earning $150,000 or more. Fathers are also more likely than mothers to rely on credit for this type of shopping (42% versus 25%).The income divide points to two different reasons parents reach for a credit card for back-to-school shopping: one driven by need, one by preference. The next section explores why. Motley Fool Money Higher earners are financing more of the back-to-school bill, and it's by choice, not necessityNearly half of parents earning $150,000 or more (49%) expect a credit card to cover 76% to 100% of their back-to-school spending this year, compared with just 11% of parents earning under $50,000.Picture two families buying the same back-to-school list. For a family earning under $50,000, leaning on a credit card for most of that bill tends to come with real financial stress: This income group is also the most likely to say it is extremely concerned about affording the season at all. For a family earning $150,000 or more, the same choice looks more like optimization than necessity: This group is the least likely to be worried about their back-to-school shopping bill and the most likely to say convenience or rewards, not need, is the reason for using a credit card.Extracurricular costs and electronics push up back-to-school spending. More than 3 in 5 (62%) parents will use a credit card for back-to-school extracurricular costs like sports fees or instruments, separate from core school shopping. Electronics, the priciest back-to-school category at $293 per buyer this year according to the National Retail Federation, are likely driving that reliance on credit cards.Concern about affording the back-to-school bill runs in the opposite direction from credit use. More than 2 in 5 (43%) parents overall are very or extremely concerned about affording back-to-school costs this year, and parents earning under $50,000 are far more likely to say they are extremely concerned (26%) than parents earning $150,000 or more (14%).Convenience and rewards outrank every other reason parents give for using a credit card. Among parents who use a credit card for back-to-school shopping, 50% cite convenience and 48% cite rewards or cash back, both well ahead of the 31% who cite spreading payments out over time. Both reasons are more common among higher-income parents, and convenience breaks sharply at the top: 65% of parents earning $150,000 or more cite it, compared with 44% to 51% at every other income band."Depending on where you shop, category rewards cards can give your rewards a real boost," said Joel O'Leary, a Motley Fool Money personal finance expert. "For example, if you're grabbing most of your supplies on Amazon, lean on a card that pays extra for online purchases. And if you're opening a new card to snag a welcome offer, travel cards tend to carry the biggest offers, an easy chunk of cash toward your next family trip."Some parents are actively seeking out new credit for the back-to-school shopping season, not just using what they already have. Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) opened a new credit card specifically for back-to-school shopping, and another 32% considered it, including some weighing a 0% intro APR credit card. Gen Z parents are twice as likely as Gen X parents to have opened one (28% versus 14%).Back-to-school shopping's tight timeline can also make hitting a new card's welcome offer easier than usual. "Most welcome offers are designed so an average family can earn one through regular monthly spending. School shopping just speeds up the timeline," O'Leary said. "If you're going to drop, say, $850 on school supplies over the next couple months, you're most of the way to a $1,000 minimum spend requirement. The bigger your budget, the easier the math works."Preference more than necessity explains the pattern: Higher-income parents aren't financing more of their back-to-school shopping because they need to. They're doing it because a credit card pays them back.9% of parents took at least four months to pay off last year's back-to-school shoppingLast year's back-to-school shopping offers a preview of how this year's charges are likely to play out.Most parents who financed last year paid it off within a few months, according to Motley Fool Money’s survey. Two in 5 parents who used a credit card for back-to-school shopping last year paid it off within a month, and 24% took two to three months.A combined 9% needed at least four months to clear last year's back-to-school credit card charges. Roughly 4% took four or more months to pay it off, and another 4% still have not finished, a year later.A quarter of parents skipped credit entirely last year. One in 4 parents did not use a credit card for back-to-school shopping.For families weighing whether to pay off charges over several months rather than in one shot, the type of card matters. "If you can clear the balance in a month or two, a regular card is perfectly fine," O'Leary said. “But if a big electronics haul will take several months to pay off, a card with a 0% intro APR on purchases buys you that time with zero interest. Just make sure you pay that debt off as quickly as you can, so you don't get stuck with the regular APR after the promo period ends.”For parents still carrying last year's charges into this year's shopping season, there's a specific fix worth considering. "A balance transfer can absolutely reset the clock, and it's one of my favorite moves for old debt," O'Leary said. “It makes the most sense when the balance is big enough that a transfer fee, usually 3% to 5%, is worth paying. If you're staring down 20%-plus interest and need several months, pausing that interest can save you real money. Small balances you'll clear quickly probably aren't worth the fee.”This slow-payoff pattern is not unique to the back-to-school shopping season. Outside of back-to-school shopping, 45% of parents say they pay their credit card balance in full every month, and 19% regularly carry a balance month to month, according to Motley Fool Money’s survey. For the roughly 1 in 5 that carry a balance each month, adding at least part of a nearly $864 back-to-school bill to a balance that's already accruing interest can make the season cost more than the sticker price suggests. Motley Fool Money 1 in 4 parents is using buy now, pay later for back-to-school shoppingBuy now, pay later (BNPL) has moved from a niche checkout option to a mainstream one for many parents, and back-to-school shopping makes it an easy service to reach for.BNPL has moved well past the experimental stage. One in 4 parents are using or plan to use BNPL for back-to-school shopping, and 40% considered it but opted not to, according to Motley Fool Money’s survey.10% of parents were not aware that BNPL was an option for back-to-school shopping.Younger parents are driving BNPL adoption. Combining current use with serious consideration, 79% of Gen Z parents and 68% of millennial parents are using or have considered BNPL for back-to-school shopping, compared with 54% of Gen X parents and 50% of baby boomers, according to the survey. Younger parents are once again the most open to a financing option that older generations are more likely to pass on entirely. Motley Fool Money's broader buy now, pay later research tracks this shift across categories beyond back-to-school shopping. Motley Fool Money The bottom lineThe clearest divide in back-to-school financing is not between parents who use credit and parents who do not. It is between parents using a credit card by preference and parents using one by necessity. High-income families are choosing a credit card for back-to-school shopping for convenience and rewards. Low-income families are the ones most anxious about the bill.For families feeling the squeeze rather than chasing the rewards, building a budget for back-to-school costs ahead of time may matter more than which payment method they use.MethodologyMotley Fool Money's 2026 Back-to-School Shopping Financing Survey was designed to measure how parents of K-12 students are financing back-to-school shopping this year, including credit card usage, carried balances, and buy now, pay later adoption.The survey was conducted via Pollfish on July 14, 2026, and included 2,000 American parents, aged 18 and older, who reported having already made or planning to make back-to-school purchases for a K-12 child this year. Pollfish reaches respondents through apps and websites they already use, rather than through opt-in survey panels, which helps reduce the self-selection bias common in online research. Results were weighted by age and gender to reflect the U.S. adult population, using U.S. Census Bureau benchmarks. The margin of error for the full sample is approximately 2.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.Income tiers referenced in this piece reflect the household income bands collected in the survey and are defined as follows: low income (under $50,000), middle-low income ($50,000 to $99,999), middle-high income ($100,000 to $149,999), and high income ($150,000 or more).Generational definitions used throughout: Gen Z (born 1997-2012), millennials (born 1981-1996), Gen X (born 1965-1980), baby boomers (born 1946-1964).This story was produced by Motley Fool Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	When families disagree on senior care: How to find common ground When families disagree on senior care: How to find common groundFamily disagreements about an aging parent’s care are more common than many caregivers realize. One sibling may see growing safety concerns, while another sees a parent determined to remain independent. These conflicts often involve more than care decisions alone — they can reflect different experiences, responsibilities, fears, and family dynamics. Experts say that while families may not always agree, learning how to communicate through disagreement can help them navigate changing care needs and make difficult decisions together.A Place for Mom shares these tips on how to find common ground.Key TakeawaysFamily disagreements about senior care are common, with nearly 3 in 10 caregivers reporting conflict over the best care options.Different perspectives often reflect different experiences, responsibilities, and relationships — not a lack of love or concern.Families make the most progress when they focus on understanding one another rather than trying to achieve perfect agreement.Care needs change over time, so strong communication skills are often more valuable than finding a single “right” solution.Why families disagree about senior careWhen an aging parent begins needing more help, families often assume the hardest part will be deciding what kind of care is needed. But for many people, the more difficult challenge is navigating the emotions, disagreements, and family dynamics that emerge along the way.In the Spring 2025 Senior Care Search Trends Survey, a survey of family caregivers commissioned by A Place for Mom, 28% of caregivers say their families disagree about what care options are best, and another 33% say that conversations about alternative care options are among the most difficult aspects of caregiving and planning. A Place for Mom Those disagreements can take many forms. One adult child may notice new dents on the car and worry that their parent should stop driving. Another may insist that things aren’t that serious yet. Their parent may refuse to discuss it at all.Those numbers don’t surprise mediator and conflict coach Katharina W. Dress, M.A., who works with families navigating these disagreements every day in her family mediation business, Aging in Harmony.“In my experience, the families that go through this process smoothly are the exceptions,” she says.Dress, who specializes in mediation and facilitates family conversations around aging and caregiving, says family conflict during caregiving is rarely just about assisted living, home care, or finances. Instead, disagreements often involve long-standing family roles, grief, guilt, fear, and different beliefs about independence, safety, and responsibility.But Dress sees conflict as potentially very productive.“Conflict is an opportunity for learning and growing,” she says. “Its function is to produce something better.”Why senior care decisions become emotionally chargedIn Dress’ experience, several overlapping factors complicate agreement among family members, including generational differences, the unfamiliar realities of aging, family dynamics, differing ideas of responsibility, and practical caregiving realities.Core to each of these is the reality that no one sees or experiences a situation in exactly the same way.“We’re dealing with different people, and it’s normal for different people to have different perspectives,” Dress says.She compares this dynamic to people standing on opposite sides of a sculpture. One person sees curves and bright colors. Another sees sharp edges and darker tones.“That doesn’t mean the person on the other side is lying,” Dress says. “That’s what they are seeing.” A Place for Mom Generational differencesFrom the Silent Generation to baby boomers to Generation X, attitudes and ideas about independence, privacy, conflict, and communication vary widely.“The Silent Generation values independence and privacy immensely,” Dress says. “But their children, the baby boomers, want to talk about things. They think things will get better by talking them out. Adult children don’t understand where the parents are coming from, and the parents don’t understand where the adult children are coming from.”Erin Martinez, Ph.D., CFLE, an associate professor of gerontology at Kansas State University who works with families navigating aging-related transitions, says the generational disconnect often extends beyond communication styles.“Older generations often carry a strong ethic around self-sufficiency,” Martinez explains. “Asking for help can feel like a personal failure, not just an inconvenience.”Meanwhile, she says, many adult children grew up in a culture that more openly embraces outside support, whether through professional services, community resources, or conversations about personal challenges.“Neither is wrong,” Martinez says. “They’re just operating from very different frameworks about what it means to be a capable adult.”Aging: An unknown and moving target“The problem with aging is that we don’t know what it’s like until we get there,” says Dress. “So, younger family members — adult children, grandchildren, and so on — they don’t understand what their parents are going through.”Martinez points out that adult children often focus on practical issues while overlooking the emotional realities of aging.“One of the most common misunderstandings I see is that families treat aging like a problem to be solved rather than an experience being lived,” she says.Adult children may be focused on safety concerns, driving ability, medications, or household management. But older adults may be grappling with changes to their identity, independence, social connections, and sense of purpose.“When we’re too quick to fix the issue and focus only on logistics, we completely miss the emotional side of these changes,” Martinez says. “That’s where breakdowns in communication and frustration often begin.”And there’s the matter of change over time.“Families come to me with one set of problems and we work through those. But they often come back in two years with a new set,” she says.Martinez notes that many families underestimate how quickly concerns can evolve.“A family might spend years quietly watching an aging parent, reassured that things seem manageable,” she says.Early conversations may center on driving or keeping up with household tasks. But after a fall, hospitalization, or new diagnosis, discussions often shift toward in-home care, relocation, or who will take responsibility for care decisions.“The challenge is that families often haven’t talked through any of this in advance,” Martinez says. “They’re making high-stakes decisions under stress, sometimes for the first time.”Family dynamicsAging changes family relationships in ways many people aren’t prepared for, according to Dress. Family caregiving often reveals that the original family roles are still very much present. For instance, “the parent wants to be the parent until the last breath,” she says. “They want to be the ones making decisions and they want to take care of their children.”Also, sibling roles established decades earlier are still in force. One sibling may have been an organizer and decision-maker. Another may have avoided conflict or disengaged. Another may have felt unheard or overlooked. Those dynamics don’t necessarily change over time. And they can intensify, Dress says, when parents assign powers of attorney or decision-making responsibilities unevenly.“For example, the oldest child may think they should be in charge,” she says.But if the parent appointed the middle child as their power of attorney, that upset to the historical order may cause conflict.Finally, caregiving decisions can force families to confront unresolved issues that existed long before anyone needed care.“Nobody can push our buttons better than family members,” Dress says, “because family members are the ones who installed them.”Different ideas of responsibilityAccording to A Place for Mom’s research, 55% of family caregivers say their senior loved one is resistant to receiving professional care. Another 40% say a major concern about senior living is that their loved one doesn’t want to move or prefers to stay home.When an elderly parent resists professional care, siblings may be of different minds about how, or whether, to engage. Some relatives may believe a parent’s wishes should be respected at all costs. Others may believe safety concerns require more intervention.According to Dress, these disagreements are often rooted in different interpretations of what responsibility looks like.“One half says, ‘Mom and Dad aren’t incompetent, and if they say they’re okay, we should respect that,’” Dress says. “The other half says, ‘They have mild cognitive impairment, and it’s our responsibility now to respectfully support them, even if they don’t think they need it.’”Personal and practical realitiesGeographic distance, finances, personal history, and caregiving capacity all influence how family members experience the reality of aging parents. Often, the adult child who lives closest to the parent becomes the default caregiver. That person may handle doctor appointments, grocery shopping, medication management, or emergencies.“The local child sometimes feels stuck with taking care of Mom or Dad,” Dress says.Martinez says unequal caregiving responsibilities are one of the most common sources of family tension.“When siblings live in different places, the one who’s geographically closest often ends up carrying a disproportionate share of the day-to-day caregiving,” she says.That imbalance can become especially difficult when caregivers are also managing jobs, children, finances, and their own health concerns. “The practical load doesn’t always distribute evenly,” Martinez says, “and that inequity, more than anything, tends to fracture family relationships over time.”At the same time, long-distance siblings may have a different perspective about what’s needed. Dress points out that both perspectives can be valid. “If you’re around somebody every day or see them every week, you see different things than if you just visit once or twice a year,” she explains. Dress says conflict becomes more productive when families stop treating disagreements as proof that someone is wrong. Instead, families can begin recognizing that each person may be responding to different fears, experiences, and responsibilities.Caregiving disagreements often feel bigger than the practical decisions themselves because they touch deeply emotional experiences. Guilt and grief, for example, are common factors.GuiltSome adult children feel guilty because they live far away or can’t contribute as much time. Others may feel conflicted because their relationship with a parent has always been strained.That guilt can influence caregiving decisions in unexpected ways. One family member may push themselves beyond their limits because they feel obligated to do more. Another may avoid conversations about care altogether because they feel ashamed of how little they’re able to help. Family disagreements can sometimes reflect competing feelings of responsibility rather than differences in how much people care. “Sometimes adult children aren’t motivated, but they feel they should be,” Dress says.Grief“Grief doesn’t start when somebody dies,” Dress says. “Grief starts as soon as you start realizing that you’re going to lose somebody.” Caregiving often involves a series of losses that occur long before the end of life. Adult children may be coming to terms with changes in a parent’s health, independence, memory, or personality. Parents may be grieving the loss of abilities, routines, or roles that once defined them.Grief over those losses may show up as fear, frustration, anger, denial, or avoidance. Even families that are close and loving can struggle under the emotional pressure of caregiving. “Family relationships are difficult,” Dress says. “The idea that just because it’s family, it should be easy … I think that’s a myth.”What can help families find common ground?The emotions behind caregiving disagreements can be complex, but conflict itself isn’t necessarily a sign that a family is failing. According to Dress and Martinez, families often find common ground not by eliminating disagreement but by learning how to navigate it. The following strategies can help make conversations more productive and decision-making more manageable. A Place for Mom Redefine success in caregiving conversationsMany families assume success means reaching complete agreement about what should happen next. But experts say families often make the most progress when they focus less on winning an argument and more on understanding one another’s concerns.“Oftentimes, people come into mediation with the idea that resolutions or decisions define success,” Dress says. “But it’s much more important for people to learn to talk to each other and listen to each other and understand each other.”While some families eventually reach consensus, Martinez says agreement itself isn’t what distinguishes successful conversations.“Agreement on every decision isn’t the goal,” she says. “A shared commitment to the parents’ well-being, expressed through clear and honest communication, is what actually moves things forward.”Dress endorses a similar view: Success isn’t defined by whether everyone chooses the same solution. Instead, it’s about whether family members learn to listen to one another, understand different perspectives, and continue working together as circumstances change.Strengthen communication and mutual understandingDress believes conflict becomes more productive when family members move beyond fixed positions, or what each person wants to happen, and instead explore the needs, fears, and experiences driving those views.“People’s positions are just their personal strategies to meet their feelings and needs,” she explains.That shift often requires family members to spend less time defending their own viewpoints and more time trying to understand others’. Asking questions, listening without interrupting, and acknowledging another person’s concerns can help family members uncover the motivations behind a disagreement. What appears to be disagreement about a parent’s living situation, for example, may actually reflect concerns about safety, independence, finances, or caregiving capacity.Lead with care, not persuasionDress encourages adult children to frame their concerns for their aging parents through personal feelings rather than trying to convince them they can no longer manage independently.For example, instead of saying, “You shouldn’t be driving anymore,” an adult child might say, “When I notice another dent in your car, I feel scared because I care about your safety. I spend sleepless nights worrying about it.”That approach allows parents to respond to their child’s concern without necessarily feeling forced to admit weakness or incapacity. In this example, agreeing not to drive at night is “a gift they give to their children,” Dress says.Take a similar approach when talking with siblings and other family members. Rather than arguing for a specific outcome, such as “Dad needs to be in assisted living,” explain the need or concern behind your position. Saying “I’m worried about Dad’s safety after his recent falls” invites a conversation about safety, whereas proposing a solution may invite a simple “yes” or “no” response.Preserve trust during disagreementWhile disagreements can feel personal, Dress encourages families to remember that different perspectives don’t necessarily reflect bad intentions.Family members may be responding to different experiences, responsibilities, fears, and priorities. That doesn’t mean anyone is wrong or acting out of a lack of concern.“When people really care about each other, the conflict is just a bump in the road,” she says.Trust can be easier to maintain when family members assume good intentions, follow through on commitments, and avoid treating disagreements as evidence that someone doesn’t care.This can be especially important because conversations about caregiving may go on for many years.But Dress has also worked with people who say, “We just have to get through this. After Mom or Dad are dead, I don’t care if I never talk to my brother or sister again.”In her experience, that mindset can make conflict harder to navigate because it shifts the focus away from solving problems and toward winning arguments. Even when families don’t agree, preserving enough trust to continue working together can make future decisions easier.Create structure around caregiving decisionsMany caregiving resources assume family members have strong relationships and a shared desire to work together. But not every family starts from that place. Some siblings have longstanding tensions. Others rarely communicate except during emergencies. In some cases, family members may disagree about senior care because they’ve spent years disagreeing about other things.While close relationships can make conflict easier to navigate, Martinez says families don’t necessarily need to repair decades of family history before making caregiving decisions.“For families without a strong emotional foundation, I’d shift the initial focus away from the relationship entirely,” she says.Instead, she recommends creating structure. Clarifying who communicates with physicians, who manages finances, and how information will be shared can reduce confusion and prevent misunderstandings. When expectations and responsibilities are clearly defined, families may be able to function effectively even if personal relationships remain complicated.“It’s not about repairing the family dynamic,” Martinez says. “It’s about creating a workable system that doesn’t require everyone to like each other to function.”When it’s time to bring in outside supportMany families wait until a disagreement reaches a breaking point before seeking help. But Dress encourages families to involve outside support long before conflict becomes deeply entrenched.“Get outside help,” she urges. “This is a bigger job than we can do ourselves sometimes.”According to Dress, waiting can make disagreements more difficult to resolve. As misunderstandings accumulate and frustrations grow, family members may become more defensive and less willing to trust one another.“The longer conflict goes on and festers, the more trust gets undermined,” Dress cautions.That help could come from a mediator, therapist, social worker, geriatric care manager, physician, or another trusted professional. In A Place for Mom’s 2025 Senior Care Search Trends Survey research, 66% of caregivers agree that a third-party advisory service can provide unbiased and expert opinions when families disagree. Bringing in an outside perspective early can help families communicate more clearly, reduce misunderstandings, and create space for everyone’s concerns to be heard before positions harden and relationships become strained.In Dress’ experience, as boomers become “seniors,” they increasingly initiate these conversations themselves. “I want you to facilitate a family meeting about my future,” some clients tell her.Those conversations can help families clarify expectations, discuss future wishes, identify potential disagreements early, and create a shared understanding before a crisis forces difficult decisions.The conversations families may regret avoidingDress says many people eventually regret waiting too long to address difficult conversations.“People have regrets about not seeing a mediator or another professional sooner,” she says.Some regret not asking for help earlier. Others regret unresolved tension with parents or siblings after a loved one dies.“That’s one reason to deal with these conflicts while the parents are still alive,” Dress says. “So, you don’t have regrets later when you can’t make up with your parents anymore.”Families may never handle every conversation perfectly. They may not always agree. But many can still find ways to move forward together. And according to Dress, that doesn’t mean conflict has failed. Sometimes, it means families are finally confronting the difficult realities they’ve been avoiding and learning how to navigate them together.For families in the middle of caregiving conflict, Dress encourages compassion for each other and for themselves.“Recognize that you can only do what you can do,” she says.Why some families wait until there’s a crisisMany families sense changes long before they begin seriously discussing care. A parent may start falling more often, forgetting appointments, struggling to manage medications, or showing signs of cognitive decline. But, Dress says, “many people don’t start dealing with these things until there’s a crisis.”That crisis might be hospitalization, a fall, a dementia diagnosis, or a sudden health event that makes living independently unsafe. Unfortunately, she says, “that’s the worst possible time to have rational conversations with each other.”Stress, urgency, fear, and exhaustion can narrow options quickly. Family members who already disagree may become more defensive or emotionally reactive. The parents may also feel frightened, overwhelmed, or angry about losing their independence.FAQsHow do you start a conversation about senior care when family members avoid the topic?Focus on a recent concern or observation rather than a major decision. Starting with one specific issue can feel less overwhelming than discussing long-term care all at once.How do you handle disagreements when one sibling is doing most of the caregiving?Unequal caregiving responsibilities can create stress and resentment. Open conversations about expectations, limitations, and available support can help families share responsibilities more effectively.Can family conflict affect an aging parent’s well-being?Yes. Ongoing conflict can create stress for both older adults and caregivers, making it harder to make decisions and work together on care plans.What does a family mediator do in caregiving situations?A mediator helps families communicate more effectively, understand different perspectives, and work toward solutions without taking sides or making decisions for them.How can families support a parent who refuses help?Experts often recommend focusing on concerns and feelings rather than ultimatums. Respectful conversations may be more effective than trying to force agreement.This story was produced by A Place for Mom and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Geneseo Moose Lodge hosting annual Moose Carnival Geneseo Moose Lodge #990 is hosting its annual Geneseo Moose Carnival from Thursday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 8 on the grounds of the Geneseo Moose Lodge #990, 1025 S. State Street. The carnival is open to the public and will offer amusement rides, interactive games and fair vendors serving popcorn, candy and other fan-favorite [...]

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