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

Thursday, August 6th, 2026
	Iowa governor’s race puts term limits debate in spotlight The race for Iowa governor is drawing new attention to whether state lawmakers should face term limits, a change that would require those same lawmakers to approve restrictions on their own time in office.
	High school athletic trainer charged for inappropriate relationship with student, deputies say A high school athletic trainer has been charged after deputies said she had an inappropriate relationship with a student, deputies say.
	Fire officials sound alarm about battery facility proposed near Milan The facility would include 200 battery units, each the size of a semi-trailer.
	Man convicted in Moline double-homicide wants new trial Martinez’s lawyer filed a motion for acquittal or a new trial on July 27, according to court documents.
	Trump signs 2 immigration actions to curb 'birth tourism,' limit birthright citizenship Additional details weren't provided, but Trump said he thought his latest actions would be constitutional.
	News 8 Sports Director Kory Kuffler previews 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction Kuffler and photojournalist Cesar Sanchez made the drive to Canton to Roger Craig's induction.
	Meet one of the 3 local kids chosen for this year's Iowa Kid Captains: Harlow Taube Six-year-old Harlow Taube of Orion will be honored during Iowa's game against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 5.
	Des Moines Planned Parenthood is last in Iowa offering in-person services Officials with Planned Parenthood said other states may feel the burden as those seeking care can no longer travel to their Iowa City clinic.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted in RI Co. for man facing drug, weapon charges Crime Stoppers is looking for Juan M. Paniagua-Herrera, wanted in Rock Island County for failing to appear on meth and weapon possession charges.
	Crime Stoppers: Davenport police search for 3 suspects in July assault Davenport police are asking for help identifying three suspects wanted in connection with an early morning assault in July.
	Crime Stoppers: Fugitive escapes from work release The Iowa High Risk Unit is searching for 32-year-old Michael Noe after he escaped from a Davenport work release program. Tips are anonymous.
	Land of 10,000 Stories \| Driven Differently: Roadtrips with a Twist Most people have been on a roadtrip, but these people take roadtrips to a whole new level.
	I-80 and Middle Road interchange in Bettendorf to reopen Friday afternoon City officials said weather caused a slight delay in work on the Gateway Bridge, but the interchange should still be open before the Friday evening commute.
	Iran aims to ban U.S. and Israeli ships from Strait of Hormuz and charge others a toll Iran's parliament is reviewing a plan to ban ships linked to the U.S., Israel and other "hostile countries" from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has rejected the plan.
	Weeklong Culture Bright celebration to feature QC Symphony Orchestra Riverfront Pops tribute of The Who he Culture Bright Summer Series will bring eight days of collaborative cultural events to the Quad Cities, highlighted by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra’s Riverfront Pops concert celebrating the music of The Who on Aug. 22 at LeClaire Park.
	New app answers Moline recycling questions Moline has a new way to let residents recycle correctly. The city has unveiled its Recycle Coach app, which provides information on local disposal for thousands of household items. The app is free to use and is available in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Residents can also access the app online. “Recycling can [...]
	Iowa puts $10.5 million towards training rural doctors DES MOINES -- Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced a $10.5 million initiative to create 14 new medical residency programs in rural areas. The competitive funding opportunity is designed to increase physician training and improve access to care in underserved communities. Iowa currently faces a rural health care [...]
	Pritzker pens letter to Trump, seeking tariff refunds for Illinois families In a letter sent to President Donald Trump on Thursday, Pritzker asked the president to send direct payments of $1,700 to Illinois families.
	Davenport police find over 150 Viagra pills, more than $47,600 and gun in gas station searches Rockford man is facing felony charges after police say he and others conspired to sell and distribute narcotics.
	I-280 Mississippi River bridge lane closures begin Monday for bridge inspection Lane closures are expected to begin Monday on the I-280 Mississippi River bridge for routine bridge inspection.
	Inspection of I-280 bridge leads to lane closures A routine inspection means lanes on the I-280 Mississippi River bridge near Rock Island will close. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the right lane on the westbound Interstate 280 Mississippi River bridge near Rock Island will be closed from Monday, Aug. 10 through Wednesday, Aug. 12, for a routine bridge inspection, weather permitting. [...]
	Vote for Musco Center in People’s All‑Star Community Award contest Musco Sports Center has been chosen as one of 16 statewide finalists for the People’s All‑Star Community Award, part of the Iowa League of Cities All‑Star Community Awards program. The award recognizes innovative local government projects and the People’s Award is determined entirely by public voting on social media. The bracket‑style competition launched on Monday, [...]
	Quad Cities Airport to host mass casualty drill The FAA-mandated drill will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Aug. 12 near the John Deere Hangar next to the airport.
	Road to Canton: KWQC celebrates Roger Craig in special livestream show For the first time ever, a Quad City native will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
	Muscatine students participate in Study in China Experience Eight students from Muscatine recently took part in a Study in China Experience through the Sarah D. Lande Education Co., in partnership with Wanxiang America Corporation. The immersive four-week program allowed students to explore China, study the language, participate in cultural experiences and learn about clean energy science. “Going on this trip really made me [...]
	Herbert Hoover museum reopens after renovation The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum reopens today following a major renovation, featuring new galleries, interactive exhibits and free admission throu
	Sticky or slippery? Snails can change their slime to meet the moment Snails are slimy. But there's more to that goo of theirs than meets the eye. It's a fact that may help inspire the creation of new materials.
	Davenport man charged after shooting at group of people, police say Craig Davis-Sims, 28, is being held in the Scott County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
	Davenport man charged with sexual abuse, assault Thomas Williams, 34, of Davenport is charged with sexual abuse in Sterling, Ill.
	The park service says Trump's arch would obstruct historic sites. Could it be moved? President Trump's proposed arch in Memorial Circle would intrude on dozens of nearby sites, says the National Park Service. But there's been minimal discussion of alternate locations.
	Rock Island-Milan teachers receive over $260,000 in grants The over $260,000 in grants will fund educator projects across the Rock Island-Milan School District.
	Enjoy downtown Burlington at Sip, Taste & Stroll Sip, Taste & Stroll returns to downtown Burlington on Friday, September 18, from 5 – 8 p.m. The event encourages the public to explore downtown businesses and enjoy samples, special stops, shopping and an evening out in the heart of Burlington. Click here for more information on the event and tickets. The theme this year [...]
	Quad Cities Chamber celebrates strong momentum, awards local businesses and leaders This past year, the Chamber celebrated 53 ribbon cuttings across the region, marking business openings, expansions and milestones.
	Traffic alert: Middle Road and I-80 interchange reopening delayed Friday morning for pedestrian bridge work The interchange at Middle Road and Interstate 80 in Bettendorf will reopen later on Friday as crews work on the new pedestrian bridge.
	Death is everywhere in the desert — it's where Claire Vaye Watkins feels most alive Living in the desert is "not for everybody," says Watkins. Her home, in the Mojave Desert near Death Valley, is staggeringly beautiful and brutal. Her new novel Yellow Pine shares this landscape.
	European nations say World Cup boycott is still on, keeping FIFA's Infantino in limbo A continued boycott of the World Cup poses a big threat to FIFA, keeping President Gianni Infantino under intense pressure to resign.
	A new flu vaccine geared to older people is coming soon The first mRNA-based flu shot to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration will be ready for the upcoming flu season. Moderna, the vaccine's maker
	Lee Enterprises reports strong third quarter, positive net income "Our return to positive net income reflects the progress we've made in strengthening the business and improving our financial foundation," said Josh Rinehults, vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.
	Amana Colonies — where German roots grew into an American story A communal society that fled persecution in Europe found freedom — and a lasting home — in eastern Iowa
	US 20 bridge between Dubuque, E Dubuque to reopen soon The Iowa Department of Transportation said the span that connects Dubuque and East Dubuque will reopen at 6 p.m. Friday.
	How to assess CRM vendor reliability before you sign How to assess CRM vendor reliability before you signTeams evaluating CRM solutions typically follow a similar process, including assessing features, pricing, and integrations, booking a demo, and testing through a free trial. A key component that’s often overlooked is whether the company behind the CRM will be the same or better a few years down the line.The worldwide CRM software market grew by 13.4% in a year, reaching $107.5 billion in 2023, according to an analysis by Gartner in 2024. That makes CRM one of the fastest-growing segments in all of enterprise software.Vendors could be acquired, restructured, and even rebranded. Their product roadmaps could shift, taking on a completely different direction, and their support team members could leave to explore other opportunities. In these situations, the businesses reliant on these chosen platforms are sometimes left managing fallout they had never anticipated.Assessing CRM vendor reliability tells you the degree to which that vendor can be trusted to remain financially stable, actively invest in its product, and deliver consistent support over the long term.This Nutshell guide provides the methodology for assessing CRM vendor reliability before you commit. The framework covers three core dimensions, including financial health, update frequency, and long-term viability signals.Key takeawaysThe best way to assess CRM vendor reliability is through the company’s financial stability, product update cadence, and ownership structure.The CRM market is one of the fastest-growing sectors in business software, which makes vendor reliability a crucial evaluation factor.Employing a five-point vendor reliability scorecard offers teams a repeatable, objective vendor comparison tool to establish dependability before signing.What does CRM vendor reliability mean?CRM vendor reliability is a gauge of how consistent a vendor is when it comes to delivering on its commitments. This doesn’t only apply to the point of sale. Vendor reliability is measured across the full life cycle of the vendor-client relationship.Think of all that CRM implementation actually involves, including data migration, workflow redesign, team training, and the time and effort it takes to ensure adoption. Selecting a vendor that is later acquired, puts a hold on its product roadmap, or undergoes a massive pricing change, can unravel all of that, making vendor reliability an active risk factor.How do you evaluate a CRM vendor’s financial health?Because the cornerstone of vendor reliability is financial health, it’s the most crucial element of the evaluation process. You can consider a CRM vendor financially healthy when the company generates consistent revenue, carries manageable debt, and noticeably invests in its own product instead of directing resources to sales growth alone.A financial stability evaluation framework designed by Venminder in 2025 identifies five questions worth asking when assessing vendors:How does it generate and sustain revenue?Does it have sufficient capital for ongoing operations?What is its debt-to-worth ratio?What is its tangible net worth relative to goodwill and intangibles?Can it sustain operations at its current cash level?When it comes to publicly traded vendors, you’ll find the answers to those questions in publicly accessible SEC filings and quarterly earnings reports. In the case of private vendors, your most useful proxy would be the ownership structure.Founder-led and bootstrapped CRM vendors will display a more predictable product trajectory than those backed by private equity firms, often maximizing valuation to ensure a seamless transition for potential buyers.A 2026 vendor risk analysis by ERP Implementation stated that vendor financial solidity is rarely scrutinized during software evaluations, even though a PE-acquired vendor can turn a successful project into a forced migration just a few years after go-live.The following table highlights the key differences between vendor financial stability and instability. Nutshell Why is update frequency a sign of vendor investment?CRM update frequency refers to the cadence at which a vendor ships new product features and improvements. The update frequency shows you whether there’s any real investment in product research and development (R&D).If a vendor regularly launches product features and updates, and documents them well, it’s a clear sign that it’s investing in its platform. When vendors are silent for extended periods, they likely aren’t investing much back into their product, and that’s not a confidence-inspiring sign.An example of a strong update cadence is when a vendor releases updates in waves, like quarterly or biannually, and publishes detailed documentation about the feature, potentially providing sandbox testing windows for customers.On the other hand, irregular, unannounced releases without a visible changelog and no planned roadmap present are all warning signs of a weak vendor update frequency, and potentially little to no investment.Teams evaluating CRMs should ask vendors whether they provide any of the following:A release history or changelog that’s publicly accessibleAdvanced notice of future feature releases and updates (ideally two to four weeks’ notice)Sandbox or staging environments for testing updates before they go liveA product roadmap available to the public that highlights future releases at least three months aheadFeature launches and updates that happen on a consistent basisIf a vendor is unable to share its feature release and product update history, it’s a telltale sign that there’s either zero investment or they’re hiding something they don’t want you to see.What long-term vendor viability signals should you consider when selecting a CRM?Long-term vendor viability is all about whether partnering with the vendor will meet the customer’s business needs. For instance, teams should prioritize fair vendor terms, consistent and reliable customer support, and signs of recent or potential structural changes that could prove expensive later.A good sign of long-term viability is when a vendor remains independent and actively invests in its platform over the duration of the customer life cycle. Vendors that display these characteristics typically ensure ownership stability, contract protection, data portability, and customer retention.When assessing your options, consider these viability signals:Community health: A growing community of users in trusted review platforms like G2 and Capterra is a positive signal. Negative reviews typically spike during business or structural changes and are the first signs of a decline in service level. Look beyond the rating and focus on the review patterns.Data portability: The ability to easily move your data from the platform without incurring costs should be a given. Ask the vendor what data you can export and in what formats. If they have any restrictions, it’s a negative sign.Contract terms: Change-of-control clauses, limits on price increases, and notice periods for changes of service are important terms of a contract. Reputable vendors publish their terms publicly. It’s prudent to read the terms of the agreement thoroughly before signing the contract.Real-world evidence: Look for examples of customers who have seen success since using the platform. Vendors should have testimonials or case studies available to view. If these are not on the vendor website, ask them for some real-world customer examples.How do you compare CRM vendors on reliability?The best way to measure and compare vendor reliability is to apply a consistent scoring framework across all prospective vendors.The five dimensions that follow can help predict reliable, long-term CRM vendors. Nutshell Each of these dimensions should be scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Vendors that score consistently across all five dimensions are most likely to be strong long-term partners.Reliability is the real evaluation criterionChoosing a CRM solution is a critical, long-term business decision. The features that impress in a vendor demo aren’t necessarily the ones that determine whether investing in the CRM will be a success. However, the vendor’s overall stability is almost always a solid indicator.To make a smart, informed selection, teams should take the time to evaluate financial health, update cadence, and long-term viability signals before committing to a vendor.The best partners are those still standing strong many years later, investing, improving, and maintaining their responsiveness. This level of reliability is the most important, especially for any business building the foundation of its operations on its CRM platform.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Greece cut its Golden Visa queue by 7% in two months Greece cut its Golden Visa queue by 7% in two monthsGreece's Golden Visa grants renewable residence permits to qualifying non-EU investors and eligible family members, most commonly through property investment. At the end of May 2026, the country still had 33,051 related applications awaiting a decision, Movingto reports. That was 2,618 fewer than the 35,669 pending at the end of March, a 7.3% reduction in two months. Movingto The queue fell across investor and family filesThe Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum's May 2026 legal-migration report counted 9,210 pending permanent-investor files and 23,841 pending family-member files. Both categories declined from March, when the ministry listed 10,032 investor files and 25,637 family files.The investor inventory fell by 822 files, or 8.2%. The family inventory fell by 1,796, or 7%. Family applications still represented about 72% of the total queue, so the 33,051 headline does not mean that 33,051 principal investors were waiting.Most of the May inventory was recent. Files submitted in 2024 and 2025 accounted for 22,284 pending applications, roughly two-thirds of the total. Another 8,845 were submitted during the first five months of 2026. The ministry still listed 1,922 pending files from 2022 and 2023.Authorities issued nearly 3,000 investor decisionsThe same May report contains a revised series for decisions issued by month. Greece recorded 1,446 permanent-investor decisions in March, including 1,239 initial permits and 207 renewals. Authorities issued another 882 decisions in April and 659 in May.That produces 2,987 investor decisions across the three months. The March figure is substantially higher than the 914 decisions shown in the ministry's earlier March release, illustrating how its rolling administrative tables can be revised as files are updated.The decision series does not account for the entire 2,618-file decline in the headline queue. The pending total includes family-member files, while the decision table cited here covers permanent investors. New applications, withdrawals, reissues, renewals, and later data corrections can also change the stock.New application volume remains below its 2024 peak Movingto The ministry's latest rolling totals show 9,382 initial permanent-investor applications filed in 2024 and 7,025 in 2025. That is a 25.1% annual decline. The May report lists 2,137 initial applications submitted during the first five months of 2026.Of those 2026 applications, 250 had been issued, two rejected, and 1,885 remained pending at the end of May. These categories describe the status of files submitted in 2026, rather than all decisions made during the year. Many 2026 decisions relate to applications filed earlier.Greece raised the standard property minimum to 800,000 euros in Attica, the Thessaloniki Regional Unit, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents. The ordinary minimum is 400,000 euros elsewhere. A 250,000-euro route remains for specified property conversions and listed-building restorations that satisfy additional conditions.A Bank of Greece research paper on an earlier threshold increase found that qualifying transaction activity shifted geographically toward places that retained the lower minimum. The study shows that thresholds can influence where investment clusters. It does not isolate the reason for the current decline in applications, which may also reflect timing, property prices, financing conditions, exchange rates, and buyer preferences.A shrinking queue is still a large queueThe May update changes the direction of the story. The pending inventory is no longer simply large; it is measurably lower than it was two months earlier. The reduction was broad enough to appear in both investor and family-member categories.It is too early to infer a standard processing time from that movement. The ministry publishes an aggregate stock and monthly decision counts, not a cohort measure that follows the same applications from filing to decision. Applicants also enter the queue with different filing years, locations, case types, and family structures.For prospective investors, the practical distinction is between demand and administration. Lower application volume can ease future pressure if it persists. It does not make the remaining 33,051 files disappear, and it does not establish when a newly filed case will be decided.This story was produced by Movingto and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	International Clown Week: Let's make balloon animals! August 1-7 is International Clown Week, and we're looking at some of the skills clowns can use in their clowning. Clown Brian 'Stinky' Weckerly dropped by Our Quad Cities News to show us how to make some basic balloon sculptures.
	Restaurants are losing $12.6B to allergy menu confusion Restaurants are losing $12.6B to allergy menu confusionSomeone in the group is scrolling a restaurant's menu from the couch, phone tilted sideways, hunting for any mention of tree nuts or shellfish. They don't find it and send a message out to the group chat saying, “Not sure I can eat here.” Ten minutes later, the plan has shifted to a different restaurant, or to no restaurant at all.The restaurant never finds out: There's no reservation to cancel and no order abandoned mid-checkout. The table that would have come simply never appears on the schedule.According to new research from Nutritics, a recipe and menu management platform for restaurant and food service operators, that vanishing act has a price tag.The Nutritics 2026 Allergy Dining Report was developed based on a survey conducted in June 2026 of 1,000 U.S. adults who have dined out more than once in the past six months and whose dining decisions are influenced by food allergies, either their own or those of someone in their household, social circle, or workplace. It found that unclear allergen information puts an average of $78 in table spend at risk every time an allergy-affected diner picks somewhere else instead, a pattern that scales to an estimated $12.6 billion in missed revenue across the U.S. restaurant industry each year.For restaurant operators already squeezed by food costs and thin margins, that's a lot of business disappearing before anyone on staff knows it was ever in play. In California, that exposure is no longer just reputational. The state's Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act, which took effect July 1, 2026, now requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to disclose the same allergen information that diners are already asking for. That disclosure reaches more people than restaurants might expect, because the person deciding where the group eats isn't always the one with the allergy.One Person's Allergy Decides Where the Whole Table EatsThe $12.6 billion problem is bigger than the allergy-affected diner alone. Sixty-one percent of respondents say their restaurant choices are shaped most often by someone else's allergy: a family member, a spouse, a friend or a child in the household. Only 39% say it's their own allergy driving the decision.That math means an operator isn't just trying to win over the diner with food sensitivities, but also whoever's holding the phone and doing the research on behalf of the group. If that person can't get a clear answer, the whole table looks elsewhere.Parents feel this hardest: Among parents whose child's allergy shapes where they eat, 61% look for allergens marked directly on the menu, compared with 54% of respondents overall, and they're more likely to walk away rather than gamble on a maybe.A Server's Word Isn't Enough AnymoreMany restaurants still lean on staff to fill in gaps that aren't written down anywhere, and that isn't landing the way operators might hope. When a server says they'll check with the kitchen, only 24% of allergy-affected diners are fully confident the answer that comes back is a confirmed fact rather than a guess. Nearly half say it's hard to tell either way, feels more like a guess, or is one outright.For restaurant operators, one of the biggest losses is the guests who considered dining with them but ultimately chose another restaurant or ate at home.More than half of respondents, 57%, either skip a restaurant entirely or pick a different one once its allergen information fails to reassure them. Sixty-one percent have gone further and skipped eating out altogether, choosing to eat at home instead because finding a safe option felt like too much work.A Marked Menu Beats Every Other Trust SignalThe data also points to a fix operators can act on without an overhaul. Asked what would most increase their trust in a restaurant's allergen practices, 57% of respondents named one thing above all else: allergens clearly marked next to every menu item, ahead of a dedicated website policy page, a consistent in-person answer from staff, or third-party certification.That single change appears to move real behavior. Seventy-one percent of allergy-affected diners say they'd eat at a restaurant more often if it had clear, easy-to-find allergen information, and 28% say they'd eat there a lot more often. More than half, 52%, have recommended a restaurant specifically because they trusted its allergen information.The Fix Is Cheaper Than the LossSince July 1, ADDE SB68 has already made disclosure mandatory for California's largest chains, but every other restaurant is being asked the same question by its guests, law or no law.Marking the menu is the most effective place to start, though the trust it builds holds only if the information matches across printed menus, menu boards, delivery apps and online ordering, and gets updated the moment a recipe or vendor changes.A written cross-contact statement is worth adding too. It isn't required under the ADDE Act, but with only 24% of diners fully trusting a server's verbal reassurance, a printed note settles the question before it's asked. For restaurants willing to make allergen information clear, the $12.6 billion is still there to be won.This story was produced by Nutritics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What does an aging population mean for economic growth? What does an aging population mean for economic growth?There’s no way around it: America is getting older.The country’s median age climbed to a record-high 39.4 in 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, up from 35.6 in 2001. Almost one-third of Americans are over the age of 55, compared with roughly a quarter of the population in 2010.It would be tempting to attribute this phenomenon to Americans living longer, but the data shows that is the less significant of two main factors. While life expectancy increased from 78.1 in 2007 to 79.0 in 2024—a change of just over 1%—the general fertility rate, a measure of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44, fell by 22% over that same period. Life expectancy may be creeping upward, but over the past decade, American women have given birth at a lower rate than any cohort since the late 1970s, and demographic trends are adjusting accordingly.With an aging population comes inevitable questions about the future of economic growth, particularly as the number of Americans in the labor market decreases and businesses must find ways to sustain productivity with fewer human resources. Meanwhile, the entire baby boomer generation will soon surpass the U.S. full retirement age of 67, putting extra fiscal strain on entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.That prognosis might appear dire, but there is also some cause for optimism. Despite the conventional wisdom that aging populations slow economic growth, new research is changing our understanding of how economies adapt to demographic shifts in surprising ways.The trade-offs of agingResearch has typically suggested that an aging population is likely to reduce a country’s per capita GDP—the measure of total economic output divided by population. One recent study found that, between 1980 and 2010, for every 10% increase in the proportion of the U.S. population that was older than 60, per capita GDP decreased by 5.5%, a reduction brought about by a combination of slowing employment growth and slowing labor productivity growth. The authors concluded that, during this period, population aging reduced the growth rate of America’s per capita GDP by 0.3%.The logic behind this claim often amounts to a simple math problem that economists call the “support ratio.” The ratio is derived by taking a country’s working-age population (for example, those aged 20–64) and dividing it by the total population. A higher support ratio means a country has more workers earning incomes to care for fewer dependents, like children and retirees. The lower the support ratio, the less capable an economy is of supporting a country’s non-working population. As the U.S. heads toward a lower support ratio, the argument goes, economic growth metrics are likely to slide.“I think it’s clear, AI and such aside, that slowing population growth translates into slower GDP growth almost on a one-to-one basis,” Ronald Lee, a professor emeritus of economics and demography at the University of California, Berkeley, told The Dispatch. Yet Lee said that while GDP growth animates much of the discussion surrounding the economics of aging, more precise measures of quality of life paint a different picture. “To me, a measure that is closer to individual well-being, like per capita income, is more relevant, and the effect on per capita income is not at all clear.”Economists, including Lee, have argued that stagnating labor force growth might increase the amount of capital available to each worker, which could in turn raise productivity and wages. Lee has also argued that a lower birth rate can increase the capital invested in each child, partially offsetting the economic effects of having fewer workers.More than any other mitigating factor, however, the possibility that technological innovation could neutralize the negative effects of an aging population may be most promising.Can technology fill the gaps?In a new working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in July 2026, economists from MIT and the London Business School analyzed seven decades of demographic change across dozens of countries. The paper found that, contrary to popular assumptions, lower birth rates have raised GDP per working-age adult to such an extent that the trend “fully offset the negative effect of population decline, leaving aggregate GDP broadly unaffected.”Keelan Beirne, an MIT doctoral student and one of the paper’s co-authors, told The Dispatch that his team was surprised by the results but found the evidence for them to be overwhelmingly corroborated across countries and within different geographic regions of the U.S. “Across the board, we found that these lower birth rates were leading to a faster pace of technological adoption and progress,” Beirne said. In other words, when countries were forced to adapt to a sparser workforce, they more readily leaned into technological solutions and saw a boost in productivity.Recent research by Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller also suggested that technological adaptation could be crucial to offsetting population aging. Fuller proposed that artificial intelligence can help older Americans work later into their lives if companies lean into midcareer reskilling programs and allow more experienced workers to focus on roles that emphasize judgment. “We have to stop presuming that older workers are incapable of responding to advances in technology and start thinking about them as a source of knowledge and perspective that is essential for unlocking the potential of that technology,” Fuller said in a Harvard Business School interview.Yet, despite the promise of technology to maintain growth, innovation cannot mitigate every economic problem created by an aging population—most notably, the increasing strain put on Social Security by its growing cohort of beneficiaries. “While this is what happened in the past, and maybe this is how the economy works, this isn’t necessarily how aging is going to play out in the future for a variety of reasons,” Beirne said of the ameliorative effects of technology. “I think one of those reasons is the government’s fiscal position.”The future of pension programs.The good news for the U.S. is that, compared to its Western peers, America’s elderly population is among the least reliant on public transfers like Social Security, welfare benefits, and pensions. While those over the age of 65 in countries like Belgium, France, and Finland receive, on average, more than 70% of their post-retirement income from public transfers, Americans in the same age bracket draw less than 40% from public coffers. Americans work later into their lives than in most other high-income countries, but the primary difference comes from the large amount of asset income Americans earn from voluntary private pensions like 401(k)s. And America’s birth rate, while shrinking, is still higher than that of almost every European country.The bad news is that it probably won’t be enough to ward off Social Security’s impending fiscal crisis, which could lead retirees to lose an estimated $16,900 per year in benefits, according to a recent report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan think tank. According to the annual Social Security trustees’ report released last month, Social Security is set to become insolvent in 2032 if its current trajectory continues unabated. “We have to do something,” Lee said. “That’s obvious. It’s been obvious for decades, but now it’s becoming increasingly pressing that we do something.”The trustees’ report projected that Social Security’s actuarial deficit—the average change in income needed to achieve a balance of zero—over the next 75 years is 4.42% of taxable payroll, or 1.5% of GDP. However, Lee suggested that any revenue of that magnitude would be better spent on children, and instead proposed raising the age at which high lifetime earners can begin receiving Social Security benefits. Lee also proposed introducing automatic stabilization measures so that the benefit structure of Social Security reliably adjusts to demographic and economic changes. He cited Sweden and Germany as examples of countries that have successfully introduced automatic stabilization to their pension programs.“I think it’s very important that we get used to the idea that people are living longer,” Lee said. “They’re healthier longer, they’re cognitively strong longer, they should be working longer as well.”This story was produced by The Dispatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Foundation awards $260,000 in grants to Rock Island-Milan school district On August 3, the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation (RIMEF) awarded a record-breaking $260,888 in Promoting Rock Island-Milan Education (PRIME) Grants to teachers and educators of the Rock Island-Milan School District for the 2026-2027 school year. The grants support innovative programs and classroom enhancements through individual teacher grants, department or school-wide grants and collaborative multi-school grants. [...]
	Inside the summer program boosting skills and confidence for 40,000 kids Inside the summer program boosting skills and confidence for 40,000 kidsWhen Reneta Johnson, head of a small charter network in Birmingham, Alabama, asked students how they wanted to spend this summer, they said they liked to make TikTok videos.That gave her an idea.The staff at Legacy Prep built a three-week summer schedule around the theme of “Lights, Camera, Action,” blending drama, music and dance, culminating in a final performance. But between learning choreography and exploring careers related to content creation, this June, students spent three hours a day polishing the math and reading skills they’ll need for next school year.After three years of the program, Johnson sees more confidence in kids when they come back in the fall and considers it one of the reasons why Legacy Prep’s elementary school went from a D to a B last year on the state report card.“Our test scores were in the tank,” she told The 74. During summer school, “our kids have more time to talk to the teacher. They know what they need to focus on,” she added.It’s a model that prevents what’s known as the summer slide, not just at Legacy Prep but at nearly 460 charter schools in seven cities. Standardized assessments show that over 39,000 students in Summer Boost gained, on average, nearly a month more learning in math and 2 1/2 extra weeks in English language arts, according to a new study. While the growth is significant, the fact that the study found improvement across so many sites makes the findings stand out even more, said Geoffrey Borman, a researcher at Arizona State University who led the study.“A key thing to keep in mind is the scale at which these impacts are being made,” he said. “We’re talking, in this case, about tens of thousands of students per year.” MGT In education research, he added, there are examples of small, “one-off efforts” that produced “groundbreaking impacts.” But those effects often fade when a program — high-dosage tutoring, for example — expands to more students and locations.Bloomberg Philanthropies, founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, spent $50 million to launch Summer Boost in 2022 to help students recover from academic decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program served over 16,000 students that year in New York City and has since spread to six more cities, including Baltimore; Nashville, Tennessee; and San Antonio.Students retained the skills and material they learned into the next school year, even though they often didn’t take follow-up tests, either i-Ready or NWEA’s MAP tests, until months after the summer program ended.“These kids are going back to school better prepared to engage in instruction and benefit from it,” Borman said.The study design didn’t include a comparison group, but the researchers looked at whether scores were higher than what they would have predicted if students hadn’t attended the program.The positive effects in math are similar to those found by the Rand Corp. in a study of summer learning programs in five urban districts, several years before the pandemic. The Rand sample, however, was much smaller — about 5,000 kids — and the researchers found no improvement in reading, attendance or social-emotional skills.In another study, after the COVID-era school closures, a team from Harvard, NWEA and the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research examined the use of federal relief funds for summer learning in 10 districts, serving nearly 450,000 students. Students gained two to three weeks of learning in math on MAP tests, but as with the Rand study, the researchers saw no impact on students’ reading skills.In the Arizona State study, Borman noted that because students often lose more math than reading skills when they’re out of school, a summer program can have a bigger impact in math.The expectation that sites prioritize phonics-based instruction, a shift that has picked up momentum since the pandemic, may help explain why students in Summer Boost made gains in reading when the earlier studies didn’t find impacts on literacy, said Harvard University researcher Thomas Kane, who served as an adviser on the Summer Boost study.Small classes also contributed to the reading gains, Borman wrote. The results were weaker when class sizes exceeded 21 students.Consistent student attendance, a rate of at least 70%, matters as well. It’s a principle Summer Boost reinforces by holding back 30% of the funding to sites until the program is over. Students exceeded the target with a 75% rate last year.“The more kids attend, clearly, the better they perform,” Borman said. “This is something that has been a problem with a lot of summer school programming in the past.”‘The big question’The findings clarify what it takes to run an effective summer learning program. But districts no longer have federal COVID funds to spend on summer school. Foundation funds, like those for Summer Boost, are limited.“The big question is how to sustain summer learning programs now that the federal [relief] funding has lapsed,” Kane said.One source will likely be the new federal education tax credit, he said. Advocacy organizations like the Afterschool Alliance are encouraging nonprofits to form scholarship-granting organizations that focus on public school students.In Alabama, districts are already required under state law to offer summer instruction for students who are significantly behind in reading and math. But the $29,000 Legacy Prep received from the state would have only been enough to pay three teachers, Johnson said. Without the $200,000 Summer Boost grant from Bloomberg, she would have had to narrow the focus of the program to third graders who needed to pass the state reading test to advance to fourth grade.She found, however, that just reaching proficiency by the end of third grade doesn’t mean kids are strong enough readers and writers to tackle challenging material. The Bloomberg grant allowed the school to hire 12 teachers. Linda Jacobson // The 74 On a Thursday morning earlier in June, the school was busy with activity as younger students worked on reading and math skills while middle schoolers danced to a hip-hop beat in the gym. After lunch, they switched.Using a curriculum that’s specially designed for a compressed summer schedule, teacher JaMeshia Moore worked with rising first graders on words they should learn by sight. She wrote “because” on the board, carefully demonstrating where each lowercase letter should fit on the lined pages in their workbooks. In math, students worked out subtraction problems by hand, using small strips of paper that represent hundreds, tens and ones.Before opening enrollment to all Legacy Prep families, Johnson prioritizes students who are significantly behind and often need one-on-one instruction to catch up. The research showed that students who often fall below grade level — English learners, those from families with low income and kids with disabilities — benefited the most from the program. They gained over four weeks of learning in math, compared to 3 1/2 weeks for the overall sample. MGT At Legacy Prep, the staff works just as hard to make sure students attend as they do during the regular school year. They call students if they’re absent, and for the first time this year, Johnson offered door-to-door bus service if students needed it. Some students come from as far as Huntsville, roughly an hour and a half away.Daniel Runner, a rising eighth grader, said he hoped to get some extra help on percentages, while Malaysia Speight said she didn’t have a lot of choice over whether to attend.“My aunt said that me and my sister were not going to be sitting around in the house all summer,” she said.But she was drawn to the lineup of activities, like learning how a storyboard illustrates the scenes that make up a film and the chance to work with professional musicians. The Summer Boost grant paid for the artists’ involvement as well as special T-shirts, a field trip to a local theater and a red carpet awards show. Linda Jacobson // The 74 The academic and attendance requirements combined with the flexibility for schools to design an engaging program are why Bloomberg Philanthropies has seen a positive return on its investment, said Sunny Larson, who leads K-12 programs for the foundation.“We really need to do everything we can to catch back up to where we need to be,” she said. “Beyond that, we didn’t want to be too prescriptive. We really wanted to leave a lot of flexibility, creativity and ingenuity up to those individual schools.”This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Miller-Meeks visits eastern Iowa companies in second Made in America Manufacturing tour Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks began her second annual Made in America Manufacturing tour at Wilton Precision Steel on the morning of Aug. 5.
	State asks court to deny case dismissal from woman charged with murdering newborn The state has responded to a request for the Johnson County Court to drop the case of a former Iowa City woman who is accused of killing her newborn son and putting him in the trash.
	Greetings from a wildlife park in central Sri Lanka that's a haven for elephants At a time of increased conflict between elephants and humans, as elephant habitats are converted to intensive agriculture, the Hurulu Eco Park is a place where the animals can graze unimpeded.
	Trial scheduled for Iowa’s lawsuit against Roblox Court documents reveal a new trial date has been scheduled for Iowa’s lawsuit against the online gaming company Roblox.
	Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Hunt announced for 2027 Mississippi Valley Fair The Mississippi Valley Fair has announced country stars Bailey Zimmerman and Sam Hunt as grandstand acts for the 2027 fair.
	7 tips for a healthy back-to-school season 7 tips for a healthy back-to-school seasonAs the school year begins, your family is likely getting supplies ready and adjusting to a new routine after summer break. Whether your child attends elementary, middle, or high school, it’s natural for them to feel both excited and nervous at the same time. And keeping them happy, healthy, and safe is likely your top priority.GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, put together a few simple pharmacist tips to help your family achieve these goals. From helping your family stay current on immunizations to keeping over-the-counter (OTC) medications on hand, your pharmacist has your back.Key takeaways:Practicing good hand hygiene, staying up to date on immunizations, and checking on your child’s mental health are a few pharmacist tips to consider following this school year.If your child has a prescription for albuterol (Ventolin HFA) or epinephrine (EpiPen, neffy, Auvi-Q), they should be able to carry their medication with them at school. Other medications will likely need to be stored and administered by the school nurse.If your child is experiencing fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, it’s a good idea to keep them home from school.1. Practice good hand hygieneTeaching your kids about the importance of handwashing is one tool for a healthy school year. They should routinely wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. One fun way to make sure you’ve spent enough time washing is by singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” one time through.At school, kids should wash their hands at these key times:After getting off the school busAfter using the bathroomBefore eating their snack or lunchAfter sneezing, coughing, or blowing their noseAfter recess and gym classIf their hands are dirtyAfter touching animalsWhy does it matter? Washing your hands with soap and water fights off germs and is a proven way to help prevent illness. In fact, it can lower your risk of experiencing a respiratory illness, such as a cold, by about 20%. But if a sink isn’t available, hand sanitizer is a good backup option.2. Stay up to date on immunizationsMost people ages 6 months and older are eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Flu shots are recommended yearly. September and October are ideal times for most kids to get a flu shot. However, COVID vaccine recommendations frequently change, so your pharmacist can tell you if and when your child needs this vaccine.Talk to your child’s pediatrician or pharmacist to make sure they are up to date on other routine vaccines based on their age:Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)PolioMeasles, mumps, rubella (MMR)Varicella (chickenpox)Hepatitis ATetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap)Human papillomavirus (HPV)Meningococcal (meningitis)Good to know: It typically takes about two weeks (14 days) for your body to build up immunity once you get a vaccine like the flu shot. Keep this in mind as you schedule vaccine appointments for your child.3. Set up your child’s physicalBack-to-school physicals are a must to start the year out right. Your child’s pediatrician can monitor their growth and development to make sure they’re reaching developmental milestones. Annual preventative screenings can also help catch potential health issues before they become a more serious problem.These examinations can provide other benefits, too. They’re a great time to make sure your child is caught up on their immunizations. And if your child needs any medications for health conditions, they can get refills during this time.4. Keep OTC medications handyAt some point in time, you’ve likely received a call from the school nurse when your child isn’t feeling well. When a situation like this comes up, it’s important to have OTC medications at home to manage symptoms as needed. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are helpful resources for lowering fever and relieving pain. They’re especially handy for managing symptoms of various illnesses, such as the cold, flu, and COVID.Here are some other OTC products to keep at home:Medications that manage allergic reactions, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)Antibiotic ointments for cuts and scrapes, such as Neosporin (neomycin / polymyxin B / bacitracin)Saline nasal spray for nasal congestionHydrocortisone cream for insect bitesElectrolyte replacement beverages, such as PedialyteBand-AidsAlcohol prep pads (or hydrogen peroxide) to disinfect cutsA thermometerTissues5. Keep an eye on your child’s mental healthSchool can be stressful for many kids for many reasons. It’s important for mental health to be on parents’ radars.Unfortunately, there’s a growing rate of kids and teens ending up in the hospital and emergency room from self-harm. One study found that about 66% of childhood suicide cases happen among adolescent girls, with an average age of 15.Look for suicide warning signs in your kids, especially if they seem down or their behavior isn’t typical for them. It’s a tough thing to watch out for, but it’s an important one. Use these five action steps if you believe your child might be experiencing thoughts of suicide:Ask. Check if your child is thinking about suicide or thoughts of self-harm. Seek medical attention right away if your child has harmed themself or if you believe they will.Be there. Listen and show support. Don’t take their feelings personally either — chances are their feelings aren’t related to something that you’ve done.Keep them safe. Don’t leave your child alone. Put safety measures in place to remove anything they can harm themselves with.Help them connect. Help your child connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This service provides free and confidential support.Follow up. Keep open communication with your child to see how they’re doing.If your child is experiencing depression, your healthcare team can recommend treatment options. Therapy and social support are two helpful, medication-free resources. When needed, antidepressants, such as Zoloft (sertraline), can also help.6. Check requirements for administering medications at schoolIf your child takes any medications, ask the school about their medication administration requirements. Your child may be able to take some medications by themselves during school hours, but others should be stored with the school nurse.All 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) have laws in place that allow kids to carry and administer their own asthma inhalers and medications to manage anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions). Albuterol (Ventolin HFA) is a common rescue inhaler for managing asthma symptoms. Epinephrine (EpiPen, neffy, Auvi-Q) treats anaphylaxis.Other medications may need to be stored and administered by the school nurse. The medication should be placed in the original, labeled container that you receive from the pharmacy. The bottle should include the following information:Child’s nameMedication nameDosageHow it’s administered, such as by mouth or under the tongueHow often and the time the medication is administeredPrescriber’s namePrescription dateMedication expiration dateGood to know: Remember to keep one bottle of your child’s medication at home and one at school. This way they have enough medication for their whole day. Your pharmacist can provide you with extra labels and bottles if needed.7. Get a good night’s sleepGetting adequate sleep can help kids focus better at school. Research also shows a healthy sleep schedule helps prevent certain health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, down the line.The “right” amount of sleep varies for everyone, but it often boils down to age. Kids ages 6 to 12 should aim to sleep nine to 12 hours each night. Teens ages 13 to 18 should try to get eight to 10 hours of sleep.Here are some tips to help your child get a good night’s sleep:Avoid screen time one hour before bedtime.Limit exercise before bedtime.Avoid caffeine, including caffeinated sodas and chocolate, at least six hours before bedtime.Limit liquids one to two hours before bedtime.Create (and maintain) a bedtime routine — even on the weekends and holidays. When should you keep your child home from school if they’re not feeling well?It’s 6 a.m., and your child wakes up with a fever of 101 F (or higher). It’s a common scenario for parents, and when this happens it’s best to keep your child home from school. If your child is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, they should also stay home from school to prevent spreading illness to other kids.For a runny nose or congestion, you may want to administer an at-home flu or COVID test. If the test is positive, then your child should stay home until they’re feeling better.They can return to normal activities when they’re feeling better overall and have been fever-free without fever reducers for at least 24 hours. It’s a good idea to have your child wear a well-fitted mask for five days after returning to normal activities. This helps prevent the spread of germs.The bottom lineYour pharmacist is a great resource when it comes to preparing for a healthy back-to-school season. Practicing good hand hygiene, staying current on immunizations, and keeping over-the-counter medications on hand are a few helpful health tips. If your child has a fever, is vomiting, or tests positive for the flu or COVID-19, it’s a good idea to keep them home from school.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Report: One-third of small business owners worry they’ll close every week Report: One-third of small business owners worry they’ll close every weekIt’s easier than ever to start a business: Often all you need is a laptop and a business plan. But today’s business environment tests owners’ resilience in new ways.The familiar challenges of securing financing, managing expenses and building a loyal customer base now exist alongside emerging cyber and legal risks. With sustained economic volatility showing little sign of easing, many entrepreneurs face the added challenge of protecting both their business interests and their personal financial well-being.To understand how entrepreneurs are responding, ERGO NEXT surveyed 501 new (in their first year of operation) and established (operating one to five years) small business owners across the United States. The results reveal a nuanced picture of entrepreneurship, where growing awareness of risk coexists with enduring optimism.Key findings58% of new entrepreneurs say their business has felt at risk of failing during their first 12 months.27% of entrepreneurs say the risk of a cyberattack or data breach is a top concern.43% of entrepreneurs wish they had understood their insurance coverage needs sooner.40% of entrepreneurs say they were surprised by the number of risks they weren’t aware of.50% of entrepreneurs are “very confident” they’ll still be in business in five years.The first year danger zoneFor new business owners, the first year is often the most precarious: 58% of new entrepreneurs say their business has felt at risk of failure during their first 12 months. Just 23% say their business has never felt at risk.For many, those concerns aren’t fleeting. A third of all small business owners (33%) worry about unexpected issues and risk of closure at least once per week. For new business owners in business less than one year, that number jumps to 44%, compared with just 22% for established entrepreneurs in business one to five years. ERGO NEXT That heightened sense of vulnerability carries into new entrepreneurs’ outlook for the future. They’re looking ahead with more caution than their more established peers:80% of new business owners expect business risks to increase over the next one to two years, compared with 53% of established business owners.78% of new business owners feel their business is more exposed to challenges today than when they first launched, versus 49% of established owners.Those findings suggest that while surviving the first year of business doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, it does change entrepreneurs’ relationship with it.As owners gain firsthand experience navigating challenges, many develop a more realistic understanding of the risks that could threaten their business and the protections they wish they had put in place sooner.Insurance stands out as one of the most common lessons learned. When asked what they wished they had done earlier to better protect their business, 43% of entrepreneurs cited understanding what insurance coverage they needed. ERGO NEXT Top risk concerns for small business ownersSmall business owners are most focused on risks that could put their profitability and reputation on the line.For nearly half of all entrepreneurs (46%), economic downturn or inflation is a top concern. Macroeconomic pressures are some of the hardest risks to control, and when margins are already tight, even small shifts in cost or demand can be destabilizing.However, entrepreneurs are also keeping a close eye on risks that stem from the day-to-day realities of running a business in a digital-first environment. More small businesses now operate in the cloud than on Main Street, which adds risk exposure. In addition to traditional physical liabilities, such as property damage and workplace injuries, business owners now worry about a new class of more complex and less visible risks.The most pressing operational and compliance concerns include:Cyberattack or data breach (27%)Making a mistake that costs a client money (25%)Issues with contracts, licenses or regulatory requirements (24%)Just 32% of survey respondents operate fully in person, meaning many are more exposed to digital, financial and regulatory risks. For these entrepreneurs, a single mistake, security incident or compliance issue can cause significant financial, legal and reputational liabilities that could ultimately put them out of business. ERGO NEXT The emotional toll and enduring optimism of entrepreneurshipUnderstanding business risk is one thing. Living with it every day is another.The small business risk landscape is becoming increasingly complex, exposing business owners to a wider range of threats than many anticipated when launching their companies.For the many entrepreneurs who operate independently or with only a few employees, there is often no one else to absorb the pressure when unexpected challenges arise.As a result, risk can take a significant emotional toll:40% of all entrepreneurs were surprised by the number of business risks they weren’t aware of when they started their company.27% of all entrepreneurs didn’t expect worrying about business risks would be so emotionally draining.The good news is the emotional burden of risk often becomes more manageable as businesses mature.While 72% of new entrepreneurs say expanding their business has made them feel more vulnerable to risk, that figure drops to 44% among established business owners, suggesting confidence and stability often strengthen with experience. ERGO NEXT When business becomes personalThe financial and emotional pressures of running a company often spill into entrepreneurs’ personal lives: 29% say balancing business demands with their personal life is a top source of stress.For solo entrepreneurs and sole proprietors in particular, the line between personal household and business finances is often blurred, leaving them more financially exposed when unexpected events occur, either at home or at work.For example, an unavoidable car repair or healthcare bill can force difficult trade-offs between personal needs and business priorities.When cash is constrained, insurance may feel like a nice-to-have rather than an immediate necessity, leading some entrepreneurs to delay or forgo coverage. In fact, 25% of entrepreneurs say they have made personal purchases instead of paying for business insurance.However, the overlap between business and personal finances is exactly why insurance matters.The right protections can help entrepreneurs weather unexpected challenges without jeopardizing their business goals or personal financial security. For many small business owners, that peace of mind may be more accessible than they realize, as coverage is often less costly than expected.Entrepreneurs continue to bet on themselvesBusiness owners may worry about what could go wrong, but they haven’t lost faith in what could go right.Despite mounting macroeconomic pressures and growing awareness of risk, optimism remains a defining characteristic of entrepreneurship. Half of all entrepreneurs (50%) are very confident they’ll still be in business in five years. ERGO NEXT That confidence may be rooted in a natural tendency toward optimism, but it’s also shaped by experience. More than three-quarters of entrepreneurs (77%) say they’ve become more proactive at identifying and managing risks as their company has matured.Worrying about tomorrow, believing in the futureOne theme appears consistently throughout the data: Economic and business challenges have not diminished the entrepreneurial spirit. Even as many business owners regularly worry about keeping their doors open, they still believe the rewards of entrepreneurship outweigh the obstacles.Their confidence to take calculated risks often comes from knowing the business is protected against setbacks that can be anticipated and managed.MethodologyERGO NEXT Insurance surveyed 501 U.S. small business owners, founders and sole proprietors about their business risk profiles. The respondent pool consisted of 250 entrepreneurs in their first year of business and 251 entrepreneurs in their first 2-5 years of business. The survey was conducted April 29 – May 12, 2026.This story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Empowering Abilities Boosters hold mums fundraiser The Empowering Abilities Booster Organization is welcoming fall with its second annual mum sale, featuring locally grown hardy mums, a news release says. Each purchase supports opportunities for adults with disabilities to build friendships, make memories and enjoy meaningful social connections. The Empowering Abilities Boosters are committed to providing fun, engaging social activities foradults with [...]
	Herbert Hoover Museum to reopen Thursday after major renovation The hometown of Iowa’s only U.S. President will celebrate the grand reopening of the newly-renovated museum dedicated to his life.
	Why a battery backup is your first true step to solar power (BPT) - When you think of solar power for your home, you likely picture the rows of gleaming panels lining your roof. However, before you begin selecting and installing solar, there is an important first step you cannot skip: purchasing a home backup battery.There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about backup batteries, but the truth is that starting with solar and then purchasing a battery holds you back from true energy independence. Read on to discover the five biggest backup battery myths and why procuring one for your home is the first step toward harnessing solar power regardless of rain, shine, heatwave, hurricane, tropical storm or snow.Myth 1: Solar panels give me 24/7 energy independenceReality: Solar panels alone can't power your home overnight or during storms that can take out the grid and sunlight. That's because solar panels can't store the power produced by the sun.Traditional grid-tied solar-powered systems capture and send power to your home's electrical system for use. Without a battery, any excess solar power flows from your home to the grid. So, what happens when the grid shuts down or there's a storm? You're still left without power.Think of it this way: Your solar panels are the engine that creates the power needed to run your home. Your battery is the gas tank that stores energy for later, so you can use it when you need it. Without a battery, you can't store or use your own energy during a storm, an extended outage or overnight.Myth 2: I can just buy solar panels and sell excess power back to the gridReality: The days of relying on utility companies to buy back your extra daytime solar power at top dollar are rapidly coming to an end. California kicked off the nationwide shift when it overhauled its net-metering policies, drastically cutting the rate utilities pay homeowners for pushing excess solar back to the grid. Almost overnight, new solar-only installs lost their biggest financial perk so homeowners started adding battery storage to capture that free daytime energy and use it themselves when rates spike at night or when outages hit. Today, a home battery is the default foundation required to actually get the full benefits of solar energy.Bonus: Home backup means beating Time-of-Use (TOU) rate spikes. With or without solar, a home backup battery lets you take advantage of daily smart energy management. You can charge your battery from the wall when grid electricity is cheapest, then run your home on that stored battery power during expensive peak afternoon and evening hours. It's an instant way to lower your electric bill.Myth 3: I have to buy solar panels before buying a batteryReality: You can and should install battery storage first. That way, when you eventually purchase and install your solar panels, you'll be ready to store and use energy from the get-go.Also, a home battery can serve as a stand-alone backup system without solar if needed, providing energy day or night, storm or no storm. For example, Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus home backup battery can recharge from multiple sources, including high-voltage solar and traditional AC power.That flexibility is what makes battery backup such a strong starting point. They're always ready, providing stored power when the grid goes down or when electricity is most expensive, whether or not you have solar panels.Myth 4: Installing a backup battery is difficultReality: Many modern backup batteries, like portable power stations, don't require installation, and are designed for plug-and-play operation, though some have the option to be easily connected to your home's circuits via a transfer switch, the process of which is less expensive and more straight forward compared to permanently installed, grid-tied home backup. This versatility in home backup options means whether you own your home or rent an apartment, backup power for all your essentials like the refrigerator, lights, WiFi, home office and more is within reach. And you won't need an electrician or permits to start, if ever.Jackery makes it simple to make battery backup a part of any home, with or without solar already installed. Both the Solar Generator 5000 Plus and the HomePower 3600 Plus can be used as-is by plugging appliances and electronics directly to them. They even feature built-in wheels and a pull handle, allowing you to move power from room to room.Bonus: You can connect these backup batteries/portable power stations to your home's electrical circuit by having an electrician install a transfer switch. The Solar Generator 5000 Plus pairs with the Jackery Smart Transfer Switch to provide automatic home coverage and seamless backup when you need it most and the HomePower 3600 Plus also connects home circuits via a manual transfer switch. These provide multi-room coverage without the need to install a permanent generator so the system can move with you. And while they are modular for tailored scalability, the base units still work as standalone portable power stations for ultimate flexibility.Myth 5: Batteries have a short lifespanReality: Home batteries have come a long way. Today's models can be used for over a decade depending on use. For example, the Solar Generator 5000 Plus has over an 11-year battery lifespan, while the HomePower 3600 Plus is rated for over 16 years. Jackery supports these solutions with multiyear warranties, so you can rest easy knowing you're covered.Battery storage should be the default, not an afterthoughtTo truly take advantage of solar power, you must be able to capture, store and use it on your own terms. To learn more about backup batteries and how they make solar power usable when you need it most, visit Jackery.com.
	Clinton's data center ordinance passed on to City Council The Plan Commission recommended a draft version of the ordinance, but it's up to City Council to decide which parts are included.
	Morrison man charged with predatory criminal sexual assault following ISP investigation A Morrison man is charged with three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault after an ISP investigation into alleged crimes in Illinois and Wisconsin.
	How to financially recover from an expensive summer weekend How to financially recover from an expensive summer weekendBetween lakeside getaways, music and food festivals, trips to the national parks and even hitting the movie theater for some air conditioning, there are plenty of ways you may be tempted to stretch your budget on a summer weekend. FOMO can urge you to pull out your wallet more than you should, leading to a spending hangover that has you questioning whether you can still meet your savings goals.But just because you splurged on a pricey meal at a beach club or expensive Uber home doesn’t mean you can’t get back on track. Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, are five ways to financially recover from a costly summer weekend.1. Assess the damageOverspending can happen easily, especially during the summer when people throw their budgeting cares out the window to enjoy time in the sun, says consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch. But those who don't pay attention to their spending and come up with a plan to combat their overspending will face a much more difficult path to financial recovery, she adds.Woroch recommends assessing how much you spent and where you went overboard by reviewing your bank and credit card accounts after the weekend is over.“Not only will this help you devise a plan to save but this can help you avoid overspending in the future,” she says. “Awareness is often the most important step to prevention.”2. Make a plan to replenish your savingsNext, look for ways to pay off purchases or replenish your savings by making budget compromises. If you typically eat out once a week, maybe you can swap that plan for cooking at home for the next two weeks. If you were planning to stay at a hotel for your next weekend trip, consider replacing that booking with a camping trip. You could also pause unnecessary subscriptions or memberships and DIY some of the activities you usually pay a professional for, such as pedicures.“Remember you can't afford every purchase or expense that isn't a necessity, so figure out which ones you can cut back on now to help pay for your recent summer fun,” Woroch says. “Then take this approach moving forward by considering where you can reduce spending to pay for upcoming expenses. It's all about rebalancing your budget and spending to accommodate for what you have going on at the moment.”You can also hack necessary expenses by calling to negotiate rates, bundling services to snag a discount and asking about deals for signing up for e-billing or auto pay, she adds. Then put the money you save on bills to help pay off your summer weekend.3. Plan aheadWhen recovering from an expensive summer weekend, the best way to minimize the angst you may feel post-vacation is to pre-plan as much as you can, says Anjali Jariwala, a financial advisor and founder of FIT Advisors.“Summer can be a wonderful time for travel but is also usually the most expensive time of the year so planning is your best tool to have a fun and stress-free summer travel season,” she says. “Personally, I budget every trip I plan to take.”She says she creates a spreadsheet to help track expenses and after the trip is over, she reviews how much her and her family actually spent compared to what their budget was, which allows her to understand how much their trips cost on average and how best to budget for future trips.“I then create an annual travel budget that I save for throughout the year,” Jariwala says. “If you know your summer weekend trips cost about $2,000 on average, you can start saving now for next year's trips.”4. Set money asideWondering where you should keep that money you save throughout the year? Jariwala says to consider opening a high-yield savings account where you store this money so that when your credit card bill for the trip comes due, you can reimburse yourself from the savings account.“Don't forget to put in a cushion for incidentals like souvenirs, excursions and anything else you enjoy when you travel,” Jariwala says. “Travel should be prioritized just like any other savings goal like investment, college funding, home improvements and more.”Saving this way also allows you to focus on what is truly important to you — such as summer experiences — and save for it accordingly.5. Consider your debtSometimes a summer splurge can result in debt, and it’s important to address that ASAP. If you have savings, you may want to consider using it to pay off high-interest debt, such as credit card debt.Woroch says if you racked up an unhealthy balance that has compounded with other poor spending choices this summer, debt consolidation may be a smart move before it spirals even more out of control. One option is to apply for a 0% balance transfer card to benefit from an interest-free period of up to 21 months in which you can pay off this debt faster and save more money over time.If racking up debt has hurt your credit, you can consider using a secured charge card, to help you build your credit history back up. You can only spend the amount of money available in your account, which reduces risks of debt, and as you spend, your funds are reserved to pay your bill at the end of the month. You’ll want to look for one that reports these monthly payments to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Fewer than half of children with ADHD receive behavior treatment. Why experts recommend it Fewer than half of children with ADHD receive behavior treatment. Why experts recommend itIf you're a parent of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you've probably thought a lot about how to help them navigate daily life. Medication may be one of the first things that comes to mind, but it's not the only option experts recommend.Behavior therapy helps children build skills like attention and self-control, often by working closely with the adults in their lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends it as part of treatment for many children with ADHD, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks how many receive this kind of support. Nationally, fewer than half of children with ADHD received behavior treatment in recent years, based on parents' reports.With behavior therapy playing an important role in ADHD care, understanding how it works may help families feel more informed about their options. LifeStance Health explains what it involves, what experts recommend at different ages and how parents can help support it at home.What is behavior therapy for ADHD?Behavior therapy is a structured, skills-based approach to managing ADHD. Rather than focusing on symptoms through medication alone, it helps children learn practical strategies to strengthen attention, manage impulses and handle emotions. It often involves parents, teachers and other adults who are part of a child's daily life.One of the most common forms is parent training in behavior management or parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), where a therapist helps parents learn tools to encourage positive behaviors and respond to challenging ones. Other approaches include behavioral strategies in the classroom, therapy that helps build organizational and social skills and, for some children, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or play therapy. The right mix depends on a child's age, needs and family.What sets behavior therapy apart is that it builds skills that can last. Medication can be an important part of ADHD care, and often helps with focus and impulse control, but it works while it's in a child's system. Behavior therapy aims to give both children and the adults around them tools they can keep using over time.How behavior therapy helps children with ADHDResearch suggests behavior therapy can be an effective, evidence-based part of ADHD treatment. A 2024 systematic review in Pediatrics examined more than 300 studies and found that several treatments, including behavioral and psychosocial interventions, improved ADHD symptoms and related difficulties, particularly for school-aged children.A 2022 meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials found that behavioral parent training was associated with meaningful improvements in positive parenting, the parent-child relationship and parents' own sense of competence and mental well-being. In other words, the same approach that supports a child may ease stress for the whole family.Behavior therapy can also make a difference at school. A 2025 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology found that school-based interventions were associated with improvement in attention, academic performance and social skills, while reducing oppositional and defiant behaviors.Experts emphasize that behavior therapy works best as part of a broader, individualized plan. A 2026 review in The BMJ suggests that behavioral parent training, school-based interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy each produce small but meaningful improvements in how children function day to day, and that the evidence supports a multimodal approach tailored to each child.ADHD treatment recommendations by ageWhat experts recommend depends a lot on a child's age.For children younger than 6, the AAP recommends behavior therapy, specifically parent training in behavior management, as the first step before medication. According to the CDC, behavior therapy can work as well as medication for young children in managing symptoms. Young children are also more likely to experience medication side effects, and the long-term effects of ADHD medication in this age group haven't been well studied. Experts generally suggest turning to medication only if behavior therapy alone isn't enough.For children 6 and older, the AAP recommends behavior therapy and medication together, rather than one or the other. Several approaches are considered effective at this age, including parent training in behavior management, behavioral strategies in the classroom, peer-focused interventions and organizational skills training. Schools can play a role too, through classroom support and accommodations.How parents can support ADHD treatment at homeBehavior therapy works best when the strategies carry over into everyday life, and small, consistent changes at home can make a real difference.Here are some approaches that may help:Keep a predictable routine. Following the same schedule each day can help children know what to expect and reduce friction around transitions.Give clear, specific directions. Short, concrete instructions, like “put your shoes by the door,” tend to land better than broad requests like “get ready,” especially for children who struggle with focus.Use praise and rewards for the behavior you want to see. Noticing and rewarding positive behaviors is often more effective than focusing on what went wrong. Especially because a child with ADHD may receive 20,000 corrective or negative comments in school alone by the time they are 10 years old. To help combat this criticism, aim for five positive reinforcements each day, like “good job putting your plate in the dishwasher” or “thank you for writing down your homework assignments.”Break big tasks into smaller steps. Homework and chores may feel more manageable when they're split into shorter blocks, with “brain breaks” like walking, stretching or jumping jacks, built in.Offer a few clear choices. Giving a child two or three options, rather than an open-ended decision, can help prevent overwhelm while still giving them a sense of control. Ask “do you want to brush your teeth or take a shower first?” so either answer is acceptable while your child has a sense of autonomy.Support a healthy foundation. Nutritious meals, regular physical activity and adequate sleep can help keep symptoms from becoming harder to manage.Every child with ADHD is different, and so is the path that works for them. Behavior therapy offers families a way to build lasting skills, but it’s often most effective as part of a broader treatment plan. For parents looking for support, talking with a pediatrician or mental healthcare provider can be a helpful first step toward finding the right approach.This story was published by LifeStance Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump administration moves to deregulate Head Start, opening door for sweeping change It would slim regulation of the 60-year-old anti-poverty program and aim to save money. Advocates worry the changes could undermine the early education program's mission.
	Taboo Updates Summer 2026: Only Eight Congressmen Get the 411 Senator Rand Paul recently revealed an interesting, albeit jarring, fact about Congressional oversight of the intelligence community in D.C. Senator Paul explained that only eight members of Congress, four from the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee (HPSIC) and four from the Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSIC), are privy to the activities of the CIA and the FBI.
	How Cambodia became the first Asian country to hit an elusive HIV target The United Nations has set a goal for near universal HIV diagnosis and treatment for all by 2030. No country in Asia has hit the mark — until this year.
	The most important feature in your home? Balanced ventilation (BPT) - Key takeawaysProper ventilation is essential for your comfort and health, and your home's structural integrity.Modern homes are built tight. Traditional ventilation systems often can't deliver proper ventilation in airtight homes.Balanced ventilation via an energy recovery ventilator keeps your home comfortable, improves indoor air quality and works with your home's design.The Panasonic BalancedHome® ERV complements the modern home and is essential for long-term home performance.When you're building a new home or remodeling your existing one, you'll have many choices to make. Most homeowners focus on visible features like kitchens, flooring and smart technology. But there's one system that matters just as much, and it's hidden behind your walls: your home's ventilation. Why ventilation mattersThink of your home's ventilation system as its lungs. It brings in fresh outdoor air and removes stale indoor air. Good ventilation means fresher air throughout your home, better moisture control, and fewer odors and indoor pollutants.Every home needs proper ventilation. Whether you live in a cold northern region, a hot and humid southern state or anywhere in between, proper ventilation keeps your home comfortable, healthy and structurally sound.Where traditional ventilation systems fall shortModern homes are designed to be super energy-efficient, which means they're sealed more carefully than ever before. The downside? That same seal that saves on your electric bill also traps stale air, humidity and cooking odors inside. Traditional mechanical ventilation systems work with a one-way approach. Some pull air out of your home and hope fresh air seeps in through cracks and gaps. Others push air in and hope stale air escapes the same way. Neither approach works well in today's airtight homes.The result? Uneven comfort, excess moisture accumulation, condensation on windows, spatial air dead zones, lingering cooking odors, and a buildup of indoor pollutants from everyday activities like showering and cleaning. It gets worse. Exhaust-only systems can create negative pressure, allowing moisture and contaminants to seep into your walls. Supply-only systems trap moisture inside, increasing the risk of mold and long-term damage to your roof, walls, foundation and insulation.As homes become more energy-efficient and airtight, ventilation is no longer optional. It is essential for your family's comfort and long-term home performance.Why an ERV is the solution for balanced ventilationAn energy recovery ventilator (ERV) continuously brings fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air. And it does something traditional systems can't. It transfers heat and moisture between the incoming and outgoing air streams. As energy codes continue to evolve and builders construct tighter, more efficient homes, balanced ventilation is becoming an increasingly important part of residential design. So, how can you ensure your new home provides the ventilation you need for good indoor air quality, long-term home performance and year-round comfort in any climate? The key is balanced ventilation powered by an ERV.One example of a balanced ventilation solution is the Panasonic BalancedHome® Elite+ 210, an energy recovery ventilator designed for modern single-family homes. The system delivers what modern single-family homes need by:Helping maintain indoor comfort while reducing energy lossFiltering incoming air to support healthier indoor environmentsAllowing homeowners to monitor system performanceOffering installation flexibility for different home designsOperating quietly in living spaces Modern ventilation completes the modern homeAs homes become more energy-efficient and airtight, ventilation is no longer optional. It is essential for your family's comfort and long-term home performance. Homeowners who prioritize balanced ventilation can enjoy fresher indoor air, improved comfort and greater confidence that their home is performing as intended.To learn more about the benefits of balanced ventilation, ERVs and why a new home isn't complete without it, visit BalancedHome® ERV - Elite Plus Models - 210 \| Panasonic North America - United States.*BalancedHome® 210 performance may vary based on installation, operating conditions and climate.
	People are willing to pay more for climate-proof wine, study shows People are willing to pay more for climate-proof wine, study showsWhat’s a winemaker to do on a warming planet? Much has been written about how climate change threatens viticulture around the globe — or at least, threatens to fundamentally change the practice. A long-lasting drought in Chile is forcing winemakers to rethink irrigation systems. Vintners in California must not only endure wildfires but also the smoke that comes with them and lingers, which can alter the taste of their grapes. Severe frosts in the Champagne region of France are also altering the acidity and flavor profile of vineyards’ grapes, although some growers are starting to lean into that.A new study out of Cornell University looks at three techniques that winegrape producers can use to adapt to warmer temperatures, ranging from relatively simple and inexpensive to potentially existential: install shade cloth to shield precious grapes from the harsh effects of the sun; grow new varieties of grapes better adapted to the heat; or relocate to cooler climates. The researchers found that, for all three cases, when these changes are communicated to shoppers, consumers are willing to pay a premium for these climate-resilient wines — even if it means some of the name-brand recognition of, say, California’s Napa Valley is lost in the process.The idea behind the market study was to help growers understand the climate adaptation strategies available to them, the costs associated with these decisions, and finally, how consumers perceive them.“A producer can make all the changes in the world — but if they don’t resonate well with consumers, then it’s moot,” Alex Susskind, one of the study’s co-authors and a professor of food and beverage management at Cornell University’s school of hotel administration, told Grist.The challenge with the three strategies identified by the researchers — invest in new infrastructure, invest in new grapes, or get up and move — is that only two of them might be immediately obvious to consumers. If a vineyard in California installs shade cloths throughout its estate to protect grapes from sunburn, most shoppers would have no idea, unless it was somehow explicitly stated on the finished product, like on the wine label.On the other hand, if a producer in Napa Valley known for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon grapes switched its focus to Carignane grapes — or if that same grower relocated to Lake County, just an hour or two north — consumers would likely notice. In the third option, for example, those grapes don’t end up producing a bottle of “Napa Valley Cabernet anymore, that’s a Lake County Cabernet,” said Susskind.In other words, the touchpoints that guide many consumers’ choices — what winemaking region a bottle is from, what grape variety they use — change. Of all the options available to winegrape producers, Susskind said, relocating showed the “least desirability” among survey participants, meaning they were least willing to pay more for these wines. But crucially, respondents still said they would pay extra for wines made from these grapes.There are limits to the study. For one, it only considers adaptation strategies for winegrape growers and doesn’t explore climate mitigation strategies, which would help growers to decarbonize production and have an overall lighter impact on the climate. Additionally, only 300 participants answered the survey, most of them college graduates under 40 years of age. Included in the survey respondents were people who reported to “care about environmental issues and read labels on food products,” according to the study — two things not everyone does, or does every time they go shopping. And the researchers acknowledged that there may be a novelty factor at play here — over time, wine-drinkers’ willingness to pay more for these bottles may fade.Still, people in the industry feel that the results are promising. “This is genuinely valuable work,” said Jimena Balic, a winemaking researcher based in Chile. “The economics of climate adaptation in wine are badly under-documented, and putting real numbers to ‘go, stay, or change’ plus the finding that consumers will pay a premium for adaptation, is exactly the kind of evidence growers need.”Balic believes that winegrowers are not likely to invest in any adaptation strategies unless they are likely to pay off. She added that for winegrape producers, adaptation is more likely to be implemented in a more piecemeal way rather than wholesale. Maybe producers plant different varieties of grapes in one part of their land and install shade cloth in another to maximize output. And heat isn’t the only climate threat facing vineyards: While some regions may face drought, others might see unpredictable rainfall, as well as hail, frost, and pests. “Wine risk is multifactorial,” said Balic, “and each hazard carries its own cost and its own adaptation choices.” She would like to see further research expand on these challenges.Similarly, the results of the study didn’t surprise Greg Jones, a wine climatologist and CEO of a winery based in Oregon. “But there’s so many other caveats,” he added. From his point of view, much depends on educating the consumer around the viticultural process and how wine gets made — and then doing more education around how climate change is affecting growers. Whether consumers can perfectly hold all of those things in their minds is something the industry is still figuring out.“We have a system where the consumer is hard to read,” he said.Jones, who has spent the last 25 years studying the impacts of a changing climate on winegrape production, among other things, said he felt encouraged by the Cornell team’s research. “The research says something important, people would be willing to pay more for [these wines],” he added. He hopes it will lead to further studies on adaptation and consumer preference.This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Companies spend six figures on AI. A third of employees don't know what it costs Companies spend six figures on AI. A third of employees don't know what it costsEvery year, someone in finance asks whether the company's AI spend is worth it. Every year, leadership says yes. And every year, the employees actually using the tools have no idea the question was even asked. Now, corporate America is starting to sweat over its AI bill.Microsoft canceled most of its Claude Code licenses, in part over costs. Uber's COO said AI expenses are getting harder to justify. One AI consultant reported that a client spent half a billion dollars in a single month after failing to put usage limits on employee licenses.Most companies haven't gotten that memo. Or if they did, they summarized it with AI and never read the output. According to a Zapier survey of 715 U.S. professionals conducted in April and May 2026, 91% of managers and above say their AI tools are clearly worth the cost, and 86% plan to spend even more over the next 12 months.The confidence is real, but it's concentrated at the top. According to the Zapier survey, nearly 37% of individual contributors (IC) either don't think about the cost of AI usage (25.2%) or don't know their usage has a price tag at all (11.7%). Leadership is doubling down on a bet that most of their workforce can't see, let alone evaluate. That disconnect between boardroom conviction and ground-level awareness is exactly where the AI ROI story gets complicated.Key findings:52% of managers say their organizations spend more than $100K per month on AI-related tools.Only 34% of individual contributors know where the AI budget actually goes.Security concerns are the biggest barrier to getting more from their AI spend, cited by 39% of organizations.Companies growing their AI budgets plan to invest in training, integration, and new licenses equally.52% of managers say their organizations spend more than $100K per month on AI-related toolsThe financial anxiety making headlines hasn't slowed most organizations down. If anything, budgets are moving in the opposite direction.Apparently, nobody forwarded those headlines to the finance team. Nine out of 10 (91%) managers and above—a group that includes managers, senior managers, VPs, and C-suite executives—say AI tools are clearly worth what they're paying. And they're putting real money behind that conviction.More than half (52%) of survey respondents say their organizations now spend over $100,000 per month on tools purchased specifically for their AI capabilities. And 40% have routed more than half of their total software budget to AI, which, if you've ever seen what "the software budget" has to cover at a 500-person company, is not a casual reallocation. Zapier That spending trajectory is only going up—86% of all respondents plan to increase AI investment over the next 12 months, and half of those expect growth of 50% or more.Only 34% of individual contributors know where the AI budget actually goesBudget visibility drops sharply the further you get from the executive level. C-suite respondents and company owners are 2.5 times more likely than individual contributors to have direct visibility into how AI dollars are being spent.Eighty-five percent of executives say they have a clear view of where AI dollars go. But only 34% of ICs say the same, and 23% say, with admirable candor, that it's simply not their job to know. Zapier When the people using AI every day don't know what it costs or why it was purchased in the first place, they can't reasonably be expected to use it in ways that actually justify the investment. Recent conversations around tokenmaxxing, a trend where companies treat the sheer volume of AI activity as a measure of success, illustrate the exact problem. Treating AI usage as a volume game rather than a value game leaves leadership with no real way to tell whether the tools are being used well or just used a lot.Nearly 37% of individual contributors either don't think about what their AI usage costs (25.2%) or don't know it has a cost at all (11.7%). By contrast, 75% of C-suite respondents actively think about cost efficiency when using AI tools, meaning leadership is far more mindful of spend on a daily basis than the people actually driving that spend through their usage.The result is a spending structure where budgets keep growing, confidence stays high at the top, and nobody in the boardroom actually knows if their employees are doing meaningful work with AI or just burning tokens to summarize their own emails.Security concerns are the biggest barrier to getting more from their AI spend, cited by 39% of organizationsLeadership conviction does not, as it turns out, solve the hard problems. Most organizations are still running into real obstacles that limit the returns on what they're spending.Security, compliance, and governance concerns top the list, cited by 39% of respondents as the single biggest challenge to getting more value from their paid AI tools. Data readiness issues (36%) and lack of tool integration (30%) are right behind. These are organizations spending six figures a month and planning to spend even more, and they're still hitting the same walls. Budget size alone isn't solving it.Only 17% say they have no challenges at all. The other 83% have some notes.The security and governance numbers stand out for a reason. As more employees gain access to AI tools, open questions about their impact stack up: Who has access to what?What data are agents touching?Are those actions auditable? Without controls in place across employees, AI agents, and company systems, most organizations have no reliable way to answer any of those questions.That same accountability problem shows up in the integration data. More than half (52%) of organizations already pay for AI automation and agents, yet almost 1 in 3 still cite a lack of tool integration as a top barrier. Paying for automation and actually governing how that automation runs across your systems are two different problems, and right now, most companies are only solving one of them.Companies growing their AI budgets plan to invest in training, integration, and new licenses equallyThe next round of AI budget increases isn't going entirely toward more tools and more tokens. Among organizations increasing their AI budgets over the next 12 months, employee training (54%), AI automation and agents (53%), and software licenses (53%) are essentially tied as the top priorities. The next wave of AI investment looks less like a shopping spree and more like an infrastructure build.That training focus makes sense given what happens without it. Zapier's 2026 AI workslop survey found that untrained workers are six times more likely to say AI makes them less productive. Handing someone a powerful tool with no context for how to use it doesn't just fail to deliver returns—it can actively drag productivity in the wrong direction.And despite cost pressures, governance challenges, and the disconnect in visibility between leadership and the people actually using the tools, most organizations aren't second-guessing their direction. Seventy-seven percent said they would make the same AI investments again, and nearly half said they would have moved even faster from the start.Leadership is confident, and budgets are growing, but that confidence doesn't automatically translate into accountability or visibility across the rest of the organization. The bigger the AI budget gets, the more that blind spot costs.MethodologyThe survey was conducted by Centiment on behalf of Zapier. The survey was fielded between April 28, 2026, and May 18, 2026. The results are based on 715 completed surveys. To qualify, respondents were screened to be U.S. professionals who work for a company with 500-plus employees and have direct knowledge of their company's AI initiatives. The company must use at least three paid AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude for Business, OpenAI/Anthropic/Google Cloud APIs). The respondents were screened to create a 50/50 split (within 5%) between individual contributors and those at the manager level or above. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3.6% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Races return to Davenport Speedway after Mississippi Valley Fair Only one race remains in the regular point season at Davenport Speedway. When racing returns to the track after the Mississippi Valley Fair, it will be Season Championship night. Among the many questions to be answered on Friday, Aug. 14: Will the IMCA Late Model class see a repeat winner? Through the first seven late [...]
	Galena High School set to welcome students back to $33 million campus Construction crews have spent the last year gutting and rebuilding the high school campus.
	Muscatine seeks seasonal-work applicants The City of Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is seeking applicants for several season positions for 2026 including Program Instructor, Program Aide, and Seasonal Equipment Operator, a news release says These roles are ideal for students, individuals seeking temporary or flexible work, and community-minded residents interested in supporting recreational programs and park services. Seasonal employees [...]
	Crayola convierte el curso escolar 2026 en el más colorido (y lavable) hasta el momento (BPT) - La vuelta a clases está llena de posibilidades. Mochilas nuevas, útiles nuevos, momentos coloridos y, para padres y profesores, una larga lista de tareas pendientes y costos cada vez más elevados. Es aquí donde aparece Crayola, la marca número uno preferida de padres y maestros.La libertad de crear sin límitesLos marcadores lavables Crayola Ultra-Clean permiten a los niños, y a sus padres, crear con confianza. Estos marcadores no tóxicos, cuya facilidad de lavado en manos, ropa, escritorios y paredes pintadas ha quedado demostrada en cientos de pruebas de lavado, ofrecen colores vivos para todo tipo de actividades, desde libros para colorear hasta proyectos escolares. Son perfectos para un aprendizaje divertido y colorido, tanto en casa como en el aula, con una limpieza en la que puede confiar. Clics innovadores Además de que son lavables, hay otro motivo de frustración que frena la creatividad: que las tapas se pierdan, que los marcadores se sequen y que a los lápices haya que sacarles punta todo el tiempo. Los Crayola Clicks superan estos obstáculos gracias a su diseño retráctil.A los Clicks Colored Pencils (Lápices de colores Click) no hay que sacarles punta, ya que cuentan con una mina retráctil de 2.0 mm e incluyen 24 minas de repuesto. Los Clicks Markers (marcadores Clicks) cuentan con puntas retráctiles, por lo que no hay posibilidad de perder tapas ni de que los marcadores se sequen al día siguiente. Los Clicks Highlighters (resaltadores Clicks) tienen un color uniforme y suave que se limpia con facilidad de la piel y la ropa. Disponible en las gamas "Classic" (Clásica), "Bold & Bright" (Atrevida y brillante), "New Pastel" (Nuevos tonos pastel) y "New Neon" (Nuevos tonos neón).Útiles motivadores para todos los estudiantes ¿Sabía que durante la temporada de vuelta a clases se venden 5.1 cajas de Crayola Crayons (crayones Crayola) por segundo? Son el decimotercer producto más vendido en tiendas, situándose entre las bananas y el agua en la lista de productos básicos.Desde infinitas posibilidades creativas en casa hasta obras maestras en el aula, la caja de 24 crayones viene con colores primarios y secundarios, además del tan amado amarillo "Dandelion" (diente de león), que se ha vuelto a incluir de forma permanente a pedido del público.Y cuando toda la clase esté lista para ponerse a crear, Crayola respalda a los maestros. Para ayudar a los maestros a garantizar que tengan los materiales suficientes para todos los estudiantes de su aula este otoño y durante todo el año, considere regalar uno de estos paquetes de útiles escolares esenciales para el aula, como Crayons (crayones), Colored Pencils (lápices de colores) y Markers (marcadores).Los lotes al por mayor garantizan que una mayor cantidad de estudiantes pueda desarrollar su creatividad en el transcurso del año escolar, convirtiéndolos así en la mejor opción para los maestros a la hora de preparar las aulas, organizar campañas de donación en la comunidad, realizar actividades para todo el grupo y desarrollar proyectos colaborativos que impulsen la imaginación de cada estudiante.¿Todo listo para empezar el nuevo año escolar? Puede encontrar todos estos artículos imprescindibles para la vuelta al clases, además de muchos otros útiles para fomentar la creatividad de sus hijos, en Crayola.com y en tiendas de todo el país.Fuente: TeacherList.com (septiembre de 2025)Fuente: Numerator TruView//USA Retail (julio de 2025)
	'Furious' is an unforgettable thriller, not just a 'Black Widow' remake The new Hulu series stars Emmy Rossum as an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer. It was inspired by Black Widow, but Furious totally transforms the 1987 film.
	Almost daily shower and storm chances Warm and humid conditions will turn hot again late this weekend. While the Quad Cities will see many dry hours each day over the next week, we'll also see many storm chances. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Iowa 2026 poll: Sand leads governor's race; Hinson holds narrow Senate advantage; Trump, Reynolds approval ratings underwater A new Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey of Iowa voters in the race for Governorfinds 48% of voters support Democrat Rob Sand, while 43% support Republican Zach Lahn.Seven percent are undecided. In the race for U.S. Senate, 48% support Republican AshleyHinson, while 45% support Democrat Josh Turek. Six percent are undecided. “Driving Democratic competition in [...]
	The Hippie Priest This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Earlier this summer, Father James Grubb celebrated the 40th year of his ordination with a solemn High Mass at his…
	How deep-rooted medical bias creates deadly consequences for addiction patients Addiction treatments are safe, effective — and rarely offered to patients. That's because many doctors and nurses still view people with alcohol or drug addiction with suspicion and hostility.
	Hospital staff said he was faking it and released him. He died from an overdose soon after Addiction treatments are safe, effective — and rarely offered to patients. That's because many doctors and nurses still view people with alcohol or drug addiction with suspicion and hostility.
	Celebrity culture is one thing. For TMZ, Congress is the new 'reality show' TMZ is trading Hollywood gossip for Capitol Hill scoops with a new D.C. bureau, launched in April. The online tabloid's two-man crew has brought an unconventional reporting style to the Congress beat.
	The keepers of the Grateful Dead's history The Grateful Dead understood the importance of recording its legacy. A number of archivists and historians are dedicated to maintaining the band's immense collection of music and memorabilia.
	Does permanent daylight saving time save energy? What studies have found With a little less than three months until our clocks are set to "fall back" to standard time, the pressure to pass a bill that could prevent that is on, including from the Oval Office.
	Senate committee set to vote on whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security Committee want to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer their questions about the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
	Drone with explosives found at German airport, official sees 'new quality' of threat Regional police and prosecutors said an airport employee discovered a drone near the airport's south runway with "an unknown explosive device," and the object was examined by police
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026
	Traveling ‘Americans and the Holocaust’ exhibit coming to Burlington Public Library The Burlington Public Library will host the national Americans and the Holocaust Traveling Exhibition from Aug. 19 to Sept. 30, offering visitors a free, in‑depth look at how Americans understood and responded to the Holocaust through contemporary news, media and government communications.
	Galena 5K Stair Challenge marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 The Galena Area EMS District will host the 5K Stair Challenge on Sept. 12, honoring 9/11 heroes and raising funds for local first responders through a family‑friendly run, walk and climb event in historic Galena.
	Numbers up for social security in Iowa and Illinois: What's next? Federal data from the end of 2025 shows more than two million people in Illinois and more than 717,000 people in Iowa get social security. As more than 70 million Americans utilize social security in some way, Our Quad Cities News NewsNation correspondent Gabrielle Caracciolo reports there's bipartisan agreement the financial problem can't be ignored.
	Iowa State football opens fall camp under first-year coach Jimmy Rogers Iowa State football completed its first day of fall camp Wednesday under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, who takes over a roster with zero returning starters from last season.
	High school football preview: Moline Maroons Moline football opened practice on the first official day of the fall season in Illinois, coming off a 9-2 record and a Western Big Six Conference championship in which the Maroons went undefeated in conference play.
	WATCH: Illinois House Speaker Welch breaks silence on ethics controversy When new allegations about Benton came to light earlier this year, Welch’s office said they submitted what had been documented in 2023 as part of their complaint.
	National Dek Hockey Summer Tournament kicks off in the Quad Cities The tournament continues through Sunday, and games can be livestreamed.
	Gateway Bridge takes shape over Middle Road The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to reconfigure the Interstate 80 and Middle Road Interchange, a news release says. Just south of that, the Gateway Bridge will allow walkers, runners, and bicyclists to cross Middle Road safely in one of the fastest-growing regions in the area that includes the TBK Bank Sports Complex, The Plex [...]
	Iowa DNR sharing changings to deer hunting season 8 counties in western Iowa will have more restrictions than the rest of the state. Hunters will have to decide where they hunt when they get a deer license.
	Quad Cities International Airport to conduct mass casualty drill on Wednesday, Aug. 12 The Federal Aviation Administration mandates that a drill be done every three years.
	Clinton data center ordinance advances to City Council The planning council recommended a draft version of the ordinance, but council members can still decide which parts are included.
	Mississippi Valley Fair announces 2 performers for next year The Mississippi Valley Fair might be underway, but you can start getting excited for next year.
	Davenport plans Goose Creek restoration using multiple grants Davenport is using 8 to 9 state and local grants to restore Goose Creek, add bioretention cells, and improve nearby parks and trails. Construction starts this fall.
	Morrison man faces sexual assault charges Illinois State Police arrested the man on Wednesday following an investigation into allegations of sexual crimes in Wisconsin and Illinois.
	Davenport takes next step to prevent trucks from hitting low railroad bridge The Davenport City Council voted to take the next step to prevent trucks from hitting a low railroad bridge in the Village of East Davenport. The plan involves getting money from the State of Iowa. City council approved applying for a traffic safety improvement grant for $68,000 from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The money [...]
	Quad City Bank & Trust renews Riverfront Pops sponsorship for 5 years Officials from the Quad City Bank & Trust and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra announced they’re extending the sponsorship through 2031.
	Illinois offers temporary sales tax reduction on back-to-school shopping From Friday, Aug. 7, through Aug. 16 the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%.
	Iowa DNR changes deer hunting rules in 8 northwest Iowa counties Under the new rules, general deer licenses in certain counties will only be valid for antlered bucks.

Thursday, August 6th, 2026

Wednesday, August 5th, 2026