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

Tuesday, October 13th, 2026
	Still warm, but not as hot We won't see record highs again today in the Quad Cities, but it'll still be warmer than usual. Colder air is on the way. A few showers and storms are possible today with better rain chances coming. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Marriage and Family Counseling Service names Executive Director Derek Ball will lead the Marriage and Family Counseling Service, succeeding William Hiebert, who will remain a senior therapist/director emeritus.
	The Spicy Brain Tattoo Studio opens in NorthPark Mall The tattoo shop has over 1,600 square feet of room. The newly expanded studio offers more comfort and accessibility for clients.
	No place like home: Sean Moeller brings his favorite music to his hometown Sean Moeller is the mind behind some of the Quad-Cities’ most beloved venues, including the Raccoon Motel and Codfish Hollow.
	Gretchen at Work: Of all the jobs I've tried, this one was my favorite After four years of telling the Quad-Cities' stories, Gretchen Teske is turning the page.
	Devontae Brooks, loan officer with Rate, to host a ribbon-cutting and open house Rate is built on low rates, innovative technology, and a culture focused on exceptional service and transparency for clients and partners alike.
	Charla Schafer recognized with 2026 Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa Award Charla Schafer, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, has received one of the HousingIowa Conference's most prestigious honors.
	What ice cream has to do with this year's Nobel Prize in economics Prices can get sticky. That helps explain why recessions hurt so much — and what policymakers can do about them.
	Model Trains This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.By day, Lou Belby is a perfectly normal professor of Spanish and Latin American literature. Late each afternoon he…
	One way to protect coral reefs? Bring back seabirds Coral reefs are facing increasing threats around the globe. But on a remote Pacific island, scientists have found that reefs can get help from a surprising ally: seabirds.
	Win or lose, independent candidates want to meet voters in the middle Nearly 200 independent candidates in more than 100 congressional races are trying to prove there's an alternative to the two party system — even though the chance of winning is very low.
	Should states force cities to build cheaper houses? Voters here will decide Voters in Massachusetts will decide whether to require cities and towns to allow smaller homes on smaller lots. A growing number of states are doing the same to help ease a housing shortage.
	Polls are a snapshot, and other helpful things to remember during the midterm elections With Election Day just a few weeks away — and millions of votes already cast — midterm polls are everywhere. While polling can be a helpful tool to understand the electorate, it's not a crystal ball.
	Iowa ranks #3 for states loving candy corn While it's traditionally known as part of the Corn Belt region, Iowa can now lay claim to coming in at number three in states loving candy corn! Producing nearly 20 million pounds every year and making up the vast majority of candy corn sold in the U.S., Brach’s has released new data listing the top [...]
	DNA and vehicle-tracking help French investigators recover stolen Renoirs DNA left on a protective painting cover helped investigators recover two stolen Renoirs and uncover what they suspected were preparations for another art heist, a French prosecutor said Monday.
	RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' actor and disability rights champion, dies at 34 Actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte, who brought a lifetime of experience with cerebral palsy to fictional family struggles in an essential role on "Breaking Bad," died Monday at age 34.
Monday, October 12th, 2026
	Illinois Red Cross chapters looking for more volunteers Recruiting volunteers has been more difficult since the pandemic, but the Quad Cities chapter leader says it's rewarding work.
	Rock Island city and county combining law enforcement tactical teams The units handle high-risk situations like drug search warrants, hostage-barricaded subjects and active shooters.
	Semi truck driver suffers minor injuries in rural Stockton rollover crash Investigators believe the truck was headed west on Route 20 when it exited the roadway while trying to navigate a curve.
	Lights, Camera, Snackers: How Aspiring Filmmakers Can Enter to Win $25,000 Lights, Camera, Snackers: How Aspiring Filmmakers Can Enter to Win $25,000 (Feature Impact) The director’s chair is open and the opportunity to create the next great snack-sized movie could be yours. For the second year, Bumble Bee is bringing back its Tuna “Cans”Film Festival, giving aspiring filmmakers and creators the chance to turn a script written by comedian and actress, Grace Reiter, into an original short film starring its deliciously convenient tuna Snackers. Watch the video to learn more! “I love a chance to support those starting out in the film industry – and this time, I’m partnering with Bumble Bee for the Tuna Cans Film Festival to do it,” Reiter said. “Plus, I’m making it easy: I already wrote the script.” Using Reiter’s scripted lines, creators can make the story entirely their own, bringing their vision to life through original characters, settings, music, editing and creative flair. The creative brief is simple: The finished film must be 60 seconds or less and Bumble Bee Snackers™ need to get their moment in the spotlight. Plus, the stakes are bigger than ever: The winning filmmaker will take home a $25,000 grand prize to help make their filmmaking dreams a reality. Creators can submit their original short film by Oct. 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The film can be funny, dramatic, unexpected or all three. The lines are already written but the order, arrangement and any additions are open to creative interpretation. Now it's time to see what you can do with it. Visit tunacansfilmfest.com, where you can find Reiter’s original script, submission instructions and complete contest details, to get started.
	Miller-Meeks makes two stops in Bettendorf as part of national business tour Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, made two stops in Bettendorf on Monday as part of a national business tour. Your Local Election Headquarters is tracking the campaigns nearly three weeks out from Election Day. The Iowa Republican joined the U. S. Chamber of Commerce’s Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour. The first stop was Small Town Pastry, [...]
	Iowa voters can cast early ballots soon: Scott County auditor discusses process Early voting is already underway in Illinois, and Iowa voters can join in starting Wednesday. Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins says starting then, voters can cast their ballots at the county auditor's office or at one of 14 satellite locations. Some important deadlines are coming up next week. “If you would like to vote from [...]
	Illinois Red Cross chapters looking for more volunteers after busy summer Recruiting volunteers has been more difficult since the pandemic, but the Quad Cities chapter leader says it's rewarding work.
	Iowa sees 3rd consecutive year of above-average precipitation The state's climatologist says this won't erase Iowa's years of drought. Plus, the increased rainfall has not been evenly spread in area or timing.
	United Way of Whiteside County gets grant to provide food for local children United Way of Whiteside County is getting a $10,000 grant to help provide food for local children. The money will support its “Let’s Feed Our Children” summer meal program. This summer, the program provided nearly $50,000 grab-and-go meals to children through 17 distribution sites across Whiteside Count. Kids don’t need to register. They can just [...]
	Rock Island voters can meet candidates at NAACP forum Voters in Rock Island will have a chance to hear directly from candidates ahead of the November election. The NAACP will host a voter forum from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Rock Island. Races include the 17th Congressional District, Illinois Senate District 36, and Illinois House Districts 71 and [...]
	Rock Island police and sheriff to formally combine tactical teams City leaders approved an agreement to formally combine the two agency’s tactical teams during a meeting Monday evening.
	Muscatine mayor works with IDOT to minimize disruption from bridge closure Muscatine’s mayor is working with the Iowa DOT to minimize disruptions from a planned closure of the Interstate 80 Bridge next year. The Norbert F. Beckey Bridge over the Mississippi River will close form four to six weeks in 2027. In a letter to the community, Mayor Brad Bark says the crossing is a vital [...]
	Fire severely damages longtime restaurant in Princeton Crews responded to the Big Apple on Main Street around 7:45 p.m. Saturday in Princeton, Illinois. Firefighters found flames in the dining area that caused heavy damage. Heat and smoke also damaged the rest of the restaurant. The fire marshal determined that the fire started with an electrical issue. A GoFundMe has been set up [...]
	After 18 holes, North Scott in fourth place at state golf North Scott’s boys’ golf team put itself in position to compete for two state titles after Monday’s state golf tournament opening round at Davenport Country Club. Bunched-up team and individual leaderboards set the stage for anyone to claim state golf glory on Tuesday. On the team side, five schools are within nine shots of the lead. Top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes held steady with a 294. The Mustangs hold a four-shot advantage over second-place Cedar Rapids Prairie. Dubuque Wahlert shot an even 300 to stick in third place, while North Scott remains a threat in fourth place with a 301. Waukee Northwest is fifth with a 303, while home course advantage has not proven helpful for Pleasant Valley. The Spartans are in sixth place after a 306 round. North Scott is led by junior Andrew Vollbeer, who ended his day with a 1-over 72. He is in a four-way tie for fourth place. Vollbeer was tied for the lead at 1-under with one hole to go, but a double bogey on 18 dropped him down into a chasing position. The Mississippi Athletic Conference and district tournament champion opened 1-under through six holes, but made the turn at 1-over. He got to 2-over through 12 holes, but Vollbeer birdied three of his next four holes to get back under par and into contention. Senior Jaxon Adkisson, seeking a consecutive medal at state, is in a massive tie for ninth place at 3-over 74. Adkisson was 1-under through six holes, but three consecutive bogeys halted his progress at the turn. Adkisson steadied the ship with eight pars on the back nine with just one bogey to settle his scorecard. Sophomore Michael Phillips was North Scott’s third-best scorer at state last season. He is in that position again after one day with a 6-over 77 and in a tie for 27th place. Phillips played the front nine 1-over, but played the back nine at 5-over without finding a birdie. Junior Luke Leverenz scored for North Scott with a 7-over 78, while junior Max McClintock (9-over 80) and freshman James Vollbeer (12-over 83) will look to help the team finish strong. Cal Martineau of Wahlert Catholic clings to first place as the only golfer to go under par on Monday. He shot a 1-under 70 made up of four birdies and three bogeys. Henry Sobaski of Cedar Rapids Prairie and Avery Van Zelderen of Dallas Center-Grimes are tied for second at even par. The North Scott Press will have complete coverage of the state golf tournament in its Oct. 21 edition.
	2 men accused of selling fake phones to West Burlington Walmart kiosk Police officials said 89 transactions earned the suspects just shy of $6,800.
	Record high temperature set Monday in Quad Cities We did it! We hit 88° for the first time ever on October 12th in the Quad Cities. This breaks the old record of 87° from the 1940s. Tuesday looks warm too, but not quite as hot. We'll be in the low to mid 80s Tuesday.
	USDA Rural Development invests nearly $13M into Iowa communities USDA announced investments of more than $12.9 million in Iowa cooperatives to help support their pass-through and revolving loan funds.
	Davenport, Muscatine were first cities in Iowa to recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day The Quad Cities Area has historically been a home for members of the Sauk and Meskwaki nations.
	Debate preview: Josh Turek focusing on health care, tariffs, economy Nexstar Media's Senate debate is scheduled for October 13; here's what Josh Turek is running on.
	Injured man taken from Rock Island scene after reports of gunfire An injured man was removed from the scene after gunfire was reported about 5 p.m. Monday in Rock Island. Police put up crime scene tape at the Corner View convenience store and gas station at the intersection of 7th Avenue and 24th Street. A crowd in the area watched as officers and emergency vehicles gathered. [...]
	Two Burlington men accused of selling cardboard phones to Walmart kiosk The alleged scheme resulted in about 80 fraudulent transactions between April 12 and May 12, according to the West Burlington Police Department.
	Study: EICC generates $710 million in regional economic impact According to the study, 1 in every 22 jobs in our area is supported by EICC, its students and alumni. Today, many of those jobs are in healthcare.
	Diesel relief becomes key issue for Iowa voters ahead of midterms New study shows agriculture’s economic reach extends beyond the state’s farmers.
	Woman arrested after driving vehicle into pedestrians behind Davenport bar A Davenport woman is in custody after driving her vehicle into a group of pedestrians over the weekend.
	Community rallies around Big Apple Family Restaurant after fire Firefighters responded around 7:45 p.m. for a medium size fire at Big Apple Family Restaurant.
	Debate preview: Ashley Hinson focuses on health care, fuel prices, cancer research The 2026 Midterm Elections have several highly watched contests in Iowa, including the Senate seat currently held by Joni Ernst. Ashley Hinson won favor in the Republican primary in June with 74% of the vote. In anticipation of Nexstar Media's Senate debate scheduled for Oct. 13, here's how Hinson plans to address top concerns among [...]
	Davenport to begin phasing in two-way travel on 4th Street Once work is complete, 4th Street will fully switch to two-way traffic between Harrison and East River Drive.
	Another truck loses its roof to Davenport’s infamous Brady Street bridge Brady Street bridge claims another semi truck in downtown Davenport, shearing off trailer roof and scattering debris across three traffic lanes.
	Heavy police presence at Corner View gas station in Rock Island A heavy police presence is currently on scene at the Corner View gas station in Rock Island.
	Man arrested in California waives extradition back to Iowa The man who was arrested last week in California on warrants from a kidnapping and shooting in Davenport waived extradition back to Iowa on Monday.
	New White House press secretary a 'devoted fan' of Trump and MAGA Katie Zacharia worked for one of Trump's companies and raised her profile appearing on conservative-leaning talk shows. She also amplified right-wing conspiracy theories. Now she'll be the president's chief spokesperson.
	Government spent $10 million on pro-Trump ads after president said super PAC would fund Nearly $22 million in taxpayers funds has been spent to air the ads, with nearly half spent after Trump promised to fund what the White House calls public service announcements through his super PAC.
	Fire leaves major damage to Princeton's Big Apple Family Restaurant Fire officials have determined the fire was caused by electrical issues in the dining room.
	Complaint filed against Iowa senator alleging he lives in Illinois. Senator says it's not true. An ethics complaint alleges Iowa Sen. Scott Webster lives across the state line in Illinois. Webster denies the claim, calling it a political stunt.
	Former prison inmate sues state and counselor over alleged sexual exploitation A former Iowa prison inmate is suing the state’s Department of Corrections over her alleged sexual exploitation by a prison counselor.
	Iowa reports water surplus for third year in a row The last 12 months were the 20th wettest year in Iowa's history, with just over 38 inches of precipitation.
	Here are the semifinalists and commended for the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Over 1.2 million entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.
	Moline police sound alarm on scam targeting elderly, California man arrested Police posted on social media that scammers are pretending to be from the government and telling victims to act to avoid further problems.
	Davenport woman allegedly withdraws over $28k under 7 bank accounts including 6 deceased members Amanda Tincher of Davenport faces five felony charges. The IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union employee is accused of making multiple suspicious transactions.
	New study finds Eastern Iowa Community Colleges generate more than $700 million for local economies That value, generated across Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott Counties, makes up approximately 3.3% of the region's total GDP.
	Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks visits Quad Cities businesses alongside U.S. Chamber of Commerce The congresswoman's stops included Small Town Pastry and Silverthorne Homebuilders.
	Davenport woman allegedly withdraws over $28k under 7 bank accounts including 6 dead members Amanda Tincher of Davenport faces five felony charges. The IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union employee is accused of making multiple suspicious transactions.
	Muscatine auctioning off historic trolley The 1985 trolley was once a gift to the city. Now, it will need extensive repairs.
	Governor Reynolds orders flags half-staff for firefighter who died on duty Charles Jones died on October 8 from a medical emergency he suffered while responding to a fire the previous day. He was 52 years old.
	Quad Cities Growing Families helps those navigating infertility treatment A new organization provides financial assistance to those in the QCA navigating infertility treatment. Brittany Zirkle and Megan Bausman joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about Quad Cities Growing Families. For more information, click here.
	Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly to retire at end of season Bill Fennelly, the winningest coach in Iowa State athletics history, announced Monday that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
	Lee County man arrested, pleads guilty to drug delivery charges A Lee County man has been arrested after a July investigation by the Lee County Narcotics Task Force.
	“STRONG Minds” weekly programming series focusing on youth mental health to begin this week in Davenport Davenport Parks and Recreation is launching a weekly program with AmeriCorps called “STRONG Minds” to build relationship and communication skills for kids aged 12 to 15. The first session will occur on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
	Profiles in Faith: Rock Island's Word of Life Church derives diverse congregation from across the Quad Cities Monday means another weekend of religious services across the Quad Cities … has come and gone. This week, WVIK’s Joseph Leahy joined worshipers at Word of Life Church on 7th Avenue in Rock Island and has this profile in faith.
	Enjoy beer in Clinton, support Midwest Pets for Life Enjoy craft beer while raising funds for pet care in Clinton. Purina’s Raise a Pint for Pets event will be at 7 Hills South, 238 4th Avenue S. in Clinton on Oct. 17 from 1 – 4 p.m. The event will have raffles, giveaways and local beer and $1 per pint will be donated to [...]
	REVIEW: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at The Black Box Theatre in Moline I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 – 5th Avenue in Moline, October 16,17, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday October 18 at 2:00 p.m.
	Coralville chef wins best-in-state award The Iowa Restaurant Association has named Chef Cory Barrett of Barrett's in Coralville as its 2026 Chef of the Year.
	SIU researchers use emerging technology to find best method for measuring deer population density Researchers at Southern Illinois University are cooperating across departments to find the best method for determining the density of deer populations.
	University of Northern Iowa fundraising campaign ends with more than $340 million The University of Northern Iowa’s fundraising campaign garnered a record amount of donations that put it more than $90 million ahead of its original goal.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center brings Mobile Vet Van to Rock Island Public Library Quad City Animal Welfare Center (QCAWC) is bringing its Mobile Vet Van to the Rock Island Public Library's Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, on Oct. 21 from 2 – 4 p.m. Dog and cat parents can access low-cost vaccinations and preventive care products at the Vet Van. The Mobile Vet Van is part of QCAWC's [...]
	Roger Craig to attend stadium dedication on Thursday Roger Craig will be in attendance on Thursday for the dedication of the Davenport football stadium in his name.
	Meet the candidates running for Iowa House District 98 Incumbent Democrat Monica Kurth is not seeking another term. Democrat Andrew Fitzgerald, an automation technician, and Republican Nathan Ramker, a small business owner, are vying for the open House District 98 seat.
	QC Pride in Memory creates online Story Map, progresses in documentary Augustana College professor Chris Strunk has created an interactive digital Story Map to document key moments and places of LGTBQ+ history in the QC, gathered by Quad Cities Pride in Memory.
	United Way of Whiteside County receives $10,000 grant The grant will support the growing need of 'Let's Feed our Children,' a summer meal program, which provided nearly 50,000 meals to local kids this past summer.
	Fire temporarily closes Big Apple Family Restaurant, Princeton A Princeton restaurant that has been open for decades is temporarily closed after a fire in the dining room over the weekend. A post on the Princeton Fire Department’s Facebook page said firefighters were called to the Big Apple Family Restaurant, 2136 N. Main Street, for a report of a structure fire on Oct. 10 [...]
	Election complaint: Iowa Sen. Scott Webster lives in Illinois Iowa law requires state senators to have lived in Iowa for at least one year and in their district for at least 60 days before an election.
	The scams targeting you most, by age group Ahead of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, there’s no better time to focus on your risk of falling victim to a scam.In 2025, the Federal Trade Commission logged a record $15.9 billion in fraud losses from 3 million fraud reports. When thinking about a scam, you might picture an older adult getting tricked out of their retirement fund, but the harsh truth is that anyone can fall victim to a hoax.It is true that older victims lose more per incident, as FTC data shows, but younger adults actually file reports for loss due to fraud more frequently. Age isn’t a predictor of whether you’ll get scammed, but the kind of scam you might face often depends on your age. Spokeo has put together a list of the different kinds of scams that are most prevalent today, leveraging fraud data from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network and its general data banks.What the matrix measuresNo two scams are exactly the same. The matrix below breaks down the most common scams faced by each age group, calculated based on the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2024 fraud reports: Spokeo The data used to calculate the percentages is the share of fraud reports per category where the person claimed they actually lost money. It can be treated like a proxy for the success of a scam. Younger age groups report losing money at a remarkably higher rate than their older counterparts. For instance, adults aged 20-29 lost money in 79% of cases involving online shopping scams and 83% of investment-related scams.Those rates decline with age. People aged 60-69 lost money in only 70% and 76% of the same cases, and those even older, aged 70-79, lost money in only 64% and 72% of cases.This trend flips when the type of scam specifically targets older adults, such as lottery or government impersonation tactics.Additionally, as people age, the midpoint dollar amount reported lost rises sharply. Based on the FTC’s 2024-2025 Protecting Older Consumers data, those 80 and older reported a median loss above $1,600, the highest of any age group and well above what the average young adult loses in a single incident. Younger people may get defrauded more often, but older victims usually lose the most per scam.The impact of severe cases of fraudThe data showing younger adults being scammed more but older adults losing more is a year-over-year trend. Total fraud losses reported by older adults (ages 60 and over) increased about fourfold from 2020 to 2024, skyrocketing from about $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024.To be fair, a small share of severe cases of fraud skews the picture further. The earlier FTC report outlines how losses of $100,000 or more, while rare, account for the majority of the dollars older adults lost across the grand total.Scam profiles by cohortThe efficacy of scams by age group may depend on the type of scam itself. Digital-based scams are likely to have the most success against younger individuals, whereas more traditional scams fare better against older adults. The type of scam often comes back to how the scammers first made contact.For people under 30, social media is the first point of contact for many scammers, while adults over 30 tend to be targeted via a website or apps. For adults over 80, the No. 1 method of contact is a phone call.Around the age of 60, the primary contact method of scammers seems to change. Phone calls climb steadily in their share of first contact, while social media falls.For every age group, online shopping is the top scam, followed by business and government impostors. Older adults tend to be more targeted for hoaxes related to prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries.What readers should doTo protect yourself, you need to know what to watch for. That means knowing the specific type of scam you’re most likely to be targeted by and how they intend to reach you.If you’re young, investment pitches and marketplace deals arising from social media should raise your suspicion. If you’re middle-aged, it might be a business or job opportunity that seems too good to be true. Those on the older side might want to pause if there are any unusual tech support claims or government contact in their life. Regardless of age, the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network and the FBI’s IC3 both remain good places to check whether a certain scam tactic is prevalent before responding to a cold contact.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's DC home, DOJ says it approved the warrant The Justice Department says the search is part of an "ongoing federal investigation", while Omar calls it "an attempt to target political enemies"
	Football season fuels Iowa’s sports betting activity DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa bettors wagered $290.2 million on sports in September, while licensed casinos and sports wagering operators generated nearly $27.9 million in state taxes, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Sports wagering revenue reached $23.75 million, up 4.58% from September 2025, even as the total amount wagered remained virtually unchanged. [...]
	United Way of Whiteside County receives $10K grant for summer meal program The grant will support Let’s Feed Our Children, which provided nearly 50,000 grab-and-go meals through 17 distribution sites this past summer.
	Partial facade collapse at Muscatine Masonic Temple closes downtown alley A partial facade collapse at the Muscatine Masonic Temple on Thursday evening leaves Muscatine’s downtown Number Three Alley shut down until a structural engineer deems it safe to reopen.
	Three things to know: Oct. 12, 2026 Moline fall leaf vacuuming begins, public hearing for Madison Elementary School roof and an update on your forecast.
	The overlooked financial obligations after divorce Divorce is an emotionally charged experience that impacts over 670,000 American couples every year. It's also a costly process. An uncontested DIY divorce costs between $500 and $1,500 in filing and service fees.When lawyers get involved, the divorce process alone can cost $50,000 or more. While not every couple will pay as much, the real financial costs only become apparent once legal proceedings are complete.That's because it's easy to overlook financial obligations that seem insignificant when dividing assets and/or determining child custody. As Alleviate Tax, which specializes in tax relief services, explains below, things like shared tax obligations, changes in tax status, and other critical financial aspects have long-term impacts on life and should not be ignored.Financial Obligations to Keep in MindThrough divorce, a unified economic unit (the couple) transforms into two separate households. As a result, life often becomes more expensive since former spouses can no longer share household expenses, pool savings, or take advantage of certain tax benefits.The financial consequences are not always immediately apparent, but they can create unexpected liabilities. For that reason, it's wise to involve professional financial and tax advice in the divorce process to identify potential liabilities early and provide guidance on managing them.Here are a few examples of some of the most common financial obligations that couples overlook or underestimate when divorce talks start.Tax Status ChangeOne of the biggest financial consequences of divorce is a change in tax status. Taxpayers go from Married Filing Jointly to Single or Head of Household, which can affect their tax brackets, deductions, and eligibility for certain tax benefits.In a divorce, this change in status becomes clear when deciding to sell the marital home. If the home has $450,000 in equity appreciation, a married couple pays $0 in capital gains tax upon selling. That's because they qualify for a $500,000 capital gains tax exclusion when filing as a family unit.But an ex-spouse who keeps the home and sells it later only qualifies for a $250,000 exclusion as a single taxpayer. In this case, they will owe capital gains tax on the $200,000 that exceeds their exclusion limit.Tax Debt Follows Both SpousesUnder federal tax law, both spouses remain 100% on the hook for back taxes, penalties, and interest from any joint return filed while married. If a court orders one ex-spouse to pay past joint tax debt, but that person fails to do so, the IRS will pursue the other ex-spouse for the full balance.Couples who are still legally married or filed jointly during a separation are both liable if one of the spouses owes past-due individual debts (such as back child support from a prior relationship, defaulted federal student loans, or prior individual tax debts).If the IRS filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against a spouse during marriage, that lien attaches to marital property. In a divorce settlement, that federal tax lien may remain attached to the property's title until the tax debt is resolved.Retirement Account TransfersMany divorcees don't know that a poorly handled divorce settlement can affect retirement funds. The most common example comes from the division of employer retirement plans, like a 401(k), 403(b), or traditional pensions.Unless a prenup states otherwise, retirement contributions made between the wedding day and the date of separation/divorce are legally considered marital property across all 50 states. This means retirement funds are treated as financial assets.What matters here is how these assets are divided. If a spouse withdraws money from a 401(k) to pay an ex-spouse as part of a divorce settlement, the IRS generally treats the withdrawal as taxable income. A QDRO, or qualified domestic relations order, allows qualifying retirement assets to be transferred to an ex-spouse without triggering the same immediate tax consequences.While IRAs do not require a QDRO, they do require a strict "trustee-to-trustee direct transfer" specified in the divorce decree to remain tax-free.Options for a Fresh StartUntangling merged lives and finances impacts both individuals after a divorce, but there are ways to keep long-term financial obligations to a minimum. First, expert financial advice is essential, particularly when the stakes are high. Both soon-to-be ex-spouses should consult tax and personal finance professionals and develop strategies for financial planning and debt management that safeguard their future interests.Such experts know that the language written into the separation agreement or divorce decree is essential, so they will insist on a comprehensive tax and debt indemnification clause. This clause could stipulate clearly defined debt management strategies in case one spouse fails to pay a debt assigned to them (including back taxes). It may also include firm deadlines to deal with co-owned debt, since mortgages and auto loans can remain in both spouses' names even after divorce. Protections Against an Ex-Spouse's Tax ProblemsThe first step in protecting yourself from an ex-spouse's financial and tax problems is knowing what liabilities exist. Identifying potential debts early gives both spouses an opportunity to plan ahead and avoid unpleasant surprises.During divorce proceedings, both spouses should require complete, sworn financial disclosures covering all liabilities, including pending IRS audits, unpaid taxes, and undisclosed personal loans. This can be particularly important when one spouse has individual debts that could affect a joint tax refund.If one spouse is not legally responsible for the debt, they may be able to recover their share of the refund by filing Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, with the joint return or afterward. The IRS uses the form to determine each spouse's share of the overpayment and refund the eligible portion to the injured spouse.Aiming for a Divorce Free of Financial ObligationsThe first thing that comes to mind when talking about divorce (especially a contested one) is the division of assets. Each spouse fights for what they consider their fair share of the house, accumulated wealth, properties, etc.Yet, few couples consider the tax and legal restructuring that accompanies a legal separation. The change in tax status, the back taxes, and the impact on shared retirement accounts are often ignored without proper expert advice. But they don't go away.This is why preparedness is always the best course of action. Access to up-to-date legal and financial information keeps future ex-spouses aware and ready to act in their best interest.This story was produced by Alleviate Tax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The hidden challenge of co-ownership: What happens when owners have disagreements? Co-ownership of property is not a novel concept, and it is becoming more common among younger generations facing an uphill struggle to get onto the property ladder in the first place, according to a 2024 Bankrate survey cited by NPR. This is likely due in large part to house prices regularly setting records and incomes failing to keep up. It is also a situation that people face as a result of an inheritance.The issue with co-ownership is that most people are unprepared for the repercussions of disagreements that might arise in this context. If there’s a fundamental divergence of opinion about what to do with a property when multiple owners have a say, the fallout can be significant, both in terms of interpersonal relationships and finances.Understanding co-ownership conflicts and available remedies prevents financial and interpersonal damage. Underwood Law, a California partition action law firm, shares what you need to know about potential challenges of co-ownership, because the catalysts driving people to consider this option look unlikely to ease any time soon.More People are Buying Homes TogetherData cited in the NPR report shows 15% of people who made a home purchase did so in partnership with a friend or family member.If disagreements arise, it’s not just a case of married couples having a difference of opinion. More than likely, multiple points of view will be brought to the table, making it much harder to find a resolution that satisfies all parties.Despite this, co-ownership remains an attractive prospect. Federal Housing Finance Agency data shows property prices rising nationally, up 2.1% year on year. This marks the latest unbroken quarter of increases since 2012, with only four states seeing a decline in prices.With mortgage rates averaging 6.66% on a 30-year fixed deal, the incentive to buy a home with others is compounded by monthly repayments and the potential for further pressure on household finances from economic uncertainty. The possible challenges of co-ownership may be seen as an acceptable drawback, given the upsides to sharing a property with others. It just requires knowing what’s at stake. Underwood Law Disagreements and SolutionsWhen discussions between property owners stall, a personal conflict necessarily enters the legal sphere. Many co-owners find that the impasse stems from fundamentally different life goals or financial capacities. One owner might want to sell to liquidate their equity for a life change, while another wants to hold onto the asset for long-term appreciation, or simply because they’re happy where they are and have no plan to relocate.When verbal negotiations collapse, owners generally choose among a few distinct pathways. They may commit to a voluntary buyout agreement, where one party finances the purchase of the other's equity stake. Structured mediation sessions guided by a neutral third-party real estate professional may also be necessary to reach a resolution that satisfies everyone. If these options fail, formal legal intervention through judicial property proceedings is the last resort for breaking an impasse.Understanding partition actions and property-division rights is essential when co-owners reach an absolute deadlock. Weighing these choices requires a clear understanding of a person’s legal rights and obligations.A partition action forces the resolution by asking a judge to step in and divide the interest in the real estate. In most cases involving residential homes, physical division of the structure is impossible, so the court orders a partition by sale.The property is listed, sold on the open market or via auction, and the proceeds are distributed among the owners after legal fees and liens are satisfied. While this outcome guarantees an exit strategy, it rarely maximizes financial returns for any party involved. Legal costs and forced-sale conditions often erode the total equity built up over years of ownership.A Better Co-Ownership StrategyThe best time to resolve a co-ownership dispute is before the property is even purchased. Drafting a legal co-ownership contract or operating agreement up front sets clear expectations for every scenario imaginable.These agreements should explicitly outline how decisions are made, how ongoing maintenance expenses are split, and how an exit strategy is triggered if one person wants out. Establishing a clear buy-sell formula based on independent appraisals prevents emotional arguments over fair market value down the line.Preparing for a Future of Increased Co-OwnershipCo-ownership of property in the U.S. will likely continue to be an attractive option for buyers in the current economic climate. However, financial collaboration requires structural guardrails to prevent manageable disagreements from turning into devastating asset losses.Understanding the legal remedies available allows property owners to approach tough decisions with clarity rather than emotion. Most importantly, putting the means of dispute resolution in place before a purchase goes through protects everyone equally, rather than necessitating mediation and last-resort partition actions.This story was produced by Underwood Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Quad City Rollers end 2026 season at Bout of the Deck-ade Mixer! The Quad City Rollers encourage fans to celebrate the end of the 2026 season at the Bout of the Deck-ade Mixer! The decades-themed roller derby double-header will be at the QCCA Event Center, 2621 4th Avenue in Rock Island on Saturday, Oct. 17 and feature skaters of all experience levels, including several making their roller [...]
	Del duelo al aprendizaje: conozca los riesgos de la gripe y por qué es importante que usted priorice su vacunación contra la gripe este año. (BPT) - A los 16 años, Terese "Reese" Termulo era una estudiante destacada, saludable y activa, además de bailarina, con un futuro prometedor por delante, cuando de repente enfermó de gripe.El 9 de enero de 2020, su padre, el Dr. Cesar Termulo, pediatra en Dallas, Texas, recibió una llamada de la escuela en la que se le informaba que Reese se sentía mal. Termulo, quien sospechaba que podría haber contraído gripe, la llevó rápidamente a su consultorio, donde la prueba dio positivo para influenza B. Le administraron antivirales y regresó a casa para descansar y recuperarse."Reese no estaba tan enferma como muchos de mis otros pacientes que tenían influenza B", comentó Termulo. "Parecía estar mejorando: no tenía fiebre y no presentaba signos de neumonía ni de otras complicaciones graves de la gripe".A la mañana siguiente, Reese se sentía con ánimos de ir a la escuela, pero su padre insistió en que se quedara en casa. Antes de salir para el trabajo, Termulo utilizó su estetoscopio para escuchar el corazón y los pulmones de su hija, a fin de comprobar que no hubiera complicaciones graves, y concluyó que estaba recuperándose."Lo último que le dije a Reese fue que creía que se iba a recuperar", relató Termulo.Nadie podría haber imaginado que los síntomas de Reese avanzarían tan rápidamente y que su estado de salud empeoraría de manera repentina. Más tarde esa mañana, su madre la encontró desmayada en el piso de arriba y había dejado de respirar. El virus de la gripe atacó rápidamente los pulmones y, con el tiempo, desarrolló sepsis. Reese falleció menos de 24 horas después de haber recibido el diagnóstico. Complicaciones graves de la gripeLa influenza (o gripe) es una enfermedad respiratoria contagiosa causada por virus de la influenza que infectan la nariz, la garganta y, en algunos casos, los pulmones.1 Las personas pueden comenzar a contagiar la gripe a otras personas desde un día antes de que aparezcan los síntomas y hasta una semana después de su aparición. Algunas personas, especialmente los niños pequeños, pueden seguir siendo contagiosas durante incluso más tiempo.1La gripe puede afectar a cada persona de manera diferente. Los síntomas pueden aparecer de forma repentina e incluir fiebre (o sensación de fiebre y escalofríos), tos, dolor de garganta, secreción o congestión nasal, dolores musculares o corporales, dolor de cabeza y fatiga.2Si bien la mayoría de las personas que contraen gripe se recuperan en unos pocos días o en menos de dos semanas, algunas pueden desarrollar complicaciones, como neumonía, e incluso fallecer.2La temporada de gripe 2025-2026 siguió a una de las temporadas de gripe más graves de la historia reciente de Estados Unidos, con un número récord de muertes pediátricas y niveles muy elevados de casos de enfermedad y hospitalizaciones.3 De hecho, entre el 1 de octubre de 2025 y el 9 de mayo de 2026, los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) estimaron que hubo al menos 32 millones de casos de gripe, 390,000 hospitalizaciones y 24,000 muertes en Estados Unidos.4"Lamentablemente, la realidad es que cualquier persona puede enfermar de gripe, incluso quienes están o se sienten saludables, y pueden presentarse complicaciones graves relacionadas con la gripe a cualquier edad", afirmó el Dr. Luis Romano, responsable de Asuntos Médicos y Clínicos de Vacunas contra la Gripe de GSK en Estados Unidos. "Dicho esto, algunas personas tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones graves relacionadas con la gripe si se enferman".Entre los grupos con mayor riesgo de presentar síntomas graves relacionados con la gripe se incluyen los siguientes1:Personas de 65 años o másPersonas con determinadas enfermedades crónicas, como asma, diabetes o enfermedades cardíacasMujeres embarazadasNiños pequeñosLa gripe no afecta a todas las comunidades por igual, y la temporada 2025-2026 volvió a poner de manifiesto las profundas y persistentes desigualdades en los resultados relacionados con la gripe entre los distintos grupos raciales y étnicos.5 Según los CDC, las comunidades afroamericanas y latinas han presentado de manera constante tasas más elevadas de complicaciones y muertes relacionadas con la gripe, a menudo debido a menores tasas de vacunación y a un acceso tardío a la atención médica.6Por qué debería hablar con su proveedor sobre la vacunación anual contra la gripeLa gripe es una enfermedad seria y debe tomarse con seriedad. La mejor manera de ayudar a protegerse usted y a sus seres queridos de la gripe cada temporada es que todas las personas de 6 meses de edad en adelante reciban anualmente la vacuna contra la gripe.3"Décadas de datos confirman que las vacunas contra la gripe tienen un excelente historial de seguridad", afirmó Romano. "De hecho, cientos de millones de estadounidenses han recibido vacunas contra la gripe durante los últimos 50 años, y el monitoreo continuo reafirma de manera constante su sólido perfil de seguridad".7Desde el fallecimiento de Reese, Termulo y su familia se han dedicado a concientizar a las familias sobre los posibles riesgos de la gripe y a promover la vacunación anual contra esta enfermedad.Ahora es un buen momento para pensar en la vacunación contra la gripeEl otoño puede ser una época muy ocupada para muchas personas, pero es fundamental hacer tiempo para recibir la vacuna contra la gripe. Los CDC recomiendan que la mayoría de las personas se vacunen contra la gripe en septiembre u octubre, idealmente antes de que finalice octubre.8 La buena noticia es que vacunarse contra la gripe suele ser un proceso rápido y sencillo.Si ya tiene programada su consulta anual de control de salud, pregúntele a su proveedor de atención primaria si puede recibir la vacuna contra la gripe durante esa misma consulta. También puede vacunarse en farmacias, clínicas de atención de urgencias, centros de salud universitarios e incluso en algunas escuelas o lugares de trabajo.9 Algunos lugares, como las farmacias de su zona, ofrecen la posibilidad de vacunarse sin cita previa, lo que le permite protegerse y proteger a sus seres queridos contra la gripe de manera rápida y sencilla.Para obtener más información sobre la gripe y cómo prevenirla, visite CDC.gov/Flu."La gripe puede alterar la vida de usted y de su familia", afirmó Termulo. "Perder a mi hija es un doloroso recordatorio de que la gripe puede tener consecuencias devastadoras. Como padre y como médico, espero que la experiencia de nuestra familia ayude a otras personas a comprender la gravedad de la gripe y el profundo impacto que puede tener en las familias". Fuentes1. About Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revisado el 26 de febrero de 2026. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html2. Symptoms and Signs of Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revisado el 26 de agosto de 2024. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/signs-symptoms/index.html3. Influenza Activity in the United States During the 2024-25 Season and Composition of the 2025-26 Influenza Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revisado el 26 de septiembre de 2025. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2025-2026-influenza-activity.html4. Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 18, Ending May 9, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Publicado el 15 de mayo de 2026. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-18.html5. Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 25, Ending June 27, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Publicado el 6 de julio de 2026. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. CDC FluView Week 256. Flu and Healthy Lives for All. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Publicado el 17 de enero de 2025. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/healthy-living/index.html7. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revisado en octubre de 2023. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/flu.html8. Interim Estimates of 2025-26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness—United States, September 2025-February 2026. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2026;75(9):116-123. Publicado el 6 de marzo de 2026. Consultado el 6 de agosto de 2026.9. Where to Find Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Publicado el 10 de julio de 2024. Consultado el 17 de julio de 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/vaccine-planning.html
	QC Veterans Outreach Center celebrates 10 years The QC Veterans Outreach Center celebrated its 10 year anniversary Saturday.
	Warren County reports its first West Nile Virus case in 2026 Warren County Health Department reported its first human case of West Nile Virus this year.
	What is apolipoprotein B? The cholesterol test many people don’t know about You probably know that high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or the “bad” cholesterol, can raise your risk for heart attack and stroke. But you may not have heard about apolipoprotein B (ApoB). The usual numbers in your cholesterol test (lipid profile) may leave out this important measure of your risk for heart disease. Scientists and lipid specialists have known about the harms of high ApoB for years, but it’s getting more attention now. For people who are at risk for heart disease, it may be an important number to know.In this article, GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, looks into ApoB, what causes its high levels, what you need to lower ApoB levels, and how to test for it. Key takeaways:Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein that’s found on the surface of certain cholesterol and fat-carrying particles. High ApoB puts you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke, even if your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol is in a normal range. A healthy lifestyle, nutritious diet, and cholesterol-lowering medications can all help to lower your ApoB level. What is apolipoprotein B?Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein found on the surface of certain particles in your blood. You can think of these particles as tiny packages that carry cholesterol and fat. This is an important process that helps deliver energy to your muscles and other organs. But problems can happen when there are too many ApoB-containing particles in the blood. ApoB is found on particles that can cause plaque to build up in your arteries. LDL cholesterol — the “bad” type of cholesterol — is one of these particles. Over time, plaque (atherosclerosis) can narrow your arteries and create blockages. These blockages are what cause heart attacks and strokes.What do high apolipoprotein B levels mean?A high ApoB level means there are a lot of harmful cholesterol-carrying particles in your blood. In general, having more particles means you are at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.A target (or “good”) ApoB level depends on your risk for heart disease. In general, many experts aim for:ApoB below 100 mg/dL for people at moderate risk ApoB below 80 mg/dL for people at high risk ApoB below 65 mg/dL for people at very high risk A high ApoB level means something a little different from the usual measurement of LDL cholesterol. Your LDL cholesterol number tells you how much cholesterol is being carried inside the LDL particles. But it doesn’t tell you exactly how many particles are carrying that cholesterol. ApoB helps answer that question. It gives a better estimate of the total number of plaque-forming particles circulating in your blood. What causes high apolipoprotein B levels?Here are the main reasons that people have high ApoB levels:Genetics Insulin resistance, which is often linked to prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome High triglycerides A diet high in refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess calories, and saturated fat Lack of regular exercise Having obesity Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) Kidney disease Steroids, including anabolic steroids Smoking There are a few medications — including certain older beta blockers, some thiazide diuretics, and some older HIV medicines — that may affect ApoB levels in some individuals. If you’re taking one of these and your ApoB is high, check with your healthcare professional to see if there might be an alternative. How do you lower apolipoprotein B?Many of the same steps that lower LDL cholesterol can also lower ApoB. These include:Following a heart-healthy Mediterranean way of eating Limiting food high in saturated fats like butter, coconut oil, and fatty meats Doing regular exercise Maintaining a healthy body weight Limiting alcohol The medications that lower LDL cholesterol also improve ApoB. These include:Statins (Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol, and others) PCSK9 inhibitors (Repatha, Praluent, Leqvio, Lerochol) Bempedoic acid (Nexletol) Ezetimibe (Zetia), especially when combined with a statin A few stronger specialty medications can also lower ApoB, including lomitapide (Juxtapid) and evinacumab (Evkeeza). These are usually used only for rare genetic cholesterol disorders, such as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. They aren’t used for most people with mildly or moderately high ApoB. It’s likely that more medications that target ApoB will become available in the future.Who needs an apolipoprotein B test?Not everyone needs an ApoB test. For many people, the usual cholesterol panel gives enough information to guide care. But ApoB levels can be especially useful for people who have:High triglycerides Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome Excess weight around the belly Fatty liver disease A family history of early heart disease Known heart disease, especially if LDL is well controlled A healthcare professional can help you decide if an ApoB test might be useful for you. Frequently asked questionsHow is apolipoprotein B measured?Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is measured with a blood test. It’s not part of the standard lipid profile, but it can often be ordered at the same time. You usually don’t need to fast before your ApoB is checked.Is apolipoprotein B or LDL cholesterol a better measure of heart health?There’s good evidence that high ApoB is more predictive of heart problems than LDL cholesterol. That may be especially true for people with Type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, or metabolic syndrome. But an ApoB level reading doesn’t replace an LDL measure. Instead, it can add useful information beyond the standard cholesterol numbers.Is high apolipoprotein B genetic?ApoB levels can be affected by your genetics. For most people, it’s a combination of genes and lifestyle. That means that even if you have genetically high ApoB, there may be important lifestyle changes that you can make to lower your risk. These include eating a heart-healthy diet, doing regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.The bottom lineA blood test for apolipoprotein B (ApoB) can show how many harmful cholesterol-carrying particles are in your blood. In some people, ApoB can reveal heart risk that a standard cholesterol panel may miss. This is especially true for people with high triglycerides, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or a family history of heart disease. The good news is that medications that lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol can also help lower ApoB. Lifestyle habits like following a Mediterranean-style diet, doing regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking can also help. A healthcare professional can help you decide whether ApoB testing is right for you. This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Owning a car costs more than drivers expect. How to save on 5 major expenses The sticker price at the dealership is only one part of what a car ultimately costs. Long after they drive off the lot, drivers are still paying to finance, maintain and keep their vehicles on the road, often with expenses they didn't anticipate. In Caribou's 2026 Blind Spots of Car Ownership survey of 2,000 U.S. car owners, conducted in August 2026, 38% of drivers had an unexpected car expense of $500 or more in the past year.Caribou outlines how five major ownership costs add up and where drivers may have opportunities to save.Understand the full cost of your car loanThe car payment is the number most drivers watch because that’s what shows up on your monthly bank statement, but that’s only part of your loan. In Caribou's survey, 70% of drivers could recall their monthly payment, while only 25% could recall how much interest they'll pay over the life of their loan. Caribou Knowing how much interest you’re paying matters more as car loans get longer. The average loan for a new vehicle stretched to 70.5 months in Q3 2026, according to Edmunds. A longer term lowers the monthly payment, but it generally raises the total interest paid because the principal shrinks more slowly over more months.Look up the interest in your auto loan, which is listed on the Truth in Lending disclosure in your loan contract. If your credit has improved since you bought the car or rates have shifted favorably, you may qualify for a lower rate by refinancing. Use a refinance calculator to see how much you could save. When comparing loan offers, look at the total cost of the new loan, not only the monthly payment.Plan for repairs before something breaksRoutine maintenance is part of owning any car, but it has become harder to anticipate and afford. Prices for motor vehicle maintenance and repair rose 4.9% from January 2025 to January 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.In Caribou’s survey, 41% of drivers said they were surprised equally by how expensive and frequent car repairs are. Tires are another pain point, with 41% saying the cost of a full set of new tires has caught them off guard. Caribou Catching small issues early can help prevent bigger repair bills. Follow the maintenance schedule for your vehicle instead of waiting for something to break. Regular rotation, balancing, and alignment help extend the life of your tires. Keeping them properly inflated alone can add an average of 4,700 miles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Preventive maintenance can reduce the risk of bigger problems, but it won’t eliminate surprise breakdowns. Once a manufacturer's warranty expires, a vehicle service contract (VSC) can help cover repairs to major components such as the engine, transmission, heating and cooling system, and brakes. This coverage can make an unexpected major repair easier to manage.Find savings at the pumpGas prices have become a major pressure point on household budgets this year as Americans face skyrocketing prices at the pump. The national average for regular unleaded reached $4.36 a gallon as of Oct. 6, 2026, according to AAA. That's 39% higher than a year ago. Premium gas is even higher at $5.27 a gallon.You can spend less on fuel by accelerating and braking smoothly, combining errands into fewer trips, and comparing prices with a gas app. It's also worth checking what octane rating your car actually needs. Your owner's manual will say whether premium gas is required or only recommended. If premium fuel is only recommended, rather than required, many modern engines can safely run on regular gas and automatically adjust for the lower octane.Shop around for insurance policiesOne in five drivers in Caribou’s survey said they’ve been caught off guard by an insurance premium increase after a claim or ticket. Car insurance is easy to overlook because many drivers set their policy once and forget about it. Car insurance premiums have risen 55% since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are several contributing factors for this spike, such as costly repairs on modern and complex vehicles, rising medical costs, and more extreme weather events in some states.Shopping around for quotes at least once a year can help lower car insurance costs. Rates vary widely by insurer, and changes to your driving record or financial situation could affect what you pay. Additionally, ask about discounts for bundling with home or renters insurance, safe driving, or low mileage.Make sure depreciation is part of the equationLastly, it’s not just what you pay for your car but how its value changes over time. According to Caribou’s survey, 31% say their car has depreciated faster than they expected, more than double the share who said it lost value more slowly than expected.Depreciation matters most when it’s time to sell or trade in your car, and your loan term can make a big difference. If the car loses value faster than you pay down the balance, you can end up owing more than it’s worth, known as negative equity. Longer loan terms can increase that risk because the balance declines more slowly during the early years, when vehicles often lose value the fastest.When financing a car, ask yourself how old it will be by the time you finally own it outright. A larger down payment or a shorter loan term can help you build equity faster. Keeping up with maintenance can also help support resale value.See the whole pictureA car's price tag and monthly payment are just the starting point. The average annual cost to own and operate a new car in 2026 is $12,863, according to AAA’s analysis. Your own total will depend on what you drive, where you live, and how you financed it. But understanding every cost outlined is what makes it possible to find ways to save money.Start by looking at the costs you can control. Review your loan and insurance rate, stay ahead of maintenance, and understand how quickly you're building equity. Small savings across several parts of car ownership can add up over time.MethodologyCaribou’s 2026 Blind Spots of Car Ownership Survey was conducted on August 3-4, 2026, among 2,000 U.S. respondents to understand how drivers track their car-related expenses and the surprising or underestimated aspects of car ownership. All respondents currently have a car loan on their primary vehicle.This story was produced by Caribou and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport woman arrested after allegedly running over two with vehicle A woman was arrested early Sunday after allegedly running over a man and a woman, reversing again over the woman, in an alley behind a Davenport bar on Saturday night.
	Iowa family turns pumpkin patch tradition into fall destination One Northwest Iowa family is turning a tradition they once shared with their kids into a fall destination for others.
	Iowa woman once given a month to live now training for a marathon Cassie O’Brien is not letting her diagnosis slow her down from running toward her dream.
	American Melody making stop in Muscatine A boat launch and parking lot will close on Tuesday for the arrival of river cruise boat.
	India's opposition parties march to top court as protests over voter lists escalate Opposition parties say revisions to the list of eligible voters favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. Authorities have removed more than 130 million names from the voter roll.
	More med spas than McDonald's? 2027 forecasts say yes. Driving down the street in most major U.S. cities, you might have noticed a new fixture popping up in the local strip malls. More and more med spas are opening. According to AmSpa’s 2024 industry report, 1,589 medical spas opened in 2023, taking the national total from 8,899 to 10,488. This marked a 17.86% increase, nearly double the 2018 total of 5,431. To put this in perspective, a new med spa opened every 5.5 hours in 2023.Each of those new medical spas needs licensed clinicians to perform the treatments, typically nurse practitioners and physician assistants, along with registered nurses. However, that workforce is growing much more slowly. According to federal employment estimates, NP and PA employment only grew 6.70% in 2023 in all of healthcare, not just aesthetics.Skin Clique Academy, an injectable training program for licensed clinicians, analyzed how the industry’s growth compared with the workforce needed to staff it. The analysis pulled together national med spa counts, federal employment data and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialists (CANS) certification records.According to PSNCB's 2024 exam data, 60 nurses passed the CANS exam for the first time in 2023. That's 60 newly certified nurses in a year that added 1,589 med spa clinics.While there are no sources showing how much of the NP and PA workforce actually works in med spas, these three sources show a stark contrast between the number of med spas opening and the growth of the industry that staffs them.Why are so many new med spas opening?Injectables are driving much of the industry's growth. As of 2021, 94% of med spas offered facial injections.The aesthetics industry isn’t just growing the number of new locations. Revenue, patient volume and the services offered are also up. The average med spa had 283 aesthetic patient visits a month in 2022. Average revenue per location reached $1.4 million in 2023, and the same AmSpa report puts the broader medical aesthetics industry’s annual revenue at $17 billion.US med spas are nearing the number of McDonald’s locationsA 2026 Aesthetic Surgery Journal report estimates that the United States could have approximately 13,000 med spas by the end of the year. At this pace, the U.S. could soon have nearly as many med spas as McDonald's restaurants.At a state level, the ASJ also reports that the state of Florida already has 2.5 times as many med spas as McDonald’s restaurants, highlighting just how far medical aesthetics has moved into the commercial mainstream.Clinics vs. CliniciansWorkforce data was pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, which estimates wage and salary employment across industries each May. Skin Clique Academy More Med Spas Now Compete for the Healthcare WorkforceThis difference in growth rate affects the ratio between med spa locations and clinicians. In 2022, the U.S. had 22.3 med spas for every 1,000 clinicians. By 2023, Skin Clique Academy’s analysis puts that number at 24.6 med spas for every 1,000 clinicians.This can be seen at the local level too. A med spa recruiting an NP or PA is hiring from the same pool of regional clinicians as hospitals, physician offices, urgent care centers, dermatology practices and other med spas.The Credential Few Nurses GetThe Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential, known as CANS, is a certification for registered nurses working in aesthetic medicine. From 2019 through 2023, only 260 nurses passed the CANS exam for the first time, while over 5,000 med spas were added in the U.S. While there is no published data showing the number of med spa injectors, there is a live public tally that shows showing 504 active CANS credential holders across the United States, U.S. territories and Canada. Skin Clique Academy You might assume passing the exam is the bottleneck, but pass rates were 90% in 2022 and 95% in 2023.The larger issue is that fewer people are taking the exam. The number of exams that have been administered fell 28% from 2022 to 2023. Only 65 exams in total were given in 2023.According to PSNCB's CANS requirements, two years of experience as a registered nurse in the core specialties is needed to take the exam. Nurses also need at least 1,000 practice hours in those specialties during the previous two years. That means that a new nurse entering aesthetic medicine during the 2023 surge in growth is not even eligible for the exam until 2025, at the earliest.More importantly, the CANS certification itself is voluntary. Based on their professional licenses and the applicable state rules, physicians, NPs, PAs, and RNs can provide injectable treatments without it.Med Spa locations can grow faster than the workforce behind themFrom 2025 to 2035, NP employment is projected to grow 41% and PA employment 21.1%, adding a combined 173,500 new jobs. However, most of this growth is driven by the need for more healthcare professionals in the United States in general, not medical aesthetics.A med spa clinic can be up and running within a few months. But it takes years to grow the number of new licensed practitioners.This story was produced by Skin Clique Academy and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The good, fair, and poor: How your credit score is determined Quick answer: Most credit scores range from 300 to 850. Payment history and the amount of debt you carry make up the two biggest pieces of your score in most scoring models, followed by the length of your credit history, your credit mix, and how much new credit you've recently applied for.Your credit score is an important part of your financial health. When you know how your credit score is determined, you can use that knowledge to improve your score. It doesn't take long to learn, and the knowledge can pay off in many ways. Your score is calculated from the information in your credit report at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.For starters, a higher credit score usually means you get a lower interest rate on loans. Good credit could also help you get better credit cards, including cards that earn cash back on your purchases. In most of the U.S., your credit standing could affect your insurance rates. It could also influence your ability to rent an apartment.So who decides if your credit score is good, and how do they decide? Here’s what to know, according to Freedom Debt Relief.Key Takeaways:Credit bureaus collect information on you and calculate your credit score from it.Credit scores are based on scoring models—formulas that weigh the information on your credit report. The most well-known scoring models are FICO and VantageScore.Factors that determine your credit score include your payment history, debt load, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit. Who Determines Your Credit Score?The three major credit bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian—compile information that makes up your credit report and determines your credit scores. Your credit score is calculated based on your credit report using a formula called a credit scoring model.Your credit scores from the three bureaus might not be identical, even if they all use the same scoring model. The reason? Not all creditors and lenders report to all three agencies. There are costs involved with reporting, so some creditors only report to one or two of the agencies. This makes it likely you have a different credit score at each one. To check that credit bureaus haven’t made mistakes, get a copy of your credit report from each bureau at least once per year. You can pull your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and review it for errors.What Are the Different Credit Scoring Models?The two main credit scoring models are FICO Score, made by the Fair Isaac Corporation, and VantageScore. Of the two main types of scores, FICO has been around much longer and is more widely used. FICO reports that 90% of top lenders use its scores. VantageScore is used by thousands of lenders. You should get familiar with both kinds of scores.FICO and VantageScore use similar information to calculate credit scores. They primarily look at the following:Your track record of on-time and late payments How much of your credit you use How long you’ve been using credit Your credit mix (if you use credit cards, loans, or both) How many recent credit card and loan applications you have Each model weighs these factors differently, so your FICO Score and VantageScore aren’t usually the same. FICO and VantageScore have proprietary formulas, so we don’t know exactly how they calculate credit scores. But each company provides some information on their calculation methods.For example, your payment history is the most important factor with both FICO and VantageScore. But VantageScore values it a little more. FICO, on the other hand, values the amount of credit you use and your recent credit applications more than VantageScore.To make it more complicated, FICO and VantageScore both offer several scoring models. Each model uses a slightly different formula. Lenders choose the scoring model that best fits their needs. There are special models for auto lenders, mortgage lenders, and credit card companies, among others.What Factors Go Into Determining Your Credit Score?Since the FICO scoring model is the most widely used, we’ll look at it more closely. There are five factors it considers.Payment historyPayment history is your track record of paying back money you’ve borrowed. Every time you make a credit card or loan payment, your creditor probably reports it to the credit bureaus.Missed payments are bad for your credit score, but the credit reporting system gives you a grace period. A payment is only considered late on your credit history when it’s at least 30 days past-due. If you miss a payment but get caught up before 30 days have passed, the payment is considered on-time as far as your credit score is concerned.Once a payment’s late by 30 days, it goes on your credit history. The longer you go without paying, the more it impacts your credit. For example, a payment that’s 90 days past-due is worse than one that’s 60 days past-due.Payment history also includes any other payment issues on your credit file, such as:Accounts reported to collection agencies Bankruptcies Home foreclosure Wage garnishment The higher your ratio of on-time payments to late payments, the more creditworthy you look to lenders. People with the highest credit scores have no late payments on their credit files.Amounts owedAmounts owed refers to how much debt you have. The biggest factor in this category is your credit utilization ratio. That’s how much credit card debt you have compared to your credit limits. If you’re using nearly all the available credit on your credit cards, your utilization is likely to damage your credit score. As you pay down debt, your credit score should gradually improve.Here's the formula for finding your utilization rate on any card:Divide the card's balance by its credit limit. Multiply the result by 100 to get a percentage.Follow the same two steps with your total balances and total limits across all cards to find your overall utilization rate.Let’s say you have the following:Card A, with a $750 balance and a $1,000 limit Card B, with a $1,000 balance and a $4,000 credit limit Card C, with a $1,250 balance and a $2,500 credit limit.To get your credit utilization, divide the balance by the credit limit. In this example, your credit utilization would be 75% on Card A, 25% on Card B, and 50% on Card C. Combined, your balances add up to $3,000, and your credit limits total $7,500. So your overall credit utilization is $3,000/$7,500, or 40%.Per-card utilization and overall credit utilization both matter. As far as what your credit utilization should be, lower is better. A common myth says that you should aim for less than 30% credit utilization, but there’s no firm data supporting it. FICO says “keeping it below 10% (and consistently paying bills on time) can help you build and maintain a good FICO Score.”Length of credit historyLength of credit history or credit age is the amount of time you’ve had your credit accounts open. The longer you’ve spent making payments on time, the more positively this will impact your score. A short history of credit usage doesn’t tell lenders how you handle credit accounts over longer spans of time.With this factor, credit scoring models generally look at:The age of your oldest credit account The age of your newest credit account The average age of your credit accountsCredit mixCredit mix measures how diverse your credit accounts are. There are two main categories of credit accounts:Revolving accounts, such as credit cards and lines of creditInstallment loans, such as mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and personal loansA variety of account types is generally good for your credit score. It shows that you have experience with managing multiple types of credit, a positive sign to lenders.Credit mix is one of the smaller parts of your credit score, though. It’s not worth opening a new account just to have a little more variety. Plenty of people have built excellent credit scores while only using one type of credit.New creditNew credit looks at the number of accounts you’ve opened or applied for recently. Each time you apply for credit, you could lose a few points off your score. You typically recover those points gradually over the next year.For this factor, scoring models check the number of hard inquiries on your credit file. A hard inquiry is a credit check that occurs when you apply for credit. If you apply for a loan, the lender usually checks your credit, putting a hard inquiry on your credit history (note that this doesn’t usually apply to prequalification for a loan).Another type of credit inquiry, a soft inquiry, doesn’t affect your credit score. A soft inquiry is a credit check unrelated to a full credit application. Loan requalification isn’t considered a full loan application, so it usually prompts this kind of inquiry. Or, for example, if you use a credit score tool online, it could run a credit check on you. Since this credit check isn’t for a credit application, it’s a soft credit inquiry.Why You May Have Multiple Credit ScoresYou most likely have many credit scores. This is completely normal, because of the number of scoring models and credit bureaus.Each of the three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—calculates FICO scores and VantageScores. Already, that’s six potentially unique scores.FICO and VantageScore also have multiple scoring models. FICO alone has over a dozen scoring models, with models for general scoring purposes, mortgage lending, auto lending, and credit card applications. These models can be used with each credit bureau, meaning you (and everyone else) could have well over 30 FICO Scores alone.If you apply for an auto loan and a credit card, each company will probably see a different credit score for you. The auto lender may pull a credit score calculated using an auto lending model. The credit card company could pull a score calculated using a credit card model.Your credit score can also change every time information on your credit report is updated. This is another reason you could see different numbers each time you check your credit score.Educational credit scores vs. lending scoresThe credit score you see in a credit monitoring tool may not be the same one a lender sees. Some credit monitoring tools provide educational credit scores. Educational scores are used by these online credit score tools to give people an accurate idea of their credit.Lending scores are what lenders and credit card companies see when they check your credit. These scores use industry-specific scoring models, such as the auto lending and mortgage lending FICO score models.Which Credit Score Factors Are Most Important?Some of these factors carry more weight than others. This chart shows what percentage of your score each factor makes up.Here's a general breakdown, based on the standard FICO Score model: Freedom Debt Relief Payment history: about 35% Amounts owed: about 30% Length of credit history: about 15% New credit: about 10% Credit mix: about 10%VantageScore weighs the same information differently: Freedom Debt Relief Payment history: about 41% Depth of credit (the combination of your credit history length and credit mix): about 20% Credit utilization: about 20% Recent credit: about 11% Total balances: about 6% Available credit: about 2% These percentages are general estimates. The exact formula is secret, and depends on many factors.What Is a Good Credit Score?Every lender decides what it considers an excellent, good, fair, or poor score, so these ranges are a guideline, not a rule. FICO considers a good credit score between 670 and 739. According to VantageScore, good credit ranges from 661 to 780. Both types of credit score have a range of 300 to 850, so 850 is the highest possible credit score.Here’s a breakdown of all the FICO Score ranges and what it means to have a score in each range when you apply for a loan or credit card.FICO score ranges Freedom Debt Relief Credit Score Ranges and What They Mean for Debt ManagementYour credit score affects your debt management options. If you want to get a debt consolidation loan for credit card debt or other types of debt, it helps to have a good credit score. With a score in this range, you’re likely to find a lender who’ll approve you for a loan at a reasonable interest rate. Without good credit, it’s harder to get approved for a loan, and if you’re approved, you could end up with a hefty interest rateOne way to consolidate debt with bad credit is a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or loan. With a HELOC or home equity loan, you borrow against your home. Because your home is the collateral, you don’t need a high credit score—some lenders may allow you to apply with a score of 600.If you can’t keep up with your debt payments, a debt relief program may be an option. Unlike debt consolidation loans and HELOCs, debt relief is available no matter your credit score. With this option, a debt relief company works with you, negotiating with creditors on your behalf for debt settlement.You’ll most likely see your credit score drop during the debt relief process. But if you haven’t been able to make your payments, that’s probably already brought down your credit score. Debt relief gives you the opportunity to get free of debt so you can rebuild your credit and your finances. Common Credit Score Myths and MisconceptionsQuite a few myths and misconceptions exist about credit scores. Here are some of the most common.Myth: Checking your credit score lowers your scoreCredit score tools usually only put a soft inquiry on your credit file. Soft inquiries don’t impact your credit, making them different from the hard inquiries associated with credit applications. You can double check this with any credit score tools you use—they typically make clear that there’s no impact to your credit score.Myth: Your income affects your credit scoreIncome isn’t part of the credit score calculation. Employment status isn’t either. You don’t need to be a high earner to have a high credit score.Myth: Carrying a credit card balance is good for your creditThis is one of the most dangerous credit score myths, because it leads to paying unnecessary interest charges. You don’t need to carry a balance on your credit card to have good credit. You’re better off paying your credit card in full whenever possible to avoid interest. Myth: Closing a credit card improves your creditClosing a credit card normally doesn’t improve a person’s credit score. It could have a negative impact, because you lose that card’s credit limit, reducing the total amount of available credit. If you have other cards with balances on them, then your credit utilization ratio could increase and affect your credit score.How to Improve Your Credit ScoreOn-time payments make up the biggest share of most credit scores, so that's the best place to start if you are able. A few other habits could help over time:Keep balances low compared to your limits. Paying down revolving debt could lower your credit utilization and help your score. Apply for new credit only when you need it. Each hard inquiry could cause a small, temporary dip in your score. Check your credit report for errors. You can pull a free copy from each bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything that looks incorrect.Building credit takes time. Small, consistent habits add up more than any single quick fix.What Doesn’t Go Into Your Credit Score?Information outside your credit report has no impact on your credit score. Your score is based entirely on your credit history.Your credit score is unaffected by your:Income Age Employment history Marital status Race, religion, or national origin Where you live Interest rates on loans you already have Soft credit inquiries Whether you've used credit counseling Federal law prohibits lenders from considering race, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status when extending credit, including when calculating a credit score.Rent, utility bills, and everyday expenses don’t impact your credit, either. Most landlords and utilities companies don’t report payments to the credit bureaus. If you don’t have a lot of experience with credit, you can request a credit score that factors in your on-time rent or utility payments. This is an alternative score, and you don’t get it automatically. FICO, VantageScore, and all three credit bureaus offer alternative scores. In some cases, the creditor has to request it. Search for Experian Boost or UltraFICO. If you know you want your rent payments reported, search for Rental Kharma or RentReporters.How Does Debt Impact Your Credit Score?If you’re struggling with debt, your credit score may be struggling, too. Credit card debt can be especially problematic, because credit utilization is such a large part of your credit score. If you’re close to maxing out your credit cards, you have high credit utilization, and that hurts your credit score.But your payment history is the largest factor, so you could still have a good credit score even if you’re deep in debt—as long as you consistently make payments on time. Even so, this is a risky situation. Your credit score and your ability to get approved for loans aren’t all that matter. You also need to be able to pay bills, plan for retirement, save for emergencies, and work toward other money goals. You could achieve those things with or without good credit, but it’s extremely difficult if you’re saddled with lots of debt.If you have lots of debt and focus on paying only monthly minimums to protect your credit score, you’re not paying down your debt enough to improve your financial situation. As the debt continues to grow from accruing interest, so do the minimum payments. And if you fall behind on those payments, your credit score could fall while your debt grows.Sometimes, to take care of your overall financial health, you need to put your credit score on the back burner temporarily and prioritize debt. This story was produced by Freedom Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	8 personal banking tasks you should automate to save time and money Most people already have plenty on their to-do list and don’t relish spending precious time managing their money. So, using a banking system that takes care of routine transactions in the background can be a big time-saver. Using digital banking automation for repetitive financial tasks can free up your mind while keeping you in control of important decisions.In this article, Mercury, a fintech platform that offers business and personal banking services, shows you how to automate and improve your personal banking.Why automate your personal banking?Managing your money manually requires time and discipline. When you’re juggling savings, bill payments, and investing goals, it’s easy for routine tasks to slip through the cracks. But this can have real consequences: A missed transfer or forgotten payment can cost you money or put you behind on your financial goals.Using personal banking automation can be a convenient tool to help you manage your personal finances more consistently and efficiently. Here are a few of the key advantages to automating aspects of your personal banking systems.Fewer missed paymentsBy setting up automatic, recurring payments, you’ll ensure that you pay your credit card bills, subscriptions, and utilities on time — and you’ll be less likely to miss a payment and incur late fees or penalties.More consistent savingUsing automation can also support you in reaching your savings goals. Setting up regular, automatic transfers to your savings accounts helps you work toward big goals and dreams, like buying a home or saving for retirement. Plus, when work gets busy or you’re traveling, you’ll feel better knowing that your savings are being handled in the background.Less financial adminInitially, setting up automations for your accounts, transfers, and payments will take some time. But once they’re up and running, these automations will reduce the amount of hands-on work required to manage your money. Instead of regularly moving funds between accounts, paying bills individually, or checking whether you’ve completed routine tasks, your system should handle them according to the rules you’ve established.Reduced decision fatigueAutomating your personal banking tasks saves you the hassle of making repetitive money decisions. Freeing up your mental bandwidth can give you breathing room, reduce anxiety, and leave you with a clearer mind to concentrate on other important business or life decisions.Better financial visibilitySetting up intelligent automation in banking can allow you to monitor recurring payments, get alerts about suspicious activity, and automatically categorize your transactions by spending category. This can give you a clearer, more up-to-date view of where your money is actually going and make it easier to spot areas that may need your attention.8 personal banking tasks worth automatingTrying to do everything at once can feel overwhelming. Start by automating the routine, predictable tasks. Here are eight banking tasks that are often worth putting on autopilot.1. Automatically move money into savingsAutomating your savings makes it easier to build a consistent habit, without having to remember to transfer money each month. To do this, set up recurring transfers from your checking account to your savings account, timed around your typical paydays.You can also use separate savings accounts for specific goals, such as dedicated accounts for saving for a vacation, home renovation, or emergency fund. As your income grows, you can adjust your automatic transfers to put more toward your goals.2. Pay recurring bills automaticallySet up autopay to automatically pay for regular expenses, like your mortgage, credit card bills, insurance, memberships, and subscriptions. You can set it up through your bank or directly with the service provider or vendor. Just make sure that you have enough money in your account for upcoming payments.Automating payments helps you meet deadlines and keep up with monthly bills. Still, it’s a good idea to check your statements now and then for unexpected charges or price increases.3. Categorize spending and monitor transactionsAI banking tools can help you save time and effort. For instance, AI can automatically review your bank statements and sort your spending into categories (like groceries, dining out, and clothing, for example). You can also set up alerts, so you’ll automatically get notified in the event of unusual transactions or so you can keep an eye on big purchases.4. Transfer money between accountsIf you use multiple accounts to organize your finances, automated transfers can distribute your money between them for you. For example, each time you get paid, you could direct a set amount of money to go to a joint account for household expenses or another checking account for discretionary spending. This can make it easier to keep different types of spending separate, without needing to manually move money between accounts throughout the month.5. Monitor cash balances and unusual activityWhen you’re using modern banking automation, you don’t have to watch your accounts all the time, if you turn on alerts and notifications. Real-time push notifications let you check purchases and spot anything unfamiliar. Low-balance alerts warn you when your account needs more funds. You can also get alerts about suspicious activity, so you can act quickly, if needed.6. Analyze spending trendsGoing through transactions line by line can be time consuming. For busy professionals, it’s often more helpful to look at spending patterns, which can give you a big-picture overview. AI-powered spending summaries, for instance, can identify recurring subscriptions and provide financial insights that may otherwise slip under the radar. Regularly reviewing these summaries can help you stay informed about your finances and identify areas where you might want to make adjustments.7. Prioritize important financial tasks before they become urgentFinancial issues — such as a missed credit card payment or a possible cash flow shortage — can compound if you overlook them. AI can be a helpful assistant that highlights potential opportunities and risks within your personal finance stack. It can also support you in making educated and timely decisions.8. Automate your investment contributionsConsider setting up recurring contributions to your investment accounts, such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA). Automating these contributions leverages the power of compound interest and helps you grow your wealth over time. Be sure to review your investment portfolio periodically and make any necessary adjustments to keep you progressing toward your goals.Where AI fits into personal bankingWith conventional automation, you set rules, such as paying bills on certain dates or sending alerts when your balance is low. AI adds another layer by helping you analyze financial information and identify patterns.For example, AI-powered tools can categorize transactions in greater detail, giving you a clearer picture of your spending. They can also streamline the process of analyzing your bank statement processing by consolidating data and generating financial summaries and personalized insights that can help you better understand your overall financial position. Based on your transaction history, AI may suggest savings goals, flag unusual spending or potential cash flow issues, and even walk you through “what if” scenarios before you make important financial decisions.Use these tools to augment your judgment, rather than make decisions for you. By analyzing your financial activity and drawing attention to information that may require a closer look, AI can make it easier to understand what’s happening with your money. But you’ll remain in control and have the final say over your finances.In short, conventional banking automation can handle recurring tasks, whereas AI can help you interpret your financial data.Build a banking system that works in the backgroundImagine having money automatically directed toward your savings goals, your bills always paid on time, and real-time notifications alerting you when your balance is low. A well-designed personal banking system can keep routine financial tasks, like these, moving, without demanding constant attention.Automation can also make it easier to stay on track with your financial goals. You don’t need to automate every aspect of your finances, but taking repetitive tasks and decisions off your plate can make managing your money feel simpler and help you keep your habits more consistent. When you have a reliable, low-maintenance system in place, you can stay in control of your money, keep your finances organized, and breathe a sigh of relief. Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.This story was produced by Mercury and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	St. Ambrose student raise over $38,000 for children's hospital St. Ambrose University Dance Marathon broke its previous 2021 record by over $6000 and its Thursday goal by over $14,000.

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