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

Friday, October 9th, 2026
	Officials break ground on I-74 interchange Officials are breaking ground on Friday on the I-74 interchange at John Deere Road reconstruction project.
	Tiffin man charged for posting threat to Clear Creek Amana School District Jameson Cummings, 18, is charged with Threat of Terrorism.
	Nerdtober Con brings celebrities, collectibles, and cosplay to RiverCenter this weekend Nerdtober Con will bring more than 100 pop culture vendors, celebrity guests, and wrestling legends to the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport on Oct. 10-11.
	Davenport man sentenced to federal prison for possession of a firearm as a felon A Davenport man was sentenced on October 8, 2026, to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing show that Terry Lee Chance, Jr., 33, was in possession of a .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number as he drove through Davenport. [...]
	Community shares priorities for North Scott's next superintendent What makes a good superintendent? North Scott parents, students and staff shared their priorities on Thursday as the district prepares to replace Joe Stutting.
	American Red Cross asks for blood donors In October, the American Red Cross asks people to book a time to give blood or platelets to help keep the blood supply as strong as possible this fall. The seasons may change, but the need for blood is constant, a news release says. Donors of all blood types are being called on to roll [...]
	Dylan Doyle will perform in Cambridge Guitarist, singer and songwriter Dylan Doyle will perform at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Tuesday, Oct. 13, closing out the venue’s 2026 outdoor concert season with a genre-blending mix of Americana, R&B, funk, blues and soul. Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages evening will begin with an optional potluck dinner at 6 [...]
	Rain ending, then a dry weekend Showers and storms are likely this morning with sunshine returning this afternoon. It'll be warm today and the above average temperatures will be sticking around. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	Pete's Pour and More: UT special education program delivers life skills, delicious drinks United Township students deliver coffee, energy drinks, tea and hot cocoa to teachers and staff every Friday morning in a program designed to prepare students for life after school.
	Red-dyed diesel: What to know President Trump on Monday signed an order to extend the use of red-dyed diesel, but what is it?
	Baby product recalled over alcohol content: FDA A product promoted to help soothe babies and offer gas relief is being recalled over an undeclared alcohol content.
	Pre-workout powder recalled nationwide for illegal substance: FDA Leader Formulas' Rapture pre-workout was distributed nationwide to retail stores and sold online from Jan. 2025 through May 2026.
	Iowa 2026 Poll: Toss-up in U.S. Senate race; Sand maintains edge for governor A new Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll finds 47% of Iowa voters support Republican Ashley Hinson, while 45% support Democrat Josh Turek for U.S. Senate. Libertarian Thomas Laehn has 2% support, while 7% are undecided. Since September, Hinson’s support decreased three points, from 50% to 47%, while Turek’s support held at 45%. In the race [...]
	River Gambler This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Gambling was present on most passenger boats on the Upper Mississippi River, but it never reached the Hollywood…
	Fill in the blank in the quiz: A plague research employee in Russia died from ____ Plus: Nobels! Protests! Ambiguous quotes! A mysterious death in Russia!
	ChatGPT for Teens has special safeguards. A watchdog group finds most don't work A study from Common Sense Media says most safeguards in ChatGPT for Teens failed. The chatbot talks to teens like a friend and doesn't alert parents when users talk about self-harm and suicide.
	Why mailing a ballot close to Election Day may get it rejected for a late postmark If you're using the U.S. Postal Service to return a ballot close to Election Day, officials recommend getting it postmarked at a post office to avoid getting caught up in mail processing changes.
	South African Human Rights lawyer Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay wins the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for advancing human rights and international law.
	Christa Pike is walking with help and eating after failed execution attempt Pike has begun walking and eating again at a hospital a week after surviving Tennessee's attempt to execute her with lethal drugs, her attorneys said Thursday.
	Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed The Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be "public.
	Isaias strengthens into Category 2 hurricane on collision course with the Gulf Coast The first hurricane of the Atlantic season was forecast to intensify rapidly and cause dangerous conditions in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi when it makes landfall late Friday or early Saturday.
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
	Davenport boy honored as kid captain for Iowa’s game against Washington JJ Ward may seem like a typical 6-year-old, but from the moment he was born, his life has been anything but typical.
	Meet JJ, Iowa's next Kid Captain JJ Ward, a 6-year-old from Davenport, has dreams of playing football for Iowa one day. "I like how they score a bunch of touchdowns in weird ways," Ward said. "Sometimes they dive headfirst and then sometimes they do a somersault in the end." It's a dream that was nearly altered a day after JJ was [...]
	Iowa postal workers rally in support of mail-in voting A recent executive order from Trump seeking to curtail the use of mail-in voting was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.
	Iowa City school district facing $13.8 million spending reduction The district's superintendent said some schools are likely to close while they work to balance the budget.
	Tapestry Farms holds second annual Harvest Moon celebration All proceeds from the event go towards Tapestry Farms' work supporting refugees in the Quad Cities.
	Steel and Sears Dams on Rock River will not be removed The Illinois DNR studied safety modifications after a 5-year-old girl drowned in 2018. But it recommended to remove both dams.
	Facade of Muscatine Masonic Temple partially collapses Fire officials aren't concerned about public safety, but the alley surrounding the facade is blocked off as a precautionary measure.
	Facade of Muscatine Masonic Temple suffers partial collapse Fire officials aren't concerned about public safety, but the alley surrounding the facade is blocked off as a precautionary measure.
	Wake Brewing in Rock Island to close The brewery's last day will be Oct. 11.
	Illinois expands restaurant meals program to give eligible SNAP customers more options Illinois is expanding its restaurant meals program statewide, giving eligible SNAP customers more options for prepared meals. The program now includes 50 restaurants in 16 counties. This includes Pizza Hut locations in Colona, Geneseo, Milan, Princeton, Kewanee and Monmouth. The program is for SNAP households where everyone is 60 or older, has a disability, is [...]
	Great Pumpkin Fest will be in downtown Clinton Downtown Clinton will be filled with fall fun on Sunday, Oct. 11, during the annual Great Pumpkin Fest, a family-friendly celebration hosted by downtown Clinton businesses and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. Families are invited to free and low-cost activities throughout the afternoon, including balloon twisting, face painting, yard games, chalk art, caricature drawings and [...]
	Building partially collapses in Muscatine KWQC is working to learn more information.
	Davenport Fire Marshal investigates blaze at unoccupied home The Davenport Fire Marshal is investigating a fire that occurred Wednesday night at an unoccupied home.
	Behind the lens: QC photographer celebrates Hispanic heritage, family connection Varela uses photography to celebrate Hispanic heritage and capture the moments that bring families and communities together.
	Iowa murder suspect accused of harassing couple before deadly shooting, records show Court records describe alleged harassment, a deadly shooting and an encounter that left an Iowa state trooper fighting to recover.
	Muscatine's $48 million solar farm takes shape as coal unit faces retirement Coal has long powered Muscatine. Now, a $48 million project will bring utility-scale solar into the city's energy mix for the first time.
	Civil War reenactment to be held in Princeton, Illinois Shadows of the Blue and Gray will be held in City County Park in Princeton Saturday and Sunday.
	OpenAI caught Russians and Iranians using ChatGPT for influence campaigns The company says Russian operatives used its AI chatbot to update their bosses, shedding light on influence campaigns previously not attributed to Russia.
	Davenport firefighters give students fire safety tips for National Fire Prevention Month October is National Fire Prevention Month and Davenport firefighters visited students at Jefferson Elementary School Thursday to give students fire safety tips.
	Muscatine residents invited to give feedback on Isett Avenue Corridor The City of Muscatine is inviting residents to attend a public open house and share their thoughts on the preliminary design for the Connect Isett Project, a reconstruction project of Isett Avenue and Cypress Street, a news release says. The open house will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Musser Public [...]
	The long-deployed USS Lincoln returns home to San Diego Bay The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has returned home after a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea supporting the Iran war. The extended deployment drew attention following reports of crew stress and supply shortages.
	From Iowa fugitive to San Diego head chef: How a 2012 Davenport shooting suspect hid in plain sight for a decade U.S. Marshals arrested Brian Anthony Williams in San Diego, where he lived as a head chef under an alias after fleeing a 2012 Davenport kidnapping case.
	The Heart of the Story: A fawn named Peaches Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. A discovery on the side of the road [...]
	Wellness center serving union members opens in Rock Island Premise Health, the largest direct healthcare company serving unions and large employers, in partnership with the National Coalition of Labor (NCL), Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council (MACRC), International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 and the Midwest Operating Engineers Fringe Benefit Funds (MOE), and Teamsters Local 301 Health and Welfare Fund, has opened the MCL [...]
	Trump administration denies Illinois’ request for disaster relief — again President Donald Trump’s administration denied Illinois’ request on Thursday for federal disaster relief in eight counties after days of severe weather hit the state in August.
	Man involved in Davenport shooting sentenced to 10 years in prison A man involved in a Davenport shooting of two houses was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
	Rob Sand backs Medicaid pay changes for disabled Iowans, proposes ending privatization Sand spoke with caregivers and Iowans with disabilities during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council.
	2 people, infant hurt in Henry County, Iowa, crash Henry County dispatchers got a report about a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Old Highway 34 around 9:45 p.m., according to a media release.
	Davenport launching 'Strong Minds' program to help local teens work through emotions The Davenport Parks and Recreating Department is launching Strong Minds, a program to help young people, ages 12 to 15, work through emotions.
	3 injured in 2-car crash near Mount Pleasant on Tuesday A 21-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman and her infant child were all treated by ambulance for their injuries. Both vehicles involved in the crash were totaled.
	Traffic Alert: Crash slows traffic on I-74 East north of John Deere Road A KWQC said the crash was in the construction zone on the interstate around 4:40 p.m.
	Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate visits Davenport to test Scott County voting machines Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate visited Scott County Thursday as election officials conducted a public test of voting equipment ahead of Election Day.
	Crime Stoppers: Scott County Sheriff wants man for sex offender registration violations Christopher Huntley is wanted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office for sex offender registration violations.
	Crime Stoppers: Around $5K in fiber cable wire stolen off utility poles Officials said the estimated cost of the stolen wire is around $5,000.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for escape Devonte D. McGee is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections, 7th District High Risk Unit for escape.
	New Davenport program gives teens tools to navigate emotions and mental health "STRONG Minds" is accepting applications for its fall session. The goal is to help local teens better understand and work through their emotions.
	Wednesday night Davenport house fire under investigation No injuries were reported in the fire, officials said.
	Help your business grow with the Level Up: Small Business Summit Running a business can be a real challenge, but you can join fellow entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals for real-world strategies to help your business grow! Ramon Ray joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Quad Cities Chamber's Level Up: Small Business Summit. For more information, click here.
	Scott County election officials test voting machines ahead of midterm elections Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate was present for the testing, in which election workers processed multiple ballot styles through tabulation machines.
	Getting to Know the CEO of Habitat for Humanity QC, Tom Fisher-King Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	Scott County tests voting machines in Eldridge for 2026 elections Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate joined Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins Thursday morning, Oct. 8, as they did tests on election equipment in Eldridge ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
	Treatment for mental health illness combined with addiction Treatment is more effective addressing the two issues together, rather than separately.
	Small businesses and mental health: How to prepare for a crisis at work Oct. 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a great opportunity to review your business's emergency plan. For small businesses, that plan can slip through the cracks because it doesn't feel important enough, but preparing before an incident is key to staying in good legal standing.Mental health crises can present in many different ways. An employee may say something that suggests they are thinking about harming themselves or someone else. They may express feeling unable to cope or stay safe. They may experience severe distress that prevents them from continuing to work or communicating normally. Most business owners want to help but don’t know how. They may not know what's appropriate to ask, what to document, or where their legal responsibility begins and ends.The right response depends on the circumstances, especially whether there appears to be an immediate safety concern. Below, Rocket Lawyer explains what small business owners need to know to prepare for a mental health crisis.Mental Health Might Catch Small Business Owners Off GuardMost small businesses have a plan for a workplace injury or a fire drill. They will know what to do when the time comes and aren’t worried about the process of handling these situations. Far fewer businesses have thought through what to do when the "emergency" is a mental health crisis. Without a plan, you or your managers can unintentionally make a difficult moment worse for the employee. You might also mishandle the situation (asking the wrong questions, documenting incorrectly, or treating every situation the same way), which can, in turn, create legal exposure.Owners often assume they'd know what to do in these critical moments, but employees don't always share that confidence in how their workplace would actually respond. That gap between how prepared owners think they are and how prepared employees feel their workplace is worth paying attention to. By preparing documentation, you make your business a safer place to work.What Preparing For a Mental Health Crisis Looks LikeA crisis at work can take different forms, and each calls for a slightly different response:A visible emotional moment (crying, panic/overwhelm, completely shutting down) usually calls for patience and a simple check-in. Move the conversation somewhere private and ask whether they need help or some time away from the immediate situation. As an employer or manager, you can simply ask, “Would it help to step outside for a few minutes?”A concerning comment about hopelessness or not wanting to be here needs to be taken seriously and escalated. Follow your workplace response plan and focus on the employee's immediate safety rather than assessing or diagnosing their mental health. If you or your employee needs help, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the U.S.).A safety concern (if the employee's words or actions suggest immediate danger to themselves or others) shifts this from an HR moment to a safety response. Call 911 and don’t leave the person alone if it's safe to stay with them.The right response isn't one-size-fits-all. Depending on the situation, your actions should change. That's why having a basic response plan in place before a difficult situation arises matters.Questions to Ask About Mental Health and the WorkplaceBefore a mental health crisis might occur, learn if your business is prepared by asking yourself a few key questions:Do we have any kind of plan for this, or would we be improvising? Who on our team would take the lead if this happened tomorrow? Is this documented somewhere?What can we ask the employee, and what should we avoid asking? Are we clear on the difference between checking in and prying into a medical diagnosis?Are we documenting these situations appropriately? What belongs in a file, and what should stay a private, human conversation?When does a crisis shift from a personal matter to a safety issue? Would our team know the signs that mean it's time to involve emergency services? Do we have the numbers for these services readily available?What to Do NextTalk to your team now, before something happens. A short conversation about responding calmly and privately goes a long way.Develop a basic response framework you can adapt, something simple your managers can actually follow under pressure.Review how you document sensitive situations. Make sure notes are factual and appropriate, not speculative about someone's mental health.Talk to an attorney about where documentation, accommodation, and privacy obligations intersect for a business of your size.A simple plan means that when something happens, you can focus on the person in front of you, not on figuring out what to do.World Mental Health Day is a good moment to think about mental health. If you or someone you work with is struggling, consider reaching out to a mental health professional or a trusted resource.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Circuit Judge Peter Church elected to two-year term as Chief Judge of 14th Judicial Circuit Circuit Judge Peter Church elected to two-year term as Chief Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit.
	Ameren shares Halloween safety and energy-saving tips Spooky season is also a perfect time to check your home for “energy vampires.”
	Keeping your green thumb through the fall and winter seasons As the days get shorter and cooler, that doesn’t mean your garden life has to be over. A horticulturist from Hoerr Nursery said that when the first frost happens, gardeners can keep gardening, but it takes more preparation.
	Iowa officials test Scott County voting machines ahead of November general election Iowa election officials and Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins tested all 66 voting machines using sample ballots to ensure accuracy and security.
	Davenport house fire under investigation No injuries were reported after a Wednesday night house fire in Davenport.
	Clinton postpones public hearing on data center zoning ordinance The public will have more time to review Clinton's proposed data center ordinance after the city postponed a hearing to provide additional notice.
	Discursive Verses: Vic Mensa and the rise of a rap manosphere counterculture NPR Music culture critic and reporter Rodney Carmichael ruminates on the latest in rap culture. This week: an unbothered, radically different, equal but opposite response to rap's podcast bros.
	Thursday's public hearing on Clinton's data center ordinance postponed The Special Council meeting will continue as scheduled for an item on the agenda that's unrelated to the data center ordinance.
	Crews investigating Davenport house fire Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 563-326-7906.
	The 10 best small US cities where renters get the most for their money in 2026 Small cities are gaining popularity as renters realize their budget can go further there. With lower rents than major metros, small cities boast a more favorable rent-to-income ratio for many renters. Yet, with thousands of these cities across the country, it can be tough to narrow them down. New Apartments.com data shows the 10 small U.S. cities where renters can get the most for their money in 2026.Affordability is a commonality across small cities, as shown by two cities tying for first place: Peoria, IL, and Cedar Rapids, IA. Renters in both cities spend just 9.3% of their income on a one-bedroom apartment, 40% below the national average. However, with the volatility of the rental market, rents are constantly fluctuating and they are rising in many of these small cities. This data can help renters identify cities where housing may currently be more affordable.To create this analysis, Apartments.com examined its own renter data, as well as U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Census Bureau and Census figures. 180 small and mid-size metro areas outside the 30 largest U.S. metros were ranked by rent-to-income ratio. The income figure used is the area’s median household income, not renter households specifically, so renters may find that the actual math differs a bit for them.Key TakeawaysRenters across all 10 ranked cities pay just 9.9% of their income for a one-bedroom on average, about 37% less than the national figure of 15.6%.One-bedroom rent rose more than 8% in a single year in five of the top 10 cities, led by a 17.3% jump in Columbia, MO. That is two times the national pace of about 4%.Every city on the list beats the national rent benchmark across all three unit sizes, from studios to two-bedrooms, not just one-bedrooms. Apartments.com The Top 10 Under-the-Radar CitiesZeroing in on the individual cities in this ranking shows just how much value renters are getting as compared to the national rent-to-income average of 15.6%. The table below ranks the top 10 small cities by rent-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the one-bedroom average rent of the city by the monthly median household income.Notably, the majority of the top 10 are Midwest metros. Many of them are also college towns, like Champaign (home to the University of Illinois) and Columbia (home to the University of Missouri), which bring unique energy to the cities with tons of restaurants, events, and year-round activities. Apartments.com 1. Peoria, IL (Tie) Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Peoria: 9.3%Average rent in Peoria: $818/monthMedian household income in Peoria: $106,100Cost of living in Peoria: -5.2%Peoria ties with Cedar Rapids for the most favorable rent-to-income at 9.3%. The most meaningful value comes from housing being 30.1% lower than the U.S. average, though groceries and goods and services are also lower than national rates.As the principal city of the Peoria metropolitan area, Peoria has a strong base across education, culture, employers, and entertainment. Caterpillar Tractor Company and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center are the largest employers in the city, alongside multiple colleges and several medical institutions. The Illinois River corridor, extensive park system, and retail and dining districts all keep the city active at a low price.2. Cedar Rapids, IA (Tie)Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Cedar Rapids: 9.3 %Average rent in Cedar Rapids: $816/monthMedian household income in Cedar Rapids: $105,300Cost of living in Cedar Rapids: -10%Cedar Rapids may have tied with Peoria for the number one spot, but its lower cost of living and lowest average rent out of all the cities give it an edge. At 10% below the national average, it boasts expenses that are below average across the board, except for healthcare and utilities. Yet, that doesn’t mean that Cedar Rapids will always be affordable, as rents increased 7.7% over the past year, the highest growth out of all the cities.As the economic hub of eastern Iowa and the second-most populous city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids has a diverse set of employers. The top industries range from education and government to aerospace and food processing.3. Fargo, NDRent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Fargo: 9.6%Average rent in Fargo: $917/monthMedian household income in Fargo: $115,200Cost of living in Fargo: -3.9%Fargo is the most populous city in North Dakota, and though it has a favorable rent-to-income ratio, expenses can still reflect the city’s status as a regional center. Fargo’s overall housing costs 4.4% more than the U.S. average for renters specifically, though overall housing costs are 16.8% lower. However, the average rent of $964/month is 42% lower than the national average of $1,665/month.The city’s economy has diversified in recent decades, as shown by its local employers, which cover a wide breadth of industries, including government, food processing, manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Fargo also has an arts and cultural scene befitting the biggest city in the state with festivals, museums, and performance venues.4. Champaign, ILRent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Champaign: 9.9%Average rent in Champaign: $946/monthMedian household income in Champaign: $114,300Cost of living in Champaign: -2.4 %While most cities have universities, Champaign stands out for being home to the University of Illinois, one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the country. This largely drives the city’s culture and economy, though it also holds several Fortune 500 companies and headquarters.Consequently, the cost of living is not as low as it is in many of the other cities in this ranking, at only 2.4% lower than the national average. Yet, the savings that matter the most to renters are noticeable. Housing costs are 16.3% below the national average, and rent prices are 33% lower.5. Topeka, KS (Tie)Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Topeka: 10%Average rent in Topeka: $820/monthMedian household income in Topeka: $98,800Cost of living in Topeka: -13.6%Topeka, Kansas’ capital, is a city that revolves around the state government. The State of Kansas is by far the city’s biggest employer, followed by education, healthcare, and social services. Even though it is the capital, Topeka offers a cost of living 13.6% lower than the national average, the lowest on this list. A major component of those savings comes from rents being almost 50% lower than the national average.6. Sioux Falls, SD (Tie)Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Sioux Falls: 10%Average rent in Sioux Falls: $986/monthMedian household income in Sioux Falls: $118,700Cost of living in Sioux Falls: -12.5%Like Fargo, Sioux Falls is the most populous city in its state, but despite this, it offers more value. The cost of living is well below the national average at -12.5%, and expenses are lower across all categories (except for healthcare). Renters should expect to pay around $3,874/month to cover expenses.Many financial companies have relocated to the city, possibly drawn by the lack of a state corporate income tax. Manufacturing and food processing remain significant contributors to the economy, and have been for a long time, but healthcare has grown into an equally important sector.7. La Crosse, WIRent-to-income ratio (1BR) in La Crosse: 10.1%Average rent in La Crosse: $889/monthMedian household income in La Crosse: $105,800La Crosse is one of the many cities on this list with average rent less than $900. It differentiates itself through its location on the Mississippi River and the Wisconsin – Minnesota border. This has made it an attractive place for companies to house headquarters, regional offices, and health systems, including Kwik Trip, Gundersen Health System, and Mayo Clinic Health System – La Crosse.8. Columbia, MORent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Columbia: 10.2%Average rent in Columbia: $1,011/monthMedian household income in Columbia: $119,200Cost of living in Columbia: -9.6%Columbia is one of the few cities on our list where all expense categories (groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and goods and services) are all lower than national averages. Housing delivers the biggest savings at 23.3% below the national average, and even the smallest discount, groceries, still comes in 3.2% below.It has become a hotspot for education, home to the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. This has also given rise to a major healthcare system, making education and healthcare the anchors of Columbia’s economy, with insurance, finance, and tech filling in the gaps.9. Casper, WY (Tie)Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Casper: 10.3%Average rent in Casper: $852/monthMedian household income in Casper: $99,500Cost of living in Casper: -10.1%Casper may be tied with Wausau on rent-to-income ratio, but it has the advantage in cost of living. Casper runs 10.1% below the national average, compared to 6.2% for Wausau, a 3.9 percentage point difference. Even though the city stands out for its affordability, its rents are rising. The average rent rose 5% over the past year, second to only Cedar Rapids on this list.10. Wausau, WI (Tie)Rent-to-income ratio (1BR) in Wausau: 10.3%Average rent in Wausau: $889/monthMedian household income in Wausau: $103,600Cost of living in Wausau: -6.2%Wausau embodies its motto, “Welcome home to Wausau.” It retains that small-town, close-knit vibe that some of the other cities have grown out of. With a city population of around 40,000 and the overall Wausau metropolitan statistical area reaching a little less than 140,000, it keeps a relaxed atmosphere with brick-lined streets, historic buildings, and city-wide events.Another part of its small-city draw is that the cost of living is 6.2% lower than the national average. These same savings extend to rent prices. With an average rent of $889/month, renters pay about $555 less each month than they would at the national average.Rents Are Climbing, But These Cities Still Offer Affordable OptionsRents have climbed all over the country, and affordability has become a major point of concern for many renters. In a recent survey, Apartments.com found that 47% of renters have changed their living situation or rental search criteria just to keep up with bills and other living expenses. Another survey found that four out of five renters cited price among their top three considerations when selecting their next residence. Apartments.com Nationally, renters spend 15.6% of their income on a one-bedroom apartment, but many face steeper prices in major metros, like San Francisco or New York. San Francisco's rent-to-income ratio more than doubles the national average at 33.8%, while New York's climbs to 70.8%, over four and a half times the national figure. The cities on this list offer affordability that doesn’t just beat out big cities but the national average, too. Across the 10 ranked cities, that average is 9.9%, about 37% lower than the national rate.Affordability isn't just for specific floor plans, either. Every one of the 10 cities beats the national rent across all unit sizes (studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms). The national average rent sits at $1,338 for studios, $1,444 for one-bedrooms, and $1,725 for two-bedrooms.But the value won’t last foreverWhile these cities currently offer unbeatable value, that could change with time. Rent growth in half of the top 10 cities is almost double the national pace of 4%. One-bedroom rent rose more than 8% in a single year in 5 of the 10 cities (Fargo, Topeka, Sioux Falls, Columbia, and Wausau). Columbia, MO, saw the biggest jump at 17.3%.It Pays to Think SmallThese 10 cities are easy to overlook, but the numbers make a clear case for renters to consider them. Each one lets renters keep more of their paycheck, with a lower cost of living across the board and rent-to-income ratios well below what most of the country pays.Since rent and listing data are constantly shifting, it's worth checking current numbers before making a move; today's affordability isn't guaranteed to last, especially in the fastest-rising markets on this list. MethodologyFor this report, Apartments.com ranked 180 eligible cities, drawn from markets outside the Census Bureau’s 30 largest metro areas.For each city, we compared two official government figures published by HUD: the typical rent for a one-bedroom apartment (HUD Fair Market Rents) and the typical family income for that area (HUD Income Limits). These are the 40th-percentile gross rents HUD sets for its voucher programs, not an average of Apartments.com listings.Dividing rent by income yields a percentage, which we ranked from smallest to largest to identify the top 10 cities. The term "income" throughout this analysis refers to each area's HUD median family income, not individual renters' income. Renters as a group typically earn less than the broader family-household median, so their actual share of income going to rent likely runs higher than these ratios suggest.The 15.6% national average uses this same formula, calculated for every U.S. county and then averaged, weighted by 2023 Census population. Nationally, the same population-weighted method puts the average Fair Market Rent at $1,338 for studios, $1,444 for one-bedrooms, and $1,725 for two-bedrooms.Apartments.com’s proprietary renter data and Cost of Living pages add context to the rankings, but the rankings themselves rely only on the government rent and income figures above.This story was produced by Apartments.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Survey: Baby boomers won the housing market, and are the least convinced it worked When it comes to homeownership, baby boomers are the generation that won, so to speak.They bought homes when prices were a fraction of what they are today, watched their equity climb for decades, and now hold roughly half of all the home equity in the country. If any generation should feel like homeownership delivered on its promise, it's this one.Yet when asked whether homeownership has lived up to its billing as a cornerstone of the American Dream, baby boomers were the most skeptical generation of all. In a recent American Dream survey of homeowners conducted by Hometap, baby boomers were the only age group whose single most common word for the state of that dream was "eroding," and they had the lowest share of any generation to say the dream has "fully delivered."That's the paradox: The homeowners who generally had it easiest are the least convinced homeownership has delivered. For younger homeowners, or people hoping to become one, that gap says something about the road ahead.Why the Generation That ‘Won’ Is the Most SkepticalSkepticism about homeownership might be expected to track with hardship — the people struggling most to buy a home would be the most disillusioned about the experience. The survey data shows something more surprising.Asked which single word best describes the state of the American homeownership dream today, baby boomers landed on "eroding" more than any other word, at 39.6%. Millennials and Gen X both led with "evolving," a notably more hopeful read. The youngest respondents saw the dream as changing shape; the oldest saw it wearing away.The pattern held when respondents were asked directly whether homeownership has delivered on its role as a cornerstone of the American Dream. Only 13% of baby boomers said it "fully delivered," compared with 22.8% of millennials and 18.3% of Gen X. Hometap The generation with the most equity, the highest homeownership rate, and the longest runway of appreciation was the least likely to say the dream paid off.It doesn't appear to be buyer's remorse, either — baby boomers overwhelmingly still value their homes; 58.3% chose "stability" as the word that best captures what homeownership means to them today. The skepticism seems to be less about the home itself and more about the system around it.The Winners Don't Feel Like WinnersEquity on paper doesn't automatically translate into security in retirement, and the data suggests baby boomers know it.Consider the timing. An average of 11,400 Americans are turning 65 every day — the largest wave of people reaching traditional retirement age in history, according to the Alliance for Lifetime Income's Retirement Income Institute, which calls the milestone "Peak 65." More than half of baby boomers turning 65 between 2024 and 2030 have assets of $250,000 or less, the same research found.That insecurity showed up in the survey data. Nearly two-thirds of baby boomers (63%) agreed they worry they'll need their own savings and assets for retirement before they can help their kids — a higher share than millennials (50.6%).The generation closest to being able to help their children financially, and with the most equity to help from, is the most worried they won't be able to.Other research echoes the same anxiety. FreddieMac research found that baby boomer homeowners' confidence in a comfortable retirement slipped to 68% in 2024, down from 81% in 2021. And 51% of U.S. adults surveyed by Northwestern Mutual in 2025 think it's somewhat or very likely they'll outlive their savings.So the "winners" are looking at substantial home equity on one side of the ledger and real retirement uncertainty on the other — a gap between wealth on paper and confidence in practice that helps explain why the dream reads as "eroding" to this generation, even as home values sit near record highs.Why It Matters to Younger BuyersIf homeownership feels this precarious for people who bought cheap and held on for decades, the challenge facing today's buyers is structural rather than just perception.The affordability math has genuinely changed. Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that home prices climbed to roughly five times the median household income in 2024, an all-time high. Home prices have risen 551% since 1980, as of 2024, while incomes rose 373% over the same period, pushing the national price-to-income ratio to about 5.08 — nearly double the level widely considered affordable, according to a Clever Real Estate and Best Interest Financial analysis. Hometap That gap has quietly rewritten the timeline of a life milestone. The typical first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old, an all-time high, and first-time buyers have shrunk to a record-low 21% of the market, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2025 profile. A generation ago, first-time buyers were routinely in their late 20s.This isn't a story of one generation versus another. Baby boomers moved through the housing market at a different moment than today's buyers, and survey data suggests many are as concerned about their children's prospects as their own. But the structural shift matters for how younger buyers might read their own experience: Finding a first home harder to reach at 40 than a previous generation did at 28 reflects a real change in the ratios, not a personal shortfall.Baby Boomers Aren't Leaving (and That's Reshaping the Market)For years, the housing industry anticipated a "silver tsunami" — a wave of baby boomers downsizing and freeing up family-sized homes for the next generation. It hasn't arrived on the timeline many expected, and understanding why explains a lot about today's tight market.Start with who's actually buying and selling. Baby boomers regained the top spot as the largest share of home buyers at 42% in the past year, per NAR, while millennials fell to 29%. Rather than exiting the market, many baby boomers are competing in it, often with cash from a lifetime of home appreciation.They're also holding onto space. Redfin reports that as of 2024, empty-nest baby boomers own 28% of the nation's large homes (three bedrooms or more), while millennials with kids own just 16% — roughly twice as many large homes held by people who no longer need the bedrooms as by the families who do.The incentives to stay put are considerable. Nearly 58% of baby boomer homeowners own their homes free and clear, with no mortgage payment. Combined with the rate lock-in effect, moving can look like a financial downgrade. And a 2024 AARP report found that 75% of adults 50 and older say they want to stay in their current homes as they age.The result is a market where the homes younger families want are owned, comfortably and mortgage-free, by people with little reason to sell. The typical homeowner now stays put for 12 years, according to Redfin, nearly double the 6.5 years that was typical in 2005.The Wealth Is Real, but It's Mostly Staying PutThere's an enormous amount of housing wealth in baby boomer hands. Federal Reserve data shows that, as of the second quarter of 2026, they hold about 52% of all U.S. household wealth, versus roughly 11% for millennials, even though the two generations make up nearly identical shares of the adult population.That gap is less about hoarding than about time. Adjusted for inflation, younger Americans at an average age of 34 hold slightly more average wealth than baby boomers did at the same age, according to Federal Reserve data. But baby boomers have had decades of compounding home appreciation that today's buyers, entering the market later and at higher prices, haven't had time to accumulate.That wealth will eventually change hands. Cerulli projects that an estimated $124 trillion will transfer to heirs and charity through 2048, with baby boomers and older generations accounting for the vast majority. The open question for younger buyers is timing and access: That transfer plays out over decades and flows unevenly. NAR reports that in 2024, 1 in 4 first-time buyers used a gift or loan from family for their down payment.The Hometap survey data points to a related pattern. More than two-thirds of baby boomers (67.7%) agreed they'd never thought of their home equity as a way to help their family buy a home — the highest share of any generation. When asked the most realistic way they could help their kids become homeowners, the most common answer among baby boomers was "leaving my home as an inheritance" (30.7%). For many respondents, help is associated with something that happens later, rather than a resource that could be accessed sooner. Hometap Price-to-income ratios are for the 100 largest metro areas by population. Income data for 2024 are based on Moody’s Analytics forecasts. Source: JCHS tabulations of National Association of Realtors, Metropolitan Median Area Prices; Moody’s Analytics estimates.What This Means for Younger HomeownersThe data suggests two things can be true at once. The deck is stacked differently than it was a generation ago, and a lot of the forces at play — rates, prices, inventory, who owns what — are outside any one person's control.There's a more practical takeaway, too. Homeowners who bought recently, even modestly, are building the same asset that became the foundation of baby boomer wealth. That equity is real, and it doesn't have to wait decades — or sit untouched until it becomes an inheritance — to be understood as a resource.The pattern in the survey data is that a large share of home equity nationally has gone unexamined as something that could be used sooner rather than later. Understanding what equity is worth, and what options exist for accessing it, is a separate question from deciding whether or when to use it — but it's one more homeowners may want to ask earlier than the generation before them did.Methodology: The survey referenced throughout this article was conducted by AYTM on behalf of Hometap among 1,000 U.S. homeowners ages 18 and over, representing a mix of ages, demographics, and regions. Respondents were recruited through AYTM's online panel and screened to confirm homeownership. Results reflect a 95% confidence level with an approximate 3% margin of error. For this analysis, generations were grouped as millennials (ages 25-44), Generation X (ages 45-64), and baby boomers (ages 65-79).This story was produced by Hometap and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Suicide is up among Black Americans. We need to talk about it. NPR's Michel Martin hosted a panel conversation about mental health and suicide in the Black community, exploring a difficult subject in deeply personal conversations.
	John Deere Classic's Birdies for Charity raises record-breaking $20.1M The John Deere Classic announced this year's tournament generated $20.1 million for 492 local and regional charities.
	Davenport weighs $1 million for regional homelessness plan Davenport leaders want to move from reacting to homelessness to addressing it more proactively. A proposed $1 million commitment could help fund a new regional strategy.
	US Senate Dems demand apology from Chuck Grassley to Jack Smith for attacks at hearing Democrats demand an apology after false accusations at the recent hearing for Jack Smith.
	Birdies for Charity raises around $20M for charities during 2026 John Deere Classic This broke last year's record of $16.9 million which had followed another record-breaking award.
	International Erosion Control Association conference taking place in Dubuque The conference will focus on erosion control and stormwater management to prepare for spring construction.
	Clinton postponing data center zoning public hearing Clinton is postponing tonight’s scheduled public hearing about the proposed data center zoning ordinance, according to a news release from the city. The city provided notice of the public hearing, according to the applicable requirements of Iowa state law, but while preparing for the hearing, a provision within the city’s zoning regulations was identified that [...]
	Report: Illinois tax revenue from gambling increased 19% last year Illinois bettors lost more money than ever last year, according to a new state report.
	Police looking for missing 11-year-old out of Silvis The Silvis Police Department is looking for an 11-year-old girl who was last seen on Wednesday.
	11-year-old reported missing from Silvis The Silvis Police Department is asking the community for help in locating a missing 11-year-old.
	Birdies for Charity raises record $20.1 million The 2026 Birdies for Charity program has reached a new fundraising milestone. The John Deere Classic announced that it generated a historic $20.1 million for 492 local and regional charities in 2026. This reinforces its position as one of the most impactful charitable initiatives associated with the PGA Tour. Most of the funds were raised [...]
	Vehicle crashes into Bettendorf emergency room Bettendorf authorities are investigating the cause of a crash that left a vehicle lodged into a window near the entrance of the emergency room at UnityPoint Health.
	California just made it legal to turn balconies into tiny power plants As free and abundant as sunlight may be, harnessing its power remains stubbornly difficult for homeowners. While the cost of solar energy has plummeted more than 90 percent in the last decade, panels remain a significant investment. And it’s not as easy as just slapping panels on a roof, as your home may need electrical upgrades too.It doesn’t have to be this way, Grist reports. Countries like Germany have encouraged the proliferation of balcony solar, also known as plug-in solar: smaller, cheaper arrays that hook into a home’s electrical outlets. This offsets some of a residence’s energy use, saving users hundreds of dollars a year, and opens up solar energy to renters with balconies or backyards. As a bonus, the less power homes have to draw from the grid, the less stress they put on the system, especially during heat waves when everyone is running energy-hungry air conditioners.On Sept. 30, California officially got in on the balcony-solar action as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing residents of the nation’s most populous state to adopt the technology. It joins a handful of states, like Utah and Maine, in seeing the potential of the technology to generate clean electricity and save residents money as energy costs rise.“This technology is very important and very powerful,” state Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the legislation, said during a press conference Oct. 1. “And what this bill does is eliminate the massive barrier to people using plug-in solar, which is that you’d have to go and negotiate an interconnection agreement with PG&E [Pacific Gas and Electric Company] or the other utility.”The proliferation of plug-in solar marks a fundamental shift in how the electrical grid operates. Historically, utilities have generated electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. When demand rose, like when people returned home at the end of the day and switched on appliances, they’d just ramp up production. This kept the system in a sort of equilibrium, a constant balance of supply and demand.That, though, doesn’t quite work the same with renewables like wind and solar. If demand is holding steady and the sun is setting, a utility isn’t generating as much electricity with its panels. Same with wind, if the skies suddenly calm. So in addition to building out wind and solar farms, utilities are deploying huge batteries to save that energy for later use. This creates a more flexible grid that can still hum with electricity when things are dark or calm.This transformation is turning you, the consumer, into a more active participant in the grid. For years now, homes with solar have sent excess energy back to the grid. While plug-in solar might generate a fraction of what you’d get from a roof covered in panels, it can still help make the grid more flexible. Instead of feeding the system, it reduces the amount of electricity drawn from the grid. Scaled across a whole city, these small reductions can add up, offsetting some of the growth in demand from things like AI data centers and electrification. (Think induction stoves needing electricity instead of natural gas, and EVs charging instead of burning fuel.) “This is one of the most immediate, concrete, tangible, real, and affordable things that we can do to start to get control of our high energy costs, but also save our planet,” Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said during the press conference. “So it’s really a twofer.”Basically, plug-in solar could help reduce congestion in the system at peak times — when it’s hot out and everyone’s running their AC, there’s also plenty of sun to strike the panels. It’s turning homes and apartments into a distributed network of tiny power plants. “It’s really ideal to use renewable electricity exactly where it’s generated,” said Amanda Smith, a senior scientist focusing on the built environment at Project Drawdown, a climate solutions nonprofit. This increased interactivity in the grid comes as utility bills continue to skyrocket. Basic plug-in solar systems will set you back a few hundred dollars, and you can potentially make back that money with energy savings in around four years. (The higher the energy costs in your state, the quicker you’d get that return on your investment.) Still, for a lot of households, that’s a major investment, so ideally a state also provides rebates for people to adopt the technology. With California now aboard the plug-in solar train, your state may well follow. “The big reason this is a big deal really is because it’s the most affordable way for people to actually participate with solar PV,” Smith said. “Whatever happens in California is going to influence, I think, a lot of other future state markets. So it’s going to be a key one to watch.”This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	5 housing market changes sellers aren't ready for Gone are the days when sellers could list a home and sit back as buyers started bidding wars. Today’s buyers have more choices, tighter budgets, and less patience for overpriced homes, needed repairs, or unfavorable terms.HomeLight’s latest Top Agent Insights report asked top-rated real estate agents nationwide what housing market changes they think sellers are least prepared for over the next six months. Here are the five themes that surfaced again and again.1. Rising inventory may give buyers even more leverageSellers are facing more competition as the number of homes for sale continues to grow. In August, 1.62 million existing homes were for sale nationwide, 5.9% more than a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That brought supply to 4.9 months, the highest level in more than a decade.For sellers, that means buyers may feel less pressure to act fast. A price or condition issue that buyers might have overlooked when inventory was tight can now be a reason to choose another home.“Sellers who expect multiple offers on day one without precise pricing, aggressive marketing, and turnkey presentation are going to be caught off guard,” says Lisa Archer, a Charlotte, North Carolina, agent with over two decades of experience. She called this the end of “passive selling.”With more homes competing for buyers, look closely at the properties you’ll be up against before you list. Pricing realistically, fixing obvious problems, and responding quickly if buyer interest is weak can help keep a listing from falling behind.2. Overpricing is becoming harder to recover fromAbout 42% of homes on the market are taking a price cut, according to Century 21 CEO Mike Miedler. For sellers, that makes getting the price right from the start more important.Starting high and lowering the price later may not work as well as it once did. “A lot of sellers still have 2021 in their heads. They think they can list a little high, wait for the bidding war, and negotiate down,” says Brian Burke, a Denver, Colorado, agent with 23 years of experience.Kent Rodahaver, a St. Petersburg, Florida agent, says today’s buyers are weighing far more than just the asking price. “They're comparing price, condition, insurance costs, property taxes, interest rates, seller concessions, and competing inventory before deciding whether a home deserves their attention.”Agents recommend pricing against current sales and competing listings from the outset. If buyer interest is weak in the first few weeks, they also advise making a meaningful adjustment early rather than letting the listing sit through multiple price cuts.3. Longer selling times may become more commonSellers shouldn’t assume they’ll have an offer within days. Recent national estimates put the typical time on market at roughly 50 to 60 days.A few extra weeks can mean another mortgage payment, plus taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep. It can also make the timing harder for sellers who need to sell before buying their next home.“Sellers who spend the first 60 or 90 days ‘testing the market’ may find that their biggest competition isn’t another seller — it’s time,” says Angie Williams, a Lufkin, Texas, agent with 21 years of experience.Agents recommend planning for those extra costs and giving yourself some flexibility around your next move. But that doesn’t mean waiting months to make a change if buyers aren’t responding. Of the agents surveyed, 83% said they would recommend a significant change within one to four weeks when a home is getting showings but no offers.4. More deals may face a second round of negotiationAn accepted offer may not be the final number. After the inspection, buyers may ask for repairs, a credit, help with closing costs, or a rate buydown.Of the agents surveyed, 36% said major inspection issues are the most common reason a deal falls through after going under contract. Another 39% said they typically recommend giving the buyer a repair credit when inspection problems come up.“Many sellers still think the deal is done when they sign the offer, and then the inspection comes back, and the buyer is back at the table asking for credits, repairs, or a rate buydown. That used to be the exception. It’s becoming the norm, and it’s where a lot of sellers lose money they thought they already had,” says Chase Whitney, a Cypress, California, agent with 25 years of experience.Before accepting an offer, talk through what you may be willing to cover if the inspection reveals problems. That way, you’re less likely to be caught off guard by a second round of negotiation or end up with less than you expected.5. Lower mortgage rates may not bring bidding wars backLower mortgage rates could bring more buyers into the market. But agents say sellers shouldn’t expect that alone to recreate the fast-moving market of a few years ago.“Even if rates improve, I don’t think we suddenly go back to the days where every house sells just because it hits the market. Buyers have choices, they’re price sensitive, and they’re willing to wait,” says Nicholas Himes, a HomeLight Elite Agent serving Georgetown, Texas.Aimee Kane, a Boise, Idaho, agent, says more buyer demand wouldn’t necessarily put sellers back in control. “Today’s buyers are payment-conscious, informed, and willing to wait for the right home.”Lower rates could help, but they shouldn’t change the basics of a good selling strategy. Price for the market you’re in, prepare the home before listing, and make changes quickly if buyers aren’t responding.How sellers can prepare for these housing market changesThe thread running through all five housing market changes is simple: Sellers have less room to get the price, timing, or preparation wrong. Buyers are still out there, but they’re looking more closely at value, and negotiations may continue even after an offer is accepted.A top local agent can help you plan for those possibilities before listing, from setting a realistic price and deciding what to repair to estimating likely concessions and how long the sale could take.That timing matters even more if you also need to buy your next home. If the two transactions don’t line up, options such as a buy-before-you-sell program may give you more flexibility instead of forcing you to rush either move.Whatever route you take, the bigger adjustment may be resetting expectations. The market you remember from a few years ago may not be the one you’re selling into today.This story was produced by HomeLight and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New central Iowa exhibit honors acts of service made beyond the battlefield The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston is welcoming a first of its kind exhibit that focuses exclusively on military nurses. The display will open to the public during a dedication event on Saturday.
	The midterms are coming. Here's what the stock market has actually done before and after since 1874 Since 1874, the S&P 500 has climbed in the year following 32 of the last 38 midterm elections, gaining an average of 14%, according to a Motley Fool analysis of election-year stock market history.Neither how many seats the president's party loses in Congress nor which party ends up running Washington afterward has been closely tied to the S&P 500's return in the following year, according to a Motley Fool analysis of Robert Shiller's stock market data set, official U.S. House of Representatives election results, and U.S. Senate Historical Office Party Division records.The historical record of stock market performance after midterm elections strengthens the case for long-term investing based on company fundamentals. It also suggests that trading on election odds or results, the way gamblers do on prediction markets like Kalshi, isn't a sound strategy.Below, The Motley Fool looks at how the stock market has performed before and after every midterm election since 1874.Midterm-year stock market history vs. the long-run averageMidterm-year returns have modestly outpaced the stock market's long-run average return, whether measured against any 12-month period since 1871 or against any November specifically. The Motley Fool About 150 million Americans own stock, either through a brokerage account or, for most, through a retirement account, according to Motley Fool research. How the market behaves around a midterm election and how investors react to it affect portfolios and retirement funds across the country. It isn’t just a concern for hedge funds and Wall Street traders. Stock market returns before the midterm electionsThe S&P 500 typically drifts slightly higher before a midterm election. The market has averaged a gain of 4% in the six months before a midterm and 1.5% in the month before Election Day, with positive returns 63% and 76% of the time over those two windows. The Motley Fool Stock market returns after midterm electionsOnce the votes are counted, the market cools off, and the following month is more muted than the previous one.The S&P 500 has averaged a gain of just 0.5% in the month after a midterm, positive only 55% of the time, compared with a 1.5% average and 76% positive rate in the month before.Bigger gains have historically shown up later: a 6% average gain three months after a midterm and a 10% average increase six months after, positive 76% and 87% of the time over those windows.Across all 38 midterms since 1874, the S&P 500 has gained an average of 14% in the 12 months after Election Day and finished higher 84% of the time, according to the Motley Fool analysis. The Motley Fool Best markets in the 12 months after a midterm election since 1874 The Motley Fool The market has risen sharply in the 12 months after a midterm election in a few standout cases, with little to no bearing on the election results themselves.The 1878 rally followed the recovery from the Panic of 1873.The 1934 rally followed the Great Depression's 1932-33 market bottom.The 1954 gain rode the postwar expansion that followed the Korean War.Worst markets in the 12 months after a midterm election since 1874 The Motley Fool Similarly, the market has dropped sharply after a handful of midterm elections, again tied more to historical circumstances than to the election outcomes themselves.The 1906 decline came just before the Panic of 1907.The 1930 decline landed in the early years of the Great Depression.The 1902 decline coincided with a broader economic slowdown.Swings like these are a reminder that bull and bear markets show up on their own schedule, midterms or not.Stock market returns under unified and divided government, by partyWhich party runs Washington afterward and how the branches of government are divided have influenced stock market returns in the 12 months following a midterm election, though not in a straightforward way.Divided government, where the House, the Senate, or both are controlled by a party other than the president's, has averaged stronger returns than unified government, where one party controls both legislative chambers and the White House. The Motley Fool Splitting unified and divided government by party changes the picture. The Motley Fool A unified Democratic government has had the strongest average return of the four groups, though it is based on just eight midterm elections, spanning the Wilson to Carter administrations.A divided government under a Democratic president has resulted from nine midterm elections dating back to the 1880s, and the market has been positive in the 12 months following eight of them.A divided government under a Republican president followed 14 midterm elections — the most of the four outcomes — and the market was positive 93% of the time in the 12 months after those contests.A unified Republican government is the one arrangement that averaged a negative return in the 12 months after a midterm election. The sample is the smallest, however, and three of the seven years immediately after a midterm election resulting in that arrangement, including 1902, 1906, and 1930, were the lead-up to financial panics that had little to do with which party held Congress.Stock market returns by the size of the president's party's congressional lossesHow many seats the president's party loses in the House or Senate in a midterm election has shown little relationship to market movements afterward. The Motley Fool In both chambers, a landslide loss has not been followed by weaker returns than a narrow one in the twelve months after the midterm. The relationship between seat losses and next-year returns is weak in the House, and about as weak in the Senate.Historically, voters who banked on significant political change to improve their investment returns may have been disappointed.How should investors think about midterm elections and the stock market?Since 1874, the S&P 500 has tended to rise in the year after a midterm election more than its average annual return, and that has held up regardless of which party won, how many seats changed hands, or who ended up in charge of Washington afterward.That should provide comfort to investors. While midterm elections make political headlines and their outcomes can generate angst and uncertainty, the data show they generally do not cause wild market swings once the dust has settled.Investors deciding what to do with that pattern can look past attention-grabbing political news and feel confident researching stocks to buy and hold for the long run.FAQsDoes the stock market always rise after a midterm election?No, but it usually has. The S&P 500 rose in the 12 months after 32 of the 38 midterm elections since 1874, or 84% of the time, according to a Motley Fool analysis of Robert Shiller's stock market data set.What is the average S&P 500 return in the year after a midterm election?The S&P 500 has averaged a 14% total return in the 12 months after a midterm election since 1874, compared with an 11% average for any 12-month period in the market's history.Does the stock market drop before a midterm election?Not typically. The S&P 500 has averaged a gain of 1.5% in the month before a midterm and posted a positive return 76% of the time, though gains have historically picked up after the election rather than before it.Does which party controls Congress after a midterm election affect the stock market?Somewhat. Under a Republican president, a Congress fully controlled by Republicans is the one arrangement where returns have historically been weak, though it rests on only seven elections, three of which directly preceded financial panics.Do landslide midterm elections hurt stock returns more than close ones?No. Since 1874, midterms in which the president's party lost 40 or more House seats have averaged returns similar to those of midterms with smaller losses.MethodologyThis Motley Fool analysis is based on Robert Shiller's monthly U.S. stock market data set, which tracks S&P 500 prices, dividends, and inflation back to 1871. Returns are total return, meaning stock price gains plus dividends, not adjusted for inflation, measured from the November reading of each midterm election year. Because the underlying data is monthly, the November figure is a monthly average, not an election-day closing price.House seat and control figures come from official U.S. House of Representatives election results dating back to 1856. Senate seats and control figures come from the U.S. Senate Historical Office's official Party Division records, which compare the Congress seated immediately before and after each midterm.Other research on this topic sometimes reports different numbers from those in this article. That is usually a difference in method, not a disagreement with a general trend. Some studies count only price gains, excluding dividends. Some measure a calendar year or a specific year in the four-year presidential cycle, rather than the 12 months immediately after a midterm election. Some start their data in 1950 rather than 1874. Some use the Dow Jones Industrial Average instead of the S&P 500. And some average returns across every year under a given party arrangement, rather than just the months right after a midterm.This story was produced by The Motley Fool and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The great sleep divorce: Why couples sleep separately For generations, the shared bed has been treated as a defining symbol of romantic partnership. But some couples are questioning whether sharing a life also means sharing a mattress every night.The trend, often called a “sleep divorce,” refers to partners choosing separate beds or bedrooms, either regularly or when circumstances make sleeping together difficult. The term sounds more dramatic than the practice itself. For many couples, the decision has less to do with relationship trouble than with a practical question: What arrangement allows both people to get enough rest?The trend may be more common than you might think. A 2025 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that 31% of U.S. adults had opted to sleep separately from a bed partner to accommodate their sleep needs. Below, BetterSleep examines the concept of “sleep divorce” and its impact on relationships and a good night’s rest.Why Couples Are Choosing to Sleep SeparatelyThe reasons couples separate at bedtime are often remarkably ordinary.Different schedules are one. A partner who works an early shift may need to go to bed hours before someone who works nights or keeps a later schedule. Different bedtimes and wake times can create repeated disruptions.Snoring is another common culprit, as are tossing and turning, frequent awakenings, and other nighttime movements. One partner's sleep problem can quickly become the other's, too.Temperature can also become a point of disagreement. One person may sleep comfortably in a cool room while the other wants more warmth or heavier bedding. Light, noise, pets and nighttime routines can create similar conflicts.The stakes are significant because insufficient sleep is already widespread. According to the latest National Health Interview Survey data, 30.5% of adults slept less than seven hours in 2024.The issue isn't necessarily whether couples want to sleep together. It may simply be whether their individual sleep needs are compatible.Is Sleeping Separately Bad for a Relationship? The expectation that couples should share a bedroom can make sleeping apart feel like a relationship statement. But a sleeping arrangement and an emotional relationship are not necessarily the same thing.A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 62 studies and 43,860 participants found that better couple relationship quality was moderately associated with better overall sleep quality and longer sleep duration. Greater partner conflict, meanwhile, was associated with poorer sleep quality.There is also evidence that sleep loss can make conflict harder to navigate. In one experimental study, couples who experienced a night of total sleep deprivation showed more negative affect and higher physiological stress during a discussion of a recurring conflict than couples who slept normally.That doesn't mean sleeping separately automatically improves a relationship. For some couples, eliminating nightly disruptions may remove a source of irritability and resentment. For others, sharing a bed may provide comfort, security, and closeness that contribute positively to sleep.There is no single sleeping arrangement that works equally well for every couple.Sleep Optimization and Couples' Nighttime RoutinesThe idea of “sleep divorce” reflects a broader shift in how people think about sleep.With the advent of sleep-tracking devices and apps, consumers are increasingly able to monitorthings like sleep duration, consistency, bedroom temperature, light exposure, and nighttime routines. Public health guidance similarly emphasizes regular schedules and a quiet, comfortable sleep environment.Instead of assuming both partners should adapt to one environment, couples can ask whether it supports both their needs.One person may love a cold bedroom; the other may not. One may be ready for bed at 9 p.m.; the other may not be sleepy until midnight.Personalized sleep environments allow for that flexibility.How Couples Can Protect Intimacy While Sleeping ApartThe biggest concern about separate bedrooms is usually emotional. If one partner interprets the decision as rejection, sleeping apart can create distance instead of solving a sleep problem.Communication matters. Couples can discuss why they're changing their sleeping arrangements and make clear that the goal is better rest, not less connection.They can preserve rituals that have nothing to do with falling asleep in the same bed: talking at the end of the day, sharing an evening routine, physical affection, eating together, or establishing a morning ritual.Separate sleeping doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. Some couples may sleep apart every night; others may use separate rooms when work schedules clash, one partner is sick, or a temporary sleep problem makes sharing difficult.The arrangement can be flexible as long as both partners feel respected and connected.When Separate Sleeping May Be a Sign of a Bigger ProblemSleeping apart should not become a substitute for addressing relationship problems. If one partner uses a separate bedroom to avoid communication or unresolved conflict, the arrangement may only conceal the underlying issue.Persistent nighttime disruption can also point to a health problem rather than simple incompatibility.Snoring deserves particular attention when it is loud or accompanied by other symptoms. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute lists breathing that starts and stops, frequent loud snoring, and gasping for air among symptoms of sleep apnea. Excessive daytime sleepiness can also be a warning sign.In those situations, sleeping in another room may temporarily protect a partner's rest, but it doesn't address the underlying condition. A healthcare professional can help determine whether symptoms warrant further evaluation.Better Sleep Doesn't Have to Look the Same for Every CoupleThe traditional idea that couples must share a bed every night is beginning to look less like a rule and more like a preference.For some couples, sleeping separately may be a practical response to different schedules, temperatures, sleep habits, or nighttime disruptions. For others, sharing a bed may remain important to feeling connected and sleeping well.Neither arrangement automatically says anything about the strength of a relationship.The more useful question is whether both people are getting the rest they need while still making room for intimacy, communication, and shared time. Sometimes that means sleeping side by side. Sometimes it means giving each other more space after the lights go out.A healthy relationship doesn't require identical routines. Sometimes, creating more space at night can help couples show up better for each other during the day. This story was produced by BetterSleep and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Instacart's Halloween report: Reese's is No.1, regional candy quirks and the iconic banana costume Halloween means candy and costumes and Instacart’s latest data shows what millions of Americans put in their carts throughout October.Key TakeawaysReese's runs the country. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 candy by ounces sold, and the top seller in 40 of 51 states and Washington, D.C. HI-CHEW stands out in Montana. The state buys HI-CHEW at +616% above the national share, the largest candy over-index anywhere in the country. Western states buy the most candy. Utah (+67%), Idaho (+50%), and Alaska (+47%) buy the most candy relative to the rest of the country. The Northeast buys the least. No judgment, but also…noted. The Pacific Northwest leads among cities. Anchorage, AK (+56%), Eugene, OR (+53%), Tacoma, WA (+51%), Vancouver, WA (+48%), and Spokane, WA (+47%) lead all cities in the country. Sour Patch Kids leads in Rhode Island. It's the only state where Sour Patch Kids beat both Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Peanut M&M's for the top spot. Banana is the top food-related costume. Among adults shopping for food-related costumes, “Banana” was the most popular choice. Bananas were also the No.1 selling item on Instacart. America's Candy Leaderboard: Reese's Takes the Top SpotReese's Peanut Butter Cups took the No. 1 spot by ounces of candy sold. The top five were all chocolate: Peanut M&M's came in second, Hershey's Milk Chocolate third, M&M's fourth, and Snickers fifth. Sour Patch Kids was the first non-chocolate candy on the list, coming in at No. 7. Instacart One Map, One Winner (Almost)State by state, the pattern holds. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the top seller in 40 of them. Peanut M&M's lead across much of the Plains and Mountain West and in Hawai‘i. Then there's Rhode Island, the lone sour candy holdout in a sea of chocolate, where Sour Patch Kids took the top spot. Rhode Island is the only state where Sour Patch Kids ranked ahead of both Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Peanut M&M’s. Instacart Now Here's Where It Gets Interesting The most popular candy in each state tells one story. The candy each state buys at a much higher rate than the rest of the country reveals another.Montana is buying HI-CHEW at +616% above the national average, the largest over-index among candies in the country. Louisiana buys Tootsie Pops at +141% above the national share. Rhode Island also stands out for Sour Patch Kids, buying them +109% above the national share. Colorado and Wyoming show a strong preference for candy corn, with the candy ranking among their most over-indexed purchases. Instacart Who Goes All In? Set aside any single candy and look at the full candy aisle: Which states devote the biggest slice of their overall cart to candy in October? The answer runs west, decisively.Utah (+67% above the national average), Idaho (+50%), Alaska (+47%), Washington (+43%) and Montana (+40%) buy candy the most often in the country. The Northeast leads in the other direction: Delaware (-18%), Pennsylvania (-16%) and New York (-15%) are the most restrained. Nobody has a sweet tooth quite like the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest. They lead the country in candy purchases during October. Instacart The Candy CapitalsZoom to the city level and the Pacific Northwest and Alaska show up once again. Anchorage, AK (+56% above the national average), Eugene, OR (+53%), Tacoma, WA (+51%), Vancouver, WA (+48%), and Spokane, WA (+47%) top the list. The bottom of the rankings is equally clustered: Newark, New York City, and a string of NY, NJ and PA cities all buying candy well below the national rate.What's fascinating is how clean the split is. The top cities are almost all in the Pacific Northwest, while the bottom cities are almost all in the Northeast. Both regions are up north, both get a proper chill in October, and both have plenty of family-friendly neighborhoods. Bottom line: Depending on where you live, Halloween traditions might just look a little different. Instacart Now, About Those Costumes When it comes to costumes, adults and kids tend to shop for classic and spooky options: Skeleton and Witch costumes lead the way for adults, while kids go for Ghostface masks from “Scream,” with Witch and Skeleton close behind. The accessories aisle runs on hats, jewelry and gloves, because the right hat can make the full costume.And then there are the food costumes.Since Instacart is a grocery technology company, it was worth taking a look. Among adult food costumes, Banana took the top spot. Fitting, since bananas happen to be the No.1 selling item on Instacart. Instacart The Bowl Is Full So whether you're filling the candy bowl with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, dressing up to go trick-or-treating, or trying to make it through October without eating all the candy before Halloween, it turns out that where you live can say a lot about how you celebrate Halloween. This story was produced by Instacart and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to create and design a website with AI, according to experts Today, there’s no excuse for not creating a website, especially when using an AI website builder to speed up the process. What used to take weeks now takes days or minutes.In fact, between 2025 and 2026, the average time to publish a website dropped 50%, from eight days to four, according to Wix’s State of Websites report. Before that, it dropped 43%, from 14 days in 2022 to eight days in 2025.Even the pros are tapping into AI as a tool: A whopping 93% of web designers report having used AI, according to a Hubspot report, with half using it specifically to design their websites.That said, when you’re learning how to design a website with AI, keep in mind that your artificial assistant should get you about 80% of the way there; the remaining 20% is all you.“AI usually nails the structure and the general aesthetic you're looking for,” says Oded Nachshon, head of Wix Editor at Wix, who helped build Wix’s AI agent. “But the moment you try to fine-tune that last 20% to your brand, you enter what I call ‘prompt purgatory.’" Plan to spend real time on that final 20%. It's where your site stops looking generic.In this guide, the team behind Wix’s AI website builder breaks down how AI website creation works and highlights the key steps to getting online fast, no matter which platform you use.How to design a website with AI in 5 stepsSo, how can you get started? Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of how to build a website with AI.1. Gather essential informationOften, the quality of an AI output depends on the quality of the information that you input. A full dossier of information about your brand can point your AI solution in the right direction. While you don’t need to have a full style guide in hand, you do need to know basic details like:The purpose of your siteYour intended audienceThe products or services that you plan on sellingWhat sets you apart in the marketplaceYour brand’s personality and/or valuesWhy does this matter? Let’s say that you want to build an e-commerce site that sells ring lights. Your site will look different if you’re primarily targeting Gen Z shoppers who seek your lights for personal projects, versus corporate clients who’d use your lights for professional projects. To limit the amount of back and forth in the web design process, you’ll want to decide which audiences matter most to your brand.On that note, vague prompts produce generic sites. "Build me a coffee shop website" gives you the mathematical average of every coffee shop online. "Build me a coffee shop website for a specialty roaster in Brooklyn focused on single-origin beans, with a subscription page and a story-driven About section" is a real brief. The more specific you are at the start, the less time you spend correcting later.2. Choose your platformThere are many AI-powered tools to consider, ranging from all-in-one platforms to single-task apps. Start by choosing from the best AI website builders.You might also want to consider a template as a starting point."When choosing between AI versus a template, you're essentially choosing between placing your trust in an AI model, which is trained on web design principles through an abundance of information and examples, or placing your trust in the curation and consideration done by an experienced web designer," says Sapir Ziv, a graphic designer at Wix who works on template creation.Make sure to weigh your options carefully. You’ll want to assess things like:Your must-have features: What’s your game plan for your site? Do you need to enable online scheduling? Do you require an online credit card payment solution? What about gated pages or other specialized functionality? Check that your solution can accommodate your particular line of business.Your in-house capabilities: Do you have in-house designers and engineers who can work with code? Or, are you a “solo-preneur” who wants to focus on sales and needs a more off-the-shelf solution?Customization options: Can you tweak details to make your site look just right? What flexibility do you have over the branding of your web pages?Integration options: Does your solution mesh well with other tools that you're using, like social media or email marketing platforms? Check which tools come built into your website builder, as well as what integrations are readily available.AI maturity: While AI is in its heyday, it’s not brand new to the world of tech, and some companies have been at it longer than others.AI builders and templates aren't either-or, by the way. Ashley Reckdenwald, founder of Land of Lovies, a U.S. charity she launched after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, likes to start with a template, then go from there. "I always tend to go rogue from the template,” she says. “But it gives me a good skeleton. It allows me to take a look at what I have and then customize it."Working from a template, Ashley built her charity site herself and attracted media attention within days of launch. Her experience captures what AI builders do well at the moment: They remove the blank-page problem, which then lets you spend your energy on the parts that actually need your judgment.3. Design your site with AIThen, it’s time for the fun part: designing your site. The specifics will depend on the platform you choose, but here are some best practices to keep in mind for any AI website builder.Don't forget the human touch: While AI can greatly enhance the efficiency and functionality of your website, it's important not to lose your personality. Incorporate personal touches and elements that reflect your brand and values. Yarin Singolda, product marketing manager at Wix, puts the human-in-the-loop point bluntly: "If you approach AI without intention or direction, if you just say 'build me a bakery website' and walk away, then yes, you're handing over your creative license." The best results come from treating AI as a collaborator, not an outsourcer.Test and optimize regularly: Conduct A/B testing, collect user feedback and analyze data to discover elements to improve in the next iteration. Doing this regularly means your website remains relevant, user-friendly and aligned with evolving trends and user preferences.Make your site accessible to everyone: AI can improve accessibility by generating alt text for images or adjusting colors for better contrast, but it’s not a fix-all. Manual testing is still crucial for things like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility and readable fonts. An accessible site isn’t just good practice; it can boost SEO and help you avoid legal issues.Use AI to boost SEO: AI is great for crunching numbers and finding keywords, but it’s not a content expert. It might suggest piling your site with keywords in a way that feels robotic. Instead, use AI as a research tool and make thoughtful edits to create content that works for both search engines and real people.Use AI to personalize: AI-driven personalization can transform a basic site into an experience tailored to each visitor. From smart product recommendations to dynamic page layouts, AI keeps users engaged. But it’s important to stay transparent about data collection, follow privacy laws, and give users control over their preferences.4. Refine, refine, refineRemember that 20% that makes your site stand out? Now’s the time. Any attention-grabbing website includes imagery and elements that not only look good but also reflect your brand well.If you’re feeling stuck, use AI to generate copy that you can edit later. When you think you’re done, read every paragraph aloud and rewrite any sentence that doesn't sound like you would say it. A 10-minute editing pass on AI-generated text is what turns a competent page into one that converts.5. Domain and hostingNext up, choosing a domain name and hosting your site. Your domain is your address on the internet, so pick something short, easy to spell and close to your brand name. If your first choice is taken, a domain name generator can help, or you can consider alternate suggestions.Hosting is the other half of the equation. Hosting is the website infrastructure that keeps your site fast, secure and online around the clock. Look for a plan with SSL included, solid uptime and room to grow as your traffic does.AI can get you online fast. Growing and scaling is where the work really begins.This story was produced by Wix and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Vehicle crashes into Trinity Bettendorf hospital, injuring driver Bettendorf firefighters responded to an unusual scene Wednesday night: A vehicle had struck a hospital building near the emergency room entrance.
	Vehicle crashes into Bettendorf hospital emergency room The vehicle had become lodged in a window near the emergency room entrance.
	The long-deployed USS Lincoln is returning home to San Diego The USS Abraham Lincoln is returning home to San Diego Thursday after supporting the Iran war during a record long deployment of 265 uninterrupted days at sea that included reports of deteriorating conditions among its crew.
	Suspect charged in Iowa realtor’s murder wants trial to stay in Dallas County Kristin Ramsey does not plan to file a change of venue request, according to court records.
	Quad Cities hosting 2027 Small Market Meetings Conference The Quad Cities will host the 2027 Small Market Meetings Conference (SMMC) on September 21-23, 2027, at Bend XPO in East Moline. The announcement was made at the Small Market Meetings Conference in El Paso. This will be the first time the Quad Cities has hosted SMMC. Click here for more information. Group Travel Family's [...]
	New U.S. indictment charges former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with torture U.S. authorities charged the former Venezuelan president with conspiring to torture his fellow citizens as well as Americans. That adds to drugs and weapons charges against him.

Friday, October 9th, 2026

Thursday, October 8th, 2026