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

Thursday, March 26th, 2026
	Davenport West High School evacuated due to bomb threat Due to a bomb threat at West High School students have been evacuated.
	Army reshuffling its civilian workforce The Army is reorganizing where civilian employees work and how jobs are assigned.
	Summer gas fight: Yearslong ethanol policy standoff could cost Illinois drivers at the pump yet again Illinois retailers say they need to know soon whether to purchase ethanol-infused E15 gasoline for summer use.
	New car seat safety guidelines: What to know The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is updating federal standards to improve how car seats are tested.
	Yearslong ethanol policy standoff could cost Illinois drivers at the pump yet again Illinois retailers say they need to know soon whether to purchase ethanol-infused E15 gasoline for summer use.
	Rock Island Fire responds fire at Domino's Pizza Rock Island firefighters worked fast to put out a restaurant fire last night. A news release from the City of Rock Island said firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire at Domino’s Pizza, 3708 14th Avenue, on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:06 p.m. When crews arrived, they found and quickly extinguished a small [...]
	Semi rollover blocks part of Northwest Blvd. Our Quad Cities News has a crew at Northwest Boulevard in Davenport, where a semi truck rolled over on the on ramp to eastbound I-80. Traffic is blocked from southbound Northwest Boulevard to I-80 East. One lane heading north on Northwest Boulevard is blocked. A HAZMAT team is at the scene due to leaking fluid [...]
	Crews respond to fire at Rock Island Domino’s Pizza location No injuries were reported, officials said.
	Cake walk and free dinner at Rock Island Easter egg hunt The Granny Grayson Outreach group will be hosting an Easter egg hunt this Saturday at Johannes Bus Service in Rock Island.
	Rock Island responds to fire at Domino's Pizza on 14th Avenue late Wednesday No injuries were reported among occupants or emergency personnel.
	Researchers connect environmental issues with cancer rates in new report Researchers and public health experts are urging lawmakers to turn knowledge of Iowa’s cancer crisis into action, with a new report detailing Iowans’ risks of exposure to different carcinogens and offering first and future steps to mitigating dangers.
	Bill Maher is getting the Mark Twain Prize after all There was confusion about whether the satirist would be getting the Kennedy Center's top humor award after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it "fake news." Now it's confirmed.
	Man charged in 2025 Davenport murder granted bond reduction Attorneys for Danny Howard Jr. appeared in Scott County Court in Davenport on March 25 for a hearing on a motion for bond reduction. Howard’s bond was set at $500,000 cash only, which the filing said was excessive pursuant to the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, section 12 of the [...]
	Moline seeks public input on environmental resiliency plan Community input will help guide how Moline addresses flooding, sustainability and future development.
	Colon cancer is now top cause of cancer deaths in Americans under 50 Colorectal cancer rates have skyrocketed in younger Americans. Learn more about recognizing symptoms, mitigating risk, and the latest screening options and guidelines.
	Parent voices concerns at school board meeting following bus crash The crash sent four students to a local hospital for evaluation after a Whiteside County school bus went off the road and into a ditch.
	Severe weather possible later Thursday in the Quad Cities A strong cold front will move through Iowa and Illinois today and bring some strong to severe storms this afternoon and this evening. After a very warm Thursday, that front will bring much cooler weather Friday. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	“Muscatine & the Civil War,” through May 30 Guests of the Muscatine Art Center are invited, through May 30, to explore powerful local stories of sacrifice in the exhibition Muscatine & the Civil War, with an April 18 event enabling patrons to experience special Civil War programs featuring a portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, a presentation on Iowa’s first soldiers, a book signing with Dr. Randee Fieselmann, and a live-music performance by Bob and Kristie Blake.
	Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments in case between Davenport and state auditor At issue is whether the Iowa Auditor's Office can subpoena closed session meeting minutes and recordings in its audit of the city's handling of nearly $2 million in settlements
	Southeast Asia turns to nuclear as Iran war disrupts energy supplies Analysts say the Iran war energy crisis is also adding momentum to nuclear interest and action in the region.
	Cesar Toscano: A eulogy for my childhood playground Education Reporter Cesar Toscano discusses how his childhood playground has changed over the years.
	Quad-Cities mom invents Helmet Fresh, a sanitizing spray for cranial helmet care When her son needed a cranial helmet, Paige Beswick invented a spray to help deodorize and sanitize it in between uses.
	Muscatine Public Works only doing one round of curbside leaf collection this spring Muscatine Public Works will only be doing one round of curbside leaf collection this spring.
	Bootcamp This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Whenever I watched the encampments of Civil War reenactors at McClellan park in the Village of East Davenport, it was…
	Israel and Iran ramp up attacks as Trump insists Tehran wants a deal The war in the Middle East ramped up on Thursday as Israel launched a wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, and Iran fired rounds of missiles at central Israel.
	Trump's attacks on offshore wind could hurt infrastructure spending across the economy President Trump has tried to kill offshore wind's future in the U.S. But industry analysts say the attacks could hurt business confidence across the U.S. economy.
	It's Equal Pay Day. Women have lost ground for the second year in a row The annual observance marks how far into the new year women must work to make what men earned in the previous year. This year, it's March 26, a day later than it was in 2025.
	Free vocal recital Thursday night at Figge part of Violins of Hope New York City-based soprano Lily Arbisser and pianist Dimitri Malignan, with violist Deanna Petre, will present a special free concert Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. at the Figge Art Museum.
	Airport wait times now at record-highs, TSA says: 'A dire situation' TSA officials said Wednesday that airport wait times are now at all-time highs, and the agency may be forced to temporarily close some airports due to the partial government shutdown.
	UN calls for reparations to remedy the 'historical wrongs' of trafficking enslaved Africans The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans "the gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparations.
Wednesday, March 25th, 2026
	Crews respond to Rock Island Domino’s Pizza location for report of fire No injuries were reported, officials said.
	Burlington to replace 130-year-old Cascade Bridge A nearly $11 million project looks to replace the over 400-foot bridge.
	Burlington names new superintendent Nathan Marting is the current principal of Burlington High School. It approved, he'll replace Superintendent Rob Scott.
	Woman sentenced to 14 days in jail for 2024 Galesburg fatal hit-and-run Eric McKinney was hit and killed on July 4, 2024, while biking away from the fireworks show at Lake Storey.
	Woman sentenced to 14 days in jail for 2024 Galesburg fatal hit-and-run Eric McKinney was hit and killed on July 4, 2024, while biking away from the fireworks show at Lake Storey.
	Muscatine Fire Department restores full ambulance fleet after crash The Muscatine Fire Department (MFD) is officially back to full strength with the arrival of a new 2025 Ford F‑550 ambulance, delivered last week and placed into service after final outfitting, a news release says. The new unit—now designated Ambulance 354—responded to its first call on Monday, March 23, marking an important milestone in the [...]
	State panel puts Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews on ballot Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews will be on the primary election ballot after a state panel Wednesday rejected a challenge to his nominating signatures.
	Moline-Coal Valley celebrates groundbreaking for Robert Ontiveros Elementary School Moline-Coal Valley School District will have a new elementary school in the next few years after the district broke ground on Robert Ontiveros Elementary on Wednesday.
	How a retired Metra locomotive will help expand Railroading Heritage of Midwest America's reach A diesel locomotive that once served Metra riders in Chicago has made its way to the Quad Cities through a donation to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA). When the Metra decided they would donate the first and last of the F40C diesel locomotives, the RRHMA stepped right in. "Said hey, we'd like to [...]
	Black Hawk Career Fair, Moline, will be open to the public Visit dozens of employers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the 2026 Career Fair at Black Hawk College, a news release says. The fair will be at the college’s Quad-Cities Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline, in Building 3 in the gym. Participants should park in Lot 3 off 34th Avenue, dress professionally, and [...]
	Iowa families push for pediatric cancer research funding Families are pushing for a bill that would allocate $3 million for pediatric cancer research in Iowa, as lawmakers weigh budget decisions in the final weeks of the legislative session.
	‘Here we go again’: Parents react to new resentencing in Adrianne Reynolds' 2005 murder One of the people convicted in the 2005 murder of 16-year-old Adrianne Reynolds will return to court this summer. Her parents say it never gets easier.
	Up and down March temperatures to continue through end of month We've some cold temps and some record highs this month as well...and the roller-coaster ride isn't going to stop before the end of the month! Highs will be in the upper 70s Thursday...before cooling to the upper 40s and lower 50s on Friday! This weekend sees a rebound though, with readings back into the 60s [...]
	Up 587%: How the YWCA Empowerment Center is handling increased need Demand for food and other services provided by the YWCA Empowerment Center in Davenport increased by 587% last year. One volunteer is trying to make a difference by offering recipes to anyone who comes through the door. Our Quad Cities News reporter Riley Hemmer shows how the new approach to their food pantry is making [...]
	TV6 Investigates gets bills cleared for Galena cancer survivor Lincare sent the Stegalls a certified letter apologizing for their bills.
	Road work planned for Colona Both on and off ramps to I-80 eastbound at the Cleveland Road exit will close, along with intermittent lane closures on Cleveland.
	Gas prices could go higher under Iowa proposal Iowa lawmakers are considering a gas tax increase as part of an overall property tax reform package.
	Traffic Alert: Road work to begin on I-80, Bureau County The Illinois Department of Transportation will begin roadwork on I-80 in Bureau County on Monday.
	Black Hawk College to host career fair Black Hawk College will host a career fair this week.
	Groundbreaking held for new Ontiveros Elementary School in Moline Dozens of students, staff, school board members, district leaders, and many others gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the planned much larger new school at 1015 16th Ave., Moline.
	Knox County man faces predatory criminal sexual-assault charge: Sheriff's office Detectives with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office have arrested Blaine A. McKinney, 34, of Dahinda, Illinois, on an active warrant related to an ongoing criminal investigation, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. McKinney has been charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and was being held Wednesday without pretrial release. McKinney was [...]
	Police investigating crash on West Locust Street Davenport police said they are investigating a crash on West Locust Street.
	News 8's James Zahara shares his heart health journey James was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat last Christmas. Now, he's sharing his story to help others.
	Whitey's Shake Madness tournament reaches final round The finalists duking it out at Oreo and chocolate chip cookie dough. Whitey's will announce the winner on Friday.
	Sandburg adds engineering courses this fall Students will be able to take a four-course engineering sequence designed for transferring to a bachelor's program.
	EICC recognizing Community College Month with free classes in April The classes will run from April 1-30 across Eastern Iowa Community Colleges' area of service.
	Iowa wildflowers beginning to bloom You can track blooms using the Iowa DNR's weekly wildflower reports.
	Traffic Alert: Work to resume Monday on Davenport 4th Street improvements Improvements to 4th Street will be kicking off the construction season on Monday.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: JKEL BRITT, 19, 5’7”,130 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. A $500 reward is offered. Wanted by Rock Island Police on a warrant for aggravated [...]
	Nathan Marting will serve as next Burlington School District superintendent The Burlington Community School District Board of Education has selected Nathan Marting to serve as the district’s next superintendent, pending board approval at its regular board meeting on Monday, March 30, a news release says. Marting is the current principal of Burlington High School, but his administrative experience withBurlington CSD also includes service as an [...]
	Burlington Community School District announces next superintendent The Burlington Community School District Board of Education has announced the next superintendent.
	Knox County Sheriff’s Office arrests man for predatory criminal sexual assault of child A man is under arrest and charged with sexually assaulting a child.
	Kwik Star gets a new mascot Red the rooster will be hitting the road, popping into stores and children's hospital across the Midwest, including in the Quad Cities!
	What to know for tomorrow's incoming storms As we head to the second half of our work week, we are getting ready for some incoming rain during the evening for Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a slight risk of severe weather for the Quad Cities with our most Eastern areas under an enhanced risk. The big risks from these storms [...]
	Musser Park playground to be temporarily closed A Muscatine park’s playground will be temporarily closed for repairs.
	No Kings protests returning to the Quad Cities region this weekend The third round of the protests against the Trump administration will take place on both sides of the Mississippi on Saturday.
	Ballet Quad Cities presents Violins of Hope Ballet Quad Cities is putting the Holocaust into perspective in the QCA. Courtney Lyon and Joseph Chonto joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about Ballet Quad Cities' partnership with Violins of Hope. For more information, click here.
	New high school/career center coming to Davenport Oakmont Education has announced that Great Oaks High School & Career Center Davenport Campus, a new tuition-free public charter high school located at 3560 N. Brady Street, is expected to open in time for the 2026 – 2027 school year. The school will serve students ages 16–21 and gives them a supportive pathway to earn [...]
	Doctors worry about FDA scrutiny of RSV shots to protect babies The antibody shots are about 80% effective at preventing babies from ending up in intensive care because of RSV. The drugmakers behind them maintain they're safe.
	Beatification of Central Illinois’ Archbishop Fulton Sheen set The first major step on the path to sainthood has been set for Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
	Travelers are facing the longest TSA wait times in history Wait times are exceeding four hours at some major airports, leading TSA officers to call out at rates of 40 to 50%, according to TSA Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.
	Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse nominated for 'Best Dinner Theater' in the country by USA TODAY People can vote once per day until voting closes on Monday, April 13, at noon.
	Violins from the Holocaust are being played at concerts across Iowa this spring Violins of Hope, a project built around a private collection of over 70 restored instruments connected to Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust, is currently touring the state.
	Train blocks crossings in Camanche Drivers heading through Camanche might have trouble getting around town due to a train blocking several railroad crossings. A post on the City of Camanche’s Facebook page says the railroad is aware of the problem and is working to resolve it. Anyone who has been at these crossings below that have been blocked by a [...]
	Stephen Colbert's next epic quest? Writing a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie The film will focus on chapters in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring that were left out of the first movie in the trilogy.
	The social pressure pandemic: Teens, body image and the surge in eating disorders The social pressure pandemic: Teens, body image and the surge in eating disordersThe socioeconomic landscape for Gen Z and Gen Alpha has undergone a noticeable shift since 2020. We already know how the pandemic disrupted schools and first jobs, but a secondary, more persistent health crisis is now coming into focus. Beyond the broad economic headlines, the data is signaling a sharp surge in behavioral health struggles—specifically in how adolescents are handling the mixture of social and academic pressure.At the center of this is the rising prevalence of eating disorders. It’s a trend that reflects a compounded risk profile for today’s teenagers, one where old-school peer pressure is supercharged by algorithmic tech and a hyper-competitive “always-on” academic culture.Treatment provider Victory Bay takes a look at the data behind this shift and why this “social pressure pandemic” is finally starting to lose its invisibility.Rising DiagnosesThe phenomenon of rapid increases in eating disorders is both national and global. Data from the Journal of Pediatrics shows that in the wake of COVID-19, prevalence among 6- to 18-year-olds rose by approximately 40%. Eating disorders can not be discussed without mentioning that they have one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric diagnoses.At the population level, around 7.8% of people have an eating disorder. Among those aged 18 and under, the proportion is 22.36%, and it is continuing to grow. According to a 2025 meta-analysis of 52 studies, health care utilization for eating disorders increased by 54% during the pandemic. Public health researchers estimated that in 2025, there were roughly 250,000-300,000 encounters related to eating disorders among adolescents aged 12-18 in the U.S.Another impact of this trend is that there is greater demand for dedicated treatment for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Data from treatment providers confirms a surge in patient admissions, highlighting the operational strain on recovery services as they scale to meet this demographic shift. Treatment centers are stepping in to meet this demand. However, it’s clear that while tackling eating disorders on an individual level is possible, the broader social pressure exerted upon teens must be addressed with a wider response.Rampant Peer PressurePeer comparison drives eating disorders, and has been doing so for decades. However, teens are now exposed to a vastly more intense form of this, with social media acting as a lightning rod for all their insecurities and anxieties around body image.Seeing idealized posts from friends is bad enough. The pervasiveness of influencer culture, where unrealistic standards are the norm and a lack of regulatory oversight compounds the problem, exposes vulnerable young people to content that catalyzes the spread of eating disorders.Again, there is clear evidence to support this. Internal testing from Instagram parent company Meta, as covered by Reuters, indicated that algorithmic recommendation engines disproportionately serve “eating disorder adjacent” content to users with pre-existing body image concerns, accounting for 10.5% of the content shown to them, compared with 3.3% for teens who are happier with their bodies.Eating disorder adjacent content is not the only harmful content social media algorithms push towards children with body image issues. The collective proportion of potentially damaging content in their feeds accounts for 27% of the total, again according to Meta’s own testing. Their more self-assured peers are exposed to just 13.6% by comparison.Social media usage has its own relationship with body image concerns. Teens using these platforms for 4 hours a day or more are at the greatest risk of developing body dissatisfaction and dysmorphia (BDD). It is important to note that roughly 1 in 3 people with body dysmorphia will also develop an eating disorder. The correlation between high-platform usage and clinical symptoms is increasingly documented.Stress and AcademicsOutside of social media and influencer culture’s hold over eating disorder trends, there’s also a correlation between the social pressure of expected academic excellence and dietary dilemmas. Students face continuous performance pressure throughout their educational careers. Now that the job market is even more competitive post-graduation, this pressure ratchets up higher.Again, there’s research showing this link. Nineteen percent of students sit at the highest end of the perceived stress scale (PSS), and their food intake suffers as a result. Poor dietary choices and disordered eating behaviors are disproportionately prevalent in this group. Moreover, 65% of students exhibit moderate stress, so there’s clear pressure felt by the majority, even if the minority have proven eating issues as a result.Addressing an Invisible PandemicIt’s apparent that the proliferation of eating disorders, especially since 2020, has serious implications for young people today, and for society as a whole, as they move from education into the world of work and beyond. Conditions such as anorexia and bulimia pose both acute health problems and leave longer-term marks, influencing everything from mental health to fertility. Failing to contend with this modern phenomenon is not an option.Given the circumstances surrounding the rise in body image issues and disordered eating, there can be no silver bullet solution. Regulation of social media, particularly algorithmic content recommendations, is increasingly necessary. Legislative responses, such as the enforced age-gating in Australia and the proposed “duty of care” standards in the UK, represent a global shift toward platform accountability.Academic stress is a niche-specific problem that can hopefully be managed sensitively by the institutions involved. Although again, top-level regulations could prove the best option here.Whatever action is taken, paying close attention to the data when changes get rolled out is just as important. This is the only way to ensure that teen eating disorders don’t continue to climb.This story was produced by Victory Bay and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Spring break 2026: Travel season risks spread of measles across U.S., state officials say Spring break 2026: Travel season risks spread of measles across U.S., state officials sayThe spring break travel season is underway, with tens of thousands of people every day clogging U.S. airports in their quest for sun, surf, theme parks, big city excitement, and other getaways.It’s a scene that worries public health officials amid another bad year for measles across the country — and the potential for increased spread of the highly contagious disease during this busy travel period.“It feels like whack-a-mole right now,” said Scott Thorpe, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership. “Just as the numbers are dying down in South Carolina, you see this big jump in cases in Utah. Then you see cases starting to pop up in other places across the South.”State health department officials in multiple states — including California, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, and South Carolina — told Healthbeat they are concerned about spring break travel and the potential for measles to spread within and between states. In this article, Healthbeat outlines the state officials’ perspective for the upcoming spring break travel season.Driving those concerns: Spring break is happening with the United States on a trajectory to exceed last year’s record-breaking number of measles infections — the worst since 1992.This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already logged 1,362 confirmed cases of measles across the country through mid-March, mostly among unvaccinated children and teens. In less than three months, that’s more than half of the 2,284 measles cases confirmed during all of last year.Since January, there have been at least 14 new measles outbreaks identified across the country, including in Florida, California, Washington state, Texas, and Colorado. These are in addition to ongoing outbreaks that began last year in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona. Across the country, 30 states have reported at least one measles case this year, CDC data show. Thomas Wilburn // Healthbeat Measles, which is one of the most contagious viruses for humans, is transmitted through the air when an infected person breathes or coughs. The virus can linger in a room for up to two hours.The disease is preventable with vaccination. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella shot are 97% effective in preventing measles; one dose is 93% effective.Most of those being infected with measles aren’t immunized. Nationwide, about 92% were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, according to CDC data.“As vaccination rates have just broadly declined across all these communities, it’s just incredibly hard to stop. And that’s just going to get worse,” Thorpe said. “Short of something crazy happening, we’re absolutely going to blow through what our numbers were for last year.”The contribution of spring break exposures to these national measles case counts won’t be known for several weeks.After a susceptible person is exposed to the virus, it can take one to three weeks for them to start falling ill with initial symptoms that may seem like a cold or the flu. By the time the hallmark measles rash appears, they will have been infectious for four days — potentially spreading the virus to even more people.“Everybody’s on high alert,” said Pat Endsley, president-elect of the National Association of School Nurses.Top spring break destination Florida is No. 3 for measlesDr. Rana Alissa, president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told Healthbeat she’s very concerned about the potential for spring break travel to spread measles infections — especially in her home state, which already has measles cases in several communities, plus a large outbreak linked to a university.Florida — with 116 confirmed measles cases since January — ranks No. 3 in the nation for 2026, behind South Carolina and Utah, which continue to battle outbreaks that began last year, according to the latest CDC data.“Everyone wants to come to Florida,” Alissa said. “It’s always crowded. Orlando is going to be crazy, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, Miami.”With these crowds comes an increased risk that some of the people are carrying measles. “It is very scary,” said Alissa, who is advising unvaccinated infants and children, as well as people with weakened immune systems, to avoid crowded areas because of the risk of measles.Besides a fever and rash, measles can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications, including pneumonia and dangerous swelling of the brain, as well as “immune amnesia,” which increases a person’s susceptibility to other diseases in the future. Pregnant women and their babies are also at increased risk of complications from measles.In addition to being a top state for measles this year, Florida is a perennial spring break hot spot. Cities throughout the state continue to be among the nation’s top spring break destinations, according to 2026 booking data from AAA and Booking.com.At Tampa International Airport, the spring break travel surge is underway, with about 75,000 to 80,000 passengers a day expected through April 13. The biggest travel day, the airport predicts, will be this coming Sunday, when 90,000 travelers are expected to pass through the airport.In Orlando, airport officials expect this week to bring some of their highest passenger volumes of the spring break period, with nearly 212,000 passengers arriving and departing last Sunday, plus another 205,000 passengers on Monday. Healthbeat Florida health department won’t discuss large measles outbreakOfficials with the Florida Department of Health did not answer questions from Healthbeat since March 6 about the risks posed by spring break travel to and from the state, and what kinds of measles prevention and control activities the department is performing.The department’s top official, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, last fall announced plans to end all school-age vaccine requirements in the state, a move that has faced resistance in the legislature. In 2024, during a measles outbreak at a South Florida elementary school, Ladapo sent a letter to parents allowing them to keep sending their unvaccinated children to class, despite their risk of infection.Most of Florida’s measles cases this year are part of a large outbreak linked to Ave Maria University in southwest Florida’s Collier County, about 35 miles northeast of Naples. At least 98 confirmed and suspected measles cases have been diagnosed in the county through March 7, according to state health department data. Five of those cases were reported during the first week of March, the data indicate.Despite repeated requests, officials at the Catholic university did not respond to Healthbeat’s questions, including about the current status of the outbreak and any actions being taken to address the potential health impact of the school’s Easter break, scheduled for April 2-6.Florida’s health department also wouldn’t discuss the university’s outbreak or answer Healthbeat’s questions about other locations in the state where ongoing spread of measles may be occurring, and how many people statewide are in quarantine because of measles exposures. While such information — which doesn’t involve identifying specific patients — is routinely made public in other states, the Florida health department’s media relations team said it was unable to discuss ongoing epidemiological investigations because of state confidentiality statutes.The department’s data show at least 12 other Florida counties have reported confirmed or probable measles cases since January. They include the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, where six cases have been diagnosed in Pinellas County, and two more in Hillsborough County. In the Jacksonville area, Duval County has reported six cases; in the Pensacola area, Escambia County has identified five cases; and in South Florida, two cases have been diagnosed in Broward County and one in Miami-Dade County.Concerns about measles extend beyond spring break hot spotsIn response to interview requests and questions about rising U.S. measles cases and spring break travel sent earlier this month to the CDC, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emphasized the risk of measles being imported from other countries.“The risk of measles remains low for most of the United States due to high population-level immunity from MMR vaccination,” press secretary Emily Hilliard said in an email Tuesday night to Healthbeat. “That said, anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk if exposed. Since measles is common in many countries, unvaccinated travelers can bring measles to the United States at any time, and it can spread to other people who are not protected against measles.”Hilliard said the CDC is supplying technical support and funding to states dealing with outbreaks and that vaccination is the best protection, “especially if you plan to travel internationally or to a place with a measles outbreak.”While international travel can play a role in U.S. measles cases, according to CDC data, only nine of the 1,362 confirmed U.S. measles cases since January involved international visitors; last year just 25 of the 2,284 confirmed cases were international visitors. In both years, most of the measles cases across the country have involved outbreaks where the virus has spread from person to person within U.S. communities with low vaccination rates, such as those that have occurred in South Carolina, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and other states.As a growing number of states are already dealing with measles cases this year, officials at several state health departments expressed concerns about the risks posed by spring break travel.This year California has had three outbreaks of measles — the first outbreaks in the state since 2020. Some of these California cases are linked to an unvaccinated toddler who had recently traveled to a measles outbreak area in South Carolina.As of Monday, California has had 29 confirmed cases of measles; two have been hospitalized, according to the California Department of Public Health.“International or domestic travel during spring break carries a risk of transmitting measles to Californians,” the department said in an email. “CDPH continues to closely monitor measles and to work with medical and public health partners to limit its spread during and after the spring break travel season.”Georgia Department of Public Health spokesperson Nancy Nydam Shirek said that while people who are not immunized against measles are at high risk any time they are exposed to the virus, “that risk increases if they visit crowded tourist destinations, travel through airports, or go to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks.”Two cases of measles have been reported this year in Georgia. One involved a baby too young to be routinely vaccinated who became infected during international travel. State health officials said they don’t know how the other case, a resident of Bryan County near Savannah, became infected and they cannot rule out unrecognized spread of the virus within the state, Healthbeat reported earlier this month.In Utah, the spring break travel surge comes at a precarious time in the state’s measles outbreak, which began last year and has resulted in 443 reported infections as of Tuesday.“What is concerning to me is we are seeing spread of this disease through our entire state,” Dr. Leisha Nolen, Utah’s state epidemiologist, said at a media briefing earlier this month. “For a while it was really limited to the southern part of the state, but it is now expanding, and we are having people diagnosed in every part of our state. And these are not just mild infections.”Measles infections in Utah have resulted in more than 120 people going to emergency rooms, 31 needing to be admitted overnight, and three needing treatment in an intensive care unit, she said.While the disease has spread in a variety of settings, Utah officials said cases involving school activities are noteworthy.“We have definitely seen people get infected with measles from wrestling events, from dance-drill teams and from basketball. So we really encourage people to protect their children,” she said. “The measles vaccine is the best thing to protect your child. It is how we can stop this infection.”In Colorado, where as of March 19 12 cases of measles have been identified along with multiple locations where infectious people potentially exposed others, state health officials said they are working to raise public awareness through media campaigns and provider webinars. The department also is doing direct outreach to families whose children are overdue for their MMR vaccines. In 2025 and 2026, this outreach resulted in 48% of the contacted families getting their children immunized, the department said.South Carolina shows how holiday breaks can fuel outbreaks“Measles is spread very easily to anyone who is susceptible,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist in South Carolina, where officials worry spring break travel could reignite an outbreak that has sickened nearly 1,000 people since last fall.The outbreak has slowed to a trickle in recent weeks. After months of tracking cases, quarantining exposed people, and urging vaccination, the state health department announced Tuesday just one new measles case, bringing the total to four cases identified in the past week.“The risk of spread is increased by the number of people exposed,” Bell said, “so things like air travel and people visiting tourist attractions during holiday breaks are a concern.”It’s a risk South Carolina officials watched play out in mid-January, when measles cases surged to hundreds of cases a week after the winter holiday break period where gatherings with families and friends fueled the spread of the disease – not only within South Carolina, but to other states. The department’s measles control efforts were further hampered because outbreak investigators couldn’t get contact information from schools during winter break closures, delaying the quarantine of exposed students, an issue the department is trying to fix for spring break.As infected South Carolina residents traveled the country during the winter break period, internal health department records show they exposed others to measles at travel convenience stores in Georgia and Florida, at a hotel and a youth conference in Kentucky, and at a hospital and a hotel in Florida, Healthbeat revealed last month.Many schools in Spartanburg County, the epicenter of South Carolina’s outbreak, are scheduled to close for spring break the week of April 6-10.State officials remain concerned there could be another surge in cases.“It is far too early for us to let our guard down,” Bell said on March 18. “We will see what happens with spring break.”The problem is there are still many more unvaccinated people in South Carolina and across the country for the virus to infect.To stop measles from spreading within local communities, 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated. But in most states, statewide vaccination rates among kindergartners have fallen below that “herd immunity” level, according to CDC data. And even where vaccination rates may seem high on a statewide or countywide level, pockets of unvaccinated children and adults within localized communities can still fuel outbreaks, experts said.This story was produced by Healthbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How algorithm changes are reshaping digital marketing strategies How algorithm changes are reshaping digital marketing strategiesThe traditional discovery economy—built on the multidecade dominance of search engine results pages (SERPs)—is undergoing a tectonic shift into the answer economy. For digital marketers, visibility is no longer guaranteed by keyword density or domain authority; it is now dictated by the generative response layer of AI models. According to research from McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, as much as $750 billion in annual U.S. revenue is projected to funnel through AI-powered search by 2028.For brands, this represents a fundamental crisis of reach: Organizations that fail to adapt to this new architecture risk losing between 20% and 50% of their organic traffic as AI summaries replace traditional link-based browsing.This transition from search engine optimization (SEO) to generative engine optimization (GEO)—also known as answer engine optimization (AEO)—requires a systemic revision of content architecture. Social Market Way examines how the goal is no longer to rank in a list, but to be cited as a primary source by large language models (LLMs). Social Market Way From Indexing to Influence: The Mechanics of GEOThe functional obsolescence of keyword-only indexing has forced a transition toward generative engine optimization (GEO). While traditional SEO focused on matching a user’s search term to a webpage, GEO focuses on ensuring content is structured so that large language models (LLMs) can ingest, interpret, and cite it as a definitive answer. This shift requires a move away from fragmented keyword targeting and toward entity-based content that provides comprehensive context for AI agents.The move to AEO necessitates a fundamental revision of brand architecture. Instead of optimizing for a list of blue links, brands must now optimize for the generative response layer.This involves utilizing structured data and technical schema that allow cutting-edge algorithms to easily rephrase brand information into conversational answers. The alternative is an inevitable deterioration in online visibility, which directly impacts customer acquisition costs and long-term brand equity.The Rise of Conversational IntentA primary driver of this shift is a change in user behavior. Users are increasingly moving away from the shorthand keyword approach of the late ʼ90s and leading with complex, conversational questions. Research conducted April 2022 to March 2023 by the Capgemini Research Institute—the specialized research arm of the global consulting firm Capgemini—found that 73% of consumers now trust generative AI for product recommendations and top-level research, such as evaluating financial services or comparing hardware specifications.AI search algorithms prioritize content that resolves these specific natural language queries. This requires a greater degree of granularity and personalization than traditional search permitted. In an AI-first environment, a user might provide specific parameters—such as a need for a smartphone with high-end optics and specific battery capacity—and receive a bespoke recommendation.For brands, the goal is to be the data anchor for that recommendation. By aligning on-page content with these anticipated conversational queries, companies can zero in on high-intent niche audiences with a precision that mirrors traditional long-tail keyword strategies but at a significantly higher conversion potential.The Synthetic Content Saturation and the Trust GapAs digital marketing teams increasingly adopt generative AI for content production, search algorithms—both traditional and generative—are struggling to filter the resulting surge of synthetic content. This saturation of minimally edited, AI-generated text has created a trust gap in the search ecosystem. Consequently, a core strategic priority in the GEO era is the establishment of digital provenance and authoritative expertise.It is important to note that while GEO is ascending, traditional search models remain a critical counterweight. For high-stakes transactional decisions—where the risk of AI hallucinations or accuracy errors is high—users still default to the high-fidelity provenance of primary-source websites. To solve for this, industry thought leaders emphasize a pivot toward E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness).By integrating user-generated content, verified reviews, and expert-authored analysis, brands can provide the human signal that AI search tools require to validate their own citations. The old adage that “content is king” remains relevant, but the metric of success has shifted from keyword volume to information fidelity.A Change for the Better?The fundamental question is whether the transition to an answer economy represents an improvement for the broader marketing ecosystem. The net impact remains a subject of intense industry debate.For users, the prioritization of AEO should result in a more efficient, bespoke discovery experience. For brands, the battle for share of citation within AI summaries will likely become more competitive—and more expensive—than the historical contest for top SERP positions.We are already seeing the emergence of a new revenue model within the generative layer. As companies look to amortize the massive capital expenditures required to build and maintain these models, advertising content is being integrated directly into AI summaries via sponsored citations and native ad units.This shift signals a transformation in digital priority, moving from a model of “rented” attention on traditional search pages to one of “earned” authority within the AI index. In an era of algorithmic uncertainty, the only guarantee is that digital strategy must evolve to meet the specific requirements of the generative era.This story was produced by Social Market Way and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Camanche railroad crossings blocked by train, crews working to solve issue Several railroad crossings are blocked by a train in Camanche, according to the city.
	Crews respond to house fire on 14th Street in Moline Fire crews from multiple departments responded to a house fire in Moline, with firefighters seen on the roof working to contain the flames.
	Next phase of work begins for Lake Storey walking path project The next phase of work has begun at Lake Storey for the walking path expansion project.
	Greetings from Turkey's border with Iran, where Iranians let loose on the dance floor Iranians escaping hardship and war are shaking it off to Persian, Arabic and Turkish tunes in this disco in eastern Turkey.
	Can an RFID blocking wallet keep your cards safe? Facts vs. hype Can an RFID blocking wallet keep your cards safe? Facts vs. hypeJust a few decades ago, buying things meant going to the bank — your own physical branch, mind you, during the brief hours it was open — to take out cash. If you didn’t have time for that, or ran out of money, you’d write a check and hope the merchant accepted it. The merchant, meanwhile, hoped your check was good. Now, paying is as simple as a tap with your phone or a card, and the transaction takes place instantly. It almost seems too easy. The NFC circuit in your phone, or the RFID chip on your card, gives the terminal your payment information, and boom, you’re done. But can you trust that only the terminal can read that information? Or should you invest in an RFID blocking wallet (or something similar) for added protection? Spokeo digs into the technology to see if it’s worth using.How Does RFID Work?There are several different kinds of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, but they all work on the same basic principle. There’s a small chip with a bit of code on it that contains information. In commercial settings like a factory or an Amazon warehouse, that chip might identify a part or a specific package. On credit or debit cards, it holds your payment information. There’s also an antenna attached to the chip.When a chip reader comes close to the RFID tag, the reader’s radio waves act as a power source for the chip and antenna, and it responds by transmitting the information it contains (radio waves are a power source in themselves, remember; it’s how your microwave cooks things). Industrial RFID tags can be read from several feet away, but the kind on your cards need to be very close to the reader.The Near Field Communications (NFC) chips in your phone are essentially a souped-up form of RFID, which can transmit and receive (so it’s both a tag and a tag reader). Like your cards, this only works in very close proximity to the payment terminal.Can RFID Really be Hacked?That leads to a couple of big questions: a) whether RFID cards can be hacked; and b) whether they’re a safe way to pay.The first question was answered long ago with a definitive yes. All the way back in 2006, security researchers were demonstrating “proof of concept” attacks harvesting the information from RFID cards. But the second question is tougher, because most of these hacks targeted other RFID devices rather than debit and credit cards. The whole point of chip-enabled cards, after all, was to make them more secure compared to the old-school magnetic stripe. The stripe was easily read by credit-card “skimmers” — an illicit reader installed over the top of a legitimate one — which allowed criminals to make a duplicate of your card, and max out your credit in a hurry.Chip cards are a tougher nut to crack, partly because key data on the chip is encrypted and partly because they use an algorithm that creates a unique code (an “Authentication Data Element,” or ADe) for each purchase. Scammers using an improved version of a skimmer, called a “shimmer,” can actually read some data from the chip, but it’s not as bad as it sounds at first.Criminals still can’t clone the chip card, but they’ll get the iCVV code — the digital equivalent of those three digits on the back of your card — which means they can make a better clone of your stripe card. Some card issuers have dropped the stripe entirely, using either tap-and-sign or tap-and-PIN instead, to close this vulnerability.How Does RFID Blocking Work?A lot of companies, seeing the coverage of RFID hacks and vulnerabilities over the years, have begun marketing protective devices to help keep your information secure. Essentially, they create what’s called a “Faraday cage” around your card. A Faraday cage (named for a brilliant 19th-century pioneer in electrical research) is just an enclosure made of conductive material, like aluminum or copper. They’re routinely used in scientific and industrial settings, where sensitive equipment needs to be protected from interference, and even in consumer electronics, where outside signals might mess with your data or your music.Interestingly, a Faraday cage doesn’t have to be a solid enclosure, because a conductive mesh works just as well. If you cut open a TV cable, you’ll see a regular wire in the middle and a copper braid around the outside; the braid acts as a Faraday cage to shield the wire in the middle (which carries your TV signal) from interference.That’s important for consumers wanting a wallet that can protect their cards from a potential hacker with an RFID reader. A solid Faraday cage wouldn’t make a very practical wallet, but mesh can be incorporated into even a slender, flexible wallet without much difficulty. That’s how RFID blocking wallets work.Do I Need an RFID Blocking Wallet?Here’s the thing about RFID hacking: Despite all the potential vulnerabilities that have been demonstrated over the years, it just hasn’t been a “thing” in the real world. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that relatively few cards are “contactless,” meaning you could theoretically read them from a few inches away (subway, coffee shop, elevator) with an RFID reader. Most need to be inserted into the terminal, or make physical contact with the “Tap” reader.A more important point is that, on the whole, it’s just not worth criminals’ time. Like any other business, they’re concerned with efficiency and return on investment. For pennies, they can send out a mass phishing email and potentially steal credit card data from thousands. Hackers can steal millions of card users’ data in a single breach, and — more importantly — sell them on to other criminals for as little as $10 to $15 each. A look at the FTC’s credit card fraud data for 2022 shows over 400,000 incidents involving new accounts (i.e., identity theft), compared to under 40,000 involving existing accounts (credit card hacks, skimming, shoulder surfing, and everything else combined).In other words, criminals have collectively decided that “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” That’s not to say a hack is impossible, especially if you’re a public figure or in some other way a high-value target. It also doesn’t mean things will necessarily stay this way (there’s a lot of money and talent on the criminals’ side, after all).So, do you need an RFID blocking wallet or sleeves for your cards? No, probably not. But if you’d sleep better for having one, by all means go ahead and buy it.There are Some Special CasesThat’s not to say there aren’t a few scenarios where RFID is a legitimate threat; they’re just not usually something a private citizen needs to be concerned about. Those passes you swipe to get into secured areas at work? Those are RFID tags, and they’re much easier to duplicate than a credit or debit card. So are the card-shaped hotel room keys.While attacks like those are seldom targeted at an individual, as opposed to the organization, it’s possible that someone with an RFID reader — like the Flipper Zero, marketed to hobbyists as a “Swiss Army Knife for hacking,” at well under $200 — could manage to copy the RFID for your specific room, and steal your personal belongings. It’s a stretch, but it could happen. There’s certainly no harm in using a sleeve or RFID blocking wallet to eliminate that minimal risk.More often, this kind of thing is a headache for the companies involved, and the suppliers of the actual RFID cards and their readers (whose customers, of course, use them for security reasons and expect them to be, well… secure). If your workplace suddenly decrees that you need to keep your access card in an RFID-blocking sleeve or wallet when it’s not in use, this is why.Don’t Worry, Be HappySo what’s the bottom line?If you’ve been eyeing advertisements for RFID blocking wallets or contemplating a half-dozen sleeves to protect your cards individually, you can relax. There’s little realistic likelihood that anybody’s going to hack your cards that way. On the other hand, if the price fits your budget and it will make you feel better, there’s no compelling reason not to.On the whole, though, you’ll do more for your own security if you keep up to speed on the latest scams and threats through articles like this one, and keep a close eye on your accounts for any unexpected or illicit activity.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Former Iowa linebacker Melvin Foster dies at 59 University of Iowa football alum Melvin Foster passed away last weekend at 59, Iowa Athletics shared.
	Charter school focusing on credit recovery and trades training set to open in Davenport Great Oaks High School is one of three charter schools in Davenport approved by the state last year.
	Jury orders Meta and Google to pay woman $3 million in social media addiction trial The verdict marks the end of the first-ever jury trial over whether tech giants should be held accountable for social media addiction. It may influence the outcome of 2,000 other pending lawsuits.
	The latest global food trends by location, age, and gender The latest global food trends by location, age, and genderWhile health is influenced by individual actions, those decisions don’t always happen in a vacuum. Food choices, in particular, are often shaped by a myriad of external factors. Cultural backgrounds, local traditions, and community environments all play a role in what people put on their plates.To get a better look at these patterns, Oura looked at de-identified, aggregate data to better understand its members’ dietary habits. From jacket potatoes in the U.K. to pierogies in Canada, the data showed that people’s eating choices are significantly influenced by their location, age, and even gender.MethodologyFor this analysis, Oura’s data science team looked at millions of meals logged from May 2025 through February 2026 across English-speaking countries. Rather than look at the top-ranking foods (which would be common foods like “chicken,” “eggs,” or “banana”), a "lift" analysis was used.This identifies foods that appear much more frequently in a specific group (like a country or state) compared to the global average. These are the "unique" identifiers—the flavors that make a region or demographic stand out.Global Delicacies Oura Around the world, Oura members are staying hydrated, focusing on their protein intake, and enjoying cultural classics. But the specific types of food chosen vary greatly depending on where our members are located.United Kingdom: In the U.K., "jacket potatoes," or baked potatoes topped with beans, tuna, or cheese, are among the most unique meals logged. Also high on the list: Greggs Sausage Roll, a quintessential British snack made with sausage meat and crisp, golden puff pastry.Australia: Members Down Under have a very specific coffee culture. You won't find many "drip coffees" here; instead, the long black and almond latte are the standout choices, often paired with the Aussie delicacy, Vegemite on toast.Canada: Canadians show a love for hearty staples like poutine and pierogies, but they also lead the pack in health-conscious hemp hearts.United States: The U.S. data reflects a mix of convenience and regional influences, with Chick-fil-A Chicken Minis, cheese tamales, and Chipotle Bowls showing the highest unique frequency.State-by-State Selections Oura The data for individual U.S. states reads like a culinary road trip.Texas: Members in Texas are keen on the kolache (a fruit or meat-filled pastry) and breakfast tacos.Louisiana: No surprises here—gumbo, boudin, and king cake are the distinct markers of the Bayou State.Hawai'i: The fusion of cultures is evident with Spam musubi and Portuguese sausage topping the charts.New York: Members in the Empire State are uniquely logging grandma pizza and bagels with scallion cream cheese.Wisconsin: The Dairy State lives up to its name, with cheese curds and string cheese landing high on the “lift” list.Washington: This coastal state’s unique logs are hyperlocal and health-conscious, including Rainier cherries, oatmilk lattes, chai, and pad see ew.The Generational Divide Oura As the members move through different life stages, their plates and palates seem to change as well.Ages 18-24: It’s no secret that Gen Z loves to hop on a trend. Vodka pasta, Starbucks Refreshers, and energy drinks define their unique logs.Ages 45-54: There is a shift toward longevity and a focus on supplements in these years, as choices such as collagen protein, creatine, and greens powders become much more distinct in this age bracket.Ages 65+: In the “golden years,” the focus seems to shift to digestive health and classic staples. Prunes have the highest lift in this group, alongside shredded wheat and decaf coffee.Gender Differences Oura The unique logs for women are dominated by functional wellness: spearmint tea, matcha, and cottage cheese with mustard (a viral trend that seems to have staying power).Conversely, the top unique logs for men lean heavily into social rituals and recovery: Bourbon, Scotch, and craft beer appear frequently, alongside whey protein shakes.This story was produced by Oura and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What employees actually want from flexible scheduling, and what's holding it back What employees actually want from flexible scheduling, and what's holding it backFor years, workplace flexibility has been framed as a binary: rigid schedules versus complete autonomy. But as seen in Buddy Punch’s previous analysis, The Invisible Tradeoff Behind “Flexible” Work, most organizations still operate within fairly traditional time structures, with flexibility layered on top rather than fundamentally reshaping the workweek.This raises a practical question.If flexibility is often bounded by structure, what are employees actually asking for? And when organizations respond, how does that flexibility function in practice?To explore those questions, Buddy Punch surveyed U.S.-based business owners and HR leaders about the scheduling options employees most frequently request. The survey also examined how often those requests are approved, what influences approval decisions, and how scheduling ultimately affects morale and management strain.The results reveal something more nuanced than a simple “yes” or “no” to flexibility. Employees aren’t asking for unlimited freedom. Organizations aren’t reflexively denying requests. Instead, flexibility operates inside operational guardrails, which are shaped by coverage needs, fairness concerns, and productivity realities.What emerges is a portrait of flexibility that is structured, conditional, and negotiated.Key FindingsEmployees are asking for structured flexibility, not unlimited freedom, with flexible start and end times emerging as the most requested option. At the same time, predictability is ranking nearly as high as autonomy.Schedule change requests are frequently approved, but flexibility remains conditional. Instead, it is shaped primarily by coverage needs, manager discretion, and operational feasibility rather than employee preference alone.Overall satisfaction with scheduling is high, with the vast majority of organizations reporting positive morale impacts and minimal dissatisfaction.Behind the scenes, scheduling is widely viewed as one of the most challenging aspects of management, with conflicts, fairness concerns, and coordination demands creating ongoing strain.Staffing shortages and last-minute changes are the biggest barriers to meeting employee preferences, reinforcing that flexibility operates within real workforce constraints. Buddy Punch What Employees Are Really Asking ForWhen asked which scheduling options employees most frequently request, a clear pattern emerged. Workers want greater control over when and how they work but not necessarily a free-for-all.The most requested option is flexible start and end times (44%). This suggests many employees want room to shift their day without abandoning shared hours altogether. In other words, employees appear to value flexibility within structure. They’re not asking to eliminate coordination; they’re asking for room to adapt around it.These findings mirror broader national workforce research. Reporting from the Economic Policy Institute notes that surveys of U.S. workers consistently show strong demand for flexible scheduling, particularly flexible start and end times. Across multiple polls, majorities of employees say flexibility helps them better manage work and personal responsibilities.The Buddy Punch survey also shows meaningful appetite for rethinking the workweek itself. More than one-third cite interest in fully flexible schedules (35%) or compressed workweeks (35%), such as four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days. These options suggest employees are exploring alternatives to the traditional weekly cadence, not just adjustments at the margins.At the same time, predictability ranks nearly as high as freedom. Nearly one-third want more consistent schedules (32%) or more advance notice (29%). Another 27% want more influence over shift preferences, and 26% want reduced evening or weekend work.Taken together, these findings challenge the assumption that flexibility equals spontaneity. Employees aren’t simply asking to work less or whenever they choose. They’re asking for greater agency — more say over when they work, more predictability in how schedules are set, and better alignment between work time and real-life responsibilities.Approval Is Common But ConditionalWhile many employees are asking for more control and predictability, most schedule change requests are, in fact, approved.Two-thirds (66%) report that requests are approved almost always or most of the time. Expand that to include “about half the time,” and approval rises to 87%. Only 1% say requests are almost never approved.On the surface, this suggests organizations are responsive.But the data also reinforces a theme seen before: Flexibility is available, yet not automatic. Approval is common, but it operates within guardrails.That distinction matters. High approval rates don’t necessarily equal full autonomy. Instead, they suggest that organizations are willing to accommodate requests when those requests align with operational realities.Operational Guardrails Shape FlexibilityWhen looking at what most influences approval decisions, the hierarchy becomes clear.Coverage needs lead by a wide margin (61%). If the team can’t maintain adequate staffing, flexibility becomes difficult to grant. This underscores a central tension in scheduling: The individual’s desired shift must coexist with collective requirements.Manager discretion follows at 40%, highlighting how much flexibility can depend on leadership style and judgment. This introduces variability across teams, even within the same organization.Performance and operational continuity also weigh heavily. Impact on deadlines or workload (39%) and operational or customer demands (33%) are also key considerations. Equity and fairness concerns (33%), employee seniority or role (32%), and company policy guidelines (30%) further shape decisions.Taken together, approvals appear to be driven less by preference and more by feasibility. Flexibility succeeds when it doesn’t disrupt coverage, productivity, or fairness. Buddy Punch Scheduling Satisfaction Is HighDespite these constraints, employee satisfaction remains strong.More than 8 in 10 (86%) believe employees are very or somewhat satisfied with their scheduling options. Strong dissatisfaction is rare, with just 3% reporting they are “somewhat dissatisfied” and no respondents selecting “very dissatisfied.”Morale data follows a similar pattern. Nearly three-quarters (74%) say scheduling has affected morale somewhat or very positively over the past year. Only 6% report a negative impact.These findings suggest that structured flexibility is largely working. Which is important because schedule quality matters for well-being.However, high satisfaction doesn’t eliminate complexity. It simply indicates that, for many organizations, the balance between structure and flexibility is functioning adequately. Buddy Punch Scheduling: A Hidden Management ChallengeIf scheduling works reasonably well from the employee perspective, it tells a different story for managers.Nearly 2 in 3 (64%) managers agree that scheduling is one of the most challenging parts of managing people. More than half (55%) say conflicts often occur when employees want different schedules. And 63% believe managers need more tools or support to manage scheduling effectively.This reveals an important nuance.Flexibility doesn’t remove managerial strain. It redistributes it.Rather than enforcing a fixed schedule, managers must now continuously evaluate competing preferences, coverage constraints, fairness concerns, and performance expectations. Scheduling becomes less about policy enforcement and more about negotiation.In that sense, flexibility shifts the coordination burden upward. The system may feel more adaptable for employees, but it often becomes more administratively complex for leaders.The Real Barriers to Meeting Scheduling PreferencesThe most cited challenge in meeting scheduling preferences is staffing or coverage shortages (47%). Short-notice or last-minute schedule change requests follow closely at 40%. Together, these pressures point to a central tension: even when organizations want to offer flexibility, limited staffing and unpredictable changes can narrow what’s realistically possible. That tension is echoed in research from Harvard’s Shift Project, which has found that schedule instability (including last-minute changes) is associated with negative outcomes for workers and their families, from disrupted planning to increased turnover.Fairness and preference conflicts also create tension. One-third (33%) cite maintaining consistency across teams, while about one-quarter (24%) point to conflicting employee preferences. Flexibility may be valued, but distributing it evenly remains difficult.Operational realities continue to shape outcomes. Nearly one-quarter (24%) struggle to balance flexibility with productivity expectations, and 21% cite customer or operational requirements.Taken together, these findings reinforce a broader pattern across the data: Organizations aren’t resisting flexibility in principle. They’re navigating complexity in practice. Most want to accommodate employee preferences, but flexibility must coexist with staffing models, customer demand, performance expectations, and fairness standards.The Takeaway: Flexibility Is Negotiated, Not AbsoluteAcross the data, one clear pattern stands out.Employees aren’t demanding unlimited autonomy. Organizations aren’t reflexively denying flexibility. Instead, flexibility functions as a negotiated space between individual agency and operational feasibility.Requests are common. Approvals are frequent. Satisfaction is high.But flexibility remains conditional — shaped by coverage needs, fairness concerns, productivity expectations, and leadership judgment. Modern scheduling is less about removing structure and more about adjusting it in measured ways. Employees want more say and more predictability. And organizations are willing to provide it, so long as performance and continuity remain intact.That framing aligns with recent analysis of return-to-office trends, which suggests many leaders may be focused on location when the deeper issue is how work is structured and managed. Research from McKinsey notes that flexibility has become embedded in employee expectations and that organizations that respond thoughtfully to those expectations are better positioned to retain talent and sustain engagement.In that context, the opportunity is not to expand flexibility without limits. It’s to build the operational foundations (e.g., staffing models, communication systems, clear policies, and manager support) that allow flexibility to function consistently, transparently, and at scale.MethodologyThis survey was conducted with 527 U.S.-based adults aged 18 or older who are currently employed full-time or part-time and work in business owner, HR, or HR-adjacent roles with responsibility for managing or influencing employee time, schedules, or workplace policies. All respondents actively participate in scheduling or managing employee work hours, time off, flexibility policies, or workforce planning, and have been in their current role for at least three months. Respondents worked at organizations with five or more employees across a range of organization sizes, industries, and workforce compositions, including hourly, salaried, and mixed workforces. The survey was fielded online from Dec. 4 to Dec. 10, 2025. Results reflect descriptive statistics with no weighting applied.This story was produced by Buddy Punch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Iowa practices ahead of Sweet 16 showdown with Nebraska After a stunning upset of top-seed Florida, the Iowa men's basketball team is preparing for its first Sweet 16 since 1999. The Hawkeyes took the court in Houston Wednesday morning to get adjusted to their new surroundings inside Toyota Center. The Hawkeyes take on Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams have met [...]
	For the first time in more than 1,400 years, Church of England gets a woman leader A new archbishop of Canterbury has been installed in a historic ceremony. Sarah Mullally is the 106th person to hold the job, and the first woman.
	Iowa Supreme Court considering Davenport v. Rob Sand case A legal case between the City of Davenport and Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is under consideration by the Iowa Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the Court heard sharply contrasting arguments over whether Auditor Sand has the authority to subpoena and review attorney–client privileged recordings from a Davenport City Council closed session in 2023. The case is [...]
	How often should you shower? How often should you shower?Some people won’t start the day without a shower. Others skip one now and then and think nothing of it.How often you shower depends on a few simple things: how active you are, how much you sweat, and how your skin reacts to being washed.A rinse after the gym usually makes sense. Three long, hot showers a day probably doesn’t. AXE explains how finding the right balance matters more than following a strict rule.Do you actually need to shower every day?There isn’t a universal schedule. For people who exercise often, work outdoors, or live in warm climates, daily showers are usually the easiest way to stay comfortable because sweat usually happens in those situations.Quiet, cool days are different. If you’ve mostly been indoors and haven’t broken a sweat, skipping a shower occasionally is unlikely to cause problems.In fact, some believe that washing too often can strip away the natural oils that help protect your skin. Generally, clean skin is good. Over-washing usually isn’t. AXE Body odor doesn’t always mean poor hygieneBody odor often gets linked to hygiene, but that assumption isn’t always accurate. “Body odor is mainly caused by bacteria breaking down sweat, and factors like genetics, hormones, diet, stress, and health conditions all play a role,” says David Waters, R&D manager at Unilever.Two people can follow the same routine and still notice different odor patterns.Why sweat sometimes smells stronger than usualSweat itself isn’t usually the problem. On its own, sweat doesn’t smell.Waters explains, “Sweat is primarily made up of water and salt, which means it doesn’t really have any odor when it’s first released. Body odor develops when the natural bacteria on your skin break down certain parts of sweat. This is especially true for apocrine glands, found in places like your underarms and groin, which produce a thicker sweat rich in proteins and fats.”Those proteins and fats give certain bacteria something to feed on. As they break them down, odor appears. That process is happening on your skin all the time. Most of the time, you simply don’t notice it.Why the smell of sweat can changeYou might notice that sweat sometimes smells stronger even when you’re sweating the same amount. That’s not unusual.Odor depends more on bacteria and sweat composition than on volume alone. “The smell of sweat can change even if you sweat the same amount because odor depends on bacteria and sweat composition, not volume. Different skin bacteria break down sweat into different smelly compounds, and shifts in hormones, diet, stress, or hygiene can change which bacteria thrive,” adds Waters.There are different things that influence it, like diet, stress and hormonal shifts.Why sweat sometimes appears out of nowhereSweating doesn’t only happen when you’re hot. “Emotional stress, anxiety, or fear can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, activating sweat glands even at rest,” adds Waters. That’s why sweating sometimes shows up during presentations, interviews, or first dates.Why heat and humidity make odor worseHot weather changes how sweat behaves on the skin. Humidity makes a difference, too.Waters explains that heat increases how much sweat the body produces, while high humidity slows sweat evaporation. “When sweat lingers in warm, damp conditions, it creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and break sweat down into odor-causing compounds.” When sweat evaporates slowly, bacteria have more time to interact with it. That’s why odor tends to linger longer in humid climates.Build a shower routine that works for youMost people don’t think much about their shower routine. They jump in, wash quickly, and step out. But a few small adjustments can make a noticeable difference in how your skin and hair feel afterward.Keep showers shorter and coolerLong, steaming showers feel great, but your skin might disagree. Try keep your showers to less than 15 minutes. Very hot water can strip moisture from the skin faster than warm water does. Lukewarm water still cleans effectively, and it’s just easier on your skin barrier.Use different products for face and bodyA good body wash can upgrade your routine. But not everything should be used everywhere, unless it’s designed to be used on your face and body. Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, so it’s usually best to stick to gentler, face-specific cleansers. For your body, choose something suited to your skin type. Some washes focus on hydration, while others prioritize deeper cleansing.Hair washing isn’t one-size-fits-allHair routines vary more than most people expect. Some scalps produce oil quickly. Those people may need to wash their hair every couple of days, while others can go longer.Thicker or curlier hair types often benefit from washing less frequently because natural oils help maintain moisture and reduce frizz.Pay attention to how your hair behaves over a week or two, and you’ll notice what hair washing routine is best for you.The benefits of regular showersRegular showers remove sweat, dirt, and bacteria from the skin. They can also help you feel more awake, especially in the morning. And after a long day, stepping into the shower often feels like pressing reset.There may be different opinions on how often to shower, but one thing most people agree on? Smelling clean is a confidence boost.This story was produced by AXE and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The great dupe debate: How the best brands are winning without imitation The great dupe debate: How the best brands are winning without imitationThe hashtag #dupe has racked up 400,000 posts and millions of views on TikTok. Hunting for dupes has become a sport, with creators earning a livelihood by comparing $15 moisturizers to $90 ones. More than 70% of Gen Zers sometimes or always buy cheaper versions of name-brand products.It didn't happen in a vacuum. Consumers, especially younger ones, started asking uncomfortable questions: Why does this $200 sweater feel like polyester? Why is the scent of this $150 fragrance gone in two hours? Why am I paying for a logo?The dupe economy rose to fill that gap. If a high price didn’t guarantee quality, at least consumers could get the aesthetic at a fraction of the cost.But copying has its own problems. Fast fashion timelines. Disposable quality. Potential legal issues. A race to the bottom that trades one form of waste for another.Increasingly, a new generation of brands is proving there's a third path—one that delivers quality and accessibility, without resorting to imitation.Shopify explores how a new generation of brands is charting a third path.Copying is a ceiling, not a strategyAvi Arora has a prediction about dupe culture: it's going to fade."I think Gen Z is really conscious of the waste that gets created when there is dupe culture, fast fashion," says Arora, chief operating officer of Italic, a brand that partners with luxury manufacturers to create original products at accessible prices. "People are buying more intentionally. They're not just buying things to buy things anymore."By 2030, Gen Z will have $12.6 trillion in spending power, but they are choosier than previous generations about spending.For Arora, the math behind dupe culture is simple and ultimately self-defeating. "It rose as a function of, hey, the quality to price isn't matching up," he explains. "So, okay, screw the quality, but what if we just came all the way down on price?"The problem? "The only way you can develop products that quickly is to copy what other people are doing."Italic takes a different approach. The company works with the same manufacturers that produce goods for luxury houses—think cotton towels from factories that supply high-end hotels—but designs original products rather than imitations."Usually you’re told you can pick two out of three, right? You can pick between quality, price, and making something unique," Arora says. "I don't necessarily think that's true."To pick all three, Italic is launching The Palma Collection, a line of home goods inspired by the colors and textures of Palma de Mallorca. It took nearly a year to perfect the towel patterns alone. That kind of timeline is impossible in the dupe economy."My hope is that people are buying more intentionally and they're buying more from the people who are spending their time making really unique products," Arora says, "and less from dupes or fast fashion."Italic built its model on rejecting dupes from the start. But not every brand takes that path. Some find their way to originality through a different door.Accessibility can be a starting point, not the whole identitySergio Tache didn't set out to build a “dupe” brand. He set out to solve a problem."It just didn't make sense for us that to go out on a date and smell nice, you had to fork out $150 plus," says Tache, founder of Dossier, a fragrance company that produces high-quality perfumes in France and sells them for a fraction of luxury prices.Dossier launched with its Impressions collection—fragrances inspired by luxury scents. It was a strategic entry point, a way to build trust with consumers priced out of prestige perfume. But Tache always had his eye on something bigger."We continued with our Originals collection, which are our own creations," he says. "And that's really now a big focus for us—growing those originals."The shift worked. When Dossier opened a pop-up in New York's Nolita neighborhood last year, customers waited two hours to get inside. And once they did, something interesting happened."On one side you have the Impressions, on the other side you have the Originals," Tache recalls. That other side got tons of foot traffic. "Once they got to try them and interact with them, there was a big enthusiasm for them."For Tache, affordability was never the destination—it was the vehicle. "Dossier is not value for value's sake," he explains. "The value is a means to an end, and the end is perfume discovery."Dossier has now opened its first permanent boutiques in New York City, positioning itself not as a dupe destination but as, in Tache’s words, "a perfume house for the next generation."Dossier's evolution from inspired-by fragrances to original creations shows how accessibility can be a launchpad, not a limitation. But it's not the only path. Other brands start with originals and let consumer comparisons find them.Let the product speak, and the comparisons will followEvery few weeks, another TikTok goes viral comparing Bubble Skincare to something that costs five times as much. The company doesn't make those videos. Their customers do.Bubble creates dermatologist-developed skincare products priced under $20, backed by a community of over 120,000 members who help shape everything from product concepts to final formulations. The formulations are entirely Bubble’s own—original products backed by rigorous clinical testing. But when your $16 moisturizer performs as well as something that retails for $80, comparisons are inevitable. More than 75% of makeup users believe affordable makeup and skincare work just as well as premium.Marianne Robinson, Bubble's senior director of community and influencer, sees it as validation."Comparison culture reflects a more empowered consumer," Robinson says. "At the end of the day, people are questioning whether higher prices truly deliver better results. Affordability isn't seen as a compromise anymore."Unlike brands that chase trends or rush products to market, Bubble's development process can take up to three years. "We don't chase trends when it comes to products," Robinson explains. "We develop our products for real needs."That discipline has earned something rare: a brand that welcomes side-by-side comparisons. "We're comfortable in those comparisons because transparency, consistency, and performance are all places that we thrive," Robinson says.Her read on the Gen Z consumer? They've stopped equating price with quality. "They're quick to switch brands if they feel like something aligns with them better, maybe more honest, and aligns with their values," she says. "Trust, transparency, and efficacy matter more to them than prestige or even legacy."What lasting brands knowWhat connects Italic, Dossier, and Bubble isn't only affordability—it's a shared commitment to originality.Italic designs original products in luxury factories. Dossier evolved from inspired-by fragrances to its own creations. Bubble builds quality products and lets consumers draw their own conclusions. The dupe label, when it comes, arrives from the outside—from consumers and culture—not from the brands themselves. The brands building lasting businesses aren't playing the dupe game.The takeaway for merchants is straightforward: You don't have to copy to compete with luxury. Invest in quality. Be transparent about your value proposition. And let consumers make the comparison themselves.This story was produced by Shopify and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for March 25, 2026 Teachers at Moline High School are collecting hygiene products for local nonprofits, and Iowa voters can grab their absentee ballot this week.
	March Madness: Here’s one thing you need to know about each of the 16 teams remaining in men’s field As the tournament prepares to enter its second week, here’s a statistic worth noting for each of the remaining 16 teams.
	Savannah Guthrie's first interview since mother Nancy vanished: 'I imagine her terror' Nearly two months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared, her daughter Savannah discusses the toll on her family in an emotional interview with her Today show colleague Hoda Kotb.
	Should you opt your website out of Google’s AI search? Should you opt your website out of Google’s AI search?Since 2024, AI has been a significant part of the Google search experience. This comes primarily in the form of AI Overviews at the top of traditional search results, but you can also find AI responses in Google’s “People Also Ask” search feature and — most notably — in Google’s dedicated AI Mode.Until recently, these AI search features haven’t been entirely optional. Although Google allows publishers to block AI training, doing so can still come at the cost of website traffic. The only reliable way to prevent your business website from appearing in AI search was to opt out of Google crawling altogether, which would essentially impact search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. But that might be about to change.New information from Google indicates that an option may be coming that will allow websites to opt out of AI search without being removed from Google search results entirely. But is that something your business should do? WebFX explores that question, covering the following topics:What is Google’s AI search opt-out?Google recently published a blog post where they made the following statement: “We’re now exploring updates to our controls to let sites specifically opt out of Search generative AI features. Our goal is to protect the helpfulness of Search for people who want information quickly, while also giving websites the right tools to manage their content.”As far as official statements go, this is relatively vague. It’s not clear exactly what the opt-out feature would look like, how businesses would access it, or when it would be available. But the gist of it is there — that Google may allow websites to opt out of appearing in AI search features while still letting them appear in traditional rankings.This marks a change from the existing setup. As mentioned earlier, Google does technically allow websites to block Google’s AI from training on their content. But in practice, many sites still experience loss of traffic (and, subsequently, loss of leads and revenue) as a result.For that reason, there have been numerous calls for Google to more thoroughly separate its AI and search crawlers, enabling publishers to prevent AI Overviews from stealing their content without having to sacrifice their revenue to do so. This new announcement from Google marks the first step in that direction.Why is Google considering the AI search opt-out?As the Google blog post explains, this decision comes in response to an open consultation from the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about potential new requirements for Google search. These requirements would include the ability for websites to opt out of AI search.The CMA’s proposal includes numerous rules governing how Google handles AI search. While not all are listed here, the most relevant parts include the following:Google must let publishers prevent their content from being used in AI search features like AI Overview and AI Mode.Publishers must be able to opt out of AI search while still appearing in traditional search results as normal.The opt-out must be available both for entire websites and for specific pages on those websites.Google cannot penalize or downrank sites in any way due to their opting out of AI search.Of course, it’s worth pointing out that this is not yet set in stone. None of these proposed rules have been made official yet, and Google’s blog post says only that they are “exploring updates.” It remains to be seen whether Google will actually provide this option at all.Even so, it’s worth preparing for the possibility, which leads us to the question of whether this is something your business should take advantage of.Why might businesses want to opt out of Google’s AI search?AI search features have had a big impact on businesses, and not all of it has been positive. Many businesses feel frustrated by AI Overviews detracting from their search traffic — and worse yet, the AI Overviews often pull information from those businesses’ websites. So, in short, these businesses find their own content being used against them to steal their traffic.Naturally, that leaves many website owners frustrated with Google’s AI search features. And of course, others simply distrust AI responses in general and don’t want their brand associated with them. As a result, many businesses want a way to opt out. In fact, one poll found that one-third of businesses would choose that option if it were available.You may be one of those businesses. This desire to keep websites out of AI search is common, but the effectiveness of doing so remains a question.Should you opt out of Google’s AI search features?Industry analysis suggests that for most businesses, the answer is likely no.On the one hand, it’s true that AI Overviews are stealing a lot of traffic from business websites. While websites may be facing challenges with traffic distribution, opting out of AI search isn’t the best response. If anything, it will only make the problem worse.That’s because opting out of AI search features only decreases your visibility further. AI Overviews will be present in search results, whether you let them pull from your site or not. But at least if you let them access your content, there’s a chance that they’ll cite your business as a source. That increases your visibility, along with the likelihood that people will click on your website.If you exclude your site from AI responses, it just means those responses will be pulling from your competitors instead. That isn’t going to help you get your traffic back. So, for most businesses, the best approach is actually to optimize your content for AI citations. That’s the most effective way to boost your search visibility.Who might benefit from the AI search opt-out?While most website owners would be better off optimizing for AI search instead of opting out of it, that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. A small subset of site owners might actually have a good reason to block AI Overviews from accessing their content. That subset includes the following:Get more details about each of those below.1. Businesses worried about AI inaccuracyAI responses have a tendency to oversimplify nuanced topics and mesh multiple types of content together. This is a particularly big problem in sensitive industries like healthcare and law, where the details are of paramount importance.For that reason, some businesses may be concerned about AI search features pulling from their data in ways that misrepresent or oversimplify that data, rendering it less trustworthy or accurate while still attributing it to the businesses it was pulled from. That’s harmful for brand integrity, and it may lead such businesses to opt out entirely.One example of this is recipe bloggers. If an AI Overview cites one of your recipes, it will likely combine it with bits and pieces from other recipes, mangling it so badly that anyone attempting to follow its instructions will be driven away from your site, not toward it. That’s one situation where it’s better not to be cited at all.2. Businesses with tons of proprietary dataIf the majority of your content consists of original, proprietary data, you may want to block AI search tools from crawling your site. Since your data is 100% original and unique to you, your audience won’t be able to find it anywhere else, so you don’t have to worry about competing with other sites offering the same thing.If AI Overviews can simply regurgitate your content, though, you lose that advantage. Users can get the data from the AI response without leaving search results. To avoid that, you can block AI search from pulling from your content, so that the only way for users to access your data is to visit your website.3. Nonbusiness websitesFor business websites, it’s almost a given that online visibility is a big priority. But among noncommercial websites, that may not always be true. Some sites aren’t necessarily concerned with high Google rankings or driving tons of traffic, because that isn’t a source of revenue for them. For those websites, opting out of AI search features may not have any downsides.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	2nd resentencing ordered for person convicted in 2005 death of Adrianne Reynolds The hearing is set for June 10, the Rock Island County Clerk’s Office confirmed Wednesday.
	Dixon Police seek information on vandals Dixon has seen a series of vandalism incidents over the past month involving people spray painting property in multiple areas throughout the community. Some of the graffiti is too vulgar to be shown in photos or video. Two of the most notable locations affected by the vandalism include the Berlin Wall replica, located at the [...]
	Illinois and Iowa US Senators back ending law that offers protections for internet platform providers, claiming companies are negatively impacting children Senators including Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin support legislation that would sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects internet providers from liability for content posted on their platforms. Communication professors and legal experts say the removal could stifle information sharing, as providers would face a deluge of lawsuits.

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