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

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026
	Iowa to preserve Social Security survivor benefits for foster children DES MOINES, Iowa – Motivated by First Lady Melania Trump, Iowa is making changes to its foster care system aimed at helping children build financial stability as they transition into adulthood while continuing efforts to recruit and support foster families. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday at "Foster Squad" in Ankeny that the state will no [...]
	OpenAI blamed a hacking event on its AI models gone rogue. Here is what to know The incident is stirring debates over the need for stronger AI guardrails and the extent to which AI agents are capable of acting on their own.
	Davenport Police Department: Watch for Bix road closures, changes It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. With the Bix 7 ahead on Saturday, July 25, the Davenport Police Department is alerting drivers to be aware of road closures and changes from Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26. According to a Facebook post: For news alerts from the City of Davenport, click here.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026
	Building demolished in Bettendorf We reached out to the property owners, Alter Logistics. The company told us the building was demolished for safety and aesthetic reasons.
	Assumption baseball advances to State Championship Assumption baseball defeated MOC-Floyd Valley 5-1 in the state semifinals to advance to the state championship.
	Davenport chiropractor surrenders his license: The standard of care you should expect A man was paralyzed after receiving a chiropractic adjustment in 2024. The Iowa Board of Chiropractic says there was no medical history or exam performed.
	City of Bettendorf accepting applications for 2026 Citizen Academy The eight-week course gives "students" a look at all 12 departments. Here's how you can participate.
	Morgan Myles brings country, Americana sound to Cambridge house concert Powerhouse Americana and country singer-songwriter Morgan Myles will bring her soaring vocals and deeply personal songs to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Wednesday, July 29. Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages concert will begin at 7 p.m., after an optional community potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Myles first gained national attention as [...]
	Rock Island man arrested after firing two shots at officers, police say Police did not return fire and no one was injured in the incident.
	Sterling man facing child sexual abuse material charges A Sterling man is facing felony charges for possession of child sexual abuse material.
	Southern rust confirmed in Iowa corn, but expert says weather outlook eases concerns In 2025, Iowa was hit by some of the highest levels of the fungal disease the state has ever seen. This week, it was spotted again, but experts say not to worry yet.
	Sterling Hospice home to close, expected to reopen under new ownership The organization has been serving people throughout the Sauk Valley area for over 40 years.
	Cisco’s Mexican Bar & Grill to reopen after partial façade collapse Cisco’s Mexican Bar & Grill is set to reopen after its building suffered a partial façade collapse earlier in July.
	Police: Man threatened to stab employee during robbery Ryan Smith, 46, is charged with theft and robbery.
	City of Muscatine honors lifeguards The City of Muscatine will join communities worldwide in recognizing the dedicated women and men who keep public pools safe during International Lifeguard and Pool Staff Day on Friday, July 31, a news release says. “Muscatine Aquatic Center staff serve the public rain or shine, early mornings and late evenings, with outstanding public relations skills [...]
	Past and present World Food Prize leaders say solving hunger brings people together From left: former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Kenneth Quinn, former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack speak on a panel at the Iowa Hunger Summit July 22, 2026. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Twenty years after writing an opinion editorial calling for the establishment of the Iowa Hunger Summit, former governors Terry Branstad and Tom Vilsack and former U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn celebrated the legacy of the summit Wednesday. Quinn, former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, said through his career, which included serving as president of the World Food Prize, he has seen the issue of hunger bring people together across political, religious and physical divides. “Hunger, at home or abroad, was a nonpartisan, bipartisan issue that united Iowans in a way that almost nothing else could,” Quinn said, speaking on a panel with Vilsack and Branstad. It’s been true of the event since its inception when Quinn asked former governors Robert D. Ray and Branstad, both Republicans, and then-Gov. Vilsack, a Democrat, if they would co-chair the initial Iowa Hunger Summit. They all said yes, and continued to show up – along with other governors through the years – to the event from the World Food Prize Foundation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. While the World Food Prize, founded by Norman Borlaug, focuses on ending global hunger, the Iowa Hunger Summit looks at the issue of hunger in Iowa and in the United States. Branstad said for health problems or other reasons, there are hungry people in Iowa who “have to rely on something else to help.” “I’m very proud that our great agricultural state recognized that not everybody in Iowa is food secure, and we need to do what we can to try to help in a lot of different ways,” Branstad said about the summit. The three panelists have all held roles within the World Food Prize Foundation. Quinn and Branstad were presidents of the foundation during different stints and Vilsack serves as its current CEO. Through the 20 years the leaders have seen the Iowa Hunger Summit, they said they have witnessed the state government, federal government, religious groups, companies and nonprofits work together on the issue of hunger. Vilsack said if he had the power to do one thing that would make a “significant difference” in reducing hunger in Iowa and the country, it would be to make it the number one priority. “If you make hunger the number one priority, then I can guarantee you that governors will have to listen, corporate CEOs will have to listen, nonprofits will have to listen,” Vilsack said. Quinn said he believes the issue of hunger can still bring people together, “even in our now more divided politics.” The federal government, like Borlaug, tied hunger to agriculture with the farm bill. The bill stipulates federal food assistance programing, rural development, energy and agricultural assistance in a way that has historically ushered bipartisan collaboration. But, for the past several years, Congress has been unable to reach consensus to update the bill. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has been the area of sharpest debate among lawmakers. Quinn, speaking with Iowa Capital Dispatch after the panel, said it’s “always good” for people from different parties and administrations to review programs, like those in the Farm Bill, to see if they are still effective. But, he said, now the country needs “to find common agreement.” “If there’s any chance of pulling things back together, agriculture is the place to start,” Quinn said. “Confronting hunger, can bring people together across even the biggest differences.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Mercado on Fifth brings back annual food tasting competition After extreme heat postponed El Sabor del Mercado last week, it will now take place on Friday, July 24. You can taste and vote your way through 20 different vendors.
	First federally-funded EV charging station opens in Illinois The first federally-funded electric vehicle charging station in Illinois opened Wednesday off of Interstate 70 in Casey.
	Quad Cities prepares to welcome Bix 7 runners, and visitors People are getting ready for the Quad-City Times Bix 7 weekend in the Quad Cities.
	A year after crisis, no clear answers for school district risk pools New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan speaks at a press conference about municipal risk pools, July 22, 2026. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin)Members of the Londonderry School Board had barely begun their budgeting process last September when they received a jolt. SchoolCare, the organization that provided the district’s health care, said it had underestimated the cost of claims, and Londonderry owed $2.1 million to fill the gap. If the district didn’t pay the surprise fee by January, SchoolCare would begin denying district employees’ insurance claims. The problem was pervasive. Statewide, SchoolCare faced a $30 million deficit. In total, 65 school districts and 25 municipalities received similar letters with similar fees. And SchoolCare was not the only problem: New Hampshire Interlocal Trust, a risk pool serving 17 school districts, issued $2.5 million in surprise assessments to its members and then entered state receivership. “This is holding school districts hostage,” Londonderry School Board Chairman Bob Slater complained at the board’s Oct. 8 meeting. A year later, that initial shock has faded. The majority of affected school districts have paid their fees one way or another: Concord by raising its property taxes 1.5%; Somersworth by announcing staff layoffs; others via hiring freezes. The Secretary of State’s Office announced Wednesday that financial maneuvers during its receivership of New Hampshire Interlocal Trust will allow it to return $3 million to affected school districts and municipalities. “We went through a rough patch, and we successfully maneuvered our way through it as best we could,” Secretary of State Dave Scanlan said Wednesday. “There are still ongoing issues … but I think we can see daylight.” But bigger questions over how to prevent a future insurance crisis are mired in a state-led enforcement action, a district-led lawsuit, two vetoed bills, and a decades-long debate over how to manage taxpayer money. On one side is the Secretary of State’s Office, which regulates the pools and has argued that they should not hold excessive reserves and charge assessment fees if costs rise. On the other is HealthTrust, a risk pool that has argued pools should hold larger reserves to avoid the need for surprise fees. Entering the fray is the Dover School District, which says the surprise fees are unlawful and is suing to stop them in the first place. With Gov. Kelly Ayotte, lawmakers, and two state agencies at odds, the disagreement is not likely to fade soon. An early divide First authorized in 1987, New Hampshire’s public sector risk pools are designed to help school districts and towns pool costs by effectively self-insuring, rather than seeking commercial insurance plans. Like insurers, the organizations collect annual premiums from member districts or towns and use the pooled contributions to pay small claims. But unlike insurers, the risk pools are exempt from some federal taxes and insurance rules, making them attractive for local governments. From the beginning, the risk pools have been overseen by the Secretary of State’s Office’s Bureau of Securities Regulation, rather than the New Hampshire Insurance Department. And for decades, that office has clashed with HealthTrust over its approach to the pools — and over how much it should hold in reserve. Founded by the New Hampshire Municipal Association in 1985, HealthTrust has long provided pooled health and welfare benefits to cities and towns, representing 356 public entities last year. But in 2011, a Bureau of Securities Regulation investigation found the Local Government Center, an umbrella organization over HealthTrust and another pool called the Property-Liability Trust, had mismanaged funds by holding too much in reserve and using those reserve funds inappropriately. The investigation found that some of the premiums paid by schools and towns to HealthTrust had been commingled with funds for the Property-Liability Trust and used to help plug financial holes in the other trust. Those actions, the bureau argued, violated the state statute authorizing the risk pools, which required the pools to return any surpluses to member schools and towns. The Supreme Court eventually upheld most of the bureau’s enforcement action against HealthTrust in 2014, requiring the risk pool to return $51 million in funds, and leading to the dismantling of the umbrella organization. The New Hampshire Municipal Association no longer operates the organization. But the legal proceedings presaged a bigger, ideological dispute. As part of its attempted enforcement action, the Secretary of State’s Office sought to require HealthTrust to cap the amount of funds it held to 15% to prevent mismanagement. HealthTrust disputed that demand, arguing that it should be allowed to set its reserves according to its future risk, and the Supreme Court ultimately struck the requirement down. A decade later, the idea has persisted. A fight over reserves The near-collapse of multiple New Hampshire risk pools in 2025 has renewed the secretary of state’s efforts to assert more regulatory control over the organizations and kicked off a new round in the broader debate. HealthTrust argues its approach was vindicated amid the chaos. While the state’s two other health risk pools, SchoolCare and the New Hampshire Interlocal Trust, issued surprise assessment fees last year, HealthTrust did not; its reserves were sufficient to absorb a spike in health care claim costs. That result suggests HealthTrust’s system worked, argues HealthTrust Executive Director Scott DeRoche. Key to HealthTrust’s approach is the “non-assessable” model, DeRoche says. The fund has vowed to never hit its members with surprise mid-year assessments to allow predictable municipal budgeting; but to do so, it needs to reserve more money, he argues. The Secretary of State’s Office disagrees. Last September, the Bureau of Securities Regulation filed another administrative action against HealthTrust, arguing it was again improperly retaining surplus funds. And in its enforcement petition directly called out the organization’s approach of using reserves to absorb spikes in costs. The bureau argues HealthTrust amassed a war chest by retaining surplus funds, and used that war chest to artificially lower its premiums to compete with other pools and then to cover losses. “HealthTrust uses what are supposed to be contingency reserves and net assets to subsidize insufficient contribution rates and to support HealthTrust’s deliberate rate stabilization for retention of membership and market share,” the petition, written by Eric Forcier, reads. Instead, the bureau argues, the risk pool should have used better actuarial analyses to more accurately set its annual premiums, refunded any excess, and imposed assessments in the case of shortfalls. A hearing for the enforcement action is set for mid-2026; former Republican House Speaker Bill O’Brien has been chosen to preside. DeRoche says the state’s attempt is misguided. “Paradoxically, even though … HealthTrust is the only health risk pool in New Hampshire currently not experiencing immediate financial concerns, the Bureau has chosen to initiate an enforcement action against HealthTrust,” he wrote in October in a letter to member schools and municipalities. Scanlan disagrees. “When they closed out that fiscal year, they were down to 10 days of operating cash,” he said Wednesday, speaking of HealthTrust. “They were lucky … part of the reason that there’s an enforcement action going against them is that there are governance issues, and they are not forthcoming in terms of being regulated.” To Scanlan, HealthTrust’s entire operational model is flawed. On Wednesday, he argued against the possibility of “non-assessable” pools. All risk pools must issue assessments if they run out of money, he argued. “In the end, the members of that organization are responsible for paying the bill,” he said. “There is no other source of revenue … these entities are not insurance companies. They’re simply pooled money for pooled risk to provide coverage for their members.” The debate has ballooned beyond administrative actions. Scanlan has publicly lobbied for two bills in the past two years that would cap health care risk pool reserves in state law. The latest, Senate Bill 661, would, in part, require risk pools to hold at least 12% of contingency reserves, but would allow no more than 20%. Under the bill, risk pool organizations would be required to put the extra into a stabilization fund set aside to pay cities and towns directly in financial emergencies. A 2025 bill attempting similar limits, Senate Bill 297, failed to pass a committee of conference. DeRoche has been vocally opposed to the limits, arguing a healthy contingency percentage is more like 34%. The bill “prohibits HealthTrust from holding the reserves recommended for long-term stability and sustainability,” he wrote in a March 20 letter to senators. “SB 661 would essentially codify a failed model.” The New Hampshire Municipal Association also opposed SB 661. Instead, HealthFirst and the association both endorsed a separate bill this year: House Bill 1491, which would have allowed non-assessable risk pools like HealthFirst to be regulated by the New Hampshire Insurance Department using strict actuarial standards, and allow other, “assessable” pools like SchoolCare to continue to be regulated by the Secretary of State’s Office. Lawmakers passed both bills. But Ayotte vetoed them both. “SB 661 arbitrarily caps reserves to manage liabilities,” she said. She added: “As we have seen from recent risk pool failures, this is an important policy area to get right and these proposals need more work.” Legal uncertainty At a press conference Wednesday, Scanlan and others touted the efforts made to repay the $2.5 million in assessment fees issued by New Hampshire Interlocal Trust. That was done in part by using “stop-loss recoveries” — reimbursements from external insurance — and by recouping pharmacy rebates, said Lance Turgeon, the receiver. But Scanlan also took note of another potential disruption. In April, the Dover School District sued SchoolCare in Strafford County Superior Court, arguing the risk pool’s $1.7 million surprise assessment fee and its threats to halt paying out health care claims if the district didn’t pay were illegal. In its lawsuit, the district argued SchoolCare had breached its contract by attempting to deny the claims, and that it did not have the authority to request an assessment fee due to its own financial mismanagement. The district also argued that the organization had attempted to use denial of health care claims as leverage, a form of coercion. That month, Superior Court Judge John Curran issued a preliminary injunction requiring SchoolCare to continue paying out the claims, and ruling that the school district was likely to succeed on the merits of its case. While the lawsuit is continuing, the preliminary injunction has suggested the court could rule that the assessments were illegal, raising major questions for the rest of the state. To other towns and school districts, such a ruling could open the door to receiving welcome refunds on their surprise fees. To Scanlan, it could be devastating to the entire risk pool system. “They seem to think that if they don’t pay, there’s some magic source of funding that is just going to appear and cover those costs,” he said. “That simply will not happen because that magic money does not exist.” But however the court rules, the broader, systemic headaches appear here to stay. Back in the October school board meeting, Londonderry Superintendent Dan Black shook his head. “The process and how they handled this was terrible,” he said. “Just in general, how we got here was terrible.” Courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin
	Sterling's Rock River Hospice & Home to close after more than 4 decades Rock River Hospice & Home will close Aug. 1 after more than four decades, citing financial challenges. CGH Medical Center plans to acquire the property.
	Aledo DMV to reopen at new downtown location later this summer Aledo is getting a new DMV more than a year after its previous office closed, bringing services back to town and cutting long trips for residents.
	Eldridge Fire Department is finally a city entity. What's next? Eldridge city leaders will now move forward with their plans to take over the local fire department. It was volunteer-run until Monday, when the city council voted to bring it under the city's umbrella and make it a city entity. The whole process took about 14-months. It has now left a rift between the city [...]
	Iowa 80 Group names new president and CEO Iowa 80 Group, Inc. and Cat Scale Company announced Delia Moon Meier as president and chief executive officer of both companies, effective immediately. According to a release, Moon Meier succeeds her brother, Will Moon, who passed away July 16. The release says Moon's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment helped establish Iowa 80 Group and CAT [...]
	Beating the heat: Iowa farms’ cooling system protects cows and production The farm faces a challenge common to dairy operations in extreme heat: cows sweat at roughly 10% the rate humans do, making them vulnerable to overheating.
	Illinois to reopen driver services office in Aledo at new location The previous office closed in 2025 after the state couldn't reach a lease agreement with the landlord.
	Running Wild races into Bix week with community at forefront For the store, fielding a Running Wild elite team is about more than visibility — it’s about building trust with the running community it serves.
	Iowa foster kids to get investment help with ‘Survivor Funds’ Iowa foster children could soon have a financial head start thanks to a new state initiative ending what’s known as the orphan tax.
	Cyclosporiasis outbreak surges to over 4,173 confirmed cases Salad greens for sale at a bodega in Astoria, New York. The number of cases of cyclosporiasis has more than doubled to over 4,173 cases across 41 states this week. (Photo by Shalina Chatlani/ Stateline)The number of cases of cyclosporiasis — a parasitic infection linked to contaminated water or food that causes severe intestinal issues — has more than doubled to over 4,173 cases across 41 states this week, up from the 1,645 confirmed cases in 34 states reported last week by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cyclosporiasis causes symptoms that include watery or “explosive” diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. The surge in cases had made 2026 the worst year for the infection on record. The CDC estimates that there are likely more than 7,400 additional cases that have not yet been confirmed. No deaths have been reported, but 308 people have been hospitalized, more than double the 141 hospitalizations reported last week. State and federal officials suspect there are multiple sources of the outbreak, but they have connected at least 1,644 cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and sold by Taylor Farms. Michigan, the first state to report an outbreak, reported 7,171 cases and 102 hospitalizations as of July 16. Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana also have seen high case counts, alongside New York City. Salad greens scrutinized as cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, which represents public health agencies across the country, said labs have a hard time tracking case connections because cyclospora is a parasitic genome that is more complex than the bacterial pathogens that cause other foodborne illnesses. As a result, state and local heath investigators must resort to reviewing restaurant and grocery receipts, menus and supply chain records, according to the organization. “Case interviews and traceback investigations are often time intensive, creating a burden on state and local public health infrastructure,” senior analyst Heather Tomlinson and environmental health director Courtney Anderson wrote. North Carolina had confirmed more than 560 cyclosporiasis cases as of July 20. Dr. Carl Williams, state public health veterinarian for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters on Tuesday that the state has relied heavily on its 86 local health departments to track cases. Williams said twice weekly calls with the CDC also have been helpful. “The CDC has been very responsive to us and the other states,” Williams said during the briefing. “But as you can imagine, I mean, it’s a lot to go through.” Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at schatlani@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Police investigating former Silvis alderman Pirmann An investigation by the Illinois State Police and Silvis Police Department is ongoing against former alderman Craig Pirrman, following his July 10 retirement.
	2 more comfortable days in the QC before next mini heat wave Wednesday's high was only in the middle 70s! That's more than 10° below normal for mid to late July. Thursday and Friday look good with sunny skies and highs near 80°. Then things heat up again starting this weekend! There will be more days with highs in the 90s starting Sunday...
	Planned Parenthood endorses Pingree, says rivals can’t be trusted on abortion rights Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree speaks at a July 22, 2026 press conference in Portland, Maine about her support for abortion rights that earned her the endorsement of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)Planned Parenthood’s local political arm endorsed Democratic candidate Hannah Pingree on Wednesday, saying she is the only candidate in the gubernatorial race who would expand abortion rights while arguing her Republican and independent opponents cannot be trusted to protect them. At a press conference announcing the support of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC, President and CEO Nicole Clegg said, “there is too much at stake for the people of Maine this November.” “There is only one person we can trust to lead our state, to protect our rights, and safeguard access to basic, essential, life-saving healthcare, and that is Hannah Pingree,” she added. The endorsement also underscored one of the clearest policy divides in the race. While Pingree has pledged to expand abortion protections, Republican Bobby Charles has described abortion as “abhorrent.“ Rick Bennett, a Maine senator and former head of the Maine Republican Party who withdrew from the GOP last year to run as an independent, said he supports preserving Maine’s existing abortion laws, but Planned Parenthood said his voting record in state government proves otherwise. Maine is among the roughly 26 states that have protected or expanded access to abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade four years ago. The next governor will determine whether that support continues. Since 2022, outgoing Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has passed shield laws that protect abortion providers, required health insurance companies to cover abortion care and added at least $8 million in state funding for reproductive health care providers including Planned Parenthood. “As governor, Hannah will continue to build on that work,” Clegg said. “She’ll be a foil to whatever Trump and Republicans in Congress throw at us.” If elected, Pingree said she would enshrine the right to abortion in the Maine Constitution, protect access to abortion medication, including mifepristone, and ensure ongoing funding for reproductive health care providers. She also spoke about the attacks on reproductive health care by President Donald Trump’s administration, including banning Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from receiving Medicaid reimbursements and cutting access to contraceptives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “When Washington D.C. and the federal government come for our rights, the states are the line of defense, and governors are truly the firewall,” Pingree said at the Planned Parenthood office in Portland on Wednesday. “A governor has to stand up and say, ’not in my state, and not while I am in charge.’” Pingree also criticized her opponents, calling Charles an “anti-abortion extremist” and highlighting Bennett’s past votes against funding family planning services and enshrining abortion protections in Maine’s constitution. Clegg agreed, adding that she believes Charles would do “everything in his power to take access away.” “And given the fact that we don’t have Roe v. Wade anymore, that’s gotten a lot easier for governors to do,” she said. Both Charles and Bennett pushed back on Pingree and Clegg’s attacks. “Hannah Pingree has failed Maine women and families,” Charles said in a statement provided to Maine Morning Star. When asked if he would protect or overturn Maine’s existing reproductive rights laws, he said he would “uphold any existing state and federal laws as Governor.” In the March interview with News Center Maine when Charles condemned abortion, he did not specify any changes he would make to current Maine laws, although he said he supported the Supreme Court decision ending the federal right to abortion. Bennett, who has served in both chambers of the Maine Legislature on and off since 1990, said in an emailed statement that he has “always supported a woman’s right to choose.” He cited a bill he cosponsored three decades ago that would have codified Roe v. Wade in Maine law, as well as his 92% rating from Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund last year, which he said reflected his support for reproductive health access. However, the organization gave Bennett a 38% rating during the 2023-24 legislative session because of his votes against bills that would have enshrined the right to reproductive autonomy in the Maine Constitution, protected reproductive care providers in Maine from prosecution under other states’ laws, mandated insurance coverage of contraceptives and established state funding for family planning services, among others. Asked about that score, Bennett said in an emailed statement that while it “reflected a particular set of votes at a particular time, my core belief has remained the same: I trust women, I support reproductive freedom, and as Governor, I will defend Maine’s protections.” Addressing his varying support for the issue over the years, Clegg said, “You can certainly cherry pick votes if you want to present a particular position or give people an impression that you’ve been a lifelong supporter of reproductive rights or Planned Parenthood.” She added, “We know Rick Bennett’s voting record over his career doesn’t support that.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maine Morning Star
	Arkansas lawsuit accuses drugmakers of undermining access to discount program From left: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (fifth from left) announces a lawsuit against several prescription drug manufacturers on July 22, 2026. Behind Griffin are (from left) Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO John Vinson, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Director of External and Local Governmental Relations Marq Golden, Arkansas Pharmacists Association Government Affairs Director Deborah Wolfe, pharmacist and Republican state Rep. Brandon Achor of Maumelle, UAMS Director of Agency and Health System Affairs Jenna Goldman, Community Health Centers of Arkansas CEO Lanita White, Baptist Health 340B Program Manager Tanya Moore, Arkansas Hospital Association Director of Analytics and Financial Policy Donald McCormick, and Mena Regional Health System CEO Paul Ervin. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued multiple major drugmakers Tuesday, alleging they undermined healthcare providers’ access to a federal drug discount program. The 22 defendants include 13 drug manufacturers, their related corporate entities and data management firm Second Sight Solutions. The complaint filed in Polk County Circuit Court claims the defendants, among them Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb, engaged in deceptive business practices and violated Arkansas’ 2021 law requiring drugmakers that participate in Medicaid to sell discounted drugs to contract pharmacies. Arkansas was the first state to pass such a law, and several other states have followed suit. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, known as PhRMA, challenged Arkansas’ law in federal court. Drug manufacturers lose appeal of Arkansas law on discounts to hospitals using outside pharmacies That litigation ended in 2024 when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear PhRMA’s appeal of a lower court ruling that federal law does not preempt Arkansas law. Griffin said Wednesday the defendant drug companies have since put rules in place that are “so burdensome and so prohibitive” that the 340B drug discount program can’t function as intended. Under the 340B program, established in 1992, pharmaceutical companies that participate in Medicaid must sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to clinics, community health centers and hospitals that primarily serve low-income patients. The federal government expanded the program in 2010 to allow independent pharmacies to dispense drugs on behalf of hospitals and clinics. Drug companies illegally limited how many independent pharmacies they work with and required data reporting for healthcare organizations to receive the program’s benefits, Griffin said. “They’re looking for a way to be in the program, to have access, but to limit their downside financially,” Griffin said at a news conference. “They sort of want to have their cake and eat it too.” AstraZeneca, one of the defendants, declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly all did not respond to emails requesting comment. 340B-complaint Three of the defendants — Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk — faced a 2022 lawsuit from then-Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, accusing them of conspiring with the three largest pharmacy benefit managers to inflate the cost of insulin. Last year, the Pulaski County Circuit Court case was grouped into multi-state litigation from 444 lawsuits over insulin prices. Pharmacy benefit managers serve as middlemen to negotiate prescription benefits among manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and health insurance providers. Arkansas passed a first-of-its-kind law last year to ban PBMs from holding a permit to operate a drugstore. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law before it could go into effect. The suit asks for the court to find the defendants liable for violating the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and fine them $10,000 per offense. If the court grants the state’s request, the defendants should pay the state more than $1 billion, Griffin said. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Eldridge city council absorbs volunteer fire department Eldridge City Council voted to absorb the volunteer fire department. The city plans to hire a fire chief, with a Sept. 1 target launch date.
	Rock Island man arrested for shots fired, weapons charges A Rock Island man was arrested on weapons charges and violation of the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act. According to a release from the Moline Police Department, detectives assigned to the Moline Police Department Criminal Investigation Division were conducting a follow-up investigation July 22 involving Ervin Conner, 42, a suspect in a stalking investigation that [...]
	Iowa 80 Group names new leader after CEO's death Iowa 80 Group and CAT Scale Company have named a new president and CEO following the recent death of the companies' longtime leader.
	Joan Benoit Samuelson still chasing miles — and memories — at the Bix 7 From being chased by her brothers around the house, to being the first-ever gold medal winner in the Olympic women’s marathon in 1984, you could say Joan Benoit Samuelson has a love for running.
	Bill Rodgers returns to Bix for 46th consecutive year 1980 was the year everything changed for the Quad City Times Bix 7.
	El Sabor del Mercado rescheduled to Friday night For $10, community members decide on their favorites from Mercado, with four contest categories: Best Salsa, Best Main Dish, Best Drink, Best Side or Snack.
	Original Bix 7 runner keeps 50+ year tradition alive When the first Bix 7 launched in 1975, only 84 runners crossed the starting line. Ed Lillis was one of them — and more than 50 years later, he is still coming back.
	Moline police now using language translation software The technology will be used when a human interpreter is not immediately available. It can translate 60 languages through an officer's body camera within seconds.
	Southern rust popping up on some Iowa corn crops, Iowa State testing finds So far this summer, the Iowa State University Extension lab had not seen any signs of the disease in Iowa — until now. ISU Agronomist Virgil Schmitt explains.
	House passes Pentagon funding bill and a blueprint to unlock new dollars for Iran war Republicans passed more than $1 trillion for the Pentagon alongside a budget blueprint to fund the war with Iran and implement provisions of President Trump's election overhaul bill.
	Rep. Hinson reviewing funding request as war with Iran hits 5th month U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is not saying yet whether she will support new funding request for the Department of Defense.
	Moline Police rolls out body cameras with language translation The Moline Police Department is rolling out language translation in their Body Cameras.
	Police: Stalking suspect fired at Moline PD during arrest, hit squad car A stalking suspect is accused of firing at a Moline police vehicle while fleeing officers on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.
	Cisco’s Mexican Grill in Moline announces plans to reopen this weekend Cisco’s Mexican Bar and Grill in Moline said on Facebook it will reopen to the public this weekend after an engineer’s inspection of the partial facade collapse on Saturday, July 11.
	QCA athlete shines at Special Olympics USA Games Fresh off big wins at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Team Illinois ranked sixth overall in medal count with 54 medals, and a Quad-City athlete earned two medals for bowling! Scott Maess, Steve Hernandez and Kevin Mullen joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the road leading up to the games and beyond. [...]
	Trump administration signs commercial nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia The agreement gives American companies priority access to nuclear reactors and fuel to Saudi Arabia. It's expected to last decades and be worth billions of dollars.
	3rd-annual Taste of Mercado contest is Friday in Moline Mercado on Fifth hosts its third-annual El Sabor del Mercado (Taste of Mercado) competition Friday, July 24, during the weekly Mercado night market, on Moline’s Fifth Avenue west of 12th Street.
	Cooler temperatures for the rest of the week Pleasant weather settles in, cooler through end of work week
	Death Notice: Kathleen Lyon A funeral service for Kathleen M. Lyon, 64, of Davenport, will be held at noon on Friday, July 24, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant. Mrs. Lyon died Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis, Davenport. Memorials may be made to King's Harvest Pet Rescue No Kill Shelter or to the Humane Society of Scott County. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the July 29 edition of The NSP.
	Pritzker says he doesn’t know details of deadly Jan. 4 shooting by Illinois State Police Gov. JB Pritzker said he hasn’t seen video of a Jan. 4 police shooting that left an unarmed woman dead after a traffic stop in a vehicle that was reported stolen.
	Coal Valley man facing grooming, lascivious acts with a child charges A Coal Valley man is facing charges after police say inappropriately touched two children.
	Iowa 80 Group, CAT Scale Company announces new leadership The Iowa 80 Group, Inc. and CAT Scale Company has announced new leadership.
	Rock Island man arrested after running from police, firing twice A Rock Island man wanted in connection with a stalking investigation was arrested Wednesday after police say he ran from police and fired twice.
	Iowa 80 Group, CAT Scale Company names new CEO The new CEO will take over for her brother, who died earlier this month.
	1 arrested after police search in Moline Moline police have arrested a person after blocking a section of 10th Avenue Wednesday afternoon.
	ACLU sues Penn State Health over canceled gender-affirming care procedure Attorneys say hospital administrators "abruptly" canceled a gender-affirming procedure, saying it would violate Catholic doctrine. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)A new lawsuit accuses Penn State Health of violating a Pennsylvanian’s civil rights when a hospital “abruptly” canceled a gender-affirming procedure less than 24 hours before it was scheduled. Doctors for EJ Stiles, who is nonbinary and has a gender dysphoria diagnosis, recommended a mastectomy “to align their outward presentation with their gender identity,” according to the filing. The lawsuit states that administrators at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Berks County, claimed such a procedure would violate Catholic doctrine. “I did everything right. I followed my doctors’ advice and trusted Penn State Health after they made me feel there was a place for patients like me. But being denied care so suddenly, simply because of who I am, was a devastating eye-opener,” Stiles said in a press release. “If an institution’s biases can so easily lock transgender and nonbinary patients out of care, then our health care system is operating with holes that need to be addressed. We all deserve equal access to health care, and to be served by institutions that honor their responsibility to treat us with dignity,” they continued. 2026.07.21-Stiles-Complaint-filed-no-exhibits The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP filed the lawsuit on Stiles’ behalf in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County Tuesday afternoon. Defendants include Penn State Health, Penn State Health St. Joseph and Pennsylvania State University. Though St. Joseph Medical Center identifies as a Catholic hospital, it is part of Penn State Health, a network of public hospitals. Plaintiffs argue that it violated the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and Equal Amendment Act as well as “religious freedom provisions in the Pennsylvania Constitution by exercising state authority to enforce religious doctrine.” States reject plan to block gender-affirming — what HHS calls 'sex rejecting' — care “EJ Stiles has the right to access the same health care options as any other patient, and those decisions are between a patient and their doctor,” said Rich Ting, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “EJ’s surgery at a Penn State Health hospital being canceled based on religious beliefs is an outrageous and illegal action that put EJ’s health and well-being in jeopardy for months. If hospitals controlled by a public university can reap the benefits of state funds, then they must be bound by the same constitutional and equal protection mandates as all other state-funded institutions.” Penn State Health didn’t immediately return a request for comment. Healthcare providers across the country have scaled back gender-affirming care, even in Democratic-led states, following the Trump administration’s threats to transgender healthcare. Just over half of states ban gender-affirming care for minors, and 29 states restrict sport participation — though such a prohibition hasn’t advanced in Pennsylvania. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Governor announces change to survivor benefits investment for foster care youth Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke on changes Iowa is making to Social Security survivor benefits for children in the state's foster care system in a news conference at Foster SQUAD in Ankeny July 22, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that Iowa will change how the state manages Social Security survivor benefits for foster children with deceased relatives, allowing the child to retain this money for the future. The governor and Larry Johnson, principal deputy director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, announced the change during a news conference at Foster SQUAD, a foster care support organization in Ankeny. Reynolds said the change to survivor benefits comes as Iowa seeks to work on the national initiative led by First Lady Melania Trump to provide more support to foster families and help children in the system live independently and successfully as adults. “I have directed Iowa Health and Human Services to preserve survivor benefits using the most appropriate account type for each eligible child, so that he or she may use the money in the future to support their life’s goals, whether that means pursuing an education, purchasing a home, or achieving financial stability. So this change aligns well with other financial support that already exists for young Iowans who transition out of the foster care system,” Reynolds said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Previously, federal survivor benefits for eligible children in foster care were put toward the cost of foster care. Under the new system, Reynolds said, funding will be placed in accounts that can then be returned to a family if the child is reunited with their family or if they are adopted or gain a permanent guardianship within 12 months of entering the foster system. If the child remains in foster care for more than a year, the federal dollars will be invested through a combination of the 529 education savings plan and an escrow account, or through an IAble account if eligible. After the child leaves the foster care system, the accounts will be transferred to them, with the money available for spending on certain expenses like education, housing and transportation. The change came at the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the governor said, and builds on other work being done in Iowa to improve the state’s foster care system. Reynolds highlighted other efforts to improve foster care in Iowa, like the collaboration between Iowa HHS, the Administration for Children and Families and the Google Public Sector “to develop a new comprehensive child welfare information system,” as well as a law signed this year making changes to Iowa’s foster care training requirements. Johnson said the investment for survivor benefits is “another step Iowa is taking to ensure eligible foster youth have every opportunity to succeed.” “These efforts reflect the dedication of our child welfare workforce and the collaboration of partners who share a common goal: building a stronger system that helps children and families thrive,” Johnson said. “Protecting and investing survivor benefits reinforces this strategy by giving eligible youth additional resources to build sustainability, pursue education and employment, secure housing, and meet other essential needs as they move into adulthood.” Social Security survivor benefits are only available to children in the foster care system if they are unmarried and their parent died when they were age 17 or younger, if they are ages 18 or 19 and still in school full time, and if they developed a disability at age 21 or younger. Survivor benefits are also paid in certain circumstances to married children, stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren, according to the Social Security Administration. Officials at the news conference said in Iowa, the change will impact a small percentage of children in the state’s foster care system. Johnson said “the state will cover the cost of the care for foster care” that survivor benefits currently go toward. “It is a small amount of children, but it will make a difference for them,” Johnson said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Motorcyclist injured in crash with SUV on Highway 61 A motorcyclist was hurt in a crash west of Davenport Wednesday afternoon.
	Beshear reverses 4% Kentucky Medicaid provider cuts Hundreds of Kentuckians with disabilities and their loved ones and advocates came to Frankfort and pleaded with elected officials to find a way to protect the services they receive through Medicaid waivers. July 17, 2026. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)FRANKFORT — Thanks to an “unanticipated” corporate income tax payment and revenue surplus, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday that Medicaid providers will not suffer a 4% reimbursement cut after all. Beshear said $255 million from the taxes, as well as additional revenue, will delay any cuts to Medicaid reimbursement through this fiscal year, which ends at the end of next June. It will also fund the state’s senior meal program and Michelle P. Waiver slots, which are Medicaid waivers for Kentuckians with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need nursing facility or immediate care facility level of care. Beshear said he does not know which company submitted the tax payments — “and the Department of Revenue isn’t allowed to tell us” — and therefore said not to count on that money every month. He also said that “this isn’t any type of data center payment.” “Thanks to strong fiscal management by my administration and a strong economic surge late in the fiscal year, we turned a $156 million deficit into a $476 million surplus,” Beshear said during a press conference in Frankfort. “Additional good news… we believe that the surge is going to continue.” This comes after hundreds of Kentuckians rallied in Frankfort for a reversal of the cuts, especially those affecting Medicaid waivers, last Friday. Kentuckians with disabilities, advocates say looming 4% Medicaid cut is a ‘threat’ The Beshear administration had, in June, informed various providers they would see a 4% reduction in Medicaid reimbursement starting Aug. 1. He said Wednesday that new notices will go out to providers “shortly.” Beshear blamed the budget passed by the General Assembly this year for forcing his hand toward the cuts, while lawmakers said he could better manage the money they provided. Beshear is redirecting $4 million into the Senior Meal program, fully funding all authorized Michelle P. Waiver slots and putting $18 million into the road fund. The latter was a point of contention between his administration and the General Assembly. When Beshear, in May, signed an executive order to reduce the gas tax by 10 cents (and later, he extended the reduction to localities that asked him to), lawmakers said the move would cost the state’s road project fund $26.8 million for one month. At that time, Sen. Jimmy Higdon, the Lebanon Republican who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said lawmakers could consider reducing road funding from local governments that participate in the gas tax reduction. Beshear said all the financial changes announced Wednesday only apply to this fiscal year and said the legislature “absolutely” needs to reopen the budget in January and ensure enough funding for the next fiscal year. “Today is not a magic wand. It’s not a magic bullet,” Beshear said. “There are still people out there suffering, but I know that there will be fewer that suffer in order to get their services because of this movement.” This story will be updated. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	Aledo DMV returning to new location after 2025 closure The office is expected to open late this summer.
	More than 10,000 New Mexico kids have lost federal food assistance in last year, new analysis shows More than 18,000 New Mexicans, most of them children, lost federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding over the last year, according to a new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Courtesy The Food Depot)More than 10,000 New Mexico children have lost federal food assistance benefits in the year since Congress enacted a sweeping spending bill, according to a new analysis from a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The spending bill President Donald Trump signed last July imposed new work requirements and other burdens on households seeking food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also included stiff penalties for states that have high rates of errors in implementing the program, causing states, including New Mexico, to quickly impose new paperwork requirements. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ analysis released Tuesday says those new burdens on states and households have coincided with more than 1.5 million children nationwide losing their SNAP benefits, roughly one-third of the estimated 4.5 million people who lost SNAP since Congress passed the law. The center’s analysis looked at the period between July 2025 and April 2026 and determined that roughly 18,000 New Mexicans lost SNAP in that period, including more than 10,000 children. In a news conference Wednesday morning detailing their analysis, center leaders said the swift dropoff of SNAP recipients should compel Congress to delay penalties for states that don’t reduce errors by deadlines set in the law or to give states more funding to reduce errors. “States are working hard to reduce their error rates, but they’re up against the wall,” Vice President for Food Assistance Ty Jones Cox said. “The law didn’t give them any time or resources to do so, so that creates an enormous incentive for states to slash their error rates by any means necessary, and that’s what we’re seeing: more paperwork, shorter certification periods, more red tape, even if it means eligible families lose benefits they’re entitled to.” New Mexico could face a penalty of at least $150 million if it does not reduce its error rate from 16.8% — which is the third-highest in the nation — to less than 6% by October 2027. The New Mexico Health Care Authority recently imposed new verification requirements for SNAP applicants’ incomes and household sizes, and the authority is working to improve its data collection and caseworker training to minimize the number of SNAP over- and underpayments made to SNAP recipients. Citing a hunger ‘crisis,’ US mayors call for end to federal SNAP cuts The center examined data from 19 states with readily available data regarding children enrolled in SNAP. New Mexico’s proportion of children who lost SNAP — 56% — over the last year was among the highest. Health Care Authority officials did not immediately respond to Source NM’s emailed request for comment Wednesday. More-recent HCA data reviewed by Source NM shows that the trend in SNAP disenrollment has continued through June, with approximately 7,000 additional people losing SNAP between April and June. That HCA data does not specify how many of them are children. The center’s analysts say they cannot identify whether lack of funding or new barriers on households is the primary driver in reducing SNAP enrollment. But they ruled out the possibility that SNAP households’ economic well-being have improved enough in the last year that they no longer need the food assistance. “Grocery prices are still rising,” Jones Cox said. “Unemployment has been largely flat since before the law passed. Real wages have actually declined. People need food assistance today just as much as they did a year ago, and they’re simply being cut off from assistance as states scramble to limit their exposure.” Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	Muscatine City Council denies nine appeals from downtown building owners The city council met Tuesday to consider evidence and rule on nine appeals filed by building owners who had received a notice identifying their buildings as unsafe.
	I-280 reopened after multi-vehicle crash Interstate 280 was closed near Davenport Wednesday morning due to a crash.
	Pay It Forward: Pam's Place supporting Quad Cities Pamela Seales was presented with the Pay It Forward award for her hard work and dedication in fostering a strong and resourceful community.
	Former Silvis alderman under criminal investigation A former Silvis alderman is under criminal investigation.
	Traffic Alert: Section of 10th Street blocked in Moline Moline Police are investigating an incident. The roads are blocked off from 34th Street to 38th Street along 10th Avenue.
	Moline deploys real-time translation technology for officer body cams Moline police will now have real-time translation technology on their body-worn cameras, equipping officers with communication capabilities for more than 60 languages.
	Alabama Department of Public Health holds hearing on marijuana rescheduling Mock medical cannabis tinctures in a display case at Callie's Apothecary in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 14, 2026. The Alabama Department of Public Health Wednesday heard from members of the public for rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)A group of conservative activists Wednesday registered objections to the federal rescheduling of marijuana with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The ADPH held a public hearing following the April decision by the Trump administration to move marijuana from a Schedule I drug, meaning it has the greatest potential for abuse and least legitimate use, to a Schedule III drug with substances considered to have a low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence. Former President Joe Biden planned to have rescheduling occur in 2024, but hearings on the matter were canceled in early 2025. In May, the governing body of ADPH voted to object to the federal rescheduling of marijuana to give the agency more time to determine how to implement it. Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, the head of ADPH, said during the meeting that the department “fully intends” to implement the change. Activists speaking at Wednesday’s meeting cited several concerns. Eagle Forum Executive Director Becky Gerritson said the change would “not only harm children, but we believe it will worsen Alabama’s mental health crisis.” “Rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III puts it on the same level as Tylenol with codeine. This sends a powerful message to the public that this drug has an accepted medical use, and presents a relatively low risk,” Gerritson said. “ADPH’s policy should follow the evidence, not public opinion or commercial pressure.” Greg Davis, the chief executive officer of the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), a conservative organization that represents churches across the state, also spoke in opposition to the rescheduling. “Whether we call it medical or whatever we want to call it, or however someone gets it, however it comes to them, whether it’s on the corner street or whether it’s in a doctor’s office or at a dispensary, it doesn’t really matter. The effects can be the same, and so I would just urge everyone, on behalf of our churches across the state, who oftentimes deal with the devastation, to oppose this rescheduling in Alabama,” he said. Susan Short, a member of the public, said she opposed the rescheduling because of the effects it has on teens. “Teens do not know that marijuana could possibly make you psychotic at 19 years of age for the rest of your life,” she said. “We are losing an entire generation of young people because we have normalized and commercialized and glorified this addictive and harmful substance.” Under the Compassion Act passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2021, a minor under the age of 19 cannot obtain medical marijuana without approval from a parent or guardian and without a qualifying medical condition. If approved, the minor can only receive medical marijuana that contains no more than 3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Callie’s Apothecary, a dispensary in Montgomery, sold the first legal medical cannabis in the state last month. Joey Robertson, CEO and president of Wagon Trail Med-Serv, the sole proponent of the rescheduling at the meeting, said not following what is happening on federal level could instill distrust between patients and doctors and the state. “This is a controlled program in the state of Alabama that has nothing to do with children outside of those that qualify for those medications,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the illicit market, which will grow no matter what, and really does not care if the federal government or Alabama reschedules from Schedule I to Schedule III.” General counsel for the ADPH said after the hearing a decision must be made after Aug. 5. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	What to know about Ukraine's military shakeup After a week of nationwide protests over the direction of Ukraine's military strategy in the ongoing war with Russia, the Ukrainian military has a new commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi. Here's what to know.
	Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to get $400 million in federal settlement The Alaska Native Medical Center is reflected in the campus pond on Sept. 9, 2022. The hospital is among several facilities on the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium campus in Anchorage. ANTHC is the nation's largest Native tribal organization. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)The federal government has agreed to pay the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium $400 million to settle claims of inadequate cost coverage over several years. The settlement, announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Justice Department, stems from a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit tribal health group in 2021 against the Department of Health and Human Services, which operates the Indian Health Service. At issue in the case are “contract support costs,” the term for the expenses necessary for administration, facilities maintenance and other functions that support the healthcare services that tribal organizations provide through contracts with the federal government. In a statement, the Justice Department acknowledged that the federal government owed ANTHC money to cover contract support costs. “This settlement reflects our commitment to resolving litigation fairly and ensuring that federal resources are appropriately directed toward serving Native communities,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in the statement. “We are pleased to have reached an authorized agreement that benefits American Indian and Alaska Native communities and remains consistent with the legal framework established by Congress.” Natasha Singh, ANTHC’s president and chief executive officer, characterized the settlement as a fair resolution of a longstanding dispute over costs borne by the organization. “ANTHC welcomes the authorization of this settlement, addressing contract support costs that have long been owed to Tribes that assumed responsibility for delivering healthcare on the federal government’s behalf. This settlement marks an important step toward ensuring that resources accurately reflect the true cost of operating a complex Tribal health system and advancing self-determination in healthcare,” Singh said in a statement. For more than a decade, different tribal health organizations have claimed that the Indian Health Service was underpaying contract support costs. There is a history of litigation and Congressional action over the issue. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in. Ruling in a case concerning tribes in Arizona and Wyoming, the court said the Indian Health Service is obligated to pay the full costs of contract support services. Those costs are necessary for tribal health organizations to provide medical services, the 5-4 ruling said. If the costs are not fully covered by the IHS, “the tribe would have to divert some program income to pay such costs, or it would have to pay them out of its own pocket,” amounting to a penalty for pursuing self-determination under federal law. The settlement is in line with that 2024 ruling, as well as with the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, the federal law through which tribal organizations administer their own healthcare programs, the Justice Department said. ANTHC is the nation’s largest tribal health organization. At its approximately 140-acre campus in east Anchorage, it operates the Alaska Native Medical Center, which is one of the state’s biggest hospitals, along with various in-patient services, research and epidemiology services and an environmental health program, among other functions. It provides services throughout the state. The consortium, formed in 1997, has embarked on a facilities expansion program, enlarging the hospital’s emergency department and constructing a skilled nursing facility for patients needing extended care, along with other periodic upgrades. Singh, in her statement, said the ANTHC board had “committed resources toward long-standing needs across our system of care” in anticipation of the settlement announced Tuesday. Those commitments include the investments in the ongoing construction projects, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	5 foods that can help you manage GLP-1 side effects 5 foods that can help you manage GLP-1 side effectsGlucagonlike peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist medications can help treat several medical conditions and improve heart and kidney health.There are several FDA-approved GLP-1 agonists, including:Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)Dulaglutide (Trulicity)Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)Orforglipron (Foundayo)Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon BCise)But, like any medication, GLP-1s may cause side effects.You might be surprised to learn that there are natural ways to manage GLP-1 side effects, including making changes to your diet. Here, GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, looks at GLP-1-friendly foods, as well as foods to avoid while using GLP-1s.Key takeaways:GLP-1 agonist medications can cause many side effects. The most common are nausea, stomach upset, and bowel habit changes.Most GLP-1 side effects go away on their own as your body adjusts to the medication. Eating the right foods can help minimize these side effects.Foods that can help ease GLP-1 side effects include lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.What are the most common GLP-1 side effects?GLP-1 medications work in part by slowing down digestion and changing how quickly food moves through the stomach. Because of this, most GLP-1 agonist side effects impact the digestive system.The most common GLP-1 side effects include:Nausea and vomitingDiarrheaConstipationStomach painHeartburnHeadachesFatigueMost side effects are mild and go away on their own as your body adjusts to the medication. Which foods can help you manage GLP-1 side effects?What you eat can make a big difference in how your body responds to GLP-1 medications. Choosing certain foods can help ease common side effects and make the medication easier to tolerate day to day. Here are five foods to try.1. High-fiber cerealsHigher-fiber cereals can help with many GLP-1 side effects. The high fiber content can help prevent constipation, a common GLP-1 side effect. These cereals also contain beta glycans. Beta glycans can help support digestive health. High-fiber cereals also contain complex carbohydrates, which help prevent blood sugar spikes.Choose cereals that are minimally processed and contain at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Some good options include:Steel-cut oatsBarley-based cereals (like Grape-Nuts)Bran-based cereals (like All-Bran or Raisin Nut Bran)Whole-wheat-based cereals (like shredded wheat)2. Lean proteinMany people lose weight while taking GLP-1 medications. People sometimes lose muscle mass, too. Lean protein helps maintain muscle. Protein also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and makes you feel full longer.Examples of lean proteins include:Cottage cheeseEggsGreek yogurtLean cuts of beef (tenderloin, sirloin)LentilsSkinless chicken or turkey breastTunaTofu3. Low-glycemic fruitsAll fruits can be part of a healthy diet while taking a GLP-1. But lower glycemic fruits may be a better choice, since they’re less likely to cause rapid changes in blood sugar.Fruits offer several benefits. They’re a good source of fiber, which supports regular bowel movements. Many fruits also have a high water content, which can help prevent constipation and dehydration. And they’re nutrient-dense, providing important vitamins and minerals.Since GLP-1 medications can reduce your appetite, you may be eating less overall, which can make it harder to meet your daily nutrient needs. Eating fruit can help you get the nutrients your body needs in smaller portions.Examples of low-glycemic fruits include:ApplesBlackberriesBlueberriesOrangesPears4. Nonstarchy vegetablesVegetables are another excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They can also help manage common GLP-1 side effects in several ways. Their fiber content supports regular bowel movements and can help relieve constipation. Steamed or roasted vegetables are easy to digest, which may help reduce nausea and indigestion. Vegetables are also nutrient-dense, which is especially important if your appetite is lower while taking a GLP-1. When you’re eating less overall, vegetables can help you still get the vitamins and minerals your body needs.Examples of nonstarchy vegetables include:BroccoliCarrotsCauliflowerKaleSquash5. WaterIt’s important to pay attention to your hydration while taking GLP-1 medications. These medications can make you feel full sooner, which may also mean you drink less without realizing it. Over time, this can increase your risk of dehydration.Staying hydrated helps your body function normally and can prevent side effects, like constipation. It can also help reduce dehydration symptoms, like fatigue, which can develop if you’re not getting enough fluids.Drinking water regularly throughout the day can help you feel better overall while taking a GLP-1.What foods should you limit while taking GLP-1s?Although some foods may help you manage GLP-1 side effects, other foods may worsen them.Some foods to avoid when taking a GLP-1 include:High-fat foods: Both GLP-1s and high-fat foods slow food movement through the gut. This combination can worsen bloating and heartburn.Sugary foods and drinks: Sugary foods and drinks can cause quick spikes and crashes that make blood sugar harder to manage over time.Refined carbohydrates: Refined carbohydrates are low in fiber. It’s a good idea to limit low-fiber foods, since these can contribute to constipation.Alcohol: Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, which can worsen nausea and stomach upset. It can also increase the risk of hypoglycemia in people with Type 2 diabetes.Frequently asked questionsWhen do GLP-1 side effects usually start?Most GLP-1 side effects start a few days after you receive a dose of the medication. Most side effects go away on their own as your body adjusts to the medication. Side effects may return if your dose increases. Side effects are often temporary and will go away after your body adjusts to the medication.How long do GLP-1 side effects last?Common side effects — like nausea, upset stomach, and stool changes — can last several days to weeks. They should get better over time. Talk with your healthcare team if your symptoms aren’t getting better or if they’re keeping you from your daily activities.Which GLP-1 has the fewest side effects?According to a recent study, dulaglutide (Trulicity) is the GLP-1 with the least amount of side effects. Trulicity is FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, and it also lowers the risk for heart disease. Your healthcare team will determine which GLP-1 is best for you, depending on why you need to use it.The bottom lineYou don’t need to follow a strict diet while taking a GLP-1 medication, but your food choices still matter. Eating GLP-1-friendly foods — like unprocessed high-fiber cereals, low glycemic fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, and lean protein — and drinking plenty of water will help your GLP-1 work best.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to calculate late fees on invoices and when to charge them How to calculate late fees on invoices and when to charge themThe math behind late payment charges is simple. On a $5,000 invoice at 1.5% per month, the fee is $75. The harder part is applying the calculation consistently and building the policy around it so the fee holds up when a customer pushes back.Most companies have late fee terms buried somewhere in their contracts, but how to calculate late fees on invoices rarely gets the operational attention it deserves. The enforcement gap can show up quickly in collections. Terms may exist on paper while enforcement stays inconsistent, documentation gets thin, and the finance team waives fees often enough to weaken the policy over time. The result can be a policy that exists in theory but loses force in day-to-day accounts receivable work.Brex explains the three dominant fee structures with the invoice late fee formula for each. It also covers what a reasonable fee can look like, when to charge, and sample payment terms language you can adapt. The final sections connect late fee policy to the broader accounts payable and accounts receivable program, where those enforcement decisions actually happen.What are invoice late fees?An invoice late fee is a charge added to an overdue invoice when a customer fails to pay by the agreed-upon due date. It is typically disclosed in a written agreement before any work begins and kept proportionate to the delay, though practices and requirements can vary by jurisdiction and contract type.When is the invoice payment due?Before you can charge a late fee, you need a due date that the customer agreed to. The due date is what determines when the clock starts, and if it's ambiguous, the fee can be harder to enforce. A clearly stated due date on every contract and invoice removes the most common source of that ambiguity before it becomes a dispute.Common payment term structures translate into a specific calendar date from the invoice issue date. "Due upon receipt" means payment is expected immediately on delivery of the invoice. Net 7, Net 14, and Net 30 mean the full amount is due seven, 14, or 30 days from the invoice date, respectively. A 2/10 Net 30 term means the customer gets a 2% discount if they pay within 10 days, with the full amount due at 30 days. None of these codes includes late fee terms, which are typically stated separately.When no due date appears on the invoice or in the contract, default rules vary by state, and relying on implied defaults can carry risks. A common practice is to state the due date explicitly on every contract and invoice, and to confirm applicable requirements with your legal counsel.Types of late fee structuresOnce the fee terms are in place, the next choice is structure. Three structures are common in B2B invoicing. They are flat fees, percentage fees, and annual percentage rate (APR)-style interest. Each fits a different invoice profile and payment pattern. A fourth structure, the scaled flat-rate fee, sits between the flat and percentage models and is worth understanding for businesses whose invoice mix spans a wide range of sizes.Flat and tiered fee structuresA flat-rate fee ties the fixed charge to the size of the invoice rather than applying the same dollar amount to every account. A common structure tiers the fee by invoice size: $10 to $25 for invoices under $500, $25 to $100 for invoices between $500 and $5,000, and a fee above $100 for invoices over $5,000, adjusted to reflect industry norms. This structure combines the simplicity of a flat fee with the proportionality of a percentage fee, which can make it easier to apply consistently across accounts of different sizes. It's common in service businesses where invoice amounts cluster into predictable tiers.Percentage late feesA percentage late fee applies a monthly rate to the outstanding amount. This structure scales naturally with invoice size, making the fee proportionate whether the balance is small or large. The key distinction is whether the fee compounds.With a noncompounding percentage, the fee is usually calculated against the original invoice amount, so it stays constant each month. With compounding, the fee is calculated against the growing balance, which means the charge can increase over time. Contracts should state the method clearly so the customer can trace how the charge was calculated. Note that some states limit or regulate compounding of late fees or finance charges; your legal counsel can confirm what's permissible in the jurisdictions where you operate. Ambiguity about compounding can create avoidable disputes.APR-style interest feesIf you need more precision than monthly rounding provides, an APR-style fee expresses the charge as an annual rate prorated by the number of days overdue. This approach is especially useful for large, long-sitting balances because it accounts for exact days rather than full months. Most contracts using this structure typically default to a 365-day year.Some companies also use graduated structures that increase the rate as the invoice ages, or add a separate administrative fee to cover collections costs. Again, rate limits and other restrictions can vary by state and contract type, so your legal counsel can confirm what applies in your situation. Documentation becomes more important the more moving pieces you add.How do you calculate late fees on invoices?Most invoice late fee formulas combine three inputs. The base amount, the rate, and the time period all factor into the calculation. The formulas aren't complex, but disciplined calculation may matter because small choices about the base amount or day count can change the result and the defensibility of the fee.The practical work starts with choosing the right base amount, applying the correct day-count method, the rule for how days are counted, most commonly actual days in a 365-day year, and documenting the calculation clearly. Once those inputs are set, the math follows directly. Consistent application of those inputs can be just as important as the formula itself.Flat fee calculationThe formula for a flat late fee works the same way each billing period, regardless of how large or small the invoice is. That consistency is the selling point of the flat fee structure, and it's also its limitation. A charge that feels proportionate on a $2,000 invoice can look arbitrary on a $200 one.Late fee = flat amount × number of late periodsIf a customer owes $800 on an invoice with a $35 flat late fee, the total due after one late period is $835.00. If the fee applies per billing cycle and the invoice sits unpaid for three months, the total fee is $105.00 ($35 × 3), bringing the balance to $905. These are illustrative examples only; actual calculations should reflect the specific terms in your contract.Percentage fee calculationThe formula for a noncompounding percentage fee keeps the base fixed at the original invoice amount, which means the monthly charge stays the same no matter how long the invoice sits unpaid. That predictability can make it straightforward to explain to customers and may be easier to audit internally.Late fee = original invoice amount × monthly rate × months overdueOn a $5,000 invoice with a 1.5% monthly rate, the fee is $75.00 per month, always calculated against the original $5,000. After three months overdue, the total fees are $225.00, bringing the balance to $5,225.00.With compounding interest, the formula shifts.Balance after N months = original invoice × (1 + monthly rate)^NOn that same $5,000 invoice at 1.5% monthly, month one can produce $75 in interest (balance: $5,075). Month two calculates against $5,075, producing $76.13 (balance: $5,151.13). After three months, the balance can reach $5,228.40.The divergence between compounding and noncompounding grows meaningfully as invoices age. At three months, the compounded balance can reach $5,228.39 versus $5,225 noncompounded, a gap of $3.39. At six months, the gap can reach $17.22, with the compounded balance at $5,467.22 versus $5,450. At 12 months, the gap can grow to $78.09, with the compounded balance at $5,978.09 versus $5,900. For large invoices that sit past 90 days, the method stated in the contract can have a real dollar consequence. As noted above, some states can restrict compounding of commercial late charges. Confirm with your legal counsel before using this structure.APR-style calculationThe daily per diem formula ties the charge directly to the number of days overdue, which can make it the most precise of the three approaches. It avoids the rounding decisions that monthly-rate contracts require, and it can produce a number that maps cleanly onto your AR aging report. For large balances or invoices heading toward review, that precision matters.Late fee = invoice amount × annual rate × (days overdue ÷ 365)On a $10,000 invoice at 18% annual rate with 30 days overdue, the daily rate is 18% ÷ 365 ≈ 0.0493% per day. The late fee is $10,000 × (0.18 ÷ 365) × 30 = $147.95, bringing the total to $10,147.95. These figures are illustrative; your contracted rate and applicable state law will determine the actual calculation.Original amount vs. outstanding balanceThe base you use for calculation changes the outcome significantly, so the contract needs to specify which one applies. On a $5,000 invoice at 1.5% monthly, using the original amount can produce a flat $75 fee each month. Using the outstanding balance can produce a growing charge that starts at $75 and can increase each period.Partial payments make the base choice even more important. If a customer has made a partial payment of $2,000 on a $5,000 invoice, the fee calculation will depend on the method specified in the agreement. Some agreements calculate fees on the unpaid balance, while others use the original invoice amount. Contracts typically specify which base applies; your legal counsel can confirm which approach makes sense for your situation.What counts as a reasonable late fee?There is no universal standard for what constitutes a reasonable late fee. A late fee that many businesses would consider reasonable generally aligns with the contract terms and stays proportionate to the delay. A 1.5% per month rate often appears in commercial contract language as a reference point, but the right rate can depend on your customer relationships and account strategy.In many commercial contexts, grace periods are a matter of contract design, though applicable requirements may vary by state and contract type. Even where they're not required, a short grace period can reduce disputes from customers whose payments crossed in transit.Percentage-based fees handle proportionality more naturally than flat fees, which is one reason they can be more common in enterprise billing. The practical question is whether the fee is calibrated to encourage on-time payment without straining the customer relationship.When should you charge late payment charges?Charging late payment charges is a judgment call driven by payment data and account strategy. The point isn't to charge every fee your contract allows. It's to enforce terms in a way that shapes behavior without undermining the customer relationship.A documented waiver can sometimes support the broader customer relationship better than the fee itself. But systematic nonenforcement can teach customers that stated terms are negotiable, which may weaken the policy across the whole portfolio. A good policy usually leaves room for exceptions without turning every exception into a new norm. The difference is discretion with documentation versus drift without it.Good reasons to chargeFees may be worth applying when the account's payment pattern signals elevated risk and the charge reinforces terms the customer already accepted. Common scenarios include chronic late payers with documented patterns across multiple invoices, new customer relationships where early enforcement sets expectations, accounts that haven't communicated proactively about delays, and large invoices creating meaningful cash flow exposure. When the reason for charging is clear and documented, the fee can support the broader collections process.When to waive or deferMany businesses may choose to waive fees when the late payment doesn't reflect elevated risk or when an internal process contributed to the delay. First-time late payments from long-term, high-value customers, billing disputes the customer raised before the due date, internal errors such as late-sent invoices or incorrect purchase order references, and accounts in active renewal discussions can be common waiver scenarios. If you do waive, document it with a reason code, the approver's name, and a written acknowledgment to the customer that the waiver is a one-time exception. Applying waiver decisions consistently and based on documented criteria can help support fair treatment across similarly situated customers.Some businesses may communicate waivers by letting the customer know the fee is being waived as a one-time courtesy, and that it will apply going forward. That framing can preserve the policy's credibility without damaging the relationship.Early payment discounts as an alternativeSome businesses find it worth weighing whether an early payment discount would do more to improve cash flow than a late fee policy. A 2/10 net 30 term offers the customer a 2% discount if they pay within 10 days, with the full amount due at 30 days. Early payment discount capture is often underused, with many companies leaving it on the table because their AP workflows aren't fast enough to take advantage of it. For some businesses, offering a discount carries lower administrative cost than chasing and collecting late fees, and it gives customers a reason to prioritize the invoice. The tax treatment of early payment discounts may vary depending on your accounting method and jurisdiction; consult your tax advisor before implementing a discount program.Grace periodsA structured reminder sequence can reduce reliance on fees by catching overdue invoices early. Companies usually move from a brief grace period to automated reminders, to a firmer notice with fee disclosure, and then to escalation if the account remains unpaid. For high-value, high-risk accounts, proactive outreach before the due date can also make sense. A repeatable sequence can make enforcement look consistent and deliberate rather than abrupt. Predictability may reduce disputes and support faster collections.Reminder cadenceReminder timing should typically match the account's risk and value. Lower-risk accounts may only need automated reminders tied to due dates and grace periods. Higher-risk accounts often benefit from earlier outreach and closer coordination between finance, sales, and customer-facing teams. Consistent cadence may make it easier to decide when a fee should apply. It also gives your team better data on whether the issue is customer behavior, process friction, or a dispute that should be handled before a charge is added.How do late fees fit into your accounts receivable program?Late fees are one piece of a broader AR operating model. A finance team that relies on fees as its primary collections tool misses the larger opportunity to improve payment behavior before an invoice becomes seriously overdue. The main drivers of lower days sales outstanding (DSO) are automated invoice processing, consistent payment reminders, standardized collections processes, and customer segmentation. Late fees can work best as a backstop.Data on payment patternsDetailed AR data such as an accounts receivable aging report segmented by payment history, invoice size, and risk profile can support more targeted fee decisions, making it possible to apply fees where they're likely to change payment behavior and consider waivers where they're not, rather than treating every overdue invoice the same way. Tying fee decisions back to account history tends to produce outcomes that are easier to document and defend.Automation reduces the need for feesOnce you know which accounts are chronically late, process improvements are usually the next step. Invoice automation, embedded payment links, automated payment reminders, and aging dashboards address the root cause of most late payments, which is process friction. According to PYMNTS’ B2B Payments Innovation Readiness Playbook, as cited by the Association for Financial Professionals, firms using automated AR processes average 40 days DSO compared to 47 days for nonautomated firms.When invoice processing runs cleanly and payment workflows go out on schedule, late fees become the exception for accounts with persistent nonpayment rather than the default response to avoidable process gaps. Many finance teams find that automation-first approaches can help reduce overall reliance on penalties and produce more consistent payment behavior over time.When fees aren't enoughFor accounts where late fees aren't changing behavior and the balance continues to grow, invoice factoring is worth considering as an alternative. Invoice factoring can convert receivables into cash by advancing a percentage of eligible invoices, often around 70% to 90% of the face value, with the remainder paid after collection minus fees. That advance rate reflects general market practice and is not a guarantee; actual terms vary significantly by provider, the creditworthiness of your customers, and the age of the receivables. Whether the business or the factor bears the risk of customer nonpayment depends on the structure agreed to in the contract. The terms and financial implications of factoring arrangements can vary significantly by provider; review any arrangement with your financial and legal advisors before signing. Factoring is generally a more expensive path than collecting the full balance directly, but it converts receivables to cash more quickly for accounts where collection has stalled.Cross-functional coordinationOnce automation is in place, governance may matter more because fee enforcement affects customer relationships at the same time. A fee that's technically correct but applied without coordination can surface a dispute that damages an account worth keeping. The goal is a process where the right people are involved at the right point, not one where finance acts unilaterally and sales finds out after the fact.In many organizations, a common structure may involve legal confirming that fee language exists in signed agreements; sales being notified when any account reaches a significant overdue threshold, with input on whether to request a waiver but not unilateral authority to grant one; customer success flagging early payment signals; and finance owning the policy, the waiver log, and aggregate reporting.A practical reason code system gives the waiver log the data it needs. Useful codes cover the most common scenarios: first-time late from a longstanding customer, billing dispute raised before due date, internal invoicing error, strategic account in active renewal, payment confirmed in transit, and approved payment plan in place. A quarterly review cadence on the waiver log can help the team spot patterns and adjust the policy rather than just responding to individual exceptions.Build late fee policy into your invoice processLate fees matter because they shape how customers read your payment terms. If the calculation is unclear or enforcement is inconsistent, the fee may lose most of its value long before it reaches collections. The practical goal is a policy that your team can apply the same way across similar accounts, document when exceptions happen, and connect back to payment data instead of instinct.For companies trying to standardize collections and cash visibility, that connected workflow makes it easier to spot whether a late payment issue comes from customer behavior or an internal process gap. Those two root causes require different responses, and the data to tell them apart usually lives in the AR aging report. Having it in one place, alongside card spend and expense data, reduces the manual reconciliation that separate systems typically require.FAQs about late fees on invoicesWhat happens if a customer disputes a late fee?A disputed late fee should be handled through your documented waiver process before it escalates. If the customer raises a dispute before the due date or flags a billing error your team made, the fee is generally worth waiving and documenting as an exception. If the dispute comes after the fact with no supporting basis, the strength of the contractual language and your enforcement history will influence how far the disagreement goes. For disputes involving significant amounts, consult your legal counsel before responding. A clear reason code system and a waiver log can make the response straightforward either way.Do late fees have to be in the contract?Late fee terms are generally included in the written agreement before performance begins. The invoice should reference those terms, but is typically not the first place they appear. Whether and how late fees must be documented depends on applicable law and may vary by state, industry, and contract type; confirm with your legal counsel. Policy changes generally apply to new agreements rather than existing ones.Can I add a late fee to an invoice that's already been sent?Adding fees to an invoice after the work has been delivered, when those fees were not disclosed in a prior written agreement, may be difficult to collect and could create disputes. If you want to introduce a late fee policy for the first time, get a new written agreement with the customer before the next transaction, and the fee will only apply to invoices issued after that agreement is in effect. Consult your legal counsel before attempting to add fees to invoices already outstanding.Do late fees have to be charged in whole months?It depends on the contract language. If the clause says â€˜per month or part thereof,â€˜ a partial month counts as a full month and the full monthly fee applies even if the invoice is only a few days late into the next period. If the clause is calculated by the day, partial months are prorated. How your specific clause is interpreted may depend on applicable state law; confirm the language with your legal counsel.What happens if a customer refuses to pay a late fee?If a customer refuses to pay a late fee, your options depend on the amount and the relationship. For smaller fees, a documented waiver with a written notice that the policy applies going forward is often the practical path. For larger balances where the fee is material, a formal demand letter may be the next step. For significant disputed amounts, consult your legal counsel before escalating.Is 2% per month too high for late fees?Two percent per month can be considered at the high end of what most commercial contracts use. Whether it makes sense depends on your customer relationships, your industry norms, and whether the rate would change payment behavior or just create disputes. Many finance teams may find that 1% to 1.5% monthly typically achieves results without the friction that higher rates can generate. Whether 2% per month is permissible depends on applicable law since some states impose caps on late charges.This story was produced by Brex and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Most of Muscatine's Riverside Park to be closed to traffic next week Traffic will be closed in part of Riverside Park next week to accommodate Great River Days and the Great River Days Concert Series, among other events.
	Colorado health officials still unable to investigate tuberculosis case at ICE detention facility The Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora, operated by private prison firm GEO Group, is pictured on Jan. 30, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)Colorado public health officials are still unable to investigate at least one tuberculosis case at an immigration detention center in Aurora, as the private company that runs the facility missed a deadline to give more information and allow health workers inside the building. “The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment still has not received access to the facility or all of the information needed to determine who may have been exposed and ensure they receive appropriate testing and treatment,” CDPHE spokesperson Hope Shuler wrote in an email. “The Governor and CDPHE leadership have demanded contact with facility leadership multiple times, including sending written questions, and we remain ready to work together to complete the investigation.” Shuler wrote that lawyers for The GEO Group, the company that operates the detention center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have stated that there are no confirmed or suspected cases of tuberculosis at the site, but it is impossible for CDPHE and the Adams County Health Department to verify that claim without a public health contact investigation. “A complete investigation remains necessary because people who were recently infected may initially test negative,” she wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Colorado law requires public health agencies to investigate confirmed tuberculosis cases. Adams County health officials became aware of one laboratory-confirmed case and issued a public health order on June 25 to require compliance from GEO. CDPHE then gave GEO a July 17 deadline for information and access, which went unanswered. Immigration advocates press for action on tuberculosis case at Aurora ICE facility Immigration advocates believe there has been more than one case, and an unnamed person detained in the facility told The Guardian last week that at least 12 people have tested positive for the disease. Staff from the offices of Rep. Jason Crow of Aurora and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper of Colorado, visited the facility on July 15 and wrote in a report that ICE said it can “deny facility access to local officials as they are a federal facility.” Hickenlooper’s office submitted a formal inquiry with the Department of Homeland Security over the issue, spokesperson Madeleine Hughes said. During that visit, GEO and ICE staff told the lawmakers there were no active tuberculosis cases at the facility and one person was being monitored. Correspondence to Crow’s office from July 17 also noted that GEO conducted its own contact investigation and identified 61 people exposed to the initial case, according to the report. GEO placed those people in a “precautionary cohort.” The staff members also noted very high temperatures inside the facility, which align with reports from advocates that the air conditioning is not working. Temperatures in the Denver metro area have approached or hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit in recent days. “ICE is out of control and needs to be reined in,” Crow said in a statement. “When our immigration detention system is driven by corporate greed, it allows corporations like GEO Group to cut corners on medical care and safety to benefit their bottom line.” An unnamed ICE spokesperson said last week that the facility is complying with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on communicable diseases. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Colorado Newsline
	Goose Creek Spray Pad closed due to infrastructure, mechanical issues Residents who cool off at the Goose Creek Spray Pad in Davenport will have to find other ways to beat the heat. A post on the Davenport Parks & Recreation’s website said “due to aged infrastructure and mechanical issues, the Goose Creek Spray Pad will be closed. Staff are assessing options for replacement.” Goose Creek [...]
	Barr sponsors effort to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products ahead of federal ban A line of THC-infused beverages on a desk before state lawmakers during a committee meeting at the General Assembly. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)U.S. Representative Andy Barr, R-KY, is sponsoring a bipartisan effort, backed by Kentucky’s hemp industry, to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products ahead of an effective ban of such products spearheaded by Kentucky’s senior U.S. Senator, Mitch McConnell. The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would create a regulatory framework for consumable hemp products that have tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the intoxicating compound that gives users a “high” feeling when consumed. Last year, McConnell successfully passed a provision into federal law that bans hemp-deprived products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, what hemp industry advocates and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul decried as a ban on a growing market for intoxicating hemp-derived edibles, beverages and other consumables. McConnell had said he wanted to close a loophole created with his legalization of industrial hemp through the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed companies to market intoxicating hemp-derived products to children. His provision for intoxicating hemp-derived products would go into effect in November. Barr’s bill, supported by Democratic Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, would allow the sale of such products with three distinctions: Sales would be limited to those 21 years of age and older, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would be tasked with setting limits on THC amounts per hemp-derived product, and the advertising of such products to children would be prohibited. In a statement, Barr said his Lawful Hemp Protection Act protects “Kentucky agriculture, safeguards consumers, and establishes a commonsense regulatory framework that allows this important industry to continue to grow while ensuring products are safe and kept out of the hands of children. “Kentucky has demonstrated that hemp can be successfully regulated while supporting farmers and protecting consumers,” Barr said. “This legislation builds on that success by creating a national framework that rewards responsible producers, eliminates bad actors, and ensures consumers have confidence in the products they purchase.” The bill has the backing of hemp industry groups including the Kentucky Hemp Association and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, according to a release from Barr’s office. Dee Dee Taylor, the president of the Kentucky Hemp Association, in a statement also called for an extension of the November deadline of the effective ban on such products. “An extension will give lawmakers the time needed to build a durable federal framework that protects public health, respects successful state regulatory programs like Kentucky’s, and preserves economic opportunities for American agriculture,” Taylor said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	A strange transmissible cancer is spreading through the catfish in this lake For more than a decade, there's been something fishy going on in a lake that straddles Vermont and the province of Quebec. It involves cancer, a kind of catfish, and — possibly — clues about how tumors metastasize.
	How do I address the financial reality of caring for my aging parents? (It costs the average family $7,200 a year) How do I address the financial reality of caring for my aging parents? (It costs the average family $7,200 a year)Nearly 1 in 4 American adults is currently providing unpaid care for an aging family member — managing medications, attending medical appointments, coordinating home care, and often absorbing significant financial costs that never appear in any official accounting. Half report at least one negative financial impact from caregiving: depleted savings, new debt, reduced retirement contributions, or lost income. And yet the emotional complexity of caring for aging parents — the love, the guilt, the obligation, the grief — makes it one of the most financially consequential conversations American families consistently fail to have until they’re in crisis.This guide from Beyond Finance covers what caregiving actually costs, how to have the money conversations your family needs to have, and how to protect your own financial health while caring for the people who once cared for you.The Financial SandwichThere is a term for the particular financial pressure that comes with caring for aging parents while simultaneously managing your own household, your own debt, and your own retirement savings: the sandwich generation.The name captures something real about the experience. According to the 2025 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving report, 29% of family caregivers are sandwich generation caregivers — supporting both aging parents and dependent children at the same time. You are being pressed from both directions. And in the middle, your own financial future is what gets squeezed.The scale of this is larger than most people realize. Sixty-three million Americans are currently providing family caregiving — a number that has grown nearly 50% since 2015 and shows no sign of slowing as the population ages. By 2030, people aged 65 and older will outnumber children in the United States for the first time in history. The caregiving demand on American families is a problem we’re already facing.What makes the financial dimension particularly difficult is that it arrives gradually, then all at once. First it’s a few extra trips to medical appointments. Then it’s coordinating home care a few days a week. Then it’s a health crisis that changes everything. By the time the financial weight becomes undeniable, many families have already been absorbing costs for months or years without ever having the explicit conversation about how to sustain them.What Caregiving Actually CostsThe financial impact of caring for aging parents operates on multiple levels simultaneously — direct out-of-pocket costs, indirect costs from lost work and income, and the long-term costs that don’t appear until years later in the form of depleted retirement savings.Direct out-of-pocket expenses. The average family caregiver spends approximately $7,200 per year out of pocket on caregiving expenses — covering food, transportation, medications, and medical supplies. For long-distance caregivers, this figure climbs to $8,728 annually. These numbers represent averages; when a parent’s care needs are even more intensive or include home modifications, specialized equipment, or private care aides, the costs can escalate dramatically.Home modifications alone — ramps, grab bars, stairlifts, bathroom renovations — can run from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the extent of adaptation needed. Private in-home care aides, when needed, cost on average $25-$30 per hour nationally, adding up to $50,000-$60,000 or more annually for full-time care. And memory care facilities for parents with dementia can exceed $7,000 per month.Lost income and career costs. Caregivers provide an average of 27 hours of care per week, with nearly a quarter providing 40 or more hours weekly, according to a 2025 National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP report. Because many caregiving tasks occur during the workday — medical appointments, pharmacy runs, meetings with care coordinators — employed caregivers frequently also face reduced hours, missed career advancement opportunities, and, in some cases, the decision to leave the workforce entirely. Half of all working caregivers report impacts on their employment as a result of caregiving responsibilities.The retirement cost. This is the dimension most families fail to anticipate until it’s too late. A Columbia University study found that caregivers who begin their duties at a younger age face up to a 90% deficit in retirement savings by age 65 compared to noncaregivers — a gap driven by reduced contributions during caregiving years, missed employer matches, and the compound effect of those gaps over time. For women specifically, research suggests that including lost wages, pension benefits, and Social Security, the total lifetime cost of caregiving falls between $295,000 and $324,000.Legal and planning fees. Establishing a power of attorney, healthcare directive, and basic estate plan typically costs between $1,000 and $3,000 in legal fees, depending on complexity. These are costs many families skip until a health event forces the issue, at which point the absence of planning creates both a legal and a financial emergency simultaneously.The Emotional Dimensions That Make This So HardCaring for an aging parent sits at the intersection of love and obligation in a way that makes clear financial thinking genuinely difficult. You love this person. They may have sacrificed significantly for you. The act of providing care can feel like the repayment of a debt that can never be fully settled.Guilt is a common emotional experience for caregivers: guilt about not doing more, guilt about temporarily prioritizing your own financial security when a parent’s needs are pressing, or guilt about the resentment that sometimes surfaces alongside the love.There is also grief — often unacknowledged and unaddressed — for the parent you once knew, the relationship that is shifting, the future you had planned that is being reshaped by a situation you didn’t choose. Financial grief of the kind financial therapist Nathan Astle described in a piece on navigating financial grief is real and common for adult children managing a parent’s care.And then, of course, there is the specific complexity of family dynamics. Money conversations between adult children and aging parents — and between siblings navigating shared caregiving responsibilities — carry decades of relational history. Who earns more … who has always been “responsible” … who has historically been the caretaker … who lives closest. These dynamics don’t disappear when a parent needs care; they intensify. And they make the financial conversation feel like it could detonate something, which is why so many families avoid it until they have no choice.How to Have the Money Conversation With Aging ParentsThis is a frequently avoided conversation in American family life — and one of the extremely consequential. Starting it before a crisis occurs is almost always better than waiting, because a calm and unhurried conversation produces better outcomes than one held in the emergency room or the lawyer’s office under the pressure of time.Choose the moment carefully. A low-stakes, unhurried setting matters. Avoid a holiday when family dynamics are already heightened. And don’t pursue it immediately after a health scare when everyone is frightened. Try during a regular afternoon visit, framed simply as “I want to make sure I understand your wishes and how we can help” rather than “we need to talk about your finances.”Lead with their wishes, not your concerns. An effective opening for this conversation is curiosity about what your parent wants, not the announcement of what you need. What do they want their care to look like if their health changes? Where do they want to live? What matters most to them about how the end of their life unfolds? These questions are easier to answer than “what are your finances?” and they establish the context that makes the financial conversation feel purposeful rather than intrusive.Cover the practical essentials. Once the conversation is open, the specific things that need to be addressed include: the existence and location of key documents (will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, financial accounts), their understanding of what their health insurance and Medicare do and don’t cover, their monthly income and major expenses, any existing long-term care insurance, and their wishes regarding living arrangements if their care needs increase.Expect and navigate resistance. Many older adults experience questions about finances as threats to their autonomy — evidence that their children see them as no longer capable of managing their own affairs. This resistance is understandable and should be met with patience rather than pressure. Framing the conversation as wanting to be prepared to honor their wishes — rather than wanting control over their decisions — helps significantly. You may need to return to the conversation more than once.Involve siblings early. If there are other adult children in the family, bringing them into the conversation early prevents the resentment that develops when one sibling bears the primary caregiving burden without the others’ explicit acknowledgment and contribution. Decisions about who provides what — financially, logistically, emotionally — are far better made proactively than in the middle of a crisis.Legal and Financial Planning BasicsMany families reach a caregiving situation without the basic legal and financial structures in place that would make managing it far less complicated. Here are the essentials.Power of attorney. A durable power of attorney allows a designated person to make financial decisions on behalf of a parent if they become unable to do so. Without it, family members may need to pursue guardianship through the courts — an expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally difficult process. This document needs to be in place before a parent loses the capacity to sign it.Healthcare directive/living will. A healthcare directive specifies a parent’s wishes regarding medical treatment if they cannot communicate them. Without it, family members face both the grief of uncertainty and the practical difficulty of making decisions without guidance.What Medicare does and doesn’t cover. Medicare covers hospital care, physician visits, and some skilled nursing facility care following hospitalization — but it does not cover long-term custodial care, which is the kind of ongoing daily assistance most aging parents eventually need. Medicaid does cover long-term care costs for those who qualify financially, but the qualification requirements are specific and the planning required to meet them can be complex. Involving an elder law attorney early — before care needs become acute — is worth the cost.Long-term care insurance. If your parent has long-term care insurance, understanding the policy — what it covers, when benefits begin, and how to file a claim — is essential before those benefits are needed. If they don’t have it, the window for purchasing it may have already closed, depending on their current health.How Caregiving Affects Your Own RetirementThis topic is one of the hardest for caregivers because it can feel like prioritizing your future over your parent’s present when it’s really recognizing that depleting your retirement to fund caregiving today creates two financial crises instead of one — yours, in the future, on top of your parent’s, now.Every year of reduced retirement contributions during caregiving years has a compounding effect that extends decades into the future. Years out of the workforce reduce Social Security benefits calculated on lifetime earnings. Depleted retirement accounts lose not just the withdrawn amount but all the future growth that amount would have generated.The sustainable approach is not to sacrifice your retirement for caregiving but to find the most financially efficient combination of your contribution, your parent’s own resources, family sharing of costs, and, where appropriate, professional care services funded through Medicaid, long-term care insurance, or direct payment. This requires honest accounting of what you can genuinely sustain over time — not what you can do for six months in a crisis.How to Protect Your Own Financial Health While CaregivingKnow your actual number. Before committing to any level of financial support for a parent’s care, do an honest accounting of what that support will cost you over time — not just month by month, but across years. The costs of caregiving tend to increase as a parent’s needs increase, which means a commitment that feels manageable today may become unsustainable in year three.Set financial boundaries as an act of care, not selfishness. A financial limit isn’t a limit on love. It’s a recognition that you cannot provide sustainable care — financial or personal — from a place of depletion. You have to put on your own oxygen mask. A caregiver who has destroyed their own financial stability in the process of providing care has created a problem that will eventually compound the one they were trying to solve.Use available resources. The Area Agency on Aging in your community can connect you with local caregiving resources, including respite care, meal delivery, transportation assistance, and caregiver support groups. Many of these services are low-cost or free. The Eldercare Locator is a federally funded resource for finding local services. Using these resources isn’t failing to care for your parent — it’s building a sustainable structure around the care you provide.Get professional support for yourself. Caregiver burnout is real and documented. The physical and emotional demands of caregiving deplete the same resources you need to make good financial decisions, maintain your own relationships, and function in your professional life. Therapy, caregiver support groups, and financial therapy that addresses the emotional dimensions of caregiving finances are all legitimate and valuable uses of resources.Caring for aging parents is one of the most profound expressions of love that adult life asks of us. It is also one of the most financially complex — and one of the least honestly discussed within families and in the broader culture. The silence around the financial dimension doesn’t protect anyone. It just means the conversation happens later, under worse conditions, with fewer options available.Have this conversation early, honestly, and with support. Create a care plan for your parent that reflects their actual wishes rather than assumptions made in crisis. And make your own financial future a part of the planning rather than a sacrifice.Frequently Asked Questions About the Finances of Caring for Aging ParentsHow much does caring for aging parents actually cost?The costs are high and often underestimated. The average family caregiver spends approximately $7,200 per year out of pocket on direct caregiving expenses — transportation, medications, food, and supplies — with long-distance caregivers spending closer to $8,700. These figures don’t include lost income from reduced work hours or career disruption, which add substantially to the total. For intensive care situations involving private home care aides, memory care facilities, or significant home modifications, costs can escalate to $50,000–$100,000 or more annually. The lifetime financial impact on caregivers — including lost wages, retirement contributions, and Social Security benefits — has been estimated at between $295,000 and $324,000 for women caregivers specifically.How do I talk to my parents about money and care planning?Start with their wishes rather than your concerns — what do they want their care to look like, where do they want to live, and what matters most to them about how their later years unfold? This framing makes the conversation feel less like a financial interrogation and more like an expression of care. Cover the practical essentials: the location of key documents, their understanding of what Medicare covers, their existing financial resources, and whether they have long-term care insurance. Expect some resistance — many older adults experience financial questions as challenges to their autonomy — and be prepared to return to the conversation over time rather than resolving it in a single session. Involving siblings early, before care needs become acute, prevents the resentment that develops when one person absorbs the burden without others’ acknowledgment.How do I protect my own finances while caring for my parents?Start with an honest accounting of what financial support you can genuinely sustain over years, not just months — because caregiving costs tend to increase over time. Set financial limits as an act of care rather than selfishness: depleting your retirement or taking on debt you cannot afford doesn’t help your parent long-term. Use available community resources — the Area Agency on Aging, the Eldercare Locator, local caregiver support organizations — to build a structure around the care you provide rather than trying to provide all of it personally. Protect your retirement contributions even during caregiving years, understanding that a gap in contributions compounds over decades in ways that are far more costly than they appear in the moment.What does Medicare actually cover for aging parents?Medicare covers hospital care, physician visits, outpatient services, and some skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital stay. What it does not cover is long-term custodial care — the ongoing daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and daily living activities that most aging parents eventually need. Medicaid does cover long-term care for those who qualify financially, but the qualification requirements are specific and the planning required to access benefits without depleting all family assets is complex. An elder law attorney can help navigate Medicaid planning before care needs become acute — which is almost always the better time to engage that expertise.How does caregiving affect my own retirement?Significantly and in ways that compound over time. Research from Columbia University found that caregivers who begin caregiving at younger ages can face up to a 90% deficit in retirement savings by age 65 compared to noncaregivers, driven by reduced contributions, missed employer matches, and career interruptions. Years out of the workforce also reduce Social Security benefits, which are calculated on lifetime earnings. The sustainable approach is not to suspend retirement contributions entirely during caregiving years but to find the most efficient combination of your contribution, your parent’s resources, family cost-sharing, and appropriate professional services — an honest accounting that protects both your parent’s care and your own financial future.The content and resources provided are for informational purposes only. While Beyond Finance strives to share reliable information, some resources mentioned are provided by third parties and the accuracy of their content cannot be guaranteed. It’s recommended that you consult a financial and/or tax professional regarding your specific financial situation.This story was produced by Beyond Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Workers are quietly using unapproved AI tools at work. Security teams can't keep up. Workers are quietly using unapproved AI tools at work. Security teams can't keep up.If you've signed up for ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI tool on a work laptop without looping in your IT department, you're not alone. Across industries, employees are under pressure to work faster with AI, and many are finding and installing tools on their own to keep up. New data suggests this is happening at a scale most companies aren't equipped to manage.Vanta, a security compliance company, examined anonymized data from more than 15,000 businesses using its Third-Party Risk Management platform to see how workplace AI use is reshaping the software running inside companies. The findings, the first in a new data series called Trust Signals, point to a rapid rise in what researchers call "shadow AI": AI tools employees adopt on their own, without their company's IT or security team knowing they exist.Shadow AI has outgrown shadow IT"Shadow IT" is a decades-old term for any software running inside a company that was never approved through official channels — it's always been a headache for security teams, and AI is making it worse. According to Vanta's data, 70% of companies now have shadow AI somewhere in their environment: AI tools with access to company data that were never vetted or approved.Overall, shadow IT grew 36% year over year, and companies discovered an average of around 140 unapproved tools accessing their systems within 90 days of connecting to Vanta's platform. Employees under pressure to move fast, the data suggests, often can't or won't wait for procurement to catch up. When approval is too slow, many skip it.Banned tools keep coming backBlocking a tool doesn't appear to stop much. Vanta's analysis found that for the average customer, employees reinstall revoked tools more than 100 times within a 30-day period, and roughly 1,000 times over a year. These aren't different tools cycling through — it's largely the same ones, removed and reinstalled again and again, a pattern researchers describe as a kind of security whac-a-mole.How often this happens depends on what controls a company has in place, but the pattern holds: If there's a way back in, employees tend to find it. That suggests shadow AI isn't a problem security teams are failing to spot but a demand problem outpacing whatever controls already exist.The tools workers fight hardest to keepThe tools that show up most in this remove-and-reinstall cycle aren't obscure. Anthropic, OpenAI, and Cursor — some of the most talked-about names in AI — top the list, according to Vanta's data. That tracks: When someone's daily workflow depends on a specific AI tool, losing access creates an immediate gap, and they tend to close it themselves.The stakes are also higher than with an ordinary, unapproved app. AI tools typically have deep access to company data, which is part of why Vanta's data shows LLM vendors are 52% more likely to be flagged as "high risk" than traditional software vendors. The most common reasons cited: These tools touch sensitive company data, connect to source code, and are treated as essential to how the business runs. Without clear rules for how AI tools get vetted, that mix of broad access, high stakes, and low oversight raises the risk of a data leak or unauthorized access.Almost none of these tools get reviewedVanta's data shows that only 2% of shadow IT vendors ever go through a security review. The other 98% remain essentially unvetted, even as employees keep using them daily. More than half — 55% — of the average organization's entire vendor footprint now qualifies as shadow IT, and that share is climbing as AI adoption pressure builds.What's replacing the ban-it-all approachSecurity teams have tried the traditional playbook — block the tool, revoke access — and it isn't holding up against how much employees want to use these apps. There's precedent for this kind of standoff: iPhones, Dropbox, and more recently, the AI note-taking tool Granola all spread inside companies well ahead of IT approval. In each case, the tools that prevailed were the ones eventually brought inside the security perimeter, not the ones that stayed blocked.That history is shaping how some companies respond now. Instead of only blocking harder, they're building faster review processes that still weigh risk seriously — checking a tool as soon as it shows up, rather than trying to keep it out indefinitely. Some use third-party risk management tools for this, which connect to a company's identity provider to spot which vendors employees are actually using and score them against a risk framework automatically, before a person has to step in.The bet is that speed, not just strictness, is what keeps security oversight relevant. A tool banned on a Friday has a good chance of being back in use by Monday, so treating review speed itself as a security capability — rather than relying on blocking alone — looks like the more realistic path forward.About the dataThe findings come from anonymized usage data across Vanta's Third-Party Risk Management customer base — thousands of businesses — collected from February 2024 through April 2026. Vanta compared discovered vendor counts, security review rates, and risk levels across industries and company sizes by connecting to customers' identity providers (the software that manages employee logins). Year-over-year comparisons used point-in-time snapshots from January 2025 and January 2026 within the same group of customers.This story was produced by Vanta and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	In pursuit of 'Instagram face,' are we losing the imperfections that make us human? Plastic surgery is becoming so normalized and undetectable, it's changing our relationship to reality. The New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino considers how beauty standards have dovetailed with AI.
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	Car insurance rates by county: The $3,805 gap that decides your premium Car insurance rates by county: The $3,805 gap that decides your premiumWhere you live matters as much as how you drive when it comes to car insurance. CarInsurance.com's analysis of full-coverage rates across more than 3,000 U.S. counties found a $3,805 annual gap between the most and least expensive counties in the country. A driver with a clean record pays an average of $5,325 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, and $1,520 in Van Wert County, Ohio, for the same coverage and same driver profile. That difference is not random. Insurers price policies using local risk factors tied to where the car is garaged, including traffic density, accident frequency, auto theft rates, uninsured drivers and weather exposure. Those factors can vary sharply from one county to the next.This analysis shows how counties rank nationwide, why Florida and Texas have some of the widest rate gaps, and what drivers can do to find better prices in high-cost counties. Understanding where your county falls on that range gives you a real benchmark before you shop for car insurance, so you can tell a fair quote from an overpriced one. Key InsightsThe gap between the most and least expensive U.S. counties for full-coverage car insurance is $3,805 a year: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, averages $5,325, while Van Wert County, Ohio, averages $1,520 for the same 40-year-old on the same policy.In Florida, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade counties top $4,600 per year for full coverage car insurance.Your county’s accident history, theft rate, weather exposure, and uninsured driver share are priced into your base premium before your driving record is ever considered.Inside the same county, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive insurers for identical coverage routinely exceeds $1,000 a year. Do car insurance prices vary by county?Yes. Car insurance rates can vary by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year from one county to the next, even for the same driver, vehicle, and coverage. Insurers group ZIP codes into rating territories that often follow county lines, then assign each territory a base risk level using local accident data, theft frequency, uninsured-driver concentration, and weather exposure.A 40-year-old with no violations can move two counties over and watch the quote move by hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars.“Location is among the numerous rating factors auto insurers use to price policies,” said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). “Location-specific factors include accident frequency and severity, vehicle crime rates, escalating costs of repairs and medical treatment, and uninsured/underinsured motorist rates. In most states, policy rating is done at the ZIP code level.”Understanding what drives rates in your county can help you tell whether a high quote reflects local risk or whether another insurer may offer a better price.Four county-level risk factors shape your base rate:Traffic density: Counties with major metro highway systems have far higher rates than rural counties in the same state. Harris County, Texas (Houston), and Wayne County, Michigan (Detroit), are textbook examples.Auto theft: Counties with high vehicle theft volume have higher comprehensive premiums. The National Insurance Crime Bureau tracks this data at the metro level.Uninsured motorist concentration: Florida’s statewide uninsured rate is 20.4%, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Urban Florida counties run higher still, and that gets priced in.Weather exposure: Gulf Coast counties carry hurricane and flood risk; North Texas counties carry hail risk. Both affect comprehensive premiums.A note on regulated states: California, Hawai‘i, Massachusetts and Michigan restrict which factors insurers can use in personal auto pricing. County variation still exists in those states, but it is compressed compared to states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas.Counties with the highest and lowest car insurance ratesThe $3,805 spread between the most and least expensive counties in the country is the widest gap in personal auto pricing. The most expensive counties cluster in Louisiana and Florida — two states with high uninsured rates, severe weather exposure, and elevated litigation costs. Nevada’s Clark County also has high auto insurance rates. “These three states are heavily impacted by legal system abuse and rank among the top states for litigated auto claims in the U.S.,” Friedlander said. “This is being driven by billboard attorneys who falsely promise large rewards to consumers if they file lawsuits instead of trying to settle a claim with an insurer after an auto accident. All three states also have an above-average level of accident frequency and severity.”The least expensive counties cluster in rural Ohio, where traffic density, theft frequency and catastrophe exposure are low.Most counties' rates are between these two extremes. Finding where yours sits is the benchmark that tells you whether your own quote is in line.10 most expensive U.S. counties for car insurance CarInsurance.com The 10 most expensive counties in the country are clustered in Louisiana, Florida, and Nevada.10 least expensive counties for car insuranceThe 10 cheapest counties in the country are clustered in Ohio, with one Virginia county included. CarInsurance.com State, county, city, ZIP code: how location pricing worksState averages tell you whether your state is generally expensive or affordable. Your county fills in the local context that determines whether a given quote makes sense where you live. Insurers group ZIP codes by local pricing factors that often follow county lines, and changing counties can move your quote by hundreds of dollars a year.Crossing a county line — even when the city or town name doesn't change — can reassign your policy to a new rating territory. That holds true inside metros as well: A Tampa address in Hillsborough County is priced differently from a neighboring address in Pasco County, even though it's just a short drive away.Smart shoppers get an estimate of their average rate before requesting actual quotes. This gives you a realistic baseline, since coverage costs can differ significantly even within the same state. You don't need an agent or a phone call to get a ballpark estimate. Online calculators do it instantly — enter your ZIP code and age, and check car insurance rates by ZIP code to get an estimated premium in seconds, without handing over any personal contact information.Florida car insurance rates by countyFlorida’s county spread is one of the widest in the nation. Broward County averages $4,863 a year for full coverage — the most expensive in the state — while DeSoto County in inland south central Florida averages $3,663 — a $1,200 gap between the most expensive and cheapest counties of the top 20, based on CarInsurance.com’s data analysis. Friedlander said numerous factors affect the cost of auto insurance in Florida. “These include very congested highways; a high accident severity and fatality rate; an excessive number of claim fraud schemes, including the third-highest volume of staged accidents in the U.S. and glass replacement schemes; escalating costs of vehicle repairs and medical treatment; severe weather hazards; and legal system abuse, which has generated the highest volume of litigated auto claims in the country,” he said.Three factors drive Florida’s county-level pricing:Florida is a no-fault state: Personal injury protection (PIP), which covers your medical costs after an accident regardless of fault, is mandatory. PIP claims vary sharply by county, and that variation gets priced into your base rate.PIP fraud concentration: South Florida’s urban counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — have a documented history of PIP fraud activity, which pushes up premiums across the South Florida cluster.Hurricane and flood exposure: Coastal counties — Monroe, Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Hillsborough — carry catastrophe risk that inland counties do not. Comprehensive premiums reflect that. CarInsurance.com “Fortunately, the Florida Legislature took significant actions to address legal system abuse and assignment of benefits claim fraud. As a result, the top five auto insurance groups in Florida (Allstate, GEICO, Progressive, State Farm and USAA), which account for nearly 80% of the Florida market, have filed for multiple rate reductions over the past 18-24 months, resulting in double-digit average statewide rate decreases,” Friedlander said. “Numerous other national and regional auto insurers in Florida have followed suit. This is due to a significant reduction in frivolous lawsuits and illegitimate glass replacement claims.”Texas car insurance rates by countyTexas has 254 counties and one of the country’s widest within-state ranges. Among the most-populated counties and metro areas, Webb County (Laredo) averages $3,417 a year for full coverage at the high end, and Bell County (Killeen-Temple) averages $2,901 at the low end of that group — a $516 gap before accounting for rural counties further west and into the Panhandle, which drop further. 1. Webb County: Laredo’s location on the U.S.-Mexico border brings heavy passenger and commercial traffic through its international bridges, increasing congestion and accident exposure on local roads. Insurers also consider ZIP-level claims, theft and repair costs, so higher local losses can contribute to higher premiums.2. Harris County (Houston) and Dallas-area density: Harris County averages $3,260, and Dallas County averages $3,329 per year for full coverage. Traffic density, claim frequency and Texas’s historically high vehicle theft volume contribute to expensive car insurance rates in Dallas and Houston, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.3. Gulf Coast hurricane exposure: Galveston, Harris, Brazoria and Cameron counties all sit on or near the Gulf Coast and carry catastrophe exposure that inland counties do not.4. North Texas hail risk: Tarrant County (Fort Worth) at $3,079 and Denton County at $3,085 both face the recurring hail exposure of the Interstate 35 corridor, which increases comprehensive premiums.5. Open-competition rate filing: The Texas Department of Insurance does not require prior approval for a carrier to file a rate change. Carriers can adjust more quickly than in most states, which means that within-county insurer variation in Texas is wider than the national norm. Comparing multiple insurance carriers matters more here than almost anywhere else.The table below shows the rates for the most expensive and cheapest counties in Texas. CarInsurance.com Other high-variation states — the most and least expensive countiesFive additional states show meaningful county-level spread. The pattern is consistent: urban or coastal counties top the state, rural counties anchor the bottom. Louisiana’s within-state spread is the steepest in the group. CarInsurance.com What drives car insurance rates up in your county?If your county's rate looks high, one of five things is usually driving it. The Wayne County, Michigan (Detroit), average of $4,626, and the Harris County, Texas (Houston), average of $3,260, both trace back to metro traffic density and the claim frequency that comes with it.Theft is another lever. The National Insurance Crime Bureau publishes county-level data each year, and high-theft counties see comprehensive premiums rise.Uninsured drivers push rates up where they concentrate, which is why Florida's 20.4% statewide rate shows through in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Hillsborough.The weather does the rest along the Gulf Coast and across North Texas. And in litigation-heavy areas like South Florida and Orleans Parish, Louisiana, higher bodily-injury settlements feed back into everyone's base premium.Most of these are outside your control. The insurer you pick within your county isn't — and that's where the savings actually live.What happens to your car insurance when you move counties?Moving counties almost always changes your rate, sometimes by hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. Your new address triggers a rerating in your new rating territory, even if you keep the same carrier and coverage. Three scenarios cover most moves.1. High-cost county to low-cost county: A move from Miami-Dade ($4,667 average) to Marion County in inland north-central Florida cuts your full-coverage premium by hundreds of dollars on identical coverage.2. Low-cost county to high-cost county: The reverse hits harder than people expect. Moving from a rural Ohio county at $1,500 to a Louisiana parish at more than $4,700 can triple your premium overnight, even with a clean record.3. Same county, different ZIP: Even within a single county, ZIP-level boundary changes can shift your rate. A move from one Tampa-area ZIP to another inside Hillsborough County can change your premium by tens to low hundreds of dollars.Three steps to handle a county move:1. Pull a quote for the new address before you sign a lease or close on a home. Insurance cost is part of your true cost of living. Get the number before you commit.2. Notify your current insurer within 30 days of the move. Most carriers require it. Delayed notification can mean a coverage gap or a retroactive premium adjustment.3. Reshop at the new address. The carrier that was cheapest in your old county may not be the cheapest in your new one. Competitive order changes territory by territory."Insurance premiums are priced at the ZIP code level, so a county move can shift your costs more than most buyers and renters expect. It's worth pulling quotes for any address you're seriously considering before you commit," said Brent Buell, lead data analyst at CarInsurance.com.How to get the best rate in a high-cost countyFive strategies that work specifically inside high-cost rating territories:1. Compare quotes from multiple insurers. Shop around and compare quotes from at least three to five insurers in your county. Rates can vary widely from one company to another, and the cheapest insurer statewide may not be the best deal where you live. Travelers and GEICO are often among the lower-cost, widely available options, while USAA may offer even lower rates for eligible military families. The only way to find your best price is to compare quotes using your address and driver details.2. Match your coverage to your county’s actual risk. In a high-theft county, comprehensive coverage earns its premium. In a low-theft rural county with an older paid-off vehicle, minimum coverage may be appropriate. Pay for the risks your county actually presents.3. Test a telematics program if your driving outperforms your county’s average. Programs like Progressive Snapshot or Allstate Drivewise track driving behavior and offer discounts to safer drivers. The discount tends to be larger in high-base-rate counties because the dollar value of a given percentage off is higher.4. Bundle auto with home or renters. Bundling discounts run up to 14% at major carriers. In a $4,700 county, that is several hundred dollars a year, meaningfully more than the same percentage off a $1,600 rural premium.5. Reshop at every renewal. Carrier rate filings change frequently, especially in open-competition states like Texas. The cheapest insurer in your county today may not be the cheapest at your next renewal.Frequently Asked Questions: Rates by countyDo car insurance prices vary by county?Yes. Insurers group ZIP codes into rating territories that often follow county lines, then price each territory using local accident history, theft frequency, uninsured driver share, and weather exposure. The same driver on the same coverage can see a quote change by hundreds — or in extreme cases, thousands — of dollars a year just by crossing into a different county.What county has the cheapest car insurance?Van Wert County, Ohio, averages $1,520 a year for full coverage — the lowest in the country in this analysis. Nine of the 10 least expensive counties are in Ohio, with the 10th being Harrisonburg, Virginia, at $1,548 — an independent city that functions as a county equivalent for insurance rating purposes. The pattern reflects low traffic density, low theft volume and limited catastrophe exposure in rural Ohio.What county in Florida has the highest car insurance rates?Broward County leads Florida at $4,863 a year for average full coverage, followed by Palm Beach ($4,803), Hillsborough ($4,789) and Miami-Dade ($4,667). The South Florida cluster, combined with Tampa Bay, accounts for the state’s most expensive county-level rates.What company actually has the cheapest auto insurance in a high-cost county?Travelers and GEICO are the most consistently cheap and widely available carriers across high-cost counties, though the order varies by county. USAA, available only to military members and their families, often prices below those of all major insurers. The right answer for your county is to pull quotes from at least three to five carriers in your own ZIP code — county order is not state order, and statewide cheapest-carrier rankings can mislead at the county level.The bottom lineWhere you live helps determine your starting rate, but the insurer you choose and how often you compare quotes can make a big difference in what you ultimately pay. Start by checking the average rate for your ZIP code, then compare quotes from three to five insurers that offer services in your county. Shopping around can lead to greater savings than adjusting one coverage feature or discount at a time.MethodologyCarInsurance.com conducted a comprehensive analysis using billions of data points to provide accurate, insightful information on how rates vary from one county to another.To ensure consistency, calculations were based on male and female drivers aged 40 carrying a full coverage policy, with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision/comprehensive deductibles. The driver has a 12-mile commute, an annual mileage of 10,000 miles, and maintains a clean driving record with no accidents or violations.This story was produced by CarInsurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Where homeownership is creating the most wealth for Americans Where homeownership is creating the most wealth for AmericansNational housing prices are flat in 2026, and rising mortgage rates have put homeownership out of reach for many. But regional data shows equity-rich markets still exist—and wealth creation remains possible for those positioned to capitalize on it.Offerpad, a real estate technology company, has compiled an investigation of the latest available data that proves the housing market can still serve as an engine of prosperity.The Question of EquityHome equity, meaning the portion of a property's current market value that is owned outright and calculated by subtracting the outstanding mortgage balance from the home's total value, is a useful measure of wealth creation. It’s also a figure that’s measured on a large scale and fluctuates significantly across cities and states.Data from ATTOM’s Q1 2026 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report outlines the state of play, with 43.3% of homes categorized as equity-rich. A home is equity-rich when the mortgage balance is less than 50% of the property's current market value. The report also investigates properties in negative equity and defines 3.2% of homes as seriously underwater, meaning mortgages secured against them exceed the property's market value by 25% or more.Data broken down at the metro, county, and state levels provides insights into where the most equity-rich properties are located. Vermont topped the list of states with equity-rich properties in Q1 2026, where this applied to 85.7% of homes. That’s far above second-place New Hampshire, with 58.1%. Montana, Rhode Island, and Hawai‘i round out the top five, with none falling below the 55% equity-rich mark.While states like Vermont and New Hampshire lead in equity-rich properties, the Midwest dominates at the county level, with 23 of the top 30 equity-rich counties located there. Michigan ranked highest overall, with Benzie County boasting a 94.5% proportion of properties categorized as being equity-rich, and the rest of the top five also falling within Michigan’s borders.The market is cooling in response to rising interest rates and flat home price growth. Regardless, the outlook from an equity perspective is positive, and wealth creation through homeownership remains possible in many places.The House Price OutlookAs mentioned, house prices have largely remained stagnant so far in 2026 when taken at the national level. However, a look at granular pricing data from Cotality indicates that there’s certainly wealth creation in some areas and enclaves.San Francisco is an outlier. So far this year, house prices are up by 8.9%, rising 7.6% in just 90 days, with analysts putting this down to the raft of tech investment in the region, and the wealth creation associated with it causing further spikes in property prices, as a new generation of AI innovators look to either settle on the West Coast or upgrade from their existing property. Tech investment in San Francisco has insulated property prices from broader national stagnation.As with the ATTOM data, Cotality also found that the Midwest is seeing gains, with house prices rising 5.9% in Illinois, the largest uptick nationwide at the state level. Maine came in second at 5.6%, reflecting the East Coast’s enduring stability. Midwest metros were also well represented in the price growth stakes, with Lake County, Indiana, enjoying a 5.9% rise, and Milwaukee following behind with 4.8%.Together, these markets show where homeowner wealth is actually accumulating in 2026, despite the national slowdown that's affecting most buyers.Experts argue that the inherent affordability of property in the Midwest is in part responsible for the market buoyancy seen so far in 2026. Those who are already on the housing ladder in this region will feel the wealth-creation benefits most.What’s to ComeDespite homeownership providing a route to financial security and outright prosperity in some cases, the mood in the market as a whole remains tentative, and analysts see current house price growth stagnation as a problem that will persist unless there’s a significant change in mortgage costs. In particular, concern over the expanding gulf separating those already sitting on equity-rich properties and those who are still aspiring to become homeowners continues to propagate, and no obvious solution exists, save for the generational transfer of wealth from baby boomers to Millennials and Gen Z.This story was produced by Offerpad and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Aledo Auto and Farm looking for new owner The store is not closing. "We are seeking a local individual or couple to purchase our business. You will not regret the adventure, we promise you."
	Quad Cities Community Foundation launches nonprofit networking series The Quad Cities Community Foundation has a new way to help nonprofits find skilled, engaged board members. The foundation is launching Quad Cities Board Connections, a networking series that is supported by corporate sponsors and designed to connect nonprofit organizations with professionals interested in serving on nonprofit boards, committees and advisory groups. The inaugural Quad [...]
	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: MARKCUS DAVIS, 32, 5'8", 187 pounds, brown eyes, black hair. Wanted by Rock Island County Sheriff's Office for failure to appear on aggravated assault [...]
	Oklahoma records 170 ‘explosive diarrhea’ cyclosporiasis cases as spike continues Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s cyclosporiasis cases, the parasitic infection that causes stomach cramping and “explosive diarrhea,” have more than doubled since last week. The state’s Department of Health has recorded 170 confirmed cases of the intestinal illness, most of which have been reported this month. There have been 12 hospitalizations but no deaths, according to the department. Just over half of the state’s infections have been reported in women, and it has affected people from 9 to 94 years old. The Centers for Disease Control reports 4,173 confirmed cases across 41 states since May 1. The CDC expects this number to rise as it analyzes over 7,400 additional cases local and state health departments have reported. There have been 308 hospitalizations nationwide from cyclosporiasis, but no deaths as of Monday. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, which was served in restaurants like Taco Bell in five states. On Monday, acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas announced this was a false positive, but the agency still recommends against eating the company’s lettuce as it investigates possible causes of the outbreak. The CDC recommends washing produce thoroughly, and if possible, cooking it to at least 158 degrees to kill the parasite. It advises against drinking untreated water. Common symptoms of cyclosporiasis include diarrhea, loss of appetite and stomach pain. Treatment includes antibiotics and rehydration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oklahoma Voice
	People are watching the Reflecting Pool like reality TV. What does that say about us? It's not just watching paint dry. The twists and turns of the Reflecting Pool repairs, originally a two-week project, have kept bloggers and viewers busy all summer.
	States with the lowest mortgage payments in 2026 States with the lowest mortgage payments in 2026The median monthly cost of homeownership in the U.S. now sits at $2,035, according to data from the Census Bureau. That figure, which includes mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance (fire, hazard, and flood), utilities, and applicable condo or HOA fees, is up 3.8% from the year prior. In some states, like California, Hawai'i, and New Jersey, it’s even higher.Home prices have stabilized somewhat since their post-pandemic peak, but affordability pressure hasn’t eased much.According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), the median sales price of homes sold in the U.S. stands at $405,300 as of late 2025. And according to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate has held at above 6% for much of the past year. Elevated values plus persistent borrowing costs add up fast.This study from SoFi uses the latest home value data and mortgage rate benchmarks to examine affordability at the state and metro levels, including median and estimated monthly payments by state and the reasons costs differ by location.Key FindingsHomeownership costs are on the rise. The median monthly owner costs for U.S. homeowners with a mortgage reached $2,035 in 2024, a 3.8% year-over-year increase.Monthly housing costs vary significantly by state. The median monthly payment is highest in the District of Columbia ($3,181) and California ($3,001). It’s lowest in West Virginia ($1,272) and Arkansas ($1,375).State- and metro-level data each show a different story. State data reflects overall affordability trends, while metro data illustrates real-time localized market pressure.The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rate has held at above 6.00% for much of the past year. Elevated rates combined with rising home values also contribute to higher monthly costs.The U.S. estimated monthly mortgage payment is $2,226, according to Zillow data.Monthly costs at the metro level vary wildly. In metros like New York City and Los Angeles, the estimated monthly mortgage payment is upward of $4,000. Northern California metros like San Jose and San Francisco reach even higher, topping $6,000. On the other end of the spectrum, the monthly estimated mortgage payment doesn’t even crack $1,000 in metros like Danville, Illinois, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.Rising affordability pressure is keeping many buyers on the fence. Elevated costs limit buying power, making it harder to qualify for financing. SoFi The Current State of Mortgage Affordability in the US SoFi A recent Gallup study found that 62% of Americans currently own a home. Less than a third (30%) of nonhomeowners expect to buy property within the next five years. Only about a quarter anticipate becoming homeowners in the next decade.Gallup cites affordability as a major concern. One of the biggest drivers of affordability pressure is mortgage rates. These remain near recent highs as of April 16 at:6.30% for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage: Rates have declined over the past year but have started to rise again.5.65% for a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage: After a dip in mid-February, rates have started to go up again.The median sales price of homes sold in the U.S. stood at $405,300 in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025. Prices have stabilized somewhat from their post-pandemic highs ($442,600 in Q4 2022), but they remain well above where prices sat in Q2 2020, when the median was $317,100.That appreciation, paired with 6.00%-plus 30-year fixed interest rates, has pushed up monthly ownership costs. The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey found that median monthly owner costs reached $2,035 in 2024, up 3.80% year over year (YoY).More recent data from the Mortgage Bankers Association puts the current median payment at $2,061.States With the Lowest Mortgage PaymentsNot every state carries the cost burden seen in D.C. or California. Across much of the Midwest and South, median monthly owner costs fall well below the national figure of $2,035.The states with the lowest medians are:West Virginia: $1,272Arkansas: $1,375Mississippi: $1,448Kentucky: $1,453Indiana: $1,466Alabama: $1,500Iowa: $1,538Ohio: $1,563Michigan: $1,573Missouri: $1,589The gap between the lowest and highest costs is substantial. West Virginia’s median of $1,272 sits $1,909 below D.C.’s $3,181. That’s a difference larger than the median monthly cost in all 10 lowest-cost states.The regional pattern is consistent. All 10 of the lower-cost states fall within the South or Midwest, according to Census Bureau geographic classifications:Midwestern states: Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, MissouriSouthern states: West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, AlabamaThe full 50-state picture (plus Washington, D.C.) is below, ranked from highest to lowest. The national median of $2,035 serves as a useful benchmark, with 18 states sitting above it.States With the Highest Mortgage PaymentsOf course, housing costs vary significantly based on where you live. Everything from home prices to mortgage rates is location-dependent. The states (including Washington, D.C.) where the median monthly owner costs are steepest are:Washington, D.C.: $3,181California: $3,001Hawai'i: $2,937New Jersey: $2,797Massachusetts: $2,755New York: $2,544Washington: $2,519Colorado: $2,466Connecticut: $2,454New Hampshire: $2,399Maryland: $2,389In D.C. and California, the median monthly cost is about $1,000 higher than the national median payment amount ($2,035). New Hampshire and Maryland sit closer to the national figure, though even a few hundred dollars per month adds up against the broader cost of living in those states.Know that these higher-than-average costs reflect structural affordability, not real-time pricing. Metro-level figures later in this study draw from more recent Zillow data in an effort to capture current market conditions more closely.Several factors drive costs higher in these states:High home values: Median home values are higher in places like D.C. than in many other parts of the country. Elevated home prices can directly affect mortgage costs, insurance premiums, and monthly payments.Supply constraints: Housing shortages, combined with increased demand, can translate to higher home values. In California, for example, the state’s Department of Community and Housing Development estimates that housing production has averaged fewer than 80,000 new homes each year during the past decade. The projected annual need for new homes is 180,000.Demand: States with higher migration (often due to new job opportunities) may also see increased demand for housing. New York, California, and D.C. have a relatively high number of people moving in from year to year.Mortgage rates: These are influenced by inflation and Federal Reserve policy, but they’re not the same everywhere. Competition, foreclosure laws, and other economic policies can all determine the rates lenders set. Having a higher mortgage principal can also result in a higher rate, regardless of location.Note that all figures cited here are medians. The median often better reflects typical affordability conditions than the average, which can be skewed by high-cost outliers at either end of the market.Metros With the Highest and Lowest Mortgage Payments SoFi While state-level data shows broader affordability trends, metro-level data shows real-time market pressure. Within a single state, costs can vary considerably. The figures below are drawn from Zillow data as of Feb. 28, 2026, and represent estimated monthly mortgage payments on a new home purchase at current rates.The 10 metros with the highest estimated monthly mortgage payments are (ranked highest to lowest):San Jose, California: $9,910Santa Cruz, California: $6,931San Francisco: $6,892Kahului, Hawai'i: $6,112Santa Maria, California: $6,024Los Angeles: $5,891San Diego: $5,732San Luis Obispo, California: $5,491Napa, California: $5,470Oxnard, California: $5,371Nine of the 10 most expensive metros are in California. The sole outlier is Kahului, Hawai'i. San Jose leads by a considerable margin. Its $9,909 monthly figure is more than $2,900 ahead of the next closest metro. The estimated mortgage payment in these metros all exceeds $5,000.And the 10 metros with the lowest estimated monthly mortgage payments are (ranked lowest to highest):Danville, Illinois: $587Pine Bluff, Arkansas: $594Johnstown, Pennsylvania: $718Decatur, Illinois: $736Weirton, West Virginia: $770Wheeling, West Virginia: $819Enid, Oklahoma: $849Beckley, West Virginia: $878Charleston, West Virginia: $879Carbondale, Illinois: $914None of the 10 lowest-cost metros surpass the $1,000 per-month mark. And nine of the 10 metros are located in Midwestern or Southern states, with the Northeast’s Johnstown, Pennsylvania, being the lone exception.Several factors likely drive the variation:Demand concentration: Demand for housing is often highest in major economic hubs like Los Angeles (ranked sixth-most expensive metro) or New York City (ranked 19th).Housing supply: In major cities like Los Angeles, there’s a severe shortage of affordable housing. Meanwhile, metros like Danville have greater supply than demand, which can keep prices down.Speed of growth (metro): Fast-growing cities may also experience greater demand than the available housing supply. In California, cities like San Diego are growing faster than others in the state.State-level figures are based on median monthly owner costs sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, the most recent year available.Metro-level figures use Zillow data as of Feb. 28, 2026. Zillow’s metro data is based on estimates of the monthly mortgage payment on a new home purchase with the average interest rate of that month. The home value is estimated using smoothed and seasonally adjusted Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI). If the down payment is less than 20%, the monthly mortgage payment includes 1% mortgage insurance.How Mortgage Costs Vary Across the CountryWithin a single state, costs can swing by thousands of dollars depending on the metro. Using Zillow’s data, here’s how that dynamic plays out in select states: SoFi Pennsylvania: The estimated monthly mortgage payment in Pennsylvania ranges from $718 (Johnstown) to $2,322 (Philadelphia). That’s a $1,604 spread.Michigan: The estimated mortgage payment in Michigan ranges from $1,003 (Saginaw) to $2,503 (Ann Arbor). Buyers in Ann Arbor pay roughly 2.5 times what buyers in Saginaw pay.Florida: The estimated mortgage payment in Florida metros ranges from $1,433 (Sebring) to $3,427 (Naples). That’s a nearly $2,000 difference, within a single state.Arizona: On the low end of estimated monthly mortgage payments in Arizona is Sierra Vista, where the estimate is $1,595. The most expensive metro is Flagstaff, with an estimated cost of $3,810.Location is one driver of cost variation, but housing inventory and population growth shape what buyers pay, too. The regions with the highest growth in 2025 were:South: 39.2%West: 23.4%Midwest: 20.4%Northeast: 17%Coastal states currently carry the highest monthly costs, while much of the Midwest and South remain more affordable.What Rising Mortgage Payments Mean for HomebuyersHigher monthly costs have concrete consequences for buyers trying to enter the market. They can:Limit buying power: When home values and interest rates rise faster than incomes, buyers either get priced out or are pushed toward less expensive properties and lower-cost markets.Delay homeownership: Research shows that only half of nonhomeowners (55%) anticipate buying property in the foreseeable future. Just under a third of nonhomeowners expect to purchase a home within the next five years.Tighter loan qualification: Mortgage lenders expect borrowers to meet certain income requirements before approving them for financing. Most lenders look for those whose housing expenses plus long-term debt are no more than 36% of their monthly gross income. The higher the mortgage payment, the greater your income needs to be.For current homeowners, mortgage refinancing is one option for reducing monthly costs, though it comes with its own trade-offs depending on the rate environment and the remaining loan term.The TakeawayThe data makes clear that where you buy matters as much as what you buy. Monthly owner costs in California, Hawai'i, and D.C. run more than double those in West Virginia, Arkansas, and Indiana. And within any given state, the spread between metros can be just as wide.The monthly payment is the key affordability metric if you’re in the market for real estate. But it’s also a good idea to evaluate total cost versus just the home’s price tag. Interest rates, property tax, insurance, and HOA fees all feed into what homeownership costs month to month. An online mortgage interest calculator can help you do the math on the total costs of a loan.Frequently Asked Questions About Mortgage PaymentsWhat is the average mortgage payment in the U.S.?As of April 16, 2026, the average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan is 6.3%. Meanwhile, the average sales price of all homes sold in the U.S. was $534,000 (Q4 2025). Assuming these averages and a 20% down payment, the average monthly mortgage payment sits at around $2,664. This amount includes only the principal and interest, not any taxes, insurance, or other fees.That figure is higher than the Census Bureau’s median monthly owner costs of $2,035, which reflects what existing homeowners with a mortgage actually paid in 2024. The median is generally the more useful affordability benchmark, as it represents the midpoint across all current mortgages and is less sensitive to high-end outliers than the average.How are monthly mortgage payments calculated?For fixed-rate mortgages, lenders generally calculate monthly payments based on three factors: loan amount, term, and interest rate. Getting a smaller loan typically means a lower monthly payment, unless you also go with a shorter term. That’s because shorter terms usually mean higher monthly payments. A higher interest rate can also increase payment amounts.Taxes and insurance can also affect your mortgage payments. When financing (or refinancing) a mortgage, property taxes are typically included in those payments. The same can be said of homeowners insurance.You can use an online mortgage calculator to determine your estimated monthly payment based on different values (home price, down payment, and interest rate).Why do mortgage payments vary by state?The law of supply and demand is one of the biggest reasons why mortgage payments vary so much. Some states — like New York — have more limited housing supply than others. When demand is higher than supply, housing prices tend to rise. This often means larger loans, which can result in higher interest rates (and higher monthly payments).Variances in state lending laws and competition can also affect mortgage payments. For example, states with strict usury laws (limits on interest rates) might see lower mortgage payments (depending on housing costs).Which states have the highest mortgage payments?The states with the highest monthly owner costs are California ($3,001), Hawai'i ($2,937), New Jersey ($2,797), New York ($2,544), and Washington ($2,519). The District of Columbia has the highest monthly owner cost at $3,181.Which states have the lowest mortgage payments?The U.S. states with the lowest monthly owner costs are West Virginia ($1,272), Arkansas ($1,375), Mississippi ($1,448), Kentucky ($1,453), and Indiana ($1,466).Homeownership costs also vary by metro. For example, the median listing price of homes in West Virginia is just shy of $250,000, which may account for the lower monthly payment amounts. But in some parts of the state — like Winchester — prices are much higher.How do mortgage interest rates affect monthly payments?A monthly mortgage payment includes two main components: principal and interest. A higher interest rate typically means larger monthly payments, while a lower rate means smaller monthly payments. Factors like loan term and amount can also impact your monthly payment. As you shop around, check the current mortgage rates by lender for a better idea of what to expect.What is included in a typical mortgage payment?A mortgage payment typically includes the principal, which is the original amount borrowed to buy the home. It also includes the interest, which is the cost of borrowing money from a lender.In most cases, your monthly mortgage payment will also include escrow for property taxes and homeowners insurance. If you put less than 20% down on a conventional loan, you may be required to have private mortgage insurance (PMI), which adds to your monthly payments.How can I lower my monthly mortgage payment?Even if you pay around the average mortgage payment amount for your state, it might be eating into funds that could be spent on other things, such as your retirement savings. One way to lower your payment is to get rid of PMI (if you’re paying it). Your lender will often automatically remove it for you once you have 22% equity in your home. You can, however, request that it be removed as soon as you reach 20%.The other method is through a home mortgage refinance. This could get you a longer term (with a lower monthly payment). Or it might result in a lower interest rate (also with a lower monthly payment).This story was produced by SoFi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A smaller labor force means a smaller economy A smaller labor force means a smaller economyIn 2024, the U.S. fertility rate reached a new low of 1.6. Net immigration started declining rapidly that same year and quite possibly turned negative in 2025. This combination of factors has brought the rate of population growth to a historic low, a development with major economic implications, The Dispatch reports.Perhaps the most obvious consequence is lower overall output growth. Economic growth generally comes from an increase in the labor force or more output per worker. In the U.S., the latter has averaged about 2% annually over the past century, with variation that does not correlate in an immediately obvious way with labor force growth. It is therefore reasonable to expect a slowdown in labor-force growth to translate directly into slower economic growth. If labor force growth goes from 1% per year to 0%, economic growth is likely to fall from 3% to 2%. Over time, this adds up to a much smaller aggregate economy, likely accompanied by lower interest rates.And U.S. labor force growth has, in fact, come down in tandem with population growth. In 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that population growth would average 0.6% between 2023 and 2033, while the labor force would grow at an annual rate of 0.4%. Compare that to the 1960s and 1970s, when population growth was around 1.8% and labor force growth topped 2% annually. The Congressional Budget Office projects that deaths will start to exceed births in 2030 and assumes that net migration will be high enough to offset this natural population decrease until well into the 2050s. Without positive net migration, though, the total population would start to shrink around the end of President Donald Trump’s second term.If anything, the BLS and CBO projections, like other such efforts, are overly optimistic. They typically assume that fertility rates will plateau just below where they are today, or even at a higher level, even as other countries have seen fertility fall to meaningfully lower levels. And they count on persistently positive net migration, even though it is close to zero today, with little prospect of increases in at least the coming two years. Very few people are crossing the southern border these days, and the Trump administration has restricted immigration through practically all legal pathways as well.One will sometimes hear from immigration skeptics that overall GDP growth does not matter, just GDP per capita, because that is what determines the well-being of the native-born. That is not true. Most importantly, overall GDP growth is crucial to the national defense and the geopolitical position of the U.S. If only GDP per capita mattered, geopolitical competition with China would be the least of the country’s concerns, and the continent of Europe would be under the iron-fisted control of Grand Duke Guillaume V of Luxembourg.A second set of macroeconomic consequences of the population slowdown is best understood through the lens of real interest rates. This issue received significant attention prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when some economists viewed slowing population growth as a key driver of so-called secular stagnation. Under this view, slower population growth reduces the demand for new capital goods—a smaller workforce will need fewer factories and vehicles, less real estate and equipment—which places downward pressure on interest rates.This effect is reinforced by a reduction in the marginal returns to capital from increased capital per (remaining) worker. In simple terms: An understaffed factory is less productive, a restaurant needs waiters, cars do not quite drive themselves yet, and a house no one wants to live in is worse than useless. Through this channel, lower population growth reduces rates of return throughout the economy.Downward pressures on rates are further amplified by the effects of aging, which is generally seen as increasing savings as people expect to spend more time in retirement. This increases the supply of loanable funds, which reduces the cost of borrowing. Commentators will point to Japan’s persistent low-interest rate environment as evidence for the idea that borrowing is cheap in an aging, shrinking society.That said, there is more ambiguity around the impact of the population growth slowdown on interest rates than around the impact on output growth. Perhaps the most important force that pushes in the opposite direction comes from the government’s need to finance its spending. As population growth slows, fewer people become responsible for bearing the burden of the national debt and the cost of providing public goods like national defense. This makes Treasury bonds riskier, pushing up interest rates. Higher interest rates, in turn, raise future deficits.This mechanism also interacts with the consequences of aging. As smaller cohorts enter the labor force, the economics of programs like Social Security and Medicare change. With fewer workers per beneficiary, they become harder to finance. This means reduced benefits (politically impossible), higher taxes (implausible), or larger deficits (definitely). Relying heavily on the final option will again push up interest rates.Policymakers can respond to the population growth slowdown in numerous potentially productive ways. They can try to increase fertility rates (or slow down their decrease), though efforts in that area have, at best, a mixed record. As a recent paper published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives put it: “[T]he clear-cut bottom line is that whatever impacts pro-natal policies and broader changes might have caused, none has caused low birth rates to reverse enduringly back to replacement levels.” Of course, raising fertility rates will not pay off, in economic terms, for decades.While currently not in the cards, the U.S. could also admit more immigrants (and let more of those already here stay). That approach has direct positive consequences for growth and the fiscal outlook. Immigrants typically have a more positive fiscal impact than comparable natives, as immigrants often arrive after they have completed their K-12 schooling and are not eligible for many welfare and social insurance programs, at least not immediately. Skepticism of this positive impact is often driven by data from Europe, where the numbers look quite different because of differing immigrant selection, more generous welfare states, and steeper barriers to labor market integration. In addition, immigrants bear part of the burden for the existing federal debt and future unfunded liabilities, which makes their impact on the fiscal outlook even more positive.Where immigrants are less helpful—because they too age out of the labor force—is in keeping old-age pension and health care programs sustainable. Those programs can, of course, be addressed directly. Doing so is straightforward on a technocratic level but seemingly impossible politically. The best reform proposals pay a triple dividend: Not only do they reduce the cost of the programs themselves, but they also reduce the tax burden on younger workers while strengthening the incentives of older workers to stay in the labor force longer.Finally, the country can try to increase output per worker. Some have argued that a scarcity of young workers leads to the development of new labor-saving technologies that can offset the growth slowdown entirely. A more mainstream view is that fewer people will come up with fewer new ideas, and productivity will rise more slowly. Regardless of which of these two scenarios you believe to be correct, the government can contribute to efforts to raise productivity by investing in science, letting people build housing in productive parts of the country, reducing trade barriers, allowing for data center construction, ensuring that firms have access to cheap and reliable energy, and making policy in ways that are transparent and predictable.Slower population growth appears to be here to stay. Policymakers can avoid some of the harmful consequences by keeping America attractive to immigrants, adjusting entitlement programs to new demographic realities, and working to raise productivity levels. But absent a genuine AI revolution, a future of slower economic growth is likely.This story was produced by The Dispatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Health insurers use a whole arsenal of tools to deny care, increase profit Protesters with People's Action target health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group due to health insurance costs and insurance claims denials on April 16, 2024 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)Last summer, the Trump administration, physician advocates, public health academics and activists requested a voluntary commitment from commercial health insurance industry CEOs to streamline the prior authorization process. Commercial health insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, CVS Health, Humana and others signed onto a six-part voluntary pledge, understanding they would be required to reach a number of benchmarks to reduce prior authorization, which is when a commercial health insurance company does not allow the medical treatment requested for a patient by a physician without permission from the insurer. The problem with the singular fight to reduce prior authorizations? Prior authorization is but one of countless denial of care tools commercial health insurance companies use to deploy what’s known as the float. This is how the denial of care business model works: The commercial health insurance float is the cash a company holds onto during the time gap between collecting premium payments from customers, denying medical care and actually paying out medical claims to healthcare providers. Insurers are highly motivated to artificially widen the gap between receiving a premium and paying a doctor. The industry uses an arsenal of chaotic administrative barriers and lengthy review processes to slow down reimbursements while patients in need wait for medical care. On a hospital’s balance sheet, this delayed money sits as accounts receivable, but on the commercial insurer’s balance sheet, it remains part of the float while generating millions of dollars in interest before it is paid out — if ever. The delay allows commercial health insurance companies to invest this cash — frequently into securities, bonds, real estate, private equity and other investments — and increase profits, while patients struggle and suffer. In addition to prior authorization, here are just a handful of the many denial of care tools used by the industry: “Click and close” requires medical directors to maintain rapid medical care case-review quotas. Their bonuses and performance metrics are often tied to the volume of cases closed and speedy boilerplate denials. Step therapy, also called “fail first” by the industry, requires patients to try cheaper, less effective treatments instead of implementing what a physician recommends. Insurers deny the doctor’s prescribed treatment until the patient officially documents that the cheaper options failed to work. “Procedure to diagnosis,” also known as PxDx is software that allows companies to instantly batch-reject medical claims. If the submitted procedure code matches an approved diagnosis code on the insurer’s list, the doctor is paid automatically. If the codes do not align, the claim is automatically rejected, often processing in as little as 1.2 seconds. For reference, over a period of two months in 2022, Cigna doctors employed by the company to review insurance claims denied more than 300,000 requests for payments using PxDx. Commercial health insurance companies also use “ghost networks,” which are inaccurate healthcare provider directories that create a false impression of comprehensive coverage by listing doctors, therapists or clinics as “in-network” when they are actually unreachable, retired, no longer accepting that insurance or closed to new patients. This deception leaves patients stranded with unexpected out-of-pocket costs and delayed treatments. Ghost networks are exceptionally prevalent in behavioral health and therapy directories. Using AI to deny medical care is nothing new: The nH Predict algorithm was developed by SeniorMetrix in the late 1990s and early 2000s and is now owned by UnitedHealth Group. The industry calls it a “predictive” AI model, meaning it estimates how long a patient “should” need for acute nursing home or rehabilitation care. Lawsuits allege the tool has prematurely cut off medical care to elderly persons based on the algorithmic target required to increase profits. While the float is a major financial driver across all insurance sectors, the commercial health insurance float is singular as the product/service is human health and human life. On May 30, 1996, my dear friend and colleague Dr. Linda Peeno pointed this difference out as the first physician to testify before members of the United States Congress about the astonishing velocity of preventable harm and death caused by the float. She testified two more times after that appearance in 1996 and has been writing about denial of care ever since. What else has accelerated over the intervening decades? The scope and scale of corporate malfeasance. On May 29, the Attorney General of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare for allegedly defrauding Medicare to the tune of $100 million by classifying patients as much sicker than they actually were. Nurses blew the whistle. On June 1, the Attorney General of Arizona filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare, MultiPlan, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Elevance, Molina, Centene and Health Care Service Corporation for allegedly building and operating a system that slashed payments to doctors and hospitals and left Arizonans having to pay more for out-of-network care. As physicians who spoke during the Arizona Attorney General’s press conference stated, these are not victimless crimes. Minnesotans, and all Americans, might consider that those who invest in commercial health insurance companies are generating wealth extracted from delayed medical care as well as untreated illness, injury, disability and preventable death. The good news? Lawmakers are trying to slay the hydra. After learning from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department that individual market-qualified health plans denied more than 3 million claims in the state in 2024, two lawmakers introduced legislation to add a category of aggravated assault that would apply to CEOs of commercial health insurance companies if a covered person is caused serious bodily injury or dies as the result of denial of care. Citizens can replicate this legislation in state legislatures nationwide. Slaying the denial of care hydra is not easy, but there are viable solutions in our midst. Americans can pass National Improved Medicare for All/Single Payer Universal Healthcare (Senate Bill 1506 and House Resolution 3069) and they can amend the Constitution of the United States to include healthcare as a human right. In the meantime, as executives at UnitedHealthcare and their industry allies have tossed out yet another rodeo clown public relations spectacle — voluntarily pledging to reduce prior-authorizations — they continue to deploy an arsenal of other denial of care administrative weapons that obstruct medical care for profit. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	Multiple departments respond to Carbon Cliff fire Our Quad Cities News is on the scene of a structure fire in the 100 block of N. 1st Avenue in Carbon Cliff. Units from Carbon Cliff/Barstow Fire, Silvis Fire and Hampton Fire responded to the scene. There is no word on any injuries at this time.
	Can you legally tint your windshield? How the rules vary depending on the state Can you legally tint your windshield? How the rules vary depending on the stateWe’ve all been there: driving toward a setting sun, squinting through a glare so intense it makes your dashboard hot enough to cook dinner on. Your instinctual response may be, "I should just tint the whole windshield."However, windshield tinting is a tangled web of legality and permissibility. Unlike side windows, which offer a bit of wiggle room, the windshield is treated differently. Laws are significantly stricter here because. And, as RealTruck.com discusses, plenty of tint shops will let you break the law, confusing matters even further.What Windshield Tint Is (and If It’s Safe)At its core, windshield tint is a thin polyester film applied to the interior surface of the glass. An adhesive is used, and when applied properly by a professional, bubbling and peeling almost never happen.Modern options range from "barely there" to "total blackout."Dyed Tint: This is the entry-level option. It’s mostly for aesthetics and some glare reduction, but it’s the most prone to fading over time.Metalized Tint: This type of tint uses tiny metallic particles to reflect heat. It’s great for cooling, but it can occasionally interfere with your GPS or cell signal, which is not ideal when you’re off-roading in the middle of nowhere.Carbon Tint: This tint is a step up that offers a matte finish and blocks about 40% of infrared light. It doesn’t fade like a dyed tint.Ceramic Tint: Here is the gold standard. It uses ceramic particles to block up to 99% of UV rays and a massive amount of solar heat without being dark. This is the "loophole" tech many truck owners love; you can get a "clear" ceramic tint that offers maximum protection without looking like you’re hiding something from the law.As for safety, applying quality tint to your glass is generally safe for the windshield's structure. However, the real danger is "thermal shock." If a low-quality tint absorbs too much heat unevenly, it could, in theory, contribute to glass stress, though this is rare with modern automotive glass. The bigger safety concern is visibility; a 5% VLT (visible light transmission) tint at night makes driving feel like you're wearing sunglasses in a cave.How Windshield Tint is AppliedWindshield tint isn't a simple sticker. Tint requires a clean environment, a steady hand, and a fair amount of patience. The process involves cleaning the glass multiple times, heat-shrinking the film on the outside of the windshield to match the curve, then moving to the inside to apply it with a specialized solution.While the DIY crowd might be tempted to save a few bucks, professional application is almost mandatory for windshields, especially on modern trucks and SUVs, because of safety concerns. According to recent data, the cost to replace a windshield has skyrocketed due to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In 2018, a standard replacement was roughly $300-$500. Now, replacing the windshield on a modern vehicle equipped with lane-keep assist or automatic-braking cameras will cost $1,000 to $1,600.If you mess up a DIY tint and need to scrape it off, you risk damaging the sensors or the glass itself. On the other hand, if your tint obscures sensors, it could be a safety risk. Calibration for those sensors alone can add $300–$600 to a repair bill. A professional glass tinter knows how to work around these sensors and ensures that the film doesn't interfere with your truck's ability to see the road.Which States Allow Windshield Tint?This is where things get complicated. Most states follow the AS-1 line rule (covered in the next section), but a few allow a full-windshield tint if it meets specific VLT requirements.Alabama: Above AS-1 line only.Alaska: Top 5 inches only.Arkansas: Top 5 inches only; 25% VLT or more.California: Above AS-1 line; no aftermarket tint allowed otherwise without a medical exemption.Colorado: Above AS-1 line (or top 4 inches); must allow 70% VLT for the whole windshield.Florida: Above AS-1 line; nonreflective.Georgia: Above AS-1 line (6 inches).Hawai‘i: Above AS-1 line.Illinois: Above AS-1 line only.New York: Above AS-1 line; 70% VLT required for all glass.Ohio: Above AS-1 line; 70% VLT allowed for the whole windshield.Texas: 25% VLT allowed above AS-1 line.Utah: Above AS-1 line; 70% VLT allowed for the whole windshield.Note: In states like Ohio and Utah, you can technically tint the entire windshield, but it must be a very light film (70% VLT). This is often where high-end ceramic tints shine, as they provide the UV protection you want while remaining legally "clear" to the naked eye.The States That Only Allow Windshield Tint StripsThe vast majority of states — including South Carolina, Florida, and California — strictly limit windshield tint to a strip at the very top of the glass. This is officially known as the AS-1 Line.If you look closely at your windshield, you’ll see a tiny mark (usually "AS-1") near the top edge, typically between 4 and 6 inches from the top of the windshield. This indicates the manufacturer-approved top area of the windshield where the glass is allowed to be obscured. Most states permit a "nonreflective" tint strip in this area.Even in strip-friendly states, there are rules. The strip cannot be reflective or mirrored, and it must not extend below the AS-1 line. The strips are designed to block the sun's glare without obstructing the driver's forward view, and most not interfere with oncoming traffic — that’s why reflective strips are banned.Be careful, though. In 2025, many law enforcement agencies began using tint meters. If your strip is 7 inches deep in a state that only allows 5 inches, you’re looking at a fix-it ticket that requires you to peel off that expensive film.FAQsWhat Is VLT?VLT stands for visible light transmission. A 5% VLT means only 5% of light gets through (very dark). A 70% VLT means 70% of light gets through (mostly clear).Can I Get a Medical Exemption?Many states allow darker windshield tint if you have a documented medical condition, such as lupus, Albinism, or severe light sensitivity. You’ll need a signed affidavit from your doctor, and you must keep it in the vehicle at all times.Will Tinting My Windshield Void My Warranty?Typically not, but if the installation involves moisture that seeps into your dashboard and damages your ADAS sensors or electronics, the dealer will likely deny that specific repair claim.Does Tint Affect Night Driving?Absolutely. Even a 50% tint can significantly reduce your ability to see pedestrians or debris in low-light conditions. Stick to clear ceramic or legal strips.Will Insurance Cover My Tint?If your windshield is cracked and needs replacement, some insurance companies will pay for the re-tinting of the new glass, but only if you have a "custom equipment" rider and the tint is legal in your state.How Do I Know if My Tint Is Legal?If a reputable shop doing your tint requires cash payment, your tint is likely illegal. Tint shops will often do whatever you want, but they don’t want a paper trail leading back to them. That said, most will not tint a full windshield.This story was produced by RealTruck.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Peer pressure: Help your child be themselves Peer pressure: Help your child be themselvesDuring adolescence, your child might want to avoid “standing out,” but there’s no need for them to pretend they’re something they’re not. Use Dove’s action checklist to help your child resist peer pressure and enjoy being themselves.Peer pressure in adolescenceEven as an adult, a situation where you don’t know anyone can be daunting. When young people are thrown into this position, it sparks an internal battle. They desperately want to feel part of the community and fit in, but at the same time, they’re trying to express their individuality and personal style.The tendency for young people to judge appearance“Let’s be real: When girls walk into a room, they all check each other out,” says self-esteem coach Dr. Tara Cousineau. “At this point in her life, your daughter is noticing the different emotional and physical traits of her peers, comparing herself to her friends, starting to judge these as desirable or undesirable. This is compounded by the media, magazines, and movies. All of a sudden, the value of a certain type of appearance and personality is amplified.”Starting at a new school or joining a new team are situations in which these comparisons come to the fore. Young people may begin to experiment with different looks, vocabulary, and social behavior.These situations can also trigger a massive shift in young people’s attitudes towards their bodies and appearance, as they struggle to find their place in their social circles.What is peer pressure doing to their confidence?Take heart that these are serious situations your child needs to go through to work out who they really are and what’s important to them. It’s all part of growing up.However, this can be a particularly vulnerable time for young people’s confidence as they figure out their place in the perceived social pecking order. Your son or daughter may be envious of others or find themselves the envy of their peers.Help your child feel confident in themselvesSo what can you do to help your child navigate this tricky territory, value their uniqueness, and safeguard their confidence? We’ve put together some practical suggestions in our action checklist. The main thing is to help them understand they shouldn’t let go of all the wonderful things that make them unique just to fit in.There’s a phase when fitting in is the most important thing for a young person. This changes as they mature and develop their own interests, talents, and style. Over time, and with your support, they will work out which friends are “good” for them and which aren’t so good.By helping your child identify what makes them unique and how they contribute to friendships, you can give them the confidence to be themselves, as well as recognize and appreciate diversity in others.To protect privacy, we’ve changed the names of people whose stories we tell on these pages, but the stories are genuine.Tell your child how awesome they are. Reinforce their sense of self-worth by complimenting specific characteristics. Focus on actions, skills, and personality rather than physical featuresHelp them identify a supportive group of friends. Talk to your child about qualities that make a good friend. Does a great friend wear the same clothes as you? Or is being a good listener or considerate of someone’s feelings more important? Help them identify personality traits and characteristics they respect and admireDiscuss what role they play in their group of friends. They might be a good listener, the one who cheers everyone up, or great at getting people involvedCelebrate the diversity in their peer group. Compliment your child and their friends on the unique aspects of their appearance, but focus more on their beautiful personalitiesFind positive role models. Talk about people in your family or community, or in the public eye, who have admirable qualities. Identify role models who exemplify compassion, collaboration, overcoming adversity, and leadership. Be the kind of person you hope your child will grow up to be.This story was produced by Dove and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Independent autopsy "inconclusive" on cause of death for 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi An independent autopsy of the body of Nolan Wells shows that the cause of death is undetermined pending an investigation, according to attorney Ben Crump.
	MercyOne centers honored for treatment of heart disease, stroke MercyOne Medical Centers in Iowa have been recognized for their work to treat heart disease and strokes. The medical centers received 17 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating heart disease and stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter [...]

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