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

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026
	Historic Davenport fire station renovated into new event venue Hose Station No. 7, a restored 1905 firehouse at 1354 W. 4th St. in Davenport, has reopened as a multi‑use event and live‑music venue after six years uncovering and preserving the building’s historic character.
	'Night of Legends' to pay tribute to Elton John, Elvis, Neil Diamond at Rhythm City "Night of Legends: An Elton John, Elvis and Neil Diaond Tribute," will be at Rhythm City Casino on Friday, Nov. 28, a news release says. Tickets are available here or at The Market at Rhythm City for $28.40 (this includes tax and an online/phone ticketing fee - the online/phone ticketing fee is waived when you [...]
	Thornton Flooring acquires nine Carpetland USA locations Thornton Flooring & Design Center announced it has acquired all nine Carpetland USA locations across two Midwestern states, according to an article in Floor Covering News. The acquisition will expand Thornton’s footprint to 12 locations. The Carpetland USA locations include Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque and Waterloo in Iowa. The Illinois locations include Galesburg, Moline [...]
	Iowa net farm income falling 53%, new report says A new report suggests Iowa’s agricultural industry is in a multi-year downturn that might not let up for a few more years, and experts are advising farmers to look back to the practices that got them through tough financial times a decade ago to weather the current storm.
	Programming note: Earth Odyssey to air at 11:30 Earth Odyssey to air at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
	A break from the heat and humidity It'll still be humid Tuesday across the Quad Cities, but cooler air settles in for a few days before the heat and humidity returns. It'll be mostly dry over the next week. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	India's youth-led Cockroach movement vows to continue protest after police crackdown The movement, which began as a satirical protest, has evolved into a nationwide challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
	New AI-powered robot helps sort recyclables at Scott Area Recycling Center Officials say the new robot is expected to save an estimated 6 million plastic recyclables from the landfill every year.
	Eldridge to take on volunteer fire company as a City department Negotiations soured last month amid disputes over proposed budgets and trust in the City, but all parties came back to the table for the final decision.
	Gretchen at Work: Making pet food at Purina Roughly one of every three bags of Purina Dog Chow are made in Davenport.
	Save More, Davenport, adds U-Haul services U-Haul Co. of Iowa, Inc. has announced that Save More, a local grocery store, has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Davenport community, according to a news release. Save More, 405 E. Locust St., will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers, and moving supplies. Normal business hours are 8 a.m.-10 [...]
	'Catch the Devil' is a work of true crime that indicts the justice system Journalist Pamela Colloff has written an engrossing and damning book on how the case of the 1985 killing of 14-year-old Shelly Boggio played out.
	Pleasant weather settles in, cooler through end of work week Pleasant weather settles in, cooler through end of work week
	Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.
	How soccer brings a Bhutanese community together in Harrisburg, Pa. Harrisburg is home to one of the nation's largest communities of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees and their families. Through soccer, generations have found connection, belonging and a way to carry forward a shared history.
	Setting the Stage This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The designer of the stage on which we Rock Islanders act out our lives—our seven parts—does good work, but he's awfully…
	These men went to college in search of stable careers. They found it in nursing Only about 1 in 8 nurses are men, but their share is growing. A strong job market for nurses and sustained efforts to recruit men into the field have made a difference, including in the South.
	Is recalled lettuce safe after false positive result? FDA issues warning Despite the false positive, federal regulators are still focused on shredded lettuce.
	A homeless man was charged with a felony for camping. He's one of the first When Joseph Lamont Williams refused to leave the public park where he has lived for years, he was charged with a felony. Camping bans are on the rise as states seek to crack down on homelessness.
	Arizona primaries set the stage for contested fall races in a swing state Arizona Democrats choose who can try to flip a Republican-held House seat and Republicans pick their nominee to try to unseat a Democratic governor.
	Spain's World Cup champions return home for parade in front of almost 2 million The players and their coaching staff met with the country's royals, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. An estimated crowd of almost 2 million was on hand to greet the squad through the streets of Madrid.
	Powerball ticket sales begin Tuesday in the United Kingdom Powerball ticket sales in the United Kingdom will begin Tuesday, giving players across the Atlantic a chance at winning the same massive jackpot that U.S. players already play for.
	Cyclosporiasis vs. other food poisoning: How to tell Well over 1,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across America. Its source is still unknown.
Monday, July 20th, 2026
	Eldridge approves city absorption of volunteer fire department The Eldridge City Council decided to take over control of the fire department at a city council meeting Monday night. The fire department was all-volunteer until now. A 14-month stalemate between the city and the firefighters led to much debate. Lead firefighters say staying autonomous is essential to managing the fire department staff and budget. [...]
	Inmate found dead at Dixon Correctional Center Officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections said the facility is currently on a level one lockdown while an investigation into the death continues.
	Eldridge City Council votes to take over fire department The move comes after years of discussions about the future of the department, and after volunteers indicated they wanted to remain independent.
	MercyOne seeing a rise in respiratory patients amid air quality concerns The poor air can cause complications for anyone, but it's especially dangerous among adults with chronic COPD.
	Eldridge volunteer fire company to become a City department Negotiations soured last month amid disputes over proposed budgets and trust in the City, but all parties came back to the table for the final decision.
	Over 100 without power in Quad Cities, Galesburg More than 100 people are without power in the Quad Cities and Galesburg Monday night.
	Over 100 without power in Quad Cities More than 100 people are without power in the Quad Cities Monday night.
	Iowa agriculture experts release report on state ag economy amid downturn A new report suggests Iowa’s agricultural industry is in a multi-year downturn that might not let up for a few more years, and experts are advising farmers to look back to the practices that got them through tough financial times a decade ago to weather the current storm.
	Kids Crafting Day will help animals at QC Animal Welfare Center, Milan The Quad City Animal Welfare Center will present a Kids Crafting Day in honor of National Craft for Your Local Shelter Day from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Quad City Animal Welfare Center Adoption & Education Center, 724 2nd Ave. West, Milan. This free, open-house style event is a fun way for children [...]
	FDA still focused on Taylor Farms lettuce as Cyclospora source despite retracted test The FDA says lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms de Mexico is still linked to the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. But the source may be difficult to definitively trace.
	Special Weather Statement until MON 9:00 PM CDT Strong Wind Gusts Expected Following Showers and Thunderstorms
	Muscatine City Council to rule on building appeals following partial collapse The Muscatine City Council will consider evidence and rule on nine appeals filed by owners of buildings on the north side of the 200 block of E. 2nd St. According to a release from the City of Muscatine, the council will review and vote on the appeals after receiving a June 19 notice from the [...]
	Severe weather passing SW of QC Monday evening A few strong storms are showing up on the radar but they're staying SW of the QC so far Monday evening. For now there is a Severe T'Storm Watch for the Quad Cities until 11 p.m. That will likely be canceled early for some of our counties.
	‘Predator Poachers’ snare Rock Island arts leader They don’t have badges. They’re not authorities. But a volunteer group says it’s doing what overworked police departments often can’t: pose as child decoys online and build evidence against predators.
	Burlington breaking ground on new fire station next Wednesday 2100 N. Roosevelt Avenue is the future home of Burlington's fire station 3.
	Quad Cities students mow lawns for free through YWCA program Quad Cities students are gaining job skills and community spirit by providing free lawn care to residents in need, as part of the YWCA's summer program.
	Illinois summer reading program teams with the Chicago Cubs A new summer reading challenge in Illinois gives students a chance to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game. Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois Literacy Foundation and the Chicago Cubs launched Illinois Reads Together. One winner of the program will throw out the first pitch at Wrigley [...]
	Iowa farmer shares nitrate runoff reduction techniques as state water quality debate continues An Iowa farmer showed local and state officials his conservation techniques aimed at reducing nitrate runoff, as state leaders debate whether to pursue voluntary or mandatory measures to improve water quality.
	Prosecutors decline to charge Illinois State Police trooper in fatal shooting of mother of 3 Prosecutors determined the shooting was lawful.
	Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission moving forward with application, licensing fees Commissioners on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission during an April 13, 2026, meeting. From left, Commissioners Bud Synhorst of Lincoln, Jim Elworth of Nebraska City, Lorelle Mueting of Gretna (interim chair) and J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. All but Mueting also serve on the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission will move forward with requiring fees for registered cannabis establishments and applicants in the coming weeks. Commissioners released the first draft of updated regulations Monday. The proposal would create a $5,000 application fee, license and renewal fees based on license type, a $1,500 relocation fee and a $13,000 fee for participation in the state’s seed-to-sale inventory tracking system. There would also be a $250 fee to license a new product, plus a $100 renewal fee. The latest proposal would no longer include a specific license type for transporters. Instead, as commissioners hinted previously, product manufacturers could apply for a transporter certification to be part of their business. Proposed fees Initial and renewal fees per license type would be as follows: Cultivators — $20,000 for a new license; $23,500 annual renewal fee. Transporter — $10,000 for a new certification. Product manufacturers — $20,000 for a new license; $23,500 annual renewal fee if the licensee does not have a transporter certification or $28,500 if the licensee does. Dispensary — $15,000 for a new license; $18,000 annual renewal fee. Commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, interim chair of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. April 13, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner. Commission regulations permit up to four cultivators, four product manufacturers and 12 dispensaries, arranged by judicial district. That would mean one dispensary each in Douglas County (584,526 residents), Lancaster County (322,608 residents), Sarpy/Cass Counties (217,202 residents) and Buffalo/Hall Counties (112,979 residents), according to 2020 census data. All four cultivators have been licensed. One cultivator is approved to start growing. Licensees would need to pay the seed-to-sale $13,000 fee at each renewal period. This means an annual payment of at least $30,000 to more than $40,000 each year for licensees. The commission opened applications for product manufacturers shortly after its last meeting in mid-June. At least two businesses have applied so far. Commissioners extended the deadline for more applications to Aug. 17, the next commission meeting. Applications can be submitted through the commission’s website. The commission hasn’t yet indicated when it will approve its first product manufacturer licenses. That likely won’t happen until at least September now, based on monthly commission meetings. The commission has not indicated when it would license its first in-state dispensaries either. ‘Thinking more proactively’ Multiple members of the public, many of whom were involved with the successful 2024 voter-led effort to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, said commissioners needed to move faster and more diligently. Voters created the Medical Cannabis Commission at the 2024 election. Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, center, leads a news conference urging legislative support for bills to help implement a safe, fully regulated medical cannabis system. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, which led the 2024 effort, said commissioners had a choice whether to reinforce a belief that commissioners were standing in the way of what Nebraskans voted for. “I can tell you, it is a certain type of hell to be a parent who has given the last decade of my life to this effort and now have serious concerns of whether my son is ever helped,” Eggers said. Troy Burgess, a Nebraska resident who has worked in the medical cannabis industry for about six years in other states, including Oklahoma, told the commission that “just because we have plants in the ground doesn’t mean patients will ever have medicine.” He is one of the two applicants who have submitted for a product manufacturer license. Burgess and Eggers said commissioners should start preparing now to work with state lawmakers to button up holes in January, such as around testing, confidentiality and legal or professional protections for health care providers wishing to recommend medical cannabis. “We need to start thinking more proactively and working to remove roadblocks, eliminate them,” Burgess said. “We’re here to help. Ask.” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, center, leads a news conference against Legislative Bill 677 that sought to help implement medical cannabis regulations in the state. About a dozen law enforcement officials joined him in standing against the legislation as it awaited full legislative debate. May 7, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Earlier this month, regulations that had been in progress over the past year took the force of law after Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed off. Placing them into the state administrative code opened the door for more changes, such as new fees. The Nebraska Legislature authorized the commission to issue fees this spring and appropriated dedicated funding to the commission. Lawmakers fell short of doing so in 2025. ‘Foundational efforts’ Commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, who is interim commission chair, said Monday’s meeting demonstrated the “foundational efforts” the commission has achieved in its first year of running. “Building a new regulatory agency is much like constructing a house,” Mueting said. The commission hired its first dedicated staff this month: a program manager, who started July 6, and a new in-house legal counsel, who started Monday. Commissioners are also in the process of hiring an executive director. Commissioner Jim Elworth of Nebraska City, who serves on the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. April 13, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Mueting motioned that the fees be approved, after review by the commission’s new attorney first. The motion passed 3-0. Commissioner Bud Synhorst of Lincoln was not in attendance. The fees would allow the commission to continue hiring staff, Mueting said, and were designed after reviewing programs in other states with “similar populations, regional considerations and regulatory structures.” Mueting told the Examiner after the meeting that she did not know how a recent Pillen memo for state agencies to cut spending and require approval for new hires would impact her agency. Commissioner Jim Elworth of Nebraska City will assist commission staff in preparing the commission’s budget request to the governor before the next legislative session in January. Cultivator dispute progress In June, Kent Rogert, a former state senator and leader of one of the commission-licensed cultivators, said he has reached a “tentative” resolution over a dispute with Washington County officials. Officials had issued a stop-work order against Rogert’s operation after Rogert said planning officials changed course and wouldn’t allow him to use an agricultural permit. “We have a path set forward through which we can apply for a conditional use permit for the building permits,” Rogert said of a meeting with the Washington County attorney. Rogert told commissioners the process could take a “little bit of time” and some county meetings, but he hopes that by August, he could provide an updated “good report.” Said Rogert: “We’ve agreed to disagree on the agricultural issue, but … they’ve given us a path forward, assuming everything works and we get a positive vote from the county board.” The next Medical Cannabis Commission meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 17. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Davenport names two assistant fire chiefs Davenport promoted two long-time members of the fire department into assistant chief roles.
	Proposed transit expansion would bring on-demand rides across Knox County Residents across Knox County could soon have a new way to get to work, school, medical appointments and other destinations if a proposed partnership between the City of Galesburg and Knox County is approved.
	Davenport Fire Department names 2 assistant chiefs The Davenport Fire Department has promoted both Brian Mohr and Ryan Stremlow to assistant chief.
	Inmate found dead at Dixon Correctional Center, Illinois DOC confirms Officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections said the facility is currently on a level one lockdown while an investigation into the death continues.
	Hot, dry weather keeps Iowa crops ahead of schedule Cropland in eastern Iowa has a haze along the horizon July 19, 2026 due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Temperatures across Iowa were, on average, more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit above the climatological normal over the past week, and the statewide average precipitation was near zero according to the weather and crop report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for July 13 through July 19. The abnormally dry and hot temperatures, for a second week in a row, helped Iowa corn to continue to tassel and silk across the state. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 72% of corn acres were silking during the reporting period, which is 14 percentage points ahead of the 2025 corn crop. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Soybeans are also ahead of last year, with 70% blooming and 34% setting pods – both 3 percentage points ahead of the crop at this time last year. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said forecasts show a chance for thunderstorms in the coming week and a “shift to more seasonal temperatures.” “While the stretch of sunshine allowed farmers to make good progress baling hay and with other fieldwork, many areas of the state would benefit from rainfall as crops continue through critical stages of development,” Naig said in a statement. According to the report, 39% of oats have been harvested in the state and the crop rated 83% good to excellent. Corn rated 80% good to excellent and 8% of the crop reached the dough stage as of the reporting period. Soybeans rated 79% good to excellent. With the lack of precipitation — State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported a statewide average of 0.06 inch for the week — areas of moderate drought expanded in western parts of the state. According to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 11% of the state was in moderate drought conditions. The percent of topsoil rated as having adequate moisture declined 10% from the week prior, to 63% adequate moisture. Subsoil moisture conditions also declined from 69% adequate the previous reporting period, to 65% adequate in the most recent report. Parts of Iowa, especially in the east, saw hazy skies Sunday due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. Outlooks from the National Weather Service show temperature averages “leaning above” normal and precipitation amounts “near normal” across Iowa for the week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Bubba's 33 plans ribbon cutting, grand opening in Davenport The new Bubba’s 33 at 4741 E. 53rd St., Davenport, will open at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, according to a news release. A ribbon-cutting with the Davenport Chamber of Commerce will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 24. On Monday, the first 100 guests will receive mystery pizza boxes containing random prizes, including: free pizza for a [...]
	How to protect yourself outside during air quality alerts Air quality concerns set in the across the Quad Cities this week, but health professionals say there are ways to protect yourself outside.
	Tornado Watch West of Quad Cities Monday night After some afternoon severe t'storms, there could be another round coming up this evening. The NWS has issued a Tornado Watch for areas West of the Quad Cities. All modes of severe weather will be possible in and near the Quad Cities by around 7 p.m.
	How a local man is working to memorialize the Rock Island Independents Rock Island native Jared Howe runs a popular Facebook page called "Forgotten Quad Cities." He has done extensive research on one of the NFL's original teams.
	What you need to know about the Quad- City Times Bix 7 Quad City Times begins with the Senior Bix on Tuesday.
	Woman pleads guilty to burglarizing Geneseo business She will be sentenced in October.
	Burlington to break ground on new fire station The city, firefighters and the Carl A. Nelson Company will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new station #3 on July 29, according to a media release.
	Iowa farmer sees culture shift toward water conservation Nick Helland explains how a nutrient reducing wetland on his property took about six acres out of crop production and filters nutrients from about 170 acres. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) MADRID – Nick Helland and his father have embraced a slew of conservation practices – bioreactors, saturated buffers, cover crops and a nutrient reducing wetland — on their farm in the Greater Des Moines Watershed. Helland said he feels there has been a “shift in the culture” among farmers from judging one another on how black they could till their soil, to now, how frequently they till and how much cover they leave on the fields. “It’s really starting to shift the culture, demonstrate to some of our neighbors and peers that hey, this can be done,” Helland said. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig toured the Helland farm Monday to demonstrate the conservation tools and incentives they boosted with the implementation of the “farm-to-faucet” act. The water quality program, passed as an amendment to the annual budget for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, represented a $319 million investment into conservation practices, water quality monitoring and water system infrastructure upgrades over a 12-year period. The allocation included an estimated $52 million, over the 12-year period, to expand cover crop incentives, a streamside buffer program, wetland implementation and grazing systems in the 22-county Greater Des Moines Watershed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Helland, a seventh-generation farmer, said his family has been implementing conservation practices, like no-till farming, since the mid-1990s. Nick Helland, left, shows Gov. Kim Reynolds a nutrient reducing wetland nestled between corn and soybean fields on his property near Madrid on July 20, 2026. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) He said the farm has planted cover crops since cost-share programs first launched in the early 2010s, but he said with the expanded cost-share this year, and several other conservation programs, he plans to put cover on all of his cropland, as opposed to the 20% to 30% he typically seeded with cover crops. “I think it’s taken us years to kind of figure out how to build these pieces and how to build the house correctly, but we’ve laid the right foundation, and pieces are coming together,” Helland said. As part of the Farm to Faucet program, IDALS expanded cover crop incentives so that farmers in the Greater Des Moines Watershed can now receive $25 an acre on up to 500 acres – an increase from a previous cap of 160 acres. IDALS also expanded a streamside buffer pilot project to pay farmers in the 22-county region for implementing either harvested or non-harvested streamside buffers, another conservation method present at the Helland farm. Popular conservation strategies Bioreactor: An excavated pit connected to a tile line and filled with wood chips that filter the water from the tile. The water is denitrified by bacteria as it passes through the wood chips. It can reduce 24% to 43% of nitrogen. Saturated buffer: A strip with vegetation that helps to filter and absorb nutrients from the water out of a tile line. Practice can reduce 45%-50% of nitrogen. Cover crops: A crop planted in between cash crops to keep roots in the soil that help lock in nutrients and soil in a field. Practice can reduce 25%-30% of nitrogen and 29% of phosphorus. Wetlands: Strategically located to collect water from tile lines and runoff from a field, wetlands can filter nutrients from the water before it runs into a waterway. Practice can reduce up to 52% of nitrogen. Buffers and wetlands also create additional wildlife habitat. Information and figures from IDALS and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy non-point source assessment. Naig, speaking in front of Helland’s woodchip bioreactor constructed along the Big Creek, said the farm to faucet program is about “investing more into things that are working,” like the strategies on the Helland farm. “Clean water is nonnegotiable,” Naig said. “ … We really are here today to talk about that farm-to-faucet approach – so to get a chance to hear the ag side of the story, what’s happening on this farm, but know that this farm is not the only farm where these things are happening.” Figures from IDALS show 147 water quality wetlands have been implemented in the state, along with 484 saturated buffers or bioreactors, more than 220,000 acres of streamside buffers and nearly 4 million acres planted with cover crops. All of these practices help to trap nutrients, namely phosphorus and nitrogen, that would otherwise flow off of fields, through tile lines and into waterways. Reynolds said the Helland farm showcases the partnerships and “everything that our farmers are doing to protect our natural resources and water quality.” She said farmers and the state need to “be flexible” to adjust programs based on what is working to improve soil health and water quality. “Do more of what works — it’s that simple,” Reynolds said. Helland and Naig said sharing farmer-to-farmer knowledge and working with a conservation professional are important in helping a producer find the right conservation approach. A recent report showed Iowa lost 17% of the county-level USDA staff that work with farmers to find and apply for conservation funding, loans or other programs. Naig said it’s important these offices are staffed, but also that the state is “efficient” in delivering programs. While some water quality advocates have argued conservation practices should be obligatory, rather than just incentivized for farmers, Helland said he feels a mandate would lead farmers to implement practices that don’t work for their farm. “If you’re using incentives and you’re starting to kind of help the farmers change the culture and everything, you’re going to be more apt to get the right tool onto that right acre,” Helland said. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, second from right, stands along the top of a dam supporting a nutrient reducing wetland at Helland Farms July 20, 2026. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) At the faucet The Farm to Faucet legislation also allocated a one-time, $25 million investment to Central Iowa Water Works to expand its infrastructure and increase nitrate removal capacities over the next three years. Naig and Reynolds, along with Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon, visited the water treatment facility in Grimes that is planning an expansion of its reverse osmosis treatment capabilities. Central Iowa Water Works, which serves more than 600,000 customers in the Des Moines region, has twice issued a lawn watering ban due to high concentrations of nitrate in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which serve as source water for some of the water treatment systems in the area. Naig said the farm to faucet program aims to “prevent pollutants from ever getting into our streams” with the implementation of conservation work in the watershed and to ensure there is an “appropriate amount of treatment infrastructure” downstream. “Because that’s how you actually can deliver clean, safe drinking water to Iowans,” Naig said. Tami Madsen, CEO of Central Iowa Water Works, said the investments upstream are an “essential part of Iowa’s water story.” “While advanced treatment technology is essential, treatment plants are not expected to solve every water quality challenge alone,” Madsen said. “… The future of Iowa’s water will be built through partnerships like the ones represented here today: farmers, landowners, conservation organizations, utilities, water treatment professionals, researchers, local governments, and state leaders working together for that common goal.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Man arrested following shooting in Rock Island Police said the 44-year-old victim was shot in the leg.
	Kenny G to perform at Davenport's Adler Theatre in November Kenny G will perform at the Adler Theatre in Davenport on Nov. 18. Tickets are starting at $69 and go on sale Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m.
	Learn about the Rock Island Independents, one of the original NFL teams One of the very first NFL games was played in Rock Island back in 1920 at Douglas Park. Meet the local man who is working to keep the Independents' story alive.
	Grammy Award-winning musician Kenny G coming to the Quad Cities The iconic saxophonist will play at the Adler Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 18, with special guest ATLYS.
	Latest on cyclosporiasis outbreak: What to know At least 1,600 cases have been linked to the outbreak, but the true case count is likely much
	The Pentagon will test troops for low testosterone. It’s not as strange as it might seem The Pentagon will test troops for low testosterone. It’s not as strange as it might seemWhen Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on July 15 that the military will start screening service members for low testosterone, he framed it as a way to keep troops “strong, resilient, and capable.” Under the new plan, active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve members aged 30 and older will be tested annually as part of their health assessments, while younger troops can opt into testing.Data suggests troops may support the idea: In a 2022 Hone Health survey of 400 veterans and active service members diagnosed with low testosterone, 86% said they thought the military should do testing to establish baseline hormone levels.Medical guidelines generally advise against routine testosterone testing in the general male population, but service members are not an average-risk population. Military service exposes men to a combination of factors that are each independently linked to low testosterone."Military service creates a perfect storm for testosterone suppression," says Joshua Calvert, M.D., a urologist who routinely treats veterans in his Nashville practice. "These men aren't dealing with one risk factor. They're stacking chronic sleep deprivation, repeated physical stress, psychological stress, and sometimes brain injury — all of which can affect the hormone system."The Pentagon’s new policy would raise awareness about testosterone levels while troops are serving — and could become even more valuable after discharge."If you want to understand how military service changes a man's body over time,” Calvert says, “testosterone is one of the most informative biomarkers we have."Below, Hone Health explains the rationale behind testosterone screening of service members.How Military Service Disrupts TestosteroneTestosterone production depends on a chain of signals between the brain, pituitary gland, and testes. Military service can strain or damage that system at several points.Service members often experience strenuous training and prolonged stress — both common in military service — that can suppress testosterone. During acute stress, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to prepare for a threat. When stress hormones remain elevated for long periods, as they may in a combat zone, they can trigger metabolic changes associated with a higher risk of low testosterone. The effects can appear surprisingly quickly: In one study of male paratrooper conscripts, testosterone fell 46% after just five days of intensive field training. Hone Health Sleep loss from long shifts, overnight operations, deployments, changing time zones, and hypervigilance compounds the problem. An estimated 60% of service members sleep fewer than six hours per night, meaning they may not get enough REM sleep, when testosterone production is at its highest. In one study, sleep restriction reduced men’s testosterone levels by roughly the same amount as aging 10 to 15 years.Brain and testicular injuries can have a more direct effect. Blast exposure, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may damage the pituitary gland, which releases the hormones that signal the testes to produce testosterone. According to one study, as many as 80% of men with severe TBI experience low testosterone. Injured testes struggle to produce testosterone, Calvert says.PTSD may add another layer. Nearly 30% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have had PTSD at some point in life, according to data from the VA’s National Center for PTSD. The condition chronically elevates cortisol, which can suppress testosterone production. Research on combat veterans suggests that men who develop PTSD show lower testosterone than those who are exposed to the same combat stress but remain resilient. Hone Health What Happens After Discharge?Some of the risk factors for low testosterone connected to military service can be temporary. Hormone levels suppressed during a period of intensive training, for example, may recover once the body has adequate rest and nutrition.Other risk factors can persist. Traumatic brain injuries may permanently impair pituitary function. PTSD and disrupted sleep can continue for years. Severe testicular injuries may permanently reduce testosterone production, says Calvert.That's where baseline testing becomes especially valuable.Without an earlier measurement, physicians treating veterans for fatigue, depression, low libido, erectile dysfunction, or loss of muscle mass have no way to know whether today's hormone levels represent that person's lifelong norm — or a significant decline caused by years of military service. A testosterone measurement taken before or during service could provide an important point of comparison decades later."Veterans often spend years trying to figure out why they don't feel like themselves," Calvert says. "If we already know what their hormone levels looked like during service, that's one less piece of the puzzle physicians have to guess about."The Pentagon has not yet detailed how abnormal results will be evaluated, whether testing histories will transfer into veterans’ medical records, or what follow-up will be available after separation.Those details will determine whether the new program functions only as a readiness screen or becomes the beginning of a long-term health record that helps physicians understand how military service shapes men’s hormonal health.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Water shut off to impact several homes, businesses in Maquoketa The city said the water will be shut off for around five hours on Tuesday in the 600-800 blocks of S. Niagara Street and the 200-400 blocks of W. Monroe Street.
	6 women charged in California-to-Quad Cities marijuana enterprise Six women face felony charges in Scott County after police uncover a to ship marijuana from California to the Quad Cities area.
	Child vaccination rates continue to drop in Oklahoma as exemptions rise A nurse vaccinates a child at the Latino Community Development Agency through the Oklahoma Caring Foundation's Caring Van program on July 9, 2026 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Courtney Bell/Oklahoma Voice)OKLAHOMA CITY — Cecilia Ramirez spends her summer crisscrossing the Oklahoma City area. She drives a van decorated with smiling cartoon kids and suns designed to look like they were drawn with chalk. Her van is stocked with all the vaccinations necessary for Oklahoma school enrollment, such as tetanus, measles and polio. It also has some immunizations that are recommended but not required, like meningitis and human papillomavirus. Ramirez’s van is one of several operated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Oklahoma Caring Foundation that travels around the state to administer free vaccines to children who are uninsured or on Medicaid and who otherwise might not be able to easily access them. Last year, the Caring Vans program vaccinated over 6,850 kids at over 760 stops. But despite efforts to increase immunization rates by providing free and more accessible vaccinations, experts say Oklahoma’s overall child vaccination rates are down amid skepticism about the efficacy of vaccines. They also said they’re seeing an increasing number of parents utilizing a state law that allows the children to opt out of required vaccinations, which raises the risk of contracting preventable illnesses when school starts again next month. Dr. Steven Crawford, a family physician and the chair for the Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families, says child vaccination rates in Oklahoma have been declining for many years, but the state saw a big drop after the COVID-19 pandemic. This downward trend worries Crawford because he said when fewer kids are vaccinated for preventable illnesses like measles, polio and chickenpox, the diseases spread more easily. Last year, the state experienced a spike in the number of measles cases amid a national outbreak. Most cases involved individuals not vaccinated against the disease, according to health officials. “Being in a school environment puts both the children themselves and their classmates at risk of transmitting infections that could be totally prevented,” Crawford said. State law allows parents to obtain exemptions for their child for “medical, religious or personal beliefs.” An Oklahoma Department of Health survey found exemption rates were up, with 7.6% of public school kindergarteners and 12.4% of kindergarteners in private school being granted exemptions last school year, compared to 3.3% of kindergarteners in public schools and 7% of private school kindergarteners exempted in the 2021-22 school year. An overwhelming majority of the survey’s reported exemptions were for non-medical reasons. Tulsa County health officials said they have seen a decrease in overall vaccination rates for children. Kindergarten vaccination rates ticked up slightly in Oklahoma County last school year to 87%, but are still down from 91% from the 2020-21 school year, health officials said. Crawford attributes the rising exemption rates to misinformation about vaccines. He did not place the blame on any person or organization, but said parents are being inundated online with “bad information” about vaccines. “They think they’re doing the right thing, and they go online and they get onto a site that creates confusion and eventually could cause harm to them or their children,” Crawford said. He recommends parents obtain vaccine information from reputable medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Oklahomans also face access barriers, including a lack of appointments, worries about cost and vaccine availability, Crawford said. He said programs like the Oklahoma Caring Foundation’s mobile immunization program are a helpful tool. On a recent summer morning Caring Van staff were giving out free vaccinations at the Latino Community Development Agency. Obi Bowling, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, said his 13-year-old daughter needed vaccination records in order to enroll in school. An Oklahoma Caring Foundation Caring Van sits outside the Latino Community Development Agency during a children’s vaccination clinic on July 9, 2026 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Courtney Bell/Oklahoma Voice) Bowling said they had accidentally left the teen’s vaccination records in Mexico where the family had most recently lived and needed updated records to enroll her in school. “It’s the only thing we were lacking,” Bowling said. “It’s the only thing we missed.” He found the clinic advertised online. Caring Van staff were able to use a picture to update his daughter’s record and gave her the four shots she needed to start high school next month. The program seeks to raise vaccination rates in Oklahoma by removing access barriers, said program coordinator Liz Davidson. “We are excited that people really appreciate the access and how we’re able to eliminate the kind of issues that they might run into to receive that access,” Davidson said. Staff stop at places parents and their children might already be, such as schools and libraries. The program requires a consent form signed by a parent before a shot can be administered. “What’s special about us is we go where kids spend their days,” Davidson said. “So while we’re not a brick and mortar, we’re able to travel around so we can go where people are.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oklahoma Voice
	Man arrested after 1 person shot in Rock Island Officials say a man was arrested after one person was shot in Rock Island early Monday.
	Davenport Fire promotes two to Assistant Chief The Davenport Fire Department has two new Assistant Chiefs. The department announced that Brian Mohr and Ryan Stremlow have been promoted to Assistant Chief. The Assistant Chief is a senior executive leader within the Davenport Fire Department, responsible for overseeing major divisions of the organization and helping guide the department's operations, strategic initiatives, and emergency [...]
	FIRST ALERT DAY: Strong/Severe Monday Evening Storms Level 2 to Level 3 risk of severe weather Monday evening and overnight; Hazy, hot & humid as well
	Greece-ed Lightning: “The Odyssey” THE ODYSSEY
	Nebraska’s largest county reports sudden jump in cyclospora infections Nebraska's Douglas County Health Department on Monday notes a sudden rise in cyclospora infections among county residents. On July 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has linked an outbreak of cyclosporiasis in five states to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants. (Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)OMAHA — A “rapid increase” in infections of the parasite cyclospora among residents of Nebraska’s most populous county prompted the Douglas County Health Department to issue an alert Monday. Douglas County officials said 12 out of 27 confirmed cases were reported in the past four days, prompting a public health investigation. The county said it is working with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine if the county cases are related to the ongoing multistate cyclospora outbreak. Douglas County epidemiologists identified eating at Taco Bell as the most common exposure among people interviewed to date, with nearly two-thirds of that group reported eating at Taco Bell during the two weeks before becoming ill. The county said it has shared the findings with state and federal partners as it continues to determine whether local cases are associated with the ongoing multistate outbreak. Federal officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of the infection linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan Ohio and West Virginia. A spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that since May, Nebraska has identified 91 cases of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by the parasite. Jeff Powell said that DHHS is working with federal and local public health partners to determine if any local cases share exposures linking cases together. At this time, he said, there have been no confirmed local cases related to the national outbreak. The news release from the Douglas County Health Department did not specify any particular store or site of reported infections, and a spokesman for the department said the investigation is ongoing to help determine a local source. “Cyclospora is not uncommon during the summer months; however, the number of cases reported over the past several days is higher than we would typically expect in such a short period of time,” said Dr. Justin Frederick, deputy health director and chief of epidemiology and preparedness for Douglas County. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. People typically become ill about a week after consuming contaminated food or water. The illness does not spread from one person to another. Common symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss, stomach cramps and bloating, nausea, fatigue and low-grade fever. Cyclospora can cause illness that lingers for weeks if left untreated, said Dr. Lindsay Huse, county health director. She said anyone experiencing prolonged diarrhea should contact their healthcare provider, as she said that early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce complications. Infection can be effectively treated with prescription antibiotics, the county said. According to the CDC, Taylor Farms started a recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, including those sold at retail stores and restaurants. The FDA said Monday that a false positive of cyclospora announced over the weekend from a sample of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce does not change the basis for the agency’s ongoing investigation. People with questions can contact Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-7471. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Lawmakers consider how to prevent Legionnaires’ Disease in Pennsylvania Legionella, the bacteria behind Legionnaires' Disease, has been found in cooling tanks, hot tubs, water faucets and dental offices. (Photo by Sarah Ladd/Kentucky Lantern)Fifty years after a devastating Pennsylvania outbreak that gave Legionnaires’ Disease its name, state legislators met on Monday less than a mile from the Philadelphia site where it happened to discuss the practicality of minimum standards that could prevent future cases. Legionnaires’ Disease, caused by the Legionella bacteria, got its name following a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia that killed 29 people. Most people exposed to Legionella don’t get sick and most reported instances are sporadic, not widespread. It doesn’t typically spread from person-to-person, but rather through aerosolized droplets of unclean water — complicating efforts to minimize it because the bacteria can grow anywhere from the water source to the final faucet, including pipes or cooling tanks. Bill McQuade, an engineer and former president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, pushes for greater effort to reduce cases of Legionnaires’ Disease on July 20, 2026. (Screenshot from livestream) “Pennsylvania has a unique place in the history of this disease. It should also have a leadership role in preventing it,” said Bill McQuade, an engineer and former president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers. McQuade, who also is on the board of the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease, and others support House Bill 2085, by Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster). It would impose new minimum standards on public water systems and certain building owners, similar to a recent law in New Jersey. Smith-Wade-El pointed to previous outbreaks at the Lancaster County Prison and an ongoing outbreak in New York City, noting that people in institutional settings are at risk for the disease. “I want us to get to a version of the bill that prioritizes protecting vulnerable people, regardless of where they are,” he said. “If we don’t know what specific … approaches work to protect people in their homes, I want us to figure it out.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE But utility providers warned of the extra cost imposed by such regulations, adding that those expenses could be passed to consumers. Several also emphasized that they alone couldn’t be held responsible for preventing Legionnaires, since many cases are linked to individual properties. “As drafted, (it) assigns responsibility to public water systems for building-level risks that they cannot control, and may divert resources away from the systems and facilities where prevention must occur,” said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, the CEO of Harrisburg-based Capital Region Water. Smith-Wade-El said in committee he intended to work with stakeholders, including those who testified, to “get this right.” More on Legionnaires’ Disease The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in every 10 people who get sick from Legionnaires’ Disease die from complications, but noted that maintaining healthy water standards is key to preventing the disease’s spread. The serious form of pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, usually developing within two weeks of exposure. Symptoms include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Some people also report confusion, nausea and diarrhea. Legionnaires cases peaked in 2018, briefly fell and then rebounded close to record levels last year. It is most prevalent in the northeast, with New York City and West Virginia reporting the highest number of cases. Kristina Zwolenik, a waterborne epidemiology research associate with the state Department of Health, spoke about the growing number of Legionella cases identified in Pennsylvania before a committee on July 20, 2026. (Screenshot from livestream) According to Kristina Zwolenik, a waterborne epidemiology research associate with the state Department of Health, Pennsylvania recorded 1,231 confirmed or probable Legionella infections between 2021 and 2023, with an average annual infection rate double the national average. Initial state reports identified as many as 450 cases in 2025, higher than previous years. “In the majority of the outbreaks that we have successfully identified the source of the exposure, the root cause has been poor maintenance inside the building itself,” said Zwolenik. “We routinely trace cases back to poor, irregular or non-existent maintenance of hot tubs, ice machines and cooling towers as well as building renovations that leave water stagnant in unused spaces.” But Zwolenik reported that the burden of the legislative proposal on her department “would exceed our current capacity,” adding that the agency would need to increase staffing. With so many variables and unknowns, experts shared that it can also be difficult to narrow in on one specific regulation that might reduce Legionella cases. It’s unknown why the Mid-Atlantic, for example, reports the highest prevalence of cases. But the threat is increasing as water-based heat waves, which are periods of abnormally high water temperatures, increase in intensity and frequency due to climate change. Researchers like Charles N. Haas, an environmental engineering professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, emphasized the “shared responsibility” for prevention efforts, noting that water utility oversight ends at an individual’s property line. Charles N. Haas, an environmental engineering professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, speaks about ways to mitigate Legionella at a legislative hearing on July 20, 2026. (Screenshot from livestream) Between property pipes, water heaters, air conditioning units, showers and more, Haas said, “there’s a lot of potential for the water to sit warm (and) stagnant,” conditions that allow Legionella to multiply. Other cases are linked to dental offices, HVAC systems, decorative fountains or even misting systems, but upstream actions from water utilities can potentially dislodge old biofilm growths, risking exposure. “Under a shared responsibility model, both parties need to get their acts together,” continued Haas. “I think what the bill gets right is the requirement for high-risk facilities to have a water management plan. That’s where the science says the fight belongs.” The slim odds of contracting Legionnaires’ Disease can make it more difficult to investigate, since most people don’t get sick. Those most at risk include current or former smokers, people with certain health conditions and anyone over the age of 50. Preventative action Haas and others panned an additional proposal that would increase the statewide minimum level of chlorine, which is used as a disinfectant against Legionella — with Katzenmoyer calling it “especially concerning.” “Disinfection requires careful technical judgment to balance microbial control, water age, corrosion control, taste and odor, infrastructure conditions and compliance with disinfection limits,” said Katzenmoyer. “These decisions belong to the scientific and regulatory process, not in statute.” Charlotte Katzenmoyer, the CEO of Harrisburg-based Capital Region Water, shares concerns about proposed regulations on July 20, 2026. (Screenshot from livestream) Increased chlorine levels could create byproducts, which comes with its own regulations, or increase the long-term risk of cancer for water consumers, she continued. Not all of Katzenmoyer’s colleagues agreed. Bill Murray, the executive director of the Reading Area Water Authority, called the Smith-Wade-El’s bill “thoughtful and necessary,” but called for refining its language to provide “clear accountability.” “Make no mistake, Legionnaires’ disease is the enemy of every one of us … it exploits vulnerabilities where they exist and, when it does, families suffer,” continued Murray. Murray noted local limits when it came to oversight of building projects, adding that a developer could decide to use a reservoir over local water sources to save money, though it comes with additional risks. Steve Chintaman, the vice president of government affairs with the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, similarly spoke about the need for amendments that, “would improve the legislation by ensuring compliance requirements are practical, risk-based and appropriately allocate responsibility among all parties involved.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “We encourage consideration of implementation approaches that achieve the bill’s objectives while recognizing the operational realities facing housing providers,” said Chintaman. Lower-risk shared housing communities, such as student housing, could be caught up in regulations, Chintaman added, pushing for “tailored” compliance requirements based on risk, not on building type or size. The development of water management programs, requirements for sampling and monitoring and coordinating inspections would also add to the expenses of apartments and property management companies — and would be particularly onerous for affordable housing developments, Chintaman continued. But McQuade, the engineer, pushed for comprehensive legislation, rather than policies that “focused too narrowly on a few pieces of equipment.” “Any water-using system or equipment in a building that can create spray, mist, bubbles, droplets or aerosols need to be identified, evaluated and managed,” said McQuade. “At the same time, the building is only one part of a larger water pathway. Legionella risk must be managed from the source through public water systems, home plumbings and finally to the fixtures and equipment where people can be exposed.” He added that the proposed legislation “moves Pennsylvania in the right direction” by requiring shared responsibility, with utilities, building owners and public health agencies playing a role. “If implemented well, this legislation can create a culture of prevention, fewer illnesses, fewer emergency responses and better coordination among utilities, building owners and public health officials,” McQuade continued. Lawmakers didn’t vote on Monday, and it’s unclear what the next steps for House Bill 2085 might be. Though committees are meeting, the full chambers of the House and Senate aren’t set to convene until September. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Sand raises more than $9M in less than 2 months in Iowa governor race Rob Sand raises $9.38 million in the latest reporting period, bringing his campaign cash to $17.9 million four months ahead of the Iowa election.
	Inmate at Dixon Correctional Center dies An inmate at Dixon Correctional Center died Sunday.
	Louisiana gets SNAP waiver from Tropical Storm Arthur for hot meals A Louisiana Purchase EBT food stamp SNAP card. (Photo by Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana residents who receive federal food assistance will be able to use their benefits to purchase hot meals or prepared foods as the state recovers from Tropical Storm Arthur, state officials announced Monday. The Louisiana Department of Health has received a temporary waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow expanded use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through Aug. 13. Participants can purchase eligible hot and prepared foods at authorized Louisiana SNAP retailers, though not at restaurants. The waiver is effective immediately and applies to SNAP recipients statewide. It does not provide any additional funding. President Donald Trump issued a disaster declaration July 2 to make federal assistance available to residents and businesses in certain parishes after Tropical Storm Arthur produced heavy rainfall and spawned tornadoes in Louisiana on June 17. “After a major weather event like Tropical Storm Arthur, even simple tasks like preparing a meal can become difficult,” Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein said in a news release. “We’re grateful to the USDA for approving this temporary waiver, which gives SNAP recipients greater flexibility to purchase hot, prepared foods as communities recover. We’ll continue working with our federal partners to ensure Louisianans have access to the resources they need throughout the recovery process.” The SNAP waiver comes as the state braces for a second storm in the Gulf of Mexico. As of noon Monday, a tropical depression 110 miles south of the Florida Panhandle was moving northwest at 3 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph. The system is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha as soon as Monday evening before turning west. The National Hurricane Center expects Bertha to make landfall in southeastern Louisiana around 7 p.m. Wednesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	69% of financial institutions have pulled the plug on an AI chatbot. The problem isn't always the AI. 69% of financial institutions have pulled the plug on an AI chatbot. The problem isn't always the AI.The financial institutions many rely on are already using AI to handle some of their customer communications, and every message, from routine payment confirmations to fraud alerts, involves sensitive information. But how well AI handles these interactions doesn't always depend on the AI itself.New research from Sinch, which surveyed over 500 financial services leaders across 10 regions in January 2026, examines why nearly 7 in 10 organizations that have deployed AI in communications have had to pull it back at least once, and the impact on both sides of those interactions.AI is already handling some of our most sensitive financial communicationsFinancial services is a complex environment in which to introduce AI. For consumers, every financial interaction carries a degree of caution, and for good reason. Financial fraud is an everyday reality for millions of people.The Financial Trade Commission's 2025 consumer protection data shows nearly $1 billion in reported losses to business impersonators, with bank impersonators accounting for the highest losses. Juniper even warned about a tidal wave of impersonation fraud in the coming years.In this environment, trust is earned through decades of reliability, strict regulatory compliance, and accountability. It's no surprise, then, that almost a third of finance leaders in the Sinch research cite compliance and legal concerns as the number one obstacle to AI deployment.Despite this, 61% of financial services organizations have gone live with AI communications agents, and 52% say they’re very confident in their readiness to deploy at scale.The industry is deploying AI through the complexity and with confidence, because the potential rewards are worth it. While customer support is a priority for 50% of financial institutions, the industry isn’t stopping there. It's pushing AI into the highest-stakes communications, where customer trust and security are on the line. Fraud prevention is the second-most important AI goal at 43%, higher than any other industry. Identity verification follows closely behind at 33%. Sinch When a suspicious transaction gets flagged, an AI agent can reach the customer in seconds, confirm if it was them, and resolve it quickly before any permanent damage is done. In fact, in many cases, AI-based fraud prevention will even stop the fraud before it actually happens, blocking certain actions before they impact the customer.Customer trust hinges on how well AI agents handle these situations and the customer interactions that follow, and research shows this hard-earned trust is being put to the test.Even the most tightly controlled AI programs are rolling backIn financial services, the stakes are high for every AI communication. That’s no surprise, since every interaction touches on customers’ money, data, and the trust they've placed in the organization holding them.Financial institutions have responded the way you’d expect from a heavily regulated industry: by investing in governance. And to some extent, the investment is paying off. Sinch research found that each step up in guardrail maturity makes financial organizations twice as likely to be operating at the most advanced deployment level.So, contrary to what the market had assumed, compliance complexity and governance aren’t holding companies back from deploying AI agent. But they’re not preventing rollbacks either. Sinch research shows 69% of the industry's AI agents have been pulled back due to a governance failure, just 5 points below the global rollback rate average. And that number is higher with the most governed organizations.Lower rollback rates aren’t necessarily an indication of an organization’s AI success. They could very well be a sign of poor monitoring. But when 7 in 10 organizations that have deployed an AI agent have had to roll something back, that points to a deeper issue the industry still hasn’t been able to fix.When money is at stake, every AI failure is a trust failureWhen a financial services AI interaction fails, it puts consumers at risk and damages the relationship they've built with the company over years.It's an AI agent that doesn’t send the fraud alert it was specifically deployed to trigger. Or one that surfaces account details to the wrong person, or that confidently states the wrong balance or mortgage rate. Customer data exposure and hallucinations are the two leading causes of AI agent rollbacks, at respectively 27% and 21%.For a financial institution, these failures are compliance and trust failures at the same time. That’s why, for financial leaders, the most significant business impact of AI agent failures is reputational damage, ahead of operational strain — the top concern globally. That’s also the one consequence that cannot be fixed. Sinch Attention is turning to what's underneath the AIFinancial services are investing heavily in their most important asset: customer trust.In fact, trust, security, and compliance is the #1 spending category in the industry at 78%, well ahead of AI agent development (67%). But that spending isn’t closing the gap between deploying an agent and keeping it live. Sinch That’s because oftentimes, the problem isn’t the AI agent itself. It’s the infrastructure it’s built on. Sinch research found that communications infrastructure satisfaction is the strongest predictor of AI deployment success — stronger than AI investment level, maturity, or governance sophistication.Yet, findings suggest that infrastructure investment still has room to grow in the industry. While 83% of financial institutions agree that high-performing infrastructure is essential or very important to deploying AI safely, only 56% actually prioritize it when investing — 5 points below the 61% average.Despite infrastructure investment lagging slightly in financial services, the industry has started evaluating new providers. 83% of financial institutions in the study are already having active or exploratory conversations with alternative providers. Organizations citing a lack of AI integrations are 2.4 times more likely to evaluate a new provider, and those citing poor reliability are 1.4 times more likely.Trust in AI communications is built from the foundation upIn financial services, the difference between an AI agent that serves and protects consumers and one that fails them goes beyond governance. It also comes down to the infrastructure underneath it. When that foundation holds, so does the trust they've placed in the institution holding their most sensitive assets.This story was produced by Sinch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	10 things that wowed us at the 2026 World Cup The United States, Mexico, and Canada co-hosted the nearly six-week tournament. NPR's team of journalists who covered the World Cup reflects on the experience.
	Man arrested after early morning shooting in Rock Island Police in Rock Island arrested a man after he allegedly shot a man during an argument. A news release from the Rock Island Police Department said officers responded to the 1500 block of 11th Street on Monday, July 20 at about 2:24 a.m. for reports of shots being fired. When they arrived, they found a [...]
	Silvis to host meeting on its comprehensive plan Silvis is looking for input on its comprehensive plan. The city invites the public to attend a public meeting on its comprehensive plan on Wednesday, July 29 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Divine Mercy (Our Lady of Guadalupe Church), 800 17th Street. Residents, business owners and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend to share [...]
	Tucked in the state budget, a win for pharmacies looking for PBM regulation In light of ongoing provider shortages, some pharmacists are taking on additional duties to close the gap. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Pennsylvania’s most recent state budget includes a number of policy provisions agreed to by negotiating lawmakers. One is aimed at helping pharmacies that say they have been arbitrarily prevented by a pharmacy benefit manager from accepting certain Medicaid plans. The new provision will require pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, to allow pharmacies that they previously ended contracts with to reapply to their networks after 12 months, assuming they’re in good standing with state and federal laws. While the measure does not address many of the issues pharmacists have raised about PBMs, including low reimbursement rates for medications they dispense, it does address an issue facing a handful of struggling Pennsylvania pharmacies. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE “It’s a very good thing for probably several dozen pharmacies throughout the state who are having network problems with PBMs that don’t allow them to be in the MCO network,” said Rob Frankil, executive director of the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain. They’re hired by insurance companies to handle the prescription drug sides of their healthcare plans. In that role, PBMs reimburse pharmacies when patients pick up drugs that are covered by their insurance. If a pharmacy wants to accept a patient’s insurance, they have to sign a contract with the PBM that represents them, agree to the reimbursement rates they set, and follow any other rules they outline. Pharmacists have long blamed PBMs for declining revenues and rising drug costs. The three largest PBMs — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum — are part of massive healthcare conglomerates and collectively process about 80% of all prescription drug claims in the United States. That means pharmacists must maintain good standing with them if they want to accept large numbers of their patients’ insurance plans. But a number of pharmacists have warned that PBMs can be capricious with their contracts, kicking pharmacies out of their networks for reasons that can appear arbitrary. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. A spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a trade group that represents the largest PBMs, declined to comment for this story. For the last several years, attempts to regulate PBMs have brought Democrats and Republicans together. Since 2020, more than 1,000 pharmacies have closed across the state. Pharmacists and the trade groups that represent them have been pushing the legislature to pass legislation reining in PBMs. The provision in the budget was championed by Republican Sen. Dave Langerholc (R-Clearfield) and Democratic Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria). Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	The psychology of a stress-free home renovation The psychology of a stress-free home renovationHome improvement spending hit record highs in Q1 2026, topping $524 billion, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. That's a lot of money in the ground. Most homeowners who spend that much on renovations are stressed about it. They're watching budgets tighten, dealing with contractors, and living in half-finished homes with dust everywhere and no kitchen for three months.According to Reece Windows & Doors, a window and door replacement company, the psychological toll is real—both financial and physical. This can look like missing the peace of their own space, the disruption to routines, and the family tension that comes with a construction zone where the living room used to be. But homeowners don't have to white-knuckle through it. Research shows there are concrete steps that separate the projects people survive from the ones they regret. Reece Windows & Doors The Importance of EnvironmentThe intuitive concept of having access to clean and tidy domestic spaces as a way of remaining calm and content at home is supported by extensive research, summarized in a paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which concludes that poor physical housing conditions and structural disruption directly correlate with feelings of frustration and irritability, while also leaving people mentally fatigued.Everything from unusual smells and loud noises to thermal discomfort exacerbates stress. With the proportion of time spent indoors rising from 60% to 85% over the past half-decade, in part due to lingering habit changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, renovation work thus poses a problem from a home-environment perspective.Proper planning helps address these potential drawbacks of renovation by giving homeowners the chance to plot out where and how they’ll live during the work. How this plays out depends on the scope of the work, the budget, and the size of the property. For instance, designating certain rooms as sacrosanct, keeping them free from the clutter and dirt that can arise even in the best-managed remodeling project, means there’s a place where the temperature and air quality are adequate and a sense of normality still reigns.The Impact of CommunicationA stress-free renovation is as much a function of how homeowners interact with the professionals carrying out the work as it is their management of domestic arrangements. Construction workers and contractors across various disciplines are known to suffer from work-related stress, while also operating in an industry where help-seeking behaviors suffer from a degree of stigma, specifically in relation to mental health challenges.This is explored in detail in a paper given at the International Conference on Transportation and Development 2024 and published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Common stressors include the demanding nature of the work and the discomfort of the work environment.Similarly, a report on the advantages of prefabricated construction singles out other mental health stressors. Researchers found that job intensity, complexity, and uncertainty in project duration are the main factors that create and exacerbate mental health issues.The homeowner's responsibility in reducing stress lies in ensuring that all communication with contractors is carried out with complete transparency and that there’s unity in planning and decision-making throughout the project. Again, thorough planning makes a difference here, and when the project is stress-free for construction professionals, the likelihood of site friction arising or errors occurring is much lower.Achieving this clarity and consistency in communication is easier thanks to the technology available today. Using AI image generators to create detailed mock-ups helps align homeowner and contractor expectations far more effectively than verbal descriptions or sketches.Preparing for Delays Strengthens Renovation ResilienceThe final psychological aspect in making renovations as stress-free as possible is acceptance. Homeowners must be prepared for delays and disruption, as these are incredibly common, even if homeowners have perfectly formed plans in place and stay on top of client-contractor communication.Being prepared for potential supply chain disruptions and having backup options in place if it becomes apparent that certain materials won’t be available in time for a project is a good starting point. Having a budgetary contingency to account for spending overruns is also a must. Planning for the best outcome, anticipating what could go wrong, and keeping a cool head when it does will serve households well, whatever a renovation project throws at them.This story was produced by Reece Windows & Doors and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	8 worst states to invest in real estate in 2026 8 worst states to invest in real estate in 2026Buy the same property at the same price with the same tenant in two different states, and you’ll end up with two completely different investments. Property taxes, insurance costs, eviction timelines, and rent control laws vary enough from state to state that location alone can determine whether a deal makes money or bleeds it.Most investors run the numbers on a potential investment property itself, but fewer consider its location. The legal and financial landscape where you buy shapes every part of the ownership experience, from your first tax bill to the day you need to remove a problem tenant.TurboTenant has done that research for you. What follows is a breakdown of the worst states to invest in real estate. These eight markets deserve extra scrutiny before you commit. None are necessarily off-limits, but each one comes with homework that investors shouldn’t skip.What puts a state on this listTo build this list of the worst states to invest in real estate, five factors were weighed against each other. No single factor makes a state a bad place to invest, but when multiple negative factors stack up, the math no longer makes sense for investors.Effective property tax rate: Property taxes across the U.S. range from 0.27% to 2.2%, and where your property falls on that spectrum determines whether your state is working for or against your tax advantages as a landlord.Rent control or stabilization laws: Even if you don’t intend to rent out your property, rent control and stabilization laws significantly limit how much you can recoup on your purchase if you change your mind later.Average eviction timelines: Lengthy eviction timelines can cause major headaches and derail cash flow if squatters, holdover tenants, or other ownership disputes cut off income.Population and job market trajectories: If you’re focused on long-term property appreciation, plan to buy in an area where both the population and job market are trending upward. Your property is only worth as much as people are willing to pay to live there.Home price-to-rent ratio: Researchers analyzed up-to-date Redfin research to determine home prices and compared them to average rents in each state. If you decide to rent out a property, buy somewhere with a solid price-to-rent ratio that allows for good returns.These factors differ slightly from the dealbreakers a landlord weighs on a day-to-day basis. Here, TurboTenant looked at investment returns across the full property lifecycle, from purchase to exit.8. MassachusettsMuch of Massachusetts’ housing demand is concentrated in the metro Boston area, where median home prices rank among the highest in the country. Even so, appreciation and rent rates have slowed in recent months, meaning new investors rarely see competitive returns here.Plus, eviction proceedings in Massachusetts can take three to six months to resolve. The state also has strict rules surrounding security deposits that require landlords to pay tenants annual interest or face penalties for noncompliance. Not to mention, Massachusetts’ just-cause eviction laws protect even problematic tenants.Admittedly, markets outside Boston, like Worcester and Springfield, are less expensive for would-be buyers. But the same landlord-tenant laws apply statewide, meaning that if you run into trouble with squatters or renters, your property could sit in limbo for months.7. LouisianaThe bayous and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana might sound like beautiful places to buy a home. But after multiple catastrophic hurricane seasons, many private insurers now refuse to issue new policies for homes in the state. As a result, homeowners are stuck with the more expensive, state-funded insurer of last resort.Statewide, annual insurance premiums for typical Louisiana homes average more than $7,000, with coastal parishes running considerably higher. But if you buy outside the 100-year floodplain, you still face elevated flood risk and additional maintenance costs due to heat and humidity.Louisiana also hemorrhaged full-time residents between 2020 and 2023, limiting property appreciation and rental demand. Even in more affordable markets like Shreveport and Baton Rouge, the combination of population loss, insurance costs, and weak appreciation means the numbers rarely look optimistic.Those low home prices attract investors who mistake cheap entry for value. Beneath those prices sits a contracting economy. The oil and gas sector has shed jobs steadily; no comparable industry has moved in to replace them, and rental demand across most of the state reflects that reality.6. ConnecticutConnecticut has one of the nation’s highest effective property tax burdens, and many municipalities charge additional fees and special assessments on top of the headline rate. The Constitution State also lost a large chunk of its population during the 2010s, leaving small cities like Bridgeport and Waterbury facing long-term population challenges.Additionally, Connecticut has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, with a median year built of 1966 and more than 40% of homes constructed before 1960. For landlords, that translates directly into higher maintenance costs, more frequent capital expenditures, and tighter insurance markets.Towns like Stamford and Greenwich are the exception, as these places have become hubs for New York commuters. Properties here are the most costly, though, which will narrow investors’ profit margins. Even when buying for long-term appreciation, home values rise slowly in Connecticut, while unforgiving property tax rates leave homeowners seeking relief.5. Hawai'iHawai‘i’s median housing costs are the highest in the country. And despite strong overall rental prices in Honolulu, Hawai‘i consistently ranks among the lowest states for rental yield, with net yields on Oahu typically ranging from 2.5% to 3.8% after expenses.Maui has also placed significant restrictions on vacation rentals to create more residential housing, eliminating the opportunity for higher monthly returns. Most investors have to bet on appreciation rather than rental income, but that’s risky given elevated insurance premiums and costly HOA fees on Hawai‘i’s condos.Purely as an investment, Hawai‘i’s entry costs are prohibitively high and yields too low to make the math work for most portfolios. Buying a home here makes more sense for those who want to live the island lifestyle, not build a rental portfolio.4. IllinoisCook County, home to Chicago, is Illinois’ biggest and most active real estate market. Landlords can benefit from high rental demand, but effective property tax rates have skyrocketed in recent years. Multiple reassessment cycles often blindside real estate owners with unexpectedly high bills.Consider this: Illinois has one of the nation’s most underfunded pension systems, and property taxes have historically filled the gap. The state has seen nine consecutive years of domestic out-migration, limiting long-term appreciation and keeping vacancy rates relatively high in cheaper markets like Peoria and Rockford.In other bad news for investors, Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is one of the most tenant-friendly municipal codes in the U.S., requiring a lengthy eviction process, move-in checklists, and other time-intensive steps for landlords.3. New JerseyWhile many of the states on this list carry a heavy property tax burden, New Jersey tops them all with the nation’s highest effective rate. On a $400,000 property in the Garden State, that amounts to nearly $10,000 per year before accounting for any other expenses.New Jersey’s Anti-Eviction Act also favors tenants, requiring landlords to show a valid cause for eviction or nonrenewal even after a lease ends.Investors can still afford to buy in urban markets like Newark, but management demands and legal exposure follow landlords there. In addition to property taxes, New Jersey taxes rental income at rates that rank among the highest in the country, meaning landlords pay steep fees on the property and again on its earnings.Understanding the IRS’s rules for rental properties is critical here, since depreciation and deductions are the primary tools available to offset an already heavy tax burden.2. New YorkWhile much of New York State has relatively affordable homes, New York City is a different story. The Big Apple has some of the country’s highest median home prices, and approximately 1 million rental units are subject to strict rent stabilization laws that prevent landlords from charging market rates, even on new leases.New York’s landlord-tenant courts tend to move slowly, with evictions taking anywhere from two months to a year, depending on the case. Security deposit regulations, hot water requirements, and subletting laws add to compliance costs, making New York one of the most tenant-friendly states in the country.Outside of NYC, cheaper markets like Buffalo and Syracuse allow for easier entry, but property values there won’t appreciate as quickly. Investors looking to get started here may struggle to recoup their expenses through either rent or long-term appreciation, even where rental demand and population growth are strong.1. CaliforniaAs one of the most expensive states for buying rental property, California has a high barrier to entry. Insurance costs compound the problem, as few major insurers cover homes in the Golden State. With limited options, landlords are forced to pay higher premiums and often fall back on a costly state-assigned plan.California also has strict rent control laws. AB 1482, known as the Tenant Protection Act, caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, with a maximum of 10%. Many cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, layer even stricter local ordinances on top of them.Inland markets like Fresno and Bakersfield offer more affordable alternatives to the state’s pricey coastal cities, which often charge transfer taxes on home sales. The same state-level constraints apply statewide, though, and appreciation tends to be slower inland than on the coast.Finally, at a staggering 13.3%, California has the highest state income tax rate in the country, meaning more of what real estate investors collect goes right into the state’s pockets.Finding a state that puts the odds in your favorNone of the states on this list is necessarily a bad place to live. The resistance being analyzed is investor-specific: taxes, regulations, and market dynamics that make it hard to generate competitive returns in most scenarios. That said, plenty of landlords own profitable properties in every state covered. The difference is that they invested in the right property at the right time.Knowing where not to put your money is as valuable as knowing the best states to buy rental property or the most landlord-friendly states. Every market deserves a closer look, and the state you choose can matter as much as the property itself.Wherever you look, run the same mental checklist: effective property tax rate, local rent control laws, eviction timelines, and insurance availability.This story was produced by TurboTenant and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	One man hospitalized, suspect arrested in Rock Island shooting Early Monday morning, a shooting in Rock Island sent a 44-year-old man to the hospital. Another man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
	Orion rated highly by state board of education Orion was in the top 10% of schools statewide.
	Burlington to break ground on new fire station Burlington is ready to break ground on a new fire station. The City of Burlington and the Burlington Fire Department invite the public to attend the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Burlington Fire Station #3 on Wednesday, July 29 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the future site of Fire Station #3, [...]
	What the latest driving data reveals about safer roads in 2026 What the latest driving data reveals about safer roads in 2026Road safety directly impacts insurance premiums, liability exposure, and infrastructure spending across the U.S.—yet fatality rates resisted improvement for years. The automotive industry faced regulatory pressure over annual deaths, spurring advances in vehicle safety features. Road design also shifted, with changes to intersections and street layouts showing measurable impact. But the real question is whether those efforts are actually working.New traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation reveals they are. Recent studies show a clear downward trend in fatalities. Technology embedded in vehicles, autonomous systems coming online, and smarter road infrastructure are all factors that are impacting road safety. Triumph Law Group, a personal injury law firm in Phoenix, unpacks what the data actually shows and where the safety improvements are coming from. Triumph Law Group Road Accident Statistics UnpackedAnnual figures on traffic safety are produced by the NHTSA and DOT. While the driving data for 2025 is still a statistical projection rather than containing final, firm numbers, the trend toward fewer fatalities is clear. Specifically, it’s estimated that deaths from auto collisions fell 6.7% year on year, from just over 39,000 in 2024 to 36,640 last year.Q4 of 2025 was the 15th consecutive quarter in which a decline in fatalities was recorded, and researchers are confident that this trend represents a rebalancing of road safety following the unexpected disruption associated with the pandemic. So, while we’re not yet at historic lows, there’s clear, continuous movement in the right direction.To further cement the improving safety conditions, the report estimates that for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. roads, just 1.10 fatalities occur. That’s a decline from the 1.19 fatalities per 100 million VMT calculated in 2024. Only one other year in the history of recording traffic safety statistics has had a lower average number of fatalities per 100 million VMT.The data shows fatality reductions across all regions of the U.S.—even in areas that historically had higher rates. The East Coast saw the largest estimated reductions in fatalities, with areas including Virginia, Kentucky, Washington D.C., and North Carolina even reaching double digits.The downtrend in road fatalities does not mean there isn’t a need for further improvement.Technology’s InfluenceMandatory safety tech is part of the story. Tighter vehicle regulations forced automakers to add features that actually prevent crashes. We’re entering a period in which true self-driving cars are a reality in more parts of the country, bringing the potential for even further risk reductions.Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are now standard in most new vehicles. They range from general aid to direct intervention without taking total control of moment-to-moment driving away from a human. This includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and automatic speed limit detection, to name but a few. As indicated in a 2024 survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 60% of motorists have no problem with vehicles issuing audio alerts and visual warnings on the dashboard when they exceed the speed limit.Drivers most likely to speed were also most resistant to in-car speed limiters. If ADAS can keep responsible drivers safer with these reminders and minor interventions, that’s better for the majority of road users.Automation and Further Driver MonitoringWaymo's autonomous vehicle testing shows real safety gains. The data: 0.6 injury-involved collisions per million miles for autonomous vehicles, versus 2.8 for human drivers. Research found that, on average, 0.6 collision incidents with an injury were reported per million miles driven in an autonomous test vehicle. When human drivers are assessed, the number is 2.8 injury incidents, making self-driving vehicles 80% less likely to be involved in serious collisions.Driver state monitoring (DSM) technology offers another layer of intervention. Made up of cameras and sensors that track fatigue and distraction, DSM systems could prevent the two biggest behavioral causes of collisions.Research from TRL and the DVSA points out that 20% of vehicle collisions in the U.S. stem from an overtired person being behind the wheel, while 8% of fatal crashes list distraction as a contributing factor. It also cites a potential 93% drop in fatigue-related incidents and over two-thirds of distraction-related collisions, made possible when vehicles are fitted with DSM systems.Safer Road Design and InfrastructureRoad design and infrastructural changes are the third factor reshaping safety outcomes. A University of Michigan study examining 2019-2023 data tracked what happened when roundabouts replaced traditional intersections across various counties.The findings show that roundabouts result in fewer serious collisions because their design inherently encourages drivers to be more engaged and aware of the road rules, with motorists self-enforcing these rules rather than relying on lights and signals. Researchers found that roundabouts have a positive impact in low-income communities, where behavior-related crashes fall post-installation, even if there’s a slight uptick in minor crashes as the community gets to grips with how this type of road feature works.Changing the physical shape of our roads is sometimes more effective than posting a speed limit sign. This level of self-enforcing design goes hand in hand with the discussion of ADAS and DSM, since it’s about encouraging greater driver involvement and accountability. All these points to the likelihood that the driving data for 2026 and beyond will show further declines in traffic incidents and across-the-board improvements in road safety.This story was produced by Triumph Law Group and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Man arrested after Rock Island shooting A man was arrested after an overnight shooting in Rock Island Monday.
	New data shows early planning is reshaping home remodeling outcomes New data shows early planning is reshaping home remodeling outcomesGlobally, spending on home renovations exceeds $2 trillion, and in the U.S. alone, there’s north of $500 billion injected into remodeling domestic properties each year, with Grand View Research reporting that the market is growing 4.6% annually.A paper published in Physica A states that delays occur in 75% of construction projects. More than that, the median delay duration is between 20% and 40% of a given project's total timeline. In other words, holdups are almost inevitable and can be protracted. CMK Construction The Cost of IndecisivenessData from Houzz’s 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study includes a survey of homeowners who’ve undergone projects of this type in the past 12 months. When exploring the reasons behind budgetary overruns, researchers found that 37% of projects exceeded their originally planned costs, while just 3% completed their renovations under budget.One-quarter of respondents admitted that they had not even decided on a specific budget before beginning the remodeling work. Such a lack of foresight creates the conditions in which overspending and delays are incredibly likely.The homeowners who created budgets during the planning phase but didn’t stick to them cited a few reasons for the mistake: 35% went over budget because they chose higher-end materials midproject instead of locking them in early, while 32% cited unanticipated project complexity, and 31% outright changed the project or design scope during construction. Early planning eliminates many of these midproject expenses. Finalizing decisions in advance allows time to assess viability and check affordability. It also ensures material orders are placed with a sufficient window to account for last-minute supply chain delays.According to CMK Construction, a kitchen and bathroom remodeling specialist, more homeowners are choosing to outsource the planning entirely to professionals. With longer lead times for materials and often full order books for the most reputable operators in this industry, there’s actually more time available to most clients between the start of planning and when work commences, so having a properly finalized set of choices for design and materials is more common.Early planning also affords contractors the necessary runway to navigate complex local regulations and successfully secure vital municipal building permits before construction begins. Furthermore, finalizing project scopes well in advance allows teams to reliably schedule specialized subcontractors, such as electricians and plumbers.Because the construction sector is currently facing severe labor shortages across the industry, locking in these highly requested professionals early prevents extensive delays that routinely derail poorly planned residential remodeling schedules and budgets.Reacting to Market RealitiesThe same Houzz report highlights shifting financial realities across the market. While median remodeling spending fell to $20,000 in 2025, spending on the top 10% of high-end projects rose 7% to $150,000. Because these figures do not account for inflation, the real-world financial gap between median and high-end projects continues to widen.The Houzz report, which singles out typical spending across remodeling projects, shows that the median figure here has actually fallen in recent years, sitting at $20,000 in 2025, down by $4,000 from 2023.When so much money is on the line, and the potential for overspending is so high, early planning must be prioritized to sidestep the most likely outcome. Similarly, with 91% of respondents who are in the process of planning a remodeling project stating that they will be recruiting a contractor to handle the work for them, rather than taking the DIY route, rigorous planning and budgeting enable smoother relationships with professionals, rather than creating potential friction points if changes are requested and costs escalate.Turning Intentions into ActionsThe data showing that early planning has a beneficial impact on home remodeling projects, and that the benefits are exponential with budget and the intended level of materials and finishes, is compelling. What’s necessary now is for homeowners to take on board what analysts have reported, and act.Indecision often paralyzes the initial stages of a remodel. What should spur anyone to act sooner rather than later is not only the knowledge that doing so will deliver better outcomes, but that it also provides an opportunity to decide once and for all if this is the type of project the homeowner is truly prepared to undertake.This story was produced by CMK Construction and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	John Deere named presenting sponsor of 2026 MLB Field of Dreams game The Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will play at the iconic movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13.
	Over 1,000 without power in Quad Cities More than 1,000 people are without Monday afternoon.
	Flash Flood Warning until MON 5:30 PM CDT Flash Flooding Expected in Southeastern Cedar, Eastern Muscatine, and Scott Counties This Afternoon
	IHSAA State Baseball: Watch live with Monday’s final scores, highlights KWQC will broadcast and have the game on its smart TV app.
	How event marketing materials are evolving to boost networking and brand recall How event marketing materials are evolving to boost networking and brand recallTraditional promotional merchandise underperforms at industry events, with attendees retaining minimal brand recall from low-cost novelties. Businesses are shifting to larger-format, high-impact branded materials to address this ROI challenge and extend engagement beyond the event, Bagmasters reports. Bagmasters Engaging Attention and Influencing MemoryThe argument that larger-format, creatively designed branded materials have a greater effect on attracting the attention of event attendees and improving subsequent recall of a given company is backed by research. One study in the Journal of Retailing confirms that merchandise that is unique, bespoke, sustainable, and artistic rather than just commercial, enables brands to establish an identity and build stronger relationships with target audiences.In terms of scale, bigger branded materials also hold sway over attention and recall. A study from The Journal of Vision proved that visual salience (size, contrast, and surface area) directly dictates automated attention capture. Larger physical objects bypass conscious processing and are processed immediately by the visual cortex, forcing the brain to register the stimulus before an individual even consciously decides to look at it.Brands are learning that tiny, disposable event novelties generate minimal brand recall, so strategies are shifting toward larger visual real estate, such as custom tote bags emblazoned with logos and slogans. When these marketing materials are disseminated at trade shows or consumer expos, other attendees pay attention to them in the same way they would a static billboard.Implementing Ownership to Extend EngagementThe shift from inexpensive, ineffectual event marketing materials to merchandise that bolsters brand recall and offers some utility to attendees has advantages beyond the conference center. Physical items like branded shoulder bags, reused over extended periods, double susceptibility to future brand interactions compared to media-based marketing alone.The evidence for this doubling comes from a BMJ Open paper, with the focus here being on susceptibility to alcohol use among young people with branded merchandise from alcohol brands. While the report’s aim is primarily to draw attention to the problems that alcohol brand marketing materials can cause for young adults from a drinking perspective, the findings are nevertheless relevant to demonstrating the wider impact of branded merchandise in other contexts.There’s also data from ASI Research revealing the influence of promotional product ownership on brand recall: 75% of respondents to its most recent survey said they view branded merch positively, while 85% said they remember which specific advertiser supplied them with any logo-bearing item they have in their possession.The same report indicated the positive benefits of branded tote bags in particular, with a single $6 item in this category generating an average of 4,900 impressions during its usable lifespan. That equates to a cost-per-impression of a tenth of a cent, making the cost easy for brands to justify.Even for costlier merch, like wearable tops, the CPI reaches as low as four-tenths of a cent, largely due to the usefulness of such products, which 78% of consumers cite as the main motivation to keep promotional materials for the long term.Combining Physical and Digital ExperiencesA third factor driving this shift is the recognition of the role that digital experiences play in establishing and perpetuating brands, and that this must be achieved in person as much as via online platforms. In particular, modern event design treats marketing materials as functional infrastructure to solve the friction of networking.Integrating QR codes into physical merch is the clearest and most commonplace example. A 2025 Uniqode report found that 98% of companies that deployed QR codes saw improvements in their marketing efforts, while 95% singled out the data-collection potential of these codes as another major upside.Moreover, linking to digital experiences through promotional materials enables a hybrid of the two, allowing brands to establish their identity through landing pages and web apps while encouraging attendees to sign up for future communications. Thus, the overlap between in-person networking and its digital equivalent converges on event marketing materials.In light of data supporting the evolution of event marketing materials, businesses seeking to improve networking outcomes and enhance brand recall should implement this trend. Event attendees, meanwhile, can expect to receive more creative and innovative examples of merchandise.This story was produced by Bagmasters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How much does landlord insurance cost? How much does landlord insurance cost?The cost of landlord insurance for a small office building in a quiet suburb could look very different from a mixed-use property downtown. There’s no single price tag for landlord insurance costs because of the numerous factors insurers use to calculate a policy premium based on your rental property’s specific age, construction, location and level of risk. The best way to know for sure exactly what you’ll pay to insure your property is to get a free landlord policy insurance quote online in about 10 minutes.When we talk about landlord insurance, that’s not usually a single policy. Protection for landlords (often called lessors in insurance terms) and their property is often a combination of different types of coverage to cover different risks, such as liability, property damage and loss of rental income. This aspect of insurance for your rental property can make pricing look very different from one property owner to the next.ERGO NEXT broke down what tends to affect insurance pricing, the types of coverage many landlords carry and a few practical ways you may be able to keep costs in check.What factors affect landlord insurance costs?Insurance companies primarily look at two things: the property itself and the amount of coverage you seek. That’s why two landlords with similar-looking buildings can end up paying very different amounts for insurance.Sometimes the difference comes down to location, while other times it’s the tenants, the building’s age or a history of previous claims. Generally, properties that have more opportunities for damage, lawsuits or expensive repairs tend to cost more to insure.Here’s a look at some of the biggest factors that can affect commercial landlord insurance costs: ERGO NEXT Which types of business insurance could commercial landlords benefit from the most?A couple types of business insurance are the best fit for many commercial landlords. These include:Business Owner’s Policy (BOP insurance)For many commercial property owners, a Business Owner’s Policy, also called BOP insurance, is the first policy they buy.A BOP combines two important types of coverage into a single policy that’s often more cost-efficient than buying two separate policies.General liability insurance. This coverage could help cover medical costs for non-employees injured in your property, property damage claims for damages to property that doesn’t belong to you and some legal costs. For example, if a visitor slips in your building’s parking lot or other common area, or suffers an injury and needs medical care and then files a claim, this coverage could help cover some of the associated medical costs and legal fees that might follow.Commercial property insurance. This policy could help cover costs after damage to the building structure that’s not specific to your tenant spaces, such as damages to stairwells, elevators, outside walls, lobbies or other common areas. A few examples of covered events include fire, storms damage or damages from a burst water pipe. Commercial property coverage can also help cover your lost rental income if you have to remove tenants for repairs.Because a BOP bundles these coverages together, it’s often more convenient managing two policies separately.Cyber Liability insuranceLandlords often run part of their business through apps and online platforms, including tenant payment systems and vendor and maintenance communications. This means you could be storing sensitive financial data and private contact information for everyone in your business network. And if that data becomes compromised, you could be held responsible.Cyber liability insurance, also called cyber insurance, could help cover costs related to data breaches, cyberattacks and other technology-related incidents.Other types of insurance coverage for landlordsLandlords may also want additional coverage, such as:Workers’ compensation insurance, which may be required if you have employees who help maintain or manage the property.Commercial flood insurance, which could help cover flood-related damage that isn’t covered by standard property insurance.How the coverage you choose can affect the cost of your landlord insuranceThe property matters, but so do the coverage decisions you make. Two landlords with nearly identical buildings may still end up with very different premiums if one chooses broader coverage or adds extra protection.Some of the biggest coverage-related factors include:Coverage limits: Policies with higher coverage limits usually cost more because they can help cover larger losses.Deductibles: Choosing a higher deductible can sometimes lower your insurance premium. The trade-off is that you’ll generally pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.Additional coverages: Add-ons, called insurance endorsements, can increase your overall costs, but they may also provide protection against risks that aren’t in a standard policy. For example, landlords may choose to add endorsements for:Building code upgrades after a covered loss (often called ordinance or law coverage).Additional insured endorsements.Commercial umbrella coverage for added liability protection.Specialized coverage for risks such as floods, earthquakes and wildfires.More coverage usually means a higher premium. The trick is finding a balance between cost management and protection.5 ways landlords may be able to lower their property insurance costsNo guarantees, but there are a few steps that could help reduce your premium over time.1. Bundle coverage whenever possibleMany landlords have more than one type of insurance. Bundling coverages through product offerings like a BOP can be more cost-effective than buying separate policies.2. Consider a higher deductibleA higher deductible can sometimes lower your premium. Just make sure it’s an amount you’d be comfortable paying if you need to file a claim.3. Stay on top of property maintenanceSometimes small problems turn into larger, more expensive ones. Keep up with roof repairs, plumbing issues, electrical systems and other routine maintenance to help reduce the likelihood of future claims.4. Invest in security and safety featuresSecurity cameras, alarm systems, access controls and outdoor lighting can help make a property safer. Depending on the property and insurer, these improvements could affect your monthly or annual pricing.5. Review your coverage regularlyProperties change over time. You may add tenants, renovate a building or change how a space is used. Review your coverage annually to help ensure you’re paying for the protection you need and not carrying coverage that no longer fits.This story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to turn your summer road trip into a rewarding adventure (BPT) - Key takeawaysSummer road trips can be expensive, but with some simple planning, you can score rewards and savings along the way.Get your car checked before your trip to improve fuel efficiency.Mapping out stops along your route can help you save time and money.Stop at gas stations that offer rewards and fuel savings.Look for a rewards card like the bp rewards Visa® that makes the most of your everyday purchases and offers you the flexibility to spend your rewards points how you want.By Alyssa Callahan, head of marketing for bp's mobility and convenience businessSummer travel planning can quickly become a full-time job. Creating budgets, booking hotels and mapping out rest stops can be exhausting. This is doubly true when you're seeking the best values.Fuel may be a top-of-mind cost, but it is often just one part of a broader mix of purchases tied to time on the road. Multiple convenience-store runs, dining and little impulse buys add up fast. Plus, there are the purchases you'll make before your trip to stock up on road essentials and the big grocery trips and takeout dinners when you get home.The good news is that with a little extra planning, you can save hundreds and even score some rewards along the way. For households hitting the road this summer, here are a few simple moves that will put some money back in your pocket.Sometimes, the best way to save money is knowing where to spend it. Plan your rest stops so you're always stopping at gas stations that offer savings and rewards for filling up and buying trip snacks.Map it out. Summer has a funny way of turning one stop into four. Planning routes in advance, grouping errands and checking traffic before heading out can help drivers make the most of the miles they are already covering.Treasure hunt for value. Sometimes, the best way to save money is knowing where to spend it. Plan your rest stops so you're always stopping at gas stations that offer savings and rewards for filling up and buying trip snacks.Don't skimp on the tune-ups. Properly inflated tires, regular oil changes and routine service can improve your car's safety and efficiency. It's not exciting, but basic maintenance can make a huge difference over a busy summer of driving.Make routine spending work harder. Outside of road trips, summer can be an expensive season with multiple nights of dining out, grocery runs and daily purchases that can put a strain on your budget. But what if you could make those purchases work in your favor? Consider signing up for a rewards card that offers value for your routine purchases. The best ones tend to fit the way you already live, not reinvent your routine.Don't leave rewards on the table. When it comes to credit card rewards, flexibility is key. Opt for cards like the bp rewards Visa® that offer rewards and multiple redemption options, including cash back, fuel cards and gift cards from major retailers, so that you can spend your rewards on your own terms.Best of all? New bp rewards Visa® cardmembers save 50 cents per gallon1 on fuel at participating bp and Amoco stations for their first 60 days, and 15 cents per gallon1 thereafter, for accounts opened between May 18, 2026 - September 30, 2026. The card has no annual fee2, earns points on qualifying purchases, including nonfuel purchases at participating bp and Amoco locations, as well as groceries and dining elsewhere.A rewards card is only useful if it fits a person's actual habits. As with any financial product, it is worth reviewing the terms carefully and deciding whether the value holds up beyond an introductory offer.For most drivers, summer spending is not about one dramatic splurge. It's the steady rhythm of a season spent in motion. And the little decisions before, during and after the road trip really matter. A smarter route, a well-maintained car and a rewards tool that fits everyday habits may not sound flashy, but together they can make a busy summer feel a little more rewarding as well as fun.__________________The limited-time offer is valid for new accounts opened between May 18, 2026 - September 30, 2026.*Offers vary depending on where you apply, for example online or in person. To take advantage of this offer, apply now directly through this advertisement. Review offer details before you apply.1See the Rewards Terms and Conditions for details, including earning, redemption, expiration, and forfeiture (subject to applicable law). Valid at participating bp and Amoco stations. Restrictions may apply.2For additional information about Annual Percentage Rates (APRs), fees and other costs, see the Summary of Credit Terms.Cards are issued by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO®), pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and used under license.© 2026 BP Products North America Inc.
	Court ruling freezes Paramount-Warner Bros. merger for now Paramount's owners were hoping they'd be firmly in control of rival Warner Bros. Discovery by the end of this week. Monday's temporary restraining order puts that plan on hold.
	Lettuce recall sends some shoppers to local farmers markets A Cyclospora outbreak and lettuce recall have Quad Cities shoppers turning to local farmers for safe, locally grown greens.
	Renting in Europe feels expensive until you see what getting scammed actually costs Renting in Europe feels expensive until you see what getting scammed actually costsMost Americans searching for housing in Europe start by avoiding platform fees. It feels like the smart move. Why pay to search when expat Facebook groups, local classifieds, and free listing sites are a Google search away? What that calculation consistently underestimates is the cost of the alternative. Illegal broker fees, deposits well above legal limits, and wire transfers for apartments where the keys never show up are not edge cases in the European free rental market. They are documented, recurring patterns that hit international renters, and Americans in particular, with reliable frequency.For U.S. renters searching from thousands of miles away, that unfamiliarity is exactly what fraudsters count on.This guide from HousingAnywhere documents what Americans actually lose searching for European housing before they arrive, and what a safer search looks like.Free platforms, real lossesThe instinct to avoid platform fees makes sense, especially for Americans accustomed to free rental search tools back home. Why pay to search when Facebook groups, local classifieds, and expat forums exist? But the free rental market across European cities operates in a way that makes that calculation more expensive than it first appears.Fraudsters target Americans specifically because they have three qualities that make them ideal victims: urgency, distance, and unfamiliarity with how European rentals work. An American who needs housing before their start date, who cannot visit a property before committing, and who does not know what a normal German, Spanish, or Dutch lease looks like is exactly the profile a fraudulent listing is designed to reach.The financial damage is not theoretical. Tenant organizations, universities, and housing advocates across Europe document consistent patterns of what international renters, including Americans, actually lose. Brokers charge Illegal agency fees equivalent to one month's rent, despite being prohibited in many European markets. Administrative fees of 100 to 400 euros for paperwork that either does not exist or is legally required to be free. Deposits demanded at levels well above legal ceilings, with some landlords requesting three, four, or five months upfront, knowing that Americans have no frame of reference for what is normal. Direct transfers of 300 to 1,000 euros or more via wire transfer or foreign bank accounts for listings where the keys never arrive.Wire transfers to private individuals in another country carry none of the dispute protections that American credit card users take for granted. Once that transfer clears, the money is gone.Against those numbers, a platform fee looks different.Why a barrier is a featureThe most common objection to verified rental platforms is that the fee is an unnecessary cost on top of an already expensive international move. What that view misses is what the fee actually does to the ecosystem on the other side.Fraudsters operate on volume. They post free listings across as many channels as possible because the economics of the scam depend on reaching large numbers of people at no cost. A platform that requires identity verification, bank account confirmation, and listing approval before anyone can advertise disrupts that model. Not because fraudsters are incapable of paying, but because the combination of cost, scrutiny, and paper trail makes the environment far less hospitable than an open classifieds site where anyone can post anonymously.Landlords who have gone through identity and bank account verification carry a badge that distinguishes them from anonymous posters. For an American renter with no local contacts, no knowledge of the neighborhood, and no ability to knock on a door before signing, that distinction carries considerably more weight than it might for a local renter with options.Scam monitoring systems that identify and remove fraudulent listings and accounts within minutes of their creation add yet another dimension that informal channels cannot replicate. A scam listing that survives for days on an open expat forum may survive for minutes on a platform with active detection in place.Silence is not the platform failingThe most common frustration among Americans searching for European housing through any platform is silence. You pay, you send messages, and nothing comes back. It feels like the platform has failed to deliver.What is actually happening is a reflection of the market rather than the platform. In a city like Amsterdam or Berlin, a landlord listing a property can receive 50 to 100 responses within an hour of posting. The European rental market in major cities is not like searching for an apartment in most American cities, where a reasonable application gets a reasonable response within a few days. Demand in cities like Barcelona, Munich, and Paris routinely outpaces supply by margins that would be difficult to imagine in most U.S. markets. Replying individually to every applicant is not feasible, and listings disappear from a landlord's attention not because of indifference but because of volume.What that means in practice is that access to listings is only part of what determines whether a search succeeds. The other part is how that access is used. Americans who find housing through verified platforms in Europe tend to share a few consistent behaviors. They have a complete, personalized introduction ready before they start browsing, not a generic inquiry but a specific message explaining who they are, what brings them to the city, and why they would be a reliable tenant. They respond within minutes of a listing going live, since the first responses consistently receive priority. They maintain a complete profile with a photo and background information, because landlords filter on this before reading messages. And they tailor each message to the specific property rather than sending the same text everywhere.One additional note for American renters specifically: European landlords are often unfamiliar with U.S. credit history, U.S. employer references, and U.S. banking infrastructure. A message that acknowledges this directly and explains how you plan to pay, whether through a platform payment system, an international transfer, or a European bank account you are in the process of opening, tends to perform better than one that assumes the landlord will figure it out.The platform opens the door. What happens at the door depends on speed, preparation, and how well you understand the market you are entering.Fraudsters adapt, and so should youAccess to a verified platform reduces risk considerably, but only when used correctly. Fraudsters do not disappear entirely from structured environments. They adapt, and they are particularly skilled at exploiting the specific gaps in knowledge that American renters bring to a European housing search.The most consistent warning sign is pressure to move the conversation off the platform. A landlord asking to continue over WhatsApp or email immediately after first contact is removing themselves from the environment where screening and monitoring happen. For an American renter with no local support network to fall back on, that move should be treated as a serious red flag rather than a minor inconvenience.External links sent by landlords, whether to video walkthroughs, application forms, or payment pages, are a common method of collecting personal data outside a secure environment and should be avoided. Verification badges are worth prioritizing. A landlord who has confirmed their identity and bank account through a platform's screening process represents a meaningfully different level of risk than one who has not.What happens after you payEven Americans who navigate the search carefully tend to carry one anxiety that the verification process alone does not fully resolve: What happens if something goes wrong after the money has already left their account?This is where the structure of a payment system matters as much as the verification behind it. Renters should look for platforms that hold the first month's rent securely until after move-in rather than releasing it to the landlord immediately. That structure preserves recourse at the moment it is most needed. If the property does not match what was advertised, a renter still in that window has grounds to report it and claim a refund. If the landlord cancels last minute or delays the move-in, a well-structured platform will help find alternative accommodation, arrange a temporary hotel stay, or return the first month's rent entirely.That is a materially different outcome from what happens when money moves via a direct wire transfer to a private individual in another country. A direct international wire transfer carries essentially no consumer protection once it clears. There is no regulatory framework that crosses borders to help recover money sent to a fraudulent foreign landlord. The transaction is complete the moment it lands. For someone who has just flown across the Atlantic to start a new chapter, the difference between those two situations is not a minor detail.A market that punishes the unpreparedThe European rental market is competitive enough that even well-prepared locals sometimes struggle to find housing. For Americans arriving without local references, a European credit history, or familiarity with how rental law works in each country, the margin for error is considerably smaller.The free search feels like a saving. In practice, it is often the entry point for the most expensive outcomes Americans experience during a European relocation, and unlike most financial mistakes, the consequences tend to arrive on day one in a new country, before a support network exists, before a local bank account is open, and before there is anyone nearby to help sort it out.For any American starting a housing search in Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain or Italy from across the Atlantic, the question is not whether verification is worth paying for. It is whether the alternative is worth the risk.This story was produced by HousingAnywhere and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Survey of 1,000+ users reveals widespread misconceptions about online pharmacy safety Survey of 1,000+ users reveals widespread misconceptions about online pharmacy safetyIf you’ve ever used an online pharmacy platform to get a prescription filled, you’re in good company. Millions of people do it, and trust in these platforms has been growing steadily. In fact, 62% of users of online pharmacy platforms say they trust some or all online pharmacies more now than they did in 2023.That trust makes sense. Most well-known platforms are convenient, affordable, and legitimate. But the industry has a serious problem with bad actors, and illegitimate sites are getting harder to spot. They look like the real thing, but many require no prescription, no licensed provider, and no pharmacist review whatsoever.A new survey of 1,024 online pharmacy users, conducted by Centiment on behalf of TelyRx, reveals widespread misconceptions about how these platforms are regulated. These critical misunderstandings, particularly regarding Food and Drug Administration approval and prescription oversight, could make it difficult for consumers to spot rogue sites and put them at serious risk of falling for a scam.Key TakeawaysUsers of online pharmacies widely misunderstand FDA approval. Most strikingly, 59% incorrectly believe vitamins and supplements are FDA-tested or approved. This is the category respondents most often got wrong, even though supplements can legally reach the market without notifying the FDA.Most users (76%) assume a licensed medical professional signs off on their medical information. While this is true on legitimate platforms, thousands of rogue sites that look legitimate may have no pharmacist or provider involved at all.64% of users have never doubted the safety of medications they’ve ordered online, but verification habits vary. Among the minority who have doubted their medications, price was the most commonly cited red flag — 42% grew suspicious when a deal seemed too good to be true.Trust in online pharmacies is growing: 62% trust these platforms more than they did in 2023 due in part to their firsthand experience (36%), a sense of increased regulation (35%), and provider recommendations (34%).FDA Approval Is Widely Misunderstood, Including Which Products Skip It EntirelyWhile there is a general consensus that FDA review keeps medications safe, the survey reveals that consumers are often unclear on how that process actually applies to what they order online.In fact, younger generations showed a complete factual reversal of how products are actually regulated, believing vitamins are more strictly vetted than vaccines:Millennials: 67% believe vitamins are FDA-approved, compared to just 53% for vaccines.Gen Z: 66% believe vitamins are FDA-approved, compared to 53% for vaccines.Baby Boomers and Gen X respondents showed the opposite pattern, expressing greater confidence in vaccine regulation than in supplement oversight.This is a critical misunderstanding of regulatory boundaries. The FDA regulates supplements as food products, not drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health and FDA guidance. Drugs, including prescription medications and vaccines, must prove they are safe and effective for a specific medical purpose before the FDA will approve them. Vaccines, in particular, are required to move through three phases of clinical trials before FDA approval is even considered.Supplements don’t have to clear that bar. They can make general health claims, but they aren’t tested or approved to treat, cure, or prevent anything, and the FDA has no authority to review them before they hit shelves. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, a company can even bring a supplement to market without notifying the FDA at all.This confusion about what the FDA does or doesn’t approve extends directly into online pharmacy offerings. Among all respondents, 41% incorrectly believe compounded medications are FDA-tested and approved before reaching patients. Because compounded drugs are mixed by a pharmacist for a specific individual, they fall outside the standard FDA approval process. TelyRx That distinction matters because, unlike FDA-approved drugs, compounded medications don’t go through years of clinical trials or the strict manufacturing quality controls that help ensure accurate dosing and consistent ingredients.For a patient who doesn’t know the difference, it’s easy to assume one is as safe as the other. That assumption can lead to problems, particularly when ordering from platforms that aren’t transparent about what they’re actually dispensing.Generics and brand-name drugs land on the other end of the spectrum: Both go through FDA approval, yet 34% of respondents don’t believe generics are FDA-tested, and 31% don’t believe brand-name medications are. Misunderstanding the approval status of these drugs, in either direction, leaves patients less equipped to evaluate what they’re ordering and less likely to spot a platform selling something it shouldn’t.76% Believe Licensed Pros Review Online Prescriptions. For Rogue Sites, That’s Not a Guarantee.A legitimate online pharmacy requires a licensed provider to review every prescription request, and a licensed pharmacist must dispense the order before it ships. The data shows the vast majority of respondents (76%) understand this, believing that a licensed professional signs off on their care.However, the remaining 24% of respondents have an inaccurate or uncertain picture of this process:10% believe the review is handled entirely by an AI algorithm.11% admit they have no idea who handles it.3% think the review is just a formality before payment goes through.While the AI answer has a grain of truth (some platforms use AI screening before a human signs off), the remaining 14% are unaware of the safety checks required for their care.This lack of awareness is precisely what rogue sites can exploit. On an illegitimate site that visually mimics a legitimate platform, there may be no pharmacist, no provider, and no safety check at all.64% Have Never Doubted the Safety or Authenticity of Medications Ordered OnlineMost people who order medications and prescription refills online have never stopped to question what they received. Nearly two-thirds (64%) say they’ve never doubted the safety or authenticity of their order, and 9% say the concept of doubting their medications hasn’t crossed their mind. TelyRx That confidence can be well-placed, but only if the methods behind it are reliable. When asked how they determine whether a platform is trustworthy, respondents most commonly said they ask a doctor (39%), read online reviews (32%), or trust whoever recommended the platform (30%).However, it’s worth being cautious about false promises. Some rogue sites falsely advertise products as FDA-approved, which means even the most common trust signals aren’t foolproof.When consumers do spot reasons to doubt a platform or medication, the red flags they notice are concrete and specific. For example, medications not approved by the FDA cannot legally be imported from overseas, so taking note of where a package ships from can make a big difference.Among the 27% of survey respondents who have questioned a medication they received:42% grew suspicious because the price seemed too cheap.30% had doubts after reading negative reviews.28% noticed the medication shipped from outside the U.S.24% said the packaging looked off when their order arrived.Knowing these signals is useful, but things like altered packaging or an international shipping label only become visible to the consumer after an order has already been placed.Younger Generations Vet Online Pharmacies Most Aggressively but Have the Shakiest Grasp of FDA OversightYounger respondents tend to find online pharmacy platforms through a broader mix of channels than older generations do. While doctors and insurance providers remain the top sources of discovery across all age groups, that specific channel dominates among Baby Boomers and Gen X slightly more than among Millennials and Gen Z.Despite relying more on social media and advertisements for discovery, younger generations research a platform’s trustworthiness more actively than older respondents across nearly every method measured.That pattern is clearest at the extremes. Gen Z and Millennials lead on almost all active verification methods, including checking government resources, reading reviews, and investigating via search engines or social media. Gen Z also leads all age groups in directly asking a doctor (45%).Conversely, Baby Boomers are the most likely to assume a platform is trustworthy if it sells FDA-approved drugs (36%) and the least likely to say they verified a platform at all (18%). TelyRx However, this proactive research from younger users doesn’t automatically translate to accurate regulatory knowledge. Checking more sources only helps if you know how to interpret what you find. The same younger generations who cross-reference platforms so aggressively still hold fundamental misconceptions about how vaccines and supplements are regulated.62% Indicate Trust in Online Pharmacy Platforms Is Growing. Here’s How to Stay Safe from ScamsTrust in online pharmacies has been moving in a positive direction, with 62% of respondents saying they trust them more now than they did in 2023. Of that group, 27% said their trust grew for some platforms more than others, but not all.For those who trust them more now, the top reasons were firsthand positive experience (36%), a sense that the industry has become more regulated or transparent (35%), and a provider recommendation (34%).That overall trend is encouraging, but it’s only meaningful if that trust is being placed in platforms that have earned it.How to Spot Online Pharmacy ScamsSites that cut corners count on users not recognizing red flags. Here are some of the most common things to watch for before placing an online pharmacy order:The site lets you purchase prescription medications without a valid prescription or any kind of medical consultation.The price seems unusually low compared to what you’d pay at a local pharmacy.The medication is shipped from outside the U.S.The site lists no licensed U.S. pharmacist or anyone available to answer questions.The packaging or labeling looks off when your order arrives.The pharmacy isn’t verified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or doesn’t carry a LegitScript certification.On legitimate platforms, those concerns don’t come up. You don’t need an existing prescription to place an order. Instead, each order is submitted as a prescription request that a licensed doctor must approve before anything is dispensed. Every medication comes from licensed U.S. wholesalers and FDA-approved manufacturers, and pricing is transparent with no hidden fees.For a deeper look at what separates a legitimate platform from a risky one, check out this comprehensive guide on how to spot online pharmacy scams.MethodologyThe survey was conducted by Centiment on behalf of TelyRx. The survey was fielded from June 8-9, 2026, with results based on 1,024 completed surveys. To qualify, respondents were screened as U.S. adults aged 18 or older who have ever used an online pharmacy platform.Data are unweighted, and the margin of error (MOE) is approximately 3% for the overall sample at the 95% confidence level. The MOE and confidence level for data filtered by specific demographics (subgroups) may differ from the overall result. Because these subgroups are naturally smaller than the total sample, they may have a larger margin of error than the approximate 3% for the full data set.This story was produced by TelyRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Economists predict fewer people in temporary cash assistance program but higher grant amounts State economists attributed the decreasing caseload "primarily" to "persistently falling child poverty rates." (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)The number of Florida residents relying on temporary financial assistance to make ends meet is decreasing but the average amount of grants awarded is on the rise. July data released by the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) show the state expects 24,234 people to benefit from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, referred to as TANF, in state fiscal year 2026-27. That’s a 30% reduction from the 34,718 people previously estimated to benefit from the program between July 1 and June 30, 2027 and that legislators relied on when crafting the state budget. The 24,000-plus people represents 14,574 caseloads. The economists who serve on the EDR previously anticipated there would be 19,346 caseloads for FY 26-27. Overall, the program is expected to cost $47.6 million this fiscal year, which is less than the $63.1 million included in the current year budget to cover the costs. Sitting as the Social Services Estimating conference, the economists said in an executive summary the decreasing caseload is “primarily related to persistently falling child poverty rates.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. TANF is a federally funded program that provides cash assistance and support services to lower-income families with children. The TANF program in Florida is called Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) and is administered by the Department of Children and Families. TCA provides up to 48 months of financial support to low-income Florida families to help cover essential needs. To qualify, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen, have a Social Security number, have an annual income of less than 185% of the federal poverty level or $61,050 or less a year, and have a child living with them. Families must cooperate with child support enforcement. Young children (those under age five) must be vaccinated while children aged 6-18 must regularly attend school to qualify. Additionally, the rules require most adults to participate in at least 35 hours per week of approved work activities, which include job searches, community service, or training. Caseloads and people served aren’t the only data points being revised downward by economists. The average family size went from just under 1.8 people per caseload to about 1.6 per caseload. Bucking the downward trend, however, is the average size of the grant per person. Data show economists predict a $143.24 TANF grant per person in FY 26-27, which is slightly higher than the previous estimated award of $134.34 per person. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Will Moon remembered for generosity, leadership of Iowa 80 Group Will Moon moved to Walcott with his parents when he was 4 years old, when his parents took over the Iowa 80 Truckstop.

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