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

Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
	Major drug recall: Ketamine, fentanyl, other drugs do not meet FDA standards Multiple drugs used to treat patients in hospital and clinical settings nationwide are being recalled because they did not meet drug standards.
	After Assad's fall, Syria's Kurds are left in limbo, feeling abandoned by the U.S. Caught in limbo after the fall of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, Kurdish families struggle with cold, loss and uncertainty — feeling abandoned by the U.S. allies they once fought alongside.
	Trends still go from the runway to retail. A lot has changed in how they get there In 2006, an infamous scene from The Devil Wears Prada schooled viewers on how fashion trends make their way from the runway to the clearance bin. 20 years later, what's changed?
	Spirit Airlines ceases operations after escalating financial struggles The low-cost carrier, which had been struggling for years, announced it will cease operations. Spirit had been seeking a $500 million lifeline from the White House, but talks failed to yield a deal.
	Air Force says former Qatari 747 will be ready to fly as Air Force One this summer The U.S. Air Force has finished modifying and testing a Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar for temporary use as Air Force One and expects to have it ready for President Trump to use this summer.
	U.S. to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in next 6-12 months The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump's threat as he clashes with the German leader over the U.S. war with Iran.
	Police investigate after car flips over on River Drive, Davenport Police were on the scene directing traffic away from the eastbound lanes of River Drive after a car flipped upside down late Friday. Our Quad Cities News crew saw squad cars and officers at the scene about 11:15 p.m. near the intersection of Oneida Avenue and River Drive. Debris lay scattered throughout the roadway on [...]
Friday, May 1st, 2026
	Millions of birds to migrate through Iowa DES MOINES, Iowa -- Typically, we're told to watch the night sky for shooting stars, a comet, or even a full moon, but this time it's for birds. On Saturday night, a large migration of birds, including warblers, thrushes, sparrows, shorebirds, orioles, grosbeaks, buntings, and hummingbirds, will be flying through Iowa. The Cornell Lab of [...]
	Rock Island Police conducting death investigation KWQC has reached out to officials for more information.
	KWQC is back on DISH Network Gray Media has reached a new agreement with DISH Network, restoring all Gray-owned local television stations, including KWQC, to the DISH lineup effective immediately.
	Moline wins 6th annual Douglas Cup 13-3 Moline baseball defeated Rock Island 13-3 in six innings to take home the 6th annual Douglas Cup.
	High school sports: May 1st Watch highlights from Geneseo vs Rockridge softball, Princeton vs Kewanee softball, Rock Island vs Davenport Central girls soccer plus Pleasant Valley’s signing day.
	Mother goose brings smiles to infusion patients at Mercy One Genesis West A goose started building her nest on an overhang April 1. She gives cancer patients a welcome distraction from their treatments.
	Traffic alert: Ramps to close for paving at Illinois 26, Interstate 180 interchanges in Bureau County Ramps at the Illinois 26 and Interstate 180 interchanges are set to close temporarily for paving.
	Rock Island Arsenal invites public to Armed Forces Day Celebration The celebration will take place on May 15 and 16 with the annual Run the Rock event.
	One person dead after emergency response at Rock Island Hy-Vee parking lot Police are on the scene at Hy-Vee, 29th Street and 18th Avenue, Rock Island, where Our Quad Cities News crew saw emergency responders give CPR to a person lying in the parking lot near a truck. Shortly after 9:15 p.m. Friday, our crew saw someone lying near a red pickup truck with its door open [...]
	Traffic alert: Crews to begin water service line upgrades on 15th Street in Moline Crews will be replacing lead and galvanized steel service lines on 15th Street between 19th and 25th Avenue starting mid-May.
	Cool weather leads to a frost advisory tonight Ever since those storms that we saw on Monday temperatures have consistently been cooler than normal in the Quad Cities ranging from the 50s to 60s. And now it all comes to a head as we have a frost advisory for most of the area tonight. From 1am-8am tomorrow morning as temperatures will drop to [...]
	Augustana's new mental-health program allows students to help other students Augustana College has started a new way on campus to help students dealing with mental health issues. The college launched Peer Recovery Support, a new peer mentor support program. "You think about therapy. Therapy is you're listening to your own story and you're listening to it in a different way," said Bill Iavarone, the director [...]
	Moline selects international artist for Leading Light Project, community workshops The Moline Public Art Commission has selected international artist Nick Athanasiou of Skunk Control, an Australia-based creative studio, to lead the Leading Light public art project. As part of the project, Athanasiou will visit Moline Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 8 ,to lead workshops and community engagement sessions, offering residents an opportunity to connect directly with the artist and contribute to [...]
	Man convicted in 1990s robbery spree returned to Iowa custody After serving time in Illinois, a 49-year-old man tied to 1990s robberies is back in Scott County custody to continue his sentence.
	Former Agriculture Secretary Vilsack visits Davenport to mark World Food Prize milestone Vilsack is the CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation.
	Iowa Agriculture Secretary Vilsack visits Davenport to mark World Food Prize milestone Vilsack is the CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation.
	Clinton teen killed in Jackson County crash Emergency crews responded to a fatal crash Friday near Miles involving a single vehicle and an 18-year-old driver.
	Driver killed in single-car crash near Miles, Iowa An 18-year-old Clinton driver was killed in a single-car crash Friday afternoon, according to an Iowa State Patrol crash report. The report says the crash happened about 3 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street and 484th Avenue in Miles, Iowa. A 2008 Toyota Corolla was headed east on 18th Street west of Miles when [...]
	Vice President JD Vance to visit Iowa manufacturing facility Tuesday The vice president will visit Ex-Guard Industries with Republican Rep. Zach Nunn and deliver remarks.
	Trump DOJ investigating ‘gender ideology’ in 36 Illinois school districts The Trump administration is investigating three dozen Illinois school districts to assess if their curriculums include “gender ideology” — and parental opt-outs — and whether trans students can participate in competitive sports.
	Affordable homes nearing completion in Muscatine after project shifts construction plans Six new affordable homes are nearing completion in Muscatine after local partners pivoted from a 3D-printing concept to a modular wood-building system.
	18-year-old killed after crash near Miles, Iowa According to the Iowa State Patrol, the driver lost control and left the road. They struck a piece of agricultural equipment before crashing into a building.
	Police: 18-year-old killed after crashing vehicle into building An 18-year-old was killed after crashing a vehicle into a building, according to Iowa State Patrol.
	RIA Federal Credit Union merges with Redbrand Credit Union R.I.A. Federal Credit Union on Friday announced that it has received regulatory approval from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and the National CreditUnion Administration (NCUA) to merge with Redbrand Credit Union, according to a news release. Members of Redbrand Credit Union approved the merger during a vote held at the Redbrand [...]
	Iowa Rep. discusses governor campaign priorities at Quad-Cities stop Republican gubernatorial hopeful Randy Feenstra visits the Quad Cities to discuss his 2026 campaign platform, focusing on business, ag, and taxes.
	Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, reopens after year of renovations Flowers bloom in early May in Clinton and, this year, so does the newly renovated Bickelhaupt arboretum, bringing a mix of education and art to the area. The Bickelhaupt re-opened Friday after a year of renovations. Shawn Hill-Lamb recalls her time at the Bickelhaupt when it was still owned by her grandparents. "I remember in [...]
	Davenport elementary school students take part in John Deere Manufacturing Day Students got to construct paper dump trucks on their own, then repeat it in an assembly line.
	Your guide to the 2026 Iowa primary election The Iowa primary is set for Tuesday, June 2. News 8 has everything you need to know about who's running and how to cast your vote.
	Body found in Rock River nearly 2 weeks after bridge incident The body of the man who police said jumped into the Rock River during a chase was found near Sterling, Illinois.
	Davenport brothers qualify for Team USA BMX trip to Australia 12-year-old Knox Reaves and his 8-year-old brother Deacon want you to join them at The Rock in Coal Valley on Saturday, May 2, to fundraise for their trip.
	Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is May 9 The annual nationwide hunger drive is set for May 9. United Way of the Quad Cities is also looking for volunteers to help postal carriers and River Bend Food Bank during the effort.
	Record-leaning April rainfall helps refill rivers, soils across Quad Cities The Quad City region got about six inches of rain in April, which is the same amount we saw from September to March. Here's what that means for summer forecasts.
	Court restricts abortion access across the US by blocking the mailing of mifepristone A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking the mailing of mifepristone.
	New mural in Savanna will honor hometown NASA astronauts Explore Savanna says a new town mural will feature an astronaut in honor of the late Dale Allan Gardner and current NASA astronaut in training, Maj. Cameron Jones.
	New WIU podcast explores challenges, solutions in rural transportation "Rolling Rural" dropped its second episode on May 1. It looks at the issues facing rural residents and the people and programs that are creatively solving them.
	Rock Island man charged in Scott County with sexual abuse of a 6-year-old On Feb. 26, Davenport police received a report from the Aledo Police Department regarding a sexual assault that had occurred in Davenport between 2022 and 2023.
	Former Iowa governor visits Davenport Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack visited Davenport in his role as CEO of the World Prize Foundation.
	Mississippi bridge washings to take place There will be day-time and night-time lane closures controlled by flaggers. All work is expected to be completed by the end of July.
	Davenport brothers qualify to compete with USA BMX team The brothers are fundraising for their trip to Australia to compete with the USA BMX team.
	New humane society, police agreement allows for continued animal services in Clinton The agreement comes after contract negotiations between the city and shelter stalled last fall.
	City of Savanna honors local astronauts The City of Savanna is honoring two local astronauts with a new mural.
	Dixon inviting community members to suggest names for new pedestrian bridge Currently under construction, the completed pedestrian bridge will cross over the Rock River. It will also include a new bike path.
	Bettendorf selects interim principal after North Scott hire There will be some shuffling of principals between North Scott and Bettendorf elementary schools, starting next year.
	Bison return to Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead Four bison will be roaming the prairie at the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead again this summer and fall.
	Autistic & Loved Sensory Gym will unveil greenhouse mural Autistic & Loved Sensory Gym, 3811 Harrison St,, Suite 200, Davenport invites the public to celebrate the unveiling of the Autistic & Loved Greenhouse Mural from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, a news release says. The celebration will showcase a collaborative artwork created by mural artist Nana alongside more than 30 children who are autistic [...]
	Rock Island Arsenal to hold Full Scale Exercise The Rock Island Arsenal will conduct a Full Scale Exercise on Wednesday, May 6, simulating a tornado strike on the island.
	Man killed by train in Galesburg identified The victim has been identified as 41-year-old David Lynn Edwardson.
	Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces $25 million investment to improve Iowa water quality Central Iowa Water Works plans to use the money to double its ability to remove nitrates from agricultural runoff.
	Twin Rivers Little League concession stand broken into in Colona Police and the league said almost all of the candy was stolen, which had just been fully stocked for the season.
	World Food Prize celebrating 40th year with statewide campaign through Iowa The CEO of the World Food Prize, Tom Vilsack, visited Davenport Friday to talk with city and school officials and reporters about the organization's work.
	Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging holding inaugural trivia fundraiser The agency serves older adults and caregivers across a ten-county region. WIAAA tells News 8 there's a growing demand for its services.
	Blue Grass drive-in opens for the season today! The drive-in has four different screens, and they're opening with some popular favorites like Project Hail Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
	Niabi Zoo hosting "May the Zoo Be With You" event The event is included with Niabi Zoo admission.
	Black Hawk College honors five area first responders and community heroes Students, community members and practitioners were invited to nominate individuals and agencies for first responder appreciation awards.
	Take the challenge of the Quad Cities Summer Games Step up to show your skills at athletic and arts events in the QCA! Rhonda Elsbury joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Quad Cities Summer Games. For more information, click here.
	Trivia night fundraiser aims to support aging services in western Illinois The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging says the demand for its services has shot up recently, but so has inflation. To help, you're invited to trivia on May 15.
	Traffic alert: Construction at 4th Street intersections to impact commuters, semis Work to expand 4th Street intersections at Gaines and Brown streets will reduce traffic to one line beginning Monday, the city says.
	Illinois State Board of Education wants to revamp how it counts low-income students The state Board of Education says it needs a more accurate count of low-income students as participation in federal assistance programs declines.
	New humane society, police agreement allows for continued animal services in Clinton The agreement comes after contract negotiations between the city and shelter stalled last fall.
	Moline to replace water service lines along 15th Street between 19th, 25th Avenues The City of Moline will replace its service lines starting in the middle of May.
	RIA Credit Union merging with Redbrand Credit Union, expands reach into Peoria area Redbrand Credit Union is based in Bartonville, a small town near Peoria with branches in Bartonville and Pekin.
	Bush Construction names Michael Johnson president Johnson steps into the role following a period of steady leadership and operational continuity.
	Officials name victim in fatal pedestrian-train crash in Galesburg The victim was identified as 41-year-old David Lynn Edwardson of Galesburg. His autopsy is being conducted on Friday.
	Augustana College and the city of Rock Island updating public on Milan Bottoms partnership; biologist shares final data on 8-week survey of night roosting bald eagles The city of Rock Island and Augustana College are holding a public informational meeting on Tuesday, May 5th, at Hanson Hall in room 234, starting at 5:30. The meeting is to update residents on the research partnership and the city’s work to preserve the 550 acres of wetlands. WVIK also interviewed biologist Kelly McKay on his final data set for this past winter’s bald eagle night roosting usage within the Milan Bottoms.
	U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra holds round table in Davenport as he campaigns for governor Feenstra is one of five vying for the Republican nomination to be the next governor of Iowa. He spoke with Quad-Cities business owners at a round table on Friday.
	4 Your Money \| Raising The Bar We are amid earnings season with companies sharing quarterly figures and updating projections. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, joins us to show that the numbers are more optimistic than expected given everything going on in the world.
	Rock Island alderman withdraws family business’ bid for preschool catering contract amid conflict of interest concerns Seventh Ward Alderman Bill Healy said the removal is to allow the city to move forward, and there is no basis to claims of impropriety.
	Paws on the road: Tips for a dog-friendly vacation (BPT) - Whether you're seeking sandy beaches or fresh mountain air, you can make your road trip even better with a furry co-pilot.Traveling with your pup does require some preparation. To ensure a successful and stress-free journey with your four-legged friend, check out these five helpful tips.1. Safety first!If you haven't already, invest in a pet seat belt, car seat or travel crate so your dog can travel comfortably and safely. Not only will these safety products keep your pup safe, but they also prevent your pet from distracting you while driving. Find dog seat belts and more at Chewy.com. You can also use these Chewy dog seat belts, car seats and crates for everyday trips around town after your vacation.2. Pack a travel kitPut together a travel kit with your pet's essentials. A travel kit should include items to help keep your furry companion comfortable, happy and safe while on vacation.Besides water, food, treats, bowls and waste bags, make sure to include your dog's favorite toys, bedding and grooming supplies. Don't forget a leash and collar with ID tags just in case you get separated during your adventures.3. Plan pet-friendly stopsAs you choose your route, research pet-friendly stops, such as rest areas and parks that welcome pets. Plan to stop every 2-4 hours. However, you may have to stop more frequently if your pup has travel anxiety or becomes motion sick.4. Prioritize exercise and playtimeStops aren't just for meals and potty breaks. Just like you, your four-legged friend needs to stretch their legs and burn off some energy. During rest stops, take time to exercise and play with your pet.If you stop at a park with trails, plan to go hiking. At a pet-friendly rest area, play fetch or simply run around. Whatever physical activities you decide to do, exercise and playtime during a long road trip will keep your dog engaged and entertained. You'll get a workout, too!5. Keep cool and hydratedDepending on where you plan to travel, your destination may get even hotter than what your furry family member is used to back at home.Keep your pup cool and hydrated by offering plenty of fresh water during rest stops. Consider purchasing a cooling mat or vest for your pet to help them stay comfortable. Most importantly, never leave your dog in a parked car on a hot day.Are you ready to hit the road with your best friend? Follow these five tips, and you'll be well on your way to an unforgettable road trip with your dog.
	Humane society, police come to limited agreement in Clinton The shelter board of directors and the city police chief have what they are calling a “partnership in progress” after failing to reach a contract in September 2025.
	Why sleep is the new wellness status symbol, and how homes are responding Why sleep is the new wellness status symbol, and how homes are respondingAs health and wellness increasingly become higher priorities in our daily routines, sleep has moved to the center of the conversation. Once treated as a passive part of life, good sleep is now widely recognized as essential to overall well-being.This sleep obsession has fueled “sleepmaxxing,” a viral social media trend that treats sleep as a data-driven event. Through metrics that track quality and recovery, rest is no longer just experienced, but is measured, analyzed, and optimized via wearable sleep trackers.The popularity of sleepmaxxing and looking at sleep through a performance lens has set off a chain of consumer behaviors — and bedroom design changes.New homeowners are more aware of how environmental conditions affect rest and are increasingly seeking ways to improve sleep, from circadian lighting systems to rethinking the bedroom itself — designed not just for style but for performance.NewHomeSource, a new home listings site with customer reviews, explores how growing interest in sleep and wellness is influencing home design.How do Sleep Data and Bedroom Design Connect?According to a 2025 survey of 2,007 adults in the U.S. by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 48% of adults report having used a sleep tracking device, a stat that has risen significantly over the last couple of years. More than half of sleep tracker users (55%) report taking action based on the sleep data presented.A notable shift is how people are acting on the data received from sleep trackers, says sleep expert Dr. Shalini Paruthi with the AASM.“When adults notice results that are suboptimal, we see that many of them want to prioritize sleep hours, improve their sleep environments, and learn more relaxation techniques in the hope of improving sleep data.”From magnesium and melatonin to mouth taping and “sleep divorce,” sleepmaxxing culture is built on optimization. But these quick-fix solutions are often short-lived.The more durable answer may be simpler: a well-designed bedroom. Proper bedroom design offers a pragmatic, long-term foundation for better sleep, especially in new-build homes, where layout, materials, and systems can be planned from the start.Why New Construction Homes Have a Sleep EdgeNew-build homes have an advantage when it comes to sleep-friendly design, with built-in bedroom features that promote rest at a foundational level:Layouts that consider separation and privacy, placing bedrooms away from main living areas.Flex rooms, outside of, but still close to, bedrooms, that absorb activities such as work, workouts, or late-night TV.State-of-the-art climate control, often zoned by floor or room.High-quality materials with better acoustic performance.What this means for buyers: When touring model homes or comparing floor plans, pay attention to where bedrooms are located, how noise travels, and whether flexible spaces can serve sleep‑adjacent needs. Many of these features are standard in new construction, while others may vary by builder or community.How to Design A Sleep SanctuaryBuilding on these new-build benefits, here are the must-have design and décor elements in a bedroom geared for good sleep.1. Make Sleep the Bedroom Design PriorityIn recent years, bedrooms have become multipurpose spaces, doubling as offices or exercise areas, which works against quality sleep.“If the main goal for your bedroom is creating ultimate serenity and relaxation, make that your primary focus. Try to separate your workspace or workout area by putting your desk or gym equipment in another room to make sleep a priority,” says Lee Crowder, senior director of national design and model operations at Taylor Morrison.Screens can also interfere with rest. Blue light from TVs, phones, and tablets triggers alertness and disrupts sleep cycles, making screen‑free bedrooms an important foundation for healthy sleep habits. If you use a sleep tracker, consider reviewing your data in the morning rather than in bed. This small behavioral shift helps the bedroom feel more restorative — and less performance‑driven.A sleep‑first approach doesn’t require a large bedroom. In fact, a smaller bedroom dedicated primarily to rest can work well across a range of home sizes and doesn’t necessarily require premium upgrades. The key is maintaining nearby space for bedroom‑adjacent activities like reading or watching TV.Flex rooms, dressing areas, or small lounges can absorb these activities without encroaching on the sleep space. With square footage at a premium, smart storage becomes even more important. Clutter‑free environments help set the stage for better sleep, so look for multifunctional furnishings like side tables with storage, blanket boxes, or upgraded closets with built‑in organization systems.It all comes down to layout choices rather than square footage alone.2. Light That Supports SleepHumans rely on natural light cues to regulate circadian rhythms and the wake/sleep cycle.To replicate this experience, there are a variety of smart lighting systems that intuitively follow the patterns of natural light throughout the day. Circadian smart lighting systems incorporate the whole home, adjusting timing, brightness, and color across multiple fixtures, according to sunrise and sunset or your daily routines.Or you can DIY a circadian lighting approach with a layered lighting strategy that mimics natural light variations and direction as the day progresses. Include task, ambient, and decorative lighting, focusing on warmth and direction. Crowder suggests avoiding overhead bulbs over 3500k, which are too intense; use lamps and dimmable circadian bulbs instead.Natural light remains important, but blackout window coverings help ensure uninterrupted rest. Smart shades, often offered as upgrades, allow homeowners to schedule light exposure precisely. When evaluating a home, consider bedroom orientation and how morning or afternoon light enters the space.3. Dreamy DecorEnhance the cozy cocoon effect with tactile textiles and color drenching to envelope the space in calming tones.Paint color significantly affects sleep, as some colors trigger physical responses that help or hinder rest. Red raises blood pressure, while greens and blues are calming, making them better choices for a sleep-focused bedroom.Natural materials such as wood, cotton, linen, and wool are inherently calming, making them ideal for accents, decor, and bedding, says Crowder.“Splurge on good quality sheets and bedding, as these make a significant difference in a bedroom’s comfort and serenity. Bedding should be made of natural materials that breathe and allow for the best sleep quality.”For buyers, many of these choices come later, but selecting a neutral, calming base palette from the start makes it easier to build a sleep‑friendly space over time.Bottom LineSleep may be driving a wave of data, devices, and optimization strategies, but the most effective solution isn’t another tool; it’s the space itself. As awareness grows around how the environment impacts rest, bedroom design is shifting from a stylistic choice to a functional necessity.For new‑home buyers, this means prioritizing layouts, systems, and materials that support rest from day one — turning sleep from a tracked metric into a lasting lifestyle upgrade.This story was produced by NewHomeSource and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The best and worst months to sell a home The best and worst months to sell a homeEvery spring, the same question surfaces in real estate conversations across the country: When is the best time to sell a house?The answer costs real money to get wrong. Across 16 major U.S. markets, homes that closed in June sold for a median of $388,791, while homes that closed in January sold for $361,497. That is a $27,294 gap for the same types of houses, in the same cities, separated only by the calendar.Multiple independent datasets point to the same broad conclusion. ATTOM Data’s analysis of more than 47 million single-family home and condo sales between 2015 and 2024 found that May delivers the highest seller premium at 9.5%, followed by February (9.4%) and April (9.1%), while November trails at 6.4%. Realtor.com’s 2025 Best Time to Sell report identified the week of April 13-19 as the national optimum, with homes listed that week selling roughly $27,000 above average, nine days faster, and with 17.7% more buyer views per listing. Zillow’s 2024 analysis found homes listed in the second half of May sold for 1.6% more, or about $5,600 on a typical U.S. home.Those findings all line up on the same window: spring listings, early summer closings. But national averages mask wide differences between markets. An Offerpad analysis of aggregated multiple listing service (MLS) data covering more than 2.1 million single-family home transactions across 16 metropolitan areas from January 2023 through March 2026 shows exactly how much timing matters, and where it matters most. Offerpad Best Month to Sell a House: Price, Speed, and CompetitionThe best time to sell a house depends on your priority. The table below shows the optimal and worst months for each selling metric, averaged across the 16 metros analyzed. Offerpad The peaks do not line up because of the lag between listing and closing. Homes listed in April and May get showings, receive offers, and enter escrow over the following weeks. The spring listing rush creates summer closing peaks. The price peak in June reflects offers made during peak competition. The speed peak in July reflects sellers who listed in the hottest market of the year and moved through closing quickly.The worst month to sell a house is January by nearly every measure: lowest prices, fewest buyers, and the largest average price reductions ($16,948). That pattern holds in both the metro-level MLS data and ATTOM’s national 10-year study, which identified November and October as the weakest months on a seller-premium basis.When to Sell a House: Month-by-Month BreakdownThe table below shows how every major selling metric shifts across the calendar year, averaged across 16 metros and all available years. Offerpad January and February are the trough. Homes sit longest, sell for the least, and face the weakest buyer competition. Sellers listing in winter often have reasons that override timing: a job relocation, a family change, or a financial deadline.The spring acceleration is sudden. Between February and April, days on market (DOM) drops by more than 12 days. Above-list sales jump from 14.8% to 21.8%. Buyers who spent winter browsing start putting in offers once inventory improves.The best time to sell a house is the April-through-July window. These four months have the fastest sales, highest prices, most bidding wars, and smallest price reductions. Within that stretch, May and June are the dual peaks: May has the most competitive offers (23.6% above list) while June has the highest median price ($388,791). July is the speed peak, with homes selling in 44 days on average, 18 days faster than February. This pattern is consistent with Realtor.com’s finding that mid-April is the optimal national listing window, since homes listed in mid-April typically close in May or June.Then the fade begins. By September, days on market has crept back above 48 days and above-list sales have dropped below 20%. Families settle into school-year routines and buyer urgency fades.October has one quiet distinction: the lowest seller concessions of any month ($2,714). Buyers still searching by October tend to be committed, not browsing.Best Time to Sell a House by City: Where Seasonality Hits HardestThe national averages mask wide differences between cities. The seasonal swing in days on market ranges from 27.7 days in Indianapolis to 11.5 days in Tampa. Markets with cold winters tend to see the biggest seasonal swings, while Sun Belt cities with year-round warm weather show more consistent activity. Offerpad Three tiers emerge from the data.High-swing markets (20 or more days): Indianapolis, Austin, Columbus, Charlotte, Dallas, Raleigh, and Atlanta. These seven cities see the biggest seasonal shifts. Most are in the Midwest and Southeast, where cold winters and spring thaws create a distinct selling season. Sellers in these markets gain the most by timing their listing for spring and summer.Austin is the puzzle in this group. It does not get cold enough to freeze buyers out, yet it shows the second-highest DOM swing in the dataset (25.3 days). The explanation likely lies in its economy rather than its weather. Austin’s tech sector runs on corporate hiring cycles that concentrate relocations in spring and early summer. When the big employers bring in new hires, demand surges. When hiring slows, the market cools.Moderate-swing markets (15-20 days): San Antonio, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Columbia, Jacksonville, and Houston. These cities show real seasonal variation, but not enough to override other selling decisions.Low-swing markets (under 15 days): Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa. Year-round migration from northern states, retiree relocations, and steady warm weather create more consistent demand. In Tampa, the difference between the best and worst months is 11.5 days, compared with 27.7 days in Indianapolis. The Florida metros consistently show less seasonal variation in time-to-sale than their Midwestern counterparts, a pattern Zillow has also documented in its annual market studies.Home Sale Prices by Season: What Timing Costs or SavesSpeed is one dimension. Dollars are another. Some markets see median prices shift by nearly 20% between peak and off-peak months. Others barely move. Offerpad St. Louis is the most extreme case. The median home there sells for 19.2% more in June than in January. For a home priced around $250,000, that is the difference between $249,000 and $297,000. Same house, same neighborhood, same school district. The only variable is the month.Atlanta has the largest dollar swing ($48,438) because its higher median price amplifies even a moderate 12.3% seasonal shift. Columbus, with a lower median price, still shows a $42,346 swing because its 13% seasonal effect is among the strongest in the dataset.At the bottom of the table, Phoenix barely moves. A 2.3% price swing ($10,817) means sellers face almost no price penalty for selling at the “wrong” time. For Phoenix sellers, the best time to sell is whenever the home is ready.Jacksonville has an unusual pattern: Its peak price month is December, not June. Northeast Florida draws winter buyers from the Northeast who decide over the holidays to make the move, pushing late-year demand and December prices above the summer months.The magnitude of these swings is consistent with ATTOM’s national finding that seasonality is worth several percentage points of seller premium. The metro-level view simply shows how uneven that average is across the country.Bidding Wars by Month: When Homes Sell Above Asking PriceThe percentage of homes selling above list price is one of the clearest indicators of buyer competition. Across the 16 metros analyzed, May leads at 23.6%, nearly double January’s 12.4%. The market-level variation is where the data gets more interesting. Offerpad Columbus and St. Louis are the bidding war leaders. In Columbus, nearly half of all May transactions (46.4%) close above asking price. In St. Louis, that figure passes 50% in June, meaning more buyers pay above the list price than below it. Both are affordable Midwestern markets where spring demand meets limited inventory, and the result is intense competition.At the other end, Tampa and Orlando both show just 4.5 percentage points of seasonal swing in above-list sales. In these markets, the odds of a bidding war stay between roughly 9% and 13% year-round.Markets with the biggest days-on-market swings also tend to have the largest bidding war swings, confirming that the same seasonal forces drive both speed and competition.What This Means for Sellers in 2026The data provides a framework for understanding the seasonal forces at play in each market.In high-swing markets, timing is worth tens of thousands of dollars. Sellers in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Columbus, and Atlanta can see $28,000 to $48,000 in median price differences between the best and worst months. Listing in April or May to target a June or July close gives sellers the combined advantage of higher prices, faster sales, and more competitive offers.In low-swing markets, other factors matter more. Phoenix, Tampa, and Orlando show minimal seasonal variation. For sellers in these cities, home condition, pricing accuracy, and local neighborhood dynamics will likely determine the outcome more than which month they list.Speed and price do not peak in the same month. The fastest sales happen in July (44 days) while the highest prices come in June ($388,791). Sellers prioritizing speed may benefit from listing slightly later in the spring.January and February are the toughest months to sell by nearly every measure. Prices, speed, and buyer competition are all at their annual lows. Sellers who can avoid listing during these months will, on average, face better market conditions.Peak months bring peak competition from other sellers. May has the highest transaction volume (4,320 average per market), meaning more new listings compete for buyer attention. A well-priced, well-presented home listed in April, slightly ahead of the rush, may outperform a weaker listing in May simply because it faces less inventory competition. That mirrors Realtor.com’s finding that the mid-April window combines strong demand with 13.2% less inventory than an average week.MethodologyThis metro-level analysis is based on aggregated multiple listing service data for single-family home transactions from January 2023 through March 2026 across 16 metropolitan markets: Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Columbia (SC), Columbus (OH), Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, St. Louis, San Antonio, and Tampa. The MLS data was sourced and prepared by the Offerpad Research Team.All statistics represent market-wide transaction data. Seasonal averages are computed across all available years for each month. Days on market (DOM) measures the time from listing to contract. Median close price is the midpoint of all sale prices in a given month. Percent above list measures the share of transactions where the final sale price exceeded the original list price. Average price drop measures the average difference between original list price and final sale price for homes that sold below asking. Average concessions measures seller-paid closing cost contributions.The dataset includes more than 2.1 million individual transactions. Coverage note: because the dataset runs January 2023 through March 2026, January, February, and March are represented by four years of data while April through December are represented by three. This creates a slight recency bias on absolute values for the first quarter but does not change the relative ranking of months. Columbus MLS does not report concessions data; Houston and Las Vegas concessions values likely reflect differences in MLS reporting rather than actual seller-paid amounts near zero.Supporting national data is drawn from ATTOM Data’s “Best Days to Sell a Home” analysis (47 million single-family and condo sales, 2015-2024), Realtor.com’s 2025 Best Time to Sell report (50 largest U.S. metros), and Zillow Research’s 2024 annual sales analysis.This story was produced by Offerpad and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Twin Rivers Little League concession stand broken into in Colona Police and the league said almost all of the candy was stolen, which had just been fully stocked for the season.
	What to know about pain and suffering after an auto accident What to know about pain and suffering after an auto accidentThe term “pain and suffering” sounds pretty straightforward, but as a legal term, it is strict and complex. You can only receive money for pain and suffering in specific circumstances, and it takes an attorney who understands the law to prove that your car accident case qualifies. Physical impairment, loss of limb, physical pain, disfigurement, loss of quality of life, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and emotional distress are all types of pain and suffering.In this article, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. explains what you need to know about pain and suffering after an auto accident.Legal Definition of Pain and SufferingWhat is pain and suffering?In personal injury law, the term “pain and suffering” refers to the physical and emotional distress or trauma that an injured person experiences after an event like a car accident. As such, pain and suffering damages are a category of compensation that an injured person might seek through a personal injury claim. This form of harm can arise from the accident itself, the injuries suffered in the accident, subsequent medical treatment (such as surgeries), or disabilities that result from accident injuries.Types of Pain and SufferingPain and suffering damages come in two primary forms: physical and mental. Physical pain and suffering refer to the pain and discomfort caused by accident-related injuries and medical treatment for those injuries. For example, broken bones, lacerations, burns, nerve damage, and soft tissue injuries cause the physical sensation of pain. An accident victim can also experience pain from medical treatment for their injuries, such as post-operative pain.Mental pain and suffering refers to emotional trauma or distress that an accident victim experiences. The shock of an accident can cause a victim trauma, leading them to experience PTSD or other similar mental health issues as a result. An accident victim may also develop emotional distress after the accident due to temporary or permanent disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement. This can, in turn, lead to anxiety or depression due to the changes or limitations in their life caused by injuries, disabilities, or disfigurement.Can I Get Paid Money for Pain and Suffering Damages After a Car Accident?The answer depends on the type of car insurance you have. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in New Jersey, you must pursue compensation for your injuries and losses under the state’s no-fault rules. As a no-fault state, New Jersey requires all drivers to have an insurance policy that includes personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP coverage reimburses insured drivers and passengers who suffer injuries in a car accident, including medical expenses, lost income, and essential services (e.g., housekeeping and childcare). Injured drivers and passengers can access PIP benefits from the driver’s insurance policy regardless of who caused the car accident. The availability of PIP coverage, regardless of fault, defines the no-fault system.Policyholders can choose from one of two options for their PIP coverage. With the “no limitation on lawsuit” option, an injured car accident victim can sue an at-fault driver for noneconomic losses like pain and suffering. Under the “limitation on lawsuit” option, an injured driver or passenger cannot sue the motorist at fault for the car accident for noneconomic losses unless they have suffered injuries that meet the “verbal threshold,” such as:Displaced fracturePermanent injury/disabilityLoss of a fetusSignificant disfigurement/scarringDismemberment/loss of a body partFatal injuriesIf you chose the limitation on lawsuit option, you may need experienced legal counsel to help you pursue a claim for car accident pain and suffering damages. Proving that you’ve suffered an injury that meets the verbal threshold can prove challenging without the help of an experienced attorney with a history of winning similar car accident cases.How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?Economic losses, such as medical bills or lost income, are relatively straightforward to calculate with the help of financial records like bills, invoices, receipts, or pay stubs. On the other hand, calculating the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering after a car accident requires a subjective analysis of the effects of the accident and your injuries on your life. While specific injuries may have taken a massive toll on your life, it can be difficult to prove just how severe the effects have been.Generally, the more severe your injuries, the more compensation you may recover for pain and suffering. Injuries requiring intensive care or a more prolonged treatment and rehabilitation may entitle you to a more significant award. Suffering permanent disabilities or disfigurement can also increase the size of your pain and suffering damages. You might also recover more compensation for pain and suffering based on the accident’s severity. For example, if you were in a head-on collision or rollover crash, you might recover compensation for the mentally traumatic nature of the car accident.That said, the insurance company will want to pay you as little as possible, so you should expect them to undervalue the extent of your pain and suffering. Gathering substantial evidence of your pain and suffering can help you during car settlement negotiations. This includes putting together a list of people in your life who have witnessed firsthand how much the car accident changed your life. The more witnesses you have who can testify to your pain and suffering, the stronger your case will be.How To Prove Pain and SufferingProving the extent or the value of the pain and suffering you have experienced in a personal injury lawsuit will require various pieces of evidence, such as:Medical records that document the injuries you suffered in the car accident and the treatment and rehabilitation you received.Diagnostic imaging of your injuries (e.g., X-rays, MRIs).Medical bills and provider notes that document your complaints of physical pain or emotional distress.Mental health treatment notes that document your mental anguish.Testimony from your treating medical providers, family members, friends, and co-workers.Your own testimony about the effects that your injuries and disabilities have had on your life and the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced.This story was produced by Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The most dangerous US cities for pedestrians The most dangerous US cities for pedestriansDespite the health benefits of walking, only 2.4% of U.S. workers walk to work.As the federal government tries to promote walking and walkable cities, one major obstacle they have identified is road safety. Unfortunately, that concern remains valid. Pedestrian deaths peaked at 7,593 in 2022, and the latest annual FARS file still shows 7,080 pedestrian fatalities in 2024.‍To see where pedestrians are most at risk, researchers at TruckInfo.net analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's FARS and 2023 U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year estimates and found the following trends.‍#1: Pedestrian fatalities are still 72% higher than they were in 2009The current pedestrian safety problem is not a short-term blip. NHTSA's latest annual file shows 7,080 pedestrian deaths in 2024, up 72.3% from 4,109 in 2009. TruckInfo.net #2: Large cities where more people walk to work tend to have lower pedestrian fatality ratesAmong large cities, walk-to-work share and pedestrian fatality rates are negatively correlated. In TruckInfo.net's matched sample of 50 large cities, places where more residents walk to work generally post lower pedestrian fatality rates. TruckInfo.net #3: The most dangerous roads are not limited to the biggest countiesEven when looking at total pedestrian fatalities instead of per-capita rates, several of the most dangerous roadways are outside the country's very largest counties. Three of the top 10 are in counties with fewer than 1 million residents. TruckInfo.net #4: Memphis, TN, is still the most dangerous large city for pedestriansAmong large cities with populations above 350,000, Memphis ranks first with 69.5 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents over the 2015-2024 window.‍ TruckInfo.net #5: New Mexico is the most dangerous state for pedestriansLouisiana, Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina round out the top five states based on pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents. TruckInfo.net Full Data TruckInfo.net MethodologyFatality counts were sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. This refresh used the 2015-2024 annual files, with the 2024 file representing the latest annual release available from NHTSA as of April 2026. Population and walk-to-work data were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 1-year estimates. Large cities were defined as cities with populations over 350,000.This story was produced by TruckInfo.net and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AAA: Gas prices up $1 in Iowa since last year Gas prices continue to fluctuate daily, even hourly. According to AAA, the national average is $4.39 per gallon. The average price in Illinois is $4.85 and the average in Rock Island County is $4.41. In Iowa, the average price is $4.39 and the average in Scott County is $3.91. Brian Ortner, public affairs representative for [...]
	How artisan chocolate became a popular Mother’s Day gift How artisan chocolate became a popular Mother’s Day giftFew gifts carry as much pressure as the ones given to a mother. They are expected to say something true about how well you know her, how much you value what she has given, and whether you thought carefully enough to get it right.That standard has pushed a growing number of consumers toward gifts of artisan chocolate. Here, Los Angeles-based artisan chocolatier Compartés takes a look at the new generation of small-batch chocolatiers across the country who approach their craft with the rigor of fine dining and a designer's eye for presentation.Mother’s Day: A Major Gift-Giving MomentMother’s Day stands among the most significant retail moments on the American calendar, blending cultural tradition with substantial consumer spending.Data from the National Retail Federation shows that U.S. consumers spent about $34.1 billion celebrating the holiday in 2025, with roughly 84% of adults participating and average spending reaching about $259 per person.Katherine Cullen, NRF VP of Industry and Consumer Insights, explained the scale simply, noting that “Mother’s Day is an important holiday for many consumers, only surpassed by the winter holidays in terms of average spending.”Much of that spending still flows into familiar expressions of appreciation. Flowers, greeting cards, jewelry, and celebratory outings such as brunch or dinner continue to anchor the holiday. Yet shopper priorities are shifting toward gifts that feel more personal and memorable.Nearly half of consumers now say finding something unique matters most, according to NRF research. That growing interest in thoughtful gifting is drawing attention toward premium consumables, including gourmet chocolate, a category that has begun to evolve far beyond the traditional box of sweets.The Rise of Artisan ChocolateAccording to market research from Grand View Research, the global premium chocolate market is expected to grow steadily over the next decade as consumers increasingly seek higher-quality ingredients and small-batch production.Premium chocolate's transformation into a craft category has been gradual but unmistakable, shaped by a broader cultural shift toward ingredient transparency and food provenance.Many artisan chocolatiers now work through small-batch production, which allows careful control over roasting, refining, and tempering. The process often begins with cacao sourced from distinct growing regions, where soil, climate, and fermentation influence flavor in ways that parallel how terroir shapes wine.That focus on origin naturally leads to a renewed emphasis on technique. Traditional practices such as manual tempering and hand-finishing require close oversight and patience, reflecting a production model built around skill rather than industrial speed. As artisan chocolatier Adrian P. Younes put it, "artisan chocolate is crafted, not manufactured."Flavor Innovation and Culinary CreativityDrawing on global ingredients and culinary traditions, a growing number of chocolatiers are producing chocolate bars that feel less like confections and more like a chef's tasting menu rendered in cacao. Matcha ganache, yuzu-infused dark chocolate, pistachio knafeh fillings, and smoked sea salt caramels have moved from novelty to expectation among premium buyers.Melissa Abbott, vice president of syndicated studies at The Hartman Group, describes the broader shift as a "foodie revolution." Consumers, she notes, are increasingly exposed to diverse ingredients and cooking traditions through media and travel, and they are bringing those expectations directly to what they eat. For chocolatiers, that appetite has become an opening.A chocolate bar built around a specific cultural dessert or a rare botanical ingredient carries a story, and a story, for a gift-giver, is worth far more than a familiar flavor. That storytelling quality is what separates a deliberate purchase from a last-minute one and leads naturally to how these chocolates are packaged and presented.Packaging as Part of the GiftPresentation has long shaped how a gift is experienced, and many chocolatiers now approach their boxes and wrappers with the same creative intention they bring to flavor.Renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres has addressed that shift directly. “If you're going to give a gift to someone, you're going to wrap it; you want to make it look beautiful. If you buy a special box of chocolate for someone, you want that box to wow them from outside to inside.”That sensibility is visible across the artisan category, where gift-ready boxes, collectible designs, and hand-illustrated wrappers have turned chocolate into something as visually striking as it is delicious.This fusion of visual design and culinary craft is a significant part of why artisan chocolate has found such a receptive audience among gift-givers right now. Benjamin Turner, a chocolatier at Compartés, notes that the process is deeply intentional. "Artisan chocolate is about slowing down and savoring the details," Turner says.Why Chocolate Fits the MomentPart of what makes artisan chocolate so well suited to gift-giving is how naturally it occupies the space between special and approachable. A beautifully crafted truffle box or a hand-illustrated chocolate bar carries the weight of a thoughtful gesture without the intimidating price point of jewelry or luxury fashion.That balance is meaningful, particularly for Mother's Day, where the desire to express genuine appreciation often outpaces what any single gift can say. Chocolate also travels well across relationships. It can be shared at a table, savored privately, or passed between people as a small act of celebration.Food anthropologist Dr. Amy Trubek has observed that offering something sweet has historically been "less about the monetary value and more about the gesture of sweetness itself." That instinct is alive in how consumers are shopping now, gravitating toward gifts that feel personal and thoughtful without requiring the recipient to do anything except enjoy them.The Future of Food-Based GiftingWith the global food gifting market projected to surpass $44 billion by 2029, the act of giving food has taken on new cultural relevance. Research from industry analysts highlights artisanal and premium confectionery as a primary driver of that growth, shaped by consumers who now measure a gift's value by the care behind it as much as the cost.Mother's Day has become one of the clearest expressions of that evolution. As shoppers move away from obligation-driven purchases toward gifts that feel personal and worth remembering, artisan chocolate has secured a lasting position within a larger movement toward thoughtful, experience-driven giving.What chocolatiers have built, through small-batch production, design-forward packaging, and flavors rooted in culinary creativity, is a category of artisan chocolate gifts that meets modern gift-givers exactly where they are: looking for something thoughtful, personal, and memorable.This story was produced by Compartés and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What is wisdom, and can it be taught? What is wisdom, and can it be taught?Emily Swanson was under pressure — not the end-of-the-world variety, but definitely stressful: prepping for her PhD qualifying exams. She fully expected the process to be grueling.But then, like a character from a heroic tale, she had an encounter that changed her path.Swanson took a job as a teaching assistant with Monika Ardelt, a leader in the scientific study of wisdom. Ardelt, a University of Florida sociologist, teaches an undergraduate course called The Quest for Wisdom and Human Flourishing. It asks students to spend a week at a time living by, and reflecting on, traditions associated with wisdom — among them Buddhism, Christianity and Greek Stoicism.The weeks dedicated to Buddhism and Stoicism proved transformative for Swanson.Through practice — think Luke Skywalker harnessing the Force to master his lightsaber — she learned to observe her thoughts and emotions in a more detached, nonjudgmental way. And she began to see her qualifying exams in a new light: “What is the worst-case scenario? If you fail, you don’t get a PhD. Is that as life-altering as I think it is? Well, no.”Now, rather than seeing the exams as a threat, Swanson approached them as an opportunity to grow — a shift that enabled her to take intellectual risks that made the essays required for her doctoral advancement better than they otherwise would have been.Ardelt says that Swanson’s shift in perspective is an example of how practicing things like reflection, humility, compassion and listening to other points of view can make someone wiser — that is, more able to adopt a larger view, especially when relating to others, and work toward the best outcome for everyone involved.Ardelt is part of a growing group of researchers — among them psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists and philosophers — applying scientific methods to understand wisdom in hopes of increasing the capacity of individuals to act wisely, and perhaps nudging a world beset by violent conflicts, unchecked human-caused climate change and other problems onto a more sensible path. Although they lack a single shared definition of wisdom, many are optimistic that the capacity can be cultivated.“Not everyone will become a super wisdom guru,” Judith Glück, a developmental psychologist at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, told Knowable Magazine. “But I think there’s some space for everyone to grow.”Bringing wisdom into the labThe study of wisdom dates to antiquity, but only in the past 40 years have researchers begun to apply the scientific method to probe what wisdom is and how it develops.The late psychologist Paul Baltes of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin launched the field in the 1980s. He designed studies that asked people of all ages to muse aloud about invented dilemmas, such as what they’d say to a close friend who had decided to end their life, or how to counsel a 15-year-old girl who wanted to get married immediately.Baltes and his team scored responses on a scale from 0 to 7, using five criteria — now known as the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm — that they had posited were critical to wisdom: knowledge about life and human nature, strategies for navigating various circumstances and challenges, understanding that not everyone holds the same values, awareness that people’s priorities can shift with context, and the ability to tolerate uncertainty.Individuals who scored higher on these tests had a better understanding of the larger issues at stake in the scenarios, identified more than one potential response, and raised questions to help the fictional characters understand the possible outcomes of their decisions rather than simply telling them what to do. Baltes “was the first to come up with what arguably is a relatively objective test about wisdom,” says Howard Nusbaum, a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Center for Practical Wisdom.Crucially, Baltes distinguished wisdom from intelligence, showing that analytical skill alone doesn’t make a person wise. As geriatric psychiatrist Dilip Jeste, director of the Social Determinants of Health Network and coauthor of a 2025 article in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology on wisdom’s benefits in older age, puts it: “Some of the smartest people … are the worst people they can be.”Baltes also showed that simply getting older doesn’t guarantee getting wiser. In a 1990 study of young adults, middle-aged people and older adults, for example, he found that wise responses were equally likely across age groups. Currier & Ives 1872 Glück, who did her postdoctoral work with Baltes, says there are limitations to Baltes’ approach of measuring wisdom through scenarios: For one thing, a person might not act as wisely in real life as they do in a hypothetical situation. She has tried to measure wisdom in a different way, by asking people to describe a difficult event they experienced, then reflect on it. What did they learn from it, and what would they do differently? In a 2017 study, wisdom researcher Nic Weststrate, now at the University of Illinois Chicago, and Glück reported that people who engaged in what’s known as “redemptive” processing — believing that what had happened was all for the best — tended to be happier, but not necessarily wiser. By contrast, “exploratory” processing — reflecting on the situation for the express purpose of self-understanding — was associated with higher wisdom scores.But this approach has its own weaknesses, Glück says, because people choose such varied experiences to recount. While many of her subjects raise objectively serious issues such as shattered relationships, some focus on minor ones, like a dispute with a neighbor over an overhanging branch. “You cannot really compare people’s stories when they are talking about totally different things,” she says.Other experts, notably Ardelt, measure wisdom using questionnaires that ask people to respond to statements like “I can be comfortable with all kinds of people” and “When I look back on what has happened to me, I can’t help feeling resentful.” (You can try answering the 21 questions in the sidebar to score your own level of wisdom.) The downside to this self-report approach is that wisdom entails humility, so wise people may score themselves too low, whereas foolish people, blind to their own weaknesses, may give themselves inflated scores.If measuring wisdom remains tricky, so does defining it. One point of contention is whether wisdom is a set of qualities, or the process of how we evaluate situations. Computational social scientist Igor Grossmann at the University of Waterloo in Canada defines wisdom as mental processes that afford greater awareness and ability to regulate thoughts, goals and emotions in complex social situations. To measure it, his team, led by then-student Justin Brienza, developed the Situated Wise Reasoning Scale, which assesses a person’s intellectual humility, recognition of uncertainty and change, consideration of multiple viewpoints, and ability to search for compromise.Ardelt, by contrast, believes that Grossmann, and Baltes before him, left out something important by excluding emotional skills from the definition of wisdom. Her own Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale, one of the most widely used wisdom measures, incorporates measures of compassion.The real-life path to wisdomWhen wisdom comes naturally, it often derives from lessons learned through intense experiences or dilemmas. These experiences may be painful, like breakups or illnesses, but wisdom can also be gained from experiences that are simply challenging, like moving to a new city or having a baby, Glück says. Yet plenty of people who get cancer or become parents never gain much wisdom. Why?By reviewing wisdom research and interviewing wise and less-wise people using varied measures, Glück has identified five prerequisites for extracting wisdom from experience. These include the ability to manage uncertainty, to maintain an openness to change and new perspectives, to reflect on one’s experiences, to regulate emotional ups and downs, and to practice empathy. Wellcome Collection Some people naturally possess these characteristics or learn them as children. For those who don’t, Glück is experimenting with ways to help develop them. Her lab is running a multiyear study in which participants will play character-based video games akin to “The Last of Us” that vividly simulate lived experiences and immerse players in moral and emotional decision-making. These games might be a shortcut to wisdom, if it turns out that we can gain it not only from our own experiences but also from other people’s and even fictionalized ones, she hypothesizes.Grossmann is taking a different approach. He asks study participants to distance themselves from their own difficulties by writing about them in the third person, or from political events by imagining living in a far-off country. People who use these techniques score higher on Grossmann’s wise reasoning scale than when they recount experiences straightforwardly. “You’re approaching it from this different vantage point,” he proposes. “So that keeps you flexible.” These wisdom boosts are modest, but Grossmann’s research suggests that practicing self-distancing over time can have cumulative effects. People may, in turn, become more skillful in situations such as solving relationship conflicts.Ardelt, for her part, has seen some success with her University of Florida course, the one that helped Swanson ace her PhD qualifying exams. In a 2020 study, she compared 165 students who took courses that involved practicing various wisdom-enhancing methods to 153 students who completed more typical academic courses on sociology or religion. All the students took Ardelt’s Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale test at the beginning and end of the semester. Students in the practice-based classes showed wisdom gains — 2.5% overall, and 3.6% in the reflective dimension — whereas wisdom levels decreased for those in the more theoretical classes.There are many ways one might become wiser, experts say — among them, engaging in meditation, spending time in nature, volunteering to help people in need, or adopting stoic modes of thinking. The important thing is to move beyond self-preoccupation, they say. Anything that fosters self-awareness, openness to divergent points of view, emotional regulation and humility is a step toward gaining wisdom.Few people will be wise all the time, however. From Nusbaum’s cognitive psychologist perspective, the mind is too state-dependent — too easily derailed by stress, fatigue or frustration. “You’re going to get grumpy and pissed off and forget,” he says. But, he adds, with time and practice, we can increase the number of moments when we make wise choices — for the benefit of ourselves and everyone around us.How wise are you?The Brief Wisdom Screening Scale, below, created by developmental psychologist Judith Glück and colleagues, distills criteria common to three well-regarded and widely used wisdom assessment tools.Glück cautions that this test is less an objective measure of wisdom than a barometer of how wise people believe themselves to be. Which can be problematic, because wiser people tend to recognize their own fallibility and may score themselves lower than people who, to paraphrase Socrates, don’t know that they don’t know.Indicate how much you agree with the statements below on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 representing “disagree completely” and 5 “agree completely.”My peace of mind is not easily upset.I have a good sense of humor about myself.I have dealt with a great many different kinds of people during my lifetime.I’ve learned valuable life lessons from others.At this point in my life, I find it easy to laugh at my mistakes.My happiness is not dependent on other people and things.I can accept the impermanence of things.I like to read books that challenge me to think differently about issues.I am “tuned in” to my own emotions.I get either very angry or depressed if things go wrong.I am able to integrate the different aspects of my life.I often have a sense of oneness with nature.It seems I have a talent for reading other people’s emotions.I feel that my individual life is a part of a greater whole.There are some people I know I would never like.I have grown as a result of losses I have suffered.I can freely express my emotions without feeling like I might lose control.I’m very curious about other religious and/or philosophical belief systems.I don’t worry about other people’s opinions of me.Sometimes I get so charged up emotionally that I am unable to consider all ways of dealing with my problems.I always try to look at all sides of a problem.Scoring: First, invert your number for items 10, 15 and 20 (for these three questions ONLY, change a score of 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 4 to 2 and 5 to 1. A score of 3 remains unchanged.)Next, add these three inverted scores to your scores on the other 18 questions.Divide that number by 21 to obtain your average.Note: The rating scale below is based on a data set that included only 769 people, and so should be understood as only a guide, not a standardized norm.Below 3.59 = You scored at or below the median, which places you in the bottom half of wisdom self-raters.3.6 to 3.99 = Your score puts you in the top 50% of wisdom self-raters.4.0 to 4.39 = You scored in the top 20%, making you very wise.4.4 or higher = You scored in the top 5%, making you extraordinarily wise.This story was produced by Knowable Magazine and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	MetroLINK seeks public vote for first Channel Cat live music series After 30 years of ferry service on the Mississippi River, MetroLINK is bringing live music to the river with Channel Cat Sessions, a series of performances aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi.
	Beyond the minimums: What actually happens during a private jet safety check and why it matters Beyond the minimums: What actually happens during a private jet safety check and why it mattersWhen air travel safety dominates the headlines, it can seem like commercial aviation is the only part of the industry in the spotlight. However, for the growing number of travelers who choose private, a less common but equally important question remains: How safe is the average charter flight? While many assume that private aviation is inherently well-regulated and vetted, the truth is a lot more nuanced. What separates a genuinely safety-conscious charter operator from others in the industry is a layered system of standards, audits, and pre-flight checks that most travelers never see. Paramount Business Jets has pulled data from leading sources, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Cornell University, ARGUS International, Wyvern, and more, to provide a peek behind the curtain of private jet safety standards. The regulatory floor: What FAA Part 135 actually requiresIn the U.S., any company operating charter flights for hire falls under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 135, per the FAA. Commonly called “Part 135” for short, it is a certification only awarded once an operator shows the FAA that they have the infrastructure, personnel, maintenance programs, and operational manuals required to run safe charters. Acquiring this certification requires extensive documentation, inspections, and ride checks before any paying passenger is allowed onboard.Once an operator receives certification, they are bound by ongoing requirements that govern basically every aspect of flight. Pilots must hold an airline transport pilot certificate to serve as the pilot in command. This requires at least 1,200 hours of total flight time with specific minimums for instrument, night, and cross-country hours depending on the type of operator, requirements outlined in depth by Cornell Law School. Any recurring training and proficiency checks must also be adhered to on a fixed schedule.Part 135 operators must also follow an FAA-approved inspection program. Keeping meticulous aircraft records and ensuring aircraft are always worthy to depart are a part of this rigorous program. Should any unscheduled maintenance findings be discovered, they must also be addressed and documented. Essentially, nothing flies with a known defect that hasn’t been properly resolved or deferred. Part 135 certification matters, but it’s just the minimum when it comes to safety. This certification defines what is legally required to operate, but the best brokers ensure their operators strive for more. Paramount Business Jets Third-party rating systems: Raising the bar above the regulatory floorTo help travelers and brokers alike identify operators who go beyond minimum compliance, two independent organizations, ARGUS International and Wyvern, have developed their own safety ratings systems. Earning a rating from either organization in addition to Part 135 certification is entirely voluntary, but that’s precisely what makes them so meaningful. ARGUS InternationalFirst, ARGUS International offers two main tiers for ratings: Gold and Platinum. At the Gold level, operators take part in a remote desktop audit that validates their FAA compliance, confirms pilot background checks are in place, reviews safety records, and verifies the existence of an emergency response plan. It’s a thorough examination, but it happens at a distance, handled through submitted documentation as opposed to boots on the ground.For added perspective on the differences between ARGUS Gold minimums and how they compare to FAA standards, below is a chart outlining time requirements at both the pilot-in-command and second-in-command levels: Paramount Business Jets In contrast to Gold, ARGUS Platinum is designed for the truly safety-minded. Platinum-rated operators must undergo a two-day, on-site audit conducted by ARGUS personnel. These individuals inspect the operational services of the companies, including everything from maintenance records, staff interviews, evaluating safety management systems, and assessing culture. Recertification is annual, and there are also semi-annual reviews in between. In late 2025, ARGUS announced impending updates to its Gold standard, which will require several additional safety measures. The best practice for brokers is to require all operators to maintain a minimum standard of ARGUS Gold. WyvernWyvern operates a parallel framework to ARGUS International. At the Registered level, operators must submit documentation confirming regulatory compliance and participation in Wyvern’s ACES system. This system tracks pilot recurrence and training records. Wyvern Wingman, the middle tier, requires a two-day, on-site audit similar to ARGUS’s Platinum level that evaluates safety management practices. Recertification happens every two years.The highest designation Wyvern offers is the Wingman PRO option. Operators at this level must commit to ongoing quarterly oversight, full safety management system implementation, which includes human factors training, and continuous monitoring. A certificate from either ARGUS International or Wyvern is still only a small portion of the safety story. The other part happens before every single flight takes off. What a comprehensive pre-flight safety check actually looks likeFor any charter traveler, the flight begins at the terminal. For the crew, however, it began hours earlier or even the night before. A comprehensive pre-flight safety checklist isn’t just a single event. It’s a sequence of overlapping verifications that start with the people in the cockpit and travels all the way down to the aircraft itself. Every operator is different, but Superior Flight School outlines a number of crucial steps. Here are the standard six pre-flight safety checklist categories all operators should have in place: Pilot qualification verification: Before a pilot ever steps onto an aircraft, a responsible operator has already taken steps to confirm they are current and qualified for that flight. This entails checking their medical certification, instrument currency, and recurrent training are all up to date. The best operators go further by setting internal minimums for total flight hours and recent activity that exceed FAA demands. Aircraft airworthiness and documentation review: The aircraft itself should always be reviewed on paper before anyone looks at it physically. The crew should check airworthiness directives to confirm the aircraft is in compliance, review the aircraft’s maintenance logs, and confirm the minimum equipment list has been applied. Physical aircraft walkaround: The walkaround is exactly what the name implies. Pilots will move systematically around the aircraft, checking flight control surfaces for damage or unusual movement. They will also inspect the tires for wear and proper inflation, look for fluid leaks, verify tubes and ports are unobstructed, and check that all lights, antennas, and panels are intact. Engine and systems verification: In the cockpit, the crew will work through manufacturer-specified checklists that verify avionics, navigation systems, hydraulics pressurization, environmental controls, and more. The aim is to ensure everything is functioning properly. Fuel quantity and quality will also be confirmed. Engine start procedures will be followed precisely and post-start indications will be reviewed before any movement towards the runway has occurred. Every single system will be scrutinized closely during this stage. Flight planning and operational checks: Parallel to the aircraft checks, the crew will also review the full flight plan. This includes the route, alternative airports, fuel reserves, notices to air missions for the destination and en route airports, and weather briefings. Weight and balance calculations will also confirm that the aircraft is loaded properly. If the route is longer or more complex, operators may also perform a threat and error management briefing to inform the crew how they should respond if something goes awry. Internal operator protocols beyond the rating tier: Finally, this last step is where the gap between operators becomes the most visible. An operator who has already achieved ARGUS Gold, for instance, has met a meaningful benchmark. But many will go a step further and integrate internal standards that surpass what Gold requires. All of these protocols are not advertised on a rating certificate. However, they exist because safety culture at the best operators is not about satisfying an auditor, but rather keeping you safe in the air. On top of this checklist from the operator side, premium brokers also require additional safety checks such as Trip Check from ARGUS or Pass Report by Wyvern, which essentially verifies that the operator has met all of the above criteria to maximize safety in air. This is on top of due diligence collection, such as notes from the trip or other information from past routes the operator has run, to ensure that the client experience is enjoyable and reliability is certain. Paramount Business Jets The broker differencePartnering with a broker who can source operators for your needs adds another layer of security to the above certifications. Safety-conscious brokers will often run real-time third party safety checks, prior to your departure and provide clients with the report. In instances where this report comes back as yellow or red, perhaps due to a second in command not having enough time in type, for instance, the operator will be asked to replace them with more experienced crew. Safety checks are run days prior to your journey, with the crew being greenlit upon assignment. By the time your trip has come around, operator paperwork has been stamped to ensure they have met or exceed ARGUS Gold standards. Brokers will also employ an in-house safety manager to ensure a safe and comfortable trip. In the event you don’t choose to partner with a broker, you can still request your operator to run the ARGUS Trip Check and provide you with the report for peace of mind. Most operators won’t do this unless requested, so you’ll need to remember to ask. Paramount Business Jets Questions every private jet traveler should ask before bookingRatings are a useful signal, but they aren’t a substitute for asking direct questions yourself. A reputable broker or operator should always be willing to answer your questions. Here is just a sample you can consider bringing up ahead of booking your next flight:What ARGUS or Wyvern rating do you hold and when was it last certified?What are your internal pilot minimums for total time, time in type, and recent flight experience?Do you provide a third party safety check report prior to the flight?Do you carry liability insurance and at what coverage level?How do you handle a maintenance finding that comes up during the pre-flight check?An operator who provides boilerplate answers or simply says “whatever the FAA requires of us" may not be operating at the highest standard. Additionally, answers to each of these questions reveal crucial facts, such as whether the operator is functioning above baseline standards or whether the operator has protocols in place to respond to safety concerns. If a broker is sourcing an aircraft on your behalf rather than operating it directly, you should also present these questions to that broker once they let you know their selection. The best brokers will know the answers to these questions. Safety is a spectrum, not a switchThe private aviation industry is not necessarily a monolith of safety. At one end of the spectrum, you will find operators who hold a Part 135 certificate only. They meet the FAA’s baseline safety requirements and do little more. At the other end, you will find operators who are pursuing the highest degree of voluntary ratings in addition to Part 135 certification. These are the operators who set internal standards above those ratings and build a culture where every pre-flight checklist is treated with the same weight regardless of whether the passenger is a regular or a new client. Most travelers will never see the behind-the-scenes documentation review, walkarounds of a plane, weight and balance calculations, or crew briefings. Nor should they. A well-run operation should feel seamless and ensure that you aren’t wondering whether the plane you are about to step on is safe or not. By allowing your broker to objectively vet the market on your behalf, you can have peace of mind that all due diligence requirements and safety checks have been met. Asking the right questions before booking your ticket isn’t about distrust. Rather, it’s about understanding that, in private aviation, there is a significant gap between the bare minimum and the very best. By figuring out where your chosen operator falls on that spectrum, you can feel safer in the air. This story was produced by Paramount Business Jets and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What is the discovery process in a truck accident case? What is the discovery process in a truck accident case?When you file a lawsuit to pursue a truck accident claim, discovery is one of the stages your case must go through during the litigation process.You might ask, “What is the discovery process?” Discovery is a pre-trial process that involves the exchange of information and documents and the questioning of witnesses to identify relevant facts and legal issues so that the case can be resolved either through settlement or trial.In this article, The Callahan Law Firm shares the information you need to understand the discovery process in a truck accident.What Evidence Can Be Uncovered During Discovery in a Truck Accident Case?During discovery, the parties will request and exchange various kinds of information to help determine the facts of the case, including what happened, why it happened, how it happened, and what could have been done to prevent the crash.Common examples of key evidence involved in discovery in a truck accident case include:Hours of service logsCargo manifestsTruck inspection recordsMedical recordsVehicle repair recordsPolice accident reportsEvent data recorder (black box) logsEyewitness statementsThe truck driver’s employment and driving recordsAccident scene photos and videosSurveillance, traffic camera, and dashcam footageTruck maintenance and repair recordsAttorneys use this kind of evidence to build a comprehensive picture of what happened in a truck accident. In many cases, they work with accident reconstruction experts who use their engineering and scientific knowledge to help determine the sequence of events leading up to, at the time of, and in the moments after a crash. These experts can help to recreate and explain what happened in a truck accident based on the evidence uncovered during investigation and discovery.Key Steps in the Discovery ProcessThe discovery process in a truck accident case involves multiple steps, such as:Interrogatories — Interrogatories allow parties to ask each other in writing for information relevant to the case or that could lead to the discovery of pertinent information.Requests for production of documents — Parties in a truck accident lawsuit can serve written requests for production, asking the opposing side to produce copies of specific categories of documents, photographs, data, and other evidence relevant or reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.Requests for admission of facts — A party may send the opposing side written requests for admission, asking the opposing party to admit or deny specific facts or the genuineness of documents or other evidence.Depositions — Parties through their attorneys will conduct depositions of witnesses such as the drivers involved in the accident, eyewitnesses to the crash, trucking company representatives, healthcare providers, experts, and potentially others. Depositions of witnesses are taken with the witness under oath and are sometimes referred to as sworn testimony.Why the Discovery Process Matters in Truck Accident CasesThe discovery process will uncover relevant evidence and witness testimony that allows your lawyer to understand and then tell the story of the case to the jury.The discovery phase is when the parties to a personal injury case have the opportunity to gather relevant evidence and assess the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s case. This information allows the parties to understand what happened, why it happened, who is responsible, and the extent of the injuries and damages.After discovery, the parties can then attempt to resolve the case through negotiation, including mediation. And if the case cannot be resolved, then it will go to trial so that a jury can decide who was responsible and the harm that was caused.This story was produced by The Callahan Law Firm and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead welcomes 4 new buffalo The home and the buffalo are available for viewing on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the month of October.
	New animal services agreement for Clinton Police, Humane Society The Clinton Police Department and the Clinton Humane Society have a new agreement that allows continued animal services in the community. Under the new agreement, animals can only be brought to the Humane Society shelter by law enforcement officers. Services are limited to dogs only; no cats will be accepted. Dogs may be accepted in [...]
	CRM marketing automation workflows are draining budgets without delivering results CRM marketing automation workflows are draining budgets without delivering resultsMany businesses today find that their CRM marketing automation setups are failing. They’re allocating the required budget, but their audiences simply aren’t opening the sequences they send out.Closer inspection reveals that the triggers these teams set up often don’t make sense for their business and audience, which leads to undesirable outcomes. The awe-inspiring automation the CRM rep showed them in the sales demo may have made sense at the time. But the key to marketing automation success is a workflow that aligns with how their specific audience actually behaves.This Nutshell guide breaks down what solid CRM marketing automation should look like and what to fix when the workflow is broken.Key takeawaysThe foundation of a great marketing automation workflow is clean customer data and well-defined goals.The right workflow trigger setup could be the difference between a sequence that converts and one that does not.There are three primary CRM marketing automation workflows that should be created first and cover most businesses' needs: welcome, reengagement, and life cycle trigger sequences.What is CRM marketing automation?CRM marketing automation is the practice of using your CRM to trigger and deliver marketing actions based on your contacts’ actions. This could include test and email drip campaigns, SMS and email follow-ups, and automatic audience list updates.CRM vs. marketing automationMarketing automation and CRM are often confused due to the overlap between these tools, but there is a difference. A CRM is the tool used to store, organize, and manage your customer data. However, marketing automation uses your CRM data to execute marketing activities.With marketing automation and CRM connected, teams can automate key tasks. An example would be updating a pipeline stage based on a contact’s behavior when they engage with your email marketing campaign.Integration between the two is essential for campaign success. Without this connection, team members are left to complete related tasks manually, and that’s when human error creeps in.Why marketing automation workflows fail before they startA 2021 report by Nucleus Research determined the ROI for automated marketing campaigns is $5.44 per dollar spent. On the lead nurturing side, the payoff is 50% more sales-ready leads and 33% less in costs, according to Marketo’s 2019 Lead Nurturing Cheat Sheet.So, why is it that so many teams never see numbers like these? The reason typically boils down to the following factors:Bad contact dataSequences that don’t match buyer behaviorA lack of trigger and action assessment and optimizationPoor follow-up processesLeaning into automation for marketing through your CRM can eliminate these obstacles to workflow success.Two things that must be in place before you build1. Clean contact dataClean data affects far more than just the data. Accurate contact data fields lead to more effective audience segmentation, which ensures better automation workflows.For example, inconsistent industry tags result in empty life cycle stage fields. And when you have duplicate contacts across different mailing lists, your workflow has no idea who it’s communicating with.The result? Teams may find themselves sending reengagement campaign messages to active customers or sending a welcome sequence to the same contact multiple times.Avoid these hiccups by cleaning up your data before you build your marketing automation workflow.2. Defined conversion goalsSetting defined SMART goals for each automation workflow gives teams clarity on what success looks like when things are working as they should. These goals need to be measurable and specific outcomes, so teams can evaluate whether the marketing sequence is operating successfully or simply going through the motions.Anatomy of a CRM marketing automation workflowAll workflows include the same three structural elements, whether it’s a simple automation or a complex CRM marketing sequence. The following table provides more detail on what these components are and why they’re important. Nutshell Many marketing teams focus on the trigger and sequence components and completely overlook the exit condition. Skipping this step can result in a contact receiving nurturing emails after they’ve converted or newsletters after they’ve unsubscribed. Exit conditions are essential to avoid spamming your contacts.3 marketing automation workflows worth building firstNot sure which marketing automations to build in your CRM first? Here are three ideas.The welcome sequenceExample trigger: A new contact is added to your list.Little do many teams know, but welcome sequences tend to see the highest open rates of any email marketing sequence. Sending a welcome email within the first 48 to 72 hours often results in the highest return.You’ll want to include three to four emails in your welcome sequence, sent over five to seven days. A winning email sequence includes short emails focused on one specific goal each. A well-structured drip sequence can make all the difference between warming up a lead versus losing them completely.The reengagement sequenceExample trigger: A contact hasn’t opened one of your emails in 90 daysWhether simply dormant or entirely lost, unengaged contacts can hurt your email deliverability metrics, painting a false picture of campaign success.Your reengagement sequence should incorporate two to three short emails. If the contact fails to respond at all, it’s best practice to suppress them instead of deleting them completely. That way, your deliverability recovers, and the quality of your mailing list improves.The life cycle trigger sequenceExample trigger: A contact reaches a specific stage in your CRM pipeline.When a lead moves from one pipeline stage (like “new”) to another (like “qualified”), their entry to the destination stage becomes the trigger. Once they’ve entered the stage, it initiates a targeted email sequence relevant to where they are in the buyer journey.Clear pipeline stage definitions and goals are paramount for this life cycle trigger workflow to function correctly. Here, your messaging will relate to the lead’s life cycle stage, with the end goal of moving them forward to the next stage in your pipeline funnel.Measuring whether your workflows work Nutshell Understanding whether your CRM marketing automation workflows are working is all about knowing which metrics to track. Regardless of the type of workflow, you’ll want to track these core engagement and conversion metrics.Engagement metricsMetric: Open rateDetermines: Subject line & send time relevanceBenchmark: Review workflows below 20%Metric: Click-through rateDetermines: Content & CTA relevanceBenchmark: Less than 2.5% indicates a message-market mismatchMetric: Unsubscribe rateDetermines: Frequency & overall relevanceBenchmark: Less than 2.5% indicates a message-market mismatchConversion metricsMetric: Goal completion rateDetermines: If the sequence drives the defined outcomeMetric: Time to conversionDetermines: If the sequence is too long or too shortMetric: Drop-off pointDetermines: Where contacts exit before the exit conditionAnalyzing the resultsAnalyzing and acting on the data you collect here is vital to seeing these metrics improve and garnering a positive return. That’s why developing workflows with the means to track and assess metrics built in is table stakes.Here are a couple of things to look out for:If you find your open rates look good but you’re not hitting your goals, it’s likely the problem lies with the structure of your sequence or your chosen exit condition.If your open rates consistently drop, evaluate your send frequency and list hygiene before picking apart the email content.CRM and marketing automation that earns its budgetThe important thing to remember is that the marketing automation challenges you face are most often related to data, goal, or sequencing issues. An automated workflow just makes those issues more prominent because it’s operating at scale.As simple as it sounds, just getting your foundational elements right can lead to better-performing workflows. That means ensuring your data is clean, outcomes are defined, and exit conditions make sense.Start with a simple sequence and build from there. And set and track specific, measurable goals. That’s the path to great marketing automation ROI that the demo never shows you.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Iowa leaders announce plan to address water quality across state \| FULL PRESS CONFERENCE The state announced a legislative package that will reallocate funds already invested in Iowa programs to better reflect the current needs.
	No clear favorite and plenty of contenders: The 152nd Kentucky Derby is a 20-horse puzzle There is no clear favorite in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby that has at least a half-dozen legitimate contenders and maybe more horses that can win it.
	Buying a home together: Financial tips for couples taking the next big step Buying a home together: Financial tips for couples taking the next big stepYou made it.The honest conversations between you and your partner provided a clear picture of your combined finances. Now, you’ve been preapproved for a mortgage by the financial institution of your choice and know how much you can spend — time to find a home.Where to begin?Wells Fargo specialists Rulon Washington and Mariana Martinez provided some tips to help the homebuying process go smoothly. Because buying a home together is more than a financial decision, it’s a relationship milestone.“Don’t underestimate what buying a home together means,” said Martinez, a senior family dynamics consultant for Wells Fargo. “It’s showing a confidence in the strength of your relationship. For some people that’s a little scary, meaning fear and uncertainty are normal. Whatever feelings come up are normal … so let it emerge, work through it, and talk about it without judgment.”“You have to be willing to give up some of your desires or needs for the benefit of your relationship.” Martinez said.Shopping for a homeWells Fargo advises couples to find a real estate agent after securing mortgage preapproval. A real estate agent will represent you, teach you about different neighborhoods and what to look for in a home, and even help you negotiate with the seller if you find a home you like.With the help of your agent, make your wish list of the key features you want in a home to help narrow your search.Couples should try to have fun touring homes while making sure they’re looking within their budget and being clear about individual wants and needs. Consider the following suggestions to not let the stress of homebuying cause problems for you and your partner:Be clear: Know what is a must and what is negotiable. For one person, having a little bit of green space might be extremely important, whereas for the partner, a double oven powered by gas is something they can’t live without. Make a list of your musts — there should be just a few — and talk about it.Think about tomorrow: What works today might not work in 10 years. Try to visualize as best you can changes that could come — children, physical needs, parents moving in — so you can be prepared for the short term and long term.Divide the labor: Everything that’s required for homebuying requires a lot of energy and skill. Try to find alignment between each person’s skills and the purchasing task at hand. If neither of you has the skills, then maybe the person with more energy or time to learn should handle that task.Be respectful and trusting: There will, of course, need to be some reporting back and forth about what each partner is getting accomplished. But you have to trust that they’re doing what you all agreed to do. When everybody wants to do everything, that often creates confusion and frustration.The homebuying processFind a real estate agent.Make your wish list.Search for and find a home you like.Make an offer. If accepted, you may have to make an earnest money deposit.Earnest money is paid toward the purchase of a home, which demonstrates the buyer’s good-faith intent to complete the transaction. It’s typically 1% to 2% of the sale price.Complete your loan application.Consider a home inspection.Confirm if a home appraisal is required.Secure homeowners insurance.Review the closing disclosure.Finalize and sign your closing paperwork.After closingManage your mortgage account.Monitor key loan milestones.Review your escrow account, if applicable.Track your equity.Make your lender your partner.Finishing the jobPerhaps the most stressful time of the homebuying process is after most of the legwork has been done. That’s when lenders assess whether you meet specific requirements for the loan you’ve requested. The process involves a thorough review of your credit, employment history, income, assets, and property details.It’s a process that seems simple enough: forward tax forms and bank statements — among other things — and you’re done. But it’s often not that easy.“It’s a high-anxiety time,” said Rulon Washington of Wells Fargo Home Lending group. “The complex financial transactions have a lot of things tied to them. A seller could need a specific closing date to purchase a new home. You, as a buyer, likely only have 90 days at the same credit score/interest rate. So, it’s not the other things like inspections, lawyers, surveyors, etc., that will make or break a closing. More often than not, it’s documentation and time.”Washington shared five steps to help your underwriting and closing processes go smoothly:Have a clear understanding of what’s being asked: The underwriters are looking for specific things in each piece of documentation for which they ask. If they want bank statements dating back two years, send them exactly that. Don’t editorialize or make judgments on what you think they mean. Explicitly following their instructions can prevent heartburn later. Sending six pages of a seven-page document, as one example, can be problematic and impact the timing of your close.Create an open line of communication with your financial institution: When you’re going through this process, your life is still going on too. As you’re managing and submitting documentation, you might hesitate to ask a question or assume your financial institution will ask you. It’s OK to check in with them, even if there’s nothing required of you. Build the relationship early, so you don’t have to later.Understand timing and deadlines: You know what your closing date is supposed to be. Work backward from that date to make sure you understand the timing of everything. Also, be cognizant of other people’s work schedules. For example, understand that sending documentation on a Friday afternoon versus a Thursday morning likely means an additional three days of processing because of the weekend.Understand your financial obligation: Know that you’re going to be financially responsible for this amount, each month, for the next 360 months. When you get preapproved, it’s usually for a mortgage only. Sometimes, property taxes, homeowners’ insurance — which you’ll want to shop around for the right policy — and private mortgage insurance are not included in the mortgage amount. So, even though your mortgage might be $1,000, your monthly payment will be more than that and can fluctuate throughout the years. So, make sure once all the smoke clears, you know the exact number you’re going to pay for everything, each month.Don’t go on autopilot: Once people close and move into their home, the mortgage is kind of out of sight, out of mind. Make sure you’re engaged with your financial institution. A bank won’t truly know you’re in trouble if you’re not communicating with them. Say you have a large, unexpected financial commitment and miss a month of your mortgage. Having a relationship with your bank can be helpful if you experience financial difficulty. And remember, this is a 30-year relationship you’re in — you have to communicate.You’ve done the challenging work together. With open communication, shared responsibilities, and a little patience, you can finish strong and start this next chapter with confidence.This story was produced by Wells Fargo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New Mexico Primary 2026: NM House of Representatives, District 14 A political newcomer is challenging a longtime state representative in New Mexico’s House District 14, where Route 66 and the Rio Grande meet in Albuquerque. (Rainer Grosskopf/Getty Images)In southwest Albuquerque, where Route 66 and the Rio Grande intersect, a political newcomer is challenging a Democratic incumbent who won his first election 30 years ago to represent District 14 in the New Mexico House of Representatives.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attorney and military veteran Joseph Romero has lived in District 14 since 2005. He’s running in the June 2 primary against incumbent Rep. Miguel García (D-Albuquerque) who assumed office in 1997. Whoever wins is set to face write-in Republican Richard Zubia in the Nov. 3 general election. Source NM posed several questions to both candidates about the district and their races. Their answers have been edited for clarity and concision. Miguel García Rep. Miguel García is seeking reelection to District 14, a seat he first won 30 years ago, in the New Mexico House of Representatives. (Courtesy photo) Incumbent Rep. Miguel García first won his seat in 1996, the year flip cellphones hit the mainstream market, and took office the following year. He’s won every reelection bid since. García, a retired Spanish language arts teacher, told Source NM he’s running for reelection to “continue fighting” for the needy children, Spanish land-grant communities and tribes in his area. He said he has been running on the same platform “ever since I started in 1997,” namely: “standing tall amid discrimination against people of color, race, religion, sexual orientation and to uplift our middle class and to continue fighting for worker rights.” What is the most important issue facing your district? The biggest issue is infrastructure improvements. My district is comprised of historic communities and neighborhoods that date back to the 1640s…the majority of roads in the county portion of my district have no drainage or curbing and are prone to flooding. In our older neighborhoods — Barelas, South Broadway, Alamosa, some of my west-Central precincts — they lack amenities like parks, beautification, landscaped medians, streetlights, measures that all improve the quality of life for these communities. What is the most important issue facing New Mexico? The most important issue that I see is the water crisis affecting our irrigators and farmers and the exacerbation of that crisis by existing or proposed data centers. Non-Pueblo irrigators and farmers in the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, which stretches from Peña Blanca to Socorro, have experienced 80% decreases in water deliveries for the past four years. Yet, the MRGCD has made uninterrupted deliveries to two federal entities — the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Rio Grande Compact, which is water deliveries to Texas. These curtailments are causing economic hardship for these families who are having to limit production for their crops. What’s the first bill you’d introduce in the 2027 legislative session? For the third year trying, I will reintroduce legislation to create a Spanish Land Grant and Acequia Infrastructure Fund to meet the overwhelming infrastructure needs of these centuries-old, traditional land-based communities. What we’ve done in the last two sessions is put a limit of $20 million on each of those funds. What’s your top choice for legislative committee service? I’ve settled into the two committees that serve my district and the state quite well. These are the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee. We’ve done some really milestone legislation regarding the labor issues, in terms of passing nationally leading legislation on wage theft. I did the first bargaining unit in 15 years in our state back in 2015 where we established under AFSCME the home childcare workers’ collective bargaining unit. And I was instrumental back in 2019 with the increase of state minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 an hour. I’m very concerned about our environment and the role that oil and gas are playing in terms of the deterioration on our health and our environment, and that’s why I see Energy and Natural Resources being pivotal in terms of leading the state in addressing those issues and concerns. What’s the strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for this race? It has to be that I’m a team player and that I espouse that philosophy when it comes to all matters in dealing with the issues, the needs and the problems in my district. Do you support paying state lawmakers? Yeah, it’s part of a step forward and New Mexico kind of catching up with the rest of the states. You know, [I’d] accept the salary and be the last of the lone rangers in terms of catching up with the rest of the country. Joseph Romero Attorney Joseph Romero is running to represent District 14 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. (Courtesy of Joseph Romero) Joseph Romero was born and raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and moved to District 14 in Albuquerque in 2005. Romero has raised three children in the area and earned degrees at the University of New Mexico before opening his own law practice in 2014. He has served in the New Mexico Air National Guard and the New Mexico Army National Guard. “I think that the Legislature has a lot of people who are comfortable casting a vote and going home. I think my district needs someone who’s going to draft a bill, carry a bill, take tough votes, stand up to power, stand up to corporate lobbyists and stand up to federal overreach,” he told Source NM. “I know I’m facing an uphill challenge with an incumbent who’s been there since 1997 and fought off every challenger since then.” What is the most important issue facing your district? Affordability and healthcare would be my two top issues. There’s working families across the state and my district, in particular, in what seems to be a low-income district. We’re paying more for groceries, utilities, childcare, rent, everything. More than ever before. Wages have just been stagnant. At the same time, healthcare in New Mexico is in crisis. Long waits, provider shortages, medical debt. There’s federal attacks on Medicaid that make all of it worse. They’re not really separate issues. A family that can’t afford a doctor’s visit ends up in the emergency room with an ever bigger bill. What is the most important issue facing New Mexico? Affordability and healthcare, as I said before. I think there are other issues that deserve attention. First, protecting our communities from federal overreach. There’s masked, unidentified ICE agents pulling people out of the grocery store, parking lots, bus stops, away from their kids’ schools. I don’t think that’s law enforcement. That looks more like intimidation, to me, by people who refuse to identify themselves. You can address that in the Legislature through anti-masking legislation that requires all law enforcement officers, but specifically federal immigration agents operating in our state, to identify themselves. Another issue I feel strongly about is education funding. I’m a father of three and have three kids in school. We have this Yazzie/Martinez decision — it’s been, I think, seven years since that came down and we’re still failing our kids. What’s the first bill you’d introduce in the 2027 legislative session? I think the first one would be anti-masking legislation. Federal immigration agents in New Mexico should be required to identify themselves, show a badge and operate without masks and without intimidation. Another one is a safe staffing requirement bill. I know there’s federal legislation that’s been proposed on this issue for nurses…I think New Mexico can lead and do it with doctors, too. Safe staffing increases access to doctors. New Mexico’s losing physicians to other states because doctors are required to carry an absurd patient load. New Mexicans wait months for appointments or end up in the ER. Setting minimum provider-to-patient ratios brings doctors back and retains the ones we have. What’s your top choice for legislative committee service? The House Judiciary Committee. It shapes the most consequential legislation in the Legislature, in my opinion. What’s the strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for this race? I’m going to show up and I’m going to fight for working families. It’s a commitment that runs through every job I’ve had. I served in the military, where I learned discipline and accountability. I went to law school and built a law practice fighting for injured workers and fighting for regular, everyday families. Do you support paying state lawmakers? I’m sort of neutral on the issue. I think it’s an issue that should go to voters to decide and I’ll respect their call on that. I’m not running to collect a paycheck. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	Iowa animal torture bill heads to governor's desk DES MOINES, Iowa -- The animal torture bill is now heading to the governor's desk after a unanimous vote in the House. House File 2348 would make animal torture a Class D felony, meaning it could carry up to five years in prison and a fine of up to roughly $10,200. A second offense would [...]
	Clearing the water: Iowa’s search for answers on cancer Local 5 interviewed cancer experts and survivors, environmental advocates and farmers to explore one of Iowans' pervasive questions: Does our water cause cancer?
	AI lead generation: The strategic 2026 guide to smarter pipeline growth AI lead generation: The strategic 2026 guide to smarter pipeline growthMore than 8 in 10 marketers worldwide now use AI in some part of their marketing efforts, according to a 2025 McKinsey survey observed by WebFX. From personalization and automation to predictive insights that shape smarter decisions, modern marketing teams now rely on AI to actually move the needle.Sales and marketing teams increasingly utilize AI for lead generation to remain competitive in finding prospects, engaging them effectively, and streamlining opportunities.AI supports lead generation across identification, qualification, engagement, and optimization.What is AI lead generation?AI lead generation refers to the use of AI technologies to expand, accelerate, and optimize how organizations attract, qualify, and convert potential customers.For strategic marketers, AI lead generation is understood as an interconnected set of capabilities:Audience discovery and expansion: Using data and machine learning to surface prospects who show high intent before competitors do.Opportunity prioritization: Predictive scoring models rank leads by their likelihood to convert, enabling sales teams to focus on opportunities with the greatest impact.Context-driven engagement: AI systems adapt messaging and content recommendations based on real-time behavior and historical patterns.Continuous optimization: Performance data feeds back into models, improving targeting accuracy, timing, and sequencing over time.Why is AI effective for lead generation?Lead generation in 2026 requires precision, speed, and relevance across increasingly fragmented buyer journeys. AI strengthens pipeline performance by automating processes and reducing the time spent on manual data entry, research, and lead outreach.Here are the key reasons organizations are accelerating AI adoption for lead generation:Faster response times improve conversions: Research from MIT and InsideSales.com found that contacting a lead within five minutes increases the likelihood of connecting by up to 100 times and qualifying that lead by 21 times compared to waiting 30 minutes.AI increases sales productivity: McKinsey estimates AI can lift sales productivity by 3%–5% annually by automating repetitive tasks and improving lead prioritization.Buyers expect personalization: Salesforce reports that 73% of customers expect companies to understand their needs and expectations. AI enables scalable, context-driven engagement, ensuring clients feel consistently seen and heard.Marketing budgets face efficiency pressure: Gartner research shows marketing budgets have declined to 7.7% of revenue in 2024 compared to 9.1% of revenue in 2023. AI helps organizations do more with smaller budgets by optimizing the lead generation process.Data volume exceeds human processing capacity: Modern buyer journeys generate thousands of behavioral signals, which AI systems process and generate actionable insights from efficiently and effectively.Top use cases for AI lead generationAI’s value in lead generation becomes clearer when you examine how it operates at key points in the pipeline.The use cases below illustrate the crucial points where AI supports lead generation:1. Identify high-intent prospects before competitorsOne of the biggest challenges in modern lead generation is identifying buying intent early enough to act on it. Prospects often research solutions long before submitting a form or requesting a demo.So, by the time they convert, multiple vendors may already be in consideration. To spot early signs that someone may be preparing to buy, AI lead generation tools analyze behavioral signals such as:Repeated website visitsHigh-value page engagementContent downloadsSearch patternsThird-party intent dataAI evaluates patterns that historically correlate with conversion on all relevant platforms.2. Score and prioritize leads based on conversion probabilityAs lead volume grows, prioritization becomes critical.Manual scoring frameworks that assign points to isolated actions, such as email opens or single-page visits, rarely capture the full context of buyer readiness.AI-powered lead scoring evaluates hundreds of data signals simultaneously from multiple touchpoints, including website visits, email engagement, social media interactions, and your CRM. Then:Continuously refines itself as new data enters the systemAnalyzes this data to identify patterns and behaviors that have historically correlated with higher conversion ratesAssigns scores to each lead based on factors such as demographics, actions, and overall engagement levelsModern customer relationship management (CRM) platforms such as HubSpot, Salesforce Einstein, and Nutshell incorporate predictive lead scoring features that dynamically rank leads, allowing sales teams to focus on accounts most likely to close.3. Qualify inbound leads instantly with AINot every inbound lead is ready for sales. Some visitors are researching. Others are comparing options. A few are prepared to make a decision quickly. Treating all of them the same creates friction for both marketing and sales teams.AI-driven lead qualification helps sort inbound leads based on real engagement signals. Instead of relying only on a single form submission, AI systems evaluate behavior such as:Pages viewedTime spent on high-intent contentRepeat visitsResource downloadsReferral sourceBy analyzing these patterns together, AI can help determine which leads show strong buying intent and which need further nurturing.This structured qualification improves focus. Sales teams spend more time speaking with prospects who are actively evaluating solutions, while earlier-stage visitors enter automated nurture tracks that keep them engaged without overwhelming your team.Modern CRM and marketing automation platforms often include AI-assisted lead routing and scoring features that support this process. When implemented thoughtfully, inbound qualification becomes more consistent, measurable, and aligned with revenue goals.4. Use AI to hyperpersonalize outreach at scalePersonalized outreach consistently outperforms generic messaging in both response rates and closed sales.AI helps tailor outreach to real signals, such as industry, job title, company size, past engagement, and content consumption. Instead of sending the same generic message to all your leads, you can generate message variations that reflect where a prospect is in their research process.Generative AI tools now support hyper-personalized outreach in the following ways:Writing segmented email sequences based on personaAdapting tone and positioning by industryTriggering follow-ups based on website or email engagementRecommending next-best messaging based on response patternsGlobal brands already apply this model at scale. Starbucks, for example, uses its AI engine, Deep Brew, to personalize customer offers and messaging based on purchase history, time of day, and engagement patterns.This level of behavioral personalization has contributed to stronger customer retention and increased transaction frequency. Leveraging AI in a similar way allows you to expand outreach capacity while maintaining message relevance. As a result, you improve engagement quality and protect efficiency without adding headcount.5. Forecast pipeline performance and buying intentIt’s one thing to know who might convert. It’s another to know when they’re actually getting ready to buy.AI helps you spot those moments. By looking at patterns over time, like repeat visits to pricing pages, multiple people from the same company browsing your site, or someone returning after weeks of silence — AI can flag when interest is building.Instead of guessing who to follow up with first, you can see:Which accounts are becoming more activeWhich leads have gone quietWhen interest starts to increaseWhere opportunities might slow downAs new activity comes in, the system updates automatically. You don’t have to manually connect the dots. That visibility helps you time your outreach better. You can reach out when someone is clearly evaluating, rather than sending another check-in email when they’re not paying attention.6. Optimize paid campaigns in real timeRunning pay-per-click ads without real-time feedback is expensive.AI helps you adjust quickly based on what’s actually working.Instead of waiting weeks to see which campaigns perform, AI looks at live data and automatically shifts budget toward the audiences and ads that are generating qualified leads. It can pause underperforming placements, test variations, and refine targeting without constant manual oversight.This means you can:Put more budget behind audiences that convertStop spending on ads that attract the wrong peopleAdjust messaging based on how prospects respondFocus on leads that turn into real opportunitiesPlatforms like Google Ads and Meta already use AI-driven bidding and targeting. When you connect that data to your CRM, optimization goes deeper — you’re not just chasing clicks; you’re improving the quality of leads entering your pipeline.Over time, this protects your budget and helps you get more value from every dollar you spend.How to prepare for AI integration in your lead generation processAI is most effective when it strengthens a process that already exists. So, here’s how to go about implementing AI for lead generation:Audit your current lead generation processes: Before introducing new tools, take time to understand how your current lead generation system operates. Look at how leads are captured, scored, routed, and followed up on today. Identify friction points and make a plan to smooth those out.Define clear goals: Be specific about what you want AI to improve. Do you want to increase qualified leads? Improve conversion rates? Shorten the time to first response? Improve visibility into lead sources? Clear goals make it easier to evaluate tools and measure results later.Choose tools that fit your existing systems: AI tools should integrate with your CRM, marketing automation platform, and advertising channels. If a solution requires you to rebuild your workflow from scratch, adoption becomes harder.Prepare your team before launch: Technology alone does not improve performance. Your team needs to understand what it does and how to use it.Monitor performance and refine continuously: After implementation, track meaningful metrics, lead quality, conversion rate by source, time to conversion, and engagement levels.Common AI lead generation execution risks (and how to avoid them)AI can improve how you generate and manage leads. It can also create confusion if introduced without structure. Most execution issues don’t come from the technology itself. They come from unclear processes and expectations.Here are the most common risks to watch for.Overautomation without human oversight: Fully automated systems can misinterpret signals or send poorly timed messaging. Human judgment should guide final decisions and step in when intent is strong or when conversations become nuanced.Poor data quality: AI systems rely on clean, structured data. If your CRM contains outdated records, duplicate contacts, or inconsistent fields, predictions and scoring will be less reliable. So, you should audit your data before implementation and ensure clean inputs for accurate output.Misalignment between marketing and sales: If marketing relies on AI scoring but sales ignores it, or if sales expects AI to replace relationship-building, friction builds quickly. Align early, agree on what qualifies as a strong lead, how scores are interpreted, and when handoffs happen.Ignoring compliance and privacy concerns: AI often processes large volumes of behavioral and personal data. Mishandling that data can create regulatory and reputational risk. Review your data policies, ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and be transparent about how data is used in automated processes.Is AI lead generation right for your organization?AI can improve how you identify, prioritize, and engage leads. Whether it makes sense for you depends on your current systems, scale, and growth goals.You can determine whether AI lead generation is for you by asking the following assessment questions:Do you manage enough lead volume to benefit from automation? Manual review may still be effective if you generate a few highly qualified inquiries each month. However, AI is more effective for managing hundreds to thousands of leads across multiple channels.Do you struggle with prioritization or response timing? If high-intent prospects sit in your CRM without fast follow-up, or if sales time is spent chasing low-quality inquiries, AI will help to improve structured scoring and behavioral tracking.Is your data organized and reliable? AI relies on clean, structured data. If contact records are inconsistent, duplicated, or missing engagement history, predictions and scoring will be less accurate.Do you want better visibility into what actually drives revenue? If it’s difficult to connect marketing activity to sales outcomes, AI-driven attribution and tracking can provide clearer insight into which channels, campaigns, and engagement patterns influence conversion.Are you prepared to combine automation with human judgment? AI strengthens systems. It does not replace relationships. If you are willing to define clear handoff points, monitor performance, and refine workflows over time, AI becomes a multiplier. Without that oversight, it can create noise.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	St. Ambrose changes PA program title St. Ambrose is changing its Physician Assistant program title to Physician Associate.
	‘Trump Barn’ regains its sign, thanks to anonymous donor and installation help The "Trump Barn," as many Nebraskans experience it, driving westbound on Interstate 80 from the Omaha area. This image, from Thursday, shows the new replacement sign in place. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)ASHLAND, Nebraska — Online trolls had a field day in March when Nebraskans got wind that a stiff breeze had taken a political sign that named a red barn along Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska. Much of the social media discourse centered on a combination of higher gas prices, tariffs, war, political fatigue and polling headwinds during the second term for President Donald Trump. The barn’s owner, farmer Alan Volger, told the Nebraska Examiner at the time he probably couldn’t afford another red-letter “TRUMP” sign, nor could he physically put a new sign up. The “Trump barn” is a fixture along Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska. This shows it after the sign blew away. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) “I gotta have somebody else put signs up,” he said. “I don’t care how high it goes, I gotta keep one foot on the ground.” Volger said the timing seemed OK since the president is term-limited and cannot run again. He still had his signs up supporting property tax reform and opposing abortion. But this week, Dr. Pat Castle of LIFE Runners, an anti-abortion group from Lincoln, and a friend of Castle’s who owns a lift, posted a new “TRUMP” sign on the “Trump Barn.” They had funding help from a supporter of Nebraska Secretary of State candidate Scott Petersen, who paid for the sign and let his preferred candidate for Nebraska’s top election official take the credit. Petersen and fellow Republican Secretary of State Bob Evnen have been in a pitched primary race over the future of counting votes in Nebraska elections. Both have expressed support for Trump. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE So this week a different set of online trolls had a good day, punching back against the Nebraskans who had said they were ready to see something else driving from Omaha to Lincoln. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference while flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in the White House on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) One said, “He made his barn great again.” Critics also clapped back. One said, “Surprised they could afford to drive it there with the price of diesel.” Volger, on Friday, said he had heard from a number of people who wanted the sign back up, and he said a bunch of people driving on I-80 when it went back up on Wednesday honked at them. He said even the Nebraska State Patrol has used his barn as a landmark, recalling a lost man he saw wandering on his property that troopers said the barn helped them locate. His goal for this year is to get the barn repainted so it looks a little nicer in the pictures people share online. He said his painter agreed to take the signs down and put them back up. “I’m sure not doing it,” Volger said, laughing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Emergency trash collection to take place in Aledo Aledo will have an emergency trash collection after outgoing vendor fails to to provide final week of collection services.

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