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

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
	Gunman shoots several tourists at historic pyramids in Mexico A man standing atop one of the historic Teotihuacan pyramids opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and leaving at least 13 people, authorities said.
	Cuba confirms meeting with US officials on island, wants energy blockade lifted Cuba's government confirmed that it had recently met with U.S. officials on the island as tensions between the two sides remain high over the U.S. energy blockade of the Caribbean country.
	87-year-old fitness instructor helping seniors thrive At CASI in Davenport, Jan Dorgan is helping seniors stay healthy and happy.
Monday, April 20th, 2026
	Japan approves scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports The approval clears a final set of hurdles for Japan's postwar arms sales and facilitate its future sale of weapons such as a next-generation fighter jet and combat drones.
	World-renowned troll sculptures take shape in Clinton, built from recycled materials Three massive wooden troll sculptures by a globally recognized Danish artist are nearly complete, adding another stop to an international art project.
	I-80 bridge cleaning begins Starting at 8 p.m. every night and continuing until 6 a.m., the bridge will be reduced to one land in each direction.
	No jail time for Rock Island Arsenal fire captain found guilty of felony battery Timothy Weller was sentenced to 18 months of conditional discharge and must partake in anger management treatment.
	Developers break ground on apartments in old Moline Dispatch building By the end of the year, the space could be home to 40 market-rate apartments.
	QCA students push for bill allowing bachelor's degrees from community colleges Gabby Olson has ridden horses for most of her life. Now, she has an associate's degree in equine sciences from Black Hawk Community College. It's one of the few schools that offer that degree in the area. There are only eight schools in Iowa and Illinois that offer a degree or certificate in that study. [...]
	Rock Island Arsenal firefighter sentenced after battery in school parking lot: Records A 41-year-old Rock Island Arsenal firefighter was sentenced Monday in Mercer County Court hearing in connection with a Dec. 1, 2023, battery in a school parking lot, according to court documents. Tim Weller, of Coal Valley, appeared in court during the hearing, according to Mercer County Court documents. Weller was involved in a battery with [...]
	Behind the scenes of Davenport West's music performances The spring musical and fall marching band performances are some of the most intricate performances from Davenport West High School's performing arts programs, involving over 100 students and countless hours of prep, and all to "wow" the audience. Our Quad Cities News went behind the scenes of that preparation to see how the magic happens. [...]
	US soldier surprises daughter in return home at Rock Island High School U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eli Phipps reunited with his daughter Patricia after nine months apart during his fourth deployment overseas.
	Vision coming to life at Main Street Landing along Davenport's riverfront Work at Main Street Landing in Davenport is continuing with warm weather in the forecast. Vertical construction is set to begin soon.
	Candidate for governor plans to legalize marijuana in Iowa Sand’s plan would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults like alcohol, according to a media release.
	Bettendorf High School yearbook staff receives national recognition Bettendorf High School yearbook staff recognized as a Pacemaker Finalist.
	Garage ruled a total loss from Sterling fire No injuries were reported from a Sterling garage fire. According to a release April 20, Whiteside County Dispatch received calls of a reported garage fire in the 1100 block of 1st Ave. The Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, CGH EMS and Sterling Police Department responded. Once on scene, crews discovered a fire in [...]
	East Moline Public Library to host resource fair The East Moline Public Library will host a resource fair to connect people with local organizations.
	Gov. JB Pritzker reappoints Quad-Cities local to Workforce Innovation Board Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has reappointed Grow Quad Cities' Christine Caves to the Workforce Innovation Board.
	Quad Cities Regional Business Journal: What's ahead for Hyprlift in the QCA? The next generation of elevators will become a reality here in the QCA, utilizing the historic KONE Tower building in Moline. Dave Thompson from the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about what's ahead for Hyprlift. For more information, click here.
	Clinton police asking for help locating missing man Dermot Bly was last seen on Thursday. Officials said factors such as a traumatic brain injury and potential loss of medication make finding him especially urgent.
	Plenty of "April showers" already this month Even if we don't get another drop of rain for the rest of the month, this will be a top 20 rainiest month of April in the Quad Cities. We're in 20th place right now with 5.24" of rain so far. If we get another three quarters of an inch, that'd place us in the [...]
	Students can vote for Illinois' official state color Illinois may soon have an official state color. A bill that passed the Illinois House would allow K-12 students to vote to give Illinois a state color. Illinois State University student Elizabeth Austin contacted Rep. Travis Weaver for a civics class assignment, when she realized Illinois does not have a state color. Weaver says this [...]
	Illinois soldier makes surprise return home Eli Phipps surprised his daughter at Rock Island High School after returning home from his fourth and final deployment.
	Military homecoming at Rock Island High School Patricia Phipps started the day like any other Monday, returning to school after the weekend, not expecting the surprise of her life later at Rock Island High School. Phipps' dad, Eli Phipps, is part of the Illinois National Guard. The family moved to the Quad Cities in 2009 after he served in Afghanistan. Monday morning, [...]
	Giant wooden troll sculptures take shape in Clinton Three giant wooden troll sculptures are being built in Clinton with help from local volunteers.
	Programming note: No 10 p.m. newscast Monday night A programming note for our KWQC TV6 viewers.
	Army sergeant returns home, surprises daughter at Rock Island High School An emotional reunion was had Monday morning at Rock Island High School.
	Gun found in backpack at Rock Island High School after weapon detection system alerts staff This is the second time the Evolv Weapon Detection System has identified a gun in the district.
	Build or bulldoze: Knox County considering options for aging courthouse The 140-year-old building continues to reveal more problems than the county can afford to fix.
	State: Troubled Davenport nursing home tried to evict resident to a homeless shelter A Davenport nursing home with a long history of serious violations has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of April 17, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Bringing the Bandages Back Together: “Lee Cronin's the Mummy,” “Normal,” “Lorne,” and “Busboys” Probably like a lot of you, upon hearing the title of the latest horror flick to hit cineplexes, my immediate question was “Who the hell is Lee Cronin?!”
	Clinton police asking for help locating missing man Dermot Bly was last seen on Thursday. Officials said factors such as a traumatic brain injury and potential loss of medication make finding him especially urgent.
	Iowa City police seek person of interest in Ped Mall shooting, call for video Iowa City police said they have identified numerous persons of interest in connection to a shooting at the Ped Mall early Sunday that hurt five people.
	Moline to begin annual hydrant flushing program over 5-week span Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
	State: Troubled nursing home tried to evict resident to a homeless shelter A Davenport nursing home with a long history of serious violations has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter.
	Lindsay Park sculptures returning to Davenport The fiberglass statues are modeled after the Georges Seurat painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
	Former newspaper building in downtown Moline to become apartments The 40-unit building is expected to open by the end of this year.
	The Onion has agreed to a new deal to take over Infowars The Onion says it has a new deal to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's Infowars media company. If approved, the satirical news website could turn Infowars into a parody of itself.
	Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, on September 1 while remaining involved with the Cupertino, California, company as executive chairman.
	Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, in September. Cook will remain with the company as executive chairman.
	Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO. In letter, describes 15 years of emails The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, in September. Cook will remain with the company as executive chairman.
	The Waiting Child: Future astronaut Keishawn loves science; waits for a Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Big’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen introduces us to Keishawn, who loves science and is a future astronaut. Keishawn [...]
	Police searching for persons of interest in Iowa City shooting that injured 5 One of the victims is still in critical condition.
	Clinton Police ask for help finding missing, vulnerable man Dermot Bly hasn’t been seen or heard from since Thursday, according to a Facebook post.
	Niabi Zoo opens 2026 season Tuesday with daily ostrich egg hunt Niabi Zoo opens its 2026 season Tuesday, April 21, with a daily ostrich egg hunt through April 26, hiding one egg each day for a guest to find.
	Sterling garage deemed total loss after fire, officials say Multiple fire departments responded to a garage fire Monday.
	Des Moines County Court House to close early Tuesday for law enforcement training The Des Moines County Court House will be closed on Tuesday for training.
	Illinois State Board of Education honors QCA educators The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) honored excellence in education at the 52nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 18 in Normal. The event honored the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort and nearly 450 exceptional educators, administrators, school staff and volunteers for the impact they [...]
	Beyond falls: The overlooked emergencies facing older adults Beyond falls: The overlooked emergencies facing older adultsFalls dominate the conversation about injury risk in later life. Federal data shows they are far from the whole story.When families talk about keeping an older parent safe, falls are almost always the first topic. That instinct is well-grounded. Among adults 65 and older, falls caused 41,400 deaths and an estimated 3,850,612 emergency department visits in 2023, according to CDC injury data. No other single cause comes close.The public conversation reflects that reality. Fall prevention classes, grab bars, hip protectors, and wearable alert devices have become standard recommendations from doctors, aging agencies, and adult children. All of that attention is warranted.But the same CDC tables that confirm the scale of falls also reveal something less discussed: Once you set falls aside, thousands of older adults are still dying and more than a million are still visiting the ER each year from causes that get far less attention.Traffic injuries. Poisoning. Suffocation. Overexertion. Cuts. Burns. Product hazards. The data tell a broader emergency story, and most families have never heard it, Life Assure reports.Key FindingsIn 2023, falls caused 41,400 deaths and an estimated 3,850,612 ER visits among adults 65 and older.After removing falls, the top overlooked fatal risks were motor vehicle traffic injuries (9,123 deaths), poisoning (7,803 deaths), and suffocation (4,283 deaths).Those three causes alone accounted for 21,209 deaths in a single year.The top overlooked ER risks (falls excluded) were struck by/against injuries (301,032 visits), motor vehicle occupant injuries (240,833), overexertion (220,882), poisoning (157,646), and cut/pierce injuries (152,917).Those five ER categories total more than 1,073,000 visits, a seven-figure care burden outside of falls.CPSC's five-year recall dashboard lists fire, burn, poisoning, choking, and ingestion among the top hazard types, reinforcing that everyday product risks extend well beyond falls.The Fatal Risks Hiding Behind FallsA Life Assure review of 2023 CDC WISQARS injury data set out to answer a simple question: What happens to the risk picture for older adults when falls are removed from the comparison? The answer was striking.Motor vehicle traffic injuries ranked first among overlooked fatal dangers, with 9,123 deaths. Unintentional poisoning followed at 7,803 deaths. Unintentional suffocation ranked third at 4,283. Together, those three causes produced 21,209 deaths in a single year. That is a count large enough to fill a mid-size sports arena, and one that rarely appears in the public safety conversation for older adults.Less-discussed categories also appeared in the 2023 table: hot object or substance injuries (1,731 deaths), natural or environmental injuries (1,366 deaths), and adverse effects from medical care (1,998 deaths). Courtesy of Life Assure A Million-Visit ER Story Most Families MissThe nonfatal data tell a parallel story. Excluding falls, older adults made an estimated 301,032 ER visits for struck-by or struck-against injuries in 2023. Motor vehicle occupant injuries sent another 240,833 to the emergency department. Overexertion injuries (lifting, pushing, pulling, straining) generated 220,882 visits. Poisoning accounted for 157,646, and cut or pierce injuries added 152,917.Those five categories alone total 1,073,310 ER visits. That means the overlooked side of older adult safety is not a narrow issue. It is a seven-figure emergency care burden happening in plain sight, largely unaddressed by the mainstream falls-focused prevention message. Courtesy of Life Assure Traffic Injuries: The Risk That Shows Up on Both ListsOne pattern stands out: Transportation-related injuries rank near the top of both the fatal and nonfatal tables. 9,123 deaths from motor vehicle traffic on the fatal side. More than 240,000 ER visits from motor vehicle occupant injuries on the nonfatal side, with another 93,000+ from other transportation-related causes.NHTSA data reinforce the trend. Fatalities in traffic crashes involving older drivers increased 42% over a single decade, from 6,057 in 2013 to 8,572 in 2022. The older driver population grew 40% in that same period, meaning more people are on the road longer, and crashes are more physically dangerous for aging bodies. Older drivers have lower rates of speeding and alcohol involvement than younger drivers. Their crash fatality risk comes from physical vulnerability, not reckless behavior.For families focused on fall-proofing a home, the data suggest the conversation needs to extend to the driveway and beyond.Poisoning: A Quiet Emergency in the Medicine CabinetPoisoning appears on both the fatal and nonfatal lists, ranking second among overlooked fatal risks (7,803 deaths) and fourth among overlooked ER risks (157,646 visits). For older adults, the most common source of poisoning is not a household cleaner or a gas leak. It is medication.CDC data show that adults 65 and older visit emergency departments for adverse drug events more than 600,000 times each year, more than twice the rate of younger adults. The primary drivers are blood thinners, diabetes medications, and antibiotics. A 2024 study found that while 95% of older adults could read prescription labels, only 35% could correctly interpret the dosing directions. When a person takes two medications, the risk of an adverse drug reaction sits at roughly 13%. At five medications, that risk reaches 58%. At seven or more, it climbs to 82%.An estimated 98% of adults 65 and older live with at least two chronic conditions and take at least five prescription medications. That places the vast majority of this population in a risk range where medication errors become statistically likely, not exceptional.Overexertion and Everyday Injuries: The Risks No One Warns AboutOverexertion, the category covering lifting, pushing, pulling, and strain-related injuries, generated 220,882 ER visits for adults 65 and older in 2023. Struck-by or struck-against injuries topped the nonfatal list at 301,032 visits. Cut and pierce injuries added another 152,917.These are not dramatic events. They are routine activities: moving a box in the garage, bumping into a shelf, using a kitchen knife. The common thread is that aging bodies respond differently to the same physical forces. A strain that a 40-year-old walks off sends a 75-year-old to the emergency department. A kitchen cut that stops bleeding in minutes for a younger person becomes a medical event for someone on blood thinners.These everyday injuries rarely make headlines. They do not have awareness ribbons or designated prevention months. They show up instead in the CDC tables, quietly accounting for hundreds of thousands of emergency visits each year.Product Recalls Add Another Layer of RiskThe product safety record points in the same direction. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's rolling five-year recall dashboard lists fire, burn, heat-related explosion, poisoning, crash, entrapment, choking, and ingestion among the top hazard types for recalled consumer products. These are the same categories that appear in the CDC injury tables for older adults.A recent example makes the point clearly. In June 2025, CPSC recalled approximately 50,000 Apollo America combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sold by Vivint after the agency determined the devices could malfunction and fail to alert consumers to a fire or carbon monoxide leak. For an older adult living alone, a product failure like that turns an ordinary household item into a time-sensitive emergency with no warning.Product recalls rarely enter the older adult safety conversation. The data suggest they should.None of this diminishes the importance of fall prevention. Falls caused 41,400 deaths and nearly 3.9 million ER visits in 2023. They remain, by a wide margin, the single most dangerous injury category for older adults. Every grab bar installed, every balance class attended, every alert device worn for fall detection is effort well spent. That work should continue.The point of looking beyond falls is not to replace one concern with another. It is to widen the lens. Families who already take falls seriously are in the best position to extend that same attention to the traffic risks, medication hazards, and everyday injuries the data show are also sending older adults to the emergency department in large numbers.What This Data Means for FamiliesFalls remain the leading injury threat for adults 65 and older. That fact is not in dispute. The question is whether a falls-only conversation gives families the full picture, and the federal data answer clearly: It does not.After falls, older adults are still facing serious risks from traffic injuries, poisoning, suffocation, overexertion, cuts, burns, and product failures. These causes accounted for more than 21,000 deaths and more than 1 million emergency department visits in 2023 alone. They affect people at home, on the road, in the kitchen, and in the medicine cabinet.Families do not prepare for emergencies by reading statistical tables. They prepare for situations that disrupt independence, create fear, and demand fast help. A broader understanding of where those situations come from, not only falls, but the full range of everyday hazards, gives caregivers a more complete foundation for the decisions they make every day.MethodologyThis article uses CDC WISQARS 2023 tables for adults aged 65 and older covering injury deaths and nonfatal emergency department visits. To focus on overlooked risks, falls were removed from the main comparison. The fatal comparison also excludes self-harm categories so the analysis stays centered on accidental everyday safety risks. CPSC recall data were used as supporting context and were not weighted into the ranking. All numeric values are direct source values from linked public CDC tables. No values were estimated or modeled.This story was produced by Life Assure and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	After nine months away from home, Rock Island soldier reunites with his daughter Staff Sgt. Matthew Phipps had been stationed in Poland since June of last year and surprised his daughter at Rock Island High School on Monday.
	City of Moline hosts groundbreaking for former dispatch building in downtown The City of Moline is bringing new life to a historic property by redeveloping the building into apartments.
	Des Moines County Courthouse closing for law enforcement drill A news release from the Des Moines County Sheriff says the Des Moines County Courthouse in Burlington will close to the public on Tuesday, April 21 at 3 p.m. for a simulated drill. The courthouse will be closed for the remainder of the day. The drill is designed for local first responders to practice emergency [...]
	Explore the power of social media ads in shaping consumer behavior Explore the power of social media ads in shaping consumer behaviorSocial media didn't just grow up; it took over. Pew Research Center reports that about half of all U.S. adults say they check Facebook or YouTube daily. A lucky break online can turn an unknown startup into a household staple overnight, but the real story isn't the scale—it's the method. People are looking for answers. The search bar is officially handing over its crown to the social algorithm.Taradel, a marketing agency, examines data on how social media platforms have reshaped product discovery, consumer behavior, and the role of advertising in the purchase journey.A Vast Market UnmaskedThe raw numbers are staggering: 5.6 billion people—roughly two-thirds of the planet—are now regular users. According to historical benchmarks from DataReportal, this represents a nearly tenfold increase in global social connectivity since the mid-2000s.But the real weight is in the influence. Data from Rise at Seven suggests that 60% of product discovery is now concentrated on just three apps: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The old habit of "Googling it" is being phased out as the automatic first step for shoppers.However, discovery isn't the same as a sale. The journey is often a slow crawl, typically ranging from two days to over two months. In fact, a consumer might engage with a brand 97 different times before they finally pull the trigger. There is no such thing as a "silver bullet" in modern marketing. Success today is a slow, cumulative burn.The best results come from combining social media ads with other marketing channels, including direct mail. As consumers now use an average of 3.6 platforms before committing to a purchase, engaging them in more than one arena helps small businesses nudge them in the right direction, rather than losing out to larger, better-known brands.Effective In Spite of AIWhile AI search has rocketed into the public consciousness recently, marketers must not get distracted by its promised efficiency. An analysis by Sprout Social found that 52% of social media users prefer searching on social sites over using AI, specifically when trying to find authentic, user-generated content.Among Gen Z, the preference is even more pronounced. This demographic places significantly more trust in brand information encountered on social media than in responses from a chatbot. Consumer behavior still takes its lead from peer validation and "vouched-for" content. For the modern brand, the hype around AI tools should be taken with a grain of salt if it comes at the expense of a human-centric social presence.The Age Equation and the Rise of Gen AlphaWhile people of all ages use social media, younger generations spend more time in these spaces. Insights from the Pew Research Center highlight the entrenchment of these platforms: 80% of Gen Z use Instagram regularly, compared with just 19% of those over age 65.Frequency of usage is also a major factor. Among under-30s, 66% watch YouTube at least once daily, and 47% use TikTok with the same regularity.As we move into 2026, the focus is expanding to Gen Alpha. Early market reports suggest this cohort is even more reliant on "social commerce"—the ability to buy directly within an app—than their Gen Z predecessors.Companies that want to influence the behavior of the next decade's most valuable consumers must be across social media ads today. Falling short here risks missing out on connecting with an entire generation that will only become more influential as their disposable income grows.The Importance of PersonalizationWhile it's true that social media’s influence over consumer behavior deserves attention, it’s also important to note that businesses still need to fight hard to win over customers. Doing so becomes trickier by the day as expectations for ad personalization rise.Data cited by McKinsey shows that 71% of people anticipate a custom experience whenever they interact with companies. If this is missing, 76% of those users will express active frustration. Personalization is no longer a "nice-to-have" bonus but the baseline for loyalty.Social media ad platforms are uniquely designed to tap into massive datasets to serve content to the exact audience you want to reach. Failing to use these precision tools correctly doesn't just result in a missed sale. It can create a negative brand association that eliminates a customer's loyalty for a lifetime.Anticipating a Multichannel FutureSocial media ads will continue to monopolize the marketing focus of most organizations. However, the main takeaway from the current 2026 data is that discovery and conversion are two different hurdles.Brands that deliver excellent social campaigns and back them up with everything from print ads and direct mail to targeted email follow-ups stand to see the biggest benefits. In a crowded digital world, the brands that win are those that use social media to start the conversation and multichannel tactics to finish it.This story was produced by Taradel and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know. Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know.Spring is supposed to be a joyous time for high school seniors as they await college acceptance letters and plan graduation parties. The last thing on their minds—or, rather, the last thing that should be on their minds—is a scam sitting in their mailbox or inbox.Unfortunately, this season of change and intense emotions provides an opening for scammers. PeopleFinders shares some common ways that incoming college freshmen get scammed — and, perhaps more importantly, what you need to know to protect yourself and fight back against fraud.6 Methods Fraudsters Employ to Scam High School SeniorsA common misconception exists that younger people are less susceptible to scams than seniors. As it turns out, that’s not entirely true.Although young folks are often perceived as more tech-savvy than their parents and grandparents, they can still end up falling victim to the sophisticated methods that modern scammers use. In fact, recent Federal Trade Commission data indicates that adults aged 18-59 are 34% more likely to become victims of scams.Each age group has unique financial pressure points that scammers know how to exploit. Below, PeopleFinders takes a closer look at six potential weaknesses for college-aged individuals. If you’re a recent grad, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for scam tactics like the following:1. Fake scholarship and financial aid offersAs college expenses continue to soar, incoming freshmen are eager to get financial help whenever and wherever possible. Scammers know this and routinely send fake offers to students in exchange for personal information that can then be used to gain access to bank accounts.In other cases, bogus scholarship and financial aid offers may ask students to provide a small upfront fee, sometimes in the form of gift cards, to cover application costs.2. Housing application scamsIn many people’s minds, living in an on-campus dorm is synonymous with the college experience itself. Because the demand for student housing exceeds the supply, high schoolers must run the gauntlet to secure a dorm room.This provides scammers with an avenue to target housing-needy students. They might send fake housing applications that request sensitive information or request small deposits to secure limited campus living spaces that don’t actually exist.3. Nonexistent internships and jobsAnother pressure point for high school and college students is the need for relevant internships. Undergraduates, especially, are under pressure to obtain internships so they can get good-paying jobs after graduation. Many college students are also on the hunt for part-time jobs that work with their busy academic schedules.These conditions give rise to specific types of job scams that have affected roughly one-third of the U.S. population. The majority of people who fall victim to job scams also report losing money in the process.4. Loan forgiveness scamsThe stranglehold that student loan debt has on the U.S. (over $1.8 trillion in 2024) leads many borrowers to feel desperate. Scammers know all too well how eager students are to lower their payments, as shown in a 2024 scheme that stole $20.3 million from consumers.5. Fraudulent claims of unpaid tuition“Urgent! Enrollment will be canceled IMMEDIATELY if the student does not pay tuition upon receipt of this letter! Call TODAY to restore credits!”Countless students, including incoming freshmen, receive scam letters worded quite similarly. Adept scammers can recreate school letterhead and convince students to hand over sensitive financial information.6. Diploma millsInstead of paying University X $50,000 (or much more) over four years, why not pay Diploma Mill University $1,000 for the same degree you can get in just six weeks?Without knowing how diploma mills operate, that deal probably seems like a no-brainer. In reality, though, “students” of these non-accredited “educational institutions” end up paying their hard-earned money for a degree that isn’t worth the paper on which it’s printed.Accreditation mills only add to the scam by bestowing official-looking—but fake—credentials to diploma mills. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is.Protecting Yourself: How to Avoid College ScamsNow that you know what you’re up against, you can better understand the ways to fight back against college-related scams:1. Don’t pay upfront feesWhile most college applications cost money, the fees are almost never more than $100. Legitimate scholarships will not ask applicants for money. Additionally, FAFSA (federal student aid) forms are free to fill out.2. Don’t give out your Social Security number or FSA IDIf a student loan servicing company you’ve never heard of asks you to provide sensitive information, it’s a good idea to Google the organization before doing anything else. Similarly, you should not give out your federal student aid ID to anyone other than the Department of Education.3. Verify the identities of people who contact youGetting an unexpected phone call from your college warning you of catastrophic consequences for not sending over money is a commonly used tactic by scammers. Using a reverse phone lookup tool can help you identify illegitimate communications.4. Report suspected fraud to authoritiesAfter protecting yourself and your finances, report any suspicious interactions to the authorities. The FTC provides an intuitive fraud reporting tool, as does the federal Department of Justice. Don’t forget to contact your local police force.Protect Your Future this Graduation SeasonGraduating from high school, turning 18, and applying to colleges might be your first taste of the real world. Unfortunately, the real world is full of scammers and bad actors who care about nothing besides easy money.A healthy dose of skepticism and vigilance will serve you well as you navigate adulthood. The right digital tools, like a people finder, are also crucial for keeping you and your wallet safe. And remember: A good rule of thumb is, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How does cash back work for a credit card? How does cash back work for a credit card?Some companies may not pay much attention to credit card cash back, but for businesses that spend a lot, that can mean missing thousands of dollars a year. A company running $1 million in annual card spend at 1.5% cash back may be leaving $15,000 on the table every year if it doesn't have a strategy for capturing it. This is a gap that often pushes high-volume companies to evaluate high-limit business credit cards that pair stronger rewards with the spending power they actually need. The math is simple, but you need a basic plan to actually earn and collect the rewards.This article from Brex covers how cash back works from the ground up. You'll learn how rewards are earned and when they post, how the math works across different program structures, how redemption options compare, and what changes when you move from a credit card to a corporate card program with distributed cardholders and a finance team managing the close.What is cash back on a credit card?Cash back is a reward that gives back a percentage of each qualifying purchase to the cardholder. For example, a card earning 2% cash back on $100,000 in annual spend can receive a reward of $2,000, reducing the effective cost of that spend to $98,000. It's not free money. You have to spend to earn it, and the reward is always smaller than the purchase that generated it. Think of it as a discount applied after the fact rather than at the register.The reason card issuers can offer cash back comes down to interchange fees. Every time a card is used, the merchant pays a merchant discount to their acquiring bank to process the transaction; the acquirer then passes a portion of that to the card issuer as interchange. Cash back programs pass part of the issuer's interchange revenue to the cardholder as an incentive to route more spend through the card. The issuer still profits from the arrangement through the remainder of that interchange, interest on carried balances, and annual fees where applicable.One thing worth clarifying early is that cash back carries a fixed, predictable value. A dollar earned in cash back is worth a dollar when you redeem it. Points and miles work differently because their value fluctuates depending on how and where you redeem them, which can mean higher upside but significantly more complexity.How cash back works for credit cardsThe basic mechanic is straightforward. You use the card, the transaction is recognized as an eligible purchase, rewards accrue in your account, the billing cycle closes, and the cash back becomes available to redeem. That cycle repeats every month.Timing matters more than most people realize. Rewards typically post after a transaction fully clears, not when it shows as pending. Most issuers credit rewards at the end of the billing cycle rather than immediately after each purchase, so there's usually a short lag between spending and seeing the reward reflected in your account balance. If your team tracks reward accruals during close, confirm your program's posting cadence so the numbers reconcile on the right cycle.What expenses earn cash back and what don'tMost standard operating expenses qualify. Office supplies, technology, telecom, travel, dining, fuel, and professional services are all fair game on most programs. What doesn't qualify typically includes cash advances, balance transfers, fees and interest charges, some gift card purchases, and cash-like transactions such as money orders, foreign currency, and crypto.The category classification issue is one that catches finance teams off guard. Earning levels on programs with multiple reward categories depend on how a merchant is classified for card processing purposes, not how your team would classify them internally. A vendor you think of as a software company might be coded as a general business services merchant, which could mean you earn the base level rather than the elevated software level you modeled. Before committing to a program with multiple reward categories, validate how your highest-volume vendors are actually categorized. One conversation with your card issuer before signing up can save a significant amount over the course of a year.How cash back rewards on credit cards are calculatedThe base formula is simple. Eligible spend multiplied by your cash back rate equals the reward earned. A company spending $10,000 per month at 1.5% earns $150 in cash back that month, or $1,800 over a full year. At $500,000 in annual spend, that same 1.5% rate earns $7,500.Programs with multiple reward categories add a layer of math. Different levels apply to different spending categories, so your total reward is the sum of each category's spend multiplied by its respective level. A card offering 3% on software and 1% on everything else means a company spending $8,000 per month on software and $12,000 on other expenses earns $240 from software and $120 from the rest, for a combined $360 rather than the $300 a flat 1.5% card would earn on the same volume. The advantage is real, but only if your actual spend distribution matches the card's bonus categories.Caps are where the calculation gets important for high-spending companies. Many programs with multiple reward categories and rotating programs apply earning limits per category per quarter or per year. A 5% reward earning on the first $1,500 in quarterly spend that drops to 1% after means that even if you spend $10,000 in that category, your effective blended level for the quarter is much closer to 1.6% than 5%. Finance teams’ modeling program value should always calculate the blended level across their actual spending volume rather than citing the headline figure. That blended number is what your program actually delivers.Types of cash back for credit cardsDifferent cards offer different cash back structures, and the card you choose determines how much your company earns. The structure your card uses determines how much you earn, how much tracking is required, and whether the program actually fits how your company spends. There are four structures worth understanding before choosing a program.Flat-rate cash backFlat-rate programs apply the same percentage to every eligible purchase regardless of category. A 2% flat-rate card earns 2% on software, 2% on travel, 2% on office supplies, and 2% on everything in between. There's no activation, no category tracking, and no quarterly calendar to manage.The appeal for finance teams is predictability. You can model expected rewards against projected spend without factoring in category mix or cap schedules. If your company spends across a wide range of vendors and categories, flat-rate programs can often deliver the most consistent rewards.The tradeoff is that you won't earn elevated levels in your highest-spend categories. If your company puts $300,000 a year into software and travel, a flat-rate card leaves some value on the table compared to a program that rewards those categories at a higher level. The question is whether the higher potential rewards on a fixed-category program justify the additional management overhead.Fixed-category cash back with varying reward levelsPrograms with fixed reward categories apply different reward levels to predefined spending categories, with a lower base level applied to all other purchases. For example, a program may offer higher reward levels on categories such as software or telecommunications up to a quarterly cap, a mid-level on travel and dining, and a base level on remaining spend. These categories are defined by the issuer and are often consistent over time, though issuers may update them.Compared with flat-rate structures, programs with fixed reward categories can generate higher total rewards when spending is concentrated in categories with higher reward levels. For instance, a company with significant recurring software spend may earn more rewards on that portion of expenses under a fixed-category structure. However, caps can limit total rewards, so it’s important to model actual spend distribution against the program’s levels and limits before making a comparison.One planning consideration is that cap reset schedules vary by program and may not align with a company’s fiscal year. If a program resets on Jan. 1 and adoption occurs mid-year, the initial cap period may be shorter than 12 months, which can affect first-year rewards calculations.Rotating-category cash backRotating category programs offer elevated earn levels, often up to 5%, in categories that change on a quarterly schedule set by the issuer. Most require you to opt in each period to receive the higher level, and earning is typically capped once you hit a spending threshold in the bonus category.For individual cardholders who are willing to track the calendar and plan purchases around the rotating categories, the upside can be meaningful. For corporate programs with distributed cardholders, the operational burden usually outweighs the reward advantage. Communicating quarterly category changes across a team, ensuring everyone activates the bonus in time, and standardizing spending behavior around shifting categories adds administrative work that most finance teams would rather avoid. Companies with straightforward spend patterns and limited appetite for that administrative overhead are generally better served by flat-rate or fixed-category structures.Choose-your-own category cash backSome programs let you select which category earns the bonus level from a list of options provided by the issuer. It works like a fixed-category card in most respects, but you choose where the elevated level applies rather than accepting the issuer's fixed categories. Some programs allow you to change your selection once per billing cycle, which adds a layer of flexibility.This structure works well for companies with spending concentrated in one area that doesn't align with the standard bonus categories on most fixed-category cards. If your highest-spend category happens to be on the issuer's list of eligible options, a choose-your-own card lets you capture the elevated level without committing to a program built around different assumptions about how businesses spend.How to redeem cash back rewardsThe most common redemption options are a statement credit, a direct deposit or check, gift cards, travel through the issuer's portal, and merchandise. Statement credits and direct deposits are the most straightforward for businesses because they translate directly into reduced expenses or improved working capital. Gift cards and merchandise sometimes offer a slight premium in face value, but they introduce complexity that rarely makes sense for a corporate program.Two things often catch people off guard. Some cards require a minimum rewards balance before redemption is available, while others let you redeem any amount at any time. Some rewards also expire if the account sits inactive for an extended period or is closed before redemption. Both conditions vary by issuer and card program, so it's worth checking the terms before assuming your rewards will be there when you want them.How cash back works on corporate cardsThe earn-and-redeem mechanics are the same as a personal card. What changes are the scale, the governance, and a few structural features that don't exist on consumer programs. The pooling question is one of the first things to confirm when evaluating a corporate program. In centralized billing arrangements, rewards typically accrue at the organization level rather than in individual cardholder accounts. That means your finance team controls redemption rather than each employee independently, and cash back flows back to the business rather than sitting in personal accounts. Not every program handles this the same way. Some default to pooling during setup, others require you to request it. Companies that want full separation between business and personal finances may also want to explore business credit cards with EIN only, which evaluate creditworthiness on company financials alone.Card penetration has a direct effect on reward earnings that doesn't come up in consumer card discussions. For companies still building out their program, starting with the easiest business credit cards to get can help accelerate adoption and get more spend consolidated onto a single program faster. When company spend scatters across personal cards, reimbursements, and multiple payment methods, no single program reaches the volume that makes cash back meaningful. Pre-spend controls that enforce policy at the point of purchase rather than through after-the-fact reimbursement reviews increase the share of spend flowing through the card, which increases what the program accrues. Finance teams running a corporate program should track the rebate ratio as a quarterly KPI. That's total rebates divided by eligible spend, and it tends to improve as card penetration increases.Business expense cards also reward different spending categories than credit cards. Rather than groceries and gas, corporate programs tend to structure rewards around the categories where company spend concentrates, though the specifics vary widely by card. Some offer flat rates across all spend, some bonus-specific categories like office supplies, telecom, or travel, and others use startup-oriented structures that weight software and rideshare more heavily. Some corporate programs also offer redemption options that credit cards don't, including advertising spend and business-building options that can deliver more value than a straight statement credit, depending on your company's priorities.This story was produced by Brex and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Morrison water tower to undergo maintenance The Morrison water tower will be temporarily out of service for four to six weeks for maintenance.
	Stolen, loaded firearm found in backpack at Rock Island High School, police say A firearm was discovered in a student’s backpack at Rock Island High School on Monday morning.
	What it takes to be middle class in America What it takes to be middle class in AmericaOften, the expectations that come with the term “middle class” include reaching home ownership, raising kids, having the comfort of modest emergency funds and retirement savings, and the occasional splurge or vacation. In practice, a Pew Research definition sets the bounds of the middle class at two-thirds to two times the median income. And as the median household income varies widely across the U.S. depending on the local job market, housing market, infrastructure and other factors, so does what constitutes a middle-class income in America.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked U.S. states and 100 of the largest cities based on the upper bound of middle-class income, including the full range of what’s considered middle class in each location.You can earn over $200,000 and still be middle class in five states. Massachusetts has the highest threshold to break out of the middle class, with the upper bounds at $209,656 per year. New Jersey is close behind with an upper bound of $208,588 on the middle class, followed by Maryland ($205,810), Hawai‘i ($201,490), and California ($200,298).Mississippi has the lowest statewide middle-class income range at $39,000 to $118,000. While the Magnolia State has the income bounds to be considered middle class nationwide, West Virginia ($40,532 to $121,596); Louisiana ($40,532 to $121,972); Arkansas ($41,404 to $124,212); and Kentucky ($43,017 to $129,052) also have particularly low entry points.These Californian cities have the most competitive middle-class incomes. Three of the top five cities with the highest bounds on a middle-class income are in California, including San Jose in the number one spot with a middle-class income range of $98,817 to $296,452. Irvine ranks second with a range of $97,154, while San Francisco ranks fourth at $93,201 to $279,602.A middle-class household may earn less than $35,000 in these cities. Two Ohio cities have the lowest income range to be considered middle class, with a lower qualifying bound of $28,922 in Cleveland and $33,708 annually in Toledo. Buffalo, NY households also need to earn just shy of $35,000 to meet the minimum middle-class threshold. SmartAsset SmartAsset Top 10 States With the Highest Bound on Middle Class IncomeMassachusettsUpper bound for middle class income: $209,656Lower bound for middle class income: $69,885Median household income: $104,828New JerseyUpper bound for middle class income: $208,588Lower bound for middle class income: $69,529Median household income: $104,294MarylandUpper bound for middle class income: $205,810Lower bound for middle class income: $68,603Median household income: $102,905Hawai‘iUpper bound for middle class income: $201,490Lower bound for middle class income: $67,163Median household income: $100,745CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $200,298Lower bound for middle class income: $66,766Median household income: $100,149New HampshireUpper bound for middle class income: $199,564Lower bound for middle class income: $66,521Median household income: $99,782WashingtonUpper bound for middle class income: $198,778Lower bound for middle class income: $66,259Median household income: $99,389ColoradoUpper bound for middle class income: $194,226Lower bound for middle class income: $64,742Median household income: $97,113UtahUpper bound for middle class income: $193,316Lower bound for middle class income: $64,439Median household income: $96,658ConnecticutUpper bound for middle class income: $192,098Lower bound for middle class income: $64,033Median household income: $96,049Top 10 States With the Lowest Bound on Middle Class IncomeMississippiUpper bound for middle class income: $118,254Lower bound for middle class income: $39,418Median household income: $59,127West VirginiaUpper bound for middle class income: $121,596Lower bound for middle class income: $40,532Median household income: $60,798LouisianaUpper bound for middle class income: $121,972Lower bound for middle class income: $40,657Median household income: $60,986ArkansasUpper bound for middle class income: $124,212Lower bound for middle class income: $41,404Median household income: $62,106KentuckyUpper bound for middle class income: $129,052Lower bound for middle class income: $43,017Median household income: $64,526OklahomaUpper bound for middle class income: $132,296Lower bound for middle class income: $44,099Median household income: $66,148AlabamaUpper bound for middle class income: $133,318Lower bound for middle class income: $44,439Median household income: $66,659New MexicoUpper bound for middle class income: $135,632Lower bound for middle class income: $45,211Median household income: $67,816MissouriUpper bound for middle class income: $143,178Lower bound for middle class income: $47,726Median household income: $71,589IndianaUpper bound for middle class income: $143,918Lower bound for middle class income: $47,973Median household income: $71,959Top 10 Cities With the Highest Bound on Middle Class IncomeSan Jose, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $296,452Lower bound for middle class income: $98,817Median household income: $148,226Irvine, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $291,462Lower bound for middle class income: $97,154Median household income: $145,731Frisco, TexasUpper bound for middle class income: $290,888Lower bound for middle class income: $96,963Median household income: $145,444San Francisco, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $279,602Lower bound for middle class income: $93,201Median household income: $139,801Arlington, VirginiaUpper bound for middle class income: $267,164Lower bound for middle class income: $89,055Median household income: $133,582Gilbert, ArizonaUpper bound for middle class income: $249,936Lower bound for middle class income: $83,312Median household income: $124,968Seattle, WashingtonUpper bound for middle class income: $237,490Lower bound for middle class income: $79,163Median household income: $118,745Plano, TexasUpper bound for middle class income: $231,802Lower bound for middle class income: $77,267Median household income: $115,901Enterprise, NevadaUpper bound for middle class income: $222,256Lower bound for middle class income: $74,085Median household income: $111,128San Diego, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $222,064Lower bound for middle class income: $74,021Median household income: $111,032Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Bound on Middle Class IncomeCleveland, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $86,766Lower bound for middle class income: $28,922Median household income: $43,383Toledo, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $101,124Lower bound for middle class income: $33,708Median household income: $50,562Buffalo, New YorkUpper bound for middle class income: $104,422Lower bound for middle class income: $34,807Median household income: $52,211Memphis, TennesseeUpper bound for middle class income: $105,358Lower bound for middle class income: $35,119Median household income: $52,679St. Louis, MissouriUpper bound for middle class income: $106,748Lower bound for middle class income: $35,583Median household income: $53,374Milwaukee, WisconsinUpper bound for middle class income: $113,584Lower bound for middle class income: $37,861Median household income: $56,792Cincinnati, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $113,820Lower bound for middle class income: $37,940Median household income: $56,910Hialeah, FloridaUpper bound for middle class income: $114,302Lower bound for middle class income: $38,101Median household income: $57,151Winston-Salem, North CarolinaUpper bound for middle class income: $115,516Lower bound for middle class income: $38,505Median household income: $57,758Newark, New JerseyUpper bound for middle class income: $116,980Lower bound for middle class income: $38,993Median household income: $58,490Data and MethodologyTo determine the income limits to be in the middle class, SmartAsset analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 1-year American Community Survey data for the median household income in 100 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as all 50 states. We applied a variation of the Pew Research definition of middle-income households, which defines a middle-class salary range by two-thirds to double the median U.S. salary, to determine the middle-class income range.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for school Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for schoolPlaydates are the best way to prepare young children for school, according to a leading family psychologist.Dr. Martha Deiros Collado has 25 years of clinical experience and has conducted research by examining peer-reviewed papers (particularly longitudinal studies and meta-analysis) on playdates, school readiness, social play in the early years, socialization in 2-to 6-year-olds, loneliness and parenting.She said one of the most valuable things parents can do before September has nothing to do with reading or numbers — it's arranging a playdate.Kids between the ages of 4 and 6 who play with other children “regularly” learn to practice things like turn-taking, empathy, patience, communication and problem-solving in a “natural and meaningful way” — making them more “school ready.”As Dr. Martha explained to BBC Studios, “Playdates are the most important thing a parent can arrange to help a child get ready for school.“There is a wealth of science that shows children’s early play experiences with peers positively predicts better social skills and peer acceptance in reception class or kindergarten.”The advice follows a March 31 to April 9 poll of 2,500 parents of 3- to 7-year-olds from the U.K., the U.S. and Australia commissioned by BBC Studios and carried out through OnePoll.It found 81% have a playdate once a month or more. A further 62% believe that playdates help their child to feel more confident around other children. For 39% of those polled, the most important part of a playdate is simply seeing their child have fun.While Dr. Martha agrees, she believes the real value often lies beneath the surface.Through play, kids are learning how to take turns, communicate, cope when things do not go their way and build confidence with other children before they start school, according to Dr. Martha: “In the classroom, children need to share space, take turns and navigate bumps and conflicts with other children.”“Playdates give them the chance to begin building those skills before they start school — they are like impromptu mini life-skills workshops.”But Dr. Martha is keen to remind parents that playdates don’t always need to be smooth and trouble-free. She added, “Importantly, playdates do not need to be perfect to be valuable.“Small disagreements, little moments of frustration and working things out together are all part of how children learn.”When asked what activities make for a successful playdate, free outdoor play in a garden or park came top with 77% of those polled saying this was key.Simple crafts and drawing came second (64%), with role-play and imaginative games coming third (53%).Dr. Martha said, “Free play can be incredibly valuable for children. “It gives them the chance to imagine, negotiate, solve little problems and build confidence together, all in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.”The poll also found that playdates can help parents and carers build local support networks.Almost 4 in 10 (39%) said playdates have helped them to build new friendships with other adults, and similarly, 36% said they’ve had a positive impact on their social life. But while playdates appear to have many benefits, they’re not always easy to arrange.Challenges include not knowing other parents well (32%), clashing schedules (42%), feeling awkward about reaching out (21%) and worrying about hosting at home (18%).But children aren’t burdened with such concerns — they just want to have great playdates spent playing outside (60%), playing with toys (60%) and very often, enjoying snacks (56%).This story was produced by BBC Studios and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Autism Society of the Quad Cities hosting Autism acceptance walk The Autism Society of the Quad Cities (ASQC) is hosting a walk to celebrate Autism acceptance on Saturday, April 25 from 9 – 11 a.m. at Blackhawk Area Education Center, 4680 11th Street in East Moline. April is Autism Acceptance Month, and ASQC works with the Autism Society of America to recognize and support the [...]
	Davenport man accused of assaulting woman Sunday night A Davenport man was arrested after police say he assaulted a woman Sunday night.
	Gun found by metal detectors at Rock Island High School The school's weapon detection system flagged a possible firearm around 10 a.m. A security member searched the student's backpack and found the gun.
	Updated: Rock Island High School student faces multiple charges after gun found in backpack The high school's weapons detection system alerted staff to a firearm in a backpack Monday morning.
	Firearm found in backpack at Rock Island High School A firearm was discovered in a student’s backpack at Rock Island High School on Monday morning.
	Homes on the range: Is a federal affordable housing policy leading to a public lands selloff? Homes on the range: Is a federal affordable housing policy leading to a public lands selloff?For staffers at conservation groups like The Wilderness Society and Defenders of Wildlife, the daily routine often involves tracking congressional legislation and executive branch actions that, in some cases, look like trouble, RE:PUBLIC reports. In the early months of the second Trump administration, for example, radical changes started happening fast—among them, the DOGE-powered Valentine’s Day staffing cuts at the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.During this period, a different proposal emerged that didn’t get nearly as much attention from the media and public, but it sounded like a cause for concern. It centered on a Trump administration push to add a new category of “multiple use” to the traditional menu of mining, grazing, and timber harvesting: the construction of affordable housing.On March 16, 2025, the secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the creation of a “Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing.” In a Wall Street Journal op-ed co-written by secretaries Doug Burgum (DOI) and Scott Turner (HUD), the concept was described as a common-sense way to free up “underutilized” federal acreage—by “transfers or leases”—for the construction of new, affordable housing. It was headlined “Federal Land Can Be Home Sweet Home.”“Under this agreement,” they wrote, “HUD will pinpoint where housing needs are most pressing and guide the process by working with state and local leaders who know their communities best. Interior will identify locations that can support homes while carefully considering environmental impact and land-use restrictions.”“This isn’t a free-for-all to build on federal lands,” they said, “although we recognize that bad-faith critics will likely call it that.”Critics have indeed called it that, partly because Senator Mike Lee—a Utah Republican who’s one of the most vocal public-lands foes in Congress—has spent years pushing the same idea. Lee, notably, has shown little interest in affordable housing when it’s not connected to the sale, lease, or giveaway of public lands.The op-ed by Burgum and Turner didn’t go into detail about where new housing might be placed. Nor did the official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies, which required that the task force “meet quarterly to review progress [and] identify land transfer opportunities.” But Jon Raby, the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), offered a few more specifics in an interview published on March 24, 2025, by the online site Bloomberg Law. (Raby is still acting director of the BLM, pending Senate confirmation of nominee Steve Pearce.)Raby said the task force had identified sellable lands that, as Bloomberg phrased it, are “within a radius of up to 10 miles of all cities and towns with a population greater than 5,000 people.” The story explained that the amount of BLM land potentially in play is significant—625 square miles, an area larger than the city of Los Angeles.Staffers at The Wilderness Society saw this and decided to map what a 10-mile radius would look like—an effort that was in progress last May when a more immediate problem emerged. As part of a budget reconciliation bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate, Lee and his allies were backing a proposal to sell off as much as 3.3 million acres of BLM and Forest Service land for development, which included using BLM lands near urban areas to build housing.The Wilderness Society shifted its attention to this, creating an interactive map that went viral, helping to touch off a firestorm. In late June, Burgum traveled to Santa Fe to deliver a speech at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association. In his remarks, according to one report, he “referred to federal offshore and land holdings as ‘the largest balance sheet in the world.’”Outside the conference venue, 2,000 people showed up to protest; similar demonstrations occurred elsewhere in the U.S. In addition to expected pushback from environmental groups, the reconciliation language drew flak from hook-and-bullet nonprofits like the American Hunters and Anglers Action Network and even from a few conservative Republican legislators, including Ryan Zinke, a Montana congressman who served as Interior Secretary during Trump’s first term.The Wilderness Society’s map helped fuel all this: 1.87 million people clicked on it, and its reach was expanded by social media shares and coverage in more than 900 news articles. Ultimately, Senate Republicans blinked, and the sell-off language was stripped from draft legislation that was later passed as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Wilderness Society After the hubbub, what became of the housing task force? There haven’t been any recent public pronouncements on that front, but the concept certainly doesn’t appear to be dead. On April 7 of this year, Burgum and Raby were in Las Vegas for a series of events that included Nevada’s governor, Joe Lombardo, a longtime advocate for the construction of new affordable housing in the city—and for the idea of building it on repurposed federal land.“Lombardo has repeatedly urged the federal government to release Bureau of Land Management land in the Las Vegas Valley to local governments, for use in affordable housing,” a local news report said. “In order to get land, it must be ‘nominated’ by a local government, assessed and then approved before it can be transferred and construction can begin.”During this swing, Burgum said “multi-use” of federal lands should include “mining and grazing and timber and housing. It was meant for those things. It’s America’s balance sheet and we’ve got to get the appropriate return on it.”Meanwhile, whoever is in charge may have just missed an April 15 deadline for releasing an annual report that’s required by the original MOU between Interior and HUD. RE:PUBLIC requested updated information about the task force from DOI, HUD, and the BLM. None of these agencies responded.At our request, The Wilderness Society’s science team recently updated its 10-mile-radius map, which includes BLM land but excludes protected areas like national parks. In the task force’s MOU, the blanket term “federal lands” is used, making it reasonable to assume that Forest Service property would also be part of the mix. That’s on the map as well. The MOU does not mention the 10-mile radius—thus far, Raby’s comments are the only source for that. The Wilderness Society Open the map, and you’ll see why Nevada’s governor is salivating about the possibilities in Las Vegas—in every direction, large BLM parcels lie close to the city limits.As a case study, we also chose to zoom in on Durango, Colorado, population 21,000, a typical small, outdoorsy city and the hometown of Michael Carroll, BLM campaign director for The Wilderness Society. Take a look, and you’ll see a few pieces of BLM land in the immediate vicinity, along with a huge semicircle of Forest Service land north of town.On a map like this, these areas look like colorful abstractions, but to a local like Carroll they take in cherished stomping grounds that are a big part of what make the city special.“When you draw that radius around this community,” he says, “it contains some of our most coveted trail systems and recreation spots—places where people take their family to go on a picnic or hike, or to take the dog out after work.” In Durango, he says, that 10-mile ring includes trail systems like Animas Mountain, Sailing Hawks, Horse Gulch, and Twin Buttes. “And that’s just within the city limits.” The Wilderness Society Transfers of federal land in the West aren’t unheard of, but when they do happen—whether they’re for something like a water project, a new road, or some kind of housing—The Wilderness Society isn’t automatically opposed if they fill a clear public need. Such proposals are tracked and scrutinized internally by the group, which recently endorsed a bill called the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.This legislation was co-sponsored by Representative Jeff Hurd, a Colorado Republican, and Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat. The goal is to transfer, at no cost, 45 acres of Forest Service land that’s home to a reservoir near the alpine town of Ouray. The plan is for the city to take over, refurbishing the reservoir to boost the local water supply.Carroll, ticking off things The Wilderness Society thinks this legislation does right, says the bill requires local officials to maintain the land as public open space, prohibits new development or commercial use, and includes a “reversionary clause” that could give ownership back to the federal government if the city “fails to comply with these conditions.”The common denominator here, he says, is following the law, working with local communities and making any land transfer proposals transparent and clear while building in safeguards that have a clear public benefit.As a bottom line, Carroll points to a shared principles document endorsed by 75 national, state, and local public lands organizations during the federal budget reconciliation fight last year. The document argues that “public land conveyances must be rare, transparent, accountable, and rooted in place-based needs that serve a compelling public interest.” Unfortunately, as Carroll knows, not all legislators or federal managers share these ideals.One example is playing out right now in Oregon, where Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz introduced a bill that would transfer 500 acres of Mount Hood National Forest to The Dalles, a city of 16,000 on the Columbia River. The stated purpose is to allow the city to expand a reservoir that’s crucial to providing enough water for future urban growth. In January, Oregon Public Radio took a deeper look and made a convincing case that the real motive is to provide water for Google data centers.“The notion that this water is somehow for drinking water for residents, it’s just a fallacy,” John DeVoe, senior advisor at WaterWatch of Oregon, told OPR. “Obviously, the great driver of demand for water in The Dalles is Google.”The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.In Texas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed doing a land swap with SpaceX—the commercial space transport company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk—that would have adverse impact on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, a series of habitat tracts along the final 150 miles of the Rio Grande River.According to Defenders of Wildlife, which opposes the swap, the refuge is home “to at least 18 threatened and endangered species,” including “all five species of sea turtle found in the Gulf of Mexico.”The proposed exchange involves giving 712 acres of refuge land to SpaceX in exchange for a smaller amount of land: 692 acres, some of which would be given to a different national refuge nearby, Laguna Atascosa. According to the government’s Draft Environmental Assessment, the land taken from the Lower Rio Grande Valley refuge would be used for “residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure purposes.” That is: construction.Nathan Marcy, senior federal lands policy analyst for Defenders of Wildlife, points out that land exchanges are allowed under the law that created the national refuge system: the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, which uses the phrase “suitable for disposition” but doesn’t define it. In Defenders’ view, it’s not at all suitable to trade away land vital to the health of this refuge, and they contend that this swap ignores that responsibility.“The refuge is strung out along the river—it’s a long corridor,” Marcy says. “The primary management goal of the refuge is to protect and restore habitat. This 712 acres would cut a big chunk out of that corridor, severing it permanently.”A public comment period on this exchange just ended. If it’s approved by Fish and Wildlife, Defenders has the option of pursuing litigation.Finally, in Jackson, Wyoming, a local group called the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust is hoping to build 36 rental units on a 3.15-acre parcel that’s currently part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. This project—which has no connection to the HUD-DOI task force—is aimed at providing affordable rentals to a mix of U.S. Forest Service staff and private-sector employees who live in Teton County.According to a report in Mountain Journal, a public interest nonprofit, the proposal has drawn both local support and opposition. One argument against it is that a project like this should be designed only to include federal employees as renters.In the summer of 2025, The Wilderness Society submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to learn more about the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing. To obtain even a partial release of records, its lawyers had to file litigation against the DOI, HUD, and the BLM earlier this year. The documents released so far, Carroll says, show little sign of engagement with “local leaders or community groups” as required by the MOU.The documents do show, as Public Domain reports, “that President Donald Trump’s Interior Department shared research with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Lee chairs, and helped craft talking points that Lee used to pitch his controversial proposal.”They also reflect interest in building homes in Las Vegas. During a meeting held there last May, a Florida-based manufactured-home builder called PLAD—which stands for Personalized Luxury Adaptable Dwellings—was on hand as a possible vendor.While advocates wait to see if the task force comes back to life, Carroll and others are watching and waiting—among other things, for the release of more than 1,200 pages of records still in the hands of the DOI.“Any administrative or legislative proposal for the use or disposal of public lands for affordable housing needs to have requirements that the land never fuels speculative development,” he says. “Unfortunately, the administration seems to want to draw circles around cities and towns and put a for sale sign on all the federal lands inside it. Blunt approaches like this could cost communities their favorite trails and open spaces—and more than likely won’t address the communities’ affordable housing needs.”The Wilderness Society contributed interactive mapping to this story.This story was produced by RE:PUBLIC and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rethinking anti-aging: The increasing presence of organic products in global beauty markets Rethinking anti-aging: The increasing presence of organic products in global beauty marketsAnti-aging is no longer a race to erase; it’s a strategy for dermal survival. For today’s consumer, aggressive "correction" is out, and long-term barrier support is in.Global Market Insights projects the natural beauty sector will reach $70.8 billion by 2035, carving out a significant slice of the $831 billion global cosmetics industry. As users ditch immediate inflammation in favor of cellular health, "well-aging" has emerged as the definitive industry standard, Froya Organics reports. Froya Organics The Rise of N-Beauty and Minimalist ExtractionThe global market is currently dominated by three regional philosophies: K-beauty (Korean), J-beauty (Japanese), and the emerging N-beauty (Nordic). While K- and J-beauty emphasize multi-step rituals and hydration, Nordic-inspired skincare focuses on skinimalism, or the use of fewer, more potent ingredients designed to withstand environmental stressors.This shift toward resilience is driving interest in brands that focus on minimalist formulations utilizing ingredients native to the Nordic regions.These botanicals are harvested for their natural resistance to extreme sub-arctic climates and high UV exposure during summer months, offering a high concentration of antioxidants and fatty acids.This resilient-ingredient model serves a growing market segment that is moving away from complex routines in favor of streamlined, high-performance products that strengthen the skin’s self-repair mechanisms.Defining High-Performance OrganicsThe modern organic sector has moved beyond simple botanical mixtures to high-performance formulations. These products use certified organic raw materials processed through advanced biotechnology to achieve clinical-grade outcomes.This involves isolating specific botanical compounds to trigger the same cellular pathways typically targeted by synthetic ingredients, such as collagen synthesis and elastin production, but with higher dermal compatibility. By focusing on bio-active molecules, gadget-free well-aging allows consumers to achieve measurable results without the risk of long-term sensitivity.The Retinol vs. Bakuchiol ComparisonThe most prominent example of this shift is the transition from synthetic retinol to Bakuchiol.While retinol remains a primary anti-aging treatment, clinical research published in Experimental Dermatology highlighted that Bakuchiol acts as a potent inflammatory modulator, significantly reducing redness-inducing cytokines that synthetic vitamin A can sometimes trigger.Unlike synthetic retinol, which is synthesized in a laboratory and often causes an initial inflammatory response characterized by scaling and purging, Bakuchiol is a plant-based ingredient obtained from the Psoralea corylifolia plant. Still, the compound used in high-performance skincare undergoes a sophisticated molecular extraction process to achieve 99% purity.This ensures that the final formulation delivers the same gene-expression patterns as retinol—stimulating the production of Type I, III, and IV collagen—while maintaining the skin’s moisture levels and avoiding the inflammatory markers common in traditional retinoid use.The Pro-Inflammatory Risk of Synthetic Hyaluronic AcidWhile Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a staple in most moisturizers, the method of production dictates the skin's biological response. Synthetic HA is typically produced via bacterial fermentation. To increase penetration, labs often utilize Low Molecular Weight (LMW) HA.However, emerging research in dermatological science suggests that LMW HA can act as a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule, essentially "tricking" the skin into a state of low-grade chronic inflammation. Over time, this can actually accelerate collagen degradation.Conversely, botanical HA offers a distinct biological synergy. Derived from the Tremella fuciformis fungus, this polysaccharide provides a high-performance alternative to lab-grown variants.Analysis from the LA Times confirms the compound can hold 500 times its weight in water, but its structural advantage is equally significant. Because its molecular particles are naturally smaller than synthetic equivalents, it facilitates deeper dermal penetration. This ensures moisture delivery without the pro-inflammatory ‘signaling’ risk typically associated with synthetic low-molecular-weight (LMW) versions.The Future of Barrier-Centric BeautyThe transition toward organic anti-aging represents a shift in how consumers manage dermal health. By prioritizing the skin’s long-term integrity over the pursuit of instant fixes, the industry is aligning with a more sustainable and biological approach to aging.This story was produced by Froya Organics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Kewanee man gets two seven year prison terms His probation was also revoked on a 2023 aggravated battery case and he was sentenced to seven years in prison to be served consecutively to the seven-year term for attempted sexual abuse.
	Inside Iowa Politics: Why Iowa’s secretary of state doesn’t want big election changes Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is not looking for major changes to election laws, despite an executive order from President Donald Trump that could force significant alterations to the voting process.
	Morrison water tower to undergo maintenance Work on the municipal water tower in Morrison means there could be water pressure fluctuations over the next few weeks. A news release from the city said the water tower will be temporarily taken out of service starting May 1 for scheduled interior tank maintenance. This work is part of the city’s ongoing commitment to [...]
	The QR Code revenue question every CMO has to answer The QR Code revenue question every CMO has to answerOn paper, your QR Code campaign is a success: 1.8 million scans, a 32% click-through rate (CTR), and strong engagement.Then a board member asks: “What did this generate in revenue?” The room goes quiet.That moment happens more often than most marketing leaders would admit. Not because the campaign underperformed, but because QR Code performance has long been framed around engagement, not revenue.The channel itself is not the issue. In Uniqode's State of QR Codes 2026, 98% of 524 marketers say QR Codes had a positive impact last year, and 60% plan to increase usage.But only 12% track performance in terms of revenue.That gap is becoming harder to ignore, as Uniqode explains in this article. According to NielsenIQ, 84% of CMOs now use ROI as their primary metric for budget decisions, and 74% say they are under more pressure to prove it.Scans were enough when no one asked harder questions. Now they’re asking.Why does every marketer feel good about QR Codes, but no one can prove it Uniqode When QR Codes became a standard part of the marketing stack, teams defaulted to the metrics they already knew: CTR, engagement, conversion rate. They were familiar, easy to access, and built into most QR Code platforms from the start.That works well in fully digital environments, where the entire journey is trackable. A paid search click leads to a session, and a purchase can be tied back to a keyword. The chain stays intact.QR Codes break that chain.They begin in the physical world, where there is no cookie, no logged-in session, no persistent identity attached to the scan. A shopper scans a code in a store, browses briefly, leaves, and returns days later to buy. In most setups, that purchase is invisible to the original scan.So teams end up measuring what is easy to capture, not what actually matters. Scan counts and click-through rates are accurate within a limited window, but they stop short of revenue.There is also an organizational layer to this. Getting from a scan to a revenue number requires teams across marketing, analytics, and sales to agree on what counts, who owns tracking, and how the QR Code platform connects to the systems where purchases actually happen.That kind of cross-functional alignment takes time to build and effort to maintain, and most teams are not there yet. It is why 44% of marketers rank analytics as their most important QR Code feature, and why 49% say better analytics tracking is the improvement they most want. Uniqode The three attribution gaps breaking the revenue connectionTo understand why so few teams measure QR Codes in terms of revenue, you have to look at where the connection breaks. There are three gaps, and they tend to compound each other.The time gapA hotel guest scans a QR Code at check-in to explore spa packages. They do not book immediately. Four days later, they call to reserve a weekend stay and add the spa treatment.A CPG brand runs an on-pack QR Code campaign in October. A consumer scans and browses the loyalty programs, but does not sign up. Six weeks later, a holiday promotion brings them back, and they convert.In both cases, the scan influenced the outcome. But the purchase happens outside the typical attribution window, so the connection is lost.The longer the consideration cycle, the more invisible the QR Code’s contribution becomes. For categories like hospitality, CPG, and anything with a multi-week purchase journey, the consideration cycle is almost always longer than the attribution window.The identity gapQR Codes are frequently the first touchpoint in a consumer’s interaction with a brand, arriving before any login, before any email capture, before any identity exists.A scan from a store shelf happens before the brand knows who the customer is. Once that interaction moves offline, traditional tracking loses the thread.That anonymity is valuable from a consumer trust perspective. From a measurement perspective, it creates a blind spot. The scan remains just an isolated event until a later action ties that person to an identity, a sign-up, a purchase, or a known account.Basically, it shows up in the dashboard, but not in revenue.The credit gapEven when time and identity can be resolved, one question remains: How much credit does the QR Code deserve?In theory, multi-touch attribution should answer that. In practice, it depends on clean data flowing between the QR Code platform and the purchase system — systems that were not built to work together.NielsenIQ survey data shows 54% of CMOs say connecting data from different sources is a major barrier to insight generation, and only 37% report having a centralized view of that data accessible to all stakeholders.For QR Codes specifically, the challenge is sharper because the channel sits at the intersection of physical and digital. This means integrations that most martech stacks were not originally built to handle.These gaps are not inevitable but appear when measurement is treated as an afterthought.What separates the 12% who measure revenue from the 88% who don’tThe separation comes down to two operational patterns.They plan for attribution before the campaign launchesWhen revenue is defined as the goal from the onset, the technical setup follows.Teams use unique codes tied to specific placements, build landing pages that capture identity early, and set up tracking that matches how long customers actually take to decide.That early decision shapes what can be measured later.They connect systems, deliberatelyTeams that measure revenue have done the work of connecting their QR Code platform to systems where purchases happen (a CRM, a loyalty system, or a point-of-sale system).The infrastructure often already exists. The difference is that they’ve done the work to link the scan to those systems, so a QR Code interaction can eventually connect to a sale.Why this matters more in 2026 than ever beforePaid social, paid search, and affiliate marketing all automatically report revenue and return on ad spend (ROAS). When QR Codes sit alongside those channels in a budget review and contribute only scan data, they are being evaluated on a different standard. That asymmetry is manageable when budgets are growing. Under scrutiny, it becomes a liability.The first-party data angle makes this worth paying attention to. Every scan is a consented, voluntary signal. But its value depends on what happens next.Teams that connect scans to revenue treat that signal as the start of the customer journey. They track how those users convert, compare their long-term value (LTV), and re-engage the ones that showed intent but didn’t buy. Without that connection, the scan remains just a moment of engagement.Prove the revenue before they askThe board question on revenue does not go away. It comes back every quarter, and each time, your answer must get stronger or risk a smaller assigned budget.So, for your QR Code roadmap, build measurement infrastructure early enough to walk into any budget meeting with a revenue number, a cost per acquisition, and a cohort of customers. That is what will turn a channel with a “positive” impact into one with board approval and budget allocation.This story was produced by Uniqode and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Inside LLM SEO: How to optimize and measure your brand’s visibility Inside LLM SEO: How to optimize and measure your brand’s visibility“The only sustainable competitive advantage is to learn faster than your competition.” That quote (from former GE CEO Jack Welch) rings true now more than ever.With large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Gemini redefining the search experience, it’s become imperative for businesses to adapt and adopt LLM SEO, WebFX reports.Getting that competitive advantage, though, starts with understanding LLM SEO.What is LLM SEO?LLM SEO is the practice of optimizing a brand’s online presence in order to appear in large language model responses, whether via a mention or citation. It stands for search everywhere optimization for large language models.There are a few other names for LLM SEO, including:Generative engine optimization (GEO)Answer engine optimization (AEO)Large language model optimization (LLMO)Why does SEO for large language models matter now?With a 14% annual growth rate, the global AI search engines market is growing rapidly.Analysts now value the market at more than $40 billion — and expect it to reach $100+ billion by 2032. Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode have only accelerated this valuation (and growth), creating an urgent need for sophisticated AI visibility tools that can track brand performance across this expanding ecosystem.LLM SEO matters because people are no longer reliant on traditional search — ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI models are helping them discover brands, solve problems, and purchase products.Just as important is how users have adopted LLM-powered search:80% of users rely on AI-powered summaries 40% of the time68% of users use LLMs to research and summarize information58% of users now use LLMs for product and service recommendationsFor businesses, these shifts translate to a 15-25% decrease in organic traffic. Companies like NerdWallet and HubSpot have seen these traffic decreases play out publicly, with NerdWallet reporting a 20% year-over-year traffic loss in 2024.While companies can focus on regaining that lost traffic, it’s an incomplete approach because it overlooks AI’s growing role in how people discover brands, research solutions, and purchase products.Instead, businesses need to expand their thinking to how they’ll meet users in traditional and AI-powered experiences on ChatGPT, Google, and Perplexity — and that starts with LLM SEO.How does LLM SEO compare to traditional SEO?LLM is not the end of traditional SEO. In fact, traditional SEO is considered foundational to LLM optimization. That’s why SEO-optimized websites appear more often in AI-powered experiences.You can see how the two overlap (and differ) below: WebFX The core difference between the two is their targeted search experience. While SEO targets traditional search experiences, LLM SEO targets large language model search experiences.How to do LLM SEOYou know optimizing for LLMs matters. Now, learn how to do LLM SEO for your business based on industry practices for managing LLM SEO campaigns:Nurture traditional SEO effortsFirst, continue to nurture traditional SEO efforts by:Allowing search (and AI) crawlers to crawl and index your websiteProducing keyword-targeted SEO content (organic is still a leading traffic source)Claiming local listings, like Google Business Profile and Bing PlacesOptimizing existing content, from product pages to blog posts, for traditional searchImproving page speed to streamline the user experienceOutreaching publishers to earn links to your website’s contentProduce original contentOriginal content is one of the most powerful optimizations available to businesses looking to appear in LLM responses. That’s because LLMs (like Google) love content that brings something new to the conversation using:StatisticsQuotesInsightsBusinesses can lean into this optimization by:Evaluating third-party studiesRunning data studiesAnalyzing internal dataInterviewing senior leaders or front-line workersGet ideas for how this could look at your organization below: WebFX Optimize content for clarityWhen it comes to SEO for LLMs, it’s not just writing content that brings something new to the conversation. It’s also about formatting that content so it’s concise for users and digestible for LLMs.For example, content should use the following:Headings (H1, H2s, H3s, etc.)ListsTablesSchema markupYou can use headings, for example, to write concise answers to questions like:What are the best pillows for neck pain?What are the main benefits of remote work for businesses?How often should you replace your windshield wipers?Businesses should also evaluate their content’s readability. In most cases, it’s worth writing at an eighth-grade reading level, though this can vary for more niche industries.Enhance content with visualsVisuals are an underused optimization for appearing in LLM responses, like in AI Overviews or ChatGPT. With visuals, whether it’s a graphic or interactive experience, businesses can build their visibility and even referral traffic.Examples of how organizations can use visuals for LLM SEO include: WebFX Build brand mentionsBrand mentions are one of the most important LLM SEO optimizations.That’s because — like traditional SEO, where ranking on page two means next-to-nothing traffic — not being mentioned in LLMs means you’re not a part of the conversation.There are a few elements to brand mentions, including: WebFX You’ll notice these elements all relate to context — which is vital to LLMs. Understanding your brand’s nuances, like whether it’s a good mattress for side sleepers, helps LLMs deliver personalized responses.Even more important, these nuances help you reach your target audience.Creating these mentions overlaps with traditional SEO, which uses off-page SEO to build a brand’s online reputation and backlink profile, which helps the site rank in search results.For example, businesses can consider the following optimizations: WebFX How to measure LLM SEO resultsWhen it comes to measuring LLM SEO results, there are three factors:MetricsToolsTimeframeYou can learn more about these factors below: WebFX MetricsLLM SEO focuses mostly on visibility metrics, like:Referral traffic, or the number of visits from LLMsMentions, or when an LLM mentions your brandCitations, or when an LLM links to your brand’s websiteShare of voice, or the percentage of brand mentions across models vs. a competitor’sShare of model, or the percentage of brand mentions within a model vs. a competitor’sShare of search, or the percentage of brand searches vs. a competitor’sThese metrics introduce a significant shift for traditional SEOs, which often focus on rankings and traffic. However, they demonstrate what companies like NerdWallet and HubSpot are seeing — traffic is down, but revenue is up.ToolsTools are key — but limited — when it comes to tracking LLM performance.Google Analytics 4In Google Analytics 4, the best way to measure LLM traffic is through a custom channel group. With a custom channel group based on source, businesses can extract LLM visits from referral traffic to measure LLM performance at a glance.Use regex — based on source — to create this custom channel group. An LLM (like ChatGPT) can help create the regex, which will change as new LLM platforms get released.You can access some example regex below:^(chat\.openai\.com\|chatgpt\.com\|openai\.com\|perplexity\.ai\|gemini\.google\.com\|copilot\.microsoft\.com\|you\.com\|poe\.com)$OmniSEOOmniSEO is a platform that tracks LLM SEO metrics. The tool provides a way to measure brand visibility across several experiences, including:ChatGPTAI OverviewsPerplexityClaudeMeta AICopilotxAIApple IntelligenceAnd moreCompanies can also benchmark their performance against competitors.The OmniSEO platform can be used to measure how LLMs perceive a brand’s:CostExpertisePerformanceProduct and/or serviceReputationAnd moreAs a result, you get a complete picture of your brand’s performance.Examples of real LLM SEO campaignsSome examples of real LLM SEO campaigns include: WebFX This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pleasant Valley School District gets new leadership The school district will have a new athletic director, a new principal at Pleasant View Elementary School and a new dean of students at Cody Elementary School.
	East Moline Library hosing free resource fair The East Moline Public Library is hosting a free resource fair on Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The fair allows residents to connect with local organizations and learn about locally available resources for a variety of concerns . Groups expected to be in attendance include: · Robert Young Center · NAMI [...]
	The American Library Association has released its list of the most challenged books of 2025 The ALA says 4,235 titles were challenged at libraries across the country – the second-highest year on record. Forty percent of the challenged works involved LGBTQ+ subjects or the experiences of people of color.
	The 11 most challenged books of 2025, according to the American Library Association The ALA says 4,235 titles were challenged at U.S. libraries — the second-highest year on record. Forty percent of the challenged works involved LGBTQ+ subjects or the experiences of people of color.
	How to win executive buy-in for reliability-centered maintenance projects How to win executive buy-in for reliability-centered maintenance projectsConsidering reliability’s impact on a company’s success (keeping workers safe, preventing asset failure, and making maintenance costs more predictable), why do so many maintenance departments struggle to get executives to invest in reliability projects?MaintainX chatted with Terrence O’Hanlon, CEO of the Reliability Leadership Institute, about his framework for linking reliability-centered maintenance initiatives to results that make leaders pay attention.Read on to learn how to put his advice from the masterclass into practice.Key takeaways:Frame reliability as a profitability driver, and leadership will listen. You should know what every hour of unscheduled downtime costs your business.Balance quick wins and long-term vision to gain (and retain) executive buy-in. Show 90-day results while building ambitious multiyear plans.Treat your CMMS like an accounting system by logging everything, so you have the data to justify reliability investments over time.Frame boardroom conversations around reliability debtToo often, companies think about reliability only after disaster strikes. But O’Hanlon emphasizes that teams shouldn’t wait until a costly breakdown, spill, or safety incident to start the reliability conversation. That’s how reliability debt (the compounded cost of neglecting equipment) builds up.“Imagine buying a new car and not maintaining it for two years,” O’Hanlon says. “Eventually, you’ll pay thousands to bring it back up to standard. That’s reliability debt.”Every delayed inspection and skipped PM adds up until your organization has to “pay up” in the form of downtime, higher repair costs, lost production, or safety and compliance risks.The debt concept is a powerful way to kick off conversations with executives about reliability initiatives. To use it effectively, you can:1. Estimate the cost of inaction: Executives need to see what happens if nothing changes.Use real events: “Last year, a single unplanned failure on line 3 cost us $220,000 in lost production in just two days. Our current risk profile shows at least three similar assets in the same condition.”Paint a realistic worst-case scenario: “If our main ammonia compressor fails, we’re looking at up to $10 million in combined costs between replacement, 10 days of lost production, contractor premiums, and regulatory penalties.”Include safety and compliance risk: “We have 27 inspections overdue on this equipment. A single incident here could result in shutdown orders or fines in the seven-figure range.”2. Frame your plan as paying down that debt over time: Instead of asking for one-time spend, position your maintenance and reliability initiative like a structured repayment plan.Here’s an example script for this: “We propose a $500,000 annual investment over the next three years to eliminate our current backlog and implement condition-based monitoring on our top 10 most critical assets. This will pay down our ‘reliability debt’ by reducing our estimated unplanned downtime risk by $3.5 million per year and cutting emergency work by 40% within 24 months.”By turning maintenance problems into a clear “debt” number with a concrete paydown plan, you make it easier for executives to see reliability as a smart financial decision.3. Get finance on your side: Maintenance staff tends to speak in terms of uptime, PM completion, and vibration analysis. But executives tend to listen to measurements of profit and loss.With that in mind, your pitches to leadership about maintenance and reliability investments will be more effective when you can pair every technical metric with a financial translation. Then, validate these numbers with your finance team. “When accounting signs off on your savings, no one will argue your ROI.”Prepare for the ‘double work’ phaseDon’t underestimate the value of setting realistic expectations for maintenance and reliability results with leadership. After all, you might not notice instant savings when transitioning from reactive to preventive maintenance. In reality, the transition may temporarily double your team’s workload.As O’Hanlon says, “For the first six months, you’ll be stacking proactive work on top of reactive work.”It’s important to set this expectation early and help leaders see that short-term increases in workload or spend are part of the journey to long-term efficiency.To prep, maintenance professionals should:Consider outsourcing reactive maintenance tasks temporarily so your maintenance team can focus on preventive maintenance efforts.Communicate to leadership that it will get worse before it gets better.Highlight that significant ROI typically appears within six to 12 months.Play the long game, but don’t forget the short gameWhile reliability is a long-term transformative process, executives want to see evidence of results quickly. O’Hanlon’s advice is to play both the 90-day game and the three-year game when it comes to your maintenance program's results.“While you're waiting for those longer-term results to come in, you have to have some strategies for the short-term results. Your bosses are all short-term.”Here are some examples of quick-win reliability metrics you can use to build leadership trust and secure continued funding for reliability-centered maintenance initiatives:Air leak detection: Track the number of leaks fixed and the resulting drop in compressed air/energy usage. This often results in measurable savings within weeks.Steam trap audits: Measure how many failed traps you replace and estimate the recovered energy cost.Infrared or ultrasound inspections: These are great “show-and-tell” visuals. Quantify the number of issues caught before failure and tie them to avoided costs.“Every other department is fighting for the same improvement dollars,” O’Hanlon explains. “Reliability leaders have to compete by showing value early and often.”Use criticality and CMMS data to inform your reliability roadmapNo plant has unlimited resources, so it’s important to start planning reliability-centered maintenance initiatives where equipment failure hurts most. The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, so conduct a criticality analysis to identify assets that would cause production stoppages and safety risks if they failed.O’Hanlon likes criticality as a starting point because it gets people familiar with assets and talking to each other. During this exploration, you may find that records aren’t up to date or that you don’t even have a centralized, accurate list of assets.If that’s the case for your maintenance team, you’re not alone. O’Hanlon estimates that fewer than 50% of companies log all their assets, parts, and work in their CMMS. But he advises maintenance leaders to enforce logging data in their CMMS the same way they would for an accounting system.“Say you went into your accounting department and they said, ‘We're grabbing a good 60% of the deposits here. Or we’ve got a good 70% of the checks we're writing.’ You would say that’s meaningless and insist that they record it all. But for some reason, CMMS is the Wild West.”In other words, everything (not just some things) should live in your CMMS. “It’s your QuickBooks for the business of maintenance,” he says.These maintenance records will help you continue to make the case for reliability-centered maintenance investments as time goes on.Building a reliability culture is a continuous process. If you’re looking for more on speaking your executives’ language to pitch maintenance investments, a five-step template is a good place to start.This story was produced by MaintainX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Voice AI in banking: A strategic roadmap for financial institutions Voice AI in banking: A strategic roadmap for financial institutionsIf you’re a banking executive evaluating a move to a voice AI system for customer interactions,this guide from Quiq provides a strategic roadmap for bringing voice AI to your institution, covering everything from business case development to technical architecture to change management. Whether you’re evaluating platform solutions or building your own implementation plan, this roadmap will help you navigate every critical decision from pilot to scale.The Growing Role of Voice AI in the Banking IndustryVoice AI represents an opportunity for financial institutions to transform customer experience while reducing operational costs. The agentic AI uses natural language processing and generative AI to create conversational experiences that rival human interactions. It enables 24/7 availability for automating routine tasks, eliminates hold times, and frees live agents to focus on more complex queries.Some systems also offer fraud detection through voice biometrics and personalized suggestions based on spending pattern analysis.Business Case for Financial Institutions: Customer Satisfaction, Efficiency, RevenueBuilding your business case requires quantifying three key benefits: higher customer satisfaction while remaining compliant with banking regulations, operational efficiency improvements, and revenue protection.1. Quantifying CSAT ImprovementsConsider a typical balance inquiry: legacy IVR takes 2-3 minutes of menu navigation. Using speech recognition technology and large language models, voice AI reduces this to 8 seconds—”What’s my checking balance?” → Voice authentication → “Your balance is $4,287.53.”That 2.5-minute reduction across millions of calls translates directly to higher satisfaction and lower churn.2. Estimating Operational Cost SavingsROI is driven primarily by call containment. For routine banking inquiries, containment rates of 70%-80% are achievable within the first year.The math: If your call center handles 10 million inbound calls yearly at $5 per call, and 60% are routine inquiries (6 million calls costing $30 million), voice AI containing 75% means automating 4.5 million interactions—saving $22.5 million in operational costs minus platform fees.3. Prioritizing Top Customer InquiriesStart with highest-impact use cases based on customer data.Tier 1 for immediate automation includes account balance inquiries, transaction history, payment due dates, branch locations, and card activation. Tier 2 for early automation covers simple transfers, bill payment confirmation, and fraud alert acknowledgment.Tackling Tier 1 first delivers immediate wins that build organizational confidence for complex use cases. Quiq Customer Experience and Customer Feedback: Transforming Financial Services InteractionsVoice AI with intelligent call routing doesn’t just automate transactions—it transforms how banks capture and act on customer feedback.Real-Time Conversational Feedback CaptureTraditional post-call surveys have 5%-10% response rates. Voice AI enables real-time sentiment detection during every interaction, capturing feedback from 100% of customers.A conversational AI solution can analyze tone, spoken words, and conversation flow patterns to detect frustration, satisfaction, or urgency. If a customer’s tone shifts to frustration (“This is the third time I’ve called!”), the AI escalates immediately or flags the interaction for quality review.Converting Feedback Into ActionsTraditional banks and other financial institutions build AI workflows that automatically flag interactions to product teams for feature requests, training teams for knowledge gaps, IT teams for system issues, and more. This systematic approach turns every customer interaction into continuous improvement for faster service.Advanced virtual assistants on voice use sentiment analysis and artificial intelligence with natural language processing (NLP) to detect nuanced emotions like anxiety, urgency, or uncertainty—and adjust responses accordingly.For example, if a customer calls about a large unexpected charge with high stress, the AI prioritizes empathy, escalating to fraud detection if patterns match suspicious activity to meet customer needs quickly.Setting Targets for ImprovementMeasure current CSAT for interaction types you’ll automate, then set realistic improvement goals. Track NPS before and after deployment.Use Cases: Automating Customer Inquiries Across the Financial InstitutionAccount Services and Routine TransactionsRoutine account inquiries represent the vast majority of inbound call volume, making them perfect for automation with AI Agents.For example, you can map intents for every variation customers use to ask about their account details: “What’s my balance?”, “How much do I have in checking?”, “Tell me my current balance?”Design voice authentication flows using voice biometrics combined with knowledge-based backup verification. Draft clear fallback rules for human handoff, ensuring seamless escalation to human agents for zero friction. Quiz Fraud, Authentication, and Security InquiriesVoice biometrics analyze over 100 unique vocal characteristics to create voiceprints as unique as fingerprints, meeting strict security requirements including SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance.Design fraud-detection triggers based on voice signals from client interactions: voice mismatch, stress indicators suggesting coercion, script-reading patterns indicating social engineering, and geographic anomalies. Document escalation rules—low risk proceeds with enhanced auth, medium risk escalates to fraud specialists, high risk declines transactions and freezes accounts.Loans, Credit, and Application WorkflowsVoice AI can streamline loan applications through conversational prequalification.Rather than lengthy online forms, AI agents can conduct natural conversations: “What are you looking to finance?” → “I want to buy a car” → “What’s your estimated annual income?”This progressive data collection is designed to increase application completion rates and consequent account openings. Specify verification steps for eligibility checks, validating income against debt-to-income ratios and checking credit scores before moving to formal underwriting. Quiq Investments, Advisory, and Personalized Financial AdviceUnlike human agents, AI delivers personalized support at scale.Identify personalization triggers based on account history, life stage, risk tolerance, and market context pulled from your integrated systems.For example: “I notice you recently opened a high-yield savings account and you’re 28. Many customers explore index funds for long-term growth. Would you like options matching your risk profile?”Set compliance constraints and clearly distinguish education from specific recommendations. Quiq Outbound Campaigns and Proactive NotificationsVoice AI handles proactive outreach to your customers at scale across voice and digital channels.Build campaigns for payment reminders, fraud alerts, account milestone notifications, and promotional offers. Track connection rates, completion rates, action rates, and opt-out rates through analytics to continuously optimize messaging based on real-time insights.International and Multilingual Support in the Banking IndustryGlobal banks must serve customers in dozens of languages. Common priorities for U.S. institutions are English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, French, and Portuguese.The power of agentic AI applied to voice commands means translation capabilities are consistent across languages, while fallback rules route to human agents when the AI can’t handle a language fluently. Quiq Technology Stack: Conversational AI and AI-Powered Voice ArchitectureWhen evaluating voice AI platforms for banking, technical excellence is non-negotiable. Here’s what enterprise-grade solutions can deliver:ASR Accuracy and Latency Requirements: Automatic Speech Recognition needs 95%+ word accuracy for general conversation, 98%+ for banking terminology, and <300ms latency from speech end to AI response start.NLU Intent and Entity Performance Goals: Natural Language Understanding should achieve 90%+ primary intent accuracy, 85%+ for multi-intent handling, and 99%+ accuracy extracting account numbers with validation.TTS Naturalness and Multi-Voice Needs: Text-to-speech quality impacts customer perception. Target mean opinion score of 4.0+ out of 5.0, with emotional range to convey warmth, empathy, or urgency appropriately.Integration APIs for CRM and Core Banking: Voice AI must connect seamlessly with core legacy systems, CRM, and authentication systems.Security, Compliance, and Risk ManagementMap regulatory requirements by jurisdiction: U.S. requires GLBA, FCRA, TCPA, and state privacy laws. Europe has GDPR and PSD2. Asia-Pacific varies by country. Look for enterprise-ready platforms that meet these requirements with SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA compliance.In addition, you’ll need security infrastructure that gives you the ability to implement data retention policies and access controls, and schedule independent security and compliance audits.Implementation Roadmap: From Design to Live for Financial InstitutionsPhase 1 – Foundation: Assemble cross-functional team including executive sponsor, product owner, CX lead, IT/engineering, compliance/legal, operations, and data/analytics. Audit legacy IVR and CRM systems—document existing call flows, map authentication methods, identify data sources, and assess API availability.Phase 2 – Design and Prototyping: Prototype conversational flows. Script 3-5 core flows, recruit 20-30 diverse customers, conduct testing with real interactions, gather qualitative feedback through built-in analytics, and iterate based on findings.Phase 3 – Pilot Launch: Launch phased pilot with single high-volume use case, directing 5%-10% of calls initially for 60-90 days. Target CSAT >80%, containment >70%, accuracy >90%—all metrics trackable in real-time through insights. Collect daily dashboards showing AI agent performance, conduct weekly conversation reviews, run monthly customer surveys, and rapidly iterate based on failure analysis.Phase 4 – Scale: Once pilot metrics hit customer experience targets, expand systematically through vertical scaling (10% to 100% traffic), horizontal scaling by adding use cases, geographic scaling, and channel scaling. Quiq Metrics and ROI: Measuring Customer Satisfaction and Operational ImpactDefine CSAT measurement through post-interaction surveys.Measure NPS quarterly for general tracking, and monthly for voice AI users.Outside of customer satisfaction, operation impact should be tracked through First-Call Resolution and Containment Rate.Change Management and Training for the Financial InstitutionTrain agents on AI handoff protocols—when AI escalates, what information human agents receive, and how to provide feedback for AI improvement.Create playbooks for common escalation scenarios with step-by-step workflows. Run adoption workshops covering three phases: understanding voice AI, collaboration skills, and continuous improvement.Risks and Governance: The Critical Role of OversightIn the highly regulated industry of banking, you can’t be too careful. Before implementing voice AI, you’ll want to list common failure modes, such as catastrophic misunderstanding, voiceprint false rejection, bias in NLU, and compliance violation.Define governance models that give you peace of mind. Schedule quarterly reviews covering KPI dashboards, failure analysis, customer feedback themes, competitive benchmarking, and bias audits analyzing performance by demographic segments.Next Steps for Voice AI in BankingPrioritize Your Pilot Use Case: Start with your customers’ account balance inquiries—highest volume, lowest complexity, minimal risk.Assign Executive Sponsor and Project Owner: Executive sponsor, often the chief customer experience officer, secures budget and removes roadblocks. The project owner, such as the head of customer support, manages day-to-day execution, working closely with the platform’s implementation team.Carefully Evaluate Platforms: Prioritize platforms with proven banking expertise, enterprise-grade security (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR), comprehensive integration capabilities, rapid implementation timelines, unified analytics, and seamless handoffs to human agents.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)How does voice AI enhance customer experience compared to mobile banking apps?Voice AI and mobile apps serve complementary roles in delivering exceptional customer experience. While apps excel at visual tasks like viewing statements or depositing checks, voice AI provides hands-free instant access when customers are driving, multitasking, or prefer speaking over typing.The AI-powered technology enables natural conversations that feel more intuitive than navigating app menus, particularly for customers less comfortable with digital interfaces. Together, they create a comprehensive self service ecosystem that meets diverse customer preferences and situations.What role does machine learning play in making voice bots effective for banking?Machine learning is the foundation that separates modern voice bots from legacy systems. Through continuous learning from millions of customer interactions, AI-powered voice bots improve their understanding of banking terminology, regional accents, and conversational patterns over time.Machine learning algorithms enable the system to predict customer intent, personalize responses based on individual behavior patterns, and identify fraud patterns that weren’t explicitly programmed, creating increasingly sophisticated self service experiences that adapt to customer needs.Can customers access all banking services through voice AI, or just basic inquiries?The technology extends far beyond basic information. Depending upon the deployment, customers can complete complex workflows including loan prequalification, fraud alert acknowledgment, fund transfers, bill payments, and even receive personalized investment guidance.The AI-powered system intelligently determines when interactions require human expertise and seamlessly transitions customers to live agents.How do voice bots maintain security while providing instant self service?Voice bots leverage advanced biometric authentication designed to enhance security while improving customer experience. Rather than forcing customers through multiple security questions, AI-powered voice authentication analyzes over 100 unique vocal characteristics to verify identity in seconds.Machine learning continuously monitors for fraud indicators like voice stress patterns, background noise suggesting coercion, or geographic anomalies.What happens when voice bots encounter questions they cannot answer?AI-powered voice bots are designed with intelligent escalation protocols to best meet customer needs. When the system detects uncertainty, complexity beyond its capabilities, or customer frustration through machine learning analysis, it transfers customers to agents with full conversation context, reducing the need to repeat information.This hybrid approach means customers receive instant access through self service for routine needs while guaranteeing expert human support for nuanced situations.This story was produced by Quiq and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Firearm found in backpack at Rock Island High School, police say A firearm was discovered in a student’s backpack at Rock Island High School on Monday morning.
	Will a solar array save Princeton money? A solar array at Princeton’s sewer plant could save the city money on utility bills. Or it could lock the city into payments on a loan unlikely to outprice the cost of energy. Several facts will determine whether the project would yield savings or avoidable costs. The model below allows you to adjust those variables to evaluate costs and savings in real time. Early estimates put project cost at $250–300,000, but revisions raised that figure earlier this month. An engineer told the council April 9 that costs could be “less than $350,00, but I’m not comfortable making any promises.” The project is now out for bid, with a public hearing scheduled for this Thursday, April 23. The council expects to open bids during its regular meeting May 7. If the project breaks ground by July, it is guaranteed a federal rebate—called an “investment tax credit”—totaling 30% of the project cost. Princeton will have to borrow funds to cover the bulk of the project cost. General obligation (GO) debt could carry market interest rates as high as 6%. A state revolving fund loan, intended to finance water infrastructure improvements, could drop that figure to 3.25%. City grant writer Angie Bloomfield said last week that she was working to determine whether the solar project was eligible for an SRF loan. The cost of energy may outweigh the cost of debt. The council will need to decide whether they expect energy prices to maintain an aggressive upward trend. Energy prices have risen 43% in Iowa since 2021, or about 7% annually. With a continued climb in energy prices, the solar array would post savings against market energy bills early in its lifetime. But if prices deflate, the city could be stuck with interest payments above the cost of energy. Early estimates put the energy bill for the sewer treatment plant at $15,300 next year. The current draft of the city budget has raised that sum to $17,000. The model below allows you adjust each of the variables described above. It assumes a 15-year mortgage with a fixed annual payment split between interest and principal. It totals savings at the end of those 15 years—although most solar fields are warrantied out to 25–30 years. Try it for yourself. This model was built using coding assistance from artificial intelligence. .wrap { padding: 1rem 0; font-size: 14px; } .controls { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; } .control-group { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 5px; } .control-group label { font-size: 12px; color: var(--color-text-secondary); } .control-val { font-size: 17px; font-weight: 500; color: var(--color-text-primary); } .rebate-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; } .rebate-row input[type="checkbox"] { width: 16px; height: 16px; accent-color: #3b6d11; cursor: pointer; } .rebate-row label { font-size: 13px; color: var(--color-text-primary); cursor: pointer; } .rebate-note { font-size: 12px; color: #3b6d11; margin-left: 26px; margin-bottom: 1rem; display: none; } .rebate-note.visible { display: block; } .summary { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; } .metric { background: var(--color-background-secondary); border-radius: var(--border-radius-md); padding: 12px 14px; } .metric-label { font-size: 12px; color: var(--color-text-secondary); margin-bottom: 4px; } .metric-value { font-size: 17px; font-weight: 500; color: var(--color-text-primary); } .table-wrap { overflow-y: auto; max-height: 500px; border: 0.5px solid var(--color-border-tertiary); border-radius: var(--border-radius-md); } table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; } thead th { position: sticky; top: 0; background: var(--color-background-secondary); font-size: 12px; font-weight: 500; color: var(--color-text-secondary); text-align: right; padding: 8px 10px; border-bottom: 0.5px solid var(--color-border-tertiary); } thead th:first-child { text-align: left; } tbody td { font-size: 13px; color: var(--color-text-primary); text-align: right; padding: 7px 10px; border-bottom: 0.5px solid var(--color-border-tertiary); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; } tbody td:first-child { text-align: left; color: var(--color-text-secondary); } tbody td.energy { color: #854f0b; } tbody td.positive { color: #3b6d11; } tbody td.negative { color: #a32d2d; } tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tbody tr:hover td { background: var(--color-background-secondary); } tfoot td { font-size: 13px; font-weight: 500; text-align: right; padding: 9px 10px; border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border-primary); color: var(--color-text-primary); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; background: var(--color-background-secondary); } tfoot td:first-child { text-align: left; } tfoot td.positive { color: #3b6d11; } tfoot td.negative { color: #a32d2d; } tfoot td.energy { color: #854f0b; } Simplified 15-year solar GO bond debt service and energy savings model Project cost $180,000 Bond rate 6.50% Current annual energy cost $15,300 Energy cost increase / yr 4.0% Federal rebate received? (30% of project cost reduces bond principal) Annual debt service— Total interest paid— Net savings over 15 years— Year Energy cost Debt service Principal Interest Outstanding Savings const fmt = v => { const sign = v < 0 ? '-' : ''; return sign + '$' + Math.abs(v).toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 }); }; const fmtShort = v => '$' + Math.round(Math.abs(v)).toLocaleString('en-US'); function render() { const projectCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loanSlider').value); const rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rateSlider').value); const energyStart = parseFloat(document.getElementById('energyStartSlider').value); const energyGrowth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('energySlider').value); const rebate = document.getElementById('rebateCheck').checked; const bondYears = 15; document.getElementById('loanDisplay').textContent = fmtShort(projectCost); document.getElementById('rateDisplay').textContent = rate.toFixed(2) + '%'; document.getElementById('energyStartDisplay').textContent = fmtShort(energyStart); document.getElementById('energyDisplay').textContent = energyGrowth.toFixed(1) + '%'; const rebateAmount = projectCost * 0.30; const financedAmount = rebate ? projectCost - rebateAmount : projectCost; const rebateNote = document.getElementById('rebateNote'); if (rebate) { rebateNote.textContent = 'Federal rebate of ' + fmtShort(rebateAmount) + ' reduces financed amount to ' + fmtShort(financedAmount) + ', lowering annual debt service for the full bond term.'; rebateNote.classList.add('visible'); } else { rebateNote.classList.remove('visible'); } const months = bondYears * 12; const r = rate / 100 / 12; const monthlyPayment = r === 0 ? financedAmount / months : financedAmount * r * Math.pow(1 + r, months) / (Math.pow(1 + r, months) - 1); const annualDebtService = monthlyPayment * 12; document.getElementById('annualDebtService').textContent = fmt(annualDebtService); let balance = financedAmount; let totalInterest = 0; let totEnergy = 0, totAnnual = 0, totPrinc = 0, totInt = 0, totSavings = 0; const tbody = document.getElementById('tableBody'); tbody.innerHTML = ''; for (let yr = 1; yr <= bondYears; yr++) { let yearPrinc = 0, yearInterest = 0; for (let m = 0; m < 12; m++) { if (balance <= 0) break; const interest = balance * r; const princ = Math.min(monthlyPayment - interest, balance); balance = Math.max(0, balance - princ); yearPrinc += princ; yearInterest += interest; totalInterest += interest; } const yearPayment = yearPrinc + yearInterest; const energyCost = energyStart * Math.pow(1 + energyGrowth / 100, yr - 1); const savings = energyCost - yearPayment; totEnergy += energyCost; totAnnual += yearPayment; totPrinc += yearPrinc; totInt += yearInterest; totSavings += savings; const savingsClass = savings >= 0 ? 'positive' : 'negative'; const tr = document.createElement('tr'); tr.innerHTML = ` <td>${yr}</td> <td class="energy">${fmt(energyCost)}</td> <td>${fmt(yearPayment)}</td> <td>${fmt(yearPrinc)}</td> <td>${fmt(yearInterest)}</td> <td>${fmt(Math.max(0, balance))}</td> <td class="${savingsClass}">${fmt(savings)}</td>`; tbody.appendChild(tr); } document.getElementById('totalInterest').textContent = fmt(totalInterest); document.getElementById('netSavings').textContent = fmt(totSavings); document.getElementById('netSavings').style.color = totSavings >= 0 ? '#3b6d11' : '#a32d2d'; const tfoot = document.getElementById('tableFoot'); const totalSavingsClass = totSavings >= 0 ? 'positive' : 'negative'; tfoot.innerHTML = ` <tr> <td>Total</td> <td class="energy">${fmt(totEnergy)}</td> <td>${fmt(totAnnual)}</td> <td>${fmt(totPrinc)}</td> <td>${fmt(totInt)}</td> <td>—</td> <td class="${totalSavingsClass}">${fmt(totSavings)}</td> </tr>`; } ['loanSlider','rateSlider','energyStartSlider','energySlider'].forEach(id => document.getElementById(id).addEventListener('input', render) ); document.getElementById('rebateCheck').addEventListener('change', render); render();
	Weapon detected in backpack at Rock Island High School A weapon detection system alerted Rock Island High School staff to the presence of a possible firearm on a student this morning. A news release from Rock Island – Milan School District #41 said the Evolv weapon detection system at Rock Island High School alerted to a possible firearm on a student on Monday, April [...]
	How AI is reshaping brand visibility: What businesses need to know How AI is reshaping brand visibility: What businesses need to knowFor years, online brand visibility followed a relatively consistent pattern. Larger budgets enabled broader content distribution, greater media coverage and stronger search presence, helping established names maintain visibility and reinforce narratives over time.Now, that model is beginning to shift, Notified reports.As AI tools increasingly shape how people discover information, including platforms like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, visibility is no longer determined by reach alone.It now depends on whether content can be clearly interpreted, verified and selected by AI systems.Why AI Search Prioritizes Selection Over RankingTraditional search engines emphasize ranking, where higher placement increases the likelihood of visibility.AI systems operate differently. They generate responses by selecting and synthesizing information from multiple sources, favoring content that is clear, verifiable and easy to interpret. It’s because AI depends on inputs that can be processed quickly, validated with confidence and reused accurately.For brands, this changes how performance is evaluated. Volume and distribution still matter. But clarity, attribution and timeliness are becoming more consistent signals of inclusion.Content can perform well by traditional metrics and still not appear in AI-generated answers.What Drives Visibility in AI AnswersTo understand this shift, a case study conducted with Profound, an AI analytics platform that tracks how content is cited across large language models (LLMs), analyzed more than 200,000 press releases and 200 million AI citations.The analysis looked at 30 days of AI citation data, examining how frequently content was included in AI-generated responses and what characteristics were shared among highly cited materials.A consistent pattern emerged. Content that appeared more frequently in AI answers tended to be clearly structured, included attributable information and was current and easy to interpret. These patterns were observed across organizations of varying sizes.One example clearly illustrates the difference. An earnings press release from American Battery Technology Company generated more than 1,600 AI citations within this period. That level of citation exceeded both a nationally recognized retail brand and a comparable peer within the same timeframe. Notified Why Brand Size Matters LessThese findings suggest that traditional advantages tied to scale are being evaluated differently.Larger organizations continue to benefit from established narratives and a broader volume of published content. These factors do contribute to overall visibility and recognition.At the same time, AI systems introduce an additional layer of evaluation focused on how usable individual pieces of content are. Rather than relying only on scale-related signals, these systems assess whether information can be clearly interpreted, verified and incorporated into responses.This shift can allow organizations without the same historical footprint to appear in AI-generated answers when their content meets these criteria.4 Ways to Improve Visibility in AI-Generated AnswersFor communications and marketing teams, these patterns point to four factors associated with higher AI visibility.These principles, often referred to as the SOAR Content Framework, can be applied across different types of content published online, including press releases, earnings materials and executive commentary.Structure: Content is organized so key information is easy to identify, with clear headlines and logical flow.Originality: Information includes distinct insights, first-party data or attributable statements.Authority: Sources are clearly identified and verifiable, reinforcing credibility.Recency: Content reflects current information, with visible timing and relevant updates.For many teams, these elements are already part of existing work. The distinction lies in how consistently and deliberately they are applied.The Future of Brand VisibilityEstablished organizations may adopt these approaches over time, combining structured content practices with existing strategies.At the same time, AI systems introduce new pathways for visibility, where inclusion depends on how clearly information can be interpreted and reused.For brands, this reflects a broader shift. In addition to distribution and reach, content must be structured in a way that can be accurately processed within AI-generated outputs.In this environment, visibility is shaped not only by scale, but also by how effectively information is presented and understood.This story was produced by Notified and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The ultimate guide to temporary structures for commercial use The ultimate guide to temporary structures for commercial useFor many businesses, the need for adaptable, event-ready space is constant. Finding a solution that is cost-effective, structurally sound, and aesthetically pleasing can feel like a significant challenge. Between navigating necessary permits and finding a partner who understands high-stakes events, project managers and business owners need a reliable path forward.This guide from Cabaret Tent and Party Rental provides everything you need to understand the key considerations for a successful temporary rental. From the benefits of temporary structures to their wide range of applications, discover how to confidently select the right tent structure for your commercial needs, when to use temporary structures, and how to identify a reliable partner for your next project.The Benefits of Temporary StructuresIn fast-paced business environments, agility is everything. Temporary structures, particularly modern tenting solutions, offer a strategic advantage over the slow, high-cost process of permanent construction. Unlike permanent constructions, temporary event structures empower businesses to seize opportunities quickly and efficiently, providing functional, sophisticated spaces tailored to their specific needs without the constraints of a long-term real estate commitment.Unmatched Speed and Flexibility for Dynamic NeedsOne of the biggest advantages of a temporary structure is its rapid deployment time. Unlike traditional construction projects, which can take months or even years to complete, many functional tent structures can be professionally installed in a matter of days.This speed is critical for time-sensitive projects like corporate events, product launches, or emergency-response scenarios where immediate shelter is required. Temporary structures offer unparalleled flexibility, particularly for last-minute plans or event changes. Their modular design means temporary tent structures can be scaled up or down to accommodate changing guest counts, expanded for multiday activations, or even relocated to a different site entirely. This adaptability is essential for businesses that require dynamic solutions, from multi-city marketing tours to evolving construction phases.Significant Cost Savings for a Better Bottom LineOpting for a temporary structure provides substantial financial benefits. The costs associated with permanent construction — including expensive materials, prolonged labor, property taxes, and extensive foundational work — are largely eliminated.A rental model transforms a massive capital expenditure into a more predictable operational cost. Temporary structures use efficient, high-quality materials installed by a specialized crew, drastically reducing both the timeline and the budget. These savings allow companies to allocate resources to other critical areas of their event or project, such as experiential technology or guest amenities, helping them achieve a higher return on investment without compromising on quality or functionality.Environmentally Friendly PracticesIn an era of increasing environmental awareness, temporary structures present a more sustainable option. Because they are reusable and require minimal groundwork, their ecological footprint is significantly smaller than that of a permanent building. This approach reduces material waste, minimizes construction debris, and prevents the long-term disruption of the land that permanent foundations cause.Common Commercial Tent Uses Cabaret Tent and Party Rental The versatility of temporary tents makes them an ideal solution for many commercial applications. From high-profile brand activations to essential industrial operations, these structures provide the adaptable space that modern businesses require. Some standard uses include:Corporate events, product launches, and brand activations: Tents provide a blank canvas to create immersive brand experiences. For conferences, this could mean a large general-session tent connected to smaller tents for breakout rooms. For corporate galas or team-building events, they can be transformed into elegant dining halls or professional presentation spaces. For product launches, temporary tents can become dynamic showrooms that generate buzz and capture attention in high-traffic areas.Construction site operations and industrial warehousing: On a jobsite, the well-being of your crew is paramount. Tents serve as crucial, climate-controlled break areas and lunchrooms, offering a respite from extreme heat or cold and boosting morale. They also function as secure, on-site storage spaces for sensitive materials or temporary workshops for prefabrication, protecting assets from weather damage and theft while keeping projects on schedule.Seasonal retail, restaurant expansions, and pop-ups: Businesses can capitalize on seasonal demand by using tents to create pop-up shops for holiday markets. They can also expand outdoor dining capacity through the winter with heated structures. This model allows for experiential retail, extended operations, and continued revenue generation without the financial risk and commitment of a long-term commercial lease.Large-scale galas and professional event production: This major commercial sector, which includes everything from nonprofit fundraisers and alumni galas to large-scale weddings, requires high-end, scalable event spaces. Tents provide the core infrastructure for these functions, enabling businesses to exercise as much logistical precision as any kind of corporate event needs. For the event professionals and venues that manage them, tents offer a versatile solution to meet high client expectations, transforming unique locations into fully serviced venues for large-scale special events.TV and film production: On-location shoots are complex logistical operations. Tents are perfectly suited for creating a base camp, serving as everything from catering and dining halls for the cast and crew to dedicated, well-lit tents for wardrobe and makeup departments. They can also function as secure production offices and equipment holding areas to support a smooth production process.Different Temporary Structure Types for Commercial UseChoosing the right type of tent is crucial for your project’s success, as it influences the layout, logistics, and overall guest or user experience.While there are many options available, understanding their fundamental differences is the first step in making an informed decision. Explore which tent is right for your event and goals. Cabaret Tent and Party Rental Frame TentsFrame tents are one of the most popular choices for commercial use due to their incredible versatility. They are freestanding structures that do not require any interior poles or supports, providing a completely open interior space that is easy to customize.Their structural integrity comes from a rigid frame, over which a heavy-duty fabric or vinyl top is tensioned. This construction allows frame tents to be installed on virtually any surface — including asphalt, concrete, and rooftops — where traditional staking is not an option. They are often secured with concrete ballasts or water barrels, making them ideal for urban environments, courtyards, and patios.Clearspan StructuresWhen a project demands a large, open, and highly weather-resistant space, clearspan structures are the industry standard. These are engineered systems rather than simple tents.Clearspan structure tents use a durable frame to create vast interior spaces without any interior obstructions. This makes them perfect for large-scale corporate events, industrial warehousing, or as temporary sports facilities. Clearspan tents are extremely weather-resistant, able to handle high wind loads and shed water efficiently.For added aesthetic appeal, clearspan structures can be paired with transparent vinyl. This creates stunning clear-top tents that are perfect for autumn events, events that need natural lighting, and nighttime gatherings under the stars.High Peak TentsFor events where style and curb appeal are a priority, high peak tents offer a sophisticated look. These tents combine the freestanding benefits of a frame tent with the elegant, swooping peaks of a traditional pole tent, without the need for any interior poles. Their design creates a feeling of spaciousness and luxury, making them a favorite for upscale corporate functions, brand activations, weddings, and VIP areas at festivals.Critical Factors for a Safe and Successful RentalBeyond selecting the right type of tent, a successful temporary structure installation hinges on careful planning and attention to detail. From regulatory compliance to essential enhancements, these factors ensure your space is not only functional but also safe, comfortable and secure.Understanding Local Permits and Building CodesNavigating the regulatory environment is a nonnegotiable step. This process often requires submitting detailed site plans — showing the tent’s location relative to other buildings, property lines, and fire hydrants — and engineering documents for review. An experienced partner is critical for this step, as they can prepare and submit these documents on your behalf.Essential Safety MeasuresSafety is the foremost priority. This begins with ensuring all tent materials meet fire-resistance standards. A safe setup includes clearly marked and unobstructed exit signs, accessible and inspected fire extinguishers, and emergency lighting.Structurally, your temporary tent must be engineered to withstand anticipated wind loads for the region and duration of the install. This involves a professional anchoring plan. For soft surfaces like grass, heavy-duty steel stakes are often used. For hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete, options include using large water barrels or concrete blocks, which provide immense weight to hold the structure securely in place.Key EnhancementsThe interior of the tent is just as important as the structure itself. Flooring needs to provide a stable, level surface and a polished look. Options can range from basic turf coverings to protect a lawn to elegant hardwood plank flooring, suitable for a gala or special occasion.Lighting is crucial for both ambience and safety, with options ranging from functional overhead lighting for a workspace to elegant chandeliers, bistro-style string lights, and colorful uplighting for an event. Climate control, including powerful HVAC units, portable heaters, and large fans, ensures guest comfort in any season, making year-round events possible in all climates.Designing Your SpaceOne of the great benefits of temporary structures is the ability to customize the interior layout. Using fabric and partitions, a large, open tent can be divided into multiple sections or rooms. This is perfect for creating a sophisticated guest journey — for example, moving from a welcome and check-in area to a cocktail space, and then into a main dining or reception hall.For commercial use, it allows for the creation of backstage lounges, greenrooms, or separate breakout rooms for a corporate conference. A well-designed layout, often planned with the support of your rental partner, enhances traffic flow and creates a more dynamic and organized experience for guests.Whatever you need, your partner should offer an array of optional extras to help you customize your tent for your unique event needs.What to Look for in a Tent Rental PartnerChoosing the right rental provider is as important as choosing the right tent. The ideal partner acts as an extension of your team, bringing expertise, innovation, and reliability to your project. Their support can be the difference between a stressful, disjointed process and a seamless, successful execution.The Value of Turnkey Service and Logistical SupportA premier tent rental partner provides turnkey service, managing every detail from start to finish. This includes an initial on-site consultation, custom layout design, and coordination of all necessary permits and safety measures.They handle the delivery, professional installation with a trained crew, and timely removal of the structure after the event. This comprehensive “white glove” approach eliminates the need for you to juggle multiple vendors, reduces the logistical burden on your team, and ensures that every element is handled by an experienced professional with a single point of contact.Assessing a Provider’s Experience and InventoryWhen vetting a provider, inquire about their experience with projects similar to yours. Ask to see a portfolio of their work, case studies, or client testimonials, and review their full inventory. A deep and diverse inventory of high-quality, well-maintained tents is a must, but also look at the condition of their accessories. For example, ensure the chairs are clean and in good condition and check whether the flooring is scratched. A professional operation invests in the quality of its entire rental fleet and presents itself professionally with an experienced crew and proven practices.Begin Planning Your Temporary Commercial SpaceNow that you have a deeper understanding of the benefits, applications, and key considerations for temporary structures, you can move forward with your planning process. The right tent, installed by a professional and experienced partner, can provide the perfect solution for your commercial needs, offering a space that is flexible, cost-effective, and safe. Your investment in a temporary structure is an investment in opportunity, agility, and a successful outcome.To bring your vision to life, the next step is to explore the specific tenting and service options available. A consultation with an event specialist can help you translate your requirements into a detailed plan and custom quote, ensuring every aspect of your temporary structure is perfectly tailored to your project goals.This story was produced by Cabaret Tent and Party Rental and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nessel appeals DTE data center contracts in continued push for contested case Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel holds up a sign showcasing redactions in a DTE Energy to supply energy to a data center planned in Saline Township. Dec. 16, 2025 \| Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan AdvanceMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Friday announced her office had filed a challenge with the Michigan Court of Appeals aimed at invalidating state energy regulators’ decision to approve contracts allowing DTE Energy to supply power to a controversial data center under development in Saline Township. After the Michigan Public Service Commission gave its conditional approval to the contracts in December, Nessel filed motions asking the regulatory body to reopen the case and reconsider the contracts. She questioned the commission’s ability to give its approval without a contested case proceeding, which allows outside bodies like the Attorney General’s office to intervene, conduct legal discovery on the contracts, and file testimony with the commission. However, the body’s three commissioners unanimously rejected Nessel’s requests at its March 27 meeting, prompting Nessel’s appeal. In her statement, Nessel argued that the law requires the commission to hold a contested case hearing on the contracts, which were heavily redacted before being shared with the public.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX “It is our hope that the Michigan Court of Appeals will agree, and that the Commission’s ex parte approval of these contracts will be voided by the Court,” Nessel said in a statement. Nessel said her appeal goes beyond this case, with the DTE decision echoing through all future data center cases. “Our utility companies are preparing to bring aboard massive new data centers in the years to come,” Nessel said. “On these first, precedential contracts, we must have clarity from the Court, and hold the MPSC accountable to the law.” Dan Scripps, the chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, defended the decision to approve the contracts without a contested case hearing, arguing that the conditions they placed on the contracts are sufficient to protect customers from increased energy rates associated with large-scale data centers. “The Commission’s conditional approval of these contracts included some of the strongest consumer protections in the country and is consistent with literally decades of applicable precedent,” Scripps said in a statement. “We look forward to vigorously defending these conditional approvals in order to realize the projected $300 million in affordability benefits for customers.” In an email to Michigan Advance, DTE Energy spokesperson Ryan Lowry noted that Oracle – one of the companies developing the data center – is required to cover the cost of any assets needed to serve the facility, including three battery storage facilities and any grid upgrades needed to ensure energy reliability for other customers. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	Businesses that thrive have these cash flow fundamentals mastered Businesses that thrive have these cash flow fundamentals masteredGood cash flow keeps small businesses afloat. But for many small businesses in the U.S., managing cash flow is a bumpy ride. Whether it’s economic policy changes, market instability, or long-term issues like late payments, the pressure on business owners continues to grow.Xero Small Business Insights research, conducted between October to December, 2025, from anonymized and aggregated data of Xero users, shows that while payment times have gradually improved for small businesses, both in terms of average time to get paid and late payments, sales were volatile throughout 2025. If you’re not sure where your next sale’s coming from, or what the months ahead will look like, you need to have a plan in place for your cash flow.Protecting your cash flow helps you withstand the tougher times and even find opportunities to flourish. Here are some tips and recommendations for making cash flow management your strength.What is cash flow and why does it matter?Cash flow is the technical term for the money moving in and out of your business at a certain time. It can be positive or negative. Positive cash flow means you have more money coming into your business than going out of it. Negative cash flow means you have more money going out of your business than coming into it, which can become a problem if you’re unable to cover your costs.But maintaining positive cash flow isn’t just about paying bills. You need enough money to invest in your future, develop your team and products or services, and earn a profit. That’s why you’re running a business, after all.Cash flow and profit are different — both matterCash flow tells you how much money you have in your business at a specific time. Profit, on the other hand, is what’s left over after all your business costs have been covered.From measuring your cash flow, you can understand whether your business has enough income to pay the bills and continue trading. By measuring profit, you learn whether your business can generate an income from what it sells.Vitally, a business can have a strong profit and still struggle with cash flow. This comes down to timing. Your outstanding invoices might contain enough money to cover your bills, but if those bills are due before you receive the invoice payments, you could end up with negative cash flow.While business owners set their sights on good profits, overlooking cash flow makes it harder to reach your goals.Three cash flow types and what to learn from themIf you’ve ever looked at a cash flow statement, you’ll have noticed there are three different sections:Cash flow from operations: This is the core of your business. Cash flow from operations is the money you make from and invest into the products or services you create. It’s the cash you earn from trading.Cash flow from investment: This is about the big purchases. Money you spend on equipment and property, but also money you make from selling these assets at a profit.Cash flow from financing: This is the money you receive from lenders or investors and repayments your business makes. This includes dividends, or money the owner deposits into the business.Each section tells you something important. If most of your cash flow is created by selling off assets (cash flow from investment), your business will only last as long as you have assets to sell. This isn’t a long-term business model.Ideally, you should generate the most cash flow from operations. This shows that your business makes money by selling products or services — exactly what it’s designed to do.Reports you should look to for cash flow insightsTo truly get a handle on your cash flow you need to look in all directions, past, present, and future. That’s where financial reports come in, specifically:Cash flow statements: This report shows you the cash that moved in and out of your business during a certain time, from operations, investment, and financing sources. It helps you understand where your cash flow comes from.Accounts receivable aging report: Accounts receivable is the money your business is owed. An accounts receivable aging report shows you outstanding invoices — an important thing to check, given that most small businesses wait nearly 30 days to get paid.Accounts payable report: Accounts payable is the money your business owes, so this report can show you any outstanding bills that need to be covered with your cash flow. It’s a useful report for planning the right time to pay suppliers and vendors.Cash flow forecast: This is a type of prediction. It shows you what your cash position is likely to be in the days or months ahead, by using past income and expenditure data. Modern accounting software can create these forecasts for you.Five steps to strengthen cash flowThere are several ways you can start improving your cash flow.First, you need a way of viewing and tracking business transactions. You need to track things like bills, invoices, operating expenses, and all the other payments in your business. Keeping accurate financial records in a central, secure location makes this easier. You can use these records to plan ahead, produce forecasts, and make informed financial decisions.Here are five things you can do to strengthen your cash flow:Keep your books up to date: By reviewing transactions regularly, you start to spot patterns and notice discrepancies more quickly. Reconciling your transactions regularly, a little bit at a time, gives you a more accurate view of your business and means you can catch errors or plug cash flow gaps before they become an issue.Be firm on your payment terms: Agree your payment terms with customers upfront, before any work takes place. This will help you confidently address overdue payments should they occur. Modern accounting software can automate invoice reminders for you when payments are overdue, so you don’t have to spend time chasing customers.Invoice consistently: Whether you invoice before or after your products or services have been delivered, do it at a consistent time each month or week, depending on your terms. The sooner you invoice, the sooner that invoice is due to be paid.Build a cash reserve: When cash is flowing into your business, set some aside for slower months. Having a cash reserve means late invoice payments or fewer sales won’t get in the way of paying your bills. Cash reserves aren’t built overnight, so put a little aside whenever you can.Use forecasts to plan ahead: You can forecast cash flow yourself by listing all the invoices due over the next month and the deadlines, as well as any upcoming bills or payments. Subtract your expenses from your income to see the remaining cash. Or, use modern accounting software that creates the forecasts for you based on your transaction data.Making it a habitHaving good cash flow often comes down to small changes, and regular habits. Things like setting aside a small amount of money when cash is flowing, to help with quiet months. Or using an automated invoice system that ensures invoices are sent promptly and followed up the minute they’re overdue, so cash that should belong in your business lands in your bank account faster. Even compiling a cash flow statement, so you can see where your business income is actually coming from, can help you make better decisions about money.Once you’re confident applying healthy cash flow habits, you can look ahead with cash flow forecasts, and plan for future goals. The only thing left to work out is where you want your business cash flow to take you next.This story was produced by Xero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	You’d never guess these 3 nationwide brands started as crypto experiments You'd never guess these 3 nationwide brands started as crypto experimentsSome shopping scenarios seem as timeless as shopping itself: a parent at Walmart dropping a whimsical stuffed animal into the cart for their grinning child, a college student grabbing a carbonated drink at 7-Eleven, a woman at Ulta Beauty picking up a sunscreen bottle splashed with appealing colors. Today, all of these products are on store shelves right now—and three of them, specifically, started as crypto experiments.To understand exactly how a crypto experiment becomes a plushie, we need a little context: Shoppers today don't operate like they used to. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Americans started doing everything online, from ordering groceries to seeing doctors over video and partaking in live-streamed workout classes. These behaviors might have otherwise taken a generation to catch on, but because of digital acceleration, they became routine in under a year.They also stuck around: McKinsey's 2025 State of Consumer report shows that over 90 percent of U.S. consumers said they shopped at an online-only retailer in the previous month, and nearly a third reported buying a brand they heard about through social media.Returning to those three products referenced above—the stuffed animal, the energy drink and the sunscreen—they were all born as projects during or shortly after the craze over non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.You remember NFTs, don’t you? They are a type of crypto token, akin to a digital deed or a record that shows who purchased something. The phenomenon of buying NFTs arose around 2021 when online communities were flush with pandemic-era screen time and people sought ways to connect with one another on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).While many NFT projects fizzled after the crypto hype, three unique brands positioned their product as comparable to household names and have since made an unlikely migration to physical retail. You may have seen them on store shelves as Pudgy Penguins, a line of plush toys now sold at Walmart and Walgreens, Rekt, a canned energy drink carried at 7-Eleven and Giant Eagle, and Vacation, a sunscreen brand stocked at Ulta Beauty.Ahead, OpenSea explores how these once-niche internet products made it to national storefronts.A playful cartoon went from the internet to WalMart and your iPhoneIn 2021, a group of cartoon penguins took over certain corners of the internet. Named Pudgy Penguins, the characters were rotund, playful-eyed and endlessly remixable through a process known as “generative art,” which uses algorithms to make combinations of various illustrated traits. The project took off online, so much that New York Times tech reporter Kevin Roose even acquired two of the 8,888 characters, joking that he did it because “… well, it’s August and I’m bored.”Roose interviewed American university student Clayton Patterson, one of Pudgy Penguins’ original founders, who said he wanted to make owning one of the NFTs as cool of a status symbol as owning a Rolex. Early buyers became friends with one another and started chatting online via the messaging platform Discord. They used their penguins as profile pictures on X and built Pudgy Penguins fan accounts, some even making memes that spread like wildfire across social media.Soon, however, the fanfare turned critical as the project stalled. Pudgy Penguin buyers wanted the characters to grow into an intellectual property franchise, robust enough to pursue licensing and merchandising opportunities, like Pokémon characters or Mickey Mouse.So, in 2022, entrepreneur Luca Netz took over and announced he would launch a line of stuffed animals based on the arctic cartoons. He debuted them on Amazon in 2023. By 2024, Pudgy Penguins plush toys were on shelves at Walmart, Walgreens and Target. The characters now appear as viral GIFs, memes and stickers on iPhones, shared between people who have no idea the artwork began as an NFT. The brand has reported sales of over one million physical units and more than $13 million in retail sales and has opened a headquarters in Miami.A beverage company started as a crypto token before breaking into Giant Eagle and 7-ElevenIn 2022, a crypto trader named Ovie Faruq, who goes by “OSF” on the internet, launched an NFT collection called rektguy. It gained an online following, and eventually Snoop Dogg bought a few of the collectible tokens. The artwork depicted hand-drawn skull characters guzzling bottles of psychedelic fluid. The collection’s irreverent energy and neon colors seemed to resonate with crypto enthusiasts, and an online fanbase formed around it. For two and a half years, Faruq kept the Rekt brand alive through a podcast called “Rekt Radio.” Then he decided to sell listeners something to drink.It took 18 months to get from idea to product, Faruq once said in an interview. The first flavor was Liquidated Lime, a caffeine-free sparkling water that sold 222,000 cans in under 48 hours of launch.Today, shoppers can buy Rekt energy powders on Amazon. The brand’s sparkling beverages can also be found at select 7-Eleven locations, on physical shelves across 200 U.S. grocery stores (mostly Giant Eagle) and at 100 Waitrose stores in the U.K.A trendy sunscreen brand has been all about leisure since day oneIn 2014, a Scotland-born designer named Marty Bell built Poolside FM as a passion project. It was an internet radio site that played nothing but 1980s dance-pop for anyone who wanted to feel like they were perpetually on vacation. As niche as that may sound, it developed a following, and by 2019 the project had grown enough to rebrand as Poolsuite, perhaps foreshadowing that a “suite” of leisure-related offerings would soon follow.Follow they did: In 2021, Bell and two co-founders launched a sunscreen line called Vacation SPF. The waitlist hit 2,000 people before the product shipped. That same year, Poolsuite released 2,500 Executive Member NFTs that acted like digital membership passes. Fans could buy one and gain limited access to exclusive beach houses and events, including in-person parties in famous vacation spots like Ibiza and Miami.The sunscreen packaging, with its bright primary colors and vintage cursive, looks straight out of a 1985 beachwear ad. And when Vacation released a whipped cream-style sunscreen, it went viral on TikTok.Vacation is now stocked at Ulta Beauty, has collaborated with Ralph Lauren and Pepsi, and has been searched on Amazon at least 7.5 million timesTakeaways from these viral NFT productsSo will consumers start to see more products emerging from crypto communities like the ones born from Pudgy Penguins, Rekt and Vacation?Oliver Maroney, head of business development at OpenSea, says that while brands might look to these companies for inspiration, launching a successful product with digital tokens is harder than it looks.“It's a significant undertaking from a logistics perspective,” said Maroney. “It’s still not that common.”The brands that successfully make the transition from memes to mainstream shelves usually have a strong identity and a cohesive story behind what they do.“If people love your brand and have bought into the culture or ideas behind it, they expect a certain narrative to continue. It's no different than Nike releasing a new shoe—they have to be thoughtful about their audience, what they've done before, what works and what doesn't,” Maroney explained.That said, he argued that NFT fans have even higher expectations than the average consumer.“It is a different dynamic when people are buying your digital tokens. There's a different level of care that these users expect,” he said.Of course, once an item makes it to the shelves of Ulta or the aisles of Walmart, shoppers will care about what they’ve always cared about: quality. That penguin stuffy has to be soft and huggable, the beverages have to sparkle and the sunscreen has to prevent burns.This story was produced by OpenSea and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	150,000 Illinois households may lose federal food assistance beginning May 1 Due to changes from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, some immigrants are no longer eligible for federal food assistance, and some able-bodied adults must meet new work requirements.
	Muscatine garage fire spreads to house Muscatine firefighters battled an overnight garage fire on the 3200 block of Mulberry Avenue. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
	Garage fire spreads to home in Muscatine; no injuries reported A Muscatine garage fire caused $110,000 in damage early Monday. Flames spread to a nearby home but were quickly contained. No injuries were reported.
	Why am I always cold? Possible causes, explained Why am I always cold? Possible causes, explainedFeeling cold more often than others is not just uncomfortable; it can be a sign that your body is struggling to maintain its normal temperature. Everyone experiences chills or cold sensations occasionally, but if you find yourself consistently cold, it is worth exploring the reasons behind it. Your body’s temperature regulation depends on several factors, including metabolism, blood flow, and hormone levels.When any of these systems is off balance, you might notice a persistent chill. Below, Doctronic explains why it is important to recognize that feeling cold all the time is not a disease itself but rather a symptom that could point to something more serious.Key TakeawaysFeeling cold all the time can signal underlying health issues or lifestyle factors.Common causes include thyroid problems, anemia, aging, poor circulation, and low body fat.Understanding these causes helps you address symptoms effectively and seek appropriate care.How Your Body Regulates TemperatureThe human body maintains its internal temperature through a complex process involving the brain, blood vessels, muscles, and hormones. When you are cold, your blood vessels constrict to preserve heat, and your muscles may shiver to generate warmth. Hormones like thyroid hormones play a crucial role in controlling metabolism, which produces body heat.When Temperature Regulation Is DisruptedIf any part of this system is disrupted, your body may struggle to stay warm. This can lead to a constant feeling of coldness even in normal or warm environments. For instance, an underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, can significantly slow down your metabolism, leading to decreased heat production. Conditions such as anemia, where your body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen, can also contribute to feelings of coldness. The reduced blood flow can make it difficult for your body to maintain a comfortable temperature, especially in your extremities.The Role of Diet and Lifestyle FactorsLifestyle factors such as diet and hydration can influence how warm you feel. A diet low in essential nutrients, particularly iron and vitamin B12, can exacerbate feelings of coldness. These nutrients are vital for maintaining healthy blood circulation and energy levels. Staying hydrated is equally important, as dehydration can reduce blood volume, making it harder for your body to regulate temperature effectively. Therefore, addressing these dietary and lifestyle choices can be crucial in combating that persistent chill.Common Medical Causes of Feeling Cold All the TimeHypothyroidism: When Your Thyroid Slows DownThe thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use. If your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows. This can reduce heat production, leading to frequent feelings of cold.Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and depression. Blood tests can confirm this diagnosis, and treatment typically involves hormone replacement therapy. It’s important to note that hypothyroidism can affect individuals of all ages, but it is more prevalent in women, particularly those over 60. Regular monitoring and medication adjustments can help manage symptoms effectively, allowing individuals to regain energy and improve their overall quality of life.Anemia: Low Red Blood Cell CountAnemia occurs when you have fewer red blood cells or less hemoglobin than normal. Since red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, anemia can cause poor oxygen delivery to tissues, leading to feelings of coldness, fatigue, and weakness.Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia, but it can also result from vitamin deficiencies or chronic diseases. Addressing the underlying cause usually improves symptoms. In addition to feeling cold, individuals with anemia may experience symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale skin. Dietary changes, such as increasing the intake of iron-rich foods like red meat, beans, and leafy greens, along with vitamin C to enhance iron absorption, can be beneficial. In some cases, supplements or even medical interventions may be necessary to correct the deficiency.Poor Circulation and Vascular IssuesWhen blood flow to your extremities is reduced, your hands and feet may feel cold or numb. Conditions like peripheral artery disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, or even simply sitting for long periods can impair circulation.Improving circulation through exercise, avoiding smoking, and managing underlying conditions can help reduce cold sensations. Wearing warm clothing and using heated blankets can provide immediate relief. It’s also worth noting that certain lifestyle factors, such as high cholesterol or diabetes, can exacerbate vascular issues, making it even more critical to maintain a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice when necessary. Regular check-ups can help identify potential problems early on, allowing for timely interventions.Low Body Fat and Nutritional FactorsBody fat acts as insulation, helping retain heat. People with very low body fat, whether due to genetics, diet, or illness, often feel colder than others. Inadequate nutrition can reduce your body’s ability to generate heat.Ensuring a balanced diet with enough calories and nutrients supports healthy body temperature regulation. It’s essential to include a variety of food groups, such as whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins, to provide the body with the necessary building blocks for energy production. Certain micronutrients, like zinc and selenium, play crucial roles in metabolic processes and can influence how well your body maintains its temperature. For those struggling with weight management, working with a nutritionist can help create a tailored plan that ensures adequate caloric intake while promoting a healthy body composition.Other Possible Reasons for Constant Cold SensationChronic Conditions and MedicationsSome chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders, can affect your body’s temperature control. Certain medications may also interfere with blood flow or metabolism, causing you to feel cold more often.If you are on medication and notice increased cold sensitivity, discuss this with your healthcare provider.Environmental and Lifestyle FactorsSometimes the cause is simpler than a medical condition. Living in a cold climate, wearing inadequate clothing, or having a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to feeling cold. Stress and anxiety can also affect your perception of body temperature.Making lifestyle adjustments like dressing warmly, staying active, and managing stress can make a noticeable difference.When to Seek Medical Advice for Feeling ColdPersistent coldness accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, or numbness should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis of conditions like hypothyroidism or anemia can prevent complications.Tips to Stay Warm and ComfortablePractical Steps to Manage Feeling ColdDress in layers to trap heat effectively.Keep your living space warm and use blankets as needed.Stay active to boost circulation and generate body heat.Eat regular, balanced meals to fuel your metabolism.Limit caffeine and nicotine, which can constrict blood vessels.When Lifestyle Changes Are Not EnoughIf you have tried these tips and still feel unusually cold, it is important to consult a healthcare provider. Persistent coldness may indicate an underlying health issue that requires medical evaluation and treatment.Understanding Your Body’s SignalsFeeling cold all the time is your body’s way of signaling that something may need attention. Whether it is a medical condition or lifestyle factor, recognizing the cause is the first step toward relief. Don’t let persistent coldness disrupt your comfort and well-being. Take action today.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan stress make me feel cold all the time?Yes, stress and anxiety can affect your body’s temperature regulation, sometimes making you feel colder than usual.Is feeling cold a sign of serious illness?Not always, but it can be a symptom of conditions like hypothyroidism, anemia, or poor circulation, which should be evaluated by a doctor.How can I tell if my thyroid is causing my cold sensitivity?Other symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and dry skin often accompany hypothyroidism. A blood test can confirm or eliminate the diagnosis.What lifestyle changes help reduce feeling cold?Wearing warm clothing, staying physically active, eating well, and managing stress are effective ways to stay warm.The Bottom LineFeeling cold all the time shouldn’t be ignored, as it may signal underlying health or lifestyle issues that deserve attention. Understanding possible causes empowers you to take proactive steps toward relief.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why smart mid-sized companies are taking a deliberate approach to AI adoption Why smart mid-sized companies are taking a deliberate approach to AI adoptionAcross industries, mid-sized business leaders are asking themselves the same question: “What’s our AI approach?”The pressure is everywhere: It’s with competitors announcing new capabilities, employees quietly augmenting their workloads with public AI tools, boards looking for any competitive edge, and customers expecting ever-faster, more personalized experiences.The urge to “do something with AI” is real, and too many companies end up jumping in before they’re ready, Thrive reports. Recent surveys show that 91% of mid-sized companies are already using generative AI. However, more than half (53%) also admit they were only somewhat prepared and are now dealing with the fallout — messy data, security vulnerabilities, and gaps in internal expertise.The Hidden Risk of Moving Too FastFor mid-market businesses, speed and flexibility offer a significant advantage over more established enterprises — the “move fast and break things” mentality. But we’re seeing that when that approach gets applied to AI, speed without structure can quickly become a liability.The problem is that it often starts small and with good intentions — like an employee who pastes a customer contract into a public AI tool to summarize key terms. Or a developer that drops proprietary code into a chatbot to troubleshoot an issue. Maybe a marketing manager uploads internal data to generate insights a little faster.In each case, the goal is efficiency. But the often-unexpected tradeoff is control. In regulated industries especially, the ramifications are immediate — and potentially devastating. A single instance of sensitive data being handled by an unapproved service can trigger compliance violations, audits, or mandatory disclosures.Not all risks are visible, either. Some lurk in the shadows. An AI-generated financial summary, for example, can miss critical context, or a customer-facing chatbot can easily deliver confident but inaccurate responses. Individually, these moments seem minor and may not even register at first. But over time, they compound, creating confusion, eroding trust, and adding manual work to fix what automation was supposed to simplify.The Impact for Small-to-Midsized BusinessesFor small and mid-sized businesses, the stakes are even higher. Operating on tighter margins, there’s less room for error and fewer resources to recover when things go wrong.Most at this level don’t have dedicated AI governance teams or the capacity (financially or otherwise) to absorb the consequences of failed experiments. When something slips or breaks, the impact is immediate and painful — it distracts teams, drains resources, and can introduce new risks faster than they can be managed.That’s why some of the most disciplined companies are taking a different approach: Resisting the urge to sprint. Instead, they’re slowing down just enough to put structure in place — clear guardrails, focused use cases, and a better understanding of where AI delivers real value.A Leadership Model for AI Discipline: Crawl, Walk, RunThe companies seeing the best results from AI adoption are treating it as a progression: crawl, walk, run.That’s because AI transformation affects a wide range of workflows and stakeholders, so before rolling out tools and interfaces, teams need alignment on the details. Things like decision-making, risk tolerance, accountability, and what success looks like — long before anything scales.Crawl: Build the Guardrails FirstIn the “Crawl” phase, organizations focus on reducing risk and creating clarity around how AI should (and shouldn’t) be used.This includes:Clear usage guidelinesData protection standardsApproved tools and vendorsEmployee training on and defined objectivesThis stage doesn’t always feel like progress. It can even feel anticlimactic, because there’s no flashy rollout or immediate transformation. But this phase is critical to long-term success.Think of it like checking the plumbing before turning on the faucet. Without systems in place to channel and contain the flow, things get messy fast.Walk: Pilot With PurposeOnce there are guardrails in place, it’s time to begin controlled experimentation. In the “Walk” phase, initiatives are intentionally narrow (i.e., well-scoped) and measurable.That looks like:Defined use cases tied to outcomesSmall, department-level pilot projectsHuman oversight of data flow and outputsClear evaluation metricsIn this phase, we’re just looking to validate effectiveness.Does this pilot improve productivity? Reduce friction? Enhance customer experience? Or introduce more complexity than value?This phase reveals what works, what doesn’t, and how employees actually use AI — insight that sets targeted marching orders and offers time to get it right before expanding.Run: Scale What WorksOnly after value is proven does it make sense to roll an experiment out across the organization and scale. In the “Run” phase, AI becomes fully embedded into workflows, supported by:Vetted performance benchmarksOngoing oversightCross-functional coordinationClear accountabilityBy now, the conversation shifts from “What can we do with AI?” to “How do we scale what’s already working?”That’s how AI becomes operational.But even in this stage, discipline can’t disappear. If anything, it becomes even more important. As systems gain autonomy and access to sensitive data, oversight has to scale with them.Five Questions Every Business Leader Should Answer Before Scaling AIFor small and mid-sized companies considering their next move, clarity starts with first assessing where they are today.Here are a few quick questions leaders can use to check in:Do we have clear policies for how employees can and should use AI tools?Do we know where our sensitive data is being entered into AI tools, or how those AI tools process or store it?Have we defined traceable, measurable success metrics?Who is accountable if or when something goes wrong?If those answers aren’t clear, acceleration is premature.Discipline Is a Competitive AdvantageAI transformation touches everything — operations, compliance, security, culture, and customer trust. For mid-sized businesses, successful AI integration requires leadership alignment to back up the enthusiasm.It has become clear that AI will reshape how companies operate. But those who make it beyond the hype will approach it with structure and discipline, not as a sprint to get there first.This story was produced by Thrive and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Fire chief billed taxpayers for personal expenses, Eldridge officials claim A judge has denied unemployment benefits to former Eldridge city mechanic and current fire chief Keith Schneckloth, who was fired following allegations of misusing public funds for personal purchases.
	Learn about women's professional baseball in Bishop Hill The Bishop Hill Heritage Association (BHHA) is taking a look at women and professional baseball in Illinois at its next historical program. “Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest” will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. in the Steeple Building Museum, 103 N. Bishop Hill Street. Historian and librarian Anna Sielaff will [...]
	Quality management: How to transition seamlessly to ISO 9001:2026 Quality management: How to transition seamlessly to ISO 9001:2026An effective quality management system (QMS) enables you to deliver quality products and services and meet customer expectations. It highlights business processes that keep your organization competitive and compliant with global standards. ISO 9001 is one of the QMS international standards. While it does not prescribe how organizations should operate, it provides structure and a basis for a company’s continual improvement.This organizational framework is used by different sectors globally, such as manufacturing, construction, education and health care. It’s also applicable for any business size. ISO 9001:2015 is the current standard, published in 2015 and amended in 2024. However, an updated version will be coming out in late 2026.Revisions keep the standards relevant, addressing modern business needs and stakeholder expectations. Certified organizations will have a transition period to adopt the new standards. NQA breaks down what to expect with this transition.In a NutshellThe most relevant points regarding ISO 9001:2026 include:The new standard is an updated version of ISO 9001:2015.ISO members are working on the draft, which is expected to be published in September 2026.Expected changes include refined clauses and expansion on the requirements for digital integrations, organizational resilience, leadership and sustainability.To adopt the new requirements smoothly, perform a compliance gap analysis, brainstorm newly required processes, train your employees, review supplier qualifications and get certified by an independent body.What Is Changing in ISO 9001:2026? NQA Expect the core ISO 9001 components to remain similar, including:Leadership commitment and customer focusProcess approach for business operationsRisk-based thinking in developing systemsDocumentation requirementsPerformance evaluation systemsContinual improvement guidelinesThese components enable your organization to understand your processes and the improvements you can make. You can expect the 2026 changes to expand on these principles. The anticipated changes include:Updated terminology and refined clauses: Organizations can expect editorial improvements and clarifications from the previous standard version.Clauses for digital or technological integrations: Some organizations expect new guidelines based on the advancements of artificial intelligence, data analytics and automation.Improvements on organizational resilience requirements: The updated standard may contain expanded information on how organizations should anticipate and manage risks, and the distinction between pursuing risks and opportunities. There may also be improvements in supply chain performance requirements and how organizational policies must align with the company’s business strategy.Increase in leadership responsibilities: The newest standard may include additional leadership responsibilities, particularly in how management must promote and demonstrate quality culture and ethical behavior.Sustainability improvements: Organizations expect climate change to become a major factor, as well as related improvements that align with stakeholder expectations.Better alignment with other ISO standards: The updated standard may enable a more effective system integration with other ISO standards — beneficial for enterprises managing multiple compliance frameworks.Actual publication changes may still differ from these expectations, as ISO members are still working on the updated draft. Revisions stem from industry stakeholder suggestions, audit findings and lessons from global disruptions.Amendments vs. RevisionsWhile ISO 9001:2026 is an update for ISO 9001:2015, the standard has also been previously amended in 2024. The 2024 amendment consisted of climate change considerations, which was a minor, adaptive change that didn’t require a full certification process. Revisions consist of heavier changes that update the version of the specific ISO standard. These changes can involve content restructuring, the addition of new requirements or the exclusion of obsolete clauses.ISO uses the publication date as a version number. The most valid standard will be the most recent publication year, which means that to remain certified under ISO 9001, organizations must consider the 2026 changes.The publication year for the international standard may differ from local versions. These date differences are due to each country’s approval and translation process that can take time.Transition TimelineUnderstanding the expected timeline helps you avoid last-minute process changes for compliance, preventing business disruption. Here’s what’s been happening regarding the ISO 9001:2026 revision:November 16, 2023: Project proposal approvalDecember 16, 2023: Initiation of the working draft studyJanuary 16, 2025: Registration of the committee draftJune 30, 2025: Registration of the Draft International Standard or the ISO 9001:2026 draftSeptember 2026: Expected publication date for ISO 9001:2026Organizations certified for compliance with ISO 9001:2015 will be given a transition period, during which they can adopt their existing QMS to the newest standard.How to Develop a Transition Plan for ISO 9001:2026 NQA A QMS must continuously evolve to ensure your organization maintains appropriate policies and procedures based on the changing business landscape. New standards also impact local regulations, affecting your compliance requirements. To smoothly transition to ISO 9001:2026, assess your current QMS and identify areas that need to be adjusted. Creating an action plan should help.1. Perform a Gap AnalysisPerforming a gap analysis through a survey or checklist determines which QMS processes are noncompliant with existing standards. If you have not been certified for ISO 9001:2015, you may perform the analysis immediately. Once the revised standard becomes available, this analysis can make it easier for you to transition. Thoroughly review your existing QMS for accurate findings.Your survey or checklist doesn’t necessarily have to be comprehensive. A high-level requirements overview can suffice, provided it lets you identify whether you:Meet the current requirementsHave requirements you must modifyNeed to create new policies and procedures for complianceIdentify which departments and roles the standard impacts the most. Have objective evidence and a documented process to support your findings. The gaps should be specific and objective — not abstract, which would be hard to act on. This analysis saves you time and resources, instead of dealing with noncompliance repercussions later on.You can assign a management representative to perform the analysis, likely someone with project management or auditing skills.2. Update your QMS ProcessesAfter reviewing your system for compliance gaps, identify how to implement any necessary changes. Consider eliminating unnecessary, time-consuming business processes. Ideally, adopting ISO standards should align with your business goals. The more detailed your findings, the more thorough and effective your action plan can be. Detailed plans can also be easier to implement.Identify new performance-tracking metrics and create a regular assessment schedule. Self-audits ensure the new processes are effective and can help you adjust implementation strategies as needed. Space out implementation activities, if possible, for easier adaptation. Make sure your new QMS can also scale with your business.You may need to prioritize certain requirements more than others, depending on your organization and industry. For instance, you may need to focus on customer satisfaction metrics if you’re primarily a customer-facing service. If you’re in the manufacturing industry, you may need to prioritize supply chain improvements and operational planning.3. Train Employees on New RequirementsAdopting the revised standard requires your organization’s full support. This support starts with top management — they must understand their leadership role and how policy implementation impacts staff adaptation. Consider hosting a leadership workshop on the new standards. Leaders must learn how to prevent employees from reverting to old habits and processes.Your staff would also require training to understand why the revision was necessary and what changes to expect. This knowledge can increase employee support while enlightening them about their roles in meeting the requirements. Real-life case studies and easy-to-follow diagrams can simplify complex information. Compliance failures typically stem from a lack of awareness of the requirements.Phasing your implementation plan enables the staff to get accustomed to new processes more easily. However, top management can expect reinforcement challenges in the first few months. Consider creating an implementation team, especially if you’re a large organization. This team can comprise individuals from different departments or workstations who are familiar with your company’s processes.You can have multiple implementation teams — each potentially active at a different phase of your implementation timeline. For instance, a document control team can meet early on to establish a document collection system, while an audit team can meet later. Regular meetings help with documenting progress reports and resolving issues immediately.4. Evaluate Supplier Information and PerformanceSuppliers directly impact your organization’s compliance and success in the global market. They influence product safety and customer trust, especially in heavily regulated industries. Review your networks systematically and understand how they affect compliance with the new requirements. Reevaluating your suppliers should help.Confirm each supplier’s certifications and audit reports. Assign risk levels based on how critical they are to your operations. Consider historical performance, product risks and industry regulations. For instance, if you’re in the pharmaceutical industry, you must be more stringent with suppliers for sterile materials than those for products with noncritical packaging.Continuous monitoring is also critical to maintain supplier quality. Consider performance metrics such as:On-time delivery rateSpecification complianceLevel of traceabilityChange request responsivenessDefect or rejection percentage5. Get Certified with an Accredited Certification BodyISO 9001 certification is voluntary. However, this certification shows customers and other businesses that your organization takes quality control seriously, and that you comply with the most recent standards. You may also need the certification for certain international partnerships, supplier approvals and government contracts.You could be a small business, an enterprise or a government agency — independent certification bodies work with many client types. These certification bodies are also often accredited by national accreditation bodies. Industries that require the highest quality levels, such as aerospace, construction, pharmaceuticals and food, can benefit significantly from certification.Note that certification bodies must undergo training and certification for the updated ISO standard, which impacts when you can get certified yourself.Benefits of Transitioning to ISO 9001:2026Transitioning to ISO 9001:2026 maintains your business’s competitive advantage. When your QMS meets the most relevant requirements, your processes remain efficient and effective, as the standards consider the changing global landscape. For instance, the new standards are expected to reduce or eliminate wastes and redundancies in business operations. They help cut operational costs, prevent defects and recognize potential problems before they occur.QMS improvements push your company closer to your business goals. They can also increase customer loyalty and provide a more seamless supplier experience. If you’re certified by an independent organization, you increase your opportunities and improve brand recognition. Compliance positions your business as a company that takes quality production seriously.Frequently Asked QuestionsThese common questions and their answers can help you understand what the transition means for your organization:How long do organizations have to transition to ISO 9001:2026?Organizations will be given a transition period of three years, meaning they will have until September 2029 to migrate to ISO 9001:2026.Should I get certified to ISO 9001:2015 now or wait for ISO 9001:2026?Obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification now gets you the benefits immediately, such as improved brand reputation, increased customer trust and better business operations. This certification makes it easier for your organization to transition to ISO 9001:2026, since the revisions build on top of the existing requirements.You can perform any changes you need within the transition period. These changes could be minimal compared to starting the certification process from scratch. Plus, ISO 9001:2015 will remain valid until approximately 2029, so now is an ideal time to get certified.Do I need to address climate change in my ISO 9001:2026 certification?Organizations expect climate change- or sustainability-related requirements in the new standard, which means compliance is not an option. Addressing these requirements improves your business operations by reducing waste and choosing more reliable and effective suppliers. Note that the 2024 amendment also touched on climate change considerations.Take the Next Steps Toward ComplianceWhether you’ve been certified for compliance with ISO 9001:2015 or not, meeting the 2026 requirements brings many organizational benefits. The revised standard is expected to expand the requirements on:Digital or technological integrationsOrganizational resilienceLeadership responsibilitiesSustainabilityIt may also improve its alignment with other ISO standards, resulting in a more streamlined implementation for organizations managing multiple compliance frameworks. Although these are the expectations, organizations must wait for the actual publication to review specific changes.The new standard is expected to be published in September 2026. Organizations will have a transition period to adopt the improved requirements. Previous certifications can provide a good stepping stone. However, if you’re getting certified for the first time, understanding what makes a good transition plan should help.This story was produced by NQA and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Americans love unlimited PTO, but most have no idea how it works Americans love unlimited PTO, but most have no idea how it worksPaid time off is one of the most in-demand employee perks in the American workplace. Many employers use it as a differentiator, calling it out in job listings and negotiating it during hiring. Yet a surprising number of workers don’t fully grasp how their PTO policies work. And that confusion is shaping how much time they actually take.A recent survey of 1,000 employed Americans by Patriot Software set out to understand the gap between what workers are offered and what they feel comfortable using. The most telling stat? Two-thirds of respondents said they'd still take 15 days or fewer per year, even if their employer handed them an unlimited PTO policy."Unlimited" Doesn't Mean What You Think It MeansWhile unlimited PTO has become the norm for businesses to offer, the data from Patriot Software tells a different story.66% of workers said they'd cap themselves at 15 days or fewer per year under an unlimited policy. Among Gen Z respondents, that number got even more conservative, with nearly half (42%) saying they'd take 10 days or less.Why would anyone limit themselves when there's no limit? Because "unlimited" often comes with unspoken rules. Without a set number, employees tend to look around the office for cues. If nobody else is taking three weeks off, neither are you. If your manager hasn't taken a vacation since last summer, good luck booking that beach trip without a certain amount of guilt.High earners seem particularly aware of this. A quarter of workers making $150,000 or more said they believe unlimited PTO sounds generous on the surface, but actually results in people using less time off.In other words, removing the ceiling didn't make people take more. In this case, it made them second-guess themselves.Workers Don't Want Total Freedom. They Want Guardrails.If unlimited PTO creates so much uncertainty, what do employees actually want? The data says structure.An overwhelming 91% of respondents said they'd find a mandatory minimum time-off policy appealing if it were paired with unlimited PTO. That’s a near-universal request for guardrails on a system that was supposed to deliver more freedom.And two-thirds of workers said a fair annual PTO allowance starts at 11 days or more. A minimum removes the guesswork and, more importantly, removes the guilt. It turns "you can take time off" into "you're expected to take time off." That's a very different message.The takeaway is that unlimited PTO sounds great, but flexibility without structure can create a vacuum that most workers fill with caution.Millennials Are Running Out of PTO and Paying the PriceFor a lot of workers, PTO confusion carries financial consequences.Millennials are getting hit hardest. 40% of millennial respondents said they've taken unpaid leave because they ran out of paid time off. Another 25% said they needed unpaid time but couldn't afford the lost income.The millennial workforce is made up of those in their late 20s to early 40s, juggling kids, aging parents, family emergencies, school closures, doctor appointments, and more. These scenarios can eat through a PTO bank quickly. And when the PTO runs out, they have to choose: a sick day and a lost paycheck, or push through and let something at home go unaddressed.For households already stretched thin, a few unpaid days off can wreck a monthly budget.Women Feel the Squeeze More Than MenPerceptions of PTO fairness aren't evenly distributed. The survey found that 27% of women said their current PTO feels unfair given the work they do. Among men, that dropped to 20%.A seven-point gap might not sound dramatic, but it reflects a real pattern. Women still shoulder a disproportionate amount of caregiving work outside the office: managing medical appointments, coordinating school schedules, caring for elderly relatives. When PTO has to cover all of that on top of actual vacation, the days disappear fast.For some employees, time off acts as the hours they need to handle life outside of work. And when the policy doesn't account for that reality, the system starts feeling rigged.What This All MeansPTO isn't just a line item in a benefits package. It tells employees whether their company actually trusts them to step away, or whether "work-life balance" is just something that looks nice on a careers page.The data from this survey suggests most workers aren't greedy about time off. They're not trying to game the system or take months off at a time. They just want to know the rules. How much time do I have? Does it roll over? Will I get side-eyed for using it?When those answers are clear, people take the time they need and come back ready to work. When they're not, PTO becomes another source of stress, which kind of defeats the whole purpose.How the Survey Was ConductedPatriot Software surveyed 1,000 employed adults across the United States. The survey, conducted via Pollfish, asked participants about their PTO structure, perceptions of fairness, behavior under unlimited policies, and personal experiences with unpaid leave. Responses were broken down and analyzed by age, income, and gender.This story was produced by Patriot Software and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	5 easy swaps for a greener life (that help the planet and your wallet) (BPT) - In honor of Earth Day this year, consider making a few simple lifestyle changes that can help to reduce your carbon footprint, create less waste in landfills and use energy more efficiently. With climate headlines feeling more overwhelming by the day, it's easy to feel like individual actions don't matter — but they do. The good news is, even small swaps in your everyday life can make an impact, and the best time to start is now. With AI-powered tools and smart home technology consuming more electricity than ever, finding cleaner ways to meet our energy needs has never been more urgent.Here are five ideas for living a little greener this Earth Day, and every day. Each one is good for the planet — and your wallet.1. Opt for a solar generatorAs AI data centers, smart devices and connected home systems drive electricity demand to record highs, more and more household power draw is tied to the digital world — making clean, renewable home energy solutions a smart choice for eco-conscious consumers. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent across the country — from wildfires on the West Coast to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and ice storms in between — having a reliable solar-powered backup isn't just a green choice. It's a practical emergency preparedness strategy for your whole family.Be ready to power your entire home or key appliances during an outage with a quiet, reliable and emission-free solar generator. For example, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus can harness the power of the sun to keep your refrigerator, lights, medical devices, EV charger and more going — making it a true home energy backup solution. Even better, the generator has expandable capacity thanks to a battery that can be expanded up to 60 watt-hours (Wh) to grow with your household's needs.By pairing the generator with Jackery SolarSaga panels to generate clean energy from the sun, you're further reducing your reliance on the grid to lower your carbon footprint. You can even use the stored solar energy to power heavyweight appliances such as washing machines and dryers, as well as the growing fleet of AI-enabled smart home devices — and offset costs for grid power when it is at peak pricing.Today, AI-powered home energy management systems can even work alongside solar generators to automatically optimize when you draw from stored power versus the grid, saving money and reducing emissions at the same time. For households in high-sun states like California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, the combination of solar generation and smart energy management is fast becoming one of the most searched home improvement and emergency preparedness investments of the year. Bonus: The Jackery Solar Generator uses LiFePO4 battery chemistry for long-lasting, stable home use, designed with safety in mind for indoor environments.2. Eat locally sourced foodThe closer to home your food is grown, the less fuel is used to transport and refrigerate it. On top of that, less packaging is needed for locally grown and sold produce. You can shop at neighborhood farmers markets, or when you're at the grocery store, look for items labeled as grown in your home state. Supporting local farms also makes an impact because smaller-scale production is likely to use beneficial farming techniques like crop rotation, composting and more efficient irrigation. This kind of slow, intentional approach to food — buying less processed, more local — is at the heart of the growing "slow living" movement, which prioritizes quality and sustainability over convenience.Love going out to eat? Look for restaurants that have a strong farm-to-table practice featuring locally sourced food.Bonus: Eating local, seasonal food usually tastes better! You're eating food that's at peak ripeness and freshness. And with grocery prices still top of mind for most households, buying seasonal and local is one of the easiest ways to eat well while spending less.3. Minimize kitchen wasteSimilarly, finding ways to reduce and reuse kitchen waste at home can also impact the environment in many positive ways, including reducing the amount of methane released by rotting foods, which is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. In a time when more people are embracing "underconsumption" — the idea of using what you already have before buying more — the zero-waste kitchen has become one of the most searched sustainable lifestyle topics online.To cut down on kitchen waste, plan your grocery shopping and meal preparation more intentionally, and seek creative ways to use leftovers. Store produce correctly to avoid food items going bad, and try to use them quickly (or freeze if possible). When you do have kitchen scraps, they can be easily composted to help fertilize your garden, where you can grow a little of your own produce for the ultimate locally sourced food. Composting is also one of the most beginner-friendly eco swaps out there, with many cities now offering curbside compost pickup alongside regular recycling.Pro tip: Some kitchen scraps, like the skins, peels or cut-off ends of onions, carrots and other produce, can be used to make vegetable broth. Just simmer with water and your favorite seasonings for 1-2 hours, then strain through a sieve for a tasty broth that's better than store bought!4. Switch to reusable bagsWhenever you're shopping for groceries or other items, use reusable bags (like those free tote bags collecting in your closets) to significantly reduce plastic pollution and minimize the need to cut down trees to make more paper bags. This is one of the simplest examples of the "buy less, use more" mindset that's gaining traction across sustainable lifestyle communities on social media — small, consistent habits that add up to real change over time.Pro tip: Keep a stash of reusable bags near the front door and in your car so you'll always have some handy.5. Choose low-waste cleaning productsYou can minimize the environmental impact of plastic by opting for products that don't come in single-use plastic containers. Compared to using conventional cleaning products, this can help lower your carbon footprint, while reducing both plastic pollution and water pollution. Easy swaps to look for include choosing natural sponges, reusable or compostable containers, concentrated formulas like soap blocks, tablets and laundry sheets, plus cleaners that come in refillable glass spray bottles. These swaps also tend to be more cost-effective in the long run — concentrated formulas and refillable options mean you're buying less packaging and spending less per use, which matters when household budgets are stretched.Pro tip: Prefer a certain cleaner that only comes in plastic spray bottles? Buy a large refill bottle so you can reuse that bottle as many times as possible.Any one of these simple steps can make a big difference. And if climate news ever starts to feel paralyzing, remember: doing something — anything — is always better than doing nothing. Start with one until it becomes a habit, then try another. You'll feel good knowing you're doing your part to help protect the environment.Learn about more ways to live a lifestyle that can benefit the planet at Jackery.com.
	Mental health leaves are rising. How can organizations reduce and better manage leaves? Mental health leaves are rising. How can organizations reduce and better manage leaves?A mental health leave of absence is rarely the starting line.As Kelsey Witmer, VP of Total Rewards and People Operations at Spring Health, puts it, “Leave is usually the output. It’s the final signal that flares up when early warnings go unnoticed, manager support is inconsistent, or care is simply too hard to access.”For HR leaders, that signal is getting louder. New Spring Health research of 500+ HR professionals across five countries reveals a workforce under significant strain, and that output is showing up in the form of mental health leaves of absence (LOAs):61% say mental health leaves have increased within their organizations over the past year.16% say they’ve seen mental health leaves increase by 25% or more.40% cite rising mental health disability and leave claims as a top concern keeping them up at night.This isn’t an isolated trend for specific industries or business sizes. It’s a global workforce risk that demands a proactive, sustainable approach.If your organization feels like it hasn't figured out the continuum of leave yet, you aren't behind. You're navigating an evolving landscape where leave is less about the paperwork and more about the inputs we can actually control.Why are mental health leaves increasing?A few potential drivers of this increase in mental health leaves include:1. Stress and burnout are escalating into absencesHR professionals in Spring Health’s survey estimate that 30% of employees are currently experiencing "silent burnout,” which was defined as a slow, undetected state of exhaustion in which people maintain the appearance that everything is fine while running on empty.Approximately 40% of burned-out employees reported presenteeism, which represents a sustained performance drag that usually occurs long before they file a claim. While silent burnout and presenteeism can hide beneath the surface, they can create an environment for very visible LOAs down the road.One interesting note: Over half (51%) of HR professionals experiencing the highest levels of mental health leave increases (25% or more) in Spring Health’s survey said that “rising stress and burnout among managers” was an emerging mental health trend that most concerned them over the next year. That suggests HR professionals are identifying managers as a vital part of the solution to this challenge.2. Financial and caregiving strain are compounding the mental loadEmployees aren't just overwhelmed at their desks. They can be overwhelmed anywhere. And that can show up at work. Spring Health simultaneously surveyed 1,500+ full-time employees across five countries and found that:59% of employees in Spring Health’s survey said their financial stress has increased over the past five years.74% of employees said this stress has significantly impacted their mental health.When you add the "sandwich generation" pressure of caring for both children and aging parents, the cognitive bandwidth for deep work evaporates. When these loads compound without a visible pathway to support, leave may feel like the only remaining option.3. Traditional EAP models aren’t intercepting risk earlyWhile most mid-to-large companies offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), utilization is only about 4%, on average.If only a tiny fraction of your workforce uses the support provided, it cannot meaningfully reduce the risk of a mental health leave. The barrier is often practical: In Spring Health’s survey, employees cited lack of time, cost concerns, and confusing access points as reasons they don't seek care until they reach a crisis point.Additionally, when talking about higher-acuity needs such as substance use disorder (SUD), eating disorders, trauma, or severe mood and anxiety conditions, more is needed than the limited-session model or external provider list handoffs that often occur with traditional EAPs.Within Spring Health’s research, 32% of HR professionals seeing the highest mental health leave increases (25% or more) said that higher-acuity mental health cases were an emerging trend that most concerned them.Why rising mental health leaves are a business issueTreating leave as a purely administrative task ignores the financial and operational impact on the organization.Direct leave costsThe obvious costs include salary continuation, administrative overhead, and the expensive burden of backfilling roles or paying overtime to cover gaps. New-hire leaves are especially costly, as the organization loses the entire investment spent on recruiting and onboarding before the employee has even reached full productivity.Medical trend impactThe hidden cost of mental health leaves is the impact on your medical trend. Unaddressed mental health needs exacerbate physical chronic conditions, drive frequent ER visits, and increase pharmacy spend, in addition to the impact on LOAs.The strain loopWhen an employee goes on leave, the workload doesn't vanish. It gets redistributed. This places additional strain on the remaining team members, increasing the risk of workplace burnout for them and potentially triggering a cycle of repeat leaves.Risk of incomplete outcomesLOAs can unintentionally become "rest without healing" if the employer approves the time off and then simply leaves the employee alone to navigate their recovery in a vacuum. This can lead to additional leaves of absence or even resignations.3 tips to help you reduce leave-of-absence ratesPreventing mental health leaves doesn’t mean discouraging people from taking necessary time off. It means building a culture where support is visible, trusted, and easy to use, so leave isn’t the first time an employee gets help. If LOA is the output, the question becomes, “What are the inputs we can control?”1. Reduce costs by intervening earlierCreate a simple, trusted front door to care so employees can get matched to the right level of support before stress escalates into crisis. Give HR and managers a clearer process for identifying when someone may be able to stay at work with the right care and accommodations, versus when leave is clinically appropriate.2. Simplify process and policyMake it easier for employees to access evaluations, understand their options, and move through leave without unnecessary paperwork or confusion. Reduce friction for HR by coordinating documentation, communication, and support touchpoints more clearly across the leave journey.At LOA intake: Remind employees what care options exist (EAP, medical plan, therapy/coaching).During leave: Check-ins and re-share care pathways.On return: Normalize ongoing support so it’s not “welcome back … good luck.”3. Chart the path to recoveryTreat leave as part of a broader care journey by making sure employees are connected to treatment and not left to navigate recovery alone. Support a more sustainable return to work with thoughtful re-entry planning and simple manager guidance so employees stay connected to care after they come back. Manager mental health training is important in today’s workplace.This story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Hawai‘i leads, Oregon slides: America's bike commuting winners and losers revealed Hawai'i leads, Oregon slides: America's bike commuting winners and losers revealed When Americans decide how to get to work, their choices reveal something bigger than convenience. They signal how infrastructure, culture, and everyday practicality shape the way people move through their cities and towns. Increasingly, a growing number of workers are choosing to skip the car and reach for the handlebars. But the shift isn't happening everywhere, and it isn't happening equally.A new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, comparing bicycle commute share across all 50 states from 2019 to 2023, shows a divided country. While some states have seen dramatic increases in the share of commuters biking to work, others have lost ground in meaningful ways, even as the push to reduce car dependence in American cities has never been louder.The split raises an urgent question: What's actually driving people to get on, or off, their bikes?Retrospec analyzes U.S. Census Bureau data on bicycle commuting trends across all 50 states from 2019 to 2023. Key FindingsHawai‘i leads all 50 states, with bicycle commute share rising by +0.27 percentage points between 2019 and 2023, a 47% relative increase in the share of workers biking to work.Oregon, long seen as America's cycling capital, dropped the hardest, losing -0.63 percentage points of bicycle commute share, the steepest decline of any state.More than half of all states (31 out of 50) saw bicycle commute share fall between 2019 and 2023.Massachusetts surged to third place, growing its bike commuter share by +0.21 percentage points, adding more than 8,100 bicycle commuters in raw numbers.Colorado, once a cycling stronghold, posted the third-largest decline, losing -0.29 percentage points of share, a notable fall for a state that held one of the highest cycling rates in the country in 2019.New Jersey and Nebraska both cracked the top six, two states not typically associated with cycling culture, each growing their bicycle commute share by more than +0.10 percentage points.Texas saw the largest raw drop in bike commuters, shedding nearly 4,800 bicycle commuters in absolute numbers while its share fell by -0.05 percentage points. Retrospec Hawai‘i Shows That Small Gains Can Mean Big MomentumIt might seem counterintuitive that an island state, with its limited road networks and year-round heat, would top a list of rising bike commuters. But Hawai‘i's climb to first place in share growth shows what happens when geography, weather, and local culture align. Retrospec Between 2019 and 2023, the share of Hawaiian workers biking to work rose from 0.58% to 0.85%, a 47% relative increase. That kind of growth isn't accidental. Honolulu has invested heavily in protected bike lanes and multi-use paths over the past decade, and compact urban geography makes short-distance cycling genuinely practical for many commuters. When a city makes biking feel safe and logical, people show up.The Hawai‘i example is a reminder that cycling growth rarely happens in a vacuum. Infrastructure investment, land-use patterns, and cultural familiarity with outdoor activity create conditions where people feel ready to try commuting differently.Oregon's Fall from the Top: A Cautionary Tale for Cycling-Friendly States Retrospec For decades, Oregon, and Portland in particular, has been held up as the gold standard for American cycling culture. Bike lanes etched into every neighborhood plan, a thriving bike-share network, and a commuter culture that made cycling feel like a civic identity. That's what makes the state's data so striking.Oregon posted the steepest drop of any state in the country, with bicycle commute share falling by -0.63 percentage points between 2019 and 2023, shedding nearly 12,000 bike commuters in raw terms. The state went from a 1.95% bike commute share to 1.32%.What happened? The COVID-19 pandemic years reshaped commuting in ways that hit cycling-heavy cities hard. Remote work disproportionately reduced commuting in dense, tech-adjacent metros, exactly the kind of workers who had been driving Oregon's cycling numbers. Research from economists at the University of Chicago and Georgetown found that commuting in the largest U.S. cities has stabilized at just 60% of pre-pandemic levels, a pattern most pronounced in metros with high concentrations of knowledge-economy workers. When the office became optional, many of the state's most habitual bike commuters simply stopped commuting altogether. The question now is whether they'll come back.New England's Unexpected Cycling Surge Retrospec Massachusetts and Vermont are perhaps the most surprising stories in the data. Both states climbed into the top three nationally for bicycle-commute share growth, and neither is a state most people would associate with year-round cycling culture. Massachusetts grew its bike commuter share by +0.21 percentage points, adding more than 8,100 bike commuters to reach a total share of nearly 1.1% of all workers. Vermont isn't far behind, with a +0.22 percentage point jump that pushed its share from 0.50% to 0.72%. The pattern reflects what's been happening in Boston and Burlington: sustained investment in protected cycling infrastructure, a younger workforce moving into urban neighborhoods, and a post-pandemic appetite for active commuting that health-conscious New Englanders have embraced. Boston's Bluebikes expansion and the completion of key protected lane corridors during this period likely played a role. The data suggests that even states with cold winters aren't immune to cycling momentum when the conditions are right.The Sun Belt Paradox: More People, Fewer Bike Commuters Retrospec Texas presents one of the more paradoxical data points in the analysis. Between 2019 and 2023, the state added more than a million workers to its labor force, one of the largest workforce expansions in the country. Yet in that same window, the number of people biking to work fell by nearly 4,800, and the bicycle commute share dropped from 0.23% to 0.18%.Florida tells a similar story. Its workforce grew by roughly 760,000 workers, yet it lost more than 6,100 bike commuters and saw its share fall by -0.10 percentage points.This is what demographers call a composition effect: when massive in-migration brings workers whose commuting habits don't include cycling, the share can fall regardless of whether raw cycling numbers collapse. Both states drew millions of new residents during the post-pandemic migration boom, and faster-growing workforces don't automatically bring cycling culture with them.For cycling advocates, it's a signal that infrastructure needs to keep pace with population growth, not just trail behind it. Nebraska and New Jersey: Cycling's Unlikely New RecruitsOne of the most refreshing findings in this dataset is the performance of two states that rarely make it into cycling media: Nebraska and New Jersey. Both cracked the top six nationally for bicycle commute share growth, posting gains of +0.10 percentage points each. Nebraska's rise, bringing its share from 0.31% to 0.41%, is partly a story about Lincoln and Omaha, where city planners have quietly been building out trail networks and protected lanes. Nebraska also has a strong cycling safety culture rooted in its recreational riding tradition, and that ethos appears to be crossing over into commuting habits. New Jersey's story is more urban. With its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, New Jersey has benefited from major metropolitan bike-share programs and an influx of younger commuters who increasingly treat cycling as a legitimate alternative to trains and buses. The state added more than 5,500 bike commuters in raw numbers, a 43% relative increase, suggesting the shift isn't a rounding error.These aren't states building cycling utopias. They're states where practical, everyday biking is becoming slightly more normal, which may be the more durable form of progress.Colorado's Decline: When Cycling Culture Meets Remote Work Retrospec Colorado entered 2019 with the highest bicycle commute share in the contiguous United States, at 1.13%, more than double the national average. By 2023, that share had fallen to 0.84%, a drop of nearly -0.29 percentage points and the third-largest decline in the country.The mechanics here look similar to Oregon's slide. Colorado's cycling culture is concentrated in cities like Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, places with high concentrations of tech and knowledge-economy workers who rapidly shifted to remote and hybrid work after 2020. When the general commute disappears, so does the bike commuter. The state didn't lose its cycling culture. Trails, recreational riding, and bike advocacy remain strong. But cycling as a daily commute took a significant hit. Colorado's data points to a broader tension that cycling advocates will need to grapple with: the rise of hybrid work is good for quality of life but potentially corrosive to the commute-based cycling numbers that have historically defined success in this space. Commute share has long been the primary measure cities use to justify cycling infrastructure spending. When that number falls, funding often follows.The National Picture: A Divided MapZoom out, and the overall picture is sobering for cycling advocates: 31 of 50 states saw bicycle commute share decline between 2019 and 2023. That's a clear majority of the country moving in the wrong direction, even as investment in cycling infrastructure has accelerated in many places. The divide is partly geographic, with coastal and Mountain West states that built their cycling identities in the pre-pandemic era now struggling to hold share, while some traditionally car-centric states in the Midwest and Northeast quietly gained ground. It's partly demographic too, shaped by where people moved during the pandemic years and what commuting habits they brought with them. The states that grew bike commuting share tend to share a few characteristics: compact, walkable urban cores; sustained infrastructure investment; and diverse commuter populations who haven't fully settled into car dependence. The states that fell tend to be either remote-work hubs that lost their daily commuter base or fast-growing Sun Belt states where infrastructure hasn't kept pace with population.SummaryThe 2019-to-2023 window was one of the most disruptive periods in American commuting history, and bicycle commuting absorbed those disruptions unevenly. Some states used the moment to grow a new cycling habit among a broader slice of their workforce. Others watched years of progress erode as remote work, migration, and shifting urban dynamics changed who was commuting and how.What the data tells us is that cycling momentum isn't self-sustaining. It requires the right combination of infrastructure, density, and daily habit, and when any one of those shifts, the numbers follow. Hawai‘i's rise and Oregon's fall aren't opposites so much as two expressions of the same truth: where you make cycling feel practical and safe, people ride. Where conditions change, they don't.For the states climbing the rankings, the challenge now is building the kind of everyday cycling infrastructure that turns a trend into a permanent shift in how people think about getting to work. For the states that fell, the opportunity is just as real because commuter habits, like commuter routes, can always be redesigned.MethodologyData is drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, Table B08301 (Means of Transportation to Work), for 2019 and 2023. The ranking metric is the change in bicycle commute share expressed in percentage points (2023 share minus 2019 share). Share is calculated as bicycle commuters divided by total workers age 16 and older who commute. The 2020 ACS 1-year estimates are excluded because the Census Bureau classified them as experimental following pandemic-related non-response. District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are excluded; all 50 states are included. This story was produced by Retrospec and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine Fire Department finds garage fully engulfed on Mulberry Avenue early Monday Fifteen firefighters arrived on scene and found the garage fully engulfed with impingement beginning on the home.
	Assuming AI Didn’t Juke the Stats, the Illinois’d Want Data Centers That Don’t Leak Out In a mid-March poll, 68 percent of likely Illinois voters said they would support legislation to “regulate data centers to minimize their impact on our utility bills, climate, and water while still allowing them to be built.” But while 21 percent percemt opposed the legislation, more than half of those opponents (56 percent) said they did so because they “oppose allowing data centers to be built at all.” That means 80 percent either want guardrails or oppose any new construction.

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