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

Monday, April 20th, 2026
	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 [...]
	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 [...]
	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.
	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.
	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 [...]
	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.
	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 [...]
	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
	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.
	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.
	Stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy moves closer to US trials Stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy moves closer to US trialsCerebral palsy affects roughly 1 in 345 children in the United States. About 764,000 children and adults live with the condition. Standard treatment focuses on managing symptoms through physical therapy, medications, and assistive devices. None of these treatments repairs the brain injury at the root of the condition.For families, this has meant a long wait for something better. In February 2026, a development out of Japan offered a reason to pay attention, Cerebral Palsy Center reports.Baby Teeth as a Source of Brain-Repairing Stem CellsHere's where the science gets interesting. Most people associate stem cell therapy with bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. Kidswell Bio took a different route entirely. Their platform uses SHED cells, which stands for stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth. In plain English: Stem cells pulled from the baby teeth your kid leaves under the pillow.SHED cells belong to a category called mesenchymal stem cells, and preclinical research has shown they can reduce inflammation, support blood vessel growth, and help neural cells survive. The idea isn't that these cells rebuild damaged brain tissue from scratch. Instead, they may create conditions in the brain that are more favorable for natural recovery and neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to rewire itself after injury.For a condition like cerebral palsy, where the original brain injury typically happens before, during, or shortly after birth, that kind of biological support system could be a game-changer. It's still theoretical at scale, but the early-stage data has been encouraging enough to justify the next step: regulated human trials on U.S. soil.Why the U.S. Matters for This TherapyKidswell Bio didn't form a U.S.-based company just for the prestige of an American address. The United States offers something that's hard to replicate elsewhere: a combination of rigorous FDA oversight, world-class pediatric neurology centers, and clinical research infrastructure built for exactly this kind of work.By establishing Kidswell USA, the company can work directly with the FDA to design trial protocols, partner with American research institutions, and recruit patients through legitimate, regulated channels. That last part matters more than you might think. The stem cell therapy space has been plagued for years by unregulated clinics selling unproven treatments to desperate families. Pursuing the formal FDA pathway is a deliberate move in the opposite direction, and it's one that lends credibility to the entire program.Treehill Partners provided the strategic investment backing to make this possible. The financial commitment suggests that both companies see a realistic path to commercialization, not just a research experiment.What the Timeline Actually Looks LikeLet's be honest about what this announcement does and doesn't mean. It doesn't mean a stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy is around the corner. What it does mean is that the groundwork is being laid for a structured, multi-year process that could eventually lead to FDA approval.That process includes FDA review and authorization to begin clinical trials, Phase 1 safety studies to confirm the therapy doesn't cause harm, larger efficacy trials to measure whether it actually works, and then a full regulatory evaluation before any commercial availability.Kidswell's lead program, called SQ-SHED, has already progressed through development phases overseas, with early data pointing to potential motor function improvements in certain pediatric populations. But "early data" and "FDA-approved treatment" are separated by years of work, millions of dollars, and a lot of scrutiny. Families should take the news as a reason for cautious optimism, not as a countdown clock.The Bigger Picture for Cerebral Palsy TreatmentKidswell isn't operating in a vacuum. Several U.S. academic centers, including Duke University, have already published research on cord blood infusions for children with cerebral palsy, reporting signs of motor improvement in some groups. Other teams are studying mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and cord tissue.No stem cell product has received full FDA approval specifically for cerebral palsy yet. But the growing number of regulated trials tells you something about where the field is headed. The conversation is shifting from "if" to "when" and "how well."For now, the most effective cerebral palsy treatment strategy remains what it's been: early intervention therapy, orthopedic monitoring, medication management, nutritional support, and consistent developmental follow-up. Regenerative medicine may eventually add another option to that list. And with Kidswell USA now in the picture, the path to getting there just became a bit more concrete.MethodologyThis article is based on reporting from the Cerebral Palsy Center, industry coverage from The Pharma Letter and Citeline Scrip, and publicly available information from Kidswell Bio regarding its cell therapy development program. Background data on cerebral palsy prevalence and existing treatment modalities were gathered through a survey conducted via Pollfish and supplemented by published medical literature. Clinical trial status was cross-referenced with ClinicalTrials.gov records as of February 2026.This story was produced by Cerebral Palsy Center and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Before AI robots enter your home, they're learning to work in warehouses Before AI robots enter your home, they're learning to work in warehousesDigit walks into an Amazon warehouse on two legs. The bipedal robot picks up containers and carries them to conveyor belts, working three shifts a day with occasional breaks to recharge. It moves through the same stairs and hallways its human colleagues do, without requiring a million-dollar facility retrofit.But there's a tradeoff to this freedom of movement. “They are balancing all the time — which means they could fall,” Jonathan Hurst, co-founder of Agility Robotics, which designed Digit, told the Infinite Loop by Nebius. To prevent a painful landing on a human worker, a barrier separates the robot's work cell from its teammates. That barrier is just the start of a multi-layered safety net woven into Digit's architecture — and into every AI robot now entering workplaces alongside humans. Locus Robotics Layer 1: Built for human spacesAgility Robotics, an Oregon-based company, built Digit to work in spaces built for people. The bipedal vaguely resembles its human colleagues, but is a long way from a replicant. Hurst, who’s also Agility’s chief robot officer, describes the design as “human-centric.” Proportions and gait are tuned for balance, with a lower center of gravity and wider stability margins than a human’s. This supports dynamic stability: the ability to maintain balance while moving through complex environments.Other robots take a different approach to physical safety. Locus Origin and Kachaka don’t balance on dynamically stable limbs; they move on wheels. This form lacks the versatility of Digit but enables work in the same spaces as humans.Kachaka, built by Japan's Preferred Robotics, sports a rounded, compact design that can navigate tight spaces and carry configurable payloads. It delivers mail and small packages through KDDI's Tokyo headquarters, carrying loads that can be reconfigured for different tasks.The Origin, developed by the Massachusetts-based Locus Robotics, functions like a mobile shelving unit, rolling through DHL distribution hubs to collect items from warehouse workers. Each Origin carries onboard AI that perceives obstacles, avoids collisions and plans its path. When multiple Origins work together, they share a collective intelligence through Locus Robotics' LocusONE platform, which coordinates the fleet like an air traffic controller for robots.These are the environments where robots learn to coexist with people — the proving ground for everything that comes after.Layer 2: Learning to see peopleThe physical body is only the first layer of safety. For robots to work alongside humans, they need more than stable forms — they need situational awareness. This is where the second layer comes in: the brain. Preferred Robotics “The most fundamental challenge is detecting obstacles, especially people, in real time,” said Kane Edwards, business development manager at Locus Robotics.The Origin combines LiDAR sensors to detect people and objects with depth-sensing 3D cameras to spot hazards that standard sensors miss, from dropped items to shifting floor levels. Even then, gaps remain that AI must bridge.A common blind spot: raised forklift forks and elevated operator compartments. Standard sensors struggle to detect obstacles at varying heights. The Origin's AI-driven object recognition fills these blind spots, Edwards said.When multiple Origins work together in a warehouse, they operate as a coordinated fleet with a collective mind. The robots share their intended routes through LocusONE, which acts like an air traffic controller — monitoring traffic, predicting congestion and adjusting paths before dangers form. This coordination uses multi-agent reinforcement learning.“Without predictive path planning, where robots essentially share their intended routes and adjust proactively, they end up constantly stopping or rerouting on the fly,” Edwards said. “This creates unpredictable movements that can unsettle nearby workers.”Digit's brain works differently. Using NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim application, Agility trains a whole-body control foundation model on decades of simulated time in just days. It’s then deployed "zero-shot" to Digit, creating an "always on" safety layer that instinctively manages disturbances like bumps and pushes.Kachaka takes a more conservative approach. Its AI plays a supporting role, handling perception but not movement decisions. Tomo Toru Isobe, CEO of Preferred Robotics, said this separation keeps high-stakes movement under deterministic control rather than AI decision-making.Kachaka analyzes camera feeds pixel-by-pixel using deep learning, identifying walkable areas and obstacles that LiDAR sensors often miss. Specialized SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) adds spatial awareness, while a fleet management system provides coordination.Every sensor, every algorithm, every edge case encountered in a Tokyo office building is data that makes the next generation of robots safer in your living room.Layer 3: Rules before roomsPhysical design and AI perception alone aren't enough. Digit, Origin and Kachaka can only work where formal boundaries permit them — the safety net’s third layer.Before Kachaka could enter KDDI's offices, it underwent Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) — a process that analyzes every potential failure and its consequences. This rigid engineering framework, required by Preferred Robotics, ensures robots are bound by formal safety processes before they’re shipped.Regulations and certifications are also stitched into the safety net “from an early stage of development,” Isobe said.Locus Robotics must also comply with various standards, yet they’re not merely burdens. Paradoxically, these boundaries can ease access to international markets. Take CE certification, a mark of EU safety compliance that the Locus Vector robot achieved last year. “It's compulsory for products entering the European market, so achieving it was essential for serving our international customers,” Edwards said.Digit faces a unique challenge: no safety standard existed for bipedal, dynamically stable robots. Agility Robotics is leading the development of ISO 25785-1 — the first international safety standard for robots like Digit — while building a certification scheme for insurers. The same standards that govern Digit in an Amazon warehouse will eventually govern the robot that folds your laundry. “We need a way for insurers to understand the risk they are underwriting,” Hurst said. “The best way to do that is with an industry-wide standard everybody agrees on.”Even with these safety layers, robots like Digit still can't work in every environment humans do. Humanoids in households, for instance, are over 10 years away, Hurst said.Safe deployment alongside humans remains the biggest barrier. Homes are immensely complex, variable environments with unpredictable children, pets, narrow hallways, and wet floors. No company wants its robot to fall on a child.For now, warehouses, construction sites, and offices are where that problem gets solved, one edge case at a time.“At some point, you can get them in the home,” Hurst said. “But it's going to be after all of these industries.”The three-shift days in Amazon warehouses, the mail runs through KDDI's Tokyo offices, the path-planning algorithms navigating DHL hubs — all of it is rehearsal. The home is the final exam.This story was produced by the Infinite Loop by Nebius and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Orion Bancorporation, Inc., announce shareholders meeting held in March Orion Bancorporation, Inc. ended 2025 with total combined assets of $825 million for BankORION and Bridge Community Bank.
	Firefighters battle garage blaze in Muscatine An early morning fire caused extensive damage to a garage in Muscatine. A news release from the Muscatine Fire Department said the Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received a 911 call for a fully engulfed garage fire in the 3200 block of Mulberry Avenue on April 20 at about 1 a.m. The Muscatine Fire Department [...]
	Eric Huiskamp Mutka named President & CEO of Blackhawk Bank & Trust Blackhawk Bank & Trust names Eric Huiskamp Mutka as President & CEO.
	Garage total loss in Muscatine fire overnight No one was injured in an overnight garage fire, officials say.
	Beyond the bowl: Responsible sourcing matters for pets and the planet (BPT) - If you are a pet parent, you know how important nutrition is to the health, well-being and longevity of your four-legged loved ones. Just like when you are deciding what to eat, you want your dogs and cats to consume food packed with high-quality proteins and sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients.Taking a closer look at what's actually in your pet's bowl can make a meaningful difference. Research shows that a whole-food, natural, high-meat diet supports overall vitality, including improved energy, digestion, skin and coat health. Avoiding unnecessary fillers will ensure your pet gets the nutrients and nutrition they need, just as nature intended.Often, this is where pet parents' research ends. However, it doesn't matter what's in your pet's food if you don't know where the food comes from. This means having full transparency into how ingredients are grown, the way animals are raised, and what happens to the ingredients at every stage. A farm-to-bowl approach ensures that what your pet is eating is not only good for them, but also good for others and the planet.Raising the bar on transparent sourcing Brands in the pet food industry are raising the bar by clearly outlining where their ingredients come from and how they are made. One company in particular, Natural Pet Food Group (NPFG), the New Zealand-based company behind the K9 Natural and Feline Natural brands, are focused on doing things differently by committing to only using high quality ingredients from vetted sources, earning them B Corporation Certification. In doing so, it became just one of three pet food companies in New Zealand to attain this certification.Certified B Corporations go beyond typical industry practices to meet verified international standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency, achieved through a rigorous assessment across governance, workers, community, the environment and customers.Rooted in New Zealand's strong agricultural and seafood sectors, K9 Natural and Feline Natural's whole-food ingredients are ethically sourced and traceable. By partnering with local farmers and fisheries that share a commitment to animal welfare, sustainability and ingredient integrity, the brand offers pet nutrition you can trust."Before we partner with new suppliers, we get into the details," said Natural Pet Food Group CEO Brett Henshaw. "How animals are farmed, where fish comes from, how it's caught, how suppliers look after their people. There's real substance behind our sourcing, and this achievement reflects the strength of our long-standing partnerships with farmers and seafood suppliers across New Zealand and beyond."Almost all the ingredients that go into both K9 Natural and Feline Natural pet food products are sourced in New Zealand from grass-fed, free-range and pasture-raised animals, cage-free chicken, sustainable seafood and fertile soil-grown vegetables. No unnecessary ingredients, fillers or additives are used.Doing good beyond the bowl — prioritizing environmental impact A meaningful shift has been made by pet brands, including K9 Natural and Feline Natural, to reduce their environmental impact by prioritizing not only responsibly sourced ingredients but also improving packaging and production practices. As a newly B Corp Certified brand, K9 Natural and Feline Natural demonstrates the brand's commitment to the environment's health by:Powering all its offices in New Zealand with 100% renewable energyPrioritizing sea freight to reduce emissionsIncreasing recycled content and removing unnecessary plastics in packagingDonating 8,518 kilograms of pet food to 19 food hubs in the last yearCreating strong health and safety systems"If we make food to help pets thrive, the way we run our business must support people, communities and the environment too," said Henshaw. "Certification affirms the progress we've made and raises the bar for what great looks like in pet nutrition."Supporting pets, people and the planet Ensuring your pet's food helps them live long, high-quality lives can help others live that way, too. To learn more about K9 Natural and Feline Natural visit K9FelineNatural.com.
	Exposing the hidden costs and risks of insuring jewelry through a homeowners policy Exposing the hidden costs and risks of insuring jewelry through a homeowners policyAs insurance premium costs continue to rise, 50% of homeowners are worried their insurance will soon become unaffordable. That anxiety can lead people to cut corners — including when it comes to insurance for jewelry.As such, many homeowners are confused about items like a jewelry rider on a homeowners policy, including what it covers and whether it’s worth it. Adding jewelry to home insurance policies can help cover your most valuable possessions, but it’s far less protection than people may think. Homeowners and renters insurance typically only covers jewelry in the case of theft inside the home and often caps payouts at $1,000-$2,500, which may not cover the full value of a luxury piece such as an engagement ring.BriteCo’s October 2025 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. homeowners found that a large majority are opting to rely solely on homeowners insurance for protection, leaving some of their most valuable assets vulnerable to loss or theft. Even when adding a jewelry rider or floater to a homeowners policy, making a jewelry claim can impact insurance policies for home or auto, raising premiums or risking cancellations.This report captures BriteCo’s data and highlights what Americans misunderstand most about jewelry coverage — and where the most significant gaps and risks lie.Key Takeaways70% of Americans own jewelry or watches worth more than $1,500; however, only 55% of those people insure their items against loss or theft53% of Americans cover their jewelry under their homeowners insurance policy, whether it is insured through a standard homeowners policy, a jewelry rider attached to that policy, or a separate jewelry floater.Nearly a quarter (23%) of Americans think the payout for a jewelry claim on their homeowners insurance policy is higher than it actually is, and almost a third (30%) admit they weren’t aware of any payout limit.40% of Americans don’t know that filing a jewelry claim could increase their homeowners premiums or even lead to cancellation of coverage.A stand-alone jewelry insurance policy separate from a homeowners rider or floater can offer better coverage for jewelry and watches, at less cost. Some issuers also do not report to loss-history data services such as CLUE or A-PLUS, so there is no risk of impacting a homeowners policy with higher premiums or a non-renewal.Most Homeowners Have Valuable Jewelry, But Many Leave It Underprotected BriteCo Most Americans mistakenly believe their homeowners policy fully covers their jewelry — but for many, it doesn’t. The survey found that, while 70% of Americans own jewelry or watches worth more than $1,500, one in four or 26% rely on a standard homeowners policy to protect their valuables, which will only cover from $1,500 to $2,000 minus any deductible that may apply. That means millions of Americans are leaving sentimental treasures underinsured, often without realizing it.Another 27% of consumers get higher amounts of jewelry coverage through a rider or floater policy associated with their homeowners policy. But making even one jewelry claim with these types of policies can result in higher homeowners premiums or a non-renewal.Many people have questions about protecting their valuables, from how to insure an engagement ring to understanding what their homeowners policy actually covers. Yet coverage caps, deductibles, and exclusions often leave them exposed, creating an unknown risk for hidden costs and claim impacts.Americans Overwhelmingly Rely On Homeowners Insurance for Jewelry ProtectionAmericans who insure their jewelry are overwhelmingly putting their trust in their homeowners insurance policy for protection. More than half of Americans among survey respondents (53%) rely on their homeowners policy to protect their jewelry. BriteCo Of that group, 25.1% depend on standard homeowners policy limits, while only 13.3% have an insurance rider, and 12.7% use a jewelry floater or endorsement. Keep in mind, another one-fourth (26.1%) of survey respondents assume the risk that their jewelry will be safe without any insurance protection.Although an insurance rider for jewelry may provide some additional coverage, it often falls short of offering the robust protection needed if your valuables are lost or stolen. Homeowners insurance riders or floaters typically have a total cap amount for insured items regardless of their appraised or replacement value.Many riders or endorsements also use the main homeowners deductible or a separate one, which can meaningfully decrease the value of coverage for partial losses such as a damaged ring or necklace.Another concern for jewelry owners is that HO riders and floaters likely do not cover jewelry items for accidental loss or mysterious disappearance compared with specialized stand-alone jewelry policies. Riders and floaters also typically have more claim handling restrictions, and making a jewelry claim will likely impact a homeowners insurance loss history.That’s why experts recommend separating coverage of your valuables from your home insurance. Choosing a stand-alone jewelry insurance policy separate from your homeowners policy can help you get broader coverage without impacting your home insurance premiums or renewal if you need to file a jewelry claim.Americans Have False Confidence in Homeowners Jewelry PayoutsOne of the big misconceptions about homeowners insurance concerns payouts. Almost 57% of Americans are unaware or don’t know the limits that most homeowners insurance policies place on jewelry coverage. BriteCo Standard homeowners insurance provides limited jewelry coverage, typically $1,000 to $2,500 per item. However, nearly one-quarter (23%) of Americans think the maximum payout for a single piece of fine jewelry is higher than that, and 27% admit they have no idea what the maximum payout is. BriteCo’s survey reveals that most people wouldn’t know their true coverage until it’s too late.While you can file a claim, you may only receive a fraction of the value of the jewelry piece, leaving the owner responsible for paying the remainder for a replacement—with a potential for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expense. BriteCo Bottom lineMost people with jewelry insured through their homeowners policy are unaware of the risk exposure and coverage gaps in the event they have to make a claim. They would likely only discover coverage limitations once their items have been lost or stolen.The Shocking Gap Between Expectation and Reality BriteCo Filing a Jewelry Claim Can Backfire and Lead to Homeowners Policy CancellationNearly 40% of homeowners also don’t know that filing a jewelry claim could increase their homeowners insurance premium or even result in the policy being canceled. BriteCo J.D. Power’s 2024 report revealed that 47% of homeowners insurance customers said their premiums rose in the past year, and 98% of insurance agents in BriteCo’s 2025 Agent Survey said their clients need to be made aware of the potential impact from filing a jewelry claim through a homeowners rider or floater. See Figures 7 and 8 to understand how even small claims can have long-term impacts on a homeowner’s insurability.How a Jewelry Claim Can Impact Your Homeowners PolicyEven one jewelry claim can impact an HO policy when it’s reported to data loss-history services like CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) or A-PLUS, loss-history reporting services for personal lines such as auto and property. This data loss history is typically used by insurance carriers to assess an individual’s risk profile and determine (and often increase) premium costs, or to possibly trigger a policy non-renewal. Both loss-history data services provide about seven years of claim history for underwriting and rating decisions.The best way to protect valuables (and keep your homeowners insurance intact) is with separate jewelry coverage. It can keep your homeowners coverage untouched while providing faster, more tailored protection for jewelry loss, theft, damage, or even “mysterious disappearance.” But when choosing a standalone jewelry insurance provider, it’s important to ask whether they also report to loss-history databases like CLUE or A-PLUS. BriteCo Emotional and Financial Stakes Are High With a Coverage GapTo avoid the risk of rising homeowners premiums, homeowners are taking their own precautions with jewelry to avoid filing a claim:42% say they would keep jewelry locked in safes29% would invest in new home security systems28% would rather accept the loss than risk higher homeowners insurance costs.These choices reflect how little trust people have in their current coverage. BriteCo The data shows that, to some extent, avoidance has replaced confidence. People are choosing to take on emotional and financial risk because they fear their coverage won’t protect their cherished valuables. Instead of relying on insurance, Americans are adopting a do-it-yourself approach to safeguarding their most meaningful possessions, which can be a costly decision.Americans Want a Safer, Simpler Way to Insure JewelryDespite the confusion and fear, the majority of homeowners say they want to find the best way to insure jewelry. When presented with the idea of stand-alone jewelry insurance costing about 1% of an item’s value per year, 41% said they would “definitely” choose it, and another 39% said they would consider it.When asked why they’d be motivated to switch to a stand-alone jewelry insurance policy, homeowners cited four key reasons: better coverage for loss or theft (49%), no risk of premium hikes on a homeowners policy (41%), lower overall premiums (40%), and an easier claims process (38%). See Figure 10.It’s proof that Americans want jewelry protection without risking an increase in their homeowners policy costs from a claim. Just be sure the stand-alone jewelry policy you select doesn’t also report claims to loss-history databases. BriteCo MethodologyThe survey of 1,009 American homeowners ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for BriteCo on October 31, 2025. The data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample, with a 95% confidence level.This story was produced by BriteCo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	7 questions to determine the right AI compliance standard for your business 7 questions to determine the right AI compliance standard for your businessAI adoption has accelerated across sectors today as the technology becomes easier to access and deploy. Most organizations embed it in at least one aspect of their daily operations, but doing so has also introduced new risks, such as model bias and outcome drift.There’s a growing gap between AI use and responsible oversight, and keeping up demonstrable AI governance practices is a challenge. According to Vanta’s 2025 AI governance survey, conducted among 618 business decision-makers in May and June 2025, more than 50% of organizations are overwhelmed by AI regulations, with shifting rules being one of the top concerns.‍Choosing which AI framework to prioritize is the first step in ensuring your AI meets ethical, security, and transparency expectations. Vanta’s guide will explore:The importance of AI compliance and non-compliance risks.A comparison of the top AI standards relevant today.Seven questions that help choose the right AI standard.Why AI compliance mattersAligning with an AI framework matters because it helps enforce accountability in operations dependent on automated decisions. Even if your organization is already compliant with privacy frameworks like the GDPR or CCPA, it doesn’t fully attest to the ethical and legal soundness of AI use. Privacy laws regulate how personal data moves and focus on the impact on the individual. AI frameworks, on the other hand, emphasize how automated systems make decisions and how they can impact both individuals and society as a whole.The challenge is that AI tools evolve rapidly, and most organizations find it complex to update internal governance practices to ensure AI systems meet ethical, legal, and organizational standards.Adopting the right frameworks can make all the difference, allowing teams to adapt to changes more effectively while also enhancing security, speeding up innovation, and strengthening customer trust.Risks of noncompliance with AI standards and regulationsFailing to comply with AI standards and regulations carries several material risks, including financial, operational, and reputational. If you violate laws such as the EU AI Act, GDPR, or U.S.-specific data regulations, you may face substantial financial penalties or even legal action, depending on the severity of the violation. By contrast, noncompliance with voluntary AI frameworks and standards (like NIST AI RMF or ISO 42001) typically doesn’t trigger direct regulatory penalties, but it can still create commercial risk if customers expect or require alignment.Noncompliance can also result in operational disruption and downtime caused by an unsecured AI tool. Additionally, risks like biased decisions and incorrect outputs affect business outcomes, often eroding trust with customers and partners, brand value, and competitiveness.“An organization that understands its risks in using AI is generally one that will build and use it safely. This also ensures your AI compliance program is designed to support the goals of the business, which includes maintaining operational resilience, ethical accountability, and stakeholder confidence,” Evan RowseGRC subject matter expert for Vanta, said.Comparing standards and regulations relevant to AI useHere are some of the most relevant AI standards and regulations currently in place that help secure AI-driven systems.GDPRMandatory — Secures the personal data of individuals in the EU; relevant for organizations handling EU personal dataCertification: NoThe EU AI ActMandatory — Sets baseline security and risk management requirements for AI use in the EU; relevant for EU-based organizations using AICertification: NoCCPAMandatory — Secures the personal data of California residents; relevant for organizations handling California resident personal dataCertification: NoNIST AI RMFVoluntary — Provides guidance to identify and mitigate AI risks; relevant for organizations leveraging AI across all sectorsCertification: NoISO 27001Voluntary — Sets a framework for creating, maintaining, and updating an ISMS; relevant for industries handling sensitive informationCertification: YesISO 42001Voluntary — Sets a framework for creating, maintaining, and updating an AIMS; relevant for industries that use, develop, or provide AI-based products or servicesCertification: YesSOC 2Voluntary — Sets baseline requirements for protecting sensitive data, including data used by AI systems; relevant for SaaS, cloud service providers, and other industries handling customer dataCertification: No (attestation report by auditor)Organizations must be deliberate in how they choose the right framework or regulation and keep their AI use cases and broader compliance goals in mind. Over-engineering compliance efforts can easily lead to unproductive outcomes, such as frequent oversights or operational slowdown due to overwhelmed teams.Scoping a framework narrowly is another risk. For example, a business might scope ISO 42001 to the AI features within a single product, only to discover midway that a large customer in another region requires a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 audit because the AI system draws on shared datasets. The remediation here would be rescoping or restarting the compliance effort, which can be expensive and disruptive.7 questions to determine your AI standardUse these seven questions as criteria to determine which AI standards your organization should pursue.Question 1: Where do you operate and sell?Geographical markers, such as your organization’s location and market area, play a major role in determining what regulations apply to you. Jurisdictions can significantly vary when it comes to legals and regulatory compliance requirements, so understand your organization’s position to help narrow focus.For example, if your organization is based in the EU or targets the personal information of individuals within it, you must comply with both the GDPR and the EU AI Act. If your organization operates within the U.S., you must account for state-specific privacy laws such as the CCPA. Additionally, U.S. agencies and critical infrastructure operators are also encouraged to lean on NIST AI RMF, which informs responsible AI use.Question 2: What role do you play in the AI value chain?Your role in the AI value chain highlights which parts of your system and operations need greater security efforts.For instance, if you’re a service provider, you should primarily focus on lifecycle controls, including documentation, testing, and version management. Conversely, deployers mostly focus on use-case risk, data handling, and human oversight.Question 3: What’s the risk profile of your AI use cases?Assess the likelihood and type of risks your AI systems may face. If your findings show that you operate in a high-risk environment or if you provide AI-driven services that touch critical infrastructure such as energy or transportation, you should pursue a structured risk management framework such as ISO/IEC 23894:2023.If the risks are lower, you can explore other options, such as NIST AI RMF, to strengthen AI security.Question 4: Do customers require certification?Compliance with frameworks like NIST AI RMF will help strengthen your AI security, but alignment doesn’t provide you with an official certification. If your primary customer base expects stronger assurance or proof of compliance, you should prioritize certifiable standards such as ISO/IEC 42001.Pursuing certifiable standards will impact overall compliance costs and effort due to stricter readiness work and higher auditor fees, among other things.Question 5: What’s your current governance maturity?If your organization’s governance maturity is still at the ad-hoc level, alignment with NIST AI RMF can help you build a strong foundation. For more mature governance structures, ISO 42001 enables smoother scaling of your existing controls. It’s flexible enough to be adapted for smaller organizations and also sends a strong message that your organization is more mature and proactive in terms of managing AI risk.Question 6: What data are you touching?The type of information your organization handles influences your choice. If you handle sensitive, personal, regulated, or critical infrastructure-related information, focus on frameworks that emphasize data privacy and security. This includes not just the data itself but also AI-driven outputs or decisions that affect outcomes.You can consider regulations such as the GDPR and CCPA, as well as frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Prioritize frameworks that include AI-specific nuances, such as clear requirements for ethical use of data, privacy protections, and human validation for AI outputs.Question 7: Build or buy?There’s a notable difference between building your own AI tools and relying on third-party services. Creating your own AI software means you must focus on internal risks and embed safety practices at every stage of development.If you use third-party software, vendor risk management (VRM) becomes a critical part of safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring safe AI behavior. This includes both securing the solution once it's implemented, but also ongoing due diligence, which involves reviewing model safety disclosures, assessing how vendors handle training data, and evaluating their AI monitoring practices.Which AI framework to choose after assessmentDepending on your answers to the questions above, you’ll likely narrow down to three AI-focused options like:ISO/IEC 42001: Opt for this if you need a certifiable, auditable AI management system that procurement recognizes.NIST AI RMF: Start here if you need a practical operating model and artifacts quickly, but treat it as scaffolding for your overall AI governance program.EU AI Act: Run an EU AI Act workstream if you sell or operate in the EU or have high‑risk use cases, but tailor it to your role in the AI value chain.Before you dive in deep and implement a framework, you can also consider refreshing the trust baselines you have built with other frameworks, such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001, and identify relevant AI risks. Once you’ve established strong security and privacy baselines, you can choose and layer on the AI governance processes that make the most sense for your organization.Note: The governance controls identified in these frameworks aren’t mutually exclusive—there’s overlap, and many of your efforts will be reusable. Define your right-sized journey; you can start with NIST AI RMF and evolve into ISO 42001 certification later, while preparing for EU AI Act alignment if you don't yet have EU customers.Challenges of pursuing AI compliancePursuing AI compliance comes with its own set of operational and governance challenges. These include:Changing risk landscape: AI technologies evolve rapidly, making risks such as model drift, bias amplification, and data poisoning constant threats. Mitigating these requires regular AI reviews to verify the effectiveness of your controls.Need for real-time monitoring: AI systems can change rapidly, so point-in-time insights aren’t effective in spotting gaps in AI systems. To catch issues early on, organizations need to embed real-time monitoring into their AI workflows.Documentation requirements: Most AI standards require maintaining high volumes of documentation about decision outcomes, version histories, training procedures, and ethical considerations. Gathering this evidence manually can be time-consuming and strain resources.Quick response to regulatory changes: The AI compliance landscape evolves quickly. Staying compliant requires organizations to evaluate regulatory updates, scope operational impact, and address gaps without delay, which can be tricky for busy teams.An efficient way to approach AI standards is by leveraging trusted compliance management solutions.This story was produced by Vanta and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Blackhawk Bank & Trust President Christopher J. Lemon retires Blackhawk Bank & Trust President Christopher J. Lemon retires after an extraordinary 45-year career dedicated entirely to the bank and the communities it serves.
	Garage total loss in Muscatine overnight fire No one was injured in an overnight garage fire, officials say.
	2026 My Favorite Teacher Award \| Mr. Cockerill at Jane Addams Elementary Throughout the week, we'll be featuring educators in the Quad Cities making a difference inside and outside of the classroom.
	Anchorage mother drives national push to prevent fentanyl deaths Sandy Snodgrass gives a presentation on her advocacy work and raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl at the Alaska State Capitol on Apr. 15, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)An Anchorage mother whose son died from a fentanyl overdose is continuing to champion national and statewide action to raise awareness around the dangers of the synthetic opioid and prevent future deaths. On Wednesday, Sandy Snodgrass was recognized with a legislative citation of honor at the Alaska State Capitol by Anchorage Democratic Senator Bill Wielechowski for her advocacy work. In December, Snodgrass attended the signing of a package of legislation, including Bruce’s Law, which directs federal funds toward youth education and community-based treatment and recovery programs. It’s named after her son who died in 2021 and was sponsored by Alaska’s U.S. senators and signed by President Donald Trump. Sandy Snodgrass is honored with a legislative citation by Sen. Bill Wielechowski for her advocacy work to raise awareness around the dangers of fentanyl on Apr. 15, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) “This is a different world we live in with fentanyl now,” Snodgrass said in a lunchtime presentation after receiving the award. “We live in a world where one pill, one half pill can kill you. And it’s not a tolerance, you know, it’s one time and you can die.” Trained as a clinical psychologist, Snodgrass founded the Alaska Fentanyl Response Project aimed at raising awareness about overdose deaths, particularly among young people, sharing stories of those who have died and advocating for legislation and resources for prevention and addiction treatment. “I talk about it as a three legged stool,” she said. She described demand reduction, law enforcement and treatment as the three legs of the stool. “And if we don’t do all three, the stool will fall over,” she said. She said her focus is demand reduction. “So I am not law enforcement,” she added. “I don’t have a treatment center. But I did have a child that died from fentanyl poisoning, and so I can tell my story to anybody, anywhere, anytime.” “You can never die from an illicit drug if you never try an illicit drug,” she said. Snodgrass’ son, Robert Bruce Snodgrass, died at the age of 22 in 2021, during a wave when Alaska saw the highest increase in opioid deaths nationwide, a 75% increase from 2020 to 2021, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, clinically prescribed for pain, and is more potent than other opioids like morphine or heroin. As little as two milligrams — an amount the size of a few grains of salt — can be fatal. The Alaska wave of fentanyl deaths peaked in 2023, according to state data, with 357 reported deaths. Last year, there were 245 deaths reported from 2024 to 2025, according to the most recently available data, with the majority in Anchorage. Sandy Snodgrass holds a photo of her son Bryce, who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2021. President Donald Trump signed the photo when he signed a package of legislation, including Bruce’s Law, to direct funding to prevention education and treatment and recovery programs in Dec. 2025. Snodgrass is seen at the Capitol on Apr. 15, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Thousands more non-fatal overdoses were reported each month, with many surviving thanks to the use of emergency naloxone, known as Narcan, a life-saving drug that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. She said it’s a difficult message to convey the risks to young people, like her son. “Bruce was an Alaskan boy, through and through — all the Alaskan things. He was a free solo mountain climber. He was a certified mountain guide. He was an extreme sport, high adrenaline young man, just like so many of our Alaskan boys and girls, he lived on the edge and loved it,” she said. She said she thought she’d get a call about him being injured in some kind of rock climbing accident. “That’s not the call I got. He was safe out there. He was not safe less than a mile away from our home in Anchorage,” she said. Snodgrass said she’s glad to see law enforcement investigating more fentanyl overdose deaths as drug induced homicides, and recent legislative action to increase criminal penalties to second degree murder. But she said she recognizes it can be accidental. “That guy, whoever gave my son the drugs, is almost as much a victim as my son is. He likely didn’t know there was fentanyl. He likely didn’t want to kill my son. He did not do it intentionally. But that’s what happened. So I don’t call it ‘accidental overdose,’ I call it poisoning,” she said. She said she mentioned the idea of fentanyl as a “chemical weapon” and a “weapon of mass destruction” to President Trump when they met in the Oval Office in December — weeks later he issued an executive order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. It directs attorneys general to pursue prosecutions of fentanyl sales, including manufacturing, distribution and illicit sale of precursor chemicals, and directs the military and Department of Homeland Security to consider fentanyl in its response to chemical incidents and to conduct counter-fentanyl operations. Snodgrass cited estimates of hundreds of people dying across the U.S. every day from overdoses. An August 2025 estimate by the CDC showed 77,648 drug overdose deaths occurred in the 12 months ending in March 2025. Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths. “We’ve got to change that,” she said. “It’s as if a jet airliner, a jumbo jet airliner, was crashing in this country every single day, day after day after day.” Sandy Snodgrass gives a presentation on her advocacy work and raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl at the Alaska State Capitol on Apr. 15, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Snodgrass said she’s especially focused on doing more school presentations and raising awareness in rural Alaska, which she said drug dealers target for the high retail prices for fentanyl. “When this reached my son in Anchorage, I was shocked, and the fact that it’s now reaching our rural communities to the extent that it is, is shocking,” she said, citing recent deaths in Nome, Dillingham and Togiak. “I could not get over the statistics in Togiak of the number of seizures that the DEA was making, 3,000 pills at a time in a backpack on a plane to Togiak. Togiak has 800 people in it. It just was terrifying to me,” she said. “It devastates the community to lose even one person. And so the numbers coming out of those rural communities are terrifying. They’re horrible, and it just keeps happening,” she said. Snodgrass said she’s supportive of Senate Bill 288, sponsored by Sen. George Raucher, R-Sutton, that would require opioid abuse and prevention curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12, during an annual drug awareness week known as Red Ribbon Week. It’s currently being considered by the Senate Education Committee. “They’re innocuous little pills, unless someone tells you that pill is going to kill you, or could potentially kill you,” Snodgrass said. “It’s a little blue pill, and it looks harmless, and you may take it to change the way you feel. That’s all they’re doing. And so the only thing I can do as one person is keep telling that story over and over and over again, and so that’s what I’m here to do.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	14 medications that cause hair loss 14 medications that cause hair lossHair loss is a common concern that can affect both men and women. Even though it's not a life-threatening problem, it can harm your self-image and quality of life. Aging, hormonal changes, and genetics are well-known causes of hair thinning. But many medications can cause hair loss or thinning, too.Chemotherapy is the most well-known type of medication that causes hair loss. But what other medications can cause hair loss? And is there anything you can do to prevent it? GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, looked at the most common medications that may cause hair loss.1. RetinoidsRetinoids are a class of medications used to treat skin conditions such as acne and skin discoloration. They’re derived from vitamin A and help lower inflammation and promote cell turnover.Oral retinoids, like isotretinoin (Absorica), are known to cause telogen effluvium in some people. Telogen effluvium is when hair comes out in clumps. For example, you may notice more hair collecting in your hairbrush or in the shower.Hair loss seems to happen more often with higher doses of oral retinoids. But it's often reversible after you finish the treatment course. You’ll typically take oral retinoids for 15 to 20 weeks. But if hair loss is severe or becomes concerning for you, talk to your healthcare team. They may have you stop taking the medication sooner.2. AntidepressantsAntidepressants are a class of medications that treat mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. They work by affecting certain chemicals in the brain.Several antidepressants may cause hair loss, but the specific reason why is unclear. Commonly used antidepressants that may cause hair loss include:Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL)Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluvoxamine (Luvox)Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)According to one study, bupropion may have a higher risk of hair loss compared with other antidepressants.Hair loss usually reverses once you stop taking an antidepressant. But you shouldn’t stop taking an antidepressant on your own. This can cause serious side effects, especially if you’ve been taking it for a while. Your prescriber can help you stop taking an antidepressant safely if you think it’s causing problematic hair loss.3. Birth control pillsHair loss is a less common birth control side effect, but it can happen in some cases. It may be more likely with birth control pills that contain certain types of progestins, called androgenic progestins. These progestins can also cause unwanted hair growth on other parts of the body.Birth control pills may cause your hair to become thinner. You may notice this change about three months after starting birth control. But significant hair loss or balding isn’t likely. If you’re concerned about hair changes with birth control pills, talk to your prescriber. There are other options they can prescribe that are less likely to have an effect on your hair.4. AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants are a class of medications that are used to treat and prevent blood clots. These medications are also called blood thinners. They work by stopping blood clots from forming.Hair loss is a possible side effect of anticoagulants. It can appear anywhere from weeks to years after starting the medication. Telogen effluvium seems to be the most common type of hair loss seen with anticoagulants. But the exact cause is unknown.Anticoagulants associated with hair loss include:HeparinWarfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)Apixaban (Eliquis)Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)If hair loss is an issue, your prescriber may try switching you to a different blood thinner. But you shouldn’t make any changes to your anticoagulant medication without their OK.5. AnticonvulsantsAnticonvulsants, also known as antiepileptics or anti-seizure medications, are a class of medications that treat and prevent seizures. They work by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain. Some anticonvulsants are also used to treat certain mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder.Hair loss is a reported side effect of some anticonvulsant medications. One review found hair loss was more common with valproic acid (Depakote) and pregabalin (Lyrica) but less common with levetiracetam (Keppra).6. Beta blockersBeta blockers are a class of medications that treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions. Beta blockers may cause telogen effluvium in some people, but it’s not common.Common beta blockers include:Propranolol (Inderal)Atenolol (Tenormin)Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)Good to know: You may have heard that losartan (Cozaar), a different type of blood pressure medication, can cause hair loss. But hair loss is not a known side effect of losartan.7. Antithyroid medicationsThyroid conditions can cause hair loss on their own. And antithyroid medications used to treat an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also contribute to hair loss. Examples of these medications include methimazole and propylthiouracil.Let your prescriber know if hair loss becomes an issue while you’re taking an antithyroid medication. They may want to check your thyroid hormone levels to make sure they’re where they should be and adjust your medication if needed.8. ChemotherapyChemotherapy is a common cancer treatment that works by killing cancer cells. But it also kills other fast-growing cells in your body, and that includes your hair cells. This type of hair loss is called anagen effluvium.Hair loss typically begins days to weeks after starting chemotherapy. And hair loss effects are often fairly noticeable after one to two months. Commonly used chemotherapy medications that can cause hair loss include cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and doxorubicin.Cooling caps, gentle brushing, and avoiding heat-based styling devices may help lessen hair loss. But there’s not a foolproof way to prevent it. The good news is that hair typically grows back within three months after completing chemotherapy treatment.9. TamoxifenTamoxifen is a medication that’s used to treat or prevent breast cancer. It’s known to cause hair loss or thinning due to its estrogen-blocking effect.Hair will usually regrow when treatment is completed. But you’ll typically take tamoxifen for several years. So talk to your prescriber about treatment options if hair loss is bothersome while you’re taking tamoxifen.10. Certain arthritis medicationsCertain medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions may also cause hair loss. For example, traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) — such as methotrexate and leflunomide (Arava) — cause hair loss because they can stop or slow down hair growth.Although rare, biologic DMARDs — such as etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) — can also cause hair loss. But it’s not fully understood why this happens.11. AllopurinolAllopurinol (Zyloprim) is a medication that treats gout. It’s been linked to hair loss, but this seems to come from limited case reports. So it’s not clear how likely hair loss is while you’re taking allopurinol. But if it happens, let your prescriber know. A different gout medication may be a better option for you.12. LevodopaSinemet (carbidopa/levodopa) is a medication used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa — one of the medications in Sinemet — may cause hair loss. Levodopa works like dopamine in the body, and dopamine seems to prevent hair growth in some people. Bromocriptine (Parlodel) is another medication that acts like dopamine in the body and may cause hair loss.Hair loss from levodopa or bromocriptine isn’t common, but let your prescriber know if it happens to you. They can help you stop taking Sinemet safely if needed to manage this side effect. But don’t stop taking it on your own. It can be dangerous to abruptly stop taking levodopa.13. Ozempic and other GLP-1 related medicationsSome people taking GLP-1-related medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), reported hair loss in clinical trials. It’s not clear if this is from the medication itself or if it’s due to the weight loss seen with these medications. That’s because losing weight rapidly is a known cause of hair loss.In most cases, hair loss should reverse as your body adjusts to a GLP-1-related medication. But let your prescriber know if it doesn’t. It’s possible that you’re not getting enough nutrients, or there’s another cause that should be addressed.14. Azole antifungal medicationsOral azole antifungal medications can cause hair loss — especially with high doses or long-term use. Examples include:Fluconazole (Diflucan)ClotrimazoleVoriconazole (Vfend)In most cases, hair loss is reversible, and it should regrow once you stop taking an azole antifungal. But, for some people, it may persist.How to treat hair loss caused by medicationMedication-related hair loss may be permanent. But it can often be reversed by stopping the medication causing it. Keep in mind that stopping your medication isn’t always an option. And it’s not something you should do on your own.There may be other treatment options for hair loss caused by medication. Topical treatments such as minoxidil (Rogaine) may help. Certain supplements, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, may also help in certain situations. But the right treatment depends on what’s causing your hair loss and what type of hair loss it is. Not all hair loss caused by medication can be treated.Talk to your healthcare team before trying any hair-loss treatments on your own. They can make sure they won’t interfere with your other medications. And they can help recommend the options that are likely to work best for your specific situation. They may also be able to change the medication that’s causing hair loss to a different treatment option.Frequently asked questionsHow long does it take for hair to grow back?With telogen effluvium, hair typically regrows in six to nine months once the underlying cause is addressed. Hair loss that’s related to autoimmune conditions or hormone changes may not be reversible. But certain treatments may help prevent further hair loss or help it regrow in some cases. How long it takes depends on the cause of your hair loss and the treatment you use. For example, it can take up to 12 months to see finasteride’s full effects for treating hair loss.What supplements can help your hair grow faster?Vitamins and supplements aren’t likely to help your hair grow unless you have low vitamin levels to begin with. This includes things like vitamin D and biotin supplements, which are often marketed for hair growth.How can you tell if your hair loss is due to medication or something else?It can be difficult to know what’s causing hair loss. But if you’ve recently started a new medication around when your hair loss began, it’s possible that there’s a connection. Still, it’s best to see a healthcare professional about any hair loss that occurs. They can review your medical history to help determine what’s causing it and the best way to manage it moving forward.How much hair should you lose a day?According to experts, it’s typical to lose up to 100 hairs per day. But this amount can vary depending on hair density and thickness, as well as how often you wash and brush your hair. It’s more important to keep an eye out for any changes in how much hair you’re losing from day to day, or if you start losing hair in clumps. These are signs that something else may be going on, and it’s time to see a medical professional.The bottom lineHair loss is often associated with getting older or chemotherapy. But other medications can cause hair loss or thinning. Some examples include oral retinoids, blood thinners, and antidepressants. Anti-seizure medications, beta blockers, and antithyroid medications can lead to hair loss in some people. Birth control pills, azole antifungals, and some arthritis medications can, too.GLP-1-related medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), can cause hair loss. But this is likely caused by rapid weight loss, not the medication itself.In most cases, hair loss caused by medication is temporary. Lost hair will usually regrow once the medication is stopped. But sometimes, stopping medication isn’t an option. And although rare, hair loss triggered by a medication can be permanent.Let your prescriber know if you think your medication is affecting your hair. They may recommend a treatment option to help the hair regrow. Or they may be able to change the medication causing hair loss to a different treatment option.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to get a $5,000 personal loan How to get a $5,000 personal loanSure, it’s common to borrow five figures for a car or six figures for a home. But even smaller loans can have a big impact on your ability to reach financial goals or improve your quality of life. A few thousand dollars is a practical amount of money that could help you cover an expense that’s a little too big for your everyday budget.A debt consolidation loan might help you get rid of your more expensive debt faster. Whatever your expense may be, a $5,000 personal loan could give you just the financial boost you’re looking for.Below, Achieve walks through what to know before applying for a $5,000 personal loan and how to find the right fit for your financial situation.The basics: What you need to know about a $5,000 personal loanPersonal loans are installment loans, where the lender gives you a lump sum of money, and you pay it back in equal payments each month.Most personal loans are unsecured. That means the lender will review your financial situation and credit profile to decide whether to approve your application. When a loan is unsecured, that means you don’t need to offer collateral to the lender. Collateral is something valuable that guarantees the loan (for example, when you get a car loan, the car is the collateral).For many personal loans, you’ll pay an origination fee, sometimes called a lender fee. That’s a one-time expense for administration and processing costs, and it’s usually deducted from the loan. Not all lenders have origination fees, but fee-free loans may have higher interest rates instead.Personal loan costsIt’s smart shopping to consider how much a loan will cost you, especially if you’re comparing it to alternatives like credit cards. Besides the origination fee mentioned above, you’ll also pay interest. Your rate will depend on your creditworthiness, how much you borrow, and the loan term you choose (the number of years you take to pay the loan back). Those factors also influence how much total interest you’ll pay over time.Let’s compare three possible scenarios for obtaining a $5,000 loan. Achieve One of the most effective ways to reduce your total loan costs is to pay it off faster. That's true even if you don't qualify for the lowest interest rate a lender advertises.How to qualify for a $5,000 personal loanLenders will check your credit profile, including your credit score. If you’re nervous about yours, don’t worry—many lenders are willing to work with borrowers who have less-than-perfect scores. Lenders also consider your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which is the proportion of your income that you spend on required debt payments each month.You’ll need to be planning to use the personal loan for a permitted purpose. The allowable uses are nearly unlimited, but your lender may have a few restrictions in place. For instance, many lenders won’t issue a personal loan to pay for college tuition. That’s because there are special rules and regulations that apply to student loans.Steps to apply for a $5,000 personal loanYou can apply for a personal loan online, and the process is fairly simple. The sooner you start, the sooner those funds could hit your account.Here's what the personal loan application process typically looks like.Check your credit. It's helpful to check your own credit before applying for a personal loan so you can get an idea of what lenders will see.Get a rate quote. Rate quotes tell you what you might pay for a personal loan, based on your credit score. Consider getting prequalified with one or more lenders that offer a soft credit check (one that doesn’t hurt your credit score).Gather your documents. Once you choose a lender to move forward with, get all the necessary information together. The lender may ask for recent pay stubs, your I.D., proof of address, and information about where you work.Apply. Now you’re ready to submit a formal application. This will typically result in a hard credit check, which could cause your credit score to dip temporarily.It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to apply for a personal loan online. From that point, many applicants get a same-day decision. If the lender has questions about your application, it could take longer.What to expect after a $5,000 personal loan is approvedIf your loan application is approved, congratulations! It’s time to make your final decision about accepting it. Nothing’s written in stone until you’ve signed the loan documents agreeing to the terms.Once you decide to sign, it’s time to:Receive the money. Every lender has its own time frame for delivering funds for a personal loan. You could see the money the next business day, or it could take longer. If you asked the lender to pay off other creditors directly, they’ll do that instead of sending the money to you. Keep making payments on those debts until you confirm that your creditors have been paid with the money from your new loan.Plan for the monthly payment. The first monthly payment is typically due the month after you receive funding.Think about early payoff. Some lenders charge an early payment or prepayment penalty. If your situation allows, paying the loan off early could help you save on total interest charges.Paying back a personal loanAs far as repayment goes, your loan agreement should include:Due dates for monthly paymentsThe total amount you'll payWhen your loan is scheduled to be fully paid offWhat happens if you pay lateThe most important thing is to pay on time each month, since paying late could trigger a fee or impact your credit standing. Consistently making your loan payments on time could help you build your credit score. That, in turn, could open the doors to affordable financial products when you need them in the future (like car loans and mortgages).Some lenders offer an interest rate discount for automatic payments. This is definitely worth considering because it’s an extra layer of protection against missing a payment. Also, rate discounts reduce your total loan costs.Best uses for a $5,000 personal loanNow that you know how it works, how about some inspo? Here are some ways a $5,000 personal loan could help you:Replace old appliancesBuy new furnitureCover an emergency home repair, like a water heaterDo some minor home maintenance or redecoratingPay for car repairsPay for your pet to have necessary veterinary careCover medical billsPay for a funeral and other end-of-life expensesConsolidate higher-interest debtBuy new electronics or a gaming systemCover moving expensesPay for dental work or cosmetic proceduresBuy 3,000 boxes of macaroni and cheeseOK, that last one wasn’t serious, but the truth is, with a personal loan, you would have that option.The best way to use a personal loan is on the thing that’s most important to you.What's nextCheck your credit score to get a sense of what lenders will see if you apply for a loan.Sit down with your budget to make sure the monthly payment for a $5,000 personal loan will fit.This story was produced by Achieve and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How reading aloud shapes children’s emotional development How reading aloud shapes children’s emotional developmentIn an age of packed schedules and constant digital distractions, families often struggle to slow down and connect. Yet one simple habit continues to make a lasting difference: reading together. Reading aloud to children can be an accessible and powerful way for parents and caregivers to support emotional and cognitive development while also strengthening meaningful connections. But not all reading material is created equal — the content of what's being read matters just as much as the act of reading itself.Aﬂac breaks down the cognitive, emotional and social beneﬁts of reading to children, and why the stories you choose together matter.What research says about reading aloudReading to children, toddlers and even babies is a beneﬁcial and meaningful way to spend quality time together. That’s not just anecdotal; it’s a recommendation backed up by educators and the medical community.According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading with children helps them build language skills, strengthen relationships with caregivers and promote brain development.What is the difference between kids who are read to and those who are not?According to a study by The Ohio State University, young children whose parents read to them ﬁve times daily will hear nearly 1.5 million more words by the time they turn ﬁve than children who weren’t read to at all.“Kids who hear more vocabulary words are going to be better prepared to see those words in print when they enter school,” said Jessica Logan, lead author of the study and assistant professor of educational studies at The Ohio State University, when the study was conducted in 2019.Reading as an emotional tool for childrenReading or being read to not only helps improve a child’s vocabulary and command of the language, it also allows for emotional development.Listening to a story helps children identify and recognize emotions, process unfamiliar experiences and empathize with characters, according to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development [1].“Piaget has taught us that there are different planes of cognitive development, suggesting that the tailoring support is important and necessary based on the child’s age and maturity,” said Dr. James L. Klosky, Pediatric Psychologist at the Aﬂac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.He also noted that social and emotional skills develop progressively in childhood.“Sharing is among the earliest social skills to be taught, whereas helping to clean up a classroom environment or making room for others at a table may be introduced a little later,” Klosky said.“Learning and applying these skills are examples of ways in which children develop social and emotional intelligence. Based on the content of the book, parent-child reading time allows for opportunities to discuss best practices for managing friendships and other social relationships — or for explaining the importance of empathy or compassion — in a ‘low stakes’ context that is ripe for child learning.Why stories matter during times of stress or illnessReading can provide comfort, routine and a sense of normalcy during challenging periods. For those experiencing stress, reading has been found to be an effective way to reduce stress and is more calming than listening to music or taking a walk.When children are diagnosed with a serious illness, the stress on families — and particularly on the children facing illnesses — is difficult to manage. The beneﬁts of reading books during a prolonged, serious illness are threefold:Reading can offer children a distraction and mental escape, a way to immerse themselves in another time and place.Reading with a loved one can be comforting, providing a sense of normalcy and can help the child feel less isolated.Choosing a story to read can help give children a sense of control at a time when they may otherwise feel powerless.Even babies in the NICU beneﬁt from the calming sound of being read to.How children’s books are supporting special causesThere is a growing trend in children’s publishing to raise awareness of or funds for speciﬁc causes, including child literacy and child health.Many of these children’s books are directly aimed at raising awareness, in a kid-friendly way, about serious illnesses, such as cancer or sickle cell disease. They can also help ease the anxiety for children undergoing treatment and their families. Medical psychologists such as Klosky note that books connected to charitable efforts can have broader beneﬁts.“Reading is a well-established way to support children’s cognitive and emotional development,” Klosky said. “When a book is also connected to a cause related to children’s physical or emotional well-being, it can add another layer of meaning — both for families engaging with the story and for the communities those efforts support.”Reading together builds connection beyond the pageReading with a child every day can set them on the right path for cognitive development, emotional intelligence and acquisition of social skills. Just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference.And while the habit of reading together can be powerful on its own, the stories chosen matter, too. Typically, books rooted in friendship, empathy and community give parent-child reading time a deeper purpose, sparking conversations that build lasting social and emotional skills.Once you've chosen the right story, there are a few ways to take the practice of reading a step further:Try pausing at the end of a page and asking questions, sparking a conversation about what you’ve just read and what may happen next. This will keep children engaged and allow them to use critical thinking to predict how the story may end.Use fun props; gather a few stuffed animals around while reading about nature, or wear an accessory that matches a book’s theme, e.g., a cape for superhero stories.Choose books together; take your child to the local library, bookstore or online resource and choose books you will both enjoy reading.Reading aloud continues to be a meaningful way to support children’s emotional development. As children’s literature evolves, some books serve a dual purpose: fostering empathy through story while supporting causes that reach beyond the page. Together, these stories highlight the enduring power of reading to connect, comfort and contribute to the broader community.[1] Piaget, J. (1926). The language and thought of the child (M. Gabain, Trans.). Harcourt, Brace & Company. (Original work published 1923).This story was produced by Aﬂac and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Should you exfoliate before or after shaving? Your skincare guide Should you exfoliate before or after shaving? Your skincare guideDespite how common it is to choose shaving for extra smooth skin, you may still have unanswered questions about the process: Do you exfoliate before or after shaving? Should you prep your skin before you shave? How can you care for your skin afterward? Dove shares answers to frequently asked questions about how to get softer, smoother skin.Should I prep my skin before I shave?Absolutely. It might sound like a natural first step, but you’ll need to make sure your hair is wet as dry shaving can cause tugging, which can lead to irritation and razor burn. So, hop in the shower or run a warm bath, soak for a couple of minutes and then apply a soothing shower mousse before you reach for your razor. The warm water will soften your hair, making it easier to shave, while the shower mousse will help your razor glide along effortlessly.When should I exfoliate?Should you exfoliate before or after shaving? The answer is yes to both. One of the most important parts of your pre-shave prep is exfoliation, which helps to buff and prepare your skin. Using an exfoliator a couple of days after you shave will also remove dead skin and make it easier for the hair to come through — meaning you’ll be less likely to get ingrown hairs.How long should you wait to shave after exfoliating?After exfoliating, it's best to wait a few minutes before shaving. This allows your skin to calm down and ensures that any exfoliating products have been fully absorbed. A five- to 10-minute wait is usually sufficient.Should I use shaving products?Using a shaving product creates a barrier between your skin and the blades, helping to protect you from irritation and reducing your risk of nicks and cuts. Consider using an antibacterial body wash with an ultra-nourishing formula to help to restore your skin's natural moisture barrier.Should I shave up or down?Shaving up, against the direction of your hair growth, gives you the closest shave for the smoothest skin. But your skin can get irritated if your hair is on the longer side, so start by shaving with the grain to shorten the hair, and then do the reverse.Should you shave before or after a shower?Shaving after a shower is generally recommended. The warm water and steam help soften your hair and open up your pores, making shaving easier and more effective. Plus, your skin is already clean, reducing the risk of irritation.How can I care for my skin after shaving?After shaving, use a rich moisturizer to keep all the moisture from our body wash locked in. The minute you’re out of the shower or bath, gently pat down your skin with a towel instead of rubbing, which can be irritating, and smooth on your favorite body lotion.By following these tips, you can enjoy a smoother, more comfortable shave while embracing your skin's natural beauty.This story was produced by Dove and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Movers for Moms Donation Drive collects supplies for Humility Homes and Services Quad Cities Movers for Moms Donation Drive supporting local families in need through Humility Homes and Services, Inc. running now through May 5.
	With pediatric expansion, Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake clinic breaks record number of patients Anita Teller and Penelope Pinnecoose tend a booth during a clinic open house at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake on April 16, 2026. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch)Historically, the clinic at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake, a health and wellness institution for Native Americans living off-reservation, mostly focused on behavioral and diabetes programs. But that has changed and the numbers of patients visiting the facility are booming and surpassing historical highs. Before unseasonal snow flurries fell on Thursday, members of various tribes and from the health care community gathered outside the Murray clinic, walking in and out of a tepee installed for an open house to showcase the clinic expansion, and stopping by different tables promoting wellness resources. Others lined up outside the clinic waiting for their turn to tour the facility. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX “Instead of outsourcing services to other partners, which is not a bad thing, we wanted to bring more of that in house and provide that whole person care,” Matt Poss, executive director of the center. “So we provide medical services here. We provide behavioral health, we provide family and community services. A lot of social service programs too.” The clinic is now a center that, notably, includes primary and pediatric care, diagnostic imaging and an in-house pharmacy, in addition to other patient support services, such as medical referrals, Medicaid application assistance and transportation support. An exam room at the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake’s clinic on April 16, 2026. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) Currently, the clinic serves about 150 people per month, the most patients the center has seen in its history, Poss said. That’s because of the recent expansion the center has recently undergone. About 10% to 20% of patients go in for pediatric care, a substantial expansion for the clinic. Next July, the center will turn 52 years old. It initially was a walk-in resource center for those far away from an Indian Health Service facility, a mission that has been strengthened with the feedback from the community, Poss said. At some point, Poss said, he’d like to explore updating the facilities as the building ages, making them bigger and better, and placing everything back in just one center, instead of the three locations it now has throughout the Salt Lake Valley. In addition to health care services, the Urban Indian Center also organizes fitness and community events, and is often doing outreach to provide other health and wellness resources. Let us know what you think... Anita Teller, the center’s elders services coordinator, organizes two events every month for the elder community. “Our meetings are just to engage and it’s a safe place to meet, because a lot of our urban natives, elderly people, need a place to connect, a place of belonging,” Teller said while tending a booth promoting the program. “So that’s what I do, is making sure that I give them whatever I can to get them engaged, bring them out and make new friends, and just congregate and have a good time.” Next to Teller, Penelope Pinnecoose, family and community services department manager at the center, gave out flyers advertising resources to help people quit tobacco. She oversees the center’s youth and family programs and is often focused on commercial tobacco prevention and ceremonial and traditional tobacco awareness, including anti-vaping programming in Title VI schools, which provide American Indian education. “We do have a high demand in our community, especially since commercial tobacco is higher in the American Indian, Alaska Native groups, due to whether it’s stress, whether it’s relating to some chronic conditions also,” she said. “So that’s why we try to educate, especially since our communities really, they may be trying to overcome health conditions, but (may be exacerbating them) if they’re smoking, or if they’re involved with some sort of substance.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	Community honors Holocaust victims A Holocaust survivor spoke at a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony held in Davenport.
	Warming up this week after a cold start Our week is starting off with a "Freeze Warning" for the Quad Cities area. Morning lows dropped into the 20s and low-30s. After a mild day Monday, it turns much warmer starting Tuesday. It'll be dry today and most of Tuesday, but some showers and storms move in Tuesday evening. So far, it's been a [...]
	Economic Growth Corporation celebrates 900th homebuyer closing To date, GROWTH’s EAP has provided more than $2.8 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to partcipating homebuyers.
	QC Magic Makers Market plans spring market in Rock Island The second annual Spring Market hosted by QC Magic Makers Market will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Kavanaugh's Hilltop, 1228 30th St., Rock Island. The afternoon will include shopping, food, drinks, and live music. Admission is free. And here's a list of vendors: A portion of booth fees will support Rescued. Vendors can [...]
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for April 19, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	New housing development, new bakery grand opening, bungee fitness studio ribbon cutting, and more Quad-Cities business news I Bake It That Way bakery grand opening, bungee fitness studio ribbon cutting, among other Quad-Cities business news.
	Peace talks in doubt as U.S. seizes Iranian ship President Trump said a U.S. delegation will head to Pakistan to resume talks to end the war with Iran, but Tehran expressed reluctance after the U.S. seized one of its cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
	Peace talks are in doubt as the U.S. seizes an Iranian ship President Trump said a U.S. delegation will head to Pakistan to resume talks to end the war with Iran, but Tehran expressed reluctance after the U.S. seized one of its cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
	A mine despoiled the beauty of the rainforest. This Goldman Prize winner took action "We women are the land guardians and keepers," says Theonila Roka Matbob of Papua New Guinea, recognized for her efforts to repair the environmental and social harms caused by a copper and gold mine.
	Tennessee House to vote on bill requiring public agencies to report immigrants without legal status Along with other county public health agencies, the Metro Nashville Department of Health will have to check the immigration status of patients under a new bill. The Tennessee House this week is scheduled to take a final vote on legislation requiring immigration status checks of any applicant for public benefits at state and local public agencies, including in each of the state’s 95 public health clinics. The legislation (HB1710/SB1915) by Rep. Dennis Powers of Jacksboro and Sen. Ed Jackson of Jackson mandates that government employees also report the names of all individuals who cannot provide proof of legal status to Tennessee’s newly created Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division. Failure to check or report immigration status could result in criminal prosecution of frontline public employees – and a potential investigation into a state or local agency by the Tennessee Attorney General. Ultimately, a public agency’s funding could be cut if found to have failed to comply with the law. Republican backers say the legislation is intended to prevent immigrants without legal status from taking advantage of taxpayer-funded benefits. The bill cleared the Senate late last month and a positive House vote would send it to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for a signature before taking effect July 1. Tennessee GOP bill would require immigration checks for local government aid The bill has raised alarms among public health providers, who have cited the added administrative burden on healthcare workers to verify and report immigration status. Their broader concern, public health experts said, is the potential impact to overall community health if adult residents who are ill, need immunizations or treatment for a communicable disease and cannot prove immigration status stay away — or are turned away — from treatment. “We are trained to do a lot of things. We’re not trained to keep immigration records and those things,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of Nashville’s Metro Public Health Department during a board meeting review of the proposed law. “There’s an impact on resources, absolutely, but the bigger impact is on the health of the population,” he said. Tennessee public health departments already require lawful immigration status for adult patients; in some instances, patients may attest to their immigration status rather than produce documents. Republican sponsors of the bill said some public health departments have quietly ignored the existing requirement to verify immigration status before treating their patients. The proposed legislation would, in part, extend the reach of 2012 law — the Tennessee Eligibility Verification Entitlement Act — intended to ensure public colleges and universities verify student immigration status. If you show up at a homeless shelter or if you were somebody who lived… in a district in east Tennessee in the aftermath of a hurricane and you seek a blanket or temporary food, which is a public benefit, what happens when you don’t have a birth certificate. – Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville The bill applies to any state, county or local agency that offers a “public benefit,” which is defined in federal law as food assistance, unemployment benefits, emergency health, public or subsidized housing and disability benefits. Only one agency, the Department of Children’s Services, is exempt. The federal law, however, contains exceptions. The proposed Tennessee law does not include the federal exceptions, according to a fiscal note prepared by legislative staff, and would apply to short-term, non-cash emergency relief, soup kitchens, immunizations and communicable disease treatment. During a committee hearing last month, Powers, the bill’s cosponsor, said the measure’s requirement to report patient immigration status would extend to emergency departments in county-run hospitals. Individuals would be treated for their emergency health care needs, he said. But their names would be reported if no proof of legal residency was provided. “There are exemptions for emergencies, like at a hospital, no matter what their age,” he said, noting federal requirements to treat medical emergencies. “But if they’re over 18, then they would be reported as being a non-citizen at that point. But they would be treated for any type of emergency care.” Sen. Jeff Yarbro, a Nashville Democrat, warned of the criminal liabilities for local government employees. “If you show up at a homeless shelter or if you were somebody who lived… in a district in east Tennessee in the aftermath of a hurricane and you seek a blanket or temporary food, which is a public benefit, what happens when you don’t have a birth certificate?” he asked during debate on the Senate floor late last month. “That means that the person who works for your local government who doesn’t demand a birth certificate is potentially criminally liable.” Republican supporters dismissed the scenario as implausible. “The language (of the bill) tells me there is wide discretion with the attorney general if there may be a prosecution,” said Sen. Ken Yager, a Republican from Kingston. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Tennessee Lookout
	Sacred Places This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.A few days ago, I stopped in at a New Age bookstore and coffee house near Rock Island to browse.On one shelf I found a…

Monday, April 20th, 2026