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

Wednesday, July 8th, 2026
	Trial rescheduled in Davenport Open Records lawsuit following settlement discussion Attorneys for the City and plaintiff Ezra Sidran negotiated a settlement, but the City said it didn't know those discussions were happening.
	Bettendorf man accused of abusing 1-year-old daughter A Bettendorf man is accused of physically abusing his one-year-old daughter in six recorded incidents.
	Rock Island’s ‘2nd Saturdays’ brings free family activities to downtown Rock Island’s free “2nd Saturdays” event series continues through October, offering fitness classes, live music, games, pop‑up shops and the QC Farmers’ Market each second Saturday of the month to encourage activity and support downtown businesses.
	First Army honors outgoing leader, welcomes successor at Arsenal ceremony Cannon fire marked a leadership transition as First Army welcomed a new command sergeant major at Rock Island Arsenal.
	Illinois, Deere settle right-to-repair antitrust lawsuit Illinois AG Kwame Raoul announced a major antitrust settlement with Deere and Company over right to repair farm equipment.
	MidAmerican Energy wants natural gas delivery charge increase in Iowa MidAmerican Energy has requested a delivery charge increase for natural gas, raising average monthly bills for Iowa customers starting July 17.
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder in July 4 shooting A Davenport man faces attempted murder and other felony charges after police say he shot another man during a gang-related incident on July 4.
	Motorcyclist taken to hospital after crash in Jo Daviess County The crash took place on West Stagecoach Trail on Tuesday night after the motorcyclist drifted off the roadway. They were flown to a hospital for their injuries.
	Supreme Court financial disclosures reveal how their books add to their income The Supreme Court annual financial reports shed light on the justices' gifts, travel and personal lives.
	Police charge second man in Crowne Forest Apartments killing East Moline police have arrested a second man in connection with the June 16 killing at Crowne Forest Apartments. Here's what investigators say.
	Settlement announced in Deere antitrust lawsuit Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of five attorneys general, announced a settlement in their antitrust lawsuit against Deere and Company (Deere). The settlement resolves allegations that the farm equipment manufacturer used unlawful practices to limit farmers’ and independent repair providers’ ability to repair Deere farm [...]
	5 people, 2 pets safe after early morning Rock Island house fire Five people and two pets escaped safely after an early morning house fire on 23rd Avenue in Rock Island. The Red Cross is assisting.
	New U.S. passports with Trump's image are available. Here's how to get (or avoid) one The passports feature an image of President Trump and are only available in person at the Washington Passport Agency — and only by appointment.
	Celebrate Community Love Fest on July 18 Heart of Hope Ministries invites families from across the Quad Cities to attend its 4th Annual Community Love Fest on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1740 9th Avenue in Rock Island. The free community celebration hopes to bring neighbours together while helping families prepare for the upcoming school year through [...]
	Appeals court denies Trump's request to halt removal of his name from the Kennedy Center The D.C. circuit appeals court denied all of President Trump's arguments that sought to stop the removal of his name from the Washington, D.C., arts institution.
	Iowa leaders announce state's signature America 250 event: America's Harvest Festival The festival will be from 1 p.m. to dusk on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Iowa Capitol.
	Tensions with Iran add fresh uncertainty to an already shaky global economy Crude oil prices jumped and stock prices fell after President Trump declared an end to the cease fire with Iran, adding fresh uncertainty to an already shaky outlook for the global economy.
	Davenport firefighters rescue two pets from early morning house fire Two pets were rescued after an early morning house fire in Davenport. Here's what firefighters encountered and what happened after the home's roof collapsed.
	Jack Cullen earns Leadership in Place Management Designation Cullen joins a community of professionals who demonstrate the knowledge and skills to manage and lead a place management organization.
	Former Creve Coeur police officer charged with murder in fatal March shooting Former Creve Coeur police officer faces three counts of first-degree murder following a fatal March shooting in Illinois.
	Bettendorf unveils first public futsal court at Kiwanis Park Looking for a new place to play? Bettendorf has opened its first futsal court at Kiwanis Park, complete with goals, hoops, lights and benches.
	Family of Nolan Wells, Black teen found dead off Mississippi island, retains lawyer Ben Crump The body of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells was found Monday off Horn Island, Mississippi. That's where he was last seen with friends Saturday. Crump says the family is seeking answers.
	Bettendorf man charged after videos allegedly show abuse of 1-year-old Police say six videos led to child endangerment charges against a Bettendorf man. Here's what court records allege.
	Crews battle early morning Davenport fire Davenport firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire early this morning, according to a news release from the Davenport Fire Department. Firefighters responded to the 7100 block of W. 60th Street on Wednesday, July 8th at about 3:10 a.m. for a report of a structure fire. The caller reported a fire in the [...]
	2nd arrest made in East Moline fatal shooting Second suspect arrested in connection with the fatal June shooting of Freddie Bass at an East Moline apartment complex.
	5 residents, 2 pets safely evacuate during early morning Rock Island house fire First responders were called to a structure fire at a single-story home in the 1000 block of 23rd Avenue around 3:36 a.m. Wednesday.
	Second suspect charged in June 16 East Moline homicide Police have arrested a second suspect in a June 16 homicide at the Crowne Forest Apartments in East Moline. He faces two felony weapons charges.
	The IOC clears the way for Russian athletes to return to Olympic competition The International Olympic Committee decision effectively overturns a decade-long ban on Russian athletes from international sport imposed due to a state-sponsored doping scandal and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
	Do you know where your birth certificate is? Journalist warns of new voting barriers The rules of the midterms are being rewritten, from redistricting to campaign money. Mother Jones journalist Ari Berman explains why President Trump seems "obsessed with the mechanics of voting."
	Kewanee woman charged with murder in March fatal shooting in Creve Coeur A Kewanee woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the March shooting death of a 29-year-old man in Creve Coeur.
	Departments respond to early morning Rock Island fire Three fire departments responded to a single-story structure fire in Rock Island this morning, according to a release from the Rock Island Fire Department. On Wednesday, July 8, at about 3:36 a.m., the Rock Island Fire Department, with mutual aid assistance from the Moline and Rock Island Arsenal Fire Departments, quickly contained an early morning [...]
	A historic summer of sports is sweeping across the US, leaving fans to balance team spirit with surging costs A historic summer of sports is sweeping across the US, leaving fans to balance team spirit with surging costsIt’s been an exciting stretch for sports in America, with the Knicks just ending a 53-year title drought, the FIFA World Cup on home soil for the first time in over 30 years, and Formula 1 now holding more races in the United States than in any other single country. As excitement around sports reaches new heights, so too does the amount of money fans are spending to be part of the action.New data from Intuit Credit Karma, conducted by The Harris Poll, finds that more than a third of sports fans (35%) have spent more than they budgeted for on sports fandom over the past 12 months.Sports fandom is a passion that inspires both financial restraint and sacrifice. As some fans cut back to keep costs under control, others continue to prioritize live events and memorable experiences, driven by the sense of connection sports create with family, friends and their broader community.Key Takeaways:Nearly half of sports fans (47%) say they would find a way to attend a championship event involving their team, no matter the cost.More than a third of sports fans (35%) have spent more than they budgeted for on sports fandom over the past 12 months, highlighting the growing financial pressure of keeping up with teams, events, and experiences.Rising costs are changing how fans participate, with 74% of sports fans who spend on sports fandom saying higher prices have altered their fandom, leading many to buy less merchandise (31%) and attend fewer games (29%).Sports fandom continues to be a powerful social force, with 43% of fans saying a recent sports moment turned them into a fan of a new team or sport.Major sporting events can leave a lasting impact on host communities, as 31% of those who live/lived in a city that hosted say these events provide a positive economic boost for local businesses and their communities.When fandom becomes a financial priorityFor a meaningful share of fans, sports aren’t just entertainment, they’re a top spending priority. Nearly half of sports fans (47%) say that if their team were in a championship event, they’d find a way to be there no matter the cost.Different sporting events inspire different levels of spending. Among U.S. fans, the NFL tops the list of leagues and events they would be most willing to splurge on (45%), followed by the NBA (30%) and MLB (24%).How fans are adapting to higher costsThe price of being a sports fan at a time when everyday living costs are high is reshaping behaviors. Nearly three-quarters of fans who spend money on sports fandom (74%) say rising costs have changed how they engage or participate, and the cutbacks touch nearly every part of the experience: Intuit Credit Karma Fans are also considering financial tradeoffs. If they didn’t have enough cash on hand to attend a major sporting event, nearly a quarter of fans say they would be willing to cut back on other non-essential spending (24%) or pick up extra work or a side hustle (23%) to make it happen. Others would be willing to take more significant steps, including taking on credit card debt (21%) or dipping into emergency savings (21% of fans ages 18-34). If they had the choice, nearly 2 in 5 (39%) would rather spend money on attending a major sporting event over a traditional vacation, rising to 47% of male fans.For many, that willingness to spend holds even when it may invite judgment. Nearly 3 in 10 fans (29%) say they worry people would judge them if they knew how much they’ve spent on tickets to a major sporting event.What’s driving the splurgeWhen sports fans open their wallets for major sporting events, the motivation goes beyond the game itself.Here is what drives sports fans to spend money on major sporting events, among those who do: Intuit Credit Karma The social side of sports fandomWhat draws people into sports isn’t always the game itself: 43% of sports fans say a recent sports moment (a hometown playoff run, social media buzz or a friend’s enthusiasm) turned them into a fan of a sport or team they didn’t previously follow. For others, the draw is the crowd. Roughly one third (34%) admit they primarily attend major sporting events to socialize, not because they care about the sport.The local impact of major sporting eventsMajor sporting events don’t just affect those who attend; they ripple through entire communities–something host cities across the country are experiencing firsthand this summer. Among people who live or have lived in or near a city that hosted a major sporting event, 78% say their everyday life was affected, primarily through increased traffic and commute times (38%) and overcrowding at local restaurants, bars and public spaces (33%). Others point to price hikes for things like dining and entertainment (26%) and transportation, such as ride-share and taxis (21%).While major sporting events can create inconveniences for residents, such as noise or safety concerns (20%), they can also leave a positive mark on the communities that host them. Nearly one third (31%) say it’s been a positive economic boost for local businesses and their community and 18% experienced a stronger sense of community.“As a historic summer of sports captures the attention of fans across the country, many Americans are trying to balance their passion for sports with rising costs,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma. “We’re seeing a divide between fans who are scaling back and those who are willing to make financial sacrifices to be part of the action. Sports can create meaningful memories and connections, but it’s important to be realistic about what you can afford. If attending a major event is on your bucket list, creating a savings plan ahead of time can help you enjoy the experience without carrying the cost long after the game is over.”MethodologyThis survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Credit Karma from June 17-22, 2026, among 2,007 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,747 are Sports Fans. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.This story was produced by Intuit Credit Karma and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The mistakes teams are making when scaling AI, and how to avoid them The mistakes teams are making when scaling AI, and how to avoid themMany businesses are experiencing the same AI lifecycle, and a lot of it revolves around making mistakes. Sometimes, clever experiments unexpectedly become critical tools, but other times, they become compliance nightmares. And some workflows stick, but many more head to the AI graveyard. There are a lot of "lesson learned" moments.Here, Zapier shares six mistakes that keep teams spinning their wheels when trying to scale their AI adoption—and what to do instead.1. Letting AI live in individual toolkits instead of shared workflowsAt most companies, AI adoption starts organically. People find AI tools they like, build their own workflows, and get genuinely useful stuff done. The problem is that none of these workflows are connected. Everyone is experimenting, but people are building the same things in parallel without realizing it. That means a lot of energy goes into duplicative efforts.How to avoid this: Share AI workflows in public channels. Encourage people to post their AI workflows in public Slack channels (or wherever your team communicates) so others can see what's been built, ask questions, and learn from it. The point isn't to micromanage what people build. It's to make sure good work compounds instead of getting siloed.Create a shared library of reusable AI resources. Maintain a central place where teams can find and contribute AI agent skills, workflow templates, and proven AI prompts. When someone solves a problem well, the whole organization should be able to pick it up and run with it.Invest in peer-to-peer AI learning. People learn fastest from colleagues who've already solved their exact problem. Create an internal resource where teams can share their wins and failures so that others can build on them. Courtesy of Zapier 2. Skipping the ownership conversationAI workflows have a habit of existing in an ownership vacuum. Someone builds a lead scoring workflow, for example. It runs well for a few weeks, and then degrades because nobody was explicitly responsible for monitoring it. The ownership conversation just never happened.How to avoid this:Give AI transformation a dedicated owner. Someone in your organization needs to be accountable for how AI scales across teams. But no single person can do it alone: Consider adding cross-functional AI working groups so nobody's guessing who's supposed to do what.Name a business owner and a technical owner. Each high-impact AI workflow needs a business owner, who is accountable for the outcome the workflow influences, and a technical owner, who is the one accountable for the system itself, which includes clean data and relevant prompts. Document both somewhere your team actually checks, and make sure each person has the access they need to do their job.3. Treating every AI use case with the same level of scrutinyPicture an app that ranks how transparent your Slack communications are based on your ratio of public channel messages to private DMs. It's low-stakes, and nobody's running a formal governance review on it. Nor should they.Now compare that to an AI agent that auto-responds to customer support tickets. If that thing starts confidently giving wrong answers, customers notice, and trust erodes. The stakes are completely different, and the oversight should be too.The problem is that most teams either apply the same heavy process to everything, slowing down the harmless use cases or apply almost no process to anything, (and let the high-stakes use cases proceed without guardrails).How to avoid this:Tier your AI workflows by impact and match oversight accordingly. Not sure where something falls? Here's a simple framework you can use. Low-impact: This usually applies to personal productivity AI workflows like meeting summaries, first drafts, and that Slack transparency app. You can spot-check these occasionally, but you definitely don't need to build a review committee around them.Medium-impact: This usually applies to decision-making workflows: reporting automations, prioritization tools, and resource allocation workflows. You don't need to do a full-on daily review of these—a monthly review will do. It's also worth it to set up automated alerts for anomalies.High-impact: This is reserved for customer-facing, financial, or compliance-related workflows. This includes AI agents responding to customers, automated approval flows, and anything that touches revenue or regulatory obligations. Establish formal review cadences, documented escalation paths, and audit trails. If you're not sure what tier a workflow falls in, ask yourself this: If this AI workflow broke silently for two weeks, what's the worst that could happen? If the answer is "some meeting notes would be slightly off," leave it alone. If the answer involves angry customers, lost money, or lawyers, treat it accordingly.4. Not defining where AI decides vs. where humans decideMost AI workflows start like this: the AI recommends and a human approves. But when the AI gets it right 50 or so times in a row, people naturally go into cruise control.Recommendations start getting approved without a close look, and eventually, something slips through that probably shouldn't have. For a low-stakes internal workflow, that might not be a big issue. For anything medium- or high-impact, it's a risk that's not worth taking.How to avoid this:For each AI workflow, classify what the AI is actually doing. Informing: AI generates outputs (a summary, score, or draft) that a human reviews and acts on.Recommending: AI suggests a specific action that a human must first approve before the AI can continue on to next steps.Executing: AI takes action on its own based on defined rules or thresholds.Once you've classified each workflow, take an honest look at how it's actually running. A workflow where every recommendation gets approved without review is functionally in execute mode, even if it wasn't designed that way. For those, make sure you've defined what triggers escalation to a human and what the override process looks like.5. Measuring AI adoption instead of AI impactAnyone could spend all day asking AI to generate increasingly unhinged portraits of their dog, and that would technically count as active AI usage. Fun? Absolutely. Business impact? Absolutely none.A lot of teams fall into this trap at a less ridiculous scale. For example, they might report that 80% of employees use AI or that their workflows generate 100 monthly blog articles. Those numbers feel good in a slide deck. They tell you absolutely nothing about whether AI is improving anything.How to avoid this:Establish a baseline first. Before you deploy an AI workflow, document what performance looks like without it. Snapshot your current conversion rates, resolution times, customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores—whatever the relevant metric is. You'll need this to prove or disprove that AI actually moved the needle.Define the target impact metric and build it into the workflow. A lead-scoring model should be measured against conversion rates, while a support automation should be measured against resolution time and CSAT. If you can't name the business metric, take a step back and figure out what success looks like before you ship it.6. Rolling out AI without policies or guardrailsSeventy percent of employees say their organization has no guidance or policies for using AI at work, according to a 2024 Gallup study. And only 15% say their company has communicated a clear plan for integrating AI. So you've got a situation where leadership is excited about AI and employees are curious about AI, but there's a massive vacuum in between where nobody's told anyone what's OK and what isn't. The result is predictable and not ideal: Cautious people don't touch AI at all, and less cautious people go wild with it. .How to avoid this:Create a clear AI roadmap, including policies and guidelines. You don't need a 40-page document. Answer a few basic questions, at a minimum, and make the answers easy to find.What tools are approved? Give people an explicit list of AI tools they can use. If there's a preferred platform, say so. This alone eliminates a huge chunk of shadow AI.What data can and can't go into AI tools? Be specific. For example, you might make customer personally identifying information (PII) off limits. Internal revenue numbers might depend on the tool. Draft marketing copy might be OK. Most employees will make smart decisions here. They just need you to draw the lines.What review is required before an AI workflow goes live? For low-impact use cases, maybe none. For anything customer-facing, define an approval process.Scale AI across your teamThe pattern behind all of these mistakes is the same: Teams treat AI as a collection of tools rather than part of how they operate. To scale successfully, you have to move beyond isolated experiments and tools and build systems, ownership, and guardrails that let AI work with your organization, not around it.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	House fire in Rock Island displaces five residents, two pets No injuries were reported in an early morning house fire in Rock Island.
	The 2026 Emmy nominations are underway Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller are presenting the nominees Wednesday morning. Winners will be announced at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14.
	Here are the 2026 Emmy nominations Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller are presenting the nominees Wednesday morning. Winners will be announced at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14.
	Davenport man charged with attempted murder after July 4 shooting A Davenport man is in the Scott County Jail on no bond after police said he fired multiple shots at a man, striking him in the leg. The criminal complaint filed in the case said the defendant, identified as Gabriel Trujillo, 22, was the front seat passenger in a Jeep in the 1200 block of [...]
	Greetings from a Syrian church, infused with a mix of sweet fruit and diverse faiths Syria's Mar Musa monastery provides the tastiest mulberries, and its services draw from Eastern Orthodox Christian and Sufi customs.
	Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents? Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents?Driving is full of distractions, from cellphones to other drivers on the road. But for adults and teens dealing with symptoms of ADHD, like inattention and impulsivity, those disruptions can make driving especially risky.On average, adult drivers with ADHD in one study got into a crash every two years, and people with severe ADHD symptoms averaged one accident a year. A large study in JAMA Pediatrics found that teen and young adult drivers with ADHD were 36% more likely to get into car accidents compared to drivers without ADHD. Only 12.1% of the study participants were taking ADHD medication at the time, though. This highlights the potential risk that untreated ADHD can have on driving.In fact, diagnosis and treatment are crucial for keeping drivers with ADHD more focused and alert on the road. A study in JAMA Psychiatry compared medical records with insurance claims and found that 22% of the crashes in the study period could have been avoided if the participants had used medications.A 2026 review found that adults who were diagnosed with ADHD but not treated with stimulant medication got into car crashes more often. Researchers grouped untreated ADHD with other risky driving behaviors, such as driving under the influence of cannabis or alcohol, driving while sleepy, and speeding.“Not only are [people with untreated ADHD] involved in more car accidents, more fender benders, but they’re more likely to have physical injuries as a result of the car accidents,” says David Goodman, M.D., director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland. “So you have to think about this as not only a risk to the untreated ADHD individuals, but it’s a risk for every car that happens to be around them.”Of course, just because you have ADHD doesn’t mean you’ll get into accidents or that you can’t be safe on the road, notes Robert M. Tudisco, J.D., an education attorney with ADHD who represents adolescents in school as well as in criminal and juvenile cases. “Outward manifestations of ADHD vary depending on the person,” he says. “There are individuals with ADHD who are very good drivers and have clean driving histories and few or no accidents.”Becoming a safe driver with ADHD is possible at any age. It often comes down to practicing good driving habits. These range from being prepared for “highway hypnosis” to consulting with a doctor to determine the best time to take ADHD medication. Understood shares what to know to stay safe behind the wheel.What ADHD looks like on the roadIn several studies, researchers monitored the driving behaviors of people with ADHD, using in-car cameras or driving simulators. They found that adult drivers with ADHD have less stable control of the car. They don’t practice defensive driving as much. They speed up and slow down more quickly, and they switch lanes more often.Other ways ADHD may affect your driving include:Picking up your phone every time you get a notificationDriving through red lights and stop signs you didn’t noticeFeeling road rage, which leads you to race other cars or make quick lane changesGetting distracted and braking quickly to avoid hitting the car ahead of youGetting lost in a daydream and not realizing you’re driving too fast or too slowForgetting your driver’s license at homeAccording to Goodman, inattentiveness is the main ADHD trait that contributes to these driving risks. It can cause you to be less aware of signs and what’s happening on the road. So every time you get distracted — by a text notification, a funny billboard, or a story a passenger is telling — you can have a hard time reacting to other cars, people, and changes in the road.Driving environments can also affect attention. Long and boring roads — even new ones — may pose a focus challenge, says Sheila “Charlie” Klauer, Ph.D., leader of the Applied Driver Assessment Performance and Training Group at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. In fact, drivers with ADHD may focus better on more complex roads. “They actually do pretty well in more complex environments,” Klauer explains. “They’re able to focus better than when there’s not a lot going on.”ADHD, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity can also lead to unsafe driving. “If you get pissed about the guy in front of you who’s not going fast enough, you may suddenly change your lane without putting on a blinker and without looking, and then end up side-swiping somebody,” Goodman says. “That’s not an inattentive error. That’s an impulsivity error that grows out of emotional reactivity.”From a neurobiological perspective, it’s not completely clear what’s happening in the ADHD brain to affect driving. According to Klauer, one hypothesis is that while adolescents with ADHD look around them, they don’t necessarily process what they see in the same way that neurotypical teens do.But more research is needed to fully understand how ADHD and driving accidents are related. “There are several studies out there, but we really are just touching the surface in terms of truly understanding what's going on,” Klauer says.How ADHD affects driving at every ageIn general, teens and young adults are at a higher risk for car crashes, according to Klauer. That’s even more true when the drivers have ADHD. Young drivers with ADHD are also more likely to be found responsible for the accidents they get into, according to research in the Journal of Adolescent Health.And while neurotypical people typically become safer drivers as they enter adulthood, research suggests that the risk of accidents stays relatively high for people with ADHD. In fact, drivers with ADHD, ages 18 to 46, are more likely to be in severe crashes, including fatal ones.Adults with ADHD who are over age 65 may also face increased driving risks. A study of adults ages 65 to 79 years found that those with ADHD were twice as likely to report getting traffic tickets and 74% more likely to get into car crashes compared to drivers without ADHD.Tips for drivers with ADHDIn addition to seeking diagnosis and treatment, drivers with ADHD can take steps to practice safer driving. Experts recommend the following tips for staying alert and focused on the road.1. Hide your phone, or better yet, turn it off. Keeping a phone nearby can be one of the most dangerous distractions for a driver with ADHD, Goodman says. Stash your phone in the glove compartment or in a backseat pocket, so you can’t reach for it while behind the wheel. “You have to get the phone out of your hand, out of your reach, and out of your visual sight,” Goodman advises.There are also apps that lock down a phone when motion is detected, like when you start driving. Apple and Android phones have built-in “do not disturb” and auto-reply features for drivers. And apps like DriveOff and DriveScribe can stop you from accessing texts and apps while driving.2. Time your medications. If you use an ADHD stimulant, it’s important to take the right dose at the right time. Even the longest-lasting stimulants might not stay in your system long enough to help you drive at night. So you might benefit from a booster dose before you get behind the wheel. Work with your health care provider to find the best approach to your medication.3. Beware “highway hypnosis.” When you’re driving for a long time on boring, flat roads, you might zone out and forget whole stretches of the road. This is called highway hypnosis. And it can be dangerous because you might not notice obstacles, or if you’re driving too fast or too slow. You can avoid highway hypnosis by taking frequent breaks from driving. You can also listen to music and keep yourself active, like by chewing gum.4. Avoid big carpools. With several people in the car, you might get pulled into conversations or feel overwhelmed by all the noise. If other passengers tend to be a distraction for you, Goodman recommends limiting the number of people you agree to drive. And if you’re driving a large group, consider letting someone else take the wheel.5. Check your route ahead of time. Do some homework to avoid having to check your phone or GPS for directions in the middle of a drive. If you’re headed to a new place, preview the route ahead of time. Klauer even recommends using Google Earth to look for areas that may be tricky to maneuver — or to find parking spots ahead of time.6. Practice with new drivers. According to Klauer, it’s best to teach safe driving practices when teens are first taking the wheel. The more supervised practice — in as many different settings as possible — the better. And don’t forget to practice night driving. “Learning to drive is a skill that requires practice, and while the mechanics of learning to drive come very quickly, nuances of learning to drive do not,” Klauer points out.Research shows that teens are more likely to have accidents when they’re alone in the car. So Klauer recommends using phone apps to understand how your ADHD teen is driving when they’re alone. Apps like Life360 can track their speed, how many times they pick up their phone, and how often they brake quickly.If you need outside help, many driving schools now offer training programs for drivers with ADHD.This story was produced by Understood and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Local marketing ideas to make your car wash a community favorite Local marketing ideas to make your car wash a community favoriteWhen it comes to local marketing, most car wash owners tend to follow the “go big or go home” idea: billboards, LED signs, a dozen ads, and thousands of coupons mailed to people’s homes. We’ve all seen it before.You don’t need all that to get more customers. You have something far more effective: You’re a local, you know the neighborhood, you know the people in it, and you know exactly what your car wash offers.Way.com put together six ideas for you to market your car wash to your community.Sponsor something localSponsor a Little League, a high school prom, a charity marathon, or a community fundraiser. Most of these cost somewhere between $100 and $1,000 and cost significantly less than what you would pay for local advertising. It also generates goodwill that advertising can never achieve.Here’s what you might typically get by sponsoring such local events:Little League: Your company name or logo on the back or sleeve of a team’s jersey.High school prom: A small logo or thank-you mention in the prom program or on the school’s social media.Fun Run: Your logo on the race website, a promotional item in the runners’ goodie bags, or a yard sign at a mile marker.Fundraiser: Logo placement on a banner or a local youth sports scoreboard.The reason this approach works is that your customers are already involved in most of these events, so you’re not interrupting their day with a poster.Some of them don’t have an open call for sponsors. It’s a good idea to reach out first and figure out what you can do.After everything is set up, you can post a picture on your social media profile.Participate in local eventsSet up a booth at a farmers market, a table at a town fair, a spot at a local car show, or a banner at a cultural festival. The idea isn’t about being extravagant. You’re just quietly showing up to put a face to your business.People will remember the conversations you had with them. A five-minute conversation can decide whether they’ll visit your car wash in the first place and, once they do, whether they’ll keep coming back.Car shows deserve a special mention because that’s exactly where you’ll find your target customers and future referral partners in one place. Make a point of attending the bigger ones in your area each season.Utilize HOA newslettersYou might have seen your local homeowners association sending out newsletters or community posts. People actually read those because they’re related to where they live.Partner with the HOA board to feature a giveaway contest. Provide the winner with a premium car wash experience. You can also reach out to a newly moved-in resident and offer a discount. Since they just moved in, they don’t have a regular car wash they visit. This is your opportunity to become their go-to car wash.Gamify the wash tunnelAlmost all car wash tunnels are uninteresting, as customers sit there for 90 seconds with nothing to look at.Instead, try this: Install a display with a random spin animation. In the end, they’ll get something like a free air freshener, an upgraded wax coat, $2 off their next visit, or a fun “try again next time!”You don’t need custom hardware for this; a tablet running basic spin-wheel software is enough to start. It will be an experience they’ll talk about with their friends, and you won’t have to spend much money. Kids in the back seat will beg their parents to run the car through again. Some will come back chasing a better prize.Work with real estate agentsReal estate agents are always looking for thoughtful gifts they can give out when they close a deal. A gift card for a free car wash is perfect and genuinely useful for someone who just moved and is still getting settled into the neighborhood. You can reach out to top real estate agents in the area and partner with them.This also doesn’t require a contract to be drawn up. A quick coffee meeting to explain the idea is usually enough. Most agents are glad to have one more thing to hand out to new homeowners, so you can expect an easy yes.Get noticed by HAROSo many local businesses haven’t heard of Help a Reporter Out, or HARO, a free media platform that matches journalists with people who have industry experience.On the site, there will be reporters covering local businesses or car care who are often looking for quotes from someone who actually runs a car wash.Just sign up as a source with your email, and you’ll get a list of questions from the journalists when they need an expert opinion. Even a single mention of your car wash adds to your credibility. If they also link back to your website (if you have one), that’s another nice bonus. You need to invest a little extra bit of your time, but the exposure is definitely worth it.Bottom lineMost people love to support the car wash that feels like an old acquaintance or a friendly neighbor. When staying loyal to one car wash doesn’t feel forced, the relationship will last a long time. They’re putting their trust in familiar faces and in their car wash.Don’t do all six of these ideas at once. Pick the one that’s easiest for you and start there, and give it a few weeks to see if it works. If it’s not bringing in the results you hoped, move on to the next one.Local marketing is about becoming a familiar name in your community. Start showing up to your neighborhood that is already full of future regulars.This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Fire destroys outbuilding in Bureau County; cause undetermined Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a large outbuilding fire Tuesday morning in Ohio, Illinois. The cause remains undetermined.
	Kewanee woman faces 3 first-degree murder charges in shooting death Kewanee woman faces three counts of first-degree murder following a fatal March shooting in Creve Coeur. Read details about the ongoing investigation.
	Kewanee woman arrested; accused of shooting Creve Coeur man to death A Kewanee woman is in the Tazewell County Jail after Illinois State Police (ISP) said she shot a man who later died, according to a news release from ISP. On March 10, the Creve Coeur (Ill.) Police Department asked ISP to investigate a death in the 500 block of Roosevelt Street in Creve Coeur. Officers [...]
	Caregiver statistics: A data portrait of family caregiving Caregiver statistics: A data portrait of family caregivingFamily caregivers are women and men who, at an average age of 52, provide unpaid support across a wide range of care needs for their parents, spouses, or other adults. Some are considered sandwich generation caregivers who also care for their own children, and many hold down paying jobs as well. According to a 2025 report published by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, the number of family caregivers to adults age 50 and older in the United States has risen significantly in recent years. In 2020, there were more than 41 million caregivers, and by 2025, that number increased to more than 50 million.Family caregiving is mostly unpaid labor, yet the value of America’s caregiver work is high. One recent estimate of the annual worth of family caregiving in the U.S. is more than $873 billion.A Place for Mom put together a profile of family caregiving in the U.S., including caregiver statistics such as demographics and household income, where care is provided, time spent on caregiving duties, and the impact of this work on caregivers’ finances and health.Who are America’s caregivers? Demographics and geographic distributionIn the U.S., family caregivers are typically middle-aged, with an average age of 52. Most of them have completed some higher education: The majority (68%) have earned a college or professional degree or college credit; 22% have completed high school only.Looking at the racial breakdown of family caregivers, 73% identify as white or Caucasian, 19% as Black, 10% as Hispanic or Latino, 3% as Native American or Alaska Native, and 2% as Asian, with respondents able to select more than one race or ethnicity.More than half (53%) are married and more than a third (40%) report that they are single, widowed, separated, or divorced, which means they do not have the potential support of a partner. Our survey showed that caregivers are male and female in equal numbers, however research from AARP has shown that more women are caregivers than men. Most (86%) are caring for one older person, and 14% care for two or more people.Family caregiving takes place primarily in Southern states of the U.S., where 43% of caregivers say they reside.Who are family caregivers caring for?Older adults receiving care from family members are most often the mothers or mothers-in-law of the caregiver (40%), followed by partners or spouses (17%), and fathers or fathers-in-law (19%). Other family members — siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and stepparents — account for 14% of the people who are receiving care, and friends account for 7% of care recipients. Recipients of family care are typically married (43%) or widowed (31%). A Place for Mom Household income and the sandwich generationThe total annual household income for 59% of family caregivers is between $25,000 and $99,999. Even though the average annual income for caregivers is $69,962, nearly 1 in 5 live on a household income of $24,999 or less. At the other end of the scale, 23% have a household income of between $100,000 and $150,000 or more.Almost half of all caregivers (48%) are a part of the sandwich generation. While caring for older adults in the family, these caregivers are also caring for children who are younger than 18. Among these caregivers, 41% care for their own children, 6% care for grandchildren, and 1% care for another child. A Place for Mom How much time do caregivers spend providing care?Family caregivers devote significant time to caregiving duties — an average of 22.8 hours each week. Their responsibilities may include physical care, managing medications, coordinating doctor appointments, transportation, shopping, and cooking.Almost three-quarters (72%) say that their duties require up to 30 hours every week, effectively making it a part-time job. And 28% provide care for 31 hours or more per week. This level of time commitment can shape caregivers’ daily routines and limit time available for work, family, and personal needs.Many caregivers have been doing this work for a considerable amount of time — the average being more than 2 ½ years. Half of caregivers say they’ve been providing care for between one and four years; 25% say they’ve been providing care for five years or longer. A Place for Mom Where family caregiving happens — and why most caregivers provide care at homeFamily caregiving most often takes place in a private home — either in the home of the caregiver (51%) or in the home of the care recipient (42%) — which may provide recipients with the comfort and security of being in familiar surroundings. Just 4% of care recipients live in a senior living community, where presumably the majority of their care is provided by staff. And 3% of care recipients reside in the home of a family member other than their primary caregiver.Reasons caregivers provide care at homeAmong the top reasons caregivers say they prefer to provide care in their home or that of a family member include:A sense of duty or privilege to perform this care (86%)The desire to allow their loved one to remain in a familiar environment (40%)The security of knowing that their loved one is getting the best possible care (39%)These feelings may bolster caregivers as they navigate the challenges of their work.Because caregivers are primarily caring for someone in their own family, it follows that 62% live with those they care for. This situation can be convenient and cost-saving, but may also cause strain for both the caregiver and the recipient.In addition to other potential reasons for strain, this living arrangement may cause the caregiver to feel that their responsibilities are constant with no real time boundaries, a factor that could lead to feelings of burnout.How long are caregivers’ commutes?The 38% of caregivers who do not live with the people they care for must commute to do this work. This increases the potential for expenses such as gas, car repair, public transportation fares, or hired car services, which may or may not be reimbursed.Among caregivers who commute, travel times vary:Less than 30 minutes (74%)30 minutes to an hour (14%)An hour or more (11%)Commuting time, when added to the hours of caregiving, leaves less personal time and fewer opportunities to rest and recharge for the caregiver. A Place for Mom How family caregiving affects work, careers, and incomeCaring for a family member is not the only job caregivers are doing: 53% also hold paid jobs, working anywhere from one to more than 40 hours per week. Roughly 1 in 10 caregivers are self-employed, which may mean they can set their own work and caregiving schedules. Seven percent say they are looking for paid work, suggesting they need additional income and may be under financial strain.Caregiving extends into retirement as well: 14% of family caregivers report being retired and may rely on pensions and Social Security benefits for income. The 6% of caregivers who describe themselves as homemakers may rely on income from a working spouse or partner. These may be among the 28% of caregivers who say that their responsibilities have had no impact on their workday. A Place for Mom Caregiving, particularly unpaid caregiving, can have a major impact on the caregiver’s career and income:11% say they’ve had to quit paying jobs in order to meet caregiving responsibilities.35% say that caregiving has caused them to have less time to focus on their paid work.Of those who report quitting their jobs or having less time to focus on work, nearly one-third (29%) say they’ve lost up to $5,000 in income due to caregiving. The average estimated total annual lost income for caregivers is $21,500. As the cost of living increases each year, this lost income will likely become more problematic. A Place for Mom Financial effects of family caregivingOne financial benefit of family caregiving is that it can save families money they might otherwise spend on in-home care or senior living. Additionally, some caregivers are compensated for their work through personal care agreements, self-directed Medicaid programs, or Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver support programs. In fact, 25% of caregivers say that caregiving has improved their financial situation.But for many caregivers, their responsibilities have caused financial strain. More than a third — 37% — say their financial situation has worsened due to taking on caregiving responsibilities. Perhaps caregiving interferes with their focus on a paying job and/or additional care-related expenses cut into their family budget. The strain may come from not being able to save money, pay for necessities, or avoid going into debt to make ends meet.Though a large percentage (69%) of caregivers say they are experiencing some financial strain related to their caregiving, 32% say they do not have any financial strain at all. A Place for Mom The health toll of family caregivingMany family caregivers report experiencing emotional, mental, and physical effects tied to their caregiving responsibilities, often on a recurring basis. Stress and anxiety are among the most reported experiences, with three-quarters of caregivers saying they feel stressed or anxious at least monthly. More than 7 in 10 report feeling overwhelmed, and 67% say they have trouble sleeping with some regularity.Caregivers also report changes in their physical and emotional health over time. Nearly half (47%) say their physical health has declined since taking on caregiving duties, while others report experiencing feelings such as sadness, anger, guilt, or grief on a weekly or monthly basis. For some, these effects are persistent: 42% of caregivers report experiencing emotional strain or feelings of burnout at least weekly.Social well-being is also affected for many caregivers, though experiences vary. In considering their own interactions with others, 39% of caregivers say their social lives have worsened because of caregiving duties. Another 36% of caregivers say their social life has not been affected, and a quarter of caregivers say that their social life has improved. Together, these findings suggest that the impact of caregiving on well-being is not uniform, and that caregivers’ experiences differ widely based on their circumstances and support systems.MethodologyExcept where noted, this report is based on an online quantitative survey commissioned by A Place for Mom and conducted by Morning Light Strategy in September 2025. The study included 1,029 surveys of a representative sample of family caregivers across the United States. An age minimum of 40 and a maximum of 75 were set for survey respondents.This story was produced by A Place for Mom and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to have a great father-daughter relationship How to have a great father-daughter relationshipAs a father, you may never have been a girl yourself, but that shouldn’t be a barrier to father-daughter bonding. You want your daughter to grow into a self-confident young woman — and she’s going to need her dad on her side.Many men feel a little uncertain, even fearful, talking to their daughters about positive body confidence or appearance. They may be thinking: “How can I help? This is not my area.”Don’t worry about not having all the answers. Instead, sharpen your listening skills and work through the problem-solving process with her, encouraging her to share her thoughts and come up with possible solutions. Guiding her to trust in her own capabilities will help her confront other challenges in her life and build her self-esteem.Dove created a list of tips for fathers to build a positive relationship with their daughters.Boost your daughter’s positive body confidenceComments directed toward girls often focus on appearance. “You look beautiful” or “your hair’s so pretty,” for example. As her dad, you know your daughter is much more than a pretty face. You see her personality, talents, and intelligence — so make a point of telling her. It helps to be specific, from “you were so kind sharing with your sister just then” to “the way you tackled that homework was really clever.”Taking the emphasis away from how she looks will help your daughter focus on all her qualities and feel more self-assured. Ironically, NOT talking about her body can actually help to boost her positive body confidence.Show your sensitive sideIn many cultures, men are not encouraged to show feelings — especially not weakness and vulnerability. You want to be strong for your family, so it can feel uncomfortable when your daughter is struggling with a sensitive issue.Men don’t have to be ashamed of showing their true selves in front of their daughter. Doing so helps to build the relationship between father and child and can improve communication between the two of you.“When you as a father show your own weakness, it gives permission for your daughter to accept her weaknesses,” said Santiago Trabolsi, psychologist, life coach, and dad. “This emotional connection generates warmth, empathy, and honest communication between the two of you.”Think about your attitudes to womenTry asking your daughter what she believes you think of her. It might not be what you’re expecting or what you wanted to convey.Remember that girls create a perception of themselves based on the comments and actions they experience in all their relationships, particularly at home. How you treat your daughter, as well as how you treat her mother and other women, will shape the way she sees herself and how confident she feels.As she grows up, your daughter is gradually forming her opinion of herself, and this will largely be based on what she believes her parents think of her. Her self-esteem will depend on how much she feels valued, respected, and accepted.Break down communication barriersDoes your daughter have complaints such as: “My dad never listens! He just tells me what to do”? When she opens up, avoid jumping in with your own opinions — you might distance her if she doesn’t immediately understand your point.Instead, show that you are listening and empathize by saying something like: “I understand you feel hurt and angry.”This lets her know she is being taken seriously and helps her to trust her own feelings, which builds self-awareness and confidence.Her relationship with you will color her relationships with other men throughout her life, such as colleagues, friends, and partners. Just think, one day she may fall in love and recognize the same empathy, respect, and understanding in her partner that her father has shown her. As her dad, you’re an important role model.Here are a few other tips for dads with daughters:Listen without making judgments. When your daughter has concerns, practice active listening, and encourage her to work through her thoughts and possible resolutions.Acknowledge her emotions. Don’t try to change them. Let her know you can relate to what she's feeling.Don't draw attention to her appearance or tease her about the way she looks. It might seem harmless fun, but it could have a profound effect on her confidence.Spend time enjoying father-daughter activities. Create special moments doing something you both enjoy, such as playing sports, cooking or listening to music.Write a letter to your daughter. Write a letter expressing your feelings for her and letting her know you are proud of her.Let her see the real you and get to know you better. Admit that you still work on your own self-esteem and self-confidence.Point out your similarities. Not just in appearance, but things you are both good at, both like, or both find funny.Be present and open with your partner or wife. Talk to your partner, the Dove Self-Esteem Project community, and other dads. Share your anxieties and ask for their support.Moms can also support the dad-daughter bond by:Recognizing the impact of fathers on daughters and valuing his perspective.Encouraging him to connect more with his daughter.This story was produced by Dove and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Quad City Arts invites public to dedication of EveryChild mural in Rock Island Quad City Arts invites the community to the dedication of the new EveryChild mural at 9 a.m. Friday, July 10,, at EveryChild, 420 23rd St., Rock Island., a news release says. Created by apprentices in Quad City Arts' Metro Arts Apprenticeship Program under the direction of lead artist Sarah Robb, the mural features paper cranes flowing from a [...]
	Eats 'n' Beats to be featured in Rock Falls Rock Falls Tourism invites the public to Eats 'N' Beats at the District on Saturday, July 18, at the RB&W District Park, 201 E. 2nd St., Rock Falls, a news release says. Food trucks will begin serving at 5 p.m. and will feature some local favorites, including Brito's Grill, T&D BBQ, Kokomo's Shaved Ice, and [...]
	Police seek armed suspect after woman approached outside Geneseo home Geneseo police are searching for an armed suspect after a woman reported being approached outside her home early Wednesday in the 100 block of West Frank Street.
	How to choose corporate credit card expense management software How to choose corporate credit card expense management softwareManaging corporate credit cards feels like a juggling act for any finance leader. You're constantly chasing down receipts, trying to enforce spending policies, and reconciling statements, all while battling data entry errors.These challenges waste your time and lead to overspending, compliance issues, and financial discrepancies that can be difficult to track and correct. But as Ramp explains below, that's where corporate credit card management software can help.The best tools will automate expense tracking, enforce travel and expense (T&E) policies, and provide real-time insights into employee expenses. By adopting the right software, you can replace manual processes with efficient, accurate management, giving you greater control over your organization's finances.What is corporate credit card expense management software?Credit card expense management software helps businesses track and manage spending on company credit cards. These tools streamline the process of recording, categorizing, and approving corporate credit card expenses.Corporate credit card expense management software makes it easier for you to stay on top of your finances and ensure your employees are spending responsibly. By automating key pieces of the expense management process, including expense policy enforcement, expense reporting, and employee expense reimbursements, these tools help you take control of corporate credit card spending and reduce the hassle of managing expenses.Why use credit card expense management software?Beyond streamlining expense claims, approvals, and receipt matching, credit card expense management software helps you:Access real-time dataMost business credit card expense management solutions give you instant access to spending data as credit card transactions occur. Real-time visibility enables you to make informed decisions quickly, identify trends, and stay on top of budgets without waiting for monthly statements. In fact, a 2023 CPA.com spend management survey found that 97% of SMBs using card-based spend management tools say it helps them stay within budget, compared with just 71% of those relying on traditional processes.This gap highlights how real-time controls directly translate into stronger financial discipline.Reduce paperwork and admin tasksCredit card expense management software eliminates tedious manual data entry and paper receipt filing. Your software should offer automation features for repetitive tasks like tracking and reporting, freeing up your finance team to focus on more important work. Based on Ramp customer data, businesses save an average of four hours each month on accounting tasks thanks to automated transaction coding.Simplify reconciliation processesExpense management software automatically matches transactions with receipts, making reconciliation faster and more accurate. It eliminates the hassle of manual matching and ensures your records are always up to date.Improve budgeting and forecastingWith accurate, real-time data, credit card expense management software helps you track spending patterns and stay within budget. Clear visibility allows for better forecasting, ensuring your financial plans are aligned with actual expenses.Ensure compliance with company policiesThe best solutions automatically enforce your company's expense policy by flagging out-of-policy spending, or blocking it before it even happens. You can see that all expenses are compliant, reducing the risk of unauthorized charges and simplifying the approval process.Eliminate the reimbursement processIf you're using the right credit card reconciliation software, it will streamline your reimbursement processes. No longer will your team need to keep track of receipts and expense reports because everything happens automatically within the software. And when they are using your issued card, employees don't need to be reimbursed for expenses.For example, instead of having your sales team front their own money for client dinners, a corporate card handles the charge at the point of sale. There's no out-of-pocket cost for the employee and no reimbursement workflow for your finance team.Saves you time and moneyBefore corporate credit card management software, you had to track down expenses, reconcile receipts, and follow approval processes that could take up a lot of your time. And that time could better be spent working on your business. Integrations with your current accounting software, real-time expense tracking and reconciliation, and accurate and automated credit card transaction matching all save you time—and, ultimately, money.Essential features of corporate credit card expense management softwareWhen evaluating credit card management software, make sure the feature set aligns with your business needs. You shouldn't pay for more than you need, but at the same time, you want to ensure the tool can scale with your business as it grows and your needs change.As you compare expense management platforms, these features should be non-negotiable:Mobile accessibility: Look for a tool with a mobile app that offers OCR-powered receipt capture, so your team can photograph and submit receipts at the point of purchase rather than scrambling to find them later.Expense categorization and tagging: Choose a platform that automatically categorizes expenses and tags them for specific projects or departments.Role-based access control: Look for admin tools that allow you to set different access levels based on user roles. This ensures that only the authorized team members can view, approve, or manage expenses.Policy compliance: The platform you choose should flag or outright block out-of-policy spending before it hits your books. Look for configurable rules that match your company's specific thresholds and category restrictions.Customizable spend controls: Your chosen tool should make it easy to set spending limits and rules tailored to your business needs. Control how much your employees can spend and where, keeping budgets in check.Automated receipt matching: The best platforms automatically match receipts to transactions, saving time and reducing errors.Fraud detection and alerts: In addition to setting limits, you need instant alerts for suspicious transactions. Protect your business by identifying and addressing potential expense fraud early.How to choose the right solution for your businessOnce you narrow your options, make sure to consider these key factors before making your final decision:ScalabilityChoose software that can grow with your business. As your company expands, your expense management needs will, too. Make sure the software can handle more users, cardholders, transactions, and features as you scale.Customer support and trainingReliable customer support across multiple channels is crucial. Look for software that offers responsive support and training resources to help your team get up to speed quickly. Good support ensures that you can resolve issues quickly and keep things running smoothly.Security and complianceYour software should give you peace of mind that any sensitive financial data is safe. Look for a platform that offers robust security features and guarantees compliance with industry standards.IntegrationsMake sure your chosen software supports the necessary enterprise resource planning (ERP) and accounting integrations. Smooth integrations save time, reduce errors, and help maintain consistent expense data across systems.Cost and budgetEnsure the software aligns with your budget while providing the necessary features and functionalities. Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees so you know exactly what you're paying for. Many expense management solutions charge a monthly fee per user, so always check and compare different platform billing options.Customization optionsChoose software that allows you to customize features to your business needs. This ensures the platform works the way you do, helping you create workflows, settings, reports, and dashboards that fit your unique processes.Best practices for managing corporate card expensesEffective corporate credit card management starts with the right habits, not just the right software. Once your platform is in place, these six practices help your finance team stay in control:Set per-employee spending limits: Tailor card limits by role or seniority, since a sales rep booking travel needs different limits than an office manager ordering supplies. Most platforms let you adjust limits per card in real time.Create a clear expense policy: Define what counts as a reimbursable expense, what requires pre-approval, and what's off-limits. Publish it where every cardholder can find it, and configure your software to enforce it automatically.Establish departmental budgets: Assign budget caps by team or cost center so you can track spending at the macro level without micromanaging individual transactions.Separate personal and business expenses: Issue dedicated corporate cards instead of letting employees use personal cards. This eliminates reimbursement delays and keeps your books clean.Set up expense categories: Configure categories that match your chart of accounts. Consistent categorization makes month-end reconciliation faster and reporting more accurate.Monitor spending patterns regularly: Use your platform's dashboards to review spend by department, vendor, and category on a weekly or monthly cadence. Spot anomalies early, before they become budget problems.Credit card vs. corporate card for expense managementIf you're evaluating corporate card expense management options, understanding the difference between a business credit card and a corporate card is a good starting point. Both cover company spending, but they serve different needs depending on your organization's size and complexity.Lenders issue business credit cards based on the owner's personal credit history. If you're running a startup or small business, these cards are often easier to qualify for. They typically come with rewards programs and don't require a separate corporate credit agreement.The trade-off is that expense management is typically manual unless you pair the card with a third-party tool.Lenders issue corporate cards based on the company's creditworthiness, and they work best when you have multiple cardholders. Most corporate card programs include built-in expense management software, giving you centralized control over spending limits, automated policy enforcement, and real-time transaction tracking. These features become critical as your team grows. Ramp This story was produced by Ramp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The publishing house running on nights, weekends, and a machine cutter The publishing house running on nights, weekends, and a machine cutterIndie publishing is having a moment. The Los Angeles Art Book Fair has grown so popular it now charges a cover. Smaller fairs are popping up in towns that pull crowds from across the country. And internationally, art book fairs have taken hold in Mexico City, Dubai, Dakar, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei.After online retail steamrolled traditional bookstores in the early 2000s, the next wave of digital infrastructure, from online storefronts to mobile point-of-sale to Substack itself, is doing the exact opposite for small publishers. It’s powering a generation of founder-led presses to reach readers, sell at fairs around the world, and survive without venture funding, retail chains, or institutional grants in sight.It’s a convergence that could only happen now: Artificial intelligence fatigue is pushing readers back toward the tactile, funding for the arts is evaporating, public libraries are under unprecedented attack, and a community of readers is rushing in to fill the gap and stock their own bookshelves. Courtesy of Vivian Sming In the swirl of all this is Vivian Sming, who founded Sming Sming Books in 2017 in the Bay Area after spending years working at galleries, nonprofits, and artist spaces, including Giant Robot, the cult store and former magazine. Sming, who has been hand-binding books for more than a decade, has black hexagonal glasses, a soft, unhurried voice, and the kind of composure that makes you want to slow down, too.Shopify sat down for a conversation with Sming, whose studio works one-on-one with artists, many of them women and artists of color, to design art books from scratch. The studio’s catalog now sits in more than 150 libraries, museums, and universities, every one designed, printed, and bound by Sming herself. She’s been in the trenches long before the scene exploded, and knows better than most why books are stubbornly resilient in 2026—and why the scene is determined to stay punk on purpose.The founder: Vivian SmingThe business: Sming Sming Books, an independent publishing studioFun fact: Sming Sming’s most intricate book designs are made with a Cricut, the same craft cutter sold in the scrapbooking aisle.Anita: It’s been about two years since we last talked. What’s changed for Sming Sming in that time, and what’s surprised you most about the indie scene?Vivian: The most obvious surprise is just that we’re still here. The conversation around AI has been huge, and I think there are questions around creativity and what it means for AI to be making things. And you can feel the difference. AI is being used to write and mass-produce books now. People generate them and turn them out instantly. The paper’s bad, the print’s off. If you pick up a book from an art book fair, it’s a different object entirely. That distinction matters more now than it ever has.But in the meantime, there’s this pocket community of publishers and writers and artists who are still making work. I’m still seeing a desire for people to engage with the tactility of books, specifically to be able to hold something in your hand. It seems to be super important, especially now when everything is veering in the other direction.Anita: Book fairs in New York and LA are pulling in crowds that rival stadium concerts, and they’re showing up in the most random places. What do you think is driving all of it? Why are people flocking to zines?Vivian: It’s a moment of a lot of different things colliding. Where I’m at in the Bay Area, there are a lot of art spaces and art schools closing. Federal funding for art spaces is being cut. There’s a moment in which these institutions, these places we’ve relied on, are kind of collapsing.And at the same time, there’s this real impulse to support our community, this sense of looking out for one another. People are looking at alternative models for things. And publishing is one of them. It’s seemingly niche, but most people in the world know what a book is and have engaged with one. So it becomes this very immediate format to share ideas and support an artist in a small way.Anita: You once told me about this running joke that “there’s no money in books.” Is that still the punchline? And if so, how do you make a low-money business work?Vivian: It’s still true for me. I have my full-time job. But when you work small, there’s less financial risk, and that’s part of what makes it sustainable. A lot of people think the goal is to always be bigger and to sell thousands of copies. But during the pandemic, I realized that if I’m working small, it’s a way of surviving. You can continue to do what you want, work with the artists you want to work with. The publishing isn’t impacted by federal cuts or relying on external funding.If I can keep the books at a price point where people can afford them while supporting the artists, it’s manageable. Day-to-day, some people are really good about waking up early and exercising. I’m more inclined to stay up late working on a book. I’m on my phone so much that I feel like if I took the two hours I was doomscrolling and put that into making something, I’d feel much better about it.Anita: People see “small” and sometimes think “simple.” But there’s so many moving parts to getting these books done. What’s a problem you’ve had to face that someone outside the scene never would have considered?Vivian: There was one moment where the coils I use for binding, the one place that sells them was going out of business. This was right around when the tariffs hit. Everyone was freaking out, and that’s the kind of thing most people don’t think about. Thankfully the company was bought. But it’s the kind of thing that reminds you how fragile the production side actually is. I mostly print locally now, within the state, so I’m not as exposed to international shipping and oil price shifts. But it’s an ongoing roller coaster, and everyone is on it together. Courtesy of Vivian Sming Anita: Okay, brag a little. Tell me about a recent book you’re proud of and how it got made.Vivian: “Trickster at the End of a World” by Helen Shewolfe Tseng is the one. Helen is a Bay Area-based artist, writer, and naturalist who works in computational literature, and she’s been obsessed with coyotes. We were trying to figure out how to do a die cut, and I ended up getting a Cricut cutter to make it happen. Usually I’m pretty involved in the design, but for this one Helen had a clear vision because it’s her writing and drawings.She’s interested in the coyote not just as the animal, but as a symbol of thriving on the margins, of existing in different spaces. She’s thinking about immigration, migration, surviving despite being one of the most hunted-out animals and being considered pests. The drawings are gorgeous. We wanted the book to feel like a field notebook, hence the spiral binding. You can take it out with you and lie in a piece of grass and read it.Anita: If indie publishing keeps growing at this pace, what does the landscape look like in a few years? Mainstream? Still niche?Vivian: A lot of these projects will stay small, just because people are working within the resources and means they have. Projects change all the time. Some people will do this for years and then stop and do something else. The level of production is just not at the scale of mainstream publishing. It’s hard to imagine these books suddenly being everywhere in every bookstore.But that’s part of the appeal, it refuses to be large. What I hope to see is some book thing happening every weekend because it’s about the person-to-person relationships. The scene is just a bunch of punks, this mashup of freaks and geeks. That’s where the community is.This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.This story was produced by Shopify and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Point battles continue at Davenport Speedway With an increasing number of rain-outs this season, the run to the Davenport Speedway track championships has become a sprint. Only three weekly points races remain before the Season Championship in August, a news release says. The point battles continue to be tight. In four of the six weekly classes, the lead is less than [...]
	Davenport man faces sexual abuse, child exploitation charges Davenport police arrested a 21-year-old man on sexual abuse and child exploitation charges involving a 15-year-old, according to court records.
	The American Red Cross Declares National Blood Emergency Latino blood donors can help make a lifesaving difference(NAPSI)—The American Red Cross has declared a national blood emergency and is urging all eligible individuals to give blood to help ensure patients receive the transfusions and care they need.The emergency comes after the nation’s blood supply fell by nearly 25% during June due to a concerning drop in blood donations.Summer Challenges to Maintaining the Blood SupplyThis decline in the blood supply and in donation appointments comes at a time when maintaining a stable blood inventory is especially difficult. During the summer months, schools and colleges are on break, resulting in fewer blood drives that typically help support the blood supply.At the same time, more people are traveling and spending time outdoors, increasing the likelihood of accidents and traumatic injuries. According to AAA, fatal crashes involving teen drivers increase by 30% during the so-called “100 Deadliest Days,” which run from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This trend disproportionately affects communities such as the Latino community, which has a larger youth population.A trauma patient can require as many as 100 units of blood, and it is the blood already on hospital shelves and ready for use that can make all the difference in a life-threatening situation.The Need for Blood Never StopsUnlike other medical treatments, blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled indefinitely. It must be continually replenished because it remains available for transfusion for only a limited period of time—just a few weeks for red blood cells and only a few days for platelets.A well-maintained blood supply is essential for treating and saving the lives of people facing emergencies, mothers experiencing severe bleeding during childbirth, and patients with cancer who depend on transfusions as part of their treatment.This blood shortage is especially critical for patients who need B-negative and O-positive blood. “This is where the Latino community can make a lifesaving difference,” said Dr. Maribel Garcia, regional medical director for the American Red Cross. “Nearly 60% of Latinos have Type O blood, one of the most needed blood types and one that is frequently used in emergencies.”The Red Cross is grateful to Latino blood donors, whose participation increased by 7% last year, and encourages them to continue supporting the blood supply and helping patients across all communities through their blood donations.Make an Appointment TodayThe most important way to help during this blood emergency is to make an appointment to give blood today by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).As a thank-you, all who come to give blood July 13–31, 2026, will receive a Fandango Movie Reward by email (up to a $15 value, fees included). For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/July.Word Count 442:
	Bettendorf man charged after videos show physical abuse of toddler, including choking A Bettendorf man faces multiple felony child endangerment charges after investigators reviewed six videos of physical abuse.
	FOMO vs. fear: The emotional tug-of-war driving retail decisions FOMO vs. fear: The emotional tug-of-war driving retail decisionsRetail investors love to believe they’re calm, calculated, and immune to hype. But when markets swing and social feeds light up, emotions often take over. In 2026, that pull is hard to escape. Interest-rate uncertainty, sharp swings in artificial intelligence and chip stocks, and a constant churn of trading talk on social media keep emotions close to the surface. MarketWise surveyed 1,002 U.S. retail investors to examine how fear, fear of missing out (FOMO), AI tools, and social media are affecting modern trading behavior, and how much those decisions are costing investors in real dollars.Why This Matters NowAI headlines can move investors even when the news is good. When Nvidia, the chipmaker at the center of the AI boom, reported record earnings in May 2026, it beat Wall Street’s revenue and profit estimates and raised its outlook. Investors sold anyway, sending the stock lower for the fourth straight quarter after a strong report. Many had piled in ahead of the report on AI hype, then pulled back the moment the news landed.Sentiment can swing just as fast in the other direction. Goldman Sachs Research saw its U.S. investor sentiment gauge flip from negative in late March to positive by late April, a mood shift from fear to optimism in a matter of weeks. Goldman tied the rebound to a market rally, easing geopolitical worries, and rising corporate confidence, with AI spending alone projected to drive about 40% of S&P 500 earnings growth this year.That is the backdrop for this survey. When prices move fast and headlines pile up, emotion is hard to separate from strategy, and the cost of reacting can be steep.Key Takeaways64% of retail investors describe themselves as rational and 20% as emotional investors, yet 48% overall made a FOMO purchase in the past 12 months.42% of retail investors admit they lost money due to emotional trading decisions in the past 12 months, averaging $1,606 in losses.40% of retail investors have consulted an AI tool during a FOMO or fear-driven moment. Among them, 34% followed the AI’s advice and made money, while 12% did so and lost money.25% of retail investors have panic-sold investments during a geopolitical event such as a war, election, or major breaking news, only to watch the market recover within weeks.Emotions and AI Tools Impacting Investor DecisionsFear, hype, and uncertainty are pushing investors to make choices they may not have planned to make. Many are also turning to AI for reassurance, guidance, or a second opinion in high-stress moments. MarketWise Only 20% of retail investors describe themselves as emotional investors, yet 31% admit they trade emotionally at least some of the time, and 48% made a FOMO-driven purchase in the past 12 months by buying an asset hitting all-time highs.42% of investors say they lost money to emotional trading decisions in the past 12 months, losing an average of $1,606.58% of investors have used an AI tool for investment decisions. Emotional investors (75%) are more likely than rational investors (54%) to have done so.40% of investors have consulted an AI tool during a FOMO or fear-driven moment, and among them, 34% followed the AI’s advice and made money. Another 12% acted on the AI advice and lost money.Generational Investor FindingsGen Z is the most emotional generation of investors, with 26% self-identifying as such. Fewer millennials (19%), Gen X (19%), and baby boomers (13%) say the same.Have traded emotionally: Gen Z (41%), millennials (30%), Gen X (30%), and baby boomers (23%)Made a FOMO purchase in the past 12 months: Gen Z (63%), millennials (51%), Gen X (41%), and baby boomers (20%)Used AI for investment decisions: Gen Z (64%), millennials (60%), Gen X (57%), and baby boomers (41%)Emotional vs. Rational Investor BehaviorsThe differences between emotional and rational investors show up quickly in their trading habits and media consumption. From Reddit to financial advisors, the sources investors trust often influence how they respond when markets move fast. MarketWise No matter how far their overall portfolios dropped, 43% of investors say they would never sell their investments. The remaining investors surveyed would sell at these drops:5% drop: 3% of investors10% drop: 16% of investors20% drop: 17% of investorsMore than 20% drop: 21% of investors52% of retail investors have followed a financial influencer. Among them, 34% lost money, and 18% made money. 30% of investors have placed a buy or sell trade within 24 hours of seeing related content on social media.Top sources self-identified emotional investors use to inform their buy or sell decisions:Reddit: 42%Financial news outlets: 40%YouTube: 38%Investment app research/built-in tools: 38%Top sources rational investors use to inform their buy or sell decisions:Financial news outlets: 46%Investment app research/built-in tools: 44%Reddit: 36%Who investors trust most when making investment decisions:Certified financial advisors: 66%Traditional financial news media: 47%AI tools: 28%Financial influencers on social media: 13% MethodologyMarketWise surveyed 1,002 U.S. retail investors about their emotional trading habits, the dollar amounts they have lost from emotional trades, the information sources they rely on, and how AI tools factor into their investment decisions. Respondents represented a mix of experience levels, portfolio sizes, and generations. The generational breakdown was 52% millennials, 26% Gen X, 14% Gen Z, and 8% baby boomers. Data was collected in May 2026.This story was produced by MarketWise and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to price your AI product when it cost you almost nothing to build How to price your AI product when it cost you almost nothing to buildWondering how to price AI? Perhaps you’ve built something genuinely useful in days or weeks, with low infrastructure costs and an inexpensive API. Then comes the uncomfortable question: What should this actually cost a customer?If this type of question has been on your mind, you’re not alone. As of 2025, there are nearly 7,000 newly funded AI startups in the U.S. That’s a lot of new founders trying to figure out value propositions and pricing strategies.For many early-stage founders, especially technical builders, the instinct might be to price conservatively because the product didn't feel expensive to build. But learning how to price AI means separating the cost of generating an output from the value of solving a problem. A workflow that costs pennies to run may still save customers hours of labor, improve their decision-making capabilities, or replace expensive services entirely. In other words, even though AI might compress your build time, that doesn't mean it diminishes what customers value, reports Mercury, a fintech platform that offers business and personal banking services.Why AI products feel hard to priceAI products create a pricing mismatch that many founders have never encountered before. Developing traditional software often required large engineering teams, long development cycles, and meaningful infrastructure investments before a product reached customers. AI dramatically changes that equation.A solo founder can now build a capable product in weeks using existing models and APIs, while operating costs remain extremely low. That speed can change how founders perceive value. If the product was relatively easy to build, charging premium prices can feel difficult to justify, on an emotional level.Market pressure also pushes prices downward. Many AI tools launch with free tiers or aggressively cheap pricing designed to drive adoption. Founders might see competitors charging $20 per month and assume that’s simply what AI software is worth.Remember, customers rarely care what it costs to produce software, but they do care whether it solves an expensive or time-consuming problem.The biggest mistake: Pricing based on costMany founders default to cost-based pricing when deciding how to price an AI project. The logic sounds reasonable: If the infrastructure cost is low, the price should stay low, too. But following this pricing strategy for AI products can be a big mistake.Think about it this way: A single AI-generated output might cost only a few cents to produce, but it could potentially replace hours of human work. Similarly, an automated reporting workflow could eliminate the need for manual analysis every week, or a customer support copilot could reduce staffing pressure during periods of growth. In those situations, the AI product’s economic value far exceeds the operating cost behind the scenes.Most customers care more about the operational leverage that a product creates than about API calls, which is why some AI products with extremely low operating costs command premium pricing. The software is valuable because of the outcome it produces — not because of the expense involved in generating the result.Understanding your product’s perceived value is an essential part of learning how to price AI products. If you anchor your product’s pricing to infrastructure costs, rather than customer value, you may find it difficult to grow your business, even when adoption is strong. High usage paired with weak monetization can signal that your pricing strategy has drifted too far away from the real value your product delivers.What you’re actually sellingMany founders describe their products in technical terms because that’s how they think about them internally. They talk about models, automation layers, or systems. These are important factors, but they aren’t what your customer is actually buying. Your customer wants outcomes. Maybe they need to save time, execute faster, reduce operational overhead, or grow revenue. For example, a founder building an AI research assistant may assume they’re selling summarization capabilities, but the customer may see it as reclaiming 10 hours every week — and those 10 hours have tangible value.Getting clarity on the benefits that your product brings to users’ lives — whether that’s improving conversion speed, reducing operational overhead, accelerating execution, or something else — will help you anchor your company’s pricing to measurable business impact and economic value. And this makes it simpler to explain your pricing model to customers.Common AI pricing models — and when to use themThere’s no single correct answer for how to price AI products. Pricing models need to align with both customer expectations and how the product’s value scales over time. Here are a few common ways to price AI products:Usage-based pricing: This model works well when activity naturally scales with the value that’s delivered. Automation tools and API-driven products often fit this structure well. The challenge with usage-based pricing is that usage — and therefore revenue — may be unpredictable. Customers may become cautious with their usage if they know that their costs could fluctuate sharply.Seat-based pricing: This approach remains common for AI copilots and collaborative tools because customers already understand it from traditional SaaS products. However, value doesn’t always scale neatly with user count.Outcome-based pricing: This model is becoming more common in AI-enabled services. Instead of charging for access, companies charge based on measurable results, such as leads generated or time saved. This can create strong alignment, though attribution can be complicated.Some founders eventually land on hybrid pricing models that combine subscriptions with usage thresholds or additional service layers. The important thing is understanding where each model creates friction for customers or limits your business's opportunities for scaling.A practical framework for how to price AI productsIt might feel like there’s a perfect pricing answer waiting to be discovered, if you could only find it. But you’re more likely to land on an effective pricing model through testing and iteration. To begin, try this framework:Identify the economic value your product creates. If your software saves a customer 10 hours a week, what’s that worth to them financially? If it replaces agency work or operational overhead, how much do they pay for those alternatives today?Research market prices. Look at the prices of comparable solutions. Those are the comparisons that matter. Base your prices on market rates, not your own infrastructure costs. Customers are already paying for labor, software, consultants, or inefficiency.Choose a pricing model that matches both usage and customer expectations. Simple monthly pricing might work well for a lightweight AI tool for solo operators, whereas operational software for larger teams may require more flexibility.Test customers’ willingness to pay. Founders should test users’ willingness to pay early because pricing conversations are part of product validation. Understanding how customers perceive value is central to learning how to price AI products effectively.Keep iterating. Most importantly, expect pricing to evolve. Early pricing models rarely persist unchanged, since products mature and customer usage becomes clearer over time. Looking across the market, this evolution is already visible in how AI companies are structuring their pricing today.What real AI pricing revealsIf you observe pricing patterns across the AI market, you’ll notice that companies are rarely tying their prices to their infrastructure costs. For instance, companies that make AI copilots frequently use per-seat pricing because customers associate these tools with productivity gains, whereas those running automation platforms often lean toward usage-based pricing because value scales with activity volume. Businesses offering enterprise AI products commonly avoid public pricing entirely because value varies dramatically between organizations.Pricing is often a positioning decision as much as a financial one. Two products using similar underlying models can command very different prices, depending on positioning and workflow importance.When pricing might feel slightly uncomfortableMany founders underprice because they want validation before monetization and charging more can feel risky, especially early on. But one of the clearest signs that you’ve underpriced your product is a complete lack of pushback. If customers adopt immediately, usage grows quickly, and revenue still feels disconnected from value delivered, your pricing model may be too conservative.Offering the cheapest option on the market can also create hidden problems. Low pricing often attracts customers with low retention, high support needs, or unrealistic expectations. Launching with a too-low pricing model can also cause trouble, since it can be difficult to make future pricing adjustments after customers’ expectations have been established.Effective pricing leaves room for growth by funding product development, infrastructure, and stability as the business matures.Operationalizing pricing as you growYour pricing strategy will eventually become a key part of your operational strategy. Once customers are paying across different tiers or usage patterns, founders need systems that support that complexity without adding friction. That includes accurately tracking usage, managing invoices and subscriptions, handling incoming payments, and maintaining visibility into cash flow as pricing evolves. Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.This story was produced by Mercury and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island Artists' Market will return this weekend The Rock Island Artists' Market returns from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12, bringing another afternoon of creativity, shopping, and community to downtown Rock Island, a news release says. Hosted by Skeleton Key Art & Antiques, 520 18th St., this month's market is paired with two bonus sales, giving visitors even more reasons to [...]
	Kewanee police join state campaign to crack down on speeding Kewanee police are teaming up with Illinois State Police for a speed enforcement campaign aimed at reducing traffic risks.
	Maine Democrats say Platner's campaign is trying to influence replacement process The state Democratic Party accused Platner's campaign of trying to "put their thumb on the scale" of the process to replace him if he drops his bid for Senate. Platner's team has denied doing so.
	Why younger Americans use credit cards to buy their future, not their coffee Why younger Americans use credit cards to buy their future, not their coffeeAsk a credit card user why they use one, and odds are they’ll say, “for the miles” or “for the cashback.” Since the 1980s, credit cards have been used for their rewards systems, but the newest generation of cardholders hasn’t gotten the memo.A new survey of 1,000 respondents conducted Oct. 22, 2025 by Credit One Bank found that 38% of older, higher-income consumers cite cash back and points as their primary motivator, while 37% of younger, lower-income consumers say building credit is their top reason they carry a card.This survey suggests that after 40 years of selling credit cards as a reward, the industry needs to change its thinking for the new generation.Gen Z Is Using Credit Cards to Get a Leg UpInstead of enticing rewards like cash back or miles, Gen Z is using credit cards to get a jump-start on their credit. The opening stat, 37% of lower-income consumers, shows that credit cards are now a means to an end, like an apartment lease or a car loan, instead of a stockpile of rewards you can use at a later time. Credit One Bank They are also the generation to use AI to help build their credit. Nearly a third (32%) of Gen Zers say they have used AI tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, or Gemini to improve their credit score. This is compared to 21% of overall respondents who say the same thing.The survey suggests that Gen Z is not waiting for a financial advisor to make things happen. They want immediate, actionable answers, and they’re finding them through AI.Spending Is Up, and the Gender Gap Is Wider Than Expected Credit One Bank Nearly half (49%) of all consumers say that their credit card usage increased in the last two years. Among men, that number rises to 56%, while among women it is 42%.The data shows a 14-point discrepancy between men’s and women’s spending habits. This could be due to the different financial roles in the household or different comfort levels with revolving debt. The biggest reason could be due to different spending categories getting hit with inflation.Whatever the reason, the survey shows that it’s not just “people spending more.” Men and women are developing different spending habits, and institutions should take notice.Credit Card Balances Are Creating Emotional TollsIt’s never easy carrying debt, but the survey suggests that it takes more of an emotional toll than expected. More than 3 in 4 (77%) consumers say carrying a credit card balance month to month creates anxiety for them. Credit One Bank Yet the behavior is widespread. Three in 5 Millennials reported an ongoing balance at least once in the past year, while Gen Xers followed at 59%. Gen Zers came in at 52%, and Boomers at 37%.Millennials and younger Gen Xers are the most likely to use credit cards for their purchases, as they are in the years when housing, childcare, daily expenses, and caregiving costs collide. They are called the "sandwich generation,” where they are “squeezed” by various demands of raising children and taking care of aging parents.Boomers Are First In Credit Health, While Gen Z Demands More LiteracyBaby Boomers have had their credit cards the longest, and it shows. About a third (33%) of Baby Boomers had the healthiest relationships with their credit cards, compared to 29% of Gen Xers, 23% of Millennials, and 14% of Gen Zers. Credit One Bank The youngest generation is not calling it quits yet. Sixty-five percent of Gen Zers believe some form of mandatory financial literacy course should be required before a person receives their first credit card. So, while they don’t have the best relationship with their cards, it’s not for lack of trying to understand an already difficult industry.Luckily, policymakers have heard their cries. According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, 29 states now require a financial literacy course for high school graduation.The credit card started as an emergency tool, transformed into a rewards engine, and has now taken on the role of finance credentials. One thing the survey does make clear: each generation uses a credit card for something different, and institutions would be remiss to ignore that.This story was produced by Credit One Bank and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Where it pays to be in nursing in 2026 Where it pays to be in nursing in 2026Nursing is a calling, but it’s also a paycheck, and location can have a major impact on that paycheck’s true value. While demand for nurses exists across the U.S., compensation does not factor evenly from state to state. After accounting for differences in local costs, some states offer nurses materially stronger earning power than others, making geography an important part of the profession’s financial equation.That compensation gap matters not only for nurses evaluating where to work, but also for healthcare employers looking to retain talent. “Compensation must be treated as a strategic investment, not a cost to minimize,” says Erin Slay, DNP, MHA, RN, associate dean at Central School of Practical Nursing. “Nurses who feel valued stay. Competitive, transparent pay tied to retention bonuses, profit sharing and merit-based outcomes signals that loyalty and performance are rewarded — not expected.”SmartAsset evaluated the median earnings of registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN) and nurse practitioners (NP) in each of the 50 states, adjusting earnings for regional cost-of-living differences to compare places, and also examined earnings for nursing assistants.Key FindingsNursing has a Pacific premium. If you’re an RN within driving distance of the Pacific Ocean, chances are you’re among the profession’s top earners. Even after adjusting for the West Coast’s higher costs of living, Pacific states have the highest median earnings for nurses, led by California (No. 1), with Hawai‘i (No. 2), Oregon (No. 3), Alaska (No. 4) and Washington (No. 5) rounding out the top of the chart.Nurse practitioners earn more in rural states. States with large rural areas top much of the list for nurse practitioner earnings, including New Mexico (No. 2), Iowa (No. 3), Oklahoma (No. 4) and Alaska (No. 6). According to the National Rural Health Association, demand for nurse practitioners in rural areas is high and “nearly half of all rural primary care practices employ at least one NP.”Despite ranking last for RN pay, this state has the most nurses. South Dakota, No. 50 in the rankings, pays RNs less than any other state ($69,510; $78,454 price-adjusted). However, it also boasts the most RNs per capita — 16 for every 1,000 residents.Nursing assistants are in a prime position in North Dakota. With adjusted median earnings of $49,652, nursing assistants earn more in North Dakota than any other state. The Roughrider State also employs the most nursing assistants per capita (nine per 1,000 residents). SmartAsset SmartAsset How States MeasureAlabamaNP median earnings: $106,930 ($120,417 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $71,040 ($80,000 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $50,100 ($56,419 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $32,470 ($36,565 price-adjusted)AlaskaNP median earnings: $145,450 ($142,041 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $110,690 ($108,096 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $77,670 ($75,850 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $45,840 ($44,766 price-adjusted)ArizonaNP median earnings: $133,790 ($132,860 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $96,890 ($96,216 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $74,020 ($73,505 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $41,980 ($41,688 price-adjusted)ArkansasNP median earnings: $113,660 ($130,794 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $77,130 ($88,757 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $51,030 ($58,723 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $31,990 ($36,812 price-adjusted)CaliforniaNP median earnings: $166,610 ($150,506 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $140,330 ($126,766 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $77,170 ($69,711 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $46,420 ($41,933 price-adjusted)ColoradoNP median earnings: $129,750 ($125,849 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $96,520 ($93,618 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $67,480 ($65,451 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,950 ($43,598 price-adjusted)ConnecticutNP median earnings: $138,960 ($134,131 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $101,590 ($98,060 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $69,130 ($66,728 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,500 ($42,954 price-adjusted)DelawareNP median earnings: $127,810 ($128,066 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $92,610 ($92,796 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $66,090 ($66,222 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $39,240 ($39,319 price-adjusted)FloridaNP median earnings: $129,010 ($124,768 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $82,850 ($80,126 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,080 ($58,104 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,850 ($35,638 price-adjusted)GeorgiaNP median earnings: $126,060 ($130,903 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $86,560 ($89,886 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $58,490 ($60,737 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,570 ($37,975 price-adjusted)Hawai‘iNP median earnings: $130,940 ($119,036 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $136,320 ($123,927 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $65,560 ($59,600 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,830 ($40,755 price-adjusted)IdahoNP median earnings: $128,940 ($135,016 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $86,100 ($90,157 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $61,720 ($64,628 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,530 ($39,298 price-adjusted)IllinoisNP median earnings: $128,620 ($128,620 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $86,410 ($86,410 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $66,030 ($66,030 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,750 ($44,750 price-adjusted)IndianaNP median earnings: $128,280 ($137,492 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $80,740 ($86,538 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $63,690 ($68,264 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,330 ($40,011 price-adjusted)IowaNP median earnings: $129,420 ($147,403 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $76,960 ($87,654 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $59,460 ($67,722 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,630 ($43,998 price-adjusted)KansasNP median earnings: $124,690 ($138,391 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $78,060 ($86,637 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $59,920 ($66,504 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,910 ($40,966 price-adjusted)KentuckyNP median earnings: $113,870 ($126,242 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $79,910 ($88,592 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $58,450 ($64,800 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,330 ($41,386 price-adjusted)LouisianaNP median earnings: $125,980 ($142,834 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $78,880 ($89,433 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $53,930 ($61,145 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $30,240 ($34,286 price-adjusted)MaineNP median earnings: $125,040 ($128,774 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $82,860 ($85,335 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $70,870 ($72,987 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $45,640 ($47,003 price-adjusted)MarylandNP median earnings: $125,530 ($119,552 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $96,830 ($92,219 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $69,870 ($66,543 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $40,000 ($38,095 price-adjusted)MassachusettsNP median earnings: $138,890 ($131,276 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $101,970 ($96,380 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $76,560 ($72,363 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $45,410 ($42,921 price-adjusted)MichiganNP median earnings: $125,620 ($130,582 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $85,670 ($89,054 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $63,810 ($66,331 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,900 ($40,437 price-adjusted)MinnesotaNP median earnings: $128,570 ($130,396 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $100,870 ($102,302 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,870 ($61,734 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $45,580 ($46,227 price-adjusted)MississippiNP median earnings: $119,290 ($137,115 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $74,470 ($85,598 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $48,850 ($56,149 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $30,460 ($35,011 price-adjusted)MissouriNP median earnings: $126,370 ($139,174 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $79,770 ($87,852 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $59,030 ($65,011 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,170 ($40,936 price-adjusted)MontanaNP median earnings: $133,640 ($141,268 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,560 ($86,216 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $59,750 ($63,161 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $39,300 ($41,543 price-adjusted)NebraskaNP median earnings: $127,930 ($141,987 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,020 ($89,922 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,740 ($67,414 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,620 ($42,863 price-adjusted)NevadaNP median earnings: * (#VALUE! price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $101,990 ($101,990 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $73,820 ($73,820 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $45,060 ($45,060 price-adjusted)New HampshireNP median earnings: $132,440 ($127,102 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $96,830 ($92,927 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $74,660 ($71,651 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $46,050 ($44,194 price-adjusted)New JerseyNP median earnings: $149,620 ($137,518 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $102,730 ($94,421 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $71,180 ($65,423 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,910 ($41,278 price-adjusted)New MexicoNP median earnings: $138,440 ($150,152 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $88,260 ($95,727 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,760 ($65,900 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,030 ($40,163 price-adjusted)New YorkNP median earnings: $145,390 ($134,745 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $105,600 ($97,868 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $64,030 ($59,342 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $47,390 ($43,920 price-adjusted)North CarolinaNP median earnings: $125,020 ($132,577 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,860 ($86,808 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $61,380 ($65,090 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $37,670 ($39,947 price-adjusted)North DakotaNP median earnings: $123,220 ($138,449 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $78,260 ($87,933 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,820 ($68,337 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,190 ($49,652 price-adjusted)OhioNP median earnings: $126,740 ($136,573 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,250 ($87,554 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,990 ($65,722 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,570 ($41,563 price-adjusted)OklahomaNP median earnings: $126,670 ($144,271 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,160 ($92,437 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $55,870 ($63,633 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $35,040 ($39,909 price-adjusted)OregonNP median earnings: $144,600 ($139,845 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $123,990 ($119,913 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $76,570 ($74,052 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $48,390 ($46,799 price-adjusted)PennsylvaniaNP median earnings: $127,400 ($130,533 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $87,610 ($89,764 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $62,010 ($63,535 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $41,110 ($42,121 price-adjusted)Rhode IslandNP median earnings: $130,710 ($127,771 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $99,960 ($97,713 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $77,940 ($76,188 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $44,160 ($43,167 price-adjusted)South CarolinaNP median earnings: $116,240 ($124,055 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $79,900 ($85,272 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $59,050 ($63,020 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,370 ($38,815 price-adjusted)South DakotaNP median earnings: $122,600 ($138,375 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $69,510 ($78,454 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $49,170 ($55,497 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,070 ($42,968 price-adjusted)TennesseeNP median earnings: $108,420 ($117,976 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $79,030 ($85,996 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $54,530 ($59,336 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,750 ($39,989 price-adjusted)TexasNP median earnings: $129,880 ($133,759 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $90,010 ($92,698 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $60,150 ($61,946 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,390 ($37,477 price-adjusted)UtahNP median earnings: $125,700 ($127,098 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $82,270 ($83,185 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $61,710 ($62,396 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,500 ($38,928 price-adjusted)VermontNP median earnings: $129,740 ($132,388 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $85,150 ($86,888 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $64,560 ($65,878 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $43,610 ($44,500 price-adjusted)VirginiaNP median earnings: $124,210 ($122,859 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $88,820 ($87,854 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $62,310 ($61,632 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,790 ($38,368 price-adjusted)WashingtonNP median earnings: $140,220 ($131,047 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $112,180 ($104,841 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $79,700 ($74,486 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $48,260 ($45,103 price-adjusted)West VirginiaNP median earnings: $121,640 ($135,911 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $79,990 ($89,374 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $49,850 ($55,698 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $36,340 ($40,603 price-adjusted)WisconsinNP median earnings: $128,580 ($136,642 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $86,070 ($91,467 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $61,040 ($64,867 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $43,250 ($45,962 price-adjusted)WyomingNP median earnings: $127,750 ($137,810 price-adjusted)RN median earnings: $81,790 ($88,231 price-adjusted)LPN median earnings: $61,880 ($66,753 price-adjusted)Nursing assistant median earnings: $38,360 ($41,381 price-adjusted)MethodologyU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data for May 2024, the most recent period available, was analyzed for three clinical nursing occupations (nurse practitioner, registered nurse and licensed practical nurse), and one nursing support occupation (nursing assistant) in each of the 50 states. Annual median earnings were adjusted for regional price parity (RPP) using 2024 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis RPP values to express earnings in real, nationally comparable dollars. Where listed, the per capita number of each occupation in each state was calculated using 2024 U.S. Census Bureau state population estimates. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Motorcyclist seriously injured in Jo Daviess County crash A motorcyclist was seriously injured Tuesday night after crashing on West Stagecoach Trail in Jo Daviess County and was airlifted to a regional hospital.
	Davenport couple displaced following early morning structure fire Firefighters responded to the scene of a trailer fire in Northwest Davenport just off Interstate 280.
	ManaFest Card Shop moves to larger storefront in Silvis ManaFest offer a variety of trading card games, tabletop role-playing games and supplies.
	Von Maur, based in Davenport, was named one of America's best department stores Von Maur, based in Davenport, was name one of America's bests department stores in America.
	Exhibitions at Figge Art Museum, Davenport, explore American identity This summer, the Figge Art Museum invites visitors to explore American identity through two exhibitions that offer distinctly Midwestern perspectives on the nation’s history, culture, and landscape, according to a news release. "Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America" and "Corn Zone" explore some of the people and places that have shaped the American experience. [...]
	Orion to contribute TIF funds to ease issue at DG Market “We think it gives the trees the best chance of anything we can do," George Mavrogenes said of the retaining wall at Monday’s meeting.
	Trial rescheduled in Davenport Open Records lawsuit following settlement discussions Attorneys for the City and plaintiff Ezra Sidran negotiated a settlement, but the City said it didn't know those discussions were happening.
	Davenport Fire Department called to early morning structure fire Crews were called to the Lakewood Estates around 4 a.m. Wednesday for a trailer fire. The residents on the property were able to evacuate safely.
	A spirit of resilience helps Venezuelans face healthcare challenges after the quakes The economic collapse of Venezuela has pushed its healthcare system to the brink. The disaster is now adding to the stress.
	Everyday People: ‘We are human beings. That should count’: Unhoused Rock Island residents say they want to be heard They say they're told to move from one place to another, but never where they can stay. One unhoused Rock Island man asks only to be heard.
	Dinkins will appear in Clinton County court on charges of 2003 sex crime Henry Dinkins is charged with sex abuse in a 23-year-old case, and is next set to appear in that case at a hearing in September.
	Trump administration abruptly cancels grants for teen pregnancy prevention Health departments, universities and nonprofit grantees had spent months adapting to President Trump's executive orders. They say the funding cut was completely unexpected.
	Warming up Wednesday, but even hotter weather coming Dry weather is expected today across the Quad Cities, but showers and storms are possible tonight into Saturday morning. It'll be hotter and more humid today, but the real heat arrives Sunday into next week. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Firefighters respond to early morning fire in Davenport Crews responded to the Lakewood Estates mobile home community in the 7100 block of W. 60th Street for a structure fire just after 3 a.m.
	Annie Wittenmyer This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Recently I saw an announcement for one of those motivational workshops titled "Be the engine of your life, not the…
	What's behind the push to make peptide therapies more readily available Marketed for longevity and wellness benefits, the unproven therapies are sold through a grey market online. Compounding pharmacies say they should be able to make them legally to meet demand.
	At NATO summit in Turkey, Trump says he believes ceasefire with Iran is 'over' President Trump said he believes the current ceasefire with Iran is over following an exchange of attacks between the U.S. and Iran in the latest escalation straining the agreement to end the war.
	This factory was severely short on workers. Then it offered flexible work A GE Appliances plant in rural northwest Georgia was short hundreds of workers amid COVID-19. A flexible work option where some workers can sign up for shifts through an app has eased the pain.
	Le Pen says she'll run for French presidency next year despite court-ordered monitor Far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she'll run for the French presidency next year despite being sentenced Tuesday to wear a court-ordered electronic monitor for embezzlement.
	Over 100 Iowa National Guard soldiers to be deployed to Washington, D.C. JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Over 100 Iowa National Guard soldiers are being deployed to Washington, D.C. later this week. On Tuesday, the Iowa National Guard announced that about 120 soldiers will support the District of Columbia National Guard and other agencies with America250 and Freedom 250 events in Washington, D.C., as part of their six-month-long deployment. [...]
	Tehran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes The regional crossfire raised the risks that an interim agreement to halt fighting in the war could break down, putting the Middle East again at risk of a wider conflict.
	Tehran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after U.S. strikes The regional crossfire raised the risks that an interim agreement to halt fighting in the war could break down, putting the Middle East again at risk of a wider conflict.
Tuesday, July 7th, 2026
	Davenport OKs extension of Venuworks' agreement with RiverCenter/Adler VenuWorks has announced that the Davenport City Council has approved a three-year extension of the company’s management agreement for the RiverCenter and Adler Theatre, continuing a partnership that has served the Davenport community since 1997, according to a news release. The renewed agreement extends VenuWorks’ management of the venues through June 30, 2029.As VenuWorks celebrates [...]
	Central Iowa flooding makes a rough start for sweet corn season The flooding was severe enough that Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation in some impacted areas.
	City of Monmouth announces new city administrator The City of Monmouth has announced Lou Leone as new city administrator. At Monday night’s meeting, the Monmouth City Council officially entered into an employment agreement with Lou Leone as its new city administrator, a news release says. “On behalf of the council and the City of Monmouth, we’re excited to have Lou Leone be [...]
	Moline City Council approves use of AI language translation software for police body cameras The technology will be used when a human interpreter is not immediately available. It can translate 60 languages through the camera within seconds.
	Police, SWAT respond to situation in Davenport A News 8 crew arrived on the 300 block of Taylor Street in Davenport on Tuesday, July 7 at approximately 7:15 p.m.
	Troubles continue in Davenport open records lawsuit City officials argue the trial was erroneously canceled, while the man suing the city claims the City reneged on a settlement agreement.
	90th anniversary of hottest weather ever in the Quad Cities 90 years ago - can you imagine temps like 111° in the Quad Cities, with no A/C?!?!? That was the case for Quad Citians back in 1936! 11 record highs in a row come from this time period back in 1936. Every single record high between July 5th and 15th is from 1936 - all [...]
	Police, SWAT respond to scene in Davenport A News 8 crew arrived on the 300 block of Taylor Street in Davenport on Tuesday, July 7 at approximately 7:15 p.m.
	Moline Police to implement AI translation technology The Moline Police Department will soon implement artificial intelligence-assisted translation technology. The Moline City Council approved the purchase of the AI technology, to be integrated into officers' body cameras. The tool can translate more than 60 different languages in real time. Moline Police already tested seven languages during a 60-day period. Chief Darren Gault says [...]
	Part of Muscatine's East 11th Street will close for utility-pole placement The Muscatine Department of Public Works (DPW) has been notified that Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) will conduct utility pole replacement work requiring temporary street closures on East 11th Street. Thursday, July 9 East 11th Street will be closed to all traffic from 9 a.m.-noon between Oak Street and Orange Street to facilitate the replacement [...]
	El-Sayed, Stevens sharpen contrasts in first one-on-one Senate debate Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens square off in a televised debate on WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids. July 7, 2026 \| Photo by Bryan Esler/WOOD TV8GRAND RAPIDS — Independence Day may have come and gone, but there were still some fireworks in the latest Democratic U.S. Senate primary debate hosted Tuesday by WOOD-TV8 in Grand Rapids. The forum featured Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) — the two remaining primary candidates seeking their party’s nomination in the Aug. 4 contest following the departure of the third contender, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak). The race has become one of the nation’s most closely watched political primaries as the Democratic Party grapples with a progressive revolution within its ranks, one that establishment party forces are trying to stave off ahead of the 2026 general election. On Tuesday, the new head-to-head rivals took the opportunity to attack each other on policy, their track records of success in public office, personal finance disclosures and corporate campaign contributions. Affordability issues take center stage On affordability, El-Sayed said his policies as senator would focus on addressing the nation’s healthcare woes by guaranteeing everybody health insurance without a deductible, a premium, or a co-pay through Medicare for All, which has become a key plank of his campaign. “Number two, we need to stand up to the monopolies and oligopolies that are picking our pockets. Number three, we need to stand up to increase wages, and that means standing with unions like the UAW and the nurses who have endorsed us,” El-Sayed said. “It means making sure that we are standing with Michiganders in their moments of crisis by making schools somewhere that our kids can go by addressing the potholes that cause punctured tires every time you try to drive anywhere. But all of this has to happen by way of getting the corruption out of our politics.” Stevens said she would continue to champion policies that she has pushed for during her time in Congress: no tariffs on groceries and legislation to lower utility bills, the latter of which has become a flashpoint in Michigan politics. Stevens, El-Sayed split on high cost of childcare With goods and services becoming less affordable under the Trump administration, the issue of childcare costs was raised by one of several WOOD-TV viewers tapped to ask additional questions. Stevens said she fought during the COVID-19 pandemic to secure federal dollars to ensure that daycare centers and those working in them remained open and employed. She acknowledged that the costs continued to go up through the Biden and Trump presidencies. Her fix was technical in nature. “The way in which we can lower daycare costs are through the expansion of Community Development Block Grant funding and grants that match what our great governor here in Michigan did,” Stevens said. “We need paid family leave. I’m a champion for paid family leave. We need to secure the ability for new mothers and fathers to have that precious time with their newborns, that’s another critical step.” El-Sayed spoke from his own experience as the father of two daughters. He said the childcare costs for their youngest daughter is one of the most expensive items they pay for. “I think we need to make childcare free, 100% free,” he said. “Now, how do we pay for that? We pay for that by taxing billionaires their wealth. We could render $4.6 trillion if we were willing to put, let’s say, 8% tax on billionaire wealth. This is not that difficult, but it’s a function of our values.” Abdul El-Sayed during a televised debate on WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids. July 7, 2026 \| Photo by Bryan Esler/WOOD TV8 Dealing with ICE on the national scale, and in Michigan El-Sayed has called to abolish ICE while Stevens has called for the agency’s reformation, and to hold bad actors in ICE accountable for abuses during President Donald Trump’s administration. El-Sayed said he saw the height of ICE’s abuse during its Minneapolis-based Project Metro Surge, and he said the results were terrifying. “ICE is about normalizing paramilitary force on our streets. I’ve been clear that you can’t reform ICE, you can’t retrain ICE, you have to abolish ICE,” El-Sayed said. “Now that’s not to say that we can’t secure our border, that’s not even to say that we can’t actually enforce our immigration policy, that is to say that we shouldn’t do it at the edge of destroying our Constitution itself.” El-Sayed noted that “ICE is a new agency, it is younger than I am.” Stevens said she has supported and will continue to support bipartisan efforts to beef up border security, but will be a forceful figure in holding Trump accountable for an agency that she called “completely out of control.” “I’ve got the legislation to do it,” Stevens said. “I called on Kristie Noem to go. She was removed, but no reforms took place. They took $70 billion of our taxpayer money into an ICE slush fund. This has been a failure. … Donald Trump has abused his power, he has failed the American people, and we need change.” Stakes rise in two-person Senate race Much is on the line in Michigan’s race for U.S. Senate, with the Great Lakes state targeted as one that could decide the next majority in both chambers of Congress. The race is also coming down to the wire. Absentee ballots have already been delivered to those who have requested one. In-person early voting will commence in less than three weeks. And with just two candidates, Democratic voters will determine which path the party moves toward as it gears up for a hypothetical matchup with the lone Republican in the race, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake. El-Sayed has emerged as the leading voice in Michigan’s progressive circles, surrounding himself with Democratic Socialist endorsements and surrogates as he paints himself as a principled populist. While early polling placed him third in the race, El-Sayed now finds himself steadily gaining support. Stevens, meanwhile, is considered the establishment favorite, backed by centrist Democrats both nationally and in Michigan. Despite criticism during the early stages of the race for not being as progressive as McMorrow or El-Sayed, Stevens’ campaign is hoping to find new momentum following McMorrow’s exit from the race. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) during a televised debate on WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids. July 7, 2026 \| Photo by Bryan Esler/WOOD TV8 Israel-Gaza war remains a top issue in the race When asked about the United States’ continued involvement in the war it started with Iran in conjunction with Israel, Stevens and El-Sayed were also asked what they would do about it in the upper chamber of Congress. Stevens said Trump was selling out the nation by continuing the war. She also, for the first highly public time during her campaign, criticized Israel directly for bringing the U.S. into its conflict with Iran. “Donald Trump has failed us. The prime minister of Israel has failed in that regard, and he was just coming after me on this today,” Stevens said, referencing comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a CNN interview. “I am unafraid.” El-Sayed said it was “worth asking why we got into this war in the first place.” “There is one man who has been wanting this war fought, and that is the Prime Minister of Israel, and the reason that we’ve seen this war fought is because of the impact of AIPAC in our politics,” he said. “AIPAC has spent tens of millions of dollars in attack ads against me, or ads lying about the congresswoman’s record. They clearly want one individual, and it’s not me.” Stevens’ funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, has become a flashpoint in the campaign, and El-Sayed’s refusal of the organization’s contributions has become an equally important part of the campaign for the U.S. Senate. “I don’t take that money,” he reiterated. “They are spending against me because they’ve called me the most dangerous candidate for the US-Israel relationship.” Stevens accused El-Sayed of being on the receiving end of spending from Republican forces who want him to be the candidate because they would prefer a matchup with a more radical, and in her view, less electable candidate. “I do not plan to make anything easier for Republicans or Mike Rogers,” Stevens said. “What I do is I take on tough fights for Michigan, tough races, and I win.”SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. El-Sayed countered by saying that whether Rogers or Stevens win, AIPAC will have gotten one of their two preferred candidates. “AIPAC is perfectly fine with either of my two opponents, because they know that they will have a comfortable, reliable vote in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “If you want politics to work for you, if you want politics to rebuild your schools, or fix your infrastructure, or to invest in your healthcare, you have an alternative choice.” Stevens repeatedly hit El-Sayed on his decision to delay the release of his tax returns and his personal financial disclosures. She claimed that it was hard to tell who was funding his campaign and personal wealth — with Stevens noting he had a net worth exceeding $1 million — without the public being able to see those documents. El-Sayed said that, in terms of the financial disclosures, he had taken the same extension to release them that Stevens had taken many times in the past. He then turned the attack back on Stevens, calling into question a trip that she took with her mother to Portugal that was allegedly paid for by a group called Center Forward. The group hails itself as a centrist political advocacy group, which also operates a super PAC. Following the debate, Stevens was asked about the trip and who paid for it. She told Michigan Advance that the trip was standard practice, likening it to congressional delegation trips that members of the House and Senate take to better ties between nations. She said she was doing NATO meetings that were meant to address Russia’s war in Ukraine. When asked why that was paid for by an outside group, and not her congressional office budget, Stevens said only that it was “a very standard way in which members engage in critical policy.” El-Sayed was also pressed on his issues with Israel and his painting of Stevens as being beholden to AIPAC. A reporter asked the candidate if he truly believed that every position she held was dictated by AIPAC or other super PACs that have funded her campaign. “Probably not all of them, but certainly enough of them to which one forces us to vote and send our taxpayer dollars to a foreign government doing a genocide,” he said. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	2 girls rescued from Bureau Creek The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Princeton Fire Department for the rescue at about 3:40 p.m., according to a media release.
	T. G. Sheppard, David Frizzell, will be in concert at The Adler Theatre, Davenport Dynasty Entertainment LLC has announced Country Legends in Concert starring T.G. Sheppard and David Frizzell will be at the Adler Theatre on Oct. 21, according to a news release. Country music icon T.G. Sheppard is celebrating 50 years in country music. Ranked among thetop 100 country artists of all time by Billboard Magazine, Sheppard’s first [...]
	From Division III to Division I basketball, Bria Medina's journey to Iowa City Bria Medina, one of the shortest players on the Iowa women's basketball team, was cutting and slicing between defenders, running off ball to find an open look. She had the ball bounced to her on the right wing, eyes darting back and forth behind a clear mask. The mask protects her nose, still recovering from [...]
	City of Moline selected for national leadership cohort focused on sustainability Moline joins the 2026 LEED for Cities Leadership Cohort, aiming to enhance sustainability through a structured process.
	Officers use gas, 'flash bang' during execution of Davenport search warrant Davenport police used a bullhorn and shot rounds of gas through the windows of a home during the execution of a search warrant Tuesday night. Our Quad Cities News crew watched as officers cleared neighbors from the area on the 300 block of Taylor Street. About a dozen squad cars and the SWAT Team tactical [...]
	Des Moines man faces felony charges after police say groomed Bettendorf child A 43-year-old Des Moines man faces felony charges in connection with what police say was an incident that involved grooming of a Bettendorf child, according to Scott County arrest affidavits. William Reed faces felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor - cause to engage in act, and grooming, according to Scott County Court documents. [...]

Wednesday, July 8th, 2026

Tuesday, July 7th, 2026