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

Thursday, July 2nd, 2026
	Flood Crest This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Tornados, earthquakes, and lightning have this in common: they come quick without warning, like cats pouncing on mice.…
	The albums and songs of 2026 that we love the most (so far) As the year reaches its mid-point, we have answers to a question more pressing than what to wear to the cookout or how early should we arrive at the fireworks show: What should I listen to?
	Federal civil rights data holds schools accountable. Under Trump, it's 6 months late The Education Department has long collected civil rights data about things like bullying, harassment and disability services in schools, but it hasn't made the latest information public.
	Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicates bishops The Vatican responded Thursday to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope's consent, declaring the Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicating its bishops and priests.
	Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT: High Heat Index Values
	Parasitic illness cases are spiking: The symptoms to watch for While cases are common this time of year, the number of cases is causing concern.
	U.S. and Iran hold separate meetings in Qatar and agree to continue discussions U.S. and Iranian negotiators met separately on Wednesday with Qatari and Pakistani mediators, with "positive progress made," and they agreed to continue discussions, host Qatar said.
	Russian missiles and drones kill 11 and cause damage across Ukraine capital The large-scale attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones damaged buildings and civilian infrastructure across the city. Many residents took shelter at metro stations.
Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
	Sleep Better This Summer with Breathable Bedding (Feature Impact) If warm summer temperatures have you tossing and turning at night, you aren’t alone. Heat is a common culprit behind seasonal insomnia and can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. When the body struggles to cool down properly, it may lead to restlessness, night sweats, and disrupted sleep patterns. Watch this video to learn more Before you reach for the thermostat, though, take some time to examine your bedroom setup. Switching to breathable bedding, like Bedsure PureWoven Bamboo Sheets, can help your body regulate its temperature better overnight. Made with bamboo-derived fibers, the sets include sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, and comforters designed to keep you cool and comfortable while you sleep. The bamboo viscose material is moisture-wicking and smooth, and you can choose from a variety of colors to match your decor. In addition to choosing bedding made with soft, breathable materials like viscose derived bamboo sheets bamboo, try using fans to promote better airflow in your bedroom. You can also improve your overall sleep quality by winding down with soft, dim lighting as you prepare for bed, and using blackout curtains to keep your space dark overnight. Making simple swaps in your sleep environment can help you stay well-rested throughout the summer. Learn more at bedsurehome.com or search “Bedsure PureWoven Bamboo Sheets” on Amazon.
	July 4th fireworks: What to know about wildfire risk With wildfires raging across the Western U.S., cities and states are restricting fireworks just as the nation gears up for one of its biggest Fourth of July celebrations in decades.
	Davenport opens DREAM applications for homeowners and businesses around Rockingham Road Davenport is accepting applications through July 31 for new rounds of its DREAM and Commercial DREAM grant programs for homes and businesses.
	Fire destroys Hampton home on Wednesday, no injuries reported A fire destroyed a home in Hampton, Illinois, on Wednesday. No one was injured.
	Galesburg residents encouraged to stay cool as heat climbs With hot temperatures this week, the City of Galesburg is providing cooling centers for residents. Plus, how one family is beating the heat.
	Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Thursday
	QC teen caddie could win $100,000 scholarship A QC teen could win the prestigious Chick Evans scholarship worth over $100,000.
	2 Bettendorf Catholic parishes unite Members of the parish shared their excitement for the change and said the collaboration will bring opportunities in Catholic education as well as bringing people closer together as they more forward in faith.
	QC teen caddy could win $100,000 scholarship A QC teen could win the prestigious Chick Evans scholarship worth over $100,000.
	Davenport crews respond to water main break Crews in Davenport responded to a water main break.
	Quad City Arts interim executive director resigns amid police investigation Quad City Arts sought the resignation of its interim executive director after a video circulated online. Police say the investigation remains ongoing.
	Muscatine announces July 4 road closures It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. The City of Muscatine announced parking and traffic restrictions in Downtown Muscatine to ensure the safety of participants, spectators and visitors during Independence Day activities. According to a release: The annual Fourth of July Parade begins at 4:00 p.m. Traffic restrictions take effect at 2:00 p.m. Residents [...]
	Colona church to open pantry for baby supplies A church in the QCA is operating a baby pantry to help anyone in need of baby supplies. Grace Community Church of The Nazarene will open the pantry Saturday, July 18 from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The pantry will give away baby-related items like diapers, toys, car seats and clothes. The church is accepting baby [...]
	Strong at Every Age: How Women Can Help Combat Muscle Loss (Feature Impact) Aging is inevitable, but losing muscle and mobility doesn’t have to be. For many women, maintaining strength, independence, energy and mobility are top priorities as they get older, particularly as they deal with the mental and physical responsibilities that come with working, caregiving, keeping up with friends, hobbies and enjoying an active lifestyle. In fact, 58% of women in the United States are actively focused on staying healthy as they age, according to a recent survey commissioned by Viactiv, a line of award-winning supplements for women known for their unique formats and flavors. However, 73% of respondents weren’t aware of sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. According to the “International Journal of Women’s Health,” age-related muscle loss often begins between ages 30-35, with women losing 3-8% of their muscle mass per decade and increasing to 5-10% loss per decade after age 60. Hormonal changes, decreased activity levels, stress, poor sleep and inadequate nutrition can all contribute to the decline in muscle, which can also negatively impact balance, bone health, metabolism, posture and everyday mobility. Yet, despite 70% of women reporting some level of concern about muscle loss, 54% are unsure how to protect their muscle health. “Women want to stay strong, active and independent as they age, but many are getting mixed messages about what actually supports long-term muscle health,” said Dr. Tania Elliott, a dual board-certified physician in internal medicine. “A lot of women are already making healthy choices like walking and staying active, which is a great start. However, maintaining muscle health really requires a more complete approach, and one that starts earlier than most women think, which is in your 30s.” Prioritize Strength Training Many women report barriers such as lack of time (15%), feeling overwhelmed (23%) or simply not enjoying exercise (23%). The key is finding realistic, sustainable habits. While walking and cardio exercise aid in heart health, which 58% of survey respondents report already engaging in, strength training is one of the most effective ways to preserve and build muscle as you age. Still, just 34% of women report doing strength or resistance training. You don’t need an intense fitness regimen to support healthy aging. Aiming for at least two strength-focused workouts a week – lifting weights, using resistance bands, practicing weight-bearing yoga or doing bodyweight exercises like squats and pushups – that target major muscle groups can help maintain muscle health. The goal is to fatigue your muscles during sets so they build. Fuel Muscles with Proper Nutrition Exercise is only part of the equation. Muscles also need proper nutrition to recover and stay strong. Protein plays a critical role in maintaining muscle mass, especially as women age. Incorporating high-quality protein throughout the day, such as eggs, Greek yogurt, fish, lean meats, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, may help support muscle repair and overall strength. Support Healthy Aging with Supplements In addition to a balanced diet and exercise, some women may consider supplements that support healthy aging and energy production, including CoQ10, which is a naturally occurring antioxidant that helps cells produce energy. According to research published in “The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging,” because muscles require significant energy to function, CoQ10 shows potential for managing sarcopenia by improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress. An option like Viactiv CoQ10 Cardio Complete, available in a tasty fruit-flavored chew, can help support heart health, muscles, nerve function and daily energy. Enhanced with vitamins D3 and K2, it provides daily essential nutrition for women without the need to swallow a large pill. Practice Healthy Habits Muscle health is influenced by more than workouts. Sleep, stress management and daily movement all play important roles. Adopting some simple habits, including prioritizing quality sleep, stretching regularly, staying properly hydrated, reducing sedentary time throughout the day and practicing stress-management techniques, like yoga, meditation or deep breathing, can help aid in healthy aging, including maintaining muscle. The earlier women begin prioritizing muscle health, the better positioned they may be to maintain strength and mobility as they age. Visit Viactiv.com for more information and resources to help combat muscle loss.
	University of Illinois men’s basketball head coach tees off in John Deere Classic Pro-Am Some famous faces made it to the course including Illinois head basketball coach Brad Underwood.
	Spring Forward QCA keeps kids learning and cool during summer heat The summer program helps elementary students stay engaged while school is out, with free enrichment programs and activities. Here's how they're beating the heat.
	Youth Day at the John Deere Classic brings families together Read what parents and kids at the John Deere Classic’s Youth Day had to say about the event, golf and family.
	Crews respond to house fire in Hampton, Illinois A News 8 photojournalist arrived on the scene of a fire on the 600 block of Second Avenue in Hampton around 5 p.m.
	Kids take over the John Deere Classic The main events of the 55th John Deere Classic get underway on Thursday, and on Wednesday kids and the Savannah Bananas stole the show before Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and more hit the stage this weekend. "I've been coming here since I was a little kid, like his age, even my newborn son's age," said [...]
	Iowa raises speed limit on some state highways, but DOT warns of safety concerns Iowa’s speed limit on some state highways is increasing from 55 to 60 miles per hour starting in July, but the Iowa Department of Transportation said not all roads are ready for the change.
	Health experts urge hydration and heat‑safety precautions as summer temperatures rise University of Iowa Health Care Health urges residents to stay hydrated, limit peak‑hour sun exposure and watch for early symptoms of heat illness as temperatures climb this summer.
	Fire destroys house in Hampton A fire destroyed a house in Hampton. Firefighters were called to the home on 2nd Ave. July 1 around 5:00 p.m. There's no word of any injuries or how it started.
	A look inside the plans for Raphael’s Emporium The City of Davenport has received a state grant to help redevelop a long-vacant historic building in the Hilltop Campus Village, with plans to create new commercial space and future housing.
	Bettendorf's school superintendent leaves district Bettendorf's superintendent has left her role and the district. According to a release from the Bettendorf Community School District, Michelle Morse's departure is effective July 1: We are grateful for Dr. Morse's six years of dedicated service to our students, staff, families and community. Her leadership and commitment to the district have made a lasting [...]
	Davenport's Veterans Memorial Park adds statues, memorial wall, brick display The additions include a veterans’ brick display, a Vietnam War veterans remembrance wall and three new statues.
	Iowa City braces for hundreds of thousands of visitors this weekend Law enforcement asks public to be patient as Savannah Bananas, Jazz Fest and Big and Rich concert converge on Johnson County
	Youth Day at John Deere Classic brings plenty of fun to kids and families As for at the golf course, Thursday morning tees off four days of tournament play.
	Crews respond to house fire in Hampton The house appeared to suffer extensive charring to its exterior.
	Ronald Reagan's QCA first home tells his story The QCA has plenty of historic landmarks, including two presidential birth homes. Fortieth president Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911. That first home is now a museum, dedicated to teaching the public about Reagan. "It was a very difficult birth" said Joan Johnson, a volunteer at the birthplace. "He weighed [...]
	MercyOne Genesis Foundation delivers $132,645 grant to help care for moms and babies The grant was used to purchase life-saving technology for the MercyOne Genesis NICU, Davenport Birth Center and Silvis Birth Center.
	Enjoy the fun of camping with GLAMP at Camp Liberty You're never too old for the fun of camping, and you can enjoy an event for women of all outdoor interest levels! Andrea Gaskin joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about GLAMP. For more information, click here.
	Lock 14 Dam Good Salsa opens new QCA home The folks behind the popular Lock 14 Dam Good Salsa are expanding to help other local businesses succeed through Lock 14 Kitchen. Lock 14's salsa has made waves over the past eight years, and they cut the ribbon on a new space on River Dr. in Moline. Staff plan to offer space to other local [...]
	Eldridge Fire Department, city debate future of fire services in Eldridge The two organizations' negotiations have broken down and spilled onto social media and in the mailboxes of Eldridge residents as the officials debate how to address burnout and volunteer shortages.
	Youth Day, Pro-Am kickstart John Deere Classic week The John Deere Classic is in full swing with the first day of events teeing off Wednesday morning from TPC Deere Run.
	Coal Valley balloon artist inflates the decor at the John Deere Classic The display includes a golf bag and a golf ball made of balloons, as well as other pieces.
	Trump's crypto earnings far outpace the businesses he spent decades building NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Bernard Condon of the AP about how President Trump and his family raked in more than a billion dollars last year through crypto ventures.
	The benefits shift: What small businesses need to know The benefits shift: What small businesses need to knowBenefits play a significant role in how employees feel about their employer. According to the 2026 ADP TotalSource Employee Benefits Survey of 12,429 U.S. workers, 78% of employees say they feel valued because their employer offers medical benefits. Even more, 83%, say they feel valued because of nonmedical benefits like life and disability insurance, dental, vision, etc. Medical insurance remains the most valued workplace benefit, followed by retirement savings plans.For small businesses, these insights present a challenge and an opportunity. But the upside is when small businesses help their employees understand their benefits, it can build trust, improve retention and help people see the full value of their compensation.Benefits remain a powerful employee retention toolHealthcare costs, rising economic pressures and growing concerns about retirement are changing how people view workplace benefits. While competitive health insurance and retirement plans remain essential, workers are looking for more than access to coverage. They want help navigating complex decisions that affect both their financial well-being and their health.The Employee Benefits Survey’s findings suggest that benefits are one of the most visible ways people judge an employer's commitment to their well-being. Many view pay and benefits as a single package that contributes to both short-term financial stability and long-term security.For small businesses that may not always be able to match the salaries offered by larger organizations, benefits can reinforce the value of total compensation and help attract strong talent.Employees expect more than access to benefitsBenefits decisions have become more complicated. Choosing healthcare coverage, understanding out-of-pocket costs and planning for retirement all require people to make decisions that can have a lasting impact.Nearly three-quarters of people believe their employer will provide benefits that meet their needs. That level of confidence creates an opportunity for small businesses to play a more active role in supporting employee decision-making.Simple explanations, educational resources and year-round benefits communication can help people better understand their options and use available resources more effectively. In many cases, people may place as much value on guidance and support as they do on the benefits themselves.Rising healthcare costs are changing employee behaviorAffordability has become one of the defining issues in employee benefits. Rising healthcare expenses are forcing many workers to make difficult choices about care and coverage.More than one-quarter of people surveyed report skipping medical care for themselves or a family member because of out-of-pocket costs. And nearly 1 in 4 say they have taken less medication than prescribed to save money. Another 15% have declined dental or vision coverage so they could afford medical insurance.These decisions may help people manage short-term expenses, but they can create larger challenges over time. Delayed care can lead to more serious health conditions, higher treatment costs and increased absenteeism.At the same time, more people are taking an active role in managing their health. More than two-thirds report using the internet to seek medical information, while more than one-quarter have used generative AI tools for health-related advice. In addition, 78% say they are paying closer attention to wellness habits such as exercise, nutrition and mindfulness. Preventive care usage has also increased.People are caught between wanting to stay healthy and struggling to afford it. Small businesses can help close that gap through better benefits education, decision-support tools and plan options that work across different income levels.Retirement security is becoming a core employee concernWhile healthcare remains a major focus, retirement readiness is moving rapidly up the list of employee priorities: 63% of employees rank a 401(k)-retirement savings plan as a top-tier benefit. Retirement savings have now surpassed dental insurance to become the second most valued workplace benefit, only behind medical. The shift reflects growing concerns about long-term financial security.For small employers, retirement benefits are becoming a competitive necessity rather than a nice-to-have offering. Not having retirement offerings may put small businesses at risk of losing out on top talent, as people place greater value on employers that help them prepare for the future.Fortunately, several developments have made retirement plans more accessible for small businesses. The SECURE 2.0 Act expanded tax credits that can offset much, and in some cases all, of the startup costs for eligible small businesses. Additional incentives tied to employer contributions and automatic enrollment can further reduce the financial burden.Access to a retirement savings plan, employer matching contributions and financial education resources can help address one of the fastest-growing sources of employee anxiety.Employees have more savings but less confidencePerhaps the survey's most surprising finding is that employees report saving more money while feeling less financially secure. Nearly 40% say they are unprepared to handle unexpected out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Meanwhile, the percentage of people with less than $500 saved for unexpected medical costs has increased from 20% to 28% over the past five years. Even workers who are putting money aside often worry that they are not prepared for a medical emergency or other unexpected expense.Small businesses can support employees by strengthening financial wellness efforts. Benefits education, retirement planning resources and tools that help employees estimate healthcare costs can improve understanding and reduce uncertainty. Even modest improvements in benefits literacy can help your employees feel more prepared to manage financial challenges.What employers can do nowThe data points to several practical steps employers can take to improve the employee benefits experience:Simplify benefits communication. Use plain language and focus on helping people understand how plans work and how to use them.Extend education beyond open enrollment. Provide year-round resources that help people make informed healthcare and financial decisions.Promote financial wellness. Offer retirement planning support, educational workshops and resources that help people prepare for future expenses.Leverage technology. Decision-support tools, benefits calculators and personalized resources can help employees compare options and choose coverage that fits their needs.Highlight the full value of benefits. Many underestimate the investment employers make in benefits. Regular communication can help reinforce the value of the total compensation package.The new measure of benefits successBenefits have always been important for attracting and retaining talent. What is changing is the role small businesses play in helping their people understand and use them.People are not necessarily asking for more benefits. They are looking for benefits that are easier to navigate, better aligned with their needs and supported by practical guidance. As healthcare and financial decisions become more complex, offering strong benefits combined with ongoing education and support may help businesses gain a meaningful advantage in building trust, engagement and stability.This story was produced by ADP and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rising costs are moving buyers to used vehicles, and public fleets are feeling it first Rising costs are moving buyers to used vehicles, and public fleets are feeling it firstWhen money gets tight at home, people get predictable. They buy the used car instead of the new one, they keep the old one running another year or two, and they trade down to whatever covers the daily drive and skip the extras. No one needs a degree in economics to understand when a monthly payment no longer fits the budget.But you may be surprised that school districts do the same thing. So do transit agencies, hospital van fleets, and the companies that bus their crews out to a jobsite. Yes, the vehicles are bigger, and there are a lot more of them, but the instinct is the same for the car sitting in your driveway. And in 2026, it’s showing up across fleets that have nothing else in common, whether they run school buses in Ohio or haul crews to an oil field.Of course, a salesperson won’t recommend this because they want to move a new bus off the lot. But more and more companies are finding that it’s what the company spreadsheet recommends. The logic is one a family would recognize.BusesForSale explored why households and fleets are opting for used vehicles instead of purchasing new ones.Why buyers are choosing used over newWalk onto any dealer lot, or just open the emails dealers send you, and reality hits your dreams of a new vehicle. New prices keep climbing, and tariffs on imported components are a major reason. The Detroit News recently said, “Used vehicles are having a moment as new costs rise.” JD Power's Tyson Jominy told CNBC that prices "have gone up about a third" while incomes haven't come close to keeping pace, leaving a smaller pool of buyers who can still afford new. New prices aren't going down. Used vehicle prices have also climbed, but they remain well below new-car prices. So more used cars are finding homes than ever before.For a household, a 30% jump like this will kill the new-car plan. For a fleet, a decision on what to do barely needs a meeting. A used bus earns the same revenue as a new one on the same route, so the operator who adds capacity without paying the new-vehicle premium is the one with more left over at the end of the run. The marketplace for new and used buses sees demand for used inventory first, for the same reason the family two doors down bought a three-year-old SUV instead of a new one. The used one does most of the same work at a fraction of the sticker price.Keeping buses longer instead of replacing themA squeezed budget quickly causes chief financial officers to fall in love with what they already own. When a new bus gets expensive enough, the replacement clock stretches. A transit bus that would have been retired at 10 years runs to 12, kept going by the maintenance shop rather than being traded in. Fleets can play that out because these are commercial-grade engines. Thomas Built Buses, one of the country’s major school bus manufacturers, notes that clean-diesel engines are built to last 15 to 20 years.That's the kind of runway that lets a maintenance shop justify keeping a bus another year or two instead of replacing it. It is the same bet a family makes putting new brakes on the Honda minivan instead of trading it for an SUV. The difference is that a fleet runs the math across 40 vehicles, and the savings come back with another zero on the end.Buying smaller and skipping the new-bus waitAn option many corporate fleet buyers are eyeing is rightsizing. When an organization shrinks, the fleet shrinks with it. More often, the buyer specs down on purpose, choosing the vehicle for everyday employee pickup instead of the bigger one bought for the worst day of the year.And a lot of them are choosing used vehicles because they can put them to work now. Even when funding is approved, a new bus does not show up next week. IC Bus told School Bus Fleet in December 2024 it was running close to a year's worth of order backlog, and while original equipment manufacturer delivery times have eased, they haven't snapped back to normal. Some public fleets have turned to leasing and the used market to get vehicles into service rather than sit in a production queue for the better part of a year. Cheaper and sooner tend to work together these days.Why school districts are buying used busesThe squeeze is easiest to see in student transportation, because the buyers are public agencies and their books are open. What districts actually spend to replace a single school bus has climbed past what their budgets planned for. Prices have been pushed up by a higher base price, the 2025 tariffs, and a federal rebate that stalled. Instead of living with that gap, more districts and contractors work the used market to keep routes covered. The ones who can put together a fleet of sound used buses quickly are the ones winning the contracts and getting paid.Where the squeeze is hitting hardestThe states that feel it first are the ones where the budget math broke first.Texas is feeling it more than others. Northwest ISD's CFO told CBS News the state allotted his district $3.5 million for transportation while the district spent more than four times that. And other Texas districts said the state's share covered as little as 12% of what they actually pay to move kids. When the gap runs that wide, every replacement decision gets harder, and buying used stops being a choice and turns into the default.The same pressure is forcing hard calls elsewhere. Columbus City Schools in Ohio cut back K-8 busing and moved to close four schools while working through roughly $50 million in budget cuts. In Connecticut, Bridgeport floated pushing its walk-to-school line out as far as 2.5 miles before a kid qualifies for a bus. Those are service cuts, not purchase orders. But they come from the same budget math that’s pushing a district toward the used lot when it does buy. When a board is debating whether to bus a kid who lives 2 miles out, it is not going to sign off on a new bus it can replace for a third of the price used.With the cost of a single replacement bus still climbing, the places that hit the wall first are the ones where buying used quietly became the whole plan.What it tells usCost pressure doesn’t freeze fleet purchasing. It just reorders a buyer's priorities toward buying preowned buses, keeping them longer, sizing down, and getting them sooner. The same type of moves a family makes with one car, a district makes with 80 and a city makes with a few hundred.Many transportation directors are making the same choice that local parents already made. A 3-year-old used bus that runs every morning beats waiting another year for funding approval on a new one.This story was produced by BusesForSale and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning: Dangerously High Temperatures Through Thursday Evening
	Tailgate theft prevention: How to keep your tailgate from being stolen Tailgate theft prevention: How to keep your tailgate from being stolenTruck tailgate theft is on the rise in the U.S., especially in urban settings and high-traffic areas. What was once a rare nuisance has become a frequent and frustrating crime—often occurring in broad daylight, in your own driveway, and taking less than a minute to pull off.Why, you may ask, is this crime becoming increasingly common? The answer is simple—modern truck tailgates are valuable, easy to remove, and difficult to trace once stolen. For thieves, it’s a relatively low-risk, high-reward crime. But for truck owners, it can mean a costly and frustrating replacement.RealTruck.com shares several practical steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk of falling victim. From quick DIY deterrents to purpose-built locking systems, protecting your tailgate is easier and more affordable than ever.Why Are Tailgates Stolen?Tailgates are stolen because they’re worth loads of money and they’re easy to take.Modern truck tailgates aren’t just simple hinged panels—they’re full of expensive cameras, sensors, and power components, giving them a high resale value. Depending on the make and model, a tailgate can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the secondhand market.On top of their value, tailgates are easy to remove, tough to track, and in demand, especially in areas where rust runs rampant. While some steal tailgates for their own trucks, most are looking to flip a quick profit.According to an ABC7 news story posted in 2024, in Costa Mesa, California, the most common targets for tailgate theft include those without tailgate locks, such as the midsize Toyota Tacoma.Which States Report the Most Tailgate Theft?Some states are worse than others, with the highest recorded theft rates present in metropolitan areas with high truck ownership. According to a study published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB), based on the most recent data available, truck thefts are most common in Texas, with 1,360 reported thefts in 2016–’17, followed closely by California, with 1,039 during the same time period. These two states also contain all five of the top cities for tailgate theft, including:Houston, TX (277)Dallas, TX (242)San Antonio, TX (196)Los Angeles, CA (97)Fresno, CA (79) How Are Tailgates Stolen?One of the biggest reasons tailgate theft is so common is the ease of the process. On most trucks, removing the tailgate requires no tools and takes less than a minute. On most applications, here’s how a tailgate is removed:Open the tailgate.Disconnect the support cables.Lift the tailgate to roughly a 45-degree angle.Pull upward to disengage it from the hinges.That’s it. Because most tailgates aren’t physically locked to the truck bed, a thief can easily make away with your truck’s valuable tailgate in minutes.How to Keep Your Tailgate from Being StolenPreventing tailgate theft comes down to one simple principle—make your truck a harder target than the one next to it. Most thieves are looking for a quick and easy score. Often, small deterrents are enough to make them move on to the next target.There are two main approaches to reducing the risk of tailgate theft: simple DIY methods and secure, purpose-built products.DIY SolutionsIf you’re looking for a fast, low-cost way to reduce the risk of tailgate theft, these DIY methods are a great place to start. These methods don’t require special tools or advanced installs—just a little time.The Hose Clamp MethodThe hose clamp method is one of the most popular and affordable tailgate theft deterrents. By placing a standard hose clamp around the tailgate hinge on the side that allows removal, you physically block the tailgate from being lifted off the truck bed.This solution prevents quick, tool-free removal, adds time to the theft process, and makes your truck less appealing to opportunistic thieves. While not foolproof, the hose clamp method is a solid deterrent, as most thieves won’t risk getting caught.For added security, consider using a keyed hose clamp, which requires a specific tool to remove.Park Close to a Wall or Parking PillarParking your truck strategically can make a big difference. If you can back into a parking space close to a wall, pole, or pillar, you limit how far the tailgate can open. Since removal requires lowering the tailgate to around 45 degrees, restricting that movement can prevent theft altogether.Parking in a spot that obstructs tailgate access is an effective solution, especially in public parking areas scouted by opportunistic thieves.Park in a GarageIt sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most effective solutions.Parking in a garage, whether at home or in a secured structure, limits access to your truck. Fewer eyes and less opportunity mean a much lower chance of theft.If the garage isn’t available, well-lit areas with security cameras are the next best option.Etch VIN on the TailgateOne of the biggest reasons tailgates are so easily stolen is due to how untraceable they are. Without a VIN (vehicle identification number) or any identifiers, thieves can easily swipe and resell them without repercussions. One way to combat this factor is to etch your vehicle’s VIN into the tailgate in a non-visible area, like the jambs. Even if the tailgate leaves the vehicle, there’s still an identifier marker that can be used to locate the stolen item.Use Factory LockMany modern pickup trucks have a factory-installed lock (electric or manual) that can be used to secure the tailgate in the closed position. When engaged, thieves will have a far more difficult time lowering the tailgate, a process necessary to remove the tailgate.If your truck didn’t come with a factory lock, consider a purpose-built tailgate security product. What to Do If Your Tailgate is StolenIf you’ve already been the victim of tailgate theft, don’t panic—there are a few important steps to take right away.File a police report: Doing so creates an official record of the theft and may be required for insurance claims.Document the loss: Take photos of your truck and gather any relevant details (make, model, condition of the tailgate).Contact your insurance company: Comprehensive auto insurance may cover tailgate theft, depending on your policy.Check local listings: Browse online marketplaces in your area as you might spot your tailgate being resold. Don’t confront the seller yourself. Reach out to law enforcement before taking action.Replace and upgrade: When replacing your tailgate, consider adding a lock or security device to reduce the risk of repeat theft.FAQsQ: How Long Does It Take to Steal a Tailgate?A: In most cases, less than a minute. Experienced thieves can remove a tailgate in 30 seconds or less.Q: Which Trucks Are Most Commonly Targeted for Tailgate Theft?A: The most common targets for tailgate theft are full-size pickup trucks—especially high-volume models like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500—due to their popularity, interchangeable parts, and high resale value.Q: Does Car Insurance Cover a Stolen Tailgate?A: Yes, if you have comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies typically won’t cover theft.Q: How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Stolen Tailgate?A: Costs vary widely, but modern tailgates with cameras and sensors can range from $150 to $1,200 depending on the options, and that’s secondhand. Ordering a new tailgate from the dealership can easily cost over $5,000.Q: Is the Hose Clamp Method Actually Effective?A: Yes, as a deterrent. It won’t stop a determined thief, but it adds enough difficulty to make most move on.Q: Will My Truck Alarm Go Off if Someone Tries to Steal My Tailgate?A: In most cases, no. Factory tailgates are rarely tied to the alarm system, except for some specific exceptions, like the GMC Sierra EV.Q: Why Is the Toyota Tacoma So Commonly Targeted for Tailgate Theft?A: The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most frequently targeted vehicles for tailgate theft for several reasons. According to an article posted by Jalopnik in late 2025, the primary reason for the increase in thefts is due to how easy Tacoma tailgates are to steal. While some newer, higher-trim models have locks, many owners aren’t in the habit of locking them. If left unlocked, it only takes a couple of seconds to drop the tailgate, disconnect the cables, and lift the gate.This story was produced by RealTruck.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What Iowa law says about saving children, pets from hot cars While Iowa has no specific laws about breaking into vehicles to save kids or animals from the heat, the state's "Good Samaritan Law" might apply in some cases.
	Why press releases alone aren't enough anymore, and what PR teams are doing about it Why press releases alone aren't enough anymore, and what PR teams are doing about itGetting a press release out used to be the job. Now it's the starting point.According to PR Newswire's 2025 State of the Press Release Report, 33% of PR professionals say their biggest challenge is not generating the media pickup they expected. That number has stayed stubbornly high, and it reflects something structural. The way people find information has changed, and communications strategies are catching up.Gartner predicts some earned media budgets could double by 2027. The reason, as reported by Inc., is that AI is replacing traditional search as the primary way consumers discover brands, drawing heavily from earned, third-party sources when building its answers.PR Newswire shares insights into why communications strategies now demand a coordinated approach to break through the noise and capture the attention of fractured audiences and AI bots.How AI search is changing brand discoveryAI-powered search tools no longer return a list of links. They synthesize, summarize, and recommend, pulling from sources that aren't determined by ad spend.Similarweb's 2026 Generative AI Brand Visibility Report found that 35% of U.S. consumers now use AI at the product discovery stage, compared to 13.6% who use traditional search. AI holds a more than 2-to-1 advantage at every stage of the purchase funnel until the final transaction. By the time a consumer opens a search engine, the shortlist is often already formed.Similarweb also tracked what happens when AI platforms send visitors to websites: In its data, those visitors convert at a 7% rate, compared to 5% from Google referrals. The volume is lower, but the intent is higher.For brands not appearing in AI responses, the loss is invisible. No bounce rate, no impression count. The consumer just moves on.Crafting content specifically for discovery and summarization by AI models, a practice sometimes called generative engine optimization (GEO), is a skill most PR teams haven't had to develop until now. As Courtney Sandora, owner of marketing consultancy Go Social, told Inc.: "AI doesn't rank brands like Google. It learns narratives from trusted sources.”On the media relations side, the volume problem hasn't gotten easier either. According to Cision's 2026 State of the Media Report, more than half of all journalists receive more than 50 pitches per week. Generic pitches will be deleted.What a modern campaign actually requiresThe multichannel approach isn't new. What's changed is why it matters and what it needs to accomplish: a consistent drumbeat of authoritative content that both journalists and AI systems will trust.That starts with a clear foundation before any content is produced:One clear takeaway. If the core message is ambiguous, every downstream asset suffers.A defined audience, including the AI tools they use to discover information.A "so what." Why this story matters, right now, to this reader.A one-sentence summary that can anchor every format without contradiction.From there, the goal is to repurpose the story, not duplicate it.The content types doing the workLuckily, many communicators are already using the exact types of content that AI models are learning from to build summaries and generate answers. “PR pros are perfectly positioned to adapt,” Orbit Media’s Andy Crestodina explains. “The goal is a large, visible digital footprint, but with AI, it’s more about providing rich, descriptive content that the AI can understand and recommend. It’s less about traditional links and more about ensuring your brand and expertise are well-represented in text.”According to Cision’s State of the Press Release Report, 91% of communicators repurpose their press release content. This coordinated push of multiple content types across earned, owned, paid, and shared channels, paired with the right distribution strategies, ensures a consistent message LLMs use as authoritative signals. Different content types surfaced in different places also help to ensure a brand’s story reaches the right audiences in the right places at the right time. PR Newswire Press releases remain the standard format for verified announcements. Cision's report found 66% of journalists still want news through this channel. A well-structured release that is factual, organized, and clearly sourced is also among the most AI-discoverable formats a team can produce. Despite past reports that the press release is dead, press releases are a credible resource with a structured format that can even include FAQs—a goldmine for LLMs.Personalized pitches matter more as inboxes get fuller. With most journalists receiving more than 50 pitches a week, a pitch that doesn't demonstrate familiarity with the reporter's beat gets deleted. One journalist surveyed by Cision put it directly: “Think deeply about why you are pitching me a story idea, then show me in the pitch that you understand why I would want to bite on it as editorial content." Simply put: Do the homework.Earned-media articles are bylined, editorially compliant pieces that can be placed in third-party publications. Newsrooms are dwindling, and editors need content. With articles, brands can help editors fill in content gaps. Earned pickups satisfy AI's preference for independent, third-party sources, contribute to the citation pool AI draws from, and reach audiences through editorial environments that carry their own authority. Gartner’s forecast is based on earned media’s influence on AI search.Blog posts on owned channels extend reach and signal consistency. Sixty-seven percent of communicators are already repurposing press releases into blog posts, according to the 2025 State of the Press Release Report. Regular, substantive owned content tells search engines and LLMs that a brand has standing in its field.Video travels in ways text doesn't. Thirty-two percent of journalists value multimedia content from PR teams, including video, per Cision's State of the Media Report. Subtitles and transcripts aren't optional; they're how video content gets indexed and cited across platforms.Social content works best when it's built for amplification, not just distribution. The 2025 Cision-PRWeek Comms Report found 53% of PR professionals consider branded social among the most effective formats for influencing behavior, and 52% identified employees as the most effective influencer type.Data visualizations and infographics give journalists something they can use directly. Nearly half of journalists in the 2026 State of the Media Report said they actively want original data and research from communications teams. A well-made infographic also travels long after initial placement, shared across platforms.Building the record that AI learns fromA failure to adapt to the new rules of content discovery means ceding the narrative to competitors or, worse, to misinformation. The stakes are no longer just about getting coverage; they are about creating a steady drumbeat of content in the digital record.A press release alone is not enough. A campaign that combines distribution, earned placement, owned publishing, and social amplification increases the chances of citations, and each piece reinforces the others over time. AI systems learn from that consistent record when forming the recommendations that a growing share of consumers are acting on.Here are four practices that hold this together.Plan the full campaign before publishing anything. A press release written without a downstream pitch, blog post, and social strategy in mind is a missed opportunity.Keep the message consistent, not uniform. The core facts stay the same across formats. Tone and length shift to fit the channel.Repurpose with a purpose. A press release becomes a blog post; that post becomes social copy; the data becomes an infographic. Each version should serve a distinct role, with the content being tailored to each platform.Measure the whole picture. Pickup, reach, AI-search citations, and social engagement, together tell the story that any one metric can't.The brands that show up in AI recommendations didn't get there by accident. They earned coverage, published consistently, and built a record that AI systems could learn from. That's the new job.This story was produced by PR Newswire and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: JOSHUA AVILA, 33, 5'9", 220 pounds. Wanted by Rock Island County Sheriff's Office for violation of murder and violent offender against youth registration. ZACHARY [...]
	The special green card option for doctors The special green card option for doctorsThe Physician National Interest Waiver (PNIW), which is a subset of the EB-2 National Interest Waiver visa, is one of the most direct paths to a U.S. green card for foreign doctors. It allows qualifying physicians to self-petition under the EB-2 visa category without a job offer and without going through the permanent labor certification Program Electronic Review Management (PERM), as long as they work full-time in a designated underserved area for five years. The process can be complex and includes interim check-ins throughout the service period, but it can also offer multiple advantages over other green card pathways.This article is informed by real-world insights from Manifest Law’s practicing immigration attorneys. It reflects not only what the law says, but also how USCIS officers are currently applying that law, and where risks are increasing.Key takeaways:The Physician NIW is a subcategory of the EB-2 NIW immigrant visa, but it has a different statutory framework and compliance requirements.Every state health department handles the public interest attestation differently. Delays here are one of the most common reasons filings slip.Miscounting prior clinical service is one of the most expensive Physician NIW mistakes. Getting it wrong can cost years of credit.Miss the 120-day interim evidence deadline at year two, and USCIS can deny your I-485 and revoke your I-140.What is the Physician NIW?The Physician National Interest Waiver is a pathway for certain EB-2-eligible physicians to qualify for a green card. Most EB-2 applicants who apply through the National Interest Waiver (NIW) must satisfy the three-prong Dhanasar test to argue their work is in the national interest of the U.S. Congress created a separate statutory pathway for physicians, allowing certain practicing doctors to bypass that test entirely if they commit to work for five years in an underserved area of the country.Who qualifies for the Physician NIW?To qualify for a Physician NIW visa, you must meet all four of the following requirements:Hold an M.D., D.O., or equivalent foreign medical degree (or demonstrate exceptional ability in medicine or science)Work full-time in clinical practice for an aggregate of five years. Time worked in a qualifying area before filing generally counts, but time in J-1 status does notWork in a qualifying practice site: HPSA, MUA, MUP, MHPSA (psychiatrists only), or a VA facilityReceive a public interest attestation letter from a state health department or federal agencyOnly M.D. and D.O. holders (and their foreign equivalents) who work in primary care or as specialty physicians qualify.Who doesn’t qualify for Physician NIW?Dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and optometrists are not eligible for the Physician NIW but could explore the regular NIW as a pathway to permanent residency.How to apply for the Physician NIWApplying for a PNIW requires you to get a qualifying position before you submit an EB-2 PNIW visa petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your petition will require a handful of other forms, and cannot be approved until after you complete your five years of eligible service.Confirm your practice location is eligible for the PNIW. It must hold a current Health Professional Shortage Area, Medically Underserved Area, Medically Underserved Population, or Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (psychiatrists only) designation, or be a VA facility.Obtain an employment contract for full-time clinical practice. The contract must be for a qualifying site, and USCIS generally requires it to be dated within six months of when you file the visa petition.Obtain the attestation letter from your state department of health or a federal agency. Each state has its own process to get a letter. An immigration attorney can help you understand your relevant state’s requirements and process.File Form I-140 and other required forms. USCIS Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, is used to petition for an EB-2 immigrant visa. You’ll also submit your work contract, attestation letter, proof of degree, medical license, and documentation of the site’s shortage designation. Premium processing is available for a faster decision.Wait for a current priority date. Once your I-140 is approved, you must wait until your priority date (your place in line for a visa) is current. At that time, a visa will be available for you, and you can submit the actual application for an EB-2 immigrant visa. Your priority date may be current at the time you submit I-140, allowing you to file both concurrently.Apply for a green card. The application process requires Form I-485 for adjustment of status if you currently live in the U.S. with valid status. If you are living abroad, you will instead go through consular processing. In either case, USCIS will not approve your green card application until the full five-year service is complete.Meet all interim evidence deadlines. USCIS requires you to submit interim evidence within 120 days of your I-140 approval’s second anniversary. Miss it, and USCIS can deny your I-485 and even revoke your I-140 petition. As you complete your five years of service, you also need to report any changes in your position or location to USCIS.Your priority date is the day USCIS receives your EB-2 PNIW petition. Once that date becomes current on the USCIS Visa Bulletin, you’re eligible to move forward with your green card application.How long does it take to get a Physician NIW?USCIS will not approve Form I-485 until your five-year service requirement is fully documented, so most physicians can expect at least five years from filing Form I-140. Beyond completing your service time, current I-485 processing times are nine months or more.Physicians from India and China will likely face longer wait times because of high demand and per-country caps on EB-2 visas.What should you look for in a Physician NIW lawyer?The Physician NIW has more moving parts than most green card petitions: a five-year service commitment, interim evidence deadlines, state attestation letters, and a priority date that may not be current when you are ready to file. The right lawyer will track necessary deadlines and handle your petitions and application so that you can focus on your day-to-day work.When evaluating a law firm, look for:Specific Physician NIW experience: The statutory framework and compliance requirements are different from standard EB-2 and EB-2 NIW work.State attestation know-how: Every state health department handles the public interest letter differently, and delays here are one of the most common reasons filings slip.Clear guidance on the J-1 exclusion: Miscounting prior clinical service is one of the most expensive mistakes in a Physician NIW case. In some cases, you also need to file for a J-1 waiver.Clear communication. While there’s significant waiting in the PNIW process, there are also interim deadlines you need to hit. A good lawyer will be able to track those deadlines and clearly communicate what you need to provide.FAQs on Physician NIWsCan I self-petition for a Physician NIW?Yes. The Physician NIW allows self-petitioning, so you do not need an employer sponsor to file Form I-140. You do need a qualifying employment contract and an attestation letter, but neither requires an employer to file the petition for you.Does J-1 time count toward the five years for a Physician NIW?No. Time in J-1 status does not count toward the five-year service requirement for a Physician NIW. That’s true even if you were working in a qualifying underserved area with your J-1. The clock only starts when you transition to another qualifying nonimmigrant status, such as H-1B.Can I change employers during the five years?Yes, you can complete your five years of PNIW service across multiple employers or positions, as long as you remain working full-time in a qualifying shortage area or VA facility. The five-year requirement is aggregate, so time at multiple qualifying employers counts cumulatively.This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Untold casualties and humanitarian needs: What to know a week from Venezuela's quakes Here's a look at some of the major developments since major back-to-back earthquakes rocked Venezuela on June 24, devastating parts of a country already reeling from crisis after crisis.
	Kids line up to get autographs from the Savannah Bananas at the John Deere Classic In the words of Gwen Stefani: Bananas.
	States where homeowners with fair credit struggle most to access home equity States where homeowners with fair credit struggle most to access home equityAmerican homeowners are sitting on a potential goldmine. By the end of 2025, total aggregate home equity in the United States reached a staggering $17 trillion. On average, this translates to roughly $295,000 in built-up property wealth per mortgaged homeowner.This massive cushion represents financial security on paper, but in reality, there’s a slowly widening chasm between the homeowners who hold this equity and those who can actually use it. For the millions of Americans carrying a fair credit score between 640 and 699, accessing wealth through traditional channels has become something of an uphill battle.Lending standards vary across state lines, meaning geography is one of several factors that affect who gets approved and who gets locked out of their own equity. Splitero has leveraged data from The Mortgage Reports, Experian, ATTOM, Realtor.com, and more to detail the states where this impact is greatest and why.The credit score gatekeeping problemTraditional financial institutions often view home equity lines of credit and home equity loans through a risk-averse lens. Since home equity products act as a second lien, they sit behind your primary mortgage. This means that if you were to default, the primary lender is paid first, leaving the equity lender to absorb the remaining risk.To protect themselves, traditional lenders price loans by credit tier. If your FICO score sits in the fair range, you likely won’t qualify for the lower rates offered to borrowers with good or excellent credit; in some cases, you may not qualify at all. In practice, that means a higher interest rate, a bigger monthly payment, or an outright denial.When looking at how different interest rates affect monthly payments on a typical $50,000, 15-year home equity loan, it highlights the compounding cost of traditional equity borrowing across different credit tiers: Splitero For a homeowner with fair credit, accessing the same exact pool of funds costs over $10,000 more in interest than a neighbor with excellent credit. Compounding this effect, specifically in a tightening credit market, is that a fair credit score may just mean an outright denial in some states.The state-by-state equity picture: Not all homes are equalEquity dispersion across the country varies greatly on a state-by-state basis, with some homeowners in key states having greater housing wealth than others. A property is considered “equity-rich” when the combined loan balance is no more than 50% of its estimated market value; the owner holds at least 50% equity. ATTOM Data outlined the state-level breakdown of equity-rich homes across the country based on data from the first quarter of 2026: Splitero High-appreciation and equity-rich states like Vermont, California, and portions of the Mountain West and Northeast show home equity levels soaring. However, a high concentration of equity-rich homes does not automatically guarantee easy access. In areas where values rose quickly, some lenders apply tighter terms or lower borrowing limits as a hedge against local price corrections.Home equity line of credit debt across the country has increased steadily in recent years. Experian data from 2022-2024 shows that average balances increased from $41,045 to $45,157 during that time period.When potentially inflated housing prices are combined with increased overall debt, it can be a red flag for certain lenders. As a result, potential borrowers with fair credit scores may face stricter traditional underwriting guidelines.A tightening environment: What 2026 means for borrowersThe macroeconomic landscape of 2026 has further added to the challenges borrowers face. As lenders face tighter regulatory capital requirements and shifting portfolio risks, many have implemented more defensive lending positions. Refi.com business manager Kyle Bass outlined in a conversation with Realtor.com that increased mortgage delinquencies and a softening housing market are two of the driving forces behind this tightened environment.Prime-rate borrowers can still secure lines of credit with relative ease. However, tightening debt-to-income caps and the push for higher minimum credit scores can harm potential borrowers with fair credit scores. A FICO score of 600 that may have gotten through an approval pipeline a few years ago may now trigger reviews, lower borrowing limits, or automated rejections.What homeowners should know before they applyIf you’re looking to access your home’s equity and you have a fair credit score, navigating your options requires a strategic approach. Consider the following tips.Assess your true equity position: Calculate your current loan-to-value ratio using recent comparable sales in your neighborhood, as this is what lenders and investment partners will look at to see how much accessible equity you have.Avoid headline interest rates: Traditional lenders love to advertise low introductory APRs, but those rates are typically reserved for borrowers with very good to excellent credit scores. Always ask for a personalized disclosure of pricing to know what your rates may be.Evaluate the best product for your needs: If you have steady income and excellent credit, a traditional HELOC may serve you well. However, if you fall into the fair credit tier and can’t afford a hefty monthly payment, explore alternatives like a home equity investment, which can give you access to cash while keeping your monthly payments low.Your home equity represents years of hard work, mortgage payments, and market growth. A single credit score shouldn’t stand between you and the financial flexibility you deserve. By looking beyond typical frameworks, you can confidently choose a financial instrument that puts your home’s wealth back where it belongs. Before accessing your home equity, it’s worth speaking with a qualified financial advisor who can weigh your specific circumstances.This story was produced by Splitero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Cities where Americans are buying second homes at record rates and who is buying them Cities where Americans are buying second homes at record rates and who is buying themThe desire to own a secondary home somewhere else in the country has never been stronger for Americans. Whether it’s somewhere with a lake or a mountain view, or just fewer people, owning a second home is a pursuit of many, and the COVID-19 pandemic offered the perfect opportunity to achieve that goal with heavily cut interest rates and cheaper pricing.In the years since, demand has come down from its peak. SellMyTimeshareNow’s analysis of Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data found that mortgaged second-home purchases dropped roughly 66% from their 2021 peak, falling from 257,547 to 88,158 in 2025.This correction was largely driven by elevated interest rates post-pandemic and the high median cost of vacation properties. That number, however, undercounts the real level of activity as many affluent buyers are utilizing cash to sidestep the mortgage market entirely.The demand for vacation homes is real, but it’s unevenly distributed and concentrated among older, wealthier and more geographically flexible buyers. This has resulted in a specific set of markets across the country emerging as the primary beneficiaries. AnyWho has examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Association of Home Builders, Realtor.com, the National Association of Realtors, Fortune, and more to show where buyers are going and why.The scale of second-home activityU.S. Census Bureau data shows roughly 7.5 million homes are classified as seasonal, recreational, or for just occasional use as of 2023. These broad categories include vacation cabins, lakefront houses, beach houses and normal second homes that are used intermittently. They also found that these properties were heavily concentrated in some of the geographies you’d expect: lake towns, mountain resorts and small rural communities.Further, the National Association of Home Builders index tracks construction in second-home areas. While mortgaged second-home purchases have fallen by roughly two-thirds since their 2021 peak, the NAHB construction data from 2024 shows that new construction designated for that purpose remained at an all-time high. This is indicative of many wealthy buyers skirting the mortgage market with cash.It also shows how half the nation’s second homes are concentrated in a remarkably small number of congressional districts. Coastal Florida, coastal New England, the Upper Midwest lake country, and mountain resorts in Colorado, Utah and the Carolinas dominate. By studying where second homes are clustered, you can better understand the places where geography, accessibility and lifestyle intersect for the American upper-middle class.Who is buying: The buyer profile in 2025 and 2026The second-home buyer of 2025 looks different from the pandemic-era buyer of 2020, which is a trend that has carried into 2026. There are three distinct groups driving most of the activity today:1. Baby boomers cashing outBoomers reclaimed their position as the largest homebuying cohort in 2025, per Realtor.com data. Many are equity-rich after decades of primary residences that were increasingly mortgage-free. For some boomers, making second-home purchases as part of a broader transition toward retirement feels like a natural next step.These individuals sell a large primary home in an expensive major city, then buy a smaller replacement home in a lower-cost city. The remaining equity then goes toward a vacation property. The upper end of this cohort also uses cash, meaning their movement isn’t recorded in mortgage data at all.2. Millennials inheriting and co-buyingThe great wealth transfer is also finally starting to reshape the second-home market, too. As the Silent Generation and early boomers pass down their assets, a meaningful group of millennials are entering the second-home market for the first time. Younger millennials are still frugal, per home buying data from Motley Fool, with a median home purchase price of $250,000, but their older counterparts are acquiring more property through inheritance or co-purchase agreements.3. High-earning hybrid workersThe third buyer group is the one that is most associated with the pandemic: dual-income households with remote or hybrid flexibility. These individuals treat a second home as more of a secondary base of operations as opposed to a vacation home. These buyers can range in age and generation, but typically have household incomes over $200,000 to be able to afford this lifestyle.Where they're buying: The regional breakdownWhere these groups are purchasing homes is spread out across the country, but there are a few key trends defining the moves. Based on data from Realtor.com, GoBankingRates, the Wealth Enhancement Group, Pacaso and Fox Business, these markets are seeing the most growth:The Southeast Coast and Gulf: High Demand, Accessible Entry PointsFlorida dominates the national second-home market. It is home to five of the top 20 counties in many luxury second-home rankings and appears consistently from an investment perspective. The Florida panhandle, Gulf County, Walton County and Okaloosa Island in particular have emerged as the most active corridor, driven by white-sand beaches and relatively accessible flights.North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, also appears in many reports, reflecting the same drive to coastal demand that has made the Grand Strand one of the most accessible beach markets on the East Coast.The Mid-Atlantic Shore: Drive-To Proximity WinsCape May County, New Jersey, topped Pacaso’s luxury ranking by a wide margin, the result of its combination of coastal access, historic character and close proximity to Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. The Jersey Shore broadly has seen sustained second-home interest from buyers seeking beach access without the logistics associated with flying, and Cape May’s unique Victorian architecture creates a natural appeal.The Delaware beaches of Rehoboth, Bethany and Dewey also operate in the same region, drawing D.C. and Baltimore buyers looking for proximity over name prestige.New England: From Prestige Markets to Underdog PicksBarnstable County near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, remains in the top five second-home markets nationally by transaction volume. However, it is increasingly a market of established owners holding rather than new buyers entering.Prices have gone up sharply since 2020 and the inventory remains thin. The underdog picks in this part of New England are all migrating inland: the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, specifically Meredith and Wolfeboro, and the coastal Maine communities north of Portland.The Mountain South and Appalachian Corridor: Affordability Meets SceneryThe Smoky Mountains region, anchored by Gatlinburg and Sevierville, Tennessee, is one of the most sought-after second home and vacation home regions in the country, not by luxury transaction value, but by volume. The area attracts buyers who want mountain scenery and cabin ownership at price points that remain cheap compared to the rest of the country. The short-term rental market provides a clear income offset to this.Asheville, North Carolina, and the surrounding Blue Ridge communities all serve a similar function, albeit at a slightly higher price point. This area draws buyers from Atlanta, Charlotte and the Research Triangle.The Midwest: Underappreciated and Increasingly Sought-AfterGoBankingRates identified Michigan and Wisconsin as hosting some of the hottest housing markets in the country. The second home dynamic is a meaningful part of that story. The Upper Midwest lake country, anchored by Vilas County, Wisconsin, the Traverse City area in northern Michigan, and the Lake Michigan shoreline, offers lakefront property at low price points.For Chicago buyers in particular, the Wisconsin Northwoods and Michigan’s Lower Peninsula are the primary second home destinations.The West: Constrained Supply, High StakesWestern second-home markets are considered to be the most supply-constrained in the country. Colorado’s resort corridor of Summit County, Eagle County and Pitkin County, for instance, have seen median second-home prices skyrocket above $1 million. This limits the buyer pool to the upper quartile of wealth distribution.The more accessible Western alternatives see buyers migrating outwards. The Bend, Ore., Ketchum, Idaho and Sun Valley corridor, and Montana’s Flathead Lake region are all absorbing demand from buyers priced out elsewhere. In California, the second-home geography concentrates around Lake Tahoe, the Central Coast near Paso Robles and Cambria, and the Palm Springs desert.The community trade-off: What influx means locallyThe communities that are absorbing all of the demand are not passive recipients. Second-home concentrations create a noticeable set of economic and social dynamics that play out consistently across the country. Regardless of whether these communities are in the Wisconsin Northwoods, the New Jersey Shore, the Tennessee Smokies or Lake Tahoe, the impacts are similar.First, the fiscal upside is real. Second-home owners pay property taxes without proportionally consuming the local services of the area. Children typically aren’t being sent to local schools and municipal services aren't being used, yet these individuals contribute heavily to the tourism economies of the areas through food, retail, and general service spending. This often results in property tax revenue from second homes serving as a form of subsidization year-round.However, the housing affordability problem is also equally real. When second-home buyers enter a local market, they are usually competing against local buyers who have less capital. Academic research published in Progress in Planing journal during the pandemic found that second-home influx into rural and small-town markets created devastating disparities and displacement of local buyers and renters. Price appreciation that outpaced local income growth and reduced supply of long-term rental housing were a few of the major downsides.The tension becomes most acute in small markets. A town of a couple thousand people having to absorb several hundred new second-home purchases over a short period of time is far more disproportional than a larger community facing the same issues. Gatlinburg, the Northwoods towns, and the Maine midcoast are a few areas that are hit hardest. Workforce housing availability, infrastructure strain during peak travel seasons, and the social textures of communities where a growing number of houses sit empty during the year are all important issues.What buyers should know before choosing a marketThe most important variable in a second-home purchase isn’t the property itself, but rather the market infrastructure around it. Markets sort into three categories that should shape how a buyer evaluates a purchase:Established markets with thin inventoryEmerging markets with improving fundamentalsHigh-volume rental marketsEstablished markets offer liquidity and proven demand, but appreciation is limited and there is little margin for timing errors. These are the markets where paying the wrong price is punished by slow recovery. On the other hand, emerging markets offer better entry prices and appreciation potential, but the offset is a higher required conviction about the trajectory of local demand and less reliance on short-term liquidity. High-volume rental markets should be viewed more as income-producing assets first and vacation home destinations second. These markets are defined by factors such as cap rates and rental yields, rather than the restaurants and shops nearby.Before committing to an unfamiliar market, it also pays to do your homework on the community itself. Verifying a seller's contact information, reconnecting with a local contact who can give you an honest read on a neighborhood, or simply getting a clearer picture of who your neighbors might be in a small town are all reasonable steps in the due diligence process. A people search can help buyers quickly surface contact details and background information on individuals before any money or trust changes hands.Across all categories, the financing environment is an underlying factor. Second-home mortgages carry a premium over primary residence rates. Lenders will scrutinize your debt-to-income ratio strictly and the down payment requirements will be higher. Cash buyers have an inherent structural advantage here, which is partly why the data shows mortgage activity declining despite increased demand. Buyers who need financing should model out their carrying costs at current rates, rather than the rates they expect to see in a couple of years.The second home as a concept has never been more aspirational given housing prices. The markets that support it are specific, the costs are hefty, and the communities absorbing the demand have many trade-offs. For buyers who do the work, though, the entry points are there so long as you know how to read the map.This story was produced by AnyWho and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Bettendorf Superintendent Michelle Morse announces departure Superintendent Michelle Morse has announced her departure from the Bettendorf Community School District in an email sent to families, effective Wednesday.
	Black Hawk College extends president's contract to 2030 The Black Hawk College Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a contract extension for President Dr. Jeremy Thomas through June 30, 2030, recognizing the college’s continued momentum under his leadership and reaffirming its confidence in its future. Dr. Thomas became the college’s president on June 1, 2023 and has successfully completed the original term of [...]
	Davenport opens DREAM applications for homeowners and businesses Davenport is accepting applications through July 31 for new rounds of its DREAM and Commercial DREAM grant programs for homes and businesses.
	Understanding heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke can be lifesaving, doctor says Prompt action in a heat stroke situation can save a life. Here's how you can tell the difference.
	Beating the heat as hundreds gather at TPC Deere Run Various cooling stations will be available throughout the concourse for spectators and athletes alike to get out of the heat.
	School budgets are under pressure nationwide. Here’s what’s driving the cuts. School budgets are under pressure nationwide. Here’s what’s driving the cuts.School districts are under pressure this year.Some of the largest in the country are handing out pink slips. Canceling technology contracts. And even slashing specific medications from employee health plans.As many school boards debate their budgets for the upcoming school year, a Chalkbeat analysis found a common thread: More than half of the country’s 50 largest school districts are poised to or already have made cuts, or are facing a reported deficit.Budget timelines vary from state to state. And it’s not fully clear if this year amounts to the “big shrink” that some in school finance have predicted. But experts say schools are facing a daunting combination of financial roadblocks. Some of them are wildly specific to the times in which we live: rising healthcare costs linked with GLP-1 weight loss medications, immigration fears keeping some students out of school, and rising gas prices.“There are a lot of expenses that are out there that are increasing and the districts don’t have a lot of control over them,” said Michael Griffith, an analyst at the Learning Policy Institute who studies school finance.But districts are also feeling the impact of yearslong declines in enrollment.Nearly 30 of the 50 largest districts have recently cited declining enrollment. Most school districts are funded based on how many students they have, so lower enrollment makes it harder to keep up with rising costs.The result: school closures, beloved staff members losing their jobs, and higher class sizes.Some districts, like Broward County in south Florida, say they have little choice. Enrollment in Broward County Public Schools — the sixth-largest in the country — has declined by nearly 40,000 students, or 17%, over the past decade.In what the district has billed to the community as a “realignment,” Broward is cutting its staff by 1,000 positions. The district is also closing six schools, with more closures possible. Superintendent Howard Hepburn said these are the toughest decisions he’s had to make in his two years leading Broward.“It costs us a lot of money on the operation side, so we’re spending more money on operating the school rather than spending a lot of money on actually educating kids in that school and providing all the bells and whistles that come with a school that’s at capacity,” he said.Why are school districts cutting staff and programs?Griffith and other experts say there’s not one overarching cause hurting school budgets.Decades-long enrollment decline is one driving force. This year appears to be a year for reckoning over enrollment for a lot of big school districts.Take Los Angeles Unified, the second-biggest district in the country. Like Broward, the district has hemorrhaged students over the last decade, with a 28% enrollment decline, according to state data. In February, L.A. Unified took steps to lay off as many as 3,200 people, though about 650 actual layoffs are expected, due to attrition and other strategies.Julien Lafortune, a senior fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California, said districts in his state this year are confronting enrollment declines of as much as 20%, in the case of some districts in the Los Angeles area. So even while total per student funding has increased in California — a fact politicians often tout — district administrators still have to cut, because they have fewer students.“You can have a situation where funding is going up, but districts are in deficits, are trying to find ways to cut, because the overall student count is going down, and so the total pie of funding is going down,” he said.Enrollment declines themselves have different causes in different districts. For example, the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement has led some families to keep their children home or move away.But there are several other reasons districts and outside experts have cited for cuts or potential budget cuts.Rising inflation, including food and fuel costs, has hit schools “across the board,” Griffith said. Many districts also agreed to teacher pay raises in recent years that are now hard to pay for at their current staffing levels.While states may be funding education at higher levels, federal pandemic relief funding has ended. Some districts still have employees and programs once funded by that money, a fact cited by Philadelphia’s school superintendent in explaining planned budget cuts this year. The same is true in Chicago, where leaders say they are facing a deficit of more than $730 million.Many school districts have not been able to find new local money to offset their rising costs. In Montgomery County, Maryland, the nation’s 14th-largest school district, county officials are balking at raising taxes to cover the school district’s budget request. A Michigan study found voters are rejecting property increases at the ballot at higher rates than in the past.Healthcare costs are also rising, Griffith said. While overall the costs of employer-sponsored plans are going up, the increased use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss is a notable factor. Some districts, including Broward County, are cutting employee coverage of these medications.Regardless of causes, some say that reductions are appropriate. They’ve pointed out that overall, schools are receiving more public funding than ever, even as the country’s test scores have declined.Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has been an outspoken supporter of legislation passed last year to merge school districts into bigger, more efficient systems with class-size minimums, in order to cut costs.“In the last five years alone, property taxes have increased by over 40% with fewer kids in our schools, fewer opportunities in the classroom, and more inequities from town to town,” he said in a press conference in December.But Griffith said those critiques ignore the difficult reality of budgeting. For example, enrollment declines usually don’t happen evenly, so district officials may have to employ the same number of teachers to maintain state class size standards, even with fewer students.“Can there be efficiencies? Probably, you know, there can be efficiencies just about anywhere, right?” he said. “But the main driver right now is just inflation and the loss of students.”Painful school budget cuts in south FloridaThere may be no better region than south Florida that illustrates the complications of school budgeting this year.Overall the population of the state is increasing, including the number of people under 18. But school enrollment in several big districts like Broward and Miami-Dade Counties has declined. That’s likely due to declining birth rates, immigration policy, and an array of school choice measures giving families options outside of district schools.“I love competition,” Hepburn said. “I support parents’ rights to choose. So as a system, what we have to do to react is actually compete better and market ourselves.”Broward faces a $90 million budget deficit. The district’s budget for the current school year is $5 billion. To try to close the budget gap, district officials are cutting 1,000 positions. Of those, 700 are already vacant — the other 300 will be layoffs.Included in those layoffs are nearly 40 student support instructional specialists, who among other things identify students who may need help with their mental health.Slater Pauff, 14, an eighth grader at Westglades Middle School in Parkland, said the cuts mean he and his classmates will lose an adult he trusts enough to come to with sensitive problems.“It’s just important to have her, because a lot of kids know her, no one else really knows anyone else in the school board ... it’s important to have someone that actually helps,” he said.As the district grapples with layoffs that will go into effect at the end of the school year, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School media specialist Diana Haneski said some of the decisions board members are signing off on don’t make sense at the school level.“It feels like they don’t really understand what it’s like working at school,” she said.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How cognitive automation can transform your business How cognitive automation can transform your businessIf you've ever copied/pasted the same thing 47 times while whispering "this is fine" to your laptop, congratulations, you've met the problem that cognitive automation is here to solve.For years, businesses have automated the obvious stuff: moving data from point A to point B, sending emails when a form gets filled out, scheduling posts to publish later. But cognitive automation is different. It's what happens when machines stop just doing tasks and start making decisions about them.In other words, it's automation that doesn't just follow instructions—it thinks (at least a little). It can read, classify, predict, summarize, and decide based on patterns it's learned, not just rules you painstakingly hard-coded during a caffeine spiral in 2019.Here, Zapier digs into cognitive automation and how it can transform a business.What is cognitive automation?Cognitive automation (often called AI automation) adds AI to traditional automation, with the goal of automating tasks that normally require human cognition (perception, understanding, learning, and decision-making).Classic automation thrives on strict rules and tidy inputs. Cognitive systems, on the other hand, can interpret information before acting on it. For example, it can read a casually-written email, extract details from a blurry image or PDF, or spot a purchase pattern hidden inside thousands of transactions—the kind of pattern a human could theoretically find, if that human had infinite patience and no desire to ever feel joy again.Here are the key components that make cognitive automation work:Machine learning (ML): This is what helps AI learn from data over time, so it gets better at its job without being told to. For example, the more call transcripts it reads, the better it gets at spotting hesitation signals.Natural language processing (NLP): NLP lets AI understand how we talk and interact, whether that's a formal contract or a terse Slack email.Computer vision and OCR: This allows automation to "see" and interpret images or scanned documents (like identifying a packaging machine in a picture of an assembly line).Agentic AI: In some setups, multiple AI agents can perceive, reason, act, and collaborate to achieve complex objectives, like managing an entire marketing campaign from content creation to ad placement and budget optimization.Sentiment analysis: This detects the emotional tone behind text or audio recordings (like knowing to prioritize an angry customer email over a simple return request).Cognitive automation vs. RPARobotic process automation (RPA) and cognitive automation are related, but they solve different problems. RPA is best for predictable, rules-based tasks. Cognitive automation is necessary when the system has to interpret information before deciding what to do.RPA is great for automating repetitive, high-volume data entry tasks, like a bot extracting data from a PDF invoice and manually entering it into a legacy ERP system without needing a direct API connection.Cognitive automation helps when the format changes. If an invoice arrives as a scan, payment details come through a voicemail, or a customer explains a problem in plain language, a cognitive system can help interpret that information and move the work forward.In other words, use RPA—or another type of workflow automation—to automate repetitive tasks. Use cognitive automation for processes where the end goal is clear, but the path to it changes every time.Benefits of cognitive business automationCognitive business automation isn't just about doing things faster—it's about doing them smarter. When systems can analyze information, spot patterns, and make judgment calls, you move beyond basic efficiency into actual strategic advantage. Less manual triage. Fewer bottlenecks. More time spent on work that requires a human brain—like creativity, empathy, and knowing when not to hit “reply all.”Complex analysis: It can process large volumes of emails, transcripts, documents, audio, and other unstructured data faster.Adaptability: It can handle more variation than rules-based automation, which is helpful when formats, phrasing, or inputs change.Efficiency: It understands the entire workflow, from trigger to completion. It can reduce the manual review work that slows down routing, triage, and decision-making.Accuracy: Human analysis is prone to bias, fatigue, and simple oversight errors. Cognitive automation reduces these risks, especially in data-heavy fields (though it still needs oversight for higher-stakes work).Scalability: It can help teams handle more volume without adding the same amount of manual effort. Zapier Cognitive automation examplesCognitive automation is most useful when work depends on interpreting something before taking action. Here are a few practical examples:1. Customer serviceSupport teams deal with a constant mix of simple requests, edge cases, and emotionally charged messages. Cognitive automation can help sort that queue before a human ever opens it.For example, AI can analyze an incoming email or voicemail, identify the customer's intent, detect urgency, and send the case down the right path. A billing question might get an automated reply, while a frustrated cancellation request might get escalated to a human agent right away.2. ITIT teams spend a shocking amount of time buried in repetitive tickets (think password resets, access permissions, and "my computer is slow" tickets). Cognitive automation can help triage those requests, suggest known fixes, and document what happened for audit or compliance purposes.3. HRHR teams spend a lot of time reviewing resumes, interview notes, and onboarding documents, much of it in inconsistent formats.A common use case for cognitive automation is initial candidate screening. AI can review incoming resumes, compare them against a set of requirements, and help recruiters prioritize which candidates to review first.4. SalesSales teams collect useful signals everywhere—call transcripts, emails, CRM notes, and meeting summaries. The challenge is turning messy, scattered data into something actionable before the moment passes.Cognitive automation can help by identifying signals like urgency, objections, budget concerns, or competitor mentions, then surfacing the next best action for your rep.5. MarketingMarketing teams often need to pull insights from online reviews, support tickets, surveys, social posts, and product feedback all at once. That's a perfect fit for cognitive automation.Add a brain to your workflowsWhen systems can interpret information, adapt to variation, and make informed decisions, teams stop spending their time translating chaos into structure and start actually using that structure to move faster.Instead of building endless workflows to handle every possible edge case, you build systems that can handle the edge cases for you. That means fewer brittle processes, less manual triage, and more capacity to focus on work that benefits from human judgment.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Eldridge officials respond to volunteer fire department Eldridge officials are responding to claims made by the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department on social media.
	Bix 7 leaders honored by industry groups Two leaders with the Bix 7 have been honored by industry groups for their work putting the event on every year. Laura Torgerud, Operations Director for the Quad-City Times Bix 7, was named an Emerging Industry Leader by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) on June 24. She earned the distinction [...]
	Traveling this summer? Here are some ways to help you save money. Traveling this summer? Here are some ways to help you save money.There’s no doubt we could all use a getaway this summer. But the costs involved are making it more challenging than ever.Just look at what would-be travelers are saying: Four in 10 Americans say they will not be taking a single trip this summer, with most (52%) saying it’s because they just can’t afford it, according to a recent poll of 5,000 Americans (split evenly by state and generation) conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Current. Instead they’re trying to achieve goals like saving cash (25%) or paying off debt (22%).So the travel bug is still there, but the funding isn’t. The good news is that you can probably still pull off a summer trip. But you need to get creative about factors like exactly where, when, and how you’re going to pay for it.Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, compiled a list of tips for how to save money during summer travels.“Even though summer travel feels especially expensive this year, there are still ways to make it work,” said Meena Thiruvengadam, a travel expert and publisher of the site TravelWithMeena.com.An example from the Current poll: The most prominent travel trends for this summer include ‘staycations’ (exploring your own city or state) at 32%; and taking ‘microbreaks,’ like long weekends, at 30%.In other words, many people seem to be redesigning their vacation plans to keep them modest and affordable, but not abandoning them altogether. Here are a few ways to do that effectively.Be flexible about timing. Most travelers like to kick off trips on the weekend at a reasonable hour, which is perfectly understandable. But for others who are willing to do the opposite, that represents a money-saving opportunity.“Shift your travel days to depart Tuesday or Wednesday for cheaper flights, and also consider leaving early morning or late at night,” said Britton Williams, a financial planner in Raleigh, North Carolina. Even pushing your ‘summer’ travel out of summer altogether, even if only by a few weeks, can result in major savings. “Travel on the ‘shoulder’ months, like September, which often runs 60% less.”The findings of Expedia’s most recent Air Hacks report: Friday is the cheapest day to fly internationally, while domestically Tuesday is the most affordable, saving 14%. And here’s good news for summer travelers: August is actually the cheapest month to fly abroad.Be strategic with your cards. This will take some homework, but if you have a few different cards in your wallet, know which ones will lead to which benefits. For example, maybe one of them is offering discount packages at a destination you want to visit, or double miles on travel-related purchases.Also consider using a secured charge card to book your travel and make any travel-related purchases. You can only spend the amount of money available in your account, which minimizes risks of debt, and your on-time monthly payment can then help you build your credit history.Another tip: “Connect your rewards programs to maximize your benefits,” recommended Thiruvengadam. “Many airline reward programs offer elite status matching at certain hotel brands, something that can come with money-saving perks like late checkout and waived resort fees.“Also, decline auto insurance at the car rental counter and use a credit card that provides rental car coverage as a benefit.”Use points smarter. You probably have rewards sitting around that you haven’t taken advantage of. In fact 23% of cardholders say they haven’t redeemed anything at all over the past year, according to a 2023 CreditCards.com survey.So make sure to “use your airline miles and hotel points,” urged Thiruvengadam. “Miles and points typically get less valuable and harder to redeem over time, so there’s no reason not to use them in this economy. And make sure you’ve used any hotel night certificates or companion fares that may be set to expire.”Tap savings over plastic. The one thing you want to avoid is a splashy summer trip that gives you a debt hangover for the remainder of the year. In fact, 29% of those plotting summer trips in 2025 were planning to take on debt to do so, according to a Bankrate survey conducted in March of that year.Instead, if you recently enjoyed a tax refund — the average this year was over $3,500, according to the IRS — that’s the kind of windfall you could keep earning on with an account paying higher yield.Every travel dollar you can pay out of savings is a dollar that won’t cost you 20% interest on revolving balances.This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How government fines of over $1M are increasingly targeting immigrants How government fines of over $1M are increasingly targeting immigrantsFirst came the fines: Last year, the Trump administration began aggressively fining immigrants who allegedly stayed in the country past a deportation order. The law allowing these fines had been on the books since 1996, but was rarely used before 2025 — and the original fines were much lower.The Marshall Project dug into how the federal government is imposing steep fines on immigrants while pushing for them to self-deport.As of May, the federal government had issued more than 65,000 fines to immigrants who reportedly have deportation orders but who remain in the U.S., seeking more than $36 billion in total. Some of the individual fines are as high as $1.8 million — $998 per day for the statutory maximum of five years. The Department of Homeland Security also reduced the number of days’ notice that immigrants receive under the federal rule before collection efforts can begin, providing only a window of 15 business days to contest the fine.After the fines came the lawsuits: The Department of Justice began filing civil lawsuits in federal court against a handful of immigrants who had received fine notices but had not yet paid. It started last September as a small trickle of cases in federal court districts from California to Florida. By May, a Bloomberg Law analysis had identified more than 50 lawsuits, some demanding more than $1 million. Essentially, the government is seeking a court-ordered financial judgment against these individuals, which it could then use to seize assets, garnish wages and intercept tax refunds.“It’s a manufactured perfect storm,” said Hasan Shafiqullah, a lawyer with The Legal Aid Society, part of a coalition of nonprofit advocacy groups fighting the immigration fines through an attempted class action lawsuit. Shafiqullah said that many of the people being fined are not just ignoring removal orders — some have pending immigration cases open, or are “present with ICE’s permission on orders of supervision, or otherwise lawfully here.”And now come the debt collectors: A recent investigation by The Lever found government contracts with at least four private companies that secured debt collection deals as DHS began ramping up its efforts to fine immigrants. Another company is doing debt collection work for DHS through a contract with the Department of the Treasury, which manages the account where payments for these fines are deposited.As a result, more immigrants are now receiving collection letters from these private companies seeking steep interest and fees on top of the already massive fines. The Lever’s investigation found at least one $1.8 million fine that ballooned to $2.3 million under these debt collection efforts.To be sure, the government has little hope of collecting most of these debts. So what is the plan?When initially announcing the fines, DHS officials said the agency would forgive all fines and penalties for any immigrant who opted to use the CBP Home mobile app to self-deport. This includes the offer of a free flight home and an “exit bonus,” now set at $2,600, to be paid after their return is confirmed via the app. Officials at DHS declined to say how many people have been paid that bonus, but sent a link to a January press release saying that “there have already been nearly 100,000 users of the CBP Home app,” and more than 2 million immigrants have chosen to “voluntarily” self-deport since January 2025.Some immigration attorneys, however, have said in the past that DHS’ assertions about those offers are misleading. And some demographers have raised questions about the number of immigrants who have left the country.Lawyers representing the immigrants who are fighting these fines say the goal is primarily to scare people or force them to self-deport (even those who had legal status or pending asylum claims). Some of the attorneys say this process also gives the government an avenue to seize whatever money or personal property immigrants have acquired while in the U.S. — or to trap them in debt forever.“They jammed these notices through the administrative process. Now they’re taking them to court and trying to get default judgments,” said Charles Moore, a senior attorney at Public Justice, one of the groups representing the class plaintiffs. He was referring to cases in which immigrants said they were never notified before a judge issued a decision. The federal government is trying to do all of this without any independent review, he said, because “they know the fines themselves are legally dubious” and may target people who should not be fined.“And as much as they can keep this out of the public eye, the better.”In a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs represented by Moore’s nonprofit, one person said that she never received initial notice of the million-dollar-plus fine from DHS, and didn’t know about it until the Treasury Department seized her joint tax refund. She filed taxes with her husband — a U.S. citizen and active duty service member. She and her husband have four children together, all U.S. citizens, and she has been in the process of applying for legal residency. Now there is a civil judgment against her. The federal government reported her to credit bureaus, claiming she is in default on the debt, damaging her credit.And the debts could soon get even worse for some immigrants. In May, DHS proposed a major increase in a separate category of fines. Under the proposal, the civil penalty would jump from $5,130 to $18,000 for immigrants who received an in absentia removal order, which means they were ordered deported because they did not appear before an immigration judge.Public comment on the rule change closed on June 22. Some of the comments support the fine increase, saying it will shift the burden away from taxpayers — but others note the unlikelihood of the government ever recouping these costs: “Instead of helping the government recover its money, this will just trap people in a huge amount of debt that they won’t be able to escape.”This story was produced by The Marshall Project and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT Extreme Heat Warning: Dangerously High Temperatures and Humidity Until Thursday Evening
	Ottumwa physician agrees to surrender his medical license (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Medicine)An Ottumwa physician accused by state regulators of failing to comply with an order to submit to a clinical competency evaluation has agreed to surrender his license. Iowa Board of Medicine records indicate Akhtar Ashraf was issued an Iowa medical license in July 1990, and that the board launched an investigation into his practice, which includes diagnostic radiology, in 2023. The board alleges that in June 2025, it issued a confidential order requiring Ashraf to undergo a clinical competency evaluation within 30 days. The board has not publicly disclosed the rationale for issuing that order. Recently, the board said it had determined Ashraf had failed to comply with the order or schedule the competency evaluation. Ashraf, 80, has now indicated that he has chosen to retire from the practice of medicine in Iowa and would like to surrender his license, the board alleges. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Ashraf for comment Monday. Des Moines physician sanctioned The Iowa Board of Medicine has sanctioned Dr. Matthew R. Brown of Des Moines, an Iowa-licensed physician who practices otolaryngology. The board reported that it received a complaint alleging that in March 2024, Brown “exhibited unprofessional and rude behavior” toward coworkers. The board charged Brown with unprofessional conduct and recently issued Brown a citation and warning for the violation as part of a settlement agreement. The board also ordered that Brown pay a $1,00 civil penalty and comply with the December 2025 recommendations of the Professional Resource Center as a result of its evaluation of the matter. Those recommendations include completion of a continuing medical education course that focuses on improving communication in highly emotionally challenging healthcare settings, and that he engage, for at least one year, a professional coach who works with physicians who have “difficulties with elements of emotional competency and communicating effectively when frustrated.” Broadlawns Medical Center’s website indicates Brown is the section chief of the hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Brown for comment Monday. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Abortion medication, HPV vaccine laws take effect today in three states A University of Miami pediatrician chats with a 13-year-old patient while administering the HPV vaccine, which research has shown is highly effective against cervical cancer. An Iowa law taking effect July 1 prohibits Iowans under age 18 from consenting to vaccinations related to sexually transmitted diseases and infections such as HPV. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Several laws restricting access to medications that can be used to terminate a pregnancy and others placing limits on minors’ access to sexual and reproductive healthcare — including the HPV vaccine — take effect today in Iowa, Mississippi and Tennessee. Many bills were considered in state legislatures earlier this year that would have added legal restrictions to mifepristone and misoprostol, but only a few made it into law. The 13 states that have near-total abortion bans already have restrictions in place, but some have proposed more in the wake of new methods of obtaining the medications online or by telehealth. A federal lawsuit is also ongoing that will determine whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s rules allowing mifepristone to be dispensed via telehealth will remain in place. That ruling will apply nationwide. Gov. Kim Reynolds signs laws restricting access to abortion pills, HPV vaccine Kimya Forouzan, principal state policy adviser at the Guttmacher Institute, said the increased efforts to restrict access underscore the importance of shield laws in states that protect abortion access. In Hawaii, provisions strengthening the state’s existing shield laws also take effect today. Those provisions include prohibiting the use or disclosure of patient health information to investigate someone who received reproductive or gender-affirming care and adding malpractice insurance and healthcare contract protections for providers in the state to prevent exorbitant rate increases, Forouzan said. Iowa Iowa’s new law requires medications including mifepristone and misoprostol to be dispensed in person, restricting access by telehealth. Mifepristone and misoprostol are typically used in combination to terminate a pregnancy in the first trimester or to treat miscarriages. Iowa has a six-week abortion ban, which is before many people know they are pregnant. The law also made changes to abortion and pregnancy loss reporting, requiring a provider to report to the state whether a patient took mifepristone or misoprostol within 14 days of a pregnancy loss. It does not require the patient to tell the provider that information, nor does it compel the provider to ask, said Forouzan, but it might come up when a patient is asking questions or raising concerns. “The reporting requirement is something that really has raised alarm bells for us because we know that mandatory state reporting of abortion has a potential to cause a lot of harm and increase the feelings of surveillance that patients experience,” Forouzan said. Lawmakers also adopted a law prohibiting Iowans under age 18 from consenting to vaccinations related to sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that Republican lawmakers said the bill aligned with other state laws on vaccines — the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines were previously exempt. Science has shown the HPV vaccine prevents several strains of human papillomavirus that can be transmitted through sexual activity and potentially cause cervical and other cancers. Mississippi Mississippi passed a law in April adding mifepristone and misoprostol to the state’s drug trafficking law, making it a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison to distribute or intend to distribute the drugs. It takes effect today. Republican lawmakers in Mississippi have said the intent of the bill is to keep mifepristone and misoprostol from being sent to residents and undermining the state’s abortion ban, but providers say it creates more harm, especially for patients experiencing miscarriages. Dr. Bhavik Kumar, a family medicine physician in Texas, told Stateline in March that the law causes confusion and prevents patients from seeking timely care and providers from administering care out of fear. “Healthcare providers are suddenly having to think about laws and rules that have nothing to do with patient safety,” Kumar said. Tennessee Tennessee added new restrictions to medication abortion that allow the state attorney general to bring civil lawsuits and impose fines for violations of the state’s in-person dispensing requirements for medication abortion. Tennessee has a near-total abortion ban, but some states have tried to enforce these laws against providers for prescribing medications to their residents, such as Louisiana, where the attorney general tried unsuccessfully to extradite a provider on charges. The law allows for $10,000 fines per violation, up to $1 million. Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at kmoseley@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Labor unions, Gray Matters Collective call for I-74 bridge barriers Labor unions from Iowa and Illinois are joining The Gray Matters Collective to call for real, evidence-based suicide prevention on the I-74 Bridge, including physical barriers, prominent crisis hotline signage and emergency phones that connect directly to the 988 Lifeline or local crisis lines. The Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025 (H.R. 3505), a bipartisan [...]
	SNAP is how millions of Americans afford food. Cuts to the program have thrown it into chaos. SNAP is how millions of Americans afford food. Cuts to the program have thrown it into chaos.A missing zero put Sarah’s grocery money in jeopardy. Every month, Sarah receives $219 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for her and her 9-year-old. Sarah works two jobs in food service, one at a senior center and one at a banquet hall, and has relied on SNAP for support ever since her husband died unexpectedly about six years ago. But last year during her annual benefits renewal, one of her employers messed up a number on the required paperwork.It was around Christmas, and Sarah and her daughter were about to take a long-awaited trip from Michigan to Texas to see Sarah’s mother for the holiday. That’s when the letter came. (This article refers to SNAP recipients by their first names only to protect their privacy.) It stated that Sarah would lose her benefits if she didn’t re-complete the paperwork. Before, she had been able to call a caseworker assigned to her who could answer questions. Now, paperwork simply disappeared into a portal. She debated canceling their trip—would it be better to save the travel money to put toward food just in case? She crossed her fingers and headed to Texas anyway, and while there, contacted her job to have them correct the error. She resubmitted with a week to spare. But it was tough to get into the spirit of holiday fun when she was hiding how stressed she was from both her daughter and her mother.It makes you on edge, she told The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Slate, not knowing if you can protect your kid, if you can feed her, all because of something outside your control. She called it a low-grade terror: “You know how that feels, right? Where you’re worried all the time, and it’s like a low burn in your chest, queasiness in the belly.”She was right to worry: After she returned home, a second letter arrived, telling Sarah she’d lost her benefits.SNAP helps over 41 million people in the United States afford food, and under Donald Trump, it’s been thrown into chaos. It’s “completely unprecedented as to what we’re dealing with,” said Gina Plata-Nino, director of SNAP policy and advocacy at the Food Research & Action Center. In July 2025, when the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or H.R. 1, was signed into law, it included the largest cuts to SNAP in history. With that came new work requirements, costs of the program shifting to states, and other sweeping changes that could lead to more than 3 million people losing access within the next few years. Then, in November, the program paused for the first time ever, when the Trump administration refused to fund benefits during the government shutdown, which left many without food assistance for nearly two weeks, a decision that had lasting detrimental effects. People were forced to go hungry, choosing between paying for bills or for food, or not eating to ensure children were fed. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved waivers that allow 18 states to restrict some foods from being purchased with SNAP, creating confusion for retailers and recipients, according to CivilEats. All this is unfolding amid an affordability crisis with continued high costs for medical care, housing, and, of course, food.“The government has shown us what they think is important in terms of keeping people fed and healthy and able to participate in our economy, and they don’t care,” said Lindsay Allen, health economist and policy researcher at Northwestern University, adding that health care and food have been used as political pawns.Even when benefits do end up coming through, the endless chaos, changes to the program, and fear around access to food are taking a toll. After receiving the second notice, Sarah fought to get her benefits back. It turns out that a communal caseworker never got to the resubmitted paperwork. After over an hour on the phone, her SNAP benefits were reinstated—but somehow she got less by about a fourth. “If you want to talk about mental health strain, that kind of thing can happen at any time, and does,” she said. She’s still figuring out how to make up for the fact that her monthly benefits are lower.Food insecurity, defined by the USDA as the economic and social condition of having limited or uncertain access to adequate food, affects some 50 million Americans. Changes to SNAP could deepen existing food insecurity—and food insecurity itself is linked to anxiety, depression, and psychiatric disorders. There is nothing that being hungry does not worsen. Hunger and mental health issues feed off each other, said Mariana Chilton, a professor in the department of nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She’s done extensive research showing that food insecurity is strongly associated with major maternal depressive symptoms; she points to research focused on the association between food insecurity and suicidal ideation and attempts in teenagers. Children are profoundly impacted by hunger, with consequences for mental health and development, among other things, extending far past childhood.Some experts have long called for benefit amounts to be increased, or for other changes to make the program more accessible and responsive to needs. A 2023 analysis from the Urban Institute found that SNAP benefits weren’t keeping up with rising food costs in 99 percent of counties. Current cuts are making everything worse.SNAP participation has historically reduced the likelihood that a given household will be food insecure by 30 percent. Research led by Anna Austin, an associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina, found that policies that increase the number of households eligible to receive SNAP benefits contributes to reductions in poor mental health and suicidality. She noted that when people gain access to SNAP, they show improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Removing the cognitive strain of where food will come from also can reduce stigma and feelings of shame.There’s also a general sense of unease around changes to SNAP. Some described it as fear: fear around where a next meal will come from. Fear over how someone will pay for a child’s birthday cake. Fear that the program—without warning or reason—may become impossible to access.What’s more, changes to SNAP are happening alongside cuts to Medicaid. It leads to what Allen calls a “terrible synergistic effect” of people’s food being taken away and people getting sick because of it while health care is stripped away.People who are considered “able-bodied adults without dependents” have to work for at least 80 hours a month to receive SNAP benefits, according to KFF, a health policy organization focused on research, policy analysis, polling, and journalism, which broke down Medicaid and SNAP work requirements. H.R. 1 expanded work requirements to include adults ages 55 to 64 and adults with dependents over 14 years old. It also removed exemptions for veterans, young adults who aged out of foster care, and people experiencing homelessness. Lack of access to SNAP disproportionately harms children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, immigrant households, and rural communities, and can exacerbate racial and ethnic health inequities, Austin said. Meanwhile, studies show that most people receiving SNAP who can work already do so, and research shows work requirements aren’t effective at improving employment outcomes, since they don’t address economic conditions, scheduling practices, or other barriers to work. Getting a job, even if you really want one, can be difficult.A March 2026 report from the Center for American Progress detailed the deadly consequences of these cuts, estimating that work requirement expansions could lead to almost 70,000 deaths by 2040. In the meantime, they are tormenting people. In 2022, Allen published research that found that SNAP work requirements worsened anxiety and depression, with visits to health care providers for depression and anxiety increasing faster for women than they did for men. SNAP and Medicaid are safety-net programs, she said, “and there’s nothing below the safety net but concrete.”The first time Nieves Aragon testified at a Colorado Board of Human Services meeting about the restriction on using SNAP benefits to purchase sweetened drinks, she held up a juice box. The second time, in early March, she held up a can of Coca-Cola. She wanted to show that what they are attempting to take away from SNAP recipients are lifesavers to her as a Type 1 diabetic. If she’s with her 5-year-old son and her sugar goes low, the first thing she thinks of is a Gatorade or soda, which wouldn’t be covered. Now, she worries about whether she can afford the $3 out of pocket to grab a Coke, or if she’ll have to compromise on what her child needs in order to grab what she needs for her sugar. Aragon has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and said that maintaining a specific diet is crucial to both her diabetes and ensuring her ADHD medication is working properly. “I try not to think about it too much, because I feel like then you spiral down to that depressive ‘What are we going to do?’ kind of state,” explained Aragon of the restrictions. In March 2026, SNAP recipients in multiple states, including Colorado, sued the USDA over food-restriction waivers, stating in the complaint that they “destabilize food access.” The restrictions are stalled. But they could come back.Over in Tennessee, where restrictions on “processed foods and beverages” will take effect in July, Brittany, a single mom, says the cost of food is so high, she struggles even with the support of SNAP. Restrictions on what can be purchased will only make it harder, because out-of-pocket costs take away from other necessities, like gas. There are going to be parents who can’t afford a birthday cake for their kid thanks to restrictions, which isn’t fair to that child, she pointed out. “I feel like you can never get ahead,” she said. She already works full-time as a medical assistant. She can’t get a second job; if she did, she would then make too much to live in government housing—but still wouldn’t be able to afford to live elsewhere. She’s always worried about the next thing. “I try not to cry in front of my kids or let them know that I’m worried at all about anything, because that just puts more stress on them,” she said.The strain of uncertainty sits at an intersection of turmoil in the United States, all overlapping, all exhausting. There’s the cost of food, and the cost of health care. Jobs feel impossible to find, and wages don’t meet the cost of living. Even attempting to keep track of changes is like “drinking from the firehose,” said Austin, the researcher who found that expanded SNAP access improved mental health. “I think the constant uncertainty, particularly when it’s something as important as ‘How am I going to feed my family? Where am I going to get my next meal?’ is just so much strain and stress and really negatively impacting mental health,” she said.Recently, Krysten, who lives in Pennsylvania, was dropped from SNAP because she technically makes too much money. Krysten makes $13 an hour as a home health aide, but doesn’t have paid leave or benefits, so when she’s sick, she makes nothing. Because she lives in the same household as her mother, what her mom receives in Social Security counts as income. That’s left her household receiving only $72 a month in SNAP benefits. She thinks elected officials who are making decisions to cut or restrict SNAP should visit food pantries to see how many people are coming in—last time Krysten went, the food pantry was so low on items that they weren’t able to really help. Krysten does meet the requirements to stay on Medicaid, which she’s thankful for.Recently, when she went to the doctor, she said they asked if she wanted medication for depression. But she didn’t feel like there was anything amiss that could be solved with medicine. She is depressed because she doesn’t have enough food in the house, she explained to the doctor. “That does make you stressed. It does make you depressed.”For many, SNAP is a direct mental health support. That’s the case for Annika Verma, a college student who moved out of her family’s home shortly before she turned 18. Verma was struggling with depression and an eating disorder, and working as a barista while enrolled in community college. She didn’t know she could access resources like SNAP. “Starving, to me, started to feel like an economic choice that just became congruent with those aesthetic and obsessive choices around food,” she explained. By summer 2024, SNAP benefits made it possible for her to work with her nutritionist and clinical team to eat consistently, and to build new, nutritious foods, as well as fun foods, back into her diet.But the threat of that support going away was constant. While she recently has become financially stable and stopped using SNAP, she recalled worrying that one mistake on a form would mean not eating. The fear would keep her up at night catastrophizing; the calculator on her phone was always being used for either calorie counting or counting SNAP dollars. It stays with you, she said. Now, she added, it feels like the Trump administration is telling people “that they are not allowed to be a human in need.”Co-published by The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Slate.This story was produced by The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Slate, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Medical providers say NM policy of taking custody of substance-exposed newborns hurts families Doula Melissa Marie Lopez-Sullivan, practicing body balancing techniques on Nicara Rodriguez Hardin to help baby move into the optimal position for birth, says New Mexico's approach to mothers who have used alcohol and drugs is eroding the relationship between expectant mothers and providers. (Courtesy photo) When Dr. Francheska Gurule sees pregnant patients who use drugs or alcohol at the clinic where she works in Albuquerque, she says their “fear has always been very palpable.” As a family doctor board-certified in addiction medicine and working in the field for the last decade, Gurule says she knows patients worry about the stigma they’ll face when they disclose their drug use. But “the number one reason” they withhold their drug or alcohol use “is because they don’t want their baby to be taken from them.”SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “That fear has always existed,” Gurule told Source NM, but has become more marked in the year since New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered the Children, Youth and Families Department to seek immediate custody of newborns diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome or substance exposure. No exceptions. Gurule and dozens of providers signed a December 2025 letter objecting to the directive. Dr. Francheska Gurule, a family doctor board-certified in addiction medicine, says fear among pregnant patients with substance-use issues has increased since New Mexico’s governor created a “no exceptions” policy for the state to take custody of newborns exposed to some substances. (Courtesy photo) “I am a family doctor, those babies are my patients too,” Gurule said. But she believes she and others who oppose the directive, “also want to keep the moms healthy and safe.” On June 8, the New Mexico Supreme Court rejected a petition from the ACLU and two state lawmakers asking the state to immediately halt Lujan Grisham’s directive. But opposition to the order persists, particularly on the front lines among health care providers who treat women with histories of substance abuse. “Child protective services involvement is a risk factor for maternal depression,” said Dr. Jocelyn Wu, an OB/GYN who’s worked in northern New Mexico and Albuquerque. She pointed to data that shows mental health conditions, including substance use, as the leading cause of death during pregnancy and postpartum in New Mexico. “We have a postpartum mental health crisis on our hands,” she said, noting it was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gurule echoes those concerns. She worries pregnant patients will avoid doctors’ offices in an effort to keep custody of their kids, and says when moms avoid prenatal care, “they don’t get diagnosed with syphilis so then their babies are born with congenital syphilis, which can be a lifelong debilitating disease. They don’t get Narcan, so they overdose and they die. They don’t get on methadone. They don’t get on buprenorphine. And those are real, real scary outcomes.” National data supports Gurule and Wu’s fears, showing that patients avoid prenatal care and report higher rates of congenital syphilis on average in states with punitive substance use policies. New Mexico reports the third highest rate of moms who do not receive adequate prenatal care, according to the March of Dimes. In 2022, New Mexico reported the highest rate of congenital syphilis among all US states. Although the CDC has not released updated congenital syphilis data since 2023, when New Mexico still ranked second nationwide, the state Department of Health in April reported that rates fell more than 30% last year. The governor’s office stands behind the directive, and Communications Director Michael Coleman responded in a written statement to the questions Source NM posed about the providers’ concerns. “The governor believes safety is the top priority — and that means giving parents the space they need to recover, while making sure no baby is left in a home where exposure puts them at risk,” he said. New Mexico’s “substance-exposed newborn strategy exists,” he continued, “because substance-exposed infants and parents alike deserve a rigorous evaluation of whether their home environment is safe before a newborn is discharged into it. In each of the cases where a child was placed in safe care, the determination to temporarily remove them from their parents was made by a judge, based on the state’s risk assessment. The important decision to remove substance exposed newborns from their families is never a unilateral one by the state.” Awaiting new rules Meanwhile, the state Health Care Authority is slated to release new rules on Wednesday governing the state’s implementation of the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, as mandated by a separate law passed by the New Mexico Legislature. That law shifted the authority over cases involving substance-exposed newborns from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the HCA. Lujan Grisham signed the law in April 2025, before issuing her separate directive in July 2025. Responding to draft rules published by the Health Care Authority in April, 40 healthcare providers, social workers, attorneys, former CYFD employees, tribal governments and national and local non-profits shared concerns. “I have seen first hand how well children do with their own parents. I have also seen how well families do when kept with their kids,” wrote pediatrician Mateo McBatra. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s July 2025 directive ordering the state’s child welfare agency to take custody of newborns exposed to substance use has already survived a legal challenge. Licensed psychotherapist Bryce Pittenger also wrote about the impact the proposed rules could have on newborns. “For infants, time is not neutral. Prolonged separation during the early attachment window is associated with long-term impacts that are difficult—and costly—to remediate.” Troy Clark, president and CEO of the New Mexico Hospital Association, wrote that Lujan Grisham’s mandatory directive contradicted the Legislature’s law guiding voluntary plans of safe care, and added that hospitals “need clear and definitive direction about what will be in effect July 1, 2026.” In response to Clark’s concern, Coleman noted in his statement that the CARA directive “was written to operate within the framework SB42 established, and we have trained and supported on implementation questions as the CARA administration transitions to the Health Care Authority on July 1.” Providers and others who submitted comments to the Health Care Authority, also voiced concern with the proposed definition of substance-exposed newborns, which included newborns exposed to legal prescribed medications like buprenorphine and methadone and legal drugs like alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. “That is potentially a lot of people who are super stable in their recovery,” said Gurule, speaking of patients who use opioid agonists to treat their opioid use disorder. It also might include people who “don’t have a substance use disorder,” such as occasional smokers. Hannah Gillum is one such mother who’s spoken up about her experience grappling with the state’s policy. After receiving a diagnosis of infertility, Gillum had given up on having a child. “When I found out I was pregnant it was jarring, I wanted it for so many years,” she told Source NM. Gillum said she sought medical care immediately and learned she was pregnant at five weeks gestation. “And I made the huge mistake that I know now of telling them the truth,” which was that she had consumed alcohol and legal cannabis a few days earlier. The Monday after she gave birth, a CARA case worker reached out and scheduled a home-visit. “And that is when I hear that I am a part of the CARA program,” she said “And I am being forced to be a part of this. And if I don’t comply, they’re gonna refer me to” CYFD. Gillum said the punitive approach made her reluctant to opt into state programs. “I was already interested in some of those resources [offered through the CARA program] and willing to engage until it became by threat,” she said. In her decade working as a doula, Melissa Marie Lopez-Sullivan says she’s supported many parents like Gillum who use cannabis, particularly as it’s become medicinally and recreationally legal. Prior to Lujan Grisham’s order, she said, doing so “was almost a non-issue for most families.” Since the order, “People go out of their way to not test positive or to not disclose.” Coleman from Lujan Grisham’s office, however, says, any claims that the governor’s directive “would flag alcohol or marijuana use before they are pregnant is inaccurate. Her directive only applies to cases in which one of those substances is being used concurrently with meth or fentanyl.” Lopez-Sullivan, who serves as director of the New Mexico Doula Association, said the bottom line is that the CARA program “and the way it’s being implemented is eroding the relationship between patient and the provider, and the patient and the healthcare system.” Moreover, “There isn’t any more support or resources available than there were the day before [Lujan Grisham] issued” the directive. Gurule wishes that instead of seeking immediate custody of substance-exposed newborns, the state would invest in evidence-based practices recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “We don’t have housing. We don’t have substance use treatment in rural New Mexico. We don’t have family-centered rehab,” she said. “This is a chronic medical condition that is treatable.” And there are people who have come out the other side, “safely parenting and thriving as families.” Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	Americans are showing up for the World Cup in record-breaking numbers While the U.S. isn't a bona fide soccer nation yet, the past three weeks have perhaps shown what it would feel like if it were.
	Adrift after loss, he built a life — and a blueprint — around purpose (BPT) - After his life shifted into retirement at 68, John (not his actual name) expected to feel relief.Instead, after the first few months of feeling open and flexible, his days became harder to navigate. He still exercised, ran errands and kept up with friends. Yet mornings stretched longer, and evenings arrived without much to distinguish one day from the next.There was no single shift that caused concern. He felt a gradual drifting, and the questions that followed were practical: How do I organize my days now? What is this next chapter for?'I could keep going, or I could turn back'Victor Strecher, PhD and professor at University of Michigan School of Public Health, had grappled with those same questions too, but for entirely different reasons.In 1990, Vic's newborn daughter Julia became seriously ill from a heart condition. Doctors told him she might have only a month or two to live. There was a slim chance for a heart transplant, but the odds were daunting. Even if Julia lived only a few years, Vic and his wife asked themselves whether they could still give her a life worth living.They decided they could. Vic shifted his focus from career milestones to what would make her days full.Julia survived into young adulthood, but at 19, she died unexpectedly. Vic lost his footing. Grief showed up as a numb routine: hours of television, drinking, a sense of dissolving.One early morning, he climbed into a kayak on Lake Michigan and paddled out alone in the dark. As the sun rose and the water turned glassy, he sensed a choice. "I could keep going, or I could turn back," he said. "But if I turned back, I would have to live differently."He turned back. "I went home, pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote, 'Vic, you have to help yourself.' Then I asked: 'What are you going to do?'"He listed what mattered most — family, friends — then asked what mattered at work. His answer came quickly: his students. Vic called his university and asked to return to teaching. He committed to teaching every student as if they were his daughter.Victor Strecher teaching at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.Rebuilding a relationship with purposeWithout realizing it, Vic had begun rebuilding his relationship with purpose. He found having purpose changed not just the course of his life, but also the quality. He found greater clarity, a deeper connection, and more meaningful intentions."Purpose helps you organize what matters most. It directs your attention and energy toward that," Vic said.When he researched the impact of purpose in other people's lives, he found the science backed him up.In one study, participants wore identical 25-pound backpacks and estimated how steep a ramp appeared. One group was told the backpack was "dead weight." The other was told it carried important scientific equipment. Although both packs weighed the same, those who believed the load had meaning perceived the slope as less steep.Other research linked a stronger sense of purpose with healthier coping strategies. People with greater purpose were more likely to walk, spend time in nature, engage in meaningful rituals and step back during stress. They were less likely to rely on habits that dulled stress in the moment. Studies following people after large-scale trauma found that those who rebuilt purpose showed greater resilience over time."When you have a sense of purpose, you're more likely to step back, see the bigger picture and remember this won't last forever."An app for positive, lasting changeSurprisingly, Vic found purpose isn't a heroic vision or single-minded vocation a person is born with. It's a skill that can be clarified and strengthened, shaping daily behavior.Always a teacher, Vic began looking for ways to share what he had learned. He wrote the book, "Life On Purpose", gave TED Talks and lectures including at Harvard School of Public Health, structured two online courses rated 4th best in the world by Inc. Magazine, and conducted pioneering research on life purpose, cited in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Victor Strecher.In 2015, together with a team of psychologists, behavior designers and data scientists, he launched Kumanu (meaning "nourish" in Maori), a company designed to help people and organizations thrive by connecting deeply to what matters most through its app, Purposeful.The app is based on decades of research across behavioral science, neuroscience, public health and organizational psychology and more than 1,400 scientific studies. It prompts users to address the aspects of their lives they'd like help with, and guides users through the same steps he took to create positive, lasting change: identifying values, writing a purpose statement and building habits that align with it.Identifying values, such as family, health, faith, creativity, learning or service, creates direction. Putting those values into words shapes daily choices. From there, small practices create rhythm: a morning intention, a brief reflection, a consistent commitment. The consistency matters more than the scale."Users of Purposeful tend to be people who are going through transitions in their lives," Vic says. "I like to say you usually need to rethink your purpose when you need a Hallmark card."What matters most now?For users like John, it was exactly what they needed."Getting on Purposeful is part of my morning routine," a user said in a recent survey. "I have only missed a couple of days in the last year … it has really helped me stay in the present and be more focused and mindful about my days, relationships and my life."For others navigating loss, like Vic, the structure has been equally meaningful. The app "gave me a place to share my grief and trauma of loss and channel it toward a meaningful experience … a helpful reminder to keep me connected and do basic self-care tasks," another respondent said.For both, the shift began with the question "what matters most now?", choosing a direction and returning to it, one day at a time.To learn more, listen to Vic's podcast, PurposeCast, where he explores the science and stories behind living with purpose. You can also try the Purposeful app with a free account — no credit card required. For those who choose to upgrade, a limited-time discount is available on Purposeful Premium: 29% off ($4.16 per month, billed annually at $49.99). Cancel anytime.Photo above: Victor Strecher (R), with his daughter Julia Strecher (L) and wife Jeri Rosenberg.
	The Trump administration’s multiple investigations of the 2020 election may have more to do with 2026 The Trump administration’s multiple investigations of the 2020 election may have more to do with 2026The FBI agents arrived at David Bolter’s Milwaukee home on a cool, cloudy Wednesday morning in late May. They were armed with a list of questions for the 2020 poll worker, who had raised concerns about the way local officials handled the 2020 election, Bolter told Votebeat.President Donald Trump relied on Bolter’s claims in an unsuccessful 2020 lawsuit that sought to throw out more than 220,000 votes. That would have been more than enough to move Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes from Democrat Joe Biden, who won the state, to Trump. Though courts, several election reviews, and many audits rejected Trump’s claims, the Republican never stopped believing that he was cheated out of the presidency in 2020.That appears to be why, last month, the FBI sent agents back to Milwaukee to question Bolter as part of an expanding national effort by the second Trump administration to investigate long-debunked claims of fraud in the 2020 election.Votebeat dug into the Trump administration’s various investigations of the 2020 election and explained how those efforts could impact the midterms in 2026.The investigation into the 2020 election appears to be relying on already disproven allegations from people like Bolter. Bolter declined to divulge more about his conversation with the FBI, which has not been previously reported, but allegations from Bolter’s 2020 affidavit were central to some conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. For example, he alleged that somebody in Milwaukee’s absentee ballot counting facility announced around midnight on Election Day that a “huge truckload of ballots” was going to be delivered — an accusation for which there has so far appeared to be no additional evidence.Around the same time Bolter says he talked to the FBI, two plainclothes agents with FBI badges showed up at the apartment of a former Milwaukee resident and 2020 poll worker about an affidavit she submitted, according to the former poll worker, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Christine, to give her the freedom to discuss an ongoing investigation.Christine had also submitted an affidavit about the 2020 election, saying election workers had been told that all votes were counted, but she then saw workers continuing to count ballots around midnight. That affidavit was the focus of the agents’ questions, Christine told Votebeat.“I suspected wrongdoing, but I’m not saying that it actually happened,” she said. “I’m just one lowly person that was working there.”During the interview, she added, an agent showed her a photograph of Claire Woodall, the former Milwaukee election chief, asking her if she recognized the former election official who has been central to false allegations about the 2020 election. She identified her by name. Woodall didn’t respond to a request for comment.Caroline Clancy, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Milwaukee office, declined to comment.While investigators seem mainly focused on the 2020 vote, some elections experts believe the Trump administration’s wide-ranging probe is actually designed to create more doubts among Americans about future elections, as Republicans face strong political headwinds that could cost them control of Congress later this year.“This isn’t about the 2020 election, this is about the 2026 and 2028 elections,” said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research. “This is about intimidating election officials. This is about creating a stream of disinformation designed to delegitimize an election the president may believe he’s going to lose. This is designed by the president’s underlings to satisfy the unrealistic expectations of a president that still cannot comprehend that he lost an election that he definitely lost, and it’s incredibly destabilizing.”Wisconsin is the latest known target of the Trump administration’s 2020 investigation. The FBI is looking to interview elections officials and Milwaukee police officers in what some worry could be a precursor to an effort to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential race, as it already has in Georgia.The Trump administration is revisiting allegations of election fraud that have been repeatedly scrutinizedIn January, federal investigators seized 600 boxes of ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. The heavily Democratic county, home to Atlanta, was key to Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in the state.As in Wisconsin, the FBI in Georgia has built its investigation on allegations that have already been repeatedly scrutinized by audits, investigations, and courts without unearthing any evidence of fraud or tampering that could have overturned the results.The Georgia search represented an unprecedented intervention by the federal government into local administration. Even more unusually, Tulsi Gabbard, who will step down at the end of this month as director of national intelligence, personally oversaw the seizure and arranged for Trump to speak directly to the FBI agents via cell phone after they carried out the operation.The Trump administration investigations stretch from Arizona, where federal officials subpoenaed computerized records of a partisan review state lawmakers conducted of Maricopa County’s 2020 election, to Puerto Rico, where the Office of the Director of National Intelligence procured voting machines to examine for potential security risks.The administration’s investigations aren’t entirely limited to 2020. The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter in April to Wayne County, Michigan — home to Detroit — demanding all ballots cast in the 2024 election, which Trump won. But even in that case, to support the request, the Justice Department cited accusations of fraud made after the 2020 election, including a lawsuit that was quickly dismissed after a judge wrote that “plaintiffs’ interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible.” Wayne County never handed over the ballots, because it doesn’t have possession of them.What do the 2020 elections mean for 2026?The FBI faces challenges in pursuing cases tied to the 2020 election since the five-year statute of limitations that applies to most of the likely charges expired last year. Law enforcement veterans said it is possible that the Justice Department could pursue broader conspiracy charges in the case, but the prospect remains unclear.FBI Director Kash Patel suggested in April that the Justice Department would soon announce arrests related to the 2020 election, but that has not yet occurred. Officials with the FBI and Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.John Keller, a former acting head of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section who resigned in 2025 after refusing the Trump administration’s demands to drop corruption charges against then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, said the administration appeared to be trying to normalize federal investigations of state elections to pave the way for future intervention.“They are using enforcement directed at the 2020 election as a test run for what they can get away with on Election Day this year, or after, to try and delay certification or invalidate an election” if the results don’t go their way, he said.Injecting federal law enforcement officials into an ongoing election is a more extreme and serious action than investigating a past one, and it could face stiffer opposition. But it’s clear, at least, that the administration is scrutinizing current elections closely.Trump last week blasted California’s long vote counting process in its primary election and asserted that Democrats were trying to steal the election and federal authorities were investigating. Last month, Trump also said he was ordering the Justice Department to investigate an error that led to some voters in Maryland receiving ballots for the wrong party in the state’s upcoming primary. State officials in both cases have explained the true causes of the issues and that nothing nefarious was behind them.Any effort to seize ballots in an ongoing election would create unprecedented new issues, such as a breach in the chain of custody over cast ballots, that could prevent election officials from declaring a winner and throw results into uncertainty.Catherine Engelbrecht, co-founder of the Texas-based conservative group True the Vote, which has promoted debunked theories about the 2020 election, said she understands Trump’s intentions but believes the 2020 election questions should have been resolved “in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election.”“This is not necessarily the way I would have recommended that it would be handled,” she said. “The fact that it wasn’t addressed has left this lingering void.”In most cases, however, Trump’s claims of voter fraud were addressed in the wake of the 2020 election. Time and again, courts, state investigations, and even the Justice Department concluded that there was no evidence of problems or fraud that would have changed the results.Engelbrecht said she views the Trump administration’s ongoing investigations as an effort to dig into long-standing concerns about the voting process it wants to address for future elections.“The past is prologue,” she said. “If we don’t understand what happened, we are doomed to repeat it.”This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Funerals held for 14 Pakistani children killed in tutoring center collapse Police are investigating whether negligence during construction work caused the collapse in the eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday.
	Applications open for Davenport DREAM projects Applications are now open for new rounds of funding through the Davenport DREAM Project and Commercial DREAM Project. The program offers grants to new and existing homeowners in the city’s heritage neighborhoods by offering grants to make exterior property improvements. Commercial DREAM provides grants to eligible property owners to improve blight conditions on commercial, industrial [...]
	250 Years of Service, Reimagined: Meet the Soldiers Who Make Up Today’s Army (BPT) - Key TakeawaysThe U.S. Army — an institution one year older than the nation itself — continues to evolve to fit the needs of the modern world.With more than 250 jobs to choose from, the Army is a body of possibilities that helps Soldiers explore a variety of careers and interest areas, from infantry and aviation to engineering and music.Whether competing at the highest levels of athletic competition, performing for audiences around the world, or transforming the health and well-being of the force, today's Soldiers are redefining what service looks like, blending tradition with innovation and proving that Army service is more than meets the eye.As America celebrates its 250th birthday, there's a remarkable story that often goes untold: The U.S. Army has been defending the nation for its entire history, and then some. Founded in 1775, one year before the nation itself, the Army stands as the country's oldest institution with a proud history of service. But the Army isn't just preserving history — it's making it.Today's Soldiers are redefining what service looks like in the modern world, blending tradition with innovation and proving that Army service is more than meets the eye. With more than 250 jobs to choose from, the Army is a body of possibilities that helps Soldiers explore a variety of careers and interest areas, from infantry and aviation to engineering and music.What unites the Soldiers of today's Army is not the similarity of their paths, but their dedication to excellence and service. Whether competing at the highest levels of athletic competition, performing for audiences around the world, transforming the health and well-being of the force, or inspiring and motivating the next generation of Soldiers, each one has chosen to channel their talents through the Army.On this milestone birthday, read on to learn more about the Soldiers who serve today, who are proof that Army service is not just a career, but a powerful platform to pursue their passions, serve their country, and inspire their communities:U.S. Army Hip-Hop Artist Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick When Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick joined the Army, he made history as part of the force's inaugural hip-hop program, becoming the Army's first rapper. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Riddick was immersed in the performing arts and attended Bethune-Cookman University, where he was in the Marching Band and earned a bachelor's degree in music recording engineering. He went on to work at the West Virginia University School of Music, where he continued to hone his craft and, in 2020, won an Eddy Award for Best Christian Rap Artist. Wanting to make a greater impact while still pursuing music, Riddick joined the Army in 2021, and after a long audition process, earned a spot in the U.S. Army Field Band. Since its inception, the Army Field Band has evolved to a collection of professional Soldier ensembles that perform more than 400 concerts per year for local and international crowds, highlighting genres including hip-hop, rock, and country.As the Army's only rapper, Riddick uses his talents to connect the public with both the Army and hip-hop culture, and has performed on countless stages, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, NFL halftime shows, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Riddick also shares his experience and original work with an even greater audience at @armyrappers.Team USA Bobsledder and Flag Bearer Sgt. Frank Del DucaOriginally from Sunrise, Florida, then growing up in Bethel, Maine, Sgt. Frank Del Duca always had an interest in extreme sports, originally competing in downhill slalom skiing in high school. After graduating from the University of Maine and recovering from a reconstruction of the ACL and meniscus, he wanted to continue his pursuit of winter sports, and participated in a USA Bobsled combine where he quickly excelled. Del Duca's path as a bobsled athlete continued when he joined the Army in 2019 as an Infantryman (11B) and Soldier-athlete in the Army's World Class Athlete Program — an elite group that allows Soldiers to serve in the Army while receiving the support and training to participate at the highest levels of competition. His decision paid off when he was named to Team USA for the 2022 Beijing Games, competing in the two-man and four-man bobsled events.By tapping into the teamwork, discipline, and resilience learned in the Army, Del Duca made another Olympic run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina in both the two-man and four-man bobsled events — this time not only being named to Team USA, but also earning the coveted, peer-voted role as Opening Ceremony flag bearer. He carried this momentum to the Games, where he secured a historic 4th-place finish in the two-man bobsled event.U.S. Army Golden Knight Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Evans Originally from Bangor, Maine, Sgt. 1st Class Evans aspired to join the Army before graduating high school, and he has since experienced many different careers over his 15 years of Army service, from an Infantryman (11B) to a Career Counselor (79S). While serving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Evans went tandem skydiving with his father and immediately fell in love with the sport. He soon got his license and tried out for the U.S. Army's Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, in 2022. Though he didn't make the cut his first time, he stayed determined and was officially assigned to the Golden Knights in 2024, where he now represents the Army at the highest levels of aerial performance.Since learning to skydive, Evans has logged more than 850 free-fall parachute jumps and 17 military static line jumps. He notes his most memorable performance as parachuting into the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., in celebration of the Army's 250th birthday in 2025 — a "twice-in-a-lifetime" opportunity he experienced again during America's 250th birthday celebrations in 2026.Holistic Health Leader Lt. Col. Jason BarberLt. Col. Jason Barber has dedicated his Army career to transforming how the force understands and pursues wellness. Currently activated to lead the U.S. Army Reserve's Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system — a program that supports the physical, nutritional, mental, sleep, and spiritual health of Soldiers — at the 81st Readiness Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Barber has become an influential voice in redefining what it means to be holistically fit, as well as a key architect in how H2F is being implemented across the Army Reserve. After joining the Army in 1991 as a Cavalry Scout (19D), he made the decision to pursue higher education using the GI Bill, earning a degree in exercise science and an advanced degree in physician assistant studies. But it was a transformative experience working alongside a strength coach that made him realize his passion for helping others achieve their goals through evidence-based training.He went on to become the high-performance coordinator for the Army's World Class Athlete Program, where he helped train Soldier-athletes for the highest levels of international competition, and he was one of the first strength and conditioning coaches embedded in the Special Operations community — a pioneering role that laid the groundwork for the Army-wide H2F system. He operates under a growth mindset and believes that success is built through small, consistent effort that eventually compounds to true readiness and resilience.U.S. Army Six-String Soldiers Vocalist Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell is the lead vocalist for the Army's Six-String Soldiers, a country music group performing Americana and patriotic music to inspire national pride. Originally from Hampton, Virginia, Haskell graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and began her professional music career as a country artist. She later realized that her talent could serve something larger than a stage and joined the Marine Corps as the first enlisted vocalist in its history. After basic training, she attended the Naval School of Music, where she learned about the Army Field Band's special bands program and pursued an inter-service transfer to the Army, which led her to the Six-String Soldiers.Throughout her career, Haskell has continued to serve as an inspiration for others, performing at professional sporting events and the Grand Ole Opry, and appearing on NBC's The Voice in 2023, representing the Army. She also curates the Six-String Soldiers' social media presence, helping the group gain further national attention. Haskell notes that the Army gave her music a mission, and as a mentor to incoming military musicians, she pays it forward by helping them navigate the unique world of military musical service.Leadership Mentor and Influencer Maj. John Howell Throughout his 13-year Army career, Maj. John Howell learned that the most challenging leaders often become the greatest teachers. Serving under commanders who demanded perfection — even down to font sizes — originally frustrated him, but as he advanced in rank and eventually commanded his own unit, he realized those harsh lessons had shaped his attention to detail, standards for excellence, and understanding of effective leadership.Originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, Howell grew up in a military family and pursued an ROTC scholarship to Carson-Newman University as a way to pay for college. He went on to serve as an Infantry Officer (11A) and Military Intelligence Officer (35A), commanded a unit in rural Washington, and spent time as an Army recruiter — an experience that shaped his leadership and passion for mentoring young Soldiers.Now, as the Scholarship Program Manager at the United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Howell is channeling his life lessons into advice for the next generation of Soldiers, sharing valuable perspective and career guidance, through his Instagram account, @servantofleaders, which has built a community of 70K+ followers.These Soldiers represent the vast opportunities available in the Army today. To learn more about the possibilities of service, visit GoArmy.com.
	A simple yet expensive way to climate-proof the grid: Bury the power lines A simple yet expensive way to climate-proof the grid: Bury the power linesPower lines across the country weren’t designed for a changing climate, with much of the nation’s grid built more than half a century ago. Today, stronger storms and heavier precipitation contribute to hundreds of outages each year, many because of trees falling on above-ground power lines.In northern Michigan, some utilities want to change that.In March 2025, a devastating ice storm hit the region, knocking down trees and snapping utility poles. Thousands of people lost power, and some remained without electricity for weeks..During the blackout, Lewiston, Michigan, resident Wanda Whiting suddenly had to get her husband, Dave, to the hospital. He was having heart trouble. The side of the highway was littered with downed wires and broken poles. The streets were so dark, she said, that she got lost on familiar roads.“I still can’t get over how astonished I was, how much we rely on street lights,” Whiting told Grist.At one point, she had to drive over thick cables that had fallen across the road. Downed wires are dangerous; they can still be live even if the power is out. The couple made it to the hospital, and Dave Whiting recovered. But the power in the area didn’t come back on for another two weeks. Vivian La // IPR News For Michiganders, the ice storm was a reminder of the power grid’s vulnerabilities during severe weather. The state already sees some of the longest power outages in the country.Climate change could make that worse. Research suggests northern Michigan will see more freezing rain instead of snow and possibly more destructive ice storms. Communities need to plan for a different future, said Richard B. Rood, a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan who studies climate change adaptation.“You can’t think of what we’re experiencing as, ‘This is how it used to be, and this is where it will be,â€˜” Rood said. “You are right in the middle of the change here.”The biggest challenge to undergrounding power lines is cost. Consumers Energy, one of the largest utilities in Michigan, says it hears from customers “consistently” about burying more lines. The company estimates that undergrounding 1 mile of line in the state can cost $400,000. In some urban areas that cost can swell, with estimates ranging from $2 million to $3 million per mile, according to a report from the Michigan Public Service Commission.In contrast, installing overhead lines is typically a fraction of that cost.Instead of undergrounding existing wires, burying new lines during construction is generally easier and cheaper, because crews can install power lines alongside other utilities like water or gas.Tony Chartrand, pictured below, is director of electrical engineering and operations for Traverse City Light & Power, which serves roughly 42,000 people. He said utilities face a balancing act. “Part of that solution is undergrounding lines,” he said. “But it’s not necessarily undergrounding everything.” Vivian La // IPR News Great Lakes Energy, the state’s largest electric co-op serving 26 counties across northern Michigan, has announced plans to bury all new power lines. The new policy came in response to last year’s ice storm, which caused more than 66,000 power outages across the electric co-op’s system and cost about $150 million in damages.Even so, burying new lines will be expensive, said Shari Culver, chief operating officer for Great Lakes Energy. It can cost three to five times more than putting up an overhead line, and costs will be passed onto ratepayers. But, she said, “I think there’s reliability benefits for our membership, because it’s going to help prevent outages over the long term.”The utility isn’t planning on burying all its existing overhead lines. That’s when expenses for construction, labor, and materials can add up quickly.Besides the cost, there are other challenges with burying power lines. Any problem often requires digging up sidewalks to reach wires, Chartrand said. For utilities, that can be a balancing act.“Part of that solution is undergrounding lines. But it’s not necessarily undergrounding everything,” he said. “It’s trying to balance that cost with the benefit.”Michigan utilities aren’t alone in addressing the problem of downed lines during intense storms. Across the country, Americans are experiencing longer and more frequent power outages due to severe weather.Utilities nationwide are looking to bury more lines, said Andrew Phillips, vice president of transmission and distribution infrastructure at the Electric Power Research Institute.But expensive electricity bills are another concern, as utilities balance upgrades to an aging grid and increasing demand.“If the utility wants to make any investment, this money doesn’t come from nowhere,” said Tao Sun, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University who studies the impact of extreme weather on power systems. “They have to pass on those costs to their customers.”That can be a hard sell.Sun said utilities need to plan ahead, identify the areas that would see the most benefit from undergrounding, and get buy-in from local communities for rate increases — ideally before any major disaster.Right now, he said, those changes typically happen after disaster strikes. Vivian La // IPR News “We will only take actions after local customers feel or experience those events that are really severe or disrupt their lives,” Sun said.For instance, California’s largest utility, PG&E, is in the middle of one of the country’s largest undergrounding projects — in response to destructive wildfires.A year after the devastating ice storm in northern Michigan, residents like Wanda Whiting are still recovering. There are now new poles and wires near her home. But Whiting can’t help wondering how these power lines will hold up in the next storm — and whether there’s a better solution.“If it means going underground,” she says, “Then by God, go underground!”This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and Interlochen Public Radio in northern Michigan.This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Two Bettendorf parishes unite to form St. Joan of Arc Parish A new chapter in Catholic life in Bettendorf starts today as Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and St. John Vianney Parish officially unite to form St. Joan of Arc Parish. The merger was approved by the Diocese of Davenport and Bishop Dennis Walsh and brings together two vibrant parish communities into one parish family, serving [...]
	City of Eldridge statement addresses public comments, fire department, public safety In a Facebook post, the City of Eldridge has released a statement about public comments and a shortage of firefighters. City staff and elected officials have been working for over a year with members of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department to solve the department’s "dire shortage of manpower and burnout. We all agree that the [...]
	Why ventilation may be the most important feature in your home (BPT) - When you're building a new home or remodeling your existing one, there's no shortage of choices you have to make. Most homeowners focus on visible features like kitchens, flooring and smart technology. But there's one system that matters just as much, and it's hidden behind your walls. That system is your home's ventilation.Why does ventilation matter?Think of your home's ventilation system as its lungs. It brings in fresh outdoor air and removes stale indoor air. Good ventilation means fresher air throughout your home, better moisture control, and fewer odors and indoor pollutants.Every home needs proper ventilation. Whether you live in a cold northern region, a hot and humid southern state or anywhere in between, proper ventilation keeps your home comfortable, healthy and structurally sound. Here's where traditional ventilation systems often fall shortModern homes are designed to be super energy-efficient, which means they're sealed more carefully than ever before. The downside? That same seal that saves on your electric bill also traps stale air, humidity and cooking odors inside. Traditional ventilation systems work with a one-way approach. Some pull air out of your home and hope fresh air seeps in through cracks and gaps. Others push air in and hope stale air escapes the same way. Neither approach works well in today's airtight homes.The result? Uneven comfort, excess moisture, condensation on windows, lingering cooking odors, and a buildup of indoor pollutants from everyday activities like showering and cleaning. It gets worse. Exhaust-only systems can create negative pressure, allowing moisture and contaminants to seep into your walls. Supply-only systems trap moisture inside, increasing the risk of mold and long-term damage to your roof, walls, foundation and insulation.Why balanced ventilation with an ERV is the solutionEnergy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) continuously bring fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air. And it does something traditional systems can't. It transfers heat and moisture between the incoming and outgoing air streams. As energy codes continue to evolve and builders construct tighter, more efficient homes, balanced ventilation is becoming an increasingly important part of residential design. So, how can you ensure your new home provides the ventilation you need for good indoor air quality, long-term home performance and year-round comfort in any climate? The key is balanced ventilation powered by an energy recovery ventilation (ERV).One example of a balanced ventilation solution is the Panasonic BalancedHome® Elite+ 210, an energy recovery ventilator designed for modern single-family homes. The system delivers what modern single-family homes need by:Helping maintain indoor comfort while reducing energy lossFiltering incoming air to support healthier indoor environmentsAllowing homeowners to monitor system performanceOffering installation flexibility for different home designsOperating quietly in living spaces A modern home deserves modern ventilationAs homes become more energy-efficient and airtight, ventilation is no longer optional. It is essential for your family's comfort and long-term home performance. Homeowners who prioritize balanced ventilation can enjoy fresher indoor air, improved comfort and greater confidence that their home is performing as intended.To learn more about the benefits of balanced ventilation, ERVs and why a new home isn't complete without it, visit BalancedHome® ERV - Elite Plus Models - 210 \| Panasonic North America - United States.*BalancedHome® 210 performance may vary based on installation, operating conditions and climate.
	Managing money as a couple: What to know about joint bank accounts Managing money as a couple: What to know about joint bank accounts In any relationship, these questions may inevitably come up: Should we keep our own separate bank accounts? Should we open a joint account? Should we have both?How you and your spouse (or future spouse) or partner manage your money can mean much more than you might think. Your daily-use bank accounts can influence how you two approach money, make financial decisions, and even plan for your future.“The decision reflects how you’re thinking about earning, saving, and giving. It reflects a philosophy of life: ‘What does it mean to earn? Whose earnings are those? Who am I spending for? Is it a personal or shared project?’” said Mariana Martinez, a senior family dynamics consultant with Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management. These are important questions for every couple to answer as they plan for a financially happy and healthy life together. What that answer is will inevitably be different for everyone. In this article, Wells Fargo outlines the potential advantages and disadvantages you and your partner should consider.Key takeawaysUnderstand your options: Couples may opt to use joint, individual, or a mix of both joint and individual bank accounts, depending on their needs and approaches to money.Using joint accounts may offer both spouses visibility over those funds, shared fiscal responsibility, and an easier path forward if one of you dies. However, some couples may conflict over how the account is used or even abused.Using individual accounts may offer spouses more individual freedom in managing money, which can be important for those with separate expenses. But it’s possible you and your partner might lack opportunities to make a more cohesive financial strategy.What is best for your relationship? You and your partner should discuss your preferences and come to an answer together. Joint vs. individual accounts: What’s the difference?A joint account is a checking or savings account with two accountholders with the same primary authority. Even though there are two people responsible for the account, one person can make transactions or changes to the account without the other’s permission.An individual account is the same checking or savings bank account, but there’s only one primary account holder who’s able to make transactions and access the account.Typically, primary account holders of either joint or individual accounts can give another person view-only access, such as a parent who’s able to monitor their child’s account activity. Pros: Joint bank accounts Shared responsibilityWhen two people decide to live their lives together, they explicitly or tacitly agree to take on expenses together. Paying for these costs using a joint account may naturally follow logically or philosophically for many couples.“A joint account represents the desire to have a combined journey,” Martinez said.Simply put, this joint account creates a shared place for you and your spouse to put money and use it. When covering fixed expenses like rent or a mortgage, utilities, or insurance, you both can have peace of mind knowing these shared bills are covered because you’re working on them together, in addition to the visibility to see transactions are made. The advantage of a joint account is that both of you may be actively engaged or at least familiar with managing the account.Joint visibilityThe clearest benefit of a couple managing their money with a joint account is that both people can see that money and how it’s being spent. This could lead to both members of the relationship having a more holistic view of their finances. That way, you can check if you’re on track with your budget or if you’re both working toward your goals.Joint visibility into you and your partner’s accounts may make it easier to create a more cohesive financial plan. The opposite may be true if you and your partner don’t know how much money the other has in their accounts or how they’re being managed, said Travis Taylor, a financial advisor and certified financial planner professional with Wells Fargo Advisors. This visibility also means there could be two sets of eyes monitoring recent account activity for unexpected or dubious transactions, fraud, or scams.It could be easier to pass on moneyA joint account makes it easier for a spouse to access that money if the other spouse dies, compared with individual accounts.When the worst happens, anything in that account will pass to the surviving accountholder. If it were an individual account, that spouse may need to enter a probate process to get those funds.“That’s a pro if you know that money needs to go to your spouse if something were to happen to you,” Taylor said. “It could be considered a con, though, if one spouse has a different opinion of where that money should go after death.” If you and your spouse feel differently about where those joint account funds should go when you pass on, opening a trust is one option to ensure your wishes are followed.Cons: Joint bank accountsAssumed roles can ariseNaturally, people may carry assumptions or expectations of all sorts when it comes to money, including who carries the most responsibility of managing the couple’s joint bank account. Left unspoken, these attitudes can lead couples to not fulfilling both members’ financial needs. “Pay attention to how those inherited views are handled and how they’re informing what the couple is doing,” Martinez said.For example, if one spouse is the household’s primary earner, makes all major financial transactions using a joint account, and dies unexpectedly, that may leave the other spouse less prepared to manage money alone, because they haven’t had to handle the account. However, this is only a disadvantage if you or your partner aren’t familiar with how to manage the account.Trust can be brokenSharing a financial account relies on trust between partners to earn, save, and spend money together with some level of shared expectations. However, that bond can be broken if a spouse breaks those rules or expectations, such as by overspending, withdrawing funds inappropriately, or failing to cover bills.“If there is ever a breach of trust in the relationship, that joint authority can be problematic,” Taylor said.If conflict arises, you and your spouse may be able to rebuild that bond by talking honestly about what happened, how it overstepped a boundary or made you feel, and what can be done to regain trust moving forward.Trickier to decouple if your relationship endsWhile joint accounts can help couples manage their money over the course of their relationship, they will likely need to be closed if you and your spouse decide to end your relationship or marriage.If you and your spouse get divorced, your joint account will most likely be considered marital property and be split according to your state’s laws or what’s dictated in your divorce proceedings, assuming both you and your partner contributed to it. If you’re in this position, work with your attorney and your bank to manage the account accordingly throughout the divorce process. A prenuptial agreement can help you and a future spouse make your accounts known to the other partner and discuss how you’d like them handled in the event your marriage ends. For married couples, a postnuptial agreement can establish your joint plan of how to handle your accounts in the case of death or divorce, removing the uncertainty from a difficult time.“The account type, in my mind, does not dictate a happy retirement for a married couple,” Taylor said. “What more likely dictates a happy retirement are two people who set a plan early in life and follow up on that plan until they retire.”Pros: Individual bank accounts Both you and your partner must manage moneyIf you and your partner decide to keep the individual bank accounts you entered your relationship or marriage with, you’ll likely manage them as you did.By maintaining some individual responsibility with money, you may both preserve or improve your financial literacy skills and ultimately will serve your relationship better if each of you has an individual account.“Individual accounts help keep both people financially responsible,” Martinez said. “You want both people to be competent in financial management.”Allows for different money habits or approachesIf you and your spouse keep separate bank accounts, you may more easily move, spend, and save your money how you’d like because you won’t need to factor in another person.“That gives people room and, in my experience, it’s one less thing where friction can come up,” Martinez said. For example, if you’re more frugal and your partner is less so, you could agree to use your money as you want, beyond meeting any shared financial goals or budget. For another couple, one spouse may have a stable income and opt to cover fixed expenses while the other person could use their varied income to pay down debt or cover rainy day purchases.Spouses may have separate expensesBoth people in a marriage may prefer to handle expenses that only pertain to them. In some relationships, it might not be appropriate for these payments to come from a joint account. This may be particularly important for spouses who must pay alimony, child support, or other payments stipulated in a divorce, for example. If you or your spouse have been married and divorced previously, the idea of combining your finances into a joint account might be tough, especially if decoupling your finances with a previous partner was emotionally, financially, or logistically difficult. If that’s the case, having separate individual accounts may be a good alternative.This question comes up pretty often if you have two people who’ve had difficult divorces and they’re bringing their money together, Taylor said.Cons: Individual bank accountsPotential lack of cohesion with your financesWithout a joint account, couples may not have organic opportunities to discuss and agree on financial goals and how to budget their money. These are two building blocks to a cohesive strategy for a financially healthy marriage and successful long-term planning.“Going from happily married to happily retired is hard. To me, it all starts with setting a goal for what you want your retirement to look like together and how you accomplish that,” Taylor said. For some, however, that may be easier with a joint account that allows spouses to see each other’s spending and savings habits with those funds, Taylor said.Power dynamics can emergeWhen spouses have separate accounts, their financial differences could be exacerbated, Martinez said.For example, if one spouse earns more and has more funds to spend on hobbies, clothes, or other discretionary purchases, it might lead the other person to develop negative feelings. For another couple, uneven incomes or access to money might lead to feelings of inequality in the relationship.“Separate accounts can reduce resentment, but they can also invite competition. That might not be the best approach to building a life together,” Martinez said. Your account structure activates the power dynamics that more often than not money brings to the table, she added.There’s no default transparencyThe same freedom that can empower couples to manage money how they want may also lead to confusion, a lack of accountability, or even financial dishonesty.Financial secrets aren’t uncommon. In fact, 56% of Americans surveyed in the 2025 Wells Fargo Money Study kept secret how much money they have.“Having an individual account means that only spouse A can see spouse A’s account. Spouse B? Not so much,” Taylor said. “How can you hold each other accountable to have a happy retirement if you’re not working together?”When to decide if you should have joint or separate accounts There’s no wrong or right time for couples to make a change when it comes to their bank accounts. The best decision is one made jointly and with intention.You and your spouse shouldn’t feel pressure to create a joint account right when you live together or get married if it doesn’t come up organically. Suddenly changing how you manage money without prior planning, especially as you navigate big life changes, can be a “recipe for disaster,” said Sylvia Guinan, a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. Instead, try “baby steps,” like paying a bill through a joint account and adding other expenses over time, Guinan added. A potential entry point for newer couples might be opening a joint account to cover some wedding expenses, Martinez said.“What often makes sense is to have a joint account for joint bills — the house, electric — and maybe for your vacations, but I think it’s nice for everybody to keep a bit of their independence,” Guinan said.Don’t let the timing of your decision keep you and your spouse from making it at all. Being intentional with money is an aspiration for many: Nearly everyone (94%) surveyed in the 2025 Wells Fargo Money Study said they want to make money choices that align with their values. What are other couples doing with their bank accounts? Wells Fargo Source: YouGov Plc survey of 2,217 American adults conducted Dec. 9–11, 2024, on behalf of BankrateCurious how other people use joint or separate bank accounts? One survey suggests relying on joint accounts is the most popular approach, but a mix of both joint and separate bank accounts was also popular. Wells Fargo Source: YouGov Plc survey of 2,217 American adults conducted Dec. 9–11, 2024 on behalf of BankrateMost Americans (62%) polled in a 2024 Bankrate survey said they keep at least some money separated in individual accounts, but joint accounts are quite common, too. Nearly 3 in 4 people (73%) in the survey reported using a joint account for all or part of how they manage their money.FAQHow do I open a bank account with my spouse?Financial institutions may have different account opening processes and requirements. With some institutions, you can start the process of opening a checking or savings account with a spouse or partner online or at a branch.Can I add my spouse to an existing bank account?While not all accounts will have the same terms and conditions, yes, you can typically add a spouse or partner to an existing checking or savings account. Do you need to be married to open a joint bank account together?No, you do not need to be married to open a joint bank account with a spouse, partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend.This story was produced by Wells Fargo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why values and early conversations matter when talking about wealth Why values and early conversations matter when talking about wealthWealth without values is a fragile inheritance—starting early, honest conversations with kids about money and meaning is the true legacy that lasts across generations.When it comes to wealth, especially at the ultrahigh-net-worth (UHNW) level, the conversation often starts and ends with portfolios, asset allocation, and tax strategies. But if you ask families who have successfully navigated wealth across generations, they’ll tell you the most critical work happens long before any financial decisions are made. It begins with understanding your relationship with money and, more importantly, the values that guide it.Insights from dozens of in-depth, confidential interviews with multigenerational families and family office leaders point to a clear conclusion: Wealth without a foundation of self-awareness and shared values is fragile. On the other hand, as Bernstein Private Wealth Management explains, wealth grounded in purpose and intentionality stays resilient.Why Values Come First as Wealth GrowsOne self-made entrepreneur who eventually exited put it succinctly: “If my motivations were a Ferrari and a bigger house, I would have given up early and failed miserably. The only reason I kept fighting was for my family. That’s the only motivation that matters.” Clarity of purpose—not financial reward—sustained them through years of uncertainty and eventual success. Without that clarity, wealth can amplify stress, fear, or misalignment. But when your financial journey is anchored in what truly matters, wealth becomes a servant to life, not the driver of it.For many wealth creators, there is no inherited playbook. As one family office leader explained, “When wealth is liquid and there’s no legacy business, you don’t automatically have a story or something bonding family members. You have to be intentional about creating a sense of connection and legacy.” Values such as humility, responsibility, generosity, and stewardship become the compass when there is no road map.And this compass is essential not just for the current generation but for the next. One first-generation wealth creator shared a common concern: “I just don’t want my kids to think that money makes them better than anyone else. It doesn’t. They still have to show up, they still have to work, and they still have to be good people.” Families who are most confident about their long-term success emphasize communication, education, and deliberately conveying values to the next generation.Put Values First, Numbers LaterOne of the most important lessons to be learned from working with UHNW families is that values must come before numbers. One entrepreneur with five children described their approach: “We created our family values together: love, gratitude, respect, discipline. I ask my kids ‘What are the values you guys lived today at school, or in the sports arena?’” This philosophy—tying money conversations back to values and separating values education from financial disclosure—is a hallmark of families who feel confident about the next generation’s outcomes.Without a values framework, wealth discussions can feel abstract, or worse, transactional. But when values come first, money becomes a tool in service of something bigger, not an identity. This mindset transforms wealth from a potential source of division or anxiety into a source of clarity, connection, and opportunity.When and How Should We Talk to Our Kids About Our Wealth?One of the most emotionally charged questions for UHNW families is: When should we talk to our children about our wealth? And what should we say? The short answer is that there is no single “right age.” Instead, it’s a gradual process of age-appropriate conversations that deepens understanding over time. One parent who experienced a significant liquidity event shared that they didn’t sit their kids down and say, “Here’s the number.” Rather, what mattered was helping them understand “that this isn’t normal—but they’re not special,” emphasizing that money doesn’t buy effort, character, or belonging.Start Earlier Than You ThinkChildren start forming beliefs about money as early as elementary school. And silence doesn’t protect them. Instead, it leaves them to fill in the gaps themselves. One multigenerational family leader explained, “We didn’t grow up with financial education, but we certainly did have conversations. Not about money—about expectations. To encourage us to do something meaningful with the freedom we were given.”Long before wealth is named explicitly, early conversations focus on work ethic, gratitude, and choice. These conversations lay the foundation that makes later disclosures feel logical instead of destabilizing. They don’t need all the information, but they do need context. Shielding children from wealth often increases anxiety later. You can involve them in age-appropriate advisor conversations and financial decisions without handing over full control. This approach fosters trust and prepares them for future responsibilities. Bernstein Private Wealth Management Three Ways to Build a Values-Driven Wealth Legacy1. Start with Honest Self-ReflectionBefore diving into structures or strategies, take time to reflect on your own relationship with money and values. Ask yourself:What does money represent to us? Security, freedom, impact, perhaps something else?What beliefs about money did we inherit, and which ones still serve us?What life experiences inform how we make decisions about wealth?In what ways does wealth simplify our lives, and where does it complicate things?Action: Set aside dedicated time, alone or with your partner, to write down your answers. This exchange can become the foundation for future financial decisions and family conversations.2. Make Values Explicit—and Share ThemMany families assume their values are “understood.” In practice, the strongest families name them clearly and revisit them often. Create a short family values list or mission statement. Use family meetings to discuss why decisions are made, not just what decisions are made. Share personal stories that illustrate values in action—especially moments of failure or challenge. Living those values day-to-day is just as critical, if not more. Put simply, as the family grows, it’s not enough to hope everyone stays close. As one multigenerational entrepreneurial family member reflected, “When you have so many people involved, communication and preserving the [family values] are the most important things to keep the family together for the next generations to come.”Action: Draft a family values or mission statement and review it together at least once a year.3. Connect Money Decisions to MeaningFinancial literacy deepens when wealth is connected to purpose. Involve the next generation in age-appropriate financial decisions. Use philanthropy as a teaching tool, not just a giving vehicle. Encourage exploration of passions alongside an understanding of responsibility. As one family business leader with college-age children noted, “I’m going to set up a charity, and I want to use that to get [our kids] to start thinking about how you manage money, how you give money away, how people will be looking at you and treating you. I think it’ll be a good experience for us to learn together, and hopefully use that as a stepping stone for more education on wealth management.”Action: Home in on one financial decision—investing, giving, or spending—and explicitly discuss how it aligns with your family’s values.Final ThoughtsFor UHNW families, financial literacy is not just about knowing how to manage money—it’s about knowing why you have it, what role it plays in your life, and what you want it to stand for. When values come first, wealth becomes a source of clarity, connection, and opportunity across generations. But when they don’t, even the most sophisticated strategies can fall short. As one interviewee summarized, “Stay humble. Stay true to your values, regardless of your financial situation. I think that’s the most important.”This story was produced by Bernstein Private Wealth Management and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport's Party in the Park program will return in July The City of Davenport has announced the return of Party in the Park for summer 2026, a news release says. Community members are invited to join city staff, local organizations, elected officials, and neighbors for a series of free community gatherings in parks across Davenport. Party in the Park offers an opportunity for people of [...]
	Firecracker Run, Freedom Run and QC Marathon highlight busy Quad Cities race season The Quad Cities’ summer race season begins July 4 with the Firecracker Run, followed by the Freedom Run on Aug. 13 and the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon on Sept. 27, with organizers highlighting tradition, community impact and support for local military families.
	Wisconsin Laborers union breaks new ground with peer support for troubled members Walter Keller, a Laborers union member, works at a job site. The Wisconsin Laborers District Council is launching a peer support program for workers facing challenges with mental health, stress or substance abuse. (Photo courtesy Wisconsin Laborers District Council)A Wisconsin construction union is launching an organized peer support program for its members who need help with addiction, substance abuse or mental health challenges — only the third program of its kind in the U.S. The program was announced Wednesday by the Wisconsin Laborers District Council and dubbed LEAN — short for Laborers Escaping Adversity Now. People in construction say the nature of their jobs can make it hard to face up to serious problems. Kent Miller, Wisconsin Laborers District Council president and business manager. (WLDC photo) “There’s this stigma that’s out there,” said Kent Miller, president and business manager of the union’s Wisconsin council. “It’s this physically challenging job, and you think that you’ve got to be tough with everything else, right?” With LEAN, “we’re trying to break those barriers,” he said, “and make sure our members know that it’s OK to ask for help.” Three union members have been selected and undergone training to work as the Wisconsin union’s first full-time peer support specialists. “[They] are card-carrying Laborers that have first-hand experiences with recovery and working in the construction industry and with some of the challenges and stresses that working in the industry poses,” Miller said. LEAN has established a round-the-clock hotline members can call if they need help, Miller said. The peer support specialists will be making the rounds of job sites and Laborers union halls to introduce themselves and distribute flyers explaining what they can offer. The Wisconsin council represents 10,000 members of the Laborers International Union of North America — LIUNA. LEAN was started at a LIUNA chapter in Massachusetts, then replicated at the union’s St. Louis branch. Laborers work in a variety of jobs alongside many other trades — building highways, working on pipelines, in landscaping and in asbestos removal, to name just some. Some jobs are seasonal, with long layoffs during the offseason that can create financial uncertainty, giving workers the incentive “to get as much hours in as they can during the bulk of the construction season,” Miller said. Those long hours can take workers away from their families. “Mental health and substance use challenges can affect anyone,” he said. He counts a half-dozen or more suicides among Wisconsin Laborers members in 2025 alone. Wisconsin union members learned about LEAN at a union conference a couple of years ago. “When we heard about this program, we were just like, we’ve got to move forward with this,” Miller said In 2024 the union arranged for people involved in the St. Louis program to give a presentation to the union and management trustees who jointly oversee Wisconsin Laborers Health Fund, which manages union members’ medical benefits. “We as a fund really felt we needed this,” said Matt Marcellis, a management trustee for the Laborers Health Fund. Marcellis is executive director of the Allied Construction Employers Association, which represents the construction employers who contract with building trades unions, including the Laborers. “Construction workers — they’re kind of a unique breed,” Marcellis said. “They’re a group of people used to working hard and not accepting a lot of help.” Since deciding to launch the program in Wisconsin, the union has spent more than a year laying the groundwork. The logo for the Laborers union new peer support program. (Courtesy Wisconsin Laborers District Council) LEAN is supported through the union’s health fund. Its costs are covered by a 5-cent-per-hour contribution from each member’s pay that is part of the negotiated pay and benefits in the Laborers contracts. The Laborers have an Employee Assistance Plan that provides counseling and other help for members. LEAN doesn’t replace those services, Miller said, but offers members a pathway to EAP services or an alternative for help. Peer support specialists “can help point people in the right direction of the resources that we already have,” Miller said. “But if they’re not comfortable in going that direction yet, just talking with somebody, talking with our peer support specialist, will be a good first step.” The first three peer specialists live in different parts of Wisconsin, giving the program coverage throughout the state. “Depending on how utilization is, and how the program takes off, if we need to put on another specialist, we will,” Miller said. Conversations with the peer supporter are confidential and can go at the pace that the member is most comfortable with. “They’re going to give you the information, so people can feel more comfortable about making that informed decision on what that next step looks like,” Miller said. LEAN has a webpage for union members with a map of Wisconsin’s 72 counties that members can use to find resources available in each, from hospitals and clinics to local 12-step group meetings, Miller said. The peer support specialists have been visiting the state’s hospitals and clinics and assessing what they offer, so they can more easily refer people to the right providers based on the specific needs a member has when seeking help. “To get into some of these programs there’s a waiting list, there’s a bunch of challenges, and there’s also concerns about the quality of outcomes,” Miller said. “We want to make sure that, if we’re steering our members to certain hospitals and clinics, that they’re the ones that are providing the best outcomes for our members and their families.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner
	Does sunscreen expire? How to tell if your SPF still works Does sunscreen expire? How to tell if your SPF still worksThat half-used bottle of sunscreen sitting in a beach bag since last summer might seem fine, but appearances can deceive. A surprising 52% of people surveyed in 2022 did not check their sunscreen for an expiration date before applying it.This oversight matters because expired SPF products lose their protective abilities, leaving skin vulnerable to harmful UV rays. Understanding whether sunscreen still works requires knowing what to look for and when to replace sun care products. Unprotected sun exposure contributes to premature aging and increases skin cancer risk.Below, Doctronic shares what to look for to determine whether your sunscreen is still safe and effective for use.Key TakeawaysSunscreen typically remains effective for about three years from its manufacturing date, but proper storage plays a critical role in maintaining SPF protection.Visual and sensory changes like separation, clumping, unusual smells, or discoloration indicate sunscreen has degraded and should be discarded.Using expired sunscreen puts skin at risk for sunburn, reduced UV protection, and potential irritation or allergic reactions.Heat, direct sunlight, and contamination can accelerate sunscreen breakdown well before the printed expiration date.When in doubt, replace the bottle: A new sunscreen costs far less than treating sun damage.Sunscreen Shelf Life and FDA RegulationsSunscreen falls under Food and Drug Administration regulation as an over-the-counter drug, which means manufacturers must meet specific stability requirements before products reach store shelves.The Standard 3-Year RuleThe FDA has established clear guidelines for sunscreen longevity. Products must remain stable for at least three years from the manufacturing date, or manufacturers are required to print an expiration date on the packaging.Most sunscreens generally last up to three years from their manufacturing date when stored properly. Opened products may begin to lose effectiveness sooner due to air and contaminant exposure.How to Find Expiration Dates on Different BrandsExpiration dates appear in different locations depending on the brand:Spray sunscreens often display dates on the bottom of the can.Tube products typically print expiration information near the crimp or on the box.Stick sunscreens may have dates stamped on the base.If no date appears, the FDA recommends assuming the product is effective for up to three years from the manufacturing date. Writing the purchase date on the bottle with a permanent marker eliminates guesswork.Visual and Sensory Signs Your SPF Has Gone BadPhysical changes in sunscreen provide the clearest indicators that a product has expired, regardless of what the date stamp says.Changes in Consistency and TextureFresh sunscreen has a smooth, uniform consistency that spreads easily across skin. Expired products often separate into watery and thick layers that do not remix properly even after shaking.Clumping, graininess, or a gritty texture signals that active sunscreen ingredients have broken down. Lotions may become either too thick to spread or too runny to provide adequate coverage.Identifying Off-Putting Smells and DiscolorationSunscreen should smell neutral or have a mild, pleasant fragrance if scented. A sour, rancid, or chemical odor indicates bacterial growth or ingredient breakdown.Color changes also matter: white or clear sunscreens that turn yellow or brown have oxidized. Any product that looks or smells different from when it was purchased should go in the trash immediately.The Risks of Using Expired SunscreenApplying degraded sunscreen creates a false sense of security while providing inadequate protection against sun damage.Reduced UV Protection and Sunburn RiskThe active ingredients in sunscreen, whether chemical filters like avobenzone or physical blockers like zinc oxide, lose their ability to absorb or reflect UV rays as they degrade. A product labeled SPF 50 might provide significantly reduced protection once expired.This reduction means skin burns faster and more severely than expected. Someone who normally tolerates two hours of sun exposure with fresh SPF 50 might burn in under an hour with degraded product. Understanding broad-spectrum protection helps explain why both UVA and UVB filters need to remain stable for effective defense.Potential Skin Irritation and Allergic ReactionsExpired sunscreen can cause more than just sunburn. Degraded preservatives allow bacteria and fungi to grow, potentially causing skin infections. Broken-down chemical ingredients may irritate skin or trigger allergic reactions, including redness, itching, rashes, and swelling.People with sensitive skin face higher risks from using expired products.Factors That Accelerate Sunscreen BreakdownStorage conditions dramatically affect how quickly sunscreen loses effectiveness, sometimes long before the printed expiration date.Heat Exposure and Direct SunlightLeaving sunscreen in a hot car, on a sunny windowsill, or exposed at the beach accelerates ingredient breakdown. Temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit can destabilize both chemical and physical UV filters.The irony is real: The very sun that sunscreen protects against also destroys it. Products stored in consistently hot environments may lose significant effectiveness within months rather than years.Contamination from Bacteria and MoistureEvery time fingers touch sunscreen or water enters the container, bacteria have an opportunity to colonize the product:Pump bottles and squeeze tubes minimize contamination compared to jars that require dipping fingers inside.Beach sand, pool water, and wet hands introduce microorganisms that multiply in the product.Once contaminated, sunscreen can cause breakouts and infections even if the active ingredients remain stable. Best Practices for Storing and Maintaining SPFProper storage extends the life of sunscreen and ensures protection when it matters most.Ideal Storage Locations and TemperaturesStore sunscreen in a cool, dark place, such as a medicine cabinet, closet, or drawer. Room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Keep bottles tightly closed when not in use. Avoid bathrooms where heat and humidity from showers accelerate degradation.Tips for Beach and Poolside HandlingAt the beach or pool, keep sunscreen in a cooler bag or wrapped in a towel in the shade. Never leave it sitting in direct sunlight.Use a dedicated beach sunscreen and replace it each season rather than trying to stretch one bottle across multiple summers. Consider travel-size bottles that get used up quickly rather than large containers that sit half-empty for months.When to Replace: A Final ChecklistDiscard sunscreen immediately if any of these conditions apply:The expiration date has passed.More than three years have elapsed since manufacture, with no printed date.The texture has changed: separation, clumping, or graininess.An unusual smell has developed.Color has shifted from the original.The product was stored in heat or direct sunlight for extended periods.Water or sand contaminated the container.When in doubt, throw it out. A new bottle costs far less than treating sun damage. Patients concerned about vitamin D levels from consistent sunscreen use can discuss supplementation with a healthcare provider to maintain healthy levels while staying protected.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan expired sunscreen cause skin cancer?Expired sunscreen itself does not cause cancer, but using it provides inadequate UV protection. This false security leads to longer unprotected sun exposure, which increases skin cancer risk over time.Does sunscreen expire faster once opened?Yes. Opening sunscreen exposes it to air, bacteria, and contaminants that accelerate degradation. Opened products should be used within one to two years for optimal effectiveness, even if the expiration date is further out.Is expired sunscreen better than no sunscreen?Some protection is generally better than none, but relying on expired sunscreen is risky. The actual SPF level is unknown, making it impossible to judge safe sun exposure time. Fresh sunscreen is always the safer choice.How should sunscreen be disposed of properly?Sunscreen should be thrown away with regular household trash. Do not pour it down drains, as the chemicals can contaminate water supplies. Empty containers can be recycled in accordance with local guidelines.The Bottom LineChecking sunscreen expiration dates and watching for physical changes protects skin from UV damage and irritation. The three-year rule provides a baseline, but storage conditions, contamination, and visible signs of degradation matter just as much as the printed date.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	July is here and expect more of the same June temperatures, overall, were slightly below average. However, temperatures since Sunday have been above average and that will continue. Here's are some stats for July. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	"Extreme Heat Warning" remains in effect Hot and humid weather is still in the forecast through the Fourth of July weekend. An "Extreme Heat Warning" remains in place through tonight north and Thursday night for the rest of us. Shower and storm chances go up starting Thursday and we'll see a daily chance into early next week. Here's your full 7-day [...]
	From Budget to Bucket List: 4 Simple Ways to Save on Dream Vacays (BPT) - From personal milestones to global destinations, bucket lists capture our highest aspirations. For passionate travelers, that means a collection of dream vacations just waiting to be explored. Yet, facing today's soaring prices, some may feel that crossing these experiences off their list is shifting from a reality to an impossibility."Although we're seeing rising costs across the board at airports, gas stations and hotels, many people are still planning on taking that trip they have had on their bucket list for some time," said Steven Guilday, Director of Travel for AARP Services. "AARP member benefits can help you every step of the way, from planning through booking. Whether it's a road trip of the American West or a once-in-a-lifetime cruise, there are many ways to lower your total trip cost."Below are some easy ways an AARP membership can help you save money and cross that long-awaited trip off of your bucket list.Cut Costs, Not CornersIf you're planning a bucket list trip with a tight budget in mind, AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia can help put a few dollars back in your wallet. Expedia vacation packages can make the booking process easier, and you get a $50 gift card of your choice when you book any flight package. For car rentals, members save up to 30% on car rentals from Avis, Budget and Payless.And for a limited time, save +30% off select stays AND enjoy a $50 gift card when you spend $500 or more on eligible hotel stays or car rentals when you book through AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia. Book by July 13, 2026.Steals on WheelsA recent survey from Gas Station TV shows that 72% of Americans plan to road trip this summer."With the rising costs and long security lines that airport travel has brought this year, driving to destinations is popular among domestic travelers," said Guilday. "Considering this road trip renaissance, taking advantage of loyalty programs to save on costs such as fuel and car rentals is a great way to help you stay on budget while you travel."Regardless of what model of car you choose to rent, Budget has your back and can help you save in more ways than one. Not only do you save on wear and tear on your personal vehicle, but AARP members get exclusive savings of up to 35% off base rates when choosing the Pay Now option at reservation or up to 30% off when you choose to Pay Later at the pickup counter. Plus, for a limited time if you lock in your reservation by Sept. 30, 2026, you save up to 35% off base rates regardless of which payment path you choose — giving you a worthwhile combination of savings and flexibility. Use BCD #Y508539 to claim your discount today.And with gas prices still soaring, AARP members can save at the pump with Shell and Exxon Mobile. When you link your Shell Fuel Rewards® account to your AARP membership, you can enjoy ongoing savings with Complimentary Gold Status — including at least 5¢ off per gallon on your fill-ups at participating Shell stations. AARP members who are new to the Fuel Rewards® program can also receive a one-time savings of 50¢/gallon* on their first fill-up (up to 20 gallons).When you link your Exxon Mobil Rewards+™ account with your AARP membership, you earn extra points on everyday purchases like fuel, car washes and convenience store items, plus double the points on fuel on member days. AARP members who are new to the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program also get a 500-point welcome bonus after their first fill-up.Check In, Cash InWhere you lay your head down to rest and recover while vacationing is just as important as the sites you're exploring during the day. Whether you're looking for a luxurious lodging upgrade or prefer an economically friendly option so you can go big in other ways, AARP membership can help make your travel plans possible. Check out these options before you book:With Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and for a limited time, AARP members get 15% off two or more consecutive nights at thousands of hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America when you book by June 30 and complete your stay by Sept. 30, 2026.For a limited time, Choice Hotels is offering AARP members 15% off* 2+ night stays on select nights if they book a trip by Dec. 31, 2026.Cruising in StyleCruises are a popular way for travelers to experience several coveted spots in one trip. Not only can bucket lists be fulfilled with a cruise, but it comes with built-in entertainment, planned excursion options and experiential dining. When cruising with Holland America Line, AARP members can enjoy even more vacation perks. Holland's fleet of 11 ships offers more than 500 sailings a year visiting all seven continents, including destinations in Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. AARP members receive up to $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom when booking your next Holland America Line cruise. Use your onboard credit for products or services while onboard, including Shore Excursions, Beverages and Spa services. Plus, book a Grand Voyage or Grand Voyage Segment and receive a FREE Surf Wi-Fi Package, a value of $30.99 per person per day. Offer applies to select cruises.From now until July 23, 2026, and through the Travel by Sea Sale, AARP members receive up to $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom when booking your next Holland America Line cruise. Use your onboard credit for products or services while onboard, including Shore Excursions, Beverages and Spa services. Plus, book a Grand Voyage or Grand Voyage Segment and receive a FREE Surf Wi-Fi Package, a value of $30.99 per person per day. Offer applies to select cruises.Whether your dream is to lounge on a 30A beach, camp and hike in Denali or sail around Europe, taking advantage of an AARP membership can help you save along the way and cross out that long-awaited adventure.To learn more about the benefits and discounts for AARP members, please visit aarp.org/save.AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.
	Muscatine coalition helping displaced residents move out of evacuated apartments Coalition leaders say they are still looking for volunteers to assist on Wednesday afternoon, July 1.
	Lawmakers must put women’s health, dignity and lives ahead of politics State lawmakers listen as Gov. Jeff Landry addresses a joint session of the Louisiana Legislature on the opening day of their lawmaking session at the State Capitol on Monday, March 9, 2026. (Photo by John Ballance/The Advocate-Pool)Like millions of Americans, I remember exactly where I was when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade four years ago. I was at a baseball game in Philadelphia with colleagues, trying to enjoy a summer evening while anxiously awaiting the decision. We had spent the entire day discussing what life might look like if Roe were overturned and what the consequences would be for states like Louisiana, where lawmakers had enacted a trigger law that would drastically restrict reproductive healthcare. What no one at that game knew was I wanted to expand my family. At that moment, the reality of becoming pregnant felt overshadowed by a growing sense of fear. Louisiana was already facing significant gaps in maternal healthcare access, and I knew those challenges would only worsen under an abortion ban. Looking back, that day foreshadowed much of what would follow. A little over a month later, I attempted to schedule my first prenatal appointment. To my surprise, I struggled to find a provider willing to schedule me before the 12-week mark — a policy I had never encountered before. Eventually, I secured an appointment, but I never made it to that first visit. Less than a week later, I began experiencing symptoms of a miscarriage. I sought care at several hospitals in my area and was repeatedly turned away. Only one facility offered any meaningful assistance. After nearly a week of physical pain and emotional distress, a compassionate midwife confirmed that I was miscarrying. She also explained that I would not be able to receive the care I needed to manage the miscarriage. It took nearly two months for me to pass that pregnancy, and I endured the process with little more than Tylenol for pain relief. Since sharing my story, I have had opportunities I never could have imagined. I visited President Joe Biden at the White House on multiple occasions and spent seven months traveling across the country with Vice President Kamala Harris, advocating for reproductive freedom and healthcare access in all 50 states. I spoke at the Democratic National Convention, helped launch a nonprofit organization alongside the late Cecile Richards and have shared hundreds of stories from women who have been denied essential and sometimes life-saving healthcare because of the laws in their states. Yet despite those accomplishments, I often find myself feeling profoundly disappointed because I still live in a state that does not fully recognize my humanity or respect my autonomy. Louisiana laws have not improved since 2022. In many respects, they have become even more restrictive. Each year since the fall of Roe, the Louisiana Legislature has advanced increasingly aggressive versions of the state’s abortion ban, often under the guise of targeting bad actors. In reality, these policies continue to make it harder for women to access essential healthcare. Whether someone needs miscarriage management, is carrying a pregnancy with a fatal fetal diagnosis or is experiencing a medical emergency, these laws have created confusion, fear and barriers to care. It should never be acceptable for women to bleed in parking lots, travel hundreds of miles to find treatment or be forced to navigate a healthcare system that treats them as political talking points rather than patients. The consequences are evident. Louisiana’s Black maternal health outcomes remain among the worst in the nation. Black women represent for roughly 37% of births in Louisiana, yet they account for nearly 60% of the state’s pregnancy-associated deaths, according to a review of state vital records data from 2020-22. This illustrates how disparities in access and quality of care translate into disproportionate outcomes. Yet instead of confronting this crisis, some lawmakers have dismissed it outright. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, infamously remarked in a 2022 interview with Politico that if Black women were excluded from Louisiana’s maternal mortality statistics, “we’re not as much of an outlier as it’d otherwise appear.” State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle introduced legislation this year that would have addressed Louisiana’s alarming Black maternal health disparities through a formal study and comprehensive review of the crisis. Even that modest step was blocked by opposition. And yet, there are still reasons for hope. On the anniversary of the Dobbs decision last week, news broke that Planned Parenthood would reopen in New Orleans. Following the closure of Planned Parenthood health centers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans last September — which left approximately 10,000 patients without access to care — this reopening represents an important step forward. The health center will provide preventive services such as cancer screenings, Pap tests and other routine healthcare that communities across Louisiana desperately need. It is a positive step, but it is not enough. We need lawmakers who will clarify Louisiana’s healthcare laws so that patients and providers are no longer forced to operate in fear and uncertainty. We need leaders willing to study and address the Black maternal health crisis with the urgency it deserves. We need policies that support and incentivize doulas, midwives, nurse practitioners, physicians and other healthcare professionals to establish practices in underserved communities across Louisiana. Four years after the Dobbs, the question is no longer whether these laws have consequences — the evidence is all around us. The question is whether our leaders will finally have the courage to put the health, dignity and lives of Louisiana women ahead of politics. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	OSF Healthcare Foundation names new president Jacque Schweighart, M.Ed., has accepted the position of chief development officer and president of OSF HealthCare Foundation. Schweighart will be accountable for defining and driving a unified philanthropic strategy that aligns donor priorities with the Mission of OSF HealthCare and strategic focus areas. She will lead an integrated fundraising enterprise across all giving channels, [...]
	Everyday People: In Davenport, sisters offer lemonade, beaded animals and a euphonium Ahrianna and Jayla Fuller have a lemonade stand on West Third Street in Davenport and they are learning the in and outs of business.
	Meet the new Pleasant Valley School District superintendent Coming from the Ankeny School District, new Pleasant Valley Superintendent Darin Haack began his tenure on Wednesday morning.
	Top bathroom design trends homeowners are embracing right now (BPT) - Homeowners seeking transformative bathroom renovations may be surprised to learn just how accessible it is to realize their vision. Current trends topping the list in bathroom design this year include greater design personalization, handcrafted home materials and a more cohesive overall design. All of these are possible to achieve with the help of Kohler® bathroom solutions.Explore these options to help you shape a vision for a bathroom that feels as elevated as it is functional, creating a look and ambience that expresses your sense of style.Personalization through designOne huge trend shift in 2026 bathroom design is away from a minimalist approach and toward a more personalized aesthetic. Consider this space as an opportunity to explore a look uniquely your own, instead of making your bathroom look just like everyone else's.To help you create the look you want, Kohler® makes customization easy by offering Mix & Match faucets. You can select your own combination of spout, handle and finish from these three distinct collections with different style expressions — traditional, transitional and modern — for over 50 possible combinations:Components® lets you elevate your bathroom space with bold sophistication, where strong lines meet smooth forms to create faucets with a distinctly modern aesthetic. New York-based designer Cara Woodhouse selected Components® faucets as a feature in a recent home renovation.Occasion® is a sculptural collection where pentagonal accents and mod shapes come together to create faucets fashioned to be the center of attention.Artifacts® captures the charm of turn-of-the-century homes, using vintage silhouettes and elegant details for a look that never goes out of style.To create your unique look, simply:1. Choose your spout: Select from a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as deck- or wall-mount options for a design to anchor your space.2. Choose your handles: Pair your faucet with a range of handle options including lever, cross and industrial styles.3. Choose your finish: Select your desired tone (polished, brushed or matte), that you can elegantly coordinate or unapologetically contrast with accessories, lighting and showering components.Sustainability and craftsmanship Another trend that's continuing to gather steam is prioritizing sustainable materials and methods. Combined with concern for the environment, this trend also favors design elements that are well-crafted rather than cookie-cutter or seemingly mass produced.If this trend speaks to you, consider a WasteLAB® DemiLav® rectangular vessel sink when you're planning your next bathroom upgrade. Each sink is made with at least 70% recycled materials sourced from manufacturing waste streams. Handcrafted by artisans and American made, these sinks are made in small batches, creating natural variation and individuality.WasteLAB® DemiLav® sinks are designed to balance sustainability with high design, offering a unique, expressive focal point. Each sink brings craftsmanship to your bathroom, with a refined, elegant design featuring a deep, symmetrical basin with rounded edges. These sinks meticulously transform repurposed industrial materials into sophisticated and luxurious centerpieces, without compromising sustainability.Cohesive bathroom design Another way to elevate your bathroom's look is by creating an overall cohesive design, a trend that can be achieved using repeated colors through color drenching — even using the same color for walls, trim and ceiling — to unify the look of any space.For a truly cohesive bathroom design, the Kohler x Studio McGee Claude collection offers an authentically timeless full-suite collection including toilets, sinks, vanities, mirrors and baths that are all designed in a modern classic style, though inspired by historic details. Designed to create a coordinated aesthetic across the entire space, this collection blends timeless design elements with modern performance. The Kohler x Studio McGee Claude collection uses architectural detailing and classic forms for a modern yet enduring look.Within this collection, you can choose from three different bathroom sink options (console, pedestal and undermount) to tie powder rooms, guest bathrooms and primary bathrooms together in a home without over-repeating.Customizing your home so it's uniquely your own, with sustainable options and cohesive spaces, is a goal you can make happen, with the right approach and products meant to inspire.For whatever direction you want to go with your next bathroom transformation, explore all the possibilities at Kohler.com.
	Muscatine residents and small businesses adapt amid Second Street demolition project Candy Fuegen owns several businesses in the 200 block of East Second Street in downtown Muscatine. She’s adapting after multiple buildings in the block were found to be unsafe.
	Bix This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Thoreau was only one of many Americans who favored experience as the best teacher. "Who would know knives better," he…

Thursday, July 2nd, 2026

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