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

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
	Putnam Museum fundraising to bring triceratops skeleton to museum If secured, the triceratops would be the first permanent dinosaur skeleton in Iowa.
	Libraries in the Quad Cities offering seeds as well as books Residents can pick up free packs of seeds from the library and grow them in their own backyards!
	Derby Day at the Mansion returns to Rivermont Collegiate You can watch the Kentucky Derby in style with food, drinks & contests on May 2 at the historic Bettendorf Mansion. The money raised will support Rivermont students.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center seeking hospice home for calico cat Born in 2017, Luna has a pituitary tumor and requires some extra care, but shelter officials said she still has plenty of love to offer.
	Quad Cities runner completes 50 marathons in 50 states Danny Fleener is one of very few people to ever complete 50 marathons in 50 states.
	102-year-old WWII veteran to go on 65th Honor Flight Officials said it’s been several years since a World War II veteran has volunteered to go on a flight.
	Ride the rails for historic trains in the QCA All aboard! Area locomotive enthusiasts are on track for an unforgettable adventure discovering historic trains. Our Quad Cities News photojournalist Mike Colón takes us for a ride with Railroading Heritage of Midwest America at Silvis Train Days. For more information, click here.
	'Is AI Coming For Your Job?' \| Free public forum on May 8 As part of the Quad Cities Civic Conversations, the talk in Rock Island will explore both the promise and disruption tied to AI, particularly in the classroom.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center seeking hospice home for calico cat Born in 2017, Luna has a pituitary tumor and requires some extra care, but shelter officials said she still has plenty of love to offer.
	City of Rock Island, Augustana College, plan public meeting about Southwest RI Wetlands The City of Rock Island and Augustana College will co-host a public information meeting on their partnership to study the Southwest Rock Island Wetlands and the status of the proposed Land and Water Reserve of 550 acres. Through the partnership, Augustana students and faculty will contribute applied research and data analysis to help inform the [...]
	Wildfires rage in Georgia, Florida \| In The News Now Wildfires burning across Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida have destroyed dozens of homes and forced evacuations. Historic drought is fueling the flames.
	Davenport man sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon He was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in December.
	USDA cuts create worries for family farms The Trump Administration has proposed an almost $5 billion cut to USDA programs aimed to help small family farms, bringing worries for those who use the programs.
	Michael Beane named Eastern Iowa Community Colleges vice chancellor Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) has named Michael Beane as its next vice chancellor of student services. According to a release from EICC: According to the release, Beane will lead student services across the district and support ongoing work to strengthen how students are served. He will transition into the role over the next few [...]
	U.S. soldier charged with suspected Polymarket insider trading over Maduro raid It's the first time suspected insider trading on Polymarket has led to criminal charges in the U.S.
	U.S. soldier charged with using classified information to bet on Maduro's removal It's the first time suspected insider trading on Polymarket has led to criminal charges in the U.S.
	The Heart of the Story: For the love of cars Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. Bringing old classic cars back to life is [...]
	This is the ‘hard cap’ vs. ‘soft cap’ difference delaying property tax deal Two Iowa Republican leaders are optimistic about a property tax reform deal this year despite several differences on policy.
	Iowa bill would ban warrant resolution clinics A bill in Iowa could make things a bit more complicated when it comes to resolving low-level warrants without arrest. House Study Bill 780 would ban warrant resolution clinics, defined as any formal or informal gathering that allows people with outstanding warrants to resolve them without being arrested. The first-ever warrant resolution clinic in Iowa [...]
	1 billion pounds recycled at Scott Area Recycling Center The Scott Area Recycling Center has sorted 1 billion pounds from the Quad Cities area since curbside collection started in 1995, according to a media release.
	Rock Island and Augustana College to host public meeting on future study of wetlands The city and Augustana College are partnering on the project, giving students a chance for hands-on experience studying the wetlands.
	New USPS vehicles making their way to the Quad Cities More than 100,000 of the new postal service delivery trucks are rolling out, and they've been spotted on the streets of Rock Island.
	New USPS vehicles making their way to the Quad Cities More than 100,000 of the new postal service delivery trucks are rolling out, and they've been spotted on the streets of Rock Island.
	French police probe suspected weather device tampering after odd Polymarket bet The incident is the latest eyebrow-raising bet on Polymarket, as allegations of rigging and manipulation continue to haunt the popular prediction market site.
	When to expect tonight's storms After a long week of some very nice weather with temperatures reaching into the 80s with lots of sunshine, things are changing for tonight. We are expecting a line of some showers and thunderstorms moving in later tonight that will be hitting the Quad Cities by midnight. These showers and thunderstorms do have a chance [...]
	Sherrard Schools honors retiring teachers, trains next generation As teacher shortages continue to impact districts across the country, Sherrard Schools is highlighting why some educators have stayed for decades — and how the district plans to prepare the next generation to step in.
	American Lung Association data says Quad Cities among most polluted area for smog in the country The report points to smog levels that can worsen breathing problems for children, older adults and those with lung conditions.
	Davenport Municipal Airport holds Kid in Aviation Day Local preschoolers got a neat opportunity to tour the airport and experience some on-the-ground airplane exploration.
	Rock River near crest, draws crowds to Moline business The Rock River is right near its crest in Moline, spilling into riverfront areas and drawing crowds to Len Brown's North Shore Inn & Marina to watch the high water.
	Sherrard School District tackles teacher shortage The Sherrard School District is taking the nation-wide teacher shortage issue on. A new program is on the way for students who want to pursue a career in education. "I think some of these people don't understand the work a really good teacher has to put in to be a successful teacher," says Lori Arnold, [...]
	Iowa water monitoring system faces funding uncertainty Iowa has around 60 sensors that monitor for chemicals and toxins in drinking water, including nitrates.
	T'storm chances return Thursday night After some much needed dry weather lately, the chance for t'storms is back later tonight. Storms are on track to weaken as they approach the Quad cities around midnight. A line of storms will move in from the West and should be falling apart a bit as it approaches the Quad Cities. That being said, [...]
	Davenport passes $271M budget as tax rate dips, fees rise Davenport’s new $271M budget is set. Here’s what to know about tax rates, rising home values and fee changes for residents.
	Rock River near crest, draws crowds to Moline business The Rock River is right near its crest in Moline, spilling into riverfront areas and drawing crowds to Len Brown's North Shore Inn & Marina to watch the high water.
	Woman opens Sam’s Club account with stolen identity, racks up $6K in charges Police said on April 1 a woman stole someone’s identity to open a credit account then charged $6,000 of merchandise to it.
	Crime Stoppers: Woman wanted for failure to appear, parole violation Lynsey Benham, 40, is wanted in Rock Island County for failure to appear in court on a charge of delivery/possession with intent to deliver meth.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted for failure to appear on meth charge Lincoln Moon, 49, is wanted in Rock Island County for failure to appear in court on a delivery/possession with intent to deliver meth charge.
	Freight House Farmers' Market returns to Davenport In a sure sign of warmer weather ahead, a tradition returns to Davenport. Missy Carter and Sean Ryan talked with our Quad Cities News about the Freight House Farmers' Market. For more information, click here.
	Millionaire tax amendment fails to gain enough support from House Democrats A “millionaire tax” proposal floated in the Illinois House failed to gain enough traction in Springfield this week, making it increasingly unlikely that voters will be asked to approve the measure in November.
	Cambria Hotel Bettendorf to be converted to Holiday Inn Express The Cambria Hotel at 5061 Competition Drive in Bettendorf opened in 2019 and will undergo a $3 million renovation as a Holiday Inn Express.
	The FDA gives the green light to the first gene therapy for deafness The treatment, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is for a very rare form of deafness. But it represents a medical milestone.
	Too much sun exposure? Treatments for sun-damaged skin If you see brown spots or crusty red patches, there are some treatments that might help improve the appearance of your skin.
	Mississippi River at Rock Island to crest at moderate flood stage Friday before falling The Mississippi River at Rock Island will crest at about 16.1 feet on Friday, reaching moderate flood stage before falling below that level into the weekend.
	Augustana Prison Education Program holding fundraiser trivia night to raise money for student supplies The Augustana Prison Education Program (APEP) is currently teaching 36 students at the East Moline Correctional Center (EMCC) in its fifth year. One student who was released from the EMCC is finishing their degree at Augustana College and will graduate in May, along with 10 other EMCC students.
	Expert: Artemis II proves spacecraft readiness for longer space travel It's been two weeks since the Artemis II astronauts returned. An Iowa expert explains what they learned, what the purpose of their journey was and what's next.
	Meta will lay off 10% of its staff The cuts follow losses in two pivotal court cases and the company's push to invest in artificial intelligence.
	Bettendorf Police launch child abuse prevention patch to support local nonprofit Bettendorf Police are selling a child abuse prevention patch in April, with proceeds benefiting a local advocacy center serving children in eastern Iowa.
	Expert: Artemis II proves spacecraft readiness for longer space travel It's been two weeks since the Artemis II astronauts returned. An Iowa expert explains what they learned, what the purpose of their journey was and what's next.
	Airlines in Europe slash thousands of flights as Iran war cuts jet fuel supplies The soaring cost of jet fuel is forcing European airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, while energy authorities warned of a possible jet fuel shortage if supplies aren't replenished soon.
	Chicago Bears want changes to megaprojects bill approved by Illinois House approves The measure, which passed 78-32, is ostensibly a step toward keeping “the pride and joy of Illinois” from bolting for Indiana, where Hoosier lawmakers have tried to lure the NFL’s founding franchise with the promise of more than $1 billion in public subsidies to build a football palace just across the state line in Hammond.
	Viral Idaho delivery driver inspires Domino's and Coca-Cola to launch nationwide promo code Domino's and Coca-Cola are honoring Dan with a nationwide promo: use code DANTHEMAN when ordering online from April 30 through May 3 to get a free 20 oz Coke.
	New owners revive Pebble Creek Golf Club, reopening set for Friday Pebble Creek opens Friday with new owners, new leagues and house-made pizza, called “pebble pies,” on the menu.
	Can a mentalist trick Trump? Oz Pearlman will try in a room full of journalists The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how.
	Man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for gun charge A Davenport man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 11 years in prison for having a gun as a felon.
	House moves ahead with stricter crypto kiosk regulations Representatives listen to a speech by Rep. Keith Ammon, of New Boston, on Thursday, April 23. An amendment authored by Ammon and recommended by the Republican majority of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs failed to pass that morning, but the underlying Senate bill on cryptocurrency kiosks moved forward. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)House lawmakers broke with the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ majority recommendation on Thursday, Apr. 23, to advance an earlier version of a bill intended to prevent cryptocurrency scams. Senate Bill 482, from prime sponsor and Merrimack Republican Sen. Tim McGough, passed Thursday morning after debate, 214-140. The Republican majority of the House Commerce Committee had recommended a version of the bill with an amendment from Rep. Keith Ammon, a New Boston Republican, but that amendment was defeated Thursday. An ATM where cryptocurrency can also be purchased stands in the corner of a convenience store. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin) Both versions of the bill sought to prevent scams conducted through cryptocurrency kiosks, machines that allow users to purchase difficult-to-trace digital currencies with cash in person. Scams involving the kiosks sometimes cost victims their life savings and are rampant in New Hampshire, law enforcement officers and a victim said in a hearing and interviews earlier this month. The Senate version of the bill set an indefinite limit of $2,000 per day in transactions for customers using the machines and mandated a two-week refund period. Ammon’s amendment did not include a permanent limit, but did require customers to be subject to a “new customer period” during which their first transaction would be held for three days and capped at $3,000. The amendment also prevented municipalities from enacting their own stricter regulations, and provided some legal immunity for crypto operators in certain cases. Those were among the reasons critics said the committee’s amendment protected the kiosk industry at the expense of New Hampshire residents. During floor debate on Thursday, Nicholas Bridle, a Hampton Republican, said more than $2.6 million had been reported lost to crypto ATM scams by Hampton residents. He spoke against the amendment, which he said made kiosk operators “untouchable.” The amendment “makes New Hampshire more attractive to scammers and criminals,” Bridle said. Ammon disputed that. He said figures cited by the opposition were overblown and said his amendment contained important privacy protections. “I think the intent is to ban this industry,” he said. “In New Hampshire, do we ban industries, or do we make sure that only good actors are behaving in that industry?” The amendment failed, 220-135. SB 482 will now be referred to the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Courtesy of New Hampshire Bulletin
	New Mexico Primary 2026: NM House of Representatives, District 66 Following the 2026 retirement of state Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-Artesia), three Republicans are vying for the New Mexico House of Representatives District 66 seat, where much of the state’s oil and gas operations operate. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)Three Republicans are competing to represent a sprawling district in southeast New Mexico where much of the state’s oil and gas production occurs. All three candidates, running to replace Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-Artesia), who retired earlier this year, said if elected, they hope to be a voice in Santa Fe on behalf of the state’s oil and gas epicenter, which has supported record state budgets crafted by Democratic majorities. House District 66 covers parts of Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties, a roughly 4,700-square-mile area. The three candidates — LeAnne Gandy, Dan Lewis and Trinidad Malone — are all new to politics and have roots in oil and gas production. No Democrat is running in the election this year. Republicans have held the seat since at least 2000, and they often run unopposed, according to Secretary of State data. Source NM asked all three candidates about why they’re running and their visions for the district. Their answers below have been edited for length and clarity. LeAnne Gandy LeAnne Gandy says her background in agriculture, education and oil production make for a “trifecta” that qualifies her to represent House District 66. (Courtesy LeAnne Gandy) LeAnne Gandy is a retired teacher and former superintendent at Lovington Municipal Schools. She comes from three generations of oil field workers and was born and raised on a ranch. “I decided to join the race because I believe that southeastern New Mexico needs a strong voice in Santa Fe, and I have the trifecta of real-world experiences in energy, education and agriculture,” she said. “And I feel passionate about all three of those areas.” What do you see as the biggest issue in House District 66? Of course, energy is the livelihood in District 66. So we need to make sure we protect the oil and gas industry and stand up for the workers in that field. Oftentimes, that energy is misunderstood. My family has been in that industry for 76 years here in southeastern New Mexico, so I know the importance of this industry to our community. What’s the most important issue facing New Mexico? Energy is what powers our state. It’s what funds our state. So we need to make sure we’re talking and have all perspectives at the table. Also education is a primary factor in New Mexico. Our children deserve only the best. I am a retired superintendent from Lovington. I’ve worked at the state level advocating for education, and I understand the real-world issues in education, so I want to be an advocate for our community about empowering our local teachers and educators to work together and collaborate and find real solutions to have better outcomes for our children. If you’re elected, what is the first bill you would introduce? I’m going to listen to my constituents and make sure that I hear their voices and understand everything that is involved with a quality way-of-life in our area, and make sure to advocate for that. So I’m going in with the agenda to make sure I’m your voice for our community. I will be a strong listener for our voters, and make sure their perspectives are alive and well in Santa Fe. I was born and raised on a ranch, so agriculture is in my blood. I understand that way of life and that heritage and will stand strong for water rights, farmers and ranchers, and the Second Amendment. What’s your top choice for a committee? I’m passionate about education, and I believe we need a superintendent voice, an education voice from our part of the state in Santa Fe. So I would love to be involved in education in a big way, also in energy. I’m also passionate about agriculture. What’s your strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for the race? I’ve had lots of relationships throughout the state, have made a lot of very strong connections and I am a good communicator. I believe in listening to others and making sure that our voice is heard, but I will be an excellent collaborator with everyone there. Do you support paying state lawmakers, and would you accept a salary? I’m not running for a salary. I’m running to make sure that I am representing the voters who send me to Santa Fe. Dan Lewis Dan Lewis says his financial background and history as a college football referee make him knowledgeable and level-headed. (Courtesy Dan Lewis) Dan Lewis has worked for 38 years for the Yates family, a major oil and gas dynasty in southeastern New Mexico, including as chief financial officer for over 50 companies it controls. He also spent 30 years officiating college football before deciding that was a job for someone “younger and skinnier.” “That kind of left a little more time in my schedule. About that time, Jimmy Mason decided he was not going to run again, and that got the wheels turning,” he said. “Then a couple of local people that are pretty big in the political party here in southeastern New Mexico encouraged me to run.” What do you see as the biggest issue in House District 66? In our district, we always feel like a lot of the revenue that funds the state and education system comes from the oil and gas industry, and we think Santa Fe’s trying to do everything they can to fight the hand that feeds them with all the regulations. Let’s just say we don’t feel really appreciated as far as what Southeast New Mexico brings to New Mexico and the economy for New Mexico. What’s the most important issue facing New Mexico? I’m a little worried about the governor’s race and someone who is very, very left wing, and going to push a lot of left-wing agendas down our throats in Southeast New Mexico. We are clearly in the minority again and don’t have the power to stop a lot of things. There’s more conservative Democrats that were able to block some issues, Senate Bill 17 for the gun rights and then Senate Bill 18 regarding CO2 emissions. It really would have devastated a lot of the oil gas industry in New Mexico If you’re elected, what is the first bill you would introduce? This is my first experience here, and if I get elected, I’m gonna lean on the people around me. It’s kind of like if a new person comes as a new CFO of a company, you don’t want to immediately go in there and make changes. You want to be on the ground and understand what’s going on. What’s your top choice for a committee? I definitely would like to be on the Energy Committee. I’d definitely like to be on a budget committee. Judicial would be one that I would be interested in too, just because my wife [Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Anne Marie Lewis] is in that field. What’s your strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for the race? I think I’m levelheaded. I’ve got all aspects in my game, whether you need someone to play good cop or bad cop. As a referee for college football, you learn to have a level head when everybody else is going crazy. Do you support paying state lawmakers, and would you accept a salary? That is a tough one, because I know a lot of the local people and Southeast New Mexico are against it. Part of me is like, well, it would give other people a chance. My wife and I, we’ve done well enough. But there’s some people that they’re automatically out of the race because they can’t afford to go to Santa Fe for two months without getting paid. I would vote no on it [in November], but if it was successful, then I would accept the salary. Trinidad Malone Trinidad Malone touts his entrepreneurial skills and military background as he seeks to win the District 66 Republican primary. (Courtesy Trinidad Malone) Trinidad Malone, 37, owns multiple companies — including real estate, a towing company and oil and gas-related businesses — as well as two nonprofits supporting veterans and helping low-income families afford funeral expenses. He was raised in the district and worked in the oilfields after high school before enlisting to fight in the Afghanistan War, where he served for 10 years. “It’’s just time for my generation to get involved,” he said about his decision to run for office. What do you see as the biggest issue in House District 66? It’s just going to be communication. District 66 is, you know, agriculture, oil and gas. So I think, from what I’ve gathered since I decided to run, [is] communication prior to the bills being proposed or implemented [is vital]. So it’s making sure that all District 66 is aware of what’s trying to be proposed and what’s possibly going to be implemented, so that local communities can better adapt. What’s the most important issue facing New Mexico? Can’t speak on it. Stuff that faces New Mexico, it doesn’t involve me in the aspect of Eddy, Lea or Chaves County. So I don’t worry myself about stuff that doesn’t pertain to me or my area. The only other thing as far as New Mexico is, I guess, if you want me to say something, it’s going to be how they spend their money here in this state. I don’t care if it’s up north or down south, but in general, there needs to be better checks and balances here. If you’re elected, what is the first bill you would introduce? I mean, I won’t be introducing anything, but I can be the voice for everybody. What’s your top choice for a committee? Agriculture, veteran-based and oil and gas industry. What’s your strongest skill that makes you the best candidate for the race? I was raised in the fields, from alfalfa to picking produce, watermelons, chile, branding cattle, I did 10 years in the military. I’m a businessman, first and foremost, and my entrepreneurship, my integrity and my leadership is going to be my biggest attribute. Do you support paying state lawmakers, and would you accept a salary? No. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	FSSA seeks return of $200 million in improper payments to attendant care providers Mitch Roob, secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration, discusses the agency's finances, including Medicaid costs, and upcoming challenges on Aug. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is seeking $200 million in improper payments from Indiana’s five largest attendant care providers after an audit of Medicaid claims found errors in nearly all claims reviewed. FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob said the audits, which reviewed claims submitted to Medicaid between Jan. 1, 2022 and March 31, 2025, were initiated following a $150 million surge in Medicaid claims submitted between 2021 and 2022 he says could not be explained by changes in member need or program structure. “If you bill taxpayers, you must be accurate,” Roob said. The agency used statistically valid random sampling to review 625 claim lines. The audit uncovered errors in nearly all claims reviewed from Guardian Care, Healing Hands Personal Services, Help at Home, Tendercare Home Health and Team Select Home Care, according to FSSA. The companies have various locations around the state. Errors include billing for clinical tasks not covered by attendant care, insufficient documentation and misaligned authorizations. The agency sent a letter to the providers Wednesday seeking the return of improper payments, though the providers are likely to appeal. Roob said FSSA will expand audits to other attendant care providers and begin prepayment reviews for the five companies identified by FSSA to prevent improper payments from Medicaid. The agency intends to enhance electronic visit verification reviews and provider education on the rules for attendant care as well. “For every dollar that is improperly claimed, we will seek full recovery,” Roob told reporters Thursday morning. The audit also uncovered a pattern of incomplete, missing, undated or late background checks of attendant caregivers, who enter the homes of senior and disabled Hoosiers to provide non-medical care like bathing and cooking. “That’s not just a compliance issue,” Roob said. “It’s a direct threat to safety and represents a complete breakdown of the most basic protections we owe the people we serve. When combined with those safety failures, the $200 million in improper payments, missing documentation, prohibited tasks and service plans that didn’t match the services bill — you see a system that is being misused at a staggering scale.” This story will be updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	Davenport man sentenced to 11+ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon A news release from the Department of Justice (DOJ) said a Davenport man was sentenced to 137 months (almost 11.5 years) in federal prison on April 22 for possessing a firearm as a felon. Public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing showed that Ricky Edward Kirk, Jr., 39, fled from officers during an attempted traffic [...]
	Weekend Rundown with WLLR \| April 23, 2026 There are many family-friendly events going on this weekend, and we've brought in Dani Howe from WLLR to break it down.
	Ella Langley tops the charts — and Coachella gives Bieber a boost The rising country star Ella Langley rules both the album and song charts this week, but Justin Bieber also sees a rise in popularity following his nostalgic performance at Coachella.
	Maryland could have identified fraudulent lead inspections sooner, auditors say A legislative audit of the Maryland Department of the Environment Thursday hit the agency on several issues of spending and oversight, particularly its oversight of lead paint inspection. (Photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters)A legislative audit released Thursday said deficiencies in Maryland’s inspection program for lead paint in rental homes made it easier for a string of fraudulent inspections to go undetected for several years. The Maryland Department of Environment fired back, arguing that auditors asked for closer scrutiny on inspections than the law currently requires. They noted that agency officials were the ones to identify the problematic inspector ultimately held responsible for about 1,500 falsified inspections. But auditors said the problem could have been caught sooner if the state had more robust procedures to scrutinize inspections. The state later discovered that some children living in homes that were not properly inspected had elevated lead levels in their blood. The audit of MDE also found delays and backlogs associated with other types of environmental inspections, on polluting facilities and medical X-ray machines. Several audit findings also focused on questionable spending decisions made by “senior management employees,” which auditors evaluated following a whistleblower complaint. Auditors pointed to a poorly justified decision to give a senior executive’s assistant a 14% raise, and a decision to pay a $25,000 membership fee to a California-based nonprofit that named Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain to its advisory board. They also highlighted a possible violation of state ethics law, because an agency employee was overseeing a contract with a state university where they also worked — alongside the very same researcher performing the job. That matter was referred to the Maryland State Ethics Commission. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE While auditors found shortfalls with MDE spending procedures, they did not deem any of the behavior criminal — and did not make any referrals to the attorney general’s office as a result of their findings. It’s the second damaging audit for MDE in a year. In July, auditors took issue with the lease deal signed for the agency’s headquarters, at a converted warehouse in Baltimore. The state signed an abnormally long 20-year lease, with cost escalations each year, in order to pay for $10 million of renovations to the privately held building — for new cubicles, solar panels and an updated office suite for the secretary. State payments, oversight draw auditor’s attention Auditors raised questions about a $25,000 payment to Veloz, a California nonprofit that engages in nationwide advocacy for electric vehicles — a nonprofit that named McIlwain to its public policy advisory board in 2023. The February 2025 payment was to be a supporting member of Veloz. But MDE employees could not show auditors any documentation that showed the department analyzed benefits of the membership before sending the money. The audit does not name Veloz, but an invoice obtained by Maryland Matters show the MDE made a $25,000 payment to Veloz in February 2025, matching the audit’s description. “The lack of this documentation combined with the management employee serving on the public policy board for the organization … raises concerns about the propriety of the payment,” auditors wrote. Auditors were told the payment was for Maryland to be included in a national marketing campaign to promote the use of electric vehicles. But auditors noted that that “was not consistent with the invoice, which indicated the payment was to become a supporting member of the organization.” In a written response to auditors, the agency argued that there is no set policy for memberships, but that it had developed a form for staffers to use in order to assess the benefits of joining, rejoining or exiting an organization. Auditors also flagged a potential violation of state ethics law at the department, involving a management employee who oversaw a memorandum of understanding with a state university, valued at $189,600, while also working at that same university, as a research partner to the university employee performing the work. Maryland environment dept. lease scrutinized for costs, office renovations Maryland ethics law bars state employees from having secondary employment that would impair their impartiality. Before the contract was signed in early 2023, state ethics officials warned that the MDE employee could not participate in matters involving coworkers at the university. “Senior management personnel at the Commission advised us that the management employee’s secondary employment and participation in this MOU could potentially violate certain provisions of State ethics law,” auditors wrote. State officials argued that they immediately conducted an internal review upon learning of the arrangement, and submitted an expedited request to the State Ethics Commission, seeking ethical guidance. The state also noted, in response to the audit findings, that the employee served in a “junior, non-decision-making capacity” when the MOU was approved. Lead paint woes continue During the audit, investigators found that the environmental agency had no “documented process to independently verify the lead-free inspections, even on a test basis.” The agency does not require lead inspectors, who are chosen by individual property owners — not the department — to submit evidence along with their inspection results, only to retain that documentation for review upon request. That lack of documentation made it difficult for MDE to quickly detect that one inspector, Rodney Barkley of Green Environmental LLC, had been falsifying reports from January 2017 to April 2024, auditors found. And after MDE discovered the investigators’ behavior, it did not notify property owners and tenants very expeditiously, according to the audit. In response to the audit, MDE said that while it appreciates the recommendations “to review policies that could enhance its ability to verify third-party data, MDE currently operates in full alignment with existing statutes and regulations,” and received a positive review from the Environmental Protection Agency in fiscal 2025, which called its lead inspection program “one of the most robust in the country.” MDE also stated that it “maintains multiple oversight mechanisms” to review inspectors’ performance, including random biweekly audits of inspection activity, and audits conducted when inspectors’ accreditation is renewed every two years. Though MDE suspended the errant inspector’s license in April 2024, and referred the matter to the attorney general’s office, “virtually all” of the relevant property owners and renters didn’t receive a notification about the issue until February 2025, according to the audit. The inspector ultimately pleaded guilty to falsifying the inspections in October 2025. In February he was sentenced to five years in prison, all suspended, and two years of supervised probation. Last July, MDE notified all of the property owners that their homes would need to be reinspected by a state-accredited inspector within 30 days. But the agency didn’t ensure that those inspections took place. By December, only 299 of the roughly 1,500 properties had been reinspected. That July 2025 notification also suggested that children be tested for elevated lead levels, but auditors found that MDE “did not attempt to follow up with the tenants to ensure they received the letter, or to help ensure children residing in these properties obtained the recommended lead blood-level test.” “This is significant, because … children residing in these properties tested positive for high lead levels,” read the audit. Delayed pollution and radiation inspections persist In 2022, amid concerns about environmental permitting delays during Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) administration, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law requiring the environmental agency to clear a permit backlog for polluting facilities, by issuing renewed permits to each facility by December 2026. As of April 2025, the department still had a backlog of 120 permit applications from Maryland facilities that release polluted wastewater into the environment. While the applications sit in the queue, the facilities’ permits are “administratively continued,” and they are allowed to continue operating as normal. Environmentalists have nicknamed them “zombie permits.” Of the 120 backlogged permits, more than half had been administratively continued for more than one year, and about 16% had been administratively continued for more than three years — and some up to nine years. MDE argues that it “inherited a significant backlog” from Hogan’s administration, and that it is still on schedule to clear the queue by December. In the meantime, all of the facilities with so-called zombie permits are in compliance according to their monthly reports to the environmental agency, MDE said. As of last April, the state environmental agency was also lagging behind on inspections of polluting facilities, according to the audit. Auditors found that inspections for 224 facilities were at least seven months overdue. Some 39% of those inspections were five years overdue. The department argued that it is on pace to eliminate inspection backlogs by the end of 2026 as well, and that since fiscal 2023, the department has increased inspections by 38% and filled key vacancies. MDE is also in charge of inspecting radiation machines, such as X-ray machines in hospitals, dental offices and veterinary practices, and those inspections are backlogged as well, auditors argue. Auditors found more than 1,300 machines, mostly at dental offices, that were overdue for an inspection by seven months to four years. “The lack of timely inspection could result in unnecessary radiation exposure for facility employees and patients,” auditors wrote. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Michael Tilson Thomas, renowned conductor and composer, dies at 81 Thomas led the San Francisco Symphony from 1995 to 2020, helping to establish its reputation as a world-class orchestra. In 2021, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer.
	How mosquitoes — and malaria — helped shaped the whereabouts of early humankind A new study looks at an unexpected force that helped played a critical role in shaping the lives of ancient humans.
	Bureau of Motor Vehicles launches mobile branch to expand services in rural Maine The Bureau of Motor Vehicles mobile unit, called BMV4ME, offers monthly services in rural Maine towns. (Photo courtesy of the Maine Department of the Secretary of State)Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles launched a mobile branch on Thursday that aims to expand access to rural parts of the state that lack services. The portable unit, branded BMV4ME, offers the BMV’s most common services, such as issuing driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, as well as handling name and address changes. “This modernization improves our customer service,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement, “We can’t wait to take it on the road to service not only Maine’s most rural communities but also senior living facilities, veterans’ homes and other sites where Mainers would most benefit from the convenience of in-person BMV service.” Unveiled in Augusta, the unit hit the road Thursday for a ribbon cutting in Belfast, one of four towns where mobile services will initially rotate and accept walk-ins. In Belfast, the mobile unit will be at the United Methodist Church on the second Thursday of each month. In Dover-Foxcroft, the unit will be at the Piscataquis Community Center on the first and last Wednesday of each month. The unit will also stop at the Houlton Plaza Shopping Center on the fourth Thursday of the month and at the Machias Telecommunications Center on the first Tuesday of the month. The unit won’t provide all of the services a traditional branch does. However, Mainers can use the unit for license services such as REAL IDs and out-of-state non-commercial driver’s license transfers. It will also offer limited learner’s permit services, including issuance with a driver education completion certificate or processing applications for a knowledge exam appointment. New applications and renewals for disability placards can also be handled through the mobile service. Courtesy of Maine Morning Star
	Moline High students competing at International Thespian Festival Two students from Moline High School (MHS) have earned prestigious spots at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) this June at Indiana University in Bloomington. Seniors Emmersyn Pettit and Nicholas Betts will represent both their school and the state of Illinois on the international stage. Pettit secured her place at the festival after receiving a Superior [...]
	Bump(ing) up your budget: A financial guide for expecting parents Bump(ing) up your budget: A financial guide for expecting parentsBaby on the way? Congrats! You're probably busy decorating the nursery, deciding on names and getting everything you need from bottles to a bassinet. Amid all the excitement, you may also notice the bills and costs are already adding up. Fortunately, with some pre-planning, you can take steps to help financially ease into your new family structure.Below, Ally Financial outlines a trimester-by-trimester financial checklist for expecting parents.First flutter finances: Setting the stage (Weeks 1-13)The first trimester is a good time to start building a solid financial foundation.Assess your current finances: Review your income, existing expenses and any outstanding debts to get a clear snapshot of your current financial situation. Understanding current cash flow helps identify areas to adjust your budget for new baby costs.Review parental leave: Research both your and your partner's parental leave policies to understand the length of time you'll have, as well as what is paid and unpaid.Draft a baby budget: Outlining a baby budget this early doesn't need to be perfect, but it helps shift financial priorities. Start by estimating all baby-related costs, both short-term and long-term, from prenatal care co-pays and car seats to childcare and diapers.Fortify your emergency fund: Unexpected costs are inevitable with kids. A robust emergency fund, ideally covering three to six months of living expenses, offers a critical safety net for unforeseen costs. If you don't have an emergency fund, start building one—every little bit gives you that much more peace of mind.Strategize debt repayment: If you carry credit card debt or other loans, make a plan to tackle them. Reducing high-interest debt now frees up future cash flow for baby essentials.Mid-bump money moves: Second trimester savvy (Weeks 14-26)As pregnancy progresses, the second trimester is ideal for deeper planning and research.Research childcare: Childcare can be one of the largest ongoing expenses. Now is the time to research childcare options in your area to understand costs, availability and waitlists.Optimize insurance coverage: Your insurance needs will notably change. Review your health insurance policy to understand maternity coverage and the process for adding your baby to your plan. This is also a good time to evaluate if life insurance is right for you, as it can provide vital financial protection for your family should the unexpected occur.Plan long-term: It's never too early to consider saving for your child’s future, and there are a variety of ways to do that.Set up a 529 college savings plan: These tax-advantaged investment accounts help plan for future educational expenses. Starting early can help leverage compound interest.Open a custodial savings account: A Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) custodial account allows an adult to help manage assets for a minor. These funds will eventually be transferred to the child when they become an adult, according to their state’s age of majority.Prepping for the main event: Third trimester fine-tuning (Weeks 27-40)The final stretch often ignites nesting instincts and a desire to finalize preparations. Now's the time to focus on practical readiness and tie up loose ends.Connect with a financial advisor: If you don’t have a financial advisor, now may be a good time to establish a relationship with one, as they could help you navigate future planning and expenses.Refine your baby budget: Revisit your baby budget, debt repayment and savings goals you reviewed in your first trimester to make any final adjustments.Prep for your hospital homecoming: The first few weeks with a newborn can be a whirlwind, so make it as easy as possible by batch-cooking freezer meals. You can also buy certain non-perishable essentials in bulk, such as diapers, wipes or formula.More than 9 months: A flexible approach to parenthood and financesThe financial journey through pregnancy and new parenthood is dynamic. Be prepared to adjust your budget and plans as your family's needs evolve. The goal isn't perfection, but rather establishing a stability that allows you to cherish every moment with your new little one.This story was produced by Ally Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Burnout vs compassion fatigue: Key differences Burnout vs compassion fatigue: Key differencesMany people working in caregiving roles or high-pressure environments face emotional and physical exhaustion. Two terms often used to describe these experiences are burnout and compassion fatigue. Although they share similarities, they are not the same. In this article, Doctronic explains why knowing the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue is essential for managing stress and maintaining mental health.Key TakeawaysBurnout and compassion fatigue are distinct but related conditions affecting caregivers and professionals in high-stress roles.Burnout results from chronic workplace stress, while compassion fatigue stems from exposure to others’ trauma and suffering.Recognizing symptoms early can improve well-being and job performance.Effective strategies include self-care, boundary-setting, and seeking professional support.Understanding these differences helps individuals and organizations provide better support and maintain healthier work environments.Defining Burnout and Compassion FatigueBurnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy. Compassion fatigue, on the other hand, is the emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events. Both can severely impact a person’s ability to function effectively at work and in daily life.Causes and Risk Factors in Caregiving ProfessionsUnderstanding the nuances between these two conditions is crucial for caregivers, including healthcare workers, social workers, and first responders. For instance, while burnout may stem from a lack of resources, overwhelming workloads, or a perceived lack of control, compassion fatigue often arises from the emotional toll of empathizing with clients or patients who are experiencing significant distress. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and a diminished capacity to provide care, which can further exacerbate the cycle of emotional depletion.Recognizing Symptoms and Early Warning SignsThe symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue can manifest in various ways. Individuals experiencing burnout may find themselves disengaged from their work, exhibiting irritability, or experiencing physical symptoms like headaches and gastrointestinal issues. In contrast, those suffering from compassion fatigue might display heightened anxiety, intrusive thoughts about their clients' suffering, or a sense of isolation from their peers. Recognizing these symptoms early is vital, as it allows individuals to seek support and implement coping strategies before the conditions escalate into more severe mental health issues.What Is Burnout?Definition and CausesBurnout occurs when workplace demands exceed an individual's capacity to cope over a prolonged period. It is often linked to factors like excessive workload, lack of control, unclear job expectations, and insufficient rewards. Burnout is not just feeling tired after a long day; it is a deeper exhaustion that affects motivation and engagement.Common Symptoms of BurnoutChronic fatigue and low energyDetachment or cynicism towards workReduced productivity and feelings of ineffectivenessPhysical symptoms such as headaches or gastrointestinal issuesDifficulty concentrating or making decisionsBurnout can lead to serious health problems if left unaddressed, including depression and cardiovascular disease. It is crucial to recognize these signs early and take steps to manage stress.What Is Compassion Fatigue?Definition and CausesCompassion fatigue is sometimes called secondary traumatic stress. It arises from the emotional toll of caring for or being exposed to people who have experienced trauma or suffering. This is common among healthcare workers, social workers, therapists, and emergency responders.Unlike burnout, which is related to workplace stress broadly, compassion fatigue specifically results from the emotional burden of empathizing with others' pain. It can develop suddenly or gradually and may worsen if the caregiver does not have adequate support.Signs and Symptoms of Compassion FatigueEmotional numbness or feeling overwhelmed by others' painReduced empathy or compassion for patients or clientsIntrusive thoughts or images related to traumaSleep disturbances and irritabilityFeelings of helplessness or hopelessnessCompassion fatigue can make caregivers feel disconnected from their work and question their ability to help others, which can be deeply distressing.Key Differences Between Burnout and Compassion FatigueSource of StressBurnout stems from chronic workplace stressors such as workload, organizational culture, and job demands. Compassion fatigue is specifically caused by exposure to others’ trauma and suffering.Emotional ImpactBurnout often leads to feelings of cynicism, detachment, and exhaustion. Compassion fatigue results in emotional numbness, decreased empathy, and trauma-related symptoms.Onset and ProgressionBurnout develops gradually over time, while compassion fatigue can occur suddenly after a traumatic event or accumulate with repeated exposure.Who Is Affected?Burnout can affect anyone in a high-stress job, whereas compassion fatigue primarily impacts those in caregiving or trauma-exposed professions.Managing Burnout and Compassion FatigueSelf-Care PracticesBoth burnout and compassion fatigue require intentional self-care. This includes regular physical activity, adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, and mindfulness practices. Taking breaks and setting boundaries around work hours are essential to prevent exhaustion.Seeking SupportTalking with colleagues, supervisors, or mental health professionals can provide relief and perspective.Organizational StrategiesPromoting a supportive workplace cultureProviding training on stress management and resilienceEnsuring manageable workloads and clear expectationsOffering access to employee assistance programs and counselingSupporting Caregivers and ProfessionalsCaregivers and professionals facing burnout or compassion fatigue should not feel alone. Understanding these conditions helps reduce stigma and encourages seeking help. Organizations and individuals can work together to create healthier environments that promote resilience and sustainable caregiving.Remember, taking care of your own health is not a luxury but a necessity.Taking Steps Toward Healthier CaregivingBurnout and compassion fatigue affect many people who dedicate themselves to helping others. Understanding the differences between these conditions empowers individuals to recognize symptoms and seek appropriate care.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan burnout and compassion fatigue occur at the same time?Yes, it is possible to experience both simultaneously. Burnout can make someone more vulnerable to compassion fatigue, especially in caregiving roles.How long does it take to recover from burnout or compassion fatigue?Recovery time varies depending on the severity and individual circumstances. With proper support and self-care, many people begin to feel better within weeks to months.Are there any warning signs I should watch for?Common warning signs include persistent exhaustion, irritability, decreased empathy, and feelings of hopelessness. Early recognition helps in seeking timely help.Can lifestyle changes help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue?Yes, maintaining a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, rest, social connections, and mindfulness can reduce the risk of developing these conditions.The Bottom LineBurnout and compassion fatigue are serious but manageable challenges for caregivers and professionals in high-stress roles. Recognizing symptoms early and taking proactive steps can protect long-term mental health and job satisfaction.This story was produced by Doctronic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Great Sounds Promotions marks 30 years with music celebration Great Sounds Promotions is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special two-day music celebration on May 8–9 at Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf. The event will feature nationally recognized artists and highlight the organization’s commitment to presenting quality live music, cultural programming and youth arts education throughout the Quad Cities region. Click here [...]
	Open Market Season at the Freight House Farmer's Market Open Market Season at the Freight House Farmer's Market begins May 2nd and 3rd.
	Why home insurance claim payouts can feel disappointing Why home insurance claim payouts can feel disappointingWhy the Payout Isn't What You Might ExpectImagine you discover a serious leak from your ceiling that causes major floor and drywall damage. No problem, you think: I’ll just file a claim with my insurance company and the repairs will be covered. But then the insurance estimate arrives, and it’s thousands less than the contractor’s repair quote.Welcome to a common homeowner reality check. Especially during storm season, homeowners are often surprised that claims result in a smaller check from your insurer than you expected. Truth is, your carrier likely didn’t cheat or shortchange you. Instead, you may have overlooked coverage limits or exclusions, depreciation, scope disagreements or a deductible that wasn’t met.Here, TheZebra takes a closer look at why home insurance claims often result in less-than-desirable payouts, what you can expect after filing a claim, and what you can do if you’re still not satisfied.Why Your Insurance Payout Can Be Lower Than the Repair BillJanet Ruiz, director of strategic communication for the Insurance Information Institute, explains that your repair bill can exceed your claim payout because insurance policies pay according to the policy’s defined valuation methods, coverage limits, depreciation and deductibles; not simply the contractor’s invoice.“For example, if storm damage causes $25,000 in roof repairs, but your insurer determines the roof had depreciated to an actual cash value of $16,000 while you had a $2,500 deductible, the initial payout may be only $13,500,” she says.Realize that an insurer’s first estimate is typically based on the damage they can actually see and confirm right away. This initial estimate may be less than what they end up paying in total.“If, say, your roof suffers storm damage, your insurer may later pay even more if a code-required upgrade is covered and actually completed and you furnish proof of the repair,” notes Beth Swanson, insurance analyst for The Zebra.Actual Cash Value vs Replacement CostInsurance policies use either actual cash value (ACV), which pays what your used item or materials are currently worth minus age and wear, or replacement cost (RCV), which covers the price of replacing them brand new. If your policy covers ACV, you can expect a lower claim check.“If a 10-year-old roof that originally cost $15,000 to replace has depreciated by 50%, an ACV policy will only pay you $7,500 versus an RCV policy that pays closer to the full replacement cost,” says Irena Martincevic, an industry analyst with Fixr.com. “Many homeowners don’t discover which type they have until they are already filing a claim, and that’s a costly moment to find out.”Be aware that many policies will initially pay ACV but release the remaining replacement cost after repairs are completed and documented.Why Roof Claims Often Feel Especially FrustratingNow that spring is here, we can expect a lot more extreme weather, including storms, hail and tornadoes. It’s a time of year when roofs are particularly vulnerable. Roof claims are where homeowners most often run into depreciation surprises, wind or hail deductibles that need to be met, age-related limitations, and disputes over whether the full roof needs replacement or just repair.“Insurers will factor in the roof’s age and wear heavily. Fixr research shows that roofs less than 10 years old are generally more likely to receive fuller coverage, while older ones are subject to significant depreciation deductions,” adds Martincevic.“Also, insurers draw careful lines between storm damage and wear and tear, and they will only pay for what they can attribute to a specific covered event. And partial damage doesn’t automatically mean a full replacement, either. If only one section of the roof was damaged, the company may only cover patching the roof, even if the materials don’t match perfectly.”Attorney K.C. Williams points out that, in recent years, carriers have been given more flexibility to limit recovery on older roofs through policy changes and endorsements that reduce benefits to ACV, regardless of what the rest of the policy may say.“What policyholders rarely understand is that the insurer’s adjuster and the independent engineer they hire are both working toward the same conclusion,” he says. “Getting a different result may require an independent roofing expert who can document storm causation, establish the date of loss, and support a scope of repair that reflects what the damage actually requires.”Why Water Damage Claims Are Often Partial PayoutsLet’s say your dishwasher line suddenly bursts and damages the kitchen floor and cabinets. The good news is your policy may cover sudden and accidental water damage. The bad news is that it likely won’t cover long-term leaks, seepage, poor maintenance or flood damage. So one part of your claim may be covered while another part is denied or limited.“Everything comes down to two questions: Where did the water come from, and when did the damage actually occur? Policies don’t cover damage that builds up over time, a slow leak behind the drywall, seepage through the foundation, or moisture that has accumulated over months,” continues Williams. “If the insurer decides the damage looks long-standing, the claim gets cut or closed.”Even when the water loss is covered, your payout may still be lower than expected for several other reasons.“There may be a specific limit in your policy for hidden leaks, seepage or mold, tear-out and remediation costs may be treated differently and some damage may be considered maintenance-related,” Swanson says.The Deductible Can Take a Bigger Bite Than People ExpectYour deductible can minimize your claim settlement more than you anticipate because the deductible applies per claim, not per damaged item, and it must be subtracted from the total covered loss. Also, some weather-related deductibles are percentage-based rather than flat-dollar.“If you have a separate wind or hail deductible, for example, it can be calculated as a percentage of your home’s insured value. That means a 2% deductible on a $400,000 home would require you to absorb $8,000 before your insurance pays anything,” Ruiz cautions.Why You May Not Get All the Money at OnceAs mentioned earlier, your insurer may issue an initial payment based on ACV, then release additional funds (recoverable depreciation) after repairs are completed and documented.“Assume your covered kitchen floor damage would cost $10,000 to replace. The estimated depreciation is $5,000, and your deductible is $1000. That means your first payment might be just $4,000,” says Swanson. “But if the repairs are completed and the policy allows it, your insurer may later release $5,000 in recoverable depreciation.”Also, be aware that, if you have a mortgage loan, the payout check can also be made payable to both you and your mortgage company, especially if it’s a major claim. Your mortgage lender may also send their own inspector to ensure repairs have been completed.Why Your Contractor’s Quote and the Insurer’s Estimate May Not MatchInsurers and contractors often calculate repair estimates differently. They may disagree on labor rates, materials, code upgrades, waste removal, matching issues or how much damage the covered event actually caused. But a disparity between their estimates doesn’t automatically mean one side is acting dishonestly.“Contractor quotes and insurance estimates often differ because they rely on different assumptions, scopes of work and pricing standards,” Ruiz explains. “Insurers typically use standardized estimating software and may exclude upgrades or non-covered items, while contractors may include code upgrades, overhead, profit or materials outside the policy’s scope.”If your contractor offers an itemized estimate and documentation showing that something was missed or underpriced by the insurer, your insurer may adjust the claim via a supplemental payment process.Filing a DisputeAgain, what you may regard as lowball compensation from your carrier doesn’t necessarily mean they’re in the wrong. It’s important to carefully review the cause of the loss, valuation method, line-item scope, exclusions and deductibles.Also, be sure to:Compare line items, not just totals.Check whether depreciation was withheld.Confirm whether the claim was settled at ACV or replacement cost.Ask whether additional damage can be submitted as a supplement.When a Disappointing Payout Is Normal vs Worth DisputingAfter doing your homework, you may determine that it’s worth challenging your insurer’s numbers.“Insurers can miss damage. Adjusters work quickly, often in the immediate aftermath of a storm when conditions make a thorough inspection difficult. What gets documented on day 3 is not always what a careful inspection reveals on day 30,” Williams says. “What I look closely at is whether the evaluation behind the payment was accurate and whether the policy was applied as written.”Ruiz agrees.“It may be worth pushing back if the insurer overlooked documented damage, misapplied coverage, or failed to consider local building requirements. You can request a detailed explanation, provide photos that back up your dispute, or seek a reinspection,” she recommends. “You can also send a complaint to your state’s department of insurance if you are unable to get a satisfactory answer from your insurer.”Remember: A disappointing payout can still be a legitimate payout.Take the time to understand how your claim was calculated, where any adjustor and contractor gaps came from and whether there is room to dispute the scope, provide more documentation or recover withheld depreciation.While you’re at it, carefully review your current coverage and consider changing coverage levels to better suit your current needs. And don’t be afraid to ask your agent or insurer questions about anything in the policy you don’t understand.FAQsStill have questions? Here’s a deeper dive to answer some common remaining queries.Why is my deductible so high after a storm?Deductibles are often higher after storms because many policies apply special wind or hail deductibles that are percentage based rather than flat-dollar amounts. These provisions shift more of the financial burden to the homeowner, especially during or following widespread catastrophic events.Why did my insurance only pay actual cash value?Your carrier may only pay actual cash value – which is what your used item or materials are currently worth minus depreciation for age and wear – if your policy does not include replacement cost coverage for that item or if repairs have not yet been completed.Why would a claims payout check be made out to both my mortgage company and me?If your home is being financed by a mortgage company, your lender has a financial interest in your property. That means your claim check from the insurer can be made payable to both you and the mortgage company, particularly if it’s a major claim.This story was produced by TheZebra and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	City of East Moline invites residents to learn about drinking-water improvements The City of East Moline invites residents to attend an open house to learn about a major initiative to improve the community’s drinking water, a news release says. The open house will provide information on two key efforts: Replacing all lead and galvanized service lines citywide, and upgrading the water treatment process to reduce the [...]
	Man sentenced to more than 25 years in prison for meth charge Jason L. Ringold, 47, sold more than 600 grams of meth in Burlington between April and June 2024, according to court documents.
	The happiest cities in America in 2026, ranked across 11 factors The happiest cities in America in 2026, ranked across 11 factorsHappiness may not be easy to quantify, but some qualifiers may make a person more likely to feel satisfied in life. A reasonable degree of financial freedom can alleviate worry about day-to-day costs and the occasional unexpected expense. Similarly, good relationships, overall health and longevity, basic conveniences, and privacy can go a long way in keeping stress down and contentment up. While none of these things alone are the secret to happiness, they may all individually contribute to a life geared toward wants rather than needs — freeing up time and resources for individuals to explore and build a life on their own terms.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 85 of the largest U.S. cities with available data based on 11 happiness factors spanning personal finance, physical and mental well-being, and quality of life factors.Key FindingsArlington, VA, ranks as the happiest city for 2026. Arlington ranks among the top five cities for a variety of happiness metrics, including life expectancy (83.9 years), household earnings over $100,000 (64.3%), mentally healthy days (84.9%), adults getting exercise (83%), and access to activity spaces (100%).Fremont, CA, households outearn their peers. Ranking second overall for happiest cities, 70.7% of Fremont households earn over $100,000, the most studywide. This pairs with the lowest poverty rate of 4.7%. However, 18.1% of households in Fremont end up spending 50% or more of their income on housing. In tandem, the population maintains the highest rate of health insurance coverage and marriage, at 98.1% and 63.8%, respectively.Austin, TX, has the least traffic. The traffic volume per meter in Austin, Texas — a practice ground for many autonomous vehicle companies — is lowest studywide at 42.1. This pales in comparison to Boston, which has over 40 times the traffic volume per meter at 1753.9. The average traffic volume per meter is 299.Residents have the most mentally healthy days in Honolulu. Ranking 16th happiest overall, Honolulu residents feel mentally healthy for 85.2% of days. San Jose, California, follows closely at 85% mentally healthy days. On the other end of the spectrum, the residents of Toledo, Ohio, have the worst mental health ranking, at 78.2% of days spent mentally healthy.These California cities have the most overcrowding in housing. Privacy and space can go a long way in making a person comfortable in their own space, and can be indicative of financial resources. In Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Fresno, just over 10% of households are home to more than one person per bedroom. Laredo, Texas, also falls into this category of high overcrowding. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has the lowest rate of overcrowding at 0.9%. SmartAsset Top 25 Happiest CitiesArlington, VAHouseholds earning $100k+: 64.3%Poverty rate: 8.3%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.2%Poor mental health days: 15.1%Life expectancy (years): 83.9Percent of adults getting exercise: 83%Population with health insurance: 93.9%Marriage rate: 44.2%Traffic volume per meter: 540Access to activity space: 100%Overcrowded households: 3.4%Fremont, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 70.7%Poverty rate: 4.7%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.1%Poor mental health days: 17.8%Life expectancy (years): 82Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.2%Population with health insurance: 98.1%Marriage rate: 63.8%Traffic volume per meter: 683Access to activity space: 99.6%Overcrowded households: 7.7%San Jose, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 64.2%Poverty rate: 8.1%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15.7%Poor mental health days: 15%Life expectancy (years): 83.8Percent of adults getting exercise: 80.9%Population with health insurance: 95.6%Marriage rate: 48.6%Traffic volume per meter: 626.4Access to activity space: 99.4%Overcrowded households: 7.9%Seattle, WAHouseholds earning $100k+: 57.1%Poverty rate: 9.4%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15%Poor mental health days: 16.6%Life expectancy (years): 81.1Percent of adults getting exercise: 86.7%Population with health insurance: 96.3%Marriage rate: 39.5%Traffic volume per meter: 333Access to activity space: 97.9%Overcrowded households: 3.9%Raleigh, NCHouseholds earning $100k+: 43%Poverty rate: 13.3%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 12%Poor mental health days: 15.7%Life expectancy (years): 81Percent of adults getting exercise: 84.2%Population with health insurance: 92.9%Marriage rate: 38.8%Traffic volume per meter: 111.6Access to activity space: 98.6%Overcrowded households: 2%Boise, IDHouseholds earning $100k+: 39.9%Poverty rate: 12.9%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 10.9%Poor mental health days: 17.1%Life expectancy (years): 79.7Percent of adults getting exercise: 82.4%Population with health insurance: 93.1%Marriage rate: 44.2%Traffic volume per meter: 116.7Access to activity space: 91.6%Overcrowded households: 1.9%Lincoln, NEHouseholds earning $100k+: 33.5%Poverty rate: 13.4%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 12.6%Poor mental health days: 15.3%Life expectancy (years): 79.1Percent of adults getting exercise: 78.9%Population with health insurance: 93.4%Marriage rate: 47%Traffic volume per meter: 211.1Access to activity space: 95.4%Overcrowded households: 2.2%Anchorage, AKHouseholds earning $100k+: 53.9%Poverty rate: 8.3%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.2%Poor mental health days: 16.3%Life expectancy (years): 76.3Percent of adults getting exercise: 80.1%Population with health insurance: 90.6%Marriage rate: 48.7%Traffic volume per meter: 152.3Access to activity space: 93.9%Overcrowded households: 4.5%San Francisco, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 61%Poverty rate: 11.3%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 16.9%Poor mental health days: 16.6%Life expectancy (years): 82.4Percent of adults getting exercise: 83.6%Population with health insurance: 97.2%Marriage rate: 39.1%Traffic volume per meter: 794Access to activity space: 100%Overcrowded households: 6.8%Minneapolis, MNHouseholds earning $100k+: 40.3%Poverty rate: 15.1%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.4%Poor mental health days: 16.1%Life expectancy (years): 79.5Percent of adults getting exercise: 83.3%Population with health insurance: 94.3%Marriage rate: 34%Traffic volume per meter: 304.6Access to activity space: 99.1%Overcrowded households: 2.7%Colorado Springs, COHouseholds earning $100k+: 41.6%Poverty rate: 8.8%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.4%Poor mental health days: 18.4%Life expectancy (years): 76.2Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.5%Population with health insurance: 91.5%Marriage rate: 52.6%Traffic volume per meter: 140.9Access to activity space: 89.8%Overcrowded households: 2.5%Aurora, COHouseholds earning $100k+: 46.4%Poverty rate: 10.7%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 15.6%Poor mental health days: 17.1%Life expectancy (years): 79.1Percent of adults getting exercise: 82.4%Population with health insurance: 85.6%Marriage rate: 44.9%Traffic volume per meter: 215.2Access to activity space: 97.5%Overcrowded households: 3%Charlotte, NCHouseholds earning $100k+: 43.7%Poverty rate: 11.9%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.3%Poor mental health days: 16.3%Life expectancy (years): 78.8Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.1%Population with health insurance: 87.9%Marriage rate: 40.4%Traffic volume per meter: 165.5Access to activity space: 88.7%Overcrowded households: 2.3%Omaha, NEHouseholds earning $100k+: 35.5%Poverty rate: 14.2%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.1%Poor mental health days: 15.9%Life expectancy (years): 77.7Percent of adults getting exercise: 75.7%Population with health insurance: 91.2%Marriage rate: 44.3%Traffic volume per meter: 214.9Access to activity space: 97.4%Overcrowded households: 2.1%Chula Vista, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 52%Poverty rate: 9.6%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 20.8%Poor mental health days: 17.3%Life expectancy (years): 80.3Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.7%Population with health insurance: 94.8%Marriage rate: 50.2%Traffic volume per meter: 440.1Access to activity space: 97.5%Overcrowded households: 6.9%Honolulu, HIHouseholds earning $100k+: 44.5%Poverty rate: 10.5%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 19.4%Poor mental health days: 14.8%Life expectancy (years): 81.7Percent of adults getting exercise: 77.8%Population with health insurance: 96.8%Marriage rate: 45.1%Traffic volume per meter: 536.2Access to activity space: 96.6%Overcrowded households: 8.7%San Diego, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 55.3%Poverty rate: 10.4%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 20.8%Poor mental health days: 17.3%Life expectancy (years): 80.3Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.7%Population with health insurance: 94.3%Marriage rate: 43.9%Traffic volume per meter: 440.1Access to activity space: 97.5%Overcrowded households: 6.9%Lexington, KYHouseholds earning $100k+: 34.2%Poverty rate: 12.1%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.7%Poor mental health days: 17.4%Life expectancy (years): 76.7Percent of adults getting exercise: 77.1%Population with health insurance: 91.9%Marriage rate: 42.5%Traffic volume per meter: 163.7Access to activity space: 97.4%Overcrowded households: 2.2%Mesa, AZHouseholds earning $100k+: 41.9%Poverty rate: 10.8%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 14.2%Poor mental health days: 18.2%Life expectancy (years): 77.5Percent of adults getting exercise: 78%Population with health insurance: 89%Marriage rate: 48.5%Traffic volume per meter: 244.2Access to activity space: 92.8%Overcrowded households: 4.4%Pittsburgh, PAHouseholds earning $100k+: 33.2%Poverty rate: 20.1%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 11.9%Poor mental health days: 17.9%Life expectancy (years): 76.9Percent of adults getting exercise: 79%Population with health insurance: 96%Marriage rate: 33.6%Traffic volume per meter: 202.3Access to activity space: 93.3%Overcrowded households: 0.9%Denver, COHouseholds earning $100k+: 46.8%Poverty rate: 12.1%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 16.3%Poor mental health days: 18.3%Life expectancy (years): 77.4Percent of adults getting exercise: 78.8%Population with health insurance: 90.7%Marriage rate: 40.5%Traffic volume per meter: 415.7Access to activity space: 99.1%Overcrowded households: 3.1%Oakland, CAHouseholds earning $100k+: 51.2%Poverty rate: 11.9%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.1%Poor mental health days: 17.8%Life expectancy (years): 82Percent of adults getting exercise: 81.2%Population with health insurance: 94.1%Marriage rate: 38.3%Traffic volume per meter: 683Access to activity space: 99.6%Overcrowded households: 7.7%Spokane, WAHouseholds earning $100k+: 38.4%Poverty rate: 12.7%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 13.9%Poor mental health days: 19.9%Life expectancy (years): 76.9Percent of adults getting exercise: 79.6%Population with health insurance: 93.7%Marriage rate: 41.9%Traffic volume per meter: 150.4Access to activity space: 87.6%Overcrowded households: 2.1%Atlanta, GAHouseholds earning $100k+: 45.4%Poverty rate: 15.8%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 17.3%Poor mental health days: 15.9%Life expectancy (years): 77.5Percent of adults getting exercise: 80%Population with health insurance: 91.4%Marriage rate: 31.8%Traffic volume per meter: 384Access to activity space: 93.8%Overcrowded households: 2%Henderson, NVHouseholds earning $100k+: 48.3%Poverty rate: 8.8%Households spending >50% of income on housing: 18.5%Poor mental health days: 18.4%Life expectancy (years): 76.6Percent of adults getting exercise: 73%Population with health insurance: 94.2%Marriage rate: 48%Traffic volume per meter: 196.6Access to activity space: 95.7%Overcrowded households: 4.4%Data and MethodologyEighty-five of the largest U.S. cities for which data was available were evaluated across three categories: personal finance, well-being, and quality of life. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024 and the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps for 2025.Personal finance metrics included:Percent of individuals earning $100,000 or more.Percent of households that spend 50% or more of their income on housing.Percent of residents below the poverty level.Well-being metrics include:Average percentage of days spent with poor mental healthLife expectancy in years.Percentage of residents getting exercise.Percentage of residents who have health insurance.Quality of life metrics include:Marriage rate.Average traffic volume per meter of major roadways in the county.Percentage of population with adequate access to locations for physical activity.Percentage of households with overcrowding, defined as more than one person living in a room.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Burlington man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine On April 21, a man from Burlington was sentenced to 310 months (over 25 years) in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, according to a news release from the Department of Justice (DOJ). Public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing show that Jason Lee Ringold, 47, also known as “Ringo,” sold over 600 grams [...]
	Officials search for man who did not return to Davenport work release center Sabastian D. Bustillos, 27, didn’t return to the center.
	ISU Extension to host garlic mustard pulls, reopen Hort Clinic for growing season ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County is hosting two community garlic mustard pulls and preparing to open its seasonal Hort Clinic, offering residents hands‑on help with invasive plant removal and expert gardening support.
	Alaska House advances bill addressing the treatment of minors in psychiatric facilities Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, speaks Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)The Alaska House of Representatives advanced a bill Wednesday that aims to address a lack of oversight for minors treated at psychiatric facilities in Alaska. The bill would mandate an annual report on conditions and treatment at such facilities from the state’s Health Department, as well as unannounced biannual inspections. Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks and the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is a necessary step to increase accountability around the treatment of minors in psychiatric hospitals in the state, amid constituent concerns. “These are not sweeping mandates, they are basic expectations of transparency, of communication and accountability of our youth here in Alaska,” she said on Wednesday. The bill passed the House of Representatives with 37 yes votes. Three legislators were absent. It has been transmitted to the Senate for consideration. The bill would also guarantee patients confidential telephone or video communication with a parent or guardian for two hours per week and require the Department of Health to notify a patient’s parent or legal guardian when seclusion or restraint is used within 72 hours. The annual report would include information about the total uses of seclusion or restraint, findings of facility inspections and data on the number of minors who received residential care at psychiatric hospitals. Dibert cited a 2004 investigation by the Disability Law Center of Alaska that found 261 episodes of seclusion and restraint over three months in psychiatric institutions, which the organization called “quite high.” The United States Department of Justice issued a report in December 2022 that found that Alaskan youth are institutionalized in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric residential treatment facilities at higher rates and for longer periods than minors in other states as a result of a lack of available and accessible community-based mental health services, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage and Chair of the House Health and Social Services Committee, voiced her support for the bill and drew attention to a finding by the DOJ that identified gaps in community-based services in Alaska. Community-based services include home-based family treatment for early intervention services, intensive case management and crisis services, according to the DOJ. “We have to face the reality that many of these kids are in these institutionalized settings because we have underinvested in our home and community based services in this broader continuum of care,” Mina said. “The dearth of community-based services in Alaska is so pronounced and widespread that institutional placement has become, for many behavioral health service providers in the state, the default option to which they refer children with long-term behavioral health need,” DOJ investigators wrote in 2022. According to the DOJ, more than 800 Alaskan children received behavioral health services in a psychiatric institution in 2020. Approximately a third of the patients were Alaska Native and parents reported to the DOJ concerns about separating their children from their culture while in residential treatment. In addition to four psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Alaska, the state sends children to 17 out of state psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, told legislators that the bill provides oversight and accountability that legislators are expected to institute. The bill received support from the Alaska Federation of Natives, Lives in the Balance, a nonprofit that advocates for the fair treatment of children, Dot Lake Village, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an organization that aims to eradicate abuse in mental health settings, and Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. The Department of Health estimated in a fiscal note that it would cost approximately $222,800 annually for a full-time nurse consultant to perform inspections, conduct interviews with patients and conduct investigations and for two nurse consultants to attend trauma informed care and cultural awareness training. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Why some health professionals are recommending pet ownership for better health Why some health professionals are recommending pet ownership for better healthResearch suggests that pet ownership is associated with higher life satisfaction, with some studies estimating its impact as comparable to that of a substantial increase in income. According to the paper The Value of Pets by Michael W. Gmeiner and Adelina Gschwandtner, this comparison reflects a modeled relationship between life satisfaction and income rather than a literal financial gain.Beyond the obvious companionship and social benefits, having a dog (or any other pet) waiting for you at home can also improve your health. Studies show that just 10 minutes of petting a dog while making eye contact can significantly reduce stress levels.The growing body of research is convincing enough that more U.S. health professionals are beginning to recommend pet ownership as part of treatment plans.Pink Papyrus explores research on the health benefits of pet ownership and why some professionals recommend it.Why Are Health Professionals ‘Prescribing’ Pets?A recent Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) report found that 1 in 5 pet owners say a doctor or therapist has recommended pet ownership to support their health. This reflects patient-reported experiences rather than a direct measure of how widely health professionals recommend pets.The Science Behind the DataPetting a dog for five to 10 minutes triggers the release of oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. At the same time, cortisol (the primary stress hormone) levels drop, leaving you feeling calmer and happier.The effect goes both ways: dogs also experience increased oxytocin levels during petting. And if you make eye contact with your pet while stroking their fur, the feeling of calm and general positivity can be even stronger.A study meta-analysis by the American Heart Association also shows that dog owners have a 31% lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease compared to those who don’t own dogs. This is largely due to increased physical activity (walks, play, grooming) and lower autonomic stress.Dog Walks Help Combat LonelinessDog walks are great for more than just getting your daily steps; they’re a natural way to meet other dog owners and spend time outside, surrounded by people. For anyone feeling a bit isolated, that alone can make a real difference.Dog walking has quietly become a gateway into online communities, where people share routines, tips, and even creative spins on their daily outings.One trend that’s gained traction among more style-conscious pet parents is coordinating outfits with their dogs using playful accessories. Some brands have helped fuel this movement, turning a simple walk into a form of self-expression and something people love to share and bond over online.Emotional Support AnimalsWhile any pet can be an emotional support animal, dogs are usually on the front lines. These are not service dogs, trained to perform specific activities; their job is to provide therapeutic benefit through their presence alone.Due to our deep bond, dogs can act as a physiological regulator. Besides petting and mutual gazing, many owners practice deep pressure therapy, in which the dog lies across the owner’s lap or chest. This weight triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to ground a person during a panic attack or high-anxiety episode.Furthermore, the daily routine of feeding, walking, grooming, bathroom breaks, etc., is beneficial for people who struggle with depression or anxiety. If you don’t have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning, you will do it for your dog.Seniors also feel that their pets provide a sense of purpose, which helps keep both mind and body engaged. Having a pet depend on you can provide a powerful sense of self-worth.The $22B AnswerFurther research from HABRI highlights another angle: the economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. According to its latest report, pet ownership saves an estimated $22.7 billion annually in medical costs.On average, pet owners visit the doctor less frequently. Dog owners, in particular, tend to be more physically active, contributing to lower rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease.The benefits extend beyond physical health. Many seniors find meaningful companionship in their pets or use them as a bridge to connect with other pet owners, helping reduce the risks associated with social isolation. Veterans living with PTSD also benefit from emotional support animals, which can lower long-term treatment costs.A Healthier, Less Lonely FuturePets play a meaningful role in our well-being. As both companions and sources of emotional support, they deliver proven benefits for physical and mental health.The data also points to a measurable impact on public health. That said, these benefits depend on responsible ownership. Health professionals must weigh the advantages against an individual’s ability to provide a stable home and consistent veterinary care.This story was produced by Pink Papyrus and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nitrate contaminates the drinking water of millions of Americans, study finds A metal gangway leads to the floating pumphouse used to harvest water for Public Wholesale Water Supply District 20 outside Sedan, Kan. A new analysis found agricultural states including Kansas have seen drinking water systems record thousands of instances of elevated nitrate, a potentially dangerous byproduct of farming. (Photo by Kevin Hardy/Stateline)Nearly one-fifth of Americans relied on drinking water systems with elevated and potentially dangerous levels of nitrate in recent years, according to a new study released Thursday. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group examined test data collected by water systems across the country between 2021 and 2023, the most recent data available. Water systems serving more than 3 million people exceeded the federal safety limit of 10 milligrams per liter over the three years, the research and advocacy organization found. The analysis also found that thousands of water systems serving more than 62 million people reported nitrate levels above 3 milligrams per liter at least once during those years, which indicates human-caused drinking-water contamination. Researchers are increasingly questioning whether the federal threshold should be lowered as more studies find links between even low levels of nitrate consumption and cancer and birth defects. Federal law limits nitrate levels in drinking water because of its association with blue-baby syndrome. Nitrate is a natural component of soil, but has become a growing problem for drinking water systems because of crop farming’s use of nitrogen fertilizers and runoff of nitrogen-rich manure from livestock operations. States with big agricultural industries recorded more reports of elevated nitrate levels. In fact, the report found that 64% of all water systems that recorded nitrate levels at or above the legal limit were in just five states: California, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. But Anne Schechinger, the organization’s senior director of agriculture and climate research who authored the report, said the issue affects urban and rural areas alike. “A lot of people have this idea that this issue is just a rural issue for small towns near farms. But we found with this analysis that that is not just the case,” she told Stateline. “Based on how watersheds work, you can live very far from a farm and still be drinking water contaminated with nitrate.” Ag fertilizer runoff likely will force more drinking water restrictions The analysis relies on public records obtained from public drinking water systems in every state except New Hampshire, where data was not provided, she said. In addition to its report, the Environmental Working Group created a map showing community water systems with elevated nitrate levels across the country. Elevated nitrate levels have befuddled water providers across the country for years. Not only are they expensive to remove from drinking water supplies, but nitrate levels can fluctuate with the seasons as heavy rains can quickly push remnants of fertilizer or manure into streams and rivers. Iowa’s largest water provider last year asked residents to refrain from watering lawns, filling pools and washing cars as its nitrate removal system struggled to keep up with elevated levels. Des Moines is home to one of the largest nitrate removal systems in the world, which costs about $16,000 per day to operate, officials said. Smaller communities that rely on groundwater have been forced to dig deeper wells, Schechinger said. Climate change is further fueling the problem: Agriculture is a major driver of greenhouse gas emission. The heavy rainfalls and prolonged droughts from more extreme weather worsen nitrate runoff into lakes, rivers and groundwater. “We know those climate conditions are going to make this problem worse,” Schechinger said. “And that’s likely to cost us all more and also (raise) more concerns for our health.” Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	The main financial factors, other than rent and mortgage, to consider when moving The main financial factors, other than rent and mortgage, to consider when movingWhether you’re packing up in hopes of moving to a major metropolitan area, sunny coast, the heartland or abroad, there’s a lot to consider when finding a new place to call home.Consider everything you pay for now — transportation, groceries, utilities and entertainment, for instance — and how the price tags on those goods and services could change when you relocate. Housing costs are typically top of mind, but they’re not the only thing you should factor into your budget.“When people move, they usually obsess over the rent or the mortgage, but that’s only part of the equation,” says Gabriel Shahin, a certified financial planner and the founder and CEO at Falcon Wealth. “We spend a lot of time helping clients look at the full financial picture, because the real impact of a move usually comes from the things people don’t think about.”If you want to understand how relocating affects your net worth, you have to look at the hidden costs that quietly change how far your income actually goes, he adds. Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, shares four costs to consider when moving, other than rent or mortgage.1. TaxesIf you’re moving to a different state, it’s crucial to consider taxes, including sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes and estate or inheritance taxes, says Anthony Ferraiolo, a certified financial planner and partner advisor with AdvicePeriod. That’s because the way one state taxes certain aspects of your finances will vary greatly from another.For example, while Tennessee has no state income taxes, it has the second-highest combined state and local sales tax rate at nearly 10%. Similarly, states like Florida and Texas have no income taxes, but Texas ranks in the top 10 of states with the highest property taxes and homeowners are likely to face high home insurance premiums in Florida, Ferraiolo explains.2. Transportation“Transportation is a big factor people underestimate,” Shahin says.“If you move somewhere without strong public transit, you’re probably adding a car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance and parking to your monthly budget,” he adds. “Sometimes it even means owning two cars.”He asks clients to consider factors like their daily commute, and how it can quietly become a long-term wealth drain over five or ten years.To help save costs (and get some fresh air and exercise) you can also consider the walkability of the location. If you do, you’re not alone: 60% of homebuyers and prospective buyers recently surveyed by Zillow said that walkability was “very or extremely" important to them when looking for a new home. Meanwhile, 53% of respondents said the same about being close to shopping, services and/or leisure activities, and nearly half (49%) said the same about their commute to work or school.If you plan to travel by airplane, you should also consider the proximity your new home would have to major airports. “If you travel frequently for work or to visit family, living near a major airport can save both time and money because you’ll have more flight options and competitive pricing,” Shahin says.An analysis by AAA of government data shows that average fares from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. were $105 less on average than those from the 30-minute-drive-away Washington Dulles International Airport, illustrating how living near a major metropolitan city offers more options for flyers.3. Utilities and insuranceUtilities and insurance are more variable than people expect, Shahin says.“Energy costs can swing significantly depending on the climate, and insurance premiums — both auto and home — can jump just based on location,” he adds. “In some cases, we’ve seen costs double simply by crossing a county line.”For example, in 2024, customers in Hawai‘i and Connecticut paid more than $200 per month for electricity, which is twice as much as people in states such as New Mexico and Utah, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Redfin recommends asking your real estate agent for an estimate, or going straight to the utility providers, which can typically give you an average monthly cost for a specific address based on the past year.Ferraiolo says many people are also surprised by their car insurance when moving. Moving from a state like Montana to Maryland can result in an insurance premium increase of nearly double: The average annual cost of car insurance is $2,299 in Montana and $4,228 in Maryland, according to Experian.4. General cost of livingShahin says the biggest mistake people make when relocating is assuming their lifestyle will cost the same somewhere else.“Most of the time it doesn’t,” he says. “The surrounding costs of living, and how those costs are taxed, are what really change the math.”Do some research. Websites such as Nerdwallet and Bankrate have cost-of-living calculators you can use to compare the costs where you’re currently living to where you’re considering a move. For instance, according to Nerdwallet’s calculator, if you currently live in Dallas with a $70,000 pre-tax household income and are moving to San Francisco, you’ll need a household income of $113,803.25 to maintain the same standard of living since the cost of living is 63% higher.“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Shahin says. “A move should be a strategic decision that supports your long-term wealth, not something that quietly drains it over time.”If you’re moving to a more expensive place, starting to save early is key, and it’s best to do so in the highest yield saving account you can find, to help your money go even further.This story was produced by Current and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	2026 My Favorite Teacher \| Haley Ackerman with Bureau Valley Junior High In only her fourth year as an educator, Haley Ackerman is taking a different approach to her class, giving students a hands-on lesson to improve comprehension.
	Another round of strong to severe storms for the Quad Cities A strong cold front will bring a line of strong to severe thunderstorms into central Iowa late this afternoon and across the Quad Cities area this evening and tonight. After another warm day today, it'll turn cooler tomorrow into early next week. More wet weather arrives Sunday night into Monday night. Here's your full 7-day [...]
	On Harper Lee’s 100th birthday, ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ still feels relevant Pulitzer Prize winner and "To Kill A Mockingbird" author Harper Lee smiles before receiving the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House November 5, 2007 in Washington, DC. April 28th is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the "To Kill A Mockingbird" author. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)I owe two apologies. The first is to Virginia L. Allison, a middle school English teacher whose classroom copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” I stole around 1999. My desk sat next to her bookshelves. As I remember it, one day I found myself itching for something to read. I picked up the book, cracked it open, and then forgot to return it. It has remained in my possession for a quarter-century, across three state lines. Like an ancient mariner with an albatross around my neck, I’m reminded of my misdemeanor every time I see the book – most recently last week, when I plucked it off the shelf for the umpteenth reread. I’d just heard that Gov. Kay Ivey would be declaring April 28, 2026, Harper Lee Centennial Day, in celebration of the late Pulitzer Prize winner’s 100th birthday, and I knew I was past due for a visit with Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Calpurnia. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The pages of my paperback are water-stained and curling, and the front cover is slowly coming undone, but Mrs. Allison’s neatly stamped name is still perfectly legible across the top edge. Mrs. Allison: I’m sorry. I don’t know if this makes it any better, but your book is one of my most treasured possessions. My second apology goes to Nelle Harper Lee herself, for invoking her name and disturbing her peace with this piece. Lee was famously press-shy; although she lived until 2016, the last interview she granted was in 1964, just four years after the publication of her transcendent novel. That year, when radio host Roy Newquist of New York’s WQXR asked how she had reacted to the success of Mockingbird, she said: “Well, my reaction to it was not one of surprise; it was one of sheer numbness. It was one of being hit over the head and knocked cold. I never expected that the book would sell in the first place. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers. But I was hoping that maybe somebody might like it well enough to give me some encouragement about it.” Readers often associate Lee with the rough-and-tumble Scout, but her quiet later years in her hometown of Monroeville suggest that she harbored a healthy dose of the reclusive Boo Radley, too. And so, Ms. Lee: I’m sorry. As one of your readers, I know that dragging Boo – and by extension, you – with your shy ways into the limelight is a sin, even after you’ve gone to your eternal rest. I don’t know if this makes it any better, but your book is one of my most treasured possessions. It’s just so endlessly profound. I’ve read the words more times than I can count, but each reading brings a different facet of truth into the light. When I first swiped the book off Mrs. Allison’s shelf, it felt like a darn good story from long ago and far away. Its racist social scaffolding seemed like a historical artifact, disconnected from the progress of present day. I was enrolled at Welch Middle School, an underfunded magnet school for dance on the southwest side of Houston. Our big claim to fame was that Beyoncé had walked those halls a few years ahead of us. My dad liked to say that when my friend group got together, we looked like a gathering of the United Nations. I doubt my friends would all have agreed that “Mockingbird’s” racial themes felt like relics from the past, but I’ll give my 12-year-old self some grace. When I saw us all together, I couldn’t help but think we had the equality thing pretty much figured out. Now, when I read the book from this side of the Mississippi, the fictional Maycomb County feels much more up close and personal. I don’t mean we’re still living under Jim Crow’s thumb; we’ve come a long way since the book’s Depression-era setting. But so much of it feels contemporary – the humor, the characters, their self-sufficiency and scrappiness. The hunting and football and small-town Southern gentility. And also the 400 years of injustice that lie like a minefield across the landscape. Is it a perfect novel populated by perfect characters? Certainly not. If you ever find one (and find it tolerable to read about perfect people), let me know. But it has shone brightly in the collection of American letters for 66 years, and it remains radiant. When Lee wrote Mockingbird in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, she could not have predicted the specific ways that the America of 2026 would feel so deeply divided. Nevertheless, Atticus’ advice to Scout for living in an era of political upheaval still resonates: “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.” Like any gospel truth, it sounds simple but isn’t always easy to live by. It requires occasional reminder – the ginger opening of a cracked cover, the thumbing-through of brittle pages, the rediscovery of stolen treasures printed in black ink, 100 years after their author was born. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	McCullough sworn in as New Finance Director for City of Muscatine The City of Muscatine appointed LeAnna McCullough as the new finance director to oversee budgeting, accounting, and long range financial planning for the city.
	U.S.-Iran peace talks still in limbo after Iran seizes ships in the Strait of Hormuz President Trump told Fox News Wednesday that there was "no time pressure" on the ceasefire, which he has extended indefinitely.
	U.S. seizes another oil tanker as peace talks with Iran still in limbo The seizure comes after President Trump told Fox News Wednesday that there was "no time pressure" on the ceasefire with Iran, which he has extended indefinitely.
	The U.S. seizes another oil tanker as peace talks with Iran remain in limbo The seizure comes after President Trump told Fox News Wednesday that there was "no time pressure" on the ceasefire with Iran, which he has extended indefinitely.
	Habitat for Humanity Home will be dedicated in East Moline The public is invited to help celebrate the Dedication of Habitat Home #144 on Saturday, April 25, a news release says. The brief ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at 1402 18th St., East Moline. Guests can tour the home after the ceremony. This home was collaboratively funded by sponsorships from Russell Construction, Case [...]
	¿Cuál es el secreto para disfrutar de la comodidad en todo el hogar? Un calentador de agua más inteligente y eficiente (BPT) - Imagine esto: es una noche fría y ha estado contando los minutos para disfrutar de una larga y relajante ducha con agua caliente. La temperatura del agua se siente perfecta; el vapor se eleva, y de repente, el calor desaparece y recibe una ráfaga helada que lo hace correr rápidamente hacia la llave.Nada lo saca de su zona de confort más rápido que quedarse sin agua caliente.El agua caliente no es solo una necesidad en el hogar, es uno de los pilares de la comodidad en toda la casa. Por eso es tan importante elegir el calentador de agua adecuado. El modelo que lleve a casa no es simplemente otra compra de electrodomésticos; es una inversión en tranquilidad para todos los días. El calentador de agua correcto ayuda a garantizar que su familia siempre tenga el agua caliente que necesita para tomarse duchas o baños, lavar los platos, lavar la ropa y para todos los momentos necesarios.Porque cuando la comodidad comienza con agua caliente confiable, todo en el hogar simplemente se siente mejor.Lennox entra al mundo del agua calienteLennox ha presentado una nueva línea de calentadores de agua diseñada para ofrecer a los propietarios comodidad confiable, rendimiento duradero y tranquilidad. Fabricados con el mismo enfoque en la calidad que los propietarios esperan de Lennox, estos calentadores de agua ofrecen una nueva opción confiable para la vida cotidiana.Cada modelo cuenta con una estructura duradera de acero y un revestimiento de vidrio con PermaClad® para protegerlo contra la corrosión, uno de los problemas más frecuentes que puede provocar fallas prematuras en los calentadores de agua o reparaciones costosas.Algunos modelos también incluyen funciones de protección inteligentes, como el sistema SediMotion™, que prolonga la vida útil del tanque al reducir la acumulación de sedimentos; la protección FillSafe™, que ayuda a mantener seguros los componentes internos si el tanque no se llena correctamente; y la protección contra incendios LennoxLock™. Todos estos elementos funcionan silenciosamente en segundo plano para garantizar un rendimiento duradero y hacer que la comodidad del hogar sea sencilla.También existe una ventaja importante cuando se trata del consumo de energía. Los calentadores de agua con bomba de calor de Lennox están diseñados para ayudar a reducir la cantidad de energía necesaria para calentar el agua, lo que puede contribuir a disminuir las facturas mensuales de servicios públicos. Además, en determinados modelos, los controles habilitados para aplicación permiten monitorear y administrar su calentador de agua, e incluso su termostato, directamente desde la aplicación Lennox Home, brindando mayor comodidad y control a su rutina diaria.Prepárese para disfrutar de años de comodidad y tranquilidadUn calentador de agua confiable hace más que simplemente proporcionar agua caliente. Puede formar parte de un ecosistema de confort para el hogar conectado en el que puede confiar durante muchos años.Para obtener más información sobre la nueva línea de calentadores de agua de Lennox u otros productos, visite Lennox.com.
	Indiana hospital systems meet benchmark on direct-to-employer health care deals Ascension Saint Vincent reported total performance of 171% of Medicare plan performance — the lowest of the five nonprofit health systems. (Getty Images)The statutorily required direct-to-employer health care arrangements offered by five Indiana nonprofit hospital systems collectively cleared a 260% of Medicare pricing maximum last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Health. The model allows employers to establish contracts directly with health care providers, forgoing traditional deals with insurance companies. “When employers can access stable, affordable healthcare, they can invest more confidently in their workers and communities,” Gov. Mike Braun said in a news release Wednesday. “Direct-to-employer contracting is a smart, forward looking option that strengthens Indiana’s competitive edge, and I applaud the hospitals and employers embracing this model.” Indiana lawmakers required the state’s nonprofit systems — Ascension Saint Vincent, Community Health Network, Franciscan Health, Indiana University Health and Parkview Health Network — to offer such direct-to-employer arrangements beginning Sept. 1, 2025. That year’s House Enrolled Act 1004 also specified that the arrangements be at or below 260% of full Medicare pricing. The benchmark is calculated by taking the sum of inpatient and outpatient facility prices, expressed as a percentage of full Medicare. “Full” Medicare includes the hospital-specific payments Medicare provides for inpatient services. All five systems came in under the 260% mark for 2025 in the report. “This year’s review demonstrates that Indiana hospitals are stepping up to provide employers with affordable, predictable healthcare options,” Health and Human Services Secretary Gloria Sachdev said. “Direct-to-employer contracts are an important tool for controlling costs while maintaining access to high quality care. We encourage businesses statewide to take full advantage of these solutions.” Ascension Saint Vincent reported total performance of 171% of Medicare plan performance — the lowest of the five — although it had to submit supplemental data for six plans for IDOH to successfully validate them. “Through direct employer arrangements, we partner with organizations across Indiana, from small employers to large corporations, schools, public safety agencies and local governments, to improve affordability and deliver high-value care,” CEO Don King said. “Our Employer Solutions program, established in 2009, serves more than 75 businesses, 125 public schools and over 300 public safety agencies, and we are proud to support employers across the state.” Some individual locations were above the 260% benchmark, including the Jennings, Randolph and Williamsport facilities, according to the supplemental data appended to the IDOH review. Community Health came in second at 190% of Medicare, followed by Parkview Health at 203% and Franciscan Health at 206%. IU Health reported the highest prices, at 250% of Medicare, but was still 10 percentage points below the benchmark. Indiana Hospital Association President Scott B. Tittle applauded members for their “innovative, market-based approaches.” “By working more directly with hospitals or targeted networks to cut out unnecessary middleman, employers can improve health outcomes of their employees, reduce administrative complexity, and create more predictable health care spending,” he said. “As the state’s review shows, hospitals are more than delivering on competitive, transparent pricing that aligns with employers’ needs, and IHA looks forward to the ongoing growth of these models in the future,” Tittle added. The report comes as Indiana hospitals attempt to address widespread criticism — including from state leaders — over high prices. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce called the results “encouraging,” also backing further expansion of direct-to-employer options. However, implementation is key, according to the American Medical Association, which has created a model checklist for physicians considering going the direct route. Update: This story has been updated with comments from the Indiana Hospital Association. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	Central DeWitt plans to move elementary students, creating a single campus The district could close the elementary building and have elementary students attending the main campus starting in the 2029-30 school year if the plan moves forward.
	Two startlingly different views on long-awaited data on America's anti-HIV efforts After a year without data, the State Department released figures on PEPFAR, the program launched by George W. Bush and credited with saving millions of lives. How did Trump's aid cuts affect it?
	After health insurance subsidies end, 30,000 Idahoans will be uninsured, government report says Dallas Chase, center, was one of a few dozen people who showed up to rally at a press conference focused on rising health insurance costs outside Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch's Office in downtown Boise on Dec. 16, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)After Congress failed to extend deeper subsidies for Americans’ health insurance, an estimated 30,000 more Idahoans who had insurance are likely to be uninsured this year. That’s according to a report from Your Health Idaho, the state’s insurance exchange. The report highlights how Idaho’s health insurance market has changed this year — as consumers face premium hikes from insurance companies and Congress’s decision to let enhanced premium tax credits expire. In the months since open enrollment, when people can pick health insurance plans, about 24,400 people disenrolled from health insurance plans on the exchange. That’s a big shift since last year, when just under 16,000 people had their plans canceled later. Your Health Idaho Executive Director Pat Kelly said the figures are among many that show affordability is a key concern this year. The federal government shut down after a health care clash. In Idaho, the stakes are high. “We hope that the 24,000 is the end of it,” Kelly told the Idaho Capital Sun on Wednesday. “All the way through open enrollment, affordability really permeated all the decisions that we saw,” he added, listing out a range of shifts this year, like more people buying cheaper health insurance plans, and more people canceling plans. The cancellations leave Idaho’s health insurance exchange, a common option for people whose jobs don’t offer insurance, with 3.6% less enrollees than it had last year. For those who still have insurance on the exchange, it’s often getting more expensive. Your Health Idaho’s report found that the share of Idahoans who are paying more than $300 a month in premiums rose by 13%, while the share of Idahoans who are paying $100 or less fell by 19%. When open enrollment ended in December, Kelly said it’d likely take until April for enrollment to settle after cancellations. Part of that is because of consumer protections, he explained. There are grace periods before consumers’ plans are terminated for nonpayment, which can take up to 90 days for renewed customers. Kelly said he isn’t sure how many of the cancellations were by insurers, or by consumers. “We’re thrilled that Idahoans understand the value of having health insurance, and we’re still concerned about the affordability impacts on the market,” Kelly said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX What are the enhanced premium tax credits? In Idaho, the enhanced premium tax credits reduced premiums by an average of $407 each month, according to the nonpartisan health policy group KFF. About 87% of Idahoans who have insurance through the state exchange received the credits, according to a report by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “Idaho is about to be ground zero for a national health care affordability crisis — not because Idahoans did anything wrong, but because Republicans in Congress refuse to act,” Ada County Democratic Party Chair Jared Deloof told reporters at a news conference in December near U.S. Sen. Jim Risch’s office in downtown Boise. YHI Fact Sheet OE26 Update_04.2026 SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	New Orleans-area child contracts measles; public exposed in Kenner Getty ImagesA child from the New Orleans area has been hospitalized after contracting measles during international travel, Louisiana health officials said Wednesday. It’s the first case of the virus reported in Louisiana this year. The pediatric patient was partially vaccinated and is receiving treatment in isolation, according to the Louisiana Health Department. Officials said the child might have exposed others to the measles Friday at the Target and Walmart Supercenter locations in Kenner. Anyone who believes they were exposed should contact their doctor and their regional epidemiologist with the Louisiana Department of Health for additional guidance. Measles is highly contagious, with 90% of unvaccinated individuals getting infected if they are exposed. The virus is particularly dangerous for babies, young children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of measles generally appear a week to two weeks after a person is infected. They include a high fever that can spike as high as 104 degrees, a cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Tiny white spots might appear inside the mouth within two to three days after symptoms are present. A body rash, starting on the face at the hairline, will emerge in three to five days once symptoms are evident. In most cases, the fever subsides and the rash fades after a few days. The measles vaccine is the best way to prevent infections. Adults need at least one dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine given after the age of 1. People born before 1957 or who had measles as a child are considered immune. Pediatricians advise a series of two MMR doses for children, the first between age 12-15 months and the second at 4-6 years. For confidentiality reasons, health officials provided no additional information about the infected child other than that they reside in state health Region 1, which includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes. Measles cases have been on the rise globally for the past two years amid a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment. In the U.S., more than 2,500 cases and three deaths were reported last year. Through mid-March of this year, the measles case count was close to 1,500 with cases reported in 31 states. Nearly all of the cases have been part of outbreaks, and nearly 75% have been persons 19 and younger, the CDC reports. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Spoonbill Catfish This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Before I moved to the Mississippi River, I used to worry about God. He never seemed to have much fun. Oh, no question…
	Sycophantic AI flatters and suggests you are not to blame The AI models and chatbots that we interact with tend to affirm our feelings and viewpoints — more so than people do, with potentially worrisome consequences.
	How labels in foster care shape children’s lives A Necco foster care in Milton, West Virginia. (Photo by Leann Ray/West Virginia Watch)When most people hear “foster youth,” they picture someone troubled, angry and doomed to fail. I know this because I was a foster youth, and spent years being seen through that lens. The truth behind the stereotype is much more complicated. I entered foster care at age 8 after years of chaos, poverty and caring for my younger brothers because our parents couldn’t. Survival shaped me, not malice or apathy. Adults judged our “bad behavior” without considering its roots. They called us angry, disruptive or ungrateful, never acknowledging anger was a natural response to instability and pain. We were expected to adapt instantly to new families and rules, but the system demanded skills we were never taught. By the time I was 12, I had been to court multiple times, put on probation, and had run away from home three times. On paper, I looked exactly like the kid people warned you about. I met my birth father, who promised I’d get to live with him, and then the visits stopped, with no warning, no explanation, nothing. Puberty hit me like a wave I wasn’t prepared for. I started having panic attacks in class. I was pulled out of school and homeschooled. Alarms were placed on my bedroom door at night. I wasn’t allowed outside, couldn’t watch TV, and couldn’t see my friends. The walls kept closing in, and I kept pushing back the only way I knew how. My file reflected all of it, in the worst possible way. According to my official records, I was a pathological liar with authority issues who liked to cause problems and hated interacting with people. This was the version of me which got passed from caseworker to caseworker, from placement to placement. That file followed me everywhere. It walked into every room before I did. It told people who I was before I had the chance to speak for myself. And here is the danger of a file like that: once that version of you is on paper, adults start looking for proof it is true. When every adult in your life has already decided you are a problem, you begin to believe it. I was a child in crisis, not a criminal in the making. The file didn’t show I had been a caregiver at 7 years old. It didn’t show I had been promised a father and then abandoned without explanation. It didn’t show I had been erased from my own family’s walls and social media. It didn’t show any of the reasons behind the behavior, only the behavior itself. Every outburst had a history. Every lie had a root. The assumption a troubled file guarantees a troubled future ignores the most basic truth about human beings: we are capable of change when we are finally given the conditions to grow. By the time I was 13, I had effectively been erased from my own family. There were no pictures of me in the house. No mention of me on social media. I lived in a space with no walls, no privacy, and no sense of belonging. I was expected to do all the laundry, cook dinners and clean the house, while my mental health quietly collapsed around me. I stopped sleeping. I stopped eating well. I stopped trying in school. And from the outside, it looked like I was giving up. In reality, it was exhaustion. Complete, total exhaustion. That’s how systems fail foster youth: they let files and labels speak louder than the children themselves. The file captured only the symptoms, never the cause. It didn’t show the exhaustion of growing up too fast, the loneliness of being erased from family photos and memories, or the pain behind why I stopped trying in school and lashed out. Eventually, I was moved through a series of placements. For the first time, people took the time to understand what I’d been through. When I finally received stability, support and the simple belief I mattered, I began to thrive. I wasn’t an exception. I was a child finally given the chance to heal. When systems choose to believe files over children, they do more than mislabel us. They shape our futures, closing doors before we even know they exist. The clearest truth is this: foster youth are not the sum of their files, their labels or their worst days. We are kids who deserve better, and who can become so much more when finally seen for who we are. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	A deadly bacteria is creeping up the Atlantic Coast. How worried should you be? (Illustration by Amelia Bates / Grist)This story was produced by Grist and co-published with States Newsroom. It is part of the Grist series Vital Signs, exploring the ways climate change affects your health. This reporting initiative is made possible thanks to support from the Wellcome Trust. Bailey Magers and Sunil Kumar cut strange figures on Pensacola Beach. Bags of disinfectant solution surrounded them on the white sand; their gloved hands juggled test tubes while layers of rubber and plastic shielded their skin from the elements. As the two organized their seawater samples on the popular Florida beach last August, an older woman wearing a swimsuit walked over to ask what they were doing. “We’re just actively monitoring water quality,” they told her, but she pressed on. “Are you looking for that flesh-eating bacteria?” “We’re looking into it,” they replied, hoping not to frighten her. The woman turned back toward the ocean, her curiosity satisfied. As she walked away, Kumar noticed that she had scrapes and bruises on her body. A few minutes later, he watched her step into the waves. He shook off a chill and returned to the task at hand. Magers and Kumar study a bacteria called Vibrio, part of a lineage of ancient marine species that likely emerged sometime around the Paleozoic Era. Enormous, shallow seas flooded the massive, interconnected supercontinents that constituted the Earth’s landmass at the time, and complex marine ecosystems developed that thrived in these temperate, freshly-formed bodies of water. Researchers think there are more than 70 Vibrio species in the environment today, hundreds of millions of years later. The organisms float in warm, brackish water, attaching themselves to plankton and algae and accumulating in prolific water-filtering species like clams and oysters. Two family members harvest seafood from a beach in Florida. (Photo by Zoya Teirstein / Grist)) A small number of Vibrio species can sicken and even kill. In worst-case scenarios, a person who has been exposed to the most dangerous of them — by swimming in brackish water with an open wound or ingesting a piece of raw shellfish that is contaminated with the tasteless and odorless toxin — may find themselves with only hours before the flesh on one or more extremities starts to bruise, swell, and decay. Without the quick aid of powerful antibiotics, septic shock can set in and lead to death. Anyone can get infected, though it is much more likely in people who have liver disease or are immunocompromised, elderly, or diabetic. Climate change is making the world’s oceans, which have absorbed more than 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions, more hospitable to Vibrio. Research shows that temperature and salinity are the largest predictors of how widespread Vibrio bacteria are. As water temperatures rise, so does the concentration of Vibrio in seawater — boosting the risk of infection for beachgoers and shellfish consumers. The bacteria start getting active in water temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and multiply rapidly as coastal waters warmthroughout the summer. In recent years, scientists have documented Vibrio expanding into places that were once too cold to support the bacteria, pushing as far north along the U.S. East Coast as Maine and appearing with more prevalence in temperate seas around the world. Vibriosis infections in general are the leading cause of shellfish-related illness in the U.S. They have increased “more than any other illness caused by a pathogen in the U.S. food supply” since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, started keeping tabs on such illnesses in 1996, according to a 2019 analysis by the International Association for Food Protection. The report attributed the precipitous rise to a “perfect storm” of factors that include climate change, food handling practices, expanding globalization, a patchwork of regulatory oversight, and improved diagnosis. On their conspicuous expeditions to Pensacola and other Sunshine State beaches, Magers and Kumar are trying to understand where, and when, harmful Vibrio species are present across the state. The research they’re doing is part of an ongoing effort by a laboratory at the University of Florida to create a Vibrio early warning system for the eastern United States — a program that can alert public health departments to high Vibrio concentrations in any given area a month in advance. How many limbs would be saved, Magers wonders, if doctors and nurses could be warned ahead of time that their emergency rooms would soon see an uptick in these chronically underdiagnosed infections? Natalie Larsen, a member of the Vibrio surveillance research team, gathers seawaters samples from Florida’s Pensacola Beach to test for vulnificus and other bacteria. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Larsen) The work serves more than one purpose: As Vibrio bacteria spread north into cooler waters, they serve as a first warning signal of changing marine conditions — giving researchers a heads-up that the familiar composition of marine species in their local waters may be starting to shift. In Europe’s Baltic Sea, for example, a spike in Vibrio infections in July 2014 closely mirrored a heatwave that rapidly warmed the shallow sea. The incident showed researchers that Vibrio spikes herald unusually warm marine conditions — and they have since been utilized as barometers for ocean heatwaves and sea-surface warming patterns, not just food safety. “We see Vibrio as the indicator for climate change,” said Kyle Brumfield, a microbiologist at the University of Maryland who has been studying the bacteria for a decade. “We can use the presence of Vibrio and Vibrio cases as a proxy for water health in general.” The CDC estimates that about 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur in the U.S. every year, resulting in about 100 deaths. Of those 80,000 cases, most are caused by a Vibrio called parahaemolyticus, which most commonly results in gastroenteritis, or food poisoning. The vast majority of the deaths, however, are caused by a type of Vibrio called vulnificus — the Latin word for “wound-making.” Vulnificus is so potent it can squeeze through a pinhole-sized cut in the skin and lead to death in just 24 hours. In the last five years, the CDC registered 429 such vulnificus cases, plus 136 foodborne cases. But even though foodborne cases are less numerous, the patients that contract vulnificus by eating contaminated shellfish are more likely to die than those infected via open wounds. Thirteen percent of those nonfoodborne cases died, compared to 32 percent of people who got the infection from eating seafood. Most cases occur in the Gulf and Atlantic coastal regions. As far as infectious diseases go, vulnificus is exceedingly rare: The CDC reports between 150 and 200 cases a year. The sexually-transmitted disease chlamydia, by comparison, one of the most common bacterial infections in the U.S., infects northward of 1.5 million Americans annually. But vulnificus’ astonishing speed and high fatality rate — 15 to 50 percent, depending on the health of the person exposed and the route of infection — makes it a unique public health threat, particularly as climate change grows its pathways of exposure. Vulnificus is not the kind of pathogen you’d want behaving erratically, but that’s exactly what it’s been doing since the late 2010s. Across the Eastern Seaboard, local and federal health officials have been reporting “unusual increases” in vulnificus prevalence — jagged spikes in infections that appear to correspond to extreme weather events like hurricanes and marine heatwaves. An oyster bed in Cedar Key, Florida. (Photo by Zoya Teirstein / Grist) In 2022 and 2024, years when the brackish water that Vibrio bacteria thrive in was pushed inland by major hurricanes, Florida’s public health department reported 17 and 19 deaths, respectively, linked to vulnificus exposure via open wounds. North Carolina, New York, and Connecticut also saw small clusters of infections during a record-breaking heatwave in the summer of 2023. “As coastal water temperatures increase,” the CDC warned in its investigationof those outbreaks, “V. vulnificus infections are expected to become more common.” A 2023 study that analyzed a 30-year database of confirmed vulnificus infections from outdoor recreation along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coasts found the northern boundary of infections has moved north by a rate of 30 miles per year since 1998. The study noted that “V. vulnificus infections may expand their current range to encompass major population centers around New York,” and that annual case numbers may double as temperatures rise and America’s elderly population grows. “In the 1980s, Vibrio abundance would increase in the late spring and stay high through the summer and drop in the middle of October,” Brumfield, who conducts research on Vibrio in Maryland, said. “Now … we can pretty much find them almost year-round.” Two ways to get infected Just how worried we should be about the changing dynamics of Vibrio bacteria depends on who you ask and what you read. The gruesome and fast-acting nature of the vulnificus infection makes it enticing fodder for local and national news media, fueling a spree of terrifying reports every time a new severe infection or death surfaces. “Virginia dad wades in calf-high water, dies 2 weeks later of flesh-eating bacteria that ‘ravaged’ his legs,” read a recent headline in People magazine. “2 dead after eating oysters, contracting flesh-eating bacteria, officials say,” per a 2025 web story about two deaths linked to oyster consumption in Louisiana and Florida. Like many others in their mold, neither story mentions how rare the bacteria are. Left: Shellfish tags used to keep track of where and when shellfish is harvested. Right: A sign advertises oysters for sale in Cedar Key, Florida. (Photos by Zoya Teirstein / Grist) The press is bad news for some in the seafood industry, which does not welcome a national conversation about the rise in vibriosis cases, vulnificus in particular. Shellfish farmers and industry representatives that Grist spoke to in Florida and New York argued media attention on the safety of their products is unwarranted. “‘Flesh-eating bacteria,’” said Leslie Sturmer, a researcher who works for the University of Florida’s shellfish aquaculture extension program and consults with the shellfish industry on research and regulation — “the media loves it.” Paul McCormick, an oyster farmer in Long Island who sells 750,000 oysters a year, thinks all press is bad press. “Even if the title of your article says ‘New York oysters are the safest oysters in the universe,’” he told me on the phone from his office in East Moriches in January, “you’ve already created a problem.” In unrefrigerated oysters left out in warm conditions, Vibrio bacteria reproduce every 20 minutes. But in 2010, states began deploying strict protocols known as “Vibrio control plans,” which require harvesters to rapidly cool their catch onboard and then refrigerate it at a shellfish processing facility within a set number of hours. The measures have proven effective at stopping the growth of Vibrio in harvested shellfish and preventing disease. A sign warning of high bacteria levels in the water is seen on the beach as people swim in California. (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP / Getty Images via Grist) The fact that infections can happen in one of two ways — shellfish consumption and seawater exposure — makes it easy to shift blame and point fingers. Consumers have more control over how much exposure they have to Vibrio than they have with E. coli, for example. A person with a kidney condition can choose not to eat oysters on the half shell. E. Coli, often found in raw vegetables, is far tricker to avoid. Likewise, someone with an open wound can opt not to bathe in brackish waters if they are aware of the risks lurking in the surf. For shellfish industry representatives, personal responsibility is the primary way to bring caseloads down. “The person is the risk,” said Sturmer. “Not the climate, not the water, not the bacteria.” Implicitly, this appears to be the government’s position as well: There is currently no numerical threshold at which state public health agencies will “shut down” a beach for outdoor recreation, though states will issue public advisories and, very rarely, close beaches if they happen to find high levels of Vibrio in the water. But that perspective doesn’t account for the rapid marine changes brought on by climate change, the patchiness of vibriosis awareness, and the fact that Americans often make personal decisions that are at odds with their own health and safety. The shellfishers Grist spoke to fully acknowledged the research underpinning Vibrio’s spread. McCormick studied environmental science in college, and Sturmer is running her own climate experiments in a laboratory in the fishing town of Cedar Key, Florida, putting different kinds of clams and oysters through heat stress tests to determine which species are best equipped to weather the decades ahead. Marine mollusks are uniquely threatened by rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise, issues that can lead to thin shells, low crop yields, and mass die-offs on farms. A detailed understanding of climate science, in other words, is good business for those who make their living fishing. The problem, according to Sturmer, is that shellfishers have been unfairly singled out for a health issue that doesn’t affect most consumers and is more often contracted by ocean bathing rather than raw oyster consumption. While beaches stay open even when Vibrio bacteria are present in the water and lead to infections, a small number of foodborne vibriosis cases can trigger state closures of shellfish harvesting areas and product recalls. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science noted that these precautions “erode consumer confidence and likely decrease sales.” Leslie Sturmer checks on oysters growing in her laboratory in Cedar Key. Sturmer puts baby oysters through heat stress tests to see which species will be able to withstand rising temperatures. Zoya Teirstein / Grist The panic that ensues after media reports of Vibrio infections has a similar effect: A 2024 study asked more than 350 shellfish consumers in Rhode Island — a state that relies heavily on its shellfish industry, particularly in summer months when people vacation along the coastline — to bid on entrees of raw oysters and clams. After showing study participants a real newspaper article about a 2015 Vibrio outbreak linked to an oyster farm in Massachusetts, the researchers reported that the news had a “significant negative impact” on participants’ willingness to bid on oysters. It had a depressive effect on clam sales, too. “You should really be out there beating the drum on botulism or salmonella or E. Coli,” Sturmer told me on a recent visit to her lab in Cedar Key. “Why worry about [vulnificus] when the number of cases are so minimal?” Sturmer is quick to point out that even the term “flesh-eating bacteria” is a misnomer. She’s right, in a sense: The bacteria doesn’t “eat” tissue; it destroys it. But it’s hard to say whether someone who has survived a bout of necrotizing fasciitis, the medical term for what vulnificus does to the flesh, would care to dispute the difference. Protecting consumers from being sickened by the deadly bacteria isn’t as simple as trusting people with underlying medical conditions not to eat shellfish. Americans consume 2.5 billion oysters every year, half of which are eaten raw. Vibrio infections, which most often resemble food poisoning, are still underreported and underrecognized, even among individuals who are most at risk of developing a severe infection. Vulnificus infections are also underreported, but much less so than other Vibrio-related infections because they often require a hospital or emergency room visit. Seafood for sale in Orlando, Florida Jeff Greenberg / Education Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images via Grist “I’ve cared for many people with salmonella infections and water-borne infectious processes, but this is the one that is likely the most serious,” said Norman Beatty, an associate professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine who is also a practicing infectious disease doctor in Gainesville, and has seen limbs and lives lost to vulnificus. Identifying coastal areas most at risk When it comes to preventing Vibrio infections, the work Magers and Kumar are doing could take some of the onus off of individual responsibility. The researchers are identifying which parts of the eastern U.S. coastline will be most risky for overall vibriosis infections, and vulnificus specifically, as waters warm. Alongside a group of microbiologists from the University of Maryland, including Brumfield, the scientists have developed a computer model that can predict how high the vibriosis risk will be in any given coastal county on the Gulf or East coasts a month in advance. The team trained their model by pairing the CDC’s count of Vibrio-related foodborne and waterborne illnesses from 1997 to 2019 with satellite data that measures the conditions that fuel Vibrio growth, such as water temperature and salinity. The system is far from perfect. When the model was first trained and evaluated, it was only 23 percent precise in pinpointing high-risk counties, meaning just one in four of the counties the program labeled as high-risk actually ended up seeing a vibriosis case in a given month. But it was very good at determining which counties were low-risk, capturing those regions with 99 percent precision. And it improved over time as the quality of the data they fed it got better. When they had the model do a test run on data collected by the Florida Department of Public Health from 2020 to 2024, 72 percent of total cases occurred in counties the tool flagged as high-risk for vibriosis. Sunil Kumar working on a Vibrio surveillance tool at the University of Florida.(Photo by Zoya Teirstein / Grist) Perhaps most significantly, the model was especially adept at predicting high-risk counties ahead of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 — more than 80 percent of the vibriosis cases that occurred in Florida in the aftermath of those hurricanes were reported in counties the model had already flagged as high-risk. The tool is geared toward predicting water-borne infections, but it may also provide useful information to the shellfishing industry, though the system isn’t a replacement for the established protocols farmers already use — protocols that have proven to be effective, particularly in states that are aggressive about enforcing them. What the new tool could do, however, is supplement those Vibrio control plans, especially when an upcoming weather pattern deviates from the historical norm — something that has been happening a lot lately. States currently use a rolling five-year average illness rate to calculate how many minutes or hours harvested shellfish can stay on a boat before moving into indoor refrigeration. In February, for example, Florida shellfishers have to get their oysters into refrigeration by 5 p.m. on the day of harvest. In July, they have no more than two hours, or they have to cool their catch in ice slurries on board. But these timetables don’t account for sudden temperature anomalies. “It’s going to be 80 degrees this week in Alabama,” Andy DePaola, a Gulf Coast oyster farmer, told me in February. “Yet I can keep my oysters out for, like, 14 hours, because the rolling five-year average is 20 degrees less than that anomaly.” (DePaola is also a microbiologist who worked on Vibrio at the FDA for the better part of 40 years, and is the author of the 2019 analysis that diagnosed the “perfect storm” for Vibrio spread.) But the shellfish industry doesn’t appear enthusiastic about the idea of assigning counties a risk category based on Vibrio prevalence. Vibrio researchers, by their own admission, haven’t done a good job of reaching out to shellfishers to find out how such a tool would work best for them. At an August meeting of the Delaware Bay Section of the New Jersey Shellfisheries Council last year, the director of a shellfish research laboratory brought up the idea of using Vibrio predictive models to “determine optimal days to harvest to reduce the transfer of infection to humans.” A lengthy discussion ensued. The consensus, ultimately, was that the model was a bad idea, and could be “used against the industry.” A member of the Texas Task Force 1 Water Search and Rescue Team is scrubbed down with bleach and soap in order to reduce the chances of Vibrio vulnificus infection after a day of running boat rescues in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Sept. 5, 2005. (Photo by Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images via Grist) Not all shellfishers are dead set against the kind of work Magers and Kumar are doing. “If Vibrio is an indicator of global warming, then that’s just an unfortunate bad luck scene for us,” McCormick, the Long Island oysterman, said. But it’s hard for him to see what relevance that research has to an industry that already has its own methods of controlling Vibrio. “In my mind that exists in one realm and the safety of our oysters is a whole different thing.” As we move deeper into the 21st century, however, those two realms will have more overlap. If countries keep up their current pace of greenhouse gas emissions, most coastal communities along the East Coast will be environmentally primed for vibriosis outbreaks during peak summer months by midcentury. It won’t be a question of if there will be more vibriosis cases — it will be a matter of how to manage them. That’s the scenario Magers and Kumar are preparing for. “In 30, 40, 100 years, these models won’t even matter because the risk is so high,” said Magers, the lead author of the predictive modeling study. “When it gets to that point, it would probably be a different kind of modeling strategy where we’d be modeling case numbers instead of infection risk.” Know the facts about Vibrio, a bacteria found in coastal waters and raw oysters By Lyndsey Gilpin This story was produced by Grist and co-published with States Newsroom. What is Vibrio? Vibrio is a type of bacteria that has been around for hundreds of millions of years; researchers have identified more than 70 species. These species are mostly harmless, but some can cause infection. The bacteria thrive in warm, brackish (slightly salty) water such as estuaries and bays, attaching themselves to plankton and algae and accumulating in prolific water-filtering species like clams and oysters. Serious infections typically happen either through exposure to an open wound in saltwater or, more rarely, ingestion of raw shellfish that contain the bacteria. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria as seen magnified through an electron microscope. (Centers for Disease Control / Colorized by James Gathany / Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images via Grist) The concentration of Vibrio in coastal waterways is higher from May through October, when temperatures are warmer. Most U.S. cases are in the Gulf and Atlantic coastal regions. Vibrio is tasteless and odorless. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, estimates that about 80,000 cases of vibriosis (an infection caused by the Vibrio bacteria) occur in the U.S. every year, resulting in about 100 deaths. Florida has the highest number of cases, with about 20 percent reported from the Indian River Lagoon region, a popular recreation destination on the Atlantic Coast. What happens if you come into contact with Vibrio? Most people are not at risk of developing illness, or they may have only mild symptoms. However, those with compromised immune systems can develop life-threatening infections. The majority of the 80,000 annual U.S. cases are caused by a Vibrio called parahaemolyticus, which most often infects people via the raw seafood they eat and usually leads to gastroenteritis, or food poisoning. The symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever and chills, weakness, fatigue, and headache. A different type of Vibrio, vulnificus, is much less common, but can cause severe illness. The infected wound may be red, swollen, and painful, or you may develop mild gastrointestinal issues such as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, or vomiting. Symptoms typically appear within 12 to 24 hours and can last up to seven days. Healthy people tend to fight off the infection on their own. But if flesh on one or more extremities to bruise, swell, and decay, or symptoms of sepsis occur, it is a medical emergency. Vulnificus can squeeze through a pinhole-sized cut in the skin and lead to death in just 24 hours. This severe infection is rare, but it has a 15 to 50 percent fatality rate; the vast majority of the 100 annual deaths are from this strain. A severe vulnificus infection is much more likely in people who have liver disease or are immunocompromised, elderly, or diabetic. How concerned should I be — and how do I stay safe? You don’t necessarily need to avoid oyster bars or cancel your beach trip, but you should know how to stay informed and take precautions. Here are a few ways to do so: Be aware that there are many fearmongering headlines about flesh-eating bacteria, despite vulnificus being one of the rarest forms of Vibrio exposure. Vibrio doesn’t attack random healthy flesh — there must be exposure through an open wound (a break in the skin) or it must be ingested, most often through raw shellfish. People who get sick often have underlying health conditions. If you don’t feel well after eating raw seafood or swimming in brackish water, don’t wait — go to the doctor. Some medical professionals, particularly those in areas where the bacteria hasn’t historically infected people, don’t know what vibriosis is. Advocate for yourself — ask for a test. If you have liver disease, your risk is much higher than the general population’s. Keep an eye out for public health advisories from state and local health officials and avoid swimming in ocean water with an open wound or consuming raw shellfish in warm months. Note that ocean temperatures, especially along the lower Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, have been elevated outside the typical seasonal range in some recent years. Be aware when eating raw shellfish, particularly raw oysters. It’s best to be confident that the shellfish was refrigerated and stored in compliance with government standards. The vast majority of foodborne Vibrio cases lead to food poisoning. (Food poisoning from bacteria is always a risk when eating uncooked shellfish and many other foods like salads or deli meat.) How is climate change affecting Vibrio? Climate change is making the world’s oceans, which have absorbed more than 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions, more hospitable to Vibrio. The bacteria start getting active in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and multiply rapidly as waters warm throughout the summer. Vibrio is expanding into places that were once too cold to support it, farther north on the U.S. East coast and in other temperate seas around the world. As it spreads, it serves as a first warning signal of changing marine conditions. What’s being done to address Vibrio? There’s a lot of research happening to better understand the risks these bacteria pose under changing environmental conditions: A group of microbiologists at the University of Maryland, alongside other scientists, have developed a computer model that can predict how high the risk of vibriosis will be in any given coastal county in the eastern U.S. a month in advance. The team trained its model, which is still under development, by pairing the CDC’s count of Vibrio-related foodborne and waterborne illnesses from 1997 to 2019 with satellite data that measures the conditions that fuel Vibrio growth, such as water temperature and salinity. It’s far from perfect, but it’s improving. And it was especially adept at predicting high-risk counties ahead of hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 — more than 80 percent of the vibriosis cases that occurred in Florida in the aftermath of those hurricanes were reported in counties the model had already flagged as high-risk. 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