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

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026
	Children's Therapy Center of the QC helps 8-year-old Pearl learn to ride a bike Eight-year-old Pearl is not letting her disabilities hold her back. Thanks to one area organization, she and her siblings soon will be able to go on a bike ride together - and Pearl won't need training wheels. Pearl, who has occupational therapy at the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, experiences numbness in her [...]
	Clinton data center ordinance goes back to drawing board An ordinance that could set the rules for data centers in Clinton will not go to city council.At least not yet. That came out of a special meeting tonight of the city's planning commission, where dozens of people expressed opposition. City employees will now make changes to the proposed rules. "I think the staff's position [...]
	Large water main break in Rock Island causes water pressure loss to residents, businesses Crews are at the scene of a large water main break in Rock Island.
	New Illinois laws to help military veterans Illinois' governor, JB Pritzker, signed new bills to help military veterans adjust to life after service. Service Member Education Rights Veneration (SERVE) Act (Senate Bill 3737) requires Illinois universities to readmit students who take academic leave for military service. The Joint Enlistment Enhancement Program (Senate Bill 3818) adds more incentives to get more people to [...]
	Bettendorf School District to pay former superintendent over $700k The Bettendorf Community School District will pay former superintendent Michelle Morse over $700,000 as part of her settlement agreement.
	Rock Island water-main break affects residents south of 25th Avenue A water main break Wednesday night at 30th Street and 31st Avenue in Rock Island has resulted in a boil order, according to a spokesperson for the City of Rock Island. Shortly before 9 p.m., Our Quad Cities News crew saw 31st Avenue closed between 30th Street and Eugene Field Elementary School. Mud and debris [...]
	Crews working to fix large water main break in Rock Island, boil order in effect Crews are at the scene of a large water main break in Rock Island.
	Affordable senior housing development receives federal tax credits The Illinois Housing Development Authority gave the development, Burlington Terrace, federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, according to a media release.
	After years of disputes, CGH Medical Center employees ratify first union contract Employees unionized in 2021 and had been engaged in contract negotiations with hospital management for years.
	KWQC to host Bix 7 livestream KWQC will host a special livestream to celebrate and get the Quad Cities ready for the Bix 7 Road Race.
	5 people sentenced in federal court for distributing pills with fentanyl in the Quad Cities Between April 2022 and March 2024, the five individuals coordinated to distribute over 26,000 pills containing fentanyl, the court said.
	What would permanent daylight saving time look like in Iowa and Illinois? The U.S. is one step closer to locking the clocks.
	Quad City Symphony, St. Ambrose University partner to propose new $24 million performing arts center Leaders with St. Ambrose University and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra are partnering to propose plans to build a new $24 million performing arts center in downtown Davenport.
	National Hot Dog and Sausage Council: Is a hot dog a sandwich? National Hot Dog Day is upon us once again.
	KWQC to host special livestream WQC will host a special livestream to celebrate and get everyone ready for the Bix 7 Road Race.
	2026 Rock Island Grand Prix canceled Officials said they hope to bring the street race back in 2027.
	Read the settlement agreement between Bettendorf schools and Michelle Morse Former superintendent Michelle Morse will be paid more than $700,000 by the Bettendorf Community School District, per a settlement agreement. Read it here:
	Read the contract for Bettendorf Community School District's interim superintendent John Elkin will be the interim superintendent for Bettendorf Community School District with an annual salary of $218,000. Read the agreement here.
	Muscatine begins designing downtown stabilization plan as evacuated residents, businesses continue waiting Muscatine leaders said engineers are designing a plan to stabilize evacuated downtown buildings on East 2nd Street, with more details expected in the coming weeks.
	Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series debuts with films, fundraising and cultural celebration The inaugural series will feature a film each month from now through October. All of the ticket proceeds will go toward four different Quad Cities nonprofits.
	Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force holds first meeting A new state task force focused on Medicaid fraud held its first meeting Wednesday, as federal prosecutors have already charged nearly 300 people across the country in related cases.
	MercyOne launches air ambulance service in Clinton MercyOne officials cut the ribbon on a new air ambulance service Wednesday morning, marking the launch of Air Med 4 in Clinton.
	Rock Island Grand Prix canceled for 2026 Officials said they hope to bring the street race back in 2027.
	Muscatine city leaders address structural issues in downtown buildings Muscatine city leaders are looking ahead after several downtown buildings closed due to structural concerns. The mayor, city administrator and police chief talked through those structural issues that left the 200 block of E. 2nd St. empty and where they can go next. "Every action the city has taken, has been with safety of the [...]
	MercyOne Clinton debuts new Air Med helicopter service MercyOne Clinton debuted its new helicopter service Air Med services are now available from MercyOne Clinton Medical Center. Additionally, a new patient transportation shuttle service designed to enhance access to care throughout the region has been launched. According to a release from MercyOne: The addition of Air Med 4 strengthens emergency response capabilities for Clinton [...]
	17 people, $7.1M: Scott County weighs new plan to break the crisis cycle The Scott County Board of Supervisors consider Assisted Outpatient Therapy for people who cycle through jail, homelessness and hospital stays
	Bettendorf schools to pay more than $700,000 to former superintendent Former Bettendorf superintendent Michelle Morse will be compensated over $700,000 as part of a settlement agreement in her departure from the district.
	National Pet Fire Safety Day On Wednesday, July 15, National Pet Fire Safety Day, the Muscatine Fire Department encourages residents to take simple steps that protect their four‑legged family members long before an emergency happens, a news release says. The message is straightforward: Planning for pets is planning for family. The American Humane Society reports that more than 500,000 pets [...]
	New housing development aims to help homeless people in Davenport New Housing Development aiming at assisting homeless people coming to Davenport.
	5 people get federal prison time for conspiring to distribute over 26,000 fentanyl pills, court documents say Five people have been sentenced to federal prison on charges related to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
	Quad City Symphony, St. Ambrose propose $24M music center The center would be built on the former YMCA property in downtown Davenport near the Centennial Bridge.
	Learn about the inaugural Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series Through October, there are four chances to check out iconic Latino films at The Last Picture House. Ticket sale proceeds will benefit local Hispanic nonprofits.
	Eldridge's Countryside Community Theatre putting on 'Mean Girls' Actors Ryan Latcher and Micha Roldan joined The Current to discuss Countryside's final performance of the season!
	Muscatine officials outline next steps for downtown stabilization Muscatine city leaders are sharing new details about plans to stabilize a downtown block weeks after structural concerns forced the evacuation of several buildings.
	How you can experience "The Odyssey" on 35mm in the QCA It's an epic retelling of Odysseus as he embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, and you can see it in a special format right here in the QCA. Carlie Allison joined Our Quad Cities News with details on how you can see "The Odyssey" on 35mm at The Last [...]
	Davenport man to spend 18 years in prison on methamphetamine charges A Davenport man will spend 18 years in federal prison on methamphetamine charges.
	Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix cancelled for 2026 The annual event was supposed to be held Labor Day Weekend in Rock Island.
	Argentina is back in the World Cup final after a thrilling semifinal win over England Argentina survived another heart-stopping match when it scored two late goals to topple England and extend the Three Lions' six-decade-long wait for another World Cup trophy.
	Traffic alert: Temporary 'no right turn' restriction at Rock Island intersection From Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, drivers will not be able to turn right onto 18th Avenue from 24th Street.
	Takeaways from Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general Todd Blanche remained composed throughout the hours-long hearing, but faced several testy moments during questioning as he seeks to win the support of all Republican senators on the committee.
	State Treasurer: Trying to return baseball signed by Pete Rose and Michael Jordan card The Iowa State Treasurer's office is looking for the owners of sports memorabilia and other items that have been left unclaimed for years.
	Colona approves agreement for Chestnut Drive project The council voted 4-3 Monday to approve the development agreement with DLM for completion of Chestnut Drive within two years.
	QCCA Expo Center announces new name, facility upgrades Now the QCCA Event Center, the facility plans to refresh its main exhibition hall, renovate its restrooms and modernize its concession stand area.
	Illinois State Board of Education issues AI guidance, written with help from AI The Illinois State Board of Education recently released a guidance document intended to help schools and districts make decisions about whether and how to use artificial intelligence in classrooms and school operations.
	2 injured in shooting on Davenport's Pershing Avenue Police said two men suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting Tuesday night on Pershing Avenue in Davenport. The incident is under investigation.
	Rock Island Grand Prix suspended for 2026 The Rock Island Grand Prix has decided to suspend the race for 2026, citing "increasing costs, declining participation at kart races across the country, and the rising costs for air and auto travel for race teams, race officials and spectators, among other issues, were behind the decision." A news release said the decision by the committee was unanimous. [...]
	Davenport man sentenced on methamphetamine charges A Davenport man was sentenced to federal prison on methamphetamine charges. According to public court documents, Anthony Duyvejonck, 33, conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine across the state of Iowa. In July 2025, officers found 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine in Duyvejonck’s vehicle. Duyvejonck distributed almost 13 pounds of methamphetamine. Duyvejonck was paroled [...]
	China and Xi favored over US and Trump in many nations: Survey The change is driven by improved perceptions of China and declining views of the United States.
	Five sentenced to federal prison for QCA fentanyl charges Five suspects were sentenced to federal prison for Quad-City fentanyl charges. According to public court documents, between April 2022 and March 2024, five conspired together to distribute fentanyl across the Quad-City area. More than 26,000 pills containing fentanyl were attributed to the drug trafficking organization: The Davenport Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) [...]
	QCCA Expo Center rebrands, to upgrade facilities The expo center will now be called the QCCA Event Center sponsored by Jackson Generator, according to a media release.
	DeWitt Crossroads Triathlons set for this weekend with youth, adult events The DeWitt adult triathlon Saturday includes a swim, bike ride and run at Lake Killdeer.
	Residents voice support for tattoo shops in the Village of East Davenport The next step in the process is a Davenport Planning and Zoning Commission vote Aug. 4. Their recommendation will then go to the city council.
	Traffic Alert: Temporary ‘No Right Turn’ at 24th Street, 18th Avenue intersection in Rock Island The intersection will remain open for traffic to move through, but vehicles will not be allowed to make a right turn.
	Rock Island road work leads to traffic restriction Drivers in Rock Island will find a temporary traffic restriction in place on Friday and Saturday. A news release from the city said there will be a temporary traffic restriction at the intersection of 24th Street and 18th Avenue on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18. A “No Right Turn” restriction will be in [...]
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: MICKEAL BLOCH, 28, 5’10”, 158 pounds, brown eyes, black hair. Wanted by Bettendorf Police Department for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, failure to [...]
	Davenport shooting Tuesday night injures two A shooting in Davenport on the night of Tuesday, July 14 injured a 41-year-old male and an 18-year-old male.
	Trump relished in being compared to dictators like Hitler and Stalin, journalist says The New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan says the president is fixated on becoming a "great man of history" during his second term. Swan's new book, written with Maggie Haberman, is Regime Change.
	Police: Rock Island man robbed man at gunpoint near middle school A Rock Island man is facing several charges after police say he robbed a man at gunpoint near a Davenport middle school.
	Imagery mapping finds Iowa has 15,309 animal feeding operations The group utilized satellite and aerial imagery to map animal feeding operations across Iowa and estimate the amount of manure they produce.
	Learn about healthy eating at Cooking with Heart series QCA residents who want to learn about healthy cooking can join UnityPoint Health – Trinity’s Cooking with Heart series, with new classes starting in August and September. The classes include Cooking with Heart Foundational and Cooking with Heart for Cancer. Each four-week series is led by nutrition experts who make healthy eating easier while helping [...]
	Davenport man faces 20 felony charges after Google flagged explicit uploads of children A Google tip to NCMEC led to the arrest of David Leroy England in Davenport. He is held in Scott County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond.
	Verizon stores to donate hundreds of backpacks for the back-to-school season Verizon stores in Rock Island, Moline, Davenport and other surrounding areas will be donating backpacks later this month.
	Lee County residents demand pause on NC data center, claiming deception About 150 residents showed up to a Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting July 13th, 2026, to speak against a proposed data center. (Photo: Claire Michal/NC Newsline.)SANFORD — Jeff Kidd, a Lee County farmer who raises goats and chickens, didn’t think noise or light pollution would ever be a problem in his rural neighborhood. That was before a planned business park turned into a proposal for a giant data center that would wrap around his farm. He was one of about 150 residents who showed up to a Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night to speak against the data center. Kidd said people living by a CyrusOne-developed data center in Aurora, Illinois reported noise pollution of up to 80 decibels coming off of the property. “Sounds like a helicopter landing on your house,” Kidd told the commissioners. “This is what’s going to happen to us in Lower Moncure.” Lee County residents are demanding county commissioners take action against a proposed data center, citing concerns about noise levels and transparency with the project’s approval. Nearly 2,500 people have signed an online petition in support of a moratorium on data centers in Lee County, and for the commissioners to reveal relevant public records on the proposed site. They say they were misled about the project’s true nature. Last year, residents say, they were invited to weigh in on rezoning for what a representative from the Trustwell Property Group told county commissioners and the Lee County Planning Board would be a “light industrial business park” in Sanford. Steve Baber, a member of Lee County planning board and a resident of Lower Moncure Road, said that although he initially voted against rezoning, he became hopeful that the business park would bring in needed taxes to the county. “We as citizens feel like we were snookered a bit, in that it was to be light industrial,” Baber said. “There was never mention of a data center, although a data center is allowable under the light industrial zoning in Lee County.” Trustwell, which owns the property and works with marketing agency Helix Ventures, told commissioners the project had already “been in development for about three years,” according to the petition, meaning planning began as early as late 2022. But on June 8, it became a hyperscale data center. That’s when Virginia-based PointOne Data Centers, a partner of Helix Ventures, announced plans for a $900 million, 90-megawatt “new technology park” with a “focus on data center development” on the same 430 acres on Lower Moncure Road in Sanford. PointOne has a contract with Dallas-based tech giant CyrusOne, which owns and operates over 40 data centers. Neither company nor Trustwell immediately responded to NC Newsline’s repeated requests for comment. About 40 people spoke in opposition to the project at a Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Out of about 150 attendees, no members of the public spoke in favor of the data center. Eric Evenson, another Lower Moncure resident, pointed out that the data center would bring in only about 40 jobs, far fewer than the 500 jobs promised in the original plan for a business park. “This isn’t economic growth; it’s an extraction of Lee County’s resources,” Evenson told the commissioners. “We know the members of this board are good people. You must be deeply uncomfortable with how this perceived bait-and-switch was engineered behind closed doors, like we are.” Another key concern for residents is the low-frequency noise emitted by data centers, which some believe can negatively impact people’s and animals’ health. Multiple speakers brought up these concerns, citing studies that claim low frequency noise like that emitted by data centers can cause increased stress, sleep deprivation, and headaches in people living close to the centers. The City of Sanford adapted their Unified Development Ordinance in April, specifically requiring data centers to not exceed 65 decibels (dBA) on the perimeter of their property. The ordinance also allows for independent third party testing of noise levels. However, speakers on Monday said that safeguard doesn’t do enough to protect residents. “The zoning power handed to you by the people created a loophole that was exploited by outside investors, and it is to their benefit, not to the people,” Heather Watson said. Residents also expressed concerns on Monday about the other environmental impacts a data center could present, like water usage, light pollution, increased temperatures in the area surrounding the center, and greater demand on the local electrical grid. “We definitely do not need or want a data center so close to our homes, disrupting our way of life with constant noise, higher bills, lower water pressure, negative sleep effects, and many other reported effects,” said Chris Chezem, a lifelong Lee County resident. “Having a data center in my backyard is not the future I envision, and not the future any of us would want.” Kirk Smith, a member of the Lee County Board of Commissioners, wrote in a statement to NC Newsline Tuesday that the county needs the property tax revenue the data center would generate. He also questioned how many protestors are actually Lee County residents. He believes most people in his county support the project. “This comprises a very small fraction of our county and if facts were shared, the majority would most likely support the development of a data center near the Raleigh Executive Jetport,” Smith wrote. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Davenport man arrested on 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor A Davenport man is in the Scott County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond after police received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about uploads of child sex abuse material. According to the criminal complaint filed in Scott County Court, detectives with the Davenport Police Department were assigned [...]
	Hospital CEOs meet union skepticism over out-of-state acquisition of Allina Health Allina Health CEO Lisa Shannon speaks next to Sutter Health CEO Warner Thomas at a public forum on the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health, hosted by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office in St. Paul Monday July 13, 2026. (Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer) In what could be a portentous signal for the fate of a healthcare mega merger, skeptics from labor unions filled a St. Paul church this week to voice concerns — sometimes raucously so — about the proposed joining of two big nonprofit health systems: Allina Health and Sutter Health. The Office of the Minnesota Attorney General held the first public forum this week on the proposed acquisition of the Upper Midwest’s health giant Allina by the even bigger California system, Sutter Health. Sutter Health, the fourth biggest health system in California by number of staffed patient beds, has been accused of driving up costs for Californians through anti-competitive behavior in two lawsuits brought by unions, employers, individuals and California’s attorney general. After over a decade of litigation, the health system paid settlements of $575 million and $228 million in the lawsuits, fractions of what the plaintiffs were estimated to have overpaid — $1.2 billion and $411 million, respectively. The settlements also barred Sutter from some anti-competitive practices. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office was bestowed with expanded regulatory powers over healthcare mergers by the Legislature in 2023. It’s now able to analyze and sue to block hospital mergers if they are against the public’s interest — for example if they increase healthcare costs for patients. Elizabeth Odette, an assistant attorney general in the office’s antitrust division, said that public forums are helpful for identifying the public’s concerns and ensuring that the parties are addressing those concerns. The Monday forum was markedly more lively compared to a recent public forum on another health system merger, one between North Memorial Health and South Dakota-based Sanford Health. The pews at the forum’s venue, Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in St. Paul, were largely filled by t-shirted union members — Minnesota Nurses Association, Doctors Council and SEIU — who cheered and occasionally hissed at speakers. Members of the public and leadership from Sutter and Allina were also present. The attorney general is at the beginning of the review process for both the North Memorial-Sanford and Allina-Sutter transactions, which were announced in the spring. The Allina-Sutter transaction is significantly larger and would create a combined $26 billion system with 39 hospitals serving more than 5 million patients in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Under the combined system, Allina would maintain its Minneapolis headquarters and become the Upper Midwest Division of Sutter Health, with Allina CEO Lisa Shannon remaining in leadership of the division. Unionized doctors and nurses said the consolidation would lead to higher costs and worse care and working conditions. Substantial evidence has shown that healthcare consolidation — hospitals and clinics combining into sprawling health systems — has led to higher prices. Evidence on the effects on quality of care is mixed “at best,” according to a brief from KFF, a health policy research organization. “When the evidence tells me that after a merger, I can expect costs to go up for my patients and quality of care to go down, I will not be reassured by platitudes from Allina and promises of an initial investment into our healthcare system,” said Cora Walsh, a family physician at Allina’s West St. Paul clinic who is involved in union organizing. Audience members used “jazz hands” at the request of Minnesota Chief Deputy Attorney General John Keller. (Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer) At the forum, Shannon, the Allina CEO, emphasized the need to make “bold and proactive decisions,” like merging with Sutter, to preserve Allina’s “incredible legacy” and strengthen its care. The transaction includes an investment of more than $2 billion in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Matt Hoffman, also a union organizer and Allina family physician, highlighted Allina’s closures of rural birth centers, primary care clinics, and an inpatient pediatric unit at Mercy Hospital. He noted that Shannon’s pay increased from $1.2 million in 2020 to over $4 million in 2024. Sutter Health CEO Warner Thomas was paid $11.9 million in 2024. Public comments in support of the acquisition mostly came from Allina leadership, including vice presidents and division directors. “If we look back 10 years from now, are we gonna feel like this was something that benefited all the important constituencies, from our patients to those with caregivers and everybody else in this community? We believe very strongly that this transaction will facilitate that,” said Tom Schreier, an Allina board member. In response, one person yelled from the crowd: “Liar!” Another: “Put it in writing!” John Keller, the state’s chief deputy attorney general, moderated the forum in the absence of Attorney General Keith Ellison. “Please give everybody a chance to speak and be received respectfully,” Keller said. At one point, Keller requested that the crowd use silent “jazz hands” instead of cheering and applauding to save time in the packed two-hour session of public comments. Union demands, warnings The audience member’s call to “put it in writing” likely referred to the unions’ demand for a written “community benefits agreement” from the health systems, which would stipulate protections for workers and patients. Faith leaders with the progressive ecumenical group ISAIAH have joined labor in the effort to win a community benefits agreement in both the Allina-Sutter and North Memorial-Sanford transactions. The coalition has yet to release written demands though they said they asked to meet with Allina and Sutter leadership. Sutter Health employee Sarah Pineda spoke at a union press conference before the public forum. (Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer) A group of SEIU Sutter Health workers flew in from California to speak at the forum. Sarah Pineda, a surgery scheduler at Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, Calif. who is also an executive committee member for SEIU’s California healthcare labor union, cited problems with workers’ pensions and low staffing. “This is a giant that you are going to be battling. It is very important that you guys do get this community agreement because you’re going to need it,” Pineda said at a union press conference before the forum. The unions are demanding protections around artificial intelligence, medical debt forgiveness, limits on hospital pricing, and pension and contract protections for current employees, among other stipulations stated at a press conference before the forum. Community benefits agreements are more commonly found in real estate development, where developers sign contracts with community groups in exchange for support in a municipal approval process. Phillip Cryan, the executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, said he’s only aware of one such agreement in healthcare — a 2006 community benefits agreement between the Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and workers and residents. A 2009 paper in the Journal of Labor and Society found that the agreement resulted in some concrete gains, but that the hospital “blatantly violated the union-organizing rights part of the agreement.” Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	Hong Kong booksellers arrested for allegedly selling seditious books Hong Kong was once known for its freedom of publication, but political changes have created a challenging environment for independent bookstores.
	2 injured in Davenport shooting The shooting happened Tuesday night, police said.
	Should I put my rent payments on autopay? Should I put my rent payments on autopay?Rent is usually the single biggest payment renters make each month, and how it gets paid can shape whether that due date is routine or stressful. Unlike a lot of smaller recurring charges, paying rent still often requires active effort: logging into a portal, writing a check, or remembering to hit send before a deadline.Some renters have never considered putting their rent on autopay. Others have thought about it but hesitate. Is it worth it? For many renters, the answer is yes. Autopay can reduce the risk of missed payments, help avoid late fees, and make it easier to build a consistent payment history. But like any financial tool, it’s worth understanding both the benefits and the tradeoffs before deciding whether it’s the right fit for how you manage your money.What autopay does for rentersA missed rent payment can trigger late fees, awkward conversations with a landlord, and, in worst cases, a report to collections that follows a renter’s credit history for years.The numbers show what’s at stake: RentRedi’s four years of rental payment data reveals that renters who use autopay hit a 99% on-time payment rate, compared to 87% for those who pay manually. Rather than an unwillingness to pay, that gap is more about small moments where life gets in the way, whether that’s forgetting a due date, traveling, or simply getting distracted during a busy week.Given that 64% of landlords in a December 2025 RentRedi survey consider rent late within four to seven days of the due date, using autopay eliminates the tension that occurs when a tenant misses that window, and their rent is considered late.Many renters seem to know this already. In the same survey, 29% said automatic payments are among the tools that help them most in paying rent on time, and 44% pointed to automatic rent reminders as the single most helpful factor. Reminders and autopay tend to work in tandem: One nudges you before the due date, the other makes sure the payment goes through even if the nudge doesn’t work.Unlike many financial habits that require spending more or saving more, rent is simply about making the payment you already have to make work harder for you.The credit-building bonusThere’s another reason autopay is worth considering, and it has nothing to do with avoiding a penalty. A growing number of renters are reporting their on-time rent payments to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — turning a monthly obligation into a monthly credit-building opportunity.Rent traditionally hasn’t shown up on credit reports the way a car loan or credit card payment does, which means years of responsible on-time payments can go completely unrecognized by lenders. Rent reporting closes that gap. TransUnion has found that renters who report a year of on-time payments see an average score increase of up to 26 points, and 60% see some increase after just their first reported month.Autopay and credit reporting tend to reinforce each other. RentRedi’s internal data shows that renters using its credit reporting feature see a 13% increase in on-time payment rates, and renters in the “poor to fair” credit range who use it pay on time 93% of the time, compared to roughly 80% for those who don’t. Pair automatic payments with that kind of reporting, and a renter is essentially building credit using money they were already going to spend.That matters beyond the score itself. A renter who moves from a nonprime score into prime territory can qualify for meaningfully better interest rates on everything from credit cards to auto loans to an eventual mortgage. Mortgage lenders, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA, are increasingly factoring rent payment history into underwriting decisions, so a track record built now can pay off later.Where autopay gets more complicatedThe main hesitation renters have about autopay is a fair one: the fear of an overdraft on their bank account. There are a couple of practical ways around this. The most straightforward is to keep automatic rent reminders turned on even while using autopay, so there’s a heads-up a few days before the draft that gives a tenant time to check their balance and move money if needed.Autopay also works best when it’s part of a broader budgeting routine. Renters with variable income, multiple bank accounts, or shared household finances may want to schedule transfers ahead of time or choose a draft date that better aligns with their pay schedule. A few minutes of planning can help autopay deliver convenience without creating unnecessary financial stress.Some renters also choose to charge rent on a credit card rather than pay directly from their bank account, which separates the payment from immediate bank withdrawals and provides a short-term cash flow buffer. This can also double as a way to build card rewards, so long as the balance gets paid off in full each month to avoid interest charges eating into any points earned. One drawback: credit card payments usually carry a convenience fee, typically in the 2.5% to 3.5% range. This may negate any points earned, unless your card has a better return on points or provides high-value travel miles.Regardless of how you choose to pay rent, it’s always a good habit to periodically review your payment settings and confirm the account being charged still has sufficient funds, particularly after changing banks or updating payment methods.How rental owners are building this inRental owners don’t need to build this kind of system from scratch. Some property management platforms bundle autopay, automatic rent reminders, and credit reporting into the same portal renters already use to pay rent, so turning any of these on doesn’t require a separate app or a side agreement between renter and landlord.On the renter side, that means autopay can be set up directly alongside manual payment options, with rent reminder notifications going out in the days before the due date.What this means for rental ownersThe same data that benefits renters is also a cash flow story for the landlords collecting that rent. Predictable, on-time payments are the backbone of a rental business, and a portfolio full of autopay renters means fewer chasing calls, fewer late notices, and fewer surprises when a mortgage or maintenance bill comes due. For landlords, offering autopay, automated rent reminders, and credit reporting together is what drives the 99% on-time rent payment rate mentioned above.That’s likely why 41% of landlords in RentRedi’s survey already offer autopay as an option, and why many pair it with reminders and credit reporting rather than leaving collection to chance. The incentive math is straightforward: A renter who’s building credit or avoiding an overdraft has real motivation to keep a lease current, and that motivation shows up directly in a landlord’s on-time rate.The bottom lineSo, should you put your rent on autopay? For most renters, yes. The data makes the case clearly. When paired with rent reminders and credit reporting, autopay helps reduce the risk of missed payments while turning a routine monthly expense into an opportunity to strengthen your financial habits.This story was produced by RentRedi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Sheriff Booker completed the 4-day ride to support families of officers killed Several Scott County roads will rise to a 60 mph speed limit under a new Iowa law, debunking social media rumors about the county's DOT route changes.
	Cancer disparities researchers say federal funding changes have disrupted their work In a survey, 93% of cancer researchers who study disparities said federal policy changes have affected them. Funding is harder to come by and they worry it's slowing progress in their field.
	New state newsroom launches From left, FPI News team members Laura Lane, Lindsey Erdody, Dylan Peers McCoy and Carson Gerber on June 24, 2026, at Free Press Indiana headquarters in Indianapolis. (Photo by Jenna Watson/Free Press Indiana)Nonprofit news organization Free Press Indiana launched a statewide newsroom on Wednesday. Free Press Indiana News is a five-person newsroom, led by veteran editor Lindsey Erdody. It will publish content daily — via its website and social platforms and also deliver a weekly newsletter, The Lens, each Saturday morning. Free Press Indiana was created in 2023 to facilitate investments in journalism outlets around the state, especially those in underserved communities. It has created Mirror Indy, which focuses on local Indianapolis news, and funds Capital B Gary in northwest Indiana. FPI News will prioritize partnerships with an expanding network of trusted media outlets to support their efforts and meet readers where they are, a news release said. This approach allows the reach and relevance of journalism to extend across the state. “Our mission has always been to ensure Hoosiers everywhere have access to news and information that improves their quality of life,” said Bro Krift, Free Press Indiana CEO. “We are proud that the work of this newsroom will help to strengthen the overall news ecosystem in Indiana.” Prior to launch, the FPI News staff have published explainers on social media and articles on Substack about relevant issues like local backlash from surging electricity costs and the impact of the state’s gas tax holiday. “FPI News is focused on the stories that matter to Hoosiers,” said Erdody. “The role of this work is not to tell people what to think but to make sure they have something real to think about.” She also had this to say in a Wednesday morning email: “You likely won’t see our team at the Indiana Statehouse because what’s signed in Indianapolis doesn’t stay in Indianapolis. The policies decided there have consequences in all our local communities, and our team will talk to real Hoosiers all over the state to hear about what’s important to them. We will amplify those voices, those stories.” There are currently three reporters. Laura Lane covers rural communities and Dylan Peers McCoy and Carson Gerber are civic accountability reporters. Author Ashley Ford was hired in September as the Women and Girls reporter for Free Press Indiana and Mirror Indy. But she has since left and the position was reposted last month. Free Press Indiana content is free to republish under certain guidelines. Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	The hidden cost of divorce in every US state The hidden cost of divorce in every US stateDivorce is one of the most financially consequential events a person can go through. The legal fees and court costs get most of the attention, but they rarely tell the full story. From filing a petition to splitting retirement accounts to maintaining two households where there was once one, the total price tag of ending a marriage often far exceeds what people anticipate at the outset. In this article, Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, a Texas family law firm, examined what divorce actually costs in every U.S. state — and why the biggest expenses often come after the decree is signed.According to Martindale-Nolo Research, the average cost of a divorce in the United States is $11,300, with a median of $7,000. Those figures, however, do not reflect a wide range of outcomes. For divorces that go to full litigation, costs can reach much higher.Where You File MattersState laws govern filing fees, waiting periods, mandatory mediation requirements, and how marital assets are divided. Each of those variables carries a price.In 2025, most state filing fees range from $70 to $435. That figure alone can differ by hundreds of dollars depending on where a couple lives. California has a $435 filing fee, with attorney fees averaging $13,800 for contested cases. Texas has a $300 average filing fee, with attorney costs running approximately $12,400. New York's filing fee averages $335, with legal fees that can reach $13,500.High-cost metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have the highest hourly attorney rates, driven largely by the overhead costs of operating law firms in those markets. Midwest and Southern states generally offer more affordable legal services, though court filing fees still vary widely, sometimes even by county.At the lower end of the cost spectrum, states like North Dakota, Mississippi, Wyoming, and South Dakota consistently rank among the least expensive places to divorce, with North Dakota recording the lowest overall average divorce cost in the country.Contested vs. Uncontested: The Biggest Cost DriverWhether the parties agree on terms is, by most measures, the most consequential factor in what a divorce ultimately costs.According to the Martindale-Nolo survey of divorcing couples, an uncontested divorce where both spouses hired lawyers cost an average of $4,100, including attorneys' fees. Meanwhile, couples who handled an uncontested divorce themselves often paid only a few hundred dollars in court filing fees, which range from about $100 to over $400 depending on the state. A contested divorce, where at least one major issue remains unresolved, can run significantly higher and take considerably longer, with timelines often stretching a year or more depending on court schedules and the complexity of disputes.Among divorces that involved disputes but were ultimately settled without going to trial, average costs came in around $10,600. For those that proceeded all the way to trial, average costs climbed to $20,379 or more, per Martindale-Nolo Research.The issues most likely to push a divorce into contested territory are child custody, spousal support, and the division of significant assets. According to Clio, a legal technology company, the average hourly rate for a family law attorney in 2023 was $312, with rates varying significantly based on location, firm size, and experience.State-by-State Divorce Laws Add Another LayerIn the nine community property states, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin, all earnings and assets acquired during the marriage are generally divided 50/50, with some exceptions.In the remaining equitable distribution states, courts divide assets based on a range of factors, which can introduce more unpredictability and, in some cases, more litigation. For couples with significant shared assets, the state where a divorce is filed can affect not just what each party pays in legal fees, but what they walk away with.Spousal and child support obligations add another financial variable that differs considerably by state. Some states set support amounts through rigid statutory formulas, while others give judges broad discretion to weigh factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, and the standard of living established during the marriage.Child support calculations differ just as widely, with some states tying awards closely to each parent's income and others factoring in custody arrangements, childcare costs, and medical expenses. For higher-earning households, those differences can translate to obligations that stretch years or even decades beyond the divorce itself.Looking Beyond the Immediate CostsThe out-of-pocket costs of divorce are high. The long-term financial impact is often more significant.A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis found that in 2022, women saw their income fall by 9% following a divorce, while men experienced a 17% decrease, with the steepest losses for men occurring in their 30s.Retirement savings take a particular hit. Researchers at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that the share of households at risk of a lower retirement living standard is 7 percentage points higher for those with a history of divorce than for comparable households with no prior divorce.To put that figure in context, the Great Recession increased retirement risk by 9 percentage points. The effect is driven by a combination of factors: legal costs, the potential forced sale of assets in unfavorable market conditions, higher individual tax rates, and the ongoing expense of running two separate households on what was once a single income.Research from AARP has found that the standard of living for women who divorce after age 50 drops an average of 45%, while for men, the decline averages 21%.Once assets are divided, expenses tend to double: two homes to manage or rents to cover, two utility bills, and two car payments.What This Means for Anyone Facing DivorceThe financial impact of divorce extends well beyond court costs. Property division, support obligations, retirement account splits, and the compounding expense of two households can reshape a person's financial trajectory for a decade or more. The decisions made during the divorce process itself often carry as much weight as the legal fees paid to get there.This story was produced by Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'Run Like A Rockstar' in downtown Rock Island A new race is bringing runners, music and big hair to downtown Rock Island. The first Run Like a Rockstar 5K on Friday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. will take participants along the Great River Trail, finishing near Arts Alley, 1719–21 Second Avenue. The race will be held during the Alternating Currents Festival and all [...]
	Cow manure could be the next data center fuel Cow manure could be the next data center fuelAt first glance, Lent Hill Dairy Farm in Steuben County, New York, looks like most other industrial dairies. There are red buildings that house some 4,000 cows, a staggering manure pit and two gigantic domelike structures that serve as anaerobic co-digesters.These giant machines break down manure and local food waste to produce biogas. This renewable natural gas, or RNG, is then typically transported for use as electricity, heating and fuel. But at Lent Hill, the gas produced isn’t just heating homes or running tractors. It’s also powering an on-site cryptomine.The operation, run by Pennsylvania-based Ag-Grid Energy, is the first of its kind in the country. The company claims the anaerobic digestion of manure and food waste could be a game-changer, not only in powering crypto, but data centers, which currently use 4.9% of the country’s electricity, a figure that could double by 2030.“At the end of the day, our model is providing value to the rural area that we are in,” Rashi Akki, the founder and CEO of Ag-Grid Energy, tells Sentient.The project claims to recycle more than 45,000 gallons of food waste per day and the manure of 4,000 cows. “What we want to do is also provide, if possible through fiber optics, [the] value of the AI computing capacity to that same regional area,” Akki says.While Ag-Grid Energy wants to work with mid-sized dairies to create on-site power generation for small-scale data centers, the world’s largest technology players have bigger visions. Tech giants are increasingly searching for fossil-fuel alternative fuel sources to power hyperscale data centers that won’t put a strain on the grid.Biogas proponents — a broad coalition of industries, including agriculture, fossil fuels, utilities and waste management — are pushing renewable natural gas, sourced in part by manure digesters, as a sustainable way forward.In California, Microsoft has partnered with Enchanted Rock to use RNG for backup data center power. Vanguard Renewables, a waste management company and portfolio company of Black Rock, has touted RNG as “the fuel of the AI age.” Critics, however, fear the digester-to-data-center connection will give digesters an economic lifeline at a time when they’re struggling to stay online.Renewable natural gas from digesters are touted as a drop-in energy solution, Sarah D’Onofrio, a scholar and advocate who works with digester-impacted communities across the country, tells Sentient. This means the RNG can be used without changing existing fossil fuel based infrastructure, and can be added to other fuel sources like natural gas so companies could claim they are fueling data centers sustainably, according to D’Onofrio.But researchers like D’Onofrio argue that to truly reduce emissions, we need to transition to clean energy fuels rather than rely on renewable substitutes for fossil fuels.“Why would you want to incorporate that [RNG] into our fuel system during the period of climate change?” she says.D’Onofrio has helped communities in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina defeat proposals for large-scale co-digesters. She fears data centers are creating a new, massive market for the manure-to-energy industry, which could in turn incentivize the further proliferation of factory farms.“It attaches these industrial food operations into our energy system and makes us really dependent on them over time, because the more it becomes intermingled with agriculture, the more it’s going to concentrate agriculture,” says D’Onofrio.Animals raised on factory farms in the U.S. produce an estimated 941 billion pounds of manure each year, which pollutes air and water in communities all over the United States. In addition to problems with leakage, digesters do not make the manure disappear. The digested waste, or digestate, is meant to be recycled, potentially into a range of products, such as fertilizer and animal bedding. But there are a number of challenges with these downstream products: from economic to environmental. Digested manure can be more polluting than manure that hasn’t been digested, according to Department of Agriculture research.‘We Become Sacrificial Dumping Grounds’In 2023, Victoria Gehrke, a community organizer who owns recreational property in Lind, Wisconsin, learned that a leader in the waste-to-energy field had proposed a co-digester in the town, touting it as a way to manage manure and reduce waste.Gehrke and her fellow organizer Laurie Knutzen quickly discovered the impacts a co-digester would have on the community: hazardous air emissions, trucks going in and out delivering industrial food waste — and few restrictions about where that waste would come from — and water pollution. The project intended to send about 41,000 gallons of waste per day into a tributary of Walla Walla Creek, which empties into Lake Michigan.“These are manure and industrial food waste processing and biogas producing facilities, they are not ag accessories,” Gehrke says of co-digesters. “They don’t belong on ag land,” she explains, “and what they’re really doing is having our small rural communities — because we’re so vulnerable — we become sacrificial dumping grounds for the industrial waste that other big places don’t want to put in their communities.”After more than a year of relentless community opposition, the town of Lind denied Vanguard’s application in the spring of 2024. The organizers celebrated the decision as a win for Lind, but Vanguard is still “developing and operating” more than 50 co-digesters across the country. It aims to have more than 100 completed projects by the end of 2028.‘Data Centers Are Going to Be So Hungry for Power’Patrick Serfass, the executive director of the American Biogas Council, tells Sentient that biogas is an “excellent fit” for data centers in search of a reliable and high-capacity fuel source.“We’re really excited about the prospect of biogas systems being able to provide power to data centers, because they can provide that reliability,” Serfass says.Data center demand could lead to the expansion of co-digester buildouts across the country, he says. Serfass estimates that the U.S. has only built about 10% to 15% of the biogas market’s capacity.“The data centers are going to be so hungry for power that they could eat up pretty much all of the supply that the biogas industry could create,” Serfass says.Vanguard Renewables makes a similar pitch. “As energy demand from data centers continues to grow, there is increasing interest in solutions that are both reliable and lower carbon,” Vanguard Renewables tells Sentient in an email statement.The company is yet to partner with any data centers directly, but they have partnered with energy delivery companies like TotalEnergies and Enbridge, and both of these companies have relationships with hyperscalers and data center operators. In November 2025, TotalEnergies signed a 15-year deal with Google to provide solar energy to support the company’s data center operations in Ohio.Anaerobic digesters are not new. They have long been hailed as a way to reduce emissions, capture methane, and manage waste — a solution to agriculture’s methane problem with few tradeoffs.The technology has received billions in subsidies at both the federal and state levels. The California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, a climate program implemented to incentivize the production of alternative fuels, funds nearly 200 digesters across 16 states; in 2023, Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act provided over $150 million in funding to biogas projects across the country; and the Michigan Strategic Fund has approved more than $100 million in private bonds for digesters.Akki says tax credits are incredibly important in making Ag-Grid Energy’s projects a reality. While most of the subsidies given to digester projects have been to support electricity and fuel for transportation, she wants to see fiscal support specifically for co-digesters that power AI.“Tax credits — just like what we had with the Inflation Reduction Act — for electricity production for AI would really support our projects,” Akki says.But using taxpayer dollars to support digesters has lost favor with the Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture. In May, the USDA extended a 90-day moratorium on loans for anaerobic digesters through the end of the year, amid environmental concerns and delinquent loans. According to a review of USDA lender data by Inside Climate News, 11% of the 746 project lenders across the country were considered over 90 days delinquent.On top of this, a growing body of research raises questions about whether digesters make economic or environmental sense.Government subsidies for digesters create a “perverse incentive where the value of manure or animal waste starts to compete with the value of the milk,” Brent Kim, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Liveable Future, tells Sentient. In other words, farmers are incentivized to produce waste for profit, not to produce milk for human consumption.Kim and his colleagues published a scientific review of the touted benefits and downsides of the controversial technology. “The reality is nuanced,” he says of digesters. While they can reduce methane emissions in the short term, they may also lead to an increase in ammonia emissions, toxic by-products, and other pollutants released into the environment, a phenomenon Kim calls “pollution swapping.”“So sure, all else being equal, you do have a reduction in methane, but if they’re incentivizing growth in the industry, the larger herd size is going to release more methane,” Kim says.Some research suggests digesters aren’t always effective at reducing methane either. As Sentient has previously reported, research from the World Resources Institute found that digesters offer limited climate benefit given their cost. Digesters reduce methane from manure storage by only about 25%, the WRI research found.A report from Friends of the Earth found that dairies with digesters increased herd sizes by 3.7% annually, or 24 times the growth rate of dairies without digesters. In Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, herd sizes grew by about 58% since they were installed.The trend comes as no surprise to Lynn Henning, a soybean farmer in Michigan who lives near a Chevron-owned co-digester. When manure becomes “more valuable than the milk,” it creates incentive for growth, and changes what farming is all about, she tells Sentient.“The system is changing farming. They’re shifting from producing food for people instead to producing manure so they can be paid more by the government,” Henning says.Kathy Morrison, a farmer in Fremont, Michigan, has similar concerns. She lived next to a co-digester for years, and it significantly impacted her quality of life. The smell was unbearable, sometimes so bad it woke her up in the middle of the night. She describes it as being at a giant music festival and all the porta potties are overflowing. That smell was digestate, the liquid solid waste that’s left over and spread on fields after the digestion process.Morrison is not against the technology of digesters themselves, particularly at the local level, but with so many private companies looking to make a profit, equitable implementation and scale is hard to control. Data centers (which come with their own environmental impacts) would likely expand those opportunities for profit.“I would be all in favor of small, very controlled, community size digesters, but when they’re large scale like this, and they’re operating for profit, corners get cut,” she says. But this is something else, she says. “All the different industries that have come together to turn this into something insanely profitable. … There’s just so many industries behind this. It’s wild.”This story was produced by Sentient and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Public universities face escalating involvement from state lawmakers Public universities face escalating involvement from state lawmakersJennifer Brooks, a history professor at Auburn University, had barely unpacked from a trip out of town in early June when the messages started blowing up her phone.Texts from colleagues and rumors on social media delivered the unsettling news: The Auburn Board of Trustees had voted to dissolve the school’s faculty senate and give itself ultimate authority over academic decisions, including curriculum.“What was really surprising … is the lack of knowledge that most of our faculty leaders had about the decision,” Brooks, who’s been teaching at Auburn since 2006, told Stateline.Faculty leaders across departments at Auburn — one of two flagship public universities in Alabama — said they learned of the proposal a day before the vote. The board approved the changes unanimously and without public discussion.“To have that (decision) be the sole product of the Board of Trustees, with no input from faculty, is really unusual,” Brooks said.The move at Auburn came two months after Alabama’s Republican-dominated state legislature passed a law curtailing the power of faculty senates at the state’s public colleges and universities. That law exempted Auburn and the University of Alabama, because their governing structures are enshrined in the state constitution. Some faculty felt Auburn’s eagerness to follow it anyway signals the board’s willingness to bend to political pressure.The Auburn trustees did not respond to a request for comment, though the board said in a statement that its new policy is “intended to advance academic quality, transparency, consistency and institutional alignment while preserving meaningful faculty participation.”Alabama isn’t alone. Since last year, states like Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Utah have enacted similar laws that give greater power to politically appointed boards and administrators while weakening tenure protections and faculty sway over curriculum and university leadership. In Indiana, the new state budget gives Republican Gov. Mike Braun full authority to appoint members of Indiana University’s Board of Trustees.Supporters of such measures frame them as efforts to hold taxpayer-funded public colleges and universities accountable at a time when many Americans are questioning the value of increasingly expensive college degrees. Many conservative lawmakers also say they are taking aim at liberal bias on university campuses.Multiple studies have found that professors tend to be liberal, though it’s less clear whether they are pushing their views in the classroom. In a 2022-23 survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, nearly 56% of faculty described themselves as liberal or far left, compared with about 13% who said they were conservative or far right and roughly 32% who described themselves as “middle of the road.”“I think our institutions do need to be run, at a minimum, fiscally, as a business, so that we make sure that the money our taxpayers are pouring into … our universities is used and utilized in the correct way,” Kentucky Republican state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor said earlier this year before voting for a measure to allow the state’s public colleges and universities to fire faculty for financial reasons, such as low enrollment in a particular program or department or a budget shortfall.Opponents said the measure was a way for legislators to get around higher education tenure protections. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, but lawmakers overrode him.Faculty advocates, free speech groups and unions warn the new wave of laws will chill academic freedom and make universities more susceptible to political influence.“Students, faculty and staff in almost every state have less say in how colleges and universities are run than they did a generation ago, and I don’t know if that resonates with members of the public,” said Barrett Taylor, a professor at the University of North Texas whose research focuses on higher education policy, finance and governance.“I do think most people probably don’t want to send their kids to a college where they feel like the politicians are in charge,” he said.Unprecedented powerOne of the most far-reaching of the new measures is a Texas law enacted last year that grants political appointees unprecedented power over the state’s public colleges and universities.University boards, which are appointed by the Texas governor, now have authority over hiring decisions of college administrators and more control over university curricula. The new law, passed by the Republican-majority state legislature, also limits the power of faculty senates and councils, shifting them to advisory-only roles.Texas Republican state Rep. Matt Shaheen, the bill’s sponsor, told his colleagues on the House floor last year that its goal is “to ensure degrees earned in Texas are of value and prepare our students for success, both in life and in the workforce.”The Senate sponsor of Texas’ new law was then-state Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Republican who became chancellor at Texas Tech University a few months after the bill passed. Using his authority under the new law, Creighton in April ordered the school to cancel academic programs centered on sexual orientation and gender identity, and directed faculty to recognize only “two human sexes.”In a recent survey by the Texas Tech University Faculty Senate, about half of the faculty who responded said they chose to alter their teaching content in response to memos from Creighton and another chancellor laying out new guidelines and restrictions on course content. More than half said they were considering jobs at other universities.Since the law was enacted, several professors at other Texas public universities have been fired: A Texas State professor was fired after speaking about political organization at a socialist conference; a Texas A&M professor lost her job after a video of her discussing gender identity with a student went viral; and a professor at the University of Texas, Austin, was dismissed from his senior vice provost role for “ideological differences.”Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, in response to the vice provost’s ouster, said on X that “Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation.”Model legislationTexas’ new law closely tracks model legislation shared in February by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. On its website, the institute argues that university board members “can act as a counterweight to the excesses of university faculty and administrators,” and that too much faculty autonomy has made campuses “insular and sclerotic.”State involvement is necessary, the institute argues, to hold universities accountable to the public. It says that required general education courses should be reviewed and approved annually by administrative boards to make sure they’re relevant and worthy of public investment.Distrust in higher education has become an election issue, John Sailer, the Manhattan Institute’s director of higher education policy, wrote in an email.“Legislation is a blunt-force instrument but it isn’t sufficient,” Sailer said. He emphasized that changes have to happen at the institutional level. “Concretely, this looks like giving boards a say in matters that reflect the university’s overarching mission, like the core curriculum.”But critics argue that everyone benefits from colleges and universities that aren’t subject to partisan politicization. They say the move toward top-down governance at universities will erode academic freedom and pressure faculty to align their research and teaching with ideological interests rather than independent inquiry.And university boards are increasingly chosen for political loyalty and wealth, rather than for commitment to the institution, said Hank Reichman, professor emeritus at California State University, East Bay, and former chair of an academic freedom committee at the American Association of University Professors.“I think people are naive if they think that (lawmakers’) political agenda will be limited to just getting rid of DEI and gender studies programs,” he said, adding that he’s seen interference in medicine and other sciences. “It’s really an attack on independent learning.”Action in multiple statesIn Indiana last year, lawmakers gave the governor sole appointing power over Indiana University’s board of trustees by slipping the language into a must-pass budget bill in the final hours of the legislative session. It also limited faculty boards to advisory-only roles.“The state has an interest in being sure that it (the university) is operated in the best way,” Indiana Republican state Rep. Jeff Thompson told his colleagues on the House floor last April. “And by the way, the governor would be the one that has to answer to the people.”Braun later exercised his new power by removing three members of the university’s board who’d been elected by school alumni under the previous system. Braun’s replacements included two conservatives: an attorney who previously worked on his campaign and a conservative commentator and former sports reporter who was suspended by ESPN in 2021 for statements about Barack Obama’s father and her company’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements.In April of this year, Tennessee also enacted a law increasing top-down governance by barring university leadership from taking faculty recommendations on disciplinary decisions. Under higher education’s tradition of shared governance, such decisions would usually involve input from a tenured faculty member’s peers.Lawmakers in other states also are exerting control over academic programs and degree requirements.Iowa Republican lawmakers inserted a requirement into a budget bill approved last month that undergraduate students at the state’s three public universities take both an American history course and one on American government in order to graduate. State lawmakers mandated that those courses at the University of Iowa must come through the Center for Intellectual Freedom, which they created last year to counter what they viewed as liberal bias in education.Utah passed a law this year that diminishes faculty control over exams and assignments, allowing students to request exemptions based on “sincerely held” beliefs, as well as a law that restructures university oversight.Ohio lawmakers this year tried to tie university funding to institutions’ compliance with a law they passed last year banning DEI efforts, but the bill died in committee.And in Kansas, the GOP-controlled legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill named for Charlie Kirk, the late conservative activist, that bans college free-speech zones that limit where students can protest or advocate for causes.The legislature also tucked a provision into its budget bill that bans public colleges from requiring students to take courses on “DEI-CRT,” the acronyms for diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory, respectively.Suspicious of higher edRepublican lawmakers have been pushing some of the most visible changes, but both political parties are interested in exerting more control over higher education, said Taylor, the University of North Texas professor.“We’re not arguing that the two parties’ agendas for higher ed are commensurate or equally likely to have the same consequences,” Taylor said, “but we do think that both parties are suspicious of higher education and are seeking to exert more control over it, though in very different ways.”As a historian, Auburn professor Brooks said she and some of her department colleagues were not surprised to see political battles spill onto campus. The changes have been more jarring, she said, for faculty members in disciplines that are further removed from the culture wars, such as forestry or engineering.“There seems to be a sense from the (university) administration that the only faculty that are disturbed, unsettled, distressed about the situation are a small group of malcontents,” she said. “I think that’s a complete misconception. It’s widespread.”This story was produced by Stateline and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Learn about equine therapy at Rock Island County Fair demonstration An equine therapy demonstration will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Rock Island County Fair in the Indoor Cattle Show Barn, East Moline. You can learn how horses respond to human emotions and body language. Through guided equine-assisted activities, participants gain greater self-awareness, improve communication, reduce stress and develop healthier coping [...]
	Geneseo officials to consider earlier construction start time Aldermen discussed the possibility of permitting construction work to begin at 6 a.m. to mitigate heat-related safety risks and maximize productivity.
	Old rivals, new battle: Argentina and England clash in World Cup Semifinal Old rivals. New stakes. A World Cup final spot on the line. Argentina vs. England.
	The 4% flashpoint: Why Americans are quietly dumping traditional bank accounts The 4% flashpoint: Why Americans are quietly dumping traditional bank accountsAmericans aren’t tied to their savings accounts anymore, and a new survey from Credit One Bank confirms it. According to the data, a majority of banking adults actively monitor and move their money to maximize their yields. Traditional banks, which have previously depended on long-term customer retention, may have to rethink their strategies.The 4% Switching ThresholdWhen asked what it takes to get consumers to move their funds, over two-thirds of respondents said a 4% annual percentage yield (APY) as the minimum. For Gen Z, that threshold was nearly 4 in 10. This benchmark puts the pressure on traditional banks. With the national average savings rate sitting at 0.38%, staying with a legacy institution costs a consumer roughly $900 a year in potential earnings on a $25,000 balance. The survey suggests that consumers are aware of this gap and view 4% as the baseline for a new savings account.Younger Savers Drive Account MigrationThe survey shows that younger consumers are more likely to move their funds, compared to their older counterparts. Roughly two-thirds of Gen Z respondents reported moving some of their savings to a different bank for a higher savings rate. Fewer than 3 in 10 Baby Boomers made a similar move.This division could be explained by mobile banking, the study states. While Gen Z manages their money from their phone, Baby Boomers are more likely to require a physical branch to move their money. This can make them less likely to change institutions, even if they want to.Expecting Parents Exhibit Highest Rate SensitivityThose preparing for a child were the most active rate shoppers in the study. Nearly 7 in 10 of pregnant or expecting respondents said they moved their savings to another bank in the last 12 months, compared to the 48% national average. Additionally, more than two-thirds of this group said they would leave their current bank immediately if their interest rate dropped by a single percentage point.The data indicates that the financial pressure of expanding a family serves as a catalyst for account management. Facing new household expenses, expecting parents are highly sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and are quicker to seek out higher-yielding alternatives.Churn Risk Hidden Behind Consumer HesitationFor bank executives, low immediate customer turnover can be misread as consumer satisfaction. The data suggests that a large segment of the market is simply waiting for a reason to leave.If a bank cut its interest rate by a full percentage point, less than 2 in 10 of consumers said they would switch banks immediately. However, two-thirds stated they would use the cut as a trigger to shop around and compare other options before deciding where to park their cash.The findings show that passive account maintenance does not equal loyalty. Two-thirds of consumers keep tabs on alternative options, and non-rate factors frequently break the tie. For instance, just over half of respondents noted that the total elimination of monthly fees would prompt them to switch banks even if the interest rates were identical.Survey MethodologyThe findings are based on an April 2026 study of 1,000 U.S. adults who own savings accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs). Respondents answered questions regarding their account monitoring habits, the specific interest rate drops that would cause them to switch institutions, and the non-rate factors that influence where they keep their money. Analysts evaluated responses across demographic categories including age, gender, and parental status.This story was produced by Credit One Bank and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Can ADHD contribute to divorce? How ADHD symptoms affect marriage, child custody, and divorce Can ADHD contribute to divorce? How ADHD symptoms affect marriage, child custody, and divorceMore American adults than ever have an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis. A 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that, in 2023, roughly 15.5 million U.S. adults, about 6% of the adult population, had a current ADHD diagnosis, with about half diagnosed for the first time in adulthood. Many of those adults are married, and a growing body of research suggests the disorder can place measurable strain on those marriages. In this article, WSM Law explains how ADHD symptoms can affect a marriage, why these challenges can contribute to divorce, and what legal options may be available for spouses navigating these situationsPeer-reviewed studies have consistently found lower relationship satisfaction in couples where one partner has ADHD. Longitudinal research following children with ADHD into adulthood, including work by psychologist Russell Barkley and colleagues, has documented elevated rates of separation and divorce compared with adults without the diagnosis. Researchers caution that ADHD does not doom a marriage; rather, untreated or unrecognized symptoms tend to produce recurring conflict patterns that couples often misread as character flaws.How Symptoms Show Up Inside a MarriageADHD is defined by persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity that interfere with daily functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Inside a marriage, those clinical terms translate into concrete friction regarding:Forgotten commitmentsUnfinished household projectsImpulsive spendingInterrupted conversationsDifficulty regulating emotion during disagreementsMarriage consultant Melissa Orlov, whose work on ADHD-affected couples is featured in ADDitude, a publication covering attention-deficit disorders, describes a trajectory many of these marriages follow. During courtship, the partner with ADHD often hyperfocuses on the relationship, making the other person feel like the center of their world. When that intensity fades after marriage, as attention naturally shifts elsewhere, the spouse can experience it as sudden abandonment, without either partner understanding that a symptom, not a change of heart, drove the shift.From there, couples frequently slide into what Orlov calls a parent-child dynamic. The partner without ADHD gradually absorbs the planning, reminding, and follow-through for the household, while the partner with ADHD faces a steady stream of correction. One spouse comes to feel like a manager rather than a partner; the other, like a perpetual disappointment.Orlov notes this pattern is among the most destructive in ADHD-affected marriages, and studies indicate it appears regardless of which spouse holds the diagnosis and regardless of gender; the division of executive function, not any traditional household role, drives the resentment.Misinterpretation compounds the damage. A spouse who zones out mid-conversation or forgets a promise reads as indifferent or careless, when the underlying cause is attention regulation. Clinicians writing on the subject emphasize that neither partner is behaving badly on purpose: Each is responding, often rationally, to the other's symptoms and reactions, creating a cycle in which symptom, response, and counter-response feed one another.What Can Help in Either RoleFor the spouse who has ADHD, NIMH research points to treatment as the starting point. Medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and ADHD-informed coaching each show evidence of reducing symptom interference, according to NIMH. Within the relationship, practical structures carry much of the load: shared digital calendars, written agreements about finances, externalized reminders, and a habit of repeating back what a partner has asked before the conversation ends.For the spouse who does not have ADHD, much research-backed advice centers on separating the person from the symptom. Couples therapists who work with ADHD-affected marriages recommend scheduled, low-stakes conversations about logistics rather than in-the-moment corrections, along with a deliberate rebalancing of responsibilities so that one spouse is not silently absorbing all executive tasks. Resentment that goes unspoken, researchers find, does more cumulative damage than the symptoms themselves.None of these strategies requires assigning blame. Both partners are responding to a real neurological difference, and couples who treat it as a shared logistical problem rather than a moral failing report better outcomes.When the Marriage Ends AnywayAn ADDitude survey of readers in ADHD-affected marriages found that while few respondents were actively moving toward divorce, most had considered it at some point:10% said they were actively considering or pursuing divorce.38% of respondents with ADHD said their marriage had come close to divorce in the past.22% said divorce had crossed their mind.Only 31% of respondents with ADHD said they had never thought about divorce. WSM Law The survey included only couples who were still married, so the 10% figure understates how often these marriages face genuine strain. For comparison, the U.S. Census Bureau reports an overall divorce rate of 30.8%.When marriages do not survive the strain, ADHD can complicate the divorce itself. Deadlines, document production, and financial disclosure require sustained organization, which is precisely what the disorder impairs. Impulsive spending during the marriage may also surface in property division arguments, so spouses in either role benefit from assembling financial records early, before litigation accelerates.ADHD and Child Custody: Separating Myth From LawA persistent fear among diagnosed parents, particularly mothers, is that the diagnosis itself will cost them custody. Family law practitioners are consistent on this point: courts in every state generally apply a best-interest-of-the-child standard, which examines actual parenting capacity, not medical labels. A parent who manages their ADHD through treatment and meets the child's daily needs stands on the same footing as any other parent; the diagnosis matters only when untreated symptoms demonstrably affect the child, and documented treatment generally reads as a strength.When the child has ADHD, courts weigh which parenting plan supports treatment continuity, consistent routines across households, and cooperation on medication and school accommodations.The practical question in these cases is rarely the diagnosis itself but the documentation around it: treatment records, school communication, and evidence of day-to-day caregiving carry far more weight with courts than a label ever does.For couples still deciding whether the marriage can be repaired, researchers offer a measured conclusion. ADHD raises the risk of marital conflict, but the mechanism is specific and addressable. Couples who name the pattern, treat the symptoms, and redistribute the invisible workload change the trajectory. The diagnosis explains the friction; it does not dictate the outcome.This story was produced by WSM Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Meet Dixie: Sweet senior hound seeking a new home in the Quad Cities Dixieis up for adoption in Milan, Ill.
	More teens with cannabis use disorder are facing treatment delays, study finds A dispensary in St. Louis advertises to passersby. Nearly 34% of adolescents seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder in 2022 experienced an admission delay, according to a new study. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)As federal officials consider whether to reclassify marijuana under federal drug law, a new study has found that more American teenagers seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder, known as CUD, are facing longer wait times before receiving care. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed national data from more than 124,000 adolescent admissions to publicly funded substance use treatment facilities between 2012 and 2022. Researchers found that after several years of decline, the share of young people experiencing delays in accessing treatment increased sharply. While overall adolescent cannabis use has leveled off or declined slightly over the past decade, some young people who use cannabis regularly develop CUD that requires treatment. About 11% of adolescents who use cannabis or marijuana develop CUD within a year, according to the study. With continued use, that risk rises to about 20%. Other research suggests that about 4.7% of adolescents aged 12-17 meet the diagnostic criteria for CUD, a condition in which marijuana use becomes difficult to control and begins interfering with daily life. According to the study, nearly 34% of adolescents, defined as children aged 12-17, seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder in 2022 experienced an admission delay — defined as waiting several days to more than a month after their initial request for treatment. The authors noted that elevated wait times in 2020 through 2022 may partly reflect COVID-19-related disruptions to treatment services, as well as increased demand for care. High-potency cannabis fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks “Just to address these delays, it will require coordinated efforts across health care,” said Yiota Kitsantas, the lead author of the study. Kitsantas is a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology, and interim chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy at George Mason University. “Having proactive screening in primary care and school settings could promote early identification and hopefully then ensure timely access to care,” Kitsantas said. The percentage of adolescents reporting delayed treatment represents a significant increase from a low of about 25% in 2015. Longer waits also became more common: The share of adolescents waiting a week or more peaked in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 5% waiting at least 30 days to enter a treatment facility in 2022. Adolescents referred to long-term rehabilitation or intensive outpatient programs had significantly higher odds of experiencing delays compared with those entering acute detoxification services. The study also found differences in treatment delays based on living arrangements and referral sources. Youth living with parents or guardians experienced longer waits than unhoused youth, while adolescents referred by health care providers faced higher odds of delays compared with those who sought treatment themselves. Male adolescents had 11% higher odds of experiencing treatment delays compared with female adolescents. While older teens ages 15 to 17 accounted for most admissions, the increase in wait times from 2018 to 2022 was more pronounced among younger adolescents ages 12 to 14, according to the study. Non-Hispanic white adolescents had 29% higher odds of experiencing an admission delay compared with Hispanic adolescents. Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native youth had lower odds of experiencing delays than their Hispanic peers, according to the study. While moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III could ease research restrictions, it would not immediately address local shortages or capacity issues within treatment systems. The potential shift also comes as states grapple with how to regulate increasingly potent cannabis products and address concerns about their potential links to cannabis use disorder and other public health impacts. During this year’s legislative sessions, several states considered proposals to change or lower cannabis potency limits, though most did not advance. In Connecticut, lawmakers reinstated a 35% THC cap on cannabis flower just weeks after removing it, citing concerns about the public health effects of increasingly potent products. And Oklahoma approved new packaging and labeling requirements aimed at preventing cannabis products from resembling candy or appealing to children. Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at awatford@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	AI for employee burnout: How leaders can help, not harm AI for employee burnout: How leaders can help, not harm AI is changing how people work. For HR leaders, the question is whether that change will reduce burnout or quietly add to it.Leaders play a crucial role in whether AI becomes a source of relief or another demand on employees.What stands out most is the tension leaders are navigating. AI can free up mental bandwidth, reduce repetitive work, and create more space for higher-value thinking. It can also feel overwhelming and cause anxiety, especially when employees are asked to learn new tools without enough clarity, training, or trust.Employee burnout has long been fueled by always-on work, digital overload, and rising job complexity. AI adds another layer. It can help reduce the load, or it can become one more thing employees have to manage.As Spring Health explains below, the challenge for HR leaders is how to implement AI with enough care that employees feel supported by the change, not buried under it.Key takeawaysEmployee burnout is one of today’s most pressing workforce challenges, and AI is shaping how employees experience it.AI can reduce burnout when it removes repetitive work, improves access to support, and gives people more room to focus.AI can also create stress when adoption is rushed, unclear, or poorly integrated.How AI can reduce burnoutWhen implemented thoughtfully, AI can give employees more breathing room and more energy for the work that matters most. Spring Health The best use of AI is not simply to help people do more. It is to help people spend less time on work that drains them and more time on work that uses their judgment, creativity, and care.How AI can create burnoutAI can also add pressure if organizations adopt it without a clear strategy. Spring Health The emotional toll of constant adaptation is real. Employees may be excited about what AI can make possible and still feel exhausted by the pace of change.That is why AI adoption needs more than a rollout plan. It needs empathy, communication, and a clear connection to the problems employees are actually experiencing. Spring Health What leaders can doLeaders help determine whether AI becomes a source of relief or another source of exhaustion. Three steps matter most.Look inward. Use the listening mechanisms you already have, including engagement surveys, feedback channels, and team conversations, to identify your organization’s specific burnout drivers. Every workforce has a different mix of stressors.Align your leadership team. Create a clear AI philosophy: Where AI should be used, where it should not, and how decisions will be made. Without clarity at the top, even useful tools can create confusion.Prioritize with intention. Focus AI investments on the areas where they can reduce friction for employees and improve outcomes for the business. The highest-value use cases are the ones that make work clearer, lighter, or more supportive.AI should help people thrive, not just increase productivity.AI brings both promise and pressureWhen organizations listen first, align around a clear philosophy, and prioritize the use cases that reduce friction, AI can help open space for more meaningful, human-centered work.That is the opportunity in front of HR leaders — not to adopt AI for its own sake, but to use it in ways that protect people’s mental health and strengthen the systems around them.FAQCan AI really reduce employee burnout?Yes, when it is implemented thoughtfully. AI can reduce burnout by removing repetitive work, improving access to support, and helping employees spend more time on focused, meaningful tasks. It can also increase burnout if adoption is rushed or poorly integrated.What is the biggest AI-related burnout risk for employees?The biggest risk is poorly managed change. Employees may worry about job replacement, feel pressure to learn tools quickly, or experience frustration when new systems create more work instead of less.How can HR leaders use AI to support mental health?HR leaders can start by identifying where employees are experiencing the most friction, then prioritize AI use cases that reduce that burden. The goal should be clearer access, better support, and less administrative strain.Research from Spring Health’s 2026 Workplace Mental Health Annual Report suggests employees are already seeing AI’s upside when it improves access to support. When asked how AI affected their mental health related to getting mental health support, 35% said it improved their mental health, compared with 14% who said it worsened it.This story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Cash or card? Your guide to debit card safety while traveling Cash or card? Your guide to debit card safety while travelingIf you have plans to travel, you might be thinking about how you’ll pay for expenses while globetrotting. You have more than a few options — credit cards, prepaid travel cards and cash — but one of the safest and most convenient is your debit card, Ally Financial reports.Benefits of using a debit card while travelingTraveling with a debit card has several advantages.ConvenienceYour debit card is a great option because it allows you to access money directly from your bank. If your debit card is a branded VISA®, MasterCard® or other major credit card company, it can be used at millions of locations worldwide. Plus, if you find yourself somewhere that only accepts cash, you’ll be able to use your debit card to withdraw money from an ATM.SecurityIn the event that your card is lost or stolen, you may have the option to lock it via your account or an app.Minimize cash usageYou can access funds without having to carry around large amounts of cash.Avoid currency exchange feesUsing your debit card to withdraw local currency can help you avoid currency exchange fees when traveling internationally.How to prepare to use your debit card during travelIf you’re vacationing within the United States, your debit card will work exactly the same as it does at home. Using a debit card abroad is pretty easy with most banks, but there are some best practices to keep in mind.Notify your bank of travel plansWhile it’s not always required, it is recommended that you let your bank know, especially if you’re leaving the country. If you don't, your bank may mistakenly flag your card for fraudulent activity and interfere with purchases you are trying to make on the go.Pay attention to feesIt’s a good idea to budget for any possible fees. One of the more common is ATM usage.If you’re leaving the country, make sure to account for an international transaction fee of up to 1% if you need to get cash from an ATM outside the U.S.You’ll also want to look into whether or not your debit card levies a foreign transaction fee, which can tack on up to an additional 3% onto the purchase price when you’re abroad. Those fees would apply to anything you purchase on your trip, so they could add up quickly.Using your debit card safely abroadEnsure that you and your money remain safe while traveling in foreign countries by:Choosing secure ATMsMonitoring your account regularlyKeeping your bank’s contact information handy Avoid overdraft feesJust like at home, vacations can sometimes include unexpected expenses. Whether it’s a spur-of-the-moment souvenir splurge or a surprise medical emergency, you can’t plan for everything. If you’re using your debit card for extra travel costs, you run the risk of overdrafting your account and then facing the fees that often come with it. Building a buffer into your budget for those unforeseen events can keep you a step ahead, but make sure to monitor your account so you can make adjustments if needed.Safe travelsYour bags are packed and you’re ready to go, just don’t forget to let your bank know. As you set off on your next adventure, consider bringing your debit card along to help keep you on budget, provide additional security and keep your finances on track.This story was produced by Ally Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	120 mph chase ends in crash, arrest of West Burlington man Justin Bessine, 22, was arrested after leading West Burlington police on a 120 mph chase and rear-ending another car.
	Iowa joins multi-state settlement over 23andMe data breach after company’s bankruptcy Iowa will get $430,000 in a huge $18M multi-state settlement with bankrupt 23andMe over the 2023 data breach that leaked genetic info to the dark web.
	Using home equity to pay off debt: Your options and how to decide Using home equity to pay off debt: Your options and how to decideHigh-interest debt can be difficult to get ahead of, especially when there are credit card balances involved. Federal Reserve data shows more than $1 trillion in revolving credit card debt is currently outstanding across U.S. households, so you’re far from alone if you’re looking for ways to manage large balances.If you own your home, the equity you’ve built may provide a way to address those balances. Using home equity to pay off debt entails accessing a portion of your home’s value and using those funds to eliminate higher-interest obligations, such as credit card debt or medical bills.There is more than one way to accomplish this, including one method that doesn’t add a monthly payment. If you’re considering different ways to put your home equity to use, this guide from Splitero explains how using home equity to pay off debt works, the available options, and how to decide which approach best fits your goals.Key TakeawaysUsing home equity to pay off debt entails accessing the value you’ve built in your home and using it to eliminate existing balances.Home equity loans, HELOCs, and home equity investments all access home equity differently, but the biggest differences come down to whether you make monthly payments and how you qualify.Whether or not it makes sense to use home equity to pay off debt depends on the size of your balances, your monthly budget, and which financing structure is the best fit for you.Why homeowners use home equity to pay off debtHomeowners use home equity to pay off debt because it can quickly make an impact on high-interest balances, which can be expensive to carry over time. In the first quarter of 2026, the average APR on credit card accounts was 21.52%, according to Federal Reserve data. Meanwhile, data from TransUnion shows that the average American with credit card debt carried a balance of $6,715 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Together, those figures help explain why interest charges can make it difficult to make meaningful progress on paying down balances.For many, the goal is consolidation. Instead of managing multiple credit card balances, medical bills, or other obligations with different due dates and interest rates, they use home equity to pay them off at the same time. If you’re deciding which balances to tackle first, understanding the different types of debt and how to prioritize them can help.This approach can simplify your finances and, in some cases, reduce how much of each payment goes toward interest. You may also be looking to improve your overall financial picture by repairing your credit and creating more room in your monthly budget.Credit card debt is often the primary focus because it tends to carry the highest interest rates, but homeowners may also use home equity to address medical bills and other ongoing financial obligations.How does using home equity to pay off debt work?The first step to using home equity to pay off debt is understanding how much equity you may be able to access. The amount you can access depends on your home’s current market value, your remaining mortgage balance, and the financing option you choose.Home equity is simply the difference between what your home is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage. For example, if your home’s market value increases or your mortgage balance decreases, your available equity grows over time. You can calculate it by subtracting your remaining mortgage balance from your home’s estimated value.Once you’ve determined the amount of equity in your home, you then determine the financing option that works best for your situation. The qualification requirements that you must meet in order to access your home equity will vary depending on the option you choose.Home equity loans and HELOCs typically evaluate your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and income history. Many lenders generally look for a credit score of at least 620, though requirements can vary by lender and program. At the same time, paying down revolving credit card balances may lower your credit utilization ratio, which can have a positive impact on your credit score over time. Results vary depending on your overall credit profile and account history.Home equity investments use a different model. Some providers do not require income verification and may accept homeowners with lower credit scores than traditional financing options.Once approved, you receive funds that can be used to pay off the balances you’re targeting.Ways to use home equity to pay off debtHomeowners typically use one of four methods to access home equity in order to pay off debt. The biggest differences between them are whether you’ll have a monthly payment, what their requirements are, and what you provide in exchange for accessing your equity.In general, home equity is best used on higher-interest balances that may take time to pay down on their own. For smaller balances or short-term debt that you might already be able to pay off reasonably quickly, the costs of accessing home equity may outweigh the benefit.Home equity loanA home equity loan provides a one-time lump sum that is repaid over a fixed term with predictable monthly payments. Homeowners often use this option when the full amount needed is known in advance, making it a common choice for consolidating multiple balances into one payment.Approval for a home equity loan typically depends on factors such as your credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, and available home equity. Its fixed rate and consistent payment structure can make budgeting easier, but it also means taking on a new monthly payment secured by your home.Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)A HELOC is a revolving line of credit secured by your home that lets you access your home equity up to a set limit during a draw period, then repay it over time once the draw period ends.In practice, it works like a credit card backed by your home. Because you can draw funds as needed, some homeowners use a HELOC for expenses that may arise over time or when the amount they need is uncertain. It can also be useful for large one-time expenses that don’t typically accrue ongoing interest, such as medical bills.That flexibility can be helpful, but because most HELOCs have variable interest rates, your payment amounts can change over time, which might make long-term budgeting less predictable. Homeowners considering this option should also be prepared to meet the qualifications for a HELOC, which typically include sufficient credit scores, adequate proof of income, and home equity requirements.Cash-out refinanceA cash-out refinance replaces your existing mortgage with a new, larger mortgage and allows you to access a portion of your home equity as cash. Instead of adding a second loan, you refinance your primary mortgage and receive the difference between the new mortgage amount and what you currently owe.Some homeowners use a cash-out refinance to consolidate high-interest debt because it combines everything into a single monthly payment. It can also make sense if current mortgage rates or loan terms are favorable enough to improve the overall structure of your mortgage. Because you’re replacing your existing mortgage, however, your interest rate, monthly payment, and loan term may all change. Closing costs can also be significant, so it’s important to weigh the long-term costs carefully, especially if today’s rates are higher than the rate on your current mortgage.Home equity investmentA home equity investment (HEI), sometimes referred to as a home equity agreement, lets you access cash from your home equity without taking on a traditional loan or monthly payments. You receive a lump sum in exchange for a share of your home’s future value, which is settled when you sell, refinance, or choose to repurchase the investment.Because there are no monthly payments and qualification requirements are often more flexible than in traditional lending, an HEI can work well for homeowners who want to address high-interest debt without adding another bill to their monthly budget. Homeowners deciding between a HELOC and a home equity investment often weigh the tradeoff between making ongoing monthly payments and sharing a portion of their home’s future value.With an HEI, the amount you ultimately repurchase is tied to how your home’s value changes over time, which makes the outcome dependent on future market conditions.Is it smart to use home equity to pay off debt?Whether it is smart to use home equity to pay off debt depends on your situation. One important factor to consider is how it would affect your monthly budget. Home equity loans and HELOCs both add a monthly payment secured by your home. A home equity investment works differently, giving you funds upfront without monthly payments in exchange for a share of your home’s future value when the investment ends.That structure often drives the decision. If you’re comfortable taking on a predictable monthly payment, a loan or HELOC may fit. If avoiding another ongoing bill is the priority, a home equity investment may be a better match.These options can also depend on your financial profile. Traditional home equity loans and HELOCs typically require stronger credit, income verification, and sufficient home equity, while eligibility for home equity investments may be more flexible depending on the provider.When deciding, it can help to focus on a few key questions:How much room do you have in your monthly budget?Do you prefer fixed payments or no monthly payments?How much would you save compared to your current interest costs?Is the balance large enough to justify accessing equity?For smaller balances or short-term debt, options like a 0% balance transfer card or an unsecured personal loan may be more cost-effective. A credit counseling or debt management plan may also be worth considering in some cases.As with any financial decision, it’s important to weigh your options carefully and consider speaking with a financial advisor or legal professional to determine whether paying off debt using home equity fits your situation.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I use home equity to pay off debt with bad credit or no income?Possibly. While home equity loans and HELOCs typically require income verification and stronger credit profiles, some home equity investment providers can pre-qualify homeowners with credit scores as low as 500 and do not require income verification.Will paying off credit cards with home equity affect my credit score?It can. Paying off credit card balances may lower your credit utilization ratio, which can help improve your credit score over time, though results vary.How is using home equity different from a debt management plan or balance transfer?Using home equity gives you access to the value you’ve built in your home, while debt management plans and balance transfer cards help you manage existing balances without using home equity. Those alternatives may work well for smaller balances, whereas home equity solutions are often better suited for larger, high-interest debt that can take years to pay off.I just bought my home. Can I still use my equity?Maybe. Whether you qualify depends on how much equity you’ve built, so homeowners who recently purchased may need to wait before certain options become available.This story was produced by Splitero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	America’s friendliest states America’s friendliest statesThe ways in which Americans connect vary widely by state. A range of factors contribute to a place’s overall character, but the time residents spend socializing, volunteering and helping people outside their own homes can shape how friendly it feels.SmartAsset analyzed the 50 states by the number of minutes per day residents spend on these three “friendly activities,” using time and action as measures of how communities connect. The results offer a behavioral snapshot of where residents spend the most time engaging with others in their communities.Key FindingsThe Mountain West leads the rankings. Montana (No. 1), Utah (No. 2), and Wyoming (No. 3) took the top spots in the study, with residents of Montana averaging a nation-leading 95 minutes per day socializing, volunteering and helping others.Mountaineers are the most likely to help others. Although West Virginia ranked No. 24 overall, its residents spent more time than any others providing unpaid help to people outside their own homes, about 30 minutes per day.Rankings challenge some stereotypes. Despite its reputation for “Minnesota Nice,” Minnesota ranked No. 11, just outside the top 10. Washington, home to Seattle and its “Seattle Freeze” reputation, ranked No. 10.Three Northeast states in the top 20. Although residents of Northeastern states are not always seen as especially warm by outsiders, three states in the region made the top 20: Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maryland. SmartAsset The 20 Friendliest StatesMontanaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 43.36Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 35.62Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 15.89UtahAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 38.24Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 32.46Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.95WyomingAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 35.57Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 40.49Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 7.07OregonAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 53.74Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 14.85Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 12.36IllinoisAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 32.37Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 14.12Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 28.43Rhode IslandAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 52.15Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 5.33Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 17.35NebraskaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 39.3Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 11.08Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 24.06North DakotaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 35.5Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 24.61Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 12.88MissouriAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 43.44Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 16.05Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 11.86WashingtonAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 30.59Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 24.04Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 14.92MinnesotaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 30.33Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 11.75Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 25.18MassachusettsAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 35.38Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 9.63Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.91WisconsinAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 36.51Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 8.46Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.86ColoradoAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 27.08Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 16.82Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.31MarylandAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 26.05Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 25.72Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 12.39MichiganAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 38.9Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 11.21Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 12.98TennesseeAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 33.82Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 9.45Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 19.53South DakotaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 41.61Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 0.21Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.61HawaiiAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 26.3Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 14.84Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 20.98VirginiaAverage Minutes Spent Socializing (daily): 38.96Average Minutes Spent Volunteering (daily): 10.92Average Minutes Spent Helping Others (daily): 11.97MethodologyThis study uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey, extracted from IPUMS, over the most recent available four-year period. For each state, SmartAsset calculated the average daily minutes residents spent socializing, volunteering, and helping people outside the household. Those three measures were then equally weighted and summed to produce a total time value used to rank the states. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.Citation: Sarah M. Flood, Liana C. Sayer, Daniel Backman and Annie Chen. American Time Use Survey Data Extract Builder: Version 3.3 dataset. College Park, MD: University of Maryland and Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18128/D060.V3.3This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	CBI Bank & Trust announces new senior vice president CBI Bank & Trust has announced that Chris Crozier has joined the organization as senior vice president, chief technology officer, a news release says. Crozier brings more than 16 years of experience in financial institutions. Most recently, he was vice president of technology services at First Bankers Trust Company. Before that, he was vice president [...]
	Illinois Housing Authority awards tax credits to senior housing development in Galesburg The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has awarded federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to Burlington Terrace, a collaborative affordable senior housing development led by Bywater Development Group, Simmons Development Group, Beacon-SOCAYR, Graham Health System, and the City of Galesburg, a news release says. The award marks a major milestone for the development and advances [...]
	East Moline man makes plea deal in Scott County human trafficking case He pleaded guilty to third-degree kidnapping and third-degree sexual abuse, with a sentencing scheduled for Oct. 15.
	How to whimsy-max your spaces with dopamine decor (BPT) - Key takeawaysWhimsy-maxxing is a growing lifestyle trend often found in home design.Adding special decor to your home helps create a playful, joyous feeling.MacKenzie-Childs decor features bold colors or patterns that are ideal for whimsy-maxxing.Whimsy-maxxing is one of today's most playful design movements. When everyday routines start to feel a little boring and bland, whimsy-maxxing is the solution. This home trend embraces touches of color and creativity, adding imagination and joy to your favorite spaces.Elevating your home and personal spaces with whimsical touches can impact your outlook and attitude. Some people call this dopamine decor because it can inspire happiness and positivity for you and your guests. This doesn't require major renovations — a beautifully patterned accent or thoughtfully handcrafted piece can instantly brighten a room and spark a whimsical feeling."Whimsy has always been at the heart of MacKenzie-Childs, long before it became a design trend," said Rebecca Proctor, Chief Brand Officer of MacKenzie-Childs. "We believe every home should reflect the people who live there, which is why our collections are designed to bring joy, creativity and personality to any space. Whether it's a colorful tea kettle, a patterned serving piece or an unexpected decorative accent, whimsical touches are an easy way to make a home feel more personal."What is whimsy-maxxing? Here are 5 simple tips to whimsy-max your home: Use playful patterns and creative colorsOne of the easiest and most impactful ways to whimsy-max a space is to add pattern and color. Embrace combinations that feel collected over time. Think colorful florals, vibrant striped hues or bold polka dots that instantly energize a room. MacKenzie-Childs' classic Courtly Check pattern is the perfect example of tradition with a twist, and is available in a variety of colors to suit your personality. Check out the gorgeous Emerald Check and viral Mocha Check for inspiration.Mix patterns with confidenceSay goodbye to the beige blahs! Pattern layering is often found within the whimsy-maxxing trend, so don't be afraid to experiment. For example, mix organic patterns and checks or stripes and dots. Pattern-on-pattern draws the eye and creates moments of happiness within a space. Designer tip: Incorporate a unifying color that appears in both patterns to ensure cohesiveness that looks intriguing and intentional.Whether it's a colorful tea kettle, a patterned serving piece or an unexpected decorative accent, whimsical touches are an easy way to make a home feel more personal.Rebecca Proctor, Chief Brand Officer of MacKenzie-ChildsAdd imaginative extras that bring you joyWhimsy is often found in the small extras that make everyday life special, so focus on adding decor and housewares that elevate life. For example, consider fun photo frames, delightful dishes with scalloped edges and smile-worthy mugs. MacKenzie-Childs's best-selling 2-Quart Tea Kettle, available in a variety of colors, is as much a visual feast for the eyes as it is an item you'll use often to create a moment of magic. The handmade details and artisan craftsmanship give whimsical spaces authenticity, making them feel curated instead of overly themed.Reach for refined accents to create cozy comfortA warm cup of your favorite tea. A soft blanket that inspires relaxation after a long day. Accent pillows that make your house feel like a home. Refined accents help you relax and get cozy, and are the perfect whimsical additions to any space no matter the season. Make the mundane more magical with special touches like these that personalize your home. These items also make great gifts for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Turn everyday gatherings into occasionsWhimsy-maxxing helps you enjoy your life to the fullest and can inspire you to share that feeling with others. Invite loved ones over and enjoy entertaining them with some fun and functional pieces. For example, patterned serveware, funky tablecloths and that perfect platter that inspires conversation. Think outside the box and consider using items in new ways for your gatherings, such as your teapot as a centerpiece or as a vase for fresh flowers. How to become a MacKenzie-Childs VIPIf you want the inside scoop on all things whimsical in home decor, consider signing up for MacKenzie-Childs Loyalty Rewards program. Joining is quick and easy, allowing you to earn rewards, discounts and early access to sales like the MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale, July 16-20, with early access July 15. Visit www.mackenzie-childs.com/rewards to join today.Whimsy-maxxing infuses joy and imagination into your living spaces, transforming them into havens of happiness for you and your guests. There's no better time to explore unique artisan-crafted pieces that will elevate your home with whimsical charm.
	Your employees are productive — and miserable. Here's the cost. (BPT) - Productivity is up. Headcount is stable. On paper, things look fine.But a new nationwide study suggests that for many organizations, the surface metrics are hiding something more serious. Workers are reporting a slow accumulation of workforce strain that doesn't show up in dashboards until it's expensive to fix.BambooHR surveyed more than 1,200 full-time employees and business leaders across six major industries to understand the state of the employer-employee relationship in 2026. The researchers introduced a term for what they found: "dignity debt." This is the liability organizations accrue when they prioritize speed, cost-cutting and AI adoption over the transparency, mentorship and trust that make the workforce contract sustainable.The gap between what leaders see and what workers experienceWorkers and their employers agree on at least one thing: Productivity is up. Eighty-one percent of executives believe it, and 73% of workers confirm it. But the same study finds that 85% of employees are experiencing significant workplace stress, 81% want to change careers entirely and nearly a third fear they can't make ends meet on a full-time salary.Productive, in other words, doesn't mean sustainable.Three signs your organization may be carrying dignity debtThe research identifies several patterns common to high-stress, low-trust workplaces. These are worth examining honestly:1. You're confident in your hiring process, but can't fill roles. Four in five executives say their hiring process identifies the right talent. More than half say they struggle to find qualified candidates. When that gap persists, the work doesn't wait. Instead, it redistributes to existing staff, stretching teams and deferring the investments that would build a stronger pipeline.2. You know about a problem you haven't fixed. More than half of business leaders admit they're aware of an operational flaw they've chosen not to address because the cost of fixing it feels too high. Workers notice. Fifty-seven percent agree there's a fundamental flaw in how their industry operates. Shared awareness of an unaddressed problem erodes trust faster than almost anything else.3. You're deploying AI without redesigning work around it. More than half of workers say AI has disrupted their daily work, and nearly half report negative reactions to workplace AI tools. At the same time, 49% of leaders admit AI hasn't yet delivered tangible value and may be overhyped. If productivity expectations are rising while role clarity and training investment aren't keeping pace, the gap becomes a retention risk.What workers are actually asking forWhat workers want, it turns out, is what most organizations already claim to value. Fifty-eight percent name transparency as their top leadership quality. Nine in ten want leaders who are honest about uncertainty and present during hard moments. Nearly three in four stay in a role primarily because of work-life balance and flexibility. Not equity grants. Not ping-pong tables. The basics. Where to startThe BambooHR report points to three high-leverage entry points for organizations looking to reverse the trend:Make transparency a consistent operating practice rather than a crisis communication tool.Pick one known, visible problem and fix it publicly. The credibility return outweighs the cost.Pair any AI deployment with explicit work redesign, including clear measurement, updated role expectations and honest communication about how adoption affects careers.The organizations that address dignity debt now, the research concludes, will have a meaningful advantage when the labor market tightens again. The ones that don't may find the workforce they're counting on has quietly decided not to wait. The full State of the Workforce 2026 report, including industry-specific findings across technology, healthcare, finance, food and beverage, construction and education, is available at bamboohr.com.
	Kids enjoy Bettendorf futsal court after weekend vandalism is cleaned up A Molotov cocktail and spray paint didn't stop the celebration for a new futsal court in Kiwanis Park.
	Legal challenge seeking to block Va.’s reproductive rights constitutional amendment dismissed Attendees of Virginia March For Life on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)One of two lawsuits challenging Virginia’s pending reproductive rights constitutional amendment was struck down Tuesday in Campbell County Circuit Court. Virginians are slated to approve or reject a measure to enshrine reproductive rights into the state’s constitutions this November. If approved, it would protect access to abortions, fertility treatments and contraception in the state. Charla Bansley, a Bedford County supervisor, filed the lawsuit this March, arguing the state violated its constitutional amendment process because House of Delegates Clerk Paul Nardo failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks across the state. The requirement for clerks to post amendment language outside of courthouses was in past years intended to increase public awareness of pending referendums. Lawyers for Nardo argued during Tuesday’s hearing that in modern times, information is more readily available through news organizations and the internet — which is why state lawmakers repealed the requirement earlier this year. The repeal took effect July 1. Senior Assistant Attorney General Erin McNeil told the court that people have been able to learn about pending constitutional amendments “with the internet in our pockets,” she said in reference to cell phones. Bansley’s lawyers referenced Article 12, Section 1 of the constitution during the Tuesday hearing multiple times — which outlines the state legislature’s responsibility to submit pending amendments to voters “in such manner as it shall prescribe.” Because the constitutional amendment — which had to pass the legislature two years in a row before appearing on statewide ballots — occurred while the repealed state code was still on the books, Bansley and her attorneys said the process should be invalidated. Though the repeal did not take effect until this summer, McNeil countered that lawmakers have authority to adjust the constitution and prescribe how they do it. “How can the General Assembly have this authority to prescribe a process but not have the authority to change that process?” McNeil asked. The case was originally filed in Bedford County. Although it was dismissed in Campbell County, Bansley’s attorneys signaled they will appeal to the state’s highest court. “The reality is this was always going to go higher,” lawyer Daniel Schmidt of Liberty Counsel said. “No question, this is heading to the (Virginia) Supreme Court.” Virginia’s marriage equality and voting rights amendments advanced alongside the reproductive rights one. Legal experts aren’t certain if those measures would be impacted if the high court grants a favorable ruling for Bansley in the reproductive rights amendment case appeal. Even if voters approve the amendment this fall, a favorable Bansley appeal might make it struck down by the state’s supreme court, which ruled retroactively to block the state’s voter-approved congressional redistricting amendment earlier this year. The 2026 general election is Nov. 3. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Virginia Mercury
	Pebble Creek Golf Club & Ike's Restaurant to hold ribbon cutting Golf Club and restaurant celebrates renovations with complimentary cocktails and appetizers that is open the public, followed by live music.
	Several more days of highs in the 90s It's the middle of July and temperatures this month in the Quad Cities are running 1.6 degrees above average. More heat is in the forecast. After a dry start to the week, shower chances return Thursday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Agritourism is growing in Utah but it hasn’t reached its full potential, new study says Cross E Ranch is pictured in Salt Lake City. Agritourism is growing in Utah, and it is estimated to generate about $45 million in economic activity every year. (Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food)Many visit Utah to walk the red rock trails in its national parks or to glide across “the greatest snow on Earth.” But, tourists are also being drawn to other sites with wide open spaces, cattle and fresh produce. According to a new study from the state’s Department of Agriculture and Food and the Utah Office of Tourism, the industry known as agritourism is growing, and it is estimated to generate about $45 million in economic activity every year. Agritourism still represents a modest share of Utah’s tourism economy, a $12.7 billion industry. But, according to the study, it is a significant asset for farmers and rural communities in the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “Agritourism is a real option for producers seeking to diversify their operations and find new ways to connect with their communities,” Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Kelly Pehrson said in a news release. “For many farms and ranches, adding an element of agritourism can help strengthen the viability of the operation and keep producers doing what they do best — producing food and agricultural products.” For some farms, and surrounding communities, the tourism boom has been outstanding. Utah recently made national headlines with the operations of influencer Hannah Neeleman’s Ballerina Farm overwhelming nearby Midway, a quaint city an hour east from Salt Lake City. However, the state hasn’t yet reached its full agritourism potential. The market could attract up to 300,000 visitors every year, the study says, and Utah is well positioned to reach those numbers. Cross E Ranch is pictured in Salt Lake City. Agritourism is growing in Utah, and it is estimated to generate about $45 million in economic activity every year. (Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food) Utah residents represent a substantial share of the agritourism market. The most common activities among 100 agritourism providers surveyed for the study include field trips, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, farm or ranch tours, and animal experiences or petting zoos. “The combination of world-class natural assets, rich cultural and heritage resources, strong agricultural traditions, and growing interest in local food and place-based experiences creates a uniquely multidimensional tourism ecosystem,” the study says. “Agritourism can help connect these assets by bringing local residents and other visitors onto farms, ranches, orchards, vineyards, and other agricultural operations for education, recreation, entertainment, direct sales, events, lodging, and food-based experiences.” One strategy for growing the industry to its full potential is by intentionally connecting agritourism with related segments, like tourism focused on culinary experiences, or culture, or outdoor recreation, the study authors wrote. Let us know what you think... The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and the Office of Tourism, alongside local jurisdictions and other organizations could support farmers in that task “through coordinated marketing, increased public awareness, technical assistance, business planning support, visitor tracking, and resources that help operators navigate regulations, partnerships, and product development,” the study says. The industry is estimated to support 310 jobs, generate $11.2 million in earnings and $26.5 million in new economic activity, which extends to nearby restaurants, lodging, gas stations, stores and other services. While agritourism income itself went from $1.9 million to almost $14 million in 2022, the number of farms that report agritourism and recreational services went from 212 to 249 in the same time span, the study says, “suggesting that growth has been driven more by increased revenue per participating operation than by a large increase in the number of participating farms.” “Utah is changing and growing, and agritourism is one way we’re shaping that growth for good,” Natalie Randall, managing director at the Utah Office of Tourism and Film, said in the release. “By investing in and expanding agritourism offerings, we’re inviting visitors onto working lands for authentic and educational experiences. These opportunities will elevate the overall traveler experience and diversify revenue for our local farmers and ranchers.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	Everyday People: Davenport coffee shop's dance party is all part of a great job Being 25 can be "awkward," according to Skylar Boisen. You feel like a kid, but you're expected to be an adult.
	Farm backing, Trump loyalty shape GOP race to replace Sam Graves in Missouri’s 6th District The Independent sat down for interviews with all five Republicans running in Missouri's 6th Congressional District, asking questions about agriculture, healthcare and endorsements. Pictured from left are Cody Oshel, Nathanael Schultz, Chris Stigall, Nathan Willett and Jim Ingram (Annelise Hanshaw and Steph Quinn/Missouri Independent)MARYVILLE — At a shrimp boil on a farm south of town July 1, Missouri Soybean Association President Casey Wasser stood before a crowd to explain why Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett is the only candidate the association has endorsed in the race for Missouri’s 6th Congressional District. He cited Willett’s curiosity — the questions he asked the association’s board about agriculture — and a phone call Willett made before he was a candidate, when Kansas City was preparing to install a bike lane near the Cargill grain facility. “He called our board members, said, ‘Hey, how many of you deliver beans to Cargill in Kansas City? They’re about to put bike lanes in the main lane that delivers beans. Do you think that’s a good idea?'” Wasser said. “We said, ‘Absolutely not.'” Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Willett, a high school math teacher from the Kansas City suburbs, is just one of five candidates working to prove they understand rural Missouri in the crowded Aug. 4 Republican primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Sam Graves. Conservative radio host Chris Stigall, who was endorsed by Graves, says he has put “a few thousand” miles on his odometer crossing the district’s 33 counties, telling voters his first goal in Washington would be a seat on the House Agriculture Committee. He also plans to keep Graves on board as a consultant on agriculture. “He’s well respected and well plugged into the agriculture community,” Stigall said. “So he will be my go-to source on a lot of agriculture issues in particular.” Also on the ballot are Jim Ingram of Kansas City, Cody Oshel of Maryville and Nathanael Schultz of Bowling Green, the only candidate who lives on a farm. The winner will face the survivor of a three-way Democratic primary — Josh Smead of Liberty and Kansas City residents Scot Pondelick and Matt Levine — and Libertarian Andy Maidment of Kearney in November. Missouri’s 6th Congressional District accounts for over a third of the state’s agriculture sales, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with over 27,000 farms of which 94% are family operations. But issues of agriculture, rural healthcare and public schools have at times taken a backseat as Willett and Stigall spar over Graves’ endorsement and who is the staunchest supporter of President Donald Trump. Graves announced his retirement March 27, less than a week before the March 31 filing deadline, and endorsed Stigall as his successor in a social media post on the day filing closed. Willett responded with a social media post accusing Graves and his “anti-Trump” political consultant, Jeff Roe, of trying to “hand-pick the next person to come after him for the next 26 years.” Roe, whose consulting firm is running Stigall’s campaign, drew Trump’s ire after he worked on the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The spat came up in a candidate forum hosted by the First Federated Republican Women’s Club of Clay County in June in which participants were instructed to avoid “personal attacks” and “negative campaign questions.” Willett repeated allegations that Graves and Roe “hand-picked” Stigall, pointing to Stigall’s campaign announcement landing the same day as Graves’s retirement. “(Graves) announced it within the Wall Street Journal. He didn’t announce it to North Missourians. He announced to the DC establishment that he was retiring,” Willett said. “That is unacceptable and un-American.” Stigall responded by going on the offensive, characterizing Willett as a career politician who dropped a bid for the state senate for a flashier opportunity. “I’m the only candidate here running for Congress and only Congress,” Stigall said. “I was not running for another office only to then switch and run for this office later. I always wanted to run for only this office.” The dispute is being broadcast with six-figure ad buys, according to The Independent’s tracking of broadcast ad spending. A pro-Stigall political action committee called Come and Take It PAC has spent $559,420 on ads, according to data from the Federal Communications Commission, including one portraying Willett as “woke.” The PAC has also used direct mail and social media advertising and had spent $974,315 opposing on the race as of Friday, Federal Election Commission records show. An ad paid for by Willett’s campaign, which has spent $95,971 on broadcast ads, questions Stigall’s loyalty to Trump. Stigall’s campaign has spent an additional $277,105 on ads. The only other candidate who has purchased ads is Jim Ingram, who has spent $1,725. With the race’s two best-funded candidates attacking each other, Ingram, Schultz and Oshel are hoping voters tire of it. “Willett and Stigall are going to beat each other up to death,” Ingram told The Independent. “And I’m going to rise to the top because they beat themselves up with all the bad press about both of them out there. People don’t like it.” Chris Stigall As a conservative talk radio host, Stigall has spent two decades talking about politics. Aside from a two-year stint working in Graves’s office in the early 2000s, he has stayed away from policymaking himself. He says the pandemic changed that. “The COVID era really alarmed me, angered me in a way I hadn’t felt before,” Stigall told The Independent. “I just saw a government that felt like it was weaponized against the people: a lot of forced closures of businesses and churches, school surveillance, censorship, forced shots and mandates.” Much of the conversation around Stigall’s campaign has centered on how he entered the race — and on allegations that Roe’s firm went looking for Graves’ replacement before voters knew the seat was open. Chris Stigall, Republican candidate in the 6th District, speaks at Koch’s General Store on June 12 in Macon on after receiving an endorsement from Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina in her final months in office, said at a Macon event announcing her endorsement of Stigall that she “was asked to consider” running for Graves’ seat and went on a “research expedition to D.C.” with Aaron Baker, a vice president at Axiom. O’Laughlin posted on her personal Facebook page that she was in Washington on March 19 — eight days before Graves announced his retirement. Stigall told The Independent that he learned about Graves’s retirement “maybe second to last week of March or the last week of March.” And since then, he has been trekking across the state making appearances throughout the district. “This is not a promotion for me. It is not a career-ladder climb for me,” he said. “This was a very intentional departure from my career of 25 years to jump into something that I felt I could best do at this time in history for a window of time, and then come back home. “Will I do it for 26 years?” he said, alluding to Graves’s career in Congress. “No, I will not. I can promise you that.” Another thing separating him from the congressman is his experience in communications. “He was a workhorse, not so much a show horse,” Stigall said of Graves. “I like the workhorse element of him. I’d like to be that too. But I do think in 2026, it’s important to be forward-facing.” Stigall’s goal is to visit all 33 of the district’s counties twice a year when he is home. And when he is in D.C., he will communicate with the district through social media. But a key person he wants to connect with is Trump, saying he “needs backup in Congress right now.” The attack ads questioning his loyalty are “disingenuous” and “deceptive,” he said. “There’s never been any daylight between me and the White House since the president’s been in office,” Stigall said, noting that he has interviewed Trump on his radio show on seven occasions. Asked whether some of Trump’s executive actions amounted to abuses of power, Stigall consistently defended the president. “It is almost as though Congress won’t do their job. I don’t know that it’s so much that they’re being usurped as they won’t do it,” he said. “So a strong executive has filled a vacuum where the legislative has just abdicated the responsibility.” Trump has not made an endorsement in the race, but Stigall said in June he “believes that it will come.” Nathan Willett Willett, who had filed to run for the Missouri Senate but shifted gears after Graves’ retirement announcement, has emphasized his record as a conservative voice on the Kansas City Council, describing himself as a “doer” with practical political experience. During the Maryville event, Willett pointed to what he describes as his role in securing $25 million for a new building to house the Northland Workforce Development Center in his council district, which offers courses including agricultural sciences, construction technology and culinary arts and is set to expand. Instead of providing college loan relief for college, Willett said, the federal government should offer incentives for students to pursue careers in the skilled trades or as first responders or nurses. “That sets up the next generation to succeed, to be able to go out and earn a good quality living and not be relying on the federal government or some kind of government assistance,” Willett said. Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett speaks July 1 to voters near Maryville during his campaign to represent Missouri’s 6th District (Steph Quinn/Missouri Independent). Willett said he supports the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, moving a few operations, such as special education, to other agencies. The Trump administration announced plans last month to move most of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For Missouri farmers, Willett promised to fight against excessive regulations but said he thinks Trump’s tariff hikes will eventually open up new markets to U.S. agricultural exports. “You’ve got to try to prioritize people in production over what D.C. wants you to do,” Willett said. Willett’s agriculture steering committee includes Brian Klippenstein, who led U.S. Department of Agriculture transition teams at the start of both of Trump’s terms, and former Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst — both of whom appeared at the Maryville event. Both have long fought health and environmental regulations they say hinder farmers. Hurst has appeared in videos for the Modern Ag Alliance, a lobbying group founded by Bayer in 2024, defending the safety of glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup and the subject of thousands of lawsuits alleging a link to cancer, which the company disputes. Before joining the USDA, Klippenstein was executive director of Protect the Harvest, a now-defunct group that advocated for farmers against animal rights organizations like the Humane Society of the United States. To relieve farmers from high input costs, Willett said the U.S. should invest in domestic fertilizer production, reducing dependence on imports from the Middle East. Willett said he supports congressional term limits, adding that Graves, “especially toward the end of his term, has lost touch with a lot of north Missourians.” If elected, Willett said he envisions spending “a decade max” in Congress. “My retirement is in the education system here,” Willett said. Nathanael Schultz Nathanael Schultz, Republican candidate in the 6th District, at a June 18 interview in Columbia (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Schultz entered the race on the last day of candidate filing ready to “buck the system” with controversial views, like support for a federal ban on abortion and supporting the “Second Amendment to the point that we should all have machine guns.” He was upset with Graves’s speedy endorsement of Stigall yet encouraged that he could be part of a “new generation” of GOP politicians. Alongside family members, Schultz has a stake in multiple small businesses, including a towing business he runs alongside his brothers and a fire and water restoration company. With his livelihood tied up in the economy of small-town Missouri, he says federal officials are ignoring the pressure on small towns. “It just seems like more and more pressure is getting applied (to small towns),” he said. “We have big farms and the government has been involved in that, but you’ve got the surrounding and supporting economies that I feel like have zero representation from a federal level.” Schultz supports current efforts from the federal government rolling back regulations on agriculture, saying that he would like to see almost “zero regulation” when it comes to farming. He also believes the government should limit crop subsidies, with some exceptions. Schultz raises livestock and grows crops on his acreage, not for commercial purposes but to help feed his family of six. This back-to-roots mentality is also present in his view on healthcare, saying he trends “on the crunchy side” with an emphasis on natural remedies and nutrition over pharmaceutical interventions. Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services is “one of the greatest things Trump has done,” he said. In the past year, major medical associations have spoken against Kennedy’s proposals, like his attempted overhaul of the pediatric vaccination schedule, and called for his resignation in a joint letter in September. Schultz is a supporter of the president, but he is not vowing a blind allegiance. “We need someone who can handle making hard decisions rather than saying, ‘Okay, I’ll go along with whatever (Trump) says’ and be a bobblehead essentially,” he said. “I believe I am that person.” Jim Ingram Jim Ingram, a Republican candidate in the 6th District, shares his vision for Constitutional changes during an interview in Columbia on June 25 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Ingram hopes his “maturity” and extensive experience in business will garner support of voters tired of career politicians. He filed his candidacy more than a year prior to his competitors, telling voters at a Clay County forum he got the “stink eye from everybody” when he dared to challenge Graves, who had not yet announced his retirement. “Political consultants would not talk to me because I was running against an incumbent,” he said. His political journey began with an idea, one he calls “Ameristralia.” In a 370-page book, he proposes that Australia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States — all English-speaking countries — form into one nation. “I am just suggesting we add those countries to the United States to make our economy larger, able to defend ourselves more, and it would give us more power,” he said. The two pillars of his campaign are “term limits and a balanced budget,” holding up what he sees as key responsibilities should he be elected. Other ideas include reforms to the U.S. Constitution to make election protocols consistent across states. He would also like to mandate that more entities, like government agencies, limit written communications to only the English language. Driver’s license applications, websites and the like should all be in English, he said, incentivizing more people to speak the language. He is the only candidate in the race to not receive an endorsement from Missouri Right to Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group. Ingram considers himself anti-abortion but does believe the procedure should be available in certain situations, like rape, incest, fetal anomolies or to protect the health of the mother. Cody Oshel Cody Oshel observes Flag Day with voters at Smithville Lake on June 14 during his run to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District (photo submitted). Oshel told The Independent access to rural healthcare and keeping farms within families would be some of his top priorities if elected to represent the 6th district. Healthcare, he said, is “the backbone everything ties into — agriculture, every livelihood in our communities.” Missouri has lost 21 hospitals in the past decade, according to the Missouri Hospital Association. In the 6th District, that includes Signature Psychiatric Hospital in Liberty in 2024 and Audrain Community Hospital in Mexico in 2022. “People from up north either have to go to Columbia or Kansas City,” Oshel said. “And if you’re living in these rural communities, you don’t want to drive in those places, (especially) if you’re an older person.” While Oshel said he is “not a big fan” of the Affordable Care Act, he supports an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits that expired in January to help people afford health insurance. Oshel’s father, who was diagnosed with leukemia this past year, travels an hour and a half twice a week to get treatment, Oshel said. That’s on top of adding a rural mail route to his work as a mechanic to help cover the cost of his care. Oshel said the federal government bears some responsibility for helping rural hospitals and clinics keep their doors open. “Government decided to get into the healthcare business, so it’s their responsibility to fix it,” Oshel said. Oshel, a former pastor currently leading national partnerships for the financial services organization Thrivent, said he is passionate about wealth transfer — especially when it comes to keeping farms within families. Inheritance and estate taxes shouldn’t prevent farming families from passing their land to the next generation, Oshel said. “I always believe we should keep Uncle Sam out of the wealth transfer,” he said. If elected, Oshel said he would also support restrictions on land sales to “adversary countries” like China. While he said property owners should be free to sell land to foreign buyers, there should be greater transparency about buyers’ origins, preventing them from hiding behind shell companies. “We need to protect our land,” Oshel said, “because once our land goes away, it doesn’t come back.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Missouri Independent

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026