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

Chicago woman arrested after driving wrong way on I-88, pointing handgun at officers

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded after a report of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 88, according to a news release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The office was alerted to a wrong-way driver traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 88 on June 28 at about 1:06 p.m. The suspect vehicle sideswiped another [...]

Rep. Tom Kean returns to Congress, says depression is why he went missing for months

The New Jersey Republican was missing for months with no explanation for his constituents. He explained in a House floor speech that after his diagnosis, there was no timeline for recovery.

Wrong-way driver accused of pointing gun at officers in Lee County

A woman faces multiple felony charges after deputies say she drove the wrong way on I-88, fled police and pointed a handgun at officers.

Genesis, Mercy, Trinity fined in heart pump overbilling investigation as part of international health care fraud takedown

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced a civil settlement in the state in a news release, as part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The Takedown is a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors [...]

AI is inventing new jobs. We've seen this before.

AI is inventing new jobs. We've seen this before.It seems like every day, another job lands on the chopping block, ripe for AI disruption. The sense of fear building across the tech industry is not unfounded, as its impact extends from the marketing function to sales and beyond. But elimination is only half of the historical pattern.Every major technology wave that kills jobs also invents new ones, usually roles so novel that they didn't have standardized titles or career paths for years after they first appeared. "Search engine optimization" (SEO) as a practice was named in the mid-1990s, for instance, and "social media manager" as a job title was essentially nonexistent before 2008-2009. You could even go back to the 1840s, when the first commercial telegraph line opened and telegraph operator became one of the hottest jobs around—until the telephone and automation slowly made it obsolete.This isn't about nostalgia, but about pattern recognition with new technology. Early adopters of a new surface area and new expertise became valuable quickly. The companies that hire them early get an advantage.AI is doing this right now, and Pave's data shows it.Three Roles That Barely Existed a Year AgoPave analyzes hiring momentum and role prevalence in the Hot Job Index, scoring and ranking jobs from −100 (cooling fast) to +100 (heating fast). For these new roles that are still emerging, Pave tracks them differently from established job families. Rather than a Hot Jobs Score, Pave measures company adoption: the share of companies in the dataset that have hired at least one person in each role.The charts show adoption over time, with a generally consistent pattern: near-zero through 2023 and 2024, then a sharp inflection. Mid-to-late 2025 is when enterprise AI moved from pilot to production at scale. That's not a coincidence.The AI Transformation LeadThe launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 created curiosity about AI inside every company. What it didn't immediately create was organizational capability. Someone had to figure out where AI actually generates value inside a specific company, build the internal case for investment, and manage the change that comes with deploying it. That job didn't have a name yet.By early 2023, the AI transformation lead role started to appear in job postings. It plateaued through 2024 as initial AI enthusiasm gave way to more measured adoption. Then in mid-2025, as companies moved from experimentation to scaling, hiring accelerated sharply. By January 2026, 2.0% of companies in Pave's dataset had at least one AI transformation lead—up from effectively zero three years earlier. Pave The compensation premium data tells the scarcity story: AI transformation leads earn 30.2% more than strategic business operations professionals at equivalent levels. The combination of technical fluency, strategic vision, and change management experience this role requires is rare, and the market is pricing that in.This could be considered the 2025 equivalent of the chief digital officer role that emerged in the early 2010s when companies realized digital transformation required dedicated executive ownership, not just IT department upgrades.The AEO/GEO SpecialistSEO as a discipline emerged because Google changed how people find information. AEO/GEO is emerging because AI is changing it again.As large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity become primary discovery surfaces, companies need people who understand how to ensure they show up meaningfully in AI-generated responses. It’s a different skill set from traditional SEO, which optimizes for crawlers and keyword ranking. AEO/GEO requires an understanding of how language models synthesize and cite information, which is closer to editorial strategy than link building.The data shows this role emerging in almost real time: essentially nonexistent before 2025, crossing 0.1% company adoption by October 2025, reaching 0.2% by early 2026. It's the fastest climb from zero of any role that Pave tracks in this category. Pave The compensation currently lags slightly behind comparable digital roles—AEO/GEO specialists earn about 6% less than digital marketing professionals at equivalent levels. That's consistent with the early-stage pattern: Pay follows proven value, and this role is still proving it. For professionals with SEO, content strategy, or digital marketing backgrounds, this is the clearest "get in early" opportunity visible in the data right now.The AI Product ManagerThe AI product manager (PM) story is the most nuanced of the three. Unlike AEO/GEO (which emerged from scratch with no predecessor) or AI transformation lead (which filled a clearly defined organizational gap), the AI PM sits at an ambiguous intersection of part real, new specialty, and part old title with “AI” attached.The adoption data doesn't look like the other two roles. AI PM was already showing up as early as 2023, peaking at 1.1% company adoption before slipping back to 0.8% at the inflection point in early 2024. That early experimentation and retreat suggests companies were trying to define the role before AI product building was widespread. The sustained climb to 2.4% by early 2026 reflects a market finding its footing. Pave But Pave's data raises a harder question. When the company analyzed 6,200 employees with "AI" appended to their title versus the same title without it, AI product managers commanded a 25.6% base salary premium—the highest of any function studied. That number could reflect genuine scarcity of people who can build native-AI products: understanding model behavior, evaluation frameworks, and the specific UX challenges of probabilistic systems. It could also reflect, at least in part, title inflation—PMs who added "AI" to their scope during a reorg and benchmarked up accordingly.And that leads to the more interesting question: Won't all product managers eventually be AI product managers? If so, the AI PM title may be less a permanent new job family and more the leading edge of a wholesale transformation of an existing one—the moment before "AI" becomes so assumed it disappears from the title entirely.That makes AI PM the most mature and most complicated of the three emerging roles—further along the adoption curve, commanding real compensation premiums, but with its long-term identity still being negotiated in real time.What Comes NextThe pattern across all three is largely the same. Near-zero adoption, a turn somewhere in 2024 or 2025, then fast growth. They're at different points on the curve, but all three are climbing.Viewed through a historical lens, roles like these tend to follow a consistent arc. Early adopters build the expertise and prove the value. Then the tech matures, the ROI gets obvious, and demand outruns supply. That's usually when pay premiums show up and the market gets competitive. For these three roles, the growth path is still ahead of us.Broadly speaking, the "AI is taking jobs" narrative is incomplete. The fuller version is that AI is restructuring which jobs exist. It’s eliminating some, growing others, and inventing a handful of entirely new ones. The new ones are the hardest to see coming, which is exactly why they're worth watching.This story was produced by Pave and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

50% of peptide users are taking compounds not approved for human use. Most don't know it

50% of peptide users are taking compounds not approved for human use. Most don't know itAhead of a July FDA meeting that could influence how several popular peptides are regulated, a new survey suggests many current peptide-users may not realize the compounds they’re taking are experimental.Half of people taking research-grade peptides mistakenly believe the compounds they're using are FDA-approved, according to a new survey of peptide-aware U.S. adults by Hone Health, a personalized medical platform focused on longevity.Based on the May 2026 survey of 2,491 U.S. adults with at least some familiarity with peptides as a health and wellness tool, the findings highlight a challenge as peptides become more mainstream: understanding what level of evidence exists for a given peptide and how it's being sourced, prescribed, and monitored.“Peptides can help you reach your health goals if they’re medical-grade and taken under professional supervision,” says Abid Husain, M.D., a triple-board-certified physician specializing in peptide therapy. “If not, you’re playing roulette with your health.”How the FDA Classifies PeptidesNot all peptides are subject to the same level of evidence, oversight, or regulation.Some peptides, including insulin and GLP-1 medications, are FDA-approved drugs that have cleared clinical trials and are manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. Every batch is tested for potency and purity, and each one carries a lot number that makes it traceable back to the raw material. FDA-approved peptides are dispensed only through licensed pharmacies with a prescription, which guarantees you’re getting the right compound at the right dose with proper handling, meeting the same standard as any prescription drug from your pharmacy.Other peptides, such as sermorelin, are included on the FDA's 503A Bulks List, also called Category 1. These compounds can be prescribed through compounding pharmacies under physician supervision, with purity and labeling oversight.A third category includes compounds currently classified as research-grade. These peptides cannot legally be compounded into prescription medications and typically have less clinical evidence and regulatory oversight than FDA-approved drugs. They’re also sold outside traditional medical channels. Research-only peptides are typically produced in bulk overseas with no FDA oversight, which means there's no guarantee of what's actually in the vial. Some 3 in 10 research-grade peptide products fail basic quality checks — they’re mislabeled, below purity thresholds, or dosed incorrectly, according to a January 2026 analysis. There's also no lot tracking, no requirement to report adverse events, and no one collecting safety data, so if users have reactions, you may not hear about it. Hone Health At the July meeting, an FDA advisory committee will review several high-profile research-grade peptides — including BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, and MOTs-C — for possible inclusion on the 503A Bulks List, which would create a pathway for compounding under medical supervision.A peptide's regulatory status is not a simple measure of whether it does or doesn't work, Husain says. Rather, it reflects the evidence available, how the compound is manufactured and distributed, and whether regulators believe it should be available through established medical channels.“Getting popular peptides reclassified as category one would be a big deal,” Husain says. “It wouldn't mean the peptides are FDA-approved, but it would mean they could be manufactured at compounding pharmacies, which would automatically make them safer.”Considering Peptides?Injecting yourself with substances that are unapproved and unregulated is inherently risky, says Husain. “They can be unsafe for humans, unsafe in the amounts you’re taking, or unsafe for you even if your friend got great results,” he says.Peptide effects can vary significantly from person to person, Husain says. For example, growth hormone-releasing peptides increase levels of IGF-1, a hormone involved in tissue growth and repair. That may be beneficial for people with low levels of IGF-1, but taking a peptide for muscle growth comes with some risk. For example, if your levels are already elevated — from an undiagnosed pituitary issue or just natural variation in biology — growth hormone peptides could raise your risk for certain cancers and metabolic conditions. “It’s impossible to know whether a peptide will be safe for you without consulting a physician who can consider your medical history,” Husain adds. Hone Health If you’re considering peptides, Husain recommends looking on the FDA’s website to understand the classification of every compound in your stack — as well as learning where it comes from. You can find the manufacturer’s location on the product packaging or on the supplier’s cGMP/FDA registration details on their site. If you request the product’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the seller, it should list the name of the manufacturing facility as well as the batch number and date. Ideally you want a vendor that operates through a licensed pharmacy, requires a prescription, and is transparent about sourcing, testing, and medical oversight.You’ll also want to work with a doctor who can monitor your health, explain the research, and help you make decisions based on medical evidence, not just glowing testimonials on TikTok.MethodologyResults come from a May 2026 online survey of 2,491 U.S. adults with at least some familiarity with peptides as a health and wellness tool, fielded May 8-11, 2026. Participants were ages 18-60+, 61% female and 39% male, representing all major U.S. regions and a broad distribution of household incomes, with the largest share of respondents in the $75,000-$99,999 bracket.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Babies born during John Deere Classic will receive onesies

The John Deere Classic is showing that the “Magic Happens Here” with a gift for the youngest members of the Quad Cities community. Every baby born at participating hospitals during tournament week, June 28 – July 5th, will receive an exclusive, limited-edition onesie. Participating hospitals include Unity Point Health, MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center and [...]

6 of America’s best and worst airport hubs in 2026

6 of America’s best and worst airport hubs in 2026Airport hubs are the main layover crossroads that airlines funnel people through before sending them off in all directions. In the U.S., there is no formally defined, nationwide list. But combining airline-designated connection points with the Federal Aviation Administration traffic tiers puts the total somewhere around 70 to 90 airports.Airport hubs sit at the center of nearly every major trip, and the broader world of travel is full of uneven experiences where the gap between expectation and reality can be wide. There are some where you almost catch yourself hoping for a slight delay, just to stretch out the lounge time a bit longer, or finally slow down enough to take in those art and nature exhibits you never quite have time to properly look through. In others, you can't get out of there fast enough.This article from Bodog examines publicly available data from Skytrax, J.D. Power, OAG Aviation, Airports Council International and Global Traveler alongside crowdsourced input and consumer reviews from platforms including Yelp, TripAdvisor and FlightRadar24 to put together a list of some of the best and worst U.S. airport hubs to pass through in 2026.What makes a “good” airport hub?How good an airport hub feels really comes down to what you value in the experience. Independent industry bodies like Skytrax base their work on large-scale passenger surveys targeting specific areas, then roll those results up into a yearly list that ranks airports overall.What you will see below is based on hundreds of consumer reviews and industry data. Some of the key factors considered:Connection flow and timing: How easy it is to make a transfer without rushing or cutting things too fine between gates.Terminal layout: Whether getting from one point to another is simple or ends up being long walks, buses, or confusing detours.Queue time at key touchpoints: Time spent standing in line at check-in, security, and passport control.On-time reliability: How often flights stick to schedule rather than slipping into delays that mess up connections.Disruption handling: What it feels like when things go wrong, from rebooking to how clearly staff share information.Crowding: Whether terminals feel manageable or packed, especially during peak hours.Food, seating, and lounge access: How easy it is to find a decent place to sit and eat, plus lounge availability, crowd levels, food quality, and extras like showers or smoking areas.Signage and wayfinding: How quickly you can figure out where to go without second-guessing every turn.Security and border control: The best U.S. airports uphold safety to the highest standards while keeping the queue moving through checks efficiently.Baggage handling and transport links: Whether bags reliably make tight connections or show up late, alongside how straightforward it is to get from the airport to the city and back. Bodog 3 of the best US airport hubs1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport — MSPThe J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study had Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport coming out on top for passenger satisfaction in both 2024 and 2025, ahead of other major hubs like those in Detroit, Phoenix, and Dallas. This year, it also recorded a 1.76 out of 10 stress score, with on-time departures sitting at 81.5%.Strengths: There’s loads of space, proper local eateries instead of the usual fast-food chains, quiet spots to switch off, and a hotel on site that accepts day stays.Things to do: You grab something from Black Sheep or Shoyu, walk the 1.4-mile path to kill time, maybe sit somewhere quiet, and if the layover drags, the Mall of America is one stop away.User reviews:“I passed through MSP on a layover and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and well-designed it is. The airport is very walkable, with plenty of moving walkways, lots of seating, and ample charging stations, which made the layover easy and relaxed.” — Chekaya G., Yelp“Nice large airport offering plenty of dining, both sit-down and local options. Wide corridors, so even walking from Concourse F to C was a breeze.” — Richard S., Yelp2. Seattle-Tacoma International — SEASeattle-Tacoma International Airport has gone through a wave of upgrades that pushed it into 4-star territory with Skytrax. The revamped N Concourse and new International Arrivals Facility are the main upgrades, with quieter spots and smoother security helping round things out.Strengths: Power outlets under seats across A, B, D, and S gates, with more being added. The free “SEATAC-FREE-WIFI” has no time limits, and top lounges like Centurion and Club SEA are available, both with showers.Things to do: Walk the marked half-mile Art Walk in the Central Terminal or catch live music performances near the main hub. You can also take the shuttle train out to N Gates for a quieter change of scene.User reviews:“I loved that there was free WiFi here. The TSA Staff are very smoothly flowing here. It is easy to navigate through this airport.” — Varshitindrayarakala, FlightRadar24“Took a late-night flight from EWR to SEA. The ground staff was friendly. Smile faces everywhere when we landed around midnight.” — Wei H., Yelp3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport — ORDThe OAG Megahubs Index 2025 ranking puts Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 65,141 viable onward itineraries in a single day, spanning 297 travel destinations. Industry recognition has never really let up, with repeated “Best Airport in North America” titles and regular awards across dining, design, and passenger experience from groups like Airports Council International and Global Traveler.Strengths: What stands out most is the immense route depth. You get loads of easy airline connections and solid backup during disruption. The weather-resilient runway design then helps keep the latter to a minimum.Things to do: Grab a deep-dish slice at Reggio’s, walk the neon “The Sky’s the Limit” tunnel between Concourses B and C, stretch in the Terminal 3 Rotunda yoga room, then kill time with free WiFi or a paid lounge if you need quiet.User reviews: “ORD is a big airport and was decked out nicely for Christmas. They have plenty of restaurants, shops, and a few lounges. We had to transit to T5, and it was easy to transfer on the shuttle bus.” — Blackbeauty75., TripAdvisor“Easy airport for the CTA train that's directly connected to the airport from Terminal 5. Ride share apps are available at Terminal 3. And there's lots of food in all terminals and Garretts Popcorn and Nuts on Clark stands. Many areas of the airport at ORD are renovated or getting a facelift.” — Karina K., Yelp3 of the worst airport hubs in the USNext are the three airports that ranked lowest in the research, along with the main reasons why:Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Approximately 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers, well above the approximately 3.9 average. It also ranked as the most stressful airport.Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): The layout centers on a main atrium with concourses radiating outward, so during connection banks, large volumes of passengers route back through shared corridors and intersections, which leads to repeated congestion spikes.Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Despite generally reliable flight timings, the airport ranks at the bottom for overall passenger satisfaction. Recent J.D. Power findings show consistently low scores tied to dated terminals and cleanliness.Comparing US airport hubsThe following table lines up the six airport hubs featured above and shows what each one does well and where it struggles. Bodog Trends, outliers and final thoughtsWhile going through all the data and reviews, a few patterns started to show up, along with some airports that behaved very differently than you would expect. Shifting passenger expectations and post-pandemic infrastructure investment are among the travel trends that have quietly reshuffled airport satisfaction rankings over the past two years. Just to name a few:Smaller mega hubs keep topping satisfaction: Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport regularly outrank larger hubs.The busiest airport is not the best rated: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport moves the most passengers globally, yet does not rank at the top for passenger experience.Legacy hubs cluster at the bottom: Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport scored consistently low satisfaction ratings across multiple years.Recent upgrades do not shift rankings quickly: New York LaGuardia Airport improved its facilities but still trails top-tier hubs in overall scores.Layout design appears repeatedly in rankings: Centralized designs like Charlotte Douglas International Airport correlate with lower satisfaction due to recurring congestion patterns.Airports across the U.S. have come a long way, and with ongoing upgrades and expansion, the pecking order has a habit of reshuffling itself. At the same time, how it all feels depends heavily on what you are actually there to do. A quick connection, a long layover, switching terminals, clearing security again, or having lounge access can change things completely.This story was produced by Bodog and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How the cost of laser hair removal and waxing compare

How the cost of laser hair removal and waxing compareWhen exploring options for hair removal, you'll likely have to decide between traditional waxing or embracing newer innovative methods, such as laser hair removal. But is one option more cost-effective than the other? The answer may be more nuanced than you think.This guide by SkinSpirit covers everything you need to know about the differences in cost and how to determine true long-term value. After reading these comprehensive breakdowns of wax and laser hair removal costs, and what external factors contribute to value for money, you'll be able to make the right choice for your cosmetic needs. Ultimately, you can confidently invest in what matters most — your well-being and overall sense of self.Key TakeawaysThe initial cost of waxing is generally lower than that of laser hair removal, but the need for regular appointments to maintain results every four to six weeks can quickly add up.The first appointments for laser hair removal will typically be more expensive, but this procedure only requires a few appointments per year to maintain results.In the long term, laser hair removal is generally more cost-effective than waxing when estimated over a five-year period.Laser hair removal costs will vary depending on the area being treated, including its size and sensitivity.Time, convenience and comfort levels are all indirect factors that should be considered in a cost comparison.Waxing can potentially lead to folliculitis, which can be treated through laser hair removal.Choosing the right clinic should include research on customer reviews, equipment quality and the experience of staff.A professional consultation is essential, and you should feel confident about asking questions and ensuring you're getting the right treatment.Understanding Each MethodKnowing what to expect and what the process involves can reduce any concerns you may have. It can also play an important role in determining which options work best for your budget and other considerations.How Professional Waxing WorksProfessional waxing is a hair removal process with several steps. It involves applying a specifically formulated wax to your hair and skin. The wax then sticks to the hair, which is removed by quickly pulling it out from the root. The procedure also exfoliates the skin by removing dead cells, leading to a smoother appearance.After removal, the affected area will typically be treated with a soothing lotion because the skin may be red and sore. Waxing can be done on several areas of your body, such as:Eyebrow, chin and upper lip areas of the face.Feet, toes, fingers and hands.Stomach, chest, shoulders and back.Shins, thighs or entire areas of the leg.Arms, forearms and armpits.Intimate areas, including Brazilian waxes.While waxing can make your skin feel soft and refreshed, it's a temporary solution that requires regular appointments to maintain results.How Laser Hair Removal WorksLaser hair removal is a procedure that removes unwanted body hair. It's a process commonly used on several areas of the body, including underarms, legs, face and intimate areas where pubic hair grows. Laser hair removal uses medical-grade lasers to emit concentrated light that transforms into heat.This heat is applied to hair follicles and impairs their ability to grow back. Using this method creates a semipermanent reduction in hair growth after multiple sessions.A Comprehensive Cost ComparisonWeighing up the cost of each treatment is an important part of informing your choice. However, it's also a good idea to consider the difference between immediate and long-term costs. There are also several factors that may impact your decision regarding those costs.Here are some ballpark cost comparisons and long-term considerations that may go into making a decision. SkinSpirit ‍Comparing the Initial CostsWhen it comes to up-front spending for a waxing or laser hair removal appointment, specific costs will vary depending on the type of treatment center or spa you choose. However, here is a realistic price example to help establish some initial cost expectations.Imagine the initial hair-waxing cost for a bikini wax is $85, including tip. Compared to a general one-off laser hair removal cost of $200, the ballpark comparison shows short-term savings for people who choose wax removal. But the cost comparison doesn't end there.Considering the Annual CostsThere are a few more calculations to make before determining the overall value. While waxing costs less per session, it typically requires a new appointment every four to six weeks. Over the course of a year, this could mean an average of 10 appointments. To maintain smoothness, you now have a general annual cost calculation of 85 x 10, totaling $850.Laser hair removal's higher initial cost will include a similar appointment schedule at first. However, after the first six to eight sessions, you'll only need to maintain your appointments one to two times a year, which can reduce long-term costs.What Are the Long-Term Costs of Laser Hair Removal vs. Waxing?If the annual cost of waxing is $850, the long-term cost over five years would be $4,250. The annual cost of laser hair removal is generally higher. However, at an estimated $1,200 (for six initial sessions at $200) for the first year, it decreases significantly in the second year.Having just a few annual laser hair removal appointments after year one means spending an estimated $400 per year on touch-up sessions. This gives us a long-term cost of $2,800 ($1,200 for year one and $1,600 for the next four years).The results give us a total of $4,250 for wax removal and $2,800 for laser hair removal over five years.Does the Cost of Laser Hair Removal Vary by Body Area?Yes. It's one of the main reasons why cost comparisons should be stated as general estimates. With so many different clinics, treatments and areas of the body to consider, prices can vary significantly. Many factors go into determining a final cost, including:The area being treated: Smaller areas can be treated safely, promptly and with precision. But larger areas of the body, like the entire back or legs, may need more time, increasing the cost of the session.The sensitivity of the area: You may be looking to remove hair in sensitive areas of the body. This can slow the process or require more appointments due to the skin's sensitivity.The type of hair being treated: Everyone's hair varies in thickness, color and density, which impacts how it will be treated. Your hair type will also vary depending on where it's grown on your body.The practitioner's opinion: Your treatments may be spaced further apart if your practitioner feels it's the best choice. Their expertise will be an important part of ensuring you achieve the desired goals.Laser hair removal isn't a black-and-white process. Each area of your body is different, and achieving a significant reduction in hair growth requires care and attention. A one-size-fits-all approach won't cut it.Critical Factors Related to CostThere are other things to consider when comparing the long-term costs of laser hair removal and waxing. While they're not strictly limited to how much you'll spend, these are often overlooked factors when comparing prices.Time and ConvenienceMonthly waxing appointments will require booking, parking and putting aside time to get them done. This additional time and travel costs can add up considerably. Laser hair removal treatments are typically frequent at first, then maintained with semiannual appointments.These differences can be crucial for busy professionals or people with hectic social calendars.Comfort LevelsYour comfort should always be a priority. Waxing involves a sharp, tugging sensation, which is caused by the hair being quickly pulled out at the root. Laser hair removal isn't often described as painful. It usually causes mild to moderate discomfort — closer to the sensation of a rubber band hitting your skin.Advancements in cooling technology and numbing creams also help minimize discomfort during laser hair removal treatment.Skin Health and Potential IrritationSkin health is a personal matter that depends on your individual sensitivities. Waxing is a common cause of folliculitis, an ingrown hair condition caused by damage to hair follicles. Symptoms include tender, red and itchy spots on the face, pus-filled bumps or acne.Laser hair removal is a recognized treatment for this condition for people who experience symptoms. This means people who choose waxing may end up spending extra on laser hair removal to fix the issue.Value for Money in Terms of ResultsTrue value is often determined by the effectiveness of your hair removal choice. Waxing offers a temporary fix, with hair typically growing back in two to four weeks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists laser hair treatment as a permanent hair reduction solution, based on results measured after treatment completion.While this definition is based on significant hair reduction and not complete elimination, it's still an important contributor to choosing the best value.Considerations Before Seeking TreatmentMaking the right choice for your cosmetic goals should always involve professional advice. No matter which option you choose, it's crucial to ensure that you're visiting a reputable, safe specialist for your consultations.Consider the following factors before you decide where you get your treatment:Equipment quality: Look into the kind of equipment the clinic uses. Do a quick visual check, in person or online, for overall cleanliness. Don't be afraid to openly ask about specialized equipment, including the reason why it's being used for your specific skin and hair tones.Customer reviews: Any clinic can claim to be reputable and customer-focused. Check websites for positive reviews, happy clients and updates on treatment outcomes. Value for money will usually be something clients comment on immediately, giving you extra peace of mind.Qualifications and experience: Verify that the practitioners performing the treatments are certified, highly trained and experienced. Search online for options, focusing on the “about us” sections where clinical experience and expertise are commonly demonstrated.While many of these considerations are geared toward laser hair removal, they're best practice for any potential hair removal appointment.How Skin Tone and Hair Color Influence EffectivenessSkin tone and hair color may help determine your treatment type, as the lasers used for hair removal target pigment. In the past, effective hair removal was typically associated with lighter skin tones and dark hair. However, innovations have ensured safe and effective results for darker skin tones, too.Many modern clinical experts have debunked the myth that laser hair removal is ineffective for darker skin tones. Successful treatment requires using a laser specifically suited to each person's skin tone.The Importance of a Professional ConsultationBefore you undergo laser hair removal, getting a consultation from a qualified medical professional is essential. They can help you determine the best type of laser treatment based on your skin type, hair type and other important criteria.A good professional consultation experience will typically include:A comprehensive review of your full medical history.A run-through of any current medications you're taking.Some simple explanations about the hair removal process.Tips and insights on aftercare for your specific skin type.Clear and realistic timelines for the expected results.An open discussion about any potential side effects.Finally, a professional consultation should feel like a pressure-free talk. You should be able to vocalize your concerns and get any questions answered clearly.Making the Right Hair Removal Choice for Your GoalsCost and value can extend beyond the amount listed on your bill. Taking the time to understand the long-term costs of waxing or laser hair removal treatment is important. Additionally, by considering other external factors that contribute to your cosmetic appointments, you can make the best choice for your needs.This story was produced by SkinSpirit and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires

Although not well known outside the court, Alito played a key role in leading the conservative charge, not just on abortion, but on a host of other issues.

Editor's note: NPR retracts story

Editor's note: NPR retracts Justice Samuel Alito story

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds

The decision firmly rejected the executive order that Trump issued on the first day of his second term.

How to deliver a winning sales pitch

How to deliver a winning sales pitchGeneric messaging, awkward over-familiarities, convoluted messaging — aggressive sales pitches never seem to end.But, despite their bad reputation, a good sales pitch can actually make a buyer’s life better.An effective sales pitch can connect buyers with solutions that directly address their most pressing issues, while also helping them build solid business relationships.If you’re a sales professional, you want to be able to deliver these kinds of sales pitches. These are the ones that close deals.So, how can you maximize the potential of your sales pitch? This Apollo guide explains.The sales pitch 101A sales pitch is a concise, personalized message delivered by a sales rep to potential buyers in an attempt to persuade them to agree to a deal and/or purchase a product.A salesperson typically gets just a few minutes to explain how their business will benefit a prospect. This is also why it is sometimes known as an “elevator pitch.”The goal of a sales pitch is to get the audience interested in a product or service and convince them that they need it. Great sales pitches focus on value and how that value solves a client’s problem.Preparing for the PitchTip #1: Research your pitch targetsSuccessful pitching always starts with knowing exactly who you are pitching to.Creating a complete profile on your pitch target requires some research. Find out answers to the following:Who are they? How long have they worked in the industry?What does their company do?What problems are they facing?What are their motivations? What is their end goal?Who are their competitors?What are their purchase habits?The goal is to determine their challenges, their goals, and how your product can solve them.For deeper insights, tap into your CRM database and/or your conversation intelligence platform. These sales tools will offer you a better picture of your pitch targets.Tip #2: Anticipate sales objectionsLearning how to overcome the sales objections that you are likely to face will make your sales pitch that much more successful.In preparing your sales pitch, think about its weak spots. Ask yourself: What objection might my prospective client bring to my offer? What issues might they have with my product or service?Remember: The most common sales objections surround budget, authority, need, and time (BANT).Rehearse the rebuttals you have for likely objections so that you enter your sales pitch ready to effectively and confidently address their concerns.Tip #3: Dealing with nervesChest tightening, breaths quickening, stomach-churning; most people know this feeling of anxiety before speaking publicly, and giving in-person sales pitches can make someone feel especially vulnerable.The trick is to learn how to manage it. Here are some practical tips for controlling your nerves before a big sales pitch:Develop an altruistic mindset. Remember that this sales pitch is bigger than yourself. It is about meeting the buyers’ needs and delivering solutions.Practice controlled, mindful breathing.Avoid drinking too much caffeine beforehand. It can make you feel hyperanxious and jittery.Listen to calming music or your favorite podcast on your way to the sales pitchIf you have time, exercise beforehand. Moving your body can release endorphins and lower your stress levels.Recognize that it is unlikely anyone knows you are nervous or fearful. You don’t look as anxious as you feel.Beginning the PitchTip #4: Open the pitch with energy and confidenceFirst impressions are important. They can have a huge impact on whether or not a potential customer is open and receptive to what you have to say.Open your pitch with enthusiasm, making sure you are communicating confidence and professionalism. It’s important to remember that you are communicating just as much (if not more) through your body language and tonality.Stand tall and straight. Make eye contact with who you are speaking to. Keep your body in an inviting and open position. And, if you are not delivering the pitch in person, pay close attention to when and how you are speaking, giving the potential client plenty of room to feel heard and understood.All of these things communicate a level of confidence in what you are saying and what you are selling.Tip #5: Develop an interesting visualMany people engage more with visual information than with written or verbal. A successful sales pitch responds to this demand and utilizes clear images, diagrams, data displays, and other visual materials. Consider opening your sales pitch with a vibrant cover slide, an attention-grabbing graph, or, if you have access to one, a product video.During the PitchTip #6: Offer a solution to their problemsEmphasizing the prospects’ needs and offering your product as the solution is the fundamental purpose of any effective pitch. Everything hinges on your ability to present your product as an answer to all of their troubles.When you are delivering your sales pitch, remember that your potential clients don’t care about your product; they care about what your product will do for them. Translate all of your product’s amazing features into your client’s benefits.Focus on communicating your unique selling proposition: What makes your product the best and how does it make their lives easier?Tip #7: Back yourself up with dataCustomers need to be able to rationalize their decision to purchase from you.When a salesperson includes data and statistics in their sales pitch, it not only gives them credibility, it also lets prospective customers know that their product works.For example, instead of saying “Our product will save you time,” you can say, “Our product cuts the average number of days for project approval from seven to four, and our customers have reported a boost in productivity by as much as 150%!”This is a simple way to incorporate hard data about your product into your sales pitch to position yourself better against competitors and help customers mentally justify the cost of buying from you.Ending the PitchTip #8: End with a clear call-to-actionTo successfully close your sales pitch, you need to end on a clear call-to-action (CTA) in order to continue to move them through the sales pipeline. Tell the client what needs to happen in order for them to receive the results you just talked to them about.Don’t wait for the prospect to create the call to action. This can often result in meetings ending early or losing them as clients entirely.What do you want them to do? Read more information? Review a proposed contract? Subscribe to a newsletter? Sign the dotted line?This is the time to let them know, clearly and definitively.Tip #9: Be prepared to negotiateChances are you’ll have to use some of your negotiation skills once you’ve concluded your sales pitch.Many sales reps falter at this stage. In their desperation to close the deal, they give too much away. But you’ve worked far too hard on your sales pitch to settle for an unprofitable deal.Know your price. Before you enter into negotiations, you need to have an idea of when you’ll walk away from a deal. If a client can’t afford to pay what your product is worth, then they may not be an ideal fit to begin with.On the same note, it’s also important to know when to accept a “no.” The best salespeople know how to accept rejection with grace.Tip #10: Review and improveThe 10th and final piece of advice: Always be optimizing.Take some time after your sales conversation to think about what went well, what didn’t, and what you can learn from it. There’s always room for improvement.Sales Pitch ExamplesAlong with the above tips, here are a few notable examples of great sales pitches to help you create your own.The Ryan Robinson Email PitchContent marketing consultant Ryan Robinson often contacts businesses to offer his services. He recently shared his go-to email sales pitch that has brought him enormous success:This is an example of a sales pitch that provides great value upfront. Before ever making a pitch, he finds something of value to give to his prospect, such as a share on Twitter.He includes what he did for them in his pitch and doesn’t give them information about himself and his services until the third paragraph.This example isn’t something you can copy and paste because it is highly specific, but think about how you can emulate some of Robinson’s strategies into your own, unique sales pitch.Brightwheel's Shark Tank Pain-Point PitchThe next sales pitch example is a “Shark Tank” success story.Brightwheel founder and CEO Dave Vasen did research and found out that all of his potential investors are parents. He highlighted a personal pain point for parents of toddlers: not knowing what or how their kid is doing in daycare every day. He also used himself and his daughter as a case study and provided his audience with some statistics and visuals on the success of his product.Brightwheel ended up raising $600,000 from this sales pitch.What can salespeople learn from this? Well, this pitch example does a great job of highlighting personalized pain points. Instead of going deep into the technical aspects of his product, Vasen focuses on the emotional, real-life benefits that come with his product.Consider using some of Vasen’s strategies in your own sales pitch.This story was produced by Apollo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to tell if a wellness trend is actually backed by science

How to tell if a wellness trend is actually backed by scienceThe wellness industry now generates more than $6.8 trillion globally, according to the Global Wellness Institute, and much of its influence moves through social feeds before it ever reaches a doctor's office.A Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025 found that half of U.S. adults under 50 get health and wellness information from influencers or podcasters, while fewer than 1 in 5 of those creators are conventional medical professionals.With so much advice coming from people outside traditional health care, science-led companies have become part of a larger effort to keep wellness claims connected to evidence, Fatty15 reports.Without that connection, consumers are left sorting through health advice that sounds convincing before it has been proven true.Key TakeawaysPersonal stories can be compelling, but peer-reviewed research provides a stronger foundation for evaluating health claims.Wellness trends that promise miracle cures, rely on buzzwords, or use fear and urgency should be approached with caution.Asking who made a claim and what evidence supports it is one of the most effective ways to make informed health decisions.Why Wellness Misinformation Spreads So EasilyMisinformation often spreads for reasons that have little to do with bad intentions. The human brain responds to stories and certainty faster than it processes doubt, and social media platforms are built to reward whatever keeps people watching.Back in 2018, MIT researchers found that false news was roughly 70% more likely to be shared on Twitter than verified reporting, giving misleading health claims an advantage before science has time to catch up. The danger grows when those claims promise relief to people who feel dismissed by traditional care or are tired of waiting for answers.In an interview with the American Medical Journal, Jennifer Cain Birkmose, senior director of research development at Schain Research, pointed to that exact vulnerability when she warned about influencers “touting miracle solutions that prey on the hope of patients.” And that hope becomes easier to exploit when most people were never taught how to separate a scientific claim from language that only sounds scientific.The Difference Between Anecdote and EvidenceMost wellness claims start with a real person who says something worked for them, but a true story is still not the same as proof. Personal testimony is persuasive precisely because it feels honest, and in most cases it is.The problem, as Rachel Moran, a health misinformation researcher at the University of Washington, noted in a New York Times article, is that a personal experience "can't be generalized." One person's results are shaped by their genetics and personal habits in ways that have nothing to do with whatever product is being credited.Controlled research exists to sort that out, testing an intervention across hundreds or thousands of people to find whether the result holds across different bodies and circumstances. And when a study has been repeated and reviewed by outside experts, it carries a level of proof that a personal story cannot provide.A Practical Framework for Evaluating Health ClaimsEvaluating a health claim often comes down to a few questions that most people were never taught to ask.The first is who is making the claim, because expertise only helps when it matches the subject being discussed. In an interview with The Guardian, Danielle Shine, a registered dietitian and Ph.D. candidate studying nutrition misinformation, warned that “just because someone lists letters after their name doesn't automatically make them credible.”The next question is what kind of evidence supports it, since peer-reviewed research has been tested in a way personal testimony has not.A serious claim should also explain its limits, because honest science leaves room for what it does not yet know. It should hold up beyond one study, with other researchers finding similar results.And when money is attached to the advice, readers deserve to know whether the evidence is strong enough to support the claim or whether the claim is being shaped to support the sale.Common Red Flags to Watch ForMisleading wellness claims are rarely obvious, which is what makes them effective. Dr. Michelle Wong, a chemistry Ph.D. and misinformation researcher, told The Guardian that "it's really rare for [health misinformation] not to contain a grain of truth." Certain patterns, though, give them away.A claim that promises a miracle cure or guaranteed result is asking readers to trust certainty before evidence. The same is true when a wellness trend leans too hard on buzzwords like detox or biohack without explaining what is being measured.Cherry-picked studies create another warning sign, especially when a single finding is treated like settled science. And when fear or urgency pushes people to act before they can think, the claim deserves even more scrutiny.Where Science and Wellness Do OverlapThe problem with wellness is not that every idea lacks substance. Some of the most familiar advice has earned its place through years of research.Regular physical activity has one of the strongest records, with a British Journal of Sports Medicine analysis finding that exercise improved symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. The review covered more than 1,000 trials across a broad range of adults.Sleep belongs in the same conversation, since quality rest helps the brain clear metabolic waste and supports the hormones tied to hunger and energy. Nutrition science has followed a similar path, with whole-food diets and adequate protein sitting at the center of decades of clinical study.The point is not to dismiss wellness as a whole, but to separate the ideas grounded in evidence from the claims trying to borrow its authority.The Role of Experts and Professional GuidanceEvery person carries a different medical history, and even well-sourced research cannot account for that. Primary care doctors read a person’s symptoms through lab results and medical history, while registered dietitians bring that same level of training to food and nutrition.Registered dietitian Amber Sommer noted to Cleveland Clinic that “being a dietitian means you’ve completed the requirements set by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to provide nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy.”Licensed therapists bring the same depth to mental health, where social media can turn complex symptoms into labels that feel easier to name than they are to diagnose. Self-treating based on a viral post can delay the kind of evaluation that helps people understand what is actually going on.Becoming a More Informed Wellness ConsumerKeeping pace with wellness claims takes less effort than most people assume, and the habits that support it are built more on curiosity than anxiety. The real work starts with pausing before a claim becomes a routine, then asking what evidence exists and who benefits if people believe it. Health habits worth building are the ones that still make sense after the attention fades.They usually depend on consistency and a person’s actual biology, not whatever voice happens to be loudest online. The goal is to make health decisions with more confidence, guided by research and personal history, so curiosity about wellness remains useful instead of becoming something that can be used against people.Skepticism as a Healthy HabitKnowing which health claims to trust has become one of the most valuable skills a person can build. People who develop that skill are better prepared to protect themselves from advice that sounds convincing before it has been properly tested.The wellness industry keeps growing, and so does the volume of claims moving through it without serious review. But strong research is growing too, giving consumers more ways to separate useful guidance from claims that were built to travel faster than they were built to hold up.The habit of asking who made a claim and what evidence supports it may be one of the most reliable forms of protection a person carries into the wellness market ahead.This story was produced by Fatty15 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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The 5 numbers every business owner should know before an exit conversation starts

The 5 numbers every business owner should know before an exit conversation startsMost business owners are well-equipped to run their companies, but far less prepared when it comes to exit conversations. It’s easy to overvalue your personal connection to the company or your decades of sacrifice, but a potential buyer isn’t looking at those factors.In reality, buyers are evaluating a set of financial metrics that determine whether it’s worth buying and for how much, and that valuation is shaped years before you sell. The good news is that with proactive planning, you can improve your negotiating power, tax efficiency, and financial outcomes later on.What numbers matter most before selling a business?The five metrics that matter most for business valuation and exit readiness are EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency percentage, and estimated after-tax exit proceeds. Wealth Enhancement breaks these five numbers down further to help you understand why they’re important and how to optimize them.Why Exit Planning Should Start Earlier Than Most Owners ThinkMost business owners know they should have a successful exit plan, but delay it longer than they should, whether because of an emotional attachment to the company, a burnout-driven sale, or a simple lack of succession planning. Unfortunately, this can result in lower valuation potential.The Risks of Waiting Too LongThe consequences of putting off your exit planning can be major. A shortened valuation and sale timeline takes away some of your negotiating leverage, and operational instability in the company can hurt buyer confidence.Another risk of not planning ahead is that you’re making rushed tax decisions. With proper planning, you can sit down with a financial professional and perfectly plan out your tax decisions. Poor planning could result in a far higher tax bill.Finally, without planning ahead, you could find yourself selling at exactly the wrong time, when there’s a market downturn that harms your business valuation. That, combined with the other consequences of delayed planning, can compound to a much lower payoff.How Buyers Evaluate Business ReadinessWhen buyers are evaluating a business’s readiness, revenue is clearly an important factor, but not the only one. Prospective buyers also look at other important factors that will affect the business’s ability to operate and grow after the founder exits.Some other factors they evaluate include:Recurring revenue and profitabilityDeveloped systems and processesStability and strength in the leadership structureCustomer diversification and long-term durabilityOperational scalabilityRemember that when considering a purchase, prospective buyers are evaluating a business’s transferability, not just its revenue. Even a very successful business has little value to them if its success can’t transfer easily to a new owner.Why Financial Clarity Increases ValuationClean, organized reporting and financial statements can positively impact a business’s valuation. They increase transparency and predictability, which buyers are willing to pay a premium for.On the other hand, when you have inconsistent reporting, commingled business and personal expenses, or unexplained volatility, there’s much room for doubt on the part of buyers.Number 1: EBITDAOf all the financial metrics that buyers care about, EBITDA is likely the most critical. It’s the foundation of business valuation and the number that most directly communicates the business’s profitability.What EBITDA MeasuresEBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.To calculate EBITDA, use this formula:Net income + Interest + Taxes + Depreciation + AmortizationEBITDA makes for a useful basis of comparison across businesses because it isolates a business’s earning power and strips away differences in tax strategies and accounting conventions that can vary from firm to firm. It shows a company’s pure operational profitability.Why Buyers Focus on EBITDAEBITDA answers the question of how much money a business actually produces from its operations before it’s allocated to debt service, taxes, and depreciation. It’s basically a proxy for a business’s ability to generate cash and a foundation for acquisition modeling. It shows a business’s debt-service capability and its scalability. A growing EBITDA shows efficiency and scalability, while an inconsistent or declining EBITDA raises red flags about long-term sustainability.How EBITDA Impacts Valuation MultiplesThe EBITDA Multiple Method is one of the most common business valuation methods. It’s calculated using the formula:Business Value = EBITDA x MultipleThe multiple you use might vary depending on your industry, company size, and growth profile. They might range from three to five times for a smaller company with customer concentration risk, but reach six to nine times for a larger firm with many long-term client contracts and predictable revenue.This calculation is exactly why predictable earnings and income diversification are so important. The same EBITDA can result in drastically different valuations depending on the multiplier you use.Common EBITDA Mistakes Owners MakeSeveral common mistakes can negatively affect a business’s EBITDA or make buyers question it:Mixing personal and business expenses: Mixing your personal expenses into your business ones raises serious red flags for your business’s financial metrics and may result in unfavorable adjustments to your EBITDA.Inconsistent accounting practices: Switching between accounting practices or inconsistent reporting can undermine the credibility of your financial statements.Ignoring add-backs: Legitimate add-backs show the company’s true cash flow. Not properly documenting these can leave money on the table.Poor reporting hygiene: Inconsistent reporting that lacks transparency and accuracy lowers buyer confidence and, therefore, your potential valuation.Number 2: Cash FlowCash flow, even more than revenue, is the metric that buyers look at when evaluating a business’s finances. Buyers want to see cash flow that’s predictable and sustainable.Why Predictable Cash Flow MattersCash flow shows that a business can both generate income and use it efficiently. For example, a business that has $10 million in revenue but struggles with its cash flow has a very different risk profile than one with $6 million in revenue and solid cash flow.Potential buyers are looking ahead to their operations after the acquisition. Consistent cash flow helps with forecasting. It also shows that the business can repay its debts, operate efficiently, and weather any market volatility.How Buyers Assess Financial StabilityDuring the due diligence phase of a sale, buyers will look at historical cash flow to look for consistency in operating margins, seasonal patterns, and working capital efficiency. A business with stable or growing cash flow over several years is a safer investment than one with a year of exponential cash flow, followed by another year or two of declining or inconsistent cash flow.Cash Flow Red Flags That Lower ValuationA few red flags in your cash flow that could hurt your valuation or cause a potential buyer to second-guess the sale include:Declining margins over consecutive periodsRevenue volatility without a clear explanationCustomer payment delays or slow collectionsExcessive or fluctuating owner drawsNumber 3: Customer ConcentrationA business with strong revenue and margins but an overreliance on just a few customers carries some real risk for a potential buyer. The stability of the entire business relies on those few relationships. And especially when the current owner is planning their exit, there’s a risk of the customers exiting as well.What Customer Concentration Risk MeansCustomer concentration risk refers to the degree to which a company’s revenue depends on just a few customers. The higher the concentration in one or a few customers, the greater the revenue drop with each customer who leaves. For example, if you have five customers who each account for 20% of the business’s revenue, a single customer leaving (or worse, more than one leaving) will have a real impact on revenue.Contrast that with a business that has 100 customers, each accounting for 1% of revenue. One or two customers leaving won’t significantly impact your bottom line.Why Heavy Reliance on One Client Can Hurt ValuationWhen a single client or a handful of clients make up the majority of a business’s revenue, buyers may apply a discount to the valuation to reflect the stability risk.It’s not just a matter of one or two clients having an outsize impact on revenue. It’s also that those clients understand their importance to the business and can use it in contract negotiations. That can have just as large an impact in the long run on the business’s finances as the client leaving would.How to Reduce Concentration Risk Before Exit ConversationsIf you’re planning your exit, start diversifying your client base well in advance, ideally, years before the sale. You can do this by developing new relationships, pursuing recurring contract structures, or expanding your service and product offerings.Number 4: Owner Dependency PercentageWhen someone is buying a business (especially a small business) from the founder, they’re naturally going to be concerned about operational transferability. Can the business be just as successful with a different owner? How reliant is the business’s cash flow on the founder? After all, a business that can’t operate independently of its founder isn’t really an asset to anyone else.What Happens When the Business Depends Too Heavily on the FounderWhen a business depends too heavily on its founder, key relationships often exist only because of that one person, whether with clients, vendors, or employees.Another common problem is having decision-making authority concentrated at the top of the company. If you, as the founder, make all of the decisions, your management team likely won’t be prepared for your exit.The last thing a buyer wants is for the business to run into potential decision-making bottlenecks or lose key customers when the founder leaves.Why Buyers Discount Founder-Dependent CompaniesJust as with customer concentration, a buyer may apply a discount to a business that appears too founder-dependent. This discount can help offset the transition risk and any customer retention concerns. Some other options may include earnout arrangements, extended seller employment or consulting arrangements, or simply reducing the purchase price.How to Build Transferable Operational SystemsStart reducing your business’s reliance on you as the founder years before your planned exit. Some ways you can do this include:Documenting your standard operating procedures across all major business functionsDeveloping your leadership team to make decisions independentlyImplementing proactive management successionAutomating repeat processes to reduce dependence on any one personNumber 5: Estimated After-Tax Exit ProceedsThe sale of a business is a major financial event. Even if you know how much your business is worth, you may be underestimating just how much you’ll pay in taxes on that value.Why Gross Sale Price Is Not the Same as Net WealthA $10 million business valuation doesn’t turn into $10 million of personal wealth when you sell. Taxes and transaction costs will reduce the amount that makes it into your bank account.When you’re creating your financial exit plan, make sure to build it around your expected windfall after taxes and other obligations, not before.Capital Gains and Tax Planning ConsiderationsWhen you sell your business, you could pay both income and capital gains taxes. First, you’ll pay federal capital gains taxes on your share of ownership in the business. You could also pay state income tax on the same amount.Installment sales spread your proceeds out over several years and can help manage the tax burden by making sure your marginal tax rate doesn’t get too high in any one year. Other tax management strategies to consider include capital gains exclusions under Section 1202 and charitable planning strategies.It’s important to involve a tax professional from the early stages of the exit process so you can plan ahead for this major financial event.How Owners Can Prepare for Post-Sale Financial LifeIf you’ve had the majority of your net worth tied up in your business, then selling it is likely going to change many aspects of your life, both financially and personally. You’ll now have some major decisions to make, including where to invest your liquid assets, how to generate retirement income, and how to structure your estate.There’s also a significant identity transition. Your identity is no longer that of a business owner, and that can take a psychological toll, or, in some cases, have a positive psychological impact.The Hidden Numbers Buyers Also EvaluateIn addition to the five primary metrics just discussed, there are other indicators business owners should pay attention to that could signal to buyers whether your business is a solid investment.Revenue Growth TrendsBuyers want to see consistent revenue growth over time. They want to see that the business is scalable and that there’s even more future growth potential.Recurring Revenue PercentageRecurring revenue is a valuable metric, as it creates predictability for owners. Buyers might place a premium on revenue they can count on.Employee Retention MetricsHigh employee turnover is a red flag for buyers, especially at the leadership level. The new buyer is buying a team as much as a company, and they want to see a positive, stable workplace culture, employee retention, and continuity of operations when the previous owner is gone.Operational ScalabilityOperational scalability shows buyers how the business can continue to grow. A business with fixed-cost infrastructure that’s been leveraged efficiently is a valuable asset and may be preferable to one that requires significant investment to grow.How Business Owners Can Improve These Numbers Before an ExitUnderstanding your important business metrics is the first step. It’s even more important to know how to improve them in the years before your exit.Strengthening Financial ReportingYou have clean bookkeeping with reliable financial statements.You’ve built a multi-year financial model to help the new owner forecast growth.You’re using consistent accounting practices.Diversifying Revenue StreamsYou’ve set internal goals for customer expansion.You’ve developed sources of recurring revenue in your contracts.You’ve diversified your service or product base to attract new customers.Reducing Operational BottlenecksYou’ve identified processes that currently depend on your direct involvement.You’ve delegated decision-making to your leadership team.You’ve automated parts of your business that can be automated.You’ve documented your systems and created standard operating procedures.Building a Transition TeamYou’ve built a personal transition team that includes professionals such as:A financial advisorAn M&A attorneyA CPA or tax professionalA succession specialistCommon Exit Planning Mistakes Business Owners MakeAn owner exit is a sensitive time in a business, and there are some mistakes that come up again and again, which you can avoid with proper planning.Waiting Until BurnoutMany owners exit without proper planning because they wait until they’re burnt out. They haven’t planned ahead for the sale and instead make an emotional decision in the moment. This shortens the timeline you have to prepare and can reduce your negotiating power.Ignoring Tax PlanningDon’t save your tax planning until the sale is final. Ideally, it should be a multi-year strategy that you start planning for long before the sale actually happens. The less you plan, the more you’re likely to pay in preventable taxes right off the bat.Overestimating ValuationBusiness owners often believe their companies are worth more than they are, partly because of how close they are to the business. Rather than making assumptions, have a professional assess your business to get an idea of how much it’s actually worth in a sale.Failing to Prepare for Life After ExitMany owners plan diligently for the exit, but then don’t think about what comes next. It’s important to make a plan, both financially and personally, for life after the exit.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat financial numbers matter most before selling a business?The most important numbers that matter when you’re selling a business are EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency, and estimated after-tax proceeds.What is EBITDA and why does it matter?EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It measures your company’s profitability independent of its capital structure and accounting decisions.How is a business valued?Businesses are often valued using the EBITDA multiple methodology, where your EBITDA is multiplied by an adjusted factor.What reduces a business valuation?An inconsistent or declining EBITDA, high customer concentration, strong owner dependency, weak recurring revenue, high employee turnover, and poor financial reporting can all reduce your business’s valuation. Each of these factors creates risk for a potential buyer.When should exit planning begin?Exit planning should begin three to five years from the intended sale. This timeline allows you to put the proper planning measures in place as it relates to both your business and your own financial situation.How can owners improve business value before selling?Some ways to improve your business valuation include increasing and stabilizing your EBITDA, diversifying your customer base, building a team that can operate without you, and implementing strong and consistent financial reporting practices.What taxes apply when selling a business?When you sell your business, you’ll usually pay federal capital gains taxes on the difference between your cost basis and the sale price. You may also pay state income taxes.Why does owner dependency matter?Owner dependency creates a transition risk because it often means too much of the company’s value is tied up in the founder. If the founder has all of the client relationships and operational knowledge, it can be difficult to change hands without sacrificing revenue.Should owners work with a financial advisor before an exit?A financial advisor who understands your situation before you exit your business can help with tax planning, retirement planning, investment management, and estate planning, among other things.Final ThoughtsBusiness exit planning isn’t just a transaction. It’s a multi-year process of building business value, organizing your financials, reducing risk for all parties, and preparing for your own wealth transition. EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency, and after-tax proceeds are some of the most important metrics to pay attention to, as they drive buyer decisions and metrics.This story was produced by Wealth Enhancement and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Why families are choosing private villas for milestone birthday trips

Why families are choosing private villas for milestone birthday tripsAs travelers increasingly prioritize meaningful experiences over traditional vacations, private luxury villas are emerging as a popular choice for milestone celebrations. From landmark birthdays and family reunions to multigenerational gatherings, more groups are opting for exclusive-use estates that combine privacy, personalized service, and the freedom to celebrate on their own terms. This growing shift reflects a broader demand for accommodations that offer both connection and exclusivity.In this article, Villa Punto de Vista explores why private villas have become a preferred setting for many travelers’ milestone birthday trips, highlighting the unique advantages that are redefining the way families and friends gather to mark life’s most important moments. Villa Punto de Vista Why Private Villas Instead of Typical Birthday Trips?Research reveals that the luxury vacation rental market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.3% from 2025 to 2034. One contributing factor to this growth is that more people are spending life’s special moments, such as milestone birthdays, in private villas.Today’s affluent travelers are increasingly focused on creating meaningful shared experiences rather than collecting destinations. Whether it’s parents, children, grandparents, lifelong friends, or multiple generations gathering under one roof, the goal is to create memories that will be talked about for years to come. Private villas provide an ideal setting for these once-in-a-lifetime moments, allowing guests to celebrate together in complete privacy while enjoying experiences tailored specifically to their group.Here’s why more large family gatherings are choosing private villas over resorts:Simpler planning for multigenerational travel with groups of 10-50 people with the help of a concierge at the private villa.Affluent travelers are looking to create meaningful shared experiences rather than solo trips.People enjoy the privacy and exclusivity of a dedicated villa rental just for their group.Provides families with an opportunity to come together in one shared space while also having private suites for personal time.Private villas often have staff who help provide a more personalized experience with custom dishes, drinks and activities.Simpler Multigenerational TravelOne study found that multigenerational trips are contributing to the travel market growth, with 57% of parents planning to travel with children and their grandparents. Private villas make sense for multigenerational travel.Private villas offer distinct sleeping areas, exclusive dining and serene natural surroundings, all within a secluded space perfect for family bonding. This unique combination significantly simplifies multigenerational travel, transforming what could be a stressful logistical challenge into a seamless and enjoyable experience — especially in comparison to the complexities of coordinating multiple hotel accommodations.The logistical effortlessness of private villas means families can enjoy a more relaxed vacation, and elements like travel and excursions are easier to navigate.Private villas also offer togetherness without sacrificing comfort and personal preferences. Parents can enjoy a romantic night with dinner under the stars, and grandparents can visit while the children nap. Everyone has their own space and can come together as a family or split into groups to explore different activities. Villa Punto de Vista Unmatched Luxury and PrivacyOne of the top reasons more people are choosing luxe villas for birthday celebrations is the privacy these spaces offer. When you celebrate your birthday with close family members, the privacy of villas makes the moment feel more intimate and special. In hotels, other guests are checking in, walking through hallways and hanging out in communal spaces. In private villas, it’s just you and your guests.Ultra-high-net-worth travelers tend to seek villas because privacy has become a highly valued commodity. The privacy those villas offer is a key driver of the luxury vacation market’s growth. The spacious and comfortable atmosphere of a private villa brings a more personalized feel while still providing high-end amenities, views and accommodation. Private villas also offer exclusive amenities such as service staff and private chefs, making for a memorable, hassle-free birthday celebration.Research shows that younger travelers tend to seek accommodation that reflects local culture and features distinctive design elements, which private villas often do. The rising demand for unique and themed properties is one of the key reasons why more people want to celebrate their special occasions in private villas.Top Theme Ideas for Private Villa Birthday PartiesOne of the coolest parts about having a private villa party is that you get to immerse yourself in different cultures and experiences. Whether you want a peaceful beach party or a glamorous night, the staff at a private villa can usually coordinate tablescapes, special cocktail drinks, music, private entertainment and more to fit your theme.Here are some of the top themes that people choose for their private villa birthday celebrations:Relaxed Boho TropicalBlend the relaxed vibes of the pura vida life with the earthy style of Costa Rica. Vibrant tropical elements tucked within natural textures. This theme is all about the ocean’s laid-back, zen appeal. The guests can enjoy activities like spa treatments and relax on the beach with their very own tiki bar. Live Costa Rican music plays while you enjoy a BBQ lunch with your toes in the sand.The beach setting can also bring opportunities for bonfire gatherings while everyone takes in the sunset over the ocean.Glitz and GlamourThose who are all about the elegance and extravagance will enjoy villas with a Hollywood feel. Here are some birthday theme ideas that fit this vibe:Hollywood glamour: Guests can dress up in their finest outfits and enjoy photo opportunities, classic cocktails and even a live jazz band for that true Hollywood glam feel.Casino Royale: Create the appeal of a high-stakes casino while maintaining the privacy of a villa, with elegant decor, themed cocktails and even professional dealers, if allowed. This theme also offers the opportunity for a sophisticated dress code.Masquerade ball: Nothing says glitz and glamour like a masquerade ball. Some villas have dedicated dance floors, ballrooms or conference rooms where you can set up the opulent decor. Private chefs at the villa can prepare French-inspired cuisine and signature cocktails to tie the night together.Adventure SeekersPrivate villas set the stage for adventure lovers, creating a truly immersive experience. Look for spaces set in or near jungles for an adventurous feel and incorporate elements like themed dinners to tie everything together.Villas with fully staffed chefs and servers also create the perfect opportunity for a culinary journey.Another common adventure theme for private villas is a murder mystery. Guests can enjoy an interactive whodunit, savoring a delicious dinner and specialty cocktails while unraveling a thrilling mystery. The villa’s privacy allows guests to dress up and feel free to act out their characters while being immersed in the theatrics.Party BigElevate the birthday into a vibrant celebration packed with high-energy activities. Luxury private villas provide an exquisite backdrop for an unforgettable vacation experience. Here are some theme ideas if you want to have a big birthday bash:Pool party: Nothing says celebration like a pool party, and in a private villa, you can enjoy luxurious pools, jacuzzis and other elements that will make your celebration one to remember. Some private villas may also offer services like private chefs and service staff so that guests can enjoy gourmet BBQ stations or poolside massages and cocktails.Glow party: Perfect for party animals who like to dance, a glow party in a private villa takes fun to the max. With a private villa, you can enjoy the ambience of a club or outdoor party, without having to share the special day with strangers. You can transform the villa with neon decorations and music, or with a DJ.Tropical fiesta: Private villas in tropical places set the perfect backdrop for a tropical fiesta birthday party. Think floral decorations, fresh seafood, vibrant colors and piña coladas. Guests can celebrate while watching the waves crash and dance till the sun rises.How to Find the Perfect Private Villa for Your Milestone Birthday CelebrationPrivate villas can set the perfect backdrop for a milestone birthday trip, but it’s important to find the right one for your celebration needs. Here are some points to consider when looking for private villas:Guest RequirementsCheck that the property has the features to accommodate your group’s dynamics. For example, if young children are coming along, look for specialized amenities like cribs and play areas. Elderly guests and people with disabilities may require accessibility features such as elevators or wheelchair ramps. Ensure you get clarity on whether the villa is equipped with these features before booking, so guests can be comfortable while celebrating.Birthday Theme or DesiresPrivate villas can create the backdrop that brings the theme or the birthday person’s desires to life. For example, if it’s been a lifelong dream to surf or hike through a rainforest, villas can help make those dreams come true.Also consider how the villa’s aesthetic and amenities will align with your theme, culinary preferences and party activities.Property Management and StaffOne of the major benefits of hosting a birthday party in a private villa is the intimacy of a private venue, with perks reminiscent of a luxury hotel, such as cleaning services and other staff.Look for venues that offer management options for sourcing entertainment or arranging local trips to simplify planning. Many luxury villas include staff services, but look for private chefs or concierge services to reduce logistical burdens and ensure guests receive a personalized experience at the party.Inclusions and CustomizationsUnderstand what comes with the villa and the available customizations to suit your party theme and activities. For example, if you want to tour the local scenery or visit nearby spots, check if transportation is accessible at the villa. Look for concierge services so you don’t have to worry about things like errands.If you want customizations like live music, tour guides and decor, find out in advance how to arrange them at the venue.How to Take Your Private Villa Birthday Celebration to the Next LevelYou can further elevate your private villa birthday stay through thoughtful planning and personalized experiences. Here are some tips to implement:Try experiential activities: One of the significant perks of celebrating a birthday at a private villa is the chance to try unique events. Plan local activities like guided treks, snorkeling trips, or cultural events that can make birthday celebrations all the more special.Personalize the experience: Talk to the villa staff about adding a personal touch, such as custom birthday decor or a special meal and birthday cake. Find out about personalized welcome gifts for each guest or offering a signature cocktail in honor of the birthday person. Small, thoughtful touches can boost the emotional and sentimental impact of the celebration.Make food special: Look for a private villa with private chefs for a truly personalized birthday experience. With a private chef, you can arrange a special dinner to bring the theme to life or dishes that give guests a taste of local cuisine. Having a skilled mixologist on-site can also help keep spirits up and add a touch of luxury to the party.Integrate wellness and relaxation: Staying at a private villa for a milestone birthday means you can party hard and rejuvenate even harder. Leave gaps in the itinerary for guests to relax in the beautiful space and attend to their well-being amid the festivities.Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are some frequently asked questions and answers about choosing a private luxury villa for a family birthday trip.Why Are Private Villas Ideal for Milestone Birthdays Compared to Traditional Venues?Private villas can be ideal for milestone birthdays because they offer personalization, exclusivity and a range of environments for guests to enjoy. Birthday celebrations can include intimate moments with luxurious views, service staff and unmatched comfort.What Kind of Services Can I Expect When Renting a Luxury Private Villa for a Celebration?Some of the services you can expect when renting a luxury private villa for a celebration include:Private chefsConciergePre-arrival planningBartendersSpa and wellness servicesLocal guidesHousekeepingEntertainmentCan Private Villas Accommodate Specific Dietary Requirements or Special Requests?Private villas can accommodate specific dietary requirements or special requests as they tend to offer a high degree of customization. With dedicated staff, such as private chefs and bartenders, they can curate dishes and drinks according to your guests’ preferences and restrictions.Unlike in a restaurant, chefs at private villas are dedicated to serving you and your guests only, so they have the time to cater to your specific requirements, like food allergies or personal preferences. Private villas can also accommodate Kosher travelers.Make Priceless Birthday Memories at a Private VillaPrivate villas can set the ideal backdrop for your milestone birthday celebration, making it one to remember. With so many different themes to choose from and types of villas to match, you’ll have diverse options. Compared to typical birthday venues like restaurants and banquet halls, private villas offer a more intimate, immersive and luxurious experience.This story was produced by Villa Punto de Vista and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to design QR Code placement based on the traveler's journey

How to design QR Code placement based on the traveler's journeyThere's always that moment in every trip when you're holding your phone up, desperately searching for a WiFi signal, while standing next to a sign that probably has all the information you need—if only you could read it.QR Codes were supposed to solve these frustrations. One quick scan should connect travelers to WiFi passwords, local maps, menu translations, or boarding updates. The technology works perfectly when travelers actually notice and scan the codes.That's where placement becomes everything. Put a QR Code where travelers are rushing past, and it gets overlooked. Place it where they naturally pause while waiting for elevators, standing in queues, or sitting at gates, and scan rates soar.This article from Uniqode breaks down the eight phases of the traveler's journey, showing travel and hospitality teams exactly how to use QR Code placement to influence behavior, reduce operational friction, and increase conversions.You'll find practical examples and placement strategies you can implement immediately.Strategic QR Code placement across the travel journeyEvery traveler's journey unfolds in predictable stages, and each stage offers specific moments where QR Codes can create value.From the initial booking to the flight home, travelers move through distinct phases with different needs, attention levels, and decision-making patterns. Understanding these phases and where QR Codes fit naturally within them transforms random placements into strategic touchpoints that deliver measurable ROI.Phase 1: Planning the tripPhase 1 offers airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies (OTAs) high-conversion opportunities with minimal implementation costs. The travel journey usually begins long before anyone arrives at the airport. This is where travel and travel-adjacent brands can nudge upgrade, pre-arrival, and app-download decisions with almost zero extra cost.A few examples of how brands can integrate QR Codes into the existing materials travelers interact with during this stage stand out:Airlines placing a QR Code inside booking confirmations for seat upgrades: This works because travelers usually revisit their confirmation at least once to check times, verify details, or share the itinerary. A scan placed here removes the extra steps of reopening the airline app or navigating through menus. It converts upgrade intent into immediate revenue with zero additional marketing spend.Hotels using pre-arrival emails to let guests select room preferences: Pre-arrival messages are already part of most hotel workflows, so adding a QR Code here keeps the experience clean. Travelers can choose pillows, amenities, or early check-in while they’re still planning, which reduces lobby delays and helps the hotel prepare ahead. This drives ancillary revenue while reducing front desk workload.Travel agencies embedding QR Codes in booking summaries to surface updated itineraries: Booking summaries are often referenced multiple times before a trip. A QR Code that opens the most current version of the itinerary avoids confusion, especially when plans change. This reduces support requests and keeps the traveler up to date with the latest schedule.The QR Codes that perform best in this phase make the next step obvious and remove any friction slowing the traveler down.Pro Tip: Include QR Codes as the first element in booking confirmations. Travelers often skim these emails quickly, so front-load the scan opportunity before they scroll away.Phase 2: The journey to the airportPhase 2 gives mobility, retail, and transit partners multiple high-intent touchpoints with predictable dwell time. Travelers have their phones out, with some idle time, and specific needs such as navigation, payments, and last-minute planning checks.Because of this, QR Codes placed in transit environments tend to work best when they’re tied to something immediate, such as payments, playlists, app downloads, or simple information that helps the traveler move with more confidence.Cab and ride-share operators can place QR Codes on headrests or dashboards for tipping, providing feedback, or downloading their app. It’s a natural scan point because travelers typically have a few idle minutes during the ride and are already using their phones. A scan here becomes an easy, low-effort interaction that can drive app adoption rates better than traditional methods.Retail brands around airports can also capitalize on this pre-arrival window. Some can place QR Codes on ride receipts or door panels to surface time-sensitive promotions. Because travelers often arrive early or wait around before check-in, offering something relevant before they even step inside the terminal increases the chance of discovery.Public transit operators have predictable engagement windows. QR Codes placed at station entrances, inside buses, or on platform signage make real-time schedules or navigation tools accessible and can reduce customer service inquiries.This phase is more about momentum, because travelers are moving, but they still have a few seconds to scan when something feels within reach. QR Code placements that respect that flow perform well here. They give clarity, speed up small tasks, and keep operations running smoothly.Phase 3: Check-in and screeningCheck-in and screening provide airlines and airports with some of their highest-volume QR Code opportunities, including boarding education, loyalty sign-ups, and queue management.Airlines use this phase to surface practical information. A QR Code placed at a self-service kiosk or check-in counter can link to baggage policies, boarding instructions, or a quick walkthrough of how to tag a bag. Because travelers often pause here anyway, a scan replaces costly staff interactions while improving customer satisfaction scores.Airports maximize operational efficiency through strategic placement. QR Codes can be placed near queue entrances, barriers, or digital boards to help travelers check real-time wait times, find multilingual support, or access routes. The QR Code placement here reduces bottlenecks and improves passenger flow.Other areas include:Frequent flyer enrollment: Some airlines can place QR Codes at boarding zones or ticketing counters to make loyalty sign-ups a quick action instead of a long form. It works because travelers often wait here with their phones in hand.Security and accessibility information: Airports can use QR Codes around security checkpoints to surface queue times or mobility assistance options. This provides travelers with a sense of orientation, eliminating the need for staff intervention.Pro Tip: Place QR Codes on surfaces that already carry instructions, such as baggage drop zones or counter signage. Travelers instinctively check these spots when they need help, and they catch the eye without breaking the flow.Phase 4: Waiting to boardPhase 4 is the moment where the rushing stops and people finally have time to look around, send updates to their friends or family through their phones, or simply wait for the flight announcement.This is where QR Codes become easy to use and notice, especially when they surface something relevant: flight updates, entertainment, airport maps, or nearby retail offers. Travelers aren’t trying to complete complicated tasks here; they’re mostly trying to fill the time, confirm details, or explore what’s around them.Airlines can place QR Codes on gate display screens to provide real-time updates, entertainment options, or quick access to their app.Retailers around gate areas can use QR Codes on storefronts or counter displays to offer time-sensitive promotions or tax calculators. Airports can use them near seating zones and digital boards to help travelers navigate the terminal or check amenities before boarding begins.‍Pro Tip: To make the most of this phase, QR Codes should stay as close as possible to where travelers naturally face, i.e., gate screens, seating clusters, and storefronts. Anything placed behind or far away from where travelers are seated tends to be ignored because people rarely get up once they’ve found a spot.Phase 5: In-flightThe in-flight environment is one of the most predictable phases of the journey. Travelers are seated, mostly stationary, and interacting almost entirely with what’s directly in front of them.In this phase, QR Codes work well when they connect travelers to something they can use during the flight or right after landing, such as a network connection, content, meal information, and quick access to destination details.For example:1. Wi-Fi access from seatback trays or display panelsPlacement: Beside the cup holder, on the tray table, or on the seat displayWhy it works: It’s the first surface travelers see and interact with after sitting down, and the action (connecting to Wi-Fi) is immediate.2. Destination content through in-flight magazines or menu cardsPlacement: Inside the menu, in-flight magazine, or on the seatback pocket insertWhy it works: Travelers browse these materials to pass the time, so linking to guides, shopping, or local tips fits naturally into the browsing moment.3. Meal and product details from packaging or snack catalogsPlacement: On meal trays, snack packaging, or duty-free catalogsWhy it works: Passengers already check labels or flip through catalogs; a QR Code reduces questions about ingredients or product information and makes browsing easier.Phase 6: Arrival and stayPhase 6 shifts the traveler into another round of important decisions, including navigating immigration, locating baggage, arranging transportation, and checking into the hotel.These are moments where travelers are actively searching for direction, and that makes QR Codes especially useful when they’re placed where they naturally stop or ask questions.QR Codes can be placed in arrival halls for customs, baggage claims, or onward travel details. Because most travelers walk into this area looking for instructions anyway, the scan becomes the shortest path to the information they need.Hotels can use this same pattern in phase 6. Place QR Codes at the front desk or on room doors to enable digital check-in, Wi-Fi access, or room keys. Guests often arrive tired or in a hurry, so giving them a way to complete these steps instantly helps them avoid waiting in line.In pickup zones, QR Codes can be placed near taxi stands or curbside waiting areas to help travelers book rides or understand local regulations. This is relevant because travelers arriving in a new city often need quick guidance on how to get started, and a scan here removes uncertainty before they step into a vehicle.Arrival and stay moments are full of micro-stops where travelers lean on signage or staff for direction. QR Codes placed in those exact touchpoints give them a faster route, reduce the questions staff have to answer repeatedly, and keep the arrival experience smooth for everyone.Phase 7: Sightseeing and explorationOnce travelers settle in, the journey shifts from logistics to discovery. This is the phase where people explore museums, neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and cultural sites.Since travelers are looking around, taking photos, or trying to understand their surroundings, it naturally increases the moments when a scan feels useful.A few examples from the report show how this plays out:Immersive cultural experiences: Museums and cultural centers can place QR Codes beside exhibits so visitors can open audio guides, AR layers, or artist notes that add depth to what they’re viewing.Retail and food and beverage discovery: Restaurants and shops can include QR Codes on menus or storefront displays to help travelers browse items, check ingredients, or redeem small offers while deciding where to eat or what to buy.Emergencies and health support: Pharmacies and clinics can add QR Codes to prescription labels or checkout counters, giving travelers access to instructions, translations, or quick links to telehealth when they need clarity.Sightseeing is full of optional interactions, and QR Codes fit naturally into these moments because they give travelers more context at the exact places they pause.Pro Tip: Use dynamic QR Codes in sightseeing areas to update content seasonally without reprinting. You can switch from summer events to winter activities, update hours, or change featured exhibits while keeping the same physical code in place.Phase 8: Returning homeThe final phase offers high-leverage post-trip conversion moments. Brands can use QR Codes to collect reviews, deliver invoices, promote loyalty offers, and keep travelers engaged even after their trip ends.Here’s how the report shows airlines, hotels, and retailers can use QR Codes at this point in the journey:Airlines: QR Codes in post-trip emails make it easy for travelers to leave reviews, access invoices, or unlock loyalty offers.Hotels: QR Codes on room doors or checkout counters simplify digital checkout and give travelers quick access to invoices.Retailers and tour operators: QR Codes on receipts or thank-you notes let travelers track deliveries, view trip photo albums, or claim post-trip rewards.Pro Tip: Time post-trip QR Code communications for when travelers are most likely to engage. This could be typically two to three days after return when they're settling back into routines and processing their experience.Placement as the lever for better QR Code performanceAcross every phase, the strongest results come from QR Codes placed inside moments travelers pay attention to.For travel and hospitality brands, these placement recommendations for each stage of the journey can help make incoming marketing campaigns yield better results. Start by placing your QR Code correctly, and the rest of your QR Code strategy becomes easier to execute and measure.This story was produced by Uniqode and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to support a loved one with PTSD

How to support a loved one with PTSDWhen a family member or friend has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be hard to know what to do to help. You probably wish nothing more than to see them healthy and at peace. But your loved one’s diagnosis might be taking a toll on your well-being too.Providing the support your loved one needs throughout their journey starts with a deeper understanding of this condition. Rula explored how PTSD affects those living with the condition and how their loved ones can create space to support them.Key TakeawaysCommon symptoms of PTSD, like irritability, flashbacks, mood swings, and social isolation, can take a toll on relationships. However, it’s important to remember these symptoms aren’t a choice.You can support a loved one with PTSD by initiating a conversation about their mental health. If they’re not ready to talk, respect their boundaries and ask if you can follow up with them at another time.Supporting a loved one with PTSD or another mental health condition can be challenging. So be sure to look after your own well-being by setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care.Understand how PTSD affects your loved onePTSD is a complex trauma disorder. It can arise out of chronic or acute traumatic events and affect people in different ways.If a loved one has been diagnosed with PTSD, you might witness them behaving in ways you don’t understand. They might push you away despite your efforts to help. This can be a confusing experience, but remember their behavior might not be intentional. Trauma can change a person’s brain and take a lasting toll on their mental health.You can deepen your understanding of your loved one’s experience by familiarizing yourself with common PTSD symptoms, which include:Flashbacks or nightmares of the traumatic eventSocial isolationJumpinessFrequent irritabilityDifficulty sleepingFrequent, sudden mood swingsTrouble with focus and concentrationIf your loved one is exhibiting any of these symptoms, you could feel scared, confused, frustrated, or any number of other challenging emotions at the same time. Just remember that your feelings are valid and you deserve support too. And while PTSD symptoms can be hard for everyone involved, know they can be managed with the right support.Creating space for deeper understanding and supportIf you’re struggling to initiate a conversation about PTSD with your loved one, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t taught how to have tough discussions about mental health, so it can be hard to know where to begin. You might worry you’ll say the wrong thing or even make things worse.The truth is that there’s no perfect way to have this conversation, and it’s OK to make mistakes. By taking a little time to prepare, using some of the tips below, you can show your loved one that you care and help them feel less alone.Consider the time and placeTalking about PTSD can be a delicate matter — especially when bringing it up for the first time. So, be intentional when you choose a time and place for this conversation. Look for a quiet, private space where you won’t be interrupted. Choose a time that works for you and your loved one, when neither of you will feel rushed.Respect their boundariesIf your loved one seems resistant to talk about PTSD, don’t force the issue. Simply let them know that you care and you’ll be there when they’re ready to talk. You can also ask if it would be OK to check in with them in a week or so, and then follow up at that time. However, if your loved one is showing any signs that they might be unsafe, don’t hesitate to seek outside help.**A note on safety: If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, don’t hesitate to call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support with trained crisis counselors.Listen activelyWhen a loved one is struggling, it’s natural to want to find an immediate solution. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is listen. Show your loved one you want to understand what they’re experiencing, even if it’s difficult to hear. Reflect what you’ve heard, avoid judgement, and offer empathy.For example, you could say something like, “It sounds like you’ve been having nightmares lately and it’s really affecting your sleep. It makes sense why you’re exhausted. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”Offer logistical helpPTSD can take a toll on executive functioning skills like organization and time management. So if your loved one is having difficulty making appointments or taking other steps to care for their mental health, offer a helping hand. This might include driving them to therapy, watching their children while they’re at their appointment, or offering to make dinner during a busy week.Know their triggersWhile you can’t prevent your loved one from being triggered or having a flashback, knowing what might elicit a strong reaction is helpful — especially during early recovery. Use your own observations but don’t make assumptions. Ask your loved one about their triggers and make a plan for navigating them together.Encourage them to ask for helpMost people with PTSD require professional help to manage their mental health. So if your loved one isn’t already accessing care, encourage them to do so. You can also offer to help them find a trauma-focused provider who takes their insurance.Nurturing yourself while caring for othersWhen a loved one is living with a mental health condition like PTSD, it can affect everyone in their support network. But to be there for your friend or family member, you need to nurture your own well-being too.No one can be in a caregiving role 24/7 without a break, and it’s OK to set some boundaries. By taking time for yourself and doing activities that reduce your stress level and lift your spirits, you’ll be better able to help your loved one.Clinician’s take“Having a supportive loved one is one of the key ingredients for those who learn to manage their PTSD and live more fulfilled lives,” clinical reviewer Elise Miller, MA, LPC, explained. “Loved ones can have such a powerful effect.”Find careIt can be hard to watch a loved one navigate PTSD, and it can be hard to know what to do — especially if their diagnosis is affecting you as well. But rest assured that with the right support, your loved one can learn to manage their PTSD symptoms and maintain their mental health.Clinically reviewed by Elise Miller, MA, LPCThis story was produced by Rula and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Robinhood wants to be the Costco of finance

Robinhood wants to be the Costco of financeWhen Robinhood thinks about how it positions its Gold membership program, it doesn’t just look at other brokerages or financial services apps for inspiration. It looks at companies like Costco.“We want it to be the best deal in financial services,” Abhishek Fatehpuria, Robinhood’s vice president of product management for brokerage, told Finder in a wide-ranging interview about how the company builds products. Finder “There are a lot of analogs we look at that are not in the financial services industry that we respect a lot when we think about Gold. We think about Costco as a model for what we want to do with Gold. You buy the Costco membership and you just know the moment you walk into a Costco, you’re getting the best deal and the best products, no matter what you’re buying.”Amazon Prime, he added, is another reference point — a successful membership business alongside Netflix and Spotify. “When we think about what we aspire for Robinhood Gold to be, it’s kind of the best deal in financial services.”It’s an unusual framing for a brokerage, and it helps explain not only why Robinhood looks the way it does today but also where it’s headed.A different way of buildingFatehpuria joined Robinhood as an intern in 2016, three years after the company launched. At the time, Robinhood had about 40 people working out of a small office in Palo Alto. Nearly a decade later, he’s overseeing a product surface that now spans commission-free stock trading, options, futures, retirement accounts, a credit card, and an AI assistant called Cortex. Most recently, the team launched agentic trading, which allows customers to authorize a third-party AI agent to execute trades in a dedicated, customer-funded Robinhood account.For a company shipping that much, that fast, the natural question is how it all fits together. Open the Robinhood app today and the surface area is genuinely large — but the products feel intentional rather than bolted on. To Finder, which has reviewed Robinhood’s app and products extensively over the years, the coherence is unusual for a fintech expanding this fast.Fatehpuria said it’s intentional. The team’s first criterion for any new product is whether it would succeed on its own, independent of Robinhood’s existing customer base.“Each product we have independently should be successful,” he explained. “If it has to ride the coattails of one of our existing products, it probably means that product in and of itself isn’t the best version of that product.” Finder He pointed to the 3% IRA match and the Robinhood Gold credit card as examples — products he believes would attract customers regardless of whether the rest of Robinhood existed. Only after a product passes that bar does the team start thinking about how it fits into the larger ecosystem.“A lot of products jump to the second step very early,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Okay, I’ve already got this huge base of users, I have a very successful product, now let me just add things onto it.’ One thing we’re very intentional about is: ‘Will these products be independently amazing?’”A lesson learnedFor all of Robinhood’s product velocity, not everything has landed. Asked about a lesson the team learned the hard way, Fatehpuria pointed to a recent example.“A couple years ago, we had this bigger redesign of the Robinhood app that we had tried. It was modular — you could move little widgets around on the screen. We didn’t roll it out very widely, but it was a big overhaul, a big change from how it’s worked for 10 years. Customers didn’t love it. The numbers showed that it wasn’t really working.”Robinhood took a different direction. Since then, the team’s approach to evolving the core app has shifted to something more incremental — tweaks to navigation, search improvements, performance upgrades — rather than sweeping redesigns.“That was a big lesson for a lot of us,” Fatehpuria said.The discipline of saying noOne of the more striking things about how Fatehpuria talks about product is his framing of restraint. Customers constantly ask Robinhood for new products, but not every request becomes a roadmap item.“There’s a lot of things every year that we say no to,” he said. “For me, when we’re talking about the roadmap, there’s a distinction between someone saying they want something and it being the reason they would leave the platform. I would much rather be in a position where a customer is like, ‘I love what Robinhood has to offer, but they don’t quite offer the exact thing I need yet, but when they offer it, I’ll come to Robinhood,’ than be in the position where they’re saying Robinhood offers everything, but it’s not great.”That approach can frustrate vocal customers. Fatehpuria acknowledged he sees the complaints — particularly from active traders. “I’ll look on Twitter and I’ll see the complaint. Someone’s a super active trader, and they’re like, ‘Why is Robinhood spending all this time building this other thing that doesn’t really matter to me?’ And the answer is because that matters to a lot of people. Maybe it doesn’t matter to that specific person.”A feature most customers don’t know aboutAsked what feature he thinks is underused, something Robinhood customers would get more value from if they knew it existed, Fatehpuria said the multiple brokerage accounts feature the company launched last year.“It really helps you separate your strategies, which is a big thing for investors. I might have my actively traded portfolio on one side, and then my dividend, long-term investing portfolio. That feature really helps me separate the two, watch their PL [profit and loss] differently, see how each is independently doing.”He said it’s underused partly because of discovery, partly because of education and partly because it requires some setup. “It takes a little bit of work because you have to open a new account. We try to make it as seamless as possible. But it’s really, really powerful. The customers who use it end up loving Robinhood a lot more.”What’s next: AI as the interfaceThe conversation eventually turned to where Robinhood is headed, and Fatehpuria was direct about one thing: AI is core to the product’s future.Cortex, Robinhood’s family of AI products, is approaching one million users, he said. The current lineup includes stock-level digests, portfolio-level digests and a conversational assistant that’s still being iterated on.The hardest part of building AI in a financial-services context, Fatehpuria said, is correctness.“Because we operate in financial services, the bar for correctness is very high. We’re not going to random websites and pulling information to answer questions. We’re carefully vetting the data vendors, carefully vetting what data is being used. The tolerance for errors is much lower, especially when it’s right in your brokerage account.”And looking out a year? “You’re going to have to stay tuned for that for the most part,” he said. “But at a high level, we think about AI from how can it best assist active traders? Active traders are the ones consuming lots of data to come up with unique edge and unique insights that they can trade on. So that’s one angle. And the second, more medium-to-long-term angle we’ve been thinking about with AI is how do we meaningfully give you financial guidance?”Why he’s still at RobinhoodAlmost ten years at one company is rare in tech. Asked what keeps him excited, Fatehpuria pointed to the roadmap and his team.“We have infinite ambition. The roadmap is packed. We always have things we’re saying no to. We’re not searching for things to say yes to, which is a sign that the roadmap is full. We have lots of products to build.”He pointed to AI, private markets through Robinhood Ventures and other technology trends as areas the company is investing in. “There’s just so many interesting things that we can do and are doing. In addition to that, the talent density at the company is very high. So I get a lot of enjoyment working with everyone here.”To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Laycock as part of our fact-checking process.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The security challenge behind America's biggest party

The security challenges behind America’s biggest partyIndependence Day is one of America’s biggest celebrations, with thousands of temporary events happening across the country, all at the same time. For security staff, this can create problems, including overcrowding, heavy traffic, unfamiliar layouts, and lots of people trying to leave at the same time.The Fourth of July is huge, as AAA projected that 72.2 million people would travel at least 50 miles from home during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations. With this year marking 250 years since American independence, the scale of public gatherings is likely to receive even more attention.Large numbers of people gathering in one place have always created security challenges, but it’s not just crowd size or camera coverage that matters. It’s also crucial that security teams can see what is happening and respond quickly, and that they can prove the occurrence of a reported incident after the fact.Videoloft explored the biggest challenges security staff face during Fourth of July celebrations and the best strategies for maintaining public safety during these events.Temporary events create blind spotsLarge public gatherings, like those on Fourth of July weekend, can create problems because crowds and pressure points change throughout the day. For instance, when people arrive, pressure is created at roads and entrances. During the main event, the attention needs to shift to viewing areas and stages. Finally, when people are leaving, another set of risks is created, especially when people are exiting in the dark.These are often the moments when incidents occur, and they don’t have to be dramatic to be significant. Examples include a queue blocking an exit, a visitor falling on a walkway, or an unauthorized person entering a restricted area.The security team's job isn’t just to turn security cameras on, but to identify pressure points early, before situations become difficult to manage. Before the gates open, staff should be checking if entrances, exits, and restricted zones are covered, who can access footage if something happens, for how long the video is kept after the event, and if footage can be shared quickly with the right people.Fireworks get the headlines, but they’re only part of the storyFireworks receive most of the public attention around Independence Day, and it’s not hard to see why — the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that fireworks caused a significant 14,700 injuries and 11 deaths in 2024.Ensuring that fireworks are being safely operated requires professionally trained operators and designated safety zones, and cameras can’t prevent these injuries from happening.Venue security often focuses on areas outside of the main fireworks display area. Teams need to keep restricted areas secure, make sure emergency teams have access, and keep an eye on the rest of the site while the public's attention is focused on the display.Security teams are keeping an eye out for pressureVisible security measures such as bag checks, police, barriers, and safety signs are what the public sees when they attend an event. However, most security depends on the details visitors don’t see. Measures such as CCTV cameras and radios help security staff monitor the site so they can identify where attention is needed.At a busy public event, teams may be checking whether an exit route is still passable, whether a medical team has a clear path, and whether there are enough staff where the pressure is building.Video surveillance is becoming more and more important when it comes to event security. At busy, crowded events, video footage provides context such as crowd movement, blocked routes, staff response times, and whether incidents are isolated or part of a broader pattern.For security teams, context is often the difference between a useful record and a useless one.The footage before the fall may matter more than the fall itselfSecurity is often associated with terms like “crime,” “violence,” and “terrorism,” but in reality most of the time-consuming issues that arise after an event ends are routine, such as slips and falls or complaints.Slips and falls illustrate the importance of evidence. At public events, the most useful footage may be from the minutes before and after the fall or trip, not just the incident itself. CCTV can reveal important contextual information. For example, it can show if the surface was visibly wet, if the area was overcrowded, and how quickly someone responded.These points may be difficult to recall from memory, especially in crowded, fast-moving environments. Clear video records help establish facts.Having cameras isn’t the same as having usable evidenceIt is easy to assume CCTV issues are about the number of cameras monitoring an event. Sometimes this is true, but more often the issue is whether the video system aligns with how the site actually operates during events.For example, a stadium might have great coverage inside the building but weaker visibility in overflow areas like car parks or temporary pedestrian routes.There are also practical details to consider, like footage retention time. Video may be kept for only a short period before it’s overwritten. Different parts of a site may use separate systems. The person who knows how to retrieve video may not be available when a request comes in. A recording may exist but be difficult to locate, export, or share with authorized parties.It’s important these operational issues are taken into account because many incident reviews take place long after the event has ended and relevant CCTV footage has been overwritten.Independence Day will test the detailsIndependence Day already brings large numbers of people together in public spaces, but with the 250th anniversary coming up, those numbers are likely to be larger than ever.This year also brings the FIFA World Cup to North America, which is one reason the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published resources around large-scale event safety and security.For event organizers, the lesson is not that every public celebration needs to feel more heavily controlled. This can damage the experience and create unnecessary friction for visitors.The best approach is to understand the site and plan for potential pressure points like what might occur in parking lots or at concession stands, and make sure incident evidence can be accessed later if it's needed.The public will remember the fireworks, the music, and the atmosphere but security teams will remember the things that worked and the things that need improvement before the next event. The real test lies not in making public celebrations feel more controlled, but in making sure the operational details are strong enough to keep them safe.This story was produced by Videoloft and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Musser Public Library, Muscatine, cuts hours after funding reductions

As Muscatine prepares for Independence Day weekend with open parks, pools, and recreation amenities, the city is sharing important updates about upcoming service adjustments at Musser Public Library. These changes, driven by reduced government funding, will take effect Wednesday, July 1, a news release says. This summer, Musser Public Library will implement several service modifications [...]

KENT WORLDWIDE celebrated grand opening of the World’s Best Cat Litter manufacturing facility

Sitting on 70 acres, the 174,000-square-foot facility is equipped with research and development spaces and is designed for future growth opportunities to meet growing consumer demand.

Hy-Vee hosting entrepreneurs for Business Summit this fall

Small business applications now being accepted for Opportunity Supplier Impact Summit on Sept. 9-10 at Hy-Vee corporate headquarters in West Des Moines.

Family Credit Union, Davenport, appoints Hoepfner as senior vice president of lending

The Family Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Davenport, has announced the addition of Bob Hoepfner to its leadership team. He brings more than 30 years of lending experience to The Family Credit Union. He began his career in consumer finance in 1992, with early experience in Iowa, before moving into private banking [...]

Several more days of dangerous heat

An "Excessive Heat Warning" lasts until Wednesday night for the Quad Cities (Thursday night for Knox County). Shower and storm chances increase starting Thursday and some of the storms could be strong to severe. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Bishop Hill Heritage Association to present free Dancing Queen concert

The Bishop Hill Heritage Association has announced that Dancing Queen, an ABBA tribute band, will present a free concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12, in the village park in Bishop Hill. This live, all-ages, two-hour show is full of musical precision, flair and fashion. They perform more than 30 ABBA hits, from "Waterloo" to [...]

Band from Australia, "The Voice" contestant, will perform in two Cambridge concerts

A band from Australia and a contestant on "The Voice" will star in two Ca d’Zan House Concertss presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections in Cambridge, according to a news release. Singer-songwriter Abigayle Oakley will bring her compelling blend of folk, wit and lyrical honesty to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Friday, July 10. [...]

Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, offers free math acceleration camp

Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf, will host a free Personalized Learning Math Acceleration Camp from July 6–10, offering area students the opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence and personalized instruction can work together to enhance mathematical learning, a news release says. The camp is designed for students entering grades 5 through 8 and combines [...]

Iowa Quad-Cities invite input on public transit, Illinois study coming soon

Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge and LeClaire residents are being asked to fill out a survey about what they want to see from public transit in the Iowa Quad-Cities.

John Deere Classic livestream to offer rare, behind-the-scenes look at tournament’s impact

KWQC+ will air a June 30 livestream offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at the John Deere Classic’s history, volunteers and major community impact ahead of tournament week.

Retiring Superintendent Brian Strusz on what it was like serving Pleasant Valley for 30 years

Brian Strusz will retire this week after three decades with Pleasant Valley, including seven years as superintendent. Read what he had to say as he heads into retirement.

The Grand Tour

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.To cooperate or to compete is one of those dilemmas at the heart of the American experience. Is that classroom best…

After Trump's re-election, these U.S. scientists found jobs in the U.K.

More U.S. scientists are heading abroad. Three researchers explain why they decided to shift their research to universities in the U.K.

Inside the coordinated strategy to radically reshape U.S. immigration

As the Supreme Court today weighs the Trump administration's effort to revoke birthright citizenship, NPR looks at what else the White House has done to curb illegal and legal migration.

Venezuelans deported from the U.S. were killed hours later in powerful quakes

146 Venezuelans were deported from Texas to Caracas on June 24. Hours later, while the deportees were in a guarded hotel, powerful twin earthquakes struck.

Explosion in Monaco injures 3, including Ukrainian tycoon

A blast from an explosive device has seriously injured three people at a residential building in Monaco, and the attacker fled to France, local authorities said.

Happy Joe's holds America 250 block parties

Restaurants in Davenport and Bettendorf joined in the festivities.

Planned Parenthood closing Iowa City location

In-person services will be moved to Des Moines.

WQUD Vintage Radio suffers transmission tower troubles

Spotty internet at the Geneseo tower keeps interrupting WQUD's broadcast signal.

Davenport health systems settle with DOJ for more than $4 million

The DOJ alleges overuse and thus overbilling for heart pumps between 2016 and 2022.

Here's what you need to know before heading out to the John Deere Classic this week

WQAD is proud to once again be the official station for the tournament, which runs from July 1-5 at TPC Deere Run.

Davenport awarded community catalyst grant for rehabilitation of historic building

The City of Davenport received a $100,000 grant from the State of Iowa to support the redevelopment of Raphael’s Emporium at 628 Harrison Street.

How to see June's Strawberry Moon

The moon reaches peak illumination at 7:56 p.m. ET.

Hook's Pub & Grill, Clinton, closes permanently after fire

According to a Facebook post, a Clinton bar is now closed permanently after a devastating blaze. "We got the word (Monday) that Hook's Pub & Grill is a total loss, so it's with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Hook's Pub & Grill," the post says. "Hooks' wasn't just a neighborhood bar - it [...]

Colona baby pantry offers support to parents

As the cost of raising a child continues to climb, one local church is helping families save money on baby essentials.

Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui gets 30 years in U.S. prison for fraud conviction

Guo said he came to the U.S. to destroy the Chinese Communist Party. But the judge said he instead diverted investor money to live lavishly.

Arconic eagle nest collapse leaves community concerned, experts optimistic

After Arconic's eagle nest fell on Sunday, wildlife rehabilitators believe the two eaglets likely survived and expect the parent eagles to continue caring for them.

MercyOne Genesis offers heat safety tips

Summer heat safety recommendations from MercyOne Genesis Convenient Care.

3-vehicle crash at Main and McKinley closes road in Keokuk; 2 hospitalized

Main Street is closed from McKinley Avenue to Belknap Boulevard.

Extreme Heat Warning until WED 10:00 PM CDT

Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Wednesday

NJ joins multi-state challenge to Trump administration Medicaid rule

New Jersey is one of 24 states suing the Trump administration over new rules it says will make it harder for sick people to stay on Medicaid. (iStock / Getty Images Plus)New Jersey is one of two dozen states that sued the Trump administration Monday claiming that work rules the federal government recently issued for the Medicaid program are unlawful in how they reduce protections for people who are medically frail.  Led by New Jersey Attorney General Jen Davenport and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, the 74-page complaint alleges a federal rule issued June 3 goes far beyond what is contained in the law Trump signed last July that requires certain adults in Medicaid to document that they are working, volunteering, or in school at least 20 hours a week to continue receiving healthcare benefits.   The work requirement, which starts in January, applies to some 550,000 Medicaid members in New Jersey, primarily low-income adults. The lawsuit focuses largely on how the new rules define “medically frail,” a category of recipients who are automatically exempt from proving that they are employed.   “The rule makes it harder to access Medicaid by shrinking exemptions to the work requirement,” Davenport told reporters Monday.   The law suggests “medically frail” includes people who are disabled, have chronic or complex health conditions, or are struggling with substance abuse. Davenport said that under the new rule, a doctor’s diagnosis alone may not excuse Medicaid enrollees from work, noting that patients still may need to “jump through bureaucratic hoops” to prove that this condition also “significantly impairs” their ability to work.  “Imagine that you are diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and that’s still not enough to prove you can’t work the hours this administration requires to allow you lifesaving care,” she said.   In all, Medicaid covers about 1.8 million Garden State residents, and state officials predict at least 360,000 will lose their benefits because of the federal changes.   Monday’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, targets the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which issued the rule, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the centers. The department did not respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit also claims the new rule ignores real-world evidence from states that have implemented work rules in Medicaid, changes that have not increased employment levels but have shown to strip eligible residents of their benefits over paperwork errors alone. The administration also didn’t consider that multiple studies have shown at least two-thirds of Medicaid recipients nationwide are already working, in school, or caring for a loved one, it notes.   The lawsuit also faults the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for placing an unlawful burden on states with the rule, which differs significantly from the guidance the agency had provided state officials earlier in the process. State governments have until August 31 to communicate the changes to Medicaid members, a timeline the attorneys general say is now impossible given the concepts outlined in the new rule.   “Defendants’ action will cause immediate and irreparable harms to Plaintiff States’ operation of their state Medicaid programs. It will further strain safety net providers, lead to more uncompensated emergency care, and raise other costs associated with newly uninsured, medically frail residents. And it will cause rural hospitals to be even more likely to shutter,” the complaint reads.   The other states in the lawsuit are: California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor

Open since 1988, Davenport Golden Corral to close

After nearly 30 years in operation, the Golden Corral in Davenport is closing its doors. The location's last day will be July 6. Our Quad Cities News reached out to the general manager, who wouldn't give a reason for the closing. The buffet restaurant first opened in 1988, offering all-you-can-eat fare for a flat rate. [...]

Jordan Spieth returns to Deere Run for John Deere Classic

Tuesday night, KWQC will be airing an hour long show on KWQC + called Countdown to the Classic at 6:30 p.m.

Experts share tips to stay safe as Quad Cities heat climbs

With temperatures climbing into the 90s this week, experts share how to stay safe, from hydrating early to keeping your home cool.

New life for piece of Davenport history?

A piece of Davenport history is getting a new chance at life. The City of Davenport was awarded a $100,000 state grant to help revive Raphael’s Emporium at at 628 Harrison St. The building dates back to the late-1800s. It has been a tin shop, rag warehouse and a cigar manufacturing site. The building has [...]

55 to 60: speed limit changes come Wednesday in Iowa

Drivers will see a change in the speed limit from the traditional 55 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour on some two-lane paved highways.

Maryland officials promote third year of Sun Bucks to help stave off summer hunger among students

Families who qualify for Maryland Sun Bucks receive $40 per child each month in the summer. Last year, 630,000 Maryland students qualified for Sun Bucks. (Photo by Lance Cheung courtesy of USDA)Maryland families struggling to put food on the table can receive a monthly boost in food assistance dollars this summer, as Maryland Sun Bucks kicks off for the third year to help alleviate the “hunger gap” that occurs when schools close. Gov. Wes Moore hopes to build on last year’s success, when 630,000 Maryland students qualified for Sun Bucks, equating to $75 million in benefits. “This program has been a critical lifeline for families to bring food to their table,” Moore said in a statement Monday. “No child should ever go hungry, and the success of Sun Bucks has brought that goal closer to reality, ensuring students have access to essential meals to thrive in the summertime.” Lower-income families across the state often rely on schools to help feed their children breakfast or lunch. But those meals are less available during the summer when schools close. That’s why Maryland joins 38 other states participating in the federal summer grocery benefit program aimed at low-income families. Sun Bucks provide those households with an additional $40 per month per child on their food assistance cards to help afford groceries from June through August. Most kids who qualify for Sun Bucks will be automatically enrolled due to their family’s participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid and similar programs. The additional grocery benefit will drop directly into the household’s electronic benefits card. Those who are not enrolled in those programs can check in with the Maryland Department of Human Services to see if their families qualify for the summer benefit. “We want to ensure that summer can be a season of fun and growth for our children,” said Maryland’s Department for Human Services’ Acting Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers in a written statement. “Sun Bucks helps reduce concerns about access to nutritious food and meals.” Courtesy of Maryland Matters

Michigan governor threatens to pull troops from D.C. if used for Trump task force

Michigan Gov. Whitmer is one of four Democrats who sent their states' National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. ahead of America 250 celebrations in recent weeks, amid President Trump's ongoing — and controversial — deployment in the city.

New DUI-related resource opens in East Moline

There are over 21,000 DUI arrests in Illinois every year, and a new resource opened in the QCA to help people navigate DUI-related requirements and recovery services. Elevated Treatment and Recovery Solutions dedicated its new location at 918 15th Ave., East Moline. The company provides DUI evaluations and driver-risk evaluation services. In Illinois, anyone arrested [...]

Arconic Eagle Cam nest falls with eaglets inside

Liberty, a mother bald eagle feature in front of hundreds of millions of viewers on the Arconic Eagle Cam, lost her home June 28. The nest dropped out of the tree with her two eaglets, Artemis and Apollo, sitting inside. They are just old enough to start using their wings and were able to glide [...]

State commission returns to monitor insurance coverage under Trump administration

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant during a meeting of the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)Almost 10 years ago, Maryland lawmakers pulled together a watchdog group of state officials, representatives for insurance companies and healthcare advocates to monitor health insurance coverage under President Donald Trump’s first term. The group disbanded during President Joe Biden’s term, but now as the second Trump administration pushes policies that could shake thousands of Marylanders off their insurance plans and increase healthcare costs, the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission is back. “The reason that we are here is that, although we’ve made many changes over the last decade… we need more,” Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery), co-chair of the commission, said Monday. “Because things are changing, we have less federal support,” she said. The General Assembly initially created the commission in 2017, which operated through December 2021. Last year, lawmakers passed legislation to revive the 25-member group, and the latest iteration met for the first time on Monday. “So now we will begin looking at these new programs, new possibilities and perhaps improving our current programs, being as innovative as we can,” Cullison said. Cullison co-chairs the commission with Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City). Also on the commission is Maryland Health Secretary Meena Seshamani and Maryland Insurance Administration Marie Grant, along with representatives for health insurance companies, advocates for healthcare access, physicians and others. Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission co-chairs Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City) and Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery) lead the first meeting of the revived commission previously established under the first Trump administration. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters) “The composition of this commission is really important,” Seshamani said during the meeting. “I think it is important that we have all aspects of the healthcare ecosystem here together working through these problems … there are pushes and pulls that we are all going to have to be grappling with together.” As of the Monday meeting, there are seven vacancies on the commission to be filled by appointments from Gov. Wes Moore and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel). The first meeting was largely organizational, with presentations from state insurance officials and administrators of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, updating the commission on the recent premium rate increase proposals and ongoing concerns of reduced enrollment in health insurance. “I want to acknowledge: No one in Maryland thinks their health care is affordable,” said Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant, “but in comparison to the rest of the country, Maryland does have the lowest individual market.” That’s partially because of some of the policies put out by the commission’s previous iteration. Maryland health insurers want to raise premiums an average 13.7% for individual plans in 2027 One such measure is what’s called the reinsurance program, a special fund through which insurers are reimbursed for a portion of the costs of patients requiring the most expensive care. The reinsurance program is funded through a 1% assessment on health insurance policies and is currently set to end in 2028. To extend the program, Maryland lawmakers would need to pass legislation in 2027 to ask for an extension from the federal government, which would then approve, or reject, the extension. The reinsurance program helps keep costs down for consumers by offsetting the financial impact of expensive healthcare. In recent years, available funds from the assessment have been used to sustain the state’s young adult subsidy, which helps keep generally healthy Marylanders enrolled in insurance plans who may otherwise skip out on coverage to save money. The young adult subsidy program was also developed out of the previous commission’s work. Extending the reinsurance program will likely be a reoccurring topic, among many others, as the commission continues to meet throughout the year. The most recent concern is the 13.7% rate hike Maryland insurance companies are requesting. It’s the second year in a row insurers have asked to steeply raise monthly premium rates for those who buy insurance on the state’s insurance marketplace. Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition, during a meeting of the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters) The proposed rate increase, if it’s approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration, will add to rising healthcare costs all around. Meanwhile, future Medicaid work requirements may lead to people losing coverage as well as families struggling to stay enrolled due to  increased paperwork. Despite those challenges, Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition who sits on the commission, said it was the policies from the previous commission that left Marylanders “much better off” than some in other states. “There is a lot more we have to do,” DeMarco said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maryland Matters

District judge blocks Nebraska Environmental Trust diversions as lawsuit plays out

Members of the Nebraska Environmental Trust at a meeting in early 2026. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — A district court judge granted a temporary motion Monday blocking the transfer or spending of funds diverted from the Nebraska Environmental Trust in the past two legislative sessions while a lawsuit challenging the transfers plays out. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong granted the temporary injunction as part of a lawsuit from two former state officials. They seek to declare unconstitutional $28.52 million in legislatively authorized transfers in lottery proceeds that were directed to the Environmental Trust but later legislatively diverted to other funds. The lawsuit argues those transfers were unconstitutional and have been used to close budget shortfalls, not for environmental purposes as voters intended in the 1992 or 2004 elections. The Trust was created when voters approved the state lottery in 1992. It is intended to “complement” governmental and private programs via competitive grants that “conserve, enhance and restore the state’s natural environments,” the lawsuit says. “I think the balance of equities is in the plaintiff’s favor at this point and, mostly, because it is in the public’s interest to make sure that those funds are spent lawfully,” Strong said. Judicial reasoning Strong, in court Monday, said the plaintiffs — W. Don Nelson, a former chief of staff to then-Gov. Bob Kerrey, and Job Oberg, a former director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services that oversees various funds for state agencies — had a “probability of success on the merits.” “I’m not saying it’s absolute, don’t get excited, but I’m also saying the plaintiffs will be irreparably harmed if the temporary injunction is not granted,” Strong said. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong presides over a hearing in a case revolving around legislative authority and lottery proceeds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. June 29, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office is defending State Treasurer Joey Spellerbeg, director Lee Will of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, state budget administrator Neil Sullivan, director Jesse Bradley of the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment and director Tim McCoy of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Strong, who became a county judge in 2006 before being elevated to the district court in 2015, said she could foresee a situation where, by not granting a temporary injunction, the state would transfer and spend the funds, rendering the case moot, thus tying Strong’s hands. Transfers and spending frozen Spokespersons for the AG’s Office, Spellerberg and the Game and Parks Commission declined to comment on the ruling. Spokespersons for the other agencies, as well as Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen who oversees them, did not respond to requests for comment by publication. The injunction covers four sections of law in Legislative Bill 264, which passed in 2024 for a total of $15 million in transfers from the Environmental Trust, and two sections of LB 1072, which passed this year for a total of $13.52 million in transfers from the Environmental Trust. Transfers and spending blocked under injunction LB 264 (2025) — Sections 71* ($3M), 72* ($8M), 73* ($2M) and 87 ($2M) LB 1072 (2026) — Sections 117* ($7.52M) and 118 ($6M) *Transfers have been completed, so the temporary injunction immediately blocks further spending. Spellerberg’s chief of staff said three of the four sections in LB 264 were completed Dec. 31, 2025. One $7.52 million transfer in LB 1072 was completed April 23. The other two sections of law — $8 million total — call for transfers between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. The $7.52 million transfer this April diverted funds to the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund. Lawmakers simultaneously swept $8.52 million from the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund to the state’s main checking account, helping to close the state’s budget deficit. Of funds already transferred, Strong’s order also blocks further spending. “No transfers have occurred since the State Treasurer’s Office received the complaint May 21, 2026,” Spellerberg’s chief of staff said in an email. Pillen had proposed taking millions more from the Environmental Trust, which lawmakers did not approve. Core legal arguments Gutman told Strong the case is about “constitutional interpretation,” namely Article III, Section 24, and how much “legislative discretion” voters left behind after amending the Nebraska Constitution in 2004 to guarantee funds be diverted to the Environmental Trust. Carlton Wiggam, an assistant attorney general in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. June 29, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) That year, the Legislature asked voters whether to limit authority over lottery funds. Gutman said before voters weighed in, lawmakers had near “unfettered discretion” over using lottery funds. Carlton Wiggam, an assistant state attorney general, said 44.5% of lottery funds go to the Nebraska Environmental Trust each year, as voters directed. He argued that the guardrails Gutman and his team say exist in the Constitution do not. “The plain language meaning of this is really just that this is telling someone who’s reading the Constitution, ‘Here’s where you go to look to see how this money is being spent,’ which is in the act itself,” Wiggam said. Wiggam said some legislative discretion was lost following the 2004 vote, but he told Strong the Legislature didn’t see that as ending discretion altogether. He cited lawmakers amending the laws underpinning the Environmental Trust 10 times since 2004, including the first change immediately in 2006 to authorize a transfer and various other transfers since. “Clearly, they still thought that they had the authority to do this,” Wiggam said. Case will play out in district court Gutman said the state’s argument treats the Environmental Trust as a “parking lot,” that if enough funds are placed into the account each year, it doesn’t matter how they’re used. Attorney Daniel Gutman of Lincoln, center, in Lancaster County District Court in a separate case arguing Nebraska’s medical cannabis laws are preempted by federal law. May 20, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) He said that would void voters’ wishes from the 2004 election. “It’s as if the people just wanted to set up more red tape and bureaucracy, establish some parking lots, and then give the discretion back to the Legislature,” Gutman said. “That’s not what they did.” Wiggam warned Strong that funds caught up in the injunction have already been transferred or promised to natural resource districts, municipalities, some landowners, public power districts and irrigation districts, and all for environmental purposes. The state, in a brief against the injunction request, said blocking the funds could specifically tie up improvements at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area or jeopardize various other projects, such as efforts to reduce water use, improve groundwater recharge, enhance streamflows, support wildlife habitats and protect the Ogallala Aquifer. Gutman argued the “public interest never tips in favor of an unlawful expenditure.” Strong’s order takes effect immediately, she declared, and “will last until we resolve the issue on the merits.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner

Crop report: Hot weather should ‘boost’ behind-schedule corn and soybeans

Corn silks begin to show on a corn field. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Iowa corn and soybean crops are behind last year’s pace by several percentage points, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress and Condition Report. One percent of corn in Iowa was reported as silking for the June 22-28 reporting period, which is 2 percentage points behind the same week in 2025, but only 1 percentage point behind the five-year average.  The report shows 18% of soybean acres across the state are blooming. That’s 3 percentage points behind last year’s soybean crop, but ahead of the five-year average which shows 16% of soybean acres have typically bloomed in the last full week of June.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Despite being behind schedule, corn and soybeans continue to rate well in Iowa. Corn rated 78% good to excellent and soybeans rated 75% good to excellent for the period.  Oats, on the other hand, are ahead of last year’s crop and the five-year average. According to the report, 94% of the crop had headed as of June 28, which is 5 percentage points ahead of 2025 reports and the five-year average. Oats rated 81% good to excellent. Around 20% of subsoil and topsoil in Iowa was soggy in the previous reporting period, but soil moisture conditions dried up after a week of below-average precipitation. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported 69% of topsoil moisture conditions and 67% of subsoil moisture conditions were adequate during the reporting period. Only around 10% of subsoil and topsoil were rated as having surplus moisture for the week. State Climatologist Justin Glisan’s weekly weather summary found the statewide average precipitation during the reporting period was just over seven-tenths of an inch. The normal for the period is 1.20 inches.  Temperatures across Iowa, at an average of 68.2 degrees Fahrenheit were nearly 4 degrees below the climatological normal for the reporting period, according Glisan.  A heat wave settled across Iowa on Sunday and the National Weather Service anticipates the extreme temperatures will persist through the July 4th holiday weekend.  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the hot temperatures this week should “give the crops a boost.” Naig said the nation’s 250th anniversary on Saturday should serve as a reminder that “agriculture has always been central to our nation’s story.”  “Our farmers have helped feed, fuel and sustain America since its founding, and they will continue to play a vital role in our nation’s strength, security and prosperity for the next 250 years,” Naig said in a news release. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Pa. joins multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration over Medicaid work requirement rules

Voters say the cost of healthcare will be a major factor in how they vote in this year's midterm elections. (Getty Images)Gov. Josh Shapiro announced on Monday that the state will join a multi-state legal action against President Donald Trump “for trying to rip away Medicaid from Pennsylvanians who need it most.”  “Donald Trump, Dr. (Mehmet) Oz and RFK Jr. are hellbent on trying to push aside people who rely on Medicaid to get the care they need,” said Shapiro. “But here in Pennsylvania, we’re going to keep standing up to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), have spearheaded efforts to rein in Medicaid spending under the direction of Trump.  President Donald Trump holds up the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act that he signed into law on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Brandon – Pool/Getty Images) Under last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, otherwise known as H.R. 1, certain Americans who rely on the program for healthcare coverage will be subject to community engagement requirements and must document their work or volunteer hours to keep their benefits.  There are limited exceptions for parents or those seeking treatment for substance use disorder, but the definition of medical frailty was a focus of Monday’s lawsuit. Two dozen states and Washington, D.C. also signed onto the legal filing.   “CMS’s final rule will cause harm and chaos for Plaintiff States. The work that State Medicaid agencies need to do in order to implement H.R. 1’s provisions is complex, expensive, and takes substantial time and attention to perform correctly,” read the filing. “Therefore, Plaintiffs cannot wait to see whether CMS fixes the clear deficiencies in its decision-making process before seeking legal protection for State Medicaid programs and State residents who depend upon them.”  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Earlier this month, CMS outlined guidance for states determining if an applicant is considered to be medically frail, which can include a diagnosis like cancer or HIV or disability like blindness. The new rule requires someone’s ability to work to be “significantly” impaired to qualify, a standard some found to be “restrictive.”  Citing the looming deadline to implement the new requirements by next year, the states collectively said they’d made plans with looser definitions following earlier guidance.  In addition to Pennsylvania, state attorneys general and governors from the following states joined the lawsuit, which was filed in a Massachusetts federal court: Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Hawai’i, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.  More details Other portions of the guidance “will create unnecessary bureaucracy,” according to the filing, and could cause some people to lose coverage by going beyond what was written by Congress. When Arkansas launched a similar state-wide requirement, thousands lost coverage but work participation didn’t increase. The pilot lasted less than a year.  “It will further strain safety net providers, lead to more uncompensated emergency care, and raise other costs associated with newly uninsured, medically frail residents,” the plaintiffs said. “And it will cause rural hospitals to be even more likely to shutter.”  Pa. grapples with implementing Medicaid work requirements  The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Plan was a last-minute addition to H.R. 1 to counter the latter, though states are limited in how they can support healthcare providers. Twelve Pennsylvania hospitals were identified as being “at risk” of closure in a recent report from Public Citizen because of the new Medicaid restrictions.  Many enrollees aren’t even sure if the new rules apply to them, though everyone who gets coverage under Medicaid expansion will be required to meet them.  “An individual with a serious or complex medical condition may potentially be able to comply with the community engagement requirements one month and unable to do so the next due to the flare up of a condition or fluctuation in symptom expression, for example. Other individuals, like those undergoing cancer treatment and those with uncontrolled diabetes, may be unable to work consistently,” read the lawsuit.  “For these individuals, losing Medicaid coverage is likely to cause their health to worsen and decrease their ability to comply with work requirements even further,” it continued.  States are also accustomed to more flexibility under Medicaid, catering programs to the unique needs to their residents. With medical frailty, states like Pennsylvania indicated that they would take an applicant at their word in certain circumstances, otherwise known as “self attestation,” which the federal government opposes.  Following the new guidance, certain medical frailty claims must be confirmed by a healthcare provider within six months — though past CMS communication seemed to be more lenient, according to the lawsuit.  Plaintiffs seek a stay, or pause, on the requirements related to medical frailty.  Monday’s filing isn’t Shapiro’s first time suing the Trump administration over cuts to entitlement programs. When a federal budget impasse threatened funding for food benefits in the fall, the state was a party in a lawsuit to force their restoration. Over a year ago, when Trump blocked Medicaid dollars from going to reproductive healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, Shapiro also joined on. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Davenport to close

The Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Davenport is set to close next week.

Heat wave underway in the Quad Cities

We have been watching the weather for the past few days as temperatures have heated up over the weekend for the heat wave this week. Temperatures will be maintaining the 90s for most of the week with feels like temperatures well in the triple digits for the next few days. It is no surprise that [...]

US Supreme Court will hear challenge to WA runaway youth law

The U.S. Supreme Court building pictured April 9, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will consider the legality of a Washington law to protect runaway transgender youth that opponents contend tramples on parental rights. Justices will review a lower court’s dismissal of a challenge to the 2023 statute, which allows operators of emergency shelters to notify state authorities, rather than parents, when children seek refuge as they pursue gender-affirming care and support services. As part of the case, the court will also examine related state guidelines for reuniting runaway youth with their families, and a longstanding Washington law which allows children as young as 13 to receive outpatient treatment without a parent’s or guardian’s consent. With acceptance of the case for its term beginning in October, the court will enter the fierce, nationwide debate on the boundaries between state power and parental rights.  Parents who took up the legal fight three years ago with the help of Stephen Miller, now President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, contend the state cannot withhold information, even briefly, on their child’s whereabouts. They argue the same goes for health care decisions a child may be considering, such as obtaining gender affirming care or mental health treatment. To do so violates what they describe as their parental constitutional rights. “We’re looking forward to establishing to the Court’s satisfaction that parents have legal standing to challenge laws like Washington’s — laws designed to keep parents in the dark about their children’s gender identity, consideration of gender transitions, and other subjects on which parents have a legitimate interest,” said Gene Schaerr, lead attorney for parents and organizations suing the state.  Washington law requires parents to be notified within 72 hours of their child’s arrival at an emergency shelter unless there are “compelling reasons” not to do so. If there are signs of abuse or neglect, for example, shelter staff can inform the state Department of Children, Youth and Families, which would take the lead on reaching out to parents. This court fight stems from Senate Bill 5599, which expanded the list of compelling reasons a young person feels they could be subject to abuse or neglect to cover situations where they are pursuing gender-affirming care or reproductive health services. Authored by Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, it passed along party lines and was signed by then Gov. Jay Inslee, also a Democrat. Opponents of the law tried to repeal it with a referendum, but did not gather enough signatures. Days after that effort failed, America First Legal, a conservative group founded by Miller, sued on behalf of several parents whose teenage children exhibited signs of gender dysphoria, but had not run away, and two nonprofits, International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. and Advocates Protecting Children. Both those groups oppose gender-affirming care for children. The lawsuit argued the statute “deprives certain parents — but not all parents — of their fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution to direct the care and upbringing of their children, as well as their rights to the free exercise of religion, due process, free speech, and equal protection.”  In May 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan dismissed the suit, siding with the state argument that those challenging the law lacked legal standing to sue because they could not prove they suffered actual or imminent harm from the statute. Last July, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld that ruling. The state reiterated its position in a filing opposing the petition to the Supreme Court. It asserted the parents who sued based their claim of injury “on their worry that at some point in the future, their children might identify as transgender, then might run away, then might seek refuge with a licensed shelter, then might decline reconciliation services, then might accept a referral for behavioral health services, and then might ultimately receive gender-affirming care.” The lower courts, the filing continued, found “this theoretical chain of events was too speculative to show that the challenged laws have injured or will likely soon injure.” On Monday, Attorney General Nick Brown’s office pointed to those lower court rulings upholding the contested law. “We will be prepared to successfully defend it at the Supreme Court,” said spokesman Mike Faulk.  There were 20 briefs filed in support of the court taking the case. They came from individuals, religious organizations, parent rights groups, and political coalitions. Among them was an amicus brief filed by 14 states led by the Republican attorneys general of Idaho and Florida that urged the court to intervene “to secure parental rights nationwide.” “The threat that Petitioners’ children will exercise their Washington-given right to run away and seek irreversible life-changing treatment looms over every interaction Petitioners have with their children,” reads the states’ brief. “The Ninth Circuit would not correct Washington’s trampling of parental rights, but this Court should.” Courtesy of Washington State Standard

Foster care provider urges Iowans to consider fostering amid statewide need

The state is facing a critical shortage of licensed foster parents, with only 650 licensed homes in Iowa to roughly 1,500 kids needing placement in those homes.

Foster care provider says Scott County faces critical need for more foster homes

Right now there are about 1,500 children in licensed foster care homes in Iowa, but only 650 licensed foster parents. More parents are needed in all 99 counties.

Scott County releases names of adults injured in I-80 crash, 1-year-old still in hospital

A 1-year-old who was injured in a rollover crash on Interstate 80 over the weekend continues to be treated at the University of Iowa, according to the Sheriff's Office.

More foster parents are needed across Iowa

The Iowa Data Center showed around 6,000 children in foster care in Iowa as of 2024. Children are waiting for placement in all 99 counties.

Flight sets speed record from Australia to Moline

The flight reached Moline from Melbourne in just 16 hours and 54 minutes.

DeSantis vetoes $1.7B from his eighth — and final — state budget as governor

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the FY 26-27 budget Monday. (Stock photo illustration via Getty Images)Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will leave office in January due to term limits, signed his eighth and final state budget into law Monday but not before he struck $1.7 billion in spending. The actual line-item vetoes were actually smaller — $810 million — but they fell along a familiar pattern of DeSantis using his power to axe money set aside from everything from programs that help the elderly to wiping out pay raises for Florida’s correctional officers because they were tied to another bill to build a new prison hospital. The overall $117.6 billion spending plan is less than the current year budget, which is set to expire June 30. The governor added that it was the fourth consecutive year the budget has been smaller than the previous year. “Who else is doing that? “ he asked rhetorically during a press conference at Hillsborough State College in Tampa, which is the beneficiary of $50 million in funds for capital improvements that could help the Tampa Bay Rays build a stadium there. He added: “You know, we’ve had a few people move to Florida, there, so the population’s grown, and yet we’ve been able to do it.” The biggest cut was $750 million that is supposed to go to the Budget Stabilization Fund, a “rainy day” account mandated by the Florida Constitution, which requires that 10% of revenue collections be directed there. The fund is already about maxed out, but legislators set aside additional money to increase its bottom line if voters approve a constitutional amendment in November that would require 25% of state revenue to be deposited into the rainy day fund. DeSantis has previously criticized the idea and has maintained voters will reject it. Meanwhile, during his press conference, DeSantis dwelled primarily on his budget priorities, ranging from $665 million for Everglades restoration projects to more than $1.5 billion that will go to teacher pay hikes and $30 million for a cancer treatment “incubator program.” “If you go back to 2019 until now, no question that we are leaving it better than we found it,” DeSantis said.  Prisons DeSantis vetoed a budget conforming bill, HB 5403 E, that would have required spending $50 million in each of the next 40 years for the construction of new prisons and improvements to existing facilities. The legislation also authorized the state to build a new 600-bed correctional hospital. The veto has gone largely unnoticed; Republican legislative leaders haven’t issued press statements or commented on the veto on social media. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. This isn’t the first time the Legislature included funding for prison improvements that the governor vetoed. DeSantis killed $2 million from the FY 2020-21 budget legislators included to contract for an independently prepared master plan for repair, maintenance, or replacement of state prisons. DeSantis the following year vetoed $850 million the FY 2022-2023 General Appropriations Act for construction of a new 4,500-bed correctional facility and 250-bed hospital unit. But in an attempt to prevent a veto this year, the Legislature tied the prison construction and improvements to $91.5 million in to raise correctional officer pay to $24 an hour. The strategy, however, didn’t work. During a House Democrat media availability Monday, state Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton said the Legislature “should really be thinking about ways in which we can override these vetoes, in my opinion.” But she later acknowledged it was “wishful thinking,” given the tensions between House and Senate leaders over the past two years. “The corrections budget was a massive veto on behalf of the governor,” saId Skidmore, who added that it left “many of our prison workers in dangerous, dangerous situations, not even able to get up to $24 an hour. Talk about affordability. Who can live in Florida when they are not making enough money to feed their families, let alone have any quality of life?” DeSantis suggested he vetoed the budget conforming bill because of the extensive commitment to bonding that would have been required over the years to fulfill the mandate. “It was a casualty of saying, ‘Okay, we’re going to rob Peter to pay Paul,’” DeSantis said. “That accounts for a decent chunk of the vetoes.” House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell speaks to reporters in the Capitol rotunda on May 26, 2026, while representatives debate the 2026 budget. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix) But House Democratic Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell of Tampa attributed it to the governor’s need to come out on top. “This is the type of stuff that people hate about politics. We should be able to be there for our law enforcement, you know, including our corrections officers, who work in some of the most dangerous conditions day in and day out, and so it’s a real disappointment to see the governor try to count it in those terms,” Driskell said. “But I really feel like that was just a scapegoat, and what he was really signaling is that he didn’t get his way, therefore he was taking his marbles and going home, and that’s not fair, because who loses out? Well, it’s our corrections officers, it’s our entire corrections system, frankly, that needs those resources to modernize, to improve, and to keep both the officers and the folks who are housed in those facilities safe.“ In a near-hour-long press conference, DeSantis said he spoke to legislators before the vetoes and told them, “Listen, you know, I respect what you guys put in the budget, I don’t always agree, but I know it’s meaningful to a lot of people, and we want to accommodate.” The list The governor didn’t release his actual veto list to the public until hours after his budget press conference.  During the afternoon press conference, Driskell said she was still reviewing the vetoes but that some of the victims of DeSantis’ pen included programs that support veterans, children with autism, opioid and drug prevention programs, seniors, and pregnant mothers. “Funding equals priorities, and helping Floridians remain our Number One priority. We don’t take it lightly that people are struggling to provide for themselves and their families. This is not a game for us, and we are fighting with every tool we have in our toolbox to address the issues surrounding affordability. This is not about politics or whose side you’re on. We’re talking about real people with real needs. And I grew up knowing that where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” Driskell said Democrats had about twice as many projects vetoed by the governor as their Republican counterparts. “And what’s so unfortunate about that is that regardless of whether or not your district is represented by a Democrat or a Republican, there are people of all political stripes in those districts, so it’s unfair to see the governor punish Democrats.” She said the governor also likely took aim at Republicans who had disagreed with his policies. “So it’s just, it’s really icky, and it’s the partisan underbelly of politics that people hate,” she said. DeSantis did not veto additional funding for a drug assistance program for people with HIV called ADAP, an acronym for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Advocates had challenged the DeSantis administration’s attempt to drastically reduce the program by alleging a $120 million deficit. The battle resulted in two separation appropriations: a near $31 million in the spring during the regular session and another $75 million in the actual FY 26-27 budget passed during a special session.  “This victory belongs to our whole coalition, the clinicians, providers, and people living with HIV who told their stories at real personal cost,” said Esteban Wood, director of advocacy and legislative affairs at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “We led this fight together. For months, it was a promise. Today it is the law, and people can finally breathe.” Courtesy of Florida Phoenix

Niabi Zoo reveal genders of 3 new Pallas's cats

All three of the new arrivals are boys.

Moline man sentenced to 15 years for drug charges

A Moline man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug charges. According to public court documents, Donell Hines, 37, distributed approximately three-and-a-half ounces of crack cocaine between March and April 2025. At Hines’ home, law enforcement found distribution quantities of fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana. Lab testing showed that some of the [...]

What is the state of Iowa's foster care system right now?

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new law that changes how foster care parents are trained. The goal is to reduce barriers and increase the foster parent pool.

After an Iowa inmate’s death, state prison nurse’s license is suspended for 90 days

The Newton Correctional Facility in Iowa's Jasper County. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Corrections.)Iowa regulators have suspended the license of a state-employed nurse accused of providing inadequate care for a prison inmate who died hours later. In October 2025, the board charged Penny Lynn Daniels of Newton, a registered nurse who worked for the Iowa Department of Corrections, with committing an act that might adversely affect a patient’s welfare, failing to assess or accurately document a patient’s status, and committing an act that causes physical, emotional or financial injury to a patient. According to the board, Daniels worked for the state at the Newton Correctional Facility in September 2024 when she failed to provide an inmate with adequate medical care. The board alleges other medical personnel informed Daniels of the inmate’s “worsening symptoms,” which included fever, nausea and vomiting. According to the board, she added electrolyte fluid to his medication order but did not assess his condition and informed others that the inmate had a virus. The inmate died a short time later from a perforated ulcer. The Board of Nursing resolved the disciplinary case with a settlement agreement that calls for Daniels’ license to be suspended for three months. Daniels must also complete educational training in the area of ethics and maintaining professional boundaries with patients, although it’s not clear how those subjects are related to the charges in Daniels’ case. After 90 days, Daniels’ license will be placed on probationary status for three years, during which her practice will be subject to monitoring. According to board records, the board first issued Daniels an Iowa registered nurse’s license in July 2012. State employment records indicate that from 2015 through 2017, she worked for the Iowa Department of Human Services at the Glenwood Resource Center for individuals with disabilities. In 2018, Daniels began working for the Iowa Department of Corrections, earning up to $93,000 per year as a registered nurse there. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Daniels for comment Monday. Death led to other board charges and a lawsuit Court records indicate the disciplinary case against Daniels stems from the September 2025 death of Malga Harun Yanga at the Newton Correctional Facility. A civil lawsuit filed by Yanga’s estate against Daniels, the State of Iowa and others, alleges Yanga had a week-long history of stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting blood by the time he twice saw Daniels on Sept. 3, 2024. By that time, the lawsuit claims, Yanga had “vomited such a large amount of blood, it was all over his hands and the floor of his cell and multiple inmates had to clean it up.”  The lawsuit alleges Daniels was informed that Yanga continued to vomit blood, was unable to speak, had severe abdominal pain, and could not walk — and that Daniels did not perform any additional nursing assessments or request a physician assessment. About 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2024, a cellmate of Yanga’s banged on the door and yelled for help from correctional officers, saying Yanga was unresponsive, seizing and making “jerking, twitching” movements. The lawsuit alleges a correctional officer refused the cellmate’s request for medical attention by stating Yanga had already been to the medical clinic and “we’re not taking him again.” At 5 a.m., Yanga’s cellmate again called out for help, after which corrections officers found Yanga unresponsive. The officers allegedly initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation before pronouncing Yanga dead about 45 minutes later. The defendants in the civil case have denied any wrongdoing. The case is scheduled to be tried on May 4, 2027. One of Daniels’ co-defendants in that lawsuit is registered nurse David Allen Arterburn of Altoona. Like Daniels, Arterburn worked at the Newton prison and saw Yanga in the days before his death, the lawsuit alleges. The Iowa Board of Nursing has charged Arterburn with committing an act that may adversely affect the welfare of a patient, failing to assess or report the status of a patient, and committing an act that causes physical, emotional or financial injury to a patient. A board hearing in the Arterburn disciplinary case is scheduled for July 17, 2026. Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Arterburn for comment on Monday. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Stay safe from severe heat: Here's how from QC doctor

The forecast for the week leading into the July 4 holiday and the John Deere Classic calls for an extended stretch of hot and humid weather. In a news release, MercyOne Genesis Medical Center has tips to protect yourself from the dangers of heat exhaustion. MercyOne Genesis Medical Center Emergency Medicine Medical Director Michael Craddick, [...]

2 westbound lanes between 7th and 16th Streets closed

The lane closures are expected to remain in place through Wednesday, July 1.

Officials release names and conditions of those involved in weekend I-80 vehicle rollover crash

A 31-year-old female and a 23 month-old female infant are both in the hospital after a single vehicle rollover near Walcott Saturday afternoon.

Locks and Dam 15 Auxiliary Lock to open for holiday weekend

Some good news for boaters planning to go out on the Mississippi River over the 4th of July weekend.

Davenport Community School District names new administrators for 2026-27 year

The Davenport Community School District has named new administrators for the 2026–2027 school year effective July 1, a news release says. "Strong leadership is essential to creating exceptional learning experiences for our students," said Superintendent TJ Schneckloth. "Each of these administrators has demonstrated a deep commitment to educational excellence, collaboration, and student achievement. We are [...]

Crews respond to multi-vehicle crash near Quad Cities Airport

Crews are on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Moline.

House passes bill that would ban ride share ‘surveillance pricing’ based on personal data

The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. (Photo by Peter Hall/Capital-Star)Charging different prices for ride-sharing services based on a customer’s personal data would become illegal in Pennsylvania under legislation passed Monday in the state House. Surveillance pricing is the practice of using information about a consumer gathered from personal devices or other sources and charging different prices to individuals or groups based on their likely willingness to pay.  State Rep. Andre Carroll (D-Philadelphia) introduced a measure that would outlaw the practice by transportation network services such as Uber and Lyft. In remarks on the House floor, Carroll focused on surveillance pricing by ride-share companies, which have long adjusted their prices based on demand. He noted trips using ride-share services Uber and Lyft have become essential for Pennsylvanians to get to work, doctor’s appointments, pharmacies and other critical services.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “These are not luxury trips for many people,” Carroll said. “Ride-share services have become an important part of daily life and necessary means of transportation, because these services play such a vital role. Consumers should be able to trust that they are being treated fairly.” The bill passed with a 198-4 vote and will now go to the Senate for consideration. Simultaneously, Sen. Lindsey Williams said she would introduce her own legislation in the Senate to ban surveillance pricing in a broader range of services. “No one believes the grocery store clerk should be allowed to add 10% to your bill because of what you wore to the store,” Williams said in a news release. “But that’s exactly what happens in surveillance pricing. You’re being charged more because of who you are, not because the item is more valuable.” According to Williams, Maryland, Connecticut, California, and New York have laws banning surveillance pricing. Similar legislation is being considered in 20 other states and in the U.S. Congress.  She cited investigative reporting that found companies including Instacart, Target and Delta Airlines and other companies have used artificial intelligence to experiment with pricing based data about consumers.  In April, Target agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office alleging the company changed prices on its app when customers entered a store to charge them more.  Williams also noted Consumer Reports found Uber routinely charged customers different prices for the same rides. Uber has contested the magazine’s findings, saying that it used a flawed methodology, non-representative samples and “a fundamental misunderstanding of how an open and dynamic rideshare marketplace works.” Uber said it does not engage in surveillance pricing or customize prices to individual consumers. The bill passed Monday includes provisions for discounts to recognizable groups such as veterans or teachers.  Rep. Jeremy Shaffer (R-Allegheny) said while he believes in the free market’s power to spur innovation, technology sometimes moves faster than policy and requires guardrails to protect consumers. “This bill prevents egregious behavior from charging extra for rides based on a low battery that you might have on your cell phone, or even what type of cell phone that you might have,” he said. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star

25 Democratic-led states sue Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements

Rhode Island Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha in Providence earlier this year. Rhode Island is one of 25 Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia that have sued the Trump administration over its new work requirements for people who get their health insurance through Medicaid. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)Twenty-five Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration over its new work requirements for people who get their health insurance through Medicaid. At issue is a “medically frail” designation that the states say is too narrow and will make it too difficult for ill and disabled people to remain on Medicaid. They’re challenging the administration’s guidance on who can be exempt from the work requirements included in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the broad tax and spending measure President Donald Trump signed a year ago. Medicaid is the publicly-funded health insurance for people with low incomes. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility to more adults under the Affordable Care Act — 40 states plus the District of Columbia — must require those adults to prove they’re working, going to school or serving their communities for at least 80 hours a month to receive Medicaid. Georgia, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, which have used federal waivers to expand their Medicaid programs, are also subject to the new work rules. The new lawsuit specifically targets new federal guidance that narrows the definition of who can qualify as “medically frail,” a key exemption used to excuse Medicaid recipients from work requirements if they have serious disabilities or illnesses. The guidance came in the form of an interim final rule published this month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). States face tight timeline as feds unveil new Medicaid work requirement rules The Democratic attorneys general and governors who are plaintiffs in the suit claim the feds surprised them with this new rule months after they’d already been working with CMS on how to implement the work requirements. “This eleventh-hour attempt to further narrow protections for medically frail Medicaid recipients seeks to punish those who cannot fend for themselves,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, a Democrat, in a statement. “Further, this Administration is once again attempting to sidestep Congress by unlawfully reinterpreting the law, and coercing the states to rush to implement their last-minute changes or face penalties,” he said. To qualify as “medically frail” and therefore exempt from work requirements, the new guidance says, a Medicaid recipient must have a significant health condition and be significantly impaired in their ability to work. It’s a distinction the states say Congress did not make in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The states also claim the new guidance violates federal law by ignoring evidence that work requirements cause people to lose coverage due to red tape. For example, Arkansas tried instituting work requirements for Medicaid recipients in 2018, during Trump’s first term. A federal judge halted the policy less than a year later, after 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Studies later found that Arkansas’ work requirements didn’t increase employment. A recent analysis from the Urban Institute projects that 3-7 million people could lose coverage because of the new work requirements. Supporters of the new work rules say they are sufficiently flexible and that the category of who qualifies as “medically frail” remains broad. “This rule helps Americans build skills and independence through work, education, job training, or community service, creating new opportunities for themselves and their families,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a statement earlier this month announcing the new guidance. The lawsuit says states have already invested significant resources into implementing the new work requirements based on the original law’s language and prior federal guidance. They’re staring down an August 31, 2026, deadline for notifying Medicaid recipients about changes to the “medically frail” designation, a timeline the states say is not workable. They face financial penalties for not meeting the deadline. States are expected to put the new work requirements into place by January 1, 2027, though the feds could choose to grant them temporary extensions through 2028. The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline

The Temporary Protected Status program may effectively be over. Here's what we know.

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Arkansas launches mobile app to navigate new food stamps junk food ban

Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of County Operations Director Mary Franklin (left) demonstrates how to use the agency's new app to help food recipients navigate new changes to the program at Edward's Food Giant in North Little Rock on June 29, 2026. At right is DHS Communications Chief Gavin Lesnick. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas Department of Human Services launched a new mobile app Monday to help food stamp beneficiaries navigate a new ban on junk food purchases that will go into effect this week. Arkansas is one of several states that received federal permission to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds to purchase soda, candy, juices with less than 50% natural juice and other highly processed foods. The ban will be enforced Wednesday, the start of the state’s new fiscal year. AR SNAP Companion allows users to scan grocery items with their phone cameras to learn whether a product can be purchased with food stamps or whether it’s deemed too unhealthy. The app will include information about why a product is ineligible for SNAP and give suggestions of what to buy instead, DHS Division of County Operations Director Mary Franklin said. “By combining technology, education and beneficiary support, we are working to make this transition as simple and successful as possible for Arkansas families,” Franklin said in a Monday news conference at Edward’s Food Giant in North Little Rock. More than 220,000 Arkansans in about 118,000 households received SNAP benefits as of April. AR SNAP Companion is available on Apple and Android devices. DHS created the app with the help of Sifter Solutions, a Chicago-based consultant that provides regularly updated lists of restricted products to retailers in states with SNAP junk food bans. The state entered a $1.2 million contract with Sifter in May. The app will include a series of videos called “Make It Snappy,” instructing SNAP users on budget-friendly healthy recipes, produced by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Culinary Medicine program, Franklin said. Arkansas Retailers Association Director Steve Goode expresses support for the state’s upcoming implementation of a ban on purchasing highly processed foods with food stamps at Edward’s Food Giant in North Little Rock on June 29, 2026. At right are state Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville; Rep. Karilyn Brown, R-Sherwood; Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock; Rep. Brandon Achor, R-Maumelle; and Rep. Alex Holladay, D-North Little Rock. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas Retailers Association worked closely with grocery stores and DHS to make sure the junk food ban can be implemented smoothly, Director Steve Goode said. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the ban is necessary to reduce rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease statewide. “On one floor of DHS, our state has been approving food stamp purchases for soft drinks and candy, while on another floor, our state’s Medicaid program is paying to treat the chronic diseases those products can help create,” Sanders said. SNAP recipients in five states sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture in March, alleging that the “practical effect” of the junk food bans is “to destabilize food access for every SNAP participant in the affected states.” The lawsuit also claims that people with chronic illnesses are “losing access to products they need to manage blood sugar or sustain diets they need to maintain baseline health care needs.” A federal judge sided with the plaintiffs last week and blocked Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia from enforcing the SNAP junk food ban, but the ruling does not affect Arkansas. Advocates for food assistance have said the ban will further stigmatize the use of SNAP and that beneficiaries do not make unhealthy foods a priority when they already have a limited amount of funds. Experts have also raised concerns that the increased digitization of SNAP, including the use of apps, makes food aid more difficult for senior citizens and other technologically challenged groups to access. Looming federal cuts prompt concerns about food aid in Arkansas Arkansas will be on the hook for an additional $24 million in SNAP administrative costs within the next couple years thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. State leaders have not increased DHS’ budget, raising more concerns from advocates that the agency will not have the resources to handle the extra work. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also incentivizes states to keep their rates of overpaying or underpaying SNAP benefits below 6% in order for the federal government to continue to pay 100% of the cost of assistance. States with error rates above 6% will pay at least 5% of SNAP benefit costs starting Oct. 1, 2027. Arkansas’ error rate has consistently been above that threshold. It was 7.43% as of April, an increase from December. For fiscal year 2025, which ended Sept. 30, 2024, Arkansas’ error rate was 8.81, according to USDA data. The national SNAP error rate for FY 2025 was 10.62%. The rate accounted for $10.1 billion in erroneous payments nationwide, according to a Wednesday USDA news release that calls the errors proof of “significant waste at the state level.” Millions of Americans eligible for SNAP in 2023 were not enrolled in the program, according to a data analysis released earlier this year. Arkansas grocers will have to implement another federal rule in November in order to be allowed to continue accepting SNAP benefits. Most grocery stores will be required to stock at least seven different products in each of the four major food groups and offer perishable products in at least three groups. Specialty stores such as butcher shops and farm stands will be exempt from the rule. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate

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Trust, not uncertainty, should guide the future of organ donation in SC

(Left to right) Dave DeStefano stands with Rose Hood, sister of a donor; and Amy and John McArdle, parents of a donor, at We Are Sharing Hope's headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 2026 on National Blue and Green Day, an annual event encouraging people to register to be a donor. (Photo courtesy of We Are Sharing Hope)Lives are saved every day through the generosity of organ donors and their families. And behind each donation is a complex, around-the-clock effort to honor that gift and help it reach someone in need. As South Carolina’s federally designated organ procurement organization, We Are Sharing Hope SC is part of every step of that process, from sitting with a grieving family in a hospital room to ensuring a donated kidney reaches a recipient safely. With 157 staff members serving communities across South Carolina, our work is rooted in a local presence and a commitment to those we serve. That community connection is essential because organ donation depends on trust. Our team members understand that organ donation is far more than a medical process. It is an act of extraordinary generosity, often made during moments of profound loss, and requires compassionate professionals who understand local cultures, traditions, and values. For more than four decades, Sharing Hope has earned that trust while continually improving its service. Since 2022, we’ve reported an increase in the number of organ donors in South Carolina by 44% and the number of lives saved by South Carolina organ and tissue donors by 37%. And we have been consistently recognized as a top workplace, helping attract and retain the skilled professionals this work demands. Which is why the situation Sharing Hope and organ procurement organizations across the country are facing is so concerning. The nonprofit that coordinates organ transplants in SC could fold under federal change In 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced new performance metrics intended to strengthen accountability among the nation’s 56 organizations. Instead, these flawed metrics have created significant confusion and fear, and have placed high-performing organizations, including Sharing Hope, at risk of decertification. The primary flaw in the metrics outlined by the federal agency is that they do not adequately account for factors outside an organization’s control. Factors like population health, causes of death that affect the ability to donate, and differences in state health data collection. For states like South Carolina, which faces significant challenges in population health and access to care, these omissions can produce misleading comparisons and distort actual performance. The fairness and legality of these metrics are now the subject of ongoing federal litigation and rulemaking. And the uncertainty created by these metrics is already negatively affecting decisions across the donation system. Recently, Prisma Health, one of our valued hospital partners, submitted a federal waiver request to transfer its federally designated organ procurement services to a North Carolina hospital system. We value our partnership with Prisma and, by their own account, Prisma’s decision was not prompted by dissatisfaction with Sharing Hope or the care and service we provide. Rather, it was a response to the federal metrics that remain under legal and regulatory review. Prisma Health seeks split with SC organ transplant coordinator facing decertification That should concern everyone who cares about organ donation. When major decisions are driven by uncertainty, the consequences can extend far beyond a single organization or state. Organ donation depends on a carefully coordinated network of hospitals, donor families, transplant centers, and organizations working together with trust and stability. Policies that create confusion risk weakening the partnerships that make lifesaving transplants possible. In the case of Prisma’s request, the consequence of this uncertainty risks transferring care of South Carolina donor patients out of state to a North Carolina hospital system. It would re-direct South Carolina’s donation resources — which are meant to serve our community — to support a North Carolina hospital system. And it would place control of organ sharing practices in the hands of a North Carolina hospital system that has its own transplant program and priorities, creating a genuine conflict of interest with no explanation or controls to ensure fairness and equity in organ sharing for patients in South Carolina. As policymakers, regulators, and healthcare leaders consider the future of organ donation in South Carolina, we urge them to focus on what matters most: supporting donor families, transplant recipients, and the systems that connect them. Any decisions should be guided by fair and accurate metrics that reflect real-world conditions and reward meaningful results. At Sharing Hope, our commitment remains unchanged. Every day, we work alongside hospitals, healthcare professionals, and communities across South Carolina to honor the gift of donation and help save lives. We are proud of the trust South Carolinians have placed in us over the past two decades, and we remain dedicated to earning it for decades to come. Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette

4 chinchillas dead, 3 kittens and 1 cat rescued after Burlington house fire

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Venezuela's deadly quakes put its U.S.-backed government to the test

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Davenport receives $100,000 grant to help redevelop Raphael's Emporium

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Omaha dental school gets $4.6M nibble of $50B federal rural health fund

A patient receives care at a Creighton University dental clinic. The Omaha-based university's dental school is one entity to receive a bite of Nebraska's portion of the $50 billion the federal government plans to distribute among all states over five years to help offset harm to rural areas due to sweeping cuts to Medicaid. (Courtesy of Creighton University) OMAHA — Omaha Creighton University’s dental school has been awarded a $4.6 million grant by the state to help expand access to oral healthcare for Nebraska’s rural and underserved communities. The funds come from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which was authorized under the mega tax and spending cut package President Donald Trump signed into law last July. In all, $50 billion is to be distributed ($10 billion annually through fiscal year 2030) among states to help offset harm to rural areas due to sweeping cuts to Medicaid, the state-federal public health insurance for people with low incomes. Creighton University School of Dentistry in downtown Omaha. (Courtesy of Creighton University) Half of the program funding is to be allocated evenly across states. The other half is to be doled out based on several factors, including a state’s rural population and policy actions, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  As previously announced, Nebraska secured the eighth-highest funding amount, or $218.5 million, for the first year of the five-year rollout. Creighton, a private Jesuit university based in downtown Omaha, has announced that it will receive $925,000 annually, or $4.6 million over five years. Asked about other entities that will share in Nebraska’s funds,  a spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Medicaid and the state grant program, said the state could not readily provide that information. Independent researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and elsewhere nationally have questioned whether the rural health grant funding will be enough to offset the structural changes to Medicaid that narrow thin margins for medical providers in less populated areas. Among initiatives planned by Creighton, representatives said, are services and clinics designed to divert patients away from seeking more expensive and often less effective care for dental crises in hospital emergency rooms. An average $3,200 cost for a dental-related ER visit often does not lead to a resolution anyway, said Jillian Wallen, dean of Creighton University School of Dentistry.  “The patient gets diagnostic imaging and often leaves with an antibiotic but perhaps without the necessary tooth extraction.” Creighton for the past couple of years has provided an “after-hours clinic” that is a less expensive alternative to the ER, and has treated more than 2,500 patients, many who travel many hours from rural areas to get relief. Guided by professors, fourth-year dental students voluntarily staff the Omaha-based clinic on certain days. Wallen said the rural health grant allows for the continuation of that program, where a typical visit costs the patient $100. Some philanthropic dollars are available for those unable to pay. Some walk-ins have been living with pain for years due to lack of insurance, transportation or trouble finding a provider, Hayley Franklin, patient navigator for the School of Dentistry, said in a statement. “The impact is visible in the moment when I have patients sitting across from me, so thankful that they were finally able to be seen, heard and provided immediate affordable care,” she said. Wallen said grant funds also will offer budding dentists a taste of working in remote and smaller areas of Nebraska. Of the state’s 93 counties, 88 are considered rural and 37% of Nebraskans live in them. A patient is treated at a Creighton University dental clinic. (Courtesy of Creighton University) Student clinical rotations in rural areas will be in partnership with the local public health departments and other entities that also are subrecipients of the rural health grant dollars, Wallen said. The hope, the dean said, is that the students, upon graduation, would then consider working in rural America, where dentists are “desperately” needed. “That they would find community — and a great opportunity to build a practice there.” Wallen said Creighton and its school of dentistry are honored to be named one of the recipients of the rural health care funds. “We recognize that access to oral healthcare remains a significant challenge for many individuals and communities,” she said. “Our responsibility as educators is to help students understand those challenges, become part of the solution and provide compassionate, high-quality care where it is needed most.”  The Nebraska DHHS web site says that healthcare providers will have additional opportunities to apply for the rural healthcare funding in each fiscal year. According to the web site, “A project of this size and scope requires participation from many stakeholders across multiple fields.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner

U.S. Supreme Court lets Nebraska-Colorado South Platte River, Perkins County Canal case proceed

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, at center, and Gov. Jim Pillen, at right, announce a lawsuit against Colorado before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to assert Nebraska's water rights to the South Platte River that crosses state lines. At left is Jesse Bradley, director of the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment. July 16, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Nebraska’s claims about whether Colorado has violated a century-old water compact or obstructed Nebraska’s plans for building a canal. In a brief motion Monday, the nation’s highest court granted the request from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and his office to file its complaint. Colorado has 30 days to file an answer. It’s the first major hurdle for claims stemming from the 1923 South Platte River Compact between the states and the proposed construction of what’s termed the Perkins County Canal. The Supreme Court will appoint a special master to oversee proceedings, conduct hearings and submit recommended findings. It could be years before a resolution is reached. “Nebraska will finally have the opportunity to prove that Colorado has violated the Compact and to hold Colorado accountable for depriving Nebraska of water that rightfully belongs to our state,” Hilgers said in a Monday statement. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Monday said Colorado is complying with the compact and is not interfering with Nebraska’s plans to build the Perkins County Canal. “Today’s court decision merely opens the door for Nebraska to bring its claims against Colorado,” Weiser said in a statement. “Nebraska’s burden to prove those claims is incredibly high, and we will vigorously defend Colorado’s full entitlements under the compact.” The compact dictates that Colorado is to deliver an average of 120 cubic feet of water per second to Nebraska during the irrigation season, between April 1 and Oct. 15. Nebraska is not guaranteed that much water, but it gives priority water access to Nebraska over newer, or “junior,” water users that have popped up over the last century. The complaint alleges that Colorado has allowed “junior” water users to access water while Nebraska has not received its promised water flows. The compact gives Nebraska the right to 500 cubic feet per second of water in the non-irrigation season, between Oct. 15 and April 1, if a canal is built. Nebraska is afforded “eminent domain” over some Colorado land to build the canal, meaning the state could seize private land if needed, which has caused consternation for some landowners in the area. Then-Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, now a U.S. senator, revived the canal idea in 2022. Hilgers was speaker of the Nebraska Legislature at the time. Nebraska lawmakers have repeatedly defended the canal and set aside more than $600 million in funding, even dipping into cash reserves and sweeping various state cash funds to help balance the state budget. U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer, the federal government’s lead lawyer before the Supreme Court, had advised the justices to take just part of Nebraska’s claim. Those were allegations that Colorado was not delivering enough water to Nebraska in the irrigation season, which Sauer called a “classic case.” However, Sauer called Nebraska’s argument over the Perkins County Canal and supposed interference from Colorado “unripe.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner