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

Saturday, September 19th, 2026
	Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it seized from Ukraine in the war Russia's parliamentary election for the first time is being held in Ukraine's regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the start of its full-scale invasion more than 4 1/2 years ago.
	As Europe warms, Italy sees West Nile virus spread Italian health authorities see evidence that rising temperatures and longer warm seasons are helping mosquitoes spread West Nile virus across a wider area, during more months of the year.
Friday, September 18th, 2026
	US and Denmark reach deal to build US military presence in Greenland President Donald Trump says he has a deal with Denmark to bolster the U.S. military presence in Greenland. The announcement comes after months of threatening to take the island by force from the NATO ally.
	War Eagle vs. Itasca This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The most famous steamboat race ever chronicled on the Upper Mississippi River was between a tortoise and a hare in…
	Traffic alert: Section of 230th Street in Muscatine to close for paving project The project is expected to be completed by August 27, 2027, weather permitting.
	St. George Greek Orthodox Church holds 'Big Fat Greek Festival' It's a celebration of music, dance and cuisine. If you don't have time to stop in, you can pick up a great meal at the drive-through.
	Judy's Family Cafe opens 3rd location in Aledo The restaurant started as just one cafe in Galesburg and has now grown into three locations, mainly due to its owner's large social media presence.
	Davenport 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigning from office The resignation is effective immediately, according to city officials.
	Editor Rose Friedman, who helped shape NPR's cultural coverage, dies at 38 Friedman was in her early 20s when she landed her first position as an editorial assistant at NPR. She became an editor and reporter, and a co-creator of the annual Books We Love reading guide.
	Iowa vs Northern Iowa - Chance for showers and storms Saturday in Iowa City It's another big game in Iowa city as the Iowa Hawkeyes host Northern Iowa on Saturday (September 19th.) And it's another day with the chance for showers and storms in Eastern Iowa. The chance is highest in the morning, but still stands around 40% during the game. In between showers, the high will reach the [...]
	Judy's Family Cafe opens new location in Aledo, Illinois After becoming a social media star, Judy Wang has been looking to expand her restaurant to cities other than Galesburg. Judy's Family Cafe opened on Friday in Aledo, at 1600 SE 3rd St. "We are super excited to be part of this community," said Wang. "Our goal is very simple: Make great food and good [...]
	Trailblazers in school desegregation will give free presentation in Muscatine Carlotta Walls LaNier of the Little Rock Nine and Dr. Leona Tate of the New Orleans Four are coming to Iowa for three evenings of conversations in October. Six-year-old Ruby Bridges is the most well-known child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. On Nov. 14, 1960, she integrated William Frantz Elementary in [...]
	Riverside Park in Muscatine to have restricted parking during cruise ship stop The city of Muscatine will temporarily close a boat launch and parking lot from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
	Care Animal Center, Davenport, to hold food drive to help QCA shelters, rescues Care Animal Center, 1502 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, will hold a Furry Friends Food Drive from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, a news release says. The 13th annual food drive will help support Quad Cities shelters and rescue groups. "Our shelters are at full capacity and are desperately seeking help from our community members [...]
	Moss Landing battery storage fire flares up again, raising new safety fears in California The burned remains of the Moss Landing Power Plant battery energy storage facility caught fire again Friday morning, prompting Monterey County officials to issue a shelter in place order — less than two years after it became one of the largest battery storage facility fires in history. Workers for Vistra, the plant’s Texas-based operator, noticed a flare-up early Friday morning against the wall of a building that burned in the initial January 2025 fire. The cause: roughly 1,500 inaccessible battery modules, still charged, spontaneously ignited, said Chief Jess Cortez with the North County Fire Protection District. “They’re in the smoldering stage right now,” Cortez said at a briefing Friday afternoon, adding that at that point there was no active fire. “The incident is very dynamic. There could be possible flare-ups.” The fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Moss Landing on Sept. 18, 2026. Photo via Cal Fire Local authorities lifted the order to shelter in place later Friday afternoon. Still, the flare-up reignites fears about battery storage facilities — even as California comes to increasingly rely on them. The state now has “the nation’s largest battery energy storage fleet,” the California Energy Commission announced in August. “If we had only known the worst-case scenarios of how not to build batteries, we wouldn’t have built Moss Landing,” said Dustin Mulvaney, a professor at San Jose State University in the school of planning, policy and environmental studies. “Because it keeps coming back to haunt us.” The incident also sharpens the tension between Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to shortcut permitting for energy and other projects, and the communities hosting these facilities. Fire, rekindled In January 2025, residents watched large plumes of smoke and ash spewing from Vistra’s 300-megawatt battery energy storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County. It was the facility’s fourth safety incident, the third on the Vistra property, since 2019, according to a letter Assemblymember Dawn Addis, a San Luis Obispo Democrat, sent state regulators last year. The fire continued for days before crews could control it, then rekindled briefly a month later. Newsom called for a state investigation. The California Public Utilities Commission began with a site visit that month. Nearly two years later, that investigation is ongoing, with a root cause analysis underway in coordination with Vistra and an independent consultant, said Terrie Prosper, a spokesperson with the Public Utilities Commission. Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church expressed frustration about the delay. “Why it takes a year and a half to come up with an answer when everything is just about near the end of being cleaned up, I don’t know,” he said. Before the state approves any more of these facilities, he said, “It’s a good idea to know what’s causing these fires.” Safety rules, too late Unlike facilities built more recently, the Moss Landing site was built in an enclosed, aging building with older battery technologies crammed closely together — allowing fires to spread quickly, Mulvaney said. Denise Grab, the Clean Energy Law & Leadership project director for the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, agreed: The site is “one of the earlier battery storage facilities in the state and in the country, even. And the design is not up to par with current safety designs.” Battery plants still carry less overfall harm than fossil fuel plants, Grab added. “There are risks from other types of energy generation as well, particularly fossil fuel,” Grab said. “Asthma, premature death, heart attacks, lung disease from fossil fuel plants is significant, and (battery plants pose) a different kind of risk.” California passed a series of safety laws both before and after the January 2025 fire, including several laws from State Sen. John Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat, aimed at better planning for — and preventing — fires. A 2022 law by then-Sen. Ben Hueso required the California Public Utilities Commission to set new standards for battery storage facilities and boost oversight of their emergency plans. But the commission didn’t bring its proposal for implementing Hueso’s law to a vote until after last year’s Vistra fire. “We should have never built Moss Landing the way we did,” Mulvaney said. “We were too late with coming up with the standards and certifications, which make batteries much safer today.” Environmental health controversy Vistra says that the cause of last year’s fire is still unknown. The energy company commissioned a study finding that chemical concentrations in nearby soil or water posed no risk to humans or the environment. “As a result, no further human health or ecological risk evaluation related to the (Moss Landing fire) event is warranted,” the report read. But scientists’ findings and resident accounts suggest otherwise. As the fire blazed for days in January 2025, residents reported wheezing, coughing, headaches and eye irritation. Researchers presented additional findings at a symposium last month, including evidence from one UC Santa Cruz researcher of elevated exposure to battery-related materials in hair samples. Scientists with the San Jose State University’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories have found high levels of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in soil around the facility. Ivano Aiello, the scientist who led the study, said Vistra’s recent report examined potential contaminants months after the fire was contained. The long-term health impacts of potential exposure remain unclear, and researchers continue studying the incident. Richard Stedman, an Air Pollution Control Officer with the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, said regulators placed four monitors at the fence line around the Vistra facility, and two more nearby: None detected unhealthy levels of particulate matter as of Friday’s briefing. Brian Roeder, founder of the community group Never Again Moss Landing, said the public’s trust in regulators and politicians who are meant to protect them continues to erode. “We’ve had 20 months to prepare for this,” he said. “Here we are again, right back where we were before, knowing this could happen.” Courtesy of Cal Matters
	Where do Alaska’s four governor candidates stand on data centers? Former Attorney General Treg Taylor, at right, speaks at a Sept. 9. 2026, forum held by the Last Frontier Republican Club at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage. Next to him, from left, are two of the other three gubernatorial candidates: former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, and former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)On the day that his campaign announced it had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from employees of a California-based artificial intelligence company, Democratic governor candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins said that if elected, he will seek to temporarily ban new computing data centers in Alaska. As Americans grow frustrated with artificial intelligence software and concerned about the side effects of data centers, they have become a major issue in this year’s midterm elections. Alaska’s gubernatorial race is no exception, particularly since the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority announced plans for a development that could include data centers in Southcentral Alaska. All four candidates — Republicans Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor and Bernadette Wilson and the Democratic Kreiss-Tomkins — have staked out different policy positions before Alaskans vote this fall. Data centers need reliable connections to the internet, cheap electricity and a cooling method. Currently, the North Slope is the most promising location for all three. One $500 million proposal on the North Slope intends to burn local natural gas for power and use the natural cold air of the Arctic. Another shipping-container-sized plan involves a gas-powered data center processing Bitcoin. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Current Gov. Mike Dunleavy has backed data centers, saying they could be an economic driver — they would create construction jobs and demand for infrastructure that would enable further development. Dunleavy is term-limited and cannot run again this year. Four candidates remain in the race to replace him. “I’m a big believer in data centers. I know that might be unpopular with some folks here,” said Bronson at a candidate forum hosted by Commonwealth North in Anchorage on Thursday. A former Anchorage Mayor, retired Air Force pilot and former director of the state’s largest airport, Bronson said he sees economic opportunity if data centers are built in Alaska, and he would like to encourage them. “The logistics (are) minimal, and there’s a lot of money in data centers, but you’ve got to deal with the noise. You’ve got to deal with the cooling, and you’ve got to deal — certainly — with the electricity. And the groups that I’m talking to, they said we’re not going to take your electricity because it’s not reliable. … We will produce our own, and we will move, and we will build our own data centers. That’s good for us. That’s a very strong revenue source,” Bronson said. At a Sept. 8 forum in Anchorage, Taylor — the state’s former attorney general — offered a similar perspective. “I think we need to embrace it,” he said of data centers. “We have all the makings of a great place for a data center to thrive and produce good-paying jobs for Alaskans,” Taylor said. He added that electricity costs are his biggest concern. Any data center must “bring their own energy,” he said, and if a data center then sells excess power it generates, it could be a benefit to Alaskans if it is cheaper than other power available nearby. “It doesn’t have to drive up costs if you do it correctly. It can produce a net savings to the ratepayers in Alaska,” he said. Bronson and Taylor each said they see data centers as the future and fear that Alaska will miss out if it doesn’t embrace them. “It’s a service everybody’s using and everybody has to adapt to and use, or you’re going to get left behind,” Taylor said. Kreiss-Tomkins is advocating a temporary pause on data center development in the state. “I support a moratorium on data center development in Alaska until the Legislature can pass a comprehensive regulatory framework for that development in Alaska,” he said during a Sept. 8 forum in Anchorage. Any limits on development would be decided by negotiations between himself and the Legislature, he said. While Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign has received large donations from people employed by the AI company Anthropic, those employees have tended to recommend restrictions on AI development as well. This year, the Alaska Senate voted 14-5 to pass a data center bill, but the House failed to take it up before the end of the legislative session. That bill would have regulated how data centers can use electricity from public utilities and would have required them to create decommissioning plans. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, will return to the Legislature next year, and the coalition majority that passed the bill is also likely to return, meaning that the next governor will likely be confronted with similar legislation. Kreiss-Tomkins has also endorsed legislation that would ban AI-generated fake images intended to mislead the public and a bill that would require political advertisers to disclose AI-generated content. Wilson, asked about her position by text message, criticized Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign for accepting large contributions from AI company employees. “Unlike Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins — better known as Chat JKT — our campaign is not funded with hundreds of thousands of dollars from California AI companies hoping to own our governor and exploit our state,” she said before explaining her position. “Our administration will make independent decisions that are in the best interest of Alaska, not big donors from the Lower 48. I will never allow Alaska to be littered with hyperscale data centers that take our resources and spoil our lands. Our natural beauty, environment and quality of life matter to every person who calls Alaska home and my job is to represent them, not big tech liberals.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Veterans will leave on 67th Honor Flight Dozens of Quad Cities-area veterans are headed to Washington, D.C., on the Hy-Vee sponsored 67th flight of the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, a news release says. On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 22, about 80 veterans will take a chartered flight from the Quad Cities International Airport to the nation’s capital. They will [...]
	State Police remind drivers, farmers to practice road safety during fall harvest As farmers continue harvesting their crops this fall, Illinois State Police remind you to stay alert and safe on the road.
	Two Davenport men enter pleas in connection with shooting that wounded bystander Two men involved in a July 2025 shooting incident in Davenport, during which a bystander was wounded, have tendered pleas in the case.
	FULL REMARKS: Vice President JD Vance speaks in Council Bluffs The vice president spoke in Council Bluffs on Friday, Sept. 18, campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn ahead of the midterms.
	Concussion treatment is changing as football season gets underway Doctors emphasize concussion awareness as football season begins, highlighting misconceptions about CTE and changing treatment approaches to aid recovery.
	Geneseo 10-year-old throws out first pitch at Wrigley Field Cubs superfan Callen Moe not only loves watching baseball, he's also a gold-medal-earning adaptive athlete who competes in softball, track, tennis and sled hockey.
	Woman arrested after stolen trailer recovered A woman has been arrested after a trailer reported as stolen was recovered.
	Annual ‘Our Big Fat Greek Festival’ returns to Rock Island church The festival continues until 10 p.m. Friday and runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
	Doctors discuss proper concussion treatment in sports Treatment of concussions is changing over time. Doctors no longer encourage concussion patients to sit in a dark room while they recover.
	Highlight Zone: Week 5 Week 5 of Highlight Zone
	Getting to Know the Man Behind Knight's Pizza: Caden Knight Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray talks with familiar faces around the Quad Cities in the Getting to Know Podcast. Learn more about important people around our area and have a good time doing it. Each week will feature a new guest from restaurant owners, to area leaders, to Our Quad Cities News Staff. In this episode [...]
	Davenport 2nd Ward alderman submits resignation Davenport 2nd Ward Ald. Tim Dunn submitted a one-line resignation letter Friday, Sept. 18.
	Prosecution seeks contempt of court charge against Jamison Fisher Jamison Fisher is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in Trudy Appleby's 1996 disappearance.
	Geneseo 10-year-old throws first pitch at Chicago Cubs game Callen Moe of Geneseo threw out the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game on Sunday. The Cubs superfan also competes in four sports, all from his wheelchair!
	Judy's Family Cafe opens in Aledo The cafe, which began in Galesburg, has become a social media sensation.
	Hancock County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Cato dies after training accident Cato “sustained a fatal neck injury after striking a glass door.”
	Greater Muscatine Chamber will present Pearl City Vintage Market The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry will present the sixth annual Pearl City Vintage Market along Muscatine’s Riverfront from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. The market will feature vendors with a variety of handmade, vintage, repurposed, and curated goods. The free event will feature live music from, a fall-inspired bar, kids craft [...]
	Alaska's salmon-feasting bears face off in biggest Fat Bear Week ever This year's single-elimination tournament will see 16 competitors face off, compared to 12 in past years. Officials report more cubs in Katmai National Park than they've seen in recent memory.
	4 Your Money \| Paid To Wait The Federal Reserve raised interest rates this week, marking its first rate hike in more than three years and signaling a shift in monetary policy. James Nelson, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, joins us to discuss what that means for everyday investors and if they should be moving money into cash right now.
	Death Notice: Patricia Hansen A funeral service for Patricia Hansen, 89, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Cornerstone Church, Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Private family inurnment will be in Rock Island National Cemetery. Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Hansen died Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Grand Haven Retirement Community, Eldridge. Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Church or Empowering Abilities (HDC). Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Sept. 23 edition of The NSP.
	Trump says he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House The president chalked the ban up to what he called unfavorable coverage, and he threatened that bans on other media companies could be coming.
	Davenport 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigning The resignation is effective immediately, according to city officials.
	Defamation lawsuit investigation underway for claims against Whiteside County Animal Control director A defamation lawsuit investigation is underway for claims made about the Whiteside County Animal Control Director James Garcia.
	Illinois’ 13 Division I Athletic Directors support Protect College Sports Act in letter to U.S. Senators In support of the Protect College Sports Act, Illinois’ 13 NCAA Division I Athletic Directors have sent a letter to the U.S. Senators from Illinois.
	Utah Fits All school voucher program’s review is up: Here’s how $94.7 million were spent Students work in a math class at Wasatch Junior High School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)When John Arthur, a Democratic representative from Holladay, read a recent report on how the Utah Fits All funds were spent last school year, he let out a big sigh. Utah’s school choice program is one of the issues that has deeply split the state Legislature. And for him, it’s an issue that’s very close to home. A report that Odyssey, the program manager for Utah Fits All, filed to the Legislature this month discloses how $94.7 million the state allocated for the program was spent during the 2025-2026 school year. After lawmakers approved tweaks to further limit the expenses families could cover with the scholarship dollars, the report looks different than last year, when items like ski passes and chaperone expenses for field trips were allowed. Arthur, also an elementary school teacher, acknowledged the program has become more restricted. Still, he says the purchases are extravagant, especially when he pays for some supplies for his classroom out of his paycheck. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “On a personal note, it kills me as I go through this report and I look at the things that the money was spent on and and then I look at my own personal budget and look at the money that I spend on Kleenex boxes and food and other supplies that I bring into my classroom for my students,” Arthur said, “while this money is just going straight from the legislature either into private schools and religious schools or into the homes of the people who are receiving it.” According to the report, 14,522 students used the program. About $57 million was spent on tuition and fees in private schools and about $27 million on educational goods, like software and applications, supplies, electronics and textbooks, among others. Utah Fits All voucher program will continue until Utah Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality Some of the largest specific expenses for goods were for art supplies (about $1.9 million), learning manipulatives ($2.5 million), STEM kits ($2.3 million), curriculum textbooks ($2.2 million), laptops ($2.3 million), tablets ($1.3 million) and 3D printers ($1.1 million). For Arthur, the electronics purchases are one of the things that make him most concerned about the program, especially since the Legislature has started efforts to keep children off screens, including a default ban on cellphones during the school day. Also, he said, because other students in the state don’t have the same opportunities. “There’s $468,000 listed here for headphones. I had to do a donation drive to get headphones that had microphones into my classroom, so that my multilingual learners who have to take the WIDA test (an English language proficiency assessment program) every February can practice with headphones that have microphones. I had to ask for charity. I had to ask friends to donate to that fund,” he said. “Meanwhile, you’ve got the Utah Fits All voucher program using tax dollars to buy people headphones that they just get to keep.” However, program proponents like Utah House Majority Whip Candice Pierucci, a Republican from Herriman, see the report under a much more positive light, especially since the Legislature made substantial changes to ensure expenses “have a clear nexus and tie to education.” With reduced scholarship for homeschool students, Utah Fits All update poised to become law “There is no other education program in our state that we audit annually and have it meet such rigid financial requirements. So, in this program we are certainly being mindful of taxpayer dollars, and we also recognize that not every child is going to fit into one system,” Pierucci said. “We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We believe in empowering parents to make decisions that are best for their kids.” Last year, lawmakers reduced the annual scholarship amount for homeschool learners, from $8,000 to $4,000 for students 5 to 11 years old. Students 12 to 18 years old could get $6,000, while private school students are still eligible for $8,000 a year to help cover their tuition or other expenses. That led to a change in the proportion of students who use the vouchers for homeschool education. About 80% of recipients last year were homeschooled. This year, that number went down to almost 48%, while the remaining 52% of students went to private schools. There was also a 20% cap for extracurriculars and physical education, and the clear exclusion of ski passes, furniture, musical instruments, apparel and other items from the allowable expenses. Amid the fracturing debate in the Legislature, Pierucci finds the notion of the Utah Fits All program taking away from public schools disingenuous, she said. “Over the past five years, the state legislature, we in the majority caucus, have increased state funding for public education by 1.8 billion, which is a 44.2% increase. So we have increased education funding, despite the fact that enrollment is declining as fertility rates start falling,” she said. She also contested a major argument program detractors make: that not all Utah children have access to it. She said that any family in the state can apply for the scholarship, and that regular school districts offer similar programs, like speech therapy, art or gym classes. “I’m not seeing the disconnect here on kids in this program getting something different than kids whose families are choosing to go to a district or charter school,” she said. Let us know what you think... That question is expected to be answered in court, when the Utah Supreme Court makes a decision on the program’s constitutionality. A 3rd District judge declared last spring Utah Fits All was unconstitutional, saying it was a “program within the public education system that is not free and is not ‘open to all the children of Utah,’” and diverts constitutionally appropriated funds from already underfunded public schools. The program was allowed to continue as Republican state leaders appeal that decision and wait for a final say from Utah’s highest court. Utah’s largest teacher union, which filed the lawsuit against the program, didn’t comment on the report’s content. But, leaders said they hope to prevail in court. “Public money belongs in public schools. Last year, Utah’s Third District Court ruled the state’s voucher program unconstitutional and we will continue defending that ruling,” UEA President Renée Pinkney said in a statement. “Our tax dollars should support public schools, where more than 90% of Utah students attend.” Apart from tuition and goods, over $10.6 million of the scholarships were used for services, including after-school or summer programs, educational therapies and tutoring services. Under Odyssey, the cost of administering the program for the 2025-2026 year was $4.8 million, about half of the $9 million the Utah State Board of Education awarded last year to ACE Scholarships, the past Utah Fits All program manager, before terminating the company’s contract “for convenience” after just one year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	Football head injuries may cause low testosterone years later During NFL season, millions of viewers tune in to watch the monster tackles. Most know those hits can cause brain damage known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Less well known is that big, brain-bruising concussions (and smaller, repeated cranial collisions) can also damage the pituitary, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain that regulates hormones including testosterone.In some men, pituitary damage can contribute to fatigue, mood changes, sexual problems, and other symptoms long after the injury itself appears to have healed.In a 2019 survey of nearly 3,500 former NFL players in JAMA Neurology, 18.3% had been prescribed medication for low testosterone, and 22.7% reported the same for erectile dysfunction, a common symptom of testosterone deficiency. Players who had the most concussion symptoms during their career had more than twice the odds of reporting low testosterone as those with the fewest symptoms.Hone Health examined how head injuries from contact sports like football can cause men to have decreased levels of testosterone years later. Hone Health The concern extends beyond professional football. About a million American teens play high school football each year, and hormone problems related to head trauma may not become apparent until years later. Researchers don’t yet know how often football-related concussions or repeated smaller hits cause lasting pituitary problems, but endocrinologist Dr. Steven Wise believes that “probably 20%” of men he sees in his practice, especially men in their 30s and 40s with low hormone levels, had some kind of injury to the pituitary or the hypothalamus during high school or even earlier.By the time they come in, Wise says, low testosterone symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, low libido, and mood changes may be mistaken for ordinary aging rather than traced back to the old head injury.How a Hit to the Head Can Lower TestosteroneTestosterone production starts in the brain. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland, which releases luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn tells the testes to produce testosterone. Damage anywhere along that signaling pathway can cause testosterone levels to fall.The pituitary gland is especially vulnerable to sports-related head injuries because of its position at the base of the brain. “When you look at the pituitary gland, you’ve got a gooey little gland sitting on a thin stalk with a fragile blood supply down in a bony hole with sharp edges,” said Wise. “When the skull stops moving, the brain keeps moving forward until it can’t anymore. The thin stalk attached to the pituitary gland can stretch as the brain lurches forward. That can damage the stalk, the pituitary gland, or both.”Head trauma can also disrupt blood flow and trigger inflammation that reduces the pituitary’s ability to secrete hormones, adds neuroendocrinologist Dr. Maria Fleseriu. The resulting hormonal disruptions, she says, can mirror the symptoms of concussion recovery."After a concussion, people may still have fatigue and trouble concentrating. They can't sleep. They have mood changes and low energy," Fleseriu said. "All of these symptoms could have come from a hormonal deficiency, so which is the cause — that or the concussion?” Hone Health How Often Do Head Injuries Lead to Low Testosterone?Researchers can’t give an exact risk for football players or for someone who has experienced a routine sports concussion. However, studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) suggest that roughly 28% to 32% of people with head trauma develop some form of pituitary dysfunction. More severe injuries generally carry greater risk: One meta-analysis found hormone disruption in more than 35% of severe TBI cases, compared with around 11% of moderate cases and 17% of mild cases.“Not every concussion is going to cause hormonal problems, especially mild ones,” Fleseriu said. “But if it’s a significant one, we should check.”Wise believes that smaller, repeated head injuries may have a similar effect. “If you pull kickboxers, football players, people with repeated trauma to their head in a random sampling, you will find subtle changes in pituitary function,” he said. “The more injuries you get on top of other injuries, the more trouble you have.”Although some of the damage may resolve on its own, often within a year, that can be a long hormone disruption for teens going through puberty. If a young athlete takes a significant hit and puberty or growth seem to stall, Fleseriu recommends an evaluation with an endocrinologist around six months postinjury.What to Do If You Have a Head Injury HistoryHormone disruptions from head injury can take years to surface — and don't always follow a predictable pattern. "Some people take a couple of years to develop problems,” Wise said. “Others develop problems right away and then heal over a few years."If you played a contact sport and are now experiencing fatigue, low motivation, brain fog, mood changes, or weight gain, Wise recommends telling your doctor about any head injury history. These symptoms have many possible causes, but an old injury may be a relevant part of the picture.“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen who were tired or who lost their motivation or who were moody, irritable, fatigued, have brain fog or weight gain, and doctors were dismissive, saying, ‘Yeah, welcome to being 50,’” he said.Blood tests can’t prove that an injury from years ago caused low testosterone, but they can show whether pituitary signaling is impaired. A hormone test looks at markers like free testosterone, total testosterone, and LH.If testing suggests low testosterone or a hormone imbalance, a physician will determine whether treatment with testosterone replacement therapy is appropriate. "You can give people a low dose of the hormone you think they're missing, as long as you're keeping them in the normal range, and see if they get better," Wise said.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Judge rules EPA illegally ended $7B solar program for low-income Americans The Trump administration illegally terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program intended to make solar power accessible to more than 900,000 lower-income Americans, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Friday. The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the Solar for All funds in August 2025 after President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending law passed in Congress a month earlier, with Administrator Lee Zeldin calling the Biden-era grant program a “boondoggle.” District Judge Mary McElroy wrote in the ruling that Congress clearly intended the EPA to continue administering the Solar for All grants that were already obligated. The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program, McElroy wrote. She vacated the termination. The EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. The lawsuit filed in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor organization and others — including the public interest law center Rhode Island Center for Justice and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors — highlighted the importance of the program for local workforces and lower-income communities seeking access to clean-energy project funding. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called the decision “a big victory” for states across the country. “If and when the program does get up and running, there will be thousands and thousands of union jobs created across the United States,” he said Friday. “We were proud to be the lead plaintiff.” Clean, affordable power like solar shouldn’t be a luxury, said Alex St. Pierre, vice president for environmental justice at Conservation Law Foundation, one of the nonprofit legal advocacy groups representing the plaintiffs. “Communities have waited long enough,” St. Pierre said in a statement. “Nearly every family is looking for ways to cut their energy bill. These dollars should go where Congress intended: toward lower energy bills, less climate pollution, good jobs and cleaner air.” In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal. The Trump administration has targeted a host of programs and policies dedicated to clean energy. The $7 billion Solar for All program was part of the $27 billion “green bank,” formally known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. It was established in the Democratic-backed climate law passed in 2022 under former President Joe Biden. The attorneys general of more than a dozen states also sued over the canceled solar program funding. A federal judge in Washington dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction in June. The plaintiffs have appealed. The other $20 billion, also canceled by the Trump administration, was slated for eight community development banks and nonprofit organizations for tens of thousands of projects to combat the effects of climate change, such as residential energy efficiency projects to larger-scale investments such as community cooling. A divided federal appeals court said last month that the Trump administration improperly terminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the effort. Courtesy of CT Mirror
	When Trump and Xi meet they will discuss AI. 'Track Two' talks are already buzzing An informal network of dialogues at think tanks and universities is bringing together experts from the U.S. and China to talk about the shared perils of AI — and possible paths forward.
	Syrian regime planned American journalist's kidnapping for weeks New reporting finds the abduction of journalist Austin Tice was planned by the Syrian government for weeks.
	Davenport second ward alderman resigns Davenport’s Second Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigned on Thursday.
	Pedestrian killed after being hit by a train Thursday night in Davenport First responders were called to the intersection of West 5th and Warren Streets just after 8 p.m. on Thursday.
	Tim Dunn resigns at Davenport 2nd ward alderman Davenport Alderman Tim Dunn, representing the city’s second ward, submitted his resignation to Mayor Jason Gordon, effective immediately, according to a news release from the city. Dunn’s resignation letter read: “Mayor Gordman, Please accept this as my formal letter of resignation from my position as 2nd Ward Alderman effective September 17, 2026.” More information on [...]
	Davenport 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn resigns Davenport's 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn has abruptly resigned, the city announced Friday.
	Resurfacing project may reduce lanes on 130th avenue, Scott County Starting Monday, September 21, 130th Avenue in Scott County may be reduced to one lane of traffic between 210th Street and 240th Street for a Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing project, according to a news release from the Scott County Road Department. Flaggers and a pilot car will maintain traffic. Drivers should be prepared to [...]
	Driver found dead after single-vehicle crash in Cascade A deputy came across the car shortly after 3 a.m. in the 2900 block of Goose Hill Road.
	Construction worker dead after incident at ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant A construction worker died recently after an incident at the ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
	New K-9 officer for Rock Island Police Department The Rock Island Police Department has a new K-9 officer. A post on the department’s Facebook page says the new K-9, Dex, is a one year old Belgian Malinois from Cedar Creek Kennels. Starting in October, Dex will be training with his new partner, Officer Andrew Eagle. A private donation and a partnership with the [...]
	Person hit and killed by train in Davenport A person was hit and killed by a train on Thursday in Davenport.
	Judy’s Family Cafe opens Aledo location Judy’s Family Cafe held a ribbon-cutting for their Aledo location on Friday.
	Turning 55 and leaving your job? What to know about the IRS rule of 55 Whether you planned for early retirement, need to stop working for health reasons, or are facing an unexpected layoff, leaving your job before traditional retirement age comes with countless complications. After all, the earliest you can claim Social Security is age 62, Medicare doesn't begin until age 65, and a 10% penalty will apply if you want to access your 401(k) before age 59 1/2.While you can't accelerate Social Security or Medicare eligibility, there is good news around retirement account withdrawals. An IRS provision known as the Rule of 55 allows for penalty-free distributions if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55. However, it's not available in all situations, and it's easy to disqualify yourself without realizing it. To help you make informed decisions, here, The Retirement Group outlines what the rule says, how it works in practice, and common missteps to avoid.What is the Rule of 55 for 401(k) Withdrawals?Under IRS rules, until the age of 59 1/2, a 10% penalty will apply if you withdraw funds from certain retirement accounts, including a 401(k) and 403(b). However, there are several exceptions to these rules, including one that applies to a separation from service during or after the year in which an employee reaches age 55.Commonly called the Rule of 55, this exception removes the 10% penalty for early withdrawals, no matter why you leave your job. Retirement, resignation, layoff, and termination can all qualify, as long as you meet the rule's requirements.How Does the Rule of 55 Work?Before you rely on the Rule of 55, there are certain things you need to understand.Your Plan Must Allow ItTo take advantage of the Rule of 55, your employer-sponsored 401(k) must allow in-plan distributions that line up with the IRS exception. Some plans restrict withdrawals until 59 1/2, 62, or another plan-defined age. Others allow withdrawals only under certain conditions, such as requiring a single lump-sum distribution rather than partial withdrawals. Before you make any withdrawals, be sure to check with your plan administrator to confirm your plan's rules.It Only Applies to Your Current Employer's 401(k)The separation from service exception only applies to the plan associated with the employer you're separating from at age 55 or older. If you have a 401(k) from a previous employer, it won't qualify for penalty-free withdrawals before the age of 59 1/2.IRAs Don't QualifyThe Rule of 55 applies to 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar employer-sponsored plans. It doesn't extend to IRAs, including rollover IRAs. This is a key point to understand: If you move your 401(k) balance into an IRA after separation, you'll lose access to the exception.You Still Owe Income TaxWhile the Rule of 55 eliminates the 10% early withdrawal penalty, it doesn't make your distribution tax-free. That means you'll need to pay ordinary income tax on any withdrawals you take.Your Separation from Service ChecklistBefore you resign, accept a severance package, or make any decisions about your 401(k) when leaving a job, it helps to go through this list of common missteps:1. Leaving your job before 55 and trying to claim the exception later. To qualify for penalty-free withdrawals, your separation from service has to take place in or after the calendar year in which you turn 55. If you leave your job at a younger age, you can't simply wait until 55 to start taking withdrawals. What matters is when you separate, not when you start withdrawing.2. Rolling your 401(k) into an IRA and then trying to use the rule. When you separate from employment, a common option for your 401(k) is to roll the funds over into an IRA. Doing so, however, would disqualify you from using the Rule of 55. Before you make any rollover decisions, think through whether you'll need penalty-free access to your funds before age 59 1/2.3. Trying to use the rule with a previous employer's plan. If you have an old 401(k) from a previous job, you can't simply apply the separation from service exception when you turn 55. That's because the exception is tied to the plan of the employer you separate from at or after age 55.4. Assuming a new job cancels the exception. Taking another position after you separate doesn't automatically undo an earlier qualifying separation, but it also doesn't extend the exception to your new employer's plan. If you’re not sure how your specific situation will be affected by returning to work, consider consulting with a financial advisor in advance.5. Not accounting for other income in the same year. Severance pay, unused PTO payouts, and unemployment benefits are all taxable. If these amounts come into your income in the same calendar year as a Rule of 55 withdrawal, it could push you into a higher tax bracket. This isn’t a disqualifying mistake, but it’s a costly one to overlook.Confirm with your plan administrator that your specific plan allows for Rule of 55 withdrawals, and ask what form they can take (e.g., ongoing withdrawals, a lump sum, or something else).Make sure your separation from employment happens in or after the calendar year you turn 55.Don’t roll your 401(k) into an IRA before you determine if you’ll need penalty-free access to the money. Once it’s rolled over, the option is gone.Assess the opportunity cost associated with an early withdrawal. Any money you take out of a retirement account could set back your retirement goals.Keep records of your separation date and plan communications in case you need to document your eligibility later.Talk to a financial advisor or tax professional before you finalize anything, especially if you expect to receive severance, unused PTO, or other income in the same tax year.When Rule of 55 Withdrawals May Not Make SenseEven when you’re eligible, taking withdrawals under the Rule of 55 may not make sense for you. For instance, if a large withdrawal pushes you into a higher tax bracket, you may end up owing more taxes than you expect. That’s a particular concern if your plan requires you to withdraw your entire balance in one lump sum. Beyond increasing your tax burden, this type of lump-sum payout also means losing the benefit of continued tax-deferred growth.Similarly, if you have other resources to bridge an anticipated income gap after leaving your employer, consider using those first. Termination from employment is precisely the type of scenario an emergency fund is designed to cover. Withdrawing funds from an after-tax brokerage account is also an option as it won’t trigger penalties. Using these alternate sources of income will allow the money in your 401(k) to keep growing on a tax-deferred basis until you reach 59 1/2 or start a new job.Other Options for Penalty-Free WithdrawalsWhile the Rule of 55 gives you penalty-free access to your 401(k) if you qualify, other exceptions are also available. Depending on your situation, those options may include:Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP), an IRS exception that allows penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) or IRA, even if you haven’t separated from service, provided you commit to a fixed payment schedule for a set number of years.Total and permanent disability, or terminal illness.Withdrawals used to cover certain unreimbursed medical expenses above a certain threshold of your income.Qualified disaster distributions in certain federally declared disaster situations.Qualified birth or adoption distributions, up to a statutory dollar limit.Not surprisingly, each of these exceptions has its own rules and qualifying criteria, so consider speaking to a financial advisor to understand which may work best for you.Frequently Asked Questions About the Rule of 55Does the Rule of 55 apply if I was laid off instead of retiring?Yes. The exception applies to any separation of service. What matters is the timing, not your reason for leaving.Can I use the Rule of 55 to withdraw from an old 401(k)?No. This exception only applies to the plan connected to the employer you separate from in or after the calendar year in which you turn 55. Accounts from earlier jobs don’t qualify, even after you turn 55.What happens if I roll my 401(k) into an IRA by mistake?Once the funds are in an IRA, the Rule of 55 no longer applies to that money. IRA withdrawals before 59 1/2 are subject to the standard 10% penalty unless you use a different exception, like SEPP. This is why it’s worth pausing before agreeing to any automatic rollover.Will I still owe taxes on the withdrawal?Yes. The Rule of 55 eliminates the 10% early withdrawal penalty, but the distribution is still subject to tax at your ordinary income tax rate in the year you receive it.Bottom LineThe Rule of 55 can be a useful option if you leave your job between the ages of 55 and 59 1/2 and need access to your retirement savings. However, it’s easy to accidentally disqualify yourself by separating too early, rolling your 401(k) into an IRA, or assuming your plan allows these withdrawals when it doesn’t.This story was produced by The Retirement Group and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Person killed after being struck by train in Davenport A person was pronounced dead on the scene after being struck by a train in Davenport late Thursday evening.
	Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Avenue of the Cities in Moline The Moline Police Department responded to a traffic crash involving a pedestrian Thursday evening.
	Will even one of the U.N.'s 17 'sustainable development goals' be met by 2030? The 17 goals agreed upon by world leaders are incredibly ambitious. Are we even close to achieving any of them? If we don't, is the project a failure?
	Bicyclist airlifted with serious injuries after crash with car in Rock Island A bicyclist was airlifted after a crash with a car in Rock Island on Thursday.
	Man hospitalized after being struck by vehicle in Moline A man was taken to a local hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Moline on Wednesday night.
	The Heart of the Story: A range of mentoring Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. Whether it's on the range or for a [...]
	AWAKE Coffee Company opens third location in East Moline The new East Moline location are open daily from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and features a convenient drive-thru.
	There's 'Hope' for this divisive alien invasion film that mixes art and schlock Shape-shifting aliens attack a South Korean border town in Hope, a big-budget thriller that blends third-rate CGI with exhilarating action scenes.
	LIVE AT NOON: Vice President Vance speaking at RNC rally in Council Bluffs Vice President JD Vance is set to make an appearance in the metro Friday.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for Sept. 18, 2026 Rock Island police are connecting with their community during Coffee with a Cop at Augustana College, and in Iowa, flags are at half-staff for Ray Gaesser.
	Agriculture in the Classroom looks to inspire next generation of farmers and innovators To end the school week, third grade students in the Davenport Community School District got a moment out of the classroom to learn about lives they may not know much about. Agriculture in the Classroom put on an event to show kids what farmers do and how they impact their community. "Half the time kids [...]
	Moline man seriously injured after being hit by car A man was seriously injured on Thursday after being hit by a car in Moline near the Dunkin’ Donuts on Avenue of the Cities.
	What no one tells you about burnout when loving someone with addiction Addiction acts as a wrecking ball not only for the life of the person struggling but to their entire family unit. Author David Sheff summed up the experience in his memoir “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction”: “Anyone who has lived through it, or those who are now living through it, knows that caring about an addict is as complex and fraught and debilitating as addiction itself.”According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), family support can play a large role in the recovery of someone struggling with addiction; however, as a loved one, it’s often challenging to know how to provide that support in a healthy way without burning out or losing one’s self.American Addiction Centers laid out what families dealing with addiction should know.Loved Ones Can’t ‘Fix It’There’s a real allure for families in the belief that they can “fix” their loved one’s addiction. Unfortunately, that’s not reality, and operating under that belief can cause families to live with a great amount of shame, frustration, and burnout.Philip Van Guilder, director of community affairs for American Addiction Centers, is a father who has been in recovery for more than two decades. He recalled his reaction to finding out his own child was addicted to drugs. “I believed that my experience [with addiction] would prepare me for anything … I thought I alone could fix it. With the best tools, the right words, and enough love, I convinced myself I could make it all go away.”Van Guilder went on to recall the cycle of hope and heartbreak that so families know all too well. “For a while I thought I did it. I got my daughter into treatment! My wife and I joined her in family sessions. She told us she’d changed. When she begged to come home early, we relented. And then she came home and went right back to using.”Unfortunately, this experience is very common. Many people require multiple attempts before achieving lasting recovery (on average about five), and many families live through this cycle over and over again. It often takes multiple cycles for loved ones to accept that they cannot control their loved one’s journey, and that their loved one’s recovery is their own responsibility.Al-Anon, an organization created for the support of those navigating a loved one’s alcohol addiction, recognizes the strong temptation among loved ones to both blame themselves and also “fix” the addiction. In response, they created the “Three C’s of Al-Anon”: “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”These concepts can be tough to swallow initially. But letting go of the delusion that one can love someone else out of addiction or control their recovery can bring families a certain sense of peace, or at least an understanding of an important truth: Families can love and support their addicted loved one and remove obstacles to getting help, but in the end, their loved one has to make the commitment and do the work.Burnout Thrives in IsolationThe burnout that comes from loving someone with addiction differs from normal stress that peaks and resolves in that it feels never-ending. Research shows that caregivers of those experiencing addiction often suffer from psychological distress and feelings of helplessness and are at risk of anxiety, depression and trauma.Distress felt by families is often worsened by the weight they tend to put on every action they take and word they say, wondering, “Will this upset my loved one? Did I say too much? Not enough?” They rehearse conversations in their head and replay them on a loop afterward.Meanwhile, many lose their sense of safety. Every unanswered text and late-night call sends their mind racing toward worst-case scenarios like overdose.To top it off, shame commonly starts to erode family members’ desire to open up to and connect with others. Secrecy feels safer than honesty, but there’s a cost attached: deeper isolation and increased burnout.In its Booklet for Families, SAMHSA encourages families to seek connection and support for themselves, whether by opening up to close friends and family members, seeking support from a church or other spiritual organization, or by attending groups for families and loved ones like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.While loved ones may feel alone, or that their experience is unique, addiction affects millions of families across the U.S. In fact, two-thirds of adults in the U.S. report having personal experience with addiction (either experiencing it themselves or having a family member with a substance use disorder). There are people everywhere with similar stories and experiences waiting to offer their support.In some cases, more significant support may be required. The National Institute on Aging recommends seeking professional mental health care for symptoms of anxiety or depression.Blaming Yourself Won’t Help Them HealSelf-blame is all too common for families of those experiencing addiction, especially parents. Unanswerable questions are ruminated over. “What did we do wrong? What could we have done to prevent this?” Those questions don’t help. They only hurt.Therapy and support groups can help families resolve self-blame and learn to relinquish the illusion of control over their loved one’s addiction. Letting go of the responsibility means acknowledging one’s role as a support and not a puppet master. It doesn’t mean that a family member stops caring about their loved one but rather they stop letting their loved one’s disease destroy their own life in the process.Helping Can HurtMany parents have to learn over time that what seems like helping can actually hurt.In his appearance on the recovery podcast “Addiction Talk,” Art Dielhenn, former Hollywood director and author of “Addiction Is a Family Disease,” described his experiences as a parent learning to set boundaries with his addicted daughter, saying “I believe that I was codependent because I was afraid of being abandoned; I was afraid of losing love; I was afraid of saying no.”Boundaries are not about punishment, and implementing them doesn’t mean rejecting a loved one. Boundaries are necessary for survival, safety, and honesty. Without them, everyone gets sicker.SAMHSA encourages families to educate themselves about the disease of addiction while also holding loved ones accountable, stating in its Booklet for Families: “Your loved one is not at fault for having a disease, but he or she is responsible for getting treatment.”Navigating addiction is impossibly hard and, at times, extremely demoralizing. But there is hope. Recovery is possible, but it’s not always a straight line.During the darkest times when conflict seems endless, families should try to hold onto hope for the future of their relationships. In “Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy,” his follow-up to “Beautiful Boy,” David Sheff proposes that healing is possible for families: “It’s often possible for people who’ve never had meaningful relationships because of their addictions … to develop ones that are deep, trusting, and nurturing.”This story was produced by American Addiction Centers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Shortlisting a residential water softener: A buyer’s guide Over time, high concentrations of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium in hard water crystallize on heating elements, accumulate in pipework, and degrade household appliances.Because property layouts and consumption patterns vary significantly across regions, shortlisting the right water softener requires evaluating a property's technical infrastructure rather than relying on headline marketing numbers. The following framework from Culligan Harvey outlines how to narrow down options based on household demand, plumbing requirements, and operational efficiency.Step 1: Evaluate Household Demand and Space ConstraintsSizing a water treatment system begins with assessing daily water usage and physical installation parameters:Occupancy and daily volume: Daily water consumption scales directly with household size. Shortlisting should begin by calculating peak daily water usage to ensure the system's resin bed can process the required volume before needing to regenerate.Installation footprint: Compact cabinet-style units are designed to fit tight spaces like under-sink enclosures or small utility closets. Larger standalone or dual-tank systems require dedicated floor space near the main water entry point.Step 2: Calculate Flow Rate and Plumbing CompatibilityA softener must deliver treated water without causing a drop in household water pressure:Peak flow rate (L/min or GPM): Peak flow measures the maximum volume of water a system can soften simultaneously. A shortlisting evaluation should account for high-demand periods, such as running a dishwasher or washing machine while multiple showers are in use.Plumbing line pressure: Modern pressurized plumbing systems put continuous stress on internal control valves.Step 3: Compare System ArchitecturesWater softeners periodically undergo a regeneration cycle to flush trapped minerals from their filtration media. Shortlisting requires choosing between two core system designs:Single-tank systems: These units feature a single resin cylinder and typically regenerate overnight when water usage is low. During this one- to two-hour process, untreated hard water either bypasses the system or soft water service is temporarily paused.Twin-tank systems: Featuring two interconnected cylinders, these systems alternate tanks so that one continues supplying soft water while the other regenerates. This design guarantees continuous, 24/7 treated water for high-demand households. Culligan Harvey Culligan Harvey Step 4: Assess Long-Term Maintenance and Warranty TermsNarrowing down a final shortlist involves reviewing the long-term total cost of ownership beyond the initial purchase price:Resin bed warranty coverage: Ion-exchange resin beads remove hard minerals from the water. Sanitizing chemicals like chlorine in municipal water degrade resin over time. Buyers should confirm whether manufacturer warranties explicitly cover resin degradation or exclude it as standard wear and tear.Regeneration efficiency: Demand-initiated metered valves track actual water usage and trigger regeneration only when the resin bed is exhausted, saving significant salt and water compared to older timer-based models.Return on investment: While softeners require upfront equipment and salt costs, treating hard water prevents scale buildup on heating elements, extends appliance lifespans, and reduces household spending on cleaning products and soaps.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do consumers shortlist the right softener for a specific property?Calculate peak water usage based on household size and how many fixtures run simultaneously. Match those needs against the softener's peak flow rate and daily capacity to ensure water pressure remains consistent.Which technical features matter most when evaluating a system?Prioritize peak flow rate, water and salt consumption per regeneration cycle, long-term warranty coverage (specifically for the resin bed), and total maintenance requirements.What type of water softener is best for a family of four?There is no single model suitable for every four-person household. Assess total bathrooms, simultaneous appliance usage, baseline pressure, and installation space to choose between a high-capacity single-tank or a continuous twin-tank system.How can property owners estimate whether a water softener will pay for itself?Compare initial equipment and installation costs with ongoing savings on water heating efficiency, reduced detergent consumption, fewer descaling chemicals, and extended appliance life.This story was produced by Culligan Harvey and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to protect kids online from 5 common internet scams Parents often tell their kids, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And today’s online scams may come from a hacked friend’s account, an AI-generated voice that sounds like someone they know or a message shared by someone who believes the information is real.That can make scams especially difficult for children and teens to recognize. According to Verizon research, 63% of Americans have experienced some type of cyber threat in the past year, and 80% of parents worry about their children being manipulated by online scams.Many scams succeed by creating urgency and getting kids to react before they stop to question what is happening. Parents can help by teaching children to pause and ask three simple questions before clicking a link, sending money or sharing personal information:Who is asking me? Could this account be fake, hacked or copied?Why are they asking me to act so fast? Urgency is one of the oldest tricks scammers use.Can I verify this another way? Is there a way to call, text or ask a trusted adult before responding?Here is a deeper look at five scams kids may encounter, what parents should know, what children should watch for and what to do if a child is targeted.5 internet scams parents should know aboutCommon scams targeting kids include gaming scams, phishing and smishing, AI impersonation, money mule schemes and sextortion.What is a gaming scam?Many scams happen entirely inside online games. Scammers may promise free in-game currency, exclusive skins or rare items. Gaming accounts often contain years of progress, purchased games and rare items, making them valuable targets for scammers.One common tactic is offering to buy in-game items through a digital wallet, in-game currency or another payment service — but only after the child sends the items first. Once the trade is complete, the scammer disappears without sending the money.Another common scam involves account sharing. Someone may say, “Let me log in to your account, and I’ll buy you currency or rare items with my credit card. I’ll remove my card afterward.” Instead, the scammer changes the password, recovery email and security settings, locking the owner out completely.Why kids fall for it: Kids think of their favorite games as places where friends hang out, which can make offers from other players feel more trustworthy.If this happened to your child:Change the account password immediately.Turn on two-factor authentication.Report it to the game’s support team.Check whether any payment information is attached to the account.What is phishing and smishing?Phishing scams arrive by email. Smishing scams arrive by text. Both try to trick kids into clicking a link or sharing usernames, passwords or other personal information. The message may look like it came from a game, school or streaming service.What to teach your kids: They do not need to memorize every kind of scam message. Instead, look for common patterns:The message creates urgency — for example, it asks the recipient to “click the link now” to resolve a crucial issue.It asks for login information.It says something is wrong with the account.If this happened to your child:Change passwords immediately.Change the password on any other account that uses the same one.Watch for unusual account activity or unexpected charges on a bank card.Tell the child’s school if a school account was involved.What is an AI impersonation scam?AI-generated impersonation gives scammers another way to make a fake request look or sound real. Scammers can create convincing voices, photos and videos that appear to come from someone a child knows or even a popular influencer.For example, a teen might receive a voice message that sounds like a friend asking for money or a password. Scammers can also copy profile photos, usernames and posts to create convincing fake accounts.Why this one feels believable: For most people, hearing someone’s voice or seeing their face has been enough to suggest they were real. AI is changing that. Kids may be especially likely to respond quickly when a message feels urgent or emotional, making it even more important to pause before acting.If this happened to your child:Contact the real person another way before responding.Report the fake account.Save screenshots before blocking the scammer.Create a family safe word so everyone has a simple way to confirm whether an emergency is real.What is a money mule scam?Money mule scams can be disguised as easy-money jobs or referral opportunities shared through social media and messaging apps. Teens may believe they are helping with a simple online job or earning money when they are actually moving stolen money for a criminal.Why kids fall for it: Kimmel says these offers can be difficult for families to counter when friends or social media influencers appear to be promoting similar ways to make money.If this happened to your child:Stop communicating with the person who made the offer.Cancel any pending payments if possible.Talk through what happened without blame.The Federal Trade Commission also provides a step-by-step guide for people who have been scammed.What is a sextortion scam?This scam can begin with friendship. Someone pretending to be another tween or teen builds trust over days or weeks before asking for an intimate photo. Once the scammer has it, they demand money or more images to keep it from being shared.Why kids stay quiet: Fear and embarrassment can keep children from telling an adult. That is exactly what scammers are counting on. Helping a child feel safe enough to ask for help can be just as important as reporting the crime.If this happened to your child:Tell the child they are not in trouble.Stop communicating with the scammer.Save evidence instead of deleting it.Report the incident to the platform and, if appropriate, law enforcement.The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers sextortion resources that can help remove or stop the spread of explicit images taken when a person was under 18.How technology can help keep your child safeTechnology can provide a backstop, but it does not replace conversations about how scams work. Two-factor authentication can help secure accounts, while identity-monitoring services can alert families if personal information has been compromised and may offer restoration support if a child’s identity is stolen and misused.By teaching kids how to think instead of simply what to avoid, parents can help prepare them for whatever comes next.Internet scam glossary for parentsAccount takeover scam: A scammer tricks a child into sharing a password or verification code, then changes the account settings so the real owner cannot get back in. Gaming accounts are common targets.AI impersonation scam: A scammer might ask for money while pretending to be a friend, a relative in trouble or even a popular influencer.CAPTCHA scam: Some fake websites use phony CAPTCHA tests to trick people into downloading malware or running harmful commands on their computer. A legitimate CAPTCHA should not ask someone to copy code into a computer’s settings or install software.Credential stuffing: Criminals take usernames and passwords stolen in previous data breaches and try them on other websites. Using a unique password for each account can help prevent one stolen login from becoming many.Crypto investment fraud (pig butchering): A long-term scam in which a criminal builds trust before encouraging someone to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake investment platform. The scammer may show fake profits to encourage larger investments before disappearing with the money. Teens should be cautious of investment opportunities from strangers or anyone promising guaranteed returns.Deepfake: An AI-generated image, audio clip or video designed to look or sound real. It may show someone saying or doing something that never happened. Families can get into the habit of verifying surprising media before believing or sharing it.Gaming scam: Gaming scams often promise something kids already want, such as in-game currency, rare skins or exclusive items. Others involve fake trades or offers to “help” with an account. If someone asks a child to share login information or send items first, the offer may be a scam.Money mule scam: A scam that tricks someone into moving money for a criminal. Teens may think they are helping with a simple online job or earning money when they are actually transferring stolen money.Phishing: An attempt to steal passwords or personal information through fake emails, websites or messages that look legitimate. A phishing message may look like it is coming from a school, streaming service, game company or bank.QR code scam: Some scammers place QR codes on packages, flyers or signs that send people to fake websites designed to collect personal or payment information. If a child does not know where a QR code came from, it is safer not to scan it.Sextortion: Sextortion often begins with someone pretending to be another young person online. After building trust, the scammer pressures a child to share an intimate photo, then demands money or more images to keep it from being shared.Smishing: Phishing through text messages. A text may claim a package could not be delivered, a payment failed or an account has been locked. The goal is to get someone to click a fake link or share personal information.Social engineering: The practice of manipulating people instead of hacking computers. Rather than breaking into an account, scammers build trust, create urgency or play on emotions to convince someone to give away information voluntarily.Virtual kidnapping scam: A scam in which criminals use AI-generated voices or other fake evidence to convince a parent that a child has been kidnapped or is in danger and needs money immediately. Families can prepare by creating a private code word and agreeing to verify emergency requests before sending money.Vishing: Phishing over the phone. Instead of an email or text, the scam arrives as a phone call or voice message. The caller may pretend to represent a bank, government agency or technology company and pressure someone into sharing personal information.Ray Pastore, Ph.D., is an instructional technology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a researcher who studies how people learn with technology and a father of three.This story was produced by Verizon’s Parenting in a Digital World and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	One hospitalized after Moline pedestrian/vehicle crash A pedestrian was hospitalized after an incident involving a car on Avenue of the Cities in Moline last night. A news release from the Moline Police Department said officers responded to the 3500 block of Avenue of the Cities on September 17 at about 11:40 p.m. for a traffic crash involving a pedestrian. A preliminary [...]
	7 reasons personal spending budgets fail Most budgets don’t fail because the person behind them lacks discipline. They fail because of predictable design flaws: the numbers were optimistic rather than real, irregular expenses were never accounted for, there were too many categories to maintain, or one overspent week made the whole plan feel broken. Each of those has a specific fix. If budgeting hasn’t worked for you before, the useful question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” — it’s “what was wrong with the budget?”Many people have tried a budget, only to abandon it later. They build it carefully, follow it for a few weeks, hit a month where the car needs brakes and a friend gets married, and then quietly stop opening the spreadsheet. Eventually, they conclude that budgeting works for other people but not for them.The truth is, the budget was probably badly designed, not badly followed. Budgets fail in a small number of specific, recognizable ways, and every one of them is fixable once you can see it. Beyond Finance examines the most common ones.1. The numbers were aspirational, not realThe most frequent flaw is building a budget around what you wish you spent. You look at last month’s $600 on groceries and takeout, decide that’s too much, and write down $400 — not because anything has changed, but because $400 feels more responsible.Now your budget is fiction. You’ll blow past that number in week three, not because you failed, but because $400 was never a real forecast; it was a wish. And when a budget is wrong in month one, most people assume they’re the problem.The fix: build version one from your actual spending, even if the numbers make you wince. A budget’s first job is to describe reality accurately. Once it does that, you can start deliberately shifting a category down — $600 to $550, then $500 — with changes you’ve actually planned for. Accuracy first, ambition second.2. It ignored the expenses that don’t show up monthlyMost budgets account beautifully for rent, groceries, and gas — and completely omit car registration, annual insurance premiums, holidays, birthdays, vet visits, and the dentist. Those expenses are real and largely predictable, but because they don’t appear every month, they don’t make it into a monthly plan.So the budget works in January and breaks in March, when something “unexpected” arrives that wasn’t actually unexpected at all.The fix: List your irregular annual expenses, total them, divide by twelve, and treat that figure as a monthly line item — sometimes called a sinking fund. If your annual irregular expenses come to $2,400, that’s $200 a month set aside so that the March dental bill is funded rather than disruptive. This single change fixes more budgets than anything else on this list.3. There were too many categories to keep up withA budget with twenty-eight categories is more precise than one with six. It’s also far more work, and that maintenance cost is what kills it. People build elaborate systems in a burst of motivation, then discover in month two that categorizing every transaction is a chore they don’t want to do.The fix: Match the level of detail to the effort you’ll realistically sustain — not the effort you can imagine sustaining on a good day. If detailed tracking appeals to you, a granular approach works well; if it doesn’t, a simpler framework like 50/30/20 will serve you far better. The comparison between the detailed and simple approaches is worth thinking through directly. A rough budget you maintain beats a precise one you abandon.4. One overspend made the whole thing feel brokenThis one is worth understanding, because it’s the most common way budgets die, and it has almost nothing to do with money.You overspend in one category. The plan is now imperfect — so it feels ruined, and if it’s ruined, there’s no point tracking the rest of the month. This pattern is well documented in behavioral research on self-control: psychologists Janet Polivy and C. Peter Herman named it the “what the hell” effect, describing how a single small violation of a self-imposed rule often triggers full abandonment of the goal rather than a minor correction. It was first studied in dieting, and it maps onto budgets almost exactly.The fix: Design the budget expecting to go over sometimes, because you will. Build in a small buffer category — a genuine “miscellaneous” line — so that variance has somewhere to live instead of breaking the plan. And treat an overspent category as information to rebalance, not a verdict. Going $80 over on food means you move $80 from somewhere else, not that the month is a write-off.5. There was no tracking, so it was flying blindA budget is a plan; tracking is how you find out whether the plan is happening. Plenty of people make a thoughtful budget, never check their spending against it, and discover at the end of the month that they were nowhere close — with no idea where it went.The fix: The tracking has to be light enough that you’ll actually do it. A weekly ten-minute check of your accounts is enough for most people; you don’t need to log every coffee in real time. And much of it can be taken off your plate entirely by setting up your accounts so the money is separated before you can spend it. The less a budget depends on you remembering to do things, the more likely it survives.6. It was never revisedMany people treat their first budget as a commitment rather than a draft. When it doesn’t fit, they experience that as personal failure instead of what it actually is: normal feedback from a first attempt.The fix: Plan to revise monthly for the first several months. The first version is a hypothesis. Month one tests it, and you adjust — loosen what was too tight, tighten what had slack, add the category you forgot. A budget should be a living document you keep shaping to fit your life, not a contract your life has to fit.7. It left no room for anything enjoyableA budget that eliminates every pleasure has a short shelf life. If your plan allocates nothing to eating out, hobbies, or small indulgences, you will eventually spend on them anyway — and then feel like you’ve failed, which starts the cycle in point four.The fix: Deliberately fund your wants, in a named category. This isn’t a lack of discipline; it’s what makes a plan sustainable. Frameworks like 50/30/20 build this in on purpose, dedicating 30% of income to wants, precisely because budgets with no give in them snap.When the problem is deeper than the budgetSometimes the design is fine and the spending still doesn’t follow the plan — the overspending is being driven by something a spreadsheet can’t address. If you find yourself repeatedly spending in ways that don’t match your intentions, and adjusting the budget hasn’t touched it, that’s worth understanding on its own terms rather than treating it as a budgeting problem.Final WordsBudgets fail for boring, fixable reasons: optimistic numbers, forgotten annual expenses, too much upkeep, no buffer, no tracking, no revisions, no room for joy. Notice that none of those are character flaws. If you’ve abandoned budgets before, you probably didn’t lack discipline — you were handed a design that couldn’t survive a normal month. Fix the design and budgeting stops feeling like a test you keep failing. Or start fresh with a version built to last.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy can’t I stick to a budget?Usually because of how the budget was built rather than anything about your willpower. The most common causes are numbers based on what you hoped to spend rather than what you actually spend, no provision for irregular expenses like annual insurance or car repairs, too many categories to maintain, and no buffer, so a single overspend makes the whole plan feel broken. Each of those is a design problem with a specific fix.What is the most common budgeting mistake?Forgetting irregular expenses. Budgets that account only for monthly bills break the first time an annual premium, a car repair, or the holidays arrive. Totaling your yearly irregular costs and dividing by twelve into a monthly set-aside prevents most of these blowups.How long does it take for a budget to start working?Give it about three months. The first month is essentially data collection — you’ll find out where your estimates were wrong. The second and third are where you correct them. Most budgets that “fail” were actually abandoned during the normal adjustment period, before they had a chance to fit.Should I start over if my budget isn’t working?Usually, you should revise, not restart. Starting over from scratch tends to repeat the same design flaws, whereas diagnosing what specifically broke — an unrealistic category, a missing expense, too much detail — fixes it. Treat your budget as a draft you keep improving.Is it normal to go over budget?Completely normal, and a well-designed budget expects it. That’s why a buffer or miscellaneous category matters: It gives variance somewhere to go. Going over in one category means shifting money from another, not that you’ve failed for the month.This story was produced by Beyond Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	7 reasons personal spending budgets fail Most budgets don’t fail because the person behind them lacks discipline. They fail because of predictable design flaws: the numbers were optimistic rather than real, irregular expenses were never accounted for, there were too many categories to maintain, or one overspent week made the whole plan feel broken. Each of those has a specific fix. If budgeting hasn’t worked for you before, the useful question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” — it’s “what was wrong with the budget?”Many people have tried a budget, only to abandon it later. They build it carefully, follow it for a few weeks, hit a month where the car needs brakes and a friend gets married, and then quietly stop opening the spreadsheet. Eventually, they conclude that budgeting works for other people but not for them.The truth is, the budget was probably badly designed, not badly followed. Budgets fail in a small number of specific, recognizable ways, and every one of them is fixable once you can see it. Beyond Finance examines the most common ones.1. The numbers were aspirational, not realThe most frequent flaw is building a budget around what you wish you spent. You look at last month’s $600 on groceries and takeout, decide that’s too much, and write down $400 — not because anything has changed, but because $400 feels more responsible.Now your budget is fiction. You’ll blow past that number in week three, not because you failed, but because $400 was never a real forecast; it was a wish. And when a budget is wrong in month one, most people assume they’re the problem.The fix: build version one from your actual spending, even if the numbers make you wince. A budget’s first job is to describe reality accurately. Once it does that, you can start deliberately shifting a category down — $600 to $550, then $500 — with changes you’ve actually planned for. Accuracy first, ambition second.2. It ignored the expenses that don’t show up monthlyMost budgets account beautifully for rent, groceries, and gas — and completely omit car registration, annual insurance premiums, holidays, birthdays, vet visits, and the dentist. Those expenses are real and largely predictable, but because they don’t appear every month, they don’t make it into a monthly plan.So the budget works in January and breaks in March, when something “unexpected” arrives that wasn’t actually unexpected at all.The fix: List your irregular annual expenses, total them, divide by twelve, and treat that figure as a monthly line item — sometimes called a sinking fund. If your annual irregular expenses come to $2,400, that’s $200 a month set aside so that the March dental bill is funded rather than disruptive. This single change fixes more budgets than anything else on this list.3. There were too many categories to keep up withA budget with twenty-eight categories is more precise than one with six. It’s also far more work, and that maintenance cost is what kills it. People build elaborate systems in a burst of motivation, then discover in month two that categorizing every transaction is a chore they don’t want to do.The fix: Match the level of detail to the effort you’ll realistically sustain — not the effort you can imagine sustaining on a good day. If detailed tracking appeals to you, a granular approach works well; if it doesn’t, a simpler framework like 50/30/20 will serve you far better. The comparison between the detailed and simple approaches is worth thinking through directly. A rough budget you maintain beats a precise one you abandon.4. One overspend made the whole thing feel brokenThis one is worth understanding, because it’s the most common way budgets die, and it has almost nothing to do with money.You overspend in one category. The plan is now imperfect — so it feels ruined, and if it’s ruined, there’s no point tracking the rest of the month. This pattern is well documented in behavioral research on self-control: psychologists Janet Polivy and C. Peter Herman named it the “what the hell” effect, describing how a single small violation of a self-imposed rule often triggers full abandonment of the goal rather than a minor correction. It was first studied in dieting, and it maps onto budgets almost exactly.The fix: Design the budget expecting to go over sometimes, because you will. Build in a small buffer category — a genuine “miscellaneous” line — so that variance has somewhere to live instead of breaking the plan. And treat an overspent category as information to rebalance, not a verdict. Going $80 over on food means you move $80 from somewhere else, not that the month is a write-off.5. There was no tracking, so it was flying blindA budget is a plan; tracking is how you find out whether the plan is happening. Plenty of people make a thoughtful budget, never check their spending against it, and discover at the end of the month that they were nowhere close — with no idea where it went.The fix: The tracking has to be light enough that you’ll actually do it. A weekly ten-minute check of your accounts is enough for most people; you don’t need to log every coffee in real time. And much of it can be taken off your plate entirely by setting up your accounts so the money is separated before you can spend it. The less a budget depends on you remembering to do things, the more likely it survives.6. It was never revisedMany people treat their first budget as a commitment rather than a draft. When it doesn’t fit, they experience that as personal failure instead of what it actually is: normal feedback from a first attempt.The fix: Plan to revise monthly for the first several months. The first version is a hypothesis. Month one tests it, and you adjust — loosen what was too tight, tighten what had slack, add the category you forgot. A budget should be a living document you keep shaping to fit your life, not a contract your life has to fit.7. It left no room for anything enjoyableA budget that eliminates every pleasure has a short shelf life. If your plan allocates nothing to eating out, hobbies, or small indulgences, you will eventually spend on them anyway — and then feel like you’ve failed, which starts the cycle in point four.The fix: Deliberately fund your wants, in a named category. This isn’t a lack of discipline; it’s what makes a plan sustainable. Frameworks like 50/30/20 build this in on purpose, dedicating 30% of income to wants, precisely because budgets with no give in them snap.When the problem is deeper than the budgetSometimes the design is fine and the spending still doesn’t follow the plan — the overspending is being driven by something a spreadsheet can’t address. If you find yourself repeatedly spending in ways that don’t match your intentions, and adjusting the budget hasn’t touched it, that’s worth understanding on its own terms rather than treating it as a budgeting problem.Final WordsBudgets fail for boring, fixable reasons: optimistic numbers, forgotten annual expenses, too much upkeep, no buffer, no tracking, no revisions, no room for joy. Notice that none of those are character flaws. If you’ve abandoned budgets before, you probably didn’t lack discipline — you were handed a design that couldn’t survive a normal month. Fix the design and budgeting stops feeling like a test you keep failing. Or start fresh with a version built to last.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy can’t I stick to a budget?Usually because of how the budget was built rather than anything about your willpower. The most common causes are numbers based on what you hoped to spend rather than what you actually spend, no provision for irregular expenses like annual insurance or car repairs, too many categories to maintain, and no buffer, so a single overspend makes the whole plan feel broken. Each of those is a design problem with a specific fix.What is the most common budgeting mistake?Forgetting irregular expenses. Budgets that account only for monthly bills break the first time an annual premium, a car repair, or the holidays arrive. Totaling your yearly irregular costs and dividing by twelve into a monthly set-aside prevents most of these blowups.How long does it take for a budget to start working?Give it about three months. The first month is essentially data collection — you’ll find out where your estimates were wrong. The second and third are where you correct them. Most budgets that “fail” were actually abandoned during the normal adjustment period, before they had a chance to fit.Should I start over if my budget isn’t working?Usually, you should revise, not restart. Starting over from scratch tends to repeat the same design flaws, whereas diagnosing what specifically broke — an unrealistic category, a missing expense, too much detail — fixes it. Treat your budget as a draft you keep improving.Is it normal to go over budget?Completely normal, and a well-designed budget expects it. That’s why a buffer or miscellaneous category matters: It gives variance somewhere to go. Going over in one category means shifting money from another, not that you’ve failed for the month.This story was produced by Beyond Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	From the drive-thru to the digital model: How decades of store redesigns changed the way people shop and eat Most people can’t recall the first time they used a drive-thru, pulled into a curbside pickup spot, or tapped through a self-checkout screen. The biggest movements in how Americans shop and eat rarely feel like milestones when they happen. They become the new normal, one renovated store or restaurant at a time. Together, the last several decades of retail and restaurant design tell a clear story, and much of it happened in the construction most customers never think about. Here, Sevan Multi-Site Solutions looks back at the last few decades and what changes they brought. The Drive-Thru Made Fast Food Actually FastBefore the drive-thru became the standard at fast-food restaurants in the 1970s and ‘80s, getting dinner on the way home meant parking, walking in, and waiting at the counter. The drive-thru window changed the basic promise of fast food: You never had to leave your car. It also set an expectation of speed and consistency that consumers came to expect as part of their everyday lives.Self-Checkout Promised Speed, With Mixed ReviewsBy the 2000s, self-checkout lanes had become a fixture in grocery and big-box stores. Consumer opinion has always been split. Some shoppers love scanning their own items, while others curse the machine waiting to clear an “unexpected item in bagging area” error. As Accenture notes, self-checkout was an early example of stores redesigning the customer’s path around technology, not just around shelves and aisles.BOPIS Turned the Parking Lot into Part of the StoreThe most significant recent shift came with buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), which moved from a luxury to a near-necessity across the 2010s, and especially during the pandemic. A customer could order from the couch and be in and out of a parking lot in minutes. Restaurants changed too, adding dedicated shelves and pickup windows for mobile and delivery orders that the original building layouts never accounted for.Few customers noticed the construction behind that shift, but it was extensive. For example, Chipotle added digital order pickup shelves at more than 1,100 restaurants and new digital make-lines at hundreds more, all installed in three to five days. For customers, that speed meant a restaurant stayed open and functional instead of going dark for a longer renovation.The point is for customers to notice the new pickup shelf, not the construction that put it there. When restaurants can be updated over a weekend instead of closing for a week, the guest experience doesn’t miss a beat. That’s where the planning up front pays off for both the owner and customer.The Renovations Consumers Never Noticed, On PurposeThat focus on speed points to a wider change happening out of sight: the technology teams use to plan renovations. Retailers and restaurants increasingly depend on 3D laser scanning and digital modeling to map a building before any work begins. This catches problems like a pipe in an unexpected place or a wall that doesn’t match the old blueprints before they become delays.For customers, the payoff is invisible by design. The retail store reopens on schedule instead of sitting wrapped in construction plastic for an extra month, or a restaurant that adds an ordering kiosk over a weekend instead of closing for a week.What’s Coming Next for ShoppersA few changes are likely to feel just as familiar. According to a 2026 report by McKinsey, stores are shrinking as brands lean into smaller-footprint formats, fueling more “store-in-store” setups, like a beauty counter or coffee shop housed inside a larger box retail store, that give shoppers more variety in a single stop. Parking lots are getting busier and more purposeful, with dedicated pickup lanes now standard at many chains. And EV charging, once found mostly at gas stations, is starting to appear at restaurants, shopping centers, and medical offices, letting drivers charge while they’re already parked. None of these will feel like a big deal in the moment. It’s just a slightly different parking spot, a new pickup shelf, a charger by the door. But that’s how nearly every change in how Americans shop and eat has arrived: one renovated location at a time, until the old way is the thing nobody can quite remember.This story was produced by Sevan Multi-Site Solutions and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Blackhawk Bank & Trust to open east Davenport branch Blackhawk Bank & Trust announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the former bank branch property at 3325 West Kimberly Road in Davenport, adjacent to Kimberly Commons. The property will become Blackhawk Bank & Trust’s new full-service banking office when the acquisition is complete. The new office will expand Blackhawk’s presence in [...]
	A risk of severe weather to start the weekend After what has already been a very wet week in the Quad Cities, we still have more rain on the way for us. To start the weekend, more showers and thunderstorms will be moving through the area early in the morning around 4 am. Some of these storms do have the potential to be severe [...]
	How millions of Americans working two jobs can avoid burning out As of mid-2026, over 8.5 million Americans are working more than one job. It’s becoming increasingly common for Americans to take on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. While having a second job may be a great way to earn extra income to afford bills or help save up for larger expenses, it’s important to keep your mental well-being in mind. Before you commit to working an extra job, consider how you can set yourself up for success and avoid burnout.CreditNinja compiled a list of tips for workers on how to juggle multiple jobs and reach personal finance goals.Eight Pro Tips for Working Multiple Jobs and Not Burning OutWorking two jobs or more is certainly no easy task, but while having a second job may be hard work, it’s not impossible. Once you have the ability to afford your expenses and with some extra money left over after everything is paid for, you’ll thank yourself for all your efforts in the long run.To set yourself up for success, try these eight helpful tips for working more than one job without burning out.1. Find Quick Fixes for Essential Life TasksWhen you have two jobs or more, efficiency is vital. Keep your life running smoothly by planning out some quick solutions for life tasks you need to take care of regularly.For example, instead of letting an extra job throw you off, make things easier for yourself by signing up for automatic bill payments wherever you can. That way, you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay bills on time; it will be done for you.Or, to make mealtimes effortless, try to plan or prep your meals. Keep things basic, and it may take just an hour or so to prepare a week’s worth of meals. Then when you’re hungry, all you have to do is grab one of your prepped meals, with no effort necessary.2. Plan and Make Your Work ScheduleIf you have one, two, or even three jobs, you may find it helpful to organize your busy schedule. Get a day planner and put together to-do lists for each day. You can include items like:Start or stop times for shifts you are working.Assignments or tasks you need to complete by a certain day/time.Other personal responsibilities you need to take care of along with your multiple jobs.Having a to-do list can help you visualize all your responsibilities on a daily, weekly, or monthly scale. Furthermore, you may find that seeing everything you need to do a week ahead or more gives you time to prepare mentally and, therefore, better able to complete all your tasks successfully.3. Prioritize DowntimeIf you have a job where you are sitting down at a computer for long periods of time, make it a priority to get up and walk around every hour or so. Sitting hunched over and working on a computer for hours on end isn’t good for the mind or body. You may find yourself unable to focus on work tasks or other things. Keep your head clear while you’re working by taking periodic breaks. Not only will you get a great mental break, but you will also get a bit of exercise.Alternatively, if you have a job where you are on your feet and moving most of the day, try to sit down and rest in any spare time you may have. Otherwise, employees are typically allotted a 30-minute break for every eight hours worked or a 10-minute break for someone working a shift of at least four hours.4. Give Yourself Time OffIf you work two or more jobs seven days a week, you don’t get the time to de-stress on the weekend. While the lure of earning overtime may seem like a legitimate reason to give up a weekend, it’s a bad idea to work without any long-term breaks constantly. Maintain balance in your life and schedule time off for yourself.Then, do something fun with your time off. Relax and recharge so you can eventually get back to work feeling refreshed.5. Watch Your Body and Stress LevelsOverall, your health should be the first priority. Depending on when you work, getting a second job could leave you feeling sleep-deprived. If you don’t get enough rest at night, you may find yourself unable to perform your other job duties, or you may start to feel overly stressed after a while. When planning your work schedule, keep the time in mind to ensure you can get enough sleep during the night or day.6. Set Earnings GoalsFor some, working for an extended period of time is easier when they have something to look forward to. Reward yourself for your hard work and try setting some earnings goals. For example, say you are working two jobs. You could set aside $25 every paycheck from both jobs to use in the future. If you receive paychecks from each job biweekly, you should have about $300 saved up in approximately three months. Take that $300 and buy yourself something nice.Your earnings goal can also be based on a more immediate financial need. For example, if an unexpected expense means you need $1,500 ASAP, you can calculate how many additional hours or shifts you would need to work to reach that amount. Having a specific goal can help you determine whether taking on extra work makes sense for your timeline.7. Keep Up With RelationshipsWhen working multiple jobs, it’s essential not to neglect your relationships with your friends and family. You don’t always have to have company over to your home in order to keep in touch. When you have time, simple phone calls or text messages show your loved ones that you still care. Also, if you find yourself stressed or worried about your situation, it can be a comfort to rely on friends and family for extra support during tough times.8. Know When To StopFor some, working more than one job is just too stressful. If you are not getting enough sleep, find yourself slipping up at your main job, or feel like your personal relationships are suffering due to your second job, it may be time to quit. Keeping a healthy body and mind is important, and if working a second job stops you from achieving that, you may want to look for other options.Pros and Cons of Working Two JobsBefore committing to working two jobs, consider the pros and cons. On the positive side, working two jobs means extra money and possibly learning new skills. If you have trouble keeping up with bills and expenses on your current salary, working a bit extra could be your solution. Or, if you are trying to save up for a wedding, vacation, or other high-priced expense, working two jobs for a short amount of time could help bring in the funds you need.Besides extra cash, working multiple jobs allows you to learn new skills. Many people keep a day job to cover their bills so they can work a second passion job in their spare time. With this, the goal is to gain experience and perfect your skills until you are able to support yourself fully with the career you’re most passionate about.On the other hand, working two jobs also means less free time. Be prepared to have less time to yourself during the evenings or weekends with a second job. Another potentially negative aspect of working more is the taxes you may have to pay. Working a second job may mean an adjustment in your tax bracket. The higher the tax bracket, the more funding the government takes out of someone’s yearly earnings. To avoid a bracket jump, check your current tax bracket and make sure your extra earnings allow your annual income to stay within your bracket’s range.Types of Side Gigs That Make Great Second JobsWhile it may be possible to work two full-time jobs, those looking for extra work may find it much more manageable to work a part-time job. There are many part-time jobs that pay well and could help you earn the money you need. Below are some popular part-time jobs you may consider.ChildcareOne great suggestion for earning additional income is to babysit. There are plenty of parents looking for someone trustworthy to watch their children during the day or at night. Not all parents are looking for childcare during typical nine-to-five working hours. You may find that babysitting offers flexibility that allows you to earn money outside of your main job.FreelanceWorking freelance is another fantastic way to earn money in your free time. You can write, do design work, be a virtual assistant, or perform other tasks that require skills you possess. Freelancing allows you to pick and choose what work you take, so you’ll never get stuck with a project you don’t want to do.RideshareIf you own a car, you could work for a rideshare company for food delivery service. Some food delivery services like Uber Eats pay per delivery, so you bring home money at the end of each working day if you wish.Alternatives to Getting a Second JobIf working a second job sounds like something you don’t want to do, rest assured there are other options available. Check out these alternatives to getting a second job.Work Overtime at Your Full-Time JobBefore applying for a second job, see if you can work overtime at your current full-time job. With overtime, your rate would increase to time and a half. That means if you earn $15 an hour, after working 40 hours, your rate will increase to $22.50 an hour. At that rate, you may just have to work some extra shifts for a few hours to earn the money you need.Try Organizing Your FinancesInstead of getting a second job, you may find all you need to do is organize your finances. If you impulsively make purchases often, planning out your finances could help you spend your money more mindfully so you waste less.Sell Unwanted ItemsOne way to make money without a job at all is to sell any unwanted items you may have. Go through your closet, basement, or other storage space and review what you have there. You may find there are clothes, appliances, decorative items, or other possessions you are willing to part with. By selling things you no longer use, you can clear up space in your home and put some extra cash in your pocket.Get a Personal Installment LoanThose who need just a bit of extra money to cover a few expenses may consider getting a loan. You don’t have to worry about taking time out of your schedule to work with a personal loan. You may find a convenient personal installment loan that provides the financial relief you need. However, before you agree and sign for a loan, make sure you can afford to pay back what you borrow.This story was produced by CreditNinja and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Is your skin care truly clean? A data-backed checklist Consumers today are increasingly searching for clean skin care products, and retailers are stocking their shelves with options. More skin care brands now offer clean products, but what does clean really mean? In the United States, “clean” is an unregulated term with no universal definition. Beauty brands do not need to meet a specific criterion to call their products clean. Without regulation, the clean label can quickly become meaningless.As more brands market clean products, it’s harder for consumers to trust that products align with their expectations. Beauty brands can prove their clean credentials through transparent ingredient lists and trustworthy certifications like “certified organic.”If consumers know what to look for, they can determine what products are clean and what products to avoid. Ogee created the checklist below for shoppers to verify whether or not a skin care product is truly clean before buying.#1: Look Beyond Front-of-Pack MarketingSkin care products often feature labels like clean, natural, green, or nontoxic on the front of packaging. These marketing terms are eye-catching and popular, but they don’t necessarily mean what they claim. These trendy terms are popular in advertising because they are unregulated. Brands don’t have to meet certain criteria to say they are clean or natural.When choosing a skin care product, don’t take marketing at face value. Look for science-backed evidence that supports these claims. If a brand doesn’t provide any, their products most likely don’t align with clean standards.#2: Read the Ingredient List, Not Just the ClaimsThe ingredient list proves whether or not a skin care product is clean. Review the ingredient list to ensure there are no synthetic ingredients, harsh chemicals, toxic fragrances, or hidden additives. Shoppers today don’t need to become experts in ingredient safety to vet beauty products. They can simply copy and paste ingredients into reputable checkers like EWG to easily verify ingredient safety.While ingredients are important, so is product formulation and function. Natural and organic ingredients aren’t necessarily safe for skin care. Some natural or botanical ingredients, particularly essential oils, can be irritating for skin, especially at higher concentrations. Certain popular natural oils, like coconut oil, are comedogenic and clog pores. These oils may not be suitable for skin care.Brands can also use ingredients with clinically proven benefits, but that doesn’t guarantee that their formula is beneficial. If the formula doesn’t contain enough of the key ingredient, it won’t be effective.#3: Look for Third-Party CertificationsThird-party certifications help shoppers determine if a clean beauty brand is what they claim to be. If a skin care brand has a third-party certification, it means an independent, reputable organization determined that their ingredients, sourcing, and/or operations meet the certification criteria.There are numerous trusted certifications that clean skin care brands can obtain such as certified organic, Cosmos certification, EWG Verified, Made Safe, and Ecocert. Shoppers can look for brands with certifications that align with their values and expectations.#4: Focus on Ingredients With Clinical SupportSkin care products are often bought to target specific concerns like aging, redness, acne, and uneven texture. Knowing what ingredients are effective helps consumers choose the best product for their specific skin care needs.Look for ingredients with clinically proven benefits. Transparent, reputable brands will choose science-backed ingredients and provide research to verify their claims.#5: Pay Attention to Skin Barrier HealthA healthy barrier is the foundation of skin care. Environmental stress and using products with harsh chemicals, irritating synthetic ingredients, or too many active ingredients can harm the skin barrier. Numerous dermatological concerns are caused or exacerbated by an impaired skin barrier, including acne, dry skin, redness, and dermatitis.If the skin barrier is compromised, targeted skin care products like retinol will be irritating instead of effective. Choosing clean, nonirritating skin care products can help repair the skin barrier. Prioritize gentle, hydrating products with ingredients that support and restore the skin barrier, like ceramides. These products can be used daily and will improve overall skin health long term.#6: Evaluate the Brand's TransparencyTransparency builds consumer trust and loyalty. Reputable clean skin care brands make it easy for consumers to understand what’s in their products and why. To determine if a brand is transparent or not, look at what information they make available to the public. Transparent brands should explain how they source ingredients, as well as their formulation philosophy, manufacturing standards, and testing practices.As consumer education grows, transparency determines whether or not shoppers buy a skin care product. When choosing what brand of lotion to buy, 40.2% of consumers say that natural ingredients are the most important factor, followed by whether the brand respects the environment and uses recyclable packaging, according to a NielsenIQ analysis.The Future of Clean Beauty Is Evidence, Not BuzzwordsShoppers are no longer taking marketing claims at face value. Findings from an NSF survey show only 9% of American consumers today trust voluntary labels. Shoppers are increasingly learning how to vet clean skin care brands and have more tools to do so. They can easily research products online and scan ingredients using apps and databases.As consumer demand for clean beauty products grows, shoppers are holding brands accountable. They expect beauty brands to support their claims and look for evidence before buying.The Best Checklist Starts With Asking Better QuestionsAsking the right questions can help consumers make better-informed purchasing decisions. Before buying a new skin care product, savvy shoppers should verify marketing claims, read the ingredient list, look for third-party certifications, check for clinically proven and functional ingredients, and review brand transparency.The clean beauty industry is growing, but it’s also becoming more transparent. Consumer education has shaped today’s growing demand for transparent, science-backed clean skin care products. Beauty brands are adapting as more brands use clean yet clinically proven ingredients and provide transparent sourcing and ingredient lists. As younger generations influence demand, the clean beauty industry will continue to evolve to meet new evidence-based standards.This story was produced by Ogee and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	More people are identifying as neurodivergent. Here’s what that means The term neurodivergent is everywhere lately — in headlines, in conversations, in captions on your social feed. Maybe you use it to describe yourself. Maybe someone you love uses it, and you want to understand it better. Either way, it’s a word worth understanding, since it covers a lot of ground. This article from Understood examines what neurodivergent means.Neurodivergence is an umbrella term for conditions — like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — that cause a brain to learn, think, or process the world differently from what society considers “typical.” If that sounds like you, you might choose to identify as neurodivergent.One thing to note: Neurodivergence isn’t a medical diagnosis. And you don’t need an official diagnosis of the conditions it covers to identify as neurodivergent. You might use the word simply because it fits how you experience the world — how you focus, process information, or take in your surroundings, whether or not a doctor has ever named it.Where does the term come from?Researchers have studied autism and ADHD since the early 20th century. But the language used to talk about neurodivergence is much newer.Australian sociologist Judy Singeropens is widely credited with introducing the term neurodiversity in the late 1990s. It was the idea that brain differences are natural variations in how people experience the world, not medical problems that need fixing. Some researchers now note that this framing developed collectively, shaped by many voices in the autism and disability communities rather than by a single person.A few years later, in 2000, American autism rights activist Kassiane Asasumas coined the terms “neurodivergent” and “neurodivergence.” This new language gave people a name for brains that work differently from what’s considered mainstream.Neurodivergent vs. neurodivergence vs. neurodiverse vs. neurodiversityNeurodivergent, neurodiverse, and neurodiversity sound similar and are related terms. But they have distinct meanings, which can be pretty confusing. Here’s a breakdown that can help:Neurodivergent: A term that describes a person whose brain learns, thinks, and functions differently from what people consider typical.Neurodivergence: An umbrella term for the many ways a brain can learn and think that’s different from what society considers typical. For example, ADHD is a form of neurodivergence.Neurodiverse: A setting or a group that includes a range of people who are neurodivergent and neurotypical.Neurodiversity: A concept that describes the idea that differences in the brain are just natural variations in how people see and experience the world, rather than being medical conditions that require treatment or fixing.Is neurodivergence a diagnosis?Neurodivergence isn’t a diagnosis. It’s an umbrella term for conditions — like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — that cause your brain to learn, think, or process the world differently from what’s considered typical. So while you can be diagnosed with a condition under that umbrella, you can’t be diagnosed as “being neurodivergent.”That’s why you don’t need an official diagnosis to identify as neurodivergent. Many people recognize themselves in the word neurodivergent before — or without ever — getting a diagnosis. And that’s OK. Self-identification is welcomed in the neurodivergent community, partly because it honors how you understand your own experience, and partly because an official diagnosis (and the support that comes with it) isn’t accessible to everyone who needs it.Types of neurodivergenceResearch on neurodivergence is still growing, and not all researchers and clinicians agree on the boundaries of what is and isn’t considered neurodivergence.While there’s no official list of diagnoses that count as neurodivergence, here are some of the more common categories that can fall under the overarching term.Neurodevelopmental disordersThis group includes conditions that describe differences in how the brain develops and functions.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Specific learning disorders, like dyslexia and dyscalculiaDevelopmental coordination disorder (DCD)Tourette syndromeGenetic and intellectual disabilitiesThis group typically includes conditions that are present from birth that cause cognitive, behavioral, or emotional delays.Down syndromePrader-Willi syndromeDiGeorge syndrome, or 22q11.2 deletion syndromeWilliams syndromeCognitive and sensory differencesThis group includes challenges that can occur on their own or with any of the conditions listed above:Sensory processing disorderSlow processing speedExecutive function challengesAphantasiaSynesthesia Mental health conditionsWhile not always included within the boundaries of neurodivergence, this group includes conditions that affect mood, emotional regulation, and overall functioning.Bipolar disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderSocial anxiety disorderGeneralized anxiety disorderMajor depressive disorderPTSD or complex PTSD How common is neurodivergence?There’s no simple number that clearly explains how many people identify as neurodivergent. But research does give us a range of how common neurodivergence may be. Studies estimate that around 15% to 20% of the global population may be neurodivergent.However, these estimates are a little higher than the reported numbers. Since not everyone has proper access to health care, neurodivergence is often underdiagnosed. It’s also one of the reasons why self-diagnosis is more accepted in the community.Signs you might be neurodivergentSince neurodivergence isn’t a diagnosis, there’s no complete checklist to run through — and you don’t need to recognize every single item below for this to be worth exploring. But people across the neurodivergent community often describe similar experiences, including:Experiencing sensory sensitivities, such as being overstimulated when you hear loud music or see bright lightsDeveloping a deep or intense interest in specific topics or hobbiesNoticing differences in how you communicate with others, such as not making eye contact or using more hand gesturesFinding it difficult to stay organized, manage your time, make decisions quickly, or complete tasksHaving unique learning and memory patterns, such as being an innovative and abstract thinker, while also struggling to memorize more basic conceptsNone of these add up to a diagnosis on their own. But they can be a good starting point for understanding yourself, or someone you care about, a little better. If you ever want to know for sure, an evaluation from a mental health provider (such as a psychologist, neuropsychologist, or developmental pediatrician) is the clearest path. It can also open the door to support at work, at school, or at home.How to tell if you’re neurodivergentHave you noticed any of the common signs of neurodivergence in yourself or in your child? If the signs are long-term — and not just observed in relation to a single stressor or challenge — talking to a professional about a formal evaluation is a solid next step. That process looks different depending on age.For kids: Public school students (and some private school students) are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA requires schools to provide free evaluations when they suspect a student needs extra support. Schools can’t make a medical diagnosis, but they can help you understand what’s showing up in your child’s learning — and often point you toward a referral for a psychologist or a pediatrician who can evaluate further.For adults: If you want an evaluation, start with your primary care provider or ask for a referral to a specialist who can order testing. These evaluations can be expensive, and insurance doesn’t always cover them.Depending on your experience and coverage, you might see a psychologist, neuropsychologist, neurologist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner. However, there may be a long wait time for an appointment with these health care providers.Because access to evaluation and testing isn’t always easy to come by, many people turn to social media to learn more. That can be a genuine source of belonging and community. But it can also be full of misinformation. In fact, a new study published in the Journal of Social Media Research found that misinformation rates on various social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram were as high as 57%. So, it’s worth treating what you find there as a starting point for conversation with a provider, not a replacement for one.Keep in mind that an evaluation may lead to a diagnosis that falls under the umbrella term of neurodivergence. But a diagnosis doesn’t automatically make you neurodivergent in your own eyes, and going undiagnosed doesn’t disqualify you from the word. How you describe your own differences is entirely up to you.This story was produced by Understood and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Cook review: True-crime aficionados will appreciate 'Death of the Pastor's Wife' Most true-crime documentaries based on violent situations are triggering in one way or another because of physical abuse, mental abuse and brazen behavior by the killer. This one is a difficult but fascinating watch. It begins with a 911 call from a woman who calmly says she is going to take her own life. "I [...]
	Man pleads guilty to fatally shooting Clinton man He will be sentenced next month.
	How one factory is surviving America’s solar policy whiplash Inside the vast Qcells factory in Cartersville, Georgia, workers — and a bevy of robots — move ultra-thin slices of polysilicon through a lengthy series of machines and chemical baths to get what are known as cells.“The $2.5 billion, the 3.5 million gallons of water, the 90 megawatts of power, the 60 tons of chemicals on site, and all of the football fields’ worth of infrastructure you’ve seen is to arrive at this,” said Scott Bell of Qcells, holding up one of the paper-thin blue cells.It’s the basic building block of a solar panel.In June, the plant, about an hour northwest of Atlanta, began its expansion from assembling the major components of solar panels to bringing the whole production process under one roof. It’s a major milestone for the U.S. solar industry. China has dominated solar panel manufacturing since the 2010s, flooding the global market with far cheaper panels than anyone else could make. For a host of reasons — national security, labor practices, job creation — the U.S. is trying to bring back domestic production, Grist reports.In its latest move, the Trump administration plans to levy new tariffs and impose minimum import prices on polysilicon, the key ingredient for solar cells. The new measures go into effect in December.“Having the full supply chain is critical,” said solar manufacturing expert Ben Damiani, chief technology officer at Atlanta-based solar developer Cherry Street Energy. Moving that supply chain to the U.S., he said, hasn’t been a smooth road. “Probably the biggest hindrance has been the constant change of our own policies.”The Biden administration took a carrot approach to attracting solar panel makers: The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included tax credit bonuses for solar projects that used U.S.-made panels. Qcells, a South Korean firm, has said those incentives were a major reason they built their Cartersville plant.The Trump administration, by contrast, is taking a stick approach. While last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” revoked most of the tax credits, it also made solar equipment from certain countries — including China — ineligible for the few tax credits that remain. That, along with the new tariffs, may help a U.S. manufacturer like Qcells compete with Chinese imports, which are now more expensive.The two policy approaches have the same ultimate goal, according to researcher Coco Zhang of the banking and investment firm ING. But it’s been whiplash for companies.Following Trump’s latest executive actions, Qcells is still likely able to find a way to be successful, Zhang said. But Qcells has already made a multibillion-dollar investment in its brand new facility that took more than three years to come online. For other companies with less capital and poorer timing, the supply-side incentives for domestic production may not be enough — especially when the policies could completely change again.As a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump administration closed the Inflation Reduction Act loophole that had left room for China-based solar companies to simply set up shop in the U.S., which, according to Zhang, may go further still toward rooting out Chinese competition. In the long run, she’s optimistic that the U.S. solar panel industry can complete its shift to domestic production. But because the rules discouraging foreign ownership cut deeper into the supply chain, those restrictions and the policy back-and-forth could make things harder to navigate in the short term, she said.The short-term outlook is complicated for those buying solar panels, too. The phaseout of federal clean energy tax credits removed a major incentive to develop new solar projects, and the Trump administration has taken steps to cancel federal funding for clean energy projects and add new hurdles for solar and wind installations on federal land. The courts have blocked or reversed some of those actions, but the delays add costs and uncertainties even for projects that do ultimately move forward.In the first quarter of this year, clean energy advocacy group E2 tracked nearly $13 billion in abandoned investments in solar, wind, and battery projects. But some $18 billion in new projects were announced as companies scrambled to meet the deadline of the expiring tax credits. While the new tariffs and price controls on polysilicon could help U.S. manufacturers compete to supply the solar developments that remain, they could also drive up costs for developers, Zhang said, and “limited U.S. supply means many will still depend on imports and face higher costs.”But industry experts maintain that solar isn’t going anywhere. It’s still one of the cheapest sources of electricity at a time when energy demand is growing fast. Solar panels are also readily available, while gas turbines are backordered for years. Solar and storage made up 90 percent of new power added to the U.S. grid in the first quarter of the year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.“We absolutely should make solar, right? Like, it is the fastest deployed, lowest cost foreseeable,” said Damiani. “Solar will be, for the next hundred years, a good portion of our energy.”The questions, experts agreed, aren’t whether solar development will keep happening, but how quickly, how much it will cost, and who — and where — will make the solar panels.This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station.This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	US moves up in PISA test score rankings because other countries are doing worse In the early 2000s, politicians and pundits were swept up in anxiety about U.S. performance on a key international test known as PISA. Delegations traveled to learn from high-achieving countries like Finland. Journalists and researchers wrote books on the topic. Leaders like President Obama bemoaned the country’s dire results.The good news from the latest PISA results, released Sept. 8, is that the U.S. has gained relative standing in recent decades. Today, U.S. students score well above average in science and reading. Math scores, long America’s weakest subject, are now on par with other developed countries.The bad news is how this happened. The U.S. has steadily moved up largely because other countries’ scores have deteriorated faster than ours over the last decade. A bevy of data points show American students are learning less than they used to. Even U.S. PISA scores in math and reading are at or near their lowest level. Chalkbeat The international release suggests student achievement is not something that only the U.S. is struggling with. Whatever factors are driving down scores here — and academics aren’t sure what those are — might also be affecting children elsewhere, Chalkbeat reports.“There’s an ongoing global decline, and it seems like the pandemic has a long, long tail,” said Tracey Burns, chief of global strategy and research at the National Center on Education and the Economy, an organization that studies education systems globally.The declines in reading proficiency are particularly concerning, Burns said, due to the role reading plays “not just in scholastic and later life success, but also democracy and civic participation.”Scores have declined across the globe with smaller dips in U.S.PISA is an international test administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to 15-year-olds from countries across the world. Thousands of American students from dozens of schools sat for the exam last year. PISA tests problem solving skills in math, reading, and science.U.S. scores were reported with an asterisk — literally. OECD chose to report the U.S. results but warned that because of incomplete responses from schools, it “is not possible to rule out bias in PISA performance results, nor to determine its most likely direction.” That means U.S. students might be doing better or worse than the test results suggest.While many countries have some issues with sampling, only Albania’s results were flagged with a similar level of uncertainty this year.In most countries, math and reading scores fell sharply between 2022 and 2025, which follows similar drops between 2018 and 2022.“Learning outcomes have stagnated or declined in many countries, in some cases for well over a decade, and gaps in achievement persist across socioeconomic groups,” wrote OECD’s Andreas Schleicher.Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada were among a handful of countries that scored better than average on all four tests.In the U.S., reading scores fell, but math and science results were essentially flat between 2022 and 2025. Seventy-four percent of American 15-year-olds reached basic proficiency in reading, compared to 69% among 38 relatively affluent countries that are part of the OECD. In math, U.S. proficiency was 65%, the same as the OECD average. Chalkbeat These are more encouraging proficiency rates than those reported by the U.S. federal government on the widely cited NAEP test. This reflects the subjective nature of measuring mastery.U.S. students scored above average on a new test measuring computational problem solving skills in the digital age. American students were also less likely than those in other countries to hastily respond to questions, indicating that most 15-year-olds here took the exam seriously.By some measures, the U.S. has unusually unequal educational results. The gap between the top and bottom performers in science and reading was larger in the U.S. than most other countries. Chalkbeat U.S. results were not broken out by race and family poverty, key drivers of academic gaps, because more than 40% of U.S. students who took the tests did not take an accompanying questionnaire. The Education Department acknowledged a “month-long pause in PISA activity in spring 2025” resulting in some questionnaires not being administered.This was also when the U.S. DOGE Service was cutting contracts and staff at the Education Department research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences. Matthew Soldner, acting director of IES, did not respond to questions about whether these cuts were related to the data gaps.PISA scores effectively measure not only countries’ educational systems, but also cultural and economic factors that contribute to — or detract from — success in schools. Researchers have repeatedly linked countries’ scores on PISA to future economic growth.NCEE officials said that despite the “good story” of the nation’s rise relative to other countries, the PISA results still raise serious questions about how well the U.S. is serving its most disadvantaged students.“Is it able to deliver on the aspirations that the U.S. holds as the world’s major economic power?” Burns said. “That’s where the story becomes less clear.”On a different international test of fourth and eighth graders’ math skills, U.S. scores between 2019 and 2023 fell faster than most other countries.There are no definitive answers for why test scores have fallen in so many countries. What’s clear is that this was not just a pandemic-era blip. In many places, scores dropped just as sharply — if not more so — after the pandemic ended.OECD officials offered a number of hypotheses: heightened student absenteeism, greater classroom disruptions, and the proliferation of phones and screens. Educators and researchers in the U.S. have raised similar theories.Burns noted that U.S. students report relatively positive relationships with teachers, higher growth mindset, and more access to peer-to-peer tutoring. They also are less likely to learn in schools with teacher or material shortages. These factors may contribute to American students declining less than those in other countries.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pedestrian injured in vehicle crash on Avenue of the Cities Police responded around 11 p.m. to a vehicle travelling eastbound on Avenue of the Cities after it struck a pedestrian. The victim's condition is unknown.
	Pritzker's new ad touts 12 credit upgrades. Bailey's campaign agrees they happened. The fight is over what they mean. The claims in the governor's statewide ad check out. So does the number it leaves out: Illinois still has the lowest credit rating of any state.
	Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman, succeeded by his son Warren Buffett will remain on the Berkshire Hathaway board but will be succeeded as chairman by his son, Howard Buffett.
	Ignite Pilates & Wellness Studio grand opening Saturday in Davenport The new boutique reformer pilates studio offers welcoming, energizing classes designed for all experience levels throughout the Quad Cities region.
	Mother, daughter duo open Candle Witch Company in downtown Moline Candle Witch Company at 1421 5th Avenue in Moline is owned by mother, daughter pair Dani Jones and Hannah Rosenbaum. It’s in the former skate shop in downtown Moline.
	Local Head Start leaders push back against proposed program changes Early education leaders opposed proposed federal changes to Head Start, warning they could diminish program quality.
	Seis formas sencillas y eficaces de prevenir un incendio en una batería de iones de litio (BPT) - Quizás no sepas qué es una batería de iones de litio por su nombre, pero probablemente tengas varias en tu hogar y las utilices a diario. Estas baterías recargables proporcionan energía a teléfonos móviles, computadoras portátiles, bicicletas eléctricas, vehículos eléctricos, herramientas eléctricas, juguetes e incluso sistemas de energía domésticos.Las baterías de iones de litio almacenan energía con mayor densidad que las baterías tradicionales y son bastante potentes. Sin embargo, esta misma fuente de energía puede representar un riesgo para tu hogar. Si se dañan, se cargan de forma incorrecta o se sobrecalientan, las baterías de iones de litio pueden sufrir una fuga térmica y provocar chispas, explotar o incendiarse.Afortunadamente, puedes protegerte y proteger a tus seres queridos frente a estos riesgos. Todo lo que tienes que hacer es tomar medidas para promover la seguridad de las baterías.Proteger a tu familia, paso a pasoEl UL Research Institute's Fire Safety Research Institute conoce los riesgos específicos que presentan las baterías de iones de litio cuando se manipulan de forma incorrecta. Por eso ha puesto en marcha "Aliviar la Carga" (Take C.H.A.R.G.E. por sus siglas en inglés), una campaña de educación en materia de seguridad pública que destaca seis medidas que se basan en investigaciones para prevenir los incendios de baterías de iones de litio. Estos pasos pueden parecer sencillos, pero cada pequeña medida que tomes puede contribuir a crear un hogar más seguro, reducir el riesgo de que se produzca un incendio de una batería de iones de litio y proteger a tu familia tanto hoy como en el futuro.1. Elige productos certificadosPrioriza tu seguridad eligiendo dispositivos que funcionen con baterías de iones de litio y cuenten con la certificación de un laboratorio de ensayos reconocido a nivel nacional para garantizar que cumplen los requisitos de seguridad fundamentales.2. Opera con cuidado los dispositivos con baterías de iones de litioSigue siempre las instrucciones del fabricante y utiliza el cargador original correspondiente para los dispositivos con baterías de iones de litio. Evita modificar las baterías o los cargadores y carga tus dispositivos en entornos seguros, lejos de temperaturas extremas, luz solar directa y materiales inflamables.En el caso de los dispositivos más grandes, como las bicicletas eléctricas, cárgalos en un lugar que no obstruya la vía de salida de tu hogar y que esté alejado de las zonas donde se duerme. Lo ideal es que cargues las bicicletas eléctricas fuera de casa. Evita cargar los dispositivos de gran tamaño durante toda la noche.3. Está siempre atento a las señales de advertenciaRevisa periódicamente los dispositivos para detectar cualquier signo de daño, como abultamientos o pinchazos. Presta atención a cualquier sonido inusual, como silbidos o chasquidos. Está atento al calor excesivo o a cualquier olor extraño. El humo tenue de color blanco o gris indica que existe un peligro inmediato de incendio. Si observas alguna de estas señales de advertencia, deja de utilizar el dispositivo de inmediato.4. Recicla correctamente los dispositivos y las bateríasDesecha de forma responsable las baterías y los dispositivos viejos o dañados llevándolos a un centro de reciclaje de baterías autorizado. Nunca deseches las baterías, los cargadores ni los dispositivos que funcionan con baterías en los contenedores de basura comunes.5. Sal rápidamente si se produce un incendioDesde la primera señal de un problema, podrías tener menos de un minuto para escapar de un incendio provocado por un dispositivo grande que funciona con una batería de iones de litio. Conoce las señales de advertencia que debes observar y escuchar, y sal si las ves o las escuchas. Sigue tu plan de evacuación en caso de incendio para salir de inmediato, cierra las puertas al salir y llama al 911.6. Educa a los demás sobre prácticas segurasAyuda a proteger a tus amigos y seres queridos compartiendo cómo ellos también pueden Aliviar La Carga de la seguridad de las baterías, y puedan identificar posibles riesgos y cargar sus dispositivos de forma segura.¿Estás listo para hacerte cargo?La ventaja de Aliviar La Carga es que es una forma sencilla de recordar las medidas de seguridad contra incendios que puedes incorporar a tu vida cotidiana. Si pones en práctica estas recomendaciones en tu hogar, puedes reducir de forma significativa el riesgo y crear un entorno más seguro para toda tu familia. Para obtener más información sobre la seguridad de las baterías de iones de litio, visita BatteryFireSafety.org.
	An orchard in the city: Rock Island man grows pawpaw trees in his backyard Pawpaw fruit are native to North America but unlike anything available in a traditional supermarket.
	Ms. Rachel has entered her album era, and she is so happy about it Ms. Rachel has conquered YouTube, Netflix and the toy aisle. Now she's making an album, with real instruments, big feelings and her littlest listeners in mind.
	Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after serving in the role for more than 50 years. His son, Howard, will become Berkshire Hathaway's new chairman
	South Africa 'feels like a prison' for women amid spate of femicides South Africa has some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world, and a spate of killings of nine women in the same area in recent weeks has led to renewed outrage.
	Why Moline Police are suspending the department's Flock Safety contract Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati says there needs to be a balance between legislation, public sentiment and technology.
	National Cheeseburger Day deals for September 18 From BOGOs to steep discounts, there are plenty of deals for National Cheeseburger Day.
	True or false: Trump's name is now on the Kennedy Center. The quiz has the answer The world made it to another Friday without an AI apocalypse, so here's the quiz! See you next week … maybe.
	'Scour Order' by metal band Krallice is worthy of symphony halls The band's new album, Scour Order, looks back on nearly two decades of making challenging metal and forges a new way forward.
	Could trees developed with gene-editing technology protect Florida's citrus industry? A bacterial infection is wiping out Florida's citrus trees. Growers hope a rootstock developed with gene-editing technology could keep the disease at bay.

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