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

Thursday, June 4th, 2026
	Celebrate 250: How John Deere has become an American mainstay after 189 years From humble beginnings, to an international brand worth upwards of $100 billion dollars. The familiar green and gold of John Deere can be seen in fields far and wide. And when you think of America's first 250 years, and the things that have helped us last that long, how about the company who has been [...]
	New Figge exhibit a response to current 'The Golden Age' exhibit The Figge Art Museum, 225 W. Second Street in Davenport, opens a new exhibition on Saturday, June 6, in the second-floor Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery that gives a contemporary response to the museum’s current exhibition, The Golden Age: Featuring Northern European Works from the National Gallery of Art. A Golden Age for Whom? puts [...]
	Memorial grows outside home for Muscatine shooting victims A growing community memorial has been established outside the McFarland home in Muscatine following a tragic shooting that claimed six family members and the shooting suspect.
	Kewanee man arrested on sexual assault, child sex abuse materials charges A Kewanee man has been arrested after a police investigation into sexual assault and child sex abuse materials (CSAM) involving two victims. A news release from the Kewanee Police Department said officers have arrested Joseph Hardy, 19, after an investigation involving two victims. Hardy was arrested on June 2 and is facing these charges in [...]
	Burlington Civic Music Association starts 97th season in October The Burlington Civic Music Association is marking its 97th season with six live performances by acclaimed artists and ensembles that span dance, vocal harmony, Broadway and country favorites, inspirational classical crossover, romantic piano and patriotic brass. All performances start at 7 p.m. at the historic, intimate Art Deco Burlington Capitol Theater, 211 N. Third Street. [...]
	The 9 compliance risks hiding in your organization and how to fix them The 9 compliance risks hiding in your organization and how to fix themPer PwC’s Global Compliance Survey 2025, 85% of organizations report that compliance requirements have become more complex over the past three years, increasing the risk of non-compliance and violations or fines.Compliance now coexists with evolving vulnerabilities, from AI adoption and higher cybersecurity risks. Organizations face tighter scrutiny from regulators, customers, and partners, where even a minor gap can lead to penalties, operational disruptions, and lost trust.‍To help you navigate the growing complexity of managing compliance risk, this guide from agentic trust platform Vanta will cover the different types of compliance risks with examples, as well as steps to assess and manage compliance risks effectively.What is compliance risk?Compliance risk is the potential legal, operational, or financial exposure an organization faces if it fails to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or internal rules or policies. It isn’t limited to one industry or function and can lead to consequences such as:Financial penaltiesLegal actionReputational damageLoss of trust among stakeholdersCompliance risk doesn’t always stem from deliberate misconduct. It can also arise from minor oversights, outdated processes, or even misinterpreted regulations. Data suggests unintentional mistakes are more common, with IAPP/RadarFirst benchmarking data reporting that over 96% of privacy incidents are unintentional.What adds to the complexity is the evolving nature of compliance risk. Systems and processes that are compliant today can quickly become non-compliant as regulations, business models, and technologies change, which is why compliance risk management is an ongoing process.What are the types of compliance risk?Compliance risks can vary, depending on the organization’s size, industry, and location. Aligning with themes in the 2025 PwC global compliance survey helps map out some of the most high-priority compliance risks today: ‍Cybersecurity and data protection risks: As organizations rely more heavily on cloud systems, the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks is rising. Protecting personal and sensitive records has become a top priority, particularly in healthcare where selecting HIPAA compliance software is often one of the first steps.Regulatory risks: Laws and regulations are constantly changing, making it easy to overlook updates. The risk is compounded for organizations meeting several compliance frameworks across jurisdictions.Operational risks: These arise when internal processes, systems, or controls fail to meet regulatory or policy requirements. They can be caused by human error, inefficient workflows, or incomplete documentation.Corporate governance risks: These risks relate to how the organization is directed and controlled. Poor corporate governance practices, including unethical conduct and a lack of transparency, can lead to regulatory scrutiny and reputational harm.Financial risks: Errors in reporting, accounting, or internal controls can result in fines, penalties, or the misrepresentation of financial statements. This is why accurate and transparent financial practices are so important.Third-party or vendor risks: If a vendor doesn’t comply with regulations or mishandles data, the resulting compliance exposure often extends to the organization itself. Many regulations hold the parent organization accountable, even if it outsources data handling services.Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting risks: ESG disclosures are now mandatory in many regions. Misreporting, also known as “greenwashing,” could lead to penalties and investor backlash.AI risks: When organizations adopt new AI technology, they open themselves up to new risks, such as algorithm bias, transparency, and data governance, which can violate data privacy regulations.People risks: The most unpredictable risks are driven by human behavior. Incomplete training, oversights, and unclear roles and responsibilities can easily lead to compliance violations.‍“Compliance failures are often rooted in people risks, especially unclear accountability,” says Jill Henriques, a compliance specialist at Vanta and an expert in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). “Without defined roles and ownership for prioritizing compliance-related tasks, organizations will struggle to meet requirements consistently. Compliance must be driven across functions, not delegated solely to GRC teams.” Vanta How to assess and manage compliance riskTo effectively evaluate and manage common compliance risks, follow these steps:Scope your compliance obligations, systems, and task flows.Evaluate risks and control gaps.Plan and implement risk treatments.Continuously monitor risks and mitigation strategies.Step 1: Scope your compliance obligations, systems, and task flowsMap every compliance requirement that governs your organization, including regulatory, framework, contractual, and internal requirements.‍You’ll also need to map where compliance requirements intersect with daily processes, so it’s best to collaborate with cross-functional teams—such as HR, IT, legal, finance, and security—to source vital information and avoid data silos.‍Discuss considerations like which department generates sensitive data, who has access to which records, where those records are stored, and if third parties are involved. Next, create a list of departments and activities that could pose a compliance risk.‍A good strategy is to map your data flows to identify sensitive spots. Sensitive data flows may be governed by stronger compliance requirements, so they require structured protections. Particularly, understand:Where sensitive data comes fromWhere it livesWho accesses itHow it’s modifiedHow long it is stored‍Be mindful of hidden shadow systems or undocumented workflows, often driven by employees, as they can easily bypass internal controls and trigger untracked compliance risks. A solution here is to train teams on why compliance exists so they can make better value-based decisions in new or unspecified scenarios.Step 2: Evaluate risks and control gapsNext, compare your current controls and procedures against scoped regulatory and policy requirements to identify compliance gaps. Besides validating documented controls, you should interview relevant teams or conduct internal audits to uncover unaddressed risks.All your findings should be recorded in a centralized risk register. Make sure that you thoroughly describe each identified risk by including:Description of the issueRisk score based on their impact and likelihoodOwnershipIn complex compliance environments, risk evaluation must also factor in overlapping obligations and shared responsibilities in third-party relationships. Compliance risk can be quite unpredictable in interdependent systems and teams, so it's important to have the right TPRM platform for proactive SLA controls and regular external assessments to detect high-stakes gaps early.‍Another complex scenario is when two or more regulations have conflicting requirements. For example, the GDPR’s data minimization principle could conflict with another country’s data retention requirements. In such cases, it’s best to consult with compliance experts.Step 3: Plan and implement risk treatmentsOnce you identify gaps, prioritize remediation based on severity, compliance deadlines, and business risk. The main mitigation strategies are:‍Eliminating the riskMitigating the riskTransferring the riskFormally accepting the risk based on what the regulation allowsFor example, some healthcare organizations may accept certain HIPAA-related risks when encryption isn’t technically feasible, and document their justification and mitigation measures with legal and risk exception process or approval.‍To ensure accountability and tracking progress, define a remediation timeline, task owners, and success criteria. Maintain thorough documentation of remediations done—with rationale if necessary—to support potential regulatory or compliance audits.‍Tip: You can use compliance and risk management tools for step-by-step guidance on governance and remediation specific to your compliance landscape.Step 4: Continuously monitor risks and mitigation strategiesConsidering that technological evolution is relentless and new regulations consistently emerge, you need to regularly refresh risk assessments and treatment plans.Establish a workflow to continuously track compliance components, maintain evidence, and validate that controls function as intended. Setting a cadence for routine control checks or vulnerability scans with the right compliance audit tools can help you stay audit-ready.‍For example, you can conduct quarterly control checks and annual deep-dive assessments aligned to certification cycles, such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA. Some compliance programs, such as the FedRAMP or CMMC, may also require monthly checks and reporting, so comparing CMMC compliance tools early can help you plan for these cadences.‍You must also religiously update the risk register when:‍New regulations take effectNew markets or data types are addedTools, scope, and infrastructure changeAn audit or incident uncovers a gap‍If the budget allows, organizations have a dedicated compliance officer or GRC lead to oversee these activities, often relying on enterprise GRC software to maintain visibility across the departments. Small and medium businesses usually don't have dedicated risk management roles. They typically rely on their legal team to address contract, vendor, or privacy risks, while the CISO might be responsible for information security risks.Best practices for compliance risk managementFollow these best practices to build a resilient compliance program and keep your compliance risk under control:Stress test under various scenarios: Simulate incidents such as data breaches or system failures to evaluate how your controls respond, and train your team to address such situations.Build documented processes: Accurate and comprehensive documentation is essential for proper scoping and audit readiness.Provide staff training for compliance risks: Human factor is one of the main variables in compliance risk. Educate your team on how to recognize and respond to compliance risks and prepare a knowledge base for written reference.Use automated risk management solutions: To reduce manual effort, minimize errors, and ensure that risks are continuously monitored, rely on automation solutions. It can drastically cut audit preparation time by centralizing evidence collection and streamlining documentation. These tools can also help with expert tasks typically handled by compliance officers, such as writing and managing policies, as well as provide real-time compliance status and generate reports.FAQsHow often should compliance risks be assessed?The general best practice is to assess compliance risks quarterly or annually. Consider more frequent assessments if regulations are more volatile, significant system changes occur, or when you introduce new products or processes.Who is responsible for managing compliance risk?The leadership and compliance officers are primarily responsible for managing compliance risk. However, each department needs to contribute and can be held accountable internally for individual processes, controls, and policy updates.Can automation replace manual compliance audits?Compliance automation tools can’t fully replace manual audits, but they can streamline the busywork in the audit process by collecting evidence, testing controls, and monitoring risks.‍What are the most common compliance frameworks?According to Vanta’s Trust Maturity Report, the most common and widely-adopted compliance frameworks are SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS.This story was produced by Vanta and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How can I remove unwanted hair permanently? How can I remove unwanted hair permanently?Unwanted hair is a common concern, and many of us want a lasting solution beyond constant shaving or waxing. Permanent hair removal methods offer a way to reduce or eliminate regrowth over time, using science-backed techniques that target hair at the root.Discover how top treatments work, who they're ideal for and what to expect in this guide from SkinSpirit, so you can confidently choose the best option for you.Hair Removal Solutions at a GlancePermanent hair removal techniques target hair follicles during active growth phases, requiring multiple sessions for lasting results.Electrolysis delivers true permanent removal and works on all hair and skin types.Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal offer long-term reduction and can treat larger areas quickly.Choosing a qualified provider improves safety, results and your overall experience.Understanding Permanent Hair Reduction vs. Removal SkinSpirit To set realistic expectations for your hair removal journey and choose the most suitable treatment, it's crucial to understand two key terms:Permanent hair removal: The complete destruction of the hair follicle so it cannot produce hair again.Permanent hair reduction: A long-term decrease in the number and thickness of hairs that regrow after treatment.Different methods can be used to target hair on the arms, legs, bikini line, underarms, stomach, back, neck, face and more. Hair removal and reduction treatments require multiple sessions. Hair growth follows a cycle with three main phases:Anagen: The active growth phase.Catagen: The transitional phase.Telogen: The resting phase.Only hairs in the anagen phase connect directly to the follicle's growth cells. Treatments work best during this phase because the follicle is most vulnerable then. Consistency and timing play a major role in achieving lasting results — not all hairs are in the same phase at a single time.ElectrolysisElectrolysis is the only recognized and most effective method for permanent hair removal. It has been used for decades and remains a reliable option for anyone wanting precise, lasting results.Electrolysis targets the follicle itself, not the pigment or surface hair. The process uses a very fine probe inserted into each individual hair follicle. The probe delivers a controlled electrical current that damages the follicle's growth cells. This process stops the follicle from producing new hair.Each hair is treated individually, making the method highly accurate, especially for shaping or clearing small areas.Pros and ConsElectrolysis offers several advantages. It works on all hair colors, including blonde, gray and red hair that other methods cannot target. It is also effective across all skin tones, making it widely accessible.The trade-offs relate to time and cost. Because each follicle is treated individually, sessions can take longer, especially on larger areas like backs or legs. You'll need multiple appointments, and the total cost can add up over time.Some people also report mild discomfort during treatment. Sensitivity varies by areas and individual tolerance, but modern techniques and numbing options help manage this.Ideal CandidatesThis hair removal method suits those who want precise, truly permanent results and are willing to commit to a series of focused sessions.It works exceptionally well for anyone with light-colored, gray, red or blonde hair that does not respond to laser treatments, as electrolysis targets the follicle directly regardless of pigment.It's also a strong choice for smaller areas, such as eyebrows, the upper lip, the hairline or scattered facial hairs, where meticulous accuracy is paramount. Individuals experiencing hormonal hair growth often find electrolysis to be the most effective long-term solution.Laser Hair RemovalLaser hair removal is one of the most popular options for reducing unwanted hair. It covers larger areas efficiently and delivers long-lasting results when done correctly.This process uses concentrated light energy to target pigment in the hair. The light is absorbed by melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. This energy converts to heat, which damages the follicle and slows future growth. The scientific term for this process is selective photothermolysis. It means the laser selectively heats and destroys the hair follicle while minimizing impact on surrounding skin.Because the laser relies on pigment, darker hair absorbs more energy and responds better to treatment. The follicle becomes less able to produce strong, visible hair over time.Pros and ConsLaser hair removal balances efficiency with limitations. The process significantly reduces hair growth over time while also lessening ingrown hairs. Sessions are spaced out, making it manageable for busy schedules. Many people already see a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment, and most patients need eight to ten laser treatments to achieve the best results.However, the results are classified as a reduction rather than a complete removal. The laser is also less effective on light, gray or red hair and needs multiple sessions with occasional maintenance. It is also not recommended for those prone to excessive scarring, keloids or with active acne.Technological advances have improved laser safety for a wider range of skin tones, but results still depend on the contrast between hair and skin.Ideal CandidatesDarker, coarser hair on lighter skin generally responds best to laser hair removal, as the contrast allows the laser to target pigment most effectively.However, advancements in laser technology mean that individuals with a broader range of skin tones can now safely and effectively undergo treatment. It is an excellent option for those looking to significantly reduce hair across larger areas such as the legs, back, chest or underarms, valuing the efficiency of fewer sessions compared to electrolysis.This method is also highly beneficial for individuals prone to razor burn, folliculitis or ingrown hairs from traditional shaving or waxing methods.Intense Pulsed LightIntense pulsed light offers another approach to reducing unwanted hair. It is often compared to laser hair removal, but it works differently. IPL devices emit broad-spectrum light spanning multiple wavelengths. This light gets absorbed by melanin in the hair, similar to laser treatment. The energy then converts to heat, damaging the follicle and slowing future growth.Because the light is less focused than a laser beam, IPL covers larger areas but with less precision.Pros and ConsIPL offers flexibility, treating larger areas quickly and may feel less intense than some laser treatments.It also comes with trade-offs. It's less targeted than laser removal, which can affect effectiveness. Results vary depending on the device quality and professional technique, and you need consistent sessions to maintain results.Ideal CandidatesIPL works best for people with light to medium skin tones and darker hair, similar to laser, as it also relies on pigment absorption.It is often chosen by those who prefer a gradual hair reduction process and are comfortable with the need for consistent, periodic maintenance sessions to sustain results.Due to its broad-spectrum light, IPL is particularly suited for treating larger areas where general hair thinning and reduction are desired, rather than highly precise hair removal. It can be a more accessible or less intense entry point for individuals exploring light-based hair reduction.Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hair Removal MethodSelecting the right permanent hair removal method involves careful consideration of several personal factors: SkinSpirit ‍Hair color and skin tone: More pigmented hair on lighter skin tones delivers better results with light-based hair removal methods. However, electrolysis is effective for all hair colors and skin types.Treatment area size: If you want to treat large areas, like your legs, back or chest, light-based methods may be more efficient. For smaller areas, such as eyebrows or isolated coarse hairs, choose electrolysis.Desired outcome: If you want to permanently remove hair in a specific area, electrolysis is the answer. IPL or laser hair removal only impacts long-term growth and density reduction.Time and budget: All hair removal methods require multiple sessions, and costs vary depending on method, size of the area and the number of sessions you need. Typically, eight to ten sessions deliver the best results with laser hair removal.Pain tolerance: Individual pain tolerance varies, and there is no guaranteed pain-free way to permanently remove hair, but modern techniques and numbing agents can mitigate discomfort. Discuss typical sensations with your provider to clarify. Laser hair removal often feels like a rubber band hitting your skin repeatedly.Hormonal influences: For those with hormonal conditions causing excessive hair growth, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a multi-faceted approach may be best. It will also require consistent treatment with methods such as electrolysis to manage growth.Preparation and Aftercare for Hair RemovalTo maximize results and minimize your risks, you need to properly prepare and follow diligent aftercare. These steps are more than recommendations — they are essential parts of a successful hair removal journey.Before treatment:Avoid sun exposure: Tanning, whether from natural sunlight or tanning beds, increases melanin production in your skin. This makes it more susceptible to absorbing light energy intended to target the hair follicle, increasing the risk of blistering and burns.Shave the area: Only shave if advised, especially for laser and IPL. Shaving removes the hair above the skin surface but leaves the follicle intact, allowing the laser or IPL to focus its energy without being absorbed by surface hair.Skip waxing or plucking: The follicle must stay intact for light-based removal. Laser and IPL technologies need the follicle to effectively absorb the light energy and be damaged.Keep the skin clean: Avoid using lotions or oils in the treatment area on the day of your appointment. Avoid ingredients like retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids for a few days prior, as they increase your skin's sensitivity.Inform your provider: Certain medications, including antibiotics, Accutane and photosensitizing drugs, can increase skin sensitivity to light. Let your provider know exactly which medications you are taking before treatment starts.After treatment:Use gentle skincare products: Your skin may be sensitive after treatment. Use mild, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers. Avoid harsh exfoliants, retinoids or strong active ingredients for several days.Apply sunscreen: Protect treated areas from sun damage by using a broad-spectrum SPF and keeping them covered from direct sunlight.Avoid heat exposure: Avoid activities that raise your body temperature or expose your skin to heat, such as saunas or hot showers. Heat can exacerbate redness, swelling and irritation in the first few days post-treatment.Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help your skin recover from the treatment and maintain its health.Follow provider instructions: Each treatment plan is tailored to your skin type, treatment areas and the method used. Following these instructions is crucial for optimal healing and results.You may notice some short-lived side effects after laser or IPL treatment. These include temporary redness, mild swelling, skin sensitivity, slight pigment changes and rarely, some blistering. This side effect can only happen if the treatment is done incorrectly.After electrolysis, you may see immediate redness and mild swelling, with a slight burning sensation or tingling. Pinpoint crusts and scabs are less common, but avoid picking at them if they do occur. Although electrolysis aims to prevent hair growth, ingrown hairs can occur as your skin heals, especially on coarser hair. Gently exfoliating the area after the initial healing period can help.The Importance of Expert GuidancePermanent hair removal works best when the method matches your skin and hair type. The right choice depends on your personal goals and how much time you can commit to the process.Skill and experience are paramount. In inexperienced hands, hair removal can be risky, leading to potential burns, permanent skin discoloration or scarring. This is why partnering with a qualified provider at a reputable medical aesthetics clinic is crucial.An expert will conduct a thorough evaluation of your unique skin and hair, discuss your aesthetic goals and meticulously craft a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your hair growth cycles. Their professional guidance ensures treatments are not only safe and effective but also optimally tailored to your physiology, transforming your hair removal journey into a strategic partnership that delivers greater satisfaction and lasting peace of mind.With this expert approach, you can achieve lasting results and significantly reduce the need for ongoing hair removal.This story was produced by SkinSpirit and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	6 European cities for a weeklong stay 6 European cities for a weeklong stayImagine waking up in the same apartment-style hotel in Paris three mornings in a row knowing exactly which boulangerie to hit for perfectly flaky croissants, which picturesque canal to walk past on the way to the Louvre, and which cafe—and cozy corner table—is your favorite. Or imagine spending an evening in Dublin without a clock in sight, deep in conversation with a stranger at a pub that’s become your go-to spot. That feeling of belonging is the difference between passing through a city and spending quality time in one.With return-to-office schedules making every day of paid time off precious, a new generation of weeklong, single-city itineraries is giving travelers the chance to go deeper, rather than faster, unpacking once in a centrally located hotel and spending a full eight or nine days making one of Europe’s most beloved cities feel like home.EF Go Ahead Tours’ experts picked six destinations that deserve an immersive weeklong stay and explained why each tour rewards travelers who stay long enough to experience the destinations they visit. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 1. Paris, France: Where more time means more discoveryWhy Paris stands outParis is one of those cities that seems fully knowable from the outside. You’ve seen the Eiffel Tower, and you know that the croissants are good and the art is next-level. But Paris is also a city of endless surprises for those who choose to settle in and explore it on a deeper level. Exploring the city’s neighborhoods alone could take a whole week: The grand boulevards of the 8th arrondissement feel nothing like the galleries of the Marais, which bears no resemblance to the village-quiet streets of Montmartre. Add in museums, markets, and day trips into the surrounding countryside, and one week starts to feel not indulgent but necessary.In France, moments of authenticity, culture, and connection require sufficient time. Meals are long. Conversations are slow. Relationships with local shopkeepers are built over repeated visits. Time is a luxury afforded to travelers who decide to stay in place longer rather than rushing off to another city every few days.A week in ParisA fantastic week in Paris might begin inside the Louvre, with ample time to take in its priceless works (bonjour, Madame Mona Lisa) and grand architecture. It continues with regional exploration beyond the city: Giverny, where Monet cultivated the water lily garden that became his life’s obsession, and Normandy, where the D-Day beaches offer a profound counterpoint to the opulence of the capital. It ends at a farewell dinner in a historic Parisian cafe, at a table that feels briefly, beautifully, your own. Travelers who want to extend the experience can head into the Bordeaux wine country for a few more days. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 2. London, England: Layers that only reveal themselves over timeWhy London stands outMany English-speaking travelers underestimate London precisely because it feels familiar before they’ve arrived. But there’s so much more to the capital city than its obvious and iconic attractions. London is one of the most historically dense, culturally layered, and neighborhood-distinct cities on Earth. The East End is distinctly different from Notting Hill. Southwark stands apart from Chelsea. Greenwich is totally different from Shoreditch. A week gives you enough time to settle into a rhythm, to find your favorite market, establish go-to shortcuts, and discover that Borough Market at 8 a.m. on a weekday is an entirely different experience from Borough Market on a Saturday afternoon.The city’s museums alone, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert (or the V&A in local shorthand), the National Gallery, and the Tate Modern, could each occupy a full morning. That’s before adding palaces, parks, theater, and off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods into the mix.A week in LondonA very special week in London might start at the Tower of London, where a Yeoman Warder—a retired military veteran with at least 22 years of service—turns a guided tour of one of England’s most visited landmarks into a private history lesson. It includes afternoon tea—complete with fluffy finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and, of course, a steaming cuppa—and a walk through Borough Market that doubles as lunch. Day trips to Stonehenge and Salisbury extend the experience into the English countryside. For travelers who want to explore farther north, an extension to Edinburgh might just be in order. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 3. Amsterdam, Netherlands: A compact city that reveals more the longer you stayWhy Amsterdam stands outAmsterdam is one of the most walkable, bikeable, and instantly navigable cities in the world, and it consistently surprises visitors with all it has to offer beyond its regularly touted highlights. Each of the city’s canals has its own character. The museums cluster in the south, but the best galleries are scattered throughout. The neighborhoods beyond the tourist center—De Pijp, the Jordaan, Amsterdam Noord—are rich with the character and traditions of the locals who live there.A week in Amsterdam gives you enough time to settle into the daily rhythm: to find a coffee spot, to understand the bike lanes, to arrive at the Rijksmuseum on a quiet morning when you can actually get up close to Rembrandt’s “Night Watch.”A week in AmsterdamAn exciting week in this dynamic Dutch city might include a prebooked visit to the Anne Frank House, a significant and in-demand experience that belongs on every Amsterdam itinerary. When you’ve worked up an appetite, refuel with a food tour through local markets, and learn to make your own dessert in a hands-on stroopwafel workshop. It might just end up being one of the most memorable parts of your trip. Day trips to Delft (the birthplace of Vermeer and the home of the famous blue-and-white pottery) and Rotterdam, with its striking modern architecture, round out a stay that highlights the best of not just Amsterdam but also the areas that surround it. A three-day extension to Brussels—the seat of European Union power and home to serious beer culture—is available for travelers who are hungry for more. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 4. Barcelona, Spain: A city shaped by one extraordinary architect, and so much moreWhy Barcelona stands outAntoni Gaudí spent his life designing what are now Barcelona’s most iconic and celebrated landmarks: La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, the Palau Güell, the Bellesguard tower. Gaudí’s work is not merely architecture—it’s a complete aesthetic vision applied to an entire city, drawing from natural forms, Catalan Gothic traditions, and a religiosity so deeply felt that Gaudí was buried inside the basilica he never saw completed. A week in Barcelona gives you enough time to explore these buildings inside and out, and from many different perspectives, rather than to simply photograph them.But Gaudí is only the beginning. The Gothic Quarter, built over Roman walls that are still visible in places, is worthy of a full morning on its own. Brimming with local specialties, La Boqueria market is a feast for the senses (but especially the palate). The local bar culture runs on vermouth in the afternoons and something stronger later, at hours that take most visitors two or three days to fully adjust to.A week in BarcelonaAn awe-inspiring week in Barcelona might include dedicated time inside La Sagrada Família—begun in 1882 and finally nearing completion. Take a guided walk through the Gothic Quarter, topped off with a flamenco workshop, which turns appreciation into participation. A day trip to Girona, one of Spain’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities with a Jewish quarter and a cathedral that commands the skyline, extends the experience beyond the city. Want more of Spain’s tapas culture? Book an extension to Madrid and compare and contrast Cataloñia’s capital city with Spain’s. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 5. Rome, Italy: The city that makes every other one feel newWhy Rome stands outRome is the city that recalibrates your sense of time. The Colosseum was completed in 80 A.D. The Pantheon, still standing nearly two millennia later, was site of the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome for more than a thousand years. Julius Caesar was assassinated in a theater that is now a cat sanctuary. Walking through the Roman Forum—the political and commercial center of Western civilization for centuries—is not sightseeing in any conventional sense. It’s an invitation to contemplate the enormity of history.And yet Rome is also entirely, vibrantly alive. The 2.8 million people who live here eat extraordinarily well, have very strong opinions about coffee, and seem unbothered by the fact that their city is the most historically significant place in which most visitors will ever set foot. A week is enough time to see two Romes: the ancient version and the vibrant, present-day version that still honors traditions.A week in RomeA fulfilling week in Rome could include combined access to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, plus curated neighborhood tours through areas like Trastevere and Testaccio, where locals eat and where cooking is a painstakingly, and lovingly, preserved tradition. A day trip to the Castelli Romani—the volcanic hills southeast of the city, where the hilltop town of Frascati has been producing wine since the 16th century—pairs wine tasting with a landscape that Romans have been retreating to for centuries. A visit to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, on the shores of Lago Albano, rounds out a trip that shows Rome’s reach beyond its walls. For those excited by Renaissance art and architecture, and wine, Tuscany offers reasons to stay a little longer. An extension to Florence provides a can’t-miss chance to see Michelangelo’s David in the (perfectly chiseled) flesh, and to venture into the countryside for a Chianti tasting. Courtesy of EF Go Ahead Tours 6. Dublin, Ireland: Where the culture lives in the conversationWhy Dublin stands outDubliners are known for their congeniality. The city’s pub culture, which is more accurately described as a social institution than a drinking tradition, creates ideal conditions for real conversation to unfold between strangers. A week here gives you enough time to find your pub, to become a regular in some small way, and to understand why the Irish are widely considered among the most welcoming people in Europe.The city’s cultural depth is easy to underestimate. Trinity College is one of the great university campuses in the world. The Book of Kells, housed in its library, is an illuminated manuscript produced by Celtic monks around 800 AD and is considered one of the finest examples of medieval art in existence. Its colors are still vivid after 12 centuries. Brú na Bóinne, the Neolithic passage tomb complex north of the city, predates the Egyptian pyramids by 500 years.A week in DublinA week in Dublin that just might quench a traveler’s thirst could involve entry to Trinity College’s library to see the Book of Kells, an Irish dancing experience that invites you to experience your inner River Dancer, and whiskey tastings at a distillery with genuine craft behind it. And don’t forget the Guinness. A day trip to Brú na Bóinne brings the prehistoric past to life in a way that no museum can replicate. The coastal village of Howth—30 minutes from the city center, where Dubliners go on weekends to snack on fish and chips on a pier—is an afternoon that stays with you. What could be better? How about seeing the Irish experience in Belfast, just a short trip away if you want to book a few more days on the Emerald Isle.Europe’s most beloved cities aren’t meant to be rushed. The best version of Paris, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, and Dublin isn’t the version you see in a day; it’s the version that reveals itself slowly, over the course of a week, with time to savor it exactly how you want.This story was produced by EF Go Ahead Tours and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Does your mattress contain these toxic materials? Does your mattress contain these toxic materials?That “new mattress smell” might seem harmless. Comforting, even. But it could be a sign that your mattress is releasing a mix of volatile chemicals into the air you breathe all night long. These are ingredients you’ll never see on a label, from flame retardants and phthalates to VOCs and formaldehyde. These compounds can linger in your bedroom air for months or even years, quietly affecting your health as you sleep.And here’s the catch: Most people have no idea they’re even there.The truth is, conventional mattresses are often made with industrial materials designed for cost-efficiency and compliance, not human health. And while these materials may pass safety regulations, that doesn’t mean they’re safe for long-term exposure, especially in the one place that should support deep rest and recovery.Naturepedic spotlights the top toxic chemicals commonly found in mainstream mattresses and explores how they can affect your health.1. Flame-Retardant Chemicals and BarriersIn the 1970s, U.S. fire safety regulations began requiring household items, including mattresses, to meet strict flammability standards. The intention was good: Reduce the risk of fires caused by cigarettes and open flames. But rather than rethinking mattress design, many manufacturers turned to chemical flame retardants as a quick fix.Unfortunately, these chemicals came with a steep tradeoff. Substances like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were commonly used for years before research linked them to hormone disruption, neurodevelopmental issues, reproductive harm and even cancer. Although PBDEs have since been phased out, they’ve often been replaced by other chemical flame retardants that carry similar concerns, like organophosphates and chlorinated flame retardants.And it’s not just chemicals you need to watch out for. In recent years, some lower-cost mattresses have started using fiberglass as a flame barrier. It’s often woven into an inner sock-like layer beneath the outer cover. While fiberglass is technically effective at preventing fire spread, it can be a nightmare if the mattress cover is ever removed or damaged, releasing tiny glass fibers into your home’s air and surfaces. These fibers can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system, and they’re incredibly difficult to clean up.How to Avoid Flame Retardant Chemicals:It's very possible to meet and exceed fire safety requirements without toxic additives or fiberglass. Certified organic wool, for example, is a natural flame barrier that doesn’t require chemical treatment. PLA, a plant-derived synthetic fiber, is another example. Avoid mattresses made out of highly flammable materials like memory foam, which often require more intensive chemical treatment to pass standards. And, whatever you choose, look for third-party certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or MADE SAFE, which prohibit both chemical flame retardants and fiberglass in certified products.2. VOCsThat chemical “new mattress smell” mentioned above? It’s likely caused by VOCs, volatile organic compounds that off-gas from synthetic materials. VOCs are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids, including adhesives, foams and chemical finishes commonly found in paint, carpeting and conventional mattresses.It’s important to note that not all VOCs are harmful. Some occur naturally and are relatively harmless in low concentrations. However, mattresses can emit a mix of VOCs, and some of the most concerning include formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and acetaldehyde. These chemicals are linked to short- and long-term health risks that range from respiratory irritation, headaches and dizziness to organ damage and cancer.Because we spend such a large portion of our lives sleeping — and often in closed, poorly ventilated rooms — chronic exposure to even low levels of harmful VOCs can become a serious concern. Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to off-gassing due to their size and faster breathing rates.How to Avoid VOCs:Opt for mattresses that are certified by GREENGUARD Gold, EWG Verified or MADE SAFE, which test for VOC emissions and set strict limits on off-gassing. Look for materials like organic cotton, organic wool and GOLS-certified latex that don’t rely on harsh chemical treatments or synthetic adhesives, and avoid materials known for off-gassing, such as:Memory foamOther polyfoams such as soy foam and "eco"/"bio" foamsSynthetic latexEncased coils (if they use glues/adhesives)3. FormaldehydeSome of the most harmful VOCs in mattresses come from one particular source: formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that’s often used in glues, adhesives and chemical finishes, especially in the production of foam, textiles and composite wood products. In mattresses, it can show up in adhesives that bind layers together or in wrinkle-resistant fabric finishes. Even coil systems aren’t exempt — encased coils are often individually wrapped in fabric and held together with adhesives that may contain formaldehyde or other VOC-emitting compounds.Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory issues, skin irritation and increased cancer risk, particularly for the nose and throat.While some mattress manufacturers claim to use only trace levels or “low-emitting” adhesives, formaldehyde can still off-gas over time, especially in warm, enclosed environments like bedrooms. And since there’s no requirement to disclose its presence, most consumers have no idea it’s there.How to Avoid Formaldehyde:Choose a mattress that avoids synthetic adhesives altogether or uses only verified safer alternatives. GOTS certification strictly prohibits formaldehyde, while GREENGUARD Gold certification ensures emissions stay well below established safety thresholds. For added peace of mind, you can also look for the UL Formaldehyde Free validation, which independently confirms that a product contains no intentionally added formaldehyde and meets strict safety standards for emissions.4. Polyurethane FoamPolyurethane foam is one of the most common materials used in conventional mattresses, and one of the biggest contributors to chemical exposure in the bedroom. Made from petroleum-based chemicals, this synthetic foam is inexpensive, versatile and easy to produce, which is why it's often used as the base layer or comfort layer in mattresses.But the low price comes at a high cost. Polyurethane foam is a source of VOCs including toluene, methylene chloride and other chemical byproducts released during off-gassing. It’s also highly flammable, which is why it’s often paired with chemical flame retardants to meet safety regulations, compounding the risk.Some variations, like memory foam (also known as viscoelastic polyurethane foam), can contain even more chemical additives to alter density, texture or temperature response. These additives aren’t always disclosed, and many memory foam mattresses emit strong chemical odors for days or even weeks after unboxing.How to Avoid Polyurethane Foam:Avoid mattresses made with memory foam, soybean foam or "eco" foams, even if they're labeled “low-VOC.” Instead, choose mattresses made with certified organic latex, which is plant-derived, durable and provides that contouring feeling that polyurethane foam is known for without the chemical baggage. Certifications like GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), FSC, GOTS, EWG Verified and MADE SAFE can help you identify healthier options.5. PhthalatesPhthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are a group of chemicals commonly used to make plastics flexible and durable. In mattresses, they’re most often found in waterproof covers, vinyl layers and certain synthetic fabrics, particularly in crib and children’s mattresses, where waterproofing is a must-have feature.The problem? Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. That means they can interfere with the body’s hormone systems, potentially leading to health issues, such as developmental delays, reproductive issues, reduced fertility and even behavioral problems in children. Young children are especially vulnerable depending on their size, developmental stage and the amount of time spent sleeping.While some types of phthalates have been banned in children’s products in the U.S., these bans don’t always apply to all mattress components or to adult mattresses. And unless a company is transparent about their materials, it’s hard to know whether phthalates are lurking in layers you can’t see.How to Avoid Phthalates:Seek out mattresses that are clearly labeled phthalate-free and vinyl-free, especially when shopping for babies and young children. Look for GOTS-certified or MADE SAFE-certified products, which prohibit the use of phthalates entirely. If waterproofing is important, consider safer alternatives like PLA-based waterproof layers (made from non-GMO sugarcane), food-grade polyethylene or GOTS-approved TPU.Do You Really Know What You're Sleeping On?Mattresses shouldn’t come with a hidden list of chemicals, but too often, they do. And because most of these chemicals are tucked away beneath layers of foam or fabric, you’d never know they were there unless you asked. That’s why transparency matters. And so does knowing what to look for.Today, more mattress brands are using buzzwords like “clean,” “natural” or “eco-friendly” without offering real proof. This is nothing more than greenwashing, marketing meant to make products sound safer than they really are. If a brand doesn’t clearly disclose its materials or offer independent certifications, it’s worth questioning what they might be trying to hide.What to do instead? Look for certifications you can trust, like:GOTSEWG VerifiedGOLSMADE SAFEGREENGUARD GoldUL Formaldehyde FreeDon't lose sleep over what you're sleeping on. Choose a third-party certified mattress and kick toxins out of your bedroom.This story was produced by Naturepedic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Storms return tomorrow morning After a dry end to the month of May, we are looking for some rain here in the Quad Cities and are looking to get it soon. A marginal risk of some severe weather for tomorrow to end off the work week during the morning and early afternoon with strong winds and large hail being [...]
	Barriers to mental health care look different across your workforce Barriers to mental health care look different across your workforceEmployers may offer benefits. Leaders may say the right things. But when someone actually needs care, the real barriers to mental health tend to be practical:It takes too long to find careIt costs too muchIt’s not safe or privateIt’s hard to know where to startAnd those barriers are not the same for everyone.As part of research for its 2026 Workplace Mental Health Annual Report, Spring Health surveyed 1,500+ full-time employees across five different countries (the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom). Employees pointed to a familiar set of obstacles to accessing care.And while the overall group surveyed clearly identified their top barriers, the leading barriers are more nuanced when age, income, and other factors are considered.What are the biggest barriers to mental health care?When employees are asked what gets in the way of mental health support, the answers are strikingly practical.Across Spring Health’s research, employees said the top barriers are:Lack of time: 43%Cost: 42%Work schedule and job demands: 30%Concerns about privacy: 30%Long wait times: 29%Stigma: 28%Lack of trust they’ll get better: 25%That matters because when support is hard to find, hard to trust, or hard to use, the benefit may exist on paper without making a real difference in people’s lives.How income levels influence barriers to careIncome levels significantly influenced responses to top barriers to care. While Spring Health’s research was global, U.S. respondents were asked for their household income levels (within a range of options). Information about income-influenced barriers was compelling.Among U.S. respondents, for lower-income employees, cost was the defining barrier. Slowly, as you moved to higher income brackets within the research, lack of time became the prevailing barrier.For those with household incomes of less than $75,000, cost was the top barrier at 53%. Lack of time was a distant second at 33%.For those with household incomes of at least $75,000 but less than $150,000, cost was at 46% and lack of time was at 45%.For those with household incomes of at least $150,000, lack of time emerges as the top barrier at 50%, followed by privacy concerns at 37% and cost at 34%.Privacy concerns is another important nuance. Just 16% of employees with household incomes less than $25,000 cited privacy concerns, compared with 37% of those with household incomes of over $150,000.That suggests that more senior or highly compensated employees may need something more than broad reassurance. They may need concrete proof that using mental health support is confidential, discreet, and safe.Perceived access also tracks with incomeBefore employees can use a benefit, they have to know it exists.Spring Health research also shows that awareness of employer-sponsored mental health benefits tracks strongly with income. Among employees with household incomes under $50,000, just 47% said their employer offers mental health benefits. Among employees with household incomes of at least $150,000, 80% said their employer offers mental or behavioral health benefits.The report also found that 34% of employees say they are either not offered mental health benefits or are unsure whether they are, which indicates the possibility that many employees are simply unaware of the care available to them. For example, according to Mental Health America, 98% of mid-to-large U.S. companies offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).For lower-income employees especially, the barrier may begin even earlier than cost or wait times. If the benefit is poorly explained, rarely mentioned, or buried in HR materials, access breaks down before care becomes a possibility.Age influences barriers, tooAmong global employees ages 18-34, the top barriers were:Lack of time: 52%Cost: 37%Availability due to job demands: 33%Privacy concerns: 32%However, as populations within the survey got older, cost emerged as the top concern. But the percentage impacted by cost didn’t change much due to age; it’s simply that lack of time and availability declined as barriers.Among employees 55 years of age and older, the top barriers were:Cost: 39%Privacy concerns: 26%Stigma: 26%Lack of time: 25%Younger employees may face more time pressure at work, or feel less able to make time for care. Older employees may still face affordability challenges.Barriers to care are practical, structural, and cumulativeMental health equity requires recognizing that employees do not all start from the same place. There’s a distinction between equality and equity. Equity means recognizing that barriers differ across circumstances and ensuring people receive support that reflects those realities.For one employee, the barrier is cost. For another, it is the fear that seeking support will not stay private. For another, it is not being able to take a call during the workday. For another, it is long wait times for therapy. For another, it is not knowing whether the employer offers anything at all.That is why removing barriers to mental health services has to go beyond awareness campaigns or one open enrollment mention per year. The support itself has to be easier to start.What removing barriers to mental health care looks likeIf employers want to improve access to mental health care, they need to design around the barriers employees actually face.That includes:Employees should have a single point of entry for any mental healthcare. They shouldn’t have to navigate a list of multiple phone numbers or determine on their own what specialist they really need.If cost is the leading barrier for lower-income populations, employers need to clearly articulate what support is available, what it costs, and what happens next to all employees. That might require different tactics for frontline populations versus those who work from a desk, for example.Getting them to the right care quickly is highly important. Fast access matters, but fast access to the wrong provider can become a barrier or reinforce existing barriers. If someone is matched to the first available appointment rather than a provider who can actually support their needs, they are less likely to stay engaged. Data-driven provider matching is vital.Employers also need to address privacy concerns around therapy explicitly. Employees should not have to guess what information is shared, what stays confidential, or whether using a mental health benefit could affect how they are perceived. Be clear about what you can and cannot see regarding mental health use.Employers should also acknowledge that time is not a side issue. Employees cannot access care that only works during business hours or assumes they have room in their day. Flexible scheduling, virtual options, and a simple path into support matter because convenience is often what determines whether care happens at all.This story was produced by Spring Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	SAU, Mount Mercy have new vice president for strategic growth, communications St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University have announced the appointment of Nicole J. Sakraida, MEd, as vice president for strategic growth, marketing and communications, a news release says. In this role, Sakraida will provide senior leadership for strategic enrollment, marketing, communications, student recruitment, and institutional growth across St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University. [...]
	14 ways to reduce shipping costs for your small business 14 ways to reduce shipping costs for your small businessEven if you’re putting in the work to protect your small business’s margins by regularly tracking the cost of customer acquisition (CAC), tweaking pricing, and chasing conversion improvements, there’s an often-overlooked factor that can eat into every order: shipping costs. A few extra dollars per package probably doesn’t feel urgent until it gets multiplied across hundreds or thousands of shipments. That’s where margins start to slip.The good news is this is one of the most controllable parts of your business. You don’t need massive volume or a full operations team to start lowering your shipping costs. Small adjustments, when applied consistently, can add up fast.If you’re wondering how to reduce shipping costs for your small business, it usually comes down to making some few operational changes. In this guide, Mercury, a fintech platform that offers business and personal banking services, explores 14 practical ways to do exactly that.1. Negotiate better carrier rates early onYou might assume negotiation only matters at scale, but it doesn’t. Shipping carriers care about potential volume, consistency, and growth. Even if you’re shipping 50 to 200 orders a month, you have leverage, if you present it properly.To make your case, start simple. When you contact shipping companies, share your monthly shipment volume and growth trajectory and ask for discounted tiers based on projected volume. Compare quotes from at least two providers before negotiating shipping rates. By positioning the narrative as future business you’re bringing to the carrier, you could benefit from major savings.2. Use multiple carriers strategicallyDefaulting to one carrier is convenient, but it’s usually not the most cost-efficient approach. That’s because different carriers win in different situations, such as local deliveries versus long-distance or lightweight versus heavier packages. If you match the shipment to the carrier that specializes in that type of shipment, you can reduce costs immediately without changing anything else.3. Optimize packaging size and weightShipping isn’t just based on weight. It’s often based on dimensional weight (as known as volumetric weight), which is how much room a package takes up relative to its weight. Using a slightly oversized box can push your package into a higher pricing tier, even if the product is light.To optimize your packaging, try these quick wins:Use right-sized packaging for your top SKUs.Reduce excess filler, when possible.Standardize packaging for repeat orders.Smaller boxes can look cleaner, and they’ll cost less every time.4. Use flat-rate or regional shipping, when it makes senseFlat-rate shipping can help you reduce costs, but only in the right scenarios. It works best when your products are dense or heavy, shipping distances vary widely, and/or you want predictable costs.Regional shipping rewards proximity. The closer the destination, the lower the cost will be.To understand whether it makes sense to choose flat-rate versus regional shipping, look at the shipping zones for your orders.5. Introduce shipping thresholds to increase order value“Free shipping” isn’t really free, but offering it can still work in your favor. Setting a threshold like “free shipping over $75” could nudge customers to spend more, since people are often willing to add one more item to avoid a shipping fee. And that increase in average order value (AOV) can offset the shipping cost. When done well, this strategy improves both revenue and margin.6. Pass some costs strategicallyAbsorbing all shipping costs isn’t always the best business move. There are three common approaches:Fully free shipping: Your business covers the shipping costs.Fully paid shipping: Your customers cover the shipping costs.Hybrid: You set a threshold for free shipping, or you partially subsidize the shipping costs (so the customer pays a reduced shipping fee and your business covers the balance).The right approach for your business will depend on your margins and positioning. Test different shipping cost structures and watch how conversion and order value respond. For example, you might see that transparent shipping prices perform better than trying to hide costs inside your pricing structure.7. Use fulfillment centers based closer to your customersShipping distance will inevitably increase costs. If most of your customers are concentrated in specific regions, shipping everything from a faraway location can get expensive.A third-party logistics (3PL) or regional fulfillment partner can not only reduce shipping zones, but could also potentially offer faster delivery times and cut per-order costs. Working with fulfillment centers can meaningfully reduce costs if your demand is clustered, without stretching your operations.8. Audit your shipping data regularlyA simple monthly audit of your shipping data can identify key patterns in your business, such as high-cost SKUs, expensive shipping routes, and orders with poor margins after shipping. Use the information that you uncover to inform strategies that structurally reduce shipping costs.9. Reduce returnsReturns can double a shipping-costs problem if you’re paying to send the product out and to bring it back. So, reducing returns can help your small business to save on shipping costs.To reduce returns, be sure to:Write clear product descriptions.Include accurate sizing guides.Use real product photos that illustrate the scale, material, and purpose of the item.Set up an easy-to-use exchange system to reduce the need to issue refunds.Note: A small drop in your return rate can have an even bigger impact than negotiating shipping rates.10. Batch shipments and streamline fulfillmentShipping one order at a time might feel efficient, but it’s not always optimal. Batching orders often reduces handling time, improves picking efficiency, and lowers operational costs per order. Even simple workflow changes, like scheduling your packing windows, can make a difference.11. Use shipping software to optimize ratesManually selecting carriers costs time and effort, and it can also lead to a more expensive outcome. Shipping tools, on the other hand, can automatically compare rates across carriers and choose the most cost-effective option for each order. At a certain volume, these tools pay for themselves quickly. They can also reduce human error — and the cost of human error tends to grow more expensive as your business scales.12. Revisit your international shipping strategyAccepting orders from customers around the world can look like an attractive option. But international orders often carry costs. For example, you’ll likely have to pay duties and taxes. And your packages run the risk of getting stuck in customs, leading to delays, unhappy customers, and higher return rates.In the early days of your business, it might not make practical sense to try to serve every market. To start, you can consider:Limiting international shipping to specific regionsPassing duties to customers upfrontTesting demand before expanding broadly13. Build carrier relationships as you scaleOver time, your shipping volume can turn into leverage because carriers reward consistency and predictability. If your business is growing steadily, revisit your rates regularly and negotiate with your shipping carrier to improve terms — like better pricing tiers, priority support, and more flexible pickup options.Think of your relationships to your shipping carriers as long-term partnerships, not just one-time negotiations.14. Align shipping strategy with your marginsEvery product shouldn’t get shipped the same way. For instance, a high-margin product can absorb faster or more expensive shipping, but a low-margin product can’t.If you map your shipping decisions to unit economics, you’ll know which products can support free shipping, which require minimum-order thresholds, and which may need restricted shipping options.How much can you actually save?When you’re exploring how to save on shipping costs for your small business, you may be wondering how much you could potentially save.So, let’s consider an example. In this scenario, before making any changes to your shipping strategy:You ship 1,000 orders per month.Your average shipping cost is $10.Then, say that you negotiate with your carrier to reduce your shipping rate by just 10%. This means you’ll save $1 per order. That’s $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year.This saving is just from one layer of optimization. If you stack a few of the tactics listed above together, the impact can multiply and lead to significant savings.Common shipping mistakes to avoidLosing margin to hidden shipping costs can happen — and usually it’s not from one big decision, but from small habits that chip away at profits over time. To avoid this situation, watch out for these common errors.Over-optimizing too earlyThe problem: Spending weeks refining packaging or chasing minor savings before you have consistent volume can slow you down.The fix: Start by making the highest-impact changes, then layer in improvements as your business grows.Ignoring customer experienceThe problem: Saving on shipping costs won’t mean much if products arrive damaged or deliveries arrive late. Short-term cost savings can turn into lost customer trust, churn, and higher support costs.The fix: Prioritize providing a high-quality customer experience with each shipping decision you make. This includes making sure customers receive their orders in a timely manner, in sturdy and suitable packaging.Treating shipping as a fixed costThe problem: Treating shipping as a fixed cost is a limiting mindset. Shipping isn’t actually static.The fix: Remember, rates, packaging, routing, and fulfillment can all be adjusted. You have agency to improve your shipping systems and identify areas when you can reduce costs.Take control of one of your biggest cost leversShipping has a way of slipping into the background. Orders go out, customers get their packages, and, when things are running smoothly, everything feels like it’s working. Yet, underneath these processes, small inefficiencies can add up. Individually, they might not seem urgent, but together, they’ll chip away at your margins.You don’t need to overhaul your entire operation to see results. Start with one or two areas, measure what changes, and keep going. Over time, this is how you’ll cut small business shipping costs in a way that actually lasts. And, as you get more disciplined with this approach, it’ll naturally extend beyond shipping into other business areas. The same visibility that helps you manage costs at the order level can help you make better decisions across your entire business.Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.This story was produced by Mercury and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Weekend Rundown with WLLR \| June 4, 2026 There are many family-friendly events going on this weekend, and we've brought in Dani Howe from WLLR to break it down.
	Gun control group sues ATF over records release Brady, a nonprofit gun control advocacy group, is suing the ATF and the DOJ over their refusals to release documents and other information about who the largest sellers of crime guns in the U.S. are.
	Israel and Lebanon reach an agreement, but ceasefire stalls The U.N. peacekeeping mission for Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said one peacekeeper was killed and others were wounded when they came under mortar fire in southeastern Lebanon.
	Why expensive AI subscriptions provide increasing value Why expensive AI subscriptions provide increasing valueWhen OpenAI first launched its $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscription back at the end of 2024, it offered so little extra benefit over a $20/month ChatGPT Plus subscription that there wasn't much point in even trying it out.But over the past six months or so, AI coding tools and AI agents have crossed an important threshold. They've gone from mostly doing what you want most of the time to almost always doing what you want almost all of the time. While the progress to reach this point was incremental, it represents a huge shift in what AI tools are good for, who can get value from them, and how you use them.Here, Zapier explains why a $200/month subscription for an AI tool can be money well spent.The November shiftUntil late last year, there hadn't yet been a killer standalone AI product capable of generating real revenue. ChatGPT was useful for some things, but OpenAI was (and still is) losing millions of dollars per month because not enough people are prepared to pay for a chatty version of Google. Similarly, AI image generation can be handy, but AI-generated movies and TV shows—or even AI photo shoots—aren't dominating the culture. OpenAI recently announced it was shutting down its video generation tool, Sora, and AI-generated imagery seems to mostly make headlines for all the wrong reasons.Simon Willison, one of the leading AI bloggers, calls it the November inflection point. Writing in The New York Times, developer Paul Ford pegs November 2025 as the time AI coding tools "suddenly got much better." It's when OpenAI released GPT-5.1 and Anthropic dropped Claude Opus 4.5—and when AI tools became really, really good.Of course, things had been building for a while. Claude Code was released in February, and its instant success among developers caused an industry-wide shift. In an interview on Lenny Rachitsky's podcast, Willison claimed that for most of 2025, OpenAI and Anthropic were almost exclusively training their models on computer code.In November, though, Claude Code (and OpenAI's equivalent, Codex) went from being a tool you needed to be a developer to use to a tool anyone comfortable opening a terminal could get some value from. You don't need to have a deep understanding of every line of code to get somewhere; just be comfortable looking at it.And now, with tools like Cowork and computer use, and the friendly app-based interfaces of Claude Code and Codex, these tools are even easier for more people to use.Chatbots aren't the only interface anymoreAI chatbots were a great proof of concept. They packaged AI into a friendly and easy-to-use app, but there were inherent limits to the form factor. Because the AI was constrained to its chatty sandbox, there was very little it could do. Features like web browsing and research made them more useful as search competitors, but they were never able to do much.Coding agents are freed from many of these constraints. By being able to run terminal commands on your computer, they can operate on your files as well as chat back. In simple terms, you can use one to sort your photos into folders by date taken or rename a load of email archives. Of course, this kind of access means they can delete all your backups—but that tends not to happen if you're sensible. Courtesy of Zapier More importantly, though, coding agents can write and run computer code—and they can now write it well. Anyone who even understands the general concepts behind coding—no matter how non-technical they are—can realistically now learn how to use Claude Code or Codex to build apps and automations they can use.One incredibly important innovation here is Plan Mode. This is where the coding agent looks at what you want it to do and creates a plan for how it would do it—but, crucially, doesn't actually do anything. If you employ a bit of common sense, actually read what the AI is suggesting, and ask it (or Google) any bits you're unsure of, almost anyone can safely use a coding agent.Agents are adding value Courtesy of Zapier A year or two ago, the economics of all this didn't work. Developers could vibe code for fun, but regular people frequently got themselves into trouble, and building apps that actually worked was a challenge.Now, if you're motivated and are willing to learn some of the technical details, you can get a huge amount of value from coding tools—and that's before you even look at what's possible with agents that run on a schedule.You can build tools you'd otherwise have to pay for, unlock opportunities you wouldn't have had before, and move much more quickly.A few caveatsThe big caveat: Use AI coding agents at your own risk. If you don't know what -rm -rf does, you shouldn't give them unfettered access to your system. Even then, the more access they have, the more possible it is for things to go wrong.This is where the Claude Code and Claude Cowork tabs in the Claude app, as well as the Codex desktop app, really shine. Not only do they give you a friendlier interface for working on your local machine, but you can write and run code on Anthropic and OpenAI's remote servers. It's a safer test-bed for whatever ideas you have. Courtesy of Zapier You also have to be very careful with important data. Common sense is key. If you want to use AI coding agents with business data, make sure your company has a service agreement.The cheaper Claude and ChatGPT plans also include Code and Codex; the limits are just lower. You don't have to go all-in to test it out. Pick something small, and try it on a cheap plan. If the AI agent idea clicks for you, then you can go further. But if you just want a chatty Google, the free ChatGPT plan is all you need.AI is really having its momentA lot has changed in the last few months. Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and other agentic coding tools have shown a real use case for AI. Not only do they enable skilled developers to work much faster, but they also allow almost anyone to create working tools.Of course, there's a huge danger factor to that. Some people will get in over their heads and accidentally expose financial secrets, personal data, and more. But included guardrails make it easy to safely test out these tools—and they can dramatically change how you work.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Downtown Moline parking study draws mixed views on parking needs Moline officials are gathering feedback on downtown parking, but some residents, visitors and business owners disagree on whether there's a shortage or an abundance.
	Discover why a college savings plan can be one of the best gifts (BPT) - Key TakeawaysA 529 college savings plan is a great gift for all occasions.A college savings account plan is a valuable tool that can help defray the cost of higher education.Gifting a child in your life a college savings account teaches them financial responsibility, is simple to give, can be used for various education expenses and appreciates over time.Deciding what gift to give a child for graduations, birthdays, holidays and other gift-giving occasions can be challenging. Traditional gifts like computers, phones, gift cards and clothing may be appreciated in the moment, but they don't have the potential to appreciate in value over time.This year, instead of giving a traditional gift, consider starting or contributing to a student's 529 college savings plan account to help save for future education.The rising cost of educationThe cost of college has risen substantially over the past 20 years.According to the College Board Trends in College Pricing, the cost of a four-year undergraduate education — which includes tuition, room and board — increased by 68% at private colleges and universities between 1994 and 2024. For public colleges and universities, the cost increased by 78% during the same period.1Given the rise in college costs, it's no surprise that helping a student save for college has become more popular. In fact, 79% of parents would welcome a contribution to their child's college savings account in lieu of traditional gifts, according to Fidelity's 2025 College Gifting Study.Beyond the monetary value, there are other benefits of gifting to a college savings plan account. Below are just a few of the many reasons why a 529 plan may be one of the best gifts you can give a child of any age in 2026.When you give or contribute to a college savings plan, you're demonstrating your own investment in a child's educational future.It teaches financial valuesOpening or contributing money to a college savings account can be a great opportunity to teach a child or teen financial literacy.Start by showing them the account and discussing how much you and other family members can contribute toward their college costs. For those with older children who are working part-time, encourage them to contribute part of their paycheck to their college savings account, so they can feel ownership over their plan.It's easy to giveIn many cases, setting up a 529 savings plan account is simple and can be done online. For example, when you visit the Fidelity website, you can choose a plan, select the investments and set up automatic fund payments.On your plan page, you can make it easy for other family members to contribute, too. Grandparents are especially keen to contribute to their grandchildren's education.According to Fidelity's study, 35% of grandparents have contributed to a savings account for a child's education instead of a traditional gift. However, for those who haven't contributed, many said they want to but don't know how.If you have a 529 plan account managed by Fidelity, you can make it simple for anyone who wants to contribute to your student's savings plan to do so year-round.Log in to your account and visit your gifting dashboard, or set one up here. Once you're done, you can share a link to your personalized college gifting page. Anyone with the link can click the "Give a gift" button and make a contribution to the savings plan using their checking account.They're flexibleOne of the benefits of a 529 college savings plan is that a student can use it for more than just traditional college tuition. In fact, they can use it not just for college, but to pay for vocational and trade school expenses.Some 529 qualified education expenses include:College tuition and feesRoom and boardBooks and suppliesTechnologySpecial needs expensesK-12 qualified expenses up to $20,000 in 2026Under certain conditions, you can transfer funds tax- and penalty-free up to a lifetime limit of $35,000 in a 529 to a Roth IRA opened by the 529 beneficiary, which offers some flexibility in the event the student doesn't use all the funds.2It's a gift that means a lot today and more tomorrowWhen you give or contribute to a college savings plan, you're demonstrating your own investment in a child's educational future.Starting an account early is recommended, but don't be deterred if you feel you're too late. Any earnings grow federal income tax–deferred. Plus, they'll get tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. It's a meaningful gift, and even a little today can grow to more tomorrow.Bonus: Contributing to a 529 savings account can be a gift for you, too! If you want to contribute to a friend or family member's 529 plan, individual contributions up to $19,000 annually and up to $38,000 per married couple are not subject to the federal gift tax, and some states may even offer tax incentives for contributions by state residents.To learn more about how to gift to a 529 plan account this year, visit Fidelity.com/529-Plans/College-Gifting.1. The College Board Trends in College Pricing 2024; Table CP-2 https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing2. Beginning January 2024, the Secure 2.0 Act of 2022 (the "Act") provides that you may transfer assets from your 529 account to a Roth IRA established for the Designated Beneficiary of a 529 account under the following conditions: (i) the 529 account must be maintained for the Designated Beneficiary for at least 15 years, (ii) the transfer amount must come from contributions made to the 529 account at least five years prior to the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer date, (iii) the Roth IRA must be established in the name of the Designated Beneficiary of the 529 account, (iv) the amount transferred to a Roth IRA is limited to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit, and (v) the aggregate amount transferred from a 529 account to a Roth IRA may not exceed $35,000 per individual. It is your responsibility to maintain adequate records and documentation on your accounts to ensure you comply with the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has not issued guidance on the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer provision in the Act but is anticipated to do so in the future. Based on forthcoming guidance, it may be necessary to change or modify some 529-to-Roth IRA transfer requirements. Please consult a financial or tax professional regarding your specific circumstances before making any investment decision.529 distributions for qualified education expenses are generally federal income tax free. 529 assets may be used to pay for (i) qualified higher education expenses, (ii) qualified expenses for registered apprenticeship programs, (iii) up to $10,000 per taxable year per beneficiary for tuition expenses ($20,000 for expenses beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2025) in connection with enrollment at a public, private, and religious elementary and secondary educational institution. Although such assets may come from multiple 529 accounts, the $10,000 qualified withdrawal ($20,000 beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2025) limit will be aggregated on a per beneficiary basis. The IRS has not provided guidance to date on the methodology of allocating the $10,000 annual maximum ($20,000 beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2025) among withdrawals from different 529 accounts, (iv) amounts paid as principal or interest on any qualified education loan of a 529 plan designated beneficiary or a sibling of the designated beneficiary. The amount treated as a qualified expense is subject to a lifetime limit of $10,000 per individual. Although the assets may come from multiple 529 accounts, the $10,000 withdrawal limit for qualified educational loans payments will be aggregated on a per individual basis. The IRS has not provided guidance to date on the methodology of allocating the $10,000 annual maximum among withdrawals from different 529 accounts, and (v) tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or attendance in a recognized postsecondary credential program as defined under Section 529 of the Code and identified by the Secretary of the Treasury as being such a reputable program. Any earnings on distributions not used for qualified higher educational expenses or that exceed distribution limits may be taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. Some states do not conform with federal tax law. Please check with your home state to determine if it recognizes the expanded 529 benefits afforded under federal tax law, including distributions for elementary and secondary education expenses, apprenticeship programs, postsecondary credentialing programs, and student loan repayments. You may want to consult with a tax professional before investing or making distributions.Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Fidelity cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Fidelity makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use, and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation.Views expressed are as of the date indicated and may change based on market and other conditions. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the speaker or author, as applicable, and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments.Recently enacted legislation made a number of changes to the rules regarding defined contribution, defined benefit, and/or individual retirement plans and 529 plans. Information herein may refer to or be based on certain rules in effect prior to this legislation and current rules may differ. As always, before making any decisions about your retirement planning or withdrawals, you should consult with your personal tax advisor.Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.Please carefully consider the plan's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. For this and other information on any 529 college savings plan managed by Fidelity, contact Fidelity for a free Fact Kit, or view one online. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 029171241938.1.0
	Celebrate National Drive-In Movie Day at a theater near you Celebrate the anniversary of the first drive-in movie theater by visiting a theater near you. Just four remain in Iowa.
	Resignation, hirings and transfers from Bettendorf School District for May 27 The following personnel items are from the May 27 agenda of the Bettendorf Community School District. The School Board met at the Administration Center, 3311 18th St., Bettendorf.
	EICC keeps tuition flat; Black Hawk College approves increase Tuition is staying flat at EICC, but Black Hawk College students will pay slightly more next year. Read more about the colleges' decisions here.
	Alexis man gets probation on sex charge Roger G. Cooper, 62, of Alexis, was sentenced after entering an open plea in March to Class 2 felony indecent solicitation of criminal sexual assault.
	First medical cannabis store opens in Alabama after years of delays Amanda Taylor, a patient advocate, speaks to reporters after making the first medical cannabis purchase in Alabama on June 3, 2026, at Callie's Apothecary in Montgomery, Alabama. Taylor has multiple sclerosis and says the natural medicine will relieve her nausea, vomiting and tremor symptoms. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)Amanda Taylor, a patient advocate, bought the first medical cannabis product in Alabama Wednesday morning at Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery. Taylor, who has multiple sclerosis, said she has advocated for the natural medicine in her home state for about 11 years. She moved to Arizona for access to medical cannabis and to work in the industry, but came home to be a “voice for the patients.” “I’ve always said it’s not all about me, it’s about the patients. If it was about me, I would have stayed in Arizona, but this is about a better quality of life, not getting high, but about a better quality of life,” she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The Alabama medical cannabis law, enacted in 2021, allows registered physicians to recommend cannabis for about 15 medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD, sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain, and terminal diseases. The approved product forms are restricted to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils, and gel cubes (only peach flavor), with raw plant material and smokable forms remaining prohibited. Taylor purchased a water-soluble tincture and peach-flavored gel cubes. She said she hopes the products will last her about a month and resolve her nausea, vomiting and tremor symptoms of multiple sclerosis. She has 45 legions on her brain and one on her spine. “I will be able to remove some very dangerous pharmaceuticals, and I’ll be able to replace them with something that God put on this earth for this specific reason,” she said. Taylor drove over two hours from Cullman, Alabama, to get to Callie’s Apothecary, the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in the state. When the program is fully up and running, there will be 12 dispensaries across the state between four companies. Three of the companies, CCS of Alabama, LLC, GP6 Wellness, LLC, and RJK Holdings, LLC, have licenses and are expected to open their storefronts this summer, according to Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) Director John McMillan. A fourth license is pending litigation, but is likely to go to Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC. Dispensary Locations: CCS of Alabama, LLC Montgomery, Bessemer and Talladega GP6 Wellness, LLC Birmingham, Athens and Attalla RJK Holdings, LLC Oxford, Daphne and Mobile Yellowhammer Medical Dispensary, LLC *pending license approval Birmingham, Owens Cross Roads and Demopolis People who suffer from the qualifying conditions must get approval from their physician and enter the patient registry in order to buy products at a dispensary. Litigation has also held up access to medical cannabis. Some firms sued the commission for not being awarded a license, citing a discriminatory process. Another case involved five parents that sued the commission over delays in access to cannabis, which was dismissed in August. McMillan said Wednesday there are over 300 patients on the registry. As of Wednesday, there are 52 physicians certified to recommend medical cannabis to patients in Alabama, according to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, but there will likely be more now that patients can get products. “It’s all about the patients, every step of the whole process, and so I think wisely they’ve sort of held off until they know that the patient can get a recommendation and then get a product,” McMillan said. Taylor said she hopes that the stigma around cannabis as medicine will go away as the industry changes in Alabama. “I see this growing exponentially, because once people see the results and see the difference that it makes, and that it’s not about getting high and how you can function and be a productive member of society,” she said. “There’s no shame in that. This is medicine.” Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Twin Journeys This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The Rock Island Lines steam engine passenger trains have been silent for more than forty years now, but I can still…
	Vinyl records: Everlasting music, modern products (BPT) - By Ned MonroeFrom the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" in 1966 to Taylor Swift's "Life of a Showgirl" today, vinyl records are a mainstay in music and art culture. Their combination of nostalgia and utility have turned a whole new generation into collectors. The music medium endures in part because of vinyl's core design and engineering: creating and preserving sound in tiny grooves on a durable, flexible platform that can be played over and over for years of lasting enjoyment.What vinyl (also known as PVC) does for music it does for so many other things, from drinking water pipes to building materials like siding, windows and flooring to life-saving medical supplies such as blood storage.Like a perfectly crafted album, vinyl brings together just the right parts and pieces into a melody that enriches lives.From turntable to tomorrowVinyl records and other PVC products, such as pipes and siding, are engineered for a final vinyl product with performance properties specific to its application, such as audio fidelity, impact resistance, durability, UV stability or flexibility.Vinyl records are designed to play again and again, remaining dimensionally stable to ensure sound quality. It is a testament to the durability of this material that can be seen in many other vinyl products.Two-thirds of PVC is used in durable goods with lifespans of 15 to 75 years. A major share of vinyl resin goes into water infrastructure products such as buried PVC pipes that can have a service life of more than 100 years. Like vinyl albums that last for decades and can be passed from parents to children, many other vinyl products are designed to remain in use.The band plays on: The many lives of vinylGood music endures — and so can the record itself. Most vinyl materials, including records, can be recycled into new uses. Products made from recycled vinyl include all-weather auto mats, tarps for disaster relief, decking and flooring, to name just a few.The most recent "State of PVC Recycling in the USA & Canada" report, released this April, found that the U.S. and Canada recycled more than 1.127 billion pounds of PVC in 2024, including 71.3 million pounds of post-consumer content such as roofing, hoses, siding and flooring. This data confirms the vision and dedication of recyclers across North America who have long understood PVC's reuse potential in ways that provide both economic value and environmental benefit.An extensive playlist: Built for more than just music Records are one of the most visible consumer products made with vinyl, but you can find the material in so many more of the products you rely on every day, even if you don't realize it. The set list includes:Clean water & infrastructure: Because PVC is durable, long-lasting and cost-effective, it's a popular material for pipes across the globe. You can't see most of them, but behind the walls and underfoot, PVC pipes are safely supplying hot and cold water while transmitting wastewater.Healthcare: Hospitals have leaned on PVC's durability and reliability for more than 50 years. It has helped save lives by revolutionizing how medical facilities administer patient care. PVC bags can store blood longer and replace breakable containers, medicines can be sealed tightly and have a longer shelf life, and PVC flooring, wallcoverings and furniture are ideally suited due to their performance and cleanability properties.Homes & buildings: Vinyl can be manufactured in rigid forms, so it's versatile for a range of construction applications. The strength and longevity of rigid vinyl is ideal for low-maintenance siding, energy-efficient windows and UV-resistant decking, for example, while flexible vinyl is well-suited for watertight roofing membranes, flooring that withstands foot traffic and scratch-resistant wallcoverings.Transportation: The cars you drive or the planes you fly on? They're likely to have many lighter weight and easy-to-clean vinyl products, from side moldings and dashboards to floor mats and upholstery.Lifestyle & recreation: Along with records, you can thank vinyl for items like pool liners, sprinkler systems, railings and garden hoses.Next-generation technology: Vinyl has long been important for technology infrastructure, such as for vinyl-insulated wire and cable and PVC conduits, but it's also playing a key role in the future. EV charging stations and solar panels, for example, also rely on vinyl-insulated wire and cable. The legend lives onRecord albums show the highly visible (and audible) role vinyl plays in our lives and culture. The same attributes — performance and longevity — that have made vinyl records an enduring cultural force are also what make its roles in infrastructure and healthcare so important. Combined with increasing opportunities for reuse and innovation, it's a material set to endure for generations, and genres, to come.Learn more about the many ways vinyl is used today and access the Vinyl Institute's Recycling Directory and other resources at www.vinylinfo.org.Ned Monroe is CEO of the Vinyl Institute.
	More than 1 in 3 World Cup matches face dangerous heat risk, NPR analysis finds Dangerously hot, humid weather is likely at many of the 2026 World Cup soccer venues. We crunched the numbers to see which matches are most at risk.
	How having zero points in tennis — or 'love' — came to sound so sweet There are theories that "love" in the tennis context has French, English or Dutch origins. But like many words, historians and language experts say it's hard to pin down the "right" answer.
	How cellphone carriers prepare for hurricane season with AI, drones and 'cows' Hurricane season is expected to be milder than usual this year. But that's not stopping cell phone companies from pulling out all the stops.
	In photos: a preview of the Obama Presidential Center The Obama Presidential Center opens later this month in Chicago. We take a look inside.
	A handful of American households pay for AI. Is the future free — or a subscription? Just 3% of U.S. households pay for AI for personal use. Sign ups are growing — even though Americans have subscription fatigue.
	The $13 billion carrier with a plumbing problem is home. Now come the costly repairs With 4,600 sailors finally home, USS Gerald R. Ford will finally receive some much needed repairs and an upgrade to its beleaguered sewage system.
	Some students with disabilities rely on screens at school. What happens if they're banned? Some students with disabilities rely on assistive technology to learn, and they worry it could be swept up in the movement to get screens out of schools.
	Ford issues seatbelt recall, do-not-drive order for some Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles Is your vehicle affected?
	Plans for a Trump family-linked resort spark protests in Albania A coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner is facing resistance in Albania. The government says the project will transform the nation, but environmental campaigners and critics oppose it.
	President Trump says he will nominate Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general Trump said at a dinner at the White House that he plans to nominate Blanche formally, according to a video of the event posted on social media by a White House aide.
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026
	Geneseo Girl Scout helps build new stage at Richmond Hill Park for Gold Award project The new stage is open for public reservation.
	Downtown Moline parking study draws mixed views on community needs Moline officials are gathering feedback on downtown parking, but some residents, visitors and business owners disagree on whether there's a shortage or an abundance.
	Davenport City council to vote on new agreements with Scott County Humane Society Last year, the city ended its humane society contract.
	Henry County to stop nonprofit donations after audit finds constitutional violation Henry County officials will stop donating public money to a private nonprofit after the Iowa State Auditor flagged a $7,500 payment to Main Street Mount Pleasant.
	Traffic Alert: Part of Pine Street to close for road work The road will be closed between 49th and 53rd streets, according to a Facebook post.
	Plans to revamp Davenport animal control services advance A plan to revamp animal control services in Davenport is taking shape as the Committee of the Whole moved forward with some resolutions. Three items related to animal control services were advanced. The first would acquire properties on N. Pine St. near W. 49th St. for future animal control operations. Council members approved a temporary [...]
	Davenport plans purchase of properties for animal shelter Davenport has a tentative deal to buy three north-side properties for a future animal shelter. The city council will review the proposal next week.
	City of Bettendorf names day after devoted community member, student turned staff member at Bettendorf High School The City of Bettendorf has proclaimed that June 2, 2026 shall be known as “Denis Glynn Day.”
	Clinton road will be closed for sewer, water installation Fifth Avenue South in Clinton will experience a partial closure on Thursday, June 4, to allow for preparatory work related to upcoming sewer and water installation, a news release says. The roadway will then be fully closed to all traffic on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, to complete the installation work. The roadway [...]
	Five current, retired Bettendorf transportation employees honored Five current and retired Bettendorf Community School District transportation employees are being recognized by the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association (IPTA) for their extraordinary years of service and unwavering dedication to safely transporting students throughout their careers, a news release says. The IPTA Longevity Service Award honors transportation professionals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving [...]
	Gov. Kim Reynolds signs final bills from 2026 legislative session Governor Kim Reynolds signed her final 49 bills of the 2026 legislative session, enacting major GOP priorities on immigration and governor powers.
	What is the John Deere Classic’s future in the Quad Cities? John Deere Classic Tournament Director Andrew Lehman said a report in Golfweek stating that the PGA Tour has asked John Deere to move its’ tournament from the Quad Cities to Chicago is false.
	Sterling police seek man involved in fight with pregnant girlfriend Sterling police seek a man who was involved in a fight with his pregnant girlfriend, according to a news release. About 9:14 a.m. Wednesday, Sterling police responded to a domestic battery in the 3600 block of River Road,. Suspect Damion J. Richmond, 25, was involved in a physical altercation with his pregnant girlfriend and left [...]
	MLRA will keep things rolling at Davenport Speedway On Friday, June 5, the racing program will feature the Midwest Latemodel Racing Association., a news release says. The MLRA late model series has raced at Davenport 12 times since 2014. Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, has three Davenport wins. Garrett Alberson and Chad Simpson have two wins each. Bobby Pierce, Chase Junghans, Billy Moyer [...]
	Understanding Familicide: What research reveals after Muscatine tragedy Experts say familicide — the killing of multiple family members by a relative — is rare, but research has identified several common risk factors.
	Public input deadline arrives for Centennial Bridge future Time is running out for the public to weigh in on the future of the Centennial Bridge.
	John Deere Classic leaders address rumors that place the future of the tournament in Chicago Organizers of the John Deere Classic (JDC) deny a claim made in a national golf publication about the future of the tournament. Golfweek reported this week the PGA Tour asked Deere to move the tournament to Chicago. Tournament Director Andrew Lehman says there's no truth to it. The JDC is the region's largest and most [...]
	River Bend Food Bank receives 40,000 pounds of food donations The donation is part of a collaboration between America250 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
	River Bend Food Bank receives 40,000 pounds of donated food The donation is part of a collaboration between America250 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
	A dry month of May this year Well underway on the month of June here in the Quad Cities and things have started off hot as we review May this year. Temperatures for the most part have been pretty close to normal, only missing the mark by about half of a degree at 61.9 degrees for the average. On the other hand, [...]
	NC House advances bill to regulate data centers, require more nuclear power Data centers are energy-intensive, running servers around the clock to power streams of computer computations. (Image: Adobe Stock)The North Carolina House voted 69-44 Wednesday to approve a bill setting regulations for data centers and encouraging the development of more nuclear power. Republicans pushed a modified version of Senate Bill 730, now titled the “Ratepayer Protection Act,” through the House this week, quickly sending it to their colleagues in the upper chamber. The bill passed through two committees on Tuesday. NC House panel advances data center restrictions Reps. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) and Dean Arp (R-Union) revealed the rewritten bill at the end of last month, shortly before the legislature took their Memorial Day break. “North Carolinians are seeing higher electricity bills, driven by rapid data growth and aggressive energy mandates,” Winslow said on the floor Wednesday, repeating his comments from a Tuesday committee hearing. “[This bill] puts our families and small businesses first by making data centers pay their fair share and strengthen grid reliability.” Municipalities across the state have implemented moratoriums on data centers as they seek to learn more and explore necessary regulations. The chamber unanimously added an amendment from Arp to clarify the definition of data centers, and to allow the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to set the standards for facilities’ water usage. In an unusual move, Democrats lauded their colleagues across the aisle for incorporating some of their requests into Arp’s amendment, although the GOP majority defeated several other Democratic attempts to amend the bill. “It’s vital that we set up guardrails to protect us from this industry, and this bill is a good first step,” Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) said. Harrison withdrew her amendment before the House heard the bill. She said she still had concerns with parts of the legislation, but hoped the Senate would address them. In particular, existing baseload power plants could not be retired under the measure until they can be replaced with nuclear resources. Sponsors say this would leave enough baseload energy available in the grid, but skeptics point out that developing that much new nuclear capacity in the state could take decades.. In the meantime, this requirement would remove limits on fossil fuels. Harrison advocated instead for the consideration of solar and wind power, which supply 22% of the world’s energy, combined with battery storage for reliability. “We need a little bit more flexibility to consider other baseload sources,” Harrison said. Other lawmakers raised issues with the energy sources as well. Rep. Maria Cervania (D-Wake) said she isn’t opposed to nuclear power, but she’s worried about tying the state to it. “The fundamental question before us is whether North Carolina families should be asked to pay today for technologies that may not be commercially available, economically viable or deployed at that scale for many years,” she said. “Nuclear projects have a long history of cost overruns, construction delays and ratepayer exposure.” House Democratic Leader Robert Reives (D-Chatham) criticized Republicans for adding controversial energy policy provisions to a bill cracking down on data centers. The GOP majority shut down a motion from Cervania to split the legislation into two parts — one on data centers, and one on energy policy. Reives said he “honest to goodness” doesn’t know how the energy portion became part of the measure. He predicted the measure would end up causing electricity costs to increase, not decrease, by requiring the state to continue to use fossil fuels for power. “Duke has given us a full report saying, ‘Hey guys, there are less expensive ways to provide energy,’ and we are locking them into the most expensive way,” Reives said. “I wish we would have a good, clean debate on the data center bill and pass that unanimously, and then I wish we would take this energy portion of the bill and really sit down and review it.” But Arp insisted the bill would protect consumers from rate increases in the long run. “Reliable baseload energy generation must stay online,” Arp said. “Critics have offered no other option, only a mandate for an intermediate, intermittent solar and wind, which are not baseload generation.” Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Nearly 60 Idahoans sick after drinking raw milk in past two weeks, officials say Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness after consuming raw dairy products. (Getty Images)Idaho health officials are investigating how nearly 60 people got sick after drinking raw milk in the past two weeks. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced in a news release on Wednesday that most of the people reported being sick after drinking raw milk from two different milking operations in North Idaho and southern Idaho. The infections were reported starting May 19. The state health agency didn’t disclose the names of the dairies, but said they are collaborating with health officials “to identify and fix any potential sources of contamination.” In a statement, Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter said the agency didn’t name the milking operations “because this is a potential risk for any raw milk producer.” “The milking operations are working with public health officials to figure out which patches of milk might be affected and to take steps to remedy the situation,” McWhorter said. Raw milk isn’t pasteurized, a process that involves heating the milk to kill bacteria — like Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella — that can be present in raw milk. So far, 45 of the people who got sick tested positive for campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection. But officials say not everyone who got sick has been tested, and that more illnesses could be found. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says its public health division is working with local health officials across six of Idaho’s seven regional public health districts to investigate the source of the outbreaks, including Central District Health, Southwest District Health, Eastern Idaho Public Health, Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Panhandle District Health, and South Central Public Health. Officials are investigating to find batches that are potentially concerning and test milk samples. What are the symptoms of infections linked to raw milk? Symptoms of infections from bacteria that can be in raw milk include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and dehydration. Complications can be severe, especially in people at higher risk such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Health officials encourage people who are feeling symptoms after recently drinking raw milk to seek medical care promptly. To report an illness or get more information, officials encourage people to contact their local public health district. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	NC lawmakers defend AI earmark, move to require schools to allow off-campus religious instruction The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday revived a proposal to require school districts to allow students to participate in off-campus religious instruction during the school day. Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston) introduced the language as an amendment to Senate Bill 1006, an omnibus K-12 education bill, during the Senate Education committee meeting on Wednesday. The move revives a proposal that was originally filed in February 2025 as Senate Bill 92, known as the “Released Time Education Act.” It had languished for more than a year without a hearing. State Senate bill would okay students attending off-campus Bible classes during school hours While S92 would have allowed local school boards to decide whether to offer released-time programs, the new version added into S1006 strips that option. It instead requires public schools to adopt policies allowing students to participate. Released-time programs allow students to leave campus for private religious instruction during the school day. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the practice in 1952, provided the classes are held off school grounds, use no public funds, and have parental consent. Overcash told lawmakers that similar programs already operate in dozens of states, including New York. “It really, really runs the gamut of political persuasions,” said Overcash, who is also the co-chair of the committee. “These programs are important to help build the moral and religious character of our students. The amendment also removes part of S92 that would have allowed students to earn academic credit for the off-campus instruction. That specific proposal had drawn criticism in the past. Critics argue the program excludes other students, detracts from academics, and allows proselytization in public schools. Sponsor defends earmark for AI tutoring program Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), a key sponsor of Senate Bill 1006, defended the decision to direct more than $10 million in recurring state funding to Khan Academy for a statewide AI tutoring program without a competitive bidding process. NC bill would steer $10 million to Khan Academy for AI tool of debatable value Lee said state officials had spent years evaluating the platform and pointed to meetings with Khan Academy founder Sal Khan and North Carolina officials. Sen. Sophia Chitlik (D-Durham) questioned the evidence behind the earmark, saying, “I’m struggling to find the evidence that shows that this is a better investment than, say, $10 million in instructional assistance.” In an April interview with Chalkbeat, Khan Academy founder Sal Khan acknowledged the company’s AI tutoring tool, Khanmigo, had not met early expectations for classroom use. “For a lot of students, it was a non-event,” he said. “They just didn’t use it much.” Under the proposal, participating districts would use state funds to purchase Khanmigo, which is designed to help teachers with lesson planning and answer student questions about coursework. Funding would be distributed based on enrollment in grades 6 through 12. Districts that opt in would review the program each year before deciding whether to renew contracts. The 25-page bill includes more funding for Advanced Teaching Roles, a teacher apprenticeship program, and increased oversight of school district finances. It would also require districts to report their chronic absenteeism rates to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. It advanced to the Senate Appropriations committee for further consideration. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Train derailment in Iowa: 1 dead after train collides with semi The Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office responded to a crash involving a semi-truck and a train in the 3900 block of Highway 21 just before 12:40 p.m. Wednesday.
	LEAP program focuses on reducing obesity in 6 Iowa counties The five-year, CDC-funded program has been working in Muscatine, Clinton and Cedar Counties for about three years to create long-lasting community solutions.
	Vibrant Arena holds government contractors convention Defense experts held panels to discuss current events and future collaboration efforts.
	Iowa DOT research on superloads, work zone safety earns national honors Researchers were looking at the impact of oversized loads on Iowa roads, particularly rural ones, as well as how effective speed signs are in work zones.
	A controversial bill to rein in AI use in medical billing advances in NC Senate (Photo: Getty Images/ Ariel Skelley)Facing a sea of doctors and medical students dressed in their white coats, Senator Amy Galey (R-Alamance) made the case Wednesday for her bill to limit the use of artificial intelligence in Medicaid and commercial insurance. Galey said while AI transcribers have helped practitioners with charting, her proposal, House Bill 565, would focus on the increasing adoption by hospital systems and other providers of AI systems designed to maximize billing. The amended bill presented to the Senate Health Committee would prohibit software developers from designing, training, or modifying AI systems for use in healthcare coding if the AI system is designed to “promote, incentivize or result in upcoding.” Upcoding is choosing a higher billing code than warranted, a practice that is already illegal. Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) (Photo: NCGA livestream) Galey says a person with knowledge of coding and data analytics in the field of artificial intelligence could manipulate and then program medical codes to generate higher billing. “We are already looking at a billion-dollar Medicaid rebase for next year,” said Galey. “If we don’t get a handle on controlling these costs that are generated by a computer billing system which has an inherent bias in favor of higher bills, then we’re just not going to be able to afford it.” Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) questioned whether the bill needed to be clearer about applying only to intentional acts by software developers. “We wouldn’t want someone to get caught up in this if it’s unintentional, right?” asked Mayfield. Galey said hospitals have a duty to make sure that whoever they’re working with in their hospital billing system has affirmatively not tried to bill for more than the services that were rendered. Sen. Gale Adcock (D-Wake), a family nurse practitioner, said while the legislation has seen some improvements from the original version, she was unclear on why it would require doctors to submit an annual AI attestation of compliance to the state attorney general’s office. “If alleged Medicaid overbilling is a driving concern, why do we need to create a new attestation process?” questioned Adcock. “Just [include] this in the Medicaid provider participation agreement, because that agreement already prohibits fraudulent upcoding.” Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford) said her own local hospital system assured her that AI was only being used for notetaking, not upcoding in medical billing. NC senators consider new restrictions on artificial intelligence in insurance and medical billing “The hospitals are concerned that this is an attack on them, and I think that we ought to support hospitals and providers,” said Robinson. “I agree with Sen. Adcock in terms of, what is the need for the bill?” Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), the Senate Health committee chairman, serves on a national AI task force on healthcare. He said AI usage dominated the discussion at a recent meeting attended by the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, Blue Cross and other large healthcare companies. In the not too distant future, Burgin predicted, a patient’s first interaction with Medicare or Medicaid is going to be with an AI bot. “There are companies developing technology that not only scribes, it diagnoses, it prescribes, it does all of that,” said Burgin. Burgin said while Galey’s bill was not perfect, it is a step forward in legislating a field everyone will be dealing with. “The decisions are being made so fast that humans can’t even keep up. Humans are becoming less a factor, instead of more of a factor,” said Burgin. Sen. Gale Adcock (D-Wake) argued H565 is based on a false premise. (Photo: NCGA livestream) Ryan Blackledge, vice president of government and external affairs for Cone Health, said more work is needed around the upcoding language of the bill so that the professional judgment of a doctor won’t be subject to claims of unfair and deceptive trade practices. “That’s confusing the issue,” said Galey. “This bill is looking at the computer code itself and whether or not it has been written to generate higher payments.” Adcock said that Galey’s bill is based on an underlying premise that hospitals and individual providers are intentionally billing for services that are not supported by their care of the patient or the treatments that were given. “I think that’s a dangerous premise on which this bill is based. For that reason, I’ll be voting no,” said Adcock. Despite those concerns, House Bill 565 advanced on a voice vote and moves next to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	One dead, another airlifted after train derailment crash in Poweshiek County Both directions of the road are blocked from the crash.
	LEAP program seeking to help address obesity in Iowa Six Iowa counties have adult obesity rates above 40%. That includes Cedar, Clinton, Crawford, Franklin, Muscatine and Pottawattamie counties.
	How to help those impacted by Muscatine shootings All of the victims' names were read aloud during a vigil Tuesday evening, where the football stadium stands were packed as people remembered the lives lost.
	House passes war powers resolution directing Trump to end hostilities with Iran The vote marked a rare bipartisan rebuke of the war, but is mostly symbolic. Democrats have been unable to pass a war powers resolution in the Senate, and even if they could it would likely be vetoed.
	Pa. moves closer to chip-enabled cards for SNAP enrollees Chip-enabled cards for Pennsylvania's SNAP beneficiaries, like the Maryland version pictured above, could soon be a reality in the commonwealth. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)Each month, more than $300 million in food assistance dollars is awarded by the state Department of Human Services (DHS) to eligible enrollees, but millions end up in the hands of criminals who “skim” card numbers to steal benefits. Debit and credit card companies largely pivoted to cards with small computer chips along one edge in addition to the traditional magnetic stripe. This chip creates a unique code for each transaction, preventing skimmers attached to card readers from recording card information. But that same protection hasn’t yet been added to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards distributed to the more than two million Pennsylvanians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase food. Some legislators want to change that. Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties House Bill 2540 would require the state to offer chip-enabled cards to enrollees by January 2028. It’s co-sponsored by Reps. Dan Williams (D-Chester) and Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon). “There’s nothing worse than somebody (being) in the checkout lane with their groceries and find out that somebody has stolen their access card. This is going to really go a long way to improve that,” said Heffley. A DHS spokesperson shared that implementing chip-enabled cards would take six or eight months, at a cost of roughly $14 million. The state would be responsible for $6.92 million with $7.09 million available in matching federal funds if approved before an October deadline. “For families relying on SNAP benefits to put food on the table, a stolen benefit can mean going without groceries. Unlike traditional bank customers, they often have limited options for recovery,” added Williams. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The proposal passed on a unanimous vote out of the House Human Services Committee on Wednesday after legislators adopted an amendment to guarantee one free chip card to each SNAP beneficiary. It will now be considered in the House chamber. Like other debit or credit cards, SNAP users will still be able to swipe a chip-enabled card if a cash register isn’t equipped with the right card reader. The problem with skimming In May, the House Democratic Policy Committee held a more extensive hearing on fraud in taxpayer programs like SNAP and Medicaid featuring State Inspector General Michelle Henry, who detailed skimming and commonwealth efforts to deter benefit theft. Perpetrators often work in teams at checkout counters in grocery or convenience stores, Henry said, with one distracting a cashier while the other installs a skimmer in as little as four seconds. Then, whenever someone swipes their EBT card at that terminal, their card and pin number are recorded in the device. State Inspector General Michelle Henry holds a card reader in her right hand and a skimmer attachment in her left, demonstrating how someone might quickly add the device to the terminal and start stealing benefit information. (Screenshot from livestream) Someone uses a bluetooth connection to connect with the skimmer in a few days, or even weeks, and collects that information to use it for their own gain. SNAP enrollees eventually try to swipe their cards only to discover a zero balance. “With no resources, families must turn to already stretched thin food banks to make it through the rest of the month. These are the Pennsylvanians, the most vulnerable residents, and they did nothing wrong,” Henry continued. In a “unique” arrangement, Henry said the state has a proactive skimmer response team that immediately responds to identified skimmers and educates retailers on how to discover, and report, such devices. She credited that group for protecting $8.3 million in benefits across more than 16,700 EBT accounts. The state has additionally rolled out an official EBT app that beneficiaries can use to lock their accounts when they aren’t using their card, blocking skimmers from using the information. DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh said users could unlock their cards while waiting in a checkout line to minimize exposure time. “It doesn’t prevent the stealing of the information,” Akroosh said at the May hearing. “It prevents anyone from stealing their money.” Deploying chip-enabled cards But rolling out chip-enabled cards hasn’t been swift or “didn’t go well” in other states, Arkoosh said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated just two companies as EBT vendors for states to use. California started issuing such a card last year, reporting an 83% reduction in theft when compared to previous EBT cards. New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia are also pivoting to newer card technologies, meaning Pennsylvania vendors accepting EBT cards near those borders will need to be prepared. Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Val Arkoosh talks about the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan on May 6, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) “I believe that the technical issues have largely been solved. I didn’t want us to embark on this before we were confident that it would work, but I think we’re there now and that is something that could be considered in terms of a budget allocation,” Arkoosh said in May. She noted that the state’s budget for SNAP will grow — with some saying the price tag could be as much as $800 million — after Congress voted last year to shift more administrative costs to the states. Because of those changes, the cost to the state for chip-enabled cards increases after Oct. 1. After that date, the state would be responsible for $9.66 million of the $14 million in costs, rather than splitting it evenly with the federal government. According to a December DHS report, chip-enabled cards cost roughly $5 each, roughly twice the cost of current cards. One million Pennsylvanians use EBT cards, meaning it’ll cost $5 million to replace every card. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The state has also estimated costs for advertising the new cards to both beneficiaries and the 38,000 vendor locations that accept the benefits. County assistance offices will also need $3 million to acquire new card printers. Total administrative costs came in at around $6.5 million. That line item could be reduced by not getting as many county-level printers, which means that replacement cards may not be immediately available in some areas. However, the five-page report concludes that “the success of implementation is heavily dependent on securing the buy-in and providing education to EBT retailers and retail associations.” Vendors are not required by federal law to have chip-enabled readers. “While nationwide retailers are well-positioned to adopt a national standard for SNAP (chip-enabled cards), smaller state- and regional-level stores may lack the capacity to upgrade their existing equipment to support the new standards,” the report continued. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Iowans will get to do something that they haven’t done in 60 years For the first time in 60 years, Iowa voters will see no incumbent governor of U.S. Senator on their general election ballot.
	Man killed in Davenport house fire, woman and child rescued Two dogs also died in the fire.
	Senate Republicans start debate on ICE funding package The Senate voted along party lines to start debate on a Republican bill to fund immigration enforcement through the end of President Trump's term.
	Researchers examine impact of mobile speed signs in work zones Brian Worrel with the Iowa DOT joined The Current to share more about the research and how it could help make our roads safer.
	Sterling police search for suspect accused of domestic battery against pregnant girlfriend Sterling police are searching for Damion J. Richmond, 25, after a domestic battery incident involving his pregnant girlfriend. Call police with tips.
	Get a taste of summer at the Long Grove Strawberry Festival Get a taste of sweet summertime goodness at a QCA tradition! Joni Kuehl-Schneider and Scott Hoag joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Long Grove Strawberry Festival. For more information, click here.
	City of Morrison upgrading software services City officials said a new system will allow for more efficient utility billing, faster payment processing and make online services more user-friendly.
	Come hungry for the Aledo Rhubarb Festival Summer is just around the corner, and a delicious QCA tradition will be kicking off soon. Rusty Ruggles joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Aledo Rhubarb Festival. For more information, click here.
	Reynolds vetoes bills and provisions on final day of deadline Reynolds on Tuesday vetoed a provision that would have given Health Maintenance Organizations a tax credit to recoup 25% of dollars spent on improving rural health care.
	Putnam Museum organizing 13-day trip to Japan in 2027 Attendees will be able to see several iconic destinations in the country, with stops in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima.
	Channel Cat landing at the Village of East Davenport to reopen Friday The landing had been closed to riders of the water taxi while construction was underway on $1.8 million worth of improvements.
	North Carolina youth social media ban clears additional hurdle as it heads toward Senate vote (Photo: Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)Senators advanced a bill that would ban users 13 and under from “addictive” social media apps, despite concerns raised over government overreach and potential barriers to educational resources. The Senate Judiciary committee passed House Bill 301 without objection on Wednesday. It will next head to the Senate Rules committee, where if it passes, it will go before the full Senate for a vote. The bill, which also sets out K-12 education policies on AI use and student training, passed the state House of Representatives last month. Sen. Dana Jones (R-Forsyth) said the bill is aimed at keeping the state’s children safe. “This is to protect our young children from social media, the addictive platforms. This would prohibit minors under 14 from having these addictive accounts, and then 14- and 15-year-olds would have accounts with parental consent,” Jones said. NC Senate considers tax on obscene materials, social media age limits, license plate readers The bill defines “addictive” social media platforms as any whose primary purpose is uploading content and viewing other users’ uploaded content, on which at least 10% of users under 16 spend two hours a day or more on average, which use algorithms trained on user data to select content, and which employ any addictive features like infinite scrolling, push notifications, video auto-play, and likes, shares, and reposts. Following concerns over children’s data raised by Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D-Mecklenburg) on Tuesday, senators passed an amendment to the bill prohibiting platforms from selling the data of child users or using their data to inform algorithmic content recommendations and advertisements. Though Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) previously suggested raising the age limit to users 17 and under, that recommendation did not become an amendment Wednesday. Nor did the request by a lobbyist for Meta to implement an age gate at the app store level, rather than requiring the apps to police themselves. During public comment, lobbyist and former North Carolina state Rep. David Lewis urged senators to oppose the bill, which he called a “one-size-fits-all government mandate that ignores the rights of North Carolina parents.” He echoed Meta’s call for a bill that puts the onus of age restrictions on the app stores rather than the apps themselves. “House Bill 301 is well-intentioned. But it’s not parental empowerment, it’s parental substitution. Other states have had similar laws struck down by the courts, which provides no protection for those kids,” Lewis said. “I urge you to consider an easier, more common-sense approach: require app stores to get parental approval before kids can get on one of these apps.” Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) asked her colleagues whether YouTube would be impacted by the legislation, noting that while it fits many of the criteria for social media platforms set out by the bill, much of its content also has educational value for students. “YouTube is something that a lot of young people use,” Grafstein said. “I’m wondering if anybody has talked about or thoughts about that platform as one, because it’s also one where kids use the platform for education.” Legislative staff were not able to definitively say whether YouTube would be defined as “addictive” under the criteria set out by the bill. Kelly Stutts of Burlington, North Carolina, raised concerns that even as lawmakers are addressing the harms of social media, they are opening the door to AI in schools in the same bill. She cited the death by suicide of a 14-year-old in Florida following extensive use of the platform Character.AI. “No children need to be on AI under age 16. Our brains need to be developed without these machines,” Stutts said. “AI does not belong in childhood, period.” Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Quad Cities doctor to sing at benefit concert for The Center, Davenport Dr. Kathleen Figaro will lead a benefit concert for The Center of St. John’s United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 7 at 3 p.m., in the church sanctuary, 109 E. 14th St., Davenport.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: ROBERT CARSON, 41, 5 ’8”, 191 pounds, white male. Wanted by Iowa DOC High Risk Unit for parole violation for domestic abuse. AMARI JAMES, [...]
	Gubernatorial candidates have competing visions for AI use in Maine Kelli Brennan, member of the nurses union, joined by speaks in support of gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson's plan to regulate AI. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star)Two Democratic candidates released plans to limit the use of artificial intelligence in Maine’s schools, hospitals and businesses. A Republican candidate wants to take the opposite approach, prioritizing business growth over artificial intelligence regulation. On Wednesday, gubernatorial candidate and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson was joined by representatives for Maine nurses, teachers and labor unions outside Maine Medical Center in Portland, who all vouched for his plan to regulate AI. “AI may be new, it certainly is new to a lot of us, but the political question is old: Who benefits, who pays and who decides?” Jackson said “Under the Jackson administration, I can assure you that tech billionaires will not be deciding this alone and not be getting their way.” His proposal, called “Agency over AI,” bans corporations from using the technology “as cover for throwing workers out on the street.” Any major employer that attributes mass layoffs to AI will lose every state contract and tax break, the plan states. It also bans routine use of AI in classrooms or for homework. The plan notes that he’d support a comprehensive law to stop companies “harvesting, selling and exploiting Mainers’ data,” but did not say how his proposal would or would not differ from earlier iterations the Maine Legislature has failed to pass. Under Jackson’s plan, in his first 100 days he will regulate data centers, which power the technology, so they don’t “raise power bills, drain the local water supply or make nearby homes unlivable.” Kelli Brennan, a nurse at Maine Medical Center and co-president of the nurses union that has endorsed Jackson, said that nurses have demanded transparency on AI usage and asked MaineHealth to cancel its contract with Palantir, a tech company specializing in AI that has powered federal immigration enforcement surveillance. “It is essential that we have elected officials who are willing to stand up to the tech billionaires and protect the working class from the serious threats of unregulated AI,” Brennan said. “When Big Tech gains access to vast amounts of healthcare data, patients and nurses worry about who can see that information and how it is being used.” On the same day, gubernatorial candidate Nirav Shah released a similar plan to address AI use, proposing a moratorium on data centers until they can be regulated, require educator approval before any AI tool is used directly with children and ban AI from making final decisions about a person’s benefits, healthcare, education, housing, public safety or access to state services. “AI is moving faster than Maine families, schools, workers and communities can keep up with,” Shah said in a statement. “Maine can use innovation where it helps people, but we cannot let Big Tech write the rules, exploit our kids, surveil workers, replace human judgment or stick ratepayers with the bill.” Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush talks about promoting business growth. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) Both Jackson and Shah (along with fellow Democratic candidates Hannah Pingree and Shenna Bellows) have said they would have signed the bill temporarily banning data centers that Gov. Janet Mills vetoed earlier this year. However, Republican candidate Jonathan Bush said on Wednesday he would have vetoed that bill. “This is a state that desperately needs businesses to come,” Bush said. “People wonder why property taxes are going up … it’s because the share of property taxes paid by businesses is going down as businesses leave.” Every business that wants to come to Maine should be welcomed, he added, and unnecessary regulation on AI might deter the economic growth the state needs. “Obviously we’ll regulate, we’ll make sure that the businesses don’t poison things at all, but the message to the country should be Maine is open for business,” Bush said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maine Morning Star
	Stuck between renting and owning? 4 tips to make the most of where you are Stuck between renting and owning? 4 tips to make the most of where you areIf you're in your late 20s or early 30s and feel like homeownership keeps slipping further out of reach, you're not imagining it — and you're far from alone. According to recent research from Apartment List, the homeownership rate for adults ages 25-34 has dropped to just 30% nationwide, approaching the lowest point on record and reversing gradual gains made between 2017 and 2022. Homeownership rates have fallen across all age groups, but young adults in what have historically been the prime years for first-time homebuying have seen the biggest decline.The culprit is a compounding affordability crisis that's been building since 2020. First, pandemic-driven demand sent home sale prices skyrocketing. Then rising interest rates in 2022 stalled price growth but made monthly mortgage payments even more painful. Since then, insurance premiums, utilities, and other ownership costs have continued climbing. Today, new homeowners spend more than $1,000 a month more on housing than renters do — and in some markets, they're paying twice as much.The result is a generation increasingly stuck in the middle. Half of young adults now rent, with that rate approaching an all-time high. But renting has gotten harder, too: Inflation-adjusted median rent for recent movers has risen about 30% since 2010. Caught between unaffordable ownership and increasingly expensive renting, more than 9 million young adults have landed on a third path — living in someone else's owned home. Most commonly, that means living with parents or grandparents. That group has hit an all-time high of 6.3 million, and it's still growing.The for-sale market is showing early signs of softening — home price growth has slowed from 6% in 2024 to about 1% today, and prices are actually declining in high-construction cities like Dallas, Phoenix, and Denver — but not enough to close the gap for most young adults. Labor market uncertainty is making it harder to grow wages fast enough to catch up. None of this means you're without options. It just means the decisions you make now matter.Here are five practical ways to make your current situation work for you:1. Reframe where you are as a financial position, not a setbackThe social stigma around renting long-term or living at home can make it feel like failure, but treating your current living situation as temporary and shameful leads to passive decision-making. Treating it as a strategic position — one with real financial upside, if managed well — leads to very different outcomes.If you're living at home, you have a rare opportunity to save money at a pace that simply isn't possible for most renters. Be deliberate about it. Set a specific savings goal (a down payment target in a realistic market for you), automate monthly savings or investing, and track your progress.2. Calculate the true cost of renting before you signThe advertised rent on a listing is rarely what you'll actually pay. Before committing to a lease, add up the total cost, including monthly rent plus utilities, parking, pet fees if applicable, and the upfront costs of first month, last month, and a security deposit. That total is your real number, and it should stay under 30% of your gross monthly income to leave room for saving and other financial goals.While you're at it, don't skip renter's insurance. It's one of the most underused protections available to renters. Many people assume their landlord's policy covers their belongings, but it doesn't. A policy typically costs $15-$30 a month and can cover theft, fire, water damage to your belongings, and temporary relocation costs if your unit becomes uninhabitable. It's a small line item that can prevent a genuinely devastating financial hit.3. Take geography seriouslyWhere you live is one of the most impactful variables in your housing equation. In Los Angeles, only about 10% of adults ages 25-34 own homes. San Francisco and San Jose hover around 14%, and San Diego sits at 15%. These aren't just expensive cities; they're places where even high earners can be priced out of home ownership.Contrast that with cities like Grand Rapids (39%), St. Louis and Minneapolis (38%), and Kansas City (37%), where homeownership rates for the same age group are dramatically higher — not because residents are wealthier, but because housing is more accessible. If you have any flexibility in where you live, or if remote work is a real option, consider running the numbers on lower-cost markets.4. Build your credit like your next lease depends on it, because it doesMost renters don't realize that landlords pull credit just like lenders do. A strong credit score doesn't just help you qualify for an apartment, it gives you leverage to negotiate better lease terms, skip extra deposits, and get approved in competitive markets where multiple applicants are vying for the same unit. In a rental market this tight, your credit profile can be the difference between getting the place you want and settling for something else.Check your credit report and address any errors. Keep credit card balances below 30% of your limit, pay on time every month without exception, and avoid opening new accounts you don't need. If your credit history is thin, a secured credit card or credit-builder loan can help establish it. These aren't dramatic moves, but compounded over a few years, they can meaningfully expand your lending and leasing options.This story was produced by Apartment List and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump strips job protections from 8,000 federal workers President Trump signed an executive order that puts some 8,000 high-ranking civil servants into a new category of employees who can be fired for any reason.
	Kansas leaders ask why federal healthcare research dollars haven’t been released University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod, shown here giving a speech in 2025, is questioning why the National Institutes of Health isn't paying out research dollars already awarded by Congress. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — A Kansas healthcare leader and a U.S. Representative are questioning why funding needed to continue essential scientific research isn’t being paid out. “More than halfway through fiscal 2026, the National Institutes of Health has allocated only 33% of the $26 billion it normally awards to universities,” wrote University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod with Ron Daniels, Johns Hopkins University president, in a Wall Street Journal column in May. Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids teamed with 38 national legislators to ask Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, about staffing shortages slowing distribution of research funding that had already received congressional approval. “These delays are not abstract. They affect research into cancer treatments, Alzheimer’s and dementia, diabetes, and rare diseases that families across the country are living with every day,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Kennedy. “When grants stall, so does progress toward new therapies and potential cures.” Girod’s Wall St. Journal piece said that three quarters into the fiscal year, Kansas has seen a year-over-year drop of $182 million in new awards. “The consequences reach beyond any single campus,” Girod and Daniels wrote. “NIH research funding supports around 400,000 jobs annually across all 50 states and generates more than $94.5 billion in new economic activity each year.” In their letter, the legislators asked Kennedy to provide information about staffing shortages, plans to hire grant management specialists and whether the agency intends to fully distribute appropriated funding this fiscal year. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Maxwell, Stoltenberg, Dickson advance in supervisors race Republican voters in Scott County’s Tuesday primary knocked Jennifer McAndrew Lane out of the race for the board of supervisors. Current supervisors John Maxwell and Jean Dickson, as well as former state representative Luana Stoltenberg, will represent Republicans in the November election. Maxwell led candidates with 6,099 votes, followed by Stoltenberg with 5,804 votes and Dickson with 5,055 votes. Lane earned 3,682 votes. There were no other contested primaries in the North Scott area. Kevin Randle, the lone Democratic candidate for the board of supervisors, earned 9,746 votes. Former Scott County State Senator Chris Cournoyer won the state primary for the auditor’s office with 54% of the vote statewide. She took 65% of the Scott County vote. Scott County Republican primary voters favored U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra in the race for governor. He earned 3,802 votes. Zach Lahn, the Benton County businessman who won the state primary, took 3,346 votes. Nearly 2,000 voters cast ballots for gubernatorial candidates Adam Steen (1,267 votes), Brad Sherman (565 votes), or Eddie Andrews (274 votes). Primary voters set up a rematch between Democrat Christina Bohannon and incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks for U.S. House District 1—the third consecutive matchup. Bohannon defeated progressive challenger Travis Terrell, and Miller-Meeks defeated perennial candidate Dave Pautsch. Scott County Democrats and Democrats across the state preferred Council Bluffs State Rep. Josh Turek to former Johnson County State Senator Zach Wahls in the primary for Iowa’s open senate seat. Turek earned 6,658 Scott County votes to Wahls’s 3,902.
	Self-pay and dental care: Can paying cash without insurance help you save? Self-pay and dental care: Can paying cash without insurance help you save?Dental insurance is typically separate from health insurance. Many people who have a medical plan don’t have dental coverage. This is true for people with original Medicare, which doesn’t provide routine dental care — though some Medicare Advantage plans offer this benefit. Medicaid covers comprehensive dental care for children, but adult dental benefits are optional.Many people hesitate to visit the dentist because they think the services are unaffordable.Even without health insurance, you can access healthcare. GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, explains how you can use your own resources to pay for dental care through cash-pay healthcare.Key takeaways:Self-pay dental care means using your own resources without insurance for dental services. This includes preventive care, such as cleanings, and other treatment.Even if you have dental insurance, you can still use self-pay dental options. This is common for services that your plan may not cover, such as braces or teeth whitening.Sometimes paying cash for dental care instead of using your dental plan can save you money.What is self-pay dental care?Self-pay dental care means accessing dental services without insurance. It’s also known as cash-pay dental care or out-of-pocket dental care. It means you’re using your own financial resources to pay for care, such as:CashCheckCredit cardDebit cardDental savings planFlexible spending account (FSA) fundsHealth savings account (HSA) fundsMedical credit cardIs it less costly to have dental insurance or pay cash?How you pay for dental care depends on a several factors, including:Whether you have a dental plan.Using a dentist who accepts your insurance.Your plan’s negotiated rates.Your cost sharing with insurance.Cash-pay prices.If you get routine cleanings and don’t anticipate needing additional dental care, the cost of two self-pay dental cleanings in one year may be less than the cost of dental insurance premiums for 12 months.Keep in mind that insurance covers more than dental cleanings. Having a plan can provide a financial buffer if you need more costly care. For example, the average cost of a dental crown can be $800 to $2,500 without insurance.How much is a self-pay dental cleaning?The cost of a dental cleaning can be about $100 without insurance. This service is recommended twice a year. The price can vary depending on the dental practice, so shop around if you’re paying cash. You may also need other care during your cleaning, such as an X-ray, which can increase the price.Sometimes, you may need a deep dental cleaning. This could take several hours and cost $150 to $300 or more if you self-pay. If you require anesthesia for this service, the cost may be higher.Other cash-pay dental careSelf-pay dental options can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs than using insurance. And you may need to pay cash if your insurance doesn’t cover the care you need — or if you can’t find a dentist who accepts your insurance plan.Here are some self-pay cost ranges for common dental care.BracesBraces costs vary greatly. The type, complexity, and length of your orthodontic treatment influence how much you pay. At a consultation with an orthodontist, you’ll get a better idea of what needs to be corrected and how much the treatment will cost.As a general guideline, braces can average $3,000 to $7,000 or more for full treatment. The retainer to keep your teeth in place after treatment may cost extra.The cost for Invisalign, a brand of clear plastic dental aligners that are an alternative to traditional braces, can range from $1,800 to $9,500 per treatment.Bridges and crownsDental crowns are made with metal, ceramic, or a combination of these materials. A crown is designed to look and act like a tooth. Crowns can be used as a replacement for missing teeth on their own, as well as in combination with a dental implant or a dental bridge.Depending on the materials used, a dental crown can average $800 to $2,500. A bridge can cost $2,000 to $5,000 or more.Other services related to getting a crown or bridge, such as the extraction of problem teeth or bone grafts, will cost extra.DenturesDentures provide a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth. But costs vary greatly depending on the type, materials used, and other factors. A full set of permanent dentures can cost $1,000 to more than $25,000.There are three primary types of full dentures:TraditionalImmediateImplant supportedTraditional dentures are the least costly option for a full set. Implant-supported dentures can cost more than $25,000.Partial dentures typically cost less than full dentures. They’re attached to your natural teeth by a special framework that keeps them in place. The cost of partial dentures without insurance largely depends on the material.ExtractionThe cost of a tooth extraction will depend on several factors. A simple extraction can cost $75 to $250 per tooth without insurance. But if you need a surgical extraction for a tooth that’s impacted or stuck under the gums, the price can rise to $300 or more. Anesthesia may be an additional cost.FillingA filling is a way to repair a cavity or an area of tooth decay. Ignoring cavities can lead to serious dental issues, so getting a cavity cleaned and filled is important.The cost for a filling will depend on the material. Common types of materials include:AmalgamComposite resinGoldPorcelainThe most popular filling type is composite resin. It costs about $200 per tooth, on average, without insurance. Using porcelain, which comes with the highest price, can cost an average of $1,050 per tooth.It’s important to consult with your dentist to ensure the filling is necessary, determine the best type of filling for the tooth, and get an estimate for the self-pay dental price.ImplantOne way to restore a missing tooth is with an implant. This solution is quite costly. On average, a single tooth implant can cost $3,000 to $7,000, without insurance. Insurance typically limits benefits for dental implants, so be prepared to self-pay some of the cost even with coverage.Root canalA root canal is a nonsurgical procedure that repairs a damaged tooth. This is one way to preserve a natural tooth. The cost depends on the tooth’s location and the amount of restoration needed. A root canal can cost $1,200 on average, but expect to pay more if the tooth is a molar. Other factors can increase the cost. These include using an endodontist, having an emergency procedure, or needing a crown.VeneersVeneers are a cover on the surface of the teeth that can replace cracked, misshapen, or discolored enamel. Considered purely cosmetic, veneers are typically not covered by insurance. Depending on the material, veneers can cost about $800 to more than $2,000 per tooth. Composite resin veneers are the most affordable, followed by porcelain and ultrathin porcelain laminate. You may be able to get a discount if you’re getting veneers on more than one tooth.WhiteningThe many options to achieve a more brilliant smile range from over-the-counter products to professional teeth treatments under a dentist’s supervision. You’ll pay about $500, on average, to get your teeth whitened at a dentist’s office. This service is often not covered by insurance because it’s considered a cosmetic procedure.You may be able to pay less if your dentist offers a custom take-home teeth-whitening kit. Opting for a professional in-office teeth whitening can cost $500 to $1,000.Wisdom teeth removalRemoval of wisdom teeth — a third set of molars — is one of the most common dental surgeries. They often emerge as the last teeth in the back of the mouth in a person’s late teens. The price depends on several factors. If you have all four wisdom teeth removed at once, the price can be $1,200 to more than $4,000.If a single wisdom tooth removal is a simple extraction, this can cost $300 on average. Complications such as an impacted tooth or an infection can increase the price.Can you see a dentist without insurance?Yes, you can go to the dentist without insurance. Most dentists offer self-pay options for people who don’t have dental insurance or prefer to pay cash. It’s best to call the dental practice and get an estimate for your visit before your appointment.A basic dental checkup includes an exam, cleaning, and possibly X-rays.Some dentists offer a free consultation or an evaluation for specific types of dental work. Check with the dental practice to determine what you need to bring to the office visit. For example, if you already have X-rays, they may be sufficient and recent enough for the dentist to use. Also, ask for discounts to help you save money on dental care without insurance.Can you receive free dental care without insurance?There may be options near you to access free or low-cost dental care without insurance.For instance, dentistry schools, dental hygiene programs, and dental assisting programs have training clinics that offer free or heavily discounted care to the public. You will be treated by a supervised dental student or resident or a faculty dentist. This can provide savings — up to 50% at one dentistry school — on a variety of dental services.Another option is visiting a community health center, which may offer affordable dental care on a sliding scale based on income. This Find a Health Center tool can help you locate a site that offers dental care.If you can’t afford dental care, you may be able to access services through the Dental Lifeline Network of volunteer dentists and laboratories offering donated comprehensive dental treatment across the U.S. It’s important to note that there can be a long wait after applying for help, depending on where you live.You may also have a health account, such as an HSA or FSA, with funds you can spend on dental services.The bottom lineSelf-pay dental options can help you save money, even if you have dental insurance. What you pay will depend on where you live, the dental care you need, and the type of dental professional. It’s best to shop around before scheduling an appointment to find the best price. You may have access to lower-cost options, such as dentistry school clinics and community health centers.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The vacation destination personality test: What your dream trip says about you The vacation destination personality test: What your dream trip says about youYou can arguably learn more about a person from their ideal vacation destination than from their Myers-Briggs type, rising star sign, or career aspirations. How someone chooses to spend their limited free time is more revealing than any personality test.On the scale with cozy comfort destinations on one end and nonstop adventure trips on the other, most people fall somewhere in the middle. PeopleWin put together seven common summer travel archetypes using data from Expedia, the Pew Research Center, YouGov, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal. Sit back, relax, and see if you can spot yourself in one of these types.1. The national park road tripperYou printed the itinerary and have the national parks passport book with an incredible number of stamps. You’re genuinely the type of person who believes the journey is as important as the destination, and you have a playlist to match. Road trips consistently rank among America’s most popular summer travel formats. And national park visitation reached record levels in 2024, according to Smithsonian Magazine.This is classic allocentric behavior. This type of travel suits people who are independent, have a high planning tolerance, and are motivated by new experiences rather than comfort destinations. You don’t need a concierge to guide you through your trip. A good map and a willingness to live off the land are all you need.2. The all-inclusive resort goerChoosing an all-inclusive resort isn’t a failure of imagination. It’s actually an efficient allocation of limited vacation days. You’ve done all the math on flights, food, drinks, and activities, and you’ve chosen to settle on one all-in price for everything.Data from Expedia's 2025 Unpack travel trends report shows all-inclusives are a growing travel segment, particularly among those who just want to decompress rather than seek out new experiences. The personalities drawn to this type of vacation are decisive and comfort-prioritizing. Someone who treats rest as a destination and knows exactly what they like is most likely to find this option appealing.3. The European city hopperThree countries in 10 days, a photo of something extremely old, and coming home with a better understanding of European railways is a dream for some. The Pew Research Center found that Americans who travel internationally are statistically more likely to hold passports with multiple stamps and view travel as a form of cultural immersion, which hits exactly on this personality archetype.Those motivated to spend their vacations overseas tend to be culturally curious individuals looking to maximize their globetrotting itinerary.4. The beach town regularPeople in this category go to the same place every summer and already have the rental booked for next year. You know which ice cream shop has the best options, and you will die on that hill. This type of traveler prioritizes finding peace in comfort. Family travel surveys conducted by YouGov in 2024 consistently showed that beach vacations rank among the most popular. Trips for these vacationers aren’t about going somewhere new; they're about connecting with friends and family in a comfortable location.5. The festival chaserFestival chasers often have summer calendars structured around three to five main events, each typically requiring camping or a shuttle bus filled with music blasting. You have a multiday festival packing list on your phone and have probably spent an alarming amount of money on a ticket. An increasing number of Americans are building travel itineraries around live events, rather than destinations. These travelers are motivated by the awareness that a certain music lineup of peak artists may never happen again.6. The solo retreat travelerFor travelers of this category, nothing sounds more peaceful than a week alone. Maybe it’s a yoga retreat in the mountains. Or an isolated cabin with no internet connection. It could be a week-long international trip where you know absolutely nobody. Solo travel is a category that’s grown rapidly through 2024 and into 2025, per Forbes, particularly among younger generations. Growth-oriented individuals comfortable with solitude and likely tired of trying to coordinate in a group text where no one agrees on a destination most often fit this archetype. For these travelers, the trip can be a sort of therapy.7. The ‘anywhere cheap’ spontaneous bookerA willingness to travel but a desire to save money requires careful research and planning, and the people of this archetype have it down to a science. You set the fare alerts. You check the flexible dates box on the airfare. You always have a go-bag half-packed. The destination is less important than the pricing deal.On the airfare search platform Skiplagged, the number of booked flights departing within 48 hours rose 20% between July 2024 and July 2025, demonstrating how more Americans are beginning to fit within this bucket. Those traveling this way tend to be adaptable, budget-conscious, and genuinely unbothered by travel-plan uncertainty, which can both impress and frustrate people from other travel categories.Finding the right vacation for your personalityNone of the seven travel types is the undisputed champion of vacationing. You may have found yourself reading and nodding along to one or two of the types, or perhaps none at all. The best vacation is the one that makes you feel content and as if your time off was well-spent.This story was produced by PeopleWin and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The unofficial "twin cities" of America: 14 US metros that have way more in common than you'd think The unofficial “twin cities” of America: 14 US metros that have way more in common than you'd thinkEveryone knows the stereotypes. Nashville is the place for country music and bachelorette parties. Portland is all rain and kombucha. Detroit is a comeback story still in the works.The shorthand on these cities is well-worn but there may be surprises once you take a closer look. Scattered across the U.S. are cities that are clearly variations on the same theme, despite being hundreds of miles apart.AnyWho used the Brookings Institution’s Metro Monitor to take a deeper look at economic performance across over 100 metropolitan areas These insights, along with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, paint a fuller picture of city pairings that have more in common than first meets the eye.1. Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tenn.Arguably the most obvious pairing on this list is Austin and Nashville. Both cities are built around vibrant music scenes. Austin is the self-declared live music capital of the world and Nashville is known as “Music City.”Both cities have also spent the last decade embracing what happens when a city’s creative reputation becomes its biggest growth driver. In 2024, Austin surpassed one million residents, and Nashville’s population has been on the upswing for over 20 years. Both Austin and Nashville have seen significant in-migration from coastal cities and both have watched home prices skyrocket as a result.Locals in each city will tell you their city is better, but it’s often for the same reasons. The only way to be sure who’s right is to take a trip yourself.2. Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.These two Southern metropolises are roughly four hours apart on I-95 and are potentially indistinguishable to an outsider. Both cities are coastal with antebellum architecture, Spanish moss, and a thriving food scene.Both have also seen luxury real estate markets outpace comparable Southern metros, reaching about the same luxury entry-point as the national average, according to Realtor.com. The distinction that locals insist on, though, is that Charleston appears more polished, whereas Savannah maintains an eccentric vibe.3. Pittsburgh, Pa. and Minneapolis, Minn.At first glance, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis can seem like a strange pairing. Pittsburgh is a river city located in western Pennsylvania that made a name for itself in steel. Minneapolis is a lakeside metro in the upper Midwest known for its history of grain milling and retail.However, both went through notable post-industrial reinvention in the late 20th century and came out with diversified economies categorized by healthcare, higher education opportunities, and technological hubs. Both are also consistently ranked among the most livable midsize cities in the U.S.4. Asheville, N.C. and Boulder, Colo.Two mountain cities that have become magnets for a specific demographic of outdoors-oriented, college-educated, and wealthy residents are next on the list.Both cities have populations under 120,000, yet are notable for their restaurant quality, local brewery density, and volume of people interested in outdoors activities. Boulder has the University of Colorado and Asheville has the University of North Carolina Asheville. Additionally, both cities feature bustling housing markets that have made it challenging to afford to stay.5. Richmond, Va. and Raleigh, N.C.The mid-Atlantic and upper South converge in these two cities with a remarkably similar story. Both cities serve as state capitals with a significant university presence. They also both feature a craft beer scene known internationally and an economy that’s shifted more toward tech and professional services in recent years. Richmond and Raleigh boast similar population sizes and comparable cost-of-living profiles.6. Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, UtahTwo of the fastest-growing metros in the American West over the last decade are paired together for a reason. Both are midsize Western cities with strong outdoor recreation options and a relatively low cost of living compared to their coastal peers.They also have economies that have started to attract significant tech sector relocation. The Brookings Metro Monitor data ranked the Provo-Orem metro, adjacent to Salt Lake, among the top growth metros in the country, with Boise not far behind.7. Memphis, Tenn. and New Orleans, La.Memphis and New Orleans boast two of the greatest music scenes in the American South, making this pairing intuitive. Both cities sit on the same major river, just at different bends, and are centers for African American culture.Memphis is the home of the blues and soul, and New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. Each city also has complicated relationships with poverty, infrastructure, and population loss despite their cultural influence. Musically and culturally, Memphis and New Orleans have been uttered in the same conversation for their entire histories.Cultural pairing under the surfaceEach American city has its own identity and its own unique historical significance , but some metros have similarities that are certainly enough to make them near-twin cities. Whether it’s comparable food scenes, parallel cultural offerings or just a similar vibe, these surprise pairings are worth a visit, whether you’ve explored one or neither.This story was produced by AnyWho and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Upcoming closure of agricultural research center troubles Maryland officials The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library in Beltsville has been targeted for closure by the Trump administration. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)By Rhiannon Evans The federal agricultural research facility in Beltsville is “such an important part of the rural economy,” said Charlotte Davis, executive director of the Rural Maryland Council — which is why she and others are concerned about its threatened closure. The shutdown of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, known as BARC, could disrupt Maryland’s largest commercial industry and add to the more than 31,000 federal jobs the state lost over the last year, state officials said. It could also lead to a loss of scientific breakthroughs and hundreds of jobs, state lawmakers, officials and experts said. “We want to make sure that our Maryland farmers are thriving and getting the support they need to remain profitable,” Davis said. A region reshaped Federal layoffs in Maryland a year later. Third in a series. A year later, laid-off federal workers are still piecing their lives together Federal worker layoffs threaten cornerstone industry for Maryland Upcoming closure of agricultural research center troubles Maryland officials Disappearing demographic data hurts efforts to track laid-off federal workers Federal workers continue to turn to faith institutions a year after mass layoffs ‘Just give me a job’: Maryland former federal workers’ stories of survival The research center explores new farming practices and technologies and helps find solutions to climate and pest issues, said Wendy Powers, dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Powers said that moving current experiments to other locations in places like Washington state and Florida could interfere with research results because of differences in climate, soil and water. “Removing the research observations from this part of the country and placing it in other parts of the country makes it a little bit difficult to ensure that the findings are applicable,” Powers said. Democrats in Maryland’s congressional delegation called the planned closure of the facility unlawful, pointing to a clause in the 2026 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget bill that requires approval from Congress to shutter the Beltsville facility. “It is extremely troubling that, instead of working with Congress on a sensible plan to modernize BARC, the Department is pursuing an abrupt, politically-motivated, and short-sighted effort to shutter a facility of critical importance to U.S. agriculture and food security,” the lawmakers wrote in an April 27 letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), the state’s only Republican member of Congress, did not sign the letter. USDA aims to reduce workforce in the region The USDA announced a reorganization plan in July 2025 that included closing some facilities in the nation’s capital region and reducing the area’s workforce from about 4,600 to no more than 2,000 employees. The USDA said it plans to vacate the Beltsville facility over the course of several years to avoid disrupting critical research. In a statement, a spokesperson for the USDA cited the high maintenance costs and unsafe conditions of the 116-year-old facility for the closure. More than 60% of the buildings are not being used and a 2023 whistleblower complaint found that many buildings had mold, water damage and no running water, agency officials said. “This move puts our research institutions outside of the beltway and closer to the land grant universities with talent pipelines who will lead the research and solve the problems facing the future of American agriculture,” Rollins said in an April 23 press release. “This is about strengthening our USDA research focus and improving the services the agricultural economy relies on.” Three-quarters of USDA workers tapped to relocate tell union they’re not going Sen. James Rosapepe, D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel, said the facility’s closure could also lead to even more federal job losses within the state, a hit he said his district can’t afford to take. “It will be incredibly disruptive for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people who are my constituents, both who work at BARC and who live in the area,” said Rosapepe. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the state could lose more than 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly because of the closure. In a letter sent to Rollins last September, Brown said the facility is “an economic engine, with these jobs contributing a cumulative $450 million to annual GDP.” Rosapepe said that when the Trump administration previously relocated USDA research agencies from the D.C. area to Kansas City, Missouri, a lot of experienced federal employees chose not to move. “Maryland has lost more economically than any other state as a result of the Trump administration. That’s been federal workers, that’s federal contractors, that’s federal agencies like BARC,” Rosapepe said. “I think the attack on BARC is just part of a broader attack on Maryland.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	New medical guidance affirms Tylenol safety during pregnancy months after Trump sows doubt Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to shift its research into autism toward potential environmental causes. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine published new clinical guidance this week affirming that acetaminophen, better known by its brand Tylenol, should be the “first-line” defense against pain and fever during pregnancy. (Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer)The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine published new clinical guidance this week affirming that acetaminophen, better known by its brand Tylenol, should be the “first-line” defense against pain and fever during pregnancy. The directive contradicts the Trump administration’s notice to physicians last year cautioning against the use of the primary pain reliever recommended for pregnant women, following the president’s unsupported claims that the medication could lead to autism in children. The national professional association for maternal-fetal medicine specialists, clinicians and scientists continues to recommend acetaminophen as the “first-line medication” to treat pain and fever during pregnancy. The federal government’s statements prompted the organization to review its 2017 guidance finding acetaminophen safe to use during pregnancy. Trump ties autism to Tylenol use in pregnancy despite inconclusive scientific evidence “Although some studies have reported associations between maternal acetaminophen use and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, methodological limitations preclude conclusions about causality, and the biological mechanism for such an effect remains unestablished,” reads the statement, following a comprehensive review of recent and historical scientific literature. The organization’s guidance cautions patients to “use the lowest effective dose of acetaminophen for the shortest duration necessary,” while emphasizing that untreated maternal fever carries well-documented risks to the fetus, especially in the first trimester. At a news conference last September, President Donald Trump said his administration had found acetaminophen use during pregnancy to be a likely contributing environmental cause of autism. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to shift its research into autism toward potential environmental causes. Even though medical experts and the drug manufacturer have said there is no proven link, the FDA immediately said it would initiate a process for a label change for Tylenol and similar products to “reflect evidence suggesting that the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children.” The label has not yet changed. But the September news conference has had consequences. A month later, Texas’ Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, sued Johnson and Johnson, alleging the pharmaceutical company failed to warn pregnant consumers about the risk of taking Tylenol. And a study in The Lancet published in March found that emergency department orders for acetaminophen for pregnant patients fell 10% in the months following Trump’s statement, while there was no change in the acetaminophen orders for comparable women who were not pregnant. Stateline reporter Sofia Resnick can be reached at sresnick@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Alsobrooks, public health advocates warn of HHS ‘leadership vacuum’ under RFK Jr. U.S. Angela Alsobrooks has been a leading voice in calling for U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s removal or departure for over a year. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has called for the removal of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from his position for over a year, but hammered that message once again this week as a number of highly dangerous infectious diseases emerge across the world. Alsobrooks said that leadership at the federal Department of Health and Human Services is needed now more than ever, especially during this “critical time” when deadly outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola pose international public health threats. “It is an unmitigated disaster that could have, and should, have been avoided,” Alsobrooks said Tuesday during a virtual conference with Protect Our Care, a nonprofit organization supporting progressive health care policies. She joined several health care advocates warning about a “dangerous leadership vacuum” at the various agencies operating under the HHS, including the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have officials leading in an “acting” role, rather than serving in a permanent capacity. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a policy announcement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) “We are at a critical time,” she said. “I think this is going to impact our country for decades and it really did not have to be this way.” There are 11 acting directors overseeing operations at the CDC, while five top staff positions remain vacant. At the FDA, there eight acting officials, including the acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas, and vacancies for the principal deputy commissioner and the associate commissioner for minority health. “How shameful it is, at a time when the worse measles outbreak in decades is still raging, and as Ebola and hantavirus threaten the globe, there is no one in control in these critical positions,” Alsobrooks said. “He (Kennedy) is filling these seats with people who are loyal to the administration, but not necessarily loyal to the American people.” Her comments come as federal officials continue to monitor Americans who were passengers on a cruise ship where a hantavirus outbreak was detected in May. Meanwhile, a severe outbreak of Ebola emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasizing the need for coordinated public health efforts among national leaders to help contain the disease. HHS bucked the characterization that its agencies were unable to attract qualified individuals to lead in top positions, saying that there “is no shortage of highly qualified candidates eager to serve at HHS.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE “The progress HHS has achieved over the past year has been historic, and the Trump Administration continues to attract highly qualified and accomplished candidates ready to advance President Trump’s mission to Make America Healthy Again, including at the CDC, FDA, and OASH (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health),” said Emily G. Hilliard, press secretary with the department, in a written statement Wednesday to Maryland Matters. But Alsobrooks and other speakers with Protect Our Care said that under Kennedy, various agencies within HHS underwent mass layoffs that will affect the nation’s ability to respond to current and future public health concerns. The Trump administration has also reduced funding for research and prevention of diseases like Ebola and recently ousted top officials with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In a written statement, Protect Our Care said that the leadership vacuums “comes on top of a series of deeply short-sighted decisions the Trump administration made that left them ill-prepared to deal with the latest global health threat and keep Americans safe.” Maryland ranked high among states for public health preparedness, but could be doing more Demetre C. Daskalakis, the former director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases within the CDC, said that the disruption in leadership at United States agencies could threaten future public health mitigation efforts. “Preparedness depends on people, you can have plans on paper,” Daskalakis said. “But without experienced epidemiologists, laboratorians … communicators, data teams, field staff, it collapses when it’s most needed.” Alsobrooks said it’s been “heartbreaking” to see the “decimation” of these agencies, some of which are located in Maryland. “Maryland stands for the very principle of excellence in public health, in research, in science, in medicine,” she said. “What we’ve seen over the last year is the slow deterioration of an excellence of standard that I think will set back our country, and by extension, harm people all across the world.” Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Quad Cities Aero, Black Hawk College partner on aeronautics certificate Quad Cities Aero is partnering with Black Hawk College to start the area’s first Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC). Students can earn a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in 12-16 months while studying part-time or in 6-9 months while studying full-time. Classroom instruction will be at the Black Hawk College Quad-Cities Campus in Moline, 6600 34th Avenue, [...]
	Pa. House panel approves bill to require medical imaging specialists to be licensed The state Capitol building in Harrisburg. (Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Unlike doctors, nurses and other health professionals, medical imaging specialists and radiation therapists don’t have licensing requirements in Pennsylvania. Legislation that passed Wednesday with a unanimous vote in the state House Professional Licensure Committee would create licensing requirements for professionals in six specialty areas to use medical imaging and radiation therapy technology. “This bill will help to assure patients that they receive the highest quality of care administered by medical imaging professionals,” said Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna), who introduced the bill with Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). “Simply put, this bill is an example of a profession putting the best foot forward to ensure patient and professional safety while ensuring access to quality care.” The legislation drew letters of support from four medical societies representing radiologists and sonographers. About three quarters of states have a licensing requirement, according to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. But the American College of Cardiology strongly opposed the bill in a letter to the committee. It said that while the bill appears well-intentioned, the College of Cardiology has its own credentialing system for cardiovascular technologists. During cardiac catheterization, a specialized X-ray machine called a fluoroscope is used to help doctors guide a thin, flexible tube into the heart. The college requires technologists to complete training courses provided by Cardiac Credentialing International, earn certificates as a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist or registered cardiovascular electrophysiology specialist and pass a course and examination on proficiencies necessary to assist in catheterization or electrophysiology procedures. “Because of their exceptional training requirements, cardiologists generally have a much higher level of confidence and trust with CV technologists than their counterparts in the radiology field,” the letter said. “In fact, there are a few cases where they are credited with saving lives in the operating room.” Cutler, whose career prior to becoming a lawmaker was in the medical imaging field, acknowledged that cardiologists and cardiovascular technologists use X-rays differently than in a medical imaging context. But even though the certifications are different, the radiation delivered to patients is the same, he said. “I think it’s important to have someone who is actually trained in radiation safety in the room to inform not just the other individuals, but specifically the physicians,” Cutler said, noting that while physicians also receive training. “I know from firsthand experience that oftentimes it is disregarded in terms of radiation safety.” He also addressed a statement in the letter that the College of Cardiologists was not aware of any instance in which a cardiovascular technologist had mishandled equipment and caused harm to a patient. While that might be true, Cutler said, there have been cases elsewhere in the country where mistakes in using X-ray equipment have caused harm. “So this bill was premised really on patient safety,” he said. House Bill 2173 now goes to the House chamber for consideration. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	The finance team's guide to digital wallets and corporate cards The finance team's guide to digital wallets and corporate cardsChoosing between a digital wallet and a physical business credit card comes down to the transaction in front of the employee. Finance teams still need the same controls, visibility, and policy guardrails either way. The payment method is what shifts, along with security exposure, checkout speed, and the quality of transaction data that reaches month-end close. For many companies, digital wallets have moved well beyond a convenience feature used by a few tech-forward employees, Brex reports.Globally, digital wallets accounted for 56% of online spending and 33% of in-store transactions in 2025, according to the Worldpay Global Payments Report 2026. In the U.S., digital wallets led online spending at 40% of e-commerce transaction value, while the in-store market remains card-led with wallets accounting for 17% of point-of-sale value in 2025. Digital wallet share is projected to grow 10% annually through 2030, reaching an estimated 26% of in-store and 44% of online transaction value. Finance teams building corporate card policies today must decide which method fits each purchase type.A digital wallet doesn't replace a business credit card. It stores the card's credentials and transmits them to merchants using tokenization instead of exposing the actual card number. The credit card still controls the limit, billing, corporate credit card rewards, and policy enforcement, so the account stays the same even when the payment experience changes.That’s also why digital wallets and virtual cards are related, but not interchangeable. A digital wallet is the app employees use to pay, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. A virtual card is the card credential itself with a unique card number generated for a specific purpose, vendor, employee, or spend limit. That virtual card can sometimes be added to a digital wallet, or it can be used directly for online purchases. Both tools matter in a corporate card program, but they solve different parts of the payment workflow. An employee might tap their phone at a coffee shop, insert plastic at a hotel front desk, or pull up a virtual card number for an online vendor, and finance still has to decide which option fits each situation. This article explains how the two methods work together, where each one has an advantage, and how to build those choices into a policy your team can actually use.How digital wallets and business credit cards work togetherDigital wallets and business credit cards operate at different layers of the same payment stack. Employees experience them as different ways to pay, but finance teams still manage the same underlying account. Once the relationship between the two is clear, deciding when the wallet, the physical card, or a virtual business card number is the right tool gets easier.How digital wallets handle business transactionsA digital wallet stores a tokenized version of your business credit card credentials on your phone or wearable device. When an employee taps to pay at a contactless terminal, the wallet sends a device-specific account number and transaction-specific cryptographic data to authorize the payment. The underlying card number is never transmitted to the merchant. Most wallet payments require device authentication, such as Face ID, Touch ID, passcode, PIN, pattern, or an approved biometric method, depending on the wallet and device settings.The transaction still hits the business credit card account, follows the same spend controls, and appears on the same statement. What changes is how the payment reaches the merchant. The employee experience speeds up, while the account finance stays identical.How physical cards reach the merchantThe physical card uses the same account, but it reaches the merchant in a different way. A physical business credit card carries an EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) chip that authenticates the card at the terminal and generates a unique transaction code for each purchase. At chip terminals, employees insert the card or tap it using the card’s built-in contactless capability if it supports NFC.Many physical cards now support tap-to-pay directly, so the key distinction is not always tap versus insert. The distinction is whether the employee is paying through a wallet token or using the physical card credential itself. The merchant’s terminal communicates with the card network and issuer to authorize the charge against the account’s available credit and any spend controls in place.The physical card works across more merchant environments, doesn't depend on a charged device, and serves as the fallback when contactless terminals aren't available or when devices fail. Wider coverage is what keeps physical cards relevant in a program that also supports wallets.How digital wallets and physical cards compare on securitySecurity is one of the main reasons finance teams care which payment method employees use. Digital wallets add protections that physical cards don't provide on their own, while physical cards still offer reliability in situations where device risk or device failure changes the equation. For finance teams, the question is which method reduces risk in the setting where the purchase actually happens.Why digital wallets reduce transaction riskDigital wallets reduce card-number exposure at the point of sale. Each transaction generates a unique cryptogram that is generally not reusable. If a merchant environment is compromised, the underlying card number generally should not be exposed through a wallet transaction. The attacker may instead obtain tokenized payment data and transaction-specific cryptographic data, which is designed to be significantly more difficult to reuse than a raw card number. Biometric authentication adds another layer, since someone who picks up an employee’s phone still needs the registered fingerprint or face to authorize a payment.Wallet payments also eliminate exposure to card skimmers because no physical card is inserted or swiped, giving hardware skimmers nothing to capture. Because no physical card is ever inserted or swiped, the hardware skimmers found on some ATMs, gas pumps, and point-of-sale terminals have nothing to capture. This holds regardless of whether the transaction requires biometric or passcode authentication. For employees who travel frequently or work in field environments where card readers aren’t always vetted, that protection is real and consistent.When physical cards offer a more predictable security profilePhysical cards offer a more predictable payment path in settings where device management varies across employees. A phone with a weak passcode, outdated software, or compromised apps can introduce risk that the card itself wouldn't carry. Physical cards also work in environments where device reliability or merchant terminal limitations make wallet payments less dependable. That lowers the chance of failed transactions pushing employees toward less controlled payment methods. For companies that can't standardize device security across employee phones, physical cards carry a simpler and more predictable risk profile.Device security requirements are a practical part of any wallet policy. Requiring strong passcodes, current OS versions, and mobile device management enrollment on devices used for wallet payments is the equivalent of requiring employees to keep physical cards in a company-issued cardholder rather than a loose pocket. The wallet’s security is only as strong as the device it runs on.Finance teams may get better results by governing both methods together. That means device security requirements for employees using wallets and instant card-freeze capabilities for lost physical cards. A clear policy matters more than treating either method as safer in every situation.Where digital wallets improve business paymentsDigital wallets help most when finance wants employees to move quickly without exposing card details more than necessary. The biggest gains show up in routine in-person purchases, then in online checkout, and then in card issuance workflows where speed matters.Tap-to-pay in retail and restaurantsTap-to-pay at retail and restaurants is usually the clearest win. Checkout is generally faster, employees don't have to hand a card to a server or cashier, and there's less chance of leaving the physical card behind on a table or counter. For employees traveling or entertaining clients, mobile wallet payments lower the risk of a card being skimmed or lost during the transaction. Wallets work well as the default for many in-person purchases where speed and lower card exposure matter most.Online and in-app purchasesThe same advantages carry into online and in-app purchases. For supported online and in-app checkouts, wallets and issuer virtual-card features can reduce manual card entry and limit exposure of the underlying card number. Availability varies by merchant, issuer, network, browser, device, and country. For employees booking travel, ordering supplies, or paying for software subscriptions from their phones, fewer manual entries mean fewer card-number exposures and fewer data-entry errors that slow down the expense management process.Virtual cards add an extra layer of control for recurring software subscriptions. Locking a virtual card to a specific merchant means the card is generally not able to be charged by anyone else, which makes it easy to cut off a subscription by deleting the card rather than disputing charges after the fact. When those purchases happen every week across multiple employees, the time savings and cleaner data become operational rather than cosmetic.Wallet-ready virtual cards make issuance fasterOnce finance teams use wallets as a faster way to deploy controlled spend, issuance speed becomes the next advantage. When you issue a virtual business credit card to an employee, that card can be added to a digital wallet immediately. The employee can make purchases within minutes without waiting for a physical card to ship.That speed has a real onboarding implication. A new hire can have a working corporate payment method on their phone within minutes of their first day, depending on the card program and device setup. For onboarding new hires or issuing single-use cards for specific vendor payments, wallet-loaded virtual cards remove lead time and keep spending inside your card program from day one. The faster payment method still operates inside the same control framework.Where physical business credit cards still matterDigital wallets improve many purchase flows, but physical cards still carry the widest real-world coverage. Finance teams need that coverage because policy only works when employees can complete the purchase without improvising. Physical cards matter most where acceptance, reliability, or merchant process makes a wallet less dependable.Universal merchant acceptanceNot every merchant has a contactless terminal. International travel, rural vendors, older point-of-sale systems, and some government or institutional vendors may only accept chip insert or swipe. Globally, wallet acceptance is strongest in APAC, where digital wallets accounted for 77% of online and 62% of in-store transactions in 2025, per the Worldpay 2026 Global Payments Report. In the U.S. and most of Europe, contactless terminal coverage is high in urban retail but thinner outside major metros and in some industry-specific environments.For corporate cards used across multiple geographies, the gap matters because employee spending can’t stop at the first terminal limitation. Keeping a physical card available protects continuity without forcing employees outside the approved corporate card program.Reliability in low-connectivity settingsPhysical cards remain part of most policies because wallet payments can fail for reasons that have nothing to do with the underlying card account. A dead battery, damaged screen, lost phone, or a terminal that doesn’t accept contactless payments can all stop a wallet transaction. Connectivity matters for adding cards, viewing transaction history, and some wallet-specific provisioning steps, but weak phone data is not typically the failure mode for an in-person near field communication (NFC) tap. Physical cards work when the device doesn’t.Transactions that still require a physical cardSome transactions depend on the card itself, not just the account behind it. ATM access and cash advances generally still require a physical card, though availability varies by card program and some corporate card programs do not include ATM access at all. Some business expenses still call for cash, particularly in markets where card acceptance is limited. Hotels may also require a physical card at check-in for incidental holds. Everyday failure scenarios matter too, including a dead battery, cracked screen, lost phone, or software update that locks the wallet. A policy that includes physical cards avoids turning digital convenience into a single point of failure.When should employees use a digital wallet vs a physical card?The right payment method depends on the transaction type, the merchant environment, and the fallback options available if something goes wrong. Employees don’t need a long decision tree for every purchase. They need a set of defaults that finance can explain quickly and enforce consistently.The scenarios below map purchase types to the recommended default. Finance teams can find this helpful to use directly when building a card policy or employee handbook. Brex The most useful policy is the one employees can apply consistently without guessing.How digital wallets affect spend control and visibilityThe payment experience changes, but the control point usually doesn’t. Whether an employee pays by wallet or physical card, finance still manages spend through the underlying card account. Wallet adoption may not require a separate policy structure. It does mean teams need to understand where speed changes behavior and where that speed puts more pressure on real-time visibility.Controls don't change based on payment methodIn some corporate card platforms, per-card spending limits, merchant category restrictions, and approval workflows apply regardless of whether the transaction comes through a wallet tap or a physical card insert. When a wallet transmits a token to the merchant terminal, the payment network maps that token back to the real card account and sends the authorization request to the issuer.The issuer applies the configured controls against the real card account, though effective enforcement depends on how the card program is set up, the card platform, and the quality of merchant category data flowing through the network. What the wallet changes is transaction speed.Set a digital wallet policy your team can followDigital wallets and physical business credit cards work best when finance treats them as parts of the same program. A practical policy is to default to wallets for routine spend where speed and lower card exposure matter, while keeping physical cards available for travel, broader merchant acceptance, and failure scenarios. Employees get a simpler decision in the moment, and finance gets a cleaner policy to enforce.This story was produced by Brex and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	7 steps to advance the deal in every conversation 7 steps to advance the deal in every conversationResearch shows that purchase likelihood drops drastically once a buying team has two or more people. In this Apollo article, Jen Allen-Knuth, founder of DemandJen, shares seven steps to move key deals forward.What is B2B sales strategy?A B2B sales strategy is a structured, repeatable framework that guides sales teams through complex, multibuyer purchasing journeys from initial contact to a closed-won deal. Rather than a static set of tactics, it serves as an operational roadmap that aligns your entire sales motion to solve your ideal customer's high-priority problems.Why deal advancement strategy matters for B2B successSo, why obsess over a deal advancement strategy? Because without one, you're just reacting. You're waiting for the prospect to dictate the next steps, letting deals stall in the pipeline for weeks, or worse, losing to "no decision." A clear strategy puts you back in the driver's seat.When you have a plan for every conversation, you build momentum. You transform from a vendor pitching a product into a strategic partner guiding a solution. This approach not only shortens sales cycles but also builds the kind of trust that turns skeptical stakeholders into your biggest advocates. It's how you create predictable revenue, not just a pipeline of maybes.How to move every prospect deal forward1. Help your champion calculate the cost of inactionYou've probably been taught to sell the value adds of your solution — more leads, more pipeline, more revenue!While ROI (return on investment) is important, it's usually not enough to drive a purchase decision. Sometimes, it can be far more beneficial to discuss COI (cost of inaction).When you've identified a champion at your target company, work with them to write a statement quantifying the cost of maintaining the status quo. This statement should identify the business problem, the impact of the problem, and the pain the problem is causing in terms of time, money, and resources.Remember, this statement is not about your product features or functionality.You are only focused on helping them identify if a painful problem exists today.2. Enable your champion to set up a group meetingWith your beautifully crafted summary statement in hand, it's time to enable your champion to set up a meeting with all the relevant stakeholders.Share a prewritten email template with your champion, so they can quickly kick off the meeting scheduling process.This not only takes one less thing off their to-do list, but it also allows you to control the message.Here's an example of the email template Allen-Knuth usually sends her champion." Team:As we consider {{problem}}, I've asked Sally Smith at ACME to spend 30 mins with our team.I met with Sally this week to provide context on our plans for {{objective}}, as well as the roadblocks we've encountered.She had some unique perspective on {{problem}}, based on XYZ.Any concerns spending 30 mins on this together?"This message works for a few reasons:It's coming from the champion. Key decision makers trust that their internal colleague's interests align with theirs and it's likely worth their time.It shows they've already had a meaningful conversation with you.It ends with a strong question. One that makes it easier to agree than to disagree.3. Ask your champions the right questions before a larger meetingProductive conversations start with an understanding of each member of the buying committee.Allen-Knuth suggests asking your champion these four questions so you can avoid any surprises during the meeting:Who is most likely to be pro-status quo and why? Uncover who in the group is fine keeping things as is. For example, the director of training and enablement who just implemented a homegrown solution likely isn't going to want to buy and implement a new tool.Who is the "Mr. Rogers" of the group? Learn who will nod along and smile during the meeting but may express disinterest behind the scenes.Who is most likely to be skeptical of prioritizing this business problem and why? Identify who will have pushback and how you can better be prepared to address their concerns.What was the most recent disagreement between this group? There may be tension from past conversations or simply interpersonal relationships at play. Understanding these dynamics helps you separate previous disagreements from current disinterest.4. Co-draft a group meeting planThe next step in the process is to draft a well-oiled presentation so the meeting goes off without a hitch.Don't bombard your buying committee with thousands of slides. Instead, come prepared with a few anchor slides so people have something to respond to. And make sure to share your slides with your champion ahead of time, so they can provide feedback."We want the champion to feel like they're on the same side as we are," says Allen-Knuth.Another way to make the meeting run smoothly and avoid the awkward crickets when no one speaks up? Ask your champion if they're comfortable prompting the group with a few questions during the session.Here’s the template Allen-Knuth uses to prep her champion ahead of the meeting." Jane,Here is my availability for the meeting {{insert meeting link}}.We won't march through slides. But, I attached a plan for the meeting so you can react and share your ideas.Are you comfortable asking the Qs in speaker notes on pages 3 and 5?"Jen."5. Lay the groundwork for a productive meetingIt's meeting time! The first few minutes of the meeting set the tone for the entire conversation."How you open the meeting matters more than anything else you'll do on this call," shares Allen-Knuth.Here are three ways to kick off a productive meeting:Clearly communicate the group's objective. Agree on a business problem.Lower the buying committee's defenses by acting more like a consultant than a vendor. Make it clear that this conversation is not about your solution, but about agreeing on if this is the right problem to solve.Clarify your position as a facilitator, not a keynote speaker. You are there to provide an external perspective.Once you've laid the groundwork, it's time to get to the meat of the conversation.6. Encourage disagreement and open thoughtOpen with the summary statement you prepared in step one.As the discussion starts flowing, encourage disagreement by asking questions.Who here has a different opinion on this?How should the group weigh these two problems?What are your reservations about moving forward?Make sure to ask questions to better understand each committee member's priorities, beliefs, and assumptions.Different opinions help you gather more insights. Head nodding and silence are sure signs of an unsuccessful meeting.And, as much as you may be itching to flex your objection-handling muscles during the discussion, maintain your stance as a neutral party. By doing this, you build a massive amount of trust between you and your potential buyers.7. Set clear next stepsEnd the meeting by asking two direct questions.Is this a problem worth solving?Is this a problem worth solving, now?By asking these questions, you'll have insights into how urgent the problem is, how to best proceed, and be equipped to forecast your deals more accurately.At the end of the call, you'll be left with two possible outcomes — consensus or no consensus.If you've reached a group consensus, that's great, but you're not done yet. Update the summary statement and ask if there's anyone else at the company who should weigh in.If you don't reach a consensus, don't stress. This is very common in the first meeting. Suggest clear next steps like a follow-up meeting, case studies or data to review, or an introduction to other key decision-makers within the organization.Turn conversations into closed dealsIn every sales conversation, the real secret is this: always get your buyers to agree on the problem before you ever discuss your solution. By shifting your focus from pitching to problem-solving, you build the trust and consensus needed to get deals done.Frequently asked questions about B2B sales strategyWhat are the seven steps of the B2B selling process?While every company's process varies, a typical B2B sales process includes: 1. Prospecting and lead generation, 2. Qualifying leads, 3. Research and preparation, 4. Presenting your solution, 5. Handling objections, 6. Closing the deal, and 7. Nurturing and retention. This article focuses on mastering the critical steps in the middle of that process.What is the rule of seven in B2B sales?The "rule of seven" is a classic marketing principle suggesting a prospect needs to have about seven interactions or "touches" with your brand before they're ready to buy. In today's complex B2B world, it's often more, but the principle remains: consistent, valuable engagement is key to building trust and staying top of mind.How long does the average B2B sales cycle take?There's no single answer, as it depends heavily on deal size, industry, and complexity. It can range from a few weeks for simple transactional sales to over a year for large enterprise deals. A strong deal advancement strategy is your best tool for shortening that timeline by creating urgency and clearing roadblocks.What's the difference between a champion and a decision maker?A champion is your internal advocate, the person who is personally invested in solving the problem and will sell on your behalf when you're not in the room. A decision maker is the person with the authority and budget to give the final "yes." Your champion is your key to influencing the decision maker and the rest of the buying committee.How do you handle objections during B2B sales conversations?Instead of "handling" them, learn to "encourage" them. As outlined in step six, creating a space for disagreement helps you uncover the real concerns and priorities of the buying committee. By understanding their reservations early, you can address them directly and build a stronger business case, rather than being surprised by them at the final stage.This story was produced by Apollo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What your birth month says about you, according to the data What your birth month says about you, according to the dataYour birthday may feel like a personal milestone, but it’s also a unique data point among one of the most interesting patterns in American health and demographics. Scientists, educators, and epidemiologists have spent decades poring over birth records and medical histories to understand what the month you appear in the world says about your future.That’sThem has pulled the stats from CDC Birth Data, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, EBSCO, The Mother Baby Center, and Oxford Academic to cover what your birth month may say about you, whether it’s about your disease risk or sports performance.January: A slow start to the yearJanuary ranks sixth in birth frequency across the U.S., sitting right near the middle of the pack based on 2022 CDC birth data. When counting back nine months, the conception window falls within April, which isn’t considered to be a peak conception period.January babies do have one notable developmental edge, though. In the U.S., where the school enrollment cutoff is typically Sept. 1, those born in January tend to be among the oldest in their kindergarten class.Research on the Relative Age Effect by EBSCO showed that older children in a classroom cohort tend to outperform younger peers in standardized tests and show lower dropout rates in athletics. This is a meaningful built-in advantage for winter-born students.February: The rarest month of allFebruary stands as the rarest month for birthdays in America. Data from The Mother Baby Center outlines that just under 271,000 babies were born in February of 2023, compared to more than 322,000 in August.This likely comes down to simple arithmetic. Since February typically only has 28 days, it has fewer chances to register births than any other month. Additionally, being born on Feb. 29 carries only a 1 in 1,461 chance of occurring, giving less than 0.1% of the world’s population this distinction. This uniqueness alone makes being born in February something to carry with pride.March: An average month with a heart health flagMarch comes in eighth for national birth totals, firmly setting it within the trough period of the year, alongside February and April. There is also a notable health anomaly to consider.In a landmark study conducted by the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, analyzing 1.7 million patient records, it was found that people born in March faced a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and mitral valve disorder out of all the birth months studied. Scientists were quick to note, however, that birth month is only a minor variable compared to diet, exercise, and other preventative lifestyle factors.April: Second-rarest, low-mood risk researchApril is the second-rarest month to be born in the U.S., with roughly 279,000 births recorded in 2023, per The Mother Baby Center. This is around 43,000 fewer than the reigning champion, August.April also has a lighter health footprint compared to some of the other months. Research published in the Personality and Individual Differences journal found that spring-born individuals showed among the lowest associations with cyclothymic and depressive temperament profiles. For April babies, the seasonal health picture generally looks favorable.May: The healthiest month to be bornIf you had to pick the single best birth month to be born to maximize long-term health outcomes, May is it. The Columbia University study also cross-referenced 1,688 diseases against the records of the 1.7 million hospital patients and found that people born in May had the lowest overall disease risk of any birth month.It’s believed by researchers that favorable prenatal conditions, including maternal sunlight exposure and nutritional factors during a winter pregnancy, may play a role.June: Shoulder season for summer's baby boomJune lands fifth in U.S. birth rankings. CDC birth data confirms that births climb steadily from late spring into summer, typically driven by a fall conception surge as couples spend more time indoors during cooler months.EBSCO’s research outlines how June babies are typically some of the youngest in their classes. This population also often scores lower on standardized assessments and has a higher dropout rate in youth sports, but the gap typically closes by the mid-teen years.July: The runner-up birth monthJuly is the second-most popular birth month in the U.S. Based on information from The Mother Baby Center, nearly 312,000 babies arrived in July 2023. July babies benefit from the same fall conception surge that drives peak summer births.The research from Columbia University makes an important distinction, though. July babies typically have an elevated asthma risk, which is loosely tied to peak-risk months for sunlight exposure during the prenatal period.August: The month with the most births overallThose born in August have a unique honor: They are a part of the most populous birth month. By raw count, The Mother Baby Center reports that more than 322,000 babies were born in August 2023, driven by peak conceptions in November.August-born babies face a similar problem to June babies in that they are the youngest in their class if starting school in September. The Nuffield Foundation, in addition to Columbia University, found that this can meaningfully impact academic confidence and social development during a child’s early years.September: The birthday month of championsSeptember is where the birth data gets quite interesting. While ranking fourth overall for monthly birth totals based on CDC data, nine of the 10 most common individual birthdays in the U.S. actually fall in this month. The clustering is believed to have been driven by elevated conceptions around the Christmas and New Year holiday season.September also carries major academic and athletic advantages. September children would be the oldest in their class, assuming a Sept. 1 enrollment cutoff date, giving them a slight edge. Per EBSCO research, these students also boast higher test scores, develop social confidence faster, and are more likely to advance in sports.October: High disease risk, but high athletic potentialOctober has a striking duality not seen in any other month. On one hand, the Columbia University data points out that people in October carry the highest overall disease risk of any birth month, with an elevated incidence of conditions such as asthma or cardiovascular issues.However, a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine via the National Library of Medicine also found that October babies scored higher in grip strength than other months. So, October babies may benefit from greater health vigilance later in life on average, but they also show some natural physical advantages in childhood.November: Resilient and physically strongNovember comes in ninth for birth frequency, per CDC data, but near the top in physical performance research. The International Journal of Sports Medicine study detailed that children born in November boasted better cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-body power than peers in other months.However, the Columbia University research notes an offset, which is that November babies see a slightly elevated risk of ADHD association.December: The holiday birthday paradoxFinally, December is the third-rarest birth month in the U.S., per CDC data. Births drop noticeably around Christmas and New Year’s, which is often attributed to medical scheduling preferences and reduced holiday staffing during the holiday period.December babies also have to contend with the “holiday birthday paradox,” which could result in celebrations and gifts for holidays and their birthday being combined into one. This can result in reduced individual recognition.What the birth numbers really sayBirth patterns across the country are anything but random. They reveal a lot about the biology, behavior, and culture at the time in the U.S., as well as nine months previously.It’s worth noting, however, that while researchers have found meaningful statistical connections between birth month and outcomes for diseases, birth month itself is a minor variable in cause. This is more modest in comparison to key influential health factors to consider, including having a strong diet and stable exercise. What your birth month reveals is simply a starting point and not your predetermined destiny.This story was produced by That’sThem and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump confirms calling Netanyahu 'crazy,' says they still get along The president also acknowledged that he cursed at the Israeli leader in a heated phone call in which he told Benjamin Netanyahu not to bomb the Lebanese capital Beirut.

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