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

Saturday, March 28th, 2026
	Iowa students react to Hawkeye men's basketball Cinderella run For the first time since 1987 the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team is in the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. Which means most University of Iowa students are seeing the magic of a March Madness run in the men's tournament for the first time. A basketball program that seemingly lost the interest of the [...]
	Illinois Republican candidates voice cautious optimism at Henry County event Cautious optimism reigned at the Henry County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner held Friday in Colona, with speakers emphasizing the need to get out the vote in November.
	County-wide burn ban in effect for Scott County A county-wide burn ban is in effect for Scott County.
	Burn ban in effect for Scott County A burn ban is in effect for Scott County. According to a release from the Scott County Emergency Management Agency, open burning constitutes a danger to life and property in Scott County. A burn ban is in effect as of March 28. Current conditions and concerns include dry weather conditions, projected rain amounts in the [...]
	How Illinois bills could help with mental health services Proposed legislation in Illinois aims to improve access to mental health services following a behavioral health crisis. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief Alex Whitney how House Bill 4495 and House Bill 4448 could help patients with costs during the critical time after intervention.
	Illinois State Police respond to fatal crash on I-80 in LaSalle County Crews are on-scene investigating a fatal crash in LaSalle County that happened on I-80 westbound early Saturday morning.
	Quad City Symphony presents 'Violins of Hope' in Masterworks finale Experience a moving Masterworks finale Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, presented in partnership with Violins of Hope. Bach’s "Concerto for Two Violins" features Quad City Symphony Orchestra violinists Emily Nash and Sabrina Tabby and members of the orchestra performing on historic violins, symbols of resilience, hope, and remembrance. The concert culminates in Mahler’s [...]
	Why your dog probably isn't being stubborn when they refuse to move on walks Why your dog suddenly refuses to move in the middle of a walkGeorge is not budging. A neighbor has stopped by to let him outside, but he refuses to move. We won’t go so far as to call George stubborn, but he is never going to get off this couch. Ever.This golden retriever gets it — he’s at the beach and sees no reason to leave, so he’s not moving either.And when this beagle plopped down and refused to finish her hike, she got her own personal Uber.Every pet parent has experienced it: You’re having a perfectly lovely time, then suddenly your dog just … stops. If you have a five-pound Yorkie, it’s easy enough to scoop them up. But when you live with a great Dane, you’ve got to get to the bottom of things.Kinship spoke to three experts to answer the question: Why do some dogs just absolutely refuse to move?Is it normal for dogs to go stiff as stone and insist on staying put?This behavior is not uncommon, explains Dr. Andrew Findlaytor, a veterinarian and editorial advisory board member at dvm360, who regularly sees clients who are reluctant to get going. “I have seen them sit and refuse to walk, even lie down and play dead when they didn't want to walk any further,” he says.Tatiana Yastremski, a certified trainer and behavior consultant, knows the feeling: She’s seen many dogs put on the brakes. One day, she was out walking with her own pup, Mena, when Mena suddenly stopped just as they entered the park.“It’s a place she’s been to many times before, but for some reason on that day, the moment she stepped paws in the park, she quickly turned around and started to pull me back home,” says Yastremski, who works with dogs at St. Hubert’s Dog Training and Behavior Center in Madison, New Jersey.While it was unusual, she’s hesitant to call Mena or any dog stubborn when they get stuck. In fact, any time pet parents start to call their dogs “stubborn,” Yastremski suggests they reassess the situation. In fact, she says, it may be totally normal for your dog to suddenly freeze — and it’s a sign you need to pay attention to the reason why this is happening.“There are times that I hear from dog parents that their dog’s doing x, y, and z is because they are stubborn,” she says. “Listen up, dog parents: Your dogs are not stubborn.”In fact, they may be trying to communicate something. “Learning dog body language and knowing your dog is super important, as these two things could help you better understand the reason behind your dog becoming stuck,” she says.Why do dogs refuse to budge?If you’ve seen this viral video of the golden retriever who was having a very fine day and did not understand why he had to get back in the car — and therefore decided to lie down in the middle of a parking lot — you might have a sense of why some dogs plant themselves and refuse to budge.But it’s not always so clear-cut.“It is difficult to know what is going on in a dog’s head without understanding their previous learning experiences and what was going on in the environment right before these behaviors started,” says Dr. Kristin Kuntz, a board certified veterinary behaviorist at Insight Animal Behavior Services in Chicago.However, Dr. Kuntz notes that there are a few common reasons dogs might be reluctant to move:They are “highly motivated” to stay put (they think they will get more attention or they’re just comfortable).They’re frightened of something in their environment (a loud noise, fast-moving vehicles, or other animals or people).They’re in pain or have another form of discomfort (think an injury or arthritis).Yastremski agrees: “They could be tired, not feel well, they could have possibly stepped on something and hurt their paw, they may be older and don’t want to walk too far, or they perceive something stressful or threatening,” she says.How can you best decode your pup’s mood?Dr. Kuntz says that dogs who are annoyed, bored, stressed, or uncomfortable will use their body language to communicate.For example, panting or limping may be signs of pain. Tucking their tail, licking their lips, or avoiding eye contact may mean they’re frightened by something. Study up on dog body language to get an idea of what your pup is trying to “say.”“The dog may be communicating fear, stress, discomfort, and/or frustration,” Yastremski says. “It’s important for pet parents to understand what the purpose of the behaviors is, especially if those behaviors never existed before.”But if the reason is murky — or it’s just new behavior — it’s best to pay a visit to your veterinarian to decode what’s going on. From there, you can work on a plan to help your pup feel better. “It is important to understand the ‘why’ behind the lack of movement,” Dr. Kuntz says. “If the dog is [in pain], then activity restriction, pain management, and any other indicated treatment should be pursued.”And if it’s a trigger that’s frightening your dog, that can also be managed. “Then the pet parent should work with their veterinarian and a positive-reinforcement trainer to create a treatment plan to help the dog become more confident around the scary trigger,” Dr. Kuntz notes.How can you ask your dog to move (in the nicest way possible)?But sometimes, it’s fairly clear that our dogs are just having an amazing time — and don’t want to miss out. So, how do you convince them to go home?“As for what we can do about it, our dogs are clever,” Dr. Findlaytor says. If you know that your dog is frustrated about leaving the park — even though it’s been two hours — it’s OK to humor them a little. “Getting frustrated isn't the solution, although sometimes laughing is absolutely the solution,” he says.But eventually everyone must leave the party — what then? You should be thinking about this before it even happens. Good training ahead of time can help you in that moment.Figure out what motivates your dog, advises Dr. Kuntz, noting that it could be food, pets, or praise. “Use that as a reward for performing the desired behavior,” she says. “For example, when the dog is walking next to their pet parent, it is important for the pet parent to reward that good behavior.”Then, when you do get stuck, use those motivators to encourage your dog.Yastremski suggests:Encouraging your dog verbally using a “happy and excited voice”Using treats to lure them forwardTrying to get them to do tricks they already knowSeeing if they’ll follow a dog who’s already walking aheadAs for Yastremski, when her dog Mena refused to move in the park that day, she encouraged her with kind words and treats, but Mena wouldn’t move an inch.So, Yastremski carefully read Mena’s cues: “Her ears were back and pretty much plastered to her head, which can be a sign of worry and caution,” she says. “She was moving very quickly and kept turning around repeatedly to check in with me. The pupils in her eyes were mildly dilated. All I could think of is that she was perceiving a threat.”Yastremski realized that there was a good reason Mena had decided not to take her usual route. “She could have picked up the scent of a wild animal passing through, and since there are bears and coyotes where I live, there was a high probability of that,” she says. “Once we entered our neighborhood, Mena was back to her old self again, walking calmly, sniffing, and checking in with me while at my side.”This story was produced by Kinship and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	'Muscatine and the Civil War' exhibition opens at Muscatine Art Center The Muscatine Art Center invites the public to experience "Muscatine and the Civil War," a powerful exhibition that brings the national conflict into sharp local focus while exploring how one river town was forever changed by war, a news release says. Through letters, photographs, and deeply personal artifacts, visitors encounter the courage and sacrifice of [...]
	City of Muscatine again recognized as Tree City USA The City of Muscatine has once again been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation, marking 34 straight years of commitment to tree planting, urban forestry, and environmental stewardship. City Administrator Matt Mardesen said the milestone reflects a long-standing community priority. “Thirty‑four years as a Tree City USA speaks to [...]
	Opinion: White House 'gamifying' Iran war updates The White House has depicted the war in Iran online with videos that weave real life images of missile strikes and destruction with clips from video games, sports clips, and action movies.
	Geneseo agrees to keep Farmers Market in place along Pearl Street The renewal of the annual agreement will now be on the April 14 agenda for a final vote, with the market staying in its location on Pearl Street next to the city park.
	Recycle Coach app now available in Rock Island County For residents looking to reduce their household waste and become better recyclers, RecycleCoach is now available in Rock Island County. Residents can access Recycle Coach from their desktop computers and mobile devices. The desktop version is located on RICWMA’s website here. Desktop and mobile device platforms make it easy for people to get local disposal [...]
	There's a massive measles vaccine campaign in Mexico. Is the public on board? With tens of thousands of suspected cases, the government is aiming for 2.5 million jabs a week. The response has been encouraging — but also worrisome.
	Memories of Muscatine: Eagles Aerie No. 815 This week for Memories of Muscatine: A 1923 photo of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 815.
	Rock Island to take possession of former Memorial Christian Church property. The red brick church is located directly across the street from the County Building on Third Avenue and across 15th Street from the Rock Island County Justice Center.
	Muscatine Chamber appoints new board chair, issues awards at annual dinner Thursday night The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry issued awards for young professional of the year, chamber ambassador of the year, volunteer of the year and more.
	'The Comeback' is back. That's something to Cherish The third (and final) installment of this Hollywood satire finds C-lister Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow) helming an AI-written show.
	Stephanie Tashiro This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.When Stephanie Tashiro was a young girl growing up in Davenport, Iowa, she wondered why her paternal grandparents never…
	Stuck in a long TSA line? Here are some strategies if you need to rebook your flight Extreme TSA lines at airports have left many passengers scrambling to rebook flights missed due to delays. But while airlines say they're helping flyers, they're not obligated to do so.
	Rifts over Iran, but unity for Trump: Takeaways from CPAC 2026 Members of the MAGA faithful gathered in Texas for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. While tensions over Iran split some attendees, Trump remained the glue holding them together.
	Crossing the line: Emotional abuse in college sports Researchers have found that athletes experience emotional abuse more than any other form of harm. Some athletes maintain that this kind of abuse by coaches can cause lasting, even irreparable damage.
	U.S. troops injured in attack on Saudi base as the war reaches one month As the war in Iran reaches the one-month mark, a Iranian strike on an air base in Saudi Arabia wounded several U.S. service members. On Saturday the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
	'No Kings' aims for record turnout in Saturday's anti-Trump protests Organizers behind No Kings, a network of progressive groups, says protesters will stage demonstrations across the country and abroad to speak out against the Trump administration's actions.
	Does the U.S. have a chance in the World Cup? 2 important games will provide clues The U.S. has gone unbeaten in its past five international matches. But now the team is upping the ante with games against Belgium and Portugal that could show fans whether a deep run is in the cards.
	Trump wants a deadlocked Congress to move on AI. Frustrated states say they already have State lawmakers have been stepping in to regulate artificial intelligence, clashing with the federal government's inaction as concerns about oversight and safety grow.
	Red Flag Warning from SAT 10:00 AM CDT until SAT 9:00 PM CDT Red Flag Warning: Critical Fire Danger from 10 AM to 9 PM Today
Friday, March 27th, 2026
	Sterling Police Department hopes to use budget surplus on permanent evidence facility The current rented facility can't accommodate the department's 8,500 pieces of evidence, including multiple vehicles.
	Iowa Army Ammunition Plant to reopen on March 30 The plant's temporary pause began on March 12 while experts conducted a review of safety and storage of lead azide.
	Iowa Army Ammunition Plant to reopen on March 30 The plant's temporary pause began on March 12 while experts conducted a review of safety and storage of lead azide.
	Sterling Police Department hopes to use budget surplus on permanent evidence facility The current rented facility can't accommodate the department's 8,500 pieces of evidence, including multiple vehicles.
	Iowa bill to restrict access to abortion medications still in play A bill restricting access to abortion medications in still in play in the Iowa House. House File 2563 would prevent out-of-state providers from mailing abortion medications to Iowa. It would also require a physician to conduct an in-person examination of a pregnant person before abortion medications could be prescribed. The bill was eligible for a [...]
	Our QC Crime Watch Episode 60: Thieves find out diesel fuel doesn't work in all vehicles Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our QC Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: To view, click the video above or watch on-the-go on Spotify. The QC Crime Watch Podcast \| Podcast on [...]
	Beloved Clinton pool at risk of closing this summer Meadowview Pool in Clinton has been around for generations, but it's at risk of closing this summer. The community is rallying support to keep it open. "There's as many as three generations of families that have all come here," says Megan Jensen, Meadowview Pool Board president. The small pool tucked into a north side neighborhood [...]
	MidAmerican Energy customers in Illinois could see rate hikes MidAmerican Energy customers in Illinois could see higher bills within the next two years. The energy company is proposing an additional $300 per year for around 85,000 customers in Rock island, Henry, Mercer and Whiteside counties. For electricity prices would increase by $9.11 per month in 2027 and $9.10 in 2028. Gas prices would increase [...]
	Uncertainty continues for RI Arsenal civilian employees More than 100 civilian employees in the Army Sustainment and Joint Munitions Commands at the Rock Island Arsenal will be reassigned to different areas within the Army Materiel Command and Department of Army, according to Steve Beck, the president of AFGE Local 15, The Army Sustainment Command manages equipment like tanks, trucks and helicopters as [...]
	More Iowa National Guard Soldiers to return home The next ground of Iowa National Guard Soldiers are returning home.
	Thousands expected at Davenport's 'No Kings 3' protest Organizers expect thousands at LeClaire Park in Davenport for a “No Kings” protest Saturday. It's part of dozens of rallies planned across Iowa and Illinois.
	Moline begins replacing lead service lines as Illinois leads nation in lead pipes Many of these pipes carry drinking water to homes and businesses and may contain lead, a neurotoxin linked to cognitive, reproductive, and cardiovascular problems.
	Kona-Ice owner sentenced for possession of child pornography The man who owns Kona-Ice Davenport has been sentenced for possession of child pornography.
	150 Rock Island Arsenal workers facing job uncertainty Some workers were told they would receive offers to remain employed, while others were labeled “surplus,” with no guarantee of another position.
	MercyOne Clinton Medical Center ending labor and delivery services The center's last day of providing labor and delivery will take place on Tuesday, May 26. Services will be moved to birth centers in Dubuque, Davenport and Silvis.
	Thousands expected at Davenport's 'No Kings 3' protest Organizers expect thousands at LeClaire Park in Davenport for a “No Kings” protest Saturday, part of dozens of rallies planned across Iowa and Illinois.
	‘Journey the World’ offers Quad Cities families a global experience close to home The whole family is invited out to the Bend XPO on April 18. There will be more than 100 booths and activities for kids, courtesy of our local Girl Scouts.
	“The 2026 EDGE Show,” through April 15 An eclectic display of artwork created by students in the University of Dubuque’s Department of Digital Art and Design is on display at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery, with works by numerous student talents in The 2026 EDGE Show showcased through April 15.
	Two arrested in Knox County burglary investigations Two suspects were arrested following a series of burglary investigations across Knox County and surrounding areas. According to a release, on March 26, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in Wataga, Illinois. Jesse Line, 33, and Jadin White, 32, were taken into custody. Stolen property, including firearms, was recovered. Line faces the [...]
	Over 100 Rock Island Arsenal employees may lose their jobs This follows a round of cuts last year that included more than 300 employees.
	Chocolate chip cookie dough wins Whitey's Shake Madness tournament! The winning shake will be available for sale for the price of a regular shake from today through Tuesday.
	Clinton man sentenced to federal prison for possesing firearms as a felon He had been arrested in January of 2025 and entered a plea agreement in November.
	Rollercoaster temperatures continue in the Quad Cities Throughout the last two weeks are so we have seen temperatures bounce all over the place for the month of March. From highs in the 20s a week and a half ago to 80s just a couple of days after that. And we have another instance of that this week. After temperatures reached a balmy [...]
	First female student at Sherrard High accepted into West Point It’s been 40 years since a Sherrard High School student was accepted to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point (that was 1986 graduate and current Superintendent, Lt. General Steven W. Gilland.) Now, Sherrard senior Ava Egel is making history as the first female and only the second student overall from the school to [...]
	University funding overhaul bill advances in House despite U of I opposition The bill calls for annual increases in university funding with priority for new money given to schools that are currently the most underfunded.
	Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews demands opponent drop out after ballot challenge Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews is demanding his opponent Adam Steen drop out of the race following a ballot challenge that nearly knocked Andrews out of the Republican primary.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of March 27, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Man arrested in plot to firebomb Palestinian activist's home after undercover op An official who was briefed on the investigation said Heifler, 26, identified as a member of the JDL 613 Brotherhood, a New Jersey-based group founded in 2024 that describes its membership as "Jewish warriors" fighting back against rising antisemitism.
	U-Haul strikes railroad overpass in Davenport A U-Haul truck heading west on Kirkwood Boulevard near Mound Street, Davenport, came to a sudden stop about 3:45 p.m. Friday when it hit the railroad overpass. Our Quad Cities News crew saw police officers in the area. The U-Haul's aluminum top was peeled back and the driver's side wheels were in the air. Westbound [...]
	Iowa Army Ammunition plant to resume operations The Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is set to resume full operations, officials said.
	Lawmakers seek measure to make small-scale plug-in solar panels available to renters A bill to allow for small, plug-in solar panel systems is moving through the Senate, which would open access to solar power for renters and others who can’t install rooftop solar panels.
	Hampton school hosts first agriculture day Students learned about planting, food production and modern farming.
	Work to commence on Bettendorf's Central Avenue on Monday Crews will be replacing a water main in some spots, sanitary sewer lines in other parts and then the entire 1.4 miles of roadway will be resurfaced.
	Empower House provides local support to brain injury survivors Empower House is hosting its annual spaghetti supper fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday, March 28.
	Circa 21 up for national award Syd Richardson and Brett Hitchcock from Circa 21 talk about their newest musical of the season and the national award the theatre is up for.
	Quad Cities Senior Expo connects seniors to resources Services offered at the expo included haircuts, health screenings, medication reviews and more.
	Tiger Woods arrested on suspicion of DUI, authorities say Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The Martin County Sheriff's Office said Woods was not injured.
	How outdated tech is draining billions in American small business profits How outdated tech is draining billions in American small business profitsSomewhere in America, a dentist’s office is paying $200 a month for a phone line that exists for one reason: to send and receive faxes.The office manager knows it is expensive. She has mentioned it more than once. But the insurance companies they work with still require faxed claims, and the oral surgeons they refer patients to still send records by fax, and nobody has had time to figure out what the alternative would actually look like.So the bill gets paid again, the toner gets replaced again, and the paper tray gets refilled again.Call it the triple tax.Obsolete technology. Rising costs to keep it running. And the rising cost of the paper, ink and toner it demands.Multiply that across millions of American small businesses and the numbers get very large, very fast. eFax, an online fax cloud platform, analyzed the data to estimate what legacy fax equipment is really costing American small businesses. What comes into focus is a growing expense that most owners never see clearly, because it never shows up in one place.A Phone Line That Keeps Getting More ExpensiveThe story starts with a regulatory decision that most small business owners never heard about.In 2019, the FCC told the big phone carriers they no longer had to keep selling affordable copper phone lines, the kind the telecom industry calls POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service). Carriers had been pushing for this for years. Copper networks are expensive to maintain, and fewer customers were using them every year. The FCC gave providers three years to make the switch. That window closed in August 2022.What happened next was predictable. With the price floor gone, carriers raised rates on the customers who stayed. Before the change, a single POTS line typically cost a business $30 to $40 a month. Today, standalone analog lines commonly run $65 to $200 a month, with some carriers charging north of $250. A small business keeping one dedicated fax line is now paying $780 to $2,400 a year just for the phone connection, before a single page goes through the machine.And the timeline keeps accelerating. In March 2025, the FCC gave carriers permission to shut down copper lines faster, cutting the required notice period in half. By July, the commission proposed dropping the remaining paperwork requirements altogether. Carriers would only need to give “reasonable public notice” before pulling the plug.For businesses still on these lines, the writing is on the wall.The Bills That Hide in Plain SightThe phone line is not the only cost. It is just the most visible one.Fax machines eat through paper, ink and toner at rates that add up quietly over the course of a year. Those supplies run about $20 per 1,000 pages. A small business running four machines at fairly light volume, roughly 1,000 pages per machine per month, spends an estimated $6,700 a year just keeping them fed. That does not include maintenance, the space needed to store printed records, or the hours employees spend handling and filing paper.And the price of paper keeps pulling away from everything else. The cost of printing and writing paper has more than doubled since the early 1980s, far outpacing general inflation. It is one of the few basic office supplies that has consistently gotten more expensive, not less.Meanwhile, 17 million tons of paper and cardboard still end up in American landfills every year, even after recycling.Then there is the cost nobody tracks at all: labor. The average paper fax takes an employee 8 to 30 minutes once you count printing, walking to the machine, dialing, waiting, dealing with busy signals and paper jams, and filing the hard copy.At the median hourly wage for professional services ($43.40 as of December 2024), that works out to $5.79 per fax on the low end and $21.70 on the high end. A business processing 1,000 faxes a month could be spending $5,800 to $21,700 in labor alone, and none of it shows up on an invoice.That is what makes these costs so stubborn. The phone bill goes under utilities. The toner goes under office supplies. The machine lease sits under equipment. The labor disappears into the workday. No single line item is big enough to make anyone stop and add it all up.Why Fax Will Not Go QuietlyIf fax were truly obsolete, none of the economics would matter. Businesses would just stop using it. But for millions of organizations, fax is not optional.In healthcare, roughly 7 in 10 hospitals still use fax or mail to share health information, even as electronic health records have become standard. The reason is simple: Most hospitals have gone digital internally, but the clinics, labs and specialists they need to send records to often haven’t, or their systems can’t talk to each other yet.It is a similar story in law, finance and government. Law firms fax court filings because a fax confirmation page holds up as proof of delivery in ways an email read receipt does not. Banks fax wire transfer authorizations because regulators expect a documented trail. Government agencies keep fax lines open because many of the people and organizations they serve simply are not set up to receive documents any other way.Here is the part that surprises most people: The fax market is actually growing. The market was worth $3.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2030. The growth is coming from cloud fax services, not from anyone buying new machines. But the takeaway is the same. Businesses are not dropping fax. They are moving it to newer technology. The service itself is not going anywhere, even if the copper lines that once carried it are.What It Adds Up ToFor a small business owner taking home $35,000 a year on $500,000 in revenue, a single fax line at today’s rates can eat 3% to 7% of that profit. For the smallest firms, the math is even worse. The average one-person business brings in about $48,000 a year, leaving roughly $3,360 in profit. One analog phone line can swallow more than a third of it.Now multiply that across the country’s 6.3 million employer firms. The total annual cost of legacy fax to American small businesses runs more than $4.7 billion, conservatively, and closer to $9 billion at mid-range pricing according to eFax’s analysis. Neither figure includes one-person businesses, labor or equipment upkeep, so the real number is almost certainly higher.Large companies generally have the leverage and the IT staff to move off these systems. Small businesses are far more likely to just keep paying.Running Out of TimeThe carriers have already started pulling the plug.AT&T, the country’s largest legacy phone provider, plans to shut down its entire copper network by 2029. The company spends roughly $6 billion a year keeping that system running, and only 5% of its home customers still use it. As of October 2025, AT&T stopped taking new orders for copper services entirely.Verizon has been pulling out copper in areas with fiber since 2016, converting 4.5 million lines and shutting down dozens of switching offices along the way. Lumen, which took over the CenturyLink network, stopped taking new POTS orders in 14 states last spring. For businesses still running fax machines or on-site fax servers, the window to switch to cloud-based alternatives is getting smaller fast.The United States is losing landlines about three times faster than the rest of the world. U.S. lines are declining at nearly 18% a year, compared to a global average of about 6%. Worldwide, landline subscriptions have fallen from a peak of 1.2 billion in 2006 to about 407 million today.An estimated 43 million fax machines are still connected to phone lines around the world. For the millions of American small businesses counting on them, the question is no longer whether the old system will disappear. It is how much the wait will cost.MethodologyeFax analyzed data from the following federal and industry sources to estimate what legacy fax equipment costs U.S. small businesses each year.The total number of U.S. small businesses (36.2 million, including 6.3 million employer firms) comes from the SBA Office of Advocacy’s 2025 Small Business Profile, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. POTS line costs ($780 to $2,400 per year) reflect what carriers have been charging since the FCC’s transition period ended in August 2022. The conservative estimate uses $1,200 per year; the mid-range estimate uses $1,800 per year.Supply costs (paper, ink and toner at about $20 per 1,000 pages) are based on standard office supply pricing. Yearly supply estimates of $300 (conservative) to $500 (mid-range) per machine assume a few hundred to a few thousand pages per month.The conservative total of $4.7 billion assumes 50% of employer firms (3.15 million businesses) keep at least one POTS fax line at $1,200 per year, plus $300 in supplies. The mid-range estimate of $9 billion assumes 62% adoption at $1,800 per year plus $500 in supplies. Neither figure includes one-person businesses (28.5 million), labor costs, or equipment wear and tear.POTS line decline rates (17.8% per year, 2021 to 2024) come from the FCC’s Voice Telephone Services report. Global landline data is from TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database. Paper pricing references the BLS Producer Price Index for Writing and Printing Papers (series WPU091301). Waste data is from the EPA’s 2018 Facts and Figures report. Healthcare fax usage data is from ONC Data Brief No. 54, based on the 2019 AHA Annual Survey IT Supplement. Fax market projections are from Arizton Advisory and Intelligence.Labor cost estimates (8 to 30 minutes per fax transaction) and fax server total cost of ownership figures are drawn from eFax’s analysis of on-premise fax costs and cloud transition economics, referencing a 2019 study cited in the American Journal of Managed Care and BLS median hourly earnings for professional services as of December 2024.This story was produced by eFax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The cities attracting the most Millennial transplants The cities attracting the most Millennial transplantsMillennials now make up an estimated 36% of the workforce, making this cohort highly valuable to any local economy. With more flexibility than ever due to remote work and rapidly developing technologies, many Millennial households opt to move locations in pursuit of job opportunities, higher pay, preferable lifestyles, and family considerations, among other reasons. Locations that can attract Millennials may benefit from stronger and more diverse workforces, disposable income flowing to local businesses, and additional tax revenue. On the other hand, it can also lead to more competitive housing markets and a change in the business mix for preexisting locals.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 254 of the largest U.S. cities based on the relative popularity among Millennials (those aged 25 to 44) who moved to that city in 2024, using U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey data.Key FindingsCambridge, Massachusetts, is the most popular destination for Millennial transplants. A whopping 11.86% of Cambridge’s population in 2024 was a Millennial who arrived that year. Last year, Cambridge ranked as the second most popular, with 12.15% of the population being new Millennial transplants. In all, Cambridge’s population jumped to 41.4% being between the ages of 25 and 44 in 2024, when it was just 34.75% a year earlier.Seattle has the largest Millennial population. An estimated 43.4% of Seattle’s population is Millennials, or just over 335,000 individuals. Seattle ranked second this year for the biggest injection of Millennial transplants, with 11.49% of the population in 2024 represented by these fresh movers.Hollywood, Florida, was most popular for Millennials migrating to the U.S. According to the latest data, 2.27% of Hollywood’s population moved in from abroad over just one year, the highest nationwide. The city was less attractive for domestic Millennials, ranking 114th overall in popularity. Cambridge, Massachusetts (1.60%), and Plano, Texas (1.55%), had the next-highest migration from international Millennials in 2024.These cities are the least popular among Millennials. Oxnard, California, has the lowest frequency of Millennials moving in at just 2.50% of the total population. Elk Grove, California (2.72%); Spring Hill, Florida (2.77%); Lowell, Massachusetts (2.78%); and Brownsville, Texas (2.79%) also saw among the lowest inflows of this cohort. In total, the cities with the relatively fewest Millennials are Cape Coral, Florida (21.4%); Provo, Utah (21.7%); and The Woodlands, Texas (22.9%). SmartAsset Top 50 Cities Where Millennials MovedCities are ranked based on the percentage of the population represented by new transplants in the age range of 25 to 44 during the year 2024.Cambridge, MassachusettsMillennials moved in relative to total population: 11.86%Millennials moved in over one year: 14,379All local Millennials: 49,811All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.4%Moved in from same county: 5,205Moved in from different county in same state: 2,232Moved in from a different state: 4,998Moved in from abroad: 1,945Seattle, WashingtonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 11.49%Millennials moved in over one year: 89,755All local Millennials: 335,224All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 43.4%Moved in from same county: 54,910Moved in from different county in same state: 7,450Moved in from a different state: 23,137Moved in from abroad: 4,257Sunnyvale, CaliforniaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 11.30%Millennials moved in over one year: 17,719All local Millennials: 63,557All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.1%Moved in from same county: 12,574Moved in from different county in same state: 2,789Moved in from a different state: 1,263Moved in from abroad: 1,093Orlando, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 11.10%Millennials moved in over one year: 37,158All local Millennials: 121,547All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.9%Moved in from same county: 26,184Moved in from different county in same state: 4,814Moved in from a different state: 3,086Moved in from abroad: 3,073Arlington, VirginiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 10.72%Millennials moved in over one year: 25,711All local Millennials: 94,300All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.7%Moved in from same county: 8,996Moved in from different county in same state: 4,572Moved in from a different state: 10,098Moved in from abroad: 2,046Austin, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 10.57%Millennials moved in over one year: 105,089All local Millennials: 393,638All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.9%Moved in from same county: 59,619Moved in from different county in same state: 21,169Moved in from a different state: 16,429Moved in from abroad: 7,873Bellevue, WashingtonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 10.56%Millennials moved in over one year: 16,304All local Millennials: 56,922All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 37.1%Moved in from same county: 9,531Moved in from different county in same state: 1,050Moved in from a different state: 3,519Moved in from abroad: 2,204Sandy Springs, GeorgiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 10.17%Millennials moved in over one year: 10,726All local Millennials: 35,342All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.9%Moved in from same county: 3,783Moved in from different county in same state: 2,467Moved in from a different state: 3,365Moved in from abroad: 1,111Denver, ColoradoMillennials moved in relative to total population: 10.02%Millennials moved in over one year: 73,033All local Millennials: 297,980All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 41.4%Moved in from same county: 38,420Moved in from different county in same state: 17,798Moved in from a different state: 14,553Moved in from abroad: 2,263Santa Clara, CaliforniaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.97%Millennials moved in over one year: 13,274All local Millennials: 51,109All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 38.6%Moved in from same county: 6,636Moved in from different county in same state: 3,169Moved in from a different state: 1,826Moved in from abroad: 1,642Atlanta, GeorgiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.84%Millennials moved in over one year: 51,194All local Millennials: 187,801All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%Moved in from same county: 20,665Moved in from different county in same state: 14,740Moved in from a different state: 11,988Moved in from abroad: 3,800Alexandria, VirginiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.79%Millennials moved in over one year: 15,571All local Millennials: 62,931All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 40.5%Moved in from same county: 4,461Moved in from different county in same state: 4,036Moved in from a different state: 5,293Moved in from abroad: 1,781Washington, District of ColumbiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.33%Millennials moved in over one year: 65,486All local Millennials: 271,810All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 39.1%Moved in from same county: 39,101Moved in from different county in same state: 0Moved in from a different state: 21,913Moved in from abroad: 4,472Nashville, TennesseeMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.21%Millennials moved in over one year: 64,925All local Millennials: 250,572All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.0%Moved in from same county: 34,338Moved in from different county in same state: 10,373Moved in from a different state: 15,545Moved in from abroad: 4,669Conroe, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.14%Millennials moved in over one year: 10,470All local Millennials: 39,287All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.7%Moved in from same county: 5,383Moved in from different county in same state: 3,802Moved in from a different state: 863Moved in from abroad: 423Tempe, ArizonaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 9.01%Millennials moved in over one year: 17,134All local Millennials: 63,395All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.7%Moved in from same county: 11,393Moved in from different county in same state: 1,165Moved in from a different state: 2,193Moved in from abroad: 2,382Round Rock, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.88%Millennials moved in over one year: 12,048All local Millennials: 44,037All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.6%Moved in from same county: 3,633Moved in from different county in same state: 5,668Moved in from a different state: 1,390Moved in from abroad: 1,358Portland, OregonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.76%Millennials moved in over one year: 55,773All local Millennials: 233,660All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.9%Moved in from same county: 34,081Moved in from different county in same state: 6,790Moved in from a different state: 12,923Moved in from abroad: 1,979Salt Lake City, UtahMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.58%Millennials moved in over one year: 18,686All local Millennials: 78,281All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%Moved in from same county: 9,422Moved in from different county in same state: 2,556Moved in from a different state: 5,885Moved in from abroad: 823San Francisco, CaliforniaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.57%Millennials moved in over one year: 70,908All local Millennials: 301,787All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.8%Moved in from same county: 41,401Moved in from different county in same state: 14,402Moved in from a different state: 9,936Moved in from abroad: 5,169Irving, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.53%Millennials moved in over one year: 22,003All local Millennials: 89,766All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 35.3%Moved in from same county: 12,025Moved in from different county in same state: 4,149Moved in from a different state: 2,847Moved in from abroad: 2,982Gainesville, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.48%Millennials moved in over one year: 12,610All local Millennials: 37,766All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 25.6%Moved in from same county: 5,836Moved in from different county in same state: 1,459Moved in from a different state: 3,861Moved in from abroad: 1,453Richmond, VirginiaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.36%Millennials moved in over one year: 19,531All local Millennials: 84,217All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.4%Moved in from same county: 10,703Moved in from different county in same state: 5,851Moved in from a different state: 2,542Moved in from abroad: 434St. Petersburg, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.26%Millennials moved in over one year: 22,063All local Millennials: 79,291All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.9%Moved in from same county: 11,298Moved in from different county in same state: 5,635Moved in from a different state: 4,496Moved in from abroad: 634Fayetteville, North CarolinaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.18%Millennials moved in over one year: 17,135All local Millennials: 63,544All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.8%Moved in from same county: 8,672Moved in from different county in same state: 2,934Moved in from a different state: 4,496Moved in from abroad: 1,033St. George, UtahMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.12%Millennials moved in over one year: 8,625All local Millennials: 26,029All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 24.7%Moved in from same county: 3,622Moved in from different county in same state: 2,874Moved in from a different state: 2,092Moved in from abroad: 38Boston, MassachusettsMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.11%Millennials moved in over one year: 54,617All local Millennials: 245,387All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.8%Moved in from same county: 22,918Moved in from different county in same state: 11,955Moved in from a different state: 14,100Moved in from abroad: 5,644Everett, WashingtonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 8.02%Millennials moved in over one year: 9,059All local Millennials: 38,116All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.9%Moved in from same county: 4,801Moved in from different county in same state: 561Moved in from a different state: 3,125Moved in from abroad: 571Jersey City, New JerseyMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.97%Millennials moved in over one year: 24,135All local Millennials: 127,775All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 42.7%Moved in from same county: 11,139Moved in from different county in same state: 2,633Moved in from a different state: 6,571Moved in from abroad: 3,792Hillsboro, OregonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.86%Millennials moved in over one year: 8,675All local Millennials: 39,959All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.6%Moved in from same county: 4,044Moved in from different county in same state: 1,512Moved in from a different state: 2,337Moved in from abroad: 783Reno, NevadaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.79%Millennials moved in over one year: 21,939All local Millennials: 93,414All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.5%Moved in from same county: 13,251Moved in from different county in same state: 2,487Moved in from a different state: 5,653Moved in from abroad: 548Madison, WisconsinMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.69%Millennials moved in over one year: 21,941All local Millennials: 91,899All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.4%Moved in from same county: 13,445Moved in from different county in same state: 2,321Moved in from a different state: 5,271Moved in from abroad: 904Colorado Springs, ColoradoMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.65%Millennials moved in over one year: 37,770All local Millennials: 158,666All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 32.6%Moved in from same county: 20,190Moved in from different county in same state: 5,737Moved in from a different state: 10,127Moved in from abroad: 1,716Durham, North CarolinaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.65%Millennials moved in over one year: 23,081All local Millennials: 102,836All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.7%Moved in from same county: 7,275Moved in from different county in same state: 6,205Moved in from a different state: 7,881Moved in from abroad: 1,720Wilmington, North CarolinaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.64%Millennials moved in over one year: 9,570All local Millennials: 34,549All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 27.8%Moved in from same county: 4,314Moved in from different county in same state: 2,623Moved in from a different state: 2,058Moved in from abroad: 575Miami, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.59%Millennials moved in over one year: 36,963All local Millennials: 165,464All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 34.4%Moved in from same county: 19,832Moved in from different county in same state: 4,395Moved in from a different state: 5,388Moved in from abroad: 7,349Tallahassee, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.59%Millennials moved in over one year: 15,564All local Millennials: 53,771All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 26.5%Moved in from same county: 9,793Moved in from different county in same state: 1,541Moved in from a different state: 2,589Moved in from abroad: 1,642Minneapolis, MinnesotaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.58%Millennials moved in over one year: 32,485All local Millennials: 154,292All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 36.3%Moved in from same county: 20,451Moved in from different county in same state: 6,382Moved in from a different state: 4,629Moved in from abroad: 1,024Denton, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.57%Millennials moved in over one year: 12,568All local Millennials: 51,077All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 31.1%Moved in from same county: 6,113Moved in from different county in same state: 5,115Moved in from a different state: 606Moved in from abroad: 734Dallas, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.53%Millennials moved in over one year: 99,895All local Millennials: 440,810All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.6%Moved in from same county: 50,102Moved in from different county in same state: 23,034Moved in from a different state: 16,477Moved in from abroad: 10,283Boulder, ColoradoMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.52%Millennials moved in over one year: 8,035All local Millennials: 27,081All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 25.5%Moved in from same county: 4,283Moved in from different county in same state: 1,225Moved in from a different state: 1,958Moved in from abroad: 569Killeen, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.49%Millennials moved in over one year: 12,037All local Millennials: 52,354All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.3%Moved in from same county: 5,118Moved in from different county in same state: 2,097Moved in from a different state: 4,418Moved in from abroad: 403Houston, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.48%Millennials moved in over one year: 178,682All local Millennials: 779,627All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 33.1%Moved in from same county: 116,665Moved in from different county in same state: 17,649Moved in from a different state: 21,192Moved in from abroad: 23,176San Antonio, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.45%Millennials moved in over one year: 113,779All local Millennials: 463,903All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.7%Moved in from same county: 74,273Moved in from different county in same state: 16,260Moved in from a different state: 14,406Moved in from abroad: 8,839El Cajon, CaliforniaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.45%Millennials moved in over one year: 7,693All local Millennials: 30,746All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 30.1%Moved in from same county: 5,250Moved in from different county in same state: 547Moved in from a different state: 504Moved in from abroad: 1,391Miramar, FloridaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.41%Millennials moved in over one year: 10,611All local Millennials: 39,341All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 27.8%Moved in from same county: 2,312Moved in from different county in same state: 5,631Moved in from a different state: 667Moved in from abroad: 2,001Vancouver, WashingtonMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.39%Millennials moved in over one year: 14,710All local Millennials: 62,857All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 31.9%Moved in from same county: 8,444Moved in from different county in same state: 1,653Moved in from a different state: 4,427Moved in from abroad: 186Plano, TexasMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.39%Millennials moved in over one year: 21,624All local Millennials: 85,337All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.5%Moved in from same county: 6,076Moved in from different county in same state: 5,093Moved in from a different state: 5,901Moved in from abroad: 4,555Columbus, OhioMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.38%Millennials moved in over one year: 68,727All local Millennials: 323,902All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 35.2%Moved in from same county: 44,509Moved in from different county in same state: 9,262Moved in from a different state: 10,745Moved in from abroad: 4,211Davenport, IowaMillennials moved in relative to total population: 7.37%Millennials moved in over one year: 7,444All local Millennials: 29,313All Millennials as a percentage of total population: 29.3%Moved in from same county: 4,630Moved in from different county in same state: 835Moved in from a different state: 1,826Moved in from abroad: 153Data and MethodologyData comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024. The study included 254 of the largest U.S. cities with available data. Millennials were defined as those aged 25 to 44. Cities were ranked by the percentage of the total population represented by Millennials who moved into the city in 2024.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The sunless tanning trend creates new opportunities for beauty entrepreneurs The sunless tanning trend creates new opportunities for beauty entrepreneursThe global sunless tanning market—currently valued at $1.4 billion in 2026—is undergoing a profound tactical transformation. This isn't just a seasonal uptick in sales; it’s a fundamental shift in consumer risk management as the world trades UV-reliance for "topical pigmentation." As we look toward 2036, the sector is projected to hit $2.6 billion, maintaining a steady 6.9% compound annual growth rate as users prioritize a high-performance, bio-fermented glow over dangerous radiation.This economic surge isn't just about vanity; it’s about public awareness finally reaching a critical mass. With roughly 234,000 cases of melanoma expected to be diagnosed this year alone, the industry has aggressively pivoted from the "orange" lotions of the past to sophisticated, skin-first formulas. For the modern beauty entrepreneur, the real opportunity lies in decoupling that "aesthetic glow" from the life-threatening risks of UV damage.The winners in this $2.6 billion landscape won't just be selling a tan; they’ll be selling health-conscious innovation. The market is seeing a high-margin niche emerge for brands that can prove their formulas are as technically effective as they are clinically safe. In the 2026 market, "sunless" is no longer the alternative—it is the new global standard.Sjolie examines the market trends reshaping the sunless tanning industry. SJOLIE The Evolution of Dermal Pigmentation: From Makeup to SkintelligenceThe functional shift in the sunless tanning sector is rooted in the refinement of dihydroxyacetone (DHA). A colorless three-carbon sugar typically derived from bio-fermented sugar beets or cane, DHA facilitates a Maillard reaction within the stratum corneum—the outermost layer of the epidermis.By reacting with specific amino acids in dead skin cells, DHA produces melanoidins that mimic a natural UV-induced tan without triggering DNA damage or oxidative stress.Modern formulations have evolved into "skintelligent" delivery systems, blurring the line between tanning and clinical skincare. Professional-grade solutions are now fortified with high-potency actives, including stabilized Vitamin C, low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. These ingredients serve to bolster the skin barrier and improve "dermal hydration," which is critical for preventing the uneven fading common in legacy, chemical-heavy products.For beauty entrepreneurs, this transition toward "clean-label" chemistry has opened significant avenues for high-margin service tiers. By partnering with professional-grade manufacturers, technicians can offer customized, pH-balanced spray tan solutions that prioritize skin health alongside pigmentation.This "skincare-first" approach allows salons to differentiate themselves in a competitive market, transforming a simple tanning appointment into a comprehensive dermatological treatment that delivers visible results in under four hours.The Unit Economics of Mobile Beauty: Maximizing Capital LiquidityThe emergence of the mobile beauty niche represents a strategic shift in capital allocation for modern entrepreneurs. By utilizing portable, high-efficiency atmospheric spray booths and lightweight turbine extraction systems, technicians have effectively decoupled professional-grade results from the high fixed costs of "brick-and-mortar" real estate. This model prioritizes capital liquidity, allowing startups to scale without the long-term liability of commercial leases or utility overhead.The "on-demand" nature of mobile services allows for a significant pricing premium. Industry data suggests that mobile technicians typically apply a 30% to 50% markup over traditional salon-based services, justifying the increase through the "convenience economy" and reduced client "dwell time." For the consumer, the ability to undergo a high-precision application within their own environment eliminates the post-tanning risks of clothing friction or environmental moisture—factors that frequently compromise legacy "DIY" results.For the entrepreneur, this operational agility is particularly lucrative for high-volume "event-based" clusters. By offering tiered bridal or corporate packages, mobile artists can service multiple high-margin clients in a single location, drastically reducing "cost-per-acquisition" (CPA) while maximizing revenue per hour.This logistical efficiency, combined with the low barrier to entry for professional-grade equipment, has transformed sunless tanning into one of the most resilient and scalable segments of the 2026 beauty economy.Sunless Tanning as an ArtThe maturation of the sunless tanning market is perhaps most evident in the rise of high-definition dermal sculpting. Moving beyond a uniform "all-over" application, specialized tanning artists now utilize airbrush precision to deliver targeted muscle definition and facial contouring. This technique, which mimics the results of cosmetic makeup or long-term athletic conditioning, has created a distinct "luxury" service tier within the industry.To achieve these high-fidelity results, technicians require professional-grade turbine systems and solutions with specific "instant-bronzer" guide colors. This allows the artist to map the anatomical structure of the client in real-time, providing an immediate visual "sculpt" that develops into a long-lasting aesthetic.This level of specialization is particularly lucrative in the bridal and event sectors. According to 2025 consumer data from The Knot, roughly 45% of American brides now incorporate professional spray tanning into their wedding preparation. By offering "Bridal Party Packages," mobile entrepreneurs can service multiple high-margin clients in a single logistical window, drastically reducing their cost-per-acquisition (CPA) while establishing themselves as indispensable "event-day" partners.Future Outlook: A Stabilized Pillar of the Beauty EconomyThe transition of sunless tanning from a "seasonal trend" to a "stabilized economic pillar" is complete. By decoupling the desired aesthetic from the clinical risks of UV exposure, the industry has successfully navigated the shift toward "clean-label" consumerism.For the modern beauty entrepreneur, the opportunity lies in the intersection of dermatological science and operational agility. As formulas continue to evolve toward "skintelligent" delivery systems and mobile models continue to maximize capital liquidity, the sunless tanning sector remains one of the most resilient niches in the 2026 beauty economy.The entrepreneurs who prioritize high-fidelity equipment and specialized technical skills are not just "providing a tan"—they are managing a sophisticated portfolio of dermal health and aesthetic restoration.This story was produced by Sjolie and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Here are the most and least expensive states for car insurance, and why rates vary Here are the most and least expensive states for car insurance, and why rates varyWhere you live can matter more than how you drive. A Louisiana driver with a spotless record pays nearly 2.5 times more than an identical driver in Vermont — not because they're a bigger risk behind the wheel, but simply because of the state on their driver’s license.CarInsurance.com analyzed rate data for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., revealing just how wide that gap has become in 2026. The national average annual premium for a full-coverage policy now costs $2,578, but individual state averages range from $1,660 to $3,999, a difference of $2,339 per year.“Most drivers don’t realize how much their state’s laws and local risk factors shape their premiums. Two drivers with identical records and vehicles can pay different rates simply because they live in different areas. Understanding your state’s landscape is the first step toward making a confident insurance decision,” said Brent Buell, lead data analyst at CarInsurance.com.Key Insights: Most and least expensive car insurance statesVermont, New Hampshire and Hawai'i are the cheapest states for car insurance, according to a recent analysis by CarInsurance.com.Louisiana, Michigan and Nevada are three of the top 10 most expensive states for auto insurance. Insurance rates in Louisiana are $3,999 annually — 141% more than the cheapest state, Vermont.State laws, weather risk, uninsured driver rates and population density drive the biggest differences in what drivers pay for insurance in their state.Car insurance premiums nationwide increased by 23% since 2023, with New Jersey and Washington seeing the steepest increases — 57% and 51%, respectively.Comparing quotes from multiple insurers regularly is the most effective way for drivers to lower costs.Average car insurance rates by stateOn average, car insurance costs $2,578 a year for a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles. However, this cost varies by state and other factors.Every state has its own car insurance laws and requirements, and that’s one reason why car insurance rates vary dramatically.Additionally, auto insurers assign risk levels to ZIP codes based on the number of uninsured drivers and the frequency of thefts, collisions and vandalism to gauge the likelihood of such incidents in an area.See the table below for average full-coverage car insurance rates by state. CarInsurance.com States with the most expensive auto insurance ratesLouisiana ($3,999), Michigan ($3,964), Nevada ($3,963), Florida ($3,916) and Washington, D.C. ($3,465) are the most expensive states for car insurance in the U.S.Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida, said Florida rates are driven by severe weather and uninsured motorists.“Florida drivers pay high average premiums in the United States due to a variety of factors,” Friedlander said. “These include the impact of severe weather on roadways, heavy traffic patterns on interstates generated by residents and millions of annual visitors, congested roadways in major metro areas, a state’s no-fault insurance law … and the fact that Florida has one of the highest uninsured motorist rates in the United States — 20.4%.”Based on CarInsurance.com’s research, the table below shows the 10 states where average annual full coverage car insurance rates are the most expensive: CarInsurance.com States with the cheapest car insurance ratesVermont offers the lowest average annual premium at $1,660, 36% below the national average. Other states with the cheapest rates include New Hampshire ($1,689), Hawai'i ($1,757), Ohio ($1,783) and Maine ($1,808).“States that have the lowest overall car insurance premiums on average may have lower populations, which result in fewer car accidents and less money paid out by insurance companies, resulting in cheaper insurance premiums,” said Lauren McKenzie, an insurance broker at A Plus Insurance in Liberty, South Carolina.See the states with the cheapest full coverage car insurance in the table below. CarInsurance.com Why car insurance rates vary by stateCar insurance rates aren’t just about your driving record — where you live can play an even bigger role. Each state sets its own rules for required coverage, liability limits and claims handling, all of which affect how much drivers pay.Here are the biggest reasons rates differ from state to state:State coverage requirements: Some states require only basic liability coverage, while others mandate additional protections, such as uninsured motorist or personal injury protection (PIP). States’ liability requirements also vary, and those with higher minimums naturally see higher average premiums. In January 2026, New Jersey raised its minimum auto insurance liability coverage limits to 35/70/25.Population density and traffic: Urban areas with higher traffic and more densely populated cities, such as New York and California, tend to have more accidents and higher insurance costs than rural states like Vermont and Maine.Weather and natural disasters: States prone to severe weather like hurricanes, floods or hailstorms, including Florida and Louisiana, experience higher claim volumes and repair costs, driving up premiums.Uninsured drivers: When more people on the road are uninsured, insured drivers end up paying more to cover that risk. For instance, Florida and Mississippi consistently rank among the states with the highest uninsured motorist rates.Repair and medical costs: Regional labor, medical care and parts pricing also impact premiums. States with higher healthcare or body shop costs tend to have higher full coverage premiums.Did you know?Even two neighboring states can have dramatically different insurance costs because of state laws and claims costs. Crossing from Vermont ($1,660/year) into New York ($2,596/year) nearly doubles the average annual premium in 2026.Does population density affect insurance rates in your state?Where you live is a crucial factor in determining how much you'll pay for car insurance, and the population in your state can affect your rates.“On average, drivers in more sparsely-populated states such as Idaho and North Dakota are going to pay much less for coverage than drivers in more populous states such as California, Florida and New York,” Friedlander said. “But it goes beyond just the state you live in. Insurers determine rates by the city you live in and even your specific ZIP code. Traffic volume, accident frequency and severity, as well as theft and vandalism data, vary in every city throughout every state.”In other words, you could live in a large metro like Los Angeles or Chicago and pay significantly different rates based on your ZIP code within that city. Urban drivers generally pay much more for auto insurance than rural drivers in the same state.“If you live in an area with a high crime rate, a large number of accidents and large payouts, insurance prices will be higher there,” McKenzie said. “If you live in a state with busy, expensive cities where gas prices and rent costs are high, car insurance prices will be high as well.”How much have car insurance rates increased over time?Car insurance costs have climbed sharply nationwide in recent years, with nearly every state seeing double-digit percentage increases. The average jump across the U.S. was roughly 23%, reflecting continued inflation in repair costs, rising claim severity and weather-related losses.More than 45 states experienced double-digit increases over the past two years, and 14 states saw increases of 30% or higher.The most significant overall increases from 2023-26 occurred in:New Jersey: 57%Washington: 51%District of Columbia: 50%Idaho: 44%Vermont: 39%These states posted increases between 39% and 57%, the highest in the nation.On the other end of the spectrum, Alabama (5%), Montana (6%), South Dakota (6%), Missouri (10%) and Arizona (10%) saw the smallest increases, all increases of less than 10% or less. These states have lower population density, fewer catastrophic weather events and historically stable claim patterns. Overall, the data show that insurance affordability continues to diverge regionally.Is your state a tort or no-fault state? See why it makes a differenceState laws vary when it comes to who pays for damages; most states are either tort or no-fault states.In general, car insurance is more expensive in no-fault states because no-fault insurance law states that you do not need to prove who was at fault to receive compensation from your insurance company. In a no-fault state, each driver’s insurance covers their medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This system limits the ability to sue the other driver, except in cases of severe injury or significant damage.On the other hand, if you cause an accident in a tort state (at-fault state), your insurance company will be on the hook for any damage/injuries you’ve caused. A tort state is one in which the driver found at fault in an accident is responsible for covering the other party's property damages and injuries.Generally, this means the at-fault driver’s insurance company pays for the other parties' damages and medical costs. This system allows the injured party to sue the at-fault driver for compensation beyond what insurance covers.How to find cheaper car insurance in your stateEven if your state’s average rate is above the national average, you still have options to save. Most drivers can lower their premiums with smart shopping and a few simple policy adjustments.Compare quotes from multiple companiesCar insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars — even for the same coverage. Compare quotes from at least three insurers to find the best deal.If you’re unsure whether you’re paying more than average, a car insurance calculator can help. By entering your ZIP code and age, you can see estimated rates in your area and compare them with how much you currently pay.Adjust your coverageIf your car is older or paid off, you might save money by reducing optional coverages, such as collision or comprehensive. Just make sure you maintain enough protection to meet state laws and your financial comfort level.Take advantage of discountsCombine your auto and home or renters insurance policies with the same provider to qualify for multi-policy discounts that can save you up to 14%.Also ask about:Savings for students earning good grades: 12%Usage-based or telematics programs (e.g., Drive Safe, Snapshot): 10%Defensive driving course credits: 5%Paperless billing: 3%Review your policy regularlyRates and life circumstances change. Reshop your policy every six to 12 months to ensure you’re still getting the best price. Even if you’re staying with the same insurer, updating your mileage or asking about discounts can reduce costs. Drivers who compare quotes annually can save an average of $1,245 or more per year, depending on their state and driving profile.Minimum liability insurance requirements by stateCar insurance requirements and costs differ from state to state. Each state sets its minimum coverage limits, affecting how much drivers pay for basic liability insurance.Some states require only liability coverage, while others mandate higher limits or additional coverages, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured motorist coverage.Check the minimum car insurance requirements in your state and whether additional coverages, such as uninsured motorist protection or personal injury protection, are also required.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhich states had the highest car insurance rate increases from 2023 to 2026?New Jersey experienced the fastest increase at 57%, followed by Washington and the District of Columbia, at 51% and 50%, respectively. Other notable rises occurred in Idaho at 44%, Vermont (39%) and Maine (35%).Which states had the lowest car insurance rate increases?Alabama (5%), Montana (6%), South Dakota (6%), Missouri (10%) and Arizona (10%) recorded the slowest premium growth since 2023.What’s the national average car insurance rate increase between 2023 and 2026?Nationwide, car insurance premiums rose roughly 23% over three years. The increase reflects higher claim costs, expensive vehicle repairs, severe weather losses and inflation in both parts and labor.Why did car insurance rates rise so much from 2023 to 2026?Rates climbed due to several converging factors:Inflation: Higher prices for auto parts, repairs and medical care.Severe weather: More costly claims from storms, flooding and hail.Increased claim frequency and severity: More accidents and higher payouts.Rising reinsurance and legal costs: Insurers are passing some of these costs to consumers.Which states now have the highest average car insurance costs?The most expensive states are Louisiana ($3,999), Michigan ($3,964), Nevada ($3,963), Florida ($3,916) and Washington, D.C. ($3,465).Which states have the cheapest average car insurance?Vermont ($1,660), New Hampshire ($1,689), Hawai'i ($1,757), Ohio ($1,783) and Maine ($1,808) have the lowest average annual rates.How important is it for car owners to shop around, and how often should they compare insurance rates?You should shop around each time your policy renews. If you opt for a six-month policy, compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies before signing up for another six months. Finding the lowest car insurance rates can lead to big savings.What advice would you give drivers in states with high insurance rates to help them reduce their premiums?“For those in states with high insurance rates, understanding the factors affecting their premiums is a must,” said Scott Distasio, a Florida-based board-certified civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in auto accident law. “Simple actions like regularly checking credit reports, enrolling in defensive driving courses or leveraging multi-policy discounts can yield significant savings.”This story was produced by CarInsurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Defense Secretary Hegseth intervened to stop promotions of Black and female officers The four Army officers were on track to become one-star generals, NPR confirms. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth's involvement in the promotion process is highly unusual.
	Man sentenced for fatal motorcycle crash Cayson Sumpter, 19, was sentenced Friday for a fatal motorcycle crash in August 2025.
	Nutrition after 60: 10 habits that support healthy aging and independence Nutrition after 60: 10 habits that support healthy aging and independenceMarch is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that encourages people to think about how everyday food choices support long-term health.As people age, nutrition plays an increasingly important role in overall well-being. Changes in metabolism, appetite, mobility, and even medications can affect how the body processes nutrients. What worked in our 30s or 40s may not always meet the body’s needs later in life.Good nutrition does more than help prevent illness. It supports muscle strength, brain health, and balance, while helping lower the risk of falls and other health complications that can affect independence.Drawing on guidance from organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Council on Aging, health technology company QMedic presents 10 nutrition habits that can help support healthier aging.While nutrition advice can sometimes feel overwhelming, many of the habits that support healthy aging are surprisingly simple and can fit easily into everyday routines. QMedic 10 Nutrition Habits That Support Healthy AgingPrioritize protein to help maintain strength.Muscle mass naturally declines as we age, which can affect balance, mobility, and overall strength. Protein helps maintain muscle and supports recovery from illness or injury. Foods like eggs, fish, lean poultry, beans, yogurt, nuts, and seeds are all good options to incorporate into regular meals.Stay hydrated throughout the day.Many older adults experience reduced thirst signals, which means dehydration can happen without realizing it. Drinking water regularly, along with fluids like tea, soups, and water-rich fruits and vegetables, can support circulation, energy levels, and mental clarity.Add more fiber to daily meals.Fiber supports digestive health and plays a role in maintaining stable blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Whole grains, oats, beans, fruits, and vegetables are simple ways to increase fiber intake.Support bone health with calcium and vitamin D.Bone density naturally decreases with age, which can increase fracture risk. Calcium-rich foods like dairy products, fortified plant-based milks, leafy greens, and certain fish help support bone strength. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium more effectively.Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.Different colors in fruits and vegetables often signal different nutrients and antioxidants. Including a wide range of produce, like berries, leafy greens, peppers, and sweet potatoes, helps support immune health and overall wellness.Be mindful of sodium intake.Many processed foods contain high levels of sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Cooking with fresh ingredients and using herbs, spices, and citrus for flavor can help keep sodium levels in check.Pay attention to medication interactions.Some medications can affect appetite, digestion, or how nutrients are absorbed. Older adults taking multiple prescriptions may benefit from discussing nutrition and diet with a healthcare professional.Try not to skip meals.Changes in appetite can lead to skipped meals, which may result in unintended weight loss or fatigue. Eating smaller meals or snacks throughout the day can help maintain steady energy and nutritional balance.Plan meals to make healthy choices easier.Cooking every day can become challenging for some older adults, especially those living alone. Meal planning, grocery delivery services, and community meal programs can make it easier to maintain consistent nutrition.Think of nutrition as part of the bigger health picture.Healthy aging isn’t driven by a single factor. Nutrition works together with sleep, physical activity, hydration, and social connection to support overall well-being. Small daily habits can make a meaningful difference over time.By the Numbers: Senior Nutrition in AmericaSeveral national studies and public health organizations highlight the nutritional challenges many older adults face:Nearly 1 in 2 older adults are at risk of malnutrition, according to the National Council on Aging.More than 10 million older Americans experience food insecurity each year, according to the Administration for Community Living.Dehydration risk increases with age as the body’s natural thirst signals decline, according to the National Institute on Aging.Muscle mass gradually decreases over time, increasing the importance of adequate protein intake, according to the National Institute on Aging.Poor nutrition can increase the likelihood of falls, hospitalization, and slower recovery after illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Warning Signs of Poor Nutrition in Older AdultsNutrition challenges often develop gradually, which means they can be easy to miss at first. Family members, caregivers, and care teams should pay attention to subtle changes that may indicate nutritional risk.Some of the more common warning signs include:Unintended weight loss.Ongoing fatigue or weakness.Reduced appetite or skipping meals.Dizziness or increased falls.Mood changes or confusion.Difficulty shopping for groceries or preparing meals.Recognizing these signs early allows families to connect older adults with helpful resources such as meal delivery programs, community nutrition services, or other support systems that help people remain safe and independent at home.Supporting Healthy AgingHealthy aging is shaped by many everyday habits, and nutrition is one of the most influential. Balanced meals, proper hydration, and consistent eating routines help support strength, energy, and cognitive health.As more families look for ways to help loved ones remain safely at home, understanding the connection between nutrition, overall wellness, and independence becomes increasingly important.Small changes in daily eating habits today can help support healthier, more independent years ahead.This story was produced by QMedic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	YouTube’s quiet takeover of AI search YouTube’s quiet takeover of AI searchSearch is changing faster than most people realize, and the evidence keeps pointing to the same source. Across Google’s AI Overviews, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, one domain consistently surfaces at the top of AI-generated answers: YouTube.A platform most people associate with tutorials and entertainment is now the most cited source across AI search engines, outranking major news outlets, academic institutions, and legacy web publishers by a significant margin.As this article from Elk Marketing explains, that pattern is forcing a harder question onto the desks of publishers, marketers, and platform strategists alike: If AI search is quietly reorganizing how authority gets assigned, what does it actually reward, and who gets left behind?Why is YouTube outperforming traditional publishers in AI search?YouTube’s lead in AI search is not a result of platform favoritism; it is a direct consequence of how the platform is built. Every video uploaded to YouTube generates a complete package of machine-readable data, including auto-generated transcripts, timestamped captions, and detailed metadata.Large language models (LLMs) parse these elements with the same ease as they process written text. Effectively turning a 10-minute tutorial into a structured document, providing a clear data layer that models use to verify facts.Recent BrightEdge data confirms this systemic advantage, showing that YouTube is cited nearly 200 times more frequently than any other video competitor across platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.This utility is amplified by consistent user engagement. High watch time and interaction signals inform AI systems that a video successfully resolved a user’s intent. Particularly in instructional and “how-to” categories, YouTube provides a combination of clear, machine-readable formatting and verified authority that traditional text-based publishers struggle to replicate.As search evolves, this alignment ensures that AI engines treat the platform not merely as a hub for entertainment but as a trusted, primary source for the technical and visual clarity that modern search experiences demand.What does citation share reveal about AI search behavior?That shift in trust has a measurable footprint, and citation share is where it becomes visible. Unlike traditional search rankings, which distribute traffic across dozens of competing pages, AI engines are consolidating around a much smaller pool of sources.According to BrightEdge, 96.8% of cited domains see zero change week over week, and when shifts do occur, 87% of them are losses. That stability reflects how deliberately AI systems select their sources, and how rarely they expand that circle once it forms.What those numbers expose is a fundamental change in search architecture. AI engines are now selecting sources rather than ranking pages, and the criteria they apply favor content that demonstrates answers over content that argues for them.Structured, verifiable information that a model can parse and reproduce with confidence consistently earns citation placement, while authority signals like backlinks and domain strength are evolving to work alongside semantic structure and entity consistency.Citation visibility has become its own performance metric, one that rewards a different kind of content discipline and sits at the frontier of where search strategy is heading.Why does performance vary across AI engines?Visibility within generative search is not uniform because each platform operates on unique retrieval mechanics. Google’s AI products naturally prioritize content from their own ecosystem, reinforcing the dominance of YouTube within their search summaries.In practice, BrightEdge research shows Google AI Overviews cite YouTube in 29.5% of responses, while Google AI Mode includes the platform in 16.6% of its results.However, not every AI engine applies that discipline the same way, and the differences are significant. Perplexity operates differently, as its citation patterns move with more speed, with YouTube’s share recently growing by 4.8% week over week, suggesting an engine that updates its source preferences fluidly.ChatGPT presents a different case, as its video citation volume remains selective at 0.2%, yet that number has doubled week over week, pointing to an engine still calibrating how it weighs external sources, yet moving quickly once it decides on a format.Each platform is solving the same problem through a different lens, and understanding those incentives is what separates publishers who appear in AI-generated answers from those who do not. Elk Marketing What does this mean for digital publishers?For publishers, that widening gap signals a need to adapt quickly. As AI engines narrow their focus to a smaller group of reliable sources, the traditional model of building authority through written text alone is reaching its limits.Text still matters, and it still earns citations, but the data shows that AI-generated answers increasingly rely on sources that communicate across multiple formats. Written content and video now function as a single, combined unit of authority, rather than separate channels competing for the same audience.That shift carries a deeper implication. The line between a search engine and a content platform is fading, and publishers who treat those two spaces as separate are relying on an outdated playbook.Distribution format is now part of the authority equation, and the organizations best positioned for AI search visibility are those treating content structure, format diversity, and machine readability as editorial decisions, not technical afterthoughts.Is AI search accelerating the consolidation of content power?As AI engines prioritize a select group of established platforms to ensure accuracy and reduce risk, they function as gatekeepers that funnel user attention toward a narrow set of trusted domains. This winner-take-all dynamic naturally favors large, high-authority outlets, often leaving independent publishers struggling to maintain visibility.Consequently, many sites that once relied on high-volume search traffic now see those visitors diverted directly to AI-generated interfaces, which satisfy the query without requiring a click to the source.However, video content provides a strategic form of defensibility for those navigating this transition. Because modern AI models use multimodal capabilities to interpret visual evidence and transcripts, high-quality video serves as a verifiable source of truth that is difficult to replicate.What we’re seeing is the first real example of multimodal optimization. Text alone can describe a process, but video shows it, and when that video is paired with transcripts and structured metadata, AI systems can interpret it as both visual evidence and a structured document.By treating video as a core asset rather than an optional add-on, independent publishers can secure their place in AI-synthesized answers, ensuring their expertise remains central to the digital narrative.The Structural Shift Already in MotionAI search is not dismantling the content economy; it is reorganizing it around a different set of rules that are already in effect. Those rules are compressing the traditional search results page into a single synthesized answer, making citation visibility a more decisive measure of reach than click-through traffic ever was.That compression is fundamentally reshaping how informational authority gets assigned, pushing AI systems to prioritize content that is structured, verifiable, and multimodal by design.YouTube’s dominance across every major AI platform reflects that reality directly, confirming that format carries as much weight as expertise in determining what gets surfaced. This is what forces the definition of search engine optimization to evolve, shifting away from ranking individual pages toward earning selection as a trusted source.For publishers, brands, and strategists navigating this transition, the most valuable content moving forward will be the kind that AI systems can interpret with confidence, cite with authority, and deliver to audiences at scale.This story was produced by Elk Marketing and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What’s changing in retail in 2026: 8 trends business leaders need to watch What’s changing in retail in 2026: 8 trends business leaders need to watchThe retail industry has always been shaped by changing consumer behavior, but those changes are happening faster than they used to.Now, shoppers move easily between online and in-store experiences, expect updates in real time, and notice quickly when something feels disconnected or unclear. Whether they’re tracking a delivery or deciding whether a promotion is worth their attention, communication determines how the experience is perceived.Late last year, Sinch released its Sinch Predictions 2026 report, a research-based look at how customer communications are expected to evolve in the year ahead. The themes were consistent across industries: more AI-driven conversations, higher expectations for trust and relevance, and growing pressure for brands to meet customers on their terms.For retailers, these shifts feel especially immediate because communications touch every stage of the shopping journey.So, what big shifts will shape retail customer communications in 2026?1. AI agents will spark an explosion in retail conversation volume and opportunityRetail messaging has long been built around updates and promotions like order confirmations, shipping notifications, and sale alerts. These notifications are essential, but they have rarely been designed to invite interaction.That’s starting to change.Consumers increasingly expect to be able to ask questions and resolve issues in the moment. When a delivery is delayed or an item is out of stock, they want answers immediately, not a link to a help center or a long wait for support.Research from Sinch’s State of Retail Communications research found that around 28% of consumers say they get frustrated when they can’t ask a question in response to a transactional message. With AI agents, it becomes increasingly possible to turn these routine updates into real conversations.For example, imagine a retailer’s delivery notification having options to reschedule or ask a question to an AI agent without leaving the message thread. A back-in-stock alert can become a conversation that confirms size availability or suggests similar items. Each interaction increases conversation volume, but it also creates opportunities to resolve issues faster and keep shoppers moving forward.As AI agents become more capable of initiating conversations on their own, proactive outreach will also become more common. An AI agent can notice when a shopper repeatedly checks an order status and reach out with an update before frustration builds. Over time, these small moments add up, and retailers should expect conversation volume to grow as more messages are designed for genuine engagement rather than one-way updates. Source: Sinch’s State of retail communications, 2025. 2. AI agents will evolve from simple cost savers to true growth engines for retail brandsRetail automation has long been about efficiency, where chatbots and automated responses were designed to reduce support volume and close interactions quickly. That still matters, but it’s no longer the whole picture.As AI agents become better at understanding context and intent, they’re starting to support growth across the customer journey — and shoppers are open to this. In fact, more than 70% of consumers say they’re willing to interact with an AI shopping assistant built for retail. This makes space for conversations that go beyond resolving issues one at a time.Consider a customer who completes a purchase and receives a confirmation message. An AI agent can follow up with delivery options, product care tips, or a relevant accessory recommendation while the interaction is still active. After a return, an AI agent can suggest alternatives that fit the shopper’s preferences, keeping the relationship moving forward.AI agents are also expected to play a larger role in retention. When browsing behavior drops or loyalty activity slows, an AI can check in with support or a timely incentive. For shoppers, this feels helpful. For retailers, it turns service interactions into moments with long-term value.3. Voice AI will become the preferred channel for complex conversationsWhen an issue feels urgent or complicated, many shoppers would rather talk than type. That might include situations like problems with a high-value order, delivery issues during peak shopping periods, or situations where they need clarity and reassurance.Traditional automated voice systems have struggled to meet those expectations, and have trained customers to associate voice automation with frustration. Voice AI is changing that, which could be why around 65% of retail leaders said their businesses plan to adopt AI voice assistants in the next year.Sinch’s Director of Programmable Voice, Sofia Schönbeck, says advances in speech-to-speech technology will soon allow voice AI agents to respond quickly and understand intent in real time. For customers, this could mean explaining an issue in their own words and getting relevant help without having to navigate rigid menus. For retailers, this means complex conversations can be handled more efficiently while still feeling human.“[Latency in] human conversations happens below 500 milliseconds. AI is now getting below 800 milliseconds, which is getting very, very close to a natural conversation. You can describe your problem, and the AI will immediately realize your intent and connect you to the right place,” Schönbeck says.Voice AI will be particularly valuable during high-volume periods such as holiday peaks, when contact centers are under pressure and customers need fast answers. Instead of becoming a bottleneck, voice can become a reliable way to resolve issues and maintain trust.4. Conversational messaging will redefine retail customer expectationsConsumer expectations around messaging have changed. People are used to easy, back-and-forth conversations in their personal lives, and they increasingly expect the same from the brands they shop with.In retail, one-way messages are quickly becoming a source of friction. Sinch found that around 28% of consumers say they get frustrated when they can’t ask questions or get support from an informational message. When an update arrives that they can’t reply to, it creates extra effort and often delays resolution. As a result, conversational messaging is starting to feel like a basic expectation rather than a differentiator.This shift is most visible during peak retail moments like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when customers are tracking orders, watching delivery timelines, and looking for quick answers. In 2025, this behavior directly shaped how retailers communicated.This year, SMS will continue to provide reliable reach for critical updates, but richer channels like RCS and WhatsApp will add the interactivity shoppers now expect. Retailers that continue to rely on broadcast-style messaging will find it harder to meet expectations as conversational experiences become the norm, especially during high-pressure moments when clarity and speed matter most.5. Connected customer journeys will unlock brand loyalty and long-term valueRetail journeys often span multiple channels. A shopper might discover a product through email, ask a question via chat, and receive delivery updates by text. When those interactions don’t connect, the experience feels fragmented and frustrating.Most retailers are working toward integration, but there’s still uneven maturity. Today, 59% of retailers say their customer communications are fully integrated with their tech stacks, while 31% say they’re only somewhat integrated, according to the Sinch report. For consumers, that shows up as broken handoffs and repeated questions.In 2026, connected customer journeys will be essential for building loyalty. Customers will expect brands to remember context as they move between channels and touchpoints, and if they have to repeat themselves, they’ll be more likely to abandon the brand.AI will help make this possible by summarizing interactions and passing context seamlessly between systems and agents. A service representative will see the full history before responding, and an AI agent will understand what has already happened in the journey.For retailers, this connection across channels reduces friction and creates experiences that feel intentional rather than pieced together.6. Regionalized communication strategies will define the true leaders in retailRetail may be a global business, but customer communication is not. Channel usage, timing expectations, and local norms may vary widely from one region to the next.This year, successful global retailers will need to move beyond one-size-fits-all messaging strategies. They’ll balance global consistency with local expertise, making sure messages feel relevant in each market while still aligning with brand standards.The retail industry is already ahead of many others when it comes to adopting channels like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, with Sinch data showing that 56% of retailers, saying they communicate with consumers on these platforms. That regional strategy is even more important.Success will depend on understanding the channels that dominate in specific regions, how shoppers prefer to engage at different stages of the journey, and how local regulations shape communication. Organizations that invest in regional insight will be better positioned to deliver experiences that resonate rather than relying on assumptions that don’t translate across markets.7. Verified and secure communications will define the future of trust for retail brandsRetail communications often involve a consumer’s personal and financial data, including payment confirmations, account updates, and delivery notifications. At the same time, consumers are more cautious than ever due to the rise of scams and spoofed messages.In 2026, trust will need to be visible from the moment a message arrives. Verified sender identities, recognizable branding, and clear indicators of legitimacy will become critical for engagement. Customers should be able to tell at a glance that a message is real and safe to interact with.But many retailers still have room to improve here. In 2025, the Sinch report found that just 26% of retailers said they were currently using RCS, compared to 37.5% across all industries. This is a missed opportunity when channels like RCS support branded, verified sender profiles that help establish trust before a customer ever opens a message.Security will also become less intrusive. Authentication and fraud prevention will increasingly happen in the background, reducing friction without compromising protection. Retailers that make trust obvious and effortless will stand out as communication volumes continue to grow.8. AI-powered inboxes will force a shift to more relevant emailEmail remains a core part of retail communications, and nearly half of consumers say it’s the best channel to receive messages from retailers. At the same time, inboxes are becoming more selective. AI-powered filtering and summarization are already shaping which messages get attention and which are ignored.This year, intelligent inboxes will reward relevance over volume. Generic promotions and loosely targeted campaigns will struggle to reach primary inboxes. Messages that clearly reflect customer intent will perform better. This is a shift many marketers are already feeling, as Vandita Arora, group product manager at HubSpot, explained in Sinch’s Predictions 2026 webinar.“It’s no longer just enough to show up by giving your brand presence by scheduling campaigns. You have to know both where the customer is at, and what success really means on this channel,” Arora saidIf a shopper browses a category or abandons a cart, follow-up emails will need to acknowledge that behavior with specific, useful content. Email will also become more interactive, with customers replying, asking questions, and receiving responses from AI-powered assistants directly in the inbox.For retailers, this shift reinforces the need to treat email as a precision channel, focused on value and timing rather than scale alone.What these predictions mean for retail in 2026Taken together, these predictions point to a clear reality for retail: Shoppers expect experiences that feel connected, responsive, and trustworthy, shaped by the digital interactions they have every day. This year, these kinds of communications will be the baseline.The mistake retail leaders can make is thinking this requires a complete reset, but we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t.The real work is prioritization. The biggest updates will come from fixing the moments where expectations and experiences are most misaligned. Turning updates into conversations, connecting journeys across channels, and making trust visible are practical starting points.The brands that focus on these moves in 2026 will be better prepared for what’s ahead because they chose to make communication clearer, more relevant, and more human. That is where preparation turns into advantage.This story was produced by Sinch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	MidAmerican Energy proposes rate hike for 85K customers in northwest Illinois The hike would be about $300 a year for gas and electricity combined by 2028.
	Secured vs. unsecured loans: Key differences in 2026 Secured vs. unsecured loans: Key differences in 2026Secured loans are backed by a valuable asset, while an unsecured loan does not require collateral.Each type of loan has its own advantages and risks, so it's important to know how they work before deciding which one is right for you. In this article, OneMain Financial shares what you need to know about secured versus unsecured loans.What are secured loans?Secured loans are loans backed with something of value that you own, called collateral. Common examples of collateral include your car, truck, motorcycle or home. Whether you’re still making payments or your car is fully paid off, securing a loan with collateral could give you more options.Here are some common examples of secured debt:Mortgages: When you take out a mortgage to buy a home, the house itself serves as collateral for the loan. If you fail to make your mortgage payments, the lender can foreclose on the property to recover their investment.Auto loans: When you finance the purchase of a vehicle, the car itself serves as collateral. If you default on the loan, the lender can repossess the vehicle to recoup their losses.Secured personal loans: Some personal loans are secured by collateral — something of value you own, such as a car or house. If you default on the loan, the lender has the right to take possession of the collateral to recover the amount owed.Here’s how it works: If you’re approved for a secured loan, the lender typically places a lien on that collateral, so you may have difficulty selling it until the loan is paid off. In some cases, a lender will hold the title or property deed to the collateral, although this practice is less common. If you do not repay your loan, the lien may permit the lender to take possession of the collateral or start a legal proceeding to do so, then sell it and use the money made on the purchase to pay your outstanding loan.Secured loans often come with more options; you may get access to lower interest rates, lower monthly payments or a higher borrowing amount. A secured personal loan can be an option worth considering, especially if you have a fair or poor credit score, because using collateral can improve your odds of getting approved for a loan.Pros and cons of secured loansPros of secured loansLower interest rates: Secured loans typically offer lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans, because they pose less risk to lenders.Higher borrowing amounts: Borrowers can usually obtain larger loan amounts since the loan is backed by collateral.Easier to qualify for: Due to the reduced risk, secured loans may be easier to qualify for, even for borrowers with lower credit scores.Cons of secured loansRisk of losing collateral: If the borrower defaults, the lender could seize the asset used as collateral.Additional paperwork: Securing a loan with collateral generally involves more paperwork so the lender can verify ownership, insurance coverage and the value of the asset.Potential for overborrowing: The availability of larger loan amounts can tempt borrowers to take on more debt than they can manage, which may lead to financial strain.What is an unsecured loan?Unsecured loans don’t require you to secure your debt with personal property (collateral). Instead, a lender considers your credit history, income and other factors to determine your creditworthiness and ability to repay the loan.Some examples of unsecured debt include:Credit cards: Credit card debt is one of the most prevalent forms of unsecured debt. Borrowers could make purchases up to a certain limit and are required to pay back at least the minimum amount due each month.Personal loans: These are loans that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as consolidating debt, making large purchases or covering unexpected expenses. Personal loans often do not require collateral.Student loans: Many student loans, particularly federal student loans in the United States, are unsecured. Borrowers receive funds for education and agree to pay back the funds once they graduate.When you don’t back up your loan with collateral, it could mean lower loan amounts, higher interest rates and tougher approvals.Although your property is not at risk with an unsecured loan, the lender may still take legal action to enforce a debt that has not been repaid.Pros and cons of unsecured loansPros of unsecured loansNo collateral required: You don't need to provide assets like a house or car as security, reducing the risk of losing valuable property.Faster approval: The application process is often quicker since there's no need to evaluate collateral.Cons of unsecured loansHigher interest rates: Lenders may compensate for the increased risk by charging higher interest rates compared to secured loans.Stricter eligibility criteria: Good credit history and a stable income are often required to qualify.Lower loan amounts: Because there's no collateral, lenders may offer smaller loan amounts than with secured loans. Can a lender offer you both secured and unsecured loans?Some lenders may offer the option of a secured or unsecured personal loan or line of credit like a credit card. The lender could determine that you need collateral in order to secure the loan, depending on factors like the size of the loan and your credit and/or income.Should you get a secured or unsecured loan?When deciding between secured versus unsecured loans, many factors come into play. Some lenders will consider you for both an unsecured and secured loan and offer you options.If you’re working to build or improve your credit and have a vehicle or other form of collateral, applying for a secured loan could increase the likelihood of approval. It could also result in a lower interest rate and higher loan amount.On the other hand, if you’re offered an unsecured loan, have no item to put up as collateral and are comfortable with the loan terms, that may be a good choice for you. Either way, take time to understand your options before applying to be sure you make the right decision for your needs and goals.This story was produced by OneMain Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Empower House provides local support to brain injury survivors Empower House is hosting its annual spaghetti supper fundraiser from 4 to 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday, March 28.
	Bettendorf begins work on Central Avenue next week Bettendorf is ready to start on a major road construction project next week. A news release from the City of Bettendorf says work will begin on Central Avenue from 14th Street to Pius Lane on Monday, March 30 as crews replace the water main in some areas, sanitary sewer lines in other areas then resurface [...]
	Moline's K9 Wojtek crowned Bark Madness Champion K9 Wojtek with the Moline Police Department has been crowned the 2026 Bark Madness Champion in a tournament hosted by the QCLEK9 Foundation. According to a Facebook post by the QCLEK9 Foundation: What started as a fun, lighthearted idea quickly turned into something far more meaningful than we ever imagined. The QCLEK9 Foundation created an [...]
	6 tax moves you can still make before April 15 6 tax moves you can still make before April 15Think your tax situation is locked in for 2025? Think again.Most people assume that once December 31 passes, your tax return is set in stone. But here's what the savviest financial planning professionals know: The window between Jan. 1 and April 15 is packed with opportunities to lower your tax bill, boost your savings, and set yourself up for a stronger financial year. You just have to know where to look.Domain Money shares seven moves you can still make right now to reduce last year’s tax bill.1. Max Out Your IRAThis is the most underutilized last-minute tax move out there. The IRS gives you until Tax Day to make a prior-year IRA contribution—and it could make a real difference.You can contribute up to $7,000 to a traditional or Roth IRA (or $8,000 if you're 50 or older). If you go the traditional IRA route and qualify for the deduction, that contribution directly reduces your taxable income. That means a lower tax bill, potentially a bigger refund, and more money working toward your retirement.One thing to know for 2025: IRA deduction phaseouts have shifted. If you have a workplace retirement plan, the deduction phases out between $79,000 and $89,000 AGI for single filers, and between $126,000 and $146,000 for joint filers. If your spouse has a workplace plan but you don't, your phaseout range is $236,000 to $246,000. If neither of you has a workplace plan, no phaseout applies.Even if you don't qualify for the deduction, a nondeductible IRA contribution can set you up for a backdoor Roth conversion—more on that below.2. Fund Your Health Savings Account (HSA)If you were enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) in 2025, you can still contribute to your HSA for that tax year—and the tax advantages are hard to beat.For 2025, the contribution limits are $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families, plus a $1,000 catch-up contribution if you're 55 or older. And unlike most tax-advantaged accounts, HSAs come with a triple benefit: Contributions reduce your taxable income now, the money grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are completely tax-free.That's not all. Once you hit 65, you can use your HSA funds for any purpose—not just healthcare—making it a surprisingly powerful retirement savings vehicle on top of everything else.Most people treat their HSA like a medical spending account. But the smarter move can be to treat it like a stealth retirement account and let it grow.3. Open a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) If You Have Self-Employment IncomeFreelancer? Consultant? Side hustle? This one's for you—and it's one of the most powerful tax levers available to self-employed individuals.A SEP-IRA allows you to contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment income, with a 2025 cap of $70,000. That's a potentially massive deduction that directly lowers your taxable income. And the best part? You can open and fund a SEP-IRA for 2025 any time before your tax filing deadline, including extensions.A Solo 401(k) works similarly but has some structural differences—including the ability to make both employee and employer contributions—that can make it even more advantageous in certain situations. If you had any self-employment income in 2025 and haven't explored these options, you could be leaving a significant deduction on the table.4. Check Your State's 529 Deadline529 college savings plan contributions won't reduce your federal taxable income, but here's what a lot of people miss: Many states offer a state income tax deduction for contributions to their 529 plan—and some allow you to make prior-year contributions all the way until Tax Day.If you live in one of those states and have a 529 plan for a child or grandchild, this could be a quick, easy deduction you haven't taken yet. Even a modest contribution can qualify. It's worth a five-minute check to see if your state is on the list.5. Hunt Down Every Deduction and Credit You're OwedThis one sounds obvious, but it's consistently where people leave real money behind. Before you file, do a thorough sweep—especially with a few notable changes for 2025.The SALT cap is now $40,000. The One Big Beautiful Bill raised the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for 2025. If you pay significant state income taxes or property taxes, this is a material change that could make itemizing worthwhile for the first time in years.Tips and overtime may be deductible. If you earned tips or overtime income in 2025, a new deduction allows up to $25,000 for tips and up to $12,500 for overtime pay for single filers (up to $25,000 for joint filers)—both subject to income phaseouts starting at $150,000 MAGI ($300,000 for joint filers).Car loan interest is now deductible (with limits). For qualifying vehicles, you can deduct up to $10,000 in auto loan interest, subject to a phaseout that begins at $100,000 MAGI ($200,000 for joint filers).Seniors get an extra deduction. Taxpayers 65 and older can claim an additional $6,000 deduction for 2025, with a phaseout starting at $75,000 MAGI ($150,000 for joint filers).Don't overlook the classics: charitable contributions (cash and noncash), student loan interest, business expenses for the self-employed, educator expenses up to $300, and energy-efficient home improvement credits for qualifying upgrades made in 2025.Here's why credits matter so much: A deduction reduces your taxable income, but a credit reduces your actual tax bill dollar-for-dollar. A $1,000 tax credit is worth more than a $1,000 deduction at almost any tax rate. Don't skip this step.6. Consider a Backdoor Roth ConversionIf your income is above the Roth IRA contribution limits, a direct Roth contribution isn't an option. But a backdoor Roth conversion might be.Here's how it works: You contribute to a traditional IRA on a nondeductible basis (so no upfront tax break), then convert that balance to a Roth IRA. If done correctly and the cumulative balance in all of your combined traditional IRAs has no pre-tax funds, the conversion is essentially tax-free—and your money now gets to grow and be withdrawn completely tax-free in retirement.The long-term benefit of tax-free compounding in Roth IRAs is significant, especially for high earners who expect to be in a higher bracket down the road. That said, there are nuances—particularly around the "pro-rata rule"—that can trip people up. This is one move that's worth talking through with a financial advisor before you execute.The Bigger PictureHere's what all of these moves have in common: They’re available to you right now, but they require knowing they exist and acting before the window closes. That's the difference between reactive tax filing and proactive tax planning—and it's one of the most tangible ways a financial strategy can pay for itself.With the One Big Beautiful Bill reshaping the tax landscape for 2025, there's more to navigate than in a typical year. New deductions, higher caps, and expiring credits mean the stakes of missing something are higher, too.A personal financial advisor doesn't just help you file—they look at your full financial picture year-round, so opportunities like these don't slip through the cracks. From equity compensation strategies to Roth conversions to HSA optimization, they help you make confident moves before the deadline, not scramble after it.Your 2025 tax story isn't written yet. Let's make it a good one.This story was produced by Domain Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to have a green lawn using 50% less water How to have a green lawn using 50% less waterMost lawns waste 30%-50% of their water through poor irrigation timing, runoff, and shallow watering. You can cut water use in half while keeping your lawn green by installing smart irrigation controllers, raising mowing height, and improving soil moisture retention.These strategies work for all grass types and can reduce your water bill within one to two billing cycles. The key is watering smarter — not more often.In this article, Lawn Love explains 10 proven strategies to save water without sacrificing turf quality.Key takeawaysSmart irrigation controllers save up to 15,000 gallons annually by adjusting to weather and soil moisture.Raising mowing height 0.5-1 inch in summer reduces water needs and strengthens root systems.Proper irrigation zones prevent overwatering shaded areas while ensuring sunny spots get adequate moisture.Drought-tolerant grasses like tall fescue and Bermuda grass need significantly less water than traditional varieties.1. Install smart irrigation controllersTraditional timers run on a set schedule, watering your lawn even when it's unnecessary — like right after a rainstorm. Smart systems measure environmental factors like temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed in real time to water your lawn only when it needs it.“Smart controllers can signal your system when the soil has adequate moisture or when water demand is low, so it can skip a cycle and save water,” says Grady Miller, professor and extension turfgrass specialist at North Carolina State University.EPA WaterSense estimates that replacing a standard clock timer with a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller can save up to 15,000 gallons of water annually. If every U.S. home with an automatic sprinkler system used these controllers, it could save $2.5 billion in water costs and 220 billion gallons nationally.Most modern irrigation controllers adjust watering based on weather forecasts, pausing if rain is imminent and watering more during drought or heat waves.Choose a system with mobile-app control so you can monitor and adjust watering from anywhere. Smart irrigation systems cost $150 to $250, depending on features and zone customization.2. Monitor soil moistureSoil moisture sensors measure moisture levels and tell your system when it needs water. For lawns under 2,000 square feet, one sensor covers the entire area. Larger lawns need one sensor per zone.Here are some tips to install soil moisture monitoring sensors the right way:Choose a spot that reflects average moisture for that section, not the wettest or driest spots.Place the sensor one-third of the way down into the root zone.Position horizontally rather than flat so it measures water passing by, not pooling on top.Remove stones from soil and water after installation to eliminate air pockets.3. Optimize your irrigation scheduleSchedule your smart irrigation controller properly to maximize savings. Your lawn needs 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during peak grass-growing season, including rainfall.How much water does your lawn need per week?Use this simple tuna can test to calculate run time:Place tuna cans around your lawn randomly.Run your sprinklers for 15 minutes and check the water level in the cans.If you accumulate ¼ inch of water in 15 minutes, you're getting 1 inch per hour.Therefore, run for 60-90 minutes total per week.Check if water levels are uniform across all cans. If one has more or less, inspect spray patterns or sprinkler heads for clogs and adjust for better coverage.Go for head-to-head spacing so each sprinkler's spray reaches the next sprinkler head for optimal coverage.Schedule smart systems to water every other day or three times weekly. Never water daily — it encourages shallow roots that weaken grass. The best time to water is between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. when there's less wind and evaporation.Should I water differently in summer vs. winter?Your watering schedule shouldn't stay the same year-round:Cool-season grasses: Need 1-1.5 inches weekly in spring and fall (active growth), 0.5 inches in hot summer, no watering in winter dormancyWarm-season grasses: Need most water from late spring through summer, about 0.5 inches in early spring and fall, no watering in winter dormancy4. Zone your irrigation systemNot all sections of your lawn need the same water. Sunlight, shade, soil type, and slope create microclimates where small sections retain or lose moisture differently.Divide your lawn into zones based on water needs:Full sun zone: Regular watering (water dries faster)Partially shaded zone: Moderate wateringShaded zone: Retains moisture longer (water less often)Sloped zone: Water runs off quickly (water more frequently but in shorter cycles)Each zone should have its own run time, watering frequency, and nozzle type. Set soil moisture thresholds for each zone so your system waters only when that area needs it.Don't add more than six sprinklers to a single zone — this can overload it and reduce coverage. Instead, create an extra zone.If your current irrigation system isn't zoned, retrofit it by installing separate valves and controllers, then wire them to the main controller.Research shows that properly zoned irrigation systems can improve efficiency by 20% or more.5. Increase your mowing heightIn summer, raise your mowing height by 0.5 to 1 inch to reduce water evaporation and help grass stay cooler. Taller grass shades the soil and encourages deeper root growth, so your lawn can draw moisture from deeper in the soil.“There is a relationship between mowing height and rooting depth. Keeping your turfgrass at the higher end of the suggested mowing range can maximize rooting depth,” says Miller of NC State.Research from Oregon State University found that cool-season grasses maintained at 2 inches required less frequent irrigation than those mowed at 5/8 inch, demonstrating that higher mowing heights help conserve water.If you're growing cool-season grass in the transition zone, leave grass half an inch taller from late spring to late summer. This works for both cool- and warm-season grasses in any zone and can save at least 10% water over the season.Here’s how high to cut your grass during summer: Lawn Love 6. Improve your soil’s ability to retain moisture Lawn Love If your soil doesn't hold moisture well, your grass will need more water. Check for compaction first — it prevents water from reaching the grass roots.Test for compacted soil by pushing a medium to large Phillips screwdriver into the ground. If it doesn't sink easily to the handle, your soil is compacted.USDA research shows that compacted soil can reduce water infiltration by three to 30 times, depending on load and soil type. This means most water runs off instead of reaching the grass roots.Fix compacted soil by aerating annually for clay soil or every three years for sandy or loamy soil. Aeration creates tiny holes that allow oxygen, water, and nutrients to reach the roots.For sandy soil, add amendments like compost or biochar. Spread ¼ to ½ inch over your lawn and rake this into the top 1 to 2 inches without disturbing grass roots. Water thoroughly afterward.Miller says, "Soil amendments make a noticeable difference only in very sandy soils, and compost is usually the most cost-effective option."Mulching grass clippings also retains moisture. If water pools or creates dry spots after irrigation, your soil may be hydrophobic — wetting agents can help.7. Reduce the size of your lawn with creative landscapingKeep grass in your front yard, outdoor living spaces, and sections where you walk, play with your kids, or entertain. Reduce or replace grass in side yards, narrow strips, and steep slopes — these areas waste water through overspray or runoff.Replace these grassy areas with drought-resistant ground covers or mulch. If you have a shady area where grass struggles (like under large trees), replace it with a mulch bed and shade-loving perennials. You'll save water and won't repeatedly overseed thin grass.Converting 10% to 20% of your grassy lawn into low-water landscaping is well worth the effort. Many municipalities offer rebates for grass removal.8. Strategically water trouble spotsYour sprinkler system covers most of your lawn, but some areas like slopes, under trees, or corners dry out faster.How do I know if my grass needs water?“Moisture-stressed grass appears blue-green or grayish-green, recuperates slowly after walking or driving across it, or wilts continuously,” Miller says.If you notice these symptoms in isolated spots, water only those areas instead of running the entire sprinkler system. This targeted approach saves significant water compared to irrigating your entire lawn.9. Fertilize wiselyThe way you fertilize directly impacts water needs. Over-fertilization increases water demand and can damage grass roots, preventing water absorption.Keep fertilization simple: Test your soil first so you add only missing nutrients. Choose slow-release fertilizer that feeds gradually (unless your lawn is newly seeded). Follow label instructions to avoid over-fertilizing.Fertilize cool-season lawns in early spring and early fall. For warm-season lawns, fertilize from late spring through early summer. Don't fertilize when it's too hot or during drought — this stresses grass and increases water needs.Professional fertilization services apply the right nutrients at optimal times without over-fertilizing.10. Overseed with drought-tolerant grassesSome grasses need significantly more water than others. Keep your lawn green with less water by overseeding with drought-tolerant varieties.Best drought-tolerant grasses by region: Lawn Love When to overseed:Cool-season grass: Early fall (best) or early spring when summer temperatures drop, but soil is still warm.Warm-season grass: Late spring or early summer when grass is actively growing.Grass seeds need active growth periods to germinate and develop strong roots.FAQsCan I use greywater to irrigate my lawn?Yes, in many areas. Greywater from showers and washing machines can reduce potable water use by 30%-40%. Check local regulations first, as some municipalities restrict greywater use. Avoid water containing harsh chemicals or bleach.How do I know if my sprinkler system is wasting water?Run your sprinkler system during daylight and check for misting (sign of high pressure), runoff, overspray onto hardscapes, or uneven coverage. EPA research shows that 30%-60% of irrigation water is wasted due to leaks, broken sprinkler heads, and poor scheduling. A single broken sprinkler head can waste up to 25,000 gallons per year.Do drip irrigation systems work for lawns?Drip irrigation works well for landscape beds but is impractical for large lawn areas. For small lawn sections or newly seeded areas, subsurface drip systems can reduce water use by 30%-50% compared to sprinklers.How soon will I see savings on my water bill?If you use a smart irrigation system, optimize your watering, improve your soil health, and overseed with drought-tolerant grasses, you’ll start to see a noticeable reduction in your water bill within the first one to two billing cycles.What's the payback period for a smart irrigation investment?You can get back your initial investment in a smart irrigation system within a year or two, depending on the size of your lawn. Larger lawns usually see a faster payback.Keep your lawn green with less waterYou don’t need to use gallons of water every week to keep your lawn lush, green, and healthy. Installing smart irrigation, raising your mowing height, improving your soil health, and overseeding with drought-tolerant grasses can help you cut water use by 50% or even more without sacrificing curb appeal.This story was produced by Lawn Love and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Research points to how companies could make social media less addictive for teens Juries in two big cases have affirmed what research is finding: The design of social media platforms is particularly compelling and hard to resist for kids. There are growing calls to change it.
	Three STEM activities for young innovators on school break (BPT) - When school is out on break, many families look for ways to keep their children engaged while still encouraging learning. STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — activities can turn everyday moments into opportunities for discovery, helping build skills while having fun.Research from the U.S. Department of Education suggests early exposure to STEM supports learning across subjects and helps children build important cognitive skills. Data also shows strong connections between early learning experiences and later academic and developmental outcomes. For example, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology found that children's early experiences with play and learning activities can support the development of self-regulation and early reading and math abilities.Programs like those offered at Kiddie Academy® Educational Child Care encourage young learners to explore STEM concepts through hands-on play and guided exploration."Children are naturally curious about the world around them," said Joy Turner, vice president of education at Kiddie Academy. "When parents encourage their little ones to observe, experiment and ask questions, they're helping build critical-thinking skills that support learning for years to come."The good news for families: STEM learning doesn't require expensive supplies or complicated lessons. Many engaging activities can happen right at home, or anywhere your family travels during break.Explore nature up closeA walk along the beach, park trail or even your own backyard can become a mini science expedition. Pack a magnifying glass and encourage your children to examine shells, rocks, leaves or insects. As they explore, ask questions like:How are these objects different?What colors do you see?What textures do you notice?Why are some objects smoother than others?These simple comparisons encourage curiosity and observation while helping your kids practice early scientific thinking. Outdoor exploration can also support physical development through movement and play.Make slime and explore chemistrySlime-making is a favorite activity for many children that also introduces basic chemistry concepts. Encourage your child to test variations by adding colors or textures to the mixture. Before they mix, ask what they think will happen. Making predictions helps build reasoning skills and introduces the idea that experiments can have different outcomes.Slime or other basic chemistry recipes often involve common household ingredients, which means adult supervision is recommended at all times. Always read labels, avoid mixing products not intended to be combined and keep ingredients out of reach of young children. Adults should ensure the activity and the materials used are age appropriate and should be used at their own discretion.Design an egg-drop challengeTurn engineering into a fun family challenge by asking your little one to design a way to protect an egg from breaking when dropped.Using materials like cardboard, tape, paper or cotton balls, children experiment with cushioning, structure and problem-solving. After testing their designs, talk about what worked and what they might change for next time. Activities like this help your kids learn that trying again and improving their ideas is part of the process.Why hands-on STEM mattersResearch shows that active, hands-on learning is one of the most effective ways for young learners to engage with STEM concepts. These experiences help develop problem-solving, persistence and creativity — skills that will support your little one across any discipline."STEM at any age is about exploration," added Turner. "When children are encouraged to investigate how things work, they begin building the confidence to ask questions and tackle new ideas."Whether you're traveling on vacation or spending time close to home, everyday moments can become meaningful learning opportunities. By encouraging young innovators to explore, build and experiment, parents can help nurture the curiosity that fuels lifelong learning.
	Rock Island County Waste Management Agency unveils platform with waste, recycling information Residents can access Recycle Coach on their mobile or desktop devices, providing local disposal information for thousands of household items.
	MercyOne’s Clinton Medical Center ending its labor and delivery services Patients will be directed to MercyOne birth centers in Dubuque, Davenport and Silvis.
	NelsonCorp reviews wild week on Wall Street The past week in the stock markets has been enough to make any investor queasy. Stocks have been up and down and now experts are throwing out terms like “correction territory” and “K-shaped economy.” David Nelson, president and CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to try to make [...]
	'The Madison' adds to Taylor Sheridan's 'Yellowstone' legacy — 'Marshals' not so much Yellowstone's creator is back with two new shows set in the American West. Marshals struggles, but The Madison offers a thoughtful portrait of a family in flux.
	Burlington School District selects new superintendent The Burlington Community School District Board of Education has named Nathan Marting as the district’s next superintendent, pending board approval.
	Strangers forge a powerful bond after a car crash in 'Miroirs No. 3' After the sudden death of her boyfriend, a young Berlin woman is taken in by a family she meets in the countryside. In showing the ache of love and loss, Miroirs No. 3 holds up a mirror to us all.
	River Bandits and Figge Art Museum team up for cultural home run The Quad Cities River Bandits and Figge Art Museum are teaming up to celebrate the intersection of baseball, history, and art with the donation a painting by contemporary artist Preston Sampson.
	Elected officials respond to possible reassignments, job losses on the Rock Island Arsenal Officials began releasing statements Friday morning, after a union representing Arsenal workers sounded the alarm on potential reassignments or job losses.
	East Moline mayor delivers state of the city address East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivered the 2026 State of the City Address Thursday.
	How long will the war last? No one knows, and it's making oil prices weird It's like the "Schrödinger's cat" thought experiment. There are two very different potential realities, and traders don't yet know which one is true.
	Gift of Giving - TSC Alliance at the University of Iowa In March 2026, Necker's partnered with TSC Alliance at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for the Gift of Giving.
	4 Your Money \| The Long Road Back Bonds have had a challenging decade thus far. Nate Kreinbrink, Financial Planner at NelsonCorp Wealth Management, explains the current drawdown and shares his perspective on the future of the bond market.
	With the Iowa State Patrol’s help, ICE is arresting truckers at weigh stations Federal court records indicate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are using interstate weigh stations in Iowa to arrest and detain drivers suspected of being in the United States illegally.
	Traffic alert: Logan Street in Muscatine to be closed to through traffic Logan Street will be closed to through traffic from Newell to Pinefield starting Monday.
	MercyOne Clinton Medical Center ending labor and delivery services The center's last day of providing labor and delivery will take place on Tuesday, May 26. Services will be moved to birth centers in Dubuque, Davenport and Silvis.
	Gift of Giving - March 2026 - TSC Gift of Giving - March 2026 - TSC
	House panel finds Florida Democrat guilty of ethics violations The House Ethics Committee has found evidence that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated House rules. This comes after the panel held a rare public hearing to review investigations into allegations against the Florida Democrat.
	How to spot an Amazon text scam and other common Amazon scams How to spot an Amazon text scam and other common Amazon scamsIf you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re one of the over 310 million people in the world who use Amazon — after all, who doesn’t love getting exactly what they need delivered to their doorstep in a day or two? While Amazon can be amazingly convenient, its popularity also makes it a good source of bait for scammers.In this article, Spokeo explains what to know so you can stay safe from Amazon scams.Amazon ScamsThere are probably a thousand different variations of Amazon scams, but when you boil it down, they’re almost all based on texts, emails, or phone calls. In order to be protected from any scam, here’s what to know and look out for.Amazon Text ScamsWhether you have an Amazon account or not, you’ve probably received a text claiming to be from Amazon about your account, an order, or even a surprise giveaway you’ve won. Exciting! Or rather, it would be if it weren’t a scam.Amazon does send out official texts on occasion, but there are a few ways to spot fake texts from the real thing:Odd spelling or formatting: Scam texts are often full of spelling errors and weird formatting, like random spaces or foreign characters. This happens for a mix of reasons, primarily that A. many scammers are not native English speakers; and B. they will purposely use odd formatting to try to get their texts past automated spam filters.Seemingly random links: Another dead giveaway in Amazon text scams is that the links included usually won’t even look like a link to Amazon. Instead, it will often be some random jumble of numbers and letters, like “a1bC.co/DeF234ghi.” If you know anything about scams, you’ll know this is just another phishing attempt, and as always, you never click a link you aren’t certain about. Note: More sophisticated scammers can hide this better, so it’s best to just avoid links sent via text in general.Unknown or foreign numbers: Another easy way to tell if a text is a scam is if the number is one you don’t recognize, from a different country code, or shows up as a random email. For the most part, any texts actually coming from Amazon will be a shortcode, with the most common being “25392” or “262966.”Remember, no matter how urgent a text seems, clicking a link or responding to the message is never going to be the play. Instead, if you’re unsure, navigate to your Amazon account through your regular browser, and contact them via their direct contact information.Amazon Email ScamsAlthough scammers are increasingly sending text messages these days, they still churn out scam emails that occasionally manage to slip through spam filters. Whether it’s Amazon, Walmart, or any other popular company, these emails almost always tend to claim that there’s a problem with your account, credit card, or recent order, and of course include a phishing link that either tricks you into logging into a spoofed Amazon site and unknowingly giving up your login information, or potentially even downloading malware.The tips for spotting a scam email are pretty much the same as fake texts, but with a few additional red flags:The email address isn’t actually from Amazon: If you get an email from Amazon, the first thing you should do is look at the actual email address of the sender. With scam emails, you’ll notice that the sender often doesn’t have an email that looks like “janedoe@amazon.com” but instead will be something similar, like “johndoe@amzon.ca.” If you’re not paying attention, it might work, but if you know to look for it, it can be a quick and easy way to spot the email as a scam.No personalization: Because scamming is a numbers game, scammers don’t always put full effort into making the scams super realistic. For instance, actual Amazon support emails will address you with your name (either by “first name” or “Mr./Ms./Mrs. last name”). If it just says “Sir/Madam,” it’s probably a scam.While certain scammers can go through the effort of making their emails look more realistic, 99% of the time, looking for these signs, plus the signs from the text scams, will keep you from falling victim.Amazon Phone Call ScamsAccording to a report Amazon conducted on the scam trends, phone-based scams have taken over email scams, with a 71% increase in early 2025. Call-based scams aren’t new, but with the increasing effectiveness of automated spam filters for text and email, calls appear to be back on the featured scam menu.Here are some ways to identify scam calls from Amazon directly:Don’t verify personal information: Amazon will never ask you to verify personal information over the phone, so if a call comes through asking for private information, hang up.Don’t give payment information: Again, Amazon won’t ask you to provide payment information for products or services on the phone. So if a supposed support agent asks for a credit card, gift card, or other financial information, you’re being scammed.Don’t fall for urgency: A scammer trick as old as time, a sense of false urgency can cause people to panic and ignore the signs of a scam. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon about an urgent issue like a compromised account, failed billing information, or some other problem, stay calm and don’t give any information. If you’re really worried, hang up and call a verified Amazon support number.Other Amazon Scams and Amazon Text Scam ExamplesIf you know the general structure of text, email, and phone scams, you should be protected from most scams, whether they’re old, current, or yet to exist. That should keep you covered most of the time, but there are still a couple of other tricky ways scammers are finding victims.Amazon Text Scam ExamplesBy now, you get the idea of what to look for when it comes to scams, but just to cover all our bases, let’s take a look at some of the most common Amazon text scams currently floating around.Charge confirmation: Currently, one of the most common scam texts reads something like the following: “Your card will be charged $xxx.xx for your last order #123456. Contact customer support immediately on [link, phone number, or email] if this charge was not initiated by you.”Item confirmation: A similar alternative to the above charge confirmation is the charge confirmation with details about a specific item. This version generally reads: “Your card has been charged $xxx.xx USD for ‘[an expensive item like a TV]’ at Amazon on [date]. To cancel or get a refund, call us [phone number].”Temporary account hold: Another common example includes texts about account holds that follow this general format: “We have temporarily placed your account on hold. To restore your account, follow the instructions below [link]. Please complete the recovery within X days, otherwise your Amazon account will be permanently locked.”Problem with your account: The next common example is a claim that there is a problem with your account information. Those texts look something like the following: “From: Amazon Customer Service. Message ID: 123456. Msg: We have detected a problem with your account information. Please verify your information is correct. Follow these simple steps to recover your account [link].”So, if you have a text claiming to be from Amazon that reads like any of the above, rest assured it’s a scam, and you’re safe to delete the message and block the number.Fake Amazon Customer Support on Social MediaOne of the latest scams that doesn’t involve classic channels of communication is via social media. These days, it’s not uncommon for people to turn to social media to complain or seek help from a company. Makes sense, except scammers realized that they can sift through all of the complaints and reply, pretending to be customer support. In this case, many people assume it’s actually Amazon’s social media support reaching out to help, leading them to give up private information.Before interacting with a support account on socials, do some digging to ensure they’re actually who they claim to be, including verification and links to the official Amazon account.Amazon Scam FAQDoes Amazon Send Text Messages?Yes, on occasion, Amazon does send text messages about updates on your orders, payments, deliveries, or account status.What is a Real Amazon Text Phone Number?If you get a text from Amazon, it will almost always be a short code number. For Amazon, these are most commonly “25392” or “262966.”What Does a Fake Email from Amazon Look Like?Outside of poor grammar and requests for payment information (both of which are clear signs of a scam email), fake Amazon emails will be from senders that don’t have xxx@amazon.com email addresses, and instead will be some close variation, like xxx@amzon, xxx@amazn, etc.Would Amazon Ever Call Me?On rare occasions, you might receive a call from Amazon. It’s important to know that Amazon will never ask for your credit or debit card details, or any other confidential information over the phone. If you’re suspicious, hang up and call the verified contact information found directly through Amazon.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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