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

Friday, June 19th, 2026
	Labour's Andy Burnham wins a special election, setting up a showdown with Starmer to lead Britain Labour's Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, has won a special election for a seat in Parliament that puts him in a position to challenge embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership of the country.
	US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 3 in the eastern Pacific Ocean The latest attack brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 211 since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls "narcoterrorists" in early September.
	Mexico becomes first country to reach knockout stage of World Cup Mexico took advantage of a defensive blunder by South Korea to win 1-0 and become the first team to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup.
Thursday, June 18th, 2026
	Volunteers educated on Sickle Cell Disease The disease is more common among people of African descent.
	State defends planned witnesses in murder trial of Trudy Appleby's accused killer Jamison Fisher is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in the 11-year-old's 1996 disappearance.
	Gov. Reynolds, Rep. Miller-Meeks highlight rural health investments Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks highlighted "Healthy Hometowns" funding in Muscatine aimed at expanding rural health care access.
	Illinois bill expands school bullying to include AI content Schools in Illinois are receiving new guidelines to protecting student safety against technology. House Bill 3851 updates and expands how bullying and cyberbullying are defined, particularly to include the use of artificial intelligence. Lawmakers say the update reflects growing incidents nationally of inappropriate AI-generated content. The move gives school districts clearer authority to step in [...]
	Monmouth faces massive cleanup after storms bring destructive winds While many areas saw their electricity return by 11 a.m. Thursday, many people are still navigating without power.
	Luigi Mangione's lawyers withdraw plans for psychiatric defense In a court filing Thursday, Mangione's legal team said they won't file psychiatric evidence in the 28-year-old's state murder case. The move came a day after his lawyers said they planned to pursue a psychiatric defense.
	Man allegedly stalked ex-girlfriend before deadly East Moline shooting on Tuesday Court documents detail allegations of stalking, a forced entry and a deadly shooting at an East Moline apartment complex.
	Learn about communicating with people with dementia in session at CASI, Davenport Communicating with a person living with dementia can be challenging for family members, caregivers, and customer-facing employees. LivWell Seniors will host a lunch & learn focusing on giving practical tips and strategies to help improve those interactions, a news release says. Held in conjunction with Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, speakers include Megan Olsen of [...]
	What's closed on Juneteenth 2026? You might want to tackle some of your errands before Friday.
	Muscatine middle schoolers help chart future of Towhead Island A group of Susan Clark Jr. High students spent six weeks researching what the future of the island in the Mississippi should look like. Here's what they found.
	You can learn how to line dance in Moline this summer Once a month, through September, Moline Centre is holding $5 Friday night line dancing classes with Line Dance Quad Cities in the Historic Block Courtyard.
	Key FDA committee unanimously recommends its first vaccine since 2023 All nine members of the committee unanimously voted to recommend Moderna's new mRNA influenza vaccine for adults 50 and over.
	Alexis Boeh-Petersen named local Star-Spangled Sing-Off winner The votes have been counted, and Alexis Boeh-Petersen is the local champion.
	ImpactLife stresses importance of transfusions for sickle cell disease In recognition of Juneteenth and World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day, ImpactLife stressed the importance of transfusions for people with sickle cell disease. ImpactLife hosted an event featuring University of Iowa professor Meredith Parsons and people personally affected by sickle cell disease. The blood center is creating a new donor program to help patients who [...]
	Flags will be at half-staff in Illinois June 19-20 to honor Juneteenth National Freedom Day Gov. JB Pritzker has called for all covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act to fly U.S. flag at half-staff in honor of Juneteenth National Freedom Day. According to a release American flags should be lowered from sunrise on Friday, June 19 until sunset on Saturday, June 20. For more information, click here.
	In photos: The Knicks celebrate their first NBA championship in more than 50 years The New York Knicks celebrate their NBA championship win with a ticker tape parade in Manhattan.
	Geneseo prepares for 58th annual music festival including Father’s Day parade The 58th Annual Geneseo Music Festival will take place June 19–21 with three days of live music, parades, food vendors, family activities and community events throughout downtown Geneseo.
	Explore Figge Art Museum for free in July Museum leaders are encouraging visitors to escape the scorching heat by immersing themselves in art and experiencing all that the museum has to offer for free from July 1 to 31.
	Traffic Alert: Rock Island Arsenal Government Bridge to close for cleaning The bridge will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, according to a Facebook post.
	The Heart of the Story: Life in the fast lane Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. A former state trooper knows a thing or [...]
	Diesel prices fall in Iowa, but truckers still feeling pressure U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy paid a visit to the Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott on Thursday alongside Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
	Virtual Ventures celebrates new space with ribbon cutting A Davenport virtual reality arcade celebrated its relocation to its expanded space at NorthPark Mall.
	U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, others visit QCA at Iowa 80 Truckstop Gov. Kim Reynolds joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in the QCA. Reynolds, Duffy and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stopped by the Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott. They toured the truck stop to celebrate the nation's trucking industry. Miller-Meeks and Duffy talked about the new process to get a commercial driver's license and said criminals have [...]
	Iowans will see relief from Iran ceasefire agreement, Nunn says Transportation costs have increased during the conflict in Iran, but relief could be on the way as a ceasefire agreement is on the horizon, Congressman Zach Nunn said Thursday.
	Local students help plan the future of Towhead Island in Muscatine The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine just received the island as a donation. They turned to local students to help with the research.
	No injuries reported following Muscatine fire No injuries to occupants or responding personnel were reported following a fire in Muscatine. According to a release from the Muscatine Fire Department, the Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received a 911 call for a fire at a home on Gas Lantern Square June 18 at approximately 3:29 p.m. Responders found smoke coming from a [...]
	Bettendorf Police launch co-responder program focused on mental health crises Bettendorf Police are preparing to launch a new co-responder program aimed at improving how the department responds to mental health crises.
	Confirmed tornado from Wednesday morning's storms Now that things have settled down in the Quad Cities from Wednesday's storms, this has given a chance to survey damages from the storms. From the damage reports and survey, it was confirmed that there was a tornado in Monmouth in Warren County. This tornado was on the ground for only 2 minutes, for 1.3 [...]
	Iowa adds 128 medical residencies as $88M flows to rural health projects Dozens of Iowa hospitals will receive support for equipment upgrades, workforce recruitment and cancer care networks.
	Officials confirm EF-1 tornados in Quad Cities region Severe morning storms cause widespread damage, thousands of power outages, and a train derailment across parts of Iowa and Illinois.
	NWS confirms EF-1 tornado hit Monmouth during Wednesday's storms Officials observed damage to roofing, brick walls and windows in the tornado's path through the heart of Monmouth.
	Americans are proactive homeowners, but this country beats them in DIY home repairs Americans are proactive homeowners, but this country beats them in DIY home repairsThere is always something: a leaky faucet, chipping paint, gutters full of leaves or a room that no longer works the way it used to. Homeownership comes with a permanent background hum of maintenance, repairs and decisions that can only be ignored for so long.What homeowners do next depends a lot on where they live.A new international study from Angi, a home services marketplace, found that Americans are among the world’s more proactive homeowners, with nearly half (49%) taking a preventative approach to maintenance, scheduling regular checks and staying on top of concerns before something breaks. South Korea leads the study at 56%. Japan sits at the other end: 60% of Japanese homeowners address issues only when they arise.When it comes to DIY home repairs, France leads the study. Sixty-five percent of French homeowners say they handle most repairs themselves, the highest rate among the surveyed countries.Home care, it turns out, looks fundamentally different depending on where people live and what they believe home is for. Cultural differences are also at play for homeowner behavior beyond the toolbox. In France, 2 out of 5 homeowners enforce a no-phones rule at the dinner table, the highest rate in the study, while Canadians and Japanese are nearly twice as likely as Americans to require shoes off at the door (69% vs. 37%).Opinions vary from country to country, even for keeping a tidy home. A majority of Germans and Americans prefer to keep a “lived-in and comfortable” appearance. Forty percent of Brazilians believe a home should always be clean and tidy, more than any other country. Of all the countries surveyed, the Dutch were the most likely to respond with “home is for living, not impressing others.”In North America, homeownership tends to be tied to investment. Americans and Canadians are the most likely of any country to renovate specifically to increase property value, while many European homeowners prioritize comfort and quality of life over resale potential. When a home no longer fits, the instinct varies just as sharply: More than three-quarters of German homeowners would renovate rather than move, the highest rate across all countries surveyed, while 41% of British homeowners would rather relocate. Americans take a more pragmatic middle path—37% say they would stay and make do.Unexpected and emergency repairs remain a universal source of stress regardless of the country. The most maintenance-minded Americans are also the youngest: Gen Z and Millennial homeowners lead on proactive upkeep, with 51% preferring to check home systems before problems start and 55% using smart security technology compared with 19% of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.A home is never just the structure itself. It reflects the routines, priorities and tradeoffs people make, from the repairs they tackle to the rituals that shape daily life. Around the world, home care is less about one right way to do it and more about what people believe a home is supposed to be.MethodologyAngi, along with its international family of home service marketplaces, commissioned an online survey of 4,492 homeowners across 10 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Brazil. The U.S. sample included 1,237 homeowners. The margin of error for U.S. findings is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Fieldwork was conducted between May 1 and May 19, 2026.This story was produced by Angi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Train derails outside of Monmouth; no injuries reported A train outside of the township of Ormonde, about five miles south of Monmouth, derailed due to the strong winds Wednesday, June 17. According to a release from BNSF Railway, at approximately 8:30 a.m., 18 cars blew over and derailed from the BNSF main line in Monmouth during an active weather event in the area. [...]
	Left behind: Why small-town Americans are waiting longer for healthcare Left behind: Why small-town Americans are waiting longer for healthcareSomewhere in America, a woman with a late-stage cancer diagnosis is sitting in a nursing home on a Friday afternoon. She has chosen to stop active treatment. All she wants now is comfort, seamless pain relief, and the dignity of a gentle, supported care plan.The skilled nursing facility produced a thick paper packet of discharge information. But missing from that package is the one instruction that matters most: an order for hospice care coming from her oncologist.Because hospice and the advance directive were not arranged before the transfer to a hospice wing, and because the paperwork was incomplete, the nursing staff could not coordinate pain management over the weekend. Everything is closed. The patient spends two days without the medication she needs.That is not a hypothetical. It is a case that made rounds in the healthcare community after a patient advocate described it in a public post. The details are specific, but the pattern is not. It plays out in facilities across the country, every week, because the systems that move patient data between hospitals and smaller care settings were never built to talk to each other.eFax, a digital cloud fax and data transformation solutions provider, analyzed federal data on hospital connectivity alongside its own survey of healthcare technology leaders to map where America's medical records divide runs deepest, and what it costs patients in lost time, repeated tests, and delayed care. What the numbers reveal is a healthcare system splitting into two tiers: one where patient data moves in seconds, and another where it still relies on legacy, paper-based workflows and manual communication, arriving hours or days late, if it arrives at all.The unfunded divideLarge urban hospitals have spent the past decade building digital connections, backed by significant federal incentives and capital. They trade patient records through electronic health record systems, secure messaging networks, and formats that let one system read what another system wrote.Rural and independent facilities, however, were largely left out of that digital windfall.In 2023, federal data found that only about a third of rural hospitals routinely send, receive, find, and integrate patient records efficiently from one care setting to the next. For urban hospitals, nearly half do. Rural hospitals have gained ground in recent years, improving faster than the national average, but they still haven't caught up.Standalone hospitals face an even steeper climb. Just over 1 in 5 independent facilities efficiently exchange records, compared to more than half of hospitals that belong to a larger system. The barrier is not motivation; it is a critical shortage of funding, IT staffing, and technical infrastructure.This disparity deepens in post-acute facilities—the skilled nursing homes, rehab centers, and home health agencies that take over after a hospital stay. When the federal government funded the industry's digital transition over a decade ago, these providers were excluded from the legislation. Without those resources, catching up has been nearly impossible: Only about 17% of hospitals routinely send patient information electronically to most or all of their post-acute partners, and only 8% routinely get it back, leaving the rest of the handoff to phone calls and paper.What it costs to waitWhen there is no automated digital exchange between a hospital and the facility receiving its patients, critical records slow down due to manual coordination—relying on phone calls, physical paper packets, and traditional paper-based workflows.According to a recent survey of healthcare CIOs and digital health leaders conducted by eFax, nearly half of providers still rely on manual, paper-dependent processes to share patient data with facilities lacking integrated electronic health records. While secure document transmission remains heavily utilized across the industry for its reliability, the friction occurs when data remains trapped on printed paper rather than flowing digitally.The resulting speed gap is significant. When healthcare technology leaders were asked how long it takes to coordinate patient data with small and post-acute facilities that lack automated cloud capabilities, the answers split almost evenly between one to two days and three to five days. In a hospital utilizing optimized digital networks, the same data transformation and transfer happen in seconds.Because of these manual bottlenecks, patients wait. More than half of post-acute care facilities say they sometimes or often receive vital records after the patient is already in their care.That is the true divide: the gap between manual, paper-bound sorting and secure, cloud-optimized document delivery. One patient receives an immediate care plan on arrival; the other waits for a fragmented paper trail to be manually processed.The states running out of timeThe financial strain on rural hospitals has been building for more than a decade. Since 2010, 182 rural hospitals have either closed entirely or stopped offering inpatient care, according to the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The pace has barely slowed. Over just the past seven years, far more closed than opened.The closures cluster in a pattern. KFF reports that nearly 7 in 10 of those closures, between 2014 and 2024, occurred in states that had not expanded Medicaid at the time.Today, close to half of all rural hospitals in the country are operating at a loss, and 432 across 38 states have been flagged as vulnerable to closure based on their financial indicators. The states carrying the most vulnerable hospitals tell a clear regional story: Texas has 47, Kansas has 46, Mississippi has 28, Oklahoma has 23, and Georgia has 22.Measured as a share of each state's total rural hospital count, the picture sharpens. Half of Arkansas's rural hospitals are vulnerable. Mississippi is at 49%, Kansas is at 47%, and Tennessee is at 44%. Georgia, Missouri, and Oklahoma each sit at 34%.For the more than 46 million Americans who live in rural areas, these are not abstract numbers. When a hospital closes or cuts services, the nearest alternative may be an hour's drive away. When a skilled nursing facility cannot get a patient's records on time, the staff is left making care decisions with incomplete data, or making no decisions at all for days.The staff caught in the middleThe technology gap does not just slow down records. It wears out the people who have to work around it.During a typical 12-hour shift, the average nurse spends about 43 minutes hunting for information, equipment, supplies, or the right person to talk to. That is nearly twice what nurses say would be reasonable. On top of that, they spend another hour coordinating patient handoffs and more than 90 minutes on paperwork and logistics.At a time when the country faces a projected shortage of hundreds of thousands of nurses, that lost time is not recoverable.McKinsey research found that as of 2023, close to half of inpatient nurses said they were likely to leave their current role within six months, and workload was a primary reason. For facilities already short on staff, the math is punishing. Fewer nurses means remaining staff absorb more of the manual burden, making them more likely to leave and severely limiting the care they can deliver to patients in need.A divide that costs more than timeHealthcare technology leaders are clear about what the data gap means for the patients on the other side of it. A majority say the difficulty of exchanging patient data with small and post-acute facilities has directly affected health equity in their communities.When asked whether technology equity matters for clinical health equity, 83% say it is important or very important. The awareness is there. The will is not far behind.The problem is not awareness. It is capacity. Fewer than a third of larger providers say they have the funding or IT staff to help their smaller partners come up to speed. Most call it a problem they are not equipped to solve.The window of opportunity keeps shrinkingThe policy ground is shifting fast, and not in rural healthcare's favor.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025, introduced new Medicaid eligibility rules that could push millions of people off coverage. For rural hospitals already operating at a loss, more uninsured patients means more uncompensated care and less revenue to invest in the digital systems that are already years behind.At the same time, federal regulators are pushing hard for a digital-first data exchange that leaps data sharing standards to a structured Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) data set. A number of recent federal regulations have mandated that FHIR or other electronic data exchange standards be used for connectivity. A new proposed rule requires FHIR for drug prior authorizations. The medical prior authorization standard using FHIR goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Additionally, a new federal initiative launched in late 2025 mandates providers move away from paper fax machines and adopt an X12 standard for payer attachments. The gap between that goal and the reality on the ground is wide. The smaller rural care settings the policy aims to reach do not have the resources to support the standards the government is calling for.Roughly 7 in 10 hospitals still use paper fax or mail to share health data, even as electronic records have become standard within their own walls. According to eFax's analysis, about 15 billion fax transactions still move through American healthcare every year, with cloud-based fax increasingly replacing the paper machines.That is the tension at the center of this story. The hospitals that need connectivity the most are the least equipped to build it. The patients most affected are the ones with the fewest alternatives. And the policies arriving fastest are the ones that add financial pressure without bridging the gap.For a patient transferring to hospice at a rural nursing facility on a Friday afternoon, the technology to get her records there in seconds already exists. The providers caring for her now have it. The hospice facility receiving her does not.That gap is measured in days, and sometimes in pain.Solving interoperability with the tech facilities already useNarrowing the divide does not require every small facility to buy an expensive EHR system. A growing number of healthcare organizations are pairing AI with technology they already use to bridge the gap.Digital cloud fax remains a cornerstone of medical communication, widely recognized for its regulatory compliance, reliability, and trusted security. That now serves as the entry point for artificial intelligence to do what no nurse has time to do.It reads the document. It pulls the clinical data out. And it converts that data into a format an electronic health record can actually use. A handwritten referral form or a scanned discharge packet arrives as a fax. The AI extracts patient demographics, diagnosis codes, and care instructions, then routes that structured data directly into the receiving facility's workflow.The technology turns a process that used to take a nurse 20 minutes of manual data entry into something that happens in the background, in seconds, without anyone walking to a fax machine or retyping a medication list.This story was produced by eFax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Muscatine pausing demolition of pair of downtown buildings after structural movement was found Additional apartments were evacuated as city staff work to determine a safe path foreward.
	Additional apartments evacuated as crews assess downtown Muscatine buildings For safety reasons, East 2nd Street remains temporarily closed to all traffic except authorized personnel.
	How alcohol-infused chocolate became a popular grown-up treat How alcohol-infused chocolate became a popular grown-up treatToday, people are reaching for sweets with the same criteria they bring to a good bottle of wine, paying close attention to craft. Alcohol-infused chocolates draw in adults who want indulgence with a little more going on.Research from Los Angeles-based artisan chocolatier Compartés shows that taste and presentation often guide what people choose. That desire is particularly visible on Father's Day, where premium chocolate has moved squarely into gifting territory that once belonged exclusively to a fine bottle of spirits.What Defines “Grown-Up Sweets”?Adult taste changes more than most people realize, often so slowly that it is easy to miss. The same person who once wanted the sweetest thing on the table may later start reaching for darker chocolate, stronger coffee, or a dessert with a little heat behind it. Grown-up sweets are built around that reality, giving sugar a smaller role while ingredients like dark chocolate and warming spices bring more depth to each bite.The Appeal of Alcohol-Infused and Spirit-Inspired ChocolateRich chocolate and fine spirits have more in common than most people ever stop to consider, and the overlap runs deeper than taste alone. Both carry flavor notes built through aging and fermentation, and those shared characteristics tend to make them feel remarkably natural together on the palate.According to Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall, double-barreled bourbon and dark chocolate work well together, with the bourbon’s sweet oak notes giving the chocolate more depth while the chocolate brings out flavors that might otherwise stay in the background.The appeal also depends on how chocolatiers carry those flavors into the chocolate itself. Some alcohol-infused chocolates incorporate real spirits into the recipe, while alcohol-inspired versions use flavor notes such as oak or vanilla to remind the palate of a familiar drink without adding alcohol.Premiumization and the Evolution of IndulgencePerhaps the most obvious sign of how adult tastes have matured is where people are choosing to spend their money. According to Food Navigator, premiumization is the deliberate move toward higher-quality ingredients and skilled craftsmanship, paired with packaging that reflects the care put into the product itself.People who buy less may expect more from every bite, treating a single well-made truffle or a carefully crafted chocolate bar as a small but deliberate act of indulgence rather than a quick, mindless snack.And as that appetite has grown, premium sweets have started replacing more traditional gifts, with artisan chocolate now sitting comfortably alongside the kinds of presents that once felt like the only obvious choice.Why Father’s Day Is Fueling the TrendA holiday like Father’s Day presents gifting pressure, and the search for something personal and unexpected is exactly where alcohol-infused chocolate has found its footing.Finding a Father’s Day gift that feels tailored to a man's actual tastes rather than a generalized idea of what dads are supposed to like has always been a challenge, and a well-crafted bourbon or whiskey chocolate speaks directly to that adult palate in a way a standard present might not.Innova Market Insights reported that appetite for boozy-inspired sweets rises during every major holiday season, and the same qualities that make these chocolates work so well for Father's Day also appeal to holiday and corporate gifting, where finding something memorable without feeling overly personal is often part of the challenge.The Broader Shift Toward Adult SnackingSnacking is deeply woven into the American diet, with 2023 research published in the Nutrients journal showing that more than 90% of adults report eating at least one snack on any given day. But adults are no longer just reaching for whatever is convenient and sweet.Busy schedules have pushed people toward smaller, more deliberate eating moments throughout the day, and those moments have become an opportunity to choose something with real flavor rather than empty sugar.Mondelez International's 2024 State of Snacking Report found that 62% of adults now prefer eating several smaller meals across the day rather than sitting down to a few large ones, and premium chocolate fits comfortably into that space as a satisfying way to make a small break feel worth taking.What This Trend Signals for the Future of SweetsChocolate has always found ways to reinvent itself, and the data suggests the next chapter will be driven by flavor ambition and a much harder look at where ingredients actually come from.According to Future Market Insights, the global liquor confectionery market is projected to grow from $664 million in 2025 to over $1.1 billion by 2035, pushed along by adults who want their sweets to deliver the same complexity they expect from a well-made cocktail.And chocolatiers are responding by borrowing directly from fine dining kitchens, applying professional culinary techniques to build flavors that unfold in stages rather than hitting a single note and stopping there.A More Refined Approach to IndulgenceA 2025 Innova Market Insights report found that 43% of global consumers are actively seeking extraordinary indulgent experiences, and the confectionery world has responded by building products around depth and creativity rather than sheer volume.And that creative ambition has long been visible in the artisan chocolate space, where makers have spent decades watching adult gifting habits evolve and responding with work that takes both flavor and occasion seriously.This story was produced by Compartés and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Crime Stoppers: Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office searches for robbery suspect Joseph Klemencic III, 20, is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office on a robbery charge. Contact Crime Stoppers to submit anonymous tips.
	Crime Stoppers: Davenport police investigate late-night burglary at Smokin’ Joe’s on West Kimberly Police are searching for a woman who broke into Smokin' Joe's on West Kimberly Road in Davenport. Call Crime Stoppers with anonymous tips for a reward.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted in Davenport on multiple charges Cireeco R. Flint, 53, is wanted in Davenport for failing to appear on drug, OWI, and firearm charges. Anonymous tips could earn a cash reward.
	Person killed after crashing in rural Milan According to the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office, a driver was heading east on the road when they veered off and crashed into a tree.
	U.S. lifts blockade on Iranian ports as 60-day clock for a final deal starts ticking The U.S. is allowing ships to enter and exit Iranian ports and coastal areas as the countries move to a new phase of negotiations over the next 60 days.
	Miller-Meeks, Duffy support Trump’s Iran deal 'We finally had a president who was willing to say we will not have a nuclear-armed Iran on my watch.'
	Moline offering Line Dance Fridays this summer There will be monthly lessons offered in Moline's historic Block Courtyard through September.
	Epilepsy Advocacy Network presents summer fun with camPossible Summer fun should be for everyone, and one camp is made specifically for kids who live with epilepsy. Kari Jones and Kim Gregg from the Epilepsy Advocacy Network joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about CamPossible. For more information, click here.
	Artist chosen to create new mural in downtown Aledo 19-year-old Madeline Dieters was selected to create the artwork that will decorate the south side of 112 E. Main St. in Aledo.
	Lake Storey water levels return to normal, all amenities to open With water levels back to normal, swimming is now available at Lake Storey Beach daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day.
	Virtual reality theme park opens at NorthPark Mall A virtual reality theme park has opened at NorthPark Mall in Davenport. Virtual Ventures offers motorcycle racing, paragliding and group game options for kids of all ages. There are also game options for people who get motion sickness. Founders say it's a concept six years in the making, and local leaders hope the VR arcade [...]
	FirstPlay program for baby brain development Vera French Mental Health Center is offering a new program to teach parents how to interact with their baby to promote brain health.
	Comfortable days ahead. Cool, low humidity! Cooler than normal conditions expected mid-week before active pattern returns
	Lake Storey opens for 2026 season There’s good news for swimmers and boaters in Galesburg! The City of Galesburg has announced that water levels at Lake Storey have officially returned to normal, allowing all seasonal recreational activities to resume. The lake levels were kept lowered further into the summer season than usual to accommodate the construction of the multi-use walking trail expansion. The contractor [...]
	Programming Note: No noon, QCL or 4 and 5 p.m. news Friday KWQC will not air the news at noon, Quad Cities Live or our newscasts at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Friday due to NBC coverage of golf.
	Musco Lighting named official lighting provider of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games The 2028 games will be held in Los Angeles, California.
	Artist named for new Aledo mural The Windborn Group and Quad City Arts announced that artist Madeline Dieters has been chosen to create a new public mural on the South side of 112 E. Main St. in downtown Aledo. The mural is supported by the Illinois Arts Council's America's 250th Public Art Grant and is part of a statewide initiative celebrating [...]
	Person killed after crashing on Knoxville Road in rural Milan According to the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office, a driver was heading east on the road when they veered off and crashed into a tree.
	Have fun without tech with Girl Scouts' Screen Break Challenge Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois invite kids and families to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with each other. The Screen Break Challenge encourages families to explore the outdoors, build life skills and have fun without screens. Participants will trade screen time for real-world experiences across four categories: life skills, outdoor adventures, [...]
	One dead following single-vehicle crash in Rock Island County The Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal crash, which occurred in the 9900 block of Knoxville Road on Thursday.
	One dead following single-vehicle crash in Rock Island County The Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal crash, which occurred in the 9900 block of Knoxville Road on Thursday.
	Spend Father's Day weekend at Skinny's Street Fest Spend Father’s Day weekend in Muscatine, enjoying barbecue, music and fun. Skinny’s Street Fest will turn the 200 block of West 2nd Street into a full‑day celebration of food, music, and community. The festival runs from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 and is free for all ages. West 2nd Street from [...]
	Driver dies after hitting tree on Knoxville Road A driver died after hitting a tree on Knoxville Road in Milan, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office said.
	Weekend Rundown with WLLR \| June 18, 2026 There are many family-friendly events going on this weekend, and we've brought in Dani Howe from WLLR to break it down.
	Allegiant cancels Quad-Cities to Phoenix flight for 6 weeks this winter The airline will suspend the service between Dec. 2 and Jan. 15 and resume flights on Jan. 18.
	One dead in Knoxville Road crash One person is dead after a crash on Knoxville Road today, according to a news release from the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash in the 9900 block of Knoxville Road outside of Milan on June 18. When they arrived, they found that an eastbound vehicle had left the [...]
	Forget the hype house. 7 reasons why creators are working from coworking spaces Forget the hype house. 7 reasons why creators are working from coworking spacesSuccessful YouTubers are the new TV and movie stars—and they’re ditching Hollywood’s studio model.At YouTube’s Brandcast upfront in May, creators like “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper and Trevor Noah skipped network meetings to pitch their upcoming shows directly to advertisers and media buyers. As the platform pivots to allow brands to buy inventory in individual series, instead of cutting checks later on based on likes and follows, creators can now also secure pre-production funding and run with it—partly why “Subway Takes” host Kareem Rahma ditched CNN after seven years in “disastrous” production limbo to independently launch his new interview show, “Keep the Meter Running,” on YouTube.The transition is a no-brainer: YouTube took 12.5% of all TV and streaming viewership in January 2026—outpacing Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+—and allowed creators to self-start their channels. In late 2025,YouTube revealed it had paid out over $100 billion to creators, artists and media companies since 2021, and the number of YouTube channels making more than $100,000 from TV screens jumped 45 percent year-on-year. The platform is also taking aim at awards legitimacy to match its reach, expanding its Primetime Emmy FYC slate from three to seven creators in 2026—including "Subway Takes" and "Celebrity Substitute." Creators with nation-sized followings can afford to build their own vast production campuses—MrBeast’s $14 million North Carolina studio encompasses the second-largest sound stage in the U.S.—but where are these vast swathes of aspiring stars recording their shows?The surprising answer: coworking spaces.Below, CANOPY explains seven reasons why a premium coworking membership sets budding YouTubers—and anyone making content at your company—on the path to success.1. Space for Creativity To Thrive in CommunityEven solo creators need help—shows and series with TV production DNA are labor-intensive and need a producer, an editor, and a fixer. Julian Shapiro-Barnum scaled from posting COVID-19 pandemic-era YouTube videos of himself interviewing children solo to a full production company for Celebrity Substitute, which now has over 500 million views as of May 2026 and is in its third season. Creator-showrunners also need to tap a steady stream of guests and collaborators to produce fresh, relevant content while growing their respective followings.Collab houses tried to solve for community and scale with flashy mansions, but as drama unfolded and breakout stars left—and teams and creators still opted to live and work offsite—the content-house era was a flash in the pan. A 2023 Los Angeles Magazine story reported how the TikTok-famous Hype House peaked at 21 members, lost its top talent within months of its 2020 launch (when only four members lived there full-time), and was sold in August 2024.Enter the premium shared office: a place where content teams can meet, ideate, and execute without friction at team desks, in conference rooms, within dedicated shooting spaces. Creative studio Bonfire Labs delivers “scalable as hell” creative services for clients Google, Adobe, Amazon, GAP, Fitbit, and Hims & Hers. Because every project varies in scope and scale, the studio needs to tap diverse locations from a business office base in a coworking space. “This enables us to maintain a smaller footprint while providing an upscale, bespoke base for team members, plus access to centrally located, beautiful conference rooms for meetings with brands and prospects,” explained Bonfire Labs’ head of business development, Zach Rubin.2. Connections to Collaborators and Collaborators Without the StringsHistorically, support for producing content required trade-offs. Traditional studios demanded the final word on show format and inclusions, and paid salaries in lieu of shares in ad and partnership revenue. Content houses offered free rent but required exclusivity, brand-deal cuts, and creative control: Fenty Beauty's brand house required creators to make on-message content; Jake Paul structured his Team 10 YouTuber housing agreement so only he could monetize the collective output.The coworking model offers organic community and necessary infrastructure—no contractual strings attached. Music publicists sit three desks from documentary editors, entertainment lawyers, and financiers. Podcast producers cross paths with brand strategists at member events. Creators own their IP, brand deals, and post what they want. As Julian Shapiro-Barnum, creator of “Recess Therapy” and “Celebrity Substitute,” told Deadline: "We're not waiting on anybody to open any door for us or unlock any budget, we're going to brands with an idea, getting it funded ourselves."3. Design-Forward Locations That Double As SetsThe backdrop behind a creator is visual branding. A bare wall reads “bedroom producer,” especially on a 65-inch screen; a biophilic, layered space with camera-ready colors and furnishings signals the show is hitting its stride.A 60-second brand partnership or podcast video shot in a beautifully decorated private office delivers the look and feel of a dedicated soundstage. Design-forward coworking offers additional spaces like cozy lounges, shared kitchens, and outdoor space that can be broadcast-ready with a few tweaks—and on a flexible schedule that creators own. When “House Bunny” actor Anna Faris and her producing partner Sim Sarna looked for an inviting home for their relationship advice podcast, “Unqualified,” they didn't sign a studio lease—they found a Hollywood coworking space with a living-room-style space. “Podcasting is an intimate experience, and audio is intimate because we're in your ears," Sarna told The Hollywood Reporter.4. Silence Is Golden, and Coworking Spaces Offer Soundproofing Essential to Quality Production“I'm about to drive over to Henry's house and knock out the leaf blower—I'm going to get him!” joked “Smartless” cohost Jason Bateman as a gardener fires up his tools over guest Henry Winkler. For podcasters, voice-over artists, producers, and sound mixers, online podcast recording tools like Zencastr are a boon for engaging busy guests wherever they are, but it’s still tricky to find spots with acoustic silence—not the relative quiet of a bedroom or home office, but an absence of all sound to ensure vocal tracks sit cleanly in a mix.For creators without a dedicated studio, soundproofed private offices and telephone booths in a coworking space offer small footprints, soft surfaces, and professional-grade acoustic infrastructure as part of a membership. For international guests, it's typically easier to find and drop into a nearby coworking space than a studio. Karine Sarkissian, founding partner at VC firm Tamar Capital and design lead at the enterprise program Le Studio, rents a private coworking space office in San Francisco where she records her podcast, “Under The Hood,” with visiting and remote guests in phone booths and conference rooms. “We come in two or three days a week and often start work at 6 a.m. to overlap with London and Beirut time zones. It's really fun, and the conversations are truly inspiring!”5. Just Hit ‘Record.’ Coworking Spaces Offer the Right Tools and Technologies.While “SmartLess” is one pod that sticks to its off-screen philosophy, providing video for audio shows is a lucrative business. YouTube has more than 1 billion monthly podcast viewers. A year into Spotify's Partner Program, which helps creators to monetize video engagement, monthly video podcast consumption has nearly doubled. (Spotify paid more than $100 million to podcast publishers and podcasters worldwide in the first quarter of 2025 through ads and revenue generated through the Spotify Partner Program.) Podcast software platform Podyx reports that brand spend on full packages—editing, show notes, clipping, and short-form video—is growing strongly, but tacking video onto an audio setup is costly. With so many shows and hosts vying for attention, plug-and-play setups are essential for shipping well-produced content quickly and consistently.Premium shared office developments offer what would cost a fortune to assemble independently: dedicated high-speed internet, video conferencing rooms, AV infrastructure, lavish indoor-outdoor spaces, and even purpose-built content studios. When The Spear, the first luxury “office resort” in the U.S., opens in downtown San Francisco later this year, tenants will have access to luxe coworking space and Spear Studios—a private media recording space for podcasts, music, and live TV.6. Dedicated Events Teams Make Reserving Spaces, Booking Talent, and Managing AV Gear EasyBuying or hiring cameras and mics is already pricey, and there are plenty of hidden costs baked into independent productions. Booking guests. Confirming rooms. Green-room logistics. Setting up AV and mic checks. Now that A-listers are YouTube regulars—Harry Styles on “Royal Court,” Charli XCX on “Feeding Starving Celebrities”—creators are under pressure to deliver professional, late show-style guest hospitality.Traditional studios employ staff for this—and so do premium coworking spaces. Dedicated concierge-style community managers, events teams, and operations staff at shared offices offer turnkey hosting at a level approaching a small production company's back office included with membership. They even offer the flexibility to shoot commercials or launch products on a day pass. When Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Pictures sought a location for “Generation Hustle,” a 10-part series that looks at the lengths young people will go to for fame, fortune, and power, a coworking space in San Francisco’s VC hub Jackson Square delivered the perfect setting.7. The Financials Are a No-BrainerFor a working creator, the economics say it all. Audio studios in major cities average $100 to $150 per hour and can be as costly as $500 per hour at flagship facilities. Filming spaces can run $60 to $180 per hour nationally—adding up to $30,000 to $80,000 annually for weekly content—while renting a premium film studio in LA can kick up to $3,000 a day. A content-house mansion can easily tick up above $80,000 per month and demands exclusivity.Comparatively, a premium coworking membership—with soundproofed offices, phone booths, design-forward lounges, conference rooms, AV gear, and staff—typically runs $300 to $1200 per month. No revenue share or tithing on brand deals. The address is yours. The IP is yours. As YouTube CEO Neal Mohan told the Lincoln Center crowd at Brandcast, creators today "want to be entrepreneurs, own their work, and have a direct relationship with an audience." Today’s coworking spaces are answering the call.This story was developed by CANOPY and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How SBIC funds fuel Main Street infrastructure and regional job creation How SBIC funds fuel Main Street infrastructure and regional job creationThe U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of April 2026, the total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 115,000 and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3%, although job gains occurred in healthcare, transportation and warehousing, and retail trade.There's a growing national focus on infrastructure modernization and regional economic resilience, and while much of this growth is supported by public funding, there are also private capital mechanisms at play, such as small business investment company (SBIC) funds, Abacus Finance reports. SBIC funds are also helping lower middle-market, U.S. small businesses expand operations and create regional jobs while supporting Main Street infrastructure. Abacus Finance How SBIC Funds Interact With Regional Infrastructure DevelopmentSBIC funds are designed to increase capital availability for qualifying small and middle-market businesses, which are often found in infrastructure-related industries, such as industrial manufacturing, logistics, utility services, and transportation operations. Financing is needed for expenses related to operational expansion, such as equipment purchases, facility improvements, or workforce growth tied to regional demand.This segment isn't the usual target of large institutional lenders. SBIC loans fill funding gaps that exist. SBIC participation is relevant within discussions surrounding domestic industrial capacity and regional commercial expansion, as the relationship between SBIC capital and infrastructure development is generally indirect.Employment Growth Associated With SBIC-Backed Business ExpansionSBIC financing is used for growth-oriented activities, such as:Increasing production capacityOpening additional facilitiesAcquiring equipmentExpanding into new marketsThese operational changes influence employment levels in relevant sectors. Workforce growth occurs directly through hiring, but employment effects are also tied to broader supplier or contractor activity.Regional labor markets also experience indirect effects, as expansion generates additional demand for transportation, maintenance, professional services, or local procurement. SBIC-related job creation, therefore, centers on broader economic participation rather than solely on immediate hiring figures.The Role of Patient Capital in Infrastructure-Adjacent IndustriesInfrastructure-adjacent sectors often have business cycles that differ from those in shorter-term consumer industries. There are extended project timelines, regulatory considerations, and substantial upfront operational costs. These longer development periods require multi-year horizons, which are found in financing structures associated with SBIC funds.SBIC capital is generally deployed into privately held firms that support broader infrastructure ecosystems; it doesn't function as direct public infrastructure financing.SBIC Activity Within Middle-Market Industrial EcosystemsMany regional economies depend on networks of specialized middle-market businesses that contribute to manufacturing, distribution, maintenance, engineering, and industrial support operations. Smaller industrial firms look for alternative capital sources beyond traditional commercial lending, and SBIC financing activity correlates with this.The resulting economic activity influences surrounding commercial networks. This includes:SuppliersTransportation providersSubcontractorsRegional service firmsIndustrial ecosystems that are supported by middle-market companies tend to evolve incrementally over time rather than through large-scale public investment alone.Capital Availability in Rural and Underserved Regional MarketsAccess to institutional financing varies across geographic regions. Rural communities and smaller metropolitan areas have limited financing availability since there's lower population density or reduced lender participation.Financing activity in underserved areas is often examined in relation to its broader economic effects. However, outcomes differ widely depending on:Sector conditionsManagement performanceRegional economic trendsConsequently, targeted private credit interventions serve as a stabilizer, allowing small enterprises to maintain operational continuity during localized market downturns while ensuring that vital logistics and utility networks remain fully funded and capable of supporting downstream employment opportunities across regions.SBIC Funds Within the Broader Private Capital EnvironmentSBIC funds are a part of a longstanding financing structure aimed at supporting qualifying domestic businesses through private investment activity.The relevance of SBIC participation is connected to segments of the market that fall below the transaction sizes commonly pursued by large institutional platforms. Companies in infrastructure-support sectors may seek financing arrangements tailored to operational growth and long-term business expansion.SBIC activity is generally viewed as one component within the broader landscape of middle-market private capital allocation.SBIC funds intersect with both economic development objectives and middle-market business financing. SBIC-backed investment activity is often tied to the long-term expansion of regional industries, infrastructure-support services, and employment ecosystems, all of which influence local economic performance over time.Increased attention on domestic manufacturing capacity and regional infrastructure investment could sustain demand for financing among lower middle-market businesses.This story was produced by Abacus Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island taps interim leader to guide public works transition Rock Island names Luke VanLandegen interim public works director, overseeing 110 staff after Mike Bartels’ resignation.
	Illinois eliminates mandatory driving test for seniors 79-86 Starting July 1, the Road Safety and Fairness Act removes mandatory behind-the-wheel testing for Illinois drivers aged 79 to 86 at renewal.
	Davenport plans $650,000 to fixing up buildings in the Rockingham Road corridor There are roughly 60 properties that would be eligible to apply for funding, which is coming from federal Community Development Block Grants.
	Student loan borrowers will get an interest rate cut if they sign up for auto pay The Trump administration wants to jumpstart student loan repayment, with federal student loan debt approaching $2 trillion.
	Free admission to Figge Art Museum this July Beat the heat in July by visiting the Figge Art Museum for free, thanks to support from Cal and Jill Werner. Visitors can enjoy free admission while exploring exhibitions, discovering new favorites and participating in fun programs for all ages. Guests can take free guided tours every Sunday at 2 p.m., and the free drop-in [...]
	Federal regulators speed up power grid connections for massive AI data centers Federal regulators on Thursday agreed to let large energy users connect more quickly to the nation’s inefficient and electric transmission system.
	Allegiant Airlines temporarily suspends popular Quad Cities to Phoenix-Mesa route for winter weeks Allegiant Airlines is temporarily pausing its popular route from the Quad Cities to Phoenix-Mesa for six weeks this winter due to fuel costs.
	Read the full text of Trump's preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement to end the war Here is the text of the memorandum of understanding that was signed Wednesday by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as Pakistan's prime minister.
	NM spent nearly $844M on behavioral health, but ‘investment is not yet matching the outcome’ The U.S. Department of Justice said cash and drugs, pictured here, were seized in Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico in the country's largest ever fentanyl bust in April, 2025 (Courtesy U.S. District Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico)New Mexico has spent $843.5 million since 2022 to rebuild the state’s behavioral health system, but some residents still face issues scheduling behavioral health appointments and New Mexico was one of just seven states to see an increase in overdose deaths last year, according to a new state report. State analysts in a Legislative Finance Committee report wrote that the investments are paramount as New Mexicans, particularly youth and teenagers, report some of the poorest life outcomes in the nation. From 2024 to 2025, overdose deaths nationally fell by nearly 14%, while they rose in New Mexico by nearly 22%, the report says. LFC analysts presented their findings alongside officials from the Administrative Office of the Courts and the state Health Care Authority’s Behavioral Health Services Division before a panel of lawmakers in Ruidoso Thursday morning. “There are a number of concerning areas that may merit additional, really strong legislative guidance,” Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), who chairs the interim Legislative Finance Committee, said during Thursday’s hearing. “I think across a wide range of areas, the investment is not yet matching the outcome.” Many behavioral health providers pulled out of New Mexico more than 10 years ago after former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez accused several of fraud and froze their Medicaid payments. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2025 signed the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, which sought to rebuild the system and established into law 13 “behavioral health regions” across the state. Leaders in each of the 13 regions are tasked with identifying the behavioral health needs in their communities and submitting plans to address those to the state. The districts have until June 30 to submit those plans. As of Thursday, regions 1 and 2 — which represent Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties and Bernalillo County, respectively — have already submitted and finalized their plans. Five others have submitted draft plans to the state but have yet to finalize them. Two have requested extensions beyond the June 30 deadline, according to the LFC report. While the law establishing the behavioral health regions was intended to give local leaders control over issues unique to their counties, tribes and Pueblos, by creating their own behavioral health plans, the lack of uniformity has become something of an issue, Administrative Office of the Courts Deputy Director Sarah Jacobs said at Thursday’s hearing. “The behavioral health investment and reform act does not outline any sort of governance structure for the regions themselves, so we have a lot of varying politics at the local level,” she said. Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) said she was dismayed at the level of progress since passing the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act in 2025. “I guess I was under the impression that we’d be further along than we are,” she said. Nick Boukas, director of the Health Care Authority’s Behavioral Health Services Division, responded that regional behavioral health plans, in particular, are actually moving along on schedule. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	Ukraine hits a Moscow oil refinery and other sites in a large-scale drone attack Ukraine launched a new wave of drone attacks on Russia early Thursday, amounting to one of the largest attacks on the Russian capital since the Kremlin ordered the invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
	You're probably using too many skin care products. Here are the 3 essentials We asked half a dozen skin care experts: Which products do you really need to keep your skin healthy and attractive? Here's what they said.
	Sandburg Community Band hosting free concert July 2 Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at a free outdoor patriotic concert by the Sandburg Community Band on July 2 at 7 p.m. on the college’s Galesburg campus, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Boulevard. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the theater (room F118). Residents can bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy [...]
	Auditor: School choice cost Iowans $258 million Auditor Rob Sand's report says taxpayers spent $258.7M on tuition for students already expected to go private, drawing heat from state officials.
	Today’s students need more flexible pathways — colleges are adapting (BPT) - Key TakeawaysAcademic pathways are often riddled with confusion and barriers.Learners desire an education, but are often discouraged by affordability, application and enrollment confusion, and a disconnect in career relevance.Institutions that integrate AI platforms into their processes can improve student enrollment and educational outcomes.For generations, college journeys followed a familiar script: graduate high school, enroll full-time, earn a degree in four years and begin a career. That path still works for some but for millions of others, higher education is no longer linear. Institutions are being challenged to adapt.Today's learners are balancing jobs, caregiving responsibilities, rising costs and rapidly changing workforce demands. Some start college and pause. Others transfer schools, return later in life or pursue shorter-term credentials to build new skills. Students now expect education to fit into their lives — not the other way around.This shift in expectations is forcing colleges and universities to rethink how they support student success. Their focus is no longer on enrollment or graduation rates. It has evolved to prioritize helping learners navigate complex journeys with greater clarity, flexibility and confidence.The good news is that leading institutions are beginning to embrace new technologies, including AI-powered tools, to create more connected and personalized student experiences. When integrated into application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI can help simplify complex systems, effectively guide students and provide support throughout the student journey. In short, it allows learners to focus more fully on achieving their educational and career goals.Hurdles that hinder achievementThe path to education presented by conventional institutional processes is filled with many hurdles linked to affordability, clarity and relevance.Affordability: Cost remains the leading barrier to pursuing higher education. According to the 2025 Student Voice Report from Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, 53% of high school students who do not plan to enroll cited cost as the top deterrent.Similarly, 56% of opt-outs (individuals who never attended college) said financial uncertainty was the top reason for not attending, and almost a quarter of stop-outs (students who started but didn't complete a degree) said they they could not afford the up-front costs to return to school.While colleges can't always lower tuition costs, they can make it easier for students to understand expenses, compare aid options and avoid unexpected financial barriers.Clarity: Administrative tasks students must complete before and after admission can be confusing and unclear, discouraging students from enrolling or returning to college.In fact, Ellucian's report found that many high school students are unsure of how to begin the college application process. Instead of seeking information from universities, students are turning to social media for guidance or entering the workforce directly.Students considering returning to complete their education were discouraged by unclear academic pathways.According to Ellucian's report, only 22% of stop-outs understood their remaining credit requirements, and even fewer (15%) felt confident in the credit transfer process. Also, the majority of students interested in transferring credits expressed uncertainty about how their previously earned credits would be recognized.That said, many former students are interested in returning to their education. Of the students surveyed, 60% of stop-outs said they would return to college with a clear path to completion.Relevance: Higher education's benefits and its connection to future careers aren't always apparent. When surveyed, many individuals opted out because they believed college was not essential for their career goals. Many also didn't believe the cost and time investment outweighed the benefits of obtaining a college degree/certificate.Nondegree options that offer upskilling and reskilling opportunities could be a draw for learners seeking a clearer connection to workforce-relevant pathways — if they were aware of them.The survey report revealed that more than a quarter of enrolled students had never heard of these alternative offerings. Even among those who had heard of nondegree programs, many couldn't articulate their purpose or value. However, when informed, many graduates, current college students and opt-outs saw the value in nondegree programs.What can help re-engage learners?So, the question becomes: how can institutions re-engage learners? It begins with unifying academic, financial and operational processes to simplify the student experience from the first application through graduation day, using an AI-powered system such as Ellucian Student.When integrated into an institution's application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI becomes an ongoing resource for students throughout their educational journey.AI platforms can automate the educational planning process, helping students better understand which classes meet their degree or certificate requirements and enroll in them each semester. And, as they learn, the platform can provide a transparent map of their educational path, leading to better outcomes.By offering easy-to-understand financial aid offer letters, automated aid processes and optimized fund utilization, an integrated AI platform can help students better understand the total cost of their education, allowing them to plan how to afford higher education, ultimately reducing the top barrier to student enrollment and persistence.Students aren't the only ones who benefit from AI integration. Institutions can improve their efficiency by using AI to automate routine operations, freeing up more time for the human element. When faculty and staff spend less time on operational tasks, they can focus more on students to help learners get on track, stay on track and get ahead. Just as important, institutions need direct input from students to ensure the technologies and processes they implement truly meet learners' needs. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, students can help shape more accessible, transparent and effective educational journeys for future generations. Students interested in helping shape the future of higher education technology can join EnlightenED, Ellucian's student ambassador program. Participants gain opportunities to build career-ready skills, expand their professional networks, contribute their perspectives to conversations about higher education innovation and help influence solutions designed to improve the student experience.
	The flesh-eating pest that once cost ranchers millions is back The flesh-eating pest that once cost ranchers millions is backIt’s back: For the first time since 1982, the New World screwworm has been found in U.S. cattle. The flesh-eating parasitic fly, which was eradicated from American cattle herds almost 50 years ago, has been detected in three cows, one dog and a goat, prompting Canada to restrict cattle imports from the United States and raising the specter of a wider outbreak.The New World screwworm was a massive problem in U.S. cattle herds for much of the 20th century, killing countless cows and costing the industry hundreds of millions of dollars. One screwworm outbreak in Texas in 1935 is estimated to have killed 180,000 cattle. It was mostly eradicated from the United States by 1966 via releasing sterile insects that could not reproduce.Sentient broke down the details of the New World screwworm’s return, the impacts it has on the livestock industry, and what authorities are doing to prevent a widespread outbreak.The screwworm’s long-dreaded arrival in the United States comes at a particularly fraught time for the country’s beef industry. Beef prices are at a record high: ground beef was a whopping $6.90 per pound in April, up 24% since Trump began his second term in January 2025. This is partly because the number of cattle in the U.S. is at a 75-year low, and screwworm could push those numbers still lower. Efforts to contain the fly could be costly for producers and further drive up beef prices — and if a screwworm outbreak becomes widespread, it could be catastrophic for the industry. An outbreak could kill calves and make adult cattle unhealthier, leaving less meat that is fit for sale.Elon Musk and the Trump Administration cut funding for a national screwworm monitoring program in March of 2025, according to Agri-Pulse.“The parasite’s capacity to devastate the cattle industry cannot be overstated,” Dr. Tyler Evans, epidemiologist and former chief medical officer for New York City, told Sentient in an email last September.Five New Cases In Calves, Goat and DogThe Department of Agriculture confirmed on June 3 that the screwworm had been found in a 3-week-old baby calf in Texas. Two days later, the agency confirmed that a second case had been detected in a 1-month-old calf in the same Texas county. By June 8, screwworm infections had been confirmed in a third calf, a goat and a dog, bringing the total number of cases to five.The first two cases were detected less than 6 miles away from one another in Zavala County. But the third was found around 80 miles north in La Salle County, and the goat with screwworm was located 170 miles away from the first two cases. Perhaps most concerningly, the dog who contracted screwworm lives a state away in Lea County, New Mexico.Authorities haven’t disclosed where the dog, described as a “small-breed male,” contracted screwworm. He lives in New Mexico, but the veterinarian who reported the case did so from Andrews County, Texas, which is more than 400 miles away from the first two cases. According to the USDA, the dog’s travel history is currently being investigated.When female screwworms find a mammal with a scratch or other open wound, they lay hundreds of eggs in the wound. This typically leads to a secondary infection known as myiasis, which can kill the animal in seven to 14 days. Myiasis is treatable with larvicides, insecticides and daily cleaning of the wounds, but only if it’s detected in time, which can be difficult in large herds of livestock. Screwworm infections in humans are very rare.The sterile insect technique involves sterilizing large amounts of male screwworms and releasing them into screwworm hot spots. Because female screwworms only mate once in their lives, flooding a population with sterile males gradually reduces its numbers over time.The United States and Panama together maintain a sterile screwworm facility in Panama, which releases around 100 million sterile flies per week. Currently, this is the only operational sterile fly production facility in the world; two others are under construction in Mexico and Texas.The sterile fly technique was effective at ending the screwworm’s decades-long reign of terror in the United States, although there were some short-lived outbreaks in the following decades. The last time the fly was detected in a U.S. cow was 1982; there was a brief outbreak in the Florida Keys in 2016-2017, but it only infected deer.In 2023, however, there was a major screwworm outbreak in Panama, and for reasons that are still unclear, the fly was able to break through the buffer zone and move north. Two years later, when the fly was detected in a Mexican cow, the USDA announced a complete moratorium on all cattle imports through the southern border in attempts to prevent it from reaching the United States.Now, the tables have turned: On June 5, Canada banned all livestock that was in Texas at any point over the previous 21 days from entering its borders.Canada’s climate is cold enough that screwworms can’t gain a foothold there in the long term, but “they can survive shorter periods of time in the summer months,” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a press release.Efforts to fight the screwworm could be complicated by the Farm Bill, which has passed the House but not yet the Senate. The House version of the bill contained a provision called the Save Our Bacon Act that, if passed into law, could invalidate hundreds of state laws and regulations regarding livestock.After news broke that the screwworm had reached Texas, the Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law warned in a press release that the provision could significantly hinder state efforts to fight screwworm. The Save Our Bacon Act “could nullify over 600 existing state laws, including biosecurity provisions that create state-based protections against various diseases and parasites,” the press release stated.Early reports indicate that the Senate is likely to strip the Save Our Bacon Act from the final version of the Farm Bill, but even if this happens, it could be added back in as an amendment. The Senate isn’t expected to consider the bill in full until July.In a press conference on June 8, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Trump administration is increasing surveillance on the U.S.-Mexican border and working to increase sterile fly production in an attempt to prevent the fly from spreading further. In the meantime, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a press release, “Every day we delay gives this pest another opportunity to spread.”This story was produced by Sentient and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How can businesses handle seasonal inventory overflow without expanding warehouse space? How can businesses handle seasonal inventory overflow without expanding warehouse space?Maybe you’re preparing for the holiday rush, and you’ve got some stocks that don’t fit your primary warehouse. Perhaps you’ve over-ordered to avoid stockouts, but now you’ve got excess inventory sitting idle for a few months. Some businesses struggle with inaccurate forecasts, which also results in surplus stock. Whatever the cause, seasonal inventory overflow can be tricky to handle, especially if your warehouse is already at capacity.Paying for extra warehouse space can be costly and unnecessary, especially if you don’t expect to hold the stocks all year long. That’s where temporary, portable storage options come in handy. Pro Box Portable Storage shares what these options mean for you and how they can help your business.Key TakeawaysManaging seasonal inventory doesn’t have to be costly. Here are key points to remember:You can use temporary, portable storage solutions — a process called overflow warehousing — to store inventory right at your facility.Overflow warehousing solutions are flexible and benefit many industries, including retail, e-commerce, manufacturing and third-party logistics services.Creating an accurate estimate of your storage needs helps you prevent paying for extra space.You can plan ahead for storage, especially for predictable seasonal activities, such as promotional events and holidays.Finding the right storage solution requires carefully evaluating options, from storage capacity to design and security features.How Businesses Can Manage Excess InventoryBusinesses can manage inventory overflow through temporary or permanent storage solutions. However, permanent solutions, such as warehouses with long-term contracts, come with unnecessary overhead costs. You might end up with empty warehouses once you lose all excess inventory through discounts or other reselling strategies. Portable storage enables you to rent storage space as needed and have it wherever you need it, suitable for seasonal fluctuations.What Is Overflow Warehousing?Overflow warehousing pertains to the use of temporary, semipermanent or flexible storage space to supplement your primary warehouse facilities. It’s ideal for businesses that experience seasonal peaks, changes in market conditions and unexpected surges. You can handle demand shifts without committing to long-term storage. It also helps you avoid operational bottlenecks and better meet customer expectations.For instance, if you’re an online business, your customers expect fast turnaround times for their orders. Delivery time is one factor that influences customer satisfaction, particularly for e-commerce platforms. With a portable, temporary storage space closer to your customer’s region, you can deliver goods more quickly and easily. You can also expand or contract as needed, without requiring the effort of purchasing or leasing a permanent warehouse.Benefits of Overflow WarehousingDemand for temporary storage solutions is increasing across multiple industries. Retail businesses, farmers, construction firms and event organizers are some of the few that enjoy these benefits:Flexible terms: Temporary storage solutions come with short- and long-term options, which cater to varying business needs.Customizable features: These solutions can include add-ons or design customizations that cater to your preferences — for instance, you might want some shelving to optimize storage space or ramps to make inventory movement easier.Streamlined operations: Temporary solutions prevent back orders and stockouts, which lets you continue your business operations smoothly during high-demand periods.Sustainable practice: Temporary storage facilities don’t have the same environmental impact as traditional warehouses. Portable containers don’t require construction and are repurposable. For instance, used shipping containers contribute to the circular economy — you’re extending the lifespan of these durable steel structures, keeping them in circulation for as long as possible.Retailers, in particular, can maintain optimal stock levels without overcrowding primary warehouse facilities. Manufacturers can store excess parts, which are often valuable during supplier delays or new product launches, when inventory needs can be unpredictable. Third-party logistics providers can also navigate storage constraints more easily, meeting clients’ complex inventory requirements without disrupting daily operations.How to Manage Inventory OverflowUsing onsite portable storage containers is an effective way to manage seasonal inventory. But before you compare storage solutions, you need to do three things. Pro Box Portable Storage 1. Estimate the Storage Space You NeedThe whole point of avoiding additional warehouse leases is to avoid paying for unnecessary storage space during periods that they’re empty. In the same way, you need to calculate how much storage you realistically need to avoid overpaying for temporary storage. Here’s how:Make an accurate list of inventory: List all excess inventory you have, including other materials you plan to store. For instance, you may list your products, packaging supplies, seasonal decor, retail displays, extra signage, power tools and cleaning items.Estimate volume size requirements: Calculate the volume size for each item — estimate the length, width and height in feet and multiply to get the cubic feet. Add everything together.Identify the storage unit size through your calculated volume: You typically choose storage units based on square footage, but consider the floor space and vertical stacking height. You likely won’t use 100% of the storage container’s cubic volume since you’ll need to account for access, safe stacking and oddly shaped packages.Consider how much access you need: If you don’t intend to access the inventory regularly, then you may pack the materials tightly. This approach might result in needing a smaller storage container. However, if the storage acts as a warehouse extension where you’ll access the inventory daily or weekly, you need to account for small walkways, shelving and labeled zones.Incorporate a growth buffer: Even if you’re using the storage for seasonal inventory, it helps to account for future needs. You might accumulate more equipment or seasonal products. This buffer can save you the potential cost of having to switch to or add a larger storage container later on.2. Identify the Applicable Local RequirementsConsider whether your business needs permits based on your local regulations. You might need zoning or building permits for temporary structures. In San Diego, you can place sea cargo containers in commercial and industrial zones if you have a legally established primary use onsite, and if you maintain all parking requirements. In Howard County, Maryland, you don’t need a zoning permit if the storage container is an accessory structure to a principal farming use within the Rural Conservation, Rural Residential and Rural: Environmental Development districts.Following these regulations protects you from potential fines, while noncompliance risks operational disruptions.3. Prepare Your Site for Drop-OffPortable storage containers have different sizes and weight limits, which impact site requirements. For instance, your site must be able to support the container’s weight, especially when it’s loaded with your inventory and equipment. Soft and uneven ground can cause containers to settle or shift, impacting your ability to open and close doors smoothly. A stable base also prevents moisture buildup and ensures the container remains level.The following bases can work great as a storage site:Concrete slab: Acts as a solid, level baseGravel: Offers stability with excellent drainageAsphalt: Provides a smooth, level surfaceSteel skids: Protect containers from uneven or soft terrainWhen to Plan for Seasonal InventoryPlanning for seasonal inventory is possible if you understand which business situations to expect. For instance, you may plan for:Holiday seasons: Businesses typically expect condensed shopping periods during holiday seasons, such as Christmas. Looking for temporary storage leases during these periods can help you navigate inventory overflow.Promotional periods: Your business may set early ordering periods or major promotional events that require bulk buying of stocks. Large stock quantities can temporarily overwhelm your primary warehouse, necessitating a separate storage solution.Business growth opportunities: You might plan to enter new markets, launch new products or merge with another company. These business growth opportunities often come with unpredictable inventory needs. Using onsite storage containers can offer breathing room before you move toward a larger, more permanent warehouse purchase.Infrastructure changes: Maybe your business will undergo expansion or renovation, or move entirely to a new facility. These events require temporary storage for your affected inventory.Some instances can be hard to plan for, but can still benefit from temporary storage. For instance, when inventory arrives earlier or later than you expect, you might not have the necessary space in your warehouse. Natural disasters and other emergencies also put inventory at risk, requiring temporary storage elsewhere.How to Choose the Right Seasonal Storage SolutionThe right storage solution accommodates your excess inventory and handling equipment, making daily operations and trucking activities easier. You can process goods in a minimal turnaround time, protecting customer trust. Consider the following criteria when selecting an option. Pro Box Portable Storage 1. Storage Size and ConditionYou can purchase a used or new portable storage container, or rent a refurbished one for a set period. Both options protect your inventory from the weather and external factors. You can also save more with used containers, even if they may need repairs or repainting. However, new, one-trip and refurbished containers are more pleasing to the eye for your personnel and passersby.Storage containers come in different capacities, typically ranging from 20 to 40 feet, each with its own height clearance. Choose a size based on your inventory calculations. If you’re uncertain whether the container will fit your site, providers can check out your site and confirm for you.2. Design and Add-OnsTemporary storage containers come with different designs — for instance, you may be looking for side-open containers or double-door options. If you’re buying instead of renting, you can choose customization, adding doors, windows, skylights, and framing. You can also opt for containers with ventilation and electrical systems.Rental container add-ons can improve your storage efficiency. For instance, shelves enable you to organize your boxes and make the most out of the storage space. Pipe racks keep the piping and other long materials off the floor and out of the way. Ramps make loading and unloading inventory quick and easy.3. Security FeaturesIdeally, you’ll want easy-to-open doors without sacrificing security. Look for robust security features that can protect your inventory effectively. For instance, some storage containers come with heavy-duty corrugated steel, solid interior locking bars and multiple security plates that prevent any break-in attempts, even with drills and pry bars. These features can give you peace of mind, especially if you plan to position these storage containers in remote areas.4. Contract TermsRenting portable storage containers is often the ideal solution for seasonal inventory overflow. But before you sign any contract, carefully review the terms to see that they’re adequate for your specific needs. Will you be loading the inventory yourself, or will the provider manage the packaging and handling for you? Consider if the contract comes with flexible storage durations. Providers typically transport the containers to your site.Frequently Asked QuestionsBusinesses with seasonal inventory often ask the following questions.What Is the 80/20 Rule in Inventory?The 80/20 rule is based on the Pareto principle, stating that about 80% of the effects in any system originate from 20% of the causes. When applied to inventory, you can estimate that 20% of your inventory items comprise 80% of the total inventory value, such as sales volume or consumption value. Understanding which of your stocks contributes the most to your business lets you set priorities when negotiating prices with suppliers.This estimate can also affect your priorities when reordering and arranging inventory in your storage spaces. For instance, you may position your top 20% in easily accessible areas.What Are the 7S Rules in Warehouse Management?The 7S framework offers a structured approach to how you optimize your workflow. It consists of:Sort: Sorting eliminates unnecessary items, requiring you to determine which ones add value to your operations. For instance, you may want to get rid of obsolete inventory or unused equipment.Set in order: Setting the place in order requires organizing your essential items to increase operational efficiency. This organization reduces wasted time and space.Shine: Shine pertains to the warehouse’s cleanliness — apart from simply polishing the surfaces, you clean the space thoroughly to prevent risks that can arise from neglect and disorder.Standardize: Standardizing processes and workflows creates an orderly and efficient environment. These processes also lead to less confusion and fewer errors.Sustain: To sustain the operations is to continuously improve business practices. You must foster an environment that constantly iterates, instead of encouraging personnel to unthinkingly follow procedures.Safety: You must ensure that all employees enjoy a safe environment and mitigate risks for accidents and injuries.Security: For a secure warehouse, ensure that only authorized personnel can access the area.How to Reduce Inventory SurplusWhile it can be tricky to prevent inventory surplus entirely, you can reduce it through different marketing strategies. For instance, you can:Offer sales or discounts regularly or after holiday seasons.Bundle products and services, such as slower-moving products with a popular one.Repackage products as rewards or incentives to build customer relationships, especially for products with shorter shelf lives.Eliminate Unnecessary Warehousing CostsExpanding warehouse space just to accommodate seasonal inventory can lead to unnecessary overhead costs. Opting for temporary, portable storage solutions can help you manage and store the surplus. This method pertains to the concept of overflow warehousing, which is often beneficial for many industries, such as retail, e-commerce, manufacturers and third-party logistics providers. Providers often offer flexible terms and customizable solutions, so you can easily find an option that fits your seasonal needs.To get started, you need to calculate the required storage space, review relevant local regulations and determine if your site is suitable for portable containers. Then, carefully consider providers based on their container conditions and sizes, customization options, security features and contract terms.This story was produced by Pro Box Portable Storage and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How a thrilling NBA Finals game affected fans' sleep and recovery metrics How a thrilling NBA Finals game affected fans' sleep and recovery metricsIf you walked through the streets of New York City late on the night the team made its historic Game 4 comeback in the NBA Finals, you could practically feel the electricity in the air. But as it turns out, the excitement of this Knicks playoff run isn’t just palpable—it’s measurable.Anonymized, de-identified data from New York-area Oura members reveals that the city experienced both a live physiological spike during the nail-biting game and a measurable slump in recovery the next morning.From the 8:30 p.m. tip-off to the final moments when the Knicks staged the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, New Yorkers were riding an emotional rollercoaster. Here’s a look at how the drama on the court translated into the data.The Game-Time Heart Rate SpikeFrom the moment the ball was tipped at 8:30pm on June 10, Oura members’ average heart rates jumped to +2 BPM above their personal baselines and stayed elevated for nearly the entire game.But the real kicker happened as the clock ticked down toward the 11:37 p.m. finish. With the wild ending to the game, the city’s collective heart rate rose sharply, peaking at an average of +3.7 BPM above baseline right before the final buzzer.Sleep and Recovery LossUnsurprisingly, a thrilling, late-night game doesn’t exactly prime the body for a peaceful night of deep rest. Whether it was the post-game adrenaline or staying up to watch the highlights, New Yorkers paid the price.On the night of June 10, Oura members in New York averaged just 6.63 hours of sleep—down roughly 10 minutes from the week prior.A closer look at the de-identified data shows exactly how that loss of sleep impacted the city’s overall recovery metrics: Oura While a 1% to 3% drop might look small on paper, seeing an entire metropolitan area shift simultaneously is incredibly rare. Every single stage of sleep—from the mentally restorative REM sleep to the physically healing deep sleep—took a hit.This story was produced by Oura and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Carriers hold firm on fuel surcharges despite emerging US-Iran peace plans Carriers hold firm on fuel surcharges despite emerging US-Iran peace plansThe midpoint of June 2026 demonstrated that the world is moving away from broad, sweeping border surcharges toward highly targeted, regulatory trade walls. The United States actively advanced its strategy to replace expiring emergency surcharges with permanent Section 301 labor tariffs, while successfully utilizing massive Section 232 pharmaceutical duties to force international drug manufacturers into onshoring commitments. Simultaneously, the European Union acted to protect its internal market on two fronts: by closing the de minimis loophole with a new 3-euro flat fee on low-value online imports and by advancing the Turnberry trade deal to secure lasting tariff peace with Washington. Ultimately, the week proved that the global economy is functioning within a highly legalistic centralized trade architecture in the West, where access to prime consumer markets requires meeting strict labor, safety, and supply-chain origin mandates.Freight Right broke down the state of the ocean and air freight markets this week.This Week’s Ocean and Air Freight MarketsChina-U.S. Ocean Freight Market: According to Freight Right’s TrueFreight Index, the transpacific ocean freight market has officially entered a higher pricing bracket. Over the past week, ocean freight rates from China to both North American coasts experienced a steep climb, driven by heavy volume increases in the first half of June and continued limits on available shipping space. The transpacific ocean freight market has officially entered a higher pricing bracket, confirming the expiration of $6,000 spot rates. Over the past week, ocean freight rates from China to both North American coasts experienced a steep climb, driven by heavy volume increases in the first half of June.China/East Asia to U.S. West Coast: Spot rates have broken past previous thresholds and are now officially confirmed in the low $6,000s per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU).China/East Asia to U.S. East Coast: Rates to the East Coast have pushed even higher, settling firmly into the mid-$7000s per FEU.For comparison, Gulf Coast rates are mirroring the East Coast in the mid-$7,000s, while inland moves to the Midwest (e.g., Chicago) have reached $8,000 to $8,400.Freight Right’s Lowest Rate indicators are finding that importers can find spot rates as low as $5,750 from China to the U.S. West Coast and $6,400 from China to the U.S. East Coast. Talk to your freight forwarder about options available to you. Freight Right Freight Right Freight Right What Happened This Past WeekPeak Season Front-Loading: Carriers reported a significant spike in cargo volumes during the first half of June. This surge is largely attributed to shippers front-loading their inventory early to avoid peak-season bottlenecks, which directly triggered carrier general rate increase (GRI) implementations for the second half of the month.Port Congestion and Rolled Cargo: Ongoing backlog from previous weeks continues to choke the network. This legacy congestion has triggered heavy rolling of bookings, severely degrading schedule reliability.Strict Dynamic Quoting: Due to the daily volatility in space availability, standard quotes are no longer guaranteed. Logistics providers are forcing a subject to roll and availability clause, as space secured one day is often entirely gone by the next.Looking AheadThe immediate outlook points to sustained upward pressure and prolonged volatility. Shippers should abandon expectations for a quick rate correction; carriers have just successfully pushed rates into the $6,000–$7,000+ range and will be highly resistant to lowering them, likely citing ongoing market uncertainty to justify keeping current fuel surcharges and base rates intact.Furthermore, because booking backlogs are already stretching lead times out significantly, with some agents quoting the beginning of July as the earliest available space, shippers must plan and book several weeks in advance to secure equipment and vessel space. Even if the geopolitical situation in the Middle East stabilizes and a formal peace deal is signed by the end of the week, the lag in carrier operational adjustments means the earliest the market would see any tangible impact or relief on fuel surcharges would be late next week or early July.This story was produced by Freight Right and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AI's expanding role in cybersecurity: Opportunity, risk and the new reality for businesses AI's expanding role in cybersecurity: Opportunity, risk and the new reality for businessesArtificial intelligence has taken over many conversations about the future of business, but none has grown more urgent than the one now centered on cybersecurity.When Anthropic unveiled Claude Mythos Preview earlier this year, the rollout did not follow the usual path of other public product releases. The model's ability to find and exploit software vulnerabilities was powerful enough to warrant restricted access through Project Glasswing, limiting early use to a vetted group of organizations focused on defensive security.That kind of restraint points to how fast AI capabilities have moved past the systems many companies have relied on to protect themselves. InCorp, a business services firm working with companies across all 50 states, has watched that tension move from IT departments to the center of how businesses think about risk.For organizations of every size, cybersecurity has become a business priority with little room for delay, especially as AI begins to change how risk moves through the systems companies depend on."What businesses are realizing very quickly is that AI has changed the speed of cyber risk. Companies no longer have days or weeks to respond to vulnerabilities. In many cases, they have minutes. That changes cybersecurity from an IT discussion into an operational business priority," notes Clay Plowman, executive vice president at InCorp Services Inc.How AI Is Changing the Cyber Threat LandscapeSecurity experts have spent years pressing executives to understand that the same technology strengthening defenses is also being turned against them.Defenders use AI to monitor systems and flag unusual behavior in real time, responding to threats at a speed that human teams alone cannot sustain. However, cybercriminals have adopted those same tools, running operations that once required entire teams, now with a far smaller setup.That smaller setup changes the economics of cybercrime, because attackers no longer need the same level of time, staffing, or skill to test a company's defenses. And with less effort required, automated attacks and AI-generated phishing campaigns move faster than traditional security cycles were built to handle."AI has lowered the barrier to entry for cybercrime. Activities that once required specialized teams can now be executed with smaller operations using automation and AI-assisted tooling. Businesses should assume attackers are becoming faster, cheaper, and more scalable," says Plowman.That speed helps explain why the World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 found that 94% of cybersecurity professionals view AI as the most significant driver of change in their work. It also points to the next concern facing security leaders, as more capable AI models begin to shorten the path between finding a weakness and using it.Why Advanced AI Models Raise New Red FlagsAdvanced AI models have moved well past automated phishing and into more serious territory, where they analyze software systems on their own and write code that turns weaknesses into cyberattacks.Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview made those stakes concrete during testing, when the model found a flaw that had gone undetected for 27 years in OpenBSD, an operating system known for its strong security record.Mythos also found a separate vulnerability in FFmpeg, a widely used video software that had survived 5 million automated test runs before the model caught it.Anthropic chose not to release the model publicly, and the concern soon reached the Financial Stability Board and the IMF. Capabilities this powerful are forcing security leaders to think less about isolated threats and more about how quickly their organizations can spot and repair risk.The Growing Importance of Proactive CybersecurityBusinesses used to have more time to spot a cyber threat before it caused serious damage, but AI is making that old margin feel much harder to trust. Harvard cybersecurity instructor David Cass described working with companies that lost more than $25 million in under 30 minutes.Speed like that leaves little room for guesswork, which is why proactive security now starts with continuous monitoring that catches unusual activity early. Those early warnings only help if companies also know where their weak spots are, making regular system audits part of the same discipline."Reactive security models are becoming harder to sustain in an AI-driven threat environment. Continuous monitoring, employee education, and regular system audits are no longer optional safeguards. They are part of maintaining operational resilience," adds Plowman. Employees need that discipline too, especially as AI makes scams harder to recognize at a glance. Jennifer Gold, chief information security officer at Risk Aperture, said organizations cannot roll out new technology and assume people know how to use it safely.Cybersecurity has to be built before the breach, while there is still time to prevent panic from becoming the operating plan.What Recent Attack Attempts Reveal About PreparednessOrganizations with strong defenses still face attack attempts, and what those attempts reveal is often more valuable than the block itself. The Hartford's 2026 Risk Monitor found cyberattacks tied with inflation as the most widely cited concern among business leaders.Both were flagged by 77% of those surveyed, and cyber risk has claimed a permanent seat beside the financial pressures executives already track.Building a Security-First Business CultureTechnology sets the ceiling on what a company can defend, but the decisions people make every day determine whether that ceiling ever gets reached. Those decisions usually take their cue from leadership, especially when executives follow the same security rules they expect from everyone else.Once that practice is visible from the top, internal rules become part of the workday instead of another document employees skim once and forget. But that same discipline has to extend outside the company, because vendors now sit inside many of the systems businesses rely on to operate.Naveen Balakrishnan, managing director at TD Securities, has observed that roughly 70% of attacks enter organizations through their vendors. Vendor exposure turns cybersecurity into a trust issue long before customers ever hear about a breach. And when a breach does happen, 65% of consumers say they stop trusting a brand immediately, and rebuilding that confidence takes far longer than the incident itself.Cybersecurity culture starts with leadership behavior. Employees are far more likely to follow security protocols when executives visibly treat security as part of everyday operations rather than a technical checkbox.What Businesses Should Expect Moving ForwardAI is not slowing down, and neither are the demands it places on companies that rely on it. K. Krithivasan, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services, has noted that AI compute doubles roughly every three months, and every business faces a higher breach risk when technology moves at that pace.In fact, research from ISC2 found that 52% of cybersecurity professionals say AI will have the greatest negative impact on security, while 41% say it will have the greatest positive impact. Both are right, and most companies will spend the next several years trying to manage the space between them.However, regulatory pressure is also becoming harder to ignore. Legal analysts at JD Supra have noted that AI compliance has moved past policy discussion into real enforcement, with states expanding rules around automated decisions and consumer data.For companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, keeping up with what is required has become a serious operational challenge on its own.Navigating Innovation With CautionAcross businesses of every size, AI has changed how cyberattacks happen and how companies have to defend against them. The tools attackers use are moving faster, and the tools defenders rely on have to keep up without creating new risk.Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, has observed that criminals will use any available tool to reach what is valuable, so defenders have to respond with the strongest tools they can use responsibly, including agentic AI.The balance between progress and protection is now part of running a modern company. And organizations that build security into daily operations are better prepared before a breach puts their trust to the test.This story was produced by InCorp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Leaving less up in the air: Considerations for severe asthma (BPT) - Sponsored by GSKYou do your best to manage severe asthma, often taking multiple therapies to keep asthma attacks at bay.1 Still, life may feel "up in the air" — like your treatments leave your symptoms feeling unpredictable.1,2If you're currently on treatment for severe asthma but still dealing with symptoms and attacks, it may be time for a conversation with your doctor — one that explores whether your current regimen is addressing a root cause of severe asthma.2,3Here are five things to know about severe asthma that may help you reduce severe asthma attacks:1. Your asthma can be unpredictableEven if you're doing your best to manage asthma, you may still be dealing with symptoms.2,3 Many patients accept ongoing frustration with frequent symptoms as the norm, but it doesn't have to be.4 Continued symptoms and flare-ups could be signs your treatment might not be fully addressing the problem.2,32. Chronic inflammation may be a root cause When it comes to asthma, chronic inflammation in the lungs plays an important role. For 80% of people with severe asthma, the disease is driven by a specific underlying issue called Type 2 inflammation.3,5 Uncontrolled inflammation in your lungs can cause attacks, make your asthma even worse, and can lead to hospitalization or ER visits.1,6 Knowing if you have uncontrolled asthma can help you assess your current treatment and if it's working for you. 3. When to consider a more targeted approachIf you're wondering if a targeted treatment might be an option for you, there are a few questions to ask yourself. If you've had at least two asthma attacks in the past year or have been hospitalized for your asthma, it may be time to talk to your doctor.3 4. Biologic treatments offer a different way to treat asthmaBiologic treatments target certain parts of the immune system to help manage inflammation.1,3 Biologic treatments can be added to an existing regimen for some cases of asthma.1,3 5. Talk to an asthma specialist about your treatment goalsOpening up about challenges isn't always easy, but it's key to meeting your goals and keeping your asthma management on track. There are several types of asthma specialists — pulmonologists, allergists and immunologists — that can help you make informed treatment decisions and explore options you may not have considered. It may be time to ask your doctor about a different type of asthma control. Learn more at asthma.com.[1] De Graaff, M. B., et al. "'like a fish on dry land': An explorative qualitative study into severe asthma and the impact of biologicals on patients' everyday life." Journal of Asthma, vol. 59, no. 5, 24 Feb. 2021, pp. 980–988, https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1888976.[2] Busse, William W., et al. "Holy Grail: The journey towards disease modification in asthma." European Respiratory Review, vol. 31, no. 163, 22 Feb. 2022, p. 210183, https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0183-2021.[3] Venkatesan, Priya. "2025 GINA Report for Asthma." The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, vol. 13, no. 8, Aug. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(25)00242-5.[4] Bidad, Natalie, et al. "Understanding patients' perceptions of asthma control: A qualitative study." European Respiratory Journal, vol. 51, no. 6, 17 May 2018, p. 1701346, https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01346-2017.[5] Heaney, L, et al. "Eosinophilic and noneosinophilic asthma." CHEST, vol. 160, no. 3, Sept. 2021, pp. 814–830, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.013[6] Çolak, Yunus, et al. "Type-2 inflammation and lung function decline in chronic airway disease in the general population." Thorax, vol. 79, no. 4, 9 Jan. 2024, pp. 349–358, https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220972.Sponsored by GSK
	Lost touch? Here are 5 ways Americans are successfully reconnecting with old friends, classmates, and co-workers Lost touch? Here are 5 ways Americans are successfully reconnecting with old friends, classmates, and co-workersMany people at one point or another have lost touch with once-close friends, a phenomenon only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 2021 data from the Survey Center on American Life indicates that the share of adults with no close friends at all has quadrupled since 1990.The good news is that it’s never too late to rekindle an old friendship. Spokeo put together five unique ways Americans can get back in contact with cherished friends, lost classmates, co-workers, and more.1. Alumni associations and LinkedInDedicated alumni platforms remain one of the most targeted tools for finding classmates. Many universities maintain their own alumni directories, which can be an excellent resource for those searching for old connections. To find old classmates or school friends who may not have opted in, LinkedIn can be another useful tool. They boast an alumni search function that allows you to filter by school, graduation year, and current location.2. Mutual friends and family members (the Six Degrees method)Before trying out any search tool, there’s a social networking component to consider. When trying to find someone, start by thinking about who you both knew, whether a mutual college roommate, a former co-worker, or a sibling. A single well-placed ask can move the needle on tracking someone down far faster than any database.This isn’t just theory. Brown University published an analysis in 2024 outlining how human brains navigate social networks in such a manner that you’re typically only six social connections away from anyone on the planet. Put it to the test next time you’re trying to track an old connection down.3. Social media searches using known detailsFacebook remains one of the most useful platforms for people searches, partly due to how many active monthly users frequent it, but also because of how much detail is available on public profiles. Names, hometowns, and life milestones are all searchable. By filtering based on these data points, there’s a strong chance a person can be surfaced if they’re active on the platform. Instagram and TikTok are harder to search without a username but are more prominent social media platforms in 2026, if you know enough data on the person to find a profile.For professional connections, LinkedIn is still the best option. The alumni search feature, in addition to its people search function, can allow you to filter by employer, school, and location all at once. For someone who has changed their career or moved, this can produce results that a single name search might not.4. People search and reverse phone lookup servicesPeople search platforms work by aggregating public records, including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and sometimes social profiles. These tools are typically most valuable when other methods have stalled. A reverse phone lookup can also confirm whether an old number still belongs to the person you’re looking for. Combining a name with a city search can return the current contact details of an individual, even if they have been offline for years.5. Niche online communities tied to shared experiencesFinally, some of the most active reconnections happen in spaces that are organized by specific events or experiences. A Reddit thread for alumni of employers, a Facebook group for veterans, or a Discord server for fans of a niche band are all examples. These communities self-select for people who happen to care enough about a shared experience to actively seek others who share the same interest.The key with this strategy isn’t to think about what specific shared experiences you and the person you’re searching for had, but rather if there’s an existing community around that experience.Sometimes, the hardest part is hitting sendFinding someone is often the easiest part of the equation. For some people, knowing what to say when someone is found is actually the harder part. Before reaching out to someone you lost touch with, think about sending a few warm messages to current friends first as a sort of trial run. The simple act of practicing can lower the psychological barrier enough that following through with your goal of reconnection may be easier.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why finding the right bra still feels like a mystery for millions of women Why finding the right bra still feels like a mystery for millions of women Most women know their bra size by heart, yet still walk out of a fitting room completely empty-handed. It is a frustrating issue, especially given how much fashion has advanced over the past two decades.Technology is now capable of recommending clothes based on precise body measurements and fabrics engineered to move exactly as the body does. And yet, the garment women wear closest to their skin remains one of the most frustrating to shop for.Women's intimates brand Felina has spent decades studying how bras fit and function across a wide range of women's bodies, and has seen firsthand what retail data and health research have long confirmed: Bra fit is one of the most common comfort problems in women's clothing, and the reasons behind it go far beyond anything a size chart can explain.Why Bra Sizes Aren’t Actually UniversalNo two brands make the same bra, even when the tag says the same size. Each company uses its own fit model, so one brand may build around a wider ribcage while another builds around a fuller cup. And every bra made from those models carries those choices into the fitting room.Research published in the International Open Access Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons confirms how much those choices affect fit, showing that cup volume can vary significantly between manufacturers even when the size label is identical.Bra designer Stephanie Muhlenfeld, who has designed for major labels including Nike, told HuffPost this makes it “almost impossible” for women to find the right fit based on size alone. When a bra digs, gaps, or refuses to sit right, many women assume their body is the problem, even though the bra was never made for one universal body in the first place.The Rise of Online Shopping Complicated the ProblemOnline shopping was supposed to make buying clothes easier, but bra shopping only got more complicated.Lingerie e-commerce has grown considerably, with Market Growth Reports noting that digitally native brands now accounting for 36% of global lingerie sales, and yet buying a bra on a screen means making a fit decision without ever touching the fabric or testing the band. Without that, most women end up guessing their size and ordering multiple options just to find one that works.Online return rates hover between 30% and 35% across lingerie, and fit issues remain one of the biggest drivers of apparel returns, according to Drapers research. The problem is that a bra is one of the most structurally complex garments a person wears, and no size chart has yet to replace the experience of trying one on and immediately knowing whether it fits.How Poor Fit Affects More Than ComfortA bra that doesn’t fit correctly places a daily physical load on the body it was never meant to carry. Without proper weight distribution, the neck and shoulders absorb pressure that should be supported elsewhere, and over time, that imbalance can affect posture.Breast surgeon Dr. Paul Banwell told HuffPost that wearing the wrong bra may lead to hunching, along with persistent back and shoulder pain. And the emotional toll can be just as hard to ignore. Women who spend their day adjusting and rearranging a bra that does not fit often internalize that frustration as a problem with their own body.Research also links ongoing bra discomfort with higher anxiety and lower self-esteem, pointing to bra fit as a daily wellness issue rather than a minor wardrobe frustration.Why Retailers Are Investing in Fit SolutionsRetailers have finally taken notice of a problem that has been costing the industry for years. The cost of getting fit wrong has become too high to ignore. This pressure has pushed brands toward fit quizzes and AI sizing tools that give shoppers more guidance before checkout.Many brands are also expanding size ranges, giving shoppers access to options that better reflect the realities of how women’s bodies vary. And those efforts are beginning to reshape the economics of online fit, with Market Growth Reports data showing that AI-powered fit tools are now used by 32% of leading e-commerce platforms and contributing to a 25% decline in returns.Better fit creates a better shopping experience, and retailers have learned that helping women find the right bra the first time is far less expensive than managing the returns that follow.The Consumer Shift Toward Comfort and FunctionalityHybrid and remote work gave millions of women long stretches at home, where a rigid, wired bra felt harder to justify, and many discovered they felt better in styles that placed less pressure on the body throughout the day. But once offices reopened and daily routines returned, that preference stayed with them.Market research reflects the same change in buying behavior, with Market Growth Reports research finding that more than 58% of women globally naming comfort as their primary reason for buying lingerie. Fit still has to support the body, but softness now plays a larger role in whether a bra feels wearable through an entire day.Why the Industry Still Has Work to DoBra sizing education remains one of the biggest obstacles left for the industry to solve, with Drapers research noting that only 10% of lingerie sites offering accurate size charts.The measuring methods many women still rely on were developed decades ago, before modern bra construction began relying more heavily on fabrics and structure rather than wires. Even expanded size ranges do not always solve the problem, since some brands add sizes by scaling existing patterns instead of rebuilding fit around different body types.Jené Luciani Sena, author of “The Bra Book,” told HuffPost that 9 out of 10 women she has personally fitted were wearing the wrong size. The industry is moving, but the everyday experience of buying a bra has not kept pace.The Future of Bra Shopping May Depend on Fit TransparencyBras have come a long way from the rigid styles women were once expected to tolerate. Softer fabrics have made them easier to wear, and online tools have made fit guidance more available before checkout.But bra sizing confusion still affects millions of women, especially when the same size feels different from one brand to the next. And that inconsistency is where better transparency becomes essential, because shoppers need to understand how a bra is built and who it was designed to support.Clearer sizing systems and better fit education would build on that transparency by giving women more certainty before they buy. If the industry gets that right, bra shopping can finally work the way women have always needed it to.This story was produced by Felina and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ reveals what most people get wrong about addiction and grief, according to a psychologist HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ reveals what most people get wrong about addiction and grief, according to a psychologistHBO’s “Euphoria” ended with a fictional overdose, but it was carrying the weight of a real one. For those unfamiliar with the series, “Euphoria” follows a group of teenagers navigating addiction, trauma and identity. It centers on Rue Bennett, a 17-year-old recovering from a near-fatal overdose following the death of her father.In 2023, Angus Cloud, the actor who played the show’s warm-hearted drug dealer Fezco, died at 25 years old from an accidental drug overdose involving fentanyl. He had just returned home after attending his father's funeral.After his death, “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson went back to the script and rethought Rue's ending. His reasoning was simple. Telling an honest story about addiction means showing what it actually costs: Not everyone gets a second chance. In the series finale, Rue’s character dies after taking a fentanyl-laced pill.LifeStance Health explores what the show gets right about addiction and grief, and what the path to recovery can look like.The role grief plays in addictionIn the days before Angus Cloud died, he had just buried his father. It is the same loss at the heart of Rue's story, and it points to one of the most significant relapse triggers there is: grief.People with a history of substance use can be particularly vulnerable during periods of loss, even if they have been stable for a long time. When we lose someone central to our lives, the pain can be profound enough to bypass every coping skill a person has built.“Euphoria” understood the weight of that grief long before the finale. Rue's father, who died of cancer when she was young, is a presence that haunts the entire series. In a Season 1 flashback, a 14-year-old Rue walks into his room and picks up his maroon hoodie from the bed, breathing in what's left of him. She never stops wearing it. In the series finale, when her sponsor Ali finds her gone, she’s still wrapped in that hoodie.That image is powerful storytelling, and it reflects what grief can do to people. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. The more ACEs a person experiences, the more likely they are to struggle with addiction, mental illness and chronic disease. For many people, addiction isn't where the story begins, but where unaddressed pain eventually lands.What most people get wrong about addictionUnderstanding why addiction takes root is one thing. Understanding how it behaves over time is another. For those who followed Rue across three seasons, her arc captures something most mainstream portrayals get wrong: Addiction is not a straight line.In Season 1, Rue is in a fresh, desperate crisis. By Season 3 she's five years older, working as a drug mule, and her relationship with substances has shifted. She isn't using hard drugs the way she once was. She's found a kind of uneasy equilibrium that looks, to the outside world, like getting by.Addiction can quiet down for stretches, but vulnerability rarely disappears entirely. In the finale, Rue doesn't relapse in the way most people might imagine. She hurts her hand and takes what she believes is a pain pill. She doesn't know it was deliberately laced with fentanyl by someone who knew exactly how to use her vulnerability against her. That moment, one injury, one pill, one unguarded instant, is all it takes. It illustrates how the delicate circumstances addiction creates between life or death leave very little margin for error.What recovery-focused care looks likeRue's story raises an important question: What does the right kind of support look like? Understanding what recovery-focused care involves can help people make more informed decisions about treatment. This commonly includes:Reestablishing safety. Many people living with addiction have spent years being judged or dismissed. The therapeutic relationship itself is often part of the healing process.Treating both the addiction and what's driving it. Treatment should address not only the substance use, but the underlying pain fueling it. Evidence-based approaches like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and trauma-informed care are designed to help people safely process the pain they've been carrying.Understanding that recovery can be nonlinear. A damaging myth about recovery is that relapse means failure. In reality, addiction is a chronic condition with a nonlinear recovery path. A relapse can reveal important information about triggers, unmet needs and what support may be missing. Reframing relapse from a source of shame to a source of information is an important part of recovery.Community and connection. Addiction often isolates people. Recovery focuses on peer support, group therapy, and family involvement when healthy and appropriate. Peer support, group therapy, family involvement where healthy and appropriate and community connection are an integral component of recovery.A message of hopeSometimes the most powerful thing a story can do is refuse to look away. What “Euphoria” understood, and what clinicians often see, is that addiction is rarely about the substance itself. For many people, something deeper and more complex is driving it.Stories like Rue's are a reminder to seek help for addiction. With support and mental health treatment, a different ending is possible.References to “Euphoria” are for educational discussion only and do not imply endorsement.This story was published by LifeStance Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The rise of organic makeup: Consumers making the switch The rise of organic makeup: Consumers making the switchAs consumers become more mindful of what they put on their skin, organic makeup is gaining traction, driven by a growing demand for transparency, simplicity, and ingredient-conscious beauty routines.Ask any beauty consumer what they look for in a makeup product right now, and the answer has gotten considerably more complex. Color and coverage still matter, but formula transparency and skin compatibility have earned a permanent place in how people evaluate what belongs in their routine.A 2025 Talker Research survey conducted on behalf of Revance found that 9 in 10 U.S. adults ages 30 to 54 say they are more ingredient-conscious than ever before. And beauty communities across social platforms have made that awareness harder to ignore, with consumers comparing formulas, questioning ingredients, and expecting brands to be far more transparent about what goes into every product.That kind of attention has created more room for organic makeup, especially among shoppers who bring the same care to beauty that they already bring to food, wellness, and the small daily choices that shape how they feel.With organic makeup becoming more visible across beauty culture, the conversation is moving beyond the label itself and toward what shoppers believe it should represent. Below, Ogee, a Vermont-based certified organic beauty brand, explores how organic makeup has moved from niche to mainstream.What ‘Organic Makeup’ Means to Consumers"Organic" carries real weight in makeup, but for most shoppers, understanding what it actually covers starts with what goes into the formula.Organic makeup is typically formulated with plant-based ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, and products that carry a certified organic designation are also held to standards around what gets left out. Synthetic preservatives, artificial dyes, and added fragrances are among the most common ingredients that organic formulations are built without.A formula rooted in botanical ingredients and free from those common additives has given organic makeup a reputation for feeling more compatible with skin for shoppers who are looking for a simpler ingredient profile.For consumers paying closer attention to what goes into their beauty routines, formulation has become one of the most influential factors in how they decide what to buy.Why Consumers Are Making the SwitchMuch like reading a nutrition label before buying something at the grocery store, beauty consumers have started bringing that same mindset to their makeup routines.Because makeup sits on the skin for hours at a time, many shoppers are becoming more careful about what they put on their faces every day. For consumers with sensitive or easily reactive skin, the appeal often starts with control. A shorter ingredient list can make it easier to understand what they are using and what may not belong in their routine.Lifestyle has also become part of the equation. A 2023 McKinsey & Company report found that 60% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers say a brand’s environmental and social values directly influence their beauty purchases, pointing to how closely personal care has become tied to the way people choose to live. Products meeting that demand are being asked to reflect more than beauty alone.The Rise of Skin-First MakeupCoverage used to be the main measure of a good makeup product, but the standard consumers hold makeup to has grown considerably more personal. This is where skin-first makeup has become such a useful way to describe the moment.It reflects a preference for products that enhance the skin people already have, with hydration, nourishment, and a finish that looks more natural than covered up. That interest in products that do both has had a real impact on the market.Skincare sales continue to outpace makeup, particularly among Gen Z, with hybrid products like tinted serums becoming a go-to choice for people who want skin benefits and color in a single step.Organic makeup has found a natural home within this expectation, and the growing demand has opened a larger conversation around whether organic formulations can truly deliver on performance.Performance Meets Clean FormulationOrganic makeup has come a long way from its early reputation for sheer coverage and short wear times. Formulation science has advanced considerably, and those advances are showing up in how these products actually perform throughout a full day.Textures that once felt heavy or unpredictable have given way to lightweight formulas that blend easily and hold up well, without depending on the synthetic ingredients that conventional makeup has long relied on.Research on the organic skincare market suggests that advances in cosmetic science have helped organic formulations improve how well they perform, while also making them easier and more pleasant to wear.Consumers who once felt they had to weigh clean ingredients against real results are finding far less reason to choose between the two, and that growing confidence has raised expectations not just for what organic makeup can do, but for how openly brands communicate what goes into making it.Transparency and Trust in BeautyKnowing what goes into a beauty product now matters almost as much as what the product claims to do.A 2024 U.S. study cited by Forbes and attributed to Yuka found that 55% of respondents actively research ingredients online or through apps before making a purchase, showing how seriously shoppers are looking at what they put on their skin. Brands responding to that level of attention have grown far more open about where their ingredients come from and how their products are actually made.What This Means for the Future of BeautyBeauty routines have always reflected what people value most at any given moment, and right now, those values are pulling strongly toward simplicity, honesty, and products that feel worth buying for more reasons than one.According to a 2026 Future Market Insights projection, the global natural cosmetics market, currently valued at $55.4 billion, is projected to reach $96.4 billion by 2036. That kind of growth does not happen unless a very large number of everyday shoppers are actively changing how they buy.Organic makeup sits at the heart of that change, carried by people who have decided that what goes into a product matters just as much as what it does on their skin. Routines are becoming more deliberate and more personal, and the standards that brands are being held to have risen right along with them.This story was produced by Ogee and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The head of the family is 17. Money is tight. The roof leaks. How did this happen? Three brothers say their mother and father died after losing access to their HIV medications. Now the boys are figuring out how to navigate life.
	These 3 brothers lost their parents to AIDS. Now they struggle to make it on their own Three brothers say their mother and father died after losing access to their HIV medications. Now the boys are figuring out how to navigate life.
	MercyOne Clinton unveils new surgical robot MercyOne Medical Center in Clinton unveiled its new surgical system. The clinic introduced a surgical robot on Wednesday, but the first robotic assisted surgery at the medical center was in early May. Patients have smaller incisions, less pain and recover faster from procedures using surgical robots. "One of our biggest, important factors is keeping patients local when we can,” said Dr. [...]
	Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which is right for you? Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which is right for you?Individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, can be an important part of your financial strategy when preparing for retirement. The most common types of IRAs are traditional and Roth.How do they differ, and which one is right for you? Below, Ally Financial walks through both choices, so you can make the best decision for your financial future.What is a traditional IRA?A traditional IRA is an investment account in which your taxes are deferred until withdrawal.Key features of traditional IRAsTax-deductible contributions: The amount of your contributions that can be deducted from your taxes depends on your income, tax filing status, and age.Tax-deferred growth: Once money is in a traditional IRA, you won’t pay taxes on dividends or capital gains until you withdraw the money.Required minimum distributions (RMDs): You must take the RMDs by April 1 of the year after you turn 73. If you don’t take the RMD, you’ll pay the original taxes owed, plus a 25% excise tax (or 10%, if you correct the error within two years).Benefits of traditional IRAsImmediate tax benefits: You’ll receive a perk on your taxes every year when paying into a traditional IRA because your contributions are tax deductible.Potentially lower taxable income: Contributions to a traditional IRA during your working years reduce your taxable income, and could even move you into a lower tax bracket.What is a Roth IRA?With a Roth IRA, your contributions are taxed immediately, and no tax is owed when eligible money is withdrawn.Key features of Roth IRAsContributions made with after-tax dollars: You pay taxes upfront when contributing to a Roth IRA.Tax-free growth and withdrawals: You don’t pay taxes when you withdraw the money, as long as you are 59 1/2 and have held your Roth IRA for at least five years.No RMDs during the account holder's lifetime: Withdrawals from Roth IRAs are not required until after the death of the account owner. (Beneficiaries are subject to separate RMD rules.)Benefits of Roth IRAsTax-free income in retirement: Once you’re of retirement age, your eligible withdrawals will be tax-free.No mandatory withdrawals: Roth IRAs offer more flexibility because there are no rules determining when and how much you must withdraw.Comparing traditional and Roth IRAs Ally Financial Making the right choice for you Ally Financial Consider these factors when choosing which retirement account works best for you:Tax rate: If your current tax rate is higher than your expected tax rate in retirement, you may save more in taxes over time with a traditional IRA. But if you expect your tax rate to increase in retirement, a Roth IRA allows any potential earnings on your contributions to grow tax free.Retirement timeline and income needs: A traditional IRA might align better with a shorter timeline because you get a tax deduction on your contributions right away, but pay taxes later on your withdrawals. With a Roth IRA, you could potentially benefit from years of tax-free growth if your timeline to retirement is longer.Estate planning goals: When beneficiaries inherit a traditional IRA, they must pay income taxes on the distributions they take. On the other hand, Roth IRAs can be passed on tax free to beneficiaries as long as certain requirements are met (like the five-year rule).Income: If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) goes over a certain level, you might not be able to invest in a Roth IRA.Invest in your futureOnce you have an understanding of the differences between a Roth and traditional IRA, consider speaking with a financial advisor to explore which IRA solution aligns best with your long-term financial strategy. Your advisor can help you find the path toward retirement depending on your situation, life expenses and future goals.This story was produced by Ally Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Using AI in place of a financial advisor? 5 common mistakes to avoid Using AI in place of a financial advisor? 5 common mistakes to avoidYou might have found yourself there: Asking ChatGPT whether you should max out your 401(k) or put some extra cash flow toward your mortgage. Its answer was incredibly thorough, easy to understand, and maybe even felt catered to your personal context. It could even be the correct answer for you.Some questions are well-suited for using AI as a financial tool, but there are serious limitations to the current tools, and one of the biggest limitations? These tools will never tell you when their limitations come up. ChatGPT could sound just as confident answering a question that is entirely within its knowledge base and domain as it would answering a question that is beyond its limits.The solution is to use it carefully, like the powerful tool that it is—you are responsible for having the discrimination that the tool itself lacks.Not sure what that looks like? Domain Money broke down exactly how to use AI as a financial tool and when it’s time to call in a human professional.AI can be a surprisingly good financial advisorOne of the primary functions of a financial advisor used to be breaking down complex financial topics in plain English. What’s the difference between a Roth and a traditional 401(k)? How does tax-loss harvesting work? What are the different types of stock options?These are the types of questions that financial advisors used to field one-on-one all the time, but now with the dual advents of first, the internet, and now, AI, it’s easy to find detailed answers on your own, whether you prefer to learn from essays, videos, or interactive chatbots.Here are the times when AI can be helpful (although it is still recommended to always check your sources):Explaining financial concepts in plain English: Struggling to understand something like a mega backdoor Roth, tax-loss harvesting, or how stock options work? If you find the way AI breaks things down engaging, any major LLM should be able to accurately explain these concepts.Summarizing complex and large documents: Financial decisions can come with documents that were built by lawyers, for lawyers—due diligence documentation before making an investment decision, or personal documents such as estate materials or contracts. While in an ideal world, everyone would read these documents word for word, AI can be helpful to explain and summarize these complex legal documents.In-the-moment behavioral prompts: Worried that you might be buying into a scam, or selling due to panic? Especially if you don’t have a dedicated certified financial planner on your team, a modern LLM should be able to gut-check an impulsive decision. However, be warned that if you push most LLMs, they could agree with you even on a bad decision.That more people are able to access detailed financial information is a tremendous advantage of AI. For many communities, it was the exclusion from knowledge about investing tools and strategies that derailed the building of generational wealth.Think of using an LLM for financial questions like going to WebMD or Healthline for medical advice. It can be incredibly useful, immediate, and reassuring, a great way to deal with the minor problems and questions that pepper everyday life. However, if a problem reaches the point of serious concern—financial or medical—it might be time to call in an expert.The 5 Mistakes People Make Using AI for Financial DecisionsHere are the five things to watch out for to use AI for your financial questions like a professional.Mistake #1: Relying on outdated informationAll AI models are trained on old data, although this is a problem developers are constantly attempting to solve. Most models are now able to access current information by browsing the web, but that doesn’t mean that they’re pulling the latest or most accurate numbers every time.A model may default to its training data rather than looking to the web, or cite an older page over a newer one. FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, released a 2026 Regulatory Oversight Report on the subject of AI and Machine Learning that specifically flagged “outdated training data leading to concept drift” as one of the biggest risks of working with AI.Mistake #2: Trusting confident answers that are straight up wrongLLMs are incentivized to answer you, and they tend to agree with your framing. JurisTech's 2026 Hallucination Benchmark tested six leading models on financial documents with deliberately missing data. Four of six models fabricated figures, and two did so confidently, without disclosing any uncertainty. That means you would have no idea, unless you were fastidiously checking your sources, that the numbers being given to you were wrong.The boring solution? Check the sources your AI tool gives you as well as the numbers it uses for any important calculations, particularly around taxes and retirement.Mistake #3: Missing the full tax pictureOne of the biggest advantages of working with a real certified public accountant or financial advisor rather than online tax-filing software and spreadsheets is that they can find strategies and advantages that you simply don’t know you don’t know.One area where many LLMs are currently weak is “digging” for answers, or asking relevant follow-up questions. If you don’t know how to ask your LLM about a particular tax strategy or tax-advantaged account, it’s highly likely you won’t see it mentioned.If there are documents or information you forget to surface to your AI—such as noting your 529 contributions or including your high-yield savings account income—it most likely will not ask for them.Another example of real complexity that an AI could overlook: Recommending a backdoor Roth conversion due to your income without knowing that you have a large RSU vest coming up this year, because you forgot to tell it. Most LLMs won’t flag that for you, leaving you with potential material tax consequences.Mistake #4: Treating AI recommendations as fiduciary adviceYou may assume that because you’ve trained your LLM, and because it’s obviously not earning any commission or AUM—it’s not earning anything at all, it’s not even a person—your AI tool is the same as a fiduciary.Your AI tool is not likely to tell you to invest in products against your best interest, such as a sub-optimal whole life insurance plan or actively managed funds with high fees. After all, it has no incentive to do so. So in this way, you would be correct.However, the other element of fiduciary duty is responsibility, which AI cannot assume. FINRA has been explicit about this in their statement on AI: AI recommendations and generations are not a legal defense for bad financial practice.A financial firm that you employ with a fiduciary financial advisor is legally responsible for giving financially sound recommendations. AI holds no such responsibility.Mistake #5: Overestimating AI-generated investment picksAccording to an NBER 2026 working paper, LLM-generated portfolios tend to be heavily concentrated in “trendworthy” stocks. Recently, that has meant large-cap tech, with an emphasis on AI and semiconductors.Their picks appear to be driven by pure media buzz rather than any analysis of financial fundamentals, which makes sense based on how LLMs operate, gather sources, and build trust.The short answer is, you may not realize the level of risk you’re taking on if you trust AI with your portfolio, particularly to pick individual stocks. Think of it this way: Would you draw your portfolio directly from the most buzzworthy stocks on Reddit? Because that may be fairly similar to how your AI is selecting them.On the other hand, if AI is telling you to invest in broad-market ETFs with a low cost basis, and you have a long time horizon, that is a very safe and well-tested strategy to execute. Of course, we would still recommend doing your own due diligence, as any investment has risk.The biggest risk of an AI financial advisor: Behavioral financeThe biggest risk of using an AI as your financial advisor isn’t simply that you need to check its sources or that you should do your own due diligence before investing in any individual stocks. Instead, it’s that AI is well-known for its persistent problem of being a “yes man,” even when people need closer guidance.Most of the basic concepts of personal finance are easy to understand and adopt. Investing in broad-market ETFs, understanding tax-advantaged accounts, and setting a budget are all easy to start. Where most people truly need support is in execution.If you’re burnt out and you’ve already decided to retire even though you’re a million dollars short of your target retirement number, AI might encourage and validate you, rather than talk in practical terms.If you create a budget with no built-in wiggle room for vacations, entertainment, or late-night Ubers, ChatGPT might say you’ve nailed it—while a professional financial advisor that can review your last year of expenses knows that isn’t practical for your life.If you and your spouse can’t decide on the line between healthy cash flow and overspending, ChatGPT is unlikely to come up with a healthy compromise and more likely to agree with your side enthusiastically.Research is already demonstrating that LLMs are financially conservative in bull markets and aggressive in bear markets, showing that they are liable to fall into the exact behavioral patterns that professional financial advisors set out to counter.The behavioral coaching advantage of a human advisor is approximately half of the 3% net annual returns that Vanguard’s research attributes to working with a financial advisor. That’s as much as a 1.5% return per year that a highly agreeable AI with a limited context window can’t offer in the same way.How to use AI as a financial tool, not a financial advisorNeed an easy way to differentiate between when a task can be easily solved with current LLMs, and when it’s time to call in a pro? Here are our guidelines:Is this a “learning” question?Some examples of “learning” questions would include:"What's the difference between a traditional and Roth IRA?""How does tax-loss harvesting work?""What's an expense ratio?"“How do RSUs get taxed?”Is this a decision-making question?Some examples of decision-making questions, with potential long-term and/or irreversible consequences, would include:"Should I do a Roth conversion this year?""When should I exercise my ISOs?""How should I sequence my account withdrawals in retirement?""Does it make more sense to pay off my mortgage or invest the extra cash?"The key question to ask yourself: Would a mistake here cost me money I can't get back?Why the best financial strategy uses both AI and human expertiseFINRA, as well as the World Economic Forum, are pointing toward a hybrid model for the use of AI in the financial advisory industry, both now and in the future: AI supporting research, summarizing complex documentation, and financial education, while humans handle judgment, accountability, and behavioral coaching.However, while more than 80% of investors surveyed by the London Stock Exchange Group and ThoughtLab in 2024 were open to AI-supported advisors in portfolio management, it’s important to stay aware of the risks that exist when striking out on your own with AI—especially when making decisions that will have long-term implications for your wealth.This story was produced by Domain Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why humanoid robots are taking off at airports Why humanoid robots are taking off at airportsPassengers arriving at San José Mineta International Airport’s Terminal B are greeted by a humanoid robot named José. Mounted to a fixed base behind an information desk, José greets travelers and switches to the language they speak, answering questions about flights, baggage and directions.Users approach hesitantly at first, then start testing it. They switch between languages mid-conversation about where to find baggage claim or about delayed flights. Some simply want to know whether José is a real autonomous robot and not operated by a human behind the scenes.Airports are heavily automated environments. Conveyor systems route baggage, software coordinates gates and departures, and automated ramp systems manage aircraft turnaround. The Infinite Loop by Nebiuss broke down how the growing use of AI-powered humanoid robots operating directly alongside people is changing airport services.San José Mineta (SJC) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) are among the busy hubs trialing robots in crowded terminals, runway aprons and passenger service areas. Some robots guide travelers in dozens of languages. Others are being tested for baggage and ramp tasks.The humanoid form factor is not simply for novelty or branding. Human-shaped robots can operate inside existing infrastructure with fewer modifications than many purpose-built automation systems would require. IntBot José, the friendly face of Silicon ValleyBut fitting in physically is the easier part. Passenger interactions are exactly what make airports difficult environments for public-facing AI systems. Information changes constantly, interactions happen under time pressure, and systems must operate reliably despite noise and connectivity constraints.This is why the deployment is deliberately constrained. Although José can stand and walk, IntBot, the company behind José, chose to tether the system during the pilot. According to the company, the decision was practical; in a crowded airport environment, a loss of power or battery failure could create obvious safety problems.While San José is hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the airport’s four-month pilot is also becoming an early test of how AI systems perform during periods of intense international passenger traffic.The airport says José supports travelers in more than 50 languages, a capability that matters in a region as linguistically diverse as Silicon Valley. “What was really surprising to me is that I expected probably 90% of conversations to be in English,” IntBot product manager Hannah Wu said in an interview. “It actually turns out that 25% of interactions are in a language other than English.” The system combines conversational AI with live flight and airport information, allowing passengers to ask follow-up questions naturally rather than navigating static menus or kiosks.“Physical agents” orchestrating models across edge and cloudAccording to IntBot Chief Technology Officer Sharon Yang, José distributes AI workloads across both edge and cloud infrastructure depending on the task being performed. Rather than relying on a single monolithic model, the system acts as what Yang described as a “physical agent” orchestrating multiple models and tools in real time.While José can access live flight and airport information in conversations with passengers, the system remains relatively loosely integrated into airport infrastructure. IntBot said the system currently pulls flight status information and floor-plan data through APIs rather than operating as a deeply embedded backend system.The distinction reflects a broader challenge facing physical AI deployments. Airports are complex environments built around legacy systems, rapidly changing information, and human workflows that were never originally designed around autonomous machines.Mookie Patel, director of aviation at San José Mineta, said the goal was not simply to replace static information systems, but to test whether conversational AI could operate effectively in a live terminal environment.“Unlike a static kiosk or an app with preprogrammed responses, José can answer follow-up questions, switch languages instantly and personalize the interaction,” Patel said in an interview. “For first-time users, the interaction feels very similar to speaking with a customer service agent.”According to Hannah Wu, around three-quarters of interactions are socially driven rather than task-based, with passengers often approaching José out of curiosity before asking practical questions.The company previously deployed robots in hotels before moving into airports, partly because multilingual wayfinding and information services offered a practical early use case for public-facing robotics.“In a lab, there’s just so many edge cases that you can’t prepare for,” Wu said. “In the real world, that’s how we make our products better.”Japan Airlines Haneda trialOther airport robotics projects are focusing on labor-intensive work behind the scenes.Passengers glancing out of the departure lounge windows at Tokyo Haneda Airport may see the familiar choreography of airport ground crews hauling unit load devices (ULDs), the wedge-shaped containers used to move luggage, freight and mail onto aircraft. But among the workers shifting containers onto rolling ramps, one figure may appear a little more metallic than the others.Japan Airlines (JAL) and GMO AI & Robotics Corp. are beginning what the companies describe as Japan’s first airport demonstration trial involving humanoid robots in ground handling operations.Unlike the public-facing concierge role taken by José in San José, the Haneda trial focuses on repetitive manual work already shaped around human crews. Initial deployments are concentrating on ULD transfer tasks on the airport ramp, with future phases potentially expanding into baggage loading, cargo handling, cabin cleaning and even operation of ground support equipment.The distinction matters. While humanoid robots are often framed as futuristic consumer technology, the strongest near-term case for deployment may be in exactly the kind of routine work airports are increasingly struggling to staff.“While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labor and face serious labor shortages,” said Tomohiro Uchida, president of GMO AI & Robotics.Japan’s aviation sector, like much of the country’s economy, faces growing labor shortages driven by demographic change and increasing tourism demand. Ground handling work combines strenuous conditions with strict safety requirements and operational time pressure, making automation attractive but difficult to implement using conventional industrial robotics.According to JAL, the goal is not full automation, but gradual workload reduction and productivity gains through systems designed to work alongside human crews. Using robots for physically demanding tasks would “inevitably reduce workers’ burden” and provide “significant benefits to employees,” Yoshiteru Suzuki, president of JAL Ground Service Co., told Kyodo News. He added that some responsibilities, including safety management, would still require human oversight.A JAL spokesperson said the integration of humanoid robots and automated vehicles could eventually reduce personnel requirements by roughly half in some container loading tasks, contributing to a broader goal of improving productivity by 10% by 2030.But scaling those systems beyond pilot projects will depend on proving they can operate reliably in highly constrained airport environments.The airport doesn't adapt to the robotThe projects at San José and Haneda reflect two very different visions of airport robotics. What they share is the challenge of deploying AI systems inside environments built around human behavior and day-to-day workflows.That complexity is driving renewed interest in humanoid systems rather than purpose-built industrial machines.The attraction of humanoid systems is not necessarily that they outperform conventional automation, but that they may be able to operate inside infrastructure already designed around human movement, tools and procedures. In many cases, adapting robots to human environments may prove easier than redesigning airports around robots.For now, most deployments remain tightly constrained. José is tethered behind an information desk. The Haneda trial is focused on limited operational tasks under controlled evaluation. The robot in the terminal is easy to photograph and easy to misread. It looks like the future arriving. It is actually an experiment in plugging the future into a building never designed for it.This story was produced by The Infinite Loop by Nebius and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The road emergency gap: What drivers need vs. what cities deliver The road emergency gap: What drivers need vs. what cities deliverWhen severe weather rolls in, Americans reach for whatever will get them home safely: the local news, a weather app, a text from a neighbor, the alerts that ping their phone. That instinct hasn’t disappeared, but it’s no longer enough on its own.On paper, the American driver in a major metro has at least seven different emergency communication systems working on their behalf:Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Federal alerts for severe weather, evacuations, and AMBER notifications, pushed to phones in targeted areas.Nixle: Residents text their ZIP code to 888777 to opt into alerts from local police, fire, and emergency management.Waze and Google Maps: Real-time closures from agency feeds and crowdsourced reports.State 511 systems: Road condition updates by phone or web.Local TV and radio: Emergency Alert System broadcasts.Police and fire department social media: Incident-by-incident updates on X and Facebook.Variable message signs: Closures flashed on the highways themselves.And yet a new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from Hanwha Vision, conducted via Pollfish in May 2026, finds that 48% still say a real-time phone alert about closures and hazards is the single infrastructure improvement that would make them feel safest during extreme weather.The gap isn't a shortage of warning systems. Drivers are pulling emergency information from various disconnected channels and finding the system difficult to navigate when time is on the line.In western North Carolina in September 2024, Hurricane Helene knocked out cell service across multiple counties, leaving residents with no way to learn which mountain roads had washed out until they tried to drive on them. Even when the towers worked, no single system was reliably telling people which specific roads were gone.Cities outside the disaster zones are seeing the same strain. Seattle's emergency management office has warned its system is stretched thin against the scale of modern disasters. The survey shows residents are asking for fewer channels that work more reliably.Key Findings68.1% of Americans say knowing which roads are closed is their most urgent need during severe weather.90% trust police and fire department social media during emergencies, more than any other source measured.67.5% support AI-powered road cameras for emergency detection, though 22.3% of that support depends on automatic data deletion after the incident.53.6% of Baby Boomers back AI road cameras unconditionally, while 23.3% of Gen Z oppose them outright.58.8% say emergency road improvements should cost them nothing extra in taxes.48% want real-time phone alerts as the top infrastructure improvement, more than double any other option.40% say confidence that the detour is actually safe is what would make them most likely to follow it.Drivers Want the Basics FasterWhen it comes to emergencies and severe weather, drivers want to know one thing: how to get home safely.Drivers were asked what information they need most urgently during a road emergency:Which roads are completely closed — 68.1%Where flooding or dangerous conditions exist — 66.3%Alternate routes that actually work — 62.6%Live updates on crashes and multi-vehicle incidents — 61%The survey suggests that drivers aren’t getting them: 37.5% say their biggest frustration when roads are closed is finding out too late. This answer is nearly 16 percentage points ahead of the next biggest frustration, which was dangerous intersections with no signals or unclear right-of-way.The pattern holds even when cities try to help. Asked what would make them follow an official detour, 40% of respondents said confidence the detour is actually safe and passable. Just 31.8% said real-time proof it's faster. Hanwha Vision America Drivers aren't surprised by detours and closures during an emergency. What they want is enough warning to plan around them before they get in the car.Local TV Still Leads, But Gen Z Is Already GoneThe survey found 31.2% of respondents named local TV news as their most trusted source during a fast-changing crisis, narrowly edging out city alerts (26.5%) and navigation apps (25.5%). That looks like stability on the surface. The demographic floor underneath is shifting. Hanwha Vision America Among Gen Z, only 26.7% trust TV, and 27.5% trust Google Maps or Waze more. For a generation that grew up skeptical of curated institutional sources and overloaded with algorithmic noise on every other app, the navigation app is a different kind of information channel: crowdsourced from drivers actually on the road, stripped of editorial framing, and built to deliver one thing in real time. The same logic that makes Gen Z distrust traditional reviews makes them trust user-flagged hazard alerts from other drivers.There is a slight gender split as well. Men trust navigation apps at 30.5%, while only 19.9% of women do. Women trust local TV at 34.3%, versus 28.4% of men. The two groups are listening to the same emergency but getting their information from different places, which is exactly the fragmentation the survey is documenting.Among Americans earning $250,000 or above, 42.9% put navigation apps first. A study by Gusto showed that by December 2023, high earners were traveling as much as 42 miles to their job. The generations and income brackets shaping the next decade of consumer behavior have already migrated. Cities still routing emergency information primarily through broadcast partners are speaking to an audience that's aging out. Hanwha Vision America Police and Fire Social Media Has Matched Radio in Public TrustTwo sources sit at the top of the public's trust list during emergencies, and one of them is a surprise. Radio traffic reports come in at 91.7% combined trust (very and somewhat trustworthy), which tracks with decades of commuter habit. Police and fire department social media comes in just behind at 90%.But when asked which source was 'very trustworthy,' police and fire department social media leads at 38.8% versus 35.2% for radio. A digital channel that didn't exist 20 years ago has matched a legacy broadcast medium that's been part of every commute since the 1940s.The reason may come down to specificity and frequency. Police and fire departments tend to post incident by incident, in real time, with information coming from the people responding to the call. City alerts are typically broader, less frequent, and routed through public information offices that add a translation layer between the event and the public. That trust points to where the consolidation has to happen. Residents are already gravitating toward the source closest to the incident. The infrastructure exists in the form of public-safety accounts most departments already run. What's missing is integration, making sure those posts feed automatically into city-wide alert systems and navigation apps the moment they're published.Americans Have Too Many Alert Systems, Not Too Few Hanwha Vision America When 48% of Americans say a real-time phone alert is the infrastructure improvement that would make them feel safest, they're pointing to a broken system.WEA handles the broadest, most life-threatening warnings, but it doesn't tell a driver that Highway 9 is closed between exits 12 and 18.Nixle delivers granular local alerts, but only to residents who know to text 888777 and opt in.Waze surfaces real-time closures, but only if local agencies are actively feeding it.State 511 systems publish road conditions, but most residents have never called the number.Each system covers part of the picture. None covers all of it, and drivers are left to integrate the information themselves.Americans aren't asking for more sensors or better signage as their first priority. They want the route-level information that's currently scattered across different sources to arrive in one place. The preference is strongest among Baby Boomers, with 66.7% choosing phone alerts as the top infrastructure improvement, the highest of any age group.For city planners, the directive is integration. The hardware in residents' hands is already there. The work is building the local roadway intelligence layer that feeds every alerting system, so the warning on someone's phone matches the road in front of them.Americans Will Accept AI Cameras, With ConditionsAsked whether their city should deploy AI-powered cameras to detect flooding, crashes, and road hazards in real time:45.2% said yes outright22.3% said yes, but only with automatic data deletion15.8% said they'd need more details about how the system works16.7% said noThe combined yes vote works out to 67.5% support, with conditions that matter.The generational split is sharp: 53.6% of Baby Boomers support AI road cameras with no conditions attached, the highest of any age group, and only 8.7% oppose them. Gen Z flips the pattern, with 23.3% opposing AI road cameras outright, nearly triple the Boomer rate. The reversal makes sense in context.Gen Z has grown up with data-breach headlines, location-tracking lawsuits, and a more developed vocabulary for digital privacy than any prior generation. Their resistance isn't to technology itself but to open-ended data collection. Among postgraduate professionals, opposition drops to 6.8%, suggesting that as comfort with how the systems actually work grows, so does willingness to trust their safety applications. Hanwha Vision America The takeaway for city planners is straightforward. The public will accept surveillance technology when it serves a clear, time-bound safety function. They draw the line at open-ended archives of their movements. That's a design constraint cities can work within.The Willingness-to-Pay Wall Is RealAmericans want better emergency road monitoring, but they don’t want to pay for it: 58.8% say emergency road improvements should be covered by existing budgets and they'd pay nothing extra. Emergency road safety is something residents see as a baseline government function, not an optional upgrade requiring a new line item on their tax bill.The position gets stronger with age:Gen Z: 40.8%Millennials: 54%Gen X: 68.1%Baby Boomers: 71%The 30-point gap between the youngest and oldest generations is one of the cleanest age patterns in the survey. Older residents have watched property taxes, registration fees, and tolls climb for decades, and may be hesitant to add another tax increase. Most Americans see public safety as core city work, not an upgrade that should generate a new bill. Hanwha Vision America The American public already has access to emergency alerts. Between WEA, Nixle, map apps, 511, and agency social media accounts, the channels exist, but the coordination is missing. Large-scale disasters have pushed cities to invest in better warning delivery, while the infrastructure for making those warnings synchronized and accurate hasn't caught up. MethodologyTo understand how Americans approach road emergencies and weather-related disruptions, 1,000 adults across the country were surveyed via Pollfish. Participants answered a series of questions about emergency information needs, trusted communication sources, attitudes toward AI-powered road monitoring, willingness to fund infrastructure improvements, and detour behavior during severe weather events. Responses were analyzed by age, gender, household income, and education level to identify trends and disparities across demographic groups. This story was produced by Hanwha Vision America and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Vandalism at newly built Princeton park prompts plea to community Princeton officials are asking for help after vandals dug holes and dismantled equipment at the newly built Zearing Park playground, causing hazards.

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