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

Saturday, September 26th, 2026
	Trump calls Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz not 'acceptable' President Trump said he was rejecting an Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian proposal is similar to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon by the U.S. and Iran back in June.
	Erie family keeps farming history alive during annual harvest event Harvest season is underway across the Quad Cities, and one family at Bos Brothers Historical Farm in Erie is taking visitors back in time.
	OpenAI says its models engaged with US government websites in misbehavior disclosure The disclosure is the latest in a string of incidents in which the AI platform has been caught going rogue. OpenAI says it is reviewing the findings.
	Revival, 'Jesus Walk,' planned for Muscatine The ELIM Arrival, the evangelical outreach branch of The Well of Iowa, will host a regional revival and worship night in Muscatine at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, in Riverside Park near the Harbor Shelter. The event is free and open to the public. Riverside Park will remain fully open to the public throughout the [...]
	Stone County re-entry program sees growing demand and waitlist STONE COUNTY — A re-entry program at the Stone County Correctional Facility has developed a waitlist as officials prepare to select participants for its next cohort. Twenty-two participants graduated from the Pathway Home 5 Re-entry Program last month. Warden John Moran said interest has grown as inmates have seen others complete the program and prepare for employment and life after incarceration. “What I do see now is that we have a larger waiting list,” Moran said. “It’s obvious that the program’s working or that they’re getting something out of it because guys are wanting to sign up for it.” The program, administered by the South Mississippi Planning and Development District and funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant, provides employment and re-entry training before participants leave incarceration and support for up to a year later. Participants learn resume writing, digital and financial literacy, employment readiness, personal development and interviewing. The program also helps address barriers after release, including transportation, work clothing, child care and finding employers willing to hire people with criminal records. In the classroom, program participants learn resume writing, digital and financial literacy, employment readiness, personal development and interviewing. Warden John Moran says the facility eventually wants to expand to multiple cohorts. Credit: Bibhas Pantha/RHCJC For graduate Zachary Brady, the program became more valuable than he initially expected. “It started out more or less like I might need to get this under my belt to go home,” Brady said. “I really didn’t know what the class had to offer, but once I got into it, I was very glad that I took it.” Brady said mock interviews helped him build confidence for finding work after his release. “We did mock interviews, so now whenever I get home, I won’t be nervous or not know how to speak to the people that I’m getting interviewed by,” Brady said. Chris Nixon, Pathway Home 5 program administrator, said the program’s work continues once participants leave the facility. Chris Nixon, administrator of Pathway Home 5, said the program’s goal is to continue helping formerly incarcerated people after their release. He said finding employers willing to hire people with criminal records can be difficult. Credit: JC Roberts/RHCJC “Once they get out is where we’ll pick up again and help them with their incentives and supportive service and employment and resources that we can provide for them,” Nixon said. Finding employment can be one of the biggest obstacles, Nixon said, particularly because participants need employers willing to hire people with criminal records. “There’s employers really needing people and they are willing to give them a second chance, and that’s really helpful,” Nixon said. “I’ve seen some really good careers come out of this for them, some high-paying jobs.” The program, which can work with participants for up to a year after graduation, is part of a broader effort at the correctional facility to prepare inmates for life after incarceration. Moran said more than 153 community volunteers also support inmates through programs and activities. Brady said that community involvement has been meaningful as he prepares for release. “I’m grateful … to have people like that in our community that’s willing to step forward, to spend time with us and to help us rehabilitate ourselves for going home,” Brady said. According to Warden John Moran, the Stone County Correctional Facility currently holds 280 inmates, with a growing list of participants for the Pathway Home 5 program. Credit: Bibhas Pantha/RHCJC As the facility prepares to select its next Pathway Home 5 cohort, Moran said growing interest means some inmates will have to wait for a spot. The facility has previously tried running two cohorts simultaneously, he said, but maintaining multiple groups can be difficult. Brady said inmates who get the opportunity should take advantage of it. “If they want to take the program, take it, but take it and be serious when you take it,” Brady said. “You have to want it. You have to dedicate yourself and stay consistent and push through.” Courtesy of Mississippi Today
	Thousands to gather in St. Louis to honor Catholic leader who's one step from sainthood Fulton Sheen, a native of Peoria, Illinois, preached about philosophy, morality and politics. He's considered the country’s first televangelist.
	‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Cafe, one volunteer greeted everyone, another sewed and repaired textiles and some dropped by just to enjoy the company. They came with the shared purpose of reducing unnecessary waste. That’s a big challenge. Vermont generates about 912,180 tons of waste annually, with much of that total winding up in the landfill despite recycling programs, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources 2024 Diversion and Disposal Report. In an era of overconsumption, some Vermonters have taken to creating third spaces with the goal of repair. People passionate about the environment or simply looking to save money and reduce their waste have a growing interest in places where they can fix what’s broken and get to know other people in spaces like the repair cafe, which meets at 12-22 North Street. “It’s a great community of people who are here to support each other and socialize,” said Ali Hamedani, a repair cafe volunteer. “It just seems like a wonderful community of friends with a shared goal of helping each other, helping random strangers, all for free, to repair and renew things and maintain connections with each other.” A new state-funded program, ReuseVT, aims to connect Vermonters with opportunities to repair their broken belongings and reduce waste. The website’s directory lists repair cafes, including the one in Burlington’s Old North End. It also features Vermont businesses and nonprofits that provide repair services and libraries that loan items from cookie pans to snowshoes. When something breaks, the fastest, cheapest fix is usually to buy another one. Susan Alexander, director of ReuseVT, said that convenience has changed how people think. “There’s nothing more appealing to consumers than cheap and convenient,” she said. “The reality is, that toaster may have 99% working parts and just one little thing that needs to be fixed on it, but it’s really hard to find people with those skill sets.” Economically, repairing instead of repurchasing can be difficult for the average consumer. “Sometimes repair is as expensive, if not more so, than replace,” Alexander said. “If I can buy a toaster online for $27, but my guy down the road (who can fix it) is going to charge me $35, that’s a hard barrier.” However, there is a strong case for repairing and reusing items. It conserves resources, supports outlets for low-cost goods and promotes a local, circular economy. Repair keeps local dollars local, Alexander says. “When I go to the thrift shop or when I went down the road and had my lamp repaired, I took the money that I’m earning on this job, I give it to the guy who’s fixing my lamp, then he goes down to the grocery store and buys his groceries,” she said. Trav Fryer (green shirt) at the Old North End repair cafe. Photo by Simone Traynor/Community News Service Trav Fryer, who runs the Old North End Repair Cafe, says the fixer-upper approach comes naturally to him. “It just feels very innate to me. Why would you throw it out? It’s so much more efficient,” he said. He was inspired to start hosting repair cafes in Burlington after attending them regularly in Palo Alto, California. Other regulars describe themselves as coming from “mend-it” families. “My mom grew up on a farm. The first move was always to try to mend it and keep it alive,” said Chrissy Bedard, a regular volunteer at the repair cafe. “Once you put your heart and soul into something, you want to keep it around as long as you can, so knowing how to fix it is a huge piece of that.” ReuseVT launched about a year and a half ago, funded through an Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Alexander wrote the original proposal, which is now in its second year. She said the funding filled a gap in how the state had long approached waste. “For years and years and years, people have put money into recycling,” she said. But reduction and reuse went underfunded. Many Vermonters are looking for ways to be more sustainable in their daily life. A source like ReuseVT simplifies the search with information including the website repair directory. “The community has really been looking for a directory that’s specific to reuse and repair opportunities,” Alexander said. Vermont’s reuse and repair culture goes beyond any one organization. Alexander noted that numerous organizations around Vermont are part of the reuse movement. ReSource Vermont, a statewide nonprofit with locations in Burlington, Williston, Barre and Morrisville, has a threefold mission. “One is to keep things out of the landfill, so it’s an environmental piece. It’s also poverty alleviation … and then their third thing, they also do a lot of repair training,” Alexander said. Also in Burlington, Generator teaches skills like jewelry making or woodworking to anyone willing to learn — skills that can be applied to repair work as well as new products. “They basically create community around providing a space for people to either just come in and use it for a workspace, or they provide equipment and teach classes,” Alexander said. She hopes to see the movement grow, and perhaps one day see an annual gathering and a vending event built entirely around reused and repaired goods. Meanwhile, repair cafes, such as the one in Burlington, are built around fixing things together. “We want it to be a learning experience and hands-on,” Fryer said. Fryer sees something specific to Vermont’s rural and agricultural heritage in repair culture: scrappiness. “Farmers have to fix things themselves,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to fix the tractor to keep farming. You kind of just have to figure it out.” Read the story on VTDigger here: ‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture. Courtesy of VT Digger
	Powerful nor'easter brings winds, floods to East Coast Thousands of people are without power across the East Coast as a nor'easter rips through the area. Forecasters expect significant winds and rain throughout the weekend.
	Meth is a key driver in Fiji's fast-growing HIV epidemic: 1 in 60 adults are affected In mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency because of a startling rise in HIV infections. The country's crystal meth epidemic is a strong contributing factor.
	Why this island paradise has the world's fastest-growing HIV epidemic In mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency because of a startling rise in HIV infections. The country's crystal meth epidemic is a strong contributing factor.
	Activist against book banning will appear at Augustana College, Rock Island Augustana College, Rock Island, invites the public to a River Readings lecture featuring Steven Pico, who at age 17 challenged his Long Island school district’s decision to remove 11 books from its school libraries, according to a news release. In a free presentation called "UNCENSORED," Pico will talk at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in [...]
	Blue Violin will present rock 'n' roll Christmas concert in Moline Blue Violin will be in concert Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center, 3600 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, a news release says. Internationally touring violinist Blue Violin brings the fourth annual Retro Rock 'n' Roll Christmas to Moline — a holiday concert designed to feel more like an '80s arena rock show [...]
	Knox Jazz Year will bring lineup of acclaimed musicians to Galesburg The Knox College Music Department has announced the 2026-27 Knox Jazz Year, bringing an exceptional lineup of nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians to Galesburg for performances, residencies, workshops, and collaborations with Knox students. This year's schedule builds on relationships that Knox has developed with musicians over many years, with several artists returning to Galesburg in [...]
	Recap: Davenport vacancy, Whiteside officer suspended and other local government news Davenport decides to fill a vacancy in 2nd Ward by appointment, a Whiteside County officer was suspended over alleged misuse of a Flock system, and Davenport library board urges independence.
	The U.S. has more thalidomide survivors than the government admits In the 1950s and 1960s, doctors gave the drug thalidomide to pregnant patients without telling them — and without FDA approval. Now those patients' children want recognition.
	The AI safety debate is confusing. Here's our guide to the different factions The battle over AI's promise and perils is not a clash between two opposing sides, but a debate among a range of competing voices and ideologies. Here is a guide to who's who in that debate.
	Meal deliveries can save money and improve health. Will they survive Medicaid cuts? Some states deliver meals to Medicaid patients that address their dietary needs. Evidence shows it aids recovery and saves healthcare costs, but federal budget cuts may lead some states to cancel it.
	Pope warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity as he opens France trip Pope Leo XIV has warned that a "paradise of machines" could undermine humanity. He raises concerns about artificial intelligence, nuclear arms, and human rights during his visit to France.
	Roads flood in New Jersey, inundate some homes, as first major signs of nor'easter take shape Thousands are without power on the U.S. East Coast, while roads are flooding in some coastal New Jersey communities.
Friday, September 25th, 2026
	CNN left off Air Force One for Trump's upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction The White House has signaled that CNN will be left off Air Force One for President Donald Trump's Saturday trip in the latest media restriction in an ongoing dispute with First Amendment implications.
	Pigeons This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The communities clustered along the Mississippi around Rock Island have contributed their share of sports heroes to…
	Ernst honored at Iowa GOP dinner, urges support for candidates Iowa Republicans honored retiring U.S. Senator Joni Ernst Friday night in West Des Moines. Ernst’s seat could be critical in determining whether Republicans hold the majority of seats in the U.S. Senate next year.
	OQC Crime Watch 82: Cybersecurity expert: How to 'keep kids safe on Roblox & beyond' Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode, Linda and Sharon talk with cybersecurity expert, teacher and author Tom Arnold, who teaches in the cybersecurity graduate program at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Arnold, who [...]
	Erie family keeps farming history alive A family in Erie, Illinois, is keeping the history of farming alive with an annual event that shows visitors how harvesting and everyday life once looked.
	QC Senior Expo brings hundreds together for services and connections Hundreds attended the QC Senior Expo in Davenport, where seniors found services, job opportunities, free haircuts and resources all under one roof.
	Iowa’s U.S. Senate candidates share fuel cost policies, trade criticisms on campaign trail Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026 against U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, held a roundtable discussion Sep. 25, 2026 in Des Moines about rising fuel costs. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and state Rep. Josh Turek both reiterated their calls for Congress to reduce fuel prices as they campaigned Friday for the state’s competitive U.S. Senate seat. At a news conference in Des Moines, Hinson reiterated her calls for the House to return to Washington, D.C., to work on lowering fuel prices and bringing the war in Iran to a close. Hinson said she texted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to “put the extra pressure on” bringing the House back to work. Johnson sent members of the House home Sept. 16 for extended district work. Hinson and other members of the House are not expected back in D.C. until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “I think it was a mistake for them to cancel session,” Hinson said. “Every option should be on the table, and we should be in Washington, D.C., working to provide that relief right now.” Hinson said Johnson responded to her text that “they are talking about it.” Turek held a roundtable Friday with several Iowans who said the surge in fuel prices — due in large part to the ongoing war with Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz — are making it difficult for their businesses and families to stay afloat. Hilary Abrahamson, a mother of four, said while she and her ex-husband are both making much more money than 10 years ago, she said “we had more freedom 10 years ago financially,” in light of recent high gas costs alongside other rising costs of living. Abrahamson said the high gas costs were even more frustrating to her and many other Iowans because they did not believe the U.S. should be at war with Iran. “It would be different to sacrifice some day-to-day things on behalf of a war people felt was necessary or benefited them,” Abrahamson said. “But from what I’ve heard, almost nobody feels they have any personal stake or interests, and it feels sort of like another pointless, forever war. And so, it’s really hard to sacrifice for something that seems totally personal to people you don’t know and have nothing to do with.” Turek said while holding town halls and events throughout Iowa, “I have yet to encounter a single Iowan that said to me, ‘I want to be in another forever war.'” He criticized Hinson for voting against of a measure to restrict the president’s military powers in Iran — a war resolution that Hinson’s Iowa Republican colleagues Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks broke party lines to support. Four Republicans in the Senate similarly voted Thursday to require congressional approval for further involvement in the war. Hinson voted with the rest of Republicans to block the measure in the House, which has been brought to a vote six times since the war began in February. Asked Friday if she would support the vote should the House return soon to D.C., Hinson declined to say yes or no. “I like to take a look at every single piece of legislation before I (vote on) it, but I’ve made it very clear in my position: we don’t need another resolution on the House floor,” Hinson said. “We need a resolution to end the war as quickly as possible, and the president can do that.” The Democratic candidate said Hinson’s vote was a continuation of “forever wars,” which some Republicans, including Trump, have called to end. “In my lifetime, I’ve seen us spend a trillion dollars in Afghanistan, a trillion dollars in Iraq — for what?” Turek said. “And here we are again, another unnecessary war, spending over $40 billion dollars over there as we’re closing schools and roads and hospitals, leading the nation in farm foreclosures.” In a social media post Monday, Hinson called for a “successful and immediate end” to the war in Iran which has contributed to hikes in gas and diesel prices. Iowa farmers have asked for immediate relief as they embark on harvesting crops. Turek released a plan Sep. 16 to provide relief on fuel costs by pausing diesel exports, temporarily suspending the federal gas tax and opening the strategic oil reserves. He said this relief — alongside other policy positions he holds on tariffs, supporting rural healthcare access and improving water quality — are needed to help Iowans during a difficult period. “Iowans are hurting and uniquely hurting — I think you can make the argument that we are hurting more than almost any other state,” Turek said. “I mean, we’re one of three states seeing our economy contract. You heard me give the numbers on where we’re at with health care. We’ve got a cancer crisis, we’ve got a water quality crisis, we’ve got public education that’s gone from the gold standard down to the bottom half. … And now, because of this war in Iran, you’ve got Iowans that are paying astronomical prices at the pump. Diesel price is at an all-time high and (so are) input prices. Iowans deserve to have someone in D.C. fighting for them.” Hinson says ethics complaint is false Hinson called a recently filed ethics complaint against her the actions of a “liberal group doing this for completely political purposes.” The political action committee Defend the Vote announced Friday it had submitted an ethics complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct alleging Hinson gave her husband, who works with the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa, special access to her office and other congressional offices. Defend The Vote Executive Director Brian Lemek said in a news release that Hinson should “know better” than to break ethics rules. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson held a news conference in Des Moines Sep. 25, 2026 calling for the U.S. House to return to Washington, D.C. to ote on a measure lowering fuel costs. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) “Iowa families struggling with rising prices deserve to know whether their congresswoman is working for them or for the insurance industry that supports her household’s business interests,” Lemek said in the release. Hinson said the group’s complaint is a lie about her and her family. “I have done everything ethically,” Hinson said. “I serve on the House Ethics Committee, and I look forward to seeing that complaint go exactly where it deserves to be, which is the trash.” Turek criticized Hinson in a statement Friday, calling her a “corrupt, self-serving D.C. politician who has repeatedly shown that she is only looking out for herself, her donors, and special interests.” “Hinson has sold out Iowans time and time again, voting to cut healthcare, food assistance, and Social Security – all while enriching herself and her billionaire friends and donors,” Turek said. “She voted seven times to continue this reckless war in Iran and Iowans are paying for it at the pump. This clear pattern of corruption is disqualifying, and it’s exactly why Iowans are going to reject Ashley Hinson in 39 days.” Ernst calls for supporting Hinson in general election U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst answered questions from Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann at the GOP Reagan Dinner in West Des Moines Sep. 25, 2026, an event honoring her as she prepares to leave office. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Alongside the earlier news conference and a meeting with cancer activists, Hinson also spoke at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Reagan Dinner Friday evening, an event in West Des Moines honoring U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst, the Republican whose seat Hinson hopes to fill, announced she would not seek reelection in September 2025 and went onto endorse Hinson in January. Republican leaders including U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, state House Speaker Pat Grassley and state Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh gathered to thank Ernst for work in Washington, D.C., as well as her service as a state lawmaker and in the U.S. Army Reserve. When Hinson addressed the crowd, she reflected on her first meeting with Ernst over 10 years ago, when Hinson was a reporter for the TV station KCRG. “Now I get to serve alongside of you and hopefully fill your combat boots, Joni,” Hinson said. “And serving in Washington, D.C., is true combat right now. And you have shown us the way, you’ve shown us the light, and you’ve shown us what it means to serve with dignity and purpose.” She said defeating Turek in the November election is vital to preserve Ernst’s legacy and continue work on conservative goals. She claimed Turek was “masquerading as a moderate,” and said winning the election is needed to keep Democrats from gaining majority control in the U.S. Senate, saying Turek was aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “The reality is that this election on November 3rd will determine the balance of power in the United States Senate. It determines whether or not we’re going to have the wrong Chuck … making the decisions and calling the shots in the United States Senate,” Hinson said, referring to Schumer in contrast to Grassley. Speaking with Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann, Ernst also also reflected on her relationship with Hinson, saying she was happy to encourage Hinson’s first run for the U.S. House to unseat former Democratic U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer in 2020. “I just knew we had to find the right person to run against Congresswoman Finkenauer, and Ashley was that person from the time I met her when she interviewed me all those years ago,” Ernst said. Ernst said she felt more confident leaving the U.S. Senate with Hinson as the GOP nominee. “When I went through that really tough decision, you know, whether to run or not — first and foremost, (I asked) can we keep the seat?” Ernst said. “It’s so important that Sen. Grassley have someone who will support those votes and vote with him and do the absolute best for Iowa. And it didn’t take me but a split second to to come to the realization that I know somebody who is absolutely ready to take that step and follow me in the United States Senate, and that’s why I’ve thrown my weight behind Ashley.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Longfellow Elementary students celebrate '9 2 5' with reading tribute to Dolly Parton Friday was "Dolly Day," so named in honor of the late Dolly Parton, who starred in the hit movie "9 to 5." On 9/25, one Rock Island school went "9 2 5" with a whole lot of reading. Longfellow Elementary School celebrated Dolly Parton's love for books with a story time. School district leaders and [...]
	Davenport man charged for making video of nude child Davenport man charged after making video of nude 3-year-old girl.
	Rock Island reschedules its homecoming football game against longtime-rival Moline It's homecoming weekend for Rock Island High School. Homecoming was supposed to be kicked off with a football game against longtime rival Moline. That game is now postponed, as several Rock Island players and coaches are dealing with an illness. The freshmen game will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, while the varsity game kicks [...]
	TikTok to pay Alabama $116 million in lawsuit settlement In this 2020 photo illustration, the TikTok app is seen on an Apple iPhone. The company and Alabama settled a lawsuit on Friday that requires the company to prevent children from having access to its site in the evenings starting at midnight. (Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)The Alabama Attorney General’s Office and TikTok Friday reached a settlement over a state lawsuit that alleged the social media platform addicted children and lied about the safety of its platform. The settlement, coming about a month after the social media platform settled a similar lawsuit with the federal government, requires TikTok to install features that prevent teens from accessing the platform from midnight to 6 a.m. The agreement also requires TikTok to pay $116 million in restitution to the state and establish a $183 million fund for contingency payments, to be released depending on whether other states enter settlement agreements. The consent decree, issued by Montgomery Circuit Judge Monet Gaines, also requires TikTok to provide educational resources to parents to protect their children while on the site and allows them to control the content their children view. It also requires the company to impose restrictions on minors’ access to inappropriate content. TikTok did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement Friday it was a “great day” for Alabama parents and that they can “rest easier” because of protections that were established on the site. “TikTok has agreed to give parents real control over what their kids see and how much time they spend on the app,” Marshall said in the release on Friday. “We’ve said from day one that our number one goal was to stand up for Alabamians when they are being harmed, and today, we did exactly that.” TikTok said in a statement Friday that its priority “has always been fostering a safe and positive space where people can be creative, discover what they love, and connect with their community.” “This builds on our commitment and core objective to continually enhance our robust safety tools to protect teens,” the statement said. The Alabama Attorney General’s Office sued TikTok in April 2025, accusing it of “fueling a mental health crisis among Alabama’s youth.” “TikTok’s so-called ‘safety features’ are a joke,” the office said in a statement. “They are nothing more than a marketing ploy to trick parents into trusting a product that TikTok knows full well is dangerous.” The lawsuit accused TikTok of deploying an algorithm to keep children on the site to sell advertising, and accused the social media platform of harming their mental health, leading to self-harm and depression. “The TikTok algorithm regularly exposes children to overtly mature and inappropriate content concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sexual content, nudity, suicide, and eating disorders,” the lawsuit states. “This content, and the addictive properties of the app, are distinctly harmful to the still-developing minds of children and damaging to the State’s future.” TikTok filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in June 2025, arguing among other matters the state’s claims were barred by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. “Under Section 230, a defendant is immune from suit when: it is a provider of an interactive computer service; the plaintiff’s claims treat the defendant as the publisher of information; and that information is provided by another information content provider, not the defendant,” TikTok said in its motion. The company also cited the federal Child Online Privacy Protection Act to challenge the claim made by the AG’s Office that the platform retains data from users. TikTok also said that the claims should be dismissed because the company was not based in Alabama. Friday’s settlement requires the social media platform to provide parents with resources allowing them to tailor the preferences and privacy settings and how to obtain information on their children’s accounts. It will also inform parents about how they view their children’s activity and their visibility on the site. It also requires TikTok to create protections for teens to prevent interactions with “age-inappropriate accounts” and to provide age-appropriate content recommendations. TikTok will also impose a ban for teen users during the late evenings to early morning by default. However, for those with permission to use the platform, TikTok will limit messages and disable some notification features. The agreement also allows parents to impose limits on the amount of time their children may view the site. The default daily limit is set to two hours per day starting at midnight. The platform will also allow parents to see a summary of the children’s activity on TikTok and to schedule when they will be blocked from having access. Of the $116 million TikTok will pay to Alabama, $14.2 million will go to attorneys’ fees and another $2 million will be for litigation. The remaining $100 million will be paid to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office for an unspecified purpose. The company will also pay about $183 million that Alabama could receive in increments or tiers based on specific milestones. Tier one, for example, is worth about $55 million and could be paid out should the attorney generals’ offices from 10 states formalize qualifying agreements. Alabama is slated to receive another $55 million if another 10 states execute qualifying agreements. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Moody's assessment results in upgraded Rock Island County credit rating A recent independent assessment by Moody’s resulted in a credit rating upgrade for Rock IslandCounty, from A1 to Aa3, according to a news release. A local government’s credit rating is an independent assessment by a rating agency of that government’s ability and willingness to meet its debt obligations. A sign of financial stability, a credit [...]
	State officials approve 14.6% rate increase for individual premiums on ACA marketplace Marylanders impacted by premium rate increases are urged to shop for plan options on the Maryland Health Connection. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)Marylanders who purchase individual health care plans on the state’s insurance marketplace will see a second year of double-digit increases to their monthly healthcare costs, after state insurance officials said Friday they have approved a 14.6% average premium rate increase across plans in 2027. For the 274,000 Marylanders who purchase plans on the state’s insurance market under the Affordable Care Act, called the Maryland Health Connection, the new approved rate increases will compound on last year’s 13.4% rate hike that was issued in response to the expiration of federal tax credits that helped keep some plans more affordable. Without those tax credits, more Marylanders struggle to afford their healthcare plans, leading some of them to downgrade their coverage or go without insurance, experts say, which further puts pressure on the healthcare system. Insurance companies say the increased rates are needed to stay solvent and pay claims at a time when there is less federal funding to help offset rising healthcare and prescription drug costs. Proposed rate hikes for long-term care plans would double premiums for thousands of seniors “I think that the rates that were released today … reflect exactly what’s been brought Maryland’s way, following the expiration of the premium tax credits,” said Matthew F. Celentano, executive director of the League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland. He’s referring to the enhanced federal tax credits that expired in December 2025 after Congress failed to renew them. Celentano said the tax credits were “critical for consumers” and in helping keep healthcare costs down. The 14.6% average rate increase approved by state insurance regulators on individual plans is actually higher than the 13.7% average increase initially requested by health insurance companies in May and June. But over the summer, insurance companies amended their rate proposals asking for even higher rate increases. State insurance officials say that the approved average rate increase of 14.6% is lower than what insurance companies ultimately asked for in their amended requests. The approved rate increases announced Friday include an average 10.2% premium increase on small group plans purchased on the Maryland insurance market. Increases in the small group market plans were driven largely by increased inpatient hospital care and rising prescription drug costs. Dental plans purchased on the insurance market will also see an 3% average premium increase, down from the 6.5% average increase requested by insurance companies. Just how much the premium rate increases impact family budgets will vary based on several factors, including insurance carrier, plan type, household size and income. For example, a household of four with an Optimum Choice Bronze plan may see a 3.5% rate increase, raising their monthly premium from from $975 to $1,009 a month, state insurance officials estimate, or a $34 per month increase. But a family of four with a CareFirst Bronze plan may see their monthly healthcare costs jump $302, with a 17.2% increase to their monthly premium. Rate increases for individual plans bought on the Maryland insurance market will vary by plan. Here are some examples of what rates may look like for a family of four on a Bronze plan. (Chart courtesy the Maryland Insurance Administration) The Maryland Insurance Administration notes that those examples do not take into account any subsidies that could lower monthly premiums for qualifying households. But rising costs in healthcare and other industries are straining Maryland household budgets, leaving them to make hard decisions of moving to a lower coverage plan or dropping their plans altogether. Maryland insurance regulators say that enrollment on the Maryland Health Connection dropped from 294,000 last year to 274,000 this year. The drop in enrollment is expected to continue into next plan year – an additional reason why insurance companies asked for another year of steep rate increases, according to Maryland insurance regulators. Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All coalition warns that the current state efforts are not enough to keep up with rising premiums and healthcare costs. “We are disappointed that Marylanders will pay higher insurance premiums because of bad decisions by the Trump Administration and Congress, especially their failure to extend critically needed health care tax credits and cuts they made in eligibility. This is exacerbated by rising hospitalization and pharmaceutical costs,” DeMarco said in a written statement. “Maryland cannot continue to protect our people without additional state revenue for health care and action to rein in skyrocketing drug costs,” his statement said. Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant urges Marylanders affected by the rate increases to explore plans offered on the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. Those with household incomes that fall below 400% of the federal poverty level can qualify for state subsidies that may keep costs lower. Grant also warns Marylanders to be wary of unauthorized health insurance plans in their search for more affordable insurance coverage. “People need to shop and understand their options,” Grant said. “That (14.6% increase) may not be the rate you see – depending on your age, your family structure, your plan.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Man enters into plea agreement in Scott County human trafficking case Agron Mitchell Simpson, a registered sex offender, pleads guilty to multiple charges in federal human trafficking case.
	Spanberger proposes slate of data center regulations, puts first directives in motion Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on Sept. 18 to kick off her data center regulation package. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger last week unveiled a package of legislative proposals to rein in the data center industry in the commonwealth, with goals to tighten environmental regulations, increase cost allocation for the industry and make the proposal process more transparent by barring non-disclosure agreements between localities and data center developers. The plan does not include a moratorium on data center development while the details of the plan are refined, a step several environmental and advocacy groups and citizens have demanded in recent weeks. Dubbed the “Data Center Accountability Framework,” Spanberger’s plan outlines five pillars as key priorities: transparency, environmental protections, lowering energy costs, promoting clean energy and focusing on local workers. “The framework is a thorough plan to end data center secrecy, protect our environment, lower energy costs for families, bolster our clean energy economy and make sure Virginia workers have the protections and assurances they deserve,” Spanberger said as she announced the plan at the Virginia State Capitol. Spanberger also signed Executive Order 22, which will kick-start her plans for clamping down on the industry ahead of the legislative session that begins in January. Transparency Perhaps the most concrete of the directives is a measure to ban nondisclosure agreements between data centers and executive branch agencies, departments, state boards and commissions. It also bars those agencies from requiring such agreements for data center projects. New data centers in Maryland to get additional scrutiny under governor’s order The order does not impact the use of nondisclosure agreements by localities, but the governor said she plans to work with the General Assembly to pass a law banning the agreements at the local level. Spanberger’s package also proposes eliminating by-right local approvals of data centers that use more than 25 megawatts of power. Many counties have taken steps toward requiring conditional-use permits, which require public hearings and a vote of approval from local leaders. Additionally, the governor wants to remove data centers from Virginia’s fast-track permitting process on permits for projects in “business ready” locations. The fast-track process is a remnant of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, which encouraged and supported rapid build-out of the state’s data center industry to boost Virginia’s business reputation. Environmental protections The framework directs lawmakers to develop policies to create data center standards for energy efficiency, water use and land impacts. Budget language that passed the General Assembly in June directed the Department of Environmental Quality to identify “water scarcity areas” where data centers’ water use for cooling could put drinking water availability at risk. Data centers in those areas, mainly east of Interstate-95, will have to reduce their water use. The framework also outlines a plan to expedite noise regulations included in the budget language, but does not set a deadline for them to be in place. Currently, DEQ has until 2029 to research the lowest possible sound levels data centers could operate on and make that the standard across the board. Lower energy costs Spanberger’s framwork requires utilities to make data centers pick up more of the energy infrastructure costs incurred by the industry. Dominion Energy has already taken action on that front, creating a new GS5 rate class that mostly includes data centers and large manufacturers. The State Corporation Commission approved the new rate class last November. Like the recommendations in Spanberger’s framework, the new rate class includes 14-year contracts and specific cost allocations for energy generation, distribution and transmission. The SCC also recently directed Dominion to create a new tariff to directly assign the cost of high-voltage transmission lines that are only necessary due to data centers to those customers. Spanberger supported the tariff, which is reflected in her framework. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Tech giant Microsoft has already put the State Supreme Court on notice that it could appeal that order. Microsoft representatives said in an email this month that the company hopes “any rates ultimately put in place are transparent, fair, and reflect the costs each customer creates.” By filing notice of appeal, they continued, “Microsoft preserves its ability to challenge any implementation that does not meet these expectations.” Elevating clean energy, hiring Virginia workers Spanberger’s plan would also limit the amount of power data centers can produce on-site through natural gas generators and other “behind the meter” methods that don’t draw from the electric grid. But it would make it easier for data centers to bring clean energy options on-site, by reforming utility charges for clean-energy investments. PJM, the regional grid operator for 13 states, including Maryland and Virginia, recently proposed a new rule to direct data centers to pay for their power generation or cover their energy needs by backstop power purchases. This would help bring more power on the grid when it’s strained on very hot and cold days. Several recent proposals by data centers in the commonwealth show the industry’s growing interest in building its own gas turbines to power data facilities. That method skirts the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which requires utility companies to retire carbon-emitting power sources by 2050. The framework prioritizes hiring local workers to build data centers and using local businesses for procurement and contractors. Lawmakers, environmental groups, data centers react Several lawmakers and environmental groups spoke up in support of Spanberger’s framework. “Governor Spanberger’s Data Center Accountability Framework is a step in the right direction,” said a statement from the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. “We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Spanberger in the upcoming 2027 legislative session to develop thoughtful legislation that holds data centers accountable.” Many of these policies would require legislative approval, and many are prospective, meaning they will apply to new data center applications but not the more than 600 centers already operating or being built statewide. Counties scramble to respond to data centers, setting moratoriums, a ban “For those that are up and running and already operating, we have the ability and intention to continue to make sure that into the future we are holding them to greater and greater standards,” Spanberger said. Representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Sierra Club, and League of Conservation Voters joined Spanberger for the announcement, calling it a strong first step toward legislation to cement the framework’s goals. Other organizations criticized the framework for not including an outright pause on data center development. “It does not address the continued connection of data centers to the grid, despite inadequate power and the many impacts on air quality, water supply, electric bills, and people and communities,” the Piedmont Environmental Council said in a statement. “Not to mention the hundreds of miles of proposed transmission lines, solely to support data centers.” “We must stop the madness and issue an immediate pause on approvals until these protections – and more – are fully implemented,” said Chesapeake Climate Action Network Director Victoria Higgins. The Data Center Coalition, the leading national group that lobbies for the industry, said it is waiting for more details on the plan. “(We) are ready to engage with policymakers to ensure workable, balanced policies that keep Virginia competitive and honor prior commitments by the Commonwealth and its localities,” coalition representative Nicole Riley said. Spanberger did not answer directly when asked why she did not impose a data center development moratorium while lawmakers consider her framework, but reiterated that some localities are considering pausing data center development. “While [localities are] looking at what’s available to them as a potential option, it is up to our communities … But the state has to show leadership,” Spanberger said. “We are in a place where day by day, community members are demanding action.” The framework, she added, “is an opportunity for us to take action and ensure that we are moving forward.” — This article originally appeared in Virginia Mercury, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Consortium including Sandburg recognized by U. S. Maritime Administration The Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium, which includes Sandburg as a member, has been designated as a 2026 Center of Excellence (CoE) for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. According to a news release, the consortium was one of 16 CoE designees for 2026 by the U.S. Department of [...]
	Family Resources honors lives lost on National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims Family Resources gathered Friday in Davenport for the fifth annual National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims, offering healing and survivor support.
	Need to rehome a plant? Quad City Botanical Center is taking donations now The center is accepting plant and garden‑related donations through Sept. 30, with all items rehomed during the Great Garden Cleanout fundraiser on Oct. 1. Donations can be dropped off during regular admission hours.
	Military retirees learn about resources, benefit updates, at Rock Island Arsenal Military retirees from across the Quad Cities gathered to learn about resources and updates to their benefits. The annual Military Retiree Appreciation Day was Friday at Rock Island Arsenal. Vets met with medical and dental providers, veterans service organizations, and community groups. It was also an opportunity for retirees to catch up with their fellow [...]
	More rain to end September After an already wet stretch last week with 8 straight days of measurable rain totaling out to 4.7" of rain total, more rain is on the way to end the month. There is a chance of above average rainfall for the Quad Cities for next week right around when we switch from September into October [...]
	Haunted Fairgrounds to open with new design Visitors can expect to see plenty of new scares at this year's Haunted Fairgrounds.
	Rock Island school celebrates Dolly Parton on 9/25 Longfellow Elementary in Rock Island celebrated Dolly Parton on 9/25, with volunteers reading to students and sharing her legacy of kindness.
	Musco Sports Center wins People's All-Star Community Award The City of Muscatine has announced that the Musco Sports Center has won the 2026 People’s All-Star Community Award, presented by the Iowa League of Cities. The final crown was secured on Sept. 24, 2026, after a highly competitive, statewide bracket-style tournament conducted via public voting. The Musco Sports Center, recognized as the largest inflatable [...]
	Mother of man killed in McDonough County police chase settles lawsuit for $1.5 million James Mellenthin died when his vehicle crashed during a high-speed pursuit on Route 67.
	Ella Langley concert, QC Marathon to impact Moline traffic Ella Langley performs Saturday at Vibrant Arena as the QC Marathon also takes place, prompting road closures and traffic changes in downtown Moline.
	Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map The ruling is a defeat for Republicans seeking to give their party an edge in the midterm elections for control of the House. It means voters will face a different map than the one used in the primary elections.
	Rep. Hinson said that she texted U.S. House Speaker about this issue U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said that she has been in contact with House Speaker Mike Johnson about calling back members to address rising fuel costs.
	Highlight Zone: Week 6 Week 6 of the Highlight Zone
	Jaden and Cece from Family Resources talk Domestic Violence Awareness Month Jaden and Cece from Family Resources talk Domestic Violence Awareness Month
	I have spent the past 6 months reading hundreds of poems by young people – I was surprised to find hope, not despair If you’ve read any commentary about younger people, none of the following statistics will surprise you. Approximately 19% of Americans who are 12 to 19 years old are depressed – higher than any adult age group. Only about 58.5% of teens who are 12 to 17, meanwhile, say they consistently receive the emotional and social support they need. They often have little faith in institutions – be it the government or schools, or one another. And the average American child age 8 to 18 spends 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens. On the one hand, these statistics are understandable: Young people are facing a future shaped by climate anxiety, political extremism, economic instability and chronic loneliness. But those numbers may only be telling part of the story. I have spent the past six months reading hundreds of poems submitted by young writers age 10 to 21. In June 2026, we will publish an anthology of writing from 177 of these young people in the “1455 Young Poets Anthology.” More than 300 young people submitted their poems to a nonprofit I run, called 1455 Storytelling Arts. The poets mostly come from the U.S., but nine other countries are represented. I continually found myself surprised, encouraged and inspired while reading their poetry. In a world that sometimes seems to reward the noisiest and the most aggressive, the wealthiest and the most selfish, these young poets understand something at once simple and profound that I think many adults have forgotten: Hope is not optimism. It’s endurance. The 177 poets featured in the ‘1455 Young Poets Anthology’ range from 10 to 21 years old. 1455 Literary Arts ‘The only way through is through’ For the young writers whose work crossed my desk, hoping for a better future seems to be both a personal and collective act of accountability. It’s a refusal to accept a status quo in politics and other ways of life that might not work for some people. Again and again, young people submitted poems that wrestled with loneliness, fractured families, violence, identity, anxiety, grief and uncertainty. Layla Dwelle, age 15, confronts this tense atmosphere of information overload and anxiety, writing, “I’m tired of the cycle / I’m tired of evil / I’m tired of what is done / I’m tired of what isn’t.” Yet many also revealed an unwillingness to surrender entirely to despair. Alicia Chow, age 14, writes, “I realize the only way through is through / So I keep moving as defiance of loss.” These poems acknowledge pain, but identify tenderness in the darker corners of life. They describe a world that has a soundtrack set on two extremes: chaos and silence. They grapple with real fear and insist that bearing witness to the world gives purpose and meaning to people’s lives. These writers, in short, are not giving up – they are looking to create a future that revises the dysfunctional present, which they see as a work in progress. The titles of some poems speak volumes about the worlds and feelings these poems explore: “Self-Portrait as a Firefly,” “The Cost of Rain,” “The Ones Who Run,” “Prayer for a New Season,” “The Grass That Grows in the Cracks” and “Scars on Soul.” Where reality meets urgency What struck me most while editing this anthology was not the poets’ honesty or vulnerability, though both of those qualities were present. Instead, it was their maturity that really stood out. There’s a focused seriousness present in their writing that combines political reality with a sense of urgency. Here’s Emily Bennett, age 18, from her poem, “For the Love of the Sunk Cost Fallacy”: Because,nothing true aches forever.And sometimes the bravest thingyou can do is simply open your hands. Many of these young writers are trying to answer questions that adults themselves struggle with or avoid, including how to remain human in a culture that monetizes distraction. This is an issue the American writer Jenny Odell compellingly addresses in her 2019 book, “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.” Her thesis, simple yet radical, is that attention is people’s most vital resource, and all people are being bombarded, 24/7, with algorithmic strategies looking to distract and divide them. She astutely describes “the mindless traffic of information,” which, not so coincidentally, is something poetry has always stood in quiet defiance of. The poems raise other questions. How do people care for one another without becoming uncomfortably numb to others’ pain and suffering? How do people imagine and create a future while they are constantly reminded of growing inequality within many countries, and with the world’s wealthiest people quickly growing richer? The fact that so many young people are still turning to poetry feels, to me, significant, if not momentous. Poetry is typically not a commercially rewarded art form. It obliges readers to slow down, sit with ambiguity and experience language in ways that plumb interior life. If today’s algorithms reward speed, branding and certainty, poetry rewards reflection. This is the thesis of professor and Atlantic editor Walt Hunter’s illuminating – and quite encouraging – recent article, “Stop Meeting Students Where They Are,” which we recently discussed in detail on my podcast, “Some Things Considered.” Young Americans may not have given up after all Younger people are not oblivious about the world’s problems. The young poets I’ve been reading see empathy not as weakness, but as a bold imperative to help make the world a kinder, more just place. I can hardly think of a better example than 16-year-old poet Dave Thompson’s provocatively titled “What if Jesus Was a Little Brown Boy in the USA”: But you are here.A little God walking to school,still foolish enoughstill holy enoughto believe love might meanwhat it says. As a podcaster and professor of storytelling, I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people my age or older lament that today’s generation doesn’t read or doesn’t care. This issue comes up at almost every panel discussion I’ve recently participated in. I think these kinds of assertions about young people are both simplistic and unhelpful. In some ways, while mental health is a real concern for young people, they are doing better than their predecessors in other ways. Youth arrest rates have been declining since the 1990s in the U.S., for example, and American high school students are more likely than ever to graduate. I think we should pay attention to some of the messages that these young poets are sending. We might even seek to emulate them. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sean Murphy, Shenandoah University Read more: Trump’s first term polarized teens’ views on racism and inequality From Norway to Wisconsin, children want to be social media influencers when they grow up School start times and screen time late in the evening exacerbate sleep deprivation in US teenagers Sean Murphy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	I have spent the past 6 months reading hundreds of poems by young people – I was surprised to find hope, not despair If you’ve read any commentary about younger people, none of the following statistics will surprise you. Approximately 19% of Americans who are 12 to 19 years old are depressed – higher than any adult age group. Only about 58.5% of teens who are 12 to 17, meanwhile, say they consistently receive the emotional and social support they need. They often have little faith in institutions – be it the government or schools, or one another. And the average American child age 8 to 18 spends 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens. On the one hand, these statistics are understandable: Young people are facing a future shaped by climate anxiety, political extremism, economic instability and chronic loneliness. But those numbers may only be telling part of the story. I have spent the past six months reading hundreds of poems submitted by young writers age 10 to 21. In June 2026, we will publish an anthology of writing from 177 of these young people in the “1455 Young Poets Anthology.” More than 300 young people submitted their poems to a nonprofit I run, called 1455 Storytelling Arts. The poets mostly come from the U.S., but nine other countries are represented. I continually found myself surprised, encouraged and inspired while reading their poetry. In a world that sometimes seems to reward the noisiest and the most aggressive, the wealthiest and the most selfish, these young poets understand something at once simple and profound that I think many adults have forgotten: Hope is not optimism. It’s endurance. The 177 poets featured in the ‘1455 Young Poets Anthology’ range from 10 to 21 years old. 1455 Literary Arts ‘The only way through is through’ For the young writers whose work crossed my desk, hoping for a better future seems to be both a personal and collective act of accountability. It’s a refusal to accept a status quo in politics and other ways of life that might not work for some people. Again and again, young people submitted poems that wrestled with loneliness, fractured families, violence, identity, anxiety, grief and uncertainty. Layla Dwelle, age 15, confronts this tense atmosphere of information overload and anxiety, writing, “I’m tired of the cycle / I’m tired of evil / I’m tired of what is done / I’m tired of what isn’t.” Yet many also revealed an unwillingness to surrender entirely to despair. Alicia Chow, age 14, writes, “I realize the only way through is through / So I keep moving as defiance of loss.” These poems acknowledge pain, but identify tenderness in the darker corners of life. They describe a world that has a soundtrack set on two extremes: chaos and silence. They grapple with real fear and insist that bearing witness to the world gives purpose and meaning to people’s lives. These writers, in short, are not giving up – they are looking to create a future that revises the dysfunctional present, which they see as a work in progress. The titles of some poems speak volumes about the worlds and feelings these poems explore: “Self-Portrait as a Firefly,” “The Cost of Rain,” “The Ones Who Run,” “Prayer for a New Season,” “The Grass That Grows in the Cracks” and “Scars on Soul.” Where reality meets urgency What struck me most while editing this anthology was not the poets’ honesty or vulnerability, though both of those qualities were present. Instead, it was their maturity that really stood out. There’s a focused seriousness present in their writing that combines political reality with a sense of urgency. Here’s Emily Bennett, age 18, from her poem, “For the Love of the Sunk Cost Fallacy”: Because,nothing true aches forever.And sometimes the bravest thingyou can do is simply open your hands. Many of these young writers are trying to answer questions that adults themselves struggle with or avoid, including how to remain human in a culture that monetizes distraction. This is an issue the American writer Jenny Odell compellingly addresses in her 2019 book, “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.” Her thesis, simple yet radical, is that attention is people’s most vital resource, and all people are being bombarded, 24/7, with algorithmic strategies looking to distract and divide them. She astutely describes “the mindless traffic of information,” which, not so coincidentally, is something poetry has always stood in quiet defiance of. The poems raise other questions. How do people care for one another without becoming uncomfortably numb to others’ pain and suffering? How do people imagine and create a future while they are constantly reminded of growing inequality within many countries, and with the world’s wealthiest people quickly growing richer? The fact that so many young people are still turning to poetry feels, to me, significant, if not momentous. Poetry is typically not a commercially rewarded art form. It obliges readers to slow down, sit with ambiguity and experience language in ways that plumb interior life. If today’s algorithms reward speed, branding and certainty, poetry rewards reflection. This is the thesis of professor and Atlantic editor Walt Hunter’s illuminating – and quite encouraging – recent article, “Stop Meeting Students Where They Are,” which we recently discussed in detail on my podcast, “Some Things Considered.” Young Americans may not have given up after all Younger people are not oblivious about the world’s problems. The young poets I’ve been reading see empathy not as weakness, but as a bold imperative to help make the world a kinder, more just place. I can hardly think of a better example than 16-year-old poet Dave Thompson’s provocatively titled “What if Jesus Was a Little Brown Boy in the USA”: But you are here.A little God walking to school,still foolish enoughstill holy enoughto believe love might meanwhat it says. As a podcaster and professor of storytelling, I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people my age or older lament that today’s generation doesn’t read or doesn’t care. This issue comes up at almost every panel discussion I’ve recently participated in. I think these kinds of assertions about young people are both simplistic and unhelpful. In some ways, while mental health is a real concern for young people, they are doing better than their predecessors in other ways. Youth arrest rates have been declining since the 1990s in the U.S., for example, and American high school students are more likely than ever to graduate. I think we should pay attention to some of the messages that these young poets are sending. We might even seek to emulate them. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sean Murphy, Shenandoah University Read more: Trump’s first term polarized teens’ views on racism and inequality From Norway to Wisconsin, children want to be social media influencers when they grow up School start times and screen time late in the evening exacerbate sleep deprivation in US teenagers Sean Murphy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	“This prosecution is crazy”: Iowa election volunteer charged with election interference Protests are planned Monday over the pending court case against an Iowa election volunteer charged with interfering with vote counting in the 2024 election.
	Former Davenport fire chief dies at 76 The Davenport Fire Department announced the death of former Fire Chief Mark Frese.
	CDC reports first measles death of year as Illinois, Iowa track rising cases As national measles cases reach a 30-year high, Illinois reports 23 cases and Iowa confirms 38, with health officials urging residents to verify MMR status.
	Former St. Ambrose University president dies Edward Rogalski served the school for nearly 40 years, including 20 as president.
	Former Davenport Fire Chief Mark Frese dies at age 76 Mark Frese served 37 years on the Davenport Fire Department, the last 10 leading as its chief.
	Longtime Davenport firefighter, chief, dies A longtime Davenport firefighter and fire chief has passed away, according to a news release from the City of Davenport. "The City of Davenport and the Davenport Fire Department are deeply saddened to announce the passing of former Davenport Fire Chief Mark Frese #419, who passed away at his home this morning, September 25, 2026, [...]
	Johnson County lowers flags to half-staff in memory of student and teacher drowning victims Johnson County has lowered its flags at government buildings in memory of the student and teacher who died this week at Lake Macbride State Park.
	Seniors provided free resources, services at 5th annual QC Senior Expo Quad City seniors were treated to a one stop shop on Friday at the Golden Leaf Banquet Center for the QC Senior Expo.
	Mark Frese, former Davenport Fire Chief, dies at age 76 A longtime Davenport Fire Department chief has died. The City of Davenport and the Davenport Fire Department announced in a news release that former Davenport Fire Chief Mark Frese #419 died at his home on Sept. 25 at the age of 76. Chief Frese dedicated almost 37 years of his life to serving the citizens [...]
	Iowa League of Cities holds conference in Bettendorf The Iowa League of Cities held its annual conference and exhibit in Bettendorf for the first time this week. From Wednesday, September 23 through Friday, September 25. Hundreds of city officials from across the state traveled to the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf for the three-day event from Sept. 23 – 25, the League’s largest educational [...]
	Rock Island school celebrates Dolly Parton Day Students at Longfellow School in Rock Island celebrated Dolly Parton Day on Friday.
	New owners bringing back Captain’s Table name to Moline riverfront The owners of Stumphy’s in Geneseo are moving to Moline to revive the longtime Captain’s Table riverfront restaurant, aiming for a November opening date.
	Early voting underway in Illinois, starts soon in Iowa: What Quad Cities voters need to know Early voting has begun in Illinois and starts soon in Iowa. Here are key dates, deadlines, and ID laws Quad Cities voters need to know before Election Day.
	The Pacific is churning with hurricanes. The Atlantic is quiet. Blame El Niño The Pacific Ocean has had an unusual number of storms this year, while the Atlantic hasn't recorded a single full-blown hurricane. Scientists point to an exceptionally strong El Niño.
	Davenport fire chief retiree dies Mark Frese dedicated 37 years to the Davenport Fire Department until his retirement in 2011.
	Rock Island homecoming game postponed due to 'unexpected illness' impacting athletes, coaches The district said several athletes, coaches and family members "were impacted by an unexpected illness" Thursday evening.
	Aseguradoras dicen que están empezando a emitir nuevas pólizas de seguro de viviendas en California, pero ¿cuántas? This article is also available in English. Read it here. Las compañías de seguros están comenzando a emitir nuevas pólizas en California después de años de reticencia debido al creciente riesgo de incendios forestales. El Departamento de Seguros del estado afirma que esto significa que las nuevas regulaciones del comisionado saliente Ricardo Lara, destinadas a aumentar la disponibilidad de seguros, están dando resultado. Cada vez que una compañía anuncia sus planes para volver a vender pólizas, el departamento lo celebra como un éxito. Sin embargo, el estado no ha publicado la cantidad de nuevas pólizas que las compañías han emitido hasta el momento. Entra en escena Consumer Watchdog, el grupo de defensa que a menudo se enfrenta al departamento. Publicó una estimación de los nuevos compromisos de póliza: 12,189 desde enero de 2025, cuando entró en vigor la denominada estrategia de seguros sostenibles de Lara. Esta estrategia permite a las aseguradoras utilizar modelos de catástrofes, que según afirman tienen en cuenta el riesgo de forma más adecuada porque incluyen modelos prospectivos, y considerar los costes de reaseguro al fijar sus tarifas. Consumer Watchdog, cuyos datos provienen de un análisis exhaustivo de las solicitudes de tarifas de las compañías de seguros, afirma que esa cifra es baja, considerando que las aseguradoras han solicitado u obtenido aumentos de tarifas por valor de 571 millones de dólares en virtud de las nuevas regulaciones. El departamento de seguros discrepa del análisis del grupo, afirmando que tiene la intención de publicar sus propios datos y análisis, y descarta las cifras del grupo por considerarlas “incompletas y prematuras”. Ben Armstrong, actuario de Consumer Watchdog, está haciendo un seguimiento de los voluminosos informes de tarifas disponibles públicamente. Analizó las declaraciones de las aseguradoras sobre la cantidad de nuevas pólizas que se comprometen a emitir y comparó los nuevos informes con los informes de tarifas anteriores de cada compañía. Armstrong explicó a CalMatters que no se trata de una ciencia exacta, ya que los informes mencionan compromisos, no ventas reales, y en algunos casos no incluyen un cronograma preciso. Las nuevas normas permiten a las aseguradoras tener en cuenta los modelos de catástrofes y sus costes de reaseguro, siempre que se comprometan a aumentar las ventas en zonas de alto riesgo. De las 10 compañías que solicitaron aumentos de tarifas conforme a las nuevas normas, solo cinco se han comprometido a vender más pólizas, según el análisis del grupo. La normativa exige que las aseguradoras elijan una de estas opciones : suscribir el 85 % de su cuota de mercado en zonas de alto riesgo; aumentar sus pólizas un 5 % en dichas zonas; o incrementar su número de pólizas un 5 % excluyendo a los clientes del Plan FAIR. Algunas de las compañías que han solicitado u obtenido aumentos de tarifas afirman que ya cumplen con el umbral del 85 %. “Lo que estamos viendo es la realidad actual para los californianos que se han visto obligados a soportar aumentos de tarifas a cambio de la promesa de más políticas en el futuro”, dijo Carmen Balber, directora ejecutiva de Consumer Watchdog. <img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/datawrapper.dwcdn.net/XxJ0Q/full.png?w=780&ssl=1" alt="Una tabla con las compañías de seguros, los aumentos de primas que han solicitado y sus compromisos de crecimiento de las pólizas." style="margin-bottom: 10px; max-width:100%;" /> En la última década, el estado ha sufrido los incendios más mortíferos y destructivos. Hace varios años, las compañías de seguros comenzaron a quejarse de que California, que tiene autoridad sobre los aumentos de primas, no los aprobaba con la suficiente rapidez para que pudieran ajustar sus tarifas al creciente riesgo del cambio climático y los incendios forestales. Algunas compañías dejaron de emitir nuevas pólizas o decidieron no renovar las existentes. Las nuevas regulaciones de Lara, que incluyen disposiciones impulsadas por la industria aseguradora, buscan abordar este problema. Balber afirmó que su grupo publicó su análisis para recalcar que el estado debe redoblar sus esfuerzos para garantizar que las viviendas resistentes al fuego cuenten con cobertura de seguro. Señaló que el número de nuevas pólizas a las que las aseguradoras se han comprometido hasta el momento es minúsculo en comparación con el número de pólizas del Plan FAIR, el último recurso, que sigue creciendo, aunque a un ritmo más lento. Los propietarios recurren a esta alianza estatal gestionada por las aseguradoras cuando no pueden adquirir pólizas en otros lugares, por lo que cuanto mayor sea el número de pólizas en el plan, peor será la situación del mercado principal de seguros. A junio, el Plan FAIR aún contaba con aproximadamente 697.000 pólizas activas, un 157% más que en septiembre de 2022. Michael Soller, portavoz del departamento de seguros, declaró que el departamento publicará su análisis una vez que haya examinado el mercado en general y los datos que recopila anualmente. Desconoce si el departamento publicará un análisis antes de que finalice el mandato de Lara en enero. Los californianos votarán para elegir a un nuevo comisionado en noviembre. “El comisionado Lara ha dicho que la estrategia de seguros sostenibles no es una solución inmediata”, afirmó. “Es una solución y una recuperación que lleva varios años”. David Russell, profesor de seguros y finanzas en Cal State Northridge, coincidió con el departamento en que la estrategia de Lara tardará en dar resultados. “Las aseguradoras están volviendo al mercado con cautela”, dijo Russell. “Lo están haciendo de forma selectiva. Siguen siendo propiedades de alto riesgo”. Una casa en Magalia, condado de Butte, el 4 de noviembre de 2023. Fotografía de Manuel Orbegozo para CalMatters. El excomisionado de seguros Dave Jones dijo que Lara podría haber exigido a las aseguradoras que suscribieran más pólizas de alto riesgo, especialmente considerando que el punto de partida era bajo porque se estableció después de un período de no renovaciones y sin nuevas pólizas. Jones también mencionó que las pólizas de líneas excedentes —pólizas de compañías que no están autorizadas ni reguladas por el estado, y que no cuentan con el respaldo estatal en caso de quiebra— están aumentando en California debido a que la disponibilidad sigue siendo un problema. Soller no cuestionó ninguna cifra específica del análisis de Consumer Watchdog. Sin embargo, señaló que Mercury afirmó que su objetivo a ocho años es convertir aproximadamente el 6,5 % de las pólizas residenciales del Plan FAIR, en consonancia con su cuota de mercado, a pólizas estándar para propietarios de viviendas. «Eso por sí solo representa decenas de miles de nuevas pólizas», declaró Soller. Pero hasta el momento, la documentación presentada por Mercury muestra que se ha comprometido a emitir solo 2107 nuevas pólizas en zonas desfavorecidas, por lo que eso es lo que se incluye en el análisis de Consumer Watchdog. El estado aprobó un aumento de tarifas de 85 millones de dólares para la compañía. La compañía que ha conseguido el mayor aumento de tarifas, de más de 150 millones de dólares, Farmers, se ha comprometido a emitir 5.596 nuevas pólizas. “La disponibilidad está mejorando, pero a un precio”, dijo Russell. “Eso siempre iba a ser así”. Según el sitio web de comparación de seguros Insurify, el costo promedio del seguro de vivienda en California ha aumentado un 5% en lo que va del año , uno de los mayores incrementos del país. Más de 8 millones de propietarios de viviendas en el estado cuentan con pólizas de seguro, según el departamento de seguros. Courtesy of Cal Matters
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	The AI career premium: How AI skills are accelerating career paths As companies continue to embed AI across business functions, AI fluency has moved from an experimental skill to an expected competency. Pay and promotion decisions are starting to reflect that shift. At companies where AI is already central to how work gets done, those skills are increasingly shaping how employees are evaluated, rewarded, and promoted.Jobs that require AI skills are growing nearly eight times faster than the overall job market, increasing at 69% compared to 9%, respectively. That gap between supply and demand is starting to change how quickly people can move up in their careers.From Nice-to-Have to Non-NegotiableThis shift is starting well before promotions come into play, influencing who gets hired in the first place. Third-party research surfaced by the AlphaSense platform shows approximately 74% of employers now consider AI skills a "strong advantage" or an outright requirement for new hires, and more than half expect candidates to already be practical or advanced AI users on day one. Recent World Economic Forum data confirms the trend, with U.S. job postings requiring AI literacy up 70% from last year.There’s a clear business justification for this trend: Employers value AI skills because they boost productivity, cut costs, speed up decisions, and create new growth opportunities. That means the biggest career advantage goes to people who can show they are proactively applying their AI skills toward more efficient and accurate work. Meanwhile, workers gain productivity advantages as well. A global research survey of 1,028 AI decision-makers and leaders in financial services and corporate functions, fielded May 27 to July 30, 2026 by AlphaSense found 60% of professionals say AI helps them make better decisions, and 84% say AI surfaces an insight weekly they would not have discovered otherwise.The AI Skills Gap Is WideningThe problem for employers—and the opportunity for workers—is that there are not enough people with AI skills to meet demand. Data from a 2026 survey of more than 39,000 employers found that AI skills are the hardest to find worldwide, with 72% of employers reporting difficulty hiring specifically for AI application development.Even as the broader hiring market cools, the industry-wide AI-skills wage premium has risen steadily since 2024. For employees, that makes durable, practical skills working with AI as a collaborator more valuable than simply upskilling on the most recent tool available.Inside the Numbers: Faster Promotions, Bigger Paychecks Professionals with advanced AI credentials can get promoted up to 3.5 years faster and can earn up to 25% more, according to third-party research. Still, just 5% of workers currently hold advanced AI credentials, including formal AI training, applied project experience, and demonstrated skill using AI tools on the job. That small group stands apart, as the research shows they’re 4.5 times more likely to report higher wages, and four times more likely to report a promotion they attribute directly to their AI skills.How to Build Your AI Edge That gap between the minority with AI credentials and everyone else raises the obvious question: What should the other 95% be doing? The starting point is recognizing that the right skills to prioritize depend heavily on function. LinkedIn's 2026 Skills on the Rise report breaks it down by role: financial data analysis and reporting for finance; prompt engineering and AI literacy for marketing; model training and retrieval-augmented generation for engineering; and health informatics for healthcare.The commonality across these examples is that generic AI familiarity isn't enough. The credentials that translate into real career movement are the ones tied to how AI is used in your specific job. The real opportunity is to learn the AI use cases most relevant to the work already in front of you.Credentials matter most when they translate into measurable impact on the job, not just on a resume. Here are a few ways to make that happen:1. Start with your own function's skill gapRather than treating AI learning as one-size-fits-all, look at what employers in your field are actually prioritizing and use that to decide where you focus your time. For example, a finance professional who learns AI-assisted financial modeling or deal due-diligence is positioning themselves apart from one who dabbles broadly across tools without a clear focus.2. Document the outcomes, not just the activityMap your use of AI tools to business outcomes. Track specific results, whether that's time saved, errors caught, or revenue influenced, and bring that documentation into performance conversations and promotion cases.3. Seek out cross-functional, high-visibility workTake on challenging projects that put your AI skills to use, especially ones that involve working across team lines. This kind of exposure is valued by top talent programs and helps you build a track record that extends beyond a single manager or team, which is often what elevates a skill on a resume to a tangible business benefit.4. Treat AI skill-building as a career-long habit, not a one-time credentialAI is evolving quickly, and employers’ expectations for employees will keep rising. Those who keep building their skills over time instead of treating it as a one-time event are most likely to keep gaining the career advancement and salary increases that the data shows are possible.This story was produced by AlphaSense and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	Hurricanes happen: How ready is your home? When preparing for hurricane season it is, for starters, important to be aware of when hurricane season is so that you remain on high-alert during that time. The exact dates hurricane season begins and ends changes on a yearly basis, but the season generally lasts from June until November. During this time, those who live in high-risk areas should remain mindful of the threat of a hurricane or tropical storm.The season peaks between August and October, with Sept. 10 being the day you’re statistically most likely to find a tropical cyclone somewhere in the Atlantic basin. Hurricanes are common during this time because the ocean water is warm and there’s weak vertical wind shear. HomeServe covers what to know about hurricanes and how to prepare your home.What Areas Are Most Affected by Hurricane Season?In the United States, the most common areas affected by hurricanes are Southeastern states located along the Atlantic seaboard, including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and others. Hurricanes mainly make landfall in coastal cities along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Occasionally, hurricanes hit Northeastern states like New York and New Jersey, either directly or indirectly.It is believed that such severe storms often hit these areas because disturbances propagate from the coast of North Africa and get energized in the warm Atlantic climate.How Hurricanes WorkNow that you better understand when and where hurricanes are most likely to occur, it’s time to prepare yourself for hurricane season. First things first: If you live in an at-risk area, make sure you’re always monitoring warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Meteorologists use three distinct terms when categorizing hurricane conditions.AdvisoryAn advisory is issued when conditions can cause inconveniences that may be hazardous, but not likely life-threatening.WatchA watch is issued when a tropical storm or hurricane is possible within 48 hours. When a watch is issued, you should pay close attention to news sources for information, preparing your home and getting ready to evacuate, if necessary.WarningThis is issued when the NWS expects a tropical storm or hurricane to make landfall within 36 hours. You should leave the threatened area if directed to do so by local officials.Knowing these warnings will help you determine what’s going on in your area. It’ll also help you stay prepared when a storm is brewing.How to Prepare Your Home For a HurricanePrepare for High WindsHigh winds are one of the most dangerous aspects of hurricanes and tropical storms, leading to millions (and sometimes billions) of dollars’ worth of damage. In order to protect yourself, your home and your belongings, you need to prepare for these high winds.Reinforce Weak PointsStrengthen your windows, walls and roof. Secure hurricane shutters over your windows. Add bracing to garage doors.Tie Down Loose ItemsBefore a storm, bring loose, lightweight objects such as patio furniture inside your home to ensure they don’t blow away. Any object you can’t bring inside should be anchored. You should also trim or remove trees that could fall on your home or surrounding homes.Consider a Safe RoomYou should also consider having a safe room in your home that meets Federal Emergency Management Agency criteria, or a storm shelter that meets criteria set forth by the “Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters under the auspices of the International Code Council and National Storm Shelter Association,” known as ICC-500.Surviving a BlackoutHigh winds may bring down power lines, which can plunge your home into a power outage. It’s important that you’re ready to ride out the storm in the dark.Gather SuppliesStock up on flashlights, batteries, lanterns and candles. Charge devices and powerbanks. However, to protect them from power surges, you should unplug pricey electronics (like computers and TVs) before the storm begins.You’ll also want to ensure you have enough nonperishable food and water available for you and your family. Foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking are the best.Preserve Your FoodTo that end, keep your fridge and freezer doors closed during a power outage. Do your best to keep the food inside as cold as possible. If the power comes back on within four hours, it’s typically safe to eat items out of the fridge. Items in a full chest freezer may stay frozen for up to 48 hours. If you suspect a power outage is coming, you can eke out a few more hours of cold storage by lowering the temperature settings on your fridge and freezer before the storm rolls in.Use a Generator — SafelyIf you have a generator, it’s probably one of two types: a portable model or a whole-house standby model. Regardless, make sure you have enough of the right fuel to fill it up. Follow these safety tips:Never use a portable generator inside a garage or in your home.Store fuel in proper containers.If you’re running extension cords outside, make sure to use outdoor-rated ones.Let the generator cool off before adding more fuel.Avoid backfeeding, which is illegal in most jurisdictions.Protect Your HVAC SystemOutdoor AC units are vulnerable during storms. Do these things before a storm hits to protect your air conditioner:Shut off your HVAC system to protect it from power surges and other electrical issues.Cover the outdoor AC unit with a heavy tarp.If you’re putting sandbags around your home, put some around our AC unit, as well.Inspect your unit for damage before turning it back on.How to Prepare for FloodsFlood-Proof Your HomeFlooding also causes catastrophic damage when a hurricane makes landfall. Steps to make your home more flood-resistant include:Make sure gutters and drains are free of debris.Check on your sump pump and remove any debris from the sump pit.Install a water alarm that will alert you when water seeps in.Put irreplaceable, vulnerable items (documents, photos, etc.) on higher floors or shelves.Roll up basement rugs and elevate furniture on plastic totes, if you can.If flooding is expected to be particularly bad, you may want to use sandbags to keep your home dry.What to Do During a FloodA few inches of rainwater in your basement may do some damage, but it’s not the end of the world. A storm surge is what you really need to watch out for. During a hurricane, flood waters can rise rapidly. Just 12 inches of water can sweep away an entire car. Storm surges could bring several feet of water your way.Get to higher ground if you can, and comply with any evacuation orders. If you’re stuck in your home while waters rise, get as far away from electrical outlets and cords as you can. And avoid wading through flood water. It’s not just rain. It may contain chemicals, sewage, sharp objects, rocks and anything else that can get swept away.Protect Your InvestmentA hurricane is going to do a number on your house. Before the storm is the time to take stock of your insurance coverage. Does your homeowners policy cover hurricane-related storm damage? Do you have flood insurance? How much can you expect your policy to pay out if you need to replace your roof, for example?If you have to replace your belongings after a storm, the insurance company is going to want to know exactly what you owned. Before the storm rolls in, take photos of every room in your home, paying careful attention to valuable items. If you have receipts, take photos of those. Write down the approximate value of your items. Email the photos to yourself so you can access them, even if you lose your cellphone.Should You Evacuate During a Hurricane?It can be a difficult decision as a homeowner to leave your home when a storm seems imminent. But, sometimes, it’s necessary. If local authorities advise or order you to evacuate your home, you should grab your important belongings and comply immediately.If you decide to stay home during an evacuation order, you are taking a serious risk. In some places, it may be illegal. You will likely not have access to vital services, including emergency medical assistance.If a storm isn’t expected to be life-threatening in your area, authorities may not issue an evacuation order. If you choose to stay at home, remember that, even if high winds and floodwaters do not reach your house, you may lose power and water, and you may not be able to leave your home for several days if the roads become impassable.If you do evacuate your home, wait until public officials and authorities say it’s safe to return. In the aftermath of hurricanes, people are often injured or even killed while cleaning up. When you return, avoid floodwaters and do not enter a building until it has been inspected.Emergency Supplies to Have on Hand in a HurricaneYou should have emergency supplies at the ready in case a storm hits. These supplies will be needed as you hunker down in your home and wait for the storm to pass. They’ll also come in handy after the storm, if you’re left without power. Recommended supplies include:Means of emergency communication. Keep a backup power source for your cellphone in case of emergency.Medical supplies. You should always be equipped to tend to expected or unexpected medical needs.Documents. Critical documents, such as birth certificates, should be kept in a waterproof container.Food. You should have at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water.Protective gear. Pack warm clothes and blankets to prevent hypothermia.Comfort items. If you evacuate your home and the situation permits, you can grab items that are irreplaceable or may provide comfort to your family.You can build up your supplies stash over time by adding a few items each week or each month.This story was produced by HomeServe Editorial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	RevOps job postings are outpacing hires so fast that one company is running the same search on two continents One company running two concurrent global Head of Revenue Operations searches simultaneously, in different regions, at the same time — one example pulled from a broader scan of RevOps-related hiring-plan signals ZoomInfo tracked over the past 13 months (June 2025–July 2026).That's not a company being indecisive. It's a company that genuinely can't find the person fast enough in either market, and the tracking shows several other companies with RevOps roles that have sat open for weeks.The scale behind that single example is large: Revenue operations has become one of the fastest-growing job categories in the country, with more than 174,000 open positions listed on ZipRecruiter recently.The demand isn't a blip. Gartner predicted in 2021 that 75% of the highest-growth companies would operate a formal RevOps model by 2025, up from less than 30% a few years earlier. Industry tracking since suggests the share of companies with a dedicated RevOps function has grown from roughly a third in 2020 to nearing half today. Though that particular adoption figure is a directional industry estimate rather than a single, clean, citable study, it’s worth knowing.Titles are growing faster than talent. That's the plain read on the gap between how fast companies are standing up RevOps functions and how many qualified people exist to fill them.Why the role is so hard to fillRevOps sits at the intersection of three skill sets that rarely live in one person: systems and data fluency (CRM administration, reporting, integration), commercial judgment (understanding what a sales or marketing team actually needs from the data), and process design (building the workflows that connect the two).Most candidates come in strong on one or two of these and thin on the third. Combine that with a role that's only existed at scale for a handful of years — there's no deep, decades-old talent pipeline to draw from the way there is for, say, sales or finance leadership.Revenue Operations Alliance survey data found 76% of RevOps job descriptions list collaborative, cross-functional skill as the top requirement, ranked above technical proficiency. That lines up with why the role is hard to fill from a single, pre-existing talent pool: Most hiring processes are searching for someone strong across all three dimensions, systems, commercial judgment, and cross-functional collaboration at once, not just the technical one.What GTM teams can do about it nowWaiting for a perfect external candidate is proving to be a slow strategy, given how long these roles are sitting open. The more workable path for a lot of organizations is building the role internally by taking someone with strong systems fluency from sales operations or a data-adjacent function and investing in the commercial and process-design skills. It's a longer runway than a clean external hire, but a more realistic one given how thin the external candidate pool is.The RevOps hiring gap isn't closing on its own. Companies that treat it as a build problem, not just a search problem, are more likely to actually fill the seat this year instead of running the same open request into next.This story was produced by ZoomInfo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	How to explain being a futures trader to your friends and family Many of us have been there: You’re at a social gathering, hanging out with friends or family you haven’t seen in a while, when someone asks what you’re doing these days. And you say, “I trade futures.”Uncomfortable pause, blank stares, perhaps a polite nod. Maybe someone asks, “Like … predicting the future?” And you sigh.If you’ve ever struggled to explain futures trading without going down a technical rabbit hole, this guide is for you.NinjaTrader breaks it down in a way that makes sense, even if your audience has never looked at a trading chart in their life.What are futures?Just like in school, start with the basics. A futures contract is just an agreement to buy or sell something at a set price at a later date.That “something” could be a range of assets, like:CornOilGoldStock indexes (like the S&P 500)To make it click, bring it into everyday life. Use an example about buying concert tickets early. You might pay $100 today, knowing that as demand increases, those same tickets could be worth $200 later.That early agreement is the essence of a futures contract.Key takeawaySimply put, futures contracts are standardized agreements that reflect expectations about future prices, traded on regulated exchanges.In real markets, this plays out across industries. Farmers manage crop prices. Companies track input costs like fuel or cocoa. Traders participate based on how they think prices will move.Once people see that connection, the concept usually sticks. If they’re still looking for more insight, give it to them.Why people trade futuresThis is where the “why” starts to land.Futures markets exist for two main reasons: managing risk (hedging) and trading opportunity (speculating). Both are essential to how the markets work.Some participants (hedgers) use futures to stabilize costs. Hedgers might produce, distribute, or consume a physical commodity. But hedging isn’t restricted to physical products; it occurs in the financial space as well. Financial institutions might hedge their portfolios with index futures. The common theme in hedging is reducing uncertainty and planning ahead.Other participants (speculators) focus on price movement. They’re watching how markets react to supply, demand, and global events. They’re not buying physical goods; they’re trading how prices change over time.HedgingHedging is about protection. It’s how commercial traders use futures to reduce uncertainty around prices.Imagine a farmer growing corn. Prices can change significantly between planting and harvesting. By locking in a price ahead of time, the farmer has more clarity on what they’ll earn—regardless of how the market moves later.The same idea applies across industries:A food company managing ingredient costs like wheat or cocoaAn airline managing fuel expensesA manufacturer planning around raw material pricesHedging doesn’t eliminate risk completely, but it can make outcomes more predictable. That predictability can help businesses plan, budget, and operate with more confidence.SpeculatingSpeculating is about opportunity. Instead of locking in prices, large professional speculators and small retail traders focus on how prices move. They analyze trends, react to market news, and take positions based on whether they think prices will rise or fall.For example, a speculator might look at:Supply disruptions in oilWeather impacts on cropsEconomic data affecting stock indexesThen decide how to position accordingly.Most traders aren’t taking actual (physical) delivery of corn, oil, or gold. They’re participating in price movement—often over shorter timeframes, but sometimes longer ones, too.In short, you can put it like this:Key takeawayHedgers want predictability. Speculators look for opportunity.That balance is what keeps futures markets active and dynamic.The role of leverage (and why it’s not as scary as it sounds)Leverage is one of those terms that can derail a conversation if it’s not explained well. Keep it simple.In futures trading, you don’t need to put up the full value of a contract. Instead, you post margin—a smaller amount that acts like a deposit.For example:A contract might represent $100,000 of market value.You might only need $5,000–$10,000 in margin to trade it.Key takeawayThat’s leverage. It allows traders to use capital efficiently and access larger markets.But it also means price movements have a bigger impact—both positive and negative.This is why risk management matters. Position sizing, planning trades, and understanding exposure all play a role.Leverage isn’t inherently risky; how it’s used makes the difference.What makes futures different from stocksStocks represent ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you’re buying a small piece of that business. Futures, however, represent a contract tied to the price of an underlying asset—like oil, gold, or a stock index.That distinction shapes how each market behaves.With stocks, investors often think long-term—company performance, earnings, growth potential. With futures, the focus is more direct: How is the price moving, and why?Futures also offer a few structural differences:Nearly 24-hour trading during the week, allowing traders to react to global events in real timeThe ability to go long or short just as easily, without additional constraintsAccess to a wide range of markets(e.g.,commodities, indexes, interest rates)Another key difference is how positions are used. Futures trades are often shorter-term and more tactical, while stock positions are commonly held longer (though not always).Key takeawayFutures trading is less about owning something and more about participating in how prices move.That shift in perspective is usually what makes the difference click.How traders participate in the futures marketsFrom the outside, futures trading can seem fast or complicated. In practice, it’s more structured than most people expect.Traders typically follow a consistent process. They analyze the market, choose a contract, and decide whether price is likely to move up or down. Then they place and manage the trade.Most are using advanced trading platforms like NinjaTrader to:View charts and price actionApply indicatorsExecute tradesMonitor positionsSome focus on short-term moves. Others take a longer-term view. There’s no single approach—just different styles built around how traders interpret the market.Common misconceptions about futures tradingThis is where things can get interesting. Futures trading comes with a few built-in misunderstandings.“You’re predicting the future.”Not exactly. Traders aren’t guessing outcomes—they’re reacting to current market behavior. Futures trading is based on analyzing price, trends, and market conditions in real time.“You have to buy physical commodities.”Nope. Most traders never take delivery of anything. They’re trading price movement, not handling physical goods like oil or corn.“It’s just gambling.”This comes up a lot. The difference is structure. Traders often use defined risk, position sizing, and planned strategies. Markets are driven by supply, demand, and economic data—not randomness.“It’s only for professionals.”Futures trading used to feel less accessible, but that’s changed. Today, individual traders can participate using modern platforms and educational resources. There’s a learning curve, but it’s not limited to institutions.“It’s too complicated.”It can feel that way at first. But a beginner’s guide to futures trading really comes down to a few core ideas:Prices moveTime mattersMarkets react to informationEverything else builds from there.Clearing up these points can change how people understand futures trading—and how you explain it.Leave them interested (and impressed)Explaining futures trading doesn’t have to feel complicated. Keep it simple and relatable. It’s about price, not products. It’s about agreements, not predictions. It’s about managing risk, not guessing and gambling.Key takeawayFutures trading isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about understanding how markets move.And once you frame it that way, it starts to make a lot more sense—to you, and to everyone else in the room.This story was produced by NinjaTrader and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The life expectancy gap is putting a new focus on long-term financial planning An increase in life expectancy is a cause for celebration, although it brings with it complications and concerns from the knock-on effects of increased longevity on areas like healthcare and housing. Things are further complicated when broad national averages are contrasted with cohort-specific estimates, which provide insights into life expectancy post-65 as opposed to only estimating expected longevity at birth across the entire population.It’s here that the life expectancy gap emerges, and challenges for long-term financial planning become apparent, with implications for individuals and society at large. As the latest data on life expectancy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) arrives, now is a good time to investigate exactly what’s at stake.Unpacking Life Expectancy DataTraditional retirement planning relies on a static assumption about how long most people live. CDC reporting shows life expectancy at birth in 2024 reached 79.0 years, up 0.6 years from 2023. As mentioned, that single data point muddies the waters when it comes to financial planning, because it is a combined average across the entire population.Moreover, a period life table captures a snapshot of current mortality conditions but does not account for future medical advances or lifestyle changes. SSA cohort estimates are more illuminating in this regard and project that a child born in 2024 will live to 84.2 years. The same SSA data set projects that when that child reaches age 65, they can expect another 20.4 years of life.The clear conclusion is that planning a financial portfolio or buying coverage based strictly on population-level period table averages leaves a gap of roughly five years. Closing this gap requires restructuring income strategies, term lengths, and asset protection.The Hidden Financial Risk in Period Life TablesThe divergence between period snapshots and cohort realities changes how financial assets must perform over time. Period statistics reflect death rates across all age groups in a single calendar year, meaning they carry the weight of temporary spikes and historic health crises.Cohort tables track actual populations as they age, factoring in persistent improvements in survival rates. The previously cited CDC National Vital Statistics Report demonstrates that period measurements lag behind cohort projections across almost every adult demographic.According to AccuQuote, a life insurance broker, long-term financial planning that ignores cohort projections increases the risk of systemic depletion. When income strategies underestimate survival by five years, portfolio withdrawal rates calculated at age 65 will fail to support basic needs past age 80.How Extended Coverage Protects Against Longevity RiskLonger life spans require guaranteed risk transfer mechanisms that extend beyond typical working years. Relying exclusively on standard 20-year or 30-year term coverage can leave individuals exposed when health risks begin to compound.As individuals live longer than past population averages, traditional fixed-term policies often expire before the need for financial protection ends. Evaluating modern coverage options helps align insurance durations with dynamic cohort projections rather than static population averages.To prevent systematic shortfalls, income strategies must include dynamic withdrawal rates that adjust automatically based on market sequences and age milestones, extended policy terms that protect surviving spouses well into their nineties, and inflation-protected annuities designed to absorb rising healthcare overhead over three decades. Extending policy terms and income safety nets shields accumulated wealth from late-life medical costs. Longevity planning moves the focus from accumulating a lump sum to sustaining income streams over an unpredictable timeframe.Why 30-Year Retirements Require Different Asset AllocationAccumulating wealth for a 20-year retirement requires a fundamentally different asset allocation than preparing for a 30-year horizon. Conservative portfolios heavily tilted toward fixed income could struggle to outpace cumulative inflation over extended periods.The aforementioned SSA research indicates that unisex life expectancy at age 65 continues to increase as mortality rates decline across older age brackets. Keeping an equity allocation deeper into retirement helps maintain purchasing power while reducing the risk of outliving total capital.Managing portfolio longevity demands balancing market growth with guaranteed income floors. When predictable lifetime income covers fixed costs, liquid assets can remain invested to counter the long-term erosion of purchasing power.Closing the Gap for GoodAddressing the life expectancy gap must involve moving away from simplified rule-of-thumb retirement planning. Relying on headline average lifespan metrics could create a structural vulnerability in long-term financial security.Incorporating cohort longevity projections ensures that term durations, withdrawal strategies, and risk protection models remain functional for 30 years or more post-retirement. Reevaluating existing risk models today can protect personal capital against the rising costs of longevity.This story was produced by AccuQuote and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Three things to know: Sept. 25, 2026 Today's Three Things to Know: Give Like Dolly Day, Special Olympics Polar Plunge and Kewanee Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
	Woman who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault says her claims were false On Thursday, the woman identified as Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court stating that all of her original claims against the rapper were false.
	Honor Flight guardian helps Vietnam veteran reconnect with a lasting bond An Honor Flight guardian helps a Vietnam veteran search for a connection to a fallen friend, while honoring her late father's dream of taking the trip to D.C.
	Whiteside County Animal Control director files defamation suit over Starsky comments The Whiteside County Animal Control director filed a defamation suit against two people over social media comments about the euthanasia of a dog named Starsky.
	Banks made $3 billion from overdraft fees in just 6 months: Here's how to avoid paying them The average overdraft fee is about $35, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and U.S. banks collected $2.96 billion in combined overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees in just the first six months of 2026, according to a Motley Fool Money analysis of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Call Report data. That covers 512 banks with more than $1 billion in total assets. Smaller banks are not required to report that data, so the true nationwide total is higher.Several major banks have cut or eliminated their overdraft fees since 2019, providing their checking accounts an extra perk, but overall, banks are still raking in billions from overdraft fees.Key pointsOverdraft fees cost: The average overdraft fee is $35, with U.S. banks collecting nearly $6 billion annually.Big banks dominate: Major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo generate most overdraft fee revenue.Disproportionate impact: Lower-income, younger, and underrepresented groups are more likely to pay overdraft fees.How much banks made on overdraft fees in 2026 and over timeBanks are on pace to generate overdraft fees at about the same level as 2024 and 2025, close to $6 billion, after a roughly $1.7 billion decline from 2022 to 2023. Motley Fool Money Revenue from overdraft and NSF fees dropped by nearly half between 2019 and 2023 as several major banks cut or eliminated their fees, with a sharp one-year drop in 2020 as pandemic-era spending patterns and stimulus payments briefly reduced overdrafts.Overdraft fee and NSF revenue have risen slightly for two straight years since.One bank accounts for 19% of all overdraft fee revenueA small number of the largest banks drive most of the industry's overdraft and NSF revenue. Motley Fool Money JPMorgan Chase alone accounted for about 19% of all reported overdraft and NSF fees in the first half of 2026, more than any other bank in the data.Three banks account for most of the swing in overdraft and NSF revenue since 2019: Chase and Wells Fargo are the two largest collectors in the group, and Bank of America made the deepest overdraft fee and NSF cuts of any bank in the data.Bank of America's overdraft and NSF revenue fell from $1.56 billion in 2019 to $140 million in 2023, after the bank lowered its overdraft fee and dropped its NSF fee entirely, and it has edged up only slightly since, to $152 million in 2025.Chase's revenue fell from $2.06 billion in 2019 to $1.1 billion in 2023, then recovered to $1.11 billion in 2025 and is on pace for a similar total in 2026.Wells Fargo's revenue fell from $1.7 billion in 2019 to $937 million in 2023 and has stayed roughly flat since, at $928 million in 2025, according to Motley Fool Money's analysis of FFIEC data.The average overdraft fee is $35, but one major bank charges just $10The typical overdraft fee is about $35, according to the CFPB. That figure lines up closely with what the largest banks actually charge. For example, JPMorgan Chase charges $34 per overdraft item, capped at three fees per day. Bank of America is the exception at $10 per overdraft, capped at two fees per day, down from $35 before it cut the fee in May 2022, according to the bank.12% of Americans paid an overdraft fee last yearTwelve percent of Americans paid an overdraft fee in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve, but lower-income, younger, and Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to have paid one. Motley Fool Money Those same groups have lower average checking account balances than the groups less likely to overdraft.How to avoid overdraft feesThe most direct way to avoid an overdraft is to catch a low balance before overspending. Some banks have apps that provide low-balance alerts in real time.“Set up a low-balance alert and treat that number like it's your actual zero,” advises Motley Fool Money personal finance expert Joel O’Leary. “A little heads-up text that says ‘hey, you're getting close’ gives you a chance to react while it's still a small deal instead of a fee.”Checking account activity often and keeping a basic budget to provide a running sense of income versus spending can also catch spending that an alert alone might miss. In addition, some checking accounts are no-overdraft-fee accounts, which waive the fee even for accidental overdrafts.“If you're overdrafting on the regular, it's definitely worth switching to a bank with no-overdraft fees,” O’Leary said. “One tradeoff is the best no-overdraft-fee accounts live online, so you'll need to be comfortable banking mostly from your phone. On the plus side, most online banks have no account fees and great mobile apps, so you usually come out ahead.”FAQsWhat is the average overdraft fee?The average overdraft fee is about $35, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Some of the largest banks charge close to that: JPMorgan Chase charges $34 per overdraft item, while Bank of America charges $10, down from $35 before it cut fees in May 2022.How much money do banks make from overdraft fees?U.S. banks with more than $1 billion in assets collected $2.96 billion in combined overdraft and NSF fees in the first half of 2026, according to a Motley Fool Money analysis of FFIEC Call Report data. That is on pace with 2024 and 2025, after revenue fell by nearly half between 2019 and 2023.MethodologyThe bank-level and industry-wide revenue figures in this article come from a Motley Fool Money analysis of FFIEC Call Report data, Schedule RI, item RIADH032, which combines overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee revenue on consumer deposit accounts. Only banks with more than $1 billion in total assets are required to report, so the totals in this article do not capture the entire U.S. banking industry; the true nationwide figure is higher.Full-year figures for 2019 through 2025 use each bank's year-end (Dec. 31) report, which reflects the full calendar year on a cumulative basis. The 2026 figure uses each bank's most recent report as of September 2026, which was the second quarter (six-month, January-through-June) report for 507 of the 512 banks and the first quarter (three-month) report for the remaining five. Any full-year 2026 estimate in this article doubles the six-month total and is a rough estimate, not a projection.This story was produced by Motley Fool Money and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	There's a global pandemic treaty that's signed -- and in 'limbo.' What's the holdup? The treaty aims to help the countries of the world prepare for — and defeat — any future pandemic. Why hasn't it gone into effect?
	Illinois bill calls for K-12 student athlete cardiovascular screenings An Illinois bill could require cardiovascular screening for K-12 student athletes in the near future.
	Man arrested after months long investigation into Burlington cocaine distribution A man was arrested on Thursday after a several months long investigation into cocaine being distributed throughout Burlington.
	The Supreme Court revives a controversial data system for citizenship checks The Supreme Court is allowing use of a data system that Trump officials overhauled. The system has erroneously flagged U.S. citizens and a lower court found it violated federal privacy protections.
	High diesel prices put pressure on school bus budgets in the Quad Cities Rising diesel prices are putting pressure on school districts that operate their own buses, while one district says another fuel source is helping control costs.
	Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent? Small business ownership means sacrificing time, predictable income, and sometimes even your own paycheck to build a business. Those sacrifices can become permanent if you’re not careful.Becoming your own boss often comes with a trade-off or two. Starting a business can mean leaving behind a steady paycheck and paid time off, only to find yourself working evenings and weekends, while losing sleep over planning.Based on input from 883 U.S. small business owners, and fielded in June 2026, Rocket Lawyer's 2026 Small Business American Dream Survey found that 55.3% of small business owners started their business in part for more flexibility in their schedule. However, 23% named time as one of the biggest barriers to starting or growing that same business.One small business owner put it plainly: Business ownership means working constantly, "often times more than a traditional 9-5," with the tradeoff being control over your own schedule and job security. Another owner described the exchange more bluntly: Having a business might mean a more flexible schedule, but it might also mean "not enough income."As Rocket Lawyer explains below, these insights show just how much business owners may be giving up. But instead of accepting those sacrifices as part of the job, it may be time to ask whether the sacrifices that helped you get started are still helping you grow.Which sacrifices are necessary?In the short term, working extremely long days or taking less pay can make sense. Maybe you are saving cash for new equipment, covering a slow season, still finding clientele, or just doing most of the work yourself.But if those temporary sacrifices become your normal way of operating, they may point to a business problem worth examining. Start by examining these sacrifices:Look at your time. If you still handle every invoice, customer question, order, and administrative task yourself, ask whether you can delegate or automate some of the work. Improving an entrepreneur's work-life balance isn’t an overnight change. It’s building systems that make your business less dependent on you over time.Look at your money. Paying yourself as a business owner can be complicated because the appropriate method may depend on your business structure and tax situation. But repeatedly skipping your own pay can be an issue. This usually means it’s time to examine pricing, costs, margins, and cash flow.Where is your money going?Sometimes, the sacrifices you’re making may be tied to how money comes into and goes out of your business. Reviewing key parts of your business operations to understand your cash flow is important to ensure your business is running properly.Review your customer agreements. Are your current prices still covering your costs and the time required to do the work? Are customers paying you for your service or product on time? Could deposits, milestone payments, shorter payment periods, or clearer late-payment terms improve cash flow?Review your expenses. Many software subscriptions, supplier agreements, professional services, and other costs can increase over time. Have you seen those increased prices? Are you still willing and able to pay those increases? Renegotiating a contract, changing vendors, or eliminating an expense you no longer need could give your business more room to pay you and reduce some of the pressure that comes with common small business challenges.It may be time to reassess the sacrificesThe goal when reviewing your cash flow and business operations is to choose them intentionally, rather than continuing habits your business has outgrown.Am I still working the hours I worked when I started? Which tasks do I need to handle, and which could someone or something else handle?Am I paying myself enough and consistently? If not, is the problem pricing, expenses, cash flow, or how customers pay me?Could better contract terms improve my income? Should I revisit prices, deposits, payment deadlines, or vendor costs?Could my business operate without me for a few days? If not, which processes, responsibilities, or decisions should I document or delegate?What to do nextTrack where your time goes. For one or two weeks, note which tasks take the most time and which you could delegate, outsource, or automate.Review how your business pays you. Look at your cash flow, pricing, margins, and owner compensation to see whether your current approach is sustainable.Revisit important contracts. Check customer payment terms and recurring vendor costs for opportunities to improve timing or reduce expenses.Build a business that depends less on you. Document repeatable processes, assign responsibilities, and research and implement available tools to help with routine business and legal tasks. Consider asking an attorney before changing important contracts.It’s very common to make sacrifices when starting your business. As your business grows, remember to review those sacrifices regularly to make sure you’re still getting the flexibility you set out to have.This story was produced by Rocket Lawyer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The CRM AI tools built for email personalization are the ones teams often overlook Many sales teams have enough faith in AI to let it help them with prospect outreach. In fact, HubSpot’s 2025 State of Sales Report reveals that 83% of sales professionals agree that AI can be used to personalize prospect engagement, and 31% deem it the tool that delivers the highest return. Despite that, 72% of sales organizations fail to invest in high-value sales activities (such as email personalization), according to a Gartner survey conducted in 2026.The technology is there, but many sales teams haven’t taken the time to implement it. This Nutshell guide offers an insight into how the trust in CRM AI tools hasn’t yet evolved into high-value habits, how sales reps should deploy email personalization, and how to gauge if your personalization efforts are paying off.Key takeawaysThe barrier to AI email personalization is awareness of the feature availability, and developing a habit of using the AI tools when sending emails.Effective email personalization focuses on high-value data points, such as deal stage, interaction history, and behavioral signals.An increase in email reply rate and sales meetings booked are signs that your personalized emails are working.What is AI email personalization in a CRM?AI email personalization involves using your CRM’s native AI features to craft custom email content, including subject and opening lines, using the contact’s stored data and behavior. The AI in your CRM uses data points like the contact’s industry, last activity, and deal stage to customize the email content.Data volume affects the depth of AI personalization. In other words, the more contact history in your CRM, the more specific your messaging can be. That means that an email sent to a contact with years of purchase history and support tickets could potentially include many more specifics than one sent to a brand-new lead that has only completed a submission form.Beyond the historical context, another common function in the personalization process is optimizing when the email is sent. A CRM AI tool uses a contact’s past activity to predict when they are most likely to open an email, and tailors the send time to maximize the chances of an open.It’s a level-up approach to standardized email templates used for prospect outreach and lead follow-ups. And it’s a capability that most modern CRMs include.Why do many sales teams still send generic emails?Sales teams are still sending out non-personalized generic emails because activating that capability involves making a deliberate decision, which is often just postponed to a “more convenient time” later. Considering the praise teams have given AI personalization, it’s likely that they have enough faith in the feature.The missing element is ownership, because without an official owner, teams are unlikely to switch the capability on. Businesses must identify and assign ownership of the feature’s rollout, the creation of its initial templates, and the continuous monitoring of the tool’s efficacy to ensure it’s turned on and utilized.A framework for turning on AI personalization the right wayTurning on the AI personalization feature is the easiest part of the process. Making sure your team uses it well and reaps the benefits is where the real work lies.Which data points are worth using for email personalization?These days, adding the name of the recipient to the email subject line and greeting doesn’t really count as personalization. And some CRM fields are better suited for personalization than others, so it’s important to know what data is useful here.It’s important to focus on more than just demographic data. Data points that typically prove helpful for personalization include deal stage, interaction history, and behavioral signals. Nutshell How do you ensure AI-personalized emails sound natural?To make sure that your AI personalization efforts deliver natural-sounding emails, it’s important to read every email draft before it’s sent to your recipients. Check for everything from openers and subject lines to information the contact already knows. Make the necessary adjustments before you hit send.But beware of crossing the line when personalizing your messaging. A 2021 study by McKinsey discovered that while 71% of consumers expect personalized brand interactions, 76% don’t respond well to messaging that feels invasive or misses the mark.For example, mentioning a specific LinkedIn comment posted by the prospect in your first meeting might give them the impression that you’ve been surveilling their social media accounts. The better play is to keep the conversation focused on the information they’ve volunteered.What’s a simple rollout plan for a CRM AI email personalization tool?Rolling out your CRM’s AI email personalization feature shouldn’t be a complicated process, but it should incorporate a few stages for the smoothest possible integration into your workflow.These four steps should be all you need to get up and running:Audit active features: Run an audit to establish whether you already have any active AI personalization features.Select your data points: Avoid trying to personalize your messaging with every possible piece of data off the bat, and pick one or two core data points as a start instead.Review emails manually: Although the point is to speed up the email personalization process, test and double-check an initial batch of emails before locking in.Expand if effective: If your CRM’s AI tool has successfully personalized your emails to the point that you’re seeing an increase in replies and conversions, start implementing the feature across a broader set of email communications. Nutshell How do you measure personalized email performance?To figure out whether AI personalization actually improves email performance, run an A/B test sending a personalized email to a portion of your list and your standard email template to a different portion. Then, compare the numbers to see which one performs better.Two core metrics you’ll want to keep tabs on to determine whether your AI personalized emails are performing well, including:Reply rate: This is the percentage of emails that your recipients actually respond to, and a great indicator of real engagement.Time-to-first reply: This is the time between when the email is sent and when you receive a response. A quick response is indicative of stronger engagement.But at the end of the day, the real impact of effective AI email personalization through your CRM tools is seen in your team’s sales productivity. When personalization works well, it reduces time spent on manual personalization, increases your reply rate, and makes your team more productive.The next step is turning AI personalization onAnother key insight from McKinsey’s 2021 research is that companies that personalize their messaging generate 40% more revenue from their personalization efforts than standard messaging.AI email personalization already exists as part of your team’s CRM toolset. What’s missing is the decision to flick the switch and the ownership that comes with that. Then, teams can start personalizing based on the data points that matter most to them, and track and check results as they interact with contacts.The gains are literally one simple setting away.Frequently asked questions about AI email personalization1. Does AI email personalization work for small sales teams, or only large teams?It works at any team size. Small teams often see the clearest gains because a handful of reps can review and adjust AI-drafted emails quickly, without layers of approval slowing down the rollout.2. Is AI email personalization the same as mail-merge?No. Mail-merge inserts a name or company name into a fixed template. AI email personalization adjusts the message itself, including the opening line, examples included, and sending time, based on CRM data.3. Will personalized emails have a negative impact on deliverability?Deliverability is the likelihood that an email reaches a recipient’s inbox and not a spam folder. Personalization itself won’t hurt your deliverability. Things like sending volume, list quality, and authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM affect deliverability far more than whether an email is personalized.4. How much editing does AI-drafted copy typically need before sending?Most teams do a quick manual pass, checking the tone of the email, removing anything that feels invasive, and confirming factual details pulled from the CRM are current.5. How long before a team sees measurable results?Reply rate differences between personalized and generic emails typically show up within a few weeks, once a reasonable sample size of sent emails accumulates.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Friday, September 25th, 2026