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

Monday, September 28th, 2026
	Muscatine Co. Sheriff looking for 3 people in connection to scrap metal theft Deputies went to Nichols, Iowa, for scrap metal being stolen from a business just before 6 a.m. Sunday, according to a Facebook post.
	Harlem Globetrotters bring Rivalry Tour to Vibrant Arena in January The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing the Harlem Globetrotters: Rivalry Tour to the Vibrant Arena in Moline on January 7, 2027. This tour features a whole new game, a new lineup of rivals, all-new challenges and a free pre-game tip-off party for fans. Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public on [...]
	Death Notice: Jamie Peterman A celebration of life for Jamie Peterman, 39, will be held from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the McCausland Fire Station, 307 N. Salina St., McCausland. The Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Ms. Peterman died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Memorials may be made to the Sophia and Emma Dexter Educational Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com. A full obituary will appear in the Sept. 30 edition of The NSP.
	Nursing home cited for violations after resident dies by suicide A Montgomery County nursing home has been cited by the state for violations related to a resident’s death by suicide.
	Burney Sisters, Rebel Eves play Ca d’Zan House Concerts Enjoy an evening of roots-driven music as the Burney Sisters join Grace Theisen, Jilian Linklater and Carolyn Koebel of the Rebel Eves on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge. The all-ages show is presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections and starts with an optional potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the [...]
	SCAM ALERT: Bureau County sheriff warns of door-to-door Ameren scam The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of an alleged scammer going door-to-door.
	EICC to receive $800,000 grant from U.S. Department of Labor for workforce training Eastern Iowa Community College is the largest subrecipient of a U.S. Department of Labor grant to an Iowa program aimed at increasing workforce training in state community colleges.
	Largest American steel plant coming to Southeast Iowa Plans to bring a new steel plant to Southeast Iowa were announced at a news conference at the White House this afternoon. President Donald Trump, along with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Mesabi Metallics CEO Joe Broking and Chairman Rewant Ruia, announced [...]
	Lights, camera, tax credits! Illinois lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker have enhanced the state’s film tax credit program, which could mean billions of dollars of spending in the state, film industry advocates say.
	Kyle MacLachlan says he was David Lynch's 'submersible' into dark places MacLachlan was 23 when he auditioned for Lynch's adaptation of Dune. The two would go on to work together on the cult classics Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. MacLachlan's new memoir is Fictional Selves.
	Peosta Kid Captain will cheer on the Hawkeyes as they tackle Ohio State This week’s Iowa Kid Captain is 10-year-old Eliana Gaul from Peosta.
	I didn't think 'Pachinko' could be topped. Then I read 'American Hagwon' Min Jin Lee's new novel is the third in a planned four-novel series about the Korean diaspora. Nearly 10 years in the making, this sweeping-but-intimate 600+ page book is overwhelming — in a good way.
	Iowa lawmakers could return for special session on steel plant tax incentives before midterms The Des Moines Register first reported lawmakers are considering a potential special session in October.
	Two men who died in fatal Scott County crash identified The two men who died in a fatal crash in rural northern Scott County on Saturday, Sept. 26, have been identified by authorities, as well as one of the passengers.
	Prosecutors are reexamining a Cornell fraternity rape case. Here's what we know New York prosecutors are reopening an investigation into an alleged rape case at Cornell University in 2024. The alleged victim recently filed a lawsuit against seven members of Chi Phi fraternity.
	EICC receives federal funding for workforce training, Pell-eligible programs The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $10.8 million to a program that focuses on expanding short-term training programs and developing workforce Pell-eligible programs at community colleges in Iowa. Iowa’s project, Iowa STRONG (Systems, Training, and Resources for Opportunity, Navigation, and Growth) is a united effort between Iowa’s community colleges, the Iowa Department of Education [...]
	Congresswoman indicates largest-ever American steel plant is coming to Lee County ahead of Monday announcement The $15 billion mega steel plant will produce an estimated 10 million tons of steel each year once it’s fully online by 2030.
	Biz Bytes: Corps of Engineers selects Rock Island resident for award, UnityPoint Health announces new technology and more economic news Corps of Engineers selects Rock Island resident for award, Black Bank & Trust to expand and more business news.
	Victims identified in crash that killed 2 after car runs stop sign The victims involved in a deadly crash on Saturday in Scott County have been identified.
	Man involved in Bureau County hostage situation where police fatally shot toddler pleads guilty Anthony Rodriguez has pleaded guilty to six charges after a hostage situation that ended with three-year-old Damian Camacho being shot and killed by police.
	Man charged after allegedly hitting two men with vehicle, killing one in Milan A man is being charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court after allegedly hitting two and killing one with his vehicle in Milan, just after midnight on Saturday.
	Trump to announce location of largest steel plant in US President Donald Trump on Monday will announce America’s largest-ever steel plant will be built in Iowa.
	Gary Camarano named Economic Development Director of the Year Whiteside County and the Northwest Illinois Film Office are celebrating as one of their own has been named Economic Development Director of the Year. Gary Camarano, Economic Development Director for Whiteside County and Executive Director of the Northwest Illinois Film Office, has been named Economic Development Director of the Year 2026 by Government Business Review. [...]
	Runners celebrate the magic of Quad Cities Marathon Runners of all ages and experience levels share what makes the Quad Cities Marathon special, from the course atmosphere to the feeling of crossing the finish line.
	The Trump administration weakens fuel efficiency standards for new cars The Trump administration says easing these standards will make cars more affordable. Critics say it's not so simple and could be costly for the environment.
	Woman injured in Rock Island shots fired incident on 11th Ave. A woman was shot Sunday night during an incident in the 800 block of 11th Avenue.
	Learn about Adult Mental Health First Aid in Galesburg This fall, residents in and around Galesburg can learn how to help someone dealing with mental health or substance use challenges. The Adult Mental Health First Aid training class will be held at the Galesburg Public Library, 264 W Main St., on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class teaches participants how [...]
	7 tips to boost your budgeting skills and your savings account Budgeting is a key element of financial success at almost any income level. When it comes to budgeting—and ultimately saving—how much you earn doesn’t matter as much as how you manage your money. The thing is, people are not born knowing how to build a workable budget or save enough money for financial security. Both are learned skills.Achieve shares seven tips that can polish your budgeting skills and make it easier to meet your savings goals.Key takeaways:Budgets are all about helping you flourish financially.Track your expenses. You need to know where your money goes if you want the opportunity to make different choices.Find a budgeting buddy. Having a partner can make it easier and more fun to work toward your goals.Automating your savings takes the decision out of your hands each month, so the transfer happens whether or not you remember to make it.What is a budget?A budget is a plan for how you’ll spend and save your income each month. It lays your income against your expenses side by side, so you can see where your money goes and make changes before you run short. Building a budget is a skill you develop over time, not a one-time task you finish and forget.How to start budgeting and savingThese four steps give you a clear starting point for a budget that fits your income.Calculate your net income: Add up how much money lands in your bank account each month after taxes, not your total salary before deductions.Track your spending: Look back at three months of bank and credit card statements to see where your money goes.List your fixed and variable expenses: Fixed expenses, like rent and insurance, stay the same each month. Variable expenses, like groceries and dining out, change from month to month.Automate your savings: Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to a savings account for the day you get paid, so the money moves before you spend it.Here are seven tips for launching and growing your savings.1. Make sure you’re on the right trackIf someone asked you right now how much you spend each month, could you tell them? Most people could estimate, but their estimates might land far off the mark unless they carefully track spending. And that’s the first step—carefully tracking your expenses for a month.Most people buy things that don’t seem like a big deal. They duck into a convenience store for a cold drink on a hot day or throw $10 into the office football pool. Neither of those examples is enough to catch the spender’s attention, but they add up.By tracking every dollar you spend over a month, you could gain a clearer picture of where your money goes. Only when you know how much you spend, and on what, can you build a budget that fits your reality.2. Be realisticYour budget should be realistic, or it won’t work. As you list your fixed monthly expenses, such as housing, transportation, groceries, and utilities, don’t forget to add in enough to cover some extras, like stopping on your way to work for a soft drink or eating out with friends.If your budget routinely falls short, it could be because you didn’t include how much you spend on everyday life, or you didn’t factor in variable income. Once you’ve tracked all of your expenses and included dependable income, you’ll find that a realistic budget is much easier to stick to.Here is one more consideration about being realistic: Since your goal is to master budgeting and save money, be honest with yourself about how much you can save, and don't feel ashamed if it's not as much as you would like. So what if the most you can put away right now is $10 a week? You have something to celebrate if you’ve formed a new savings habit.3. Be flexibleThe budget you come up with today may not work six months from now. Rising prices and inflation are real. Adjust when necessary. Don’t be afraid to alter your budget to reflect changes. The more consistently you update your budget when you need to, the easier it'll be to stick with your current budget each month. And the closer you stick to your budget, the faster you could hit your savings goals.4. Figure out which tools work best for youSome folks prefer writing their budget out using a spreadsheet, old-school. Something about the ritual of writing it all down helps them keep everything straight. Others use a specific budgeting strategy, like the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.Still others find it useful to plug the facts and figures into a budgeting app that links to their bank account. Most budgeting apps offer a free trial period, giving you the opportunity to discover whether you like it before you commit.5. Enlist a friendMany of life’s challenges are easier to tackle with support. Buddy up with another human. If you have a friend or family member who's also trying to reach their financial goals through budgeting, make a vow to meet once or twice a month, and to call each other before making a large purchase. If you agree not to criticize or put each other down for the choices you make, it could be easier to talk through setbacks and life’s inevitable financial ups and downs. Sometimes just knowing that you’ll have to tell someone when you stray is enough to keep you on the right track. And sometimes it really helps to know that other people experience the exact same struggles as you do.6. Set goalsGoals are a powerful motivator. If your goal is to have enough savings by the end of the year to make a down payment on a car, take time at the end of each month to remind yourself how much closer you are to meeting that goal. When you budget, you do something kind for yourself and your finances. The more you remind yourself of that, the less budgeting will feel like a chore.7. Factor in found moneyOne way to quickly build an emergency savings fund and protect your monthly budget is to commit to putting any extra money that comes along into savings. If you receive a tax refund, earn bonuses at work, or use cash back apps to earn cash rewards for the everyday items you buy, plan to immediately add those funds to your growing savings account when you receive them. It's something you're sure to feel good about later.The money you earn is yours, and how that money is spent is your decision. The best thing about a solid budget is the way it helps you make choices with your money that align with what you want.Bonus: Try the 50/30/20 budgeting ruleThe 50/30/20 rule is one popular way to divide your budget into three categories: needs, wants, and savings. About 50% of your income goes toward needs, like rent, utilities, and groceries. About 30% goes toward wants, like streaming subscriptions or dining out. The remaining 20% goes toward savings and any extra payments on your debt, beyond the minimum due each month.Say your monthly take-home pay is $4,000. Under the 50/30/20 rule, you’d put about $2,000 toward needs, $1,200 toward wants, and $800 toward savings. This rule is a flexible starting point you can adjust to fit your own priorities and cost of living.This story was produced by Achieve and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to build an emergency fund while you’re paying down debt When you’re drowning in debt, it’s easy to get tunnel vision about paying it off. But while chipping away at that debt is necessary to secure a healthy financial life, you don’t want to sacrifice another key element: an emergency fund.An emergency fund, as the name implies, is a bucket of money you set aside in case the unexpected happens, like when you’re dealing with a job loss, car trouble, or a surprise medical bill. Financial advisors usually recommend building these funds up enough so that you could cover your expenses for three to six months. But don’t let that longer-term goal discourage you: If you’re just starting out, it’s fine to focus on a more achievable amount, say, $500 or $1,000.Having money on hand could help keep you from having to swipe your credit card in a panic and borrowing more. But how do you balance contributing to an emergency fund while paying down your debt? Freedom Debt Relief shares four tips to tackle these common financial goals side by side.Key takeaways:Starting small is key—even $100 a month toward savings or debt can build momentum and confidence.You might find it easier to build your emergency fund if you automate deposits into savings from each paycheck.A high-yield savings account can help your emergency fund grow faster while you chip away at debt.1. Take Baby StepsIf you're hoping to simultaneously build an emergency fund and pay off your debt, allocating any amount of money is better than nothing. Start with any amount you can regularly afford. For debt payments, there’s usually a clear amount—such as a minimum payment on a credit card—that you need to hand over each month so you don’t rack up late fees, accrue more interest, and hurt your credit score.Another way to take baby steps is to pay down one or more small debts first. Once you get rid of a debt, that's a payment you no longer have to make, and you can apply that money toward another debt.The snowball method is a common strategy and it involves lining up your balances from smallest to largest. You send any extra money to the smallest debt while making minimum payments on other debts. Then when you get to your first payoff, you use the money that was going to that first debt to pay off the second. Once your snowball grows, you can also reallocate money that was going toward a paid-off debt into savings.Another debt pay-off strategy some savers like is the debt avalanche method. It's just like a debt snowball but you order your debts by interest rate so you can tackle the most expensive one first. This strategy could make sense, but studies show that people tend to have better success with the debt snowball. Paying off those smaller debts is highly motivating and could give you just the boost you need to continue.While it’s fine to start with baby steps, you do want to increase those little moves when possible. For example, if you get a raise at work, increase the amount you’re contributing to debt payments and the emergency fund.2. Pay Yourself FirstWhen your paychecks hit your bank account, it's natural to want to spend the money on a long list of expenses rather than save it. For most, saving money means saying no to something.One effective strategy is to set up automatic transfers, so a portion of your paycheck goes straight to your emergency fund without you even having to think about it. Keeping the money out of your checking account could make it easier to save. If you can afford $100 out of every paycheck, you could be sitting on a $500 emergency fund within a couple of months.You can pay yourself first in a different way by using a round-up savings app that automatically rounds up purchases to the next dollar and puts those extra cents in your savings. For example, if you spend $8.16 at the grocery store, the app automatically transfers 84 cents to your savings account.3. Open a High-Yield Savings AccountWhen you’re saving money while paying off debt, you need all the help you can get. Enter high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs), which offer interest on the cash you stash.High-yield savings accounts work similarly to traditional savings accounts. They’re meant to be used for saving as opposed to where you store money for everyday purchases, though banks are no longer required to limit withdrawals (some still do, so be sure to check). The accounts may have fees and minimum balances, though nowadays, many don’t.But the key difference between traditional savings accounts and HYSAs is that the latter tend to offer significantly higher interest. These accounts especially benefited from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes that took place between 2022 and 2024. Rates have since fallen, but there’s still no comparison between what you can earn in a HYSA versus a traditional savings account.While the national average interest on savings accounts is just 0.37% as of September 2026, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the best HYSAs at the time of writing are still offering annual percentage yields (APYs) of 3.5% or more.4. Celebrate Your WinsPaying off debt and building up an emergency fund can feel like a slog when compared to a financial goal like saving for a house, where the prize is finally signing that dotted line and picking up the keys. But celebrating small wins can help keep you on track.Of course, you need to be careful. If you celebrate paying off a $600 loan or getting your emergency fund to $600 with a $200 dinner, you may be taking a step backward. But there's no reason to regret purchasing an affordable shirt you’ve had your eye on or treating yourself to your favorite latte.This story was produced by Freedom Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Gas prices fall 8 cents in the Quad-Cities, averaging $4.41 per gallon On Sept. 28, 2025 gas was $2.94 per gallon on average in the Quad-Cities.
	Iowa gas prices fall 10 cents in last week, average $4.27 per gallon Prices in Iowa are 32.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.43 per gallon higher than a year ago.
	Man arrested after allegedly running over 2 men, killing 1 after fight in Milan One man is dead and another is injured after being intentionally run over, according to the Milan Police Department.
	23-year-old woman injured in Rock Island shooting A 23-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen Sunday night.
	Rock Island Police investigate after woman shot Rock Island Police are investigating a shots-fired incident after a woman was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound. A news release from the Rock Island Police Department said officers responded to the 800 block of 1st Ave on Sept. 27 at about 8:24 p.m. for reports of shots fired. When officers arrived, [...]
	Why American outdoor gatherings keep moving inside Americans are lonelier than ever. The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared a national epidemic in 2023, warning that about half of U.S. adults are experiencing considerable levels of loneliness. The problem had been building for years, and the pandemic only made it worse. Murthy has also been blunt about the fix: The most effective way to connect with another person is still in person. The backyard cookout and the long evening on the patio are some of the easiest ways people still do that without needing a reason. Yet even those gatherings get impeded, often for reasons unrelated to the company. A new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from The Luxury Pergola found that 71.2% of hosts have skipped or canceled an outdoor gathering because of a heat wave, a figure that holds across age and income alike.Understandable, sure. But when the weather is what's deciding whether people gather at all, the question isn't whether to gather, but how.Key Findings71.2% of hosts have avoided hosting outdoors during a heat wave in the past year. Among Gen Z, that jumps to 80%55.4% want a covered area that stays dry in the rain, ranking it the top fix ahead of shade (42.4%), bug control (39.2%), and cooling (36.5%).52.8% move everything inside the moment the weather turns. Among households earning $250K or more, 88.2% do.46.2% of Gen Z say their gatherings get cut short "very often" or "sometimes," more than triple the 13.6% of baby boomers.28.3% say guests start heading inside in the early evening, "when the bugs come out."28.4% name humidity as their worst heat-related hosting problem, just ahead of direct sun (24.2%).62% say a cold drink and ice setup is what actually keeps guests outside in the heat, the runaway top answer.The Heat Wave Has Become a Scheduling Problem The Luxury Pergola Per the survey, 71.2% of hosts say they've called off an outdoor gathering because it was simply too hot, and external data tracks aligns.According to the EPA, the average major U.S. city went from about two heat waves a year in the 1960s to six per year in the 2010s and 2020s. The heat waves are also lasting longer: The EPA's 2024 update finds the U.S. heat-wave season now runs 46 days longer than it did in the 1960s. Six extra weeks of it land squarely on the months Americans most want to be outside. So what is it about the heat that actually drives people indoors? Not the sun, it turns out. Asked to name their biggest heat-related hosting problem, 28.4% of hosts pointed to humidity, ahead of direct sun at 24.2%. The gap widens with age: Among hosts 62 and older, 39% named humidity. You can block the sun with shade, but humidity sits in the air that nothing can reach, which is why the problem feels so hard to host around.The result is a scheduling problem. Hosts are trying to work around the weather, but the window keeps shrinking.Rain Coverage Is the Upgrade Americans Want Most, and It Isn't Close The Luxury Pergola Asked what would keep guests outside longer, more hosts named a covered area that stays dry in the rain than anything else: 55.4% selected it, with reliable shade close behind at 42.4% and bug control at 39.2%.What separates rain from the rest of that list is the stakes. Lack of shade, bugs, and heat are discomforts, and people will tough them out. A sudden downpour is different. It doesn't make the party less pleasant; it ends it. Anywhere summer afternoons can turn on a dime, that's the difference between a gathering that rides out a cloudburst and one that has to move indoors.Half of Hosts Bail the Moment Conditions Slip The Luxury Pergola That demand for rain coverage makes more sense alongside what actually ends these gatherings. Asked what most often forces a party inside or cuts it short, 39.3% of hosts named rain or the threat of it, the single biggest trigger.When an outdoor gathering starts to fall apart due to weather, 52.8% of hosts move everything inside immediately. Waiting it out (20.4%) and ending early (12.3%) trail well behind.This response is strongest where you’d least expect it: 88.2% of households earning $250K or more say they relocate indoors the moment conditions slip, the most decisive response of any group. The hosts with the most resources to throw at the problem are the quickest to abandon the evening outdoors, because they have the most comfortable indoor space to fall back on.What the 88.2% shows is the absence of a middle option. When the weather turns, hosts are choosing between heading inside and giving up; staying outside in comfort isn't on the table. The households that retreat fastest are just the ones with the easiest fallback. Gen Z Loses the Most to Weather The Luxury Pergola According to the survey, 46.2% of Gen Z hosts say their outdoor gatherings get cut short "very often" or "sometimes." Among baby boomers, only 13.6% say the same, a gap of more than three to one.The reason has little to do with luck. Gen Z is hosting without the infrastructure their parents accumulated over decades: the established shade trees, the covered patios, the built-out yards. Enthusiasm gets the invitations sent, but it doesn't keep the rain off, so Gen Z is the generation most often watching a good night fall apart.Yet Gen Z wants that infrastructure. Asked what would keep guests outside longer, they named reliable shade (52.3%), a covered area that stays dry in the rain (51.5%), fans or cooling (40.8%), and heaters for cooler weather (33.1%) among their top fixes. The heater figure is telling: Only 13.6% of Boomers said the same. Gen Z is thinking past summer, trying to make the yard work in cooler months, too.The Bugs Arrive Right as the Party Peaks The Luxury Pergola There's a specific moment when summer gatherings tend to break, and it occurs before sunset. Per the survey, 28.3% of hosts say guests start drifting inside in the early evening, "when the bugs come out," just ahead of the after-dinner darkness at 25.2%.The timing can be the frustrating part. Most hosts plan around it: 68.2% say they hold their summer gatherings in the late afternoon and evening, waiting for the day to cool down. That early-evening window is the one they deliberately chose, when the heat has broken, the light is good, and people have settled in. Then the bugs come out, and guests start drifting indoors right as the evening should be hitting its stride.The Two Fixes Hosts Swear By The Luxury Pergola Cold drinks and shade structures were the two things hosts named most by respondents, and by a clear margin. Per the survey, 62% point to a setup with cold drinks and ice as the reason guests stay outside in the heat, with shade structures close behind at 47.7%. Fans and misting (36.3%) and waiting until evening (37.3%) trail well back.What stands out is where hosts don't spend their attention. The fixes aimed at ambiance fall to the bottom: light-colored furniture (11.4%) and decorative landscaping (11.8%) barely register, and better lighting (27.5%) ranks well below shade and cooling. Hosts aren't trying to stage a perfect-looking evening. They're trying to keep guests comfortable enough to stay in their seats.The ordering says something useful. A cooler solves the moment, and it's the easiest place any host can start. But the two fixes at the top work best together, the drinks keeping people refreshed and the shade giving them a reason to stay put. One is something you restock for the afternoon. The other is something you build once and stop thinking about.Keeping People Together, LongerIt’s a familiar moment for the hosts in the survey. The light's good and the company's good, and yet, almost on cue, the evening relocates indoors or just ends. But that moment isn't inevitable. It's the predictable result of a yard that wasn't built to hold people once the heat, the rain, or the early-evening bugs arrive. In a country where half of adults report loneliness, an evening that runs two hours longer is not a small thing. It's the difference between seeing people just long enough to say “hi,” and actually spending time with them. The hosts who stay outside longest have figured out something the rest learn the hard way: Comfort outdoors rarely comes down to luck or weather. It's decided long before the guests arrive, in how the space was built in the first place.MethodologyTo understand how Americans approach outdoor hosting and the weather conditions that cut their gatherings short, The Luxury Pergola surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults across the country who host outdoor gatherings. Participants answered a series of questions about how often weather disrupts their events, what forces everyone inside, how they respond when conditions turn, and what would keep guests outside longer. Responses were analyzed by demographic groups, including age, gender, ethnicity, household income, and education level, to identify trends and disparities. The survey was conducted via Pollfish.This story was produced by The Luxury Pergola and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why clothing sizes still don't mean the same thing from one brand to another Walk into three stores looking for a size 8, and you may leave with a 6, an 8, and a 10, all of which fit. Online, where shoppers cannot try garments on first, those discrepancies become harder to navigate.When shopping across apparel brands, including online, consulting brand-specific sizing information can help shoppers navigate differences in fit. A size label may look precise, but as online retailer Felina explains, dimensions and fit are not necessarily identical from one brand to the next.Clothing Sizes Were Never as Standardized as They SeemReady-to-wear clothing created a need to put different bodies into repeatable sizing categories, but those categories were never universal.A 1994 National Institute of Standards and Technology report noted that U.S. sizing standards relied on body-measurement data gathered by the Department of Agriculture in the late 1930s. Bodies, demographics, and clothing preferences have changed since. ASTM International now maintains multiple body-measurement standards for different apparel populations and figure types.Manufacturers can still develop their own fit specifications, target customers, and pattern-grading approaches. No single sizing chart governs every garment.What Is Vanity Sizing?Vanity sizing generally means assigning a garment a smaller numerical size than its measurements might historically suggest.A Journal of Consumer Psychology study found that smaller-sized labels could produce more positive self-related responses. A 2017 study of size charts from 54 American apparel retailers also found evidence of size variation and inflation in women's apparel.But vanity sizing does not explain every discrepancy. Brands can define categories differently without deliberately misleading consumers, and there is no universal threshold for what qualifies as vanity sizing.There Isn't One Universal Measurement Behind a “Medium” or “Size 8”A size is a category, not a precise measurement. ASTM standards use body measurements as baselines while accounting for fabric, ease, styling, and fit.Body measurements describe the wearer; garment measurements describe the clothing. The two need not be identical. International systems add complexity because sizes do not always translate neatly between countries, while individual brands may define identical labels differently.Pattern-Making Changes: How the Same Size FitsPattern-makers determine proportions, including shoulder width, bust or chest room, rise, inseam, waist placement, hip room, sleeve length, leg opening, and overall length. Pattern grading creates different-sized patterns from a design.Two pants intended for similar body measurements can fit differently if one has a higher rise or more hip room. Fit depends on proportions, not simply overall size.Ease Explains Why Your Body Measurements Don't Match Your Clothes ExactlyEase is additional space that allows movement or creates a silhouette. Cornell apparel research describes wearing and design ease as extra fabric for movement and the desired shape.A fitted garment may have little ease; an oversized sweater has more. Stretch changes how much is necessary because the fabric itself accommodates movement. Apparel guidance similarly notes that ease varies with design and intended fit. Thus, garments designed for similar bodies can have very different finished measurements.Fabric and Construction Can Change the Fit, TooStretch versus non-stretch material, knit versus woven construction, fabric weight, and recovery after stretching all affect fit. ASTM guidance identifies fabric type and ease as considerations when translating body measurements into apparel.Seaming, lining, and structure also affect movement, while intended use matters: Outerwear needs room for layers. Stretch may accommodate a broader range of measurements than rigid fabric, but it does not guarantee fit.Why Sizing Can Even Vary Within the Same BrandA fitted dress, relaxed T-shirt, and structured blazer may use different pattern blocks, ease, and construction. Products can also involve different designers, fabrics, or manufacturing facilities, while brands may update specifications or fit standards as product lines and target customers change.Fabric, styling, ease, and proportions all affect required dimensions, as reflected in ASTM apparel-sizing guidance. The same brand and size, therefore, need not produce identical fits.Why Online Shopping Has Made Sizing Confusion More VisibleOnline shopping did not create inconsistent sizing; it removed the fitting room as an immediate solution.When shoppers encounter different brand charts, product-specific information becomes more important. Fabric composition, intended fit, and model measurements provide context, while reviews describing garments as running small, large, or true to size can reveal common experiences. Online shopping makes existing sizing differences more consequential because consumers often choose before trying garments on.Why Size Charts Are More Useful Than the Number on the TagTreat a brand's size chart as a starting point, rather than assuming, “I'm always a medium.”Check whether it lists body or garment measurements and follow the brand's measuring instructions. Compare the relevant garment category, fabric, and stretch; read fit descriptions; and consider model measurements and sizes when available. Above all, consider the intended fit instead of automatically ordering your usual size. Size charts are brand-specific tools, not universal conversion charts.Why “True to Size” Isn't as Objective as It Sounds“True to size” generally means a garment fits as someone expected based on previous purchases—not that it conforms to a universal size.Body proportions and preferences also differ. The Cornell researchers found individuals had distinctive fit preferences, including different garment and sleeve lengths. Reviews provide useful context, but two shoppers can reasonably reach different conclusions about the same garment.Will Clothing Sizes Ever Become Truly Standardized?ASTM lists 15 active standards for body measurement and apparel sizing, covering populations from children to different adult figure types.Universal sizing remains difficult because bodies vary in dimension, shape, and proportion; countries serve different populations; and garment categories require different ease and structure. Standard measurements must also coexist with changing designs and fit preferences.Better body-measurement data, digital fitting technology, and detailed sizing tools may improve shopping, but cannot eliminate the challenge of translating varied bodies and clothing into a limited set of labels.Stop Treating the Size Label as a Universal MeasurementA clothing size is shorthand, not an objective measurement shared across the industry. Vanity sizing contributes to variation, but so do pattern-making, ease, fabric, construction, and intended fit.Consumers are better served by measurements and product-specific fit information than loyalty to a number. Especially online, understanding sizing can make shopping more informed and make moving up or down a size less personal. The label is ultimately just the category attached to the garment that fits.This story was produced by Felina and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Death Notice: Jack Davis A memorial service for Jack Steven Davis will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. A gathering of friends will be held immediately following the memorial service at Al & Gerry's in Eldridge. Mr. Davis died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Memorials may be made to the Rock Island Parks & Recreation Foundation or to the Community Inclusion Club of Iowa City. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the Sept. 30 edition of The NSP.
	Largest steel plant in US coming to Iowa, White House officials share The $15 billion mega steel plant will produce an estimated 10 million tons of steel each year once it’s fully online by 2030.
	Bureau County man enters guilty plea after toddler dies in Mother’s Day standoff The Bureau County man involved in a standoff on Mothers Day that left a toddler dead entered a guilty plea on Friday.
	Death Notice: Jane Remley A Mass of Christian Burial for Jane (Goethals) Remley, 94, of Eldridge, formerly of Davenport, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Remley died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Grand Haven Retirement Community, Eldridge. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church or to St. Croix Hospice. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. An obituary will appear in the Sept. 30 edition of The NSP.
	More early childhood programs are providing free housing to teaching staff A few years ago, Eric Gil was living at his uncle’s place in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he shared a bedroom with his brother and cousin. With eight people in the house, it was crowded.He was trying to get out, but rental prices in Waterbury — which currently average $1,600 a month — were prohibitively expensive. Housing costs in New Haven, where he works as an assistant preschool teacher at Friends Center for Children, a nonprofit early care and education program, were even higher.“I was looking everywhere,” Gil recalled in a conversation with The 74. “It was out of my budget. It was like, for monthly rent, 40% of my monthly income. It was outrageous, basically.”He and other early childhood educators are among the lowest-paid professionals in the United States, often earning less than dog walkers. But short of a complete overhaul of the current early care and education system, that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.Thus, Gil remained in his uncle’s house, with a long daily commute to his teaching job and no clear way out. That is, until Friends Center offered him an opportunity to move into his own place just minutes away from his job — for free — through its teacher housing initiative, which covers the full cost of housing for select staff.Friends Center, a high-quality early learning program with four locations across New Haven, currently employs 47 teachers, many of whom are in situations that resemble Gil’s. On their salaries, the area’s housing costs have left many of them in less-than-desirable living arrangements.It’s an issue that Friends Center has been trying to solve for years. Back in 2019, the organization wanted to get to the root of the problem and raise salaries, said CEO Allyx Schiavone. But after months of trying to figure out how to budget for salary increases, Schiavone realized they couldn’t cover them without more public funding or raising tuition for families.So they tried to do the next best thing and reduce what was overwhelmingly the biggest expense for employees.“At that moment,” Schiavone said, “we decided, as an organization, we were going to tackle that: We were going to figure out how to give teachers free housing.”The teacher housing initiative formally kicked off in 2020, when the first teacher moved into a three-family home. Today, 10 teachers, including Gil, live in free housing provided by Friends Center, with two more slated to move in this fall. The nonprofit has set a goal of housing 30% of its growing teaching staff by 2028, which Schiavone said it is on track to do; the center expects to double its housing inventory over the next three years. Courtesy of Friends Center for Children As the teacher housing initiative is scaling up in New Haven, the work is catching on elsewhere too. Early childhood educators in Missouri, Michigan and Georgia are also getting free housing now, with inspiration and support from leaders at Friends Center.When the initiative began, the first two properties — a three-family home and a single-family home — were donated to Friends Center, creating four housing units for staff members. In addition to donated properties, Friends Center also has a partnership with Yale School of Architecture, in which graduate students design and construct about one home per year for an early childhood educator. All the properties involved in the initiative are owned by Friends Center, making the organization both the landlord and employer of all teacher residents.The benefit of free housing can be a game-changer for teachers. In Connecticut, early childhood educators earn, on average, about $31,000 per year, according to the most recent data from the Early Childhood Workforce Index, and the median rent in the state is about $24,000 per year, according to Zillow.Friends Center pays its staff well above the state average, Schiavone said, but it’s still “not a livable wage.”When the organization decided to provide free housing to its teachers, it intentionally started with those who needed it most — typically the lowest-income earners with dependents.The first tenant, housed in 2020, was a single mom. The next year, another single mother, Paris Pierce, moved into a single-family home with her young children. Both homes were purchased by donors for Friends Center.Pierce said she loves the charms that come with her old house, like the stained-glass windows. She loves all the natural light that floods in, too, and the fact that her kids — now ages 4, 8 and 14 — have more room than before. Courtesy of Friends Center for Children Gil moved into Friends Center housing about two years ago. He lives in a home that was built by students through the partnership with Yale University.The Yale houses are worth about $750,000, and Friends Center is getting them for about $300,000. These homes are all constructed on one large property that was donated to the housing initiative. Today, five Friends Center teachers live as neighbors in that area, which is known as “the Village” and is about a five-minute walk from the program where most of them work. Courtesy of Friends Center for Children Gil lives with one of his teaching colleagues. They share a kitchen, but otherwise have separate spaces throughout the house, which Gil said is very spacious with “huge, beautiful” windows — his favorite part of his new residence. The two colleagues have since become friends, Gil said; they often read, watch movies, play video games and work out together.Every teacher who receives free housing meets monthly with a financial coach to help them set and reach goals. How much do they want to be saving each month? How can they improve their credit scores?Pierce said her goal is to save money, and already she’s been able to put her two older children in extracurricular activities — dance for her daughter and soccer for her son — that she wasn’t able to afford before. Pierce recently enrolled in a program to earn her bachelor’s degree so she can become a lead teacher.The free housing, Pierce said, has made her a better mother and a better teacher.“I can show up being my best self, not worrying about making ends meet. I can pursue other things,” she said. “Children pick up on everything, [so] me being able to show up and be my best self is a great feeling.”It didn’t take long for word of the housing initiative to travel far. Many early care and education programs across the country heard about Friends Center’s approach and wanted to learn more. Since 2020, more than 1,000 visitors have traveled to New Haven to see it for themselves, and some have taken their observations back home and begun to act.Leaders at Urban Sprouts, a nonprofit early learning program in St. Louis, visited Friends Center in August 2025. They thought it was a clever approach to the teacher shortage in the field, even if it wasn’t directly remedying the issue of teachers being “woefully underpaid,” said Joey Saunders, chief of strategy and advancement at Urban Sprouts.Urban Sprouts, which serves about 130 children from birth to age 5 at a single location, launched a pilot program this year that would provide free housing to staff in a model that closely aligns with Friends Center’s. Program leaders identified two teachers for the first two houses in its pilot.Zarina Militello, an infant-toddler teacher at Urban Sprouts, moved into a two-bedroom house in April. Urban Sprouts, with the help of some partner organizations, had furnished every room in the space except her bedroom. “Everything down to kitchen utensils was provided,” she said. “It was very, very nice.” Courtesy of Urban Sprouts Militello had been living with her parents and younger brothers until the move earlier this year. The average cost of a studio apartment in University City, the neighborhood in St. Louis where the center is located, is between $1,400 and $1,600 per month, Saunders said. Militello preferred to save money by living with her parents over spending most of her paycheck on rent, especially with student loans hanging over her. But she was commuting 45 minutes each way, often arriving to work late, and spending way too much of her income on gas, she said.Now, living in the employer housing, she can walk to work in about 5 minutes — and is showing up on time every day.Jenyne Woodruff, a longtime pre-K teacher at Urban Sprouts, learned in June that the center had purchased a three-bedroom house for her, her daughter and her granddaughter. Seeing the house for the first time, she was very emotional. When she moved in earlier this summer, it became the first time in her entire life that she’s had her own bedroom. Even in the rental property she just left, which she shared with her daughter and granddaughter, Woodruff didn’t have a room with a door — and for that she was paying about $1,700 per month. Courtesy of Urban Sprouts “It is a literal dream come true,” she said of the new house. “It has been rough. I’ve been on my own since I was 19 years old. It’s been a struggle. When I walked in [to my new house], I just felt like it was my home. I am very grateful.”In Battle Creek, Michigan, a group of seven community partners has come together to form a version of Friends Center’s housing initiative — which is now named First Home, First Teacher — that aims to provide rent-free housing as a salaried benefit to 30% of the area’s childcare workforce over the next 20 years.Battle Creek, with a population of 55,000, lacks a large center-based early care and education provider like Friends Center, said Kathy Szenda Wilson, co-executive director of Pulse, an initiative of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research focused on improving early childhood development in Michigan. (Pulse is one of the groups that helped design and launch the First Home, First Teacher initiative in Battle Creek.) Instead, Battle Creek has lots of small programs. By her count, there are about 550 employees across 34 center-based programs in the city.The model builds on an earlier community effort to provide short-term rental assistance to childcare workers during and after the pandemic. “From that, at least we know the ground is tilled,” said Szenda Wilson.After traveling to Connecticut and seeing what Friends Center was doing, a team of early childhood advocates from Battle Creek wondered what it would take for their community to offer something more transformational than rental assistance.The First Home, First Teacher initiative in Battle Creek is still young. This summer, the partner organizations are working to establish a trust and a governing board to oversee the initiative. But they’re not letting the process hold up progress.On June 8, the partners had a “furnishing day” with the two inaugural teacher residents of First Home, First Teacher in Battle Creek — two single moms from two different centers, living with their kids in a two-unit duplex. Nick Buckley The pilot at Urban Sprouts, the initiative in Battle Creek, and an early childhood program in Georgia that started a year-and-a-half ago and has so far housed two teachers are all working closely with Friends Center. Schiavone, at Friends Center, is glad to see communities building on the model she established in Connecticut.“What we’re doing here in New Haven is version 1.0,” she said.To truly scale, she added, the work needs to be publicly funded, and the model needs to move away from having the childcare program as the property owner.“We don’t think, at the scale version, that is the best way to move forward,” she said. “Childcare providers don’t want to be owners and landlords.”That’s why she’s especially interested to see what comes of the work in Battle Creek.Schiavone and the other program leaders are clear, though, that free teacher housing is not a solution to the systemic problems that face early childhood educators.“Early childhood education is only as strong as the people who provide it,” Schiavone said. “We’re paying women to be in poverty. It is completely unacceptable.”Saunders, at Urban Sprouts in St. Louis, emphasized that the housing initiative there is in pilot stage and will hopefully scale, but that it’s not meant to distract from the larger issues in the field. “We’ll continue to ring the bell that this is a real crisis across our nation,” he said.“If we want high-quality early care and education, then we need educators to be stable and feel secure and be their best selves,” Schiavone said. “We believe you can’t wait for public funding. If you wait, ideas will die. You need to move forward.”This story was co-published with Mother Jones.This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How absentee owner data is reshaping real estate investment strategy in 2026 In today’s increasingly data-driven world, real estate investors are searching in earnest for every competitive edge they can exploit. If you’re an investor whose livelihood depends on reaching motivated sellers before your competitors do, identifying absentee owners is one of the most important things you can do.Absentee ownership is an often-overlooked indicator of a (potential) future real estate transaction. Many current and potential investors spend a significant amount of time trying to find the next up-and-coming metro, town, or neighborhood. Those are worthy pursuits, but disregarding one of the fundamental indications of a motivated seller can be a mistake in any investment strategy. PropertyReach takes a look at how absentee ownership data can inform your next transaction and, ultimately, add a solid piece to your investment portfolio.What Is Absentee Ownership?Absentee residential ownership refers to the arrangement in which the owner of a home does not consider that piece of property their primary residence. In many cases, absentee ownership indicates that the home is earning passive income for the owner.Sometimes, though, an absentee owner has no intention of keeping the property and wants to offload in a timely manner. A situation like that offers a prime opportunity for calculated investors.The 3 Types of Absentee OwnersBroadly speaking, each absentee owner you’ll encounter during your search for a new portfolio property will fall into one of three buckets. Here are the distinct features of each type:1. The institutional investorInstitutional investors are large firms with tons of properties, resources, and capital. Think Blackstone, American Homes 4 Rent, and Invitation Homes, the last of which owns around 86,000 single-family homes in the U.S.They often oversee REITs (real estate investment trusts) and hire their own property management firms to maintain the homes in their portfolios. Each purchase is highly strategic and designed to provide long-term stability to the company.2. The serious individual investorPlenty of people whose primary jobs do not involve real estate management nonetheless create LLCs and partnerships to formalize professional ownership of their investment properties.These investors don’t own many homes, but they devote enough time to property management that it makes sense to formalize ownership arrangements through separate business structures. The main reason for putting a house in an LLC or partnership is liability protection.3. The true individual investorThese small-scope, mom-and-pop investors dominate the landscape of absentee homeownership, owning around 87% of investor-owned residences. Most of these investors own no more than five homes.Plenty of individual investors obtain properties after a death in the family. They usually outsource property management to companies and don’t make a living from their rental properties.What Is Absentee Owner Data, and Where Can Investors Find It?Absentee owner data is simply a listing of homes whose owners’ primary addresses are elsewhere. It could be a handful of listings from a specific town or neighborhood you’re looking at, or it could refer to thousands of properties within a metropolitan statistical area. Listings of homes with absentee owners are highly coveted by real estate investors, and some will pay a handsome price to acquire them.Depending on how much time and resources are available for you to compile these lists, you could find absentee owner data through:County tax assessment records. If you want to do your own research on absentee owners, going straight to the source means visiting your local county tax assessor’s website. You should be able to see the mailing address for each home’s owner. If the mailing address differs from the property you’re viewing, you’ve found an absentee owner!A local MLS database. A multiple listing service (MLS) is one of the most reliable services for filtering real estate data. Most MLS databases require users to hold an active real estate license or be closely associated with a realtor. In some cases, investors can access APIs that fetch MLS data and present it on a third-party website.Bulk listings from data companies. You can save a lot of time by purchasing listings of absentee owners from reputable data providers. These lists certainly aren’t cheap, but many investors use them if they need to gain traction on prospects as quickly as possible.Online people search tools. If nothing else, property data search websites can verify information you get from other sources. Even county tax assessor records are occasionally out of date. Double-confirming absentee owners is best before sending the first letter introducing yourself.What Does Absentee Owner Data Reveal About a Property?Seeing that a home is under absentee ownership might lead you to discover that the owner is perfectly happy to rent it out for a small profit and is not interested in making any changes. Those circumstances probably mean you won’t be purchasing that home anytime soon.Occasionally, though, there’s a lot going on under the surface that can indicate a less-than-ideal situation for the owner.Few absentee owners are as emotionally invested in their rental properties as they are in their homesteads. Combine that with issues that commonly arise for landlords, such as difficult tenants, challenging legal landscapes, and rising costs of materials and labor, and there’s a decent chance a particular absentee owner could be looking for a way out.Using Absentee Owner Data for Your Real Estate Investment StrategyFinding an absentee owner should be the start, and not the end, of your investigation into target properties. In other words, absentee ownership is not a strong enough indicator on its own that the owner is looking to sell.Rather, you can combine absentee ownership with other signs of a (future) motivated seller. A few examples include:Cleared liens. A clean title makes a home much easier to sell. It’s common for owners to take care of liens and other loose ends so the buyer can obtain financing for a future transaction.Substantial equity. The probability that someone will sell a home only increases over time. A long ownership tenure usually correlates with high equity, which translates into solid profits.Financial distress. Is the absentee owner missing mortgage or property tax payments? If so, they might no longer see the remote property as worth having. A carefully worded letter could open the door to a sale.Inheritance. An unexpected death in the family could result in an inheritance to a son or daughter who has no interest in maintaining the property. Therefore, probate records could yield valuable information for real estate investors seeking off-market sales.A property with multiple signs of an impending sale is the ideal target for real estate investors; absentee ownership is just one piece of the puzzle.Prioritize Good Data, a Solid Investment Strategy, and Plenty of PatienceAn efficient data retrieval practice will form the bedrock of your real estate investment firm. Once you’ve defined the parameters for your property search, the next important step is to find out the best way to get data on absentee owners. Stacking indicators and scoring leads ensures you’re only going after properties worth your time.This story was produced by PropertyReach and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nick Dittmeier playing Ca d'Zan House Concerts Crossroads Cultural Connections presents singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick Dittmeier, who will perform at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Thursday, October 1. The all-ages evening starts with an optional potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests who want to participate in the potluck are invited to bring a [...]
	Come hell or high water: How a small town became a blueprint for building climate resilience This story starts with a sunset.Pavement gives way to a two-lane bridge that connects one side of Machias, Maine, to the other. From a distance, the bridge looks like it’s floating on the water underneath it. In reality, it’s built atop a dike that prevents the saltwater tides of Machias Bay from reaching the freshwater of the Middle River while allowing river water south into the estuary.The dike is 150 years old. It provides crucial continuity for Route 1, arguably the most important traffic artery in coastal Maine. And it’s crumbling into the water.The sun roars red, orange, and pink over the marsh on the riverside of the dike. Despite the postcard quality of this sunset, Washington County’s nickname is actually “Sunrise County” because, as the easternmost point of the contiguous United States, it’s first to see sunrise during certain parts of the year. Maybe, around here, the end of the day actually pales in comparison to the beginning.Sunrises are symbolically saturated. They’re synonymous with birth, and rebirth. They are not just light; they are the transition to light from what was once, presumably, darkness. If you ask locals, Machias has seen some dark times recently. Sure, storms have always raged here. But by February of 2024, nine 100-year floods—severe weather events with a 1% likelihood of occurring in any given year—had slammed into the coastal community of 2,000 people in just six and a half years. It started to look like the sun might actually go down on Machias.In this sense, Machias is reaching the same crossroads as many rural, conservative-leaning communities across the United States. These are places where some people would consider an octuple-encore of floods “climate change,” while others might call it “extreme weather.” Others still consider it a “biblical test.” They tend to disagree on what’s causing these thrashings, and they don’t have much time for the monumental task of convincing each other of who’s right.Meanwhile, some of the biggest economic drivers in these places—in Machias’ case, commercial fishing and agriculture—live and die with weather, water, trickle-down natural resource policy, and the fickle pricing structure of commodities like lobsters, blueberries, and gasoline. In other words, Machias isn’t just a place that would benefit from considering what climate change might do to its future. It’s a place that can’t afford not to consider what climate change might do to its future—especially the future of the dike, the downtown area, the working waterfront, the wastewater treatment facility, and a list of other ticking time bombs.Nothing on that list is particularly sexy or charismatic. But it all matters.So, after the waters of the ninth 100-year flood receded, a group of community members did the only thing anyone in rural America has ever done when faced with a larger-than-life problem no one else could help them solve. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Atmos shares the story of how this community has worked to build climate resiliency.Just Don’t Call It ClimateDr. Tora Johnson has an office at the Sunrise County Economic Council. Like nearly every other building in Machias, the SCEC headquarters operates out of an old colonial-style house (white siding, black shutters, symmetrical chimneys) that overlooks water. There, Johnson works as the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative director, a title that draws on her background in geography and social science. She’s one of those people who lives for brain podcasts and mediating big, hairy negotiations.When asked to share some of Machias’ earlier interactions with the notion of climate change, Johnson recalls filling out a grant application in 2009 that required funding recipients to dedicate some portion of their work to the matter. At the time, she knew the wording would present a challenge for her community.“No one was even allowed to say those words [here],” Johnson recalls. “Portland was starting to talk about [climate], and some of the southern Maine communities were starting to deal with intermittent flooding, but these were way more liberal locations. In this kind of place, it had to be done in a different way.”Despite how much people wring their hands over rural America’s hesitation to address climate change, plenty of rural America is extremely concerned about it. One glaring example is on the 56.2 million acres of reservation and off-reservation trust lands, or ORTLs, stewarded by hundreds of the 575 federally recognized Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages. The 10 largest land-holding tribes within the borders of the modern-day U.S. combine to cover 64,530 square miles (including ORTLs), or an area larger than the state of Georgia, and the bulk of these lands are rural.In Washington County specifically, the Passamaquoddy Tribe stewards 44 square miles of reservation lands—or property owned directly by the tribe and subject to state land taxes—at Motahkomikuk, or Indian Township, and Sipayik, or Pleasant Point. They also steward some 180 square miles of trust lands, or lands held by the federal government in trust for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, across seven counties throughout the state. Groups like the Sipayik Resilience Committee and the Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Team, a coordinated effort between the five Wabanaki tribal governments in coordination with the State of Maine, work on home weatherization, heat pump installation, providing free home energy audits, and numerous other efforts.The Rural Climate Partnership estimates that climate resilience efforts in rural America receive less than 2% of all philanthropic climate-related funding. This is despite the rural United States being home to more than 19% of the nation’s population, emitting some 38% of its greenhouse gases, and accounting for 97% of its land area.But even if rural Americans emit more GHGs per capita, the bulk of those emissions are the result of power generation that is eventually consumed elsewhere. Residential and commercial emissions per capita are significantly higher in non-rural areas. Maine emits fewer GHGs than almost any other state in the nation, and Washington County is one of the lowest emitters in all of Maine.Considering these discrepancies, Johnson started asking rural Mainers more questions about what support they needed in the face of worsening weather conditions—and less about what they could give up to shrink their already small carbon footprint.“We didn’t go around and say, ‘You idiot, you have to believe in climate change,’” she says. “We just asked what tools they needed, and then we made them.”One tool was a map that used storm surge inundation data to show users which roads and properties might flood under different storm scenarios. But while making the map in the early 2010s, Johnson and her colleagues realized that downtown Machias, with its small businesses, town and county offices, hotels, restaurants, and homes, was at higher risk of coastal flooding than nearly anywhere else in Maine. Daunted by this information, Johnson encouraged residents and small business owners to use the map in planning ahead.“Of course, at that time, this was all hypothetical,” Johnson recalls. “We were starting to see some minor nuisance flooding, but we thought we still had 20 to 40 years.”She pauses.“And then the floods started.”Adapting to a Changing FutureThe first of the nine 100-year floods hit Machias in 2018. Floodwaters reached 10.7 feet above sea level, well over the 100-year floodline. In 2020, another storm sent seawater careening into the heart of the town, inundating the Middle River and dumping enough seaweed onto the dike bridge to necessitate the deployment of municipal snowplows. More storms showed up, but the worst was still yet to come.Then, on Dec. 18, 2023, another 100-year storm whipped up hurricane-force winds and flooding. Less than a month later, on Jan. 10, 2024, a 12-foot flood struck the community. Three days after that, a third flood reached 11.1 feet. And on March 10, a fourth flood broke the 11-foot mark.“Four 100-year floods in four months,” Johnson recalls, visibly incredulous.Just as her map predicted, Main Street businesses flooded repeatedly. The town offices had to relocate after 16 inches of standing water collected in the basement. The Down East Sunrise Trail, a popular snowmobiling destination that draws ample tourism traffic each winter, was washed out, shutting down the remainder of the season. Everyone worried about the dike bridge’s structural integrity even more than they did before the storms.But if Machias is well-seasoned in responding to sudden environmental disasters, so are its many multigenerational residents who wear their adaptability like badges of honor. Resilience has always been a part of life in Washington County, which contributes to a generally lukewarm attitude toward the topic of climate change resilience. But after the worst of the waters receded, the laundry list of immediate, costly problems was impossible for some of the more rugged individualists to ignore.Johnson formed a leadership committee to start work on what would become the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan. The committee eventually grew to 43 people representing communities, schools, local businesses, nonprofits, and state and federal agencies. The committee held monthly meetings from January 2025 to April 2026, while also facilitating public meetings and conducting surveys and interviews with community members.One leadership committee member, lifelong Washington County resident Wayde Carter, is a retired game warden with an environmental studies degree. Now the head of security at the University of Maine at Machias, he recalls being a kid in the 1970s and watching floods push large, destructive “cakes” of ice into the middle of town, which the town then had to bulldoze back into the water.“A lot of people think ‘Hey, we’re going to have floods,’ and then there are the people who are worried that in 10 or 20 years, Machias is going to be underwater,” Carter says.The avid hunter and angler described the planning process as contentious.“Half the town is scared to death of the flooding, and the other half is like, ‘We’ll believe it when we see it.’ So you have two separate groups that are talking differently. I think that’s the case everywhere. But the flooding was real. It did real damage.”Few felt the immediate impacts of the flooding quite like those who work in the commercial fishing industry, says Jake Patryn, another member of the leadership committee and the chair of the Machias Select Board. Patryn is a second-generation Washington County lobsterman who also runs a kelp farming business with his wife, Morgan.“There are a lot of old wharves up and down the coast of Maine that haven’t been updated and can’t withstand the damage they’re taking,” Patryn says. “I don’t think a majority of people are running around here, denying that climate change is happening … I was downtown for the last flood, and it was alarming.”On top of the damage to infrastructure, warming ocean temperatures have increasingly forced lobsters to retreat north in search of colder water. This is likely contributing to a decrease in lobster harvests, although Patryn clarifies that such declines are extremely nuanced and could also be linked to market forces changing what lobstermen target and even cooling waters in some areas altering lobster behavior and seasonal availability.Flooding events also trigger pollution runoff that leads to mandatory shellfish flat closures, intended to prevent poisoned shellfish from entering the food system. In response to these economic challenges, some of Maine’s commercial fishermen have begun considering alternative income streams like aquaculture and kelp products.But Patryn is careful to point out that commercial fishermen have always been adaptive. Their jobs were already hard before climate change started making them harder.“Fishermen, all the time, do all kinds of different stuff,” Patryn says. “They dig clams, they find periwinkles, they catch glass eels, they hop on another boat to go catch halibut, or do carpentry, or mow lawns. They just do.”In their last meeting, the committee voted on and released a series of recommendations for the laundry list of municipal issues. They decided the dike bridge should be replaced in-kind, which aligned with recommendations from the Maine Department of Transportation. They decided they needed a special committee to handle emergency response and preparedness for future flooding in the downtown area. They needed to conduct drills and educate about flood safety in schools. They needed to construct stormwater storage tanks at the wastewater treatment facility to prevent sewer overflows. The list of recommendations with unanimous consensus goes on and on.These recommendations did not come easily, Johnson says. Disagreement was commonplace, as were inflammatory op-eds in the local newspapers. Johnson says she even started to feel unsafe at times. But the work continued anyway.“Some folks … don’t understand that perfectly reasonable and intelligent people take time to realize something,” Johnson says. “We all have biases, and if we encounter cognitive dissonance, we dissolve it by creating a narrative that matches our preconceived notions. There’s a lot of evidence to show that that’s how human brains work.”Ultimately, Johnson is glad the committee created the plan. She swears the work they’ve done, especially on downtown flooding and water quality issues, has raised awareness of climate change—and acceptance that it exists. This tracks with a broader trend in rural Maine. According to one poll Johnson conducted in 2025, 83% of respondents “indicated that they had felt or seen the effects of climate change in their communities.” They cited warmer winters, flooding, and severe storms.Participants in a focus group affiliated with the study felt “ill-equipped” to participate in conversations about climate change, especially given the polarizing nature of the topic. But they wanted to learn about its causes, and they wanted support in dealing with its effects.Instead of a story about a community that set differences aside to rally around shared concerns in the aftermath of major disasters, Machias, in many ways, is still divided—mostly along partisan lines—over what exactly happened, how bad things actually got, and what the future holds.When asked if she thinks other serious challenges, like widening income inequality, crumbling rural healthcare, and a hollowed-out middle class, have left many people in rural places disinterested in playing along with top-down guidance on climate change resilience, Johnson immediately starts imitating some of the outside specialists who have come to her, wanting to “help fix rural America,” nearly leaping out of her chair in the process.“One of the most important misconceptions that people seem to have is this idea that we have to do something,” she says, slamming her hand down on the desk. “They say ‘You need to adapt. You need to do something about your downtown.’ You know what? We don’t. We don’t! That doesn’t mean we won’t suffer consequences from not doing anything. But if you march in with a preconceived notion about what has to happen, you’ve already lost. The only thing we need to do is live into the future until we die. And that is it.”This is when the uplifting thing about Machias becomes clear. Forty-three community members took time out of their busy lives to get into a room together once a month for 16 months, and argue, butt heads, imagine, and dream up a path forward for their town, on their own terms. While they didn’t reach unanimous consensus on many things, one thing was clear.The majority opinion was definitely not to sit around and wait for the sun to set.This story was produced by Atmos and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Child identity theft can go undetected for years. Here’s what you can do now to help protect your child. Are you guilty of “sharenting” — oversharing details about your child’s life on social media, like a birthday, pet’s name, school name, or photos of where they live or spend time?It may seem harmless, but those details and proud moments can help cybercriminals answer security questions, build a profile, or piece together a child’s identity over time. The more details that are out there, the easier that becomes.“Child identity theft is a serious and often overlooked problem,” said Sarah Gosler, Wells Fargo cybersecurity leader and expert in human-centric defense. “It’s uniquely dangerous because it often goes undetected for years, especially since most parents aren’t monitoring their children’s credit or account history.”One in 43 U.S. children had their personal information breached through an online compromise or hack in a single year, according to Javelin’s 2024 Child & Family Cybersecurity Study. Once their information is exposed, it can be reused in ways families may not notice right away.Key takeawaysChild identity theft happens when someone uses a child’s personal information to commit fraud.It can go undetected for years because children typically do not have active credit or account monitoring.Kids are targeted because they have clean credit histories and little routine monitoring.Issues often surface later, when a young adult is applying for college, financial aid, housing, or a first job.Parents can proactively check for identity theft by seeing if their child has a credit file and can consider placing a credit freeze.Why child identity theft is easy to miss and hard to detectChild identity theft is a “sleeper fraud” that works differently than identity theft affecting adults. Children typically don’t have active financial lives, which means no account activity, alerts, or monitoring to flag misuse. That gap, along with clean credit histories and limited oversight, makes them especially attractive targets as more of their personal information is shared and their online presence grows. Children’s information is also collected across apps, games, and websites, often in ways parents may not fully see or control, which can expand the amount of data exposed over time.“Oversharing details about kids online can be a goldmine for fraudsters,” Gosler said.Cybercriminals may use AI to capture personal information from sources like social media, online gaming, stolen documents, public records, and data breaches. That information can also circulate on the dark web, where details are bought, sold, and combined with other data to create a usable identity. In some cases, scammers don’t rely on a single identity and stitch together pieces of information from multiple kids to create synthetic identities that are difficult for families to detect.“Kids have clean credit histories, which can make them prime targets for criminals trying to create a credit profile or open accounts,” Gosler said.Once a child’s identity is compromised, fraudsters often use it to open accounts, make purchases, and apply for services in the child’s name. Credit and debit cards are among the most common ways stolen identities are used, because transactions appear legitimate when tied to a real person. Other uses include applying for loans and financial aid, accessing government or health care benefits, renting housing, or setting up utilities.When children’s identities are compromised, it can have a ripple effect through the whole family. According to Javelin, once one family member is targeted, others in the household may also be at greater risk.How to check for child identity theft and what to watch forChild identity theft can be difficult to spot because there are few clear early warning signs. Start by checking whether a credit file exists in your child’s name. In most cases, it shouldn’t. If it does, that may be a signal that someone has used their information.These situations can be signs that your child’s identity is already being used:You get a bill in your child’s name for an account that you didn’t open.You’re denied government benefits like health care coverage or nutrition assistance because someone is already using your child’s Social Security number.You receive a notice from the IRS about income or taxes tied to your child.You see unfamiliar mail, account notices, or requests connected to your child’s information.In many cases, the issue isn’t detected until your young adult is denied a first credit card or bank account due to bad credit or flagged during a job background or credit check. This can happen if someone used their Social Security number to open accounts like a credit card, cell phone plan, or utility service and didn’t pay the bills.Because fragments of information can be reused across accounts, a child’s data may show up in places you don’t regularly check. More than half of child identity fraud victims had mobile numbers and login credentials reused across financial and nonfinancial accounts soon after their identities were compromised. If you notice anything unusual, act quickly. The next steps can help you protect your child’s information and limit the impact.How to protect your childMuch of a child’s digital footprint starts early, often by the people around them. By the age of 13, parents will have posted an average of 1,300 photos and videos of their child to social media, creating a presence long before the child can manage it.When you’re asked for your child’s personal information, pause to consider what’s required. Some requests, like a birth certificate, help verify a child’s age and identity for things like school enrollment, medical records, or registration for extracurricular activities. Others, like a Social Security number, may be used for identity matching, insurance enrollment, or government reporting. If possible, ask if you can provide less sensitive information, such as an alternative document or only the last four digits of the Social Security number.As children spend more time online, risks increasingly come from real-time interactions, not just data breaches.Scammers may use AI to mimic voices or messages from trusted sources.Requests may look legitimate, including forms, payments, or account verification prompts.Kids may be targeted directly through chats, games, or social platforms.Simple habits, like verifying requests before responding or sharing personal information, can help reduce the risk.“Kids frequently spend time online without recognizing the risks of oversharing personal or financial information, such as making unsupervised purchases,” Gosler said. “Teens and college students may overshare online, use unsecured networks, and may not be vigilant in protecting or concealing their personal information or documents.” This is also when new scam risks can emerge.Also keep in mind that kids who go online unsupervised earlier are more likely to become victims of identity theft. Here’s what protection can look like for different ages:Young children: Focus on behind-the-scenes protection. Limit how often you share their Social Security number and store sensitive documents securely.Tweens: Start conversations about what details to keep private. Help them understand what not to share online. Monitor their online activities and presence.Teens: Expect more independence and higher online exposure. Reinforce good habits around passwords, account security, and sharing. Discuss online risk exposures often.Young adults: Watch for key transition moments, like applying for college, jobs, or housing, when identity theft often surfaces.These steps can help reduce the risk of identity theft:Limit how often you share your child’s Social Security number.Ask whether personal information is required or optional before providing it.Store sensitive documents securely and shred them when no longer needed.Check whether a credit file exists in your child’s name.Consider placing a credit freeze to help prevent new accounts from being opened.Review privacy settings on devices, apps, and accounts.Be mindful of what you and your child share online.Talk with your child often about what information should stay private.Delete personal information before you get rid of a computer or a cell phone.What to do if something’s wrongIf you suspect your child’s information has been misused, act quickly.Contact your bank through a trusted channel.Request your child’s credit report and review any activity. In most cases, children under 13 should not have a credit file.Place a fraud alert or credit freeze.File a report at IdentityTheft.gov.Use the Identity Theft Assistance Kit as your checklist.FAQWhat is child identity theft?Child identity theft happens when someone uses a child’s Social Security number, date of birth, or other information without permission to commit fraud. That can include opening credit accounts, applying for loans or benefits, or creating accounts in the child’s name.How do I know if my child has a credit report?In most cases, children should not have a credit report. If one exists, it may be a sign that someone has used the child’s information. You can request a check through the major credit bureaus. If a credit file is found, review it right away for unfamiliar accounts or activity.How do I freeze my child’s credit?A credit freeze restricts access to your child’s credit file, making it harder for someone to open new accounts in their name. To place a freeze, contact each of the three major credit bureaus and provide documentation verifying your identity and your child’s identity. Once in place, the freeze stays active until you remove it.What should I do if my child’s identity is stolen?If you suspect your child’s information has been misused:Contact your bank through a trusted channel.Check for a credit file and review any activity.Contact the credit bureaus to report fraud.Place a fraud alert or credit freeze.File a report at IdentityTheft.gov.Acting quickly can help limit the damage and begin the recovery process.Why is child identity theft hard to detect?Child identity theft often goes unnoticed because children typically do not have active credit or financial accounts to monitor. That means there may be little routine activity to flag unusual behavior. In many cases, it is only discovered later, when the child applies for college, housing, or a first credit card.This story was produced by Wells Fargo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Does wine go bad? How to tell Curious if wine goes bad? The answer—in short—is yes, and it happens rather quickly. Rarely does a bottle of wine go unfinished, but in the off-chance it does, Silver Oak Winery explains how to properly store the opened bottle, how long the wine can be enjoyed before it is past its drinking prime, and how the remaining wine can be utilized in the following weeks.Throughout fermentation and once bottles of wine are sealed on the bottling line, a chemical process known as oxidation takes place inside every bottle. To put it simply, oxidation helps wine evolve gradually over the course of several months or years. This crucial part of the winemaking and aging process is responsible for both the softening of tannins and the development of aromas and flavors. With the cork still intact, the small amount of oxygen transfer allows this development to happen gradually and delicately. However, as soon as the cork is pulled, oxygen starts taking its toll much more rapidly.Though oxidation plays an important role in how we experience a sip of wine, you can expect that the bottle you opened a week ago will no longer be as palatable and enticing as it was when the first glass was poured.Why Does Wine Go Bad?As Wine Enthusiast states, “oxidation happens when a wine’s exposure to air triggers a series of chemical reactions that convert ethanol (what we commonly refer to as alcohol) into acetaldehyde.” While oxidation occurs slowly during aging, opening a bottle of wine speeds up this process. The exposure to air can help the wine “breathe” or “open up,” but once it’s re-corked, it’s only a matter of days before it’s no longer drinkable.Let’s paint the scene: It has been an arduous Monday at the office, and the only cure is a hot shower followed by a healthy pour from your favorite bottle of red that you oh-so-conveniently have on hand. Between other weekly tasks like the meetings that could have been emails, workout classes and social obligations this upcoming weekend, what will happen to the remaining wine in that bottle? Certainly, you wouldn’t pour it down the drain.How Long Can a Wine Be Kept After Opening?Keep in mind that the amount of time a wine stays drinkable after the bottle is uncorked depends upon the ratio of wine to oxygen in the bottle. If your only option is to reseal the bottle with a cork, it’s a good rule of thumb to drink the remaining wine within three days, whether it’s red or white. However, there are a few ways to properly prolong the shelf life of your bottle once opened.1. Keeping red wine at “cellar temperature” (50°F to 55°F) in a wine cooler is ideal. If you don’t have a wine cooler, the refrigerator works fine for both red and white wines—but be sure to bring red wine back up to proper drinking temperature by setting it out on the counter for about an hour before enjoying it again.2. Another helpful method is to use a vacuum pump and stopper, which effectively removes the majority of the ambient air from the bottle. Since 2011, the Coravin has grown in popularity and is used by both wine professionals and enthusiasts alike. Instead of pulling the cork, the tool gently passes a needle through the cork and replaces the air and wine inside the bottle with argon, a colorless and odorless inert gas. Of course, there will always be mixed reviews when any new-age tool is released that changes the way wine has been enjoyed for centuries, but if your cellar is vast and you have trouble deciding on a single bottle—or if your friends enjoy exploring an assortment of wines in one evening—it’s worth trying out.How Can You Tell if Wine Has Gone Bad?There are some tell-tale signs that help determine whether you can still enjoy the wine you opened last Monday. Towards the beginning of the wine’s demise, you will likely notice a slight loss of aroma. The fruit character may be less vibrant—imagine the aromatics of an apple or an avocado immediately after you slice them, versus how they smell after sitting in your fridge for a day or two. The same happens to the fruit and earth characteristics of wines. The wine will seem somewhat flat. A red wine’s fresh color may also fade to a muted, brownish hue, with coppery and vinegar aromas. A white wine’s zippy acidity will fade as well, packing less of a punch and taking on a more amber tint.As for specifics, Wine Folly recommends storing sparkling wines in the refrigerator with a stopper for one to three days at most. Rosé wines and light-bodied whites, like Sancerre or Pinot Grigio, last for up to five days in the fridge. Fuller-bodied white wines, such as Chardonnay or Viognier, should also be kept in the fridge. Lastly, it is recommended that red wines—whether light like Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo or full like Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec—be recorked and stored on their side in a cool, dark place.Can You Drink Expired Wine?Here’s what to do with that wine that’s past its sipping prime: Bon Appétit recommends keeping a couple of containers in your refrigerator or freezer—one for your remaining red wines and one for whites. Whenever you’re ready to cook a recipe that calls for half a cup of wine, you’ll have some on hand without having to open a new bottle (again).If you’re actively looking for ways to use up your half-empty bottles of red wine, beef short rib bourguignon or a classic coq au vin are both excellent go-to recipes. A creamy pot of risotto is also a great use for any leftover whites. The opportunities for using leftover wine in the kitchen are endless. Don’t let your “expired” wine go to waste.Although most wines deteriorate within one week after the bottle has been uncorked, the wine’s expiration can be delayed by using the proper storage methods listed above. And, of course, if you’d rather not fuss with purchasing a bouchon for your bubbly or a Coravin for your Cabernet, just pop the cork (or extract it very, very carefully) and drink up!This story was produced by Silver Oak Winery and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How journalists feel about citing AI-generated PR, according to data Journalists need sources when writing an article. Tracking down sources to comment on a topic, like experts in a medical field or business owners affected by a policy decision, can be time consuming.This is where platforms like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) come in. It works like this: A journalist is writing an article, say, on a new health trend, and they would like to include an expert opinion from a doctor. That journalist will submit a request to HARO with the question they want answered and the qualifications or background they need the source to have. HARO then distributes the reporter’s request to a list of possible sources, and those sources, if they meet the criteria, can send back a pitch in response to the question.HARO was founded in 2008, and it quickly became one of the largest forums of its kind. But, in 2023, HARO started facing a problem: People were using AI to generate responses to journalist requests, hoping to get high-profile features in news articles and increase brand awareness. In response to the influx of low-quality sources, journalists abandoned the platform en masse for verification-gated platforms, and HARO was officially discontinued in 2024.When Featured acquired and revived HARO in 2025, it began using Pangram to evaluate source responses in the age of high-volume, AI-generated public relations. Here, Pangram Labs examines what the data shows about how journalists feel about AI-generated PR pitches.Why do people submit AI-generated pitches?Across its three platforms (Featured, HARO, and Connectively), Featured received 1,394,740 pitches in response to 42,392 journalist requests between June 2025 and July 2026. Of those, Pangram flagged 292,895, or roughly 21%, as fully AI-generated. Pangram Labs In contrast to the paid media coverage that comes from, say, distributing a press release, HARO offers sources earned credibility and brand awareness by providing audience exposure if a journalist selects your pitch. Reporters, on the other side of the trade, do not have to spend as much time hunting down sources. HARO is ad supported, and it does not pay sources for providing pitches.This is the motivation for using AI to respond to pitch requests: If a person or company wants to maximize its earned media coverage, one strategy could be to use an AI public relations service that automatically responds to journalist requests on a platform like HARO, hoping to land as many press features as possible.On competing platforms, this strategy sometimes works, as it did in the case of Dr. Eleni Nicolaou, a supposed art therapist whose fully AI-generated quotes appeared more than 30 times in publications including Vice, Forbes, and Glamour — and who likely does not exist at all.Journalists do not want to quote fully AI-generated expertsOn Featured platforms at least, this strategy of overwhelming journalists with AI-generated pitches does not pay off. Featured’s data shows that many journalists on HARO prefer not to receive AI-generated pitches altogether: Out of a pool of more than 2,500 journalists, 35% select an option to not receive pitches that Pangram flagged as fully AI-generated, even though the option to screen pitches is off by default. Pangram Labs Even when journalists don’t opt out of receiving AI-generated pitches, they do poorly compared to human-authored ones. Across Featured, only 1 in 10 AI-generated pitches are selected by journalists for publication; in contrast, approximately 1 in 3 human pitches are selected to be featured in an article.AI-generated pitches were often a sign of abnormal or automated behavior. Banned accounts are roughly 3.6x more likely to have an AI-flagged pitch than active ones: 24.7% of banned accounts have at least one pitch that was flagged as 100% AI-generated, whereas 6.8% of active accounts have at least one fully AI-generated pitch. Pangram Labs HARO does not ban source accounts solely because they submit AI-generated pitches, but AI-generated pitches are one flag that can trigger internal monitoring. It does filter out accounts that submit a large volume of low-quality AI-generated responses as an attempt to maintain trust.The data indicates that people submitting fully AI-generated pitches are failing to meet the bar, as journalists choose human-written pitches over AI or filter out AI pitches altogether.MethodologyFor this analysis, Featured supplied aggregate data for pitches submitted to their platform. Between June 2025 and July 2026, Featured used Pangram to score 1,394,740 pitches responding to 42,392 journalist requests on Featured, HARO, and Connectively. Mixed and AI-assisted classifications were excluded from the comparison.This story was produced by Pangram Labs and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Four QC musicians will present benefit concert for Humane Society of Scott County Four professional Quad Cities musicians will use their music to make a difference for animals in the Quad Cities community. At 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, a benefit concert for the Humane Society of Scott County will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 121 W. 12th St., Davenport. The concert will feature Lynne Stukart, flute; Tyné Rieck, [...]
	SpaceX's Starship launches on first orbital mission from Texas Starship is key to SpaceX's commercial success and NASA's plans to land humans on the moon. This is the 14th flight of the uncrewed Starship, but the first time it aims to reach orbit.
	More than half of US consumers now routinely end the month short of funds For years, a household budget had a little give. A slightly higher electric bill one month could be absorbed by a slightly cheaper grocery run the next. That cushion is gone for most U.S. consumers, and the bills doing the damage are the ones no family can opt out of.A new survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers from Credit One Bank found that 57% now routinely end the month with less money than expected, with over a quarter saying it happens almost every month and another nearly 3 in 10 (29%) saying it happens more often than not. Coming up short has stopped being an occasional accident. It has become the baseline.The mood behind that number is stark. More than 8 in 10 (83%) respondents say the cost of living has grown at least somewhat harder to manage over the past two years, leaving only 17% who feel their situation is about the same or better. What follows is a look at which bills are applying the pressure, and what people are changing to keep up.Key Findings83% of U.S. consumers say managing the cost of living has become at least somewhat harder over the past two years.40% name groceries and household staples as the single biggest strain on their budget, nearly double the share who point to rent or mortgage.57% end the month with less money than expected at least more often than not.79% of Gen Z have delayed or rethought at least one major life milestone because of rising costs.44% say housing costs are either preventing them from saving or are their single biggest financial stressor.45% say financial stress affects their mental health on a daily or regular basis.55% describe their ability to get ahead as either completely impossible or treading water.The Majority Feel the Financial Squeeze Credit One Bank The affordability conversation has been running in headlines and campaign speeches for a while now, but the survey puts a number on how personal it has become. A combined 83% of U.S. consumers say their household budget has gotten harder to manage over the past two years. Within that group, nearly a quarter (23%) say keeping up is now nearly impossible, and another quarter (26%) say things are significantly harder and they are barely managing.The pressure is not shared evenly. Among households earning less than $25,000, 38% say keeping up is nearly impossible, compared with just 7% of those earning between $100,000 and $249,000. Women report the most severe strain more often than men, with 26.1% choosing "nearly impossible" against 19% of men.That gap between who feels the squeeze and who absorbs it plays out on the ground. In North Texas, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas reported that local energy costs jumped nearly 19% over the past year, while one in four Dallas County children faces food insecurity, leaving families to weigh feeding their kids against filling the gas tank. The survey suggests those tradeoffs are a national story, not just a regional one.Groceries Became the Everyday Villain Credit One Bank Ask U.S. consumers to name the single cost hitting hardest and the answer is not the mortgage. It is the grocery cart. 40% point to groceries and household staples as their top budget strain, nearly twice the share who name rent or mortgage payments at 23%.The generational split is sharp. Half of Baby Boomers (50%) name groceries as their biggest pressure, compared with 29% of Gen Z. The youngest adults feel housing more acutely instead, with 29% of Gen Z citing rent or mortgage as their top strain, nearly double the Baby Boomer rate of 16%.Groceries stand out partly because they are visible and frequent, but the deeper problem is the bills that show up whether anyone is watching or not. On Long Island, the New York Post reported electric bills climbing as much as 20% and water rates rising for a third straight year, with the local power authority pointing to record cold weather and higher fuel costs. One resident described utilities as bills "you have no choice but to pay." Those are the costs a family cannot coupon its way out of, and they are the ones quietly resetting the baseline.8 in 10 Gen Z Are Skipping Traditional Milestones Credit One Bank For younger adults, rising costs are not just trimming discretionary spending. They are moving the milestones that used to define adulthood. 79% of Gen Z have delayed, rethought, or abandoned at least one major life plan because of cost pressure. Only 21% say none of their plans have changed, against 59% of Baby Boomers and 54% of Gen X.The specifics track a generation putting life on hold. The milestones below are not mutually exclusive, so a single respondent could report delaying several at once, which is why the individual figures add up to more than the 79% headline. Among Gen Z:35% have delayed buying a home33% have deferred additional education or job training29% have delayed having a child24% have postponed marriage22% have given up on starting a businessTogether these choices describe a cohort recalibrating what it can realistically expect.Older U.S. consumers are feeling a different version of the same force. Rather than delaying the start of adult life, 27% of Baby Boomers and 24% of Gen X report that rising costs have pushed back their planned retirement date. Younger adults are postponing the milestones that mark the beginning of adulthood, while older adults are postponing the one that marks its next chapter. The same cost pressure is stretching the timeline at both ends.Housing Is Blocking the Savings Safety NetBeyond the monthly strain, housing is doing structural damage to the ability to save at all. A combined 44% of U.S. consumers say housing costs are either preventing them from building any savings (23%) or are their single biggest financial stressor (21%).Gen Z sits at the sharp edge of this. More than a third (36%) say housing costs alone are blocking them from saving anything, the highest share of any generation. Without savings, there is no buffer, which helps explain why the same group is leaning hardest on credit and other coping strategies to stay afloat.Older homeowners are at an advantage here. Among Baby Boomers, nearly 3 in 10 (30%) say they own their home outright and feel little housing pressure. The result is a widening divide between U.S. consumers who bought before the market tightened and those still trying to get in, with the safety net available mostly to the group that already has one. For households still trying to build that cushion, setting up an emergency fund is often the first step back toward stability.Tight Budgets Affect Mental and Now Physical Health Credit One Bank The strain is no longer staying in the budget. It is showing up in people's health. 45% of U.S. consumers say financial stress affects their mental health on a daily or regular basis, split between 20% who call it a daily struggle and 26% who regularly feel anxious or depressed over money. Only 15.1% say their mental health has not been affected at all.Women and low-income households carry the heaviest load. Among women, 21% describe a daily mental health struggle, compared with 17% of men. For households earning under $25,000, the daily-struggle rate climbs to 29%, and with regular anxiety added the combined rate for the lowest earners reaches 51%, just over half.Cost pressure is also pushing people to trade away care. A combined 57% of U.S. consumers have taken at least one cost-driven healthcare action in the past year. Respondents could report more than one, so the actions below overlap rather than sum to that total:28% delayed or avoided a doctor's visit to save money17% skipped filling a prescription because of the cost17% asked a doctor for a cheaper alternative medication16% chose a lower-cost health insurance plan with worse coverage14% went without health insurance because they could not afford premiums10% rationed or split pills to make a prescription last longerThat behavior lines up with what is happening in local markets. A March 2026 AARP New York survey found older New Yorkers cutting back on prescriptions and medical care to keep up with utility bills, and in Missouri, the Missouri Independent reported that some residents expected to go uninsured in 2026 as enhanced federal subsidies were set to expire. When a fixed bill rises, something has to give, and increasingly, that something is care.More Than Half Cannot Get AheadUnderneath the individual pressures sits a broader loss of momentum. 55% of U.S. consumers describe their ability to get ahead as either completely impossible or treading water. 27% say getting ahead feels completely impossible and they are just trying not to fall further behind, while 28% say they are surviving without making real progress. Only 7% feel they are in a better position than they were two years ago.The gender gap widens here. Among women, 31% say forward progress feels completely impossible, against 20% of men. For households earning under $25,000, 62% land in either the "impossible" or "treading water" category, a reminder that the further down the income ladder a household sits, the more the door to mobility appears shut.This is where the everyday bills and the big-picture outlook meet. A month that ends short is a setback. A string of them, with no savings forming and no milestone within reach, becomes a sense that the effort itself is not adding up. For many U.S. consumers, getting a budget back on track starts with accounting for exactly where the money goes.SummaryThe story in this data is not really about any single bill. It is about what happens when the unavoidable household costs all increase at once, and the small monthly cushion that used to absorb them disappears. Groceries, utilities, rent, insurance, and healthcare each take a turn, and the combined weight lands hardest on the people with the least room to move.What stands out is how ordinary the coping has become. Ending the month short, leaning on a credit card for a bill that used to be routine, putting off a wedding or a first home, skipping a doctor's visit to make the numbers work. None of it reads as dramatic in isolation. Taken together, it describes millions of U.S. consumers quietly reorganizing their lives around costs they did not choose and cannot easily change. The affordability conversation is often framed in aggregates and averages. Behind those numbers are households doing the daily math, and finding that the math keeps getting harder.MethodologyTo understand how U.S. consumers are managing the rising cost of everyday living, Credit One Bank surveyed 1,000 adults across the country. Participants answered questions about how rising costs have affected their household budgets, their use of credit, their savings and coping strategies, their major life plans, their housing and healthcare decisions, and their mental and emotional wellbeing. Responses were analyzed by demographic groups, including age, gender, household income, and education, to identify trends and disparities. Generational labels reflect Gen Z (18–29), Millennials (30–45), Gen X (46–61), and Baby Boomers (62+).This story was produced by Credit One Bank and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Mother, 2-year-old son identified as victims of Peoria County double homicide The Peoria County Coroner’s Office has released the identities of a mother and her young son early Friday in what authorities said was domestic violence.
	Blackhawk Bank & Trust announce plans for new full-service branch in West Davenport Blackhawk Bank & Trust full-service branch will mark its first location in Davenport west of Elmore Avenue.
	Dry couple of days before more rain Our week will kick off pleasant with warmer weather tomorrow and Wednesday. Another moderate to heavy rain maker is on the way to the Quad Cities. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	UnityPoint Health – Trinity heart experts first in the Quad Cities to use new AFib technology On Sept. 3 electrophysiologists and care teams at Trinity Heart Center performed the first successful pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure using Abbott’s Volt PFA System.
	Rise Up Coffee & Ice Cream opens second location in Port Byron The expansion comes thanks to the strong support and loyal customer base built at their original Erie shop.
	McFarlane Marketing Social Studio OS launch event The evening is designed specifically for business owners who want to build a stronger social media presence.
	Trump aims to leave a physical legacy in D.C., bulldozing norms along the way President Trump has brought his New York real estate background to the White House. But experts say D.C. is a very different historic and legal landscape — and worry about the precedent he could set.
	British police investigate if arrests near U.S. air base foiled an Iran-linked attack Police were holding five men and examining suspected explosives found near a U.S.-operated air force base in England, as counterterror detectives investigated whether the arrests foiled an attempted attack linked to Iran.
	5 men arrested over suspected attack at a U.S.-run air force base are British nationals Authorities have arrested five British nationals over a suspected attack at a U.S.-operated air force base in England. The men, all in their 20s from London, were detained Sunday.
	U.K. holds 5 British suspects after arrests near U.S. air base as Iran denies role Authorities have arrested five British nationals over a suspected attack at a U.S.-operated air force base in England. Iran denied involvement.
	'End Times Fascism' looks at supremacist groups uniting around end-of-the-world ideas Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor identify supremacists that have, despite ideological differences, converged around the conviction that they are part of an elite destined to survive an apocalypse.
	Welcome to the 'Wild West' of AI in schools: Research is scarce, but experiments abound Teachers are using AI to develop lesson plans, and in some districts, AI chatbots give students feedback on their work. Meanwhile, the research around how AI can help students is extremely limited.
	A new anti-ICE compilation album benefits immigrants rights organizations The Contra-ICE Vol. 1: ICE OUT album features contributions from over 30 artists, including Kathleen Hanna, Fred Armisen and Tom Morello to create a historical and artistic record of this moment.
	Mexico's Baja California braces for Hurricane Polo as Hurricane Nolo threatens Hawaii Hurricane Nolo edged further away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday as major Hurricane Polo bore down on Mexico's Baja California peninsula with a threat of storm surge, high winds and heavy rains.
	Evers announces last chance to apply for a pardon before next governor takes office In 2019, Gov. Tony Evers issued the first pardons in Wisconsin in nine years. He said that reinstating the pardons process and “offering over 2,000 second chances to folks across our state” has been one of his administration’s most important endeavors. The last deadline to apply for pardons before Evers leaves office is Oct. 5. (Getty Images)The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. Gov. Tony Evers announced a deadline of Oct. 5 as the last day for a Wisconsinite to submit an application for a pardon for a crime, before Evers’ second and last term as governor ends in January 2027. Distinct from a commutation or a parole order, a pardon restores rights that a person loses if convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office and hold certain professional licenses. In 2019, Evers issued the first pardons in Wisconsin in nine years. In a press release, he said that reinstating the pardons process and “offering over 2,000 second chances to folks across our state” has been one of his administration’s most important endeavors. “I encourage folks who are interested to apply by the deadline and sincerely hope to see this good work continue in earnest in the years ahead,” Evers said. To be eligible, a person must be seeking a pardon for a Wisconsin felony conviction and have finished any criminal sentence at least five years ago. Applicants must not have any pending criminal cases or charges in any jurisdiction or be currently required to register as a sex offender. Evers’ Pardon Advisory Board held two hearings on Friday; the agendas for the hearings listed 30 applicants for pardons. The pardon application and answers to frequently asked questions are on the governor’s website. Each applicant appears before the board for about 10 minutes, giving an introduction and taking questions from the board. The board votes whether or not to recommend a pardon for an applicant; if a majority of the board votes in favor, the application is sent on to Evers for a final decision. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner
	Eviction of 87-year-old sparks protests in Madrid over housing crisis Tens of thousands marched through Madrid on Saturday to protest Spain's housing crisis and the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, camping overnight in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol plaza.
	Families enjoy peer recovery event in Davenport An event to help those recovering from addiction was held Sunday in Davenport. The community get-together at Duck Creek Park celebrated National Recovery Month. The event was open to families with members dealing with addiction or in recovery. There was food, a bounce house, bags games and a dunk tank. Two people who successfully recovered [...]
	Coats, shoes ... and haircuts provided free to kids in Davenport At a Sunday event in Davenport, kids could get shoes, coats, hats and gloves - plus a haircut - for free. The annual Coats and Shoes Drive was held at the TMBC Lincoln Resource Center, where kids of all ages could get most of what they'll need with the weather getting cooler. This is the [...]
	29th Quad Cities Marathon takes runners all over the QCA The 29th annual Quad Cities Marathon took runners all over the Quad Cities on Sunday. Our Quad Cities News crew caught some runners in action as they ran through downtown Rock Island. The 26-point two-mile race went through every city as well as the Rock Island Arsenal. The winner was Adam Rzentkowski-- with a time [...]
	Two QCA colleges earn national recognition Two Quad Cities-area colleges are making their mark in the latest U. S. News and World Report rankings. St. Ambrose University in Davenport is ranked number two in the Midwest for innovation among regional universities. And it ranks 17th for best colleges for veterans and 32nd overall among regional universities. St. Ambrose says its focus [...]
	A Global Legacy, Built in Mississippi: Corolla Celebrates 60 Years Six Decades of Corolla Since its 1966 debut, the Toyota Corolla has become one of the most recognized and trusted vehicles in automotive history. For 60 years, it has evolved with generations of drivers while remaining synonymous with quality, efficiency and reliability. Today, that global legacy continues in Blue Springs, where Toyota Mississippi team members proudly build one of the world’s best-selling car. Toyota Mississippi joined the Corolla story in 2007, when the Blue Springs plant was announced. Since the first Mississippi-built Corolla rolled off the line, the facility has produced more than 2 million vehicles—connecting Mississippi craftsmanship with drivers nationwide. Today, every gas-powered Corolla sold in the United States is built here, placing Toyota Mississippi at the heart of one of the automotive industry’s greatest success stories. Powered by Mississippi Team Members Building the Corolla is both an honor and a responsibility. Each vehicle reflects Toyota’s commitment to quality and the trust millions of customers place in the Corolla name. From stamped steel and body welds to paint, assembly and final inspection, thousands of team members bring skill and dedication to every vehicle. And every team member of the plant’s 2,400-person crew knows the vehicles they build become part of customers’ daily lives—helping people commute, travel with family and go places not just on the road but in life. “For our team members, building the Corolla is more than assembling a vehicle—it’s about contributing to a legacy that has earned the trust of millions of customers around the world,” said Aaron Foster, president of Toyota Mississippi. “Every Corolla that leaves our plant represents the passion, skill and dedication of our team. We are incredibly proud to be part of a 60-year history of quality and reliability, and even more excited to help carry that legacy into the future.” Photo by: Adam Robison Corolla’s enduring success reflects Toyota’s philosophy of continuous improvement—or kaizen. Across six decades, the vehicle has adapted to customers’ needs without losing the dependability and value that made it a global bestseller. That same commitment guides Toyota Mississippi team members as they improve processes, solve challenges and uphold rigorous safety and quality standards. “It’s an incredible feeling to know that something we build here in Mississippi is trusted by millions of people around the world,” said Melissa Roberts, Quality Control Group Leader at Toyota Mississippi. “Every Corolla that leaves our plant represents our hard work, our dedication and the pride of our entire team. Knowing that some families rely on vehicles that I’ve had a part in building gives me a real sense of purpose.” Toyota Mississippi’s impact reaches beyond the assembly line. Team members mentor students, support local organizations and create career opportunities throughout northeast Mississippi. Since production began, that combination of manufacturing excellence and community investment has made the plant a cornerstone of the region. Driving the Legacy Forward To mark Corolla’s 60th anniversary, Toyota Mississippi is inviting the public to celebrate throughout October. From October 1 through October 29, the Toyota Mississippi Experience Center will host “A Lifetime of Legacy,” an exhibit tracing Corolla’s six-decade evolution through models from each generation and highlighting Mississippi’s role in carrying the legacy forward. Visitors can also attend Corolla 60th Anniversary Evening Tours every Thursday in October from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. These limited-time tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the technology, teamwork and craftsmanship behind the world’s best-selling car—and how Mississippi team members bring it to life each day. As that story continues, Toyota Mississippi is preparing for Corolla’s next chapter. A recent $125 million investment will add hybrid-electric Corolla production, making the plant the first in the United States to assemble electrified Corollas. The milestone advances Toyota’s commitment to innovation and helps ensure Corolla remains a trusted choice for generations to come. Six decades after its debut, Corolla remains a symbol of reliability, quality and opportunity. Every vehicle built in Blue Springs carries that legacy forward—strengthened by the passion and dedication of Toyota Mississippi team members. Learn more and reserve your tour today at www.TourToyota.com/MS. Courtesy of Mississippi Today
Sunday, September 27th, 2026
	Where Curiosity Builds Trade Skills: 5 Ways to Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades (Feature Impact) Most students hear questions about what they want to be when they grow up. By the time their middle and high school years arrive, they're often starting to consider their answers more in depth. Conversations with adults can help shape their awareness of and interest in various career paths, including skilled trades. When they're provided with opportunities to learn, build, experiment and solve problems, young people can discover whether their talents and passions are a good fit for a career in the trades. Programs likePath to Pro Skills Explorers, launched by The Home Depot in partnership with Scouting America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, provide free, accessible ways to introduce students to options like the plumbing, construction and electrical fields, as well as content on leadership and soft skills. Parents, educators and mentors can encourage young people to broaden their horizons as they plan their futures and build awareness around careers in the skilled trades with these tips. Start Career Conversations Early Choosing a career path doesn't have to be one intimidating, life-changing moment. Parents and mentors can normalize career conversations by starting them early and keeping things casual. Opening the dialogue sparks curiosity about the activities kids enjoy and allows them to start connecting those interests to potential career paths. To get started, set kids up with access to online programs, videos and introductory courses so they can explore a variety of possibilities. Turn Curiosity Into Hands-On Learning For many students, learning by doing is the most satisfying way to test, improve and build skills. Instead of only reading textbooks or listening to instructors, offer them the chance to follow a plan, work with different materials, troubleshoot problems and build something tangible. Young people considering hands-on careers need hands-on practice to develop confidence and adaptability. Take the first step by researching online resources and local opportunities for classes, job shadowing or even apprenticeships. Recognize the Skills Kids Are Already Building Skilled trades aren't just about knowing which wires to connect or what tool to reach for. They also rely on a variety of soft skills like communication, patience, critical thinking, time management, attention to detail and more. When kids demonstrate these traits, point them out and encourage them. Take opportunities to let them experiment with hands-on projects, whether they want to try building a treehouse, repairing a bike or tinkering with technology. Expand Views of Career Pathways and Success The road to success is more like an intersection. Let young people know there are many pathways to fulfilling careers and futures, and while the traditional college-to-career plan can still be a viable option, it isn't the only one. Skilled trades offer competitive salaries, job security and the opportunity to learn hands-on skills that will always be in demand. Even in a world where technology is rapidly changing many career fields, it takes skilled workers to replace roofs, repair electrical systems, fix sewer lines and lead disaster recovery efforts. Find Programs That Make Skilled Trades Exploration Accessible There is a gap between labor supply and demand in the trades, and it's only widening as older generations approach retirement age. Programs like The Home Depot's Skills Explorers are designed to empower young people to step into these roles by providing a mix of online resources and hands-on activities to explore viable career paths. As a key part of a commitment by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to deliver 15 million introductions to the skilled trades by 2032, the program offers an accessible, no-cost curriculum for youth education groups to learn what it's like to work in these important fields. "For years, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation's Path to Pro program have helped separating military, career changers and others build pathways to the trades," said Michael Rowe, executive vice president of Pro for The Home Depot. "We know that closing the skilled labor gap starts much earlier. We need more young people to see what's possible and understand the lucrative opportunities these careers provide." Visit pathtopro.com/skills-explorers to access the free curriculum and discover how to bring hands-on skilled trade exploration to students.
	Enjoy Tangy, Spicy Buffalo Chicken with a Superfood Swap Enjoy Tangy, Spicy Buffalo Chicken with a Superfood Swap (Feature Impact) When you’re craving a specific comfort food, other flavors just aren’t going to hit the spot the same way. The good news: It only takes one or two simple ingredient changes to satisfy your taste buds while leveling up the nutrition of a meal. Watch video to see how to make this recipe! For instance, if you’re jonesing for the zesty kick of buffalo sauce, your mind might initially go to pizza and wings. This Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweetpotatoes recipe featuring North Carolina Sweetpotatoes invites you to rethink that takeout order and enjoy the same bold, satisfying flavors in a more nutritious way. They’re a little sweet and a little spicy with savory chicken and creamy avocado stuffed jacket-style inside a nutrient-dense baked sweetpotato. Sweetpotatoes – deliberately spelled as one word to better differentiate this unique root vegetable from traditional potatoes – are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. The American Diabetes Association even calls them a “diabetes superfood,” as they raise blood sugar more slowly than other starchy foods while allowing you to savor some natural sweetness. They’re also a great choice for athletes, thanks to complex carbohydrates that boost energy and nutrients that support endurance and recovery. Find more ways to level up your favorite flavors at ncsweetpotatoes.com. Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweetpotatoes Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Servings: 4 4 sweetpotatoes1 rotisserie chicken, shredded1 1/2 cups buffalo sauce1 avocado, diced2 tablespoons diced chives Preheat oven to 400 F. Place sweetpotatoes on lined baking sheet and use fork to pierce each one for venting. Bake 45 minutes, or until tender.Let sweetpotatoes cool slightly then use knife to gently cut each open lengthwise and crosswise. Use fork to lightly mash inside sweetpotatoes.In large bowl, combine shredded rotisserie chicken with buffalo sauce until evenly coated.Spoon buffalo chicken mixture into each sweetpotato. Top with diced avocado and chives.
	5 Easy Sheet Pan Meals with a Grape Upgrade (Feature Impact) Sheet pan cooking makes weeknight meals wonderfully easy - and fresh grapes give them an unexpected upgrade. Roasted alongside chicken, vegetables, gnocchi and more, grapes become warm and juicy, adding a pop of sweetness that complements savory flavors and makes simple dishes feel a little more special. From satisfying dinners and sides to a crowd-pleasing dessert, these recipes bring something unexpected to the sheet pan without adding extra fuss. Find more family recipe ideas by visiting GrapesFromCalifornia.com. California Grapes and Sage Chicken - This simple sheet pan dinner pairs savory sage-seasoned chicken with sweet California grapes, butternut squash, red onion and garlic. As everything roasts together, the grapes become warm and juicy while apple cider vinegar adds a bright, tangy counterpoint. It's an easy, colorful meal that delivers plenty of flavor with minimal cleanup. Roasted California Grapes and Sweet Potatoes - Sweet potatoes and California grapes make a delicious pairing in this colorful, easy-to-prepare side dish. Roasting grapes brings out their natural sweetness, while balsamic vinegar, onion and fresh basil add savory, tangy notes for balance. Serve it alongside your favorite protein or add it to a grain bowl for a simple way to bring more fruits and vegetables to the plate. Roasted California Grapes and Gnocchi - Tender gnocchi, juicy roasted California grapes, broccolini and red onion come together in this satisfying one-pan meal. Fresh thyme, feta and lemon zest balance the grapes' sweetness with savory, tangy and bright flavors. With just 25 minutes of roasting time, it's an easy way to turn everyday ingredients into a flavorful meatless dinner. Chicken and Roasted California Grapes with Carrots and Parsnips - Warm, spiced cumin and turmeric give this hearty chicken sheet pan dinner plenty of flavor, while carrots, parsnips, onions and California grapes round out the meal. The grapes add juicy bursts of sweetness that complement the earthy root vegetables and savory spices. Everything cooks together on one pan for a colorful, satisfying dinner with easy cleanup. California Grape and Apple Sheet Pan Pie - Tart apples and juicy black California grapes offer a delicious twist on classic apple pie in this crowd-friendly sheet pan dessert. The fruits bake beneath a golden lattice crust with the grapes adding extra color, sweetness and juicy texture to every slice. Designed to serve 16, it's an inviting dessert for holidays, parties and other gatherings.
	Investing in Education: 5 Ways to Prepare Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow (Feature Impact) The landscape of modern work is changing rapidly, leaving many uncertain about whether they're adequately equipped to face the future. Even though America invests roughly $1 trillion in education every year, it's difficult to know whether that investment is truly preparing young people for what comes next. "Our education system isn't evolving quickly enough to prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow," said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization working with more than 30 million students a year to measure learning success and power human progress at every stage of life. "Students only get one chance at an education, and we have a responsibility to understand what's working, what's not and where additional support is needed." A diploma is still an important milestone, but what matters more than the piece of paper is whether graduates have the knowledge, skills and confidence to take meaningful next steps in pursuing further education or building careers. Students, families, educators, employers and policymakers all have a role to play in cultivating these opportunities. Start the Conversation Early Success isn't a single path anymore, so young people may benefit from thinking outside the traditional pipeline of high school to college to a good job to retirement. By prompting early conversations, parents can help their children begin sorting through their options well in advance. Encourage dinner table talks about favorite school subjects, what kind of work seems interesting and alternative pathways to build careers. The goal isn't necessarily to choose a life track immediately - just to start exploring ideas before the time arrives to lock in a decision. Learn to Work with AI In the age of AI, there's a balance to be found between fully embracing or avoiding it. Parents and educators can encourage thoughtful, responsible use of the AI tools reshaping modern workplaces - without sanctioning them as a way to get out of doing homework. Students should think critically about both the uses and limitations of AI, learning how these systems work but still recognizing when human judgment matters. Get Real-World Experience Before Graduation Textbooks and classrooms can teach a lot, but some of the most valuable lessons come from the real world. Summer jobs, internships, volunteering, co-op programs, job shadowing or small-scale forays into entrepreneurship can help kids discover where their talents and passions fit. It's also a chance to develop the soft skills that make great employees, like being punctual, working well with others and adapting to new situations. Build Human Skills There are certain abilities technology just can't replace, making them vital pieces of future-proof training. Strong communication, teamwork mindsets, critical thinking skills, civic reasoning and empathy translate well to many careers. Rather than focusing strictly on academics, teachers can shift lesson plans to encourage growth in these areas. Specialized hands-on talents and trades are also more insulated from technological disruptions. Measure Progress Beyond Grades Grades and test scores don't tell the whole story about career readiness, yet they're often treated as the only metric that matters in educational success. Policymakers have the opportunity to change how schools measure student progress, including by trading the one-size-fits-all rubrics for more personalized assessments that demonstrate proficiency in more comprehensive ways. Education is on the ballot this election season, so ask your local and state elected leaders about whether today's graduates are ready to face the future. For information about a system that gives students, educators and employers clear evidence that learning is leading to opportunity, visit ETS.org. Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
	5 Habits to Boost Immunity During Cold and Flu Season (Feature Impact) Your immune system is your strongest ally during cold and flu season, working hard to keep you healthy as you start hearing those telltale coughs and sneezes all around. Help your body do its job well by adopting a few simple habits that naturally support its ability to fight off germs or recover faster. Talk to your healthcare provider for personalized advice then work on making these habits normal in your household. Get Regular Exercise Exercise is like a wonder drug that can improve nearly every aspect of health and wellness. Physical activity increases blood flow, reduces long-term inflammation, helps immune cells circulate through the body to guard against invaders and may even flush bacteria out of your lungs and airways. Plan to fit at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise into each week, like a bike ride, brisk walk, yoga class or on-demand video workout. Eat Foods That Support Immune Health To keep your immune system fueled, experts recommend eating a varied diet featuring plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and healthy fats like olive oil. Consider adding fresh grapes to your diet to enjoy benefits from their naturally occurring plant compounds. Protecting the body starts all the way down at the cellular level, and grapes contain powerful polyphenols that support the health and function of cells. Studies indicate certain compounds in grapes, like resveratrol and flavonoids, support immune system function as well as brain, skin, GI and heart health. These little fruits are easy to add to your diet, whether you enjoy sweet, juicy Grapes from California by the handful or toss them in a blender to make this California Grape Wellness Juice recipe. Support multiple aspects of wellness with the drink's powerful combination of fruits and vegetables, delivering a variety of immune-boosting vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Stay Hydrated Drinking enough water helps clean your lymphatic system, which is responsible for producing special white blood cells that fight germs. It also keeps membranes in your nose and mouth moist, decreasing infection risk. If you struggle to drink enough, eating water-rich foods like grapes also helps you improve hydration. Practice Good Germ Hygiene To increase your odds of staying healthy during peak illness season, hearken back to the tried-and-true hygiene advice your parents might have tried to drill into your head as a kid. Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap, avoid touching your face while out and about, keep your distance from symptomatic people and disinfect commonly used surfaces like doorknobs when someone in the house or office is sick. Sleep More, Stress Less Before you start feeling stressed that you aren't getting enough sleep, rest assured there are easy changes you can make to support your well-being in both areas. Try switching up your nightly routine to be oriented less around screens and more around calming activities that actually help you wind down, like yoga, meditation or reading. Discover more health information and recipes at GrapesFromCalifornia.com. California Grape Wellness Juice Servings: 3 (1 cup each) 5 cups black or red Grapes from California 1/2 cup peeled raw beet slices 3/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 small carrot, peeled and sliced 1 piece fresh turmeric (1-inch), peeled and sliced or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric In high-speed blender, puree grapes, beet slices, orange juice, lemon juice, carrot and turmeric until smooth. Pour through fine mesh sieve, stirring to extract as much juice as possible, about 3 cups. Stop when mixture starts to get thick. Enjoy immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Notes: This juice can also be added to iced tea or fizzy water. Nutritional information per serving: 230 calories; 3 g protein; 58 g carbohydrates; 0.5 g fat (2% calories from fat); 0 g saturated fat (0% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 35 mg sodium; 0 g fiber.
	Fiber is Trending: Sorghum Makes it Simple (Feature Impact) Protein has long dominated nutrition headlines. Now, dietitians encourage people to pay close attention to another important nutrient: fiber. One whole grain quietly gaining recognition for its impressive nutritional profile and versatility in the kitchen is sorghum. It's a naturally gluten-free whole grain that provides both fiber and protein, contains naturally occurring antioxidants and supplies essential nutrients including magnesium, iron and B vitamins. One reason sorghum is attracting attention is its fiber content. Whole-grain sorghum contains a type of fiber called resistant starch, which research has shown can contribute to healthy body weight and improved insulin resistance. Unlike many refined gluten-free products that are lower in fiber, sorghum delivers the benefits of a whole grain while remaining naturally gluten-free. Whether you have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or simply want to enjoy a wider variety of whole grains, sorghum is an easy addition to your menu. Another reason nutrition experts are taking a closer look at sorghum is its antioxidant content, specifically its health-promoting polyphenols. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how easy sorghum is to cook with. Whole-grain sorghum offers a mild, slightly nutty flavor and pleasantly chewy texture, making it a delicious alternative for brown rice, quinoa or farro in grain bowls, soups and salads. Pearled sorghum cooks faster, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Sorghum flour can replace wheat flour in pancakes, muffins and quick breads, while popped sorghum creates bite-sized crunchy kernels for a fun snack or topping for yogurt, soups and salads. For example, this Sorghum Fall Harvest Salad makes it easy to add more fiber to your plate, pairing whole-grain sorghum with seasonal produce like kale, butternut squash and apples. Healthy eating doesn't have to mean following the latest trend. Sometimes it simply means rediscovering nutritious foods that have stood the test of time. With its combination of fiber, protein, antioxidants and naturally gluten-free, whole-grain goodness, sorghum is an ancient grain worth adding to your pantry. You can find dozens of recipes, cooking tips and meal ideas at SorghumCheckoff.com/recipes. Easy Sorghum Swaps for Everyday Dishes If you're looking for ways to add more sorghum to your meals, these easy swaps make it simple to enjoy this versatile grain in recipes you already love. Replace rice. Use cooked whole-grain or pearled sorghum instead of white or brown rice in grain bowls, stir fries, burrito bowls and side dishes. Swap for pasta. Stir cooked sorghum into pasta salads or use it in place of small pasta shapes in soups for a hearty twist. Mix into salads. Add cooked sorghum to green salads, grain salads or vegetable salads for extra texture and whole-grain nutrition. Boost your breakfast. Stir cooked sorghum into oatmeal, yogurt parfaits or breakfast bowls then top with fruit, nuts or cinnamon. Bake with sorghum flour. Replace wheat flour in pancakes, muffins, cookies, waffles or quick breads with sorghum flour for a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Sorghum Fall Harvest Salad Recipe courtesy of Sorghum Checkoff 1 cup roasted butternut squash, cubed 1/4 cup olive oil, plus additional for drizzling, divided salt, to taste pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sorghum syrup 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 cups kale, chopped 1 cup cooked whole-grain sorghum 1 small apple, diced 1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup red onions, diced 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss cubed butternut squash with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and golden. In a jar or small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sorghum syrup, Dijon mustard and salt and pepper, to taste, until emulsified. Add chopped kale to a large bowl. Massage with a drizzle of olive oil 1-2 minutes until tender. Arrange precooked sorghum, roasted squash, apple, pecans, dried cranberries, red onion and feta cheese on top of kale. Drizzle with sorghum syrup dressing just before serving. Toss lightly to combine or serve dressing on the side.
	Navigating the American Dream: How Integrated Financial Tools, Credit and Rewards Can Help Small Businesses Succeed (Feature Impact) Owning a small business has been a cornerstone of the "American Dream" for generations. It represents the chance to transform a passion into a livelihood and legacy. However, turning dreams into reality is rarely a smooth or easy process and requires more than ambition alone. Today's business owners need support and access to tools that enable them to overcome challenges and keep growing. Recent research conducted by the Capital One Insights Center shows 75% of more than 1,000 surveyed small business owners with more than one employee and annual revenues of up to $20 million are confident about the future, and 69% believe their business is actively primed for growth. While this optimism is promising, 47% of business owners still said their operations either stayed the same or became less efficient over the past year, citing issues like back-office friction and fragmented financial systems that make it difficult to get a clear picture of the health of their businesses. If you're a small business owner eager to grow but not sure how to get there, start with this advice from real small business owners and experts at Capital One. Identify Sources of Friction Before you can pour effort into growth, you must understand what barriers are holding you back. Take time to look under the hood of your business to identify where time and energy is being lost. For example, you may be among the 78% of small business owners who feel stressed and uncertain about expense management - think hours spent hunting for receipts, manually entering numbers into software and reconciling accounts. Operational challenges aren't just a hassle; they also pull attention away from important priorities like serving your customers and planning for growth. "We were focused on making as many candles as possible, especially during the busy season," said Katie Roering, co-owner of Fontana Candle Co. "A lot of the back-office tasks like procurement, raw material purchasing, forecasting - all the really important things - were done at 3 a.m., 8 p.m. or on Saturday and Sunday, and there really just was not enough time in the day to get everything done that we needed to. We just knew as we continued to grow, we needed to streamline our processes, build out our team and keep moving forward." Use Integrated Tools to Manage Finances Instead of balancing 10 different tracking and analysis tools, you can turn to one-stop solutions to improve efficiency. Time gets lost when you're forced to manually gather and interpret relevant data before you're able to act. You need a platform that handles the busywork for you. Integrated, or "all-in-one," financial tools - like accounting and bookkeeping platforms with automation capabilities or business credit cards featuring built-in analytical tools - allow you to easily stay on top of cash flow and day-to-day operations. For small businesses where every hour and dollar makes a difference, consolidating and automating systems can have an immediate impact. In fact, 51% of survey respondents said integrated tools have already fueled their growth. Leverage Credit Access and Rewards Wisely Growth requires capital, so access to credit is a game-changer for many business owners, with 77% describing it as a key factor in achieving business resilience. Having funds accessible when you need them makes your business more capable of weathering storms such as equipment failures and seasonal slowdowns. It also puts the power in your hands to act when an exciting opportunity presents itself, like an inventory flash sale or the chance to advertise in a new market. Access to credit comes with another advantage: rewards. By using credit cards for your daily business expenses, you can earn cash back, points or travel rewards. Whether you redeem these to cover everyday expenses, book business trips or reinvest in the business, they can act as a bonus source of income. Learn to maximize rewards like the 84% of small business cardholders surveyed so you aren't leaving money on the table. To learn more about how small business owners can identify obstacles, employ integrated financial tools and use credit as a tool for growth, read the full report at capitalone.com/about/insights-center. Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
	3 Ways Coaches Can Cultivate Joy and Confidence in Young Athletes (Feature Impact) Youth sports can change lives - building confidence, resilience and lifelong friendships among the kids and teens who play. In fact, winning games is often the least important part of the experience. As an official sponsor of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027?, Dove is proving you don't need a championship trophy to be a winner with the announcement of Back Her Game, a nationwide search to find a girls' sports team where coaches and players keep joy and confidence at the center of the game. Through Oct. 4, eligible adult coaches of girls' teams with players ages 13-18 can enter by posting an Instagram or TikTok video showcasing how their team brings confidence and joy to the field, tagging @dove and using #KeepHerConfident and #Contest in the caption. The winning team will receive an all expenses paid trip to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027? in Brazil. Creating an envirnonment where young athletes feel seen and appreciated is its own reward. Consider these tips from Dove and longtime partner Kylie Kelce highlighting three ways coaches can help their players feel like they belong. Notice and Celebrate Small Moments of Progress Success isn't just defined by victories on the field, so those wins aren't the only kinds that deserve to be celebrated. Pay attention to the personal growth and progress each athlete is showing, recognize them with specific praise and consider starting small traditions to celebrate when players meet goals or exceed expectations. Make Room for Body Confidence According to research from Dove, 1 in 2 girls who quit sports have been criticized for their body type. For young athletes to feel secure, supported and comfortable on their teams, they need coaches dedicated to building spaces that encourage body confidence. That's why Dove launched Body Confident Sport, a free, evidence-based program from the Dove Self-Esteem Project designed to give coaches the tools to build body confidence among girls ages 11-17 and help create more supportive sports environments. "Sports can give girls so much - friendship, confidence, teamwork and memories that stay with them for life - but that only happens when they feel supported enough to keep playing," said Kelce, mom of four and coach. "As a coach, I love that this campaign shines a light on girls' sports teams that show up for each other to remind girls everywhere that they belong on the field exactly as they are." Recognize the Teammates Who Lift Others Up Although coaches play a vital role in shaping team culture, they can't do it alone. Encourage help by recognizing the helpers. If you notice a girl who goes out of her way to help shy players feel included, one who is first in line to comfort an upset teammate or anyone whose presence adds light and positivity to the group, it can be as simple as pulling her aside to let her know you see and appreciate her efforts. To learn more and help girls keep playing with confidence, visit Dove.com/bodyconfidentsport.
	The Oral and Cardiovascular Health Connection: 4 Tips to Protect Your Teeth, Gums and Heart (Feature Impact) People often think of dentists and doctors as totally separate healthcare professionals: one cares for your teeth and mouth while the other handles the rest of the body. In reality, the different systems in the human body are closely interconnected and oral health is no exception, making dentists a vital part of your healthcare team. Oral health and heart health have a particularly close connection, with inflammation at the core of it. When your gums are inflamed, the resulting bacteria can make their way from your mouth through your bloodstream, potentially contributing to your blood vessels constricting or becoming blocked. This, in turn, may force your heart to work harder and raise your blood pressure, putting you at risk of heart disease and stroke. More than 46% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, and more than 40% of adults age 30 and older are affected by periodontal (gum) disease. To help address these issues, the American Heart Association's Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts initiative, in collaboration with Delta Dental of California, is encouraging dental teams to take a total-body perspective with their patients. Simple steps like blood pressure screenings during checkups can give a more complete picture of a person's overall health. If a member of your dental care team pulls out a blood pressure cuff at your next appointment, it's a good sign. "The mouth is a gateway to the body and can often reveal more about your total body health than you may think," said Daniel Croley, D.M.D., chief dental officer at Delta Dental of California and Affiliates. "Oral health professionals have a powerful opportunity to integrate more into their patients' collective health care team beyond protecting their patients' teeth By connecting oral health and heart health, this initiative helps dentists identify risks early and guide patients toward care that can improve and even save lives." Care for your teeth, gums and heart all at once using these tips from experts at the American Heart Association. Follow a Brushing and Flossing Schedule Good dental health starts with a daily routine. If you don't want to sheepishly cringe next time the dentist inquires about yours, brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to disrupt plaque-forming bacteria. Dentists recommend using toothpaste with fluoride and brushing your teeth and gums thoroughly yet gently, as applying too much pressure can wear away enamel and cause gum recession. Eat a Healthy Diet and Limit Sugar Most kids are used to hearing sugar will rot their teeth - and that's not just a parental scare tactic to get their little hands out of the candy jar. Sugar feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth, producing acid that can cause cavities and gum disease. For a diet your heart and teeth will both appreciate, prioritize vegetables, lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats, while limiting added sugars and refined carbohydrates. Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Products The connection between smoking and oral disease is well established: smokers face significantly higher risks of developing periodontal disease, losing teeth or being diagnosed with oral cancer. Cigarettes aren't the only form of tobacco to worry about, either. Vaping, dipping and chewing tobacco can also harm your dental health by drying out your mouth and restricting blood flow to the gums. Since these products are also harmful to heart health, quitting or avoiding them offers plenty of worthwhile benefits. Seek support if you need help to kick the habit. Communicate with Your Healthcare Team Since your body's systems are connected to each other, it's helpful to talk to your dentist about your blood pressure and to your doctor about your oral health. Start thinking of your dentist as a key member of your integrated healthcare team. Don't be afraid to share your medical history, discuss the side effects of any medications you're taking and ask for personalized recommendations on caring for your teeth, gums and overall health. To learn more about how to improve your oral and cardiovascular health, visit Heart.org/OralHealth. Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
	A Lesson in Kindness, Inclusion and How Kids Eat Differently A Lesson in Kindness, Inclusion and How Kids Eat Differently (Feature Impact) The school year brings new classmates, routines and opportunities for children to learn about people whose experiences may be different from their own. They could include friends who use a wheelchair, carry an inhaler or even receive nutrition through a feeding tube. Watch this video to learn more For families who rely on tube feeding, it is an essential part of daily life but is often understood only by those who experience it. That limited awareness can leave children who are tube fed and their families feeling isolated or unseen, according to Gerard Minor, a pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology specialist. Parents can use everyday questions as opportunities to help children understand there are many ways people receive nourishment. Teachers, classmates, caregivers and communities can also help make tube feeding part of the everyday conversation around childhood rather than something that separates children from it. “Helping children understand those differences early can encourage curiosity, kindness and inclusion,” Minor said. To help bring greater awareness, understanding and representation to children and families who experience tube feeding every day, Compleat, a leader in tube feeding formulas, launched “What Is Better Than How,” featuring “Sesame Street’s” Elmo and his signature warmth and curiosity. The original song celebrates the many ways people eat. Some people eat with a fork, some use a spoon and some use a tube, reinforcing a simple message: What matters is not how you eat. What matters is that you are nourished, loved and included. To hear the song, create a personalized version and learn more about the campaign, visit Compleat.com/WhatIsBetterThanHow.
	The Duel This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Back in the 1850s, Chicago challenged St. Louis to a duel—a duel that was fought at Rock Island.Chicago was an upstart…
	Police respond to 9th street and 11th avenue in Rock Island KWQC is working to learn more about a police presence near the intersection of 9th street and 11th avenue in Rock Island Sunday night.
	Halloween comes early with Summerween Market in Rock Island The Summerween Market brought spooky entertainment, local vendors and costume contests for people and pets to Rock Island.
	Taiwan leader in Chicago urges more U.S. support for island Dennis Lei watched the recent summit between Chinese president Xi Jinping and U.S. president Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. with keen interest.
	2 dead, 3 injured in Scott County crash Two people were killed and three others injured after a Chevrolet Impala struck a Mazda 6 late Saturday night near McCausland and Long Grove.
	Thousands race across Quad Cities for 29th annual marathon Thousands of runners took to the streets and bridges for the 29th annual Quad Cities Marathon, with first-time competitors and experienced runners taking top spots.
	What Sen. Grassley said about dying in office Sen. Chuck Grassley talked about why he wants Iowa's next governor to be a Republican in case he dies in office.
	2 killed, 3 injured in crash in rural Scott County Two men were killed and three other people were injured in a late-night crash between McCausland and Long Grove, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
	Eclectic Market celebrates four years supporting small businesses The Eclectic Market marked four years at Great River Brewery in Davenport, featuring vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, art, plants and more.
	Pedestrian struck in Milan Milan police are investigating an overnight crash after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle along the 700 block of 11th Street, officials said.
	Over 4,500 runners take over the streets for Quad Cities Marathon More than 4,500 runners took part in the 29th Quad Cities Marathon this weekend, with organizers already looking ahead to next year's 30th anniversary race.
	Bettendorf announces fun Halloween happenings The City of Bettendorf invites you to have a howlingly good time at these Halloween events throughout October: 🎃 Halloween Movie Night, Friday, October 2, 5:00 p.m., The Landing, 2255 Middle Rd. Activities and free food. At sundown, enjoy "Hocus Pocus" on the big screen! Price is $5 per person at the door. 🎃 Mad [...]
	Illinois teen shot with suspected air rifle after TP prank, deputies say A 17-year-old was hospitalized with an injury likely caused by an air rifle after a common high school prank, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
	Kalona residents seek answers after sewage backs into homes A foot and a half of sewage water backed into basements in Kalona, damaging decades of belongings after what the city administrator called the most intense rainfall he has seen.
	Cedar Rapids company supports 32-hour workweek A bill in Congress could make a 32-hour workweek the standard nationwide, but one Cedar Rapids company already offers the option.
	Public gets look inside Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg The lock has served recreational boats and cargo barges for nearly 90 years, letting traffic pass through to continue along the Mississippi River.
	Senators raise Fourth Amendment concerns over nationwide Flock camera surveillance network U.S. senators warned during a Capitol Hill hearing that nationwide AI-driven Flock cameras threaten privacy rights and can lead to wrongful arrests.
	2 dead in car crash after being hit by car running stop sign, sheriff says Two men are dead after a car blew through a stop sign and struck another vehicle in rural Scott County late Saturday, deputies report.
	Iowa Down Ballot podcast: GOP pivots, Trump’s poll lawsuit and upcoming debates Republican Ashley Hinson pledged to be President Donald Trump's ally during her U.S. Senate campaign kickoff event in Cedar Rapids Sep. 14, 2025. Now some GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Trump on the Iran war and other issues. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Down Ballot with Dave Price 9/26/26 by Iowa Writers Collaborative Laura, Kathie, and Ed are back this weekend to discuss GOP pivots, the Trump/Selzer lawsuit dismissal, and candidate debates scheduled for October. Read on Substack Ed Failor, Jr., joins host Dave Price, Laura Belin and Kathie Obradovich this week. Topics include whether some GOP candidates are pivoting away from President Donald Trump, the dismissal of the Trump lawsuit over a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, and a look ahead at candidate debates. Listen or watch here. The Iowa Down Ballot Podcast with Dave Price is a production of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please consider a paid subscription today to help us cover production costs, or moving up to the benefactor level — or sending a gift subscription to a friend — if you’re already a paid subscriber. And please spread the word to friends who might enjoy the podcast. Thanks! Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Monday, September 28th, 2026

Sunday, September 27th, 2026