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

Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
	Iowa campers continue summer getaways despite gas price increase According to AAA, gas prices during Memorial Day weekend were the highest they've been in four years.
	North Scott girls surge through end of May Any day is a good day to beat Davenport Assumption. Doubly so on senior night. Triply so when the Knights are ranked second in 1A. North Scott extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games with its 2-0 victory over Assumption last Tuesday (May 19). It moved to 15 with a 5-0 win at Central DeWitt Thursday night. North Scott has not lost a game since April 7 against Bettendorf. 13-1-3 and the No. 4 team in Class 2A. “It feels really good. It was a good effort,” Lancer coach Dion Ayers said, speaking after the Assumption match. “There were a few stages where we’d lose our marks or we’re not playing to feet. Those last five minutes were kind of ugly. But that’s OK. We’ve come through a tough stretch, and basically unscathed.” Tuesday’s game against Assumption was a microcosm of the season — elite defense with clutch goals coming from somebody other than sophomore Reese Barnett. Senior Paige Coon sent home a free kick for a 1-0 lead early in the first half. Junior Saeler VenHorst added the second goal in the 59th minute on a through ball delivered by freshman Brinley Fitzgibbon. VenHorst had two goals nullified due to offsides earlier in the game, but she and the Lancers stuck with it. “She could’ve had three. She’s done really well,” Ayers said. VenHorst is up to six goals this season, the fourth-most on the team and double what she had last spring. North Scott now has five players with at least five goals this season: Barnett (20 goals), senior Kenzie Moeller (eight), sophomore Camryn Jones (seven) and sophomore Julia Solis (five). “That is key. All of a sudden, you can’t man-mark Reese,” Ayers said. “You have to worry about Kenzie and Camryn coming through. And Paige Coon, an elite goal scorer lately. That’s what a good team needs to have to go far. The confidence is there throughout.” North Scott built its lead, but the Knights refused to go away. The Lancers let their tight grip on the game loosen, and the Knights began getting shots up at will in the final minutes. Junior goalkeeper Nora Barnett recorded a season-high 10 saves in the game, including a punch save and a kick save late in the second half. “Last year, she had to make three or four of those every single game. This year, she doesn’t. But tonight, when she needed to, she has the ability. That was great for her,” Ayers said. With this game, and the Central DeWitt game, North Scott is up to 12 shutouts this season. They’ve allowed nine goals the entire season. North Scott leans on its all-conference, all-district and soon-to-be all-state defenders as the backbone of its formation. “I see Paige, Allie (Moeller), Lydia (Schnorrenberg), Delaney (Hill), Nora, anyone that comes in there, they just annihilate people,” Lancer senior midfielder Bella Mohr said. “I worry that the ball is back there, but I never worry about them. They are so strong and powerful. I know they’ve got it.” With the regular season at an end, North Scott gets a full week off before regional play begins. The Lancers will play the winner of Davenport North and Mount Pleasant on June 2, and then the survivor of No. 13 Burlington, No. 14 Fort Madison and Keokuk on June 4. Special senior class Tuesday night gave North Scott soccer a chance to celebrate its class of 2026. It’s one that is big in numbers and even larger in impact. The Moeller sisters, Coon, Mohr, Chloe Dorr, and Mallory Deutmeyer were not only part of two state semifinal teams, but they have changed the team’s culture. Without that, Ayers says, the current makeup and success of the team would not exist. “I’ll never forget after one of the state tournaments, we talked to them about changing the culture and getting everyone bought in,” Ayers said. “Like, freshmen, it’s OK for you to speak. Without that group, we would not be where we are right now. Every single one of these youngsters feels no pressure. They just come in and play. That is unique. “It’s tough to be a leader and change the culture. Not everybody can do it. You can talk it, but can you walk it? We would not be where we’re at without them. All six of them are great players but even better people.” Said Mohr: “We’ve been playing together since we were little, and it’s our time to be the leaders. This year, we feel more in control and we are uplifting the underclassmen. We took it upon ourselves to show kindness as leaders. Yelling at each other isn’t going to get us anywhere. Be a good teammate while also pushing each other. I’m excited to come back after I graduate and see what this younger group will do. I think they’ll take on what this senior class has given them.” The six seniors, and everybody around them, know what this team is capable of. After heartbreaks of different varieties over their first three seasons, now is the time to finish the job. “It’s a big motivator,” Allie Moeller said. “We’ve been there and then lost. Last year, when we lost the (regional) final, that was rough. This is our last year, our last chance. Everybody wants it.”
	View the Eldridge Police report from the May 27 NSP! MONDAY, MAY 18 8:30 a.m. — Report taken in the 200 block of South 1st Street for a runaway juvenile returning home. Handled by officer. 9:32 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a runaway juvenile on Park View Drive. Handled by officer. 12:03 p.m. — Four juveniles were arrested for disorderly conduct – violent/fighting behavior, following a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 3:59 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 4:22 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 11:38 p.m. — Helena Fasko, 18, of Long Grove, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Zahriyah Clark, 20, of Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear – violation of a court order, following a traffic stop near East Lincoln and South Scott Park roads. TUESDAY, MAY 19 10:25 a.m. — Complaint of two dogs running loose in the 3100 block of South 22nd Avenue Court. Handled by officer. 12:09 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 12:12 p.m. — Complaint of a subject trespassing in the 500 block of North 5th Street. Handled by officer. 12:37 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 700 block of North 1st Street. 2:07 p.m. — Amber Scott, 46, of Eldridge, was arrested for domestic abuse assault – 3rd or subsequent offense, following a report of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of West Prairie Vista Drive. 4:27 p.m. — Justin Greiff, 44, of Davenport, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and Slopertown Road. 4:39 p.m. — Julian Mancera, 25, of Davenport, was cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near East 90th and Harrison streets. 5:21 p.m. — Logan Steger, 22, of Eldridge, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop near South Scott Park Road and East Lomar Street. 8:02 p.m. — Assisted another agency with an incident in the 700 block of West Scott Street. 8:03 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 8:13 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious activity in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 9:14 p.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of West Valley Drive. Handled by officer. 9:16 p.m. — Regina Hyde, 56, of Davenport, was arrested for OWI – 1st offense, child endangerment – no injury, and failure to use a child restraint device, following an incident on Highway 61. 11:55 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 800 block of South 8th Street. Handled by officer. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 9:57 a.m. — Report taken for a subject in the 500 block of South 5th Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 10:48 a.m. — Two juveniles were charged with possession/purchase of alcohol by a person underage, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 3:00 p.m. — Report taken for fraudulent activity in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. 3:03 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 400 block of North 4th Avenue. 6:22 p.m. — Report of a noise complaint in the 700 block of East LeClaire Road. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 8:58 p.m. — Complaint of a subject walking on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 10:58 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle near South 9th Avenue and East Sheridan Drive. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, MAY 21 4:01 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 7:45 p.m. — Complaint of a subject riding a motorized scooter on the bike path in the 600 block of West Price Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 9:16 p.m. — Complaint of a subject trespassing in the 100 block of South 14th Avenue. Handled by officer. 9:59 p.m. — Kyle Burrage, 48, of Davenport, was arrested on two outstanding warrants for failure to appear – driving under suspension and failure to appear – speeding, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. FRIDAY, MAY 22 12:25 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 800 block of South Buttermilk Road. Handled by officer. 8:52 a.m. — Complaint of a fire alarm going off in the 200 block of South Park View Drive. It was a false alarm. Handled by officer. 10:11 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 700 block of North 1st Street. 1:01 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 500 block of East LeClaire Road. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. 2:11 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer.
	UI researchers capture water from air Research crystalized at the University of Iowa has created a way to capture water from the atmosphere that, if found to be scalable and confirmed as safe, could help solve problems of water scarcity in the future. Nevindee Samararathne Muhandiramge, a UI Ph.D. student studying chemistry, and former UI professor of chemistry and pharmacy Leonard MacGillivray, have developed a three-dimensional lattice that, when exposed to ultraviolet light, expands just enough to attract and capture water molecules from the air. Muhandiramge cited the United Nations in discussing the future of water access for the world, saying there is expected to be more than 5 billion people who will face issues of water like lack of access by 2050. “It’s a huge global challenge, you know,” MacGillivray said. “The answers are going to come from different perspectives, and we’re excited we can contribute to this in this way, and I guess we’ll see where it goes in terms of the future.” While the tiny, cube-shaped crystal lattice can only capture two water molecules per pocket, with a capacity totaling 5% of its total mass, Muhandiramge and MacGillivray said they’re trying to “generalize” their findings with the eventual goal of making the crystal-creation process more efficient and figuring out how to release the water once it is captured. The team’s work, published in the “Journal of the American Chemical Society” at the end of March, was funded with a three-year, $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Researchers from Texas, Canada, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates were also involved in the study. Work by MacGillivray, now a research chair at the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, and Muhandiramge is in the field of crystal engineering, he said, and the grant was for them to study chemical reactions in crystals they’ve made out of metal atoms and organic molecule connectors. Using water as a solvent, MacGillivray said the team mixed the lattice’s components in the solvent and heated it all up in a closed vessel over multiple days, which leaves them with enough produced crystal to work with. While they were successful in creating the framework for the crystal with the metal and linkers, MacGillivray said the pockets and cavities they were hoping to see within the structure weren’t there. It wasn’t a given that there would be pockets, and Muhandiramge said the material was densely packed with no empty spaces inside. However, when the team shined UV light onto the closely packed cube, it opened very slightly and created pockets. “These small pockets … you can think of them as a vacuum,” Muhandiramge said. “So it sucks water from the atmosphere into the material, and then stores it inside the material.” MacGillivray said it was a big surprise to see the formed pockets, which they found using X-ray diffraction to see how atoms were arranged in the crystal. In principle, he said, researchers could further develop the crystals to intentionally bring in more water, but then they would need to figure out how to then release the water from it. This is a scalable practice in theory, MacGillivray said, but they’re still working on “generalizing” the project results. One of the challenges of crystal engineering is that the slightest differences in components and their mixture could lead to the resulting crystal having an entirely different framework. The goal is to figure out how to create similar frameworks to the one they have, MacGillivray said, using different linkers to hopefully get larger pockets and cavities to get more water. He and Muhandiramge are also exploring a different method of crystal creation, using grinding with less solvent than the current method. According to the U.N., drought costs across the world exceed $307 billion annually, and by 2050, three out of four people could see impacts from drought. A 2021 UNICEF report stated more than 1.4 billion people “live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability. While further tests will need to be done to determine whether the water captured through the lattice would be pure enough to drink, and further study in general needs to happen to answer their questions of scalability and generalization, MacGillivray said the work they are doing now could help other projects years down the line. “I think studies show that 30 years from now, the kind of work we’re doing ends up finding its way into mature applications,” MacGillivray said. “So I think we need to stay ahead of the curve, basically, of environmental issues, health issues, everything that can help sustain the goodness of us all.”
	16-year-old arrested after stolen car chase ends in Moline A 16-year-old was arrested after a stolen car chase ended in Moline.
	Meet the Republican candidates vying for their party’s nomination for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District David Pautch seeks to upset Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the midterm primary.
	2 Democrats running for their party’s nomination in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District Christina Bohannan and Travis Terrell are hoping to flip Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which is currently held by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
	Be The Good Foundation awards grant to Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley Be The Good Foundation announced that Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley is the latest grant recipient from the foundation. The group received the grant during a check presentation ceremony on Thursday, May 21. The funding will help fund the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley’s summer arts and cultural programming. This creates opportunities for [...]
	Win one day concert tickets to the Mississippi Valley Fair this August: Enter by June 21 Experience summer fun at the Mississippi Valley Fair this August with a chance to win two one day concert tickets.
	What is gap insurance? How does it work for small businesses? What is gap insurance? How does it work for small businesses?Gap insurance, or Guaranteed Asset Protection, can help small business owners cover the gap between what your business still owes on your car, truck, trailer or vehicle loan and what your commercial auto insurance will pay for a totaled vehicle. Gap insurance is not mandatory, and it’s not the right product for everyone. But for small businesses with tight cash flow, gap is a type of optional business insurance that may help keep your business afloat after a worst-case scenario with your business vehicle, ERGO NEXT reports.What is gap insurance?Gap insurance is an optional insurance you can add to your commercial auto policy alongside comprehensive and collision coverage. It can help you bridge the gap between what insurance pays out for a total loss and the remaining balance on your car loan.Insurance companies use your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) when paying out claims for total loss. In other words, they base the claim amount on your car or truck’s current market value — not what you paid for it. You’re still responsible for paying off the remainder of the car loan, even if the car’s been totaled. If you financed the vehicle, you could find yourself paying on a car loan for a vehicle you don’t have anymore.With gap insurance, your gap policy would cover making the rest of those loan payments.Don’t confuse gap insurance with stop gap insurance, also called stop gap employer liability insurance. This is a different product to help employers cover costs not covered by your workers compensation insurance.How does gap insurance work?After a covered event with your business vehicle, such as an accident or theft, you file a claim on your commercial auto insurance policy with your insurance company. If the insurance adjuster declares the vehicle a total loss, your insurer usually sends you a check for the amount of your truck or car’s actual cash value, or what it would be worth right before it was totaled. ACV accounts for age, mileage and condition, which can depreciate a vehicle’s value.But if you took out a loan to buy the vehicle for your business, there’s a problem: That check only covers a portion of what you still owe to the lender. Depending on the work vehicle, that could be tens of thousands of dollars you’d need to pay out of pocket. This can be a hardship for small businesses with unpredictable cash flow or limited credit.If you have gap protection, the problem is solved. Your policy will pay off the remainder of the loan. Without gap protection, you’d pay that difference yourself, even though you no longer have the vehicle you used the loan to buy.What could gap insurance cover for small business owners?Gap insurance could help cover some of the costs baked into buying vehicles for your business that a commercial auto policy usually won’t cover, including:Depreciation on newer vehicles: Some work trucks and vans lose value quite quickly in the first one to two years after purchase.Costs rolled into the car loan: Your regular auto policy won’t cover costs like origination fees, extended warranties or customizations like racks or toolboxes. If these have been rolled into your loan, gap coverage could help.Leased vehicles: Gap insurance isn’t just for cars, trucks, trailers or vehicles you buy for business use. You can get gap protection for leased vehicles, too. It’s especially valuable for protecting your business from early termination fees, which may kick in when a vehicle is declared a total loss.A gap insurance policy can protect you from a lot, but there are a few things it won’t cover, including:The contents of the vehicle, including equipment and materials.Repairs for a partial loss.Lost wages or revenue after an accident.Your deductible (unless expressly stated in your commercial auto policy).Negative equity you’ve rolled into the loan.Gap insurance isn’t a replacement for comprehensive or collision coverage; those coverages may be required before adding gap to your policy. If you’re in construction and cleaning and are concerned about insuring the contents of your work truck or van, tool and equipment insurance, also called inland marine coverage, may offer the coverage you’re looking for.Does gap insurance cover theft?Gap insurance can cover theft if it’s a covered loss under comprehensive coverage in a commercial auto policy. However, gap protection usually only kicks in after your comprehensive coverage has paid out the actual cash value of the vehicle.How do I know if I have gap insurance?If you’ve financed the purchase of your vehicle for work, check your commercial auto insurance policy to see whether you opted to add gap insurance. You can also check your loan documents, as some dealers offer gap insurance as an add-on when you buy the vehicle.If your business vehicle is leased, check your lease paperwork to see if there’s a “GAP waiver” or “Guaranteed Asset Protection” coverage included in your leasing contract. Gap protection is sometimes included automatically. You can also check with the leasing office at the dealership or review your auto insurance policy to see if it’s included.Is gap insurance coverage worth it for business owners?Gap insurance could be valuable protection for your small business in some circumstances.Consider adding gap coverage if:Your business can’t swing a multithousand-dollar surprise bill. If cash flow is too unpredictable, or if keeping up with loan payments could push your business into debt, gap insurance could be more cost-effective.You bought the vehicle with little or no money down. Auto loans with minimal down payments take longer to build equity than if you bought the car with a hefty down payment.Your vehicle is a commercial van, work truck or delivery vehicle. These specialized vehicles can be pricey to buy and depreciate fast.You can’t risk being without a work vehicle. Gap insurance helps you pay off the old loan so you can get into a new auto loan — and business vehicle — quickly.You may be able to skip the gap insurance add-on if:You bought the vehicle outright. If there’s no loan, there’s no need for gap protection.You put down a sizable down payment. If you’re only financing a small portion of the vehicle’s value, paying for gap insurance may not make sense.Your vehicle holds its value well. Some cars and trucks retain their value more than others. If yours is a popular model that isn’t likely to lose much value, gap protection may not be necessary.You can self-insure any gap that remains. Gap insurance isn’t the only way to cover the gap between a vehicle’s ACV and the insurance payout. If you feel comfortable paying off the remainder of your auto loan from your business reserves, feel free to pass on gap coverage.How much does gap insurance cost?The price of gap insurance varies, much like the cost of commercial auto insurance can vary. Its cost depends on a few factors, including:Whether you buy it from the dealer when you buy the vehicle, or shop for a policy from an insurance company.Whether it’s a standalone policy or rolled into your car loan.Whether the vehicle is leased or financed.The age and value of the vehicle.The amount, length and other terms of your loan.How long does gap insurance last?For auto loans, you don’t have to keep your gap coverage for the entire loan period. When the balance of your loan falls below the value of your car, you can drop gap protection.Gap insurance is temporary coverage. It only lasts as long as your loan or lease agreement, and not the entire time you own the vehicle. If you have a two-year lease, then you’d have gap insurance for two years as well. If you purchase the vehicle at the end of that lease, you could buy a new gap insurance policy or go without it.Do I need gap insurance if I have full coverage?Full coverage car insurance means you have comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to basic liability. Your comprehensive policy usually pays the value of your vehicle if it’s stolen or totaled. You’re not required to add gap coverage if you don’t want to; it’s certainly not mandatory.The reason some small business owners add gap insurance when they have full coverage auto insurance is that they’re worried about the gap between the value of the vehicle and the remaining loan balance. Gap only kicks in after comprehensive coverage has paid out.When does gap insurance not pay?There are some instances when a gap policy might not pay out, including:The vehicle is not deemed a total loss.You’ve missed payments on your loan or lease.The policy has lapsed.Your full coverage auto policy denies the claim.The damage was intentional.The damage occurred while the driver was committing a crime or driving under the influence.If the owner, insured and financing paperwork don’t match.If the amount exceeds any coverage caps spelled out in your policy.To avoid surprises when filing a claim, make sure you understand your gap insurance coverage.Where to buy a gap insurance policyYou can buy gap protection from a number of different sources, including:The dealership where you buy or lease the vehicle.A commercial auto insurance provider.An insurance provider that specializes in gap protection.The lender financing your vehicle.This story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	43% of companies have already priced AI productivity into sales quotas. Most haven't earned it. 43% of companies have already priced AI productivity into sales quotas. Most haven't earned it.Eighteen months into the generative-AI era, sales targets are already moving on the assumption that AI is making reps faster, sharper, and more productive. But most companies haven't actually proven that yet.According to CaptivateIQ's 2026 State of Incentive Compensation report, 43% of companies are already pricing AI productivity into sales quotas. The premium is being collected before the productivity is built.The report draws on research from 200 incentive compensation pros at mid- to large-sized corporations. What it shows is a quiet expectation shift happening inside quota math, well ahead of the AI maturity that would justify it.Where the AI Productivity Premium Is Already Showing UpMany companies have already incorporated assumed AI productivity gains into sales quotas, raising rep targets before measurable AI maturity is established. These targets are already in this year's plans, with the productivity premium baked in before it's been measured.The mechanism is simple enough to recognize. A planning team sits down to set next year's targets. Somewhere in the conversation, someone notes that reps now have access to AI assistants for prospecting, call summaries, and CRM updates.The implicit math follows. If AI saves each rep five hours a week, that's roughly 12% more selling time. So the quota goes up, sometimes explicitly tagged as an "AI productivity adjustment," more often baked silently into a higher number with no note attached.What used to be a tool is becoming a baseline. The shift is from "we gave reps AI to help them hit their number" to "we expect reps to hit a higher number because they have AI." That's a different contract, and most reps haven't been told the contract changed.For a sales rep, this shows up as a quota that feels a little harder to justify against last year's performance. For a RevOps leader, it shows up as planning conversations where the productivity assumption is asserted but not measured. For a comp analyst, it shows up as targets that no longer reconcile cleanly to historical attainment data. If any of that sounds familiar, it's because the same pattern is now standard across a meaningful share of the market.Why Surface AI Adoption Doesn't Earn the PremiumAlthough 81% of companies use AI in some capacity, only 28% report using it extensively, meaning quota inflation is outpacing the depth of AI use that would justify it. Adoption is wide. Depth is rare. And it's depth, not adoption, that produces the productivity gains being priced into next year's targets.Look at what most teams are actually doing with AI today. The dominant use case is summarizing reports, drafting emails, and cleaning up CRM notes. Those are real time-savers, but they sit at the surface of the sales motion. None of them changes how a rep prioritizes accounts, structures a deal, or reads buyer intent. They make existing work faster. They don't make the work smarter.Rosalyn Santa Elena, who has spent her career inside revenue operations, frames the gap clearly. The version of AI that earns a quota premium is the version that produces strategic insight, not the version that produces a tidier inbox.“As we talk about trying to uplevel from being tactical to strategic, having the right insights is what's going to enable you to be that thought partner, the person who can actually guide the business,” says Elena, founder of RevOps Collective.That's the bar most companies have not cleared. Surface AI gives you a faster status update. Depth AI gives you the call that changes which deals you work this week. The 53-point gap between 81% adoption and 28% extensive use is where the productivity assumption is borrowing against capability that hasn't arrived.The misalignment is most visible in SaaS, where AI tooling has saturated the rep workflow fastest and quota assumptions have moved with it. To see how the report breaks down adoption depth, the supporting data lives in the report summary. The headline adoption number flatters the actual maturity, and that's the number quota math has been built on.What Earning the AI Productivity Premium Actually Looks LikeAn AI-earned quota premium requires AI to shape plan design, surface seller-behavior patterns, and accelerate plan landing, not just summarize reports faster. Three jobs, all upstream of the rep's daily workflow, all about the design of the incentive itself rather than the speed of the admin around it.Plan design is the first job. AI starts to earn its keep when it can model how a proposed accelerator will reshape rep behavior, which territories will overperform under a given quota curve, and where a SPIFF is likely to pull deals forward versus simply reward deals that would have closed anyway. That's analysis comp leaders used to do by hand, slowly, with last year's data. AI shortens that loop and runs more variants.The second job is recognizing seller-behavior patterns. The depth-AI version surfaces the specific behaviors correlated with quota attainment in a given segment, then feeds that back into how reps are coached, how territories are balanced, and where capacity is added. It tells a comp leader that mid-tier reps in one region are leaving deal value on the table at renewal, not just that the region missed quota.Then comes the plan landing. A new comp plan only works once reps understand it, trust it, and can model their own earnings against it. AI that explains the plan in the rep's own context and answers payout questions in real time compresses the window between plan launch and rep confidence. That window is where most plan disputes start.This is the version of AI that would justify a higher quota. It's also the version most companies are still building toward, not running. The data in CaptivateIQ's State of Incentive Compensation report is the clearest current view of the gap between the two.Earning the AI Premium Is a Strategic Test, Not a Speed TestPlan disputes and rep distrust arise when quotas are priced for AI productivity before AI has visibly delivered the strategic work the higher targets imply. Reps notice when their number goes up, and the supporting story is "AI." If the AI hasn't earned its place in the rep's day, the trust math gets ugly fast.The reframe matters because it changes what comp leaders should be measuring. The question isn't "are we using AI yet?" Most companies can answer yes. The question is whether AI is doing strategic work inside the comp engine, not just tactical work around its edges. Strategic work is what the productivity premium is supposed to compensate for. Tactical work is already priced into base productivity.The companies that will look most credible a year from now are the ones that held quota assumptions steady until they could show the depth of AI work was running, then raised the bar with evidence behind it. The ones who raised the bar first and waited for the AI to catch up are the ones running the productivity tax, hoping reps don't do the math.The locked headline says most companies haven't earned it yet. That's the test the next plan cycle has to pass. The full picture, including how AI use, quota structure, and operating cadence interact across mid- to large-sized companies, is in CaptivateIQ's State of Incentive Compensation report.This story was produced by CaptivateIQ and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Iowa DNR shares firewood reminders to protect the state’s forests The Iowa Department of Resources says campers should avoid moving firewood, which can spread invasive pests to the state's forests.
	How to plan a luxury backyard transformation How to plan a luxury backyard transformationAfter looking at the same backyard scenery for many years, it may be time to transform it from drab and dull into a resort-style sanctuary you will love. This process is more than creating a beautiful oasis that adds market value to your home. It is about extending your home’s luxury to the outdoors and building an inviting space for stylish entertaining and some well-deserved solitude.Imagine a glimmering pool framed by hardwood decks, expanding into a lounging area with shady pergolas, plush seating and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen for convenience. In the background, trickling water features and lush greenery create a relaxing ambience. By night, the space becomes a dream, with subtle uplighting and lit sunken firepits set under the stars.If this is how you envision your space and you’re ready to make a change, the guide below by Neave Outdoor walks you through planning a luxury backyard transformation while highlighting the latest trends in luxury backyard design.Define Your Renovation’s Vision and GoalsThe first step in planning your renovation is defining the vision and goals of your outdoor living space. By aligning your needs with aesthetic vision and functionality, you will create a space that reflects your lifestyle and accommodates your day-to-day. Current backyard trends focus on creating harmonious, resort-style retreats that blend indoor comfort with the outdoors, while prioritizing wellness, sustainability and high-end entertainment. Neave Outdoor Identify Your Lifestyle NeedsTake time to identify the “what” and “why” of your renovation. Ask yourself why you’re renovating your outdoor living space and what you envision the result to be.Consider these factors:The core purpose: Identify the reason for the renovation. Are you enhancing your entertainment area, increasing property value, improving functionality or simply creating a personal retreat?Your lifestyle: Focus on how you want to use the space. Is it for entertaining guests or a quiet place to relax?Desired style: Decide on the aesthetic you want to achieve. Aesthetics include color schemes and styles, such as minimalist, modern, rustic or tropical.Current features: Note the elements in your current scenery, such as existing trees, slopes and structural features. Determine if you’d like to change or remove them during the renovation.Your vision: Compile a collection of images for inspiration. Use platforms like Pinterest or Instagram to explore styles, color schemes and the ambience you’d like to incorporate into your space.Set Specific GoalsThink about the must-haves and nice-to-haves you would like to incorporate into your transformed outdoor space. These will guide your decision-making and give you a clear idea of what you want in your design.Your goals for the designated space need to:Be specific: Instead of saying “I want a new outdoor living space,” define it as “I want an inviting haven with a swimming pool, lounging area and cooking amenities to entertain family and friends.” Make your goal detailed.Categorize priorities: List your nonnegotiable elements and desirable features for your space.Focus on ROI areas: Prioritize areas that offer a return on investment, such as swimming pools, hot tubs, hardscaping, pergolas and landscaping.Create Measurable ObjectivesThe logistics of your backyard transformation project are essential. This is where you will determine the finances, time frames and restrictions for the renovation.Before you break ground on your renovation project, you need to set limitations and consider all aspects, such as:Realistic budgets: Establish a budget limit, including a contingency fund.Time frame management: Set a timeline to avoid an extended and stressful renovation.Restriction research: Check local regulations and determine whether permits are required for structural or exterior changes.Professional consultations: For a seamless transformation, consider working with experienced professionals for a single-source design and build expertise.Key Elements of a Luxury Backyard DesignTo inspire your vision for a stunning backyard haven, consider the many elements you can incorporate into your multi-zone design. The backyard is no longer a single space. It is a series of multifunctional destinations to make your outdoor living more immersive and focused on mental and physical well-being. While a beautiful water feature and hardscaping improvements are great inclusions, you need to go further to create the serene atmosphere you envision.Key elements of a luxury backyard design, such as swimming pools, water and fire features, hardscaping, accent lighting and outdoor amenities, complement each other and bring your outdoor living space to life. Indoor-outdoor harmony is one of the most popular home decor trends, helping homeowners feel more connected to nature.The following elements go well together in creating a space that is inviting and functional in any season. Neave Outdoor Add Sparkle With a Custom PoolA glistening swimming pool sets the stage as the main attraction of your luxury backyard transformation. Whether you’re renovating or installing a brand-new pool, it can become the focal point of your outdoor living space. Customize the shape and size, and enhance it with cascades, waterfalls, infinity edges and tiered basins to create a bespoke and eye-catching feature.Consider accentuating and framing your pool area with additional structures to increase functionality and backyard appeal. Patios and pool decks will bring the look together, adding another level of usability to your pool area. A stunning pool design can make a world of difference.During the cooler months, cover the pool and enjoy something cozier to ward off the cold. The addition of a hot tub will transform your backyard into a year-round and functional social space, come summer or winter. Shelter it under a chic pergola with ambient lighting, surrounded by tropical plants, and you’ve created a tranquil spa retreat designed for relaxation and wellness.Accentuate Your Pool With DecksFraming your pool with a natural-looking deck will complete your swimming pool design. A tailored deck lets you enjoy the pool area beyond just swimming. It provides a space for relaxing and lounging after taking a dip in the pool or alfresco dining surrounded by your beautiful landscaping. Using natural materials like hardwood or stone blends your deck into the scenery harmoniously, ensuring the resort-style aesthetic flows throughout your outdoor living space.While visually appealing, decks also offer many practical benefits to your home, including improved safety, increased usable space and value, and more comfortable and cooler surfaces for bare feet on hot days.Enhance Your Pool With Gazebos and PergolasA swimming pool is a lovely centerpiece to your backyard, but adding pergolas and gazebos nearby for shading and lounging enhances the functionality and beauty of your pool area. Imagine summertime dining with your loved ones alongside the pool, shaded by lush vine-covered pergolas for a natural touch.Escape the rush of everyday living and retreat to a tranquil gazebo to relax and reconnect with nature in a hidden spot in your garden. Gazebos add visual interest to your landscape, combining privacy and solitude when you need a moment of calm. Furnish it with custom wooden furniture and potted plants to further incorporate nature into this space.Create Flow With Defined WalkwaysFrom your patio pool area, take a stroll through your beautiful garden along a winding stone path that meanders among your backyard’s entertaining, dining, gardening and relaxing areas seamlessly. Lining these walkways with vibrant flower beds and water features will make your walk through the garden more engaging and inviting, encouraging you to explore and linger longer. Walkways are more than a decorative accent. They also ensure safe footing when walking across uneven ground by guiding movement.With natural materials, walkways don’t need to be an eyesore that detracts from your backyard design’s beauty. You can choose from various materials such as gravel, concrete pavers, brick, natural stone and wood, depending on your desired style and design. They are all ideal for a natural finish that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.Create Calmness With Tranquil Water FeaturesWater features are a popular element that can turn an ordinary outdoor space into a tranquil, high-end retreat. The calming sounds of waterfalls, bubblers and fountains introduce a soothing ambience that will set your mind at ease. Water features can be displayed in various forms, such as fountains, ponds and waterfalls, each with its own distinct sound profile. The trickling water can help reduce stress and allows you to unwind.Aside from their calming effects, they also provide natural cooling and improved air quality while attracting wildlife, creating a thriving mini ecosystem in your garden.Intrigue and Invite With Fire ElementsFor more captivating features in your outdoor living space, add fire to create a multisensory experience. Firepits, fire bowls and fireplaces on the patio introduce warmth and light, making the setting more inviting and usable year-round. They can make your patio pool area a cozy and comfortable gathering spot while hosting guests and parties.Fire features can also be used as decor to enhance your space. Think of firepits or bowls integrated into your outdoor dining table, offering a stylish and functional space to dine and keep warm at the same time. There are various types to suit your design and style, from woodburning for rustic charm or gas for smoke-free convenience.Brighten Your Space With Elevated LightingLighting elevates your outdoor living space, and there are many different ways to use it to highlight key elements or brighten areas. Beyond illuminating areas of your backyard, it also offers a secure, functional and aesthetically pleasing extension of your home.In your outdoor patio pool dining area, make a statement with chandeliers or pendant lights as the focal point, balancing functionality and design. Brighten walkways for increased visibility while you’re hosting or enjoying your garden by night. Or, enhance your landscaping or water feature displays with LED lights for a soothing ambience. Draping string lights throughout trees, patios, gazebos and pergolas adds a touch of romance and beauty to your space, without being overpowering or overwhelming.Lighting turns your space from a daytime entertainment area into an anytime-of-day space, increasing its usability.Build Fully Integrated Outdoor KitchensBring your kitchen outdoors with a full-service setup near your pool patio or under a pergola. Ideal for seamless entertaining and garden dining, outdoor kitchens are built to suit your hosting and cooking needs. With counter space, storage, refrigeration and cooking stations, you can prepare and serve meals for loved ones and guests in your outdoor living space.Combining outdoor dining with views of the sparkling pool and lush plants, along with the sounds of nature and water features, enhances the entire experience. It is also convenient, allowing you to prepare meals without missing a moment.Layer Your LandscapeTo bring decorative and structural elements together, layered landscaping will add visual depth to your outdoor living area while also enhancing a resort-style living aesthetic. Planting a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers in varying heights will soften the hardscape elements and also provide privacy while you’re enjoying your backyard.Layering your landscape with structural elements creates a fully immersive experience. Plant climbing or trailing plants near pergolas and gazebos and let them grow to create a natural covering for shade.Personalize With Furnished TouchesOnce all of your structural elements are in place, you can add your furnishing touches, such as outdoor dining furniture, comfortable seating and lounging chairs throughout your patio pool space. While matching sets can provide a unified aesthetic, more homeowners are embracing self-expression with custom-made furniture that adds livability and fits seamlessly into various multi-zone areas.Breathe life into your space with additional decor, cushions and potted plants to make it welcoming and comfortable, reflecting your style and aesthetic. Going bold with your color scheme choices will also brighten your space, making it unique and visually appealing.Your Luxury Property Maintenance and SustainabilityWith many new and exciting features in your backyard, you’re likely wondering what maintenance and sustainability will be like going forward. Integrating water-wise irrigation, sustainable plants and smart technology will help you maintain your space and ensure it looks beautiful all year round.Luxury spaces use technology to make property maintenance and enjoyment effortless. Installing smart irrigation and lighting systems lets you control and manage a schedule directly from an app on your phone. It simplifies enhancing your environment with a single button press, saving you hours of manual maintenance.You can also hire a single-source design and build professional service to ensure that your outdoor sanctuary is maintained and looks pristine throughout all seasons. With their expertise, you can enjoy a seamless, high-quality outdoor experience without the stress of coordinating multiple contractors.From Ordinary to ExtraordinaryA true luxury backyard transformation transitions your indoor architecture, comfort and amenities into your outdoor living space. Your backyard should be more than a view from your window. It should be a sanctuary that draws you in with its design, built for tranquility and enjoyment.By layering the latest trends in luxury backyard design with natural landscaping, you can turn an ordinary yard into a private resort, ideal for hosting or simply escaping for a moment.This story was produced by Neave Outdoor and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Nostalgia can cloud your judgment online, and scammers know it Nostalgia can cloud your judgment online, and scammers know itNostalgia can hit you out of nowhere. One moment, you’re mindlessly scrolling through social media or perusing old photos, and the next, you’re on a trip down memory lane. Suddenly, an old friend, family member, or colleague that you haven’t thought about (or spoken to) in years is at the forefront of your mind. You desperately want to reestablish virtual contact, but should you?While virtual reconnection may seem harmless at first glance, it can pose risks. PeopleFinders explores the risks of reconnecting online and provides some tips on how to safely navigate virtual contact with long-lost connections.Technology Promises Reconnection, But Does it Deliver?Technology has made connection (and reconnection) incredibly easy. What once required extensive research now takes only a few clicks. Unfortunately, this ease of access provides scammers and impersonators with many different ways to take advantage of unsuspecting users. One of the major risks of virtual reconnection is that there is no real way to verify who you’re truly talking to.Even if you do make contact with the right person, there’s no way to tell whether they are the way you remember them. We’re all guilty of occasionally viewing the past through rose-tinted lenses, and this can sometimes lend itself to wishful thinking about an old acquaintance’s character. It can be distressing to establish contact with someone who isn’t who they say they are, but it can be equally as distressing to reconnect with someone who isn’t the way you thought they’d be.The Hidden Risks of Reconnecting Can Add UpBefore you decide to reach out to an old connection, pause and consider the ways reconnecting can cost you. The risks of reconnection can be broken up into three major categories: practical, personal, and psychological.Practical risks are those that threaten the normalcy of your everyday life or may stand in the way of meaningful reconnection.Emotional risks are the risks to your emotional well-being or stability.Psychological risks are risks to your psychological well-being, including ones that may directly or indirectly result in stress, anxiety, or depression.8 Potential Consequences of Virtual ReconnectionLet’s take a closer look at the practical, emotional, and psychological risks of reconnecting with people from your past online, and explore a few tips for safely navigating virtual communication.Practical Risks1. Financial ExploitationWith social media scams on the rise, many online impersonators attempt to gain your trust so that they can financially exploit you. They are aware that posing as someone that you know (or knew) personally is a surefire way to gain trust. Be wary of anyone who asks you for money online, and discontinue contact with anyone whom you suspect may be financially exploiting you.2. Reputational Risks or Professional ComplicationsPicture this: you’re sharing private information with someone that you believe is an old friend, and then, out of nowhere, they threaten to go to your family, friends, or employer with the information. Some scammers attempt to use the private information you may share in texts for blackmail. If you’re reconnecting with someone, refrain from sharing overly personal or private information with them.3. Safety ConcernsAnother risk of virtual reconnection is that it can expose significant information about your personal life. You may not know it, but sensitive information about your home, neighborhood, family, and workplace is all over the internet. Anyone that you connect with from the past gains access to that information and can use it as they wish. Be cautious of the information that you share online, and be selective about the people whom you permit to view your social profiles.Emotional Risks4. Nostalgia DistortionAs mentioned before, humans tend to view the past through rose-tinted glasses. One term for this phenomenon is “nostalgia distortion,” which occurs when a person or event appears different in memory than in reality. Sometimes, this distortion can make people misremember the good (or forget the bad) of others.The emotional risks of virtual reconnection arise when this distortion emboldens you to reestablish connections with people who have hurt you. Before you reach out to someone from the past, be sure to evaluate your relationship objectively and ask yourself whether you’d truly benefit from reconnection.5. Disappointment and GriefSometimes, even though you reach the right person, they may not be who you thought they were. The realization that a person you knew and cared for has changed dramatically can be emotionally damaging. Before attempting reconnection, be sure to come to terms with the fact that you may encounter a different person than you’d known before.Psychological Risks6. Exposure to Harassment or Unhealthy/Toxic DynamicsOnline interactions can progress rapidly and can quickly become unhealthy or toxic. It can be psychologically distressing when a virtual reconnection turns sour, especially if it was one that you were excited about. If someone you are reconnecting with becomes verbally aggressive, you should cut contact. If what they say is particularly triggering, lean on those closest to you for support.7. Impaired JudgmentInteracting with people through a screen can make it difficult to judge their true intentions. Misreading a situation can be embarrassing, especially when it results in any practical, emotional, or psychological consequences. If you’re reconnecting with an old acquaintance online, approach the situation both cautiously and sober-mindedly.8. Reopening Dormant TraumaThe previously mentioned rose-tinted lenses can sometimes allow us to gloss over emotionally damaging past events. Sometimes, reconnecting with people from the past can reopen those dormant wounds, forcing you to relive the trauma of a past negative experience.If memories of a person from your past make you feel distressed, take a step back and reevaluate the connection. If the trauma is particularly painful, be sure to talk to someone you trust or a mental health professional.Use Your Resources to Connect with the Right PersonExercise caution online, but don’t let fear of potential consequences paralyze you. Though there are risks to virtual reconnections, there are also a host of potential gains. Sometimes, reestablishing old connections can open up new avenues for friendships, relationships, and familial ties.If you’re planning to reach out to someone from your past, take steps to protect yourself from the potential personal, emotional, and psychological risks. For instance, there are an abundance of people finder tools that can help give you peace of mind. Using a reverse phone number or email search can help you verify the identity of an old contact before you reach out. Taking steps like this can help protect you from hurt and can empower you to reconnect without fear.This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The new rules for getting hired in an AI-driven job market The new rules for getting hired in an AI-driven job marketThe rise of AI is reshaping the job market, leaving many workers, particularly early-career professionals, at a disadvantage. Layoffs that companies have attributed to AI accounted for 25% of all US job cuts in March 2026 and have contributed to a steady erosion of entry-level and mid-level openings.Beneath the surface, a more nuanced shift is occurring. In Q1 2026, demand for experienced technology and professional services personnel increased by 10.5% quarter over quarter and 6.4% year over year, according to a new report from professional services firm Toptal.The result is a labor market increasingly split between work that can be automated and work that requires high-level judgment and technical expertise to collaborate effectively with AI. But in this article, Toptal outlines concrete steps that junior-level and mid-career workers can take to adapt and stay competitive.The Evolving Entry-level Career PathCareer paths have generally followed a simple progression: Enter the workforce in a junior role, build expertise over time, and gradually move into more senior, strategic positions. AI is narrowing that pathway, and the effects are measurable. According to the Burning Glass Institute, young college graduates now face an unemployment rate that is rising faster than any other group.Because generative AI tools can perform many basic tasks, including drafting content, summarizing information, writing code, analyzing data, and managing workflows, companies are reassessing how many entry-level workers are actually needed. Between December 2025 and February 2026, entry-level hiring fell 6% compared to the same period the year before, and hiring for mid-level managers fell 10%. Employers are placing greater emphasis on hiring experienced professionals who can apply AI to business problems rather than execute repetitive tasks. Toptal Joint research from Harvard Business School and The Burning Glass Institute suggests that AI-driven automation could eliminate nearly 18 million entry-level positions, roughly 12% of the total workforce.New Opportunities for Adaptable WorkersThe news isn’t all bad: The Harvard and Burning Glass research also points to the emergence of a whole segment of positions that are likely to open up to entry-level workers and job changers, because of AI. For these so-called “mastery roles,” AI lowers technical skill barriers by enabling less-experienced people to do more complex work sooner, using natural language to prompt AI tools that can help accomplish tasks that once required years of specialized training.The researchers estimate that roughly 29 million of these mastery roles exist across the US economy, including network administrators, data warehousing specialists, loan interviewers, construction managers, electrical drafters, and systems engineers. Toptal The result of this AI enhancement is that certain well-paid, high-demand careers could become more accessible to workers at any level who can effectively use AI systems to augment their capabilities. This doesn’t mean anyone can instantly become an expert, but it does mean more people can participate in high-value technical work by using AI to augment what they already do well.What Workers Need to Do NowA growing number of companies are expecting new hires to arrive with stronger AI-related and technical skills, according to the Toptal report. “Companies increasingly want proof that candidates are actively using AI in practical ways, not just saying they’re familiar with it,” says Erik Stettler, Toptal’s chief economist. For developers, that might mean GitHub contributions or open-source projects. For other professionals, it could mean building workflows, publishing projects, documenting experiments, or showing how they’ve used AI to improve outcomes in their work.The people who stand out in the hiring process now are the ones who are already experimenting, adapting, and learning how to apply these tools in real-world environments, says Stettler. His advice is simple: Pick one or two AI platforms and start using them in practical ways applicable to your field or a growing field that you are interested in pursuing. Stettler recommends the following five steps to improve your odds of being hired in the current AI-driven job market:Build at least one public AI-related project. That could mean publishing on GitHub, creating short demo videos, or documenting a 30-day experiment using AI tools on LinkedIn with regular posts tracking what worked and what didn’t. Even using AI to build a simple personal website from scratch and writing about the process is worth sharing.Learn an automation workflow relevant to your target industry, using ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier, Make, Airtable, Notion AI, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini. For example, a construction manager might use Airtable with AI to track schedules, flag delays, and send deadline reminders, while an accountant or auditor might use Notion AI or other tools to organize documentation and help surface anomalies for review.Add measurable AI-related outcomes to portfolios and resumes. Recruiters want to see specifics like, “Used AI-assisted targeting and analytics tools to increase campaign conversion rates by 18%.” Even entry-level workers can document AI-assisted outcomes, such as tracking time saved on a task or using AI to identify patterns in a dataset that informed a real decision.Develop AI literacy alongside communication skills. Learn how generative AI tools work, their risks and limitations, how to evaluate outputs, and where human judgment is still needed. Free courses from Google and Coursera, as well as the University of Helsinki’s Elements of AI program, are all good starting points.Gain hands-on experience through freelance and contract work, or by volunteering. Organizations like Catchafire and Idealist connect people with nonprofits looking for specific skills, and that work makes for legitimate additions to your resume.Stettler cautions that many workers risk paralysis by trying to figure out the “right” AI model, workflow, or platform before they begin. The better approach is to start now, experimenting and documenting processes along the way.AI is disrupting many traditional career paths. It’s also reshaping which skills create value and how quickly workers can acquire them. For professionals navigating this transition, the challenge is learning how to evolve alongside systems that are changing the nature of work itself.This story was produced by Toptal and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The 'sibling discount' is gone: How families with multiple college students can navigate college funding gaps The ‘sibling discount’ is gone: How families with multiple college students can navigate college funding gapsFor decades, parents with two or more children in college at the same time could count on receiving more financial aid. But a change in the federal financial aid calculation has eliminated this "sibling discount," leaving more families with multiple kids in college on the hook to cover thousands in college costs.The shift comes as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was implemented in the 2024-2025 academic year. The redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) replaced the long-standing "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) with the new "Student Aid Index" (SAI). While the goal was to make the application process easier, the new formula no longer considers the number of students from the same household who attend college at the same time. The change was designed to level the playing field for families who have multiple children without overlapping years in college, but it’s a drawback for those with multiple children in college at the same time.College Ave, a private student loan company, recently conducted a survey of parents of college students and found that of 86% of parents with two or more kids, the majority (81%) anticipated paying for the education of at least two children.How to manage the educational costs of multiple children? Parents of the Road2College Paying for College 101 Facebook community were asked how they navigated it — here’s what they had to say.Maximize Your 529 Plans, And Consider Having More Than OneMany parents said they were serious about putting money in the kids’ 529s, and when grandparents asked about “big” Christmas or birthday gift ideas, they suggested putting money into their 529 accounts.Keep in mind that you can change the beneficiary of your 529 plan at different intervals if you have more than one child in college, but the paperwork involved can become a hassle if your kids are close in age and you have to do it multiple times within a short time. This is when having a plan set up for each child is best.Also, if the cost of one child’s college tuition is higher than that of their siblings or if you only have a short amount of time to replenish the account before the next child needs a payout, it may be best to have multiple plans.Finally, more than 30 states provide tax benefits for 529 plan savers, which means having multiple plans may save you money on taxes.Seek Scholarships And Start EarlyFinding scholarships takes time and grit, but it’s worth it if you have multiple children in college. One mom suggested looking for schools that allow students to stack scholarships without displacing any awards. This allows them to seek federal, state, institutional, and private scholarships that can be cobbled together to cover costs.Students should continue looking for scholarships year-round in high school and while attending college. Keep a calendar of due dates to stay on track, noting that some organizations and companies have ongoing scholarships that award students every month.Start With Community CollegesGeneral education requirements, which take up the majority of the first two years of college, are significantly less expensive when fulfilled at community colleges versus four-year institutions. One mom said her children chose community colleges with direct admit programs to state universities to make the academic and financial transition easier and more transparent, minimizing surprises.Another parent said she agreed with her three kids: Attend a community college for the first two years or take out student loans. Two went away to school anyway, thanks to scholarships, and the third opted for junior college first to avoid debt. Just keep in mind that the sooner they know your financial limits, the better! This way, they can prepare.Consider Taking a Job at a College Or UniversityBelieve it or not, many colleges (about 90%) offer tuition discounts to their employees and their dependents, and if you have multiple kids in college at the same time, that can add up to huge savings. It’s no wonder many parents consider switching jobs to take advantage of this benefit. Some schools allow students to attend for free, while others provide steep discounts. There is no universal policy regarding this benefit of employment; each school can create its own rules, so check with the colleges your children are interested in attending to see what they offer.Keep in mind that, in many cases, there is a waiting period of up to two years before employees can receive this benefit, so you may have to switch jobs while your children are in high school and commit to that school early on. Some universities increase the tuition benefits with each year of service, rewarding longer-term employees with full tuition benefits.Look for Jobs That Will Help Pay for SchoolIn addition to everyday retail brands known for offering scholarships to employees, such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Amazon, and Best Buy, some professions entice students to begin working first to have their education paid for by their employer. Nursing is one such field where many students secure jobs in hospitals that promise to pay for school so long as students commit to a minimum number of years working for them when they graduate. One parent said her daughter was able to secure multiple nursing certificates and degrees while working for a local hospital without having to pay a penny for classes.Make Your Children Responsible for Some of the CostOne mom told her kids early on that they were each responsible for $5,000 per year, which gave them a goal and a deadline (she chose July 31, which is when many schools start sending out tuition bills). Whether it’s saving birthday money or securing a part-time job, knowing they were responsible for this early on helped them plan and save, so there were no surprises.College Ave’s survey found that close to half of parents (50%) believe their child should financially contribute to their college education. As the parent did above, make sure to have an open discussion with your child on what you, as parents, can contribute and how they can best financially support their educational goals. If you need to borrow to cover costs, discuss who is taking out the loan and who is responsible for repayment.Ask Schools About Discretionary FundsSome colleges and universities have discretion in how to apply federal changes to their financial aid, and many will grant families discretionary funds if they have multiple kids in the same school. One parent said it saved him $11,000 per year.Plan Ahead and Strategize for How to Pay for College for Multiple KidsPaying for college for multiple children may seem daunting at times, but with the right planning and strategizing, there are ways to make college possible and affordable. Whether you’ll be sending two children to college or five, many of the tools and financial aid options are the same. Be sure to exhaust all of your “free money” options first and cover your financing gap with private student loans.About the SurveyThe College Ave survey was conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights. The national online survey of parents of undergraduate students who attend a four-year college or university at one of the campuses served by Barnes & Noble College had 1,000 respondents and was fielded from April to May 2025. Last year, Barnes & Noble College Insights conducted more than 50 research studies and more than 100 survey polls of students, faculty, and parents who interact with one of its more than 770 campus bookstores across the nation.This story was produced by College Ave and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The best Pride destinations of 2026 and how to get there on points The best Pride destinations of 2026 and how to get there on pointsIt’s almost June, and you know what that means: Pride is right around the corner. With dozens of celebrations around the globe throughout the summer, there are so many festivals to choose from, whether you’re staying stateside or traveling abroad. WorldPride, considered to be a global capital of Pride, is held in a different destination each year. This year, the WorldPride party kicks off in Amsterdam on July 25.Pride celebrations commemorate the June 28, 1969, Stonewall Uprising, which followed police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Queer people fought back in a protest that lasted for six days. A year later, protestors met at the Stonewall Inn and marched to Central Park, and the very first Pride parade was born. Today, Pride is an open, accepting, loving, and positive event, but it’s still deeply rooted in activism by and for the LGBTQ+ community.No matter where you choose to celebrate, using points or miles for your flight lets you save money for meals, hotels, and experiences once you arrive. Since Pride happens during peak summer travel season — and fuel costs are on the rise — Point.me shares ways to save on airfare.Pride getaways don’t have to cost a fortuneAward travel means you can have once-in-a-lifetime experiences for pennies on the dollar. While people often think of business class long-haul flights or suites at The Ritz-Carlton as aspirational trips, points and miles are incredibly flexible and can be used for all kinds of trips.If you’re traveling for a specific event during a busy time of year, as is the case with Pride, cash flights tend to be expensive. Points and miles tend to be more immune to market factors that raise prices, especially if you fly an airline that uses a fixed award chart.For instance, a nonstop from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS) on KLM might cost just 16,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and you’d arrive a few days before the WorldPride march and closing concert. You’re saving hundreds of dollars, if not more, by using points for your flight.To get to Europe, take advantage of Flying Blue Promo Rewards, which offer fantastic rates on transatlantic flights. If you’re staying in the U.S., look beyond the major domestic airlines if you want to get the best deal. For instance, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers great rates on domestic Delta flights — often far cheaper than you’d find using Delta SkyMiles.The best Pride celebrations around the worldSão Paulo (June 3-7)You’ll need to act quickly to visit São Paulo for Pride, as the main parade happens on June 7, 2026. It’s one of the biggest events in the world, routinely bringing in anywhere from three to five million people. This year’s theme, “The street calls. The ballot box confirms,” celebrates 30 years of Pride in São Paulo.Los Angeles (June 14)Three of the biggest Pride celebrations in the U.S. and Canada — New York, San Francisco, and Toronto — happen on the same weekend. Luckily, LA Pride missed this memo, and it will happen a few weeks earlier on June 14. The theme this year is “Rise With Pride,” celebrating a community that continues to rise throughout challenges.Sydney (June 21-30)Sydney Pride runs from June 21 to June 30. Keep in mind that the month of June falls in Australia’s winter, so you’ll want to pack a jacket. This year’s theme, “Connected in Colour” celebrates the 15th anniversary of Pride in Sydney.New York City (June 28)It doesn’t get more iconic than New York City Pride, which happens on June 28, 2026. This year’s theme is “For All of US,” which promotes activism and inclusivity for every member of the LGBTQ+ community.San Francisco (June 27-28)San Francisco is one of the most popular queer hubs in the country, so it’s no surprise that it hosts a stellar Pride festival culminating on June 28. Join for two days of resistance and joy and stay for the various activations, ranging from cheerleading performances to a community street fair.Toronto (June 28)Also on June 28 is Toronto Pride — the largest celebration in Canada and the second largest in the world. If you want to extend your trip, there are tons of celebrations leading up to Pride, including a pool party with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 contestants Juicy Love Dion and Athena Dion.Madrid (July 1-5)Madrid hosts one of the biggest Pride celebrations in Europe and the world. This year, the parade will be hosted on July 4. This is the perfect celebration if you already have a couple of days off for the Fourth of July holiday. You can normally snag great award flights with Iberia, Spain's flagship carrier.Amsterdam (July 25-Aug. 8)Amsterdam is hosting WorldPride 2026, so if you have to choose one global festival, this is the one. The Amsterdam Pride march will take place on July 25, with the WorldPride march on Aug. 8. If you work remotely, you can enjoy several weeks of celebrations. This year’s event focuses on unity and the themes of love, connectedness, and tolerance.Taipei (Oct. 31)One of the last major Pride parades for 2026 will be in Taipei on Oct. 31, 2026. Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize same sex marriage, and though celebrations here are on a smaller scale, Taipei Pride hosts the largest Pride parade in Asia.Bottom LineThere’s truly nothing like Pride. It’s a time to celebrate love and acceptance, while also advocating for equality for everyone. Luckily for travelers, points and miles put these celebrations within reach, and without spending a lot of money.This story was produced by Point.me and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The Quad Cities community recognizes Memorial Day 2026 From the Rock Island Arsenal to Hero Street in Silvis, community members took the time to honor their fallen heroes.
	The Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest returns to Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. The Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest returns to Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. Ben Gougeon with Quad City Arts tells us what we can expect at the festival.
	Why anxiety is the new baseline and what science says makes a difference Why anxiety is the new baseline and what science says makes a differenceAs anxiety becomes increasingly common across age groups and lifestyles, researchers and mental health professionals are learning more about what actually helps people manage stress, uncertainty, and chronic worry.Anxiety is no longer something people whisper about in waiting rooms or push aside until it gets severe enough to ignore. For a growing number of Americans, it has become a familiar part of daily life, showing up at the breakfast table, at their desks, and in conversations that a decade ago might have felt too personal to have. People are talking about it with their friends, their coworkers, and their doctors.Roughly 42.5 million American adults are currently living with an anxiety disorder, according to Mental Health America, making it the most common mental health condition in the country, and that number reflects only those with a formal diagnosis.The reach of anxiety extends far beyond any single statistic, which is why researchers have been working to understand its full scale.A landmark study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, coled by researchers at Harvard Medical School, drew on data from more than 150,000 adults across 29 countries and found that half the global population will develop a mental health disorder by age 75.Those results are not here to alarm you. They are here to show you that if anxiety has found its way into your life, you are far from alone, and understanding why so many people feel this way is where the real conversation begins.In this article, BetterHelp examines why anxiety has become increasingly common and what research suggests may help manage symptoms.Key takeawaysAnxiety has become one of the most common mental health challenges in the U.S., affecting millions of adults across all age groups and lifestyles.Researchers say modern stressors like financial pressure, workplace burnout, digital overload, and social media are all contributing to rising anxiety levels.Anxiety differs from everyday stress because it often persists even when no immediate threat is present and can interfere with sleep, relationships, and daily functioning.Evidence-backed approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), regular exercise, quality sleep, mindfulness, and reducing screen overload have consistently been shown in research to help manage symptoms.Mental health stigma has declined in recent years, leading more people, especially younger generations, to seek professional support and therapy.Experts say anxiety may be increasingly common, but it is also highly treatable, and early support can make a meaningful difference.What is driving the rise in anxiety?Anxiety rarely arrives from a single source, and for most people, the pressures feeding it have been stacking up across nearly every corner of daily life. Financial strain is a major factor for many, with roughly 70% of young adults reporting that money worries are costing them sleep, according to a May 2026 Amerisleep study.Workplace culture has compounded that pressure in ways researchers are only beginning to fully understand. Burnout prevention expert Thalia-Maria Tourikis has observed that "constant urgency, reactive workflows and perpetual digital vigilance" keep people locked in a low-grade state of stress that rarely lets up, even after the workday ends.And social media can deepen that strain much further. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that people who scroll passively through other people's social feeds face a greater risk of loneliness and negative self-comparison than those who engage actively.Those patterns became even harder to separate after the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a significant global rise in anxiety disorders, leaving many people to sort through a level of strain that no longer feels occasional or easy to explain.Anxiety versus everyday stressMost people are no strangers to stress, and for good reason. Dr. Jason Hunziker, division chief of adult psychiatry at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, describes stress as "a normal reaction that our body uses to warn us of challenges in the environment." It shows up, does its job, and typically fades once the pressure lifts.Anxiety works differently. Dr. Kelly Knowles, a clinical psychologist at Hartford HealthCare's Anxiety Disorders Center, explains it as "the emotion we feel when we think something bad could happen," often fueled by persistent “what if” thinking rather than anything happening in the moment.The line between the two can blur, and many people do not notice the difference until anxiety has already started disrupting their sleep, their relationships, or their ability to get through the day. As Dr. Knowles puts it, "It's not just about feeling nervous now and then. It's a pattern."What science says actually helpsRecognizing anxiety for what it is only matters if there are real ways to address it, and research shows there are. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) remains one of the most well-supported treatment options available, with peer-reviewed studies describing it as a gold-standard intervention that helps people identify and restructure the thought patterns driving their anxiety.Beyond therapy, regular exercise, consistent sleep, mindfulness practices, and stepping back from the constant pull of screens and news have all been shown to help in peer-reviewed research.No single approach works the same way for everyone, but the evidence is consistent on one point: results come from showing up repeatedly, not from a single fix.The difference between self-care and real supportThe wellness industry often frames self-care as something to be purchased, and while there is nothing wrong with enjoying a spa day or a slow Sunday morning, those things rarely move the needle on chronic anxiety.The National Institute of Mental Health is clear that real self-care is rooted in consistent habits like regular sleep, physical movement, staying connected to others, and setting boundaries on what you take on.For a lot of people living with anxiety, that realization is what eventually leads them toward support that goes a little deeper.Why more people are seeking helpAwareness, for many people, is what finally makes asking for help feel possible. Attitudes toward therapy have shifted considerably, with nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults now saying that having a mental health condition is nothing to be ashamed of, according to the American Psychological Association.That growing acceptance is making it easier for people to reach out, with the APA finding that 37% of Gen Z is already receiving professional mental health treatment, the highest rate of any generation on record.What this means for the future of mental healthAnxiety has become a defining experience for many people, but a defining experience is not a life sentence. More people now understand what anxiety is, what can feed it, and what tends to help, which creates more room for earlier support instead of waiting until life feels unmanageable.That growing awareness is already changing care itself. As Vaile Wright of the APA says, "Solving the mental health crisis is going to require multiple solutions," and broader access to education, therapy, and flexible care is part of that work.TakeawayFor anyone carrying anxiety and wondering whether relief is actually possible, many people do find relief with the right guidance, and understanding more about what you are feeling can be the first real step toward getting there.This story was produced by BetterHelp and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rivermont Collegiate affirms accreditation with non-profit organization The school said it is accredited by Cognia, a global nonprofit accrediting organization.
	Prospects fade for imminent end to Iran war as attacks restart Israel says it will intensify attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon and U.S. military struck Iranian boats and missile launch sites as envoys continued negotiations for a deal that would end the three-month war.
	The ‘add protein’ era: How everyday foods are getting a functional upgrade The ‘add protein’ era: How everyday foods are getting a functional upgradeFor years, healthy eating advice has often centered on restriction. People were told to cut carbs, avoid sugar, or stay away from entire categories of food in hopes of getting closer to some ideal version of health. That mindset has started to lose some of its grip as more consumers look for habits they can actually live with, BUILT reports.Rather than building their routines around what has to go, many are paying closer attention to what they can add to make everyday eating feel more supportive and easier to maintain. Protein has become one of the clearest examples.A 2025 survey from the International Food Information Council found that 7 in 10 Americans are trying to include protein in their diets, a level of interest that nutrition experts say has moved well beyond gym culture and into the routines of everyday people.Kim Flannery, director of nutrition at the Wisconsin Athletic Club, told Wisconsin Public Radio that she has observed that this kind of momentum tends to signal something bigger than a passing trend. People still care about nutrition, but more of them want it to fit into daily life without turning every meal into a project.Protein Moves Beyond Traditional CategoriesBrowse any grocery store today, and protein is hard to miss. It has worked its way into nearly every aisle, showing up in breakfast cereals, snack chips, waffles, and desserts that most people would never have associated with a nutrition label two years ago.Cargill's 2025 Protein Profile research found that 57% of shoppers who read nutrition labels are specifically looking for protein, and food companies have moved fast to meet that demand. Starbucks made its own statement by adding protein directly to its menu, giving customers the option to boost their cold foam and coffee drinks with it.Scott Dicker, senior market insights analyst at SPINS, noted to Food Dive that "protein has moved from an athletic product to a daily habit," with ready-to-drink protein beverages alone growing at a 13% rate over two years.As protein keeps finding its way into more of the foods people already reach for, the question worth asking is why this particular nutrient resonates so strongly.Why Protein Is the Nutrient of ChoicePart of what makes protein stand out from other nutrition trends is how easy it is to understand. People don't need a science background to connect with why it matters.Michael Ormsbee, director of the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine at Florida State University, points to research showing that "a higher protein intake supports muscle retention during weight loss, enhances satiety and can help preserve resting energy expenditure."Beyond body composition, protein plays a role in bone health, immune function, and even the production of hormones that affect mood and energy levels throughout the day. Those benefits reach well beyond the gym, extending to people on GLP-1 weight-loss medications, for whom holding onto muscle while losing fat has become a real priority.ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula has noted that with these medications, "a lot of people are losing weight very fast, and when you lose weight quickly, you can also lose lean muscle mass," making protein a daily focus for millions of Americans who may never have thought twice about it before.For a nutrient with that kind of broad appeal, it makes sense that people are looking for faster, easier ways to work it into their day.Convenience as a Driving ForceMost people are not skipping protein because they don't care about it. They're skipping it because their day doesn't slow down long enough to think about it. Between work, family, and everything else competing for attention, nutrition often gets handled on the fly, which is exactly why portable, ready-to-eat protein options have grown into a category of their own.In an interview with CSP, Richard Poye, founder of the Food Trends Think Tank, said he has observed that "convenience thrives on single-serve, portable and impulse-driven occasions, precisely the formats where modern protein products shine."Brands across the food industry have responded to that reality by developing options that require zero preparation and fit just as naturally into a morning commute as they do a workout bag.The Rise of ‘Functional Indulgence’Eating well used to feel like a trade-off, and for a long time, most people accepted that. If something was good for you, it probably wasn't going to be the thing you actually wanted to eat. That thinking has lost a lot of ground.Dicker, who has watched consumer behavior move in a different direction, noted that "there's still this idea of indulgences, but it's just being more intentional when and how you indulge."Food companies have taken this seriously, and the results are showing up across grocery aisles in the form of protein-fortified cookies, brownies, pastries, and snack bites designed to satisfy a craving while still delivering real nutritional value.NielsenIQ data shows the high-protein bakery category alone is growing at 29% year over year, and for many consumers, the next step is figuring out exactly where these kinds of products fit into their own daily routine.Modular Health and PersonalizationEating well looks different for everyone, and more people are starting to build their routines around that reality.Rather than following a structured plan that tells them exactly what to eat and when, consumers are making smaller, more personal choices, adding protein to their morning coffee, swapping a regular snack for a higher-protein option, or simply paying closer attention to what their body actually needs on a given day.Innova Market Insights research shows that personalized nutrition increasingly centers on targeted health goals, particularly among younger adults who have grown up expecting customization in every part of their lives.Protein fits naturally into that model because it can be added to almost any routine without requiring a complete overhaul of how someone already eats.What This Means for the Future of FoodProtein has always been essential to how the body functions, but what has changed is how central it has become to the way everyday people think about food.Consumers are no longer waiting for their annual checkup to think about nutrition. They are making small, deliberate choices throughout the day, reaching for foods that work a little harder and fit a little more naturally into lives that are already full.The food industry has followed that lead, and the result is a market where functional ingredients like protein are showing up in places that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.Joan Salge Blake, clinical professor of nutrition at Boston University, captured the broader mood well when she said that, unlike the diet trends that came before it, "this one may just stick around." Given how deeply protein has worked its way into everyday eating habits, it is hard to argue otherwise.This story was produced by BUILT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Universal commerce protocol: How Shopify and Google are redefining where (and how) we shop Universal commerce protocol: How Shopify and Google are redefining where (and how) we shopAs Shopify and Google introduce the Universal Commerce Protocol, the traditional path from search to checkout is being reimagined, bringing shopping directly into search results, AI interfaces, and other digital touchpoints.People have been buying and selling things for thousands of years, but the mechanics behind how a purchase actually happens have rarely evolved as quickly as they are right now, elk Marketing reports.For most of the internet era, shopping followed a familiar sequence. A consumer searches, clicks through to a website, browses, and eventually checks out. Google and Shopify are now working to change that sequence entirely.At the National Retail Federation’s annual show in January 2026, the two companies announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open framework built to let AI agents handle the entire shopping journey, from finding a product to completing a purchase, without requiring the shopper to leave the platform where they started.UCP works by giving AI agents a common language to communicate with merchant systems, so instead of each retailer building separate technical connections for every AI tool or platform, one framework handles it all. Retailers keep full control over their pricing, inventory, and customer relationships throughout.The protocol was co-developed with Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart, and endorsed by more than 20 organizations across payments and retail, including Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, and The Home Depot. That level of institutional support, coming from across the commerce ecosystem, points to UCP being built as foundational infrastructure rather than a product feature.How User Behavior Is ChangingShopping expectations are getting more immediate and more specific. People are no longer approaching online buying with the patience that has traditionally been required of them.Finding something on one platform meant navigating to a separate website, often creating an account, re-entering payment details, and working through several screens before an order was actually placed. Consumers want faster answers, clearer options, and a smoother path from “I need this” to “it’s on the way.”Research shows 70% of shoppers have already used AI tools to assist with their purchases, from comparing products to managing transactions. And Capital One Shopping tracked a 4,700% rise in AI-driven traffic to U.S. retail websites between 2024 and 2025. More of that traffic is arriving with a purchase decision already underway, shaped by a conversation with an AI tool rather than by browsing a brand’s site.John Carroll, President of Connected Commerce at Acosta Group, called generative AI tools “the new gatekeepers of the shopper journey,” with buying decisions moving steadily out of traditional storefronts and into AI-powered interfaces.The Rise of Zero-Click Commerce (and Its Challenges)A growing part of that movement is what the industry calls zero-click commerce, where a shopper completes a purchase without ever visiting a brand’s own website. Instead of clicking through to a product page, adding to a cart, and checking out across multiple screens, the entire transaction happens inside the platform where the search or conversation began.For shoppers, it feels fast and frictionless, but for marketers, it creates a real gap in visibility. When a sale happens entirely within an AI interface, the research and consideration that led to it often go untracked.Research from Bain and Company found that 80% of consumers rely on zero-click answers for at least 40% of their searches, and for brands that built their measurement strategy around website traffic and click-through data, a growing portion of the customer journey is now happening somewhere they cannot see.Why Product Feeds Are Becoming Critical InfrastructureBehind every AI-assisted purchase is a set of product data that an AI agent reads before a shopper ever sees a recommendation. For that transaction to happen inside a search result or AI interface, the agent needs accurate, readable information about a product’s price, availability, and specifications.A product feed is exactly that, a structured and continuously updated file that tells AI systems what a retailer sells and how to sell it. In a traditional retail environment, keeping that data organized was important. In an agentic commerce environment, it has become foundational, because an AI agent can only recommend or purchase a product it can fully understand.Google has moved in this direction by introducing new data attributes inside Merchant Center, the platform retailers use to manage how their products appear across Google surfaces, expanding what brands can share beyond basic keywords to include things like product compatibility and answers to common buyer questions.John Readman, CEO of ASK BOSCO, described the long-standing challenge as a “fragmentation tax,” the cost retailers absorb when product data is out of sync across platforms, and noted that in an AI-driven environment, that inconsistency directly affects whether a product gets surfaced at all.What This Means for Digital Marketing StrategyAs product data takes on more weight in how AI systems make buying decisions, digital marketing strategy has to adjust around it. Visibility still matters, but now it extends across search, AI interfaces, and other buying environments where products are surfaced, interpreted, and acted on before a shopper ever reaches a brand’s website.That puts more pressure on brands to think beyond traffic alone and pay closer attention to how they appear across multiple surfaces at the moment a decision is being made. It also raises the value of data quality and consistency, because even strong creative work can lose ground if the underlying product information is incomplete or out of sync.The Future of Commerce Is EverywhereNobody can say with certainty what buying and selling will look like a decade from now, but the signals are already clear in how people shop today. More purchasing decisions are being shaped by AI before a shopper ever opens a browser, and more transactions are being completed in environments that brands do not own or fully control.That is why UCP matters. It is part of a broader change in digital commerce, one where the boundaries between search, content, recommendation, and checkout continue to blur.“The future isn’t about whether a consumer visits your website; it’s about whether your data is structured well enough to be ‘hired’ by an agent to do a job,” says Steve McQuaide, VP of Strategy at elk Marketing. “UCP is the bridge that turns fragmented AI experimentation into a standardized, scalable reality.”McKinsey has projected that AI-powered tools and agentic commerce could represent between $3 trillion and $5 trillion in global retail opportunity by 2030, which speaks to how much of the buying journey is already moving in this direction.Brands that recognize where commerce is heading, and prepare for it now, will be better positioned for a market where the next purchase may begin with a question and end with an answer.This story was produced by elk Marketing and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Traffic alert: Crash closes portion of 27th Street in Moline At 7:45 a.m. a KWQC crew could see a car on its side.
	From the doorstep to the dining room: New DoorDash survey data reveals the full picture of the modern restaurant guest From the doorstep to the dining room: New DoorDash survey data reveals the full picture of the modern restaurant guestWhen it comes to restaurants, 64% of consumers say they would prefer one app for managing delivery, pickup, and reservations, a sign that convenience, choice, and consistency are becoming part of the same guest expectation.That’s one of the findings from the 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends Report, a new report by DoorDash, uncovers the trends shaping the full restaurant guest journey — from the moment someone searches for a place to eat, to the habits that turn a first order or first visit into lasting loyalty. This year's insights are based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. consumers and over 500 restaurant operators.The clearest signal from the data: The modern restaurant guest moves fluidly across channels. A guest might discover a restaurant through AI, order delivery after a long week, book a table for date night, and come back because the experience felt personal — and increasingly, guests expect those moments to connect. For restaurant operators, every channel is a chance to make a guest feel known — and give them a reason to come back.Take a seat and dig into the data:AI Is Already at the TableAI is changing how consumers decide where to eat, and restaurants’ digital footprints are helping shape what gets recommended.The AI dinner prompt is here: 22% of consumers have used an AI tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to help choose a restaurant, making AI a new discovery signal to watch as consumers use these tools to find something new, compare nearby options, and search by cuisine, occasion, or value.The new rules of restaurant search: According to Yext research, restaurant listing sites like DoorDash account for more than 41% of the sources AI tools cite when recommending restaurants. Operators are already responding by strengthening the basics, like updating menu information (39%), managing reviews (34%), and improving photo quality (32%).The opportunity doesn't stop at search: Three-quarters of consumers say they're comfortable using AI for reservations, but only 28% of operators are using AI to manage calls and customer service. With an estimated 40% of reservation calls going unanswered industry-wide, AI gives restaurants another way to capture demand and keep front-of-house teams focused on the guests in front of them. DoorDash Delivery and Dine-In Are Building the Same Guest RelationshipEvery great restaurant experience — whether it happens at the doorstep or in the dining room — is an opportunity to deepen a customer relationship that drives repeat business across channels.One channel leads to another: 74% of consumers say a dine-in visit led them to later order delivery from that same restaurant, while 62% say a delivery order led them to later dine in.Occasion drives the decision: Consumers choose channels based on the moment. Birthdays, date nights, and celebrations bring them to the dining room, with 86% of consumers saying dine-in is their channel of choice for a special occasion. A long week or busy weekday sends them to delivery or pickup.Familiarity keeps guests coming back: Consumers engage across multiple channels, switching between each and returning to places they already know and trust. 80% of dine-in visits and 79% of orders are with restaurants that consumers have tried before. DoorDash Personal Touches Drive Return VisitsAcross the guest journey, one theme comes through clearly: People come back to restaurants that make them feel recognized.Attention to detail drives return visits: 65% of consumers say a restaurant remembering their preferences — dietary restrictions, favorite dishes, seating choices — would directly affect how often they choose that restaurant, and 63% say a personalized recommendation or follow-up prompted them to return at least once in the past six months.Personalization starts at the menu: 59% of consumers actively seek out allergen and dietary information when ordering, or consider it a welcome addition when it's there. For guests with food allergies, intolerances, sensitivities, or dietary preferences, that level of detail can make a restaurant feel like the right choice before an order is ever placed.The right gesture at the right moment matters: 87% of consumers say a credit, discount, or perk influenced them to reorder — a sign that guests are responsive when outreach feels timely and relevant rather than generic. DoorDash The 2026 Restaurant Industry Trends Report was based on two surveys conducted by Dynata on behalf of DoorDash in March 2026. The 3,001 US consumer respondents spanned a variety of ages, careers, and income levels. The 509 U.S. restaurant operator respondents spanned a variety of business sizes and locations. Participants were not compensated or incentivized by DoorDash. Unless otherwise specified, the data in this story is based on these survey results.This story was produced by DoorDash and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why industry leaders think the worst may be over for US boat sales Why industry leaders think the worst may be over for US boat salesNearly 85 million Americans spend time boating each year, which makes the current slowdown more complicated than a simple drop in sales. Recent research from RJ Nautical suggests that while new boat purchases have cooled, interest in boating activity itself remains resilient.Families are still planning weekends around marinas, anglers are still towing boats to local lakes, and owners are still maintaining the vessels they already have. That steady participation is why industry leaders are watching 2026 with cautious interest.After a softer stretch for new boat sales, the U.S. boating market is showing signs that the most difficult part of this cycle may be behind it. In this article, RJ Nautical examines the boating industry outlook for 2026.The Downturn by the NumbersThe record buying surge that carried the boating market through 2020 and into 2022 gave way to a more complicated stretch by 2024 and 2025.The National Marine Manufacturers Association reported that new powerboat retail unit sales fell 8.8% year over year during 2025, reaching 215,237 units compared with 236,070 units during 2024. Sales also remained under pressure across the 12-month period ending November 2025, falling 8.6% to 215,736 units.The reasons were closely tied to household budgets. Interest rates stayed high, inflation remained above normal levels, and consumer confidence was weaker than usual. For many buyers, a major purchase like a boat became easier to put off than to commit to.Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of NMMA, noted that the financial pressure hit entry-level boat buyers hardest, especially “where financing costs have the greatest impact.”But the decline did not hit every part of the market the same way. Freshwater fishing boats held up better than most, with unit sales down only 1.5%, while pontoons, wakesports boats, and cruisers saw sharper drops across the year.Signs of StabilizationLooking at where the market stands now, the NMMA projects new powerboat sales to come in on par with 2025 or slightly higher, which points to a market that may be finding its footing after a slower stretch.Smaller and more accessible boats remain central to that outlook. Personal watercraft, aluminum fishing boats, and smaller models that can be trailered to local waterways still account for more than 90% of retail unit activity, giving buyers lower-cost ways to stay connected to the water. And confidence among marine leaders has also improved.NMMA's Q3 2025 sentiment survey found that 40% of marine industry executives felt good about the next 12 months, up from 32% the quarter before, meaning more people inside the industry are seeing reasons to be hopeful than they were just months earlier.A separate Boating Industry survey showed nearly half of dealers expecting revenue to grow going forward. Mark Overbye, CEO of Anthem Marine, acknowledged the caution buyers have shown but noted the industry has navigated cycles like this before. "Passion for boating and being on the water hasn't waned, product sales have," he said.The Bigger Boating EconomyNew boat purchases are only one part of how Americans spend money on boating, and during slower sales periods, the rest of that spending becomes a clearer indicator of how healthy the recreational boating economy actually is.Total boating expenditures reached approximately $55.6 billion in 2024, covering everything from engines and accessories to fuel, storage, and routine maintenance, according to the NMMA.Pre-owned boats made up roughly 78% to 80% of all boat transactions that year, with nearly 859,000 used units changing hands, giving millions of buyers a more affordable way to stay on the water. Beyond purchases, spending on aftermarket services and on-water activities reached $24.5 billion in 2024, staying close to the highs seen during the post-pandemic boom.With an estimated 11 million registered boats already in use across the country, the demand for service, upkeep, and time on the water has remained a steady force even as showroom traffic cooled.Outboards as a Leading IndicatorOutboard engines have long tracked closely with new boat purchases, making their sales numbers a useful read on where consumer demand actually stands.According to NMMA's 2024 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, total outboard engine unit sales dropped 7.6% year over year to 278,000 units in 2024, following the same slower pattern seen across new boat sales.Even with that drop in volume, the total retail value of those engines reached $3.6 billion, with average prices holding steady at $12,777, showing that buyers who did purchase remained willing to spend.Engines rated at 300 horsepower and above accounted for over 40,000 units and nearly 35% of total market value on their own. Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha Marine, has noted that outboards have steadily replaced other engine types across both saltwater and freshwater use over the past decade, a trend that continues shaping demand today.Forward Outlook and InnovationThe next phase for boating will likely depend on how well the industry meets buyers where they are. Dealers are more hopeful than they were earlier, but consumers are still weighing cost, value, and how often they will actually use what they buy. That makes boating’s lifestyle appeal especially important.A boat is still a major purchase, but for many households, it also represents weekends with family, time outside, and a way to stay close to the water without building every trip around long-distance travel.Innovation is becoming part of that value question, too. Electric outboards are gaining attention for quieter operation, lower upkeep, and cleaner use, while larger boats still face limits around battery range, power, and cost.Ryan Martin, product planning director of Honda Marine, said the strongest demand for electric power is currently “in the smaller stuff,” where lower-horsepower engines make the most sense.The boating industry outlook 2026 is less about a sudden comeback and more about a market learning how to grow carefully, serve existing boaters better, and give new buyers more practical ways to get on the water.This story was produced by RJ Nautical and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Hot weather today and Wednesday Memorial Day highs across the Quad Cities made it into the 80s with plenty of afternoon sunshine. It'll be ever warmer today and tomorrow. Only limited rain chances are possible over the next seven days. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	Rare Blue Moon Lights Up the Quad Cities This Weekend: What It Means and When to Watch The last Blue Moon visible from the Quad Cities happened in August of 2023. The next one won’t happen until December 2027.
	Alabama birth centers focus on mission as court battle over state regulations continues Sierra Edgio holds her daughter Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center on April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama. The state's birth centers are involved in lengthy litigation with the Alabama Department of Public Health over regulations ADPH says are necessary for the health of new mothers but which birth centers say are unnecessary and potentially devastating for their operations. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)HUNTSVILLE — Last August, Anna Harshbarger gave birth to her son Jasper at the Alabama Birth Center in Huntsville — a normal method of delivering a child in her native country of Germany, but a non-traditional way in the United States. She feared that she was “going to forget every English word I’ve ever learned and start speaking German,” but the team of five midwives and doulas made her feel more comfortable at every prenatal appointment, and the staff took time to get to know her and her husband. “They took the time, Dr. [Yashica] Robinson explained everything, really got to know the ins and outs of us. When it came down to our birth, that’s what we needed too, because my husband completely lost his mind,” she said. “He was very worried and concerned, and they were able to calm him down. I think that wouldn’t have been the case with random people.” Anna Harshbarger holds Jasper as she talks about birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector ) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Creating relationships like those Harshbarger experienced is what Dr. Robinson, the birth center’s founder and consulting physician, and Elisabeth Nussel, the center’s manager and a doula, aim to achieve with all patients. “Under the midwifery model of care, we focus on the whole person, versus you’re just a pregnant patient coming in,” Nussel said. “After moms have their babies, and they come for the postpartum group, even then we’re connecting outside of the birth center, whether that be maybe you’re texting or we’re Facebook friends. We really become a family here.” Alabama has long struggled with infant and maternal mortality, and Robinson believes that birth centers – through midwifery and doula care – can be part of the solution. But officials fear the proposed state regulations on the freestanding centers that currently operate as nonprofits could put their mission in jeopardy. Robinson says this kind of community-based healthcare is needed amid ongoing provider shortages around the state. Only 30% of Alabama’s rural hospitals have labor and delivery units, leaving many expectant parents to drive long distances for care. Providence Hospital in Mobile announced on May 14 that it is closing its labor and delivery unit this summer. “When you have midwives that can kind of help to share the load, as far as taking care of pregnant people, they can really focus on educating and spending time and learning. That will allow the obstetricians and the hospitals to be able to focus on the higher risk moms,” Robinson said. “If you add them to the ecosystem and really integrate them the way that it should be done, we would achieve what we all want to achieve, which is improving maternal and infant outcomes, especially in Alabama, just by spreading that load a little bit more.” Harshbarger lives in Huntsville, but two other mothers that participated in the group interview live in surrounding rural towns, and considered crossing state lines to a birth center in Tennessee before they discovered the Huntsville clinic. “I used to be terrified of pregnancy, and then I read Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth, and it was kind of like, wow, I’d really like to give birth on the farm, or cross state lines,” said Sierra Edgio, who gave birth to her daughter Ramona at the birth center. “But then I found this place, and it just aligned with what I wanted to do.” Disputes over a state rule Sierra Edgio and Ramona; Mary Carolyn Last and Sabrina; and Anna Harshbarger and Jasper talk about their birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector ) The Alabama Birth Center and Oasis Family Birth Center, based in Birmingham, sued the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) in 2023 over a rule it made declaring that birth centers are hospitals and should fall under the regulation of ADPH. ADPH proposed the rules partly because they had not been updated in 30 years. Midwifery was effectively banned in Alabama from 1976 to 2017. At the time, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the rules are meant to protect people. “We believe the way to protect the health and safety of people is to have the physician involved in that process,” Harris said in 2023. Multiple messages were left over the last month with the Attorney General’s Office, which represents ADPH, and Harris were left over the last month. The proposed rules require birth centers to have oversight by a physician or medical director, and to be within 30 minutes of a hospital with OB-GYN services. Those requirements, the plaintiffs say, would make it difficult if not impossible to function. “These requirements have nothing to do with safety, but they could make it financially unsustainable or impossible for birth centers to stay open and provide care, especially affordable care to their communities,” said Whitney White, an attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project representing the clinics. In January, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals unanimous ruled that birth centers are hospitals under state law and subject to ADPH’s regulation, will remain in place. On May 15, the Alabama Supreme Court declined to take up that main question, leaving the appeals court’s ruling in place. But the litigation will likely continue for years over other aspects of ADPH’s proposed rules, White said, noting there are 12 other complaints in the lawsuit that were put on hold during the appeals process. Those complaints will be addressed in the Montgomery County Circuit Court. As of Friday, the court had not taken any action. Both birth centers are currently operating under temporary licenses granted by Montgomery Circuit Judge Greg Griffin in 2024. “The Alabama Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case was disappointing, but the case isn’t over,” White said. “For the moment the birth centers are open, patients are still able to get this care and we’re committed to continue fighting to ensure that access to midwifery care and birth centers remains available in Alabama long term.” Dr. Karen Landers, chief medical officer from ADPH, in 2023 testified that ADPH are “experienced regulators when it comes to promotion and protection of citizens.” She said the purpose of these regulations are to ensure safety, quality and that meet the public’s expectations. “If those types of standards are not met, then there is danger not only to the patient, but a violation of the public’s trust in us as persons who promote and protect the health of our citizens,” Landers said during a hearing in September 2023. The rules ADPH has proposed are based on those that were in place in the 1980s with the addition of professional midwives, a profession that did not exist at the time, in a supportive role to nurse midwives and registered nurses. White said in a recent interview that while the rules acknowledge professional midwives, it still does not recognize their skill and independence. “They’re taking away the ability for these midwives to practice consistent with their training and qualifications, which more than qualifies them to provide additional care without the kind of additional oversight and limitations that these regulations put in place,” she said. She said the rules try to hold nurse and professional midwives to the same standard as obstetricians, which she said is not comparable. “Obstetricians train for as long as they do, in part because obstetrics is a surgical specialty and they need to, and it is targeted towards making sure that obstetricians are equipped to diagnose and treat pathology and abnormality in pregnancy,” White said. “That simply isn’t what midwives are doing in birth centers. It’s exclusively low risk care and low intervention care focused on physiological birth.” Still providing care Dr. Yashica Robinson talks about the birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector) Birth centers provide an option to families and expectant mothers with low-risk pregnancies. They offer an environment similar to a home, rather than a hospital or doctor’s office. According to the American Association of Birth Centers, 0.3% of births take place in a birth center in the United States, where midwives and doulas take care of expectant mothers. All patients who give birth in birth centers are healthy and low-risk, while about 85% who give birth in hospitals are considered low-risk. Alabama has long struggled with high maternal mortality and difficulties in accessing prenatal care. According to state data released in November, the state’s infant mortality rate was 7.1 babies per 1,000 live births in 2024, reflecting the rate of infants who died within their first year of life. That was down from 7.8 deaths per 1,000 births in 2023, according to state data. There were 414 infant deaths in 2024. Of those, 222 of the deaths were white babies and 176 were Black babies, the lowest recorded number for Black infants. But infant mortality rates for Black Alabamians remain far higher than those of white Alabamians. The infant mortality rate among white Alabamians was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024. For Black Alabamians, the rate was 11.8 per 1,000. In 2023, the rates were 5.7 and 13.1 deaths per 1,000 births, respectively. The infant mortality rate is much higher in rural counties like Wilcox, Butler, Conecuh and Hale in the Black Belt, and Cherokee County in the northern part of the state. Those counties have a higher rate of poverty than the state average and correlate with counties lacking hospitals that can deliver babies, according to the data. “We know that starting care earlier is one of the things that’s going to help improve outcomes, because then we can identify anything that needs to be addressed early in the pregnancy, when it really makes the most difference,” Robinson said. “The other thing is transportation, that makes a big difference with the midwifery model of care. Not only do we slow things down, but we’re taking the midwives to the community, so that helps to build trust.” Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager, talks about the resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector) Robinson said that when a patient comes to the Huntsville clinic, the midwives assess their medical history and determine the risk level of their pregnancy. Some conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or a previous cesarean-section birth make a mother high-risk. Robinson said midwives are not allowed to care for high-risk patients under Alabama law, but the assessment is ongoing. “It’s an ongoing risk assessment, because at each prenatal visit, the provider is constantly assessing those risks and making those determinations and re ensuring that the client continues to be low risk,” Robinson said. Birth center patients can, and sometimes do, transfer to a local hospital. Nussel said that the Alabama Birth Center has not had an emergent transfer since it opened in 2021, but some mothers choose to transfer if they want pain management. “We’re doing a lot of things proactively versus reactively. Anything can happen in labor – here, at a home birth, at a hospital,” Nussel said. “We’re not here to play God. We’re here to make sure that you and baby are safe, and if you and baby aren’t safe, that’s a conversation.” A study by the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, the journal of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, found that less than 1% of hospital transfers from birth centers nationwide are for emergencies during labor, and fewer were transferred after birth for emergencies. The Huntsville clinic assesses each patient on a case-by-case basis. Mary Carolyn Last, a mother from Falkville who used the clinic, participated in a hybrid model of care and said she received all of her prenatal care from the birth center. She gave birth to her daughter Sabrina in a hospital. “I used the midwife care here, and then I gave birth in a hospital,” she said during a group interview. “I would have given birth here if my insurance had covered me.” As a nonprofit organization, the clinic is able to use grants to provide financial assistance since it does not accept health insurance, Nussel said. She said that 83% of the clinic’s patients have requested financial assistance, and all have received some form of aid. Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as her daughter Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector) A full package – which includes prenatal care, birth classes, vaginal delivery, postpartum care and postnatal home visits – costs about $10,200. According to CareCostIndex, the average cost of a vaginal delivery in Alabama is $10,700 without insurance, about $2,000 less than the national average. With insurance, the average cost is $2,100 in Alabama. Harshbarger said that it was important to her family to have a choice, and the birth center gave it to them. “I think it’s important to point out that to have the choice as a family to be able to say this is what feels right for us,” Harshbarger said. “If I am low risk, then I should be able to choose this route for my family and not have to cross state lines.” Nussel believes that the community-based model of care, in partnership with traditional hospital care, will help improve maternal and infant mortality in Alabama by filling gaps in care. “If we can focus on the low risk patients, and that opens up so many more opportunities for those high risk patients who are waiting to get in … There could be problems that are being missed,” Nussel said. “When you think about the labor and delivery units that are constantly closing in the state, what’s the solution to follow up with? Birth centers are the solution.” Last said the “deserts of care are just enormous in this state.” “We definitely were happy with this decision even before the delivery,” she said. Being able to meet her baby on her own terms made the difference to Edgio. She said it would not have been the same at the hospital. At a hospital, expectant mothers are not allowed to eat in case they need an emergency cesarean-section. At the birth center, there is a kitchen where Nussel said families will bring crockpots and make themselves at home. “When you think of reproductive rights, you think of abortion and access to birth control, but I think choice of where you have pregnancy is just as important. You can only meet your baby for the first time once, and that should be on the mom’s terms,” Edgio said. Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager, talks about the resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager, talks about the resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager, talks about the resources available at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as her daughter Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio talks about her birth experience as Ramona crawls on the carpet at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Mary Carolyn Last holds Sabrina as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Dr. Yashica Robinson talks about the birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Sierra Edgio and Ramona; Mary Carolyn Last and Sabrina; and Anna Harshbarger and Jasper, talk about their birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector )Anna Harshbarger holds Jasper, as she talks about birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio holds Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Mary Carolyn Last holds Sabrina as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio holds Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Anna Harshbarger holds Jasper, as she talks about birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Mary Carolyn Last holds Sabrina as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio holds Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Dr. Yashica Robinson talks about the birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)Sierra Edgio holds Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Sierra Edgio holds Ramona as she talks about her birth experience at the Alabama Birth Center Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz )Elisabeth Nussel, clinic manager at the Alabama Birth Center, Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Huntsville, Ala. ( Photo / Eric Schultz ) Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Birthplace of the Computer This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The next time you turn on your IBM or Macintosh to e-mail a daughter or figure your income tax, take a moment as the…
	Voy 61 Drive In shows 'The Monuments Men' free for military, vets The Voy 61 Drive In Theatre will be showing 'The Monuments Men' free for veterans, national guard and active duty service members and their families. According to a release, the Voy 61 Drive In Theatre and the Jackson County Veterans Affairs, will show the film 'The Monuments Men' Thursday, May 28. The entrance gate will [...]
	Inside ATL: how Delta juggles 100,000 bags a day at the world's busiest airport On a busy day, Delta Air Lines handles more than 100,000 bags at its Atlanta hub. NPR got a rare look behind the scenes at how the airline is using AI to improve baggage-handling operations.
	Therapists are using AI to take notes. Is it a useful tool or a breach of trust? New companies are selling artificial intelligence assistance to mental health therapists. The AI tools can help with administration and recordkeeping, but some patients worry about their privacy.
	In West Texas, an unlikely alliance stands against extending the border wall An unusual coalition of people across the political spectrum have banded together to rally against a border wall in the Big Bend.
	Immigration courts are using a new tactic to speed up deportations The Justice Department is moving up the court hearings for hundreds of immigrants and scheduling them for mass hearings. If they don't show up, they could be ordered deported.
	Texas GOP voters vote in race that could shape future of the party -- and the Senate Controversial Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's reelection. The $100 million fight could have far-reaching implications for the GOP, and party control of the Senate.
	Attacks from residents complicate the fight against a rare type of Ebola Three times in the past week, healthcare facilities have been attacked. On Sunday, angry young men stormed a hospital treating Ebola patients, forcing medical staff to evacuate them as gunfire rang out.
	The Miles Davis century: The definition, and evolution, of cool In the lineage of jazz, Miles Davis, born 100 years ago, presents something of a paradox: He looms as large as anyone, but he means many things to many people.
	New York back in NBA Finals for first time since 1999 after beating Cleveland New York will play the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the finals. The Western Conference finals is tied at two games apiece with Game 5 to be played on Tuesday.
Monday, May 25th, 2026
	$115B state budget finalized over Memorial Day weekend (Stock photo illustration via Getty Images)After failing for the second year in a row to pass a budget on time, the Florida Legislature has cobbled together this year’s Appropriations Act, to be voted on and sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis by the end of the week. The budget chairs for the House and Senate spent most of the Memorial Day weekend exchanging offers before finally concluding their work Sunday night. The Republicans leading the negotiation closed out all action related to the $115 billion Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget and the accompanying tax relief plan. The budget would be in effect from July 1 through June 30, 2027. The accompanying tax relief package, valued at $150 million, was revealed in the last round of budget negotiations. The bill provides a three-year exemption from sales taxes on windows and doors meant to withstand strong winds, such as those experienced in hurricanes. The bill includes a sales tax exemption for gun accessories, including silencers. At one point Sunday, the National Rifle Association and other gun rights organizations contended the tax break was being opposed by Senate President Ben Albritton. The NRA posted on X that Albritton was “attempting to compromise your Second Amendment rights by removing suppressors from the tax-exempt list.”
	American Autonomous Vehicles Hit a Roadblock (NewsUSA) - As self-driving vehicles continue to extend their reach onto the roads, the United States is at risk of losing its leadership in this key area, according to a new report from the Special Competitive Studies Project, a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI.Specifically, scaling of AVs will affect the development of autonomous systems with other industrial applications including industrial robotics, smart infrastructure, and dual-use military systems, and components and cars are increasingly sourced from China, according to the report.The SCSP’s Tech Scorecard Series, which evaluates national competitiveness across five categories, broke down the current status of the AV industry and where countries stand in the latest report, “The Autonomous Vehicle Crossroads,” with the following results:Innovation Leadership. In terms of AV, the United States maintains dominance in this area, with cars that set the global gold standard for safety and reliability. The U.S. also maintains a lead in software development, especially in the areas of vision-language-action (VLA) models.Industrial Capacity. Based on recent data, China dominates the physical layer of AV by maintaining complete control of both the supply chain components and vehicle manufacturing capacity. China also controls approximately 90% of the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing technology used in autonomous vehicles.Market Ecosystem. The U.S. and China are essentially tied in terms of global funding for AV. Although the U.S. AV industry maintains the largest share, China’s aggressive approach to globalization has fueled growth with mass deployment.Talent Pipeline. China currently produces significantly more engineering graduates with AV-relevant skills, and is integrating more intelligent vehicle curricula into its university system. The U.S. cannot currently match this focused pipeline and struggles to compete for a limited pool of skilled engineers.National Leverage. China’s established state support for the AV industry and coordinated regulatory frameworks have promoted faster deployment of AV at scale compared to the U.S., where regulations remain a patchwork, with inconsistent testing and development among states.To read the full report and take a deeper dive into the U.S.-China strategic competition in autonomous vehicles, visit scsp.ai.
	Stay safe this summer with heat and swimming safety tips As pools and lakes open up across the Quad Cities area, here’s some tips to stay safe this summer.
	Rock Falls participates in Taps Across America Every Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time, musicians across the country play taps to honor fallen military heroes.
	QCA Patriot Guard Riders looking for new volunteers As their main membership gets older, the Patriot Guard hopes to get younger people involved in honoring service members and first responders.
	There's a new way to get a car and it doesn't involve a dealership (BPT) - Key TakeawaysThe cost of car ownership in 2026 continues to rise, driven by higher vehicle prices, financing and ongoing expenses like insurance, maintenance and fuelTraditional options like buying or leasing a car typically require multi-year commitments that may not reflect changing lifestylesNew alternatives, including flexible and more affordable leasing models like Flexcar, are emerging to provide a simpler, month-to-month alternative to traditional car ownershipThe cost of getting a car in 2026 continues to rise, leading more Americans to rethink the traditional path of buying or leasing. Higher vehicle prices, long-term financing and ongoing expenses are driving up the total cost, with insurance alone averaging nearly $2,700 per year, not including maintenance, repairs or fluctuating fuel costs. At the same time, both buying and leasing typically require multi-year commitments, locking drivers into financial obligations that may not reflect how people live and move today."Life changes. We move cities or switch jobs. Families grow and plans shift. But one thing hasn't changed: how we buy cars," said Jake Marston, VP of Marketing. "For decades, buying a car has meant large down payments, unexpected repair bills, long-term debt and fixed contracts that are out of step with modern life."That's where newer car ownership alternatives are gaining traction. Flexcar offers an innovative and more affordable leasing model that bundles the major costs of having a car into a single monthly payment, including insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance. Designed for flexibility, it allows members to switch vehicles or adjust mileage plans as their needs change, whether that means upgrading to a larger SUV, choosing a more efficient option for a new commute or driving something different for the season. Members can also return their car at any time without early termination penalties."Since 2021, members have driven over 300 million miles across our markets, a clear sign that drivers are ready for a different model," said Jake Marston, VP of Marketing at Flexcar. "Flexcar gives people a simpler, more flexible way to get a car, without the multi-year loan commitments and unpredictable costs of traditional ownership."How Flexcar differs from traditional car buying or leasingBuying a car is a long-term responsibility, involving purchasing a vehicle outright or financing that purchase with a loan lasting several years and fixed monthly payments. In addition to upfront costs and dealer fees, owners are fully responsible for insurance, maintenance, repairs, depreciation and resale value.While leasing is often seen as a lower-commitment alternative to buying, it still comes with a multi-year contract, typically 2-4 years, and fixed monthly payments for the duration of the lease. Drivers may also face upfront fees, strict mileage limits and potential end-of-term charges. In many cases, lease agreements require higher insurance coverage, which can drive up monthly costs beyond the base payment.Unlike traditional buying or leasing, Flexcar provides a flexible, all-inclusive alternative with no multi-year commitment. One monthly payment covers the vehicle, insurance, routine maintenance and roadside assistance. Members can switch cars or mileage plans as their needs change, or return the vehicle at any time without early termination penalties. This gives drivers more flexibility and more predictable monthly costs, without multi-year contract obligations.Flexcar aims to make having a car more flexible and more predictable, reducing the financial uncertainty often associated with traditional ownership.Why Flexcar is more affordableFlexcar's model is designed to simplify costs while reducing upfront and ongoing expenses.Built-in savingsNo large down paymentNo long-term financing commitmentsFuel savings starting at $0.20 per gallonAll-in-one coverageInsurance includedMaintenance included24/7 roadside assistance includedMembers can save up to $0.60 per gallon at participating gas stations, with savings applied as a credit to their monthly invoice.Flexcar is available in Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with recently announced expansions into New York, San Francisco and San Jose. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat's included with my Flexcar? Flexcar includes the major costs of having a car in one simple monthly payment. This covers your vehicle, insurance, routine maintenance and 24/7 roadside assistance, helping make costs more predictable. Members also get access to fuel savings of up to $0.60 per gallon and loyalty perks that can help lower monthly payments over time.How do I sign up? Signing up for Flexcar is quick and fully online. Start by entering your location, age and estimated credit score to see available cars in your area. Then choose a vehicle, select a monthly plan with your preferred mileage and insurance options, and complete a short application with a soft credit check. Once approved, you can schedule delivery or pickup and start driving.Can I swap cars any time? With Flexcar, you can drive what you want, when you want. Cruise through summer with the top down in a Jeep Wrangler or conquer winter terrain in a rugged Toyota Tacoma. For a small swap fee, you can switch to the perfect car for every season and every adventure.Learn how you can save money and get the flexibility you need at Flexcar.com.
	Illinois plan to expand housing sees obstacles A housing plan from Illinois' governor JB Pritzker isn't going over smoothly in Springfield. Pritzker's BUILD (Building Up Illinois Developments) and House Bill 5626 legislative package aim to expand housing across Illinois. The move would make it easier for developers to build new homes and apartments. There's also a provision to provide financial help for [...]
	City of Muscatine will test two primary flood gates The City of Muscatine’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will conduct its annual flood preparedness and maintenance exercise on Wednesday, May 27, weather permitting. The exercise includes the temporary installation, inspection, and removal of the city’s two primary flood gates, according to a news release. The Roadway Maintenance Division will begin with the roller flood [...]
	Sonny Rollins, colossus of the saxophone, has died at 95 The legendary jazz saxophonist, who revolutionized the art of improvisation, died Monday at his home in Woodstock, N.Y.
	Illinois grows millions of bushels of soybeans. Why aren’t we eating them? Illinois grows more soybeans than any other state, harvesting more than 639 million bushels in 2025, well ahead of Iowa’s 595 million bushels and Minnesota’s 371 million bushels.
	Fill the Van Donation Drive will help QC Animal Welfare Center, Milan A Fill the Van Donation Drive will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, May 30, at Menards in Moline. Volunteers from the Quad City Animal Welfare Center will be on site collecting much needed donations for the animals at the shelter, which has announced it is at capacity. "We are currently in need [...]
	Traffic Alert: Intersection of Central Avenue, 23rd Street to close for resurfacing project Work in the intersection is expected to take two weeks, weather permitting, officials said.
	Illinois Hospitals and Programs Face Eviscerations That Not All the Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream in the World Can Palliate In response to a question last week from my associate Isabel Miller, Governor JB Pritzker said he didn’t think a group of progressive legislators could pass their progressive revenue bills through both chambers by the end of the spring session.
	‘If you follow a barge, it’s two and a half hours wait’: Boaters aren’t impressed with changes to Lock and Dam 14 Boaters who travel through Lock and Dam 14, north of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River will now have to use the commercial lock chamber when traveling.
	Rock Island National Cemetery hosts annual Memorial Day ceremony More than 100 national cemeteries across the country held services for Memorial Day, and the Rock Island Arsenal was no exception.
	2 killed in Clinton County UTV crash Both victims were riding in a single UTV that left a trail in Calamus. The UTV landed on its top when it crashed, and the driver was declared dead on scene.
	Memorial Day kicks off 100 deadliest days on the road: What to know The Memorial Day holiday weekend may be the unofficial start to summer, but it also marks the start of what are considered the 100 deadliest days on the road every year for teenage drivers. Our Quad Cities News correspondent Teodora Mitov reports almost a third of the deadly collisions during this time involve younger drivers [...]
	2 killed in Clinton County UTV crash Both victims were riding in a single UTV that left a trail in Calamus. The UTV landed on its top when it crashed, and the driver was declared dead on scene.
	Ahead of the World Cup, pressure to win and grow American soccer is on Tim Ream's mind Hoping to make the roster for the U.S. Men's National team going to the World Cup, Tim Ream knows there's a lot riding on the tournament, from playing well to growing a new generation of fans at home.
	Force Mineur: “Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu,” “I Love Boosters,” and “Passenger” Over the course of two-hours-plus, “cute” will only get you so far. But it's astounding how far it gets us in Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, which might've been an easy franchise low point if not for the diminutive cuddlebug of the title.
	Memorial Day ceremony honors veterans stories, sacrifice Families, veterans and community members gathered Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during annual Memorial Day ceremonies held across the country.
	A dry end to an already dry Month With the month of May coming to a close as we enter the last full week of the month, it has been pretty dry compared to average and is looking to remain that way. As we look through our rain outlook for the next seven days, the Quad Cities is not looking to see any [...]
	Whitewater Junction to temporarily close for repairs Whitewater Junction will temporarily close Tuesday, May 26 for repairs due to unexpected maintenance issues.
	Firefighter hospitalized, one occupant and dog safe after Bettendorf house fire The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a house fire on the 1400 block of 21st Street. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
	Moline American Legion holds Memorial Day service It was held at Browning Park's commemorative stones, which are inscribed with the names of active duty military members and veterans.
	Federal prosecutors recommend 3-year sentence for Ian Roberts The government has filed a recommendation for former Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Roberts to serve 37 months in prison.
	The Waiting Child: How you can make a difference as a Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Big’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen shows how you can make a difference in a young life as a [...]
	Bettendorf crews battle attic fire on 21st Street Bettendorf firefighters extinguished a house fire Monday afternoon on 21st Street. Read the details here.
	Circa '21 Dinner Theatre presenting 'Fiddler on the Roof' From now through June 27, you can catch the classic, beloved musical at Circa '21 in Rock Island!
	Firefighter hospitalized, occupant and family dog safely exit after Bettendorf house fire The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a house fire on the 1400 block of 21st Street Monday.
	No injuries reported following Bettendorf fire No injuries were reported following a Bettendorf fire. The Bettendorf Fire Department was called to the 1400 block of 21st St. on May 25. The fire spread from a shed to a house, leading to extensive damage to the home. An off-duty firefighter went inside to wake up a person inside who was sleeping. A [...]
	Two dead after UTV crash in Clinton County Two are dead after a UTV crash in Clinton County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened May 24 on a trail in the Calamus area. According to reports, the UTV flipped, killing the driver. A passenger was taken to the hospital and also died. The names of both people have not yet [...]
	Crews battle Bettendorf house fire, 1 firefighter taken to hospital KWQC has reached out to officials for more information.
	After Stephen Colbert's viral talk show parody, CBS backs down from copyright action CBS and Paramount backed away from copyright challenges to limit distribution of Stephen Colbert's appearance on a Michigan cable access show. He ended his run as host of "The Late Show" on Friday.
	Where Davenport’s mobile speed cabinets are located this week Here’s where Davenport’s mobile speed cabinets are located Tuesday through June 1.
	Veterans, families gather at Arsenal for Memorial Day remembrance Veterans and families gathered at Rock Island National Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen service members. Read more from the Memorial Day ceremony.
	Veterans, families gather at Arsenal for Memorial Day remembrance Veterans and families gathered at Rock Island National Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen service members. Read more from the Memorial Day ceremony.
	Trump to get "routine annual" medical exam 7 months after last visit to Walter Reed White House boasts Trump's "excellent health" as questions loom over the medical reality of the oldest inaugurated president.
	1-on-1 interview with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews Local 5's Dana Searles sits down with Republican Eddie Andrews to discuss his run for governor as he makes his final pitch before the primaries.
	Ban on some insurance prior authorizations expected to cut red tape A new Iowa law bans insurance prior authorization for cancer screenings and emergency health care. (Photo via Getty Images)Patients in Iowa will soon no longer need to wonder if their health insurance companies will approve certain care their doctors recommend. Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a bill banning prior authorizations for cancer screenings and emergency care. Some health care providers say House File 2635, signed into law May 13, is a way to remove some red tape that can delay needed health care and create a heavy burden for providers. Providers send prior authorization requests to a patient’s health insurance company to determine whether or not insurance will cover the recommended care. Requests can include anything from medications to imaging to specialist referrals. The insurance company will then approve or deny the prior authorization. Denials, however, can be appealed. Some requests are done via online portals, but there’s still a large paper and fax component for many prior authorizations. The practice of getting insurance’s approval places the burden on the provider and other health care staff. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. All that paperwork adds up. For Dr. Wendy Woods-Swafford, a pediatric hematologist oncologist and chief medical officer at UnityPoint Health, filling out prior authorizations means spending another three hours on one patient per week. She explained her staff spends the same amount of extra time on each patient. “It’s time consuming but probably more importantly, it impedes patients from being able to actually get the care that they need,” Woods-Swafford said. She said most of the time denials are overturned, but the time to get that approval is excessive. Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, managed House File 2635 through the legislative session. He said prior authorizations are bureaucratic red tape providers have to go through in order to give care and “delays care by several weeks sometimes.” Some health insurance companies already have no prior authorization needs for certain services. For instance, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield said in a statement it’s never required requests for emergency services. Many cancer screenings and cancer-related services also don’t need prior authorizations. “Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to providing coverage that supports access to safe, effective and affordable health care for the people we serve,” according to the company. The Federation of Iowa Insurers said in a statement its members support cancer screening that’s “consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and no prior authorization requirements for emergency care.” The National Cancer Institute said the guidelines are specific to each type of cancer and outlines surgical procedures and drug treatment regimens. While pushing the bill through the House, Harris said he heard from physicians who said the administrative burden, including prior authorizations, is leading to burnout and causing some providers to leave the medical field altogether. Providers “feel like they’re spending more time on a laptop having to fight insurance companies than they are actually spending time with patients,” Harris said. He added he views the law as “a really underestimated recruitment tool” because it allows “providers to actually spend more time bringing care to patients than pushing paperwork.” Harris heard from leaders at the University of Iowa, UnityPoint, and MercyOne who view the new law as a way to entice more physicians to practice in Iowa, especially as the state faces a shortage of medical providers. Harris also heard feedback on who at the insurance companies should be reviewing the prior authorization requests the bill does not address. Health insurance companies employ health professionals. Sometimes they’re former doctors. Those providers, however, do not need to have knowledge of the area of specialty the prior authorization covers. The bill will mandate insurance reviews are done by a health care professional in the same or similar specialty as the provider requesting approval. Woods-Swafford, said she was excited about that detail in the bill, knowing the reviewer has treated what she’s working to treat. “They understand what imaging you’ve already done or what therapies you’ve already tried,” she explained. “You’ve already tried the standard of care … and now you’re in a kind of gray area where there isn’t a standard treatment anymore. I understand how you got here, and I’m going to approve this therapy,” she gave as a hypothetical. With the new law starting Jan. 1, she wants patients to know “that clinical decisions are going to be validated in real time by people, not just an algorithm” and that the “process is going to be more transparent.” “There’s going to be more accountability in those denials because it’s not just going to be an auto denial and a fax without thinking about the human on the other end,” Woods-Swafford said. The bill also limits the use of artificial intelligence in the review process to the point that insurance companies may not solely use it to determine approval. A human must be involved in the process. Still, Woods-Swafford said she would like to see the bill go further, perhaps introducing pharmacy reviewers for the drug component. The pharmacy is another route in which insurance companies can deny care in prescribed medications. She said it would be better for all to remember that through the process of finding efficiency, there’s a patient at the other end. While waiting on prior authorizations, delays can take 21 to 28 days, “and that would otherwise be considered unacceptable in the world of medicine for delaying treatment unnecessarily,” she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Crews at the scene of house fire in Bettendorf KWQC has reached out to officials for more information.
	East Moline racers share impact of Kyle Busch’s death Drivers at East Moline Speedway are remembering Kyle Busch and discussing the impact his death has on the racing community.
	Iowa State University researcher to track how menopause stages affect the brain Iowa State University assistant professor of kinesiology and health Wesley Lefferts has launched a study into how the stages of menopause impact the vascular system in the brain. (Photo courtesy of Iowa State University)An Iowa State University professor is leading the charge to better detail the changes to brain health women see as they go through the different stages of menopause. Wesley Lefferts, ISU assistant professor of kinesiology and health, is the principal investigator of “BRAin & VAscular health across menopause,” also known as the BRAVA study. As the study works to connect with women going through pre-, peri- and post-menopausal stages, Lefferts said more and more attention is being paid to the less-outward side of changes brought about by menopause. “There’s been a lot of scientific statements coming up in the American Heart Association, and things like that, as well as some focus groups and panels at NIH, all regarding improving health outcomes across the menopause transition and understanding the true implications of that,” Lefferts said. “So I think it is an area that we’re going to be able to make some large advances in and hopefully capitalize on the momentum that we have at the moment.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Both organizations Lefferts mentioned are funding his research, with a three-year, nearly $300,000 grant from the American Heart Association and a two-year, $405,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. Both grants were awarded in July and August 2025, respectively. The National Institute on Aging describes menopause as “the stage of a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently, and she can no longer get pregnant,” with perimenopause — the transition into menopause — and menopause introducing symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, joint and muscle discomfort, changes in mood and concentration. When symptoms begin and how long they last can vary greatly from person to person, and the National Institute on Aging stated online menopause can change someone’s bone density, heart health and physical function. Those who have gone through menopause are more likely to have a stroke or develop a heart disease or osteoporosis. Lefferts has been gathering data “across the aging lifespan” since his time earning his Ph.D., he said, from people ages 18 to 85. He noticed in studying age-related changes in brain blood flow patterns that the arteries in women’s brains are less protected from blood flow patterns that can cause damage to the brain. After observing this, Lefferts said he worked to get more data from middle-aged men and women and revisited his study later. He found that around 50 years old — the median age for menopause — there is a “nonlinear increase” in “how kind of discontinuous the blood flow is within the brain in women.” “That observation, coupled with some of the other vascular health metrics that I had access to within that data set, really suggested that right around that menopause transition, there’s some things going on with the vasculature that may be altering blood flow patterns in the brain and contributing to why men and women’s brains age differently,” Lefferts said. Much is not known about cardiovascular effects and their impact on the brain during the perimenopausal stage, Lefferts said, partly because it is a period when there is a lot of variability of symptoms. He argued that perimenopause is probably the most important part of the menopause process to study since it is what transitions people from pre- to post-menopausal states. The goal is to enroll close to 370 people in the study, which Lefferts said will start with online questionnaires. Participants still experiencing a menstrual cycle will track their cycle to ensure study when their estrogen is high, and the team will measure heart functions, cerebrovascular health, blood pressure, sex hormones and cognitive functions at an assessment later on. Subjects will also bring a fitness bracelet home to track sleep and physical activity, Lefferts said, and the study will also factor in lifestyle behaviors, medications and other things that could impact the menopausal transition. While grant funding will only support a cross-sectional look at this topic, with a singular visit from study participants, Lefferts said he hopes to find the funding to track subjects over time and create a longitudinal study. “We’re going to have access to a lot of data that, if we can look at this longitudinally and identify what behaviors or medications might be critical to helping slow down that aging process throughout the menopause transition, that would potentially improve the brain aging trajectories,” Lefferts said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	2 dead after UTV crash The names of those who died have not been released.
	Thursday marks 3 years since deadly Davenport apartment building collapse The Davenport building collapse is still playing out in court today.
	Crews battle fire inside home Monday morning The fire chief said the fire started in a bedroom. One person inside was able to get out safely.
	58th annual Quad Cities Criterium races through East Davenport on Memorial Day The 58th running of the Quad Cities Criterium features a hilly course providing fast speeds, according to officials.
	Portion of Locust Street in Davenport to close for sewer repairs A construction project will shut down a portion of Locust Street starting Tuesday for sewer main repairs.
	East Moline Speedway drivers react to Kyle Busch's death Local drivers at East Moline Speedway reflect on the death of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and its impact on the racing community.
	Two killed in ATV crash in Clinton County Authorities are investigating a fatal ATV crash in Clinton County that killed two people Sunday. Read the details.
	The highest-paying jobs in Iowa and Illinois, other states: Federal data Cardiologists are the highest-paid occupation in 14 states, while orthopedic surgeons lead the way in eight others.
	Hospitals, clinics want Nevada to bolster protections for discount drug program (Mint Images/Getty Images)Nevada hospitals and health clinics say drug manufacturers are restricting the number of pharmacies in the state that can participate in a federal discount drug program. The limitations put in place by drug companies make it harder for patients to refill prescriptions at reduced rates, and they affect a revenue stream hospitals rely on to fund health services for underserved patients, lawmakers were told at last week’s legislative interim Committee on Commerce and Labor. Officials from Renown Regional Medical Group and the Nevada Primary Care Association, an association of health centers and other community health providers, asked state lawmakers to consider legislation that places protections to ensure health providers can offer the drug pricing program at its fullest. The 340B Drug Pricing Program, which was created by Congress in 1992, requires drug manufacturers to offer medications at a significantly discounted price to eligible providers. The program allows eligible hospitals and clinics to contract with pharmacies to fill prescriptions, said Adam Porath, the vice president of pharmacy for Renown Health. “That drug would be shipped directly to the contract pharmacy,” Porath said. “Any reimbursement that happened for that particular prescription would flow back to the hospital.” Hospitals and clinics that participate in the program are able to use savings from the program to cover other health services for low-income and underserved patients. But some drug manufacturers have restricted which pharmacies hospitals can work with, Porath said. They’ve prevented hospitals and clinics with in-house pharmacies from entering contract arrangements. Twenty-two states have enacted laws to prevent manufacturers from restricting 340B-priced drugs to contract pharmacies in 2025, according to Porath. Representatives for the hospitals and health clinics want Nevada to consider similar legislation. One possibility would be to amend Nevada’s Unfair Trade Practices to “guarantee a right to receive 340B drugs at any pharmacy contracted by a covered entity from which the patient receives services,” said Steven Messinger, policy director with the Nevada Primary Care Association. The funds generated by the cost savings allows hospitals to stand up other health programs that benefit underserved and low-income populations. Renown Health used cost savings to provide pharmacotherapy services to both adult and pediatric patients, hire pharmacy liaisons that help with financial assistance for patients, and run a 24/7 pharmacy in Reno, Porath said. Nevada’s Federal Qualified Health Centers – community-based clinics in medically underserved areas – generate roughly 12% of their revenue from 340B Drug Pricing Program, Messinger told lawmakers. The 340B Drug Pricing Program opens up access to people who might not be close to hospitals and clinics to pick up cheaper prescriptions and rely on pharmacies, said Messinger. “I think it was suggested that you could just drive to the pharmacy where you could get your discount,” Messinger said. “Most of our patients don’t have lives that are that easy. They are not able to just drive across the valley to a specific place. When they go to access it’s very critical it be in the neighborhood they are in.” Nevada lawmakers have already passed legislation that prevents price discrimination on 340B drugs and ensures pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) sell drugs “at the wholesale acquisition cost” rather than adjusted, higher costs, Messinger said. “That’s how we are able to care for uninsured problems,” he said. “We were getting a lot of money captured before we passed that law.” ‘Very lucrative revenue stream’ Though hospitals and clinics have touted the benefits of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the amount of revenue hospitals have generated has been scrutinized by states and at the federal level in recent years. The drug program’s spending went from $6.6 billion in 2010 to $44 billion in 2021, according to an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office analysis The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has been investigating abuses of the 340B program. It is because of lucrative revenue streams that lawmakers should be wary about considering a legislative fix, said Dharia McGrew, the director of state policy with Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “That mechanism has been co-opted by mega retailers and vertically integrated PBM-owned pharmacies that have learned that this program could be a very, very lucrative revenue stream, billions of dollars,” she said, adding that the program is driving up medical costs. “It incentivizes the prescribing of higher cost drugs that have a higher margin of revenue, and it is pushing patients into more expensive care settings.” Lawmakers, she argued, should leave it up to Congress to address gaps in services. Messinger pushed back against claims that patients aren’t directly benefitting from the funding accumulated from the drug pricing program. “A lot of the 340B discussion is assuming a world where everyone is privately insured and we are just trying to decide if the dollar should be going to the insurance company, the PBM, the drug manufacturer, or the provider,” Messinger said. “It doesn’t work that way for us. About 30% of our patients are uninsured and we have to find a way to pay for those patients.” Pharmaceutical manufacturers, he noted, have also benefited from keeping drug costs high, adding that the “three largest pharmaceutical manufacturers have profits that are measured in the tens of billions” of dollars. Nevada, he said, has a better safety net because of the revenue generated from the program and the money is better spent “than somehow putting the benefit back to pharmaceutical manufactures who seem to be doing fine.” “Why would you want to take that dollar out of clinics serving Nevadans and give them to someone else?” Messinger asked. Courtesy of Nevada Current
	Group O Inc. joins PMMI to support growth in packaging and automation Group O Inc., headquartered in Milan, has joined PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
	Vibrant Credit Union named Best Credit Union in 2026 Buy Side Awards Vibrant Credit Union named Best Credit Union in 2026 Buy Side Awards by The Wall Street Journal.
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for May 24, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	Brews Energy opens storefront, Central Pool Supply opens second location, Pasquale's Pizzeria opens food trailer, and more Quad-Cities business news Pizzeria opens food trailer after restaurant fire, coffee shop opens storefront, Central Pool Supply opens second location, among other Quad-Cities business news.
	Gretchen at Work: Waterskiing with the Backwater Gamblers "I was born into it. I just stayed because I loved it," said Collin Ridgley, a member of the Backwater Gamblers.
	Hot weather builds in for the Quad Cities While May temperatures are still running below average, the last week of the month will be much warmer than average. Hot weather is expected through Thursday. Only limited rain chances are expected across the Quad Cities area for the week ahead. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Salt Lake City area ranks among top 10 best places for veterans to live Veterans United Home Loans analyzed 23 different factors and surveyed 200 veterans to develop its ranking. (Getty Images)The Salt Lake City-Murray area is among the nation’s top 10 places to live for veterans, according to a new ranking. The list released last week by Veterans United Home Loans — a mortgage lender for current and former military members — ranked the top metro areas for veterans, service members and military families based on a variety of factors, including quality of life, opportunities for affordable living, jobs, quality healthcare access, veteran support networks and proximity to major military installations. The Salt Lake City-Murray metro area ranked as the ninth best place to live for veterans and service members. Even though Salt Lake City has high housing costs compared to other areas across the nation, the metro scored high due to other factors including economic opportunity, outdoor lifestyle and overall quality of life. “With standout healthcare access, a growing job market and quick access to skiing, hiking and mountain recreation, Salt Lake City offers a compelling mix of opportunity and lifestyle,” the lender wrote in an article about the ranking. “Veterans can take advantage of nearby outdoor destinations like Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Park City and the Great Salt Lake, while still having access to city amenities such as Temple Square, local breweries, performing arts venues and a growing downtown.” Behind the scenes of an effort to house homeless veterans across Utah Here’s how the top 10 metros for veterans ranked: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Northfolk area in Virginia and North Carolina San Antonio-New Braunfels in Texas Jacksonville in Florida Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin in Tennessee Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater in Florida Oklahoma City Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos in Texas St. Louis metro area spanning Missouri and Illinois Salt Lake City-Murray in Utah Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington in Texas The home lender estimated that the Salt Lake City-Murray metro area has nearly 38,000 veterans, which is a smaller veteran population than other cities that ranked in the top 10, “but it performs especially well in healthcare access and infrastructure.” The Salt Lake City-Murray area ranked No. 1 in healthcare and facilities scores, with a high number of physicians per capita and a high concentration of Veterans Affairs facilities compared to its veteran population. The VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System includes the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City and 10 community-based outpatient clinics spanning the state and into Idaho and Nevada. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Though “affordability is a challenge” for housing in the Salt Lake City area, the ranking said — with a median home price of $565,500 — the ranking noted that Utah also offers property tax relief options for eligible disabled veterans and some tax relief on military retirement income, though the state’s tax benefits aren’t as robust as other states with no income tax. Other factors like a strong economy, job market and its concentration of VA facilities helped Salt Lake City break the top 10. “Salt Lake City offers a lifestyle that’s hard to match, especially for those transitioning into civilian life,” Coral Alkashif, a real estate agent with Black Diamond Realty, said in a prepared statement included in the ranking. “The economy is strong, with growing job opportunities, major employers and continued development driven by tourism and infrastructure.” The Veterans United Home Loans analyzed 23 different factors and surveyed 200 veterans to develop its ranking, according to its methodology. The lender then scored 605 metro areas across all 50 states based on those factors, with an extra consideration on veteran resources and financial factors like cost of living. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	U.S.-Iran peace deal emerging, while war threats still loom President Trump and other administration officials are tempering expectations raised of an imminent agreement to end the war in Iran while Iranian officials have signaled there are still disagreements on key issues.

Tuesday, May 26th, 2026

Monday, May 25th, 2026