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

Friday, September 18th, 2026
	What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil The Houthis' biggest land grab in years reignited Yemen's 12-year civil war and pushed up global fuel prices, extending their reach to a key maritime chokepoint and threatening Saudi Arabia's oil exports.
	It's illegal for armed federal officers to be at polls. Lawsuits seek to ensure that The latest lawsuit, first reported by NPR, argues the Trump administration's repeated suggestions that federal officers could be at polling sites is a form of illegal voter intimidation.
	How to get relief from fall allergies in Iowa WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Cold and flu viruses are spreading as temperatures drop and school resumes. But allergies could also be causing the sniffles this year. “Fall can be a big time for allergies," says Dr. Javen Wunschel, a board-certified allergist at The Iowa Clinic. "The biggest thing we’re seeing right now is ragweed [...]
	The driver who slammed into an LA bus before helicopter crash is charged with murder An SUV driver was under the influence of drugs when she swerved into the wrong lane, blew a red light and slammed into a Los Angeles city bus, killing two riders, prosecutors said as they charged her with murder.
Thursday, September 17th, 2026
	Assumption shuts out West 51-0 Assumption football defeated Davenport West 51-0 on Thursday night.
	Rockridge, Riverdale set for showdown of unbeatens The Rockets and the Rams are both 4-0 this season in the Three Rivers Rock Conference.
	Brooms and Antlers This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Even the Mississippi River seems to know when it has crossed the Mason-Dixon line. The Upper Mississippi is a Yankee…
	Judy's Family Cafe opening in Aledo on Friday Judy already has two Galesburg locations that have garnered national attention on social media.
	State of Illinois to offer incentives in hunt for new operator of former Tyson Foods plant in Joslin Officials with the governor's office said resources from the Invest in Illinois Fund will be offered to help incentivize a new buyer.
	Recall Roundup: Fire truck toys, dairy free ice cream, heated blankets Check your receipts for any of these items being recalled from retailers around the country.
	State of Illinois to help search for new operator of former Tyson Foods plant in Joslin Officials with the governor's office said resources from the Invest in Illinois Fund will be offered to help incentivize a new buyer.
	Train stopped in west end of Davenport Several blocks to the west of Gaines Street are blocked off while police respond to the situation.
	Here's why Moline Police are suspending the department's Flock Safety contract Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati says there needs to be a balance between legislation, public sentiment and technology.
	Clinton Symphony will open season with Beethoven's 'Eroica' Beethoven’s Third Symphony, the “Eroica” is the featured work on Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s 73rd season opener. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the Durgin Performing Arts Center at Clinton High School. Silas Nathaniel Huff will conduct the orchestra of 50 area musicians. Huff was recently named a finalist in the [...]
	Head Start proposal draws concern from local advocates Local advocates raise concerns over a federal proposal to expand Head Start without added funding, warning of cuts to bilingual programs and health screenings.
	Drop in Nebraskans receiving public food assistance hastens, drawing concern at hearing Together food pantry in downtown Omaha helps people in need pack up free grocery items during a past holiday season. The number of Nebraskans receiving public food assistance has dropped since the Trump administration's stricter eligibility and work requirements were implemented in summer of 2025. Advocates are concerned, saying some who need help aren't getting it and that pressure is weighing on private pantries and food banks. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — The number of Nebraskans receiving public food assistance continues a downward slide, punctuated by recent back-to-back record drops in monthly participation since the state began releasing public SNAP data in 2014. The latest figures show that about 7,600 fewer Nebraskans were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in July compared with the month before. Total participation was 116,703 Nebraskans, down from about 150,000 a year ago. July beat June in terms of the biggest single-month loss of SNAP participants in more than a decade and since the summer of 2025, when Congress approved a massive tax-and-spending-cuts package described by President Donald Trump as big and beautiful. In a legislative hearing Thursday, a Nebraska Appleseed nutrition advocate sounded further alarm. Eric Savaiano, manager of food and nutrition access and economic justice for the nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed. (Courtesy of Nebraska Appleseed) Records show that compared with July 2025, nearly 33,000 fewer people in Nebraska received public food assistance this July, a nearly 22% dip over the year. Eric Savaiano, the nonprofit Appeseed’s manager for food and nutrition access, said about half of that loss represents Nebraska youth and teens under age 19, with 13% of the total annual loss being infants and children under 5. He called that shocking and said the decline does not mean “someone solved hunger last summer.” “Fewer people on SNAP means hungry people, half of which are children, are experiencing more strain and struggle, more trips to limited food pantries and food banks, and more long-term pain for school nutrition programs and educators for the foreseeable future,” Savaiano said. He laid out concerns during a hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. Though the focus was an interim study on food insecurity for pregnant and postpartum women and their children in Nebraska, SNAP emerged as part of the discussion. Call for ‘accountability’ The committee chair, state Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, took a challenging stance and asked Savaiano if there should be “accountability” for people to work if they’re being provided public food benefits. Recent declines in SNAP and other public benefits have been tied to eligibility changes and stricter work requirements called for in the 2025 tax and spending measure. The Trump administration said it wanted to curb waste, fraud and abuse and spend federal dollars wisely. The Department of Agriculture covers the cost of SNAP benefits. States administer the program and share those administrative costs with the federal government. Hardin said much of the national debt is related to health “in some way, shape or form.” State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering. (Photo courtesy of Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “If we don’t go after something in the health space, we will never get a handle on that,” Hardin said after Savaiano’s testimony. “And if we don’t get a handle on that national debt, what happens to Nebraska?” Savaiano responded, “Are we doing that on the backs of people who need the support right now?” Appleseed officials believe that Nebraska’s declining SNAP participation has been exacerbated by the state’s implementation in May of new eligibility verification requirements for all applicants. Savaiano said states have flexibility in their verification process and that Appleseed believes the tactics employed by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are overly burdensome and have scared off some Nebraskans who need aid. He hopes for future legislation to rein in the process. Savaiano said, for example, that Nebraska SNAP beneficiaries must certify the number of people who live in their household, and that can take the form of getting a neighbor to sign paperwork. Savaiano referred to the case of a rural Nebraskan who balked, saying her neighbors would laugh and make her life miserable. She no longer participates in the program. Protecting taxpayer dollars A spokesperson for Nebraska DHHS acknowledged that the state’s drop in SNAP participation is in part due to stepped-up verification requirements. Jeff Powell, the spokesperson, said the process was created in response to the federal law change and requirement that states maintain a SNAP payment error rate below 6%. States with error rates above that threshold, beginning in October 2027, must pay a portion of federal benefit costs. Nebraska was one of only nine states with a reported error rate below 6%. Error rates measure the accuracy of states in determining who is eligible for SNAP and how much they receive. “The enhanced verification measures will ensure program integrity, error rates remain below 6%, and taxpayer dollars are protected,” said Powell. The entrance to a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. (Stock photo by hapabapa/Getty Images) He said Nebraska has reduced the instances when the “honor system” is used. He said that is “critical” to remaining below the error threshold. “DHHS is working to streamline the new measures to achieve quicker benefit determinations and will ensure that all Nebraskans eligible for SNAP benefits can receive them,” Powell said. State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, who had requested that the Legislature examine food insecurity particularly for women and their children, noted during the hearing that Gov. Jim Pillen signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 14-18 as Malnutrition Awareness Week. Only two members of the committee were present at Thursday’s hearing, though it was livestreamed and recorded. Rountree testified that many pantries and food banks have been running low on healthier items as Nebraska families are leaning more on private food providers. Healthy brain development Among experts invited to speak was Abbie Raikes, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center whose focus is on early childhood development. She said she was speaking as a private individual and noted that nutrition in early years is essential for healthy brain development. She and other academics who spoke said food insecurity can negatively affect school readiness, academics and behavior. Rountree asked members to consider the testimony when acting on future legislation related to low-income Nebraskans. “Develop well now so we can have our children in school able to learn and be productive members in our society,” he said. Most recent Nebraska SNAP statistics reflect activity through July. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	The Roadless Rule rollback is an opportunity not a threat An Alaska Forest Practices Act compliant forest road is seen in what was previously an unroaded forest setting. (Photo courtesy of Keith Coulter)While environmentalists oppose the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule, which would remove prohibitions on road construction and logging on nearly 59 million acres of national forest, I see this as an opportunity for professional foresters to manage federal land, reduce wildfire risk and boost the economy. I’ve spent 30 years in the industrial logging sector of the Western U.S. in states such as Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Environmental rhetoric is nothing new to those of us who have chosen to make working in western forests their career. Recently, I read a commentary in the Alaska Beacon that argued for maintaining the Roadless Rule and I was not surprised to view the typical laundry list of doom from one side of the debate. Words like “threatened” and “imperiled” come up as authors weave their case for almost certain environmental ruin unless we curb industrial activities immediately for what can only be described as the “do-nothing alternative.” As a professional forester with decades of boots-on-the-ground experience, a few obvious counterpoints come to mind. The rhetoric that forests are a stagnant sea of trees that do not grow or become more dense year after year is simply wrong. That’s a Forestry 101 issue. You’d think something this simplistic would be understood by the average environmentalist: forests do grow, year after year, becoming denser. In a warming climate with limited resources of water, nutrients, space, sunlight and dwindling snowpack, continued growth will inevitably lead to insect and disease issues, dying trees and catastrophic wildfire. Look at the news. The wildfire epidemic appears to be growing year to year and lasting longer each year due to warmer winters and dwindling snowpack. Catastrophic wildfire events are real and increasingly common. People are dying. Whole communities are being lost. Throughout my career I’ve watched the environmentalist movement become very successful. It has demonized building roads, tree cutting and forest management as a whole. Regions of the Western U.S. and Alaska that used to have large milling infrastructure are now idled and gone. There is no one left to do the work or send the logs to mills because they aren’t there. There are few ways to complete forest restoration work, because there are no longer markets for the material. Revenue from the logging industry that can support public schools is in decline. Had forest management activities been allowed to continue, forests could be managed and local economies supported in the effort. One hundred years of fire suppression in the western forests means they are overstocked as the climate warms. From what you know about forests, even if it is just a little: what do you think is going to happen in those areas in the years to come? I’m not sure what the environmentalists’ long-term goal is, other than “preserve the forests and the forests will take care of themselves.” The evidence does not support that message. Their messaging to “do nothing” seems reckless and misplaced. The sediment contribution to nearby water bodies from a well- managed forest road is probably difficult to even measure when compared to the benefits of accessing areas that can be managed for forest health, wood products, jobs and long-term recreation, resulting in stronger regional economies. Now, let’s consider what the contribution to sediment loads in fish bearing creeks or watersheds that supply drinking water to scores of people are after a catastrophic wildfire burns through an area. Keep in mind that forest operations in the Western U.S. and Alaska have strict forest practices rules and regulations. Timber harvesting is inspected by not only State agency forestry professionals but also Dept of Fish and Game and the Dept of Environmental Conservation representatives. Western states have strict regulatory standards that the forest industry must adhere to while simultaneously creating fire resilient and healthy forest ecosystems. The forest products sector is largely our only hope for navigating our way out of the overstocked forest problem that blankets the Western U.S. There are thousands of professional foresters and land managers that have been trained by Society of American Foresters accredited universities working to improve forest health across the nation. I disagree with environmental organizations that want to stop science-based management of forests in the name of preservation, regardless of the cost to local economies. Arguing for the preservation of the Roadless Rule puts mother nature in the driver’s seat — and few people will be able to tolerate how she’ll manage the forests if it happens through destructive wildfire events. We already know how to solve forest management issues: with roads and active forest management. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Taco Throwdown Festival will blend food, music, wrestling in Rock Falls Rock Falls Tourism will bring together an evening of food, entertainment and family fun at the Taco Throwdown Festival on Friday, Sept. 25, at the RB&W District. The Taco Throwdown Festival will be 4-10 p.m. at the RB&W District, 201 E. 2nd St., Rock Falls. The event celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month and will feature [...]
	Quad Cities early education leaders speak out against potential changes to Head Start Proposed federal changes to Head Start could affect language instruction, class sizes and local control, prompting concerns from Quad Cities advocates.
	Bicyclist airlifted to Iowa City for treatment after Rock Island crash Officers responded to a crash involving a bicyclist and a vehicle in the 3500 block of Fifth Avenue on Thursday afternoon, police say.
	Hispanic Heritage Month: Moline restaurant serves authentic family recipes rooted in Mexican heritage Meet a local family who overcame hurdles to share a piece of their heritage with the Quad Cities.
	Quad Cities Heart Walk brings people together around CPR, survivors & heart health This year's Heart Walk will be on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Bettendorf and emceed by James Zahara. Here's how your attendance will help save lives.
	State of Illinois provides help to attract buyers for former Tyson plant in Joslin Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on Thursday announced that the State of Illinois is making resources available through the Invest in Illinois Fund to help attract potential buyers for the former Tyson Foods beef facility in Joslin, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of [...]
	Quad Cities International Airport receives over $200k in federal funding The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grant Program.
	Former Mulkey's becoming a sushi and hibachi restaurant A banner on the building has made the announcement, but no further details were provided.
	Iowa audit: Governor’s office salaries up 35% while other departments shrank Salaries for the Iowa Governor’s office and Secretary of State’s office have gone up while many other state departments saw budget cuts, according to a new report from the Iowa State Auditor.
	The unique farm buildings of Iowa are on display at this weekend's All-State Barn Tour Richard Tyler doesn’t know why he decided to purchase the Secrest Octagonal Barn in 1992; he just knew it was something he wanted to do.
	Section of Muscatine County road will close to traffic for paving project Beginning Tuesday, September 22, 230th Street (G28) between Iowa Highway 70 and the intersection of Atwood Avenue will be closed to traffic for a PCC paving project, according to the Muscatine County Road Department. Construction is anticipated to be suspended late this fall and resume in the spring of 2027. The project is tentatively scheduled [...]
	T'storm chances hang around for the weekend We've had at least a chance for rain several days in a row, and that stretch doesn't end soon enough for some people! Storm chances are here Friday morning, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And it's a big weekend for some - it's homecoming! The weather will be dry for most games Friday evening. But, there's [...]
	WIU to highlight new emergency operations center with ribbon cutting Western Illinois University in Macomb is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new state-of-the-art emergency operations center.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted by Iowa Department of Corrections for escape Jones, 33, is 5-foot-8, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
	Crime Stoppers: Moline police searching for woman who rented vehicle under false name, never returned it Police said the woman gave a false name that was later reported in an identity theft report.
	Crime Stoppers: Man wanted in Rock Island County for failure to appear in court on burglary, drugs and other charges Lawrence Dean is wanted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear for burglary, domestic abuse, manufacturing ecstasy pills and failure to register as a sex offender.
	Join the annual Quad Cities Heart walk this weekend! WQAD is proud to sponsor the Heart Walk, and our own James Zahara will be emceeing the event!
	Knox-Galesburg Symphony opens for its 75th season on Saturday The symphony will perform "A Little Night Music" at the Orpheum Theatre.
	Comments open for proposed Head Start changes Area Head Start programs are speaking out about potential changes to the program and asking government officials to pull back the proposed rules. The changes include implementing English-only instructions. Locally, 66 percent of Head Start's student demographic is bilingual. Another proposal would remove any restrictions on student-to-teacher ratio. Supporters of Head Start say health services [...]
	Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, a GOP ‘giant’ and ‘workhorse’ who shaped water policy, dies at 84 Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who shaped landmark water policies in the U.S. West and guided the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has died.
	Riverssance Festival of Fine Art returns with 75 artists, live music, tasty food and drinks The Riverssance Festival of Fine Art returns to Lindsay Park Sept. 19–20 with more than 75 artists, live music, food, family activities and the presentation of the 2026 Harley Award.
	Students learn to share the road with farm equipment ahead of harvest Nearly 175 students in Henry County participated in the program.
	Former Moline High School director starts scholarship fund, plans variety show Sue Wignall directed plays and musicals at Moline High School for 20 years before she retired.
	City of Morrison provides update on U. S. Route 30 reconstruction project The City of Morison has provided an update about the Illinois Department of Transportation's ongoing U. S. Route 30 reconstruction project through Morrison: "IDOT has indicated that comments submitted through this email address will be reviewed and considered as part of the project decision-making process," the update says. Additional information, including background on the project [...]
	Trump withdraws Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, as his nominee to lead ICE The White House says it is withdrawing its nomination of Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead ICE, ensuring that an agency at the forefront of President Trump's domestic agenda will remain without a Senate-confirmed leader for at least a while longer.
	1 airlifted to Iowa City after bicycle/vehicle crash in Rock Island One person was airlifted to Iowa City after a crash between a vehicle and a bicyclist in Rock Island this afternoon. An email from the Rock Island Police Department said officers responded to the 3500 block of 5th Avenue on September 17 at about 1 p.m. for a report of a single vehicle vs. bicyclist [...]
	QC Head Start leaders work to oppose federal program changes Leaders of Illinois Quad Cities Head Start programs are opposing proposed federal regulations that would roll back standards on teacher qualifications, staff support, curricula and health screenings.
	Iowa’s unemployment rate remains at 3.2% in August Iowa’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.2% for the month of August, according to Iowa Workforce Development.
	ICE agent appears in Minnesota court to face charges in the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant Christian Castro, a federal immigration officer, made his first court appearance in Minnesota since he was booked Wednesday into a local jail. Castro faces multiple state and federal charges in connection with a shooting during the immigration surge in Minnesota.
	Former Iowa Kid Captain Nile Kron dies at 9 years old Former University of Iowa Kid Captain, Nile Kron, died on September 15 at 9 years old.
	We want to see your Halloween displays Show us your spooky season displays by submitting a picture or video here!
	What’s driving the push for faster home renovations in 2026? The global home renovation market was valued at $2.05 trillion in 2025, reflecting the scale of an industry that sits at the intersection of real estate, construction, and consumer spending. For homeowners and real estate investors alike, renovations can increase property values while making homes more comfortable, efficient, and functional, reports Reece Windows & Doors.But creating that value is almost never a straightforward, stress-free process.This is why there’s a push for a faster, more predictable approach to renovation. Homeowners want projects completed with less disruption, while contractors are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency, shorten timelines, and deliver on their estimates. Contractors who can increase their speed of service without sacrificing quality will find themselves in a better position to increase their business prospects. Reece Windows & Doors Why Homeowners Demand Faster TimelinesWhether it’s a new kitchen, a bathroom remodel, or a full-home renovation, projects routinely exceed their original timelines and budgets.Once work begins, residents have to navigate the disruption of living through construction. Contractors, meanwhile, feel pressured to produce quicker results.How Minimizing Disruption Saves Time and MoneyDuring home renovations, workers often have to be inside a residence, which can be disruptive. Between the materials needed to protect the home, dust particles, materials being stored, and noise, there can be severe disruptions to the living space while work is ongoing.Residents understand that this is part of a renovation project, but they also want the process to be as quick as possible. It’s important for contractors to properly evaluate a project so that they can give the most accurate timeline possible. It’s also important to ensure that all materials are in hand before work begins so that timelines aren’t disrupted by logistical failures.Why Bundling Multiple Projects Reduces Total CostsFor homeowners facing multiple renovation needs, tackling everything in a single, coordinated project can be more efficient than working on one issue at a time. If a renovation already causes noise, dust, and contractors to be in the house, it makes sense to address several projects at once.A kitchen remodel, for example, can be combined with a bathroom renovation and plumbing upgrades. The same approach can extend to other parts of the home, such as making window and door replacements part of a larger project that also includes ventilation and insulation upgrades.Bundling several projects into one carefully coordinated renovation can minimize disruption and reduce the need for repeated work. There may also be a financial advantage for homeowners who choose to work with a single contractor.For contractors, this helps increase the scope of a project so they receive more money up front, but it also means that supplies can be ordered in bulk and shipped once, saving on delivery fees. It also means that they can schedule workers once instead of over multiple projects.How Faster Renovations Lower Hidden ExpensesFor property investors, faster renovations can translate directly into lower costs. Every day a project runs past its original deadline can add expenses, from temporary housing and storage to lost rental income.Shortening the renovation timeline by even a few weeks can bring a property back onto the rental market sooner, helping investors recoup lost income and improve the project’s overall economics.For homeowners, a faster renovation can mean fewer nights in a hotel, less time paying for off-site storage, and less disruption to everyday life.Delivering Faster Home RenovationsFaster home renovations shouldn’t mean low quality or cutting corners. Efficiency should come from good planning, solid decision-making, and working with experts who value their clients’ time and convenience.Most renovation delays stem from supply issues, poor scheduling, and mid-project changes. By removing these hurdles from the start, contractors can maintain high standards and keep timelines tight.There are two strategies that contractors also employ to make fast turnaround possible:Pre-project decision-makingParallel workflowsWhy Pre-Project Decisions Prevent DelaysThe first strategy requires the major decisions to be made before construction begins. Materials, fixtures, finishes, work schedules, and other project details are finalized in advance, with the necessary equipment, supplies, and resources ordered and ready before the project begins.The contractor and homeowner also agree upfront to avoid mid-project changes, while any surprises (inevitable in most renovations) are addressed within the framework of the original schedule. Communication is essential; it’s important for contractors to let their clients know what could go wrong so that there’s a plan before work begins. For example, if mold is found, does the homeowner give the contractor permission to undertake mold remediation immediately? Making these decisions before work begins can save both parties time.Parallel WorkflowsThe parallel workflow strategy draws on the principles of multi-project management and focuses on running multiple workstreams in parallel.One crew, for example, can handle the electrical work while another takes care of plumbing. This approach can be particularly effective for projects that combine several renovations, allowing different teams to work simultaneously rather than waiting for one phase to finish before the next begins.Home owners want renovations with shorter timelines, less disruption, and high quality. While it may seem like an operational challenge, contractors have risen to the challenge and created systems and workflows that meet demand. Renovation businesses can improve customer satisfaction and increase their revenue with the right strategies.This story was produced by Reece Windows & Doors and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Second arrest made in connection to 18-month-old THC overdose Another arrest was made on Wednesday afternoon in connection to an 18-month-old child overdosing on THC wax in June.
	Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley hosts cleanup day Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley brought volunteers to Sylvan Island for some cleanup work. High school students and families, Big Brothers Big Sisters and City of Moline employees worked together to clean up the park. Mayor pro tem Alan Silas presented a proclamation declaring September National Big Brothers Big Sisters Month. Organizers [...]
	Body found in Grand Canyon was missing Wyoming man, wife says GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.— Human remains found in the Grand Canyon this week were those of the last remaining person missing after the deadly flash flooding in late August, the victim’s wife said Thursday. The discovery of Timothy Allen Smith brought the death toll to three from flooding that devastated the Phantom Ranch area at the canyon bottom and damaged the water pipeline serving the South Rim. Smith, 53, was a pilot from western Wyoming’s Star Valley. His remains were found Monday near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River that runs through the canyon. The remains of Smith’s two backcountry companions, Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and John Giusti, 46, both of Granbury, Texas, were found earlier. Dave Black, an incident commander at Grand Canyon National Park, provides updates on deadly flash flooding from the canyon’s South Rim in northern Arizona on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil) Smith grew up in Granbury and lived with his wife in Star Valley Ranch, about 50 miles southwest of Jackson. He, Rosenkranz and Giusti were on a multiday hiking, fishing and camping trip when flooding swept through the Grand Canyon. During the two-day deluge, searchers used night vision and other equipment to find people in need of rescue. They relied on the Grand Canyon National Park’s permit system and checked vehicle license plates to track those still missing. More than 80 people were rescued. Soon, only Smith was missing. In a Facebook video at the time, his wife, Carrie, and their children thanked people for their support and prayers. On Tuesday morning, Carrie Smith posted on Facebook that the family was aware a body had been found a day earlier and asked others to pray with them. Smith confirmed in a Facebook post on Thursday that the remains had been identified as her husband’s. “My family has done a lot of waiting over the last three weeks … waiting and hoping Tim (Daddy) would come home, waiting and wondering if the remains found were Tim (Daddy),” she wrote. “We no longer have to wait, Tim was found two days ago by the Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park. Not in the way we had hoped, but we know that he was doing something he loved with John and Brent.” She added, “We know that these three men loved the Lord and were a shining light for Him. The impact their lives had on others is still being shown to our families daily.” The Coconino County medical examiner confirmed Smith’s identity, the National Park Service said in a statement Thursday that thanked the searchers and extended condolences to relatives and friends of the three men. This photo provided by the National Park Service shows people being evacuated by helicopter due to flash flooding in Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Katherine Hensel/National Park Service via AP) The flooding began Aug. 29 during the summer monsoon, or rainy, season when clear skies can quickly give way to thunderstorms and heavy rain. A desert landscape can funnel water from a deluge into sudden torrents that rage down previously dry gullies and canyons. The rain fell on part of a North Rim burn area left after a lightning-caused wildfire in July 2025. The fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins and other structures. Burn areas can worsen flash flooding because there’s less vegetation to absorb runoff. The flooding damaged a pipeline that supplies water to millions of tourists and residents. Insufficient water caused all overnight lodging to be halted until the pipeline could be restored. National Park Service officials said recently that they expected to restore a reliable water supply in the canyon in weeks — not months — after determining most of a near-complete pipeline project was not damaged during the flash flood. Many hiking trails and lodging areas remain closed, and water has been shut off in the inner canyon, prompting advisories that hikers bring their own water or water filtration devices. Another flash flood hit the canyon along Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River during a storm Wednesday, park officials said. No injuries were reported. Authorities said efforts to minimize personnel in the canyon before the storm, as well as flash flood warnings, enabled crews to reach safety. Damage assessments were underway. The post Body found in Grand Canyon was missing Wyoming man, wife says appeared first on WyoFile . Courtesy of WyoFile
	Beating breast cancer through “Gather for the Cure” Funds raised at the event go toward breast cancer screening for those who can’t afford it or don’t have health insurance.
	Can an AI chatbot save lives by answering texts about pregnancy? Many questions come up during pregnancy. Is swelling normal? Are avocados safe to eat? For folks in Kenya who don't have a search engine at their fingertips, a chatbot is offering a lifeline.
	California quiere prohibir el matrimonio infantil. ¿Por qué estos grupos de derechos civiles intentan impedirlo? This article is also available in English. Read it here. Fue en marzo cuando un grupo de legisladores de California decidió abordar un tema delicado: el matrimonio infantil. Durante los próximos tres meses, los demócratas idearían un plan para persuadir a sus colegas reticentes de que finalmente prohibieran esta práctica y se enfrentarían a los grupos de interés especiales que pudieran trabajar en su contra. Para sorpresa de muchos, en California es legal que cualquier persona menor de 18 años se case, siempre y cuando un padre y un juez lo aprueben. Quizás aún más sorprendente sea que dos grupos influyentes en la política demócrata —la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles y Planned Parenthood— han apoyado firmemente esta ley históricamente. La ACLU argumenta que los niños tienen derecho a casarse, y privarlos de ese derecho les arrebataría el camino hacia su emancipación y la posibilidad de tomar decisiones independientes sobre su salud. Para Planned Parenthood, la libertad de los niños para casarse implica permitir que las personas elijan su propio cuerpo y tengan autonomía sobre su salud. Solo otros dos estados —Nuevo México y Misisipi— no tienen edad mínima para casarse. Y aunque en California los menores pueden contraer matrimonio a cualquier edad, los defensores de los derechos civiles afirman que es difícil contratar a un abogado de divorcio antes de los 18 años. Según la organización sin fines de lucro Unchained at Last , cada año se casan alrededor de 9000 menores en California, la gran mayoría niñas que contraen matrimonio con hombres adultos. Dado que la edad de consentimiento para la actividad sexual es de 18 años, los defensores afirman que los matrimonios entre menores de 18 años y adultos legalizan implícitamente una relación sexual que, de otro modo, se consideraría violación estatutaria según la ley estatal. Durante la última década, la organización ha trabajado para impulsar prohibiciones en Nueva York, Oklahoma, Washington y una docena de otros estados. Pero sus esfuerzos han fracasado repetidamente en California, donde Planned Parenthood y la ACLU han presionado fuertemente en contra de la restricción del matrimonio infantil, aunque esos grupos se han mantenido en gran medida en silencio sobre el tema en otros estados controlados por los demócratas. Esto se explica en parte por su enorme influencia en la política californiana. Planned Parenthood aboga por algunas de las causas liberales más importantes y ha donado al menos 2.7 millones de dólares a legisladores demócratas desde 2002, según la base de datos de Democracia Digital de CalMatters. Este año, los demócratas se enfrentaron a circunstancias diferentes con la organización, lo que llevó a los legisladores demócratas a presentar en junio el Proyecto de Ley 1267 de la Asamblea para prohibir finalmente el matrimonio infantil. La asambleísta Gail Pellerin redactó el proyecto de ley mediante un procedimiento conocido como “modificación radical”, en el que los legisladores eliminan el texto de un proyecto de ley no relacionado para acelerar la aprobación de uno nuevo una vez vencido el plazo para presentar proyectos de ley por la vía habitual. Según los defensores de la causa, los demócratas no cumplieron con el plazo porque querían asegurarse de que Planned Parenthood no interfiriera. Si bien la ACLU se opuso nuevamente a la legislación este año, no se encontró a ningún lobista abogando por el derecho de los menores a contraer matrimonio en las audiencias del comité este verano, y Planned Parenthood se mantuvo “neutral” respecto al proyecto de ley, negándose a tomar una postura. Y aunque algunos demócratas expresaron dudas sobre la conveniencia de no permitir que dos adolescentes enamorados contrajeran matrimonio, la prohibición fue aprobada por la Legislatura con un apoyo casi unánime en agosto. “Debemos dejar claro que las niñas, a pesar de su aparente madurez, son niñas”, dijo Pellerin en una entrevista. “Las niñas no tienen una libertad sin protección”. Tras casi una década de intentos fallidos por prohibir el matrimonio infantil, el proyecto de ley ahora espera la firma o el veto del gobernador Gavin Newsom. Tiene hasta el 30 de septiembre para hacerlo. La portavoz de la ACLU, Carmen King, se negó a responder preguntas sobre por qué el grupo se opone al proyecto de ley y no puso a nadie a disposición de CalMatters para una entrevista para este artículo. En una carta de oposición de junio, la organización escribió: “Prohibir que los menores se casen en todos los casos supone una desviación del compromiso de larga data de California de respetar la capacidad de los menores para tomar decisiones personales importantes por sí mismos, particularmente en el ámbito de la autonomía reproductiva”. Planned Parenthood no hizo ninguna declaración oficial sobre el proyecto de ley y la portavoz Shelby McMichael se negó a que nadie concediera una entrevista a CalMatters. En un comunicado enviado por correo electrónico, McMichael afirmó que el grupo “adopta posturas proyecto de ley por proyecto de ley en cada sesión. Dado el recorte de fondos a los centros de salud de Planned Parenthood el año pasado, decidimos priorizar los temas relacionados con la administración Trump y los constantes ataques de los republicanos del Congreso contra la atención médica”. “La voz de Planned Parenthood importa” Sus servicios de atención al aborto en más de 100 clínicas en todo el estado han convertido a Planned Parenthood en un símbolo de libertad reproductiva en California durante décadas, aunque la organización señala que los servicios de aborto representan solo una fracción de sus servicios. Su estrecha relación con la política demócrata se acentuó durante las administraciones de Trump, ya que los líderes del partido trabajaron arduamente para evitar los intentos de recorte de fondos federales. En febrero, los legisladores de California aprobaron 140 millones de dólares en fondos de emergencia para la organización con el fin de compensar los recortes federales. Además, en su sitio web, Planned Parenthood lleva un registro de la frecuencia con la que los legisladores votan a favor de su postura. En su informe de 2025, todos los demócratas, excepto uno, obtuvieron una puntuación del 100%. Hace dos años, la asambleísta de Irvine, Cottie Petrie-Norris , demócrata, presentó el proyecto de ley 2924 de la Asamblea para prohibir el matrimonio de menores de edad. El asambleísta Ash Kalra les dijo a los defensores que Planned Parenthood tenía que retirar su oposición antes de que los legisladores pudieran considerar votar sobre la legislación. El demócrata de San José, presidente del Comité Judicial de la Asamblea, afirmó que prohibir el matrimonio a menores de edad pondría en peligro su derecho al aborto, derecho que, según él, California aún no ha consagrado en la ley. Los votantes consagraron el derecho al aborto en 2022, dos años antes de que se presentara el proyecto de ley de 2024. Algunos legisladores también se mostraron escépticos sobre la exactitud de los datos relativos a los matrimonios infantiles, dijo Kalra. Nunca sometió el proyecto de ley a debate. “Creo que ese fue sin duda uno de los factores”, dijo Kalra refiriéndose a la oposición de Planned Parenthood y a su decisión de rechazar la legislación. “La opinión de Planned Parenthood importa en este caso, y en otros asuntos que se nos presentan en el Capitolio”. Este razonamiento recordaba intentos anteriores fallidos, incluido el de 2017, cuando los demócratas rechazaron otro proyecto de ley para modificar las leyes estatales sobre el matrimonio infantil por razones similares. El entonces senador Jerry Hill dijo que buscó una prohibición total de esta práctica después de enterarse de que una niña de 13 años de su distrito estaba comprometida con un hombre de 38 años de otro país. «Pensé: “¿Quién podría oponerse a eso? ¿Quién podría decir que está mal?”», dijo Hill sobre el proyecto de ley que presentó para prohibir el matrimonio infantil. Pero le desconcertó que lo que él consideraba una propuesta política de sentido común se convirtiera en un debate más amplio sobre las diferencias culturales, la libertad de la infancia y la autonomía corporal. En algunas culturas es aceptable que las niñas se casen con hombres mayores o que sean obligadas a contraer matrimonios concertados, según un informe de las Naciones Unidas. En los últimos años, los legisladores han propuesto medidas para reprimir los matrimonios forzados, que ya son un delito. Kalra es una de ellas; este año, presentó el Proyecto de Ley 2534 de la Asamblea, que permitiría a las víctimas solicitar una orden de alejamiento contra cualquier persona que las obligue a contraer matrimonio. Kalra y las organizaciones de derechos de las mujeres afirman que, de aprobarse, sería la primera ley de este tipo en el país. Planned Parenthood la apoya. En relación con la legislación sobre el matrimonio infantil de 2017, la ACLU y Planned Parenthood se opusieron firmemente, y la entonces asambleísta Lorena González , una líder sindical demócrata que presidía el Comité de Asignaciones de la Asamblea en ese momento, le dijo a Hill que no permitiría que la prohibición siguiera adelante a menos que se enmendara para reducir la edad mínima a 16 o 17 años en lugar de 18. Ese proyecto de ley acabó suavizándose hasta convertirse en la ley actual: cualquier joven puede casarse si uno de sus padres y los tribunales dan su consentimiento. Hill afirmó que su intento y otros fueron frustrados por grupos de interés. “Estos grupos de interés en Sacramento son muy poderosos. Tienen mucha influencia sobre lo que se aprueba en la Legislatura”, dijo Hill, quien representó a Silicon Valley durante 12 años. “La política se impone a las políticas públicas en aproximadamente el 80% de los casos”. González lo recordaba de otra manera. Si bien es cierto que se negó a que se aprobara una prohibición total, dijo, no recuerda que Planned Parenthood se opusiera al proyecto de ley ni que lo tuviera en cuenta en su proceso de toma de decisiones. Según contó, cuando las chicas adolescentes mayores de su distrito quedaban embarazadas, era común que algunas familias latinas las animaran a casarse con el padre si este tenía la misma edad o una edad similar. “Tuve chicas que me decían que esta era la mejor opción”, declaró González a CalMatters. Añadió que la diferencia de edad entre los cónyuges parecía importar más que el matrimonio en sí. “En aquel entonces, me parecía muy clasista” imponer una prohibición absoluta, afirmó. ‘Al menos estamos aquí ahora’ La iniciativa del presidente Donald Trump para recortar la financiación de las clínicas de Planned Parenthood ejerció una presión política mayor de lo habitual sobre la organización en los últimos años e hizo que esta dependiera más de la financiación estatal. La situación empeoró el pasado mes de noviembre, cuando un artículo de opinión del New York Times criticó a la ACLU y a Planned Parenthood por su papel en el bloqueo de la legislación contra el matrimonio infantil, mientras que estados controlados por los republicanos, como Arkansas y Luisiana, imponían restricciones más estrictas. Para Sara Tasneem, superviviente y activista, la inacción de California durante varias décadas permitió que su padre la obligara a casarse a los 15 años con un hombre de 28. Según ella, su padre formaba parte de una secta sufí del norte de California que orquestó el matrimonio. Cuando su padre se enteró de que Tasneem salía con un compañero de instituto, le buscó a alguien con quien casarse. «Me entregaron a un completo desconocido al que acababa de conocer», dijo. Abandonó la escuela y fue violada repetidamente, sintiéndose atrapada e incapaz de irse antes de cumplir los 18 años porque, al ser menor de edad, no podía contratar un abogado. Tasneem contó que tuvo dos hijos con su violador, a quien dejó en 2003, a los 23 años, llevándose consigo a sus hijos. Al reflexionar sobre su pasado y darse cuenta de que “no creció con mucho poder”, Tasneem se dedicó al activismo más de una década después. La mayoría de los defensores confían en que Newsom firme el proyecto de ley. “¿Debería haber ocurrido una década antes? Sí, debería haber ocurrido”, dijo Fraidy Reiss, directora ejecutiva de Unchained at Last, quien a los 19 años se vio obligada a casarse con un hombre mayor en su comunidad judía ortodoxa de Nueva York. “Pero al menos estamos aquí ahora”. Courtesy of Cal Matters
	Former Thomson prison employee sentenced for sexually abusing 2 inmates Danny Spyker, 42, will spend more than three years behind bars.
	Davenport Community School District sells vacant land they have held for decades The vacant land was acquired for potential future expansion several decades ago but found to be no longer needed after a reassessment.
	Davenport Community School District sells vacant land they have held for decades The vacant land was acquired for potential future expansion several decades ago but found to be no longer needed after a reassessment.
	What are postbiotics? An important factor in gut health You’ve probably heard of prebiotics and probiotics—two key components of the digestive system. Postbiotics, on the other hand, don’t get nearly the same level of attention when it comes to gut health support: Many people haven’t even heard of postbiotics, much less considered incorporating them into their routines.In light of recent research suggesting that postbiotics are just as important as probiotics and prebiotics in supporting our gut bacteria, a hybrid approach might be your best bet. Ritual shares what you need to know about postbiotics.What Are Postbiotics?Postbiotics can be defined as bioactive compounds produced by food-grade microorganisms during a fermentation process—specifically, when the “good bacteria” in your gut digest and break down portions of dietary fiber and prebiotics, which are typically found in complex plant carbohydrates. A natural byproduct of this process is the production of short-chain fatty acids. And just like probiotics, postbiotics may be working behind the scenes to support our gut health. However, unlike probiotics, they are inanimate microorganisms.Here’s a quick look at the definitions of these different biotics:Prebiotics: Prebiotics can be defined as nondigestible food components that support the growth of probiotics and the beneficial bacteria that exist inside the gastrointestinal tract.Probiotics: Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization as live bacteria that may provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. These microorganisms can be found in foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha) and probiotic supplements.Postbiotics: Postbiotics may help support our gut barrier health and function by providing a major energy source to the cells that make up the lining of the gut.Benefits of PostbioticsPostbiotics provide fuel to the cells that make up the gut lining and support our gut barrier function. Beneficial bacteria selectively ferment certain things, like prebiotics and some types of fiber. One consequence of this fermentation is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), like butyrate, acetate, and propionate.Butyrate is the main callout here: Studies show it’s the primary energy source for the cells that line the colon.How to Support Postbiotic ProductionThere are ways to support the postbiotic concentration in the gut. Since postbiotics are one of the results of the fermentation process, an option is to increase the consumption of foods that provide fiber and prebiotics. This may naturally increase the production of postbiotics in the colon.A few prebiotic foods include leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, onions, wheat, garlic, chicory, oats, and soybeans. Making sure you’re getting enough foods that encourage a mix of healthy gut bacteria (fiber and prebiotic foods) may help support your overall digestive health.What to Look For in a Postbiotic SupplementTo get a hybrid of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in your daily routine, you might opt for a synbiotic supplement, which combines all three. By choosing to add a clinically studied postbiotic supplement to your routine, you can circumvent the hurdles of modern life—picky partners, busy schedules, even limited access to certain foods—and ensure you’re making a consistent effort to support your gut health, no matter your diet or lifestyle.This story was produced by Ritual and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	More than a mess: Research finds disorganized homes increase stress Feeling anxious and can’t figure out why? It might be that mess in the living room.“As clutter increases, so do stress and anxiety,” Jillian Amodio, a licensed master social worker, therapist and founder of Moms for Mental Health, explains to Closets by Design, a custom closet and home organization company.A growing body of research backs her up, linking household clutter to measurable changes in stress, focus, and mood.In a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers affiliated with UCLA's Center on Everyday Lives of Families found that women who described their homes with words like "cluttered" and "unfinished" showed daily cortisol patterns that were associated with chronic stress. Their moods also showed a decline over the course of the day. People who described their homes in terms of rest, relaxation, and organization showed the opposite pattern.Those small hormone changes can cause big trouble, says Amodio. “Increased levels of stress can lead to irritability, poor quality of sleep, strained or tense relationships.”But the effect reaches beyond stress hormones. “Visually crowded spaces continually pull on our attention,” says therapist Jessica Ronyak, a licensed mental health counselor and licensed professional clinical counselor.Indeed, Neuroscientists at Princeton University reported in the Journal of Neuroscience that visual clutter competes for the brain's limited attention, reducing its ability to focus and process information.In practical terms, a crowded desk or countertop is not just an eyesore. “This constant pull can create a low-grade strain on our mental capacity,” says Ronyak, “especially when we’re already focusing on so much.”In experiments, participants performing tasks in organized settings outperformed those surrounded by visual noise, even when the clutter had nothing to do with the task at hand.Clutter also appears to shape how people feel about home itself. “Clutter can cause shame or self-criticism,” Ronyak says. A 2016 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people reporting more clutter felt less comfort and security in their homes and reported lower life satisfaction overall.“We see clutter as something ‘bad’ or embarrassing,” Ronyak explains, “then internalize it as a personal failure rather than a situational one.”Related research in Current Psychology has tied clutter to procrastination in adults of every generation, suggesting the pile and the delay feed each other. Amodio notes that “poor performance, missed deadlines, trouble prioritizing, task abandonment, falling short of goals, or behind on tasks and obligations,” are often the result.A 2025 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology is careful about the direction of the arrow. Clutter does not cause depression, and an organized closet is not a treatment for anxiety or any other condition. What the evidence describes is closer to a loop. Francis Quinn of Robert Gordon University writes that low well-being may lead to more clutter, "which in turn makes well-being worse."It’s “an ongoing and unintentional strain that can hinder concentration and energy levels,” says Stephanie Steele-Wren, who has a professional doctoral degree in psychology and a health service provider in psychology certification. Stress makes it harder to keep things in order. The disorder that results becomes its own low hum of stress, quietly making everything else harder.This cycle points toward modest, repeatable habits as a solution rather than dramatic, home improvement show-style overhauls.“Start with just one surface—like a bedside table or a section of your bathroom counter—and celebrate those little wins,” suggests Steele-Wren.Storage design plays a role as well. Giving every category a designated place removes the daily decision-making that lets clutter accumulate.Above all, Ronyak suggests progress, not perfection. “Instead of aiming for total completion, set short time frames, like decluttering for just 10 minutes before taking a break.” The goal is to keep at it consistently, and the research suggests the payoff is more than cosmetic. A more organized home, the data indicates, tends to be a calmer one.“A perfectly tidy home isn’t necessary for good mental health,” Steele-Wren says. “What really matters is having a space that soothes rather than stresses you.”This story was produced by Closets by Design and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pay It Forward: Quad Cities woman helps find homes for dozens of cats Amanda Casterton helps cats find homes and gives hope to people in need, with a $300 Pay It Forward gift helping support her work with Animal Aid.
	Another arrest made after child overdoses on THC in Davenport A woman was arrested on Wednesday in connection to the 18-month-old child who overdosed on THC in June.
	Davenport officials cheer business as 'big win' for west end Davenport city officials cheered the announcement of Infiltrator Water Technologies investing in an unused building in the west end of Davenport.
	Rockridge Junior/Senior High evacuated after gas line hit Students at Rockridge Junior High/High School ended their school week early after a gas line was accidentally hit at the building. A post on the Rockridge CUSD #300 Facebook page said a gas line was accidentally hit and the area has been evacuated. There have been no reports of injuries. Students who did not drive [...]
	Bouillon vs. broth vs. stock: What are the key differences? If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen holding a carton of broth in one hand and a jar of bouillon in the other, wondering if it really matters which one you use, you’re not alone.They all add savory depth. They all build soups, sauces, and grains. But they are not the same thing, and understanding the difference makes cooking easier and more intuitive.The good news is that you do not need to simmer bones all afternoon to build rich flavor. Ingredients like bouillon paste, granulated bouillon and concentrated stock give you that same foundation in minutes.Knorr breaks it down simply.Stock vs Broth vs Bouillon: What’s the Difference?Stock, broth, and bouillon all start with the same goal: flavor. Knorr Stock comes from simmering bones with vegetables and aromatics for several hours. As the bones cook down, they release collagen, which gives stock its body and slightly silky texture. Chefs often rely on stock when they want richness without heavy seasoning.Broth is usually lighter. It comes from simmering meat with vegetables and salt. You can sip broth on its own. Many home cooks use it as a ready-to-go broth base for soups, rice, and quick weeknight meals.Bouillon works differently because it’s concentrated. You’ll find it in cubes, granulated powder or bouillon paste form. When you dissolve bouillon in water, you create a broth base in minutes. Because it acts as a concentrated flavor base, it delivers deep, savory notes without long cooking times.Bouillon paste blends smoothly and lets you adjust the strength exactly the way you like it.Quick Comparison: Stock vs Broth vs Bouillon Paste Knorr How to Make Broth from BouillonMaking broth from bouillon is straightforward.Bring water to a boil. Add 1/2 cube or 3/4 teaspoon of granulated bouillon per cup of water. Stir until it dissolves.That’s it. No long simmer. No waiting around. Knorr You now have a savory broth base ready for soup, rice, vegetables, or sauces. If you prefer a stronger flavor, add a little more. If you want it lighter, dilute slightly. You’re in control.How to Make Broth from Bouillon PasteBouillon paste works the same way, but can be preferred, as it blends smoothly and measures easily. If you want flexibility and speed, bouillon paste often wins.Here is how to use bouillon paste:Heat water until it simmers. Stir in a small spoonful of bouillon paste. Let it dissolve completely. Taste and adjust.Since bouillon paste is concentrated, start small. You can always add more.If you’re wondering how to use bouillon paste beyond soup, think about how you normally season food. Stir it into pan sauces. Mix it into mashed potatoes. Add it to risotto while it cooks. Toss it with roasted vegetables before they go into the oven. Use it in marinades.Bouillon pastes act as both a broth base and a flavor base. You can dissolve it in water or add it directly into a dish for deeper savory notes.FAQAre stock and broth interchangeable in recipes?In most everyday cooking, yes. Stock brings more body. Broth brings more seasoning. If you swap one for the other in a soup or sauce, the dish will still work. Just taste as you go and adjust salt if needed.Think of both as broth bases that give you a head start. Can you substitute bouillon for broth in recipes?Absolutely.Dissolve bouillon or bouillon paste in water, and you have an instant broth base. It’s one reason many home cooks keep it in the pantry. It saves time and reduces waste since you can make exactly the amount you need.Because bouillon functions as a concentrated flavor base, check the seasoning before adding more salt.Can you substitute bouillon for stock?Many home cooks do, especially in soups, stews, and braises.Concentrated stocks and bouillon pastes offer a layered, developed taste that works beautifully in place of homemade stock. They give you depth without long simmer times.When you dissolve bouillon paste in water, you create a stock-like broth base that works in most recipes.Everyday Ways to Use Bouillon and Bouillon PasteBouillon is not just for soup.You can use it to:Build a quick broth base for soups and stewsSeason or marinate meat, chicken, fish, or vegetables before roastingStrengthen a quick pan sauceBoost flavor in rice or quinoaAdd depth to pasta waterEnhance slow cooker mealsBecause bouillon paste acts as a concentrated flavor base, you can stir it directly into dishes for an extra layer of savory flavor.People Also Ask What is broth?Broth is a savory liquid made by simmering meat, vegetables, and seasoning in water. It has a lighter texture than stock and often comes seasoned, which makes it easy to use as a broth base for soups, stews, and grains. Many people also enjoy broth on its own.What is stock?Stock is made by simmering bones with vegetables and aromatics for several hours. As the bones cook, they release collagen, which gives stock a richer body and slightly thicker texture. Cooks often use stock as a foundation for sauces and braises because it adds depth without heavy seasoning.What is the main difference between bouillon and broth?Broth comes ready as a liquid. Bouillon is concentrated. When you dissolve bouillon or bouillon paste in water, you create a broth base. Bouillon can also function as a flavor base in recipes.Is bouillon paste stronger than broth?Yes. Bouillon paste is concentrated. You adjust the amount to control how bold the flavor becomes. How do I adjust a recipe when using bouillon instead of stock?Dissolve bouillon or bouillon paste in water first. Taste before adding extra salt. Since bouillon acts as a concentrated flavor base, it already contains seasoning.The Bottom LineStock, broth, and bouillon all help you build flavor. The difference comes down to time, concentration, and flexibility. Some nights you have time to simmer. Most nights you don’t. The right flavor base helps you cook confidently either way.This story was produced by Knorr and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	The week in hip-hip: the game theory of Lil Durk's acquittal A murder trial, a meme and the unending search for meaning. Plus: Colin Kaepernick fires back at Jay-Z and Macklemore walks the talk.
	How license plate readers helped Iowa police catch a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run Des Moines Police are crediting their license plate readers in helping them find the vehicle involved in a deadly hit-and-run within hours.
	Davenport century-old homes renovated for refugee families Two large, century-old homes in Davenport that once faced demolition now have a new chapter and a new purpose after an 18-month effort by the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church and Tapestry Farms. An event on Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. will celebrate the preservation of homes that will soon provide safe, affordable and [...]
	Pay It Forward \| Quad Cities woman supporting feline friends After experiencing a chaotic home with multiple cats and kittens, Lori Oetzel found Amanda Casterton, who's working to give cats their best chance at life.
	Gas leak prompts evacuation of Rockridge High School on Thursday morning The district said Rockridge High School and Junior High were evacuated Thursday morning after a gas line was accidentally hit.
	Why September is a good time for a fireplace upgrade As summer winds down, cooler evenings and familiar routines make your home feel especially inviting. September is the perfect time to think about how your space can feel warmer and more comfortable as the seasons change, including considering upgrading your fireplace. Whether you’re replacing an old wood-burning fireplace or updating an outdated gas model, the change can offer a more modern look, less maintenance, and greater convenience. Planning the upgrade before colder weather arrives gives you time to find the right option for your space and have it ready for the season ahead, Modern Flames reports.Industry data also points to early fall as an important time in the hearth market. In a September Business Climate survey from Hearth & Home, 48% of hearth retailers reported year-over-year sales increases, while overall hearth sales rose 3% compared with the previous September. The survey offers a snapshot of how interest in hearth products begins building as the seasons change and homeowners start preparing for cooler weather.An update can also be an opportunity to rethink the style of your space. A fireplace is often one of the first features people notice when entering a living room, bedroom, or gathering area. Replacing an outdated unit with a cleaner, more contemporary design can give the surrounding room an updated feel without a complete remodel. A new mantel, built-in shelving, or refreshed artwork and décor can help create a more intentional focal point. Changes don’t have to be dramatic to make a room feel refreshed.That focus on the fireplace as part of the overall design of a home reflects a larger shift within the industry. Grand View Research reports that home renovations and remodeling are helping drive demand for electric fireplaces as homeowners look for products that combine aesthetic appeal with functional heating. The firm also found that wall-mounted models represented 42% of the U.S. electric fireplace market in 2024, highlighting the growing role of streamlined fireplace designs in contemporary spaces.Beyond appearance, think about how you want to use your fireplace. For homeowners, a traditional wood-burning fireplace can create a beautiful atmosphere, but gathering firewood, handling ash cleanup, and starting a fire every time you want to enjoy it can make a wood-burning fireplace less convenient for some. An electric fireplace can offer a more convenient way to bring that same sense of warmth and ambiance into the home. With less preparation and maintenance, it can become a feature you enjoy on an ordinary evening rather than something reserved for a special occasion or particularly a cold day.Interest in electric fireplaces is also growing. According to Grand View Research, the U.S. electric fireplace market reached approximately $1.81 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.11 billion by 2033. The research points to factors including advances in realistic flame technology and smart-home features, along with a growing demand for renovation projects.September also provides something that can be harder to find once the cold weather arrives: time to plan. Instead of making a quick decision because you’re ready to turn on the heat, you can compare styles and consider any installation or surround updates you may want to make. Taking care of these details early means your fireplace can be ready to enjoy.September is that sweet spot where it’s early enough to make updates but also close enough to cooler weather that you’ll be able to enjoy the fireplace as the nights get cooler. Upgrading a fireplace is about more than preparing for cold temperatures. It’s a chance to create a focal point that feels more current, functions better for everyday life, and makes the surrounding space a place you want to spend time.This story was produced by Modern Flames and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why youth sports fields are struggling to stay playable Children who play sports are used to competing, but the fight is supposed to be over the ball—not the field on which teams play. Yet, around the country, athletic field access is becoming increasingly scarce, as nonprofit and municipal recreation centers face staffing shortages and struggle to maintain their grounds, despite rising demand for youth programming.In one Florida community, a municipal center called its sports-field shortage a “turf war” after having to turn away 700 children due to insufficient access. Nonprofit centers struggle too, as more than 58% of YMCA facilities said staffing issues were their top concern in 2025, according to Recreation Management magazine.Ahead, Navimow examines how staffing shortages are hitting community facilities in unexpected ways.In Ohio, a missing mow cycle can close a fieldStaffing shortages hit the lowest-paid, most seasonally variable positions hardest. For recreation sports leagues, those positions are often members of the grounds crew, a role that demands precision and skill. The Sports Field Management Association dictates that recreational turfgrass ought to be carefully irrigated and sloped, cut to a length that never dips below ⅔ of the grass’ blade size.Alan Little, the YMCA of Central Ohio’s executive director of capital asset advancement, told Navimow that the full-time maintenance employee at the Hilliker YMCA in Bellefontaine has a long list of responsibilities, including lawn care, among several other tasks. More than 40 hours of the employee’s week go toward maintaining the building and indoor spaces, including pools, gym and fitness areas. The same employee handles HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. Turf maintenance competes with all of those demands for limited hours.The YMCA of Central Ohio operates 12 locations. At Hilliker, three of the facility’s four acres of turf are used for outdoor programming, including summer camps, youth sports, teen leadership clubs and more. Those programs depend on grass that is short and even enough for children and adults to use safely.At the YMCA’s Hilliard and Grove City locations, lawns around outdoor pools are used by swim teams in the early morning and by members relaxing around the pool later in the day. That all-day use schedule leaves landscaping contractors a narrow window for mowing—and some weeks there is no workable opening.The result can be an overgrown lawn and more weeds and insects. “It not only makes the area look unkept, but increases the pressure from broadleaf weeds and the stinging insects that frequent the weed’s flowers,” Little said.For sports fields, the consequences of overgrown grass can include tripping hazards for athletes and attracting difficult-to-spot ticks. For some facilities, missing one mowing cycle can be enough to temporarily close a field.‘Hit in the face’ in MarylandOfficiant crews similarly feel the pinch of disappearing staff. Umpires spend upwards of $500 on training and uniforms, equipping themselves to make whip-fast judgement calls during gameplay—yet about 70% of sports officials leave after one year, according to Bill Topp, president of the National Association of Sports Officials.In one Maryland suburb, a youth baseball umpire reported getting “hit in the face, groin, shin, foot, hand and head,” during athletic action, while being paid just $40 per game. At least 50% of sports officials report fearing for their safety when tough calls spark heated exchanges between spectators, according to a 2023 survey of 35,000 referees.This growing thanklessness of labor like lawncare and officiating might explain why, in nearby Baltimore City, recent municipal budgets allocated $1 million towards administrative roles, but left one of its 14 districts without a youth recreation center or pool, a choice that attracted scrutiny.What departments are tryingLittle says Hilliker has been paying an outside landscaping contractor to mow 28 times per year. The annual cost for that is $9,372, or just under $335 per week during the non-winter months. He recently tested a robo-mower and expects a one-time purchase of automated mowing fleets to replace the annual cost year over year.Parks departments and nonprofit centers are also using several other approaches to manage labor costs and maintain their grounds.Contractor consolidation and shared servicesSome local governments are combining and sharing grounds-maintenance work between multiple government departments or neighboring agencies.In Bergen County, New Jersey, officials approved a two-year shared-services agreement in June 2026 between the municipality and Bergen Community College. The deal covers mowing, landscaping, athletic-field maintenance and maintenance-garage management.In Lebanon Township, New Jersey, a 2026 resolution provides the local school district with mowing, snow removal, equipment hauling and loans for certain pieces of machinery, all funded by the municipality.Volunteer and community programsSome park systems have shifted part of their maintenance workload to the organizations using their fields. More specifically, they shift work to the volunteers who support those organizations.Fairfax County, Virginia, has an adopt-a-field program in which local sports teams and leagues sign up to maintain a designated field. The county describes the program as a partnership between the park authority and community athletic organizations and says that it “fosters a sense of pride.”Wage and schedule changesCommunities around the U.S. have started raising seasonal pay to attract workers who can handle the jobs required to keep athletic programming alive.City officials in Plainview, Minnesota, increased seasonal pay in 2025 by 1.5%, which brought their seasonal mower rate to $15.83 an hour and $14.78 for trimmers.AutomationRobotic mowers are entering the mix at parks and recreation facilities nationwide to account for the shortage of labor.In Gwinnett County, Georgia, an autonomous mower was deployed at a 10-acre soccer facility after conventional equipment broke down. Mowing the group of fields had previously required 25 hours of staff time each week, but required virtually zero once groundskeepers turned to automation.As the YMCA of Central Ohio tests autonomous mowers at its Hilliker location in Bellefontaine, Little said the organization plans to purchase another unit and maintain the whole property with autonomous equipment for its 2027 season.When there aren't enough workers, the grass still growsThe labor shortage parks and recreation departments face is part of a larger workforce problem. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported in May 2026 that the labor force participation rate has been declining for 26 years. It sat at about 66% in 2000 and fell to the low 60s during the pandemic. Since 2021, it’s hovered between 62% and 63%.When organizations and cities deprioritize outdoor recreation, children feel the consequences most. It’s a public health matter, as participation in childhood sports is closely linked with benefits like improved mood, social bonding and even a reduction in chronic disease.But community centers and parks don’t get to wait for the labor market to catch up. The grass still needs mowing, and children’s memories still need to be made.This story was produced by Navimow and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	A year ago, President Trump pledged to lower Medicaid drug prices. Has that happened? The Trump administration's efforts to lower drug prices included promised changes to Medicaid. But it's still unclear which drugs will be affected. And each state has to opt in.
	What “Super El Niño” means for winter in eastern Iowa and western Illinois Record-breaking ocean temperatures could mean milder winters and lower heating bills ahead
	User-friendly CRMs are giving small businesses their training time back. Here’s how to use it. Investing in a leading user-friendly CRM should see your sales and marketing teams save most (if not all) the hours they would have dedicated to training. The trick is to use the time saved to your advantage.But what does “user-friendly” really mean?A user-friendly CRM is a customer relationship management platform built to make navigating and using the app as easy as possible. These CRMs close the gap between implementation and onboarding, helping teams reduce downtime and remain productive as they move from their previous system to the new CRM. And they give teams time to develop more impactful skills.This Nutshell guide gives teams insight into determining which skills to develop, prioritize, and measure, to ensure the training time they recover truly gives them the upper hand.Key takeawaysUser-friendly CRMs make it easier for teams to get up and running quickly and free up time for more advanced CRM training.Some of the most beneficial revenue-driving CRM skills are custom reporting, workflow automation, and pipeline refinement.A strategic, high-level training plan gives teams the skills they need to master their CRM software and gain a competitive advantage.Why is basic CRM adoption just the beginning?Switching to a simple CRM that’s easy to pick up and use offers teams a real advantage because it fast-tracks their understanding of the new system. High-performing teams are using the time gained to develop skills that distinguish them from other teams.CRM adoption is the level to which a team adopts a CRM and the depth at which it uses its features. Teams implementing a simple, easy-to-learn CRM system leverage the time saved to increase CRM adoption beyond basic contact management, elevating system usage to a real competitive advantage.What should teams learn once they know the basics?Once they have basic CRM functionality down pat, teams should expand their learning to include refining their sales pipelines and setting up smart automations. It’s also incredibly beneficial to understand how to build custom reports to track performance and spot opportunities.With these additional skills, teams will realize how powerful their CRM system can be in helping them become more efficient and productive. Leveling up their CRM usage this way helps them move from basic data entry to work that impacts sales revenue and business goals. Nutshell Building custom reports that surface real insightsCustom reporting is about configuring your CRM reporting settings to track and evaluate the metrics that matter most to your team. It takes CRM reporting beyond standard report setups, allowing teams to pinpoint data to answer questions specific to their business.Building custom reports and dashboards helps teams and leadership identify trends early and spot bottlenecks compromising the sales process. Using the data unlocked from these custom reports, teams can make informed decisions based on real data.A 2024 study by Salesforce shows that sales teams spend a whopping 70% of their time doing administrative, repetitive tasks and only 30% of their time actually selling. Deliberate, tailored reporting shared across the team can help reps gain that vital selling time back.Setting up automation that takes care of the follow-upSales automation is the use of CRM automation tools to initiate an action based on a specific trigger with little to no human intervention. It’s typically tied to the completion of a task or a lead progressing from one stage to the next in the sales pipeline. Automation is a great way to handle time-consuming tasks like repetitive outreach and follow-ups.In modern CRMs, AI and automation work hand-in-hand, heavily optimizing processes to save teams even more time. In fact, in a 2024 survey, HubSpot determined that 78% of sales professionals said that AI automation helped save time, allowing them to focus on more critical, revenue-driving work.Refining pipeline stages to reflect how deals actually movePipeline refinement means building a custom pipeline with stages that align with your actual sales process, instead of adapting your process to your CRM’s default pipeline stages. The standard pipeline stages present when you first open your CRM typically use generic names to appeal to a broad range of businesses. But these may not necessarily reflect the core pipeline decision points for your specific industry or business type.For a clear pipeline view and smoother sales process, it’s essential for teams to determine the key stages leads move through for each sales process and adapt their sales pipelines accordingly. Setting up a custom build like this also makes it easier for sales managers to identify roadblocks and coach team members more effectively.How do you turn saved training time into a more CRM-fluent team?Just because user-friendly CRMs allow teams to pick up the basics quickly and save training time, it doesn’t mean you should skip training altogether. Planning for continuous CRM fluency development is an opportunity to make your team super users.A CRM-fluent team is a group of employees who understand CRM software to the point that they’re able to use it strategically to enhance processes and reach business goals. Teams that achieve CRM fluency do so through continuous learning following three crucial steps. Nutshell 1. AuditEstablishing the current lay of the land is an important first step. Run a CRM audit to evaluate how your team uses the software and determine which advanced features are underused but useful to your process. This provides you with a good starting point to start building your skills development plan.2. PrioritizeAvoid forcing your team to learn a long list of new features at once. Prioritize those that are most beneficial to your team’s productivity and effectiveness, and then pick one to focus on at a time.Depending on your team and business, you could choose to focus on one new feature per month or per quarter. Reporting, follow-up sequences, and pipeline automations are typically the first port of call for sales teams.3. MeasureA 2024 study by Gallup found that companies actively investing in employee development have reported 11% more profitability. And research conducted by TalentLMS in 2026 shows that 95% of HR managers surveyed feel that more deliberate training and skill development lead to better employee retention.The point being that using this additional time for strategic CRM user training is worth the effort, and you can measure the results through employee retention, team productivity, sales revenue, profitability, and related tangible business outcomes.The real ROI of easy CRM software is what comes nextBefore, the search for user-friendly CRM software was about quick implementation and onboarding. Today, businesses are realizing that with the right easy-to-use system, the benefits extend far beyond that initial stage.The real advantage is the amount of time saved on basic training and how high-growth companies are reinvesting that time into their teams, helping them develop additional skills that make them even more effective at what they do. Over time, this translates to CRM reporting, automation, and pipeline management mastery and a meaningful competitive edge.Teams that achieve CRM fluency move from logging data to building a smarter, more data-driven business. Your success comes down to what you decide to build with the additional time you’ve received.This story was produced by Nutshell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How the $40,000 SALT expansion creates high-tax winners and income traps When federal lawmakers enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—officially titled H.R.1 in the 119th Congress—they reshaped American homeownership tax policy. By raising the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap from its longstanding $10,000 ceiling to $40,000 in 2025, and increasing it to $40,400 for tax year 2026, Congress delivered a massive, albeit temporary, tax policy shift.However, as Ownwell explains below, a closer look at the Internal Revenue Code shows this $40,000 expansion is far from a universal windfall.Beneath the headline cap lies a complex web of regional disparities, aggressive phase-down mechanisms for high earners, and structural advantages that favor real estate investors over primary homeowners.The Geographical Windfall: High-Tax Municipalities vs. Modest Tax RegionsThe impact of the expanded SALT cap depends heavily on geographic location. Prior to the passage of H.R.1, millions of homeowners in high-cost, high property tax states, such as New Jersey, New York, California, and Illinois, were writing off only a fraction of their actual tax payments due to the strict $10,000 limit established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tax Foundation, median annual property tax bills in counties like Essex County, NJ ($13,000-plus), Westchester County, NY ($14,000-plus), and Lake County, IL ($10,000-plus) routinely eclipsed the former cap on real estate taxes alone, before even accounting for state income taxes.High-Tax Metro Areas: For a married couple in Bergen County, NJ, paying $18,000 in local property taxes and $15,000 in state income taxes ($33,000 combined SALT), the original TCJA cap left $23,000 of paid taxes completely undeductible on Schedule A (Form 1040).Under the updated $40,400 cap for 2026, the entire $33,000 bill can now be deducted, delivering thousands of dollars in net federal tax relief.Modest Property Tax Regions: Conversely, in states like Alabama, West Virginia, or Arkansas, where median annual property tax bills range from $700 to $1,200, the quadrupled cap changes very little.For most homeowners in these regions, the standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for joint filers in 2026) remains far more advantageous than itemizing on Schedule A.The $500,000 Income Trap: How the MAGI Phase-Down OperatesWhile upper-middle-class households in high-tax suburbs represent the primary beneficiaries of the $40,000 cap, high-net-worth individuals face a policy barrier: the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) phase-down.Under IRS guidelines established by OBBBA, the expanded SALT cap begins to roll back once a household's MAGI surpasses $500,000 ($505,000 for tax year 2026 and half these amounts for married filing separately).How the Phase-Down Math WorksReduction Rate: For every $1.00 of MAGI above the $505,000 threshold (in 2026), the allowable SALT deduction shrinks by $0.30.The Floor: The deduction cannot fall below a $10,000 floor ($5,000 for married filing separately).The High-Earner Limit: By the time a joint-filing household reaches approximately $606,333 in MAGI in 2026, their allowable SALT deduction drops back down to the old $10,000 limit. Ownwell This phase-down raises the effective marginal tax rate for high earners in high-tax jurisdictions, gradually reducing the available deduction for households with incomes between $500,000 and $606,333 across the 2025-2026 tax years.Primary Residences vs. Real Estate Investors: The Schedule E AdvantageA critical distinction in federal tax law lies between personal real estate and investment property. While primary residences and non-rental vacation homes are constrained by Schedule A limits and the SALT cap, rental and commercial properties operate under entirely different rules.According to Internal Revenue Code guidelines, property taxes paid on rental properties rented for more than 14 days per year are classified as ordinary business expenses on Schedule E (Form 1040).100% Deductibility: Property taxes deducted on Schedule E are not subject to the $40,000 SALT cap, nor are they subject to the $500,000 MAGI phase-down.Pass-Through Entity (PTE) Workarounds: Additionally, business owners and real estate investors utilizing S-corporations or partnerships can leverage state-level Pass-Through Entity Tax elections.Over 35 states have enacted PTE legislation that lets business owners pay state income taxes at the entity level, bypassing personal SALT caps on business income and freeing up individual deduction space for personal property taxes.The 2030 Expiration Clock and the Role of Assessment AppealsA crucial detail property owners often miss is that the $40,000 SALT cap is temporary. Under H.R.1 provisions, the cap increases by 1% annually through 2029, then automatically reverts to $10,000 in tax year 2030 unless Congress extends it.Because tax write-offs only mitigate a fraction of out-of-pocket costs based on a filer’s marginal bracket, housing policy experts emphasize that relying solely on federal tax deductions is an incomplete financial strategy.Recent industry analysis from Ownwell indicates that roughly 64% of homeowners experience "sticker shock" when they receive their local property assessment notices. Ownwell Reducing a property's assessed value at the county level offers direct, permanent tax reduction before federal deduction caps ever enter the equation.Strategic Considerations for the 2025-2026 Tax YearsFor homeowners evaluating their tax strategy over the current 2025-2026 filing windows, financial advisors recommend three key steps:1. Run the Itemization Threshold: Compare total itemizable expenses (mortgage interest under the $750,000 debt limit, charitable contributions, and eligible SALT up to $40,400) against the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly).2. Review Assessment Accuracy: Conduct a thorough audit of your local county assessment records to identify potential inaccuracies or inflated valuations. Because property taxes are calculated based on these assessments, successfully challenging an inaccurate valuation provides guaranteed savings that exist independently of federal tax deduction caps.3. Mind the Escrow Payment Timing: Property tax deductions are recognized in the tax year your mortgage servicing company remits payment to the local tax authority, not when your monthly escrow payments are deposited into your lender's account.This story was produced by Ownwell and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rockridge High School evacuated after gas line hit Rockridge High School and Junior High were evacuated Thursday morning after a gas line was hit, the district said.
	Get your copy of the fall 2026 garage sale map! Get your copy of the fall 2026 garage sale map!
	Morrison gives update on U.S. 30 reconstruction project The City of Morrison provided an update on the U.S. 30 reconstruction project this week.
	5 reasons why auto repair shops should invest in digital marketing Build it, and they will come doesn’t always hold true for businesses, especially small businesses like auto repair shops. You can hire the best techs, purchase the best equipment money can buy, keep your repair shop clean and organized, and still, when it comes to getting those customers in the door? Crickets. Why? Because no one knows about you and your shop, which is why auto repair shops absolutely have to invest in marketing.For a small or midsize shop, auto repair marketing doesn’t always have to mean spending thousands of dollars on advertisements. All you need is to be visible or memorable when someone has car trouble and is searching for a place to fix it. Your shop must also be easy to find when their car breaks down, and they pull out their phones and type “auto repair near me” on their preferred search platform.Way.com compiled five reasons why auto repair shops should invest in digital marketing.Local listings help drivers find your shopIt’s Tuesday morning, and Arthur’s car wouldn’t start when he wanted to get to work. Now he’s out there in his driveway googling auto repair shops near him. First up on Google’s search results is Acme, not you, and you’re an easy 2 miles closer. Guess which one he calls up?If your shop doesn’t show up in search results, or your Google listing has the wrong number or barely any information on what services you actually provide, you’ve lost a customer, just like that. Meanwhile, the shop down the street just snapped them up.SOCi’s 2024 Consumer Behavior Index found that 47% of consumers will leave a business immediately if they find inaccurate listing information, and even worse, they’ll choose to go to a competitor instead.Your shop may be the best in town, but the internet has no way of knowing that if it cannot find you. Getting your shop listed correctly across search platforms such as Bing, Google, and other places people search is one of the simplest parts of auto repair marketing, and yet it’s the one that most business owners tend to overlook. It also costs next to nothing.Online reviews help build trustLet’s say you’ve got your shop listed, and Arthur does find you. He’s going through the few repair shops that Google helpfully pulled up for him. What does he look at next? He’s looking at the ratings and customer reviews. The shop down the street has 15 reviews, the latest one from just six days ago. Your shop on the other side has 2 reviews, and the last one was from seven months ago. Now Arthur is wondering whether you’re still even in business.Auto repair is a business that runs on trust. Most people don’t really know what’s gone wrong with their car or how much a repair should cost. They don’t even know whether the person telling them they need a new alternator actually has their best interests at heart. They are trusting that you will do a good job and charge them honestly.A recent Consumer Affairs survey shows that 78% of drivers don’t always trust their mechanic, and only 17% feel like they’re charged fairly. Meanwhile, 83% of drivers always consult someone else to double-check a mechanic’s recommendation.Reviews give potential customers an idea of what they can expect before they call you. That’s why 77% of Americans say that online reviews are important before they buy something, while a third of them won’t buy anything without reading reviews. In fact, 80% of them have stayed away from a business after reading bad reviews.The best thing about reviews is that you don’t need a huge budget to build a good reputation online. All you need are happy customers and a way to ask them for reviews. Some shop management systems have this feature built in. Over time, these reviews will help you build a solid reputation and become one of your biggest marketing assets.Your website helps people bookNow that Arthur has found you on Google and checked out your reviews, he wants to know a little bit more before he calls you, so he looks for a website link. If you have one, this is where you get to let him know about your shop. How many years have you been in business? What kind of vehicles do you work on? Do you have a team of techs, or is it just a single-person operation? Do you offer any additional benefits or services? This is where you get to tell your potential customers all of that.A recent DreamHost survey found that 72% of people aged 18 to 24 say having a website is essential for credibility. The survey also found that 60% of consumers say an outdated-looking website might make them trust a business less and doubt its quality.If they click through to a website that looks like it was untouched since 2018 or tells them nothing besides your phone number, they may not feel like you’re the right shop for them. You don’t need a high-tech website with all sorts of bells and whistles, just one that looks professional and gives potential customers the information they need before they decide to go with you … or not.Marketing can help during slow seasonsYou keep getting a few new customers here and there, but that’s not what will help keep your bays full. You need people finding your shop every week, and all year round. You never really know when business might slow down. You could have a packed shop one week, with customers waiting for appointments and your service advisors and techs working overtime, but your bays could be close to empty the next week. Maybe a new repair shop opened up, and they’re offering steep inaugural discounts. It could also be seasonal, or it’s just a coincidence that none of your best customers need repairs that week.A 2025 study of independent auto repair shops found that auto shop revenue dropped by 32% during slow seasons. This is when you need to stay most visible. The industry knows marketing can help with this, which is why repair shops are increasingly shifting their focus to digital marketing, with 12.3% of small shops, 27.7% of medium shops, and 32.6% of large shops reporting that they were doing so.Whatever the reason might be, passively waiting for cars to show up will not help your business grow. Auto repair marketing will help you stay in your customers’ minds even when they don’t need a repair. It will also put your shop in front of potential customers who don’t know much about your shop. When you’re consistently visible, you increase the odds of keeping that steady flow of customers coming through your door.You can level the playing fieldThat shop down the street that’s part of a big chain probably has a pretty huge marketing budget, fancier signboards, and a nicer building. They probably even have teams working on the website and making sure they rank well on search platforms. You’re running one shop with five bays, and you’re not going to beat them by outspending them. The good thing is that you don’t have to because they don’t know your customers the way you do. You know the cars they drive, which services they tend to put off, their budget constraints, and more. This is your big advantage, but it doesn’t help if potential customers don’t know about it.That’s where you need auto repair marketing. You can use your website, social media, email, and other marketing channels to talk about the things your customers care about. Share seasonal maintenance tips or use these channels to answer questions your customers routinely ask. This gives you more to talk about instead of putting a generic ‘we fix cars’ message in front of everyone. This makes you the local authority on auto repair. You already know your community; marketing gives you a way for them to know what you do.The Connected Commerce Council (3C) found that small and medium-sized businesses are using digital tools to deal with economic uncertainties and take on larger companies. Of those using digital advertising, 75% say it helps them compete more fairly with bigger businesses.Try these auto repair marketing strategies, and the next time Arthur’s car breaks down, yours will be the shop he remembers and comes back to.This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Startup and small business trends across the US in 2026 In an ever-changing world, more Americans are opting out of the challenging job market and transitioning into the driver’s seat in their careers. Many have chosen to control their success by being their own boss, and an increasing number filed business applications in 2026, as Thimble outlines below.According to the United States Census, business applications for July 2026, adjusted for seasonal variation, totaled 578,926, an 8.1% increase over June 2026. The Census Bureau is projects that nearly 30,000 new business startups with payroll tax liabilities will form within four quarters of application from all the business applications filed during July 2026. This large influx could be attributed to factors like technological advancements or economic climates. According to Forbes, it has been coined ”The Great American Small Business Surge.” Additionally, QuickBooks’ 2026 Entrepreneurship Trends report states that entrepreneurship is the top wealth-building strategy for 2026.Most popular startups and business ideas of 2026 in the USThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce outlines several popular startups and businesses in 2026, including those in the health and wellness sector, AI and automation, and even skilled trades and labor. An increase in access to technology and technology’s rapid improvement has created a rise in what QuickBooks calls the “invisible entrepreneur.” According to QuickBooks’ 2026 Entrepreneurship Trends report, these “invisible” entrepreneurs are often unaccounted for: Nearly half (47%) of Americans say they earned income from a side hustle in the past year, but only 20% of them registered their work as a business.What are some examples of popular businesses in 2026?Overall, side hustles and startups are succeeding in several sectors. Here are some of the most popular business types of 2026:Health and Wellness:The anti-aging, nutrition, and overall wellness categories have been a consistent trend of the 2020s and have become a trillion-dollar industry. New wellness research and improvements have made way for renewed success for many businesses, while social media promotes the latest trends. Some examples of startups and businesses include:Med spasSkin care servicesEstheticiansPilates and fitness instructorsSkilled Trades:Due to a massive retirement wave, along with what has been referred to as a “talent gap,” there has been a large increase in demand for skilled trade workers. Due to the rise of AI, skilled trades are seen as one of the few professions that still offer job security. Forbes cites this as the new “plan A” for the younger generations, with a big draw being the ability to start their own business. “With 77% of Gen Z saying they want to become business owners, they’re the most entrepreneurial-minded generation to date—and they can see the clear path from skills to business ownership in the trades,” Mark C. Perna writes in Forbes. “Another 34% believe the trades are the fastest path to getting ahead financially, ahead of 27% who believe this is true of college.”Some examples of startups and business ideas in this space include:Electrical workHandypersonHVACPlumbingRoofingAI and Automation:AI has led the way for a new wave of entrepreneurs in this digital age. While many startups are running their own AI model, others are utilizing AI to corner the market in other areas. AI has become a tool to streamline daily tasks and create content more efficiently than ever. From new marketing ideas, fashion designs, drop-shipping businesses, and even warehousing and logistics ventures, the examples of startups and businesses growing in this category include:E-commerceContent creationMarketing and brand consultingWarehousing and logisticsKey tasks for new startups to succeed in 2026Americans should expect new startup trends across the U.S. to continue to evolve over time due to a variety of factors. But the key tasks for startups to launch successfully change much less frequently.Consider the following:Identify your business’s mission at the start to stay on track. You can reference the SBA for planning resources.Set goals, both long-term (quarterly, yearly) and short-term, to keep things moving in your pipeline.Create contact information for your business, including a business email address and phone number.Establish an EIN.Open a bank account for your business.Create a website and/or social media accounts to build your online presence.Consider getting commercial business insurance.This story was produced by Thimble and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Apples, German beer, and pickles: Here's Dani's Weekend Rundown for Sept. 17-23 There's a lot happening around the Quad Cities this weekend. Whether you take the family or make it a date night, here's what you shouldn't miss.
	Rockridge Junior High and High School evacuated after gas line hit Rockridge Junior High and High School was evacuated on Thursday morning after a gas line was hit.
	'Team Up to Fill Up' from United Way of West Central Illinois collects food for pantries in 4 area counties United Way of West Central Illinois and local food pantries in Henderson, Knox, Mercer and Warren counties are holding Team Up to Fill Up, the inaugural student-led, regional food drive on Monday, October 5. Invitations to United Way's Team Up to Fill Up regional food drive have been sent to all high school and college [...]
	36 vs. 84 month auto loans: What are the trade-offs? How long you finance a car makes a big difference in not just how much you pay every month, but also how much it costs you over the life of the loan. Longer loan terms have become increasingly common as drivers try to keep monthly payments manageable.Caribou explains how to weigh the trade-offs when comparing loan terms, whether you’re buying a car or refinancing your current auto loan.Why drivers are taking out longer loansDrivers have steadily stretched their auto loans over the past several years. Nearly 1 in 4 new auto loans in Q2 2026 were for 84 months or longer, a record high, according to Edmunds. Two trends are driving that shift.The first is price. New vehicle prices currently hover around $50,000, based on estimates from Kelley Blue Book. As a result, buyers are faced with larger loan balances and are extending terms to keep payments manageable.Vehicles have also gotten more reliable, so drivers are keeping their cars longer. The average car on the road today is 12.8 years old, according to S&P Global. Bigger loan balances plus longer ownership timelines add up to longer loan terms.Shorter vs. longer auto loan termsThere is no perfect loan term. The right choice depends on your budget, interest rate, car value and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.Let’s assume you have a $35,000 auto loan at 7% APR. Choosing an 84-month term over a 36-month loan lowers the monthly payment by about $552. But it also increases the total interest paid by more than $5,400. Caribou A longer loan term gives you more room in your monthly budget now, but a higher total cost over time. The right choice is the one that works best based on your current financial situation.Shorter loan termsA shorter term may make sense if you can comfortably afford the payment and want to reduce your total cost. You would be able to pay off the loan faster and pay less interest overall. A shorter loan term can also help you build equity in your car sooner and therefore reduce the risk of being upside down on your loan.The downside is that your monthly payment will usually be higher, so a shorter term may not be the right choice if it would constrain your monthly budget.Longer loan termsA longer loan term spreads your balance across more months and may make sense if your primary goal is to lower your monthly payment to avoid falling behind—or if you need to free up monthly cash flow for other necessary expenses.If your car payment is putting pressure on your budget, refinancing into a longer term with a lower APR may help. The key is to check whether the lower APR helps offset the added time.For example, New York driver Matthew Carl extended his loan to 72 months when he refinanced his Toyota RAV4 to create breathing room in his budget as his family prepared for a new baby. "The savings are going toward diapers and baby food," he says.A longer term may also make sense if you plan to make extra payments when you can. This approach provides more flexibility—you can lower your required monthly payment but make extra payments to pay down the loan faster when you are able. Just make sure your lender does not charge a prepayment penalty before making extra payments.What to consider with a longer loanA longer term is not automatically bad. Sometimes, lowering your monthly payment is the move that helps you better manage your budget. But it can create risk if the lower payment is the only thing you look at. With a longer loan term, you may:Pay more interest over the life of the loan.Owe money on the car for longer.Build equity more slowly.Still have payments when the car is older or needs repairs.Have a harder time selling or trading in the car if you owe more than it is worth.This matters because negative equity can make your next car loan more expensive. Edmunds reported that, in Q2 2026, buyers who rolled negative equity into a new loan had an average monthly payment of $944, compared with the overall industry average of $777.How to choose the right auto loan termAuto loans typically come in terms of 36, 48, 60, 72, or 84 months, and sometimes longer. The right loan term should balance affordability today with total cost over time. Before choosing a term, ask yourself these questions.Can I afford the monthly payment?A shorter term can save money, but it only works if the payment fits in your budget. If the payment is too high, you may be more likely to miss payments or take on more debt to cover other expenses.How much interest will I pay?Look at the total interest, not just the monthly payment. A longer term may look better month to month but cost more by the end of the loan.How long do I plan to keep the car?If you plan to trade in or sell the car soon, a longer term could make it harder to build equity before your next purchase.Is the car likely to need repairs before the loan is paid off?The longer you keep a loan, the more likely you are to still have payments when the car is older. That can be tough if repair costs start rising at the same time.Am I already upside down on my auto loan?If you owe more than your car is worth, extending your term may lower your payment but keep you in negative equity longer.How to change your loan term by refinancingRefinancing can help your car payment fit your budget better. Think of it like switching phone plans, but for your car. You replace your current loan with a new one, ideally with a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, a different term, or a combination of the three.Refinancing into a longer term can raise your total cost, even if the payment is lower. Before refinancing, look past the monthly payment and consider these factors:Your current loan balance.Your current APR.Your new APR.Your current payoff timeline.Your new loan term.Your estimated total interest.An auto refinance calculator can help you compare how much you’ll pay based on the loan term.If your credit score has improved or rates have shifted since you bought the car, refinancing can lower your payment and let you reset your term to something that fits your finances now.For example, Cameron Worthington, a driver from Georgia, shortened his term from 48 months to 36 months when he refinanced his Dodge Dart. His payment rose by about $14 a month, but he saved more than $1,000 in interest over the life of the loan. "My refinancing goal was to figure out how I can pay my car off faster," he says.The best loan term is the one that works with your budgetLoan terms affect the cost of credit by changing both your monthly payment and the amount of interest you pay over time. A longer auto loan term can make your payment more affordable, but it usually increases the total cost of borrowing. A shorter term can save money overall, but the payment may be harder to manage.Before choosing a loan term, compare the monthly payment, APR, total interest and total amount repaid. The best loan is not always the one with the lowest payment. It’s the one that fits your budget without costing more than necessary.This story was produced by Caribou and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How a contested statistical model fueled doubts about the 2024 election In April 2025, the Election Truth Alliance was a three-month-old Nevada nonprofit with a growing audience in anti-Trump online spaces and a claim that something about the 2024 presidential election did not add up.The group had released an analysis of the results in Pennsylvania and sent letters to officials there and in Wisconsin asking them to hand-check the results of multiple elections. Now, it wanted to work with Walter Mebane Jr., a tenured University of Michigan political scientist and one of the few academics who had spent decades trying to detect the statistical fingerprints of election fraud.Mebane was skeptical.“The name of the group didn’t really inspire confidence,” he told Votebeat. “I was thinking, ‘Oh my god, truthers.’” But Mebane thought the data would be useful for his students and a book he was working on, and by early May, he had produced a working paper analyzing Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential results. In a note, he credited the ETA for providing the data.His findings estimated the number of potentially fraudulent votes exceeded President Donald Trump’s margin of victory in Pennsylvania. In the working paper, Mebane noted his findings could also be attributed to factors other than intentional fraud.The ETA has described Mebane’s work as a “collaboration” that confirmed its conclusions. Mebane described it differently: He said he had no interest in the group’s advocacy and engaged because he believed it had unique data on Pennsylvania. He told Votebeat he did not know the same data was available from the state.“He is kind of the go-to guy for election forensics in the U.S. He’s the leading expert,” ETA co-founder Nathan Taylor said in a video posted in May 2025 announcing the findings validated their Pennsylvania concerns. Toward the end of the video, a QR code to the group’s donation page flashed on screen. The ETA urged supporters to contact Pennsylvania officials and advocate for hand-count audits, and they heeded the call, sending state and local officials emails that cited Mebane’s work to allege the results were flawed.In a June 2025 press release, the ETA said Mebane’s findings corroborated its own. “BREAKING,” the group wrote. “Election Forensics Expert Finds Vote Manipulation Concerns in Pennsylvania.In November, the ETA filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and three counties questioning the 2024 count and asking the district court to require the counties to “hand count physical ballots.” The group cited its own analysis but relied on Mebane’s findings to suggest abnormalities in Allegheny County.The ETA’s leaders acknowledge that statistical analysis alone can’t prove fraud. But they say the anomalies they raise warrant independent validation of the election results.The Pennsylvania paper Mebane gave the ETA did not fully explain the statistical model he used to identify potentially fraudulent votes, which he calls “eforensics.” Mebane later told Votebeat he had “decided not to write it in a way that would make it self contained” and instead referred the ETA to his past work for details on his methodology.The ETA’s promotion of Mebane’s original working paper and his credentials caught the attention of a network of statisticians and political scientists accustomed to dense models, technical assumptions, and arguments over what statistical analysis of election data can really show.Justin Grimmer, a Stanford political scientist whose 2021 peer-reviewed paper debunked statistical fraud claims about the 2020 election, said Mebane’s work has been used by the ETA in ways that give unusual weight to its claims about elections, which could otherwise be more easily dismissed as fringe. The result, he added, is a “perfect storm” — a motivated interest group armed with a professor’s academic credentials.He said giving the original analysis to the ETA was like “handing someone a stick of dynamite and being surprised when you walk away and it detonates.”As the ETA’s profile rose and its supporters trumpeted Mebane’s findings, Votebeat consulted 10 election and statistics experts about his original Pennsylvania working paper and the statistical model Mebane terms “eforensics.” All said they doubt the model can accurately detect fraud in U.S. elections.A different kind of election denialClaims of election fraud and statistical anomalies are now a regular feature of American elections — often blending data, analysis by citizen researchers, and the raw emotions of voters who do not want to believe their candidate truly lost. After 2020, when Trump and his allies waged an unprecedented effort to overturn the results, such efforts became closely associated with the political right.The ETA, which was formed as a nonpartisan nonprofit, has tried to distinguish itself from those movements. “This is not election denial. This is election integrity and auditing,” the ETA’s Taylor told David Pakman, host of the progressive online program “The David Pakman Show,” which has more than 3.6 million YouTube subscribers. Pakman described the 2025 segment as “one of the most requested interviews” in months.Mebane’s work has fueled public questions about elections before: In South Korea, politicians and activists cited his analysis to allege possible election fraud in 2020. Political scientists later found such claims were flawed and damaged voter confidence.Now, the ETA is using his work to raise questions about election results in the U.S. In addition to Pennsylvania, the group posted a summary of an unpublished analysis by Mebane of 2024 results in North Carolina, and it has asserted that the fact that his analysis corroborated its findings in Pennsylvania validates its analyses of other states.“In collaboration with ETA, Dr. Walter Mebane analyzed Pennsylvania vote data for the 2024 November Election and found evidence of potential election fraud, confirming ETA’s analysis of the same Pennsylvania vote data,” an attorney for the ETA wrote in an analysis sent to California election officials, threatening litigation if the state refused to act.“Consistent with techniques used to analyze Pennsylvania’s vote data,” the ETA said it had identified “evidence consistent with vote manipulation, including ballot-stuffing, deleting votes, and using algorithms to alter tabulator vote counts” in some California counties.ETA leaders later told Votebeat the group’s lawyer’s use of “confirming” in the letter was “less nuanced” than their own statements, but that they stood by their use of “corroborates,” since, they said, both analyses reached similar conclusions.The ETA has also sent letters to officials in at least six states, including Minnesota, Michigan and Kentucky, suggesting it has found abnormalities in the 2024 election results or in subsequent ones.The letters urge election officials to take steps, such as investigating technology used in the elections and conducting hand counts, to verify the results. As of Sept. 2, Pennsylvania is so far the only state where the ETA has sued. A judge recently dismissed the case but left the door open for it to be refiled. When the group resubmitted its complaint in August, it made no mention of Mebane or his analysis. In an interview with Votebeat in April, Taylor said the ETA planned to file suit in Florida next.The nonprofit is run by three people who came together on Reddit after the 2024 election, none of whom have an apparent background in U.S. elections. Taylor, 27, has a background in information technology; his two co-founders are a U.K.-trained financial professional now living in Arizona and a Canadian policy analyst with experience coordinating resources for British Columbia’s election authority.The group raises money to support its work, including through donations and selling merchandise such as a “The Math Ain’t Math’n” T-shirt and a women’s sleep shirt reading “Vote Once, Count Twice, Sleep Tight.” Public records show it reported raising more than $422,000 in 2025.While Mebane said he worked with the group, he told Votebeat that he hasn’t spoken with its founders in months. He told Votebeat that he saw “many, many things” in the ETA’s explanations that he “didn’t think were sound interpretations” of his work. But he said he didn’t want to get into a public debate with them, nor would he detail his specific concerns to Votebeat. He said fact-checking online claims is a distraction from his primary professional focus, a long-gestating book on his eforensics work.Mebane stands by his model as valid but also said he does not see it as his responsibility to ensure the public understands his work. He stressed that his work has been done transparently and in public through working papers that can be revised.At the same time, he dismisses the criticism from other academics, saying the experts consulted by Votebeat lack key components he has “deliberately not shown.” Grimmer and University of Pennsylvania political scientist Marc Meredith produced written reviews of Mebane’s 2024 Pennsylvania working paper at Votebeat’s request. Mebane described Grimmer’s critique as “just wrong” because “these views that you’ve solicited here are not based on the whole case that I’m making.” In response to questions, he frequently cited his planned book, saying the answers will ultimately be found there.From butterfly ballots to eforensicsMebane described his childhood as that of an inquisitive Black boy coming of age in the Civil Rights Era South, in a household where his parents, both Tuskegee graduates, emphasized the importance of social justice.“That’s why I cared about elections,” Mebane, 67, said in an April interview on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus. It seemed to him to be “the one way that wasn’t violent” that could “change who has control of some levers of how decisions get made.”When he spoke with Votebeat, he sat in a sparsely furnished office at the university’s Institute for Social Research — a space he uses for meetings. He described his primary workspace as “grimy” and packed with books. He wore a faded T-shirt featuring a tarot-style image labeled “The Wanderer,” a symbol of a lone traveler.Mebane said he has always been drawn to questions about human behavior. At 8, while grocery shopping with his mother, he remembers searching the cereal aisle for hidden cameras, convinced companies must be tracking what people bought to measure the effectiveness of advertisements.Mebane, who earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his doctorate at Yale, was teaching government at Cornell and studying elections in 2000 when the presidential race became too close to call, plunging the country into uncertainty.He traveled to Florida as part of a team of academic experts working pro bono on a lawsuit challenging Palm Beach County’s butterfly ballot, a confusing two-page design that led some voters to accidentally select the wrong presidential candidate. His team published their findings in the American Political Science Review.That work was straightforward: Mebane and his colleagues started with a known irregularity — the butterfly ballots — and worked outward, estimating how many votes it may have affected. There was a specific, identifiable problem. His job was to measure it.His approach to Pennsylvania’s 2024 election works differently.In the eforensics framework, Mebane starts not with a known problem but with the election results themselves. He compares total votes, votes for the leading candidate, and the number of eligible voters or registrants. Using those inputs, the model looks for patterns Mebane says could be produced by fraud.Elections are shaped by a wide range of forces, from socioeconomic conditions and demographic differences to weather, campaign spending, and the quirks of individual races. Mebane’s Pennsylvania model does not directly account for those factors, though it does adjust for broad differences in turnout and voting patterns across counties. Instead, using precinct-level vote returns, it classifies precincts as having no fraud, incremental fraud, or extreme fraud — terms Mebane says are not meant to imply intentional wrongdoing.Critics say that is where the trouble begins. The model flags innocent variations — caused by anything from strong canvassing efforts to hurricanes — as readily as deliberate manipulation.Mebane recognizes that the model can be affected by other factors. He says his model is unable to account for “lost votes” — votes that were never cast because voters stayed home, for example. The model also sometimes flags strategic behavior — such as a voter intentionally casting their ballot for a party they don’t typically vote for — in the same way as fraud. Critics say such phenomena are commonplace in American elections, making the model a bad fit for the U.S.“My project is a scientific mission to see whether this estimator and this approach can measure election frauds,” Mebane told Votebeat. “I think it measures frauds in a valid way, but it’s imperfect.”Experts dispute findings and raise questions about false positivesMichael Alvarez, a political science professor at the California Institute of Technology, tested Mebane’s model with Grimmer and Meredith using simulated data built to contain no fraud. The model still found fraud at levels similar to Mebane’s Pennsylvania working paper.Grimmer and Meredith said this kind of simulation is a basic way to pressure-test any model. They, along with Alvarez, were surprised Mebane had not done it.In Mebane’s book manuscript, a partial copy of which he provided to Votebeat, he said he has not used simulated data tests because his preferred test is to compare the model’s results with real elections. He points to examples from France and Mexico, where courts or election authorities later annulled results or otherwise identified serious problems, and his model also found anomalies.Had Mebane pressure-tested the model with simulated data, Meredith, Grimmer, and Alvarez said, he would have seen that the model could flag fraud even when none existed.“Mebane’s eforensics model labels precincts as fraudulent when they show just a combination of this disproportionately high turnout and support for the winning candidate,” Meredith said at a recent academic conference. That combination was common across the country in precincts that favored Trump.Mebane responded that such a result was “no surprise,” because an election simulated to contain no intentional fraud may still effectively simulate high mobilization or strategic behavior — forces his model may flag as eforensics frauds.All three criticized Mebane’s use of the word “fraud,” with Meredith calling it “very irresponsible” and “frankly, not defensible.”In his book manuscript, Mebane defines fraud as “malevolent distortions of electors’ intentions that change or potentially can change election outcomes,” even if the distortions aren’t the result of malicious or improper activity. Pressed on his use of the word “fraud,” Mebane defended it.“I have an imperfect measure of fraud.”If the anomalies may not be due to fraud, why use the term at all?“Because it’s eforensics frauds.”Why not call it an anomaly instead?“Because it measures frauds.”Alvarez, who co-edited a foundational academic book on election fraud, took issue with Mebane’s definition. “No one else thinks that’s what the word fraud means,” he said.Mebane’s eforensics model has not been published in a peer-reviewed paper. He submitted an early version of his eforensics work to the American Political Science Review in 2020. It was rejected, and he said he does not recall the specific critique.Nevertheless, in a press release announcing Mebane’s findings, the ETA said the model “has been validated in professional scientific publications.” The group did not specify which publications. Many political scientists, who reviewed the model at Votebeat’s request, told Votebeat that it cannot be used to support the claims the ETA is making.Pennsylvania, a swing state that has long been the subject of voter fraud conspiracy theories, draws intense scrutiny in every election. In 2024, the state had a chief election official appointed by the losing party, bipartisan boards in nearly every county, risk-limiting audits, and smaller spot-check audits.Meredith questions whether thousands of manufactured or stolen votes could really have slipped through all that scrutiny.“I am concerned that the model uses fraud as the mechanism to make the model fit the data better,” Meredith wrote.In Pennsylvania in 2024, Republican registrants turned out at higher rates than Democratic registrants in nearly every county, a pattern Meredith said is more readily explained by partisan enthusiasm than ballot stuffing.Mebane’s working paper acknowledges this possibility, albeit seven pages in. After repeatedly asserting that his findings of fraud may exceed the 2024 margin in Pennsylvania, Mebane writes that the state is a “key battleground into which extensive and intensive campaigning and mobilization efforts were directed,” adding, “maybe most or almost all of the incremental manufactured votes are false positives prompted by electors’ strategic behaviors.”The most conservative version of his model puts the number of estimated illegitimate votes well below Trump’s margin of victory in Pennsylvania.In the version of the working paper provided to the ETA, Mebane described the narrower estimate as “a not negligible proportion” of Trump’s margin. Mebane has since updated that paper for his book and deleted that language, according to a revised version he provided to Votebeat in July.Mebane also provided Votebeat with a written response to the reviews of his model from his academic peers, which highlight this limitation. In that, he says that when both malevolent distortions and strategic behaviors happen in the same election, “nothing about the model per se” can distinguish between the two.Experts were also critical of a number of choices Mebane made in his analysis. The working paper, for example, skips steps typically standard for claims of this magnitude. It does not rigorously engage with alternative explanations, address the fact that Pennsylvania’s election results were audited, or show through simulation that the model can return a no-fraud result in a setting like Pennsylvania’s.The Pennsylvania analysis also relies on data Mebane obtained via the ETA, even though that data was also publicly available from the state. Mebane said he did not check the data with election officials before publishing his findings, something Grimmer characterizes as a basic precaution before drawing conclusions from any model.Grimmer and the other experts said taking that step would have helped Mebane understand and account for obvious data issues that instead distorted his findings. Votebeat separately found additional data interpretation errors in Mebane’s work. After Votebeat raised its discovery with Mebane, he acknowledged it and revised his findings of precincts labeled as “extreme frauds.”Mebane’s updated Pennsylvania analysis also changes which counties he identifies as having significant levels of “malevolent distortions.” His original paper focused on Philadelphia and Huntingdon. The revised version provided to Votebeat instead focuses on Philadelphia and Bradford.The new paper does not explain the change, and the earlier version — accusing Huntingdon of having high levels of fraud — remains on Mebane’s website.‘There is an element of faith’The ETA stressed in an email to Votebeat that its claims do not rely solely on Mebane’s working paper or model, noting that it ran multiple statistical tests “to avoid putting too much weight on any one individual method.” But some of those other tests are variations on the same basic idea as Mebane’s eforensics model.For instance, in Pennsylvania, the group used a method developed by a Russian physicist that treats precincts with both high turnout and high support for the leading candidate as potentially fraudulent — a pattern colloquially known as a “Russian tail.” Grimmer said that kind of approach runs into the same barrier as Mebane’s model: The pattern it flags may be real, but the model cannot say why it exists.A political methodologist and researcher at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, Kirill Kalinin, told Votebeat that he spoke with the ETA last year and warned the group its methods could produce false positives.The ETA’s founders also spoke with Votebeat and answered additional questions, but they did not answer a final list of questions about their methods, claims, and organization. They also did not directly respond to Grimmer and Meredith’s written critiques of Mebane’s work.“Our team remains open to transparent, unbiased data analysis, including amending and correcting errors when they are discovered or brought to our attention,” they said in an email. “We welcome and encourage constructive criticism of our methodologies or our characterization of others’ work as we seek to ensure the accuracy and integrity of election results, and to bridge the gap between academia and the general public.”But by both sides’ accounts, the group and the professor are no longer working together, with Mebane voicing doubts about how the group is using his work. The ETA said it repeatedly reached out to Mebane to ask if it had accurately characterized his work or should adjust its framing of it but received no response.The ETA’s founders — Taylor, Emily Barner, and Clive Griffiths — said they are not the full extent of the ETA’s team, describing a wider network that includes members with advanced statistics training and doctorates in relevant fields, but declined to name most of them.Barner, who goes by Lilli McGregor in her work for the ETA — which she told Votebeat is a combination of a nickname and her married name — said the group is trying to protect those members from reprisal and that supporters will ultimately have to take them at their word.“There is an element of faith,” she said.At least one of the founders has expressed strong views about the 2024 election. Griffiths — who goes by the nickname Jive online — said on X before the election that it was “about to be stolen.” The day after the election, he posted that “we are gonna prove” Trump cheated. After Votebeat asked about the posts, the account became private.Mebane confirmed he also analyzed North Carolina data given to him by the group, which published a summary of his findings that claims he found more than 200,000 potentially fraudulent votes. However, Mebane said he asked the ETA not to publish his full paper, leaving that summary the only public account of his findings.Mebane said he raised his objections explicitly in “a couple of Zoom meetings.” The group disputes that, saying it only learned of his concerns secondhand, around the time of an article in The Atlantic reporting that he did not endorse their claims.The group has also contacted other academics, including Kalinin, who was advised by Mebane as a University of Michigan doctoral student. Before graduating in 2017, Kalinin worked with Mebane on election forensics methods. Kalinin said the ETA first contacted him over the summer of 2025 and later scheduled a roughly three-hour call in October.Over the course of the call, Kalinin said, it became clear the group was seeking advice on how to restore its relationship with Mebane following his comments to The Atlantic. He told the ETA members on the call they’d have to reach out to Mebane directly. It was in that conversation, he said, that he cautioned them about false positives.“These are just anomalies, these are not election fraud,” he said he told them, stressing that “you need to prove it.” Without ruling out alternative explanations, he said, such patterns cannot establish wrongdoing, particularly in democratic elections where normal political behavior can produce similar signals.Mebane told Votebeat he doesn’t have time to argue with everyone on the internet, pointing to this meme. But his reluctance to publicly address the use of his work has left a vacuum.For example, in a July 2025 video with more than 650,000 views titled “Yes, There’s Evidence Trump Hacked the 2024 Election,” independent journalist Scott Carney cited the ETA’s interpretation of Mebane’s working paper as evidence the election may have been stolen. He acknowledged he could not fully understand the math and said Mebane didn’t answer his emailed questions.“C’mon, Mebane!” he said. “You can’t just drop a bombshell like that and then walk away like nothing happened.”The accountability gapAs the ETA used Mebane’s working paper for advocacy and fundraising, it reached Andrew Gelman, a professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University and a leading authority on statistical methods. It had already baffled another technically sophisticated reader, who sent it to Gelman hoping he could make sense of it.Gelman read both the Pennsylvania working paper and the underlying eforensics methodology but found the work too opaque to fully evaluate. The only reason anyone was engaging with it, he wrote, was Mebane’s reputation. “Without his name attached to them I don’t think we’d be reading them at all.”That combination of technical opacity and academic authority is what makes work like this hard to dislodge once it spreads, said Grimmer. Debunking work like Mebane’s requires readers to follow complex assumptions and unfamiliar methods.Kalinin, who has spent much of his career studying elections in authoritarian countries, defended Mebane’s caveats, calling the original Pennsylvania working paper “balanced.” At the same time, he said, methods like eforensics work “well on autocracies. I’m not so sure about democracies.”Kalinin said that he has come to believe the ETA was pursuing its own political goals and using the work of academics “as the instrument” to achieve them.“No amount of academic caution can entirely prevent a motivated organization from stripping away those caveats to advance a specific agenda,” Kalinin said in an email. “ETA is entirely responsible for its own actions. They are clearly exploiting election forensics research for strategic or political gain -- something that I cautioned them against during our private conversation.”“It does not surprise me that ETA may have mischaracterized my work, because that’s what I initially observed them doing to others’ work,” Mebane said in an email. “I take responsibility for what I say, not for what they or anyone else may say.”Other researchers Votebeat spoke with agreed that the ETA had stripped away important caveats. But they were less willing to separate the ETA’s use of the work from Mebane’s own choices — including the claims he published, the authority his name carried, and his decision to remain largely silent as those claims spread. Academia offers few clear mechanisms for addressing those concerns.Keith Whittington, a Yale Law School professor who studies academic freedom, said universities are reluctant to police what professors research or say because ideas once dismissed can later prove correct. What responsibility any individual scholar has over how their work is used, he said, is “not at all obvious.”Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch — a news organization that reports on academic corrections and retractions — said the issue is not whether preliminary or unconventional work can have value. It can, he said. But scholarship is supposed to be iterative, he said: Researchers should revise work in response to criticism and publicize those revisions. Mebane’s website does not indicate whether or how his Pennsylvania analysis has changed in response to the criticism it has received.Without subjecting your work to that process, Oransky said, “I’m not sure you’re really doing scholarship.”What makes this different from the dozens of other statistical analyses of the 2020 or 2024 elections he’s reviewed and found flawed, Grimmer said, is who it’s coming from. Claims like these usually come from the political fringe. It is far rarer to see them come from a tenured professor at a major university.That distinction carries weight, especially in a political climate already primed for suspicion.“You can see how something like this takes off,” Grimmer said. People tend to put too much stock in credentials when doing so supports their position, and “when they don’t understand, people default to the conclusion they want to reach.”This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Man found dead in rural Aledo identified, Mercer County man charged with murder A Mercer County man is being charged with murder after a man was attacked and stabbed to death inside a rural Aledo home on Sept. 8.
	Judge accepts guilty plea of Clinton man in manslaughter case A judge has accpeted the guilty plea of a Clinton man in the Feb. 17 shooting death of 20-year-old Brady Newsome of Clinton.
	Weight loss can weaken your bones. Here’s how to keep them strong. Weight loss can improve your health in many ways. But it can also come with some drawbacks, like bone loss. Losing too much bone can make your bones weaker and raise your risk of fractures.The good news is that there are steps you can take to help protect your bones during weight loss. GoodRX, a platform for medication savings, explains why bone loss can happen, how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications may play a role, and what you can do to keep your bones healthy and strong.Key takeaways:It’s normal to lose some bone when you lose weight, whether through diet, medication, or weight loss surgery.Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications like Wegovy and Zepbound are linked to bone loss. But research suggests that weight loss itself, rather than the medication, causes most of this change.Strength training, regular exercise, and getting enough protein, calcium, and vitamin D can help protect your bones while you lose weight.Is it normal to lose bone mass as you lose weight?Yes, some bone loss is normal when you lose weight. Bone loss happens whether you lose weight through diet and exercise, medication, or weight-loss surgery.But losing some bone density doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop weak bones or have a fracture. Your risk becomes greater if you lose a lot of bone mass during weight loss.Some people are more likely to lose more bone during weight loss. Your risk may be higher if you:Are an older adultHave gone through menopauseAlready have osteopenia or osteoporosisHave had a fracture caused by weak bonesLose a large amount of weightDon’t get enough calcium, vitamin D, or proteinDon’t get regular exerciseHave another health condition that can weaken your bonesTake a medication that can weaken your bonesThis doesn’t mean that losing weight is bad for your bones. But it does mean that protecting your bones should become part of your weight loss and health plan.Why does bone mass decrease with weight loss?Weight loss affects your bones in several ways at the same time:Your bones carry less weight. Your bones respond to the amount of weight and pressure placed on them. A higher body weight puts more pressure on weight-bearing bones, which signals your body to keep them strong. As you lose weight, your body may respond by building less bone and breaking down more bone.You lose some muscle, too. Weight loss doesn’t only come from body fat. Some of the weight you lose comes from muscle and other tissue. Your muscles pull on your bones when you move, which helps keep bones strong. Losing muscle means your bones get less of this healthy pressure.Your hormone levels change. Fat tissue helps make and control several hormones that affect your bones. Losing body fat can change your hormone levels and may cause your body to break down more bone than it replaces.You may get fewer bone-building nutrients. Eating less food can make it harder to get enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Your body needs these nutrients to maintain strong bones and build new bone.Together, these changes can cause your body to break down bone faster than it builds new bone. That’s why protecting muscle and getting enough exercise and nutrients can be an important part of protecting your bones.Do weight loss medications cause bone loss?Yes, some bone loss can happen when you lose weight with medications like semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Zepbound). Research suggests that people who lose more weight with these medications also tend to lose more bone.But the amount of bone loss is similar to what happens with nonsurgical weight loss. This suggests that weight loss, rather than the medication itself, is what’s causing bone loss.So far, there isn’t enough research to know whether one weight loss medication causes more bone loss than another. Researchers are also studying amylin-combination weight-loss medications. Amylin is a peptide that may slow bone breakdown and support new bone growth during weight loss.Can you prevent bone loss as you lose weight?There aren’t specific guidelines for protecting bone health while losing weight with a GLP-1 medication. But experts agree that people taking GLP-1 medications should prioritize exercise and good nutrition. Some people may also need to have their bone health monitored. Talk with your healthcare team about a bone health plan while taking a GLP-1 medication, especially if you:Lose more than 10% of your body weightAre an older adultHave gone through menopauseAlready have osteopenia or osteoporosisHave a history of fracturesHave a history of osteoporosis or osteopeniaHere are some steps you can take to protect your bone health during weight loss.Exercise regularlyExercise may be one of the best ways to protect your bones during weight loss. Weight-bearing exercise puts weight and pressure on your bones, which tells your body that it still needs to keep them strong.Experts recommend combining strength training at least three times a week with at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week.Get enough protein, calcium, and vitamin DEating less during weight loss can make it harder to get all the nutrients your bones need. It’s important to pay attention to:Protein: Experts recommend getting more protein if you’re losing weight. You may need between 80 mg and 120 mg of protein each day.Calcium: Most adults should get about 1,000 mg to 1,300 mg each day.Vitamin D: Most adults need about 600 IU each day.These are general guidelines, and your needs may be different depending on your overall health. Work with your healthcare team to determine how much protein, calcium, or vitamin D you need each day.Monitor your bone healthSome people may need their bone health checked while losing weight. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan measures bone density and can help find bone loss before you have a fracture. Your healthcare team may recommend a DEXA scan every one to two years if you have a higher risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis. They may also track changes in your muscle mass, since losing muscle and bone can happen together.Start treatment if you need itIf you already have osteoporosis or develop it during weight loss, exercise and nutrition may not be enough to keep your bones strong. Your healthcare team may recommend osteoporosis medication to help strengthen your bones and lower your risk of fractures. The right treatment depends on your bone density, fracture risk, and overall health.Frequently asked questionsHow is bone loss diagnosed?A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan measures your bone density and can show if you’ve lost bone. Your healthcare team will look at your results along with your medical history to understand your bone health. They may also order blood tests to check for low levels of important nutrients or signs that your bones are breaking down faster than normal.Can you reverse bone loss?You may be able to slow or stop bone loss, and even rebuild some bone. Your bone density may not return to the level it was when your bones were at their strongest. But even small improvements can help lower your risk of fractures. Treatment often includes a combination of medication, exercise, and good nutrition. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol can also help protect your bones.When should you see a doctor about signs of bone loss?Talk with your healthcare team if you’ve had a fracture or are worried about your bone health. You should also ask about your bone health if you have a medical condition or take medication that can weaken your bones. Your healthcare team can order a bone density scan or blood tests to check for bone loss and decide if you need treatment.Which weight loss medications are the worst for bone loss?It’s not clear if one weight loss medication causes more bone loss than another. Researchers are still studying the differences between these medications. For now, the same steps to protect your bone health are recommended no matter which weight loss medication you take.The bottom lineSome bone loss can happen when you lose a lot of weight, but that doesn’t mean weight loss is bad for your bones. These changes can happen whether you lose weight through surgery, lifestyle changes, or medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. Exercise and good nutrition can help protect your bones and muscles as your weight changes. Some people may also need bone density testing, especially if they already have a higher risk of weak bones. Your healthcare team can help you make bone health part of your weight loss plan.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How sleep, stress, and your skin are connected Everyone wants healthier skin, and plenty of people will spend years trying new products to get it, but topical skin care only influences part of what shows up on the face. The rest comes down to what the body is doing each day, starting with the hours spent asleep.Attention to those overnight hours has been building across the beauty industry, where Ogee has pointed to nighttime recovery as one part of healthy skin, noting how much repair happens while the body rests.However, stress arrives from the opposite end of the day, working on those same processes from a different direction, which clinicians see firsthand in their patients.Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe, a U.K. physician and aesthetic specialist, told Forbes that skin is where stress shows up, and that people really underestimate it. She carries that thinking into her consultations, rarely looking at a patient's skin by itself before asking about their overall health.Her approach reflects a growing medical focus on the internal processes that affect skin before any product is applied. With doctors looking more closely at what happens inside the body, attention naturally turns to the work the skin is already doing every day to repair itself and stay healthy.Your Skin Is Constantly Repairing ItselfSkin is never exactly the same from one month to the next, even if the changes are too small to notice day by day. Scientists estimate that the epidermis renews itself roughly every 40 to 56 days, with new cells forming below the surface and gradually moving upward as older cells are shed.Northwestern stem cell biologist Xiaomin Bao has described this constant renewal as essential to maintaining healthy skin, since fresh cells must continually replace those lost through everyday wear.The pace slows with age, so older cells remain on the surface longer, and skin may begin to look duller or feel different than it did years earlier. Those changes can become especially noticeable around menopause, when many women see differences that seem to arrive surprisingly quickly.The American Academy of Dermatology reports that women lose about 30% of their skin’s collagen during the first five years of menopause, followed by a more gradual decline. During midlife, losing collagen this quickly can make changes in the mirror feel more noticeable, since collagen gives skin much of its firmness, while elastin helps it return to place after it moves.While those proteins help determine how skin looks and feels, the outer surface has another job that is just as basic to healthy skin. Part of that job is holding onto moisture, which researchers track through transepidermal water loss, the amount of water that passes through the skin and evaporates.When that water loss rises, the protective surface is often not working as well, leaving it more prone to dryness and irritation. With so much of this repair happening every day, researchers have also focused on the body’s daily schedule and how it affects when some of this work takes place.Sleep Is One of Your Skin's Most Important Recovery ToolsSleep is perhaps one of the most powerful and underrated tools for healthy skin, partly due to how much of the body's repair work follows a daily clock.Research on skin biology has found that cell division changes throughout the day, while blood flow to the skin rises during nighttime hours, so some repair work becomes more active after dark. Those hours become more important when researchers look at what happens without enough rest.A University Hospitals Case Medical Center study led by dermatologist Dr. Elma Baron found that good sleepers recovered 30% more effectively from a damaged skin barrier than poor sleepers after 72 hours. Poor sleepers also took longer to recover from ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure.Separate research has found that even short periods of sleep restriction reduce skin hydration and elasticity, showing how quickly too little sleep can affect how skin looks and feels. Even with those changes appearing quickly, one bad night does not determine long-term skin health, but losing sleep over and over gives skin less time to recover properly.Still, sleep is only one part of how well skin recovers, since stress can also change how the body carries out that repair.Chronic Stress Changes How Skin FunctionsStress is unavoidable, and short periods of it are part of the body’s normal response to pressure. But problems become more likely when stress continues, keeping cortisol elevated longer than the body needs it. Dermatologists at the University of Utah Health explain that cortisol increases inflammation and oil production, while prolonged stress also slows the skin’s ability to heal.Part of that response comes from the close connection between skin and the nervous system. Researchers call it the skin-brain axis, a two-way communication system that uses hormonal and immune messages to connect emotional stress with changes in the skin.Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Keira Barr says the brain and skin “communicate with each other,” helping explain why ongoing stress can trigger acne or eczema. Similar flare-ups are seen with psoriasis and rosacea, although dermatologists consider stress a contributing factor rather than the sole cause of any of these conditions.Stress can also interfere with sleep, adding another way prolonged pressure can affect how well skin recovers. But sleep and stress are only part of what affects skin each day, with hydration and environmental exposure adding their own influence.Other Everyday Factors That Influence Skin HealthSkin is the body's largest organ, so avoiding everything it encounters from the outside is nearly impossible. Sun exposure remains one of the biggest concerns, with dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Holman attributing 90% of visible changes in skin appearance to sun damage.Air pollution creates similar problems, since UV radiation and pollutants both produce free radicals that contribute to oxidative stress. Those unstable molecules damage skin cells when the body cannot neutralize them quickly enough.However, what happens inside the body affects the skin as well, starting with basic hydration. Research published in the PMFA Journal has linked inadequate water intake with changes associated with skin aging and inflammation, but drinking more does not appear to offer the same benefit once someone is already well hydrated, since the body regulates how much water it keeps and removes what it does not need.Beyond hydration, diet provides the body with some of the materials it needs to maintain healthy skin, with protein supporting skin repair and vitamin C helping with collagen production. But skin responds to these influences over time, so changes tied to daily habits and environmental exposure are more likely to build gradually over time.Healthy Skin Reflects Consistent Daily HabitsAs with anything in life, practice makes perfect, and the same holds for how daily habits influence skin.Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn has emphasized consistency when discussing healthier skin, with regular habits giving the body time to respond over weeks and months. Daily sun protection follows the same principle, with dermatologists recommending consistent protection to limit the damage that builds through repeated UV exposure.But getting enough sleep and finding consistent ways to manage stress are two of the most important daily habits for supporting healthy skin, since both affect how well the body carries out the repair work skin depends on.This story was produced by Ogee and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Local head starts to speak on change to free early childhood education program Rock Island head starts are holding a press conference on Thursday to talk about a change to program that provides free early childhood education to low-income families.
	Infiltrator Water Technology plans to invest more than $7M in former cold storage building Infiltrator Water Technology plans to invest more than $7 million and add up to 26 jobs at a former cold storage building in Davenport's West End.
	Why do I sweat more than others in hot weather? Sweating in hot weather can feel like a never-ending battle. You're outside, the sun is blazing, and suddenly, it feels like you're melting faster than an ice cream cone on a summer day. But why does it feel like you sweat more than your mates when the temperature rises? AXE, the deodorant brand for guys, explores the reasons behind this and offers tips to keep you fresh and confident, no matter how hot the weather.The Science Behind SweatingSweating is your body's way of cooling down when things get too heated. But if you find yourself drenched while others seem perfectly dry, there could be a few reasons why. AXE 1. GeneticsJust like your eye color or height, your sweat levels can be influenced by your genes. Some people are simply predisposed to sweat more due to their genetic makeup. If your parents or siblings are heavy sweaters, chances are you might be too.2. EnvironmentWhere you live and how your body adapts to the climate can also impact how much you sweat. If you're used to cooler climates and suddenly find yourself in a tropical paradise, your body might go into overdrive trying to cool itself down.3. Activity levelThe more active you are, the more your body works to regulate its temperature. Whether you're hitting the gym, playing sports, or just running errands, increased physical activity can lead to more sweat.4. Stress and anxietyEver notice how you start sweating when you're nervous or stressed? That's because your body's fight-or-flight response kicks in, causing your sweat glands to work overtime. So, if you're feeling the pressure, it might show up as extra perspiration.5. Hormonal changesHormones can also affect how much you sweat. Puberty, stress and even certain medications can cause fluctuations in your hormone levels, leading to increased sweating.Practical Tips for Managing Excessive SweatingNow that we've covered why you might be sweating more than others, let's talk about how to manage it. Here are some practical tips to help you stay cool and fresh, even on the hottest days.1. Fuel Up with H2ODrink loads of water to help regulate your body temperature and keep you hydrated. Bonus, staying hydrated can help reduce the amount of sweat your body produces.2. Go for breathable gearWear lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or moisture-wicking materials. These fabrics allow air to circulate and help keep your skin dry.3. Chill mode: onWhen the temperature rises, find ways to stay cool. Use fans, air conditioning, or take a dip in the pool. Avoid hot, humid environments whenever possible.4. Clean up your gamRegular showers and proper grooming can help keep sweat and odor at bay. Use a gentle soap to cleanse your skin and prevent bacteria buildup.5. Level up with the right deodorantLook for products specifically designed to combat excessive sweating.6. Power your plateCertain foods can trigger sweating, so it's important to eat a balanced diet. Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, as they can increase your body temperature and cause you to sweat more.7. Move more, sweat lessRegular exercise can help regulate your body's temperature and reduce stress, which can lead to less sweating over time.8. Keep calm and shake off the stressStress and anxiety can turn up the sweat, so keeping your cool is everything. Try mindfulness, meditation, yoga or calming scents to stay grounded and keep stress in check.Sweating in hot weather doesn’t have to leave you feeling defeated. Understanding why some people sweat more than others can empower you to take control with simple strategies that work. Whether it’s staying hydrated, dressing in breathable fabrics, or finding the right deodorant, there’s a way to tackle even the hottest days with confidence.This story was produced by AXE and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AccelerateVQC will explore how e-bikes can create connected communities Visit Quad Cities will host its next "AccelerateVQC, Pedaling Forward - How Cycling and E-Bikes Create Connected Communities," on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The event, which will be 3:30-5 p.m. at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State St., Bettendorf, will bring community leaders, tourism partners, sports organizations, and regional stakeholders together to explore the [...]
	Donahue teen tenders plea for judge's consideration in sexual exploitation of a minor case A Donahue teen charged with 30 counts related to the sexual exploitation of a minor has tendered a plea agreement for a Scott County judge to consider.
	Weekend of cultural heritage events underway in Quad Cities \| Dani's Weekend Rundown for Sept. 17, 2026 From gyros and baklava to steins of beer and folk dancing, many in the Quad Cities community can get a taste of different cultures.
	Using credit cards to pay rent: What new survey data shows Housing is typically thought of as a fixed, non-negotiable bill, the one expense that gets paid before anything else. New survey data suggests that for a meaningful share of Americans, it isn’t being paid outright at all. It’s being financed.In a 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with at least $10,000 in unsecured debt, conducted by Atomik Research for Accredited Debt Relief, 33% said they had used a credit card or borrowed money to cover rent or housing costs in the past year.Housing Joins the List of Bills Going on CreditHousing is one of several essential expenses now being covered with credit. Groceries led at 66%, followed by gas or transportation at 47% and utilities at 45%. At roughly 1 in 3, rent or housing costs sit alongside them.The discretionary spending isn’t what’s going on the card. Asked separately what they’d put on hold because of their debt, respondents named taking a vacation more often than anything else, at 41%, followed by building savings at 40%. The trips are being cancelled. It’s the groceries and the housing payments that are being financed. Accredited Debt Relief Why Charging Housing Is DifferentMost landlords and mortgage servicers don’t accept credit cards directly, so people who pay this way typically go through a third-party platform that charges a processing fee. Others take a cash advance, which usually carries a higher interest rate than regular purchases and starts accruing interest immediately.Either route makes the payment cost more than the number on the lease. And because housing is a large and recurring cost, a balance built this way grows faster than one built from occasional purchases.Debt Payments Are Competing With the BillsAsked what they’d done in the past 12 months in order to make a debt payment, respondents in Accredited Debt Relief’s Debt Impact Survey, conducted by Drive Research, described cutting into essentials: 45% had cut back on groceries or household essentials, 25% had skipped or delayed a utility payment and 16% had skipped or delayed rent or mortgage.That reverses the usual framing. It isn’t only that everyday costs create debt. Existing debt payments are also displacing everyday costs, including the ones people protect most carefully. Nearly half, 49%, said they’re living paycheck to paycheck because of their debt payments, and 31% are making minimum payments without seeing the balance move.What It Means When Housing Goes on CreditThere’s a long-standing principle in household budgeting that rent eats first. Housing is fixed, it’s essential, and the consequences of missing it are severe, so it gets paid before groceries, before savings, before anything discretionary.That principle hasn’t gone anywhere. What’s changed is where the money comes from. When a household covers housing with credit, rent is still eating first, but it’s eating money the household doesn’t have yet.Individual circumstances vary, and a survey can’t account for all of them. But housing is the expense people protect most carefully, so reaching for credit to cover it suggests income alone isn’t stretching far enough to meet basic costs for an increasing number of people.This story was produced by Accredited Debt Relief and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Is your tap water safe? What regulations do and don’t tell you Many people pay close attention to what they eat, how they sleep and how often they exercise as part of a more intentional approach to wellness. The quality of the water they drink, however, often escapes the same consideration. In a recent survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Culligan, 76% said they were more intentional about their health than ever, yet 35% had not thought about their tap water quality during the previous year.That gap may be partly rooted in an oversimplified assumption: If tap water meets current regulations, there is nothing else to consider in terms of its safety. Yet while regulations provide important public health protections, they do not cover every substance or concern, including some contaminants that are still being studied or are not federally regulated.For consumers trying to make sense of this sometimes-confusing landscape, it helps to know what regulations cover—and where their scope ends.What water regulations coverThe survey found that 20% of respondents believed water that meets government regulations contains no contaminants. However, not every substance that can impact drinking water has an enforceable standard.In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates more than 90 contaminants in public water systems, while its Contaminant Candidate List identifies unregulated substances that may warrant further research and possible regulation. However, inclusion on the list does not create a standard, nor does it establish that every detected level poses a risk.When creating standards, the EPA first establishes a nonenforceable public health goal. It then sets an enforceable standard as close to that goal as feasible, taking into account factors such as treatment technology, measurement capabilities and cost.Implementing new requirements also takes time and funding. Under the EPA’s lead rule, for example, most systems have 10 years to replace lead service lines. Overall, the agency estimates that U.S. systems need $625 billion over 20 years for drinking-water infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.Canada follows a different model. Health Canada develops national guidelines with the provinces and territories, but each jurisdiction decides how to establish its own requirements. Municipalities usually manage treatment and distribution, so no single federal code applies identically nationwide.Why appearance, taste and smell are not enoughOne likely contributor to misconceptions about water quality is that people tend to trust their senses. In the survey, half of respondents said they believed water that tasted fine was safe to drink. However, many contaminants that may be present in water, including lead, PFAS and others, can’t be seen, tasted or smelled. Targeted laboratory testing is often the only way to identify them.Still, other survey responses showed that consumers do recognize water quality as a potential unseen concern. When asked to rank their top “invisible risks” (concerns not easily judged through the senses), respondents ranked contaminants in water first at 45%, followed by air pollution at 43% and food additives at 42%.Three common tap water mythsCommon misunderstandings extend beyond regulations and the limits of our senses. The survey also surfaced three common myths that can shape how people respond to water-quality concerns.Myth 1: Boiling water removes every contaminant.Boiling is useful when a water utility or public-health authority issues a boil-water advisory because it can inactivate disease-causing microorganisms. However, the limitations of boiling are less widely understood. While 36% of survey respondents believed boiling removes all contaminants, that isn’t the case. Boiling does not make water safe when chemical or radiological contamination is suspected and may concentrate certain substances as water evaporates.Myth 2: Single-use bottled water follows stricter rules.Perhaps because a sealed bottle feels more controlled, 30% of those surveyed believed bottled water was more strictly regulated than tap water. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water, while the EPA regulates public systems. When the EPA sets a standard, the FDA adopts a corresponding bottled-water standard or determines that one is unnecessary. Some limits differ, so single-use bottled water is not uniformly subject to stricter rules. In fact, it’s common for single-use bottled water to be sourced from tap water.Recent findings also show why bottled water is not necessarily a better choice from a water-quality standpoint. For example, FDA testing detected PFAS in 10 of 197 bottled-water samples from 2023 and 2024 (although none exceeded comparable EPA limits); a 2024 study detected microplastics and nanoplastics in samples from three brands. (Note that these findings apply only to the samples tested and do not represent every bottled-water product.)Myth 3: Every filtration method works the same way.Water filtration was another source of confusion: 57% of respondents believed all water filters provide the same level of filtration. In reality, filtration methods and their capabilities vary significantly.Understanding water filter certification can help dispel this myth. Certification does not mean a system reduces every possible contaminant. Consumers concerned about specific contaminants should check whether the filtration system they’re considering is specifically certified (proven) to reduce them.Start with testingTesting is the most direct way to understand water quality at a particular home, yet 51% of survey respondents have not tested theirs in the previous year. For U.S. households served by a community water system, annual Consumer Confidence Reports are required to provide information about local drinking water quality. These provide useful background, including the water source, regulated contaminants detected and compliance information. Canadian households can request local information from their utility or municipality.Because these reports describe the public water supply, they may not fully reflect conditions at an individual tap. Lead or copper, for example, can leach into water from service lines, household plumbing or fixtures.The right type of testing depends on the water source, local conditions, household plumbing and the concerns being investigated. Free or low-cost screenings can cover basic characteristics such as hardness, chlorine and pH. Potential health-related contaminants, such as lead, arsenic, nitrate or PFAS, generally require analysis by an appropriately certified or accredited laboratory.Once testing clarifies the concern, treatment can be matched to it. Advanced reverse osmosis drinking water filtration systems, for example, can often address a comprehensive range of drinking-water concerns, while whole-house filtration systems typically are designed to address more specific issues throughout the home. In either case, consumers should look for system certification specific to their concerns.Like reading a food label or tracking sleep, paying attention to water quality starts by seeking reliable information. That means understanding what’s coming from your tap and taking the right steps to help you feel confident about its quality.Survey methodologyTalker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Culligan International and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 13 and May 18, 2026.This story was produced by Culligan and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Making a 'big dill' about the Pickle Bash \| Dani's Weekend Rundown - Sept. 17, 2026 This week, News 8's Dani Howe welcomes Shawn Lotter from the Mississippi Valley Fair to break down a tasty event coming to the fairgrounds.
	Grocery stores are a free-market success story Food prices are a political flashpoint. In America’s most recent presidential election, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris promised to ban “price gouging” on groceries, while Republican nominee Donald Trump said he would reduce prices by fixing supply chain issues. More recently, as food prices have risen 3% in the past year, Trump has promised to address higher consumer costs for beef by waiving tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef.But amid talk of price gouging and lack of affordability, what’s often overlooked is that profit margins for American grocery stores are actually slim: between 1% and 3% as of 2026. The reason for this is simple—the average American has access to multiple grocery stores and is always on the lookout for better deals. In 2024, consumers shopped at an average of two different grocery stores per week. This year, 42% said they planned to switch to a less expensive store.“Food is something we have to buy every week,” said Mike von Massow, a professor of food, agricultural, and resource economics at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College. “It’s an expenditure we’re going to make no matter what, so we’re more sensitive about it. The other thing that is a factor here is that we have a stronger understanding of what we expect to pay for food because we buy it every week.”Massow explained that the economics term for what a consumer expects to pay for something is the “reference price.” Shoppers develop a strong reference price for food items because they shop at grocery stores so regularly. They’re more likely to notice a price increase on a grocery item than they would on something they purchase less often, like an iPhone or a pair of sneakers, and the most-discussed price hikes are usually on groceries people purchase the most. Politicians often talk about the price of eggs, milk, or beef; they talk less frequently about the price of artisanal hand-roasted peanut butter or gluten-free bagels.Grocery stores can operate in this highly price-competitive world because they’re volume businesses. A 1%-3% profit margin still translates to billions of dollars when the company is as large as Walmart, and the fact that the profit is spread over millions of daily transactions decreases the risks associated with low profit margins. (This means that a local grocery store is an especially tough business to operate; most have even lower profit margins than the large chains, and survive by becoming members of buying cooperatives and developing strong relationships with their communities.)Grocery stores use two major pricing strategies. One, called high-low pricing, involves attracting consumers with promoted sales on items priced lower than competitors and then hoping to make a profit from the non-discounted items consumers purchase while they’re there. The goods that bring consumers into the store are called “loss leaders,” and they’re often staple items in high demand. (The textbook example of a loss leader is the Thanksgiving turkey, which is usually sold near wholesale cost to attract shoppers who will then purchase other ingredients for their holiday meals.)High-low pricing was once the dominant business model for grocery stores, but with inflation making consumers even more sensitive to price increases, another business model is steadily gaining market share, especially with younger consumers: everyday low pricing. Everyday low pricing models, like those used by stores such as Walmart and Aldi, focus on having consistently low prices for every item in the store. Such stores make money in different ways: Walmart, for example, keeps prices low through its massive scale—nearly 1 in every 4 dollars spent on groceries in the U.S. is spent at a Walmart—while Aldi limits its selection, offering roughly 3% of the products a traditional grocery store has on its shelves.But under either pricing model, what influences prices are the costs of food manufacturing and distribution. Though food prices rose steeply at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in fact outpaced general inflation during the initial lockdown, economists say the price increases resulted from the unique strain the pandemic put on grocery stores’ supply chains.For example, meatpacking plants were early hot spots for the spread of COVID-19 due to their low temperatures and cramped working conditions, and many plants implemented social distancing, which slowed production. Illness and risk of exposure decreased labor supply for both grocery stores and food manufacturers, further increasing the cost of getting groceries on store shelves. Increased demand was also part of the picture; shuttered restaurants meant that people cooked more food at home, and therefore grocery stores gained some market power. But overall, the picture the evidence paints is far from one in which grocery stores took advantage of a crisis to hike prices.Likewise, the spike in egg prices that became one of Trump’s talking points on the 2024 campaign trail wasn’t a result of grocery store price gouging. It was the result of an avian influenza outbreak that began in 2022 and killed millions of chickens, severely reducing the supply of eggs. (An alleged price-fixing scheme by several egg producers may have also played a role, although the companies settled a federal lawsuit without any admission of guilt.)The grocery business is a “very competitive business,” Jayson Lusk, editor of The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Food Consumption and Policy, told The Dispatch. “I’m not saying [grocery stores] don’t have any control or power, but largely they’re scrambling around trying to figure out whatever they can do to respond to the latest consumer fad and trend.”One example of this is the rise of private-label brands. In the past, consumers valued brands with established reputations, and grocery store brands, also known as “generic brands,” were considered lower quality. But modern consumers care more about price than brand reputation, and private-label brands, unhampered by advertising costs, tend to be cheaper and offer grocery stores slightly higher profit margins. Research also suggests modern grocery stores have as much brand reputation as food manufacturers themselves.“Take Costco: They have their Kirkland brand and they’ve cultivated a quality image that is ‘good value for the dollar,’” Lusk said. “Over time, what we’ve seen is some transference of that brand trust and reputation to the grocery store itself.”Another consumer preference story—albeit a more complicated one—affecting prices has to do with grocery stores’ continued use of human cashiers at checkout, even though self-checkout technology has existed for 40 years. One might assume that autonomous technology would have easily replaced human workers who require salaries, benefits, and breaks, but in fact, the opposite has happened. Large retailers like Walmart have begun to scale back self-checkout machines and replace them with humans. Amazon Go was the first completely automated grocery store, featuring a system of cameras, shelf sensors, and artificial intelligence that tracked when consumers picked up items and charged them when they walked out the door. But technology issues dogged the project, and Amazon pulled the plug on both Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh, another grocery venture that relied solely on self-checkout, earlier this year.Rates of shoplifting have also increased in every grocery store with a fully automated checkout model. But another part of the story is simply that people value interacting with other people.“People like other people,” Phil Lempert, founder and CEO of Supermarket Guru, a food and health news website, told The Dispatch. “And when you check out—especially now when you’re ringing up $150, $200, $250 when you go to the grocery store—people like a cashier that says, ‘Thank you.’ … People don’t necessarily like self-checkout.”The continued use of checkout workers increases labor costs for grocery stores, but it’s unclear whether those costs are passed on to the consumer or offset by reduced shoplifting and increased customer demand.In many ways, grocery stores are a free-market success story: competitive, low-profit, and extremely sensitive to changes in what consumers want. But that hasn’t stopped politicians like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attempting to improve upon the existing business model. In July, Mamdani announced a plan to open five city-backed grocery stores across New York City’s five boroughs. City officials say the stores, which will operate on city-owned property and be run by third-party entities, will sell “essential staples” at prices 30% lower than private-sector stores. Last month, hundreds of small grocery store and bodega operators sued the mayor over the plan, alleging that the city-owned stores would threaten their livelihood.While Mamdani’s grocery stores may provide real savings to the New Yorkers who live near them, they will be costly for taxpayers. Without established supply chains and economies of scale, they will likely have higher acquisition costs than private-sector grocery stores. The city government has promised to cover rent, property taxes, and construction; it’s unclear whether it will provide further support once the stores open. But experts like von Massow are skeptical that the stores will be able to operate without significant and continual infusions of taxpayer money.“Even if [the store] made zero profit and bought just as efficiently,” von Massow said, “you could lower prices by 4%. If you want to lower prices by 30% … you’re going to have to directly subsidize that, and I would argue that, in that circumstance, you’re subsidizing an inefficient system.”A better use of that money, von Massow argues, would be to subsidize purchases for low-income New Yorkers at already-established grocery stores. That way, eligible residents would pay less for groceries while also benefiting from the flexibility and scale of private stores, which aren’t exactly reaping huge profits. “There’s a reason those grocers are big, and it is about efficiency,” he said.This story was produced by The Dispatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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