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April 16, 2026Volume 24 - #8A VICTIM OF DIGITAL VIOLENCE, BLAKE LIVELY WILL SOON GET HER DAY IN COURT SR COVER.qxp_Layout 1 4/14/26 4:43 PM Page 1Visit us at 3016 75th St., KenoshaSo glad we pre-planned, all I did was make a phone call.Jeff S.SR010826

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3 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Blake Lively vows to fight 'Digital Violence' at trial after most claims dismissedBlake Lively vowed lastFriday to keep up her fightagainst \"digital violence,\" aday after a judge threw outher sexual harassmentclaims against co-star JustinBaldoni.In a statement onInstagram, Lively said thatthe heart of her case will goto a jury next month, andthat she looks forward totelling her story in court.\"The last thing I wanted inmy life was a lawsuit, but Ibrought this case because ofthe pervasiveRETALIATION I faced, andcontinue to, for privately andprofessionally asking for asafe working environmentfor myself and others,\" shesaid. \"I hope the Court'sdecision shows others that,as unfathomably painful as itis, you can speak up.\"Lively has claimed that shewas sexually harassed duringthe production, and thatBaldoni and his publicistslaunched a digital smearcampaign to ruin herreputation after shecomplained about it.Last Thursday, Judge LewisLiman threw out 10 of the13 claims in Lively's lawsuit,including the claims ofsexual harassment,defamation and conspiracy.He allowed three claims toproceed to trial: retaliation,aiding and abetting inretaliation, and breach ofcontract.In her statement, Livelyurged fans not to getdistracted by thecharacterization of the suitas \"celebrity drama,\" sayingthat framing is designed \"tokeep you from seeingyourselves in my story.\"\"The physical pain fromdigital violence is very real,\"she wrote. \"It is abuse. Andit's everywhere. Not just inthe news, but in yourcommunities and schools. Ifyou're looking, my claimswon't be the first or lasttime you'll see examples ofthe extreme dangers ofretaliation and digitalwarfare. And it often won'tbe directed at celebrities orthose who may able tospeak up. It affects us all.\"Liman ruled that Livelycould not bring a sexualharassment claim underfederal law because she wasan independent contractorand not an employee. Andshe could not allegeharassment under Californialaw because the productiontook place in New Jersey.On the issue ofretaliation, he found she hadmade out a plausible casethat she had a good faithbasis for her harassmentcomplaints, meaning that ajury will decide whether shefaced unlawful repercussionsfor raising them.Her agency, WME, whichparted ways with Baldoniover the accusationssurrounding \"It Ends WithUs,\" issued a statement ofsupport for Lively and herremaining claims on Friday,saying \"she has helpedexpose the devastating harmcaused by covert digitaltakedown campaigns.\"\"In an industry that toooften asks women to absorbthe damage and stay quiet,Blake Lively chose to standup for herself, her castmates,and those without the abilityto fight back,\" WME'sstatement said. \"She has metthis moment with courage,moral clarity, and extraordinary determination.Even as others have tried toturn this case into aspectacle, she has kept thefocus where it belongs: onfacts, accountability, and theright to speak up withoutfear of retaliation. In doingso, she has helped exposethe devastating harm causedby covert digital takedowncampaigns designed tointimidate, discredit, anddrown out the truth. Sheand her family have our fullsupport as this case movesto trial.\"A magistrate judgeordered both sides to call inlast Monday to discuss theirupdated settlementpositions. The magistratepresided over a mandatorysettlement conference inFebruary that wentnowhere, but the judge'srecent ruling may havealtered the playing field.In a statement lastThursday, Lively's attorneySigrid McCawley hinted thatLively may have alreadyachieved what she wasaiming for.\"For Blake Lively, thegreatest measure of justiceis that the people and theplaybook behind thesecoordinated digital attackshave been exposed and arealready being heldaccountable by otherwomen they've targeted,\"McCawley said.She added, however, thatLively was looking forwardto testifying at the trial inMay, \"and continuing to shinea light on this vicious form ofonline retaliation so that itbecomes easier to detectand fight.\"By Gene MaddausSmart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael CommunicationsEditor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael • Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale Sales/Kim Carmichael, Madison Giannini • Reception/Sarah Coleman Ad Design & Layout/Glen Kelly, Dylan Valenta, Francis Flex • Editorial Manager/Jason HedmanCarmichael Communications 1420 63rd St. Kenosha, WI 53143April 16, 2026Volume 24 Number 8262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 •www.hap2it.comardoprmspchinunprveadpaadseposaprdeseofsathpohososaalsgeanrecoRondinoorposachplarhoadusofthwdemseseeaprmgobuwplleayoUprwa prinrethMpBlake Lively leaves federal court following a court-ordered settlementconference in her civil lawsuit against actor and director Justin Baldonirelated to the film \"It Ends With Us,\" in New York on February 11, 2026.U.S. verdict may mark turning point in digital accountabilityFor years, the digital worldhas largely been governed byself-regulation andcorporate promises. Thatmay now be changing.A jury verdict delivered inLos Angeles on March 25could matter far beyond theUnited States because itpoints toward a newapproach to digitalaccountability.Rather than focusing onlyon harmful content postedby users, the case centeredon platform design and onwhether those designchoices contributed toserious psychological harm.For more than a decade,digital society has beenmoving through twotroubling processes. One isthe erosion of ethical limitsin environments marked byopacity and weakaccountability. The other isthe growing power of digitalsystems to influencebehavior and attentionwithout meaningful publicoversight. The Californiaverdict gives those concernsa more concrete legal form.Design, not contentAccording to reporting onthe case, a Los Angeles juryfound Meta and Googleliable after a young womanknown as Kaley argued thatshe became addicted toInstagram and YouTube at anearly age and later suffereddepression and suicidalthoughts.The jury assigned 70% ofthe responsibility to Metaand 30% to Google. It thenawarded $3 million incompensatory damages andanother $3 million inpunitive damages. Thatsecond finding is especiallyimportant. It suggests thejury saw the harm not simplyas an oversight, but as aforeseeable result ofdeliberate choices.The legal importance ofthe ruling lies in whereresponsibility was placed. Foryears, major technologycompanies have argued thatthey should not be heldliable for content created oruploaded by third parties, aposition reinforced bySection 230 of theCommunications DecencyAct.This case took a differentpath. It focused on productdesign, including theplatform's structure and theincentives built into it.Because the challengetargeted design rather thancontent, it moved around theliability shield that has longprotected these companies.If a platform is built tokeep users online longer andtake advantage of behavioralvulnerabilities, courts mayincreasingly ask whether thesystem itself should betreated as a source of harm.Features such as endlessscrolling, constantnotifications, algorithmicamplification and behaviorbased targeting are oftenpresented as neutral toolsmeant to improve the userexperience. Beyond one lawsuitThe implications extendbeyond one case. A daybefore the Los Angelesverdict, a New Mexico juryordered Meta to pay $375million after finding that thecompany had misled usersabout the safety of itsplatforms and enabled childsexual exploitation throughits apps, in violation of thatstate's consumer protectionlaw.That case arose fromdifferent facts, but togetherthe two verdicts point in thesame direction. Legalscrutiny of the technologysector is moving towardconcrete questions of legalduty and designresponsibility.This does not mean thatevery digital platform shouldbe viewed through analarmist lens. Nor does itmean the legal outcomes aresettled.Meta and Google have saidthey will appeal the LosAngeles verdict, and theNew Mexico judgment facessimilar challenges. The legalboundaries will continue tocontinues on page 4SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 4:56 PM Page 2

4 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800eeeesedr\"tdnefttsLawmakers on Capitol Hillare considering more than adozen bill proposals toprotect children online andmany approaches face freespeech and privacychallenges.At least 19 bills have beenintroduced and remainunder consideration,proposing measures like ageverification, restrictingaddictive designs, increasingparental controls andaddressing content.Jennifer Huddleston,senior fellow in technologypolicy for the Cato Institute,said that the volume ofproposals before Congressdemonstrates theseriousness and complexityof issues related to childsafety online.\"First, it does show thatthere are large public andpolicymaker questions abouthow young people are usingsocial media,\" Huddlestonsaid. \"However, that volumealso shows that there's not ageneral consensus on what, ifanything, should be done inresponse to thoseconcerns.\"Risks to childrenonlineJosh Golin, executivedirector of Fairplay, anonprofit advocacyorganization that supportspolicies to make the Internetsafer and less addictive forchildren, told UPI that onlineplatforms' addictive designsare one of the key harms hehopes to see Congressaddress.\"Designing for compulsiveuse or addiction is at the topof the list,\" Golin said. \"Withthat, there's the fact that theway these platforms aredesigned often makes kidsmore vulnerable tosextortion attempts orsexual predators. It makes iteasier for drug dealers toprey on kids. It makes itmore likely that kids aregoing to experience cyberbullying. So there's a lot ofways in which theseplatforms are designed thatlead to unsafe conditions foryoung people.\"The experts who spoke toUPI largely agree that theproposals in Congress arewell intentioned, but strikinga balance betweenprotecting children and notinfringing on the rights of allremains a difficult task.\"It's not always an easything to do because there's alot of nuance that needs togo into it when you considerwhat information you'recollecting about the user,\"Sara Kloek, vice president ofeducation and youth policyfor the Software InformationIndustry Association, toldUPI. \"How do you protectthe safety and security ofusers, both children andadults, while protectingprivacy and civil rightsonline?\"Paul Lekas, SIIA'sexecutive vice president ofglobal public policy andgovernment affairs, testifiedbefore the Housesubcommittee oncommerce, manufacturingand trade in Decemberwhen a slate of 18 onlinechild safety bills wereadvanced. He shared SIIA'srecommendations formeasures to improve safety,including minimizing thecollection of data on minorsand enhancing tools forusers to protect their data.Kloek said dataminimization is a key tenetSIIA is calling for in Internetsafety laws.One of the more commonproposals in Congress andinternationally is theinstitution of age verificationmeasures.Australia implemented agerequirements for popularsocial media platforms inDecember, banning childrenunder the age of 16 fromInstagram, Facebook, TikTok,X, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch,Kick, Snapchat and Threads.Kloek cautions that ageverification requires moredata collection of all users,including adults. In order toban children under 16, usersolder than that must alsoverify their ages, oftensharing personal informationlike government-issuedidentification.\"We are thinking aboutthis in a way that bans aren'tnecessarily the answer,\"Kloek said. \"We want tomake sure there are safespaces for youth online and astrict ban would likely drivesome minors to places thatare not safe.\"Golin agrees that outrightbanning children from socialmedia could have an adverseeffect.\"Approaches that requiresafety and privacy by designare better than trying to dosocial media bans,\" he said. \"Iworry that what happens is ifyou just try and keep thekids off the platforms, theyfind a way of getting onanyway and then they're onand they're not protected atall.\"Kids Online Safety ActThere are at least two billsin Congress that Golinbelieves would be effectivemeasures to curb the riskschildren may encounteronline: the Kids OnlineSafety Act and the Childrenand Teens' Online PrivacyProtection Act.The Kids Online SafetyAct orders online platformsto take measures to mitigatebullying, violence, sexualexploitation and promotionof suicide. Social mediaplatforms would be requiredto include options to disableaddictive features, protectpersonal information andopt out of personalizedrecommendations.The bill was introduced bySen. Marsha Blackburn, RTenn., and Sen. RichardBlumenthal, D-Conn. It hasbipartisan support with 76senators endorsing it.\"The Kids Online SafetyAct is so important becauseit has that duty of care thatsays you have to ensure thatthe design of your platformis not contributing tocompulsive use orcyberbullying or anxiety anddepression or sexualexploitation,\" Golin said.\"Having that broad duty -- itallows you to adapt. It allowsthe law to be flexible andadapt to how the platformsmay evolve.\"The broad nature of theKids Online Safety Act is alsowhat has drawn criticism.Aliya Bhatia, senior policyanalyst for the Center forDemocracy and Technology,told UPI that neweriterations of the Kids OnlineSafety Act are muchimproved over what wasintroduced in 2022, but itcould carry unintendedconsequences.\"The duty of care has beennarrowed and now isreplaced with a sectioncalled 'Addressing Harms toMinors. While that's a reallygood sign, it is still overbroadand open to subjectiveinterpretation,\" Bhatia said.\"I worry that we are, underthe guise of protectingchildren, equipping politicalactors to decide what ourkids should and should notsee.\"When forced to makejudgments about whatcontent constitutes causinganxiety or mental distress tochildren, Bhatia says socialmedia companies may limitMultiple bills highlight challenge protecting children onlinemerhealgyrdgalgnatldanitreidosheesgaltostory continues on page 4e 4SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 4:57 PM Page 3FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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5 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800sedycofegothfewthexindsufocorepoprgechneTeMofsqbranelemwDalswlitparewcowwpasigtothshdeNBAccountabilitycontinued from page 2access to a wide list ofinformation, driven bypartisan viewpoints.\"Anything from climatechange to conflicts, topuberty to LGBTQ identity,depending on what theythink the political actors thatbe don't want them to see,\"Bhatia said. \"It also doesn'taddress the root issue of alot of the harms that we seeonline, which is privacy,which is the vast datacollection on minors, on allusers.\"Safety scorecardPublic Knowledge, anonprofit organization basedin Washington, D.C., thatadvocates for freeexpression and an openInternet, created a scorecardto evaluate the effectivenessof Internet safety bills inCongress. It grades the billsbased on preserving Internetaccess, promoting safedesign, risk-based approach,avoiding bans, encouragingautonomy of youth,meaningful enforcementmechanisms and researchand transparency.Sara Collins, director ofgovernment affairs for PublicKnowledge, told UPI thatthe Children and Teens'Online Privacy ProtectionAct 2.0 is among the billsthat would do the \"leastharm,\" particularly theversion that passed theSenate last month.\"It is a very classic privacybill, especially if you'retalking about the Senateversion,\" Collins said.The Senate unanimouslypassed its version of COPPA2.0 last month.The bill expands on 1998'sChildren's Online PrivacyProtection Act toincorporate childrenbetween the ages 13 and 16.The 1998 law only focuseson children 13 and under.COPPA 2.0 bans targetingadvertisements directed atchildren under 17, requiresconsent from parents beforecollecting information onminors, prohibits designsmeant to encouragecompulsive use and expandsthe definition of personalinformation to includebiometric markers andgeolocation.Where the bill falls shorton Public Knowledge'sscorecard is in transparencyrequirements and allowingresearchers to accessplatform data for furtherstudy.Among the proposalsCollins has the mostconcern about is Sammy'sLaw. The bill establishes acomprehensive infrastructure for parentalsurveillance of children'sonline activity, including realtime tracking of messages,friends lists and usage.\"It's very hard to see thelong-term consequences ofit,\" Collins said. \"The ideathat surveillanceinfrastructure should bebuilt into the Internet, socialmedia, gaming platforms etcetera, so parents can bettermonitor their children is avery appealing one in theAmerican political sphere.\"Collins said parentalsurveillance capabilities asproposed in Sammy's Lawhas the potential to createtwo problems: takingautonomy away fromchildren and normalizingsurveillance.\"A child having differentviews or different beliefsthan their parent is notharmful to the parent,\"Collins said. \"It alsonormalizes surveillance forchildren in a bad way. I don'twant the U.S. population tobe normalized to constantever-present surveillance oftheir communications, theirposting, their movementsthroughout all ofcyberspace.\"If the entire U.S. child'sexperience is mediatedthrough that, as theybecome an adult, instead ofyour parent doing it, yourgovernment, your companyor whatever starts doing it,that just becomes theclimate you grew up inrather than what it is, whichis a serious invasion of yourprivacy and your anonymity,\"she continued.By Joe FisherdoinIrFrUshde47siinRpaspshbuecCCbevolve. Still, the oldassumption of near-totalimmunity is beginning toweaken, and that shiftmatters even before theappeals are resolved.Data, privacy andhuman freedomThe verdict should alsomatter in the wider debateover privacy and personaldata. The business model ofmany digital platformsdepends not only onattention but also onextensive data extraction.The longer users remainengaged, the moreinformation can be gatheredand turned into profit. A legalfinding that platform designintentionally increasesdependency may sharpenquestions about howpersonal information isharvested and used.That debate reaches wellbeyond advertising. Ittouches intimate areas oflife, including health andbehavior. In that sense, digitalethics is not simply abouttechnology. It is also abouthuman freedom and theboundary betweenpersuasion and manipulation.A wider regulatoryshiftGovernments already havebegun to respond fromdifferent angles. TheEuropean Union's AI Actentered into force in August2024 and is being applied instages, signaling thatdemocratic societies areincreasingly willing to createbinding rules for high-risktechnological systems.In November, UNESCOmember states adopted aglobal normative frameworkon the ethics ofneurotechnology. Thoughnonbinding, it reflectsgrowing internationalconcern about mentalprivacy and informedconsent in the face ofintrusive technologicalintervention.Chile has also been part ofthat broader conversationthrough its early emphasison neuro-rights and legalprotections tied to braindata and mental integrity.That does not make Chilethe center of this global shift.It does, however, place thecountry within one of themost consequentialemerging debates of ourtime.The larger lesson is clear.Digital governance can nolonger rest on the hope thatcompanies will regulatethemselves when theincentives to maximizeengagement remain sostrong.Courts, lawmakers andinternational institutions areall moving toward a moreserious framework ofaccountability.The California verdict willnot settle that debate on itsown. But it may prove to bean early sign of a broaderchange, a world in whichdigital systems are judgednot only by efficiency orprofit, but also by theirconsequences for the humanperson.That is a debate worthhaving now, beforetechnology moves stillfurther ahead of ethics andlaw.By Carlos CanteroChildren onlinecontinued from page 3Hundreds of film andtelevision professionals,including A-list stars JavierBardem, Jane Fonda, DavidFincher and others, areopposing the proposed $110billion merger of ParamountSkydance with Warner Bros.Discovery, warning thatfurther consolidation ofmedia is a threat to theircultural industry.Paramount Skydanceannounced a merger withWarner Bros. Discovery inlate February, with WarnerBros. Discovery shareholders to vote on the dealApril 23. If agreed to, themerger would still need topass regulatory clearances inthe US and Britain.If approved, the number ofmajor American film studioswill shrink to four as filmstudios have consolidatedover the last few years,including Paramount mergingwith Skydance in August2025 and WarnerMediamerging with Discovery inApril 2022.In an open letter signed bymore than 1,000 film andtelevision professionals, thesignatories voiced theiropposition to the merger,warning of its potentialeconomic, creative andsocietal damage.\"This transaction wouldfurther consolidate analready concentrated medialandscape, reducingcompetition at a momentwhen our industries -- andthe audiences we serve --can least afford it,\" the letterstates.\"The result will be feweropportunities for creators,fewer jobs across theproduction ecosystem,higher costs and less choicefor audiences.\"The consolidation ofmedia has accelerated thedisappearance of mid-budgetfilms, the erosion ofindependent distribution, thecollapse of the internationalsales market, the eliminationof profit participation andthe weakening of screencredit integrity, theprofessionals said.\"Competition is essentialfor a healthy economy and ahealthy democracy. So isthoughtful regulation andenforcement,\" they said.\"Media consolidation hasalready weakened one ofAmerica's most vital globalindustries -- one that haslong shaped culture andconnected people aroundthe world.\"Signatories included otherbig-name celebrities, such asBen Stiller, Bryan Cranston,Don Cheadle, Glenn Closeand Mark Ruffalo.\"A Warner Bros.Discovery-Paramountmerger would be one of themost destructive threats tofree speech and creativeexpression in our history,\"two-time Oscar-winnerFonda said in a statement.\"This deal would placeunprecedented power in thehands of a single corporationthat already appears to haveproven itself willing tosacrifice integrity for politicalfavor.\"The potential mergerfollows controversy over theSkydance-Paramountmerger.Last year, the deal was heldup by a lawsuit filed againstParamount subsidiary CBSNews over the editing of a60 Minutes interview withhis political opponent,Democrat Kamala Harris.He sued for $20 billion indamages in what Paramountcalled a \"meritless\" lawsuit,but later reached a $16million settlement with thepresident that preceded theFederal CommunicationsCommission approval of themerger.The potential of themerger in light of thesettlement decision hasraised concerns overfreedom of speech.Neera Tanden, presidentand CEO of the Center forAmerican Progress, saidMonday that it could be athreat to the press.\"Not only would thismerger result in highercosts, job losses and fewerentertainment choices forAmericans, it would gravelythreaten the freedom of thepress by putting CNN andCBS News under the controlof Donald Trump's allies,\"Tandem said.\"A single corporation withso much control over themedia that is also at the beckand call of the Trumpadministration is a danger toour democracy.\"The merger has attractedscrutiny since before it wasannounced, during a biddingcontest between Paramountand Netflix for Warner Bros.,that ended when thestreaming service droppedits bid in late February.On Feb. 27, the dayParamount and Warnerannounced their merger,California Attorney GeneralRob Bonta announced hewas launching aninvestigation.\"These two Hollywoodtitans have not clearedregulatory scrutiny,\" he saidin a social media statement.\"We intend to be vigorousin our review.\"Last Monday, Britain'sCompetition and MarketsAuthority announced it wasseeking comments from thepublic on the merger as partof its information-gatheringprocess that may precedethe launch of its owninvestigation.The comment periodcloses April 27.By Daryl CooteTV, film professionals opposeproposed $110B mergerSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 4:58 PM Page 4

6 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800The 119th U.S. House hasset records for itsdysfunction. Thiscongressional term hasfeatured the longestgovernment shutdowns inthe nation’s history, thefewest votes cast in morethan two decades (with theexception of a pandemicinduced low in 2020), andsurprisingly few bills passedfor a time of one-partycontrol.And the unusual midcycleredistricting arms race ispoised to make all theseproblems worse.Virginia and Florida aregearing up to potentiallychange their House mapsnext week. They followTexas, North Carolina,Missouri, and California, allof which have alreadysquiggled district lines,broken up neighborhoods,and displaced dozens ofelected representatives tomake districts morewinnable for Republicans orDemocrats. Ohio and Utahalso redrew their mapswithin the past year afterlitigation.Thus far it looks like thepartisan impact of all theredistricting in these states –which make up 30% of allcongressional districts, evenwithout Virginia or Florida –will be a wash, with neitherparty coming outsignificantly ahead.But the changes are likelyto have a serious impact onthe House, as many districts’shade of red or bluedeepens. With more districtscategorized as “safely”Republican or Democratic,these new maps seem likelyto make the next Houseeven more polarized,changing what it takes forcandidates to win, andfurther reducing incentivesfor bipartisan cooperation inCongress’ lower chamber.“We live in a world with ahyperpolarized House, andthat is only going to getworse as a result of what’shappening,” says Michael Li,senior counsel at theBrennan Center for Justice,where he focuses onredistricting. Winning mostof these new districts reallyjust means winning theRepublican or Democraticprimary, and “primary votersof both parties are more tothe extremes,” he says. Formembers, “that’s going toimpact what they are willingto do [in Congress]. They arealways going to be worriedabout a primary challenge.”This cross-country tit fortat kicked off in July 2025,when President DonaldTrump suggested thatRepublicans could pick upfive seats in Texas with “avery simple redrawing,” andnot wait for the normalredistricting process thattakes place once a decadeafter the U.S. census. Afterpushback from Democraticstate lawmakers, whotemporarily fled Texas inprotest, the new map wassigned into law in lateAugust. A few months later,California voted to redrawits map to favor Democrats,and negate the GOP’s Texasgains. Other states havefollowed, trying to giveRepublicans or Democratsan edge in the deeply – yetnarrowly – divided U.S.House.Virginia will vote on aDemocratic effort to changethe state’s current map(represented by sixDemocrats and fiveRepublicans) to one thatwould favor Democrats 10to 1. And Florida Republicanswill have an opportunity toredraw their map (currently28 Republicans to 20Democrats) to one that willadd as many as five moreGOP-leaning seats.Virginia’s redistrictingreferendum, set for April 21,has already drawn hugenumbers of voters to thepolls. By the end of March,early voting had surpassedturnout numbers in the 2025governor’s race, which set arecord for a nonpresidentialyear.In Florida, Republican Gov.Ron DeSantis has called aspecial legislative sessionbetween April 20-24 forstate lawmakers to drawnew maps. But afterDemocrats unexpectedlyflipped two state legislativeseats in late March, one inthe district that includesPresident Trump’s Mar-aLago home, someRepublicans have grownconcerned about a“dummymander.” In a year inwhich Democrats have thepolitical wind at their backs,an overly aggressiveRepublican gerrymandercould wind up spreadingGOP voters too thinly andpotentially lose seats.In theory, if both Virginiaand Florida pass new maps,the partisan advantages willlargely cancel out. But if onestate goes forward and theother does not, one partycould wind up with an edge.“That is all a questionmark right now,” says KyleKondik, managing editor ofSabato’s Crystal Ball at theUniversity of Virginia’sCenter for Politics.Although the morepartisan maps have beenpitched as temporary inVirginia and California, it’sdifficult to imagine themembers elected to thesenew districts laterencouraging a return to theold maps, he adds.Last June, before Mr.Trump pressured Texas toredraw its map, thenonpartisan Cook PoliticalReport calculated therewere 191 solid (meaningnoncompetitive) Republicanseats and 174 solidDemocratic seats. Theirmost recent estimate has185 solid Republican seatsand 189 solid Democraticseats. Sabato’s Crystal Ballhas a similar breakdown:What were 186 safeRepublican seats and 169safe Democratic seatsbefore midcycle redistrictingare now 187 safe Republicanseats and 184 safeDemocratic seats.But while it may be closeto “a draw” nationally, it’s“terrible” if you live in one ofthese redistricted states, saysthe Brennan Center’s Mr. Li,because the new map is veryunrepresentative of thestate’s actual composition. InTexas, for example,Republican Sen. Ted Cruzwon reelection in 2024 with53% of the statewide vote,but Republicans could soonrepresent almost 80% ofTexans in the House.In addition to thecountry’s new slate ofcongressional districts, otherfactors could furtherpolarize the House, such as arecord number ofretirements (some of whichhave been driven byfrustrations overpartisanship).The U.S. Supreme Court isalso poised to release aruling that could upend theVoting Rights Act by thesummer, opening the doorto further redistricting –although experts say it’slikely to come too late toimpact November’s midtermelections. But it could verywell lead to big changes inmaps for 2028 – two yearsbefore the 2030 census isexpected to bring seismicshifts to states’ allotment ofseats.“What’s happening rightnow is a foreshadowing of along series of fights overrepresentation that’s goingto take place over the next 5to 10 years,” says Mr. Li. “Thisis one battle within a big warof representation.”By Story HinckleyOpponents of mid-decade efforts to redraw congressional mapsprotest in the Florida state Capitol in Tallahassee, Dec. 2, 2025.Neither party may win the redistricting wars. But the House could still loseorn'ttontofeirtsofd'sedeyofurnyit,heinchury,\"erConsumer sentiment hasdropped to its lowest levelon record thanks to priceincreases from the war withIran, a survey released lastFriday indicates.The latest survey from theUniversity of Michiganshowed that sentimentdeclined 11% this month to47.6%, which is the lowestsince World War II. Thatincludes the GreatRecession, the COVID-19pandemic and the inflationspike that happened after it.\"Open-ended commentsshow that many consumersblame the Iran conflict forunfavorable changes to theeconomy,\" Surveys ofConsumers Director JoanneHsu said in a release.\"Demographic groupsacross age, income andpolitical party all postedsetbacks in sentiment, as didevery component of theindex, reflecting thewidespread nature of thismonth's fall,\" she added.The survey was collectedbefore the cease-fireannounced earlier this week.Hsu said sentiment \"willlikely improve afterconsumers gain confidencethat the supply disruptionsstemming from the Iranconflict have ended and gasprices have moderated.\"Expectations for inflationfor the rest of the yearjumped a full percentagepoint early this month to4.8% when Trump unveiledhis sweeping \"LiberationDay\" tariffs.Expectations for inflationover the next five to 10years saw a more modestuptick, rising to 3.4% from3.2% in March.The Bureau of LaborStatistics announced Fridaythat its all-items consumerprice index rose 0.9% inMarch, which pushes theinflation rate to 3.3%. TheBLS said most of the raisecame from a boost in energyprices, leaving food inflationabout the same.\"Rising gas, diesel andairfare prices are alreadysurging and squeezingAmerican households,\"Heather Long, chiefeconomist at Navy FederalCredit Union, said incommentary issued Friday.\"This is only the beginning,\"she added.\"Negative sentiment is justone of the several ways bywhich the Iranian conflictwill permeate through theUS economy,\" OrenKlachkin, financial marketeconomist at Nationwide,said in an analyst note Friday,CNN reported. \"With theconflict far from resolved, weexpect to see softer readingsahead.\"By Lisa HornungConsumer sentiment at record lowbecause of Iran warhisererorelyhendrols,\"thheckmptoedasngnts.,heedayerer,ralheanodedaidt.usn'stsashertngdewnodteSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 4:58 PM Page 5SR 031926

7 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800OPINIONSilicon Valley has long beentreated like a mythical landwhere technology geniusesroam.As for the rest of America,we’re merely consumers.Meta and Google dole outproducts to the masses.Americans can’t understandthe mechanics behind thedevices, but we crave and aregrateful for each newdevelopment. Think aboutyour affinity for Instagram,Facebook, YouTube, andTikTok.It’s one thing for adults towaste endless hours onsocial media, to fall into arabbit hole of misinformationor conspiracy theories. That’son us.But young people are adifferent matter. Increasingly,people understand and fearthe power social media canhold over children. Youngpeople are highly influencedby what they experienceonline, whether it isunrealistic versions of what’sconsidered beautiful orbullying.Things are finally startingto flip.A California jury recentlyagreed that Google’sYouTube and Meta’sInstagram were responsiblefor some of a 20-year-oldwoman’s mental healthstruggles. She won a $6million judgment.Kaley G.M. testified thatshe was addicted to socialmedia. It began in herelementary school years.Later, she was constantlylogged on, lured by infinitescrolls and the mechanismsof algorithms.She was deeply impactedby beauty filters that makeOPINIONPope Leo XIV used partof his Palm Sunday messageto castigate the UnitedStates for attempting tostop Iran from becoming anuclear power andthreatening the world withmass destruction. In doingso, the “American Pope”confused the real enemy inthe war.Addressing thousands inSt. Peter’s Square, the Popeclaimed that God rejectsthe prayers of leaders whowage war. He called theIran war \"atrocious\"violence that cannot bejustified by faith. He furthersaid that God doesn’t hearthe prayers of peoplewhose “hands (are) full ofblood.” Does he notinclude Iran’s maniacalregime which hasmurdered Americansdirectly and throughproxies, as well as tens ofthousands of their ownpeople? Does the Popebelieve the Muslim goddoesn’t hear prayers askinghim to destroy Jews, Israeland the United States?The Pope favors“diplomacy” over war, butyou can’t negotiate withevil. Recall how thatworked with Adolf Hitler inMunich and more recentlywith North Korea, whichhas nuclear weaponsbecause several Americanpresidents refused to dowhat President Trump isdoing to Iran.Leo said Jesus is the\"King of Peace\" and is deafto those initiating armedconflict, citing the Book ofIsaiah. He ignores thebloody conflicts betweenthe Israelites and manytribes and nations Goddirectly ordered them tokill (even children) in orderto claim the PromisedLand.The Pope also suggestedthat no one can use God tojustify war. This appeared tobe a direct response toSecretary of War PeteHegseth, who had prayedfor \"overwhelmingviolence\" in the name ofJesus earlier in the week.He’s right about that, butwould the Pope alsocondemn Iran’s leaders forclaiming to know the will oftheir god? Vladimir Putin istargeting civilians inUkraine, and NigerianMuslims are killingChristians by thethousands. The Pope is notknown for highlightingthose atrocities. In his viewit appears only America isdoing evil things.American presidents,beginning with GeorgeWashington, have appealedto God to justify theirpolicies and bless America.Washington believed therevolution’s fate rested onGod’s favor.Abraham Lincoln openlyand privately sought Divineguidance for the nation’ssurvival, famously stating heknew the Lord was \"on theside of the right.” HisSecond Inaugural Addresscould have been read in thechurches of his day. Hisfamous qualifying line wasthat \"…my concern is notwhether God is on ourside; my greatest concern isto be on God’s side, forGod is always right.”In announcing the D-Dayinvasion of France on June6, 1944, President FranklinRoosevelt closed hisnational radio address witha heartfelt prayer thatconceded the certain costof the operation: “AlmightyGod: Our sons, pride ofour nation, this day have setupon a mighty endeavor, astruggle to preserve ourRepublic, our religion, andour civilization, and to setfree a suffering humanity. …Some will never return.Embrace these, Father, andreceive them, Thy heroicservants, into ThyKingdom.”Supreme AlliedCommander GeneralDwight Eisenhower prayedthe invasion would lead tovictory over the Germans.Gen. George Patton,faced with bad weatherleading up to that fatefulday, asked God to “Grant usfair weather for battle.Graciously hearken to us assoldiers who call uponThee that, armed with Thypower, we may advancefrom victory to victory, andcrush the oppression andwickedness of our enemiesand establish Thy justiceamong men and nations.”The Pope seems to beequating war against evilregimes that murder tensof thousands of innocentswith a country that is tryingto stop them. Would hehave preferred morenegotiations with Hitler, orwaiting until Iran developednuclear weapons with theability to strike Israel,Europe and the U.S.?President Trump hasengaged in a pre-emptivestrike against an evilregime. People can pray hewill succeed without thefear of having blood ontheir hands. Contrary tothe Pope’s assertion, God islikely not plugging his ears.Pope Leo’s flawedwar doctrinewith Cal ThomasReaders may email CalThomas [email protected] for Cal Thomas’ latestbook “A Watchman in theNight: What I've Seen Over50 Years Reporting onAmerica\" (HumanixBooks).my turnbeUnaW—anfoCthCAwseseUcothwThremVlfuthU—favpepoViwfotorefindearinTrmswstory continues on page 7Congress can help fix the troubling ways young people experience social mediawith Mary SanchezReaders can reach MarySanchez [email protected] follow her on [email protected] Leo XIV greets the crowd as he leaves after the Palm Sundaymass at St Peter's square in the Vatican on March 29, 2026.pthaitteaNwthmhhseodvMcoMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Los Angeles SuperiorCourt after testifying on Feb. 18, 2026. A 20-year-oldCalifornia woman sued Meta and YouTube, accusing them ofbuilding addictive platforms that cause harm to children.SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 1:05 PM Page 6

8 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800seeilstsgeerdel,seileenos.OPINIONThe “special relationship”between the U.S. and theUnited Kingdom — sonamed by no less than SirWinston Churchill himself— may not be specialanymore. I attended last week’sfourth London DefenceConference, called by somethe new Munich SecurityConference by the Thames.Among the 800 participantswere many of the mostsenior foreign, defense andsecurity officials from theU.K., Europe and Japan.“Readiness” was theconference’s subject, withthe question “Ready forwhat?” as its sub-theme.The answer: Ready for therecrudescent Russianmilitary threat; ready forVladimir Putin’s appetite forfurther aggression againstthe West after the war inUkraine is finally resolved— presumably in Moscow’sfavor.About 58,000 U.S. servicepersonnel died in Vietnam. Ipointed out that, after theVietnam War and thewithdrawal of U.S. militaryforces beginning in 1973, ittook the U.S. 17 years torecover from that andfinally impose a crushingdefeat on Saddam Hussein’sarmy in the Kuwaiti desertin 1991. Could Russiarecover as quickly as theU.S. did, when it hassuffered over a millioncasualties, of which asignificant number werekilled, and much of itsequipment was disabled incombat?Also, why would Putinrisk a war with NATOwhen, in every categoryexcept tactical nuclearweapons, the alliance hasoverwhelming numericaladvantages? Three ofNATO’s members — theU.S., the U.K. and France —are also nuclear armed.Overshadowing theconference were the war inIran and President Trump’smany threats to coerceNATO to spend more ondefense — an ideawelcomed by participants— and his less popularthreats to withdraw fromNATO, acquire Greenlandand make Canada the 51ststate. Only a handful ofAmericans attended theconference and the onlyU.S. representative of theadministration was aCommerce Departmentassistant secretary, whospoke favorably of the“special relationship.” Butthe strong consensus ofparticipants was greatconcern over the future.Yes, the “specialrelationship” was stillspecial on the military-tomilitary and intelligencelevels, but that could not besaid of the White House.Asked whether the worldis more dangerous todaythan it was after 9/11, theoverall answer was anemphatic yes. Russia, withits transactional alliancewith China, North Koreaand Iran to upset theworld’s rules-based order, isa clear and apparent danger.Despite America’soverwhelming militarypower eviscerating Iran’slocalized air force, navy andmissiles, strategic control ofthe Strait Hormuz — themost vital choke point onthe globe — was carryingthe day.As I have previouslyargued, Iran could win justby not losing. With about 20percent of the world’s totalenergy supply cut off —along with largerpercentages of phosphatesneeded for fertilizer andagriculture and helium inchip manufacture — Iranheld the strategic highground. And unlike all theother global choke pointsthat could be circumventedby using alternative routes,the Strait of Hormuz is thePersian Gulf’s sole accesspoint.One of the highlights ofthe conference was that itbrought together all thechiefs of defense of the 10states composing the JointExpeditionary Force, whichwas created in 2012 byformer U.K. chief ofDefense Field Marshal LordDavid Richards. The JointExpeditionary Force nowincludes both the Baltic andhigh north countries, whichcooperate in planning andparticipate in jointoperations independent ofNATO but with a strongworking relationship.Relatively few Americansare familiar with this forceand the important role itplays as an adjunct toEuropean security and acoalition of the willing.A second interestingaspect was the presence ofa first-term member of theU.S. House ofRepresentatives, Rep. PatHarrigan (R-N.C.). Becauseof the governmentshutdown, Harrigan and hiswife paid for theirtransportation to theconference. A West Point graduateand former Special Forcesofficer who served inAfghanistan, Harrigan’svitality, enthusiasm andgrasp of key issues reversedsome of the participants’negative attitudes towardsCongress and its members.But in that regard, there isstill a long way to go inchanging perceptions of ourlegislative branch.The ‘special relationship’ may not be so special anymorewith Harlan Ullmanmy turnHarlan Ullman is UPI'sArnaud de BorchgraveDistinguished Columnist; senioradviser at Washington'sAtlantic Council, chairman of aprivate company and principalauthor of the doctrine ofshock and awe. His next book,co-written with Field MarshalThe Lord David Richards,former U.K. chief of defenseand due out next year, is WhoThinks Best Wins: PreventingStrategic Catastrophe. Thewriter can be reached on [email protected] Ullman joinsHappenings Q&A on Thu April 23rd at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIPU.S. President Donald Trump, left, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakehands during a press conference near Aylesbury, England, Sept. 18, 2025.people look either muchthinner, their skin smootherand without flaws.“Every single day I was onit, all day long,” Kaleytestified in February,according to CourthouseNews Service. “I just can’t bewithout it.” Her plight, andthe allegation that socialmedia is messing with thehealth of young people,hardly needed a trial.It should be commonsense, but isn’t, that our loveof technology hasdownsides. Especiallyvulnerable are children.Kaley also faced challengesthat clearly weren’t createdby the tech companies, suchas family struggles that arehardly unique to hers.Kaley’s attorneys took aunique approach. Theytargeted not the contentthat she was over-consumingas a young person, but howthe companies designedYouTube and Instagram toentice young people, toencouraging doom scrollingand addictive behavior.In doing so, the casedodged what has long been alegal loophole providingcover for the technologygiants. Federal law – Section230 of the CommunicationsDecency Act of 1996 –governs the loophole. It saysthat tech companies, for themost part, are not liable forthird-party content thatshows up on their platforms.Kaley’s attorneys wentafter the business modelinstead. They argued thattech firms knowingly createdproducts to turn teens andpre-teens into heavy users,disregarding the negativeconsequences of this kind ofaddictive behavior.For Kaley, the outcomeswere suicidal ideation, selfharm, depression, andanxiety. TikTok and SNAPsettled the young woman’sallegations ahead of the trial.Meta and YouTube arevowing to appeal the ruling.The companies may win areversal of the judgment. ButSilicon Valley is unlikely togrow a stronger moral spineby facing multi-million dollarlegal settlements alone.In recent days, MetaPlatforms showed a marketcapitalization of $1.45trillion, and Google was at$3.92 trillion.Thousands of similar caseschallenging big tech are linedup, some compiled toleverage the allegations ofhundreds of plaintiffs. But thecases will take years to windthrough the courts. Appealsare highly likely.Pressure on techcompanies to change theirways is also coming fromother countries. Indonesia,Brazil, and Australia havepassed laws attempting tohold technology firmsaccountable for howunderage users accesscontent. The United States, ifwe had a working Congress,could take part in this muchneeded backlash against thehuge power of big tech.Bipartisan efforts couldaddress Section 230,adapting it to bettersafeguard children on socialmedia, while protecting freespeech.But don’t expectcompanies that have longceded their tech soul tocapitalism to suddenlyreverse course. They are inbusiness to make money.As a nation we’ve beentoo eager as gullibleconsumers, neglecting tohold our tech overlords tohigher standards.Unfortunately, other caseswill be filed, and appeals willbe won and lost beforeKaley sees any of thesettlement money from theMarch verdict of her case.And if we’re honest, thedamage that she and somany other young peoplehave experienced online hasalready been inflicted.Mary Sanchezcontinued from page 6SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 1:05 PM Page 7

9 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800For all of us, what wechoose to drink makes adifference. A new studyhighlights how importantdrink choices can be forsomeone who suffers fromType 2 diabetes. A study published in theBritish Medical Journalfound that replacing sugarydrinks with coffee, tea orwater was linked to lowerrates of early death due tocardiovascular and othercauses. Even drinking morecoffee and tea after adiabetes diagnosis wasassociated with lowerdeath rates. Of course, diet plays akey role in managingdiabetes; less has beenstudied about beverageintake. In the BMJ study,researchers looked at datafrom 15,486 adults (averageage 61 years) with adiagnosis of Type 2 diabeteswho were part of theNurses' Health Study from1980 to 2018 and HealthProfessionals Follow-UpStudy (1986-2018) in theUnited States. Participants updated afood questionnaire everytwo to four years thatincluded sugar-sweetenedbeverages, artificiallysweetened beverages, fruitjuice, coffee, tea, low-fat andfull-fat milk and water. Overan average of 18.5 years, theresearchers recorded 3,447cases of cardiovascularevents and 7,638 deaths.Sugar-sweetened beverageintake was associated witha 25% higher risk ofcardiovascular incidentsand a 29% higher risk ofcardiovascular-relateddeath. In comparison, intakeof coffee and low-fat milkwas associated with an 18%and 12% lower risk ofcardiovascular events,respectively. Researchers wrote in theconclusion: \"Overall theseresults provide additionalevidence that emphasizesthe importance of beveragechoices in maintainingoverall health among adultswith diabetes.\" I'd add that theimportance extends to allof us. And what happens ifyou add sugar to yourcoffee or tea? It's likely youwouldn't see the samelower rates of death. Thebottom line: Choose blackcoffee, unsweetened tea,plain water and low-fatmilk. Charlyn Fargo is aregistered dietitian withSIU Med School inSpringfield, Ill. food & recipesWhat You DrinkMattersNutrition News with Charlyn FargoBraised Baby ArtichokesQ: Is coconut oil good to use?A: Coconut oil has seen a surge in popularity in the pastfew years due to a belief that it's good for health,particularly heart health. However, there's not strongscientific evidence to support that,. In an articlepublished in July 2023, some early, short-term studiesshowed a slight improvement in cholesterol and bodymeasurements when healthy adults consumed coconutoil. However, more recent work and analysis of largerstudies have found that coconut oil intake, comparedwith other plant oils, is associated with higher LDL (bad)cholesterol and no improvement in body weight, bloodsugar control or inflammation. Serves 41 1/2 pounds baby glove artichokes (about16)2 tablespoons olive oil2 medium shallots, finely chopped1-pound plum tomatoes, peeled and coarselychopped2 medium cloves garlic, minced1 cup dry white wine1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemaryor 1/2 teaspoon dried1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh basil or 1/2teaspoon dried leaf1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano or1/2 teaspoon dried leaf1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme or1/2 teaspoon dried leafSalt and black pepper2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, forgarnish1. Clean artichokes by removing all greenouter leaves and trimming 1/4 inch off topand bottoms. Cut artichokes in quarters sothey are uniform.2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet overmedium heat. Add shallots and saute for 2minutes or until softened.3. Add artichoke quarters and continuesauteing until lightly cooked on all sides.4. Add tomatoes, garlic, wine, and herbs.Bring to a boil. Partially cover, reduce heat tomedium-low and simmer for 45 minutes to1 hour, stirring occasionally, until artichokesare tender when pierced with a fork. Addsalt and pepper and taste for seasoning.Garnish with fresh parsley and serveimmediately, if serving warm. Otherwise,cool and refrigerate.Advance preparation: The artichokes may bekept up to one day in the refrigerator. Servechilled as a first course or as part of avariety of vegetable salads. Taste forseasoning, as chilling may reduce theirpiquancy.ththjothplamI, IondeExmfinofreflywodowhanstambypebothCBwhstoAv1mbServings: 64 cups cubed watermelon, chilled1 cup diced cucumber1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar1 tablespoon olive oilKosher salt and pepper to tasteAdd balsamic vinegar, olive oil, saltand pepper to small bowl. Whisktogether until smooth and setaside. Add watermelon, cucumberand red onion to large bowl orserving tray. Right before serving,top with feta cheese, fresh mint,fresh basil and balsamic olive oilmixture. Per serving: 82 calories, 2 g protein,10 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat, 7 mgcholesterol, 1 g fiber, 8 g sugars (0added), 98 mg sodium.Watermelon, Cucumber, & Feta Saladar20athifrotofrostfofoatsc$6noAReunortudownaprsaFIfdoHbA springtime delightThe town of Castroville, located in California’s central Salinas Valley, produces and ships moreartichokes than any other place in the United States. Known as “the artichoke capital of the world,”the town features a giant steel artichoke statue and hosts an annual festival dedicated to artichokes.The peak season for both large and baby globe artichokes is in the spring.This recipe features baby globe artichokes, which are about two inches long and grow on the lowerbranches of the same plant as large globe artichokes. The shade keeps these artichokes small. Afterremoving the tough outer leaves, the tender inner quarters can be eaten. Baby artichokes are ideallyserved hot alongside grilled entrees or chilled as appetizers and first courses.They pair well with olives, roasted peppers, and crackers. By Diane Rossen WorthingtonSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 1:06 PM Page 8

10 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800On April 6, 2009, I beganthe third act of my career,this time in financialjournalism. (In Act II, I wasthe owner of a financialplanning and investmentmanagement firm, and in ActI, I was a commodities traderon the floor of the (nowdefunct) CommoditiesExchange of New York.)In the spring of 2009, justmonths after the globalfinancial system nearly wentoff the cliff and amid a brutalrecession, CBS News took aflyer on me. I thought that itwould be fun to take a strolldown memory lane to seewhat I was talking about thenand if it holds up today.The big focus when Istarted at CBS was the stockmarket, which had crateredby nearly 60 percent from itspeak in 2007 until itbottomed in March 2009. Atthe end of my first day atCBS on April 6, 2009, here iswhere the three main U.S.stock market indexes closed:— Dow Jones IndustrialAverage: 7522— S&P 500: 835— NASDAQ Composite:1606Here are the three tipsthat I offered that day:1) You do not need to buythe bottom or sell the top tobe a successful investor.Rather you need to adhereto a diversified portfolio thatwill allow you to stay in themarket even when it feelsscary at the bottom and tonot pile on too much riskwhen the good times arerolling.2) Do not make a majorinvestment decision intraday.If the idea is a good one, thenan extra 24 hours of thoughtwill not hurt and mayprevent you from executinga reactive trade that iscatalyzed by marketmovement only.3) Remember that nobodyreally knows what is going tohappen in the short run, sodo not fall prey to bullmarket cheerleaders or bearmarket Cassandras.Does this advice hold up?Yes, but in hindsight, it’sawfully wordy!Because the world felt sochaotic in 2009, in my secondweek on the job, CBS editorsand producers asked me toproduce ways that peoplecould feel more in control oftheir lives, outside of theirinvestments.Here’s what I came upwith:— Create a financial plan.Incorporate short- and longterm goals and the stepsnecessary to reach them.— Increase the amountyou have in emergency cash.Plan to live off it longer than6 months — maybe a year, or18 months even.— Pay off your creditcards and reduce consumerdebt. Get the debt chain offyour neck and out of yourlife.— Review your insurancecoverage. Shop around andmake sure that the coveragereflects changes in your life.— Create (or update)your will and other estatedocuments.Does this advice hold up?Yes.Thankfully, all of theseyears later, technology hasprovided more seamlessways to accomplish thesetasks.In my third week at CBS, Iwas asked whether peopleshould ditch their brokersand manage their owninvestments.Here’s what I wrote:The first place to start isto ask the followingquestions:— Do I want to do thismyself?— Do I have the skills todo this myself?— Do I have the time todo this myself?— Do I have the disciplineto do this myself?Does this advice hold up?Yes-full stop.What has remainedconstant over the years isthe fact that people have ahard time absorbing financialinformation and moreimportantly, knowing whatto do with that information.That’s what gets me up inthe morning and keeps memotivated, all these yearslater.Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBSNews business analyst. Aformer options trader and CIOof an investment advisory firm,she welcomes comments andquestions [email protected]. jill on money18 years later, doesmy advice hold up?by Jill SchlesingerWhat has remained constant over the years is that people have a hard timeabsorbing financial information and more importantly, knowing what to dowith that information, writes Jill Schlesinger. College acceptance lettersare rolling in for the Class of2030, and the total cost ofattendance has never beenhigher.According to an analysisfrom the College Board, thetotal sticker prices rangesfrom $30,990 for in-statestudents attending a publicfour-year school, to $50,920for out-of-state studentsattending a public four-yearschool, and a staggering$65,470 for privatenonprofit four-year students.No wonder 79 percent ofAmericans surveyed by PewResearch say colleges anduniversities are doing a fairor poor job of keepingtuition costs affordable.If your family is staringdown those numbers, here iswhat you need to know tonavigate the financial aidprocess, borrow wisely, andsave smarter:Financial aid package:If you don’t ask, youdon’t getFinancial aid packages arenotoriously difficult to readand compare. There is nosingle standard that schoolsare required to follow whendetailing scholarships, grants,and loans, which meansfamilies often confuse freemoney with money thatmust be repaid. That is whyevery family should call thefinancial aid office directly toclarify exactly what is a grantor scholarship and what is aloan.While talking to them,don’t be shy about asking fora better package.A podcast listenerrecounted this story, whichdrives home that last point:“Last spring our daughterwas admitted to her firstchoice private college, with aprice tag of about $66,000.Upon admission she wasgiven about $11,000 meritaid. We contacted the schooland asked if they could doany better and they cameback with an additional$15,000 grant. Wow!$26,000 discount! We didn’taccept or decline, just leftthe offer on the table. Soonafter, they came back to uswith an additional grant of$30,000. That sealed thedeal-$56,000 out of$66,000!”Know how much toborrow — and whento stopA good guideline is forstudents to keep the totalamount borrowed belowwhat you expect to earn inyour first year out of school.For parents andgrandparents who arehelping shoulder the load,total borrowing across allchildren — including anycosigned loans, should notexceed annual income.Crossing those thresholdscan cause financial damageto older generations whomay end up sacrificing theirown retirement savings forthe benefit of the kids.Consider a 529 planIf you are just starting tosave for college, a 529 plan isstill the gold standard. Thesestate-operated educationsavings accounts grow taxfree, and withdrawals forqualified education expenses— tuition, fees, books, roomand board — are not subjectto any federal tax, andgenerally not state tax either.Some states also offer adeduction for contributions.Up to $35,000 in unused 529funds can now be rolled intoa Roth IRA for thebeneficiary, as long as theaccount has been open for atleast 15 years.Is college still worthit?Federal student loaninterest rates for the 2025-2026 academic year are6.39% for undergraduatesand 8.94% for parent orgraduate PLUS loans.Depending on therepayment plan, borrowerscan spend 10 to 20 years indebt — often delayingmilestones like building anemergency fund, paying offcredit cards, or saving forretirement.So, is college still worth it?Yes — with some importantconditions. The medianannual wage for recentcollege graduates aged 22 to27 is $60,000, according toanalysis by the FederalReserve Bank of New York,compared to $40,000 forhigh school graduates. Butthe math works a lot betterif you graduate in four yearsand keep debt at amanageable level. Do that,and a college degree remainsa solid long-term financialinvestment.How to pay for collegeby Jill SchlesingerA good guideline is for students to keep the totalamount borrowed below what you expect to earn inyour first year out of school, writes Jill Schlesinger. SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 1:06 PM Page 9

11 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800twendiboandeinfcawthhosnanonfosmMusmstgeasprthcaprodusarthansodecrCbPwThe global energy crisiscaused by the closure of theStrait of Hormuz is only thebeginning of the economiccost of the war with Iran.I study how institutionsaffect businesses and supplychains, and I expect foodprices to rise next, with highprices lasting even afterwhatever point hostilitiesend.Along with about 20% ofthe world's crude oil tradeand a similar share of theworld's liquefied natural gasshipments, shipping trafficthrough the strait alsocarries roughly a third ofinternationally tradedfertilizer, which is key tobountiful crops around theworld.Modern agriculturedepends on precise timing ofdelivering nutrients toplants. When fertilizerarrives late or becomes tooexpensive to buy in sufficientquantities, farmers are left toeither reduce the amountthey use, plant fewer cropsor switch to crops that needless fertilizer. Each optionreduces overall productivity,cutting supplies of basicfoods, feed for livestock andkey ingredients used in awide range of food products.Ultimately, with cornprices rising, summerbarbecues may taste a bitdifferent or cost more. Cornon the cob may not becheap, nor will corn-fed beef.In addition, many storebought condiments, softdrinks and other foodproducts are made withhigh-fructose corn syrup andwill also cost more.3 main crops, 3 nutrients neededThree staple crops --corn, wheat and rice --supply more than half of theworld's dietary calories.To maximize production,those crops need three mainnutrients: nitrogen,phosphate and potassium.Nitrogen helps plants grow.Phosphorus helps transportenergy within plant cells andis critical for early rootgrowth and the formation ofseeds and fruit. Potassiumhelps plants conserve waterand boosts protein content.The closure of the Straitof Hormuz has reduced thesupply and increased thecost of all three.Natural gas, whichdetermines 70% to 90% ofthe cost of producingnitrogen fertilizer, has seen a20% drop in production dueto the war and priceincreases up to 70%. Topreserve its own supplies,Russia has suspendedexports of ammoniumnitrate, another nitrogensource for fertilizer.In a similar effort, China,the world's largestphosphate producer, hasblocked phosphate exports,removing 25% of the globalsupply.Potash, the potassium-richcomponent of fertilizers, hasalso been in short supply inrecent years, in part becauseof economic sanctions onBelarus and Russia, whichare major potash producers.As a consequence,fertilizer prices have risenglobally. In the U.S., somefertilizers rose more than40% in just one month afterthe war's start in lateFebruary 2026.Affecting farmers firstCereal plants absorb thevast majority of theirnitrogen needs during theirearly growth. Applyingfertilizer later in the growthcycle is less effective.Reducing nitrogenapplication by 10% to 15%,or delaying application bytwo to four weeks, canreduce corn yields by 10% to25%.Producing less corn andwheat reduces not only foodavailable for humans but alsofood for livestock. Increasedfertilizer costs and reducedgrain supplies increase theprice of raising livestock,making meat and animalproducts more expensive.When feed costs becomeunsustainable, farmers maybe forced to kill or sell offthe breeding cows and sowsthat represent the future ofthe food supply. In the U.S., acombination of persistentdrought and high costs in2022 forced producers tokill 13.3% of the nationalbeef cow herd, the highestproportion ever. As a result,the U.S. beef cattle inventoryshrank to its lowest levelsince 1962, a problem thatrestricts beef supplies foryears.Ultimately, the costs arepassed to consumers. In2012, when a historicMidwest drought slashedcorn yields by 13%, ittriggered a surge in feedprices, and U.S. poultryprices rose 20%.More money can't fixthis problemIn mid-March 2026, theU.S. fertilizer supply wasaround 75% of normal levels.That's right at the beginningof the time when Corn Beltfarmers typically preparetheir soil for planting,including the firstapplications of fertilizer.Subsequent fertilizerapplications typically comefrom mid-April to early Mayand between late May andmid-June.Farmers who fear notbeing able to optimize theircorn yields may decide toplant less corn or switchcrops and plant soybeans,which need less fertilizer.Either would reduce thecorn supply.Government loanguarantees and aid packagesmay help farmers coverhigher costs, but they cannotaddress timing if enoughfertilizer simply isn't availablewhen it is needed.Hitting homeAmerican consumersaren't facing the gas and foodshortages or power outagesother countries are seeingfrom the war, but they willbe hit in the pocketbook.U.S. prices for gas and jetfuel are already climbing. Theeffects on the food supplytake longer to appear, butthey are coming.Even when crops arebountiful in the U.S.,consumers are not immuneto global economic forces. Asmaller 2026 crop, withrising demand for livestockfeed in some of the mostpopulous countries,including China and India,will put pressure on globalcorn prices, affectingeveryone regardless of theirnationality.In March 2026, the U.S.Department of Agricultureused data from before theIran war to project a 3.1%average increase for all foodprices.The question forconsumers is how much ofthe rise in corn prices will bepassed to the consumer, andhow fast.USDA research showsthat the speed and extent ofchanges in food prices varywidely by food category andthe level of processinginvolved in making the food.Other factors also play arole, such as inventory levels,perishability and marketcompetition. When farmprices change, wholesaleprices usually adjust withinthe first month, but retailprices often take longer --sometimes two to fourmonths.Corn tortillas and otherrelatively lightly processedcorn foods are more likelyto show price responseswithin a few months aftercorn prices increase.Adjustments to cereals orpoultry prices will take alittle longer. Changes in thecost of livestock productssuch as beef will take longer,because there are moresteps between the purchaseof feed corn and the sale ofthe meat to consumers.Other indirect costs,related to the cost of fueland packaging, tend to hitlater. Producers often absorbthe price increases in theshort term, but someincreases are already in theworks. For instance,transport companies areadding fuel surcharges onfreight shipments.Food price hikes hit lowincome households harderthan high-incomehouseholds, because peoplewith lower incomes spendlarger shares of their moneyon food and housing. Forthese households, evenrelatively affordableproteins, such as chicken,may become harder topurchase regularly.A global foodemergencyThe cost and availability offertilizer will affect thewhole world. More than 300million people worldwidealready do not have enoughfood. The U.N. World FoodProgram predicts anadditional 45 million couldjoin them by the end of 2026if the conflict in the MiddleEast continues into themiddle of the year.Crop yields in India andBrazil in 2026 are expectedto be lower than normal.East African farmersstruggled to afford fertilizereven before the crisis andwill likely have to make dowith even less.These problems may seemremoved for mostAmericans, but food pricesare global in nature, andpeople in the U.S. will soonface these additional costs ofthe war.By Aya S. Chacar Aya S. Chacar is a professorof international business atFlorida InternationalUniversity. This article isrepublished from TheConversation under a CreativeCommons license. The viewsand opinions expressed in thiscommentary are solely thoseof the author.Hormuz closure will likely to lead to major grocery price hikesThe global energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is only thebeginning of the economic cost of the war with Iran -- a grocery price hike is likely next.SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 4:58 PM Page 10

12 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Dear Cathy, I just gottwo little kittens. Oneended up with diarrhea anddid not make it to the litterbox. He has been to the vetand received meds fordehydration and a sinusinfection. I have cleaned thecarpet and hardwood floorwith bleach and purchasedthe enzyme cleaner,however, they both keepsniffing around these areasand I am afraid they will peeon them. Any suggestionsfor deterring them from thesmell? — Cindy, St. Louis,MissouriDear Cindy,You did the right thing byusing an enzymatic cleanermade specifically for petstains. Skip bleach orgeneral household cleaners,as they do not remove theproteins in urine and fecesthat a cat’s sensitive nosecan still detect. Enzymaticproducts break down theseodors, but they must beused correctly. Soak thearea, let the solution sit forthe full recommended time,and blot rather than scrubso the cleaner can reachdeep into carpet fibers orcracks in hardwood floors.For hardwood, you canalso use a hard-surface petodor neutralizer made forwood or tile to be sure thesmell does not lingerbeneath the finish. Once thearea is dry, lightly mist itwith a cat-safe deterrentspray (as long as it’s not tooclose to the litter box) todiscourage repeat visits. Youcan also sprinkle a litterbox attractant in the boxfor a few weeks to helpguide the kittens back tothe right place.Dear Cathy,Years ago, I wrote to youconcerning one of my cats.You were a great help, and Ilook forward to readingyour column each week.Recently, I was very upsetthough after reading aboutthe woman who mentionedeuthanizing her declawedcat for house soiling. I waslooking for a more adamantresponse from you aboutthe declawing. It’s so hardto believe that someonewould consider euthanasiafor something like this. — Janice, Eastport, NewYorkDear Janie,I understand why thatletter upset you. The ideathat someone wouldconsider euthanasia for abehavior problem isheartbreaking, especiallywhen the problem soundssolvable.Working in the animalwelfare field for more than35 years, I have heard thiskind of comment manytimes. When people areoverwhelmed by a problemwith their pet — housesoiling, barking, aggression,or destructive behavior —they sometimes say, “MaybeI should just put him down,”even when they don’t trulymean it. Often it isn’tcruelty talking, butfrustration, exhaustion, andnot knowing what else todo.Over the years, I’velearned that the mosthelpful response isn’t alwaysto react with judgment, butto focus on the problemitself. When people realizethere are options —medical checks, behaviorchanges, environmentalchanges, or training — thetalk of euthanasia oftenfades. What sounded like afinal decision was a sign thatthe person felt stuck. Mygoal is to help them find away forward. I also remindmyself that if they didn’tcare, they wouldn’t ask.As for declawing, I amcompletely against it.Declawing is not a simpleprocedure but anamputation of the last boneof each toe, and it can leadto pain, behavior problems,and litter box issues – oftenthe very problems peopleare trying to solve. In thiscase, the cat had alreadybeen declawed before sheadopted her, so some of theissues she described mayhave resulted from thatprocedure.Behavior problems oftenhave underlying causes, andsolving them requirespatience, not drasticdecisions. Except in cases ofsevere aggression orsuffering, euthanasia shouldnever be the solution forissues that can beunderstood, treated, ormanaged.FOUND: One loose gooseAnimal control officialsin Connecticut are trying tofind the owner of a \"gooseon the loose\" found inOrange. Milford AnimalControl said on socialmedia that the goose wasfound by an Orange womanwho is keeping the aviansafe and healthy until itsowner can be found.Canada geese are native toConnecticut, but thedomesticated goose found in orange appears to be aToulouse goose, a breed originating from France. They arenot found in the wild in New England, but are often soldcommercially due to their large size and dociletemperament. Animal control is asking anyone withinformation on the goose's origins to contact officials.Cleaning carpets and solving behavior problemsPet Worldwith Cathy RosenthalAs well as being a recuringguest on Happenings Q&A,Cathy M. Rosenthal is alongtime animal advocate,author, columnist and petexpert who has more than30 years in the animalwelfare field. Send your petquestions, stories and tips [email protected] zebra provesescape artist prowesswith second getawayA zebra named Zeusescaped from hisowner's property inNorthern Californiafor the second time injust a few days. PlacerCounty AnimalServices said Zeus, alegally-owned zebra,escaped from his owner's Lincoln-area home last Mondayand was safely found on a road just north of Lincoln laterin the day. The California Highway Patrol's Auburn officeconfirmed the striped equine was returned home afterbeing located along West Wise Road.Zeus previously escaped last Friday amid stormyweather and was kept overnight by animal services beforebeing returned home Saturday. Officials said Zeus' repeatescapes might be due to the animal still adjusting to hisrecent arrival at his new home.Bioluminescent fireworms glow in theCalifornia waterA California photographer capturedrare video of bioluminescent firewormsputting on a glowing display in the LongBeach water. Patrick Coyne said herecorded the video at about 8 p.m. lastThursday in the Colorado Lagoon.Experts said it was only the second timebioluminescent fireworms have been caught on camera inLong Beach. The worms rise to the surface during certainmoon phases and the females swim in circles, illuminatinga mucus trail to attract males. The light show only lasts forabout 30 minutes before the worms return to the seabed.SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:53 PM Page 11

13 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800You may be plagued withmold and mildew in yourtub and shower area. It’s avery common problem. Thegood news is that if you’rewilling to spend just 30extra seconds once you’verinsed off all the body washand shampoo from yourhair, I can just aboutguarantee you’ll never havemold and mildew again.Mold and mildew aremuch like fire. You need justthree things to have a fire:fuel, heat and oxygen.Remove any one of thethree ingredients, and you’llnot have flames and smoke.Mold and mildew spores,food and water are thethree things you need tofuel mold and mildewgrowth. The spores areeverywhere in your home.You’d need an expensivewhole-house filtrationsystem to prevent themfrom being on all thesurfaces in your home.The food for mold andmildew is plentiful in yourtub and shower area. Bodyoil, dust, soap deposits, dirtand grime from your bodythat doesn’t make it downthe drain can accumulate intubs and showers that aren’tcleaned on a very regularbasis. At the very least, you’dhave to clean the tub andshower every three days.Water is the easiest ofthe three ingredients tocontrol and minimize. Youneed to get rid of all of thewater in your tub andshower area as rapidly aspossible to inhibit thegrowth of the nasty blackorganisms.There are many ways toachieve this water control. Iuse a squeegee in myshower to get all the wateroff the tempered glass wallsand acrylic surfaces. I alsosqueegee the floor, directingall the liquid water to thedrain.You may have a showercurtain. My son has one inthe shower I use when Iwork overnight at hishouse. After I turn off theshower, I shake the curtainto get off as much water aspossible. I’m careful not tostress the grommets at thetop to prevent tears in theplastic curtain.The last step is to use anold towel to dry off all thesurfaces in the tub andshower. Yes, I know this isnot easy, but it’s exactly howyou ensure there’s no moldor mildew growth.Let’s say you choose notto do this last step. Youshould do several things toget the water to evaporatequickly. Leave the showerdoor open when you exitthe bathroom. You need airto get into the tub andshower area. Don’t closethe shower curtain to hidethe tub and shower. Onceagain, you need to leave itopen to encourage dry airto get into the space.Leave the door to thebathroom open if possible.You want less humid airfrom the house to get intothe bathroom. Considerinstalling a timer orhumidistat control on yourbathroom exhaust fan.You’re trying to get thehumid air out and create aircurrents in the room tofoster rapid evaporation ofthe water.You can also use a freestanding vertical fan in thebathroom. My son has one.It takes up very little floorspace, yet it produces avigorous stream of air. Hisfan rotates to distribute theair in the room.Fancy remote air blowersare also available, shouldyou be remodeling yourshower or building a newhome. My daughter installedone of these systems in abathroom in her home.These systems resemblethe air dryers you mighthave seen at a car wash.Once you exit the shower,you flip a switch, and theblower turns on. Dry aircomes out of any number ofstrategically placed roundnon-directional nozzles,directional nozzle outlets,or sleek, narrow linear trimvents. The air is piped tothese outlets using flexible,clear plastic hoses.The fan can be up to 50feet away from the showerstall if necessary. You’ll getpeak performance if youplace the fan in a closet thatshares a wall with theshower. The 2 horsepowerblower can deliver 115cubic feet of dry air perminute. This will dry out ashower in minutes,especially if you invest 15seconds using a squeegee toget most of the water intothe drain.I can assure you thatyou’ll feel much betterabout your bathroom, plusyou’re creating a healthierenvironment for you andyour family, if you take thoseextra seconds to dry outyour shower.Yes, I can hear you now.You may be willing to dothis, but you’ll have a veryhard time convincing theothers in your family tochange their habits. If this isthe case, then you mustforget about the water andclean the shower every fewdays. I know, I know, this is apain too!I wish you the best of luckin your mold/mildew battle.You now know what you’reup against. You just have todecide what strategy worksbest for you.Prevent bathroom mold and mildew Ask the Builder with Tim CarterSubscribe to Tim’s FREE newsletter atAsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phonecoaching calls if you get stuck during a DIYjob. 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14 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800rsdurwedalehth.er,heirofndes,ts,mtoe,50eretouatheer5eraes,5totoateruserndseutw.oryhetoisstndwacke.retoksThe solar industry becamea target in the first year ofPresident Donald Trump’ssecond term, when hisadministration cut keyfederal tax credits, subsidies,and investments in solarpower, as well as broadergreen technology initiatives.The Republican president’sskepticism toward lowcarbon energy, rooted in acombination of economic,aesthetic, and ideologicalobjections, is well-known. Atthe World Economic Forumheld in January 2025, Mr.Trump boasted ofterminating formerDemocratic President JoeBiden’s “ridiculous” and“wasteful” InflationReduction Act – which,among other spending tosupport renewable energy,offered tax incentives toencourage solar power.Yet as America’s demandfor electricity rises –expected to grow at a 2.8%compound annual growthrate over the next 15 years –some Republican influencerssuch as former HouseSpeaker Newt Gingrich andformer Trump adviserKellyanne Conway, who arestill among the president’smost ardent supporters, areencouraging him to adopt amore pragmatic approach tosolar.The reason is simplesupply and demand, they say,though Mr. Gingrich mixes ina touch of nationalism.Failure to meet theelectricity demands ofindustry would slow businessgrowth, just when futuristictechnologies such as artificialintelligence are starting toboom. To remain competitivewith China in AI, he says,America needs to expand itselectric power generation byusing every energy sourceavailable.“History tells us thatenergy scarcity is the biggestthreat to the Americaneconomy,” Mr. Gingrichwrote in a recent opinioncolumn in the right-leaningwebsite, the Daily Caller.“We need more ofeverything. Intentionallyexcluding vital energysources, fuel-based orrenewable, reduces supplyand drives up prices. Thisharms families andbusinesses. This is notabstract economic theory. Itis common sense.”Historically, America’spower grid has always been apragmatic concern, thoughpeople at opposite ends ofthe political spectrum oftendisagree on how to ensureAmericans get the powerthey need.The debate over climatechange disrupted all that.In 2016, America, underPresident Barack Obama,joined 192 other nations andthe European Union insigning the Paris Agreementto substantially reducecarbon emissions by 2030.Americans were divided:Conservatives said theagreement would damageAmerica’s economy, whileliberals cited theoverwhelming scientificconsensus that climatechange is happening and isprimarily caused by humanactivity. How and whether touse low- and zero-carbonenergy sources such as windand solar – moving awayfrom fossil fuels – were atthe heart of that partisandivide.But today, even amiddisagreements, after adecade and a half ofexpansion, solar poweraccounts for 8.5% of the U.S.electricity generation mix, upfrom 0.1% in 2010. That isstill well behind fossil fuels,which make up more thanhalf of the U.S. energy mix.Fossil fuels have a powerfullobbying presence, spendingabout $150 million a year toadvocate for oil, gas, and coalbusinesses. Even so, in 2024,wind and solar powertogether overtook coal forthe first time in electricityproduction, with wind andsolar at 17% and coal at 15%.“I don’t view energy as anideological issue, but that’swhat it’s been turned into,”says Eric D. Larson, a seniorresearch scholar at theAndlinger Center for Energyand the Environment atPrinceton University.“I think that maybe aconcern is that if demand isoutstripping supply, priceswill go up,” Professor Larsonsays. “And rising pricestranslate into votes, typically.But also, there is therecognition that if we wantto stay ahead as a country atthe cutting edge oftechnology, and AI is going tobe a big part of that, we needpower.”At the moment, there islittle evidence thatprominent RepublicansU.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during theCERAWeek energy conference in Houston, March 23, 2026.Trump has shunned solar power. Some of his supporters want to MAGA-fy it.continues on page 15SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:54 PM Page 13Open Tuesday-Friday 10:00AM - 6:00PM Sat. 10:00AM - 2:00PM CHOO CHOO CHARLIE’S ACTIVITIES Page 1www.mitchellcarpets.com8005 Sheridan Rd., Kenosha • 262-658-1000Ask About Loose Lay Luxury Vinyl Plank & Tile For The Do-It-Yourselfer!$2 Starting 99at Sq. Ft.CORETEC BELMONT HICKORYCORETEC CALYPSO OAKSHAW DAVENPORT CORETEC BROOKFIELD MAPLECORETEC LAWRENCE MAPLECORETEC RED RIVER HICKORYSHAW COFFEE HOUSEBiggest Selection of In-Stock Luxury Vinyl Plank & Tile In Town! Shaw, Patriot Mills, MohawkCORETEC EDINBURGH OAKSHAW DAWN BEIGE PATRIOT MILLS SOFT PEARLSHAW RIVER ROCK SHAW SOFT SAND100’s of Rolls of Carpet In-Stock 021926Installed with 8 lb Sealed Padding.Starting at Softback & Waterproof BackingPlush, Patterns, Berbers, Multicolor & Solids Stain Resistant$99Room Sized Bound Area RUGS$1 Starting 99at Sq. Ft.CORETEC SONIA CORETEC IONA STONEMARBLEKARASTAN LAMINATELODGE HICKORY

15 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800FDA approves leucovorin to treatrare cerebral folate deficiencyThe Food and DrugAdministration hasapproved expanded use ofleucovorin calcium tabletsfor treating cerebral folatedeficiency, a rare disorder.The vitamin, a syntheticform of vitamin B9, has beenused to treat toxic sideeffects of chemotherapy. TheFDA approval is based on \"asystematic review of thepublished literature on thetopic, including publishedcase reports with patientlevel information, as well asmechanistic data,\" theagency said.Cerebral folate deficiencyis a neurological conditionthat affects folate transportinto the brain. People withCFD-FOLR1 often havesevere developmentaldelays, movement disorders,seizures and other seriousneurological complications.According to the NationalOrganization for RareDisorders, fewer than 20people have been reportedto have cerebral folatedeficiency in scientificliterature, and the exactprevalence of the disease isunknown. A few small trialshave suggested that the drugcould help as an off-labeltreatment for children withautism, and some familieshave said their nonverbalchildren have developedmore language skills with thevitamin.The Trump administrationhas touted the drug as apotential treatment forautism, though there has notbeen enough research toback up this claim. An FDAofficial told reporters that\"we don't have sufficientdata to say that we couldestablish efficacy for autismmore broadly\" but said theagency is open to companiesstudying leucovorin in theautism population.The American Academy ofPediatrics said the evidencesupporting leucovorin use inchildren with autism islimited.\"Small studies showbenefits to communicationand behavior for someautistic children, specificallythose with CFD or evidenceof folate metabolicdifferences. Largerindependent trials arewarranted to betterunderstand which patientsmay benefit,\" the AAP said.\"Today's approvalrepresents a significantmilestone for patients livingwith cerebral folatetransport deficiency due tothe FOLR1 variant, a raregenetic condition that hashad no FDA-approvedtreatment options untiltoday,\" said FDACommissioner MartyMakary \"This action maybenefit some individualswith FOLR1-relatedcerebral folate transportdeficiency who havedevelopmental delays withautistic features.\"FDA officials toldreporters that they startedwith a review of leucovorinas an autism treatmentbefore narrowing itsapproval to a smallerpopulation with cerebralfolate deficiency.\"That was the data wherewe saw the largest effectsizes,\" CNBC reported thatone FDA official said on thecall. \"So we narrowed in onthat population.\"That official said there canbe biases with systematicreviews instead ofrandomized trials, but saidthat the treatment effectswere so large that theyoutweighed that concern.The FDA is encouragingmanufacturers of leucovorinto increase production. GSKoriginally marketed the drugfrom 1983 until 1997. But itsaid in September that it hasno plans to manufacture theproduct.By Lisa HornungDEAR MAYOCLINIC: I’m about to turn40, and I’m nervous aboutgetting my firstmammogram. I hear they canbe uncomfortable or evenpainful. Is breast cancerscreening really thatimportant?ANSWER: It can be abit daunting at first, butbreast cancer screeninghelps people live longer.Screening can catch cancerearly, either in theprecancerous stage or whenit’s localized to a very smallpart of the body. When wecan catch it early anddecrease the risk of itcoming back in the future,patients not only live longer,but they also may live withfewer symptoms and breastcancer or cancer treatmentrelated concerns.A common misconceptionaround screening is, “I don’thave a family history ofbreast cancer, so I don’tknow that I need amammogram.” That’sconcerning because weknow 1 in 8 women getbreast cancer, which iscommon. It’s critical that, nomatter what your history is,you still consider breastcancer screening for thefuture.We recommend thatbreast cancer screeningsstart at age 40, althoughthese decisions should beindividualized. Some patientsmay need screening earlierbased on family history,personal history or geneticpredisposition. It’s not onesize-fits-all, and it’s good todecide with a primary careclinician, depending on yourspecific risk. For example, ifthere are any hints of astrong breast cancer historyin the family, we mayconsider genetic testing.Traditionally, breast cancerscreening is with a 3Dmammogram. With breastself-exams, we recommendpatients get to know theirbreasts — or, if they’ve had amastectomy, their chest wall— and notice if there areany changes, such as any newlumps or bumps, and thenbring that to their healthcareteam’s attention. It’s notuncommon to have breastchanges over time. This canhappen due to menstrualcycles or hormonal changes.But if you feel a lump thatdoes not go away orworsens over a matter ofweeks, that’s a reason to getexamined. Other things tolook out for includeflattening of the nipple,nipple discharge or a hardlump in the underarm.We eliminate many earlystage breast cancers with acombination of surgery,radiation and medications.Most breast cancers are verytreatable and curable. Withbreast cancers that aredetected at a later stage,there are still ways that wecan suppress these cancersto help people live longerwith fewer symptoms.The question of howfrequently someone needsto be screened comes up alot. Our general guidance isannual screening withmammograms or 3Dmammograms. For patientswith a very high risk forbreast cancer, extremelydense breasts or anotherreason that makes it harderto detect breast cancer in ascreening 3D mammogram,we might recommendadditional or supplementalscreening, often with an MRIor an MBI (molecular breastimaging). It really depends onrisk.We have patients whostrongly prefer or request tohave screening less often.Overall, the most importantparts of this process arediscussing screening withyour primary healthcareclinician and sharingdecision-making. It’simportant for patients toknow the general guidelinesand to advocate forthemselves if they’re in agroup that might fall outsideour typical guidance, such ashigh-risk patients who mightneed to be screened earlier.Talk to your healthcare teamabout what’s right for you.— Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake,M.D., Medical Oncology,Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MinnesotaMayo ClinicHow breast cancerscreening can save lives The Food and DrugAdministration approved EliLilly's pill version of a GLP-1medication for weight loss,making it the secondcompany to offer a noninjectable version of thedrug.The orforglipronmedication, which will besold under the brand nameFoundayo, joins NovoNordisk's Wegovy pill as theonly two oral GLP-1medications to have FDAapproval. Eli Lilly alsomanufactures the injectableZepound and MounjaroGLP-1 medications andNovo Nordisk makesWegovy and Ozempic.Eli Lilly said Foundayodiffers from the Wegovy pillin that there are norestrictions on when the pillcan be taken. The Wegovypill must be taken in themorning 30 minutes beforeeating or drinking.Deborah Horn, directorof the Center for ObesityMedicine at McGovernMedical School at UTHealthHouston, said the oralmedication offers patients\"greater flexibility in howthey approach theirtreatment.\"Clinical trials of Foundayoreleased in September foundthat people on a 36 mg doseof the drug lost an averageof 11% of their body weight,8% on 12 mg and less than8% on 6 mg. About 55% ofpatients in the 36 mg dosegroup lost 10% or more oftheir body weight; 36% had areduction of 15% or more;and 18% had a reduction of20% or more.Eli Lilly said Foundayo willbe available beginning April 6with copays as low as $25for people with commercialinsurance and an out-ofpocket cost of up to $349for the higher doses, CNNreported.By Danielle HayesFDA approves Eli Lilly's GLP-1weight-loss pillhealthtoPh2wsuaTimeSCfoLfrhpin1MooacsaTtclFrTo$coofan$9thinliqprStthnoofUnaththundideforaInBureTotoprafAwbainhageadScoSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:54 PM Page 14

16 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Consumer pricesjumped 3.3% inMarch in response to Iran warThe consumer price indexincreased as expected inMarch in response to thewar in Iran, the U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics reportedlast Friday.Consumer prices for allconsumers went up 0.9% forthe month on a seasonallyadjusted basis, anacceleration over the 0.3%rate in February. Thatbrought the rate for the 12months ending in March to3.3%.Prices increased by 2.4%for the year ending inFebruary, closer to theFederal Reserve's target 2%rate of inflation.March's annual indexincrease is the largest sinceApril 2024.Energy prices were adriving factor in theincrease, jumping up 10.9%,in line with the Dow Jonesconsensus estimate. Withinenergy, the index forgasoline increased by 21.2%.Friday's report said thisaccounted for \"nearly threequarters of the monthly allitems increase.\"Shelter's index also tickedup 0.3% while the index forfood was unchanged. Fruitsand vegetables did see anincrease, rising by 1%.Food prices rose 0.4% inFebruary.When excluding thevolatile categories food andenergy, price indexesincreased about 0.2% inMarch and 2.6% over theyear prior.Among the itemsexcluding food and energythat experienced increaseswere airline fares, up 2.7%,and apparel, up 1%, both ona monthly basis.By Joe FisherddntsralettenncfdsygnKgtsegg’soesoraeashter.mu.e,y,r,touting solar will influencePresident Trump to changehis mind on solar energy. His2025 tax-and-spending bill,which phased out solarsubsidies, passed the Housealong party lines, 218-214.Those entrusted withimplementing Mr. Trump’senergy policies are led bySecretary of EnergyChristopher Wright, thefounder and former CEO ofLiberty Energy, a majorfracking service company. Hehas called solar panels “aparasite” that provides onlyintermittent power. In a Feb.17, 2026, panel discussion,Mr. Wright showed no signsof wavering.“We got off track becauseof a wild misunderstanding,an exaggeration” aboutclimate change, Mr. Wrightsaid at a conference at theFrench Institute ofInternational Relations inParis. Climate change, hesaid, “is a real thing, but it hasgotten so ridiculously out ofwhack that we have policiesthat have just driven upenergy [prices, and] drivendeindustrialization and madeour countries geopoliticallyweaker.”Even so, a small number ofRepublicans with influence inthe White House arepublicly advocating thatPresident Trump adopt it aspart of “America First”policy and give solar energyanother chance.Conservative podcasterKatie Miller – wife of Mr.Trump’s Homeland SecurityAdvisor Stephen Miller –recently made the case forsolar energy on social media.Ms. Miller, a former aide toElon Musk, has been publiclypromoting solar energy andhas noted that her formerboss’s company, Tesla,produces solar panels. Shehas stated she does not havea paid partnership with theclean energy groups shesometimes cites.“Solar is now thedominant source of new U.S.power capacity and is ontrack to surpass coal in totalinstalled capacity before theend of 2026,” she wrote. “70GW of new solar capacity isscheduled to come online in2026–2027 → a 49%increase in operating solarcapacity from the end of2025.”Ms. Conway, a pollster andformer Trump seniorpolitical counselor,conducted a February 2026poll of 1,000 registeredvoters in Arizona, Florida,Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, onbehalf of the pro-solaradvocacy group, AmericanEnergy First. Her findings:“Solar power enjoys broad,durable, and increasinglyintense public support,”including among Trumpvoters.Eight in 10 respondentsagreed when asked if “solarenergy should be used in theU.S. to strengthen andincrease our energy supply?”Three-quarters of selfidentified Trump votersagreed.More than two-thirds ofthe new solar plants builtover the past five years arein states that the RepublicanParty carried in 2024,including Texas, Indiana,Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Utah,and Arkansas, according to areport by Wood Mackenzieon behalf of the Solar EnergyIndustries Association.Artificial intelligence isbooming, “and if you look atwhere they are building datacenters, it’s in red-stateAmerica,” says MarkFleming, president and CEOof Conservatives for CleanEnergy in Raleigh, NorthCarolina. In the Carolinas,the combination of AI datacenters and solar and windfarms has contributed to theproperty tax base. “It’s beena lifesaver for ruralcounties,” Mr. Fleming says,and that has brought moreconservatives to the cleanenergy cause.Neil Auerbach, founderand CEO of the HudsonSustainable Group andsenior adviser to theconservative-leaningAmerican ConservationCoalition, says thatideologues on both sides ofthe aisle miss the point.America’s economiccompetitiveness depends on“abundant, affordable powertoday.”“With the 2026 midtermsapproaching, the politicalstakes are clear. Voters willreward leaders who presentcredible solutions to keepthe lights on and bills down,”Mr. Auerbach wrote in arecent opinion column.“Ideological purity, whetherhostility toward fossil fuelsor toward renewables, willnot deliver affordableenergy. An all of the aboveapproach is not ideology; it iseconomic realism.”Samantha Gross, directorof the Energy Security andClimate Initiative at theBrookings Institution, saysthat whether you areworried about climatechange or not, solar energyis a “one of the easiest andfastest ways to get power.That is one reason why theadministration shouldn’t berolling its eyes at solarpower.”By Scott Baldauf Trump administration to spend $1Bto prevent wind farm constructionThe Trump administrationclosed a deal with theFrench energy companyTotalEnergies to pay it nearly$1 billion to endconstruction of wind farmsoff the shores of New Yorkand North Carolina.TotalEnergies will be paid$928 million after it investsthe same amount of moneyin oil, natural gas andliquefied natural gasproduction in the UnitedStates, the Department ofthe Interior announced.The company also pledgednot to develop any newoffshore wind projects in theUnited States \"in light ofnational security concerns,\"the DOI said.\"Offshore wind is one ofthe most expensive,unreliable, environmentallydisruptive and subsidydependent schemes everforced on Americanratepayers and taxpayers,\"Interior Secretary DougBurgum said in a pressrelease.\"We welcomeTotalEnergies' commitmentto developing projects thatproduce dependable,affordable power to lowerAmericans' monthly billswhile providing secure U.S.base load power today -- andin the future,\" he said.President Donald Trumphas long criticized windgenerated energy, and hisadministration has made aseries of moves over the lastyear to eliminate wind farmsand redirect energyinvestment toward fossil fuelproduction.TotalEnergies said in apress release that it isrelinquishing its CarolinaLong Bay lease and its NewYork Bight lease, which wereawarded by the Bidenadministration in 2022, afterstudies showed that, unlikein Europe, offshore winddevelopment in the UnitedStates is costly and couldincrease energy costs forU.S. consumers.Both wind farms were stillin the planning stages andhad not yet been fullypermitted, at least partiallybecause DOI last yearstopped issuing permits forrenewable energy projects,The Washington Postreported.In addition to recentlysigning a letter of intent withthe lead developer of anLNG project in Alaska,TotalEnergies said it plans toreinvest the refundedoffshore wind farm leasefees to finance constructionof its Mt. Rio Grande LNGplant in Texas.\"These investments willcontribute to supplyingEurope with much-neededLNG from the United Statesand provide gas for U.S. datacenter development,\"Patrick Pouyanne, CEO ofthe company, said in therelease.TotalEnergies already isthe leading exporter of LNGfrom the United States, itsaid, with 19 million tons ofgas exported last year. TheAlaska project is expectedto add about 2 million tonsper year over the next 20years.Burgum announced thedeal at an energy conferencein Houston, where The NewYork Times reported that hesaid \"the era of taxpayerssubsidizing unreliable,unaffordable and unsecureenergy is officially over.\"For his part, Pouyanne saidat the conference that thecompany made a \"pragmatic\"business decision based onthe Trump administration'senergy policy.By Stephen FellerSecretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced a dealwith the French energy company TotalEnergies that willrefund nearly $1 billion in offshore wind farm lease fees sothat it can be reinvested in fossil fuel productionSolar and MAGAcontinued from page 13SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:55 PM Page 15

17 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800The life of jazz virtuosoAlice Coltrane has oftenbeen overlooked in favor ofher husband, the late JohnColtrane, one of the mostinfluential figures of jazz.But in Andy Beta’s “CosmicMusic: The Life, Art andTranscendence of AliceColtrane” readers get toknow the groundbreakingmusician as she finds bothmusical and spiritualtransformation.Born Alice McLeod in1937 as the fifth of sixthchildren, Alice spent muchof her childhood atDetroit’s Mt. Olive BaptistChurch, where her motherand father were active inthe musical programming.At age 9, she began tofollow in her parents’footsteps, joining severalchoirs and playing bothpiano and organ in services.Detroit was a provingground for musicians of allstripes, where a youngsinger or instrumentalistcould achieve the besteducation by simply goingto church or walking downthe streets. It helped thatthe city’s public schoolsystem “was acceptingwhen it came to girls –both Black and white –learning music,” at a timewhen “it was still rare ... forwomen to have a propermusical outlet beyond thechurch.”By the time she was inhigh school, the “extremelyquiet and shy” Alice waswell-known in hercommunity as a multiinstrumentalist, playing jazzat school and in nearbyclubs. But the pursuit offurther jazz and classicalmusical education led herto travel to New York andParis in the late 1950s. Itwas during these travelsthat Alice first watchedJohn Coltrane perform. Butit wasn’t until a show atNew York City’s famousBirdland Jazz Club whereAlice finally met himbackstage, finding hermatch in the equally quietand shy musician. Theirwhirlwind romance beganon the John ColtraneQuartet’s European tour in1962, followed by theireventual marriage in 1965.Their marriage, however,was short-lived: JohnColtrane died in 1967. Inthe wake of her husband’sdeath, a grieving Alice –widowed at just 29, withfour young children – wasadrift. After theintervention of family andfriends, she threw herselfback into music, masteringthe harp while balancingchild care and housework.So, too, did she find solacein the maintenance of herhusband’s legacy, combingthrough his personalarchive to releaseposthumous albums, suchas 1971’s “Sun Ship.” Alice’sfirst three solo albumsduring this time includedthe well-received “Ptah, theEl Daoud” in 1970.Still, a number of criticswere quick to dismiss Aliceas just the “widow of JohnColtrane.” Some even wentso far as to describe her as“the Yoko Ono of jazz,”overlooking Alice’s owntalent. Yet fellow musicians,including Pharoah Sandersand Laura Nyro, recognizedher musicianship, becomingfrequent collaborators.A 1970 trip to Indiaproved to be a lastinginfluence on her music.Alice, finding spiritualtransformation along with acohort of fellow musicians,adopted the name Turiya.Upon her return to theUnited States in 1971, thealbum “Journey inSatchidananda” debuted,drawing upon the gospelmusic of her church yearsand her newly found Hindufaith.By 1975, Alice had movedto California, furtherimmersed herself inHinduism, and steppedaway from almost all publicperformances – save forthose honoring her latehusband. Alice passed awayin 2007, shortly before afire at Universal Studiosdestroyed archivalmaterials from both Aliceand John.For Beta, Alice’s music“was always there, waitingfor that moment when anew generation would beready to hear its message,aware and openhearted to‘the most beautiful music inthe universe.’”Artists such asRadiohead, singersongwriter Laura Veirs, andthe innovator Flying Lotus– Alice’s grandnephew – allcount the musician as aninspiration; award-winningrapper and pop singer DojaCat is also a fan.Beta’s writing is engagingand approachable, allowingthose unfamiliar with bothAlice and the jazz world atlarge to appreciate Alice’slife and contributions to thegenre – restoring herlegacy for all to enjoy.By Mackenzie FarkusbooksAlice Coltrane drew on gospelmusic of her youthauOthinBa haenpr19putitsoboTMFoancochinlebo90wBitsuwprBhaprboFltoTOwrerederamstOloBothsaanqucowanreBmwwwotm19hustUa threJeAIKate Brown, a professorof environmental history atthe Massachusetts Instituteof Technology and anaward-winning author, hasexamined the wake oflarge-scale disasters andthe massive challenges theycreate. On a smaller scale,Dr. Brown is also an avidgardener. Her most recentbook, “Tiny GardensEverywhere: The Past,Present, and Future of theSelf-Provisioning City,”probes gardens as smallpatches of resilience,resistance, andregeneration. By studyinghistories of selectEuropean and NorthAmerican urban gardens,she explores how thesespaces helped to buildcommunities centered oncooperation and mutualsupport. They also hold apromise, she says, for citiesas places of sustainablefood production. Thefollowing interview hasbeen edited and condensedfor clarity.Q: What drew you,as an environmentalhistorian, to thissubject of urbangardening?I wrote two big nuclearhistories – and then aboutthe environmental andhealth effects ofChernobyl, which wereprofound. As I worked onthese big histories, I wouldthink, once people find thisout, it is going to changeeverything, and then itdoesn’t. Countries arethreatening each other as ifit is the Cold War all overagain with nuclearweapons. And then Istarted to think that maybepart of the problem, maybethese big histories –problems on a planetaryscale – add to our sense ofanxiety, apathy, you know,that we can’t do anythingabout it. I can’t get a U.N.resolution passed. So whatcan we do? We can dosomething on a very locallevel; we can do somethingin our own backyards.I love to garden. As yousee in the book, my friendand I decided to plant afood forest around thismothballed school. Andthere I was, out in the‘Tiny Gardens Everywhere’ take root in urban plotscontinues on page 18Today's Sheinelle Jonessaw her first book arrive onbookshelves this week.Through Mom's Eyescompiles wisdom fromwomen \"who raisedextraordinary people,\"Today reports, and wasreleased on Aprili 14.Jones' late husband, UcheOjeh, had supported her inwriting the collection,which also contains Jones'insights from her griefjourney following his 2025death.Jones had also hosted aseries of the same name onToday.Her book tour kicks ofApril 13, and includes stopsin Conn., New Jersey, NewYork, Penn., Texas, Okla.,Kansas and WashingtonD.C. and will feature guestssuch as Al Roker, MikeJerrick, Ree Drummond,Carla Eckels and GloryEdim.In January, Jones replacedHoda Kotb in the fourthhour of Today.\"Sheinelle has been acherished member of NBCNews for more than 11years,\" said Todayexecutives Libby Leist andTalia Parkinson-Jones in ajoint statement at the time.\"From standout interviewswith newsmakers andcelebrities to her iconicHalloween performances asBeyonce and Tina Turner,she has captivatedaudiences time and again.\"By Jessica ImanSheinelle Jones first book nowavailableSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:55 PM Page 16

18 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800ederndicorteayaosalceicngabee,toinasrdusallanngjangngthate’sheerusIn his new biography ofauthor Judy Blume, MarkOppenheimer observesthat for many young peoplein the 1970s, readingBlume’s work was “not justa rite of passage but ahabit.” That habit wasenabled by the writer’sprodigious output: Between1970 and 1975 alone, Blumepublished a remarkable 10titles. Among them aresome of her best-knownbooks – including “Are YouThere God? It’s Me,Margaret,” “Tales of aFourth Grade Nothing,”and “Deenie.” Blumecontinued writing forchildren, teens, and adultsinto the 21st century, if at aless breakneck pace. Herbooks have sold more than90 million copiesworldwide.The engaging “JudyBlume: A Life” begins withits subject’s childhood insuburban New Jersey andworks its way to thepresent. Now in her 80s,Blume, after two divorces, ishappily married. She’s theproprietor of a nonprofitbookstore in Key West,Florida, where she’s knownto greet worshipful fans.The question animatingOppenheimer’s biography iswhy Blume’s work hasresonated with so manyreaders for so manydecades, making her therare author to achievemainstream celebritystatus.To answer the question,Oppenheimer, himself alongtime admirer ofBlume’s work, turned notonly to the books but tothe woman herself. Blumesat for hours of interviewsand answered hundreds ofquestions via email; she alsoconnected Oppenheimerwith her family membersand friends. Intriguingly, hereports that after he sentBlume a draft of themanuscript, she respondedwith a 40-page memo filledwith suggestions, some ofwhich he accepted andothers not.Blume was born into amiddle-class Jewish family in1938. She married her firsthusband while still a collegestudent at New YorkUniversity and gave birth toa daughter and son withinthe next four years. As arestless homemaker in theJersey suburbs, she framedher college diploma and anacademic award above herwashing machine, “toremind myself that I was anintelligent, educatedperson,” she recalled yearslater.Bursting with ambitionand creative energy, Blumebegan a short-lived stint asa felt artist before turningto writing. Her initial foraysinto children’s literaturewere, in her words, “terrible... imitation Dr. Seuss.” Sheracked up a pile of rejectionletters before a weeklywriting class in New YorkCity helped her find hervoice and hone her craft.According toOppenheimer, Blume waswildly successful becauseshe brought realism tochildren’s literature, tacklingtopics like puberty, divorce,and bullying in her fiction.(He acknowledges that shewas not alone in doing so,citing Norma Klein and S.E.Hinton.) “Are You ThereGod? It’s Me, Margaret,”told in first person, “takesseriously the ...development of anadolescent girl, from thenarrative point of view ofthat girl,” he writes. Thebook also credibly capturesthe voice of its protagonist,11-year-old MargaretSimon, with Blume miningmaterial from her ownchildhood.Blume’s frankness madeher a lightning rod. Herwork has frequently beentargeted for banning,leading her to free-speechadvocacy and a longaffiliation with the NationalCoalition AgainstCensorship.Oppenheimer, the authorof 2021’s “Squirrel Hill”about the shooting atPittsburgh’s Tree of LifeSynagogue, considersBlume’s entire body ofwork. While her oeuvre isoften discussed in terms ofhot-button topics, thebiography offers a welcomereminder that Blume hasexcelled at lighthearted,funny books for children,such as 1980’s “Superfudge”and its spinoffs.The author also providessharp critical assessmentsof Blume’s work for adults,including her 1983 novel“Smart Women,” about atrio of divorced singlemothers. “Everybody in thebook has the emotional ageof about twenty,” he writes.Perhaps mostsignificantly, Oppenheimerconveys what the books –and their author – havemeant to readers. At theheight of her success,Blume received roughly2,000 letters per month,many from young peopleconfiding in her about theirproblems. Blume famouslycorresponded with some ofher readers for decades. “Isthere anothercontemporary author whohas so collapsed thedistance between herselfand her readership?”Oppenheimer asks.Oppenheimer’s oncewarm relationship withBlume reportedly cooledafter she sent him that 40-page memo. For his part,Oppenheimer seems awareof the sensitivities involvedin writing a biography withinput from its living subject.He states in an epiloguethat his job “is to offer oneplausible, but selective,account of the subject’slife.” If that account – aslaudatory as it generally is –has not pleased Blume, it islikely to appeal to herlegions of fans.By Barbara SpindelNon-Fiction (Print & E-Book) Fiction (Print & E-Book)1. Game On (Allen)2. Project Hail Mary (Weir)3. Theo of Golden (Levi)4. The Keeper (French)5. Starside (Aster)6. The Night We Met (Jimenez)7. The Correspondent (Evans)8. Judge Stone (Davis/Patterson)9. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Andrews)10. Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dinniman)1. Strangers (Burden)2. Phases (Brandy/Kennedy)3. Stripped Down (Xo)4. A World Appears (Pollan)5. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk)6. The Infinity Machine (Mallaby)7. Apple (Pogue)8. A Walk in the Park (Fedarko)9. The Anxious Generation (Haidt)10. Poems & Prayers (McConaughey)NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERSAre you there, readers? It’s a Judy Blume biography.tolgudasde8Time was, children, if youwanted a library book, youhad to go to the library. Theactual physical librarybuilding. You located yourbook in the card catalog.Then you rowed throughthe stacks until you chasedit down by its Deweydecimal number. And sinceyou were already there, youmight cruise through thosestacks just to see whethersomething interestingpopped up.I was at the library thevery day the card catalogwas hauled away. I wasbarely 40 years old but hada full-blown case ofpremature curmudgeonry.This was a terrible betrayal.It was as though the ancientGreeks had ousted theiroracle. But I’m over it.Now, the library is a placewhere people go to getwarm. The rest of us areonline. We can put a holdon a book, and they’ll evenmail it to us for free if wewant. It’s like shopping, orgetting food, or banking –there’s no need to pryyourself out of your comfychair.But I enjoy the starch ofvirtue I get from walking tothe library to pick up mybook. The space devoted toholds is almost as big as therest of the stacks now. Theydon’t have as many booksout on the mainbookshelves anymore. Itfeels like an orphanage forbooks nobody wants to puta hold on.I’m certain the books Iorder gossip about me inthe hold limbo. Thenonfiction sneers at thegenre lit, and the literaryfiction sneers at everything.They’ve got time; they canbe there awhile. When I puta book on hold, the libraryusually informs me that I’mNo. 257 in line for 22copies. So, I already knowother people want to readthat book, too, and sinceeverything is done on thehonor system now andthere are no overdue fines,I have to try really hard toget the little princessesread and returned.That’s not my strong suit.For someone who takes towordage like an otter takesto water, I’m a remarkablyslow reader. I hardly eversit in a chair and read. I readin bed. That’ll get me fivepages in before I fall asleep,and I won’t rememberthem the next night.And for the past fewyears, I have – more thanonce – tried to return abook to a library that wasno longer open. Thanks tothe generosity of Portland,Oregon, taxpayers whocan’t pass up a library orparks levy, ourneighborhood libraries aregetting a makeover. Someof them might even beretrofitted to withstand thebig Cascadia subductionzone earthquake that thegeologists have penciled infor us.Five years ago, my localbranch closed down, andthe suggested replacementadded a mile to my walk.Then that one closed, andthe county arranged for apop-up branch in a tinyroom of a college campus,where the staff was lonelyand eager to help out andrecommend things. I lovedthat little gem, but last yearWhy libraries have a hold on mecontinues on page 18SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:55 PM Page 17

19 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800an9. ceinToloimecpothTopabuwadduenbeTothfranGTocoadthSuGYoreAYoPuit’extaLiMCL18foLaThMclagmligTTLoonknshculikprAeaWBThMstreet, and I got to know my neighbors in this reallyamazing way. I had lived there for 15 years and all it tookwas just to be out with a shovel in my hand to meet theguy who is always a porch sitter and get to know the kidswho are running around. So that’s where I started toconnect the simple act of planting a garden – especially ina visible place, whether that’s a front yard or public land –with community.Q: One theme in your book explores howregenerative it is to extract life fromseemingly little pockets of wasteland. How so?We call gardening recreation for a reason: because it’sfun. Gardeners find it fascinating to go out, mess around,see what happens, see what works. And it’s the small scaleof it that makes it enjoyable, not drudgery.Gardeners work with the environment. You treat yoursoil well; every worm is sacred. I abandon my garden everysummer here in Cambridge, [Massachusetts], for twomonths. I pack in the seeds, I set up a sprinkler that goesoff at 5 every morning, and I have a lot composted from mykitchen compost. And when I come back, there’s really nospace for weeds because all these plants – the beans aregrowing in the squash, the melons I didn’t even plant arevining their way around the potatoes and the garlic – all Ihave to do is come back and harvest, because this littlespace is self-propagating. So that’s what I think is so greatabout tiny gardens. They’re the most productive agriculturein recorded human history.Q: Why do you think gardens can strengthen,as you call it, civil societies?Not all community gardens are the same. [For instance,consider 19th-century factory workers in Berlin who] goto the edge of the town and they see all these sand dunes,basically. And so they take manure and the scraps from thebrewery and the scraps from the sugar beet factory, all thisorganic material, and they build soils. You can see in thesephotographs, some of which are in the book, first it’s thesemiserable little gardens on sand, these poor little strugglingplants. But then, within 10 years, they’re quite lush. Andthen, in another 10 years, most of the infrastructure isbotanical. And so, people come together in these selfactuated communities, and they are living there, too. Theystart to build the sinews of what we would now call asocial security network. They take up collections forpeople whose shacks burned down, unemploymentcollections, microloans to one another, and these placesbecome very resilient. They weather war and famine. It’sreally incredible what these communities accomplish.Q: Are you seeing more evidence of peoplelooking for ways to grow a garden in suburbanneighborhoods?We just did a YouGov Poll and asked a cross section ofAmericans what they do with their front-yard gardens. And16% of Americans use their front yards to grow food. Thenwe asked: Did you get a lot of pushback? Did yourneighbors complain? Most of these respondents didn’tknow that there were municipal regulations against thisactivity. Most of them – well over 60% – said, “Oh, myneighbors just compliment me. And a lot of them ask foradvice because they want to do the same.” So we foundthat these front-yard gardeners clustered together. Oncesomebody broke the mold, others wanted to follow. Andso, we’re thinking there’s a quiet revolution against theinstitution of the American lawn that’s going on regardlessof political affiliation.Q: What message do you hope to leave withreaders?In case you are thinking, “Oh, this can’t happen in a bigcountry. This can’t be part of modern life,” think of theSoviet Union [when it was a] nuclear superpower. By the1990s, 96% of the potatoes people were eating werecoming from tiny garden plots. We can go a long waytoward feeding ourselves with these tiny urban spaces.By Kendra Nordin BeatoTFTiny Gardenscontinued from page 16Librariescontinued from page 17it closed for good, and I was directed to a whole differentbranch. I’m sure there was an announcement made, but Inever seemed to find out until I walked a book back andsaw the sign on the door. I can adjust. I don’t take thesethings personally.The other day, I returned a book to this latest entry inLibrary Bingo, and had nothing to pick up. So I browsed theactual physical shelves like a caveman. Honestly, what’snext? Picking live food off trees?Anyway, there was a novel I hadn’t read, by an author Iadmire! I checked it out and sneaked away as though I’dfound a diamond ring in a dark alley. I started reading it thatnight. It was not good. This author had won the PulitzerPrize, but not for this sad little opus. Still, I gave it everychance. Maybe it would redeem itself on the last page.It did not.And it was almost overdue. But they weren’t houndingme for it. Apparently, word was out: Nobody else wantedto read it, either. And, of course, when I went to return it,the library was closed. The sign directed me to the originallocation, 3 miles from home. Renovations were complete.It was gorgeous. Spacious, friendly, and apparently readyfor anything plate tectonics could throw at it. There wasart; there was light; there were beanbag chairs, communityrooms, large windows. In a world where facts aresometimes manufactured to order and the truth can twistout of reach, there is comfort and serenity in a library thatstays put. I returned my book, four weeks late. No one’s inline to check it out. I gave it a pat of encouragement. “Finda shelf, and make yourself at home,” I said to my book as Idropped it in the slot. “You’re not going anywhere for agood long time.”It’s my home now, too.By Murr BrewsterSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:56 PM Page 18REMINDER: Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISCELLANEOUS KENOSHA CAR CLUB monthly breakfasts are at 8am on the first Tuesdays of each month at the Gateway Cafe, 3619 30th AvenueGERMAN CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - Kenosha/Racine If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust [email protected] CLUB BINGO Come have some fun! Doors open at 4:00. Raffles, pull-tabs and pregames start at 6:45. Bingo 7:00-9pm. Wednesdays. 2700 9th St.,Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor. Food SaleRITA RINELLI MEMORIAL MASS:12 noon on Saturday, June 21 at St. Elizabeth Church, Eighth Avenue at 48th Street.REMEMBERING SILVIO RUGANI - July 20, 1893 / August 29, 1975.FOR SALESOFA W/OAK TRIM, excellent condition/quality. Smoke/Pet free home. $225.00 Curt 262-865-01932019 KODIAK MODEL travel trailer Price 15,900 Exterior White Discrimination Has 3 Queens size beds Refrigerator, fridge and stove, toilet, and shower and heating and air conditioning. Everything works perfectly Contact 262 620-6755SNOWMOBILE TRAILER, 3 place Triton with winch. $3,200 OBO 262-948-1864 please leave messageLOTS OF AMERICAN FOSTORIA for sale. Please contact:Karon Baumgarten 317-764-7662 [email protected] HEATER NEW. $55. 262-498-4021. Contact info: Val Zamecnik email address: [email protected] phone :262-498-4021.ONE BURIAL LOT in Northshore Garden of Memory in North Chicago. Very nice location. Discounted price. BowFlex exercise unit like new. All there including leg exercise unit and book. 600.00. Call Herb at 847-305-0897. Please leave message if I miss your call.GAS TANK, NEW for 73-87 GMC Blazer $100 Transfer case for 73-87 GMC $100MILK CANS $15 Call Alex 262-945-1275CAMERS/LENSES/FILTERS and other equipment. Please contact: Don at 262-694-7573 or 262-287-8575.VARIOUS FARICS, prices start $1/yr (262) 629-0291.VINTAGE LAMP, good condition $15. Large black rooster, brand new $15. Please call 262-771-8764TWO RAMPS FOR VEHICLES, Beanie Babies (Regular and McDonalds), and Two Schwinn bicycles. BEST OFFER. Call 262-654-6485.BEAUTIFUL SUNSET RIDGE Memorial Park Kenosha. Located in lovely setting in the Garden of The Last Supper. Section H, Lot 113. 5&6, pair $1,800 OBO. Please contact Mary at 262-496-9711.(2) GRAVE SITES in All Saints Cemetery. I'm asking for $1,000 each plus transfer fees. Call (608) 317-9518 Elizabeth Smith [email protected] CADET LAWN tractors, old 1962 to 1976. Decks and other attachments. Glenn at 262-891-2377. Leave messageHEY KENOSHA FOLKS! I am selling everything from four houses. Let me know what you need by texting or calling Barb at 262-902-5663.JOHN DEERE TRACTOR Lawn Mower with Briggs & Straton engine and Frame Cutting Deck FOR sale for PARTS ONLY 847-244-9256 NO texting - Please leave a voicemail.LARGE CRAFTSMAN TABLE saw, $100 OBOEldridge peddle sewing machine, early 1900's, best offer- Milwaukee Plumbers band saw, $50 OBO Call Tom (224) 219-3645.LAKE FRONT PROPERTY Ready to rebuild existing home & Garage 1.48Acre on Large Spring Feed Lake in North East WI near Green bay WI. Located in Marinette county in the town of Lake Great Fishing, & water skiing Tubing Jet skiing Air Boat all Water sports activities call (847) 244-9256.VARIOUS FABRICS - Price per yard. Call for info(262) 629-0291BEANIE BABIES 200+ $200. Proform Treadmill, new belt $300. 7' vinyl boat with new motor, 4-cyli n d e r w i t h a c c e s s o r i e s $ 5 0 0 . (262) 652-5929.TREK 900 TANDEM 26\" 2 1 speed. Updated tires and rims. E x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n . Tw o n e w h e l m e t s p l u s a c c e s s o r i e s . $500 OBO 262-883-4210SEARS ZIGZAG SEWING machine and cabinet. Fine condition, All attachments. Model #1750 Asking $60 (262) 657-6049.GAS LAWN MOWER. Sears Craftsman 6.75 self-propelled. 22” cut. Mulch or side eject. Ready for spring. New oil, spark plug, & air filter. $75. Call Rich, 224- 730- 2564.WOOD DINING TABLE. Solid wood, Oval, 58” long x 41” wide w/o leaves. Two 12” x 41” leaves & top pad included. Mahogany finish. $25. Call Rich, 224- 730- 2564.FUN FAMILY BOAT 2006 Bayliner 175 Capris Bowrider w/trailer, Mercruiser 3.0L 135HP I/O motor, custom covers, Bimini w/cover, power trim & steering, stereo, Dave 262-455-1079 leave messageROOMS FOR RENT Shared LR, Kitchen, bathroom by Silver Lake $480 a mo. includes wifi and laundry please call for more info (262) 758-136.COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE watches, clocks, pens and more. Call Don 262-694-7573.47\" DIAMETER ROUND TABLE $30, girls bike $50 Call Kathy 262-909-7968DELUXE WALKER Like new. Make an offer.Call Rich @ 262-652-4591.08 RAM TOO many new parts to list. Serious inquiries only. Text message to 262-705-9999. Chad Sekuris.LIKE NEW TIRES see in Kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by. $4440 Nice economical well maintainedLARGE VINTAGE MIRROR with flowers $20, Small lamp with flowers, new $20, Large lamp with shade, new $15 Please call 262-771-8764.LIONEL TRAIN SET - Complete 1953 Set plus a Seaboard Diesel Engine, Maine Boxcar, 3 pr. switches, original boxes & instructions, 43 tracks, and miscellanious Lionel items. All clean, runs great. $525 Call 262-924-5227.TOTS BEAN BAGS Baseball & Hockey Puck $25.00 .Call JOE 262-859-2564.WANTED MOBILE MIG WELDER S m a l l job need to complete by MKE Airport. Negotiable rate. (734)768.0338 jacobsendaniels.comCUT GRASS a n d w e e d i n g . Call 2628980605MODEL TRAINS. All scales. Call for a quote upon viewing. 262-331-0392.WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262-237-0318.WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262-496-1822.LOOKING FOR NURSES A i d for in home care. Call Barbara 262-455-3953.OLD COMPUTERS WANTED. Call, text, or voicemail on (262) 595-7556 and ask for Mike.SERVICES HI MY NAME IS GAYLE & I'm retired.I will do dog sitting or cat sitting. If interested please contact me at 262-748-4748. Thank you.TAX PREPARATION & ADVISORY Services. 20+ Years Experience. Virtual Or In-Person. For Appointment Call Or Text 262-496-2208.I WILL DO Seamstress Work, Run Errands, Do Shop -ping & Dr. Appointments,Etc.If Interested Please Call Gayle At 262-748-4748.LAWN MOWING SERVICES Reliable lawn care services in Kenosha & Pleasant Prairie. call/text 262-914-9796 [email protected] & MEDICARE EXPERT. Appointments only. Se Habla Español. 262.833.7070.CHINESE LANGUAGE / Calligraphy Lessons: Fun, fascinating and very cool. Beginning and advanced - all ages! Text Dr. Tim at 520.704.3832.DOLL CRAFTERS! FREE remnants...ideal for making doll clothes. Also various doll clothes patterns.Call - 262-551-8478 and leave a message if no answer.DRUM LESSONS PRIVATE instruction. Band, orchestra, marching and drum set. Rock and many other musical styles. Learn to read music. Call Tom for details. 262-818-2869.PROFESSIONAL LED TEETH whitening for a fraction of the price! $99 at cabana tan spa. call to book: 262-843-2411. 20 minute session = a bright white smile! mycabanatan.comCOMPUTER REPAIR/INSTALLATION. For free estimate call, text, or leave voicemail to Mike at (262) 595-7556.COMPUTER INSTALLATION. Call, text, or voicemail Mike at (262) 595-7556.VEHICLES 142K MILES LIKE new tires cold a/c see in kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by $25001999 SEBRING CONVERTIBLe Very good condition $2,590 OBO Call or test Bob @262-945-9224.2005 MERCURY SABLE, 90k miles, leather interior. Has vacuum leak, needs tow. Clean title in hand. Great project car. $1500 OBO. Call/text 262-612-9142. 2003 SUBARU BAJA - G o o d running condition$4,950 OBO Call or text: Bob @262-9459224.2017 FORD F150 O n e O w n e r 4WD 4 Door See In Kenosha A t 4 1 2 1 - 7 t h . Av e . 2 1 7 k M i l e s 262-237-1343 Russ Call Text Or Stop By $7495 Very Nice TruckDUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM Ram V6 dual exhaust system custom built. Make offer.262-942-1266.2009 JEEP LIBERTY 4WD see at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Kenosha russ 262-237-1343 call or text 195k miles $4450 nice jeep ready for winter2013 CHRYSLER 200 Loaded Limited See At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text 189k Miles $4950.2002 XK8- WHITE Jaguar Convertible Good Condition - 38K Miles $18,500 obo Call or Text Bob 262-945-92241999 - SEBRING CONVERTIBLE - good Condition $2,850 obo Call or text Bob (262)-945-9224.1981 DATSUN/NISSAN 280ZX low mileage Loaded Glass T top's Hatch Back Stainless Steel MFG wheels New Clutch New break System New thermostat & radiator 5 speed New Interior Exterior Blue/Silver call 847-244-9256 Please leave a message.2003 GMC ENVOY 142K miles Great Shape, Garage Kept 1 owner, Leave Message $6000 obo 262-515-43861994 HONDA GOLDWING Aspencade 64K miles Great Shape, Black, Leave Message $6000 obo 262-515-4386.4X4 4DOOR see in Kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by $9995 1/2 ton nice truck at a nice price1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE one owner, yearly maintenance, 12,000 original miles, original parts $38,000 Email [email protected] BOX TRUCK 1986 OH Door 35 V8 (nearly new) solid body, 2\" oak floor in box, needs some work $1200. Snowblower $100 262-857-2695 Leave message or email [email protected] NISSAN ALTIMA $4950 One owner fleet maintained like new tires 287k miles kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text.2011 TOYOTA SIENNA Silver 8-passenger Minivan, strong engine, smooth riding, 184k miles, excellent for winter driving, it also has a backup camera. $5,495, text Don at 920-809-0833LOADED REMOTE START, heated seats and steering wheel, power sliding doors. See in kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by. 189k miles $5500 great value.E-mail your 170 character classified to: [email protected] include your contact information in the classified. (Name and Phone number / e-mail address) First 3 words will be boldface type.NO ANIMALS • NO PERSONALS ALLOWEDClassified Deadline Is Friday, April 27th 2026 At 12PMFREE CLASSIFIEDS!EMPLOYMENT/OPPORTUNITIES • LOST & FOUND • MISCELLANEOUS REAL ESTATE • RENTALS • RUMMAGE SALES • VEHICLES • WANTED

20 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800This year, National Traveland Tourism Week is May 3-9. Tourism Week is an annualcelebration of the U.S. travelindustry’s contributions.Tourism provides jobs,lowers personal taxes,improves our localeconomy, and provides apositive community image. Visit Kenosha celebratesthe week by offeringTourism Week Free Days inpartnership with localbusinesses and attractions,who provide FREEadmission and/or productsduring this week for all toenjoy. A different offer willbe available each day. Be A Tourist In Your OwnTown and take advantage ofthe great offers! Invite yourfriends, relatives, neighbors,and co-workers to join you.Go to VisitKenosha.com/TourismWeek for thecomplete details – includingaddresses and hours – ofthis year’s offers:Sunday, May 3: GOT PUD’N?The first 100 guests atYogi's Pud'n will get a FREEregular Pud’n of the day.According to ownerYolonda “Yogi” Blair: “Yogi’sPud’n is a must-visit becauseit’s not just dessert — it’s anexperience. You don’t justtaste it… you feel it.”Limited to select varieties.Monday, May 4:CLIMB ALIGHTHOUSE. Climb to the top of the1866 Southport Lighthousefor a one-of-a-kind view ofLake Michigan and Kenosha.There’s no cost on this day.Must be 8 years or older toclimb. It’s always free for allages to tour the maritimemuseum inside thelighthouse keeper’s house. Tuesday, May 5:TACO TUESDAY. The first 200 people atLomeli Butcher Shop getone Free Taco. Did youknow this locally ownedshop features quality meatcustom cut just the way youlike it, as well as freshproduce and groceries?Additional tacos are $2each.Wednesday, May 6:BULLSEYE.Enjoy free Open AxeThrowing 5-8pm at HoldMy Beer in DowntownKenosha. A waiver isrequired. Children must beaccompanied by an adult.Please be considerate ofothers and take turns. Didyou know that Hold MyBeer offers more than axethrowing? Delicious food,drinks, and patio seating canalso be found here.Thursday, May 7: SEE THE ELEPHANT. All guests receive freeadmission to the Civil WarMuseum’s main exhibit “TheFiery Trial”, which is animmersive exhibit with a360-degree film “Seeing TheElephant”. The exhibit tellsthe inspiring and personalstories of the soldiers onthe war front and familyback home in the Midwest.The other areas of the CivilWar Museum are alwaysfree.Friday, May 8:FOR THE DOGS.Bring your pup to any (orall) of the Kenosha CountyDog Parks and get freesingle-day admission. Theparks are Carlisle FamilyDog Park at PetrifyingSprings Park, Harris FamilyDog Park at Old SettlersPark, and Warren CloseBark Park at KenoshaCounty Veterans MemorialPark. Dogs must havecurrent license/vaccinations.Please be respectful andfollow all rules.Saturday, May 9: RIDE BACK IN TIME. Everyone rides theElectric Streetcar for free.Hop aboard a beautifullyrestored authentic electricstreetcar for a scenic tripalong the Lake Michiganshore as well as throughhistoric districts andDowntown Kenosha. Every Day, May 3-9:SAY CHEESE. At the WisconsinWelcome Center –Kenosha at I-94/41 andHwy. 165, we’ll have FreeSausage and CheeseSamples while supplies last,8am-4pm. This is courtesy ofBrat Stop. We encourage you toShop Local, Dine Local, andPlay Local during this week– and all year round! VisitKenosha is a destinationmarketing organization thathas been Kenosha’s officialtravel resource since 1986. Meridith Jumisko isPublic Relations Directorat Visit Kenosha. Contact her [email protected] Week nt Free Days!t Indseinhet’sr I’daterryngedit,ale.dyastyrestatinnds IaerSR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:57 PM Page 19

21 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800healthlifestylecommunityKenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center newsApril 16, 2026Online LearningPlatform for Family CaregiversOffered FreeTrualta is a free online educationaltool for family caregivers inWisconsin. Trualta helps caregiverslearn about health issues, caretechniques, and managing care forloved ones. The Aging and DisabilityResource Center of KenoshaCounty offers registration supportfor Trualta.If you provide care for a loved one,friend, or neighbor, you areconsidered a family caregiver. As afamily caregiver, it can be hard tofind the right resources. Even harderwhen your time is limited. Trualta’scollection of professional content isdesigned for the family caregiver tomake it easier to manage care athome. Trualta is available 24 hours aday, 7 days a week, 364 days a year.With lessons as short as 5 minutes,Trualta makes it easy for you to fitcaregiver training in whenever itworks for you. Trualta providespractical caregiver tips andtechniques that you can start usingright away. With Trualta, you can alsolearn alongside other caregivers inyour area and learn from others’experiences.In addition to learning skills tomanage your care receiver’s currentcare, Trualta’s learning library canhelp you prepare and plan for whatthe future holds. Discover ways toconnect with your loved one and beconfident you’re doing your best.To participate, caregivers will needinternet access and access to acomputer, iPad, or other tablet.Participants will receive an emailwith a link to register. To register,call Margaret Ricchio at the ADRC,262-605-6650 or [email protected]. Kenosha CountyADRC to OfferPowerful Tools for CaregiversOnline ClassNext free six-week courseto begin May 6Powerful Tools for Caregivers is anevidence-based educational seriesintended to teach skills to thosewho are caring for another adult,such as a loved one, friend, orneighbor. The class helps familycaregivers reduce stress, improveself-confidence, communicatefeelings better, balance their lives,increase their ability to make toughdecisions, and locate helpfulresources. The 6-week educational series isoffered by the Aging and DisabilityResource Center of KenoshaCounty and will be led by MargaretRicchio, Caregiver SupportCoordinator. The series will be heldWednesdays, beginning May 6 andrunning until June 10, from 1:30 to3:30 p.m. It will be held at HospiceAlliance, 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd.,Pleasant Prairie. There is no cost,however donations are accepted todefer costs.Registration is required by Friday,May 1. To register, or to learn moreabout Powerful Tools and theADRC’s Caregiver Supportservices, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646.ADRC offers FreeMemory ScreensThe Aging and Disability ResourceCenter (ADRC) of Kenosha Countyoffers free, confidential memoryscreens, weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Memory screens are suggested foranyone concerned about memorychanges, at risk of Alzheimer’sdisease due to family history, orwho wants to check their memorynow for future comparison.Some memory problems can bereadily treated, such as those causedby vitamin deficiencies or thyroidproblems. In general, the earlier thediagnosis, the easier it is to treatmemory loss. Memory screeningcan:Provide relief for individualsconcerned about normal memorylossLead to diagnosis of treatableconditionsOffer the ability to make lifestylechanges early when they have thegreatest potential for positive effectand the opportunity to participatein making future decisionsWarning signs of dementia includeforgetting people’s names andevents, asking repetitive questions,loss of verbal or written skills,confusion over daily routines, andpersonality changes.Screening results are not adiagnosis, and individuals who haveconcerns are encouraged to pursuea full medical exam. Appointmentsare recommended. Interestedpersons may call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make an appointment.Caregiver CoffeeClub for those caring for someonewith dementiaADRC offers support groupfor those caring forsomeone with dementiaThe Aging and Disability ResourceCenter of Kenosha County (ADRC)offers a support group to helpfamily caregivers who care forsomeone with Alzheimer’s diseaseor other form of dementia. Joinothers engaged in helping theirloved ones manage day to day living.Relax, chat and learn helpful tips andstrategies.The Caregiver Coffee Club meetsthe first Wednesday of each monthfrom 10-11 a.m., the next meetingwill be on May 6.The support group is available inperson or virtually. Facilitated byAlex Troupis, Dementia CareSpecialist with the Kenosha CountyADRC. To register call 262-605-6646.GLdT(AMosqtocchwstUKE• • • SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:57 PM Page 20

22 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800heyslelehecttedendns,ls,ndaveuetsed2-t.epceC)lporseinirng.ndtsthngnbyrety5-Your Kenosha ADRC UpdateGoing on Medicare?Learn about the decisions you’ll needThe Aging and Disability Resource Center(ADRC) of Kenosha County no-cost, unbiased,Medicare workshops for those new to Medicare,or who want to learn more. Trained benefitspecialists will be available to answer yourquestions and discuss the decisions you’ll needto make, including the basics of Medicarecoverage, options for private health and drugcoverage, and public benefits that can help withhealth care costs. If possible, sign up for aworkshop 3-4 months before your Medicarestarts.UPCOMING MEDICARE 2026 WORKSHOPS: Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Rd,Entrance A, Room N2• Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m. – noon• Thursday, May 21, 1– 3 p.m.• Wednesday, July 15, 10 a.m. – noonDue to limited seating, reservations arerequired. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 tomake a reservation or to learn more. Memory CafeMemory Café is a monthly gathering for personsliving with Mild Cognitive Impairment, earlystage Alzheimer’s, or a related dementia, andtheir care partners to socialize and have fun. Jointhe Aging and Disability Resource Center’s(ADRC) Dementia Care Specialist, Alex Troupis,for a Memory Café at the Kenosha NorthsideNeighborhood Library, 1500 27th Avenue,Activity Room A. Meetings are offered thesecond Wednesday of every month from 10:30 –11:30 a.m. The next gathering will be on May 13.New members are requested to register. Formore information and to register call the ADRCat 262-605-6646.REGULAR SENIOR DINING SITES• Meals include dessert and beverage• Suggested donation: $5• Open to anyone age 60+ and aspouse regardless of age• Reservations must be made by10am the day priorKenosha Senior Center2717 67th StMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-351-6246Parkside Redeemer Church2620 14th PlaceMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-552-7737Lakeside Towers5800 Third AveMonday - Friday, 11amReserve at 262-455-7919Westosha Senior Center19200 93rd StMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-358-5554Village Pub of Silver Lake307 N Cogswell DriveWednesday & Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-358-5779SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:58 PM Page 21

23 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Dear Eric: I am 72 anda father of five. Over time,my relationship with mywife has become verydifficult. She is loudlycritical, demanding andnagging, holding back allkinds of affection.Meaningful conversationsbetween my wife and meare thwarted by herunwillingness to engage inrational discussions.Whenever I attempt toconvey my perspective, I ammet with dismissal. Ifrequently feel unheard, andunresolved issues linger likeshadows over ourinteractions.She doesn’t hesitate toput me down in front of ourchildren. Our kids grew upin a house wherearguments were the norm. Idon't want to take anyextreme steps after 45years of marriage and fivekids, but I keep thinking thatI don’t deserve this.One of the daughters,who is very bold and thewisest of all, says, “You havelost your chances due toyour weakness. Now, theonly thing you can do isendure with grace.” For thesake of our children'shappiness and well-being,I've chosen to prioritizeharmony, be moreunderstanding and avoidconflicts, to create apeaceful environment. Butthe more I compromise, themore she takes advantage,using our kids as leverage. –Stuck at HomeDear Stuck: Yourchildren are adults. So, whilethey were surely impactedby the home life in whichthey were raised and areentitled to their opinions,they shouldn’t dictate howyou live your life. If themarriage isn’t working, asseems to be the case, youowe it to yourself and toyour marriage to make achange. I have to disagreewith your daughter: you stillhave a chance here. Yes, thatchance might lead to youdeciding this is no longer aworkable union. But that’snot the only option.The first option is familytherapy for you and your wife, if you can afford it. Thecommunication betweenthe two of you isn’t workingand you need a safe, neutral,informed space in which toprocess that and build newhabits.Another option is to setnew boundaries andcommunicate them clearlyto your wife. You can saysomething like, “when youtalk about me negatively infront of our kids, I feel hurt.That doesn’t communicatelove to me. Would yourespect me enough tochange that behavior?”This may not seem likethe most harmoniouscourse at first, but I wouldargue that much of theharmony you referenced ismanufactured. Dear Eric: My 23-yearold stepdaughter moved inwith us four years ago. Sheleaves for days on end anddoesn’t let her dad knowwhere she is. We bothworry. She has been gonefor months at a time. Acouple months ago, Iventured into her bedroombecause I had an electriciancoming and I found adisgusting mess: garbageand dirty clotheseverywhere. I sent all herdirty laundry (garbage bagsfull) out to be launderedand cleaned her room.When she came homedays later, she was mad. Shetook bags full of her stuff,went right for the frontdoor and left without sayinga word. She left me a nastynote that said we “violatedher privacy.”It’s been two months and,this week, she said shewanted to come for a visit.When we were droppingher back off at her mom’s,she said, “I will be homeMonday.” Her dad and I justlooked at each other inshock. Home? I told him shecannot keep just popping inand out without notice. Wecan’t tell her what to do,she is technically an adult,but her lifestyle is notwelcome in our home.Am I right to stick to myguns and not allow her toreturn to our home? Whatcan I say to her dad thatmay help him understand?He is very unhappy with herlifestyle also, but he doesn’twant to deal with it. – Sickof ItDear Sick of It: You’reright to advocate for yourneeds in your own home,but you and your husbandneed to get on the samepage about how yourshared space works andwhat the ground rules are.This will better set you upto have a productiveconversation with yourstepdaughter about whateveryone expects goingforward. So, start by askingyour husband what hewants from this situationand tell him what you want,too. It’s fine if what youwant is for your home tojust be the two of you.It sounds like yourstepdaughter is strugglingto find her place in life and,perhaps, taking advantage ofher parents’ generosity.Even if you and yourhusband agree to let hermove in again, you’ll stillneed to have a resettingconversation about what isand is not expected in yourhome. Simply put, there’s noway that your husbandwon’t have to deal with this.This is a lifelong relationshipand so he needs to be clearwith you, with himself, andwith his daughter aboutwhat is and is notacceptable.asking ericHusband in unhappy marriagestays for the adultchildrenBestselling author R. EricThomas brings his signaturewit and warmth to “AskingEric,” an advice columntackling life’s quandaries.Drawing on his stint asSlate’s “Dear Prudence,”Thomas dishes out insightful,humorous guidance fornavigating relationships, work,and everything in betweenbemsaovupquthtocaem\"osaaslefoafthwthquarSebe40wyequanSesoquanclre\"qThaYoknAfirthpaonmquAoncoyoaclaonqu\"iSebesowquchyoeaSwOnline learningplatform for family caregiversoffered freeTrualta is a free online educationaltool for family caregivers inWisconsin. Trualta helps caregiverslearn about health issues, caretechniques, and managing care forloved ones. As a family caregiver, it can be hardto find the right resources. Evenharder when your time is limited.Trualta’s collection of professionalcontent is designed for the familycaregiver to make it easier tomanage care at home. Trualta isavailable 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek, 364 days a year.With lessons as short as 5 minutes,Trualta makes it easy for you to fitcaregiver training in whenever itworks for you. Trualta providespractical caregiver tips andtechniques that you can start usingright away. In addition to learning skills tomanage your care receiver’scurrent care, Trualta’s learninglibrary can help you prepare andplan for what the future holds. To participate, caregivers will needinternet access and access to acomputer, iPad, or other tablet.Participants will receive an emailwith a link to register. To register,call Margaret Ricchio at the ADRC,262-605-6650 or [email protected]. Caring for an adult family member or friend? Family Caregiver SupportGroup Meets in-person andvirtuallyFamily caregivers often don’t seethemselves as caregivers, theysimply think of themselves as thehusband, sister, daughter, or friend.Defined, a family caregiver is aperson who provides support foran adult who needs assistance withdaily living activities, such ascooking, driving, shopping, laundryand paying bills. The role of a family caregiver, whilerewarding, can also be challengingwhen trying to balance life’sresponsibilities along withsupporting the needs of anotherindividual, family member or friend.If you are a family caregiver, thisgroup is for you! Join fellowcaregivers, either virtually or inperson, as you share yourexperiences, ask questions andlearn from others. The group isfacilitated by Margaret Ricchio,ADRC Caregiver SupportCoordinator. The next meeting willbe Thursday, May 7, 4-5 p.m. In-person location is 8600 SheridanRoad, entrance D. To register, learnmore or to receive the virtual link,call the Kenosha County ADRC,262-605-6646.Enhanced Medicare Log-inThe Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Services (CMS) recentlyreleased enhanced login options forMedicare.gov accounts. You cannow use one of the followingidentity verification options: ID.me,CLEAR, or Login.gov. These loginoptions are already used by otherfederal agencies, like the SocialSecurity Administration (SSA),Internal Revenue Service (IRS), andthe Department of Veterans Affairs(VA). In addition to increased security,these options offer improved usersupport. According to CMS, eachlogin service offers a live chat. Inaddition, CLEAR and Login.govoffer assistance over the phone,while ID.me offers assistance viavideo call. ID.me and Login.gov offerin-person verification options. Ifyou need immediate assistance, loseaccess to your account, orexperience a service outage, youshould call 1-800-Medicare. You do not need a driver’s licenseor REAL ID to create an account.You can use a state-issued photoID, a U.S. passport, or otheraccepted documents. Please note that your medicalinformation will be stored securelyby Medicare. Your identityverification information will bestored separately by the loginservice you choose. Thesecompanies are not allowed to sellyour data.There is no cost to create a loginor to use the new login options. Youdo not need a smartphone to usethese options. You can use publiccomputers to create an account,and you can verify your identity inperson at certain locations, likeparticipating Post Offices. You canalso get help over the phone.People with Medicare who alreadyhave Medicare.gov accounts canstill choose to log in using theirexisting credentials for now.SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:58 PM Page 22

24 SMART READER April 16, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800As I've pointed outbefore, I usually findmyself answering thesame questions over andover again. But I've savedup a couple of oddballquestions -- and herethey are. But first, I wantto make it clear I am notcalling the people whoemailed me the questions\"oddballs.\" However, I amsaying the questions theyasked were odd -- or atleast out of the ordinary. Q: I recently signed upfor my Social Securityafter working for morethan 40 years. I've oftenwondered this. I knowthat once you have 40quarters of coverage, youare eligible for SocialSecurity retirementbenefits. I bet I had those40 quarters way backwhen I was maybe 30years old. Could I havequit working back thenand still gotten a SocialSecurity benefitsomeday?A: Interestingquestions. Before Ianswer them, let meclarify a term for somereaders. You talked about\"quarters of coverage.\"That's an old term thathasn't been used in years.Younger readers mightknow that as \"credits.\"And here is why.When Social Securityfirst started, the law saidthat if you worked andpaid Social Security taxeson earnings of $50 ormore within a calendarquarter (January-March;April-June; etc.), you gotone \"quarter ofcoverage\" applied toyour Social Securityaccount. And then thelaw further said thatonce you had 40 of thosequarters, you were then\"insured\" for SocialSecurity retirementbenefits.But about 50 years orso ago, they did awaywith the calendarquarter business andchanged the rules to sayyou got one \"credit\" foreach specified amount ofmoney you made, not toexceed four credits inone year. That specifiedamount goes up slightlyevery year. For example,in 2026, you get onecredit for each $1,890you earn. But again, nomore than four creditscan be earned in a year.So that means in 2026,once you make $7,560,you have earned themaximum four SocialSecurity credits you canget.Here is an interestingway of looking at that.For most of us, thatmeans you probably haveto work about a monthor more before you earnfour Social Securitycredits. But for abillionaire like Elon Musk,for example, he probablyearns his four credits fiveminutes after he walksinto his Space X officeson Jan. 2 of each year! OK. So that clarifieswhy \"quarters ofcoverage\" and \"credits\"are the same thing. Now,to answer your questionabout quitting at age 30and getting your SocialSecurity.You could potentiallydo that. But you wouldend up with an awfullysmall Social Securitybenefit. That benefit willbe based on your averageincome over your highest35 years of earnings. So ifyou end up with only 10years of earnings on yourrecord, that means theywould have to factor 25years of \"zero\" earningsinto your Social Securitycomputation. Q: My wife and I areboth in our late 50s andstarting to think aboutSocial Security. I have hadwell-paid jobs all my lifeand always paid themaximum into SocialSecurity. My wife spent abig chunk of our 35-yearmarriage staying homeand taking care of thekids. She just barely hasher 40 quarters. Can Itake the next 10 years orso, transferring myearnings to my wife'sSocial Security record,thus building up herSocial Security account? Ifigure we could do thisbecause we file a jointtax return.A: You can't do that.How you file a tax returnhas nothing to do withthe assignment of SocialSecurity earnings toindividual records. And even if you coulddo such a thing, youwouldn't want to do it.Why? Because your wifewill end up getting higherSocial Security benefitsas a spouse on yourrecord than she everwould get on her ownaccount. Let's say yourbenefit will be $4,000 permonth and your wife'sown small retirementbenefit will be $500.Assuming you startbenefits at your fullretirement age, shewould be due a spousalbenefit of $1,500 on youraccount to supplementher own $500 benefit.Now, let's say you wereable to give some of yourearnings to your wife forseveral years. That mightboost her own benefit tomaybe $800 per month.But she is still going toend up with $2,000 intotal benefits ($800 onher record and $1,300from you). So why bothertrying to boost her ownbenefit?Q: I am 73 years oldand have been gettingSocial Security since Iturned 66. I just stoppedworking. I startedworking when I was 13.One thing that has alwaysbugged me is that theearnings I had betweenages 13 and 18 nevershowed up on my SocialSecurity record. I didn'tmake much back then,but at least it wassomething and thoseearnings probably wouldhave increased my SocialSecurity benefit. I havebeen fighting for years toget those earningsincluded in my SocialSecurity records. I thinkI've hired a half dozenlawyers over the years tohelp me fix this. And stillnothing has happened!Can you help me?A: I can help you bytelling you to stopobsessing over this andto stop wasting moneyon lawyers. Even if yougot those old earningsadded to your SocialSecurity records, theywouldn't increase yourbenefit by a single nickel.Why? Because yourretirement benefit wasbased on your highest 35years of earnings. And formost people, theirhighest 35 years are theirlast 35 years. You said youfiled for retirementbenefits when you were66. So it's a pretty goodbet that your originalSocial Security benefitwas based on yourearnings between ages 31and 66. So that meansany earnings you hadbefore that, especially thepaltry money you madeas a teenager, wouldnever be used in yourretirement benefitcalculation.One other note. Yousaid you just stoppedworking at age 73. Thereis a pretty good chancethat each year's worth ofearnings you hadbetween age 66 and 73bumped up your benefitby a little bit. How andwhy that happens is WAYtoo complicated toexplain in what's left oftoday's column. But if youget my book, \"SocialSecurity - Simple andSmart,\" there is a wholechapter that explainshow earnings afterretirement may (or maynot) increase your SocialSecurity benefit.social securitySome oddball questionswith Tom MargenauIf you have a SocialSecurity question, Tom Margenau has twobooks with all the answers.One is called \"Social Security-- Simple and Smart: 10Easy-to-Understand FactSheets That Will Answer AllYour Questions About SocialSecurity.\" The other is \"SocialSecurity: 100 Myths and 100Facts.\" You can find the booksat Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or youcan send him an email [email protected] yourdso,tllnnk,C,dyrnge,nral),dsy,rhnve,arferuet.oralyyenellnuect,nene.ynrTom Margenau joinsHappenings Q&A on Thu April 23rd at 10:20 on AM1050 WLIP SR_editorial_.qxp_SS Layout 4/14/26 12:58 PM Page 23

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