Public Health

Oak Brook, Ill. – September 30, 2026 -- Vehicle thefts in the United States fell 21% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, with all 50 states posting year-over-year declines, according to a new analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

A total of 268,415 vehicles were reported stolen to law enforcement between January and June 2026, translating to a national theft rate of roughly 77.81 thefts per 100,000 people.

Every state saw thefts decline, but the drops varied widely

The District of Columbia posted the steepest improvement, with thefts down 52% versus the first half of 2025. Despite that drop, D.C. still recorded the highest theft rate of any jurisdiction analyzed, at 181.94 thefts per 100,000 residents.

New York – September 30, 2026 -- Understood.org, a nonprofit supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families, has launched a new brand campaign called "Less Noise, More Understood," timed to ADHD and Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in October.

The campaign targets misinformation overload facing parents

Research cited by the organization found that 52% of TikTok videos about ADHD and 41% of videos about autism contain inaccurate or misleading information. One in four caregivers say they've regretted a health decision for their child because of conflicting information they encountered.

"Social media mentions of 'neurodivergence' more than quadrupled between 2021 and 2025, and they're still climbing," said Nathan Friedman, co-president and chief marketing officer at Understood. "As the conversation grows, this community deserves credible information that's easy to find, trust and act on."

Toronto – September 25, 2026 -- A Consumer Reports investigation into 17 prenatal vitamins found wide variations in nutrient levels, including folic acid, a nutrient essential for neural tube development in early pregnancy. Among the brands tested, Bird&Be's Complete Prenatal Pack met all of its label claims, according to the report.

Prenatal vitamins largely go unchecked before reaching store shelves.

Consumer Reports noted that prenatal vitamins are a routine part of prenatal care, yet the category remains largely unregulated. Brands are not required to verify their contents before products reach consumers, creating inconsistency in nutrient dosing across the market.

San Mateo – September 23, 2026 -- A nonprofit that has spent more than three decades helping people navigate life after a breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis is set to be featured on Public Television, with production planned at its San Mateo, California headquarters and aboard its Mobile Resource Center.

Bay Area Cancer Connections will appear in an upcoming episode of "All Access hosted by Andy Garcia," an educational short-form series distributed to Public Television stations nationwide. The organization was founded in 1993 by breast cancer patient Jill Freidenrich and her surgeon, Dr. Ellen Mahoney.

Nesconset, N.Y. – September 22, 2026 -- LifeVac, maker of an FDA-authorized anti-choking suction device, announced it has now saved 4,000 children from choking emergencies, following the rescue of a 3-year-old boy who stopped breathing while eating sausage at breakfast.

A toddler's airway closed completely despite standard first aid

The boy's mother first watched him try to cough up the food himself, but he went silent as the obstruction worsened. Basic Life Support choking protocols, including the Heimlich maneuver, failed to clear his airway.

A three-year-old device stored in a diaper bag became the last resort

The child's father retrieved the family's LifeVac Home Kit, which had sat unused in their diaper bag for nearly three years. Placed on the ground, the boy received the pediatric mask attachment three times; the third attempt dislodged the remaining piece of sausage and he began breathing again.

New York – September 22, 2026 -- Teenagers across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa can now submit scripts for a 30-second TV public service announcement warning drivers about the dangers of speeding, with a top prize of $2,000.

The 13th annual Drive Safe Chicago PSA Contest opens for entries

The National Road Safety Foundation, backed by the Chicago Auto Show, is running the contest for teens in the Chicagoland region and surrounding states. Entrants must submit a script or written description of a speeding-awareness PSA by mail or email before the Dec. 18, 2026 deadline.

Carson City – September 21, 2026 -- Property owners in Carson Valley and Reno are being reminded that annual backflow testing is required in most Northern Nevada jurisdictions to prevent contaminated water from entering clean drinking supplies.

Backflow devices stop pollutants from reversing into drinking water lines

A HelloNation article explains that backflow devices are installed to block contaminated water from irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, or industrial equipment from flowing backward into a home's plumbing or the municipal water supply. Internal valves inside these devices can wear out, corrode, or fail over time, often without any visible warning signs.

Springdale, Arkansas – September 21, 2026 -- A new HelloNation feature spotlights Wendy Jarvis, a pediatric therapy expert in Washington County, Arkansas, on why combining occupational, physical, and speech therapy often produces better outcomes for children than treating each skill in isolation.

Overlapping challenges rarely stay in one lane

Jarvis notes that a toddler struggling with speech may also have trouble sitting upright, while a preschooler who avoids messy play may pull back from social activities altogether. These overlaps are why the three disciplines are designed to reinforce one another rather than operate separately.

New York – September 20, 2026 -- Mediaplanet has launched its Women vs. Cancer campaign, published Sunday, September 20, within the Los Angeles Times, focusing on symptom awareness, earlier detection and advances in treatment for women's cancers.

Erin Andrews shares her cervical cancer story on the cover

ESPN broadcaster and cervical cancer survivor Erin Andrews serves as the campaign's cover feature, detailing her diagnosis and treatment experience. She emphasizes listening to one's body, keeping up with recommended screenings, and speaking up when something feels wrong.

New York – September 20, 2026 -- A 15-year-old girl riding an electric Citi Bike was struck and killed by a heavy-duty industrial truck in Manhattan's East Village on Friday night, according to a statement released by Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Philanthropies.

Tusk says the death comes months after Citi Bike had prepared, following a year of work, to launch an age verification system meant to stop riders under 16 from renting e-bikes. He claims the rollout was scheduled for May but was halted the day before launch on orders from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson.