United States

Auburn, Maine – October 01, 2026 -- Scott & Jon's is adding a new frozen meal to grocery freezers this fall: Homestyle Tuna Noodle Casserole, the brand's first tuna product, packing 21 grams of protein and cooking in just four minutes.

The recipe blends classic comfort with modern nutrition

The dish combines al dente egg noodles, peas, chunk light tuna and a creamy sauce made with real milk, cream and cheddar cheese, finished with seasoned breadcrumbs. Each serving delivers 21g of protein, 3g of fiber and comes in under 500 calories.

Los Angeles – October 01, 2026 -- Sports Research has launched Creatine + Electrolytes, a sugar-free powder drink mix now sold in single-serve stick packs at select Costco warehouses, marking the family-owned company's first product in Costco's sports nutrition aisle.

Each packet delivers 5 grams of creatine and 1,000 milligrams of electrolytes

The two-in-one formula combines micronized creatine monohydrate for strength and workout recovery support with a four-electrolyte blend of sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride for hydration support. The product is Informed Sport certified, Non-GMO Project Verified and Clean Label Project Certified.

"What excites me is how this product comes together: the formula, the flavors and the quality behind it," said Mike Pedersen, Chief Operating Officer of Sports Research. "It reflects the care we've always put into our products, now in a format built for how people actually live."

Houston – October 01, 2026 -- Creative Blinds is offering 20 percent off qualifying replacement window coverings this October for Houston families who swap out older, corded blinds and shades for cordless alternatives, timed to National Window Covering Safety Month.

Cords on blinds and shades remain a strangulation risk for young children

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that children have strangled on cords from blinds, shades and draperies, and that such incidents can happen in moments even when an adult is nearby. The agency recommends replacing most window blinds sold before November 2000, which may contain inner cords a child can pull into a dangerous loop, and advises that cordless coverings are the safest option in homes with young children.

Glendora, Calif. – October 01, 2026 -- Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU) has officially changed its name to Azusa Pacific University Global (APU Global), aligning its fully online degree programs with the Azusa Pacific University (APU) brand.

APU Global continues to offer 100% online, asynchronous associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs built for working adults. APU, the traditional campus-based institution, keeps its focus on on-campus and hybrid education.

Current students see no disruption to coursework or support

For students already enrolled under the former LAPU name, the switch to APU Global changes only the branding. Course schedules, faculty support, and degree progress continue as planned.

Las Vegas – October 01, 2026 -- Neon City Festival revealed its expanded 2026 lineup for a free, all-ages, three-day celebration set for Nov. 20-22 in downtown Las Vegas.

Diplo, Big Boi and Three 6 Mafia headline newly announced acts

Diplo, Big Boi, Cobra Starship, Freddie Gibbs, Joyce Manor and Three 6 Mafia join previously confirmed performers Kaskade, Subtronics and The Fray for the third annual event.

Friday's bill features Diplo and Cobra Starship

The Nov. 20 lineup includes Diplo, Cobra Starship, Freddie Gibbs, The Paradox, Babyface Ray, Summerlin House Mafia and Split Persona.

Saturday brings Subtronics, The Fray and Three 6 Mafia

Nov. 21 performers include Subtronics, The Fray, Three 6 Mafia, Slick Rick, Parachute, LUCKY, The Far Worst, Hoity-Toity and Kings/Kings, alongside the Unity Events Neon Showcase featuring Marsik, VLITO, Carson Wysocki, Allergic, Rainbolt and Shawn.

Lisle, Illinois – October 01, 2026 -- The Morton Arboretum's holiday lights exhibition Illumination opens for its 14th season on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, adding four new large-scale installations and a model train experience called Pine Whistle Railroad.

Tickets went on sale to Arboretum members on Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. CT and open to the general public Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. CT through mortonarb.org/illumination.

Longboat Key, Fla. – October 01, 2026 -- AGCF, the luxury accessories house founded by Alexandra Gucci Zarini, has opened its second boutique inside the lobby of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort on Florida's Gulf Coast. The opening marks the brand's first East Coast location, following its flagship at 479 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

A family legacy returns to St. Regis after 65 years

In 1960, Aldo Gucci opened a store for the family business at The St. Regis New York, with a boutique on the hotel's 55th Street side next to the family's Fifth Avenue location. His granddaughter, Alexandra Gucci Zarini, now brings AGCF back under the St. Regis name, this time on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Concord, N.C. – October 01, 2026 -- Homeowners with backyard pools face hidden winter risks that can turn into costly repairs if left unchecked, according to a new HelloNation feature spotlighting guidance from Brandon and Carmen Whitley, pool contractors based in Concord, NC.

The article explains that cold temperatures stress water chemistry, plumbing lines, and mechanical equipment long after swimming season ends. Experienced builders, it notes, help homeowners spot these issues early before small problems become expensive fixes.

Cold water hides chemical imbalances that standard testing can miss

Lower temperatures slow chemical reactions in pool water, making pH drift and declining sanitizer efficiency harder to detect visually. The article recommends regular testing and light chemical adjustments throughout winter to keep water balanced.

Eden Prairie, Minn. – October 01, 2026 -- Starkey has launched Omega AI+, a new hearing aid family built around a chip the company says processes sound up to 2.7 times faster than rival devices that advertise deep neural network processing.

A new processor runs four AI systems at once

Omega AI+ is powered by Starkey's G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor, which embeds neural network intelligence directly into the chip's silicon. The device relies on what Starkey calls Quad DNN Architecture, four specialized deep neural networks that work together in real time to handle speech understanding, environmental awareness, sound quality, and listening comfort.

Sheridan – October 01, 2026 -- Special Olympics Indiana is moving its signature Polar Plunge season showcase from Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis to SKYLAKE Adventures, a new adventure park in Sheridan, starting in 2027.

SKYLAKE Adventures opened in June 2026 just north of Westfield's Grand Park Sports Campus. Its first phase included a six-acre manmade lagoon, white-sand beaches, floating obstacle courses and water slides. For winter, the venue will add a snow tubing hill, ice skating, a three-story ropes course and holiday activities to host the plunge.

Ramp access will let wheelchair users take the plunge

The new venue keeps Polar Plunge traditions intact, including costumes, teams and fundraising challenges. Ramp access to the water will create opportunities for individuals who use wheelchairs to participate.