United States

New York – October 01, 2026 -- The Ad Council has launched The Secret to Motherhood, a new maternal mental health campaign urging new and expecting mothers to prioritize their own well-being as part of caring for their children.

One in five mothers face a maternal mental health condition

According to the CDC, these conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. Despite this, three in four cases go untreated, largely due to stigma surrounding the topic.

A new PSA series called 'What's Her Secret?' anchors the effort

Developed with Mischief USA on a pro-bono basis, the campaign is available in English and Spanish and includes broadcast and digital creative, strategic partnerships and talent activations. All materials direct mothers to a resource hub at LoveYourMind.com/moms, also available in Spanish at ConAmorTuMente.com/mama.

New York – September 30, 2026 -- Mediaplanet has launched its Future of Healthy Living Campaign, a health-awareness initiative distributed today as a magazine insert in USA TODAY and online at the campaign's digital hub, futureofpersonalhealth.com.

The campaign gathers editorial contributions from organizations including the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American Public Health Association, the American Podiatric Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Actor Ricco Ross fronts the cover story on prostate health stigma.

Ross discusses why conversations about prostate health should be normalized and urges men not to delay talking with their healthcare providers about appropriate screening.

Washington – September 30, 2026 -- Pickswise has launched "NFL Career," a free-to-play football simulation that compresses a 20-season pro career into roughly four minutes, available now on mobile and web.

Players create a character across 12 playable positions, from quarterback to punter, and guide them from draft night through retirement. Along the way, the simulation presents decisions on contract negotiations, injury management, and locker room conflicts.

Choices carry real in-game trade-offs

Signing a large contract with a rebuilding team can boost individual statistics, while accepting a pay cut to join a title contender offers a faster route to championships. The game is designed so that achieving both outcomes easily is rare, forcing players to prioritize.

Santa Monica, Calif. – September 30, 2026 -- STARZ says Verizon Fios customers could lose access to all STARZ channels, STARZ On Demand and the STARZ app unless the two companies reach a new distribution agreement soon.

Negotiations remain unresolved as a deadline looms

Alison Hoffman, President of STARZ Networks, said the company has been negotiating in good faith with Verizon but warned that viewers "should be prepared for Verizon to remove STARZ" unless a deal is struck imminently.

Losing the deal would cut off several exclusive shows

A removal would block Verizon Fios subscribers from the full "Power" Universe and the upcoming "Power: Origins," every episode of "Outlander" and its prequel "Outlander: Blood of my Blood," the next season of "P-Valley," the current season of "S.W.A.T. Exiles," and the upcoming premiere of "Tip Toe."

Fans would also lose STARZ's film library, including the global hit Michael.

Austin – September 30, 2026 -- Tickets are now on sale for the 62nd Annual Austin Trail of Lights, powered by H-E-B, which will light up Zilker Park from December 10 through 23 with more than 2 million lights.

The holiday display features 96 illuminated trees and over 70 lighted tunnels and installations.

The event, which began in 1965 as a small gathering around a yule log, now draws visitors from across the country to Austin's capital city each winter.

General admission is free on seven nights starting at 7 p.m.

Free entry runs December 10–11 and 13–17. On December 12 and 18–23, general admission costs $8 per person, though children under 12 get in free every single night.

Evanston – September 30, 2026 -- A new Mather Institute study finds that older adults who age alone and own pets report significant boosts to physical activity, emotional wellbeing and social connection, with dog owners showing the strongest gains.

The online survey of 900 solo agers aged 55 and older found that 76% reported improved emotional wellbeing, 62% reported reduced stress and 45% reported increased physical activity. Nearly half said pets help reduce loneliness, and a third said pets led to more social interactions through daily walks and outdoor time.

Dog owners show the biggest activity gains among solo agers

Dog owners reported physical activity levels 42% higher than pet-free adults, the study found. Cat owners also described frequent short bursts of movement tied to feeding, play and household routines. Solo agers without pets recorded the lowest weekly activity levels of any group surveyed.

Dallas – September 30, 2026 -- Advance ER is opening its lobbies to community voting for its annual Staff Pumpkin Decorating Contest, with ballots open from Monday, October 5 through Sunday, October 11 at its Park Cities and Preston Hollow/Galleria locations.

Staff spent 14 days transforming blank pumpkins into displays

Undecorated pumpkins were set out in both lobbies on September 16, giving Advance ER staff two weeks to carve and paint their entries before public voting begins.

Families get treats while they vote

During voting week, kids can pick up candy and small gifts, and adults receive a complimentary first-aid kit for the car, limited to one per family. The first five children to vote at each location get a free squishy toy, also limited to one per family.

Catalina Foothills, Ariz. – September 30, 2026 -- Hairline cracks on a clay or concrete tile roof might look harmless, but roofing professional Drew Nelson of Apex Roof Pros LLC says they can quietly let water reach the underlayment beneath the tiles, weakening a roof's waterproofing over time.

In Tucson's dry, high-heat climate, daily temperature swings cause tiles to expand and contract, a cycle Nelson says gradually widens existing cracks and adds stress to the roof system.

Cracked tiles shift weight and expose the underlayment during storms

Nelson explains that cracked tiles distribute weight unevenly, creating stress points across the roof. When monsoon winds or heavy weather hit, that uneven pressure can cause a tile to slip or break entirely, exposing the underlayment and leading to more complex repairs.

Somersworth – September 30, 2026 -- Atlantic Digestive Specialists has notified patients that their Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial data may have been accessed by unauthorized parties during a network breach earlier this year.

Suspicious network activity triggered an investigation in March 2026

The New Hampshire-based gastroenterology practice detected suspicious activity on its systems and immediately secured its network, then hired outside cybersecurity experts to investigate. That probe found that intruders may have viewed or acquired data between March 16 and March 17, 2026.

Spiceland, Indiana – September 30, 2026 -- The Spiceland National Youth Campus officially opened its doors this past weekend with a culture and sports festival that drew young people, families and guests from across the United States.

Sports Teams Traveled Nationwide to Compete at the New Campus

Teams from around the country arrived in Spiceland, Indiana, to compete and connect during the opening weekend. The festival also featured live music, a fashion show, artisanal vendors and family-friendly activities, drawing attendees from all walks of life for a weekend centered on community and culture.